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We report results of specific heat and muon spin relaxation (μSR) measurements on a polycrystalline sample of Pr3Cr10−xN11, which shows superconducting state below Tc = 5.25 K, a large upper critical field Hc2 ~ 20 T and a residual Sommerfeld coefficient γ0. The field dependence of γ0(H) resembles γ of the U-based superconductors UTe2 and URhGe at low temperatures. The temperature-dependent superfluid density measured by transverse-field μSR experiments is consistent with a p-wave pairing symmetry. ZF-μSR experiment suggests a time-reversal symmetry broken superconducting transition, and temperature-independent spin fluctuations at low temperatures are revealed by LF-μSR experiments. These results indicate that Pr3Cr10−xN11 is a candidate of p-wave superconductor which breaks time-reversal symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kind of bulk metallic glass composites (BMGCs) with ex situ tungsten (W) particles and in situ dendrites were designed and successfully prepared through infiltrating Ti40.9Zr30.4Nb4.2Cu7Ni1.7Be15.8 (at.%) melt into the W preforms at different temperatures of 1103-1243 K. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements show the dendrites change from single bcc phase to the mixture crystals along with the significant increase in the volume fraction due to the more W dissolution when the casting temperature increases over 1183 K. With such the microstructural evolution, the mechanical properties change significantly from high strength and ductility along with work hardening capacity to the reduced strength and ductility along with work softening capacity. The samples prepared at 1123 K exhibit the optimal mechanical properties including the yield strength of ~ 1670 MPa, the maximum fracture strength of ~ 2080 MPa and the plastic strain of ~ 26%, which is attribute to the cooperative deformation mechanism between W particles and in situ BMGC matrix. These findings deepen the understanding of the cooperative deformation of composites containing the multiple phases and shed light on design BMGCs for specific application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well-designed carbon nanosphere functionalized with bimetallic Fe–Co phosphides (Fe–Co–P@C) was prepared, which modifies the separator to inhibit the diffusion of polysulfide by the physical restriction and chemical absorption and reduces the shuttle effect. Meanwhile, this elaborated separator with large surface area and porosity can not only provide sufficient active sites for the conversion of polysulfide, but also enhance polarity and electron conductivity which is conducive to accelerate Li+ ion/e– diffusion. As a result, the assembled lithium sulfur battery with the Fe–Co–P@C membrane displays a remarkable discharge capacity of 1031 mAh/g at 0.2 C and an excellent cycling stability (45% retention rate after 250 cycles at 1 C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) pattern has been found to aid in the reduction of obesity, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation, which are all strongly linked to the development of head and neck cancer (HNC). Nevertheless, no epidemiological studies have investigated the association between this dietary pattern and HNC risk. This study was conducted with the purpose of bridging this gap in knowledge. Design: A prospective cohort study involving 98,459 American adults aged 55 years and older. Setting and Participants: Data were drawn from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Trial. In the present study, participants with dependable energy intake data who furnished baseline and dietary history information were identified as the study population. Methods: Diet was assessed by food frequency questionnaires and the DASH score was calculated to assess each participant's adherence to DASH eating pattern. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the occurrence of HNC. To visualize the variation in cancer risk for HNC and its subtypes across the entire spectrum of DASH scores, restricted cubic spline plots were utilized. Additionally, a series of predefined subgroup analyses were performed to identify potential effect modifiers, and several sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the stability of the findings. Results: During a follow-up period of 871,879.6 person-years, 268 cases of HNC were identified, comprising 161 cases pertaining to oral cavity and pharynx cancers, as well as 96 cases of larynx cancer. In the fully adjusted model, adherence to the DASH diet was associated with a remarkable 57% reduction in the risk of HNC when comparing extreme quartiles (HR quartile 4 vs 1: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.66; P for trend < 0.001). The restricted cubic spline plots demonstrated a linear dose-response relationship between the DASH score and the risk of HNC as well as its subtypes. Subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of the DASH diet against HNC was particularly pronounced in individuals with lower daily energy intake. The primary association remained robust in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: In American middle-aged and older population, adherence to the DASH diet may help prevent HNC, particularly for individuals with lower daily energy intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insight into the anisotropic fracture properties of shale under a high in situ stress is important for the design and optimization of hydraulic fracturing treatment for deep shale formations. In this work, a series of hydraulic fracturing tests were conducted on hollow double wing crack specimens of Longmaxi shale with three principal fracture orientations: arrester, divider, and short transverse orientations. To reveal the influence of in situ stress on shale fractures, various confining pressures, i.e., 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 MPa, were applied. The 3D anisotropic fracture properties of shale under deep in situ stress conditions were then investigated and highlighted. The breakdown pressure, mode I fracture toughness, and fracture energy were found to increase significantly with the confining pressure, indicating that the fracture resistance of the studied shale increases remarkably under high in situ stresses. Furthermore, as expected, both the fracture toughness and fracture energy exhibited remarkable anisotropies under each confining pressure condition, and the minimum fracture toughness and fracture energy were always found in the short transverse orientation. Interestingly, the fracture toughness and fracture energy in the arrester orientation were found to be smaller than those in the divider orientation under confining pressures ranging from 0 to 60 MPa, while the opposite was true under a confining pressure of 80 MPa, demonstrating that shale fracture anisotropy is influenced by in situ stress that should be carefully considered in hydraulic fracturing design. For fracture morphology, a higher confining pressure leads to a smoother fracture surface and more transgranular cracking. Highlights: Slight crack deflection is observed only in the arrester orientation The increase rates of fracture resistances gradually reduce as confining pressure increases High in situ stress changes the anisotropy in fracture resistance Unexpected, a higher confining pressure leads to a smoother fracture surface [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent disease with distinct sex pattern. We aimed to estimate the sex specific incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life (DALYs) years of osteoporosis between 1990 and 2019, with additional predictions from 2020 to 2034. Methods: We collected osteoporosis disease burden data from the Global Burden of Disease study covering the years 1990 through 2019 in 204 countries and territories. The data included information on the number of incident cases of osteoporosis, DALYs, age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) and age-standardized DALYs rates. Additionally, we performed an age-period-cohort analysis to forecast the burden of osteoporosis. Results: The global number of incidence cases of osteoporosis, in 2019, reached 41.5 million cases. From 1990 to 2019, the low-middle socio-demographic index (SDI) region had the highest estimated annual percentage change in the world. Compared to males, female's ASIR and ASPR were all about 1.5 times higher than males for the same years in the same SDI regions. The projected global total number of incidence cases for osteoporosis between 2030 and 2034 is estimated to reach 263.2 million (154.4 million for females and 108.8 for males). Additionally, the burden in terms of DALYs is predicted to be 128.7 million (with 78.4 million for females and 50.3 million for males). Conclusion: The global burden of osteoporosis is still increasing, mainly observed in high SDI countries. Females bear a burden 1.5 times higher than males in terms of incidence and DALYs. Steps should be taken to reduce the osteoporosis burden, especially in high SDI countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symmetric coupling two-channel totally asymmetric simple exclusion process (TASEP) for particles with arbitrary hopping rates is theoretically investigated. It is found that the phase diagrams include three stationary state phases, which is similar to the normal TASEP. When the particles on both lanes have the same hopping rates, the phase diagrams depend on the hopping rate, and their boundaries are linearly related to the square of the hopping rate. In the case of different hopping rates, the square of the average hopping rate of both lanes determines the phase diagrams. Notably, the system of different hopping rates can be replaced by the system of the same hopping rate. The hopping rate of the new system is equal to the average hopping rate of the original system. The theoretical predictions can be checked by extensive Monte Carlo simulation, and the results are in good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential energy curves of the X1Σ+ and A1Π states and the transition dipole moments between them were calculated using the internally contracted multireference configuration interaction (icMRCI) approach. To calculate the accurate rovibrational transition properties of the A1Π–X1Σ+ system, we employed the experimental Te of the A1Π state and the Re of the two states to improve the reliability of the ab initio results. The transition energies, Einstein A coefficients, oscillator strengths, vibrational transition dipole moment matrix elements, and Franck–Condon factors of the rovibrational transitions of the A1Π–X1Σ+ system were calculated at the rotational quantum number J ≤ 150 for the lower vibrational levels. The Einstein A coefficients of certain rovibrational transitions are large, suggesting that these transitions are strong and therefore, can be readily measured through spectroscopy. Comparison of the rovibrational transition properties calculated herein with the experimental results indicated an acceptable agreement, suggesting that the obtained results are accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential energy curves of the X1Σ+, a3Σ+, b3Π, and c3Δ states of NS+ and the properties of the transitions between them are reported, which were calculated using the complete active space self–consistent field method, followed by the internally contracted multireference configuration interaction approach with Davidson correction. The radiative lifetimes of the first 16 vibrational levels were 11.3–68.3 μs and 0.18–530.7 ms for the b3Π and c3Δ states, respectively; those were 40.9–47.4 ms for the a3 state; those were 22.3–130.5, 11.7–63.5, 22.2–131.7, and 23.8–143.6 μs for the b3Π2, b3Π1, b3Π0+, and b3Π0– states, respectively; those were 0.1–350.3, 0.2–964.5, and 0.4–2247.1 ms for the c3Δ1, c3Δ2, and c3Δ3 states, respectively. The radiative lifetime of the a3 state was extremely long. The spectroscopic parameters and vibrational levels were evaluated and compared with the available experimental and theoretical results. The Franck–Condon factors, band origins, and Einstein A coefficients of all these spontaneous emissions were determined. The b3Π–a3Σ+ transition was strong and hence easy to be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of experimental transitions between Ω states of VO have been observed. However, almost no theoretical calculations are currently available in the literature, in which the spin-orbit coupling effect on the spectroscopic parameters of VO was computed. In this work, the PECs of X4Σ–, A′4Φ, A4Π, B4Π, C4Σ–, D4Δ, a2Σ–, b2г, c2Δ, d2Σ+, e2Φ, f2Π, g2Π, 22Φ, and 32Π states as well as their 36 Ω states were computed through internally contracted multireference configuration interaction approach with Davidson modification. To improve the accuracy of spectroscopic parameters, scalar relativistic and core-valence correlation correlations were included by aug-cc-pwCV5Z-DK and aug-cc-pCV5Z-DK basis sets for V and O, respectively. The spectroscopic parameters of 15 Λ-S and 36 Ω states were evaluated. The c2Δ, f2Π, g2Π, and 32Π states were found to be inverted with the spin-orbit coupling effect taken into account. The splitting energies between the two neighboring Ω states from the A4Π–1/2 to A4Π5/2 states were 34.89, 40.61, and 46.52 cm–1; those from the B4Π–1/2 to B4Π5/2 states were 61.23, 62.11, and 64.75 cm–1; those from the D4Δ1/2 to D4Δ7/2 states were 88.16, 104.20, and 107.95 cm–1, and those from the A′4Φ3/2 to A′4Φ9/2 were 192.73, 175.80, and 168.43 cm–1, which compared well with the available experimental results, indicating that these results achieved high quality. It is expected that these spectroscopic parameters would provide some useful guidelines for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that certain extension results obtained by Maz'ya and Poborchi for domains with an outward peak can be realized via composition operators generated by reflections. We also study the case of the complementary domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain protein content (GPC) is an important component of rice nutritional quality and influences the physical–chemical properties and taste of cooked rice. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for GPC in rice (Oryza sativa L.) were analyzed using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) developed from 9311 (used as the recipient) and Nipponbare (used as the donor). Using the substitution map strategy, we detected a total of 22 QTLs across all twelve chromosomes except chromosome 1. In addition, 13 QTLs were detected in both years, and 17 QTLs were consistent with previously reported GPC QTLs. Among them, qGPC4, which located between RM6748 and RM348 within the boundary of 30.45–33.95 Mb, was at the same position or flanked by several previous QTLs. qGPC6-1 was mapped to a QTL cluster where the Waxy gene is located. With the same Waxyb alleles of 9311 and Nipponbare, the effect of Waxy on GPC could be removed, and there should exist a true stable GPC QTL near Waxy. Four novel and stable QTLs for GPC were identified in this research. These stable and novel QTLs could serve as candidate genes for future research, and CSSLs are suitable for mapping GPC QTLs in rice note. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effects of Huaier polysaccharide (HP) in doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury in mice. The content of HP in Trametes robiniophila Murr medicinal fungus determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid method was 85.25%. In the in vitro model, the viability of H9c2 cells was significantly increased after HP treatment compared to the control, while doxorubicin (DOX) decreased this parameter. The inhibitory effect of DOX on cell viability was attenuated after HP treatment. In the in vivo model, the body weight of mice in DOX and DOX+HP groups was significantly decreased compared to the control group. ECG showed significantly elevated ST segment in the DOX group, while in the DOX+HP group, ECG was close to normal. The levels of cardiotoxicity markers cTnI and lactate dehydrogenase in the DOX+HP group were significantly lower than in the DOX group. In the DOX group, the myocardial tissue had obvious structural disorder and interfibrillar vacuoles. In the DOX+HP group, the cardiomyocytes were neatly arranged without interfibrillar vacuoles. The expression of the ferroptosis marker glutathione peroxidase 4 was increased in the DOX+HP group compared to the DOX group. Thus, our study reveals that HP attenuated DOX-induced myocardial injury in mice probably by regulating ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful synthesis of superconducting infinite-layer nickelate thin films with the highest Tc ≈ 15 K has ignited great enthusiasm for this material class as potential analogs of the high-Tc cuprates. Pursuing a higher Tc is always an imperative task in studying a new superconducting material system. Here we report high-quality Pr0.82Sr0.18NiO2 thin films with Tconset ≈ 17 K synthesized by carefully tuning the amount of CaH2 in the topotactic chemical reduction and the effect of pressure on its superconducting properties by measuring electrical resistivity under various pressures in a cubic anvil cell apparatus. We find that the onset temperature of the superconductivity, Tconset, can be enhanced monotonically from ~17 K at ambient pressure to ~31 K at 12.1 GPa without showing signatures of saturation upon increasing pressure. This encouraging result indicates that the Tc of infinite-layer nickelates superconductors still has room to go higher and it can be further boosted by applying higher pressures or strain engineering in the heterostructure films. Despite much recent effort, the highest reported Tc of the infinite-layer nickelates remains lower than 15 K. Here, the authors apply pressure to Pr0.82Sr0.18NiO2 thin films and observe a monotonic increase of Tc to 31 K at 12.1 GPa, an increase that does not level off with increasing pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques including laser powder bed fusion have been widely used to produce metallic components with microstructures and mechanical properties distinctly different from the conventionally manufactured counterparts. Understanding how AM parameters affect the evolution of microstructure, including texture, of these AM metallic components is critical for appropriate manipulation of their processing and therefore their mechanical properties. Here we conducted a systematic investigation of texture evolution of a face-centred cubic CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy cuboid fabricated using laser powder bed fusion. Our results showed that the texture evolutions along the build direction were different between the corner and central parts of the sample. Detailed analysis suggested that the texture evolution is closely related to local thermal gradient, which is a property that can be manipulated through changing AM parameters. The different textures lead to the significant variations of mechanical properties within the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoxygenase (LOX) activity is closely related to wheat processing and storage quality. In the present research, ten wheat cultivars were used to compare the effects of genotype, location, year, and their interactions on the LOX activity. Furthermore, 123 wheat cultivars were evaluated for LOX activity with 192 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and to identify elite alleles related to LOX activity. The results indicated that LOX activity was highly affected by genotype (variety) than that by the location. A total of 22 SSR molecular marker loci with a significant or very significant correlation with LOX activity were identified on performing association analysis. In 3 years, only one molecular marker locus associated with LOX activity was detected (WMC488); in 2 years, seven molecular marker loci were detected, while in only 1 year, the other 14 molecular marker loci were detected. A total of 7 and 6 marker loci significantly related to LOX activity accounting for 31.2% and 27.2%, respectively, were located in homologous groups 4 and 5, and group 7. This research provided the theoretical basis and the markers for molecular-assisted wheat breeding that facilitate the breeding process in the processing and storage quality of grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karrikins is a new family of different compounds that can interrupt the seed's dormancy and cause seed germination. Karrikins chemically defined as a family of compounds formed in smoke from the burning of plant material. Previous research indicates that karrikins have essential roles in various biological processes, such as seed dormancy, seed germination, and early plant growth. Recent research indicates that KAR1 can alleviate seed dormancy in rapeseed and Avena fatua by balancing and biosynthesis of gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA). This study also summarized the role of KAR1 in affecting ethylene synthesis to resolve seed dormancy by controlling the ACS, ACO, and ethylene receptor genes. Expression levels of ethylene-related genes imply a regulation of the seeds' sensitivity modified to the existence of ethylene and indicate a specific diversification of the particular genes. KAR1 has demonstrated its capacity to regulate the antioxidant activity significantly to break dormancy. KAR1 encouraged the aggregation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) during ethylene synthesis as a result of increased activity of two ethylene biosynthesis enzymes, ACC synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO). Data on the role of KAR1 in alleviating seed dormancy in various plants are hardly available. Only a few articles demonstrated KAR1's function in alleviating seed dormancy. Researchers have to pay attention on this issue. This analysis can enable researchers to understand KAR1 and how it works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of long-lived fission products (LLFPs) produced in reactors has been paid a lot attention for sustainable and clean nuclear energy. Although a few transmutation means have been proposed to address this issue, there are still scientific and/or engineering challenges to achieve efficient transmutation of LLFPs. In this study, we propose a novel concept of advanced nuclear energy system (ANES) for transmuting LLFPs efficiently without isotopic separation. The ANES comprises intense photoneutron source (PNS) and subcritical reactor, which consist of lead–bismuth (Pb-Bi) layer, beryllium (Be) layer, and fuel, LLFPs and shield assemblies. The PNS is produced by bombarding radioactive cesium and iodine target with a laser-Compton scattering (LCS) γ-ray beam. We investigate the effect of the ANES system layout on transmutation efficiency by Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that a proper combination of the Pb-Bi layer and the Be layer can increase the utilization efficiency of the PNS by a factor of ~ 10, which helps to decrease by almost the same factor the LCS γ-beam intensity required for driving the ANES. Supposing that the ANES operates over 20 years at a normal thermal power of 500 MWt, five LLFPs including 99Tc, 129I, 107Pd, 137Cs and 79Se could be transmuted by more than 30%. Their effective half-lives thus decrease drastically from ~ 106 to less than 102 years. It is suggested that this successful implementation of the ANES paves the avenue towards practical transmutation of LLFPs without isotopic separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comminution is widely used in the deep processing of coal resources. Different chemical structures in coals can influence follow-up procedures significantly. A planetary ball mill was used as a comminution device, and its effects on the grain size and chemical structure of anthracite from Ningxia, China were studied. Comminution kinetics were studied and qualitative and quantitative analyses of functional groups were done by IR spectrometry. The results demonstrate that product size distribution of anthracite from Ningxia conformed to the n-order kinetic model and the grain size reached −42 nm after 24 h. The peak intensity of the IR spectra increased markedly, and the surface activity of anthracite powder was enhanced after ultrafine comminution. Penta-substituted benzene rings of aromatic hydrogen were the dominant group in raw anthracite, while tris-substituted benzene rings of aromatic hydrogen became the dominant form after 24 h of ultrafine comminution. During ultrafine comminution, cyclization of aliphatic chains, dehydroaromatization of cycloparaffin, substitution reactions of orienting groups on aromatic rings, and decarboxylic reactions of benzene rings might occur. Although raw anthracite shows a relatively high degree of metamorphism, its particles show stronger activity and can absorb more oxygen after ultrafine comminution, thus increasing oxygen enrichment. The CH in the aliphatic hydrocarbons of ultrafine anthracite basically disappeared, and CH2 was more easily lost than CH3 during ultrafine comminution. Oxygencontaining functional groups in anthracite were altered or some of their elements reacted with oxygen, which decreased the amount of free OH groups on anthracite particle surfaces. During ultrafine comminution, the stability of hydrogen bonds was ranked OH...π > OH...OH > free OH groups > OH...ether > OH...N > cyclic OH tetramers. These changes indicate that the ultrafine anthracite comminution process is also accompanied with chemical reactions. The results provide a reference and guidance for exploring changes in the molecular structures of ultrafine anthracite and follow-up deep processing. In particular, the occurrence of mercaptan -SH and FeS2 implies that sulfur exists in anthracite in both organic and inorganic forms. The absorption peak of ultrafine pulverized kaolinite was intensified, indicating that minerals were dissociated and more impurities were exposed after comminution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic compressive deformation of frozen soil was investigated by conducting the split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) experiments at three temperatures and different high strain rates, and the dynamic stress–strain responses and failure modes of the frozen soil were analyzed. The experimental results demonstrate that the frozen soil exhibits evident dependence on the strain rate and temperature under the dynamic loading condition. The dynamic compressive stress–strain curve of the frozen soil was divided into three parts: the linear, nonlinear rising, and strain softening parts. The nonlinear rising and strain softening parts were both caused by the damage attributed to the debonding between the ice particles and soil matrix, from which a rate-dependent damage evolution equation was obtained. Moreover, a damage-coupled dynamic viscoelastic constitutive model of frozen soil at high strain rate was derived. A comparison between the theoretically predicted results and the experimental ones showed that the developed dynamic viscoelastic model could well describe the dynamic mechanical behavior of frozen soil at high strain rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years Au-Sn solid–liquid interdiffusion (SLID) has become a widely known bonding method to deliver promising die attaching techniques for high-temperature operating electronic vehicles. Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) chips were assembled on direct bonded copper substrates by utilizing a Ni/Au-20Sn/Ni system based on SLID. Our previous research investigated the intermetallic compounds formed after isothermal aging. Electron microscopic instrumentation was employed to determine the interfacial reactions between AuSn and nickel (Ni). After total consumption of AuSn at the rim sites of (Ni, Au)3Sn2 grains, an increased concentration of Ni was identified. Prolongation of aging time at 240°C helped in precipitation of Ni3Sn at the interface of (Ni, Au)3Sn2 and Ni. This current research has theorized the mechanism of the intermetallic compounds formed at the rim sites of the Au-Sn System. From the results, the Au-Sn eutectic system attained in this article is ideal to assemble an IGBT for high-temperature devices using SLID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solvothermal reaction of 4,4′-bipyridine (Bipy) and mercury nitrate in a mixed acetonitrile/water solution leads to a novel mercury coordination compound with the in situ formation of cyanide ions Hg(Bipy)(CN)2 (1). Its structure is determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), and further characterized by powder XRD, elemental analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Compound 1 exhibits a 1D zigzag [Hg(Bipy)(CN)2]n chain structure. The solid-state photoluminescent properties of 1 are also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of various types of cancer. Here, we investigated whether manipulating CIP2A abundance could enhance the treatment effects of doxorubicin in MCF-7/ADR cells. Methods: CIP2A silencing was achieved by specific siRNAs. Proliferation of breast cancer cell line MCF-7/ADR under effective doxorubicin concentrations after CIP2A silencing was examined by MTT assay. Wound healing assay was performed to quantify cell migration and caspase-3/-7 activities were measured for assessing the extent of apoptosis. Results: First, our data confirmed that MCF-7/ADR cell proliferation was suppressed by doxorubicin in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, knocking down of CIP2A could further decrease MCF-7 cell proliferation and migration, even in the presence of doxorubicin. Mechanistically, we have found that CIP2A silencing promoted cell apoptosis relative to doxorubicin alone or vehicle control groups. Lastly, phosphatase2A (PP2A) activity was potentiated and the autophagy markers, LC3B and Beclin1, were upregulated after knocking down CIP2A. Conclusion: Our findings support the potential benefits of using CIP2A inhibitor as a therapeutic agent to treat doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Endometrial cancer is the most common malignant tumor of female genital system worldwide. Homeobox A11 (HOXA11) is an evolutionarily conserved Homeobox gene closely implicated in carcinogenesis. However, the mechanisms of HOXA11 in the progression and cisplatin resistance of endometrial cancer remain unclear. Methods: The expression of HOXA11 was analyzed based on 548 endometrial cancer and 35 control tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Transwell assay was performed to investigate the effect of HOXA11 on endometrial cell migration and invasion. TUNEL staining was carried out to assay the role of HOXA11 in endometrial cell apoptosis. Western blot was employed to detect the protein levels of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X (Bax), cleaved caspase-3, matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP/9), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), protein kinase B (AKT) and p-AKT. Results: TCGA data showed that HOXA11 expression was significantly down-regulated in endometrial cancer tissue samples. The overexpression of HOXA11 promoted the apoptosis, but inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of endometrial cancer cells. HOXA11 knockdown with small interfering RNA (siRNA) considerably repressed cell apoptosis, while promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through PTEN/AKT signaling pathway. Interestingly, HOXA11 was lowly expressed in Ishikawa cells treated with cisplatin. In addition, HOXA11 knockdown increased the resistance of endometrial cancer to cisplatin through activating PTEN/AKT signaling pathway. Conclusion: Low HOXA11 expression may promote the proliferation, migration, invasion of endometrial cancer cells, and increase their resistance to cisplatin through activating PTEN/AKT pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a Mg–Zn–Ca magnesium matrix nanocomposite containing nano-sized TiC particles was firstly processed by multidirectional forging (MDF). With increasing the forging temperature from 230 to 310 °C for 1 MDF pass or the number of MDF passes at 270 °C, both volume fractions and average sizes of recrystallized grains increased. The average sizes of precipitated MgZn2 phases increased with the increase in either the initial forging temperature or MDF passes, and the volume fractions gradually decreased with increasing the initial forging temperature or decreasing the MDF passes. With decreasing the initial MDF temperature, thermal expansion mismatch strengthening slightly decreased while fine-grain strengthening and Orowan strengthening gradually increased, resulting in a gradual increased yield strength. The elongation of the present nanocomposite gradually increased from 8.2% after 1 MDF pass to 22.7% after 6 MDF passes, while both yield strength and ultimate tensile strength did not change significantly. This could be ascribed to that although the fine-grain strengthening gradually reduced, there was no significant change in the Orowan strengthening caused by MgZn2 phases with increasing the number of MDF passes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Evidence on the topic regarding fruit and vegetable (FV) variety and health outcomes among older adults is limited. This study explored the prospective association of fruit variety, vegetable variety and combined FV variety with the risk of sarcopenia, frailty, all-cause and cause-specific mortality in community-dwelling Chinese older adults. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Community. Participants: Community-dwelling Chinese older adults aged ≥65 years in Hong Kong. Measurements: Fruit variety, vegetable variety and combined FV variety at baseline were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire and the variety scores were stratified into tertiles. Sarcopenia (Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019), frailty (Cardiovascular Health Study) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality (retrieved from an official database) were assessed at 14-year follow-up. Adjusted binary logistic regression or Cox proportional hazards model were performed to examine the association of fruit variety, vegetable variety and combined FV variety with each health outcome. Data are presented as hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Baseline dietary data of 3992 participants (median age: 72 years (interquartile range: 68–76), 49.9% women) was available. There were 436 and 371 participants who were newly identified as having sarcopenia and frailty respectively, and 1654 all-cause mortality, 367 cardiovascular diseases (CVD) mortality and 534 cancer mortality over 14-year. Tertiles of fruit variety, vegetable variety and combined FV variety were not associated with sarcopenia, frailty, CVD mortality and cancer mortality. Participants in the highest tertile of fruit variety (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.70–0.95, p-trend 0.010), vegetable variety (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.67–0.89, p-trend <0.001) and combined FV variety (HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.67–0.89. p-trend <0.001) showed lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with participants in the lowest tertile. Conclusion: Among community-dwelling Chinese older adults, FV variety was not associated with sarcopenia, frailty, CVD mortality and cancer mortality over 14-year. Higher fruit variety, vegetable variety and combined FV variety were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. Promoting a wide FV variety might be recommended to benefit the health and longevity of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite structures made of 2 mm-thick titanium and 10 mm-thick carbon steel are widely used in infrastructures such as long-distance gas transportation. However, cracking, which is caused by intermetallic compounds (ICs), is a dominate failure mode in welds of this structure. Thus, a common way to improve the in-service life of is reduce the number of ICs. In this paper, we employ a novel hybrid welding method to fabricate composite structures of TA2 titanium and Q235 carbon steel. Specifically, Ti and carbon steel is welded by laser and double Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) welding, respectively. The microstructure near the interface of Ti and steel is then examined using SEM, EBSD, EDS, with emphasis on the ICs in terms of chemical elements and morphologies. Results show that FeTi and Fe2Ti are the main ICs near the interface, and responsible for the failure of the welds. The effect of welding heat input on the formation of ICs is investigated as well. Results show that ICs are smaller when the heat input is low. Under low heat input circumstance, the tensile strength of the weld can reach up to 420 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor, and its incidence is rising. To explore the specific differences in benign and malignant melanoma at the genetic level, we performed a series of bioinformatics analyses, including differential gene analysis, co-expression analysis, enrichment analysis, and regulatory prediction. Methods: The microarray data of benign and malignant melanocytes were downloaded from GEO, and 1917 differential genes were obtained by differential analysis (p < 0.05). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis obtained three functional barrier modules. The essential genes of each module are SMARTA4, HECA, and C1R. Results: The results of the enrichment analysis showed that the dysfunctional module gene was mainly associated with RNA splicing and Adherens junction. Through the pivotal analysis of ncRNA, it was found that miR-448, miR-152-3p, and miR-302b-3p essentially regulate three modules, which we consider to be critical regulators. In the pivot analysis of TF, more control modules include ARID3A, E2F1, E2F3, and E2F8. Conclusions: We believe that the regulator (miR-448, miR-152-3p, miR-302b-3p) regulates the expression of the core gene SMARCA4, which in turn affects the signal transduction of the Adherens junction. It eventually leads to the deterioration of benign skin spasms into melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new monocular zinc(II) complex [Zn(L1)Cl2] (complex 1), where L1 stands for 2,6-bis{[(4-isopropylphenyl)imino]ethyl}pyridine is synthesized and characterized. Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system in the P21/n space group with a = 10.941 Å, b = 15.918 Å, c = 16.199 Å, β = 107.60°, and Z = 4. L1 acts as a tridentate ligand and is coordinated to the Zn1 atom in a five-coordinated trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The thermogravimetric analysis suggests that complex 1 can be stable up to 351 °C. The study of the photoluminescent properties indicates that complex 1 shows intense metal-perturbed π–π* intraligand fluorescence in the solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate positioning error analysis of the Fraxion localization system in the intracranial stereotactic radiotherapy of tumors. Methods: 64 patients were divided into two groups: a control group (36 patients with the standard thermoplastic mask) and a model group (28 patients with the Fraxion localization system). 3D images of the treated position were obtained by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Positioning errors were obtained by, respectively, registering these two sets of CBCT images to planning CT images, using a 6°-freedom robotic patient positioning system (HexaPOD Evo RT System). The changes in positioning errors with the Fraxion localization system and with the standard thermoplastic mask were analyzed. Results: CBCT scan results of the model group showed that the mean of linear error of three directions [superior-inferior (SI), lateral (LAT), and anterior–posterior (AP)] was 0.710 ± 0.676 mm, 0.817 ± 0.687 mm, and 0.710 ± 0.685 mm, respectively. The corresponding PTV was 1.23 mm, 1.26 mm, and 1.36 mm. The differences between the 3D images and the planned CT images were significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Fraxion radiotherapy system can not only improve the positioning accuracy and reduce positioning errors but also narrow the PTV margin and reduce the radiated volume of normal tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of cold region engineering, it is crucial to study the mechanical properties of frozen soil. In practice, frozen soil is inevitably subject to impact loading, making the study of frozen soil under impact loading necessary for engineering in cold regions. The split–Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) is an important experimental means for obtaining the dynamic performance of materials. In this study, an SHPB experiment was conducted on frozen soil under confining pressure. The frozen soil exhibited an evident strain rate effect and temperature effect under confining pressure. The SHPB experiment on frozen soil under confining pressure was simulated numerically using LS-DYNA software and the Holmquist–Johnson–Cook (HJC) material model. A loading simulation with passive confining pressure and active confining pressure was completed by adding an aluminum sleeve and applying a constant load. The simulation results obtained using the above methods were in good agreement with the experimental results. The strength of the frozen soil under confining pressure was greater than that of the uniaxial impact, and there was an evident confining pressure effect. Furthermore, the confining pressure provided by passive confinement was larger than that provided by active confinement. The passive confining pressure energy absorption efficiency was higher than for the active confining pressure due to the need to absorb more energy under the same damage conditions. The frozen soil exhibited viscoplastic failure characteristics under confining pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: WSL8 encoding a deoxyribonucleoside kinase (dNK) that catalyzes the first step in the salvage pathway of nucleotide synthesis plays an important role in early chloroplast development in rice. The chloroplast is an organelle that converts light energy into chemical energy; therefore, the normal differentiation and development of chloroplast are pivotal for plant survival. Deoxyribonucleoside kinases (dNKs) play an important role in the salvage pathway of nucleotides. However, the relationship between dNKs and chloroplast development remains elusive. Here, we identified a white stripe leaf 8 (wsl8) mutant that exhibited a white stripe leaf phenotype at seedling stage (before the four-leaf stage). The mutant showed a significantly lower chlorophyll content and defective chloroplast morphology, whereas higher reactive oxygen species than the wild type. As the leaf developed, the chlorotic mutant plants gradually turned green, accompanied by the restoration in chlorophyll accumulation and chloroplast ultrastructure. Map-based cloning revealed that WSL8 encodes a dNK on chromosome 5. Compared with the wild type, a C-to-G single base substitution occurred in the wsl8 mutant, which caused a missense mutation (Leu 349 Val) and significantly reduced dNK enzyme activity. A subcellular localization experiment showed the WSL8 protein was targeted in the chloroplast and its transcripts were expressed in various tissues, with more abundance in young leaves and nodes. Ribosome and RNA-sequencing analysis indicated that some components and genes related to ribosome biosynthesis were down-regulated in the mutant. An exogenous feeding experiment suggested that the WSL8 performed the enzymic activity of thymidine kinase, especially functioning in the salvage synthesis of thymidine monophosphate. Our results highlight that the salvage pathway mediated by the dNK is essential for early chloroplast development in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Radical gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy has been widely recognized as standard surgical procedure for advanced gastric cancer, while the role of No. 14v lymphadenectomy in distal gastric cancer remains controversial. Methods: Clinicopathological data of 793 distal gastric cancer patients who underwent at least a radical D2 lymphadenectomy with No. 6 nodes metastasis were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Fifty patients received No. 14v lymphadenectomy. Patients with No. 14v nodes metastasis (21/50, 42.0%) had poor prognosis. The No. 14v nodes metastasis was not an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.075). In distal gastric cancer patients with No. 6 nodes metastasis, No. 14v lymphadenectomy deteriorated overall survival, what's more, No. 14v lymphadenectomy was an independent risk prognostic factor (hazard ratio: 1.404; 95% confidence interval 1.043–1.889; P = 0.025). There was no significant difference in overall or locoregional and other types of recurrence rate between the 14vD+ and the 14vD− groups. The proportion of complication rate was greater in 14vD+ group (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Extended D2 gastrectomy including No. 14v lymphadenectomy seems to be associated with poor overall survival and increased complication rate of distal gastric cancer patients with No. 6 nodes metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether vanillic acid (VA) mitigated dehydration stress responses in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), and analyzed potential mechanisms mediating this activity. We pretreated 2‑year-old blueberry plants with 40 μM VA for two days, and then induced dehydration stress by irrigating with nutrient solution containing 10% (w/v) polyethylene glycol 6000 for two days. VA pretreatment increased the transcript levels of genes encoding eight antioxidant enzymes in leaves, including iron superoxide dismutase, chloroplast copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, cytoplasmic copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase. These increased transcript levels were consistent with enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and elevated contents of reduced glutathione and ascorbate. Subjecting the V--A‑treated blueberry to dehydration stress further enhanced expression levels of these genes, compared with the control plants subjected only to dehydration stress, increased the contents of endogenous VA, proline, and soluble sugars, enhanced the relative water content and osmotic potential, and reduced the levels of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde. So pretreatment of blueberry with VA reduces lipid peroxidation and mitigates dehydration stress by enhancing the endogenous VA content, activating the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes, and increasing the levels of proline and soluble sugars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear dynamic characteristics of giant magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer (GMUT) are researched in this paper, and the optimal control strategy is proposed. New nonlinear differential terms are introduced to explain the hysteretic phenomena of giant magnetostrictive materials (GMM), and the nonlinear dynamic model of a giant magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer subjected to harmonic magnetic field and stochastic disturbance is developed. The system's nonlinear dynamic responses are discussed, and the optimal control strategy is proposed to improve the system's accuracy. Numerical simulation and experiment results show that there are abundant nonlinear dynamic behaviors in the system; the stability of the system varies with the parameters, which causes stochastic bifurcation; the system's accuracy is improved through stochastic optimal control. The results of this study are helpful for the application of giant magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer in engineering fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is necessary to trade off environmental impact and mining performance, preferably using an integrated life cycle modeling approach, while quantifying the air emissions. An integrated framework comprises of a life cycle inventory, and artificial neural network model for mining (LCAMM) is developed and applied to the real case study of an open-pit gold mine. This study aims to develop the air pollution inventory using inverse matrix method and estimation of midpoint impact assessment using defined characterization methodologies. Furthermore, this paper explores the feasibility of back-propagation artificial neural networking model to develop the carbon footprints analysis for the mine in terms of CO2 equivalent by constructing different scenarios. The inventory result shows that TSP (49.6%), PM10 (20%), PM2.5 (14.7%), N2O (7.1%), CO (6.1%), SO2 (1.3%), HCN (0.6%), CH4 (0.4%), CaO (0.2%) and VOCs (0.06%) are responsible for the total environmental load in this gold mining. Subsequently, particulate matter formation (kg PM10 eq.) significantly contributes to the midpoint impact in contrast to the other environmental impacts, mainly because of hauling, handling of ore, milling/grinding, drilling and stockpiling. The study reveals that average 13,992.25–13,993.75 tons of CO2 equivalent is produced as the carbon footprints for this mine. This study confirms that LCAMM framework can serve the basis for further analysis of pollutant's dispersion and assist decision makers to select an appropriate remedial technique in the mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We design high-power AlGaInP laser diodes emitting at ~640 nm. AlN and SiC submounts are used as heat sinks for the laser chips. The laser diode with SiC submount showed a higher thermal rollover power of 3.9 W and higher maximum conversion efficiency of 39% at 25°C. In the range of 15 – 35°C, the two types of lasers have similar characteristic temperature T0. At higher temperatures beyond 40°C, the laser chip mounted on SiC revealed an improved T0, compared to that on AlN. By measuring the wavelength drift of the two types of lasers, we estimate the thermal resistance to be 9.1 K/W for the laser diode on AlN and 5.6 K/W for the laser diode on SiC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing of wind energy, it is necessary to develop an energy storage system to level the wave of wind power, and to develop a fault current limiter for improvement of the LVRT capability of the wind farm. An innovative idea to deal with the above problem is to develop a superconducting fault current limiter-magnetic energy storage system (SFCL-MES). In this paper, we report the progress of the superconducting coil for a 1-MJ/0.5-MVA FCL-SMES system. The coil consisted of 46 double pancakes, in which 8 pancakes were made of YBCO tapes and the others were made of Bi2223 tapes; the inductance of the coil was 13.3 H, and its rated current was 388 A while the maximum magnetic field was 3.5 T. This coil had been used for a FCL-SMES system, which was installed and tested at a wind farm connected to the live power grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SNX27 is a component of the retromer complex essential for the recycling of transmembrane receptors. SNX27 contains the N-terminal Phox (PX) domain that binds inositol 1,3-diphosphate (Ins(1,3)P2) and is important for the SNX27 localization. Here, we determined the crystal structure of human SNX27 PX domain by X-ray crystallography. We found that the sulfate ion is located in the positively charged lipid-binding pocket of the PX domain, which mimics the phospholipid recognition. In addition, we modelled the SNX27-PX–Ins(1,3)P2 complex to better understand the mechanism of Ins(1,3)P2 recognition by the PX domain of SNX27. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy combined with chemometrics using pretreated spectra was explored to develop a rapid, low-cost, and nondestructive method for discriminating between brands of different strong aroma type liquors. Principal component analysis, partial least square discriminant analysis, support vector machine, and back-propagation artificial neural network techniques were used to classify and predict the brands of liquor samples. Compared with the other models, the SVM model achieved the best results, with an identification rate of 100% for the calibration set, and 96.67% for the prediction set. The overall results showed that synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy with an efficient chemometrics method can be used successfully to identify different brands of liquor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dislocation width and lattice resistance (Peierls stress) of a γ-TiAl alloy are calculated by the density ratio method. The lattice resistance is shown to decrease with the dislocation width. The relationship between the Peierls stress and dislocation width variation is defined by theoretical derivation. The yield stress is negatively correlated with the shear stress of the material. It can become a useful tool for choosing an appropriate shear stress under deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu1.98−xNaxSe nanopowders were synthesized using a hydrothermal method and hot-pressed into bulk pellets to assess the effects of Na doping on the thermoelectric properties of Cu1.98Se. The original layered microstructure was maintained at low doping levels, although nanopores, together with point defects, appeared to decrease the thermal conductivity. The thermoelectric properties of the material were improved by Na doping, resulting in a maximum ZT value of 1.32 for Cu1.94Na0.04Se at 973 K. The experimental data indicate that an optimal level of Na doping effectively improves the thermoelectric performance of non-stoichiometric Cu1.98Se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of blade wrap angle on energy performance and unsteady characteristics of the single-channel pump, a single-channel pump with specific speed of 140 was selected as experimental test model and three impeller models with blade wrap angle of 290°, 340° and 390° were respectively designed. The performance of different single-channel pumps with blade wrap angle of 290°, 340° and 390° respectively were tested. Based on the experimental study, the effect of blade wrap angle on the energy characteristics, head pulsation, pressure fluctuation and radial force of the single-channel pump was obtained and analyzed. The results show that with blade wrap angle increases from 290° to 390°, the maximum pump head and efficiency gradually increases and the maximum increase amplitude is 7.3% and 7.79% respectively. The minimum static pressure at impeller outlet under three schemes all occurs at 1.0Qd and bigger blade wrap angle can reduce the mixing loss at impeller outlet. With the increase of blade wrap angle, the head pulsation and pressure fluctuation all decrease gradually. The maximum eighth section under the small flow rate and under the big flow rate occurs at the volute second the section. A higher pressure fluctuation exists around volute tongue. The time-averaged radial force decreases as the blade wrap angle increases and its increase amplitude decreases as the flow rate increases. The research fruits can provide some reference and theoretical basis for the optimization of single-channel pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the present study, selective laser melting (SLM) was used to successfully fabricate Inconel 718–tungsten carbide (WC) composites. The processing parameter optimization results reveal that nearly non-porous composites (99.54%) were achieved with the laser power of 220 W, scanning speed of 850 mm s−1, and the hatch spacing of 150 μm. The microstructural characterization unveils that elongated grain structure in the heat flow direction was observed in the case of pure IN718 while WC particles served as obstacles to hinder the grain growth in the composites. The formation of in situ intermediate layer and the strong interfacial bonding between WC super-hard particles and the matrix acted as load bearing and significantly contribute to the overall properties of composites. Mechanical tests indicate significant improvements of microhardness and tensile strengths, although a drop in strength was observed when the amount of WC reached 15 wt.%. In addition, the thermal experiment shows that the composites are dimensionally stable at higher temperature compared to their monolithic counterpart. The findings suggest that the developed IN718-WC composites can be utilized in many critical engineering applications in nuclear sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving good mechanical properties as well as the dimensional accuracy and the smooth surface quality of selective laser melting printed parts with minimal post treatments are essential in additive manufacturing. In the present study, Inconel 718 samples with different powder layer thickness (20, 30, 40 and 50 μm) were additively fabricated using 3D Systems ProX-300 machine. The results reveal that the lower the layer thickness, the denser and good dimensional accuracy were achieved. Marginally higher mechanical properties and microhardness were also obtained at the lower thickness while the failure strain was still high. This can be explained through significant change in the microstructure due to different cooling rate and thermal cycles. In addition, the formation of ɤ ′ and ɤ ″ intermetallic phases, which were well distributed in the matrix and grain boundaries, during heating/cooling, gave rise in the strengths. Fractography shows the plastic deformation band due to work hardening and the crack initiation sites at sub-micro/micro pores, lack of fusion areas and the boundary of unmelted particles. The study would guide engineers balance their options between the production rate and the building parts’ quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searching for new cathode materials is very important in the field of Na-ion batteries. Transition metal sodium orthosilicates have attracted much attention due to the significant progress made in its analog of lithium orthosilicates. In this work, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to study the structural stabilities, electronic and electrochemical properties of Na2FeSiO4 polymorphs, and their corresponding desodiated products NaxFeSiO4. Our results show that formation energies of all the calculated structures differ substantially upon removal of Na, indicating that phase transformations should happen during the desodiation for different polymorphs. NaFeSiO4 is the only energetically stable intermediate phase among the cases, leading to two theoretically voltage plateaus, i.e., ~ 2.0 V (2 ≥ x ≥ 1) and ~ 4.5 V (1 ≥ x ≥ 0) in NaxFeSiO4, respectively. Moreover, the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ ions is observed during the removal of the first Na ion, while both the oxidation of O and Fe ions occur during the further desodiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]