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Incorporating metal cations into V2O5 has been proven to be an effective method for solving the poor long-term cycling performance of vanadium-based oxides as electrodes for mono- or multivalent aqueous rechargeable batteries. This is due to the existence of a bilayer structure with a large interlayer space in the V2O5 electrode and to the fact that the intercalated ions act as pillars to support the layered structure and facilitate the diffusion of charged carriers. However, a fundamental understanding of the mechanical stability of multi-ion-co-intercalated bilayered V2O5 is still lacking. In this paper, a variety of pillared vanadium pentoxides with two types of co-intercalated ions were studied. The root-mean-square deviation of the V-O bonds and the elastic constants calculated by density functional theory were used as references to evaluate the stability of the intercalated compounds. The d-band center and electronic band structures are also discussed. Our theoretical results show that the structural characteristics and stability of the system are quite strongly influenced by the intercalating strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well-known small-molecule biothiols have been used to maintain the normal metabolism of peroxy radicals, forming protein structures, resisting cell apoptosis, regulating metabolism, and protecting the homeostasis of cells in the organism. A large amount of research has found that abnormal levels of the above biothiols can cause some adverse diseases, such as changes in hair pigmentation, a slower growth rate, delayed response, excessive sleep and skin diseases. In order to further investigate the exact intracellular molecular mechanism of biothiols, it is imperative to explore effective strategies for real-time biothiol detection in living systems. In this work, a new near-infrared (NIR) emission fluorescence probe (probe 1) for sensitive and selective detection of biothiols was devised by combining dicyanoisophorone derivatives with the dinitrobenzenesulfonyl (DNBS) group. As expected, probe 1 could specifically detect biothiols (Cys, Hcy and GSH) through the dinitrobenzenesulfonyl group to form dye 2, which works as a signaling molecule for sensing biothiols in real samples. Surprisingly, probe 1 showed superior sensing characteristics and low-limit detection towards biothiols (36.0 nM for Cys, 39.0 nM for Hcy and 48.0 nM for GSH) with a large Stokes shift (134 nm). Additionally, the function of probe 1 as a platform for detecting biothiols was confirmed by confocal fluorescence imaging of biothiols in MCF-7 cells and zebrafish. More importantly, the capability of probe 1 in vivo has been further evaluated by imaging the overexpressed biothiols in tumor tissue. It is reasonable to believe that probe 1 can provide a valuable method to explore the relationship between biothiols and the genesis of tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hexavanadate hybrid with alkynyl ligands (DIEA)2[V6O13{(OCH2)3CNHCOC6H4C≡CH}2] was synthesized and its molecular structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallize in the orthorhombic system, space group Pccn with the cell parameters a = 15.951(2) Å, b = 33.240 Å, c = 10.5960(14) Å, α = β = γ = 90°, V = 5618.2(13) Å 3. The electrostatic potential was also calculated to show the electron distribution in the polyoxoanion. A new hexavanadate hybrid with alkynyl ligands (DIEA)2 [V6O13{(OCH2)3CNHCOC6H4C≡CH}2] was synthesized by post-functionalization. Each of the structures looks like a flabellum and both ends are straight and rigid on account of the conjugated effect in the organic ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes to the surface morphology of a cylinder immersed in a uniform flow may affect the surrounding flow characteristics. Circular cylinders with various symmetric strips attached are ideal models for studying this subject. This study investigates the flow-induced vibration (FIV) of a three-dimensional cylinder with symmetric strips attached using the delayed detached-eddy simulation method. First, the effects of the 22 different types of strip parameters are evaluated on the fixed cylinder. Then, P5-60-20 (location α = 60 ° , coverage β = 20 ° , and thickness h / D = 5 %) is chosen to explore the transverse FIV. P5-60-20 vibration responses exhibit four distinct branches—initial branch, passive upper branch, transition branch from vortex-induced vibration (VIV) to galloping, and pure galloping—which correspond to the classic initial, upper, lower, and desynchronization regions of the circular cylinder. Through a detailed discussion of each branch, it is discovered that the passive upper branch is significantly different from the upper branch, despite their similar vibration amplitudes and frequencies. The upper branch is induced by the flutter in the presence of intense three-dimensional flow. However, the passive upper branch is caused by symmetric strips, which promote spanwise correlation, prevent lift phase shifting, and dampen the effect of three-dimensional flow. Consequently, at higher reduced velocities, the transition from VIV to galloping and pure galloping is triggered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high‐performance and low‐cost durable triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is essential for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. Many organic polymer friction materials used widely have thermal stability problems, which makes TENGs with semiconductors as friction materials stand out. Here, we report a semi‐flexible TENG based on metal and TiO2 modified by polyoxometalates (POMs) as pure inorganic friction materials. Six different POMs are firstly selected to modify the friction materials of TENGs, and the output performance of TENGs with different POMs‐modified semiconductors and different metals as friction materials are tested. Compared with the unmodified TENGs, the open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of the optimal Ag‐K6P2Mo18O62(P2Mo18)/TiO2 TENG device is increased by more than 4 times, which is mainly attributed to the strong electron‐accepting and storage capabilities of POMs. This study has demonstrated that TENGs modified by POMs have potential application prospects and provided a new method for increasing the electrical output of TENGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minor changes to the surface of a cylinder can significantly influence the associated flow characteristics. This paper describes a three-dimensional numerical investigation of a cylinder attached with symmetric strips in a uniform flow at R e = 3900. The location (20 ° ≤ α ≤ 130 °), thickness (0.01 D ≤ t ≤ 0.08 D), and coverage (5 ° ≤ β ≤ 100 °) of the strips are selected for study. Two flow modes, patterns A and D, can be characterized in the flow around this passive turbulence control cylinder by their vortex enhancement and suppression effects. The Strouhal number of pattern A is very close to the response of a smooth cylinder. For cylinders with the upper strip located at α ≤ 90 ° from the front stagnation point, the lift force correlation in the spanwise direction is enhanced by the forced flow separation. When the front edge of the upper strip is fixed at α = 60 ° , the thickness of the strips plays a vital role: the drag and lift force increase linearly as the thickness increases, whereas the Strouhal number and the vortex shedding frequency decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discrete element method (DEM) has been widely used in landslide research. However, selecting microscopic parameters is complicated due to the diversity and complexity of landslide material composition, induced mechanism and geological conditions. This study proposed an intelligent calibration method of microscopic parameters based on the measured landslide accumulation morphology. Post-sliding accumulation thickness, sliding height difference, sliding distance and accumulation dip were proposed to describe the morphological characteristics of landslide accumulation. Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) was used to establish the training sample set. The surrogate model of the discrete element numerical simulation method was established by combining the relevance vector mechanism (RVM) and the third-generation nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-III) to find the nonlinear relationship between the accumulation characteristics after landslide and microscopic parameters. Based on the calibration results, the area that may be affected by landslides was predicted. The results showed that the similarity between the calculated value of the intelligent model and the measured value was 97.49%. The intelligent calibration method had high accuracy and applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A polystyrene- b -poly(lactic acid)- b -poly(ethylene oxide)- b -poly(lactic acid)- b -polystyrene pentablock copolymer electrolyte (PSLE) is successfully prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of DL-lactide (DL-LA) with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) followed by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with styrene. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) block made by the polymerization of DL-LA can not only reduce the crystallinity of PEO, but also balance the coordination properties of Li+, while polystyrene (PS) block acts as a hard block to improve the mechanical properties of PSLE. Here, the obtained PSLE achieves high ionic conductivity (1.3 × 10−4 S cm−1) under ambient temperature and wide electrochemical stable window (4.2 V). In addition, the PSLE shows outstanding stability, allowing the Li/PSLE/Li cell to cycle stably for more than 600 h at 0.1 mA cm−2 without an increase in polarization voltage. And LiFePO 4 /PSLE/Li cell shows an initial discharge capacity of 159 mA h g−1 and keeps a capacity retention of 94.6 % after 200 cycles at 0.1C under ambient temperature. The LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 /PSLE/Li cell also delivers good cycling performance. These results suggest that multiblock copolymer electrolyte is very promising material for the preparation of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) suitable for lithium metal batteries. • Poly(lactic acid)-containing pentablock copolymer electrolytes were developed. • Poly(lactic acid) block can reduce the crystallinity of poly(ethylene oxide). • Poly(lactic acid) block can balance the coordination properties of lithium ions. • LiFePO 4 cells assembled with PSLEs exhibit excellent cycling performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In direct conversion process of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), undesirable degradation inevitably occurs in the presence of Brønsted acid. Here, a carbonaceous catalyst was synthesized by grafting phosphotungstic acid to directly depolymerize microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to 5-HMF. This catalyst exhibits high Lewis acidity (43.10 μmol g⁻1) and low Brønsted acidity (4.15 μmol g⁻1) with pyridine as reference compound. To comprehensively analyze the factors affecting MCC depolymerization, central composite design and response surface methodology techniques, incorporating variables such as reaction time, reaction temperature, catalyst dosage and MCC dosage. The highest yield of 5-HMF, 5.88 %, was obtained after 4.90 h at 171 °C using 45 mg of catalyst and 50 mg of MCC in biphasic system consisting of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazole chloride ([BMIM]Cl) and 2- sec -butylphenol. The catalyst was easily recovered and reused five times without a significant loss of catalytic activity. This work highlights the promise of efficient biomass refining by synergizing catalysts with high Lewis acidity and low Brønsted acidity in the biphasic system. [Display omitted] • Functionalized carbonaceous catalyst with high Lewis acidity was prepared. • Direct depolymerized cellulose to 5-HMF in [BMIM]Cl/2- sec -butylphenol biphasic system. • 5-HMF formation was first established by response surface methodology techniques. • Studied the impact of four factors on 5-HMF formation: reaction time, temperature, catalyst, and MCC dosage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To improve the efficiency, accuracy and adaptivity of the parameter inversion analysis method of a rockfill dam, this study aims to establish an adaptive model based on a harmony search algorithm (HS) and a mixed multi-output relevance vector machine (MMRVM). Design/methodology/approach: By introducing the mixed kernel function, the MMRVM can accurately simulate the nonlinear relationship between the material parameters and dam settlement. Therefore, the finite element method with time consumption can be replaced by the MMRVM. Because of its excellent global search capability, the HS is used to optimize the kernel parameters of the MMRVM and the material parameters of a rockfill dam. Findings: Because the parameters of the HS and the variation range of the MMRVM parameters are relatively fixed, the HS-MMRVM can imbue the inversion analysis with adaptivity; the number of observation points required and the robustness of the HS-MMRVM are analyzed. An application example involving a concrete-faced rockfill dam shows that the HS-MMRVM exhibits high accuracy and high speed in the parameter inversion analysis of static and creep constitutive models. Practical implications: The applicability of the HS-MMRVM in hydraulic engineering is proved in this paper, which should further validate in inversion problems of other fields. Originality/value: An adaptive inversion analysis model is established to avoid the parameters of traditional methods that need to be set by humans, which strongly affect the inversion analysis results. By introducing the mixed kernel function, the MMRVM can accurately simulate the nonlinear relationship between the material parameters and dam settlement. To reduce the data dimensions and verify the model's robustness, the number of observation points required for inversion analysis and the acceptable degree of noise are determined. The confidence interval is built to monitor dam settlement and provide the foundation for dam monitoring and reservoir operation management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-9 (IL-9) is a cytokine secreted by T-helper (Th)9 cells, and activin A can enhance Th9 cell differentiation. However, whether activin A affects IL-9 production by natural killer (NK) cells remains unclear. Herein, we found that not only Th cells, but also CD3−CD49b+NKp46+ NK cells of Balb/c mice produced IL-9. Although activin A promoted IL-9 expression in CD4+ Th cells, it inhibited IL-9 production by CD49b+NKp46+ NK cells in mice. Furthermore, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that mouse NK cells could secrete mature IL-9 protein, and activin A inhibited IL-9 release by NK cells. Additionally, activin A inhibited interferon (IFN)-γ production in splenic NK cells in mice, but promoted IL-2 production, and did not alter the production of IL-10. Western blotting results showed that levels of activin type IIA receptor (ActRIIA), Smad3 and phosphorylated-Smad3 (p-SMAD3) protein increased in activin A-treated splenic NK cells, compared with that in control NK cells. The inhibitory effects of activin A on IL-9 production by NK cells were attenuated in the presence of activin antagonist follistatin (FST) or Smad3 knockdown to NK cells. These data suggest that although activin A up-regulates IL-9 expression in Th cells, it inhibits IL-9 production in NK cells through Smad3 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Flow Induced Vibrations (FIV), and particularly Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV) and galloping, of two locally rough, rigid, circular cylinders in tandem are studied by varying the stiffness of the supporting springs, the linear viscous damping, and the cylinder spacing. The test parameters are: mass ratio set to 1.34, center-to-center spacing of 1.57, 2.0 and 2.57 diameters; spring-stiffness 400 N/m ∼ 1200 N/m, damping-ratio 0. 02 < ζ < 0. 26 , and Reynolds number 30,000 ⩽ Re ⩽ 120,000, which falls in the TrSL3 flow regime. The virtual spring-damping system Vck developed in the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab) enables embedded computer controlled change of viscous-damping and spring-stiffness for fast and mathematically correct oscillator realization, without including the hydrodynamic force in the closed control loop. Experimental measurements for the oscillatory response of both cylinders, are studied to reveal the interaction of upstream and downstream cylinders. All the experiments were conducted in the Low Turbulence Free Surface Water (LTFSW) Channel of the MRELab of the University of Michigan. The main findings are: (1) In the range of spacing tested, for all the values of K and ζ , the upstream cylinder's amplitude response is enhanced due to the presence of the downstream cylinder. This effect is very strong in galloping. (2) With the exception of the initial branch of VIV, the downstream cylinder's amplitude response is also enhanced but with higher standard deviation in two tandem oscillating cylinders. (3) Three oscillation patterns are identified in galloping: In-phase, out-of-phase, and alternating between the two in a given experiment. (4) Four interactive zones are identified. Highlights • Experimental study of spacing, spring-stiffness, & damping of two tandem cylinders are presented. • The amplitude of upstream cylinder is enhanced due to the downstream cylinder presence. • In the transition and galloping regions, the downstream cylinder's amplitude increases due to the upstream cylinder in some cases. • Galloping patterns are: In-phase, out-of-phase, and alternating between the two. • All experiments were conducted in the TrSL3 (20,000 < R e < 3 00,000) flow regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Activin A, a multifunctional cytokine of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, can be produced by the diverse immune cells. NK cells in peripheral blood are one of the major immune cells applied to cancer therapy in recent years. However, whether activin A can be produced by natural killer (NK) cells and be involved in regulation of peripheral blood NK cells activities of mouse are not well characterized. Here, we found that activin type IIA and IIB receptors and signaling molecules Smad2, 3 were expressed in peripheral blood NK cells of mouse by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. The cultured blood NK cells of mouse not only produced activin βA chain protein by intracellular cytokine staining, but also secreted mature activin A protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the production was promoted by IL-2. In addition, IL-2 as a positive control obviously promoted IFNγ production of mouse blood NK cells in vitro. However, activin A suppressed IFNγ production, but enhanced IL-2 synthesis and did not alter IL-10 production. Moreover, we found that activin A significantly suppressed the ability of NK cells to lyse target cells. These data revealed that blood NK cells of mouse were not only the target cells in response to activin A, but also the source of activin A, suggesting that activin A may play an important role in regulation of NK cells activities of mouse in an autocrine / paracrine manner. Highlights • Blood NK cells are capable of responding to activin A and releasing activin A. • Activin A inhibits IFNγ production of NK cells, but increases IL-2 production. • Activin A suppressed cytotoxicity of blood NK cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlinear oscillator, using a cubic-spring restoring function with high-deformation stiffening, is introduced and studied experimentally to improve passively the harnessed marine hydrokinetic power using Flow Induced Vibrations (FIVs) of a cylinder. In this research, the FIV of a single, rigid, circular cylinder on elastic end-supports is tested for Reynolds number 30,000 ≤  Re  ≤ 120,000. Damping, cubic stiffness, and flow-velocity are used as parameters. Selective roughness is applied to enhance FIV and increase the hydrokinetic energy converted by the oscillator. The second generation of the digital, virtual spring-damping system Vck, developed in the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab), enables embedded computer-controlled change of the functions and values of viscous damping and spring stiffness. Cubic modeling of the oscillator stiffness in parametric form is thus realized and tested. Experimental results for amplitude response, frequency response, energy harvesting, efficiency and instantaneous energy of the converter are presented and discussed. All experiments are conducted in the Low Turbulence Free Surface Water (LTFSW) Channel of the MRELab of the University of Michigan. The main conclusions are: (1) The cubic stiffness function is an effective way to raise the harnessed efficiency over a wider range of flow velocities. (2) At lower flow speed (upper and lower VIV branches), the harnessed power increases as the nonlinearity increases. A strongly nonlinear system exhibits a 100% increase in harnessed energy in this region. (3) At a higher flow speed (galloping), the cubic nonlinearity benefits the harnessed power in two ways because the natural frequency of the oscillator in water ( f n,water ) depends on the amplitude of oscillation. At low harness damping, the amplitude increases resulting in higher f n,water thus enhancing the harnessed power. At high harness damping, the harnessed power increases regardless of f n,water . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A design, adaptive to the flow velocity, is developed for a hydrokinetic energy converter based on an oscillator undergoing Flow Induced Vibrations (FIVs); primarily Vortex Induced Vibrations (VIV) and galloping. This Alternating-Lift Technology implements a nonlinear spring to passively optimize the oscillator. The FIV of a single, rigid, circular cylinder, with distributed surface roughness, suspended on end-springs with piecewise linear continuous restoring force, are studied for Reynolds number 24,000 ≤ Re ≤ 120,000. Linear viscous damping for energy harnessing and different piecewise linear spring functions are used as parameters. The harnessed power envelope is established based on the results of linear spring stiffness and two nonlinear piecewise stiffness functions. Selective roughness is applied to enhance FIV and increase the hydrokinetic energy captured by the converter at higher Reynolds numbers. The second generation of a virtual spring-damping system (Vck), developed in the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab), enables embedded, real-time, computer-controlled change of viscous damping and spring stiffness for fast implementation of oscillator particulars. Experimental results for amplitude response, frequency response, energy harvesting, and efficiency are presented and discussed. All experiments are conducted in the Low Turbulence Free Surface Water (LTFSW) Channel of the MRELab of the University of Michigan. The main conclusions are: (1) Each nonlinear, piecewise-linear, stiffness function has its own merits in power harnessing; the differences lie in the FIV characteristics of the different regions of the flow. (2) The nonlinear spring converter can harness energy from flows as low as 0.275 m/s with no upper limit. (3) The new adaptive function exhibits higher harnessed power in the upper VIV branch, transition from VIV to galloping, and fully developed galloping regions. (4) The FIV response is predominantly periodic for all nonlinear spring functions used. (5) Optimal power harnessing is achieved by changing the nonlinear piecewise spring function and the linear viscous damping. (6) The optimally harnessed power envelope is established according to the experimental results of the linear and nonlinear stiffness springs; four performance zones are established based on FIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This study aimed to identify rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) related genes based on microarray data using the WGCNA (weighted gene co-expression network analysis) method. Methods Two gene expression profile datasets GSE55235 (10 RA samples and 10 healthy controls) and GSE77298 (16 RA samples and seven healthy controls) were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database. Characteristic genes were identified using meta DE package. WGCNA was used to find disease-related networks based on gene expression correlation coefficients, and module significance was defined as the average gene significance of all genes used to assess the correlation between the module and RA status. Genes in the disease-related gene co-expression network were subject to functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis using Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Characteristic genes were also mapped to the Connectivity Map to screen small molecules. Results A total of 599 characteristic genes were identified. For each dataset, characteristic genes in the green, red and turquoise modules were most closely associated with RA, with gene numbers of 54, 43 and 79, respectively. These genes were enriched in totally enriched in 17 Gene Ontology terms, mainly related to immune response ( CD97, FYB, CXCL1, IKBKE, CCR1, etc.), inflammatory response ( CD97, CXCL1, C3 AR1, CCR1, LYZ, etc.) and homeostasis ( C3 AR1, CCR1, PLN, CCL19, PPT1, etc.). Two small-molecule drugs sanguinarine and papaverine were predicted to have a therapeutic effect against RA. Conclusion Genes related to immune response, inflammatory response and homeostasis presumably have critical roles in RA pathogenesis. Sanguinarine and papaverine have a potential therapeutic effect against RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow Induced Motions (FIMs) of rigid circular cylinders, and particularly VIV (Vortex Induced Vibrations) and galloping, are induced by alternating lift. The VIVACE (VIV for Aquatic Clean Energy) Converter uses single or multiple cylinders, in tandem, on elastic end-supports, in synergistic FIM, to convert MHK energy to electricity. Selectively distributed surface roughness is applied to enhance FIM and increase efficiency. In this paper, two cylinders are used in tandem with center-to-center spacing of 1.57, 2.0 and 2.57 diameters, harnessing damping ratio 0.00< ζ < 0.24, for Reynolds number 30,000 ≤ Re ≤ 120,000. The virtual spring-damping system V ck in the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab) enables embedded computer-controlled change of viscous-damping and spring-stiffness for fast and mathematically correct oscillator realization, without including the hydrodynamic force in the closed control loop. Experimental results for oscillatory response, energy harvesting, and efficiency are presented and the envelope of optimal power is derived. All the experiments were conducted in the Low Turbulence Free Surface Water (LTFSW) Channel of the MRELab of the University of Michigan. The main conclusions are: (1) For the tested cylinder spacing, two cylinders harness power is between 2.56 and 13.49 times the power of a single cylinder, the efficiency of two cylinders is between 2.0 and 6.68 of a single cylinder. (2) The MHK power harnessed by the upstream cylinder is increased by up to 100%, affected by the downstream cylinder. (3) The MHK power harnessed by the downstream cylinder and its FIM are affected to a lesser extent by the interaction. (4) VIVACE can harness energy from flows as slow as 0.4 m/s with no upper limit in flow velocity. (5) Close spacing and high spring stiffness yield highest harnessed power. (6) The optimal harnessed power shifts to softer springs as spacing increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, a large number of construction scrap wood and industrial processing residues are generated, not only caused heavy pressure on the environment, also the natural biological active ingredient in larch wood is wasted. In order to solve this urgent problem, the dynamic distribution and biological storage analysis of procyanidins, arabinogalactan and dihydroquercetin extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in different parts of larch wood was studied. The results show that pith and sapwood have the highest and lowest moisture content, respectively. Moisture content also exhibited an increase from outer to inner heartwood. However, moisture content tended to decrease from 13.11 to 6.99% with increasing latitude. Most PCs were exclusively distributed in the bark and sapwood. The PC content of bark was about 10–20 times higher than that in sapwood, which increased with latitude increasing in bark. The highest PC content was 601.94 mg/g at 14 m height. AG content in the outer heartwood and sapwood was higher, and was lower in pith. Bark contained almost no AG. AG content was increased with the latitude increasing, and the highest content of AG was found at 6 m in sapwood. The peak of DHQ content in outer heartwood was 31.58 mg/g at the ground 0 m, where it was lower in mid- and inner heartwood than that in outer heartwood, and was lowest in bark (0.08 mg/g). Two peaks of DHQ content were observed with increasing latitude (at 0 and 6 m, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow Induced Motions (FIMs) of a single, rigid, circular cylinder with piecewise continuous restoring force are investigated for Reynolds number 24,000≤ Re ≤120,000 with damping, and different piecewise functions as parameters. Selective roughness is applied to enhance FIM and increase the hydrokinetic energy captured by the VIVACE (Vortex Induced Vibration for Aquatic Clean Energy) Converter at higher Reynolds numbers. The second generation of virtual spring-damping system Vck, developed in the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab), enables embedded computer-controlled change of viscous-damping and spring-stiffness for fast and precise oscillator modeling. Experimental results for amplitude response, frequency response, energy harvesting, and efficiency are presented and discussed. All experiments were conducted in the Low Turbulence Free Surface Water (LTFSW) Channel of the MRELab of the University of Michigan. The main conclusions are: (1) The nonlinear piecewise spring Converter can harness energy from flows as slow as 0.275 m/s with no upper limit. (2) In galloping, the nonlinear spring Converter has up to 76% better performance than its linear spring counterpart. (3) The FIM response is predominantly periodic for all nonlinear spring functions used. (4) Optimal power harnessing is achieved by changing the nonlinear piecewise spring function and the linear viscous damping. (5) VIVACE exhibits local maxima in power conversion at the end of the upper branch in VIV and the highest velocity reached in galloping. (6) The efficiency optima though are at the beginning of the VIV initial branch and at the beginning of galloping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hydrogel-based microwell was prepared by cobalt ionic crosslinking of hydrogel. • Microtissues cultured within Gel/SA-Co showed excellent cartilage differentiation. • The microtissue-laden injectable hydrogel was prepared by covalent crosslinking. • The microtissue-laden Gel/SA-Co hydrogel promoted cartilage regeneration in vivo. Direct contact between cells is of great significance to the formation of natural tissues, especially in regard to cartilage differentiation, which begins with the biological process of cell aggregation. Herein, based on the preparation of microspheres via microwells, we prepared functional hydrogel-based microwells by using cobalt ionic crosslinking. The preparation of functional microwells can not only induce the upregulation of genes and proteins related to cartilage differentiation but also greatly reduce markers related to hypertrophy and mineralization, which play a significant role in the formation of hyaline cartilage. Importantly, we combined microwell cultures with the later preparation of injectable artificial cartilage grafts. In vitro, microwell culture and cartilage differentiation induction can be achieved through the preparation of microwells crosslinked by ions. Via the partial removal of ions, the hydrogel and microtissues can be injected into the defect through the shape recovery of the gel in the later stage and through the stable gel formed by covalent crosslinking to repair irregular cartilage defects. This study not only broadens the application of microwells but also promotes the progress of material-based tissue engineering strategies through the design of intelligent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hydrogel-based microwell was prepared by cobalt ionic crosslinking of hydrogel. • Microtissues cultured within Gel/SA-Co showed excellent cartilage differentiation. • The microtissue-laden injectable hydrogel was prepared by covalent crosslinking. • The microtissue-laden Gel/SA-Co hydrogel promoted cartilage regeneration in vivo. Direct contact between cells is of great significance to the formation of natural tissues, especially in regard to cartilage differentiation, which begins with the biological process of cell aggregation. Herein, based on the preparation of microspheres via microwells, we prepared functional hydrogel-based microwells by using cobalt ionic crosslinking. The preparation of functional microwells can not only induce the upregulation of genes and proteins related to cartilage differentiation but also greatly reduce markers related to hypertrophy and mineralization, which play a significant role in the formation of hyaline cartilage. Importantly, we combined microwell cultures with the later preparation of injectable artificial cartilage grafts. In vitro, microwell culture and cartilage differentiation induction can be achieved through the preparation of microwells crosslinked by ions. Via the partial removal of ions, the hydrogel and microtissues can be injected into the defect through the shape recovery of the gel in the later stage and through the stable gel formed by covalent crosslinking to repair irregular cartilage defects. This study not only broadens the application of microwells but also promotes the progress of material-based tissue engineering strategies through the design of intelligent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively identify the key material parameters of different zones of concrete face rockfill dams and improve the efficiency of parameter optimization, a global sensitivity analysis method of parameters based on sparse polynomial chaotic expansion (sPCE) is proposed in this paper. The latin hypercube sampling method is used to select multiple groups of material parameters, and then finite element method is used to calculate the displacement of dam characteristic nodes in dam body. On this basis, the displacement is expanded by sPCE, and the polynomial basis function is reconstructed by orthogonal matching pursuit to improve the construction and analysis efficiency of the proxy model. According to the chaos coefficients, Sobol' indices are calculated to evaluate the influence of the material parameters and their interaction on different displacements of the dam. The results show that the sPCE model can accurately simulate dam displacement and its statistical characteristics with a relatively small sample size. The sensitivity of the same parameter has spatial variability, and under the influence of parameter levels and spatial distribution of different materials, the parameter sensitivity ranking of different zones has certain differences. The proposed method provides a new reference to sensitivity analysis and uncertainty analysis for practical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method using ethanol was applied for extracting arabinogalactan (AG) and dihydroquercetin (DHQ) simultaneously from larch wood, as a pretreatment for pulping and papermaking. The extraction parameters were optimized by a Box-Behnken experimental design with the yields of AG and DHQ as the response values. Under optimum conditions (three extractions, each using 40% ethanol, for 50 min, 200 W ultrasound power and 1∶18 solid-liquid ratio), the yields of AG and DHQ were 183.4 and 36.76 mg/g, respectively. After UAE pretreated, the wood chips were used for Kraft pulping (KP) and high boiling solvent pulping (HBSP). The pulping yield after pretreatment was higher than that of untreated (the pulping yields of untreated HBSP and KP were 42.37% and 39.60%, and the pulping yields of HBSP and KP after UAE-pretreated were 44.23% and 41.50% respectively), as indicated by a lower kappa number (77.91 and 27.30 for untreated HBSP and KP; 77.01 and 26.83 for UAE-pretreated HBSP and KP). Furthermore, the characteristics of paper produced from pretreated wood chips were superior to those from the untreated chips: the basis weight was lower (85.67 and 82.48 g·cm−2 for paper from untreated KP and HBSP; 79.94 and 80.25 g·cm−2 for paper from UAE-pretreated KP and HBSP), and the tensile strengths, tearing strengths, bursting strengths, and folding strengths were higher than these of paper after UAE-pretreated, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Prohexadione-calcium treatment alters flavour compound biosynthesis in hops. [•] Twenty-nine metabolites among three pathways were targeted by LC-ToF-MS and UHPLC methods. [•] Developmental time-courses revealed changes in the velocity of accumulation of hop bitter acids. [•] Prohexadione-calcium may be useful for crop and food quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Analyze the pyrolysis process and the pyrolysis products of Rosmarinus officinalis L. [•] Compare the antioxidant effect of different organic extracts of pyroligneous acid. [•] Analyze the compositions of extracts of pyroligneous acid by GC–MS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) in osteoarthritis chondrocytes, and to explore the potential correlation between them in the apoptosis process of osteoarthritis chondrocytes. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis were placed into four categories according to radiological staging. The mRNA and protein levels of IGF-1 and PDCD5 in osteoarthritis chondrocytes were respectively detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blotting. In addition, IGF-1 and PDCD5 protein expression in chondrocytes were also measured by immunohistochemistry. Apoptotic cells were measured by TUNEL staining. Results: Both the mRNA and protein levels of IGF-1 were down-regulated, while the levels of PDCD5 were up-regulated, and the mRNA and protein levels of IGF-1 were negatively correlated with those of PDCD5, respectively. The apoptotic cell was significantly increased in osteoarthritis chondrocytes compared with control. Importantly, the apoptosis rate was positively correlated with PDCD5 protein expression and negatively correlated with IGF-1 protein expression Conclusions: We concluded that IGF-1 may down-regulate the expression of PDCD5 and thus inhibit the apoptosis of osteoarthritis chondrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deformation properties of concrete arch dams are affected by the synergistic effects of multiple factors, featuring strong, multidimensional spatialtemporal evolution and distribution characteristics. This paper proposes a zoned safety monitoring model for arch dam deformation based on spatialtemporal similarity and model optimization to evaluate the deformation safety state of arch dam structures. First, zoned clustering of the deformation monitoring points at different locations of an arch dam was performed using a panel data multi-index clustering method to determine the deformation laws at different positions of the dam. Next, multipoint comprehensive displacements of the deformation properties of each zone were extracted using principal component analysis to extract the uniform deformation law of the monitoring point in each zone. Finally, we adopted Bayesian model selection (BMS) and Bayesian model averaging (BMA) for the regression model set, considering the uncertainty of the model. The engineering case study showed that BMA yielded robust and effective prediction results for the deformation of the arch dam. The analysis of the zoned deformation mechanism indicated that the deformation of the arch dam followed the general rule. The temperature component of the arch dam was mainly reflected in the middle with a hysteresis effect, and the time-dependent component was evident in both sides of the dam shoulder. The arch dam deformation safety monitoring model proposed in this study has strong robustness and interpretability, which can provide valuable technical support for analyzing the evolution of arch dam deformation properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global challenge of oil pollution calls for the efficient selective recovery of oil or organics from oil–water mixtures. A pH-responsive carbon foam (CF) made from liquefied larch sawdust (LLS) with switchable wettability was fabricated in this work. After grafted with poly 4-vinyl pyridine (P4vp), the CF obtained a switchable wettability surface, which allowed the CF to exhibit superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity at different pH levels, respectively. The results revealed that the pH-responsive CF possessed a three-dimensional (3D) spongy-like skeleton and porous structure with a diameter between 50 and 200 µm. Thus, the pH-responsive CF could absorb 15–35 g/g of oil/organics in a neutral aqueous solution at pH = 7 and desorb all the absorbate within 40 s after immersion in an aqueous solution at pH = 1. Moreover, only about 2.8% loss was observed for organic (chloroform) absorption and recovery after reusing up to 15 cycles, which indicated promising prospects in oil and organic recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Despite persistent questions about the safety of black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L., syn. Cimicifuga racemosa L.), its products continue to be one of the most popular botanical supplements in the United States market. Black cohosh products have been associated with cases of liver toxicity, but subsequent evaluation found some products to be adulterated with other related plants from the same genus. US FDA regulations require that black cohosh products be unadulterated, and correct identification of different species of Actaea is a key first step for their good manufacturing practice. We have developed a phytochemical method to distinguish four different groups of Actaea, including: species other than A. racemosa, Asian species, A. racemosa, and North American species other than A. racemosa. Using HPLC–TOF-ESI-MS technique and principal component analysis, we identified 15 chemical markers (1–3, 5–6, 8–10, 12, 16–21). Three marker compounds were unambiguously identified using authentic standards, and 12 marker compounds were tentatively identified by comparison of fragmentation patterns with previously reported data. The presence of these marker compounds is critical for discrimination among the four groups of closely related plants. The use of metabolic profiling to distinguish black cohosh from related species of Actaea has broader implications in the identification of markers to help authenticate other important medicinal plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Breast tumorigenesis is a complex and multistep process accompanied by both genetic and epigenetic dysregulation. In contrast to the extensive studies on DNA epigenetic modifications 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and 5-methylcytosine (5mC) in malignant breast tumors, their roles in the early phases of breast tumorigenesis remain ambiguous. Results: DNA 5hmC and 5mC exhibited a consistent and significant decrease from usual ductal hyperplasia to atypical ductal hyperplasia and subsequently to ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). However, 5hmC showed a modest increase in invasive ductal breast cancer compared to DCIS. Genomic analyses showed that the changes in 5hmC and 5mC levels occurred around the transcription start sites (TSSs), and the modification levels were strongly correlated with gene expression levels. Meanwhile, it was found that differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DhMRs) and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were overlapped in the early phases and accompanied by the enrichment of active histone marks. In addition, TET2-related DNA demethylation was found to be involved in breast tumorigenesis, and four transcription factor binding sites (TFs: ESR1, FOXA1, GATA3, FOS) were enriched in TET2-related DhMRs/DMRs. Intriguingly, we also identified a certain number of common DhMRs between tumor samples and cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Conclusions: Our study reveals that dynamic changes in DNA 5hmC and 5mC play a vital role in propelling breast tumorigenesis. Both TFs and active histone marks are involved in TET2-related DNA demethylation. Concurrent changes in 5hmC signals in primary breast tumors and cfDNA may play a promising role in breast cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of alfalfa is associated with a large amount of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P); the addition of exogenous N and P fertilizers can fully exploit the growth potential of alfalfa. However, there is uncertainty about the relationship between changes in alfalfa productivity and photosynthetic physiology and anatomy. We conducted field fertilization experiments on alfalfa in the second and third years under drip irrigation, as well as measurement of the photosynthetic physiology, anatomical structure and agronomic traits of alfalfa at different levels of N (0, 120 kg·ha−1) and different levels of P2O5 (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg·ha−1). The results showed that the dry matter yield (DMY), crude protein (CP), net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and specific leaf weight (SLW) were increased by 2.10~11.82%, 4.95~11.93%, 4.71~7.59% and 2.02~7.12% in the N application treatment compared with the non-N application treatment, while the DMY, CP, Pn and SLW were increased by 3.19~17.46%, 1.99~8.42%, 6.15~24.95% and 2.16~11.90% in the P application treatment compared with the non-P application treatment. N and P increase the thickness of the spongy tissue (ST) of alfalfa, which will facilitate the entry and exit of gas and water, and will further affect the photosynthetic indexes, such as stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Tr), of alfalfa leaves. Increased palisade tissue (PT) thickness will also enhance the adaptability of plant leaves to strong sunlight, thereby increasing the maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax) and light saturation point (LSP). Fertilization treatment showed the highest utilization efficiency for low light and better adaptation to strong light, but the Rd decreased. The comprehensive scores of principal component analysis for anatomical structure, photosynthetic performance and agronomic traits were N1P2 > N0P2 > N1P3 > N1P1 > N0P3 > N0P1 > N1P0 > N0P0. Therefore, the application of N and P fertilizers contributed to the adaptive changes in alfalfa leaf anatomy and the improvement of photosynthetic capacity, which were beneficial to the improvement of alfalfa dry matter yield, growth traits and nutritional quality, with the most obvious improvement effect obtained with the application of 120 kg·ha−1 of N and 100 kg·ha−1 of P2O5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Agroforestry systems (AF) with narrow rows were compared with sole crops. • AF caused an overall decrease in yield and protein content of understory crops. • Yield and protein content of understory crops and PAR were highest in the center. • The AF systems may provide greater long-term economic benefits. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of agroforestry systems with narrow rows on microclimate, crop quality, productivity, and revenue when compared with that in sole-cropping in drylands. Therefore, two-year field experiments were conducted to determine the characteristics of two types of agroforestry systems in drylands of Xinjiang including photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), air temperature, crop protein content, productivity, and revenue. The two systems included (1) a jujube tree (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.) + wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) intercropping (JWI) system and (2) a poplar tree (Populus L.) + alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silvopastoral (PAS) system located in southern and northern Xinjiang, respectively. Variables were measured in control sole-cropping plots and in the alleys of JWI and PAS system plots at different distances from the tree row. PAR and air temperature both decreased in plots of the JWI and PAS systems. The changes in microclimatic conditions and competition for resources in the JWI and PAS systems resulted in an overall decrease in wheat grain and alfalfa hay yield and decreases in the overall protein content of wheat grain and alfalfa. In JWI and PAS systems, the yield and protein content of understory crops, PAR, and air temperature were highest at the center line of the system alley and decreased with decreasing distances from the tree row. The PAS system was more productive than the JWI system based on the calculated land equivalent ratio (LER), because no significant decrease was observed in tree yield in the PAS system. Both the JWI and PAS systems resulted in an increase in the annual total crop revenue when compared with individual crop management, indicating that the JWI and PAS systems could provide greater long-term economic benefits. Therefore, the balance between yield, crop quality, and revenue have to be taken into account in the analysis of agroforestry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Efficient conversion of glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with ionic liquid. • The reaction time was shortened to 5 min by microwave heating. • Microwave show synergetic effect on high yield of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. • A complete mechanism of the formation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was proposed. The efficient conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) in ionic liquids with MoCl 3 as catalyst under microwave irradiation was demonstrated. Based on 5-HMF yield, the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) was the best solvent. The results showed that compared to conventional oil-bath heating, microwave irradiation not only reduced the required reaction time from hours to minutes, but also improved the 5-HMF yield. Using 10 mol% of the catalyst, the 5-HMF yield reached 20.61 % at 120 °C after 2.5 h with the oil-bath. However, a 5-HMF yield of 27.66 % could be achieved within 5 min when employing 300 W microwave irradiation. Analyses by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) demonstrated that the coordinate bond interaction between MoCl 3 /[BMIM]Cl complex and glucose promoted the isomerism of glucose and the dehydration of fructose. Microwave irradiation was also shown to accelerate the bond breaking processes in the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concrete dam displacement monitoring model is an essential part of dam health. Due to the complicated nonlinear mapping relationship between concrete dam displacement and various environmental quantities, as well as conventional statistical models, neural networks, and machine learning methods fail to consider each input's fuzzy uncertainty factors. Therefore, the model's prediction accuracy is usually affected by selecting impact factors and modeling methods. This paper uses the Copula theory to perform nonlinear correlation tests on displacement influencing factors for the above problems. Furthermore, on this basis, this paper proposes a hybrid model, which uses an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to establish a regression model and uses the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to find the optimal parameters of the model. This paper takes a roller-compacted concrete gravity dam as an example. It explores the effect of two clustering methods (subtractive clustering and fuzzy C-means clustering) on the ANFIS model's performance based on the dam's measured data. The results show that the MAPE in the subtractive clustering is about 26% less than the fuzzy C-means clustering in the test stage. Finally, this paper compares the prediction results of the Copula-ANFIS-PSO model with the other five conventional methods. The analysis of the results of six models with four error indicators shows that the error in the Copula-ANFIS-PSO model is about 46% less than other models. It provides a new method for concrete dam displacement monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The relationship between the macro- and microparameters is established with a relevance vector machine and the memetic algorithm. • A calibration example involving rockfill materials is studied with a refined 3-D numerical triaxial test. • The law of the fabric parameters under different confining pressures and their micromechanism are explained. • The failure process of the rockfill slope is analysed, and the exit of the flood discharge tunnel will not be blocked even under the most dangerous situation. To accurately simulate the mechanical properties of rockfill materials under triaxial stress using the discrete element method (DEM), the microparameters of the rockfill material DEM model are calibrated based on the macroparameters of a constitutive model. For the calibration model, a refined 3-D numerical triaxial test is established to obtain the deformation curves of the rockfill under different confining pressures. Deformation curves with different microparameters in the contact model are then calculated by numerical triaxial tests to determine the macroparameters of the constitutive model. Then, a nonlinear relationship between the macroparameters of the E-B model and the microparameters of the contact bond model is built by a relevance vector machine. A memetic algorithm is employed to calibrate the microparameters of the rockfill, thereby establishing a calibration model based on a relevance vector machine and a memetic algorithm. Afterwards, a numerical triaxial test example of rockfill materials is used to verify the feasibility of this calibration model, and then the fabric microparameters under different confining pressures are analysed. In addition, to determine the influence region, a failure process of a rockfill slope is simulated with the calibrated microparameters of the DEM model. In summary, this calibration method substantially improves the numerical results, thereby enhancing the ability to determine the mechanical properties of construction materials and solve various problems in engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • N-doped sulfonated acid-base bifunctional catalyst was synthesized. • Appropriate acid/base ratio favored 5-HMF production with a yield of 50.04%. • Medium basicity and pyridinic N content affected 5-HMF yield and selectivity. • DFT calculation reveled pyridinic N significantly reduced reaction energy barrier. • Glucose isomerization proceeded by pyridinic N-triggered proton transfer mechanism. Considering the essential role of acidic/basic sites in efficient 5-hydroxymentylfurfural (5-HMF) production from cellulose, the superiority of acid-base bifunctional catalysts was unfolded. However, the lack of in-depth research on catalytic mechanism of active sites, especially the basic sites, greatly hinders its chemical utilization. Herein, N-doped sulfonated bifunctional catalysts were rationally designed. The synthesized NCS-1H catalyst exhibited outstanding activity and recyclability. Favorable 5-HMF yield of 50.0 % with 62.9 % of selectivity was obtained. Spin polarized density function theory (DFT) analysis revealed a pyridinic N-triggered proton-shift mechanism of glucose isomerization. Catalyzed by pyridinic N, the proton of glucose on C2 was shifted to O5, leading to the cleavage of C1-O1 bond. As a result, an enol intermediate was formed and converted to fructose. Compared to pyrrolic N and graphitic N, pyridinic N significantly reduced the reaction energy barrier of rate-determining step to 0.79 eV, i.e., C1-O1 bond cleavage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most significant factors that endanger the safety of check dams is seepage. How to quickly identify the seepage location and pinpoint the seepage path in check dams is directly related to the effectiveness of soil and water conservation measures in the Chinese Loess Plateau. In this study, the improved Miller Soil Box was used to carry out laboratory test of remolded soil, and the effects of moisture content and compactness on soil resistivity were thoroughly examined. On this foundation, the nondestructive testing of seepage was conducted on the Dongmengou check dam based on the different configuration modes of high-density electrical resistivity tomography technology. The laboratory test demonstrates that the soil resistivity and the moisture content exhibit a decreasing power function, while the soil compactness has a negative correlation with the soil resistivity. The interpretation quality of the high-density electrical resistivity tomography technology is significantly improved by the laboratory test, allowing the field test to more precisely detect seepage inside the check dam. As a result, the high-density electrical resistivity tomography technology has good applicability and feasibility in the nondestructive testing of seepage in check dams, and offers a number of benefits, including non-destructiveness, high detection efficiencies and rich data information. It provides an efficient tool for the quick, widespread, and nondestructive detection of dam seepage. • The soil resistivity and the moisture content exhibit a decreasing power function. • The mechanism of moisture content on resistivity is the basis of detecting seepage. • The interpretation quality of high-density ERT is improved by the laboratory test. • High-density ERT has good applicability in the NDT of check dam seepage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal internal fixation for non-displaced femoral neck fractures remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the clinical results of the percutaneous compression plate (PCCP) with parallel screws (PS) in treating femoral neck fractures in elderly patients. Materials and methods: A total of 218 patients who underwent internal fixation were randomized to receive either a percutaneous compression plate (PCCP group) or parallel screws (PS group) using a computerized random sequence generator which was used to assign the order of randomization. Patients were assessed by the operating time, intraoperative blood loss, hemoglobin level drop, postoperative hospital stay, the time to full weight-bearing, reduction quality, fracture healing time, Harris hip score, and postoperative complications. Results: There was no significant difference between PCCP and PS groups regarding operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hemoglobin level drop, postoperative hospital stays, reduction quality, and Harris hip score (p > 0.05). The time to full weight-bearing and the fracture healing time in the PCCP group were shorter than those in the PS group (p < 0.05). The overall complication rates were slightly lower in the PCCP compared to the PS patients, but there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). However, the implant failure rate was significantly higher in the PS group compared to the PCCP group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The present study suggests that the PCCP is superior to the parallel screws fixation in the treatment of non-displaced elderly femoral neck fractures in terms of earlier full weight-bearing, shorter fracture healing time, and lower implant failure rate. Therefore, it may be a better therapeutic strategy for non-displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planting alfalfa in grey desert soil can have significant effects on soil nutrient levels, microbial communities, and overall soil improvement. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to explore the relationship between the rhizosphere microbial community structure of grey desert soil planted with different alfalfa varieties (Aohan, WL525HQ, Knight2, Kangsai, Victoria, and WL712), alfalfa characteristics and rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties. Alfalfa planting increased the nitrogen and organic matter in the grey desert soil, and the effects in Victoria, Kangsai, and Aohan were relatively better than those in the unplanted areas and other alfalfa areas. The Chao1 and Shannon indexes showed that the diversity and relative abundance of bacteria and fungi in Kangsai were significantly higher than those in the unplanted areas and other alfalfa areas. Redundancy analysis showed that available nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as fresh weight, significantly affected the changes in fungal and bacterial communities. Variance partitioning analysis showed that soil and alfalfa growth characteristics explained 50.04% and 51.58% of the structural changes in the bacteria and fungi, respectively. Therefore, planting alfalfa changed the community structure of bacteria and fungi, as well as the content of soil nutrients, and different varieties of alfalfa had different effects on soil improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 with different facets were prepared by hydrothermal method for photocatalytic reforming glace old to formic acid. The structural compost on and optical properties of TiO2were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, EPR, Raman, Ivies DRS and PL. The results showed that TiO2 synthesized vasa hydrothermal method using titanium ssopropoxide as It source and hydrofluoric acid as morphology control agent exposed (001) crystalline facets. TiO2-2F with 2 mL hydrofluoric acid add-on had coexposed anisate (001) and (101) crystalline facets and demonstrated the highest catalytic activity and selectivity. With UV light irradiation for 4 h, the conversion of glycerol over the TiO2catalyst was 49.0% and the formic acid selective was 55.6%. The interface-contacted (001) and (101) facets formed suffice heterojuncrions and improved the activactivity of photocatalytic reforming glycerol to formic acid. (001) facet with oxygen vacancy and coordination unsaturated states TiO2-Ti5l,-02c caused the deep oxidation of glycerol and tots intermediates which improved the selectivity of formic acid. Machams analyses showed that x OH and x O2 were the key active spaces for the selective ox daikon of glycerol to formic add. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We prepared carbon aerogel/RuO 2 composites with three-dimensional microtubes based on renewable natural kapok fibers by combining a NaClO 2 pretreatment, CO 2 activation and loading of RuO 2 nanoparticles. The electrochemical performance of the material was optimized by tuning the carbonization temperature. The composite calcined at 800 °C for 2 h and activated by CO 2 for 30 min possessed an integrated tubular structure and moderate pore size distribution. This composite material also showed highest specific capacitance of 433 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 with a capacitance retention of 91.5% for 2000 cycles in 3 M KOH solution in three-electrode system. The maximum energy density was 8.92 Wh kg−1 at 558.12 W kg−1 at a cell voltage of 1 V in 3.0 M KOH aqueous electrolyte in a symmetric device. We attribute the reversible capacity of the obtained bio-derived carbon aerogel/RuO 2 composites to the high-speed flow of the electrolyte in the unique hollow tubular structure, the appropriate pore size distribution and the synergetic effect of the high capacitance of RuO 2 and good stability of the carbon material. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-doped porous carbon materials derived from eco-friendly, renewable and economical biomass resources have attracted interest for applications in supercapacitors due to their porous structures and physicochemical properties. However, controlling the pore structure remains difficult and there is a need to simplify the N-doping process. Herein, we report a porous self-templated N-doped carbon aerogel derived from banana flesh obtained through one-step carbonization followed by CO 2 activation. The specific surface area and pore distribution of the carbon aerogels could be controlled by changing the CO 2 activation time. A specific surface area and total pore volume of 1414.97 m 2  g −1 and 0.746 cm 3  g −1 were achieved. The results show that raw banana flesh provides the necessary N content, which only slightly decreased following activation from 3.25% to 2.25%. On the surface of the carbon aerogel we detected pyrrolic N and pyridinic N groups, which are known to contribute to pseudo-capacitance. Furthermore, the specific capacitance of the prepared carbon aerogel reached 178.9 F g −1 at a current density of 1 A g −1 . The simple preparation method and excellent electrochemical performance show great potential for application of our porous self-templated N-doped carbon aerogel as an electrode in high performance supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was selected for agricultural spraying, with two nozzles, two insecticides and three spraying volumes as the spraying variables; this paper explores the impact of spraying volume on the droplet deposition in alfalfa fields. Furthermore, by comparing the control effect of spraying insecticides on alfalfa leaf weevils and the safety of pasture by UAV, the aim is to establish efficient pesticide spraying techniques for pest control in alfalfa fields, providing guidance for the green control of alfalfa leaf weevils. The effective droplet proportion of the fan-shaped nozzle (SX11001VS) was higher than that of the hollow conical nozzle (TX-VK4), and increasing the spraying volume cannot significantly improve that situation. When the spraying volume increased from 22.5 L/ha to 45.0 L/ha, the average droplet coverage, density and deposition of the two types of nozzles increased with the spraying volume. However, when the spraying volume was 30.0 L/ha and 45.0 L/ha, the average deposition of the two types of nozzles was similar. The control effect of chlorantraniliprole on alfalfa leaf weevils sprayed by using a UAV was higher than that of spinosad. There was a positive correlation between the spraying volume and the control effect, and the prevention effect of the hollow conical nozzle was better than that of the fan-shaped nozzle. The residues of chlorantraniliprole in alfalfa plants after spraying increased with the spraying volume, whether a fan-shaped nozzle or a hollow conical nozzle was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planting alfalfa in grey desert soil can have significant effects on soil nutrient levels, microbial communities, and overall soil improvement. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to explore the relationship between the rhizosphere microbial community structure of grey desert soil planted with different alfalfa varieties (Aohan, WL525HQ, Knight2, Kangsai, Victoria, and WL712), alfalfa characteristics and rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties. Alfalfa planting increased the nitrogen and organic matter in the grey desert soil, and the effects in Victoria, Kangsai, and Aohan were relatively better than those in the unplanted areas and other alfalfa areas. The Chao1 and Shannon indexes showed that the diversity and relative abundance of bacteria and fungi in Kangsai were significantly higher than those in the unplanted areas and other alfalfa areas. Redundancy analysis showed that available nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as fresh weight, significantly affected the changes in fungal and bacterial communities. Variance partitioning analysis showed that soil and alfalfa growth characteristics explained 50.04% and 51.58% of the structural changes in the bacteria and fungi, respectively. Therefore, planting alfalfa changed the community structure of bacteria and fungi, as well as the content of soil nutrients, and different varieties of alfalfa had different effects on soil improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbon aerogel with porous structure was synthesized from bleached softwood kraft pulp (BSKP) via eco-friendly freezing-drying and carbonization steps. The obtained carbon aerogel exhibited a low density of 25.5 mg cm −3 , high hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 139.7° and good compressive properties. When used as an absorbent, the carbon aerogel could absorb 14 to 26 times its own weight in organic solvent and oil. Furthermore, the aerogel could be easily recovered and regenerated through burning, pressure recycling, and squeezing, and a high adsorption efficiency was maintained over a number of cycles. The use of biomass as a raw material, together with the excellent hydrophobicity and recyclability, make this carbon aerogel a suitable adsorbent for a variety of practical separation requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the negative impact of water on catalyst activity, and the consequent side reactions, the hydrophobicity and acidity of the catalyst are important factors in the conversion of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in an aqueous solvent. In the present study, we prepared SBA-15 catalysts comprising hydrophobic methoxy groups, phosphotungstic acid as Lewis acid groups, and -SO 3 H Brønsted acid groups. The introduction of methoxy groups increased the contact angle of the catalyst from 57.42 to 87.80° and changed its morphology from stubby short rods to long curved sticks. The maximum 5-hydroxymethylfurfural yield (61.24%) was obtained using 2SBA-15-SO 3 H, which comprised 237.31 μmol·g−1 of the Brønsted acid and 14.44 μmol·g−1 of the Lewis acid and had a contact angle of 75.93°. The low yields of levulinic acid and formic acid (below 10%) confirmed the resistance of such SBA-15 catalysts to water. Furthermore, adequate hydrophobicity facilitated glucose isomerization, whereas the catalyst morphology, which tended to comprise short rods, improved the fructose dehydration rate. Density functional theory analysis of the acidity sites route revealed a 3-DG pathway for 1,4,5,6-tetrahydroxy-hexan-2-one generation with Lewis acid sites, and a free energy of 0.13 eV, paralleled by glucose isomerization to fructose through a 1,2-enediol. [Display omitted] • Introduction of methoxy groups changes water-tolerance and morphology of catalyst. • Adequate hydrophobicity of the SBA-15 catalysts facilitated glucose isomerization. • Short rod morphology of the SBA-15 catalysts improved fructose dehydration rate. • 5-HMF yield was reached as 61.24% and <10% of LA and FA was obtained using 2SBA-15-SO 3 H. • 1,4,5,6-tetrahydroxy-hexanone generated by Lewis acid sites through 3-DG pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architectures of carbon materials prepared via soft‐templating method greatly depend on the assembly pattern of micelles. Herein, a kinetics‐controlled strategy is developed to fabricate ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) single crystals from liquefied wood by using melamine to regulate the polymerization rate of carbon precursors, which further affects the assembly process. Due to the slow hydroxymethylation reaction of melamine with formaldehyde in acid, the addition of melamine can decelerate the reaction kinetics to produce no seed nuclei at the initial stage, which favors the composite micelles to orderly aggregate and further grow in a layer‐by‐layer pattern to form OMC single crystals after carbonization. The OMC single crystals with high specific surface areas (733 m2 g−1), uniform mesopore size (3.2 nm), and ordered Im3m mesostructure are ideal supports to couple with Ag nanoparticles to act as efficient catalysts, which exhibits remarkable catalytic performance for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Use principal component analysis to extract the comprehensive displacement law of multiple monitoring points. • The BEAST algorithm is introduced to decompose the displacement into two parts: seasonal and trend, and quantify its change in different periods. • Based on the segmented quantitative analysis model, the evolution mechanism of dam deformation law is quantitatively analyzed. • The advantages and disadvantages of correlation time series decomposition algorithm and its applicability are discussed. The dam and its operating environment are complex and uncertain and often show many different operating rules during its operating period. In this paper, firstly, the principal component analysis is used to extract the comprehensive displacement of multiple measuring points; Then, the comprehensive displacement is decomposed into seasonal and trend parts by using the Bayesian Estimator of Abrupt change, Seasonal change, and Trend (BEAST) method, and the change of its change law is quantitatively analyzed; Finally, the influence of each environmental quantity on the dam displacement is quantified by selecting the change point reasonably. The method proposed in this paper is verified by the quantitative analysis of the displacement law of multiple measuring points of an earth rock dam in different periods. The research results provide strong technical support for better analysis of the evolution process of dam deformation behavior and quantitative interpretation of dam deformation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides caused by the progressive failure of sensitive clay slopes may cause substantial economic losses and environmental pollution to pipelines. This study utilizes the Karhunen-Loève (K-L) expansion method, the coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) method, and the Monte Carlo method to model the large deformation behaviour of slopes with spatial variability. The proposed RCEL-MC framework for joint analysis of extensive deformation-probability statistics of landslide impact on pipelines confirms that the spatial variability clay slope instability failure mechanism, considering the soil softening effect under earthquake action, aligns more closely with real-world scenarios. Furthermore, based on the statistical failure probability of pipelines impacted by landslides, a sensitive clay slope pipeline safety design method is suggested. The research highlights that the random field parameters significantly influence the load-bearing characteristics of pipelines affected by spatially variable slope progressive failure landslides. The uncertainty surrounding the maximum impact force on pipelines notably increases with the rise of the horizontal correlation length and variability coefficient. When accounting for spatial variability, the maximum impact force on landslide pipelines surpasses the deterministic model analysis results by 28-69 %. It is emphasized that the deterministic model analysis, which neglects the spatial variability of soil and the soil softening effect, may seriously underestimate landslide risk. Based on the criteria for pipeline buckling failure and yield failure, it is advised that the safe design parameters for pipelines in practical projects should fall within the intersection of the secure regions defined by the two failure criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]