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Drama learning is helpful for English speaking, however, few studies provided students with opportunities to practice drama conversations individually. This study proposed a Context-Awareness Smart Learning Mechanism (CASLM) and integrated into SmartVpen that consisted of context-aware learning content, context-aware input assistance, oral recognition feedback, peer cooperative learning, and smart conversation robot. The participants were 68 eighth grade-students divided into three groups: an experimental group (EG) who used SmartVpen, a control group 1 (CG1) who used typical camera and voice recorder, and a control group 2 (CG2) who used papers and pencils. The results showed the EG outperformed the other groups concerning oral and conversational skills, which indicated the use of SmartVpen had significant effects in both English oral speaking and conversational skills. Additionally, the number of time to complete conversation practices can predict students' oral performance by 30%. Furthermore, the results also showed the EG tend to practice drama conversations more frequently than the CG1, which demonstrated practicing English drama conversations using SmartVpen can effectively improve students' learning motivation. Thus, we suggested English conversations practice activities should be conducted in authentic context with SmartVpen to support students' speaking and facilitate them to apply what they learned in real-life situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Fictibacillus contains twelve species significant in the synthesis of cellulose-degrading enzymes and phenylalanine dehydrogenase, isolated mainly from marine sedimentary environments. Here, we report a new biosurfactant-producing strain, Fictibacillus nanhaiensis ME46, isolated from Daqing oil field in China. The biosurfactant extracted from Strain ME46 was determined as surfactin, one of the representative families of lipopeptide biosurfactants. The yield of the surfactin produced by strain ME46 was 0.62 g·L−1 as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactin was estimated to be about 68 mg·L−1 and the surface tension at CMC was 35.1 mN·m−1. This study extended our knowledge about the role of the species Fictibacillus nanhaiensis in the ecosystem of natural environments such as the oil field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The fruit of Phyllanthus emblica L., a traditional medicine in China and India, is used to treat diabetes mellitus. Its water extract (WEPE) has demonstrated hypoglycemic effects in diabetic rats, but its mechanisms on glucose utilization and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of WEPE on glucose utilization and insulin resistance using C2C12 myotubes. Methods: Effects of WEPE on glucose uptake, GLUT4 translocation, and AMPK and AKT phosphorylation were investigated in C2C12 myotubes and palmitate-treated myotubes. An AMPK inhibitor and siRNA were used to explore the mechanisms of WEPE. Glucose uptake was determined using a 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) uptake assay, and protein expression and GLUT4 translocation were assessed via western blotting. Results: In normal myotubes, WEPE significantly stimulated glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane at concentrations of 125 and 250 µg/mL. This was accompanied by an increase in the phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream targets. However, both compound C and AMPK siRNA blocked the WEPE-induced GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake. Moreover, pretreatment with STO-609, a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) inhibitor, inhibited WEPE-induced AMPK phosphorylation and attenuated the WEPE-stimulated glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation. In myotubes treated with palmitate, WEPE prevented palmitate-induced insulin resistance by enhancing insulin-mediated glucose uptake and AKT phosphorylation. It also restored the insulin-mediated translocation of GLUT4 from cytoplasm to membrane. However, these effects of WEPE on glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation were blocked by pretreatment with compound C. Conclusions: WEPE significantly stimulated basal glucose uptake though CaMKKβ/AMPK pathway and markedly ameliorated palmitate-induced insulin resistance by activating the AMPK pathway in C2C12 myotubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their diverse physiologies and roles, the heart, skeletal muscles, and smooth muscles all derive from a common embryonic source as bones. Moreover, bone tissue, skeletal and smooth muscles, and the heart share conserved signaling pathways. The maintenance of skeletal health is precisely regulated by osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts through coordinated secretion of bone‐derived factors known as osteokines. Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of osteokines in regulating atherosclerotic vascular disease. Therefore, this review aims to examine the evidence for the role of osteokines in atherosclerosis development and progression comprehensively. Specifically discussed are extensively studied osteokines in atherosclerosis such as osteocalcin, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, and fibroblast growth factor 23. Additionally, we highlighted the effects of exercise on modulating these key regulators derived from bone tissue metabolism. We believe that gaining an enhanced understanding of how osteocalcin contributes to the process of atherosclerosis will enable us to develop targeted and comprehensive therapeutic strategies against diseases associated with its progression. Significance Statement: Bone is now recognized as an endocrine organ, with numerous studies demonstrating its direct effects on blood vessels and cells, as well as indirect impacts on the process of atherosclerosis. We believe that osteokines hold significant research potential in this area, and understanding their role in atherosclerosis and uncovering underlying mechanisms could lead to new therapeutic targets and improved treatment outcomes. In this review, we summarize four well‐established mechanisms through which osteokines contribute to atherosclerosis, providing valuable insights for future researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Inositol requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is generally thought to control the most conserved pathway in the unfolded protein response (UPR). Two isoforms of IRE1, IRE1α and IRE1β, have been reported in mammals. IRE1α is a ubiquitously expressed protein whose knockout shows marked lethality. In contrast, the expression of IRE1β is exclusively restricted in the epithelial cells of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, and IRE1β-knockout mice are phenotypically normal. As research continues to deepen, IRE1α was showed to be tightly linked to inflammation, lipid metabolism regulation, cell death and so on. Growing evidence also suggests an important role for IRE1α in promoting atherosclerosis (AS) progression and acute cardiovascular events through disrupting lipid metabolism balance, facilitating cells apoptosis, accelerating inflammatory responses and promoting foam cell formation. In addition, IRE1α was recognized as novel potential therapeutic target in AS prevention. This review provides some clues about the relationship between IRE1α and AS, hoping to contribute to further understanding roles of IRE1α in atherogenesis and to be helpful for the design of novel efficacious therapeutics agents targeting IRE1α-related pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective Thomson scattering (TS) is a powerful technique to accurately diagnose the parameters of laser-produced plasmas. However, when the scattering parameter α, which is inverse to the product of electron Debye length and wavenumber of plasma fluctuations, is significantly larger than 1, which of the conditions is easily satisfied in the experiment, the accuracy of electron density measurement is usually poor just with the single-wavenumber ion-acoustic wave feature of the TS spectrum. This situation can be greatly improved in the imaging TS experiment because the signal intensity is proportional to electron density. A novel algorithm is developed and validated for the data analysis of imaging TS through the combination of signal intensity and spectral profile. The results show that we can obtain the electron density with high confidence, as well as other plasma parameters like electron and ion temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of Puccinia (Pucciniaceae, Pucciniales) are known as plant pathogens worldwide, which are characterized by their morphology, host association, and molecular data of various genes. In the present study, 10 specimens of Puccinia were collected from four herbaceous plants (Anaphalis hancockii, Anthriscus sylvestris, Halenia elliptica, and Pilea pumila) in China and identified based on morphology and phylogeny. As a result, 10 samples represent four undescribed species of Puccinia, viz., P. apdensia, P. decidua, P. dermatis, and P. lianchengensis, spp. nov. P. apdensia is characterized by its smooth teliospores with thickened apex. P. decidua represents the first Puccinia species inhabiting the host Anaphalis hancockii and is distinguished from the other Puccinia species by its telia and uredinia surrounded by the epidermis. P. dermatis from Halenia elliptica differs from the other Puccinia species on the host genus Halenia by the telia that have epidermis and teliospores with sparsely irregular granulated protrusions. P. lianchengensis is characterized by its teliospore surface with fishnet ornamentation and urediniospores without prominent caps. All of the new species are described and illustrated in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental issues have always been a concern, and designing a material that can effectively combat both gaseous and liquid pollutants is a goal we are working toward. Herein, two examples of N-rich covalent organic frameworks (COFs), named YCOF1 and YCOF2, were synthesized using the solvothermal method. Their structure, stability and morphology were characterized using PXRD, FT-IR, XPS, TGA and SEM. According to the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, the specific surface areas of YCOF1 and YCOF2 were 559.096 and 741.261 m2 g−1, respectively. Under the volume percentage of simulated flue gases, YCOF1 exhibits excellent CO2 IAST selectivities of 70.97 at 273 K and 30.05 at 298 K, while YCOF2 also exhibits excellent CO2 IAST selectivity of 51.90 at 273 K. Moreover, their high specific surface area and abundant active sites provide excellent adsorption capacity for malachite green (MG), with maximum adsorption amounts of 650.14 mg g−1 (YCOF1) and 572.95 mg g−1 (YCOF2). Furthermore, the adsorption of the COFs for dyes followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model. The dye removal efficiency of YCOF1 and YCOF2 showed less than 5% change after 5 adsorption cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradation of hillside alpine meadow ecosystems is a widespread problem that usually results in the fragmentation of the mattic epipedon (ME). The mattic epipedon plays a well‐known role in the hydrological cycle of alpine ecosystems due to its high water‐holding capacity. However, little is known about how ME fragmentation alters soil infiltrability—a key soil property that influences runoff and erosion processes as well as soil moisture dynamics. To address this issue, we contrasted the infiltration rates and soil and plant characteristics of preserved meadow patches (with full ME) and patches at two stages of ME fragmentation, namely, half ME and without ME. Our results showed that mattic epipedon fragmentation reduced aboveground plant biomass (mainly of sedges) by 58.6–65.6 g m−2 and root biomass by 5,643–10,054 g m−2. Soil compressive strength (11.6 kg cm−2) and total soil porosity (52%) of fragmented meadow patches without ME were significantly lower than in those with half (17.9 cm−2 and 62%, respectively) or full ME (31.7 cm−2 and 62.5%, respectively). In contrast, non‐capillary porosity and aggregate stability slightly increased with fragmentation and were highest at patches without ME. Importantly, soil infiltration rates in hillside alpine meadows greatly increased as a result of mattic epipedon fragmentation. Initial infiltration rates were approximately 10 and 20 times higher at patches with half ME and without ME (177 mm h−1 and 326 mm h−1, respectively) than at patches with the full ME (17 mm h−1). Moreover, steady‐state infiltration rates were approximately 6 and 9 times higher at patches with half ME and without ME (60 mm h−1 and 88 mm h−1, respectively) than at patches with the full ME (17 mm h−1). Overall, mattic epipedon fragmentation improved soil infiltrability by changing the soil and plant characteristics. These findings suggest that mattic epipedon fragmentation will lower runoff maintenance and have drastic effects on the water provisioning function of hillside alpine meadows on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 sequestration (CS) into the shale formations can reduce not only carbon emissions but also enhance gas recovery (EGR). The adsorption and diffusion behaviour of CO2 and CH4 on kerogens with different maturity play a crucial role in CS-EGR as they determine the efficiency of CO2 storage and energy recovery. In this work, GCMC and MD simulations were performed to investigate the adsorption and diffusion behaviour of CO2 and CH4 on kerogen models at different grades of maturity. It indicated that, in the same maturity, the CO2 adsorption capacity was more significant than that of CH4. With increasing maturity, the adsorption capacity and diffusion rate increased. With the increase of water contents, the swelling ratio of kerogens increased, and the adsorption capacity and the diffusion coefficients of CH4 and CO2 decreased. However, the adsorption selectivity of CO2 over CH4 significantly increased. H2O and CO2 molecules both preferred to adsorb on functional groups of oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur. This study consolidated our hypothesis that an injected CO2 to shale gas and oil formations contributed positively to enhanced energy recovery owing to the difference in adsorption and diffusion behaviour of CH4 and CO2 in kerogens with different maturity in gas and oil reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), with diverse metal nodes and designable organic linkers, offer unique opportunities for the rational engineering of semiconducting properties. In this work, we report a mixed‐linker conductive MOF system with both tetrathiafulvalene and Ni‐bis(dithiolene) moieties, which allows the fine‐tuning of electronic structures and semiconductive characteristics. By continuously increasing the molar ratio between tetrathiafulvalene and Ni‐bis(dithiolene), the switching of the semiconducting behaviors from n‐type to p‐type was observed along with an increase in electrical conductivity by 3 orders of magnitude (from 2.88×10−7 S m−1 to 9.26×10−5 S m−1). Furthermore, mixed‐linker MOFs were applied for the chemiresistive detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), where the sensing performance was modulated by the corresponding linker ratios, showing synergistic and nonlinear modulation effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), with diverse metal nodes and designable organic linkers, offer unique opportunities for the rational engineering of semiconducting properties. In this work, we report a mixed‐linker conductive MOF system with both tetrathiafulvalene and Ni‐bis(dithiolene) moieties, which allows the fine‐tuning of electronic structures and semiconductive characteristics. By continuously increasing the molar ratio between tetrathiafulvalene and Ni‐bis(dithiolene), the switching of the semiconducting behaviors from n‐type to p‐type was observed along with an increase in electrical conductivity by 3 orders of magnitude (from 2.88×10−7 S m−1 to 9.26×10−5 S m−1). Furthermore, mixed‐linker MOFs were applied for the chemiresistive detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), where the sensing performance was modulated by the corresponding linker ratios, showing synergistic and nonlinear modulation effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactin, which is composed of a β‐hydroxy fatty acid chain and a peptide ring, has drawn considerable attention due to its potential applications in the biomedicine, bioremediation, and petroleum industries. However, the low yield of surfactin from wild strains still restricts its industrial applications. In this study, eight genes relevant to the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway were targeted to enhance surfactin production, and high surfactin‐yielding strains with potential industrial applications were obtained. When ldeHA and acc were co‐overexpressed, the surfactin yield of recombinant strains TDS8 and TPS8 increased to 1.55‐ and 1.19‐fold of their parental strains, respectively, again proving that the conversion of acetyl‐coenzyme A (CoA) to malonyl‐CoA is the rate‐limiting step in fatty acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, changes in surfactin isoforms of recombinant strain TPS8 suggest that the fatty acid precursor synthesis pathway can be modified to improve the proportion of different isoforms. In addition, the deletion of lpdV, which is responsible for the conversion of α‐ketoacyl‐CoA precursors, resulted in a sharp decrease in surfactin production, further demonstrating the importance of branched‐chain fatty acid biosynthesis in surfactin production. This work will facilitate the design and construction of more efficiently engineered strains for surfactin production and further extend industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 geological sequestration in subsurface shale formations is a promising strategy to store CO2 and to increase shale gas production. The understanding of gas adsorption and diffusion mechanisms in microporous media is critical for CO2 storage-enhanced gas recovery (CS-EGR). The type of kerogens is one of the important factors that influence the adsorption and diffusion behaviors of gases. In this work, the Grand Canonical Monte Carlo and Molecular Dynamics simulations were utilized to develop kerogen models and further investigate gas and water adsorption and diffusion behavior on the type IA, IIA, and IIIA kerogen models. The results indicated that the adsorption and diffusion capacities of CO2 are larger than those of CH4. The adsorption and diffusion capacity decreased with increasing water content. However, the CO2/CH4 adsorption selectivity increased with the increase in water content. Type IIIA demonstrated the best potential for adsorption and diffusion. This study provides insights into the role of the adsorption and diffusion behavior of CO2 and CH4 mixtures on kerogens of different types under different water contents at a microscopic scale, and can facilitate further understanding of the processes involved in CO2 storage coupled with enhanced energy recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Controversy remains about the classification, differential diagnosis, and treatment strategy for gallbladder polypoid lesions (GPLs). This study sought to explore the individualized treatment strategy for GPLs. Methods: We retrospectively studied 642 consecutive patients with GPLs from January 2015 to May 2020. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to explore the potential risk factors for neoplastic polyps. The outcome of laparoscopic gallbladder-preserving polypectomy (GPP) was evaluated and compared with that of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Results: Of 642 enrolled patients, 572 underwent LC, and 70 underwent GPP. Pathologically, the majority of GPLs were cholesterol polyps (68.4%), followed by adenomyomatosis (19.9%), benign adenoma (7.3%), adenocarcinoma (3.6%), and rare pathological types (0.8%). Additionally, 66.3% (379/572) of the LC cases were classified as non-neoplastic, and 33.7% (193/572) neoplastic polyps. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that single polyps (OR 1.956, 95% CI: 1.121–3.412; p = 0.018), polyps located at the gallbladder fundus (OR 4.326, 95% CI: 2.179–8.591; p < 0.001), polyps not less than 14 mm (OR 2.833, 95% CI: 1.614–4.973; p < 0.001), and polyps with a broad base (OR 4.173, 95% CI: 1.743–9.990; p = 0.001) were independent risk factors for neoplastic polyps. The 5-year prospective results after GPP showed that the 1-year and 3-year polyp recurrence rates were 13.2% and 23.4%, respectively. Conclusion: The majority of GPLs are cholesterol or other benign lesions without malignant potential. LC is the main treatment procedure for GPLs with a high neoplastic risk. GPP is potentially feasible and could be an alternative management strategy for a group of GPLs patients who meet the selection criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrub encroachment has been rapidly occurring due to climate change, with profound ecological consequences for the alpine meadows of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Here, we conducted field surveys along a shrub coverage gradient to examine the effects of shrub encroachment on the structure and functioning of alpine meadows' plant communities. Our results showed that the overall coverage, density, aboveground biomass, species richness, and diversity of meadow community gradually declined with increasing levels of shrub encroachment, especially when shrub coverage exceeded 60%. Aboveground ecosystem multifunctionality also decreased along the shrub coverage gradient. With 90% shrub coverage, the relative importance value of the forbs functional group significantly increased while the Cyperaceae functional group showed the opposite trend: the originally dominant sedges Carex moorcroftii and Kobresia myosuroides were replaced by the forbs Androsace umbellate and Polygonum sparsipilosum. Additionally, shrub encroachment had a strong effect on nonrandom herb species extinction and colonization. At shrub coverages higher than 60%, there were 9 herb species absent and 18 new species colonizing—7 of which were only observed in meadows with 90% shrub coverage. Rare species and those with lower stature were more likely to go extinct, while taller and shade‐tolerant species tended to colonize areas with increasing shrub coverage. Overall, our results indicate that shrub encroachment negatively affects herbaceous community structure and functioning, which has important implications for the management of alpine meadows of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau under ongoing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional porous activated carbon (HSAC) with high adsorption properties was prepared by using hemp straw as raw material and phosphotungstate as catalyst through low-temperature hydrothermal carbonization combined with KOH high-temperature activation technology. The maximum specific surface area of activated carbon material was 2310.1 m2 g–1, and the maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue was 2424.2 mg g–1. A series of PEG/HSAC phase change energy storage materials with different mass ratios were prepared by physical blending impregnation by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as phase change material and porous activated carbon as carrier. Through the study of activated carbon pore structure, energy storage material structure analysis, and DSC comparative analysis, the experimental results showed that PEG and HSAC mass ratio (60/40) was the best. The latent heat of the composite was 51.5 J g–1, and the phase change temperature was 58.5 ℃. No obvious leakage occurred after 20 heat cycles. Composite phase change materials had potential applications in the field of intelligent buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The recently proposed order Candidatus Thermoprofundales, currently containing only one family‐level lineage Marine Benthic Group‐D (MBG‐D), is distributed in global subsurface ecosystems and ecologically important, but its diversity, evolution and metabolism remain largely unknown. Here we described two novel family‐level specialized lineages in Ca. Thermoprofundales, JdFR‐43 and HyVt, which are restricted to specific biotopes (primarily in marine hydrothermal vents and occasionally in oil reservoirs and hot springs) in contrast to the cosmopolitan lineage MBG‐D. The comparative genomics revealed that the specialized lineages have streamlined genomes, higher GC contents, enriched genes associated with nucleotide biosynthesis, ribosome biogenesis and DNA repair and additional thermostable aminopeptidases, enabling them to adapt to high‐temperature habitats such as marine hydrothermal vents, deep subsurface oil reservoirs and hot springs. On the contrary, the unique metabolic traits of the cosmopolitan MBG‐D, motility, glycolysis, butanoate metabolism, secondary metabolites production and additional genes for specific peptides and carbohydrates degradation potentially enhance its response to environmental change. Substrate preference is found for most MAGs across all lineages with the ability to utilize both polysaccharides (chitin and starch) and proteinaceous substances, whereas JdFR‐43 members from oil reservoirs can only utilize proteins. These results expand the diversity of Ca. Thermoprofundales significantly and further improve our understandings of the adaptations of Ca. Thermoprofundales to various environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shenlian (SL) decoction is a herbal formula composed of Coptis and ginseng, of which berberine and ginsenoside are the main constituents. Even though SL decoction is widely used in treating diabetes in China, the mechanism of its antidiabetes function still needs further study. Gut microbiota disorder is one of the important factors that cause diabetes. To explore the effect of SL decoction on intestinal microbiota, gut microbiota of mice was analyzed by sequencing the gut bacterial 16S rRNA V3+V4 region and metagenomics. In this study, results demonstrated that SL decoction had a better hypoglycemic effect and β cell protection effect than either ginseng or Coptis chinensis. Alpha diversity analysis showed that all interventions with ginseng, Coptis, and SL decoction could reverse the increased diversity and richness of gut microbiota in db/db mice. PCoA analysis showed oral SL decoction significantly alters gut microbiota composition in db/db mice. 395 OTUs showed significant differences after SL treatment, of which 37 OTUs enriched by SL decoction showed a significant negative correlation with FBG, and 204 OTUs decreased by SL decoction showed a significant positive correlation with FBG. Results of KEGG analysis and metagenomic sequencing showed that SL decoction could reduce the Prevotellaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Helicobacteraceae, which were related to lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, riboflavin metabolism, and peroxisome, respectively. It could also upregulate the abundance of Bacteroidaceae, which contributed to the metabolism of starch and sucrose as well as pentose-glucuronate interconversions. In the species level, SL decoction significantly upregulates the relative abundance of Bacteroides_acidifaciens which showed a significant negative correlation with FBG and was reported to be a potential agent for modulating metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. In conclusion, SL decoction was effective in hypoglycemia and its mechanism may be related to regulating gut microbiota via upregulating Bacteroides_acidifaciens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the melt strength of Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) resin, the silane graft-crosslinked PBS copolyester materials were prepared by melt blending method with vinyltriethyl silane as graft material and benzyl peroxide (BPO) as initiator. At the same time, the environmentally friendly compound foaming agent (citric acid and sodium bicarbonate) was used as foaming agent. The results showed that the tensile properties and melt strength of PBS resin were greatly improved after silane grafting and cross-linking, and the graft and cross-linking reaction between PBS resin and silane occurred, forming a three-dimensional space network structure, and the viscosity and elasticity of polymer melt was changed, which increased the entropy elasticity of the material and strengthened the polymer melt strength. The additional amount of compound foaming agent and the cross-linking degree of material had important influence on the diameter and distribution of PBS foaming material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaching English in a classroom setting where EFL learners were usually sitting at desks and doing English learning tasks using paper and pencil is inefficient. It has considerable potential problems that could lead to students learning in a passive state. More specifically, the teaching materials are inconsistent with students' authentic experiences, which decreases the learning efficiency, learning motivation, and levels of interactivity. An annotatable multimedia E-reader (AME) was developed to address these problems. The provided various annotation tools to help students create dramas with authentic contexts. The study participants were 48 junior high school students and divided into the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). Results revealed that learning English through drama with AME assistance in authentic contexts significantly improved the participants' learning achievements. In other words, the learning achievements of the EG were superior to those of the CG. Moreover, the results indicated that different learning behaviors were significantly related to different learning achievements. Thus, the greater the diversity of learning behaviors practiced by the students in the drama activity in authentic contexts, the higher the students' learning scores on different dimensions. Finally, the results indicated that using the AME in authentic contexts was beneficial for English learning through drama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane metabolism in deep subsurface petroleum reservoirs is of paramount interest in the global biogeochemical cycle of carbon. Methanogenesis in such habitats is driven mostly by methanogens in syntrophic association with bacteria. In the present study, methanogenic communities in production water samples from six wells of a high-temperature petroleum reservoir were analyzed based on both genomic 16S rDNA and metabolically active 16S rRNA. The PCR-amplified mcrA gene analysis showed that Methanosaeta (26%) and Methanomassiliicoccus (56%) were separately the dominant members in sample W2_71 and W9_18 at the DNA level. In comparison, the RNA-based analysis showed that Methanosaeta (63 ∼ 83%) followed by Methanolinea (16 ∼ 23%) were the most active methanogens, which were different from the communities of genomic DNA. While several lines of studies indicated that CO2-reducing methanogens of the genus Methanothermobacter was the most frequently detected phylotype in deep-subsurface petroleum reservoirs. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed the possible correlation between active methanogens (Methanosaeta) and environmental factors (CO32-). The datasets indicated the importance of investigating methanogenic community by integrating DNA- and RNA-based approaches. These results provide new insight into active methanogens in high-temperature petroleum reservoirs, and promote a comprehensive understanding of methanogens as well as their potential methanogenic pathways in such environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial degradation of recalcitrant alkanes under anaerobic conditions results in the accumulation of heavy oil fraction in oil reservoirs. Hydroxylation of alkanes is an important activation mechanism under anaerobic conditions, but the diversity and distribution of the responsible microorganisms in the subsurface environment are still unclear. The lack of functional gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers and commercially available intermediate degradation chemical compounds are the major obstacles for this research. In this investigation, PCR primers for the ahyA gene (encoding alkane hydroxylase) were designed, evaluated, and improved based on the nucleotide sequences available. Using microbial genomic DNA extracted from oil-contaminated soil and production water samples of oil reservoirs, ahyA gene nucleotide sequences were amplified and retrieved successfully from production water sample Z3-25 of Shengli oilfield. Additionally, the signature biomarker of 2-acetylalkanoic acid was detected in both Shengli and Jiangsu oilfields. These results demonstrate that anaerobic hydroxylation is an active mechanism used by microorganisms to degrade alkanes in oxygen-depleted oil reservoirs. This finding expands the current knowledge of biochemical reactions about alkane degradation in subsurface ecosystems. In addition, the PCR primers designed and tested in this study serve as an effective molecular tool for detecting the microorganisms responsible for anaerobic hydroxylation of alkanes in this and other ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Back and thigh skin of chickens showed significant differences in the thickness and the feather follicle density and size, which are important traits for slaughtered chickens' appearance. In the present study, global gene expression profiling was conducted in the back and thigh skin of chickens using Microarray technology. The results showed that 676 genes were differentially expressed between back and thigh skin. The expression of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including PPP1R3C, IGF1, PTCHD1, HOXB6, FGF9, CAMK4, SHH, BMP8B, FOXN1 and PTGER2, was validated by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), and the results were consistent with microarray results. Functional analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, adhesion and transport process, and the pathways were significantly mapped into the ECM‐receptor interaction, peroxisome, focal adhesion, Hedgehog and PPAR signalling pathways. Protein–protein interaction network analysis suggested that signalling pathways related to feathers morphogenesis and development, such as Wnt, FGF, MAPK, SHH and BMP signalling pathways, occupied important positions in the network. Genes involved in these signalling pathways and adhesion molecules might play a vital role in skin and feather follicle development. Further single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) association analysis of Wnt3A showed that the AC genotype of SNP g.255361 C>A significantly increased the feather follicle density of thigh skin. Our findings may provide new insights on candidate genes and pathways related to skin and feather follicle formation of chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The helical structures possess unique physical and chemical properties, such as superelasticity, high specific strength, chirality, and electromagnetic cross-polarization characteristics. With the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, helical structures with various scales have been discovered or synthesized artificially. Among them, the helical carbon materials receive much attention around the world. Herein, we present a brief review of the development of helical carbon materials in terms of structures, synthesis techniques and mechanisms, and applications. The controllable designing of catalysts, carbon sources and reaction parameters plays a key role to optimize the properties of the helical carbon materials. At the same time, the applications in microwave absorption devices, sensors, catalysts, energy conversions and storage devices, and solar cell are also presented. For the good chemical and physical properties, helical carbon materials have a good application prospect in many fields. The potential issues and future opportunities of the helical carbon materials are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To initiate an assessment tool for radiation-induced skin ulcer and reach a standardized assessment for clinical use, so as to contribute to the determination of optimal therapy depending on the assessment. Methods: A questionnaire was designed by reviewing the literatures, referring to the logic of assessment tools of wound diseases including diabetic foot ulcer, pressure injury and lower extremity vascular ulcer, and discussing within the research group. Sixteen experts in wound healing were engaged in the consultation over two rounds of Delphi method. The expert concordance coefficient and expert positive coefficient as well as expert authority coefficient was analyzed by checking the feedback. The reliability of experts' consultation, as well as the coordination and scientificity with assessment tool were analyzed statistically. Then the assessment tool for radiation-induced skin ulcer was established. Results: Thirteen of 16 experts responded over the two rounds consultation. The established assessment tool for radiationinduced skin ulcer contains 2 first-level indicators, 10 second-level indicators and 35 third-level indicators. Within the two rounds of consultation, the positive coefficient were 87.50% and 100% respectively. The expert authority coefficient was 0.937. The Kendall's coefficient of concordance for two rounds consultation were 0.231 and 0.147 respectively (χ2=131.977 and χ2=87.849, P<0.05). Conclusion · Experts showed high enthusiasm toward this research, and had reliable authority. The expert evaluation opinions were well coordinated, thus the results were credible. The established assessment tool for radiation-induced skin ulcer was verified to be scientific and reliable. The tool is easy to be used in clinic. By use of this assessment tool, the therapeutic plan of radiation-induced skin ulcer could be made in a more standardized way [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimode fibers (MMFs) can support a large number of spatial modes, increasing the amount of transmitted information, a feature that benefits fields such as endoscopic imaging or optical communications. However, the transport of information encoded in the phase through a standard MMF has not been achieved due to strong mode coupling, hindering direct data transfer using light beams endowed with orbital angular momentum (OAM). Here, we present a computational light field imaging technique to achieve OAM-multiplexed transmission through a commercial MMF. Such a technique enables the retrieval of the incident field from the speckle intensity at the distant end of the fiber. Based on the recovered field, the extraction of the transferred data by addressing all the OAM channels can be achieved. Experimentally, light field imaging through a MMF is demonstrated by recovering a structured light field and a phase picture. For optical transmission, the crosstalk between OAM channels is tested first, and then we demonstrate high-fidelity image data transfer via 24 multiplexed OAM channels through a commercial MMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Paraffinic n-alkanes (C22–C30), crucial portions of residual oil, are generally considered to be difficult to be biodegraded owing to their general solidity at ambient temperatures and low water solubility, rendering relatively little known about metabolic processes in different methanogenic hydrocarbon-contaminated environments. Here, we established a methanogenic C22–C30 n-alkane-degrading enrichment culture derived from a high-temperature oil reservoir production water. During two-year incubation (736 days), unexpectedly significant methane production was observed. The measured maximum methane yield rate (164.40 μmol L−1 d−1) occurred during the incubation period from day 351 to 513. The nearly complete consumption (> 97%) of paraffinic n-alkanes and the detection of dicarboxylic acids in n-alkane-amended cultures indicated the biotransformation of paraffin to methane under anoxic condition. 16S rRNA gene analysis suggested that the dominant methanogen in n-alkane-degrading cultures shifted from Methanothermobacter on day 322 to Thermoplasmatales on day 736. Bacterial community analysis based on high-throughput sequencing revealed that members of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes exhibiting predominant in control cultures, while microorganisms affiliated with Actinobacteria turned into the most dominant phylum in n-alkane-dependent cultures. Additionally, the relative abundance of mcrA gene based on genomic DNA significantly increased over the incubation time, suggesting an important role of methanogens in these consortia. This work extends our understanding of methanogenic paraffinic n-alkanes conversion and has biotechnological implications for microbial enhanced recovery of residual hydrocarbons and effective bioremediation of hydrocarbon-containing biospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A family of penta‐rare‐earth incorporated tetravacant Dawson selenotungstates [H2N(CH3)2]10H3[SeO4RE5(H2O)7(Se2W14O52)2] ⋅ 40H2O [RE=Ho3+ (1), Er3+ (2), Tm3+ (3), Tb3+ (4)] were synthesized. It should be noted that a penta‐RE [SeO4RE5(H2O)7]11+ central core connecting two tetra‐vacant Dawson‐type [Se2W14O52]12− subunits generates a dimeric assembly of [SeO4RE5 (H2O)7(Se2W14O52)2]13− in the structures of 1–4. Meanwhile, a class of Ho3+/Tm3+ co‐doped derivatives based on 1 with a Ho3+/Tm3+ molar ratio of 0.75:0.25–0.25:0.75 were also prepared and characterized by energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. Moreover, their luminescence properties were systematically investigated, which indicate that Tm3+ ions can sensitize the emission of Ho3+ ions in the visible region and prolong the fluorescence lifetime of Ho3+ ions to some extent. Energy transfer from Tm3+ ions to Ho3+ ions was probed by time‐resolved emission spectroscopy (TRES), and the CIE 1931 diagram has been applied to evaluate all possible luminescence colors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of diosgenin on the D-galactose-induced cerebral cortical widely dispersed apoptosis. Male 12-week-old Wistar rats were divided into four groups: Control (1 mg/kg/day of saline, i.p.), DD0 (150 mg/kg/day of D-galactose, i.p.), DD10, and DD50 (D-galactose + 1 0 or 50 mg/kg/day of diosgenin orally). After eight weeks, histopathological analysis, positive TUNEL and Western blotting assays were performed on the excised cerebral cortex from all four groups. The TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells, the components of Fas pathway (Fas, FADD, active caspase-8 and active caspase-3), and mitochondria pathway (t-Bid, Bax, cytochrome c , active caspase-9 and active caspase-3) were increased in the DD0 group compared with the control group, whereas they were decreased in the DD50 group. The components of survival pathway (p-Bad, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, IGF-1, p-PI3K and p-AKT) were increased in the DD50 group compared to the control group, whereas the levels of Bcl-xL, p-PI3K, and p-AKT were also compensatorily increased in the DD0 group compared to the control group. Taken together, diosgenin suppressed D-galactose-induced neuronal Fas-dependent and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways and enhanced the Bcl-2 family associated pro-survival and IGF-1-PI3K-AKT survival pathways, which might provide neuroprotective effects of diosgenin for prevention of the D-galactose-induced aging brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a methanogenic alkane-degrading (a mixture of C9 to C12n-alkanes) culture enriched from production water of a low-temperature oil reservoir was established and assessed. Significant methane production was detected in the alkane-amended enrichment cultures compared with alkane-free controls over an incubation period of 1 year. At the end of the incubation, fumarate addition metabolites (C9 to C12 alkylsuccinates) and assA genes (encoding the alpha subunit of alkylsuccinate synthase) were detected only in the alkane-amended enrichment cultures. Microbial community analysis showed that putative syntrophic n-alkane degraders (Smithella) capable of initiating n-alkanes by fumarate addition mechanism were enriched in the alkane-amended enrichment cultures. In addition, both hydrogenotrophic (Methanocalculus) and acetoclastic (Methanothrix) methanogens were also observed. Our results provide further evidence that alkanes can be activated by addition to fumarate under methanogenic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To detect whether early growth response 1 (EGR1) in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) indicates temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) lesions. Materials and Methods: Egr1 mRNA expression levels in PBLs were detected in eight malocclusion patients without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) signs and 16 malocclusion patients with clinical TMD signs with (eight) or without (eight) imaging signs of TMJ OA. Twelve 6‐week‐old rats were randomized to a control group and a unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) group and were sampled at 4 weeks. The Egr1 mRNA expression levels in PBLs and protein expression levels in different orofacial tissues were measured. Results: Patients with TMD signs with/without TMJ OA diagnosis showed lower Egr1 mRNA expression levels in PBLs than patients without TMD signs. The lower Egr1 mRNA expression was also found in the PBLs of UAC rats, which were induced to exhibit early histo‐morphological signs of TMJ OA lesions. In subchondral bone of UAC rats, EGR1 protein expression was decreased, co‐localization of EGR1 with osterix or dentin matrix protein‐1 was identified, and the number of EGR1 and osterix double‐positive cells was reduced (all p < .05). Conclusion: Egr1 reduction in PBLs potentially indicates subchondral bone OA lesions at an early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometry students have few opportunities to apply geometric concepts and solve geometry problems in authentic contexts. We developed a Ubiquitous Geometry (UG) system to teach geometry to elementary students by using it to measure common objects in authentic contexts. The instant study investigates the effects of UG on student geometry estimation ability, geometry learning achievement, spatial ability, and learning geometric concepts and explores the correlations. Participants were 82 fifth grade students divided into the experiment group (EG), the ruler measurement group (RG), and the control group (CG). The results revealed that the EG students performed significantly better than the others in geometry estimation ability, geometry learning achievement, spatial ability, and understanding geometric concepts. We found that geometry estimation ability is significantly related to spatial ability and geometry learning achievement, which means fostering estimation ability through measuring authentic objects could help students to learn geometry. Finally, students perceived that UG engaged them more in geometry and improved their interest in learning because the activity designs related more to their daily life, thereby enhancing their sense of confidence and satisfaction. Conclusions include that UG effectively enhances student geometry estimation ability, geometry learning achievement, spatial ability, and understanding of geometric concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste aluminate rare earth phosphor is an important rare earth elements (REEs) secondary resource, which mainly consists of BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ (BAM) and CeMgAl11O19:Tb3+ (CMAT). Alkaline fusion process is widely used to recycle REEs from aluminate phosphor, but the related theory remains imperfect. In this paper, a series of alkaline fusion experiments of CMAT were performed to describe the phase change law of CMAT reactions. Based on comprehensive analysis, cation–oxoanion synergies theory (COST) was proposed to explain the aluminate phosphor structure damage. On the mirror plane of aluminate phosphor crystal structure, alkali metal cations (Na+, K+) would substitute rare earth ions, while free oxoanion (OH−, CO32−, O22−) can combine with rare earth ions. These two ionic forces ensure that rare earth ions can be substituted by cations. Then, the structure is decomposed. Morphological analysis shows that observable expression of COST can be described by shrinking core model after simplification. Reaction rate constant calculated indicates that the reaction degree is nanometers per second. COST provides a more complete mechanism, and it can help improve rare earth recycling technology furtherly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 permeation through imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs, [BMIM][Ac], [EMIM][Ac], [OMIM][Ac], [BMIM][BF4], and [BMIM][PF6]) confined in 1.0, 2.0, and 3.5 nm γ-alumina pores was investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. It was found that the nanopore confinement effect influenced the structure of confined ILs greatly, resulting in a layered structure and anisotropic orientation of ILs. In the center of 2.0-nm pore, the long alkyl chain of [BMIM]+ tended to be parallel to the wall, providing a straight diffusion path benefiting the CO2 permeation. The CO2 diffusion coefficients in confined [EMIM][Ac], [BMIM][Ac], and [OMIM][Ac] were 2.3-4.1, 2.4-6.4, and 14.4-21.7 × 10−10 m2 s−1, respectively. This order was opposite to that in the bulk ILs, because the longer alkyl chain led to a more ordered structure, facilitating CO2 diffusion. In addition, the CO2 solubilities were 445-722 mol m−3 MPa−1 for the five ILs confined in 1.0 nm pore, which were larger than those in 2.0 and 3.5 nm pores (196-335 mol·m−3 MPa−1), due to the larger free volume. Both parallel orientation of alkyl chain and large free volume could increase the CO2 permeability in confined ILs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branched alkanes are important constituents of crude oil and are usually regarded as resistant to microbial degradation, resulting in little knowledge of biochemical processes involved in anaerobic branched alkanes biodegradation. Here, we initiated an incubation study by amendment of iso-C9 (2-methyl, 3-methyl, and 4-methyloctane) as substrates for methanogenic degradation in production water from a high-temperature petroleum reservoir. Over an incubation period of 367 days, significant methanogenesis was observed in samples amended with these branched alkanes. The strong methanogenic activity only observed in iso-C9 amendments suggested the presence of microbial transformation from iso-alkanes into methane. GC-MS-based examination of the original production water identified an intermediate tentatively to be iso-C9-like alkylsuccinate, but was not detected in the enrichment cultures, combined with the successful amplification of assA functional gene in inoculating samples, revealing the ability of anaerobic biodegradation of iso-C9 via fumarate addition pathway. Microorganisms affiliated with members of the Firmicutes, Synergistetes, and methanogens of genus Methanothermobacter spp. were highly enriched in samples amended with iso-C9. The co-occurrence of known syntrophic acetate oxidizers Thermoacetogenium spp. and Methanothermobacter spp. (known hydrogenotrophic methanogens) indicates a potential syntrophic acetate oxidation associated with the methanogenic biodegradation of iso-C9. These results provide some useful information on the potential biodegradation of branched alkanes via methanogenesis and also suggest that branched alkanes are likely activated via fumarate addition in high-temperature petroleum reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnFe2O4/AC composites were prepared by the one-pot hydrothermal method using the activated carbon (AC) as a carrier. The synthesis conditions were optimized by a single-factor experiment. The structural, textural, and surface properties of the adsorbent have been comprehensively characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The SO2 removal capacities of the composites were investigated via testing the adsorption capacity at the self-made desulfurization equipment. The results show that the adsorption capacity of ZnFe2O4/AC composites is much higher than that of the AC and ZnFe2O4 samples, respectively. The composite overcomes the disadvantages of the traditional sintering, showing a very high desulfurization performance. The breakthrough time was 147 min, and the sulfur adsorption capacity could reach 23.67% in the desulfurization performance test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]