Search

s SiC nanowires (SiCnws) having different morphologies can be applied to reinforce ceramic materials. However, the in-situ synthesis of SiCnws in ceramic powders, which is critical to ensure satisfactory reinforcement effects, is challenging. To facilitate the reinforcement of ZrB2–ZrC composites, this study proposes a simple method for in-situ fabrication of SiCnws with various morphologies in nanosized ZrB2–ZrC powders by pyrolyzing ZrB2–ZrC–SiC gel precursors. The prepared ZrB2–ZrC ceramic powders had a mean diameter of approximately 100 nm, with uniformly distributed SiCnws having nanocylider, bead-like, bamboo-shape with tuneable nodes, chain-like, and hexagonal prism morphologies prepared by optimizing the preparation process. Moreover, the SiCnws had diameters ranging from 100 to 400 nm, and the length was controlled from tens to hundreds of microns. The generation of ZrB2/ZrC influences the formation of SiCnws with specific morphologies through the production of CO gas, which influences the local supersaturation of the SiO and CO vapours. The findings can provide a basis for fabricating SiCnw-reinforced ceramic materials with an enhanced strengthening effect while ensuring a reasonable fabrication process.

Background: Cobweb disease is a fungal disease that often occurs in the cultivation and production of edible fungi, which can harm a variety of cultivated edible fungi and cause serious losses. Cobweb disease is considered to be one of the four most serious fungal diseases in edible fungi. Symptoms suspected of cobweb disease were found during the cultivation of Lyophyllum decastes mushrooms. The objective of our study was to identify the cobweb pathogen and screen out the effective fungicides, so as to provide a reference for the comprehensive prevention and control of velvet mushroom cobweb disease. Results: The causal agent for this cobweb disease was isolated from symptomatic samples and was found to be Cladobotryum mycophilum based on morphological characteristics, phylogeny (ITS, RPB1, RPB2 and TEF1-α) and the cultural characteristics of two isolates on PDA and MEA medium. Results of pathogenicity tests also supported the conclusion that C. mycophilum is the pathogen responsible for this condition. The antibacterial effect of Prochloraz-manganese chloride complex, Trifloxystrobin and tebuconazole, and Difenoconazole among the tested fungicides is remarkable, with EC50 being 0.076 μg/mL, 0.173 μg/mL and 0.364 μg/mL respectively. These fungicides have good control effect, low toxicity, and have good application potential on L. decastes. Conclusion: First report of cladobotryum mycophilum causing cobweb disease of Lyophyllum decastes in China.

In order to improve the reliability and continuity of the power distribution system, power Internet of Things analysis monitoring system was constructed in this article, and the system was used for comprehensive applications such as data acquisition and fault analysis. Fault location methods considering distribution phasor measurement unit (D-PMU) information and network symmetry characteristics are proposed. With the measurement information provided by the D-PMU, the fault sections and the fault types are determined by the phase difference between the positive and negative sequence currents. Different location algorithms are obtained based on the load symmetry of the distribution network. The fault location method based on the line distribution parameters is used for the three-phase symmetric system, and the fault location method based on line impedance is proposed for the three-phase asymmetric system. Finally, the effect of different nodes with a D-PMU on the fault location accuracy is analyzed, and the configuration principle of the D-PMU was proposed. The PSCAD/MATLAB simulation software is used to analyze the example and verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The simulation results demonstrate that high-precision fault location could be realized and that the practicality and economy are improved.

A TiO2-based ternary oxide was synthesized as a visible-light photocatalyst (TiO2/ZrTiO4/SiO2, SZT) by introducing SiO2–ZrO2 into TiO2 through sol–gel method. The related material compositions and microstructures were characterized, and the optical and photochemical performances were evaluated and compared with pure anatase TiO2. By introducing SiO2–ZrO2, the grain size of TiO2 was reduced from 29.9 nm in the pure anatase phase to 11.5 nm in SZT, accompanied by the formation of ZrTiO4. Moreover, the synthesized SZT demonstrated greatly lowered photoluminescence intensity and electrochemical impedance, and significantly increased photocurrent. The new photocatalyst also exhibited superior adsorption and photocatalytic ability for RhB, and higher catalytic stability. The improved photodegradation performance was attributed to the enhanced charge transfer and charge carrier separation as a result of the refined grains, the formation of TiO2/ZrTiO4 heterojunction, and a higher amount of built-in oxygen vacancies.

Multilayer porous structured TiO2–ZrTiO4–SiO2 photocatalyst with built-in TiO2/ZrTiO4 heterojunction and oxygen vacancies was synthesized by sol-gel method combined with template method using colloidal polystyrene spheres as templates. Results show that the multilayer porous structure can be fabricated by controlling the calcination system and the amount of template, and the fabrication of which can also contribute to the generation of oxygen vacancies by creating an anoxic environment. During the photodegradation process, high efficiency of visible light utilization can be achieved due to the slow photon effect of the multilayer porous structure, which can also increase the probability of the contact between Rhodamine B (RhB) with the active sites of the catalyst. Also, the synergistic effect of the generated TiO2/ZrTiO4 heterojunction and built-in oxygen vacancy defects jointly promoted the separation of photogenerated carriers. Thus excellent adsorption rate (75.6%, 60 min) and photodegradation rate (95%, 90 min) of the catalyst were obtained. Furthermore, the up-shifted conduction band and valence band maximum positions are beneficial for the mobility of photogenerated holes and inhibit their reaction with H2O to generate ·OH, while the photogenerated electrons can react with O2 to form ·O2−, resulting that the holes and ·O2− participated in the photodegradation of RhB over the as-prepared catalyst.

“Hongtuozhusun” (Phallus rubrovolvatus) is an important edible and medicinal mushroom endemic to Southwest China. However, yellow rot disease is a severe disease of P. rubrovolvatus that occurs extensively in Guizhou Province. It has caused major economic losses and hinders the development of the P. rubrovolvatus industry. In this study, 28 microorganism strains were isolated from diseased fruiting bodies of P. rubrovolvatus at various stages, two of which were confirmed to be pathogenic based on Koch’s postulates. These two strains are introduced herein as Saccharomycopsisphalluae sp. nov. based on morphological, physiological, and molecular analysis. We reported a high-quality de novo sequencing and assembly of the S. phalluae genome using single-molecule real-time sequencing technology. The whole genome was approximately 14.148 Mb with a G+C content of 43.55%. Genome assembly generated 8 contigs with an N50 length of 1,822,654 bp. The genome comprised 5966 annotated protein-coding genes. This is the first report of mushroom disease caused by Saccharomycopsis species. We expect that the information on genome properties, particularly in pathogenicity-related genes, assist in developing effective control measures in order to prevent severe losses and make amendments in management strategies.

SiC nanowires (SiCnws) with different morphologies have great potential for the reinforcement of ceramic materials. But it is a big challenge in the in-situ synthesis of SiCnws in the ceramic powders which is critical to ensure high reinforcing effects. For the reinforcement of ZrB2-ZrC composites, a simple method is developed to in-situ fabricate SiCnws with various morphologies in nano-sized ZrB2-ZrC powders through pyrolyzing ZrB2-ZrC-SiC gel precursors. The prepared ZrB2-ZrC ceramic powders have mean diameter of about 100 nm with uniformly distributed SiCnw in morphologies of nanocylider, bead-like, bamboo-shape with tunable nodes, chain-like and hexagonal prisms were prepared by optimizing the preparation process. Moreover, the SiCnws were in a diameter of ranging from 100 to 400 nm, while the length was controlled from tens to hundreds of microns. The generation of ZrB2/ZrC can determine the formation of SiCnws with specific morphologies by producing CO gas to affect the local supersaturation of the SiO and CO vapors. The study provides an opportunity for fabricating SiCnw reinforced ceramic materials with enhanced strengthening effect and also overcome its critical fabrication process.

Herein, the mesoporous composite materials, mTiO2–ZrO2/PTAy-x (PTA = phosphotungstic acid, x represents the molar ratio of Ti to Zr, y represents the weight percent of PTA in mTiO2–ZrO2/PTA samples), have been prepared by the surfactant-assisted sol–gel method combined with a subsequent hydrothermal treatment. The as-prepared catalysts were fully characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, DRS, PLs and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques. The results indicated that mTiO2–ZrO2 sample with the TiO2 and ZrO2 molar ratio of 3 exhibits good crystallinity, large internal surface areas and narrow-sized pores. The PTA clusters incorporated in mTiO2–ZrO2 frameworks preserve intact Keggin structure according to EDX, FT-IR and diffuse reflectance UV/vis/NIR spectroscopy. The band gap energy of as-prepared composites is reduced compared with single components. The PL experiments revealed that the obtained mTiO2–ZrO2 can strongly retard the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes compared with a single oxide, and the introduction of PTA species can further improve the light adsorption and the photochemical stability, therefore efficiently promoting photocatalytic activity of the ternary composite materials. Photocatalytic experiments confirmed that mTiO2–ZrO2/PTA10-3 displayed highly efficient and durable activity for the photodegradation of methyl orange under simulated sunlight and photoreduction of Cr(VI) under visible light. The study of the photocatalytic mechanism revealed that superoxide radicals (∙O2−) and holes (h+) are the main active species. These materials are very stable in the photocatalytic reactions, and therefore, they are promising and efficient catalysts for practical applications.

Angiosperms are believed to have emerged initially in the tropics and expanded their distribution range poleward through diverse mechanisms, for example polyploidization‐driven cold tolerance evolution. Reversed expansion from temperate to pan‐tropic climates through a polyploidization‐driven shift in heat tolerance remains largely unknown. Here, we found autopolyploidy in relation to the global expansion of Solidago canadensis from its temperate‐climate native range in North American to hot‐summer climate in an introduced range. Our cytogeographical study of 2,062 accessions from 471 locations worldwide demonstrates that ploidy levels correlate negatively with latitude and positively with average temperature. An isotherm‐dependent shift of the climate niches at the threshold of 20°–24°C between geo‐cytotypes can be attributed mainly to autopolyploidy‐driven differentiation of heat tolerance; only polyploids and not diploids are able to complete sexual reproduction, germinate, and grow in the hot‐summer climate of low latitudes. Ploidy‐dependent fertility appears to play a key role in the hot‐summer introduced range in the northern hemisphere through both pre‐adaptation and rapid post‐introduction adaptive evolution of delayed flowering and improved heat tolerance during embryo development. The MaxEnt model predicts continued expansion of this plant species under global change. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms governing autopolyploidy‐driven backward range expansion of plant species from temperate origins.

To explore the application of SiC nanowires (SiCnws) in ZrB2 based ceramic materials, a facile approach is reported to in situ synthesize homogeneously dispersed SiCnws in ZrB2-ZrC-SiC-ZrO2 nanopowders by pyrolyzing a B-Si-Zr containing sol precursor impregnated in polyurethane sponge. The sponge was used to provide porous skeletons for the growth of SiC nanowires and facilitate their uniform distribution in the powders. After heat-treatment of the precursor with a Si/Zr atomic ratio of 10 at 1500 °C for 2 h, ZrB2-ZrC-SiC-ZrO2 ceramic powders were obtained with an even and fine particle size of ~100 nm. The SiCnws were in a diameter of ~100 nm with a controllable length varying from tens to hundreds of microns by increasing the silicon content in the precursor. Moreover, the produced SiCnws were in high purity, and homogeneously dispersed in the hybrid nanopowders. The study can open up a feasible route to overcome the critical fabrication process in SiCnws reinforced ceramic matrix composites.

Our pilot studies have shown that clemastine fumarate (CLE) can protect against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) through regulation of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4). However, the protective mechanism of CLE and related signaling pathways for MIRI remains unclear. The objective of this study is to determine the mechanism by which CLE relieves MIRI in cardiomyocytes and its relationship with the TLR4/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. CCK8 analysis was used to test the optimal concentration of TLR4 inhibitor CLI-095 and TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on MIRI. The expression of inflammatory factors, oxidative stress response, cell damage, and intracellular calcium redistribution of cardiomyocytes were examined using the ELISA kits, Total Superoxide Dismutase Assay Kit with WST-8 and Lipid Peroxidation MDA Assay Kit, LDH Cytotoxicity Assay Kit, and laser scanning confocal microscope. The expression of TLR4/PI3K/Akt and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. Our results showed that MIRI aggravated the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, cellular damage of cardiomyocytes, and caused redistribution of intracellular calcium, upregulated the expression of TLR4 protein, cleaved caspase-3 protein, and down-regulated the expression of PI3K/Akt protein. After treatment with CLE, the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and cellular damage of cardiomyocytes were alleviated, and intracellular calcium ion accumulation decreased. The expression of TLR4 protein, cleaved caspase-3 protein declined, but PI3K/Akt protein expression increased in cardiomyocytes treated with CLE. In addition, after treatment with the TLR4 inhibitor CLI-095, the results were similar to those of CLE treatment. The TLR4 agonist LPS aggravated the reactions caused by MIRI. The role of LPS was reversed after CLE treatment. These results suggested that CLE can attenuate MIRI by activating the TLR4/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Inspired by the representation designed for floorplanning problems, in this paper, we proposed a new representation, namely the moving block sequence (MBS), for resource investment project scheduling problems (RIPSPs). Since each activity of a project in RIPSPs has fixed duration and resource demand, we consider an activity as a rectangle block whose width is equal to the duration of the activity and height the resource needed by the activity. Four move modes are designed for activities, by using which the activity can move to the appropriate position. Therefore, the new representation of the project of RIPSPs consists of two parts: an activity list and a move mode list. By initializing the move modes randomly for each activity and moving it appropriately, the activity list can be decoded into valid solutions of RIPSPs. Since the decoding method of MBS guarantees that after moved, each activity is scheduled in the left-most and bottom-most position within a coordinate, which means that each activity in the corresponding project is arranged as early as possible when the precedence constraints and resource demands are satisfied. In addition, the multiagent evolutionary algorithm (MAEA) is employed to incorporate with the newly designed MBS representation in solving RIPSPs. With the intrinsic properties of MBS in mind, four behaviors, namely the crossover, mutation, competition, and self-learning operators are designed for agents in MAEA. To test the performance of our algorithm, 450 problem instances are used and the experimental results demonstrate the good performance of the proposed representation.

In recent years, with the obvious trend of power electronicization in smart distribution networks. Its operating state is more complicated and changeable, and the observable problems of the distribution network are becoming more serious. As a high-precision real-time online security monitoring method, the application of synchronous phasor measurement unit (PMU) in distribution network has received extensive attention. This paper proposes a multistage optimal PMU configuration algorithm that considers the observability of the distribution network, zero injection buses, measurement redundancy and bus correlation degree. The algorithm model is constructed and the specific solution flow is given. Based on the proposed algorithm, the optimal PMU configuration assistant decision-making software system of smart distribution network is developed, and the application function block diagram of the software system is given. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and the practicability of the software are verified by simulation of the IEEE33 bus distribution network system and PG&E69 bus distribution network system.

Graphitization degree of carbon matrix in ZrC-modified carbon composites is crucial to mechanical and ablation properties of the materials. In order to investigate the effect of ZrC formation on graphitization of the carbon matrix, microstructure of the carbon phase was investigated by X-ray (XRD), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the ceramic products obtained from zirconium containing polymer precursors at different pyrolysis temperatures. Compared with pure carbon phase, significant increase of average crystal thickness and microcrystalline planar size was observed in the carbon phase of the ZrC&ndash, C ceramics, together with the decrease of interlayer spacing and integrated intensity ratio of D peak to the G peak, indicating a significantly increased graphitization degree during the formation of ZrC. With the increasing ZrC content, amorphous (A) carbon was reduced remarkably, while turbostratic (T) component and graphitic (G) carbon components were increased, showing a slight higher graphitization degree. Moreover, the formation of ZrC was the key &ldquo, ice breaking&rdquo, step to decrease the defects and improve structure order of the carbon matrix. And the graphitization was dramatically enhanced during carbothermal reduction to create ZrC by breaking the carbon structure. Furthermore, coarsening and aggregation of ZrC particles as a result of high-temperature heat-treatment at 2500 &deg, C and a high content of ZrC exhibit some negative influences on the structure of the carbon phase in ZrC&ndash, C ceramics.

Taking the full network observability of distribution network operation state and least number of phasor measurement units (PMU) as objective function, a new optimal PMU placement method is proposed. A method of network compression based on load characteristics is proposed to reduce the range of PMU candidate locations. The proposed model can make the two objectives, namely the number of PMUs and system observability redundancy, to achieve the optimum simultaneously. A genetic-tabu search algorithm is proposed to A solve the model, which can keep the advantages of multi-origin, save memory function and ensure that the optimal solution can be obtained. The proposed method is validated by IEEE 34 bus system.

A phasor measurement unit (PMU) can provide phasor measurements to the distribution network to improve observability. Based on pre-configuration and existing measurements, a network compression method is proposed to reduce PMU candidate locations. Taking the minimum number of PMUs and the lowest state estimation error as the objective functions and taking full observability of distribution network as the constraint, a multi objective model of optimal PMU placement (OPP) is proposed. A hybrid state estimator based on supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and PMU measurements is proposed. To reduce the number of PMUs required for full observability, SCADA measurement data are also considered into the constraint by update and equivalent. In addition, a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) is applied to solve the model to get the Pareto set. Finally, the optimal solution is selected from the Pareto set by the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by IEEE standard bus systems.

Tortoise Shell-Like Porous NiCo2O4 nanoplates were synthesized and applied as sensing material to detect trimethylamine. Spinel structure porous NiCo2O4 can be obtained by calcination at 500 °C and showed best gas sensing properties of all as-prepared samples. The high specific surface area (102.6 m2 g−1) provided sufficient active sites for gas sensing and the nature of the compound assured the high response of 2.58 at low operating temperature of 220 °C to 10 ppm TEA. The increase of Ni (II)/Ni (III) ratio from 0.25 for fresh NiCo2O4-500 to 0.32 for TEA treated NiCo2O4-500 revealed that the gas sensing reaction occurred on the Ni site. This work provides an alternative approach for the production of porous functional materials and a new insight of the gas sensing mechanism.

Based on the recently explored regulatory fit effect in social contexts, the present research is the first to investigate the interaction between interviewer's regulatory focus and interviewee's impression management (IM) tactics. We hypothesized that assertive and defensive IM tactics would fit with interviewer's promotion and prevention focus, respectively, and that interviewer's experience of this regulatory fit would lead to enhanced interview evaluation. We conducted four studies in which the participants were asked to rate an interviewee after reading a list of the interviewee's IM-related behaviours or watching a videotaped interview. Additionally, the participant's regulatory focus was operationalized as both an induced situational state and a measured chronic trait. The results supported our hypotheses by showing a significant interaction of the interviewer's regulatory focus and the IM tactics on interview evaluation: the promotion-assertive and the prevention-defensive ratings were more positive than the prevention-assertive and the promotion-defensive ratings. Moreover, mediation analysis revealed that the interaction exerts its effects on interview evaluation by providing interviewers with an intrapersonal regulatory fit experience.

In this paper, the multi-agent genetic algorithm (MAGA) is combined with the variable neighborhood search (VNS) to solve resource investment project scheduling problems (RIPSPs). An agent, coded by a valid activity list and a capacity list, represents a candidate solution to the RIPSPs. All agents live in a lattice-like environment, with each agent fixed on a lattice point. To increase energies, a series of operators, namely crossover, mutation, competition, self-learning and a VNS, are designed. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated through experiments on Mohring instances, synthetic instances and generated instances of J10, J14 and J20. The tests results are satisfactory.