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Ti45Al-8Nb-0.3Y-mCo (m=0, 0.5, 1, 2, atom fraction/%) alloys were prepared by vacuum arc non-consumable melting method. The microstructure and high temperature oxidation resistance of the alloys were investigated. The results show that the microstructure of TiAl-Nb alloy can be significantly refined by addition of Co element. However, Co can remarkably inhibit the formation of α2+γ lamellar while promote the formation of Co-rich B2 precipitations in the alloys. The oxide films formed on the Ti45Al-8Nb-0.3Y-mCo alloys mainly consist of relatively loose TiO2 and Al2O3 mixtures, after oxidation at 1000 ℃ for 100 h in air. With the increase of Co content, the mass gains of the TiAl-Nb-0.3Y alloys after oxidation increase obviously, while much better anti-spalling performance of the oxide films can be obtained. Addition of Co can reduce the internal stress of the oxide film to a certain extent, which is beneficial to the anti-spalling performance of the oxide film. However, the coarse B2 precipitation caused by Co weakens high temperature oxidation resistance of the alloy.

Compared to offline measurement (interrupting the applied voltage before measurement), online measurement of surface charge on gas‐insulated transmission line (GIL) insulators effectively avoids the impact of spontaneous dissipation of charges. Thus, the accuracy of results can be improved. In this article, a measurement model of capacitive electrostatic probes for surface charges on ±320 kV GIL tri‐post insulator is established. The geometry of probes is optimized. The feasibility of online measurement of surface charges is analyzed. Results indicate that the surface leakage distance of induced charges is positively related to the length. Furthermore, as the diameter of probes increases, the maximum electric field on the sensitive electrode surface rises, while the radius of the sensitive electrode has the opposite effect. Hence, the diameter of the probe is 6 mm. The length and radius of sensitive electrodes are 50 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively. For online measurement of surface charges on ±320 kV tri‐post insulators, the induced potential distribution of the probe is consistent with surface charges. Therefore, the capacitive electrostatic probe in the embedded electrode is appropriate for the online measurement of surface charges on tri‐post insulators. It provides a reference for avoiding flashover triggered by surface charge accumulation on DC GIL insulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of production performance forecasting in reservoir development and economic evaluation cannot be overstated. Previous models have shown deficiencies in accurately predicting production performance, necessitating the development of a new semianalytical model to enhance its application scope and prediction accuracy. This study proposes a novel semianalytical model based on the Buckley–Leverett (BL) equation and a newly proposed linear relationship between outlet water saturation and average water saturation, as well as Willhite's formula of oil/water relative permeability. The results demonstrate the universality of this new model, as it can generate three equivalent log‐linear relations, including the previously proposed model. Sensitivity analysis confirms the applicability of the model in various reservoirs. In addition, both model and field case studies highlight the advantages of this technique in forecasting water cut and cumulative oil production, with an extensive application scope covering over 90% of the water cut range. A comparison of oil production prediction results from six different predictive methods reveals that the proposed semianalytical model exhibits the lowest error rate of −0.01%. Moreover, the semianalytical model can be utilized to directly solve for the approximate values of the exponents in Willhite's oil/water relative permeability equations. In summary, this novel semianalytical forecasting model demonstrates a robust ability to forecast water cut, cumulative oil production, and recovery efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf wilting is one of the most intuitive morphological manifestations of plants under drought stress, and it is useful in drought resistance screening. However, existing quantitative leaf-wilting measurement methods lack simplicity and high-throughput capacity under field conditions, and there is a gap in the systematic drought resistance assessments. The present study was conducted in 2020, 2021, and 2022 using 100 inbred maize lines. The maize lines were subjected to three different water stress treatments: normal irrigation, moderate drought, and severe drought. The findings led to the design of a simplified image acquisition and processing platform for measuring the visible green leaf area. A new measurement index and quantitative formula for wilting have been proposed, which effectively reflect leaf wilting and facilitate a systematic analysis of the relationship between yield and drought resistance. The results showed that the daily variation pattern of the visible green leaf area followed a trend of wilting first and then recovery, with maximum wilting occurring at noon (14:00–16:00 local time). The period of maximum wilting throughout the entire growth stage was the flowering stage. The maize plants with leaf wilt exceeding 1/2 (wilt ratio > 0.5) during the flowering stage were all low-yielding or low-tolerance inbred lines. In conclusion, this study emphasizes that the flowering stage is crucial for monitoring leaf wilting and introduces a quick high-throughput method to quantify leaf wilting. Our findings not only provide details about key indicators for identifying drought and heat resistance but also facilitate research on sustainable screening methods in maize, which will expedite the selection and accelerate the breeding of new varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is one of the most precious resources and is essential to agricultural output; the biggest user of water is the agricultural sector. Several societal sectors are impacted by the problem of climate change, including agriculture, water resources, and irrigation water demand. A key element in determining sustainable crop production potential is choosing the right cultivars at the right time of year to plant. The dates on which maize is sown are greatly impacted by high summer temperatures and low spring temperatures. Water stress and the timing of sowing can have a significant impact on maize crop yield and water use efficiency. As a result, figuring out the ideal irrigation volume and sowing dates depending on local conditions is essential. A split plot layout was used to create a randomized complete block design for an experiment with five sowing dates (A, B, C, D, and E) and six hybrids (KWS3376, Xinyu 65, KWS9384, Huamei No. 1, Xinyu 102, and Heyu 187). All sowing dates and hybrids had a significant impact on the yield and yield-contributing features (leaf length, ear diameter, grain number per spike, grain breadth, hundred-grain weight, etc.) of maize crops according to the data analysis. A higher grain yield with yield features, such as ear length, number of grains per ear, and hundred-grain weight, was obtained with early-season sowing. Delayed seeding resulted in a lower crop yield. The seasonally delayed seeding of maize reduces yield and yield characteristics. Xinyu 65 produced the highest yield and yield component values of any hybrid. For improved yield and yield traits in the examined area, the study recommended planting maize hybrid Xinyu 65 early in the growing season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer (CC), closely linked to persistent human papillomavirus infection, represents a major health problem for women worldwide. The objective of this study is to elucidate KIF23's role in the development of CC and its regulatory mechanism. Methods: The bioinformatics methods were utilized to extract pyroptosis‐associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pivot genes from the GSE9750 and GSE63678 datasets, followed by immune infiltration analysis and quantification of these genes' expression. The effects of kinesin family member 23 (KIF23) were verified through functional experiments in vitro and a mouse xenograft model. The NLPR3 activator, nigericin, was applied for further analyzing the potential regulatory mechanism of KIF23 in CC. Results: A total of 8 pyroptosis‐related DEGs were screened out, among which 4 candidate core genes were identified as candidate hub genes and confirmed upregulation in CC tissues and cells. These genes respectively showed a positive correlation with the infiltration of distinct immune cells or tumor purity. Downregulation of KIF23 could suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities in CC cells and tumorigenesis through enhancing pyroptosis. Conversely, KIF23 overexpression accelerated the malignant phenotypes of CC cells and inhibited pyroptosis activation, which was blocked by nigericin treatment. Conclusions: KIF23 may play an oncogenic role in CC progression via inhibition of the NLRP3‐mediated pyroptosis pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, Chinese dried noodles (CHDNs) were fortified with unhulled flaxseed flour (UHFF) and hulled flaxseed flour (HFF). The effects on texture properties and antioxidant activity during different storage conditions were investigated. The quality of wheat noodles can be significantly enhanced when UHFF and HFF were determined as 5% and 10%, respectively. During storage under various conditions for 60 days, the hardness, chewiness, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of the CHDNs gradually decreased over time. However, the resistance and extensibility initially increased and then declined in semi‐closed packaging storage under accelerated conditions. Antioxidant activity was found to have significant correlations with texture, packaging of flaxseed CHDNs during storage. In general, fully closed‐packaging CHDNs should be stored at room temperature; flaxseed CHDNs in semi‐closed packaging are recommended to be stored in cold storage, which is conducive to maintaining their texture and antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]