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Small-pore zeolites catalyze the methanol-to-olefins (MTO) reaction via a dual-cycle mechanism, encompassing both olefin- and aromatic-based cycles. Zeolite topology is crucial in determining both the catalytic pathway and the product selectivity of the MTO reaction. Herein, we investigate the mechanistic influence of MCM-35 zeolite on the MTO process. The structural properties of the as-synthesized MCM-35 catalyst, including its confined cages (6.19 Å), were characterized, confirming them as the catalytic centers. Then, the MTO reactions were systematically performed and investigated over a MCM-35 catalyst. Feeding pure methanol to the reactor yielded minimal MTO activity despite the formation of some aromatic species within the zeolite. The results suggest that the aromatic-based cycle is entirely suppressed in MCM-35, preventing the simultaneous occurrence of the olefin-based cycle. However, cofeeding a small amount of propene in methanol can obviously enhance the methanol conversion under the same studied reaction conditions. Thus, the exclusive operation of the olefin-based cycle in the MTO reaction, independent of the aromatic-based cycle, was demonstrated in MCM-35 zeolite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point-scatterer detection plays a key role in medical ultrasound B-mode imaging. Speckle noise and insufficient spatial resolution are important factors affecting point-scatterer detection. To address this issue, normalized spatial autocorrelation in ultrasound B-mode imaging (NSACB) is proposed. First, the acquired data are pre-processed by adding Gaussian white noise (GWN) with a certain signal-to-Gaussian white noise ratio (SGWNR). Next, normalized spatial autocorrelation is applied to the pre-processed data, and the data are divided into several new signals with different spatial lags. Then, the new signals are performed unsigned delay multiply and sum. Finally, the NSACB beamformed data are bandpass filtered by extracting the frequency component around twice the center frequency. Simulated and in vitro experiments were designed for validation. Simulations revealed that the lateral resolution of NSACB measured by the –6-dB mainlobe width can reach as high as 11.11% of delay and sum (DAS), 25.01% of filtered delay multiply and sum (F-DMAS) and 50% of LAG-FDMAS-SCF. The sidelobe level of the NSACB can be reduced at most by 28 dB. Experimental results of simple and complex scatterer phantoms indicate the image resolution of the proposed NSACB can even reach up to 18.76% of DAS, 27.28% of F-DMAS and 14.29% of LAG-FDMAS-SCF. Compared with these methods, the proposed NSACB can reduce the sidelobe level at least by 18 dB. Although the proposed method causes loss of the ability to observe hypo-echoic structures, these results suggest future work to determine the ability to detect breast microcalcifications, kidney stones, biopsy needle tracking and other scenarios requiring scatterer detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the femtosecond laser ablation of 304 stainless steel (AISI 304), aiming to achieve a high ablation rate, while maintaining low surface roughness. We observe that the surface ablation with 1030 nm-wavelength laser pulses shows a higher ablation rate than that with the 515 nm-wavelength pulses, whereas the surface roughness obtained with the 1030 nm pulses is significantly higher as compared to that obtained with the ablation of 515 nm pulses. We also show that by the use of the two-color double-pulses at 1030 and 515 nm wavelengths, a much higher ablation rate has been achieved with a surface roughness comparable to that obtained with the ablation of 515 nm pulses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedestrians have random distribution and dynamic characteristics. Aiming to this problem, this paper proposes a pedestrian object detection method based on improved YOLOv5 in urban road scenes. Firstly, the last C3 module was replaced in the Backbone with the SE attention mechanism to enhance the network’s extraction of pedestrian object features and improve the detection accuracy of small-scale pedestrians. Secondly, the EIOU loss function was introduced to optimize the object detection performance of the detection network. To validate the effectiveness of the algorithm, experiments were conducted on a dataset composed of filtered Caltech pedestrian detection data and images taken by ourselves. The experiments showed that the improved algorithm has P-value, R-value, and mAP of 98.4%, 95.5%, and 98%, respectively. Compared to the YOLOv5 model, it has increased P-value by 1.4%, R-value by 2.7%, and mAP by 1.3%. The improved algorithm also boosts the detection speed. The detection speed is 0.8 ms faster than the YOLOv5 model. It is also faster than other mainstream algorithms including Faster R-CNN and SSD. The improved algorithm enhances the effectiveness of pedestrian detection significantly and has important application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design of earth-abundant and efficient electrocatalysts to replace precious metal-based materials is highly anticipated for overall water splitting. Herein, NiCo2O4 electrocatalysts with different Fe doping amounts (Fex-NCO, x = 1, 2, 3) were synthesized by a low-temperature chemical method. It was interesting to find that the doping of Fe induced the formation of NiCo2O4 nanotube arrays by modulating the Fe content. The Fe3-NCO electrode with a nanotube structure and rich oxygen vacancies exhibited exceptional electrocatalytic activities for the hydrogen evolution reaction (97 mV, 10 mA cm−2) and oxygen evolution reaction (188.4 mV, 10 mA cm−2). DFT calculations revealed that Fe promoted the modulation of the electronic structure, which played a crucial role in optimizing the reaction intermediates and altered the energy level of the d band center, and as a result, enhanced the water dissociation ability. Additionally, a low cell voltage of 1.56 V (10 mA cm−2) was realized for water splitting based on an as-fabricated Fe-doped NiCo2O4 nanotube array bifunctional electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria, there is no uniform standard for selecting the best endoscopic resection method. To compare the efficacy and safety of endoscopic snare resection with a transparent cap (ESR-C) and endoscopic snare resection with an elastic band (ESR-EB) for small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria to determine which method is more suitable for these tumours. The data from small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria treated from Jan 2020 to Dec 2022 were collected. A total of 34 eligible patients were enrolled. Sixteen of these patients were treated with ESR-C, and eighteen were treated with ESR-EB. The general clinical characteristics, tumour location, tumour size,growth pattern,operation time, complete resection rate, and complication rate were compared between the two groups. There was no difference in age, sex, tumour location, tumour size, growth pattern, or histological diagnosis after resection (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time, complete resection rate, or follow-up time (p > 0.05). Eight patients (50.5%) in the ESR-C group had complications (6 perforations and 2 bleeding), and 2 (11.11%) in the ESR-EB group had complications (2 perforations). There were significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.037). All perforations were successfully treated. No recurrence or metastasis was observed in either group during the follow-up period. Both ESR-C and ESR-EB are effective and safe in treating small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria. However, ESR-EB can significantly reduce the incidence of complications. ESR-EB is likely a better option for small gastric subepithelial tumours originating from the muscularis propria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compound consisting of Ni and imidazole (Ni–imidazole) was synthesized in large quantities by a one-step co-precipitation method. The structure and stability of this Ni–imidazole were well studied by a series of characterization methods. The Ni–imidazole compound exhibited excellent catalytic properties for the dimerization of ethylene to 1-butene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored why and when a pervasive negative family experience (family ostracism) can have an effect on individuals in the context of their employment (job goal progress, interpersonal citizenship behavior) and health outcomes (somatic complaints). We recruited 349 employees in China to complete a survey. The results showed that family ostracism was negatively related to job goal progress and interpersonal citizenship behavior and was positively related to somatic complaints. Psychological needs satisfaction partially mediated this relationship. Moreover, work–family centrality moderated the mediating effect: For individuals who prioritized work over family and derived their psychological satisfaction predominantly from their work rather than their family, the negative impact of family ostracism on the satisfaction of their psychological needs was relatively low. These results provide theoretical and practical insights into the value of avoiding the negative effects of family ostracism in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The relationship between cruciferous vegetables and prostate cancer (PCa) risk remains contentious. This study aimed to assess the association between consuming cruciferous vegetables and PCa risk. Methods: We carried out a systematic search through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library until September 20, 2022. The results of the article will be analyzed using the Stata 14 software. This meta-analysis was reported as directed by the PRISMA guidance, and the study protocol was recorded in PROSPERO (CRD42022361556). Results: 7 case-control studies and 9 cohort studies were eventually included, including 70,201 PCa cases and 1,264,437 members. The higher the intake of cruciferous vegetables, the lower the risk of PCa. In comparison to the lowest dose of cruciferous vegetables, the overall relative risk (RR) of cruciferous vegetables having the highest dose was 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80–0.95; I2 = 59.2%). A significant linear trend (p = 0.002) was observed for the association, with a combined RR of 0.955 (95% CI: 0.928–0.982) for every 15 g of cruciferous vegetables per day. Conclusions: The study revealed that consumption of cruciferous vegetables may be linked to reduced PCa risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common infectious disease of the lower female reproductive tract, which is characterized by the augmentation of anaerobic bacteria. Gardnerella (G.) vaginalis plays a predominant role in BV recurrence relating to its higher virulence potential and biofilm formation ability. With the increased proportion of metronidazole-resistant G. vaginalis, controlling resistance to metronidazole and finding more effective drugs became a major concern. In this study, 30 clinical strains were cultured from the vaginal secretions of BV patients, followed by PCR and 16S rDNA sequencing identification. According to the CLSI guidelines for anaerobic drug sensitivity testing, 19 strains were identified as metronidazole-resistant (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC ≥ 32 μg/mL), of which 4 clinical strains were observed to be strong biofilm producer and the final minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of metronidazole was increased to 512 μg/mL. Sophora flavescens Alkaloids (SFAs), a traditional chinese medicine, could not only inhibit the growth of metronidazole-resistant G. vaginalis in planktonic (MIC: 0.3125–1.25 mg/mL), but also eliminate the biofilm formation (MBIC: 0.625–1.25 mg/mL). In the high-magnification scanning electron, it was observed that the morphology of biofilm changed from a thick to flaky shape and was nearly depleted. These results indicate that SFAs could not only inhibit the growth of metronidazole-resistant G. vaginalisin planktonic and biofilm levels, but also destroyed the biofilm morphology and microstructure, which may contribute to the prevention of BV recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the proportion of installed wind power is increasing every year, the dynamic characteristics of the grid-connected system for wind farms are increasingly becoming complex, and the system faces the risk of subsynchronous oscillation (SSO). The uncertainty of wind speed and series compensation degree has significant effects on the SSO of the series-compensated grid-connected system of doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind farms. The oscillation risk of the grid-connected wind power systems is highly stochastic and time-varying and is difficult to evaluate accurately and quantitatively. Given the above problems, this paper proposes a risk evaluation method for SSO of the grid-connected system for series-compensated DFIG-based wind farms considering the uncertainty of wind speed and series compensation degree. First, the mechanism and time-varying characteristics of the subsynchronous oscillation of the grid-connected wind power systems are analyzed, and the risk quantification index is accordingly selected. Secondly, according to the oscillation analysis model of the doubly-fed wind farm grid-connected system, the extended Prony and Latin hypercube sampling are used to identify the SSO signal, and the least-squares polynomial method is applied to obtain the indicator model for the corresponding mode. Then, the risk matrix is used to quantify the probability and severity of the occurrence of subsynchronous oscillation risk caused by the uncertainty of the grid-connected wind farm systems. Finally, examples are presented to verify the effectiveness and viability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issues of the degradation of the visual sensor's image quality in foggy weather and the loss of information after defogging have brought great challenges to obstacle detection during autonomous driving. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for detecting driving obstacles in foggy weather. The driving obstacle detection in foggy weather was realized by combining the GCANet defogging algorithm with the detection algorithm-based edge and convolution feature fusion training, with a full consideration of the reasonable matching between the defogging algorithm and the detection algorithm on the basis of the characteristics of obvious target edge features after GCANet defogging. Based on the YOLOv5 network, the obstacle detection model is trained using clear day images and corresponding edge feature images to realize the fusion of edge features and convolution features, and to detect driving obstacles in a foggy traffic environment. Compared with the conventional training method, the method improves the mAP by 12% and recall by 9%. In contrast to conventional detection methods, this method can better identify the image edge information after defogging, which significantly enhances detection accuracy while ensuring time efficiency. This is of great practical significance for improving the safe perception of driving obstacles under adverse weather conditions, ensuring the safety of autonomous driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of endoscopic treatments for small rectal neuroendocrine tumors is controversial. To retrospectively compare the effectiveness and safety of precut endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR-P) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for small rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Data from 98 patients with small rectal NETs who were hospitalized at Shenzhen Second People's Hospital between August 2014 and November 2021 were collected. The en bloc resection rate, pathological complete resection rate, radical resection rate, operation time, adverse event rate and hospital stay were compared between the two groups. The operation time in the EMR-P group was significantly shorter than that in the ESD group. The median hospital stay in the EMR-P group was also significantly shorter than that in the ESD group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the en bloc resection, complete resection or radical resection rates. There was also no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups. The delayed bleeding and delayed perforation rates of the two groups were improved after conservative treatment without surgery. There was no significant difference in the rate of positive vertical margins and horizontal margins between the EMR-P group and the ESD group. No local recurrence or metastasis was found during follow-up. EMR-P is an effective and safe endoscopic treatment for rectal NETs with a diameter of less than 10 mm. EMR-P is a significantly shorter procedure and requires a shorter hospital stay than ESD. EMR-P does not increase the cut margin positivity rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intestinal metaplasia (IM) of the gastric cardia is an important premalignant lesion. However, there is limited information concerning its epidemiological and molecular features. Herein, we aimed to provide an overview of the epidemiological data for gastric cardiac IM and evaluate the role of EYA transcriptional coactivator and phosphatase 4 (EYA4) as an epigenetic biomarker for gastric cardiac IM. Methods: The study was conducted in the context of the gastric cardiac precancerous lesion program in southern China, which included 718 non-cancer participants, who undertook endoscopic biopsy and pathological examination in three endoscopy centers, between November 2018 and November 2021. Pyrosequencing and immunohistochemistry were performed to examine the DNA methylation status and protein expression level of EYA4. Results: Gastric cardiac IM presented in 14.1% (101/718) of participants and was more common among older (>50 years; 22.0% [95% CI: 17.8–26.8]) than younger participants (≤50 years; 6.7% [95% CI: 4.5–9.9]; P < 0.001). IM was more common in male participants (16.9% [95% CI: 13.2–21.3] vs. 11.3% [95% CI: 8.3–15.1]; P = 0.04). Pyrosequencing revealed that IM tissues exhibited significantly higher DNA methylation levels in EYA4 gene than normal tissues (P = 0.016). Further, the protein expression level of EYA4 was reduced in IM and absent in intraepithelial neoplasia tissues compared to normal tissues (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Detection rates of gastric cardiac IM increase with age and are higher in men. Our findings highlight the important role of promoter hypermethylation and downregulation of EYA4 in gastric cardiac IM development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propofol (Pro) is well known to regulate the asleep-awake-asleep technique. Increasing indication recommends that Pro also has promising properties such as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation belongings in several disease models. It has been described that Pro has beneficial properties against renal ischemia/reperfusion (rI/R)-mediated acute lung injury (ALI). Nevertheless, pathogenesis underlying the beneficial action of Pro on the remote ALI mediated by rI/R remains unwell unstated. In this research, we displayed that Pro administration remarkably inhibits rI/R-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokines production. Increased levels of oxidative stress were mainly decreased by Pro. Pro administration ameliorated apoptosis-related caspase-3 activation. Furthermore, the levels of crucial necroptosis-associated protein were reduced by Pro. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor attenuated the aforementioned changes of Pro. In conclusion, these results propose that Pro attenuates rI/R-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necroptosis by up-regulation of SIRT1 in rats. Our findings disclose an original pathogenesis underlying the beneficial effect of Pro against rI/R-mediated ALI and reinforce the knowledge that Pro might be a hopeful beneficial agent for the rI/R-mediated ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-order harmonics caused by the self-excitation of nonlinear plasma series resonance (PSR) in a geometrically symmetric (8 + 100) MHz capacitively coupled argon plasma are studied by using a nonlinear global model. The voltage waveforms and current waveforms measured by oscilloscope between the two electrodes are used to observe the harmonics. The voltage waveforms are used as input parameters for the nonlinear global model to simulate harmonics of the sheath charges of low-frequency electrode, bias voltage, and plasma RF current. These discharged parameters considering coupling effect between these two frequencies and without considering coupling effect are compared in (8 + 100) MHz capacitively coupled plasma with the increasing low-frequency powers at a pressure of 30 mTorr. These results indicate that the theoretical discharge behavior without considering the coupling effect has big difference from the real experiment. The PSR effect of the matching network plays an important role in modulating the plasma homogeneity. Therefore, how to design a suitable matching network to enhance the PSR effect is more meaningful for the nonlinear dynamics of plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), a newly developed indicator of nutritional status retrieved by serum albumin concentration and ideal body weight, has been suggested as a prognostic factor for various malignancies. The aim of the study was to summarize the prognostic role of GNRI for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in a meta-analysis. Cohort studies evaluating the relationship between GNRI at baseline and survival OF NSCLC were retrieved by search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to January 12, 2022. A conservative random-effect model incorporating the possible influence of between-study heterogeneity was used to pool the results. Eleven cohorts including 2865 patients with NSCLC were included. Compared to those with higher GNRI, NSCLC patients with lower GNRI were associated with poorer overall survival [OS, hazard ratio (HR): 2.39, 95% CI: 1.97–2.91, p<0.001; I2=29%), progression-free survival (HR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.52–2.47, p<0.001; I2=29%), and cancer-specific survival (HR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.55–4.35, p<0.001; I2=0%). Subgroup analyses showed that the significant association between lower GNRI and worse OS in patients with NSCLC was not affected by study characteristics including study location, design, cancer stage, treatment, or follow-up durations (p for subgroup effects all<0.001). In conclusion, a lower GNRI in patients with NSCLC may be a predictor of poor survival. Nutritional status indicated by GNRI may be important for the prognostic prediction of patients with NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and efficient boundary treatment is proposed for periodic boundary conditions in a lattice Boltzmann method for simulating fully developed, pressure driven particle-laden flows in a complex geometry. The pressure driven effect is implemented by a simple pressure compensation method (PCM) using the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet boundaries. It eliminates the exchange of nonequilibrium distribution functions between inlet and outlet boundary nodes. It also eliminates the nonphysical oscillations of particle trajectory produced by a nonequilibrium extrapolation method when particles cross the periodic boundary. Simulation results show that the present PCM is equivalent to the body force method (BFM) for flow in a periodic straight channel with a uniform cross section. However, the BFM would significantly underestimate the fluid velocity for a flow and, hence, cannot accurately predict the particle trajectory in a periodic complex channel with a nonuniform cross section, especially at high Reynolds numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction for 'Facile preparation of a Ni–imidazole compound with high activity for ethylene dimerization' by Zhaohui Liu et al., Chem. Commun., 2024, 60, 188–191, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CC04794F. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The activation of alveolar macrophages (AMs) modulated via leucine-rich repeat (NLR) pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation is key to the progression of renal ischemia/reperfusion (rI/R)-mediated acute lung injury (ALI). Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) can attenuate NLRP3 inflammasome activation during I/R stress and may be an important mechanism underlying ALI pathogenesis. Penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC), an anticholinergic drug, exerts protective effects against rI/R-mediated ALI. This study aimed to decipher the effects of PHC on SIRT1 activation and the underlying mechanism of the protective activity of PHC against rI/R-mediated ALI.Materials and methods: We used an ALI rat model and the rat AMs cell line NR8383 to assess the degree of lung injury in vivo and in vitro.Results: The results show that PHC attenuates rI/R-mediated lung injury indices, myeloperoxidase, and apoptosis in vivo. It decreases the rI/R-mediated release of prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, and the activity of NADPH oxidase-4 in vitro. PHC ameliorates the rI/R-induced activation of the thioredoxin-interacting protein, caspase 1 (P10 unit), and NLRP3 inflammasome, along with reduced activation of interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 in vitro. We show that PHC alleviates the rI/R-induced reduction of SIRT1 and the depletion of SIRT1 eliminates the ameliorating activity of PHC on the NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vitro. Conclusions: In summary, the findings suggest that PHC ameliorates the rI/R-mediated ALI through the SIRT1-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop and validate a dual-energy CT (DECT)–based radiomics nomogram from multicenter trials for predicting the histological differentiation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: A total of 178 patients (112 in the training and 66 in the validation cohorts) from eight institutions with histologically proven HNSCCs were included in this retrospective study. Radiomics-signature models were constructed from features extracted from virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) and iodine-based material decomposition images (IMDI), reconstructed from venous-phase DECT images. Clinical factors were also assessed to build a clinical model. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to develop a nomogram combining the radiomics signature models and clinical model for predicting poorly differentiated HNSCC and moderately well-differentiated HNSCC. The predictive performance of the clinical model, radiomics signature models, and nomogram was compared. The calibration degree of the nomogram was also assessed. Results: The tumor location, VMI-signature, and IMDI-signature were associated with the degree of HNSCC differentiation, and areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were 0.729, 0.890, and 0.833 in the training cohort and 0.627, 0.859, and 0.843 in the validation cohort, respectively. The nomogram incorporating tumor location and two radiomics-signature models yielded the best performance in training (AUC = 0.987) and validation (AUC = 0.968) cohorts with a good calibration degree. Conclusion: The nomogram that integrated the DECT-based radiomics-signature models and tumor location showed good performance in predicting histological differentiation degree of HNSCC, providing a novel combination for predicting HNSCC differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studies the axial mechanical behaviors of Concrete-Filled Double Skin Steel Tubular (CFDST) columns under thermal and mechanical coupling conditions. Through experiment and numerical simulation, the investigation assesses the impact of variables such as fire duration time, concrete cube compressive strength, yield strength of the outer steel tube, axial load ratio and hollow ratio on the residual bearing capacity of CFDST columns after fire. Results from the experiment and numerical simulation indicate that the columns' ultimate bearing capacity after fire improves with material strength enhancement but diminishes with fire duration time. Notably, applying initial loads before fire does not further reduce the ultimate bearing capacity of CFDST columns after fire. The study further reveals that a column with a hollow ratio of 0.52 significantly outperforms those with hollow ratios of 0.31 and 0.72 in terms of ultimate bearing capacity after fire. To carry out the mechanism analysis of columns under thermal and mechanical coupling conditions, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) models are developed, with their accuracy corroborated by experimental data. This research also elucidates the dynamic axial load distribution of the column components during the whole process of fire. In terms of fitting degree and safety, the T/CCES 7–2020 code emerges as a superior guideline for evaluating the ultimate bearing capacity of CFDST columns after fire, as compared to other relevant standards. • Concrete-filled double skin steel tubular columns under combined temperature and axial force. • The effects of t h , f cu , f syo , n and χ are considered. • The mechanism analysis of columns is studied by finite element analysis models. • Temperature effect coefficients are proposed to modify the existing formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For overall water splitting, a vital challenge is to design active sites at interfaces. Heterogeneous catalysts with enhanced mass/charge transfer and accelerated adsorption of intermediates have exhibited significantly enhanced activities. Herein, a Fe-doped NiCo2O4/Ni3S4 heterogeneous electrocatalyst is synthesized for the HER and OER. On account of the synergistic effect of heterostructures, Ni–O–S presents a low overpotential of 29.1 mV (10 mA cm−2), a relatively small Tafel slope of 53.3 mV dec−1 for the HER, and 259 mV at a current density of 100 mA cm−2 (33.1 mV dec−1) for the OER. What is more, Ni–O–S acts as a binder-free bi-functional electrode in an alkaline electrolyte for overall water splitting, exhibiting a cell voltage of 1.45 V (10 mA cm−2) with good stability. This work offers an efficient approach for designing stable and high-efficiency heterogeneous electrodes for overall water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an advanced machine vision task, traffic sign recognition is of great significance to the safe driving of autonomous vehicles. Haze has seriously affected the performance of traffic sign recognition. This paper proposes a dehazing network, including multi-scale residual blocks, which significantly affects the recognition of traffic signs in hazy weather. First, we introduce the idea of residual learning, design the end-to-end multi-scale feature information fusion method. Secondly, the study used subjective visual effects and objective evaluation metrics such as Visibility Index (VI) and Realness Index (RI) based on the characteristics of the real-world environment to compare various traditional dehazing and deep learning dehazing method with good performance. Finally, this paper combines image dehazing and traffic sign recognition, using the algorithm of this paper to dehaze the traffic sign images under real-world hazy weather. The experiments show that the algorithm in this paper can improve the performance of traffic sign recognition in hazy weather and fulfil the requirements of real-time image processing. It also proves the effectiveness of the reformulated atmospheric scattering model for the dehazing of traffic sign images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are known problems of dissolution, consistency of performance, segregation, and instability with the crumb rubber currently used in asphalt for road engineering. A silane coupling agent (KH550) solution was therefore used to pretreat the crumb rubber so as to improve its interfacial characteristics. The effects of KH550 on the properties of asphalt rubber were studied using high- and low-temperature performance tests, temperature sensitivity test, and compatibility test. On the basis of these tests, the optimum concentration of KH550 pretreated crumb rubber is 1.0%. The surface properties and micromodifications of the treated crumb rubber were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and an infrared spectrometer. The performance and economic benefit of the modified asphalt rubber was compared to styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified asphalt, and it was found that KH550 pretreated crumb rubber is able to significantly improve the high-temperature performance of asphalt rubber, thus offering notable potential economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate two min–max k-postmen cover problems. The first is the Min–Max Rural Postmen Cover Problem (RPC), in which we are given an undirected weighted graph and the objective is to find at most k closed walks, covering a required subset of edges, to minimize the weight of the maximum weight closed walk. The other is called the Min–Max Chinese Postmen Cover Problem, in which the goal is to find at most k closed walks, covering all the edges of an undirected weighted graph, to minimize the weight of the maximum weight closed walk. For both problems we propose the first constant-factor approximation algorithms with ratios 10 and 4, respectively. For the Metric RPC, a special case of the RPC with the edge weights obeying the triangle inequality, we obtain an improved 6-approximation algorithm by a matching-based approach. For the Min–Max Rural Postmen Walk Cover Problem (RPWC), a variant of the RPC with the closed walks replaced by (open) walks, we give a 5-approximation algorithm that improves on the previous 7-approximation algorithm. If k is fixed, we devise improved approximation algorithms for the Metric RPC and the RPWC with ratios 4 + ϵ and 3 + ϵ , respectively, where ϵ > 0 is an arbitrary small constant. The latter result improves on the existing (4 + ϵ) -approximation algorithm. Moreover, we develop a (3 + ϵ) -approximation algorithm for a special case of the RPC with fixed k, improving on the previous (4 + ϵ) -approximation algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes irreversible vision loss, and targeted anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy is now the most common and effective treatment. The aim of this meta-analysis is to discuss whether genetic polymorphism of ARMS2 A69S could confer susceptibility to advanced AMD with the response to anti-VEGF treatment. We performed a meta-analysis of relevant published studies selected through electronic databases. A total of 21 preferred studies regarding the association between ARMS2 gene and anti-VEGF treatment response in advanced AMD were generally included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results demonstrated that the carriage of G allele for ARMS2 A69S presented a better clinical prognosis for advanced AMD treated with anti-VEGF drugs (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.13–1.69, p = 0.002). In addition, in the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity, ARMS2 polymorphisms were more likely to be a positive responder for East Asian patients (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.29–2.16, p < 0.001). This meta-analysis through a series of rigorous methodology data demonstrated a significant association between ARMS2 A69S polymorphism and the anti-VEGF treatment response in advanced AMD, especially among East Asian population. Numerous well-designed, randomized, multicenter clinical trials with large sample size are required to validate the association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, cellulose and basalt fiber were introduced simultaneously to stone mastic asphalt (SMA) to investigate the effects of hybrid modification on performance improvement of asphalt mixture. The study consists of three parts. The first part investigated material properties of cellulose and basalt fiber, including microscope electrical scanning. The second part conducted a series of tests to evaluate the effects of different combinations of cellulose and basalt fiber on performance. With a total addition of fiber 0.4% by the weight of mixture, five different cellulose-basalt fiber ratios, 0 : 4, 1 : 3, 2 : 2, 3 : 1, and 4 : 0, were introduced to the asphalt mixtures. A series of tests including draindown, permanent deformation, low temperature bending, beam fatigue, and moisture damage resistance were conducted. In the final part, a benefit-cost ratio was designed to help determine the optimum cellulose-basalt fiber combination in the economic aspect. Results show that material properties of the two fibers are very different, including thermostability, modulus, surface, and microstructure, especially oil absorption. In general, all samples with fibers outperformed the control group in all the performance tests. Specifically, cellulose fiber improved draindown, ductility, and fatigue more significantly, whilst basalt fiber has more influence on improving permanent deformation, deflection strength, and stress sensitivity. Equal portion of cellulose and basalt fiber has the best moisture damage resistance. The mechanisms of the two fibers are different, resulting in different performance improvements on asphalt mixtures. Overall, an appropriate combination of the two fibers would produce paving materials with more balanced performance in an economical way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given an undirected complete graph G = (V , E) with nonnegative edge weight function obeying the triangle inequality, a set { C 1 , C 2 , ... , C k } of cycles is called a cycle cover if V ⊆ ⋃ i = 1 k V (C i) , where V (C i) represents the set of vertices in C i , and its cost is given by the maximum weight of the cycles. The Minimum Cycle Cover Problem (MCCP) aims to find a cycle cover of cost at most λ with the minimum number of cycles. We propose new LP relaxations for MCCP as well as its variants, called the Minimum Path Cover Problem (MPCP) and the Minimum Tree Cover Problem, where the cycles are replaced by paths or trees. Moreover, we give new LP relaxations for a special case of the rooted version of MCCP/MPCP. We show that these LP relaxations have significantly better integrality gaps than the previous relaxations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The minimum cycle cover problem. • A simplified approach of analysis. • An O (n 2) time 24/5-approximation algorithm. • A new O (n 3) time 14/3-approximation algorithm. • An improved O (n 5) time 32/7-approximation algorithm. Given an undirected weighted graph G = (V , E) with nonnegative weight function obeying the triangle inequality, a set { C 1 , C 2 , ... , C k } of cycles is called a cycle cover if V ⊆ ⋃ i = 1 k V (C i) and its cost is given by the maximum weight of the cycles. The Minimum Cycle Cover Problem aims to find a cycle cover of cost at most λ with the minimum number of cycles. An O (n 2) 24/5-approximation algorithm and an O (n 5) 14/3-approximation algorithm are given by Yu and Liu (Improved approximation algorithms for some min-max cycle cover problems. Theoretical Computer Science 654 (2016) 45–58). However, the original proofs for approximation ratios are incomplete. In this paper we first present a corrected simplified analysis on the 24/5-approximation algorithm. Based on the simplified approach of analysis and some new observations, we present a new 14/3-approximation algorithm that runs in O (n 3) and give an improved 32/7-approximation algorithm that runs in O (n 5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on how aging affected the properties of steel slag. Steel slag was treated using hydrothermal aging and pressure steaming aging techniques to improve its bulk stability. Physical and mechanical characteristics, alkalinity, and mineral constituents, as well as micromorphology of steel slag, were investigated. The results demonstrated that water absorption, crushing value, and abrasion value were all decreased by hydrothermal and pressure steam aging. The f -CaO particle size, total slag hydration time, and slag alkalinity were all lowered by two aging procedures. At 90°C aging for 2 days and 0.6 MPa pressure steaming for 3 h, the Ca(OH)2 and CaCO3 diffraction peaks were strengthened, whereas the f -CaO and f -MgO diffraction peaks were diminished. The f -CaO concentration and compaction pulverization rate steadily dropped as hydrothermal days and steaming pressure increased. The water immersion swelling rate was significantly reduced, which enhanced the slag's bulk stability. After ageing, scanning electron microscopy revealed increased CaCO3 production and enhanced steel slag stability. The optimal processes are recommended as hydrothermal treatment at 90°C for 2 days and pressure steaming at 0.6 MPa for 3 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we introduce a multi-vehicle (or multi-postman) extension of the classical Mixed Rural Postman Problem, which we call the Min–Max Mixed Rural Postmen Cover Problem (MRPCP). The MRPCP is defined on a mixed graph G = (V , E , A) , where V is the vertex set, E denotes the (undirected) edge set and A represents the (directed) arc set. Let F ⊆ E ( H ⊆ A ) be the set of required edges (required arcs). There is a nonnegative weight associated with each edge and arc. The objective is to determine no more than k closed walks to cover all the required edges in F and all the required arcs in H such that the weight of the maximum weight closed walk is minimized. By replacing closed walks with (open) walks in the MRPCP, we obtain the Min–Max Mixed Rural Postmen Walk Cover Problem (MRPWCP). The Min–Max Mixed Chinese Postmen Cover Problem (MCPCP) is a special case of the MRPCP where F = E and H = A . The Min–Max Stacker Crane Cover Problem (SCCP) is another special case of the MRPCP where F = ∅ and H = A For the MRPCP with the input graph satisfying the weakly symmetric condition, i.e., for each arc there exists a parallel edge whose weight is not greater than this arc, we devise a 27 4 -approximation algorithm. This algorithm achieves an approximation ratio of 33 5 for the SCCP with the weakly symmetric condition. Moreover, we obtain the first 5-approximation algorithm (4-approximation algorithm) for the MRPWCP (MCPCP) with the weakly symmetric condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subunits of one-dimensional (1D) NiCo2−xFexO4 nanotube and two-dimensional (2D) Ni2CoS4 nanosheet are integrated on carbon textile substrates through a hydrothermal method. With a unique structure and efficient usage of active materials, the prepared NiCo2−xFexO4/Ni2CoS4/carbon textile nanocomposites possess a high specific capacitance of 2220 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and 91.8% of capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. The prepared nanocomposites as positive electrode and the biomass carbon as negative electrode are assembled to form an asymmetric supercapacitor, with a maximum energy density of 62.63 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 160.82 W kg−1. The supercapacitor possesses an outstanding cycling stability of 81.6% retention after 10,000 cycles. Tailor-made hollow structure, which could provide sufficient space for the electrode to buffer volume changes due to expansion/contraction of the active material, holds a potential application for high-performance supercapacitors. The superior performance of the hierarchical nanocomposites makes it a promising electrode material for practical application in supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • NF-κB and MAPK signaling are activated by renal I/R. • VEGF depletion by siRNA completely abrogates the impact of miR-377 on renal I/R-induced oxidative stress. • I/R stimulates miR-377 expression. Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in kidney development and maintenance of kidney physiological functions. MiR-377 has been reported to regulate inflammation in cardiac and cerebral ischemia. However, it remains unclear whether it has a similar function in renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Using I/R model mice, miR-377 expression was determined by qRT-PCR in the renal tissues. Renal function was assessed by detection of the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr). Oxidative stress was evaluated by ELISA analysis of oxidation-related enzymes and molecules. Inflammatory factor concentration and other protein levels were analyzed by the ELISA assay and Western blot, respectively. Our study found that renal I/R stimulated miR-377 expression, while the inhibition of miR-377 attenuated renal I/R injury, and blocked renal I/R-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. Meantime, NF-κB and MAPK signaling were activated by renal I/R, which could also be reversed by miR-377 inhibitor. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) depletion by siRNA completely abrogated the impact of miR-377 on renal I/R-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and renal dysfunction. In conclusion, renal I/R induced miR-377 expression, which upregulated VEGF expression to attenuate renal I/R-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, and finally ameliorated renal dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Lipoxin A4 (LA4), a bioactive product of arachidonic acid, has been shown to exert strong anti‐inflammatory activity. By contrast, the anti‐inflammatory action of LA4 in a renal ischaemia–reperfusion (RIR)‐mediated acute lung inflammation (ALI) model and the potential pathogenesis of the condition is still unclear. The aim of the current research was to investigate the effect of LA4 on RIR‐induced ALI. The rat ALI model was induced by RIR. LA4 was injected via the tail vein immediately after RIR. The results indicate that LA4 markedly inhibits inflammatory cells infiltration, attenuates myeloperoxidase activity, and reduces the concentration of inflammatory mediators and Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) in RIR‐induced ALI. Furthermore, LA4 suppressed nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) p65 and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. The protective effect of LA4 in RIR‐stimulated ALI was reversed by BOC‐2 (an antagonist of the LA4 receptor). These results indicate that LA4 exerts powerful anti‐inflammatory functions in RIR‐induced ALI by attenuating TLR4 expression via MAPK and NF‐κB signalling. Accordingly, LA4 might be an underlying treatment drug for RIR‐induced ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular mechanisms of acute lung injury (ALI) are closely associated with nucleotide-binding domains and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) pyrin domains containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, in which alveolar macrophages (AMs) exert an essential function. Our study has been proved that artesunate (AS) inhibits ALI. Nevertheless, the inhibition actions of AS on activation of NLRP3 in renal ischemia-reperfusion (RIR)-mediated ALI remain to be further discussed. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups: sham + NS, sham + AS, RIR + NS, and RIR + AS. RIR-mediated ALI was performed through bilateral renal pedicle occlusion for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h. AS (15 mg/kg) or NS was injected intraperitoneal to rat 1 h before RIR treatment. AMs were rendered hypoxic (0.5%) for 2 h and reoxygenated for 24 h. Lung injury index and histology, and inflammatory cells and cytokine release in the BALF and AMs were examined. The protein and mRNA levels of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 in the lung and AMs were evaluated via Western blot and real-time RCR. In this research, we indicated that AS preconditioning inhibited RIR-mediated lung damage, vascular permeability, and edema in rats. AS reduced RIR-mediated ALI, as characterized by abatement in the count of inflammatory cells, and the production of inflammatory cytokines in the BALF. AS administration inhibited the number of F4/80-positive cells, the activity of myeloperoxidase, and the fiery cytokines mRNA expression in lung samples of RIR-stimulated rats. Furthermore, AS alleviated the activity of caspase-1 and activation of NLRP3 through depending on reactive oxygen species (ROS). An in vitro finding that AS mitigated hypoxia/reoxygenation-mediated activation of AMs partially supported in vivo study. In a word, these findings demonstrate that AS pretreatment attenuated RIR-mediated ALI potentially through reducing ROS-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High concentrations of geogenic phosphorus (P) in coastal aquifer systems pose a serious and continuous threat to the health of marine ecosystems. A major source for geogenic P enrichment in aquifer systems is the mineralization of P-containing organic matter. However, the mechanisms that drive the enrichment remain unclear. Therefore, our study sought to characterize the occurrence, sources, and enrichment mechanisms of geogenic P in a coastal confined aquifer system of the Pearl River Delta, southern China. To achieve this, we conducted Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and fluorescence excitation-emission-matrix spectra (EEMs) as well as hydrochemistry and stable carbon isotope analyses. Our findings indicated that intense degradation of P-containing organic matter produced up to 8.07 mg/L of geogenic P in a reducing environment with abundant organic matter. The dissolved organic matter (DOM) of high-P groundwater (P > 1 mg/L) contained more humic-like fluorophores and exhibited higher humification. Groundwater with high P concentrations contained more aliphatic compounds and highly unsaturated-low O compounds, and the enrichment of P was mostly associated with CHOP compounds in the region of aliphatic compounds and CHON2P compounds in the region of highly unsaturated-low O compounds. Different types of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) can be mineralized into P, and even the mineralization of phosphonates takes precedence over the more unstable phosphate esters. P produced by the metabolism of different types of DOP was assimilated by marine microorganisms (e.g., heterotrophic bacteria and archaea), and the newly synthesized organic P compounds by chemosynthesis were subsequently released into the groundwater. Over time, P continues to be enriched in the aquifer system. This study provides new insights into subsurface P cycling in coastal aquatic systems. [Display omitted] • High geogenic P in groundwater is mainly attributed to DOP mineralization. • DOM characterization to elucidate P enrichment in groundwater is highlighted. • DOM of high-P groundwater exhibits higher humification. • High-P groundwater contains more aliphatic and highly unsaturated compounds. • Phosphonates may be preferentially utilized over phosphate esters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on overlapping domain decomposition, a new class of parallel split least‐squares (PSLS) mixed finite element methods is presented for solving parabolic problem. The algorithm is fully parallel. In the overlapping domains, the partition of unity is applied to distribute the corrections reasonably, which makes that the new method only needs one or two iteration steps to reach given accuracy at each time step while the classical Schwarz alternating methods need many iteration steps. The dependence of the convergence rate on the spacial mesh size, time increment, iteration times, and subdomains overlapping degree is analyzed. Some numerical results are reported to confirm the theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The configurations of burner streams under oxy-fuel combustion are highly affected by its increased initial oxygen level. In this study, an air combustion and oxy-fuel combustion compatible configuration strategy for burner streams is proposed for a 200 MW e tangentially fired boiler, by aid of numerical simulation. Firstly, to achieve a momentum of primary and secondary streams that is similar to that of air combustion, the tertiary stream is switched-off in oxy-fuel combustion. In addition, the opposing tangential primary stream technology is suggested to reduce the gas temperature deviation in the upper furnace, which affects the quality of the steam and the safe operation of the boiler. For the present study, the appropriate opposing tangential angle is 5°–7° relative to the original primary stream design, and the ratio of opposing tangential momentum flow moment should be controlled at the low limit of 0.8 to decrease gas temperature deviation. To achieve a supported flame by the secondary stream, the momentum of the bottom secondary stream in oxy-fuel combustion should not be less than that in air combustion. The study illustrates for the first time that, the key design features of tangentially fired burners under oxy-fuel combustion. Although there are significant changes in the oxidant volume, oxidant composition, and chemical reaction under oxy-fuel combustion conditions, the design criteria of oxy-fuel tangentially fired boiler, in terms of momentum of the primary stream, momentum of the bottom secondary stream, and momentum ratio and momentum flow moment ratio of the secondary stream to primary stream, are consistent with those under air combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article places the study of rural environmental activism in the wider context of the Chinese government's promotion of Ecological Civilization (shengtai wenming 生态文明). Ecological Civilization is, we argue, a top-down imaginary of China's future that opens up space for environmental agency while setting authoritative standards for how to frame protests in a logic of science and social stability. The article compares how residents in a small cluster of villages in Zhejiang province dealt with different sources of air pollution over a span of ten years: how, when and why they chose to negotiate with local officials and industrial managers to prevent or reduce air pollution, and what the outcome was. We found that in addition to a consciousness of the right to protest, villagers had come to regard the ability to evoke science in negotiations with officials and industrial managers as crucial for success. We suggest that the forms of environmental activism we observed were in effect “containable protests” that befit the state-initiated national imaginary of an ecologically civilized world. 摘要: 这篇文章把乡村环保行动置于中国政府推进的”生态文明”建设的大背景下进行研究。我们认为, “生态文明” 建设是一种自上而下的对未来中国发展的 “国家想象”, 它把环保抗争有效地纳入到科学发展和社会稳定的制度框架里, 更重要的是, 为环境保护行动打开了一个新的空间。文章从抗争方式、时间选择和原因诉求等方面, 通过对浙江省多个村落的村民进行调查, 比较研究他们十年来面对不同的空气污染源, 与地方官员、工厂老板协商阻止和缓解空气污染的环保抗争及其行动结果。我们发现, 除了 “依权抗争” 之外, 在与官方和老板协商过程中, 村民运用科学知识的能力成为他们成功的重要手段。我们建议, 环保行动中的 “包容抗争” 方式可能更利于实现由国家发起的生态文明建设 “国家想象” 的愿景。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artesunate (AS), a semi-synthetic derivative of Artemisia, has been shown to exert a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. However, the protective functions of AS on renal ischemia reperfusion injury (RIR)-stimulated lung inflammation remain unclear. In this research, acute lung injury (ALI) was stimulated by renal ischemia reperfusion injury (RIR). AS (15 mg/kg) was intraperitoneal administrated to rat 1 h before RIR stimulation. Serum and pulmonary NO, MDA, IL-6, MIP-2, and PGE levels, arterial blood gas and biochemistry, lung wet/dry weight ratio and MPO activity, total cell number and protein concentration in BALF, tissue histology, and NF-κB expression were determined. The results indicated that serum and pulmonary NO, MDA, IL-6, MIP-2, and PGE levels, lung wet/dry weight ratio and MPO activity, total cell number, and protein concentration in BALF enhanced after RIR stimulation. These alterations were mitigated by AS. AS attenuated lung wet/dry weight ratio and MPO activity, total cell number, and protein concentration in BALF. AS attenuated RIR-stimulated pulmonary NF-κB phosphorylation. In addition, these previously mentioned actions of AS were antagonized by suppressing HO-1 pathway. However, RIR-stimulated arterial blood gas and biochemistry and lung histopathology were also attenuated by AS. In summary, AS inhibited RIR-stimulated lung inflammation by activating HO-1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al 2 O 3 non-gradient ceramic coating (marked as 1# coating) and NiCrAlY/Al 2 O 3 gradient ceramic coating (marked as 2# coating) were prepared with the plasma spraying and slurry spraying methods, respectively. The coating specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The high temperature oxidation kinetics curves of the coatings were examined; the bonding strength between the coatings and the metal substrates was studied, and analyses were conducted on the thermal shock resistance and the failure mechanism of the coatings. The results show that spraying of Al 2 O 3 ceramic slurries can effectively fill the cracks generated during the process of plasma spraying of NiCrAlY coatings, and metallurgical bonds form between the coatings and the metal substrates. α-Al 2 O 3 and rutile TiO 2 are the main crystalline phase structures of the temperature resistant ceramic coatings. The oxidation rate constant of 2# coating was 1.323 × 10 − 4 mg 2 cm − 4 h − 1 , which shows the best resistance to high temperature oxidation. The effect of high-temperature melting of the Al metal in the bonding layer was found to be beneficial to the bonding strength. Under the same temperature conditions, 2# coating had a higher bonding strength than 1# coating, and when the oxidation time was 96 h, its bonding strength reached up to 26.9 MPa. The thermal expansion coefficient of the NiCrAlY bonding coating fell between those of the metal substrate and ceramic top coating, thus reducing the thermal expansion coefficient difference between the two and decreasing the rate of propagation of the cracks to improve the thermal shock resistance of the coating. An integrated study indicated that 2# coating had a better heat protective performance for the metal substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Tan spot susceptibility is conferred by multiple interactions of necrotrophic effector and host sensitivity genes. Abstract: Tan spot of wheat, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is an important disease in almost all wheat-growing areas of the world. The disease system is known to involve at least three fungal-produced necrotrophic effectors (NEs) that interact with the corresponding host sensitivity ( S) genes in an inverse gene-for-gene manner to induce disease. However, it is unknown if the effects of these NE- S gene interactions contribute additively to the development of tan spot. In this work, we conducted disease evaluations using different races and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis in a wheat recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between two susceptible genotypes, LMPG-6 and PI 626573. The two parental lines each harbored a single known NE sensitivity gene with LMPG-6 having the Ptr ToxC sensitivity gene Tsc1 and PI 626573 having the Ptr ToxA sensitivity gene Tsn1. Transgressive segregation was observed in the population for all races. QTL mapping revealed that both loci ( Tsn1 and Tsc1) were significantly associated with susceptibility to race 1 isolates, which produce both Ptr ToxA and Ptr ToxC, and the two genes contributed additively to tan spot susceptibility. For isolates of races 2 and 3, which produce only Ptr ToxA and Ptr ToxC, only Tsn1 and Tsc1 were associated with tan spot susceptibility, respectively. This work clearly demonstrates that tan spot susceptibility in this population is due primarily to two NE- S interactions. Breeders should remove both sensitivity genes from wheat lines to obtain high levels of tan spot resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low power limits the application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Our research mainly focuses on the modification of the electrode and looking for new anode material for high-power marine benthic microbial fuel cells(BMFCs). A MnO2/PPy composite-modified anode was fabricated by in situ chemical polymerization. Surface topography and properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, respectively, indicating that the MnO2/PPy composite is of a 'mosaic-like' microstructure. The electrochemical performance and wettability of different kinds of anode were investigated respectively. Cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry tests show that MnO2/PPy composite-modified electrode has a typical capacitance feature; its capacitance is 3.1 times higher than that of unmodified electrode. Contact angle of the composite-modified anode reduces to 46 ± 0.5°, and its kinetic activity increased for more than 1.1 times. The maximum output power density of MnO2/PPy composite-modified cell reached 562.7 ± 10 mW m−2, which is 2.1-fold of the unmodified one. Finally, the composite-modified anode provides an alternative potential choice for high-performance cell, and the possible influence mechanism of composite materials on the BMFCs was also analyzed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Farnesol, a quorum-sensing molecule in Candida albicans, can affect the growth of certain microorganisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of farnesol against vaginal Lactobacillus spp., which play a crucial role in the maintenance of vaginal health.Methods: Growth and metabolic viability of vaginal Lactobacillus spp. incubated with different concentrations of farnesol were determined by measuring the optical density of the cultures and with the MTT assay. Morphology of the farnesol-treated cells was evaluated using a scanning electron microscope. In vitro adherence of vaginal Lactobacillus cells treated with farnesol was determined by co-incubating with vaginal epithelial cells (VECs).Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of farnesol for vaginal Lactobacillus spp. was 1500μM. No morphological changes were observed when the farnesol-treated Lactobacillus cells were compared with farnesol-free cells, and 100μM farnesol would reduce the adherence of vaginal Lactobacillus to VECs.Conclusion: Farnesol acted as a potential antimicrobial agent, had little impact on the growth, metabolism, and cytomorphology of the vaginal Lactobacillus spp.; however, it affected their adhering capacity to VECs. The safety of farnesol as an adjuvant for antimicrobial agents during the treatment of vaginitis needs to be studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For air conditioning system with multiple chillers, sequencing control is crucial in achieving operating energy efficiency while maintaining indoor thermal comfort in commercial buildings. In this study, an optimal strategy was proposed to improve the chiller sequencing control for energy efficient and reliable operation. The chiller model and the effectiveness- NTU (number of transfer unit) cooling tower model were developed for calculating the maximum cooling capacity of the individual chiller. Then, a simple correlation of maximum cooling capacity of the chiller was established in order to simplify the calculation process. For predicting the chiller partial load ratio ( PLR ) accurately, more accurate part-load performance curves were presented, considering the effect of maximum cooling capacity of chiller. The cooling load characteristic of typical working days in an office building in Zhuhai was also analyzed. Based on the cooling load profiles, the optimal chiller sequencing control strategy was formulated by using chiller model and branch and bound algorithm. In addition, three different chiller sequencing control strategies (strategies A–C) were tested and compared by implementing them in different chilled system configurations in the office building. The results suggest that the performances of strategies are varied for different chilled system configurations. The performance of the optimal strategy C, considering the variation of maximum cooling capacity of chiller, achieves the highest energy efficiency and reliability for different systems, especially for the system configuration in case 1. Strategy B also considers the effect of maximum cooling capacity of chiller and is appropriate for the system of constant speed chiller with dedicated pumps (i.e. case 2). Strategy A is a conventional strategy, which can neither guarantee the energy saving operation of chiller plant nor the sufficient supply of cooling capacity. To conclude, the proposed optimal chiller sequencing control strategy C can be directly applied in the real chiller plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing crystallize size or aluminum content in MFI-type zeolites independently enhances the propagation of the aromatics-based methylation/dealkylation cycle relative to that of the olefins-based methylation/cracking cycle in methanol-to-hydrocarbons (MTH) conversion and consequentially results in higher ethene selectivity. Ethene selectivity increases monotonically with increasing aluminum content for HZSM-5 samples with nearly identical crystallite size consequent to an increase in the intracrystalline contact time analogous to our recent report detailing the effects of crystallite size (Khare et al., 2015) on MTH selectivity. The confected effects of crystallite size and site density on MTH selectivity can therefore, be correlated using a descriptor that represents the average number of acid sites that an olefin-precursor will interact with before elution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the recent experimental and numerical results from a 35 MW front wall-fired large pilot boiler. The boiler features a first-of-its-kind compatible design of oxy-fuel combustion and conventional air combustion (air-combustion). A sub-bituminous coal is used as fuel in the experiment. Wet and dry flue gas recycle oxy-fuel conditions are investigated, while air-combustion is also examined for reference. Measured in-furnace temperature, species concentration, exhaust emission, and transferred heat to membrane-wall and superheater are compared between oxy-fuel and air-combustion. Detailed numerical studies of combustion and heat transfer are performed using in-house developed sub-models for oxy-fuel condition, including a radiative property model and a global reaction mechanism. The predicted results agree well with the experimental data. The experimental and numerical results show that stable oxy-fuel combustion is achieved in the 35 MW large pilot boiler. Importantly, the oxy-fuel combustion and air-combustion can operate well with the especially designed burner system at similar heat loads in the experiment. Moreover, similar average temperatures and heat flux distributions are achieved under wet and dry flue gas recycle oxy-fuel conditions with an initial O 2 concentration of 28% in the oxidant. Transferred heat to membrane-wall and superheater in oxy-fuel combustion is slightly greater than in air-combustion. Furthermore, the flue gas recycle ratio significantly influences the heat transfer in oxy-fuel combustion. Increasing the recycle ratio from 0.71 to 0.73 reduces the transferred heat to membrane-wall by approximately 6%, while that of superheaters increases by approximately 4%. The selection of the optimized recycle ratio is a trade-off between boiler performance and flame stability of the burner system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]