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Abstract: Novel sphere-like CuS hierarchical structures are fabricated by solvothermal approach without any surfactant and template. SEM and TEM characterizations show that the CuS sphere-like structures are composed of tens to hundreds of well-arranged and self-assembled nanoplates with a thickness of about 20nm. The effects of dosage of CuCl2•6H2O, temperature and reaction time on the morphology of the products are systematically investigated and the results indicate that the CuS sphere-like hierarchical structures can only be obtained under certain experimental conditions. The possible formation mechanism of the CuS hierarchical structures is proposed. In addition, the possibility of using CuS as the electrode material for lithium ion batteries is studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The dramatic changes in urban housing provision in China after 1980 have been widely described and assessed. This paper updates earlier accounts of policy change in China and reflects upon the significance of these changes for theoretical and conceptual frameworks used in comparative housing studies. Housing privatisation and commercialisation transformed the Chinese socialist housing system into a dynamic housing market but new housing problems characteristic of market economies have emerged. Government at the national level has responded by developing new policies to support affordable and social housing; and at local level various new housing provision schemes have been tested, but their scale and impact have been limited because of the priority given by the local state to economic growth and securing local land related revenues. This paper suggests that the new phase of policy involves a distinctive hybrid approach rather than convergence on familiar market based, residual or corporatist approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Using a facile and effective method based on the solid phase reaction between Co(OH)2 and KBH4, we successfully synthesize orthorhombic CoB. It is shown that this CoB obtained is of high purity and thermal stability. A possible formation process for orthorhombic CoB is discussed in detail. In addition, crystalline CoB shows excellent electrochemical reversibility and considerable high charge–discharge capacities when it is used as the anode material for nickel-based secondary batteries. The reversible discharge capacities of the CoB electrode are found to be about 380mAhg−1 at a discharge current of 25mAg−1 and 360mAhg−1 at 100mAg−1. Moreover, electrochemical reaction mechanism of CoB is investigated in detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Effective and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer''s disease (AD), as well as its prodromal stage (i.e., mild cognitive impairment (MCI)), has attracted more and more attention recently. So far, multiple biomarkers have been shown to be sensitive to the diagnosis of AD and MCI, i.e., structural MR imaging (MRI) for brain atrophy measurement, functional imaging (e.g., FDG-PET) for hypometabolism quantification, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for quantification of specific proteins. However, most existing research focuses on only a single modality of biomarkers for diagnosis of AD and MCI, although recent studies have shown that different biomarkers may provide complementary information for the diagnosis of AD and MCI. In this paper, we propose to combine three modalities of biomarkers, i.e., MRI, FDG-PET, and CSF biomarkers, to discriminate between AD (or MCI) and healthy controls, using a kernel combination method. Specifically, ADNI baseline MRI, FDG-PET, and CSF data from 51AD patients, 99 MCI patients (including 43 MCI converters who had converted to AD within 18months and 56 MCI non-converters who had not converted to AD within 18months), and 52 healthy controls are used for development and validation of our proposed multimodal classification method. In particular, for each MR or FDG-PET image, 93 volumetric features are extracted from the 93 regions of interest (ROIs), automatically labeled by an atlas warping algorithm. For CSF biomarkers, their original values are directly used as features. Then, a linear support vector machine (SVM) is adopted to evaluate the classification accuracy, using a 10-fold cross-validation. As a result, for classifying AD from healthy controls, we achieve a classification accuracy of 93.2% (with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 93.3%) when combining all three modalities of biomarkers, and only 86.5% when using even the best individual modality of biomarkers. Similarly, for classifying MCI from healthy controls, we achieve a classification accuracy of 76.4% (with a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 66%) for our combined method, and only 72% even using the best individual modality of biomarkers. Further analysis on MCI sensitivity of our combined method indicates that 91.5% of MCI converters and 73.4% of MCI non-converters are correctly classified. Moreover, we also evaluate the classification performance when employing a feature selection method to select the most discriminative MR and FDG-PET features. Again, our combined method shows considerably better performance, compared to the case of using an individual modality of biomarkers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: The object of this study is to establish serum protein fingerprint models for early diagnosis and evaluation of luminal stenosis severity of CAD. Design and methods: A total of 189 samples were analyzed by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) coupled with CM10 chips and bioinformatics tools. Results: Ten top-ranked proteins were selected as the potential fingerprints of pattern 1, which distinguishes patients with significant CAD (stenosis≥50%) from control individuals. Blind test was analyzed on the second day with a specificity of 79.3% and sensitivity of 78.3%. Pattern 2 distinguishes significant CAD from minimal CAD with luminal stenosis between 25% and 50%. The specificity and sensitivity of blind test for pattern 2 are 77.3% and 73.9%, respectively. Conclusions: The SELDI-TOF MS technique combined with bioinformatics approaches may be a novel noninvasive method which can not only facilitate the discovery of diagnostic models for CAD and its severity, but also provide a useful tool for molecular diagnosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Co–B doped NaAlH4 is successfully synthesized by two-step synthesis process. The first activation step is milling NaH/Al powder and Co–B mixtures under Ar atmosphere. The second step is milling in a lower hydrogen pressure atmosphere. XRD patterns and FTIR spectrum demonstrate that NaAlH4 is completely formed after 15 h milling in Ar atmosphere following by 40 h milling in 2 MPa H2 atmosphere. PCT curves of as-prepared NaAlH4 show that it can release hydrogen at a low temperature of 90 °C. The activation energy value calculated by Arrhenius equation is only 67.95 kJ mol−1. Moreover, the formation mechanism of NaAlH4 is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Sr0.13Na0.37Bi0.50TiO3 thin films were prepared by metalorganic solution deposition, and annealed at temperatures from 550 to 700°C for 1–15min. The influence of annealing on the morphology, phase and ferroelectric properties was studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and ferroelectric analyzer. The doping of Na0.50Bi0.50TiO3 films with Sr results in the existence of two phases, i. e., Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-like (matrix) phase and BiTiO3-like (second) phase, the relative contents of which depend on the annealing conditions. With the increase of annealing temperature and prolongation of annealing time, the phase content of the BiTiO3-like second phase increases and a phenocryst structure was formed, which leads to the decrease of remnant polarization of Sr0.13Na0.37Bi0.50TiO3 thin films. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of methylphenidate on the spatial learning and memory ability and synaptic ultrastructure in the hippocamal CA3 region of the spontaneously hypertensive rat, a rat model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The methylphenidate group and model group were respectively administered the drug (10mg/kg, i.p.) and saline 30min before place navigation on 6 consecutive days, a control group of Wistar Kyoto rats were administered saline in the same way. Transmission electron microscopic and imaging analyses were then used to detect and analyze any microstructural changes. The performance of the model rats treated with the drug was the best in the probe test. In addition, three parameters including the length of the active zone, the thickness of the postsynaptic density and the synaptic curvature were measured to show the significant synaptic configuration changes in the methylphenidate group in comparison to the model group. Therefore, these ultrastructural changes in the hippocampal CA3 region may be one of the mechanisms by which methylphenidate improves the spatial memory ability of spontaneously hypertensive rats. The Wistar Kyoto rats showed a significantly decreased latency for finding the platform from the second day in spite of a floating characteristic, while in the probe test, their performance was close to that of the model rats. Finally, morphological evidence suggested the model rats to have a cognitive impairment in comparison to the control group and their better performance was possibly due to the physiological hyper-response of WKY in the water maze tasks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The 13C NMR spectra of methyl α- and β-d-galactopyranosides, and methyl α- and β-d-glucopyranosides were recorded and show that the Δ(δC-4) values for methyl α- and β-d-galactopyranosides increase most rapidly, whereas those for methyl α- and β-d-glucopyranosides vary hardly with increasing molality of calcium nitrate. It can be concluded that ax-OH-4 interacts more strongly with Ca2+ than eq-OH-4 group, namely, the Ca2+ ion interaction with ax-OH-4 leads to a stronger deshielding of the C-4 atom. Compared with other C atoms, the chemical shifts of both C-1 and C-5 atoms in these two types of glycosides decrease relatively rapidly as molality of calcium nitrate increases, indicating that the nitrate ion attractions for these glycosides cause a relatively strong enhancing shielding effect of C-1 and C-5 atoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thermodynamic properties of the NiSO 4 –K 2 SO 4 system play significant roles in various applications, e. g. in gas turbine components. In these components, Ni-base superalloys and coatings often suffer from the so-called hot corrosion induced by alkali sulphate deposits. In the present work, the phase equilibria in the system NiSO 4 –K 2 SO 4 were experimentally determined for the first time using differential thermal analysis (DTA), dilatometry (DiL) and X-ray diffraction method (XRD). Two eutectic points and two stoichiometric compounds, K 2 Ni 2 (SO 4) 3 and K 2 Ni(SO 4) 2 , were found in this system. The temperature and composition of the lower eutectic were determined to be 642 °C and 40 mol.% NiSO 4 , respectively. Another eutectic between NiSO 4 and K 2 Ni 2 (SO 4) 3 was found at 819 °C, and the corresponding composition is around 75 mol.% NiSO 4 and 25 mol. % K 2 SO 4. Based on the obtained experimental data, the NiSO 4 –K 2 SO 4 system was thermodynamically assessed using the CALPHAD methodology. The modified associate species model was used for the description of the liquid phase. Using the optimized dataset, the calculated phase diagram showed a good agreement with the experimental results. This dataset extends the previously developed general sulphate database including alkali- and alkaline-earth sulphates (CaSO 4 –MgSO 4 –Na 2 SO 4 –K 2 SO 4) with the addition of NiSO 4. • Phase diagram of the NiSO 4 –K 2 SO 4 system is experimentally studied for the first time. • Two eutectic points and two intermediate compounds, K 2 Ni 2 (SO 4) 3 and K 2 Ni(SO 4) 2 , are found in the studied system. • Thermodynamic description of the NiSO 4 –K 2 SO 4 system is performed using the CALPHAD methodology. • Good agreement between calculated and experimental values of phase transition temperatures is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Runoff is more sensitive to its driving factors over time. • Variation of runoff sensitivity contributed about 20% to the change in runoff. • Controls other than long-term average climate were the major contributors to sensitivity variation. With great changes, such as climate and land use/cover, occurring in hydrological processes over the last decades, runoff sensitivity, here defined as proportional changes in runoff caused by a given proportional change in its driving factors (including precipitation, P , potential evapotranspiration, PET, and parameter m), has also been changing over time. However, few studies have focused on this sensitivity change, and runoff sensitivity is always considered to be constant in runoff attribution analysis with an elasticity-based method. In this study, we attempt to examine the temporal variation of runoff sensitivity in the middle reaches of the Yellow River basin, China, and quantify its effects on the changes in runoff so that the existing attribution method can be improved. We found that runoff sensitivity showed statistically significant trend, and runoff became more sensitive to changes in long-term average P , PET, and m. Parameter m , largely affected by land use/cover change resulting from large scale ecological projects, was the major contributor to change in runoff sensitivity, followed by P , and lastly PET. Runoff sensitivity variation contributed approximately 20% to the proportional runoff change, and by allowing runoff sensitivity to change over time, relative contributions of P , PET, and m to runoff would range from −5.05% to 9.94%. Our study supplements research focusing on hydrological changes and interactions, and we suggest that temporal variation in runoff sensitivity should be considered when quantifying the impacts of driving factors on changes in hydrological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A bonding with restored integrity has been achieved in solid state at lower strain. • Joints being affected by both microstructure evolution and interface quality. • A new interface quality evaluation method with elongation of joints. • A new mechanism and model description in a unified manner for solid-state bond. Solid-state bonding shows irreplaceable advantages in joining similar and dissimilar materials with poor weldability compared with fusion welding methods. To widen its applications in manufacturing safety-critical structural parts, a sound bonding quality must be achieved under less strict conditions. In this work, the metallurgical bonding is formed by hot compressing two Inconel 718 parts to different strain levels at the temperature of 1150 °C, strain rate of 0.1s−1 under a low vacuum. Full tensile strength and ductility comparable to the parent materials have been achieved for the first time by 0.5 engineering strain. The severe plastic deformation at hot temperature rapidly bonds the two parts by effectively closing the interface micro-voids, breaking up the oxide film, and in the meantime, accelerating the grain boundary(GB) migration through the dynamic recrystallization(DRx). Based on these observations, a theoretical model is proposed to describe the bonding process under hot deforming condition and the achieved relative interface bond quality, in which the cohesion between oxide-oxide and oxide-metal is assumed, and impairing effect of remaining dispersed oxides is minimized with the attempt of introducing a strain-amplifying factor. The insights and model provide the basis for further understanding of the solid-state bonding-by-hot-deforming under practical conditions and explore its wider application with ideal joint integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid additive manufacturing, incorporating additive manufacturing (AM) and other thermo-mechanical processes, has been developed to improve AM mechanical properties by modifying the as-deposited microstructure and eliminating defects. Additive manufactured parts present strong anisotropic properties, as shown by the anisotropic columnar grain morphology and texture. Samples of AM Inconel 718 were tested at high temperature and under uniaxial compression over a range of conditions. The evolution of microstructural anisotropy and the viscoplastic behaviour under these hot deformation processes was studied. The microstructure and texture evolution were characterised with optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results show that the initial anisotropic microstructure had a negligible effect on flow stress and slip system activation during the hot deformation. The shape of original grains did, however, play a predominant role in determining the final microstructure. When the compression direction was perpendicular to the longitudinal of columnar grains, a more uniform microstructure was obtained under high-flow-stress conditions. This preferred compression direction provides guidance for hot deformation in hybrid additive manufacturing practice. Furthermore, for the nickel alloy studied, controlling the deformation direction to achieve a fine grain structure at a lower temperature (950 °C, lower than δ-solvus) brings practical benefits in the form of possible further δ grain refinement and less demanding thermal conditions during subsequent deformation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanosensitive ion channels are widely expressed in the cardiovascular system. They translate mechanical forces including shear stress and stretch into biological signals. The most prominent biological signal through which the cardiovascular physiological activity is initiated or maintained are intracellular calcium ions (Ca2+). Growing evidence show that the Ca2+ entry mediated by mechanosensitive ion channels is also precisely regulated by a variety of key proteins which are distributed in the cell membrane or endoplasmic reticulum. Recent studies have revealed that mechanosensitive ion channels can even physically interact with Ca2+ regulatory proteins and these interactions have wide implications for physiology and pathophysiology. Therefore, this paper reviews the cross-talk between mechanosensitive ion channels and some key Ca2+ regulatory proteins in the maintenance of calcium homeostasis and its relevance to cardiovascular health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a repetition code (RC) coherent orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) single input multiple output (SIMO) system based on the exponential Weibull distribution model is proposed for downlink satellite–terrestrial laser communication. The closed form expression of bit error rate (BER) of the SIMO RC-OFDM system is derived by considering the joint effect of downlink intensity scintillation and angle of arrival fluctuation (AOA). The relationship between the BER and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of uncoded system and SIMO RC-OFDM system is compared under weak, medium and strong atmosphere turbulence, and the influence of the number of receiver antennas on the SIMO RC-OFDM system is studied. At the same time, under the condition of weak turbulence, the influence of important indicators such as zenith angle, receiving aperture, optimal beam divergence angle, and optimal transmission radius on the satellite–terrestrial laser communication downlink SIMO RC-OFDM system is analyzed. The Monte Carlo (MC) principle uses randomness to solve integral problems, and the obtained results are verified by MC simulations. This work provides a theoretical basis for research on coding technology in satellite–terrestrial laser downlink communication SIMO systems. • Based on EW distribution, studied the performance of RC-OFDM SIMO system for downlink. • The closed form expression of BER of the SIMO RC-OFDM system is derived. • The relationship between the BER and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of uncoded system and SIMO RC-OFDM system is compared. • The influence of zenith angle, receiving aperture, optimal beam divergence angle, and optimal transmission radius on the downlink SIMO RC-OFDM system is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The influence of pH values on the gold nanoparticles’ growth induced by UV irradiation is investigated. Citric acid is found to act as a capping ligand for stabilizing the metal nanoparticles as well as a photoreduction agent for the metal ions. The photoreduction of Au(III) ions and the growth processes of nanoparticles at different pH values are characterized by absorption spectroscopy and the kinetic curves. Results show that different photochemical reactions are responsible for the reduction of Au(III) at different pH values. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicate that when the pH value of the solution equals to 2.4 (higher citric acid concentration), 4, 5, and 12, respectively, the increase of citric acid concentration evidently leads to the decrease of particle size as well as σ value, except for 9.5mM (pH 5). However, Au nanoparticles exhibit slight growth in size as the citric acid concentration increases from 0.95 to 3.8mM, when the pH value of the solution equals to 7 and 10, respectively. While, on the whole, the increase of pH value could reduce the particle size and the σ value at the same citric acid concentration. However, both the mean diameter and σ value reach to minimum at pH 5. A UV induced aggregation, melting and fragmentation process in forming gold nanoparticles are observed. An atom-by-atom dissolution mechanism is considered to be responsible for this process. Based on these observations, a modified model in formation of gold nanoparticles is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Melt spinning experiments were performed on Ag–12wt.% SnO2 contact materials with and without CuO addition for the purpose of simulating the rapid solidification process of an instantaneously remelted thin surface layer during arcing. The microstructure of the rapidly solidified ribbons was investigated using optical and scanning electron microscopy, and compared with that of the samples subjected to arcing tests. The results evidenced a redistribution of the reinforcement SnO2 particles during rapid solidification as well as a strong dependence of it on the addition of a small amount of CuO to the starting materials. In CuO-free ribbons, much more of the SnO2 particles were confined at grain boundaries rather than engulfed in Ag matrix grains. In CuO-doped ribbons, however, the SnO2 particles were uniformly distributed both inside Ag-matrix grains and at grain boundaries. Additionally, short SnO2 rods were formed on the surfaces of the CuO-doped ribbons. Similar effects of the addition of CuO were noted for arc-tested samples. The results were discussed with respect to several models dealing with the particle–dendrite interaction during solidification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the version of this article originally published (Wang I et al i ., [1]), there was an error in Figure 3. GLO:24QQ/01apr20:asl2961-fig-0001.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): . gl REFERENCE 1 Wang, Y., Cui, X. and Huang, Y. (2016) Characteristics of multiscale vortices in the simulated formation of Typhoon Durian (2001). [Extracted from the article]

To investigate the association between polymorphisms in the G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 gene ( GRK4) ( R65L, A142V and A486V) and essential hypertension in northern Han Chinese, we conducted a case-control study consisting of 503 individuals with essential hypertension (HT) and 490 age-, gender-, and area-matched normotensive (NT) controls. The three GRK4 variants were genotyped by PCR-RFLP analysis. Both haplotype and single locus analysis were used to process the genotyping data. The A486 allele showed a significant association with HT ( P < 0.001). A total of 6 haplotypes were observed in the entire population, with the haplotypes L-V-A and R-A-A being found to be significantly related to hypertension ( P= 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An MIDAS-400 Customised Data Acquisition System was deployed to obtain current velocity and suspended sediment concentration profiles over the intertidal flat at Wanggang, on the Jiangsu coast (China). At the same time, seawater temperature, conductivity and pressure were measured. Using a data sampling rate of 4 Hz, the high-frequency pressure signals in response to water surface fluctuations were recorded and subsequently transformed into wave parameters. The analytical results show that the apparent bed roughness length has a magnitude close to the height of sand ripples, which is much larger than the grain size diameter. The bottom shear stress associated with current-wave interaction is higher than the tidally-induced stress and intensified turbulent mixing and resuspension. Furthermore, several suspended sediment concentration peaks occurred during a tidal cycle, which can be related to strong turbulence near the bed caused by frontal tidal currents and the enhanced resuspension; advection and extreme weather conditions (e. g. storms and strong winds) also played an important role. Finally, large net suspended sediment fluxes were observed to present when the flood or ebb currents prolonged, i.e. the flow became quasi-unidirectional during a tidal cycle. In general, the MIDAS-400 is a suitable tool for high-resolution data collection for the situations of combined current-wave action over intertidal flats; the data obtained can be used to analyze the processes and mechanisms of material transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immune response against microbial invasion. In addition to the previously known four classes of antimicrobial peptides, a fifth class of antimicrobial peptides has been recently identified to include NK-lysins that have a globular three-dimensional structure and are larger with 74–78 amino acid residues. NK-lysin has been shown to harbor antimicrobial activities against a wide spectrum of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and parasites. To date, NK-lysin genes have been reported from only a limited number of organisms. We previously identified a NK-lysin cDNA in channel catfish. Here we report the identification of two novel types of NK-lysin transcripts in channel catfish. Altogether, three distinct NK-lysin transcripts exist in channel catfish. In this work, their encoding genes were identified, sequenced, and characterized. We provide strong evidence that the catfish NK-lysin gene is tripled in the same genomic neighborhood. All three catfish NK-lysin genes are present in the same genomic region and are tightly linked on the same chromosome, as the same BAC clones harbor all three copies of the NK-lysin genes. All three NK-lysin genes are expressed, but exhibit distinct expression profiles in various tissues. In spite of the existence of a single copy of NK-lysin gene in the human genome, and only a single hit from the pufferfish genome, there are two tripled clusters of NK-lysin genes on chromosome 17 of zebrafish in addition to one more copy on its chromosome 5. The similarity in the genomic arrangement of the tripled NK-lysin genes in channel catfish and zebrafish suggest similar evolution of NK-lysin genes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is one of the pivotal early response pro-inflammatory cytokines that enables organisms to respond to infection and induces a cascade of reactions leading to inflammation. In spite of its importance and two decades of studies in the mammalian species, genes encoding IL-1β were not identified from non-mammalian species until recently. Recent research, particularly with genomic approaches, has led to sequencing of IL-1β from many species. Clinical studies also suggested IL-1β as an immunoregulatory molecule potentially useful for enhancing vaccination. However, no IL-1β genes have been identified from channel catfish, the primary aquaculture species from the United States. In this study, we identified two distinct cDNAs encoding catfish IL-1β. Their encoding genes were identified, sequenced, and characterized. The catfish IL-1β genes were assigned to bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. Genomic studies indicated that the IL-1β genes were tandemly duplicated on the same chromosome. Phylogenetic analysis of various IL-1β genes indicated the possibility of recent species-specific gene duplications in channel catfish, and perhaps also in swine and carp. Expression analysis indicated that both IL-1β genes were expressed, but exhibited distinct expression profiles in various catfish tissues, and after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A MIDAS-400 customized data acquisition system has been used for the high-resolution sediment dynamic measurements over the Dafeng intertidal flats of northern Jiangsu during 6 tidal cycles from July 3 to July 10, 2003. The bed shear stress and bedload transport rates, in response to wave-current interactions, are calculated, which indicate that wind waves enhance the bottom shear stress and bedload transport rates. At the station for measurements, bedload transport was directed to seaward, with a sediment discharge of 30-150 kg·m-1 per tidal cycle. The surficial sediment samples were collected from a grid with 10 m spatial intervals over a rectangle 2 × 104 m² experimental area, near the MIDAS-400 during the spring tide of July 4, 2003, and the neap tide of July 9, 2003. In addition, leveling survey was undertaken to obtain the detailed topography of the sampling area. Grain-size trend analysis of the sediment samples shows that the bedload transport patterns are complex, mainly controlled by the hydrodynamics and local geomorphology (e.g. tidal creeks) over the intertidal flats. Furthermore, the grain-size trends pattern during the neap tide rather than during the spring tide is consistent with the calculated bedload transport, and the grain-size trend vectors for the spring tide are larger than those for [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We conducted a cross sectional survey of 3163 women and men in six Asian countries to examine willingness for children and adults to be vaccinated against shigellosis and other forms of dysentery. The six sites were clustered into three regions for ease of comparison. The regions are: Northeast Asia (China), Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia) and South Asia (Bangladesh and Pakistan). We used multiple logistic regression to identify region-specific models for vaccination willingness for both adults and children. A vaccine to protect against dysentery, if available would be very much in demand throughout the three Asian regions for children. For adults, the responses indicate that vaccine uptake by adults will vary. A large proportion of respondents in all regions, specifically in China, do not perceive themselves at risk yet still consider a shigellosis vaccine desirable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The gonad is an essential organ for generating sperm and ova in vertebrates. This review describes several pilot studies on gonad gene manipulation and development in fish. With antisense RNA techniques, we suppressed the gonad development, and thus the fertility, of an antisense gonadotropin-releasing hormone (sGnRH) transgenic common carp. Then, using a tissue-specific exogenous gene excision strategy with sexual compensation, we knocked out the gonad-specific transgene. Under the control of the rainbow trout protamine promoter, the transgenic fish expressed the reporter gene eGFP specifically in the spermary. These results indicate that the fish gonad is a new model organ that can improve contemporary biotechnology experiments. Herein we discuss the potential of fish gonad manipulation for resolving important biosafety problems regarding transgenic fish generation and producing the new transgenic animal bioreactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CuCr25 alloys prepared by vacuum induction melting (VIM) were investigated. The experimental results show that W and Ni had significant influence on the microstructure of CuCr25 alloys. For CuCr25Ni0.5 and CuCr25W1 alloys, the Cr phase was dramatically refined and presented nodular morphology. W could increase the breakdown strength of CuCr25. The electric conductivity of CuCr25Ni0.5 decreased, but still reached the level of conventional CuCr alloys. The other properties of CuCr25Ni0.5 and CuCr25W1 alloys did not degrade. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reports that transgenes for growth hormone in common carp promotes thymus development. Observation of the thymus development between the transgenics and non-transgenic controls; Increase in both size and weight of the thymus in a one-year old transgenics; Confirmation that fish growth hormone promotes thymus development and thymocyte proliferation and retards thymus degeneration.

Haemorrhage can be an epidemic and fatal condition in grass carp. It is known now that the Grass Carp Haemorrhage Virus (GCHV) triggers haemorrhage. Human lactoferrin (hLF) plays an important role in the non-specific immune system, making some organisms more resistant to some viruses. Sperm of grass carp was mixed with linearized pCAhLFc, which is a DNA construct containing an hLF cDNA and the promoter of common carp β-actin gene, and then electroporated. Then, mature eggs were fertilized in vitro with the treated sperm cells. The fry were sampled and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results indicated that the foreign gene had been transferred successfully into the cells of some fry. Under optimal electroporation conditions, the efficiency of gene transfer was as high as 46.8%. About 35.7% of treated 5-month-old grass carp contained foreign genes. Most transgenic fry demonstrated significant delays in onset of symptoms of haemerrhage after injection of GCHV, suggesting a significant positive relationship between hLF cDNA and levels of disease resistance (P<0.01). Results suggest that transgenic grass carp could be bred for increased resistance to haemorrhage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents a study of single later blastula nuclei from AB strain of zebrafish (Danio rerio) that were transplanted into enucleated unfertilized eggs of a Long fin strain. The number of reconstructed embryos that developed into fry from the cloning embryos; Similarity of the cloned fish's DNA fingerprinting systems with those of the nuclear donor fish and distinction from those of the nuclear recipient fish; Conclusion that the genetic material came from a nuclear donor cell other than the nuclear recipient egg; Suggestion of a breakthrough in the basic nuclear transplantation technique used with different strains of zebrafish; Implication for studies on gene function and animal development.

An improved and mild glycosylation reaction was developed and used for the synthesis of ononin and rothindin, two naturally occurring isoflavone glycosides by a modified phase transfer catalyzed process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which discussed the distinct biological effects for multisite-integrated transgenes and provides information on the breeding of fast-growing transgenic fish. Significance of studying transgenic fish; Brood amount of the transgenics and controls; Fertility rate and hatchability of transgenics and controls.

The correct Funding statement is as follows: This research was funded by the project of Science and Technology Department of Jilin Province in the form of a grant (20200301025RQ). Reference 1 Zhang J, Wang Y, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Ma H, et al. (2020) Transcriptome analysis reveals Nitrogen deficiency induced alterations in leaf and root of three cultivars of potato ( I Solanum tuberosum i L.). [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • A facile approach was proposed to synthesis mesoporous silica derived from iron ore tailings without template or surfactant. • The structure transformation of iron ore tailings and the in-situ formation of mesopore channels were investigated. • The pore structure characteristic appeared to be governed by the temperature of alkali fusion process. • The mesoporous silica presented good performance for methylene blue adsorption. The recycle of iron ore tailings is of great significance for environmental protection and sustainable development. In this paper, a facile approach to synthesize mesoporous silica derived from iron ore tailings is reported. The influence of alkali fusion and acid leaching treatment on microstructures and physicochemical properties of iron ore tailings is investigated in detail. The alkali fusion treatment destructed the network structure, converting the iron ore tailings to highly reactive state. The following acid leaching treatment selectively dissolved the metal ions to form abundant porous structures, and generated silica nanoparticles with inter-particle mesopores. The as-obtained mesoporous silica showed a specific surface area of 544.68 m2 g−1 with well-developed porosity. As an adsorbent, the prepared mesoporous silica material showed good monolayer adsorption with adsorption capacity of 192 mg g−1 for methylene blue dye in aqueous solution. This study provides a new way to convert iron ore tailings into high-value-added mesoporous materials, which has the potential application in environment protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform designs have been widely used in physical and computer experiments due to their robust performances. The level permutation method can efficiently construct uniform designs with both lower discrepancy and less aberration. However, the related existing literature has mostly discussed uniform fixed-level designs, the construction of uniform mixed-level designs has been quite few studied. In this paper, a novel level permutation method for constructing uniform mixed-level designs is proposed. Our main idea is to perform level permutations on a new class of designs, called minimum average discrepancy designs, rather than generalized minimum aberration designs as in the fixed-level case. Several theoretical results on the design optimality and construction are obtained. Numerical results suggest the good performance of the resulting designs under various popular discrepancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation roasting pretreatment process, which is a mature and dominant industrial practice for treating complex polymetallic gold deposits, has a low recovery of associated silver and exhibits an unclear reaction sequence. This study takes a silver-containing gold ore as the research object and investigates the effect of (i) sodium sulfite as an additive, (ii) main gold-bearing mineral pyrite, and (iii) gangue mineral quartz, on silver during the roasting process in roasting and leaching tests. Characterization techniques included scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis, and thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The results based on thermodynamic calculations and characterization show that the main reason for the low extraction of silver is that the calcined product (i.e., iron silicate) formed by the reaction between pyrite and quartz during the roasting process is mutually absorbed and wrapped with silver oxide. In addition, silver minerals decompose some iron sulfides and iron oxides under high-temperature conditions, promoting the reaction of iron and quartz to form iron silicate while strengthening the secondary encapsulation of silver by products of roasting, thus deteriorating the extraction of silver. The addition of sodium sulfite reduces the formation of iron silicate and increases the extraction of silver by directly promoting the conversion of pyrite to iron oxide. This study provides a theoretical basis for further improving the roasting and leaching of silver. • Addition of sodium sulfite to pyrite roasting improves silver extraction during cyanide leaching of the calcine. • Poor silver extraction appears to be related to silver lock up in iron silicate • Addition of sodium sulfite favours conversion of iron sulfides to sulfates and then to porous hematite (Fe 2 O 3). • Thermal decomposition of sodium sulfite provides SO 2 for sulfation and sodium oxide to react with silica to produce sodium silicate and minimise iron silicate formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Copper-based nanomaterials show considerable potential in the chemodynamic therapy of cancers. However, their clinical application is restricted by low catalytic activity in tumor microenvironment and copper-induced tumor angiogenesis. Herein, a novel copper-doxorubicin-anlotinib (CDA) nanoconjugate was constructed by the combination of copper-hydrazide coordination, hydrazone linkage and Schiff base bond. The CDA nanoconjugate consists of a copper-3,3′-dithiobis(propionohydrazide)-doxorubicin core and an anlotinib-hyaluronan shell. Benefiting from hyaluronan camouflage and abundant disulfide bonds and Cu2+, the CDA nanoconjugate possessed excellent tumor-targeting and glutathione-depleting abilities and enhanced chemodynamic efficacy. Released doxorubicin significantly improved copper-mediated chemodynamic therapy by upregulating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 expression to increase intracellular H 2 O 2 level. Furthermore, the nanoconjugate produced excessive •OH to induce lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction, thus greatly elevating doxorubicin-mediated chemotherapy. Importantly, anlotinib effectively inhibited the angiogenic potential of copper ions. In a word, the CDA nanoconjugate is successfully constructed by combined coordination and pH-responsive linkages, and displays the great potential of copper-drug conjugate for targeted synergistic chemo/chemodynamic/antiangiogenic triple therapy against cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignant tumor worldwide among women, with the highest incidence rate. The mechanisms underlying nucleotide metabolism on biological functions in BC remain incompletely elucidated. Materials and Methods: We harnessed differentially expressed nucleotide metabolism-related genes from The Cancer Genome Atlas-BRCA, constructing a prognostic risk model through univariate Cox regression and LASSO regression analyses. A validation set and the GSE7390 dataset were used to validate the risk model. Clinical relevance, survival and prognosis, immune infiltration, functional enrichment, and drug sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results: Our findings identified four signature genes (DCTPP1, IFNG, SLC27A2, and MYH3) as nucleotide metabolism-related prognostic genes. Subsequently, patients were stratified into high- and low-risk groups, revealing the risk model's independence as a prognostic factor. Nomogram calibration underscored superior prediction accuracy. Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) uncovered activated pathways in low-risk cohorts and mobilized pathways in high-risk cohorts. Distinctions in immune cells were noted between risk cohorts. Subsequent experiments validated that reducing SLC27A2 expression in BC cell lines or using the SLC27A2 inhibitor, Lipofermata, effectively inhibited tumor growth. Conclusions: We pinpointed four nucleotide metabolism-related prognostic genes, demonstrating promising accuracy as a risk prediction tool for patients with BC. SLC27A2 appears to be a potential therapeutic target for BC among these genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WRKY transcription factors play a central role in controlling plant organ senescence; however, it is unclear whether and how they regulate petal senescence in the widely grown ornamental plant tulip (Tulipa gesneriana). In this study, we report that TgWRKY75 promotes petal senescence by enhancing the synthesis of both abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) in tulip and in transgenic Arabidopsis. The expression level of TgWRKY75 was up-regulated in senescent petals, and exogenous ABA or SA treatment induced its expression. The endogenous contents of ABA and SA significantly increased during petal senescence and in response to TgWRKY75 overexpression. Two SA synthesis-related genes, TgICS1 and TgPAL1 , were identified as direct targets of TgWRKY75, which binds to their promoters. In parallel, TgWRKY75 activated the expression of the ABA biosynthesis-related gene TgNCED3 via directly binding to its promoter region. Site mutation of the W-box core motif located in the promoters of TgICS1 , TgPAL1 , and TgNCED3 eliminated their interactions with TgWRKY75. In summary, our study demonstrates a dual regulation of ABA and SA biosynthesis by TgWRKY75, revealing a synergistic process of tulip petal senescence through feedback regulation between TgWRKY75 and the accumulation of ABA and SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight and Wearable X-Ray Shielding Material with Biological Structure for Low Secondary Radiation and Metabolic Saving Performance Technol. i B 2020 b , I 5 i , 2000240 In the originally published article, the grant number for the National Natural Science Foundation of China in the Acknowledgments section is missing. Please find the correct presentation below: The work in the X.L. and B.S. laboratory was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21878191), and J.G. laboratory by the National Talents Youth Project and Double First-Class University Project. [Extracted from the article]

Forkhead-box O (FoxO) is the primary transcriptional effector of the insulin-like signaling pathway that enhances gluconeogenesis through transcriptional activation of PEPCK and G6Pase in mammals. We have previously demonstrated the involvement of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (BmPEPCK-2) in antiviral immunity against the multiplication of Bombyx mori nuclearpolyhedrosisvirus (BmNPV) in silkworm. Therefore, we speculated that BmFoxO might suppress BmNPV by regulating the expression of PEPCK in silkworm. In the present study, we found that the expression of BmFoxO decreased after BmNPV infection in Bombyx mori ; this finding was consistent with BmPEPCK-2 expression. In addition, the expression of BmFoxO was altered, and it was found that reduced expression of BmFoxO (dsBmFoxO) downregulated the expression of BmPEPCK-2 and increased the viral fluorescence and content in silkworm embryonic cell line BmE cells, and vice versa. BmFoxO could upregulate the expression of BmPEPCK-2 by binding to the BmPEPCK-2 promoter. Moreover, overexpression of BmFoxO significantly increased the expression of autophagy genes ATG6 /7/8 after infection with BmNPV, consistent with BmPEPCK-2. These results indicate that BmNPV downregulates transcription factor BmFoxO to elevate virus infection, and BmFoxO overexpression upregulates BmPEPCK-2 expression and enhances silkworm antiviral resistance. • BmNPV induces a continuous reduced expression of BmFoxO. • Overexpression of BmFoxO inhibited BmNPV multiplication. • BmFoxO regulates transcription of BmPEPCK-2 by binding to its Fork head element. • Overexpression of BmFoxO may increase autophagy by regulating the expression of BmPEPCK-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multi-scale porous structure carbon was designed as a skeleton for growth of QDs. • CeO 2 -Mn 3 O 4 QDs exhibit enormous vacancies and highly electrochemical activity. • The composite QDs material shows high-sensitivity for detection of melamine. The design of sensitive nanostructure for trace detection is crucial to monitoring analysis for daily life. Herein, we develop an electrochemical sensor with high sensitivity and reliability for efficient detection of minute melamine. The hierarchically porous biocarbon is obtained from hollyhock stem and strewn with CeO 2 -Mn 3 O 4 quantum dots. The unique biocarbon skeleton and ultra-small nanocrystals show a huge surface area, low impedance and abundant macro-meso-micro porous structure, which lead to a highly active electrochemical performance. In cyclic voltammetric and differential pulse voltammetric test for detecting melamine molecule, the modified electrode decorated with proposed materials exhibits approximately four times more sensitive than the bare electrode in a wide range of concentration (0.12 μM–0.85 mM), and in a low detection limit of 3.66 × 10−12 mol·L−1. We expect this electrochemical probe to provide accurate information for quantitative trace measurement in environmental and biological analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looks at an experiment which investigated the effect of the additives of tungsten and cobalt in CuCr contact materials. Indepth look at the experimental procedure; What the results showed; Discussion on the findings; Conclusions on the experiment.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a waterborne pathogen that can cause acute gastroenteritis, wound infection, and septicemia in humans. The molecular basis of its pathogenicity is not yet fully understood. Phages are found most abundantly in aquatic environments and play a critical role in horizontal gene transfer. Nevertheless, current literature on biological roles of prophage-encoded genes remaining in V. parahaemolyticus is rare. In this study, we characterized one such gene VpaChn25_0734 (543-bp) in V. parahaemolyticus CHN25 genome. A deletion mutant ΔVpaChn25_0734 (543-bp) was obtained by homologous recombination, and a revertant ΔVpaChn25_0734-com (543-bp) was also constructed. The ΔVpaChn25_0734 (543-bp) mutant was defective in growth and swimming mobility particularly at lower temperatures and/or pH 7.0–8.5. Cell surface hydrophobicity and biofilm formation were significantly decreased in the ΔVpaChn25_0734 (543-bp) mutant (p < 0.05). Based on the in vitro Caco-2 cell model, the deletion of VpaChn25_0734 (543-bp) gene significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of V. parahaemolyticus CHN25 to human intestinal epithelial cells (p < 0.05). Comparative secretomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed a slightly increased extracellular proteins, and thirteen significantly changed metabolic pathways in the ΔVpaChn25_0734 (543-bp) mutant, showing down-regulated carbon source transport and utilization, biofilm formation, and type II secretion system (p < 0.05), consistent with the observed defective phenotypes. Taken, the prophage-encoded gene VpaChn25_0734 (543-bp) enhanced V. parahaemolyticus CHN25 fitness for survival in the environment and the host. The results in this study facilitate better understanding of pathogenesis and genome evolution of V. parahaemolyticus, the leading sea foodborne pathogen worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research provides a novel approach for introducing a CF3CH2 group onto aromatic rings using Pd(OAc)2/palladacycle as a catalyst for the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of CF3CH2OTs (OTs = 4-methylbenzene sulfonate) with arylboronic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na super ionic conductor (NASICON)-type Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 has been regarded as one of the most attractive cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, its intrinsically low electronic conductivity leads to poor cyclability and rate capability. Carbon coating is an effective way to solve this problem, especially N-doped carbon. In this work, an organophosphonic acid, amino tris(methylene phosphonic acid) (ATMP), is employed as a multifunctional raw material for constructing N-doped carbon coated Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3. Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 particles are well embedded in an interconnected N-doped carbon, which facilitates fast sodium ion and electron transfer. When used as a cathode material for SIBs, the obtained Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 /N-doped carbon composite shows promising sodium storage properties. It delivers high reversible charge/discharge capacities of 101.4/101.6 mA h g−1 at 1 C after 100 cycles. Moreover, it exhibits excellent rate capability (charge/discharge capacities of 100.5/100.4 at 5 C), and good long-term cycling stability (capacity retention of 90.1% after 600 cycles at 5 C). This work may provide an effective way for the synthesis of carbon coated Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 with good sodium storage performance. • Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 /N-doped carbon composite is gained from an organophosphonic acid. • Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 nanoparticles are well encapsulated in an interconnected N-doped carbon. • Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 /N-doped carbon composite shows excellent sodium storage p e rformance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Wearable co-doped Bi/Ce-natural leather X-ray radiation protection materials are fabricated. • Favorable X-ray shielding ability is obtained and superior than that of commercial lead plate. • Low bulk density and excellent mechanical properties of natural leather is well maintained. • This novel advanced protection material with features of light-weight, high flexibility and high X-ray shielding. Natural leather (NL) based composite protection materials with lightweight, flexibility, wearability and high shielding efficiency will remarkably innovate the current research on X-ray protection materials. A co-doped Bi/Ce-NL composite with outstanding X-ray attenuation in the energy range of 20−120 keV is successfully fabricated. The uniform distribution of Bi 2 O 3 and CeO 2 nanoparticles in the hierarchical structure of natural leather significantly promotes the X-ray attenuation by improving the weak absorption region of Bi with Ce via synergistic effects of the two elements. The fabricated Bi/Ce-NL loading with 0.755 mmol cm−3 Bi 2 O 3 and 1.51 mmol cm−3 CeO 2 achieves approximately 100% X-ray shielding when the energy below 40 keV. Thus, the fabricated Bi/Ce-NL with superb X-ray attenuation can safely and comfortably protect human from the risk of X-ray exposure with low bulk density, high water vapor permeability, exceptional mechanical properties and excellent bending resistance, presenting significant advantages in wearability and flexibility compared to both traditional lead-based and polymer-based protection materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of limited trypsin hydrolysis on the functional properties and structural characteristics of dehulled walnut proteins (DWP) were studied. The degree of hydrolysis (DH) of DWP was set at 1, 3 and 7.1%. Solubility was higher in all hydrolysates than the native protein, 7.1% DH showed the best protein solubility at 74.8% at pH 7. All hydrolysates showed better functional properties than DWP, including emulsifying properties, foaming capacity and stability, but no improvement of water absorption capacity was observed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) confirmed the reduction in the molecular weight and the presence of protein bands having an MW < 30 kDa. The protein hydrolysates with higher DH showed higher surface hydrophobicity and intrinsic fluorescence intensity. Intrinsic fluorescence indicated that changes occurred in the tertiary conformation of DWP with enzymatic hydrolysis. Emulsions prepared with hydrolysates were more stable with NaCl addition (0–50 mM) and thermal processing (30–50 °C). The above results indicated that limited enzymatic hydrolysis is a promising approach to improving DWP's functional properties and highlighting the potential use of DWP hydrolysates in the food industry. • Dehulled walnuts were taken as material to reduce the influence of polyphenols. • Limited trypsin hydrolysis increased solubility of dehulled walnut proteins. • Functional properties of hydrolysates improved significantly after hydrolysis. • Dehulled walnut proteins with 3% DH showed the best emulsion stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current problem of antibiotic resistance and the high incidence of bacterial diseases has brought huge losses to the yak breeding industry in Tibet. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to isolate Lactobacillus with safety and beneficial probiotic potential for the prophylaxis of intestinal diseases in yaks. After 16S rDNA sequence, four strains i.e. Lactobacillus sakei (named L4), Enterococcus hirae (named E5), Pediococcus acidilactici (named P7), Weissella confusa (named W8) were isolated from feces of yaks. The results of tolerance to acid, bile salt, enzyme and temperature showed that P7 was highly tolerant to acid, bile salt and digestive enzyme, while E5 was more resistant to temperature. The antibacterial assay showed L4 had a strong inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus (BNCC186335), and E5, P7, W8 had effective antibacterial ability against Escherichia coli (C83902). In addition, L4, E5, P7 and W8 mainly produced organic acids and bacteriocin production to inhibit common intestinal pathogens. The results of antibiotic susceptibility assay indicated that L4, E5, P7 and W8 were highly sensitive to most clinically used antibiotics and didn't contain the VanA and VanB genes on the basis of PCR amplification, and L4, E5, P7 and W8 didn't exhibit hemolytic activity. The animal toxicity experiment results showed that no obvious pathological change was found in intestinal tissue sections, and L4, E5 and W8 strains also promoted the growth performance of mice, consequently, the L4, E5, P7 and W8 had no toxic effect on mice. In conclusion, lactobacillus isolated from feces of yaks not only have potential probiotics and strong antibacterial ability in vitro, but also are safe. Therefore, they have the potential to reduce the occurrence of bacterial diseases as new feed additives. • L. sakei , E. hirae , P. acidilactici and W. confusa were resistant, and had antibacterial effect against common pathogens. • L. sakei , E. hirae , P. acidilactici and W. confusa were sensitive to clinically used antibiotics and exhibited no hemolysis. • L. sakei , E. hirae , P. acidilactici and W. confusa exhibited no toxic effect, and promoted the growth performance of mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extreme rainfall event in the coastal metropolitan city of Guangzhou, China is simulated by the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model using three bulk microphysics schemes to explore the capability to reproduce the observed precipitation features by these schemes and their differences. The detailed comparison among the three runs in terms of radar reflectivity, precipitation, thermodynamic fields and microphysical processes are conducted. Results show that all the simulations can reproduce the two main heavy rainfall centers in Guangzhou and the first convection initiation. The accumulated precipitation in the simulation using the WSM6 scheme performs better than the others in terms of intensity and distribution compared to observations. The weaker accumulated precipitation in the second heavy rainfall center in the simulations using the Thompson and Morrison schemes result from their more dispersed precipitation distributions dominated by the cold pool intensity and distribution. The latent heating from the water vapor condensation dominates the convection initiation and storm development. The latent cooling from the rain water evaporation dominates the cold pool intensity and distribution, which influences the storm moving and subsequent convection propagation, and finally the intensity and distribution of surface precipitation. Sensitivity experiments of the latent heat confirm the dominant roles of latent heating/cooling, especially the water vapor condensation heating and rain water evaporation cooling, in the differences of the thermodynamic fields, storm development, convection propagation and surface precipitation among the three simulations. • Three bulk microphysics schemes are used to simulate an extreme rainfall event in the coastal city of Guangzhou, China. • The accumulated precipitation in simulation with WSM6 more resembles the observed in terms of intensity and distribution. • Moisture condensation heating and rainwater evaporation cooling dominate differences of storm development and precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]