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Limestone-gypsum wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) played a key role in SOx removal and clean emissions. However, it would also affect the condensable particulate matter (CPM) removal and compositions. The effects of the WFGD system on the removal of CPM and the contents of soluble ions in CPM were investigated in a spray desulfurization tower at varied conditions. The results indicate that the emission concentration of CPM decreased from 7.5 mg/Nm3 to 3.7 mg/Nm3 following the introduction of cold water spray and hot alkali droplet spray systems. This resulted in a CPM reduction rate of approximately 51%, reducing the percentage of CPM in total particulate matter and solving the problem of substandard particulate matter emission concentrations in some coal-fired power plants. The concentrations of NO3−, SO42−, and Cl− among the soluble ions decreased by 41–66.6%. As the liquid-to-gas ratio of the cold water spray and hot alkali droplet spray increased, CPM came into contact with more spray, which accelerated dissolution and chemical reactions. Consequently, the CPM emission concentration decreased by 17.4–19%. The liquid-to-gas ratio has a great effect on the ion concentrations of NO3−, SO42−, Cl− and NH4+, with a decrease of 28–66%. The temperatures of the cold water spray and the hot alkali droplet spray primarily affect the ionic concentrations of SO42− and Ca2+, leading to a decrease of 32.3–51%. When the SO2 concentration increased from 0 mg/Nm3 to 1500 mg/Nm3, large amounts of SO2 reacted with the desulfurization slurry to form new CPM and its precursors, the CPM emission concentration increased by 57–68.4%. This study addresses the issue of high Concentration of CPM emissions from coal-fired power plants in a straightforward and efficient manner, which is significant for enhancing the air quality and reducing hazy weather conditions. Also, it provides a theoretical basis and technical foundation for the efficient removal of CPM from actual coal-fired flue gas.

Urban street space is a significant component of urban public spaces and an important aspect of people’s perceptions of a city. Jinan Old City exemplifies the balance between the supply of and demand for green spaces in urban streets. The sense of comfort and the demand level of street spaces are measured via the space demand index. Open platform data, such as those from Baidu Maps and Amap, are evaluated using methods including ArcGIS network analysis and Segnet semantic segmentation. The results obtained from such evaluations indicate that, in terms of the green space supply, the overall level for Shangxin Street in Jinan is not high. Only 24% of the selected sites have an adequate green space supply. The level on Wenhua West Road is higher than that on Shangxin Street. The block on the western side of Shangxin Street has the highest green space demand, with a decreasing trend from west to east. There are several higher selection points in the middle section of Shangxin Street. The demand is lowest in the middle of Wenhua East Road. Shangxin Street’s demand is higher than that of Wenhua West Road. The supply and demand are highly matched on Wenhua West Road and poorly matched on Shangxin Street, with 44.12% of the area in the “low supply, high demand” quadrant. This study proposes targeted optimization strategies based on supply and demand, thereby providing research ideas and methods for urban renewal.

Abstract Polymer dielectrics with excellent thermal resistance and superior energy storage behaviour are extensively demanded with the increasing development of film capacitors applied in hostile environments. In this study, novel diamine with sulfonyl‐containing side chain was designed and synthesised. The corresponding polyimide (PI) dielectrics derived from the sulfonyl‐containing diamine were prepared, so were the polyimides possessing the same backbone but without side chains. Consequently, superior thermal resistance of glass transition temperature ranged from 162–208°C was obtained. Moreover, the polyimides presented permittivity of 3.34–5.89 at 1 kHz, Weibull breakdown strength of 377–538 MV/m and discharged energy density of 3.82–5.85 J/cm3. In particular, sulfonyl‐containing polyimide of SPI‐2 with flexible backbone and sulfonyl side chain indicates the highest discharged energy density and charge‐discharge efficiency simultaneously. The introduction of the strong polar sulfonyl group in the side chain enhances dielectric and energy storage properties effectively. In addition, it is found that the dipolar moment density (μ/Vvdw) calculated from molecular simulation is closely correlated to permittivity measured from experiments. The combined method of molecular simulation and experiments would offer an effective approach to assist in molecular design of high‐performance polymer dielectrics.

The objective of the study is to investigate the mechanism by which summer pruning enhances the growth of pepper plants, as indicated by growth and fruit appearance indicators, photosynthetic rate and gas exchange parameters, rapid light response and induction kinetics curves and the related chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The results indicated that the leaf growth rate, the individual pepper fruit weight, and the fruit longitudinal and cross diameters of the pruned group were significantly higher than those of the control. The stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and transpiration rate (Tr) of the pruned group were significantly higher than those of the control. The initial slope of the rapid light response curve, which represents light energy utilisation efficiency (α), the maximum electron transfer rate (Jmax) and saturated light intensity (PARsat) were all higher in the summer pruning group than in the control group. The F0 of the pruned group decreased by 16.83%, Fv/F0 increased by 23.69%, PIabs increased by 58.33%, and DIo/RC decreased by 22.09% compared to the control group. In summary, summer pruning significantly improves the leaf growth rate and fruit appearance quality of pepper, effectively promotes the photosynthesis of functional leaves, and reduces the degree of stress under adverse environmental conditions.

Abstract Vehicle emission is a major source of atmospheric secondary organic aerosols (SOA). Driving condition is a critical influencing factor for vehicular SOA production, but few studies have revealed the dependence on rapid-changing real-world driving conditions. Here, a fast-response oxidation flow reactor system is developed and deployed to quantify the SOA formation potential under transient driving conditions. Results show that the SOA production factor varies by orders of magnitude, e.g., 20–1500 mg kg-fuel−1 and 12–155 mg kg-fuel−1 for China V and China VI vehicles, respectively. High speed, acceleration, and deceleration are found to considerably promote SOA production due to higher organic gaseous emissions caused by unburned fuel emission or incomplete combustion. In addition, China VI vehicles significantly reduce SOA formation potential, yield, and acceleration and deceleration peaks. Our study provides experimental insight and parameterization into vehicular SOA formation under transient driving conditions, which would benefit high time-resolved SOA simulations in the urban atmosphere.

Introduction: Historical-cultural landscapes and urbanscapes integrate regional culture, collective memory, urban patterns, living habits, and other related historical and spatial information, and are important places for expressing the values of urban space. This study analyzes cultural landscapes and urbanscapes from the perspective of spatial values, taking the Baihuazhou historic and cultural district in Jinan as an example to analyze the spatial identification of public cultural space. The significance of this research lies in examining the urban regeneration of public cultural space using multi-scale geospatial data from both an objective and subjective perspective. This methdology is based on a large body of previous literature in relation to cultural heritage, and draws on a comprehensive understanding of the field.Methods: This study applies spatial syntax, visual graph, and survey analyses, focusing on urban spatial patterns, spatial culture, and spatial memory as heritage values.Results: The analysis results reveal that historic districts generally do not have good accessibility, predominantly because of the disorganized texture of the buildings and absence of spatial consistency.Discussion: There should be improved dynamic spatial identification and accessibility in older urban environments and enhancement of local spatial identification memory by increasing sightline accessibility. Based on consideration of values, corresponding suggestions are made from the three perspectives of urban space, cultural landscapes, and local collective memories to provide a reference for the protection of the Baihuazhou historic district and promote the preservation and development of similar heritage spaces.

Background: Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1426 (LINC01426) is up-regulated in glioma and functions as a tumor promoter. However, the role of LINC01426 in glioma required further exploration. Therefore, this article mainly studied the role and possible mechanism of LINC01426 in glioma. Methods: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the diagnostic value of LINC01426. The effect of LINC01426 on tumor growth was analyzed by tumorigenesis assay and immunohistochemical analysis. Bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase assay, RNA pull-down, Pearson test, and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were applied to verify the relationship between target genes. The expressions and effects of LINC01426, miR-661 and MDM2 proto-oncogene (Mdm2) in glioma were examined by bioinformatics analysis combined with molecular and functional experiments (RT-qRCR, 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide, clone formation, BrdU, flow cytometry). The expressions of proliferation and apoptosis-related proteins were determined by Western blot. Results: LINC01426, which was high-expressed in glioma and was related to poor prognosis, could be used as a diagnostic marker for glioma. SiLINC01426 inhibited the malignant phenotype of glioma cells in vitro and attenuated tumor growth and PCNA expression in vivo, while the effects of LINC01426 were the opposite. LINC01426 targeted and inversely correlated with miR-661, which was low-expressed in glioma. MiR-661 inhibitor evidently overturned the effect of siLINC01426 on biological functions, proliferation, and apoptosis-related proteins of glioma cells. Mdm2 bound to miR-661. Moreover, siMdm2 reversed the effects of miR-661 inhibitor on the biological characteristics and Mdm2/p53/p21 expression of glioma cells. Conclusion: LINC01426 aggravated the malignant progression of glioma through miR-661/Mdm2 axis.

In agricultural production, temperature and moisture are important factors affecting grain yield and quality. Although moderate drought at the grain-filling stage can effectively alleviate the damage caused by high temperature, the specific regulatory mechanism driving the effect of moderate drought at the high temperature on starch synthesis is still unclear. To explore the effects and mechanisms of high temperature and moderate drought on rice starch synthesis at the grain-filling stage, the activities of enzymes and expression levels of the genes involved in starch synthesis under four different treatments involving high temperature and/or water stress (CK, HT, WS, and HT+WS) were investigated in this study. The starch synthesis of a japonica inbred rice was measured under the four treatments during the grain filling. The results show that the effects of high temperature and moderate drought on grain filling mainly occur in the inferior grains of rice. Through the regulation of enzymes involved in starch synthesis and the expression levels of their main genes, the synthesis of rice starch can be affected. Therefore, the high temperature and moderate drought were antagonistic, and moderate drought can alleviate the damage to grain quality at a high temperature by improving the starch synthesis of inferior grains in japonica rice. This study provides a basis for stress-resistance cultivation and breeding strategies of rice with high temperature tolerance.

In this paper, we explore the formation of the mass-gap black hole-neutron star (mgBHNS) merger detected in gravitational wave (GW) event, i.e., GW230529, from the isolated binary evolution channel, and study potential signatures of its electromagnetic counterparts. By adopting the “delayed” supernova prescription and reasonable model realizations, our population synthesis simulation results can simultaneously match the rate densities of mgBHNS and total BHNS mergers inferred from the population analyses, along with the population distribution of the BH mass in BHNS mergers reported by the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA Collaboration. Because GW230529 contributes significantly to the inferred mgBHNS rate densities, we suggest that GW230529 can be explained through the isolated binary evolution channel. Considering the AP4 (DD2) equation of state, the probability that GW230529 can make tidal disruption is 12.8% (63.2%). If GW230529 is a disrupted event, its kilonova peak apparent magnitude is predicted ∼23–24 mag, and hence, can be detected by the present survey projects and Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. Since GW230529 could be an off-axis event inferred from the GW observation, its associated gamma-ray burst (GRB) might be too dim to be observed by γ -ray detectors, interpreting the lack of GRB observations. Our study suggests the existence of mgBHNS mergers formed through the isolated binary evolution channel due to the discovery of GW230529, indicating that BHNS mergers are still likely to be multimessenger sources that emit GWs, GRBs, and kilonovae. Although mgBHNS mergers account for ∼50% of the cosmological BHNS population, we find that ≳90% of disrupted BHNS mergers are expected to originate from mgBHNS mergers.

Summary: MXene, 2D material, can be synthesized as single flake with 1 nm thickness by using phase change material, polymer and graphene oxide. Meanwhile, the MXene and its composite derivative materials have been applied widely in electro-to-thermal conversion, photo-to-thermal conversion, thermal energy storage, and 3D printing ink aspects. Furthermore, the forward-looking utilization of the MXene nanomaterials in hydrogen energy storage, radio frequency field application, CO2 capture and remediation of environmental pollution, is explored. This article reveals that the efficiencies of the photo-to-thermal and electro-to-thermal energy conversions with the MXene nanomaterials could reach about 80–90%. In parallel, it is demonstrated that the MXene printed ink has the excellent rheological property and high viscosity and stability of liquid, which contribute to arranging the multi-dimensional architectures with functional materials and controlling the flow rate of the MXene ink in the range of 0.03–0.15 mL/min for speedily printing and various printing structures.

Rural revolutionary heritage in China represents a distinctive form of vernacular heritage. It holds significance not only for its connection to historical events and prominent figures, but also encapsulates the distinctive features of vernacular architecture. Since 2020, the present authors have conducted a survey of the rural revolutionary heritage in Jinan. The findings indicate that common challenges in this context are the issues of overprotection and low utilization efficiency. The two former command posts of the Jinan Campaign are representative of rural revolutionary heritage. The Yinjiadian command post building received the designation of revolutionary heritage earlier than the one located in Tangjiagou Village. However, it has undergone inappropriate repairs and alterations over time, which have compromised its original integrity. The Tangjiagou command post was granted heritage status towards the end of 2020, but despite retaining its vernacular architectural structure, material, and form, it has not been effectively conserved and utilized. In the present study, the history, characteristics, and current situation of the two command posts of the Jinan Campaign were explored using various methods such as historical data collection and analysis, field investigations, oral interviews, GIS analysis, and comparative research. The aim of the study was to determine regeneration strategies for the two command posts of the Jinan Campaign by identifying and comparing their character-defining elements. A comparative investigation of the two command posts in the Jinan Campaign was conducted and based on their different heritage characteristics and preservation status, regeneration strategies were proposed. Additionally, a systematic regeneration strategy for rural revolutionary heritage was explored, considering the unique challenges and opportunities associated with preserving and revitalizing these historic sites. Such measures promote the activation and survival of China’s rural revolutionary heritage while providing valuable reference for its protection and research.

With the continuous progress of urbanization, contemporary scholars are increasingly focusing their attention on the study of urban microclimates. This research aims to investigate the relationship between urban morphology and microclimates in regions characterized by hot summers and cold winters. Environmental meteorological data, including temperature, solar radiation, and wind speed during the spring and summer seasons, were collected through on-site monitoring in a specific area of Shanghai. Various methods, such as on-site surveys and drone photography, were employed to obtain and analyze a range of urban morphological parameters, including floor area ratio (FAR) and greenery ratio (GnPR). The sky view factor (SVF) was determined using a fisheye lens technique. Subsequently, the collected datasets were analyzed to assess the varying impact of distinct urban morphological factors on microclimates. The findings indicate a significant correlation between different building morphology factors and temperature and solar radiation during spring, while their associations with wind speed become more prominent in summer. Notably, greenery and pavement demonstrate stronger correlations with temperature and radiation in summer, aligning with the seasonal growth patterns of plants. These research findings provide both a theoretical foundation and practical guidelines for the urban design of environmental microclimates.

We report on the investigation of a high–efficiency, widely tunable femtosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on a multi–period MgO–doped periodically poled lithium niobite (MgO: PPLN) crystal, pumped by an all–solid–state femtosecond mode–locked Yb: KGW laser at 1030 nm providing 100 fs pulses. With 6 W pump power, the OPO generates 2.68 W of signal power at 1540 nm and 1.2 W of idler power at 3110 nm, which corresponds to the total conversion efficiency adding up to 67.4%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest conversion efficiency of a femtosecond OPO. Meanwhile, in order to obtain a broad optical spectrum range, both the grating period and working temperature are tuned, resulting in tunable signals of 1.43–1.78 µm and idlers of 2.44–3.68 µm. This source will be used to generate a femtosecond mid–infrared laser of wavelength range 3.7–6.5 µm and tens milliwatts average power through difference frequency generation (DFG).

Two kinds of nitrogen-bridged star-shaped fused-ring electron acceptors based on benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b’-5,6-b’’]tri(4-H-dithieno[3,2-b:2’,3’-d]pyrrole) (BTDTP) core with linear and branched alkyl side chains on bridging nitrogen atoms are developed. Both electron acceptors exhibit strong intramolecular charge transfer absorption bands at 500–800 nm (molar extinction coefficient of 3.0 × 105 M −1 cm−1) with narrow optical bandgaps around 1.58 eV, but reveal different molecular packing and morphology. Compared to acceptor with linear side chains, the acceptor bearing branched side chains exhibits ordered face-on orientation with tight π-π stacking, as well as more favorable phase separation morphology and balanced charge transport when blended with polymer donor PM6. Organic solar cell device based on acceptors bearing branched side chains achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.95% with a fill factor of 74.98% and a short-circuit current density of 14.90 mA cm−2, which is much superior to the device using acceptors bearing linear side chains (a PCE of 6.74%).

Clay minerals are important soil components and usually coexist with organic matter, forming mineral-organic associations (MOAs), which control the speciation, mobility, and bioavailability of heavy metals. However, the adsorption mechanism of cadmium (Cd) by MOAs is still unclear, especially for the associations of amphotericorganic matter and clay minerals. In this study, 12-aminododecanoic acid (ALA) and montmorillonite (Mt) were chosen to prepare MOAs via intercalation (Mt-ALA composite) and physical mixing (Mt-ALA mixture). Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the adsorption mechanism of Cd(II) by MOAs under different pH values and initial Cd(II) concentrations. The results showed that the Cd(II) adsorption capacities followed as Mt > Mt-ALA mixture > Mt-ALA composite under acidic conditions, Mt-ALA mixture > Mt > Mt-ALA composite under neutral conditions, and Mt-ALA mixture > Mt-ALA composite > Mt under alkaline conditions, suggesting the adsorption behaviors of Cd(II) by MOAs were primarily constrained by the speciation of ALA and solution pH. Under acidic conditions, cationic HALA+ could intercalate into the interlayer of Mt and occupy the adsorption sites, reducing the adsorption capacity of Cd(II). As pH increased to neutral, HALA+ decreased and changed to a zwitterionic state, which caused ALA to release out from the interlayer of Mt-ALA composite or not easily enter into Mt-ALA mixture and promoted Cd(II) adsorption. Under alkaline conditions, the increase of anion ALA- would cause ALA to be mainly adsorbed on the surface of Mt and chelate with Cd(II), enhancing the adsorption of Cd(II). Further analysis by Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the carboxyl and amino groups of ALA both participated in the adsorption of Cd(II). These findings could extend the knowledge on the mobility and fate of Cd in clay-based soils and be used as a basis for understanding the biogeochemical behavior of Cd in the environment.

Abstract Halogen bonding, as a kind of intermolecular interaction, has rarely been used to tune solid-state emission properties of luminescent materials, especially fluorescent materials. Herein, three trans-enaminone (TE) derivatives (nonbrominated TE, monobrominated BrTE, and tribrominated Br3TE) with aggregation-induced emission property have been designed and synthesized. Two types of BrTE crystals (BrTE-B and BrTE-G) with different fluorescence properties were obtained. It was observed that their solid-state fluorescence has been enhanced by the formation of halogen bonding. In particular, the crystal BrTE-G containing Br…π interactions exhibits a fluorescence quantum yield (9.6%) nearly sevenfold higher than BrTE-B, the crystal without halogen bonding (1.4%), and fivefold higher than the nonbrominated TE derivative (2.1%). By careful inspection of the single-crystal data and theoretical calculations, the high fluorescence quantum yield of BrTE-G appears to be due to halogen-bonding interactions as well as multiple stronger intermolecular interactions which may restrain molecular motions, leading to the reduced nonradiative decay rate and the enhanced radiative decay rate. Additionally, increasing the number of bromine substituents may further promote the radiative decay rate, explaining therefore the higher fluorescence quantum yield (12.5%) of Br3TE.

Two kinds of quaternary fluoroalkyl phosphonium salts with different fluoroalkyl chain length were synthesized as antibacterial agents for polycarbonate (PC). Both of these quaternary fluoroalkyl phosphonium salts had sufficient thermal stability under PC processing temperature, and the quaternary fluoroalkyl phosphonium salt with shorter fluoroalkyl chain length was chosen for adding into PC because of its better antibacterial activity. The influence of quaternary fluoroalkyl phosphonium salt concentration on mechanical properties, thermodynamic properties, light transmittance, and antibacterial activity of PC were investigated. The results showed that the chosen quaternary fluoroalkyl phosphonium salt had good compatibility with PC, and had no negative effect on flexural strength, tensile strength, and impact strength of PC. Due to the plasticization effect of small molecules, the modulus and Tg of PC were reduced, but the melt flow rate was increased. After adding 2 wt% of quaternary fluoroalkyl phosphonium salt, no matter before or after 1 month of water immersion, the obtained PC could have more than 90% of antibacterial rate against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The agar diffusion test indicated that the antibacterial activity of PC was not dependent on the leaching of quaternary fluoroalkyl phosphonium salt. However, the quaternary fluoroalkyl phosphonium salt could reduce light transmittance of PC and dye PC because of high electronic density and oxidation of iodine.

Anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria can be important primary producers in some meromictic lakes. Green sulfur bacteria (GSB) have been detected in ferruginous lakes, with some evidence that they are photosynthesizing using Fe(II) as an electron donor (i.e., photoferrotrophy). However, some photoferrotrophic GSB can also utilize reduced sulfur compounds, complicating the interpretation of Fe-dependent photosynthetic primary productivity. An enrichment (BLA1) from meromictic ferruginous Brownie Lake, Minnesota, United States, contains an Fe(II)-oxidizing GSB and a metabolically flexible putative Fe(III)-reducing anaerobe. “Candidatus Chlorobium masyuteum” grows photoautotrophically with Fe(II) and possesses the putative Fe(II) oxidase-encoding cyc2 gene also known from oxygen-dependent Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria. It lacks genes for oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds. Its genome encodes for hydrogenases and a reverse TCA cycle that may allow it to utilize H2 and acetate as electron donors, an inference supported by the abundance of this organism when the enrichment was supplied by these substrates and light. The anaerobe “Candidatus Pseudopelobacter ferreus” is in low abundance (∼1%) in BLA1 and is a putative Fe(III)-reducing bacterium from the Geobacterales ord. nov. While “Ca. C. masyuteum” is closely related to the photoferrotrophs C. ferroooxidans strain KoFox and C. phaeoferrooxidans strain KB01, it is unique at the genomic level. The main light-harvesting molecule was identified as bacteriochlorophyll c with accessory carotenoids of the chlorobactene series. BLA1 optimally oxidizes Fe(II) at a pH of 6.8, and the rate of Fe(II) oxidation was 0.63 ± 0.069 mmol day–1, comparable to other photoferrotrophic GSB cultures or enrichments. Investigation of BLA1 expands the genetic basis for phototrophic Fe(II) oxidation by GSB and highlights the role these organisms may play in Fe(II) oxidation and carbon cycling in ferruginous lakes.

Driven by the 5G visions including “wireless infrastructure to connect the world”, ITU has defined the three main usage scenarios of 5G: eMBB, mMTC, and uRLLC, and the consequent requirements (performance metrics) are defined as well. Then, 3GPP completed technical studies and standards towards satisfying ITU requirements, namely 5G new radio (NR). Two essential aspects of 5G NR were discussed. Firstly, why can 5G NR reuse the basic technology of 4G LTE was discussed, i. e. , how does the MIMO-OFDM framework satisfy ITU 5G requirements. Secondly, what innovations had been done in 5G NR, comparing with LTE, including some details on the four new features of 5G NR, namely “new architecture, new design, new bands, new antenna”. The future technology trends were briefly introduced in the conclusion section.

Abstract Background The risk and prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still obscure. The current study was aimed to systematically review and meta-analyse the risk ratio (RR) and prevalence of COPD in RA. Methods A comprehensive systematic review was conducted based on PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library from inception to April 30, 2018. The primary outcome of our study was the RR of COPD in RA patients compared with controls, and secondary was the prevalence of COPD in RA patients. Pooled effect sizes were calculated according to fixed effect model or random effects model depending on heterogeneity. Results Six and eight studies reported the RR and prevalence of COPD in RA respectively. Compared with controls, RA patients have significant increased risk of incident COPD with pooled RR 1.82 (95% CI = 1.55 to 2.10, P

The Qingdao Exchange Building, built in the 1920s, is the largest products and stock exchange building in modern Shandong. In addition to being a historical witness to the economic development of Qingdao over the last 100 years, it has also been a historical scene of cultural exchanges between China and the West after the opening up of China in the early 20th century. After several changes in the building’s property rights, the building was out of use for a long period of time, with a large number of materials and structures being damaged. The present authors participated in a feasibility study project on the conservation and restoration of the Qingdao Exchange Building. The objective of the present study was achieved through several qualitative methods, including the collection and analysis of historical files, analysis of historical maps and photos, investigation and research of historical information, comparative analysis, and others. Through the value research and technical analysis of the Qingdao Exchange Building, the historical, artistic, and scientific values of architectural heritage were investigated in the present study, and rehabilitation strategies and methods were explored. Additionally, the spread of certain characteristics of Western architectural culture in China in the early modern times was investigated based on the present case.

Solar photovoltaic-thermal (PV/T) technology is the main strategy for harvesting solar energy due to its non-polluting, stability, good visibility and security features. The aim of the project is to develop a mathematical model of a PV/T module integrated with optical filtration and MXene-enhanced PCM. In this system, a single MXene-enhanced PCM layer is attached between the PV panel and absorber pipe with solid MXene-PCM for storage and cooling purposes. Additionally, the thermal fluid is utilized in the copper absorber pipe and connected to the heat pump system for enhancing system thermal and electrical efficiency. Furthermore, the influences of the optical filtration channel height, concentration of the nanoparticles on PV surface temperature and overall system efficiency are also discussed. This study demonstrates that the annual thermal and electrical energy output can reach 5370 kWh per annum with 74.92% of thermal efficiency and 5620 kWh with 14.65% of electrical efficiency, respectively, compared to the traditional PV/T module. Meanwhile, when the optical filtration channel height and volume concentration are enhanced, they exert a negative influence on the PV surface temperature, but the overall thermal efficiency is enhanced due to low thermal resistance to heat losses and low radiation-shielding layers.

The strong non-covalent interaction between biotin and streptavidin places streptavidin-based assays, used by many laboratories, at an increased risk of interference by biotin. At present, a few manufacturers have developed fully automated anti-biotin interference methods, although compared with many detection platforms, these remain insufficient. Additionally, there is a need for more methods that can achieve fully automated anti-biotin interference. We sought to develop and evaluate a new biotin interference-resisting method based on a biotin-streptavidin chemiluminescence immunoassay. Streptavidin-coated magnetic microparticles (M) of different concentrations were prepared and tested for their biotin-resistance capabilities in an automated setting (Cobas e 601). The precision, accuracy, and detection capability were also assessed. Higher concentrations of M were found to have a stronger ability to resist biotin interference. A 2.16 mg/mL concentration of M was able to resist 500 ng/mL of biotin in samples while simultaneously having a relatively weak shielding effect on the optical signals. Moreover, the total precision and accuracy of this method, designated as M3, met acceptable standards. M3 has an improved ability to resist biotin interference, can achieve full automation, and its detection performance can meet the general laboratory quality requirements.

Heavy metal pollution that results from electronic waste (e-waste) recycling activities has severe ecological environmental toxicity impacts on recycling areas. The distribution of heavy metals and the impact on the bacteria in these areas have received much attention. However, the diversity and composition of the microbial communities and the characteristics of heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) in the river sediments after long-term e-waste contamination still remain unclear. In this study, eight river sediment samples along a river in a recycling area were studied for the heavy metal concentration and the microbial community composition. The microbial community consisted of 13 phyla including Firmicutes (ranging from 10.45 to 36.63%), Proteobacteria (11.76 to 32.59%), Actinobacteria (14.81 to 27.45%), and unclassified bacteria. The abundance of Firmicutes increased along with the level of contaminants, while Actinobacteria decreased. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the concentration of mercury was significantly correlated with the microbial community and species distribution, which agreed with an analysis of the potential ecological risk index. Moreover, manually curated HMRGs were established, and the HMRG analysis results according to Illumina high-throughput sequencing showed that the abundance of HMRGs was positively related to the level of contamination, demonstrating a variety of resistance mechanisms to adapt, accommodate, and live under heavy metal-contaminated conditions. These findings increase the understanding of the changes in microbial communities in e-waste recycling areas and extend our knowledge of the HMRGs involved in the recovery of the ecological environment.

Abstract Background To investigate the potential barriers to optimal diabetes control by evaluating the different perspectives of physicians and patients on such matters in China. Methods This multi-center survey was conducted from December 2015 to March 2016. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to sample representative diabetes physicians and patients in 18 hospitals in Shaanxi province, China. A self-designed questionnaire was used. The questionnaire mainly consisted of 2 questions for physicians and 1 question for patients of which the participants were required to rank in priority of 3 (for physicians) and 2 (for patients) choices from a list of barriers. The strategies to improve diabetes control were only in the questionnaire for physicians. Results A total of 85 physicians and 584 patients completed the questionnaire. Physicians and patients differed regarding the patients’ awareness of the risk of diabetes: over 70% of the physicians believed that the patients had no sufficient understanding of the harm and risk of diabetes, whereas the patients believed otherwise. Both physicians and patients considered self-monitoring of blood glucose to be an important link of glucose control; unfortunately, most of the patients failed to do so in practice. In addition, physicians considered “improving health insurance coverage for diabetes” as the first important measure and “providing more and easy-to-use diabetes brochures or educational materials for patients” as the second important measure to improve diabetes control. Conclusion The survey revealed differences between the perspectives of physicians and patients on the potential barriers to optimal diabetes control. The main potential barriers to optimal diabetes control were patient’s poor lifestyle interventions, limited understanding of the danger of diabetes, and poor self-monitoring of blood glucose. From the physicians’ perspective, China’s primary focus about diabetes control in the future should still be put on diabetes education, particular the importance of lifestyle interventions.

Although LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 is attracting increasing attention on account of its high specific capacity, the moderate cycle lifetime still hinders its large-scale commercialization applications. Herein, the Ti-doped LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 compounds are successfully synthesized. The Li(Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1)0.99Ti0.01O2 sample exhibits the best electrochemical performance. Under the voltage range of 2.7–4.3 V, it maintains a reversible capacity of 151.01 mAh·g−1 with the capacity retention of 83.98% after 200 cycles at 1 C. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential capacity profiles during prolonged cycling demonstrate that the Ti doping could enhance both the abilities of electronic transition and Li ion diffusion. More importantly, Ti doping can also improve the reversibility of the H2-H3 phase transitions during charge-discharge cycles, thus improving the electrochemical performance of Ni-rich cathodes.

Residual stresses model comprehensively considers the three main sources of residual stress during the coating deposition process: quenching stress, thermal stress and phase transformation-induced stress. With the deposited layer temperature, coating thickness, number of deposited layers and relevant workpiece dimensions as the input, the model can easily calculate the final residual stress distribution in the coating. Moreover, the thermal–mechanical behavior during the coating deposition process was revealed through experimental and theoretical analysis of coatings. The results showed that the coating fabricated within the range of 65.2–122.5 °C have relatively low residual stresses, ensuring relatively high service reliability. Keywords: High-speed electric arc spraying, Residual stress, Coating, Crankshaft, Theoretical analysis

Tin-based anode materials with high capacity attract wide attention of researchers and become a strong competitor for the next generation of lithium-ion battery anode materials. However, the poor electrical conductivity and severe volume expansion retard the commercialization of tin-based anode materials. Here, SnO2-SnS2@C nanoparticles with heterostructure embedded in a carbon matrix of nitrogen-doped graphene (SnO2-SnS2@C/NG) is ingeniously designed in this work. The composite was synthesized by a two-step method. Firstly, the SnO2@C/rGO with a nano-layer structure was synthesized by hydrothermal method as the precursor, and then the SnO2-SnS2@C/NG composite was obtained by further vulcanizing the above precursor. It should be noted that a carbon matrix with nitrogen-doped graphene can inhibit the volume expansion of SnO2-SnS2 nanoparticles and promote the transport of lithium ions during continuous cycling. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between nanoparticles and carbon matrix with nitrogen-doped graphene, the heterostructured SnO2-SnS2@C/NG further fundamentally confer improved structural stability and reaction kinetics for lithium storage. As expected, the SnO2-SnS2@C/NG composite exhibited high reversible capacity (1201.2 mA h g−1 at the current rate of 0.1 A g−1), superior rate capability and exceptional long-life stability (944.3 mAh g−1 after 950 cycles at the current rate of 1.0 A g−1). The results demonstrate that the SnO2-SnS2@C/NG composite is a highly competitive anode material for LIBs.

Introduction: Tonsillectomy is one of the most common procedures performed by Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeon. Usually, the procedure is carried out as an inpatient surgery. With the increasing need to reduce healthcare costs, spare precious hospital beds, and shorten elective surgery lists, there is currently a trend towards performing tonsillectomy on a daycare basis. Materials and Methods: A prospective review of all tonsillectomies performed at the University Malaya Medical Center was undertaken for the year 2013. Demographic details, qualifying indications, and complication rates were evaluated. Results: There was no incidence of primary hemorrhage among the 96 tonsillectomies performed. There was no significant correlation in terms of secondary hemorrhage between inpatient and day-case tonsillectomy (P=0.54). Only two patients required revision surgery to stop post-tonsillectomy bleeding. None of the patients required blood transfusion, and there were no mortalities. Conclusion: Daycare tonsillectomy is safe as long as the patient is carefully selected. Both medical and social aspects should be taken into consideration. A post-operative observation period of at least 6 to 8 hours is important. The surgeon should personally review the patient post-operatively and decides if he or she should be hospitalized for observation, or safe for discharge.

Historical and cultural blocks in Chinese historic districts are important components of sustainable heritage tourism. In towns along the Grand Canal, historical and cultural blocks are generally integrated with modern commerce, forming a complex space characterized by multi-elements, multi-cultures, and multi-functions. The understanding of tourists’ spatial cognition thus becomes extremely important to support heritage conservation and encourage sustainable heritage tourism. This study proposes a space syntax-based methodology to help inform heritage consultants and urban designers in understanding the tourists’ spatial cognition of canal town cultural blocks, and thereby assists designers and managers in identifying where cognitive experiences can be improved. The proposed method is applied to Nanyang, which is a canal town currently in decline in Shandong Province, and is contrasted with the ancient town of Wuzhen in Zhejiang Province, China, a highly successful tourist town. By using this proposed method, the relationship between street networks and tourists’ spatial cognition has been explored. The results of the analysis were evaluated in order to inform a range of design concepts that could enhance the sustainable heritage tourism experience of these two towns.

SnS2 nanosheets/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite was prepared by reflux condensation and hydrothermal methods. In this composite, SnS2 nanosheets in-situ grew on the surface of rGO nanosheets. The SnS2/rGO composite as anode material was investigated both in lithium ion battery (LIB) and sodium ion battery (SIB) systems. The capacity of SnS2/rGO electrode in LIB achieved 514 mAh g−1 at 1.2 A g−1 after 300 cycles. Moreover, the SnS2/rGO electrode in SIB delivered a discharge capacity of 645 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1; after 100 cycles at 0.25 A g−1, the capacity retention still keep 81.2% relative to the capacity of the 6th cycle. Due to the introduction of rGO in the composite, the charge-transfer resistance became much smaller. Compared with SnS2/C electrode, SnS2/rGO electrode had higher discharge capacity and much better cycling performance.

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheet decorated Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) microspheres were successfully synthesized by spray-drying method. The NVP microspheres were embedded by rGO sheets, and the surface of the particles were coated by rGO sheets and amorphous carbon. Thus, the carbon conductive network consisted of rGO sheets and amorphous carbon generated in the cathode material. NVP microspheres decorated with different content of rGO (about 0, 4, 8, and 12 wt%) were investigated in this study. The electrochemical performance of NVP exhibited a significant enhancement after rGO introduction. The electrode containing about 8 wt% rGO (NVP/G8) showed the best rate and cycle performance. NVP/G8 electrode exhibited the discharge capacity of 64.0 mAh g−1 at 70°C, and achieved high capacity retention of 95.5% after cycling at 10°C for 100 cycles. The polarization of the electrode was inhibited by the introduction of rGO sheets. Meanwhile, compared with the pristine NVP electrode, NVP/G8 electrode exhibited small resistance and high diffusion coefficient of sodium ions.

Lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials has been attracted enormous interests as one of the most promising candidates of cathode materials for next-generation lithium ion batteries because of its high theoretic capacity and low cost. In this study, 0.5Li2MnO3·0.5LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 materials are synthesized through a solid-state reaction by using different lithium sources, and the synthesis process and the reaction mechanism are investigated in detail. The morphology, structure, and electrochemical performances of the material synthesized by using LiOH·H2O, Li2CO3, and CH3COOLi·2H2O have been analyzed by using Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and electrochemical measurements. The 0.5Li2MnO3·0.5LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 material prepared by using LiOH·H2O displays uniform morphology with nano particle and stable layer structure so that it suppresses the first cycle irreversible reaction and structure transfer, and it delivers the best electrochemical performance. The results indicate that LiOH·H2O is the best choice for the synthesis of the 0.5Li2MnO3·0.5LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 material.

Mucins are heavily glycosylated proteins that give mucus its gel-like properties. Moreover, the glycans decorating the mucin protein core can alter the protective properties of the mucus barrier. To investigate whether these alterations could be parasite-induced we utilized the Trichuris muris (T. muris) infection model, using different infection doses and strains of mice that are resistant (high dose infection in BALB/c and C57BL6 mice) or susceptible (high dose infection in AKR and low dose infection in BALB/c mice) to chronic infection by T. muris. During chronicity, within the immediate vicinity of the T. muris helminth the goblet cell thecae contained mainly sialylated mucins. In contrast, the goblet cells within the epithelial crypts in the resistant models contained mainly sulphated mucins. Maintained mucin sulphation was promoted by TH2-immune responses, in particular IL-13, and contributed to the protective properties of the mucus layer, making it less vulnerable to degradation by T. muris excretory secretory products. Mucin sulphation was markedly reduced in the caecal goblet cells in the sulphate anion transporter-1 (Sat-1) deficient mice. We found that Sat-1 deficient mice were susceptible to chronic infection despite a strong TH2-immune response. Lower sulphation levels lead to decreased efficiency of establishment of T. muris infection, independent of egg hatching. This study highlights the complex process by which immune-regulated alterations in mucin glycosylation occur following T. muris infection, which contributes to clearance of parasitic infection.

The aerodynamic performance of the blade determines the power and load characteristics of a wind turbine. In this paper, numerical research of the active deformation of an airfoil with equal thickness camber line was carried out, which shows the great potential of this active flow control method to improve the flow field. The NACA0012 is taken as the reference airfoil, and the inflow wind speed is 9 m/s, the chord length of the airfoil is 0.4 m, and the Reynolds number is 2.5 × 105. The influence factors, such as deformation amplitude and deformation frequency on the aerodynamic performance, were studied at different attack angles before and after stall. Studies have shown that: firstly, at different angles of attack, different deformation amplitudes and frequencies have great influence on the aerodynamic performance of the active deformed airfoil. The active deformation can improve the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil in different degrees in deep stall and light stall regions. Secondly, a suitable deformation amplitude and deformation frequency can improve the aerodynamic performance of airfoil stably and effectively in light stall, which occurs when the deformation amplitude equals to 0.02c and the deformation frequency is lower than 2 Hz, and the maximum lift-drag ratio can be increased by about 25%. Before stall, when the deformation frequency is 2 Hz and amplitude is 0.10c, the airfoil will have a negative drag coefficient in the process of deformation, and the airfoil will produce a thrust which is similar to the energy capture of the flapping foil. This is an unexpected discovery in our research.

Rural areas in the cold regions of northern China generally suffer from excessive energy consumption, poor thermal comfort, and low thermal efficiency of heating equipment. In order to improve the comfort of ruralresidential buildings, renovation design has become an indispensable part of the current beautiful rural construction.This paper comprehensively analyzes the current situation of rural residential buildings in cold regionsbytaking the transformation ofa farmhouse in Zhujialin of Linyi City as an example. Moreover, the methods of energy-saving renovation of rural houses are explored from two aspects of solar energy utilization and enclosing system renovation. The research provides a feasible reference for energy-saving renovation of other rural areas in the cold regions of northern China.

An iterative algorithm for finding a common element of the set of common fixed points of a finite family of asymptotically nonextensive nonself mappings and the set of solutions for equilibrium problems is discussed. A strong convergence theorem of common element is established in a uniformly smooth and uniformly convex Banach space.

We introduce a new generalized resolvent in a Banach space and discuss some of its properties. Using these properties, we obtain an iterative scheme for finding a point which is a fixed point of relatively weak nonexpansive mapping and a zero of monotone mapping. Furthermore, strong convergence of the scheme to a point which is a fixed point of relatively weak nonexpansive mapping and a zero of monotone mapping is proved.