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Data fitting is a fundamental research problem in many scientific fields. The progressive iterative approximation for least-squares fitting is an effective method for fitting many data points, because of its simple iterative algorithm and intuitive operation. We combine an iterative method for computing Moore–Penrose generalized inverse with the classical progressive iterative approximation for least-squares fitting method to construct a family of accelerated iterative methods for fitting curves to data. The resulting iterative curve sequence converges to the least-squares fitting result for the given data set. We prove that the proposed method has faster average convergence rate and asymptotic convergence rate than previous methods. Some numerical examples illustrate the feasibility and efficiency of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development and progress of wireless self-organizing network communication technology, how to carry out long-distance cooperative control of multiple intelligences under the framework of an air–ground integrated wireless high-mobility self-organizing network has become a hot and difficult topic that needs to be solved urgently. This paper takes the air–ground integrated wireless high-mobility self-organizing network system as the basic framework and focuses on solving the long-distance cooperative fault-tolerant control of multi-intelligent bodies and the topological stability of a wireless mobile self-organizing network. To solve the above problems, a direct neural network with a robust adaptive fault-tolerant controller is designed in this paper. By constructing a symmetric population neural network model and combining it with the Lyapunov stabilization criterion, the system feedback matrix K has the ability of autonomous adaptive learning, and symmetrically distorts, rotates, or scales the training data to instantly adjust the system's fault-tolerant corrections and adaptive adjusting factors to resist the unknown disturbances and faults, to achieve the goals of multi-intelligent body stable control and the stable operation of a wireless high-mobility self-organizing network topology. Simulation results show that with the feedback adjustment of the multi-system under the designed controller, the multi-system as a whole has good fault-tolerant performance and autonomous learning approximation performance, and the tracking error asymptotically converges to zero. The experimental results show that the multi-flight subsystems fly stably, the air–ground integrated wireless high-mobility self-organizing network topology has good stability performance, and the maximum relative improvement of the topology stability performance is 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastable ε-Fe2O3 was discovered on a ceramic ware of Deqing kiln of the Tang Dynasty, which coexists with α-Fe2O3 in the brown area between adjacent black glaze areas, and it is the earliest known artificially synthesized ε-Fe2O3. Based on the composition analysis of α-Fe2O3, ε-Fe2O3 and the glass phase around them, it is speculated that some Fe3+ ions were replaced by Al3+ ions during the formation of ε-Fe2O3, and a relatively low CaO content may be required for its crystallization. This work may promote researchers' understanding of ε-Fe2O3 crystals, and provide clues for the artificial synthesis of large ε-Fe2O3 crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of beautiful countryside construction, with the continuous development of rural construction, the countryside has ushered in opportunities and challenges. People pay more and more attention to the development of landscape, environmental protection, and courtyards. In order to promote rural optimization and environment improvement, taking Bajiao Village, Jingmen City as an example, the effect of courtyard landscape on the overall rural development and the strategy of improving rural courtyard landscape were discussed through field investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric iterative methods, including progressive iterative approximation and geometric interpolation methods, are efficient for fitting a given data set. With the development of big data technology, the number of fitting data points has become massive, and the progressive iterative approximation for least-squares fitting (LSPIA) is generally applied to fit mass data. Combining the Schulz iterative method for calculating the Moore–Penrose generalized inverse matrix with the traditional LSPIA method, this paper presents an accelerated LSPIA method for tensor product surfaces and shows that the corresponding iterative surface sequence converged to the least-squares fitting surface of the given data set. The iterative format is that of a non-stationary iterative method, and the convergence rate increased rapidly as the iteration number increased. Some numerical examples are provided to illustrate that the proposed method has a faster convergence rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐scale and low‐cost synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to meet the demands of industrial application remains formidably challenge. Here we report using 2,4,6‐collidine as monomer to produce a series of highly crystalline olefin‐linked COFs by a melt polymerization method. This method enables the kilogram‐scale fabrication of self‐shaped monolithic robust foams. The afforded COFs possess extremely low cost (<50 USD/kg), superior to all the reported COFs. Furthermore, using one‐pot or post‐modification methods can conveniently transform neutral COFs to ionic COFs, which can be applied as highly efficient ion‐exchange sorbents for scavenging oxoanion pollutants. Remarkably, the superior adsorption capacity of a model oxoanion (ReO4−) is the highest among crystalline porous materials reported so far. This work not only expands the scopes of olefin‐linked COFs but also enlightens the route for the industrial production of crystalline ion exchange sorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐scale and low‐cost synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to meet the demands of industrial application remains formidably challenge. Here we report using 2,4,6‐collidine as monomer to produce a series of highly crystalline olefin‐linked COFs by a melt polymerization method. This method enables the kilogram‐scale fabrication of self‐shaped monolithic robust foams. The afforded COFs possess extremely low cost (<50 USD/kg), superior to all the reported COFs. Furthermore, using one‐pot or post‐modification methods can conveniently transform neutral COFs to ionic COFs, which can be applied as highly efficient ion‐exchange sorbents for scavenging oxoanion pollutants. Remarkably, the superior adsorption capacity of a model oxoanion (ReO4−) is the highest among crystalline porous materials reported so far. This work not only expands the scopes of olefin‐linked COFs but also enlightens the route for the industrial production of crystalline ion exchange sorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unclear whether β-asarone has a good antidepressant effect and what is the main mechanism in Depression in Parkinson's disease (DPD) model rats. In this study, DPD model rats were screened from 6-OHDA induced rats by sucrose preference test (SPT) and forced swimming test (FST). DPD model rats were divided into eight groups: model group, pramipexole group, β-asarone low-dose group (β-asarone 7.5 group), β-asarone medium-dose group (β-asarone 15 group), β-asarone high-dose group (β-asarone 30 group), 3-MA group, rapamycin group, and PI3K inhibitor group. 28 days after the end of treatment, open field test (OFT), SPT and FST were conducted in rats. The level of α-synuclein (α-syn) in the striatum was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of Beclin-1, p62 in the striatum was determined by western blot. The expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, mTOR, p-mTOR, Beclin-1, and p62 in the hippocampus was determined by western blot. The spine density of neurons in the hippocampus was detected by golgi staining. The results showed that 4-week oral administration of β-asarone improve the motor and depressive symptoms of DPD model rats, and decrease the content of α-syn in the striatum. β-asarone inhibited the expression of autophagy in the striatum of DPD model rats. Furthermore, β-asarone decreased the levels of Beclin-1 protein, increased the expression of p62, p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR, and improved the density of neuron dendritic spine in the hippocampus. We concluded that β-asarone might improve the behavior of DPD model rats by activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, inhibiting autophagy and protecting neuron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabricating mechanically responsive actuators that can efficiently convert external stimuli into mechanical work is of great significance for real‐world applications. Herein, we rationally design a class of rigid–flexible coupling crystalline crosslinked polymers (CCPs) to fabricate vapomechanically responsive actuators. Interfacial condensation reactions of flexible macromers with rigid monomers afford a series of freestanding CCP membranes. Notably, it is the first example where crosslinked polymers show high crystallinity and porosity. Moreover, the CCP membranes exhibit good mechanical properties and interesting vapor‐triggered actuation performance, which is reversible and repeatable. We find that the unusual polymer structures, high vapor sorption, and anisotropic membranes contribute to the directional deformation performance of the CCP actuators. The synthesis approach in this work provides new insights into the design and fabrication of smart materials for advanced applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabricating mechanically responsive actuators that can efficiently convert external stimuli into mechanical work is of great significance for real‐world applications. Herein, we rationally design a class of rigid–flexible coupling crystalline crosslinked polymers (CCPs) to fabricate vapomechanically responsive actuators. Interfacial condensation reactions of flexible macromers with rigid monomers afford a series of freestanding CCP membranes. Notably, it is the first example where crosslinked polymers show high crystallinity and porosity. Moreover, the CCP membranes exhibit good mechanical properties and interesting vapor‐triggered actuation performance, which is reversible and repeatable. We find that the unusual polymer structures, high vapor sorption, and anisotropic membranes contribute to the directional deformation performance of the CCP actuators. The synthesis approach in this work provides new insights into the design and fabrication of smart materials for advanced applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Insulin resistance in chronic kidney disease (CKD) stimulates muscle wasting, but the molecular processes behind the resistance are undetermined. However, inflammation in skeletal muscle is implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and cachexia. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are known to regulate local innate immune responses, and microarray data have shown that Tlr13 is upregulated in the muscles of mice with CKD, but the relevance is unknown. Materials and Methods: We performed in vitro experiments in C2C12 myotubes and constructed a CKD murine model using subtotal nephrectomy to conduct experiments in vivo. Results: Tlr13 expression was stimulated in C2C12 myotubes treated with uremic serum. The expression of Tlr13 was also upregulated in the tibialis anterior muscles of mice with CKD. Tlr13 knockdown with siRNAs in skeletal muscle cells decreased insulin resistance despite the inclusion of uremic serum. This led to increased levels of p‐AKT and suppression of protein degradation. Using immunofluorescence staining and coimmunoprecipitation assay, we found that TLR13 recruits IRF3, which activates Irf3 expression, resulting in decreased AKT activity. Moreover, insulin resistance and proteolysis are re‐induced by Irf3 overexpression under Tlr13 deletion. Conclusions: Our results indicate that TLR13 is involved in CKD‐mediated insulin resistance in muscle. In catabolic conditions where insulin signaling is impaired, targeting TLR13 may improve insulin sensitivity and prevent muscle atrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a designed 2.4 GHz bidirectional power amplifier which is suitable for the amorphous flat air-to-ground Ad hoc network system. Based on this PA, each Ad hoc network node's communication distance can be extended. The proposed PA is designed to be a bidirectional transmission structure. More specifically, RFPA5542 and MAX4003 chips are selected for the TX part. SKY65971 chip is selected for the RX part. The structural layout of the overall impedance matching circuit is optimized to a three-stage cascade current series negative feedback mode. The overall design above has realized the expectation of amplifying and forwarding the signal from the signal source and receiving and amplifying the weak signal from the air-to-ground network nodes in real-time. Measurement results show that the design delivers that the output power is 30.1–30.6dBm, the gain is 25.4–25.9 dB, and the noise is 2.0–2.4 dB when the frequency range is 2.4–2.5 GHz. The experimental results show that the maximum point-to-point transmission distance of the amorphous flat ground wireless Ad hoc network reaches 9600 m, and the maximum point-to-point transmission distance of the amorphous flat air-to-ground wireless Ad hoc network reaches 14,800 m. This paper realizes the 14.8 km long-distance transmission of wireless self-assembling nodes (including airborne self-assembling nodes and ground-based self-assembling nodes) in the 2.4 GHz band, which lays a certain foundation for the subsequent low-altitude economic fly-by-network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary aim of this study was to examine the correlation between the formation of Aβ plaques and autophagy, which is regulated by β-asarone and the lncRNA BACE1-AS. Additionally, the study sought to explore potential targets of the drug in inhibiting the deposition of toxic AD-related proteins and restoring impaired mitochondrial and autophagic functions. SHY5Y cells were utilized to construct a stable Alzheimer's disease (AD) model, followed by the utilization of interference and overexpression lentiviruses targeting BACE1-AS to establish a cell model. The cells were categorized into five groups, including a normal group, siRNA/BACE1 group, and β-asarone group. The fluorescence quantitative PCR technique was employed to assess the disparity in BACE1 mRNA expression, while changes in immunofluorescence (IF) were observed to determine the stable interference titre and action time of the lentiviruses. Additionally, western blotting (WB) and fluorescence quantitative PCR were employed to evaluate the expression of proteins and mRNAs associated with AD and autophagy. The findings demonstrated a significant elevation in BACE1 expression levels in brain tissue among individuals with AD compared to those without the condition. Moreover, the results indicated that the introduction of β-asarone led to an increase in the expression of the BACE1-AS gene in the cell group transfected with plasmid H12732. Furthermore, it was observed that β-asarone enhanced the expression levels of shRNA and BACE1 after 72 h. In contrast, β-asarone suppressed the expression of PS1, Aβ, BACE1, APP, and p62, while promoting the expression of syn, LC3 I/II, and Beclin-1. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that β-Asarone exerts a comprehensive influence on the expression of proteins associated with AD and synaptic function. β-Asarone exhibits the potential to mitigate Aβ deposition by impeding the expression of lncBACE1, thereby facilitating autophagy through the suppression of BACE1's inhibitory impact on autophagy. This complements the self-enhancing effect of autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture has demonstrated its efficacy as a treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying acupuncture's effects on PD treatment. Our approach involved several steps. Firstly, we assessed the behavioral changes in PD rats, the modulation of dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in the striatum, as well as the alteration in α-synuclein (α-syn) levels in the midbrain, aiming to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in PD treatment. Secondly, we selected endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inhibitors and activators to assess the impact of ER stress on PD rats. Lastly, we utilized an IRE1 inhibitor to observe the influence of acupuncture on the IRE1/XBP1 pathway in PD rats. The findings of this study revealed that acupuncture improved the autonomous motor function, balance ability, coordination, and sensory motor integration function in the PD model rats. Additionally, it increased the levels of DA and 5-HT in the striatum while decreasing the levels of α-syn in the midbrain. Acupuncture also activated the expression of ER stress in the midbrain and upregulated the expression of IRE1/XBP1 in the striatum of PD model rats. Based on these results, we concluded that acupuncture may enhance the behavior of PD rats by activating the IRE1/XBP1 ER stress pathway, associated with the reduction of midbrain α-syn expression and the increase in striatal DA and 5-HT levels in unilateral 6-OHDA lesioned rats. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drinking water quality is integral to the Sustainable Development Goals framework. At the present, China's drinking water conservation faces a number of challenges that are partially brought on by strict conservation measures that don't fully take into account human-land conflict and sustainable development. Taking the idea of adaptive governance, this study seeks to identify adaptive thresholds and adaptive solutions for compatible drinking water conservation and local development. Pressure and resistance to drinking water quality in its status, future potential, and adaptive thresholds were explored to identify sustainable governance for the Baimei Conservation Area, Fujian Province. Field research, local governance forums, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model were utilized to explore the drinking water quality pressure and resistance to drinking water quality. In order to uncover potential future changes in pressure and resistance, suitability analyses and multi-scenario simulations were used to examine the status quo, pressure, and resistance scenarios. Adaptive thresholds were then identified through SWAT modeling of each scenario to guarantee the drinking water quality is greater than Class II in the Core Conservation Area and Class Ⅲ in 2nd-grade Conservation Area, respectively. The research finds that construction land development and farming are the key pressures on drinking water quality, and forests and wetlands are the primary resistances. The expansion of construction lands and the increased wetlands was centered on potential future scenarios because farming has no room for growth and forests are already heavily covered. The adaptive threshold of construction land expansion is identified to be 10% without new wetlands but can be 20% by adding 10% wetlands in subbasins, 5, 8, and 9. This study confirms the potential of adaptive sustainability for drinking water conservation areas. A similar analysis procedure can also be adapted to enhance adaptive governance for the sustainability of other conservation areas nationally and globally. • Drinking water conservation areas have the potential for adaptive sustainability. • Construction land development and farming are the key pressures on drinking water quality, and forests and wetlands are the primary resistances. • The adaptive threshold of construction land expansion is identified to be 10% without new wetlands but can be 20% by increasing 10% wetlands in designated subbasins. • Adaptive governance is important for the sustainability of protected areas nationally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prominent gaps exist between science and practice in the field of nature-based solutions (NBS) worldwide, with relatively well formulated concepts but less clear application procedures. China urgently needs to address this gap because many so called NBS practices advance rapidly nowadays, including river landscapes. Advocating planning as a bridging procedure in China's top down governance system, this study introduces NBS planning for the Jialing River in Wusheng County to address three challenges: how to transform the riverfront planning from specialized to holistic, how to effectively communicate NBS in planning, and how to incorporate both scientific results and local wisdom into NBS decision-making. A planning scope was negotiated to incorporate holistic solutions. Five NBS paradigms were identified for better communication, and then spatially allocated with specific design guidelines and governance strategies. Our pilot study calls for reflection on the communication of NBS to the public, and alternative models of NBS implementations customized to different government regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional ozone sensing and removal materials still suffer from high energy consumption and low efficiency. Thus, seeking new ozone‐responsive materials with high efficiency and broad working conditions is of great significance. Herein, we first developed covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for smart sensing and efficient removal of ozone. Notably, imine‐based COFs possess dramatically fast optical responses (<1 s) to ozone as low as 0.1 ppm under broad working conditions (e.g., in the presence or absence of moisture, room temperature). Moreover, we found that imine‐based COFs can also be applied as excellent ozone removers that can efficiently reduce the ozone concentration below the recommended safety limit (<0.1 ppm) for humans. The mechanism for the performance of imine‐based COFs was unveiled in‐depth by various characterization techniques and analyses. This study not only provides a new type of advanced materials for ozone sensing and removal but also broadens the application scope of COFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional ozone sensing and removal materials still suffer from high energy consumption and low efficiency. Thus, seeking new ozone‐responsive materials with high efficiency and broad working conditions is of great significance. Herein, we first developed covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for smart sensing and efficient removal of ozone. Notably, imine‐based COFs possess dramatically fast optical responses (<1 s) to ozone as low as 0.1 ppm under broad working conditions (e.g., in the presence or absence of moisture, room temperature). Moreover, we found that imine‐based COFs can also be applied as excellent ozone removers that can efficiently reduce the ozone concentration below the recommended safety limit (<0.1 ppm) for humans. The mechanism for the performance of imine‐based COFs was unveiled in‐depth by various characterization techniques and analyses. This study not only provides a new type of advanced materials for ozone sensing and removal but also broadens the application scope of COFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The rapid antidepressant effect of acupuncture in the animals model of depression. • Acupuncture may be to activating the "glutamate tide" - AMPA receptor activation - BDNF release - mTORC1 pathway activation through inhibiting the expression of M1-AchR in the prefrontal cortex in the animals model of depression. • Acupuncture increasing the expression of synaptic proteins and regulating synaptic plasticity of animals model of depression. It is unclear whether acupuncture has a rapid antidepressant effect and what is the main mechanism. In this study, forced swimming stress test (FST) in mice were divided into five groups: control group, acupuncture group, scopolamine group, arecoline group, and acupuncture + arecoline group. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model rats were divided into six groups: naïve (non-CUMS) group, CUMS group, acupuncture group, scopolamine group, arecoline group, and acupuncture + arecoline group. Twenty-four hours after the end of treatment, FST was conducted in mice and rats. The expression of M1-AchR, AMPA receptors (GluR1 and GluR2), BDNF, mTOR, p-mTOR, synapsin I, and PSD95 in the prefrontal cortex was determined by western blot. The spine density of neurons in the prefrontal cortex was detected by golgi staining. The results showed that acupuncture reduced the immobility time of FST in two depression models. Acupuncture inhibited the expression of M1-AchR and promoted the expression of GluR1, GluR2, BDNF, p-mTOR, synapsin I, PSD95, and increased the density of neuron dendritic spine in the prefrontal cortex. The rapid antidepressant effect of acupuncture may be activating the "glutamate tide" - AMPA receptor activation - BDNF release - mTORC1 pathway activation through inhibiting the expression of M1-AchR in the prefrontal cortex, thereby increasing the expression of synaptic proteins and regulating synaptic plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In order to investigate the fatigue performance of P/M nickel-based superalloy in the presence of defect, a semi-circle defect was prefabricated on the surface of FGH96 specimen, the size of the defect is determined in accordance with the minimum flaw size which can be detected by nondestructive testing (NDT), and then LCF tests of FGH96 specimens with artificial surface defect were carried out. • Different mechanisms of crack initiation from artificial surface defect at room and elevated temperature were discussed. It is supposed that transgranular slipping in the local stress concentration point is mainly responsible for crack initiation from artificial defect at room temperature, however, the formation and fracture of oxide film on the surface of defect and oxidation-induced weakness of grain boundaries can facilitate intergranular crack initiation at elevated temperature. • Life prediction of the specimens based on fracture mechanics was implemented by FRANC3D-ABAQUS co-simulation. This method allows that SIF can be conveniently calculated by finite element method and it is applicable to analysis of arbitrary engineering structure. • Life prediction based on fracture mechanics produces good life prediction results of FGH96 specimens with artificial surface defect which fall within double dispersion band of experimental lives at elevated temperature, but the predicted life is excessively conservative at room temperature. It seems that the proportion of crack initiation process is large at room temperature and decreases at elevated temperature. P/M nickel-based superalloys are widely used in turbine disks, defects such as inclusions and surface scratches inevitably arisen from manufacturing process will exert negative influences on the low-cycle fatigue performance of superalloys and make traditional life prediction method no longer reliable. The residual fatigue life in presence of defect is an important performance index for disc alloy in damage tolerance design criteria. In this work, LCF tests of FGH96 specimens with artificial surface defect were conducted at 600℃, 650℃, 700℃ and room temperature, the size of the defect is determined in accordance with the minimum flaw size which can be detected by NDT technique. The results show that the LCF life of the specimens with artificial surface defect decreases significantly with the increase of temperature and size of defect. Microscopic characterization technique SEM and EDS were executed to investigate the failure mechanism of the specimens, different mechanisms of crack initiation from artificial surface defect at room and elevated temperature were discussed. And then life prediction based on fracture mechanics was carried out by ABAQUS-FRANC3D co-simulation. This method allows that SIF can be conveniently calculated by finite element method and it is applicable to analysis of arbitrary engineering structure. Good life prediction results which fall within double dispersion band of experimental lives were obtained at elevated temperature, but the predicted life is excessively conservative at room temperature because the crack initiation process accounts for a large proportion of fatigue life. It seems that life prediction method based on fracture mechanics is more applicable to specimens with surface defect at elevated temperature due to the shorter crack initiation process. This work has reference significance to the damage tolerance analysis of turbine disks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effects of sustained load on fatigue crack growth behavior at elevated temperature were experimental investigated and the influences of temperature and dwell time were discussed; • An extensive concept of "time-dependent damage" which involving all potential influencing mechanism was established, and its evolution with temperature and dwell time was discussed; • A parameter of effective action time of time-dependent damage was proposed to account for that the time-dependent crack extension in a loading cycle increases with dwell time in a decelerated manner; • A two-term crack growth model considering time-dependent damage was proposed and it is confirmed to be applicable to a wide range of temperature and dwell time under dwell fatigue conditions. Accurate prediction of fatigue crack growth behavior is crucial to damage tolerance assessment of turbine disk. Powder nickel-based superalloy is a kind of preferred material of turbine disk. For the purpose of better understanding the characteristics of its crack growth behavior under dwell fatigue conditions at elevated temperature, dwell fatigue crack growth tests of powder nickel-based superalloy FGH96 were conducted with compliance method at three temperatures (600℃, 650℃, 700℃) and multiple dwell time conditions (from 0 s to 60 s). The results show that sustained load can accelerate fatigue crack growth rate of FGH96 significantly at high temperature, and it is more pronounced with higher temperature and prolonged dwell time. At higher ΔK level, the acceleration effect brought by sustained load seems to diminish, this is ascribed to rapid crack growth rate which leads to insufficient time for time-dependent damage occurring at crack tip zone. The effect of temperature on dwell fatigue crack growth rate is more remarkable from 650℃ to 700℃, compared with that from 600℃ to 650℃. The fatigue crack growth resistance of FGH96 is sensitive to sustained load at 700℃, just 1 s dwell loading can produce remarkable acceleration effect on fatigue crack growth rate. The time-dependent crack extension in a loading cycle increases with dwell time in a decelerated manner. Finally, A phenomenological-based crack growth model considering time-dependent damage was proposed, the comparation between the proposed model and the experiment data confirms that it works well for a wide range of temperature and dwell time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) is a ubiquitous epigenetic RNA modification that plays a pivotal role in tumour development and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression profiling, clinical significance, biological function and the regulation of m6A‐related genes in hepatoblastoma (HB). Materials and Methods: The mRNA and protein expression levels of m6A‐related genes were analysed using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and tissue microarray (TMA) cohort. Kaplan‐Meier analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of m6A‐related genes in HB. Knockdown of m6A‐related genes was conducted to analyse its function on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification were used to explore the potential molecular mechanism and signalling pathway. Results: We found that most m6A‐related genes were significantly upregulated in HB tumour tissues. High levels of methyltransferase‐like 3 (METTL3, P =.013), YTHDF2 (P =.037) and FTO (P =.032) indicated poor clinical outcomes, and the upregulation of METTL3 was an independent prognostic factor in HB patients. Functional assays showed that knockdown of METTL3 could dramatically suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of HB cells. In addition, METTL3 was identified to be a direct target of microRNA‐186 (miR‐186). Consistently, miR‐186 was low expressed in HB tumour tissues. Moreover, overexpression of miR‐186 significantly inhibited cell aggressive phenotype both in vitro and in vivo, while the inhibitory effect could be reversed by METTL3 overexpression. Mechanism study indicated that miR‐186/METTL3 axis contributed to the progression of HB via the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway. Conclusions: M6A‐related genes were frequently dysregulated in HB. miR‐186/METTL3/Wnt/β‐catenin axis might serve as novel therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers in HB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an impact-assessment framework to appropriately assess the impacts of two different types of distributed solar photovoltaic (DPV) installation on a realistic distribution network. To examine the spontaneous customer-based installations, a detailed Monte Carlo-based technique is introduced. For the controlled utility-based installation, a multi-objective optimization problem for the sizing and location of DPV installation is formulated aiming to improve energy loss, voltage deviation, and voltage fluctuation, avoiding reverse power flow and voltage violation. Solar insolation study is performed using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data to estimate the potential of the network for DPV installation. In addition, a synthetic load profile modeling is developed to create yearly electricity load profiles for all the buildings in the given distribution network. The proposed framework is applied to a local distribution network with synthetic load profiles, Geographic Information System (GIS), and realistic solar insolation. It is found that for customer-based installation, voltage violation occurs beyond 30% of DPV penetration level, demonstrating the necessity of utility-based installation scheme for higher penetration ratios. Beyond a specific threshold, the probability of reverse power flow significantly increases in customer-based installation. Therefore, to achieve higher penetration ratios without reverse power flow and other negative impacts, utility-aided installation is necessary. • A detailed hosting capacity assessment with a comparative study of two different PV installation schemes is presented. • Customer-based random installation of distributed rooftop PVs is modeled. • Multi-objective optimization framework of distributed PVs is developed. • Potential of PV installation is calculated using available solar insolation and roof space. • Synthetic load profile modeling is proposed to generate individual load profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging class of crystalline porous polymers with highly tuneable structures and functionalities. COFs have been proposed as ideal materials for applications in the energy-intensive field of molecular separation due to their notable intrinsic features such as low density, exceptional stability, high surface area, and readily adjustable pore size and chemical environment. This review attempts to highlight the key advancements made in the synthesis of COFs for diverse separation applications such as water treatment or the separation of gas mixtures and organic molecules, including chiral and isomeric compounds. Methods proposed for the fabrication of COF-based columns and continuous membranes for practical applications are also discussed in detail. Finally, a perspective regarding the remaining challenges and future directions for COF research in the field of separation has also been presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain sensitive analytical detection methods, many unique materials have been developed and made them promising candidates for biosensing. In this study, a type of core-shell gold nanorods, GNR@Au 2 S/AuAgS/CuS, possessing peroxidase-like activity was prepared in a simple, facile manner. A colorimetric strategy for detection of blood glucose, insulin and differentiating type 1 and type 2 diabetes was developed based on the unique GNR@Au 2 S/AuAgS/CuS. The sensitive colorimetric approach for detection of glucose in the dynamic range of 2.5–200 μM was first established based on the catalytic performance of GNR@Au 2 S/AuAgS/CuS. Meanwhile, the catalytic activity of the peroxidase-like GNR@Au 2 S/AuAgS/CuS can be regulated by introducing the high affinity and specific reaction between DNA aptamer and insulin on the surface of GNR@Au 2 S/AuAgS/CuS, which allows the colorimetric assay to be extended to the detection of insulin, and a quantitative analysis of insulin based on the specific recognition can be implemented at the range from 0.014 to 1.08 μU/mL. Furthermore, colorimetric approach coupling peroxidase-like performance and specific recognition on the surface of GNR@Au 2 S/AuAgS/CuS nanoparticles was developed to measure glucose/insulin ratio and directly differentiate type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Practical human serum samples were tested and only the glucose/insulin ratio greater than 2.2 (μU/mL) may lead to the appearance of color change. The coupling of this different bioassay on the same nanoparticles reflects the versatility and integration characteristics of the colorimetric assay and is highly promising for improving diabetes management. Image 1 • Core-shell gold nanorods, GNR@Au 2 S/AuAgS/CuS, possessing peroxidase-like activity were prepared with facile method. • A colorimetric assay for detection of blood glucose and insulin was developed based on GNR@Au 2 S/AuAgS/CuS nanoparticles. • Strategy coupling peroxidase-like performance and specific recognition was developed to measure glucose/insulin ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A squaramide-decorated COF was synthesized and used as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for hydrogen-bonding organocatalysis as exemplified in the context of catalyzing Michael addition reactions under mild conditions. Our work lays a foundation for the development of functional COFs as a new platform for biomimetic organocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel molybdate polymers, H4[Co(phen)3]2[NaO(H2O)(τ-Mo8O26)]2·2H2O (1) and H4[TEDA] [γ-Mo8O26]·3H2O (2), (phen = 1,10′-phenanthroline, TEDA = triethylene diamine), were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method with MoCl5. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that 1 was a dimer-octamolybdate polymer connected by two Na+ cation, and it is the first molybdate dimer-polymer of [τ-Mo8O26]. Compound 2 was an extended 1D octamolybdate chain connected by contiguous [γ-Mo8O26]. Both 1 and 2 have 1D hydrogen-bond chains for proton-conducting pathways and free H+ counter cations as proton donors. These features make them suitable for potential proton-conducting solid crystal materials. The outstanding conductivities of 3.06 × 10−3 S cm−1 for 1 and 4.18 × 10−4 S cm−1 for 2 were achieved at 85 °C under 97% RH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The rapid antidepressant effect of acupuncture in the rats model of DPD. • Acupuncture may be to inhibit the overexpression of autophagy in the rats model of DPD. • Acupuncture regulates synaptic plasticity by activating the mTOR signaling pathway in the brain tissue of DPD model rats. Acupuncture is a good treatment for depression in Parkinson's disease (DPD), so the possible mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of DPD was explored in this study. Firstly, observing the behavioral changes of the DPD rat model, the regulation of monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the midbrain, the change of α-synuclein (α-syn) in the striatum, the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of DPD was discussed. Secondly, autophagy inhibitors and activators were selected to judge the effect of acupuncture on autophagy in the DPD rat model. Finally, an mTOR inhibitor was used to observe the effect of acupuncture on the mTOR pathway in the DPD rat model. The results showed that acupuncture could improve the motor and depressive symptoms of DPD model rats, increase the content of DA and 5-HT, and decrease the content of ɑ-syn in the striatum. Acupuncture inhibited the expression of autophagy in the striatum of DPD model rats. At the same time, acupuncture upregulates p-mTOR expression, inhibits autophagy, and promotes synaptic protein expression. Therefore, we concluded that acupuncture might improve the behavior of DPD model rats by activating the mTOR pathway, inhibiting autophagy from removing α-syn and repairing synapses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with high specific porosity, easy functionalization, and tailored structure are an emerging class of crystalline porous polymers that have been extensively exploited as ideal materials in various fields. Among them, sp2-carbon linked COFs with high chemical stability, porous backbone, and unique π-electron conjugated architectures structure have raised widespread attention. Specifically, the porous channels of olefin-linked COFs could be packed with active sites for catalysis and guest molecules, while π–π stacking interactions and conjugation systems pave the way for electron transfer. In recent years, many efforts have been devoted to the development of sp2-carbon linked COFs for applications in catalysis, energy storage, gas adsorption, and separation. In this review, we highlight the design principles, synthesis strategies, and impactful applications of olefin-linked COFs. We are looking forward to this review to deepen the understanding of the synthesis of olefin-linked COFs and motivate the further development of these novel conjugated organic materials with distinctive physicochemical properties, as well as their applications in a variety of fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) as a kind of gaseous pollutant has a strong effect regarding atmospheric environment, air quality, and climate change. As one of the most polluted regions in China, air quality in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region has attracted more attention. This paper aims to study the characteristics of SO2 distribution and variation over BTH. Spatial and temporal variations for a long term (2006–2017) over BTH derived from OMI PBL SO2 products were discussed. The temporal trends confirm that the SO2 loading falls from average 0.88 DU to 0.16 DU in the past 12 years. Two ascending fluctuations in 2007 and 2011 appeared to be closely related to the economic stimulus of each five-year plan (FYP). The spatial analysis indicates an imbalanced spatial distribution pattern, with higher SO2 level in the southern BTH and lower in the northern. This is a result of both natural and human factors. Meanwhile, the SO2 concentration demonstrates a decreasing trend with 14.92%, 28.57%, and 27.43% compared with 2006, during the events of 2008 Olympic Games, 2014 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, and 2015 Military Parade, respectively. The improvement indicates that the direct effect is attributed to a series of long-term and short-term control measures, which have been implemented by the government. The findings of this study are desirable to assist local policy makers in the BTH for drawing up control strategies regarding the mitigation of environmental pollution in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is still a challenge to achieve both excellent mechanical strength and biocompatibility in hydrogels. In this study, we exploited two interactions to form a novel biocompatible, slicing‐resistant, and self‐healing hydrogel. The first was molecular host–guest recognition between a host (isocyanatoethyl acrylate modified β‐cyclodextrin) and a guest (2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐(adamantyl‐1‐oxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol acrylate) to form “three‐arm” host–guest supramolecules (HGSMs), and the second was covalent bonding between HGSMs (achieved by UV‐initiated polymerization) to form strong cross‐links in the hydrogel. The host–guest interaction enabled the hydrogel to rapidly self‐heal. When it was cut, fresh surfaces were formed with dangling host and guest molecules (due to the breaking of host–guest recognition), which rapidly recognized each other again to heal the hydrogel by recombination of the cut surfaces. The smart hydrogels hold promise for use as biomaterials for soft‐tissue repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is still a challenge to achieve both excellent mechanical strength and biocompatibility in hydrogels. In this study, we exploited two interactions to form a novel biocompatible, slicing‐resistant, and self‐healing hydrogel. The first was molecular host–guest recognition between a host (isocyanatoethyl acrylate modified β‐cyclodextrin) and a guest (2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐(adamantyl‐1‐oxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol acrylate) to form “three‐arm” host–guest supramolecules (HGSMs), and the second was covalent bonding between HGSMs (achieved by UV‐initiated polymerization) to form strong cross‐links in the hydrogel. The host–guest interaction enabled the hydrogel to rapidly self‐heal. When it was cut, fresh surfaces were formed with dangling host and guest molecules (due to the breaking of host–guest recognition), which rapidly recognized each other again to heal the hydrogel by recombination of the cut surfaces. The smart hydrogels hold promise for use as biomaterials for soft‐tissue repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth of monolayer 2D organic crystal has been an interesting topic in recent years owing to their promising properties. However, it is still a tough challenge to obtain the 2D organic crystal with precise thickness control and uniform morphology. Herein, we reported the fabrication of 2D crystals of alkane molecules C 44 H 90 with only monolayer thickness and tunable size through the simple dip-coating process. Benefitted from the low solubility of the C 44 H 90 and the isotropic Van der Waals interaction, quadrilateral-shape monolayer 2D crystals with size from several micrometers to nearly hundreds of micrometers can be achieved in the dip-coating process. Utilized the X-ray diffraction and high resolution atomic force microscopy, we obtained the clear packing mode of these monolayer crystals. In addition, these smooth 2D crystals show promising application in the thin film transistors by acting as a molecular template layer. It leads to an increment of about one magnitude on the charge mobility owing to the decreasing of both morphology defects and interface traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents our study results on the correlated assignment of generation, load, or connection buses in a given grid topology and the development of an optimized search algorithm to improve the proposed synthetic grid model, called RT-nestedSmallWorld. A numerical measure, called “bus type entropy”, was proposed in an initial study on this subject to characterize the correlation of bus type assignments in realistic grids. In this paper, its definition has been redefined and improved with the help of some newly obtained data of realistic grids so that the scaling property of a real-world grid's entropy value versus the network size can be effectively captured with a curve-fitting approach. With the help of the derived scaling function, we will be able to determine an appropriate target entropy value that a correlated bus type assignment should assume in a specific N-bus grid network. Therefore, our previously proposed synthetic power grid modeling has been enhanced with a direct search procedure for the best bus type assignments in a specific N-bus grid topology, saving the mandatory, but most of the time unattainable, requirement of a set of realistic grid data with a comparable network size for identifying the search target. Finally, the performance of the proposed approach is examined based on some available grid data including the IEEE test cases, the NYISO-2935, the ERCOT-5633, and the WECC-16994 systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Microporous organic networks (MONs) have been considered as an ideal substrate to stabilize active metal nanoparticles. However, the development of highly water-dispersible hollow MONs nanostructures which can serve as both the reducing agent and stabilizer is highly desirable but still challenging. Here we report a template-assisted method to synthesize hollow microporous organic network (H-MON) spheres using silica spheres as hard template and 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene as the building blocks through a Glaser coupling reaction. The obtained water-dispersible H-MON spheres bearing sp- and sp2-hybridized carbon atoms possess a highly conjugated electronic structure and show low reduction potential; thus, they can serve as a reducing agent and stabilizer for electroless deposition of highly dispersed Pd clusters to form a Pd/H-MON spherical hollow nanocomposite. Benefitting from their high porosity, large surface area, and excellent solution dispersibility, the as-prepared Pd/H-MON hollow nanocomposite exhibits a high catalytic performance and recyclability toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis A is a common acute hepatitis caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV). Annually, it affects 1.4 million people worldwide. Between 1991 and 1994, HAV infections were highly endemic in Zhejiang Province (China), with 78,720 reported HAV infections per year. Hepatitis A vaccine came on the market in 1995 and was implemented for voluntary immunization. Since 2008, hepatitis A vaccine has been integrated into the national childhood routine immunization program. Objective: To understand the current epidemiological profile of hepatitis A in Zhejiang Province since hepatitis A vaccine has been available for nearly two decades. Methods: This study used the 2005–2014 National Notifiable Diseases Reporting System data to evaluate the incidence rate of notified hepatitis A cases in Zhejiang Province. Results: The overall trend of incidence rate of notified hepatitis A cases significantly decreased from 2005 to 2014 (P< 0.001). During the study period, the reported incidence rate in individuals aged ≤19 years declined to the historically lowest record in 2014. Compared with individuals aged ≤19 years, those aged ≥20 years showed the highest incidence rate (P< 0.001). Majority of HAV infected cases were Laborers, accounting for approximately 70% of reported cases. Conclusions: Childhood immunization strategy with hepatitis A vaccine seemed to be effective in decreasing notified hepatitis A incidence rate in individuals aged ≤19 years. Those aged ≥20 years were observed to be the most susceptible population. The vast majority of hepatitis A cases were notified among Laborers. Therefore, we strongly suggest that future preventive and control measures should focus more on adults, particularly Laborers, in addition to the current childhood hepatitis A vaccination programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonylation of aryl iodides with amines under atmospheric pressure of CO, catalyzed by Pd/CTFs (covalent triazine frameworks) without any specific additives, leads to the highly selective synthesis of α-ketoamides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhejiang Province was a high endemicity for hepatitis B disease in the 1990's. A number of measures implemented since then have begun to control and prevent hepatitis B. In 1992, hepatitis B vaccine came on the market. In 2002, hepatitis B vaccine was included in the national Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). Between 2007 and 2010, catch-up vaccination was implemented for children under 15. Since 2010, vaccination guidelines for high-risk groups have also been adopted. This study evaluated the impact of these control and prevention strategies on acute hepatitis B notification rates from 2005 through 2013. Data from the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS) revealed a steady downward trend in notification rates of acute hepatitis B. The most dramatic decline occurred among pre-adults, highlighting the benefits of EPI's policy of universal vaccination for children. However, the highest notification rates occurred among young adults of lower socio-economic status. These findings indicate the strong need to vaccinate young adults at risk for HBV infection as well as to collect risk-factor information in the NNDRS for monitoring and following up persons with acute hepatitis B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Social-media-based improvement index (SMII) was developed for urban renewal. • SMII applies to all attributes of urban renewal in denoting improvement priorities. • SMII is rapid and cost-effectively for decision making. • SMII's capacity was exemplified using park services across scales. Urban renewal to fulfill the updated needs of urban residents is an inevitable product of urbanization at certain stages. And how to effectively prioritize varied attributes to be renewed across scales is a challenging process for urban governance worldwide. This study aimed to fill the existing gaps by merging the prioritization capacity of importance-performance analysis (IPA) and the scalability potential of social media data. The study pioneered establishing a social-media-based improvement index (SMII) for urban renewal. Based on the framework of importance-performance analysis, SMII takes the most overkilled point (the lowest importance but the highest performance) as the origin and calculates the area between other points and the origin. SMII always has the highest value in the quadrant with high importance but low performance. We demonstrate the usage of SMII taking the landscape services of urban park systems as an example. We used SMII to understand the users' evaluation of parks' services across scales and then clarified the priority sequence for future renewal. Among selected parks, we identified three parks that need immediate renewal. Among all the services, we found that recreational activities and social interactions are in highest priority for renewal in Beijing's park systems. The findings suggest that the history and culture services of the Old Summer Place Park need to be improved first for a wide variety of reasons. The findings also reveal multiple temporal changes of varied services. Our study concludes that SMII can clarify problem prioritization and cost-effective guide decision-making for urban park renewal with high scalability both temporally and spatially. Meanwhile, SMII can extend its applications to analyzing various issues in the urban environment on multiple scales for the effective allocation of resources during urban renewal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mouse Slc39a8 and Slc39a14 genes encode ZIP8 and ZIP14, respectively, which are ubiquitous divalent cation/(HCO3–)2 symporters responsible for uptake of Zn2+, Fe2+, and Mn2+ into cells. Cd2+ and other toxic nonessential metals can displace essential cations, thereby entering vertebrate cells. Whereas Slc39a8 encodes a single protein, Slc39a14 has 2 exons 4 which, via alternative splicing, give rise to ZIP14A and ZIP14B; why differences exist in cell type-specific expression of ZIP14A and ZIP14B remains unknown. Inflammatory stimuli have been associated with upregulation of ZIP8 and ZIP14, but a systematic study of many tissues simultaneously in a laboratory animal following inflammatory cytokine exposure has not yet been reported. Herein, we show that C57BL/6J male mice––treated intraperitoneally with lipopolysaccharide or the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or interleukin-6 (IL6)––exhibited quantatively very different, highly tissue-specific, and markedly time-dependent up- and downregulation of ZIP8, ZIP14A, and ZIP14B messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in 12 tissues. The magnitude of inflammatory response was confirmed by measuring the proinflammatory cytokine TNF, IL6, and interleukin-1β mRNA levels in the same tissues of these animals. Our data suggest that most if not all tissues use ZIP8, ZIP14A, and/or ZIP14B for Zn2+ uptake, some tissues under basal conditions and others moreso when inflammatory stressors are present; collectively, this might lead to substantial alterations in plasma Zn2+ levels due to Zn2+ redistribution not just in liver but across many vital organs. In the context of cadmium-mediated toxicity, our data suggest that tissues other than liver, kidney, and lung should also be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reported coverage of the measles–rubella (MR) or measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine is greater than 99.0% in Zhejiang province. However, the incidence of measles, mumps, and rubella remains high. In this study, we assessed MMR seropositivity and disease distribution by age on the basis of the current vaccination program, wherein the first dose of MR is administered at 8 months and the second dose of MMR is administered at 18–24 months. Methods: Cross-sectional serological surveys of MMR antibodies were conducted by collecting epidemiological data in Zhejiang province, China in 2011. In total, 1015 participants were randomly selected from two surveillance sites. Serum MMR-specific immunoglobulin G levels were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The geometric mean titers and seroprevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by age and gender. Proportions of different dose of vaccine by age by vaccine were also identified. Statistically significant differences between categories were assessed by the Chi-square test. Results: Over 95% seroprevalence rates of measles were seen in all age groups except <7 months infants. Children aged 5–9 years were shown lower seropositivity rates of mumps while elder adolescences and young adults were presented lower rubella seroprevalence. Especially, rubella seropositivity was significantly lower in female adults than in male. Nine measles cases were unvaccinated or unknown vaccination history. Among them, 66.67% (6/9) patients were aged 20–29 years while 33.33% (3/9) were infants aged 8–12 months. In addition, 57.75% (648/1122) patients with mumps were children aged 5–9 years, and 50.54% (94/186) rubella cases were aged 15–39 years. Conclusions: A timely two-dose MMR vaccination schedule is recommended, with the first dose at 8 months and the second dose at 18–24 months. An MR vaccination speed-up campaign may be necessary for elder adolescents and young adults, particularly young females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptomyces sp. TD-1 was identified as Streptomyces alboflavus based on its morphological characteristics, physiological properties, and 16 S r DNA gene sequence analysis. The antifungal activity of the volatile-producing S. alboflavus TD-1 was investigated. Results showed that volatiles generated by S. alboflavus TD-1 inhibited storage fungi Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus ochraceus, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillum citrinum in vitro. GC/ MS analysis revealed that 27 kinds of volatile organic compounds were identified from the volatiles of S. alboflavus TD-1 mycelia, among which the most abundant compound was 2-methylisoborneol. Dimethyl disulfide was proved to have antifungal activity against F. moniliforme by fumigation in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exurban residential settings are relevant for understanding how societal desires for open space impact landscapes and their ecosystem services. In a 2005 image-based web survey of 468 exurban homeowners in southeast Michigan, we investigated how exurban home-buying choices may be related to having open space nearby, and we measured homeowners’ relative preferences for seven different types of open spaces characterized by different ecosystem services. Our study confirms that nearby open space is important to exurban homeowners, but it suggests that homeowners are somewhat heterogeneous in their preferences for different types of open spaces. They generally prefer forests, lakes, and streams, but their preferences for wetlands, prairies, playgrounds, and golf courses vary somewhat with education, age, or having children. In addition, homeowners for whom open space was less important when they bought their home had somewhat different preferences. We discuss the implications for protecting ecosystem services in planning, design, and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microchip electrophoresis (MCE) coupled to laser-induced fluorescence detection was applied to the rapid separation of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Enterococccus faecalis. All bacteria were quickly separated within 150 s using a running buffer of pH 8.5 containing Tris, borate, EDTA, and poly(ethylene oxide). The latter was crucial to reduce the bacterial adsorption on the walls of the microchannels. The pH of 8.5 warrants that bacteria carry a negative charge at their surface and thus display good electrophoretic performance. The method was used to analyze medical samples containing these probiotics, and the results showed that the identification and detection of bacteria by MCE is advantageous in terms of sample consumption, waste production, time of analysis, and instrumental effort. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron (B) is essential for the normal growth and development of oilseed rape. To gain better insight into the metabolic processes of Brassica napus in response to B starvation, a time course proteomics analysis of roots under conditions of hydroponic cultivation was carried out. Forty-six differentially expressed proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. These proteins were classified into the following functional categories: carbohydrate and energy metabolism, stress response, signaling and regulation, cell wall, protein process, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism. In general, the energy metabolism pathway and certain biosynthesis pathways were maintained at a relatively low level, while signaling, regulation and stress response pathways were dramatically induced in the absence of B. Eight genes were selected for qPCR analysis to detect the relationships among protein and gene expression patterns. Furthermore, analyses of lipid peroxidation and glutathione reductase activity revealed that oxidative damage was induced and the antioxidative system was activated under conditions of B deficiency. These results suggest that carbon flux is a putative modulating process that controls the response to B deficiency stress, and a stable cell wall structure, resistance to oxidative damage and a complex signaling network may contribute to the tolerance to B deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In some complex energy conversion process system related to hydrogen, as like as an acetylene production process, fuel cell and a H2/O2 power generation cycle, hydrogen can be considered as a process key component. The influence of hydrogen conversion and utilization on the characteristics of energy conversion is very important. This paper presents a new graphic method for thermodynamic analysis and energy integration used in hydrogen systems. The proposed tool, known as the flowrate-exergy diagram (FED), visually and concisely describe the conversion rates of hydrogen and hydrogenous chemicals associating with the exergy loss, based on the second law analysis and the exergy concept. The principles and a series of revelatory criteria for using the FED are also introduced. Based on the analysis of an acetylene production process and a H2/O2 cycle system, a novel acetylene and power polygeneration system was proposed and the validity of the new method was proved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Biometric technologies are becoming much more important in various applications. Among them, iris recognition is considered as one of the most reliable and accurate technologies. In the preparation of iris recognition, the iris location will influence the performance of the entire system. This paper proposes a novel algorithm to locate iris and eyelids. Morphological operation is applied to remove eyelashes during iris boundary location. An optimal step length is calculated to reduce the searching time. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed iris location algorithm is able to achieve a good performance with accuracy higher than 97.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hao, Q.; Wang, Z.-F. and Qin, L.-L., 2019. Design of Beidou satellite system in ocean logistics real-time tracking system. In: Gong, D.; Zhu, H., and Liu, R. (eds.), Selected Topics in Coastal Research: Engineering, Industry, Economy, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 94, pp. 204–207. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. In order to ensure the quality and safety of pelagic fish catches in the process of transportation, administrator needs to carry out real-time monitoring and management to the transport and quality status during this period and establish a complete management system. This paper puts forward that the real-time online monitoring of transport location, catches temperature, humidity, PH value and other physical property data can be used during the application process of Beidou System and RFID temperature tags in the cold chain logistics of ocean catches. The system consists of 3 parts, i.e. vehicle or vessel tracking, parameter monitoring and data management and analysis. The system applies the technologies such as Beidou, ZigBee and Internet as well as the Java-programming client web page structure and the traditional SSH2 as its code framework. Hence, it realizes the real-time monitoring of whole catches transportation logistics process and makes administrator timely know about the status of catches so as to ensure the product quality. This system can guarantee the quality, safety and transport efficiency of pelagic fish products and provides a support for the building of cold chain logistics system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nanocrystalline Lu2O3:Eu3+ was prepared by co-precipitation method using ammonium hydrogen carbonate and ammonium oxalic acid as precipitants, respectively. The crystal structure and morphology were analyzed by means of XRD and TEM. The resultant powders were sintered into transparent ceramics in vacuum and then in nitrogen without any additive. The surface morphology of the unpolished sintered specimens was characterized using SEM. The effect of different precipitants on microstructure of the nanopowders and transparency of the ceramics are compared. The excitation and emission spectra of Lu2O3:Eu3+ powders and ceramics were measured at room temperature by using synchrotron radiation as the light source. The fluorescence decay times of all specimens were analyzed. Luminescence of the ceramics decays faster than the corresponding nanopowders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the original publication, the given names and surnames of the authors were swapped in one of the references and hence incorrectly cited as Blal et al. 2017 in the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]