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Rainwater harvesting (RWH) contributes to reduced flooding and relief of demand on water supply systems and is instrumental in sustainable development. The conventional analytical probabilistic approach for RWH has a limitation of requiring an assumption of the initial storage condition which may cause overestimation or underestimation of the system's performance. By deriving the average storage volume of the RWH tank to get rid of such an assumption, a stochastic rainwater harvesting assessment tool (StRaWHAT) which is comprised of a set of closed-form analytical equations was developed and proposed for use in directly quantifying the hydrological performance statistics of RWH systems. The accuracy of StRaWHAT was verified by comparing its results with those obtained from continuous simulations based on mass balance principles for a large number of design scenarios with different climate conditions (6 cities in China and the US), storage capacities (1–20 m3) and water use rates (0.5, 1, 1.5 or 2 m3/day). Close agreements (NSE = 0.984, RMSE = 0.022, and CORR = 0.995) between StRaWHAT and continuous simulation results illustrated that StRaWHAT can provide accurate results for all types of system configurations. Extensive example case studies were carried out for RWH systems located in six cities in China and the U.S. Different types of applications were also illustrated. Overall, the proposed StRaWHAT was proved to be a computationally efficient and ease-to-use tool for directly assessing the hydrological performance of RWH systems. [Display omitted] • Average antecedent storage volume of the RWH tank is analytically derived. • Runoff reduction performance and water supply reliability are directly assessed. • Proposed model is verified in six climatically different cities in China and U.S. • StRaWHAT achieves higher accuracy than the traditional analytical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An analytical stochastic model was developed for bioretention systems. • Both infiltration-excess and saturation-excess runoff generation were considered. • Various climate, soil, dimension and land use conditions were examined. • The ASM model was tested in three climatically different cities in China. Bioretention systems are increasingly used as a typical stormwater management measure due to their flexibility of scale and general aesthetic appeal. The main purpose of bioretention systems is to control runoff and their runoff reduction efficiency is affected by parameters such as contributing catchment area, fillings and sizes. Conventional analytical probabilistic studies on bioretention systems only considered saturation excess runoff for simplicity and may cause inaccuracy of estimating runoff. In this study, an analytical stochastic model (ASM) for bioretention systems considering both infiltration-excess and saturation-excess runoff generation processes was derived. The proposed ASM model was validated in a large number of case studies in Guangzhou, Jinan, and Lanzhou, China. Various climate, soil, dimension and land use conditions were investigated and compared. Close agreement was observed between the results obtained from the ASM model and continuous simulation results. The ASM model can be used to conveniently evaluate the runoff reduction efficiency of bioretention systems under different configurations of design parameters. It thus provides a computationally efficient analytical tool for the rapid design, analysis and evaluation of the nature-based solution to sustainable urban stormwater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Vulnerability assessment index system suitable for urban power grid is established based on combination evaluation. • The quantitative analysis of various types of indicators in the same system has been realized. • The objective characteristics of indexes and the tendency of expert evaluation are taken into full consideration by using learning ability of ANN. Abstract As urban power grid is getting more and more complex, it is necessary to improve the original evaluation method and also a more convenient and accurate vulnerability assessment of urban power grid is needed. Firstly, the evaluating vulnerability index system of urban power grid is established by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) from four aspects of composition of power supply, grid structure, grid operation and important transmission channels. Secondly, according to the effect and position of index in evaluation system, the weights of different indexes are calculated by using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Thirdly, aiming at the problem of different dimensions of input indexes, a nondimensionalized scoring standard is proposed to form a complete assessment system. Finally, the vulnerability assessment of urban power grid is carried out by taking a city as an example. The paper puts forward the weaknesses and defects of the urban power grid after analyzing the results, which lays a theoretical foundation for further optimization and upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea, coffee and fruit in dairy products are rich in polyphenols. The interaction mechanism between β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) and chlorogenic acid (CGA), ferulic acid (FA) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was investigated. Fluorescence experiments proved that polyphenols quenched β-LG fluorescence strongly in static mode and EGCG had stronger binding affinity toward β-LG than CGA and FA. The main interaction force of EGCG binding with β-LG was different from CGA and FA. Furthermore, circular dichroism and fourier transform infrared data indicated that polyphenols changed β-LG secondary structure inducing a-helix to β-structures transition. The surface hydrophobicity of β-LG was also changed slightly by them according to surface hydrophobicity and particle size experiments. These results showed that the interaction mechanism of β-LG with phenolic acid esters was different from it with phenolic acids. Besides, polyphenols had impact on the structure and functionality of β-LG, which would be valuable in dairy processing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High-valence Zr-incorporated Ni 2 P is fabricated through the hydrothermal and subsequently phosphorization method. • Zr 0.1 Ni 1.9 P exhibits remarkable HER and OER performances with the excellent long-term durability more than 100 h. • DFT results confirm that the incorporation of Zr effectively regulates the electronic state and boosts the intrinsic activity of catalyst. Expediting the kinetics of electrochemical hydrogen (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a critical segment in water electrolysis, however, it remains a great challenge. Here, we address this issue via incorporating high valence Zr into Ni 2 P (Zr x Ni 2-x P) to lower the energy barrier of reaction intermediates. The as-prepared Zr 0.1 Ni 1.9 P catalyst exhibits unexceptionable catalytic activities for both HER and OER. It possesses low overpotential of 68 and 239 mV for the HER and OER at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 (j 10), respectively, with the excellent long-term durability more than 100 h. Particularly, the catalytic activity of Zr 0.1 Ni 1.9 P is superior to that of noble metal catalysts (Pt/C and RuO 2) at high current density (> j 300). Furthermore, the electrolytic cell achieves a low potential of only 1.54 V at j 10 to drive overall water splitting in alkaline medium. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that high-valence Zr incorporating promotes the adsorption and dissociation processes of H 2 O to boost alkaline HER and decreases the free energy change of the potential-determining step (O*→OOH*) to facilitate the OER process. This strategy of incorporating high valence Zr to boost reaction kinetics provides a new avenue for designing high performance electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and pro-apototic drugs activating the apoptotic pathway are a strategy for anticancer therapy. To explore new antineoplastic agents, a series of novel mono-indolylbenzoquinone derivatives have been designed and synthesized. Compared with the lead bis-indolylbenzoquinones, most of the novel mono-indolylbenzoquinone derivatives have significantly increased their activity against A549, HeLa, and especially, MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Among them, 10d has the lowest IC 50 value of 70 nM on MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, its oral toxicity is extremely low with an LD 50 value of 374 mg/kg and no obvious liver and kidney damage to mice. 10d down-regulated Bcl-2, up-regulated Bax, and increased the release of cytochrome C, caspase3 and 9. 10d also up-regulated the expression of p53, catalase, and HTRA2/Omi. Therefore, 10d may exert its anticancer activity by activating apoptotic pathway and p53 expression. In vivo , 10d suppressed breast cancer 4T1 tumor growth with 36% inhibition ratio of tumor by intraperitoneal injection in mice. Furthermore, a cross-linked cyanoacrylate (CA)-based local sustained-release drug delivery systems (LSRDDSs) improved 10d anticancer activity to 49.8% inhibition of tumor growth. Taken together, 10d could be a promising drug candidate for clinical development to treat metastatic breast cancer. [Display omitted] • Novel mono-indolylbenzoquinone derivatives were designed and synthesized. • Compound 10d exhibited nanomolar apoptotic potency in breast cancer cells. • In vivo efficacy of 10d was observed in a 4T1 breast tumor model. • Sustained-release drug delivery systems improved 10d anticancer activity in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel CVD grown 3D network graphene is used as interleaves to toughen and strengthen glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite (GF/EP). Remarkable increases of 70% and 206% in mode I and mode II interlaminar fracture energies, respectively, and 36% enhancement in interlaminar shear strength are achieved in GF/EP by incorporating network graphene in the failure-prone mid-plane compared to those composite laminates without interleaves. Pertinent toughening mechanisms include crack deflection and formation of interfacial micro-cracks with significant increase in surface areas owing to the 3D hollow sphere-like graphene wrapping around the epoxy matrix as well as graphene fracture and slippage between adjacent layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A strain producing bacterial cellulose (BC) screened from rotten mandarin fruit was identified as Gluconacetobacter intermedius CIs26 by the examination of general taxonomical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum showed that pellicle produced by strain CIs26 was composed of glucan, and had the same functional group as a typical BC. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analysis indicated that the BC was type I in structure with crystallinity index of 75%. BC yields of strain CIs26 in Hestrin–Schramn (HS), citrus waste modified HS (CMHS) and citrus waste solution (CWS) mediums were 2.1g/L, 5.7g/L, and 7.2g/L, respectively. It was shown that citrus waste could stimulate BC production of strain CIs26 efficiently. Based on the ability of utilization of citrus waste, this strain appeared to have potential in BC manufacture on an industrial scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel method was used to tune the morphologies and properties of conducting polyanilines. In the first time, sulfonic acid-containing Gemini surfactant 9BA-m-9BA (that is 6,6′-(alkyl-1,m-diylbis(oxy))bis(3-nonylbenzenesulfonic acid) with different alkyl spacer length m =2, 3, 4, 6, respectively) was used in the preparation of conducting polyanilines at 0°C in reverse emulsion system of ethyl acetate/water with the volume ratio of 10:1. Simply increasing the spacer length of 9BA-m-9BA from m =2 and 3 to m =4 and 6, the morphologies of resultant polyanilines were changed obviously from granular to fiber-like forms, while the intrinsic viscosity of resultant polyanilines increased dramatically from 49.3 to 119.5ml/g but conductivity decreased from 1.0 to 0.1S/cm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Spinnable carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays with different CNT structures have been synthesized using different growth methods and carbon sources, and long and stable fibers have been produced. Parameters of the nanotubes such as tube diameter, wall thickness, tube length and level of defects were found to play a more important role in the mechanical properties of the fibers than did the initial tube arrangement. To improve the fiber strength, as well as the modulus, the tubes must be long and have a small diameter and thin walls. The strongest fiber from double- and triple-walled CNTs is 1.23GPa in strength, and 32% and 221% higher than those from CNTs with ∼6 and ∼15 walls (932 and 383MPa), respectively. The fiber strength can be improved by 25%, up to 1.54GPa, after poly(vinyl alcohol) infiltration with volume fraction of ∼20%. Our study also shows that C2H4 is superior to C2H2 as the carbon source for the growth of mainly double- and triple-walled CNTs, and therefore the spinning of high-strength fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LXW7 inhibits microglia from releasing proinflammatory cytokines and mediators. • LXW7 modulates Akt/NF-κB and MARK signaling pathway activation. • LXW7 has therapeutic potential for inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia activation is closely linked to ischemia, various chronic neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer′s disease, Parkinson′s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and many other central nervous system diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that depressing the microglial inflammatory response could be an effective treatment for inflammatory disorders. The integrin αvβ3 inhibitor LXW7 has a neuroprotective effect; however, its anti-inflammatory effects and underlying mechanism remain unclear. Thus, we examined whether LXW7 would inhibit inflammatory cytokines and mediators, and we evaluated the potential mechanisms of its neuroprotective effects. Nitrite analysis revealed LXW7 reduced the nitric oxide (NO) level. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) suggested that LXW7 suppressed the expression of proinflammatory genes for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and anti-inflammatory gene interleukin 10 (IL-10) at the messenger ribonucleic acid level. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results demonstrated that LXW7 treatment reduced the expression of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10 at the protein level. Western blotting was conducted to confirm the upregulation of inflammatory factors, including iNOS and COX-2 at the protein level. LXW7 inhibited major genes in the Akt/NF-κB and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase/ mitogen-activated protein kinases (JNK/MAPK) signaling pathways. Immunofluorescence revealed that LXW7 inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Thus, LXW7 effectively alleviated LPS-induced inflammatory damage and had neuroprotective effects. The anti-inflammatory effects of LXW7 may be associated with the inhibition of microglial activation via Akt/NF-κB and JNK/MAPK signaling pathways by blocking integrin αvβ3 receptor. The present study′s findings suggest that LXW7 has a substantial therapeutic potential for treating inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Genes-environments interactions confer susceptibility to asthma. • Genetic correlation with childhood asthma and eosinophilic phenotypes. • generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric fossil fuel CO 2 information is an important reference for local government to formulate energy-saving and emission reduction in Beijing. We present a reconstruction of the fossil fuel CO 2 mole fraction from 2007 to 2014 near the Beijing meteorological tower using AMS to measure 14C of cedar tree rings. The results show that the mole fraction of fossil fuel CO 2 at the sampling point first decreased from 22.3 ± 0.7 ppm (2007) to 21.0 ± 0.9 ppm (2008), then increased to 22.5 ± 0.9 ppm (2010), and finally decreased to 18.7 ± 0.7 ppm (2014). This trend correlates (r = 0.958, p < 0.01) well with one third (May-August) of fossil source consumption of secondary industry in Beijing during 2007–2014. It is attributed to environmental policy programs and control measures at local scope in Beijing during 2007–2014. This study suggests that 14C measurements of tree rings by AMS provide an effective method to evaluate the effect of the environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal conductivities of graphene oxide (GO) sheets with different degrees of functionalization and their responses to uniaxial tensile loads have been studied by molecular dynamics simulations. The thermal conductivity of GO is only 5% that of pristine graphene due to the phonon scattering induced by functionalization. Reduction of GO significantly improves the thermal conductivity by more than 4-folds, but still is unable to recover to the full extent. The thermal conductivity of GO unexpectedly increases in response to an external tensile load, a completely opposite trend to those shown by other nanostructured materials, including pristine graphene. We reveal, for the first time, that phonon softening – the commonly-known mechanism that controls the thermal conductivity of graphene upon stretching – does not prevail in GO. The unique structure of GO suppresses the phonon scattering under tension, effectively ameliorating thermal conduction. The anomaly offers a new avenue to tailor the transport phenomenon in GO sheets for various thermal applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanofiber (CNF)/graphene oxide (GO) hybrid papers are prepared by vacuum filtration of mixed dispersion with varied CNF to GO weight ratios. The effects of GO content, precursor GO size and reduction on the structure, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of hybrid papers are studied. The electrical conductivity of hybrid papers shows a decreasing trend before reduction, while it drastically increases after reduction with increasing GO content, a testament to the dominant role played by GO sheets. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of hybrid papers exhibit similar performance with respect to GO content, confirming the importance of GO sheets. The GO sheet size has a positive effect on mechanical properties of hybrid papers through better alignment and their role as the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) in oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC), in order to provide a new theoretical basis for the prevention, treatment, and management of OPC. The electronic databases were searched available publications relevant to HPV infection and OPC. Studies were collected until July, 2023. The effect sizes were combined using R 4.2.2 software. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Funnel plot and Egger's test were used to assess the publication bias. Seventy-one studies were included with 10,908 OPC patients. The pooled prevalence of HPV and HR-HPV infection was 44.22% and 43.94%, respectively. The genotypes of HR-HPV were HPV16 (37.24%), HPV33 (2.44%), HPV18 (1.64%), HPV35 (1.53%), and HPV58 (0.89%). The highest HPV infection was in North America (66.87%), Oceania (43.09%), and Europe (41.49%), lowest in Africa (4.89%). Females exhibited higher HPV infection (43.18% vs 34.59% in males). Top subsites of HPV infection was tonsil (45.78%), followed by base of tongue (36.66%). Infection was higher in OPC patients aged > 60 (38.15%) than < 60 (34.73%). The prevalence of HPV infection in stage I-II of OPC patients is higher than that in stage III-IV. HPV genotyping (16, 18, 33, 35, 58) is a key factor in the prevention and treatment of OPC. Identifying tonsils, base of tongue, and soft palate as common subsites to improve early detection. Elderly women with high HPV infection require attention to risk management and health education for prevention. The genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) in oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) patients were 16, 18, 33, 35, and 58. The highest HPV infection rate among OPC patients was in North America, followed by Oceania and Europe, lowest in Africa. Tonsil, base of tongue and the soft palate were sites where HPV infection often occurs. It is important to increase OPC risk management for elderly women (>60 years old). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The membrane wetting by amine absorbents results in performance deterioration of membrane gas absorption system for CO2 post-combustion capture. To solve this problem, in this study, the polypropylene membrane fiber was modified by depositing a rough layer on the surface to improve its hydrophobicity. Weighing the coating homogeneity, hydrophobicity and modification process efficiency, the mixture of cyclohexanone and MEK system was considered as the best non-solvent. The contact angle increased dramatically from 122° to 158° by the modification, thereby obtaining superhydrophobic membrane surface. The membrane–absorbent interaction results demonstrated that the modification treatment effectively enhanced the stability and maintained the superhydrophobicity of fibers contacting with the absorbent. In addition, continuous CO2 absorption experiments for up to 20days were carried out in untreated and modified polypropylene hollow fiber membrane contactors, using 1molL−1 MEA solution as the absorbent. The long-term system operation results indicated that, even though additional mass transfer resistance was introduced by the surface coating, the modified polypropylene hollow fiber membrane contactor was still technically feasible for CO2 capture from the power stations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP) is a well-known environmental carcinogen that poses a significant risk to human health. The pivotal genes and toxicity pathways have been identified as key events to construct the mode of action (MOA) of BaP. In this study, we focused on evaluating the association between genetic variants in BaP-disturbed toxicity pathways and the susceptibility of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), based on the data of our previous genome-wide association analysis (GWAS). In addition, we investigated the biological roles of these significant polymorphisms by integrating bioinformatic annotation and experimental validation. Our findings revealed that 15 functional polymorphisms in AHR signaling, p53 signaling, NRF2 signaling, TGF-β signaling, STAT3 signaling, and IL-8 signaling pathways were significantly associated with susceptibility to LSCC. Our study provides a novel approach for identifying novel risk genetic loci utilizing GWAS data, and suggests potential targets for early detection of LSCC in the future. [Display omitted] • This study based on the genome-wide association analysis of population. • Integrated the genetic variants in BaP-perturbed toxicity pathways. • 15 functional polymorphisms in six signaling pathways were significantly associated with susceptibility to LSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The optical rectification (OR) in the two-dimensional electron–hole system is investigated theoretically. An analytical expression formula of the OR coefficient is obtained via the framework of compact density matrix approach and the iterative method. The results show that the OR coefficient depends strongly on the system׳s size and the relaxation time. A more obvious OR coefficient should be found by adjusting an appropriate choice of the system parameters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The development of temperature-insensitive stretchable conductors has significant implications for a wide range of applications, including wearable electronics, flexible sensors, and stretchable circuits in different environments, while resistances of conductive polymer composites are generally temperature dependent. In this study, we develop a novel and facile approach to achieve stable electrical conducting under stretching and temperature variation by incorporating a hierarchical wavy graphene foam (wGF) with a double-layer conductive framework formed by coating highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) on interior graphene struts. The resulting wGF/PEDOT:PSS/PDMS composites exhibit exceptional resistance stabilities during stretching within a wide temperature range of -30-145 °C. The synergistic effects of the unique composite structure, including the macroscopic wavy structures, microscopic compacted conductive skeletons, and more ductile double-layer graphene/PEDOT:PSS frameworks, contribute to the excellent stretchable conducting properties and temperature-insensitive performances. The developed temperature-insensitive stretchable conductor holds great promise for reliable performance in various environmental conditions, opening up new opportunities for advanced flexible and wearable electronic devices. [Display omitted] • A 3D continuous double-layer graphene/PEDOT:PSS with hierarchical wavy and compacted cellular foam structure. • The wGF/PEDOT:PSS/PDMS composites show exceptional stretchable conducting properties. • The resistance of wGF/PEDOT:PSS/PDMS composites remains stable upon stretching to 80% at temperatures within -30-145 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Gastrodin, structurally similar to glucose, is an ideal probe drug for evaluating the drug transport capacity of intestinal glucose transporters (IGTs). • The oral gastrodin bioavailability is significantly higher in Wistar rats (84.7%) and Kunming mice (70.8%) than SD rats (60.6%) and C57 mice (49.9%). • The drug transport capacity of IGTs differs in different strains of rats and mice. • The expression distribution of IGTs in SD rats and C57 mice resembles that in humans. • SD rats and C57 mice are more suitable for oral pharmacokinetic studies related to IGTs. Designing oral drug delivery systems using intestinal glucose transporters (IGTs) may be one of the strategies for improving oral bioavailability of drugs. However, little is known about the biological factors affecting the drug transport capacity of IGTs. Gastrodin is a sedative drug with a structure very similar to glucose. It is a highly water-soluble phenolic glucoside. It can hardly enter the intestine through simple diffusion but exhibits good oral bioavailability of over 80%. We confirmed that gastrodin is absorbed via the intestinal glucose transport pathway. It has the highest oral bioavailability among the reported glycosides' active ingredients through this pathway. Thus, gastrodin is the most selective drug substrate of IGTs and can be used to evaluate the drug transport capacity of IGTs. Obviously, strain is one of the main biological factors affecting drug absorption. This study firstly compared the drug transport capacity of IGTs between SD rats and Wistar rats and between C57 mice and KM mice by pharmacokinetic experiments and single-pass intestinal perfusion experiments of gastrodin. Then, the sodium-dependent glucose transporter type 1 (SGLT1) and sodium-independent glucose transporters type 2 (GLUT2) in the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon of these animals were quantified using RT-qPCR and Western blot. The results showed that the oral bioavailability of gastrodin in Wistar rats was significantly higher than in SD rats and significantly higher in KM mice than in C57 mice. Gastrodin absorption significantly differed among different intestinal segments in SD rats, C57 mice and KM mice, except Wistar rats. RT-qPCR and Western blot demonstrated that the intestinal expression distribution of SGLT1 and GLUT2 in SD rats and C57 mice was duodenum ≈ jejunum > ileum > colon. SGLT1 expression did not differ among different intestinal segments in KM mice, whereas the intestinal expression distribution of GLUT2 was duodenum ≈ jejunum ≈ ileum > colon. However, the expression of SGLT1 and GLUT2 did not differ among different intestinal segments in Wistar rats. It was reported that the intestinal expression distribution of SGLT1 and GLUT2 in humans is duodenum > jejunum > ileum > colon. Hence, the intestinal expression distribution of SGLT1 and GLUT2 of SD rats and C57 mice was more similar to that in humans. In conclusion, the drug transport capacity of IGTs differs in different strains of rats and mice. SD rats and C57 mice are more suitable for evaluating the pharmacokinetics of glycosides' active ingredients absorbed via the intestinal glucose transport pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of residue tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) in milk on molecular structure and activity of β-Gal. Inhibition kinetics assay showed the TCH inhibited β-Gal activity reversibly in a competitive manner. In addition, differences in the activity of β-Gal in the absence and presence of TCH as a function of pH and temperature were found although the optimum pH and temperature of β-Gal remained similar. Fluorescence experiment results showed that TCH effectively quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of β-Gal via static quenching. Thermodynamic parameters delineated the major roles of electrostatic forces played between β-Gal and TCH. Additionally, synchronous fluorescence and circular dichroism spectra (CD spectra) results indicated the secondary structure of β-Gal was changed due to the formation of β-Gal−TCH complexes. The molecular docking further revealed that TCH interacted with some amino acid residues of β-Gal, affecting the active site of the enzyme and thus leading to change in enzyme activity. These alterations in conformation and activity of β-Gal should be taken into consideration while using β-Gal for producing oligosaccharide prebiotics on dairy industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical power sources, such as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), require the use of precious metal catalysts which are deposited as nanoparticles onto supports in order to minimize their mass loading and therefore cost. State-of-the-art/commercial supports are based on forms of carbon black. However, carbon supports present disadvantages including corrosion in the operating fuel cell environment and loss of catalyst activity. Here we review recent work examining the potential of different varieties of graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) as catalyst supports, highlighting their likely benefits, as well as the challenges associated with their implementation. The performance of gCN and hybrid gCN-carbon materials as PEMFC electrodes is discussed, as well as their potential for use in alkaline systems and water electrolyzers. We illustrate the discussion with examples taken from our own recent studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the binding interaction between tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and bovine proteins β-casein (β-CN), α-lactalbumin (α-LA) in aqueous solution by multi-spectroscopic methods and molecular modeling techniques. Fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence showed that TCH effectively quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of bovine proteins via static quenching, while there was a single class of binding site on protein. Thermodynamic parameters revealed that electrostatic forces played major roles in the interaction between β-CN and TCH, whereas α-LA-TCH complex were stabilized by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Moreover, circular dichroism　spectra (CD spectra), ultraviolet visible absorption spectra (UV–vis absorption spectra), and fluorescence Excitation-Emission Matrix (EEM) spectra results indicated the secondary structure of bovine proteins was changed in the presence of TCH with the α-helix percentage of protein-TCH complexes decreased. Molecular modeling analysis supported the experimental results well. In addition, the research of surface hydrophobicity further verified tertiary structure of proteins was changed in the presence of TCH and the possible changes of protein function. These results achieved from experiments may be valuable in the milk industry and food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We numerically investigated a novel refractive index (RI) sensor based on a liquid-filled and Au-coated hollow-core negative-curvature fiber (HC-NCF). In the design, the cladding area of the HC-NCF was composed of only one ring of six silica tubes, all the air holes in the fiber were filled with analytic liquids. The fiber bent in either the x or y -axis direction and Au-coated inside the single cladding tube in the corresponding bending direction. The influences of Au-coated HC-NCF structure parameters on the propagation characteristics under different bending directions were investigated using the finite element method (FEM). Moreover, the sensing performances in the RI range of 1.30–1.35 were evaluated through analyzing the position of the confinement loss peak. The simulation results showed that the HC-NCF RI sensor in the y -axis bending direction showed higher sensitivity, and the maximum sensitivity was 6.974 µm/RIU. The sensor shows high sensitivity and provides an effective method for measuring the RI of liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile in situ self-catalysis and subsequent chemical transformation route were developed to encapsulated ultrafine FeSe 2 nanoparticles into bamboo-like 3D N-doped carbon nanotubes networks. Realizing excellent lithium and sodium ion storage performances. The Li+/Na+ storage mechanisms were investigated via in situ characterization tests and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. [Display omitted] • A facile in situ self-catalysis and subsequent chemical transformation route has been explored to FeSe 2 @CNTs composite. • The ultrafine FeSe 2 nanoparticles were encapsulated within the bamboo-like N-doped carbon nanotubes. • The in situ electroanalytical techniques and DFT calculations reveal the energy storage mechanism. • The FeSe 2 @CNTs composite exhibits ultratable cycling performance and ultrahigh rate capability. Encapsulating the multifunctional nanostructures within a lightweight nanocarbon network is considered to be a promising strategy for developing state-of-the-art electrodes for alkali metal-ion batteries (AMIBs). Herein, the ultrafine FeSe 2 nanoparticles (NPs) were encapsulated within the bamboo-like N-doped carbon nanotubes (FeSe 2 @CNTs) via a rationally in situ self-catalysis and subsequent chemical transformation, realizing a workable capacity and stable architecture. The 3D interactive CNT network provides a fast electron/ion conducting path, and constructs a solid electronic link between the CNTs and FeSe 2 NPs. The ultrafine dimension of FeSe 2 NPs ensures small volume change and short Li+/Na+ diffusion distance during charge and discharge. Profiting from the fast transport capability of both electrons and ions, the unique FeSe 2 @CNTs exhibits outstanding host potential for Li+ storage with a capability of 397 mA h g−1 at 10 A g−1. Serving as anode for Na+ storage, the optimized electrode possesses excellent rate capability of 329 mA h g−1 at 8 A g−1. Additionally, the Li+/Na+ storage mechanisms are further revealed by in situ electrochemical techniques and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The present work inspired a new window for developing high-performance hybrids towards various electrochemical energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The existence of a complex regulatory network of locally secreted factors has implications for physiology and pathophysiology. [•] Exosignaling is emerging as a novel key mechanism in the regulation of gonadotropin expression. [•] Exosignaling may play an important role in GnRH pulse frequency decoding by the gonadotrope. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The formation mechanisms of wrinkles in single layer graphene sheets and graphene oxide (GO) papers, as well as their effects on the corresponding Young’s moduli have been studied based on the molecular dynamics simulations. Wrinkling occurs in GO papers in the form of undulation as a consequence of the interactions between the adjacent individual GO sheets. In particular, the edge-to-edge interactions play a dominant role in determining the wrinkled structure, whereas the face-to-face interactions hardly cause wrinkles as they are thermodynamically stable with inherently low potential energies. Both graphene sheets and GO papers with wrinkles show two different modes of deformation in tension. Although wrinkles have only a negligible effect on Young’s modulus of the individual graphene sheets, they reduce the Young’s modulus of GO papers by as much as 60% of the pristine value. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Graphene oxide (GO)/waterborne epoxy (EP) composites are prepared using an easy, all aqueous, in situ polymerization method. GO is reduced in situ using hydrazine to achieve highly stable reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/EP dispersions, leading to the formation of composites with a self-aligned layered structure and highly anisotropic properties between the direction of alignment and that perpendicular to it. The strong covalent bonding between the epoxy and rGO and the highly aligned, ultralarge rGO sheets give rise to a remarkable percolation threshold of 0.12vol.%, as well as much improved mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of the composites in the alignment direction. They outperform those containing GO sheets that are bonded to the epoxy matrix through a weaker π–π stacking mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Liquid infiltration is an efficient way to densify carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and was used to strengthen CNT fibres in the method of array spinning. Rather than the volatility, the dipole moment of solvent plays a more important role in determining the densification level. The fibres densified by highly polar but non-volatile solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulphoxide, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone were 100–200MPa stronger than those by ethanol and acetone. Ethylene glycol is the most efficient solvent due to its two polar OH groups and improved the fibre strength to 1.45GPa. Long chain or cross-linked polymers like polyvinyl alcohol, polyimide, and bismaleimide (BMI) were introduced into CNT fibres by infiltration with aid of polar solvents. These polymers reinforced the fibres significantly, as they can connect non-neighboring CNTs and benefit the load transfer. The strongest CNT/BMI fibre was 2.38GPa in strength and 110GPa in modulus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Unbalance disturbances affect PV-MVDC operation by triggerring it's protection. • The proposed control transits its conventional mode to a new mode which stable regulates DC voltage and active power. • Additional negative-sequence control enables either balanced current output or ripple-free active power. Under grid contingencies, voltage source converters (VSC) under traditional control scheme can experience significant instabilities for power control as well as DC voltage regulations, especially under unbalanced grid voltage with the presence of double line-frequency disturbances. This paper proposes an Automatic-coordinated Transitioning Control (ATC) Scheme to enable control mode transitioning for Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) based photovoltaic (PV) Medium-Voltage DC (PV-MVDC) system. The proposed ATC has two control objectives under grid unbalance: 1. to fully regulate MVDC bus voltage without significant ripples; 2. to provide flexible & stable power control for the grid-side MMC. To achieve so, on the detection of grid unbalance the ATC scheme transits the DC voltage regulation mode of grid-side MMC to the power control mode with negative sequence loops for grid power support provision; on the detection of MVDC bus voltage variation, the ATC transit the maximum power point tracking mode of the DC/DC boost converter to the DC bus voltage regulation mode for maintaining the power balance in the MVDC network. The proposed ATC scheme is validated by a detailed PV-MVDC model simulated by PSCAD/EMTDC, and its effectiveness in achieving DC voltage stability and AC power control flexibility under grid unbalance is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]