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Polyurethane resin (PU) and boron nitride (BN) are used to develop a series of boron nitride/polyurethane (BN/PU) composite fibers by a wet‐spinning method. The thermal conductivity of the composite fibers was improved by blending modified thermally conductive particles with polymer. The improvement of thermal conductivity depends largely on the interfacial effect between them. The results show that PU composite fabric filled with BN functionalized with polyethylenimine and glutaraldehyde (GPBN/PUF) has a high thermal conductivity, revealing an increase of 226% compared to the PU fabric. The GPBN/PUF fabric can reduce the simulated skin temperature by 2.3°C compared with conventional cotton fabric. Additionally, the as‐prepared GPBN/PUF fabric possesses good mechanical stability and washability. This work provides a strategy for developing flexible heat‐conducting fabric. Highlights: The stability of the PEI coating formed on the BN surface was significantly improved by GA cross‐linking.The composite fiber fabric has improved thermal conductivity and good mechanical properties.The composite fiber fabric can dissipate heat quickly in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanate (CE) resin and ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber are respectively important matrix and reinforcing material for lightweight and high wave‐transparent composites. However, the preparation and application of the composites is limited by the mismatch of molding temperature between CE resin and UHMWPE fiber. The best method to solve this problem is to catalyze the CE resin curing reaction and reduce its molding temperature from 270 to 135°C, which is the upper heat‐resistance temperature of UHMWPE fiber. In this study, the polysulfide catalyst (PSC) was used to catalyze CE resin curing reaction, reduce the curing reaction activation energy and the molding temperature. The apparent activation energy of the CE‐PSC resin decreases from 107.2 to 60.7 kJ mol−1, and the glass transition temperature of the CE‐PSC resin is 257.2°C, flexural strength and tensile strength are 120.2 and 60.8 MPa, respectively. As a result, the CE‐PSC/UHMWPE fiber composites, which are molded at the matching temperature of 135°C, have low density of 1.05 g cm−3, low dielectric constant of 2.4, low dielectric loss of 0.006, and high wave transmittance of 92.2%. Therefore, the CE‐PSC/UHMWPE fiber composites have wide application prospect in the field of light weight and high wave‐transparent composites. Highlights: A novel catalytic CE resin can be cured at 135°C with low dielectric properties.The processing temperature mismatch between CE and UHMWPE fiber was solved.Catalytic CE/UHMWPE composites have lightweight and high wave‐transparent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exocytosis plays an essential role in delivering proteins, lipids, and cell wall polysaccharides to the plasma membrane and extracellular spaces. Accurate secretion through exocytosis is key to normal plant development as well as responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. During exocytosis, an octameric protein complex named the exocyst facilitates the tethering of secretory vesicles to the plasma membrane. Despite some understanding of molecular and cellular aspects of exocyst function obtained through reverse genetics and direct interaction assays, knowledge about upstream modulators and genetic interactors remains limited. Traditional genetic screens encounter practical issues in exocyst subunit mutant backgrounds, such as lethality of certain knockout mutants and/or potential redundancy of EXO70 homologs. To address these challenges, this study leverages the tunable and reversible nature of chemical genetics, employing Endosidin2 (ES2)—a synthetic inhibitor of EXO70—for a large‐scale chemical genetic mutant screen in Arabidopsis. This approach led to the identification of 70 ES2‐hypersensitive mutants, named es2s. Through a whole‐genome sequencing‐based mapping strategy, 14 nonallelic es2s mutants were mapped and the candidate mutations reported here. In addition, T‐DNA insertion lines were tested as alternative alleles to identify causal mutations. We found that T‐DNA insertion alleles for DCP5, VAS1/ISS1, ArgJ, and MEF11 were hypersensitive to ES2 for root growth inhibition. This research not only offers new genetic resources for systematically identifying molecular players interacting with the exocyst in Arabidopsis but also enhances understanding of the regulation of exocytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study that examines the risk factors associated with the progression of atopic dermatitis (AD) to allergic asthma (AA) and/or allergic rhinitis (AR), known as the Atopic March. The study focuses on a high-risk, minority, urban, low-income birth cohort and explores factors such as race/ethnicity, gender, breastfeeding, maternal obesity, preterm birth, and maternal atopy history. The findings suggest that being Black, male, exclusively breastfed, or born to mothers with obesity are risk factors for AD. Additionally, Hispanic ethnicity, nulliparity, preterm birth, and maternal atopy history are associated with the development of the Atopic March. The study provides valuable data for identifying early risk factors and potential interventions for children at high risk of the Atopic March. [Extracted from the article]

Herein, 24CrNiMo low‐alloy steel is successfully prepared using selective laser melting (SLM) technology. Effects of dual‐phase region quenching treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of SLM 24CrNiMo low‐alloy steel are analyzed. The results show that after three kinds of dual‐phase region quenching treatment, different martensite–ferrite dual‐phase microstructure of the as‐quenched alloy steel is obtained. In the range of austenitizing temperature from 760 to 820 °C, the content and size of the ferrite decrease; on the contrary, the content and size of the martensite increase. Furthermore, with the austenitizing temperature increasing, the morphology of the ferrite gradually changes from acicular ferrite + polygonal ferrite to acicular ferrite, while the lath characteristics of the martensite become more and more obvious. For electron backscatter diffraction results, with increasing the quenching temperature, the crystallographic morphology gradually changes from columnar grains to equiaxed grains; meanwhile, the extreme value of texture strength and the average size of grains are both decreased. When the austenitizing temperature is 820 °C, the microhardness and tensile strength of the as‐quenched alloy steel are much higher than that of the as‐deposited alloy steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The number of breast cancer patients is increasing, but there are insufficient sources of information for their family caregivers. The purpose of this systematic review was to elaborate the psychologically realistic experiences and corresponding needs of family members of patients with breast cancer in the course of their experience in the disease which may provide them with effective, targeted intervention strategies to improve their quality of life. Design: Protocol for a meta‐synthesis. Methods: We will search the Chinese databases (i.e., China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP Database and Wanfang Database) and the English databases (i.e., PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL and PsycINFO). Qualitative studies from the above databases, studying the psychological experiences of family members of patients with breast cancer, will be searched comprehensively. The quality of the study will be evaluated by two reviewers independently using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools for qualitative study, and any disagreements will be discussed and judged by the third reviewer. Data will be extracted using JBI standardized data extraction tool. Then, the literature will be compared and analysed, and the raw results summarized using the JBI meta‐aggregation tool. The reliability and credibility of the overall quality of the included studies will be assessed by using the JBI ConQual approach. Results: N/A. No Patient or Public Contribution. PROSPERO registration number: REDACTED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of single‐port laparoscopy during pregnancy in short term and long term. Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted to investigate the clinical data of 38 pregnant women with adnexal masses who underwent transumbilical single‐port laparoscopic surgery from January 2017 to March 10, 2023. Results: The mean operation time was 72.7 ± 29.6 (30–160) min. The mean intraoperative blood loss was 30.5 ± 80.4 mL, the mean postoperative first defecation time was 2.5 ± 0.7 days, and the mean total hospital stay was 6.9 ± 1.4 days. None of the patients used analgesic drugs postoperatively. Two patients developed missed abortions within 1 month of surgery, one underwent induction of labor due to a dead fetus at 24 weeks and 5 days of gestation, and the other patients did not develop adverse events after surgery. Mean birth weight was 3322.3 ± 396.3 g. The fetal heart rate was 139 ± 6.4 bpm before operation and 149 ± 2.7 bpm after operation. The APGAR score at 1 and 10 min was 9.2 ± 0.6 points and 9.9 ± 0.2 points, respectively. The mean follow‐up time was 23.9 ± 16.1 (4.7–56) months, 90% (27/30) of the children had moderate developmental quotient, and 10% (3/30) of the children had good developmental quotient, without borderline low developmental quotient or mental retardation. Conclusion: It is safe, practical, and worthwhile to promote transumbilical single port laparoscopic surgery for pregnancies with adnexal masses in both short and long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is critical for algal growth and resistance to environmental stress. However, little is known about the effects of P supply on the lead (Pb) toxicity and accumulation in microalgae. We set up two P concentrations, 315 (PL) and 3150 μg L−1 (PH), in algal culture, and the responses of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to various Pb treatments (0, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 μg L−1) were investigated. Compared with the PL condition, PH promoted cell growth but reduced cellular respiration by approximately 50%. Moreover, PH alleviated damage to the photosynthetic system in algal cells after Pb stress. After exposure to 200–2000 μg L−1 Pb, higher Pb2+ concentrations and Pb removal were observed in the PL medium. However, under exposure to 5000 μg L−1 Pb, less Pb2+ was present but more Pb was removed by the algal cells in the PH medium. More P supply enhanced the secretion of extracellular fluorescent substances by C. reinhardtii. Transcriptomic analysis showed that genes associated with synthesis of phospholipids, tyrosine‐like proteins, ferredoxin, and RuBisCO were up‐regulated after Pb exposure. Together the findings of our study demonstrated the critical roles of P in Pb accumulation and resistance in C. reinhardtii. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1960–1970. © 2023 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)‐based biosensors have been developed to facilitate the rapid and sensitive detection of nucleic acids. However, most approaches using CRISPR‐based detection have disadvantages associated with the limitations of CRISPR RNA (crRNA), protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) or protospacer flanking sequence restriction, single channel detection, and difficulty in quantitative detection resulting in only some target sites being detected qualitatively. Here, we aimed to develop a barcode‐based Cas12a‐mediated DNA detection (BCDetection) strategy, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and enables (1) detection with a universal PAM and crRNA without PAM or crRNA restriction, (2) simultaneous detection of multiple targets in a single reaction, and (3) quantitative detection, which can significantly distinguish copy number differences up to as low as a two‐fold limit. We could efficiently and simultaneously detect three β‐thalassemia mutations in a single reaction using BCDetection. Notably, samples from normal individuals, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) carriers, and SMA patients were significantly and accurately distinguished using the quantitative detection ability of BCDetection, indicating its potential application in β‐thalassemia and SMA carrier screening. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that BCDetection provides a new platform for accurate and efficient quantitative detection using CRISPR/Cas12a, highlighting its bioanalytical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How land use changes and geomorphologic zones impact on vegetation nonlinear trends remains unclear in economically developed areas with complicated terrain. This paper explores the nonlinear trends of vegetation changes with normalized vegetation index (NDVI) in the Yangtze River basin, China, and further analyzes the effect of geomorphologic zones and land use changes on the nonlinear trend. The results show that: (1) Although monotonic increasing is the main trend type of vegetation NDVI (32.46%), reversal trends from decreasing to increasing and from increasing to decreasing account for 11.87% and 24.95%, respectively. (2) The vegetation change is mainly monotonically increasing in low altitude and relief zones, while that is mainly a reversal trend in high altitude and relief zones, indicating an increased risk of vegetation degradation with altitude and relief increasing. (3) The trends in most land use types are mainly monotonically increasing, but those in urban, forest, and grassland are mainly from increasing to decreasing, with area percentages as high as 32.29%, 27.25%, and 35.97%, indicating degradation risk. (4) The conversion of cropland and wetland to forestland has greatly promoted the vegetation restoration. However, a risk of vegetation degradation exists in land conversions between grassland and other land use types, especially the afforestation of grassland. Over all, considering the effects of both geomorphic zones and land use changes can help us better explore the driving of the nonlinear trends of vegetation changes and understand the process of vegetation dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: When extracting total glycosides from Panax notoginseng, a waste liquid containing chloroform and n‐hexane will be produced. These waste liquids are not separated and recycled in time, which will not only waste resources but also cause environmental pollution. Chloroform and n‐hexane form an azeotrope which cannot be separated by ordinary distillation methods. This study proposes three extractive distillation processes to separate the chloroform/n‐hexane azeotrope: conventional extractive distillation (ED), side‐stream extractive distillation (SSED) and extractive dividing wall column (EDWC). The total annual cost (TAC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of the three options were compared, and the optimal process was selected. Furthermore, this research developed dynamic control of the optimal process. Results: Compared with ED, from the perspective of economic indicators, the SSED process showed 18.9% reduction in TAC yet the EDWC process showed 33.2% reduction in TAC. In terms of CO2 emission indicators, the EDWC process also is more advantageous. Three control structures thus were developed for EDWC: applying ±5% or ±10% feed flow disturbance, and feed composition disturbance. The results show that CS3 with temperature composition cascade control structure can perfectly control all disturbances. Conclusion: This paper designs an economical, environmentally friendly and controllable chloroform/n‐hexane azeotropic separation process, which can provide a reference for the industrial application of chloroform/n‐hexane separation. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the surface of A473M martensitic stainless steel is strengthened by rolling processing technology. The microstructure evolution and plastic deformation behavior are characterized by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The experimental results indicate that residual compressive stress will be formed on the surface of A473M steel after rolling, and the maximum value can reach 946 MPa. The surface roughness decreases significantly from 383 to 62.7 nm, which is only 1/5 of the matrix. The microstructure of the rolled samples is obviously refined, and <101>//ND texture is formed. The nanohardness of the hardened layer on the sample surface increases from 2.5 to 4.8 GPa, and the elastic modulus increases from 140 to 217 GPa. Compared with the matrix, the tensile strength and yield strength after rolling are increased by 40% and 22%, respectively. EBSD analysis indicates that the texture of the rolled samples after tensile changed from the <101>//TD direction of the matrix to the <101>//TD and <111>//RD directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new type of amphiphilic copolymer SPXFJ, with amide and sulfonate functional groups, was synthesized via the free radical polymerization method. And the chemical structure and properties of this new polymer were characterized by elemental analysis (EA), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), intrinsic viscosity tests, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The hydrophobic association and thermo‐thickening properties of SPXFJ copolymer were investigated through viscometer, contact angle tester, high‐resolution scanning electron microscope analysis, and X‐ray laser static scattering (XLSS) test. The test results indicated that SPXFJ copolymer showed superior amphiphilic properties, especially in the solution condition. Furthermore, a thermo‐associative behavior was found in the solution that aged at 180°C. Thus, SPXFJ‐based drilling fluid showed a higher temperature resistance. The test results, in both high‐temperature aging tests and high‐temperature high‐pressure (HTHP) downhole simulation tests, showed that the water‐based drilling fluid showed excellent anti‐sedimentation properties with the use of SPXFJ polymer and can be improved significantly, especially in the high‐pressure condition. The water‐based drilling fluid of 2.0 g/cm3 showed no sedimentation of barite powders at 180°C/100 MPa, of which the density deviation just reached approximately 0.06 g/cm3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, moisture contents and product quality of Pu‐erh tea were predicted with deep learning‐based methods. Images were captured continuously in the sun‐drying process. Environmental parameters (EP) of air humidity, air temperature, global radiation, wind speed, and ultraviolet radiation were collected with a portable meteorological station. Sensory scores of aroma, flavor, liquor color, residue, and total scores were given by a trained panel. Convolutional neural network (CNN) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) models were constructed based on image information and EP, which were selected in advance using the neighborhood component analysis (NCA) algorithm. The evolved models based on deep‐learning methods achieved satisfactory results, with RMSE of 0.4332, 0.2669, 0.7508 (also with R2 of.9997,.9882,.9986, with RPD of 53.5894, 13.1646, 26.3513) for moisture contents prediction in each batch of tea, tea at different sampling periods, the overall samples, respectively; and with RMSE of 0.291, 0.2815, 0.162, 0.1574, 0.3931 (also with R2 of.9688,.9772,.9752,.9741,.8906, with RPD of 5.6073, 6.5912, 6.352, 6.1428, 4.0045) for final quality prediction of aroma, flavor, liquor color, residue, total score, respectively. By analyzing and comparing the RMSE values, the most significant environmental parameters (EP) were selected. The proposed combinations of different EP can also provide a valuable reference in the development of a new sun‐drying system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of acoustic tonals from surfaces and underwater vehicles is important for passive sonar systems. Enhancements of the tonals are usually necessary in passive sonar prior to detections. Conventionally, passive sonars employ adaptive line enhancers (ALE) in order to realise enhancements of the tonals. However, ALEs have requirements on their input signal‐to‐noise ratios (SNR). When the SNR inputs are too low, the ALEs cannot perform well. Therefore, for the purpose of overcoming the limitations of the SNR inputs to ALEs, this study proposes to enhance tonals using unsupervised deep‐learning techniques. The proposed deep‐learning‐based line enhancer (DLE) is based on an autoencoder neural network. The simulation results show that when the input SNR is −28 dB, the proposed DLE still achieves an SNR gain of 15 dB. However, the reference ALE fails. The experimental results also demonstrate the superiority of the proposed DLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algae–bacteria consortia have been proven effective in the removal of metal pollutants, but the effects of algal–bacterial ratio in the metal accumulation and resistance by this symbiotic system have not been systematically investigated. In this study, we set up consortia with various ratios of Chlorella salina–Bacillus subtilis, determined their growth, Cd accumulation, levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH), extracellular polysaccharide, phosphorus (P) in the culture medium, and functional groups of consortia after Cd treatments (0.1, 0.5, 1 mg L−1) for 7 days. With the addition of B. subtilis in the C. salina culture, the dry weight and specific growth rate of the consortia significantly increased compared with C. salina alone, reaching 68.33 mg and 0.382 (mg L−1) d−1 respectively at the 1:4 algal–bacterial ratio with 1 mg L−1 Cd treatment. Maximum Cd removal (51.66%) was also observed upon the same Cd exposure and algal–bacterial ratio. Cadmium was mostly taken up into cells at 1 mg L−1 Cd whereas its adsorption dominated the accumulation when Cd was 0.1 and 0.5 mg L−1. The amounts of extracellular polysaccharides, GSH, and P of the symbiotic system were also increased by the bacterial addition. Besides, Fouriertransform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis showed that functional groups like N–H, O–H, and P–O–C were involved in the Cd complexation. Taken together, a higher bacterial ratio promoted the Cd accumulation and detoxification by the C. salina–B. subtilis consortia through intra‐ and extracellular processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnitude and distribution of China's terrestrial carbon sink remain uncertain due to insufficient constraints at large scales, whereby satellite data offer great potential for reducing the uncertainty. Here, we present two carbon sink estimates for China constrained either by satellite CO2 column concentrations (XCO2) within the Global Carbon Assimilation System or by remotely sensed soil moisture and Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR) in addition to in situ CO2 observations within the Carbon Cycle Data Assimilation System. They point to a moderate size of carbon sinks of 0.34 ± 0.14 (mean ± unc.) and 0.43 ± 0.09 PgC/yr during 2010–2015, which are supported by an inventory‐based estimate for forest and soil carbon sink (0.26 PgC/yr) and fall in the range of contemporary ensemble atmospheric inversions (0.25–0.48 PgC/yr). They also agree reasonably well on interannual variations, which reflect the carbon sink anomalies induced by regional droughts in southwest China. Furthermore, their spatial distributions are broadly consistent that of the forest inventory‐based estimate, indicating that the largest carbon sinks locate in central and eastern China. Their estimates for forest carbon sink coincide fairly well with the inventory‐based estimate across different regions, especially when aggregated to the north and south of China. Although enhanced recently by afforestation, China's carbon sink was also significantly weakened by regional droughts, which were often not fully represented in previous in situ CO2‐based inversions due to insufficient observations. Our results suggest that satellite‐based atmospheric CO2 and land surface observations are vital in characterizing terrestrial net carbon fluxes at regional scales. Plain Language Summary: Limited by available in situ CO2 observations, the size and geographical distribution of China's terrestrial carbon sink remain not well known, whereby satellite observations offer great potential for improving the situation. In this study, we estimate the carbon sink of China from either satellite CO2 column concentrations (XCO2) or remotely sensed land surface variables in addition to in situ CO2 observations. They point to a moderate size of carbon sinks of 0.34 ± 0.14 (mean ± unc.) and 0.43 ± 0.09 PgC/yr during 2010–2015. The size of China's carbon sink estimate is supported by an inventory‐based estimate for forest and soil carbon sink (0.26 PgC/yr) and in line with contemporary atmospheric inversions (0.25–0.48 PgC/yr). They can detect the carbon sink anomalies induced by regional droughts in southwest China. Their estimates for forest carbon sink coincide fairly well with the inventory‐based estimate across different regions, especially when aggregated to the north and south of China. China's carbon sink was significantly weakened by regional droughts, which were often not fully represented in previous in situ CO2‐based inversions because of lacking observations. This study demonstrates that satellite‐based atmospheric CO2 and land surface observations are vital in characterizing terrestrial net carbon fluxes at regional scales. Key Points: Two estimates of China's recent carbon flux constrained by different satellite observations consistently reveal a moderate carbon sinkThe two satellite‐based data assimilation systems point to a largely reduced carbon uptake in southwest China due to droughtsTheir estimates for forest carbon sink coincide fairly well with the inventory‐based estimate across different regions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical regeneration of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is an extremely important challenge for the electroenzymatic synthesis of many valuable chemicals. Although some important progress has been made with modified electrodes concerning the reduction of NAD+, the scale‐up is difficult due to mass transport limitations inherent to large‐size electrodes. Here, we propose instead to employ a dispersion of electrocatalytically active modified microparticles in the bulk of a bipolar electrochemical cell. In this way, redox reactions occur simultaneously on all of these individual microelectrodes without the need of a direct electrical connection. The concept is validated by using [Rh(Cp*)(bpy)Cl]+ functionalized surfaces, either of carbon felt as a reference material, or carbon microbeads acting as bipolar objects. In the latter case, enzymatically active 1,4‐NADH is electroregenerated at the negatively polarized face of the particles. The efficiency of the system can be fine‐tuned by controlling the electric field in the reaction compartment and the number of dispersed microelectrodes. This wireless bioelectrocatalytic approach opens up very interesting perspectives for electroenzymatic synthesis in the bulk phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Die elektrochemische Regenerierung von reduziertem Nikotinamid‐Adenin‐Dinukleotid (NADH) ist eine Herausforderung für die elektroenzymatische Synthese vieler wertvoller Chemikalien. Obwohl mit modifizierten Elektroden einige wichtige Fortschritte bei der Reduktion von NAD+ erzielt wurden, ist die Maßstabsvergrößerung aufgrund der Beschränkungen des Massentransports, die großen Elektroden eigen sind, schwierig. Hier schlagen wir stattdessen vor, eine Dispersion elektrokatalytisch aktiver modifizierter Mikropartikel in der Bulkphase einer bipolaren elektrochemischen Zelle zu verwenden. Auf diese Weise finden Redoxreaktionen gleichzeitig an allen diesen einzelnen Mikroelektroden statt, ohne dass eine direkte elektrische Verbindung erforderlich ist. Das Konzept wird durch die Verwendung von [Rh(Cp*)(bpy)Cl]+ funktionalisierten Oberflächen, entweder von Kohlenstofffilz als Referenzmaterial, oder von Kohlenstoffmikrokügelchen als bipolare Objekte, validiert. Im letzteren Fall wird das enzymatisch aktive 1,4‐NADH an der negativ polarisierten Seite der Partikel generiert. Die Effizienz des Systems kann durch Steuerung des elektrischen Feldes im Reaktionsraum und durch die Anzahl der verteilten Mikroelektroden fein abgestimmt werden. Dieser drahtlose bioelektrokatalytische Ansatz eröffnet sehr interessante Perspektiven für die elektroenzymatische Synthese in der Bulkphase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different formulations of interfacial force have been adopted in the existing phase‐field‐based lattice Boltzmann method for two‐phase flows. Although they are identical mathematically, their numerical performances may be different due to truncation errors at discrete level. In this article, four‐type formulations of interfacial force available in the literature, namely, stress tensor form (STF), chemical potential form (CPF), pressure form, and continuum surface force (CSF) form, are summarized and theoretical analyzed. A systematic study of the performances of all formulations is made by a series of benchmark problems, including stationary droplet, two merging droplets, Capillary wave, rising bubble and drop deformation in shear flow. Numerical results show that CPF is a good choice for small surface deformation problems while STF is preferred for dynamical problems, both STF and CSF presents better numerical stability in terms of Peclet number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Endosidin20 (ES20) is a recently identified cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor (CBI) that targets the catalytic site of plant cellulose synthase (CESA). Here, we screened over 600 ES20 analogs and identified nine active analogs named ES20‐1 to ES20‐9. Among these, endosidin20‐1 (ES20‐1) had stronger inhibitory effects on plant growth and cellulose biosynthesis than ES20. At the biochemical level, we demonstrated that ES20‐1, like ES20, directly interacts with CESA6. At the cellular level, this molecule, like ES20, induced the accumulation of cellulose synthase complexes at the Golgi apparatus and inhibited their secretion to the plasma membrane. Like ES20, ES20‐1 likely targets the catalytic site of CESA. However, through molecular docking analysis using a modeled structure of full‐length CESA6, we found that both ES20 and ES20‐1 might have another target site at the transmembrane regions of CESA6. Besides ES20, other CBIs such as isoxaben, C17, and flupoxam are widely used tools to dissect the mechanism of cellulose biosynthesis and are also valuable resources for the development of herbicides. Here, based on mutant genetic analysis and molecular docking analysis, we have identified the potential target sites of these CBIs on a modeled CESA structure. Some bacteria also produce cellulose, and both ES20 and ES20‐1 inhibited bacterial cellulose biosynthesis. Therefore, we conclude that ES20‐1 is a more potent analog of ES20 that inhibits intrinsic cellulose biosynthesis in plants, and both ES20 and ES20‐1 show an inhibitory effect on bacterial growth and cellulose synthesis, making them excellent tools for exploring the mechanisms of cellulose biosynthesis across kingdoms. Significance Statement: Endosidin20‐1 has the same mode of action as endosidin20 in plants and is a more potent inhibitor of cellulose biosynthesis in plants, and both of them inhibit the growth and cellulose biosynthesis of bacteria, making them excellent tools for exploring the complex mechanisms underlying cellulose biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It still remains challenging to simultaneously achieve high stability, selectivity, and activity in CO2 reduction. Herein, a dual chainmail‐bearing nickel‐based catalyst (Ni@NC@NCNT) was fabricated via a solvothermal‐evaporation‐calcination approach. In situ encapsulated N‐doped carbon layers (NCs) and nanotubes (NCNTs) gave a dual protection to the metallic core. The confined space well maintained the local alkaline pH value and suppressed hydrogen evolution. Large surface area and abundant pyridinic N and Niδ+ sites ensured high CO2 adsorption capacity and strength. Benefitting from these, it delivered a CO faradaic efficiency of 94.1 % and current density of 48.0 mA cm−2 at −0.75 and −1.10 V, respectively. Moreover, the performance remained unchanged after continuous electrolysis for 43 h, far exceeding Ni@NC with single chainmail, Ni@NC/NCNT with Ni@NC sitting on the walls of NCNT, bare NCNT and most state‐of‐the‐art catalysts, demonstrating structural superiority of Ni@NC@NCNT. This work sheds light on designing unique architectures to improve electrochemical performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop an effective and convenient solution for underwater repelling oil and cleaning up oily water, TiO2 nano‐coating is deposited on the surface of poly(propylene) nonwoven (PPN) by atomic layer deposition (ALD). There is no evident change in the morphologies comparing ALD‐modified PPN with PPN except for thickness. For oils of different densities, such as 1,2‐dichloroethane, methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, n‐hexane, and petroleum ether, the underwater oil contact angle and underwater oil sliding angle of ALD‐modified PPN range from 152.25° to 156.19° and 5.63° to 8.80°, respectively, exhibiting superior superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity. Notably, ALD‐modified PPN shows a high chemical stability in different solutions, such as acid, alkali, salt, and polar solvent, which even can slightly improve the underwater superoleophobicity of TiO2 nano‐coating. The excellent underwater anti‐oil property, self‐cleaning property, robust chemical resistance, and easily scaled‐up preparation process of TiO2‐coated PPN suggest great potential for practical applications in the energy, environmental protection, marine anti‐fouling, and microflow control fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonates in soils may act as a potential source of CO2 efflux from calcareous soils to the atmosphere. However, its seasonal dynamics and relationships with soil temperature or soil moisture are not well‐understood. A 5‐yr warming experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of symmetric (all season) and asymmetric (seasonal) warming on soil organic fraction (SOC)‐derived efflux and carbonate‐derived CO2 efflux (partitioned by δ13C signature) from a calcareous soil in the karst region of southwest China. In region where precipitation mostly falls during summer, an average of 2.0°C warming under both symmetric and asymmetric warming scenarios produced 6–34% and 11–14% increases in the SOC‐derived efflux and carbonate‐derived efflux, respectively. The SOC‐derived efflux in the symmetric warming scenario was 1.6 times that of the asymmetric warming scenarios, but no changes were found for the carbonate‐derived efflux. The SOC‐derived efflux was positively correlated with both soil temperature and soil moisture, suggesting an entailment with biotic processes. In contrast, the carbonate‐derived efflux was positively correlated with soil temperature, but was poorly correlated with soil moisture. Thus, the seasonal dynamics of the carbonate‐derived efflux in calcareous soils were likely driven by abiotic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloys have potential biomedical applications due to their adequate antibacterial properties. However, the wear and corrosion properties of these alloys are also crucial for dental implants. In the present study, Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloys were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). The microstructure and composition of Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloys by SLM were evaluated. The wear properties of the alloys in the simulated saliva environment and the atmospheric environment, as well as the electrochemical properties in the simulated saliva environment, were systematically investigated. The results showed that the crystal structure of Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloys was mainly composed of α‐Ti and Ti2Cu. In the SLM process, no preferred texture was observed due to the complex direction of the heat flux. The formation of Ti2Cu can improve the strength of the material and make the titanium copper alloy have higher microhardness. Ti6Al4V–5Cu alloy showed a satisfactory wear resistance in both wear media. The addition of Cu reduced the second‐phase content of the alloy. Meanwhile, the number of microcells was reduced, which was a positive factor to improve the corrosion resistance of the alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructural evolution and tribological characteristics of a laser additive manufactured 12CrNi2V steel heat‐treated with four conditions are thoroughly studied to provide beneficial guidance to the prospective application of additive manufactured Cr–Ni–V steels. First, the four conditions of heat treatments are identified via a differential scanning calorimeter test. Subsequently, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and electron backscattering diffraction are performed to characterize the morphologies, phase composition, and crystallographic textures of the experimental specimens. The microhardness and tribology tests are then conducted. Experimental results illustrate that the homogeneity of the microstructure is a significant factor in determining the tribological characteristic, which is mainly controlled by the type and distribution of the carbides. The heat treatments adopted in this work can remarkably modify the laser‐induced microstructural inhomogeneity, thereby promoting the tribological characteristic of the steel. Furthermore, the specimen tempered at 620 °C demonstrates an excellent combination of microhardness and toughness. Therefore, it is concluded that 620 °C is the optimal tempering temperature for the laser additive manufactured 12CrNi2V steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, FeCrNiBSiMox (x = 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5) stainless steels were successfully prepared using a laser melting deposition technology, with the aim to investigate the effect of Mo content on microstructure and corrosion behaviors. The results showed that the as‐deposited specimens were composed mostly of α‐Fe and a small amount of (Cr, Mo)7C3, and (Cr, Mo)7C3 existed in the inter‐dendritic (ID) region. As the Mo content increased, grain refinement could be clearly observed, and the area of the ID region increased from 27% to 54%. The low‐angle boundaries accounted for 60–70% of the grain boundaries of the as‐deposited specimens. Increasing the content of Mo improved the microhardness of the as‐deposited specimens from 652 HV to 813 HV. The corrosion current density of the as‐deposited specimens with the Mo mass fractions of 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5% were 1.37 × 10−6, 1.02 × 10−7, 6.19 × 10−7, and 3.06 × 10−7 A/cm2, respectively. The as‐deposited specimen with Mo content of 1.5% had lower cumulative erosion loss and erosion loss rate than other as‐deposited specimens. The FeCrNiBSiMox (x = 1.5) specimen exhibited excellent resistance to electrochemical corrosion and cavitation erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of nanosilica in high performance tire highly depends on its uniform dispersion in rubber matrix. A series of dispersible nanosilica (denoted as DNS) modified by diphenyl guanidine (denoted as DPG, a vulcanization accelerator) were synthesized by liquid phase in situ surface chemical modification. The structure of the as‐obtained DNS‐DPG fillers was investigated in relation to Fourier transform infrared spectrometric analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering test, and transmission electron microscopic observation. It was found that the rubber vulcanization accelerator DPG was successfully grafted onto the surface of nanosilica, thereby effectively preventing the silica nanoparticles from agglomeration and significantly reducing the average particle size. The reinforcing effect of the DPG‐modified DNS nano‐fillers for the solution polymerized styrene butadiene rubber/butadiene rubber (denoted as SSBR/BR) was dependent on the fraction of the modifier DPG; in particular, when the amount of modifier DPG is 135.25 mmol/kg (denoted as DNS‐DPG‐3), silica exhibited very homogeneous dispersion in the SSBR/BR matrix, which contributed to significantly enhancing the filler‐rubber compatibility. As a result, SSBR/BR/DNS‐DPG‐3 nanocomposite exhibited the best mechanical properties, integrated high abrasion resistance and low rolling resistance. The modified silica not only possessed the effect of accelerating the crosslinking reaction, but also showed the reinforcing effect. This could make it feasible for SSBR/BR/DNS‐DPG nanocomposite to find promising application in green tire tread. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1270–1278 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In pediatric patients with cholestasis of unknown cause, inborn errors of bile acid (BA) synthesis (IEBAS) may be considered. For the initial screening for IEBAS, clarification of the urine BA profile is essential. The transportation of urine in a frozen state via air delivery, however, is laborious and costly. This study assessed the feasibility of using dried urine spots (DUS) to establish a more convenient and affordable method of IEBAS screening. Methods: We created DUS using urine samples from patients with 3β‐hydroxy‐Δ5‐C27‐steroid dehydrogenase/isomerase deficiency (3β‐HSD) and Δ4‐3‐oxo‐steroid 5β‐reductase deficiency as standard preparations. We started accepting DUS specimens by regular mail. Results: The ratio of unusual to usual BA is essential for the initial detection of IEBAS, and the recovery rates of abnormal BA were acceptable. The recovery rate of Δ4‐BA on day 28 decreased to 31.8% at 25°C, and to 19.6% at 37°C. Therefore, the sending of DUS should be avoided under conditions of high temperature. Of a total of 49 children with cholestasis, eight new patients were diagnosed with IEBAS using this screening method. Conclusion: The mailing screening system is expected to facilitate the shipment, from regions outside of Japan, of samples for IEBAS screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, photodegradation experiments of toxic dye malachite green (MG) by Fe(III), citric acid and their complexes were carried out, and the effects of citrate concentration, Fe(III) concentration, solution pH, and initial dye concentration on MG photodegradation were explored. It was found that the maximum removal efficiency of 95.9% could be achieved after 2 h for MG solution of 20 mg/L containing both 0.1 mM Fe(III) and 1 mM citrate. The MG photodegradation process fitted well with pseudo‐first‐order kinetics, and the observed pseudo‐first‐order reaction rate constant (k) was proportional to citrate concentrations. The photochemically formed Fe(II) and H2O2 showed good correlation with MG photodegradation rate by Fe(III)‐citrate complex. The presence of citrate enhanced the photoformation of Fe(II) and H2O2, and the continuous production of hydroxyl radical (•OH) played an important role in MG photodegradation. The presence of citrate in irradiated Fe(III) solutions enhanced the photoformation of Fe(II) and H2O2, and the continuous production of hydroxyl radical (•OH) played an important role in Malachite green (MG) photodegradation. The cycling of iron, the depletion of citrate and O2, and the formation of •OH are involved in the reaction process, and the key intermediates are Fe(II), O2•–/HO2•, and H2O2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a disease condition in which a woman develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, which might be induced by multiple factors. Among those relative factors, microRNA (miRNA) is well‐known to be involved in GDM development. In this study, we investigated the role of miRNA in GDM by analyzing miRNA expression profiling in placenta tissues from healthy or GDM pregnancies. We found that miR‐96 was the most down‐regulated miRNA in GDM samples. Furthermore, miRNA target gene prediction revealed that p21‐activated kinase 1 (PAK1) is a potential target of miR‐96. Functional assays showed that miR‐96 enhanced β‐cell function, whereas PAK1 inhibited β‐cell function and cell viability. Our findings demonstrate that miR‐96 plays a critical role in GDM development by regulating PAK1 expression, insulin secretion, and β‐cell function. © 2018 BioFactors, 44(6):539–547, 2018 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphology structure and interfacial interaction are crucial factors for shape memory thermoplastic vulcanizates. In this study, shape memory thermoplastic vulcanizates based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) were prepared through dynamic vulcanization. The influence of acrylonitrile (ACN) content on the morphology, compatibility, shape memory property, and mechanical property was investigated. A co‐continuous structure was observed. The interfacial compatibilization between PLA and NBR phases occurred, resulting in a significantly improved interface adhesion and interfacial interaction, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. With such a novel structure, the PLA/NBR TPVs owned an excellent shape memory property and further improved with increasing ACN content of NBR, which could be explained that the cross‐linked continuous NBR phase provided a stronger recovery driving force. In the meantime, tensile strength and elongation at break of TPVs increased with increase in ACN content. It is concluded that the preparation of dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic vulcanizate with co‐continuous structure and strong interfacial adhesion is beneficial to obtain outstanding shape memory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, severe droughts that occurred in North America are likely to have impacted its terrestrial carbon sink. However, process‐based understanding of how meteorological conditions prior to the onset of drought, for instance warm or cold springs, affect drought‐induced carbon cycle effects remains scarce. Here we assess and compare the response of terrestrial carbon fluxes to summer droughts in 2011 and 2012 characterized by contrasting spring conditions. The analysis is based on a comprehensive ensemble of carbon cycle models, including FLUXCOM, TRENDY v5, SiBCASA, CarbonTracker Europe, and CarbonTracker, and emerging Earth observations. In 2011, large reductions of net ecosystem production (NEP; −0.24 ± 0.17 Pg C/year) are due to decreased gross primary production (−0.17 ± 0.18 Pg C/year) and slightly increased ecosystem respiration (+0.07 ± 0.17 Pg C/year). Conversely, in 2012, NEP reductions (−0.17 ± 0.25 Pg C/year) are attributed to a larger increase of ecosystem respiration (+0.48 ± 0.27 Pg C/year) than gross primary production (+0.31 ± 0.29 Pg C/year), induced predominantly by an extra warmer spring prior to summer drought. Two temperate ecoregions crops/agriculture and the grass/shrubs contribute largest to these reductions and also dominate the interannual variations of NEP during 2007–2014. Moreover, the warming spring compensated largely the negative carbon anomaly due to summer drought, consistent with earlier studies; however, the compensation occurred only in some specific ecoregions. Overall, our analysis offers a refined view on recent carbon cycle variability and extremes in North America. It corroborates earlier results but also highlights differences with respect to ecoregion‐specific carbon cycle responses to drought and heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of conservative treatment with methotrexate against placenta increta by two different routes of administration through retrospective analysis. Methods: A total of 54 women diagnosed with placenta increta after vaginal delivery were enrolled in this retrospective study. The participants accepted conservative management with methotrexate through either intravenous injection or local multi‐point injection under ultrasound guidance. The treatment was considered effective if no hysterectomy was mandatory during the follow‐up period. Results: Out of the 54 cases, 21 patients were treated with methotrexate intravenously (group 1), and 33 patients received local multi‐point injection to the placenta increta under ultrasound guidance (group 2). No maternal death occurred. In group 1, 10 patients expelled the placentas spontaneously, 7 patients underwent uterine curettage and 4 patients underwent hysterectomy for uncontrollable post‐partum hemorrhage and infection. In group 2, 25 patients expelled placentas spontaneously and 8 patients underwent uterine curettage with no incidence of hysterectomy. The success rate in group 1 and group 2 was 17/21 and 33/33, respectively. The average time of the spontaneous placenta expulsion was 79.13 ± 29.87 days in group 1 and 42.42 ± 31.83 days in group 2. Conclusion: Local multi‐point methotrexate injection under ultrasound guidance is a better alternative for patients with placenta increta, especially for preserving fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of γ‐ray radiation on PBO fibers and its composite materials have been investigated, the results showed that the microstructure and the performance of radiated PBO fibers have been improved with 30–120 kGy radiation dose, crosslinking reactions came from PBO polymer molecule chains and micro‐fibrils. As a result, the molecular weight the thermal stability were increased, the tendency of micro‐fibrils to split‐off also decreased, the hook force of radiated PBO fibers increased by 14.0% without tensile strength loss, and the nano‐compression modulus and the flexure strength of radiated PBO fiber composites also increased by 21.0% and 22.7%, respectively. The work indicated that γ‐ray radiation could synchronously strengthen the microstructure and improve the properties of PBO fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:272–279, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diesel-methanol dual-fuel (DMDF) combustion was achieved on a 6-cylinder, heavy-duty, turbocharged and common-rail diesel engine. In DMDF mode, the coal-produced methanol is induced to the upstream of the intake manifold and premixed with the fresh air to form a homogeneous methanol-air mixture and then ignited by direct-injected pilot diesel in cylinder. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of co-combustion ratio (CCR) on the rapid combustion, cyclical variation and emissions of the DMDF engine. The experimental results show that CCR affect the rapid combustion ( α) and knock tendency ( β) greatly. With CCR increasing, both α and β increase significantly. The β exhibits an obviously large value under heavy load although CCR and α are small. At larger CCR, DMDF mode may generate a seriously cyclical variation and the coefficient of variation for indicated mean effective pressure (COVIMEP) exhibits a relatively large value. However, with engine load increasing, the cyclical variation can be obviously decreased. It is also shown that both NOx and smoke emissions in DMDF mode present an obviously decrease trend, while CO and HC emissions exhibits an increase trend. A further reduction of NOx and smoke emissions can be obtained by increasing CCR, but CO and HC emissions are increased in this case. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1528-1536, 2017 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus in China is scarce. We conducted a multi-centre, cross-sectional study involving 12 hospitals from six regional cities to investigate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to explore the association between obstructive sleep apnea and related risk factors, diabetic complications and comorbidities in China. Each hospital recruited at least 70 consecutive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were admitted to the endocrinology ward. A total of 880 participants were enrolled and administered overnight sleep monitoring with a portable monitor (ApneaLink™, ResMed, San Diego, CA, USA); other information was collected from medical charts and a standardized questionnaire. In this study, 60.0% (95% confidence interval: 56.8%, 63.2%) of hospitalized patients in China with type 2 diabetes mellitus had comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5). Only 1.5% (eight of 528) of the patients with both conditions had been diagnosed previously with obstructive sleep apnea. The prevalence of moderate-severe (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15) and severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 30) was estimated to be 25.6% (22.7, 28.5%) and 10.3% (8.3, 12.4%), respectively. Age, sex, body mass index, snoring, reported breath-holding in sleep or gasping or choking arousal, sleepiness, diabetes duration, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular diseases history were correlated significantly with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. In China, the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is high. Routine screening for and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea is an important, but often neglected, part of the management of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural superfine needle down particles were successfully prepared on a self-made machine and applied to remove hazardous dye Vat Scarlet R from aqueous solution. The adsorbent was characterised by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, and temperature on dye adsorption on natural superfine needle down particles were discussed. Equilibrium adsorption studies revealed that the Langmuir isotherm model gave the best fit to experimental data, which indicates monolayer adsorption on a homogeneous surface. The monolayer adsorption capacity increased with increasing temperature in the range 298-318 K for Vat Scarlet R adsorption, and the maximum obtained adsorption capacity was 76.823 mg g−1 at 318 K. The present study suggested that natural superfine needle down particles could be used as a good and cheaper adsorbent for dye effluent treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation can cause a severe damage to textiles, such as color fading, polymer degradation, and mechanical strength decrease. The aim of this study was to deposit inorganic UV blocking agents onto polyamide/aramid dyed fabric using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique to produce functional fabrics that are resistant to high intensity UV light. Scanning electron microscopy (coupled to energy-dispersive spectroscopy), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetry studies demonstrated that TiO2, Al2O3, and TiO2/Al2O3 nanolayer could be successfully deposited onto the fiber surface. The dyed fabrics with different ALD coatings showed excellent high intensity UV resistance and were also more resistant to high intensity UV-induced mechanical strength damage. These results suggested that the ALD technology could be effective technique to improve the properties of dyed fabrics. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1296-1302, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomarker discovery from high-dimensional data is a complex task in the development of efficient cancer diagnoses and classification. However, these data are usually redundant and noisy, and only a subset of them present distinct profiles for different classes of samples. Thus, selecting high discriminative genes from gene expression data has become increasingly interesting in the field of bioinformatics. In this paper, a discrete biogeography based optimization is proposed to select the good subset of informative gene relevant to the classification. In the proposed algorithm, firstly, the fisher-markov selector is used to choose fixed number of gene data. Secondly, to make biogeography based optimization suitable for the feature selection problem; discrete migration model and discrete mutation model are proposed to balance the exploration and exploitation ability. Then, discrete biogeography based optimization, as we called DBBO, is proposed by integrating discrete migration model and discrete mutation model. Finally, the DBBO method is used for feature selection, and three classifiers are used as the classifier with the 10 fold cross-validation method. In order to show the effective and efficiency of the algorithm, the proposed algorithm is tested on four breast cancer dataset benchmarks. Comparison with genetic algorithm, particle swarm optimization, differential evolution algorithm and hybrid biogeography based optimization, experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is better or at least comparable with previous method from literature when considering the quality of the solutions obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An OH terminated hyperbranched polyester is used to stabilize TiO2 nanomaterials (10 nm) in situ synthesized via a sol-gel method with butyltitanate as precursor. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses illustrate the interactions of the hyperbranched polyester with the TiO2 nanoparticles. The stabilized TiO2 nanocomposites are used in the finishing process of Vectran and a continuous uniform TiO2 coating on the Vectran fiber surface is achieved. The TiO2-treated Vectran filaments exhibit an increased tensile strength compared to the untreated Vectran systems upon exposure to Xenon lamp UV radiation. The coating leads to improved UV-blocking performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to investigate the dynamic variations of cadmium (Cd) uptake and transport, non-protein thiols (NPT) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and lipid peroxidation under Cd stress in order to clarify the role of NPT and GST in reducing Cd toxicity and translocation in rice ( Oryza sativa L.). Cadmium accumulation was initially fast and then slowed down with increasing time of Cd exposure. However, the rice growth inhibition and lipid peroxidation were not intense until 5d after Cd treatment, even though Cd kept accumulating in root and shoot, suggesting that Cd may be effectively detoxified. The concentrations of NPT in root increased gradually until 5d after Cd stress, whereas those in shoot showed no significant changes. The concentration of shoot GSH was progressively enhanced upon Cd treatment, while it gradually declined in root after an initial increase. The GST activity varied similarly in root and shoot, reaching the maximum level on 3rd day, followed by a significant decrease 5 d after Cd application. Significant increases of lipid peroxidation and root-to-shoot translocation on 7th day indicate that the equilibrium in Cd-thiol interaction in rice might be disturbed upon the prolonged Cd exposure. In summary, our results suggest that Cd may be retained and detoxified in rice root through chelation with thiol compounds and subsequent sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the glutathione C60 derivative on the cytotoxicity of a highly reactive free radical NO (nitric oxide) has been investigated. Consistent with its cytoprotective abilities, the derivative scavenges ROS (reactive oxygen species) and RNS (reactive nitrogen species) both in vitro and under cell-free conditions. Moreover, the glutathione C60 derivative protected PC12 cells from the cytotoxic effect of the NO-releasing compound, SNP (sodium nitroprusside). Addition of glutathione C60 derivative alone did not induce apoptosis and necrosis. The results suggest that the glutathione C60 derivative has the potential to prevent NO-mediated cell death without evident toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging behavior of Vectran fiber exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation was investigated. Vectran fiber was subjected to UV-accelerated degradation environment. Tensile strength of Vectran fiber was determined at room temperature using a two-parameter Weibull distribution. The average tensile strength loss was 42.75% when the irradiation time reached 186 h. The surface morphology of the degraded fiber was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and 13C-NMR were used to provide a molecular characterization of fibers. SEM and AFM showed that UV exposure result in microvoids on the surface of fibers. The results of the XPS and 13C-NMR indicated that the UV radiation could lead to chain scission of fiber surface layer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]