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Aim: This study aimed to explore the association between medication literacy and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients. Background: Blood pressure control is a challenge for global health systems. Medication literacy is essential for medication self‐management in hypertensive patients and a basis for managers to develop comprehensive intervention strategies for hypertension medication use. Design: A cross‐sectional observational study was conducted. Methods: A total of 378 hypertensive patients was selected by convenience sampling from two tertiary hospitals and four community health service centres from December 2021 to January 2022 in Changsha, China. Associations between medication literacy and blood pressure control were identified with chi‐square, independent samples t‐tests and logistic regression analyses. Results: The average medication literacy score of the hypertensive patients investigated was low. Over a third of patients had uncontrolled blood pressure. Logistic regression analysis showed that medication literacy was an influencing factor for blood pressure control rate in hypertensive patients. Conclusions: Medication literacy and blood pressure control among hypertensive patients was poor. Medication literacy was a facilitator of blood pressure control so improving medication literacy may be of value to improve blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Medication literacy is essential for medication self‐management in hypertensive patientsThe association between medication literacy and blood pressure control in hypertensive patients is unclear. What this paper adds? Medication literacy and blood pressure control rates among hypertensive patients were poor and in need of urgent improvement.Medication literacy was a facilitator of blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. The implications of this paper: Clinical nurses may enhance hypertension management by improving medication literacy.Findings provide a base for implementing medication literacy intervention strategies and promoting blood pressure management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth mental health problems are a public health priority. Multiple healthy lifestyle behaviors may cluster into healthy lifestyle behavioral patterns (HLBPs) that increase mental health risks in adolescents and older adults, but little is known regarding young adults. This study aimed to explore the associations between cluster HLBPs and mental health problems in young adults. We selected 161,744 young adults aged 20–39 as participants from the database of a Chinese general hospital health management center for the years 2015–2020. The latent class analysis was used to identify HLBPs. A total of 15.0 % of young adults have at least one mental health problem. Five clusters of HLBPs were identified, characterized as low-risk class (1.6 %), moderate-risk class 1 (12.0 %), moderate-risk class 2 (2.1 %), moderate-risk class 3 (56.8 %), and high-risk class (27.4 %). The odds ratios (ORs) for young adults with two mental health problems increased with the risk grade of HLBPs, while the ORs for young adults with one or three mental health problems ranged from high to low according to the risk grade of HLBPs: high-risk class, moderate-risk class 2, moderate-risk class 3, moderate-risk class 1. Cross-sectional design and no causal conclusions could be drawn. Young adults demonstrated a cluster phenomenon of healthy lifestyle behaviors and significant associations between HLBPs and mental health problems. Young adults with a higher risk grade for HLBPs were more likely to have mental health problems. Different HLBPs should be taken into account when implementing mental health interventions. • Young adults demonstrated a cluster phenomenon of healthy lifestyle behaviors. • Young adults displayed five clusters of HLBPs different from those of adolescents and older adults. • Young adults with a higher risk grade for HLBPs were more likely to have mental health problems. • The dose-response association between the risk grade for HLBPs and mental health risks does not hold exactly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Serum cortisol and inflammatory markers may play a role in depression and anxiety, but little is known about whether various features of serum cortisol and inflammatory markers have different associations with depression and anxiety. This study examines the associations of serum cortisol and inflammatory marker features with depression and anxiety in young women with gynecologic cancer. Methods: Sixty-four young women with gynecologic cancer, aged 15–39 years, were recruited in a tertiary general hospital and a tertiary hospital specializing in oncology in China from May to December 2021. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to evaluate depression and anxiety. Blood samples were taken at 8 am, 4 pm, and 10 pm on the same day to examine the various features (average, variability, and diurnal patterns) of serum cortisol and inflammatory markers, namely C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Results: Young women with gynecologic cancer who reported depression/anxiety had significantly higher average levels of serum cortisol, IL-6 and TNF-α than those who did not. The dysregulations in the diurnal patterns of serum cortisol and IL-6 were associated with depression and anxiety. Serum cortisol levels were significantly higher in the depression/anxiety group at 10 pm. Depression and anxiety were associated with elevated levels of IL-6 and TNF-α at each time point. Conclusion: This study revealed various associations of serum cortisol and inflammatory marker features with depression and anxiety in young women with gynecologic cancer. Further research is needed to understand the role of serum cortisol and inflammatory marker features in the progression of depression and anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A high turnover rate in nursing has become a global concern. Mental health issues may increase the turnover intention of nurses and lead to turnover behaviors. However, very little is known about the role of bidirectional associations between emotional exhaustion and depression/anxiety on turnover intention. This study aimed to examine the associations among depression, anxiety, emotional exhaustion and turnover intention, and to test the role of bidirectional associations between depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion on turnover intention among nurses. Methods: An online multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in Hunan Province, China, from December 2021 to February 2022. The questionnaire collected data from the Turnover Intention Scale, the Emotional Exhaustion Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-2, as well as sociodemographic information. Data analysis was performed by univariate analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and structural equation modeling. Results: The average turnover intention score among Chinese nurses was 14.34 ± 3.75. The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 25.9% and 22.3%, respectively. Depression (r = 0.378, P < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.391, P < 0.001), and emotional exhaustion (r = 0.532, P < 0.001) were positively associated with turnover intention. Emotional exhaustion partially mediated the associations between depression/anxiety and turnover intention, with both mediating effects accounting for 60.7%. The mediating ratios of depression/anxiety on the associations between emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions were 17.6% and 16.5%, respectively. Conclusions: Depression, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion showed significant positive effects on turnover intention among nurses. Emotional exhaustion played a partial mediation role between depression/anxiety and turnover intention, while depression/anxiety played no significant mediation role between emotional exhaustion and turnover intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alexithymia, a subclinical cognitive-affective impairment, is prevalent in older people and increases the risk of mental disorders. There is a vast alexithymia treatment gap, with majority of older people in nursing homes lacking access to adequate mental health care. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on alexithymia, anxiety, depression and sleep quality of older people in nursing homes. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with two groups (the control group and intervention) from March to November 2021. This study enrolled 86 participants, two of whom were lost to follow-up; 42 received usual care (control group) and 42 received REBT based on usual care (intervention group) in nursing homes. The older people in both groups were evaluated at baseline (T0), within one-week post-intervention (T1), and at 3-month follow-up (T3). Generalized estimating equations were used by SPSS version 26 to assess the differential change in the outcomes between the two groups. Results: The intervention group shows significantly greater improvement in alexithymia than the control group at both T1 (β = -8.167, 95%CI= -10.965, -5.368, P < 0.001) and T2 (β=-4.119, 95%CI= -7.171, -1.067, P = 0.008). The two groups showed significant differences at both T1 and T2 in both difficulty identifying feelings and difficulty describing feelings. Compared to the control group, the intervention group shows a significant improvement in sleep quality at T2 (β = -2.048, 95%CI=-4.004, -0.091, P = 0.040). The two groups showed significant differences at both T1 and T2 in both sleep disturbance and daytime dysfunction. For depression and anxiety, no significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups. Conclusions: REBT showed to be an effective method for improving alexithymia and sleep quality of older people in nursing homes. However, it failed to significantly alleviate anxiety and depression at least in a short-term trial. Refining this intervention may have a broader, more substantial impact on future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalysts containing isolated single atoms have attracted much interest due to their good catalytic behavior, bridging the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. Here, we report an efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst that consists of atomically dispersed single copper sites confined by defective mixed-phased TiO2−x. This synergistic catalyst was produced by introducing Cu2+ to a metal organic framework (MOF) using the Mannich reaction, occurring between the carbonyl group in Cu(acac)2 and the amino group on the skeleton of the MOF. The embedding of single copper atoms was confirmed by atomic-resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Electronic structure modulation of the single copper sites coupling with oxygen vacancies was further established by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. Significantly enhanced ORR activity and stability were achieved on this special Cu single site. The promising application of this novel electrocatalyst was demonstrated in a prototype Zn–air battery. This strategy of the stabilization of single-atom active sites by optimization of the atomic and electronic structure on a mixed matrix support sheds light on the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite is dominantly used as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries. However, it still suffers from a limited cycling life and poor rate capability due to the unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Herein, a simple and viable method with Nafion as an additive to the commercial carboxyl methyl cellulose-styrene butadiene rubber (CMC/SBR) binder is proposed to construct a superior interfacial film to suppress the continuous decomposition of electrolyte solvent molecules on the graphite surface. Nafion helps to break the solvation shell and form a thin and uniform solid electrolyte interphase film on the surface of the graphite anode with fast Li+ diffusion. Benefiting from the synergetic merits form the inner original SEI and the outer Nafion, the graphite anodes exhibit long cycling life with a capacity retention rate of 73.85% after 350 cycles, and a high rate capability of 333.4 mAh g−1 at 1C and 327.6 mAh g−1 at 6C. The facile strategy of binder additives to stabilize SEI is inspiring the design of high-performance electrodes. Li+-conductive Nafion was introduced into commercial carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC)-styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) binder as a functional additive to build a uniform and stable SEI film on the surface of graphite. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is highly desirable to raise the charge cutoff voltage to realize the potential of LiCoO2 (LCO) with its ultra‐high theoretical capacity of 275 mAh g‐1. However, rapid fading due to structure collapse caused by the formation of the H1‐3 metastable phase and the release of surface lattice oxygen has largely hindered the operation of LCO under voltages of higher than 4.55 V. Here, stable cycling of LCO at 4.6 V through hierarchical doping engineering with inert P‐outside and active Ni‐inside dual doping is achieved. This ingenious outside‐in structure design enables Ni2+ occupation in the Li layer in the bulk layered phase and P gradient doping at the superficial lattice. Compared with the conventional inert element substitution strategy, the doped active Ni2+ can not only serve as a "pillar" to restrain the formation of the metastable H1‐3 phase, but also regulate the electronic structure of LCO and trigger the superexchange interaction of Ni2+‐O‐Co4+, together with strong P–O coordination to substantially suppress the lattice oxygen escape from the surface. Therefore, it considerably reduces the risk of layer structure collapse and consequently achieves stable and high‐capacity operation over 4.6 V. This hierarchical outside‐in doping strategy may serve as inspiration for stabilizing high energy electrode materials working under high voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soluble redox species that facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction by mediating the LiO2 intermediate and consequently the formation of the Li2O2 have attracted considerable interest for Li–O2 batteries. Based on extensive radical studies, this work discloses a distinct solution reaction route when a quinone derivative was employed as a redox mediator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neptunium-237 (237Np) is one of the most hazardous radionuclides of public concern due to its radiological toxicity, long half-life and high environmental mobility. Standard reference materials (SRMs) with well characterized 237Np activity concentrations are valuable for method development and validation of 237Np determination in environmental samples. In this study, a comprehensive literature survey of 237Np activity concentrations in 25 SRMs was carried out covering the various matrices of sediment, soil, seawater, atmospheric particles, and biota. After data screening, arithmetic mean of the activity concentrations of 237Np in literatures were calculated as statistical values (SVs). Then, accuracies of different instrument analyses and acid digestion methods were evaluated based on the SVs. Finally, by optimizing the sector field ICP-MS analytical method, 237Np activity concentration in JSAC-0471 soil SRM was measured. The application of SVs provides 237Np activity concentration information in more SRMs. Besides SRMs certified by technically validated procedures, SRMs with SVs and the measurement of JASC-0471 provide more options for suitable selection of SRMs for 237Np determination. [Display omitted] • Certified or Information values of 237Np in 25 SRMs were summarized. • Literature values of 237Np were analyzed, and statistical values were calculated. • The statistical values are consistent with Certified or Information values. • Data determined by ICP-MS was more reliable than the other instrumental methods. • The 237Np activity concentration in the SRM JSAC-0471 was (5.8 ± 0.5) × 10−5 Bq/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard carbons are promising anodes for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). However, the low practical capacity from limited sodiation sites impedes their applications. Herein, ultrahigh concentration of pyridine N (≈7.9%) is introduced inside hard carbon, considering that pyridine N may provide extra sodium storage sites with stable CN• and CC• radicals during cycling. To expose more radical sites for sodium storage, a 3D structure with a multistage pore structure is constructed through NH3 release during the pyrolyzation process. As expected, the hard carbon with extra sodiation sites exhibits an impressively high capacity of 434 mA h g−1 at 20 mA g−1, superior rate performance of 238 mA h g−1 at a current density of 5 A g−1 and a high‐capacity retention of 98.7% after 5000 cycles. The radicals induced Na‐adsorption mechanism was further explored through ex situ electron paramagnetic resonance technology, in situ Raman technology and density functional theory calculations. The results reveal that the extra sodiation sites come from the electrostatic interaction at low potentials. This work constructs a sodium ions storage model of extra radicals and provides an extended strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of SIBs anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (NPAH) emissions from the combustion of household solid fuel may cause great harm to public health. Children are one of the most susceptible population groups at risk of indoor air pollutants due to their immature respiratory and immune systems. In this study, a primary school using household coal combustion for heating in winter was selected and forty participants were randomly recruited among schoolchildren. Fine particulate matter samples were collected by both individual portable samplers and fixed middle-flow samplers during the heating and nonheating seasons. The NPAH concentrations in PM2.5 samples were analyzed by a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. Potential sources of NPAHs were identified by NPAH ratios as well as principal component analysis. Lung function of children was tested by an electronic spirometer. The relationship between NPAH exposure level and children's lung function was studied. Finally, the cancer risk caused by NPAH inhalation was assessed. The results showed significantly higher individual NPAH exposure level in heating season (0.901 ± 0.396 ng·m-3) than that in nonheating season (0.094 ± 0.107 ng·m-3). Coal/biomass combustion and secondary formation were the potential NPAH sources in heating season. Significantly lower lung function of children was also found in heating season compared with that in nonheating season. As a result of the Monte Carlo simulation, the averaged incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values from the inhalation of NPAHs in the heating and nonheating seasons were 3.50 × 10 − 8 and 2.13 × 10 − 8 , respectively. Our research revealed the association between NPAH exposure and children's lung function and confirmed the adverse effect of indoor coal combustion. The results also indicated that further control strategies on indoor coal combustion are needed to reduce the risk of NPAH exposure and protect children's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The fundamental phenotypic variations of defoliation traits among 383 cotton accessions were revealed. • The defoliants had little penalty on yield and fiber quality. • Two significantly associated loci were dissected, and key candidate genes, GhLRR and GhCYCD3;1 , were clarified. • The combining of two favorable haplotypes improved sensitivity to defoliant. • The favorable haplotype frequency was generally increased in high latitudes in China for adaptation to the local environment. Defoliation by applying defoliants before machine picking is an important agricultural practice that enhances harvesting efficiency and leads to increased raw cotton purity. However, the fundamental characteristics of leaf abscission and the underlying genetic basis in cotton are not clearly understood. In this study, we aimed to (1) reveal the phenotypic variations in cotton leaf abscission, (2) discover the whole-genome differentiation sweeps and genetic loci related to defoliation, (3) identify and verify the functions of key candidate genes associated with defoliation, and (4) explore the relationship between haplotype frequency of loci and environmental adaptability. Four defoliation-related traits of 383 re-sequenced Gossypium hirsutum accessions were investigated in four environments. The genome-wide association study (GWAS), linkage disequilibrium (LD) interval genotyping and functional identification were conducted. Finally, the haplotype variation related to environmental adaptability and defoliation traits was revealed. Our findings revealed the fundamental phenotypic variations of defoliation traits in cotton. We showed that defoliant significantly increased the defoliation rate without incurring yield and fiber quality penalties. The strong correlations between defoliation traits and growth period traits were observed. A genome-wide association study of defoliation traits identified 174 significant SNPs. Two loci (RDR7 on A02 and RDR13 on A13) that significantly associated with the relative defoliation rate were described, and key candidate genes GhLRR and GhCYCD3;1, encoding a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family protein and D3-type cell cyclin 1 protein respectively, were functional verified by expression pattern analysis and gene silencing. We found that combining of two favorable haplotypes (HapRDR7 and HapRDR13) improved sensitivity to defoliant. The favorable haplotype frequency generally increased in high latitudes in China, enabling adaptation to the local environment. Our findings lay an important foundation for the potentially broad application of leveraging key genetic loci in breeding machine-pickable cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) is one of the commonly used assisted reproductive technology. Because FET has the advantages of high cumulative pregnancy rate and low incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, the number of offspring born through this technology is increasing year by year. Many studies have shown that the risks of preterm delivery, low birth weight and small for gestation age of FET offspring are lower than those of the offspring born in the fresh embryo transfer cycle. There is also evidence that the risks of macrosomia and large for gestational age of FET offspring are higher. At the same time, there are also reports on the long-term health status of FET offspring in childhood and adulthood. This paper reviews the short-term and long-term effects of FET on offspring and the causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gremlin genes are known members of the DAN family of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists, but their functions and regulatory mechanisms in ovarian follicular development of chicken remain unknown. The current study was designed to investigate the mRNA expression patterns of gremlin1 gene (GREM1) and its protein location in the follicles sampled, and to explore the biological effect of GREM1 on the prehierarchical follicular development. This work revealed that chicken GREM1 mRNA exhibits a constant expression level across all the prehierarchical follicles (PFs) from 1-4 mm to 7–8 mm in diameter, and the preovulatory follicles (from F6 to F1) by using RT-qPCR (P > 0.05). The GREM1 protein is predominantly expressed in the oocytes and granulosa cells (GCs) of the PFs by immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that siRNA-mediated knockdown of GREM1 in the GCs resulted in a significant reduction in cell proliferation (P < 0.001); conversely, overexpression of GREM1 in the GCs led to a remarkable increase in cell proliferation (P < 0.001). Interestingly, the expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D2 (CCND2) mRNA and proteins were notably increased when GREM1 expression was upregulated in the GCs (P < 0.01), however, the expression levels of CYP11A1 and StAR were markedly downregulated (P < 0.01). The current results showed that GREM1 gene plays a stimulatory role in GC proliferation during growth and development of the prehierarchical follicles in vitro but an inhibitory role in GC differentiation and steroidogenesis of the hen ovary follicles. • Chicken GREM1 mRNA constantly expressed across all the prehierarchical follicles. • GREM1 protein is predominantly expressed in the oocytes and granulosa cells. • Knockdown of GREM1 resulted in a decrease of PCNA and CCND2 expression in GCs. • GREM1 gene plays a stimulatory role in GC proliferation. • GREM1 gene inhibits GC differentiation and steroidogenesis in the ovary follicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In seismic modeling and reverse time migration (RTM), incorporating anisotropy is crucial for accurate wavefield modeling and high-quality images. Due to the trade-off between computational cost and simulation accuracy, the pure quasi-P-wave equation has good accuracy to describe wave propagation in tilted transverse isotropic (TTI) media. However, it involves a fractional pseudo-differential operator that depends on the anisotropy parameters, making it unsuitable for resolution using conventional solvers for fractional operators. To address this issue, we propose a novel pure quasi-P-wave equation with a generalized fractional convolution operator in TTI media. First, we decompose the conventional pure quasi-P-wave equation into an elliptical anisotropy equation and a fractional pseudo-differential correction term. Then, we use a generalized fractional convolution stencil to approximate the spatial-domain pseudo-differential term through the solution of an inverse problem. The proposed approximation method is accurate, and the wavefield modeling method based on it also accurately describes quasi-P-wave propagation in TTI media. Moreover, it only increases the computational cost for calculating mixed partial derivatives compared to those in vertical transverse isotropic (VTI) media. Finally, the proposed wavefield modeling method is utilized in RTM to correct the anisotropic effects in seismic imaging. Numerical RTM experiments demonstrate the flexibility and viability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated a two-step surface modification of polyamide meshes and nonwoven fabrics for oil/water separation and looked into the durability of such modified polyamide. The two-step modification included 1) pre-etching the polyamide surface using plasma treatment and 2) coating the pre-etched surface by eco-friendly polydopamine (PDA)/cellulose. The pre-etching increased the surface roughness, which further improved the underwater superoleophobicity of the coating. Therefore, the modified polyamide was able to separate various oil/water mixtures and showed a higher intrusion pressure than the original sample and the samples which were only etched or only coated. The grooves on the surface that resulted from the pre-etching prevented the coating from peeling off. In durability tests, after 6 repeated uses, the modified nonwoven sample lost its underwater oleophobicity due to severe oil fouling, coming to a complete failure in oil/water separation. After 19 cycles, the modified mesh was still able to separate a certain amount of oil/water but showed reduced intrusion pressure because of slight oil contamination. Filters with different structures, like meshes with one layer of pores and nonwoven fabrics with complex three dimensional pores, had different oil fouling levels that affected oil/water separation. The recoverability of filters from oil contamination should be considered for practical applications. Unlabelled Image • A two-step method combining pre-etching and coating is developed for oil removal. • PDA/cellulose coating is novel, eco-environmentally and effective for oil removal. • Pre-etching creates rugged surfaces that enhance wettability and reinforce coating. • Nonwoven fabrics are less durable than meshes due to their layers of complex pores. • Complex pores lead to difficult recovery from oil fouling and worse durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Unmodified polyamide 6.6, rarely studied for oil removal, separated oil/water. • 2D mesh and 3D nonwoven polyamide were systematically studied for oil removal. • Roles of 2D and 3D porous structures in intrusion pressures were illustrated. • Different contact angles determined intrusion pressures of 2D mesh and 3D nonwoven. • 3D netting was beneficial for oil/water separation in terms of intrusion pressures. Abstract Porous polyamide functionalized by plasma or various coatings has been investigated for oil/water separation. In literature, polyamide has rarely been studied for oil removal, and this work investigated the performance of bare polyamide 6.6 (nylon 6.6) in terms of the oil/water separation efficiency and the intrusion pressure, inspiring cost-effective solutions for large-scale oil removal in the industry. Both polyamide meshes possessing two-dimensional (2D) one-layer pores and nonwoven fabrics with three-dimensional (3D) irregular pores were found to be able to separate oil/water with a high efficiency above 98.5%. This finding was attributed to the dual underwater oleophobicity and underoil hydrophobicity of these polyamide samples. The roles of 2D and 3D structures in oil/water separation were illustrated, to provide a new insight into filter designing. Due to its greater intrusion pressure, the 3D netting structure was suggested as being more beneficial for oil/water separation than the 2D structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SLIT/ROBO pathway has been implicated in prehierarchical follicular development of hen ovary by an intrafollicular autocrine and/or paracrine fashion. SLIT3, one of the key components of the SLIT/ROBO family, serves as a ligand that potentially interacts with the four receptors, ROBO1, ROBO2, ROBO3 and ROBO4. But the exact roles and regulatory mechanism of SLIT3 in chicken ovarian follicle development remain largely unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate the potential roles and molecular regulation of SLIT3 in granulosa cell (GC) proliferation, differentiation and follicle selection within the prehierarchical follicles of hen ovary. We found that SLIT3 interacts physically with the four ROBO receptors, but the expression of the ROBO1 and ROBO2 genes are more susceptible to the regulation of SLIT3 ligand than that of the ROBO3 and ROBO4 genes. Moreover, the siRNA‐mediated knockdown of SLIT3 in the follicular GCs leads to a significant increase in cell proliferation. Conversely, overexpression of SLIT3 results in a remarkable reduction in GC proliferation. Furthermore, the overexpressed SLIT3 has notably decreased the mRNA and protein expression levels of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSHR), growth and differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) and cytochrome P450 11A1 (CYP11A1) in the GCs. These results indicated that SLIT3 may play an inhibitory effect on GC proliferation, differentiation and follicle selection, and these suppressive actions of SLIT3 in the GC proliferation can be prohibited by the siRNA‐mediated knockdown of ROBO1 and ROBO2 receptors. The current data provide a basis for further investigation of molecular mechanisms of SLIT3‐ROBO1/2 pathway in controlling the prehierarchical follicle development of the hen ovary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Seismic anisotropy is widespread in real media, the conventional isotropic reverse time migration method will lead to problems such as inaccurate depth and unfocused energy in dealing with the anisotropic issues, and low frequency noise with strong amplitude in imaging results can not be completely removed by simple filtering method such as Laplace filter operator. To solve these problems, we have researched pseudo acoustic equation to simulate qP wave propagation in anisotropic VTI media and used the smoothed isotropy or elliptic anisotropy tapered circular region located in source points to suppress the qSV wave. On this basis, we also develop angle-stack reverse time migration method in VTI media, which stacks the imaging results in angle domain to suppress low-frequency noise and improve imaging accuracy. Model test and application example prove that this method can obtain accurate imaging results with balanced energy in steep dip structures, and has better effect in suppressing low-frequency imaging noise. Highlights • The pseudo acoustic equation that can suppress qSV wave had been researched to simulate qP wave propagation in VTI media. • An angle-stack reverse time migration method for VTI media had been developed to suppress low-frequency noise and improve imaging accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an experimental study on the hydrodynamic shrinkage of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) microdroplets during a nonequilibrium process. After scCO2 microdroplets are generated by water shearing upon a scCO2 flow in a micro T-junction, they are further visualized and characterized at the midpoint and the ending point of a straight rectangular microchannel (width × depth × length: 150 μm × 100 μm × 1.5 mm). The measured decreases in droplet size by 8%–36% indicate and simply quantify the droplet shrinkage which results from the interphase mass transfer between the droplet and the neighboring water. Using a mathematical model, the shrinkage of scCO2 droplets is characterized by solvent-side mass transfer coefficients (ks: 1.5 × 10−4–7.5 × 10−4 m/s) and the Sherwood number (Sh: 7–37). In general, ks here is two orders of magnitude larger than that of hydrostatic liquid CO2 droplets in water. The magnitude of Sh numbers highlights the stronger effect of local convections than that of diffusion in the interphase mass transfer. Our results, as reported here, have essential implications for scCO2-based chemical extractions and carbon storage in deep geoformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An anatase TiO 2 with {001} facet exhibits high oxidation activity towards the degradation of wastewater. The impact of {001} facet exposure degree on the degradation oxidation kinetics and mechanism is still unclear and urgently needs to be discussed. The photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) in wastewater using facet-controlled nanocrystalline {001} TiO 2 /carbon aerogel (CA) photoelectrodes was then investigated in this study. Nano-sized anatase {001} TiO 2 crystals with different {001} facet exposure degrees of high (90%), medium (48%) and low (15%) were constructed on a CA substrate via electrophoretic deposition. A positive correlation was found between the {001} facet exposure and the photocurrent density, electron carrier concentration and the total amount of OH. Nearly 100% BPA removal efficiency was shown on the 90%-{001}TiO 2 /CA in 6 h. The rate constant ( k ) value was 0.454 h −1 and the TOC rate was 83%. They are 1.8 and 1.8 times greater than those obtained on the 48%-{001}TiO 2 /CA, as well as 3.5 and 2.4 times greater than those on the 15%-{001}TiO 2 /CA, respectively. The greatly promoted PEC oxidation activity of 90%-{001}TiO 2 /CA is due to its more rapidly accumulated intermediates products than other two photoelectrodes, which then completely mineralize into CO 2 and H 2 O. This is mainly because of the highest oxidation sites existed on the 90%-{001}TiO 2 surface and the efficient separation of electron-hole pairs between the {001} TiO 2 and CA under the electric fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global health burden. Currently, the approved therapeutic regimens include nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and either interferon or pegylated interferon. NA therapy is generally safe and well tolerated, but the rate of posttreatment virologic relapse is high, making NA treatment a lifetime commitment. The benefits of pegylated interferon treatment include a finite duration, more-durable response and absence of viral resistance. However, sustained response to interferon alone is achieved only in a minority of patients, and side effects are common, which limit its clinical use. Given that HBV covalently closed circular DNA and the integrated HBV genome persist stably in the nuclei of infected hepatocytes, elimination (complete cure) of HBV is rarely achieved. After completion of treatment, sustained HBV surface antigen loss, with or without seroconversion to HBV surface antibody positivity (ie, functional cure), is therefore recommended as the ideal end point for anti-HBV treatment, despite the lack of complete eradication of HBV. Theoretically, combination of antiviral agents with differential mechanisms of actions on HBV, including viral suppression combined with immune modulation (as occurs during treatment with NA plus pegylated interferon), is an encouraging strategy to treat chronic hepatitis B. Recent studies have confirmed certain virological and serological advantages of simultaneous administration of NA and pegylated interferon (de novo combination therapy) or addition of pegylated interferon to ongoing NA therapy (sequential combination therapy) over monotherapy. Few data exist, however, on the long-term outcomes of patients receiving combination therapy. This review summarizes current combination therapy developed to cure chronic HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the theory of elastic wave, we derive the migration angle formula of P- and S-wave in the Gaussian beam migration and implement the ADCIGs (angle domain common imaging gathers) extraction for Gaussian beam of PP- and PS-wave firstly. Then, we derive the reflection tomography equations for elastic wave velocity analysis. They are used for the tomography velocity modeling base on the Gaussian beam ADCIGs. Making reflection tomography and depth migration into the same velocity modeling process, this method can not only use ADCIGs of elastic wave to update the velocities, but also can apply the migration results of tomography in each iteration as quality control, until the end of whole process in velocity modeling and finally we can get the prestack depth migration results after tomography. Synthetic and field examples validate the correctness and practicability of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanoparticle seed layer (a film) and vertically aligned nanorods of zinc oxide (ZnO) with different lengths were fabricated within a novel chamber-based microfluidic (microchamber) reactor with a varying height of 0.127–5 mm and characterized with their microstructures, photocatalytic performances as well as qualitative reaction kinetics. The ZnO seed layer was produced by a sol–gel procedure and the nanorods were hydrothermally grown on seed layer coated glass substrates. These ZnO samples were integrated into the microchamber reactor through a seven-layer sandwiched configuration. The aqueous methyl orange (MO) solution was chosen as a model polluted water. By comparing the ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorbance of the original MO solution and the post-treatment sample, the reaction constants were calculated, representing the efficiencies of the reactors. The ZnO samples, usually possessing a large amount of defects, with a higher crystal quality showed an enhanced activity. The reaction constant was featured of a plateau with accelerating flow rates, exhibited an exponentially decreasing function of the chamber height, and declined with increasing the initial concentration of the MO solution. The efficiency of the microchamber reactor was found to be one to two orders of magnitude higher than that of a batch reactor. The rate determining step was suggested to be the mass transport related adsorption of MO on ZnO. The measured reaction properties and the reactor design should be of considerable significance to the scaling-up and optimization of microchamber catalytic reactors dedicated to water purification and other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study addresses the development and validation of a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method, particularly to examine its feasibility and capability in hydrodynamics and dynamics of aircraft during ditching. The developed method solves the weakly compressible Navier–Stokes equations coupled with six-degree of freedom dynamics to achieve an accurate prediction of the interaction between the aircraft and the fluid. In this SPH method, a dummy particle wall-boundary condition is automatically implemented to meet the requirement of application on geometrically complex engineering problems. An efficient particle search strategy merging the ideal of Cell-linked list with Vertlet list is proposed to speed up the neighbor particles search process. The present SPH method uses an OpenMP memory-shared parallelization in conjunction with Z-curve reordering to accelerate the computation. Validations have been performed on several classic hydrodynamic problems, where good agreements were achieved via comparing with documented experimental results. The developed SPH method is applied to predict the ditching event of a complex helicopter model. Results demonstrate the ditching process, indicating that the method can be potentially used in aircraft ditching applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many prokaryotes have glycolysis alternatives, it's considered as the only energy-generating glucose catabolic pathway in eukaryotes. Here, we managed to create a hybrid-glycolysis yeast. Subsequently, we identified an inositol pyrophosphatase encoded by OCA5 that could regulate glycolysis and respiration by adjusting 5-diphosphoinositol 1,2,3,4,6-pentakisphosphate (5-InsP 7) levels. 5-InsP 7 levels could regulate the expression of genes involved in glycolysis and respiration, representing a global mechanism that could sense ATP levels and regulate central carbon metabolism. The hybrid-glycolysis yeast did not produce ethanol during growth under excess glucose and could produce 2.68 g/L free fatty acids, which is the highest reported production in shake flask of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This study demonstrated the significance of hybrid-glycolysis yeast and determined Oca5 as an inositol pyrophosphatase controlling the balance between glycolysis and respiration, which may shed light on the role of inositol pyrophosphates in regulating eukaryotic metabolism. [Display omitted] • Hybrid of glycolysis with the phosphoketolase pathway made an efficient cell factory • Oca5, identified as an inositol pyrophosphatase, degrading 5-InsP 7 to InsP 6 • InsPs control gene expression involved in glycolysis and respiration to balance fluxes • The mechanism of Oca5 regulating glycolysis and respiration was elaborated Glycolysis is considered as the only energy-generating glucose catabolic pathway in eukaryotes. Qin et al. establish a hybrid-glycolysis yeast that disrupts the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas glycolysis pathway and introduced components of the phosphoketolase pathway. They further identify Oca5 as an inositol pyrophosphatase controlling the balance between glycolysis and respiration activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new amide compounds, mariamides A and B (1–2), were obtained together with fourteen known compounds from the seeds of milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR analyses, as well as HR-ESI-MS data. Most of the compounds showed significant antioxidant activities than positive control in ABTS and FRAP assays. However, only amide compounds 1–4 showed moderate DPPH radical scavenging activity and compounds 7 and 16 showed the most potent activity against DPPH. Most of the compounds showed moderate to stronger α -glucosidase inhibitory activities. Nevertheless, only flavonoids showed strong PTP1B inhibitory activities. These results indicate a use of milk thistle seed extracts as promising antioxidant and antidiabetic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new ( 1 – 3 ) and one known ( 4 ) bioactive terpenoids were isolated from the seeds of Silybum marianum based on the investigation to get new NO inhibitors. Their structures were determined by extensive NMR (1D and 2D NMR) and MS spectroscopic data, and the absolute configurations were identified by experimental and calculated ECD spectra. The NO inhibitory activities in murine microglial BV-2 cells and interactions with iNOS protein by molecular docking were evaluated for all compounds. The results showed that these compounds had potent NO inhibitory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an investigation into the performance of trailing-edge flow control devices on horizontal axis wind turbines by solving the three dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations in the rotational framework. The validation case selected for this work is the NREL Phase VI blade with wind tunnel experimental data. The trailing-edge flow control devices studied include microtabs and microjets installed near the trailing-edge of the rotating blade. The divergent trailing-edge is also included in the study as a passive flow control device due to its practical interest. These trailing-edge devices are implemented on the fixed-pitch NREL Phase VI blade, using the original performance and flow characteristics as a benchmark. Both 2D and 3D simulations are carried out in order to investigate the suitability of the 2D blade sectional design analysis and control for the actual 3D rotating blades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hippo/MST signaling pathway is a critical player in controlling cell proliferation, self-renewal, differentiation, and apoptosis of most tissues and organs in diverse species. Previous studies have shown that Salvador homolog 1 (SAV1), a scaffolding protein which functions in the signaling system is expressed in mammalian ovaries and play a vital role in governing the follicle development. But the exact biological effects of chicken SAV1 in prehierarchical follicle development remain poorly understood. In the present study, we demonstrated that the SAV1 protein is predominantly expressed in the oocytes and undifferentiated granulosa cells in the various sized prehierarchical follicles of hen ovary, and the endogenous expression level of SAV1 mRNA appears down-regulated from the primordial follicles to the largest preovulatory follicles (F2-F1) by immunohistochemistry and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. Moreover, we found the intracellular SAV1 physically interacts with each of the pathway members, including STK4/MST1, STK3/MST2, LATS1 and MOB2 using western blotting. And SAV1 significantly promotes the phosphorylation of LATS1 induced by the kinase of STK4 or STK3 in vitro. Furthermore, SAV1 knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly increased proliferation of granulosa cells from the prehierarchical follicles (6–8 mm in diameter) by BrdU-incorporation assay, in which the expression levels of GDF9, StAR and FSHR mRNA was notably enhanced. Meanwhile, these findings were consolidated by the data of SAV1 overexpression. Taken together, the present results revealed that SAV1 can inhibit proliferation of the granulosa cells whereby the expression levels of GDF9, StAR and FSHR mRNA were negatively regulated. Accordingly, SAV1, as a member of the hippo/MST signaling pathway plays a suppressive role in ovarian follicle development by promoting phosphorylation and activity of the downstream LATS1, may consequently lead to prevention of the follicle selection during ovary development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic materials are promising candidates for future rechargeable batteries, owing to their high natural abundance and rapidly redox reaction. Elaborating the charge/discharge process of organic electrode is critical to unveil the fundamental redox mechanism of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), but monitoring of this process is still challenging. Here, we report a nondestructive electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique to real‐time detect the electron migration step within polyimide cathode. From in situ EPR tests, we vividly observe a classical redox reaction along with two‐electron transfer which only shows one pair of peaks in the cyclic voltammetry curve. The radical anion and dianion intermediates are detailed delineation at redox sites in EPR spectra, which can be further confirmed through density functional theory calculations. This approach is especially crucial to elaborate the correlation behind electrochemical and molecular structure for multistep organic‐based LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic materials are promising candidates for future rechargeable batteries, owing to their high natural abundance and rapidly redox reaction. Elaborating the charge/discharge process of organic electrode is critical to unveil the fundamental redox mechanism of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), but monitoring of this process is still challenging. Here, we report a nondestructive electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique to real‐time detect the electron migration step within polyimide cathode. From in situ EPR tests, we vividly observe a classical redox reaction along with two‐electron transfer which only shows one pair of peaks in the cyclic voltammetry curve. The radical anion and dianion intermediates are detailed delineation at redox sites in EPR spectra, which can be further confirmed through density functional theory calculations. This approach is especially crucial to elaborate the correlation behind electrochemical and molecular structure for multistep organic‐based LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forkhead box L2 (FOXL2) is a member of the forkhead nuclear factor 3 gene family and plays an essential role in ovarian growth and maturation in mammals. However, its potential effects and regulative mechanism in development of chicken ovarian prehierarchical follicles remain unexplored. In this study, the cooperative effects of FOXL2 with activin A, growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF9) and follistatin, three members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily that were previously suggested to exert a critical role in follicle development was investigated. We demonstrated herein, using in-situ hybridization, Northern blot and immunohistochemical analyses of oocytes and granulosa cells in various sizes of prehierarchical follicles that both FOXL2 transcripts and FOXL2 proteins are predominantly expressed in a highly similar expression pattern to that of GDF9 gene. In addition, the FOXL2 transcript was found at lower levels in theca cells in the absence of GDF9. Furthermore, culture of granulosa cells (GCs) from the prehierarchical follicles (6–8 mm) in conditioned medium revealed that in the pcDNA3.0-FOXL2 transfected GCs, there was a more dramatic increase in FSHR mRNA expression after treatment with activin A (10 ng/ml) or GDF9 (100 ng/ml) for 24 h which caused a stimulatory effect on the GC proliferation. In contrast, a significant decrease of FSHR mRNA was detected after treatment with follistatin (50 ng/ml) and resulted in an inhibitory effect on the cell proliferation. The results of this suggested that FOXL2 plays a bidirectional modulating role involved in the intracellular FSHR transcription and GC proliferation via an autocrine regulatory mechanism in a positive or negative manner through cooperation with activin A and/or GDF9, and follistatin in the hen follicle development. This cooperative action may be mediated by the examined Smad signals and simultaneously implicated in modulation of the StAR, CCND2, and CYP11A1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel mesh deformation technique is developed based on the Delaunay graph mapping (DGM) method and the radial basis function (RBF) method. The algorithm combines the advantages of the efficiency of DGM mesh deformation and the better control of the near surface mesh quality from the RBF method. The Delaunay graph is used to divide the mesh domain into a number of sub-domains. On each of the sub-domains, the radial basis function is applied to build a much smaller sized translation matrix between the original mesh and the deformed mesh, resulting in a similar efficiency for the mesh deformation as compared to the fast Delaunay graph mapping method. Furthermore, by separating the translation and rotation motion, the mesh quality near the wall can be substantially improved for extremely large rotational deformation. The paper will show how the near-wall mesh quality is controlled and improved by the new method while the computational time is maintained to be comparable to the original Delaunay graph mapping method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residual levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the water, suspended particular matter (SPM) and sediment from Lake Chaohu were measured with a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer (GC–MS). The spatial–temporal distributions and the SPM–water partition of PAHs and their influencing factors were investigated. The potential sources and contributions of PAHs in the sediment were estimated by positive matrix factorization (PMF) and probabilistic stable isotopic analysis (PSIA). The results showed that the average residual levels of total PAHs (PAH16) in the water, SPM and sediment were 170.7 ± 70.8 ng/L, 210.7 ± 160.7 ng/L and 908.5 ± 1878.1 ng/g dry weight, respectively. The same spatial distribution trend of PAH16 in the water, SPM and sediment was found from high to low: river inflows > western lake > eastern lake > water source area. There was an obvious seasonal trend of PAH16 in the water, while no obvious seasonal trend was found in the SPM. The residues and distributions of PAHs in the water, SPM and sediment relied heavily on carbon content. Significant Pearson correlations were found between LogK oc and LogK ow as well as some hydro-meteorological factors. Three major sources of PAHs including coal and biomass combustions, and vehicle emissions were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The priority control screening (PCS) and water quality benchmarking (WQB) of toxic chemicals in water are key steps to ensure the safety of drinking water and aquatic ecosystem that is the crucial goal of water environment management. Owing to the different levels of social-economic development in different countries and regions, the PCS and WQB of toxic chemicals must be determined in accordance with their specific water environment situations. However, in China, the PCS and WQB of toxic chemicals in water were mainly introduced from the other countries. A method for the PCS and WQB of toxic chemicals in water based on the ecological risks was proposed, and a platform named Bayesian Matbugs Calculator (BMC) was developed. As a case study, the WQB and PCS of sixty-nine PTSs based their ecological risks were performed on the basis of one-year monthly monitoring in Lake Chaohu. The results showed that the current national water quality criteria (WQC) would underestimate the toxicological risk to organisms in this aquatic ecosystem. It appears necessary to develop new WQC for the protection of aquatic organisms in Lake Chaohu. Four grades of priority control chemicals (PCCs) in Lake Chaohu were proposed. The highest priority was assigned to organonitrogen-phosphorus pesticides, including parathion, dichlorvos, malathion, omethoate, and di-n-butyl phthalate. However, the national “blacklist” of toxic compounds only covered 7 of 20 PCCs, indicating that the other 13 PCCs would not be controlled efficiently. Because the pollution pattern of PTSs in various water bodies might be quite different, we appealed to the governments to screen the regional PPC lists or develop a more comprehensive national list for aquatic ecosystem protection in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Liver failure is a clinical syndrome of various etiologies, manifesting as jaundice, encephalopathy, coagulopathy and circulatory dysfunction, which result in subsequent multiorgan failure. Clinically, liver failure is classified into four categories: acute, subacute, acute-on-chronic and chronic liver failure. Massive hepatocyte death is considered to be the core event in the development of liver failure, which occurs when the extent of hepatocyte death is beyond the liver regenerative capacity. Direct damage and immune-mediated liver injury are two major factors involved in this process. Increasing evidence has suggested the essential role of immune- mediated liver injury in the pathogenesis of liver failure. Here, we review the evolved concepts concerning the mechanisms of immune-mediated liver injury in liver failure from human and animal studies. Both innate and adaptive immunity, especially the interaction of various immune cells and molecules as well as death receptor signaling system are discussed. In addition, we highlight the concept of "immune coagulation", which has been shown to be related to the disease progression and liver injury exacerbation in HBV related acute-onchronic liver failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel meshing method named the zipper layer method is presented, which links two topologically different multi-block structured meshes together without overlapping or hanging nodes. It can either locally or globally connect two dissimilar structured meshes with a small number of tetrahedra and pyramids on either side of the interface to form a conformal mesh. To test the method, the results using a zipper layer mesh and a fully structured mesh are compared regarding solution accuracy and convergence. This method has been demonstrated for several applications of turbomachinery interest, where quality multi-block structured meshes are connected and the numerical flow solutions on these zipper layer meshes are also shown. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Levels and distribution of atmospheric and water PAHs were studied in Lake Chaohu. [•] The monthly diffusive air–water exchange flux were estimated by a two-film model. [•] PAH16 levels in atmosphere and water were significantly correlated with temperature. [•] Significant correlations between gas-particle partition and and Log K oa. [•] PAH levels in water and gas were the most important factors for air–water exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Suspended particulate matter (SPM) and surface sediment samples were collected from Lake Chaohu to investigate the residues, congener profile, and spatial distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in a large shadow lake in the middle of the Yangtze River Basin. The concentration of Σ13BDEs (defined as the sum of 13 target congeners excluding BDE 209) and the concentration of BDE 209 ranged from 236.7 to 1373.4pg/g dry weight (dw) and from 4.2 to 691.2pg/g dw in the surface sediments, respectively, which were 2–3 orders of magnitude smaller than those found in the SPM. The congener composition was dominated by BDE 47 (50.8%) and BDE 209 (21.3%) in the sediment, while the proportion of BDE 47 to Σ14BDEs in the SPM was slightly higher than that in the sediment. The concentration of Σ14BDEs in the sediment from the drinking water source (WR) area in the eastern part of the lake was very low, with a mean value of 514.8pg/g, whereas the mean concentration was 102.4ng/g in the SPM. A cluster analysis (CA) was conducted to further illustrate the dominance of each congener and the similarity of each sampling site. Many factors, including resuspension, photodecomposition, microbial oxidation, local discharge, and dredging, influenced the distribution in the sediment and SPM for the PBDE congeners as well as the spatial distribution of PBDEs. A formula for the PBDE concentrations in the surface sediment and SPM was constructed to understand the potential relationship between sediment and SPM concentrations. Although the formula did not accurately predict specific PBDE congener concentrations in the sediment, it remains a practical and useful way to assess the overall pollution of PBDE in sediment in Lake Chaohu, as it depends only on the concentrations of PBDEs in the SPM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The spatio-temporal distributions and the ecological and health risks of PAEs in surface water of Lake Chaohu, the fifth largest lake in China, were studied based on the monthly monitoring of six PAE congeners from May 2010 to April 2011. The annual total concentration of the six PAE congeners (Σ6PAE) in the surface water ranged from 0.467 to 17.953μgL−1, with the average value of 4.042±3.929μgL−1. The di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) that dominated the Σ6PAE at 65.8% was found at its highest and lowest levels in the western lake (TX) and eastern drinking water source area (JC), respectively. The temporal distributions of Σ6PAE showed that the highest and lowest levels were observed in September 2010 and June 2010, respectively. The different relationships between the runoff and the PAEs with low and high levels of carbon might suggest their different sources. The DnBP had much greater ecological risks than the other studied PAE congeners as indicated by its potential affected fractions (PAFs) and the margin of safety (MOS10). The PAE congeners studied posed little health risk to the nearby male and female citizens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The parallel efficient global optimization (EGO) algorithm is applied to the 2-D/3-D shock control bump optimizations. The EGO algorithm is a global optimization method based on the Kriging model, which is especially designed for expensive black box functions, such as high-fidelity aerodynamic shape optimizations. Three heuristic parallel strategies including "Kriging believer", "constant liar" and imputed point" strategies are investigated based on four benchmark optimization problems and two shock control bump optimization problems. In shock control bump optimization problems, the parallel EGO algorithm is nearly 16 times faster than the serial EGO algorithm. And our research also shows that Imputed point' strategy is the best strategy in these optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tyrosinase is an oxidase that is the rate-limiting enzyme for controlling the production of melanin in the human body. Overproduction of melanin can lead to a variety of skin disorders. Calycosin is an isoflavone from Astragali Radix, which is a traditional Chinese medicine that exhibits several pharmacological activities including skin whitening. In our study, the inhibitory effect of calycosin on melanin production is confirmed in a zebrafish in vivo model by comparing with hydroquinone, kojic acid, and arbutin, known as tyrosinase inhibitors. Moreover, the inhibitory kinetics of calycosin on tyrosinase and their binding mechanisms are determined using molecular docking techniques, molecular dynamic simulations, and free energy analysis. The results indicate that calycosin has an obvious inhibitory effect on zebrafish pigmentation at the concentration of 7.5 μM, 15 μM, and 30 μM. The IC50 of calycosin is 30.35 μM, which is lower than hydroquinone (37.35 μM), kojic acid (6.51 × 103 μM), and arbutin (3.67 × 104 μM). Furthermore, all the results of molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and free energy analysis suggest that calycosin can directly bind to the active site of tyrosinase with very good binding affinity. The study indicates that the combination of computer molecular modeling and zebrafish in vivo assay would be feasible in confirming the result of the in vitro test and illustrating the target-binding information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an investigation of gust load alleviation using Circulation Control for a three-dimensional wing including aerodynamic and structure interaction. The Field Velocity Method is introduced to the unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes solutions for gust response simulations. Structural dynamic equations of motion are coupled with the unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes solutions to consider the aeroelastic effects due to the gust response. The effects of gust load alleviation on the BAH wing using Circulation Control are tested under typical 'one-minus-cosine' gust profiles from certification specification defined by European Aviation Safety Agency. The results show a promising capability of Circulation Control for gust load alleviation as significant gust load alleviation effects have been achieved for both the rigid and elastic BAH wings in the test cases. For the BAH wing considering aeroelasticity, the displacement oscillations induced by gusts have been effectively suppressed by Circulation Control. The results also show that Circulation Control has the fast frequency response characteristics, where more than 50% of the total change in lift coefficient can be obtained within the non-dimensional time s = U ∞ t c ¯ = 1. • Evaluation of gust load alleviation by Circulation Control for 3D aircraft wing. • Demonstrated that CC is capable for load control from subsonic to transonic flows. • CC also decreases the load at the wing root away from its installation location. • CC can suppress gust load with a fast frequency response for rigid and elastic wings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A strategy for efficiently specific removal of DMP pollutant is proposed. • {111}TiO 2 /Ti photoelectrode is in-situ constructed by vapor-phase hydrothermal method. • Highly-exposed {111} facet provides both high reaction activity and Lewis acid sites. • The {111}TiO 2 /Ti presents the highest removal enhancement to target DMP. • {111}TiO 2 /Ti presents excellent anti-interference ability and stability in practical use. We report a novel strategy for preferentially removing dimethyl phthalate (DMP) over rutile {111}TiO 2 /Ti photoelectrode. One-dimensional ordered TiO 2 nanorod arrays with highly-exposed {111} facet on top were in situ grown on Ti mesh via vapor-phase hydrothermal method. {111}TiO 2 /Ti provided a bi-functional interface with a combination of high reaction activity and Lewis acid sites. The photoelectrocatalytic degradation results revealed that {111}TiO 2 /Ti exhibited the highest removal enhancement towards DMP compared with non-target bisphenol A (BPA) and atrazine (ATZ) in both single pollutant and co-existed systems. The factor F enhancement was defined to quantitatively analyze the removal enhancement, which were as high as 12.81 and 11.06 towards DMP in the above two systems, respectively. In addition, {111}TiO 2 /Ti also presented an outstanding anti-interference ability when DMP was presented with 10-fold concentration of non-target pollutants. The specific PEC removal of DMP on {111}TiO 2 /Ti photoelectrode was investigated in detail. In situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy results indicated that the {111} facet displayed stronger Lewis acidity in comparison with TiO 2 /Ti, promoting characteristic adsorption towards target DMP molecule (Lewis base site). DFT results further explored the favorable adsorption configuration of DMP on {111} facet. The time-resolved photoluminescence decay spectra (TRPL) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra confirmed the highly-exposed {111} facet possessed a significant photo-generated holes accumulation. The quenching experiments indicated that •OH was the major active specie in the PEC degradation of DMP. The possible degradation pathways of DMP were proposed by deeply analyzing intermediates. {111}TiO 2 /Ti exhibited excellent stability in recycling experiments, which would have wide applications in practical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an investigation on the capability of gust load alleviation by normal microjet. The numerical method integrates the unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) solutions, structural dynamic equations of motion and the Field Velocity Method. The method is verified for gust responses of rigid and elastic models. The numerical results of microjet are validated against experimental and previous numerical data. Load control capabilities of normal microjet are evaluated on the 2D NACA0012 airfoil and the 3D BAH wing with constant and dynamic momentum coefficients under steady subsonic and transonic incoming flow conditions. Thereafter, gust load alleviation effects using microjet are tested on the airfoil and the BAH wing with and without the consideration of aeroelasticity. The results show that normal microjet has a strong capability for load control for transonic incoming flow. This is due to the jet effect on the shock strength on the airfoil upper surface. For the 3D BAH wing, significant load control effects can be shown for jet deployment on the span near the wing tip. Load reduction has also been observed near the wing root away from the jet region. The test cases show that normal microjet is a promising approach for gust load alleviation with a fast frequency response characteristic. A near constant lift response under gust condition can be achieved by adaptively adjusting the blowing momentum coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residual levels of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in environment media and freshwater fish were collected and measured from Lake Chaohu by using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Potential atmospheric sources were identified by molecular diagnostic ratios and the positive matrix factorization (PMF) method. PAH exposure doses through inhalation, intake of water and freshwater fish ingestion were estimated by the assessment model recommended by US EPA. The carcinogenic risks of PAH exposure were evaluated by probabilistic risk assessment and Monte Carlo simulation. The following results were obtained: (1) The PAH16 levels in gaseous, particulate phase, water and fish muscles were 59.4 ng·m−3, 14.2 ng·m−3, 170 ng·L−1 and 114 ng·g−1, respectively. No significant urban-rural difference was found between two sampling sites except gaseous BaPeq. The relationship between gaseous PAHs and PAH in water was detected by the application of Spearman correlation analysis. (2) Three potential sources were identified by the PMF model. The sources from biomass combustions, coal combustion and vehicle emission accounted for 43.6%, 30.6% and 25.8% of the total PAHs, respectively. (3) Fish intake has the highest lifetime average daily dose (LADD) of 3.01 × 10−6 mg·kg−1·d−1, followed by the particle inhalation with LADD of 2.94 × 10−6 mg·kg−1·d−1. (4) As a result of probabilistic cancer risk assessment, the median ILCRs were 3.1 × 10−5 to 3.3 × 10−5 in urban and rural residents, which were lower than the suggested serious level but higher than the acceptable level. In summary, the result suggests that potential carcinogenic risk exists among residents around Lake Chaohu. Fish ingestion and inhalation are two major PAH exposure pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A QWASI (Quantitative Water Air Sediment Interaction) fugacity model was developed to characterize the fate and transfer of fifteen priority PAHs in Lake Small Baiyangdian. The PAH concentrations in the air (air, particulates), water (water, suspended solids, plants and fishes) and sediment (water and solids) as well as the transfer fluxes between adjacent compartments were derived under the steady-state assumption. Sensitivities of the model estimates to input parameters were tested. Monte Carlo simulation was conducted for the uncertainty analysis. The results indicate that there was generally good agreement between the modeled and measured concentrations with the differences within an order of magnitude for the majority of PAH components. The fluxes into and out of the lake as well as each compartment were well-balanced. The average bioaccumulation flux of PAHs by plants was four times higher than that by fishes. The transfer directions of PAHs were from air to water and to sediment. Temperature was the most influential parameter, and was more sensitive to the modeled concentrations of middle- and high-molecular-weight PAHs that were considered as the source of the model uncertainty. The model developed in this study could well characterize the fate and transfer of PAHs in the lake. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]