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Serious earthquake disasters not only cause power outages in distribution network, but also destroy transportation networks, which hinders the transportation of resources for restoration of distribution network and slows down the restoration. This paper proposes an improved resilience evaluation method and a resilience enhancement strategy of distribution network considering the effects of seismic attack on transportation networks. First, a seismic attack model is established to describe the relation between earthquake disasters and failure probability of transportation-distribution networks based on peak ground acceleration. The impact of earthquake disasters on transportation-distribution networks is quantified, and the failure scenarios are generated. Then, a resilience evaluation index is proposed by introducing the waiting time for road repair of emergency repair teams. Afterwards, a bi-level optimization model for distribution network restoration considering the fault line repair, the road repair, and the emergency resource scheduling is established and solved. The upper layer aims at the minimum power loss load, while the lower layer takes the minimum waiting time of the repair team as the goal. Finally, case studies on a coupling example of a 12-node transportation network and an IEEE 33-node distribution network verify the feasibility of the improved resilience index and the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the resilience index considering seismic attack on transportation networks is accurate, and the restoration strategy can effectively enhance the resilience of distribution network in earthquake disasters.

The dominant bacteria isolated from grape surface (Vitis vinifera cv. Kyoho) were identified as Escherichia coli and Kocuria and inactivated by treatment with gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) prepared by the indirect reaction between NaClO2 and dry ice, and the effects of ClO2 gas on bacterial inactivation were evaluated by measuring the logarithmic reduction of total bacterial counts. Meanwhile, during storage at 4 ℃ for 30 days, the color parameters, fruit hardness, percentage mass loss and total soluble solid (TSS) content of artificially inoculated grapes were measured to evaluate the effect of ClO2 gas on the quality of grapes. The results showed that ClO2 gas had a good inactivating effect on Escherichia coli and Kocuria inoculated on surface of grapes. When the cumulative concentration of ClO2 was increased from 131 to 599 μL/(L·h), the logarithmic reduction of Escherichia coli increased from 1.6 (lg(CFU/g)) to 3.5 (lg(CFU/g)), and the logarithmic reduction of Kocuria increased from 1.0 (lg(CFU/g)) to 4.5 (lg(CFU/g)). During 30 days of storage, the color of grapes treated with ClO2 gas did not obviously change compared with that of the untreated control group. The softening and mas loss were obviously inhibited and the consumption of soluble solids in grapes treated with the high cumulative concentration of ClO2 was obviously reduced after storage at 4 ℃ for 30 days compared with that in the control and low cumulative ClO2 concentration groups. Additionally, the residual ClO2 on grapes treated by ClO2 gas was less than 0.4 mg/kg during storage at 4 ℃ for 30 days. The ClO2 gas treatment method is convenient, efficient, and low cost, which can effectively kill bacteria and improve the quality of grapes. This study provides a technical basis for the application of ClO2 gas to fruits and vegetables.

The BTB gene superfamily is widely distributed among higher eukaryotes and plays a significant role in numerous biological processes. However, there is limited knowledge about the structure and function of BTB genes in the critically endangered species Alligator sinensis, which is endemic to China. A total of 170 BTB genes were identified from the A. sinensis genome, classified into 13 families, and unevenly distributed across 16 chromosomes. Analysis of gene duplication events yielded eight pairs of tandem duplication genes and six pairs of segmental duplication genes. Phylogenetics shows that the AsBTB genes are evolutionarily conserved. The cis-regulatory elements in the AsBTB family promoter region reveal their involvement in multiple biological processes. Protein interaction network analysis indicates that the protein interactions of the AsBTB genes are centered around CLU-3, mainly participating in the regulation of biological processes through the ubiquitination pathway. The expression profile and protein interaction network analysis of AsBTB genes during sex differentiation and early gonadal development indicate that AsBTB genes are widely expressed in this process and involves numerous genes and pathways for regulation. This study provides a basis for further investigation of the role of the BTB gene in sex differentiation and gonadal development in A. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing requirements for the improvement of the accuracy of large coordinate-measuring machines (CMMs), the laser-tracing multi-station measurement technology, as one of the advanced precision measurement technologies, is worth studying in depth in terms of its practical application for the compensation of errors in large CMMs. Since it is difficult to maintain a constant temperature of about 20 °C in the actual workshop under the influence of solar radiation and convective heat transfer, there is a gradient in the spatial temperature distribution, and the overall temperature changes with the influence of external factors with synchronous hysteresis, it is difficult for the actual calibration environment to meet the standard environmental requirements. Therefore, the influence of temperature and other environmental factors on the accuracy of laser ranging and large-scale CMM calibration should not be ignored. In this paper, on the basis of analyzing the temperature distribution and change rule of large CMM measurement space under different working conditions, the radial basis function (RBF) neural network algorithm was used to build a non-uniform-temperature field model, and based on this model and the measurement principle of the laser-tracking instrument, the method of laser tracking and interferometric ranging accuracy enhancement was put forward under a non-uniform-temperature field. Finally, based on the multi-station technique of laser tracing, an accurate solution for the volumetric error of large CMMs under the condition of non −20 °C ambient temperature was realized. Simulation results proved that compared with the traditional temperature-compensation method, the proposed method improved the measurement accuracy of the volumetric error of a large-scale CMM using laser-tracing multi-station technology in a non-uniform-temperature field by 33.5%. This study provides a new approach for improving the accuracy of laser-tracer multi-station measurement systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulating the crystal morphology of low aspect ratio, short columnar α‐hemihydrate gypsum (α‐HH) is crucial due to its distinctive physical and chemical properties, which make it widely applicable. In this work, succinic acid, malic acid, and maleic acid were selected as the research objects, among which the number and spacing of carboxyl groups were the same, while the auxiliary functional groups were different. The adsorption energy, Mulliken charge population, electronic state density, and charge density difference of the three organic acids on the surfaces of α‐HH were calculated by well‐defined ab initio calculations. The results showed that the synergistic effect of ‐COOH groups is necessary for the effective crystallization of α‐HH. Organic acids interact with the Ca atoms on the crystal surface, as evidenced by their preferential adsorption on the top surface of α‐HH crystals (002). This interaction occurs through a double‐dentate chelation between the carboxyl oxygen atoms at both ends of the organic acid and the Ca atoms on the crystal surface, resulting in the formation of a six‐membered cyclic organic acid calcium complex. This complex hinders ion diffusion and the stacking of crystal surfaces, leading to a decrease in the growth rate along the c‐axis and promoting more extensive crystal development and larger crystal sizes. The work provides insight into the preparation of short prismatic α‐HH using organic acid crystallizing agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epimedium is a Chinese herb known as "yin and yang fire," first mentioned in the Compendium of Materia Medica. Many of the proprietary Chinese medicines used in clinical practice contain Epimedium as an ingredient, and its main active constituents include icariin, icaritin, and icariside II, among others. In addition to its traditional use in treating fatigue and sexual problems, modern research has confirmed that the main bioactive compounds in Epimedium have pharmacological effects such as antidepressant, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as inhibiting bone destruction, promoting bone growth, improving immune regulation and protecting the cardio-cerebral vascular system. With the continuous development of extraction and purification techniques, the development and use of bioactive compounds in Epimedium have significantly progressed, and the anticancer effect has received widespread attention. Since natural herbs have few side effects on the human body and do not easily develop drug resistance, they have long been the direction of research in cancer treatment. This review summarizes the latest research on the anticancer effects of Epimedium and its extracts, describes the bioactive compounds, pharmacological efficacy, and antitumor mechanism of Epimedium, and gives a new view on the administration and development of Epimedium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is currently an endangered species due to a combination of factors, including climate change, anthropogenic activities, and habitat fragmentation. Captivity plays a crucial role in mitigating the decline of the Chinese alligator population. Currently, there is a lack of clarity regarding the influence of host development and captive conditions on the gut microbiota of Chinese alligators. The aim of the study was to investigate the gut bacterial communities of Chinese alligators and their surrounding environmental bacterial communities using 16S rRNA sequencing. The primary gut flora of Chinese alligators consists of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Proteobacteria is the most abundant and efficient settler in the gut, water, and sediment. PCoA and Adonis test revealed significant differences in bacterial communities across these habitats. Venn analysis revealed overlap in OTUs among the gut, water, and sediment, varying with growth stage and density stress. Different growth stages of Chinese alligator guts harbor distinct pathogenic bacteria, requiring attention. Density stress leads to an increase in pathogenic bacteria, a decrease in gut absorption efficiency. PICRUst2 predicts more abundant metabolic pathways related to gut function during high‐density stress, possibly linked to Roseburia. SourceTracker Analysis indicated that water bacteria have a greater impact on Chinese alligator gut bacteria than sediment, and density stress significantly affects the contribution of environmental microorganisms to the gut microbes of Chinese alligator. BugBase analysis identified water body microbes as the main source of "potentially pathogenic" phenotypes in the gut microbiota. RDA analysis found dissolved oxygen (DO) in water to be the most significant factor influencing water microorganisms, positively correlated with certain pathogenic strains. These findings enhance our understanding of the significance of microbial communities in the gut and surrounding aquatic environment of the Chinese alligator. Furthermore, they provide theoretical support for environmental regulation, disease control, and healthy breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roselle was used as a raw material for extracting anthocyanins. The anthocyanins were purified using Amberlite XAD-7 macroporous resin. Purified roselle anthocyanins (PRA) were identified using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity of PRA in vitro and in HepG2 cells was evaluated. The results showed that the anthocyanin content in PRA increased by 6.35-fold, reaching 175.27 mg/g. PRA contained five anthocyanins, of which delphinidin-3-sambubioside was the most abundant, accounting for 57.35% (m/m) of the total anthocyanins. PRA exhibited high antioxidant activity in vitro. The DPPH scavenging rate reached 90% when the PRA concentration was 0.23 mg/mL, and the hydroxyl radical scavenging rate was 97.85% at a PAR concentration of 2.0 mg/mL. Additionally, PRA showed high intracellular antioxidant activity in HepG2 cells. Treatment with 200 µg/mL PRA significantly reduced the H2O2-induced HepG2 intracellular reactive oxygen species level and nitric oxide content from 117.47% (taking the 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence intensity of the control group as 100%) and 53.18 nmol/mL to 102.09% and 45.79 nmol/mL, respectively. PRA treatment significantly increased the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities from 18.19 and 10.10 U/mg prot to 35.05 and 19.38 U/mg prot, respectively. The main component of PRA anthocyanins was delphinidin-3-sambubioside, which exhibited strong antioxidant activity in vitro and anti-oxidative stress response effects in vivo. These results provide a theoretical basis for the high-value development and the potential health benefits of roselle anthocyanins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature melting vitrification is the safest and harmless disposal technology for fly ash from hazardous waste incineration. Fly ash with high calcium content was used as the research object to melt fly ash with low temperature by introducing SiO2, H3BO3 and CaF2 fluxing agents. The melting temperature, phase change and heavy metal leaching of fly ash were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, ash melting point analyzer and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer. The results show that when the alkalinity of fly ash is adjusted to 1.10 by SiO2 (27.9%, mass fraction), CaSiO3 minerals with low melting point are formed, and the melting point of fly ash decreases from above 1 400 °C to 1 300 °C. H3BO3 (4.5%, mass fraction) and CaF2 (7.0%, mass fraction) are introduced as fluxing agents, and the melting temperature is further reduced to 1 200 °C, but SiO2 is overdoped. After optimization, the composite fluxing agent formula is SiO2 (20.0%, mass fraction), H3BO3 (4.5%, mass fraction) and CaF2 (7.0%, mass fraction), and the minimum melting temperature of fly ash is 1 124 °C, the vitreous content of the melt product reaches 87% (mass fraction), and the harmful substances of acid leaching are lower than the limit value, meeting the technical requirements of GB/T 41015-2021 standard for vitrification products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]