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The majority of ixodid ticks display host-specificity to varying extents. Feeding on different hosts affects their development and reproduction. Consequences can be analyzed at the level of the egg, as it is the initial stage of tick development. Tick egg proteins are abundant and diverse, providing nutrients for embryonic development. However, studies on tick egg profiles are scarce. In this study, we aimed to analyze whether feeding Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks on the yaks (Bos grunniens) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has an impact on the variety and variability of the egg proteome. Detached engorged females were used to lay eggs, which were then collected, dewaxed, and subjected to protein extraction. The extracted egg proteins were enzymatically digested using Filter-Aided Sample Preparation (FASP), and the unique peptides were separated and detected by Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The MS data were searched against the previously constructed whole tick transcriptome library of H. qinghaiensis, and the UniProt database for the identification of tick-derived egg proteins. The analysis revealed 49 and 53 high-confidence proteins identified in eggs collected from B. grunniens (EggBg) and O. aries (EggOa), respectively. Of these, 46 high-confidence proteins were common to both egg types, while three were unique to EggBg and seven to EggOa. All the identified proteins mainly belonged to enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, transporters, and proteins with unknown functions. The differential abundance analysis showed that nine proteins were significantly more present in EggBg, while six were significantly more present in EggOa. Overall, enzymes were the most diverse group, while vitellogenin (Vg) was the most abundant. Blood meal uptake on different hosts has a certain effect on the egg proteome composition and the abundance of some proteins, but it may also lead to compensation of protein roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promotion of urban mobility by integrating people-and-goods transportation has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Within this framework, diversified forms such as co-modality, freight on transit, and crowdshipping have been proposed, piloted or implemented. The success of the implementation and market penetration depends on not only the novelties of the concept but also the planning and operational efficiency. Thus, a comprehensive review focusing on the operation of integrated people-and-goods transportation systems and associated critical decisions and subproblems is performed. Different practical forms in which people and goods are transported in an integrated manner are identified. The critical decisions associated with each form and subproblem are discussed, along with corresponding models and solution approaches. Notably, because integrated transportation systems are in the early exploration stage at present, new forms are expected to emerge. Therefore, this paper proposes a general framework to realise the planning and operation of new forms in the future. The decisions and subproblems identified from existing forms are fed to the proposed general framework to identify two key research opportunities: to improve or extend existing research and to conduct pioneering research to fill the gaps in the frameworks for operating potential forms of integrated people-and-goods transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a novel fluorescent ionic covalent organic framework (BTTA–BDNP) based on a linked carbazole unit was constructed for the synchronous monitoring and capture of TcO4−/ReO4−. BTTA–BDNP has a fast fluorescence response time with a low detection limit (66.7 nM) for ReO4− (a non-radioactive substitute for TcO4−). Meanwhile, the high charge density and hydrophobic skeleton of BTTA–BDNP enable it to exhibit rapid and selective trapping of ReO4− in complex environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-27 is constitutively secreted by microglia in the retina or brain, and upregulation of IL-27 during neuroinflammation suppresses encephalomyelitis and autoimmune uveitis. However, while IL-35 is structurally and functionally similar to IL-27, the intrinsic roles of IL-35 in CNS tissues are unknown. Thus, we generated IL-35/YFP-knock-in reporter mice (p35-KI) and demonstrated that photoreceptor neurons constitutively secrete IL-35, which might protect the retina from persistent low-grade inflammation that can impair photoreceptor functions. Furthermore, the p35-KI mouse, which is hemizygous at the il12a locus, develops more severe uveitis because of reduced IL-35 expression. Interestingly, onset and exacerbation of uveitis in p35-KI mice caused by extravasation of proinflammatory Th1/Th17 lymphocytes into the retina were preceded by a dramatic decrease of IL-35, attributable to massive death of photoreceptor cells. Thus, while inflammation-induced death of photoreceptors and loss of protective effects of IL-35 exacerbated uveitis, our data also suggest that constitutive production of IL-35 in the retina might have housekeeping functions that promote sterilization immunity in the neuroretina and maintain ocular immune privilege. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discuss the optimal interval time between genetic algorithm-based ultrasound imaging-guided percutaneous drainage surgery (PTGD) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), 64 cholecystitis patients were selected as the research objects and evenly divided into experimental group (intelligent algorithm was adopted to recognize patients' ultrasonic images) and control group (professional doctors carried out diagnosis). 92 acute cholecystitis patients undergoing PTGD were divided into three groups. 30 out of the 92 patients received LC within 2 months and were defined as the early group. 32 were performed with LC within 2 to 4 months and were defined as the metaphase group. 28 underwent LC over 4 months and were defined as the late-stage group. The average operation time, the transition from LC to laparotomy, the average postoperative hospital stay, and the incidence of complications of the three groups were compared. The results revealed that the comparison of the diagnostic accuracy and comprehensive effectiveness between experimental group and control group demonstrated that the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). When the optimal interval of implementing LC after PTGD was realized, the corresponding values of the early group were 88.5 minutes, 16.67%, 8.13 days, and 13.75%. Those of the metaphase group were 49.91 minutes, 3.13%, 4.97 days, and 9.52%. Those of the late stage group were 68.78 minutes, 10.71%, 7.09 days, and 11.96%. To sum up, the diagnostic accuracy and comprehensive effectiveness of intelligent algorithm were higher than those of conventional ultrasound, and the optimal interval time of implementing LC after PTGD was 2 to 4 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent packaging with freshness indication capability can help consumers purchase fresh food. However, current research primarily focuses on carbon dioxide-sensitive intelligent packaging, with limited research on water vapor-sensitive indication packaging. In this study, the water vapor-sensitive indicator membrane was prepared and used to determine the freshness of mushrooms. The results of this study showed that the water permeability of the indicator membrane decreased from 33.17 % to 21.59 % with the increase of Polyethylene glycol-400(PEG-400) content in methylcellulose(MC) membrane, and the contact angle of the indicator membrane increased from 87 % to 98 % with the addition of PEG-400. The addition of plasticizer PEG-400 increased the hydrophobicity of the indicator film, which could be attributed to the improvement of the molecular arrangement and crystallinity of the indicator film by the addition of PEG-400. After encountering water, the transparency of the indicator membrane changes from completely opaque (white) to transparent. Addition of PEG-400 reduces the rate of change in the transparency of the indicator membrane. The indicator membrane was successfully used to indicate the freshness of mushrooms and effectively reflected the freshness of mushrooms during storage. This technology could be applied to measure the freshness of other foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of peripheral nerve tissue engineering, study of biodegradable materials have extensive applied prospect. Chitosan (Cs) is a promising candidate for neural tissue engineering due to its similar chemical structure to glycosaminoglycan. However, due to its lack of elasticity and flexibility, Cs often needs to be used in combination with other materials. In this study, three composite scaffolds were prepared by freeze-drying method: Cs/hyaluronic acid (HA)/gelatin (Gel), Cs/collagen (Col), and Cs/polyethylene glycol (PEG). Mechanical properties, swelling behavior, porosity, and conductivity of these materials have been characterized. Compared with pure Cs, the addition of other materials reduced the average pore size, while improved the mechanical properties of the composite scaffold. Furthermore, 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), live/dead staining, cell morphology, and immunofluorescence staining were performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, and differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells on Cs/HA/Gel, Cs/Col, and Cs/PEG composite scaffolds. Our results indicated that all these Cs-based composite scaffolds had good biocompatibility without cytotoxicity, while Cs/PEG scaffolds possessed higher cell survival rate and could promote the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of PC12 cells. The Cs-based composite scaffolds developed in this study can serve as promising substitutes for neural tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grating interferometers that use large two-dimensional grating splice modules for performing wide-range measurements have significant advantages for identifying the position of the wafer stage. However, the manufacturing process of large two-dimensional grating splice modules is very difficult. In contrast to existing redundant designs in the grating line dimension, we propose a novel interferometric reading head with a redundant design for obtaining wide-range displacement measurements. This interferometric reading head uses a one-dimensional grating splice module, and it was observed to be compatible with two orthogonal gratings. We designed a grating interferometer system composed of four reading heads to achieve a wide range of measurements and verified it using ZEMAX simulation. By conducting experiments, we were able to verify the compatibility of the reading head with gratings possessing different grating line directions; the measurement noise was found to be less than 0.3 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air are considered a major threat to human health and environmental safety. The development of applicable technologies for the removal of VOCs is urgently needed. Nowadays, photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) based on metal-containing photocatalysts has been regarded as a promising method. However, unmodified photocatalysts are generally limited in applications because of the narrow light response range and high recombination rate of photo-generated carriers. As a result, nano metal-containing photocatalysts doped with elements or other materials have attracted much attention from researchers and has developed over the past few decades. In addition, different doping types cause different levels of catalyst performance, and the mechanism for performance improving is also different. However, there are few reviews focusing on this aspect, which is really important for catalyst design and application. This work aims to give a comprehensive overview of nano metal-containing photocatalysts with different doping types for the removal of VOCs in an indoor environment. First, the undoped photocatalysts and the basic mechanism of PCO is introduced. Then, the application of metal doping, non-metal doping, co-doping, and other material doping in synthetic metal-containing photocatalysts are discussed and compared, respectively, and the synthesis methods, removal efficiency, and mechanisms are further investigated. Finally, a development trend for using nano metal-containing photocatalysts for the removal of VOCs in the future is proposed. This work provides a meaningful reference for selecting effective strategies to develop novel photocatalysts for the removal of VOCs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A series of Ag 3 PO 4 -g-C 3 N 4 composites with low content of Ag 3 PO 4 were prepared. • The 2.6 %-Ag 3 PO 4 -g-C 3 N 4 exhibited the highest photo-degradation ratio and rate. • The Ag 3 PO 4 -g-C 3 N 4 composites suppressed the recombination of photo-produced carriers. • The ESR results proved the Z-scheme configuration of Ag 3 PO 4 -g-C 3 N 4 composites. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which exist widely in indoor air, are confirmed to be harmful to human health. In this study, gaseous toluene, the representative VOCs, was degraded by photo-catalytic oxidation (PCO) under visible light. The Ag 3 PO 4 -g-C 3 N 4 composites with different weight ratios of Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 were synthesized and used as the photo-catalysts. The results indicated that the Ag 3 PO 4 -g-C 3 N 4 composites with the weight ratio of 2.6 % exhibited the most superior photo-catalytic activity, and the removal efficiency of toluene was 87.52 % within 100 min irradiation, which was higher than that of bare g-C 3 N 4 and Ag 3 PO 4. The pseudo-one-order model was applied to analyzing the reaction process, and the apparent reaction rate constant of 2.6 %-APO-g-C 3 N 4 was 0.005 min−1. After 3 cycles, the removal efficiency was still higher than 80.72 %. According to the results of PLS and ESR, the combination of Ag 3 PO 4 and g-C 3 N 4 could improve photo-induced carrier separation as well as OH and O 2 − radicals were both detected. Furthermore, the Z-scheme mechanism of Ag 3 PO 4 -g-C 3 N 4 photo-catalysts was proposed. Therefore, the superior photo-catalytic activity of composites was significantly increased by the Z-scheme. In addition, the small proportion of Ag 3 PO 4 in composites may be beneficial for a wide range of applications, given the cost of noble metal Ag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Duodenal ulcer seriously affects the quality of life and life safety of children, but the pathogenesis of children with duodenal ulcer is still unclear. As an important second messenger in the body, Ca2+ participates in the physiological and pathological processes of various diseases. Therefore, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) as one of the channels that mediate Ca2+ has attracted widespread attention in recent years. Here, we found that TRPV4 is highly expressed in children with duodenal ulcer and has good diagnostic value through specimens of children with duodenal ulcer, and animal experiments have proved that TRPV4 is also highly expressed in duodenal ulcer mice. In addition, TRPV4 can enhance intestinal permeability, thereby promoting further infiltration of inflammatory factors. In summary, these results indicate that TRPV4 is involved in the occurrence and development of duodenal ulcer. Therefore, this study provides the diagnostic and therapeutic value of TRPV4 in children with duodenal ulcer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory B cells (Breg cells) that secrete IL-10 or IL-35 (i35-Breg) play key roles in regulating immunity in tumor microenvironment or during autoimmune and infectious diseases. Thus, loss of Breg function is implicated in development of autoimmune diseases while aberrant elevation of Breg prevents sterilizing immunity, exacerbates infectious diseases, and promotes cancer metastasis. Breg cells identified thus far are largely antigen-specific and derive mainly from B2-lymphocyte lineage. Here, we describe an innatelike IL-27-producing natural regulatory B-1a cell (i27-Breg) in peritoneal cavity and human umbilical cord blood. i27-Bregs accumulate in CNS and lymphoid tissues during neuroinflammation and confers protection against CNS autoimmune disease. i27-Breg immunotherapy ameliorated encephalomyelitis and uveitis through up-regulation of inhibitory receptors (Lag3, PD-1), suppression of Th17/Th1 responses, and propagating inhibitory signals that convert conventional B cells to regulatory lymphocytes that secrete IL-10 and/or IL-35 in eye, brain, or spinal cord. Furthermore, i27-Breg proliferates in vivo and sustains IL-27 secretion in CNS and lymphoid tissues, a therapeutic advantage over administering biologics (IL-10, IL-35) that are rapidly cleared in vivo. Mutant mice lacking irf4 in B cells exhibit exaggerated increase of i27-Bregs with few i35-Bregs, while mice with loss of irf8 in B cells have abundance of i35-Bregs but defective in generating i27- Bregs, identifying IRF8/BATF and IRF4/BATF axis in skewing B cell differentiation toward i27-Breg and i35-Breg developmental programs, respectively. Consistent with its developmental origin, disease suppression by innate i27-Bregs is neither antigen-specific nor disease-specific, suggesting that i27-Breg would be effective immunotherapy for a wide spectrum of autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A covalent organic framework (DANT-BTT) with a D-A structure was synthesized based on naphthalimide. • DANT-BTT exhibits excellent chemical stability and photocatalytic properties. • Protonated DANT-BTT with superior photocatalytic capability and higher selectivity for uranium. • DANT-BTT has excellent removal efficiency for uranium at pH 1. Efficient removal of UO 2 2+ from radioactive wastewater under strong acid conditions remains a significant challenge due to the competition of excess H+ for adsorption and reduction sites. Here, covalent organic framework with complete charge separation and protonation properties (DANT-BTT) was synthesized for efficient removal of UO 2 2+ under strong acids. The DANT-BTT with strong electron-deficient naphthalimide significantly extended light absorption and enhanced intramolecular charge transfer, which significantly improve the separation efficiency of electrons and holes. Additionally, the auxiliary coordination of hydroxyl groups after protonation provides unparalleled selectivity for UO 2 2+ in strong acids, effectively preventing the competition of H+ for adsorption sites. Protonation of nitrogen atoms and ketones also extends light absorption and store electrons, further enhancing the photocatalytic performance of DANT-BTT. Consequently, DANT-BTT can achieve 71 % photoreduction UO 2 2+ efficiency (pH 1) after 60 min irradiation, where dark adsorption accounts for 43 %. This work provides a strategy for the efficient reduction of U(VI) under strong acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the existence of multiple nontrivial solutions for the following semilinear Schrödinger equation: 1−Δu+V(x)u=f(x,u),x∈ℝN,u∈H1(ℝN), where the potential V is continuous and allowed to be sign‐changing and f(x,u) satisfies more general sublinear growth conditions than those in previous studies. The first result of this paper obtains the existence of a nontrivial solution of (1). The second establishes an existent result on infinitely many nontrivial solutions of (1) by using a variant fountain theorems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein analysis under biological conditions is now regarded as indispensable for understanding the structure and function of proteins, in addition to in vitro studies using purified target proteins. Because there are many molecules other than the protein-of-interest (POI) under live cell conditions, selective labeling of a POI is critical to distinguish the POI from other proteins for precise analysis. Protein labeling strategies utilizing genetically encoded tags have been used in POI modification in the complex environment of live cells. However, genetic manipulation may often induce overexpression of the POI and/or perturb the cellular context, resulting in unexpected artifacts in the protein analysis. Alternatively, recent progress in chemical biology has produced two major chemical approaches for analyzing endogenous proteins under native conditions. In this review, we summarize these techniques that utilize either protein-selective chemical labeling or proteome-directed chemical modification. Protein analysis in a biologically relevant context is now regarded as indispensable for deciphering the genuine structure and function of proteins. In this review, Shiraiwa et al. summarize recent advances in chemical approaches utilizing protein-selective chemical labeling and proteome-directed chemical modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactions between calf thymus DNA, ctDNA, and a series of sugar-based gemini cationic surfactants with different hydrophobic chains were investigated. The surface properties of the cationic gemini surfactants were firstly examined, and then their interactions with DNA and induced condensation of DNA were studied by UV–vis, ethidium bromide exclusion assay, circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential and atomic force microscopy. With the increase of hydrophobic chains of the surfactants, critical micelle concentrations decreased significantly, and the interactions with DNA were remarkably strengthened, with the binding constant up to 1.95 × 107 L·mol−1 according to fluorescence quenching experiments by ethidium bromide exclusion. The gemini surfactant with hexadecyl hydrocarbon chain, 1c , exhibited the highest compaction capacity for DNA, accompanied with conformation changes, as confirmed by CD and DLS measurements. The DNA molecules could be compacted to about 140 nm in hydrodynamic diameter at 0.2 mM of 1c , and the overall shifts of the positive band and significant increase of negative molar ellipticity indicated the formation of a supramolecualr chiral order of ѱ phase in which DNA were supposed to be tightly packed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploration of new electron‐withdrawing building blocks plays a key role in the development of n‐type organic semiconductors. Herein, a strong electron‐withdrawing building block, dipyridyl‐fused quinoxalineimide (DPQI), was successfully designed and synthesized. Single‐crystal structure reveals that DPQI molecule possesses a completely planar backbone, which is beneficial for charge transport. For comparison, dibenzo‐fused quinoxalineimide (DBQI) was also synthesized. The frontier molecular orbital (FMO) energy levels downshift with the incorporation of nitrogen atoms onto the π‐conjugated backbone of quinoxalineimide. Two acceptor‐acceptor (or all‐acceptor) polymers P(BTI‐DBQI) and P(BTI‐DPQI) based on DBQI and DPQI were synthesized, respectively. Two polymers exhibit deep lowest‐unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels (~−3.5 eV). Additionally, P(BTI‐DPQI) exhibits unipolar n‐type charge transport with μe of 1.4×10−4 cm2 V−1 s−1 in the organic field‐effect transistors (OFET), which render them highly attractive for developing n‐type semiconductors device. This work demonstrates that DPQI is a promising building block for constructing n‐type polymer semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Striae Distensae (SD) is a common dermatological lesion. The mechanism of formation is unclear, the prevailing theory is mechanical pulling of the skin and hormonal changes. Traditional SD treatment methods include topical drugs, photoelectric therapy, stripping and others, but each has limitations. Stromal vascular fraction gel (SVF‐gel) is a filler physically prepared from granular fat, enriched with adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM). A good effect in the treatment of neck lines, wounds, acne, and other aspects. SD formation and treatment goals are comparable to those of neck lines. In this study, SVF‐gel filling will be used to treat mature SD, and its effectiveness and safety will be discussed in detail. Methods: From December 2019 to June 2022, recruit patients who want to treat SD caused by obesity or pregnancy among those who have "autologous fat aspiration" to change their body shape. Preoperatively, the area to be treated for SD was marked, autologous fat aspiration was performed, and the aspirated fat was prepared as SVF‐gel and filled into the preoperatively marked SD. All patients had preoperative and postoperative follow‐up with planar photographs and VISIA skin analyzer photographs to assess surgical results and safety from subjective and objective perspectives. Results: A total of 36 patients were enrolled, with 31 of them successfully followed up on. The mean Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score six months after surgery was 1.87 ± 0.03. At six months postoperatively, the overall patient satisfaction rate was 90%. The depth, area, and color of SD improved six months after surgery, and no serious complications occurred in any of the patients. Conclusions: SVF‐gel is a safe and effective method of improving mature SD and can be used as a clinical treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the magnetic levitation planar motor which can achieve six degrees‐of‐freedom motion, decoupling control is realised by coil array commutation algorithm, due to the limitation of the sampling period of the real‐time system, a high‐dynamic coil array commutation algorithm is needed to achieve higher computational efficiency, but this will lead to the coil array not accurately providing the force/torque required for the trajectory movement, and generate a certain torque ripple error. In this study, the cause of this torque ripple error is analysed, and a feedforward compensation method is proposed. The results of simulation and experiment show that the proposed feedforward compensation method of high‐dynamic coil array commutation algorithm can reduce torque ripple error by 88%, and achieve higher trajectory tracking accuracy while satisfying high computational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless energy transfer (WET) is a promising technology to fundamentally settle energy and lifetime problems in a wireless sensor network (WSN). In this paper, we study the operation of WSN based on WET using a mobile charging vehicle (MCV) and construct a periodic strategy to make the network operational permanently. Our goal is to decrease energy consumption of the entire system while maintaining the network operational forever. Based on the analysis of total energy consumption, we propose an energy-efficient renewable scheme (ERSVC) to achieve energy saving. Compared to previous schemes where the MCV visits and charges all nodes in each cycle, the MCV only needs to visit a portion of nodes in ERSVC. Numerical results show that our scheme can significantly decrease the total energy consumption with no performance loss. It is also validated that ERSVC can maintain the network operational forever with lower complexity than other schemes, making it more practical for real networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the existence of infinitely many nontrivial solutions for the following semilinear Schrödinger equation: { − Δ u + V (x) u = f (x , u) , x ∈ R N , u ∈ H 1 (R N) , where the potential V is continuous and is allowed to be sign-changing. By using a variant fountain theorem, we obtain the existence of infinitely many high energy solutions under the condition that the nonlinearity f (x , u) is of super-linear growth at infinity. The super-quadratic growth condition imposed on F (x , u) = ∫ 0 u f (x , t) d t is weaker than the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz type condition and the similar conditions employed in the references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 composites immobilized by PVA were prepared via facile method. • Composites exhibited improved photocatalytic ability in degrading gaseous toluene. • Serious discoloration of composites during photocatalytic experiments was observed. • PVA coating played a significant role in photo corrosion of as-prepared samples. • Humidity influenced the photo-corrosion process and stability of composites. Ag 3 PO 4 semi-conductor has emerged out as an excellent photocatalyst in removing organic compounds. However, the photo-corrosion and stability of Ag 3 PO 4 limits its application. A series of Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /PVA composite films were prepared by facile ion-exchange and solvent blending method and utilized in degrading gaseous toluene under visible light in this study. Material characterization revealed that Ag 3 PO 4 particles were successfully deposited on the surface of g-C 3 N 4. The results of gaseous toluene degradation showed that 2.6%-Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /PVA composites displayed the superior photo-catalytic performance among the as-prepared samples and the removal efficiency was about 1.35 and 1.26 times higher than that of g-C 3 N 4 /PVA and Ag 3 PO 4 /PVA, respectively. Additionally, discoloration of x%-Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /PVA composites was detected, and the mechanism of discoloration was discussed. Ag° was detected on the surface of composites, indicating that Ag+ of Ag 3 PO 4 was reduced into Ag° by reacting with H 2 O molecules (known as photo-corrosion). The effect of PVA coating on as-prepared samples was significant in leading photo-corrosion as PVA absorbed H 2 O molecules to the surface of composites. However, PVA coating on the Ag 3 PO 4 was likely to form a chemically crosslinking network by ·OH produced on the surface of Ag 3 PO 4 , which further protected Ag 3 PO 4 from photo-corrosion. Humidity in the air played a major role in causing photo-corrosion of Ag 3 PO 4 and hence contributing to the sharp decrease of photocatalytic performance of composites. Moreover, compared to the system with a low humidity (6%), the stability of 2.6%-Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /PVA composite film in degrading gaseous toluene decreased sharply when the humidity was high (70%). This study provided a significant perspective in mechanism of photo-corrosion of Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /PVA composite films and might give some suggestions for further application of Ag 3 PO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 /PVA in purifying indoor air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigakialcohol A (1), as unusual cyclization ionone derivative, together with eight known ones (2–9), were isolated from the leaves of Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn (Simaroubaceae). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with literature data. Compound 2 showed a weak inhibitory effect on NO production at non-cytotoxic concentration (100 μM) with inhibitory rate of 59%, and thus it should be regarded as potential anti-inflammatory agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of 99TcO 4 − from the nuclear fuel cycle remains a great challenge due to the harsh environment such as strong acid/alkali. Here, a methyl-rich cationic polymer network (TBT-TCB) was obtained by molecular engineering and used for 99TcO 4 − removal in extreme environments. The bulk methyl groups in the vicinity of imidazole units greatly enhance the base-resistance of TBT-TCB owing to the steric hindrance and electronic effects, which avoid OH− induced imidazole ring-opening reactions, resulting in a ReO 4 − (a surrogate of 99TcO 4 −) removal efficiency of 85% under 1 M NaOH. Meanwhile, the introduction of methyl groups into TBT-TCB enhances its hydrophobicity, resulting in improved affinity for the larger and less hydrophilic 99TcO 4 −. Consequently, TBT-TCB exhibits high removal efficiency even in the presence of strong competing ions, achieving a remarkable 84% removal rate in 1 M H 2 SO 4. More importantly, TBT-TCB shows excellent robustness and reusability (>5 cycles), high absorption selectivity, and rapid adsorption kinetics for 99TcO 4 −/ReO 4 −. Furthermore, chromatographic column experiments with TBT-TCB have shown thei r great potential for industrial applications. [Display omitted] • Two cationic polymers (TBB-TCB and TBT-TCB) were synthesized by molecular engineering design. • TBT-TCB exhibits high uptake and fast kinetics for ReO 4 −. • TBT-TCB provides efficient removal of ReO 4 − under strong acids and alkalis. • The superior alkaline stability of TBT-TCB was demonstrated by hydrolysis experiment and DFT calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposes a new passenger and parcel share-a-ride problem with drones, termed SARP-D. • Devise a mixed-integer nonlinear programming optimization model for the SARP-D. • Develop an adaptive large neighborhood search metaheuristic to solve large instances. With the increasing concerns about traffic congestion and climate change, much effort has been made to enhance sustainable urban mobility for passengers and goods. One emerging promising strategy is to transport passengers and goods in an integrated manner, as it could reduce the number of vehicles on the road compared with the separate transportation of passengers and goods. This study proposes the simultaneous transportation of passengers and goods using demand-responsive buses and drones. Compared with the prevalent strategies that rely only on ground vehicles to integrate passenger and parcel transportation, we propose the joint usage of ground vehicles and drones to transport passengers and deliver parcels. The ground vehicles for passenger and parcel delivery are on-demand buses, which combine the advantages of the flexibility of taxis and the large capacity of public transport modes. The drones automatically take off from and land on the on-demand buses' rooftops and are only for parcel delivery. A new optimization problem that designs the routes for both demand-responsive buses and drones is proposed and denoted as the passenger and parcel share-a-ride problem with drones (SARP-D). A mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is devised; the nonlinearity exists because drone launch/recovery can occur simultaneously with request servicing by a bus at the same node. To solve the model for large-scale instances, we develop an adaptive large neighborhood search metaheuristic. Numerical experiments are conducted to validate the correctness of the model and evaluate the efficiency of the metaheuristic. Moreover, sensitivity analyses are performed to explore the influences of the maximum number of intermediate stops during one passenger request service, the drone flight endurance, and the unit delay penalty on the total cost, which comprises the transportation and delay costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • BCM-nZVI exhibit adsorption capacity of 134 mg·g−1 and Cd2+ removal rate of 99.96%. • Cd2+ in water treated by BCM-nZVI is below drinking water standards (5 μg·L-1). • BCM-nZVI can be stored stably for 120 days without loss of activity. • The adsorption mechanism by reducing toxic Cd2+ to non-toxic Cd0 is revealed. Cadmium (Cd2+) ions in drinking water are typical heavy metal contaminants, even trace amounts of Cd2+ can accumulate in the body, leading to serious irreversible damage to human bones and kidneys. Herein, we propose an effective and green strategy for the deep removal of trace Cd2+ from water by dispersed loading of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) onto bacterial cellulose membranes (BCM). BCM-nZVI can effectively remove Cd2+ from water in a wide pH range (5–8) with 99.96% removal rate. Freundlich isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order model reveal the adsorption process with a maximum adsorption capacity of 134.0 mg·g−1 at 30 °C. Impressively, the Cd2+ concentration in actual Cd2+ containing drinking water is below the target of 5 μg·L−1 (drinking water standard in China, USA and EU) after treated by the BCM-nZVI, and no additional pollutants are introduced. The excellent stability (stored stably for 120 days) and economic cost analysis ($75.6 m−3 for Cd2+ containing drinking water) of BCM-nZVI indicated they are viable for practical application in actual water treatment. Most importantly, the reduction reaction and mechanism study of BCM-nZVI revealed that the toxic Cd2+ is converted into non-toxic Cd0 assisted by the hydrated electrons and it has been systemically verified in our paper. This work sheds light on BCM-nZVI can be used as an ideal green material to removal Cd2+ in trace amounts of actual drinking water with high-efficiency, economical, environmentally friendly and has great potential for application in real environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Industrial experiments were conducted to investigate the differences in the porosity alleviation between the multi-roll and single-roll reduction modes during continuous casting and develop a simulation model of the porosity closure. The experimental results revealed that heavy reduction and a high solid fraction were beneficial to the porosity alleviation in billets. The simulation results showed that the large plastic strain along the thickness direction (PE22) at the center region caused by the heavy reduction contributed to the porosity closure. The PE22 at the center region of the billet between the single-roll and the multi-roll reduction mode was little different for the same reduction amounts and reduction positions. The reduction efficiency was high at the position of the low solid fraction, which contributed to porosity closure. Since most areas of porosities were formed at the center region of the billet at a high solid fraction, the reduction prior to the formation of the porosities had little effect on the porosity alleviation. The single-roll reduction mode had a better effect on the porosity alleviation than the multi-roll reduction mode because the solid fraction was higher for the single-roll reduction mode. The experimental results are mostly in agreement with the simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pathogenic viruses in drinking water are great threats to public health. Visible-light-driven photocatalysis is a promising technology for virus inactivation. However, the existing photocatalytic antiviral research studies have mostly been carried out in single-component systems, neglecting the effect of natural organic matter, which exists widely in actual water bodies. In this paper, electrospun Cu-TiO 2 nanofibers were prepared as photocatalysts, and their photocatalytic antiviral performance in the presence of humic acid (HA) was comprehensively studied for the first time. The properties of the reaction mixture were measured during the reaction. In addition, the safety, reliability and stability of photocatalytic disinfection in the mixed system were evaluated. The results showed that the virus removal efficiency decreased with the increase of the HA concentration. The type of reaction solution, such as PBS buffer solution or water, did not affect the removal efficiency noticeably. Under acidic conditions, the electrostatic forces between photocatalysts and viruses were strengthened, leading to higher virus removal efficiency. As the reaction time went on, the pH value in the solution increased first and then tended to be stable, the conductivity remained stable, and the dissolved oxygen increased first and then decreased. The safety test showed that the concentration of Cu ions released into the solution was lower than specified by the international standards. No photoreactivation was observed, and the addition of HA significantly reduced the reutilization efficiency of the photocatalysts. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • UiO-66 type metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized and characterized. • The adsorption capacity of UiO-66-NH 2 for DCF was higher than that of UiO-66. • The adsorption of DCF by UiO-66-NH 2 was endothermic. • UiO-66 type MOFs were efficient for removal of DCF from aqueous solution. Abstract UiO-66 type metal organic frameworks (MOFs), including UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH 2 , were synthesized, characterized, and applied for the adsorptive removal of diclofenac (DCF) from aqueous solutions. The effect of synthetic conditions (e.g., different linkers and activation temperatures) and adsorptive conditions (e.g., contact time, initial concentration, temperature, and pH) on DCF removal was examined. UiO-66-NH 2 showed a higher adsorption capacity than UiO-66, and the increase of activation temperature can improve the adsorption capacity of UiO-66-NH 2 towards DCF. The adsorption of DCF by UiO-66-NH 2 was endothermic and almost not affected by pH in the range of 4.8–7.7. The adsorption of DCF onto UiO-66 type MOFs conformed to the pseud second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isothermal model, with adsorption capacity of 357 mg g−1 for UiO-66 and 555 mg g−1 for UiO-66-NH 2. Electrostatic interaction and H-bonding possibly played a vital role for DCF adsorption. The as-prepared UiO-66 type MOFs were efficient adsorbent for DCF removal from aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Bacterial cellulose membrane (BCM) is used as an adsorbent for radionuclide. • A new route is applied to synthesizing the EDTA modified BCM via APTES. • The adsorbent has an adsorption capacity of 44.86 mg g−1 for Sr2+. • The adsorption of Sr2+ is attributed to the tertiary amines and carboxyl. Abstract The treatment of low-level radioactive wastewater is a critical and considerable challenge. Bacterial cellulose membrane (BCM) modified with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) using (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) as a crosslinker were used to remove Sr2+ in this work. SEM, XPS, and FTIR were used to characterize the morphology, structure, chemical shift, and functional groups of the as-prepared adsorbent. The synthesized BCM@APTES-EDTA presented a three-layer structure of membrane-net-membrane with nano-sized fibers (<100 nm). The adsorption of Sr2+ onto BCM@APTES-EDTA was investigated as a function of contact time and initial concentration of Sr2+. Results showed that the adsorption of Sr2+ followed the pseudo second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.999), and fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.996). The maximum adsorption capacity was calculated to be 44.86 mg g−1, which was comparable to other adsorbents. Additionally, the mechanism of Sr2+ adsorbed by the as-prepared adsorbent was studied through FTIR and XPS analysis, which indicated that the tertiary amines and carboxylate from grafted EDTA participated in the adsorption of Sr2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pathogenic viruses in water are seriously harmful to human health and highly resistant to conventional disinfections. As a kind of promising attempts for pollution remediation, Fe-based nanoparticles show excellent performance in removing contaminants. In this study, the Fe/Ni nanoparticles (Fe/Ni NPs) were synthesized using the self-designed device and used for bacteriophage inactivation in water. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the as-prepared Fe/Ni particles were spherical and the average particle size was 93 nm. The synthesized Fe/Ni NPs achieved much higher removal efficiency of bacteriophage f2 than nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), while Ni nanoparticles (Ni NPs) showed no removal effect on the bacteriophage f2. The highest removal efficiency of bacteriophage f2 by Fe/Ni NPs was obtained when the primary ratio of Fe:Ni was 5:1. In addition, the removal efficiency of phage f2 under aerobic condition was significantly higher than that under anaerobic condition with Fe/Ni NPs, and the role of Ni was proved as a catalyst in the system. Besides, the effect of initial pH, initial concentration of bacteriophage f2, particles dose, rotation rate, and temperature on the removal efficiency of bacteriophage f2 were studied. The result showed that the removal efficiency of bacteriophage f2 did not change obviously in the test pH range (5–8), and was positively related with the rotation rate and negatively related with the initial concentration of bacteriophage f2. The particles dose could increase the removal efficiency of phage f2, but the removal efficiency would decrease when the dose was too much due to the aggregation of nanoparticles. The increase of temperature could increase the removal efficiency initially, but decrease the removal efficiency finally due to the accelerated corrosion of iron. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Fe/Ni bimetal NPs were firstly used for the inactivation of bacteriophage. • Fe/Ni NPs achieved higher removal efficiency of phage f2 than nZVI. • The optimum ratio of Fe:Ni in the Fe/Ni NPs was calculated as 5:1. • The removal rate in aerobic system was much higher than that in anaerobic one. • The effect of various influencing factors has been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The fireworks algorithm, which is inspired by the explosion of fireworks, is a new swarm-based meta-heuristic algorithm for global optimization. This work proposes an improved fireworks optimization algorithm (IFWA) based on the enhanced fireworks algorithm (EFWA). Three aspects of improvement are presented after an analysis of the drawbacks of EFWA. These improvements are a new explosion scheme, GS-Gaussian explosion operator, and deep information exchange strategy. The proposed IFWA is tested on 23 benchmark function optimization problems and a real engineering problem, namely, optimal controller design for automotive active suspension. Optimization results prove that IFWA has competitive advantage compared with EFWA and other popular meta-heuristic algorithms and demonstrates the potential to solve real problems effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uranium is used to make nuclear fuels for power generation. Uranium-containing wastewater is produced from fuel fabrication, fuel reprocessing, which resulted in the soil and water pollution. In this study, a cleaner and environmental friendly adsorption material, chitosan, was used to remove uranium from aqueous solution. Magnetic amidoxime functionalized chitosan beads were synthesized, characterized and applied for adsorption of uranium. The adsorption capacity of 117.65 mg/g was achieved at pH = 6, mainly due to coordination ability of amidoxime groups. With an Ms of 21.7 emu/g, the magnetic adsorbents could be fast separated from aqueous solution by the magnetic field. Additionally, the results showed that the adsorption process could be well described by the pseudo-second order kinetic (R 2  = 0.9842) and Langmuir models (R 2  = 0.9995). Finally, an adsorption mechanism was tentatively proposed to explain the adsorption process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick saliva is a reservoir of bioactive proteins. Saliva protein compositions change dynamically during blood-feeding. Decipherment of protein profiles in different blood-feeding stages may bring deeper insight into tick feeding physiology and provide targets for immunologic control alternatives. However, having the infancy of tick genome sequencing, assembly, annotation, and limited knowledge of tick salivary proteins restrain the data interpretation. Here, we aimed to depict the saliva protein profile in partially- (PE) and fully-engorged (FE) Haemaphysalis flava ticks, with a special focus on the analysis of those uncharacterized proteins. Saliva was collected from PE and FE adult female H. flava ticks. Saliva proteins were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS-MS). MS data were searched against an in-house salivary gland transcriptome library for identification of tick-derived proteins. Abundances of proteins were compared between PE and FE ticks. The uncharacterized proteins detected in saliva were further bioinformatically analyzed. In total, 614 proteins were identified including 94 host proteins and 520 tick-derived proteins. The 226 tick-derived high-confidence proteins were classified into 10 categories: transporters, enzymes, protease inhibitors, immunity-related proteins, lipocalins, glycine-rich proteins, muscle proteins, secreted proteins, uncharacterized proteins and others. A total of 98 proteins were shared in both PE and FE with 74 only in PE and 54 only in FE. Abundances of 24 shared proteins were significantly higher in PE. The profile of top 15 most abundant proteins was also different between PE and FE ticks. The 65 uncharacterized proteins detected in tick saliva were branched into subclusters 1 A, 1B, 2, 3 A, 3B and 3 C based on particular motifs like RGD, LRR, indicating their diverse predicted functions like anti-coagulation, regulation of innate immune, or other functions. This study provides and compares saliva proteomes of H. flava ticks in two feeding stages with special cluster analysis on the uncharacterized proteins. Further investigations are needed to confirm the roles of these uncharacterized proteins in ticks. • First report on saliva proteome of Haemaphysalis flava. • Identification of both tick-derived proteins and host proteins. • Tick-derived proteins were functionally categorized. • A total of 65 uncharacterized proteins detected were further structurally analyzed. • Comparison of types and abundances of saliva proteins in partially- and fully-engorged H. flava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A 3D cationic covalent organic framework (TFAM-BDNP) was synthesized via Zincke reaction. • TFAM-BDNP exhibits high adsorption capacity and extremely fast exchange kinetic for ReO 4 −. • TFAM-BDNP demonstrates remarkable selectivity for ReO 4 −. • TFAM-BDNP has outstanding removal efficiency of ReO 4 − from simulated Hanford flow sample. Due to the long half-life and high environmental mobility, the selective and efficient capture of TcO 4 − from nuclear effluents is very important, but it is still very challenging. Herein, we design and synthesize a novel three-dimensional (3D) cationic covalent organic framework (TFAM-BDNP) via Zincke reaction for selective capture of TcO 4 −/ReO 4 −. TFAM-BDNP exhibits high adsorption capacity (998 mg g−1) and extremely fast exchange kinetic (60 s) for ReO 4 − (the non-radioactive alternative to TcO 4 −), attributing to the open 3D hydrophobic channels, abundant active sites, and high chemical stability. More importantly, TFAM-BDNP shows good adsorption performance for ReO 4 − in the presence of significant excess competing anions with a wide pH value range of 2 to 12. Under complex simulated Hanford flow sample, TFAM-BDNP has outstanding removal efficiency of ReO 4 −. The adsorption mechanism of ReO 4 − is mainly caused by anion exchange process. This study provides a novel adsorbent for efficient capture of TcO 4 −/ReO 4 − in complex environmental systems and exploits an effective strategy for broadening the types of 3D COFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing popularity of store brands is resulting in greater cannibalization of national brands. Thus, national-brand manufacturers are trying their best to confront this trend. At the same time, however, many leading national-brand manufacturers have become involved in the store-brand production of their counterpart retailers. We construct a game-theory-based framework to model the strategic interaction between a leading national-brand manufacturer and a retailer. Besides the national brand, the retailer also has an option for its own store brand to compete with the national brand head to head. There are two choices for the store-brand production available to the retailer: a fringe manufacturer with low production efficiency or alternatively the national-brand manufacturer with high efficiency. It is shown that, under certain conditions, there is a win-win situation for both the store-brand retailer and the national-brand manufacturer with the latter supplying the store brand. More interestingly, it is found that the national-brand manufacturer supplying the store brand may lead to a higher likelihood of the store brand introduction. Our study offers an explanation for why more and more national-brand manufacturers supply store brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study compared the efficacy of ultrasound elastography (UE), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the combination of the two methods (UE+MRI) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast tumors. In total, 86 patients with breast masses were recruited and evaluated by UE, MRI and UE+MRI. Strain ratios of UE were calculated for the breast mass and adjacent normal tissues. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained, while the sensitivity and specificity were calculated to determine the optimal cut‑off point for the differential diagnosis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was also calculated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these methods. The results indicated that the diagnostic accuracy of UE+MRI was significantly higher compared with the UE or MRI methods in the differential diagnosis of invasive ductal, invasive lobular, intraductal papillary, medullary and mucinous carcinomas (all P<0.05). The optimal cut‑off points of ROC curve of the Strain Ratio in the diagnosis of breast lesions were 2.81, 3.76 and 3.42 for UE, MRI and UE+MRI, respectively. Furthermore, the AUC values were 86.7, 79.2 and 91.4%, while the diagnostic accuracy rates were 82.5, 75.5 and 95.3%, for UE, MRI and UE+MRI, respectively. Accuracy rate differences between UE and MRI or between UE and UE+MRI were statistically significant (P<0.05), whereas no significant difference existed between MRI and UE+MRI (P>0.05). Finally, the diagnostic consistency of the UE+MRI method with the pathological diagnosis was higher compared with UE or MRI alone. In conclusion, the combination of UE and MRI is superior to the use of UE or MRI alone in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an antimicrobial peptide composed of three tandem repeats of Mytichitin-A (3 × Mytichitin-A) with a designed molecular weight of approximately 25 kDa was expressed in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . The yield of 3 × Mytichitin-A reached 0.28% of the total soluble protein of the 3 × Mytichitin-A-expressing transgenic cells and the expression level was stable following continuous passaging of the cells for six months. Compared to its natural and yeast-produced recombinant counterparts, which showed a very low level of growth inhibition of gram-negative bacteria, the 3 × Mytichitin-A inhibited the growth of gram-negative bacteria at a minimum inhibition concentration value ranging between 60 and 80 μg/ml. The expressed 3 × Mytichitin-A did not show toxicity to HEK293 cells. Its bioactivity was hardly affected by temperature and pH but was impaired to some extent by the proteinase treatment. Taken together, our study showed that C. reinhardtii can be used as a cellular factory to produce bioactive Mytichitin-A in a multimeric format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Store brands are of great importance for the retailing industry in profitability. Abundant research is thus attracted to investigate the impacts of store brands on supply chains. However, the research is all conducted in the settings with certain information or historical data. As a matter of fact, for a retailer, initiating a store brand is just like the first time people eat a crab. Specifically, the related market information (the price competing intensity between store brands and national brands and the market base for store brands) is usually uncertain for retailers. Consequently, experienced experts are often invited to make estimation when marketing managers make decisions on pricing store brands. To deal with the estimated uncertain information, uncertainty theory is employed to build three uncertain programming models under three channel power structures. Accordingly, we provide pricing decisions and corresponding equilibrium results, and thus shed light on how store-brand introduction affects all the supply chain players and the whole channel differently under different power structures. It is found that the more powerful the national-brand manufacturers are, the more inclined they will suffer from the store-brand introduction; on the contrast, retailers with different power positions always benefit from the store-brand introduction and may behave differently when pricing the national brand markups after the store-brand introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most work about the measurement of very fast transient overvoltage (VFTO) was carried out in the laboratory and test base. Because of the different GIS arrangement and power capacity, the time and frequency characteristics of VFTO in ultra high voltage (UHV) substation could be different with that obtained in the laboratory and test base. A series of VFTO measurements were carried out in two 1100 kV GIS substations to investigate the characteristics of on-site VFTO. The port-hole sensor based on surface-mounted device was chosen to measure the VFTO for its reliability and wide band-width. The whole measurement system was introduced and the schematic layout of each experiment was given. Measurement results of different switch conditions and measure points were presented for comprehensive understanding of the VFTO characteristics on site. The results indicated that the striking number during one operation was 16 (closing) and 14 (opening), similar to that obtained from test base result. Besides, single strike with front time 5.3 ns and voltage steepness 186.1 kV/ns was recorded, and the steepness was relatively higher than that gained in the test base. Moreover, the spectral analysis based on S transform was investigated to get the duration of different frequency components of VFTO waveform. Compared with the data obtained from the test base, the high frequency components of VFTO were reduced, while the lower frequency components lasted longer. The results provided references for the investigation of the electromagnetic interfere, the insulation coordination, and VFTO mitigation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking account of the road consisting of curved part and straight part, an extended car-following model is proposed in this paper. A control signal including the velocity difference between the considered vehicle and the vehicle in front is taken into account. The control theory method is applied into analysis of the stability condition for the model. Numerical simulations are implemented to prove that the stability of the traffic flow strengthens effectively with an increase of the radius of curved road, and the control signal can suppress the traffic congestion. The results are in good agree with the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CAs (carbon aerogels) are potential novel adsorbents for Cr(VI). However, their tradition preparation method presents a series of problems such as the tedious processes and the limited scaling up production caused by extreme conditions. Improved preparation methods are tried to explore so that supercritical process could be avoided. While the explanation of the adsorption behavior and mechanism remain incomplete in the presence of polyanions. In this paper, a series of sodium alginate/chitosan composite (SA/CTS) carbon aerogels with or without nZVI (nano zero-valent iron) doped are intentionally designed, which were prepared without supercritical process and expected to a significant improvement in Cr(VI) removal in wastewater while facilitating preparation and separation. The adsorption performance of carbon aerogels for Cr(VI) were investigated as functions of pH, adsorbent dosage and adsorption temperature. Following the study of adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) in the coexistence of polyanions, this work presented a detailed rationale for the different competing anions having different effects on Cr(VI) sorption. Four isotherms and three kinetic models were used to explain the adsorption behaviors. The maximum adsorption capacities of CTS900 and nZVI@CTS900 were estimated to be 183.85 mg/g and 204.35 mg/g at 35 °C using the Sips model, respectively, which showed favorable performance over carbon aerogel materials that have been reported so far. Besides the study of factors influencing adsorption, the mechanism of Cr(VI) sorption mainly involved electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding attraction, and redox reactions were demonstrated through the multi characteristic analysis. As a result, prepared CTSs and nZVI@CTSs perform acceptable application prospects in Cr(VI)-containing water and wastewater. [Display omitted] • SA/CTS composite aerogel with nZVI doped was designed and synthesized through facile method. • Doping of nZVI promotes development of CAs porosity. • Confirmation of the multiple mechanisms of Cr(Ⅵ) adsorption. • The adsorption capacity of CTSs and nZVI@CTSs remained satisfied after 5th cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been considered challenging to develop ideal adsorbents for efficient and lower adsorption time uranium extraction, especially 3D covalent organic frameworks with interpenetrating topologies and tunable porous structures. Here, a "soft" three-dimensional (3D) covalent organic framework (TAM-DHBD) with a fivefold interpenetrating structure is prepared as a novel porous platform for the efficient extraction of radioactive uranium. The resultant TAM-DHBD appears exceptional crystallinity, prominent porosity and excellent chemical stability. Based on the strong mutual coordination between phenolic-hydroxyl/imine-N on the main chain and uranium, TAM-DHBD can effectively avert the competition of other ions, showing high selectivity for uranium extraction. Impressively, the 3D ultra-hydrophilic transport channels and multi-directional uniform pore structure of TAM-DHBD lay the foundation for the ultra-high-speed diffusion of uranium (the adsorption equilibrium can be reached within 60 min under a high-concentration environment). Furthermore, the utilization of lightweight structure not only increases the adsorption site density, but renders the adsorption process flexible, achieving a breakthrough adsorption capacity of 1263.8 mg g-1. This work not only highlights new opportunities for designing microporous 3D COFs, but paves the way for the practical application of 3D COFs for uranium adsorption. [Display omitted] • A three-dimensional covalent organic framework (TAM-DHBD) is prepared for extraction of uranium. • TAM-DHBD can effectively avoid the competition of other ions, showing high selectivity to uranium. • TAM-DHBD possesses superhydrophilic transport channels and multidirectional uniform pore structure. • The lightweight structure increases adsorption site density and makes adsorption process flexible. • TAM-DHBD achieved a breakthrough adsorption capacity of 1263.8 mg g-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient sensor malfunction, improper replacement measures, and large non‐Gaussian noise can cause data outliers in real‐world scenarios. In this article, an outlier‐robust zonotope set‐membership filter is proposed for uncertain nonlinear systems susceptible to outliers. In order to linearize nonlinear systems, a linearization method based on Stirling's interpolation formula is proposed. Then, an outlier detector utilizing the linearization error bounds, the prediction domain, and the output feasible domain is constructed. Based on the linearized system, a tight strip construction method is given to reduce the conservatism of the estimated enclosure. Moreover, a prediction‐correction‐backward reconstruction filter structure is designed to improve estimation accuracy and reduce conservatism. The proposed structure fuses historical data to attenuate the impact of uncertainty on the system. The robustness, guarantee, and convergence of the proposed filter are investigated. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed approach is evaluated by two simulation examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel breast ultrasound tomography system based on a circular array of capacitive micromechanical ultrasound transducers (CMUT) has broad application prospects. However, the images produced by this system are not suitable as input for the training phase of the super-resolution (SR) reconstruction algorithm. To solve the problem, this paper proposes an improved medical image super-resolution (MeSR) method based on the sparse domain. First, we use the simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) with high imaging accuracy to reconstruct the image into a training image in a sparse domain model. Secondly, we denoise and enhance the contrast of the SART images to obtain improved detail images before training the dictionary. Then, we use the original detail image as the guide image to further process the improved detail image. Therefore, a high-precision dictionary was obtained during the testing phase and applied to filtered back projection SR reconstruction. We compared the proposed algorithm with previously reported algorithms in the Shepp Logan model and the model based on the CMUT background. The results showed significant improvements in peak signal-to-noise ratio, entropy, and average gradient compared to previously reported algorithms. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed MeSR method can use noisy reconstructed images as input for the training phase of the SR algorithm and produce excellent visual effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water shortage and pollution are serious challenges for many countries. Nanomaterials are promising new tools for water quality management due to unique physicochemical properties, high economic benefit, high removal efficiency and environmental friendliness. Here we describe four types of nanomaterials used for water treatment: nanofiltration membranes, photocatalytic nanomaterials, adsorption nanomaterials and reducing nanomaterials. We discuss their properties, applications and mechanisms for pollutant removal. We also review nanomaterials used for water quality monitoring, notably nanomaterials used for the detection of trace pollutants and pathogens. These nanomaterials include carbon nanotubes, magnetic nanoparticles, noble metal nanomaterials and quantum dots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the influence of tip corona of free linear particle on the partial discharge pattern. The reduced scale apparatus of 126 kV GIS is set up in the laboratory. Linear particles with the same radii, same length and different tip radii are respectively placed in the experimental tank. The discharge signal, ultrasonic signal and movement track of linear particles were recorded and observed. The results indicate that: 1) Movement behavior of linear particles without corona on the tip mainly pass through four kinds of states with the increase of the applied voltage: static standing, jumping with a small height, jumping with a big height and jumping to high voltage electrode. As for the linear particles with corona on the tip, it only jumps with a small height rather than jumps to high voltage electrode. 2) In the low voltage, the V-? ultrasonic signal scatter plot and q-? discharge pulse signal scatter plot of both kinds of the linear particles with and without corona on the tip have strong phase correlation. Among them, the phase correlation of the discharge signals and the ultrasonic signals of the particles without corona on the tip decreases with the increase of the applied voltage, while the phase correlation of that of the particles with corona on the tip always keeps strong with the increase of the applied voltage. By analyzing the effect of tip corona on the particle motion and discharge characteristics, the discharge characteristic spectrum of linear particle with tip corona is obtained, which can provide important reference for pattern recognition of particle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]