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Highlights In terms of the interplay between manufacturing cost and quality during the molding of fiber reinforced thermosetting composites, this study proposes a multi‐scale collaborative optimization strategy aimed at shortening molding time and reducing the diminishing defects generated during the process. Macro‐scale thermochemical and micro‐scale thermomechanical calculations are conducted on the composite molding to analyze the origins of temperature gradients and residual stresses. Then, the curing cycle, temperature gradient in the macro‐scale model, and residual stresses in the micro‐scale model are optimized by combining finite element analysis with the Non‐dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II. Several curing processes within the Pareto front were selected, and their impact on compressive performance was assessed through experimental analysis. Compared to the standard curing process (SCP), the optimal curing process exhibited a 41.4% reduction in maximum temperature gradient (∆Tmax), a 25.2% decrease in effective residual stress σ¯$$ \left(\overline{\sigma}\right) $$, and a 20.0% increase in compressive strength. Multi‐scale collaborative optimization strategies are integral to the advancement of production and application of fiber‐reinforced thermoset composites. Multi‐scale collaborative optimization strategies are integral to the advancement of production and application of fiber‐reinforced thermoset composites. Investigated of interactions among components in composites molding. Optimization of composite molding process with Non‐dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II and finite element. Examined the impact of composite molding process on compressive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has found that for men, activating a mating motive increases luxury consumption as a way to attract a romantic partner. However, little is known about the role of luxury consumption in women's romantic endeavors. The present research conceptualizes a mate screening motive, which explains how women use luxury consumption to romantically signal to men. Six studies and two follow-ups conducted in controlled and field settings show that the mate screening motive boosts women's consumption of luxury goods as a way to signal their mating standards to men and thereby deter undesirable pursuers. The effect is diminished when mate screening is less necessary such as when external screening tools are available (e.g. screening filters on dating websites), the quality of potential mates is high, and the focus is on selecting a desirable partner rather than deterring undesirable pursuers. The findings have important implications for understanding how consumers use products and brands in romantic relationships and for designing marketing strategies and communication for luxury brands, commercial dating services, and dating apps. Our findings also provide insights for consumers on how to use brands and products as effective communication devices in romantic endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adherence to evidence-based hospital stroke care is variable and may change over time. It is important to determine which process measures are associated with variation in outcome. In a large dataset, we analyzed the association between process and outcome and the fluctuations of indicators over time, and identified quality indicators (QIs) that should be prioritized for improving the quality of stroke care. Methods: We analyzed data from 123,259 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who were treated at 109 large tertiary hospitals in China between January 2011 and May 2017. In total, 12 stroke treatment indicators were selected to calculate the hospital process composite performance (HPCP). Hospitals were divided into subgroups according to the time trend of HPCP estimated by the Group-Based Model. We analyzed the influence of hospital subgroups on the patient outcomes using a multi-level model and explored the QIs that led to variation. Results: The HPCP trends for stroke indicators of 109 hospitals over 7 years were divided into two groups (Group 1, low-HPCP; Group 2, high-HPCP). After adjusting for patient age, medical insurance, comorbidities, patterns of admission, and NIHSS-scores, patients in the high-HPCP group presented higher rate of independence and longer length of stay compared to the low-HPCP group. The multi-level model showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the utilization rate between the two groups, with most marked differences seen in emergency assessment and function evaluation indicators. Conclusion: Variation in the quality of stroke care exists across hospitals, and better adherence to guideline-based care is associated with improved outcomes. We found that QIs related to emergency examination and functional assessment were the main factors differing between good and poor adherers to stroke indicators, suggesting that quality improvement in stroke care could prioritize these QIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing practical storage technologies for acetylene (C2H2) is important but challenging because C2H2 is useful but explosive. Here, a novel metal–organic framework (MOF) (FJI‐H36) with adaptive channels was prepared. It can effectively capture C2H2 (159.9 cm3 cm−3) at 1 atm and 298 K, possessing a record‐high storage density (561 g L−1) but a very low adsorption enthalpy (28 kJ mol−1) among all the reported MOFs. Structural analyses show that such excellent adsorption performance comes from the synergism of active sites, flexible framework, and matched pores; where the adsorbed‐C2H2 can drive FJI‐H36 to undergo induced‐fit transformations step by step, including deformation/reconstruction of channels, contraction of pores, and transformation of active sites, finally leading to dense packing of C2H2. Moreover, FJI‐H36 has excellent chemical stability and recyclability, and can be prepared on a large scale, enabling it as a practical adsorbent for C2H2. This will provide a useful strategy for developing practical and efficient adsorbents for C2H2 storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing practical storage technologies for acetylene (C2H2) is important but challenging because C2H2 is useful but explosive. Here, a novel metal–organic framework (MOF) (FJI‐H36) with adaptive channels was prepared. It can effectively capture C2H2 (159.9 cm3 cm−3) at 1 atm and 298 K, possessing a record‐high storage density (561 g L−1) but a very low adsorption enthalpy (28 kJ mol−1) among all the reported MOFs. Structural analyses show that such excellent adsorption performance comes from the synergism of active sites, flexible framework, and matched pores; where the adsorbed‐C2H2 can drive FJI‐H36 to undergo induced‐fit transformations step by step, including deformation/reconstruction of channels, contraction of pores, and transformation of active sites, finally leading to dense packing of C2H2. Moreover, FJI‐H36 has excellent chemical stability and recyclability, and can be prepared on a large scale, enabling it as a practical adsorbent for C2H2. This will provide a useful strategy for developing practical and efficient adsorbents for C2H2 storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ethical behaviour in nursing practice is integral to establishing a harmonious nurse-patient relationship and improving the quality of care. A multitude of factors shapes such behaviour. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the interplay between these factors. Research objectives: This study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the influence of moral sensitivity on nurses’ ethical behaviour and clarify the mediating role of moral courage. Research design: This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted between July and August 2023. Participants and Research Context: The sample comprised 465 clinical nurses from three tertiary hospitals in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China. Data were collected using the Chinese version of the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire-Revised Version, Nurses’ Moral Courage Scale, and Ethical Behaviour Scale for Nurses. Data analysis was performed with SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0, using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, structural equation modelling, and bootstrapping methods. Ethical considerations: This study was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Life Sciences of Zhengzhou University, China. Results: The participants were predominantly female (95.1%), with a mean age of 31.9 years. Moral courage and moral sensitivity were positively correlated with ethical behaviour. Moral sensitivity was positively associated with moral courage. Moral courage partially mediates the relationship between moral sensitivity and ethical behaviour. The indirect effect of nurses’ moral sensitivity on ethical behaviour was quantified through moral courage (indirect effect = 0.290). Conclusion: Moral courage intermediates nurses’ moral sensitivity and ethical behaviour. This conclusion provides nursing administrators with the insight that improving clinical nurses’ moral sensitivity and courage can contribute to ensuring appropriate ethical behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates peer effects on children's school entry age, using a dataset on 4,165 children from rural northwestern China (Gansu province). Instrumental-variable estimation, exploiting variations in (older) peers' home-to-school distance to identify the effect of their school entry age, reveals that a one-year increase in (older) peers' school entry age raises a child's school entry age by 0.43 years. This effect is much stronger than the effects of family-background factors such as parental education and family wealth, suggesting that the dominant driving force of delayed school enrollment lies outside of the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Private supplementary tutoring (PST) exerts an adverse effect on Chinese students' vision. • One year of PST leads to a more myopic refractive error of −0.12 ∼ -0.18 diopters in 8th graders' eyes. • This effect translates into an increase in myopia prevalence among them by about 5 percentage points. Virtually all educational activities require visual inputs, but little is known about how extra out-of-school learning activities may impact children's vision. Based on panel data from the China Education Panel Survey, a large-scale, nationally representative survey on middle school students in China, this study applies a value-added model (with lagged outcome measures as explanatory variables) to estimate the impacts of private supplementary tutoring (PST, also known as "shadow education") participation on Chinese middle school students' visual outcomes. The results suggest that PST participation exerts a statistically significant and adverse effect on Grade-8 students' vision. One year of PST participation raises the prevalence of myopia among 8th graders by 4.6 ∼ 5.4 percentage points, leading to a more negative (i.e., more myopic) refractive error of −0.12 ∼ -0.18 diopters in their (better-seeing) eyes. Further analysis reveals that these effects work by increasing not only students' time spent on out-of-school learning activities but also their time spent on homework assigned by regular teachers, thereby creating a spillover effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface topography and interface characteristics play a significant role in determining the mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. These features are primarily influenced by the surface chemical structures and their interactions with the matrix resin. Here, we developed a rigid-flexible coating consisting of polyetheramine (PEA) and polydopamine (PDA) on the fiber surface to control the interface and improve the mechanical properties of CFRPs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) results validated the successful introduction of polymeric chains and fiber surface characteristics including rough surfaces, slim polymer layers and uniform dots were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Contact angle tests indicate that the functionalized coating noticeably enhances the interaction force between carbon fibers, promoting improved wettability by the matrix resin. The bending and interlaminar shear strength of CFRP prepared by functional carbon fiber are increased by 45.76 % and 47.63 %, respectively. The drop weight impact (DWI) test confirms the positive effect of improved interfacial properties on the out-of-plane impact resistance of CFRPs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data from the China Education Panel Survey, which covers 28 counties/districts of China, this study applies a difference‐in‐differences method (combined with propensity score matching in some analyses) to estimate the impacts of private tutoring on students' learning outcomes. Our analyses yield three important findings. First, subject‐specific tutoring has a statistically significant and positive effect on Grade 8 students' scores on Chinese and mathematics tests, although the effects are modest in size. Second, private tutoring improves students' academic performance mainly through enhancing their test‐taking skills or deepening their understanding of subject‐specific knowledge, rather than improving their general cognitive skills. Finally, the effect of private tutoring is heterogenous across different subsamples: it is larger for female students, low‐performing students, and students with better‐educated and wealthier parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a Mendelian randomization approach to resolve the difficulties of identifying the causal relationship between height and earnings by using a unique sample of 3,427 respondents from mainland China with sociodemographic information linked to individual genotyping data. Exploiting genetic variations to create instrumental variables for observed height, we find that while OLS regressions yield that an additional centimeter in height is associated with a 10–13% increase in one's annual earnings, IV estimates reveal only an insubstantial causal effect of height. Further analyses suggest that the observed height premium is likely to pick up the impacts of several cognitive/noncognitive skills on earnings confounded in previous studies, such as mental health, risk preference, and personality factors. Our study is the first empirical study that employs genetic IVs in developing countries, and our results contribute to the recent debate on the mechanism of height premium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are typically regarded as being generated by the cellular respiratory chain or by cells under pathological damage, which play a crucial role as signaling molecules in promoting hemocytes circulation and normal cellular physiological functions. In this study, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was used to reduce ROS in vivo and in vitro , which to analyze the effect of ROS on innate immunity and viral infection of mud crab. The total hemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase (PO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, immune-relative genes were analyzed, respectively. Moreover, the effect of ROS on WSSV infection was analyzed by THC and hemocytes apoptosis. The data showed that NAC could effectively remove and inhibit intracellular ROS. The THC of NAC group was reduced at 12 h and 24 h compared with that of control. And the inhibition of ROS by NAC could increase the SOD activity with control group, while increased the PO activity caused by early WSSV infection. And NAC could up-regulate the expression of MCM7 , JAK , TLR and proPO significantly, while down-regulate the expression of Astakine , proPO , caspase and p53. Similarly, NAC could inhibit WSSV-induced apoptosis of S. paramamosain hemocytes. The data illustrated that ROS participates in the interaction between hemocytes and virus infection by regulating innate immunity. Especially, after NAC inhibited ROS, the expression of hemocytes proliferation gene Astakine was also inhibited, which may indicate that ROS is related to the process of hemocytes proliferation. The data will show a preliminary exploration on the regulatory role of ROS in crustacean immune system. • N-acetylcysteine could effectively remove and inhibit intracellular ROS in Scylla paramamosain. • N-acetylcysteine could reduce THC at 12 h and 24 h after treatment. • N-acetylcysteine could inhibit WSSV-induced apoptosis of S. paramamosain hemocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Chinese hog farmers who adopted pseudorabies clean-up measures outperformed non-adopters in their net profits. • The profit generated by pseudorabies clean-up increased over time and with farm size. • The earlier a hog farm adopted pseudorabies clean-up, the larger the economic benefits were. Abstract Hog pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease) can incur serious losses for farm owners and even the entire hog industry by causing infertility, abortion, and stillbirth among sows, as well as diarrhoea, respiratory failure, and death among piglets. Pseudorabies virus could be prevented, controlled, and eliminated by clean-up at both farm and regional levels through a strict procedure of vaccination, quarantine, diagnosis, elimination of positive animals, and healthy animals nurturing. Using data from 63 large-scale hog farms from nine provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) of China, we evaluated the economic consequences of hog pseudorabies clean-up in China's hog farms based on a partial budgeting method. By comparing large-scale hog farms that have performed pseudorabies clean-up with similar farms that have not, we analysed how clean-up affected farm profit and whether there existed sufficient economic incentives for farm owners to adopt pseudorabies control measures. Further, we examined how the economic consequences varied with factors such as clean-up history and farm size. The findings showed that, on average, clean-up adopters outperformed non-adopters by 8.02 million yuan per farm per year within the four years post clean-up adoption. Also, we found that the net profit changes attributable to pseudorabies clean-up increased over time and with farm size. Although we cannot extrapolate to all Chinese hog farms, these findings suggest that the earlier a hog farm adopted pseudorabies clean-up, the larger the economic benefits would be, especially for large-scale farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chopped carbon fibers with different dispersion types (colony type and uniform type) and area densities were inserted at sandwich beams, consisting of a PVC foam core covered with two glass fiber/epoxy composite face sheets. The effects of this reinforcement on the interfacial bonding between PVC foam core and glass fiber face sheets were evaluated. Their mechanical properties were measured by three‐point‐bending and Charpy impact tests. Their structures after mechanical failure were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Compared with the beam without interfacial reinforcement, the bending strength, energy absorption, and impact strength after interfacial reinforcement using 20 g/m2 uniform chopped fibers increased by up to 109%, 184%, and 47%, respectively, surpassing those of other chopped fiber mats. The weight percentage of carbon fibers/sandwich structure was less than 1%, so the chopped carbon fiber interleave had both cost effectiveness and outstanding structural performance. The improvement of interlayer toughness can mainly be attributed to the fiber bridging structure and the interlayer strength. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E449–E455, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an understanding of the widely-documented retirement-consumption puzzle from the perspective of food consumption. Exploiting the mandatory retirement age cut-off for public-sector male employees in urban China to obtain a source of exogenous variation in their retirement status, this paper identifies the causal impacts of retirement on four major aspects of their food consumption: food expenditure, time spent in food acquisition, the quantity and quality of food consumed. Based on data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, our fuzzy regression-discontinuity analysis finds that, consistent with the retirement-consumption puzzle, retirement reduces elderly males’ total food expenditure by 49–55%. However, retirement barely changes the quantity of food they consume (measured by total calorie intakes). Further analysis suggests that elderly males substitute time for money in food acquisition upon retirement, which helps to reconcile the differential impacts of retirement on food expenditure and food consumption. Finally, retirement greatly changes elderly males’ diet structure. They consume significantly less food with animal origins (and thus less fat and protein) and more grains (and thus more carbohydrate) upon retirement, which undermines their diet balance by the standards provided by the Chinese Nutrition Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article estimates the causal effect of primary school entry age on children's cognitive development in rural northwestern China, using data on nearly 1,800 primary school aged children from the Gansu Survey of Children and Families. Instrumental variable estimates, exploiting the discontinuity structure in children's school entry age around the enrolment cut-off date, indicate that a 1-year delay in school entry reduces children's scores on a cognitive ability test administered when they were aged 9-12 by 0.11-0.16 standard deviations (of the distribution of test scores). The negative late-school-entry effect is significantly larger in villages with no preprimary schools. It also persists as children advance to higher grades. These findings suggest that delayed school entry, even if it may be rural parents' rational response to resource constraints, can be harmful for children's cognitive development in developing areas with underdeveloped preprimary school systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandwich beams were prepared by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, containing a PVC foam core covered with two glass fiber/epoxy composite face sheets. Their mechanical properties were measured by impact test and three-point bending (3 PB) test. To improve the interfacial bonding between the PVC foam core and glass fiber face sheets as well as the mechanical properties of the sandwich structure, different chopped fibers (aramid fiber, carbon fiber and glass fiber) with the same lengths and densities were inserted at the face-core interface during fabrication. Compared with the beam without interfacial reinforcement, the bending strength and energy absorption were increased by up to 100% and close to 161% respectively under 3 PB condition, and the impact strength after interfacial reinforcement using chopped glass fiber was augmented by nearly 45%, surpassing those of other two kinds of chopped fibers. The interfacial distribution characteristics of different chopped fibers were tested using scanning electron microscopy. The toughening and strengthening mechanisms for mechanical properties were analyzed based on the interfacial crack-bridging and wettability between chopped fiber and resin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the quantity-quality (QQ) trade-off of children in rural Northwestern China, using data collected from Gansu Province on a set of households whose children were born between the mid-1980s and early 1990s, the period when China’s one-child policy was temporarily relaxed. Under the relaxed policy, a second child was allowed if the first-born was a girl. Exploiting this policy change, this paper uses information on the sex of the first-born in a family to capture the causal effect of family size. In contrast to the results from ordinary least-squares regressions which suggest a strong QQ trade-off, the causal estimates based on the instrumental variable method indicate that rural parents hardly face such trade-off, at least in terms of their monetary investments in child education. The instrumental-variable estimation results remain similar when information on twin births is used for identification purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites with hierarchical structure interleave composed of nanoscale core-shell rubber (CSR) and microscale short carbon fiber (SCF) were fabricated. The hierarchical structure interleave exhibits superior interlaminar toughening efficiency than either CSR or SCF alone. Triggering intrinsic and extrinsic toughening mechanisms at different scales by CSR and SCF, respectively, the mode-I critical energy release rate (G IC) and mode-II critical energy release rate (G IIC) of multi-phase interleaved CFRP composite are 127% and 154% higher than those of unmodified sample. While the tensile properties and glass transition temperature (T g) are not compromised. The fracture toughness of epoxy/CSR system was also investigated to better understand the effect of matrix toughness on interlayer toughness of CFRP. Numerical analysis and fracture surface observations revealed the synergistic toughening mechanisms in SCF/CSR interleaved CFRP composites. The synergy between nanoscale intrinsic toughening mechanism and microscale extrinsic toughening mechanism, evolving with crack propagation, contributes to a greater energy absorption. The usefulness of the present study for preparation of high-performance CFRP is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Acetylene Storage; Adsorption Mechanism; Induced-Fit Transformation; Metal-Organic Framework; Synergistic Effect EN Acetylene Storage Adsorption Mechanism Induced-Fit Transformation Metal-Organic Framework Synergistic Effect 1 1 1 02/07/23 20230206 NES 230206 B Optimizing acetylene b (C SB 2 sb H SB 2 sb ) sorption through induced-fit transformations of a metal-organic framework has been achieved. Back Cover: Optimizing Acetylene Sorption through Induced-fit Transformations in a Chemically Stable Microporous Framework (Angew. Acetylene Storage, Adsorption Mechanism, Induced-Fit Transformation, Metal-Organic Framework, Synergistic Effect. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Acetylene Storage; Adsorption Mechanism; Induced-Fit Transformation; Metal-Organic Framework; Synergistic Effect EN Acetylene Storage Adsorption Mechanism Induced-Fit Transformation Metal-Organic Framework Synergistic Effect 1 1 1 02/07/23 20230206 NES 230206 B Optimizing acetylene b (C SB 2 sb H SB 2 sb ) sorption through induced-fit transformations of a metal-organic framework has been achieved. Acetylene Storage, Adsorption Mechanism, Induced-Fit Transformation, Metal-Organic Framework, Synergistic Effect In their Research Article (e202215253), Qihui Chen, Daqiang Yuan, Maochun Hong, and co-workers describe the preparation of an adaptive ultramicroporous framework that effectively captures C SB 2 sb H SB 2 sb with a record-high storage density but a very low adsorption enthalpy. [Extracted from the article]

Gluons may converge to a stable state at a critical momentum in hadrons. This gluon condensation is predicted by a nonlinear QCD evolution equation. We review the understanding of the gluon condensation and present a clear physical picture that produces the gluon condensation from the colour glass condensate. We summarize the applications of the GC effect in the p − p (A) collisions and predict that the p − P b and P b − P b collisions at the LHC are close to the energy region of the gluon condensation. We warn that for the next generation of hadron colliders with the increasing of the collision energy, the extremely strong gamma-rays will be emitted in a narrow space of the accelerator due to the gluon condensation effect. Such artificial mini gamma-ray bursts in the laboratory may damage the detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper estimates the causal impacts of delayed primary school enrollment on children's educational outcomes in rural China. Instrumental variable estimates exploiting the discontinuity in children's enrollment age around the enrollment cut-off date indicate that a one-year delay in school enrollment increases the incidence of first-grade retention by approximately 10 percentage points for boys and reduces the probabilities of middle school enrollment by 6 percentage points for both boys and girls. These results suggest that delayed enrollment, even if it may be an optimal choice made by poor parents in response to financial constraints, is likely to be harmful to children's educational development in rural China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of the Young Lives data collected in 2006, involving a younger cohort (aged 5) and an older cohort (aged 12), yields three important findings regarding the Kinh-ethnic minority gaps in mathematics and reading skills in Vietnam. First, large disparities exist even before children start primary school. Second, language may play an important role: Vietnamese-speaking ethnic minority children scored much higher than their non-Vietnamese-speaking counterparts, even though tests could be taken in any language the child chooses. Third, Blinder- Oaxaca decompositions indicate that higher parental education among Kinh children explains about one third of the gap for both cohorts. For the older cohort, Kinh households' higher income explains 0.2-0.3 standard deviations ( SDs) of the gap (1.3-1.5 SDs). More time in school, less time spent working, and better nutritional status each explain about 0.1 SDs of the mathematics score gap; Kinh children's more years of schooling explains about 0.3 SDs of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test score gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the developments in coordination self-assembly based on flexible tripodal ligands with different metal species. Various finite metallocages such as M3L2, M6L8, M6L4, M4L4 and different catenanes based on discrete metallocages constructed from flexible tripodal ligands with suitable metal species are presented here. Many M3L2 metallocages based on ligands L1-L12 and different two-coordinated metal species have been prepared, in which various Ag(I) salts and other metal species that have been protected by suitable groups, such as Zn(OAc)2, ZnBr2, and PdBr2, have been used as effective acceptors. All of the M6L8-type metallocages are constructed from ligands L2 or L12-L20 and different four-coordinated metal species, such as various palladium(II) salts or NiCl2, and have similar topological structures. Only a few discrete M6L4-type metallocages, based on ligands L21-L24, have been reported, using different strategies such as protecting groups and steric hindrance. All of the M4L4-type cages have similar topological structures and are constructed from ligands L25-L29 with multiple donor sites. More intriguing interlocking ensembles constructed from discrete metallocages are also described here in detail, namely, three [2]catenanes based on ligands L30-L32 and four polycatenanes based on ligands L33-L34. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-altered flow regime is often claimed to be one of the most serious and continuing threats to aquatic biodiversity in streams and rivers. It is commonly found that both seasonal and subdaily flow patterns are changed below hydropeaking dams due to the multifunctions of the reservoirs such as flood control and water supply. The aim of this paper is to comprehensively quantify the degree of ecologically relevant hydrologic alteration downstream of Gangkouwan Reservoir, focusing particularly on the subdaily flow variation induced by hydropeaking operations. The method is based on the assessment framework set by the indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHA). Hydrologic parameters in groups 1–3 of the IHA were adopted to assess the degree of hydrologic alteration at daily to monthly time scales and based on a daily mean flow data series for both the pre- and post-impact periods. A set of biologically relevant hydrologic parameters based on post-dam hourly flow data, including magnitude and duration of baseflow, magnitude and duration of peaking flows, frequency of peaking flows and ramping rates, were proposed to depict subdaily flow pulses and water condition changes induced by hydropeaking. The results show that Gangkouwan Reservoir made the intra-annual distribution of runoff more consistent, reduced annual peak discharges, and changed the timing of the yearly maximum. The monthly distribution of these hydrologic parameters at the hourly temporal scale provides detailed information on ecologically significant features of the subdaily flow variation induced by hydropeaking operations. This paper provides useful guidance for further investigations on responses of river biota to hydropeaking and provides guidance for suggesting mitigation measures against hydropeaking effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanosized supramolecular metallocages have a unique self-assemblyprocess that allows chemists to both understand and control it. Inaddition, well-defined cavities of such supramolecular aggregateshave various attractive applications including storage, separation,catalysis, recognition, drug delivery, and many others. Coordination-drivenself-assembly of nanosized supramolecular metallocages is a powerfulmethodology to construct supramolecular metallocages with considerablesize and desirable shapes. In this Account, we summarize our recentresearch on controllable coordination-driven assembly of supramolecularmetallocages and infinite cage-based frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel coordination polymer, formulated as Zn6(TIB)4(BPTC)3(DMA)4(H2O)10 [TIB=1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)-benzene, H4BPTC=3,3′,5,5′-biphenyltetracarboxylate], has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Further investigations reveal that it presents a new topology (topological symbol {62.84}{63}4{65.8}6{66}2) based on self-penetration, and shows interesting fluorescent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regular TiO2 nanotube arrays are efficient photoanode materials for photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen evolution. Herein, Cu2O nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited onto TiO2 nanotube surfaces to improve the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 nanotubes (NTbs). The doping amount of Cu2O was regulated by adjusting the pH of the electrolyte during the deposition process. The physicochemical properties of series Cu2O–TiO2 NTbs were characterized. The results show that the deposited Cu2O particles did not destroy the microstructure of the TiO2 NTbs and were uniformly loaded on both the inner and outer walls of the TiO2 NTbs. The as-prepared Cu2O–TiO2 NTbs were used as photoanodes for water-splitting hydrogen evolution. The calculated theoretical hydrogen production of the Cu2O–TiO2 NTbs was 18.66 μmol cm−2 h−1, which was three times higher than that of pure TiO2 NTbs. The photoelectric conversion efficiency was 22.6%. The high efficiency of the catalyst is attributed to the doping of Cu2O nanoparticles, which lowers the recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs in the Cu2O–TiO2 NTbs, thus improving the photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests that specificity protein 1 (Sp1) plays a pivotal role in tumour progression. The underlying role and mechanism of Sp1 in tumour progression remain unclear. Methods: The protein level of Sp1 in tumour tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry. The effect of Sp1 expression on the biological characteristics of cervical cancer cells was assessed by colony, wound healing, transwell formation, EdU, and TUNEL assays. Finally, the underlying mechanisms and effects of Sp1 on the mitochondrial network and metabolism of cervical cancer were analysed both in vitro and in vivo. Results: Sp1 expression was upregulated in cervical cancer. Sp1 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, while overexpression of Sp1 had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, Sp1 facilitated mitochondrial remodelling by regulating mitofusin 1/2 (Mfn1/2), OPA1 mitochondrial dynamin-like GTPase (Opa1), and dynamin 1-like (Drp1). Additionally, the Sp1-mediated reprogramming of glucose metabolism played a critical role in the progression of cervical cancer cells. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that Sp1 plays a vital role in cervical tumorigenesis by regulating the mitochondrial network and reprogramming glucose metabolism. Targeting Sp1 could be an effective strategy for the treatment of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GMM-based Wald tests tend to overreject when used for small samples, mainly due to inaccurate estimation of the weighting matrix. This article proposes applying the shrinkage method to address this problem. Using a possibly-misspecified factor model, the shrinkage method can provide a good estimator for the weighting matrix, and hence improve the finite-sample performance of the GMM-based Wald tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Five metal–organic coordination polymers constructed from tris(p-carboxylphenyl)phosphine oxide (TPO), namely, [Ni3(TPO)2(2,2′-bipy)2(H2O)6] n ·2nH2O (1), [Ni3(TPO)2(phen)2(H2O)6] n ·2nH2O (2), [Ni3(TPO)2(bpe)3(H2O)8] n ·4nH2O (3), [Mn(TPO)(2,2′-bipy)(H2O)] n ·nH2O (4) and [Mn(BPO)(phen)] n (5) (BPO=bis(4-carboxylphenyl)phosphinic acid, bpe= trans-1,2-bis-(4-pyridyl)ethylene, 2,2′-bipy=2,2′-bipydine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline), were hydrothermally synthesized and determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Both of the bpy and phen ligands tailor the NiII complexes 1 and 2 into the ladder-like 1D chain geometries, while the bpe as a bridging ligand leads the NiII complex 3 to form a 2D plane geometry. It is interesting to find that the 2,2′-bipy and phen play a different role in the construction of MnII complexes 4 and 5; where complex 4 crystallizes in a chiral P212121 space group, while a new BPO ligand is formed from the in situ reaction of TPO in 5. Each Pf BPO in 5 links with two MnII ions leading to new [Mn2(PO)2] cluster, and the clusters are bridged by four BPO ligands to give a ring-like structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Three new compounds, CuL, CuL′, and Cu2O2L′′2 (H2L=3′-[( E)-{[(1 S,2 S)-2-aminocyclohexyl]imino}methyl]-4′-hydroxy-4-biphenylcarboxlic acid, H2L′=3′-[( E)-{[(1 S,2 S)-2-aminocyclohexyl]imino}methyl]-4′-hydroxy-5′-nitro-4-biphenylcarboxlic acid, H2L′′=3′-( N, N-dimethylamino methyl)-4′-hydroxy-4-biphenylcarboxlic acid), were selectively synthesized through a controlled in situ ligand reaction system mediated by copper(II) nitrate and H2L. Selective nitration was achieved by using different solvent mixtures under relatively mild conditions, and an interesting and economical reductive amination system in DMF/EtOH/H2O was also found. All crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both CuL and CuL′ display chiral 1D chain structures, whereas Cu2O2L′′2 possesses a structure with 13×16 Å channels and a free volume of 41.4 %. The possible mechanisms involved in this in situ ligand-controlled reaction system are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contractor renormalization (CORE) group method is applied to the even-leg spin tori to reveal their ground-state energies and the lowest excitation gaps. The spin tori are referred to the spin ladders that are closed along the rung direction. We designed an improved iterative CORE algorithm and applied it to the even-leg tori. The improvement is made by introducing an extrapolation based on a sequence of hierarchical data that is obtained by varying the size of the elementary block. Quite good results are obtained and compared with the ones by other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A cyclopentadienyl benzoyl ruthenium(ІІ) complex 3 was first prepared as an efficient catalyst in Candida Antarctica lipase B (CALB) mediated dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of secondary alcohols. With the aid of this ruthenium complex 3, (S)-1-phenylethanol was completely racemized within 25min, and in combination with CALB, series of secondary alcohols bearing various functional groups were resolved in an efficient DKR manner. A detailed mechanism involving the C–H bond activation was presented for the formation of complex 3 by capturing the crucial intermediate in this pathway. Related mechanistic studies were carried out to illustrate this type of DKR catalyst is based on the racemization of secondary alcohols. The novelty of its structure, its unique catalytic behavior as well as its wide scope of application of various substrates and its higher efficiency make complex 3 as an important alternative to those complexes, which are commonly used in DKR process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A facile method for the preparation of chiral secondary alcohols bearing a sulfur-containing functionality using a chemo-enzymatic approach is described, with the aid of baker’s yeast and Candida Antarcticalipase B. A complete set of four stereoisomers of two substituted phenylsulfinylpropan-2-ols were synthesized from β-sulfinyl ketones with excellent enantioselectivity for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel zirconium complex 1 bearing mono-Cp and tridentate Schiff base [ONO] ligand is synthesized by the reaction of CpZrCl3 ·DME with lithium salt of Schiff base ligand. The molecular structure of complex 1 is determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. A nine-membered zirconoxacycle complex 2 is obtained by an intramolecular elimination of CH3Cl from complex 1. When activated by excess methylaluminoxane (Al/Zr=2000:1), complexes 1 and 2 exhibit high thermal stability and high catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization [1, 769kg PE/(mol Zr·h); 2, 272kg PE/(mol Zr·h) at 80°C]. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTbs) have been widely used in the field of photocatalysis due to their large surface area, good controllability and superior electron transport properties. However, due to its wide bandgap (3.2 eV), pure TiO2 can only be excited by ultraviolet light (λ < 3 8 7 nm), leading to low utilization of solar energy. Second, the high recombination rate of the photogenerated electrons and holes ( e − / h +) pair also reduces the quantum efficiency of TiO2. In order to realize the efficient photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanomaterials, it is necessary to design the TiO2 nanomaterials to optimize the utilization of the solar spectrum. In this study, TiO2 NTbs were obtained by the anodizing method using titanium foil, and a series of Co/TiO2 NTbs were prepared by electrochemical deposition. The effects of the deposition voltage on the physical and photocatalytic properties of the Co/TiO2 NTbs were investigated. Results found that the Co/TiO2 NTbs had the highest photocurrent density 0.7 mA/cm2 at an electrodeposition time of 60 s and a voltage of 1 V, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency was 15.85%, which was approximately 2.8 times that of the pure TiO2 NTbs. The degradation rate of Rhodamine B of the Co/TiO2 NTbs in 120 min was 76.3%, whereas that of the pure TiO2 NTbs was only 48.7%. The forbidden bandwidth of the Co/TiO2 NTbs was reduced to 3.02 eV, whereas that of the pure TiO2 NTbs was 3.2 eV. Among many microstructures, TiO2 nanotubes are of great interest because of their high specific surface area and high electron transfer properties. In this experiment, TiO2 nanotubes were fabricated by anodic oxidation, and Co particles were loaded on TiO2 nanotubes by electrochemical deposition. The doping of Co particles significantly improved the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanotubes and effectively inhibited the complexation of electron–hole pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the wood sponge and lamellar structure, delignified wood was introduced into epoxy as a scaffold to improve its fracture toughness. By chemically removing lignin and hemicellulose from natural wood and subsequently freeze-drying, a delignified wood template with a grid-like structure was obtained. The isotropic and anisotropic bulk epoxy/delignified wood biocomposites with 8 wt% delignified wood were prepared. The anisotropic biocomposite exhibits a K JC of 6.74 MPa m1/2, 8.31 times that of neat epoxy resin. Further studies reveal that the wood layer can generate micro-cracks and induce crack deflection through debonding and plastic deformation, causing fracture toughness to increase. Considering the strength and stiffness of delignified wood template, the biocomposites show unexpectedly excellent mechanical properties. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of the anisotropic materials are as high as 88.5 MPa and 3.5 GPa, respectively. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induced by different anions, two different polycatenanes constructed from Ag6L4 units with different conformations have been prepared. Intermediates Ag6L4 and Ag5L4 are observed to participate in interlocking, and the related possible self-assembly routes are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First, Layered double hydroxide (LDH) was modified by toluene diisocyanate (TDI), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and LDH-TDI-HEA was prepared. Then LDH-TDI-HEA was modified by vinyl triethoxysilane (VTES), and LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES composites were obtained. Finally, acrylate was modified by LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES, and flame retarded LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES-Acrylate composites were successfully synthesized by in situ polymerization. The structures of LDH, LDH-TDI-HEA, LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES and LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES-Acrylate composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopic. The effect of LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES content on the thermal stability, mechanical properties, adhesion properties and flame retardant properties of LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES-Acrylate composites was studied. At the same time, the thermal stability, mechanical properties, adhesion properties and flame retardant properties of LDH-Acrylate composites and LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES-Acrylate composites were also studied. The experimental results showed that with the increasing of LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES content, the thermal stability, mechanical properties, flame retardant properties, and shear resistance of LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES-Acrylate composites were improved, while the tack and 180° peel strength decreased. When the content of LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES was 7 wt%, the LOI, after-flame time and the UL 94 grade of LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES-Acrylate composites were 27%, 0 s, and V-0, respectively. LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES-Acrylate Composites have good flame retardant properties. At the same time, the flame retardant mechanism of LDH-TDI-HEA-VTES composites was also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2, a series of NiO–TiO2 nanotubes (NTbs) is prepared by impregnating TiO2 nanotubes in a solution of NiCl2·6H2O at different concentrations. Self-organized TiO2 nanotubes are prepared by a two-step anodization process. Scanning electron microscopy images show that large particle agglomerates are formed for higher precursor concentrations, and X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy results indicate that the atomic percentages of Ni in the NiO–TiO2 NTbs prepared with precursor concentrations of 100 and 300 mM are 1.95% and 4.23%, respectively. Electronic lifetime measurements show that the recombination rate of photogenerated electron–hole pairs is lower for NiO–TiO2 NTbs compared to that of TiO2. Specifically, the recombination rate of the sample prepared at 50 mM is the lowest, which is associated with the longest electron lifetime. Compared to unmodified TiO2 nanotubes, NiO–TiO2 NTbs exhibit improved results for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the third longest river in the world, the Yangtze River flows across the vast area of China from west to east. However, the uneven spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation makes it frequently affected by droughts and floods since ancient times. By means of a statistical downscaling method named DBC (Daily Bias Correction) and a global water-balance model called WASMOD (Water and Snow Balance Modeling System), this study aims to analyze the extreme flood events in the Yangtze River basin over the period of 850-2100 using CMIP5 ensemble simulations (past1000+historical+ RCP45/RCP85). Totally six GCMs are adopted, including BCC-CSM1.1, CCSM4, MRI-CGCM3, MIROC-ESM, MPI-ESM-P and IPSL-CM5A-LR. Meanwhile, with a focus on extreme floods, we present an assessment of flood simulation accuracy with reference to existing paleo-flood research results. Firstly, the DBC method is employed to provide regional results from GCM outputs, and the error distributions of each GCM are analyzed. Secondly, using downscaled precipitation from 850 to 2100, the design storms (1, 3, 7 and 15-days maximum precipitation) with different return periods are deduced and compared with the results of existing paleo-flood frequency analysis. Then the WASMOD is established for runoff simulation from 850 to 2100 which is calibrated and verified by using the recorded data from 1900 to 2015 in the study region. Finally, based on simulated hydrological series, the extreme flood events (1, 3, 7 and 15-days annual maximum flood) with different return periods are deduced and compared with the existing paleo-flood research results. This study will provide systematic insight into the mechanisms of hydrological evolution on a millennium time scale by reconstruction of hydrological series using CMIP5 simulations in the Yangtze River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. CircRNAs are noncoding RNA molecules that have recently been described and shown to regulate miRNA functionality. While recent studies have suggested such circRNAs to be associated with pain related diseases in humans, no comprehensive migraine-related circRNA profiles have been generated, and there is currently no clear understanding of whether they can serve as regulators of migraine pathology. Methods. We initially conducted a circRNA microarray analysis of the plasma of migraine patients and healthy controls. Based upon these data, we then selected 8 differentially expressed circRNAs and confirmed their expression in more migraine patient plasma samples via real-time PCR. We then performed functional and pathway enrichment analyses. Lastly, using a robust rank aggregation approach, we constructed a ceRNA network according to predicted circRNA–miRNA and miRNA–mRNA pairs in these migraine patient samples. Results. We were able to detect 2039 circRNAs in our patient samples, with 794 of 1245 these circRNAs being up- and downregulated in migraine patients relative to controls, respectively (fold change ≥ 1.5 , p < 0.01). A qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the expression of hsa_circRNA_100236, hsa_circRNA_102413, and hsa_circRNA_000367 was significantly enhanced in migraine patients, whereas the expression of hsa_circRNA_103809, hsa_circRNA_103670, and hsa_circRNA_101833 was significantly reduced in these individuals relative to healthy controls. We found these differentially regulated circRNAs to be associated with numerous predicted biological processes, with enrichment analyses suggesting that they may modulate the PI3K-Akt signaling so as to promote inflammation to drive migraine development. However, further research will be needed to formally test these mechanistic possibilities and to validate these circRNAs as potential biomarkers of migraine patients. Conclusions. Our results offer new potential insights into the mechanistic basis of this condition and suggest that hsa_circRNA_000367 and hsa_circRNA_102413 may offer value as regulators of migraine pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. CircRNAs are noncoding RNA molecules that have recently been described and shown to regulate miRNA functionality. While recent studies have suggested such circRNAs to be associated with pain related diseases in humans, no comprehensive migraine-related circRNA profiles have been generated, and there is currently no clear understanding of whether they can serve as regulators of migraine pathology. Methods. We initially conducted a circRNA microarray analysis of the plasma of migraine patients and healthy controls. Based upon these data, we then selected 8 differentially expressed circRNAs and confirmed their expression in more migraine patient plasma samples via real-time PCR. We then performed functional and pathway enrichment analyses. Lastly, using a robust rank aggregation approach, we constructed a ceRNA network according to predicted circRNA–miRNA and miRNA–mRNA pairs in these migraine patient samples. Results. We were able to detect 2039 circRNAs in our patient samples, with 794 of 1245 these circRNAs being up- and downregulated in migraine patients relative to controls, respectively (fold change ≥ 1.5 , p < 0.01). A qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the expression of hsa_circRNA_100236, hsa_circRNA_102413, and hsa_circRNA_000367 was significantly enhanced in migraine patients, whereas the expression of hsa_circRNA_103809, hsa_circRNA_103670, and hsa_circRNA_101833 was significantly reduced in these individuals relative to healthy controls. We found these differentially regulated circRNAs to be associated with numerous predicted biological processes, with enrichment analyses suggesting that they may modulate the PI3K-Akt signaling so as to promote inflammation to drive migraine development. However, further research will be needed to formally test these mechanistic possibilities and to validate these circRNAs as potential biomarkers of migraine patients. Conclusions. Our results offer new potential insights into the mechanistic basis of this condition and suggest that hsa_circRNA_000367 and hsa_circRNA_102413 may offer value as regulators of migraine pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. CircRNAs are noncoding RNA molecules that have recently been described and shown to regulate miRNA functionality. While recent studies have suggested such circRNAs to be associated with pain related diseases in humans, no comprehensive migraine-related circRNA profiles have been generated, and there is currently no clear understanding of whether they can serve as regulators of migraine pathology. Methods. We initially conducted a circRNA microarray analysis of the plasma of migraine patients and healthy controls. Based upon these data, we then selected 8 differentially expressed circRNAs and confirmed their expression in more migraine patient plasma samples via real-time PCR. We then performed functional and pathway enrichment analyses. Lastly, using a robust rank aggregation approach, we constructed a ceRNA network according to predicted circRNA–miRNA and miRNA–mRNA pairs in these migraine patient samples. Results. We were able to detect 2039 circRNAs in our patient samples, with 794 of 1245 these circRNAs being up- and downregulated in migraine patients relative to controls, respectively (fold change ≥ 1.5 , p < 0.01). A qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the expression of hsa_circRNA_100236, hsa_circRNA_102413, and hsa_circRNA_000367 was significantly enhanced in migraine patients, whereas the expression of hsa_circRNA_103809, hsa_circRNA_103670, and hsa_circRNA_101833 was significantly reduced in these individuals relative to healthy controls. We found these differentially regulated circRNAs to be associated with numerous predicted biological processes, with enrichment analyses suggesting that they may modulate the PI3K-Akt signaling so as to promote inflammation to drive migraine development. However, further research will be needed to formally test these mechanistic possibilities and to validate these circRNAs as potential biomarkers of migraine patients. Conclusions. Our results offer new potential insights into the mechanistic basis of this condition and suggest that hsa_circRNA_000367 and hsa_circRNA_102413 may offer value as regulators of migraine pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Innovative use of Nano Ni@C particles that are commonly used as electrode materials as filler to strengthen polyurethane materials. • The synthesized polyurethane nanocomposites also have adjustable magnetic properties due to the loading of magnetic particles. • The synthesized polyurethane nanocomposites combines good mechanical properties and self-healing properties. Widely employed as polymers, polyurethanes also struggle to strike a balance between mechanical and self-healing qualities. Extrinsic self-healing can readily result in the production of material defects and stress concentration, which can result in the loss of mechanical property. In this study, self-healing and mechanical properties were combined to create a self-healing polyurethane nanocomposite film (PUHN) with good fatigue resistance. Reversible hydrogen and disulfide bonds were introduced to the polyurethane film, meanwhile, carbon-coated nickel nanoparticles were dispersed into the matrix as fillers during the early stage of polymerization. The results showed that PUHN combines outstanding mechanical properties with excellent self-healing properties, while the tensile strength of PUHN was increased by 38 % to 2.32 MPa due to the small-size effect caused by the introduction of nanoparticles. The introduction of reversible disulfide bonding and the presence of abundant hydrogen bonding give PUHN excellent self-healing properties, which can reach 91.2 % self-healing efficiency after 3 h in an oven at 80℃. Meanwhile, the fatigue resistance of the composite material also shows considerable application potential for use in packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: [68 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delamination damage is a common failure mode of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates, which severely limits their application. This paper proposes a novel interlaminar toughening structure based on intrinsic and extrinsic multiscale toughening mechanisms using nanoscale multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and microscale core-shell rubber (CSR). The resin sample M-0.5/C-8, containing 0.5 wt% MWCNTs and 8 wt% CSR, exhibited significant improvements in fracture toughness, with increases of 183.3 % in the mode-I critical stress intensity factor (K IC, Resin) and 412.0 % in the critical energy release rate of resin (G IC, Resin). However, its flexural strength and modulus decreased by 3.1 % and 3.3 %, respectively. Introducing MWCNTs and CSR into the interlayers of the CFRP, the interleaved toughened CFRP laminate exhibited a 123.3 % improvement in the mode-I critical energy release rate (G IC, Comp) and a 79.6 % increase in the mode-II critical energy release rate (G IIC, Comp) during the crack propagation stage, without sacrificing flexural performance. This remarkable enhancement in interlaminar fracture toughness results from the simultaneous triggering of nanoscale extrinsic toughening and microscale intrinsic toughening during crack growth. The flexural properties and fracture toughness of Epoxy/MWCNTs/CSR composites were also investigated to understand the properties transformation from resin matrix to CFRP. Morphological characterization and numerical analysis were used to analyze the synergies and constraints between two energy dissipation behaviors. [Display omitted] • Toughening strategies for engineering applications of CFRP. • CFRP toughening mechanism:multiscale intrinsic and extrinsic toughening. • Improving CFRP interlaminar fracture toughness without losing in-plane properties. • Mechanisms of intrinsic-extrinsic synergistic toughening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controllable arrangement of different ligands in a single assembly will not only bring increased complexity but also offers a new route to fine‐tune the function of the designed architecture. We report here a combinatorial self‐assembly with enPd(NO3)2 and three different ligands (L1–3), which gave rise to a family of six palladium‐organic cages (C1‐6) with systematically varied shapes and cavities, including three new heteroleptic (Pd5L12L2, Pd5L12L3, Pd4L2L3), one new homoleptic (Pd4L32) cages, and two known homoleptic (Pd6L14, Pd4L22) cages. Emergent functions due to the fusion of two half cavities on the heteroleptic cages from their parent homoleptic cages have been observed: the heteroleptic cages can form ternary complexes by co‐encapsulation of both aromatic and aliphatic guests, while their homoleptic counterparts can only form binary complexes. Such a forced co‐encapsulation effect endows the heteroleptic cages with enhanced catalytic power for the Knoevenagel condensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]