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Production of high-grade bio-oil through catalytic pyrolysis technology was of great significance for alleviating the current energy shortage problem. This study synthesized a series of carbon-supported transition metal catalysts and their catalytic influence on the product distribution, behavior and liquid component during cellulose pyrolysis in N 2 and CO 2 atmosphere were analyzed. The obtained results indicated that the unique flower-like structure of carbon significantly elevated strengths to generate gaseous products and the enrichment of furan compounds during pyrolysis. The inclusion of CO 2 further enhanced the secondary reaction of liquid product, and the maximum increment of syngas yield was 14.50 wt% after adding Ni/Co–C catalyst. Moreover, CO 2 participated in thermal conversion process of biomass as an oxygen source and thus more sugars were converted into furans. The Ni/Co–C catalyst and CO 2 produced favorable synergistic effect during cellulose pyrolysis, which resulted in the highest relative content of furans, with the value of 26.77%. Therefore, this study presented an efficient means to access to furan-rich bio-oil via catalytic pyrolysis of biomass. • The flower-like carbon-based catalysts that improve yield of furans are synthesized. • A 15.31% increase in furans is obtained by adding Ni/Co loaded carbon catalyst in CO 2. • The prepared catalysts promote the secondary reaction for generation of syngas. • The mechanism of flower-like carbon catalyst for component variation is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the Zr-Mg bimetallic catalyst is prepared and used to facilitate the conversion of the waste mask to hydrocarbon-rich fuels. The effects of the catalyst and the reaction atmosphere on pyrolysis behaviors of different layers of the mask are discussed, and the interactions between CO 2 and the catalyst are analyzed. The results showed that the synthesized catalyst significantly promoted the conversion of long-chain hydrocarbons to short-chain hydrocarbons. Compared with pyrolysis alone under N 2 atmosphere, the relative contents of hydrocarbon compounds obtained by catalytic pyrolysis in the inner layer and middle layer increased by 12.21% and 16.24%, respectively. Additionally, the relative content of olefins in the liquid product increased by 9.62%. When the pyrolysis atmosphere was changed from N 2 to CO 2 , the selectivity of the cycloalkanes was significantly enhanced. Also, the interactions between CO 2 and the catalyst improved the selectivity of C 2 H 6. These works provide important support for the effective disposal of masks and an in-depth understanding of the CO 2 -assisted pyrolysis process. • A catalyst that promotes the generation of hydrocarbon-rich fuels is synthesized. • The selectivity of short-chained liquid hydrocarbons is increased by 13.87%. • The CO 2 promotes the generation of C 3 H 6 in gaseous hydrocarbon products. • Effects of CO 2 and catalyst converting mask into hydrocarbon-rich fuels are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serine/threonine kinase (STK) 33 plays a key role in cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Abnormal STK33 expression is closely related to malignancy of numerous cancers. This study suggests the important role of STK33 in the pathogenesis and metastatic progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). STK33 expression in human ESCC tissues was detected by immunohistochemical technique. Further, we analyzed the relationship between STK33 and clinical and pathological factors as well as the prognosis of patients. ECa109 cell line was cultured and transfected with STK33-RNAi lentiviral vector to perform Hochest33342 & PI and metastasis experiments. The TCGA database was used to analyze the STK33 expression level in ESCC. All statistical analyses were performed in SPSS 23.0 software. Differences with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. In human ESCC specimens, STK33 was overexpressed and associated with poor prognosis. Silencing STK33 expression suppressed ESCC proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth. STK33 also mediated angiogenesis, TGFβ, and inflammatory response in ESCC. Mechanistic investigations revealed that STK33 regulates ESCC through multiple complex pathways. Dysregulated STK33 signaling promotes ESCC growth and progression. Thus, our findings identified STK33 as a candidate treatment target that improves ESCC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Development of biomass-based nanofibers by electrospinning technology is reviewed. • Advances in electrospun nanofibers as energy storage devices are summarized. • Prospect of biomass-based nanofibers in the energy storage devices is given. Biomass-based nanofibers prepared by electrospinning technology have the advantages of unique porous structure, high specific surface area, low cost and easy availability, hence they have wide applications in electrochemical energy storage devices. This review describes the characteristics of electrospun nanofibers prepared from various biomass components and their derivatives and introduces their application performances in electrochemical energy storage devices. The preparation methods of electrospun nanofibers with excellent electrochemical properties are systematically introduced, and the differences of various biomass materials and their applications in electrochemical energy storage devices are analyzed and summarized. Some development suggestions for the future application of biomass-based nanofibrous materials are given. These works provide some important references for the application and expansion of biomass-based electrospun nanofibers in the field of energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke remains the main leading cause of death and disabilities worldwide, with diabetes mellitus being a significant independent risk factor for it. Metformin, as an efficient hypoglycemic drug in treating type 2 diabetes, has been reported to alleviate the risk of diabetes-related stroke. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of mitophagy and its regulatory pathway in the neuroprotective mechanism of metformin against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury aggravated by hyperglycemia. A hyperglycemic cerebral I/R animal model and a high glucose cultured oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) cell model were used in the experiment. The indexes of brain injury, cell activity, mitochondrial morphology and function, mitophagy, mitochondrial pathway apoptosis and the AMPK pathway were observed. In diabetic rats, metformin treatment decreased cerebral infarction volume and neuronal apoptosis, and improved neurological symptoms following I/R injury. Additionally, metformin induced activation of the AMPK/ULK1/PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathway to have neuroprotective effects. In vitro, high glucose culture and OGD/R treatment impaired mitochondrial morphology and function, mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced apoptosis. However, metformin activated AMPK/ULK1/PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathway, normalized mitochondrial injury. This protection was reversed by autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3MA) and AMPK inhibitor compound C. In conclusion, our present study validates the potential mechanism of metformin in alleviating hyperglycemia aggravated cerebral I/R injury by the activation of AMPK/ULK1/PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathway. [Display omitted] • Metformin has neuroprotective effects on stroke aggravated by diabetic hyperglycemia. • After stroke, hyperglycemia increases mitochondrial fission and inhibits mitophagy in neurons. • Metformin can reduce excessive mitochondrial fission and reactivate mitophagy in neurons. • Metformin activates mitophagy through AMPK to alleviate neuronal apoptosis and promotes neuron survival. • The effect of metformin on neuron survival can be reversed by compound C and 3-MA, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 (NVP) is one of the most promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries because of its stability, safety, and high reversible capacity. However, the sluggish Na-ion diffusion and poor electronic conductivity of NVP often hinder electrochemical performance, thus requiring compositing with carbon materials, such as graphene to improve the material. In this work, the effect of doping species of graphene on the electrochemical performance of NVP/graphene composites was systematically investigated and vigorously compared. 3D porous NVP fabricated by sol-gel method with 3 nm of carbon coating layers was deposited on graphene sheets with different surface functionalities (GO, N-rGO and P-rGO). NVP/N-rGO composites have low charge transfer resistance and high Na+ diffusion coefficient than that of NVP powder, NVP/P-rGO, and NVP/GO, which delivered a specific capacity of 113.9 mAh g−1 at 0.5C with a capacity retention up to 88.42% after 5000 cycles at 20 C. The superior sodium storage performance derives from the pyridinic and pyrrolic N doping in graphene, which triggers defective and active site numbers but maintains moderate graphitization to accelerate the Na+ and electron transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Hierarchical porous V 2 O 5 /VA-CTNs is constructed for Li-ion battery cathode. • Incomplete coating of CNTs by V 2 O 5 exhibits superior charge transport properties. • The porous structure of V 2 O 5 coated with PEDOT ensures high ionic and electron conductivity. • The free-standing feature ensures high rate and cycle performance. Abstract A hierarchically structured free-standing V 2 O 5 /vertically aligned carbon nanotube/graphene foam (V 2 O 5 -VA-CNTs/GF) coated by PEDOT was designed. Instead of forming a thick coating layer around, the V 2 O 5 nanobelts disperse uniformly among the CNTs forest without severe aggregations. The PEDOT-V 2 O 5 -VA-CNTs/GF delivered a reversible capacity of 296.8 mAh g−1 at 1C, and has capacity retention of 113.3 mAh g−1 at 5C after 1000 cycles. First principles calculations indicate the addition of VA-CNTs to V 2 O 5 electrode could improve the electronic conductivity and facilitate Li-ion adsorption, which lead to the outstanding Li-ion storage and conversion behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate whether 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise has beneficial effects on oxidative stress markers in blood and on cognitive functions in patients who have methamphetamine dependence. Serum levels of oxidative stress markers, including total anti-oxidation capability, super oxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), were measured at baseline (all participants) and the 12-week follow-up (methamphetamine-dependent patients). Serum levels of CAT and MDA in methamphetamine-dependent patients ( n  = 68) were higher than those in healthy controls ( n  = 35) at baseline. Furthermore, the international shopping list (ISL) task scores of methamphetamine-dependent patients were significantly lower than those of the controls, indicating verbal memory deficits in methamphetamine-dependent patients. Although there were no significant interactions for all cognitive function scores, aerobic exercise improved the processing speed in methamphetamine-dependent patients. Of interest, aerobic exercise significantly attenuated a spontaneous increase in serum MDA levels in methamphetamine-dependent patients after 12-weeks of abstinence. In conclusion, this study showed that methamphetamine-dependent patients with verbal learning and memory deficits have higher serum levels of MDA, and that a 12-week aerobic exercise program may have beneficial effects on the processing speed as well as blood lipid peroxidation in methamphetamine-dependent patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Catalysts that can effectively promote cellulose decomposition are synthesized. • CO 2 -assisted cobalt-based Ce/Fe/Mg catalyst enhances furans and ketones. • The synthesized catalyst has good oxygen transfer ability. • The performance of catalyst in improving the selectivity of compound is given. The production of high value-added liquid products by catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose has become an effective way to realize the efficient utilization of biomass. This work synthesized a series of Co-Ce, Co-Fe and Co-Mg composite metal catalysts and used them to obtain furans and ketones production. In addition, the CO 2 was used as a pyrolysis atmosphere to investigate the synergistic effect between CO 2 and the prepared catalyst. The results showed that the catalyst effectively promoted the depolymerization of cellulose and improved the oxygen transfer behavior between volatile matters during cellulose pyrolysis. As a reaction medium, CO 2 influenced the carbon distribution of products, thereby increasing syngas yield, and the CO 2 atmosphere promoted the formation of furans and ketones. Compared with those obtained by the non-catalytic pyrolysis in N 2 atmosphere, the relative contents of furans and ketones in the liquid products produced by the catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose in CO 2 atmosphere increased by about 13.38% and 9.8%. In the CO 2 environment, the generation ability for furans was Co-Mg catalyst > Co-Ce catalyst > Co-Fe catalyst, and the generation ability for ketones was Co-Ce catalyst > Co-Mg catalyst > Co-Fe catalyst. These works provide an important way for the efficient preparation of furans and ketones from biomass pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of TiO 2 and CaF 2 on the crystallization kinetics, microstructure, phase evolution and microhardness of Y 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 glass ceramics were investigated by differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The results show that the addition of TiO 2 is effective to promote crystallization by decreasing the activation energy, refining the grain size and increasing the microhardness. However, the CaF 2 plays an opposite role by increasing the activation energy, coursing the grain size and decreasing the microhardness. Furthermore, the addition of TiO 2 induces bulk crystallization of Y 2 O 3 -Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 glass. On the contrary, the addition of CaF 2 leads to surface crystallization and decreasing of thickness of surface crystallized layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of TiO 2 content on the crystallization behavior, microstructure, microhardness, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and softening temperature of CaO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 glass ceramic fillers were investigated. The results show that the crystallization activation energy (E) firstly decreases and then increases with the TiO 2 addition from 10 wt% to 20 wt%. The microstructure and phase composition of glass ceramics importantly depend on the content of TiO 2 . Low TiO 2 content results in formation of Ti-contained crystals (CaTiSiO 5 ) due to phase separation. In contrast, high TiO 2 concentrations lead to precipitation of small titanium oxide crystals that act as nuclei, facilitating the development of CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 . Furthermore, the formation of crystalline phases is beneficial for improving the microhardness and refractoriness of glass ceramics. The CaO-Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 glass with 15 wt% TiO 2 addition exhibits the highest crystalline volume fraction possibly due to the lowest activation energy of crystallization. As a result, its microhardness and softening temperature can reach as high as 898.2 HV and 1027 °C, respectively. However, its CTE slightly decreases from 7.44 × 10 −6 /°C to 6.35 × 10 −6 /°C after crystallization treatment because of the formation of CaTiSiO 5 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) was co-pyrolyzed with oil shale semi-coke (OSS) to investigate the effects of the OSS on yield and chemical compositions of bio-oil product. Oil shale semi-coke was mixed with biomass in the OSS/SMS mass ratios of 0:1, 1:4, 1:1, 4:1 and 1:0. The pyrolysis experiment was carried out by using a lab-scale pyrolysis reactor. The experimental results showed that the addition of the OSS led to an increase of bio-oil yield. The maximum of bio-oil yield was obtained at the OSS/SMS mass ratio of 1:1. The characteristics of the obtained oils were studied by elemental analyzer, FTIR and GC–MS. It was found that the bio-oil obtained from the pyrolysis of mixed SMS and OSS had higher carbon and hydrogen content, lower oxygen content than those produced by the pyrolysis of biomass alone. Moreover, there were more aromatics and aliphatic compounds in the obtained bio-oil product. These variations indicated that the existence of the OSS significantly influenced the chemical compositions of bio-oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Huadian oil shale from China was treated by hydrothermal pretreatment at 200 °C with 1.0–2.5 h in order to investigate the effect of hydrothermal pretreatment on pyrolysis product distribution and characteristics of oil. The differences in the elemental composition and thermal behavior between the untreated and treated oil shale were analyzed and compared. The hydrothermal treatment process could decompose oxygen functional groups and remove some water soluble inorganics in oil shale, which decreased the formation of gas and water during the pyrolysis. However, hydrothermal pretreatment was conducive to increasing shale oil yield. The maximum of oil yield was obtained at the pretreatment time of 2.0 h. The enhancement of the free-radical reactions during the pyrolysis and the reduction of the secondary cracking reactions of the generated oil vapors were considered as the main reasons. The oil obtained by the treated oil shale had a higher H/C ratio, indicating it had high energy content. The analysis results of chemical compositions in oils showed that the relative content of aliphatic hydrocarbons significantly increased after hydrothermal pretreatment. The further analysis demonstrated that the increase in the pretreatment time caused the generated long chain hydrocarbons tended to be directly released from oil shale particles, and were condensed into the oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims Chronic methamphetamine (MA) use is associated with cognitive impairment and psychopathological symptoms. This longitudinal study aims to examine the cognitive function of MA addicts during periods of abstinence. Methods Fifty-four MA dependent individuals and 58 healthy controls (HC) completed the psychological wellbeing scales and the CogState Battery that evaluated seven cognitive domains. During approximately 6-month abstinence, the subjects completed the CogState battery twice at the interval of 3 months. Results In the tasks of verbal memory, social emotional cognition, and spatial working memory, working memory, and problem solving the MA group performed worse than the HC group (P < 0.05). After 6-month abstinence, impaired verbal memory, social emotion, and problem solving were improved in the MA group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the MA group showed lower scores in batteries of social adaptation ( t = 3.13, P = 0.002) and quality of life ( t = 3.70, P < 0.001) than the HC group, and 83.3% MA addicts displayed various psychiatric symptoms before study entry. Conclusions Chronic MA addicts exhibited impairment of some CogState battery domains and poor psychological wellbeing, and that some of these subdomains were recoverable on abstinence. Therefore, improved cognitive function should be considered an important component in the treatment of MA dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using cellulose to produce high-quality oxygenated fuels or chemicals is becoming an important way to replace chemical synthesis technology. In this work, the Ce–Co–Na ternary composite metal catalyst is synthesized and used for catalytic cracking of cellulose to prepare the ketone-rich bio-oil production. To construct an environment-friendly process, CO 2 is used as a pyrolysis reaction atmosphere to improve the enrichment of ketones. Strong synergistic effects among metal components effectively promote the thermal-cracking of cellulose to produce primary products (anhydrosugars), and further convert to oxygenates due to the excellent oxygen transferability of the catalyst. The introduction of CO 2 enhances the selectivity of ketones in the liquid product, especially 2,3-dimethyl-2-cyclopenten-1-one. The highest content of ketones in the liquid is 22.73%, which is about four times higher than that of the blank sample. In addition, the generation of CO in the syngas is promoted. This study provides an alternative way for the pyrolysis of biomass to prepare ketone platform compounds and syngas production. • A catalyst that can effectively promote cellulose decomposition is synthesized. • The high selectivity of ketones is obtained by CO 2 -assisted catalytic pyrolysis. • The optimal conditions for producing ketones and syngas are given. • A brief reaction pathway of CO 2 -assisted catalytic pyrolysis of cellulose is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of 28 trace elements (Li, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, Zn, Se, Sr, Co, Al, Ti, As, Cd, Sb, Ba, Hg, Pb, U, Ag, Be, TI, Ga, Te, Sn, Tm) in three farmed cyprinid fish species (common carp – Cyprinus carpio , crucian carp – Carassius carassius , grass carp – Ctenopharyngodon idella ) from Northeast China were determined. The mean concentrations obtained for elements analyzed in mg/kg were as follows: Li(0.01), V(0.019), Cr (0.121), Mn (0.136), Fe (6.71), Ni (0.119), Cu (0.293), Mo (0.015), Zn(7.90), Se (0.243), Sr (1.171), Al (6.30), Ti (0.237), As (0.096), Cd (0.11), Sb (0.11), Ba (0.193), Hg (0.013), Pb (0.172) and U (0.004), with low detective rate for Co, Be, Ga, Ag, Sn, Te, Tm and Tl. Significant differences in concentrations of analyzed elements were found among the three provinces while crucian carp accumulated the highest total trace elements. Samples with 0.56% (As), 1.13% (Cd) and 9.04% (Pb) were exceeding the maximum residue limits established by Chinese legislation and further health risk assessment showed Pb, Cd and As were the major risk contributors. The hazard index (HI) at average exposure and high exposure level were all less than one. Overall, results indicate that the intake of farmed fish are safe for consumers in Northeast China and we suggest that As, Cd and Pb should be the most important monitored targets which should warrant concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our work, a series of experiments on pyrolysis of the large particle oil shale (6–15 mm) were carried out in a self-made retorting pyrolyzer, in order to obtain the optimal final pyrolysis temperature of Huadian oil shale and evaluate the catalytic performance of transition metal salts (CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O, MnSO 4 ·H 2 O) in promoting the shale oil yield and product characteristic. The experiment results showed that the retorting temperature significantly influenced the shale oil yield. The maximum oil yield appeared in 520 °C with the result of 21.59 wt%. Meanwhile, the higher retorting temperature promoted the more production of alkanes/olefins, which led to the increase of alkanes from 20.46% to 32.44%. Moreover, the use of CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O salt further increased the oil yield. The pyrolysis behavior and kinetic analysis indicated the transition metal iron could act as the activation center to accelerate the breakdown of chemical bonds in organic matters. In addition, the addition of the Co salt significantly enhanced the formation of aromatic hydrocarbons in the shale oil, which increased about 18% compared to that of non-catalytic pyrolysis. It had demonstrated the Co iron could increase the selectivity of aromatic hydrocarbons and promote olefin aromatization. The acid compounds were observed in the oil produced from the catalytic pyrolysis of MnSO 4 ·H 2 O, which suggested that it was not suitable to be regarded as the candidate catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our work, thermal behavior and kinetic characteristics of spent lark mushroom substrate were evaluated to elaborate the thermal decomposition mechanisms and explore the influence of heating rate by using thermogravimetric analyzer and Coats–Redfern method. The study of pyrolysis temperature of raw material was also operated at the range of 410–530 °C, under the feeding rate 0.36 g/min, and the nitrogen flow 16 L/h. The results showed that the maximum bio-oil yield was obtained at 470 °C with the yield of 14.4 wt.%. The analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and gas chromatography coupled with mass selective detector indicated that the target liquid production was consisted of phenols, hydrocarbons and other components. Simultaneously, the low oxygen and high hydrogen content in bio-oil was also determined by elemental analysis. Based on the above-mentioned results, we demonstrated that the bio-oil obtained from the substrate had high utilization value as a potential energy resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofluids that are produced by dispersing nanoparticles into traditional heat transfer fluids, show greater thermal conductivities than regular fluids. An interfacial nano-shell between the nanoparticle and the base fluid was used to derive an expression for the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Unlike with traditional models, the effective thermal conductivity predicted by the present model is not only affected by the ratio of the thermal conductivities of the particle and the media and their relative volume fractions, but is also affected by the nanoparticle radius and the thermal conductivity and thickness of the interfacial nano-shell. The calculated results predicted by this model agree quite well with available experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effects of formate salts(potassium/nickel/zinc formate) on behavior, yield, and product characteristics were evaluated and compared by using the combination of TGA and the fixed-bed reactor. The results showed that potassium formate had a good catalytic cracking ability , resulting in a forward shift of the decomposition temperature of organic components in biomass and an increase of gas yield. The nickel formate had the strongest catalytic ability for biomass pyrolysis to produce oil. Compared to the non-catalytic pyrolysis, the yield of bio-oil increased about 8 wt%. After adding potassium formate, the generation of phenols in the oil was enhanced, while the presence of nickel/zinc formate obtained the opposite results. The total content of oxygenated compounds(alcohols, ketones, esters and acids) was reduced for all formate salts, and the most signigicant difference among them was that the addition of potassium formate obtained the enrichment of ketones. Moreover, the analysis of gas showed that the yields of CO 2 and CO were increased after adding potassium/nickel formate. The reasons were related to the differences in physicochemical property of catalyst and catalytic ability of metal cation in formate salt. • A comparative study on formate-assisted pyrolysis of CS is performed. • Enhancement of selectivity toward ketones is found by adding potassium formate. • More CO 2 and CO are generated by adding potassium formate and nickel formate. • Effect of potassium formate is most significant among the used formate salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Cu/DBTB nanofluids were shown to be quite stable with standing time. [•] Thermal conductivity increases with Cu fraction and decreases with temperature. [•] Experimental data below 150°C compares well with predictions of Jang and Choi model. [•] Thermal conductivity increases were smaller above 150°C than at lower temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Electronic properties of delafossite-type CuAlO2 doped with the bivalent cation (Be, Mg or Ca) were systematically calculated by using first-principles PAW method based on density functional theory. The calculated results show the Cu–O distance nearest to the substituted bivalent cation for Al (0.50.50.5) is decreased with the increase of atomic number from Be to Ca. Moreover, the denser energy band structures have been observed in the valence band in the substituted structures, which are related to the enhancement of covalent character of the Cu–O bond nearest to the substituted site. The contributions from the substituted bivalent cations (Be2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) to the valence band begin at −6.5eV, relative to −8eV of Al3+, which could be another cause to variations in band structures. From Be to Ca, their partial densities of states show the contributions to the valence band are gradually decreased, in great agreement with the variation trend for the pauling electronegativity. The calculated defect formation energies indicate the (BeAl, −1) forms more easily than the others. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate whether abscisic acid (ABA), a second messenger in chilling stress responses, is involved in brassinosteroids (BRs)-induced chilling tolerance in suspension cultured cells from Chorispora bungeana. The suspension cells were treated with 24-epibrassinolide (EBR), ABA, ABA biosynthesis inhibitor fluridone (Flu) and EBR in combination with Flu. Their effects on chilling tolerance, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and antioxidant defense system were analyzed. The results showed that EBR treatment markedly alleviated the decrease of cell viability and the increases of ion leakage and lipid peroxidation induced by chilling stress, suggesting that application of EBR could improve the chilling tolerance of C. bungeana suspension cultures. In addition, similar results were observed when exogenous ABA was applied. Treatment with Flu alone and in combination with EBR significantly suppressed cell viability and increased ion leakage and lipid peroxidation under low temperature conditions, indicating that the inhibition of ABA biosynthesis could decrease the chilling tolerance of C. bungeana suspension cultures and the EBR-enhanced chilling tolerance. Further analyses showed that EBR and ABA enhanced antioxidant defense and slowed down the accumulation of ROS caused by chilling. However, Flu application differentially blocked these protective effects of EBR. Moreover, EBR was able to mimic the effect of ABA by markedly increasing ABA content in the suspension cells under chilling conditions, whereas the EBR-induced ABA accumulation was inhibited by the addition of Flu. Taken together, these results demonstrate that EBR may confer chilling tolerance to C. bungeana suspension cultured cells by enhancing the antioxidant defense system, which is partially mediated by ABA, resulting in preventing the overproduction of ROS to alleviate oxidative injury induced by chilling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the present study, we used suspension cultured cells from Chorispora bungeana Fisch. and C.A. Mey to investigate whether nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the signaling pathway of chilling adaptive responses. Low temperatures at 4 °C or 0 °C induced ion leakage, lipid peroxidation and cell viability suppression, which were dramatically alleviated by exogenous application of NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were obviously reduced, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and the contents of ascorbic acid (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) increased evidently in the presence of SNP under chilling stress. In addition, under low temperature conditions, treatment with NO scavenger PTIO or mammalian NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor l-NAME remarkably aggravated oxidative damage in the suspension cultures compared with that of chilling treatment alone. Moreover, measurements of NOS activity and NO production showed that both NOS activity and endogenous NO content increased markedly under chilling stress. The accumulation of NO was inhibited by l-NAME in chilling-treated cultures, indicating that most NO production under chilling may be generated from NOS-like activity. Collectively, these results suggest that chilling-induced NO accumulation can effectively protect against oxidative injury and that NOS like activity-dependent NO production might act as an antioxidant directly scavengering ROS or operate as a signal activating antioxidant defense under chilling stress, thus conferring an increased tolerance to chilling in C. bungeana suspension cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many large enterprises require access to distributed databases for business intelligence (BI) applications. Typically, distributed database are integrated into a centralized data warehouse for the benefit of easy maintenance. However, this approach needs to overcome the complexity of data loading and job scheduling as well as scalability issues. On the other hand, the approach of a fully federated system may not be feasible for data-intensive BI applications. The hybrid approach via intelligent data placement is more flexible and applicable than centralized or full-federation configurations. The current implementation of the hybrid approach to integrating distributed databases is to aggregate selected data from various remote sources as materialized views and cache them at the federation server to improve the performance of complex BI query workloads. In this paper, we propose an improvement that recommends Materialized Query Tables (MQTs) for backend servers for the benefits of load distribution and easy maintenance of aggregated data in conjunction with the current hybrid approach of data placement. Our approach considers the correlation between backend servers and recommends MQTs that are well coordinated among the backend servers and optimized for the workload. We also exploit the parallelism property among the backend servers to make our approach run almost linearly (in contrast to exponentially) with respect to the number of backend servers, without sacrificing its recommendation quality. Experimental evaluations validate the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have prepared the gallium oxide (Ga2O3) nanomaterials on Si (111) substrates by thermal evaporation of gallium in the ammonia atmosphere. The self-catalytic vapor–solid mechanism is used in explaining the formation mechanism. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the products contained many special structures, including spiral nanobelts, nanotrees and nanotubes locating in different temperature zones, respectively. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations suggest that these as-synthesized products have a single-crystalline structure with a width ranging from 100nm to several micrometers. Possible mechanism leading to the formation of Ga2O3 nanomaterials, especially the relation between temperature and some special structures is to be discussed in this paper. Photoluminescence spectrum under excitation at 396nm showed a green emission, which is probably attributed to vacancies in Ga2O3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Take the Liu Jiao Ting MMT clinic as an example, the clinic is located in central area of the COVID-19 epidemic (close to the Hua Nan Seafood Market) in Wuhan, serving 300 MMT patients living in the surrounding communities. 14 participants reported it was difficulty to go to the clinic for medication, and 2 participants reported having been exposed to COVID-19 patients, while luckily no patients have been infected so far. (3) In order to prevent the client from COVID-19 infection, clinics in epidemic areas could carry out "Take-home dosing plan" based on special provisions for high- and low-risk patients and patients with disabilities ([3]). [Extracted from the article]

Gaming disorder (GD) and hazardous gaming (HG) have a high incidence among adolescents and young adults and have caused various negative consequences. Interpersonal interaction deficits are closely related to GD and HG, however, the underlying brain mechanisms are still unclear. The current study recruited 46 healthy subjects and 32 subjects with GD/HG. Gaming time and frequency, gaming disorder risks, life events, strengths, and difficulties were measured with scales. Subjects were randomly paired into 12 HC-HC dyads, 15 GD/HG-HC dyads, and 7 GD/HG-GD/HG dyads and in pairs completed a real-world cooperating video game — "Tied Together" with functional near-infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning recording in the prefrontal cortex. The inter-brain synchronization in each region of the PFC between dyads was calculated by wavelet to transform coherence to measure brain-to-brain synchronization. We found subjects with GD/HG reported higher risks of gaming. The highest IBS in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex significantly decreased in the GD/HG-HC and GD/HG-GD/HG dyads compared with healthy controls. A decreasing highest IBS of the left dlPFC was related to a decreasing level of peer problems. We declare limitations of age gaps of samples, undistinguishing GD from HG, use of sub-samples, and the broad concept of interpersonal interaction. The current study found a decreased highest IBS in the left dlPFC among adolescents and young adults with gaming diseases. It may provide new prevention and treatment insights into gaming disorders targeting disrupted interpersonal interaction. • Higher risks of gaming among subjects with gaming disorder/ hazardous gaming • Decreased highest IBS in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the HC-GD/HG and GD/HG-GD/HG dyads • A decreasing highest IBS of the left dlPFC was related to decreasing peer problems [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coupling effect advanced the thermal decomposition of organic matters in oil shale. • A significant coupling effect was achieved at the MMT/CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O mass ratio of 5:1. • MMT and CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O promoted decarboxylation and free-radical reaction of pyrolysis. • Coupling effect significantly promoted the formation of saturated hydrocarbons. In this work, the effects of the coupling between montmorillonite and CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O on pyrolysis behavior, products distribution and characteristics of liquid fuel were investigated by the combination of pyrolysis experiment and kinetic analysis. The mass fraction of the MMT in oil shale was 3–9%, and the mass fraction of CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O was 10–25%. The results showed that the coupling effect promoted the formation of shale oil. The maximum yield of shale oil (17.75 wt%) was obtained at 20CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O5MMT. Catalytic pyrolysis behavior and kinetic analysis indicated that the presence of CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O and montmorillonite led to the prominent advance of kerogen decomposition temperature and the decrease of apparent activation energy. Significantly, the addition of the 20CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O5MMT led that the average apparent activation energy was decreased by about 122.42 kJ/mol compared to the catalyst-free pyrolysis. The strong cracking ability produced by their coupling effect was considered to be the main reason. Montmorillonite and CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O enhanced the decarboxylation and free-radical reaction, resulting in a decrease of acids yield and an increase of aliphatic hydrocarbons yield. The relative content of aliphatic hydrocarbons increased from 41.55% to 51.27%. These results demonstrated that the combined use of montmorillonite and CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O was beneficial to the generation of saturated hydrocarbon production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-driven evaporation for desalination has recently attracted much attention because of its high solar-thermal efficiency, simple structure, low cost, and little environmental impacts. In this paper, we reported a thermal concentrated multistage distiller for solar desalination application. The distiller consists of a thermal concentrator connected to a multistage evaporator-condenser structure. The thermal concentrator with a high solar absorptance of 0.935 and a low emittance of 0.150 on the upper surface can efficiently convert solar radiation into heat for high temperature vapor generation and reduce radiation loss. The multistage distiller with concentric expansion evaporator-condenser structure can efficiently recover the latent heat of vapor, and reduce the heat losses and water diffusion resistance. As a result, a high water yield of 2.2 kg m−2 h−1 was achieved in a 6-stage distiller under solar intensity of 1 kW m−2 and 3 times (3×) thermal concentration. The outdoor tests in rooftop demonstrated that the water yield can reached 3.9 kg m−2 per day even at a low solar intensity of 415 W m−2. This novel design with enhanced water yield provides an effective approach to harvest sunlight for small-scale solar desalination in remote regions. • A thermal concentrated multistage distiller for solar desalination was developed. • A high water yield of 2.2 kg m−2 h−1 was achieved in a 6-stage distiller under one sun and thermal concentration of 3×. • Mechanism of enhanced water yield by thermal concentration was explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium-ion batteries with potentially low cost is an alternative to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage. However, developing high energy density and ultralong cycle life electrodes for sodium-ion batteries is a key issue due to the larger radius of Na+ than Li+ and the sluggish sodium intercalation kinetics. One-step electrospinning process has been applied to synthesis Sb 2 S 3 nanocrystals hosted in multichannel porous N-doped carbon nanofiber (CNF). Sb 2 S 3 nanoparticles with diameter of 10–50 nm were uniformly embedded in CNF, while the multichannel pores of CNF act as a buffer to restrict the volume expansion of Sb 2 S 3 during cycling. Sb 2 S 3 @N-doped carbon nanofiber (Sb 2 S 3 @CNF) delivered a specific capacity of 311 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 with a capacity retention of 87% after 1000 cycles at 1A g−1, corresponding to a capacity decay rate of only 0.013% per cycle. Benefited from the unique multichannel mesoporous structure, charge storage of Sb 2 S 3 @CNF is mainly contributed by a surface capacitive process indicating significantly enhanced mass diffusion properties. The as-developed nanofibers with a cylindrical porous structure by a one-step electrospinning method can be an excellent host for electroactive materials to achieve ultralong cycle life. A one-step electrospinning process has been applied to synthesis multichannel porous N-doped carbon nanofibers (CNF) hosted with Sb 2 S 3 nanocrystals. Sb 2 S 3 @CNF delivered an ultralong cycle life with a capacity retention of 87% after 1000 cycles at 1A g−1. Image 1 • Sb 2 S 3 nanocrystals (10–50 nm) embedded in multichannel CNF (Sb 2 S 3 @CNF) have been fabricated by one-step electrospinning. • Mesoporous CNF has multichannel cylindrical pores with diameter of ~10 nm. • The cylindrical mesopores of CNF effectively buffer the volumetric change of Sb 2 S 3 and lead to ultralong cycle stability. • Sb 2 S 3 @CNF has a capacity retention of 89.1% after 1000 cycles, significantly higher than that of Sb 2 S 3 @C (56.3%) and Sb 2 S 3 powder (21.3%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) can effectively reduce cravings in methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). However, a considerable group still fails to respond. Cognitive and emotional disturbance, as well as impulsive features, are widespread in patients with MUD and might mediate the treatment response of rTMS. The purpose of this study is to figure out whether these variables can help predicting patients' responses to rTMS treatment. Ninety-seven patients with severe MUD and thirty-one gender- and age-matched healthy subjects were included. Patients were randomized to receive 20 sessions of real or sham rTMS. Intermittent theta burst protocols (iTBS) or sham iTBS were applied every weekday over the DLPFC for 20 daily sessions. Both groups received regular treatment. Craving induced by drug-related cue was measured before and after stimulation. Cognition was evaluated by using the CogState Battery. Baseline characteristics were collected through the Addiction Severity Index, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, and Barrett Impulsivity Scale-11. Results showed that patients with MUD have worse spatial working memory, problem-solving ability, as well as depression and anxiety symptoms compared with healthy controls. Cognition and emotion differed between responders (craving decrease ≥60%) and non-responders in real rTMS group but not in the sham group. Better cognitive and emotional functions means that patients have higher possibility for better response to real rTMS treatment. This study suggests that cognitive, emotional and impulsive features could be used to predict the prospective treatment responses of rTMS in patients with MUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• iTBS reduced cue-induced craving in patients with severe methamphetamine use disorder. • iTBS improved cognitive function in patients with severe methamphetamine use disorder. • iTBS improved sleep quality in patients with severe methamphetamine use disorder. Methamphetamine is the most commonly used illicit drug in China. We previously demonstrated that 10 Hz rTMS over the DLPFC reduces craving in methamphetamine users. Here, we applied intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a new form of rTMS, in a large sample at four clinical centers. 126 participants (age 31.64 ± 6.33; 106 men) with severe methamphetamine use disorder according to DSM-5 were randomized to receive either iTBS or sham over the DLPFC for four weeks (20 daily sessions, 900 pulses per day). Cue-induced craving and cognitive function were assessed before and after rTMS intervention. Relapse was followed up by urine test after discharge from the rehabilitation center. iTBS significantly reduced craving and improved cognition and sleep quality. This study suggests that rTMS may be a useful and safe treatment option for methamphetamine use disorder, warranting future large scale trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bichirs are a sister group to sarcopterygian and tetrapods that can fully regenerate their endochondral-skeleton-fins. Histological and transcriptomic comparison approaches have been used to investigate the morphology and genetic basis of bichir lobe-fin regeneration, with strong down-regulation of muscle-related genes and up-regulation of ECM-related genes and developmental genes being observed. Bichir limb regeneration involves similar cellular processes to those employed by lungfish and salamander, with MARCKS-like protein (MLP) that is known to be a putative regeneration-initiating molecule in salamander, also up-regulated in the early stages of bichir lobe-fin regeneration. These gene expression results suggest that limb regeneration pathways in these amphibians have a common ancestral inheritance, consistent with evolution from endochondral-skeleton-fin structures to endochondral-skeleton-limb structures of vertebrates. Highlights • Gave a detailed description of the bichirs' lobe-fin regeneration process and compared them to lungfish and salamander. • Expression analysis revealed great similarities for lobe-fin/limb regeneration between bichirs, lungfish and salamanders. • MLP that is known to be a putative regeneration-initiating molecule in salamander, also was up-regulated in bichirs. • Results suggest that limb regeneration pathways in these amphibians have a common ancestral inheritance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Permeation across GO membranes for mixed solution was concerned. • Concentration and recovery of Cu2+ with GO membranes was investigated. • Inhibitory effect of hydrogen ion on the transport of copper ions was demonstrated. Abstract Graphene-based materials have many unique features including atomic thickness and well-defined nanochannels, making their great properties for filtration and separation. The removal of low-level heavy-metal ions (e.g. Cu2+) by graphene oxide sheets has been discussed to ascertain their adsorption capacity, but separation and recovery of massive copper ions with graphene oxide (GO) membranes remain to be further studied. Besides, the permeation across GO membranes involving different ions in the very same solution is rarely investigated. Hence, the permeation properties of GO membranes concerning single and mixed solutions of acid and salt were examined in this study, and inhibitory effect of hydrogen ion on the copper ions transport was observed. Expectedly, GO membranes perform obvious permeation rate differences to acid (i.e. H 2 SO 4 , HCl) and copper salts (i.e. CuSO 4 , CuCl 2) when they are tested individually. The diffusion coefficient of H+ is 16 times larger than that of Cu2+ when the anion is SO 4 2−, and twice in the case of Cl−. The differences are mainly determined by physical screening of the capillary channels in the film for ions with different hydration radii and the rapid migration of hydrogen ions in solution. Furthermore, Experiments were carried out using mixed solution of acid and copper salt with the same anion and concentration. It was shown that the existence of H+, whose own transmission decreased by only 1.6 times, reduced the penetration of Cu2+ by an order of magnitude in the same time interval. We supposed this remarkable inhibitory effect is associated with shrink of interlayer spacing and competitive adsorption of H+ against Cu2+ on the surface of GO membranes in mixed solution. The properties of GO membranes show great application prospects in separation and wastewater reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvesting solar energy for water desalination is considered as one of the most important technologies to effectively address global water scarcity. Recently, it was found that water droplets on azobenzene modified anodized alumina membranes and disperse red 1 modified PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) membranes can permeate the membrane to be purified and desalinated under light irradiation. Herein, in order to efficiently collect vaporized and condensed water, we demonstrated the immobilization of graphene-based material n hydrophobic PTFE membrane surface for water desalination via photothermal membrane distillation (PMD). An ultrathin graphene-based film, fabricated by a scalable process, serves as efficient solar absorbers (absorption efficiency of rGO/pDA-rGO > 80%), ultrafast water permeable channels, and high salt resistance network. Compared with bare PTFE membrane, water transmembrane flux on the pDA-rGO material modified PTFE membrane can achieve as much as 78.6% enhancement under normal solar illumination. Due to high salt rejection of graphene-based films, the evaporation rate of graphene-based material modified PTFE membrane was unaffected by 4% NaCl solution, which indicated that concentration polarization effect can obviously be eliminated. These results provided new insights into the design and utilization of graphene-based films for effectively solar desalination via PMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a widespread mental disorder and has thrust a heavy burden on the health system all over the world. Social cognition and function are reported to be impaired in AUD, but its neural mechanism is rarely investigated. The current study attempts to fill this gap. 28 subjects with AUD and 36 healthy controls (HC) were recruited in this study and were paired into 14 AUD dyads and 18 HC dyads. The drinking problems, depression, anxiety, and impulsivity of subjects were measured. Each dyad completed cooperation and competition tasks with simultaneous frontal functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning recording. The inter-brain synchronization (IBS) in the frontal cortex was calculated for each dyad and compared between AUD and HC. The significantly altered IBS in AUD was correlated with clinical measures to explore possible influencing factors. The IBS in the right middle frontal cortex was significantly decreased in AUD under both cooperation (t = −2.257, P = 0.028) and competition (t = −2.488, P = 0.016) task. The IBS during the cooperation task in the right middle frontal cortex in AUD was negatively correlated with non-planning impulsivity (r = −0.673, P = 0.006). This study used cross-sectional data, which limited the causal inference. The synchronization between other brain regions besides the frontal cortex should be further explored in patients with AUD. The current study could provide new insights into the neural mechanism of social dysfunction in AUD and facilitate clinical intervention in future practice. • fNIRS hyperscanning was used to investigate the neural mechanism of social dysfunction in subjects with AUD. • The synchronization in the right middle frontal cortex between subjects with AUD was significantly decreased. • The decreased brain synchronization was significantly correlated with impulsivity. • The right middle frontal cortex may serve as an intervention target for social dysfunction in AUD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, energy conversion methods in nanochannels have been developed for both fundamental sciences and technological applications. Graphene oxide membranes with excellent properties possess potential applications in numerous fields. Due to the confinement of nanocapillaries within graphene oxide membranes and the mobility difference of ions, an electricity generation process has been achieved using graphene oxide membranes. In this study, for the first time, the influence of source concentration, applied pressure and membrane thickness was investigated on electricity generation in aqueous environment. The results revealed that these three factors could successfully control the electricity generation with graphene oxide membranes. Electrical potential difference would become larger with increasing the source concentration and membrane thickness. In contrast, the applied pressure was not well-suited to capture energy from sources. This provided new insights into the design and utilization of graphene oxide films for highly efficient energy harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive discharges of chemical dyes have led to severe contamination of seawater, resulting in significant ecological damage. Thermo-osmotic energy conversion technology, which purifies wastewater and generates electricity under temperature gradients, has garnered considerable interest from researchers. However, the operational efficiency of thermo-osmotic energy conversion is inherently limited by the effective membrane area, and conventional systems typically employ flat membranes as separators, resulting in suboptimal performance for the same floorage. In this study, we introduce a novel system that combines thermo-osmotic energy conversion technology with hollow fiber membranes that possess a high effective membrane area, thereby achieving optimized performance. Driven by the temperature gradient, the water in the dye solution condenses outside the membrane and converted from vapor to liquid. The continuous accumulation of condensed water generates pressure and drives a water turbine for sustainable power generation. Our results demonstrate that at temperature gradient of 40 °C, the system can achieve the power output of 16.75 Wm−3 and the freshwater production rate of 70.29 kg m−3 h−1 under ideal conditions. This study presents a novel water-electricity co-production system based on low-grade waste heat recovery for dye solution treatment, which extends the applicability of thermo-osmotic energy conversion technology and improves its practicality. • Hollow fiber membrane combined thermal-osmosis hybrid system was proposed. • Simultaneous generation of freshwater and electricity was achieved under dye solution. • Optimal operating conditions for the system are discussed. • A theoretical model was developed to optimize water and electricity output of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the variable water level area, hydraulic concrete structures are susceptible to variable temperature and alternating dry-wet cycles, especially for thin-walled structures. To elucidate alterations in the microstructure and strength of hydraulic concrete subjected to variable temperature dry-wet cycles, this paper firstly conducted a durability test on hydraulic concrete. Subsequently, CT scan images of the specimens are acquired during the variable temperature dry-wet cycle. Secondly, in view of the shortcomings of existing threshold methods for CT image pore segmentation, a new image segmentation method (RASLPSO-TV-Top-hat) is proposed by using Tensor voting and Top-hat technology, combined with a Reverse Adaptive Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm with Self-Learning ability. The evolution process of pore structure (microcracks) of hydraulic concrete under the variable temperature dry-wet cycles is captured. Thirdly, an in-depth analysis is conducted on the compressive strength and acoustic emission characteristics. The analysis shows that with the number of cycles increases, there is a discernible interconnection among the pore structures. This interconnection leads to a noteworthy reduction in the compressive strength of the concrete. Additionally, the cumulative number of Acoustic Emission ringing events exhibits an initial rise followed by a subsequent decline. The study successfully identifies the patterns governing the deterioration of strength and microstructure evolution in hydraulic concrete. The mechanism underlying the decline in performance of hydraulic concrete under variable temperature dry-wet cycles is elucidated. It provides a reliable and valuable basis for the safety assessment of hydraulic concrete structures in the variable water level area. • We conduct a durability test of concrete under variable temperature dry-wet cycles. • We propose a new image segmentation method. • Pore structure, compressive strength and acoustic emission character are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upconversion luminescence materials have gained extensive attentions owing to their unique luminescence characteristics of converting near-infrared excitation to visible light emission. However, how to improve the doping concentration of activator (usually <3 mol%) in traditional sensitizer-activator system is still a great challenge due to the luminescence quenching effect. In this work, NaErF 4 crystals with diverse crystal phases and morphologies were prepared by simple hydrothermal method, constructing a 100% doping concentration system of activator (Er3+). With the increase of F− content, the phase of NaErF 4 transfers from cubic to hexagonal, and the morphology changes from nanospheres to hexagonal microflakes, meanwhile, the upconversion luminescence intensity also increases gradually. In addition, in order to further inhibit the luminescence quenching effect of NaErF 4 bare core, a series of NaErF 4 @SiO 2 core-shell samples with different SiO 2 shell thickness were successfully prepared. Compared with NaErF 4 bare core, the morphology and structure of the NaErF 4 @SiO 2 core-shell samples have no obvious change, but the UC luminescence intensity is significantly enhanced. Interestingly, the change of NaErF 4 crystal phase and SiO 2 shell thickness can both bring about multicolor luminescence. In addition, different from the traditional NaYF 4 :Yb, Er co-doping system, the as-prepared hydrophilic NaErF 4 and NaErF 4 @SiO 2 samples showed a greater red to green ratio (R/G > 1), which may expand their potential applications in biological imaging and sensing fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methamphetamine is one of the most commonly used drugs around the world, leading to serious public health and psychiatric problems. Due to the lackness of objective laboratory evaluation indicators, the molecular mechanisms of methamphetamine dependence still remain unclear. Previous evidence demonstrated that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may be useful in treating drug addiction. The aim of this study was to identify and validate plasma metabolomics biomarkers in patients with methamphetamine use disorder before and after rTMS intervention. An untargeted gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) based metabolomics approach was applied to characterize the metabolic profile of forty methamphetamine dependent subjects and thirty-eight healthy controls in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Patients were randomized to receive either rTMS or sham over the DLPFC for four weeks (20 daily sessions, 900 pulses per day). Cognitive function were assessed before and after rTMS intervention. Eight PBMC metabolites responsible for distinguishing real rTMS from sham treatment were identified. These metabolites were mainly involved in energy metabolism and oxidative stress. Compared with baseline, the expression of three metabolites was reversed after rTMS intervention: alpha-tocopherol, glyceric acid and fumaric acid. Changes of the alpha-tocopherol were associated with cognitive function improvement following rTMS. These findings suggest that energy metabolism and oxidative stress system may be associated with the effect of rTMS on cognitive function in methamphetamine dependence, and warrant further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to test if cue-exposure therapy (CET) combined with biofeedback therapy (BT) could decrease craving and physiological reactivity to drug-related cues in heroin dependents. Forty-five participants were randomly assigned to usual rehabilitation with or without CET combined with BT. Craving was assessed by a 100-point visual analog scale (VAS). Skin conductance (SC) and muscle electromyography (MEG) were recorded using a biofeedback device. After 2months of treatment, both the pre-cue exposure craving and the post-cue exposure craving, SC, and MEG were lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Compared to the control group, the experimental group had a greater decrease in craving, SC, and MEG from baseline after the treatment. The results suggest that CET combined with BT treatment is effective in reducing craving and physiology reactivity in heroin dependents and could be used as a component of heroin-dependence rehabilitation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Photovoltaic power generation technology has gained significant attention from researchers due to its advantages of simple structure, environmental friendliness, and high sustainability. However, the photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (PCE) of photovoltaic (PV) panels is limited by the residual heat produced during the solar absorption process. Thus, an effective heat management is vital for the long-term stable and efficient photovoltaic system. In this paper, a novel dual-function device was proposed to realize effective cooling of PV panels and harvest freshwater from the air simultaneously. Through the utilization of evaporative cooling with hygroscopic hydrogel, the photovoltaic cooling-water generator (PVC-WG) device achieves up to 8 °C reduction in the operating temperature of PV panels along with a freshwater generation rate of 122.32 g m−2 h−1 in the laboratory at solar intensity of 1 kW m−2. At night, the hygroscopic hydrogel automatically absorbed moisture from the air to achieve self-regeneration, confirming its excellent reusability. Even in real outdoor environments, a maximum cooling effect of 9.2 °C and a stable freshwater generation of 98.08 g m−2 day−1 could be achieved. The system not only accomplishes thermal management for PV panels but also attains additional freshwater generation, which enhances the efficiency of harnessing the entire spectrum of solar energy. • A dual-function device was proposed to cool PV panel and produce freshwater. • A cooling effect of 8 °C and a water yield of 122.32 g m−2 h−1 could be obtained. • The hygroscopic hydrogel has good stability and recycling characteristics. • Effective photovoltaic cooling and freshwater generation could be achieved outdoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Single-phase experiments were carried out in Berea sandstone to understand the behavior of the water–rock system and establish a baseline to interpret multiphase experiments. The water–rock reactions at microscopic level are reflected in the macroscopic scale by alteration in permeability in the rock and pH in the effluent. In our experiments we assume that the significant changes are solely a result of the alteration of the brine salinity since the composition of the brine and mineralogy of the core were held constant. Injection of brine with 1% salinity produced permanent permeability reduction due to fines release. Two-phase experiments were carried out on undamaged and damaged Berea sandstone cores. Comparison of single-phase and two-phase experiments results in undamaged Berea cores that showed the same pressure and pH behavior when low salinity waterflooding is performed. Incremental oil production was observed in both undamaged and damaged cores suggesting that the mechanism of incremental production during low salinity injection is not solely related to fines migration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Craving and cognitive deficits are potential treatment targets for methamphetamine use disorder (MUD). Previous studies implied that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and cognitive training respectively improve these symptoms, but the combined effect is unknown. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of tDCS over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and computerized cognitive addiction therapy (CCAT) on cue-induced craving and cognitive functions among female individuals with MUD. Seventy-five patients with MUD were randomly assigned to three groups: CCAT + tDCS group, CCAT + sham tDCS group and the control group. The former two groups received 20 sessions of cognitive training combined 1.5 mA active/sham tDCS over DLPFC (20min/session, 5times/week), while the control group received usual care which includes routine medical care, health education, physical exercises and psychological support related to relapse prevention. The cue-induced craving and cognitive functions were tested at the baseline, the end of 2nd week and 4th week. The CCAT + tDCS group showed a significant reduction in cue-induced craving after 4-week intervention. Moreover, the craving score of the real CCAT + tDCS group was significantly lower than that of the CCAT + sham tDCS group and that of the control group at the end of 4th week. A significant improvement in accuracy of TWOB task was only observed in the CCAT + tDCS group at the end of 4th week when compared to baseline. Unexpectedly, participants who received CCAT plus active or sham tDCS did not change their discounting, whereas those in the control group performed more impulsively over time. The study found that the intervention of tDCS over DLPFC combined with CCAT may have potential benefit in improving treatment outcome in patients with MUD. More research is needed to explore the underlying mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-grade heat energy is enormous and widely distributed around the world, but it cannot be effectively converted to electricity owing to the small temperature difference and fluctuating heat source. As a promising technology that can convert low-grade heat energy into electricity while obtaining additional freshwater, thermo-osmotic energy conversion has attracted attentions of numerous researchers. However, traditional thermo-osmotic energy conversion technologies lack the utilization of the accompanying variation in salinity gradients throughout the process. In this study, a hybrid system was presented to achieve simultaneous freshwater production and electricity generation by combining thermo-osmosis system with a salinity gradient power recovery module. Continuous operation of the thermo-osmosis system will naturally produce a range of salinity differences, which will then be converted into electricity by the salinity gradient power recovery module. Our results show that this hybrid system can optimally increase the electricity output by ∼0.99 W m−2 over the conventional thermo-osmotic energy conversion system. Overall, our research demonstrates a promising device to harvest low-grade waste heat for co-generation of electricity and freshwater. This innovative approach has the potential to broaden the application possibilities of thermo-osmosis technology. • Salinity gradient recovery combined thermal-osmosis hybrid system was proposed. • A theoretical model was developed to predict electricity output of the system. • Comparing to traditional TOEC, increasing electricity output by ∼0.99 W m−2. • Co-generation of freshwater and electricity was achieved under real seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolysis of Trichosporon fermentans biomass, a type of oleaginous yeast from the fermentation of refined soybean oil wastewater, was studied in the present work. Based on the TG/DTG curves, the activation energy values for the thermal decomposition of Trichosporon fermentans biomass were evaluated by the KAS method (111.69 kJ/mol) and FWO method (116.93 kJ/mol), respectively. The pyrolysis behavior was represented by considering the parallel degradation of four components, namely carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and others, and the fitting degree of the simulated curve was over 0.99. According to the FTIR spectra of the end-products, the increasing hydrocarbons at a temperature around 400 °C indicated the lipid degradation. Biocrude oil was collected from a fixed bed reactor and the chemical composition was characterized by GC-TOF/MS. The yield of hydrocarbons in the bio-oil was identified as being over 28% when the pyrolysis temperature was higher than 500 °C, whilst the content of nitrogen compounds was less than 18%. The fractional yield distributions of the end-products at different pyrolysis temperatures were compared and the maximum yield of bio-oil was achieved (around 42%) at 500 °C. This study proposed a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for the preparation of biofuel from oleaginous yeast pyrolysis. Image 1 • Oleaginous yeast from wastewater treatment was a potential feedstock of pyrolysis. • Activation energy of oleaginous yeast pyrolysis was estimated by KAS and FWO methods. • The simulated DTG was obtained by Gaussian fitting method and R2 > 0.99 at 20 °C/min. • The hydrocarbon content in the bio-oil of oleaginous yeast was greater than 28%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]