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BACKGROUND: Agaricus bisporus with a completely white appearance is popular with consumers. However, A. bisporus is susceptible to senescence and spoilage, which results in browning and oxidative tissue damage, with limited shelf life. This study investigated the effects of shortwave ultraviolet (UV‐C, 1.0 kJ m−2) irradiation on quality features, enzymatic browning, and defense properties of A. bisporus stored at 4 °C for 21 days. RESULTS: After storage, UV‐C irradiated A. bisporus had increased quality of sensory, color and hardness characteristics; it exhibited higher content of total phenolic, brown melanin precursors, including γ‐glutaminyl‐4‐hydroxybenzene, γ‐glutaminyl‐3,4‐dihydroxybenzene and tyrosine, lower accumulation of malondiadehyde, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical, and maintained membrane integrity in comparison to control samples. Besides, A. bisporus treated by UV‐C showed lower degree of browning and higher level of self‐defense capacity, which may be ascribed to the enhancement in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, chitinase and β‐1,3‐glucanase activity, while inhibiting polyphenol oxidase activity during storage. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the higher self‐defense capacity with UV‐C treatment might be the mechanism associated with the delay of senescence in Agaricus bisporus. Therefore, UV‐C treatment is suggested as a potential practical application in mushrooms. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we construct a fuzzy multiple linear least squares regression model based on two distance measures between LR -type fuzzy numbers. The computational formulas for calculating regression parameters are presented. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model, we define a similarity measure between LR -type fuzzy numbers and introduce two criteria called the error index and the similarity index, which respectively utilize distance measures and similarity measures between LR -type fuzzy numbers as measurements. In addition, we present two numerical examples with normal fuzzy numbers and triangular fuzzy numbers to demonstrate the performances of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meleagrin and oxaline, which belong to the roquefortine alkaloids with a unique dihydroindole spiroamide framework, have significant bioactivities, especially tumor cell inhibitory activity. In order to discover the requefortine alkaloids, Penicillium sp. OUCMDZ-1435 was fished and identified from marine fungi using molecular probe technology. Meleagrin (1) and oxaline (2) were isolated from it. In addition, we first reported that compounds 1 and 2 could effectively inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of the human HepG2 cell and induce HepG2 cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Additionally, the fermentation of Meleagrin (1) was optimized to increase its yield to 335 mg/L. These results provided bioactive inspiration and fungus resources for roquefortine alkaloid development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides are essential for the development of agriculture. It is urgent to develop green, safe and efficient pesticides. Bisindole alkaloids have unique and concise structures and broad biological activities, which make them an important leading skeleton in the creation of new pesticides. In this work, we synthesized bisindole alkaloid barakacin in a simple seven-step process, and simultaneously designed and synthesized a series of its derivatives. Biological activity research indicated that most of these compounds displayed good antiviral activities against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Among them, compound 14b exerted a superior inhibitory effect in comparison to commercially available antiviral agent ribavirin, and could be expected to become a novel antiviral candidate. Molecular biology experiments and molecular docking research found that the potential target of compound 14b was TMV coat protein (CP). These compounds also showed broad-spectrum anti-fungal activities against seven kinds of plant fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Shiitake mushrooms contain free phenolics (FPs) and bound phenolics (BPs). BPs embedded in mushrooms are generally neglected and underestimated. Methods of hydrolysis with acid, base and their combination in different sequences were developed to release BPs. The contents, compositions and antioxidant capacities of FPs and BPs were investigated. Results found that BPs yielded with combining base and acid hydrolysis received the highest value (25.67 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g dry weight (DW)), which was higher than FPs (20.62 mg GAE/100 g DW). LC‐ESI‐QqQ‐MS/MS analysis demonstrated that gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid presented in all BPs fractions, whereas hesperidin, luteolin, quercetin, and cinnamic acid were affected by hydrolysis methods and procedures. BPs fractions with higher phenolic content showed strong antioxidant capacities. These results demonstrate the importance of BPs and can be applied to enhance the amount and bioavailability of BPs from shiitake mushrooms and other foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors propose a new educational grading system based on fuzzy techniques, which includes five interrelated modules. Through an example to illustrate the process of the proposed fuzzy educational grading system, we find that the proposed system meets the basic requirements of the educational grading system and can overcome the limitations of existing fuzzy educational grading systems. By comparing the proposed fuzzy educational grading system with traditional methods, we find that the proposed evaluation system can more objectively and intelligently evaluate students’ answer sheets. The aim of the proposed method is not to replace the existing fuzzy educational grading systems, but to enrich the present systems for students’ learning achievement evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Button mushrooms with completely white appearance are popular with consumers. However, button mushrooms are susceptible to infection with Pseudomonas tolaasii, which results in browning. This study evaluates the effects of ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) treatment on the inactivation of P. tolaasii in vitro and in vivo and on the physiological and chemical changes of button mushrooms during storage for 21 days at 4 °C. RESULTS: UV‐C doses of 0.5 to 9.0 kJ m−2 resulted in 3.91–6.26 log CFU mL−1 reduction of P. tolaasii populations in vitro, and UV‐C treatment reduced P. tolaasii populations inoculated on mushroom cap surfaces and browning severity. Moreover, P. tolaasii increased polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, and decreased phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) activity, the accumulation of phenolics and contents of brown melanin precursors, including γ‐l‐glutaminyl‐4‐hydroxybenzene (GHB), γ‐l‐glutaminyl‐3,4‐dihydroxybenzene (GDHB), and tyrosine in button mushrooms. UV‐C treatment was found to reduce the negative changes due to P. tolaasii infection. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the application of UV‐C treatment inhibited browning, inactivated P. tolaasii and reduced P. tolaasii – associated chemical and enzymatic changes of button mushrooms. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement-stabilized dredged sediment (CDS) when used as a new road construction material cannot only solve the problem of abandoned sediment disposal, but also effectively save natural soil resources. This study aimed to evaluate the strength and permeability of CDS and establish corresponding prediction models from the perspective of a stabilization mechanism. The soil–water composition and pore size distribution were investigated by the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique. The results demonstrated that more liquid pore water inside the CDS specimen transformed into combined water with cement hydration. The amount of combined water, which essentially characterized the hydration process of cement, presented a linear relationship with log (t). The cementation and filling action of hydrates resulted in the transformation of large pores into smaller ones, hence the optimal pore size decreased with an increasing curing period and cement content. The stress–strain curves and hydraulic conductivity were determined based on unconfined compression and flexible wall penetration tests, respectively. The unconfined compressive strength increased exponentially with the amount of combined water, and the functional correlations of hydraulic conductivity and micropore parameters were established. The reliability of the NMR technique as a new method to study the microscopic evolution mechanism of the strength and permeability of CDS was further verified by scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The curing stress can significantly improve the engineering properties of cement-treated dredged soil (CDS). Based on the large-scale consolidation tests, this study investigated the settlement pattern of CDS under the curing stress of 0–100 kPa, and the pressure dissipation and chemical properties of pore water were also explored. The results showed that the application of curing stress greatly accelerated the settlement of CDS and significantly reduced its void ratio, however, the consolidation efficiency gradually weakened with the increase of cement content. With the curing stress increasing, the completion time of primary settlement of CDS was prolonged, and the pH and EC values of the pore water both gradually increased. The void-ratio reduction of CDS during stress curing arises from the combined effect of mechanical compression and chemical filling, and the two effects have different contributions to the reduction of void ratio at different consolidation stages. Moreover, the effects of curing stress on the microstructure of CDS were also investigated by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP) tests. The results show that with the curing stress applied, the volume of large pore in CDS significantly decreased and the structure became denser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) is a popular branch of decision theory in which many methods have been proposed to solve MCDM real-world problems. However, in spite of the multiple methods, it is common that different of them provide the same solutions. Therefore, this paper analyzes the causes of the same solutions from different MCDM methods, studies why different normalization methods can achieve the same solutions in MCDM methods through the theory of MCDM methods, and discusses the relationship between different MCDM methods by category. To achieve such goals, MCDM methods are classified into three categories according to their ranking methods. Some traditional MCDM methods are then extended by considering general normalization methods and distance measures. Finally, the characteristics of various MCDM methods are discussed by category and their evaluation indexes are also compared. The comparison results are represented by tables and flowchart models. The relationship between different categories of MCDM methods is shown through the comparison of the evaluation indexes. The aim of the proposed method is not to replace existing MCDM methods, but to fill some present research gaps about MCDM methods. • General normalization methods and distance measures are considered in MCDM methods. • The causes of the same solutions from different MCDM methods are examined. • The characteristics of various MCDM methods are discussed by category. • The relationship between different MCDM methods is summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new distance measure of three-parameter interval numbers is proposed, which considers not only the particularity of the center of gravity in a three-parameter interval number but also the influence of risk attitudes of decision makers. Some properties of the proposed distance measure are also proved from the perspective of metric spaces. Based on the proposed distance measure of three-parameter interval numbers, a new type of distance measure of LR-type fuzzy numbers is introduced. By considering different left and right shape functions in the proposed distance measure of LR-type fuzzy numbers, some new distance measures of triangular fuzzy numbers and normal fuzzy numbers are obtained. It is shown from some examples that the proposed distance measures of triangular fuzzy numbers and normal fuzzy numbers may overcome drawbacks of some existing similarity measures of triangular fuzzy numbers and normal fuzzy numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an improved method for estimating the similarity between LR -type fuzzy numbers. By considering different left and right shape functions, we can conveniently compute the similarity between trapezoidal fuzzy numbers, Gaussian fuzzy numbers and normal fuzzy numbers. An algorithm for computing the proposed similarity measure between LR -type fuzzy numbers and a numerical method for approximating it are provided. Some of its properties are also examined. The performance of the proposed method is compared with some existing similarity measures through using different sets of LR -type fuzzy numbers. It is shown that the similarity between LR -type fuzzy numbers with parameters from any real number belonged to the real number set R is considered in the proposed method. The given similarity measure is scale-invariant and takes into account the shape of LR -type fuzzy numbers, which can overcome the shortcomings of existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Using two types of biopolymers XG and GG to solidify the Yellow River sediment. • Both XG and GG solidified soils exhibit good self-healing ability of strength and microstructure during remodeling cycles. • The hygroscopicity of BSS gradually decreased with an increase in dry-wet cycles. • Strength improvement of BSS during the remodeling cycles is related to the deep hydrolysis of molecular chain. The soil construction materials are usually subjected to repeated remodeling in engineering applications, such as subgrade or foundation filling. However, the mechanical behavior of biopolymer-solidified soils (BSS) after remodeling is still unclear. This study used two biopolymers, xanthan gum (XG) and guar gum (GG), as representatives to improve the mechanical properties of silty sand dredged from the Yellow River. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS), hygroscopicity, and microstructure properties of BSS were analyzed through a series of experiments considering the remodeling cycles (including dry-wet cycles). Results showed that when the biopolymer content reached 1%, both XG and GG solidified soils exhibited good self-healing ability of strength and microstructure under remodeling cycles. The mechanical properties and durability of XG under remodeling cycles are obviously better than those of GG. Moreover, the hygroscopicity of BSS gradually decreased with an increase in dry-wet cycles. FTIR results indicated that during the first five dry-wet cycles, the properties of hydrophilic groups in XG and GG remained stable, and the hydrolysis degree of XG and GG molecular chains further increased, which confirms the strength improvement of BSS during the remodeling cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, α -paramodulation and α -GH paramodulation methods are proposed for handling logical formulae with equality in a lattice-valued logic L n F (X) , which has unique ability for representing and reasoning uncertain information from a logical point of view. As an extension of the work of He et al. (in: 2015 10th international conference on intelligent systems and knowledge engineering (ISKE), pp 18–20. IEEE, 2015; Uncertainty modelling in knowledge engineering and decision making: proceedings of the 12th international FLINS conference, pp 477–482. World Scientific, 2016), a new form of α -equality axioms set is proposed. The equivalence between α -equality axioms set and E α -interpretation in L n F (X) with an appropriate level is also established, which may provide a key foundation for equality reasoning in lattice-valued logic. Based on its equivalence, E α -unsatisfiability equivalent transformation is given. Furthermore, α -paramodulation and its restricted method (i.e., α -GH paramodulation) are given. The soundness and completeness of the proposed methods are also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The curing stress is an important parameter affecting the mechanical properties of the cement-treated soil. This paper presents the effects of curing stress on the compressive and physical properties of the cement-treated dredged sediment (CDS). The plasticity behavior of CDS is affected by both the cement content and curing stress, whereas the particle size of CDS is mainly influenced by the cement content. The curing stress can reduce the compressibility of CDS significantly and slightly change the compression behavior of the postyielding stage, which is related to the structural behavior of CDS in the compression process. Finally, the strength factor related to the curing stress and cement content was proposed to predict the strength of CDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the Ni 1. 5 Co 1. 5 S4@CNTs nanocomposites containing different carbon nanotubes (CNT) content were prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. More hydroxyl and carboxyl groups were introduced on the surface of CNTs by acidizing treatment to increase the dispersion of CNTs. The acid-treated CNTs can more fully compound with Ni 1. 5 Co 1. 5 S4 nanoparticles to form heterostructure. When the CNTs content is 10 wt.%, the Ni 1. 5 Co 1. 5 S4@CNTs-10 nanocomposite exhibits the highest specific capacity of 210 mAh g − 1 in KOH aqueous electrolytes at current density of 1 A g − 1 . The superior performances of the Ni 1. 5 Co 1. 5 S4@CNTs-10 nanocomposite are attributed to the effective synergic effects of the high specific capacity of Ni 1. 5 Co 1. 5 S4 and the excellent conductivity of CNTs. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was assembled based on Ni 1. 5 Co 1. 5 S4@CNTs-10 positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) negative electrode, which delivers a high energy density of 61.2 Wh kg − 1 at a power density of 800 W kg − 1 , and maintains 34.8 Wh kg − 1 at a power density of 16079 W kg − 1 . Also, the ASC device shows an excellent cycling stability with 91.49% capacity retention and above 94% Columbic efficiency after 10 000 cycles at 10 A g − 1 . This aqueous asymmetric Ni 1. 5 Co 1. 5 S4@CNTs//AC supercapacitor is promising for practical applications due to its advantages such as high energy density, power delivery and cycling stability. The Ni1.5Co1.5S4@CNTs nanocomposites have been prepared by a hydrothermal route. The Ni1.5Co1.5S4@CNTs nanocomposite with 10 wt.% CNTs shows a high specific capacity owing to maximizing synergic effects of high specific capacity of the Ni-Co metal sulfide and excellent conductivity of CNTs. A supercapacitor based on the Ni1.5Co1.5S4@CNTs nanocomposite is promising for practical applications due to its high energy density, high power delivery and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical and basic investigations have indicated a significant association between circulating growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and cardiovascular disease; however, the relationship between GDF15 and lower extremity atherosclerotic disease (LEAD) has been less studied. The present study aimed to explore the association between GDF15 and LEAD in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Considering that obesity is an important factor associated with circulating GDF15 levels, whether the relationship between serum GDF15 levels and LEAD is affected by body mass index (BMI) was also analysed. Methods: A total of 376 hospitalized T2DM patients were enrolled (161 with LEAD and 215 without LEAD). A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum GDF15 levels. The femoral intima-media thickness (F-IMT) and LEAD were assessed by ultrasonography. Results: Patients with LEAD had significantly higher serum GDF15 levels than those without LEAD, regardless of whether their BMI was < 25 kg/m2 or ≥ 25 kg/m2 (both P < 0.05). Serum GDF15 levels were independently positively related to the F-IMT (standardized β = 0.162, P = 0.002). After adjusting for confounding factors, per 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in the serum GDF15 levels was significantly related to an approximately 1.4-fold increased risk of LEAD in the total population (P < 0.05). Regardless of whether the BMI was < 25 kg/m2 or ≥ 25 kg/m2, this association remained significant, with approximately 1.6- and 1.4-fold increased risks of LEAD, respectively (both P < 0.05). Conclusions: High serum GDF15 levels were significantly correlated with an increased risk of LEAD in T2DM patients, and this relationship was independent of BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture content is an important factor affecting the geotechnical properties of solidified municipal sludge (MMS). Typical municipal sludge in China was chosen to investigate the effects of initial moisture content (defined as w 0 ) on geotechnical properties of MMS solidified by self-developed CERSM solidifying agent. In addition, the microstructure changes of solidified sludge samples in this study were explored with scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Mechanical experiment results showed that the unconfined compressive strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle of the MMS increased with the decrease in initial moisture content, but the permeability coefficient changed oppositely. The permeability coefficient of solidified sludge samples was between 10−8 and 10−10 cm/s. But after the drying-saturated process, the permeability coefficient of MMS can be increased up to 4 times, mainly due to the formation of a considerable number of microconnected pores and microcracks in the process of drying. The research results are of great significance to the safe disposal and utilization of municipal sewage sludge in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the significant topics in intuitionistic fuzzy set (IFS) is the measure of the distance between IFSs. Although distance measures on IFSs have been widely studied in previous studies, there are few studies about the generation of them. In this paper, a quaternary function called intuitionistic fuzzy dissimilarity function is proposed to construct distance measures on IFSs. Two methods for building intuitionistic fuzzy dissimilarity functions are presented. The first one is obtained by combining dissimilarity functions and fuzzy equivalencies. The second one is obtained based on constructing new intuitionistic fuzzy dissimilarity functions through other existing ones. We also examine and compare some properties of intuitionistic fuzzy dissimilarity functions, through which we obtain some properties of distance measures on IFSs. Some examples of pattern recognition are applied to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed distance measures on IFSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of highly efficient high-throughput screening (HTS) platform has recently gained more attention as a plausible approach to identify de novo therapeutic application potential of conventional anti-tumor drugs for cancer treatments. In this study, we used hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells as models to identify cytotoxic compounds by HTS. To identify cytotoxic compounds for potential HCC treatments, 3271 compounds from three well established small molecule libraries were screened against HCC cell lines. Thirty-two small molecules were identified from the primary screen to induce cell death. Particularly, mitoxantrone (MTX), which is an established antineoplastic drug, significantly and specifically inhibited the growth and proliferation of HCC cells in vitro. Mechanistic studies of LC3-II, p62 and phosphorylation of p70S6K in HepG2 cells revealed that MTX treatment induced mTOR-dependent autophagy activation, which was further confirmed by the autophagic flux assay using lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine (CQ). In the combined treatment of MTX and CQ, where autophagy was inhibited by CQ, the elevations of cleaved Caspase-3 and PARP were observed, indicating the enhanced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Taken together, we hypothesize that MTX-induced autophagy plays an pro-survival role in HCC treatment. Combined treatment with autophagy inhibitor may combat the chemo-resistance of HCC to MTX treatment and therefore deserves future clinical investment. • A robust compound screen was performed using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. • 32 hits inducing cell death in HCC cells were identified from 3271 compounds. • Mitoxantrone (MTX) specifically inhibited cell growth of HCC cells. • MTX treatment induced autophagy activation by inhibiting mTOR signal pathway. • Autophagy inhibition by chloroquine (CQ) enhanced MTX-induced cell apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measure of the similarity between intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) is an important topic in IFSs theory. In this paper, we propose two computational formulae for similarity measures on IFSs based on a quaternary function called intuitionistic fuzzy equivalence. We first propose the concept of intuitionistic fuzzy equivalence. Then we give a computational formula for intuitionistic fuzzy equivalencies (i.e., Eq. (1)), which is obtained from combining dissimilarity functions and fuzzy equivalencies. Based on Eq. (1), we obtain two computational formulae for similarity measures on IFSs. The first one is obtained by aggregating Eq. (1). The second one is obtained by respectively aggregating the numerator and the denominator of Eq. (1). We also examine some properties of the proposed similarity measures on IFSs. Finally, we make a comparison between the proposed similarity measures on IFSs and those existing ones in the literature through several counter-intuitive cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • High concentrations of ThO 2 NPs (>100 μΜ) were toxic to green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa. • Chlorella pyrenoidosa was more sensitive to small size of ThO 2 NPs than larger ones. • The heteroagglomeration between NPs and alga cells and ROS played important roles in the toxicity of ThO 2 NPs. Abstract Thorium (Th) is a natural radioactive element present in the environment and has the potential to be used as a clean nuclear fuel. Relatively little is known about the aquatic toxicity of Th, especially in nanoparticulate form, which may be the main chemical species of Th in the natural waters. In this study, impacts of ThO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) with two different sizes (52 ± 5 nm, s- ThO 2 vs. 141 ± 6 nm, b -ThO 2) on a green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) were evaluated. Results indicated that C. pyrenoidosa was more sensitive to s- ThO 2 (96-h EC 30 = 64.1 μM) than b- ThO 2 (96-h EC 30 = 100.2 μM). Exposure to 200 μM of ThO 2 NPs reduced the chlorophyll-a and chlorophyll-b contents of the algal cells. At 96 h, SEM and TEM showed that more agglomerates of s -ThO 2 than those of b -ThO 2 were attached onto the surface of algal cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and membrane damage were induced after the attachment of high concentrations of ThO 2 NPs. The heteroagglomeration between ThO 2 NPs and algal cells and increased oxidative stress might play important roles in the toxicity of ThO 2 NPs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on aquatic toxicity of ThO 2 NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct monitoring of Zn 2+ in living system is extremely important to human health. In Zn 2+ sensing, most chemical molecules with aggregation induced emission (AIE) effect were only used in vitro because of its potential biological toxicity. In this work, a biocompatible “turn-on” fluorescent probe for the determination of Zn 2+ combined AIE fluorophore tetraphenylethene (TPE) molecule with peptide has been designed and synthesized based on Schiff base reaction. The TPE-Peptide probe exhibited strong emission in the presence of Zn 2+ due to the formation of self-assembling complexes between Zn 2+ and the three histidine residues in two strands of peptide, which triggered TPE moieties in an aggregated state. The TPE-Peptide probe displays a highly selective and sensitive fluorescence intensity with a relatively wide linear range from 0 to 100 μM and a detection limit of 18.56 nM. As designed, the probe can penetrate live HeLa cells and image intracellular Zn 2+ by turn-on response with low cytotoxicity and good stability, implying that TPE-Peptide acts as a highly useful fluorescent biosensor for biological systems. Our strategy opens a new way for the investigation of other metal ions or bioactive molecules that can bind with special peptides and it may find wide applications in biological sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent studies have discussed the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and glycated albumin (GA) level. However, the extent of the influence of BMI on GA remains uncertain. We investigated the associations between BMI and GA, glycated hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ) and GA/HbA 1c , and to analyze the influence of obesity on GA, HbA 1c , and GA/HbA 1c in both Chinese diabetic and non-diabetic populations. Methods A total of 2562 participants, including 1177 men and 1385 women (age 20–80 y), were enrolled. Each subject underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Serum GA was detected using a liquid enzyme method, and HbA 1c was assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results In the diabetic patients ( n  = 1223), the GA, HbA 1c, and GA/HbA 1c levels were 16.7 ± 3.0%, 6.6 ± .9% (49 ± 9 mmol/mol), and 2.51 ± .33, respectively. In the non-diabetic subjects ( n  = 1339), the GA, HbA 1c, and GA/HbA 1c concentrations were 13.8 ± 1.7%, 5.6 ± .4% (38 ± 4 mmol/mol), and 2.47 ± .31, respectively. Decreasing trends in the GA and GA/HbA 1c concentrations and an increasing trend in the HbA 1c concentration (all P for trend <.05) were found to accompany with the increase in BMI, regardless of diabetes status. Multiple regression analysis revealed that BMI was independently related to HbA 1c in the non-diabetic population (standardized β  = .158, P <  .001); however, the relationship disappeared in the diabetic population ( P >  .05). Moreover, in the diabetic and non-diabetic populations, BMI was negatively correlated with GA (standardized β  = −.167 and − .231, both P <  .001) and GA/HbA 1c (standardized β  = −.273 and − .310, both P <  .001). Further analysis showed that a 1 kg/m 2 increment in BMI was associated with a .13% decrease in the absolute value of GA. Conclusions In both diabetic and non-diabetic populations, GA and GA/HbA 1c levels are independently and negatively associated with BMI. For every 1 kg/m 2 increment in BMI, the absolute value of GA decreases approximately .13%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Recent studies have shown that circulating fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 and vitamin D levels are closely correlated with insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among serum FGF 23 levels, serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels, and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study enrolled 331 hospitalized T2DM patients (209 patients with NAFLD and 122 patients without NAFLD). Serum FGF23 levels were measured using a sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Serum 25(OH)D levels were determined by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. NAFLD was diagnosed by hepatic ultrasound, and the fatty liver index (FLI) was calculated to quantify hepatic steatosis. Results showed that T2DM patients with NAFLD had significantly higher serum FGF23 levels (44.17 [37.92‐51.30] pg/mL vs 40.21 [34.07‐48.33] pg/mL, P = .002), but lower serum 25(OH)D levels (16.43 [12.70‐21.37] ng/mL vs 19.59 [13.78‐26.26] ng/mL, P = .002) than those without NAFLD. Moreover, the incidence rate of NAFLD increased with increasing serum FGF23 levels and decreased with increasing 25(OH)D levels (both P < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that both serum FGF23 and 25(OH)D levels were independent factors for NAFLD (both P < .05). Furthermore, a multiple stepwise regression analysis also revealed that both serum FGF23 and 25(OH)D levels were independently correlated with FLI (both P < .01). In conclusion, both high FGF23 and low vitamin D levels showed an independent relationship with NAFLD in Chinese T2DM patients, indicating that FGF23 and vitamin D function via different regulatory pathways in the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene-nickel (G-Ni) matrix composites were fabricated through in-situ growing graphene in bulk nickel matrix using a powder metallurgy method. Sucrose as precursor of graphene was dispersed into nickel powders to grow graphene, avoiding a traditional dispersion process of graphene in metal matrix. Multi-layer graphene was synthesized in-situ in nickel matrix, meanwhile nickel matrix was densified at high temperature. The nickel matrix acts as support and catalyst of graphene, and graphene grow in-situ in nickel matrix serving as reinforcement. This in-situ growth method offers a homogeneous dispersion of graphene and well-contacted interfaces between graphene and nickel matrix, which provides a guarantee for high load transfer from nickel matrix to graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In subjects who present a first fasting plasma glucose (FPG 1 ) ≥ 7.0 mmol/l without classic symptoms of diabetes, diagnosis of diabetes will likely be missed without an additional oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in the Chinese population. Recent studies have shown that glycated albumin (GA) has advantages in reflecting postprandial hyperglycemia. Therefore, the present study evaluated whether additional measurement of GA could reduce the rate of missed diagnosis of diabetes. Methods A total of 1287 participants (711 men, 576 women) with a FPG 1 ≥ 7.0 mmol/l without classic symptoms of diabetes were enrolled and underwent a 75-g OGTT. Serum GA was measured by a liquid enzyme method. Diabetes was diagnosed based on the 2010 American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. Results A total of 992 (77.08%) participants were diagnosed diabetes by OGTT and glycated hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c ). The diagnostic validity of 2-h postload plasma glucose (2hPG) was superior to other glycemic index (the diagnostic sensitivity of 2hPG, HbA 1c , the second FPG (FPG 2 ) was 87.50%, 73.99%, 63.21%, respectively). Without 2hPG after OGTT, repeat testing of FPG 2 alone would result in missed diagnosis of 36.79% of diabetic participants, whereas testing FPG 2 with HbA 1c was associated with a missed diagnosis rate of 14.31%. While using the combined criteria of FPG 2 ≥ 7.0 mmol/l and/or HbA 1c ≥ 6.5% and/or GA ≥ 17.1%, the rate of missed diagnosis was merely 9.48%. That is, the rate of missed diagnosis was reduced by 33.75% with the addition of GA measurement. The k value reflecting the consistency of diagnosis between the FPG 2 and/or HbA 1c and/or GA criteria and the 2010 ADA criteria was 0.788. Conclusions For subjects with FPG 1 ≥ 7.0 mmol/l without classic symptoms of diabetes, additional measurement of GA can help prevent missed diagnosis of diabetes in Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the concept of an interval-valued fuzzy equivalence as an interval extension of the fuzzy equivalence. The partial orders between fuzzy equivalencies are studied. Three ways of constructing interval-valued fuzzy equivalencies from given fuzzy equivalencies and aggregation functions are provided. Some examples of interval-valued fuzzy equivalencies built by the proposed constructive methods are shown. The properties and structures of interval-valued fuzzy equivalencies are also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fuzzy neural networks, it is usual to perform rule matching by employing fuzzy similarity measures. A fuzzy similarity measure is reserved for a binary fuzzy relation. In fuzzy relational calculus, the notion of T -transitivity is indispensable because it is strongly related to the concept of a metric. In this study, we consider whether the two types of fuzzy similarity measures given by Li et al. (2014) [24] satisfy T L -transitivity. We also investigate the T L -transitivity of fuzzy equivalencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic field-assisted supercooling preservation is a novel technology as an effective tool to extend the supercooled state and import the quality of food. In this study, the effects of static magnetic field-assisted supercooling preservation (−4 °C + SMF) on water-holding capacity (WHC) and protein denaturation of beef were investigated, with 4 °C and − 4 °C storage being used as control. Results showed that −4 °C + SMF kept the non-frozen state of beef at −4 °C for 9 days. The drip loss and centrifuging loss of −4 °C + SMF samples (3.47%, 8.26%) were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of 4 °C (4.38%, 10.40%) and − 4 °C (6.50%, 11.27%) on 9 d. Water migration rate and protein denaturation degree of beef were decreased with −4 °C + SMF treatment. -4 °C + SMF maintain WHC of beef by inhibiting ice formation and reducing protein denaturation, which had positive significance on decreasing the mass loss during storage. • Static magnetic field-assisted supercooling technique was used to preserve beef. • The SMF kept supercooled state of beef during −4 °C temperature storage for 9 d. • -4 °C + SMF reduced water migration and avoided extra myowater loss caused by freezing. • Compared to 4 °C and − 4 °C, −4 °C + SMF decreased the degree of protein denaturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN), an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species, is converted to far less toxicity products by enzymes in the culture filtrate of Aspergillus niger FS10. In this study, culture of A. niger that was fermented for 7 days showed the highest protein content and protease activity of 1732.12 μg/mL and 0.53 U/mL, respectively. The culture filtrate separated by a self-assembly Filter Cycle Devices showed that fractions collected at 150 kDa−30 kDa had a significant greater ability to reduce ZEN (89.92%) compared to other fractions (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the active fractions of culture filtrate (AFCF) were analyzed by SDS–PAGE and MALDI-TOF/TOF/MS, and three proteins were found that matched the database for A . niger species with great homology. In order to evaluate the safety of ZEN and the AFCF-treated ZEN, HepG2 cell's survival rate, ROS level, [Ca 2+ ] i production and apoptosis were studied. The cell toxicity of AFCF-treated ZEN is relatively lower than that of ZEN (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, both the ZEN and the AFCF-treated ZEN were negative in Ames test compared to control group (P < 0.05). Therefore, as a safe, effective and economic method, the enzymes could be used as enzyme agents applying in food/feed sector to prevent ZEN contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new electrochemical DNA biosensor constructed using a substrate electrode composed of a novel nanocomposite material prepared using gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and further modified with an Au electrode (AuE), which was used as the substrate electrode. A single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probe was immobilized on the Au-NPs/CS–MWCNTs/AuE electrode by means of facile gold–thiol affinity, which resulted in hybridization with the target ssDNA sequence. Hybridization reactions were assessed by using the reduction peak current of methylene blue (MB) as an electrochemical indicator. The advantages of the nanomaterials were found to include high surface area, favorable electronic properties, and strong electrocatalytic activity. The amount of ssDNA adsorbed on the electrode surface was increased and the electrochemical response of MB accelerated. The differential pulse voltammetric responses of MB were in line with the specific target ssDNA sequence within the concentration range 1.0×10 −15 –1.0×10 −8 M with the detection limit 3.3×10 −16 M (3 σ ). In the colony forming unit (CFU) we were able to detect 10 CFU mL −1 of Staphylococcus aureus in the tap water, achieving good discrimination ability between one- and three-base mismatched ssDNA sequences. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification products of S. aureus nuc gene sequence were also detected with satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel BODIPY-based colorimetric and fluorescent sensor with an attached urea group ( S1 ) has been synthesized and characterized by FTIR, NMR, and MS analyses. S1 shows high selectivity and sensitivity toward F − ions among several tested anions (Cl − , Br − , I − , OAc − , NO 3 − , HSO 4 − , H 2 PO 4 − , CN − ) in CHCl 3 . Upon addition of F − ions, the maximum absorption band of S1 in CHCl 3 displayed a red shift from 581 to 588 nm. This shift was visually manifested as a color change from pink to blue. When excited at 550 nm, the fluorescent emission intensity of S1 at 608 nm was quenched to over 87% of its initial value. Both a Job's plot and 1 H NMR spectra analysis revealed a 1:1 stoichiometric relationship between S1 and the added F − ions. Moreover, we found that the absorption and fluorescence of the S1 –F − complex was reversible upon addition of HSO 4 − ions. Finally, by using F − and HSO 4 − ions as chemical inputs and the absorbance and fluorescence intensity as outputs, a complementary INHIBIT/IMPLICATION (INH/IMP) logic gate was constructed at the nanoscale level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a symbolic approach for computing with words, linguistic truth-valued lattice-valued propositional logic $$\fancyscript{L}_{V(n\times 2)}P(X)$$ can represent and handle both imprecise and incomparable linguistic value-based information. Indecomposable extremely simple form (IESF) is a basic concept of $$\alpha $$ -resolution automated reasoning in lattice-valued logic based in lattice implication algebra (LIA). In this paper we establish a unified method for finding the structure of $$k$$ -IESF in $$\fancyscript{L}_{V(n\times 2)}P(X)$$ . Firstly, some operational properties of logical formulae in $$L_6P(X)$$ are studied, and some rules are obtained for judging whether a given logical formula is a $$k$$ -IESF, which are used to contrive an algorithm for finding $$k$$ -IESF in $$L_6P(X)$$ . Then, all the results are extended into $$\fancyscript{L}_{V(n\times 2)}P(X)$$ . Finally, a unified algorithm for finding all $$k$$ -IESFs in $$\fancyscript{L}_{V(n\times 2)}P(X)$$ is proposed. This work provides theoretical foundations and algorithms for $$\alpha $$ -resolution automated reasoning in linguistic truth-valued lattice-valued logic based in linguistic truth-valued LIAs and formal tools for symbolic natural language processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) contamination of corn and cereal products is a serious health hazard throughout the world and its elimination by microbial methods is now being widely examined. In this study, an Aspergillus niger strain, FS10, isolated from Chinese fermented soybean, was shown to reduce levels of ZEN in corn steep liquor (CSL). Spores, mycelium and culture filtrate of the strain FS10 were tested for their ability to remove ZEN. The results indicated that strain FS10 could remove 89.56% of ZEN from potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium. Mycelium and culture filtrate decreased the ZEN content by 43.10% and 68.16%, respectively. The contaminated corn steep liquor initially contained ZEN 29 μg/ml, 60.01% of which could be removed by strain FS10. To demonstrate the loss of toxicity in vivo, the culture filtrate incubated with the contaminated corn steep liquor for 48 h was administered to rats. The results indicated that the contaminated corn steep liquor severely damaged liver and kidney tissue. Rats administered with contaminated corn steep liquor treated with the strain FS10 culture filtrate showed significantly less severe liver and kidney damage, and organ index values were comparable to the non-ZEN-exposed control ( p < 0.05). Our study suggests an effective approach to reduce the hazards of ZEN in corn steep liquor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A new colorimetric and turn-on fluorescent chemosensor (Se-1) was synthesized. [•] Se-1 shows remarkable color changes and fluorescence enhancement with Hg2+ or Cu2+. [•] The Hg2+-induced chromogenic process could be reversed by addition of EDTA or cysteine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The connective fuzzy Xor has been studied by Bedregal et al. [B.C. Bedregal, R.H.S. Reiser and G.P. Dimuro, Xor-Implications and E-Implications: Classes of fuzzy implications based on fuzzy Xor, Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science 247 (2009) 5-18] and two methods for constructing fuzzy Xor are given. As an important property of classical Xor connective, associativity is also defined in the definition of fuzzy Xor. However, we find that some of the fuzzy Xor connectives constructed with the given methods do not satisfy associative property. This paper studies the conditions under which the fuzzy Xor constructed with the methods given in [1] satisfy associative property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive activation of innate immune response contributes to the pathogenesis of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACLF-HBV). miR-146a was recently found to be implicated in the regulation of innate immunity. In this study, we explored the biological significance of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs2910164) within the miR-146a gene in the risk of acquiring ACLF-HBV. We completed a hospital-based case-control study including 717 cases of HBV-infected patients-251 cases of ACLF-HBV and 466 cases of chronic hepatitis B. Whole blood samples were collected for isolation of DNA and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The association between genotypes and risk of ACLF-HBV was analyzed by multivariate unconditional logistic regression, with adjustment for sex and age. Our results showed that the GG homozygote was a protective genotype in terms of susceptibility to ACLF-HBV, with odds ratio = 0.496, 95 % confidence interval = 0.309-0.797, P = 0.004 compared with CC+GC genotypes. The amount of mature miR-146a in PBMCs was significantly higher in the GG homozygote group than those in the CC and CG genotype groups of ACLF-HBV patients. The GG genotype group also represented lower serum level of TNF-α and higher survival rate (follow-up period = 4 months). In conclusion, The GG genotype within the pre-miR-146a is reversely associated with susceptibility of ACLF-HBV in the studied Chinese population. This may be partially explained by the relatively higher amount of mature miR-146a and the lower serum level of TNF-α in this genotype group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar has attracted much attention in the field of geo-environmental engineering as a carbon-neutral alternative for soil amendment. In this study, the effects of biochar dosage, type, and particle size on the permeability and physical properties of compacted silty clay were investigated. And the prediction model of permeability coefficient of biochar-amended soil (BAS) was established. Based on the microscopy test results, the influence mechanism of biochar on the permeability of compacted soil was analyzed. Results revealed that adding different biochar types affected the consistency limits, specific gravity, and compaction curves of soil obviously. As the biochar content increased, the permeability coefficient of compacted BAS initially decreased before increasing. The permeability coefficient of compacted BAS with peanut-shell biochar was much higher than with other biochar types. Additionally, reducing the particle size of biochar can effectively decrease the permeability coefficient of BAS due to the pore-filling effect. Microscopy test results show that the permeability coefficient of BAS is affected by both the most probable pore size and the main-peak area of the pore-size distribution curve. Results suggest that controlling the biochar content at 5% and reducing the particle size of biochar are more beneficial to improve the impermeability of compacted BAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the efficient resolution-based automated reasoning theory, approach and algorithm for a lattice-ordered linguistic truth-valued logic. Firstly two hybrid resolution methods in linguistic truth-valued lattice-valued logic are proposed by combining α-lock resolution with generalized deleting strategy and α-linear resolution. α-Lock resolution for first-order linguistic truth-valued lattice-valued logic $$\fancyscript{L}_{V(n \times 2)}F(X)$$ is equivalently transformed into that for propositional logic $$L_{n}P(X)$$ which reduce much the complexity of the resolution procedure. Then the compatibilities of α-lock resolution with generalized deleting strategy and α-linear resolution are discussed. We finally contrive an algorithm for α-linear semi-lock resolution and some examples are provided to illustrate the proposed theory and algorithm. This work provides effective support for automated reasoning scheme in linguistic truth-valued logic based on lattice-valued algebra with the aim at establishing formal tools for symbolic natural language processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper focuses on resolution-based automated reasoning approaches in a lattice-valued first-order logic LF(X) with truth-values defined in a logical algebraic structure—lattice implication algebra (LIA), which aims at providing the logic foundation to represent and handle both imprecision and incomparability. In order to improve the efficiency of approach proposed for LF(X), firstly the concepts of resolution principle and deduction are introduced for lattice-valued propositional logic LP(X) based on LIA, along with its soundness and weak completeness theorems. Then all the results are extended into LF(X) by using Lifting Lemma. Finally an resolution automated reasoning algorithm in LF(X) is proposed for the implementation purpose. This work provides a theoretical foundation for more efficient resolution-based automated reasoning algorithm in lattice-valued logic LF(X). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Many important geotechnical and engineering geology properties of cement-treated dredged soil (CDS) depend on its the water content and void ratio (WC&VR). Based on the hydration model of cement, this study proposes time-evolution models of WC&VR in CDS, and verifies their reliability by fitting to experimental data. The two fitting parameters τ and β in the models depended only on the type of soil. Increasing the cement content (A w) and initial water content (w 0) of the dredged soil accelerated the decrease rate of WC&VR with curing time, but barely affected the duration of each stage in the WC&VR evolution curves. Next, the specific evolution laws and mechanisms of WC&VR in the curing process were fully discussed. The changes in WC&VR were consistent, and both trends exhibited typical four-stage characteristics: an initial steady stage, an accelerated descent stage, a decelerated descent stage, and a final steady stage. In microstructural analyses by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermo-gravimetric analysis, the evolution of WC&VR was found to be mainly related to the formation of cement hydration products, and the evolution characteristics well accorded with the hydration properties of cement. • Evolution models for the water content and void ratio of cemented soil were proposed considering cement hydration model. • Verify the accuracy of the evolution models through experimental data. • Evolution laws and mechanisms of water content and void ratio in the cemented soil were fully interpreted. • The evolution of water content and void ratio in the cemented soil with time both have four-stage characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solidification treatment with cementitious binder is an effective way to reduce environmental hazards of sewage sludge. Two cementitious binders, i.e., ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and sulfo-aluminate cement (SAC), were compared in this study to treat the sewage sludge. The strength of solidified sewage sludge (SSS) and changes in microscopic characteristics before and after treatment were analyzed through microscopic analysis methods. The effect of organic matter in sludge on the strength of SSS were also discussed. The results showed that the strength of SSS were lower than that of the solidified clay with no organic matter, and the filtrate extracted from the sludge can also weaken the cementation of the two cements significantly. The solidification effect of the OPC on the sludge was lower than that of the SAC evidently. The organic matter in the sewage sludge caused the surface of the soil particles to carry a large negative potential, which interfered with the hydration of the binder and reduced the amount of cementation skeleton formed by the binder hydration products. This resulted in a porous structure with low mechanical strength. The amount of early hydration product formed in the SAC-based solidified samples was higher than that of the OPC-based samples. This was favorable for filling the pores of the solidified samples and increasing their density. SAC had a better compatibility with soft soil containing high organic matter than OPC, and the which provides an effective alternative binder for dealing with sewage sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the hierarchical porous Ni1.5Co1.5S4/g-C3N4 composite was prepared by growing Ni1.5Co1.5S4 nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets via a hydrothermal route. Due to the self-assembly of larger size g-C3N4 nanosheets as a skeleton, the prepared nanocomposite possesses a unique hierarchical porous structure that can provide short ions diffusion and fast electron transport. As a result, the Ni1.5Co1.5S4/g-C3N4 composite exhibits a high specific capacitance of 1827 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, which is 1.53 times that of pure Ni1.5Co1.5S4 (1191 F g−1). In particular, the Ni1.5Co1.5S4/g-C3N4//activated carbon (AC) asymmetric supercapacitor delivers a high energy density of 49.0 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 799.0 W kg−1. Moreover, the assembled device shows outstanding cycle stability with 95.5% capacitance retention after 8000 cycles at a high current density of 10 A g−1. The attractive performance indicates that the easily synthesized and low-cost Ni1.5Co1.5S4/g-C3N4 composite would be a promising electrode material for supercapacitor application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ni 1.5 Co 1.5 S 4 @Ti 3 C 2 hybrid materials with different MXene contents have been synthesized through in-situ growing Ni 1.5 Co 1.5 S 4 nanoparticles on few-layer Ti 3 C 2 nanoflakes using a simple one-step hydrothermal method. The supercapacitive performances of the hybrid materials are optimized by tuning the composition of the hybrid materials from the atomic ratios of nickel and cobalt to content of heterogeneous components. Owing to achieving the maximum of synergistic effects at multi-scales, the Ni 1.5 Co 1.5 S 4 @Ti 3 C 2 -5 electrode shows a high specific capacitance of 166.7 mAh g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1, and superior rate capability with capacitance retention rate of 73.9% after a 20 time increase in current densities. Impressively, an asymmetric supercapacitor, assembled with Ni 1.5 Co 1.5 S 4 @Ti 3 C 2 -5 as positive electrode and activated carbon as negative electrode, delivers high energy density of 49.8 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 800 W kg−1, and an excellent cycling stability of 90% capacitance retention after 8000 cycles at 10 A g−1, demonstrating a great prospect for practical applications in the fields of energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiwifruit has a high decay rate, in part because quality changes during storage cannot be easily monitored in real time. In order to better monitor the shelf life of kiwifruit and understand the quality changing process during storage, internal quality indexes such as hardness, respiratory intensity and TSS(Total Soluble Solid) were considered into the prediction models. The prediction models were constructed based on BPNN (Back Propagation Neural Network), Random Forest (RF) and XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) respectively. And transfer learning algorithm was used to construct the quality prediction models with BPNN, RF, and XGBoost algorithms as the base learner. In the experiments, sample data were augmented by adding Gaussian noise, which effectively prevented the model from over-fitting. The experimental results showed that the prediction accuracy of each index based on transfer learning was better than that of individual BPNN, RF and XGBoost. Moreover, the average prediction accuracy of the models based on transfer learning was 96.2%, and that of respiratory intensity was as high as 99.4%. Therefore transfer learning can be used to effectively analyze and predict changes of kiwifruit quality indexes during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the durability of pumice lightweight aggregate concrete applied in cold and drought areas, sodium silicate-modified waste tire rubber powder is used to treat the pumice lightweight aggregate concrete. The pumice lightweight aggregate concrete studied is mainly used in river lining structures. It will be eroded by water flow and the impact of ice and other injuries, resulting in reduced durability, and the addition of modified rubber will reduce the damage. The durability, including mass loss rate and relative dynamic elastic modulus of pumice lightweight aggregate concrete with different sodium silicate dosages and rubber power particle sizes, is analyzed under freeze-thaw cycles, and the microstructure is further characterized by using microscopic test methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance tests, ultra-depth 3D microscope tests, and scanning electron microscopy tests. The results showed that the durability of pumice lightweight aggregate concrete is significantly improved by the addition of modified waste tire rubber powder, and the optimum durability is achieved when using 2 wt% sodium silicate modified rubber power with a particle size of 20, and then the mass loss rate decreased from 4.54% to 0.77% and the relative dynamic elastic modulus increased from 50.34% to 64.87% after 300 freeze-thaw cycles compared with other samples. The scanning electron microscopy test result showed that the surface of rubber power is cleaner after the modification of sodium silicate, so the bonding ability between rubber power and cement hydration products is improved, which further improved the durability of concrete under the freeze-thaw cycle. The results of the nuclear magnetic resonance test showed that the pore area increased with the number of freeze-thaw cycles, and the small pores gradually evolved into large pores. The effect of sodium silicate on the modification of rubber power with different particle sizes is different. After the treatment of 2 wt% sodium silicate, the relationship between the increased rate of pore area and the number of freezing-thawing cycles is 23.8/times for the pumice lightweight aggregate concrete containing rubber power with a particle size of 20 and 35.3/times for the pumice lightweight aggregate concrete containing a particle size of 80 rubber power, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]