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AbstractFresh Oudemansiella raphanipies are rich in protein and prone to deterioration during natural storage. Hot air drying is typically used to extend shelf life. However, some O. raphanipies may not dry during the actual drying process because of different placements, which can adversely affect the entire product. To detect dryness, we introduced ORD-Net, a model based on RGB images captured using a smartphone camera. Incorporating residual hybrid dilated convolution and efficient channel attention modules, ORD-Net outperforms mainstream algorithms, achieving high accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and a Matthews coefficient of 85.3, 82.2, 91.2, 86.5%, and 0.709, respectively. Additionally, experiments on various CPUs confirm its adaptability for industrial use, with AMD Ryzen CPUs performing optimally with an average processing time of 0.67 s for a single target. This study proposes a convenient and cost-effective identification method that can effectively determine the drying status of O. raphanipies, thus laying the foundation for the high-throughput identification of the drying conditions of postharvest O. raphanipies. The data and methods used in this study are available at https://github.com/Jmin-Zhao/ORDNet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell maintenance and differentiation can be regulated via the differential activity of transcription factors within stem cells and their progeny. For these factors to be active, they need to be transported from their site of synthesis in the cytoplasm into the nucleus. A tissue-specific requirement for factors involved in nuclear importation is a potential mechanism to regulate stem cell differentiation. We have undertaken a characterization of male sterile importin alpha 1 (Dα1) null alleles in Drosophila and found that Dα1 is required for maintaining germline stem cells (GSCs) in the testis niche. The loss of GSCs can be rescued by ectopic expression of Dα1 within the germline but the animals are still infertile, indicating a second role for Dα1 in spermatogenesis. Expression of a Dα1 dominant negative transgene in GSCs confirmed a functional requirement for Dα1 in GSC maintenance but expression of the transgene in differentiating spermatogonia did not exhibit a phenotype indicating a specific role for Dα1 within GSCs. Our data indicate that Dα1 is utilized as a regulatory protein within GSCs to facilitate nuclear importation of proteins that maintain the stem cell pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin A and retinoic acid (RA, a metabolite of vitamin A), are inextricably involved to the development of skeletal muscle in animals. However, the mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle development by vitamin A remain poorly reported. The current study designed to investigate the underlying mechanism of vitamin A affecting myogenic differentiation of lamb myoblasts through transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) and gene function validation experiments. It provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the regulation of vitamin A on skeletal muscle development as well as for improving the economic benefits of the mutton sheep industry. Results: Newborn lambs were injected with 7,500 IU vitamin A, and longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle tissue was surgically sampled for RNA-Seq analysis and primary myoblasts isolation at 3 weeks of age. The results showed that a total of 14 down-regulated and 3 up-regulated genes, were identified between control and vitamin A groups. Among them, BHLHE40 expression was upregulated in vitamin A group lambs. Furthermore, BHLHE40 expression is significantly increased after initiation of differentiation in myoblasts, and RA addition during differentiation greatly promoted BHLHE40 mRNA expression. In vitro, RA inhibited myoblasts proliferation and promoted myoblasts myogenic differentiation through BHLHE40. Moreover, BHLHE40 was proved to inhibit the expression of the DNA binding inhibitor 3 (ID3), and meanwhile, ID3 could effectively promote myoblasts proliferation and inhibit myoblasts myogenic differentiation. Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggested that vitamin A inhibited myoblasts proliferation and promoted myoblasts myogenic differentiation by inhibiting ID3 expression through BHLHE40. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of wearable electronics has placed higher demands on the design strategies of triboelectric materials. Aerogels have the potential to become advanced triboelectric materials, however, traditional design strategies often require complex processes and additional chemical cross‐linking agents to improve the stability of the gel structure, which limits its practical application. In this work, a scalable and sustainable self‐assembly drive strategy is proposed for the design of bio‐based triboelectric aerogels with multi‐scale winding structures. Interestingly, the autoacceleration effect, which is regarded as “unfavorable” during the autocatalytic polymerization of supramolecules, is rationally exploited to provide the supramolecules within the matrix with an abundance of multiple hydrogen bonds at the same time as their rapid gelation occurs. Thanks to this, the aerogel film exhibits ultra‐high tensile strength (104 MPa) and remains undeformed after resisting an impact of 8000 times its own weight. Highly robust triboelectric aerogel films are used to build wearable self‐powered sensors with ultra‐fast response in complex environments (48 ms), while enabling real‐time interaction between the wearer and the information network. The design idea of “ turning a detriment into an asset ” in this work provides a new idea for the material construction of highly robust wearable sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin A (VA) and its metabolite, retinoic acid (RA), are of great interest for their wide range of physiological functions. However, the regulatory contribution of VA to mitochondrial and muscle fiber composition in sheep has not been reported. Method: Lambs were injected with 0 (control) or 7,500 IU VA palmitate into the biceps femoris muscle on d 2 after birth. At the age of 3 and 32 weeks, longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle samples were obtained to explore the effect of VA on myofiber type composition. In vitro, we investigated the effects of RA on myofiber type composition and intrinsic mechanisms. Results: The proportion of type I myofiber was greatly increased in VA-treated sheep in LD muscle at harvest. VA greatly promoted mitochondrial biogenesis and function in LD muscle of sheep. Further exploration revealed that VA elevated PGC-1α mRNA and protein contents, and enhanced the level of p38 MAPK phosphorylation in LD muscle of sheep. In addition, the number of type I myofibers with RA treatment was significantly increased, and type IIx myofibers was significantly decreased in primary myoblasts. Consistent with in vivo experiment, RA significantly improved mitochondrial biogenesis and function in primary myoblasts of sheep. We then used si-PGC-1α to inhibit PGC-1α expression and found that si-PGC-1α significantly abrogated RA-induced the formation of type I myofibers, mitochondrial biogenesis, MitoTracker staining intensity, UQCRC1 and ATP5A1 expression, SDH activity, and enhanced the level of type IIx muscle fibers. These data suggested that RA improved mitochondrial biogenesis and function by promoting PGC-1α expression, and increased type I myofibers. In order to prove that the effect of RA on the level of PGC-1α is caused by p38 MAPK signaling, we inhibited the p38 MAPK signaling using a p38 MAPK inhibitor, which significantly reduced RA-induced PGC-1α and MyHC I levels. Conclusion: VA promoted PGC-1α expression through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, improved mitochondrial biogenesis, and altered the composition of muscle fiber type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is closely associated with perturbations in iron ion metabolism, during which Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) plays an important role. However, the precise regulatory mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the relationship between iron dysregulation and STING activation in Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced AIH liver injury. STING knockout (STING−/−) mice and AAV (Adeno-Associated virus)-Sting1-RNAi-treated mice were involved and subjected in AIH. We observed that increased iron dysregulation was linked with STING activation, but this effect was effectively reversed by the administration of iron chelating agent Desferoxamine (DFO) and the antioxidant Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). Notably, the iron transport protein Transferrin (TF) and Transferrin Receptor (TfR) exhibited significant accumulation in AIH along with upregulated expression of ferritin protein. Additionally, the deficiency of STING reduced hepatic iron accumulation, mitigated oxidative stress, and attenuated macrophage activation during ConA treatment. Furthermore, liver-specific knockdown of STING using AAV-Sting1-RNAi significantly ameliorated liver iron dysregulation and oxidative stress response induced by Kupffer cells (KCs). KC-derived STING exacerbates liver damage severity in AIH through promoting disturbances in hepatic iron ion metabolism as well as oxidative stress response. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of AIH and may pave the way for potential therapeutic strategies targeting STING and iron metabolism in the future. [Display omitted] • Iron dysregulation contributes to the ConA-induced hepatic injury. • STING deficiency attenuated liver injury accompanied with reduction of iron overload. • Macrophage STING serves as a key regulator for triggering iron dysregulation and further leading to necrotic damage in AIH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas‐sensitive materials are capable of dynamic identification and content monitoring of specific gases in the environment, and their applications in the field of gas sensing are promising. However, weak adsorption properties are the main challenge limiting the application of gas‐sensitive materials. A highly adsorbent gas‐sensitive cellulose nanofibril (CNF)‐based triboelectric material with a layered structure is prepared here and it is applied to self‐powered gas sensing. The layered structure of the triethoxy‐1H,1H,2H,2H‐tridecafluoro‐n‐octylsilane cellulose nanofiber (PFOTES‐CNF)‐based gas‐sensitive material further enhances the adsorption of the material due to electrostatic adsorption in the electrostatic field induced by triboelectricity. It is found that the ammonia‐sensitive material obtained by loading Ti3C2Tx in PFOTES‐CNF has a fast response/recovery (12/14 s), high sensitivity response (Vair/Vgas = 2.1), high selectivity response (37.6%), and low detection limit (10 ppm) for 100 ppm of ammonia gas. In addition, the ammonia‐sensitive CNF‐based triboelectric material can accurately identify NH3 concentration changes in the range of 10–120 ppm and transmit the signal wirelessly to the user interface, facilitating real‐time online monitoring of NH3 in the environment. A novel strategy is provided here for designing and preparing high‐performance gas‐sensitive composites and the analysis of self‐powered gas sensing is guided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic polymer materials such as paraformaldehyde and polyamides are widely used in the field of energy engineering. However, they pose a challenge to environmental sustainability because they are derived from petrochemicals that are non‐renewable and difficult to degrade in the natural environment. The development of high‐performance natural alternatives is clearly emerging as a promising mitigation option. Inspired by natural bamboo, this research reports a "three‐step" strategy for the large‐scale production of triboelectric materials with special nanostructures from natural bamboo. Benefiting from the special hierarchical porous structure of the material, Bamboo/polyaniline triboelectric materials can reach short‐circuit current of 2.9 µA and output power of 1.1 W m–2 at a working area of only 1 cm2, which exceeds most wood fiber‐based triboelectric materials. More importantly, it maintains 85% energy harvesting after an extreme environment of high temperature (200 °C), low temperature (−196 °C), combustion environment, and multiple thermal shocks (ΔT = 396 °C). This is unmatched by current synthetic polymer materials. This work provides new research ideas for the construction and application of biomass structural materials under extreme environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider an important feature of satellite synchronization in the practical scenario of using unmanned vehicles (UVs) carried by trucks for "last-meter" delivery and introduce the truck and UV routing problem with time windows (TUVRP-TW) for optimizing the routes of a homogeneous fleet of truck-UV combinations. A UV that has been dispatched from its truck must be picked up by the same truck or must return by itself to the depot. Customers with time windows are classified into two types: truck-UV customers (TUCs) and UV customers (UCs). The TUCs where trucks dispatch or pick up the carried UVs are regarded as satellites. Fleet coordination and satellite synchronization are essential for modelling the TUVRP-TW. We classify satellite synchronization into inner-satellite synchronization and intersatellite synchronization. The inner-satellite synchronization generally considered in the literature focuses on synchronization operations at the same satellite. Intersatellite synchronization, which focuses on synchronization operations at various satellites, allows UVs to not return to the dispatched locations, if necessary. In the mixed-integer linear programming model of the TUVRP-TW, both binary variables for identifying the appointed satellites and continuous variables for time continuity constraints are introduced to ensure the interaction between truck routes and UV routes. A hybrid algorithm based on a greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP) and a variable neighborhood search (VNS) is provided. Based on generated instances and benchmark instances, computational experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of the intersatellite synchronization, the performance of the developed formulation, and the applicability of the hybrid algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Sugars in soils play vital roles in soil aggregation and microbial activity, which is easily affected by environmental factors. Here, we investigated the accumulation of total sugars and monosaccharides in the rhizosphere soil of black locust seedlings exposed to the contamination of elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) and cadmium (Cd) and its driving factors. Results: Under eCO2 + Cd compared to Cd, glucose, galactose, arabinose, mannose, and xylose concentrations in the rhizosphere soil increased and the increases were significant at 4.5 mg Cd kg−1 (p < 0.05). Glucose was the most abundant sugar. The GM/AX ratio increased (p < 0.05) under eCO2 + Cd relative to Cd, suggesting that sugars in rhizosphere soils might be mainly from microbial synthesis under eCO2 + Cd. In addition, CO2, Cd, and CO2 + Cd influenced (p < 0.05) total sugar and monosaccharide concentrations and the (galactose + mannose)/(arabinose + xylose) (GM/AX) ratio. Sugars concentrations in rhizosphere soils were affected (p < 0.05) by responses of leaf and root biomass, Cd in roots, S in leaves, leaf C/N ratio, and pH and C in rhizosphere soils to eCO2. However, the contribution of sugars in the roots to those in rhizosphere soils was not significant under elevated CO2 + Cd exposure. Conclusions: Elevated CO2 stimulated sugar concentrations in the rhizosphere soil of black locusts exposed to Cd, which was helpful to understand the contribution of global change scenarios to sugar accumulation in the rhizosphere of plants grown in heavy metal-contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological thiols (Cys, Hcy and GSH) are crucial biomolecules in living cells and play indispensable roles in maintaining the redox homeostasis of organisms. But due to their similar molecular structure, the development of effective tools for distinguishing two or three of them remains a great difficulty. Herein, we constructed a sensitive sensor (CB) by connecting the bifunctional fluorescent reagent with coumarin derivatives for simultaneous recognition of these three thiols through different pathways. Free CB had no fluorescence; however, with gradual addition of thiols, the chlorine unit was replaced by sulfhydryl. Furthermore, the intramolecular rearrangement occurred between the amino and sulfhydryl groups of Cys/Hcy and yellow fluorescence was observed at 570 nm. However, GSH with a large structure could not undergo intramolecular rearrangement, and green fluorescence was excited at 505 nm. In this way, Cys/Hcy and GSH can be detected distinctively. Under dual excitation wavelengths, CB exhibited high selectivity and fast response to the three thiols. Furthermore, CB was successfully applied to imaging endogenous and exogenous thiols in living cells and zebrafish, providing us with a reliable tool for thiols recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that sulfite (SO32−) plays an indispensable role in various physiological processes. Abnormal levels of SO32− can trigger a wide variety of diseases involving respiratory, nervous and cardiovascular systems. Hence, it is necessary to find an efficient approach for detection of SO32−. In this study, a pyrene derivative, (E)-4-(3-oxo-3-(pyren-1-yl)prop-1-en-1-yl)phenyl acrylate (PPA), was designed and synthesized for monitoring SO32−. The probe possessed simple synthetic steps, excellent anti-interference ability and specific response to SO32− in the presence of other substances. The reaction between PPA and SO32− was ascribed to Michael addition and the detection mechanism was confirmed by HRMS spectra analysis and FTIR analysis. Additionally, PPA responded linearly to detect SO32− within the rang of 0–100 μM. The limit of detection was calculated as low as 0.17 μM in accordance with the recommendation of IUPAC (CDL =3sb/m). Notably, PPA was further applied in biological imaging in HepG2 cells, which provided a possibility to monitor SO32− in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial sludge is characterized by high moisture content, complex composition, and significant organic toxicity. This research aimed to improve the performance of Chlorococcum humicola in removing hydroquinone-domesticated sludge toxicity through the addition of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The maximum cell density and dry weight of C. humicola were attained when the IAA concentration was 5.0 × 10−6 mol/L, at 6.79 × 107 cells/mL and 2.60 g/L, respectively. The toxicity of the sludge degradation rate reached its peak level of 59.70% on the 20th day. The toxicity reduction was consistent with the decrease of RNA degradation-related proteins such as A5FN12, which can be hydrolyzed and absorbed by C. humicola via active transport. In the presence of IAA, C. humicola increased its energy production processes, such as glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, to facilitate active transport. Moreover, the efficiency of signal transduction was improved, leading to enhanced cellular metabolism. The suppression of biosynthesis of glutathione and arginine at the molecular level may contribute to this observed trend. Overall, this study provides new insights into the mechanism by which IAA promotes the degradation of sludge toxicity by C. humicola , offering a novel method and theoretical basis for the safe and resource-based utilization of industrial sludge. [Display omitted] • IAA can promote the growth of C. humicola. • Sludge toxicity correlates with RNA degradation proteins. • C. humicola enhanced ATP production processes with the addition of IAA. • Signaling pathway enhanced and the biosynthesis of glutathione and arginine declined. Minimal research exists on biological detoxifying treatment of industrial residual sludge. This research reveals the mechanism on the removal of sludge toxicity by algae with exogenous IAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the activity phases and reaction mechanisms at the atomic level is essential for the design of electrocatalysts. Herein we investigate the origin of the facet-dependent activity of model Cu 2 O catalyst for C-N coupling toward electrocatalytic urea synthesis. It was found that the activity of urea synthesis depends on the crystalline facets of Cu 2 O. The Cu 2 O (100) facet exhibits higher urea activity and selectivity than the (110) facet, with an average urea yield of 62.4 mmol·g−1·h−1 at –1.5 V (RHE). By using Raman, UV–vis and XPS techniques, it was observed that Cu+ serves as active sites at (100) face of Cu 2 O, which promotes C-N coupling through synergistic interaction with Cu0. Furthermore, the combined results of operando ATR-SEIRAS and DFT calculations demonstrate that the Cu-Cu 2 O (100) facet facilitates electrocatalytic C-N coupling between *CO and *NH intermediates due to the reduced energy barriers of hydrogenated *NO on the Cu-Cu 2 O (100) facet. [Display omitted] • The origin of the facet-dependent active sites of Cu 2 O for selective C-N coupling was revealed. • Cu+ is the main active site in the Cu 2 O (100), promoting C-N coupling through synergistic interaction with Cu0. • The Cu-Cu 2 O (100) facet reduced the energy barriers for the hydrogenation *NO, and thus facilitates the electrocatalytic C-N coupling between *CO and *NH intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and liquid–solid phase transitions (LSPT) play crucial roles in biological systems, including sorting biomolecules, facilitate the transport of substrates for assembly, and accelerate the formation of metabolic and signaling complexes. Efforts towards improved characterization and quantification of phase separated species remain of outstanding interest and priority. In this review, we cover recent advances and the strategies used with small molecule fluorescent probes for the study of phase separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer patients commonly experience high levels of psychological stress, which poses significant risks to their well-being. Radiotherapy is a primary treatment modality for cancer; however, it often leads to intestinal injuries in these patients. Nevertheless, the impact of mental stress on radiotherapy-intertwined complications remains unclear. To induce intestinal injury, we employed total abdominal irradiation in our experimental model. We conducted high-throughput sequencing to analyze the expression profile of miRNAs in the hippocampus. We observed that mice with depression exhibited more severe intestinal injuries following total abdominal irradiation. Remarkably, oral administration of Marasmius androsaceus not only alleviated the depressive phenotype but also mitigated radiation-induced intestinal toxicity. Notably, this radioprotective effect was not observed in mice without depression. Depression disrupted the hippocampal miRNA expression profile in mice subjected to local irradiation of the abdomen, leading to the accumulation of miR-139–5p and miR-184–3p in the hippocampus, serum, and small intestine tissues. However, treatment with Marasmius androsaceus reprogrammed the miRNA expression signature in mice with depression. Furthermore, intravenous injection of antagomirs targeting miR-139–5p and miR-184–3p ameliorated depression, up-regulated Spn expression, reduced radiation enteritis, and improved the integrity of the small intestine in irradiated mice. Our findings demonstrate the efficacy of Marasmius androsaceus , a small mushroom, in alleviating depression-aggravated intestinal toxicity following radiotherapy by reprogramming hippocampal miRNA expression. [Display omitted] • Depression aggravates intestinal radiation injury in mouse models. • Marasmius androsaceus mitigates intestinal toxicity in depression-afflicted mice. • Marasmius androsaceus reprograms the hippocampal miRNA expression. • Marasmius androsaceus mitigates radiation injury in a miRNA-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of early enteral nutrition (EEN) or total parenteral nutrition (TPN) support on nutritional status and blood glucose in patients with gastric cancer complicated with diabetes mellitus after radical gastrectomy were investigated. One hundred and twenty-nine patients with gastric cancer complicated with diabetes mellitus type 2 admitted to the First People's Hospital of Jinan (Jinan, China), from June 2012 to June 2016 were selected into the study. According to different nutrition support pathways, these patients were randomly divided into the EEN group and the TPN group. The improvement of nutritional indexes, postoperative complications, gastrointestinal function recovery and perioperative blood glucose fluctuation were compared between the two groups. On the 4th day after operation, the improvement levels of total bilirubin (TBL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total protein (TP), prealbumin (PAB), hemoglobin (HGB) and weight (Wt) in the EEN group were significantly higher than those in the conventional group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups on the 8th day after operation (P>0.05). No patients had complications in the EEN group, while a total of 29 patients in the TPN group suffered adverse reactions, indicating that the incidence rate of complications in the EEN group was significantly lower than that in the TPN group (P<0.05). The postoperative evacuation time was earlier, hospitalization time was shorter and cost of postoperative hospitalization was less in the EEN group than those in the TPN group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The blood glucose fluctuation values at fasting and 2 h after a meal in the TPN group were higher than those in the EEN group within 8 days after operation, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=13.219, P=0.002; χ2=20.527, P<0.001). EEN support provides nutrition for patients with gastric cancer complicated with diabetes mellitus after radical gastrectomy, which is worthy of clinical promotion as it maintains good nutritional status, produces few postoperative complications and keeps the blood glucose level stable, by which the postoperative evacuation time is early, the hospitalization time is short and the cost is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NO 3 − removal pathway and microorganisms change along with the height of an up-flow W-SPD bioreactor was investigated in this study. Modeling and microbial community analysis were used to analyze the denitrification behavior in W-SPD bioreactor. The results showed that NO 3 − removal rate matched for zero-order (R 2  > 0.97) and first-order (R 2  > 0.94) combination Michaelis-Menten kinetics, whereas microbial reaction rate suited for modified logistic model (R 2  > 0.99). The excellent denitrification performance (92.5%–96.4%) and microorganisms’ quantity occurred in the middle of W-SPD bioreactor. Moreover, high-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that dominant denitrifiers, carbonaceous compound degrading bacteria and fermentative bacteria co-existed in W-SPD system, which was vital for efficiently sustainable NO 3 − removal. Hence, aerobic degradation, heterotrophic denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) occurred successively along the water direction in the bioreactor, offering reasonable references for W-SPD bioreactor study and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been implicated in the pathogenesis of fluoride toxicity in liver. Melatonin, an indolamine synthesized in the pineal gland, was previously shown to protect against sodium fluoride (NaF)-induced hepatotoxicity. This study investigated the protective effects of melatonin pretreatment on NaF-induced hepatotoxicity and elucidates the potential mechanism of melatonin-mediated protection. Reducing mitochondrial ROS by melatonin substantially attenuated NaF-induced NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) upregulation and cytotoxicity in L-02 cells. Melatonin exerted its hepatoprotective effects by upregulating Sirtuin 3 (Sirt3) expression level and its activity. Melatonin increased the activity of manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) by promoting Sirt3-mediated deacetylation and promoted SOD2 expression through Sirt3-regulated DNA-binding activity of forkhead box O3 (FoxO3a), thus inhibiting the production of mitochondrial ROS induced by NaF. Notably, increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) by melatonin activated the Sirt3 expression, which was regulated by an estrogen-related receptor (ERR) binding element (ERRE) mapped to Sirt3 promoter region. Analysis of the cell signaling pathway profiling systems and specific pathway inhibition indicated that melatonin enhances PGC-1α expression by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Importantly, inhibition of melatonin receptor (MT)-1 blocked the melatonin-activated PI3K/AKT-PGC-1α-Sirt3 signaling. Mechanistic study revealed that the protective effects of melatonin were associated with down-regulation of JNK1/2 phosphorylation. Our findings provided a theoretical basis that melatonin mitigated NaF-induced hepatotoxicity, which, in part, was mediated through the activation of the Sirt3 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently study shows that melatonin can protect embryos from the culture environment oxidative stress. However, the protective effect of melatonin on the mouse development of preimplantation embryos under sodium fluoride (NaF) induced oxidative stress is still unclear. Here, we showed that exposure to NaF significantly increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, decreased the blastocyst formation rates, and increased the fragmentation, apoptosis and retardation of blastocysts in the development of mouse preimplantation embryos. However, the protective of melatonin remarkable increased the of blastocyst formation rates, maintained mitochondrial function and total antioxidant capacity by clearing ROS. Importantly the data showed that melatonin improved the activity of enzymatic antioxidants, including glutathione(GSH), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and malonaldehyde (MDA), and increased the expression levels of antioxidative genes. Taken together, our results indicate that melatonin prevent NaF-induced oxidative damage to mouse preimplantation embryo through down regulation of ROS level, stabilization of mitochondrial function and modulation of the activity of antioxidases and antioxidant genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Glucosidase (β-Glu) is a ubiquitous enzyme which has multiple roles in medical diagnosis, food production, agriculture, etc. Existing β-Glu assays have limitations such as complex operation, long running time, and high background noise. Here we report a red-emissive probe TBPG for measuring the activity of β-Glu. The probe was synthesized through conjugating a β-Glu targeting glucoside to an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorophore. In the presence of β-Glu, TBPG was hydrolyzed and exhibited a fluorescence turn-on process. The detection conditions including time, temperature, pH value, buffer, and probe concentration were optimized systematically. Afterwards, fluorescence titration was conducted showing an excellent linearity (R2 = 0.998), a wide linear dynamic range (0–5.0 U/mL), and a limit of detection as low as 0.6 U/L. The detection specificity and ion interference were evaluated by adding various biological species and ions to probe without or with β-Glu. Next, we demonstrate the applicability of probe TBPG in determining the β-Glu activity in living cells using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Finally, this newly established assay was applied to real soil samples. Comparable results were obtained as the commercial assay, manifesting its great potential in soil enzyme analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol has been reported to ameliorate Cd-induced nephrotoxicity. However, the beneficial effects of resveratrol on Cd-induced nephrotoxicity and the underlying mechanisms of this protection remain unclear. Here, we showed that mouse renal tubular epithelial (TCMK-1) cells exposed to Cd experienced significantly increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) production, as well as decreased mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Cd exposure dramatically decreased Sirt3 protein expression and activity and promoted the acetylation of forkhead box O3 (FoxO3a). Moreover, Cd exposure led to a decreased binding affinity of FoxO3a to the promoters of both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), powerful and broad regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis and mROS metabolism. Meanwhile, resveratrol remarkably reduced mROS generation by promoting Sirt3 enrichment within the mitochondria and subsequent upregulation of FoxO3a-mediated mitochondria gene expression of PGC-1α and SOD2. Importantly, mechanistic study revealed that ERK1/2 activation was associated with increased apoptosis induced by Cd, resveratrol suppressed Cd-induced apoptosis in mice kidney. Taken together, our data suggest a novel mechanism of action for resveratrol-attenuated Cd-induced cellular damage, which, in part, was mediated through the activation of the Sirt3/FoxO3a signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel “clickable” sensing platform for signal-on fluorescent detection of Cu 2+ has been developed based on the high regioselectivity of Cu(I)-catalyzed azide–alkyne click reaction (CuAAC) and the aggregated AIE-active molecules (BATPE) as the signal reporters. The CuAAC reaction causes a structural change of BATPE from molecularly dispersed to aggregate state in the presence of trace Cu 2+ , thus inducing a dramatic fluorescence “turn-on” response which can be judged with the naked eye. Under the optimum conditions, down to 0.2 μM and 0.5 μM Cu 2+ were successfully detected by fluorescence spectrophotometer and naked eye, respectively. This method is simple and low-cost without the need for expensive equipment. Thanks to the superior specificity of CuAAC reaction, our assay is capable of sensing Cu 2+ in the existence of other environmentally relevant metal ions in real samples, indicating that it may serve as a promising sensor for on-site Cu 2+ analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate and quantitative analysis of microRNA (miRNA) expression is critical for biomedical research and clinical theranostics. In this study, we report a novel sensor for the sensitive detection of miRNA based on a duplex-specific nuclease (DSN)-assisted dual signal amplification strategy. A chimeric probe (DNA/2-OMe-RNA) that consists of a miRNA recognition DNA sequence and a Taqman probe hybridization RNA sequence (2′-O-methyl RNA) was designed and synthesized. One molecule of target miRNA can trigger cyclical cleavage of the chimeric probes to produce 2′-O-methyl RNA by DSN in the first round of amplification. The 2′-O-methyl RNA molecules can subsequently hybridize with Taqman probes and initiate the second round of cyclical amplification to generate detectable fluorescence by DSN. The proposed strategy exhibits high specificity in discriminating cognate miRNAs, and the dual signal transduction process enables the detection of miRNA concentrations as low as 7.3 fM. We further applied this assay to miRNA quantification in cancer cells to confirm its applicability. The present study provides a sensitive, specific and simple method for miRNA detection and holds great potential for further application in biomedical research and in the clinical laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) and Scenedesmus obliquus (S. obliquus) were compared to remove toxicity under conditions of sludge extract cultivation for 30 days. The toxicity of sludge extract, the growth characteristics, photosynthetic pigment, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities of the two microalgae were studied by contrast. The results showed that small molecular organic matter (<500 Da) was more easily utilized by microalgae. The toxicity in the toxic group of C. vulgaris and S. obliquus on the 30th day decreased to 56.8 ± 1.2% and 60.7 ± 2.8%, respectively. In the toxic group, the maximal SOD enzyme activity of C. vulgaris and S. obliquus were 2.02 U/mg proteins and 8.21 U/mg proteins, respectively, demonstrating that toxicity caused more oxidative damage to S. obliquus than to C. vulgaris. Proteomics analysis revealed that C. vulgaris mainly regulates energy synthesis and distribution primarily through sugar metabolism, and biomass synthesis primarily through carbon metabolism, whereas S. obliquus mainly regulates energy synthesis and distribution primarily through sugar metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation, resulting in sludge toxicity stress regulation. [Display omitted] • C. vulgaris ' ability to adapt to toxicity was stronger than S. obliquus. • Both C. vulgaris and S. obliquus decreased the toxicity to less than 50%. • Toxicity caused more oxidative damage to S. obliquus than to C. vulgaris. • C. vulgaris regulates energy and biomass through sugar and carbon metabolism. • S. obliquus regulates energy through sugar metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Three-dimensional facial soft tissue landmark prediction is an important tool in dentistry, for which several methods have been developed in recent years, including a deep learning algorithm which relies on converting 3D models into 2D maps, which results in the loss of information and precision. Methods: This study proposes a neural network architecture capable of directly predicting landmarks from a 3D facial soft tissue model. Firstly, the range of each organ is obtained by an object detection network. Secondly, the prediction networks obtain landmarks from the 3D models of different organs. Results: The mean error of this method in local experiments is 2.62 ± 2.39 , which is lower than that in other machine learning algorithms or geometric information algorithms. Additionally, over 72% of the mean error of test data falls within ± 2.5 mm, and 100% falls within 3 mm. Moreover, this method can predict 32 landmarks, which is higher than any other machine learning-based algorithm. Conclusions: According to the results, the proposed method can precisely predict a large number of 3D facial soft tissue landmarks, which gives the feasibility of directly using 3D models for prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A turn-on probe (DDNO) was synthesized by decorating a red dye with SBD-Cl. • DDNO can specifically recognize Cys with fast response and low detection limit. • DDNO was further applied to trace Cys level fluctuations in live cells and zebrafish during redox imbalance induced by Cu2+ or H 2 O 2. Redox balance is a necessary guarantee to maintain the normal physiological activities of organisms. Cysteine (Cys), a critical biological thiol, has the effect of maintaining redox balance in the body. The concentration of intracellular Cys is abnormal under redox imbalance, thereby resulting in multiple diseases. Additionally, studies have revealed that Cu2+ can stimulate the body to produce excess reactive oxygen species (ROS, similar to H 2 O 2), and the generated ROS will consume reducing substances (such as Cys) in the body, leading to redox imbalance. Thus, finding a simple and effective method to monitor Cys under redox imbalance is pressing. Here, a turn on probe (DDNO) was proposed by connecting SBD-Cl to a red dye (HDM). The probe can specifically recognize Cys with rapid response (180 s) and low detection limit (0.61 μM) through substitution-rearrangement reaction between sulfhydryl and chlorine atom. Bioimaging experiments indicated that the probe has good biocompatibility and cell membrane permeability, which can be applied to monitor the fluctuation of Cys levels in live cells and zebrafish under the redox imbalance induced by Cu2+ or H 2 O 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ETS activity of AD sludge pre-acclimated by Air-NBW was enhanced 3.4 times. • H 2 yield was increased by 46% in the NBW group. • Start-up of each stage was accelerated in the Air-NBW pre-acclimated reactor. • Addition of KOH effectively alleviated the inhibition of salt on methane production. • Supplementation of K+ could improve the fertilizer value of the digestate. Air-nanobubble water (NBW) was applied to pre-acclimate anaerobically digested sludge that was then used as the inoculum in the two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) of high saline (20 g NaCl/L) food waste (FW) to optimize NBW application in the AD of high saline FW. K+ was simultaneously supplemented during the methanogenic stage to resist the inhibition of salt on methanogens. Results showed that after the second pre-acclimation cycle, the inoculum activity was increased 27% in the Air-NBW supplemented reactor in comparison to the deionized water (DW) supplemented one. In the first-stage AD, H 2 yield was enhanced by 46% in the Air-NBW pre-acclimated sludge reactor compared with the DW pre-acclimated sludge reactor. Besides, supplementation of KOH in the methanogenic stage could enhance methane production by 17–25% in the DW reactors at initial pH 7.5, 8.0, and 9.0 when compared to the control reactor (using NaOH adjusted initial pH to 7.5), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fuel properties were improved by HTcoC of distillers grains and sewage sludge. • The synergistic effect and mechanism involved in HTcoC were discussed. • Combustion behaviors of hydrochar from HTcoC were improved. • HTcoC enhanced the biofuel recovery rate and net energy gain. A synergistic process was proposed to prepare hydrochar by hydrothermal co-carbonization (HTcoC) of waste distillers grains with sewage sludge, focusing on hydrochar properties and combustion behavior under different mixing ratios. Results show that the co-hydrochar from HTcoC exhibited excellent synergistic characteristics with relatively high synergistic coefficients (0.1–1.2% for hydrochar yield, 4.8–8.0% for higher heating value (HHV), 8.0–12.6% for organic retention, and 2.2–4.0% for carbon retention, respectively), partially evidenced by FTIR data. And the co-hydrochar showed a higher fuel ratio of 0.09–0.13 with the fixed carbon increased to 8.3–10.0 at an remarkably enhanced coalification degree. Moreover, thermal analysis showed that the co-hydrochar exhibited improved combustion efficiency and a more stable flame. As a result, the HTcoC process with 13.0–22.5% increase in biofuel recovery rate and 25.6–47.7% increase in net energy gain may provide an effective approach for the conversion of both biomass wastes into clean biofuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A reversible probe (HNA) was prepared based on coumarin. • HNA exhibited high response speed and low detection limit for Cys/Hcy. • HNA can evaluate the effect of copper (II)-induced oxidative stress on Cys levels in living cells and zebrafish. Biological thiols are crucial small molecule amino acids widely existing in cells, which play indispensable roles in maintaining redox homeostasis of living systems. Owing to their abnormal levels have close relation with many diseases, thus, developing more convenient, rapid and practical in-vivo detection tools is imminent. Herein, a reversible coumarin-based probe (HNA) was successfully constructed through a simple two-step synthesis. HNA can detect Cys/Hcy with high response speed and desirable selectivity based on Michael addition recognition mechanism. Free HNA has an orange emission at 580 nm, but after addition of Cys/Hcy, the conjugated structure of probe HNA was destroyed by the attack of sulfhydryl, resulting in a new green emission at 507 nm. Further, HNA has been applied to monitor Cys/Hcy in HeLa cells and zebrafish. Notably, HNA has also been successfully applied for real-time tracing Cys levels changes in living cells and zebrafish during the imbalance in redox status caused by copper (II). This provides a new strategy for studying the process of oxidative stress in cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular-level structures and distribution of refractory polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs) during residue hydrotreating process (RHT) are investigated. A prior atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) FT-ICR MS was used to obtain the distribution of refractory PASHs. Then the key refractory PASHs were further dissociated by collision-induced dissociation (CID) to identify the isomers and gain their fragment ions. During deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS), S1 class compounds detected in the RHT products was identified as the major refractory sulfur compounds. Moreover, an increase in the aromatic structure of S1 class species is present during RHT. The key refractory PASHs are these with DBE = 9–12, which also determine HDS depth during RHT process. From the CID experiments, as indicated by an increase of abundance of fragmentation of alkyl(C1-C4)-substituted DBT, alkyl(C2)-substituted DBT in particular, these key refractory PASHs have a structure of alkyl(C2)-substituted DBT, such as 4,6-DMDBT. In addition, the molecular chemical formula and molecular structure for these key refractory PASHs were proposed, shedding a light on the development of industrial HDS catalysts and optimization of RHT process [Display omitted] • The refractory PASHs during RHT were identified by FT-ICR mass spectrometry with narrow ion isolation windows. • The DBE value for the key refractory PASHs is 9–12. • The key refractory PASHs have a structure of alkyl(C2)-substituted DBT, such as 4,6-DMDBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel near-infrared fluorescent probe (B-SBD-Cl) was synthesized by designing two biothiol nucleophilic substitution reaction sites in the benzene ring of SBD-Cl for distinguishable detection of Cys/Hcy and GSH. • The probe was capable of visualizing the process of Cys metabolizing sulfur dioxide in the mitochondria and the colocalization coefficient was as high as 0.92 in HeLa cells. • The metabolic processes were further studied in zebrafish and tissues, and found the probe imaged tissue to a depth of 80 μm. Biothiols as sulfur-containing active substances -play an important physiological and pathological function in organisms, however their specific markers in situ is a big challenging because they have high reactivity, the nature of the short half-life. Among of which due to their similar structure and properties, in particular, the research on their special physiological function is limited. In our study, we designed two biothiol nucleophilic substitution reaction sites in the benzene ring of SBD-Cl. Because of the conjugate effect of Cl, the para-sulfonic acid activated C was inactivated, the nucleophilic substitution of biothiol and Cl occurred, further, the intramolecular rearrangement occurred between the amino and sulfhydryl of Cys/Hcy, and the yellow fluorescence of SBD was released. However, GSH with large structure could not undergo intramolecular rearrangement, so there was no emission of yellow fluorescence, thus, Cys/Hcy and GSH can be detected distingusihly. In the above, adding SO 2 can quench the red emission of benzopyrylium. In this way, we visualized the metabolism process from Cys to sulfur dioxide in the mitochondria with the probe. The above metabolic processes were further studied in zebrafish and tissues, and found the probe imaged tissue to a depth of 80 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raffinose synthetase (RS) is a key enzyme in the process of raffinose (Raf) synthesis and is involved in plant development and stress responses through regulating Raf content. As a sweetener, Raf makes an important contribution to the sweet taste of white tea. However, studies on the identification, analysis and transcriptional regulation of CsRSs (Camellia sinensis RS genes) are still lacking. In this study, nine CsRSs were identified from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) genome database. The CsRSs were classified into five groups in the phylogenetic tree. Expression level analysis showed that the CsRSs varied in different parts of the tea plant. Transcriptome data showed that CsRSs could respond to persistent drought and cold acclimation. Except for CsRS5 and CsRS9, the expression pattern of all CsRSs increased at 12 h and decreased at 30 h during the withering process of white tea, consistent with the change trend of the Raf content. Furthermore, combining yeast one-hybrid assays with expression analysis, we found that CsDBB could potentially regulate the expression of CsRS8. Our results provide a new perspective for further research into the characterization of CsRS genes and the formation of the white tea flavour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biogas recirculation may create multifunctional granule AD system of sewage sludge. • Biogas recirculation accelerates CH 4 recovery rate from sludge by 31–44%. • Simultaneous sludge stabilization and aggregation can be realized in this system. • This system can improve net energy profit by 78–85% for sewage sludge treatment. This study investigated the possibility of biogas recirculation-driven anaerobic granular sludge system for sewage sludge treatment, aiming to develop an energy sufficient and multifunctional anaerobic digestion (AD) system for sewage sludge with biogas upgrading, sludge stabilization and self-aggregation. Results show that biogas recirculation could enhance the CH 4 production rate by 31–44% and shorten the lag-phase duration to 0.08–0.2 day with simultaneous increment of CH 4 content (> 83% in this study). The reason is mainly associated with the stronger interspecies electron transfer under the biogas recirculation condition. In addition, 37–40% better dewaterability of the digested sludge was achieved, implying the occurrence of self-aggregation of microbial cells induced by biogas recirculation. Energy balance analysis reflects that this sewage sludge treatment system could enhance the net energy recovery by 78–85%. Moreover, almost no obvious influence was noticed on the seed granules' composition and properties. These findings suggest that the biogas recirculation-driven anaerobic granular sludge system could be a promising alternative for sewage sludge treatment, which can improve biogas quality and sludge dewaterability simultaneously towards sludge self-aggregation with no addition of other chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most previous studies have focused on the effects of salt on anaerobic digestion (AD) for hydrogen or methane production. However, the effects of salt on two-stage AD and the related approaches to mitigate the adverse effects of high salinity on hydrogen and/or methane production were seldom addressed. In this study, addition of Air-nanobubble water (Air-NBW) was adopted to mitigate the inhibition of high salinity on co-production of hydrogen and methane from two-stage AD of food waste (FW). In the Air-NBW added reactors with 0–30 g NaCl/L, hydrogen yield was increased by 21–65% with the subsequent methane yield elevated by 14–43% when compared to the corresponding deionized water (DW) group. This study for the first time confirmed that when two-stage AD of FW was exposed to the same salinity level, addition of Air-NBW could enhance enzymatic activities at the individual stage. Results of electron transport system (ETS) activity further demonstrate that addition of Air-NBW may promote the electron transfer associated with the synthesis of hydrogen and methane. Therefore, an efficient approach for hydrogen and methane recovery from the two-stage AD of FW under high salinity was proposed through improving microbial electron transfer and corresponding enzymatic activities at each stage via Air-NBW addition. [Display omitted] • Air-nanobubble water (NBW) reduced salt inhibition on H 2 and CH 4 production. • Air-NBW addition shortened lag phase of the first stage AD at 0–30 g NaCl/L. • Enzyme activities were enhanced by Air-NBW even at high salinity of 20–30 g NaCl/L. • Air-NBW may promote the electron transfer linking the synthesis of H 2 and CH 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Transit agencies are currently seeking ways to improve service flexibility in a cost efficient manner. Mobility Allowance Shuttle Transit is a transportation concept that merges the flexibility of Demand Responsive Transit systems with the low cost operability of fixed-route bus systems. In this paper, we study the service capacity design problem for such a system. We analyze the relationship between service cycle time, and the length and width of the service area under a desired service level constraint. The analysis can be used as a guide for designing service area parameters. Given that a shuttle travels in a rectilinear pattern and utilizes a non-backtracking nearest-insertion algorithm, we derive closed-form approximate solutions for the service capacity design problem. We show that setting the length of the service area to half the travel speed of the shuttle multiplied by the cycle time is an effective approximation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The 90% differential flavonoid glycoside (FG) content decreased during processing. • Eighty-six FGs contributed to the taste evolution during white tea processing. • Degradation of nine key flavor FGs followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. • The biosynthetic pathway of flavonoid glycosides during withering was inhibited. • The degradation pathway of flavonoid glycosides during withering was enhanced. This study was the first to comprehensively investigate the metabolic mechanism of flavonoid glycosides (FGs) and their contribution to flavor evolution during white tea processing using quantitative descriptive analysis, metabolomics, dose-over-threshold factors and pseudo-first-order kinetics. A total of 223 flavonoids were identified. Total FGs decreased from 7.02 mg/g to 4.35 mg/g during processing, compared to fresh leaves. A total of 86 FGs had a significant impact on the flavor evolution and 9 key flavor FGs were identified. The FG biosynthesis pathway was inhibited during withering, while the degradation pathway was enhanced. This promoted the degradation of 9 key flavor FGs following pseudo-first-order kinetics during withering. The degradation of the FGs contributed to increase the taste acceptance of white tea from −4.18 to 1.32. These results demonstrated that water loss stress during withering induces the degradation of key flavor FGs, contributing to the formation of the unique flavor of white tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insight of the activity phase and reaction mechanism is vital for developing high-performance ammonia synthesis electrocatalysts. In this study, the origin of the electronic-dependent activity for the model Cu2O catalyst toward ammonia electrosynthesis with nitrate was probed. The modulation of the electronic state and oxygen vacancy content of Cu2O was realized by doping with halogen elements (Cl, Br, I). The electrocatalytic experiments showed that the activity of the ammonia production depends strongly on the electronic states in Cu2O. With increased electronic state defects in Cu2O, the ammonia synthesis performance increased first and then decreased. The Cu2O/Br with electronic defects in the middle showed the highest ammonia yield of 11.4 g h−1 g−1 at −1.0 V (vs. RHE), indicating that the pattern of change in optimal ammonia activity is consistent with the phenomenon of volcano curves in reaction chemistry. This work highlights a promising route for designing NO3−RR to NH3 catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the enhancement effect of N 2 - and Air-nanobubble water (NBW) supplementation on two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) of food waste (FW) for separate production of hydrogen and methane. In the first stage for hydrogen production, the highest cumulative H 2 yield (27.31 ± 1.21 mL/g-VS added) was obtained from FW + Air-NBW, increasing by 38% compared to the control (FW + deionized water (DW)). In the second stage for methane production, the cumulative CH 4 yield followed a descending order of FW + Air-NBW (373.63 ± 3.58 mL/g-VS added) > FW + N 2 -NBW (347.63 ± 7.05 mL/g-VS added) > FW + DW (300.93 ± 3.24 mL/g-VS added , control), increasing by 24% in FW + Air-NBW and 16% in FW + N 2 -NBW compared to the control, respectively. Further investigations indicate that different gas–NBW may positively impact the different stages of AD process. Addition of N 2 -NBW only enhanced the hydrolysis/acidification of FW with no significant effect on methanogenesis. By comparison, addition of Air-NBW promoted both hydrolysis/acidification stage and methanogenesis stage, reflecting by the enhanced activities of four extracellular hydrolases at the end of hydrolysis/acidification and coenzyme F 420 at the end of methanogenesis, respectively. Results from this work suggest the potential application of Air-NBW in the two-stage AD for efficient renewable energy recovery from FW. Unlabelled Image • Air-NBW significantly enhanced H 2 and CH 4 yields from two-stage AD of FW. • Greater activities of hydrolases were detected under Air-NBW addition. • Air-NBW positively effected methanogenesis indicated by increased F 420 activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding precipitation chemistry is highlighted as important worldwide due to its close relationship with air quality and impacts on ecosystems. However, the chemical composition of precipitation is limited in Tibet, where alpine ecosystems are sensitive to global change. Here, rainwater samples were collected in Nyingchi city from January 2021 to December 2021, and a total of 44 samples were obtained. Major ions (NO3−, NH4+, Cl−, SO42−, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) were analyzed. Results showed that the predominant ions in the precipitation were Ca2+, Na+, SO42−, and Cl−. Precipitation was mainly concentrated in summer, accounting for 65.2% of all samples collected during the monitoring period. As a result, ion deposition fluxes were mainly concentrated in summer, accounting for 55%, 53%, 84%, 82%, 61%, 63%, 75.8%, and 37.8% of the annual Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, Na+, NH4+, Cl−, SO42−, and NO3−, respectively. Backward trajectory analysis revealed that airmasses were mainly from the southern direction, but the sources varied widely. In addition, Na+ and Cl− ions were dominated by the sea source fraction; the ions of Ca2+ and K+ were dominated by crustal fraction sources. The NH4+ and NO3− ions were mainly influenced by local pollution. However, SO42− was mainly from long distance transports. Our results suggest that ions abundance was varied largely in different direction airmasses in southeast Tibet. Considering that ion deposition fluxes were mainly concentrated in the summer and the airmasses were mainly from the southern direction in this season, the pollutants from the southern direction the environmental effects of those ions should be given more attention in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sulfur compounds were identified based on DBE of SARA fractionations. • S1 class species were the key refractory sulfur compounds in RHT process. • Reactivity of the sulfur compounds in residual oils is structurally sensitive. • Reactivity difference of sulfur compounds in residual oils is small. The molecular structure of sulfur compounds in residual oils and their desulfurization reactivity during residue hydroprocessing (RHT) process were investigated by virtue of the self-established semiquantitative APPI FT-ICT MS combined with the kinetic analysis of the hydrodesulfurization of individual sulfur compounds. In order to increase the characterization accuracy and gain more structure details on the sulfur compounds, a prior SARA separation scheme of residual oils into clearly-defined fractions was performed. Results show that S1, S2, S3, and N1S1 class were the dominated species in the residual oil feedstock. During RHT process, the S1 class species were identified as the key refractory sulfur compounds, while S2 and S3 class species were identified as the easily-removed sulfur compounds. The molecular structure change of S1 class species during RHT process was marked by a drastic increase in the aromaticity and polycondensation, indicating that S1 class species with less-aromatic cores exhibited higher reactivity. Moreover, a novel DBE-based lumping kinetics approach containing 6 sulfur groups of S1 class compounds was developed to investigate the desulfurization reactivity of individual sulfur compounds. The results revealed that the reactivity of sulfur compounds depends on their structure, and different molecular structure brings distinctly different reactivity. The reactivity difference between the individual sulfur compounds in residual oils is considerably smaller than that in other petroleum fractions with lower boiling points, such as VGO, diesel. This research provides a deep insight into complex desulfurization chemistry during RHT process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Co-digestion of FW and RS with RB had positively synergistic effects. • An optimum mixing ratio of FW:RS:RB of 60:10:30 was determined. • The synchronous addition of RS and RB in FW AD system favored VFA consumption. This study investigated the synergistic effects of rice straw (RS) and rice bran (RB) addition on methane production and process stability of anaerobic digestion of food waste (FW). Positive synergistic effect (Synergy index (SI) = 1.03–1.24 > 1) was noticed in all the co-digestion reactors. The optimum mixing ratio of FW:RS:RB (volatile solid (VS) basis) was 60:10:30 with the maximum SI (1.24), achieving 27.4% increase in methane yield (235.4 mL/g-VS) and around 5 days shorter of λ (3.7 days) compared to the mono-digestion of FW (184.8 mL/g-VS and 8.2 days). Remarkably high concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) was also accumulated in the mono-digestion of FW, especially propionic acid, which to a great extent caused the methane production to stagnate. Results from this study demonstrate that co-digestion of FW and RS with RB has high potentials for energy recovery from AD of the mixed feedstocks and its stable operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• AcoD of anaerobically digested sludge hydrolysate with WAS was examined. • The proposed AD + HT170 + AcoD strategy achieved the highest CH 4 yield. • The new AD + HT + AcoD strategy greatly improved TS reduction and sludge settleability. • The AD + HT170 + AcoD strategy can realize much less sludge disposal cost. • Engineering and economic feasibility was assessed on the proposed strategy. Sustainable sewage sludge management is a worldwide issue in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This work developed a new strategy for sewage sludge treatment involving the integration of hydrothermal treatment (HT) with anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD), particularly on the feasibility of mesophilic AcoD of anaerobically digested sludge (DS) hydrolysate and waste activated sludge (WAS). Results show that AcoD of DS hydrolysate from HT 170℃ for 30 min with WAS achieved the highest CH 4 production of 205.39 mL CH 4 /g-VS fed. By adopting the new AD-HT170-AcoD strategy, 61.88 mL CH 4 /g-tVS fed higher CH 4 yield and 22.2% more total solids (TS) reduction were obtained in addition to much better sludge settleability and 7.6% wt. less sludge cake production compared to the conventional mono AD. Although negative energy gain was obtained, the proposed AD-HT170-AcoD strategy is promising, economically feasible, and sustainable when the final sludge disposal of WAS is concerned in the context of whole WWTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mathematical modelling of surface electromyographic (EMG) signals has been proven a valuable tool to interpret experimental data and to validate signal processing techniques. Most analytical EMG models only consider muscle fibers with specific arrangements. However, the fiber orientation may change along the fiber paths and differ from fiber to fiber. Here we propose a subject-specific EMG model that simulates the fiber trajectories in muscles of the upper arm and analytically derives the action potentials assuming an approximate conductivity tensor. Methods: Magnetic Resonance (MR) images were acquired to generate muscle fiber paths and to build the volume conductor. While the action potentials propagated along the identified curvilinear fibers, the conductivity tensor was approximated to be cylindrically anisotropic. Single fiber action potentials (SFAPs) were computed by simulating the generation, propagation, and extinction of membrane current sources. To validate the assumption of the approximate conductivity tensor, two numerical models with approximate or exact conductivity tensors were implemented. Results: The motor unit action potentials generated by the proposed analytical model and the two numerical models were highly similar (cross-correlation $>$ 0.98, normalized root mean square error, nRMSE $\leq$ 0.04, relative error in the median frequency of the simulated waveforms of approximately 3%). The proposed analytical model was also evaluated by comparing simulated and experimentally recorded compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs). Finally, the proposed model was used to test the accuracy of an EMG decomposition algorithm, providing a realistic benchmark. Conclusions and Significance: The proposed analytical model generates action potentials that reflect the spatial distributions of muscle fibers with curvilinear paths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel strategy was proposed to enhance CH4 content while reduce H2S production. • More CO2 was captured through biogas recirculation at slightly alkaline condition. • Slightly alkaline condition and biogas recirculation could reduce H2S production. • Endogenous FAN-DIC-VFAs buffer system regulated pH and alkalinity in bulk liquor. • Biogas recirculation AD system can be considered as a closed carbonate system. In this study, in-situ biogas upgrading was examined and compared in lab-scale semi-continuous anaerobic digestion (AD) systems coupled with biogas recirculation under neutral and slightly alkaline conditions. Results showed that neutral pH (~7.5) condition yielded 6–7% higher CH 4 content and 52–53% less H 2 S production, while slightly alkaline condition (pH ~8.0) achieved 14–15% higher CH 4 content and 76–77% less H 2 S production under biogas recirculation in comparison to the control (no biogas recirculation). Little effect was noticed on daily CH 4 production rate at slightly alkaline condition under biogas recirculation. Endogenous free ammonia nitrogen-dissolved inorganic carbon-volatile fatty acids (FAN-DIC-VFAs) buffer system was found to regulate the pH and alkalinity in the bulk liquor. Therefore, biogas recirculation under slightly alkaline condition is proposed as an efficient and sustainable strategy for biogas upgrading during AD of sewage sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Paired comparison method was adopted in subjective assessment experiments. • Subjective assessments of human-welder on arc sounds are modeled by MDS method. • The auditory features of arc sound were extracted based on the MDS method. • The correct rate of penetration state identification is high with the proposed model. Utilizing arc sound signals to monitor the penetration states of weld bead is a promising method. However, the correlation between penetration states and arc sounds is relatively weak, and arc sounds easily affected by background noise. To distinguish the penetration states of weld bead from arc sound signals, a novel method was developed in this paper. This method utilized the subjective assessments of human welders on arc sounds to build mathematical model, and to identify penetration states. Firstly, a dissimilarity matrix of arc sound pairs was made according to the subjective assessments of human welders on these sound pairs. Subsequently, the correlations of penetration states with auditory features of arc sounds were obtained based on this dissimilarity matrix. Finally, a support vector machine was built to identify the penetration states. The results show that the proposed method has a high correct rate in identifying the penetration states of weld bead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• G-SPDR showed better denitrification performance at an appropriate flow rate. • G-SPDR promoted complete denitrification with low NO 2 − accumulation. • Gradient filling improved the NO 3 − removal rate and reduced the bioreactor size. • The distribution pattern of the NO 3 − removal rate was elucidated. • A novel woodchip-packed bioreactor is proposed in this study. Woodchip solid-phase denitrification bioreactors (SPDRs) are widely applied to remove NO 3 − from water. In this study, two SPDRs with different woodchip filling patterns, namely a gradient filling bioreactor (G-SPDR) and a uniform filling bioreactor (U-SPDR), were constructed and their denitrification performances were investigated. Analysis of the NO 3 − removal pathway along the water flow path showed that NO 3 − removal rates could be enhanced using the G-SPDR (35.66–174.55 mg N·L−1·d−1) compared to the U-SPDR (25.17–111.72 mg N·L−1·d−1) at an appropriate flow rate (0.3–1.8 mL·min−1). In addition, the G-SPDR promoted complete denitrification with low NO 2 − accumulation. Chamber model analysis showed that the maximum NO 3 − removal rate was closer to the inlet in the G-SPDR. Furthermore, the optimum reaction height was 25 cm for the G-SPDR and 35 cm for the U-SPDR, implying that gradient filling could reduce the size of the bioreactor. Therefore, gradient filling is a promising and cost-saving method to construct SPDRs for the bioremediation of NO 3 − contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]