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In recent years, wearable multifunctional strain sensors have attracted attention for their promising applications in wearable electronics and portable devices. To achieve a high-performance wearable strain sensor with a wide sensing range and high gauge factor (GF), wisely choosing appropriate conductive materials and a rational structural design is essential. Herein, we develop a supersensitive sensor that contains one-dimensional conductive material CNT and two-dimensional material MXene built on a PDMS porous foam that is made based on a sugar template. The one-dimensional carbon nanotube (CNT) functionalizes as a conductive scale layer through solvent swelling and evaporation on the surface of the PDMS skeleton. The two-dimensional MXene is applied on top of the CNT layer to form final conductive pathways. The PDMS/CNT@MXene (PCM) sensor has a wide sensing range (150%), high sensitivity (GF = 26438), rapid response speed (response/recovery time of 60/71 ms), and exceptional durability (>1000 cycles) owing to its unique porous structure with scale layers and graded fracture of conductive pathways. Moreover, the PCM sensor is capable of monitoring subtle and significant human activities and is used for wireless sensing and medical diagnostics, even for solvent identification. The superior performance of the PCM sensor provides vast application potential in human movement, health monitoring, and warning devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs) can effectively enhance the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) performance, such as communication and ranging performance. These performances would have been improved by disposing sparsely of ground stations and ISLs. Here, we demonstrate a topology scheduling strategy based on Signed Variance and Blossom algorithm (SV-Blossom) to promote the topology performance of GNSS. We also analyze the effect of this strategy on the robustness of the ranging information quality of the ISLs assignments system. For the domestic and overseas satellite communication Time Delay (TD) and Position Dilution of Precision (PDOP), by analyzing the relation of satellites, a set of the ISLs cost models is established, and the cost matrix is obtained. The final ISLs assignments result is obtained by processing the link cost matrix with the Blossom algorithm in the graph theory. In order to verify the rationality of the SV-Blossom strategy, a typical BDS-3 simulation scene with 10080 min is built to test these performances of ISLs. The final results show that the ranging information quality of the SV-Blossom strategy is greatly improved compared with recently published strategies, and the proposed links assignments mechanism has good robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we present a mild strategy for deprotecting cyclic sulfamidates via the Kukhtin–Ramirez reaction to access amino sugars. The method features the removal of the sulfonic group of cyclic sulfamidates, which occurs through an N-H insertion reaction that implicates the Kukhtin–Ramirez adducts, followed by a base-promoted reductive N-S bond cleavage. The mild reaction conditions of the protocol enable the formation of amino alcohols including analogs that bear multiple functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle shimmy could occur in the running process when the wheel encounters external disturbance, which affects the vehicle safety and stability. Four types of passive inerter-based suppression mechanisms are proposed to enhance the vehicle shimmy performance, the steering linkage clearance is considered as the nonlinear factor existing in the vehicle system. The vehicle shimmy model using inerter-based suppression mechanism and considering steering linkage clearance is established according to the Lagrange theory, the vehicle shimmy performance is studied based on the bifurcation analysis theory, the stable area and limit cycle oscillation (LCO) magnitude are acquired and compared for different suppression mechanisms. The effect of steering linkage clearance and structural parameters of the inerter-based suppression mechanisms on the vehicle shimmy performance is investigated. The results show that the inerter-based suppression mechanism can reduce the unstable area dominated by left and right steering shimmy significantly, shrink the vehicle shimmy occurred speed range and decrease the maximum LCO magnitude of the front wheel swing motion. When the steering linkage clearance exists and increases, the unstable area, vehicle shimmy occurred speed range and maximum LCO magnitude increase significantly, the vehicle motion can change from periodic to quasi-periodic or even chaotic, which degenerates the vehicle shimmy performance. Furthermore, larger inertance of the inerter and smaller stiffness of the auxiliary spring, larger contact stiffness and friction damping in the steering linkage clearance is better to suppress the vehicle shimmy. In addition, the inerter-based suppression mechanism can decrease the wheel swing angle around longitudinal axis and vertical dynamic tire load, which improves the suspension performance and further shows its advantage. Therefore, the inerter-based suppression mechanism can effectively suppress the vehicle shimmy and gives guiding significance for vehicle damping component design. • The vehicle shimmy model is established using the Lagrange theory. • The vehicle shimmy performance is studied based on the bifurcation analysis theory. • The influence of steering linkage clearance on the vehicle shimmy performance is revealed. • The effect of inerter-based suppression mechanism on the vehicle shimmy performance is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There were 146 potential targets of diosgenin for OSCC treatment. • The genes such as AKT1 , MET1 , SRC1 , and PTGS2 may be important targets. • Diosgenin significantly inhibited HSC-3 cell activity. • Th expression of the targets was regulated by diosgenin. • Their proteins of targets had a high binding energy with diosgenin. Diosgenin can inhibit the proliferation and cause apoptosis of various tumor cells, and its inhibitory effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its mechanism are still unclear. In this study, we predicted the targets of diosgenin for the treatment of OSCC through the database, then performed bioinformatics analysis of the targets, and further verified the effect of diosgenin on the activity of OSCC cell line HSC-3, the transcriptional profile of the targets and the molecular docking of the targets with diosgenin. The results revealed that there were 146 potential targets of diosgenin for OSCC treatment, which involved signaling pathways such as Ras, TNF, PI3K-AKT, HIF, NF-κB, and could regulate cellular activity through apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation and differentiation, inflammatory response, DNA repair, etc. Diosgenin significantly inhibited HSC-3 cell activity. The genes such as AKT1 , MET1 , SRC1 , APP1 , CCND1 , MYC , PTGS2 , AR , NFKB1 , BIRC2 , MDM2 , BCL2L1 , MMP2 , may be important targets of its action, not only their expression was regulated by diosgenin but also their proteins had a high binding energy with diosgenin. These results suggest that diosgenin may have a therapeutic effect on OSCC through AKT1, MMP2 and other targets and multiple signaling pathways, which is of potential clinical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible and multifunctional strain sensors have attracted extensive concern owing to the promising applications in wearable devices, artificial intelligence, and health monitoring. However, the strain sensor with a high gauge factor (GF) and broad working range remains a big challenge. In this work, we developed a multifunctional strain sensor by incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNT) and MXene onto a porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sponge. The resultant PDMS/CNT@MXene sensor exhibits a wide sensing range (105% strain), high sensitivity (GF = 1939), rapid response speed (response/recovery time of 158/160 ms), sufficient reliability and stability under the repeated stretching, compression, and bending cycles. The sensor can be applied for detecting a variety of body actions as well as medical diagnosis, such as various joint movements, phonation detecting, pulse beats, and handwriting. Therefore, our present sensor demonstrates powerful potential applications in smart clothing, flexible electronics, and human health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph Contrastive Learning (GCL) is increasingly employed in graph representation learning with the primary aim of learning node/graph representations from a predefined pretext task that can generalize to various downstream tasks. Meanwhile, the transition from a specific pretext task to diverse and unpredictable downstream tasks poses a significant challenge for GCL's generalization ability. Most existing GCL approaches maximize mutual information between two views derived from the original graph, either randomly or heuristically. However, the generalization ability of GCL and its theoretical principles are still less studied. In this paper, we introduce a novel metric GCL-GE, to quantify the generalization gap between predefined pretext and agnostic downstream tasks. Given the inherent intractability of GCL-GE, we leverage concepts from information theory to derive a mutual information upper bound that is independent of the downstream tasks, thus enabling the metric's optimization despite the variability in downstream tasks. Based on the theoretical insight, we propose InfoAdv, a GCL framework to directly enhance generalization by jointly optimizing GCL-GE and InfoMax. Extensive experiments validate the capability of InfoAdv to enhance performance across a wide variety of downstream tasks, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving the generalizability of GCL. • We introduce the GCL-GE metric for the generalization of GCL. • We prove a mutual information upper bound for GCL-GE. • We propose InfoAdv framework based on this bound to enhance GCL generalization. • We experimentally demonstrate the superior performance of the InfoAdv framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid metal is increasingly attracting attention because of the fluidity properties and the electrical and thermal conductivity of metals. However, the preparation of stable liquid metal nanoparticles (LM NPs) is facing a great challenge. Liquid metal is prone to be oxidized when exposed to water and air. Because of the high density and surface tension, liquid metal tends to aggregate and precipitate. To address this challenge, we have developed a grinding technology that not only produces LM NPs with a narrower size distribution but also has high production efficiency and high concentration (more than 10 wt.%). A new polymer was synthesized to reduce the particle size and stabilize the NPs during the grinding process. The LM NPs stabilized with comb-like polymer have a smaller diameter of about 120 nm in deionized water and 80 nm in propylene glycol methyl ether (PM), which can maintain relative stability for a period of >90 days. The high concentration LM NPs play an important role in the fields of electronic product cooling, biomedicine, tissue engineering, intelligent hardware, 3 D printing, flexible electronics, artificial intelligence, aerospace, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The Ogura CMS RfoB restorer developing via RfoB gene transformation was utilized to produce specific morphological Ogura CMS restorers and clubroot resistance lines in Brassica oleracea subspecies. Brassica oleracea vegetables including cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts and Chinese kale are morphologically very different despite being members of the same species. The Ogura cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) system is the most stable strategy for the hybrid breeding of these species. However, this limits the utilization of some excellent genes due to the lack of fertile restorer genes in the system. Herein, to efficaciously use Ogura CMS, the Ogura CMS RfoB restorer was produced by transforming the modified RfoB restorer gene into the Ogura CMS line 'CMS2016' of B. oleracea var. capitata. This gene was shown to recover fertility of natural Ogura CMS lines in B. oleracea subspecies and create transient Ogura CMS RfoB restorers such as the clubroot resistance Ogura CMS RfoB restorer. Interestingly, clubroot resistant individuals without transgenic elements were screened in the progenies of hybrids between B. oleracea inbred lines and the clubroot resistance Ogura CMS RfoB restorer. In addition, 18 different morphological Ogura CMS restorers were developed to specifically recover fertile of Ogura CMS cultivars in B. oleracea subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The co-expression of TPL and pdxST genes for biosynthesis of L-DOPA and PLP. • Regulating the biosynthesis of PLP with riboswitch at translation level. • The titer and productivity of L-DOPA was improved to 69.8 g/L, 13.96 g/L/h. • Maintaining lower catechol concentration by continuous-flow in 3–L fermentor. Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) is an essential cofactor that participates in ∼4% enzymatic activities cataloged by the Enzyme Commission. The intracellular level of PLP is usually lower than that demanded in industrial catalysis. To realize the self-supply of PLP cofactor in whole-cell biotransformation, the de novo ribose 5-phosphate (R5P)-dependent PLP synthesis pathway was constructed. The pdxST genes from Bacillus subtilis 168 were introduced into the tyrosine phenol-lyase (TPL)-overexpressing Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strain. TPL and PdxST were co-expressed with a double-promoter or a compatible double-plasmid system. The 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate-L-alanine (L-DOPA) titer did not increase with the increase in the intracellular PLP concentration in these strains with TPL and PdxST co-expression. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize the intracellular PLP metabolism level so as to achieve a higher L-DOPA titer and avoid the formation of L-DOPA–PLP cyclic adducts. The thi riboswitch binds to PLP and forms a complex such that the ribosome cannot have access to the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence. Therefore, this metabolite-sensing regulation system was applied to regulate the translation of pdxST mRNA. Riboswitch was introduced into pET–TPL–pdxST-2 to downregulate the expression of PdxST and biosynthesis of PLP at the translation level by sequestering the ribosome-binding site. As a result, the titer and productivity of L-DOPA using the strain BL21–TPLST–Ribo1 improved to 69.8 g/L and 13.96 g/L/h, respectively, with a catechol conversion of 95.9% and intracellular PLP accumulation of 24.8 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

l-DOPA is a key pharmaceutical agent for treating Parkinson's, and market demand has exploded due to the aging population. There are several challenges associated with the chemical synthesis of l-DOPA, including complicated operation, harsh conditions, and serious pollution. A biocatalysis route for l-DOPA production is promising, especially via a route catalyzed by tyrosine phenol lyase (TPL). In this study, using TPL derived from Erwinia herbicola (Eh-TPL), a mutant Eh-TPL was obtained by integrating enzyme evolution and high-throughput screening methods. l-DOPA production using recombinant Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) cells harbouring mutant Eh-TPL was enhanced by 36.5% in shake flasks, and the temperature range and alkali resistance of the Eh-TPL mutant were promoted. Sequence analysis revealed two mutated amino acids in the mutant (S20C and N161S), which reduced the length of a hydrogen bond and generated new hydrogen bonds. Using a fed-batch mode for whole-cell catalysis in a 5 L bioreactor, the titre of l-DOPA reached 69.1 g L−1 with high productivity of 11.52 g L−1 h−1, demonstrating the great potential of Eh-TPL variants for industrial production of l-DOPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous data have revealed TCP particles caused cell death of osteocytes, comprising over 95 % of all bone cells, which contribute to periprosthetic osteolysis, joint loosening and implant failure, but its mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we reported that TCP particles inhibited cell viability of osteocytes MLO-Y4, and caused cell death. TCP particles caused mitochondrial impairment and increased expressions of LC-3 II, Parkin and PINK 1, accompanied by the elevation of autophagy flux and intracellular acidic components, the accumulation of LC-3II, PINK1 and Parkin in damaged mitochondria, and p62 reduction. The increased LC-3II expression and cell death extent were significantly enhanced by the autophagy inhibitor Baf A1, compared with Baf A1 (or TCP particles) alone, indicating that TCP particles increase autophagic flux and lead to cell even death of MLO-Y4 cells, closely associated with mitophagy. Furthermore, TCP particles induced propidium iodide (PI) uptake and the phosphorylation of RIP1, RIP3 and MLKL, thereby increasing necroptosis in MLO-Y4 cells. The pro-necroptotic effect was alleviated by the RIP1 inhibitor Nec-1 or the MLKL inhibitor NSA. Additionally, TCP particles promoted the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial ROS (mtROS), and increased TXNIP expression, but decreased protein levels of TRX1, Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1, leading to oxidative stress. The ROS scavenger NAC remarkably reversed mitophagy and necroptosis caused by TCP particles, suggesting that ROS is responsible for mitophagy and necroptosis. Collectively, ROS-mediated mitophagy and necroptosis regulate osteocytes death caused by TCP particles in MLO-Y4 cells, which enhances osteoclastogenesis and periprosthetic osteolysis. [Display omitted] • TCP particles caused mitochondrial impairment and increased mitophagy in osteocytes MLO-Y4. • TCP particles triggered RIP1-mediated necroptotic death in MLO-Y4 cells. • TCP particles promoted the overproduction of ROS and mtROS, leading to oxidative stress. • ROS contributed to mitophagy and RIP1-mediated necroptosis caused by TCP particles in MLO-Y4 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel approach based on the reduction of the attribution and the rank preservation is analyzed, which intends to solve the issue of multi-attribute decision making (MADM) with the hesitant fuzzy information. Firstly, several new concepts are shown to simplify the representation of hesitant fuzzy information, such as single point fuzzification estimated value, and single point fuzzification weighted Euclidean distance. Secondly, a new improved HF-TOPSIS method based on the overall situation and these new concepts are put forward, in which the positive and negative ideal solutions are fixed to calculate the complex hesitant fuzzy decision process. The proposed method in this paper achieves the purpose of compression of the complex hesitant fuzzy information, and the calculation is relatively simple and easy to operate. Finally, two examples are presented to test and verify the credibility and effectiveness of the TOPSIS-Based rank preservation approach, which can achieve the consistency of results before and after evaluation, as well as ensuring rank preservation, while other HF-TOPSIS methods may cause rank reversal problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male preference for mating with large females and its benefits on fitness have been shown in several animal taxa. However, the mechanisms underlying this preference are less well known. Dendroctonus valen s, a primarily monogamous bark beetle whose females initiate tunnels beneath the bark of host trees, provides a useful system for testing how male mate choice is based on size. Field observations and laboratory experiments demonstrated that D. valens males preferentially entered tunnels containing large females, and that large females were more fecund than small females. Behavioural assays showed that males could discern tunnel size, and preferred larger artificially constructed tunnels in a two-choice assay. Males were also able to walk more quickly through larger diameter tunnels. Volatiles and chirping sounds associated with females were also analysed. Female body size was positively associated with the intensity of the female's chirp, but not with the quantity of pheromones released. Playback of this chirp showed males preferred female-produced sound to a silent control, and that males could discriminate between soft and loud sounds. Male D. valens appear to have evolved strategies of mate selection by relying on dual cues, tunnel size and acoustic signals, to obtain a large partner to increase fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical algal blooms in great lakes increase the level of algal organic matters (AOMs), significantly altering the composition of natural organic matters (NOMs) in freshwater of lake. This study examined the AOM's characteristics of Nitzschia palea ( N. palea ), one kind of the predominant diatom and an important biomarker of water quality in the great lakes of China, to investigate the effect of AOMs on the variation of NOMs in lakes and the process of algal energy. Excitation–emission matrix fluorescence (EEM) spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence (SF) spectroscopy and deconvolution UV–vis (D-UV) spectroscopy were utilized to characterize AOMs to study the effects of nutrient loading on the composition change of AOMs. From results, it was revealed that the phosphorus is the limiting factor for N. palea 's growth and the generation of both total organic carbon and amino acids but the nitrogen is more important for the generation of carbohydrates and proteins. EEM spectra revealed differences in the composition of extracellular organic matter and intracellular organic matter. Regardless of the nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, aromatic proteins and soluble microbial products were the main components, but the nitrogen concentration had a significant impact on their composition. The SF spectra were used to study the AOMs for the first time and identified that the protein-like substances were the major component of AOMs, creating as a result of aromatic group condensation. The D-UV spectra showed carboxylic acid and esters were the main functional groups in the EOMs, with –OCH 3 , –SO 2 NH 2 , –CN, –NH 2 , –O– and –COCH 3 functional groups substituting into benzene rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, occurrence of the haloanisoles odorous compounds in tap water of Chinese cities, were investigated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME)-GC/MS analysis. This study revealed the occurrence of four kinds of haloanisoles in 22 cities of China in both summer and winter. Except 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (2,4,6-TBA), all studied haloanisoles showed higher frequency of detection. 2,3,6-Trichloroanisole (2,3,6-TCA) and 2,3,4-trichloroanisole (2,3,4-TCA) showed higher occurrence concentration; however, the relative odor values of them was lower. These values of 2,4,6-TBA and 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (2,4,6-TCA) in all samples were greater than zero in both summer and winter, indicating the odor from haloanisoles could be felt by human noise. This study further showed that Beijing exhibited most serious occurrence of haloanisoles that were depended on the season and drinking water distribution system (country and city). From this study, it was confirmed that haloanisoles was important taste and odor compounds in tap water of China. Based on the survey of occurrence of halophenol and residual chlorine, the possible source for the formation of haloanisoles in tap water was discussed. Furthermore, several suggestions on control the haloanisoles odor in drinking water treatment plant and water distribution system were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel ceramic membrane coated with MnO 2 –Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles was fabricated by catalytic ozonation for degradation of benzophenone-3, a typical ultraviolet absorber, from water. Synthesized MnO 2 –Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles showed excellent catalytic activity. Structure and surface property characterization confirmed the presence of MnO 2 –Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles with 7.05 ± 0.99 nm diameters and a surface area as 90.0609 m 3 /g. These nanoparticles were suitable for the surface modification of ceramic membranes used in this study. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy analyses suggest that MnO 2 –Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles filled membrane pores and reduced the surface roughness. The ceramic membrane coated with MnO 2 –Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles showed remarkable activity in catalytic ozonation. The performance of the membrane and its surface nanoparticle layers were stable and the concentration of leached metal ions was low. After catalytic ozonation with the coated ceramic membrane, a reduction in toxicity was observed. The ceramic membrane coated with MnO 2 –Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles catalytic ozonation is optional for BP-3 degradation from aqueous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the performance of bezafibrate (BZF) degradation and detoxification in the aqueous phase using cerium-modified red mud (RM) catalysts prepared using different cerium sources and synthesis methods were evaluated. Experimental results showed that the surface cerium modification was responsible for the development of the catalytic activity of RM and this was influenced by the cerium source and the synthesis method. Catalyst prepared from cerium (IV) by precipitation was found to show the best catalytic activity in BZF degradation and detoxification. Reactive oxygen species including peroxides, hydroxyl radicals, and super oxide ions were identified in all reactions and we proposed the corresponding catalytic reaction mechanism for each catalyst that prepared from different cerium source and method. This was supported by the intermediates profiles that were generated upon BZF degradation. The surface and the structural properties of cerium-modified RM were characterized in detail by several analytical methods. Two interesting findings were made: (1) the surface texture (specific surface area and mesoporous volume) influenced the catalytic reaction pathway; and (2) Ce(III) species and oxygen vacancies were generated on the surface of the catalyst after cerium modification. This plays an important role in the development of the catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic investigation of the catalytic reaction mechanism of surface cobalt-loaded red mud (RM) was carried out using the reaction kinetics analysis and catalyst surface property characterization. First, multiple characterization methods (XRD, FT-IR and XPS) were used to investigate the variation of surface texture and chemical properties of the catalyst after surface cobalt loading. Second, the contributions of molecular ozone (39.22%), hydroxyl radicals (45.20%), and surface adsorption (15.57%) for bezafibrate (BZF) degradation by Co/RM were identified by the reaction kinetic analysis using the tertiary butanol used as an organic quencher, confirming that surface cobalt loading promoted the role of the hydroxyl radical reaction. The phosphate was used as an inorganic probe to study the role of the solution and surface reactions in catalytic ozonation. The presence of phosphate inhibited 17.5%, 25.1%, and 27.2% efficient when phosphate concentration was 0.0104, 0.0208, and 0.0416 mM, respectively. The kinetics analysis showed that the inhibiting effect of phosphate on BZF degradation was due to quenching of HO in solution, and not the surface chelation reaction. However, surface cobalt loading enhanced this surface interface reaction. Finally, the relationship between surface texture/chemical properties and catalytic activity was established, confirming that surface cobalt loading developed mesopores leading to an increase of the specific surface area. This was favorable for the catalytic activity. Co 3 O 4 covered over the mesopore surface of RM and developed the surface hydroxyl group by the chemical water deduced from the cobalt surface loading. This is the main catalytic reaction site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors probe the multi‐agent consensus problem with general linear dynamics via the distributed reduced‐order observer‐based protocols under directed switching topology. A new type reduced‐order observer is adopted to modify the existed consensus protocols. Based on graph theory, Riccati equation and Lyapunov method, a multi‐step algorithm is provided to design the gain matrices involved in the used protocols. The consensus stability problem is investigated by use of the piecewise Lyapunov functions incorporated with an average dwell time approach. It is shown that if the average dwell time is chosen sufficiently large and all directed switching topologies have a directed spanning tree, then the multi‐agent system can achieve consensus via the author's modified protocols. Furthermore, as the special cases, the consensus conditions under fixed topology and balanced switching topology are obtained easily. To obtain a desired consensus decay rate, the related gain matrix design approach is provided. Finally, a simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of their obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a systematic investigation on the degradation of phenacetin (PNT) by magnetic spinel ferrite (including MnFe 2 O 4 and NiFe 2 O 4 ) via catalytic ozonation was carried out. The structural and surface property of the catalyst, the performance and mineralization during PNT degradation, and •OH/H 2 O 2 identification were studied. The precursors of the catalyst, i.e. MnFe 2 (OH) 8 and NiFe 2 (OH) 8 , showed certain magnetic properties and a superior catalytic activity for ozonation enhancement than spinel ferrites. Spinel ferrites containing manganese initiate an ozone mass transfer into the solution, where the critical intermediate (H 2 O 2 ) is generated. The manganese ferrite spinel triggers H 2 O 2 decomposition in the presence of ozone and generates •OH for the mineralization of PNT and its intermediates. Spinel ferrites involved nickel catalyzed ozone decomposition and generate H 2 O 2 and •OH. All catalysts showed a weak heavy metal leaching, which suggests that the heterogeneous reaction dominates the catalytic reaction and the resultant effluent is safe for the aqueous environment. The magnetic variation of catalysts involving nickel is insignificant, suggesting that the catalyst can be reused many times. The fate of the intermediates on spinel oxides surface influenced for the catalytic ozonation process differently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Co/RM exhibited good removal performance and mineralization of bezafibrate. [•] Co/RM showed low leaching and high detoxification of bezafibrate. [•] Primary intermediates and pathways of bezafibrate degradation were identified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens LeConte (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is one of the most destructive invasive forest pests in China. Little is known about the biological characteristics of red turpentine beetle. Analysis of the frequency distribution has shown that red turpentine beetle's larvae have five instars with head capsule width 0.64, 0.83, 1.16, 1.45, and 1.99 mm, respectively. The ratio of increase of head capsule width is 1.33, which is consistent with Dyar's rule. The duration of egg, larval, and pupal is ≈10, 84, and 10 d, respectively. After its emergence, the callow adult darkens to the typical reddish brown by the time it is ready to leave the tree; beetles begin to “fly out” at the 10th day and continue for 20 d, with the peak flight taking place on the 21st day. Pairs of red turpentine beetles introduced into pine bolts produced 106 offspring. Such basic information is important for developing management strategies to combat this invasive bark beetle in China. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens LeConte, is one of the most destructive invasive forest pests in China, having killed more than 6 million pines since its first outbreak in 1999. Little is known about D. valens pheromone biology and no aggregation pheromone has yet been identified. Analysis by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer of volatiles collected from live beetles in China showed that female beetles produce frontalin and males do not. Olfactory assays in the laboratory showed that males were attracted to frontalin at a wide range of concentrations, whereas females were attracted to it at a narrow range of concentrations. In field trials, 3-carene, a monoterpene kairomone from a pine tree selected to host the beetles attracted both sexes, and when frontalin was added, the total number of beetles captured increased by almost 200%. However, increasing concentrations of frontalin significantly decreased the percentage of female beetles trapped. These results suggest a new role of frontalin as an aggregation pheromone in addition to a female-produced sex pheromone, which was previously shown in a North American population. The dual functions of the pheromone frontalin produced by D. valens females, as well as its ecological significance for overcoming host resistance, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone oxidation is commonly used to remove taste and odor (T&O) from drinking water. However, this technique is only moderately effective, and is complicated by the formation of aldehyde by-products. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of ozonation with which aluminum oxide catalysts (γ-AlOOH [HAO], γ-Al2O3 [RAO], and α-Al2O3 [AAO]) removed three representative odorous substances (2-methylisoborneol [MIB], 2,4,6-trichloroanisole [TCA], and 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine [IPMP]) from water and reduced the yields of aldehydes. Application of ozonation alone led to incomplete mineralization of odorous substances and generation of large amounts of aldehydes. In comparison, catalyzed ozonation by the three aluminum oxides substantially increased the removal efficiencies of T&O and reduced the production of aldehydes, albeit to different degrees. In all forms of ozonation, the main aldehyde products were formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, n-butyraldehyde, glyoxal, and methylglyoxal. HAO satisfactorily catalyzed the ozone oxidation of TCA and IPMP and effectively reduced the total aldehyde production during their oxidation. Catalyzed ozonation by AAO could not effectively reduce total aldehyde production during the oxidation of TCA and IPMP, which resulted in incomplete removal of T&O from water. Catalyzed ozonation by RAO provided the best results in removing MIB, TCA, and IPMP and reducing total aldehyde production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The efficiency and mechanism of catalytic ozonation of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) by metal oxide modified bauxite were studied. TCA was effectively degraded by catalytic ozonation in the presence of iron- or manganese-modified bauxite (IMB or MMB). The effect of water pH on catalytic ozonation indicated that surface property was the key factor that influenced the activity of catalyst. Analysis results of the isoelectric point (IEP) and zeta potential for catalyst further confirmed that a lower zeta potential for modified bauxite enhanced catalytic activity. Results of both catalytic ozone decomposition and radical scavengers experiments indicated that catalytic ozonation by IMB or MMB followed a hydroxyl radical (ion pathway. The main reaction pathway was proposed that adsorption of both ozone and TCA in the micropores and subsequent interaction (direct and indirect oxidation) between them that was confirmed by the analysis of the surface pore volume and surface hydroxyl groups, being followed by the diffusion of ozone and TCA on the mesoporous surface, in which surface hydroxyl groups covering mesoporous surface initialed ozone decomposition to generate ted in TCA degradation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, a novel Zn–Al–O binary metal oxide adsorbent was prepared and used to remove the emerging polar contaminant benzotriazole from water. The adsorption behavior, kinetics and mechanism were systemically studied. Results showed that benzotriazole was rapidly and effectively adsorbed by the adsorbent. Instantaneous adsorption was observed under each studied condition, and the adsorption reached equilibrium within 30min. High initial benzotriazole concentration enhanced the adsorption. The amount of absorbed benzotriazole increased with increasing adsorbent dosage, but decreased with increasing ionic strength. Solution pH had little effect on benzotriazole adsorption. The adsorption isotherm was consistent with S-type. Langmuir isotherm model fitted the equilibrium data better than Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich and Temkin isotherm models. The maximum monolayer adsorptive capacity of benzotriazole with and without electrolytes was 7.30mgg−1 and 9.51mgg−1, respectively. Elovich and pseudo-second-order models were most suitable for describing the adsorption kinetics. Interactions between the surface sites of the adsorbent and benzotriazole may be a combination of electrostatic interaction, ion exchange and hydrogen bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this investigation, the mechanism of catalyzed ozonation of MIB by aluminum oxides (γ-AlOOH and γ-Al2O3) was studied. It was concluded that the roles of surface hydroxyl groups in adsorption and catalyzed ozonation determined catalyzed ozonation mechanism. The removal efficiency of MIB in catalyzed ozonation by γ-Al2O3 or γ-AlOOH was 98.4% and 27.5%, respectively. Effect of water pH on catalyzed ozonation indicated that surface hydroxyl group, of which surface net charge was zero, was the active site of catalysts. Radical scavenger experiments results indicated that catalyzed ozonation by γ-Al2O3 followed a hydroxyl radical (ion-pathway and the reaction-pathway of catalyzed ozonation by γ-AlOOH followed solid surface mechanism. However, both γ-AlOOH and γ-Al2O3 can enhance ozone decomposition to generate hydroxyl radical in catalytic ozone decomposition (without MIB). The inconsistent results between radical scavengers and catalytic ozone decomposition were mainly due to the interaction between MIB and surface hydroxyl groups. According to MIB adsorption on γ-AlOOH or γ-Al2O3, MIB interacted with surface hydroxyl group by chemical adsorption, and surface hydroxyl group was the main adsorption site. The adsorption capability of γ-AlOOH was higher than that of γ-Al2O3. The participation of surface hydroxyl group in adsorption restrained its capability of catalyzed ozone decomposition to generating 3;-AlOOH that was covered with more surface hydroxyl groups, adsorbed MIB more stronger and inhibited generation of alyzed ozonation of MIB, resulting in lower removal efficiency of MIB in catalyzed ozonation. In addition, the surface texture and chemical properties of catalyst that can help to understand the catalyzed mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) is a member of nitrosamines, which is strong carcinogenic. In order to explore an effective treatment method for NDEA removal from water, sole UV irradiation and UV/O3 were carried out in this study. The removal efficiency, degradation products and pathways were compared between those two processes. Results showed that NDEA removal efficiency achieved 99% within 15min by both UV and UV/O3. Degradation reaction well followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Water pH had different effect on NDEA degradation in those two processes. Acidic and neutral conditions were good for NDEA degradation by sole UV irradiation. However, NDEA underwent rapid degradation under various pH conditions in the UV/O3 process. Though the ozone introduction in the UV/O3 process had little effect on NDEA degradation efficiency, it had significant effect on its degradation products and pathways. Methylamine, dimethylamine, ethylamine and diethylamine were observed as aliphatic amine products of NDEA degradation in both two processes. They were assumed to arise due to N–N bond fission under UV irradiation, or due to the reaction of NDEA and hydroxyl radicals in the UV/O3 process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

2-Methylisoborneol (MIB) is a terpenoid produced as a secondary metabolite by some cyanobacteria and actinomycetes and thus can be present in some drinking water source waters. The removal efficiency, products, and degradation pathway of MIB in drinking water by ozonation were studied. The results showed that ozone is efficient in removing MIB from an aqueous solution, regardless of the initial MIB concentration. Hydroxyl radicals (·OH) scavenger experiments indicated that hydroxyl radicals are involved in MIB degradation. The degradation products of MIB were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Camphor was identified as a primary degradation product, which was further oxidized to form other degradation intermediates, such as aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids. A possible degradation pathway for the ozonation of MIB was proposed. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the formation of aldehydes was carried out. It was found that six aldehydes are the main aldehydes products of ozonation of MIB, namely formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanal, butanal, glyoxal, and methyl glyoxal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Disinfection by-products (DBPs) have caused a great threat to drinking water security. Nitrosoamines that are potent carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic have been discovered in disinfection process as a new kind of DBPs. Accordingly, nitrosoamines elimination from water should be of particular concern. In this paper, UV irradiation was used to degrade the model DBPs: N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPyr) and N-nitrosopiperidine (NPip). The results showed that UV irradiation was an effective method for the removal of both NPyr and NPip from water. NPip was easier to be degraded compared with NPyr. Water pH had little effect on NPyr photodegradation, but had great influence on NPip photodegradation. The characteristic of the natural water influenced the removal efficiency of NPyr and NPip slightly, suggesting that UV irradiation was effectual to eliminate NPyr and NPip in practice. Due to N–N bond fission, pyrrolidine and piperidine were generated as the primary products of NPyr and NPip photodegradation, respectively. Then aliphatic amines with low molecular weight were formed as further degradation products of NPyr, including methylamine, dimethylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine, n-propylamine and n-methylethylamine. Methylamine, dimethylamine, n-propylamine, n-methylethylamine, diethylamine, n-butylamine and n-amylamine were formed as the further degradation products of NPip. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A kind of inexpensive and environmental friendly mineral, the raw bauxite has been used successfully as a catalyst combined with ozonation in the degradation of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA). The catalyst was characterized by using various analytical techniques. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) characterization showed that the raw bauxite containing boehmite (γ-AlOOH), kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4) and quartz (SiO2), and γ-AlOOH was the major composition. The catalytic ozonation removal effectiveness of TCA was investigated under various physicochemical conditions. Both the adsorption and the single ozonation were not effective for the degradation of TCA, and the presence of the raw bauxite in ozonation enhanced the TCA removal effectiveness. Both the hydroxyl radicals (nging experiment and R ct characterization confirmed that the generation of counted for the enhancement of the degradation of TCA. The generation of hibited faintly by the presence of both natural organic matters (NOMs) and alkalinity in the natural water during catalyzed ozonation with the raw bauxite. The increasing of both the bauxite dosage and the ozone dosage enhanced the removal effectiveness of TCA. The raw bauxite was an efficient green catalyst for TCA degradation in drinking water. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a highly carcinogenic compound that is suspected of carcinogenic activity in the human body. A variety of methods are used to remove NDMA from water, but the main degradation products, dimethylamine (DMA) and NO2 −, are also precursors for NDMA formation. UV irradiation combined with ozonation (UV/O3) was examined in this investigation for its ability to inhibit the regeneration of NDMA after degradation. Both the degradation products and the regeneration potential of NDMA were compared between UV irradiation alone and UV/O3. The yields of DMA and NO2 − in the UV/O3 process were less than for UV irradiation alone. Yields of DMA and NO2 − were 2.25mgL−1 and 3.22mgL−1 from UV irradiation, while they were 0.92mgL−1 and 0.45mgL−1 from the UV/O3 process. Furthermore, the regeneration of NDMA was also less after the UV/O3 process than after UV irradiation. The concentration of regenerated NDMA was more than 51.8μgL−1 after UV irradiation regardless of the dosage of Cl2. However, the concentration of regenerated NDMA in the UV/O3 process was less than 7.37μgL−1 under the same conditions. Consequently, the UV/O3 process was more effective than UV irradiation alone in inhibiting NDMA regeneration. The inhibition of NDMA regeneration was due to a decrease in DMA and NO2 − produced by the UV/O3 process. As the major products generated from NDMA, NO2 − and DMA were likely to be oxidized by ozone and hydroxyl radicals (ddition, the reaction between NDMA and possibly generate methylamine as the only product, leading to a decrease in the production of DMA by the UV/O3 process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper aimed to reveal the removal effectiveness and the mechanism of catalytic ozonation in the presence of aluminum oxides (γ-AlOOH, γ-Al2O3, and α-Al2O3) for the degradation of a taste and odor compound. Results showed that catalytic ozonation in the presence of aluminum oxides can substantially enhance 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) removal compared with the sole ozonation. However, three kinds of aluminum oxides exhibited different catalytic activity in catalytic ozonation for the degradation of TCA remarkably. Scavenging experiments of hydroxyl radicals revealed that the improving removal effectiveness of TCA was due to the enhancing generation of hydroxyl radicals. The catalytic activity of the aluminum oxides was related to highly hydroxylated surface. The surface hydroxyl groups on the aluminum oxides were active sites in catalytic ozonation. The density of surface hydroxyl groups and the surface Brønsted acidity determined the difference of the catalytic activity of aluminum oxides. The higher density of surface hydroxyl groups and the stronger Brønsted acidity of the surface can remarkably enhance the catalytic activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A multiple-colored electrochromic composite film of polyoxometalates (P2W18) and poly(hexyl viologen) (PXV) is fabricated by layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly method. The P2W18/PXV composite film exhibits a linear increase in film thickness with assembly processing, and undergoes a colorless to blue to violet transition over the potential range from +0.1 to −0.9V. The optical contrast, response time and stability for the as-prepared films are carefully investigated. These results show the validation of an LbL method based intermixing strategy for the design of tunable-color electrochromic thin films. The composite film can also be used as a pH sensor because of the pH dependence of its electrochemical response. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Multilayer films of tungstophosphate anion (P2W18) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) were fabricated on quartz and ITO substrates by layer-by-layer self-assembly method. These films were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometric (CA), chronocoulometry (CC) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The effects of film structure on multilayer electrochromic properties were investigated. The electrochromic responses of the composite films were related to the surface coverage of anion and multilayer thickness. It was found that higher concentration of polycation and anion, or adding salt to the polycation solution used for multilayer film preparation led to thicker and denser film structure which improved optical contrast and coloration efficiency whereas prolonged response time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An inorganic–organic composite multilayer film constructed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with Dawson-type phosphotungstate anion [P2W18O62]6− (P2W18) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) were fabricated on quartz, ITO, silicon and CaF2 substrates by a layer-by-layer self-assembly method. The film was provided with concurrent photochromism and electrochromism. IR spectra showed that the structure of the PVA was fully maintained in the multilayer film. And their photochromic and electrochromic properties were investigated by UV–vis spectra, cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the surface topography. This study provides a new route to explore the possibility of application to polyoxometalate-based hybrid inorganic–organic materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Liquid metals show unparalleled advantages in printable circuits, flexible wear, drug carriers, and electromagnetic shielding. However, the efficient and large-scale preparation of liquid metal nanodroplets (LM NDs) remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a simple and efficient method for the large-scale preparation of stable eutectic gallium indium nanodroplets (EGaIn NDs). We compared different preparation methods and found that droplets with smaller particle sizes could quickly be produced using a shaking technique. The size of EGaIn NDs produced using this technique can reach 200 nm in 30 min and 100 nm in 240 min. Benefiting from the simple method, various surfactants can directly modify the surface of the EGaIn NDs to stabilize the prepared droplets. In addition, we discovered that shaking in an ice bath produced spherical nanodroplets, and after shaking for 30 min in a non-ice bath, rod-shaped gallium oxide hydroxide (GaOOH) appeared. Furthermore, the EGaIn NDs we produced have excellent stability—after storage at room temperature for 30 days, the particle size and morphology change little. The excellent stability of the produced EGaIn NDs provides a wider application of liquid metals in the fields of drug delivery, electromagnetic shielding, conductive inks, printed circuits, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous published paper “Inhibiting the regeneration of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in drinking water by UV photolysis combined with ozonation” by our research group, was commented by Dr. Xiao. This comment was criticized and doubted from several aspects including the research topic, experimental design and interpretation of data. We thanked Dr. Xiao for the useful suggestion for our future research. However, we do not fully agree with other comments. In this letter, we now take the opportunity of responding, some issues are discussed here in more detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Main observation and conclusion: Based on the redox reactions of Togni‐II reagent and thiols, a thiol‐tuned selective functionalization of unactivated olefins was disclosed. In combination with aryl thiols, stoichiometric amount of Togni‐II reagent prompted a hydrotrifluoromethylation of alkenes, in which, aryl thiols played as reductant and hydrogen source; while by utilization of alkyl thiols, catalytic amount of Togni‐II reagent initiated thiol‐ene and thiol‐yne reactions. The reported applications are characterized by their operational simplicity and wide functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new designed silicon-containing nitrogen and phosphorus flame-retardant system containing ammonium polyphosphate, modified molecular sieve and methylcellulose was used to prepare the flame-retardant corrugated cardboards (FRCCB). The samples before and after treatment were tested for combustion and thermal stability using vertical burning test (VBT), limiting oxygen index (LOI), cone calorimetric test (CCT) and thermogravimetry (TG). To further analyze the flame-retardant properties of the flame-retardant system, the microstructure, surface elements and functional groups of the materials were characterized by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The mechanical properties of the samples were tested to analyze the effect of flame-retardant treatment on the strength. The VBT and LOI tests showed that the samples after the flame-retardant treatment were able to self-extinguish after ignition, achieving the flame-retardant B-1 grade. The CCT tests showed that the total heat release of treated samples was reduced by 49.90%, and the total smoke production was decreased by 27.64%. TG tests showed that the thermal decomposition temperature of FRCCB decreased but the residual carbon content increased largely. FTIR tests showed that the functional group changed at different temperatures. After flame-retardant treatment, a dense carbon layer was formed on the surface of the treated sample, including N, P, Si and Cu, measured by SEM and EDS. Combining with various characterization methods, the flame-retardant system can retard flame by releasing nonflammable gases, forming covers and catalyzing char formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generalized rotating-wave approximation (GRWA) method is extended to the two-qubit quantum Rabi model. In the first-order approximation (one photon exchange), the Hamiltonian matrix in photon number space is simplified by introducing two variational parameters. However, the Hamiltonian matrix is not a diagonalizable matrix yet. Furthermore, by presenting a constraint condition on coupling strength and atomic transition frequency, the Hamiltonian matrix is simplified and an effective solvable Hamiltonian with block diagonal form is obtained. In the even and odd parity space, the energy spectra and eigenstates of the two-qubit quantum Rabi model are achieved analytically. Most of the energy spectra, especially the lower energy levels, agree well with the numerical exact results in ultra-strong coupling region, and the ground state wave function can gives a fairly accurate result of mean photon number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophila melanogaster Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule 1 (Dscam1) encodes 19,008 diverse ectodomain isoforms via the alternative splicing of exon 4, 6, and 9 clusters. However, whether individual isoforms or exon clusters have specific significance is unclear. Here, using phenotype–diversity correlation analysis, we reveal the redundant and specific roles of Dscam1 diversity in neuronal wiring. A series of deletion mutations were performed from the endogenous locus harboring exon 4, 6, or 9 clusters, reducing to 396 to 18,612 potential ectodomain isoforms. Of the 3 types of neurons assessed, dendrite self/non-self discrimination required a minimum number of isoforms (approximately 2,000), independent of exon clusters or isoforms. In contrast, normal axon patterning in the mushroom body and mechanosensory neurons requires many more isoforms that tend to associate with specific exon clusters or isoforms. We conclude that the role of the Dscam1 diversity in dendrite self/non-self discrimination is nonspecifically mediated by its isoform diversity. In contrast, a separate role requires variable domain- or isoform-related functions and is essential for other neurodevelopmental contexts, such as axonal growth and branching. Our findings shed new light on a general principle for the role of Dscam1 diversity in neuronal wiring. The fruit fly Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule 1 (Dscam1) encodes 19,008 diverse ectodomain isoforms via alternative splicing. A systematic CRISPR screen of Drosophila Dscam1 reveals both redundant and specific functions of its isoforms in neuronal wiring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New polyoxometalate (POM)-intercalated layered double hydroxides (LDH) were prepared by aqueous ion exchange of a ZnAlFe LDH precursor with the POM anions [P 2 W 17 ] 10− and [CoW 12 ] 5− . The physicochemical properties of the as-prepared products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction method and infrared spectroscopy. These two POM-LDH materials, having both the adsorption and photocatalytic capacities, could be used for the removal of cationic dye methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The intercalation of large cluster anion into ZnAlFe LDH could endow with not only the adsorption function to cationic dye but also the photocatalytic performance of ZnAlFe LDH materials. Therefore the POM-LDH shows much higher adsorption capacity than the pure LDH and the adsorbed MB could be degraded by photocatalysis. Furthermore, their sorption isotherms and photocalalytic performance were investigated theoretically and experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally Important Agricultural Cultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) were recommended by the United Nations to promote the development of agricultural heritage, as agricultural sustainability is garnering more and more attention, and therefore agricultural heritage is revived. Consumer preferences for agricultural heritage products, which are a vital driver of sustainable agriculture, have been neglected in previous studies. Given the recent focus on consumer nostalgia in marketing, this study uses traditional tea as an anchor to investigate the relationship between consumer nostalgia proneness and purchase intention to contribute to the preference for agricultural heritage products. We used a high-order structure to investigate the mechanism, the results revealed that nostalgia proneness positively influences purchase intention, with perceived value as a mediating factor in this study. We extend the theory of perceived value to include the analysis of consumers' agricultural heritage products preferences, improve the application of nostalgia proneness, and provide management suggestions based on the findings. • Considering nostalgia in consumers' purchase intention toward traditional tea. • A reflective second-order model was constructed to explore. • The significance of perceived value in this process is recognized. • Innovative approaches to promoting agricultural heritage products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damping factor is a key parameter in Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm for solving inverse problems, which significantly affects the efficiency and the convergence stability of Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm and needs to be updated with the iterative number. A new approach is presented for determining damping factors in Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm in this paper, which relates the damping factor directly to the dimensionless objective function in inverse problems. Then, the accuracy, the efficiency, the convergence stability as well as the robustness of Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm are investigated in detail, for identifying temperature-dependent thermal conductivities by solving an inverse heat conduction problem. The results show that the LM algorithm using the new approach for determining damping factors is accurate and robust for identifying temperature-dependent thermal conductivities. The efficiency and the convergence stability of the LM algorithm are improved by using the new approach for determining damping factors. Moreover, the new approach is easy to implement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradation of benzotriazole (BZA) as an emerging contaminant by a novel Fenton-like reaction was investigated using a catalyst prepared by incorporating Cu into mesoporous MnO 2 (mesoporous Cu/MnO 2 , MCM). Catalysts were synthesized with different Cu contents, and were characterized by N 2 adsorption–desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR)-H 2 . The MCM functioned via surface chemisorption and redox reaction that was confirmed by intermediates identification, XPS and TPR analysis, followed by a Fenton-like oxidation derived by surface Cu + and Mn 3+ , to provide high degradation efficiency for BZA in solution. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy result also verified the surface adsorption and Fenton-like reaction. MCM exhibited much higher adsorption and catalytic activity in the Fenton reaction than pure MnO 2 or CuO. The effect of Cu content in MCM, catalyst dose, H 2 O 2 dose, and solution pH were investigated. BZA degradation was high in deionized water (removal efficiency = 89%) and moderate in wastewater treatment plant effluent (removal efficiency = 56%) after 60-min reaction at an initial pH of 7.13, which could be developed by adjusting the dose of catalyst or H 2 O 2 . A possible mechanism for the reaction is proposed. This involves surface adsorption with copper and a redox reaction with Mn 3+ , followed by a copper–manganese cycle-derived Fenton-like reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph patterns play a critical role in various graph classification tasks, e.g., chemical patterns often determine the properties of molecular graphs. Researchers devote themselves to adapting Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to graph classification due to their powerful capability in pattern learning. The varying numbers of neighbor nodes and the lack of canonical order of nodes on graphs pose challenges in constructing receptive fields for CNNs. Existing methods generally follow a heuristic ranking-based framework, which constructs receptive fields by selecting a fixed number of nodes and dropping the others according to predetermined rules. However, such methods may lose important structure information through dropping nodes, and they also cannot learn task-oriented graph patterns. In this paper, we propose a Location learning-based Convolutional Neural Networks (LCNN) for graph classification. LCNN constructs receptive fields by learning the location of each node according to its embedding that contains structures and features information, then standard CNNs are applied to capture graph patterns. Such a location learning mechanism not only retains the information of all nodes, but also provides the ability for task-oriented pattern learning. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed LCNN, and visualization results further illustrate the valid pattern learning ability of our method for graph classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]