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Prestressing basalt‐fiber‐reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars and three types of fibers were used to enhance precast slabs during construction. Experimental investigation was conducted on one control slab and three reinforced slabs, while equations for the flexural behavior of slabs and optimization were performed. The results demonstrated that the addition of fibers had minimal impact on the compressive strength of concrete, but significantly improved its flexural strengths by up to 36%. Fibers and BFRP bars with a prestress level of 40% enhanced the cracking load by a range of 506% to 584%, and the ultimate load by a range of 28% to 48%, while exerting minimal influence on the yield load. Reinforced slabs exhibited a reduction in yield deflection ranging from 57% to 67%, along with a decrease in ultimate deflection ranging from 33% to 42%. Prestress played a crucial role in controlling slab cracks, whereas fiber type had only minor effects. The equation derived for predicting experimental results regarding normal section cracking moment showed a maximum deviation not exceeding 5%. Material utilization can be improved by reducing slab thickness or the number of prestressing bars, followed by lowering prestress levels and truss numbers. Prioritizing reduction in slab thickness is recommended from a construction perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse neuro-imaging techniques measure different aspects of neural responses with distinct spatial and temporal resolutions. Relating measured neural responses across different methods has been challenging. Here, we take a step towards overcoming this challenge, by comparing the nonlinearity of neural dynamics measured across methods. We used widefield voltage-sensitive dye imaging (VSDI) to measure neural population responses in macaque V1 to visual stimuli with a wide range of temporal waveforms. We found that stimulus-evoked VSDI responses are surprisingly near-additive in time. These results are qualitatively different from the strong sub-additive dynamics previously measured using fMRI and electrocorticography (ECoG) in human visual cortex with a similar set of stimuli. To test whether this discrepancy is specific to VSDI—a signal dominated by subthreshold neural activity, we repeated our measurements using widefield imaging of a genetically encoded calcium indicator (GcaMP6f)—a signal dominated by spiking activity, and found that GCaMP signals in macaque V1 are also near-additive. Therefore, the discrepancies in the extent of sub-additivity between the macaque and the human measurements are unlikely due to differences between sub- and supra-threshold neural responses. Finally, we use a simple yet flexible delayed normalization model to capture these different dynamics across measurements (with different model parameters). The model can potentially generalize to a broader set of stimuli, which aligns with previous suggestion that dynamic gain-control is a canonical computation contributing to neural processing in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study proposed using twisted rope made of flexible fiber‐reinforced polymers (FRPs) instead of wire and synthetic ropes in high load‐bearing and corrosive environments. Finite element model verification and parameter analysis were conducted for the rope, along with deriving theoretical equations for its tensile properties. Increasing the lay length improved model accuracy, with a maximum bearing capacity within a 10% margin of error compared to experimental results. The model length had minimal impact on calculation results, while changes in radial mesh size (0.13 and 0.2 mm) and friction coefficient (0–0.2) greatly affected maximum contact stress. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the strand remained almost constant (approximately 1142 MPa and 44 GPa) when the friction coefficient was altered. Increasing lay length (6D–20D) enhanced the tensile properties of the strand, whereas tendon diameter (1–3 mm) had negligible impact. Arranging inner and outer strands with the same lay length was better for circular ropes than those with the same lay angle. Inverse lay direction reduced rope torque and increased strand contact stress. Rectangular ropes had higher strength and modulus conversion efficiency, with lower contact stress compared to circular ones. The accuracy of rope equations improved with longer lay lengths, and adding a correction factor for lay length can modify the equation. Highlights: A flexible FRP rope with high strength and twisted form was proposed.The effect of construction factors on the tensile behaviors of ropes was clarified.Equations for calculating the tensile properties of ropes were derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory rheumatic disease affecting the spine, axial skeleton, and sacroiliac joints. Pathogenesis of AS encompasses enthesitis, synovitis, and osteoproliferation, leading to the formation of syndesmophytes, ankylosis, and spinal rigidity. Bioinformatics, an interdisciplinary field combining computer science, mathematics, and biology, enables the analysis of complex biological data for investigating AS pathogenesis. This review summarizes differentially expressed protein‐coding genes in peripheral blood or local tissues of AS patients compared with healthy controls and comprehensively reviews currently available therapeutic agents. The objective is to enhance the understanding of AS pathogenesis, inform diagnosis, identify novel therapeutic targets, and facilitate personalized medicine. This review contributes to a deeper understanding of AS pathogenesis and provides a foundation for developing innovative therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a general wireless sensor network, a sink node collects data from each node successively and then post-processes the data to obtain useful information. However, conventional methods have a scalability problem: the data collection/processing time increases with the number of nodes, and frequent transmission collisions degrade spectrum efficiency. If only statistical values of the data are needed, using over-the-air computation (AirComp) can efficiently perform data collection and computation. However, AirComp also has its problems: when the channel gain of a node is too low, (i) the transmission power of that node will be high, decreasing the lifetime of that node and the entire network, and (ii) sometimes, the computation error still occurs even though the maximal transmission power is used. To jointly solve these two problems, in this paper we investigate the relay communication for AirComp and study a relay selection protocol. The basic method selects an ordinary node with a good channel condition as a relay node, considering both computation error and power consumption. This method is further enhanced to explicitly consider network lifetime in relay selection. Extensive simulation evaluations confirm that the proposed method helps to prolong the lifetime of the entire network and reduce computation errors as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive intake of sweets is a predisposing factor for metabolic disorders, and fructose, as one of the major dietary sugars in the diet, has been shown to be a major cause of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. These disorders are usually associated with immune dysfunction. Therefore, exploring the effects of a high fructose diet on the immune system may provide insight into the underlying mechanisms of these diseases. We synthesized the available evidence to suggest that excessive fructose intake disrupts the body's immune homeostasis by promoting immune cell metabolic rearrangements, alterations in gut microbial community structure, and intestinal barrier permeability. Indeed, not only does fructose itself affect immune system homeostasis, but its metabolites also have a profound influence. The metabolites from fructolysis are mainly produced in the small intestine and liver and subsequently enter the systemic circulation. Elevated levels of fructose metabolites, such as uric acid, FFAs, and lactate, are closely associated with oxidative stress and local tissue and organ inflammatory responses. In this review, we will focus on the link between fructose and inflammatory responses. In the meanwhile, we will also briefly summarize the studies of cancer development and immune escape mediated by fructose, as it might be beneficial for cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study proposes using a twisted rope with flexible fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) instead of wire rope and synthetic rope in environments requiring high load-bearing capacity and corrosion resistance. Resin toughening modification was conducted to manufacture flexible FRPs, and experimental evaluations were performed to assess the tensile and flexural properties of the impregnated fiber bundles (IFBs), as well as the tensile behaviors of the seven-IFB strands and the seven-strand ropes. The results demonstrated that the modified epoxy resin exhibited a decrease in both strength and elastic modulus, while its ductility was enhanced. Tensile and bending experiments confirmed that incorporating an additional 10% of Qishi toughener (QS-VA-3) was the optimal choice for producing low-modulus and high-toughness resins. Although the tensile properties of resin modified IFBs may show a slight reduction, their repeated bending behavior can be significantly improved. The tensile load-displacement curves of the FRP strand and rope displayed a linear increasing trend and experienced intermediate fracture failure, resembling that observed in IFBs. Furthermore, it was found that the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the strand decreased with an increase in lay length. The secondary twisting can enhance the tensile behavior of ropes compared to strands with equivalent lay lengths. • A twisted FRP rope with exceptional strength and flexibility was proposed. • A resin matrix with low modulus and high toughness was developed for the FRP rope. • The feasibility of using FRP ropes was confirmed by tensile and flexural testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small-sized variable-stiffness wedge (VSW) anchorage, a second-generation solution, was numerically optimized to anchor basalt-fiber-reinforced polymer tendons, building upon the previous first-generation anchorage. The static, fatigue, and relaxation characteristics of the anchorage were experimentally evaluated. Results revealed that VSWs effectively mitigated radial stress concentration within the tendons compared to constant stiffness wedges. Bonding optimization techniques involving cross-splitting and sandblasting proved advantageous in accurately assessing the tensile properties of round tendons. The second-generation anchorage demonstrated an 87% anchoring efficiency, surpassing that of a longer commercial steel-wedge anchorage significantly. The tendon-anchorage assembly can sustain 2 million cyclic loadings under a maximum fatigue stress of 0.44 f fpk (standard value for tendon tensile strength) and a stress range of 0.04 f fpk ; moreover, sliding between wedges and tendons resulted in negligible stress reduction across various stress ranges. A logarithmic function effectively modeled the relationship between relaxation time and load retention in tendons with R-squared values consistently above 0.94 throughout; furthermore, the million-hour relaxation rate closely aligned with observed tendon behavior. The application of an initial tensile stress of 0.5 f fpk to tendons allowed for simultaneous high strength and minimal prestress loss. • The variable-stiffness wedge effectively mitigates tendon stress concentration. • The variable-stiffness wedge anchorage can sustain 2 million cyclic loadings. • The relaxation behavior of the tendon-anchorage assembly resembles that of tendons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have emphasized determining the ability of microRNAs (miRNAs) as crucial regulators in the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer (PC), which continues to be one of the deadliest malignancies with few effective therapies. The study aimed to investigate the functional role of miR-135b and its associated mechanism to unravel the biological characteristics of tumor growth in pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs). Methods: Microarray analyses were initially performed to identify the PC-related miRNAs and genes. The expression of miR-135b and PCSC markers in PC tissues and cells was determined by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The potential gene (JADE-1) that could bind to miR-135b was confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. To investigate the tumorigenicity, migration, invasion, and stemness of PC cells, several gain-of-function and loss-of-function genetic experiments were conducted. Finally, tumor formation in nude mice was conducted to confirm the results in vivo. Results: miR-135b was highly-expressed in PC tissues and PCSCs, which was identified to specifically target JADE-1. The overexpression of miR-135b promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of PCSC, inhibited cell apoptosis and increased the expression of stemness-related factors (Sox-2, Oct-4, Nanog, Aldh1, and Slug). Moreover, miR-135b could promote the expression of phosphorylated AKT and phosphorylated mTOR in the AKT/mTOR pathway. Additionally, miR-135b overexpression accelerated tumor growth in nude mice. Conclusions: Taken together, the silencing of miR-135b promotes the JADE-1 expression, which inactivates the AKT/mTOR pathway and ultimately results in inhibition of self-renewal and tumor growth of PCSCs. Hence, this study contributes to understanding the role of miR-135 in PCSCs and its underlying molecular mechanisms to aid in the development of effective PC therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual neurons respond to static images with specific dynamics: neuronal responses sum sub-additively over time, reduce in amplitude with repeated or sustained stimuli (neuronal adaptation), and are slower at low stimulus contrast. Here, we propose a simple model that predicts these seemingly disparate response patterns observed in a diverse set of measurements–intracranial electrodes in patients, fMRI, and macaque single unit spiking. The model takes a time-varying contrast time course of a stimulus as input, and produces predicted neuronal dynamics as output. Model computation consists of linear filtering, expansive exponentiation, and a divisive gain control. The gain control signal relates to but is slower than the linear signal, and this delay is critical in giving rise to predictions matched to the observed dynamics. Our model is simpler than previously proposed related models, and fitting the model to intracranial EEG data uncovers two regularities across human visual field maps: estimated linear filters (temporal receptive fields) systematically differ across and within visual field maps, and later areas exhibit more rapid and substantial gain control. The model is further generalizable to account for dynamics of contrast-dependent spike rates in macaque V1, and amplitudes of fMRI BOLD in human V1. Author summary: This paper contributes to modeling and understanding the neuronal dynamics of visual cortex in four ways. First, we proposed a model that describes stimulus-driven neuronal dynamics in a simple and intuitive way. Second, we applied the model to intracranial EEG data and found regularities of response dynamics across and within human visual field maps. Third, the model was generalizable across different ways of measuring brain activity, allowing us to potentially link the sources underlying diverse measurements. Fourth, we comprehensively summarized existing models of neuronal dynamics, and identified effective components that give rise to accurate prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevailing property management philosophy in China is outdated and is therefore not useful for improving the sustainability of buildings and their facilities. However, the introduction and integration of basic ecological concepts in the existing studies of ecological property management theory has been limited. The analysis related to the methods for and the influencing factors on ecological behavior implementation has hardly been covered. Based on the use of grounded theory, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of property management ecological behavior by setting the influencing factors as the research target. First, a literature review is conducted to identify the definition of property management ecological behavior. Based on the theory of planned behavior, a preliminary theoretical model of the factors influencing ecological behavior in property management is constructed. Then, the research framework and a data analysis scheme are designed based on grounded theory. An in-depth review is used to gather information on property management in community and public housing. The interview data are coded and analyzed with the help of NVivo11 software to identify the influencing factors of the property management ecological behavior in China. Studies have shown that factors influencing property management ecological behavior include stimulus, status, scenario, and result. The stimulus factors include government regulations , market pressure , and social supervision. The status factors include scale, nature, capabilities, value , environmental awareness of managers, and financial situation. The scenario factors include service cost, resource availability, object factor , and owner willingness. The result factors include the profits of the company and the satisfaction of the owners. This study comprehensively identifies the influencing factors of the property management ecological behavior in China and enriches the definition of property management ecological behavior. A theoretical model of influencing factors of property management ecological behavior is built and employed to systematically analyze the characteristics of the ecological behavior of property service companies. This study provides a foundation for further analysis of the mechanisms guiding ecological behavior among property management companies in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Interlayer splitting failure can be avoided by using round tendons. • Cable fatigue life was found to be determined by tendon surface shape. • Variable-stiffness load transfer component can alleviate cable stress concentration. The fatigue performance of fourteen basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) cables, each containing 37 tendons with a diameter of 4 mm, was investigated. Four testing schemes were employed to examine the failure mechanism and factors affecting fatigue behavior, including manufacturing technology, tendon surface shape, and anchoring method. The findings suggested that the fatigue life of the cable was controlled by the tendon surface shape, and subsequently affected by both anchoring method and manufacturing technology. The pretension method can eliminate the wedge action of the load transfer component (LTC). The splitting failure of ribbed tendons usually initiated from transverse cracking of resin matrix and eventually leaded to continuous interface debonding. Interlayer splitting in tendons can be avoided by adjusting the outer fiber from bending to flattening, which improves the tensile stiffness of the cable with round tendons under cycle load. The cable can achieve 2 million cycles while maintaining a stable deformation state, which is achieved by using round tendons in combination with a variable-stiffness LTC composed of epoxy resin and glass microfibers. The variable-stiffness LTC effectively alleviated stress concentration at the loading-end cable. The static anchoring efficiency of the cable with round tendons reached 110% after undergoing 2 million cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Accurate assessment of a project's progress enables managers to control and manage costs and schedule. Automating the processes to monitor and inspect the progress of works in construction, and ensure that the data acquired and retrieved are able to produce an accurate 'as-built' model is an issue that has received ubiquitous attention in the literature. Emphasis has been placed on utilizing technologies such as mobile augmented reality, laser scanners, and computer visions to monitor and control physical objects that possess geometrical properties. Connected systems such as Electrical, Instrumentation and Control Systems (EICS), however, do not possess geometrical properties and as a result have been overlooked, receiving limited attention. This paper utilizes a digital System Information Model (SIM) to enable a project control system based on human-machine interactions, to be developed, in order to monitor progress during the construction of connected systems. By incorporating the design, schedules, activities, and tasks into a digital, cloud-based model, the system enables different parties involved in a project to synchronously work together. Information can be recorded, distributed and shared in real-time therefore significantly improving decision-making, the approvals process, and management of information. A SIM is discipline-specific and there is a need to ensure its interoperability with building information modeling software. Therefore, a bi-directional link between the SIM and the project's overall schedule and three-dimensional model needs to be developed in the future. Highlights • Real-time progress monitoring of connected systems has received limited attention. • Existing technologies are unable to support real-time progress monitoring of connected systems. • A digitally enabled project control system for progress monitoring in construction is developed. • A new line of inquiry to examine the performance of connected systems is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rail infrastructure that operates at its optimum will be economical and sustainable and thus positively contribute to the productivity and competitiveness of an economy. The health of rail infrastructure, however, needs to be monitored, measured and maintained, which falls within the remit of asset managers who are often charged with balancing costs, opportunities and risks against the desired performance of the assets and their respective systems at varying levels. Having appropriate and reliable information about an asset is pivotal for enabling asset management to support decision-making, planning and execution of activities and tasks of assets, particularly during operations and maintenance. But, having access to the right information at the right time, has been and remains a pervasive problem, hinders an asset owner’s ability to ensure their rail infrastructure performance is being optimized. A new approach to facilitate the acquisition and integration of information to support digital asset management (DAM) for rail infrastructure is presented. The research uses a case study to empirically assess the quality of ‘as-built’ documentation for electrical systems of Bayswater railway station that forms an integral part of the Forrestfield Airport Linkage project, in Perth Western Australia. Errors, omissions and information redundancy contained within the existing ‘as-built’ documentation is quantified. Then, a case for the adoption of a Systems Information Model is put forward as the rail industry moves toward a digital future and seeks to future-proof their assets and networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments in Australia place great emphasis on the development and expansion of their rail networks to improve productivity and service the increasing needs and demands from businesses and commuters. A case study approach is used to analyze the cost performance of 16 rail projects constructed by a contractor between 2011 and 2014, which ranged from AU$3.4 to AU$353 million. Findings indicate that scope changes during construction were the key contributors that lead to the amendment of each project’s original contractual value. As a result, there is a need for public and private sector asset owners to establish a cost contingency using a probabilistic rather than a deterministic approach to accommodate the potential for scope changes during construction. To improve cost certainty during the construction of rail projects, it is suggested that use of collaborative forms of procurement juxtaposed with the use of Building Information Modelling and Systems Information Modelling are implemented. The utilization of such technological and process innovations can provide public and private sector asset owners charged with delivering and maintaining their rail networks with confidence projects can be delivered within budget and are resilient to unexpected events and adaptable to changing needs, uses or capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having access to the right information at the right time has been, and remains a pervasive problem during operations and maintenance (O&M) and thus hinders an asset owner's ability to ensure their facilities performance are being optimized. Typically, asset managers are often confronted with ‘As-built’ documentation that is prepared using Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) and is often incomplete, erroneous and/or redundant, which adversely impacts an asset's integrity and productivity during O&M. With this mind, the quality of information contained within ‘As-Built’ electrical documentation for an ‘Underground Railway Station’ is evaluated by quantifying the errors and omissions contained within them. The cost to document information using CAD compared to the development of a System Information Model (SIM) is determined. A retrospective SIM is constructed and a bi-directional link with a three dimensional (3D) model is established to ensure the integrity of the information required for O&M. The use of a SIM instead of CAD can provide engineers with a new medium and process for preparing the design and documentation of electrical systems as it provides them with an ability to obtain significant productivity and cost benefits. The empirical research presented in this paper provides the impetus for future research in the fertile and unexplored area of Digital Asset Management for infrastructure projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object oriented modeling (OOM) has become an integral part of the design process in construction due to advances in computer software. Despite these advances there remains a tendency for Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) to be used as the medium to assist in the creation, modification, analysis and optimization of Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) systems within heavy industrial engineering projects. In this paper, a retrospective OOM (i.e., Systems Information Model (SIM)), for the E&I systems of a utility facility, which was constructed for an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor for the purpose of undertaking a constructability assessment prior to the commencement of construction is presented and discussed. The CAD drawings and cable schedule produced by the EPC were provided to an E&I organization to undertake a constructability assessment; errors, omissions and information redundancy were identified and quantified. The SIM model was then used to examine a tender proposal from a construction subcontractor (CS) of the EPC; discrepancies were identified and it is suggested that differences arose due to the prevailing errors and omissions. The potential use of a SIM during construction as a quality assurance/control (QA/QC) is then examined, as it is suggested that it can be used to ensure the development of an ‘As-built’ model and provide a realistic representation of the constructed asset, which safeguards its integrity for operations and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human pose estimation is a fundamental yet challenging task in computer vision. Although many methods have achieved significant improvement, they are still insufficient for the fusion of feature maps at different stages, such as the stacked hourglass network (SHNet). The SHNet is a classic human pose estimation network that extracts multiscale features through stacked multistage downsampling and upsampling operations. We propose a multistage attention mechanism to fuse the multistage feature maps. Furthermore, we apply it in the SHNet to propose a multistage attention network (MANet). In the experiments, we demonstrated the effectiveness of MANet in human pose estimation on the common objects in context dataset and the MPII human pose dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of computer-aided-design (CAD) generated ‘As-built’ documentation is evaluated for a High Voltage Switchgear System (HVSS), which forms part of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition up-grade within a geo-thermal power plant. A total of 267 CAD drawings for the HVSS were used to create a Systems Information Model (SIM) whereby the physical components and associated connections were constructed in an object orientated database. Throughout the modelling process a considerable amount of errors and information redundancy were identified and examples are presented. The production of the CAD drawings took 10,680 man-h in stark contrast to the 80 man-h required to construct the SIM, illustrating the efficiency and effectiveness of SIM compared to CAD for the documentation of electrical instrumentation and control systems (EICS). To realise this significant potential cost and productivity saving requires a shift in mindset and a move beyond the use of CAD, to an object oriented SIM, with a 1:1 relationship between objects in the model, and components in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining industry in Australia is in a period of intense introspection as it seeks to improve its productivity and competitiveness in global markets. With mining projects experiencing increasing overruns on capital expenditure, there is a need to re-examine existing business practices to address the prevailing productivity crisis that the industry is experiencing. In addressing this issue, within the context of electrical instrumentation and control systems (EICS), a case study that examines the development of a systems information model (SIM) to improve productivity during the engineering, construction, maintenance, and operations processes of a magnetite iron ore processing plant is presented and discussed. By transforming the established document oriented information exchanges that are typically used in EICS projects to a more collaborative data-sharing environment, processes were streamlined and errors, as a result of duplication and inconsistency, were significantly prevented from occurring. While still working within the restriction of discipline-specific models, the creation of a SIM is the first step towards an integrated and interoperable data without a reliance on drawings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bond properties between polymer impregnated basalt textile and fine‐grained concrete were studied by pull‐out test considering the effects of bond length, impregnation polymer type, surface condition, and transverse yarn. The experimental results showed the pull‐out load increased with the bond length increasing, and the slight decrease in bond strength was attributed to the nonlinear distribution of bond stress. Owing to the high viscosity and good permeability of epoxy resin, the bond strength of epoxy resin‐impregnated textile was 238% and 592% higher than that of textile impregnated with acrylic emulsion and polyvinyl chloride, respectively. Moreover, the bond properties were improved significantly for impregnated textile with sticking sand or fiber by increasing the interfacial friction between textile and concrete, and the highest bond strength was obtained for yarn sticking sand with particle sizes of 0.09 ~ 0.18 mm. The transverse yarn of epoxy resin‐impregnated textile can generate an interlocking effect to concrete due to the semi‐rigid node, which increased the bond strength by 48.6%, whereas this did not happen for textile impregnated with flexible material. Furthermore, the anchorage lengths of textile were calculated, and the proposed simple bond slip model can be used to describe the pull‐out response of polymer impregnated basalt textile embedded in concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The responsibility borne by governmental departments measured by a set of indicators is a key factor affecting the performance of urban sustainability. Thus, responsibility analysis can guide the selection of sustainability indicators. In line with the principle of Management by Objective (MBO), this paper aims to introduce a responsibility-based method, named Strategic goal-Responsibility department-Response (SRR), for selecting sustainable urbanization indicators. By applying this method, indicators are selected from the perspective of concerned departments’ responsibility. In developing the SRR model, the tool of Responsibility Assignment Matrix is used to identify the concerned departments who assume responsibilities in the process of implementing sustainable urbanization. The content analysis is used to analyze the work scope and definitions of the concerned departments and sustainable urbanization indicators that can measure the responsibility performance of the concerned departments are filtered out. A case study of Jinan city in China is used to demonstrate the procedures of using the proposed method. Based on the strategic goals of Jinan city, 20 responsibility departments and 152 initial indicators are identified by using the SRR framework. The case study reveals that the method is a feasible and effective tool in assisting policy makers to select sustainable urbanization indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proper understanding of the urbanization bubble is very important to assist local governments in adopting strategies to mitigate the effects of the bubble and guide urbanization toward sustainable development. This paper presents a method of measuring the urbanization bubble with particular reference to China. In referring to the definition of an economic bubble, this study defines the urbanization bubble as a dynamic process in which urbanization rate ( U R ) deviates from four urbanization performance variables comprising the proportion of urban population with registration ( T RP ), urban construction land area ( T BA ), level of industrial development ( L ID ) and level of public facilities ( L PF ). Four coordinates are formed between the rate of urbanization and the four performance variables to examine the practice of urbanization in terms of four quadrants. The ratios between changes in urbanization rate and the changes of the four urbanization performance variables are introduced to measure the urbanization bubble. The method is tested through a case study to show that the coordinate method has the potential to help policy makers detect any bubble in the process of urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although urbanization can promote social and economic development, it can also cause various problems. As the key decision makers of urbanization, local governments should be able to evaluate urbanization performance, summarize experiences, and find problems caused by urbanization. This paper introduces a hybrid Entropy–McKinsey Matrix method for evaluating sustainable urbanization. The McKinsey Matrix is commonly referred to as the GE Matrix. The values of a development index (DI) and coordination index (CI) are calculated by employing the Entropy method and are used as a basis for constructing a GE Matrix. The matrix can assist in assessing sustainable urbanization performance by locating the urbanization state point. A case study of the city of Jinan in China demonstrates the process of using the evaluation method. The case study reveals that the method is an effective tool in helping policy makers understand the performance of urban sustainability and therefore formulate suitable strategies for guiding urbanization toward better sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese government is a promoting sustainable urbanization process to develop future cities, and various indicator systems have been introduced for guiding the sustainable urbanization practice. This paper examines the effectiveness of these existing indicator systems introduced in China. Nine sample indicator systems were collected and compared. Principal criteria selected to analyze the effectiveness of the nine samples was based on a literature review. This study reveals that the existing indicator systems have limitations for guiding sustainable urbanization practice and the differences between the various indicator systems present barriers for their effective application. It is found that no official department in China supervises the application of these indicators. The lack of a systematic method for establishing indicators is considered as a major reason for contributing to the limited effectiveness of these established indicators. There is a need to develop an effective method to supervise decision makers to establish and select effective indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a case study, errors, omissions and information redundancy contained in the electrical and instrumentation (E&I) ‘As-built’ drawings for a Stacker Conveyor were examined. A total of 449 errors and omissions were identified within 42 documents. In addition, 231 cables and components appeared once among the 42 documents; 86 cables and components appeared twice and 12 cables and components appeared thrice. As a result of the errors, omissions and redundancy, requests for information (RFIs) were required. Retrospective analysis indicates that the indirect cost of raising the RFIs to the contractor was estimated to be approximately 9% of the cost of the E&I contract. To address the problems of errors, omissions and redundancy, it is suggested that there is a need to adopt an object orientated system information model (SIM) for E&I engineering design and documentation. It is demonstrated in the case study that the use of a SIM could bring significant improvements in productivity and reduce the cost of engineering design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Documentation errors have been identified as a significant problem within the construction and engineering industry. Errors contained with contract documents can contribute to loss of profit, reduced productivity, and cost and time overruns as well as contractual disputes. Research has identified that as much as 60% of variations in construction and engineering projects are a result of errors and omissions contained within poor quality documentation. Considering this alarming statistic and the impact that poor quality documentation can have on productivity, the research presented in this paper classifies and quantifies errors in 106 drawings and the cable schedule used to document for the electrical package for an Iron Ore Stacker Conveyor. The research reveals that Computer Aided Design (CAD) used to produce the electrical drawings was ineffective, inefficient and costly to produce as they contained an array of errors. In addressing the need to eliminate documentation errors and improve productivity, the cable schedule is used to create a Systems Information Management to develop a 1:1 object orientated model using the software Dynamic Asset Documentation. As a result, of using this approach it is estimated that a 94% cost saving and a substantial improvement in productivity could have been attained in this particular case. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Compressive behavior of the modified resin was well revealed. • Properly adding microfiber was found to be an effective modification method. • Optimal design for a variable-stiffness load transfer component was proposed. In this study, a theoretical analysis of load transfer component (LTC), experimental behavior enhancement of an LTC, and variable stiffness design of a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) cable anchor system (CAS) were conducted. In addition, a resin-based LTC modified by two types of particles and three types of microfibers was investigated by analyzing a resin casting body (RCB). The results showed that failures in the RCBs modified by quartz sand (RCBQs), garnet sand (RCBGs), and sand and microfibers (RCBSFs) were caused by resin–sand interfacial debonding, microfiber debonding, pull-out, and fracture. The elastic modulus of the RCBQ/Gs and the RCBSFs were positively correlated to the sand and microfiber contents. However, the compressive strengths of the RCBQ/Gs initially decreased and subsequently increased with the increase in the sand content. The compressive strength of the RCBSFs typically increased with the increase in the microfiber content. In addition, the RCBSFs presented an optimal modified effect. The compressive behavior of the RCBSFs was appropriately described by a cubic polynomial fitting model with an R2 greater than 0.97. The optimal design of a variable-stiffness LTC was realized by decreasing the loading-end LTC stiffness and increasing the free-end LTC stiffness simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A variable-stiffness cable anchor system was optimized by FE method. • Based on the system, the mean ultimate load of the BFRP cable reached 1919 kN. • The mean anchor efficiency of the BFRP cable was 95%. Due to anisotropy of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) material, the anchoring of large-tonnage multiple-tendon FRP cable is a challenge. To solve this problem, a large-tonnage FRP cable anchor system (CAS) was designed numerically by optimizing five key anchorage parameters affecting the anchor efficiency and implemented in three full-scale basalt FRP (BFRP) cables with 37 Φ7 tendons. The numerical results showed that the cable radial displacement increases with the spacing of tendons increasing. The cable radial compressive stress and displacement decrease with the thickness of the load transfer component (LTC) increasing. Increasing anchor length and conical angle have significant reducing effect on the cable axial displacement but a negligible effect on the cable radial displacement. Experimental verification showed that the mean anchor efficiency and ultimate load of the BFRP cables were 95% and 1919 kN, respectively. The maximum axial strain difference of the BFRP cable at the loading and free ends increased with the load. The shear stress of the center BFRP tendon first increased rapidly, then decreased slowly, then increased gradually again, and finally decreased quickly. The axial strains and shear stress of the BFRP cable in the anchor zone were consistent with the FE results, and were proved to follow linear and cubic functions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Stress and deformation of multiple-tendon FRP cable were reflected. • Failure mechanisms of FRP CAS were clearly revealed by a 3D FE model. • Applying radial variable stiffness was an effective optimization method. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model of multiple-tendon fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) cable-anchor system (CAS) was established to reveal the stress and deformation of an FRP cable. The model was firstly validated by the previous experimental results. The failure mechanism of FRP cable was clarified through FE analysis. Three types of optimizations, including changing the spacing of the FRP tendons, conducting the radial variable stiffness of the load transfer component (LTC) and changing the inner cone form of the anchorage, were conducted to improve anchor behavior. For FRP tendons, the radial compressive stress, as well as the relative radial displacements, were found to be nearly identical at different positions. An evident uneven axial tensile stress was observed for both the intra- and inter-tendon scenarios, in which the maximum axial tensile stress occurred in the outermost layer tendon. The failure of the FRP cable was dominated by the excessive tension-bending stress and radial compressive stress at the loading end. Applying radial variable-stiffness LTC was found to be the most effective method, and was validated in different tendon diameters and number of tendons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the durability of fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) profiles, which differ from FRP bars due to the clear variations in the internal structure of the fibers. This study experimentally investigated the tensile properties of FRP profiles in the seawater sea sand concrete (SSC) environment at 25, 45, and 60°C. Unidirectional basalt FRP profiles, multidirectional basalt FRP profiles, and basalt and carbon hybrid FRP profiles were considered. SEM analysis was performed to evaluate the corrosion mechanism. Results show that the strength degradation of FRP profiles accelerated with rising ambient temperature due to resin corrosion in hyperthermia. After 63 days of immersion in the SSC environment solution, multidirectional basalt FRP (BFRP) profiles exhibited more severe corrosion than unidirectional BFRP profiles (82.5% and 88.2%, respectively). The hybrid FRP profiles exhibited a strength retention of 86.4%, which was higher than that of multidirectional BFRP profiles due to the superior alkali resistance of carbon fibers compared to basalt fibers. In addition, prediction models of FRP profiles based on the Arrhenius relation were proposed with a high correlation coefficient of R2. Highlights: Durability of FRP profiles in SSC environment was studied.Basalt and carbon fibers hybrid reinforced multidirectional polymer profiles.Corrosion mechanism of FRP profiles was revealed.Tensile property prediction model of FRPs in SSC environment was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of shiftable/curtailment distribution generators (DGs) along with quick-response storage has not only increased the transaction's flexibility but also puzzled the bidding willingness of transmission-connected market players (TMPs). In this paper, the method of heterogeneous decomposition and coordination (HGDC) is applied to decompose the integrated transmission-distribution market framework into a bi-level problem with a transmission wholesale market master problem and several distribution retail market subproblems in a decentralized organization structure. The price-based bidding willingness of demand-side resources' (DSRs') aggregator is simulated considering the relation between distribution system operator's (DSO's) operation modes and its equivalent market transactive price. Besides the traditional mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model, the active reconfiguration model of DSOs based on mixed-integer second-order conic programming (MI-SOCP) is proposed to rearrange its operation switch status and elaborate its operation cost according to the market transaction. Multi-period optimal operation modes could be obtained through an HGDC-based iteration process by coordinating the transmission system operator (TSO) with DSOs and considering the market energy equilibrium and reserve requirements for security considerations. Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions are used to testify the optimality and convergence of the bi-level model in theory. The T5-3D33 case is employed to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed model and method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cognitive radar framework presents a closed-loop adaptive processing paradigm that ensures the efficient acquisition of target information while exploring the environment and enhancing overall sensing performance. In this study, instead of mutual information, we employed the squared Pearson correlation coefficient (SPCC) to measure the target information in observations specifically considering only linear dependency. A waveform design method is proposed that simultaneously maximizes target information and minimizes the integrated sidelobe level (ISL) under the constant modulus constraint (CMC). To enhance computational efficiency, we reformulated the constrained problem as an unconstrained optimization problem by leveraging the inherent geometric property of CMC. Additionally, we present two conditional equivalences associated with waveform design in relation to target information. The simulation results validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize the low-carbon, environmentally protection and efficient resource utilization of metallurgical dust containing zinc in iron and steel enterprises, the reduction roasting-magnetic separation of metallurgical dust containing zinc with iron content of 30. 38% and zinc content of 4. 79% was studied. The experimental results show that the direct magnetic separation of metallurgical dust containing zinc is difficult to achieve effective separation of zinc and iron. Under the conditions of roasting temperature of 950 °C, roasting time of 20 min and magnetic separation intensity of 100 mT. The iron recovery rate of magnetic separation concentrate is 79.50%, the iron content is 57. 00%,and the zinc content is 2. 45%. The zinc recovery rate of magnetic separation taillings is 71. 06%, the zinc content is 9. 92%, and the iron content is 16. 81% . The separation rates of zinc and iron is better. The concentrate in the magnetic separation product is mainly composed of elemental Fe, and the tailings are mainly composed of SiO2 and ZnO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An actual DML-based MB-OFDM UWBoF system was constructed and investigated. • The ISFA algorithm is applied to improve the SNR and channel estimation accuracy of the DML-based MB-OFDM UWBoF system. • OCT precoding is employed to average the SNR of DML-based MB-OFDM UWBoF systems. In this paper, an intensity-modulated direct-detection (IM/DD) multiband orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing ultra-wideband over fiber (MB-OFDM UWBoF) transmission system using a low-cost directly modulated laser (DML) is analyzed and experimentally verified. Precoding techniques and inter-symbol frequency-domain averaging (ISFA) algorithm are used in this experiment. Precoding techniques are used to suppress the noise introduced by DML and the power fading due to the imperfect frequency response of optoelectronic devices and frequency selective fading. Orthogonal Circular Matrix Transform (OCT) precoding and Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) precoding were compared when the ISFA algorithm was used. In this scheme, for a single-mode fiber (SMF) link at a distance of 20 km, the 64 Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) mapped MB-OFDM UWBoF system using OCT precoding with ISFA and DFT precoding with ISFA scheme can improve the sensitivity of the optical receiver by 0.4 dBm and 0.284 dBm, respectively, compared to no precoding with ISFA at a BER of 3.8e-3. The minimum BER of the 64QAM mapped MB-OFDM UWBoF system scheme with OCT precoding and ISFA scheme is 2.56e-5, which achieves two orders of magnitude improvement compared to the BER threshold of the 7% hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC, 3.8e-3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the occurrence and contamination levels of eight mycotoxins were investigated in wheat flour samples (n = 359) from Shandong Province of China. Samples were determined using a multi-mycotoxin method based on isotope dilution ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The results indicated that the most frequently found mycotoxins were deoxynivalenol (DON) (97.2%), nivalenol (40.4%) and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (33.4%), and mean contamination levels in positive samples were 86.7, 3.55 and 3.34 µg kg−1, respectively. The obtained data were further used to estimate the daily intake of the local population, and indicated that wheat flour consumption contributes little to DON exposure. However, with the aim to keep the contamination levels under control and to establish a more precise evaluation of the mycotoxin burden in Shandong Province, more sample data from different harvest years and seasons are needed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reserve sharing amongst the interconnected power systems will facilitate the improvements on their anti‐disturbance capability and operating economy. Based on the design of reserve sharing mechanism across different areas, a multi‐area generation‐reserve sharing model is constructed. The stochastic fluctuation of load and wind power will cause the power grid to be in an unpredictable random state when the reserve is needed, and the transmission capacity constraint of the power grid may restrict the effective deployment of the reserve. To address these issues, a max‐min bi‐level optimization model is proposed to check the reserve availability. The joint generation and reserve optimization sub‐model, together with the reserve check sub‐model, constitutes the two‐stage robust optimization model in this paper. The column‐and‐constraint generation (C&CG), algorithm is adopted to solve the proposed model. The modified IEEE 118‐node test case is used to verify the proposed model and algorithm. The test results indicate that the proposed method can realize the multi‐area generation‐reserve joint optimization under the condition of guaranteeing the reserve availability, and it possesses the advantage of high efficiency in dealing with stochastic scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an evaluation framework for the reliability of a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) cable-anchorage system was established. We first developed a simplified 3D finite element (FE) model for an effective FRP cable anchorage, in which layers of FRP tendons were equivalent to several concentric rings. The performance of the anchorage system was evaluated using the maximum Tsai–Wu failure index (FI max) of all cable elements. By feeding 1600 samples generated from the above FE model, a back-propagation neural network (BPNN) was trained to rapidly predict FI max. Assuming that the overall failure was controlled by the weakest part, the reliability index β of the entire system can be calculated from FI max through a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The β of the prototype anchorage system reached 4.3635. Under a deterministic design load F d , giving a target reliability index β T = 3.7, the design-to-ultimate ratio was estimated to be 0.532. The sensitivity analysis suggested that the FI max was most sensitive to the longitudinal tensile strength of the FRP cable and the thickness of the load transfer component (LTC, also known as load transfer medium or LTM) at the loading end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The eccentric compression behavior of concrete columns reinforced with a combination of steel and BFRP bars was experimentally studied. • The effects of loading eccentricity, reinforcement type, and reinforcement ratio were discussed. • The equations to predict the axial compressive strength of hybrid-RC columns were proposed. This study aims to investigate the eccentric compression behavior of concrete columns reinforced with a hybrid of steel and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars and ties (hybrid-RC). A total of ten slender columns were constructed and tested, including six hybrid-RC columns, two longitudinal steel bars and ties reinforced concrete (steel-RC) columns, and two longitudinal BFRP bars and ties reinforced concrete (BFRP-RC) columns. The study focused on the effects of reinforcement type, loading eccentricity, and reinforcement ratio. The test results indicated that the hybrid-RC columns with relatively higher reinforcement ratios demonstrated close load-carrying capacity and stiffness to those of steel- and BFRP-RC columns. All the columns experienced a significant reduction in their load-carrying capacities, as well as the axial and lateral stiffness, when the applied loading eccentricity increased from 80 mm to 150 mm. As the reinforcement ratio increased, hybrid-RC columns exhibited an improvement in the load-carrying capacity, stiffness, and axial force contribution of longitudinal bars in compression. Furthermore, the equations to predict the cross-sectional strength of hybrid-RC columns were proposed by theoretical analysis, and the existing methods considering the slenderness effect were evaluated for hybrid-RC columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate pesticide residues in bell peppers from Shandong Province, China. A total of 299 samples were collected from 17 cities in 2016. The concentrations of 26 pesticide residues were determined by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The results showed that there were 25 pesticides (15 OPs, 7 PYs, 3 CBs) found in 86 bell pepper samples, and the total number of positives was 120. The total frequency was 28.76%. The detection frequency for OPs, PYs and CBs was 16.39%, 12.37% and 3.01%, respectively. The most frequently detected pesticide was bifenthrin, with the frequency of 5.02%. 5.35% of samples contained pesticide residues above the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by China. 7.36% of samples contained more than one pesticide. The values of %ADI were below 100, while the %ARfD of carbofuran and methidathion exceeded 100 for children. The cumulative risk was highest for OPs. From the public health point of view, the levels of pesticide residues in bell peppers do not pose a serious health risk to adults, but the acute health risk to children should be paid more attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Edible packaging and coating with natural antimicrobials such as essential oils is an emerging technology for the control of pathogen growth in meat products. This study aimed to explore ethyl cellulose (EC) of three viscosities for the structuring of cinnamon essential oil (CEO), and investigated the physicochemical properties of the resulting oleogel and its emulsion, as well as the corresponding antibacterial activity in model and actual environments (as in sausages). Results: The network structure of CEO‐EC oleogel was more compact with increased EC viscosity, thereby improving the binding capacity and stability of the oil. A positive correlation was found between EC viscosity and particle size of the CEO‐EC emulsion. The 45 cP CEO‐EC emulsion exhibited greatest antimicrobial activitiy in models with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 (ATCC 700927) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (ATCC 29213), as well as in sausage, with respect to total counts of mesophilic bacteria, psychrotrophs, lactobacilli, and pseudomonads. Conclusion: The CEO‐EC oleogel has antibacterial activity, determined by the EC viscosity, that provide potential antibacterial protection for meat products and might be especially suitable for some traditional Chinese ready‐to‐eat sausages without strictly sealed packaging. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the occurrence and exposure assessment of multiple mycotoxins in corn-based food products from Shandong Province, China. Results demonstrated that the mean level of total mycotoxins in test samples was 197.2 µg/kg. The most frequently found mycotoxins were deoxynivalenol (96.7%) and fumonisin B1 (94.4%), with mean contamination levels of 65.24 and 128.2, respectively. Among these corn-based food products, thin corn pancake had the highest mean contamination (886.7 µg/kg), followed by wotou (143.7 µg/kg), corn cake (135.4 µg/kg) and mantou (63.73 µg/kg). The average exposure values to total fumonisins and deoxynivalenol were 0.05 and 0.02 µg/kg bw/day, which were lower than the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake values of 2 and 1 µg/kg bw/day, respectively, as established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. In the future strict control and systematic monitoring are needed to secure food safety and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Crosslinking collagen by transglutaminase (TGase) was investigated. • Proper denature temperature (≥35 °C) improved crosslinking efficiency of TGase. • Relationship between crosslinking and denature temperature for film performance. • Denatured, crosslinked film was still inferior to the natural one in strength. Abstract Transglutaminase (TGase) catalyzing crosslinking between intra- and inter-chain glutamine and lysine peptide residues has been used for modifying protein’s structure. However, its enzymatic performance on albuminoids such as collagen was still not completely illustrated. Herein, we investigated the crosslinking efficiency of films preheated at different temperatures and estimated its physicochemical properties. The electrophoresis results showed that the extracted collagen had typical triple helix structure but reduced and even disappeared as temperature increased. Accordingly, X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the amount of triple helices decreased, corresponding to the decreases in thermal stability and mechanical properties of films. TGase crosslinking decreased the thickness of all films, while mechanical properties and thermal stability had a significant improvement especially at 45 °C and 65 °C. With the proper equilibrium of denature temperature and TGase crosslinking, the tailored film-forming properties of collagen can offer a potential to engineer collagenic material for biodegradable and edible packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, protease, α‐amylase and 5‰ β‐glucanase enzymolysis in combination with high‐pressure homogenisation were used for the preparation of polysaccharide‐based nanoparticles from Flammulina velutipes stipes, respectively, named FNP‐1, FNP‐2 and FNP‐3, and the nanoparticles were subsequently characterised. The FNP size distribution ranged from 50 nm to 300 nm, among which FNP‐2 and FNP‐3 were smaller than FNP‐1, based on the SEM images. GC‐MS results showed that these particles were mainly composed of glucose and glucosamine. The FNP dispersions at 1 wt% behaved as non‐Newtonian, shear‐thinning fluids, and the FNP‐3 dispersion presented superior viscoelasticity. With an increasing degree of enzymolysis, the thermal stability of the FNPs decreased. In addition, these particles presented various cation‐exchange properties. Therefore, the Flammulina velutipes polysaccharide‐based nanoparticles obtained from this study can be potentially used as a promising functional food ingredient in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to efficiently utilize mushroom-processing waste discharge, insoluble fiber (FVIF) from aged Flammulina velutipes stipe was prepared with a series of wet milling steps of colloid mill (CM), PFI, low pressure homogenization (LPH) and high pressure homogenization (HPH) and formed into film by casting method. The SEM images depicted that morphology and size of FVIF varied (fibrous to spherical; 5 um to 50 nm) with a tendency of uniform and micronization as homogenization intensity increased. Accordingly, HPH-fiber film presented a smoother surface and more compact internal structure, especially a higher tensile strength (49.83 ± 3.63 MPa) and a better barrier property to water vapor (0.095 ± 0.003 a  g·mm/m 2 ·h·kPa) and oxygen (9.96 ± 0.63 meq/kg). Moreover, HPH benefited the film's thermal stability, color and transparency. It confirmed that film performance is closely associated with fiber morphology and HPH provides a potential approach to develop new edible film from mushroom byproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A porous Zn 0.3 Co 2.7 O 4 willow-leaf like structure was obtained with an annealing treatment with the acetate hydrate precursor. The morphology and structure of precursor and porous Zn 0.3 Co 2.7 O 4 material was well characterized. The as-prepared Zn 0.3 Co 2.7 O 4 exhibited good electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance with an overpotential of 389 mV at the benchmark of a current density of 10 mA/cm 2 , a low Tafel slope of 61.57 mV/dec and a negligible increase of the overpotential during the stability test of 7200 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the concentrations of rare earth elements in vegetables and assess human health risk through vegetable consumption, a total of 301 vegetable samples were collected from mining area and control area in Shandong, China. The contents of 14 rare earth elements were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma—Mass Spectrometry (ICP—MS). The total rare earth elements in vegetables from mining and control areas were 94.08 μg kg −1 and 38.67 μg kg −1 , respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The leaf vegetable had the highest rare earth elements concentration (984.24 μg kg −1 and 81.24 μg kg −1 for mining and control areas, respectively) and gourd vegetable had the lowest rare earth elements concentration (37.34 μg kg −1 and 24.63 μg kg −1 for mining and control areas, respectively). For both areas, the rare earth elements concentration in vegetables declined in the order of leaf vegetable > taproot vegetable > alliaceous vegetable > gourd vegetable. The rare earth elements distribution patterns for both areas were characterized by enrichment of light rare earth elements. The health risk assessment demonstrated that the estimated daily intakes (0.69 μg kg −1 d −1 and 0.28 μg kg −1 d −1 for mining and control areas, respectively) of rare earth elements through vegetable consumption were significantly lower than the acceptable daily intake (70 μg kg −1 d −1 ). The damage to adults can be neglected, but more attention should be paid to the effects of continuous exposure to low levels of rare earth elements on children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 1,3-Butadiene (BD) has been classified as a human carcinogen, group I; however, the relationship between polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases that metabolize BD and chromosomal damage is not clear. The present study used sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assays to detect chromosomal damage in peripheral lymphocytes of 44 BD-exposed workers and 39 non-exposed healthy controls. PCR and PCR-RFLP were employed to detect three known glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1 (Ile105Val). The data demonstrated that the micronucleus (CBMN) frequency in BD-exposed workers was significantly higher than that in controls (frequency ratio (FR)=1.48, 95% CI: 1.14–1.91, P <0.01), and the CBMN frequency was higher in workers exposed to higher cumulative BD levels (FR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.28–2.27, P <0.01). However, differences in SCE frequency were not observed (FR=1.14, 95% CI: 0.81–1.61, P >0.05). Among exposed workers, chromosomal damage was related to BD exposure levels (FR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.02–1.80, P <0.05); age, older workers exhibited higher MN frequencies than younger workers (FR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.14–1.84, P <0.05); and years of work, those with more years of work exhibited higher MN frequencies than those with fewer years (FR=1.40, 95% CI: 1.10–1.77, P <0.05). Multivariate Poisson regression analysis showed that those who carried GSTM1 (−) (FR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.14–1.92) or GSTT1 (−) (FR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.10–1.83) genotypes, and especially those who carried both (FR=2.10, 95% CI: 1.43–3.09) exhibited significantly higher MN frequencies than those carrying GSTM1 (+), GSTT1 (+) genotypes or their combination. The GSTP1 Val genotype did not affect MN frequency (P >0.05). Our results suggested that higher levels of BD exposure in the workplace resulted in increased chromosomal damage, and that polymorphisms in GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes might modulate the genotoxic effects of BD exposure. Furthermore, the GSTT1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms exhibited an additive effect. Finally, urinary DHBMA was found to provide a biomarker that correlated with airborne BD levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Fe0@Cu0 bimetal could selectively reduce nitrate to nitrite. • The formic acid/Fe3+/UV system could reduce nitrite to nitrogen. • Fe0@Cu0 bimetal with HCCOH + Fe3+could completely reduce nitrate under UV radiation. • N 2 selectivity achieved 98% at neutral pH range. Nitrate reduction by zero valent iron (Fe0) has been gained increasing attention. However, two key issues, that is, the reduction is efficient only at acidic condition; and the major reduction product is ammonium, which limited the application of Fe0 for the nitrate removal. In this study, to address these issues, a novel system of Fe0@Cu0 bimetal with formate/Fe3+ under UV irradiation was developed for the nitrate reduction. The results showed that 100% nitrate removal efficiency and 98% N 2 selectivity were achieved at initial pH of 6.47 by a two-step reduction process: (1) the nitrate was firstly reduced to nitrite, while ammonium was negligible in the Fe0@Cu0/formate/UV system; (2) the accumulated nitrite in the effluent from the first-step reduction could be further reduced to nitrogen by CO 2 •− radical generated by the reaction of formic acid, Fe3+ and UV radiation. Almost no formate residual was found in the effluent due to the action of photo-induced electron transfer of Fe3+. The optimization of operation conditions and the combination mode of Fe0@Cu0 with formate/formic acid, Fe3+ and UV were investigated. The chemical denitrification mechanism of the Fe0@Cu0 particles was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For realizing the high-valued utilization of agricultural by-products and investigating the feasibility of their functional production, we focused on developing biodegradable/edible films based on insoluble dietary fibers (IDF) derived from dried Lentinus edodes (L. edodes) stems and aged Flammulina velutipes (F. velutipes) with a two-stage treatment containing physical processing (colloidal milling and PFI grinding) and chemical treatment (hydrogen peroxide bleaching). Undergoing the bleaching treatment, the IDFs with a reduced size and regular shape effectively improved the performances of edible films. Scanning electron micrographs showed that the bleached L. edodes (BLF) film displayed a smoother surface and more compact internal structure compared to the others. Furthermore, BLF film possessed the highest tensile strength (24.37 ± 0.88 MPa) and an effective barrier to water vapor (0.253 ± 0.016 g mm/m2· h· kpa) and oxygen (10.03 ± 0.97 meq/kg). This study demonstrated that the insoluble fiber dissociated from edible mushroom byproducts has good potential for producing the edible films. • Bleaching treatment effectively reduced the size of edible mushroom insoluble fibers. • The bleached fiber films had low solubility in water and kept good integrity. • Bleached Lentinus edodes film exhibited good tensile strength but less elongation. • Bleached Lentinus edodes film had an effective barrier to moisture and oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]