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Though lithium batteries have been extensively applied in electric vehicles as the power sources due to the excellent advantages in recent years, the safety risk of them is always existed inarguably. For the effect of early micro-short circuit faults on the electrical characteristics of the batteries is minor, it is hard to be detected and diagnosed timely, as a result it may evolve into direct short circuit and cause severe safety accidents, such as thermal runaway, explosion and so on. This paper proposes a method for diagnosing micro-short circuit fault in battery pack based on Pearson correlation coefficients (PCCs) and kernel principal component analysis (KPCA). Firstly, the voltage values of each battery in various operation states are measured and denoised using a moving filter method, then PCCs between each battery's voltage of the same series branch are calculated to form a dataset. Secondly, the dataset of PCCs is taken to train KPCA algorithm to obtain the control threshold by calculating the squared prediction error (SPE) statistic. After the training process finished, the PCCs of real-time voltage values of the batteries are calculated, then the related SPE statistic is calculated to determine whether the threshold is exceeded or not, meanwhile the contribution graph will be drawn if the threshold is exceeded. Finally, the faulty cell can be cross localized according to the feature of contribution rate in the contribution graph. Experiments are carried out under the condition of Dynamic Stress Test (DST), and comparisons are performed with principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm by using the different input features, such as raw voltage data, Kendall and Spearman correlation coefficient, respectively. The experimental results show that, the proposed method can diagnose the fault as soon as it occurred, and the feature of contribution rate is more obvious than other methods, which is beneficial to the fault localization. Moreover, for the fault judgment only depends on the correlation of the battery's voltages rather than the absolute values of them, which always vary obviously in different operation states, the proposed method can be applied in various engineering scenarios expediently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Given the great potential of carbonized fabric strain sensors in wearable devices, carbonized silk fabrics (CSF) with three characteristic woven structures including georgette (CSF-g), crepe de chine (CSF-c) and crepe satin plain (CSF-p) were employed to investigate the dependence of gauge factor (GF) on two critical parameters: initial resistance (R 0) and resistance change (Δ R). The results showed that increasing carbonization temperature can effectively reduce R 0 and increase GF of CSF-g, but has little effect on CSF-c and CSF-p. It was further found that the GF of both CSF-c and CSF-p were dominated by Δ R related to the crack propagation path, i.e. high sensitivity CSF was typically accompanied by dense "islands" and fine gaps, while low sensitivity CSF was accompanied by wide cracks and sparse "islands". Accordingly, a modified bridge connection model was proposed to elucidate the relationship between crack morphology and resistance variation. This model successfully achieved continuous exponential fitting of resistance with admirable fitting goodness. Finally, the prepared sensor exhibited an ultra-high GF (916.5) and was well applied in health monitoring and thermal treatment. These efforts put forward guidance to the design and fabrication of ultrasensitive CSF strain sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to evaluate the changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hydrodynamics in patients diagnosed with communicating hydrocephalus. Besides, we establish the relationship between CSF flow dynamic parameters on the midbrain aqueduct and intracranial pressure (ICP). CSF hydrodynamics analysis was performed using Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PC‐MRI) techniques on the midbrain aqueduct of 41 patients diagnosed with communicating hydrocephalus and 22 healthy volunteers. The correlation between CSF average flow in the midbrain aqueduct and intracranial pressure measured by Lumbar Puncture (LP) was assessed in patients with hydrocephalus. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to establish the correction between the average CSF flow of midbrain aqueduct and ICP. CSF dynamic parameters of the midbrain aqueduct in hydrocephalus patients, including peak positive velocity (7.348 cm/s), average velocity (0.623 cm/s), average flow (50.799 mm3/s), and regions of interest (ROI) area (9.978 mm2) were significantly higher than in the healthy controls (p < 0.05). This was after adjusting the age, gender, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and body mass index. However, only the peak negative velocity of the midbrain aqueduct did not significantly differ between the groups (p = 0.209). A positive correlation was noted between the average flow (AF) of the midbrain aqueducts and ICP in hydrocephalus patients (y (AF) = 0.386× (ICP)−33.738, r = 0.787, p < 0.05). Reference data of CSF flow dynamic parameters was obtained through the PC-MRI in middle-aged healthy volunteers and communicating hydrocephalus patients. Although the sample size was constrained, this study has significant contributions. For instance, a significant correlation was noted between the average CSF flow of the aqueduct and ICP. This therefore provides a reference for clinicians to monitor ICP in patients with hydrocephalus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Economically important marine organisms face severe environmental challenges, such as high temperature and low dissolved oxygen, from global climate change. Adverse environmental factors impact the survival and growth of economically important marine organisms, thereby negatively influencing the aquaculture industry. However, little is known about the responses of sea cucumbers to combined environmental co-stressors till now. In this study, ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was utilized to obtain metabolic profiles of sea cucumbers. Changes in the concentrations of 84, 68, and 417 metabolites related to the responses of sea cucumbers to heat (26 °C), hypoxia (2 mg/L) and the combined stress, respectively, were observed and analyzed. Representative biomarkers were discussed in detail, including deltaline, fusarin C, halichondrin B and rapanone. The concentration of metabolites involved in the regulation of energy metabolism, including amino acid, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were significantly changed, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA)-cycle was significantly altered under heat plus hypoxia. We interpreted these changes partly as an adaptation mechanism in response to environmental stress. Based on the decreased accumulation of glutamine, we hypothesized that heat stress is the main factor that interferes with the process of glutamic acid-glutamine metabolism. The present study showed that combined environmental stressors have a more extensive impact on the metabolites of the respiratory tree in sea cucumbers than single stress. These results would facilitate further development of the sea cucumber as an echinoderm model to study mechanisms of response to adverse environments, as well as to help advance knowledge of the adaptation of marine organisms to global climate change. Highlights • UPLC was utilized to obtain metabolic profiles of sea cucumbers under heat, hypoxia and the combined stress. • Synergistic effect of environmental stressors has an additive impact on the primary metabolome in sea cucumbers. • Ten representative potential biomarkers of heat and hypoxia in sea cucumber are illustrated. • The levels of metabolites involved in the regulation of energy metabolism were significantly changed. • The tricarboxylic acid (TCA)-cycle was significantly altered under the combined stress of heat and hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pigmentation processes provide a traceable and relevant trait for understanding key issues in evolutionary biology such as adaptation, speciation and the maintenance of balanced polymorphisms. The sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus , which has nutritive and medical properties, is considered the most valuable commercial species in many parts of Asia. Compared with the green morph, the purple morph is rare and has great appeal to consumers. However, little is currently known about the molecular mechanism of body color formation in A. japonicus , even in echinoderm. Here, we employ illumina sequencing to examine expression patterns of the gene network underlying body wall development in purple and green morphs of A. japonicus. Overall, the number of down-regulated genes in the green morph was significantly more than in the purple morph during the pigmentation stage. We observed dynamic expression patterns of a large number of pigment, regulation and growth genes from the "Melanogenesis", "Melanoma", "Wnt signaling pathway", "Notch signaling pathway", "epithelium development", "epidermal growth factor receptor binding","growth factor activity" and "growth", including contrasting expression patterns of these genes in green and purple morph. This study provides comprehensive lists of differentially expressed genes during body wall development in the green and purple morphs, revealing potential candidate genes that may be involved in regulating body color formation and polymorphism. These data will provide valuable information for future genetic studies on sea cucumbers elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying pigmentation, and may support the culture of desirable color morphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics are considered to have the potential to be beneficial to health when consumed in adequate amounts. Maintaining excellent probiotic activity during food storage and gastrointestinal transport is a key challenge. In this study, a stable water-in-water (W/W) Pickering emulsion consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and dextran (DEX) was constructed. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were used as the solid stabilizers of the emulsion. The obtained emulsions had excellent long-term stability with no phase separation within 60 days. In addition, the pH and ionic strength had little influence on the stability performance of the emulsions. The W/W Pickering emulsion system was applied to the probiotic encapsulation, and the emulsion was microencapsulated by spray drying technique. The microscopy images showed that Lactobacillus plantarum tended to be enriched in the dispersed phase of W/W Pickering emulsions. The viable cell content of obtained microcapsules was 2.22 × 1010 CFU/g after spray drying. Furthermore, the viable cell content in emulsion microcapsules was 3.38 × 106 CFU/g after the simulated digestion process in artificial gastrointestinal fluid. The microcapsules containing Lactobacillus plantarum also showed excellent stability during the storage. The viable cell content of microcapsules was 1.76 × 109 CFU/g at 4 °C after 90 days of storage. This study could provide a potential method by using W/W Pickering emulsion as a system for encapsulating probiotics, which would provide protection for probiotics during spray drying and gastrointestinal digestion. [Display omitted] • W/W Pickering emulsions have been constructed by cellulose nanocrystals as stabilizers. • W/W Pickering emulsions exhibited extraordinary stability under different pH and ionic strength. • W/W Pickering emulsions were fascinating cell-like compartments for the encapsulation of probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solution-polymerized styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR) and high cis -polybutadiene rubber (BR) are usually used as matrix and silane coupling agent (SCA) modified silica as the filler in the conventional green tire tread. However, the SCA cannot achieve uniform distribution of silica, moreover the modification process generates volatile organic compounds. In this work, a novel silica reinforced epoxidized SSBR(ESSBR)/epoxidized BR (EBR) nanocomposite (S-ESSBR/EBR) without SCA is prepared. The ESSBR and EBR with different epoxidation degree are synthesized by an oxidant H 2 O 2 and reaction-controlled phase-transfer catalyst CPC-PW 4 O 16. The microstructure and performance of S-ESSBR/EBR nanocomposites are investigated and compared with the silica reinforced SSBR/BR nanocomposite (S-SSBR/BR-Si75) using Si75 as SCA. Silica nanoparticles transfer from ESSBR phase to EBR phase with increasing epoxidation degree of EBR, so the distribution of silica in two phases becomes homogeneous. The S-ESSBR/EBR nanocomposite exhibits high wet skid resistance, low rolling resistance and excellent abrasion resistance as green tire tread. [Display omitted] • The ESSBR and EBR are synthesized by oxidant H 2 O 2 and catalyst CPC-PW 4 O 16. • Silica reinforced ESSBR/EBR nanocomposites are prepared. • Epoxy groups enhance interfacial interaction and silica phase distribution. • The nanocomposite has excellent comprehensive performance as green tire tread. • The nanocomposite without silane coupling agent is eco-friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the amount of microplastics (MPs) in food is key to clarifying their potential toxicity to humans. Here, we collected canned, instant, and salt-dried sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus , the most valued sea cucumbers, from Chinese markets to determine their content of MPs. Sea cucumbers contained MPs in the range of 0–4 MP individual−1, an average of 1.44 MP individual−1, and 0.081 MP g−1. Accordingly, consuming 3 g of sea cucumbers could result in an exposure risk of an average of 0.51 MPs, 0.135 MPs, and 0.078 MPs day-1 for canned, instant, and salt-dried sea cucumbers, respectively. MPs were in size range of 12–575 μm, and fibrous shape was dominant. Furthermore, among the five polymers identified, polypropylene showed the highest energy binding with two catalysts engaged in organic chemical oxidation. This study extends the knowledge regarding MPs occurrence in food and provides a theoretical basis for MPs toxicity in humans. [Display omitted] • Microplastics average in processed sea cucumbers was 1.44 MP individual−1. • The major size of microplastics was <100 μm. • Polyester was the dominant polymer identified in processed sea cucumbers. • Molecular docking showed that polypropylene has the highest potential toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea cucumbers are an important economic species and exhibit high yield value among aquaculture animals. Purple sea cucumbers are very rare and beautiful and have stable hereditary patterns. In this study, isobaric tags (IBT) were first used to reveal the molecular mechanism of pigmentation in the body wall of the purple sea cucumber. We analyzed the proteomes of purple sea cucumber in early pigmentation stage (Pa), mid pigmentation stage (Pb) and late pigmentation stage (Pc), resulting in the identification of 5580 proteins, including 1099 differentially expressed proteins in Pb: Pa and 339 differentially expressed proteins in Pc: Pb. GO and KEGG analyses revealed possible differentially expressed proteins, including“melanogenesis”, “melanosome”, “melanoma”, “pigment-biosynthetic process”, “Epidermis development”, “Ras-signaling pathway”, “Wnt-signaling pathway”, “response to UV light”, and “tyrosine metabolism”, involved in pigment synthesis and regulation in purple sea cucumbers. The large number of differentially expressed proteins identified here should be highly useful in further elucidating the mechanisms underlying pigmentation in sea cucumbers. Furthermore, these results may also provide the base for further identification of proteins involved in resistance mechanisms against melanoma, albinism, UV damage, and other diseases in sea cucumbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With water temperature increasing in summer, large-sized sea cucumbers ( Apostichopus japonicus ) generally enter aestivation, while there still occurs a small portion of individuals that do not enter aestivation and remain active and ingesting. In this study we investigated the differences in immuno- and metabolic enzyme activities and metabolites between non-aestivating and aestivating groups of A. japonicus . Animals (wet weight > 150 g) were collected from July to October in a seawater pond, north China. The individuals that voided feces, or had intestine contents after dissection, were defined as non-aestivating group, whereas those without feces or intestine contents were defined as aestivating group. Relative intestine mass (RIM), immuno-enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, T-AOC) and metabolic enzyme activities (PK, HK, MDH, LDH) of the body wall, and metabolites in intestine in both groups were determined. Results showed that temperature had significant effects on RIM and all enzyme activities in the non-aestivating group ( P < 0.05). However, the significant effects of temperature on the T-AOC, PK and LDH activities were not found in the aestivating group ( P > 0.05). Meanwhile, the RIM and all enzyme activities in the non-aestivating group were significantly higher than those in the aestivating group before September 10. The metabolites including glutamate, 3-aminoisobutyrate, aspartate, choline, phosphocholine, and taurine were abundant in the aestivating group, whereas 12 kinds of amino acids, glucose, glycogen, dimethylamine, inosine, and homarine were abundant in the non-aestivating group. It was obvious that metabolism of the non-aestivating group was more active than that of the aestivating group. This study provided new insights for understanding the differences in intestine degradation, enzyme activities and metabolites between non-aestivating and aestivating A. japonicus under high temperature in summer. Meanwhile, the results might be helpful for high temperature resistant sea cucumber selection in aquaculture. Statement of relevance We state that the work has not been published and is not being considered for published elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tarim Basin is the large, very complex, oil-bearing basin in China, surrounded by the Tianshan–Beishan, West Kunlun and Altyn Tagh mountain belts to the north, south, and southeast, respectively. Understanding the processes and evolution of this complex superimposed basin, especially with respect to the effects of single tectonic movements, is a difficult challenge, which concerns the tectonic and dynamic interrelationships between the basin and the orogenic belts during the different stages of the Paleozoic in the Paleo-Asian and Tethyan tectonic systems and for the evaluation of the resource potentials in Tarim Basin. In this study, we focused on 3-dimensional, basin-scale structural architecture and the properties of two regional unconformities that occur within the basin and its adjacent areas. Here, we outline the structural deformations underlying the unconformity, the structural architecture styles and the distributions of the unconformity, and the stratigraphic sequence and nature of the sedimentary rocks immediately overlying the unconformity. During the late Early and Middle Paleozoic tectonic movements, disconformities developed mainly in the northern and the central parts of the basin, and angular unconformities which beneath layers were monocline and faulted-fold deformations developed in the southern, or the southern and northern parts of the basin, respectively. Before the Silurian, the Low Hotian Uplift, the NE-trending faulted-folded belts of the Tangguzibas Depression and the southern Tazhong Uplift underwent intense deformation related to SE–NW-directed tectonic compression. In addition, the NE-trending faults in the Tangguzibas Depression developed during periods of activity on the South Altyn Tagh Fault. The structural deformation, as well as the depositional facies, formed in response to the subduction and closure of the South Altun Ocean and West Kunlun–Kudi Ocean, and the resulting collisional orogeny. Prior to deposition of Upper Devonian sediments, structural deformation and erosion occurred in two marginal parts of the basin. The extent and intensity of deformation on the NE-trending faults in the Tangguzibas Depression were also reduced, whereas the NE-trending folds developed in the Manjiaer Depression. The Tabei Uplift experienced uplift and deformation. The closure of the North Altun Ocean and the eastern part of the South Tianshan Ocean with south-subduction may be the main driving forces for the tectonic activity. Extensive areas in the northern and southern margins of the basin were uplifted and denudated by orogenic activity as a prelude to the molasse basin that developed in the early Late Devonian in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the basin. The structural architecture of the unconformities reveals the geometry and dynamics of the basin–orogen system in single tectonic movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When encountering adverse environmental conditions, some holothurians can eject their internal organs in a process called evisceration. As global warming intensified, eviscerated and intact sea cucumbers both experience heat stress, but how they performed was uncertain. We constructed 24 metabolomics profiles to reveal the metabolite changes of eviscerated and intact sea cucumbers under normal and high temperature conditions, respectively. Carboxylic acids and fatty acyls were the most abundant metabolic categories in evisceration and heat stress treatments, respectively. Neural transduction was involved in sea cucumber evisceration and stress response, and the commonly enriched pathway was "neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction". Lipid metabolism in eviscerated sea cucumbers differed from those of intact individuals and was more seriously affected by heat stress. Choline is a key metabolite for revealing the evisceration mechanism. Our results contribute to understanding the mechanisms of evisceration in sea cucumbers, and how sea cucumbers might respond to increasingly warming ocean conditions. [Display omitted] • The metabolomics of eviscerated and intact sea cucumbers varies with temperature. • Carboxylic acids and fatty acyls are respectively richest in eviscerated and stressed treatments. • Evisceration and stress responses of sea cucumbers may involve neural transduction. • Lipid metabolism was depressed in evisceration and heat stress treatments. • Choline is a significant metabolite involved in sea cucumber evisceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cellulose aerogels are ultra-low density materials and generally exhibit poor mechanical properties, incorporation of inorganic fillers into these structures can greatly increase their strengths and moduli. Silica/cellulose composite aerogels were prepared by in situ synthesis of silica in the porous structured cellulose hydrogel scaffolds by using water glass as silica source. The concentration of water glass solution had an obvious influence on the microstructure of the composite aerogels. The synthesized silica in the cellulose scaffold had particle-like morphology when lower concentrated water glass solution was used, and the particle size increased with the increasing of the water glass solution concentration. The spatially confined synthesized inorganic components preserved both the chemical cellulose integrity and open-porous cellulose network structure. The compressive properties of the silica/cellulose aerogels greatly exceeded those of pristine cellulose aerogels. Moreover, unlike inorganic silica aerogels, the composite aerogels had high flexibility, withstanding large amounts of compressive strain without failure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, the medium internal phase O/W Pickering emulsions stabilized with bamboo shoots nanocellulose (BSNC) was successfully fabricated. The nanocellulose extracted from bamboo shoots with an average width of 56.37 nm and height of 7.44 nm showed great potential as an emulsifier in the Pickering emulsions. The effects of BSNC content, oil-water ratio and emulsification process on the structure, stability and rheology of the resultant Pickering emulsions was explored. The obtained emulsion with the BSNC content of 0.5 wt% at the oil to water volume ratio of 5:5 had a lower particle size of around 25 μm. With the increasing BSNC content, the emulsions presented increased droplet size, and even demulsification occurred. Interestingly, the physicochemical properties of the emulsions could be significantly improved through twice shearing, which effectively reduced droplet size. The surface coverage was above 100% for the Pickering emulsions stabilized with the BSNC content of 0.5%–1.1%. With the increasing BSNC content, the apparent viscosity was increased first and then decreased, and all emulsions showed elastic behaviors. This work would provide theoretical guidance for preparing medium or high internal phase Pickering emulsions stabilized with nanocellulose. [Display omitted] • Medium internal phase Pickering emulsions (MIPEs) were stabilized by BSNC particles. • The droplet size could be tuned by changing the particle content and oil phase volume. • The twice shear emulsification process reduced the emulsion size. • The obtained BSNC-stabilized Pickering emulsions exhibited elastic gel-like behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nanostructured cellulose nanofibrils can form ductile or tough networks that are suitable templates for the creation of materials with functional properties. In this work, a facile method has been developed for the preparation of magnetic hybrid cellulose aerogels. The preparation processes followed by two steps, firstly, preparation of cellulose hydrogel films from LiOH/urea solvent, then CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized in the porous structured cellulose scaffolds. After being freeze-dried, CoFe2O4/cellulose magnetic aerogels were obtained. The porosity of the composite aerogels ranged from 78 to 52% with pore size distribution in a few tens of nanometers. The internal specific surface areas were around 300–320m2/g, and the densities were in the range of 0.25–0.39g/cm3. The hybrid aerogels showed improved mechanical strength, superparamagnetic properties. Unlike solvent-swollen gels and ferrogels, the magnetic composite aerogels were lightweight, flexibility, high porosity and with large specific surface area and could be expected to be used in many fields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Utilization of environmentally benign solvents, nontoxic chemicals, and renewable materials are some of the key issues that merit important consideration in a green synthetic strategy. In this work, monodispersed magnetic Fe2O3 nanoparticles have been synthesized by using regenerated cellulose films as sacrificial templates. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicated that the particle size of the nanoparticles was less than 50 nm. The nanoparticles had novel magnetic responsibility at room temperature and could be dispersed in water and kept at stable state for about 3 months. The nanoparticles were prepared directly without a size-selection process, and the synthetic procedure was reproducible. Furthermore, this method was facile and the process was completely green, which made this process amenable to the further development of green nanoparticle synthesis on a large-scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To clarify the effects of the external factors on the alignment of the plate-like Fe2O3 nanoparticles in the cellulose matrix, different preparation methods under various conditions including low temperature, static and rotating magnetic, as well as uniaxial drawing were performed in present work. The results indicated that Fe2O3 nanoparticles synthesized in the cellulose scaffolds were randomly distributed before drying. A weak static and rotating magnetic field led to different alignments of the Fe2O3 nanoparticles in the cellulose matrix. Moreover, the uniaxial drawing of the composite films destroyed the regular distribution of the Fe2O3 nanoparticles, leading to the changing of the morphology of the nanoparticles from plate-like to rod-like. The interesting results revealed that the magnetic properties of the composite films could be controlled by modulating the alignment of the Fe2O3 nanoparticles in the cellulose scaffolds, which was very fascinating for the preparation of magnetic composite materials with controlled properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]