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The pervasive adoption of 5th generation mobile communication technology propels electromagnetic wave (EW) absorbents to achieve high-level performance. The heterointerface construction is crucial to the improvement of absorption ability. Herein, a series of ultralight composites with rational heterointerfaces (Co/ZnO@N-doped C/layer-stacked C, MSC) is fabricated by calcination with rational construction of sugarcane and CoZn–zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF). The components and structures of as-prepared composites were investigated, and their electromagnetic parameters could be adjusted by the content of CoZn–ZIFs. All composites possess excellent EW absorption performance, especially MSC-3. The optimal minimum reflection loss and effective absorption band of MSC-3 can reach −42 dB and 7.28 GHz at the thickness of only 1.6 mm with 20wt% filler loading. This excellent performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of dielectric loss stemming from the multiple heterointerfaces and magnetic loss induced by magnetic single Co. The sugarcane-derived layer-stacked carbon has formed consecutive conductive networks and has further dissipated the electromagnetic energy through multiple reflection and conduction losses. Moreover, the simulated radar cross section (RCS) technology manifests that MSC-3 possesses outstanding EW attenuation capacity under realistic far-field conditions. This study provides a strategy for building efficient absorbents based on biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the antioxidant capacity of polyethylene (PE), ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBLE) was introduced into the PE matrix as a natural stabilizer for the first time. The effect of GBLE on the thermal oxidation stability, thermal stability, processing stability, mechanical properties, and long-term aging resistance of PE during multiple extrusion processing was investigated. The oxidation induction time (OIT) results showed that the addition of GBLE improved the thermal oxidation stability and long-term aging resistance of the PE matrix even after multiple extrusions. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis revealed that GBLE significantly enhanced the thermal stability of the polymer matrix. These improvements could be attributed to the potent free radical scavenging efficiency of GBLE. OIT tests also confirmed GBLE's resistance to extraction from the PE matrix, as well as its antioxidant activity after extraction. Moreover, the introduction of GBLE effectively enhanced the processing stability of the PE matrix, with the melt flow rate of PE-GBLE2.0 decreasing by only about 0.17 g/10 min from the first extrusion to the fifth extrusion. Furthermore, the addition of GBLE could still maintain the good mechanical performance of the matrix after multiple extrusions. All results demonstrated that GBLE is an effective and natural multifunctional stabilizer for PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of soil and water contamination caused by Cr(VI) discharged from the dyeing, electroplating, and metallurgical industries is becoming increasingly serious, posing a potentially great threat to the environment and public health. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a fast, efficient, and cost-effective adsorbent for remediating Cr-contaminated wastewater. In this work, MgAl-LDH/commercial-activated carbon nanocomposites (LDH-CACs) are prepared with hydrothermal. The effects of preparation and reaction conditions on the composite properties are first investigated, and then its adsorption behavior is thoroughly explored. Finally, a potential adsorption mechanism is proposed by several characterizations like SEM–EDS, XRD, FTIR, and XPS. The removal of Cr(VI) reaches 72.47% at optimal conditions, and the adsorption study demonstrates that LDH-CAC@1 has an extremely rapid adsorption rate and a maximum adsorption capacity of 116.7 mg/g. The primary removal mechanisms include adsorption-coupled reduction, ion exchange, surface precipitation, and electrostatic attraction. The reusability experiment illustrates that LDH-CAC@1 exhibits promising reusability. This study provides an effective adsorbent with a remarkably fast reaction, which has positive environmental significance for the treatment of Cr(VI) wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The universal flexoelectric effect in solids provides a mechanical pathway for controlling electric polarization in ultrathin ferroelectrics, eliminating potential material breakdown from a giant electric field at the nanoscale. One challenge of this approach is arbitrary implementation, which is strongly hindered by one-way switching capability. Here, utilizing the innate flexibility of van der Waals materials, we demonstrate that ferroelectric polarization and domain structures can be mechanically, reversibly, and arbitrarily switched in two-dimensional CuInP2S6 via the nano-tip imprinting technique. The bidirectional flexoelectric control is attributed to the extended tip-induced deformation in two-dimensional systems with innate flexibility at the atomic scale. By employing an elastic substrate, artificial ferroelectric nanodomains with lateral sizes as small as ~80 nm are noninvasively generated in an area of 1 μm2, equal to a density of 31.4 Gbit/in2. Our results highlight the potential applications of van der Waals ferroelectrics in data storage and flexoelectronics. Flexoelectric effect may offer a voltage-free method to control the polarization in 2D ferroelectrics, but its widespread application remains challenging. Here, the authors report an approach to arbitrarily switch the ferroelectricity in 2D CuInP2S6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leakage of liquid electrolyte and the formation of lithium dendrites pose challenges to safety and stability of lithium metal batteries (LMBs). The appearance of gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) has obviously improved the safety of traditional LMBs. However, the limited inhibition of GPE on lithium dendrites is detrimental to the safety of LMBs. Herein, a kind of poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP)/gelatin (GN) GPE with high ionic conductivity, high-temperature resistance, and flame-retardancy, was prepared by electrospinning and soaking method. Utilizing the electrospinning network of PVDF-HFP, its affinity to liquid electrolytes, makes this GPE more beneficial to ions transport and the formation of gel. And, the GN with sol-gel properties, enhances the mechanical property (13.5 MPa) of HFP-GN GPE. Meanwhile, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) suggest that the attraction of polar groups of GN to Li+ can regulate the distribution of Li+ and protect Li anodes. Consequently, the application of HFP-GN GPEs to LMBs with cathodes of LiFePO4 and LiCoO2 deliver excellent electrochemical performances: after 300 cycles, the LiFePO4/HFP-GN GPE/Li battery keeps a low capacity decay rate of 0.09% at 5 C; after 400 cycles at 2 C, the LiCoO2/HFP-GN GPE/Li cell retains a high capacity retention of 74%. This GPE is demonstrated for the application prospect of safe LMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaotic systems have good characteristics, such as sensitivity to initial value and parameter, ergodicity, certainty and so on. Using chaos to generate pseudo-random sequences for encryption has good efficiency and security. However, due to the limitation of computing precision, the chaotic sequence running on the computer will enter a cycle after several times of iterations. In this paper, a control method is proposed to reduce this phenomenon. In this method, one chaotic map is used to adjust the parameters of another chaotic map, which makes the sequence generated by this model has good dynamic characteristics under a low computing precision. To prove the effectiveness of this model, two examples are provided. Furthermore, the dynamical performances of these two chaotic systems have been demonstrated by a series of analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accelerated arriving of 5G era has brought a new round of intelligent transformation which will completely emancipate smart terminal devices. While the subsequent deleterious effect of electromagnetic wave on electronic devices is increasingly serious, driving the growth of next-generation electromagnetic wave absorbents. As a tactful combination of components and structures, three-dimensional (3D) macroscopic absorbents with fascinating synergy afford exceptional electromagnetic wave absorption, and tremendous efforts have been devoted to this investigation. However, in terms of macroscopic absorbents and their synergistic effect, few reviews are proposed to comb the latest achievements and detailed synergy. This review article focuses on the synergistic effect of macro-architectured absorbents mainly including structure-induced synergy, structure-components synergy, and multiple-components induced synergy. And then the potential construction principles and strategies of macroscopic absorbents are combed. Significantly, the key information for structures and components manipulation including nano-micro design and components regulation is further dissected by critically selected cutting-edge 3D macroscopic absorbents. Moreover, a brief summary of multifunctional electromagnetic wave absorbents (EWAs)-based macroscopic structures is presented. Finally, the development prospects and challenges of these materials are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of ATP6AP1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive despite its observed upregulation in pan-cancer. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the clinical significance of ATP6AP1 and its relationship with the immune infiltration in CRC. Transcriptome data of CRC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and analyzed using the combination of R packages and tumor-related databases, including TIMER2, TISIDB, cBioPortal, and MethSurv. The tissue arrays and immunohistochemical staining were performed to verify the expression and clinical characteristics of ATP6AP1. The results revealed that ATP6AP1 expression was significantly elevated in CRC and associated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated ATP6AP1 expression was correlated with the infiltration of immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the microenvironment of CRC. Moreover, ATP6AP1 was found to be linked to various immune checkpoints and chemokines, with enrichment of cytoplasmic vesicle lumen, endopeptidase regulator activity, and endopeptidase inhibitor activity observed in the high ATP6AP1 expressional group. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that ATP6AP1 upregulation may serve as a biomarker for poor diagnosis in CRC and offer a potential target for immunotherapy in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exhaust gas recirculation control (EGRC), an inlet air heating technology, can be utilized in combination with inlet/variable guide vane control (IGV/VGVC) and fuel flow control (FFC) to regulate the load, thereby effectively improving the part-load (i.e., off-design) performance of the gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC). In this study, the E-, F-, and H-Class EGR-GTCC design and off-design system models were established and validated to perform a comparative analysis of the part-load performance under the EGR-IGV-FFC and conventional IGV-FFC strategies in the E/F/H-Class GTCC. Results show that EGR-IGV-FFC has considerable potential for the part-load performance enhancement and can show a higher combined cycle efficiency than IGV-FFC in the E-, F-, and H-Class GTCCs. However, the part-load performance improvement in the corresponding GTCC was weakened for the higher class of the gas turbine because of the narrower load range of EGR action and the deterioration of the gas turbine performance. Furthermore, EGR-IGV-FFC was inferior to IGV-FFC in improving the performance at loads below 50% for the H-Class GTCC. The results obtained in this paper could help guide the application of EGR-IGV-FFC to enhance the part-load performance of various classes of GTCC systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomere length (TL) shortening is a pivotal indicator of biological aging and is associated with many human diseases. The genetic determinates of human TL have been widely investigated, however, most existing studies were conducted based on adult tissues which are heavily influenced by lifetime exposure. Based on the analyses of terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length of telomere, individual genotypes, and gene expressions on 166 healthy placental tissues, we systematically interrogate TL-modulated genes and their potential functions. We discover that the TL in the placenta is comparatively longer than in other adult tissues, but exhibiting an intra-tissue homogeneity. Trans-ancestral TL genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on 644,553 individuals identify 20 newly discovered genetic associations and provide increased polygenic determination of human TL. Next, we integrate the powerful TL GWAS with placental expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping to prioritize 23 likely causal genes, among which 4 are functionally validated, including MMUT, RRM1, KIAA1429, and YWHAZ. Finally, modeling transcriptomic signatures and TRF-based TL improve the prediction performance of human TL. This study deepens our understanding of causal genes and transcriptomic determinants of human TL, promoting the mechanistic research on fine-grained TL regulation. Variation in human telomere length has been well studied, but most previous studies have used adult telomere length. Here, the authors explore the genetic basis of telomere length in the placenta and find suggestive causal genes modulating human telomere length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current guidelines give priority to surgical treatment of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) before coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), especially in symptomatic patients. Carotid artery stenting is an alternative treatment for narrowing of the carotid arteries. This study sought to demonstrate the role of severe CAS in predicting stroke after CABG and assess the efficacy of carotid artery stenting in preventing postoperative stroke in a Chinese cohort. From 2015 to 2021, 1799 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery were retrospectively recruited in a Chinese cohort. The predictive value of severe CAS in postoperative stroke and carotid stenting in preventing postoperative stroke was statistically analyzed. The incidence of postoperative stroke was 1.67%. The incidence of CAS with stenosis ≥ 50% and ≥ 70% was 19.2% and 6.9%. After propensity matching, the incidence of stroke was 8.0% in the severe CAS group and 0% in the non-severe CAS group. We successfully established an optimal predictive nomogram for predicting severe CAS in patients undergoing CABG. Carotid artery stenting was found ineffective in preventing postoperative stroke. The present study provides the incidence of CAS and postoperative stroke in a Chinese cohort, identifies severe CAS as an independent risk factor for postoperative stroke after CABG, constructs a nomogram predicting the incidence of severe CAS, and evaluates the effectiveness of carotid artery stenting in preventing postoperative stroke after CABG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are widely cultivated as perennial ornamentals worldwide with important edible, medicinal, and ornamental value. In this study, a total of 9139 SSR loci were detected in the daylily cultivar 'Autumn Red' through Single Molecular Real Time sequencing, of which 2604 unigenes contained two or more SSR loci. Tri-nucleotide repeats were predominated (5270, 57.66%) among the SSR loci, followed by di-nucleotide repeats (3253, 35.50%). Forty (44.44%) valid EST-SSR markers were identified from 90 synthesized EST-SSR markers by screening six accessions, including one daylily wild species, one daylily variant, two daylily cultivars and two night lily landraces cultivated in the National Hemerocallis Germplasm Resource Bank of China. Genetic diversity analysis of 104 Hemerocallis accessions was conducted using 30 polymorphic EST-SSR markers and a total of 98 alleles was identified with an average of 3.23, ranging from 2 to 8 alleles per loci. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.01 to 0.70, with an average of 0.25. Five markers (XC007, XC057, XC058, XC068 and XC072) showed high polymorphism (PIC > 0.5). Cluster analysis showed that daylilies and night lilies were clustered into two phylogenetic groups, which was confirmed by population structure analysis and PCoA analysis. Among them, Cluster I was classified into six subclusters (Group A–F) in the NJ dendrogram. Combined with the analysis of morphological characteristics of accessions, it was found that the genetic distance may be affected by the source of accessions, which needs further research. Finally, DNA fingerprints of 104 Hemerocallis accessions were constructed using seven efficient EST-SSR markers. The EST-SSRs developed in this study provided useful tools for the identification of daylily accessions and molecular marker assisted breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To construct and test a nomogram based on intra- and peritumoral radiomics and clinical factors for predicting malignant BiRADS 4 lesions on contrast-enhanced spectral mammography. Methods: A total of 884 patients with BiRADS 4 lesions were enrolled from two centers. For each lesion, five ROIs were defined using the intratumoral region (ITR), peritumoral regions (PTRs) of 5 and 10 mm around the tumor, and ITR plus PTRs of 5 mm and 10 mm. Five radiomics signatures were established by LASSO after selecting features. A nomogram was built using selected signatures and clinical factors by multivariable logistic regression analysis. The performance of the nomogram was assessed with the AUC, decision curve analysis, and calibration curves, and also compared with the radiomics model, clinical model, and radiologists. Results: The nomogram built by three radiomics signatures (constructed from ITR, 5 mm PTR, and ITR + 10 mm PTR) and two clinical factors (age and BiRADS category) showed powerful predictive ability in internal and external test sets with AUCs of 0.907 and 0.904, respectively. The calibration curves, decision curve analysis, showed favorable predictive performance of the nomogram. In addition, radiologists improved the diagnostic performance with the help of nomogram. Conclusion: The nomogram established via intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics features and clinical risk factors had the best performance in distinguishing benign and malignant BiRADS 4 lesions, which could help radiologists improve diagnostic capabilities. Key Points: • Radiomics features from peritumoral regions in contrast-enhanced spectral mammography images may provide valuable information for the diagnosis of benign and malignant breast imaging reporting and data system category 4 breast lesions. • The nomogram incorporated intra- and peritumoral radiomics features and clinical variables have good application prospects in assisting clinical decision-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e− ORR) is a promising method for producing green and sustainable H2O2 but lacks high selectivity and yields electrocatalysts. And it is critical to develop catalysts that meet industrial demands. Herein, we report the different ratios of Bi0/Bi3+ supported on a phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon nanosheet (Bi/PNC), which can reduce O2 to H2O2 with high selectivity (up to 97.75% at 0.4 VRHE) in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte and retain 97% selectivity even after 100 h electrolysis. Then a homemade flow-cell system was built for electrocatalytic production of H2O2 under an O2 atmosphere using an improved gas diffusion electrode. The Bi/PNC-4 can achieve a high H2O2 yield of 2.76 mol·gcatalyst−1·h−1 (alkaline), 5.29 mol·gcatalyst−1·h−1 (neutral), and 3.50 mol·gcatalyst−1·h−1 (acid) in universal pH conditions. The in-situ generated H2O2 can function as a degradation agent for efficiently degrading pesticides and antibiotics. The outstanding selectivity and activities are attributed to the synergistic effects of Bi0 and Bi3+ that promote proton-coupled reduction of O2 to OOH* (ΔGOOH* = 4.27 eV), and the formation of H2O2. The fast yield of H2O2 on Bi/PNC catalysts in flow-cell provides a promising path of electrocatalytic 2e− ORR for practical H2O2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical one-dimensional chaotic map has many ideal characteristics which is quite suitable for many different kinds of scientific fields, especially cryptography. In this paper, we propose an idea of constructing high-dimensional (HD) cyclic symmetric chaotic maps by using one-dimensional (1D) chaotic map. Two constructed 3D cyclic symmetric chaotic maps are taken as the examples, named three-dimensional cyclic symmetric logistic map (3D-CSLM) and three-dimensional cyclic symmetric Chebyshev map (3D-CSCM), respectively. Numerical experiments show that the new maps possesses better dynamical performances, and their parameters have a wider range, compared with the original map. Furthermore, to verify its effect in image encryption, a novel image encryption algorithm based on 3D-CSLM and DNA coding is proposed. DNA method for image encryption can improve the efficiency of permutation and diffusion. Firstly, the algorithm uses 3D-CSLM to generate chaotic sequences for DNA operation rule selection and pixel permutation. Then through the DNA XOR operation to achieve diffusion, and finally form an encrypted image. Several simulation tests results indicate that the proposal has a promising security performance and strong anti-attack ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the energy and exergy analysis of the gas turbine combined cycle during part-load operation under the exhaust gas recirculation - inlet/variable guide vane control (EGR-IGVC) strategy. The exergy destruction across each component and the energy and exergy efficiency of the topping, bottoming, and combined cycle are determined. Results show that EGR-IGVC and IGVC both effectively enhance the part-load efficiency of the combined cycle compared to fuel flow control (FFC) because higher turbine exhaust temperature allows more exergy to enter the bottoming cycle and increases bottoming cycle power output. However, EGR-IGVC decreases the bottoming cycle energy and exergy efficiency compared with IGVC. Even so, EGR-IGVC increases the topping cycle energy and exergy efficiency and can obtain a higher bottoming cycle power output. The combined cycle efficiency is enhanced by 0.97–1.21 percentage points over IGVC at 40 %–90 % loads. Exergy analysis has important guiding significance for further improving the part-load performance of the combined cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for preparing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a promising way to replace the anthraquinone method. The key to H2O2 production is the development of catalysts to regulate the oxygen reduction reaction pathway. Here, nitrogen-doped Nb2CTx was prepared by NH3 annealing method. Compared with precursor Nb2AlC (67.01%) and pure Nb2CTx (75.70%), nitrogen-doped Nb2CTx exhibited excellent performance for 2e− ORR with > 90% H2O2 selectivity (at 0.4 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)). Faradic efficiency of nitrogen-doped Nb2CTx reached 80.75%, whereas those for Nb2AlC and Nb2CTx were 60.35% and 39.27%, respectively. A desirable catalytic stability for 50 h was observed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated excellent activity of the nitrogen-doped Nb2CTx was attributed to the introduction of N. This excellent activity was conducive to the adsorption of oxygen and promoted the formation of the OOH intermediate. This work can serve as an important reference for regulating the electronic structure of MXene to expand the application area in the electrochemical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) show great advantages in electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption due to their unique structure and electrical properties. Tremendous research works on TMD-based EMW absorbers have been conducted in the last three years, and the comprehensive and systematical summary is still a rarity. Therefore, it is of great significance to elaborate on the interaction among the morphologies, structures, phases, components, and EMW absorption performances of TMD-based absorbers. This review is devoted to analyzing TMD-based absorbers from the following perspectives: the EMW absorption regulation strategies of TMDs and the latest progress of TMD-based hybrids as EMW absorbers. The absorption mechanisms and component-performance dependency of these achievements are also summarized. Finally, a straightforward insight into industrial revolution upgrading in this promising field is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate detection of leukocytes is the basis for the diagnosis of blood system diseases. However, diagnosing leukocyte disorders by doctors is time-consuming and requires extensive experience. Automated detection methods with high accuracy can improve detection efficiency and provide recommendations to inexperienced doctors. Current methods and instruments either fail to automate the identification process fully or have low performance and need suitable leukocyte data sets for further study. To improve the current status, we need to develop more intelligent strategies. This paper investigates fulfilling high-performance automatic detection for leukocytes using a deep learning-based method. We established a new dataset more suitable for leukocyte detection, containing 6273 images (8595 leukocytes) and considering nine common clinical interference factors. Based on the dataset, the performance evaluation of six mainstream detection models is carried out, and a more robust ensemble model is proposed. The mean of average precision (mAP) @IoU = 0.50:0.95 and mean of average recall (mAR)@IoU = 0.50:0.95 of the ensemble model on the test set are 0.853 and 0.922, respectively. The detection performance of poor-quality images is robust. For the first time, it is found that the ensemble model yields an accuracy of 98.84% for detecting incomplete leukocytes. In addition, we also compared the test results of different models and found multiple identical false detections of the models, then provided correct suggestions for the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-spherical shape CoSb3 nanopowders have been rapidly synthesized by a microwave-assisted solvothermal method. The use of a microwave-assisted solvothermal method saves 99% of the dwell time compared to conventional solvothermal and hydrothermal methods. The effects of composition and processing parameters such as temperature and dwell time on the formation process of CoSb3 nanopowders were investigated. It is found almost pure CoSb3 can be synthesized at 280 °C with n (Co2+):n (Sb3+) = 1:3.5 for 20 min. The Rietveld refinement result indicates that the amount of CoSb3 phase is 95%. The microstructure characterization and analysis results show that the final products consist mainly of nearly spherical particles with an average diameter of approximately 33 nm. Meanwhile, high-density grain boundaries and dislocations are also found in the as-obtained CoSb3 nanopowders, which can contribute to the decrease of thermal conductivity by phonon scatterings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is widely used in agriculture to efficiently solve the problem of sludge. In this study, sludge-based biochar (referred to as BC1, BC2, and BC3) was prepared by mixing sludge with FeCl3, Na2SiO3, and Ca (H2PO4)2, respectively. Then, it was mixed with fresh soil to plant Brassica chinensis L. The analysis of the effects of the three biochar types showed that all of them were beneficial to the growth of Brassica chinensis L. We added the biochar to the soil and found that the concentration of heavy metals did not exceed the recommended threshold. Additionally, the aboveground part of Brassica chinensis L. met the standard requirement for food safety (GB 2761–2017). Notably, BC3 stood out with the best effect on the growth of Brassica chinensis L. and resulted in the improvement of the physical and chemical properties of soil such as ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium (BC3 was followed by BC2 and BC1). BC3 could efficiently inhibit the migration of heavy metals, thereby reducing the overall heavy metal pollution level and ameliorating the soil nutrients. BC3 could increase the organic carbon by 258.92%, available phosphorus by 234.45%, and available potassium by 37.12% compared with the CK group. The THQ and TTHQ estimates of Brassica chinensis L. were lower than one, indicating that the health risk of heavy metal intake was not prominent. Additionally, the application of the proposed biochar could reduce the form of F1 (acid extracted state) and increase the form of F4 (residue state) in soil. Overall, we conclude that the application of the proposed biochar can promote the root absorption of heavy metals and inhibit the migration of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi produce commercially valuable edible sporocarps. However, the effects of nitrogen (N) application on ECM fungal sporocarp formation remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of application of various N concentrations (0, 5, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L) on the growth of Laccaria japonica mycelia in vitro for 1 month. The results showed that L. japonica mycelial biomass was highest in the 50 mg/L treatment and was significantly inhibited at N concentrations higher than 200 mg/L. Next, we investigated the effects of N application on mycorrhizal colonization and sporocarp formation in L. japonica colonizing Pinus densiflora seedlings in pots. The seedlings were watered with nutrient solutions containing 0, 5, 25, 50, or 100 mg N/L. The biomass, photosynthetic rate, and mycorrhizal colonization rates of the seedlings were measured at 45 days (first appearance of primordia), 65 days (sporocarp appearance on the substrate surface), and 4 months after seedlings were transplanted. The numbers of primordia and sporocarps were recorded during the experimental period. Total carbon (C) and N content were determined in seedlings at 4 months after transplantation, and in L. japonica sporocarps. Both mycelial growth and sporocarp production reached their maximum at an N application concentration of 50 mg/L, suggesting that the most suitable N concentration for ECM fungal sporocarp formation can easily be estimated in vitro during mycelial growth. This finding may help determine the most suitable N conditions for increasing edible ECM fungus sporocarp production in natural forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we introduce our project on Dunhuang cultural heritage protection using artificial intelligence. The Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in China, also known as the Grottoes of the Thousand Buddhas, is a religious and cultural heritage located on the Silk Road. The grottoes were built from the 4th century to the 14th century. After thousands of years, the in grottoes decaying is serious. In addition, numerous historical records were destroyed throughout the years, making it difficult for archaeologists to reconstruct history. We aim to use modern computer vision and machine learning technologies to solve such challenges. First, we propose to use deep networks to automatically perform the restoration. Through out experiments, we find the automated restoration can provide comparable quality as those manually restored from an archaeologist. This can significantly speed up the restoration given the enormous size of the historical paintings. Second, we propose to use detection and retrieval for further analyzing the tremendously large amount of objects because it is unreasonable to manually label and analyze them. Several state-of-the-art methods are rigorously tested and quantitatively compared in different criteria and categorically. In this work, we created a new dataset, namely, AI for Dunhuang, to facilitate the research. Version v1.0 of the dataset comprises of data and label for the restoration, style transfer, detection, and retrieval. Specifically, the dataset has 10,000 images for restoration, 3455 for style transfer, and 6147 for property retrieval. Lastly, we propose to use style transfer to link and analyze the styles over time, given that the grottoes were build over 1000 years by numerous artists. This enables the possibly to analyze and study the art styles over 1000 years and further enable future researches on cross-era style analysis. We benchmark representative methods and conduct a comparative study on the results for our solution. The dataset will be publicly available along with this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi improve the host plant's tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Cenococcum geophilum (Cg) is among the most common ECM fungi worldwide and often grows in saline environments. However, the physiological and molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in this fungus are largely unknown. In the present study, 12 isolates collected from different ecogeographic regions were used to investigate the mechanism of salt tolerance of Cg. The isolates were classified into four groups (salt-sensitive, moderately salt-tolerant, salt-tolerant, and halophilic) based on their in vitro mycelial growth under 0, 50, 125, 250, and 500 mM NaCl concentrations. Hence, the Na, Ca, P, and K concentrations of mycelia and the pH of the culture solution were determined. Compared with salt-tolerant isolates, treatment with 250 mM NaCl significantly increased the sodium concentration and decreased the potassium concentration of salt-sensitive isolates. RNA-sequencing and qRT-PCR analysis were conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in transmembrane transport and oxidoreductase activity pathways. The hydrogen peroxide concentration and activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in mycelia were determined, and the accumulation and scavenging of reactive oxygen species in the salt-sensitive isolates were more active than those in the salt-tolerant isolates. The results supply functional validations to RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis. This study provides novel insights into the salt-stress response of Cg isolates and provides a foundation for elucidation of the salt-tolerance mechanism of ECM fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: A typical NLR gene, Sl5R-1, which regulates Tomato spotted wilt virus resistance, was fine mapped to a region less than 145 kb in the tomato genome. Tomato spotted wilt is a viral disease caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), which is a devastating disease that affects tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production worldwide, and the resistance provided by the Sw-5 gene has broken down in some cases. In order to identify additional genes that confer resistance to TSWV, the F2 population was mapped using susceptible (M82) and resistant (H149) tomato lines. After 3 years of mapping, the main quantitative trait locus on chromosome 05 was narrowed to a genomic region of 145 kb and was subsequently identified by the F2 population, with 1971 plants in 2020. This region encompassed 14 candidate genes, and in it was found a gene cluster consisting of three genes (Sl5R-1, Sl5R-2, and Sl5R-3) that code for NBS-LRR proteins. The qRT-PCR and virus-induced gene silencing approach results confirmed that Sl5R-1 is a functional resistance gene for TSWV. Analysis of the Sl5R-1 promoter region revealed that there is a SlTGA9 transcription factor binding site caused by a base deletion in resistant plants, and its expression level was significantly up-regulated in infected resistant plants. Analysis of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) levels and the expression of SA- and JA-regulated genes suggest that SlTGA9 interacts or positively regulates Sl5R-1 to affect the SA- and JA-signaling pathways to resist TSWV. These results demonstrate that the identified Sl5R-1 gene regulates TSWV resistance by its own promoter interacting with the transcription factor SlTGA9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene and its derivatives can play a barrier strengthening role in waterborne epoxy resin (WEP) coatings. The main challenge for WEP coatings is not to maintain long-period corrosion resistance in the corrosive environments. Herein, this study reports a new strategy for providing mild steel with enhanced long-period corrosion resistance performance. Three of zinc oxide-reduced graphene oxide (ZnO-RGO) sheet hybrids were fabricated using the hydrothermal method, in the process of fabrication, varying the mass ratio between ZnO and GO as 1:3, 1:1, and 4:1, noted as Z3R, ZR, and 4ZR. The sheets can be stably dispersed into waterborne epoxy (WEP) coatings at a low weight fraction of 2%. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test and salt spray test revealed that the anticorrosion performance was significantly improved by the addition of 4ZR into WEP coating. The anticorrosion mechanisms of the composite WEP coating were attributed to synergistic effect of chelating zinc oxide and the physical barrier protection of reduced graphene oxide. Incorporation of hydrothermally synthesized ZnO-RGO nanocomposites into waterborne epoxy coating significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance of the coatings for metal protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas turbines are increasingly and widely used, whose research and production reflect a country's industrial capacity and level. Due to the changeable working environment, gas turbines usually work under the condition of simultaneous changes of ambient temperature, load and fuel. However, the current researches mainly focus on the change in single condition, and do not fully consider the simultaneous change in different conditions. On the basis of single condition, this paper further studies the dual off-design performance of gas turbines under three conditions: temperature-load, fuel-load and fuel-temperature. Firstly, the whole machine model of a gas turbine is established, in which the compressor model has the greatest impact on the performance of gas turbines. Therefore, this paper obtains a more accurate compressor model by combining the engineering modeling advantages of gPROMs and the powerful mathematical calculation ability of MATLAB neural network. Then, according to the established gas turbine model, the dual off-design performance is studied, which is mainly based on the parameter of output and efficiency. The result shows that the efficiency and power output of gas turbines will decrease with the increase of ambient temperature. With the decrease of fuel calorific value, power output and efficiency will increase. As the load decreases, the efficiency of the gas turbines will decrease, and these changes are consistent with the single off-design performance. However, when the fuel and temperature change simultaneously, only adjusting the IGV angle cannot avoid the surge when the temperature is above 30°C. At this time, it is necessary to adjust the extraction rate in order to ensure the safe and stable operation of gas turbines. Therefore, the research on dual off-design performance of gas turbines has an important significance for the peak shaving operation of gas turbines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under investigation in this letter is an (3+1)-dimensional Hirota–Satsuma–Ito-like equation, which provide strong support for studying the dynamic behavior of nonlinear waves. Based on a special Cole–Hopf transformation and Hirota bilinear method, the bilinear form of the equation is obtained and this form has never been given. High-order breather solutions, lump solutions and mixed solutions are obtained by using complex conjugate parameters and long-wave limit method. Then, the influence of the coefficient g t (t) of the bilinear equation on the interaction of these solutions is analyzed by means of images. It can be found that g t (t) changes the interaction of the solutions by influencing the positions and trajectories of higher-order breather solutions, lump solutions and mixed solutions. We find that different values of g(t) make the interaction of solutions different. Finally, the mixed solution of the equation including a breather wave and a line rogue wave is obtained by using the test function, and its dynamic properties are illustrated by means of images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li-S batteries are considered as a highly promising candidate for the next-generation energy storage system, attributing to their tremendous energy density. However, the two-dimensional island nucleation-growth process of lithium sulfide leads to a thick insulating film covering the electrode, inducing slow electrons transfer and mass-transfer of ions and liquid sulfur species in working Li-S cells. Here, we demonstrate a bio-inspired strategy of constructing ant-nest-like hierarchical porous ultrathin carbon nanosheet networks with the implants of metallic nanoparticles electrocatalysts (HPC-MEC) as efficient nanoreactors enabling rapid mass transfer, via a simple and green NaCl template. Such nanoreactors with a large active surface area could effectively anchor polysulfides for mitigating the shuttle effect, facilitating uniformly thin Li2S film, and promoting the mass transfer for fast sulfur species conversions. This helps contribute to a continuously high sulfur utilization in Li-S batteries with the HPC-MEC reactors. As a typical exhibition, cobalt embedded hierarchical porous carbon (HPC-Co) could realize to deliver a remarkably high specific capacity of 1,540.6 mAh·g−1, an excellent rate performance of 878.8 mAh·g−1 at 2 C, and high area capacity of 11.6 mAh·cm−2 at a high sulfur load of 10 mg·cm−2 and low electrolyte/sulfur ratio of 5 µL·mg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis is a widespread human chronic inflammatory disease of the tooth-surrounding tissues, which induces the destruction of periodontium and pathologic loss of teeth among adults. It has been reported that interleukin (IL)-17 was significantly increased in periodontitis patients compared to controls, while galectin-1 (Gal-1) was lower. Interestingly, it is found that Gal-1 treatment reduced systemic IL-17 levels. Hence, the aim of the present study was to explore the effect of Gal-1 on periodontitis development and investigate its underlying mechanism. In this study, Gal-1 was poorly expressed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs), and Gal-1 overexpression attenuated the production of inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS. Moreover, Gal-1 overexpression alleviated LPS-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis and reduced the expressions of IL-17A and IL-17R. Interestingly, IL-17A reversed the effect of Gal-1 on cell autophagy, inflammation, and cell apoptosis induced by the LPS challenge. In conclusion, Gal-1 inhibited LPS-induced autophagy and apoptosis of hPDLSC via regulation of IL-17A expression. Therefore, Gal-1 may have promising potential in regenerating periodontium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in immunotherapy have revolutionized treatments in many types of cancer. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has a long history of clinical adjuvant application against cancer, is emerging as an important medical resource for developing innovative cancer treatments, including immunotherapy. In this study, we developed a quantitative and systems pharmacology-based framework to identify TCM-derived natural products for cancer immunotherapy. Specifically, we integrated 381 cancer immune response-related genes and a compound-target interaction network connecting 3273 proteins and 766 natural products from 66 cancer-related herbs based on literature-mining. Via systems pharmacology-based prediction, we uncovered 182 TCM-derived natural products having potential anti-tumor immune responses effect. Importantly, 32 of the 49 most promising natural products (success rate = 65.31%) are validated by multiple evidence, including published experimental data from clinical studies, in vitro and in vivo assays. We further identified the mechanism-of-action of TCM in cancer immunotherapy using network-based functional enrichment analysis. We showcased that three typical natural products (baicalin, wogonin, and oroxylin A) in Huangqin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi) potentially overcome resistance of known oncology agents by regulating tumor immunosuppressive microenvironments. In summary, this study offers a novel and effective systems pharmacology infrastructure for potential cancer immunotherapeutic development by exploiting the medical wealth of natural products in TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed energy resource (DER) systems are widely used owing to their excellent economic and environmental performance. However, uncertainties in the system generate difficulties in the optimal design of DER systems. In practice, the distribution of uncertain parameters is generally unknown. In this work, a two-stage robust optimization (RO) model was proposed for the optimal design of DER systems considering uncertainties in renewable energy intensity, energy prices, and load demands. Three uncertainty sets (i.e., the box, ellipsoid, and convex-hull uncertainty sets) were adopted to describe the distribution of uncertain parameters, and the proposed two-stage RO problem was solved using affine decision rules. A typical hospital in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, China, was selected as the case study object, and the effectiveness of the model was verified. The case study results showed that uncertainties in energy prices and load demands have a significant impact on system configuration and economic performance, and mainly affect the installed capacities of gas boilers, absorption chillers, and storages. Uncertainty set will affect the optimization results and an appropriate uncertainty set should be adopted to describe uncertainties precisely and increase accuracy of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multistep collocation method is introduced to solve integral-algebraic equations of index 1. The existence and uniqueness of the multistep collocation solution are proved. The convergence of the perturbed multistep collocation method is also investigated, which extends and includes the analysis of the multistep collocation method without perturbed terms. Some numerical experiments are given to illustrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tricholoma matsutake is known to be the dominant fungal species in matsutake fruitbody neighboring (shiro) soil. To understand the mechanisms behind matsutake dominance, we studied the bacterial communities in matsutake dominant shiro soil and non-shiro soil, isolated the strains of Streptomyces from matsutake mycorrhizal root tips both from shiro soil and from the Pinus densiflora seedlings cultivated in shiro soil. Further, we investigated three Streptomyces spp. for their ability to inhibit fungal growth and Pinus densiflora seedling root elongation as well as two strains for their antifungal and antioxidative properties. Our results showed that Actinobacteria was the most abundant phylum in shiro soil. However, the differences in the Actinobacterial community composition (phylum or order level) between shiro and non-shiro soils were not significant, as indicated by PERMANOVA analyses. A genus belonging to Actinobacteria, Streptomyces, was present on the matsutake mycorrhizas, although in minority. The two antifungal assays revealed that the broths of three Streptomyces spp. had either inhibitory, neutral or promoting effects on the growth of different forest soil fungi as well as on the root elongation of the seedlings. The extracts of two strains, including one isolated from the P. densiflora seedlings, inhibited the growth of either pathogenic or ectomycorrhizal fungi. The effect depended on the medium used to cultivate the strains, but not the solvent used for the extraction. Two Streptomyces spp. showed antioxidant activity in one out of three assays used, in a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. The observed properties seem to have several functions in matsutake shiro soil and they may contribute to the protection of the shiro area for T. matsutake dominance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy background pollutant loads pose a difficult problem for the assessment and management of regional water quality, especially in areas where surface water quality is less affected by anthropogenic pollution. Deducting background values from those derived from water quality monitoring is a new method for evaluating surface water environments in areas with heavy background loads. In this study, river source reserves in Heilongjiang province were evaluated with an export coefficient model (ECM) that considers the rainfall influence factor, has an improved timescale, and is based on synchronous rainfall monitoring data and concentrations. Moreover, the ECM was combined with a mechanism model. The chemical oxygen demand, ammonia nitrogen, and other water quality indices are affected by background environment, and therefore, suitable export coefficients for the study area were determined and a regression equation between the rainfall influence factor and precipitation was established. By combining the ECM and mechanism model, the concentrations entering the river during eight rainfall events in 2018 were predicted, and the background value was calculated to evaluate surface water quality. The predicted values were found to approximate the monitored values. Therefore, this study is of great significance for water quality assessment and management in areas with heavy background pollutant loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutation-specific effects of cancer driver genes influence drug responses and the success of clinical trials. We reasoned that these effects could unbalance the distribution of each mutation across different cancer types, as a result, the cancer preference can be used to distinguish the effects of the causal mutation. Here, we developed a network-based framework to systematically measure cancer diversity for each driver mutation. We found that half of the driver genes harbor cancer type-specific and pancancer mutations simultaneously, suggesting that the pervasive functional heterogeneity of the mutations from even the same driver gene. We further demonstrated that the specificity of the mutations could influence patient drug responses. Moreover, we observed that diversity was generally increased in advanced tumors. Finally, we scanned potentially novel cancer driver genes based on the diversity spectrum. Diversity spectrum analysis provides a new approach to define driver mutations and optimize off-label clinical trials. Xiaobao Dong et al. developed a network-based framework to measure cancer diversity for cancer driver mutations, finding that half of driver genes contain both cancer type-specific and pancancer mutations. They show that the specificity of mutations could influence therapeutic responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest trees are colonised by different species of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi that interact competitively or mutualistically with one another. Most ECM fungi can produce sporocarps. To date, the effects of co-colonising fungal species on sporocarp formation in ECM fungi remain unknown. In this study, we examined host plant growth, mycorrhizal colonisation, and sporocarp formation when roots of Pinus densiflora are colonised by Laccaria japonica and three other ECM fungal species (Cenococcum geophilum, Pisolithus sp., and Suillus luteus). Sporocarp numbers were recorded throughout the experimental period. The biomass, photosynthetic rate, and mycorrhizal colonisation rate of the seedlings were also measured at 45 days, 62 days, and 1 year after seedlings were transplanted. Results indicated that C. geophilum and S. luteus may negatively impact mycorrhizal colonisation and sporocarp formation in L. japonica. Sporocarp formation in L. japonica was positively correlated with conspecific mycorrhizal colonisation but negatively correlated with the biomass of seedlings of P. densiflora. The co-occurring ECM fungi largely competed with L. japonica, resulting in various effects on mycorrhizal colonisation and sporocarp formation in L. japonica. A variety of mechanisms may be involved in the competitive interactions among the different ECM fungal species, including abilities to more rapidly colonise root tips, acquire soil nutrients, or produce antibiotics. These mechanisms need to be confirmed in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,4,6,8,10,12-Hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexazisowurtzitane (HNIW)·1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX) co-crystal in a 2:1 molar ratio was prepared by a solvent/non-solvent method, and the co-crystal has been characterized by several methods. The enthalpies of dissolution of 2HNIW·HMX co-crystal in N,N-dimethylformamide at different temperatures were measured by a DC08-1 Calvet microcalorimeter under standard atmospheric pressure, and it is indicated that the dissolutions are exothermic process. The empirical formulae for the calculation of the molar enthalpy (ΔdissH) of dissolution, relative partial molar enthalpy (ΔdissHpartial), relative apparent molar enthalpy (ΔdissHapparent), and enthalpy of dilution (ΔdilH1,2) at 298.15 K are obtained. The differential enthalpies (ΔdifH) and kinetic equations describing the dissolution process at different temperatures are deduced. Furthermore, the apparent activation energy E = 10.54 ± 0.22 kJ mol-1 and pre-exponential constant A = 0.34 ± 0.03 s−1 of 2HNIW·HMX co-crystal are obtained. The standard molar Gibbs free energy of activation (ΔG≠θ) at different temperatures is 86.44 ± 0.02 kJ mol−1 (298.15 K), 88.02 ± 0.03 kJ mol−1 (303.15 K), 89.61 ± 0.01 kJ mol−1 (308.15 K), 91.18 ± 0.01 kJ mol−1 (313.15 K), and 92.75 ± 0.02 kJ mol−1 (318.15 K), respectively. The standard molar entropy of activation (ΔS≠θ) and standard molar enthalpy of activation (ΔH≠θ) are − 262.55 ± 0.72 J mol−1 K−1 and 7.98 ± 0.22 kJ mol−1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The aggregation of Aβ peptides, Aβ1-42 in particular, is thought to be a fundamental pathogenic mechanism leading to the neuronal damage in AD. Recently, monosialoganglioside GM1 is reported to possess pivotal neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have focused on the conformational dynamics and the biochemical interaction of the amyloid-peptide with the GM1 ganglioside, as well as the protective effect of GM1 on cognition. However, the phenomenon of autophagy with regard to neuronal dysfunction in AD is less investigated. In the present study, GM1 treatment were investigated in an AD mouse model and cultured PC12 dells to examine cognition-protective and neuroprotective effects of GM1. Furthermore, GM1 was found to induce autophagy via testing light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin1, neighbor of BRCA1 gene 1 protein and p62 (a substrate of LC3). Chloroquine, an inhibitor of lysosomal, was used to exclude the interference of lysosome, which could fuse with autophagosome and then clear it. In the presence of the inhibitor of autophagy (3-methyladenine; 3-MA), the protective effect of GM1 on PC12 cells in Aβ (1-42) induced toxic conditions was diminished. Interestingly, the expression of histone deacetylase 1 was increased in PC12 cells when treated with GM1, indicating that autophagy might be activated by GM1 through a pathway integrates protein acetylation. This study provides a novel insight into the protective role of GM1 against Aβ (1-42)-induced neurotoxicity via enhancing autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal conductivities of polycarbonate (PC) composites filled with carbon fillers, including carbon black (CB), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and exfoliated graphite (EG), were studied. EG filler provided substantially greater thermal conductivity enhancement when embedded into PC matrix compared with CB and MWCNTs at the same loading. To further improve the thermal conductivity of PC composite, a hybrid EG/MWCNTs filler was used. When the hybrid filler loading was 10 mass%, the radio of EG: MWCNTs was 9:1, and the thermal conductivity of PC composite showed a maximum value of 1.19 W m K higher than that filled with EG or MWCNTs alone, indicating that the combination of EG and MWCNTs demonstrated a synergistic effect for the thermal conductivity enhancement of PC. EG/MWCNTs/PC composite with thermal conductivity >5 W m K was fabricated when the filler content was 40 mass%, which would widen its field of applications in electrons, LED lamps and aerospace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, double hydrophilic ionic liquid block copolymers (ILBCs), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-block-poly[1-methyl-3-(2-methacryloyloxy propylimidazolium bromine)] (PNIPAM- b-PMMPImB), were polymerized by two-step reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process. The composition and molecular weight distributions of ILBCs were characterized using HNMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The self-assembly and temperature- and anion-responsive behaviors of ILBCs were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM and dynamic light scattering (DLS). With increasing the concentration of (CFSO)N, the micellization of self-assembling PNIPAM- b-PMMPImB was induced to form a core-shell structure containing the core with hydrophilic PMMPIm-(CFSO)N surrounded by the shell of PNIPAM via the anion-responsive properties of ILBCs. However, upon temperature increasing, PNIPAM- b-PMMPImB formed the micelles composing of PNIPAM core and PMMPImB shell. The ionic liquid segment with strong hydrophilic property enhanced the hydrogen bonding interaction which expanded the temperature range of phase transition and increased the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the system. These results indicate that ILBCs prepared in this paper have excellent temperature and anion double responsive properties, and may be applied as a kind of potential environmental responsive polymer nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]