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MoS2 microflowers are fabricated by a facile hydrothermal route with polyquaternary ammonium salt (Polyquaternium-11, PQA) as a soft template. The experimental results indicate that the MoS2 microflowers are of hexagonal phases and have a hierarchical flower-like morphology, which are assembled by numerous few-layered nanosheets. A probable assembly process is proposed to illustrate the formation of the MoS2 microflowers. Additionally, as an electrode material for supercapacitor, the resultant MoS2 microflowers demonstrate a superior electrochemical property which could be attributed to their robust hierarchical architectures and few-layered feature.

In the present paper we examine the Saint-Venant end effect in the nano tubes via a continuum mechanics with consideration of surface elasticity. The Saint-Venant end effect is quantitatively described by the decay rate. By analytically solving an axial-symmetric torsion in a circular cross-section tube configuration, we demonstrate that the decay rate decreases as the radius of the nano wire/tube decreases with consideration of the surface effect.

We examine the torsional wave propagation along a micro-/nanowire with consideration of the surface elasticity effect. The surface of the wire is modeled by a two-dimensional “membrane” which is described by the surface/interface mechanics of Gurtin and Murdoch. The wave dispersion diagram is numerically presented with the surface/size effect which is characterized by two surface/size factors. They are “dynamic size/surface factor” and “static size/surface factor.”

Nutrient additions can stimulate petroleum hydrocarbon degradation, but little is known about how these additions affect the microbial community involved in that degradation. A microcosm study was conducted to assess the impact of bioaugmentation with Acinetobacter SZ-1 strain KF453955 and biostimulation with nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus on petroleum hydrocarbon degradation efficiency and microbial community dynamics during bioremediation of an oil-contaminated soil. Soils were incubated without shaking at room temperature for 10 weeks, and petroleum hydrocarbon degradation efficiency, catalase activity, petroleum hydrocarbon degrader population, and bacterial community diversity were determined. Results showed biostimulation and bioaugmentation, respectively, promoted 60% and 34% degradation of the total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) after six weeks of incubation. A degradation plateau occurred in the seventh week. Catalase activity and the populations of oil degraders in soil were generally greater for biostimulation than for bioaugmentation. The inoculants survived into the seventh week for the bioaugmentation treatment, and bacterial diversity did not increase by biostimulation. The populations of TPH-degraders in soil were positively related to TPH degradation efficiency during bioremediation of petroleum-polluted soils.

Oral ingestion is the major route of infection for the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). However, the mechanism by which virus particles in the digestive tract invade host cells is unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that WSSV virions can bind to chitin through one of the major envelope proteins (VP24). Mutagenesis analysis indicated that amino acids (aa) 186 to 200 in the C terminus of VP24 were required for chitin binding. Moreover, the P-VP24 186–200 peptide derived from the VP24 chitin binding region significantly inhibited the VP24-chitin interaction and the WSSV-chitin interaction, implying that VP24 participates in WSSV binding to chitin. Oral inoculation experiments showed that P-VP24 186–200 treatment reduced the number of virus particles remaining in the digestive tract during the early stage of infection and greatly hindered WSSV proliferation in shrimp. These data indicate that binding of WSSV to chitin through the viral envelope protein VP24 is essential for WSSV per os infection and provide new ideas for preventing WSSV infection in shrimp farms. IMPORTANCE In this study, we show that WSSV can bind to chitin through the envelope protein VP24. The chitin-binding domain of VP24 maps to amino acids 186 to 200 in the C terminus. Binding of WSSV to chitin through the viral envelope protein VP24 is essential for WSSV per os infection. These findings not only extend our knowledge of WSSV infection but also provide new insights into strategies to prevent WSSV infection in shrimp farms.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Patients usually have poor prognosis because of late diagnosis, relapse, and chemoresistance. It is pressing to seek novel agent for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Neferine is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the embryos of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). In this study, we investigated the antitumor effect of neferine on ovarian cancer cells. We found that neferine exhibited growth-inhibitory effect on human ovarian cancer cells, whereas showing less cytotoxic to non-malignant fallopian tube epithelial cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that neferine induced autophagy and inactivated the mTOR pathway. Finally, we found that both p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways were activated by neferine treatment and contributed to the induction of autophagy in ovarian cancer cells. In conclusion, our findings showed that neferine induced autophagy of human ovarian cancer cells via p38 MAPK/JNK activation. Neferine may be explored as a promising antitumoral agent in ovarian cancer.

A facile one-step hydrothermal strategy was successfully developed to fabricate a 3D hierarchical MoSe2/C hybrid with triethylene glycol as a structure-directing agent and carbon source. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. The experiment results indicate that the hierarchical porous MoSe2/C hybrid is composed of numerous few-layered MoSe2 nanosheets and amorphous carbon derived from the decomposition of the triethylene glycol. As a consequence, the obtained hierarchical MoSe2/C electrode exhibited superior electrochemical supercapacitive performances such as high specific capacitance, excellent cyclic stability and significantly enhanced rate capability in comparison with the bare MoSe2. The prominent electrochemical performance could be attributed to the robust hierarchical porous architectures with large surface areas and effective integration with conductive amorphous carbon.

Wastewater reuse for landscape water replenishment has raised severe public concerns over potential health hazards. Thus, this study aims to quantify the health impacts due to the replenishment of Lake Cui in Kunming with reclaimed water. Based on experimental analyses, Escherichia coli and norovirus were determined as the major pathogens in Lake Cui. Three typical exposure routes, namely river cleaning, boating and road flushing were identified during a field investigation. The disease burden, expressed by disability-adjusted life year (DALY) was evaluated and compared with the infection risk obtained by quantitative microbial risk assessment. Findings showed that the disease burden due to road flushing was highest compared to the other pathways. For the different pathogens, E. coli was the leading cause of DALYs. As well, infection risk for the two pathogens exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) risk level of 10−4, while the disease burdens were below the WHO threshold of 10−6 DALYs. Thus, infection risk should not be regarded as the endpoint for health impact assessment. By contrast, the disease burden is much more suitable for quantifying the health hazard due to environmental pollution. The methodology introduced in this study provides new directions for the evaluation of health impacts related to water reuse for landscape ecology.

In this work, a MoS2-based binder-free electrode has been fabricated via a simple hydrothermal deposition approach. In this electrode, the MoS2 nanosheets are orderly assembled and immobilized on macroporous titanium (Ti) mesh with exposed active sites for Li-storage. The Ti mesh with a 3D porous network provides a stable skeleton and large surface area for loading MoS2 nanosheets. Meanwhile, the intimate contact with conductive Ti mesh facilitates fast charge transfer in the electrode reactions. When applied as an anode in lithium-ion battery, the binder-free electrode exhibits a greatly promoted Li-storage property, including desirable cycling durability and superior rate capability.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Tougu Xiaotong capsules (TXC) are an herbal compound commonly used to treat osteoarthritis (OA) in China. Aim of the study We attempted to verify TXC's therapeutic effects and mechanisms related to the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in vivo and in vitro. Materials and methods TXC's therapeutic effects were assessed by observing cartilage degeneration and inflammatory factors in a modified Hulth's model (in vivo) and a lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-exposed cellular model (in vitro). The expression of biomarkers related to p38 MAPK pathway-mediated inflammation was also investigated. Results TXC treatment reversed cartilage degeneration related biomarkers (ADAMTS 4, ADAMTS 5, Col I, Col V, MMP 3, MMP 9, and MMP 13) and inflammation factors (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6) in both the animal and cellular OA models. Expression of p-p38 MAPK was downregulated following TXC administration, and changes to microRNAs in the cellular models were recovered. These results indicated that the p38 MAPK pathway-related mechanism may involve therapeutic effects of TXC. Conclusions This study verified TXC's efficacy to treat OA in vivo and in vitro and suggests that p38 MAPK pathway-related mechanisms may be involved in TXC's therapeutic effects.

In this work, a template-free hydrothermal strategy has been developed to fabricate 3D hierarchical MoS2 microflowers on macroporous Ti mesh (MoS2 MF-Ti) as a binder-free electrode for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). It is found that the Ti mesh is able to provide an ideal platform for self-assembly of the MoS2 nanosheets into the hierarchical microflowers. The as-prepared MoS2 MF-Ti electrode is characteristic of meso/macro porous structures, abundant active edges and good conductivity. As a result, the MoS2 MF-Ti demonstrates greatly enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability toward HER due to its desirable structural features.

In this work, the 3D porous hierarchical MoS2 nanostructures were prepared via a simple hydrothermal deposition method only utilizing titanium (Ti) mesh as a substrate. The as-synthesized uniform MoS2 flower-like nanostructures were assembled by nanosheets composed of several stacking layers. The curved and rough surface of cylindrical Ti wire was beneficial to assembly of MoS2 nanosheets into hierarchical architectures. Moreover, the electrochemical performance of the as-prepared MoS2 nanostructured electrodes for capacitors was also investigated. The structural advantages lead to a remarkably improved pseudocapacitive property including high capacitance and durable cycling ability.

Despite many recent attempts to restrict it, the dissolution and diffusion of polysulfides, leading to inferior cycling performance, is still the main bottleneck hindering commercialization of the Li-S battery. Herein, a new strategy of using lithium polyacrylate (LiPAA) to clad multiwalled carbon nanotube/sulfur (MWNT/S) composites as the interface layer for an MWNT/S/LiPAA cathode was proposed, not only to suppress polysulfide migration through physical encapsulation and chemical adsorption, but also to facilitate Li+ diffusion during the charge/discharge process. Attributed to these functions of LiPAA, MWNT/S/LiPAA exhibited a rate capability and cycling performance superior to those of MWNT/S and MWNT/S/PAA. Moreover, thanks to the introduction of LiPAA, the MWNT/S/LiPAA was endowed with robust mechanical properties, making it suitable for a flexible cathode in a flexible Li-S battery with stable output under deformation. This work could open up a promising way to suppress polysulfide migration for high-performance flexible Li-S batteries.

In this Letter, the links to Supplementary Videos 5, 7, 9 and 10 were incorrect, and there were some formatting errors in the Supplementary Video legends. These errors have been corrected online.

The growth kinetics of ice are modeled using the Water Potential from Adaptive Force Matching for Ice and Liquid (WAIL) potential with molecular dynamics. The all-atom WAIL model provides a good description of the properties of both ice and liquid with an equilibrium temperature of 270 K at 1 bar. The growth kinetics captured by this model can thus reflect those of real ice. Our simulation indicates that the growth rate of ice on the basal plane is fastest at approximately 20 K supercooling, consistent with experimental findings, where the growth rate increases monotonically as the supercooling increases to 18 K. The key factors that control the growth kinetics leading to the optimal growth temperature are investigated. The simulation revealed a bilayer-by-bilayer growth mechanism on the basal plane that proceeds in two steps. Whereas water molecules lose translational motion and become ice-like quickly, the establishment of orientational order to form ice is a slow and activated process. Enhanced by the templating effect of sublayers, the rapid reduction in translational motion in the formation of the prefreezing layer might explain the significantly faster growth rate relative to the nucleation rate of water. Whereas remelting of the prefreezing layer is observed at low supercooling and may be responsible for the lower growth rate close to the melting temperature, the slow orientational ordering of the prefreezing layer into the final ice conformation is partly responsible for the reduced growth rate at deeper supercooling.

Few-layered molybdenum disulfide/nitrogen, phosphorus co-doped graphene composites are synthesized by a quaternary phosphonium salt-assisted hydrothermal and annealing procedure. The prepared composites are analyzed by x-ray powder diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectra, scanning electronic microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy, Raman spectra and nitrogen adsorption and desorption. Experimental results indicate that the MoS

Lyapunov exponent and bifurcation diagram are two effective methods to study stability of DC-DC converters. In this paper, the stability of single inductor dual outputs (SIDO) buck converter working in valley-current-mode (VCM) is studied. First, the operation principle, current borderline of the converter’s inductor and the unified discrete-iterative model of the VCM SIDO-buck converter are presented. Based on that, the dynamic behaviors and Lyapunov exponent of this studied converter with variation of input voltage are emphatically studied based on the established discrete-iterative model. Furthermore, the stability criteria of input voltage are obtained. Finally, simulation result is presented to verify the theoretical analysis result on bifurcations.

Dictionary learning is the key process of sparse representation which is one of the most widely used image representation theories in image fusion. The existing dictionary learning method does not use the group structure information and the sparse coefficients well. In this paper, we propose a new adaptive structured dictionary learning algorithm and a e1-norm maximum fusion rule that innovatively utilizes grouped sparse coefficients to merge the images. In the dictionary learning algorithm, we do not need prior knowledge about any group structure of the dictionary. By using the characteristics of the dictionary in expressing the signal, our algorithm can automatically find the desired potential structure information that hidden in the dictionary. The fusion rule takes the physical meaning of the group structure dictionary, and makes activity-level judgement on the structure information when the images are being merged. Therefore, the fused image can retain more significant information. Comparisons have been made with several state-of-the-art dictionary learning methods and fusion rules. The experimental results demonstrate that, the dictionary learning algorithm and the fusion rule both outperform others in terms of several objective evaluation metrics.

A Love wave is derived for a new physical configuration in which a surface layer described by the couple stress theory covers a classical elasticity half-space. The dispersion equation is derived analytically when the thickness of the surface layer approaches zero. The correctness of the dispersion equation is confirmed via the second derivation path, namely the surface elasticity. The membrane with microstructure is described by the surface elasticity which significantly simplifies the derivation. New propagation features deduced from the dispersion curves are discussed. Published version

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a major pathogen of penaeid shrimp. Here we identified a new WSSV strain, WSSV-CN04, from naturally infected Marsupenaeus japonicus. Whole genomic sequencing results indicate that the WSSV-CN04 genome was 281 054 bp in length, and encoded 157 hypothetic proteins. The genome sequence of WSSV-CN04 was most closely related to the low-virulent strain WSSV-CN03, sharing 97.5% sequence identity. Notably, in WSSV-CN04, the major envelop protein VP24 was not only truncated but also absent in the virions. Since VP24 was previously reported to be essential for WSSV per os infection by mediating WSSV-chitin interaction, we further analyzed the peroral infection of WSSV-CN03 and -CN04 in Litopenaeus vannamei, and show that the infectivity of WSSV-CN04 was significantly lower than that of WSSV-CN03. When compared with WSSV-CN03-infected shrimp, fewer virions were detected in the digestive tract tissues of WSSV-CN04-infected shrimp at 4 hours post-infection (hpi), and the viral titers in the animals at 24 hpi were much lower. Moreover, a peptide corresponding to VP24 chitin-binding domain reduced the amount of WSSV-CN03 in the midgut to a level similar to that of WSSV-CN04 at 4 hpi. These findings indicate that the truncation of VP24 may attenuate the peroral infectivity of WSSV-CN04, and therefore verify the important role of VP24 in WSSV per os infection. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13567-017-0492-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Free O–H groups of water are often found at the water-hydrophobic medium interface, e.g. for water contact with hydrophobic protein residues, or at the water–air interface. In surface-specific vibrational spectroscopic studies using sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy, free O–H groups are experimentally well characterized in the O–H stretch region by a sharp 3700 cm–1 peak. Although these free O–H groups are often defined as the O–H groups which are not hydrogen-bonded to other water molecules, a direct correlation between such non-hydrogen-bonded O–H groups and the 3700 cm–1 SFG response has been lacking. Our data show that commonly used hydrogen bond definitions do not adequately capture the free O–H groups contributing to the 3700 cm–1 peak. We thus formulate a new definition for capturing the subensemble of the surface free O–H groups using the intermolecular distance and the angle formed by the water dimer, through the comparison of the ∼3700 cm–1 SFG response and the responses from the selec...

Fe–N–S-tri-doped TiO2 (FeNS-TiO2) was synthesized by a simple one-step hydrothermal method. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic activities of as-synthesized samples were tested by the oxidation of methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB) and the reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) under visible-light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation, and compared with N-dope P25 (N-P25) and the undoped TiO2. Besides, the effects of the coexistence of MO, RhB, and MB on FeNS-TiO2-mediated photocatalytic reduction of aqueous Cr(VI) were also studied. The results indicated FeNS-TiO2 displayed higher visible-light-activated photocatalytic activity than N-P25 and the undoped TiO2. Otherwise, FeNS-TiO2 showed the coexistence of MB enhanced the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI), whereas the coexistence of MO and RhB retarded the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) over FeNS-TiO2. Moreover, a possible photocatalytic mechanism is discussed.

Flower-like WO 3 ∙H 2 O/reduced graphene oxide composites have been successfully synthesized through a mild hydrothermal approach. The as-prepared samples are well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It is revealed that WO 3 ∙H 2 O in composite is of orthorhombic phase and possesses a flower-like hierarchical architecture which is assembled by numerous nanosheets as building blocks. Moreover, the WO 3 ∙H 2 O microflowers with uniform sizes and morphologies are evenly distributed and anchored on the large and flexible reduced graphene oxide sheets. When evaluated as electrode materials for supercapacitor, the composites exhibit superior electrochemical performance with high specific capacitance, good cycling stability and excellent rate capability. It is believed that the unique hierarchical WO 3 ∙H 2 O microstructures and the synergistic effect originated from the intimate combination of WO 3 ∙H 2 O with reduced graphene oxide are responsible for the enhanced electrochemical properties.

MoS 2 /C nanocomposite has been successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method with citrate ammonium as carbon source. The obtained samples are well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analyzer (TG) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Moreover, they are also evaluated as electrochemical catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The results indicate that numerous ultrathin MoS 2 nanosheets which are characteristic of few layers (1–3 layers) and abundant exposed active edges and defects are well-dispersed in the amorphous carbon network to form MoS 2 /C composite. As a consequence, the desirable microstructures endow the resultant MoS 2 /C composite with significantly enhanced catalytic activity for HER such as more positive onset potential, larger current density as well as smaller Tafel slope of 64 mV dec − 1 in comparison with the bare MoS 2 .

Ultrathin MoSe 2 /graphene hybrids have been successfully synthesized through a facile ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal approach. The resultant hybrids are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). It is revealed that the MoSe 2 nanosheets in the hybrids exhibit a graphene-like few-layered structural characteristic of 2–3 layers and are well dispersed and anchored on the large flexible graphene sheets. When evaluated as an anode for LIBs, the obtained MoSe 2 /graphene hybrid electrode demonstrates preferable electrochemical performances with high reversible lithium-storage capacity of ∼1100 mAh g −1 , superior cyclic stability and excellent rate capability. The extraordinary electrochemical properties can be ascribed to the novel hybrid structures composed of ultrathin few-layered MoSe 2 nanosheets and highly conductive graphene as well as the resultant maximized synergistic effect between MoSe 2 and graphene.

MoS2 nanospheres assembled by few-layer (FL-) and edge-rich nanosheets with uniform sizes have been successfully synthesized by a facile anionic surfactant-assisted hydrothermal approach. The obtained samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and evaluated as electrochemical catalysts in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). It is found that the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) plays a crucial role in the formation of MoS2 nanosheets with few layers and rich exposed edges in our current synthetic route. As a result, the as-prepared FL-MoS2 nanosphere catalyst exhibits obviously enhanced HER activity such as more positive onset potential, larger current density as well as smaller Tafel slope of 65 mV dec−1 in comparison with the pristine MoS2 sample due to the few-layer characteristics and rich exposed active edges.

VP28 and VP24 are two major envelope proteins of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). The direct interaction between VP28 and VP24 has been described in previous studies. In this study, we confirmed this interaction and mapped the interaction domains of VP28 and VP24 by constructing a series of deletion mutants. By co-immunoprecipitation, two VP28-binding domains of VP24 were located at amino acid residues 46-61 and 148-160, while VP24-binding domain of VP28 was located at amino acid residues 31-45. These binding domains were further corroborated by peptide blocking assay, in which synthetic peptides spanning the binding domains were able to inhibit VP28-VP24 interaction, whereas same-size control peptides from non-binging regions did not.

The photothermal interferometry method with higher accuracy and lower uncertainty can directly measure the absorption coefficient of atmospheric aerosols and be unaffected by scattered light. With Jones matrix expression, the math expression of a special polarization interferometer is described. This paper using folded Jamin interferometer, which overcomes the influence of vibration on measuring system. Interference come from light polarization beam with two orthogonal and then combine to one beam, finally aerosol absorption induced refractive index changes can be gotten with four beam of phase orthogonal light. These kinds of styles really improve the stability of system and resolution of the system. Four-channel detections interact with interference fringes, to reduce the light intensity ‘zero drift’ effect on the system. In the laboratory, this device can be sensitivity to the refractive index of air, which have close relation with aerosol absorption index; it shows that the result principally agrees with actual value. This kind of instrument will be used to monitor ambient aerosol absorption and also be sensible for chemical component of suspended particulate matter.

Molybdenum doped few-layered SnS2 (m-SnS2) architectures have been fabricated via a facile hydrothermal route. The results indicate that the resultant m-SnS2 is composed of numerous few-layered nanosheets and possesses a hierarchical architecture with mesoporous features. When evaluated as an electrode material for supercapacitors, the m-SnS2 architecture exhibits obviously enhanced electrochemical performance with high specific capacitance, good cycling stability and rate capability in comparison with the bare SnS2 sample. It is believed that the superior electrochemical properties can be attributed to the robust mesoporous architectures with large surface area, the few-layered nature as well as other positive factors such as expanded interlayer space and rich dislocations which originate from the molybdenum doping.

A facile cationic surfactant-assisted hydrothermal route has been developed to fabricate novel hierarchical SnS hollow microflowers. The obtained products were characterized by XRD, SEM, and HRTEM....

Scanning probe microscopy has been extensively applied to probe interfacial water in many interdisciplinary fields but the disturbance of the probes on the hydrogen-bonding structure of water has remained an intractable problem. Here, we report submolecular-resolution imaging of the water clusters on a NaCl(001) surface within the nearly noninvasive region by a qPlus-based noncontact atomic force microscopy. Comparison with theoretical simulations reveals that the key lies in probing the weak high-order electrostatic force between the quadrupole-like CO-terminated tip and the polar water molecules at large tip–water distances. This interaction allows the imaging and structural determination of the weakly bonded water clusters and even of their metastable states with negligible disturbance. This work may open an avenue for studying the intrinsic structure and dynamics of ice or water on surfaces, ion hydration, and biological water with atomic precision., Scanning probe microscopy has been extensively applied to probe interfacial water but the probes tend to disturb the structure of water easily. Here, the authors report submolecular-resolution imaging of water clusters within the nearly non-invasive region by qPlus noncontact atomic force microscopy.

Phase-resolved sum-frequency generation measurements combined with molecular dynamics simulations are employed to study the effect of temperature on the molecular arrangement of water on the basal face of ice. The topmost monolayer, interrogated through its nonhydrogen-bonded, free O-H stretch peak, exhibits a maximum in surface H-bond density around 200 K. This maximum results from two competing effects: above 200 K, thermal fluctuations cause the breaking of H bonds; below 200 K, the formation of bulklike crystalline interfacial structures leads to H-bond breaking. Knowledge of the surface structure of ice is critical for understanding reactions occurring on ice surfaces and ice nucleation.

Based on ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory, we performed a systematic theoretical study to elucidate the correlation between the H-bonded environment and Xray emission spectra of liquid water. The spectra generated from excited water molecules embedded in an intact H-bonded environment yield broader spectral peaks and a larger spectral range than the spectra generated from water molecules in a broken H-bonded environment. Such differences are caused by the local electronic structures on the excited water molecules within the core-hole lifetime that evolve differently through the rearrangement of neighboring water molecules in different H-bonded environments.

A novel iridovirus, Cherax quadricarinatus iridovirus (CQIV), was identified from diseased C. quadricarinatus in 2014. This virus is considered as a new threat to crustacean aquaculture because it is lethal to both peneaid shrimp and crayfish. Here, we determined the complete genome sequence of CQIV. The double-stranded DNA genome is 165 695 bp in length with a G+C content of 34.6 %. A total of 178 open reading frames (ORFs) have been predicted, encoding hypothetical proteins ranging from 50 to 1327 amino acids. Forty-seven of these exhibit similarities to proteins of known functions. Phylogenetic analysis based on multiple alignments of conserved proteins shows that CQIV clusters with the members of the family Iridoviridae, but is placed in a distinct clade from all the five known genera. It indicates that CQIV may represent a new genus in the family Iridoviridae, for which we propose the name Cheraxvirus based on the host organism.

Oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption spectra of liquid water are computed based on the configurations from advanced ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, as well as an electron excitation theory from the GW method. One one hand, the molecular structures of liquid water are accurately predicted by including both van der Waals interactions and hybrid functional (PBE0). On the other hand, the dynamic screening effects on electron excitation are approximately described by the recently developed enhanced static Coulomb hole and screened exchange approximation by Kang and Hybertsen [Phys. Rev. B 82, 195108 (2010)]. The resulting spectra of liquid water are in better quantitative agreement with the experimental spectra due to the softened hydrogen bonds and the slightly broadened spectra originating from the better screening model., 10 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev. B

We study the potential energy landscape (PEL) of a waterlike monatomic liquid that exhibits a liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT) and glass-glass transformation (GGT). We identify two anomalous features of the PEL that give origin to both phenomena. Specifically, during the pressure-induced LLPT and GGT, (i) the inherent structures (IS) energy becomes a concave function of volume, and (ii) the IS pressure exhibits a van der Waals--like loop. We argue that features (i) and (ii) imply that the GGT is a (nonequilibrium) first-order phase transition, analogous to the LLPT. Interestingly, contrary to the case of the classical ST2 model for water, (a) we do not find two separate PEL megabasins (one for the low-density glass and liquid, and another for the high-density glass and liquid), and (b) features (i)--(ii) persist at temperatures well above the LLPT.

Phosphatase PRL-3 expression is positively associated to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) progression and drug resistance. SH3-domain-binding glutamic acid-rich protein-like protein (SH3BGRL), a downstream effector of PRL-3, plays a tumor suppressive role in solid tumors, but it remains elusive in AML. Here, we followed up and validated the relevance of SH3BGRL expression to AML progression in 116 cases. Results showed that SH3BGRL is down-regulated in 62.37% AML cases with poor prognosis. Cases with positive response to therapy accompanies with SH3GRL expression restoration. Mechanistically, SH3BGRL down-regulation promotes AML cell cycle progression and enhances the anti-apoptotic ability to drug cytotoxicity. While ectopic SH3BGRL blocks AML cell cycle and proliferation to sensitize them to therapeutic drugs via apoptosis. Xenograft assays further confirmed the suppressive role of SH3BGRL in leukemogenesis. Thus, our results demonstrated that SH3BGRL is a novel crucial player in AML progression and could be both a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker.

Aims To evaluate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection on antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli). Methods and Results Antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains were isolated from a wastewater treatment plant and subjected to UV disinfection. The effect of UV disinfection on the antibiotic resistance profiles and the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of antibiotic-resistant E. coli was evaluated by a combination of antibiotic susceptibility analysis and molecular methods. Results indicated that multiple-antibiotic-resistant (MAR) E. coli were more resistant at low UV doses and required a higher UV dose (20 mJ cm−2) to enter the tailing phase compared with those of antibiotic-sensitive E. coli (8 mJ cm−2). UV disinfection caused a selective change in the inhibition zone diameters of surviving antibiotic-resistant E. coli and a slight damage to ARGs. The inhibition zone diameters of the strains resistant to antibiotics were more difficult to alter than those susceptible to antibiotics because of the existence and persistence of corresponding ARGs. Conclusions The resistance of MAR bacteria to UV disinfection at low UV doses and the changes in inhibition zone diameters could potentially contribute to the selection of ARB in wastewater treatment after UV disinfection. The risk of spread of antibiotic resistance still exists owing to the persistence of ARGs. Significance and Impact of the Study Our study highlights the acquisition of other methods to control the spread of ARGs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Traditional culture methods may underestimate the tolerance of microorganisms to disinfectants because of the existence of viable but nonculturable or sublethally injured cells after disinfection. The selection of a strict method is crucial for the evaluation of disinfection performance. The actions of 2 typical disinfectants - ultraviolet (UV) and chlorine - on the fecal indicator Escherichia coli were investigated by the detection of culturability, membrane permeability, metabolic activity, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). During UV disinfection, the irreversible damages in the cell membrane and cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were negligible at low UV doses ( 5mg/L) treatments. The decay of mRNA was more rapid than that of DNA. The degradation level of mRNA depended on the choice of target genes. After exposure to 50mJ/cm2 UV dose or 5mg/L chlorine for 30min, the DNA damage repair function (RecA mRNA) was inhibited. The mRNA involved in the DNA damage repair function can be a potential indicator of bacterial viability.

In many glass-forming liquids, fractional Stokes-Einstein relation (SER) is observed above the glass transition temperature. However, the origin of such phenomenon remains elusive. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the break- down of SER and the onset of fractional SER in a model of metallic glass-forming liquid. We find that SER breaks down when the size of the largest cluster consisting of trapped atoms starts to increase sharply at which the largest cluster spans half of the simulations box along one direction, and the fractional SER starts to follows when the largest cluster percolates the entire system and forms 3-dimentional network structures. Further analysis based on the percolation theory also confirms that percolation occurs at the onset of the fractional SER. Our results directly link the breakdown of the SER with structure inhomogeneity and onset of the fraction SER with percolation of largest clusters, thus provide a possible picture for the break- down of SER and onset of fractional SER in glass-forming liquids, which is is important for the understanding of the dynamic properties in glass-forming liquids.

Additional file 2. Predicted protein coding genes of WSSV-CN4. The genome of WSSV-CN04 was analyzed using Geneious 10.0.5. The ORF of 60 aa or larger with minimum overlap were identified as potential protein coding genes. The location, orientation, size, and function of each predicted protein-coding gene are summarized.

By loading two printed patches to the dielectric resonator antenna (DRA), a compact wide-band hybrid dielectric resonator antenna with enhanced gain and low cross-polarization is presented. The proposed antenna utilizes a combination of a rectangular dielectric resonator and two printed patches. Due to the hybrid design, multiple resonances were obtained. By adding two air layers between the dielectric resonator and the printed patches, the bandwidth has been significantly improved. Compared to the traditional hybrid dielectric resonator antenna, the proposed antenna can achieve wide bandwidth, high gain, low cross-polarization, and even small size simultaneously. The prototype of the proposed antenna has been fabricated and tested. The measured −10 dB return loss bandwidth is 25.6% (1.7–2.2 GHz). The measured antenna gains are about 6.3 and 8.2 dBi in the operating frequency band. Low cross-polarization levels of less than −28.5 dB and −43 dB in the E-plane and H-plane are achieved. Moreover, the overall dimensions of the antenna are only 67 × 67 × 34 (mm3). The proposed antenna is especially attractive for small base antenna applications.

Flower-like MoS 2 microspheres were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route followed by annealing treatment using biopolymer (sodium alginate, SA) as an additive. The experimental results indicated that the MoS 2 products were of hexagonal phases and had a hierarchical flower-like morphology, which were constructed with MoS 2 nanosheets. A probable SA-induced assembly process was presented to account for the formation of the flower-like microspheres. Additionally, as an electrode material for supercapacitor, this MoS 2 microsphere delivered a high specific capacitance at a large current density with good cycle ability.

Porous SnO2 nanospheres with uniform morphologies and sizes were fabricated via a biopolymer (sodium alginate, SA)-assisted hydrothermal route. The products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high solution TEM (HRTEM), nitrogen adsorption–desorption, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The obtained tetragonal SnO2 nanospheres were characteristic of hierarchical mesoporous structures with good crystallinity and high purity. Moreover, it was found that the porous SnO2 nanospheres were composed of numerous tiny nanocrystals as building blocks and the SA played a key role in formation of the porous nanospheres with uniform morphologies and sizes. Additionally, the photocatalytic activity of the obtained porous SnO2 nanospheres under sunlight irradiation was also evaluated by degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB).