Search

2D transition metal carbide/nitride (MXene) show significant potential for fabricating flexible wearables due to its outstanding electroactive characteristic. However, the complex processes in rheology regulation and easy agglomeration of MXene nanosheets hinder their applications as inks for homogeneous printing and coating. Herein, an electroactive gel‐ink with a low concentration of MXene (20 mg mL−1) using poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a dopant and conductive binder is developed. The dopamine‐involved modification and PEDOT:PSS doping together promote the formation of ordered lamellar structure of MXene nanosheets, and in turn the nanosheets can regulate the interconnected electronic structure of PEDOT:PSS, which enables the transition from micellar to linear structures. Through adjusting the combination ratio of dopamine‐modified MXene (MD) to PEDOT:PSS, the viscosity of MXene inks (MDP) is tunable within 1–104 Pa·s to realize scalable printing and other processing. Screen‐printing with MDP gel‐ink endows textiles with excellent conductive stability while retaining the inherent wearability of the original fabric. With high conductivity (109.6 S m−1) and low mid‐infrared emissivity (0.34), the decorated textiles exhibit remarkable multi‐protective abilities. This work provides a novel strategy for formulating versatile MXene inks that will facilitate the large‐scale fabrication of high‐performance personal wearable multi‐protective textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preferential flow plays a vital role in infiltration processes in structured soil. However, knowledge of preferential flow in colluvial deposits of Benggang remains limited. In this study, three typical colluvial deposits with different formation times were selected. The formation times of colluvial deposits A, B and C increased in sequence. Water infiltration in colluvial soil was visualized through Brilliant Blue dye experiments (a total of 90 photos from the dyed soil profiles). The dye morphological characteristics of preferential flow were analysed, and the influencing factors were explored. The dye morphological parameters confirmed the occurrence of preferential flow in the colluvial deposits. The dye coverage of colluvial deposit A was the greatest (61.12%), followed by colluvial deposits B (50.41%) and C (46.81%). The matrix flow depth, preferential flow fraction and length index of colluvial deposits A and B were greater than those of colluvial deposit C. Preferential flow was more notable in colluvial deposits A and B than in colluvial deposit C. The migration process of dyed water varied spatially. There were more preferential flow paths at a 10 cm horizontal width. In addition to the bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity, the soil particle composition, especially the gravel content (r = 0.740), was closely related to the observed dye coverage. According to the principal component analysis results, the soil particle composition imposed the greatest influence on the formation of preferential flow in the colluvial deposits, with a contribution of 45.24%. The results provide a theoretical reference for explaining the mechanism of soil infiltration processes and a systematic basis for the treatment of colluvial deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rehabilitation of diverse and three‐dimensional forest vegetation patterns is crucial for preventing forest degradation and improving soil fertility. However, the relationship between soil microbial community and soil fertility was not clear. To accurately assess the capability of vegetation restoration measures on the real impact on degraded soil ecosystems. We selected three vegetation rehabilitation models of degraded Pinus massoniana forests in typical soil erosion areas in China as the research objects, with untreated bare land as the control. All three vegetation construction patterns increased the abundance and diversity of soil bacteria and fungi, thereby enhancing the stability of the soil ecosystem. Additionally, the vegetation rehabilitation models also altered the community structure of soil bacteria and fungi in the degraded P. massoniana forests. The pH and soil fertility index (IFI) were the main factors leading to variations in the community structure of the soil bacteria and fungi. Among them, the grass‐planting model showed a significantly greater improvement in the soil fertility of degraded P. massoniana forests than the shrub‐planting and arbor‐planting models. Furthermore, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Glomeromycota exhibited the most significant response to IFI, indicating their potential as indicator microorganisms for soil fertility changes. The improvement in soil fertility in degraded P. massoniana forests was influenced primarily by the increase in urease activity (S‐UE) according to the vegetation rehabilitation models (84.20%, p = 0.000). In conclusion, the grass‐planting system effectively improved the soil ecosystem quality of degraded P. massoniana forests in southern erosion‐prone areas of China and was suitable for further application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a book titled "A History of Cyber Literary Criticism in China" by Youquan Ouyang. The book explores the development and evolution of internet literature in China, as well as the emergence of cyber literary criticism as a popular area of research. It is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the history and evolution of Chinese internet literature, and the second part delving into the analysis of essential areas such as conceptual change and functional transitions. The book aims to fill an academic gap and provide a comprehensive understanding of the field. However, it also highlights the challenges and lack of consensus in defining and understanding Chinese internet literature. [Extracted from the article]

Soil bacterial communities play a crucial role in the evaluation of soil ecosystem stability. Vegetation restoration is a key determinant of soil bacterial communities in areas affected by soil erosion. However, it remains unclear how the structure and diversity of soil bacterial communities vary with soil depth. In this study, we collected soil samples from 0 to 10 cm, 10 to 20 cm, 20 to 30 cm, and 30 to 40 cm depths in vegetation restoration sites located in typical soil erosion areas in China. We compared and analyzed the differences in bacterial community characteristics among different soil depths, using untreated areas as controls. Compared to the untreated areas, the abundance of soil bacteria in the 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm depths of the vegetation restoration sites increased by 1.63, 1.04, and 1.29 times, respectively. Furthermore, vegetation restoration enhanced soil bacterial diversity at the 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm depths. Soil organic carbon (OC) was the main explanatory factor (53.50%, p = 0.000) for the decrease in soil bacterial diversity with soil depth. Additionally, after vegetation restoration in soil erosion areas, the dominant bacterial community composition shifted from Chloroflexi to Actinobacteria at the 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–30 cm depths and to Proteobacteria at the 30–40 cm depth. The differences in soil bacterial communities among different soil depths were primarily driven by soil total nitrogen (TN) content, which explained up to 34.5% of the variation. In conclusion, in the subsequent management of vegetation restoration sites, increasing OC and TN content can enhance soil bacterial diversity, improve bacterial community composition, and ultimately enhance the stability of soil ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limitation in the poor interface would severely affect the further development and application of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRP). Unique organic–inorganic hybrid architectures of MOF‐5‐NH2 and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were established on the fiber/matrix interphase for promoting mechanical and tribological performances of the composites. The existence of above interfacial reinforced structure was in favor of generating abundant micromechanical interaction sites for enhancing mechanical interlocking. Meanwhile, high‐density chemical crosslinking networks played a positive role in elevating interfacial adhesion, further relieving stress concentration and hindering crack propagation. The tensile strength of CFRP‐2, CFRP‐3, CFRP‐4, and CFRP‐5 exhibited a significant rising of 27.18%, 30.64%, 27.75%, and 36.88%, respectively. The friction coefficient of MOF‐5‐NH2/CMC modified sample increased from 0.0953 to 0.1219, while the drop in the wear rate of the composites achieved 68.51%. This work provides an effective method for achieving the structure–function integrated design of composite materials according to the organic–inorganic interface enhancement of MOF‐5‐NH2/CMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An epoxycyclohexenone (ECH) moiety occurs in natural products of both bacteria and ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi. While the enzymes for ECH formation in bacteria and ascomycetes have been identified and characterized, it remained obscure how this structure is biosynthesized in basidiomycetes. In this study, we i) identified a genetic locus responsible for panepoxydone biosynthesis in the basidiomycete mushroom Panus rudis and ii) biochemically characterized PanH, the cytochrome P450 enzyme catalyzing epoxide formation in this pathway. Using a PanH‐producing yeast as a biocatalyst, we synthesized a small library of bioactive ECH compounds as a proof of concept. Furthermore, homology modeling, molecular dynamics simulation, and site directed mutation revealed the substrate specificity of PanH. Remarkably, PanH is unrelated to ECH‐forming enzymes in bacteria and ascomycetes, suggesting that mushrooms evolved this biosynthetic capacity convergently and independently of other organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study aims to compare retrospectively three clinically applied methods for the diagnostic performance of cystic renal masses (CRMs) by contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast‐enhanced computer tomography (CECT) with Bosniak classification system. Methods: A total of 52 cases of Bosniak II–IV CRMs in 49 consecutive patients were diagnosed from January 2013 to July 2022 and their data were analyzed. All patients had been subjected to CEUS and CECT simultaneously. Pathological diagnoses and masses stability were used as standard references to determine whether lesions were malignant or benign. Then 49 CRMs only with pathologic results were classified into group 1 and 2. Results: A total of 52 CRMs in 49 enrolled patients were classified into 8 category II, 16 category IIF, 15 category III, and 13 category IV by CEUS (EFSUMB 2020), 10 category II, 13 category IIF, 16 category III, and 13 category IV by CEUS (V2019), while 15 category II, 9 category IIF, 13 category III, and 15 category IV by CECT (V2019). Pathological results and masses stability longer than 5 years follow‐up performed substantially for CEUS (EFSUMB 2020), CEUS (V2019), and CECT (V2019) (kappa values were 0.696, 0.735, and 0.696, respectively). Among 49 pathologic approving CRMs, wall/septation thickness ≥4 mm, wall/septation thickness, presence of enhancing nodule and the diameter were found to be statistically significant for malignancy. Twenty‐two malignant masses were correctly diagnosed by CEUS (V2019), while 21 malignant masses were both correctly diagnosed by CEUS (EFSUMB 2020) and CECT (V2019), and 1 mass was misdiagnosed. Conclusions: Bosniak classification of EFSUMB 2020 version might be as accurate as version 2019 CEUS and version 2019 CECT in diagnosing CRMs, and CEUS is found to have an excellent safety profile in dealing with clinical works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precast segmental construction can shorten the construction time of the bridge and reduce the impacts on traffic and environment. Thus, this approach has been widely used in many countries. The relevant literature suggests that in the existing segmental precast bridges, nearly all of the centerlines of the girders are aligned with the centerline of the bridge piers. This paper introduces a wide urban viaduct comprising twin separate box girder cells using segmental prefabrication. To save space under the bridge, the bridge has only one row of piers and long cantilever crossbeams are set at the top of each pier. Additionally, the centerline of the girder and the centerline of the pier do not overlap. To prevent eccentric loading and improve the construction speed, two bridge erection gantries are used for synchronous construction. This study is a pioneering attempt at bridge construction with a precast segmental twin‐deck box girder bridge simultaneously erected with double gantries. To investigate the stress state of the whole system (crossbeam, gantries, and box girder segments) during construction and demonstrate the feasibility of the construction method, a real bridge was used. The test results provide a reference for the design and construction of similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Benggang' is a local term for a widespread type of severgully erosion with steep collapsing walls in granitic, low, hilly areas of southern China, and its development and expansion are closely related to the shear strength of the collapsing wall. Plant roots play an important role in improving soil shear strength. However, the shear strength of root‐soil complexes in different layers of collapsing walls remains obscure. We selected Dicranopteris linearis fern roots and adopted the direct shear method to evaluate the effect of root weight density (RWD) (0–1.25 g 100 cm−3) on the shear properties of the lateritic, sandy and detritus layers. The results showed that roots could enhance soil shear strength, and the maximum increase in the lateritic layer was 11.53%, higher than that in the sandy (5.84%) and detritus layers (3.17%). As the root content increased, the cohesion of the sandy and detritus layers increased and then decreased, and their maximum increase in cohesion and the fitting optimal RWD were lower than those of the lateritic layer. The internal friction angle was not affected by roots. When the root content was constant, the shear strength and cohesion of the lateritic layer were significantly higher than those of the sandy and detritus layers, while their internal friction angle was significantly lower than that of the latter two layers. The average increment of soil cohesion calculated by the Wu‐Waldron model (WWM) was 10.52 kPa, which was 0.30, 3.75 and 19.38 times the measured average values of the lateritic, sandy and detritus layers, respectively. The correction coefficient k′ was 0.02–1.18, and the k'¯$$ \overline{k\hbox{'}} $$ in the lateritic layer was the highest (0.82), followed by that in the sandy and detritus layers. By combining the modified WWM with Coulomb's formula, new shear strength equations for root‐soil complexes of D. linearis were established. The predicted shear strength compared well with the measured shear strength (R2 > 0.90, NSE >0.90). Overall, the roots only had a significant reinforcement effect on the lateritic layer, and they could still not change the mechanical properties of the collapsing wall, which were more stable in the upper layers and weaker in the bottom. Therefore, other measures should be taken in the bottom layers to improve the stability of Benggangs. Highlights: Effect of D. linearis roots on the shear strength of collapsing walls in Benggang was studied.Roots could improve collapsing‐wall soil shear strength, mainly reflected in the cohesion.The roots enhancement effect in lateritic layer was better than that of sandy and detritus layers.New shear strength equations of root‐soil complexes were established based on the Wu‐Waldron model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting modification is a common method for improving the specific properties of polysaccharides. Herein, we synthesised sodium alginate‐g‐poly (acrylic acid) (NaAlg‐g‐PAA) as a novel printing thickener via catalysis of horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of acetylacetone. The synthesised products were characterised by Fourier Transform–infrared spectroscopy and polar nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which confirmed that the PAA was successfully grafted onto the hydroxyl groups at carbon atoms (C2) of sodium alginate. The optimal grafting percentage and grafting efficiency reached 51% and 96%, respectively. Compared with native sodium alginate, the grafted copolymer NaAlg‐g‐PAA exhibited better thermal stability, rheological and printing properties. This work provides an efficient and promising approach for modifying polysaccharides like alginates and could be used as an alternative to conventional chemical modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibers containing components with phenolic hydroxyl groups, such as jute, wool, and silk, can be directly modified by laccase‐catalyzed grafting. However, cellulosic fibers like cotton cannot be functionalized in this manner. In this work, we developed a facile two‐step method to graft polymers on cotton fabric via laccase catalysis. First, polydopamine (PDA) coating was deposited on the surface of the cotton fabrics via catalysis of laccase/2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO) system. Then, the newly formed PDA coating acted as the secondary reaction platform for subsequent laccase‐mediated grafting of hydrophobic monomer dodecyl gallate (DG). The oxidation of dopamine (DA) catalyzed with the laccase/TEMPO system was investigated using UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results verified that the PDA was coated on the surface of cotton fibers. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra indicated that the PDA‐coated cotton was successfully grafted with DG (DG‐PDA‐cotton). According to the weighting method, the grafting percentage was about 1.06%. The hydrophobicity of the DG‐PDA‐cotton fabrics was greatly improved with a contact angle of 133°. Also, the grafted cotton fabrics show repellency of water‐soluble stains like coffee, milk, and tea. This study provides a new strategy for surface modification of cotton by laccase‐mediated grafting, which offers the references for the green fabrication of cotton fabrics with improved functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wool is a natural biopolymer with special properties, including warmth retention and skin‐friendliness. However, its application in the textile industry is limited by the scale layer that covers its surface, which prevents the efficient diffusion of dye into the interior of its fibres, and increases wool's susceptibility to shrinkage during washing. Here, dissolution with sodium bisulphite is used for wool surface modification. The properties of surface dissolved wool are comprehensively characterised, including strength loss, shrinkage rate and dyeability. The three‐dimensional images indicated that scale layer was etched. Coupled with Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, the test results of strength loss and shrinkage rate indicated that surface dissolution degree can be controlled by time and temperature, and that the process does not break the fibre's main body structure. Dyeability properties, including dye absorption rate, deepness and uniformity at a lower temperature were enhanced, indicating amenability to industrial production. Our findings highlight a novel, efficient method of modifying protein fibre surface for enhancing properties with potential for large‐scale application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal organic frameworks (MOF‐5) with nanoscale porosity and organic–inorganic heterocyclic structure were chemically grafted onto carbon fibers by solvothermal for forming high mechanical interlocking composite architectures and releasing the interfacial forces, so as to obtain carbon fiber reinforced composite with excellent mechanical and tribological properties. With the multi‐scale enhancement of MOF‐5, the optimized tensile and bending strength of the composite increased by about 177.9% and 81.3%, respectively. Moreover, the friction coefficient was higher and relatively stable under the continuous wet friction condition, as well as the wear rate was reduced by 44.4%. The work suggests that the application of MOFs can be extended to the field of structural composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a type of tetra‐substituted metal phthalocyanine carbon nanotubes composite material [4 a (OPh‐p‐CF3)CuPc]‐MWCNTs as a catalyst, a method to synthesize benzamides through the oxidative amidation of benzyl alcohol was developed. Synthesize copper phthalocyanine by simple DBU liquid phase catalytic method, and then load phthalocyanine on carbon nanotubes by ultrasound to form four‐substituted metal phthalocyanine carbon nanotubes composite material [4 a (OPh‐p‐CF3)CuPc]‐MWCNTs. The composite materials were detected by ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV‐Vis), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). To achieve high‐efficiency and optional catalyze, studied solvent type, oxidant type and dosage, catalyst dosage, time and temperature. In the screening experiment, [4 a (OPh‐p‐CF3)CuPc]‐MWCNTs composite material has high catalytic ability in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol. At the greatest of times, the highest conversion ratio of benzyl alcohol (100 %), selectivity of benzamide (89 %) was obtained. The oxidant was TBHP and the amount was 3 mL, 60 °C for 24 h in DMF. Different kinds of amides were set up by various substituted benzyl alcohols, and good results were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The credibility evaluation of web pages is an important part of current network information mining. Generally, content‐based evaluation and link relationship‐based evaluation are used to detect web spam. This paper proposes an algorithm based on link relationship which adjusts the weight of the link object according to the credibility of the link object to calculate the credibility of the web page. Considering the different linking conditions, (i) low‐scoring web pages actively linking to high‐scoring web pages, resulting in the reduction of high‐scoring web pages score; (ii) in order to endorse the low‐score web page, high‐score web pages actively linking to the low‐score web pages, adjust the score transmission. Obviously, the proposed algorithm is a recursive model. To avoid the amplification of the error caused by the loop and different evaluation results caused by different initial nodes, this paper presents a novel method to adaptively adjust the weights of the links according to the link conditions, then proves the convergence of the algorithm. Finally, we validate the proposed algorithm on the public datasets, which is compared with other up‐to‐date algorithms under different experimental indexes. The results show that the proposed algorithm can effectively reduce the ranks of spam pages in all web pages and improve the detection efficiency of spam pages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: MicroRNA393 (miR393) has been implicated in plant growth, development and multiple stress responses in annual species such as Arabidopsis and rice. However, the role of miR393 in perennial grasses remains unexplored. Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) is an environmentally and economically important C3 cool‐season perennial turfgrass. Understanding how miR393 functions in this representative turf species would allow the development of novel strategies in genetically engineering grass species for improved abiotic stress tolerance. We have generated and characterized transgenic creeping bentgrass plants overexpressing rice pri‐miR393a (Osa‐miR393a). We found that Osa‐miR393a transgenics had fewer, but longer tillers, enhanced drought stress tolerance associated with reduced stomata density and denser cuticles, improved salt stress tolerance associated with increased uptake of potassium and enhanced heat stress tolerance associated with induced expression of small heat‐shock protein in comparison with wild‐type controls. We also identified two targets of miR393, AsAFB2 and AsTIR1, whose expression is repressed in transgenics. Taken together, our results revealed the distinctive roles of miR393/target module in plant development and stress responses between creeping bentgrass and other annual species, suggesting that miR393 would be a promising candidate for generating superior crop cultivars with enhanced multiple stress tolerance, thus contributing to agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Various annealing temperatures below, near, or above the melting temperature were used to anneal polypropylene with oriented shish kebab and isolated spherulite structures in this work. The results showed that a high annealing temperature decreases the time needed to achieve the ideal material property. When the annealing temperature is near or above the melting temperature, the impact strength would be 1.6 times improved by partial melting and recrystallization. The crystal structure of the oriented shish kebab or isolated spherulite structures was improved when annealed at 150 °C, whereas annealing at 165 or 170 °C recombined the crystal lamellae of the structure. Moreover, the high crystallinity and thick lamellae improved the impact and yield strength values of the spherulite structure. However, excessively high crystallinity and thick lamellae in the oriented shish kebab structure did not result in good mechanical performance. Therefore, the prediction of mechanical properties for the shish kebab structure based on crystallinity and lamellar thickness is not feasible. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46465. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* SARD1 is an activator of plant immunity that promotes production of the hormone salicylic acid (SA) and activation of defense gene expression. SARD1 itself is strongly inducible by infection. Here, we investigated the transcriptional control of SARD1. * We used yeast one-hybrid assays to identify WRKY70. The WRKY70 binding site was defined using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and its importance was investigated using an Arabidopsis thaliana protoplast system. The effect of wrky70 mutations was studied by measurements of pathogen growth, SA concentrations, and gene expression by RNA-seq. * WRKY70 binds to a GACTTTT motif in the SARD1 promoter in yeast and Arabidopsis protoplasts. Plants with wrky70 mutations have elevated expression of SARD1 in the absence of pathogens, but not when infected. Expression profiling revealed that WRKY70 represses many pathogen-inducible genes in the absence of pathogens, yet is required for activation of many other pathogen-inducible genes in infected plants. The GACTTTT motif is enriched in the promoters of both these gene sets, and conserved in SARD1 orthologs within the Brassicaceae. * WRKY70 represses SARD1 by binding the motif GACTTTT in the absence of pathogens. Conservation of the WRKY70 binding among the Brassicaceae suggests that WRKY70 repression of SARD1 is important for fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New amino-acid-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) were constructed by hydrolysis and condensation reactions under acid conditions in the presence of a template. The tyrosine bissilylated organic precursor (TBOS) was first prepared through a multistep reaction by using tyrosine (a natural amino acid) as the starting material. PMOs with the tyrosine framework (Tyr-PMOs) were constructed by simultaneously using TBOS and tetraethoxysilane as complex silicon sources in the condensation process. All the Tyr-PMOs materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption, TEM, SEM, and solid-state 29Si NMR spectroscopy to confirm the structure. The horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme was first immobilized on these new Tyr-PMOs materials. Optimal conditions for enzyme adsorption included a temperature of 40 °C, a time of 8 h, and a pH value of 7. Furthermore, the novel Tyr-PMOs materials could store HRP for approximately 40 days and maintained the enzymatic activity, and the Tyr-PMOs-10 % HRP with the best immobilization effect could be reused at least eight times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, epitaxial structures have been successfully obtained in the isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/polyethylene (PE) blends by an accessible injection molding methods. By studying a series of iPP/PE blends, the evolution of the epitaxial growth of PE lamellae on the oriented iPP lamellae has been detailedly discussed via wide-angle X-ray diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Unexpectedly, the exactly epitaxial angles between peculiarly arranged PE lamellae and oriented PP lamellae are all larger than the classical epitaxy theory value of 50°, and it even increases gradually with increasing PP content. It is inferred that the special crystallization of PE is the consequence of joint construction of the oriented PP crystals and the continuous intense shear field provided by pressure vibration injection molding. The epitaxial structures play a positive role in the interfacial connection between two components; thus, the mechanical properties of the blends are improved. This work provides an insight understanding on the formation mechanism of the epitaxy crystallization under shear field. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The oriented 'shish-kebab' structure and β-crystal can enhance the mechanical properties of polypropylene products. In this regard, equipment and β-nucleation agents have been developed or modified to form shish-kebab and β-crystal. However, the effect of shish-kebab/β-crystal proportion on the mechanical properties of polypropylene remains unclear. The answer is crucial but remains a challenge because of the difficulty in manipulating the shish-kebab proportion. In this work, we used a self-made multiflow vibrate-injection molding, which can provide a controllable shear flow, to produce samples with different shear-layer thicknesses. The shish-kebab proportion was represented by R, which is the thickness ratio of the shear layer to that of the whole sample. Results showed that the tensile strength exponentially increased, whereas the elongation at break exponentially decreased, with R. The impact strength remained constant with R, indicating that the shish-kebab and β-crystal possessed similar toughening effects. This work proposes a schematic to interpret the strengthening mechanism involved and presents a method of establishing and controlling the mechanical properties of polypropylene samples by using shish-kebab structures and β-crystals. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45052. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavodoxin (Fld) plays a pivotal role in photosynthetic microorganisms as an alternative electron carrier flavoprotein under adverse environmental conditions. Cyanobacterial Fld has been demonstrated to be able to substitute ferredoxin of higher plants in most electron transfer processes under stressful conditions. We have explored the potential of Fld for use in improving plant stress response in creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera L.). Overexpression of Fld altered plant growth and development. Most significantly, transgenic plants exhibited drastically enhanced performance under oxidative, drought and heat stress as well as nitrogen (N) starvation, which was associated with higher water retention and cell membrane integrity than wild-type controls, modified expression of heat-shock protein genes, production of more reduced thioredoxin, elevated N accumulation and total chlorophyll content as well as up-regulated expression of nitrite reductase and N transporter genes. Further analysis revealed that the expression of other stress-related genes was also impacted in Fld-expressing transgenics. Our data establish a key role of Fld in modulating plant growth and development and plant response to multiple sources of adverse environmental conditions in crop species. This demonstrates the feasibility of manipulating Fld in crop species for genetic engineering of plant stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of cross-linked waxy maize starch (CLWMS) on non-fried instant noodles were studied. Noodles were prepared from reconstituted flours by substituting wheat flour at 10, 20 and 30% with CLWMS. The pasting properties, rheology, cooking qualities, texture, colour and microstructure were evaluated. The results for pasting tests of formulated flour showed that peak viscosity, trough, breakdown, final viscosity, setback increased dramatically, whereas pasting temperature declined. The presence of CLWMS raised the G′ and G″ remarkably and contributed to rapid rehydration, as well as higher cooking loss and water absorption. Noodles with CLWMS exhibited a softer texture with brighter, yellower appearance. Incorporation of CLWMS produced more hollow and porous structure with numerous and small voids, which may partly explain their distinct behaviours. The findings in this work provided evidence that CLWMS could be used as a partial substitute for wheat flour in non-fried instant noodles production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Poor physical properties resulting from low interfacial interactions between hydrophilic biopolymers and hydrophobic thermoplastic matrices have been one of the biggest obstacles in preparing quality biomass materials. This study concentrates on the effects of nano-TiO2 on the properties and structure of starch/poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) composites. The molecular and crystal structures of the composites were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission scanning electron microscope. The results indicated that an interpenetrating network structure formed by adding nano-TiO2 into starch/PCL composites. The DSC and XRD analysis indicated that the crystallinity degree and the crystallization rate of the composites reduced, whereas the crystal form and crystal size were unchanged. The results also showed that the mechanical properties and water resistance of the composites were improved significantly with the addition of nano-TiO2, whereas their transparency decreased. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4129-4136, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sumoylation is a posttranslational regulatory process in higher eukaryotes modifying substrate proteins through conjugation of small ubiquitin-related modifiers ( SUMOs). Sumoylation modulates protein stability, subcellular localization and activity; thus, it regulates most cellular functions including response to environmental stress in plants. To study the feasibility of manipulating SUMO E3 ligase, one of the important components in the sumoylation pathway in transgenic ( TG) crop plants for improving overall plant performance under adverse environmental conditions, we have analysed TG creeping bentgrass ( Agrostis stolonifera L.) plants constitutively expressing Os SIZ1, a rice SUMO E3 ligase. Overexpression of Os SIZ1 led to increased photosynthesis and overall plant growth. When subjected to water deficiency and heat stress, Os SIZ1 plants exhibited drastically enhanced performance associated with more robust root growth, higher water retention and cell membrane integrity than wild-type ( WT) controls. Os SIZ1 plants also displayed significantly better growth than WT controls under phosphate-starvation conditions, which was associated with a higher uptake of phosphate ( Pi) and other minerals, such as potassium and zinc. Further analysis revealed that overexpression of Os SIZ1 enhanced stress-induced SUMO conjugation to substrate in TG plants, which was associated with modified expression of stress-related genes. This strongly supports a role sumoylation plays in regulating multiple molecular pathways involved in plant stress response, establishing a direct link between sumoylation and plant response to environmental adversities. Our results demonstrate the great potential of genetic manipulation of sumoylation process in TG crop species for improved resistance to broad abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. In situ [2+3] cycloaddition reactions of milrinone [= 3-cyano-6-methyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-2-pyridone] with sodium azide in the presence of MnCl2 ·4H2O, FeSO4 ·7H2O, or CoCl2 ·6H2O as Lewis acids, gave three new complexes {[Mn(Mitz)2(H2O)2] ·(H2O)} ( 1), {[Fe(Mitz)2(H2O)2] ·(H2O)} ( 2), and {[Co(Mitz)2(H2O)2] ·(H2O)} ( 3) [Mitz = 3-tetrazole-6-methyl-5-(4-pyridyl)-2-pyridone]. All the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction analyses show that complexes 1- 3 have isomorphous structures. The central metal atoms in these complexes are hexacoordinated and connected by two water molecules, two nitrogen atoms from different tetrazolyl groups, and two oxygen atoms from carbonyl functions respectively. The fluorescent emission spectrum of 1 in the solid-state at room temperature shows a maximal emission peak at 365 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'living'/controlled radical polymerization has provided an opportunity in making a more homogeneous polymer, which is favorable for polymer-based monolithic column fabrication. To study its application in the preparation of separation material, a capillary poly(ethylhexyl methacrylate- co-ethylene dimethacrylate) monolithic column has been synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The correlation between the synthetic conditions and the polymer structures and separation performance was studied. The result indicated RAFT-mediated reaction provides condition for creating polymers with narrower pore size distribution and higher column efficiency compared with traditional polymerization. The 'living' property of the RAFT polymerization was further utilized to graft hydrophilic polymer on the surface of poly(ethylhexyl methacrylate- co-ethylene dimethacrylate). The hydrophilic chain modified monolithic column has both abilities of protein exclusion and small hydrophobic compound retention. The result indicated that RAFT polymerization can be used for making multifunctional material. The restricted access monolithic material synthesized by this method can be used in biological sample analysis with HPLC direct injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) method was developed and validated for the assay of glucosamine sulfate in human plasma. Plasma proteins were precipitated by acetonitrile, followed by vortex mixing and centrifugation. The supernatant was transferred and derivatized with phenyl iso-thiocyanate in acetonitrile at 60°C for 40 min. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column (Inertsil ODS-3 150 × 2.1 mm i.d., 5 µm, JP) with a mobile phase gradient consisting of 0.2% acetic acid (aqueous) and methanol at a flow-rate of 0.3 mL/min. MS detection using electrospray ionization (ESI) as an interface was used in single ion monitoring mode to determine positive ions at m/z 297. This method was shown to be selective and sensitive for glucosamine sulfate. The limit of detection was 35 ng/mL for glucosamine sulfate in plasma and the linear range was 0.1-20 µg/mL in plasma with a correlation coefficient ( r) of 0.9991. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intra-day and inter-day assays were 8.7-11.4 and 9.8-12.6%, respectively. Extraction recoveries of glucosamine sulfate in plasma were greater than 73%. This method proved to be simple, reproducible and feasible for pharmacokinetic studies of glucosamine sulfate in healthy volunteers after a single oral administration (1500 mg). The pharmacokinetic parameters and relative bioavailabilities were investigated for both domestic glucosamine sulfate tablet and capsule preparations compared with an imported capsule product. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Regarding the current situation that the recognition rate of malware is decreasing, the article points out that the reason for this dilemma is that more and more targeting malware have emerged, which share little or no common feature with traditional malware. The premise of malware recognition judging whether a software is malicious or benign is actually a decision problem. We propose that malware discrimination should resort to the corresponding task or purpose. We first present a formal definition of a task and then provide further classifications of malicious tasks. Based on the decidable theory, we prove that task performed by any software is recursive and determinable. By establishing a mapping from software to task, we prove that software is many‐to‐one reducible to corresponding tasks. Thus, we demonstrate that software, including malware, is also recursive and can be determined by the corresponding tasks. Finally, we present the discrimination process of our method. Nine real malwares are presented, which were firstly discriminated by our method but at that time could not be identified by Kaspersky, McAfee, Symantec Norton, or Kingsoft Antivirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]