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Shergottite meteorites, classified as depleted, intermediate, or enriched based on incompatible trace elements and specific radiogenic isotope compositions (Sr, Nd, and Hf isotope ratios), point to multiple Martian mantle source regions. The oxygen fugacity (f O 2) of these mantle regions, determined from early crystallizing minerals using the olivine-pyroxene-spinel oxybarometer, appears to correlate with incompatible trace element enrichment and isotope compositions. However, values derived from the vanadium-in-olivine oxybarometer challenge this correlation, hinting at potential biases in oxybarometry or complexities in the redox conditions of the Martian mantle. By analyzing the intermediate shergottite Northwest Africa (NWA) 11043 with various oxybarometers, this study deduced its origin from a reduced mantle source, with an average f O 2 value of −0.77 ± 0.35 relative to the iron-wüstite (IW) buffer. Notably, these values coincide with those of depleted shergottites, which represent the depleted Martian mantle region. This redox similarity between intermediate and depleted shergottites contrasts with earlier notions that postulated intermediate shergottites as a mix of depleted and enriched mantle derivatives. Moreover, intermediate shergottites such as NWA 11043, Elephant Moraine (EETA) 79001A, and Allan Hills (ALH) 77005 display 176Hf/177Hf values akin to those of depleted shergottites, suggesting that intermediate mantle components can be separated from the depleted mantle source at approximately 2.2 Ga based on model age calculations. Therefore, there presents a consistent redox state between mantle magma sources of both intermediate and depleted shergottites since the Hesperian period, while enriched shergottites lean toward more oxidized conditions past source formation. This study prompts a reassessment of conventional theories, emphasizing the nuanced redox evolution of the Martian mantle across distinct mantle source regions and underscoring the complexity of the redox evolution of the Martian mantle. The emergence of chemically diverse mantle reservoirs might predominantly arise from early magma ocean differentiation processes, albeit with inherent oxidation nuances. The differences in f O 2 observed between intermediate and depleted shergottites underscore the need for more in-depth studies to decipher Martian mantle differentiation and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impact of ageing on carbon emissions in the whole economic system is explored. • Household consumption pattern of different age groups is depicted in detail. • The change of population age structure had led to a decline in carbon emissions. • The impact of ageing on carbon emissions had obvious regional heterogeneity. Ageing can have a considerable ripple effect on carbon emission by affecting production and consumption of economic system. Based on an input-output structural decomposition analysis, this study analyses the impact of ageing on urban residents' carbon emissions in China from 2002 to 2007 and 2007 to 2012, and explores the regional heterogeneity and temporal uncertainty of the impact. At the national level, older adults slowed the growth of direct carbon emissions in both periods, because their per capita energy consumption fell more in the first period, then switched from coal to gas and electricity consumption. They contributed less to the growth of indirect carbon emissions in both periods due to the minimum increase in their per capita consumption among all age groups. Moreover, the impact of ageing on carbon emissions had clear regional heterogeneity. This study is beneficial to provide suggestions regarding carbon emission reduction and adapting to demographic changes. Ageing; Household consumption; Carbon emissions; Input-output; Structural decomposition analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing cost of palladium has demonstrated the significant value of using inexpensive base metals as inner electrodes for RF/microwave multilayer ceramic capacitors. However, solving the co-sintering problem of dielectric ceramics with base metals such as copper is highly challenging, as sintering in a reducing atmosphere is required to prevent the oxidation of the base metals. In this work, the feasibility of sintering nonreducible MnO 2 -doped 0.95MgTiO 3 -0.05CaTiO 3 (95MCT) ceramics in a reducing atmosphere (H 2 -N 2 , p O 2 = 1 × 10 − 10 ∼ 1 × 10 − 11 MPa) at 1000 °C was investigated. The effects of the MnO 2 additive (1.6–2.4 mol%) on the phase structures, dielectric properties, and thermal stability were studied. Thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were conducted to characterize the oxygen vacancies and Mn ion valence state in MnO 2 -doped ceramics, indicating that Mn plays an important role in the dielectric properties, especially the extrinsic dielectric loss. With the optimized addition of 2.0 mol% MnO 2 , due to the decrease in oxygen vacancy concentration, the samples with ε r = 20.22 exhibited the attractive properties of a high insulation resistivity of IR = 3.65 × 10 14 Ω ∙ cm and a low dielectric loss of tan δ = 0.036 % , meeting the C0G specifications. The results show that the 2.0 mol% MnO 2 -doped 0.95MgTiO 3 -0.05CaTiO 3 ceramic is an outstanding nonreducible dielectric material for base-metal electrode RF/microwave multilayer ceramic capacitor applications with low cost, excellent dielectric properties, and high reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we give some comments on the recent results about the switching points for the gH-differentiability of interval-valued functions. We show by counterexamples that there exist switching points which are not critical points of the length function, and that there are GH-differentiable functions with an infinite number of switching points and gH-differentiable functions with an uncountable number of switching points. After reclassifying the switching points more finely, we also present some characterizations for the switching points. The obtained results correct the known ones in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converting biowaste to solid fuel pellets is an efficient and environmental-friendly way for forestry residues utilization. Here, we investigated the effect of enzyme treatment on the quality and combustion characteristics of Ginkgo leaf residues (GLRs) pellets. The results indicated that compared with the untreated control sample (T 1), the GLRs treated with 100 (T 2) and 200 mg/g (T 3) concentrations of cellulase enzyme were coarser and cracked with enhanced specific surface area. GLRs heating value increased from 17.8 to 18.9 and 19.3 MJ/kg for T 2 and T 3 , respectively. Increase in pellet durability (from 73.4 to 80.8%) and hardness (from 0.8 to 1.3) as compared to T 1 pellets. The energy consumption of all pellets kept in a low range of 15.1–16.1 J. The kinetics analysis found that the activation energy of T 3 pellet decreased from 45.5 to 34.2 kJ/mol in the first order reaction model and from 95.8 to 77.8 kJ/mol in the 3D diffusion model compared to T 1. Further, molecular dynamics simulation suggested the enzyme treatment was effective in disorganizing the crystalline cellulose chains, which not only improved the extraction efficiency of bioactive components in Ginkgo leaves, but also promoted the acquisition of high-quality GLRs for manufacturing solid fuel pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storage and transportation are main considerations for seasonal crop residues to become competitive alternatives to non-sustainable fossil fuels and chemicals. Hence, pelletization and briquetting are highly relevant to mass and energy densification and associated supply chains. Here, we propose a green treatment based on recyclable, deep eutectic solvent (DES) to achieve partial swelling and dissolution of residual agricultural biomass (wheat straw), leading to improved structuring and cohesion of energy pellets. The mild DES-based process enhances access to lignin, which migrates and regenerates at interphases for effective binding, enabling improved pellet durability (increased by 90–97% compared to pellets produced from the untreated biomass). The role of lignin was studied by molecular dynamics simulation, which revealed non-bonding interactions with cellulose, impacting the strength of the pellet structure. The DES treatment enhanced the heating value of the pellets (from 16.1 to 19.5 MJ/kg), partially a result of a higher acidy ratio, and simultaneously led to better devolatilization, lignin accessibility and release of volatile matter during pyrolysis. The potential environmental benefit of DES-treated pellets over wood-based counterparts is revealed by a life cycle assessment. Our study further indicates the reduced environmental impact of DES-treated pellets, which can be furthered by recycling of the solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn4+-doped fluoride red phosphors are an outstanding choice for warm white light LEDs (WLEDs) and wide color gamut liquid crystal displays due to their broad absorption spectrum in the blue region, narrow emission spectrum in the red region, and high fluorescence quantum efficiency at room temperature. However, these phosphors face limited heat and water resistance challenges, which may impede the practical application of WLEDs. To overcome these issues, we synthesized K 2 SiF 6 :Mn4+ red phosphors with enhanced luminous efficiency and heat resistance using a hydrothermal method at H 2 O 2 -free condition. Furthermore, we employed citric acid (CA) to create a surface shell layer on the phosphor through room temperature surface passivation, significantly enhancing the phosphor's water resistance without compromising its luminescent properties. After immersing the two phosphors in deionized water for 360 min, the fluorescence emission intensity of KSFM (K 2 SiF 6 :0.06Mn4+) and P-KSFM (CA (0.66 wt) -K 2 SiF 6 :0.06Mn4+) decreased from 100% to 44.98% and 95.21%, respectively. Warm WLEDs encapsulated with the P-KSFM red phosphor exhibited a low correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3992 K, a high color rendering index of 87.3, and a luminous efficacy of 103.5 lm/W. These results demonstrate the significant potential of P-KSFM as a highly efficient red phosphor with excellent water resistance. • P-KSFM (CA (0.66 wt) -K 2 SiF 6 :0.06Mn4+) has been synthesized. • Sample exhibits a good water resistance induced by surface passivation. • Emission intensities are improved by surface passivation. • Negative thermal quenching effect are enhanced by surface passivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of sulfonated polyimide membrane (6f-abSPI) containing benzimidazole group and trifluoromethyl group (-CF 3) is synthesized by one-step copolymerization. The 6f-abSPI-60 membrane with the highest ion selectivity is selected and applied to all vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB). Compared with Nafion 212 (N212) membrane and 6f-SPI-60 membrane, the vanadium ion permeability of 6f-abSPI-60 membrane (1.78 × 10−7 cm2 min−1) is 1/13 lower than that of N212 membrane (2.33 × 10−6 cm2 min−1) and 1/2 lower than 6f-SPI-60 membrane (3.60 × 10−7 cm2 min−1). At the same time, the 6f-abSPI-60 membrane (2.69 × 105 S min cm−3) has significant selectivity, which is 5.6 times higher than N212 membrane (0.48 × 105 S min cm−3). In VRFB tests, the coulombic efficiency (CE) of 6f-abSPI-60 membrane (98.88 %) is significantly higher than that of N212 membrane (92.99 %) and 6f-SPI-60 membrane (97.65 %) at 100 mA cm−2, and the energy efficiency (EE) also reaches a higher value (77.29 %). Additionally, the VRFB equipped with the 6f-abSPI-60 membrane exhibits consistent and reliable performance throughout the 100 cycles of charging and discharging at the current densities of 100 mA cm−2. The good stability of 6f-abSPI membranes is explained by calculating C atoms' natural bond orbital (NBO) charges on different polyimide (PI) rings. [Display omitted] • 1.A new sulfonated polyimide was synthesized containing –NH– and -CF 3 groups. • 2.The penetration of vanadium ion is effectively reduced by introducing imidazole ring. • 3.NBO charge is calculated to explain the excellent stability of the membrane. • 4.6f-abSPI-60 membrane shows remarkable vanadium ion resistance and proton selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM), a cancer of plasma cells, is the second most common hematological malignancy which is characterized by aberrant plasma cells infiltration in the bone marrow and complex heterogeneous cytogenetic abnormalities. Over the past two decades, novel treatment strategies such as proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators, and monoclonal antibodies have significantly improved the relative survival rate of MM patients. However, the development of drug resistance results in the majority of MM patients suffering from relapse, limited treatment options and uncontrolled disease progression after relapse. There are urgent needs to develop and explore novel MM treatment strategies to overcome drug resistance and improve efficacy. Here, we review the recent small molecule therapeutic strategies for MM, and introduce potential new targets and corresponding modulators in detail. In addition, this paper also summarizes the progress of multi-target inhibitor therapy and protein degradation technology in the treatment of MM. [Display omitted] • The current challenges and urgency of drug resistance in multiple myeloma (MM). • Emerging potential targets and innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance in MM. • Mechanisms of action, structure-activity relationships, binding-modes to targets and efficacy of novel anti-MM drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) significantly affects the poultry industry, causing substantial economic losses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ghrelin on chicks infected with an attenuated virus strain of IBDV (aIBDV). Chicks were divided into 3 groups: a control group (group I), an aIBDV infection group (group II), and a ghrelin + aIBDV infection group (group III). Mice in groups II and III were fed until they reached 19 d of age and then inoculated with aIBDV to establish a subclinical infection model. Group III received an intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 nmol/100 g ghrelin from d 17 to 23. The present study utilized paraffin sectioning, H&E staining, and immunohistochemical staining to examine the effects of ghrelin on the bursa of fabricius and cecum tonsils in aIBDV -infected chicks. The results indicated that at 3 d postinfection (dpi), the average body weight of group III was significantly greater than that of group II (P < 0.05). At 3 and 7 dpi, the proportion of large lymphoid follicles in the bursa of fabricius in group III was notably greater than that in group II (P < 0.05). aIBDV infection resulted in bleeding, edema, and fibrosis in the cecal mucosal layer of chicks, but ghrelin administration mitigated these pathological changes. At 3 and 7 dpi, the thickness of the lamina propria in the cecal tonsils of group III was significantly lower than that in the cecal tonsils of group II (P < 0.05). Additionally, the percentage of large lymphoid follicles in the cecal tonsils of group III was significantly greater than that in group II at 3 and 5 dpi (P < 0.05). There were significantly fewer macrophages in the cecal tonsils of group III than in those of group II at 1, 3, and 5 dpi (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ghrelin supplementation improved performance and mitigated bursal atrophy in aIBDV -infected chicks. It also reduced histological lesions and immune responses in the cecum tonsil. Notably, the reduction in macrophages in the cecum tonsil following ghrelin administration may decrease the risk of aIBDV spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhen-Wu-Tang (ZWT), a conventional herbal mixture, has been recommended for treating lupus nephritis (LN) in clinic. However, its mechanisms of action remain unknown. Here we aimed to define the immunological mechanisms underlying the effects of ZWT on LN and to determine whether it affects renal tissue-resident memory T (T RM) cells. Murine LN was induced by a single injection of pristane, while in vitro T RM cells differentiated with IL-15/TGF-β. We found that ZWT or mycophenolate mofetil treatment significantly ameliorated kidney injury in LN mice by decreasing 24-h urine protein, Scr and anti-dsDNA Ab. ZWT also improved renal pathology and decreased IgG and C3 depositions. In addition, ZWT down-regulated renal Desmin expression. Moreover, it lowered the numbers of CD8+ T RM cells in kidney of mice with LN while decreasing their expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ. Consistent with in vivo results, ZWT-containing serum inhibited T RM cell differentiation induced by IL-15/TGF-β in vitro. Mechanistically, it suppressed phosphorylation of STAT3 and CD122 （IL2/IL-15Rβ）expression in CD8+ T RM cells. Importantly, ZWT reduced the number of total F4/80+CD11b+ and CD86+, but not CD206+, macrophages in the kidney of LN mice. Interestingly, ZWT suppressed IL-15 protein expression in macrophages in vivo and in vitro. Thus, we have provided the first evidence that ZWT decoction can be used to improve the outcome of LN by reducing CD8+ T RM cells via inhibition of IL-15/IL-15R /STAT3 signaling. [Display omitted] • Zhen-Wu-Tang (ZWT), a traditional herbal formula, ameliorates murine lupus nephritis. • ZWT reduces renal tissue-resident CD8+ memory T (T RM) cells in vivo and in vitro. • It lowers the number of renal macrophages and decreases their expression of IL-15. • It also suppresses STAT3 phosphorylation in CD8+ T RM cells in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the growth characteristics of submicron particles by water vapor condensation in the multi-section growth tube, the three-stage heterogeneous condensation process model was used to predict the size distribution of grown droplets. And the supersaturated environment is formed by the cool saturated flow into a warm-walled growth tube. The calculated results show that with the increase of the section number of the growth tube, the more obviously enhanced growth effect is presented when the growth tube length is shorter and the particle number concentration is lower. Nevertheless, the increase of the section number has more advantages of particle enlargement when the CO 2 concentration improved. Additionally, more section number of growth tube could strongly improve the particle growth on the condition of elevating the wall temperature compared with the situation of reducing the inlet temperature. Meanwhile, the final mean size of grown droplets could be enhanced by 16.03% and 3.46% with the section number from 5 increasing to 15 in the case of promoting wall temperature or declining inlet temperature by 10 K, respectively. [Display omitted] • The more section number improve growth strongly with the reduction of tube length. • The more section number is in favor of better growth with lower particle number. • The increase of section number is more beneficial to enlargement when CO 2 improved. • Strongly enhanced growth is shown on more section and elevating wall temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complicated case with fever or headache of unknown origin is currently one of the main challenges in clinical diagnosis. A retrospective analysis was conducted on a 27-year-old female patient hospitalized with headache and fever, and the pathogen species were ultimately determined by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The culture results of CSF showed no bacterial or fungal growth. CSF cytology showed a significant increase in nucleated cells. Pathogenic index (corresponded to human gamma herpesvirus 4) of the microorganism after correcting for human background was 12846.77 with a host index (human resource) of 27822.48 by mNGS of CSF. The patient improved through antiviral treatment with ganciclovir. Epstein–Barr virus encephalitis is rare in immunocompetent adults, which can easily cause misdiagnosis and should be paid attention to. mNGS of CSF has significant advantages in the diagnosis of Epstein–Barr virus encephalitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PDA and PEI co-deposition combined with electrostatic self-assembly realizes mild surface modification. • The membrane with 3 functional layers exhibits the best adsorption performance (adsorption capacity = 142.25 mg·g−1). • This membrane can achieve over 90 % uranium removal within 90 min in dynamic filtration. • DFT calculation results indicate that the PEI/PA-U mode exhibits the most stable structure. Developing simple and efficient new strategies for uranium extraction from seawater (UES) is crucial for addressing the energy crisis. Here, we proposed a mild strategy to prepare a layer-by-layer assembly membrane (LAM) by polydopamine (PDA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) co-deposition coupled with polyethyleneimine/phytic acid self-assembly for efficient uranium extraction. By regulating the number of self-assemblies, the performance of the membrane could be easily adjusted. The functional coating's rich active groups (–NH 2 , -PO 4 3-, –OH) provided a good adsorption performance for the modified membrane, with a static adsorption capacity of 142.25 mg·g−1. Meanwhile, it possessed excellent dynamic removal rate, which could achieve over 90 % uranium removal within 90 min. The LAM also exhibited exceptional adsorption selectivity, boasting a remarkable 9:1 ratio in extracting uranium and vanadium. Furthermore, the strong adhesion of PDA endowed the material with good stability, and the adsorption capacity only decreased by 23 % after 5 cycles. DFT calculations proved that PEI/PA-U was the most stable model. Particularly, the adsorption capacity of LAM in natural seawater can reach 0.99 mg·g−1. With the simple and mild preparation process, along with the excellent adsorption performance, the LAM membrane holds great promise for seawater uranium enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have drawn great interest in pollutant adsorption due to their large specific surface area, abundant active sites, and regular pore structure, while they suffer from serious secondary pollution by inevitable metal spillage during pollutant treatment. Herein, we reported a series of MOF-derived metal-free carbon materials (MC-X-Y) for chlortetracycline hydrochloride (CTC) adsorption. The outcome pointed out that the MC-1000–60 prepared under 1000 °C for 60 min exhibited highest specific surface area (2299 m2·g−1) and maximum adsorption capacity for CTC (1588 mg·g−1 within 90 min), which was sixfold higher than that of commercial activated carbon and original MOF-5. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of MC-1000–60 on CTC conformed to pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model, respectively, indicating that the CTC adsorption was inclined to monolayer adsorption and dominated by chemisorption. Impressively, the CTC adsorption capacity for MC-1000–60 after used for 4 adsorption cycles could still reach up to 1199 mg·g−1. The co-existing ion and humid acid exerted insignificant interfering effect on CTC adsorption. The ultra-high adsorption capacity, fast adsorption rate, excellent recyclability and metal-free nature highlighted its light application prospect in solving the CTC-related pollution issues, being expected to be next generation of advanced adsorbents for removing emerging pollutants. [Display omitted] • The MC-1000–60 avoids secondary pollution of metal spillage in MOFs adsorbents. • The MC-1000–60 exhibits greatly enhanced CTC adsorption capacity compared with MOF-5. • The adsorption operation parameters are optimized by response surface methodology. • The adsorption mechanism includes electrostatic interaction, pore filling and hydrogen bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel high-temperature disperse dye-based ink, designed for direct digital printing on fabrics, has been developed to eliminate the need for chemical pre-treatment. This innovative ink utilizes a temperature viscosity response mechanism and incorporates a new thermosensitive dye, enabling direct printing on polyester fabrics without pre-chemical treatment. The key to its temperature viscosity response properties is the addition of the nonionic surfactant L64 (poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) PEO-PPO-PEO). Extensive evaluations of its physicochemical properties, including viscosity, conductivity, pH, surface tension, particle size, and inkjet droplet formation, have confirmed the ink's superior sprayability and overall quality. Notably, when applied to polyester fabric, this ink enhances print clarity and pattern quality while ensuring robust color fastness to rubbing and washing, all without requiring fabric pre-treatment. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the hand feel between fabrics printed with this ink and unprinted fabrics underscores the minimal impact of the printing process on the fabric's texture. This new type of thermosensitive ink application can effectively reduce the dependence of textile printing fabrics on chemical pretreatment, and effectively reduce the use of water resources in the printing process. • Triblock copolymer (PEO-PPO-PEO) is added to high temperature disperse dye ink. • This new type of thermosensitive ink is applied to polyester fabrics without the need for chemical pretreatment steps. • Thermal ink has good spraying performance. • The fabric printed with thermosensitive ink exhibits excellent printing accuracy and color fastness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice straw pretreated with tetrahydro-2-furanmethanol (THFA) and AlCl 3 assisted by surfactants was for enzymatic saccharification. As adding 100 mg/g dry substrate PEG20000 during THFA-AlCl 3 pretreatment, 98% cellulose was recovered at 150 °C with 0.06 mol/L AlCl 3 for 30 min, with 90% of delignification and 93% of hemicellulose removal but became poor in reuse of pretreatment liquor, in addition to trace sugar-derivatives formed. Based on the characterization analysis, the additional PEG20000 facilitated the directional dissociation of lignocellulose and enhanced the accessibility of cellulase to cellulose. The enhancement of PEG20000 added during pretreatment was superior to that adding in enzymolysis for glucose yield, especially reducing hydrolysis time by one quarter than that of the pretreatment without PEG20000. The glucose yield of pretreated straw was 2.8-fold higher than that of raw straw. THFA-AlCl 3 pretreatment assisted by PEG20000 is a promising approach in producing fermentable sugars in lignocellulosic biomass biorefinery. [Display omitted] • PEG20000-assisted THFA-AlCl 3 pretreated rice straw at 150 °C and 0.06 M AlCl 3. • Achieved 98% cellulose recovery with 90% lignin and 93% hemicellulose removal. • PEG20000 facilitated the dissociation of LCCs during saTHFA-AlCl 3 pretreatment. • PEG20000 added in pretreatment yielded higher glucose than that in enzymolysis. • Glucose yield rose by 1.8-fold than that of raw straw, reaching 91% at 48 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the potential of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) using the inherent moisture (50% wet basis) of wheat straw for improving the undesirable characteristics of wheat straw and producing high-quality pellets. The material was treated at temperatures of 100, 140, 180, and 220 °C for 15 and 30 min. When compared to the untreated sample, the pellets produced from samples treated at 220 °C for 30 min showed the lowest water adsorption of 10%, the highest bulk density of 147.6 kg/m3, and the highest HHV of 22.2 MJ/kg, though the ash content increased to 8.9%, and the durability was reduced to 87.0%. Pellets produced from samples treated at 140 °C for 30 min showed the highest durability of 97.7% and hardness of 5.1 N/mm2 with enhanced HHV of 18.3 MJ/kg, and unchanged ash content. The treatment time showed significant effect (p < 0.05) on pellet durability, hardness and water adsorption at temperature of 100 and 140 °C. However, there was no obvious effect when the temperature was 180 and 220 °C. The kinetic analysis indicates that the activation energy drops from 89.9 kJ/mol (raw wheat straw pellet) to 44.4 kJ/mol (220–30 pellet) and from 162.2 kJ/mol to 93.8 kJ/mol using the reaction order model and the 3D diffusion model, respectively. Pellets produced by HTC at 140 °C for 30 min make high-quality pellets with lower energy and water consumption as compared to the more severe HTC conditions previously reported. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of main components of coal-fired flue gas after desulfurization on the supersaturated environment achievement and condensational growth for SiO 2 particles by water vapor were analyzed. The predicted results demonstrate that the variation of CO 2 content has the greatest impact on the heat and mass transfer in the flue gas. Moreover, it is unfavorable for heat and mass transfer when the CO 2 content increased. Thus, the improvement of CO 2 content has great advantage of achieving supersaturated environment by the method of heating the gas flow. Similarly, the component of SO 2 also has the negative influence on the heat and mass transfer when its content increased. For the improvement of O 2 content, it is slightly beneficial for the thermal and mass diffusion coefficient of water vapor. Additionally, the process of thermal diffusion will be weakened while the mass diffusion will be facilitated when the amount of water vapor enhanced. Meanwhile, the experimental results indicate that particle growth is significantly improved with the increase of CO 2 content by the supersaturation achieving method of heating gas flow. Nevertheless, it has slightly negative effect on the particle enlargement by cooling the gas flow when the CO 2 content promoted. It can be seen that the influence of coal-fired flue gas composition on the condensational growth by water vapor is different by different supersaturation achieving methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient participation is essential for Core Outcome Set (COS) development studies. Patient education during participation may help patients better express their views in COS studies. This study aimed to investigate the current status of patient participation and the specified educational information in COS studies. We conducted a systematic review of COS development studies. Information on patient participation in COS research, and especially details of patient education, was analyzed. In total, 146 COS development studies were included in this review. Of these, 125 studies (85.6%) mentioned patient participation. Most studies did not provide explicit information on patient participation. Some studies mentioned recruiting patients, but ultimately, none of them responded. Six studies reported conducting patient education through workshops, creating patient forums, or providing videos and slides. However, these studies did not provide details on education. Twenty-three studies used the plain language to explain patient outcomes. COS developers are increasingly focusing on patient participation. However, only a few COS studies have explicitly reported conducting measures related to patient education. Further patient education is necessary when they participate in the development of a new Core Outcome Set. This article provides implementation strategies related to patient education for future COS development studies. • Core outcome set (COS) is a minimum set that should be measured and reported in all clinical trials. • Attaching importance to patients' views, opinions, and participation in the COS development study is necessary. Patient education enables patients to express their perspectives better in the COS study. • COS developers are increasingly focusing on patient participation. However, only a few COS studies included in this review explicitly mentioned patient education during participation. • Conducting patient education is essential for future COS development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

K 2 SiF 6 :Mn4+ (KSF:Mn4+), as an efficient red-emitting phosphor, has a promising application in WLEDs (white light-emitting diodes). However, poor moisture resistance performance still hinders its deeper commercialization. Here, KSF:Mn4+@ CaF 2 with high water resistance and luminescent thermal stability has been prepared though H 2 O 2 -free hydrothermal method and surface coating process. Both KSF:Mn4+ and KSF:Mn4+@CaF 2 all have high luminescent thermal stability, due to negative thermal quenching (NTQ) effect. Mechanism of the NTQ has been discussed and suggested as thermal-light energy conversion mechanism. Compared with KSF:Mn4+, water resistance of KSF:Mn4+@CaF 2 is greatly improved by coating of CaF 2 , because the outer shell of CaF 2 can effectively prevent the [MnF 6 ]2- group on the surface of the phosphor from being hydrolyzed into MnO 2. The results of water resistance test shows that after immersing in water for 360 min (6 h), luminescent intensity of the uncoated product drops to 41.68% of the initial one, while that of the coated product remains to have 88.24% of its initial one. Warm white light with good luminescent performances (CCT = 3956 K and Ra = 89.3) is got from prototype WLEDs assembled by using the optimal coated sample. The results suggest that the optimal coated sample has potential application in blue-based warm WLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effect of superoleophilic and superoleophobic treatment on coalescence performance was investigated experimentally. • The superoleophilic filter shows a significant reduction on wet pressure drop at saturation stage. • Effect of the fiber surface energy on the morphology of liquid bridge was discussed. • Coalescence performance of combination filter containing superoleophilicity and superoleophobicity was studied. • The drainage layer strategy has no advantage for improving coalescence performance. The surface wettability of fibers in coalescing filter has a critical effect on filter's performance. In this study, we employed common glass fiber filters as model and prepared superoleophilic and superoleophobic surface filters via a facile dip-coating method. The superoleophilic treatment shows a considerable reduction in pressure drop. The wet pressure drop at saturation decrease from 12.91 kPa to 8.56 kPa after superoleophilic coating. The filtration efficiency of fine particles (<100 nm) increase owing to coating treatment. The combinations of superoleophilic and superoleophobic filter and drainage strategy were also evaluated. The results show that the combination has no advantage due to emergency turn of wettability. The drainage layer with appropriate rank could enhance the drainage rate at unsaturation stage. However, the drainage strategy is never a good idea to improving coalescence performance because it brings the extra pressure drop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-stage model was utilized to analyze the law of grown particle size distribution for amplification of polydisperse SiO 2 particles in actual water vapor environment. The predicted results demonstrate that the dispersity is narrowed compared with experimental data and the difference between them is large at higher level of supersaturation. Moreover, representative affecting factors on particle growth are discussed. Specifically, the increase of particle number concentration is the significantly negative effect on the particle growth. It leads to the failure of nucleation of small size particles and condensation on large size particles resulting in the several times reduction of arithmetic mean droplet size. Additionally, the improvement of the peak of initial particle size and inlet gas flow temperature on the condition of heating gas flow is not beneficial to particle growth. Besides, the reduction of surface tension of liquid phase can improve the growth strongly at lower level of supersaturation. [Display omitted] • The three-stage model was utilized to analyze the law of grown PSD by water vapor. • The actural water vapor environment of growth tube is described in the model. • The dispersity of PSD by simulation and experiment were evaluated contrastively. • The characteristics of particle growth on typical affecting factors are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-hydrothermal carbonization (co-HTC) of ginkgo leaf residues (GLR) and wheat straw (WS) were conducted to investigate the possibility for mutually benefitting the two residues as feedstock to produce solid biofuel pellets. The mass yield, proximate, and elemental analysis of the hydrochar were characterized. The energy consumption during pelletization, pellet density, pellet durability, water resistance ability, and pyrolysis characteristics of hydrochar pellets were evaluated. The results show that when WS blended with 50%, the energy density of pellet increased from to the highest of 26.7 GJ/m3. The ash content decreased from 7.7% to 6.3% when the WS blended with 30%− 70%, while HHV showed a opposite trend. As the WS blended ratio increased from to 30–70%, the high lignin content in WS helped to enhance the mechanical properties of pellet including pellet density, durability, and hardness. The hydrochar pellets from high ratio WS had high devolatilization index indicating increased devolatilization ability. These findings imply adding WS in co-HTC would potentially promote the GLR to manufacture high quality solid biofuel. Overall, the co-HTC of WS and GLR is a promising alternative to transfer solid wastes to renewable fuels. [Display omitted] • Co-hydrothermal carbonization of wheat straw and Ginkgo leaf residues produces carbon-rich solid fuel. • High mechanical strength is achieved when adding wheat straw. • Ginkgo leaf residues addition enhances the hydrophobicity of pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient extraction of uranium (U(VI)) from seawater has been a significant challenge for the nuclear industry. In this study, we prepared a robust quaternized polyethyleneimine-polyacrylonitrile crosslinked membrane (QPEI-PAN) using homogeneous cross-linking reaction and quaternary ammonium salt functionalization. PEI was uniformly dispersed inside the membrane by cross-linking with PAN molecular chains, providing QPEI-PAN with a robust structure and abundant active sites for U(VI) capture. The batch adsorption data obtained for QPEI-PAN modelled well using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and the maximum theoretical adsorption capacity was determined as 8198.2 mg·m−2. Particularly, QPEI-PAN reached a maximum dynamic adsorption capacity of 6823.1 mg·m−2 within 90 min. The robust membrane structure allowed for efficient regeneration, with a U(VI) recovery rate of 88 % over seven adsorption-desorption cycles. Quaternary ammonium salt functionalization not only gave the QPEI-PAN membrane an excellent anti-biofouling ability but also modified its surface charge, making it more suitable for the marine environment, where its adsorption capacity in unfiltered seawater (containing bacteria and microorganisms) was only 5.6 % lower than that of the filtered seawater. These findings suggest that this novel, anti-biofouling membrane-type adsorbent has significant potential for application in the field of uranium extraction from seawater (UES). [Display omitted] • QPEI-PAN functional membrane was successfully prepared by homogeneous crosslinking and quaternary ammonium grafting reaction. • Compared to the original PAN, the tensile strength of 40PEI-PAN have been increased by 1.6 times. • QPEI-PAN has high U(VI) adsorption capacity in both static (8198.2 mg·m-2) and dynamic (6823.1 mg·m-2) modes. • Compared with deionized water, the adsorption capacity in natural seawater has only decreased by 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the effects of settlement-induced downdrag on geosynthetic liner systems for a waste containment facility with steep side slopes for different design scenarios, and conducts the stability analysis of the waste mass during waste filling operations. Without the presence of a reinforcing layer above a geomembrane (GMB) liner, the liner experiences unacceptable tensile strains under both short- and long-term downdrag waste settlements. It is shown that an anchored high strength/stiffness geotextile (HS-GTX) reinforcement over the GMB can reduce the GMB tensile strains to less than 3%, but the HS-GTX itself may be overloaded. A geosynthetic slip layer over the full or partial HS-GTX reinforcement overlying the GMB can reduce the tensile strains of the GMB to less than 3% and of the HS-GTX to less than 5% by providing a preferential slip plane between the geosynthetic slip layer and the HS-GTX. A rupture of the geosynthetic slip layer is likely to occur resulting in the exposure of the HS-GTX to the waste, but the protection of the GMB by the HS-GTX is still expected. The results from the stability analysis show that, during waste filling operations under a given factor of safety, there is a critical relationship between the width of the top of the waste pile and the total waste thickness. • Examines the strains developed in a geomembrane due to downdrag together with stability considerations. • Examines role of a preferential slip plane and high stiffness reinforcement. • First evaluation of the effect of geonet composite as a drainage layer on downdrag strains developed in the geomembrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) water splitting provides an alternative to direct solar-to-fuel production. In this study, a novel heterostructure formed between a conjugated polymer [poly-2,6-diaminopyridine (PDAP)] and three-dimensional TiO 2 microspheres was grown in situ on a Ti substrate (PDAP-3DTiO 2 MSs/Ti) and used as photoanode for water oxidation in alkaline media under AM 1.5G illumination. The PDAP-3DTiO 2 MSs/Ti can produce applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 0.85% at 0.44 V vs. Pt and a photocurrent density of 1.56 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE. Moreover, PDAP-3DTiO 2 MSs/Ti displays impressive photoelectrochemical stability with 93% of its initial photocurrent being retained after 4 h of reaction. Based on physical-chemical characterization and photo-/electro-chemical measurements, the superior PEC water splitting performance of PDAP-3DTiO 2 MSs/Ti should benefit from the coexistence of Ti3+ and Ti4+ in 3DTiO 2 MSs, the light harvest capability of PDAP and the type II heterojunction formed between 3DTiO 2 MSs and PDAP, which result in the enhanced generation and separation of photocarriers. Image 1 • A novel heterostructure formed between PDAP and 3DTiO 2 microspheres. • The photoanode achieved a high applied bias photon-to-current efficiency at low bias. • A photocurrent density of 1.56 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE under AM 1.5G. • Type II heterojunction and coexistence of Ti3+ and Ti4+ improved the PEC performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases caused by IBD virus (IBDV), which results in bursal necrosis and immunosuppression that cause severe damage to the immune system in chickens. Cytokines are important mediators and regulators of both types of host responses. In the present study, layer chickens were artificially challenged with IBDV, and the differential expression of inflammatory genes was explored by using quantitative real-time PCR, which offered basic data for further study of IBDV pathogenesis. Data showed that after IBDV infection, the virus load in the bursa of Fabricius (BF) peaked at 96 h and then gradually decreased. Compared with those of the negative-infected group, the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, transforming growth factor [TGF]-β) and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the infected group increased to varying degrees at 12 to 192 h, respectively. Furthermore, the IL-1β mRNA expression peaked at 48 h; the mRNA transcript levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were the highest at 96 h; TNF-α mRNA expression peaked at 120 h; the IL-7 mRNA expression peaked at 144 h; and the TGF-β mRNA transcript level was the highest at 192 h. Taken together, these observations indicated that along with the change pattern of IBDV proliferation in BF, the mRNA expression of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, TGF-β) obviously increased, and the kinetics of each of these cytokines was different. The kinetics of IL-6/IL-10 mRNA expression ratio was significantly positively correlated with that of the virus load. These results suggest that IBDV infection seriously interferes with the natural immune response mediated by inflammatory cytokines in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) often infects young chickens and causes severe immunosuppression and inflammatory injury. Betaine is an antiviral and anti-inflammatory ingredient that may exert functions through epigenetic regulation. However, the effects of betaine on an IBDV-induced bursal injury and their underlying mechanisms have not been investigated. In this study, betaine was supplemented to the drinking water of newly hatched commercial broilers for 3 wk. Afterward, the chickens were infected with the IBDV. After 5 D of infection, the bursal lesions were examined. The mRNA expression levels of IBDV VP2 gene, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and interferons were detected. Furthermore, the 5-methylcytosine level of the CpG island in the promoter region of IL-6 and interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) were determined. The IBDV induced the depletion of lymphocytes and inflammation in the bursal follicles. IBDV infection considerably elevated the mRNA levels of VP2, IL-6 , types I (IFNα and IFNβ) and II (IFNγ) interferons, and IRF7. The CpG island methylation in the promoter regions of IL-6 and IRF7 were substantially decreased after IBDV infection. Betaine administration attenuated the IBDV-induced bursal lesions. Meanwhile, the IBDV-induced mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IFNβ , and IRF7 were suppressed by betaine consumption. Furthermore, the hypomethylation effects of IBDV infection to the promoter regions of IL-6 and IRF7 genes were eliminated and relieved by betaine administration. Our results indicated that the IBDV-induced expression levels of IL-6 and IRF7 genes are associated with the suppression of methylation in the promoter region. Betaine administration through drinking water may alleviate the IBDV-induced bursal injury via epigenetic regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a low cost and flexible composite membrane containing the meltblown and spunbond polypropylene (PP) microfibers was designed and fabricated by means of the hot pressing followed by dip-coating of chitosan solution. We systematically studied the morphological structure, wettability, mechanical property, anti-oil fouling and anti-bacterial performance. The chitosan-modified PP (CS-PP) composite membrane exhibited the superhydrophilicity, underwater superoleophobicity and ultralow oil-adhesion property. Meanwhile, it was found that, solely under the driving of gravity, the water permeation flux of the CS-PP composite membrane was 325, 315, 276 and 265 L·m·−2·h−1 for the toluene-in-water, n-hexane-in-water, diesel-in-water and vegetable oil-in-water emulsions, respectively, and the separation efficiency was up to 99%. The antibacterial activity could be observed for the CS-PP composite membrane by the inhibition zone testing. In addition, the combination of meltblown and spunbond PP microfiber endowed the composite membrane with excellent tensile strength (up to 6.78 MPa). All these results suggest the CS-PP composite membrane as a promising potential and energy-efficient separation membrane for the treatment of surfactant-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dingxin Recipe Ⅲ (DXR Ⅲ) is a traditional Chinese medicine compound used for hyperlipidemia treatment in clinical practice. However, its curative effects and pharmacological mechanisms in hyperlipidemia have not been clarified to date. Studies have demonstrated that gut barrier was strongly implicated in lipid deposition. Based on gut barrier and lipid metabolism, this study examined the effects and molecular mechanisms of DXR Ⅲ in hyperlipidemia. The bioactive compounds of DXR Ⅲ were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and its effects were evaluated in high-fat diet-fed rats. Specifically, the serum levels of lipids and hepatic enzymes were measured using the appropriate kits; colon and liver sections were obtained for histological analyses; gut microbiota and metabolites were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-MS/MS; and the expression of genes and proteins was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The pharmacological mechanisms of DXR Ⅲ were further explored by fecal microbiota transplantation and short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs)-based interventions. DXR Ⅲ treatment significantly downregulated serum lipid levels, mitigated hepatocyte steatosis and improved lipid metabolism. Moreover, DXR Ⅲ improved the gut barrier, specifically by improving the physical barrier in the colon, causing part composition changes in the gut microbiota, and increasing the serum SCFAs level. DXR Ⅲ also upregulated the expression of colon GPR43/GPR109A. Fecal microbiota transplantation from rats treated with DXR Ⅲ downregulated part hyperlipidemia-related phenotypes, while the SCFAs intervention significantly improved most of the hyperlipidemia-related phenotypes and upregulated the expression of GPR43. Moreover, both DXR Ⅲ and SCFAs upregulated the expression of colon ABCA1. DXR Ⅲ protects against hyperlipidemia by improving the gut barrier, particularly the SCFAs/GPR43 pathway. [Display omitted] • This study examined the effects of Dingxin Recipe Ⅲ in hyperlipidemia based on gut barrier and lipid metabolism. • Mechanisms of Dingxin Recipe Ⅲ were explored by fecal microbiota transplantation and short chain fatty acid intervention. • Dingxin Recipe Ⅲ improved HFD-induced hyperlipidemia and gut barrier, including physical barrier, gut microbiota, and SCFAs. • Dingxin Recipe Ⅲ protects against hyperlipidemia by improving the gut barrier, particularly the SCFAs/GPR43 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) always suffer from easy damage, cracks, tearing and breakdowns after detrimental events in practical applications. Endowing the DEs materials with self-repairing ability is an effective method to enhance the product reliability and extend the service lifetime. However, the preparation of DEs with ultra-high dielectric permittivity and efficient self-repairing ability is still challenges. Herein, we prepared silicone rubber-based DEs by regulating the carboxyl/amino group ratio and cyano group content in polydimethylsiloxanes and tuning the polymer network structure by introducing the reversible ionically and hydrogen bonds cross-linking. The obtained elastomer materials possess an ultra-high dielectric permittivity (14.38 at 0.1 Hz), low Young's modulus (100–350 kPa), and their mechanical properties can be recovered to over 90% compared to the materials before cutting, exhibit high self-repairing efficiency. Furthermore, the influence mechanism of the network structure on the dielectric properties and efficient self-repairing performance of the silicone elastomers were detailed disclosed. The introduction of polar cyano group enhance the dielectric permittivity and facilitate the self-repairing performance by synergistic effect of the ionic and hydrogen bonds. This work paves the way for preparation of efficient self-repairing dielectric elastomer materials with prominent comprehensive performance. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of cyanopolysiloxanes by means of ammonene reaction. • High dielectric permittivity elastomers. • Synergy effect of hydrogen and ionic bonds facilitate efficient self-repairing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bored root piles are a new type of pile in which the load-bearing capacity can be significantly improved by jacking prefabricated roots into the soil through reserved holes. In this study, numerical simulations and computations are incorporated with field tests to fully investigate the complex load-bearing behaviour of bored root piles under vertical loading. The established numerical model is validated using a measured load-displacement curve obtained from self-balanced field tests. Using the validated numerical model, the load-transfer mechanism is investigated in terms of the load-displacement curve, axial force, shaft friction, and load-share ratios of different components. Results show that the roots share a significant proportion of the load, whereas the load-share ratios of the different root layers indicate temporal and sequence effects. Parametric studies are performed to investigate the effects of different root configurations on the vertical load-bearing behaviour of bored root piles. The results show that root layer spacing is the most important factor affecting the load-bearing capacity. Three failure modes of bored root piles are formulated in terms of root layer spacing. The results of this study can facilitate the design and application of bored root piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel cathode film with aeration function was prepared using a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) ultra-fine fiber and conductive carbon black (CB). The flexible and non-metallic PPS cathode film was applied in the electro-Fenton (e-Fenton) system in order to degrade the contaminants in wastewater. The effects of the current density, contaminant species, initial pH, and aeration rate on the degradation rate of contaminants were systematically studied. The results show that the optimized conditions include a pH of 3 and a current density of 16 A m−2. It was found that the generation of H 2 O 2 could be greatly enhanced, and several contaminants (methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB), rhodamine-B (RhB), malachite green (MG), Orange II (OII), and heptanaphthenic acid (HNA) could be efficiently degraded when the PPS cathode film was used in the e-Fenton system. This robust function of the e-Fenton system results from the benefits of the large porosity, good adsorptivity, and more active sites of the fabricated PPS cathode film. Additionally, the aeration function of the PPS cathode film strongly increased the removal rate of the contaminants. The PPS cathode film can be of potential application in the e-Fenton system for cost-efficient degradation of organic contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The implications of the tensile stress/strain developed in high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembranes (GMB) is explored in the context of a reduction in stress crack resistance due to ageing in contact with leachate in a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill. The experimental evidence of GMB cracking and ultimately failure when subject to excessive tensile strains is discussed to highlight the need to limit the maximum tensile strain sustained by an HDPE GMB to an acceptable level if good long-term performance is to be ensured. The effect of both local GMB indentations induced by gravel in an overlying drainage layer or an underlying clay liner on tensile strain is reviewed. In addition, the tensile strains caused by down-drag in the GMB on side slopes with settlement of the waste is examined. The key research related to tensile strains developed in GMBs from these sources is reviewed and new data presented. It is shown that an appropriate protection layer over the GMB can limit local GMB tensile strains to less than 3% and that the selection of a suitable slope inclination and stiffness of a geotextile reinforcement layer can limit the GMB strains due to down-drag to less than 2% and geotextile strains to less than 4% after long-term waste settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A one-step dual-reduction strategy of synthesizing AuNPs/rGO nanocomposites by argon plasma. • The AuNPs decorated on rGO are size- and density-tunable. • The underlying mechanism for the reduction of AuNPs was thoroughly discussed. • The AuNPs/rGO nanocomposites show excellent SERS and catalysis performance. Abstract The nanocomposites of gold nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide (AuNPs/rGO) have attracted a lot of attention due to their excellent synergic properties. However, a green and low-cost synthesis method without suffering from solvent toxicity, labor-consuming, or high-temperature processes is still highly desirable. In this work, we demonstrated the preparation of AuNPs/rGO nanocomposite films by a one-step dual reduction of graphene oxide (GO) and chloroauric acid (HAuCl 4) using argon (Ar) plasma. The oxygen functional groups on GO anchored the Au ions and the electrons generated in Ar plasma reduce these ions into metallic Au. By controlling the time of plasma treatment and concentration of HAuCl 4 precursor, the size and density of AuNPs on GO can be widely tuned. The underlying mechanism for the size- and density-tunability was also discussed. The AuNPs/rGO nanocomposite films were used as Raman substrates and achieved strongly enhanced signals with excellent reproducibility and stability. The nanocomposites were also successfully applied to the catalytical reduction of toxic 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) into non-toxic 4-aminophenol (4-AP) with a reduction rate constant as high as 0.422 min−1. This work paves the way towards the green and low-cost industrial production of AuNPs/rGO nanocomposites which have great potentials in a variety of application fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Global brain ischemia caused delayed neuronal death(DND) in CA1 hippocampus in rats. • The ischemia led to GLT-1 down-regulation and p-p38 MAPK up-regulation in rats. • Lethal OGD decreased GLT-1 and increased p-p38 MAPK expression in astrocytes. • SB203580 or p38 MAPK siRNA reduced neuronal death and GLT-1 decreasing after OGD. • SB203580 alleviated the DND and GLT-1 down-regulation after brain ischemia in rats. Abstract The previous studies have shown that glial glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) participates in cerebral ischemic injury in rats. However, the mechanism involved remains to be elucidated. This study was undertaken to investigate whether p38 MAPK was involved in regulating GLT-1 in the process. At first, it was observed that global brain ischemia for 8 min led to obvious delayed neuronal death, GLT-1 down-regulation and p-p38 MAPK up-regulation in CA1 hippocampus in rats. Then, whether p-p38 MAPK was involved in regulating GLT-1 during cerebral ischemic injury was studied in vitro. Astrocyte-neuron co-cultures exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) were used to mimic brain ischemia. It was observed that lethal OGD (4-h OGD) decreased GLT-1 expression and increased p-p38 MAPK expression in astrocytes. The p-p38 MAPK protein rised from 0 min to 48 h that is the end time of the observation, and the peak value was at 12 h, which was 12.45 times of the control group. Moreover, pre-administration of p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 or its siRNA dose-dependently increased GLT-1 expression, and meanwhile alleviated the neuronal death induced by lethal OGD. The above results indicated that p38 MAPK signaling pathway participated in regulating GLT-1 during OGD injury in vitro. Finally, back to in vivo experiment, it was found that pre-administration of SB203580 by intracerebroventricular injection dose-dependently reversed the down-regulation of GLT-1 expression and attenuated the delayed neuronal death normally induced by global brain ischemia in CA1 hippocampus in rats. Taken together, it can be concluded that the mechanism of GLT-1 mediating cerebral ischemic injury depends on the activation of p38 MAPK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To further dissect the mechanism of salt tolerance in Malus , the comparison was made regarding the differences between the salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive species in sodium accumulation and extrusion capability in the roots and stem base as well as the sodium re-transportation from shoot to roots by using 22Na labeling-based feeding of leaves and roots-split experiments. The results demonstrated that the salt-tolerant Malus species could accumulate more 22Na in the main roots, lateral roots, stem base phloem and xylem, and extrude more sodium out than the salt-sensitive one. In addition, the salt-tolerant Malus species had the higher sodium re-transportation rate from shoot to roots. Altogether, it is concluded that the stronger sodium accumulation and extrusion in the roots and the stronger sodium re-transportation from shoot to roots in the salt-tolerant species play important roles in salt tolerance of Malus species. Highlights • The salt-tolerant Malus species could accumulate more sodium in the main roots, lateral roots, stem base phloem and xylem than the salt-sensitive one. • The salt-tolerant Malus species could extrude more sodium out than the salt-sensitive one. • The salt-tolerant Malus species had the higher sodium re-transportation rate from shoot to roots than the salt-sensitive one. • The stronger sodium re-transportation from shoot to roots in the salt-tolerant species plays important role in salt tolerance of Malus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A large number of coal water slurry gasification slag (CWSGS) was discarded annually in China due to the promotion of clean coal technology. The fine slag (F CWSGS) is abundant of silicates and unburned carbon. This research investigated the preparation of a porous carbon-silica composite (CSC) from F CWSGS using KOH activation followed by hydrochloric acid leaching. The orthogonal experiments showed that optimum parameters for preparing CSC were: activating at 1173 K for 1 h, hydrochloric acid concentration of 20%, leaching at 363 K for 30 min. The acid concentration was remarkable for total surface area and acid leaching temperature was remarkable for both total surface area and total pore volume while had few effect on micropore formation. The formation of micropore is a diffusion controlled process and the formation of mesopore is a chemical reaction controlled process. When the KOH/F CWSGS was 3, the prepared CSC had a BET surface area of 1347 m2/g, a total pore volume of 0.69 cm3/g, the mesoporosity of 81% and an average slit-liked pore diameter of 3.44 nm. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Fine coal water slurry gasification slag is a good source of raw materials for CSC preparation. • Acid leaching is simpler than sol-gel method for CSC preparation. • Silica fragment take parallel carbon micropores as template to form mesopores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Microcystis aeruginosa and hepatotoxic microcystins produced by it have posed a severe threat to aquatic ecological security and human health. In this study a Streptomyces amritsarensis HG-16, showing high algicidal activity against M. aeruginosa and strong inhibitory effect on microcystin synthesis, was obtained by screening some anti- Fusarium sp. microbial strains isolated before in our laboratory. HG-16 bound cyanobacterial cells by mycelia to form flocs and killed M. aeruginosa by secreting active substances, which were proteinase K resistant and stable in the temperature range of 35–75 °C and pH range of 3–11. HG-16 removed M. aeruginosa of 105 and 106 cell mL−1 cell densities in similar rate and was active against all the tested harmful unicellular and filamentous cyanobacteria. Results of differential gene expression analysis indicated that HG-16 affected the photosynthesis system and microcystin synthesis of M. aeruginosa. Accordingly, the algicidal activity of HG-16 was light-dependent, and microcystin synthesis of M. aeruginosa decreased by 91.2% with HG-16 treatment. Thus, it is promising to utilize HG-16 to mitigate harmful cyanobacterial blooms, inhibit microcystin synthesis and control plant disease caused by Fusarium. spp. through irrigating farmland with eutrophic water applied HG-16. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • An algicidal Streptomyces amritsarensis strain HG-16 was obtained. • HG-16 killed Microcystis and inhibited microcystin synthesis effectively. • HG-16 bound algae to form flocs and exerted activity by releasing stable compounds. • Photosynthesis system and cell integrity of Microcystis were the targets of HG-16. • HG-16 grew on nutrient from lysed algae to form active substrates against Fusarium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Perinatal brain injury can cause death in the neonatal period and lifelong neurodevelopmental deficits. Stem cell transplantation had been proved to be effective approach to ameliorate neurological deficits after brain damage. In this study we examine the effect of human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells on model of neonatal rat hypoxic–ischemic brain damage and compared the neuroprotection of transplantation of CD34+ cells to mononuclear cells from which CD34+ cells isolated on neonatal hypoxic-ischemia rat model. Seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury, CD34+ cells (1.5 × 104 cells) or mononuclear cells (1.0 × 106 cells) were transplanted into mice by tail vein on the 7 day after HI. The transplantation of CD34+ cells significantly improved motor function of rat, and reduced cerebral atrophy, inhibited the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and apoptosis-related genes: TNF-α, TNFR1, TNFR2, CD40, Fas, and decreased the activation of Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in damaged brain. CD34+ cells treatment increased the expression of DCX and lectin in ipsilateral brain. Moreover, the transplantation of CD34+ cells and MNCs which were obtained from the same amount of human umbilical cord blood had similar effects on HI. Our data demonstrated that transplantation of human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells can ameliorate the neural functional defect and reduce apoptosis and promote nerve and vascular regeneration in rat brain after HI injury and the effects of transplantation of CD34+ cells were comparable to that of MNCs in neonatal hypoxic-ischemia rat model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Piece-wise linear representation (PLR) is widely used in many applications. • A new method is proposed to determine the number of data segments in the PLR. • The number has balancing effects on confidence intervals of line approximations. • An index is formulated to choose the number based on the balancing effects. • Numerical and industrial examples are provided for illustration. Abstract Piece-wise linear representation (PLR) separates a discrete-time continuous-valued signal into a few short data segments, each of which is represented by a straight line. One prerequisite parameter in the PLR is the number of data segments. This paper proposes a new method to determine the number of data segments. The method is based on a key observation on two balancing effects of the number of data segments on the confidence intervals of line approximations. The confidence intervals define parallelogram-shaped spaces, and an index is formulated as the weighted percentage of these spaces occupied by data points in data segments. The number of data segments is determined as the one achieving the maximum value of the formulated index. Numerical and industrial examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Polyamines are important bioactive molecules involved in regulating H 2 O 2 homeostasis, which is recognized as a major stimulus of oxidative stress under aluminum (Al) exposure. In this study, we investigated the involvement of spermidine oxidation in Al-induced oxidative stress, and its modulation by exogenous putrescine (Put) in two wheat genotypes differing in Al tolerance. Aluminum caused more severe oxidative damage at the root apexes in the Al-sensitive genotype Yangmai-5 than in the tolerant Xi Aimai-1, but these effects were significantly reversed by exogenous Put and polyamine oxidase (PAO) inhibitors. Aluminum caused a more significant increase in cell wall-bound PAO (CW-PAO) activity in Yangmai-5 than in Xi Aimai-1. Inhibiting of CW-PAO reduced H 2 O 2 accumulation, restored Spd decline in both genotypes, indicating its potential role in Al-induced H 2 O 2 production through catalyzing Spd oxidation. Additionally, Al significantly increased the activity of plasma membrane-NADPH oxidase, another H 2 O 2 generator, in wheat roots. Put application significantly inhibited the activity of CW-PAO and plasma membrane-NADPH oxidase, and reduced H 2 O 2 accumulation in Al-stressed wheat roots. Antioxidant enzymes were significantly stimulated by Al, but not Put. Overall, Put may protect wheat roots against Al-induced oxidative stress through regulating H 2 O 2 production by inhibiting CW-PAO and plasma membrane-NADPH oxidase. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Al stress activates CW-PAO and Spd oxidation in root tips of wheat. • Put alleviates Al-induced oxidative stress in wheat roots. • Al-induced hydrogen peroxide accumulation in wheat root tips was reduced by Put. • Put inhibits Al-activated CW-PAO activity in wheat roots. • Put also inhibits plasma membrane NADPH oxidase in Al-stressed wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Aminolevunic acid, a natural plant growth regulator, can thin pear fruits by inhibiting pollen tube growth through Ca 2+ -ATPase-mediated Ca 2+ efflux. Here, using a non-invasive micromeasurement technology, we detected the occurrence of an ALA-induced Ca 2+ efflux. Transmission electron microscope observations showed that a disruption of the intracellular Ca pool, including endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, was also linked to ALA-decreased Ca 2+ in pollen tubes. Then we further explored the mechanisms how ALA-decreased Ca 2+ inhibits pollen tube growth. We observed that ALA-inhibited pollen tube growth was accompanied by tube swelling and disruption in an ALA concentration-dependent manner. Ultrastructural studies further showed that ALA increased the number of vesicles, and the vesicle aggregation resulted in the morphological abnormality of pollen tubes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy using the fluorescent marker FM 4-64 confirmed the increasing number of vesicles induced by ALA in the pollen tubes. Ultrastructural analysis of pollen tubes treated by ALA with exogenous CaCl 2 or/ and EGTA not only indicated that a Ca 2+ signal plays a crucial role in ALA-mediated increase of vesicles, but also suggested that destruction of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi bodies is one of the vesicle sources. Confocal microscopy of FM 4-64 further demonstrated that Ca 2+ signal involves in ALA-mediated increase of vesicles also through promoting endocytosis and inhibiting exocytosis. In addition, treatment of taxol, a microtubule stabilizer, partially rescued the effects of ALA on pollen tube growth and FM 4-64 staining, indicating that microtubules are involved in ALA-regulated pollen tube growth. Taken together, we conclude that ALA-decreased Ca 2+ disrupts endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, enhances endocytosis, suppresses exocytosis, impairs vesicle transport, and finally leads to vesicle accumulation and abnormality of pollen tubes. Our findings provide new information on how ALA regulates pollen tube growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A palladium catalyzed cross-coupling of fluorinated benzothiadiazoles (FBTs) with allyl chlorides is reported. The significant feature of this method is synthetic simplicity, providing a straightforward access to unsymmetrical and symmetrical alkylated FBT derivatives that are of interest in organic electronic and optoelectronic materials. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenton-based processes with four different iron salts in two different dosing modes were used to pretreat rice straw (RS) samples to increase their enzymatic digestibility. The composition analysis shows that the RS sample pretreated by the dosing mode of iron salt adding into H 2 O 2 has a much lower hemicellulose content than that pretreated by the dosing mode of H 2 O 2 adding into iron salt, and the RS sample pretreated by the chloride salt-based Fenton process has a much lower lignin content and a slightly lower hemicellulose content than that pretreated by the sulphate salt-based Fenton process. The higher concentration of reducing sugar observed on the RS sample with lower lignin and hemicellulose contents justifies that the Fenton-based process could enhance the enzymic hydrolysis of RS by removing hemicellulose and lignin and increasing its accessibility to cellulase. FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O adding into H 2 O 2 is the most efficient Fenton-based process for RS pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widely distributed perchlorate on the Martian surface and over three orders of magnitude variation in bromine abundances in surface samples are difficult to explain solely by chloride and bromide aqueous geochemistry. New experiments show that photochemical oxidation (ultraviolet wavelength 254 nm) of chloride- and bromide-bearing evaporative brines in the presence of silica beads produces substantial perchlorate (ClO − 4 ), chlorate (ClO − 3 ), and bromate (BrO − 3 ) under conditions relevant to Mars. Neutral to alkaline aqueous environments result in the dominance of chlorate over perchlorate. Preferential atmospheric recycling of Br over Cl causes variable Br/Cl ratios, consistent with numerous in-situ measurements of Cl and Br abundances on Mars. Bromate reacts with organics more readily than chlorate or perchlorate, and its presence in subsurface brines could challenge habitability in the Martian subsurface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different dehydrating methods combined with torrefaction were investigated to find the underlying mechanism that how dehydration process influence the degree of hornification. Hybrid pennisetum was selected as the experiment material. Oven-dried sample (ODS), crushed dried sample (CDS), and sun-cured dried sample (SDS) were torrefied under the temperature of 275 °C and 300 °C with the duration time of 60 min. The results showed that, changes in elevated carbon content and higher heating value (HHV) and reduced oxygen content of SDS were the most obvious under identical torrefaction conditions. Fuel ratio of SDS was enhanced most under 300 °C. It also had the highest devolatilization index ( D i ). The combination of sun-cured dried with torrefaction under 300 °C caused lowest degree of irreversible hornification happened during dehydrating process, and different hornification degrees caused by different dehydrating methods effect the enhancement of fuel properties of lignocellulosic biomass material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A portable high-resolution microscope based on combination of fiber-optic array (FOA) and pre-amplification lens, which can overcome the magnification limit of FOA, was developed. By employing the amplification lens at the small-end of the FOA, the resolution was improved from 4.4 μm to 1.0 μm over a field of view (FOV) of 140 μm × 100 μm without using any algorithm processing, and the distortion only slightly increases from 0.13% to 0.19%. The distortion is still lower than that of normal lens-based microscopy. Moreover, the combination methods of the amplification lens and FOA were investigated, which including only FOA, the pre-amplification lens at the small-end of the FOA (termed preAL-FOA ) and the post-amplification lens at the big-end of FOA (termed postAL-FOA ). The result proved the best resolution was achieved by using the preAL-FOA This microscopy is suitable for real-time monitoring of cells in microfluidic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]