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BackgroundRotavirus is globally recognized as an important cause of acute gastroenteritis in young children. Whereas previous studies focused more on sporadic diarrhea, the epidemiological characteristics of rotavirus outbreaks have not been systematically understood.MethodsThis systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis standards, WANFANG, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched from database inception to February 20, 2022. We used SPSS 21.0 statistical software for data analysis, RStudio1.4.1717, and ArcGIS trial version for plotting bar graphs and maps.ResultsAmong 1,596 articles, 78 were included, with 92 rotavirus outbreaks and 96,128 cases. Most outbreaks (67.39%, 62/92) occurred in winter and spring. The number of rotavirus outbreaks reported in the eastern region was more than that in the western region. Outbreaks were most commonly reported in villages (33/92, 35.87%), followed by hospitals (19, 20.65%). The outbreak duration was longer in factories and workers’ living places, and villages, while it was shorter in hospitals. Waterborne transmission was the main transmission mode, with the longest duration and the largest number of cases. Rotavirus groups were identified in 66 outbreaks, with 40 outbreaks (60.61%) caused by Group B rotaviruses and 26 outbreaks (39.39%) caused by Group A rotaviruses. Significant differences were found in duration, number of cases, settings, population distribution, and transmission modes between Groups A and B rotavirus outbreaks.ConclusionRotavirus is an important cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks in China. It should also be considered in the investigation of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks, especially norovirus-negative outbreaks.

In the contemporary era, lithium-ion batteries have gained considerable attention in various industries such as 3C products, electric vehicles and energy storage systems due to their exceptional properties. With the rapid progress in the energy storage sector, there is a growing demand for greater energy density in lithium-ion batteries. While the use of thick electrodes is a straightforward and effective approach to enhance the energy density of battery, it is hindered by the sluggish reaction dynamics and insufficient mechanical properties. Therefore, we comprehensively review recent advances in the field of thick electrodes for lithium-ion batteries to overcome the bottlenecks in the development of thick electrodes and achieve efficient fabrication for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Initially, a systematic analysis is performed to identify the factors affecting the performance of the thick electrodes. the correlation between electrode materials, structural parameters, and performance is also investigated. Subsequently, the viable strategies for constructing thick electrodes with improved properties are summarize, including high throughput, high conductivity and low tortuosity, in both material development and structural design. In addition, recent advances in efficient fabrication methods for thick electrode fabrication are reviewed, with a comprehensive assessment of their merits, limitations, and applicable scenarios. Finally, a comprehensive overview of the multiscale design and manufacturing process for thick electrodes in lithium-ion batteries is provided, accompanied by valuable insights into design considerations that are crucial for future advances in this area.

In recent years, landscape pattern optimization has been regarded as a cutting-edge science in various fields, and basin hydrology is no exception. Its effect on basin water purification has also been focused on. Based on the analysis of land use types and landscape patterns in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Basin, and combined with the determination of water quality indicators in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Basin, the relationship between the spatial pattern of Landscape Morphology and water quality was studied; It is found that among the basic characteristic indicators of many basins, the main influencing factors of water quality with high Variable importance for the projection (VIP>1) are IJI (Interspersion and Juxtaposition Index), COHE (Patch Cohesion Index), AI (Aggregation Index), PD (Patch Density), ED (Edge Density); Using PLSR (Partial Least Squares Regression) analysis, the main influencing factors of water quality were discussed. It was found that there was a significant negative regression relationship (Rc

Grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations were used to analyse the effect of -O-Li, -NH2, -SH, -F, -COOH, and -NO2 functional groups on the adsorption and separation of pure CO2 and a mixture of CO2 and CH4. The metal–organic framework (MOF) skeleton was structurally optimized using the Forcite and Dmol 3 modules. First, the GCMC method was employed to simulate the adsorption of pure CO2 by functionalized Mg-MOF-74 at 298 K and 10–3000 kPa. The results illustrated that -O-Li, -NH2, and -SH groups increased the CO2 adsorption below 101 kPa and followed the order Li-O-Mg-MOF-74 > NH2-Mg-MOF-74 > SH-Mg-MOF-74. When the pressure was >101 kPa, the adsorption capacity of Mg-MOF-74 was higher than that of functionalized Mg-MOF-74. Then, the adsorption capacity and selectivity of functionalized Mg-MOF-74 in the CO2/CH4 mixture were investigated at 298 K and 10–3000 kPa. The results showed that the introduction of -O-Li, -NH2, and -SH groups increased the CO2 selectivity of Mg-MOF-74 within the range of 10–1440 kPa and followed the order Li-O-Mg-MOF-74 > NH2-Mg-MOF-74 > SH-Mg-MOF-74.

The cooling role of phase change materials (PCMs) has emerged as a promising solution for battery thermal management systems (BTMS). However, issues such as high phase change temperature, low thermal conductivity, and easy leakage have been the long-term bottlenecks in the application of phase change materials. Herein, a composite phase change materials (CPCMs) is prepared by incorporating a mixture of lauric acid (LA) and paraffin (PA) with an expanded graphite (EG) thermally conductive unit. The mixture of lauric acid and paraffin provides latent heat, whereas expanded graphite enhances the thermal conductivity while preventing the leakage of lauric acid and paraffin. As expected, the lauric acid–paraffin–expanded graphite-based composite phase change materials demonstrate the high thermal conductivity of 1.22 W/(m k), the elevated melting enthalpy of 146.9 J/g, as well as the relatively low melting temperature of 36.1 °C. When used as a cooling system for battery thermal management systems, composite phase change materials can keep the maximum temperature of the battery below 43 °C with a temperature difference of 1.96 °C only, while ensuring the long-term cycling stability of the battery. Therefore, composite phase change materials with such a remarkable performance provide a promising and effective solution for battery thermal management systems.

Abstract Background Stabilization and increased activity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α) can directly increase cancellous bone formation and play an essential role in bone modeling and remodeling. However, whether an increased HIF-1α expression in adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) increases osteogenic capacity and promotes bone regeneration is not known. Results In this study, ADSCs transfected with small interfering RNA and HIF-1α overexpression plasmid were established to investigate the proliferation, migration, adhesion, and osteogenic capacity of ADSCs and the angiogenic ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Overexpression of HIF-1α could promote the biological functions of ADSCs, and the angiogenic ability of HUVECs. Western blotting showed that the protein levels of osteogenesis-related factors were increased when HIF-1α was overexpressed. Furthermore, the influence of upregulation of HIF-1α in ADSC sheets on osseointegration was evaluated using a Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats implant model, in which the bone mass and osteoid mineralization speed were evaluated by radiological and histological analysis. The overexpression of HIF-1α in ADSCs enhanced bone remodeling and osseointegration around titanium implants. However, transfecting the small interfering RNA (siRNA) of HIF-1α in ADSCs attenuated their osteogenic and angiogenic capacity. Finally, it was confirmed in vitro that HIF-1α promotes osteogenic differentiation and the biological functions in ADSCs via the VEGF/AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusions This study demonstrates that HIF-1α has a critical ability to promote osteogenic differentiation in ADSCs by coupling osteogenesis and angiogenesis via the VEGF/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which in turn increases osteointegration and bone formation around titanium implants. Graphical Abstract

Background: The low osteogenic differentiation potential and attenuated anti-inflammatory effect of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) from animals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) limits osseointegration of the implant. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.Methods: Western blotting and qRT-PCR analyses were performed to investigate the effects of PTEN on the osteogenic capacity of ADSCs of T2DM rats (TADSCs). We conducted animal experiments in T2DM-Sprague Dawley (SD) rats to evaluate the osteogenic capacity of modified TADSC sheets in vivo. New bone formation was assessed by micro-CT and histological analyses.Results: In this study, adipose-derived stem cells of T2DM rats exhibited an impaired osteogenic capacity. RNA-seq analysis showed that PTEN mRNA expression was upregulated in TADSCs, which attenuated the osteogenic capacity of TADSCs by inhibiting the AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway. miR-140-3p, which inhibits PTEN, was suppressed in TADSCs. Overexpression or inhibition of PTEN could correspondingly reduce or enhance the osteogenic ability of TADSCs by regulating the AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway. TADSCs transfected with PTEN siRNA resulted in higher and lower expressions of genes encoded in M2 macrophages (Arg1) and M1 macrophages (iNOS), respectively. In the T2DM rat model, PTEN inhibition in TADSC sheets promoted macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype, attenuated inflammation, and enhanced osseointegration around implants.Conclusion: Upregulation of PTEN, which was partially due to the inhibition of miR-140-3p, is important for the attenuated osteogenesis by TADSCs owing to the inhibition of the AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway. Inhibition of PTEN significantly improves the anti-inflammatory effect and osteogenic capacity of TADSCs, thus promoting peri-implant bone formation in T2DM rats. Our findings offer a potential therapeutic approach for modifying stem cells derived from patients with T2DM to enhance osseointegration.

This study aimed to determine the effect of tea planting age on stoichiometric ratios of microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN), and phosphorus (MBP) and soil microbial quotient (SMQ, expressed as qMBC, qMBN, and qMBP, respectively). A chronological sequence of tea plantations (3, 8, 17, 25, and 34 years) was selected in a small watershed in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, and a slope farmland was selected as control. The results showed that with the increase of tea plantation age, soil and microbial biomass C, N, P contents, soil C:N and C:P elevated significantly, while soil N:P overall declined; the MBC:P and MBN:P increased first and then decreased, but MBC:N varied insignificantly. The tea plantation age affected SMQ notably. qMBC first decreased and then increased following the tea planting age, while qMBN and qMBP went up in a fluctuating pattern. In this study, qMBC positively correlated with soil N:P and microbial biomass C:N:P, but negatively correlated with soil C:N and C:P; on the contrary, qMBN and qMBP negatively correlated with soil N:P and microbial biomass C:N:P, but positively correlated with soil C:N and C:P. Generally, the variations of soil microbial biomass and SMQ could reflect the soil quality of tea plantations.

Soil erosion resistance is influenced by intrinsic soil properties and multiple external factors. This study investigated the effect of tea planting age on soil resistance to flowing water erosion (reflected by rill erodibility (Kr) and critical shear stress (τc)) in Three Gorges Reservoir Area. One slope farmland (as the control) and five tea plantations cultivated for 3 to 34 years were selected for sampling sites. The results indicated that bulk density (BD), soil cohesion (Coh), water stable aggregate (WSA), mean weight diameter (MWD), soil organic carbon (SOC), litter density (LD), and root mass density (RMD) increased generally with tea planting age. Compared to the control, Kr of tea plantations reduced by 71.1%-85.3%. The temporal variation in soil erosion resistance was controlled greatly by the variations in most near-surface characteristics. Kr decreased with WSA, Coh, LD, RMD, and SOC following a power function (P < 0.01); τc increased with MWD, LD, RMD, and SOC as an exponential function, with BD a power function, and Coh a logarithmic function (P < 0.01). In this study, Kr could be simulated well by WSA and LD with a power function, and τc could be simulated well by MWD and RMD with an exponential function.

An efficient battery thermal management system (BTMS) can undoubtedly improve the performance and lifetime of lithium-ion batteries. In this study, a novel battery thermal cooling module (BCM) consisting of composite phase change material (CPCM) with carbon foam skeleton support material and a carbon fiber thermally conductive gasket (CFT) are proposed. Experimental results show that the combination of CPCM loaded on carbon foam and CFT provides significant cooling and temperature balancing benefits to the battery components, with peak temperature reductions of 25.13% and 27.83% at 1.3C and 1.5C, and maximum temperature differences for 1.5C remaining within 2.7 °C. The high enthalpy of the CPCM is the key to battery cooling. The addition of CFT reduces the interfacial thermal resistance and enhances phonon heat transfer, effectively controlling the uniformity of the battery surface temperature. Therefore, this study shows that the combined BTMS with BCM and CFT has a good temperature response and cooling effect. The BTMS achieves the dual modulation of CPCM with high enthalpy and carbon material with enhanced heat transfer, enabling intelligent and long-term stable operation. This material combination is expected to have a wide range of applications in battery materials, energy storage and other fields.

The creation of van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnets with tunable Curie temperature (TC) and magnetic anisotropy is essential in developing vdW magnet-based devices. Here, we report an effective and reliable method for modulating the magnetic properties of vdW Fe5GeTe2 by site-specific Ga+ implantation. In this study, we report an easy axis in the ab-plane for bulk Fe5GeTe2 (TC = 310 K) and an axis out of the plane for thin Fe5GeTe2 flakes (TC = 290 K). Combining element-resolved photoemission electron microscopy and spatially resolved magneto-optic Kerr microscopy, we find that the implantation of a tiny amount of 10−3 Ga+·Å−3 in Fe5GeTe2 greatly enhances the TC from 290 to 360 K and switches the magnetic easy axis from the out-of-plane c axis to the ab-plane. The room-temperature x-ray magnetic circular dichroism signal is enhanced from 0% to 9% at an implantation level of 10−2 Ga+·Å−3. These results provide new opportunities for tailoring the magnetic properties of vdW materials beyond room temperature.

In order to investigate the control mechanism of composite phase change materials (PCM), a series of composite nano-phase change emulsion (NPCE) were prepared in this paper with high thermal conductivity, high heat storage and low supercooling using hexadecane, octadecane, hexadecanol, octadecanol and various metal nano-particles. Through the control mechanism, it is expected to adjust the phase transition range of NPCE to a desirable range. The NPCEs were characterized by particle size analyser, cryogenic transmission electron microscope (Cryo TEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermal conductivity meter and rheometer. The results showed that the NPCEs was successfully prepared with uniform dispersion, great stability, low viscosity and narrow particle size distribution. DSC results showed that the latent heat of NPCE with 20 wt. % hexadecane was 55.86 kJ/kg. The supercooling degree of prepared NPCEs using 1.25 wt. % of hybrid nucleating agents was reduced by 81%. Metal oxides effectively improved the thermal conductivity of NPCEs. The thermal conductivity of the NPCEs with 1wt. % nano Al2O3 was 0.70 W/(m ⋅ K), which was increased by 21%. The viscosity of the NPCEs increased with the increase of metal oxide concentrations and decreased with the increase of temperature. Importantly the NPCEs presented a shear thinning effect and can be considered as Newtonian fluid after shear rate of 2 s−1, which had great potential in the thermal energy storage system.

Solar photovoltaic systems represent an important technology for renewable energy utilization and have broad potential for application and development. However, the further development of solar photovoltaic systems is hindered by their higher generation costs. A high-concentration photovoltaic system (HCPVs) can use an inexpensive concentrator to replace solar cells; this, in turn, reduces the cost of electricity generation, because the solar cell requirement decreases for a given power. This study developed a mathematical model for multi-junction solar cell (MJSC) based on single-diode equivalent circuit, furthermore, an HCPVs with hyperboloid mirrors was established. The electrical properties for an MJSC module, including the short-circuit current (Isc), peak power (Pm), open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF), and efficiency (η) were investigated at concentration ratios between 650 X and 800 X and direct solar radiation intensities between approximately 400 W/m2and 730 W/m2. Furthermore, the experimental results and theoretical values were comparatively analyzed. The results demonstrated that Isc, Voc, and Pmof MJSC module increased as the direct solar radiation raised. In contrast, the FF and η of an MJSC module decreased as the direct solar radiation raised. As the direct solar radiation intensity was 700 W/m2 and concentration ratio increased from 650 X to 800 X, Isc, Voc, and Pmincreased from 1.002 A to 1.243 A, 11.095 V to 11.158 V, and 9.466 W to 11.358 W, respectively. Conversely, the FF and η of the MJSC module decreased from 32.51 % to 31.33 % and 0.851 to 0.819, respectively. The tallied between the numerical and experimental results was evaluated, which indicated that root-mean-square error between the experimental and calculated values increased as the direct solar radiation increased.

Salt hydrates have been used as phase change materials (PCMs) for various types of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) especially for cold storage. In this project, a novel composite phase change material (PCM) consisted of mixed solution of inorganic salt and organic salt was developed and characterized. Firstly, the PCM solutions containing sodium formate, potassium chloride and water with various weight percentage were evaluated to understand their solidification temperature, melting temperature, the supercooling degree and the latent heat. Then a PCM with mass fractions at weight percentages of 22%/12%/66% with better performance was selected for further study to restrain the supercooling. Different gelling agents and nucleate agents were employed in this PCM. The results show that the addition of 0.6 wt% xanthan gum can effectively prevent the phase separation and leakage, while 0.6 wt% of nano-TiO2 is the best nucleating agent since the supercooling can be reduced to 2.6 °C, which is 67.9% lower than that of the original PCM without any nucleating agent. Finally, the novel PCM was tested for frozen food storage application, in which the food temperature could be maintained below -18 °C for over 10 hours in the insulated box. This indicated the suitability of developed PCM for frozen food storage and transportation.

The plant is an important component of the riparian ecosystem, which could reflect both the environmental and functional characteristics of the riparian zone. Studies on species composition, diversity, community structure, distribution pattern, and adaptation strategies of plant communities in the riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) will help to explore the maintaining mechanism of the plant communities’ ecological function under severe water-level fluctuation. The paper reviewed the plant community characteristics, functional traits as well as their eco-physiological responses and environmental adaptations in this special ecological zone. Based on this, future research orientations in this field were also prospected, which may focus on the maintenance mechanism of the plant community, suitable plants selection and their adaptation mechanism, the relationship between plant functional traits and ecosystem functions, plant niche in the riparian zone, and the connectivity of riparian zone to the surrounding environment. The results can promote the correlational research on plant communities in the riparian zone and deepen the understanding of ecosystem services the riparian ecotone provides.

In many high-speed electrical machines, centrifugal forces within the rotor can be first-order constraints on electromagnetic optimization. This can be particularly acute in interior permanent magnet (IPM) machines in which magnets are usually retained entirely by the rotor core with no additional mechanical containment. This study investigates the nature of the trade-off between mechanical and electromagnetic requirements within the context of an eight-pole, 100 kW IPM machine with a base speed of 4000 rpm and an extended speed range up to 12,000 rpm. A series of mechanical and electromagnetic models are used to estimate the level of shaft interference, mechanical stress in critical regions of the rotor and the impact of various features and dimensions within the machine on electromagnetic torque. A systematic exploration of the design space is undertaken for rotor diameters from 120 mm to 180 mm, with optimal designs in terms of torque per unit length established at each diameter while meeting the constraints imposed on mechanical stress. The final preferred design has a rotor of 165 mm and an axial length of 103 mm long with a fractional slot winding in a 30-slot stator. The overall machine has an active mass of 42.3 kg, which corresponds to ~2.4 kW/kg. This paper describes the optimization study in detail and draws on the results to explore the nature of the design trade-offs in such rotors and the impact of core properties.

Summary: Small-molecule (m/z

Introduction: It is important to note that complete myelination and formation of myelinated fibers are essential for functional nerve regeneration after peripheral nerve injury (PNI). However, suboptimal myelin regeneration is common and can hinder ideal nerve regeneration. Therefore, it is important to closely monitor and support myelin regeneration in patients with PNI to achieve optimal outcomes.Methods: This study analyzed the effects of three extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on Schwann cells (SCs) in the nerve regeneration environment, including their adhesion, proliferation, and migration. The study also explored the use of composite sodium alginate hydrogel neural scaffolds with ECM components and investigated the effects of ECM proteins on remyelination following peripheral nerve injury.Results: The results showed that laminin (LN), fibronectin (FN), and collagen Ⅳ (type IV Col) promoted the early adhesion of SCs in 2-dimensional culture but the ratios of early cell adhesion were quite different and the maintenance of cells’ morphology by different ECM proteins were significantly different. In transwell experiment, the ability of LN and FN to induce the migration of SCs was obviously higher than that of type IV Col. An vitro co-culture model of SCs and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons showed that LN promoted the transition of SCs to a myelinated state and the maturation of the myelin sheath, and increased the thickness of neurofilaments. Animal experiments showed that LN had superior effects in promoting myelin sheath formation, axon repair, and reaching an ideal G-ratio after injury compared to FN and Col IV. The situation of gastrocnemius atrophy was significantly better in the LN group. Notably, the thickness of the regenerated myelin sheaths in the type IV Col group was the thickest.Conclusion: In this experiment, we analyzed and compared the effects of LN, FN, and type IV Col on the biological behavior of SCs and their effects on remyelination after PNI and further clarified their unique roles in the process of remyelination. Further research is necessary to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Abstract Background Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) caused by bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) is one of the most important contagious diseases in bovine. This is one of the most common infectious disease of cattle. This has led to high economic losses in the cattle farming industry. BoHV-1 can potentially be transmitted via semen during natural or artificial insemination (AI). Therefore, testing methods for the early diagnosis of BoHV-1 infection are urgently needed for international trade of ruminant semen. In this study, we developed a novel droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay for the detection of BoHV-1 DNA in semen samples. Results The ddPCR results showed that the detection limit was 4.45 copies per reaction with high reproducibility. The established method was highly specific for BoHV-1 and did not show cross-reactivity with specify the organisms (BTV, BVDV, Brucella, M . bovis). The results of clinical sample testing showed that the positivity rate of ddPCR (87.8%) was higher than that of qPCR (84.1%). Conclusions The ddPCR assay showed good accuracy for mixed samples and could be a new added diagnostic tool for detecting BoHV-1.

Freeze-thaw erosion occurs primarily at high latitudes and altitudes. Temperature controlled freeze-thaw events dislodge soil particles and serve as a catalyst for erosion. This review paper provided an overview of the effects of freeze-thaw on soil properties and water erosion. The process of freeze-thaw cycles results in temporary and inconsistent changes in the soil moisture, and affects the soil's mechanical, physical and chemical properties, such as the soil moisture content, porosity, bulk density, aggregates stability, shear strength and organic matter content and so on. The variation trend and range of the soil properties were related to the soil texture, water content and freeze-thaw degree. Furthermore, the soil erosion was affected by the freeze-thaw processes, as thawing and water erosion reinforce each other. However, research of different experimental conditions on indoor simulations have numerous limitations compared with field experiments. The use of indoor and field experiments to further reveal the freeze-thaw effect on the soil erosion would facilitate improved forecasting.

Prefabricated structure has already become the main body of future building constructions, however, weak shear resistance, joint interface easy to peel and poor durability of diamond wet joint of fabricated segmental beam is throughout a difficult technical problem. In order to solve that, a ''干'' (Chinese character) UHPC wet joint structure was designed. ABAQUS finite element software was used to analyze the effects of joint structure, joint reinforcement ratio and joint bond surface roughness on the mechanical properties of UHPC wet joint interface. The results shows that the finite element model based on “Traction-Separation” bond surface can better simulate the mechanical properties of wet joint interface of segmental beam. The interface mechanical properties of ''干'' joint proposed in this paper are significantly better than those of diamond joint; The tangential shear stress concentration area of the interface is much smaller than that of the diamond joint. The maximum peeling displacement of reinforcement and UHPC concrete in the tensile area of positive moment can be reduced by about 83.7 %“ The interfacial bonding normal stress of ''干'' wet joint does not increase in the same proportion with the increase of reinforcement ratio, and the influence of reinforcement ratio on interfacial tangential shear stress shows a ''bimodal'' effect. In this paper, the reinforcement ratio of wet joint is recommended to be 4.8 %; Reinforcement ratio and interface roughness have little effect on the normal peeling displacement of wet joint interface, which can be ignored. China's “Code for design of concrete structures” considers the main shear action of stirrups in the structure, and its calculation results are the closest to the bonding shear strength of the concrete interface of this model.

In this paper, a composite structure double layer phase change walls with expanded graphite (EG) was investigated. By adding the EG, the time needed for the phase change process and the wall to work was both accelerated. The effect of composite phase change walls on the indoor thermal comfort and building energy consumption were investigated experimentally. The results show that the double layer phase change wall with the EG can suppress the temperature fluctuation. In addition, it simulated the cooling and heating loads with or without phase change walls based on the climatic conditions in Shanghai. The results show that the heating load in winter is reduced by more than 15%. The simulated values are consistent with the experimental values, and the temperature deviation at the same measuring point within the same period is small. The maximum temperature change between the experimental and simulated values is less than 1 °C. The double layer phase change wall with the EG can reduce the temperature fluctuation and improve the indoor thermal comfort.

The issue of clean production and energy efficiency has become a major concern, especially in the chemical and processing industries. In this paper, an enhanced optimization algorithm satisfying heat-waste minimization and waste-mass minimization is proposed. First, a nodes-based non-structural model and random walk algorithm with compulsive evolution for mass exchanger network synthesis are constructed. The optimization mode of continuous variables is analyzed after analyzing the characteristics of the mass exchange process. To enhance the optimization ability of the heuristic algorithm, a novel coordinated evolution strategy combining the dynamic operations of the walk length optimization and participating evolution probability adjustment is proposed. The proposed strategy can adjust the walk length via an instant objective function change and simultaneously controls the participating evolution of the number of units for effective coupled evolution. The quantified data show that the proposed strategy assists the algorithm in enhancing the local and global optimization abilities, with the final TACs of a benchmark aromatic plant case and phenol absorption process achieved being 125,457 $/yr and 334,696.6 $/yr, respectively. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, it was successfully applied in two industrial-scale cases of heat exchanger network synthesis, where the TAC of the aromatics plant case achieved was 2,892,800 $/yr while the TAC of a gasoline distillation case was 5,089,402.7 $/yr.

In the past decade, in the context of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality era, the rapid development of new energy vehicles has led to higher requirements for the performance of strike forces such as battery cycle life, energy density, and cost. Lithium-ion batteries have gradually become mainstream in electric vehicle power batteries due to their excellent energy density, rate performance, and cycle life. At present, the most widely used cathode materials for power batteries are lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and LixNiyMnzCo1−y−zO2 cathodes (NCM). However, these materials exhibit bottlenecks that limit the improvement and promotion of power battery performance. In this review, the performance characteristics, cycle life attenuation mechanism (including structural damage, gas generation, and active lithium loss, etc.), and improvement methods (including surface coating and element-doping modification) of LFP and NCM batteries are reviewed. Finally, the development prospects of this field are proposed.

LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (LNCMO) cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) were prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis of precursors and high-temperature calcination. The effect of precursor hydrothermal synthesis temperature on the microstructures and electrochemical cycling performances of the Ni-rich LNCMO cathode materials were investigated by SEM, XRD, XPS and electrochemical tests. The results showed that the cathode material prepared using the precursor synthesized at a hydrothermal temperature of 220 °C exhibited the best charge/discharge cycle stability, whose specific capacity retention rate reached 81.94% after 50 cycles. Such enhanced cyclic stability of LNCMO was directly related to the small grain size, high crystallinity and structural stability inherited from the precursor obtained at 220 °C.

Retrofitted super-span old T-shaped concrete beams (RS-OCT beams) are commonly used in highway bridges in coastal cities and offshore zones in China. The realization of a practical ultimate state for this beam under a bending load is still lacking. In this study, a flexural experiment on an original RS-OCT beam subjected to a long-term vehicle cyclical load was conducted in a laboratory. Several interesting phenomena were discovered. Notably, a butt-weld joint typically exists on longitudinal reinforced bars, which may be vulnerable to bending. The RS-OCT beam simultaneously suffered from the double function of atmospheric environment and fatigue during service. Based on the time-dependent and fatigue theories of materials, finite element analysis was performed using the ABAQUS software. The flexural behavior of the RS-OCT beam at various time periods was simulated. Subsequently, the flexural bearing capacities of the beams were calculated. The safety reservation of the RS-OCT beam at various time stages was related to the change in material properties and upgrading of the loading level. The latter plays a dominant role in the service state.

Adverse environmental conditions, such as low temperature (LT), greatly limit the growth and production of tomato. Recently, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with specific spectra have been increasingly used in horticultural production facilities. The chosen spectrum can affect plant growth, development, and resistance, but the physiological regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of LED light supplementation (W:B = 2:1, light intensity of 100 μmol⋅m–2⋅s–1, for 4 h/day from 9:00 to 13:00) from above and below the canopy on tomato resistance under sub-LT stress (15/8°C). The results showed that supplemental lighting from underneath the canopy (USL) promoted the growth of tomato seedlings, as the plant height, stem diameter, root activity, and plant biomass were significantly higher than those under LT. The activity of the photochemical reaction center was enhanced because of the increase in the maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and photochemical quenching (qP), which distributed more photosynthetic energy to the photochemical reactions and promoted photosynthetic performance [the maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax) was improved]. USL also advanced the degree of stomatal opening, thus facilitating carbon assimilation under LT. Additionally, the relative conductivity (RC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were decreased, while the soluble protein content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were increased with the application of USL under LT, thereby causing a reduction in membrane lipid peroxidation and alleviation of stress damage. These results suggest that light supplementation from underneath the canopy improves the cold resistance of tomato seedlings mainly by alleviating the degree of photoinhibition on photosystems, improving the activity of the photochemical reaction center, and enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, thereby promoting the growth and stress resistance of tomato plants.

Vertically stacked hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)/graphene heterostructures present potential applications in electronic, photonic, and mechanical devices, and their interface interaction is one of the critical factors that affect the performances. In this work, the vertical h-BN/graphene heterostructures with high coverage are synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of h-BN on Ni substrates followed by segregation growth of graphene at the h-BN/Ni interfaces, which are monitored by in situ surface microscopy and surface spectroscopy. We find that h-BN overlayers can be decoupled from Ni substrates by the graphene interlayers. Furthermore, the h-BN domain boundaries exhibit a confinement effect on the graphene interlayer growth and the lower graphene domains are limited within the upper h-BN domains. This work provides new insights into the formation mechanism and interface interaction of the vertical heterostructures.

Both vegetation coverage rates and arrangement patterns have important influences on erosion. Very little previous research focuses on the impacts of spatial vegetation distribution patterns on erosion. The slope-gully system was taken as the research object, which is composed of a 5.0 m long hillslope with a slope gradient of 20° and a 3.0 m long gully slope with a gradient of 50°. A series of scouring experiments with two inflow discharges (3.2 L min−1, 5.2 L min−1) was carried out. The effects of the flow discharges, spatial grass arrangement patterns (US, MS, and DS represent the presence of grass covering on up-hillslope, middle-hillslope, and down-hillslope, respectively) and grass coverage rates (0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90%) on runoff and sediment were studied in this paper. The results indicated that either runoff or sediment yielding was significantly decreased with the grass coverage rates increasing and with the variation of grass arrangement patterns on a hillslope. While grass coverage had more effectiveness in controlling erosion compared with runoff reduction, and DS can control erosion more effectively than US and MS erosion controlling. For the gully slope, erosion significantly increased with the grass coverage rates increasing no matter how the grass arrangement patterns on the hillslope. Therefore, both different grass coverage and different grass arrangement patterns have an influence on erosion processes; any research that only takes care of the single factor mentioned above is not enough to reveal the effects of grass on erosion. In the process of erosion control in the Loess Plateau, taking effective measures both on the hillslope and gully slope will be effective methods of reducing soil erosion.

Composites composed of paraffin wax and copper foam with porosity of 95 % and pore density of 15 ppi, 30 ppi, and 50 ppi were prepared by the melt impregnation method. Two building models of the same size were made using gypsum board. The roof of the experimental model was covered with 50ppi copper foam /paraffin composite phase change board, and the roof of the reference model was covered with foam insulation board. The heat transfer experiment was conducted with a constant heat flux. EnergyPlus software was also employed to simulate the energy saving effects of the building models. The size and material of the model established during the simulation are consistent with the experimental model. Experimental results showed that the phase change composite board delayed the highest indoor temperature for 1.5 h, and it also reduced the indoor maximum temperature by 1.2° and the indoor energy consumption by 21 %. The simulation results showed that the phase change composites board delayed the appearance of the highest indoor temperature by 1.3 h and reduced the highest indoor temperature by 1.1°C, and the maximum indoor energy consumption decreased by 19 %. The copper foam/paraffin composite material can effectively improve the thermal comfort and reduce the energy consumption of the building model.

Laboratory-simulated rainfall experiments were conducted to quantify the effects of patchy distributed Artemisia capillaris on overland flow hydrodynamics. Rainfall intensities of 60, 90, 120, and 150 mm h–1 were applied on a bare plot (CK) and four different patched patterns: a checkerboard pattern (CP), a banded pattern perpendicular to slope direction (BP), a single long strip parallel to slope direction (LP), and a pattern with small patches distributed like the letter ‘X’ (XP). Each patterned plot underwent two sets of experiments, intact plant and root (the above-ground parts were removed), respectively. Results showed that flow velocity increased with rainfall intensity, and the lower slope velocity was higher than the upper slope. The removal of grass shoots significantly increased flow velocity. The contributions of grass shoots and roots to the reductions in flow velocity under different rainfall intensities were different. The shoots made greater contribution of 53–97% at 60 and 90 mm h–1, and the roots contributed more (51–81%) at 120 and 150 mm h–1. Mean flow depth increased with rainfall intensity and it declined after the aboveground parts were cleared. Reynold numbers (Re) in this study were 25–80, indicating a laminar flow in the study. Froude numbers (Fr) were ≥ 1 for CK and

Prussian blue analogue (PBA), with a three-dimensional open skeleton and abundant unsaturated surface coordination atoms, attracts extensive research interest in electrochemical energy-related fields due to facile preparation, low cost, and adjustable components. However, it remains a challenge to directly employ PBA as an electrocatalyst for water splitting owing to their poor charge transport ability and electrochemical stability. Herein, the PBA/rGO heterostructure is constructed based on structural engineering. Graphene not only improves the charge transfer efficiency of the compound material but also provides confined growth sites for PBA. Furthermore, the charge transfer interaction between the heterostructure interfaces facilitates the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction of the composite, which is confirmed by the results of the electrochemical measurements. The overpotential of the PBA/rGO material is only 331.5 mV at a current density of 30 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte with a small Tafel slope of 57.9 mV dec−1, and the compound material exhibits high durability lasting for 40 h.

This study presents the construction and dielectric properties investigation of atomic-layer-deposition Al2O3/TiO2/HfO2 dielectric-film-based metal–insulator–metal (MIM) capacitors. The influence of the dielectric layer material and thickness on the performance of MIM capacitors are also systematically investigated. The morphology and surface roughness of dielectric films for different materials and thicknesses are analyzed via atomic force microscopy (AFM). Among them, the 25 nm Al2O3-based dielectric capacitor exhibits superior comprehensive electrical performance, including a high capacitance density of 7.89 fF·µm−2, desirable breakdown voltage and leakage current of about 12 V and 1.4 × 10−10 A·cm−2, and quadratic voltage coefficient of 303.6 ppm·V−2. Simultaneously, the fabricated capacitor indicates desirable stability in terms of frequency and bias voltage (at 1 MHz), with the corresponding slight capacitance density variation of about 0.52 fF·µm−2 and 0.25 fF·µm−2. Furthermore, the mechanism of the variation in capacitance density and leakage current might be attributed to the Poole–Frenkel emission and charge-trapping effect of the high-k materials. All these results indicate potential applications in integrated passive devices.

Based on first-principles calculations, we design a α-AsP/γ-AsP homojunction with minimum lattice distortion. It is found that the α-AsP/γ-AsP homojunction has an indirect bandgap with an intrinsic type-II band alignment. The proposed α-AsP/γ-AsP homojunction exhibits high optical absorption of 1.6×106 cm−1 along the zigzag direction. A high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.08% is achieved in the designed α-AsP/γ-AsP homojunction, which implies it has potential applications in solar cells. Under 4% in-plane axial strain along the zigzag direction, a transition from indirect band gap to direct band gap is found in the α-AsP/γ-AsP homojunction. Moreover, the intrinsic type-II band alignment can be tuned to type-I band alignment under in-plane strain, which is crucial for its potential application in optical devices.

Experimental investigations were carried out to determine the mechanical properties of fine-grained concrete with short AR-glass fibers including the effects of fiber content and length. The basalt fiber textile reinforced concrete (BTRC) sheets with short AR-glass fibers were tested under four-point bending, and the effects of the number of textile layers and fiber length on the flexural properties were analyzed. The results show that the mechanical properties of fine-grained concrete with fibers were mainly related to fiber length and content, the mechanical properties of fibers reinforced concrete increase with the increase of fiber length, and the comprehensive mechanical properties of fine-grained concrete materials are the best when the AR-glass fiber content is about 5%. The flexural performance tests of BTRC sheets show that the strength and the deformation capacity of sheets increase with the increase of the number of fiber textile layers. The short AR-glass fibers can also effectively improve the strength and deformation capacity of BTRC sheets, and the cracking load and ultimate displacement can be increased by up to 1.1 times and 10.1 times of the sheet without short fibers, respectively. For the multi-fiber compound reinforced concrete sheets, the fiber textile can provide tension in the desired direction, and the short AR-glass fibers can improve the cracking resistance and toughness of sheets.

Retarders are important factors controlling the hydration and properties of magnesium potassium phosphate cements (MKPCs). Boric acid and borax are the most commonly used retarders for MKPC which could control the setting time in a wide range upon changing their content. However, with the increase in borax content, the early strength of MKPC can be reduced, and boron compounds are now included in the EU candidate list of substances of very high concern for authorization, due to their reproductive toxicity. Exploring alternative set retarders to boron compounds is, thus, of significance. This work investigated the effects of a candidate retarder, namely, sodium alginate, on the setting time, mechanical properties, hydration products, and microstructures of MKPC. Sodium alginate presented dramatically retarding effects on MKPCs in the range of 0% to 2% (by mass of water). One percent of sodium alginate by mass of water could extend the setting time of MKPCs from 15 min to 35 min, which presented a better retarding effect than borax (a typical retarder for MKPCs) and produced higher early strength of MKPCs. Adding no more than 1% of sodium alginate did not have a notably adverse effect on the formation of hydration product over the long term, but an unfavorable effect could be found regardless of the sodium alginate content, which could reduce the compressive strength of MKPCs.

It has been reported that iron tailing powder (ITP) has the potential to partially replace cement to prepare ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). However, the reactivity of ITP particles in concrete largely depends on the curing method. This study investigates the effects of curing conditions on the mechanical and microstructural properties of UHPC containing ITP. To achieve this objective, three research tasks are conducted, including (1) preparing seven concrete formulations by introducing ITP; (2) characterizing their mechanical performance under different curing regimes; and (3) analyzing their microstructure by XRD patterns, FTIR analysis, and SEM observation. The experimental results show that there is an optimum ITP dosage (15%) for their application. The concrete with 15% ITP under standard curing obtains 94.3 MPa at 7 days, their early-age strength could be even further increased by ~30% (warm-water curing) and ~35% (steamed curing). The steam curing regime stimulates the activity of ITP and refines the microstructure. This study demonstrates the potential of replacing Portland cement with ITP in UHPC production.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanoparticles with a diameter of less than 10 nm, which have been widely used as fluorescent probes in biochemical analysis and vivo imaging because of their excellent optical properties. Sensitive and convenient detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene mutations is important in clinical diagnosis. Therefore, we developed a sensitive, low-cost and convenient QDs-mediated fluorescent method for the detection of HBV gene mutations in real serum samples from chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who had received lamivudine or telbivudine antiviral therapy. We also evaluated the efficiency of this method for the detection of drug-resistant mutations compared with direct sequencing. In CHB, HBV DNA from the serum samples of patients with poor response or virological breakthrough can be hybridized to probes containing the M204I mutation to visualize fluorescence under fluorescence microscopy, where fluorescence intensity is related to the virus load, in our method. At present, the limits of the method used to detect HBV genetic variations by fluorescence quantum dots is 103 IU/mL. These results show that QDs can be used as fluorescent probes to detect viral HBV DNA polymerase gene variation, and is a simple readout system without complex and expensive instruments, which provides an attractive platform for the detection of HBV M204I mutation.