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Abstract The polarized bidirectional reflectance distribution function (pBRDF) can describe the changes between the Stokes vectors of incident and reflected light. The existing model can only describe the spatial distribution of the target’s polarization characteristics at a single wavelength, so further research is needed for the description of the target’s polarized spectral characteristics. In this paper, a modified three-component polarized spectral bidirectional reflectance distribution function (pSBRDF) is proposed, which combines Fresnel equation in the specular reflection component with Cauchy’s empirical dispersion equation, by introducing the wavelength variable and dispersion constants that do not change with wavelength. The degree of the linear polarization (DoLP) of two types of coated fabric samples was measured at three incident angles and 400 to 760 nm wavelength. The error of the model in describing the spectral and the spatial distribution of DoLP are controlled within 0.00743 and 0.0757 respectively, which proves the accuracy of the model. This research provides the model basis for analysis of the target’s polarization characteristics and the theoretical basis for the application of polarization detection.

Abstract The placenta links feto‐maternal circulation for exchanges of nutrients, gases, and metabolic wastes between the fetus and mother, being essential for pregnancy process and maintenance. The allantois and mesodermal components of amnion, chorion, and yolk sac are derived from extraembryonic mesoderm (Ex‐Mes), however, the mechanisms contributing to distinct components of the placenta and regulation the interactions between allantois and epithelium during chorioallantoic fusion and labyrinth formation remains unclear. Isl1 is expressed in progenitors of the Ex‐Mes and allantois the Isl1 mut mouse line is analyzed to investigate contribution of Isl1+ Ex‐Mes / allantoic progenitors to cells of the allantois and placenta. This study shows that Isl1 identifies the Ex‐Mes progenitors for endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, and most of the mesenchymal cells of the placenta and umbilical cord. Deletion of Isl1 causes defects in allantois growth, chorioallantoic fusion, and placenta vessel morphogenesis. RNA‐seq and CUT&Tag analyses revealed that Isl1 promotes allantoic endothelial, inhibits mesenchymal cell differentiation, and allantoic signals regulated by Isl1 mediating the inductive interactions between the allantois and chorion critical for chorionic epithelium differentiation, villous formation, and labyrinth angiogenesis. This study above reveals that Isl1 plays roles in regulating multiple genetic and epigenetic pathways of vascular morphogenesis, provides the insight into the mechanisms for placental formation, highlighting the necessity of Isl1 for placenta formation/pregnant maintenance.

The digital economy and energy are crucial drivers of economic transformation, and the global development trend is toward the deep integration of the two. Previous studies carried out at the provincial scale, show it is difficult to grasp the change characteristics of prefecture-level cities. From the scale of urban agglomeration, energy management problems in different regions can be more accurately grasped. This study examines the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and its seven surrounding regions, commonly known as the “2 + 26” cities. Panel data from 28 prefecture-level cities between 2011 and 2019 are utilized for analysis. First, the area's energy efficiency was assessed using the DEA-SBM model. Second, the development coordination relationship among the digital system and energy system is evaluated by using the coupling coordination degree model. Finally, the process of coupling coordination of digital-energy systems affecting energy efficiency was examined using a three-step stepwise regression and bootstrap mediation model. The findings demonstrate that: (1) The “2 + 26” cities' energy efficiency is considerably different. The distribution of the high efficiency zone changes from “high in the south and low in the north” to the state of radiating southward with Beijing and Tianjin as the center. (2) “2 + 26” cities are in the dynamic evolution stage of low to medium coupling degree, accounting for 89.3 % of all cities. The coupling coordination degree of digital-energy system has increased throughout the entire city by 49 %. (3) Energy efficiency improved by 64.7 % while the coupling coordination degree of the digital energy system grew by 1 %. The total effect of technical efficiency changes on energy efficiency accounted for 8.2 %. The research results could provide differentiated policy recommendations for regional energy use.

Abstract Fertilizer-intensive agriculture is a leading source of reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions that damage climate, air quality, and human health. Biochar has long been studied as a soil amendment, but its influence on Nr emissions remains insufficiently characterized. More recently, the pyrolysis of light hydrocarbons has been suggested as a source of hydrogen fuel, resulting in a solid zero-valent carbon (ZVC) byproduct whose impact on soil emissions has yet to be tested. We incorporate carbon amendment algorithms into an agroecosystem model to simulate emission changes in the year following the application of biochar or ZVC to the US. fertilized soils. Our simulations predicted that the impacts of biochar amendments on Nr emissions would vary widely (− 17% to + 27% under 5 ton ha−1 applications, − 38% to + 18% under 20 ton ha−1 applications) and depend mostly on how nitrification is affected. Low-dose biochar application (5 ton ha−1) stimulated emissions of all three nitrogen species in 75% of simulated agricultural areas, while high-dose applications (20 ton ha−1) mitigated emissions in 76% of simulated areas. Applying zero-valent carbon at 20 ton ha−1 exhibited similar effects on nitrogen emissions as biochar applications at 5 ton ha−1. Biochar amendments are most likely to mitigate emissions if applied at high rates in acidic soils (pH

Abstract Branched chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolic impairments have been implicated in several diseases. Branched chain ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKDH) controls the rate limiting step in BCAA degradation, the activity of which is inhibited by BCKDH kinase (BDK)-mediated phosphorylation. Screening efforts to discover BDK inhibitors led to identification of thiophene PF-07208254, which improved cardiometabolic endpoints in mice. Structure-activity relationship studies led to identification of a thiazole series of BDK inhibitors; however, these inhibitors did not improve metabolism in mice upon chronic administration. While the thiophenes demonstrated sustained branched chain ketoacid (BCKA) lowering and reduced BDK protein levels, the thiazoles increased BCKAs and BDK protein levels. Thiazoles increased BDK proximity to BCKDH-E2, whereas thiophenes reduced BDK proximity to BCKDH-E2, which may promote BDK degradation. Thus, we describe two BDK inhibitor series that possess differing attributes regarding BDK degradation or stabilization and provide a mechanistic understanding of the desirable features of an effective BDK inhibitor.

Abstract Background Wheelchair Tai Chi (WCTC) has been proved to have benefits for the brain and motor system of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. However, the characteristics of corticomuscular coupling during WCTC are scarcely known. We aimed to investigate changes following SCI on corticomuscular coupling, and further compare the coupling characteristics of WCTC with aerobic exercise in SCI patients. Methods A total of 15 SCI patients and 25 healthy controls were recruited. The patients had to perform aerobic exercise and WCTC, while healthy controls needed to complete a set of WCTC. The participants accomplished the test following the tutorial video in a sitting position. The upper limb muscle activation was measured from upper trapezius, medial deltoid, biceps brachii and triceps brachii with surface electromyography. Cortical activity in the prefrontal cortex, premotor cortex, supplementary motor area and primary motor cortex was simultaneously collected by functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The functional connectivity, phase synchronization index and coherence values were then calculated and statistically analyzed. Results Compared to healthy controls, changes in functional connectivity and higher muscle activation were observed in the SCI group. There was no significant difference in phase synchronization between groups. Among patients, significantly higher coherence values between the left biceps brachii as well as the right triceps brachii and contralateral regions of interest were found during WCTC than during aerobic exercise. Conclusion The patients may compensate for the lack of corticomuscular coupling by enhancing muscle activation. This study demonstrated the potential and advantages of WCTC in eliciting corticomuscular coupling, which may optimize rehabilitation following SCI.

Achieving carbon neutrality and alleviating the rural energy predicament are crucial aspects in rural areas, particularly in the severe cold regions of northeast China. Pellets serve as clean, renewable energy sources and are ideal alternative fuels. This study investigated the influencing factors and effects of mixed raw materials in ultrasonic vibration-assisted pelleting (UV-A pelleting). Rice straw and corn stover were mixed to produce pellets, and a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was conducted to analyze the variables and their interactions on pellet density and durability. Mathematical regression models for pellet density and durability were established and then validated through ANOVA analysis. The results showed that all variables significantly affected the density and durability of pellets. The mixing ratio had a greater impact on pellet durability compared to density due to differences in ingredients. The optimal combination of process parameters included a mixing ratio of 25%, molding pressure of 4 MPa, pelleting time of 37 s, and ultrasonic power output at 200 W, resulting in a pellet density of 1301.18 kg/m3 with a durability reaching 94.26%. The desirability value (0.997) under these optimal conditions confirmed the validity of the models; further experiments also verified their effectiveness. The combustion of the optimized pellet was analyzed using thermogravimetric (TG) and derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) analysis in an air atmosphere. Four combustion stages and ignition temperature were provided.

As a new alternative fuel vehicle for energy reserve strategy, the development of methanol vehicles in China has been at the forefront. Completed pilot projects have demonstrated that methanol vehicles can effectively reduce fuel costs and pollutant emissions during driving. In addition to methanol vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles such as electric vehicles and compressed natural gas vehicles also maintain a sound development momentum in China. It is essential to understand which one has more advantages from sustainable development. This paper uses the Energy, Environment, and Economy (3E) evaluation method to analyze the energy consumption, environmental emission, and economy of methanol, electric, gas, and gasoline vehicles from the whole life cycle perspective. A comprehensive index evaluation model was constructed, and the development potential of the three alternative fuel vehicles was ranked under four different scenarios (energy-oriented, environment-oriented, economic-oriented, and equilibrium scenarios). This research shows that methanol vehicles have higher total energy consumption than gasoline vehicles in the whole life cycle. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, compared with gasoline vehicles, methanol, and compressed natural gas vehicles decreased by 8.79 tons and 12.45 tons, respectively. At the same time, methanol vehicles have a better economic benefit than gasoline vehicles (37%), which is the same as the completed pilot projects. In addition, results also show that due to the advantages of low renovation cost and fuel price, the user’s cost of methanol vehicles is more down than blade electric vehicles, which makes them have better development potential compared with electric and compressed natural gas vehicles in the economic-oriented and equilibrium scenario. Therefore, methanol vehicles can be used as alternative fuel vehicles for long-term development in China.

IntroductionBecause of the problems of insufficient funds and traditional training methods in college sports agile training, an agile training system based on a wireless ad hoc network was developed to evaluate the effect of improving the sensitive quality of ordinary college students. Based on the ESP-MESH network, the lower computer realizes automatic networking between devices and tests the performance of the mesh network. Fourteen male college students received 9 weeks of agility training, with seven students in each of two groups: traditional agility training and agile equipment training. The researchers evaluated the performance of both groups in rapid disguise, body coordination, changing movements, and predictive decision-making.ResultsThere was no significant difference between the groups before training, but there were significant differences in the four abilities after training (p

Given the problems of using traditional training methods and insufficient funds in college sports agility training, the agility training system based on Wireless MESH Network is developed. The lower computer realizes the automatic networking between nodes based on the ESP-MESH network, and describes the networking process, intra-group communication and network management of the MESH network in detail. When the number of network layers ≤2, the node response time is about 300ms, and the packet loss rate is close to 0, it is proved that the Wireless MESH Network can transmit network data in real-time. The upper computer adopts the software design based on Android, which can view the agility training time of each point in the movement. In this paper, 10 university sports students were trained in stages for up to 9 weeks with the aid of an agility apparatus. After the training, the ability of rapid direction change, movement change and decision-making related to agile quality was significantly improved compared with those before the training (p < 0.01). The experimental results show that agile coaches are practical in improving college students’ agility.

ABSTRACTScabies remains a significant public health concern globally, affecting people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic groups. The epidemic characteristics of scabies are yet unravelled, especially in high-income countries and elderly population. In this study, we sought to investigate incidence and prevalence and their trends of scabies worldwide from 1990 to 2017 via the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2017. The prevalence and incidence of scabies tend to a moderate increase after age 70. The annual percentage change in ASR of scabies prevalence and incidence increased in high SDI countries and High-income North America. Current prevention strategies should be reoriented, and much more targeted strategies should be established in some populations to forestall the increase in scabies.

This paper describes recent advances in the effect of soil creep on the time-dependent deformation of deep braced excavation. The effect of soil creep is generally investigated using the observational method and the plain-strain numerical simulation method. The observational method is more applicable for deep braced excavations in soft clays constructed using the top-down method. The plain-strain numerical simulation method can be conveniently used for parametric analysis, but it is unable to capture the spatial characteristics of soil creep effect on lateral wall deflections and ground movements. The additional lateral wall deflections and ground movements that are generated due to the soil creep effect can account for as large as 30% of the total displacements, which highlights the importance of considering the effect of soil creep in deep braced excavations through soft clays. The magnitude of the displacements due to soil creep depends on various factors, such as excavation depth, elapsed period, unsupported length, and strut stiffness. Parametric analyses have indicated several effective measures that can be taken in practice to mitigate the detrimental effect of soil creep on the deformation of deep braced excavation. Based on the literature review, potential directions of the related future research work are discussed. This paper should be beneficial for both researchers and engineers focusing on mitigating the adverse effect of soil creep on the stability of deep braced excavations.

In order to improve the agility of college students, this paper designs a distributed agility training system. The system includes an upper computer and nine lower computers, in which the lower computer realizes the functions of data acquisition and communication with the upper computer and calculates the reaction time. The Android-based system software was installed in the upper computer to complete the functions of network connection, setting training times and showing the exercise time. In order to test the effectiveness of the equipment, nine university students were invited to complete agility training over 8 weeks with the help of agility training equipment in preparatory, enhancement and special stages. A t-test (Student’s t test) was conducted on the test results at different positions on the front and middle and back areas of the court before and after the training. The results show that the agility of the experimental objects was significantly improved after training, from the midpoint to any point at the front, middle and back court (p < 0.01). This shows that using equipment designed to develop agility for long-term training can promote the sensitive quality in badminton learners.

Low-temperature pretreatment (LTPT, Temp. < 100 °C or 140 °C) has the advantages of low input, simplicity, and energy saving, which makes engineering easy to use for improving biogas production. However, compared with high-temperature pretreatment (>150 °C) that can destroy recalcitrant polymerized matter in biomass, the action mechanism of heat treatment of biomass is unclear. Improving LTPT on biogas yield is often influenced by feedstock type, treatment temperature, exposure time, and fermentation conditions. Such as, even when belonging to the same algal biomass, the response to LTPT varies between species. Therefore, forming a unified method for LTPT to be applied in practice is difficult. This review focuses on the LTPT used in different biomass materials to improve anaerobic digestion performance, including food waste, sludge, animal manure, algae, straw, etc. It also discusses the challenge and cost issues faced during LTPT application according to the energy balance and proposes some proposals for economically promoting the implementation of LTPT.

Traditional soil nitrogen detection methods have the characteristics of being time-consuming and having an environmental pollution effect. We urgently need a rapid, easy-to-operate, and non-polluting soil nitrogen detection technology. In order to quickly measure the nitrogen content in soil, a new method for detecting the nitrogen content in soil is presented by using a near-infrared spectrum technique and random forest regression (RF). Firstly, the experiment took the soil by the Xunsi River in the area of Hubei University of Technology as the research object, and a total of 143 soil samples were collected. Secondly, NIR spectral data from 143 soil samples were acquired, and chemical and physical methods were used to determine the content of nitrogen in the soil. Thirdly, the raw spectral data of soil samples were denoised by preprocessing. Finally, a forecast model for the soil nitrogen content was developed by using the measured values of components and modeling algorithms. The model was optimized by adjusting the changes in the model parameters and Gini coefficient (∆Gini), and the model was compared with the back propagation (BP) and support vector machine (SVM) models. The results show that: the RF model modeling set prediction R2C is 0.921, the RMSEC is 0.115, the test set R2P is 0.83, and the RMSEP is 0.141; the detection of the soil nitrogen content can be realized by using a near-infrared spectrum technique and random forest algorithm, and its prediction accuracy is better than that of the BP and SVM models; using ∆ Gini to optimize the RF modeling data, the spectral information of the soil nitrogen content can be extracted, and the data redundancy can be reduced effectively.

Reviewing literature revealed that the studies on the bearing characteristics of pile foundations mainly focuses on clay, ordinary sand, loess, saline soil, and other areas. However, few studies on the bearing characteristics of the pile foundation in calcareous sand were conducted. Besides, existing traditional studies ignored the variation of soil compression modulus with depth, and the effect of void ratio on the transverse bearing characteristics of the pile foundation in a calcareous sand area were not well understood. In response of these problems, this study conducted a theoretical investigation on the transverse bearing characteristics of the pile foundation in a calcareous sand area. The transverse bearing characteristics of the pile foundation were derived based on the Pasternak foundation model and the Winkler foundation model, incorporating the heterogeneous distribution of compressive modulus with buried depth. The calculation results of the Pasternak foundation model are closer to the observed results than the Winkler foundation model. Therefore, the following research on the transverse bearing characteristics of the pile foundation in the calcareous sand area adopts the Pasternak foundation model. Then, the effects of the pile length, pile diameter, pile elastic modulus, horizontal load, bending moment, and void ratio on the transverse bearing characteristics of the pile foundation in a calcareous sand area were thoroughly analyzed. Furthermore, the difference between the transverse bearing characteristics of the pile foundation in a calcareous sand area and a quartz sand area was discussed. Results show that the horizontal displacement of the pile top in a calcareous sand area is greater than the quartz sand area under the same conditions.

Highway tunnel plays an increasingly prominent role in the development of high-grade highway traffic in mountainous countries or regions. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the deformation characteristics of the surrounding rock of a six-lane multiarch tunnel under different excavation conditions. Using the three-dimensional indoor model test and finite element analysis, this paper studies the dynamic mechanical behavior of a six-lane construction, reveals the whole process of the surrounding rock deformation process of class II surrounding rock under different excavation conditions, and puts forward the best construction and excavation method. The results show that the maximum displacement rate of excavation scheme III is the largest, and the maximum displacement rate of excavation scheme I is basically the same as that of excavation scheme II. Therefore, in terms of controlling the displacement rate of the surrounding rock, the effect of excavation scheme I is basically the same as that of excavation scheme II, while that of excavation scheme III is poor. In terms of construction technology, scheme II is simpler than scheme I and can ensure the integrity of the secondary lining. Therefore, in class II surrounding rock of the supporting project, it is recommended to adopt scheme II for construction.

The existence of flaws in brittle rocks or rock-like materials has an obvious influence on the material mechanical properties and cracking behavior of civil engineering projects. In this work, the two-dimensional particle flow code PFC2D was used to study the deformation and strength properties, failure processes, and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of mudstone with a single preexisting flaw. First, the procedure to construct a parallel bond model is introduced. The Weibull distribution is used to reflect the mechanical heterogeneity of rocks. Then, the microscopic parameters used in PFC2D are calibrated to the macroproperties of mudstone obtained from laboratory tests under the uniaxial compression. The results indicate that the increases of the flaw inclination lead to the increasing uniaxial compressive strength and elastic modulus. In terms of microcrack evolution, the initiation, propagation, and coalescence of microcracks are closely related to the force chain. Specifically, an “X” shaped tension force chain concentrated area around the preexisting flaw is founded, which is the most prone area for microcracks to initiate. With an increase in flaw inclination, the b value of AE also shows an increasing trend. By incorporating the AE event numbers into a damage variable, this paper derives a constitutive model, which is verified by numerical results on brittle rocks with a single preexisting flaw under uniaxial compression.

This paper investigates the performance of a top-down deep excavation in soil-rock composite stratum. The behavior of the excavation bracing system, consisting of ground anchors and end-suspended piles, has not been well understood due to the lack of relevant research. Based on the observed data of a typical deep excavation case history for the May Fourth Square Station in Tsingtao, China, the characteristics of the horizontal and vertical pile displacements, ground surface settlements, building settlements, axial forces in ground anchors, earth pressure, and pore water pressure during excavation were analysed. Two-dimensional finite element simulations were carried out to further explore the deformation and internal force responses of end-suspended piles and to capture the effects of pile diameter, embedded depth, and rock-socketed depth on the horizontal displacement and bending moment distributions along the pile shaft. It was found that the pattern of the vertical pile displacements could be categorized into three types: rapid settlement, slow settlement, and rapid heave. The magnitudes of the ground and building responses can be well controlled within allowable limits by combining the top-down method with the adopted bracing system. Among the investigated parameters, pile diameter is dominant in affecting the horizontal pile displacement. The primary influence zone for pile bending moment varies, depending on the parameters. It is recommended that a combination of top-down method, ground anchors, and end-suspended piles be adopted for restraining excavation deformation and lowering construction costs of similar deep excavations in soil-rock composite stratum.

The effect of reducing particle size on physical properties, the methane yield and energy flow were investigated through the biochemical methane potential (BMP) experiment of aerobic-anaerobic digestion (AAD) of rice straw (RS). The whole straw was crushed through four sieves of different aperture sizes (1, 3, 5, and 7 mm) to obtain the actual and non-uniform particle size distribution (PSD). The results indicated that the actual particle sizes were normally or logarithmic normally distributed. Reducing particle size could significantly promote the aerobic hydrolysis and acidification process, increase the content of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from 4408.78 to 6225.15 mg/L and the degradation of volatile solids (VS) from 40.56% to 50.49%. The results of path analysis suggested that particle size reduction played an important role in improving lignocellulosic degradability, which was the main factor affecting methane production with the comprehensive decision of 0.4616. The maximum methane production obtained at 1 mm sieve size was 176.47 mLCH4g−1 VS. The phyla of Firmicutes (61.5%), Proteobacteria (9.3%), Chloroflexi (8.3%), Bacteroidetes (4.1%), Cyanobacteria/Chloroplast (4.6%) were mainly responsible for VFAs production and lignocellulose degradation. However, the net negative energy balance was observed at the 1 mm sieve size due to the increased energy input. Therefore, the optimum sieve size for AAD was 3 mm.

Abstract During a randomized Phase 1 clinical trial the drug candidate, PF‐04895162 (ICA‐105665), caused transaminase elevations (≥grade 1) in six of eight healthy subjects treated at 300 mg twice daily for 2‐weeks (NCT01691274). This was unexpected since studies in rats (

The coefficient of restitution (COR) represents the fraction of pre-collision kinetic energy remained after the collision between two bodies. The COR parameter plays an important role in the discrete numerical analysis of granular flows or the design of protective barriers to reduce flow energy. This work investigated the COR for grain-block type impacts through comprehensive experiments using a custom-built impact loading apparatus. Glass balls of three different sizes were used as grains. The impact experiments were performed on three different types of materials as base blocks, namely brass, granite and rubber. Experiments on the brass block showed a decrease in COR values with increasing grain size. On the contrary, impacts on granite and rubber blocks showed an increase in COR values with increasing grain size. Additionally, the effect of surface roughness on the COR was investigated. It was revealed that the increase in surface roughness of either the grain or the block reduced the COR values due to the increased plastic deformations of surface asperities.

To assess the potential of individual bile acids (IBA) and their profiles as mechanistic biomarkers of liver injury for humans in real world situations, we interrogated samples collected under minimum controlled conditions (ie subjects were not fasted). Total bile acids (TBA) have been considered to be biomarkers of liver injury for decades, and more recently, monitoring of IBA has been proposed for differentiation of variety of etiologies of liver injury. We established a LC-MS/MS methodology to analyze nine IBA, generated reference ranges, and examined effects of age, gender, and ethnicity for each IBA. Furthermore, we evaluated the ability of IBA and their profiles to detect hepatic injury in subjects with a broad range of liver impairments. To date, our study utilized the largest total cohort of samples (N = 645) that were divided into 2 groups, healthy or liver impaired, to evaluate IBA as biomarkers. The TBA serum levels in the Asian ethnic group trended higher when compared to other ethnic groups, and the serum concentrations of IBA, such as glycocholic acid (GCA), glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), and taurochenoxycholic acid (TCDCA) were significantly increased. To our knowledge, this report is the first to describe ethnic differences in serum concentrations of IBAs. In patients with hepatic impairments, with the exception of deoxycholic acid (DCA), the concentrations of IBAs were significantly elevated when compared with healthy subjects. The conjugated bile acids displayed greater differences between healthy subjects and subjects with hepatic impairments than non-conjugated bile acids. Furthermore, the subjects with hepatic impairments exhibited distinct profiles (signatures) of IBAs that clustered subjects according the nature of their liver impairments. Although additional studies are needed, our data suggested that the analysis of IBA has the potential to become useful for differentiation of various forms of liver injury.

Anaerobic digestate from cattle manure fermentation may pose a threat to the environment. How to stabilize the digestate’s characteristics so that they do not disturb the bio-system is a critical issue for digestate management. Chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) was investigated as a pretreatment option for digestate treatment. The performance of CEPT for digestate management was carried out under rapid mixing (200 r/min) and slow stirring (40 r/min), respectively. The optimal dosage of ferric chloride (FeCl3) was 40 mg/L. The combination of FeCl3 and anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) had no obvious influence on TP removal, while COD removal efficiency was improved by 15.4%. The digestate pH and temperature remained stable for CEPT application and required no adjustment. The results indicate that CEPT was effective and feasible in enhancing the removal of COD and TP for digestate pretreatment by using FeCl3 and APAM.

The Huoyan goose is famous for its high egg-laying performance and is listed as a nationally protected domestic animal by the Chinese government. To elucidate the key regulatory genes involved in Huoyan goose egg laying, RNA from ovarian tissue during the ceased and laying periods was sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing platform. More than 12 million reads were produced in ceased and laying libraries that included 11,896,423 and 12,534,799 clean reads, respectively. More than 20% of the reads were matched to the reference genome, and 23% of the reads were matched to reference genes. Genes with a false discovery rate (FDR) ≤0.001 and log2ratio ≧1 or ≤-1 were characterized as differentially expressed, and 344 up-regulated and 344 down-regulated genes were classified into functional categories. Twelve genes that are mainly involved in pathways for reproduction regulation, such as steroid hormone biosynthesis, GnRH signaling pathways, oocyte meiosis, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, steroid biosynthesis, calcium signaling pathways, and G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway were selected for validation by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis, the qRT-PCR results are consistent with the general expression patterns of those genes from the Illumina sequencing. These data provide comprehensive gene expression information at the transcriptional level that might increase our understanding of the Huoyan goose's reproductive biology.

The Taj Mahal—an iconic World Heritage monument built of white marble—has become discolored with time, due, in part, to high levels of particulate matter (PM) soiling its surface (Bergin et al 2015 Environ. Sci. Technol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es504005q 49 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es504005q ). Such discoloration has required extensive and costly treatment (2015 Two Hundred Sixty Second Report on Effects of Pollution on Taj Parliament of India Rajya Sabha, New Delhi) and despite previous interventions to reduce pollution in its vicinity, the haze and darkening persists (Bergin et al 2015 Environ. Sci. Technol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es504005q 49 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es504005q ; 2015 Two Hundred Sixty Second Report on Effects of Pollution on Taj Parliament of India Rajya Sabha, New Delhi). PM responsible for the soiling has been attributed to a variety of sources including industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust and biomass burning, but the contribution of the emissions from the burning of open municipal solid waste (MSW) may also play an important role. A recent source apportionment study of fine particulate matter (PM _2.5 ) at the Taj Mahal showed biomass burning emissions, which would include MSW emissions, accounted for nearly 40% of organic matter (OM)—a component of PM—deposition to its surface (Bergin et al 2015 Environ. Sci. Technol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es504005q 49 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es504005q ); dung cake burning, used extensively for cooking in the region, was the suggested culprit and banned within the city limits (2015 Two Hundred Sixty Second Report on Effects of Pollution on Taj Parliament of India Rajya Sabha, New Delhi), although the burning of MSW, a ubiquitous practice in the area (Nagpure et al 2015 Environ. Sci. Technol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b03243 49 http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b03243 ), may play a more important role in local air quality. Using spatially detailed emission estimates and air quality modeling, we find that open MSW burning leads to about 150 (±130) mg m ^−2 yr ^−1 of PM _2.5 being deposited to the surface of the Taj Mahal compared to about 12 (±3.2) mg m ^−2 yr ^−1 from dung cake burning. Those two sources, combined, also lead to an estimated 713 (377–1050) premature mortalities in Agra each year, dominated by waste burning in socioeconomically lower status neighborhoods. An effective MSW management strategy would reduce soiling of the Taj Mahal, improve human health, and have additional aesthetic benefits.

Agriculture and food systems play important roles shaping atmospheric chemistry and air quality, most dominantly via the release of reactive nitrogen (Nr) compounds, but also via agricultural burning, energy use, and cropland and pastureland expansion. In this opinion, we first succinctly review our current understanding of agricultural and food-system emissions of Nr and other atmospherically relevant compounds, their fates and impacts on air quality, human health and terrestrial ecosystems, and how such emissions can be potentially mitigated through better cropland management, livestock management and whole food-system transformation. With that, we highlight important knowledge gaps that warrant more extensive research, and argue that we scientists need to provide a more detailed, process-based understanding of the impacts of agriculture and food systems on atmospheric chemistry, especially as the importance of emissions from other fossil fuel-intensive sectors is fading in the face of regulatory measures worldwide. Such knowledge is necessary to guide food-system transformation in technologically feasible, economically viable, socially inclusive, and environmentally responsible manners, and essential to help society achieve multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially to ensure food security for the people, protect human and ecosystem health, improve farmers’ livelihood, and ultimately help communities achieve socioeconomic and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]