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Utilization of faeces has long been a popular approach for genetic and ecological studies of wildlife. However, the success of molecular marker genotyping and genome resequencing is often unpredictable due to insufficient enrichment of endogenous DNA in the total faecal DNA that is dominated by bacterial DNA. Here, we report a simple and cheap method named PEERS to predominantly lyse animal cells over bacteria by using sodium dodecyl sulphate so as to discharge endogenous DNA into liquid phase before bacterial DNA. By brief centrifugation, total DNA with enriched endogenous fraction can be extracted from the supernatant using routine methods. Our assessments showed that the endogenous DNA extracted by PEERS was significantly enriched for various types of faeces from different species, preservation time and conditions. It significantly improves the genotyping correctness and efficiency of genome resequencing with the total additional cost of $ 0.1 and a short incubation step to treat a faecal sample. We also provide methods to assess the enrichment efficiency of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA and models to predict the usability of faecal DNA for genotyping of short tandem repeat, single‐nucleotide polymorphism and whole‐genome resequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Category Switching Test (CaST) is a verbal fluency test with active semantic category switching. This study aimed to explore the association between CaST performance and brain amyloid-β (Aβ) burden in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the neurofunctional mechanisms. A total of 112 participants with MCI underwent Florbetapir positron emission tomography, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and a neuropsychological test battery. The high Aβ burden group had worse CaST performance than the low-burden group. CaST score and left middle temporal gyrus fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) related inversely to the global Florbetapir standardized uptake value rate. Functional connectivity between the left middle temporal gyrus and frontal lobe decreased widely and correlated with CaST score in the high Aβ burden group. Thus, CaST score and left middle temporal gyrus fALFF were valuable in discriminating high Aβ burden. CaST might be useful in screening for MCI with high Aβ burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel hybrid marine renewable energy-harvesting system to increase energy production, reduce levelized costs of energy and promote renewable marine energy. Firstly, various marine renewable energy resources and state-of-art technologies for energy exploitation and storage were reviewed. The site selection criteria for each energy-harvesting approach were identified, and a scoring matrix for site selection was proposed to screen suitable locations for the hybrid system. The Triton Knoll wind farm was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the scoring matrix. An integrated energy system was designed, and FE modeling was performed to assess the effects of additional energy devices on the structural stability of the main wind turbine structure. It has been proven that the additional energy structures have a negligible influence on foundation/structure deflection (<1%) and increased system natural frequency by 6%; thus, they have a minimum influence on the original wind system but increased energy yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External sulphate attack (ESA) interferes with spatial changes in fracture toughness of cemented paste backfill (CPB) and affects its mechanical stability. Large-scale curing column models are developed to investigate the spatial evolution of mode-I and mode-II fracture toughness (i.e. KIC and KIIC) under seepage- and diffusion-induced ESA. It has been found that the seepage-induced ESA leads to spatial changes in KIC and KIIC of CPB at advanced ages and higher extent of degradation of fracture toughness is measured at a deeper position in CPB. Comparatively, KIc can be used as a reliable quantity to estimate KIIc under the diffusion-induced ESA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal changes in the white matter/functional brain networks of semantic dementia (SD), as well as their relations with cognition remain unclear. Using a graph‐theoretic method, we examined the neuroimaging (T1, diffusion tensor imaging, functional MRI) network properties and cognitive performance in processing semantic knowledge of general and six modalities (i.e., object form, color, motion, sound, manipulation and function) from 31 patients (at two time points with an interval of 2 years) and 20 controls (only at baseline). Partial correlation analyses were carried out to explore the relationships between the network changes and the declines of semantic performance. SD exhibited aberrant general and modality‐specific semantic impairment, and gradually worsened over time. Overall, the brain networks showed a decreased global and local efficiency in the functional network organization but a preserved structural network organization with a 2‐year follow‐up. With disease progression, both structural and functional alterations were found to be extended to the temporal and frontal lobes. The regional topological alteration in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG.L) was significantly correlated with general semantic processing. Meanwhile, the right superior temporal gyrus and right supplementary motor area were identified to be associated with color and motor‐related semantic attributes. SD manifested disrupted structural and functional network pattern longitudinally. We proposed a hub region (i.e., ITG.L) of semantic network and distributed modality‐specific semantic‐related regions. These findings support the hub‐and‐spoke semantic theory and provide targets for future therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After placement into underground mined-out voids (called stopes), a passive interface loading develops between cemented paste backfill (CPB, an artificially cemented soil) and surrounding rock mass, which results in the spatiotemporal changes in the geomechanical behavior and properties of CPB, and thus affects its field stability. In this study, meter-scale curing columns with rough inner surfaces were developed to investigate the effect of passive interface loading on the geomechanical behavior and properties of CPB, and field-scale stability of CPB mass was conducted through a series of 3D numerical analyses. The obtained results discovered that the passive interface loading not only weakens the compressive and shear behaviors of CPB, but also leads to highly spatiotemporal changes in elastic modulus, unconfined compressive strength, cohesion, and angle of internal friction. Meanwhile, through the integration of the measured degradation in mechanical properties, the field-scale analysis reveals that consideration of stress arching and homogenous mechanical properties substantially overestimate the stability of CPB mass, especially in the narrow stopes with a relatively small height. The simultaneous consideration of stress arching and associated heterogeneous mechanical properties are required for the reliable and accurate assessment of the field stability of CPB mass and its safe engineering design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging population has led to an increased proportion of older adults and cognitively impaired. We designed a brief and flexible two-stage cognitive screening scale, the Dual-Stage Cognitive Assessment (DuCA), for cognitive screening in primary care settings. Method: In total, 1,772 community-dwelling participants were recruited, including those with normal cognition (NC, n = 1,008), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 633), and Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 131), and administered a neuropsychological test battery and the DuCA. To improve performance, the DuCA combines visual and auditory memory tests for an enhanced memory function test. Results: The correlation coefficient between DuCA-part 1 and DuCA-total was 0.84 (P < 0.001). The correlation coefficients of DuCA-part 1 with Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Basic (MoCA-B) were 0.66 (P < 0.001) and 0.85 (P < 0.001), respectively. The correlation coefficients of DuCA-total with ACE-III and MoCA-B were 0.78 (P < 0.001) and 0.83 (P < 0.001), respectively. DuCA-Part 1 showed a similar discrimination ability for MCI from NC (area under curve [AUC] = 0.87, 95%CI 0.848–0.883) as ACE III (AUC = 0.86, 95%CI 0.838–0.874) and MoCA-B (AUC = 0.85, 95%CI 0.830–0.868). DuCA-total had a higher AUC (0.93, 95%CI: 0.917–0.942). At different education levels, the AUC was 0.83–0.84 for DuCA-part 1, and 0.89–0.94 for DuCA-total. DuCA-part 1 and DuCA-total's ability to discriminate AD from MCI was 0.84 and 0.93, respectively. Conclusion: DuCA-Part 1 would aid rapid screening and supplemented with the second part for a complete assessment. DuCA is suited for large-scale cognitive screening in primary care, saving time and eliminating the need for extensively training assessors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For solving the waste and pollution problem of cured urea-formaldehyde resin caused by multi¬ple reasons such as inappropriately operation, the industrial solid waste urea-formaldehyde resin was adopted and its degradation was analyzed under various treated factors based on reversible reaction characteristics of urea-formaldehyde resin. The result showed that the degradation rate of treated resin can reach 99 with a condition of strong acid ( pH*3 ) treatment environment, the maas ratio of formalde¬hyde solution to solid waste urea-formaldehyde resin 4:1,the treated temperature (70 -85) °C and 3 ratio penetrant. And it was continued to be used as part raw material for urea-formaldehyde resin synthesis with a content of 5 maas ratio, with which seven-layer plywood was produced according to industrial test, the results of bonding strength,formaldehyde release could meet the requirements of the standard in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy is considered one of the most hopeful alternative sources to avoiding dependence on fossil fuels, and it does not cause any air pollution. GIS-based solar energy potential evaluation is mainly focused on regional scale; further, more solar energy potential evaluation with building scale is calculated through observation data and mathematical model. Therefore, in this paper, a GIS-based joint solar energy potential evaluation is developed to evaluate the distributed photovoltaic potential and centralized photovoltaic potential. Shanxi province in China, which has abundant coal resources, is used as the study area. The raster grid scale is used as the minimum research scale, which could not only deal with the distributed photovoltaic potential but could also calculate the centralized photovoltaic potential. The obtained results indicate that the developed method could effectively deal with problems associated with the distributed photovoltaic potential and centralized photovoltaic potential in the raster grid scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of fiber in cemented paste backfill (CPB) can significantly alter the mechanical response of the CPB body. The intrinsic defects in CPB and the potential dynamic loading condition make it necessary to investigate the fracture properties of fiber‐reinforced CPB (FR‐CPB). The mode‐I fracture behavior and properties are crucial to the successful engineering application of FR‐CPB technology used in underground mines. The contribution of fiber length and content to the evolutive mode‐I fracture behavior and properties of FR‐CPB was examined in this study. The results show that the addition of fiber reduces the prepeak stiffness but improves the mode I fracture toughness (KIc), and the improvement in KIc increases with fiber length. In contrast, the initial increase in fiber content (from 0% to 0.5%) benefits the KIc acquisition, while a further increase in fiber content from 0.5% to 0.75% poses a negative influence on the KIc development. Moreover, with the adoption of the cement hydration model, four predictive functions are proposed to describe the contribution of fiber length and content to the development of fracture properties. In addition, KIc is identified as a more reliable fracture property for assessing the immediate ground support role played by the FR‐CPB structure. The findings are helpful when it comes to the determination of the fiber length and content in FR‐CPB design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system with insidious onset and chronic progression. The pathogenesis of AD is complex, which is currently considered to be the result of the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The APOE ɛ4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic AD and a risk factor for progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD. So far, no effective drugs have been found for the progression of MCI. However, the effects of nonpharmacological interventions such as nutrition, cognitive, and physical exercises on early AD have received increasing attention. We followed up cognitive assessment scales, Aβ-PET and MRI examination of a patient with MCI for 4 years, who carried APOE ɛ4 homozygous with a clear family history. After 4 years of multi-domain lifestyle interventions including nutrition, socialization, and physical exercises, the patient's cognitive function, especially memory function, improved significantly. Intracerebral amyloid deposition was decreased, and hippocampal atrophy improved. Based on this case, this study reviewed and discussed the interaction of APOE ɛ4 with the environment in AD research in recent years, as well as the impact and mechanisms of non-pharmaceutical multi-domain lifestyle interventions on MCI or early AD. Both the literature review and this case showed that multi-domain lifestyle interventions may reduce the risk of disease progression by reducing Aβ deposition in the brain and other different pathologic mechanisms, which offers promise in brain amyloid-positivity or APOE ɛ4 carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In total patients, low bTMB (bTMB-L, optimal cutoff = 4) showed significantly longer OS ( I p i = .019) compared with high bTMB (bTMB-H) (Figure 1A and B), and bTMB was significantly associated with disease control rate (DCR) (Figure 1C and D), but not objective response rate (ORR) (Supplementary Figure S4A). Patients with bMSAF-H and bTMB-H (n = 11) are indicated in red, patients with bMSAF-L and bTMB-H (n = 21) are indicated in blue, and those with bMSAF-L and bTMB-L (n = 10) are indicated in green. BMSAF is a prognostic predictor for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor camrelizumab and anti-angiogenic agent apatinib combination therapy. [Extracted from the article]

Ammonia removal by nitrifiers at the extremely high salinity poses a great challenge for saline wastewater treatment. Sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was conducted with a stepwise increase of salinity from 10 to 40 g-NaCl·L−1, while sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) with one-step salinity enhancement, their nitrification performance, microbial structure and interaction were evaluated. Both SBR and SBBR can achieve high-efficiency nitrification (98% ammonia removal) at 40 g-NaCl·L−1. However, SBBR showed more stable nitrification performance than SBR at 40 g-NaCl·L−1 after a shorter adaptation period of 4–15 d compared to previous studies. High-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis demonstrated that the abundance and capability of conventional ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (Nitrosomonas) were suppressed in SBBR relative to SBR. Gelidibacter , Anaerolineales were the predominant genus in SBBR, which were not found in SBR. NorB and nosZ responsible for reducing NO to N 2 O and reducing N 2 O to N 2 respectively had s strong synergistic effect in SBBR. This study will provide a valuable reference for the startup of nitrification process within a short period of time under the extremely high NaCl salinity. [Display omitted] • High efficiency nitrification was achieved in SBR and SBBR at the salinity of 40 g-NaCl L−1. • SBBR showed more stable nitrification performance than SBR after adapting to 4% NaCl salinity within 20 days. • No nitrite accumulation was found at the stable nitrification period under varying salinity. • More abundant microbial diversity prevailed in SBBR, especially anaerobic bacteria replacing nitrifiers as the dominant genus. • Synergistic interactions between norB and nosZ were induced by microaerobic zones in SBBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phthalates are ubiquitously used as plasticizers in various consumer care products. Diethyl phthalate (DEP), one of the main phthalates, elicits developmental and reproductive toxicities but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Chemogenomic profiling of DEP in S. cerevisiae revealed that two transcription factors Stp1 and Dal81 involved in the Ssy1-Ptr5-Ssy5 (SPS) amino acid-sensing pathway provide resistance to DEP. Growth inhibition of yeast cells by DEP was stronger in poor nitrogen medium in comparison to nitrogen-rich medium. Addition of amino acids to nitrogen-poor medium suppressed DEP toxicity. Catabolism of amino acids via the Ehrlich pathway is required for suppressing DEP toxicity. Targeted metabolite analyses showed that DEP treatment alters the amino acid profile of yeast cells. We propose that DEP inhibits the growth of yeast cells by affecting nitrogen metabolism and discuss the implications of our findings on DEP-mediated toxic effects in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethane hot melt adhesive was synthesized without any solvent via Diels-Alder (DA) reaction between furan terminated prepolymer and bismaleimide (BMI) and was coded as PU-DA-NS. Firstly the DA reaction was inhibited at higher temperature (110 °C) to reduce the viscosity and benefit the contact of furan terminated prepolymer and BMI. Consequently, PU-DA-NS was obtained via DA reaction at lower temperature (70 °C). The structure of PU-DA-NS was investigated via 1H NMR, DSC and TGA. The results showed that the solvent-free preparation cannot reach the reaction degree of solvent preparation, due to the contact of the reactants cannot be as good as preparation in solvent such as DMF, although the higher temperature decreased the viscosity of the reactant. However the heating and pressing procedure during the adhesive process destroyed the looser structure and increased the adhesive tensile strength to 70 % of PU-DA synthesized via solvent preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI), brief cognitive screening tools are increasingly required for the advantage of time saving and no need for special equipment or trained raters. We aimed to develop a modified Chinese version of Mini‐Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (C‐MACE) and further evaluate its validation in detecting MCI. Methods: A total of 716 individuals aged from 50 to 90 years old were recruited, including 431 cognitively normal controls (NC) and 285 individuals with MCI. The effect size of Cramer's V was used to explore which items in the Chinese version of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination‐III (ACE‐III‐CV) best associated with MCI and to form the C‐MACE. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were carried out to explore the ability of C‐MACE, ACE‐III‐CV, Chinese version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment‐Basic (MoCA‐BC), and Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) in discriminating MCI from NC. Results: Five items with greatest effect sizes of Cramer's V were selected from ACE‐III‐CV to form the C‐MACE: Memory Immediate Recall, Memory Delayed Recall, Memory Recognition, Verbal Fluency Animal and Language Naming. With a total score of 38, the C‐MACE had a satisfactory classification accuracy in detecting MCI (area under the ROC curve, AUC = 0.892), superior to MMSE (AUC = 0.782) and comparable to ACE‐III‐CV (AUC = 0.901) and MoCA‐BC (AUC = 0.916). In the subgroup of Age > 70 years, Education ≤ 12 years, the C‐MACE got a highest classification accuracy (AUC = 0.958) for detecting MCI. Conclusion: In the Chinese‐speaking population, C‐MACE derived from ACE‐III‐CV may identify MCI with a good classification accuracy, especially in aged people with low education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia represents the preclinical stage, involving cognitive decline dominated by semantic impairment below the semantic dementia standard. Therefore, studying mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia may identify changes in patients before progression to dementia. However, whether changes in local functional activity occur in preclinical stages of semantic dementia remains unknown. Here, we explored local functional changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia using resting‐state functional MRI. Methods: We administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to twenty‐two patients with mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia (MCI‐SD group) and nineteen healthy controls (HC group). We performed structural MRI to compare gray matter volumes, and resting‐state functional MRI with multiple sub‐bands and indicators to evaluate functional activity. Results: Neuropsychological tests revealed a significant decline in semantic performance in the MCI‐SD group, but no decline in other cognitive domains. Resting‐state functional MRI revealed local functional changes in multiple brain regions in the MCI‐SD group, distributed in different sub‐bands and indicators. In the normal band, local functional changes were only in the gray matter atrophic area. In the other sub‐bands, more regions with local functional changes outside atrophic areas were found across various indicators. Among these, the degree centrality of the left precuneus in the MCI‐SD group was positively correlated with general semantic tasks (oral sound naming, word‐picture verification). Conclusion: Our study revealed local functional changes in mild cognitive impairment due to semantic dementia, some of which were located outside the atrophic gray matter. Driven by functional connectivity changes, the left precuneus might play a role in preclinical semantic dementia. The study proved the value of frequency‐dependent sub‐bands, especially the slow‐2 and slow‐3 sub‐bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has been widely concerned owing to its widespread detection and endocrine disrupting effect. Nevertheless, systematic analysis and evaluation of the current status of DEHP contamination are still insufficient for children and adolescents. Dietary exposure and nondietary exposure to DEHP were investigated to estimate the total average daily dose (ADD). The top three contributors were dust exposure, edible oil and vegetable intake. Dietary intake contributed highly (70%) to daily exposure to DEHP. By analyzing the monitoring data on DEHP exposure, the cumulative health risks of DEHP were assessed for different age groups of children and adolescents in East China. The probability distributions of noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were determined by Monte Carlo simulation. The results showed that the risk level reduced with age. The predicted mean noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for all age groups exceeded the acceptable level, indicating that the general population would be at high risk by DEHP overexposure. Schoolchildren at ages 6∼<9 were more susceptible to DEHP exposure, with a 30% possibility of exceeding the safety limit Based on these results, gradual banning and restriction should be carried out to decrease DEHP contamination and potential health risks. • Dietary intake accounted for nearly 70% of daily DEHP exposure. • DEHP exposure could represent a possible health concern for children and adolescents. • The difference of ADD in females and males was insignificant. • 30% of the possibility for schoolchildren exceed the safety limit in East China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analytically describe the internal stress in a fill mass made of granular man-made material (cemented paste backfill, CPB), a new 3D effective stress model is developed. The developed model integrates Bishop effective stress principle, water retention relationship, and arching effect. All model parameters are determined from measurable experimental data. The uncertainties of the model parameters are examined by sensitivity analysis. A series of model application is conducted to investigate the effects of field conditions on the internal stress in CPB. The obtained results show that the proposed model is able to capture the influence of operation time, stope geometry, and rock/CPB interface properties on the effective stress in CPB. Hence, the developed model can be used as a useful tool for the optimal design of CPB structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize/soybean relay intercropping system (MSR) is a popular cultivation method to obtain high yields of both crops with reduced inputs. However, in MSR, the effects of different strip widths on competitive strengths and grain yields of intercrop species are still unclear. Therefore, in a two-year field experiment, soybean was relay-intercropped with maize in three different strip-width arrangements (narrow-strips, 180 cm; medium-strips, 200 cm; and wide-strips, 220 cm), and all intercropping results were compared with sole maize (SM) and sole soybean (SS). Results showed that the optimum strip-width for obtaining high grain yields of maize and soybean was 200 cm (medium-strips), which improved the competitive-ability of soybean by maintaining the competitive-ability of maize in MSR. On average, maize and soybean produced 98% and 77% of SM and SS yield, respectively, in medium-strips. The improved grain yields of intercrop species in medium-strips increased the total grain yield of MSR by 15% and land equivalent ratio by 22%, which enhanced the net-income of medium-strips (by 99%, from 620 US $ ha−1 in wide-strips to 1233 US $ ha−1 in medium-strips). Overall, these findings imply that following the optimum strip-width in MSR, i. e., strip-width of 200 cm, grain yields, and competitive interactions of intercrop species can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical water splitting is a clean and sustainable process for hydrogen production on a large scale as the electrical power required can be obtained from various renewable energy resources. The key challenge in electrochemical water splitting process is to develop low‐cost electrocatalysts with high catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on the cathode and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the anode. OER is the most important half‐reaction involved in water splitting, which has been extensively studied since the last century and a large amount of electrocatalysts including noble and non‐noble metal‐based materials have been developed. Among them, transition metal borides and borates (TMBs)‐based compounds with various structures have attracted increasing attention owing to their excellent OER performance. In recent years, many efforts have been devoted to exploring the OER mechanism of TMBs and to improving the OER activity and stability of TMBs. In this review, recent research progress made in TMBs as efficient electrocatalysts for OER is summarized. The chemical properties, synthetic methodologies, catalytic performance evaluation, and improvement strategy of TMBs as OER electrocatalysts are discussed. The electrochemistry fundamentals of OER are first introduced in brief, followed by a summary of the preparation and performance of TMBs‐based OER electrocatalysts. Finally, current challenges and future directions for TMBs‐based OER electrocatalysts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sediment–water interface is not only an important location for substrate conversion in a mariculture system, but also a major source of eutrophication. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of inorganic nitrogen (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) removal by Marichromatium gracile YL28 in the presence of both organic nitrogen and inorganic nitrogen. The results showed that, in the presence of peptone or urea, seaweed oligosaccharides (SOS) effectively enhanced the ammonia removal capacity of YL28 (6.42 mmol/L) and decreased the residual rate by 54.04% or 8.17%, respectively. With increasing peptone or urea concentrations, the removal of both ammonia and nitrate was gradually inhibited, and the residual rates of ammonia and nitrate reached 22.56–34.36% and 12.03–15.64% in the peptone system and 20.65–24.03% and 12.20–13.21% in the urea system, respectively. However, in the control group the residual rates of ammonia and nitrate reached 11.97% and 5.12%, respectively. In addition, the concentrations of peptone and urea did not affect nitrite removal, and YL28 displayed better cell growth and nitrogen removal activity in the presence of bait and SOS. Overall, the ability of YL28 to remove inorganic nitrogen was enhanced in the presence of organic nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a comprehensive understanding and unique aspects of modelling cemented paste backfill (CPB) behaviour and performance under complex multiphysics conditions. Such modelling is essential for the reliable and cost-effective design of CPB structures. In this review paper, the existing mathematical models are classified into three categories, which are analytical, mechanical constitutive and coupled multiphysics models. For each category, a critical discussion of each model is carried out to identify its applicability and potential further developments with a comparison of the corresponding controlling mechanism. Then, a comparison of the existing models is provided for each category of mathematical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tensile and shear fracture behaviors of fiber-reinforced cemented paste backfill (FRCPB) play critical roles in the safe and cost-effective engineering design of underground mine backfill structures. Sulfate pore solution is a key factor affecting the time-dependent evolution of fracture behavior and properties of FRCPB. However, no studies have been carried out to systematically investigate its effects on the fracture behavior and properties of mine backfill used in underground mines. The objective of this study is to discover the effect of sulfate concentration (0, 5000, 15,000, and 25,000 ppm) on FRCPB's fracture behavior and properties at different curing times (3, 7, 28, and 90 days) and under pure mode-I, mode-II, and mode-III loadings. The results show that, except for the 3-day FRCPB, the increase in sulfate concentration can continuously improve pre-peak stiffness and peak fracture resistance force and significantly enhance the post-peak residual resistance, especially under mode-III loading. Moreover, fracture energy shows a higher sensitivity to the sulfate concentration with respect to fracture toughness and stiffness. Furthermore, sulfate concentration has a very limited effect on tensile crack trajectory under mode I loading, while a transition of shear cracks from a curved crack pattern to a sharp and straight one is detected under mode II and III loadings. In addition, the fracture toughness possesses a stronger correlation with material stiffness and thus is recommended for the design of FRCPB to offer a more effective immediate support to surrounding rock. The obtained results provide an in-depth insight into the sulfate-induced evolution of fracture behavior and properties of FRCPB under various loading conditions and thereby promote the safe implementation of mine backfill technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cell division cycle 25 B (CDC25B) is a member of the CDC25 phosphatase family. It can dephosphorylate cyclin-dependent kinases and regulate the cell division cycle. Moreover, siRNA knockdown of CDC25B impairs influenza A virus (IAV) replication. Here, to further understand the regulatory mechanism of CDC25B for IAV replication, a CDC25B-knockout (KO) 293T cell line was constructed using CRISPR/Cas9. The present data indicated that the replication of IAV was decreased in CDC25B-KO cells. Additionally, CDC25B deficiency damaged viral polymerase activity, nucleoprotein (NP) self-oligomerization, and NP nuclear export. Most importantly, we found that the NP phosphorylation levels were significantly increased in CDC25B-KO cells. These findings indicate that CDC25B facilitates the dephosphorylation of NP, which is vital for regulating NP functions and the life cycle of IAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, advances in liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) have revolutionized untargeted metabolomics analyses. By mining metabolomes more deeply, researchers are now primed to uncover key metabolites and their associations with diseases. The employment of untargeted metabolomics has led to new biomarker discoveries and a better mechanistic understanding of diseases with applications in precision medicine. However, many major pertinent challenges remain. First, compound identification has been poor, and left an overwhelming number of unidentified peaks. Second, partial, incomplete metabolomes persist due to factors such as limitations in mass spectrometry data acquisition speeds, wide‐range of metabolites concentrations, and cellular/tissue/temporal‐specific expression changes that confound our understanding of metabolite perturbations. Third, to contextualize metabolites in pathways and biology is difficult because many metabolites partake in multiple pathways, have yet to be described species specificity, or possess unannotated or more‐complex functions that are not easily characterized through metabolomics analyses. From a translational perspective, information related to novel metabolite biomarkers, metabolic pathways, and drug targets might be sparser than they should be. Thankfully, significant progress has been made and novel solutions are emerging, achieved through sustained academic and industrial community efforts in terms of hardware, computational, and experimental approaches. Given the rapidly growing utility of metabolomics, this review will offer new perspectives, increase awareness of the major challenges in LC‐MS metabolomics that will significantly benefit the metabolomics community and also the broader the biomedical community metabolomics aspire to serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients have limited predictive performance. In this study we aimed to investigate the feasibility of molecular tumor burden index (mTBI) in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a predictor for immunotherapy in patients with NSCLC. Methods: From February 2017 to November 2020, pretreatment and on‐treatment (3~6 weeks after first cycle of immunotherapy) dynamic plasma ctDNA samples from NSCLC patients receiving immune monotherapy or combination therapy were analyzed by targeted capture sequencing of 1021 genes. PyClone was used to infer the mTBI. The impact of pretreatment mTBI on survival outcomes was verified in the POPLAR/OAK trials. Results: We found that patients without detectable baseline ctDNA had better survival outcomes (median overall survival [OS]: not reached vs. 12.8 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.15; p = 0.035]). RB1 and SMARCA4 mutations were remarkably associated with worse survival outcomes. Furthermore, lower pretreatment mTBI was associated with superior OS (median: not reached vs. 8.1 months; HR, 0.22; p = 0.024) and PFS (median: 32.9 vs. 5.4 months; HR, 0.35; p = 0.045), but not objective response, which was validated in the POPLAR/OAK cohort, suggesting that baseline mTBI was a prognostic factor for NSCLC immunotherapy. Early dynamic changes of mTBI (ΔmTBI) significantly distinguished responsive patients, and patients with mTBI decrease to more than 68% at the final tumor evaluation had longer OS (median: 38.2 vs. 4.0 months; HR, 0.18; p = 0.017) and PFS (median: not reached vs. 2.3 months; HR, 0.24; p = 0.030). Conclusion: ΔmTBI had a good sensitivity to identify potential beneficial patients based on the best effect CT scans, demonstrating that mTBI dynamics were predictive of benefit from immune checkpoint blockade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu pollution is a global concern because of its high toxicity and persistence. Few investigations have been conducted on the effects of salinity and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) on Cu toxicity and water quality criteria (WQC). To analyze their impact on the WQC of Cu, non-linear multiple regression (NLMR) models based on salinity and DOC were constructed. The NLMR models demonstrated that when salinity increased, the toxicity values for Cu on fish, mollusca, rotifer, and echinodermata first increased and then declined, whereas those for arthropoda and algae increased. These findings demonstrate that salinity has a substantial impact on Cu toxicity, primarily owing to changes in physiological activity. The original and corrected WQC values in the upper, middle, and outer regions of the Yangtze Estuary were derived based on the species sensitivity distribution method. These values were 1.49, 3.49, 8.86, and 0.87 μg·L−1. An important finding was that lower Cu concentrations in the outer areas posed the highest ecological risk owing to the effects of salinity and DOC. NLMR models are applicable to other coastal areas worldwide. This provides valuable information for the establishment of an accurate and protective estuary for Cu-related WQC. [Display omitted] • Salinity and DOC had a significant impact on Cu toxicity and WQC values. • NLMR model can correct the effects of salinity and DOC on Cu toxicity and WQC. • Cu-WQC in outer areas of Yangtze Estuary is lowest owing to salinity and DOC effects. • Cu in the outer areas of Yangtze Estuary posed the highest ecological risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: After placement of cemented tailings backfill (CTB), which is a mixture of tailings (man‐made soil), water, and binder, into underground mined‐out voids (stopes), the hydration reaction of the binder converts the capillary water into chemically bound water, which results in the reduction of the water content in the pores of the CTB, thereby causing a reduction in the pore‐water pressure in the CTB (self‐desiccation). Self‐desiccation has a significant impact on the pore‐water pressure and effective stress development in CTB and paramount and practical importance for the stability assessment and design of CTB structures and barricades. However, self‐desiccation in CTB structures is complex because it is a function of the multiphysics or coupled (i.e., thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical) processes that occur in CTB. To understand the self‐desiccation behavior of CTB, an integrated multiphysics model of self‐desiccation is developed in this study, which fully considers the coupled thermal, hydraulic, mechanical, and chemical processes and the consolidation process in CTB. All model coefficients are determined in measurable parameters. Moreover, the predictive ability of the model is verified with extensive case studies. A series of engineering issues are examined with the validated model to investigate the self‐desiccation process in CTB structures with respect to the changes in the mixture recipe, backfilling, and the surrounding rock and curing conditions. The obtained results provide in‐depth insight into the self‐desiccation behavior of CTB structures. The developed multiphysics model is therefore a potential tool for assessing and predicting self‐desiccation in CTB structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB) is an effective method to produce and store hydrogen, but efficient, durable, and low‐costing dehydrogenation catalysts are lacking. In this work, we successfully prepared a self‐supported bunch‐like copper oxide nanowire array on copper foam (b‐CuO NA/CF) through a facile in situ wet oxidation and annealing method. b‐CuO NA/CF shows high catalytic activity for the methanolysis of AB with an initial turnover frequency of 13.3 mol H 2  molCuO−1 min−1 and an activation energy of 34.7 kJ mol−1. Moreover, this self‐supported bunch‐like nanoarray catalyst could be easily separated from fuel solutions with excellent stability and maintained its activity even after prolonged use. It is thus an efficient, economical, and durable catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent arbovirus leading to an estimated 100 million symptomatic dengue infections every year. DENV can cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from mild dengue fever (DF) to more life threatening forms such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). The clinical symptoms of DHF become evident typically at the critical phase of infection (5–7 days after onset of fever), yet the mechanisms that trigger transition from DF to DHF are not well understood. We performed a mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profiling of sera from adult DF and DHF patients at the critical and recovery phases of infection. There were 29 differentially expressed metabolites identified between DF and DHF at the critical phase. These include bile acids, purines, acylcarnitines, phospholipids, and amino acids. Bile acids were observed up to 5 fold higher levels among DHF compared to DF patients and were significantly correlated to the higher levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), suggestive of liver injury among DHF. Uric acid, the most abundant antioxidant in the blood, was observed to be 1.5 fold lower among DHF compared to DF patients. This could result in decreased capacity of endogenous antioxidant defense and elevated oxidative stress among DHF patients. In the recovery phase, the levels of eight metabolites were still significantly higher or lower among DHF patients, including chenodeoxyglycocholic acid, one of the bile acids observed at the critical phase. This indicates potential prolonged adverse impact on the liver due to DENV infection in DHF patients. Our study identified altered metabolic pathways linked to DHF in the critical and recovery phases of dengue infection and provided insights into the different host and DENV interactions between DF and DHF. The results advance our understanding on the mechanisms of DHF pathogenesis, alluding to possible novel therapeutic targets to dengue management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To retain fresh cemented paste backfill (CPB) (a large fill mass made of man-made fine soils that undergo cementation) in a stope (underground mining excavations), a retaining structure or wall (called a barricade) must be constructed at the base of the stope. Due to the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes that occur in CPB, changes in the total horizontal stress and pore water pressure (PWP) take place with backfilling operations that are flexible, which directly affects the stability of the barricade. Hence, an investigation of the changes and distribution of barricade pressure is crucial for the assessment of the stability of CPB and the barricade. In this paper, an integrated multiphysics model composed of a fully coupled THMC model, a fully coupled multiphysics model that analyzes the consolidation process in CPB and an elastoplastic model that analyzes changes in the interface behavior during the interaction of rock mass/backfill is adopted. The predictive ability of the model is validated by the good agreement between the simulation results and in-situ measurements from a series of field monitoring programs. Then, the validated multiphysics model is used to numerically investigate the changes and spatial distribution of barricade pressure under various conditions (including elapsed time, barricade location and shape, initial temperature, and drainage conditions). The obtained results can provide practical insight into the factors that affect the geotechnical stability of barricade structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered to be a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is the most common type of dementia. Although MCI is a common clinical manifestation in the elderly, the pathology and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Oxylipins are a major class of lipid-derived signaling mediators, which have been implicated in the pathology of MCI and AD. In this study, we investigated the changes of oxylipin profiles in plasma of MCI patients. Methods: We performed a targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis to quantify 49 oxylipins and 4 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma samples of 60 clinically diagnosed MCI patients and 56 age- and gender-matched cognitively normal individuals. Results: We found that the levels of linoleic acid (LA) and 7 oxylipins were significantly altered in MCI patients when compared to the controls. Notably, oxylipins synthesized through 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) pathways of arachidonic acid (AA) or LA were elevated in MCI patients, which is in accordance with previously reports that oxylipins from the same pathways were increased in the brain tissues of AD and MCI patients, suggesting the potential correlations of oxylipin changes in 5-LOX and CYP450 pathways between the peripheral blood and the brain tissues in MCI and AD patients. Conclusion: This study is the first report on plasma oxylipin profiles in MCI patients, and disease-relevant changes of oxylipins and oxylipin pathways were identified. The results represent potentially an efficient method to monitor certain oxylipin changes in the brain tissues of MCI or AD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a uniform porous highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrode was prepared via diazonium salt assisted electrochemical etching method and firstly utilized to immobilize enzymes for the construction of a high-performance glucose biosensor. The formation mechanism and morphology structure of the porous HOPG electrode were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterizations. The glucose oxidase (GOx) was functionalized with pyrene groups and then immobilized on the porous HOPG substrate through π-π stacking interactions and hydrogen bonding. As a result, eight times higher oxidation current density can be obtained for a given glucose concentration for the porous HOPG electrode than the pristine one. Detection limit of 5 μM for glucose was achieved for the as-fabricated biosensor. It was obtained that 78 % biocatalytical activity of GOx can be retained after the pyrene functionalization and 65.7 % one can even be maintained after four weeks, which confirmed the high efficiency and good stability of the as-prepared biosensor. What's more, it can be anticipated that various other enzymes can be loaded into this porous HOPG platform using the same enzyme modification methodology for the construction of efficient biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of high-performance and cost-effective water oxidation catalysts operating under mild conditions is still urgent and challenging. In this communication, a nickel-borate nanoarray supported on carbon cloth (Ni-Bi/CC) has been fabricated through oxidative polarization of a nickel oxide nanoarray on CC (NiO/CC) in a borate electrolyte (pH 9.2). As a 3D electrode, this Ni-Bi/CC exhibits superior catalytic activity for water oxidation in 0.1 M potassium borate (K-Bi) solution, yielding a geometrical catalytic current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 470 mV. Notably, this electrode also demonstrates outstanding long-term electrochemical durability for 25 h with 100% Faradaic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical modeling study is conducted to assess and gain a better understanding of the arching effects of field cemented tailings backfill (CTB). An integrated multiphysics model is developed that can illustrate and capture the changes in the material properties of CTB, consolidation behavior of CTB mass, and the shear behavior at the CTB/Rockwall interface. The predictive capability of the model has been successfully verified with comparisons of the predicted results with monitoring data taken from a series of field studies. The model is then used to simulate a series of applications that are relevant to CTB in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permeable pavement plays an important role in the sustainable urban drainage system as they have the potential to reduce splash and spray. While the pavements need to be permeable for the water to drain into the ground, it must also be able to carry the traffic load without altering the permeability characteristics. This paper aims to investigate the permeability performance and serviceability of pavements constructed with aggregates having a range of crushing strength (crushability) and grading (particle size distribution). Laboratory tests consist of modelling a pavement and carrying out permeability and sieving tests before and after the application of the loading. Experimental investigations showed that particles having higher crushing strength will lead a lower reduction in permeability of the pavement without compromising the performance. Furthermore, it was observed that reduction of permeability depends on the particle breakage pattern. Numerical study was conducted using discrete element modelling to understand the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon, and it was found that a wide particle size range could distribute the load uniformly and reduce the particle breakages. It is suggested that all these factors may be considered while choosing the aggregate for permeable pavement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic pollutants to aquatic organisms. The influence of salinity on Hg toxicity, an important factor restricting the development of global marine aquatic life criteria (ALC), is unclear. Therefore, mercury toxicity data were corrected based on salinity using the aggregate slope method, and the ALC values were derived. Short-term aquatic life criteria (SALC) and long-term aquatic life criteria (LALC) were derived using the species sensitivity distribution method based on Log-logistic, Log-normal, Burr III, Gumbel, and Weibull models. The hazard quotient (HQ) and joint probability curve (JPC) methods were used to evaluate the ecological risk of Hg in the coastal waters of China. The results showed that the SALC and LALC of Hg in the coastal waters of China were 2.21 and 0.54 μg/L. The toxicity data and salinity were positively correlated for Chordate and Arthropoda and negatively correlated for Mollusca. The SALC values increased by approximately 75%, with salinities ranging from 10 to 20 ppt. A slight peak in the SALC at mid-salinities was also observed. The ecological risk assessment of Hg in China's coastal waters showed that attention should be paid to Hg pollution in the Bohai Sea and East China Sea, especially the ecological risk of Hg to crustacean organisms. This study could promote the development of water quality criteria for coastal waters and provide a technical reference for mercury management in the coastal waters of China. • Temporal and spatial distribution of Hg in China's coastal waters were analyzed. • The SALC and LALC were derived based on species sensitivity distribution method. • Salinity correction method was used to study effect of salinity on toxicity and ALC. • HQ and JPC methods were used to assess Hg's ecological risk in China's coastal waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cementitious construction material, cemented paste backfill (CPB), is extensively used in underground mining operations worldwide. After the CPB is placed in the field, the evolution of its mechanical and thermal properties strongly affects its stability and the heat transfer within it. An experimental setup is designed to enable the curing of CPB samples under different stresses, filling rates, initial temperatures and drainage conditions as well as the monitoring of the changes in capillary pressure, temperature, amount of drained water and electrical conductivity in the CPB samples during curing. Furthermore, extensive testing is carried to investigate the combined effects of initial temperature, curing stress and drainage on the mechanical, microstructural and thermal properties of CPB. The obtained results reveal that these properties are strongly influenced by the initial backfill temperature, curing stress and drainage conditions, and their interactions. These can significantly affect the cement hydration, capillary pressure development and pore structure of CPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, for the first time, a cobalt carbonate hydroxide (Co(CO3)0.5(OH)⋅0.11 H2O) nanowire array on Ti mesh (CHNA/Ti) was applied to drive the dehydrogenation of alkaline NaBH4 solution for on-demand hydrogen production. Compared with other nanostructured Co-based catalyst systems, CHNA/Ti can be activated more quickly and separated easily from fuel solutions. This self-supported cobalt salt nanowire array catalyst works as an efficient and robust 3D catalyst for the hydrolysis reaction of NaBH4 with a hydrogen generation rate of 4000 mL min−1 gCo−1 and a low apparent activation energy of 39.78 kJ mol−1 and offers an attractive system for on-demand hydrogen generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted community interviews and field surveys to determine the distribution and population of the Endangered Shortridge's capped langur Trachypithecus shortridgei, and the threats to the species, in the Dulong and Nu River valleys of north-western Yunnan Province, China. We found that c. 19 groups of T. shortridgei reside in the Dulong valley, mostly located in the southern portion of the valley. According to interview and observational records in the Gaoligong Mountains to the west of the Nu River, 12 individuals and no groups were observed. Family groups consist of one adult male, 2–3 adult females and up to five young. We estimate the population of T. shortridgei in China to be c. 250–370 individuals. Threats to the species include habitat loss and poaching. We suggest several measures to conserve T. shortridgei, such as a review of the Gaoligong National Nature Reserve management strategy, and increasing engagement, education, inclusion of local people in forest management, and the consistency of enforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Automobile exhaust has become the main source of atmospheric particulate matter with the increase in the number of automobiles. Automobile exhaust particles (AEPs) discharged into the atmosphere can enter the aquatic environment through atmospheric deposition, rain runoff, leaching, drainage water and urban sewage and further affect aquatic organisms. However, there is no comprehensive theory and method to evaluate the ecological effects of AEPs on aquatic environment. The new European driving cycle (NEDC) and the world harmonized light-duty test cycle (WLTC) were used to analyze the ecotoxicity of AEPs. The SUV gasoline, SUV hybrid and sedan gasoline under WLTC were used for further analysis. The chemical characteristics of AEPs were analyzed, and the ecotoxicity of AEPs on aquatic organisms was studied with Vibrio fischeri and Danio rerio as test organisms. The ecological effect of AEPs was studied through species sensitivity distribution based on interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) models. The results showed that (ⅰ) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were the main organic substances in AEPs. The total concentrations of PAHs in AEPs measured under the NEDC and WLTC were 237.4 and 159.8 mg kg−1, respectively, and the EC 50 values for V. fischeri measured under the NEDC and WLTC were 42.02 and 47.05 mg L−1, respectively. (ⅱ) Total heavy metal concentrations in AEPs from SUV gasoline, SUV hybrid, and sedan gasoline were 197.52, 104.86, and 89.68 mg kg−1, respectively, and the LC 50 values for D. rerio were 3.22, 4.46 and 5.62 mg L−1. Cu and Mn were the main toxic heavy metals in AEPs. (ⅲ) The PNEC values of AEPs from SUV gasoline, SUV hybrid and sedan gasoline were 0.57, 0.83 and 1.02 mg L−1, respectively. This exploratory study can provide technical information on water ecological safety assessment for determining the impact of AEPs on the surface water environment and for further improving automobile exhaust emission standards. [Display omitted] • The chemical characteristics of automobile exhaust particles (AEPs) were analyzed. • Heavy metals in AEPs have higher toxicity than organic matter, especially Cu and Mn. • ICE models were constructed and to predict the toxicity of AEPs to other organisms. • Predict no effect concentration and effect of AEPs on water environment were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evenly distributed nanoporous highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces with controllable pore size were successfully prepared via diazonium salt assisted electrochemical etching method. The porous HOPG was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The size of these pores can be tuned by manipulating the electrochemical etching time. These porous HOPG substrates also demonstrated the enhanced electrocatalytical behaviour and were employed as benign arena for the immobilization of Ru(bpy) 3 2+ for electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A double-sided fuzzy chance-constrained fractional programming (DFCFP) method is developed for planning water resources management under uncertainty. In DFCFP the system marginal benefit per unit of input under uncertainty can also be balanced. The DFCFP is applied to a real case of water resources management in the Zhangweinan River Basin, China. The results show that the amounts of water allocated to the two cities (Anyang and Handan) would be different under minimum and maximum reliability degrees. It was found that the marginal benefit of the system solved by DFCFP is bigger than the system benefit under the minimum and maximum reliability degrees, which not only improve economic efficiency in the mass, but also remedy water deficiency. Compared with the traditional double-sided fuzzy chance-constrained programming (DFCP) method, the solutions obtained from DFCFP are significantly higher, and the DFCFP has advantages in water conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Effective triage of dengue patients early in the disease course for in- or out-patient management would be useful for optimal healthcare resource utilization while minimizing poor clinical outcome due to delayed intervention. Yet, early prognosis of severe dengue is hampered by the heterogeneity in clinical presentation and routine hematological and biochemical measurements in dengue patients that collectively correlates poorly with eventual clinical outcome. Herein, untargeted liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry metabolomics of serum from patients with dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in the febrile phase (<96 h) was used to globally probe the serum metabolome to uncover early prognostic biomarkers of DHF. We identified 20 metabolites that are differentially enriched (p<0.05, fold change >1.5) in the serum, among which are two products of tryptophan metabolism–serotonin and kynurenine. Serotonin, involved in platelet aggregation and activation decreased significantly, whereas kynurenine, an immunomodulator, increased significantly in patients with DHF, consistent with thrombocytopenia and immunopathology in severe dengue. To sensitively and accurately evaluate serotonin levels as prognostic biomarkers, we implemented stable-isotope dilution mass spectrometry and used convalescence samples as their own controls. DHF serotonin was significantly 1.98 fold lower in febrile compared to convalescence phase, and significantly 1.76 fold lower compared to DF in the febrile phase of illness. Thus, serotonin alone provided good prognostic utility (Area Under Curve, AUC of serotonin = 0.8). Additionally, immune mediators associated with DHF may further increase the predictive ability than just serotonin alone. Nine cytokines, including IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-8, G-CSF, MIP-1β, FGF basic, TNFα and RANTES were significantly different between DF and DHF, among which IFN-γ ranked top by multivariate statistics. Combining serotonin and IFN-γ improved the prognosis performance (AUC = 0.92, sensitivity = 77.8%, specificity = 95.8%), suggesting this duplex panel as accurate metrics for the early prognosis of DHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diode-pumped passively mode-locking Nd:Gd 0.64 Y 0.36 VO 4 laser was accomplished by employing graphene oxide as saturable absorber and output coupler simultaneously, for which the graphene oxide was deposited onto the output mirror. Owing to the broadband gain spectrum of the Nd:Gd 0.64 Y 0.36 VO 4 crystal, cw mode-locking pulses with duration of ∼2.6 ps centered at 1064.30 nm were obtained. The average output power was 1.3 W and the corresponded peak power was 8.8 kW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An evolutive elasto-plastic model is developed in this research work to address the vital role of binder hydration in the evolution of the mechanical behavior and properties of cemented paste backfill (CPB). Double hardening/softening parameters, which include effective incremental plastic strain and degree of binder hydration, are adopted. A non-associated plastic potential function based on the dilation angle is employed to formulate the plastic deformation and dilation of CPB. Mechanical parameters, such as cohesion, internal friction and dilation angles, stiffness, and Poisson’s ratio are expressed as functions of the degree of binder hydration. The developed model is implemented in a finite element code, COMSOL Multiphysics, and then validated against experimental data obtained from laboratory tests performed in this study and by other researchers. The validation results show good agreement between the predicted and experimental results, thus confirming the capabilities of the new constitutive model to well capture binder hydration induced evolution of the mechanical behavior and properties of CPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]