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In modern distributed cyber-physical systems (CPS), information fusion often plays a key role in automate and self-adaptive decision making process. However, given the heterogeneous and distributed nature of modern CPSs, it is a great challenge to operate CPSs with the compromised data integrity and unreliable communication links. In this paper, we study the distributed state estimation problem under the false data injection attack (FDIA) with probabilistic communication networks. We propose an integrated ”detection + fusion” solution, which is based on the Kullback-Leibler divergences (KLD) between local posteriors and therefore does not require the exchange of raw sensor data. For the FDIA detection step, the KLDs are used to cluster nodes in the probability space and to partition the space into secure and insecure subspaces. By approximating the distribution of the KLDs with a general $\chi ^2$ χ 2 distribution and calculating its tail probability, we provide an analysis of the detection error rate. For the information fusion step, we discuss the potential risk of double counting the shared prior information in the KLD-based consensus formulation method. We show that if the local posteriors are updated from the shared prior, the increased number of neighbouring nodes will lead to the diminished information gain. To overcome this problem, we propose a near-optimal distributed information fusion solution with properly weighted prior and data likelihood. Finally, we present simulation results for the integrated solution. We discuss the impact of network connectivity on the empirical detection error rate and the accuracy of state estimation.

Arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater is a major problem in many countries, which causes serious health issues. In this paper, a novel method has been developed for the simultaneous removal of ROX and As(III/V) using the modified sorghum straw biochar (MSSB). The MSSB was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared, and Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) surface area. The removal performance of MSSB for ROX, arsenite [As(III)], and arsenate (As(V)) was investigated using batch experiments. At pH of 5, the arsenic concentration of 1.0 mg/L, adsorbent dose of 1.0 g/L, the maximum adsorption capacities of ROX, As(III), and As(V) were 12.4, 5.3, and 23.0 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption behaviors were fit well with the Langmuir and the pseudo-second-order rate model. The results showed that MSSB acted as a highly effective adsorbent to simultaneously remove the composite pollution system consisted of ROX and As(III/V) in aqueous solutions, providing a promising method in environmental restoration applications.

Summary A problem of major interest in network data analysis is to explain the strength of connections using context information. To achieve this, we introduce a novel approach, called network-supervised dimension reduction, in which covariates are projected onto low-dimensional spaces to reveal the linkage pattern without assuming a model. We propose a new loss function for estimating the parameters in the resulting linear projection, based on the notion that closer proximity in the low-dimension projection corresponds to stronger connections. Interestingly, the convergence rate of our estimator is found to depend on a network effect factor, which is the smallest number that can partition a graph in a manner similar to the graph colouring problem. Our method has interesting connections to principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis, which we exploit for clustering and community detection. The proposed approach is further illustrated by numerical experiments and analysis of a pulsar candidates dataset from astronomy.

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) formed by Co

Gallinacin-3 (Gal-3) is a newly discovered epithelial beta-defensin that acts as cationic antimicrobial peptides, and plays an important role in chicken innate immunity. However, the gallinacin-3 precursor containeda lengthy C-terminal region, which often hindered itsexpression. After codon optimization of Gal-3 and construction of an expression vector, the transgenic plants of Medicago sativa were obtained. Transgenic plants were validated and expression of proteins was detected. The antimicrobial activity of chicken β Gal-3 was analyzed and effects of chicken β Gal-3 on the body weight and intestinal microflora of mice were described. Our results demonstrated that the codon optimized chicken Gal-3 was stably expressed in transgenic Medicago sativa using the pCAMBIA3301 expression vector under the control of protein phosphatase (Ppha) promoter. Five transgenic plants with the highest expression of chicken β Gal-3 were selected, and were evaluated for the in vitro antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. Our findings confirmed that the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the three bacterial strains were 32, 16 and 128 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, the effect of chicken Gal-3 on the body weight of mice fed with transgenic plants showed no significant deviation compared with that of the control group. Similarly, no loss of intestinal microflora was evident in the experimental group compared with the control group. Together, our findings demonstrate an alternative method for the stable expression of chicken Gal-3 withsignificant antibacterial effects and potential probiotics uses. In addition, this study may also be useful in the development of resistant M. sativa plants against pathogenic bacteria in future studies.

Reactive dye is widely used for cotton dyeing, but its low utilization results in vast amounts of colored effluent with high salinity discharge. Amino-modified Reactive Red 195/P(styrene-co-butyl acrylate-co-trimethyl(vinylbenzyl) ammonium chloride) nanospheres (Am-RPNs) are a kind of novel colorant that exhibit excellent dyeing ability for cotton fabrics and higher dye utilization than original reactive dyes. The colored polymer nanospheres demonstrated small size, high stability and dye content in the dispersion system when cationic polymer nanospheres were dyed at an optimal dye dosage of 100%. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the polymer nanospheres have smooth spherical shapes. Am-RPNs with an average hydration diameter of 96.5 nm and zeta potential of −33.7 mV were fabricated after being modified with ethylenediamine at pH 11. Both analytical techniques, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, indicated the presence of –NH2 on the surface of Am-RPNs. The amino-modification mechanism of the Reactive Red 195/P(styrene-co-butyl acrylate-co-trimethyl(vinylbenzyl) ammonium chloride) nanospheres depended on the dyeing bath pH. The color depths of the cotton fabrics dyed with Am-RPNs reached up to 3.1 times higher than those with Reactive Red 195. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that Am-RPNs form stable deposits on the surface of the modified fibers. The cotton fabrics dyed with Am-RPNs possessed excellent rubbing and washing fastness, satisfactory light fastness, and desirable handle. This study provides an innovative method that employ Am-RPNs with high coloration performance to endow the cotton fabric with deep color and good colorfastness without using inorganic salt.

The large-span ice composite shell structure constructed by inflatable formwork and cellulose-water mixture spraying method brings a new aesthetic activity to the conventional ice and snow buildings. How to ensure the structural safety of large-span ice shells and satisfy the serviceability in the operation stage has become an urgent problem for structural engineers. Based on the Koi-fish ice shell structure constructed in winter at Harbin Ice-Snow World, China, exhaustive structural investigations on the behaviour of the ice composite shell under multiple load conditions are conducted. Subsequently, the construction quality of the ice shell after completion is discussed and evaluated. The results show that temperature action is the main factor affecting the structural safety of the ice shell. Construction assessment results show that the practical ice shell structure can satisfy the design safety requirements.

This article introduces a modified surgical approach combining condylotomy with posterior disc attachment release for the resection of large non-malignant masses located in the infratemporal fossa and involving the skull base. This retrospective study included 14 patients treated at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University between January 2010 and December 2016. Clinical evaluations (visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, maximum inter-incisal opening (MIO), and complications) and radiological findings (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT)) were collected pre- and postoperatively. All patients had satisfactory surgical exposure and complete resection of the neoplasms. During an average follow-up of 54.8 months, no clinical or radiographic signs of recurrence were reported. MIO increased from 28mm preoperatively to 35.4mm postoperatively (P

Among karst mountain agricultural fertilization measures, the partial replacement of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers is important for protecting its vulnerable mountain environment and developing ecologically-friendly agriculture. In this study, we investigated the effects of short-term organic fertilizer application on the bacterial diversity of maize soil in karst areas and the potential of using organic fertilizer as a partial substitute for chemical fertilizers. Two maize fields with different parent materials in a karst region were selected for a short-term field control experiment using chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizer treatment, combined with the high-throughput sequencing method of 16S rDNA gene amplicons. (i) The soil physicochemical properties and bacterial diversity of different parent material soil are different, but the main dominant bacterial types are similar. (ii) Short-term organic fertilizer treatment, rather than chemical fertilizer treatment, increased the bacterial richness significantly, especially for some functional bacteria (such as Nitrospira, Gemmatimonas). (iii) Analysis of the correlation between environmental factors and bacterial diversity indicated that soil pH and total P had the most significant effects on bacterial community structure (r = 0.91, p = 0.001; r = 0.33, p = 0.001). This study showed that it is an effective method to maintain a richer bacterial community and increasing the abundance of some functional bacteria by increasing organic fertilizers and reducing chemical fertilizers in the farm soil in karst regions, which could also be applied to other fragile agricultural ecosystems in the world.

SUMMARY The loess from the northern piedmont of the Dabie Mountains is in a transition area between loess from the Chinese Loess Plateau, the Quaternary red soils of southern China and the Xiashu loess. Despite its significant location, the study has been inadequate. In this study, the Guangshan section in the northern piedmont of the Dabie Mountains was selected for investigation. Environmental magnetism, geochemistry, colour reflectance and optical diffuse reflection spectroscopy analyses were applied to detect the magnetic variations in the loess. The results showed that (1) the magnetic minerals consisted mainly of magnetite, maghemite, hematite and goethite, which are the same as those in the Quaternary loess from the Chinese Loess Plateau, the Xiashu loess and the Quaternary red soils of southern China. The average magnetic particles were in the pseudo-single domain, like those of the Chinese Loess Plateau loess. (2) Unit III of the Guangshan section (2.4–4 m), with high chemical index of alteration and low Ba-index, was demonstrated as the most strongly developed palaeosol in the whole section, in agreement with field observations (more Fe-Mn films and weakly vermiculated development). However, it exhibited minimal susceptibility values and the lowest concentration of fine ferrimagnetic minerals. Simultaneously, the unit had low hematite to goethite ratio (Hm/Gt), suggesting that the pedogenic environment was humid; and it also had high values of b* and Gt%, implying that there was more goethite. Therefore, we can conclude that excessive soil moisture and intensive pedogenesis dissolved the fine ferrimagnetic minerals originally produced by pedogenesis and transformed them into goethite. These results could help to trace the palaeoclimatic evolution of the study area and clarify the magnetic variations of loess in different climates throughout China.

Introduction Retinoblastoma (RB) is a malignant tumor that is derived from photoreceptors. It is common in children under 3 years old with a family genetic predisposition. MicroRNA-133a-3p (miR-133a-3p) is one of the tumor-related miRNAs that interprets a critical function in the genesis and development of various tumors. This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of miR-133a-3p in RB. Material and methods Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was used to assess the miR-133a-3p expression in RB tissues and a cell model. MTT assay, western blot, flow cytometry and luciferase reporter assay were performed to evaluate the effect of miR-133a-3p on cell viability, apoptosis and the cell cycle. An RB xenograft model was established to assess the in vivo influence of miR-133a-3p on RB growth. Results MiR-133a-3p level was reduced in RB tissues and the cell model (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001). Addition of miR-133a-3p reduced cell viability, and increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest (p < 0.001). Additionally, CREB1 was identified to be the target of miR-133a-3p in RB cell lines (p < 0.001). Cell viability reduction, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest increases mediated by miR-133a-3p were attenuated by CREB1 overexpression (p < 0.001). MiR-133a-3p inhibited tumor growth of RB in vivo (p < 0.001). Conclusions Our results reveal that miR-133a-3p exhibits anti-cancer effects by targeting CREB1 in RB. This study provides a new direction for effective targeted treatment of this disease.

Cropland is an essential strategic resource, for which landscape ecological security and multifunctionality evolution are related to regional stability and sustainable social development. However, few studies have explored the spatial heterogeneity of the coupling between the two from a multiregional and systematic perspective, and the interaction mechanisms have still not been thoroughly analyzed. In this study, a typical karst trough and valley area in the mountainous regions of southwest China was selected as the research object, and by establishing a multi-indicator evaluation system using a landscape pattern index, a multifunctional identification model, a coupled coordination model, and a geodetector model, the spatial variability in the evolutionary characteristics and the coupling and coordination of cropland landscape ecological security (CLES) and cropland multifunctionality (CM) in the mountainous regions of the southwest and their driving mechanisms were explored. The main results were as follows: (1) CLES in the mountainous areas of southwest China has undergone an evolutionary process of first declining and then slowly rising, with the characteristics of “fast declining in the high-value areas and slow rising in the low-value areas”, while CM showed a spatial distribution of “high in the northwest and low in the northeast”, with positive contributions originating from ecological functions. (2) Over the 20 years, the cropland coupling coordination degree (CCCD) values showed significant spatial heterogeneity, which was regionally expressed as ejective folds (EF) > TF (tight folds) > TLF (trough-like folds) > AF (anticlinorium folds). Low CCCD values were primarily found in the east, whereas high levels were primarily found in the west, with a rapidly diminishing trend. (3) There were differences in the driving mechanisms of CCDD in different landscapes, but GDP was still the determining factor and had a limiting effect. Hence, we call for the adoption of a “function over pattern” approach in areas with more development constraints and a “pattern over function” approach in areas with fewer development constraints. Ultimately, this study will contribute to the formation of a coupled cropland mechanism system described as the “multi-mechanisms drive, multi-elements integrated” system. In conclusion, this study can provide a better understanding of the relationship between cropland patterns and multifunctionality, which can help provide a basis for cropland conservation and landscape planning in similar mountainous areas and promote the achievement of sustainable agricultural development goals in the mountainous areas of southwest China.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) rely on magnetotaxis to effectively reach their preferred living habitats, whereas experimental investigation of magnetotactic advantage in stable sediment is currently lacking. We studied two wild type MTB (cocci and rod-shaped M. bavaricum) in sedimentary environment under exposure to geomagnetic field in the laboratory, zero field and an alternating field whose polarity was switched every 24 hours. The mean concentration of M. bavaricum dropped by ~50% during 6 months in zero field, with no clear temporal trend suggesting an extinction. Cell numbers recovered to initial values within ~1.5 months after the Earth’s field was reset. Cocci displayed a larger temporal variability with no evident population changes in zero field. The alternating field experiment produced a moderate decrease of M. bavaricum concentrations and nearby extinction of cocci, confirming the active role of magnetotaxis in sediment and might point to a different magnetotactic mechanism for M. bavaricum which possibly benefited them to survive field reversals in geological periods. Our findings provide a first quantification of magnetotaxis advantage in sedimentary environment.

In this study, a systematic comparison of the magnetic properties of the Xifeng loess in northern China and the Titel loess in northern Serbia was conducted. This comparison was performed to identify the causes of the different ranges of magnetic susceptibility (χlf) enhancements from loess units to paleosol units between the two regions. Ultimately, four differences in the contents and domain states of the magnetic minerals were detected. First, the different concentration of magnetic minerals, especially fine-grained ferrimagnetic minerals between the Xifeng and Titel paleosols is the leading cause. Although the factor of pedogenesis dominated the variations in magnetic properties for each of the loess profiles, the different degrees of pedogenesis between them seemingly cannot fully explain the different contents in magnetic minerals. We consider the difference in source distances of aeolian dust or the related factors played a significant role in the contents of the included magnetic minerals. Second, the lower content of thermally unstable maghemite in the Titel paleosols is an important cause of the lower χlf. This difference can be attributed to the varying levels of effective moisture during the pedogenesis periods, which were caused by the precipitation-evaporation difference. Third, the higher content of single-domain particles in Titel paleosols is one of the causes of the lower χlf. This is an attractive point for promoting our understanding of the pedogenic mechanism under different geographical and climatic backgrounds; however, its origin remains unclear. Finally, the higher proportion of antiferromagnetic hematite/goethite in the Titel paleosols is an element that causes the lower χlf, despite its weak effect. Different water and heat conditions during pedogenesis may be responsible for this difference, and the possibility of the influence of the contemporaneous Mediterranean-like climate in the Pannonian Basin should not be excluded. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

The magnetic measurement is an effective tool to identify the source of pollutants and diagnose the urban pollution. In this study, 132 group samples (that topsoil and street dust were sampled at the same location is regarded as a group) were collected from Xinyang, central eastern China. In addition, the background samples (19 topsoils under woodland around the outskirts) were also sampled. Herein, the aim was to investigate and compare the magnetic characteristics of both topsoil and street dust, and further to discuss the source and environmental implications using magnetic and diffuse reflection spectrum methods. The following points are highlighted: (1) the primary magnetic carrier of both materials was magnetite and that of the background sample were magnetite and maghemite. Furthermore, the ferrimagnetic mineral concentration and magnetic domain follow the order: street dust > topsoil > background sample. (2) The source of both materials was mainly from anthropogenic activities (e.g. industrial and traffic vehicles). The difference between them was the contribution related to natural sources (e.g. parent materials), which was negligible in street dust, and played a secondary role in topsoil. (3) Both materials showed that areas with a higher intensity of anthropogenic activities had higher pollution level, whereas areas with a lower anthropogenic intensity had lower pollution level.

Forest litter inputs to soil can stimulate the decomposition of older soil organic matter (SOM) via a priming effect (PE). The magnitude and underlying mechanisms driving PE are poorly understood, with especially little know about how litter quality and site conditions affect PE in situ. Further, very few studies have examined PE in tropical and subtropical soils. Here, we established low and high elevation sites (600 vs. 1,400 m a.s.l.) in the subtropical Wuyishan National Park, China, that differed with respect to mean annual temperature (MAT; ∆MAT = 4.2°C), vegetation, soil texture and soil moisture. We conducted a 1‐year field incubation study at these two sites to compare PE induced by adding low‐ and high‐quality ¹³C‐labelled leaf litter to soils. At the low elevation site, additions of high‐quality (low C/N) litter caused a PE that was 140% greater than the PE observed following additions of low‐quality (high C/N) litter. In contrast, we saw no significant differences in PE between litter types at the high elevation site, perhaps because PE was not limited by substrate quality at this cooler, finer textured and higher soil moisture coniferous site. In addition, we found a negative relationship between home‐field advantage (HFA) for litter decomposition and PE, indicating that specialized litter decomposer community driving HFA may not accelerate SOM decomposition via PE in the same way. In line with our observed strong relationship between PE and the efficiency of priming (PE size per unit of mineralized litter C), PEs induced by the high‐ and low‐quality litters were directed to microbial phosphorus (P) mining rather than nitrogen (N) mining. This interpretation aligns with observed increases in the activity of P acquiring extracellular enzymes, often described as phosphatases (P‐tases), as well as the positive relationship between the PE, P‐tase activity and the activity of C acquiring extracellular enzymes. Overall, this PE study across two contrasting sites highlights the important role of site characteristics and litter quality in regulating PE size. Further, we suggest that MAT may be a dominant driver of soil priming, through both the direct effects of litter quantity on labile substrate supply and the indirect effects of litter quality changes on downstream decomposer communities. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

The porosity, roughness, and thickness of woven fabrics limit inkjet printing quality, which is extremely important for obtaining high-quality inkjet printing images on fabrics. This study reveals the application of poly[styrene-butyl acrylate-(P-vinylbenzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride)] nanospheres prepared via a soap-free emulsion polymerization approach as a novel kind of the cationization modifier for the inkjet printing of different woven cotton fabrics by the pad-cure process. It was found that the nanospheres exhibited an average diameter of 65.5 nm, a zeta potential of +57.8 mV, and a glass transition temperature of 94.7 °C. The nanospheres deposited on three cotton fabrics through the dip-rolling process, resulting in the increase of zeta potential, hydrophobicity and thickness of the fabric, and the decrease of porosity and roughness. The high-quality inkjet printing images can be obtained on fabrics with different structures owing to the differences in zeta potential, hydrophobicity, porosity, roughness, and thickness of fabrics. The plain, twill, and honeycomb weave fabrics obtained high-quality inkjet printing images for portraits, oil paintings, and landscape paintings, respectively. The nanospheres could strongly adsorb on the fiber by electrostatic attraction. The reactive dye molecules in the inks could react with the cationized fibers by electrostatic attractive force, resulting in the increase of the color strength, fixation rates, and outline sharpness. The nanosphere cationization of different woven fabrics offers a new potential method for obtaining high-quality patterns without significantly affecting the fabric handle.

Disc displacement is a common disorder affecting the temporomandibular joint. According to previous publications, the displaced disc can be categorized into pure anterior displacement and rotational displacement (anteromedial and anterolateral). However, the technique of arthroscopy treatment has only been reported for patients with pure anterior disc displacement. In this study, an arthroscopic discopexy for rotational anterior disc displacement was developed and its effectiveness evaluated over 24 months of follow-up. A total of 532 patients (749 joints) with rotational anterior disc displacement, admitted to Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital between January 2011 and December 2015, were included. The success rate was based on clinical parameters (visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, maximum inter-incisal opening (MIO), and complications) and radiographic data. The clinical and radiographic data were collected preoperatively and at 1, 6, 12, and 24months postoperative. The VAS score decreased to 0.73±1.43 following surgery (P

Introduction Uveal melanoma is known as a frequent intraocular tumor, with high metastasis and poor prognosis. Mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that has been reported to be associated with tumor progression in several types of human cancer. However, the role of MSK1 has rarely been studied in uveal melanoma and the underlying mechanism remained unclear. Material and methods The expression level of MSK1 in human uveal melanoma tissues and normal uveal tissues was determined by qRT-PCR analysis, western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Subsequently, MTT assay, colony formation assay and flow cytometry assay were performed to assess the effects of MSK1 on cell proliferation. Wound-healing and transwell chamber assays were adopted to clarify the role of MSK1 in cell metastasis. Finally, the function of MSK1 was confirmed in vivo in a tumor-bearing mouse model. Results The expression levels of MSK1 and p-cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) were strongly up-regulated in human uveal melanoma tissues. MSK1 overexpression facilitated cell viability and clone formation, and promoted migration and invasion of uveal melanoma cells. However, mutation of cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) at Ser133 residues reversed the effect of MSK1 on uveal melanoma cell proliferation and metastasis. The in vivo experiment suggested that the tumor weight was lower and the tumor mass grew more slowly in the shMSK1 group as compared to the shNC group. Conclusions MSK1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of uveal melanoma cells by phosphorylated CREB at Ser133 residues. Therefore, MSK1 could be a promising candidate for uveal melanoma therapy and especially has tremendous potential in the treatment of cancers in which the MSK1-CREB pathway is abnormally active.

The low utilization of dyestuff in textile coloration leads to serious environmental pollution and wasting of resources. Dye/polymer nanospheres have high absorbing, reflecting and scattering light properties due to the large specific surface area, the regular shape, and the uniform size. In the present study, we report the reactive dye/poly(styrene-butyl acrylate-trimethyl ammonium chloride) composite nanosphere as a highly efficient colorant for cationic cotton fabrics. The dye contents of the four colored nanospheres can reach to 217–404 mg/g. The hydration diameters of the composite nanospheres are 83–101 nm for four different reactive dyes. They have the negative zeta potentials, approximately − 25.3 to − 37.6 mV. The reactive dye/copolymer nanospheres exhibit much more powerful coloration ability for cotton fabrics and higher dye utilization than the ordinary reactive dyes. The color depths of cotton fabrics dyed with colored nanospheres are 2.8, 4.9, 10.6 and 4.2 times of the values of the corresponding dye colored samples. The dye/copolymer nanospheres have much larger color gamut than the ordinary dyes. The color durability and levelness of the dye/copolymer nanospheres on cotton fibers are good enough for practical applications. What’s more important is that the residual dye/copolymer nanospheres in the dye bath can be reused in the next dyeing process. This novel nanosphere dyeing method does not only save the colorants but also avoid the discharging of colored sewage. The reactive dye/poly(St-BA-VBT) nanospheres were successfully fabricated by adding the cationic poly(St-BA-VBT) nanospheres dispersions into reactive dye solutions. This article offered a novel dyeing method for cotton fabrics using dye/poly(St-BA-VBT) nanospheres. These colored nanospheres can endow the cotton fabrics with good color performance and avoid the discharging of colored waste water, which provide a green way for textile coloration.

This paper will focus on the design and construction of two large thin shell structures with ice composites in the winter of 2017–18: the Flamenco Ice Tower and THRICE. Both structures were unique with regard to the application of ice composites. In this paper there will be a special focus on the structural behavior of the fiber-reinforced ice shell and membrane moulding. The ice composite had limited structural capacity and the material was pushed to its limits. Ice can be reinforced by adding (cellulose) fibers such as wood and paper. These fibers make the ice up to three times stronger and increase the ductility, thus creating a reliable building material. This sustainable, fully recyclable building material might be a solution for temporary constructions in cold areas, ice events, the Olympic Winter Games or possibly even Mars missions. HIT in cooperation with IASS Workgroup 21 invited several universities to design and construct architectural ice structures. In this paper the two most interesting structures that have been realized will be described. The technique used might also be interesting for architectural shell structures in other materials such as concrete and polymer composites. The Flamenco Ice Tower was the world record for the largest thin shell structure in ice and achieved the WA design award for most innovative architectural experiment in China.

Laterite is ubiquitous in India and has been extensively studied. However, it is still controversial with respect to its origin, definition, classification, and implications in paleoclimate, tectonic history and topography evolution. Of those, the origin of laterite, either in situ weathering of protoliths or weathering of allochthonous input, is the most critical to address. The ca. 25-m-thick laterite (duricrust) capping the Deccan Plateau is conventionally hypothesized to derive from in situ weathering of the topmost basalt. However, this thick laterite lacks upward progressive weathering which is characteristic of lateritic profile. Instead, it displays: 1) homogeneity in weathering intensity through the duricrust; 2) a clear unconformable contact of laterite with red clay, which together suggests that this thick laterite is genetically unrelated to in situ weathering of the topmost basalt. Lines of evidence in mineralogy, granularity, and geochemistry proved the disconnection between this laterite and basalt, and in contrast, indicated its correlation to aeolian accumulation. In this study the laterite together with the red clay was proposed to derive from aeolian dust accumulation and weathering since 65 Ma within context of Indian plate drifting across the equator from southern to northern hemisphere.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Accumulating investigations have identified the aberrant expression of miRNAs (microRNAs) in UM, such as miR-181, miR-20a, miR-144, miR-146a. The purpose of this study is to investigate the biological function of miR-224-5p in UM. The expression of miR-224-5p, PIK3R3, and AKT3 in 30 tumor tissues and paired adjacent noncancerous tissues were analyzed using Western blot analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. Cell proliferation assay, transwell assay, and wound healing assay were used to measure the effects of miR-224-5p on the motility of UM in vitro. Western blot analysis and luciferase assays were used to detect the expression of PIK3R3 and AKT3 as miR-224-5p downstream targets. The results of Western blot analysis and qRT-PCR assays indicated that the expression of miR-224-5p was lower in UM tissues compared to normal tissue, while the expression of PIK3R3 and AKT3 were simultaneously increased. Upregulation of miR-224-5p significantly inhibited capacities of proliferation, invasion, and migration of OCM-1A cells and decreased expression of PIK3R3 and AKT3. Luciferase assay demonstrated PIK3R3 and AKT3 as downstream targets of miR-224-5p. Moreover, upregulating PIK3R3 and AKT3 restrained miR-224-5p-induced inhibition of the motility of OCM-1A cells. Thus, our study proved that miR-224-5p was involved in proliferation, invasion, and migration of UM cells via regulation the expression of PIK3R3 and AKT3. And the results also established a miR-224-5p/PIK3R3/PI3K/AKT axis in the regulation of UM progression, providing an experimental basis for further exploring the miR-224-5p as a therapeutic and diagnosis target for patients with UM.

The karst mountain areas of Southwest China contain barren farmland soils and suffer from nutritional and water deficiencies that affect crop productivity. Hence, it is imperative to apply suitable fertilizers to restore soil fertility and maintain crop yield. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of mineral-organic fertilizer (MOF) made of potassic rock and organic waste on the growth of crops. For this purpose, green Chinese cabbage grown using three different fertilization methods including MOF, inorganic fertilizer (IF), and a control was evaluated. We determined soil water content, agronomic characteristics, and biomass of green Chinese cabbage in different treatments. Furthermore, surface runoff from the pot experiments and soil leachate from pot experiments were collected to determine water temperature, pH, and cation and anion concentrations. The results demonstrate that MOF can improve the soil water-holding capacity of soil, and the basic agronomic characteristics of the cabbage treated with MOF were superior to those with IF. Using MOF can promote the increase in cabbage biomass. Additionally, the concentration of inorganic carbon (largely in the form of HCO3−) in surface runoff water treated by MOF was higher than the other treatments, establishing carbon sequestration potential. This work provides a novel and environmentally friendly fertilization pattern in karst areas, which will improve crop yield and also increase the carbon sequestration potential of crops.

Aeolian loess is carried by wind and undergoes pedogenesis after deposition. Therefore, both detrital components from the source region and soil pedogenic components contribute to the magnetic properties of the loess. The pedogenic component can be identified by analyzing the coercivity spectra of loess with different degrees of pedogenesis. We used isothermal remanent magnetization acquisition curves to analyze the coercivity spectra of loess in China and Siberia and defined the low ( 100 mT) coercivity components, i.e., components 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In the arid region of Xinjiang, Northwest China, the Bole section, with negligible soil development has loess with only component 2 centered at ∼80 mT. In semiarid central China, the Xifeng section has both loess and paleosols with three coercivity components centered at ∼26 mT, ∼82 mT, and ∼960 mT. Component 1 has a pedogenic origin, and the remanence contribution increases in a positive linear relationship with the intensity of pedogenesis. In the humid region of Siberia, the Kurtak section has three coercivity components are centered at ∼23 mT, ∼78 mT, and ∼1014 mT. The remanence contribution of component 1 shows a low correlation with the intensity of pedogenesis. Component 3 is characterized by high-coercivity minerals and its remanence contribution is related to the intensity of pedogenesis. The soil development in the semi-arid Xifeng section tends to produce massive fine-grained ferromagnetic minerals, so the remanence contribution of component 1 is positively correlated with the intensity of pedogenesis. The humid pedogenic environment of the Kurtak section is prone to form high-coercivity minerals and destroys fine-grained ferromagnetic minerals, so the remanence contribution of component 3 increases with the degree of pedogenesis.

BackgroundSalicylic acid (SA) plays an important role in regulating leaf senescence. However, the molecular mechanism of leaf senescence of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is still elusive. In this study we found that the bHLH transcription factor (TF) CtbHLH41 in Carthamus tinctorius significantly delayed leaf senescence and inhibited the expression of senescence-related genes.ResultsIn order to explore how CtbHLH41 promotes leaf senescence, we carried out yeast two-hybrid screening. In this study, by exploring the mechanism of CtbHLH41 regulating CtCP1, it was found that CtCP1 promoted the hydrolysis of CtbHLH41 protein, accelerated the transcriptional activities of salicylic acid-mediated senescence-related genes CtSAG12 and CtSAG29, chlorophyll degradation genes CtNYC1 and CtNYE1, and accelerated leaf senescence. We found a negative SA regulator CtANS1, which interacts with CtbHLH41 and regulates its stability, thereby inhibiting CtCP1-mediated leaf senescence.ConclusionsIn short, our results provide a new insight into the mechanism of CtbHLH41 actively regulating the senescence of safflower leaves induced by SA.

Corrosion, one of the most common problems of metal pipe for water supply, generally leads to poor water quality, bacteria proliferation, water capacity decrease and other problems. As microorganisms affect corrosion by changing the characteristics of metal surface, the mechanism of microbial corrosion still remains unclear. The corrosion behavior of ductile cast iron is implemented in the dynamic flow and static conditions, in which variations of water quality and microbial community are analyzed in details. The results show that if the corrosion rate of ductile cast iron decreases, the corrosion of cast iron will result in a lower DO and a higher total iron in bulk water. The number of microorganisms is not a decisive factor of corrosion, even though the counts of bacteria had a close relationship with DO. On the basis of the detection of the 10 kinds of nitrate-reducing bacteria by Miseq sequencing, NRB of the biofilm biomass accounts for 18.3% on the 30th day and 20.5% on the 55th day. Even though aerobic NRBs go into the biofilm later than the facultative anaerobic NRBs, the growth of the anaerobic NRBs is not affected.

The magnetic measurement is an effective tool to identify the source of pollutants and diagnose the urban pollution. In this study, 132 group samples (that topsoil and street dust were sampled at the same location is regarded as a group) were collected from Xinyang, central eastern China. In addition, the background samples (19 topsoils under woodland around the outskirts) were also sampled. Herein, the aim was to investigate and compare the magnetic characteristics of both topsoil and street dust, and further to discuss the source and environmental implications using magnetic and diffuse reflection spectrum methods. The following points are highlighted: (1) the primary magnetic carrier of both materials was magnetite and that of the background sample were magnetite and maghemite. Furthermore, the ferrimagnetic mineral concentration and magnetic domain follow the order: street dust topsoil background sample. (2) The source of both materials was mainly from anthropogenic activities (e.g. industrial and traffic vehicles). The difference between them was the contribution related to natural sources (e.g. parent materials), which was negligible in street dust, and played a secondary role in topsoil. (3) Both materials showed that areas with a higher intensity of anthropogenic activities had higher pollution level, whereas areas with a lower anthropogenic intensity had lower pollution level.