Search

The machining mechanics of the rotary ultrasonic drilling (RUD) is investigated based on the separation effect of ultrasonic vibration (SEUV), by quantifying the critical force at a certain ultrasonic vibration amplitude. Firstly, the SEUV principle is explored by establishing the kinematic trajectory of the tool. Then, the critical force of SEUV at certain ultrasonic vibration amplitude is modeled. The simulation shows that as the tool interference displacement caused by the axial force is larger than the ultrasonic vibration amplitude, the tool vibration is in a suppressed state and the SEUV effect cannot be achieved. Third, the principles of standard drilling and peck drilling are proposed. The essence of peck drilling in step motion shows advantage to assure SEUV of RUD. Last, the critical force of SEUV is measured in experiments and proves that the SEUV is suppressed as the force exceeds a certain value. The RUD verification experiment on SiC of standard drilling and peck drilling is conducted. It is found that when the cutting force exceeds the critical force in standard drilling, the SEUV is suppressed and there has no significant improvement on the drilling performance. In peck drilling, the cutting force is lower than the critical force periodically, where the SEUV is achieved and the ultrasonic vibration can make effective impacts on the material and improve drilling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhizopus arrhizus is a saprotrophic, sometimes clinically- and industrially-relevant mold (Mucorales) and distributed worldwide, suggesting it can assimilate a broad spectrum of substrates. Here, 69 strains of R. arrhizus were investigated by using the Biolog FF MicroPlate for the profiles of utilizing 95 carbon and nitrogen substrates. The study showed that most R. arrhizus strains were similar in average well color development (AWCD) and substrate richness (SR). Nevertheless, 13 strains were unique in principal component analyses, heatmap, AWCD, and SR analyses, which may imply a niche differentiation within R. arrhizus. The species R. arrhizus was able to utilize all the 95 carbon and nitrogen substrates, consistent with the hypothesis of a great metabolic diversity. It possessed a substrate preference of alcohols, and seven substrates were most frequently utilized, with N-acetyl-d-galactosamine and l-phenylalanine ranking at the top of the list. Eight substrates, especially l-arabinose and xylitol, were capable of promoting sporulation and being applied for rejuvenating degenerated strains. By phenotyping R. arrhizus strains in carbon and nitrogen assimilation capacity, this study revealed the extent of intra-specific variability and laid a foundation for estimating optimum substrates that may be useful for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism involved in the anti-tumor immune response, and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) have achieved impressive therapeutic outcomes in patients with certain cancer types. However, it is unclear how inhibition of DNA methylation bridges the innate and adaptive immune responses to inhibit tumor growth. Here, we report that DNMTi zebularine reconstructs tumor immunogenicity, in turn promote dendritic cell maturation, antigen-presenting cell activity, tumor cell phagocytosis by APCs, and efficient T cell priming. Further in vivo and in vitro analyses reveal that zebularine stimulates cGAS-STING-NF-κB/IFNβ signaling to enhance tumor cell immunogenicity and upregulate antigen processing and presentation machinery (AgPPM), which promotes effective CD4+ and CD8+ T cell-mediated killing of tumor cells. These findings support the use of combination regimens that include DNMTi and immunotherapy for cancer treatment. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors potentiate anti-tumor immunity by inducing tumor immunogenicity and improving antigen processing through the STING-dependent type I interferon response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach is presented in this paper for the dynamic modeling of the chemical and isotopic evolution of C1–3 during the hydrocarbon generation process. Based on systematic data obtained from published papers for the pyrolysis of various hydrocarbon sources (type I kerogen/source rock, type II kerogen/source rock, type III kerogen/source rock, crude oil, and asphalt, etc.), the empirical evolution framework of the chemical and isotopic composition of C1–3 during the hydrocarbon generation process was built. Although the empirical framework was built only by fitting a large amount of pyrolysis data, the chemical and isotopic composition of C1–3 derived from the pyrolysis experiments all follow evolution laws, convincing us that it is applicable to the thermal evolution process of various hydrocarbon sources. Based on the simplified formula of the isotopic composition of mixed natural gas at different maturities (δ13Cmixed), δ13Cmixed = X × n i A × δ 13 C i A + Y × n i B × δ 13 C i B X × n i A + Y × n i B , it can be derived that the cumulative isotopic composition of alkane generated in a certain maturity interval can be expressed by the integral of the product of the instantaneous isotopic composition and instantaneous yield at a certain maturity point, and then divided by the cumulative yield of alkane generated in the corresponding maturity interval. Thus, the cumulative isotopic composition (A(X)), cumulative yield (B(X)), instantaneous isotope (C(X)), and instantaneous yield (D(x)) in the dynamic model, comply with the following formula during the maturity interval of (X0~X). A(X) = ∫ X 0 X C X × D X d x B (X) , where A(X) and B(X) can be obtained by the fitting of pyrolysis data, and D(x) can also be obtained from the derivation of B(X). The dynamic model was applied on the pyrolysis data of Pingliang Shale to illustrate the quantitative evolution of the cumulative yield, instantaneous yield, cumulative isotope, and instantaneous isotope of C1–3 with increasing maturity. The dynamic model can quantify the yield of methane, ethane, and propane, as well as δ13C1, δ13C2, and δ13C3, respectively, during the hydrocarbon generation process. This model is of great significance for evaluating the natural gas resources of hydrocarbon source rock of different maturities and for identifying the origin and evolutionary process of hydrocarbons by chemical and isotopic data. Moreover, this model provides an approach to study the dynamic evolution of the isotope series of C1–3 (including reversed isotopic series), which is promising for revealing the mechanism responsible for isotopic reversal when combined with post-generation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There are only four sizes of implantable collamer lens (ICL) available for selection, which cannot completely fit all patients as a result of the discontinuity of ICL sizes. Sizing an optimal ICL and predicting postoperative vault are still unresolved problems. This study aimed to develop and validate innovative data-level data-balancing machine learning-based models for predicting ICL size and postoperative vault. Methods: The patients were randomly assigned to training and internal validation sets in a 4:1 ratio. Feature selection was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal–Wallis feature importance methods. Traditional linear regression model and machine learning-based models were used. The accuracy of models was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) and confusion matrix. Results: A total of 564 patients (1127 eyes) were eligible for this study, consisting of 808 eyes in the training set, 202 eyes in the internal validation set, and 117 eyes in the external validation set. Compared with the traditional linear regression method, the machine learning model bagging tree showed the best performance for ICL size selection, with an accuracy of 84.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 83.2–85.8%), and the AUC ranged from 0.88 to 0.99; the prediction accuracy of 12.1 mm and 13.7 mm ICL sizes was improved by 49% and 59%, respectively. The bagging tree model achieved the best accuracy [90.2%, (95% CI 88.9–91.5%)] for predicting the postoperative vault, and the AUC ranged from 0.90 to 0.94. The prediction accuracies of internal and external validation dataset for ICL sizing were 82.2% (95% CI 81.1–83.3%) and 82.1% (95% CI 81.1–83.1%), respectively. Conclusions: The innovative data-level data balancing-based machine learning model can be used to predict ICL size and postoperative vault more accurately, which can assist surgeons in choosing optimal ICL size, thus reducing risks of postoperative complications and secondary surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Gongronella is important in agriculture and industry by secreting various natural bioactive metabolites such as chitosanases and organic acids. During the most recent 8 years, a total of 14 new species have been described, remarkably enriching the diversity of this genus. In this study, we added three more new species to this valuable genus, based on a combination of morphological traits and phylogenetic information. Six strains of the genus Gongronella were isolated from soil collected in Hainan Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and LSU rDNA sequences grouped these strains into three independent clades. According to their unique morphological characteristics, they were classified as G. multiramosa sp. nov., G. qichaensis sp. nov. and G. oleae sp. nov. The G. multiramosa was characterized by multiple branched sporangiophores and was closely related to G. pedratalhadensis. The G. qichaensis was characterized by obscure collars and closely related to G. butleri, G. hydei and G. banzhaoae. The G. oleae was characterized by the presence of oil droplets in the sporangiospores and was closely related to G. chlamydospora and G. multispora. Their descriptions and illustrations were provided, and their differences from morphological allies and phylogenetic-related species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perovskite structure oxide, CaMnO 3 , has been extensively investigated and applied as a potential microwave absorption material due to its versatile dielectric and spontaneous polarization. However, the low conductivity of pure CaMnO 3 material limits its further application. Herein, to increase dielectric loss and achieve better microwave absorption properties, lanthanum (La)-doped CaMnO 3 (Ca 1-x La x MnO 3) ceramics were fabricated by a high temperature solid state reaction. The results of XRD and XPS show that the La atom was efficiently doped at the Ca site in CaMnO 3 , which carries excess positive charges and affects the valence state of Mn ions and the concentration of oxygen vacancies. Therefore, the conductivity and imaginary permittivity of Ca 1-x La x MnO 3 ceramics increased dramatically with La-doped content. Benefiting from the tunable dielectric and impedance properties, Ca 1-x La x MnO 3 ceramics can be utilized in a highly efficient way to absorb microwave radiation with a thin thickness. The sample with x = 0.04 shows the best microwave absorption property, with an RL min value of -52.63 dB (d = 1.41 mm) and effective absorption bandwidth coves full X band in the thickness range from 1.315 mm to 1.395 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiO-TiO 2 may be deemed as the preeminent resilient and cost-effective photocatalyst for the co-generated generation of hydrogen and value-added commodities via glycerol photoreforming. This assertion is founded on the fact that this composite catalyst possesses photochemical qualities, which enable it to effectively convert water & glycerol solution into hydrogen and other high-value added chemicals, which can be reliable option for industrial-scale glycerol photoreforming applications. [Display omitted] Selective photocatalysis to simultaneously produce sustainable hydrogen and value-added chemicals from biomass or biomass derivates is attracting extensive investigations. However, the lack of bifunctional photocatalyst greatly limits the possibility to realize the "one stone kills two birds" scenario. Herein, anatase titanium dioxide (TiO 2) nanosheets are rationally designed as the n-type semiconductor, combining with nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles, the p-type semiconductor, resulting in the formation of a p-n heterojunction structure. The shorten charge transfer path and the spontaneous formation of p-n heterojunction endow the photocatalyst with efficient spatial separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. As a result, TiO 2 accumulates electrons for efficient hydrogen generation while NiO collects holes to selectively oxidize glycerol into value-added chemicals. The results showed that by loading 5% nickel into the heterojunction caused a remarkable rise in the generation of hydrogen (H 2). The combination of NiO-TiO 2 created 4000 µmolh−1g−1 of H 2 , which is 50% greater than the H 2 production from pure nanosheet TiO 2 and 63 times more than the H 2 production from commercial nanopowder TiO 2. Then, by changing loading amount of Ni, it is found that when 7.5 % of Ni is loaded the highest amount of hydrogen production achieved, 8000 µmolh−1g−1. By employing best sample (S3), 20 % of glycerol converted to value added products, glyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone. The feasibility study revealed that glyceraldehyde generates the largest portion of yearly earnings at 89%, while dihydroxyacetone and H 2 account for 11% and 0.03% of the annual revenue, respectively. This work provides a good example to simultaneously produce green hydrogen and valuable chemicals with the rational design of dually functional photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the numerous treatments for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), chemotherapy is still one of the most effective methods. However, the impact of chemotherapy on immune cells is not yet clear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the different roles of immune cells and their relationship with treatment outcomes in the tumor and blood before and after paclitaxel therapy. We analyzed the single-cell sequencing data of immune cells in tumors and blood before and after paclitaxel treatment. We confirmed a high correlation between T cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), and therapeutic efficacy. The differences in T cells were analyzed related to therapeutic outcomes before and after paclitaxel treatment. In the effective treatment group, post-treatment tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells were associated with elevated inflammation, cytokines, and Toll-like-receptor-related gene expression, which were expected to enhance anti-tumor capabilities in tumor immune cells. Moreover, we found that the expression of immune-checkpoint-related genes is also correlated with treatment outcomes. In addition, an ILC subgroup, b_ILC1-XCL1, in which the corresponding marker gene XCL1 was highly expressed, was mainly present in the effective treatment group and was also associated with higher patient survival rates. Overall, we found differences in gene expression in T cells across different groups and a correlation between the expression of immune checkpoint genes in T cells, the b_ILC1-XCL1 subgroup, and patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state‐of‐the‐art power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) is typically achieved in the devices fabricated by toxic halogen solvents with complex post‐treatment processes in strictly inert atmosphere. Developing suitable processing method for printing in ambient air using eco‐friendly solvents with continuous solution supply and fabricating efficient devices without any post‐treatment are intensively desired. Controlling the crystallization kinetics to fine‐tune the acceptor's assembly behavior with a second donor for favorable morphological evolution is an effective approach to achieve above requirements. Herein, a kinetics‐controlling strategy is implemented by introducing a strong crystalline small molecule, BTR‐Cl, to enhance the crystallinity of acceptors. The combined in situ spectra characterizations revealed that the earlier aggregation of acceptor and modulation in conformation of PM6 can be achieved. This unique aggregation behavior facilitated enhanced film crystallization with reduced paracrystallinity of π–π stacking, resulting in improved charge transport and inhibited charge recombination. An outstanding PCE of 17.50% is obtained for the device processed with o‐xylene via ambient air printing without any post‐treatment. More significantly, efficient all‐printed inverted devices and large‐area modules are prepared. The generalization of this strategy has been confirmed in other efficient systems, suggesting a great potential for universally fabricating high‐efficiency and eco‐friendly OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the genomic traits of ecological diversification in the Hymenochaetales, we sequenced 15 new genomes, with attention to ectomycorrhizal (EcM) Coltricia species. Together with published data, 32 genomes, including 31 Hymenochaetales and one outgroup, were comparatively analyzed in total. Compared with those of parasitic and saprophytic members, EcM species have significantly reduced number of plant cell wall degrading enzyme genes, and expanded transposable elements, genome sizes, small secreted proteins, and secreted proteases. EcM species still retain some of secreted carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and have lost the key secreted CAZymes to degrade lignin and cellulose, while possess a strong capacity to degrade a microbial cell wall containing chitin and peptidoglycan. There were no significant differences in secreted CAZymes between fungi growing on gymnosperms and angiosperms, suggesting that the secreted CAZymes in the Hymenochaetales evolved before differentiation of host trees into gymnosperms and angiosperms. Nevertheless, parasitic and saprophytic species of the Hymenochaetales are very similar in many genome features, which reflect their close phylogenetic relationships both being white rot fungi. Phylogenomic and molecular clock analyses showed that the EcM genus Coltricia formed a clade located at the base of the Hymenochaetaceae and divergence time later than saprophytic species. And Coltricia remains one to two genes of AA2 family. These indicate that the ancestors of Coltricia appear to have originated from saprophytic ancestor with the ability to cause a white rot. This study provides new genomic data for EcM species and insights into the ecological diversification within the Hymenochaetales based on comparative genomics and phylogenomics analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the issue of event-triggered optimal fault-tolerant control is investigated for input-constrained nonlinear systems with mismatched disturbances. To eliminate the effect of abrupt faults and ensure the optimal performance of general nonlinear dynamics, an adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) algorithm is employed to develop a sliding mode fault-tolerant control strategy. When the system trajectories converge to the sliding-mode surface, the equivalent sliding mode dynamics is transformed into a reformulated auxiliary system with a modified cost function. Then, a single critic neural network (NN) is adopted to solve the modified Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation. In order to overcome the difficulty that arises from the persistence of excitation (PE) condition, the experience replay technique is utilized to update the critic weights. In this study, a novel control method is proposed, which can effectively eliminate the effects of abrupt faults while achieving optimal control with the minimum cost under a single network architecture. Furthermore, the closed-loop nonlinear system is proved to be uniformly ultimate boundedness based on Lyapunov stability theory. Finally, three examples are presented to verify the validity of the control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass, a naturally abundant, sustainable and clean resource has great potential as an alternative to replace the limited fossil feedstock for value‐added chemicals and fuels. Biomass with abundant reductive functional groups could theoretically act as electron donor to consume photogenerated holes and/or active free radicals. Biomass photoreforming over semiconductor photocatalysts using solar light as energy input attracts much attention in this context. However, biomass photoreforming still suffers low conversion efficiency and product selectivity due to its structural complexity, poor solubility and unclear reaction mechanism. Owing to the advanced features of mass diffusion of biomass derivatives and adjustable surface properties, hierarchically porous photocatalysts with desired active sites at each length scale of porosity have shown their superiority in boosting the conversion efficiency and selectivity of biomass photoreforming. Herein, a critical review is presented on selective biomass photoreforming for simultaneous H2 and value‐added chemicals co‐production on hierarchically porous photocatalysts. The fundamentals of biomass photoreforming and current bottleneck of biomass valorization by photocatalytic process are presented and analyzed. The rational photocatalyst design with hierarchically porous structure to improve the biomass conversion and product selectivity by boosting mass transfer is highlighted. Finally the challenges and opportunities for photocatalytic biomass valorization are presented in the perspective ssection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation and development of hub vortices in the wake of water jet propulsion pump units lead to energy loss and reductions in propulsion efficiency and hydrodynamic performance. In this study, a numerical scheme is developed to simulate the internal and external flow fields of water jet propulsion pump units, and visual experiments are used to verify the numerical results. The hub vortices are observed to develop from the vortex structure at the tail edge of the guide vane and vortex clusters on both sides of the guide cone tip. The vortex structure at the tail edge of the guide vane is generated by the pressure gradient in this region. As the axial distance increases, this structure gradually becomes concentrated around the hub vortex position and vorticity loss occurs. The radius of the hub vortex gradually increases with increasing axial distance at the nozzle section. The rotational speed of the periphery of the hub vortex progressively affects the flow velocity in the nozzle channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of a dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) virtual non-calcium (VNCa) technique in the detection of edema-like marrow signal intensity (ELMSI) in patients with knee joint osteoarthritis (OA) compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: The study received local ethics board approval, and written informed consent was obtained. DECT and MRI were used to examine 28 knees in 24 patients with OA. VNCa images were generated by dual-energy subtraction of calcium. The knee joint was divided into 15 regions for ELMSI grading, performed independently by two musculoskeletal radiologists, with MRI as the reference standard. We also analyzed CT numbers through receiver operating characteristics and calculated cut-off values. Results: For the qualitative analysis, we obtained CT sensitivity (Readers 1, 2 = 83.7%, 89.8%), specificity (Readers 1, 2 = 99.5%, 99.5%), positive predictive value (Readers 1, 2 = 95.3%, 95.7%), and negative predictive value (Readers 1, 2 = 97.9%, 98.7%) for ELMSI. The interobserver agreement was excellent (κ = 0.92). The area under the curve for Reader 1 and Reader 2 was 0.961 (95% CI 0.93, 0.99) and 0.992 (95% CI 0.98, 1.00), respectively. CT numbers obtained from the VNCa images were significantly different between regions with and without ELMSI (p <.001). Conclusions: VNCa images have good diagnostic performance for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of knee osteoarthritis-related ELMSI. Key points: DECT-VNCa images had important clinical significance in diagnosing ELMSI. DECT-VNCa images can improve the diagnosis of ELMSI by cut-off value. The research of DECT-related post-processing technology in the diagnosis of OA-related pain needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the feasibility of cellulose photobiocatalytic conversion with >75% cellulose conversion and >75% gluconic acid selectivity from converted glucose. This process is realized via a one-pot sequential cascade reaction by cellulase enzymes and a carbon nitride photocatalyst that can realize selective glucose photoreforming into gluconic acid. Cellulase enzymes breakdown cellulose into glucose, which will subsequently be converted into gluconic acid by essential oxidative species (˙O2− and ˙OH) via a selective photocatalysis process with simultaneous H2O2 formation. This work demonstrates a good example to realize direct cellulose photobiorefining into value-added chemicals via the photo-bio hybrid system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important issue in the quantification of side resistance in drilled shaft design is how to conduct a credible analysis of the shear behaviors between the shaft and ambient geomaterials. In the previous literature, the primary emphasis was on establishing a logical physical model where the interactions between the shaft and the rough socket wall can be exclusively characterized in the form of the so-called triangular asperities model. The modeling can well elaborate on the dilatancy behavior before the occurrence of asperity failure. After the energy release at the asperity failure, volumetric changes in the interface could occur in the postfailure stage; however, these changes cannot be fully taken into account in most existing methods. This study analyzes a newborn scrap after asperity failure under upper and lower constraints based on the kinematics rule and gives a better understanding of the mobilization of residual shearing. Particularly, a dilatancy index is introduced to describe the postfailure volumetric changes in the interface, either dilatancy or contraction. It could also highlight an alternative vertical load-transfer function updated with a bilinear shear mobilization curve, and four different general solutions to the load-transfer equation are given in a chart for engineers. The proposed method is verified by using direct shear tests and case histories, and the predictions agree well with the observations. Parametric studies demonstrate that the dilatancy index is significantly affected by the asperity inclination and the frictional angle, rather than the half chord length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic effects of different subtypes of suprasellar arachnoid cysts (SAC) in children. Methods: Fifty patients with primary SAC who had undergone endoscopic treatment in our department between January 2010 and December 2020 were studied retrospectively. All patients underwent endoscopic treatment after diagnosis, including ventriculocystostomy (VC) in 23 cases and ventriculocystocisternostomy (VCC) in 27 cases. All patients were followed up regularly after the operation, including head computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Evans index (EI) and frontal and occipital horn ratio (FOHR) index were measured to assess changes in cyst volume and hydrocephalus. The prognosis was evaluated comprehensively on the data of the improvement of clinical symptoms, child growth and development correlation score, and reduction of cyst volume 12 months after surgery. According to the new classification of SAC, 50 cases of children were classified into three groups in which we compared the clinical characteristics of different subtypes of the three groups. Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of prognosis. Results: Completed success was achieved in 50 cases, including 31 cases with cyst volume reduction of more than 50% and 19 cases with cyst volume reduction of less than 50%. The median follow-up time was 55.3 months (22 ~ 113 months). According to the new classification criteria of SAC, there were 21 cases of SAC-1, 16 cases of SAC-2, and 13 cases of SAC-3. There were no statistically significant differences among the three groups in gender, birth weight, prenatal diagnosis, hydrocephalus, endocrine abnormalities, relief of postoperative symptoms, cyst wall texture, and surgical methods (P > 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference among the three groups in the change of the cyst volume and the maximum cyst diameter (P < 0.05), in which SAC-1 had the largest volume reduction, SAC-2 was more likely to cause endocrine symptoms and SAC-3 was inclined to lie in between. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that SAC classification and cyst wall texture were independent risk factors for the prognosis. Conclusion: The clinical characteristics of different SAC subtypes are different, and SAC classification is one of the independent risk factors affecting prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroformylation has been applied in the chemical industry for decades to produce n-aldehydes from 1-olefins and syngas (a mixture of CO and H 2). However, the difficulty of catalyst separation and harsh operating conditions of conventional homogeneous hydroformylation reactions have prompted researchers to explore heterogeneous catalytic strategies. In this work, a novel core-shell structured catalyst comprised of Rhodium nanoparticles (Rh NPs) homogeneously encapsulated in a silicalite-1 zeolite (Rh@S-1) is designed to realize a high activity in 1-hexene hydroformylation. The conversion of 1-hexene over the Rh@S-1 catalyst exhibits as high as 85.8%, and the ratio of n-heptanal to iso-heptanal reaches up to 2.5 at 90 °C. Multiple studies demonstrate that the outstanding catalytic activity over this core-shell structured catalyst can be explained by the highly active homogeneously dispersed Rh NPs and the distinguishable mass transfer effect of the unique and orderly micropores structure of silicalite-1 zeolite. Furthermore, by changing templating agent concentrations during the hydrothermal method, the size of the zeolite crystals can be easily controlled and is proven to be an essential factor affecting the hydroformylation performance. [Display omitted] • Design of core-shell structured Rh@S-1 catalyst by solvent-free hydrothermal method. • High reaction performance in hydroformylation of 1-hexene realized by Rh@S-1. • Synergistic effect of active Rh NPs and the shape selectivity of zeolite micropores. • Zeolite crystals size of Rh@S-1 affected the hydroformylation reaction activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-developed finite element limit analysis (FELA) code was employed in this study to investigate the stability of eccentrically loaded strip footings on rock slopes. The research emphasis of this study was on quantifying the inequality phenomenon induced by the slope and eccentric loads of different directions. The generalized Hoek–Brown yield criterion was embedded into the program to simulate the rock nonlinearity. Upper bound theorem, lower bound theorem and adaptive meshing technique were adopted for more reliable calculations. And stability charts were presented to illustrate the influences of various influential factors including the rock property, the slope angle and the footing position on the footing bearing capacity. Furthermore, transformation trends of failure patterns were analyzed for deeper insight into how the failure mechanisms evolving with different influential factors. Detailed design tables were summarized to facilitate the engineering practice and ensure the building safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) has reached high values of over 19%. However, most of the high‐efficiency OSCs are fabricated by spin‐coating with toxic solvents and the optimal photoactive layer thickness is limited to 100 nm, limiting practical development of OSCs. It is a great challenge to obtain ideal morphology for high‐efficiency thick‐film OSCs when using non‐halogenated solvents due to the unfavorable film formation kinetics. Herein, high‐efficiency ternary thick‐film (300 nm) OSCs with PCE of 15.4% based on PM6:BTR‐Cl:CH1007 are fabricated by hot slot‐die coating using non‐halogenated solvent (o‐xylene) in the air. Compared to PM6:BTR‐Cl:Y6 blends, the stronger pre‐aggregation of CH1007 in solution induces the earlier aggregation of CH1007 molecules and longer aggregation time, and thus results in high and balanced crystallinity of donors and acceptor in CH1007‐based ternary film, which led to high‐carrier mobility and suppressed charge recombination. The ternary strategy is further used to fabricate high‐efficiency, thick‐film, large‐area, and flexible devices processed from non‐halogenated solvents, paving the way for industrial development of OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photorefining of biomass and its derivatives to value-added chemicals is an alternative solution to address the global energy shortage and environmental issues. Herein, efficient and selective oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF, 91.1% conversion) to 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF, 99.4% selectivity) is demonstrated by visible light-driven photocatalysis over cocatalyst-free ZnIn2S4 nanosheets with crystal facet engineering. The spatial accumulation of photogenerated electrons and holes on the (110) and (102) crystal facets triggers a two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) for H2O2 generation and HMF oxidation into DFF, respectively. The severe attenuation of photostability is caused by the irreversible photocorrosion of Zn–S with the formation of Zn–O chemical bonds by the formation of ˙OH from the in situ decomposition of H2O2. Spontaneous substitution of oxygen with sulfur has been proven to efficiently improve the photostability of ZnIn2S4. This present work provides insights into improving the durability of ZnIn2S4 and sheds new light on biomass valorization via photorefinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The primary aim of the current study was to elucidate the function of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. Materials and Methods: STING expression and signaling pathways were verified by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry after si-STING treatment. Cell proliferation and invasion and migration were assessed using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine and transwell assays, respectively. Results: Within endometriosis tissues, STING was primarily expressed in the stroma of the eutopic endometrium and glandular epithelium of the ectopic endometrium. However, STING expression was significantly lower in the eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis compared to controls (p < 0.05). Additionally, cell proliferation (0.2866 ± 0.01470 vs. 0.6911 ± 0.01796, ****p < 0.0001), invasion (130.0 ± 6.296 vs. 424.1 ± 22.31, ****p < 0.0001), and migration (82.93 ± 6.940 vs. 82.93 ± 6.940, ****p < 0.0001) were significantly increased in the si-STING groups. Moreover, following si-STING transfection, the expression of phosphorylated IRF-3 and TBK1 that are involved in STING/IRF3/IFNb1 signaling pathway decreased. The addition of exogenous IFN-β1 effectively increased stromal cell invasion (IFN-β1-NC vs. IFN-β1-si-STING 274.7 ± 7.767 vs. 135.7 ± 12.63, ***p < 0.0001) and migration (IFN-β1-NC and IFN-β1-si-STING 28.53 ± 3.625 vs. 28.53 ± 3.625, ***p < 0.0001) without significantly impacting cell proliferation (si-STING vs. IFN-1β-si-STING 0.6874 ± 0.02081 vs. 0.7187 ± 0.02638, p = 0.795). Conclusions: The STING signaling pathway plays an important role in endometrial stromal cell proliferation, invasion and migration associated with endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thoracoscopic segmentectomy is a common surgical procedure in thoracic surgery today. However, identifying the intersegmental plane is difficult in the surgical process. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of the arterial ligation method for determining the intersegmental plane and compared the demarcation status with the intravenous indocyanine green (ICG).Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 35 patients with peripheral small lung nodules who underwent thoracoscopic segmentectomy between May and December 2020. First, the preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction was performed to distinguish the location of lung nodules and the anatomical structures of targeted segmental arteries, veins, and bronchi. Second, the targeted segmental arteries were ligated, and the intersegmental plane was determined by the inflation-deflation technique. The waiting time for the appearance of the inflation-deflation line was recorded. Thirdly, the intersegmental plane was identified again using the ICG fluorescence method. Finally, the consistency of the two intersegmental planes was evaluated.Results: The intersegmental planes were successfully observed in all patients using the arterial ligation method. Thirty-four patients underwent segmentectomy as planned, and one patient finally underwent lobectomy due to insufficient surgical margin. The waiting time for the appearance of the intersegmental plane by arterial ligation method was 13.7 ± 3.2 min (6-19 min). The intersegmental planes determined by the arterial ligation method and the ICG fluorescence method were comparable, with a maximum distance of no more than 5 mm between the two planes. The mean operative duration was 119.1 ± 34.9 min, and the mean blood loss was 76.9 ± 70.3 ml. No evident air leakage was found during the operation. Only one patient experienced a prolonged air leak (≥ 5 days) during the postoperative recovery. No atelectasis occurred in all cases. The chest tube duration was 3.1 ± 0.9 days.Conclusion: The arterial ligation method can efficiently and accurately identify the intersegmental plane, comparable to the ICG fluorescence method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flapping-motion of the caudal fin allows the fish to swim with high efficiency and mobility, particularly in terms of persistence, propulsion, and acceleration. This has led to theoretical and practical research on the development of robotic caudal fin thrusters that offer similar properties and performance. However, the current caudal fin thrusters are driven by electromagnetic motors, which require a transmission system that makes them difficult to miniaturize, and need protection against water intrusion. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel piezoelectric caudal fin thruster with a fully open structure that has no chambers in any of its parts. The converse, piezoelectric effect and direct friction drive principle are used to make a rotation unit for the piezoelectric actuator drive and achieve a reciprocating motion that makes the caudal fin flap. The proposed piezoelectric caudal fin thruster has an open and simple structure. It has a weight of 30 g, a length of 89 mm, and a thrust of 0.07 N. It is easy to miniaturize and is lighter, smaller, and more efficient than previously reported caudal fin thrusters that were based on ionic polymer–metal composites and shape memory alloys. Experimental results verified the effectiveness of the proposed design, which can be easily scaled up or down in size depending on the operating situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper captures the frequently encountered strain localization of brittle rocks in laboratory compression experiments under moderate confining pressures generally ranging from 10 to 60 MPa. The plastic volumetric strains are related to particle dislocations in shear bands strongly constrained by relatively undeformed neighboring materials. Accordingly, the dilatant behavior of shear bands, analogous to a rock joint shearing, is predicted by introducing a multiple-asperity joints model. By imposing the model, the dislocation of grain particles in bands is abstracted by an uneven interface shear to reflect admitted volumetric strain behavior. It also highlights key issues associated with the bands, i.e., the width, the boundary conditions and non-uniform grain sizes within the bands. To tackle these problems, appropriate hypotheses are further made to simplify analytical procedures. The solution can quantify triaxial stress–strain relations with the least number of model parameters. A comparison between predictions and published experimental data is claimed to be satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the influence of the canopy span, canopy opening width and waiting hall building height on the loads and equivalent static wind loads (ESWL) of the waiting hall building. The results show both the mean and standard deviation wind pressure coefficients at the roof of waiting hall buildings are affected by the interference effects caused by the upstream canopies. The wind-induced response of the waiting hall building roof is usually dominated by the first vibration mode, 0∘, 90∘ and 180∘ are the three adverse wind directions. Based on the wind tunnel tests, parameters of the fitted spectrum of the first modal generalized wind pressure for waiting hall buildings are obtained at the adverse wind directions. The semi-analytical expressions of equivalent static wind loads (ESWL) on waiting hall building roofs are derived using the first modal inertial force as a function of the structural reduced frequency. The good accuracy of the proposed ESWL is verified by comparing the nodal displacements and member stresses calculated by the proposed method to the actual dynamic peak results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal species in the family Mortierellaceae are important for their remarkable capability to synthesize large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially arachidonic acid (ARA). Although many genomes have been published, the quality of these data is not satisfactory, resulting in an incomplete understanding of the lipid pathway in Mortierellaceae. We provide herein two novel and high-quality genomes with 55.32% of syntenic gene pairs for Mortierella alpina CGMCC 20262 and M. schmuckeri CGMCC 20261, spanning 28 scaffolds of 40.22 Mb and 25 scaffolds of 49.24 Mb, respectively. The relative smaller genome for the former is due to fewer protein-coding gene models (11,761 vs. 13,051). The former yields 45.57% of ARA in total fatty acids, while the latter 6.95%. The accumulation of ARA is speculated to be associated with delta-5 desaturase (Delta5) and elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 3 (ELOVL3). A further genomic comparison of 19 strains in 10 species in three genera in the Mortierellaceae reveals three types of fatty acid synthase (FAS), two of which are new to science. The most common type I exists in 16 strains of eight species of three genera, and was discovered previously and consists of a single unit with eight active sites. The newly revealed type II exists only in M. antarctica KOD 1030 where the unit is separated into two subunits α and β comprised of three and five active sites, respectively. Another newly revealed type III exists in M. alpina AD071 and Dissophora globulifera REB-010B, similar to type II but different in having one more acyl carrier protein domain in the α subunit. This study provides novel insights into the enzymes related to the lipid metabolism, especially the ARA-related Delta5, ELOVL3, and FAS, laying a foundation for genetic engineering of Mortierellaceae to modulate yield in polyunsaturated fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the intergranular corrosion (IGC) defect depth on the high circle fatigue performance of tungsten inert gas (TIG)‐welded joints of 6005A–5083 dissimilar aluminum alloys were investigated. After soaking in different IGC solutions for 72 h, corrosion defects of different depths were generated in various areas of the specimen surfaces. It was found that the 5083 base metal exhibited the poorest corrosion resistance, while the welded metal displayed the best corrosion resistance. Fatigue tests carried out after precorrosion revealed that when the IGC depth was shallow, the weld defects on the weld metal were the main source of cracking for fatigue extension. However, when the IGC depth in the 5083 base metal was >248 μm, the corrosion defect acted as the origin of the fatigue crack, and the fatigue life of the sample was significantly reduced. This was attributed mainly to the local high‐stress field at the tip of the corrosion defect. Finally, a corrosion fatigue crack expansion model was established to analyze the influence of the corrosion defect depth on the fatigue lives of welded joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A common carbon nitride delivers great 2eORR activity for H 2 O 2 production in presence of lactic acid as sacrificial agent. • Pyruvic acid is simultaneously produced from selective dehydrogenation of lactic acid. • Other hydroxycarboxylic acids are selectively dehydrogenated into corresponding aldehydic or keto acids. • In-depth experimental and theoretical investigations reveal the detailed reaction mechanism. Photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production is emerging as an alternative technology to contribute H 2 O 2 -based advanced oxidation applications. However, the present reaction systems rarely consider the selective oxidation of sacrificial agent along with oxygen reduction reaction. Herein, we design a reaction system by using hydroxycarboxylic acids as additives to boost photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production. More importantly, hydroxycarboxylic acids could simultaneously be dehydrogenated into aldehydic/keto acids with high selectivity. Lactic acid as one of the typical hydroxycarboxylic acids reveals the feasibility of this hypothesis, delivering 6.56 mM/h of H 2 O 2 generation along with > 70 % pyruvic acid selectivity. The universality of this reaction system is demonstrated by using other hydroxycarboxylic acids. This works sheds new light on coupling H 2 O 2 generation with value-added chemicals production by mild photocatalytic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we demonstrate the selective cellobiose (building block of cellulose) photoreforming for gluconic acid and syngas co-production in acidic conditions by rationally designing a bifunctional polymeric carbon nitride (CN) with potassium/sulfur co-dopant. This heteroatomic doped CN photocatalyst possesses enhanced visible light absorption, higher charge separation efficiency than pristine CN. Under acidic conditions, cellobiose is not only more efficiently hydrolyzed into glucose but also promotes the syngas and gluconic acid production. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the favorable generation of •O 2 − during the photocatalytic reaction, which is essential for gluconic acid production. Consequently, the fine-designed photocatalyst presents excellent cellobiose conversion (>80%) and gluconic acid selectivity (>70%) together with the co-production of syngas (∼56 μmol g−1 h−1) under light illumination. The current work demonstrates the feasibility of biomass photoreforming with value-added chemicals and syngas co-production under mild condition. [Display omitted] • Bifunctional CN with K, S co-doping is synthesized via a facile calcination process. • Acidic cellobiose photoreforming to simultaneously obtain gluconic acid and syngas. • Cellobiose conversion (>80%) and gluconic acid selectivity (>70%) can be achieved. • Favorable generation of •O 2 − proved by DFT is essential for gluconic acid production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three phosphate ester-based MOFs (UiO-66-(OPO 3) X) containing different amounts and spatial positions were prepared. • UiO-66-(OPO 3) X can efficiently remove Pb2+ from aqueous solution. • Even at pH = 2 and pH = 3, UiO-66-(OPO 3) X maintains a high removal efficiency of Pb2+. • UiO-66-(OPO 3) X has excellent selectivity and anti-interference ability for Pb2+. • The adsorption mechanism was investigated in detail by experiment combined with DFT. Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials have emerged as promising candidates for treating heavy metal wastewater because of their controllable pore size, high specific surface area, and abundant active sites. Nevertheless, the currently reported MOFs usually require near-neutral environments (pH = 5–6) to achieve efficient removal of Pb2+ and cannot be applied to acidic environments (pH = 2–3). In this work, the structurally stabilized zirconium-based MOF UiO-66 was chosen as the object of study. Three phosphate ester-based MOFs (UiO-66-(OPO 3) X) containing different amounts and spatial positions were designed and prepared by simple chemical modification and used to remove Pb2+. Adsorption experiments showed that they could reach adsorption equilibrium in 30 min with excellent adsorption rate. Owing to the unique ionization ability of the phosphate ester group, UiO-66-(OPO3) X maintains a high removal efficiency of Pb2+ even at pH = 2 and pH = 3. In addition, selectivity and competition experiments demonstrated that UiO-66-(OPO 3) X possessed excellent selectivity and anticompetitive ability towards Pb2+.The excellent regeneration performance demonstrates their value for practical application. Moreover, the adsorption mechanism was investigated in detail by experiment combined with density functional theory (DFT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic response is a critical aspect of structural engineering, as it directly influences the design and safety evaluation of such systems. Structural seismic response becomes more complicated when unavoidable uncertainties in the structure are considered. Therefore, solving and analyzing the stochastic dynamic response of structures efficiently and accurately is of great significance. Various uncertainty quantification methods such as the stochastic finite element method, Monte Carlo method, and polynomial chaos expansion method have made significant progress in this field. However, these methods do not provide a comprehensive study of the seismic response of stochastic structures and efficiency problems rapidly emerge as the number of random variables increases. This paper delivers a comprehensive study of the seismic dynamic response of space truss and reticulated shell structure considering uncertainties in material properties, geometry, and loading. To this end, the finite element model of the structure was first modeled and the deterministic solutions were obtained. Then, polynomial surrogates are modeled for the natural frequency, mode participation factor, mode superposition response, and transient response of the structure under stochastic uncertainties. The sparse grid technique is used to select sparse quadrature points, which overcomes the curse of dimensionality caused by full grid integration. The results demonstrate that the sparse grid-based polynomial chaos expansion is more efficient. Uncertainty quantification reveals the uncertainty of modal analysis, response spectrum analysis, and transient response analysis of space truss and reticulated shell under seismic excitation. In summary, this study provides valuable insights and an efficient and accurate uncertainty quantification tool for the seismic dynamic analysis of stochastic structures, ultimately contributing to safer and more robust structural designs. • Analyzing the seismic dynamic response of stochastic structures comprehensively. • Sparse grid-based PCE for quantifying uncertainty in stochastic dynamics. • Addressing the dimensional catastrophe of traditional non-intrusive PCE. • Sparse grid-based PCE metamodel for post-processing is more efficient and accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three‐dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) structures have been widely utilized to largely enhance a photocatalytic activity. However, the common nanoparticles‐constructed 3DOM photocatalysts possess numerous grain boundaries, unavoidably leading to a fast recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Herein, for the first time, a hierarchically two‐dimensional (2D) meso‐microporous perovskite nanosheet‐constructed 3DOM CaTiO3 to significantly reduce the grain boundaries is designed and fabricated. Using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) as a metal‐free co‐catalyst, the 3DOM CQDs‐CaTiO3 exhibits an outstanding photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation of 0.13 mmol h−1 (20 mg photocatalyst) with remarkable apparent quantum efficiency (QAY) of 14.55% at 365 nm monochromatic light. This unprecedented performance is endowed by the synergy of a macro‐meso‐microporosity architecture, a large surface area, enhanced light harvesting, and improved charge carriers separation and transport. Density functional theory calculations and finite difference time‐domain simulations further reveal the mechanism behind the enhanced separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. The present work demonstrates a trial on rationally designing meso‐microporous nanosheet‐constructed 3DOM perovskites for solar driven hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although species of Absidia are known to be ubiquitous in soil, animal dung, and insect and plant debris, the species diversity of the genus and their ecological habitats have not been sufficiently investigated. In this study, we describe five new species of Absidia from forest and grassland soils in southwestern China, with support provided by phylogenetic, morphological, and physiological evidence. The species diversity and ecological habitat of Absidia are summarized. Currently, 22 species are recorded in China, which mainly occur in soil, especially in tropical and subtropical forests and mountains. An updated key to the species of Absidia in China is also provided herein. This is the first overview of the Absidia ecological habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issue of low accuracy resulting from approximation errors in conventional interval finite element methods, this study presents an ɛ -accelerated bivariate dimension-reduction interval finite element method. The proposed method aims to accurately and efficiently predict the static response of structures with high dimensionality and large uncertainty parameters. We first approximate the structural interval equilibrium equation using a bivariate dimension-reduction method. An explicit expression for the sequence of displacements is derived by approximating the inverse of the structural interval stiffness matrix using the Neumann series. Adjoint-based sensitivity analysis can effectively avoid the response interval expansion caused by parameter coupling. For improving the convergence speed and computational accuracy, the displacement response sequence is accelerated by a vector ɛ acceleration algorithm and an adaptive strategy. Finally, three engineering structures with uncertain-but-bounded parameters are analyzed with the proposed method. Compared with conventional interval analysis methods, the proposed method effectively balances computational accuracy and efficiency, making it more suitable for non-linear and large uncertainty problems with multiple interval parameters. The study shows that ɛ -accelerated bivariate dimension-reduction interval finite element method has a promising application. • An interval finite element method based on bivariate dimension-reduction is proposed. • Explicit sequences and errors for the bounds of displacements were derived. • Dependencies between parameters are addressed by adjoint-based sensitivity analysis. • Convergence speed and accuracy are improved by the adaptive ɛ algorithm. • Structural response intervals are efficiently and accurately predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The machining effects of hole drilling is limited by merely changing the amplitude. Adjusting ultrasonic vibration frequency to expand the matching range of machining parameters optimization is necessary to improve hole drilling effects. Therefore, the design, optimization, and experiment evaluation for a novel integrated, fined, low-cost dual-frequency ultrasonic tool shank is proposed, which can work in three vibration modes for micro-nano precision drilling. The principle of the dual-frequency ultrasonic transducer is introduced. The electro-mechanical equivalent circuit model with step horn is applied to study the dual-frequency characteristics. The transducer displacement equation model based on the wave equation theory is deduced to find the shared vibration node of the first and third frequency. Sensitivity analysis by equivalent circuit model and Finite element method (FEM) simulation of the key parameter is both conducted to optimize ultrasonic transducer geometry dimension. The vibration node of mounting flange is specified in an identical position for the dual vibration modes. A prototype of ultrasonic tool shank is fabricated and evaluated in experiments. It demonstrates that the dual working frequency of the ultrasonic transducer is 34.9 kHz and 104.5 kHz in the first and third mode resonant vibration, which is benefit to the low and high frequency drilling. Three working modes of the low, high, and coupling frequency vibration is measured by a self-developed ultrasonic generator. When 40 V voltage is excited, the vibration amplitudes of the low and high frequency are 17.8 µm, and 9.3 µm, respectively, which can meet with the drilling requirement. Moreover, the coupling vibration with the low and high mode are excited simultaneously, and the motion trajectory of the coupling vibration is observed in a "M" shape, which is a novel trajectory for the precision micro-nano drilling. Micro drilling experiments show that the 35 kHz ultrasonic vibration drilling can achieve better machining effect than conventional drilling (CD). The 105 kHz ultrasonic drilling outperforms the CD, 35 kHz and coupling ultrasonic drilling at cutting force reduction. The coupling ultrasonic vibration drilling achieves the lowest chipping diameter. It is to be noted that the 105 kHz-8 µm produce the fined smoothly surface. The 35 kHz, 105 kHz and coupling ultrasonic drilling can produce better surface micro morphology with less quantity and size of craters than that of CD. [Display omitted] • Dual-frequency ultrasonic tool shank in 34.9/104.5 kHz can vibrate in three vibration modes. • The vibration node is optimized in an identical position. • Vibration amplitude can reach at 34.9 kHz/17.8 µm and 104.5 kHz/9.3 µm. • The coupling vibration is tuned in M shape of low/high frequency vibration at 7.4 /3.6 µm. • Tool shank have great potential to parameters optimization in micro drilling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mobilization of side resistance of rock-socketed pile strongly depends on the shear behavior of the pile-rock interface. In this study, an asperity-based model was developed to investigate essential responses of interface shear, where asperities develop from sliding with interface dilation to residual shear under the condition of constant normal stiffness (CNS). The emphasis was on quantifying the magnitude of interface dilation in terms of limit analysis solutions. Followed by the proposed upper bound (UB) and lower bound (LB) solutions for asperity collapse loads, the mean value was chosen for approaching the potential exact solution. Laboratory experiments of direct shear tests under CNS conditions were also carried out by the authors, and observations were regarded as evidence that the proposed modeling provided a rational explanation of shear behavior for a pile-rock interface. Parametric studies indicated that two key factors, roughness and material properties, significantly impact the mobilization of ultimate side resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3DOM TiO 2 -Au-CdS inverse opal photonic crystal structure is designed for visible-light hydrogen production, exhibiting extremely enhanced photocatalytic activity via coupling bifunctional SPR effect and electron transfer of Au NPs with slow photon effect. [Display omitted] • The ternary TiO 2 -Au-CdS (TAC) photocatalysts have been designed to couple the bifunctional Au NPs with slow photon effect. • A two electron transfer paths model is proposed in the ternary TAC photocatalysts. • Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations are used to reveal the size effect of Au NPs. • The ternary TAC-10 photocatalyst with ~ 10 nm Au NPs demonstrates the highest hydrogen evolution rate under visible-light. Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) effect and excellent internal electron transfer ability have widely been combined with semiconductors for photocatalysis. However, the in-depth effects of Au NPs in multicomponent photocatalysts have not been completely understood. Herein, ternary titanium oxide-gold-cadmium sulfide (TiO 2 -Au-CdS, TAC) photocatalysts, based on hierarchical TiO 2 inverse opal photonic crystal structure with different Au NPs sizes have been designed to reveal the SPR effect and internal electron transfer of Au NPs in the presence of slow photon effect. It appears that the SPR effect and internal electron transfer ability of Au NPs, depending on their sizes, play a synergistic effect on the photocatalytic enhancement. The ternary TAC-10 photocatalyst with ~ 10 nm Au NPs demonstrates an unprecedented hydrogen evolution rate of 47.6 mmolh-1g−1 under visible-light, demonstrating ~ 48% enhancement comparing to the sample without slow photon effect. In particular, a 9.83% apparent quantum yield under 450 nm monochromatic light is achieved for TAC-10. A model is proposed and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations reveal the size influence of Au NPs in ternary TAC photocatalysts. This work suggests that the rational design of bifunctional Au NPs coupling with slow photon effect could largely promote hydrogen production from visible-light driven water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucoromycota are diverse in microbial oils, but oil-related studies have long been confined to a few particular genera and species. This study used the Sherlock Microbial Identification System to determine fatty acid compositions and consequently discover potential resources from 669 strains representing 133 species in 28 genera in 11 families from the core mucoromycotan orders Mortierellales, Mucorales, and Umbelopsidales. Results showed that 34% of strains, 50% of species, and 46% of genera were oleaginous. Eleven genera were proposed as oleaginous taxa for the first time. Among them, Backusella was highlighted in accumulating as high as 59.08 ± 2.24% of oils. Twenty-five and 50 strains were screened as potential high-yield fungi for oils and high-value fatty acids respectively. Pilaira produced the most C18:2, while Rhizopus and Thamnostylum produced the most C18:3. Only strains of Mortierella produced C20:4; Mo. amoeboidea CGMCC 3.15949 yielded 58.00% ± 1.15% of C20:4, which suggests it is an excellent source of C20:4. This study suggests for the first time that the bulk of Mucoromycota is rich in lipids. More genera and species were discovered herein as oil-producing resources. These findings serve as a foundation for further research on microbial oil production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomass photorefinery provides a promising strategy for value-added chemical production from natural feedstocks. Herein, we designed and fabricated a three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) ternary composite for the photoreforming of hemicellulose and the corresponding monosaccharides. This hierarchically porous structure was revealed to restrain the crystal growth of BiVO4 and ZnO to form nanodots and clusters, respectively. The ternary photocatalyst exhibited excellent xylose conversion (∼90%) to selectively produce formic acid (∼60% selectivity) due to the synergistic effects of light harvesting, mass diffusion, oxygen vacancies and the formed heterojunction structure. The as-fabricated photocatalyst also showed the ability to break down β-1,4-glycosidic linkages of xylan in hemicellulose from wheat straw to produce xylose and formic acid. This work demonstrates a facile pathway for lignocellulose valorization to value-added chemicals by the photorefinery strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The repair of large bone defects is a great challenge for orthopedics. Although the development of three-dimensional (3D) printed titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V) implants with optimized the pore structure have effectively promoted the osseointegration. However, due to the biological inertia of Ti6Al4Vsurface and the neglect of angiogenesis, some patients still suffer from postoperative complications such as dislocation or loosening of the prosthesis.Methods: The purpose of this study was to construct 3D printed porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds filled with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) loaded hydrogel and evaluate the efficacy of this composite implants on osteogenesis and angiogenesis, thus promoting osseointegration.Results: The porosity and pore size of prepared 3D printed porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds were 69.2 ± 0.9 % and 593.4 ± 16.9 μm, respectively, which parameters were beneficial to bone ingrowth and blood vessel formation. The BMSC and EPC filled into the pores of the scaffolds after being encapsulated by hydrogels can maintain high viability. As a cell containing composite implant, BMSC and EPC loaded hydrogel incorporated into 3D printed porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds enhancing osteogenesis and angiogenesis to repair bone defects efficiently. At the transcriptional level, the composite implant up-regulated the expression levels of the osteogenesis-related genes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin (OCN), and angiogenesis-related genes hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).Conclusions: Overall, the strategy of loading porous Ti6Al4V scaffolds to incorporate cells is a promising treatment for improving osseointegration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infliximab (IFX) and calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine [CYS] and tacrolimus [TAC]) were considered as rescue therapy in steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). The objective of our study was to perform a meta-analysis evaluating the short-term and long-term efficacy and safety of IFX and calcineurin inhibitors in steroid-refractory UC. Methods: We systematically searched the databases from inception to September 2020 that evaluated IFX, CYS, and TAC in steroid-refractory UC. The primary outcome was the response rates, remission rates, mucosal healing rates, and colectomy rates after therapy initiation. The secondary outcomes were the rates of adverse events (AE), serious adverse events (SAE), and mortality. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Nineteen studies comprising 1323 Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) patients were included in the meta-analysis. Among the non-randomized studies, a significantly higher therapeutic response rate was seen with IFX treatment, with a pooled OR of 3.15 (95% CI 2.26–4.40). Among non-randomized studies, IFX was associated with a significantly lower first-year OR (0.46 [95% CI 0.27–0.79]), second-year (OR 0.53 [95% CI 0.28–0.97]), third-year (OR 0.43 [95% CI 0.24–0.75]) colectomy rate. But the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) did not suggest any difference between IFX and CYS as rescue therapies for steroid-refractory UC. There were no significant differences among IFX, CYS, and TAC in the rates of AE, SAE, or mortality. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggested a better treatment response rate and lower risk of colectomy in the first, second and third year, with IFX, compared with CYS in steroid-refractory UC patients. There was no significant difference among IFX and calcineurin inhibitors in AE, SAE, and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, two new Conidiobolus s.s. species were described relying on the morphological studies and phylogenetic analysis utilizing nuclear large subunit of rDNA (nucLSU), mitochondrial small subunit of rDNA (mtSSU), and elongation-factor-like gene (EFL) sequences. Conidiobolus jiangxiensis sp. nov. is distinguished by its short primary conidiophores, a feature not commonly observed in other Conidiobolus s.s. species. Conversely, Conidiobolus marcoconidius sp. nov. is characterized by larger primary conidia and the emergence of 2–5 secondary conidia from each branched secondary conidiophores. Additionally, the taxonomic reassessment of C. polyspermus confirms its distinct status within the genus Conidiobolus s.s. Moreover, molecular analyses, incorporating the nucLSU , mtSSU , and EFL sequences, provide robust support for the phylogenetic placement of the two newly described species and the taxonomic identity of C. polyspermus. This investigation contributes valuable insights into the species diversity of Conidiobolaceae in China, enhancing our understanding of the taxonomy within this fungal family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species within the family Cunninghamellaceae are widely distributed and produce important metabolites. Morphological studies along with a molecular phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA revealed two new species in this family from soils in China, that is, Absidia ovalispora sp. nov. and Cunninghamella globospora sp. nov. The former is phylogenetically closely related to Absidia koreana, but morphologically differs in sporangiospores, sporangia, sporangiophores, columellae, collars, and rhizoids. The latter is phylogenetically closely related to Cunninghamella intermedia, but morphologically differs in sporangiola and colonies. They were described and illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• n -p heterojunction of TiO 2 -NiO ultrafine core-shell nanoparticles are prepared. • Strong interfacial interaction significantly improve charge separation efficiency. • As-fabricated photocatalyst exhibits excellent H 2 production from water splitting. • H 2 , CH 4 and fatty acids are cogenerated from biomass lignin photoreforming. Hydrogen evolution from biomass photoreforming has been widely recognized as a promising strategy for relieving the pressure from energy crisis and environmental pollution, as it could generate sustainable H 2 and value-added bioproducts simultaneously. Combining p-type semiconductors with n -type semiconductors to form n -p heterojunction is an effective strategy to improve the photocatalytic quantum efficiency by enhancing the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, which could greatly facilitate the realization of such biomass photorefinery concept. However, the incompact contact between the n -type and p-type semiconductors often induces the aggregation of photogenerated electrons and holes. In this work, we design and synthesize an ultrafine n -p heterojunction TiO 2 -NiO core-shell structure to overcome the incompact contact in the n -p interface. When the n -p heterojunction photocatalysts are evaluated for photocatalytic water splitting and biomass lignin photoreforming respectively, the as-fabricated TiO 2 -NiO nanocomposite with 3.25% NiO demonstrates the highest hydrogen generation of 23.5 mmol h−1 g−1 from water splitting and H 2 (0.45 mmol h−1 g−1) and CH 4 (0.03 mmol h−1 g−1) cogeneration with reasonable amount of fatty acids (palmitic acid and stearic acid) production from lignin photoreforming. The excellent photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the synergistic effects of high crystallinity of TiO 2 ultrafine nanoparticles, core-shell structure and n -p heterojunction with NiO nanoclusters. This present work demonstrates a simple and efficient method to fabricate ultrafine n -p heterojunction core-shell structure for noble-metal free catalyst for both water splitting and biomass photoreforming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]