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To address the issue of estimating soil moisture at a hyper-resolution scale, a methodology referred to as Precision Irrigation Soil Moisture Mapper (PrISMM), that includes three key components, is developed: high-resolution remotely sensed optical and thermal data, surface energy balance modeling, and site-specific soil analysis. An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle/System (UAV or UAS) collects high-resolution multispectral imagery in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan study area. Orthomosaics are converted to thermal inertia estimates in a spatially distributed format using the remotely sensed data combined with a set of surface energy balance modeling equations. Using thermal and physical properties of soil gained from site-specific soil analysis, thermal inertia estimates were further converted from thermal inertia to daily volumetric soil water content (VSWC) with a horizonal resolution of 8.6 cm. A ground truthing dataset of measured VSWC values taken from a Time Domain Reflectometer was compared with model results, producing a reasonable correlation with an average coefficient of determination of (R2) = 0.79, an average root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.0408, and mean absolute error (MAE) = 0.0308. This study highlights a practical approach of estimating VSWC for irrigation purposes while providing superior spatio-temporal coverage over in situ methods. The authors envision that PrISMM can be implemented in water usage management by relating VSWC with weather forecasts and evapotranspiration rates to develop time-based spatially distributed irrigation management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and low levels of vitamin D are common in patients with depression. Depression is common in DPN patients and the definite pathogenesis remains unclear. This study aimed to determine vitamin D deficiency in the onset of depression in DPN and evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on depression. Methods: A total of 192 patients with DPN were enrolled in this study. Clinical and laboratory information was collected. Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used to measure the level of 25(OH)D. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-17A. Subjects with low 25(OH)D received 5000IU vitamin D daily for 12 weeks. Depression scores and levels of 25(OH)D, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17A were re-evaluated after supplementation. Results: The incidence of vitamin D deficiency and depression was high in DPN patients. Compared with vitamin D sufficient participants, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores and the levels of inflammatory markers IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17A were significantly higher in insufficient group (all p< 0.05). HAMD score, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17A were negatively correlated with 25(OH)D (all p< 0.05). A linear relationship existed among IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-17A, and 25(OH)D (p< 0.05). HAMD scores, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17A were all reduced significantly after supplementation of vitamin D (p< 0.05). Binary logistic analysis revealed that vitamin D insufficiency was an independent risk factor for depression in patients with DPN. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed a high sensitivity (87.20%) of 25(OH)D in discriminating DPN patients with depression. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency participated in occurrence of depression in DPN patients and could be mediated, at least in part, by upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D supplementation may be effective in improving depressive symptoms in DPN patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes existing evidence of the impact of vision impairment and ocular morbidity and their treatment on children's quality of life (QoL). Myopia and strabismus are associated with reduced QoL among children. Surgical treatment of strabismus significantly improves affected children's QoL. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by screening articles in any language in 9 databases published from inception through August 22, 2022, addressing the impact of vision impairment, ocular morbidity, and their treatment on QoL in children. We reported pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) using random-effects meta-analysis models. Quality appraisal was performed using Joanna Briggs Institute and National Institutes of Health tools. This study was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (identifier, CRD42021233323). Our search identified 29 118 articles, 44 studies (0.15%) of which were included for analysis that included 32 318 participants from 14 countries between 2005 and 2022. Seventeen observational and 4 interventional studies concerned vision impairment, whereas 10 observational and 13 interventional studies described strabismus and other ocular morbidities. Twenty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis. The QoL scores did not differ between children with and without vision impairment (SMD, –1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], –2.11 to 0.03; P = 0.06; 9 studies). Myopic children demonstrated significantly lower QoL scores than those with normal vision (SMD, –0.60; 95% CI, –1.09 to –0.11; P = 0.02; 7 studies). Children with strabismus showed a significantly lower QoL score compared with those without (SMD, –1.19; 95% CI, –1.66 to –0.73; P < 0.001; 7 studies). Strabismus surgery significantly improved QoL in children (SMD, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.48–2.23; P < 0.001; 7 studies). No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning refractive error and QoL were identified. Among all included studies, 35 (79.5%) were scored as low to moderate quality; the remaining met all quality appraisal tools criteria. Reduced QoL was identified in children with myopia and strabismus. Surgical correction of strabismus improves the QoL of affected children, which supports insurance coverage of strabismus surgery. Further studies, especially RCTs, investigating the impact of correction of myopia on QoL are needed. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shaped hierarchical porous carbon derived from ZIF-8, MSNs (mesoporous silica nanoparticles) and CS (chitosan) has been prepared by in situ assembly and post-annealing process. By tunning carbonization temperatures (from 450 to 650 °C), a series of CS/ZIF-8/MSNs carbonaceous millimetre-sized spheres with honeycomb internal structures and hierarchical pores have been developed for CO2 uptake. CS/ZIF-8/MSNs-525 (the sample treated at 525 °C) exhibited a higher CO2 capacity (1.32 mmol/g, 1 atm) than that of other samples due to its appropriate mesopores (∼11 nm), micropores (∼0.73 nm) and BET surface area (∼459.2 m2g−1). The XRD pattern of CS/ZIF-8/MSNs-525 suggested that MSNs would not affect sample structure, which performed largely maintained ZIF-8 diffraction. The SEM/EDS image of CS/ZIF-8/MSNs-525 showed that MSNs (∼50 nm) has been well decorated onto the surface of ZIF-8 by in situ assembly and carbonization, thus indicating a hierarchical structure formed. In addition, the TG-MS technology has been also utilized to clarify that MSNs assembly would not affect the carbonization process during the formation of CS/ZIF-8/MSNs-525. Moreover, the addition of MSNs facilitated a proper pore structure and higher CO2 capacity of CS/ZIF-8/MSNs-525 compared with that of CS/ZIF-8 carbon spheres (0.9 mmol/g, 1 atm). Particularly, the CS/ZIF-8/MSNs-525 exhibited excellent stability and recyclable performance after CO2 adsorption in 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. This MSNs assembly strategy could induce a simple way for obtaining novel shaped carbonaceous adsorbent for superior CO2 uptake in industrial fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer semiconductor with bulk heterojunction (BHJ) structure has attracted increasing attention to fabricate highly efficient photoelectrode for converting solar energy and water into hydrogen, thanks to its high photocurrent output and positive onset potential beyond 0.6 V. However, BHJ‐based photoelectrodes demonstrate poor anticorrosion against irradiation in aqueous environment, thus the photoelectrochemical (PEC) stability is a very intractable problem to solve. Herein, an inside and outside integrated modification method is developed to help BHJ‐based photocathode withstand PEC erosion during hydrogen production in acidic solution. The obtained BHJ (PBDB‐T:ITIC:PC71BM)‐based photocathode with surface carbon protective layer allows sustained and fast PEC hydrogen evolution (an average photocurrent density up to 13.5 mA cm−2) for a duration up to 15 h, which is among the best results of BHJ‐based photocathodes. The internal modification with fullerene derivative of PC71BM boosts the photogenerated electron transfer to balance against relative fast hole transfer, which largely alleviates electron accumulation and improves PEC intrinsic stability as a result. The surface carbon layer effectively resists the permeation of aqueous electrolyte without hindering interfacial charge transfer. This metal‐free protective method is very promising toward construction of highly robust BHJ‐based photoelectrodes for sustainable water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes existing evidence to establish whether vision impairment, ocular morbidity, and their treatment are associated with depression and anxiety in children. Understanding and quantifying these associations support early detection and management of mental health symptoms in children with vision impairment and ocular morbidity. Additionally, this review provides evidence in favor of insurance coverage for timely strabismus surgery. We searched 9 electronic databases from inception through February 18, 2021, including observational and interventional studies assessing whether vision impairment, ocular morbidity, or both and their treatment are associated with depression, anxiety, or both in children. We used narrative synthesis and meta-analysis with the residual maximum likelihood method. A protocol was registered and published on The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (identifier: CRD42021233323). Among 28 992 studies, 28 956 studies (99.9%) were excluded as duplicates or unrelated content. Among 36 remaining studies, 21 studies (58.3%) were observational studies concerning vision impairment, 8 studies (22.2%) were observational studies concerning strabismus, and 7 studies (19.4%) were interventional studies. Vision impaired children demonstrated significantly higher scores of depression (standard mean difference [SMD], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26–0.89; 11 studies) and anxiety (SMD, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.40–0.83; 14 studies) than normally sighted children. In particular, children with myopia demonstrated higher scores of depression (SMD, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.36–0.81; 6 studies) than normally sighted children. Strabismus surgery significantly improved symptoms of depression (SMD, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.12–1.06; 3 studies) and anxiety (SMD, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.25–1.14; 4 studies) in children. Among children, vision impairment is associated with greater symptoms of depression and anxiety. Surgical treatment of strabismus improved these symptoms. Further randomized controlled trials exploring the impact of public health measures for myopia correction on mental health in children are needed. Scaling up access to strabismus surgery could improve the mental health of affected children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to develop an efficient evaluation method to more intuitively and effectively investigate the influence of the wing fuel mass variations because of fuel burn on transonic aeroelasticity. Design/methodology/approach: The proposed efficient aeroelastic evaluation method is developed by extending the standard computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based proper orthogonal decomposition (POD)/reduced order model (ROM). Findings: The results of this paper show that the proposed aeroelastic efficient evaluation method can accurately and efficiently predict the aeroelastic response and flutter boundary when the wing fuel mass vary because of fuel burn. It also shows that the wing fuel mass variations have a significant effect on transonic aeroelasticity; the flutter speed increases as the wing fuel mass decreases. Without rebuilding an expensive, time-consuming CFD-based POD/ROM for each wing fuel mass variation, the computational cost of the proposed method is reduced obviously. It also shows that the computational efficiency improvement grows linearly with the number of model cases. Practical implications: The paper presents a potentially powerful tool to more intuitively and effectively investigate the influence of the wing fuel mass variation on transonic aeroelasticity, and the results form a theoretical and methodological basis for further research. Originality/value: The proposed evaluation method makes it a reality to apply the efficient standard CFD-based POD/ROM to investigate the influence of the wing fuel mass variation because of fuel burn on transonic aeroelasticity. The proposed efficient aeroelastic evaluation method, therefore, is ideally suited to deal with the investigation of the influence of wing fuel mass variations on transonic aeroelasticity and may have the potential to reduce the overall cost of aircraft design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coumarin, an oxadiazole, and the V-shaped structural characteristic of a sulfone have been integrated to create a new symmetric compound. • The molecule emitted strong fluorescence in the amorphous solid state, in a membrane, and in a non-polar solvent. • This new type of compound exhibits tunable light emission in solution, making it a versatile emitter. Coumarin, an oxadiazole, and the V-shaped structural characteristic of a sulfone have been integrated to create a new symmetric compound, and the compound was characterized. The synthesized molecule was used as an emitter and an electron transporter in three different device configurations. The sulfone units induced a V-shaped structure that weakened the π-π stacking and thus limited aggregation-induced quenching. The molecule emitted strong fluorescence in the amorphous solid state, in a membrane, and in a non-polar solvent. From thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, the compound shows good thermal stability (381 °C) and glass-transition temperature (125 °C). The solvatochromism phenomenon and electrochemical properties were investigated in detail by fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations were performed to understand the photophysical properties. This new type of compound exhibits tunable light emission in solution, making it a versatile emitter. In this paper, we investigated new oxadiazole-appended coumarin derivative 1 , in which coumarin acts as an emitter and oxadiazole acts as an electron transporter. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers originating in High Mountain Asia are crucial lifelines for one-third of the world’s population. These fragile headwaters are now experiencing amplified climate change, glacier melt, and permafrost thaw. Observational data from 28 headwater basins demonstrate substantial increases in both annual runoff and annual sediment fluxes across the past six decades. The increases are accelerating from the mid-1990s in response to a warmer and wetter climate. The total sediment flux from High Mountain Asia is projected to more than double by 2050 under an extreme climate change scenario. These findings have far-reaching implications for the region’s hydropower, food, and environmental security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multistage fracturing is the main means of shale gas development, and casing deformation frequently occurs during fracturing of shale gas horizontal wells. Fracturing fluid entering the formation will change in situ stress nearby the wellbore. The changes of in situ stress are mainly reflected in the following two aspects: one is the increase of in situ stress and the other is the nonuniformity of in situ stress along the wellbore. And it is for this reason that the production casing is more likely to collapse under the nonuniform in situ stress load. According to the service conditions of production casing in shale gas reservoir, this paper studied the casing deformation and the collapsing strength subjected to the nonuniform loading by the experimental and numerical simulation method. The results show that under the condition of nonuniform loading, (1) the diameter variation rate of the casing reduces with the increase in the ratio of sample to tooling length. When the ratio is less than 3, the casing collapse strength will be significantly reduced. And when the ratio is greater than 6, the impact of sample length on casing collapse strength can be ignored. (2) The increase in the applied loading angle will decrease the diameter variation rate. When the loading angle increases from 0° to 90°, the critical load value increases from 1600 kN to 4000 kN. (3) The increase in load unevenness coefficient will rapidly decrease the casing collapse strength. When the load unevenness coefficient n is 0.8, the casing collapse strength reduces to 60%, and when the load unevenness coefficient n is 0, the casing collapse strength reduces to 28%. The findings of this study can help for better understanding of casing damage mechanism in volume fracturing of shale gas horizontal well and guide the selection of multistage fracturing casing type and fracturing interval design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small and simple device for the in-situ small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurement of carbon fibers graphitization by direct electrical heating was developed. The graphitization process of polyacrylonitrile-based T700 carbon fibers from 1450 °C to 2100 °C with this device was followed in-situ by synchrotron radiation SAXS. The results show that there are needle-shaped voids oriented preferentially along the fibers axis with a surface fractal structure during graphitization of carbon fibers. The change in the fractal dimension as a function of temperature includes a dip with a minimum value at approximately 1700 °C. This short contribution briefly describes the device and analyzes the obtained experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitivity of fluvial sediment load to climate change and predictions of future sediment load in cold basins remain poorly investigated, although changes in river sediment transport have important geomorphological, ecological, and societal implications. Here, we adapt a sediment elasticity approach to examine the sensitivity of fluvial suspended sediment load to changes in air temperature and precipitation in the headwater of the Yangtze River (HYR) on the inner Tibetan Plateau. Results show that every 1 °C increase in air temperature can increase the suspended sediment load by 14–27 % by intensifying thermally-driven glacial and permafrost erosional processes, and every 10 % increase in precipitation can increase the suspended sediment load by 16–24 % through enhancing pluvial-driven erosional processes. We predict an increase of 60–85 % in the suspended sediment loads in HYR by 2050 relative to the present-day period under the Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5, as both air temperature and precipitation are projected to increase. Our analysis highlights that smaller upland rivers appear to respond to modern climate change more rapidly and intensively than larger downstream rivers due to the larger glacier and permafrost coverages, poorer vegetation, as well as steeper fluvial relief, and higher sediment connectivity. This study provides a framework and a data-driven sediment elasticity approach to predict climate change and cryosphere degradation-driven changes in future fluvial suspended sediment load in cold basins, highlights the importance of the spatial scale effects in modulating fluvial responses, and has implications for assessing the impacts of climate change on channel morphology and aquatic ecosystems. • A sediment elasticity approach is introduced to estimate sediment load sensitivity to climate change in cold basins • One degree increase in temperature can increase sediment load by 14-27%, and every 10% increase in precipitation can lead to a 16-24% increase in sediment load in HYR • Sediment loads will increase in a warmer and wetter climate, with negative impacts on hydropower and aquatic ecosystems • Sediment loads tend to respond more rapidly and intensively to climate change in upland smaller basins than larger downstream basins [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long‐term effects of increased temperatures on sediment fluxes in cold regions remain poorly investigated. Here, we examined the multidecadal changes in runoff and sediment fluxes in the Tuotuohe River, a headwater river of the Yangtze River on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). The sediment fluxes and runoff increased at rates of 0.03 ± 0.01 Mt/yr (5.9 ± 1.9%/yr) and 0.025 ± 0.007 × km3/yr (3.5 ± 1.0%/yr) from 1985 to 2016, with net increases of 135% and 78% from 1985–1997 to 1998–2016, respectively. The increases are primarily due to warming temperature (+1.44°C) and intensified glacier‐snow‐permafrost melting, with enhanced precipitation (+30%) as a secondary cause. Sediment fluxes are much more susceptible to climate warming than runoff in this undisturbed cold environment. The substantially increased sediment fluxes from the headwater region could threaten the numerous constructed reservoirs and influence the aquatic ecosystems of the TP and its marginal areas. Key Points: Runoff and sediment fluxes and their interannual variabilities increased substantially in this undisturbed cold environmentClimate warming is likely the primary reason for the increased sediment fluxes and enhanced precipitation plays a secondary roleThe substantially increased sediment fluxes from the headwaters have important implications for downstream reservoirs and aquatic ecosystems [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel soft sensor is developed by combining long short-term memory (LSTM) network with normalized mutual information feature selection (NMIFS). In the proposed algorithm, LSTM is designed to handle time series with high nonlinearity and dynamics of industrial processes. NMIFS is conducted to perform the input variable selection for LSTM to simplify the excessive complexity of the model. The developed soft sensor combines the excellent dynamic modelling of LSTM and precise variable selection of NMIFS. Simulations on two actual production datasets are used to demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm. The developed soft sensor could precisely predict the objective variables and has better performance than other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the minimal wave speed in a diffusive epidemic model with nonlocal delays. We define a threshold. By presenting the existence and the nonexistence of traveling wave solutions for all positive wave speed, we confirm that the threshold is the minimal wave speed of traveling wave solutions, which models that the infective invades the habitat of the susceptible. For some cases, it is proven that spatial nonlocality may increase the propagation threshold while time delay decreases the threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonization is one of the main methods for comprehensive utilization of bituminous coal. Bituminous coal and its solid products from carbonization, namely char and coke, have complex pore structures, which can be characterized by fractals. We performed a study on the fractal structure of the solid products prepared from the bituminous coal of Shuiyu mine in Shanxi Province, China, at different carbonization temperatures (25°C∼1000°C) by synchrotron radiation small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results show that the bituminous coal has a surface fractal structure during the whole carbonization process. The variation of fractal dimension with carbonization temperature illustrates the different stages of the carbonization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten–eleven translocation 1 (Tet1) is involved in DNA demethylation in primordial germ cells (PGCs); however, the precise regulatory mechanism remains unclear. In the present study the dynamics of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in developing PGCs and the role of Tet1 in PGC demethylation were analysed. Results show that 5mC levels dropped significantly after embryonic Day 4 (E4) and 5hmC levels increased reaching a peak at E5–E5.5. Interestingly, TET1 protein was highly expressed during E5 to E5.5, which showed a consistent trend with 5hmC. The expression of pluripotency-associated genes (Nanog , PouV and SRY-box 2 (Sox2)) and germ cell-specific genes (caveolin 1 (Cav1), piwi-like RNA-mediated gene silencing 1 (Piwi1) and deleted in azoospermia-like (Dazl)) was upregulated after E5, whereas the expression of genes from the DNA methyltransferase family was decreased. Moreover, the Dazl gene was highly methylated in early PGCs and then gradually hypomethylated. Knockdown of Tet1 showed impaired survival and proliferation of PGCs, as well as increased 5mC levels and reduced 5hmC levels. Further analysis showed that knockdown of Tet1 led to elevated DNA methylation levels of Dazl and downregulated gene expression including Dazl. Thus, this study reveals the dynamic epigenetic reprogramming of chicken PGCs in vivo and the molecular mechanism of Tet1 in regulating genomic DNA demethylation and hypomethylation of Dazl during PGC development. This study showed the dynamics of 5mC and 5hmC in developing PGCs and the effects of Tet1 on the development of PGCs. Knockdown of Tet1 reduced the process of DNA demethylation and damaged PGC development. This study will shed important light on the mechanism by which Tet1 affects PGC global DNA demethylation and methylation state of Dazl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Current and future trends in the aerospace industry leverage on the potential benefits provided by lightweight materials that can be tailored to realize desired mechanical characteristics when loaded. For aircraft design, the deployment of aeroelastic tailoring is hindered by the need to re-compute, for any possible modification of the structure, the dependence of the aerodynamic field on the underlying structural properties. To make progress in this direction, the work presents a rapid computational fluid dynamics based aeroelastic tool which is built around a reduced order model for the aerodynamics that is updated for any modification of the structure by using the structural dynamics reanalysis method. The aeroelastic tailoring tool is demonstrated in transonic flow for the AGARD 445.6 wing, suitably modified with composite materials. It was found that the proposed method provides accurate engineering predictions for the aeroelastic response and stability when the structure is modified from the baseline model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) gene, a crucial cytokine with roles in the immune system, functions in the inflammatory response by promoting the activation and migration of neutrophils. Previous studies have reported that the CXCL8 gene resides within the quantitative trait locus (QTL). In this report, the porcine CXCL8 gene was selected to investigate its effect on serum immune traits. CXCL8 mRNA expression was also detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A SNP (NC_010450.4:g.69934997T > C, rs81218904) of the CXCL8 gene was identified by direct nucleotide sequencing and the SNP was genotyped by MALDI-TOF MS in the three pig populations, which consisted of 300 piglets distributed in three pig breeds, Landrace (68 piglets), Large White (158 piglets) and Songliao Black (74 piglets). An in-depth analysis indicated that there was a significant correlation between the SNP and the serum CXCL8 level (20 days) (14 days after vaccination) (p <.05). Our results suggest that the CXCL8 gene may be served as a genetic marker with effects on serum CXCL8 level in the pig disease resistance breeding. Genomic variant identification and tissues expression analysis of porcine CXCL8 gene. The SNP in porcine CXCL8 gene was significantly associated with serum CXCL8 level in three pig populations. SNP genotyping and association analysis results provided significant evidence for association on serum cytokine trait of porcine CXCL8 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Climate change and human activities have substantially changed hydrological and geomorphologic processes, particularly in upper mountainous catchments. The Jinsha River Basin (JRB), the uppermost region of the Yangtze River and the largest hydropower production region in China, was chosen to investigate the sediment load responses to climate variations and human activities. The non-parametric Mann-Kendall test and double mass curve were used to explore the spatial-temporal variations of hydro-meteorological variables and quantify the contributions of climate variation and human activities to changes in discharge and sediment load in the JRB from the 1950s to 2015. The results indicate that human activities, in particular cascade damming, were the governing factor for sediment load changes, while climate variations (increasing precipitation and snow and glacier melt) dominated the discharge changes in the JRB. The average annual sediment load at the Panzhihua (PZH) station increased by 42.4% from 1966–1984 to 1985–2010, mainly due to mineral extraction and deforestation, followed by a decrease of 75.9% in 2011–2015 because of the operation of the cascade reservoirs in the middle JRB since 2010. The construction of new dams like the Xiangjiaba Reservoir (2012) and the Xiluodu Reservoir (2013) in the lower JRB and many other cascade reservoirs since 2010 in the middle JRB further decreased the sediment load by 58.5% (BHT) and 83.8% (XJB) in the recent five years from 2011 to 2015. Although channel erosion downstream of the XJB Dam can provide new sediment to the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), the sedimentation rate of the TGR has decreased rapidly and will continue to be reduced due to the construction of more dams in the future. Highlights • Sediment load reduced significantly in the Jinsha River after 2010. • Human activities particularly cascade reservoirs' operation dominated sediment load changes. • Discharge rise at the PZH was dominated by increasing precipitation and snow and glacier melt. • Sediment load decline in the Jinsha River reduced the sedimentation rate of the Three Gorges Reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleurospermum lindleyanum (Lipsky) B. Fedtsch is a perennial herb classified in the Apiaceae family, genus Pleurospermum, chiefly native to the Taxkorgan County, Xinjiang, China. In the Xinjiang Province, it is a well-known ethnic traditional herb, often addressed by its tribal name, Kurumuti. It grows in harsh conditions over 4000 m above sea level, such as the Pamirs plateau. It is rich in flavonoids, coumarins, terpenoids, essential oil, substances that have been widely applied in the prevention and treatment of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and cerebral thrombosis by local Tajik residents. The present study aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of the Pleurospermum Lindleyanum aqueous extract (PLAE) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The Pleurospermum lindleyanum was collected from the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, Xinjiang, China. The main chemical composition of PLAE was identified using the ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). SHRs were treated by gavage with PLAE (equivalent to Pleurospermum lindleyanum 5 or 10 g/kg/day) for 6 weeks, using Captopril (10 mg/kg/day) as positive control. The systolic blood pressure (SBP), renal and cardiac morphology, plasma levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), aldosterone (ALD), angiotensinⅡ (AngⅡ), superoxide dismutase (SOD), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. A total of 30 compounds were identified in PLAE. PLAE significantly attenuated the SBP of SHRs. The effects began after 3 weeks of administration and then became steady and long-lasting. Its potential mechanisms may be associated with the protective effects on renal and cardiac injury caused by hypertension, the decrease of plasma vasoconstrictors, such as ACE, ALD, AngⅡ, and ET-1 levels, the maintenance of NO/ET balance, the increase in plasma NO levels and SOD activity, thereby reducing oxidative stress. Pleurospermum lindleyanum can be suggested as a novel antihypertensive ethnic traditional herb, which lays the foundation for researching safe and effective antihypertensive herbal medicines. [Display omitted] • The incidence of primary hypertension increasing year by year, and becoming a major risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases. • The Pleurospermum Lindleyanum aqueous extract (PLAE) can reduce the systolic blood pressure, and protect cardiac and renal injury caused by hypertension. • The antihypertensive mechanisms could be the decrease of plasma ACE, ALD, AngⅡ levels, the increase of plasma NO, SOD levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteorological factors like air and dew point temperature and relative humidity levels influence a pavement surface's response to rapidly increasing air temperature combined with freezing conditions. This scenario can result in black ice. Black ice is dangerous due to its thinness and transparency. Understanding the conditions for black ice development benefits winter pavement maintenance by limiting chemical overuse and forming a basis for warning systems. However, limited experimental data on this weather scenario exists. A fully instrumented model column was built using soil and a concrete pavement slab obtained from the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airport. The column duplicated the airport pavement structure and subgrade. The system was placed in a freezer box and wrapped in insulation. The weather scenarios simulated historic airport weather involving freezing temperatures followed by rapid temperature increases and high relative humidity. After multiple baseline tests, two successfully replicated the rapid temperature increase scenario. The formation of frost on the pavement surface occurred 40 min after condensation developed combined with a surface temperature of −2°C and dew point temperatures above 0°C. The results of this study provide insight into frost development on pavement and is useful in implementing proactive winter pavement maintenance for black ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meteorological and subsurface factors influence pavement's response to cold fronts. Prediction of pavement temperature, particularly icing, is important to winter pavement maintenance which relies on an estimated time for the formation of ice. However, the prediction development is limited by test data on pavement icing. A model column consisting of soil samples and a concrete pavement slab retrieved from the Dallas Fort Worth airport was used to replicate the airport pavement structure, including subgrade. The soil was classified using USCS, tested for optimum moisture content and compacted in lifts in the column. Thermistors and moisture sensors were placed at different depths. The pavement slab was fitted with temperature sensors throughout. The system was installed in a freezer box,wrapped in insulation and plastic. Three cold front scenarios were selected from observed airport weather data and simulated in the freezer box using varying rates of temperature decrease and precipitation. The formation of ice on a pavement surface was observed at 10–20 min after the start of precipitation. This time frame is not affected by the freezer box cooling rate. The icing time found from this study is useful for the development of prediction models for icing onpavements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key challenge in the design of magnetic molecules with intramolecular charge transfer behavior is to obtain reversible magnetic bistability triggered by external stimuli. Here, we show that two dinuclear metal complexes, [(bbp)Fe(CN)3Mn(Py5Me2)]·2.5CH3OH (4) and [(bbp)Fe(CN)3Ni(Py5Me2)]·2.5CH3OH (5) (Py5Me2 = 2,6-bis(1,1-di(pyridine-2-yl)ethyl)pyridine, H2bbp = 2,6-bis(benzimidazole-2-yl)pyridine), were self-assembly synthesized by (Bu4N)2[(bbp)FeIII(CN)3] and [Mn(Py5Me2)(OH2)](ClO4)2 or [Ni(Py5Me2)(OH2)](ClO4)2, respectively. Complexes 4 and 5 exhibited intramolecular metal-to-metal charge transfer with the addition of acids or bases in solution by UV–visible spectrophotometric measurements and electrochemistry studies, and concomitant switching of the {FeIII(μ-CN)MnII/NiII} state to the {FeII(μ-CN)MnIII/NiIII} state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the minimal wave speed of traveling wave solutions in a predator-prey system with distributed time delay, which does not satisfy comparison principle due to delayed intraspecific terms. By constructing upper and lower solutions, we obtain the existence of traveling wave solutions when the wave speed is the minimal wave speed. Our results complete the known conclusions and show the precisely asymptotic behavior of traveling wave solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time domain aeroelastic analysis has high computing costs when using computational fluid dynamics. These costs become prohibitive when the structural model undergoes large changes from the baseline design, as within an aircraft design process. To overcome this realistic challenge, we have developed, implemented, and demonstrated an efficient method that is robust in the presence of global modifications of the structure. The method consists of: a) a reduced order model of the linearized Navier–Stokes equations generated around an aeroelastic equilibrium that depends, in turn, on the structural model; b) an approximate structural dynamic reanalysis method valid for global modifications of the structure; and c) a mechanism to exchange information between fluid and structural solvers without need for calculating at each iteration of the structural design an eigenvalue problem of the modified structure. The resulting aeroelastic reduced order model is demonstrated for the AGARD 445.6 wing, and material properties are varied up to 100% from their original values. It is found that: a) predictions of the time domain aeroelastic response and of the flutter speed are accurate for all modifications of the structure; and b) the computational efficiency of the proposed aeroelastic reduced order model is linearly proportional to the number of structural configurations considered. The method, therefore, is ideally suited for optimization and uncertainty studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transonic aeroelastic analysis is an important aspect of modern aircraft design. When the modeshapes changed for the structural stiffness or/and mass matrix variation, the structural model and aerodynamic model could be reconstructed to maintain accuracy. However, these reconstruction procedures have to be repeated every time when there is a change in the aircraft structure design, where each of these reconstructions takes a considerable time. In this paper, an automated procedure for transonic aeroelastic analysis method was proposed when the structural model parameters changed at global level. To manage thousands of calculations and makes more efficient and reliable calculations, the structural dynamic reanalysis method was employed to set up an automated procedure to link the aeroelastic solvers and structural design parameters without changing structural modal coordinates. The proposed automated procedure was illustrated and verified by the AGARD 445.6 wing aeroelastic model with different global level structural parameter variations. The results show that the automated procedure can accurately produce pulse responses corresponding to the mode excitations and the flutter characteristics of AGARD 445.6 wing in a very large modification range. The whole automated procedure is efficient and reliable in managing transonic aeroelastic analysis when structural parameters changed at global level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The interphase mechanical behaviors of Ni/YSZ cermets were investigated. • Interface has different effects on mechanical properties of Ni and YSZ components. • Affected regions in metal and ceramic due to interface effect are different. • Theoretical models were proposed for mechanical properties of Ni/YSZ interfaces. The metal/ceramic interface is of great importance in a variety of basic science research and technological applications. In this paper, the interphase mechanical behaviors of the nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia (Ni/YSZ) system serving as an anode material in solid oxide fuel cells are investigated by nanoindentation experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The experimental results indicate that the interface effect can greatly enhance the Young's modulus and hardness of Ni near Ni/YSZ interface, while a reduction is observed in the aforementioned mechanical properties of YSZ near the interface. In addition, the change in the mechanical properties and the affected region of the YSZ component due to the interface effect are both much larger than those of its Ni counterpart. Our MD simulation results reveal that the different effects of Ni/YSZ interface on the mechanical properties of Ni and YSZ near the interface can be ascribed to different transport capabilities of deformations generated in these two components across the interface. Based on MD simulation results, an interface barrier model and a model considering the structural compliance are proposed here for theoretically predicting the interphase hardness and Young's modulus of the Ni/YSZ system. Graphical Abstract [Display omitted]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating functional materials into polymer precursors is an effective way to prepare carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes for solving the trade-off problem between permeability and selectivity of gas separation. In this work, we induced ZIF-8 nanoparticles (from 5 to 20 wt%) as a doping agent to construct a series of phenolphthalein-based cardo poly (arylene ether ketone) (PEK-C) -based hybrid carbon molecular sieve (ZCMS) membranes for CO 2 /N 2 separation via an oxidation and a carbonization process with pyrolysis temperature in the range of 500–700 °C. The carbonized ligand and metal centre of ZIF-8 offered additional pores of carbon matrix, which tailored the ultramicropores of ZCMS membranes for both excellent CO 2 permeability and selectivity. By treating with the temperature of 600 °C, ZCMS-600-15 (ZCMS membrane based on 15 wt% of ZIF-8-doped PEK-C) exhibited the highest CO 2 permeability of 8902 Barrer, which was 1.8 times higher than that of CMS-600 (CMS membrane based on naked PEK-C). ZCMS-600-15 showed an ideal CO 2 /N 2 selectivity value of 42.2, which is also higher than that of other samples, indicating that the appropriate doping amount of ZIF-8 is 15 wt% and the proper carbonization temperature is 600 °C. Moreover, among all the samples, ZCMS-600-15 also showed a superior CO 2 permeability of 8285 Barrer and the highest CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 24.08 for an equimolar mixture of CO 2 and N 2 , far exceeding the 2008 Robeson upper bound. Therefore, our results suggest that incorporating MOFs into polymer precursors to prepare hybrid carbon molecular sieve membranes by carbonization process could solving the trade-off problem between permeability and selectivity, introducing new possibilities for industrial application. A series of hybrid carbon molecular sieve membranes have been synthesized by in situ oxidation and co-carbonization process of ZIF-8 nanoparticles (50 nm)-doped PEC-K matrix for excellent separation performance of CO 2 /N 2. [Display omitted] • Hybrid carbon molecule sieve membranes based on ZIF-8-doped PEK-C matrix (ZCMS membranes) have been in situ synthesized for CO 2 /N 2 separation. • ZCMS-600 exhibited both excellent permeability (8902 Barrer) and selectivity (42.2) of ideal CO 2 /N 2 separation. • ZCMS-600 showed a superior CO 2 permeability and selectivity for an equimolar mixture of CO 2 and N 2 , far exceeding the 2008 Robeson upper bound. • Using MOFs as doping agents is an effective way to construct high-performance CMS membranes for specific gas separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many radar-gauge merging methods have been developed to produce improved rainfall data by leveraging the advantages of gauge and radar observations. Two popular merging methods, Regression Kriging and Bayesian Regression Kriging were utilized and compared in this study to produce hourly rainfall data from gauge networks and multi-source radar datasets. The authors collected, processed, and modeled the gauge and radar rainfall data (Stage IV, MRMS and RTMA radar data) of the two extreme storm events (i.e., Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019) occurring in the coastal area in Southeast Texas with devastating flooding. The analysis of the modeled data on consideration of statistical metrics, physical rationality, and computational expenses, implies that while both methods can effectively improve the radar rainfall data, the Regression Kriging model demonstrates its superior performance over that of the Bayesian Regression Kriging model since the latter is found to be prone to overfitting issues due to the clustered gauge distributions. Moreover, the spatial resolution of rainfall data is found to affect the merging results significantly, where the Bayesian Regression Kriging model works unskillfully when radar rainfall data with a coarser resolution is used. The study recommends the use of high-quality radar data with properly spatial-interpolated gauge data to improve the radar-gauge merging methods. The authors believe that the findings of the study are critical for assisting hazard mitigation and future design improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel, symmetric, silicon-linked, V-shaped, organic fluorescent compounds 1a – c with an electron-deficient 1,3,4-oxadizoles unit and a diphenyl moiety were successfully synthesized. We show that the Si atom possesses a special V-shaped structure that weakens π–π stacking resulting in aggregation-induced emission. This new type of compound may show tunable light emission in solution and in a solid-state thin film. Theoretical calculations were used to analyze the frontier molecular orbitals of the two compounds. The HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the studied compounds range from −1.55 to −1.78 eV and from −5.70 to −6.15 eV, indicating that they will function well as electron transport materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To observe the changes of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) after 6-month tibolone treatment. Methods All of 60 postmenopausal women were divided to osteoporosis group (n = 30) and non-osteoporosis group (n = 30), according to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurement results. Control group contained 30 childbearing-age women with normal bone mineral density (BMD). Serum BALP and TRAP were detected. Women in PMOP group received tibolone (2. 5 mg/d) treatment for 6 months. BMD were measured at 0, 3, and 6 months, and BALP and TRAP were detected at 0, 1, 3, and 6 months. Results Serum BALP and TRAP in PMOP group and non-PMOP group had significantly higher levels compared to those in control group (P <0. 01). BALP and TRAP in PMOP group increased further more than those in non4>MOP group (P < 0. 01). BMD in PMOP group increased after 3-month tibolone treatment but without significant difference (P > 0. 05). Significant improvement was observed at 6 month (P < 0. 05). BALP and TRAP in PMOP group significantly decreased at 1 month compared to baseline (P < 0. 05), and further decline appeared at 3 and 6 months (P < 0. 01). Conclusion Bone metabolic biochemical markers, such as BALP and TRAP, can provide an early evaluation of bone turnover. It can timely monitor the drug efficacy of tibolone when combines with BMD measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the three slit collimation system with a divergent beam simplifies the design of a small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) cameras and improves both flux and stability. To achieve the required low angle and a high spatial resolution, the collimation system must be optimized in the design and operation phases. Simulation of a slit divergent camera yields optimal distance between the beam defining slits and optimal distance between sample and detector at which the maximum SAXS resolution is achieved with a minimal parasitic scattering for any length of the SAXS camera. The narrower the beam defining slits and the longer the total camera length, the smaller the minimum resolvable angle and the higher the attainable resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A soluble molecular analogue of photoresponsive Co/Fe Prussian blues is described within this report. As judged via a variety of spectroscopic, magnetic, and crystallographic methods, electron transfer within the octanuclear complex (below 250 K) converts paramagnetic red crystals into green diamagnetic ones. The color and magnetic changes are associated with the transformation of FeIIILS-CN-CoIIHS units into FeIILS-CN-COIIILS fragments in manner that is identical to that found for the An[Co(OH2)(6-6m)][Fe(CN)6]m·xH2O (An = alkali metal cation) family of three-dimensional Prussian blues. Moreover, this intramolecular electron transfer can be quantitatively circumvented via rapid thermal quenching and reversed via simple white light irradiation at low temperatures. Remarkably the data suggests that thermally or photoinduced paramagnetic metastable phases are identical and exhibit long relaxation times that approach 10 years at 120 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Treatment of several binary transition metal p-toluenesulfonates [MII(OTs)2] with tri(butyl)ammonium octacyanomolybdate(V) or -tungstate(V) in DMF readily affords a series of one- and two-dimensional crystalline octacyanometalate networks of [MII(DMF)4]3[MV(CN)8]2 (MV =Mo, W; MII =Mn, 5, 6; Ni, 7, 8) stoichiometry. Treatment of Fe(OTs)2 with [HBu3N]3[WV(CN)8] in DMF affords amorphous precipitates while FeCl3 affords crystalline [FeII(DMF)6]2[WIV(CN)8] (9) salts; two-dimensional [FeII(DMF)4]3[WV(CN)8]2 (10) lattices are obtained from 9 after standing several months. The structures of 5 and 8 contain [cis-MII(DMF)4(μ-NC)2]2+ and [trans-MII(DMF)4(μ-NC)2]2+ units that are linked via cyanides to three-connected [MV(CN)5(μ-CN)3]3− centers, forming a one-dimensional chain of squares that crystallize in the monoclinic (5, P21/n) and triclinic (8,) space groups; 6 (P21/n) and 10 (P21/c) crystallize as two-dimensional corrugated sheets containing [cis-MII(DMF)4(μ-NC)2]2+, [trans-MII(DMF)4(μ-NC)2]2+, and [MV(CN)5(μ-CN)3]3− units in a 4:2:6 ratio. Magnetic measurements indicate that 6 is a ferrimagnet (T N =8K) that exhibits frequency-dependent behavior in χ″ that is qualitatively similar to 1- and 2-D lattices reported by Tang and Holmes, respectively; dc magnetic measurements suggest that 5, 7, and 8 exhibit incipient magnetic ordering while ac measurements show no frequency-dependent behavior in χ″. Surprisingly, conversion of 5 to 6 in the presence of counterions occurs while heating crystalline samples introduces additional magnetic phases without linkage isomerism; two-dimensional phases containing MnII centers appear to be the sole product when wet DMF is used as a reaction solvent. The experimental evidence suggests that coordinated DMF ligands are labile and the MII(μ-NC)MV linkages are susceptible to fragmentation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Taking a new type of special threaded drill pipe joint as the research object, a 3D nonlinear finite element model of the double-shoulder tool joint (DSJ) including the engage and retract groove structure is established by considering the factors of structural asymmetry and contact of each engaging surface. ABAQUS/Explicit finite element method (FEM) is used to study the stress and contact pressure distribution characteristics of the critical structure of DSJ under make-up torque and axial tension. The accuracy of the finite element model was verified by combining with a full-scale physical test, and the connection strength and sealing performance of DSJ are evaluated. The results show that the stress concentration occurs at the key structure of DSJ under the make-up torque. The geometry size and structural discontinuity at the transition fillet of the double-shoulder structure have a significant effect on the stress and contact pressure distribution on the shoulder. Under axial tension, the stress level and stress concentration area of the whole joint and the key structure change, especially in the thread section. The sealing performance on the shoulder decreases significant, while that of the thread section increases slightly. The test results are consistent with the finite element analysis findings, and this joint shows good mechanical properties, which can meet the design requirements of drilling tool manufacturers and provide data support for its optimal design and application. • Evaluation of mechanical properties of a new type of special threaded tool joint. • A nonlinear 3D double-shoulder tool joint finite element model was established. • Complex loads have a significant effect on stress distribution at key structures. • This new tool joint provides better connection strength and sealing performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Simple Summary: The production of eggs is a crucial aspect of the chicken industry. Recent research has indicated that the gut microbiota undergoes dynamic changes and plays a significant role in egg production. However, the relationship between the gut microbiota and host gene expression remains unclear. To investigate this, we collected samples from the intestine (i.e., duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) and its microbiota at different stages of egg-laying (i.e., pre-, peak-, and late-laying) in chickens. Our findings showed that intestinal flora underwent significant changes during different laying periods that included changed genes (i.e., APOA1, APOB, TST, CCDC93, and TMEM175) involved in several transport processes, response to DNA damage, and development of intestinal structure. Additionally, our analysis suggested that specific intestinal microbes were significantly correlated with host gene expression, which indicated an interaction between the gut microbiota and the chicken host. Eggs are a vital dietary component for humans, and it is beneficial to increase egg production to support poultry farming. Initially, the egg production rate rises rapidly with young hens until it reaches its peak, and then it declines gradually. By extending the duration of peak egg production, the hens' performance can be enhanced significantly. Previous studies found dynamic changes in gut microbiota during egg-laying, and several species of microbiota isolated from the chicken gut improved egg-laying performance. However, the interaction between microbes and host gene expression is still unclear. This study provides a more comprehensive understanding of chicken egg-laying by examining dynamic alterations in the microbiota of the entire intestinal tract (i.e., duodenum, jejunum, and ileum) and gene expression. The microbial community in the intestine underwent significant changes during different egg-laying periods (i.e., pre-, peak-, and late-laying periods). Metagenomic functional analysis showed that the relative abundance of biosynthesis of amino acids, secondary metabolites, and cofactors decreased significantly in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of aging hens. The relative levels of aldosterone, GnRH, insulin, growth hormone, and other hormone-related pathways increased dramatically in the intestinal microbiota during egg-laying, but only in the microbiota located in the duodenum and ileum. Transcriptome analysis suggested that genes associated with various transport processes were upregulated consistently in the small intestine during egg-laying; genes involved in the development of intestinal structure were down-regulated; and genes involved in response to DNA damage and stress were consistent with changes in laying rate. The abundance of Lactobacillus was related to the expression of ANGPTRL1, ANGPTRL2, ANGPT1L, and NOXO1 in the duodenum; Muricomes was correlated significantly with NFKBIZ, LYG2, and IRG1L expression in the jejunum; and Campylobacter was correlated positively with the expression of KMT2A and USF3 in the ileum. These results indicated that the intestinal microbiota and host gene expression may influence egg production jointly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A mathematical analogy established between steady-state heat conduction and thermal inclusion in plane elasticity. • A complete set of Eshelby tensors for thermal and elastic fields expressed in explicit analytical form. • All the closed-form solutions elegantly unified in an algebraic expression for both interior and exterior fields. • Present model is flexible, effective and versatile for arbitrarily shaped inclusions with any eigen-temperature gradients. • The heat and stress concentrations investigated around the inclusion boundary. The existence of inclusions or inhomogeneities may disrupt heat flow, resulting in increased stresses and temperature fluctuations at the material interface. Analyzing the thermo-elastic fields surrounding such microstructures is crucial for unveiling the intricate failure mechanisms within materials. Based on the method of Green's function and contour integral, this work presents a complete set of explicit analytical solutions for thermal and elastic fields of an arbitrary polygonal inclusion subjected to linearly varying eigen-temperature gradients or thermal eigenstrains. In contrast to the previous studies on potentials showing analogy with anti-plane elasticity, a mathematical analogy of Green's functions between steady-state heat conduction and thermal inclusion for plane elasticity is accordingly established. By employing the linear interpolation of the nodal eigen-temperature gradients or eigenstrains, the work further extends the traditional isoparametric element idea to the thermos-elastic inclusions, and proposes a novel isoparametric inclusion model to solve arbitrarily shaped inclusions with any distributed eigen-temperature gradients. Unlike the finite element method, which requires meshing for both the matrix and inclusion, the present model exhibits efficiency, flexibility, and versatility with the mesh discretization only conducted inside the inclusion domain. The inclusion based isoparametric method may have potential applications in mechanical engineering and material science for analyzing the thermo-structural behavior of various microstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the issue of inadequate interfacial adhesion in carbon fiber/poly ether ether ketone (CF/PEEK) composites, an innovative approach that combines carbene chemistry and sizing treatment was meticulously designed to achieve remarkable synergistic enhancement. Specifically, cyano groups were chemical‐grafted on CF surface via carbene reaction. Meanwhile, a water‐based self‐catalyzed cross‐linkable PENK‐NH2 sizing agent with good storage stability was prepared. Noteworthy, the presence of amino groups as blocking agents of sizing agent significantly accelerated the rate of cyano‐crosslinking, thus effectively avoiding the adverse effects of excessively prolonged cross‐linking period during composites preparation. As a result, robust interaction between cyano‐modified CF and PEEK was established by cross‐linking reaction, along with chemical bonds generated between amino groups of sizing agent and ketone groups in PEEK. The maximum interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of CF‐CN‐1.5/PEEK composites was 22.0% and 57.0% higher than CF‐1.5/PEEK and CF/PEEK composites. Furthermore, the presence of cyano‐cross‐linked structure endowed interphase with outstanding solvent‐resistance, the mechanical properties of CF composites after solvent treatment were well‐preserved. The strong synergistic interfacial interactions facilitated by chemical bonds in different components provide an effective and fascinating methodology for producing high‐performance CF/composites. Highlights: Water‐based self‐catalyzed cross‐linkable PENK‐NH2 sizing agents for CF/PEEK were prepared.NH2 was introduced to avoid the adverse effects of prolonged cyano‐crosslinking.Designed carbenoid motif with cyano group was grafted on CF via carbene chemistry.The interaction between sizing agent and CF was boosted by the cyano‐crosslinking.Mechanical properties of sized composites corroded by solvent were well‐preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the functionality of the modification layer in regulating the charge transfer process at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface is of great significance to the rational design of photoelectrocatalytic water oxidation systems. Herein, by systematically investigating and comparing the charge transfer kinetics behaviors over ferrihydrite (Fh)- and cobalt phosphate (CoPi)-modified hematite (Fe2O3) photoanodes, we unveiled the essential relation between photocurrent enhancement and the charge transfer process. With the hole-storage material Fh as a reference, it was found that CoPi demonstrates high hole-storage capacity at a low bias region (<1.0 V vs. RHE) due to the effective release of Fermi level pinning. Afterwards, the stored holes would be timely injected into the electrolyte for water oxidation, caused by the enhanced charge separation in the presence of CoPi. In contrast, the decoration of Fh can only slightly passivate the surface states and promote hole injection in the high potential region. Subsequently, superior hole-storage capacity in the low-potential region is recognized as a crucial factor for photocurrent enhancement. These combined results provide new insights into the understanding of interfacial charge transfer kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Damming dominated reduced sediment fluxes, followed by climate change. • The Wenchuan Earthquake had little effect on long-term downstream sediment flux. • The drastically decreased sediment fluxes benefit the Three Gorges Reservoir. Riverine sediment flux is a crucial proxy influencing channel morphology, biogeochemical processes, and riverine ecosystems. However, recent climate change and multiple anthropogenic activities have substantially altered the sediment regimes of the world's rivers. On a basis of the "multiple double mass curves" method, this study selected the Jialing River (JR) basin as a case study to distinguish the relative impacts of climate change, land-use change, and damming on changes in the runoff and sediment flux over the past 60 years. The results showed that the sediment fluxes in the JR basin drastically decreased by 57–77% from the baseline period (1950s–1984) to the post-change period (1985–2017) mainly due to damming (60–75%), climate change (5–30%), and revegetation (10–20%). The runoff in the JR basin also exhibited a reduction (12–22%) likely because of the joint impacts of a reduction in precipitation and the restoration of vegetation. Although the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake (M = 7.9) increased the short-term sediment fluxes, its impact on the long-term sediment fluxes in the downstream areas of the JR basin was limited as a result of the buffering effect of the thousands of constructed reservoirs. The decreased sediment fluxes in the JR basin benefit the life expectancy of the Three Gorges Reservoir (the world's largest hydropower plant), but the reduced runoff can exacerbate water stress. The findings of our study have important implications for better management of water resources, sediment fluxes, and reservoir sedimentation not only for the JR basin, but also for the Three Gorges Reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the impressive strides on waterborne cross-linkable sizing agents for carbon fiber (CF)-reinforced polyether ether ketone (PEEK) composites, the vast majority of polymer precursors employed for sizing agents in existing researches are derived from petroleum resources. On the other hand, the notable influence of the adhesive strength between sizing agent and CF on the interfacial properties of composites has been consistently disregarded. Herein, a waterborne cross-linkable sizing agent was prepared capitalizing on naturally existing magnolol. Meanwhile, sulfhydryl groups were chemical-grafted on the surface of CF via click reaction, setting stages for subsequent interaction with magnolol units via a second click reaction to effectively enrich the force between CF and sizing layer. As a unique feature of the system, the inherent mechanism of the sizing coating layer comprises self-crosslinking of the orchestrated propenyl groups toward sturdy structures during hot-pressing, contributing to unrivalled solvent-resistance and unorthodox interfacial robustness. As a result, the bending strength, interlaminar and interfacial shear strength of the derived composites were promoted by 35.48 %, 47.87 % and 61.03 %, respectively. Noteworthy, the mechanical properties of Sized-CF composites were well-preserved after solvent aging treatment. Therefore, this protocol developed a novel bio-based waterborne cross-linkable sizing agents of PEEK derivative, laying a good foundation for advanced CF/PEEK composites with excellent interfacial performance. Schematic diagram of strengthening mechanism of CF/PEEK composites. [Display omitted] • A bio-based cross-linkable PEEK was prepared and serve as the sizing agent for CF/PEEK. • The naturally derived Magnolol was used to synthesize bio-based PEEK. • Robust interaction between magnolol and -SH on CF surface enhance the adhesion between CF and sizing agent. • The ILSS, IFSS and bending strength were noteworthy increased by 47.87 %, 61.03 % and 35.48 %. • Mechanical properties of Sized composites corroded by solvent were well-preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing hierarchical twins into nanotwinned (NT) materials is regarded as an effective way to further improve their mechanical properties. It can be imagined that, with the increase of the order of hierarchical twins, it is insufficient to solely take single twin spacing into consideration. For example, the effect of the spacings of primary and secondary twins should be considered together for tertiary twinning. By virtue of theoretical modelling and atomistic simulations, we investigate the influence of low-order twin spacings on high-order twinning. The optimization strategy of high-order twin density and spacings with respect to low-order twin spacings are proposed. It is demonstrated that there exists a trade-off between high-order twin density and twin spacing which can be tuned by the low-order twin spacings. In addition, the atomistic deformation mechanisms related to low-order twin spacings are discussed. Different size-dependent propagation behaviors of partial dislocations are unveiled, relying on the combination of low-order twin spacings. At last, the great thermal stability of high-order twins is also verified, which is attributed to a strong pinning effect of partial dislocations onto low-order twins, leading to a special stress partitioning phenomenon. Our findings may provide a theoretical benchmark for the fabrication of high-order hierarchical nanotwinned (HNT) structures and thus, assisting the design of high-performance mechanical materials. • A mechanism-based plastic model is developed to predict the size-effect of high-order hierarchical twinning in nanotwinned metals. • The size effect of tertiary twinning and the corresponding atomistic mechanisms are unraveled by atomistic simulations. • The optimization of high-order twin density and twin spacings can be tuned by the moderate combination of low-order twin spacings. • Good thermal stability of high-order twins derives from stress partitioning effect along with dislocations pinning behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality chicken meat is an important source of animal protein for humans. Gene expression profiles in breast muscle tissue were determined, aiming to explore the common regulatory genes relevant to muscle and intramuscular fat (IMF) during the developmental stage in chickens. Results show that breast muscle weight (BMW), breast meat percentage (BMP, %), and IMF (%) continuously increased with development. A total of 256 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the developmental stage were screened. Among them, some genes related to muscle fiber hypertrophy were upregulated (e.g., CSRP3, LMOD2, MUSTN1, MYBPC1), but others (e.g., ACTC1, MYL1, MYL4) were downregulated from Week 3 to Week 18. During this period, expression of some DEGs related to the cells cycle (e.g., CCNB3, CCNE2, CDC20, MCM2) changed in a way that genetically suggests possible inhibitory regulation on cells number. In addition, DEGs associated with energy metabolism (e.g., ACOT9, CETP, LPIN1, DGAT2, RBP7, FBP1, PHKA1) were found to regulate IMF deposition. Our data identified and provide new insights into the common regulatory genes related to muscle growth, cell proliferation, and energy metabolism at the developmental stage in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testosterone (T) is essential for muscle fiber formation and growth. However, the specific mechanism by which T regulates skeletal muscle development in chicken embryos remains unclear. In this study, the role of T in myoblast proliferation both in vivo and in vitro was investigated. Results showed that the T administration significantly increased the ratio of breast muscle and leg muscle. T induced a significant increase in the cross-sectional area (CSA) and density of myofiber and the ratio of PAX7-positive cells in the skeletal muscle. Exogenous T also induced the upregulation of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK2)/Cyclin D1 (CCND1) and protein levels of androgen receptor (AR), p-Akt and PAX7. Furthermore, T treatment significantly promoted myoblasts cultured in vitro entering a new cell cycle and increased PAX7-positive cells. The mRNA and protein expression of AR and PAX7 were upregulated when treated with T compared to that of the control. The addition of T induced proliferation accompanied by increasing AR level as well as PI3K (Phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt activation. However, T-induced proliferation was attenuated by AR, PI3K, and Akt-specific inhibitors. These data indicated that the pro-proliferative effect of T was regulated though AR in response to the activation of PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In aeroelastic structure optimization, the structural model needs to be modified repeatedly to meet all targets. Although computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based reduced order models (ROMs) have been successfully applied to transonic aeroelastic analysis, the existing CFD-based ROMs are at a fixed flight condition for a frozen aeroelastic model configuration. The aerodynamic and structural model have to be reconstructed to ensure accuracy, when a structural modification was made. These reconstructions take a considerable time and the computational costs become prohibitive. To overcome the realistic challenge, we have developed an efficient CFD-based ROM, which is robust to aeroelastic system. This paper presents a new optimization process using the efficient method for aeroelastic global structural optimization. The optimization process employs Genetic Algorithms (GAs) as optimization tool. In order to assess the performance of presented optimization process, the AGARD 445.6 wing model is taken as numerical example. The results show that the most feasible and optimal solutions are effectively obtained by the presented optimization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The small intestine is the major place for chickens to digest and absorb the nutrients. The intestinal epithelium is a single layer of cells that are generated by the stem cells in the crypt. This review mainly summarized the recent findings of molecular signaling pathways that control the proliferation and differentiation of chicken small intestinal stem cells, and the biological functions of chicken small intestinal stem cells, and the biological functions of chicken small intestinal epithelium corresponding to different cell types. We also provided some novel in vitro models for studying chicken small intestinal stem cells. With the understanding of cellular composition and differentiation in chicken small intestinal epithelium, it may bring the new ideas for the poultry industry to improve the small intestinal health and nutrition. The small intestine plays an important role for animals to digest and absorb nutrients. The epithelial lining of the intestine develops from the embryonic endoderm of the embryo. The mature intestinal epithelium is composed of different types of functional epithelial cells that are derived from stem cells, which are located in the crypts. Chickens have been widely used as an animal model for researching vertebrate embryonic development. However, little is known about the molecular basis of development and differentiation within the chicken small intestinal epithelium. This review introduces processes of development and growth in the chicken gut, and compares the cellular characteristics and signaling pathways between chicken and mammals, including Notch and Wnt signaling that control the differentiation in the small intestinal epithelium. There is evidence that the chicken intestinal epithelium has a distinct cellular architecture and proliferation zone compared to mammals. The establishment of an in vitro cell culture model for chickens will provide a novel tool to explore molecular regulation of the chicken intestinal development and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSmall angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a widely used physical technique to characterize nanoscale materials. The absolute scattering intensity provides quantitative data to characterize the mass and density of the analyzed materials. However, the derivation of absolute scattering intensity usually requires the calibration of experimentally measured relative scattering intensity. The most common approach calibration employs standards with known differential cross sections. It is necessary to analyze the standard and samples under identical conditions, including the same distance from sample to detector. This study eliminates this limitation, i.e., the calibration may be achieved by measuring the standards and samples at different distances to the detector using variable sample locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]