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To describe the degradation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), empirical degradation models of different indexes of PEMFCs are established. Firstly, the simulation process and assumptions of PEMFC degradation are proposed. Secondly, the degradation simulation results including the performance and distribution indexes under the different degradation levels are conducted by AVL FIRE M. Finally, the empirical degradation models of performance and distribution indexes are established based on the above simulation results and experimental data. The results show that the relationship between the experimental and simulation results is established by the index of current density. The empirical degradation models of current density, average equilibrium potential on the cathode catalyst layer (CL), average membrane water content, average oxygen molar concentration on the cathode CL, and average hydrogen crossover flux are the linear function. The empirical degradation models of average exchange current density on the anode CL, average hydrogen molar concentration on the anode CL, and average oxygen crossover flux are the quadratic function. The empirical degradation model of average activation overpotential on the cathode CL is the quintic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of component degradation on different degradation indexes of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), a novel model of the PEMFC based on component properties was established. Firstly, the four main components, namely the proton exchange membrane (PEM), catalyst layer (CL), gas diffusion layer (GDL), and bipolar plate (BP), were selected. Moreover, a model of each component reflecting their properties was established and verified. Secondly, calculations of the component properties at the initial state and 5% changed were conducted. The results showed that the effects of the different components' degradation on the different performance and distribution indexes were different. Considering the nine indexes comprehensively, the influence of component degradation on performance degradation was as follows: GDL > PEM = CL > BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the landscape pattern from a three-dimensional perspective is of great significance for comprehensively revealing the complex spatial characteristics of island ecosystems. However, the archipelago composed of rocky islands has received little attention as its three-dimensional landscape characteristics are difficult to quantify. This study took the largest archipelago in China, the Zhoushan Archipelago, as the study area and constructed an island landscape pattern evaluation model from a dual-three-dimensional (dual-3D) perspective. The model divided the island into upper and lower layers, namely the surface landscape based on topography and the landscape elements above the surface (i.e., vegetation and buildings), and then evaluated their landscape patterns from a three-dimensional perspective, respectively. The landscape pattern model based on a dual-3D perspective and multiple scales achieved excellent results in the archipelago. First, the island landscape pattern was evaluated from three-dimensional perspectives, including human interference, landscape fragmentation, vegetation space, and building space. Second, landscape indices such as the human interference three-dimensional index (HITI), the landscape fragmentation three-dimensional index (LFTI), the vegetation three-dimensional index (VTI), and the building three-dimensional index (BTI) established at multiple spatial scales revealed spatial heterogeneity within and between islands. Environmental factors such as elevation, slope, and island area exhibited significant correlations with them. There were significant differences in landscape pattern indices between the two-dimensional (2D) and the three-dimensional (3D) perspectives, and high values were mainly distributed in areas with significant topographic changes and larger islands. In addition, as the evaluation unit increased, the landscape indices increased, and HITI became more responsive to the transitions from 2D to 3D, while LFTI was the opposite. Therefore, the multiscale landscape pattern measurement of China's largest archipelago based on high-resolution remote sensing was carried out from three-dimensional perspectives to accurately reveal the spatial heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) is an important minor cereal crop in China. The yellow color of the de-husked grain is the most direct aspect for evaluating the foxtail millet quality. The yellow pigment mainly includes carotenoids (lutein and zeaxanthin) and flavonoids. To reveal the diversity and specificity of flavonoids in foxtail millet, we chose three high eating quality and two poor eating quality varieties as research materials. A total of 116 flavonoid metabolites were identified based on Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) system. The tested varieties contained similar levels of flavonoid metabolites, but with each variety accumulating its unique flavonoid metabolites. A total of 33 flavonoid metabolites were identified as significantly discrepant between high eating quality and poor eating quality varieties, which were mainly in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and one of its branches, the flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathway. These results showed the diversified components of flavonoids accumulated in foxtail millets and laid the foundation for further research on flavonoids and the breeding for high-quality foxtail millet varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to get a better understanding of protein association during Solanum tuberosum (cv. Sarpo Mira)–Phytophthora infestans incompatible interaction, we investigated the proteome dynamics of cv. Sarpo Mira, after foliar application of zoospore suspension from P. infestans isolate, at three key time-points: zero hours post inoculation (hpi) (Control), 48 hpi (EI), and 120 hpi (LI); divided into early and late disease stages by the tandem mass tagging (TMT) method. A total of 1229 differentially-expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in cv. Sarpo Mira in a pairwise comparison of the two disease stages, including commonly shared DEPs, specific DEPs in early and late disease stages, respectively. Over 80% of the changes in protein abundance were up-regulated in the early stages of infection, whereas more DEPs (61%) were down-regulated in the later disease stage. Expression patterns, functional category, and enrichment tests highlighted significant coordination and enrichment of cell wall-associated defense response proteins during the early stage of infection. The late stage was characterized by a cellular protein modification process, membrane protein complex formation, and cell death induction. These results, together with phenotypic observations, provide further insight into the molecular mechanism of P. infestans resistance in potatos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processing of tea leaves plays a crucial role in the formation of the taste of the resulting tea. In order to study the compositions of and changes in taste-related substances during the processing of Rizhao green tea, non-targeted metabolomics was used, based on UHPLC-Q Exactive MS. Totals of 529, 349, and 206 non-volatile metabolites were identified using three different detection modes, of which 112 secondary metabolites were significantly changed. Significant variations in secondary metabolites were observed during processing, especially during the drying stage, and the conversion intensity levels of non-volatile metabolites were consistent with the law of "Drying > Fixation > Rolling". The DOT method was used to screen tea-quality-related compounds that contributed significantly to the taste of Rizhao green tea, including (−)-epicatechin gallate, (−)-epicatechin gallate, gallic acid, L-theanine, and L-leucine, which make important contributions to taste profiles, such as umami and bitterness. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed that purine metabolism, caffeine metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism perform key roles in the processing of Rizhao green tea in different processing stages. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for tea processing and practical advice for the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop yield stability and soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin) have rarely been evaluated from a long-term perspective in the extremely arid cropland regions of China. Therefore, a nationwide experiment aimed to optimize fertilizer application and increase productivity and nitrogen use efficiency in gray desert soils was initiated in 1990. Eight combinations of chemical fertilizers (CK, N, NK, NP, and NPK), straw return (NPKS), and manure amendments (NPKM and NPKM+) were tested for 24 years on spring wheat, winter wheat, and maize. The results displayed that the yield of three crops from balanced fertilizer treatments (NPK, NPKS, NPKM, and NPKM+) did not differ significantly after 24 years; however, reliable yield stability due to lower coefficient of variation (CV) and higher nitrogen harvest index (NHI) were recorded for manure amendment treatments. Compared to NPKM, NHI was lower for the NPKM+ treatment, but crop yield and stability did not improve, suggesting that the appropriate choice for manure amendment is important for guaranteeing food security in extremely arid regions. Balanced fertilizer treatments resulted in lower Nmin residual in the 300 cm soil profile, compared to unbalanced fertilizer treatments. The NPKS treatment gave the lowest value. In the 0–100 cm soil profile, Nmin was higher in NPKM than in the NPK treatment, suggesting that straw or manure amendment can effectively maintain Nmin in the topsoil undercurrent cropland management in arid areas. The NPKM treatment had the highest crop nitrogen recovery rate and the lowest nitrogen losses, further illustrating that manure amendment has higher N retention potential. Overall, although Nmin residues are relatively high in these regions, balanced fertilizer treatments, especially NPKM and NPKS, are the optimum strategies in extremely arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total suspended particulate matter (TSM) in estuarine and coastal regions usually exhibits significant natural variations. The understanding of such variations is of great significance in coastal waters. The aim of this study is to investigate and assess the diurnal and seasonal variations of surface TSM distribution and its mechanisms in coastal waters based on Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) data. As a case study, dynamic variations of TSM in the macro-tidal Yalu River estuary (YRE) of China were analysed. With regard to diurnal variability, there were usually two peaks of TSM in a tidal cycle corresponding to the maximum flood and ebb current. Tidal action appears to play a vital role in diurnal variations of TSM. Both the processes of tidal re-suspension and advection could be identified; however, the diurnal variation of TSM was mainly affected by a re-suspension process. In addition, spring-neap tides can affect the magnitude of TSM diurnal variations in the YRE. The GOCI-retrieved TSM results clearly showed the seasonal variability of surface TSM in this area, with the highest level occurring in winter and the lowest in summer. Moreover, although river discharge to the YRE was much greater in the wet season than the dry season, TSM concentrations were significantly higher in the dry season. Wind waves were considered to be the main factor affecting TSM seasonal variation in the YRE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]