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Current computing systems rely on Boolean logic and von Neumann architecture, where computing cells are based on high-speed electron-conducting complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistors. In contrast, ions play an essential role in biological neural computing. Compared with CMOS units, the synapse/neuron computing speed is much lower, but the human brain performs much better in many tasks such as pattern recognition and decision-making. Recently, ionic dynamics in oxide electrolyte-gated transistors have attracted increasing attention in the field of neuromorphic computing, which is more similar to the computing modality in the biological brain. In this review article, we start with the introduction of some ionic processes in biological brain computing. Then, electrolyte-gated ionic transistors, especially oxide ionic transistors, are briefly introduced. Later, we review the state-of-the-art progress in oxide electrolyte-gated transistors for ionic neuromorphic computing including dynamic synaptic plasticity emulation, spatiotemporal information processing, and artificial sensory neuron function implementation. Finally, we will address the current challenges and offer recommendations along with potential research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To gain a deeper understanding of the current research status of cooling suits in high-temperature mines, this paper provides separate introductions to vest-type cooling suits and full-body cooling suits. It summarizes the categories of cooling suits based on different cooling media and systematically elucidates the advantages and disadvantages of each type. The paper also analyzes the current application status of cooling suits in mine environments. It suggests that the future research directions for cooling suits in mines include the miniaturization of components, intelligent temperature control, optimization of new phase-change materials, development of cooling fabrics, and research in smart fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Ga2O3, with excellent bandgap, breakdown field, and thermal stability properties, is considered to be one of the most promising candidates for power devices including field-effect transistors (FETs) and for other applications such as Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) and solar-blind ultraviolet photodetectors. Ohmic contact is one of the key steps in the β-Ga2O3 device fabrication process for power applications. Ohmic contact techniques have been developed in recent years, and they are summarized in this review. First, the basic theory of metal–semiconductor contact is introduced. After that, the representative literature related to Ohmic contact with β-Ga2O3 is summarized and analyzed, including the electrical properties, interface microstructure, Ohmic contact formation mechanism, and contact reliability. In addition, the promising alternative schemes, including novel annealing techniques and Au-free contact materials, which are compatible with the CMOS process, are discussed. This review will help our theoretical understanding of Ohmic contact in β-Ga2O3 devices as well as the development trends of Ohmic contact schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a secure multi-party summation based on single photons. With the help of a semi-honest third party, n participants can simultaneously obtain the summation result without revealing their secret inputs. Our protocol uses single photon states as the information carriers. In addition, each participant with secret input only performs simple single-particle operators rather than particle preparation and any complex quantum measurements. These features make our protocol more feasible to implement. We demonstrate the correctness and security of the proposed protocol, which is resistant to participant attack and outside attack. In the end, we compare in detail the performance of the quantum summation protocol in this paper with other schemes in terms of different indicators. By comparison, our protocol is efficient and easy to implement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amid trends in non-dairy probiotic foods and functional coffees, it is timely to develop a high-count probiotic, fermented coffee beverage. Here, we aimed to enhance the viabilities of different probiotic lactobacilli strains in coffee brews by co-culturing with the probiotic yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM-I745. The growth, survival, and metabolic activities of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Limosilactobacillus fermentum PCC, and Lactobacillus gasseri LAC-343 were monitored when cultured individually or co-cultured in coffee brews with S. boulardii CNCM-I745. In co-cultures, all four probiotic lactobacilli maintained viable populations above 5.5 Log CFU/mL for at least 6 months at 4 and 25 °C. In contrast, singly cultured lactobacilli populations generally could not be detected beyond 3 months of storage at either temperature. In co-cultures, vigorous nutrient uptake (glucose, glutamate, and alanine) by the yeast limited lactic acid accumulation by the lactobacilli. Co-culturing also led to accumulations in yeast-derived metabolites (ethanol, 2/3-methylbutanol, 2,3-dimethoxystyrene, and decanoic acid), and lactobacilli-derived metabolites (4-ethylphenol), but the coffee bioactive components (caffeine, trigonelline, and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid) and antioxidant capacities were maintained. Overall, S. boulardii CNCM-I745 is effective in enhancing the viabilities of probiotic lactobacilli from different species, which may be useful in developing shelf-stable probiotic foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition of land use function and its effects on ecosystem services is a key issue in eco-environmental protection and is the basis of territorial space governance and optimization. Previous studies have typically selected land use types to evaluate ecosystem service value (ESV) and have overlooked comprehensive characteristics of ecosystem services and the mutual feedback relationship between human social systems and the ecosystem. Taking the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Hubei section (TGRA-HS) as a case study, we used a transition matrix, the revised ESV method, and an ecological contribution rate model to explore land use function transition (LUFT) and its effects on the change in ESV based on the production–living–ecological space (PLES) classification system. The results show that: (1) The transition of land use function based on PLES was the mapping of the evolution of the human–nature relationship in the spatial pattern, which reflected the evolution of the spatial pattern caused by human interference with the continuous development of society; (2) The evolution of PLES showed the characteristics of a reduction in production space (P-space), and an expansion in living space (L-space) and ecological space (E-space). The distribution pattern of PLES from 1990 to 2020 was basically the same, and the characteristics of structural transform reflected the characteristics of project construction in different phases; (3) The E-space contributed the most to the total ESV, and it has risen by CNY 13.06 × 108. The transition of land use function caused by human construction projects impacts the spatiotemporal change in the regional ESV; (4) The change in ESV induced by LUFT revealed the whole dynamic process of the positive and negative effects of human construction projects on ecosystem services, and the two effects offset each other to keep the ESV relatively stable. The transition of E-space to P-space had the greatest impact on the reduction in ESV, whose contribution rate was 82.76%. The dynamic changes in land use function and ESV corresponding to the different stages of the Three Gorges Project's (TGP) construction reveals the important driving effect of human activities on ecosystem services. It reminds us that humans should not forget to protect the eco-environment when obtaining services from the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is an economically damaging invasive pest that is difficult to control due to their resistance to insecticides. Utilizing plant-induced defense responses is a new strategy to increase plant resistance to F. occidentalis. A growing number of studies have shown that calcium plays an important role in enhancing plant resistance to pest-induced stresses. In this study, we found that exogenous calcium treatment could alter the composition of volatile compounds in kidney bean plants, repelling F. occidentalis while attracting its natural enemy, Orius similis Zheng (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), and reducing the oviposition preference choice of F. occidentalis. This study provides a theoretical basis for the control of F. occidentalis. Frankliniella occidentalis is a destructive pest of horticultural plants, while Orius similis is a natural enemy of thrips. It has been demonstrated that exogenous calcium could induce plant defenses against herbivore attack. We examined whether CaCl2 supplementation altered the volatile emissions of kidney bean plants, which influence the oviposition preference of F. occidentalis. We also assessed the influence of volatile cues on O. similis. Using Y-tube olfactometer tests, we found that exogenous CaCl2 treatment inhibited the selectivity of F. occidentalis but attracted O. similis. In addition, CaCl2 treatment reduced the oviposition preference of F. occidentalis. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses revealed that CaCl2 treatment altered the number and relative abundance of the volatile compounds in kidney bean plants and that (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, 1-octen-3-ol, β-lonone, and (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal might be potential olfactory cues. Furthermore, the results of the six-arm olfactometer test indicated that 1-octen-3-ol (10−2 μL/μL), β-lonone (10−2 μL/μL), and (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal (10−3 μL/μL) repelled F. occidentalis but attracted O. similis. Overall, our results suggested that exogenous CaCl2 treatment induced defense responses in kidney bean plants, suggesting that CaCl2 supplementation may be a promising strategy to enhance the biological control of F. occidentalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their tight structures, it is usually difficult for one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymers (CPs) to form permanent pores unless 2D and 3D topologies are formed via supramolecular interactions, so studies in the field of oxygen sensing on 1D CPs are rarely reported. Here, we report a 1D Cu(I) cluster-based CP with dual sensing characteristics for temperature and oxygen. Even if the porosity is only 6.6%, the quenching rate of this CP reaches 98.4% with 1 bar O2 at room temperature. Its luminescence intensity exhibits a unique thermal "quenching, then activating" behavior during monotonic variations in temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overuse of chemical fertilizers to maintain tea production has caused many adverse effects in tea plantations and largely hampers the sustainable development of the tea industry. Applying bio-organic fertilizer (BOF) to achieve the goal of sustainable agriculture has become popular because of its advantages, such as its pollution-free nature, considerable amount of beneficial microbes and soil-friendly organic materials. However, the effects of BOF application on tea plantation soil remain an open question. Herein, we carried out a 3-year pot experiment with four treatments, including control without fertilization (CK), 100% chemical fertilizer (CF), 50% chemical fertilizer +50% BOF (CFOF) and 100% BOF (OF), to explore the effects of BOF application on soil fertility and bacterial community in tea plantations. The results showed that BOF application could increase soil fertility in both bulk and rhizosphere soils and improve the biomass of tea leaves. In addition, the nutrient level change caused by BOF application significantly changed bacterial community diversity and composition and accounted for 74.91% of the community variation. CFOF and OF treatments significantly increased the bacterial Chao1 and Shannon indices compared to CF treatment (p < 0.05). Moreover, bacterial community composition was dominated by Betaproteobacteria (46.88%), Acidobacteria (11.29%), Alphaproteobacteria (9.69%) and Gammaproteobacteria (9.59%). BOF application increased the relative abundance of Alphaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria and planctomycetes and decreased the relative abundance of Betaproteobacteria (p < 0.05). Furthermore, bacterial function prediction revealed that BOF application improved the N and C cycling processes and enhanced the co-occurrence network complexity in the bulk soils. Bacterial community functions and co-occurrence networks in the rhizosphere did not show similar results, indicating that rhizosphere bacterial communities were more affected by the rhizosphere effect than BOF application. All these findings verified our hypothesis that applying BOF in tea plantations could increase the biomass of tea plants by improving soil fertility and influencing the soil bacterial function groups. In summary, we suggested that BOF application could be a promising way to achieve the sustainable development of the tea industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood-based proteomic analysis is a routine practice for detecting the biomarkers of human disease. The results obtained from blood alone cannot fully reflect the alterations of nerve cells, including neurons and glia cells, in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate novel potential AD biomarker candidates, through an integrated multi-omics approach in AD. We propose a comprehensive strategy to identify high-confidence candidate biomarkers by integrating multi-omics data from AD, including single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) datasets of the prefrontal and entorhinal cortices, as wells as serum proteomic datasets. We first quantified a total of 124,658 nuclei, 8 cell types, and 3701 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from snRNA-seq dataset of 30 human cortices, as well as 1291 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) from serum proteomic dataset of 11 individuals. Then, ten DEGs/DEPs (NEBL, CHSY3, STMN2, MARCKS, VIM, FGD4, EPB41L2, PLEKHG1, PTPRZ1, and PPP1R14A) were identified by integration analysis of snRNA-seq and proteomics data. Finally, four novel candidate biomarkers (NEBL, EPB41L2, FGD4, and MARCKS) for AD further stood out, according to bioinformatics analysis, and they were verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) verification. These candidate biomarkers are related to the regulation process of the actin cytoskeleton, which is involved in the regulation of synaptic loss in the AD brain tissue. Collectively, this study identified novel cell type-related biomarkers for AD by integrating multi-omics datasets from brains and serum. Our findings provided new targets for the clinical treatment and prognosis of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil quality is one of the main factors that affect the growth and quality of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plantations. The formation of the organo-mineral complex is one of the critical factors that influence the evolution of soil fertility. This study used chemical analyses and spectroscopy to study the effects of inorganic and organic fertilizer on the soil nutrients and organo-mineral complex in tea garden soil. SR-FTIR analysis revealed that clay minerals were connected as nuclei with the capacity to bind carbon, and that this interaction was aided by organic fertilization. Specifically, the O-H has the quickest reaction to aliphatic-C, next by Si-O, Fe-O, and Al-O in OM70. The soil pH of organic and inorganic fertilization treatments are obviously lower than the no fertilization (CK) treatment. Furthermore, OM70 and OM100 had notably higher pH values in fertilized soil. Organic fertilization (OM70) treatment significantly increased Soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous, potassium (AP, AK), as well as the concentration of total and exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ in soils when compared to no fertilization (CK) and inorganic fertilization (NPK). Together, these results can provide the scientific theoretical basis for the study on the understanding of the sequestration of SOM and confirmed the feasibility of organic fertilization in improving soil fertility and supporting organo-mineral interactions, thereby making a contribution to carbon storage in tea plantation ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) are regarded as promising candidates for a 5G communication system, which demands higher frequency and power. Source/drain ohmic contact is one of the key fabrication processes crucial to the device performance. Firstly, Au-contained metal stacks combined with RTA high-temperature ohmic contact schemes were presented and analyzed, including process conditions and contact formation mechanisms. Considering the issues with the Au-contained technique, the overview of a sequence of Au-free schemes is given and comprehensively discussed. In addition, in order to solve various problems caused by high-temperature conditions, novel annealing techniques including microwave annealing (MWA) and laser annealing (LA) were proposed to form Au-free low-temperature ohmic contact to AlGaN/GaN HEMT. The effects of the annealing method on surface morphology, gate leakage, dynamic on-resistance (RON), and other device characteristics are investigated and presented in this paper. By using a low-temperature annealing atmosphere or selective annealing method, gate-first Si-CMOS compatible AlGaN/GaN HEMT technology can be realized for high frequency and power application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bemisia tabaci Middle East–Asia Minor I (MEAM1) is a widely distributed invasive agricultural pest that causes extensive damage to agricultural, horticultural, and ornamental crops. Laccase2 (Lac2), a phenol oxidase, plays an important role in cuticle tanning of some insects. However, the function of Lac2 in whitefly remains unclear. In this study, we identified a BtLac2 gene in MEAM1 that is expressed in all developmental stages, and its expression in the cuticle is especially high. Knockdown of BtLac2 in nymphs produced thinner and fragile cuticles, which significantly increased the mortality rate and extended the development duration of nymphs, as well as further decreasing the emergence rate of adults. Overall, BtLac2 plays an important role in cuticle hardening of whitefly, suggesting a potential management strategy using RNAi to knock down BtLac2 expression. Cuticle sclerotization is critical for insect survival. Laccase2 (Lac2) is a phenol oxidase that plays a key role in cuticle formation and pigmentation in a variety of insects. However, the function of Lac2 in whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, remains unclear. In this study, we identified a BtLac2 gene in B. tabaci MEAM1 and found that BtLac2 was expressed in all stages. It was highly expressed in the egg stage, followed by nymph and adult. Moreover, the expression of BtLac2 was higher in the cuticle than in other tissues. Knockdown of BtLac2 in nymphs produced thinner and fragile cuticles, which significantly increased the mortality rate, extended the development duration of nymphs, and decreased the emergence rate of adults. This result demonstrates that BtLac2 plays an important role in the cuticle hardening of B. tabaci and suggests a potential management strategy using RNAi to knock down BtLac2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the reproducibility and validity of a new food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) used in a birth cohort study to estimate the usual consumption frequencies of foods during pregnancy. The reference measure was the average of three inconsecutive 24 h diet recalls (24 HR) administrated between two FFQs, and the reproducibility was measured by repeating the first FFQ (FFQ1) approximately eight weeks later (FFQ2). A total of 210 pregnant women from the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study (BIGCS) with full data were included in the analysis. The Spearman's correlation coefficients of FFQ1 and FFQ2 ranged from 0.33 to 0.71. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the two FFQs ranged from 0.22 to 0.71. The Spearman's correlation coefficients of the 24 HR and FFQ2 ranged from 0.23 to 0.62. Cross-classification analysis showed 65.1% of participants were classified into same and contiguous quintiles, while only 3.2% were misclassified into the distant quintiles. Bland-Altman methods showed good agreement for most food groups across the range of frequencies between FFQ1 and FFQ2. Our findings indicated that the reproducibility and validity of the FFQ used in BIGCS for assessing the usual consumption frequencies of foods during pregnancy were acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of conjugated polybenzimidazole (CPBI) was synthesized through a simple polycondensation reaction without metal catalysis, and N-alkylation modification was carried out to solve the problems of solubility and fluorescence properties. A series of nano-microsphere polymers CPBIn with large conjugation, good solubility, and strong fluorescence has been successfully used as "turn-off" fluorescent probes for the first time. The results show that, under suitable N-alkylation conditions, the obtained CPBIn can be used as a highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for the detection of Cu2+ and Zn2+ at the same time, and their detection limits are both nM levels. In addition, CPBI2 can be designed as an ultra-sensitive IMPLICATION logic gate at the molecular level, cyclically detecting Cu2+. With the test paper containing CPBI2, easy and quick on-site detection can be achieved. This research provides a new idea for the brief synthesis of multifunctional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to analyze the dynamic properties of gas hydrate development from a large hydrate simulator through numerical simulation. A mathematical model of heat transfer and entropy production of methane hydrate dissociation by depressurization has been established, and the change behaviors of various heat flows and entropy generations have been evaluated. Simulation results show that most of the heat supplied from outside is assimilated by methane hydrate. The energy loss caused by the fluid production is insignificant in comparison to the heat assimilation of the hydrate reservoir. The entropy generation of gas hydrate can be considered as the entropy flow from the ambient environment to the hydrate particles, and it is favorable from the perspective of efficient hydrate exploitation. On the contrary, the undesirable entropy generations of water, gas and quartz sand are induced by the irreversible heat conduction and thermal convection under notable temperature gradient in the deposit. Although lower production pressure will lead to larger entropy production of the whole system, the irreversible energy loss is always extremely limited when compared with the amount of thermal energy utilized by methane hydrate. The production pressure should be set as low as possible for the purpose of enhancing exploitation efficiency, as the entropy production rate is not sensitive to the energy recovery rate under depressurization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-based additive manufacturing (AM) is a disruptive technique with great potential across multiple industries; however, its manufacturing quality is unstable, leading to an urgent requirement for component properties detection. The distribution of grain size has an important effect on many mechanical properties in AM, while the distribution of added elements, such as titanium (Ti), has a measurable effect on the grain size of an aluminum (Al) alloy. Therefore, the detection of the distributions of grain size and elements is of great significance for AM. In this study, we investigated the distribution of grain size and elements simultaneously for wire + arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) with an Al alloy using laser opto-ultrasonic dual (LOUD) detection. The average grain size obtained from the acoustic attenuation of ultrasonic signals was consistent with the results of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.981 for linear fitting. The Ti element distribution obtained from optical spectra showed that the enrichment of Ti corresponded to the grain refinement area in the detected area. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra showed that the spectral peaks were moved from Al to AlTi and Al2Ti forms in the Ti-rich areas, which confirmed the LOUD results. The results indicated that LOUD detection holds promise for becoming an effective method of analyzing the mechanical and chemical properties of components simultaneously, which could help explain the complex physical and chemical changes in AM and ultimately improve the manufacturing quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The many-body dynamics of an electron spin−1/2 qubit coupled to a bath of nuclear spins by hyperfine interactions, as described by the central spin model in two kinds of external field, are studied in this paper. In a completely polarized bath, we use the state recurrence method to obtain the exact solution of the X X Z central spin model in a constant magnetic field and numerically analyze the influence of the disorder strength of the magnetic field on fidelity and entanglement entropy. For a constant magnetic field, the fidelity presents non-attenuating oscillations. The anisotropic parameter λ and the magnetic field strength B significantly affect the dynamic behaviour of the central spin. Unlike the periodic oscillation in the constant magnetic field, the decoherence dynamics of the central spin act like a damping oscillation in a disordered field, where the central spin undergoes a relaxation process and eventually reaches a stable state. The relaxation time of this process is affected by the disorder strength and the anisotropic parameter, where a larger anisotropic parameter or disorder strength can speed up the relaxation process. Compared with the constant magnetic field, the disordered field can regulate the decoherence over a large range, independent of the anisotropic parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As promising biochemical sensors, ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) are used widely in the growing field of biochemical sensing applications. Recently, a new type of field-effect transistor gated by ionic electrolytes has attracted intense attention due to the extremely strong electric-double-layer (EDL) gating effect. In such devices, the carrier density of the semiconductor channel can be effectively modulated by an ion-induced EDL capacitance at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface. With advantages of large specific capacitance, low operating voltage and sensitive interfacial properties, various EDL-based transistor (EDLT) devices have been developed for ultrasensitive portable sensing applications. In this article, we will review the recent progress of EDLT-based biochemical sensors. Starting with a brief introduction of the concepts of EDL capacitance and EDLT, we describe the material compositions and the working principle of EDLT devices. Moreover, the biochemical sensing performances of several important EDLTs are discussed in detail, including organic-based EDLTs, oxide-based EDLTs, nanomaterial-based EDLTs and neuromorphic EDLTs. Finally, the main challenges and development prospects of EDLT-based biochemical sensors are listed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the interaction between environmental consciousness and sustainable food attributes as predictors in the market segmentation process for sustainable foods with respect to United States (U.S.) Generation Z (Gen Z) consumers. This study was executed using a cross-national, web-based survey to analyze and categorize Gen Z female (n = 435) and male (n = 377) consumers between 18 and 23 years of age living in the continental United States. The objectives of this study were to classify U.S. Gen Z consumers into unique segments based on their environmental consciousness and to assess the functional relationships among the following: (a) their degree of ecological awareness; (b) the importance of the perception of sustainable food attributes; (c) their food choices associated with healthy eating habits; and (d) sociodemographics. Survey data were analyzed using cluster analysis of consumer groups based on environmental consciousness. Environmental consciousness was measured using a composite score of the environmental involvement scale and the environmental values scale. Gen Z consumers with high environmental consciousness (sustainable activists) and moderate ecological awareness (sustainable believers) considered more eco-friendly and healthy product attributes when purchasing sustainable food, whereas Gen Z consumers with low environmental consciousness (sustainable moderates) considered more extrinsic product attributes (e.g., price and convenience). Furthermore, the results indicate that food choices associated with healthy eating habits could be used to develop a profile for different eco-conscious Gen Z consumer groups. The contributions of this study are twofold. First, for academic researchers, this paper extends marketing segmentation research concerning environmentally sensitive young consumers. Second, for industry professionals, this study provides food retailers or food service operators with sustainable consumer values that will aid in the development of effective, green marketing strategies to better attract and meet the sustainability expectations of Gen Z—the consumer segment with the most spending power of any generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymerization-induced phase separation is comparatively applied to fabricating a superhydrophobic micro/nano surface by microwave and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The monolithic coatings can be tailored easily on different substrates with excellent chemical and mechanical stability in rigid conditions. Importantly, the patterned filter paper is successfully used for the colorimetric detection of nitrite handily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting the spatial-temporal dynamics mechanisms and driving forces of ecological land change will offer a scientific basis for the sustainable utilization and ecological protection of regions undergoing rapid urbanization. This study examined the variations in ecological land from 2000 to 2015 in Yingkou by spatial statistical analysis with four land use/cover maps (2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015) interpreted by Landsat Thematic Mapper images and Google Earth maps. This study also measured the varying spatiotemporal drivers of typical ecological land use/cover types by survival analysis. The results indicated that ecological land was the main land use/cover type, and that the area decreased over time with a large transformation into agriculture and urban lands with significant temporal dynamics. The driving mechanisms became more complicated over time, and different time-dependent covariates significantly impacted the ecological land, forest land, and wetland losses. However, the distance from the city and different ways were the most important influencing spatiotemporal variables of the loss of ecological land, forest land, and wetlands over time. This study demonstrated the combined influence of a series of factors on ecological land loss. The spatial determinants and their impacts varied over time, especially the accessibility factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The many-body dynamics of an electron spin-1/2 qubit coupled to a bath of nuclear spins by hyperfine interactions, as described by the central spin model in two kinds of external field, are studied in this paper. In a completely polarized bath, we use the state recurrence method to obtain the exact solution of the X X Z central spin model in a constant magnetic field and numerically analyze the influence of the disorder strength of the magnetic field on fidelity and entanglement entropy. For a constant magnetic field, the fidelity presents non-attenuating oscillations. The anisotropic parameter λ and the magnetic field strength B significantly affect the dynamic behaviour of the central spin. Unlike the periodic oscillation in the constant magnetic field, the decoherence dynamics of the central spin act like a damping oscillation in a disordered field, where the central spin undergoes a relaxation process and eventually reaches a stable state. The relaxation time of this process is affected by the disorder strength and the anisotropic parameter, where a larger anisotropic parameter or disorder strength can speed up the relaxation process. Compared with the constant magnetic field, the disordered field can regulate the decoherence over a large range, independent of the anisotropic parameter.

Chronic low back pain accompanied by intervertebral disk degeneration is a common musculoskeletal disorder. Physical exercise, which is clinically recommended by international guidelines, has proven to be effective for degenerative disc disease (DDD) patients. However, the mechanism underlying the analgesic effects of physical exercise on DDD remains largely unclear. The results of the present study showed that mechanical withdrawal thresholds of bilateral hindpaw were significantly decreased beginning on day three after intradiscal complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) injection and daily running exercise remarkably reduced allodynia in the CFA exercise group beginning at day 28 compared to the spontaneous recovery group (controls). The hindpaw withdrawal thresholds of the exercise group returned nearly to baseline at the end of experiment, but severe pain persisted in the control group. Histological examinations performed on day 70 revealed that running exercise restored the degenerative discs and increased the cell densities of the annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP). Furthermore, immunofluorescence labeling revealed significantly higher numbers of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU)-positive cells in the exercise group on days 28, 42, 56 and 70, which indicated more rapid proliferation compared to the control at the corresponding time points. Taken together, these results suggest that running exercise might alleviate the mechanical allodynia induced by intradiscal CFA injection via disc repair and cell proliferation, which provides new evidence for future clinical use.

One-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures are unique sensing materials for the fabrication of gas sensors. In this article, gas sensors based on semiconducting nanowire field-effect transistors (FETs) are comprehensively reviewed. Individual nanowires or nanowire network films are usually used as the active detecting channels. In these sensors, a third electrode, which serves as the gate, is used to tune the carrier concentration of the nanowires to realize better sensing performance, including sensitivity, selectivity and response time, etc. The FET parameters can be modulated by the presence of the target gases and their change relate closely to the type and concentration of the gas molecules. In addition, extra controls such as metal decoration, local heating and light irradiation can be combined with the gate electrode to tune the nanowire channel and realize more effective gas sensing. With the help of micro-fabrication techniques, these sensors can be integrated into smart systems. Finally, some challenges for the future investigation and application of nanowire field-effect gas sensors are discussed.

Human pheochromocytoma cells, which are demonstrated to contain and release met-enkephalin and norepinephrine, may be a promising resource for cell therapy in cancer-induced intractable pain. Intrathecal injection of alginate-poly (l) lysine-alginate (APA) microencapsulated human pheochromocytoma cells leads to antinociceptive effect in a rat model of bone cancer pain, and this effect was blocked by opioid antagonist naloxone and alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist rauwolscine. Neurochemical changes of cerebrospinal fluid are in accordance with the analgesic responses. Taken together, these data support that human pheochromocytoma cell implant-induced antinociception was mediated by met-enkephalin and norepinephrine secreted from the cell implants and acting at spinal receptors. Spinal implantation of microencapsulated human pheochromocytoma cells may provide an alternative approach for the therapy of chronic intractable pain.

This article provides a comprehensive review of recent (2008 and 2009) progress in gas sensors based on semiconducting metal oxide one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures. During last few years, gas sensors based on semiconducting oxide 1D nanostructures have been widely investigated. Additionally, modified or doped oxide nanowires/nanobelts have also been synthesized and used for gas sensor applications. Moreover, novel device structures such as electronic noses and low power consumption self-heated gas sensors have been invented and their gas sensing performance has also been evaluated. Finally, we also point out some challenges for future investigation and practical application.