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[Display omitted] The ability to reverse engineer the silkworm fiber has led to tremendous advancements in the field of silk materials over the last several decades, with silk fibroin materials applied to biomedical, food, and high technology industries. This progress is largely due to the ability to process silk into a regenerated silk fibroin solution that can be engineered into a variety of material formats and stabilized by the reintroduction of the non-covalent native β-sheet protein structure. The next revolution in silk materials involves stabilizing silk fibroin through covalent crosslinking and plasticization. These approaches have transformed silk into a material that is not only strong, but also elastic and flexible, making it compatible with modern fabrication approaches. This has significantly broadened silk material fabrication strategies to include photolithography, digital light processing, and extrusion-based 3D printing. As a result, silk can now be used in a range of applications including ocular prostheses, bio-adhesives, tissue engineering matrices, green biodegradable LEDs and batteries, on-skin and implantable sensors, and bioplastics. In this review, we discuss the evolution of crosslinking in silk materials, focusing on covalent tyrosine- and methacrylate-based crosslinks, and on the structural changes and crosslinking brough about by plasticizing silk using glycerol and calcium ions. We describe how advances in silk crosslinking led to the development of unique materials, paving the way for new fabrication approaches and applications across multiple industries, ushering in a new era of silk materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH 4), one of the greenhouse gases, is considered a promising feedstock for the biological production of fuels and chemicals. Although recent studies have demonstrated the capability of methanotrophs to convert CH 4 into various bioproducts by metabolic engineering, the productivity has not reached commercial levels. As such, there is a growing interest in synthetic methanotrophic systems as an alternative. This review summarizes the strategies for enhancing native CH 4 assimilation and discusses the challenges for the construction of synthetic methanotrophy into nonmethanotrophic industrial strains. Additionally, we suggest a mixed heterotrophic approach that integrates CH 4 assimilation with glucose and xylose metabolism to improve productivity. The synthetic methanotrophic system presented in this review could pave the way for sustainable and efficient biomanufacturing using CH 4. [Display omitted] • Synthetic methanotrophy systems for chemical production are discussed. • Current CH 4 -derived chemical production in methanotrophs is not efficient. • Engineering CH4-oxidation related enzymes is crucial for effective CH4 conversion. • Integrating CH 4 and sugar metabolism is required for industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the long-run and multi-generational effects of a mass education program in Vietnam during the First Indochina War (1946–1954). Difference-in-difference estimations indicate that the girls exposed to the program had an average of 1.5 years of education, while their children had an average of 0.9 more years of education. Better household lifestyles and a stronger focus on education are possible transmission pathways between mothers and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study uses Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2010–2011 to document the causal relationship between domestic violence against women on the welfare of children under 5 years old in Vietnam. To address the endogeneity issue, we use the extent of exposure to domestic violence against at the commune level as instrumental variable for domestic violence against women at the household level. We find that higher domestic violence against women leads to lower welfare of children. The results are strong and consistent when we use non-parametric method. We also provide two channels – mothers' and fathers' childcare –through which domestic violence influences negatively the welfare of children. Highlights • Higher domestic violence against women leads to lower welfare of children. • Domestic violence influences negatively the welfare of children through two channels: mothers' and fathers' childcare. • Without using instrumental variable, the result would be downward biased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding and analyzing the complex behavior of a structural member is often achieved by decomposing it into simpler phenomena and interpreting it as a superposition of these simpler phenomena. Accordingly, the deformations of thin-walled members are commonly decomposed into global, distortional, local-plate, and other modes. One well-known practical technique is the constraining of shell models; the idea first appeared in the constrained finite strip method, then later in the constrained finite element method, or cFEM in short. In spite of cFEM's remarkable ability to handle a wide range of problems, one of its disadvantages is that it relies on a specific rectangular shell finite element. The research presented here seeks to overcome the limits set by this shell element. It is proposed to use two discretizations and two corresponding basis function systems. One is based on virtually arbitrary, ordinary shell finite elements, whereas the other is based on cFEM shell elements. Constrained spaces are defined with the basis functions of the cFEM and then mapped to the ordinary shell model. The modal analyses are finally completed in the ordinary shell model, but by using the constrained spaces obtained from the cFEM basis functions. In this paper we describe the proposed method and demonstrate its application with numerical studies. • Modal decomposition of thin-walled members is discussed. • The constrained shell finite element method is extended to be applicable with arbitrary shell elements. • The extension of cFEM is made possible by displacement mapping. • Proof-of-concept numerical studies are completed on perforated and non-perforated plates and thin-walled members. • The results validate the applicability of the proposed cFEMmap method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a new way to define transverse extension modes is introduced in the context of modal analysis of thin-walled members. The new transverse extension modes are inspired by the strain distributions of global and distortional modes. The new modes are employed here in the constrained finite strip method. The new modes require some change in the interpolation functions of the semi-analytical finite strip method, and this change is briefly discussed. The practical advantage of the newly proposed transverse extension modes is that the artificial stiffness increase, which is characteristic to pure global and/or distortional deformations in constrained analyses, can be compensated by the consideration of the relevant new transverse extension mode(s), as illustrated by numerous proof-of-concept examples in the paper. • Modal decomposition of thin-walled members is discussed. • New transverse extension modes are introduced. • The classic semianalytical finite strip method is slightly modified. • The new transverse extension modes are implemented into the CUFSM software. • Proof-of-concept examples are presented to illustrate the benefits from the new modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Diversifying into non-farm activities has been suggested as an effective way out of poverty for rural households in developing countries. Using the Vietnamese Household Living Standards Surveys of 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008, we test this claim, and investigate the effect of non-farm sector involvement on poverty and expenditure growth. Our endogeneity-corrected estimates show that an additional household member involved with non-farm activity reduces the probability of poverty by 7–12% and increases the household expenditure by 14% over a two-year period. Our findings also indicate that non-farm involvement reduces the hours worked on farm but not the household agricultural income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Partial oxidation of ethanol with air was carried out in a pulsed discharge plasma reactor at low temperature and atmospheric pressure. Effects of O2:ethanol ratio, ethanol flow rate, and discharge current were investigated. H2 and CO are the major products (>86%). Increases of O2:ethanol ratio promote CO formation at the expense of C2 hydrocarbons. H2 selectivity and H2 + CO selectivity are maximized at O2:ethanol ratios of 0.3 and 0.5, respectively. Increases of feed flow rate accompanied by current increases allow the reactor to operate with high throughput. The LHV energy efficiency is increased with increasing feed flow rate, reaching 85% at high ethanol flow rates, conditions that also increase throughput. In contrast to catalytic and homogenous reactions, not all O2 is consumed at high O2:ethanol ratio for the low temperature plasma reaction. A radical reaction pathway of H abstraction from –OH and the α-H in ethanol to form CH3CHO followed by C–C scission is proposed. The produced hydrogen rich gas can be potentially used in fuel cells and engines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, a new version of the constrained finite element method is reported. The constrained finite method is essentially a shell finite element method, developed for the modal analysis of thin-walled members, where mechanical constraints can be applied to enforce the analyzed member to deform according to specific (e.g., global, distortional, or local) modes. This paper generalizes the method by extending its applicability to members with transverse plates such as end-plates and transverse stiffeners. In the paper, the basic formulae of the extended method are summarized, both for constrained analysis and modal identification. In order to validate the method and demonstrate its capabilities, several numerical examples are presented: the numerical results are evaluated and the results are compared to analytical solutions where available. • The constrained finite element method has been extended to members with transverse plates. • The extended cFEM can do calculations in a reduced deformation space, as well as modal identification. • To validate the extended cFEM, it has been applied for a large number of sample problems. • The cFEM results have been compared to analytical results and to results from alternative numerical methods. • The cFEM results are in accordance with the engineering expectations as well as with analytical solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Using Viet Nam Access to Resources Household Surveys of 2008–2016, we examine the effect of land fragmentation on child outcomes. • We find that higher land fragmentation decreases child school dropout. • However, the results are statistically significant for school dropout of children aged 11–15, it is not for school dropout of children aged 6–10. • We explain these findings through one particular mechanism - that is women empowerment This study examines the effect of land fragmentation on school dropout of children in Vietnam. To address the endogeneity issue, the study proposes an instrumental variable – that is land per capita at the commune level. The study also uses another instrumental variable – the percentage of land plot acquisition before 1993 – to check the robustness of the results. The findings are that higher land fragmentation decreases child school dropout. Land fragmentation has significant impacts on school dropout of children aged 10–15, however, it does not have any impact on school dropout of children aged 6–10. We explain these findings through one particular mechanism – that is women empowerment. A higher level of land fragmentation increases women empowerment in deciding to visit family, friends or relatives, the purchase of daily goods, large purchases, their own health, and their children's health. A variety of robustness checks corroborate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Growth and metabolism of methanotrophs under various H 2 S concentrations were analyzed. • Both Type I and II methanotrophs effectively convert biogas into PHB and biomass. • Gas fermentation using biogas is proven effective for producing PHB and biomass. This study explores the ability of methanotrophs to convert biogas into biopolymers, addressing H 2 S as a limitation in the utilization of biogas as a carbon source for bioconversion. Transcriptomic analysis was conducted to understand the growth and changes in the expression patterns of Type I and II methanotrophs under varying H 2 S concentrations. Results suggested that Type II methanotrophs can possess a native H 2 S utilization pathway. Both Type I and II methanotrophs were evaluated for their growth and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production from biogas. Methylocystis sp. MJC1 and Methylocystis sp. OK1 exhibited a maximum biomass production of 4.0 and 4.5 gDCW/L, respectively, in fed-batch culture, aligning with the transcriptome data. Furthermore, Methylocystis sp. MJC1 produced 2.9 g PHB/L from biogas through gas fermentation. These findings underscore biogas-based biotechnology as an innovative solution for environmental and industrial challenges with further optimization and productivity enhancement research expected to broaden the potential in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our node embeddings are both interpretable and competent for classification tasks. • Our graph representation learning process is scalable. • Our interpretable node embeddings outperform baselines. • Our technique is robust to different experimental settings. • Our embedding reveals graph's community structure, especially a hierarchy one. We present Deep MinCut (DMC), an unsupervised approach to learn node embeddings for graph-structured data. It derives node representations based on their membership in communities. As such, the embeddings directly provide insights into the graph structure, so that a separate clustering step is no longer needed. DMC learns both, node embeddings and communities, simultaneously by minimizing the mincut loss , which captures the number of connections between communities. Striving for high scalability, we also propose a training process for DMC based on minibatches. We provide empirical evidence that the communities learned by DMC are meaningful and that the node embeddings are competitive in different node classification benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical properties of cathode materials are among the critical factors that directly affect the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, a significant challenge remains in understanding the exact mechanism of mechanical degradation of present cathode materials that results in significant loss of performance during long-term operation. Herein, a comparative study on the correlation between mechanical strength (e.g. particle hardness) and cycle performance of the cathode materials (particularly those with layered structures) is presented. By improving the particle hardness of cathode materials via Mg doping, the formation of undesirable microcracks within the particles during cycling can be effectively suppressed, thus improving cycle performance. Structural and electrochemical analyses are performed in order to further elucidate the mechanical degradation mechanism of LIBs during repeat cycles, and identify a possible approach to the enhancement of electrochemical performance and long-term durability in present cathode materials. Image 1 • A strategy for improving the cycle performance of NCM cathode is presented. • The particle hardness of NCM can be effectively enhanced by Mg doping. • The enhanced particle hardness of Mg-NCM positively affects the cycle performance. • The formation of microcracks within Mg-NCM can be suppressed during cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]