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In order to deeply study the basic characteristics, diffusion laws, and flow laws of coal gangue and coal gangue slurry, the basic characteristic parameters of coal gangue and coal gangue slurry were obtained through particle size distribution test, electron microscope scanning test, X-ray diffraction test, X-ray fluorescence spectrum test, and angle of repose test. The conveying performance test of coal gangue slurry was carried out, and based on this, a simulation test of coal gangue slurry caving areas was designed. The diffusion and flow laws of coal gangue slurry under the same inclination angle were summarized, and the field test of fluidization filling in the caving areas was conducted. The results show that: (1) The water-to-gangue ratio was the main controlling factor for the conveying performance of coal gangue slurry. The extensibility, slump, and bleeding rate of the coal gangue slurry increased with the increase of the water-to-gangue ratio. (2) The diffusion profile of coal gangue slurry at different dip angles was arc-shaped, and the diffusion distance of slurry increased with the increase of infiltration time. However, there were differences in the sustained diffusion ability of different dip angles. (3) At the same time interval, the spatial accumulation patterns of scattered gangue in different regions will lead to differences in the diffusion speed of the slurry. (4) Both burying and hanging pipes in the falling area can safely and efficiently fill the gangue slurry. The diffusion distance of the caving areas in the test working face was basically consistent with the diffusion distance of the slurry in the simulation test of the coal gangue slurry caving areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource allocation takes place in various kinds of real-world complex systems, such as traffic systems, social services institutions or organizations, or even ecosystems. The fundamental principle underlying complex resource-allocation dynamics is Boolean interactions associated with minority games, as resources are generally limited and agents tend to choose the least used resource based on available information. A common but harmful dynamical behavior in resource-allocation systems is herding, where there are time intervals during which a large majority of the agents compete for a few resources, leaving many other resources unused. Accompanying the herd behavior is thus strong fluctuations with time in the number of resources being used. In this paper, we articulate and establish that an intuitive control strategy, namely pinning control, is effective at harnessing the herding dynamics. In particular, by fixing the choices of resources for a few agents while leaving the majority of the agents free, herding can be eliminated completely. Our investigation is systematic in that we consider random and targeted pinning and a variety of network topologies, and we carry out a comprehensive analysis in the framework of mean-field theory to understand the working of control. The basic philosophy is then that, when a few agents waive their freedom to choose resources by receiving sufficient incentives, the majority of the agents benefit in that they will make fair, efficient, and effective use of the available resources. Our work represents a basic and general framework to address the fundamental issue of fluctuations in complex dynamical systems with significant applications to social, economical, and political systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) is the predominant estrogen receptor in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of mouse, mediating estrogen regulation of the neuroendocrine activities of the PVN, but the exact roles that ERbeta plays in the PVN remain unclear. In this study, we used immunocytochemistry to investigate the expression of ERbeta in the maternal PVN of mice during pregnancy (pregnant days 8, 10, 12, 15 and 18), lactation (postpartum days 1, 4 and 8) as well as in the PVN of the females from postnatal days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 15, 30 and 70. We found out that ERbeta was predominantly localized in the magnocellular divisions of PVN. In the pregnant female brain, generally, the ERbeta was lower than that of the postnatal development, the lowest level was found at gestational days 10–12; then from gestational day 18 to postpartum day 1, it increased to higher levels, followed by a decrease from postpartum day 4. During the postnatal development, the highest level of ERbeta was found at early postnatal days (before postnatal day 15), thereafter, it decreased to a lower level. The above results indicate that circulating sex steroids may differentially regulate the expression of ERbeta in the PVN of mice. It also suggests that this receptor may play important roles in the regulation of parturition and in the development, food intake and body weight increases of the newborns by acting on the neuropeptides, which were also detected in the PVN. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies have shown that estrogen plays important roles in regulating neural structure and function in the brain, but the mechanism remains unclear. The actions of estrogen were thought to be mediated by a single estrogen receptor until the identification of another estrogen receptor, namely estrogen receptor-β (ER-β). Here we report a comprehensive study of the localization of ER-β immunoreactivity and differences in the brains of adult male and female rats on the basis of a nickel ammonium sulfate-enhanced immunocytochemical method using a polyclonal antiserum sc-8974. The results of these studies revealed: (1) ER-β immunoactive material was mainly localized in the neuronal nucleus, but it was also detectable in the cytoplasm and neuronal processes; (2) in both male and female rats, high levels of ER-β immunopositive signals were detected in the anterior olfactory nucleus, cerebral cortex, Purkinje cells, vertical limb of the diagonal band, red nucleus, locus ceruleus, and motor trigeminal nucleus. Moderate levels were found in the medial septum, lateral amygdaloid nucleus, substantia nigra, and central gray. Weak signals were localized in other subregions of the hypothalamus and amygdaloid complex; (3) there was an obvious difference of ER-β immunoreactivity between male and female rats, and its intracellular distribution also showed a sex difference. The above results provide the first detailed evidence that ER-β protein is widely distributed in both male and female rat brains, but that distinctive sex differences also exist. Estrogen may exert its function in different brain regions in a gender-specific manner. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Be films were prepared on the water-cooled substrates and heated substrates by thermal evaporation, respectively. The experiment of water-cooled substrate showed the grains in Be films grown on Si substrates were refined than those grown on glass substrates and the surface roughness of Be films grown on Si substrates was also improved. The electrical performance test suggested that the electrical resistivity of Be films grown on water-cooled substrates decreased with increasing the heating temperature and was bigger than that grown on non-water-cooled substrates. For the experiment of heated substrate, the Be films appeared the loose flocculent structure, and the surface roughness firstly increased from 8 nm to 45–65 nm in the range of 150–300 °C and then decreased to 10 nm at 400 °C. Meanwhile, its electrical resistivity sharply increased from 0.6 Ω/□ to 206.6 Ω/□ due to the gradual oxidization at high temperature, especially 400 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disc coal samples with different water content were tested using the split Hopkinson press bar test system. Their dynamic tensile failure process was monitored via an ultra-high-speed digital image correlation system. The deformation trend and failure characteristics as a function of the water content were analyzed, and the water content effect on dynamic mechanical properties was investigated. The results demonstrated that the dynamic stress–strain curve of the coal samples consisted of four stages. As the water content increased, the coal sample brittleness degraded, while its ductility was enhanced. Quadratic polynomial functions can describe dynamic peak stress, peak strain, and loading pressure. Under different loading pressures, the dynamic peak stress exhibited a concave bending trend as the water content increased. The coal sample's dynamic tensile strength had a strong rate correlation, and the saturated coal sample exhibited the highest rate correlation. Under high-rate loading, the inertia effect and the Stefan effect of water in coal samples hinder the initiation and propagation of coal sample cracks, improving the coal sample's strength. The research results provide a basic theoretical basis for the prevention and control of rock burst in coal mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Aims: The G‐protein‐coupled estrogen receptor GPR30 (also referred to as GPER) has been implicated in the estrogenic regulation of hippocampal plasticity and spatial memory; however, the molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. Methods: In this study, we initially examined the levels of GPR30 in the hippocampus of postnatal, ovariectomy (OVX)‐ and letrozole (LET)‐treated female mice. Under G1, G15, and/or OVX treatment, the spatial memory, spine density, levels of ERα, ERβ, and SRC‐1, selected synaptic proteins, mTORC2 signals (Rictor and p‐AKT Ser473), and actin polymerization dynamics were subsequently evaluated. Furthermore, G1, G15, and/or E2 combined with SRC‐1 and/or PI3K inhibitors, actin cytoskeleton polymerization modulator JPK, and CytoD treatments were used to address the mechanisms that underlie GPR30 regulation in vitro. Finally, mTORC2 activator A‐443654 (A4) was used to explore the role of mTORC2 in GPR30 regulation of spatial memory. Results: The results showed that high levels of GPR30 were detected in the adult hippocampus and the levels were downregulated by OVX and LET. OVX induced an impairment of spatial memory, and changes in other parameters previously described were reversed by G1 and mimicked by G15. Furthermore, the E2 effects on SRC‐1 and mTORC2 signals, synaptic proteins, and actin polymerization were inhibited by G15, whereas G1 effects on these parameters were inhibited by the blockade of SRC‐1 or PI3K; the levels of synaptic proteins were regulated by JPK and CytoD. Importantly, G15‐induced actin depolymerization and spatial memory impairment were rescued by mTORC2 activation with A4. Conclusions: Taking together, these results demonstrated that decreased GPR30 induces actin depolymerization through SRC‐1 and PI3K/mTORC2 pathways and ultimately impairs learning and memory, indicating its potential role as a therapeutic target against hippocampus‐based, E2‐related memory impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Aims: Estrogens play pivotal roles in hippocampal synaptic plasticity through nuclear receptors (nERs; including ERα and ERβ) and the membrane receptor (mER; also called GPR30), but the underlying mechanism and the contributions of nERs and mER remain unclear. Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) is involved in actin cytoskeleton polymerization and long‐term memory, but whether mTORC2 is involved in the regulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by ERs is unclear. Methods: We treated animals with nER antagonists (MPP/PHTPP) or the mER antagonist (G15) alone or in combination with A‐443654, an activator of mTORC2. Then, we examined the changes in hippocampal SRC‐1 expression, mTORC2 signaling (rictor and phospho‐AKTSer473), actin polymerization (phospho‐cofilin and profilin‐1), synaptic protein expression (GluR1, PSD95, spinophilin, and synaptophysin), CA1 spine density, and synapse density. Results: All of the examined parameters except synaptophysin expression were significantly decreased by MPP/PHTPP and G15 treatment. MPP/PHTPP and G15 induced a similar decrease in most parameters except p‐cofilin, GluR1, and spinophilin expression. The ER antagonist‐induced decreases in these parameters were significantly reversed by mTORC2 activation, except for the change in SRC‐1, rictor, and synaptophysin expression. Conclusions: nERs and mER contribute similarly to the changes in proteins and structures associated with synaptic plasticity, and mTORC2 may be a novel target of hippocampal‐dependent dementia such as Alzheimer's disease as proposed by previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in tight gas reservoirs (TGR) has quickly spread worldwide. Most researches on the permeability stress-sensitivity of tight gas reservoirs mainly concentrated on experimental approach, physical modeling or pressure behavior analysis, while transient production rate performance does not attract much attention. This study developed a dual-porosity model of a horizontal well in fractured tight gas reservoirs considering the stress-sensitivity effect. The solution methods include variable substitution, perturbation technique, Laplace transformation, Sturm-Liouville eigenvalue theory, orthogonal transformation and numerical inversion. The results showed that the production rate decreases with the increasing of permeability modulus and the derivative curve will be warped up during the whole system late radial flow stage. The influences of other parameters are also analyzed. The work undertaken here has both theoretical and practical significance in predicting production performance and evaluating underground fluid transport in such formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beryllium carbide films without columnar-crystal microstructures were prepared on the Si (1 0 0) substrate by thermal metal organic chemical vapor deposition using diethylberyllium as precursor. The influence of the substrate temperature on composition and microstructure of beryllium carbide films was systematically studied. Crystalline beryllium carbide is always the dominant phase according to XRD analysis. Meanwhile, a small amount of α-Be phase exists in films when the substrate temperature is below 400 °C, and hydrocarbon or amorphous carbon exists when the temperature is beyond 400 °C. Surfaces morphology shows transition from domes to cylinders, to humps, and to tetraquetrous crystalline needles with the increase of substrate temperature. No columnar grains are characterized throughout the thickness as revealed from the cross-section views. The average densities of these films are determined to be 2.04–2.17 g/cm 3 . The findings indicate the substrate temperature has great influences on the composition and microstructure of the Be 2 C films grown by thermal MOCVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain refinement of beryllium deposits is studied as a significant subject for beryllium capsule in the Inertial Confinement Fusion project. The Be films were prepared on the Si (1 0 0) substrates by thermal evaporation with and without a magnetic field, respectively. The two separate groups of prepared Be films were characterized. The results showed the grain diameter in the Be film transited from 300 nm to 18 nm and the surface roughness of the Be film decreased from 61 nm to 3 nm by application of the magnetic field during the deposition process of Be coating. However, the Be film grown with the magnetic field was easily oxidized in comparison with that grown without magnetic field due to the refined grains, and the oxidation was gradually decreased with the increase of etching depth in the Be film. The reason for grain refinement of Be film was also qualitatively described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• As compared with normal flowers, the pistil appearance of abortive flower is normal, but the ovary development is abnormal. • Microstructure showed that the pollen grains of abortive flowers were decreased sharply, the ovaries shrunk and the ovule primordia developed stagnately. • The hormone levels of ZR, IAA and CTK in abortive flowers decreased significantly. • RNA-Seq revealed that AUX1, TIR1, ARF, GH3 and SAUR, vital genes displayed identical differential expression profiles to auxin transduction pathway, and ABF, SnRK2, PP2C to abscisic acid, JAZ, MYC2 to jasmonic acid. 'Li Guang' apricot, a famous local variety, originated in Dunhuang city, Gansu Province, China. The fruit quality of 'Li Guang' apricot is excellent and It will generate greater financial returns. However, due to the change of natural environment and planting structure, pistil abortion has become an important factor affecting fruit setting rate, yield and quality. It seriously affects the economic benefits of this geographical indication product.The distribution and regulation of hormones play an important role in signal molecules of flower abortion. In order to elucidate the key molecular mechanism of apricot flower hormone abortion. Using normal and abortive buds as materials, the pistil abortion of apricot was observed, and the genes related to flowering regulation were identified by RNA sequencing. As compared with normal flowers, the pistil appearance of abortive flower is normal, but the ovary development is abnormal. Microstructure showed that the pollen grains of abortive flowers were decreased sharply, the ovaries shrunk and the ovule primordia developed stagnately. The hormone levels of ZR, IAA and CTK in abortive flowers decreased significantly. But the content of ABA and GA was significantly higher than normal flowers. Through RNA-Seq, it revealed that AUX1, TIR1, ARF, GH3 and SAUR, vital genes displayed identical differential expression profiles to auxin transduction pathway, and ABF, SnRK2, PP2C to abscisic acid, JAZ, MYC2 to jasmonic acid. Mutations in ARF , which encodes auxin response factor, can lead to serious defects in pistils. ARF promotes ovary formation mainly by inhibiting the expression of SPT in this domain. AG regulates early pistil development through CTK-AUXIN, and directly or indirectly affects these hormone pathways at different levels. Once the pistil begins to develop, SPT and ind connect CTK and AUXIN to realize the development of pistil structure. Other factors affecting hormone transport also showed apical and basal hyperplasia and ovary development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compartmentalized anaerobic reactor (CAR) is a patent novel high-rate reactor, which consists of three compartments. The reactor has a great potential for application due to its many advantages. In this work, the microbial consortium, spatial distribution, and their relationship with performance of CAR were investigated by means of polymerase chain reaction, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The results showed that the predominant archaea were Methanobacterium, Methanosaeta, and Methanospirillum, and the predominant bacteria were Firmicutes, Deltaproteobacteria, Spirochaetes, Actinobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria in the microbial consortium. The methanogenic archaea (MA), the hydrogen-producing acetogenic bacteria (HAB), and the hydrolytic fermentative bacteria (HFB) were found to be predominant in the upper, middle, and bottom compartments, respectively. The results revealed that the granular sludge took on a stratified microbial structure. The HFB, HAB, and MA were located in the outer shell, middle layer, and core, respectively. The microbial populations from the bottom compartment were relatively homogeneous in the granular sludge, and from the middle and upper compartments, they were relatively heterogeneous in the granular sludge. The microbial consortia and their spatial distribution were in accordance with the organic loading rate and chemical components in the three compartments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Microscopic observation and settling test were carried out to investigate the structure, density and settlability of anammox granules taken from a high-rate upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. The results showed that the anammox granules were irregular in shape and uneven on surface, and their structure included granule, subunit, microbial cell cluster and single cell. The gas pockets were often observed in the anammox granules, and they originated from the obstruction of gas tunnel by extracellular polymer substances (EPSs) and the inflation of produced dinitrogen gas. The volume of gas pockets became larger with the increasing diameter of anammox granules, which led to the decreasing density and the floatation of anammox granules. The diameter of anammox granules should be controlled at less than 2.20mm to avoid the granule floatation. A hypothesized mechanism for the granulation and floatation of anammox biomass was proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Efficient biological nitrogen removal from pharmaceutical wastewater has been focused recently. The present study dealt with the treatment of colistin sulfate and kitasamycin manufacturing wastewater through anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX). The biotoxicity assay on luminescent bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum (T3 mutation) showed that the pharmaceutical wastewater imparted severe toxicity with a relative luminosity of 3.46% ± 0.45%. During long-term operation, the cumulative toxicity from toxic pollutants in wastewater resulted in the performance collapse of conventional ANAMMOX process. A novel ANAMMOX process with sequential biocatalyst (ANAMMOX granules) addition (SBA-ANAMMOX process) was developed by combining high-rate ANAMMOX reactor with sequential biocatalyst addition (SBA). At biocatalyst addition rate of 0.025 g VSS (L wastewater)−1 day−1, the nitrogen removal rate of the process reached up to 9.4 kg N m−3 day−1 in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. The effluent ammonium concentration was lower than 50 mg N L−1, which met the Discharge Standard of Water Pollutants for Pharmaceutical Industry in China (GB 21903-2008). The application of SBA-ANAMMOX process in refractory ammonium-rich wastewater is promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The performance of high-loaded anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (ANAMMOX) upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors was investigated. Two ANAMMOX reactors (R1 with and R2 without effluent recycling, respectively) were fed with relatively low nitrite concentration of 240 mg-N L−1 with subsequent progressive increase in the nitrogen loading rate (NLR) by shortening the hydraulic retention time (HRT) till the end of the experiment. A super high-rate performance with nitrogen removal rate (NRR) of 74.3–76.7 kg-N m−3 day−1 was accomplished in the lab-scale ANAMMOX UASB reactors, which was 3 times of the highest reported value. The biomass concentrations in the reactors were as high as 42.0–57.7 g-VSS L−1 with the specific ANAMMOX activity (SAA) approaching to 5.6 kg-N kg-VSS−1 day−1. The high SAA and high biomass concentration were regarded as the key factors for the super high-rate performance. ANAMMOX granules were observed in the reactors with settling velocities of 73–88 m h−1. The ANAMMOX granules were found to contain a plenty of extracellular polymers (ECPs) such as 71.8–112.1 mg g-VSS−1 of polysaccharides (PS) and 164.4–298.2 mg g-VSS−1 of proteins (PN). High content of hemachrome (6.8–10.3 μmol g-VSS−1) was detected in the ANAMMOX granules, which is supposed to be attributed to their unique carmine color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]