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Data enhancement methods need to be carefully considered and studied for the widespread application of machine vision and deep learning in the mining field. Generative adversarial networks (GANs) prove successful at generating data. However, training a high-resolution image generation network depends on a large-scale dataset and takes a long time. For coal gangue detection, this paper proposes a stride-and-transpose-based progressive generative adversarial network (STP-GAN), which can achieve fast training on a few samples and generate high-resolution images in size of 10242. We employ stride convolutions, up-sampling, and average pooling to construct the model progressively and introduce noise and style optimization. We propose a hidden-layer-frozen progressive training scheme according to the model construction. Compared with other test GANs, STP-GAN generates more authentic and diverse images. The test results of advanced object detection models show that after the auxiliary training of STP-GAN, the mean average precision and average recall of coal–gangue detection are increased by up to 6.92% and 20.39%, respectively. The proposed method can effectively improve the accuracy of coal–gangue detection through data optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a generalized model of two-axis flexure hinges based on quadratic rational Bézier curve. The generalized closed-form compliance equations are derived based on the virtual work theory and the superposition relationship of the deformation. Then, how to determine the number of sensitive axes, the location of the primary and secondary sensitive axes, and the configuration of the notch profile are discussed. There are 20 types of notch profiles derived from single or mixed, symmetrical or asymmetrical curves. And, the correctness of the compliance equations is verified by finite-element analysis. The maximum relative error does not exceed 10%. Finally, the precision of rotation, the maximum stress, and the effect of structural parameters on the compliance are analyzed. The results show that for two-axis flexure hinges with a flush single curve notch profile, the proximity of the center of rotation to the load end does not significantly affect the axial compliance as well as the torsional compliance. For hybrid two-axis flexure hinges with symmetric structure, the ability to maintain the center of rotation under lateral forces is better than that under the same torque. The proposed generalized model provides a reference for the design of spatial compliant mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐dimensional frequency converter provides an enticing promise for establishing frequency interfaces to connect various physical systems toward the next generation of high‐capacity optical communication. The constant pursuit of high fidelity accompanied by multi‐dimensional information coding is restricted by the inherent fundamental nature of the degrees of freedom. Here, a high‐dimensional frequency converter is theoretically proposed and experimentally demonstrated, which builds a high‐fidelity interface between near‐infrared and blue‐violet wavelength. The perfect Poincaré beam exploiting the mutual orthogonality and transverse structure‐invariance of perfect vortex beam, accesses high‐dimensional spaces from spatial amplitude, phase, and polarization, and realizes the fidelity above 99% for arbitrary Poincaré states. Additionally, the trans‐spectral multiplexing utilizing the radial degree of freedom endows a superior capability in further increasing the system capacity. This proof‐of‐principle demonstration represents a key step toward the lossless transmission between different frequency domains, and has great prospects for constructing high‐capacity optical communication networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the existence and decay estimates of weak solutions to the 3D nonhomogeneous magneto‐micropolar equations. First, the global existence of weak solutions are obtained. Then, we derive the L2$$ {L}^2 $$ and H1$$ {H}^1 $$ decay rates of weak solutions (u,w,b)$$ \left(u,w,b\right) $$. Finally, the H2$$ {H}^2 $$ decay rates of magnetic field b$$ b $$ is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the existence and decay estimates of weak solutions to the surface growth equation. First, the global existence of weak solutions is obtained by the approximation method introduced by Majda and Bertozzi [Vorticity and Incompressible Flow (Cambridge University Press, 2001)]. Then, we derive the L2-decay rates of weak solutions via the Fourier splitting method under the assumption that u 0 ∈ L 1 (R) ∩ L 2 (R). For more general cases, i.e., u 0 ∈ L 2 (R) , the behavior of weak solutions in L2 is obtained by the spectral theory of self-adjoint operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of machine vision and deep learning, the intelligent visual-based coal-gangue separation technology has gradually attracted the attention of enterprises and researchers. Coal-gangue detection models based on deep learning rely on a large number of CG1 images for training, which is time-consuming and laborious to acquire. In this paper, based on small samples, image augmentation, and generative adversarial network were used to expand dataset of CG images to improve the performance of coal-gangue detectors. The dataset was expanded by pixel transform firstly. Next, four improved DCGAN structures were proposed to generate more diversiform CG images. Refer to the results of model training and generated image evaluation, DCGAN32 with three blocks had the best ability to generate more authentic image with the lowest FID value, scoring 93.8708 and 104.3394 on coal and gangue, respectively. As the training data expands, the performance of the object detection model was improved by up to 9.4% and 15.1%, respectively, on mAP and IoU. The proposed data expansion scheme can effectively improve the training performance of coal-gangue detectors based on small samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffraction limit has been the constraint of the nanostructure fabrication. Because the scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) can work in the evanescent near-field region, its application in nano-processing has received extensive attention from researchers globally. In this paper, we combined nanosecond laser with cantilevered SNOM probe. Utilizing the high precision of the confinement and enhancement effect of probe tip and the high instantaneous energy of the laser, we realized nanostructure fabrication and in situ detection on Au nano-film. Feature sizes down to 47 nm full width at half maximum were fabricated. We investigated the laser propagation through the SNOM tip aperture and the light field intensity distribution on the surface of substrate theoretically. The calculation results demonstrate that the laser is highly restricted within the SNOM aperture and enhanced on the exit plane at the rim of aperture. After the transmission, the light field intensity distribution on the surface of the Au nano-film was enhanced due to the localized surface plasmon resonance. The thermal distribution on the surface of Au nano-film indicates that the peak of the temperature distribution appeared at the surface right underneath the center of the aperture. It is proved that the simulation results are consistent with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near real-time spatial prediction of earthquake-induced landslides (EQILs) can rapidly forecast the occurrence position of widespread landslides just after a violent earthquake; thus, EQIL prediction is very crucial to the 72-hour 'golden window' for survivors. This work focuses on a series of earthquake events from 2008 to 2022 occurring in the Tibetan Plateau, a famous seismically-active zone, and proposes a novel interpretable self-supervised learning (ISeL) method for the near real-time spatial prediction of EQILs. This new method innovatively introduces swap noise at the unsupervised mechanism, which can improve the generalization performance and transferability of the model, and can effectively reduce false alarm and improve accuracy through supervised fine-tuning. An interpretable module is built based on a self-attention mechanism to reveal the importance and contribution of various influencing factors to EQIL spatial distribution. Experimental results demonstrate that the ISeL model is superior to the excellent state-of-the-art machine learning and deep learning methods. Furthermore, according to the interpretable module in the ISeL method, the critical controlling and triggering factors are revealed. The ISeL method can also be applied in other earthquake-frequent regions worldwide because of its good generalization and transferability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tandem repeats (TR), highly variable genomic variants, are widely used in individual identification, disease diagnostics, and evolutionary studies. The recent advances in sequencing technologies and bioinformatic tools facilitate calling TR haplotypes genome widely. Both length-based and sequence-based TR alleles are used in different applications. However, sequence-based TR alleles could provide the highest precision in characterizing TR haplotypes. The need to identify the differences at the single nucleotide level between or among TR haplotypes with an easy-use bioinformatic tool is essential. Results: In this study, we developed a Universal STR Allele Toolkit (USAT) for TR haplotype analysis, which takes TR haplotype output from existing tools to perform allele size conversion, sequence comparison of haplotypes, figure plotting, comparison for allele distribution, and interactive visualization. An exemplary application of USAT for analysis of the CODIS core STR loci for DNA forensics with benchmarking human individuals demonstrated the capabilities of USAT. USAT has user-friendly graphic interfaces and runs fast in major computing operating systems with parallel computing enabled. Conclusion: USAT is a user-friendly bioinformatics software for interpretation, visualization, and comparisons of TRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) resulting from the excessive utilization of antibiotics necessitates the immediate exploration of alternative approaches to counteract pathogenic E. coli. Phages, with their unique antibacterial mechanisms, are considered promising candidates for treating bacterial infections. Herein, we isolated a lytic Escherichia phage Tequatrovirus YZ2 (phage YZ2), which belongs to the genus Tequatrovirus. The genome of phage YZ2 consists of 168,356 base pairs with a G + C content of 35.34% and 269 putative open reading frames (ORFs). Of these, 146 ORFs have been annotated as functional proteins associated with nucleotide metabolism, structure, transcription, DNA replication, translation, and lysis. In the mouse model of a skin wound infected by E. coli , phage YZ2 therapy significantly promoted the wound healing. Furthermore, histopathological analysis revealed reductions in IL-1β and TNF-α and increased VEGF levels, indicating the potential of phages as effective antimicrobial agents against E. coli infection. • Escherichia coli is a common pathogen that causes skin wound infections, posing a threat to human health. • Tequatrovirus YZ2 exhibits statistically significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (ATCC25922). • In vivo experiments demonstrated the potential of Tequatrovirus YZ2 for treating Escherichia coli skin wound infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been established as a critical vital sign for health assessment and risk for type 2 diabetes development. • It remains unclear whether non-exercise estimated CRF (eCRF) is associated with type 2 diabetes incidence. • We determined the association between baseline eCRF at enrollment and incident type 2 diabetes during follow-up in 13,616 men and women enrolled in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS). • Higher eCRF was associated with a lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes in the overall sample and in men, but not in women. • These observations demonstrate that the eCRF may provide a cost-effective means to identify individuals at greater risk for type 2 diabetes. • Further consideration for progressing sex-specific eCRF algorithms for women is warranted. To examine the association between non-exercise estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) and incident type 2 diabetes. In a sample of 13,616 men and women without diabetes at baseline, incident type 2 diabetes were determined as fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 7 mmol/l (126 mg/dL), self-report, or insulin usage at follow-up. eCRF was calculated in metabolic equivalents (METs) at baseline using sex-specific algorithms, including physical activity, smoking status, age, body mass index, waist circumference, and resting heart rate. Cox regression models were performed, and hazard ratios (HRs), 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), and p values were reported. Each 1-MET unit increase in eCRF was associated with an 11 % lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes (p < 0.0001). Men in the upper and middle eCRF tertiles were at 46 % (95 % CI, 0.42–0.68) and 29 % (95 % CI, 0.57–0.88) lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes compared to the lower eCRF tertile (p < 0.0001). For women, there were no significant findings between eCRF tertiles and incident type 2 diabetes (p ≥ 0.11 for all). Higher eCRF was associated with a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes in men. Further research needs to examine the association between eCRF and type 2 diabetes in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials properties can be obtained using the discrete element method through appropriate parameter settings. The accuracy of setting parameters affects the reliability of simulation results. To accurately simulate the mechanical properties of coal, the discrete element models of coal were established. The effects of the parameters of the bonded-particle model on the macroperformance of coal were studied based on the response surface method. The simulation results showed that when the normal contact stiffness per unit area, the shear contact stiffness per unit area, critical normal stress, and critical shear stress are 3.066 × 1012 N/m3, 5 × 1011 N/m3, 2.747 × 107 Pa, and 1.424 × 107 Pa, respectively, the bonded parameters reliably simulated the crushing characteristics of long-flame coal. The increase in stiffness causes the model to fracture earlier but has less impact on the peak value; the strength has a greater impact on the mechanical properties of the model. In this study, the reliability of the comparison between the simulation and test was improved, and a basis was provided for the discrete element parameter calibration of the coal and the setting of simulation parameters for shearer cutting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analysis of the discrete element parameter properties of coal. • Construct engineering simplified models to correct the parameters. • Developed a method for calibrating coal parameters applicable to mining equipment. • Provide guidance for correcting the parameters of crushed coal. Current discrete element parameter calibration methods primarily rely on mechanical tests to analyze particle properties and often overlook the machinery's interaction with the particles. The extensive variation in particle sizes of crushed coal poses challenges in accurately applying parameters derived from mechanical test calibrations to industrial simulations. DEM models of mechanical tests for coal were developed to examine how parameters influence coal's mechanical properties through factor analysis. Simplified engineering test models were developed based on mining equipment, with the equipment responses used as indicators to optimize mechanical test calibration parameters. On this basis, a calibration method of discrete elemental parameters of coal based on the crushing simulation of mining equipment was proposed. This method was validated through mechanical and engineering simplification tests, resulting in a mean error of <10 % in the time-varying response. The research findings enable calibration of discrete element parameters for crushed coal in industrial simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Codonopsis pilosula (C. pilosula), also called "Dangshen" in Chinese, is derived from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. (C. pilosula), Codonopsis pilosula var. Modesta (Nannf.) L.D.Shen (C. pilosula var. modesta) or Codonopsis pilosula subsp. Tangshen (Oliv.) D.Y.Hong (C. pilosula subsp. tangshen), is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine. It has been regularly used for anti-aging, strengthening the spleen and tonifying the lungs, regulating blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, strengthening the body's immune system, etc. However, the mechanism, by which, C. pilosula exerts its therapeutic effects on brain aging remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the protective effects of C. pilosula water extract (CPWE) on the hippocampal tissue of D-galactose-induced aging mice. In this research, plant taxonomy has been confirmed in the "The Plant List" database (www.theplantlist.org). First, an aging mouse model was established through the intraperitoneal injections of D-galactose solution, and low-, medium-, and high-dose CPWE were administered to mice by gavage for 42 days. Then, the learning and memory abilities of the mice were examined using the Morris water maze tests and step-down test. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to visualize histopathological damage in the hippocampus. A transmission electron microscope was used to observe the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the marker protein of astrocyte activation, and autophagy-related proteins, including microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1)/p62, in the hippocampal tissues of mice. Moreover, targeted metabolomic analysis was performed to assess the changes in polar metabolites and short-chain fatty acids in the hippocampus. First, CPWE alleviated cognitive impairment and ameliorated hippocampal tissue damage in aging mice. Furthermore, CPWE markedly alleviated mitochondrial damage, restored the number of autophagosomes, and activated autophagy in the hippocampal tissue of aging mice by increasing the expression of LC3 protein and reducing the expression of p62 protein. Meanwhile, the expression levels of the brain injury marker protein GFAP decreased. Moreover, quantitative targeted metabolomic analysis revealed that CPWE intervention reversed the abnormal levels of L-asparagine, L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, serotonin hydrochloride, succinic acid, and acetic acid in the hippocampal tissue of aging mice. CPWE also significantly regulated pathways associated with D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolisms, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. CPWE could improve cognitive and pathological conditions induced by D-galactose in aging mice by activating autophagy and regulating metabolism, thereby slowing down brain aging. [Display omitted] • CPWE enhanced cognitive performance by reducing hippocampal tissue damage. • CPWE reduced mitochondrial damage and improved mitochondrial status. • CPWE increased the number of autophagosomes. • CPWE regulated the expression of LC3 and p62 to activate autophagy. • CPWE modulated metabolite changes in hippocampal tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the precision of on-orbit assembly for large space optical telescopes, the control of attitude motion in the Autonomous Space-based Simulator (ASS) is imperative. This paper presents a robust finite-time trajectory tracking control method aimed at improving the position and attitude tracking performance of ASS. Considering the dynamic characteristics inherent in ASS, we introduce an improved non-singular fast terminal sliding mode controller (INFTSMC) incorporating an adaptive fuzzy mechanism to attain finite-time error convergence and robust control. The adaptive fuzzy logic control (AFLC) method yields an equivalent gain, eliminating discontinuous switching in terminal sliding mode control (TSMC). This reduction minimizes chattering in control inputs and compensates for uncertainties and time-varying disturbances within the dynamic model. The proposed method's effectiveness is validated through comprehensive simulation and experimental studies. • The Adaptive Fuzzy Improved Non-singular Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control strategy is designed. • Precise tracking of Autonomous Space-based Simulators with uncertainties and external disturbances is achieved. • The proposed control scheme ensures finite-time convergence of trajectory tracking errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical vortices are widely explored in quantum optics and communication because of their quantized orbital angular momentum, especially its applications in the frequency conversion process lay a foundation for establishing frequency interfaces. However, limited by the spatial mode matching, constructing the frequency interfaces with uniform conversion efficiency is still a challenge. Here, we propose and demonstrate a frequency up-conversion of perfect vortex beams for accommodating arbitrary topological charges in a diamond atomic system of 85Rb. In this process, the 780 nm, 776 nm and internally generated 5233 nm light fields induce the 420 nm coherent blue light generation. The 776 nm perfect vortex beam with transverse structure-invariance serves as the signal beam, which leads to the uniform conversion efficiency and is accompanied by orbital angular momentum transfer of output 420 nm coherent blue light. In addition, in view of the tunable radius and width, the perfect vortex beams with different transverse sizes are also successfully transferred, which further increases the encoding flexibility. • Frequency conversion of PVB is achieved for accommodating arbitrary OAM. • The lateral structure-invariance of PVB guarantee uniform conversion efficiency. • Tunability of PVB increase encoding potential in frequency conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread application of the discrete element method, research on accurate simulation of particle systems has attracted significant attention. However, there is no accurate process for the parameter calibration of particle systems. Most calibrations use a direct measurement method or test-simulation combined calibration method. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. This study reviews the calibration of contact parameters of particle systems, introduces the main calibration methods of different contact parameters, and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of two main measurement methods. For the parameter measurement of particle systems, the accurate representation of particle shape and the reasonable optimization of simulation time are still not perfect. Furthermore, the correction of parameters after calibration applied to subsequent simulation needs further discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, ZnO/Ag(Cu doped)/ZnO and ZnO/(Cu doped) Ag/ZnO/SiO2 multilayer films are prepared on glass by a sputtering technique. The optical, structural, and morphological properties of the Ag-based multilayer structures are compared. According to the results of the transmittance curve, it is found that the Cu doping into Ag leads to a significant broadening of the transmittance spectrum of the multilayer. The performance of the multilayer largely depends on the deposition time of different films. After doping with copper, the average light transmittance of the multilayer film exceeds 81.2% from 380 to 1100 nm, and the average light transmittance exceeds 10.2% from 1100 to 2500 nm. When the SiO2 anti-reflection layers are introduced, the average light transmittance of the multilayer structure from 380 to 1100 nm exceeds 85.2%, and this value reaches 18.3% from 1100 to 2500 nm. In addition, a 6-inch ZnO/Ag(Cu doped)/ZnO/SiO2 multilayer is used as the cover layer of the silicon solar cell. After 2 h of sunlight exposure, the increase in working temperature is reduced by 12 °C while the open-circuit voltage reduction is reduced by 4.1% in comparison with that using standard glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exopolysaccharide galactosaminogalactan (GAG) has been well characterized in Aspergilli, especially the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. It has been found that a five-gene cluster is responsible for GAG biosynthesis in Aspergilli to mediate fungal adherence, biofilm formation, immunosuppression or induction of host immune defences. Herein, we report the presence of the conserved GAG biosynthetic gene cluster in the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii to mediate either similar or unique biological functions. Deletion of the gene cluster disabled fungal ability to produce GAG on germ tubes, mycelia and appressoria. Relative to the wild type strain, null mutant was impaired in topical infection but not injection of insect hosts. We found that GAG production by Metarhizium is partially acetylated and could mediate fungal adherence to hydrophobic insect cuticles, biofilm formation, and penetration of insect cuticles. In particular, it was first confirmed that this exopolymer is responsible for the formation of appressorium mucilage, the essential extracellular matrix formed along with the infection structure differentiation to mediate cell attachment and expression of cuticle degrading enzymes. In contrast to its production during A. fumigatus invasive growth, GAG is not produced on the Metarhizium cells harvested from insect hemocoels; however, the polymer can glue germ tubes into aggregates to form mycelium pellets in liquid culture. The results of this study unravel the biosynthesis and unique function of GAG in a fungal system apart from the aspergilli species. Author summary: Fungal cell wall associated exopolymer GAG was first identified from Aspergillus niger decades ago and has been well characterized in terms of its biosynthetic mechanism, pathological and biological functions in Aspergillus fungi, especially the human pathogen A. fumigatus. With the accomplishment of diverse fungal genomes, the conserved GAG biosynthetic gene cluster is found to patchily distribute in fungal species beyond Aspergilli. However, until this study, the contribution of the clustered genes to GAG production has not been investigated in any non-Aspergillus fungi. We performed gene deletions and functional characterizations of GAG in an insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium robertsii, and found that the partially acetylated GAG can be produced by the fungus to contribute to fungal virulence during topical infection of insect hosts. This exopolymer can be produced on germ tubes, mycelia and appressoria to mediate cell adherence, cuticle penetration, biofilm formation, mycelium aggregation in liquid culture and in particular, appressorium mucilaginous matrix formation. In addition, it was found that loss of GAG production could alter appressorium protein expressions including the enzymes involved in degrading insect cuticles. Our data advance the understanding of GAG biosynthesis and functions in an animal pathogenic fungus that is highly divergent from Aspergilli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO-based photocatalysts have been widely applied to photocatalytic reactions. However, the pure phase ZnO is rarely used in degradation of refractory pollutants and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution due to its poor photo-redox ability. In this study, we develop a novel surface atom regulation strategy using fructose molecules containing hydroxyl groups to improve photo-oxidation ability of ZnO. Interestingly, the fructose-regulated ZnO nanosheets with oxygen vacancies exhibit more positive surface valence band maximum than that of pristine ZnO. The photogenerated holes with strong oxidation capacity can be formed on the fructose-regulated ZnO nanosheets. The fructose-regulated ZnO nanosheets can rapidly degrade high concentration of phenol and other organic pollutants, which is difficultly achieved by the pristine ZnO nanosheets. In addition, photocatalytic H 2 production activity is also found on our pure phase ZnO. This work provides a new design strategy for modifying the surface structure of photocatalysts to improve photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we review the molecular mechanism and pharmacokinetics of flavonoids in the treatment of resistant EGF receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and particularly the possible mechanism(s) of delicaflavone, a biflavonoid extracted from Selaginella doederleinii Hieron. EGFR TK inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) are ubiquitously used in the treatment of NSCLC bearing EGFR mutations. However, patients treated with EGFR-TKI inevitably and continuously develop resistance. In laboratory studies, flavonoids, as potential adjuvants for cancer chemotherapy, exhibited anti-cancer properties such as inhibition of chemoresistance by interference with ABC transporters-induced drug efflux, curbing of c-MET amplification, or reversal of T790M mutation-mediated resistance. The current review aims at summarizing the association between the anti-cancer potentials of flavonoids and their possible regulatory roles in certain types of mutation that could trigger EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC. Potential practical applications of these phytochemicals, as well as the relevant pharmacokinetics, are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Digitaria exilis , white fonio, is a minor but vital crop of West Africa that is valued for its resilience in hot, dry, and low-fertility environments and for the exceptional quality of its grain for human nutrition. Its success is hindered, however, by a low degree of plant breeding and improvement. Findings We sequenced the fonio genome with long-read SMRT-cell technology, yielding a ∼761 Mb assembly in 3,329 contigs (N50, 1.73 Mb; L50, 126). The assembly approaches a high level of completion, with a BUSCO score of >99%. The fonio genome was found to be a tetraploid, with most of the genome retained as homoeologous duplications that differ overall by ∼4.3%, neglecting indels. The 2 genomes within fonio were found to have begun their independent divergence ∼3.1 million years ago. The repeat content (>49%) is fairly standard for a grass genome of this size, but the ratio of Gypsy to Copia long terminal repeat retrotransposons (∼6.7) was found to be exceptionally high. Several genes related to future improvement of the crop were identified including shattering, plant height, and grain size. Analysis of fonio population genetics, primarily in Mali, indicated that the crop has extensive genetic diversity that is largely partitioned across a north-south gradient coinciding with the Sahel and Sudan grassland domains. Conclusions We provide a high-quality assembly, annotation, and diversity analysis for a vital African crop. The availability of this information should empower future research into further domestication and improvement of fonio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older adults have low rates meeting the physical activity (PA) guidelines and high sedentary time. Low PA and excessive sedentary time have been linked to adverse health outcomes. Less is known about whether exercise training influences sedentary time and PA in various intensities. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of a 16-wk aerobic exercise training on time spent being sedentary and on light-intensity PA (LPA) and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) and step numbers in older women. Methods: Inactive women (n = 61; age = 65.5 ± 4.3 yr) participated in moderate-intensity walking of either a low or a moderate dose (33.6 and 58.8 kJ·kg−1 body weight per week, respectively). They wore a SenseWear Mini Armband at baseline and at end intervention to determine sedentary, LPA, and MVPA time and step numbers. Results: Time being sedentary, or spent on LPA and MVPA, did not change differently by exercise groups with different doses (all P values for group–time interaction >0.580). Overall, time being sedentary reduced from baseline to end intervention by approximately 39 min·d−1 (P < 0.001), and LPA increased by 19 min·d−1 (P = 0.003). MVPA time increased (P < 0.001), which was primarily accounted for by the supervised exercise. Interestingly, daily steps increased more in the moderate-dose than the low-dose group (P = 0.023 for group–time interaction; 33.6% and 19.8% median increase in moderate- and low-dose groups, respectively). Also, there were individual differences in these changes. Conclusion: Results indicated that, on average, older women did not reduce time of LPA or MVPA outside the exercise program or increase sedentary time as a result of participating in the exercise program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amentoflavone, robustaflavone, 2″,3″-dihydro-3′,3‴-biapigenin, 3′,3‴-binaringenin, and delicaflavone are five major hydrophobic components in the total biflavonoids extract from Selaginella doederleinii (TBESD) that display favorable anticancer properties. The purpose of this study was to develop a new oral delivery formulation to improve the solubilities, dissolution rates, and oral bioavailabilities of the main ingredients in TBESD by the solid dispersion technique. Solid dispersions of TBESD with various hydrophilic polymers were prepared, and different technologies were applied to select the suitable carrier and method. TBESD amorphous solid dispersion (TBESD-ASD) with polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 was successfully prepared by the solvent evaporation method. The physicochemical properties of TBESD-ASD were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. As a result, TBESD was found to be molecularly dispersed in the amorphous carrier. The solubilities and dissolution rates of all five ingredients in the TBESD-ASD were significantly increased (nearly 100% release), compared with raw TBESD. Meanwhile, TBESD-ASD showed good preservation stability for 3 months under accelerated conditions of 40 °C and 75% relative humidity. A subsequent pharmacokinetic study in rats revealed that Cmax and AUC0–t of all five components were significantly increased by the solid dispersion preparation. An in vivo study clearly revealed that compared to raw TBESD, a significant reduction in tumor size and microvascular density occurred after oral administration of TBESD-ASD to xenograft-bearing tumor mice. Collectively, the developed TBESD-ASD with the improved solubility, dissolution rates and oral bio-availabilities of the main ingredients could be a promising chemotherapeutic agent for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy utilization is a promising strategy for the photocatalytic generation of H 2 from water. Herein, a CuS-modified ZnO rod/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/CdS heterostructure was fabricated via Cu-induced electrochemical growth with Zn powder at room temperature. The resulting powder revealed good interfacial bonding and promoted photoexcited carrier transport. The CuS nanoparticles played a pivotal role in enhancing visible-light responses and demonstrated excellent catalytic performance. A high visible-light photocatalytic H 2 generation rate of 1073 μmol h−1 g−1 was obtained from the CuS–ZnO/rGO/CdS heterostructure containing 0.23% CuS and 1.62% CdS. Increased photoexcited electron lifetimes, improved carrier transport rates, and decreased fluorescence intensities confirmed the synergistic effects of each of the components of the heterostructure. This study provides an innovative strategy for constructing multi-component heterostructures to achieve efficient visible-light H 2 evolution. Image 1 • A novel electrochemical growth strategy was developed to prepare CuS–ZnO/rGO/CdS. • A wide visible-light absorption band was introduced into the heterostructure. • CuS–ZnO/rGO/CdS exhibited an improved H 2 generation rate under visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence and mortality of lung cancer continue to increase around the world; in 2018, new lung cancer cases accounted for 11.6% of all cancer cases, and lung cancer deaths accounted for 18.4% of cancer deaths. Cisplatin (DDP) is a first-line chemotherapy drug for lung cancer; however, DDP resistance can lead to a poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer. Therefore, reversing DDP resistance is a treatment goal. Materials and Methods: Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assays, wound healing analyses, Transwell assays, in vitro tumor xenografts, and flow cytometry were used to detect the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of multidrug resistant A549/DDP and PC9/DDP cells, respectively. Western blot was performed to detect protein levels of cleaved caspase-3, CHOP, and GRP78. Results: Delicaflavone inhibited DDP resistance of lung cancer cells and decreased proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It also decreased migration and invasion and enhanced apoptosis. Western blots showed that delicaflavone overcame DDP resistance by increasing the expression of GRP78 and CHOP and the apoptosis-related protein cleaved caspase-3. Conclusion: Delicaflavone can reverse DDP resistance in A549/DDP and PC9/DDP cells by inhibiting cell proliferation and migration and enhancing apoptosis and cleaved caspase-3 levels by increasing the expression of CHOP and GRP78 protein via the endoplasmic reticular stress pathway. It could be a useful therapeutic adjunct to treat DDP-resistant lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the particle discharge flow and dynamic stresses in silos, an overhead rectangular silo with pyramidal hopper was designed and tested. The inclination of the discharge hopper and the size of the rectangular cross-section are adjustable. Based on inclinations of 45°, 55°, 65° for the pyramidal hopper, nine groups of discharge flow experiments were performed by using coal particle diameters of < 3 mm, 3–6 mm, and 3–13 mm. The results showed that the smaller dry coal particles performed better; furthermore, the height-to-diameter ratio of the straight silo and the inclination of the discharge hopper affected the flow of coal particles. The distribution of the dynamic side stress in the middle silo plate during discharge was indirectly tested. The results showed that the maximum stress appeared around the middle of the straight silo. During discharge, the lateral stresses in the silos were larger than the static stresses, with obvious overstresses in the middle and upper parts of the silos. Decompression was observed in the hopper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful retaining of the gob‐side entry under a thick and hard roof stratum is difficult because of the high pressure present and complex construction technology commonly used. To solve this problem, a new type of gob‐side entry supporting system is proposed in this paper. This system is mainly composed of concrete‐filled steel tubular columns (CSTCs), flexible cushion, and gob isolation structures. This new supporting system combines the high‐strength support of CSTCs with the flexible support of cushion bodies and is simple to construct, enabling fast and efficient gob‐side entry retaining under a thick and hard roof stratum. The range of the roof strata controlled by gob‐side support structures is determined for a case study, and a calculation formula for the gob‐side support resistance is established. Through theoretical and experimental research, a reasonable calculation formula for the choice of CSTC is also established. The CSTC structure ultimately selects Φ194 × 8 mm hollow steel tubes and C40 grade concrete for use in a field application, which can provide 4814 kN of supporting force. A simple on‐site construction process is designed for the field application, and the time required for entry retaining per meter is only approximately 40‐45 minutes. This application shows that the new technology controls the deformation of the retained entry very well; the final deformation stabilizes at 412 mm, which meets the engineering requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Band and surface structures are closely related to photocatalytic activities of semiconductor materials and can be adjusted via vacancy introduction. BiOI nanosheets are widely developed in the photocatalytic field due to their wide visible-light absorption band and sheet-like structure. However, the low photooxidative capability of such nanosheets considerably restricts their application. In our study, a novel strategy using glycerin was developed to construct I vacancies in BiOI. Surface band structure was modified by glycerin to achieve enhanced photooxidative activity. The valence band maximum (VBM) position of I-vacancy BiOI 1-x ultrathin nanosheets was promoted to 1.51 eV via introducing I vacancies. I- vacancy BiOI 1-x ultrathin sheets exhibited substantially improved visible-light photooxidation capacity in degrading methyl orange and phenol due to the positive VBM position, shortened carrier transport distance, and suitable surface atom structure. Results demonstrate a new strategy of constructing vacancy defects in photocatalysts. Unlabelled Image • A novel strategy was developed to construct I vacancies in the BiOI sheets. • The valence band maximum position of I-vacancy BiOI 1-x was promoted. • The I-vacancy BiOI 1-x exhibited high visible-light photooxidation activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are one of the most promising nanoelectronic materials, However, there are still some application challenges, including purification, regular arrangement, interconnection, and so on. There is evidence that the array assembly can improve the performance of SWNTs. In this work, we develop a line-width controllable large-scale assembly of SWNTs based on aqueous solution, using electron beam (E-beam) lithography to construct self-assembled templates. The results show that SWNTs arrays of different line-width are obtained, which is possible to design the structure of SWNTs assembly to meet different functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AFM tip induced local anodic oxidation (LAO) nanolithography is capable of manufacturing nanometer scale structures and devices for future generation. Experimental studies of LAO on silicon surface, implemented in atmospheric environment by AFM, are presented in this paper. A series of nanostructures with complex patterns was fabricated and analyzed by AFM. The results indicated that various of parameters, such as the applied voltage, pulse time, and ambient humidity, have a strong impact on the height of the nanostructures generated in this way. An advantage of the presented approach is to be utilized in future processing steps in the same environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the recovery of Cr from vanadium-containing chromate solution with copper salt precipitation after V separation is presented. It has been found that after V in the vanadium-containing chromate solution was separated, Cr can be effectively enriched by adding CuSO 4. Cr in the solution was precipitated in the form of copper chromate by adding CuSO 4 according to Cu/Cr mole ratio 1.7 and adjusting the pH to 5.2–6.0 at room temperature. Then the precipitate was leached with NaOH solution under pH ≥ 12.5 at ≥80 °C to obtain the solution containing Na 2 CrO 4 and the cake of CuO. After filtration, the cake was dissolved in H 2 SO 4 solution to form the CuSO 4 solution, which was reused in Cr precipitation. Finally, the product of Na 2 CrO 4 ∙4H 2 O with purity 99.3% was obtained by evaporation and crystallization of the leach solution. • Cu(II) was used as the precipitator of Cr in chromate solution. • Cu(II) and Cr(VI) in the precipitate can be separated in hot NaOH solution. • A nearly saturated Na 2 CrO 4 solution and CuO cake were obtained after filtration. • Cu(II) was reused in Cr(VI) precipitation by dissolving the cake in acid solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NCQDs showed specific antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus. • NCQDs killing S. aureus and MRSA caused negligible toxicity to the main rat organs. • NCQDs treating wounds infected with MRSA showed the same effect as vancomycin. • GSH could enhance the antibacterial effect of NCQDs against Staphylococcus. Antimicrobial resistance is becoming more and more serious and has become a potential hazard to human life and health. The fabrication of some new antibacterial substances against resistant bacteria is demanded. With the wide application and research of carbon nanomaterials, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) were synthesized by a one-step chemical route herein. The particle size of NCQDs in the range of 2–5 nm were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The functional groups and optical properties of NCQDs were investigated by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Disk-diffusion tests showed that the NCQDs had specific antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus. TEM showed that the NCQDs could destroy the cell structure of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) but could not combat Escherichia coli. The antibacterial mechanism may be that positively charged NCQDs firstly interacted with the negatively charged bacteria, and then specifically anchored on some specific sites on the surface of Staphylococcus. The NCQDs were applied to treat wounds infected with MRSA and showed the same therapeutic effect as vancomycin. Photomicrographs of hematoxylin-eosin-stained histological sections showed that the NCQDs at concentrations effectively killing S. aureus and MRSA caused negligible toxicity to the main rat organs, including heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. Thus, the NCQDs can be developed as a promising antibacterial agent for Staphylococcus. And the NCQDs are likely to treat local infections caused by Staphylococcus clinically, especially S. aureus and MRSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a virtual monitoring method for hydraulic supports based on digital twin theory. This method includes an information model, which monitors the attitudes of the hydraulic supports using an information fusion algorithm. This is combined with a virtual digital model that simulates the actual hydraulic support. Important technological aspects of the monitoring system were achieved at the real-virtual interface, which digitizes and modularizes the management and connection processes of the hydraulic supports over its entire life cycle. Finally, experiments were conducted and the real-time virtual images were synchronized with the actual motion of the support within one second, and the error range between the virtual and actual support postures did not exceed 1%. This study demonstrates the potential of this novel combined approach to make it possible to effectively monitor and make decisions regarding the safe and efficient operation of mechanized mine equipment that employ hydraulic supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In2O3 film was prepared by magnetron sputtering technology on rough surface Si (100) substrates. The results show that the film grown at the sputtering gas pressure of 0.6 Pa, the temperature of 600 °C, and the sputtering power of 100W had a better crystal quality than that of other samples. The sensitivity of films to ethanol at different temperatures were also surveyed and the sample grown on a substrate temperature at 400 °C, with 0.6Pa pressure and a sputtering power of 100W, which owned the better sensitivity than other samples at a ethanol gas temperature of 350 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this work, a clean metallurgical process is used to separate and recover vanadium and chromium from V-Cr-bearing reducing slag. Comparing with the traditional process, the process not only reduces the use of sulfuric acid, but also saves the cost of wastewater purification. The process consists of four procedures: low temperature sulphating roasting, reduction leaching, selectively oxidizing and the oxides of vanadium and chromium preparing. Among these, the reduction leaching and selectively oxidizing are the key steps. Low temperature sulphating roasting is used to strengthen the decomposition of V-Cr-bearing reducing slag, Na 2 SO 3 is used for the reduction of vanadium from V(V) to V(IV) or V(III), CrO 3 is used to selectively oxidize the vanadium in the leached solution, (NH 4) 2 SO 4 is used to make the vanadium precipitated in the form of ammonium polyvanadate, and NaOH is used to precipitate Cr(III) from the V precipitated solution. It was found that the leaching efficiencies of Cr and V can reach 99.7% and 99.6% respectively by low temperature sulphating roasting and reduction leaching. The products of V 2 O 5 with purity 99.1% and Cr 2 O 3 with purity 98.9% were obtained by treating the ammonium polyvanadate and the precipitate of Cr(III), respectively. Highlights • Half of the vanadium in V-Cr-bearing reducing slag is in the form of V(V). • V(V) is unfavorable to leach Cr(III) from the slag with H 2 SO 4 solution. • V and Cr can all be completely leached from the slag after V(V) was reduced. • Cr(VI) can be used to selectively oxidize the vanadium in the leached solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposed a data optimization-driven model for coal-gangue detection. • Proposed an image synthesis network BSPGAN based on BGAG and Style optimization. • Proposed an image fusion algorithm based on the output feature of discriminator. • Proposed the optimized object-recombination algorithm. Recent rapid advancements in the coal industry have led to the development of intelligent visual coal-gangue sorting. Combining deep learning and machine vision can effectively improve the accuracy of coal-gangue detection; however, the increasing model complexity also increases the computational cost. In order to achieve fast and accurate detection, a coal-gangue detection model driven by data optimisation for multi-target detection tasks is proposed in this paper. To this end, a multi-object coal-gangue image synthesis model named BSP is also proposed. Combining BSP with SSD enables fast and accurate coal gangue detection. Compared to the original SSD model, the proposed model improved the detection accuracy by 7%; compared with the structure-optimised object detection model, the proposed model is almost two times faster while exceeding the accuracy by 0.46%. The proposed model effectively improved detection accuracy and achieved fast detection of coal and gangue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxylipins, including jasmonic acid (JA) and volatiles, are important for signaling in plants, and these are formed by the lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme family. There is a large gap in understanding of the underlying molecular basis of their roles in tea plants. Here, we identified 11 CsLOX genes from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), and characterized their phylogeny, gene structure and protein features into three subclasses. We then examined their enzymatic activities, LOX expression and alternative splicing of transcripts during development and in response to abiotic or biotic stresses in tea plants. In vitro expressed protein assays showed that the CsLOX2, 3 and 9 enzymatically function to produce 9/13-HPOT, 13-HPOT and 9-HPOT, respectively. CsLOX2 and CsLOX9 green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins localized to chloroplasts and the cytoplasm, respectively. RNA sequencing, quantitative reverse transcription–PCR and Northern blot analysis suggested that CsLOX5, 6 and 9 were predominantly expressed in seeds, flowers and roots, respectively. CsLOX2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 were up-regulated after attack by the insect Ectropis oblique, while CsLOX1 was induced after infection with the pathogen Glomerella cingulata. CsLOX3, 7 and 10 were up-regulated by JA but not ABA or salicylic acid. Long-term cold stress down-regulated CsLOX expression while a short duration of cold induced the expression of CsLOX1, 6 and 7. Alternatively spliced transcripts of six CsLOX genes were dynamically regulated through time and varied in relative abundances under the investigated stresses; we propose a mechanism of competing or compensating regulation between isoforms. This study improves our understanding of evolution of LOXs and regulation of their diverse functions in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, the refinement of low-grade ilmenite concentrate was studied. It was found that by transforming in NaOH/NaNO 3 molten salt, and then leaching in water and in dilute hydrochloric acid, the low-grade ilmenite concentrate containing 3.09 wt% Mg, 1.03 wt% Ca, 3.38 wt% Si and 1.54 wt% Al can be refined well, meanwhile the contents of Ti and Fe are not affected. The lattice of ilmenite concentrate can be completely destroyed in the molten salt with NaOH/NaNO 3 weight ratio 7:3 at 400 °Cfor 6 h. The removal rates of Mg, Al, Ca and Si are 86.62%, 90.55%, 92.62%, 92.90% respectively by leaching the transformed concentrate in water with L/S ratio 2:1 mL/g at 60 °C for 0.5 h, and leaching the water leached residue in dilute HCl solution with L/S ratio 4:1 mL/g under pH 1.2 at 40 °C for 2 h. The contents of Mg, Al, Ca and Si are 0.41 wt%, 0.13 wt%, 0.08 wt% and 0.21 wt% respectively in the refined concentrate, which is suitable for arc reduction smelting to produce high-quality titanium slag. Highlights • Low-grade Ilmenite can be refined by molten salt transforming and acid leaching. • Lattice of ilmenite can be completely destroyed in NaOH/NaNO 3 molten salt at 400 °C. • Mg, Ca, Si, Al in ilmenite can be leached in dilute HCl solution after transformed. • Contents of Ti and Fe are not affected in the processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analysis the mechanism of laser-induced nanowelding, the near-field enhancement of an Ag nanoparticle dimer system which is irradiated by laser was calculated based on a finite element method (FEM) in this paper. Meanwhile, we investigated a number of parameters which have a tremendous impact on enhancement factors, such as the gap between the nanoparticles and the polarization and wavelength of the laser. The results indicate that narrow gap between Ag nanoparticles is beneficial for generation of field enhancement. Only the vector component of initial electric field in laser along the dimer axis has an effect on the electric field enhancement. The system has regular responses to different wavelengths. There are three peak points at 370,470,500 nm especially. These results will be guidance to the experimental research in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are tandem repeats of DNA that have been used to develop robust genetic markers. These molecular markers are powerful tools for basic and applied studies such as molecular breeding. In the model plants in Nicotiana genus e.g. N. benthamiana, a comprehensive assessment of SSR content has become possible now because several Nicotiana genomes have been sequenced. We conducted a genome-wide SSR characterization and marker development across seven Nicotiana genomes. Results: Here, we initially characterized 2,483,032 SSRs (repeat units of 1–10 bp) from seven genomic sequences of Nicotiana and developed SSR markers using the GMATA® software package. Of investigated repeat units, mono-, di- and tri-nucleotide SSRs account for 98% of all SSRs in Nicotiana. More complex SSR motifs, although rare, are highly variable between Nicotiana genomes. A total of 1,224,048 non-redundant Nicotiana (NIX) markers were developed, of which 99.98% are novel. An efficient and uniform genotyping protocol for NIX markers was developed and validated. We created a web-based database of NIX marker information including amplicon sizes of alleles in each genome for downloading and online analysis. Conclusions: The present work constitutes the first deep characterization of SSRs in seven genomes of Nicotiana, and the development of NIX markers for these SSRs. Our online marker database and an efficient genotyping protocol facilitate the application of these markers. The NIX markers greatly expand Nicotiana marker resources, thus providing a useful tool for future research and breeding. We demonstrate a novel protocol for SSR marker development and utilization at the whole genome scale that can be applied to any lineage of organisms. The Tobacco Markers & Primers Database (TMPD) is available at http://biodb.sdau.edu.cn/tmpd/index.html [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnO sheets with short carrier transport distance are suitable for constructing heterostructures for improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. Narrow bandgap CdSe nanoparticles (NPs) can be used to sensitize the ZnO sheets and consequently extend the visible light response range. The ZnO-CdSe heterostructural sheets, synthesized through a light-assisted growth method, consisted of single-crystal ZnO sheets and CdSe NPs distributed on the surface of ZnO sheets. The ZnO-CdSe heterostructural sheets exhibited higher photocatalytic hydrogen rate than ZnO, CdSe, and ZnO particle-CdSe under light irradiation. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rates of the ZnO-CdSe heterostructural sheets were significantly improved under UV–visible and visible light ( λ  ≥ 420 nm) irradiations when Pt nanoparticles were loaded as cocatalysts. The heterostructural sheets also exhibited stable hydrogen generation rate in a long-term photocatalytic reaction. The synergistic effect between ZnO sheets and CdSe NPs and shortened transport distance of photoexcited carriers in the sheet-like heterostructure mainly contributed to the improved photocatalytic hydrogen activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a clean technology is introduced to separate and recover vanadium and chromium from vanadium-containing chromate solution. It was found that vanadium can be precipitated from vanadium-containing chromate solution by hydrolysis. The hydrolysate is the mixture of polyvanadic acid and sodium polyvanadate. The concentration of V in the solution can be decreased to 0.76 g/L under pH 2.0 at 95 °C. The Na in the mixture can be effectively removed by washing with (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 solution as the bind of NH 4 -VO 3 is stronger than that of Na-VO 3 . The V 2 O 5 with purity 98.6% was acquired by calcining the washed mixture. The vanadium residue in precipitated solution can be completely removed by adding Fe 2+ or Fe 3+ to form iron vanadate under pH 3.8–4.5. The chromium in the V free solution was reduced from Cr(VI) to Cr(III) with Na 2 SO 3 , and then the precipitate of Cr 2 O 3 ∙ x H 2 O was formed under pH above 8.5 at 90 °C. At last, the Cr 2 O 3 with purity 98.7% was obtained by the treatment of the chromic oxide hydrate. Using the process above, the generation of V-Cr-bearing reducing slag and the mixture of Na 2 SO 4 and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 can be avoided in vanadium pentoxide production from vanadium-containing chromate solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering plant (angiosperm) genomes are exceptional in their variability with respect to genome size, ploidy, chromosome number, gene content, and gene arrangement. Gene movement, although observed in some of the earliest plant genome comparisons, has been relatively underinvestigated. We present herein a description of several interesting properties of plant gene and genome structure that are pertinent to the successful movement of a gene to a new location. These considerations lead us to propose a model that can explain the frequent success of plant gene mobility, namely that Small Insulated Genes Move Around (SIGMAR). The SIGMAR model is then compared with known processes for gene mobilization, and predictions of the SIGMAR model are formulated to encourage future experimentation. The overall results indicate that the frequent gene movement in angiosperm genomes is partly an outcome of the unusual properties of angiosperm genes, especially their small size and insulation from epigenetic silencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selaginella doederleinii Hieron is a widely used as folk Chinese medicine for treatment of different cancers. Our previous investigations have confirmed that the total biflavonoids in ethyl acetate extract from S. doederleinii (SDEA) have favorable anticancer potentials. However, the in vivo process of its bioactive ingredients remains unknown. In this paper, a sensitive and reliable method was developed for simultaneous quantification of main five biflavonoids, including amentoflavone, robustaflavone, 2″,3″-dihydro-3′,3″-biapigenin, 3′,3″-binaringenin and delicaflavone in the ethyl acetate extract of S. doederleinii (SDEA extract) in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI–MS/MS). Chromatographic separation was performed using an Ultimate ® XB-C18 (100 × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm) with gradient elution of water (0.5% acetic acid) and acetonitrile at 0.2 mL/min. All analytes with internal standard (chrysin) were detected using selective reaction monitoring (SRM) in negative ionization mode. The method showed a good linearity over a wide concentration range (r 2 > 0.99). The limits of quantification for the biflavonoids were less than 10 ng/mL. The developed method was applied to the comparatively pharmacokinetic study of the five biflavonoids after oral or intravenous administration of SDEA extract in rats. In addition, in silico assessments of permeability and solubility of these biflavonoids were also performed to understand their poor bioavailability. It is the first time to report the in vivo process profiles of the biflavonoids of SDEA extract in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometric modeling and finite element modeling of the whole structure of an electrostatic precipitator and its main components consisting of top beam, column, bottom beam, and bracket were finished. The strength calculation was completed. As a result, the design of the whole structure of the electrostatic precipitator and the main components were reasonable, the structure was in a balance state, its working condition was safe and reliable, its stress variation was even, and the stress distribution was regular. The maximum von Mises stress of the whole structure is 20.14 MPa. The safety factor was large, resulting in a waste of material. An optimization mathematical model is established. Using the ANSYS first-order method, the dimension parameters of the main frame structure of the electrostatic precipitator were optimized. After optimization, more reasonable structural design parameters were obtained. The model weight is 72,344.11 kg, the optimal weight is 49,239.35 kg, and the revised weight is 53,645.68 kg. Compared with the model weight, the optimal weight decreased by 23,104.76 kg and the objective function decreased by 31.94%, while the revised weight decreased by 18,698.43 kg and the objective function decreased by 25.84%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promotion of copper electrolyte self-purification with antimonic oxides was studied. It was found that the mixed oxides of Sb(III) and Sb(V) can be used to promote copper electrolyte self-purification. The mixture of Sb 2 O 3 · x H 2 O and Sb 2 O 5 · x H 2 O with Sb(V)/Sb(III) molar ratio 0.05 was used to promote the self- purification of copper electrolyte containing 353.21 g/L H 2 SO 4 , 19.38 g/L Cu, 20.88 g/L As, 2.29 g/L Sb and 1.51 g/L Bi. Experimental results show that the removal of impurities As, Sb and Bi from copper electrolyte mainly depends on the ratio of the molar number of arsenic in the electrolyte to the molar number of antimony in the promoter, namely the As/Sb mole ratio. When the promoter was added into the electrolyte with the As/Sb mole ratio 1:0.7 at 60 °C stirring for 0.5 h, the removal efficiencies of As, Sb and Bi are 62.0%, 93.0% and 95.0% respectively. Then the As and Bi were separated from the used promoter by adding it into 2 mol/L Na 2 CO 3 stirring for 0.5 h at above 60 °C in pH 8–9. After filtration, the regenerated promoter was obtained by washing the filter cake with diluted sulfuric acid, and the As and Bi were separated from the regenerated solution by crystallizing Na 3 AsO 4 ·12H 2 O at room temperature, and by precipitating Bi 2 O 3 · x H 2 O under the pH above 12, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold environment is the main constraint for tea plants (Camellia sinensis) distribution and tea farming. We identified two tea cultivars, called var. sinensis cv. Shuchazao (SCZ) with a high cold-tolerance and var. assamica cv. Yinghong9 (YH9) with low cold-tolerance. To better understand the response mechanism of tea plants under cold stress for improving breeding, we compared physiological and biochemical responses, and associated genes expression in response to 7-day and 14-day cold acclimation, followed by 7-day de-acclimation in these two tea cultivars. We found that the low EL50, low Fv/Fm, and high sucrose and raffinose accumulation are responsible for higher cold tolerance in SCZ comparing with YH9. We then measured the expression of 14 key homologous genes, known as involved in these responses in other plants, for each stages of treatment in both cultivars using RT-qPCR. Our results suggested that the increased expression of CsCBF1 and CsDHNs coupling with the accumulation of sucrose play key roles in conferring higher cold resistance in SCZ. Our findings have revealed key genes regulation responsible for cold resistance, which help to understand the cold-resistant mechanisms and guide breeding in tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrast enhancement plays a significant role in digital image processing. However, traditional histogram equalization usually results in excessive enhancement, which in return causes an unnatural look and loss of details to the target image. In this paper, we propose a novel histogram modification scheme for image contrast enhancement. First, sum of the input histogram and its standard deviation are computed. Then, gamma correction is applied on the result sum to generate a modified histogram. And finally, the traditional histogram equalization is applied on the modified histogram to produce the mapping function. In addition to preserving the mean brightness, the proposed method can enhance an image uniformly with low computation complexity. Extensive experimental results show that the proposed method not only retains features of the input image but also can enhance the contrast of all kind of images significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]