Search

The performance of organic solar cells is sensitive to the film thickness and the uniformity of the donor and acceptor distribution in the photoactive layer. Especially, in the quasi‐planar heterojunction fabricated by layer‐by‐layer process, the donor and acceptor materials may be non‐homogeneously distributed across the entire photoactive layer. Visualization of the spatial distributions of donor and acceptor components sheds light on the relationship between nanostructures and device performances. Based on the distinct infrared absorption characteristics of the organic donor and acceptor, a quasi‐monochromatic light transmittance (QMLT) technique is proposed to quantify the donor and/or acceptor thickness in the photoactive layer blend across the entire device area with nanometer precision. The variation in thickness of donor and acceptor can be clearly and separately revealed. Accordingly, the impacts of spin coating techniques (such as dynamic or static dispensing, and on‐center or off‐center spin coating), as well as solvent choices, on film morphology and device performance can be correlated by the noncontact, nondestructive, and convenient QMLT method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] It remains a big challenge to fabricate low / medium internal phase gel emulsion for the safe wound dressing with low stimulation to the skin. Herein, utilizing the self-assembly and gelation of amphiphilic herbal small molecule-glycyrrhizic acid (GA) derived from traditional Chinese medicine, a new type of supramolecular gel emulsion (SGE) with antibacterial activity and low / medium internal phase was proposed. In the SGE, the oil droplets were stabilized by the nanofibers self-assembled from GA, and the SGE was formed by the supramolecular assembly of GA nanofibers in the presence of Pickering emulsions. As a result, under low / medium internal phase (φ = 30–50 %), SGEs could be readily prepared. Antibacterial tests demonstrated that the growth of gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) could be effectively inhibited by the SGE. Additionally, compared to high internal phase SGE, SGE with φ = 50 % displayed lower cytotoxicity and a positive impact on the healing process of infectious diabetic wounds. This work provided a novel approach for constructing low / medium internal phase gel emulsion via herbal small molecule-based supramolecular assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cycling workload is an essential factor in practical cycling training. Saddle height is the most studied topic in bike fitting, but the results are controversial. This study aims to investigate the effects of workload and saddle height on the activation level and coordination of the lower limb muscles during cycling. Methods: Eighteen healthy male participants with recreational cycling experience performed 15 × 2-min constant cadence cycling at five saddle heights of 95%, 97%, 100%, 103%, and 105% of greater trochanter height (GTH) and three cycling workloads of 25%, 50%, and 75% of functional threshold power (FTP). The EMG signals of the rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior (TA), biceps femoris (BF), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) of the right lower limb were collected throughout the experiment. Results: Greater muscle activation was observed for the RF and BF at a higher cycling workload, whereas no differences were observed for the TA and MG. The MG showed intensified muscle activation as the saddle height increased. The mean and maximum amplitudes of the EMG signals of the MG increased by 56.24% and 57.24% at the 25% FTP workload, 102.71% and 126.95% at the 50% FTP workload, and 84.27% and 53.81% at the 75% FTP workload, respectively, when the saddle height increased from 95 to 100% of the GTH. The muscle activation level of the RF was minimal at 100% GTH saddle height. The onset and offset timing revealed few significant differences across cycling conditions. Conclusions: Muscle activation of the RF and BF was affected by cycling workload, while that of the MG was affected by saddle height. The 100% GTH is probably the appropriate saddle height for most cyclists. There was little statistical difference in muscle activation duration, which might be related to the small workload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), the functional lymphatic system present in the meninges, are the key drainage route responsible for the clearance of molecules, immune cells, and cellular debris from the cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid into deep cervical lymph nodes. Aging and ApoE4, the two most important risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), induce mLV dysfunction, decrease cerebrospinal fluid influx and outflux, and exacerbate amyloid pathology and cognitive dysfunction. Dysfunction of mLVs results in the deposition of metabolic products, accelerates neuroinflammation, and promotes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain. Thus, mLVs represent a novel therapeutic target for treating neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases. This review aims to summarize the structure and function of mLVs and to discuss the potential effect of aging and ApoE4 on mLV dysfunction, as well as their roles in the pathogenesis of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower extremity muscle fatigue affects gait stability and increases the probability of injuries in the elderly. How does prolonged walking-induced fatigue affect lower limb muscle activity, plantar pressure distribution, and tripping risk? Eighteen elderly adults walked fast on a treadmill for 60 minutes at a fixed speed. The plantar pressure was measured with an in-shoe monitoring system, eight lower limb muscles were monitored using surface electromyography, and foot movements were tracked by a motion capture analysis system. The above data and participants' subjective fatigue level feedback were collected every 5 minutes. Statistical analysis used the Friedman one-way repeated measures analysis of variance by ranks test followed by Wilcoxon signed-ranks test with Benjamini-Hochberg stepwise correction. The subjective reported fatigue on the Borg scale increased gradually from 1 to 6 (p = 0.001) during the 60 minutes, while the EMG amplitude of vastus medialis significant decreased (p = 0.013). The results of plantar pressure demonstrated that the distribution of load and impulse shifted medially in both the heel and arch regions while shifted laterally in both the toes and metatarsal regions. The significantly increased contact area supports this shift at the medial arch (p = 0.036, increased by 6.94%, the 60th minute vs. the baseline). The symmetry of medial-lateral plantar force increased at the toes, metatarsal, and arch regions. The significantly increased parameters also include the swing time and contact time. The minimum foot clearance was reduced, increasing tripping probability, not significantly, though. This study facilitates a better understanding of changes in lower limb muscle activity and gait parameters during prolonged fast walking. Besides, this study has good guiding significance for developing smart devices based on plantar force, inertial measurement units, and EMG sensors to monitor changes in muscle activation in real-time and prevent tripping. • Plantar pressure distribution shifted laterally in the toes and metatarsal regions. • Plantar pressure distribution shifted medially in the heel and arch regions. • Increased contact area at the medial arch supports pressure distribution shift. • Symmetry of plantar force increased at the toes, metatarsal, and arch regions. • Estimated tripping probability increased though not significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bearingless switched motor with permanent magnets in the stator yoke (BSRM-PMSY) with two sets of windings on each stator tooth pole is studied. The current in one set of windings mainly controls the motor torque, and rotor suspension can be realised by adjusting the current in the other set of windings. Each stator module unit of the motor is composed of a permanent magnet and two U-shaped iron cores. Finally, a BSRM-PMSY finite element simulation model is established to explore the static characteristics of the motor, including magnetic field distribution, permanent magnet flux linkage and harmonic analysis, back electromotive force (EMF) and harmonic analysis, suspension performance, and so on. The analysis of the simulated results lays a foundation for the establishment of a BSRM-PMSY mathematical model and control system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related mortality. Metastasis involves a complex multistep process during which individual tumor cells spread primarily through destruction of the endothelial barrier, entering the circulatory system to colonize distant organs. However, the role of the endothelial barrier as the rate-limiting process in tumor metastasis and how these processes affect the regulation of the host microenvironment at the molecular level are poorly understood.Methods: Here, we analyzed differentially expressed genes in breast cancer and lung adenocarcinoma, including metastatic and recurrent specimens, using TCGA dataset. The effects of EMCN on endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo were analyzed by assessing angiogenesis and vascular permeability, respectively. We established a syngeneic mouse model of endothelial cell-specific knockout of EMCN (EMCNecko) to study the role of EMCN in tumor growth and metastasis. Transcriptome sequencing, Western blotting, qPCR and immunofluorescence confirmed important factors in the premetastatic niche. A mouse model of allograft tumor resection with lung metastasis was established to confirm the therapeutic effect of a notch inhibitor combined with an anti-TGF-β antibody.Results: We found a strong correlation of EMCN deficiency with tumor recurrence and metastasis. Comparative experiments in WT and EMCNecko mice revealed that endothelial EMCN deficiency did not affect primary tumor growth significantly but strongly promoted spontaneous metastasis. EMCN deficiency was associated with gene profiles that regulate cell junctions in vitro and enhance vascular permeability in vivo. Mechanistically, EMCN deficiency mainly affected the host microenvironment and led to the formation of a lung premetastatic niche by recruiting Ly6G+ neutrophils and upregulating MMP9, S100A8/A9 and TGF-β expression. Anti-TGF-β antibody effectively eliminated TGF-β-induced neutrophil polarization, thereby reducing lung metastasis. Notably, the combination of a Notch inhibitor and an anti-TGF-β antibody effectively inhibited tumor growth and lung metastasis and prolonged the survival time of mice.Conclusions: We present a new translational strategy of EMCN as a new key player in tumor lung metastasis by affecting the host microenvironment. These findings could provide a sound theoretical basis for clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome sequence of a novel circular DNA virus related to members of the genus Badnavirus was identified in diseased jujube trees by high-throughput sequencing and verified by conventional Sanger sequencing of cloned PCR products. The name "jujube badnavirus WS" (JuBWS) is proposed for this virus. Diseased jujube leaves showed yellow mosaic and malformation symptoms, with round chlorotic spots found on diseased fruit. The genome of this virus has a length of 6450 nt and has a typical badnavirus genomic structure with three open reading frames (ORFs). JuBWS was identified as a novel badnavirus based on nucleotide differences in the RNase (RT + RNase H) coding region of ORF3. The JuBWS sequence showed 70.48–76.41% nucleotide sequence identity to other known badnaviruses, thus meeting the taxonomic criterion for establishing a new species within the genus Badnavirus. This study suggested that the novel badnavirus might be a pathogen associated with jujube mosaic disease, and this will be investigated in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bearingless flux-switching permanent magnet memory machine (BFSPMMM) is proposed, which demonstrates the advantages of good suspension performance and wide-ranging speed regulation. The bias magnetic field of the radial force generated by the motor is provided by the permanent magnet, which can flexibly decide whether to adopt a single-phase or two-phase mode of conduction according to the needs of radial levitation force in the X- and Y-directions, so as to ensure the tracking of radial levitation forces therein. This paper introduces its structure, which lays a foundation for the subsequent establishment of an accurate mathematical model of a BFSPMMM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandwich-structured immersed tunnel is an essential component in the field of cross-sea tunnel structural engineering which has a complicated internal structure. The void defects between the contacting surface of the steel and concrete reduce the carrying capacity of the structure. There are presently no effective, rapid, and accurate methods for detecting the casting quality of steel-shell concrete. Based on the propagation law of elastic stress waves in different media and the theory of a near-source wavefield, a prototype experiment on the nondestructive detection of void defects in sandwich-structured immersed tunnel was conducted. The experiment firstly determined the detection criterion for the impact imaging method through the features of the waveform data collected from 2 compartments (12 opening positions) of the full-scale model and then used the detection criterion to perform blind tests on the other 12 compartments of the full-scale model. The blind tests' results of 72 opening positions showed that the prediction precision is 87.5% and thereby verify the applicability and accuracy of the detection criterion of the impact imaging method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pathologic accumulation and aggregation of tau is a hallmark of tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms mediating tau aggregation in AD remain elusive. The incidence of AD is increased in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), which is characterized by the amyloid deposition of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in the pancreas. However, the molecular mechanisms bridging AD and T2DM remain unknown. Methods: We first examined the presence of IAPP in the neurofibrillary tangles of AD patients. Then we tested the effect of IAPP on tau aggregation. The biochemical and biological characteristics of the IAPP-tau fibrils were tested in vitro. The seeding activity and neurotoxicity of the IAPP-tau fibrils were confirmed in cultured neurons. Lastly, the effect of IAPP on tau pathology and cognitive impairments was determined by injecting the IAPP-tau fibrils and IAPP fibrils into the hippocampus of tau P301S mice. Results: We found that IAPP interacts with tau and accelerates the formation of a more toxic strain, which shows distinct morphology with enhanced seeding activity and neurotoxicity in vitro. Intrahippocampal injection of the IAPP-tau strain into the tau P301S transgenic mice substantially promoted the spreading of tau pathology and induced more severe synapse loss and cognitive deficits, when compared with tau fibrils. Furthermore, intracerebral injection of synthetic IAPP fibrils initiated tauopathy in the brain of tau P301S transgenic mice. Conclusions: These observations indicate that IAPP acts as a crucial mediator of tau pathology in AD, and provide a mechanistic explanation for the higher risk of AD in individuals with T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter describes two improved 13-level inverters based on switched-capacitor. Compared with their original structure, which is published recently, one less high-voltage capacitor is required in the proposed inverters and the blocking voltage of their inverting half-bridge is reduced by half. In addition, the new inverters inherit various advantages of the original structure, such as a high boost factor of 6, self-balanced capacitor voltages, and reduced voltage ripples. Circuit description, operation principle, hybrid PWM modulation, and capacitor voltage ripples are analyzed and the feasibility of the proposed inverters is finally verified by experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence suggests that microglial activation is strongly linked to the initiation and progression of Parkinson's disease. Cell-to-cell propagation of α-synuclein pathology is a highlighted feature of Parkinson's disease, and the focus of such research has been primarily on neurons. However, recent studies as well as the data contained herein suggest that microglia, the primary phagocytes in the brain, play a direct role in the spread of α-synuclein pathology. Recent data revealed that plasma exosomes derived from Parkinson's disease patients (PD-EXO) carry pathological α-synuclein and target microglia preferentially. Hence, PD-EXO are likely a key tool for investigating the role of microglia in α-synuclein transmission. We showed that intrastriatal injection of PD-EXO resulted in the propagation of exosomal α-synuclein from microglia to neurons following microglia activation. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in microglia was activated by exosomal α-synuclein and acted as a crucial mediator of PD-EXO-induced microglial activation. Additionally, partial microglia depletion resulted in a significant decrease of exogenous α-synuclein in the substantia nigra. Furthermore, exosomal α-synuclein internalization was initiated by binding to TLR2 of microglia. Excessive α-synuclein phagocytosis may induce the inflammatory responses of microglia and provide the seed for microglia-to-neuron transmission. Consistently, TLR2 silencing in microglia mitigated α-synuclein pathology in vivo. Overall, the present data support the idea that the interaction of exosomal α-synuclein and microglial TLR2 contribute to excessive α-synuclein phagocytosis and microglial activation, which lead to the further propagation and spread of α-synuclein pathology, thereby highlighting the pivotal roles of reactive microglia in α-synuclein transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has recently emerged and caused the rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide.Methods: We did a retrospective study and included COVID-19 patients admitted to Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between 1 February and 29 February 2020. Antibody assay was conducted to detect COVID-19 envelope protein E and nucleocapsid protein N antigen.Results: One hundred twelve patients were recruited with symptoms of fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia, and diarrhea. All patients underwent antibody tests. Fifty-eight (51.79%) were positive for both immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG), 7 (6.25%) were negative for both antibodies, 1 (0.89%) was positive for only IgM, and 46 (41.07%) were positive for only IgG. IgM antibody appeared within a week post-disease onset, lasted for 1 month, and gradually decreased, whereas IgG antibody was produced 10 days after infection and lasted for a longer time. However, no significant difference in levels of IgM and IgG antibodies between positive and negative patients of nucleic acid test after treatment was found.Conclusions: Our results indicate that serological tests could be a powerful approach for the early diagnosis of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A temperature stress testing machine was employed. • Effect of temperature history and restraint degree was investigated. • A high-low cooling rate history improved the cracking potential of concrete. • The relationship between restraint degree and temperature difference was established. Abstract This study experimentally investigated the effect of temperature history and restraint degree on cracking behavior of early-age concrete, including cracking temperature, cracking stress/strength, creep/free deformation and cracking potential. The deformation, temperature and stress were measured with two different temperature histories and three different restraint degrees via a temperature stress testing machine (TSTM). The results show that, under different temperature histories, the magnitude of cracking potential of concrete was found to vary significantly. The concrete with a high-low cooling rate at early-age had better anti-cracking performance (improved by at least 13.1%) due to the more effective utilization of creep on reducing restrained stress. The high-low cooling rate history showed more outstanding effect on lowering cracking risk of concrete under higher restraint degree. Furthermore, an analytical method for establishing the relationship between the restraint degree and temperature difference was recommended for assessing cracking risk of concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropathic pain is an intractable disease with few definitive therapeutic options. Anethole (AN) has been confirmed to possess potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, but its effect on neuropathic pain has not been reported. The present study was designed to investigate the antinociceptive effect of AN on chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain in mice. AN (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) and pregabalin (40 mg/kg) were intragastric administered for 8 consecutive days from the 7th day post-surgery. Behavioral parameters were measured on different days, namely, 0, 7, 8, 10, 12, and 14, from CCI operation. Additionally, electrophysiological and histopathological changes were analyzed on the 14th day. Afterward, immunofluorescence and Western blot were utilized to examine the activation of glial cells and the expression of inflammatory cytokines, respectively. AN treatment of CCI mice considerably alleviated hyperalgesia and allodynia, ameliorated abnormal sciatic nerve conduction, and restored injured sciatic nerves in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, AN suppressed the activation of glial cells, down-regulated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-6, and IL-1β), and up-regulated the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10). These assays first indicated that AN exerted an antinociceptive effect on CCI-induced neuropathic pain, and might be attributed to the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities of AN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-graded roller compacted concrete (RCC) containing high volumes of fly ash has been widely used in anti-seepage structures of RCC dams in China. The crystalline additive as a self-healing addition is added to the grout enriched two-graded RCC to increase crack resistance. The effects of fly ash and crystalline additive on mechanical properties of two-graded RCC were investigated in this research. Tests were performed to measure plastic and hardened RCC properties. The results indicate that the vibrating compacted values and air contents of plastic RCC containing fly ash of up to 58% conform to the engineering requirements. As the fly ash content in RCC increases, the air content increases and the unit weight decreases. Adding crystalline additive to the concrete mixture has no apparent effect on the slumps of grout enriched two-graded RCC, but may increase the air content and reduce the unit weight. The cube compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, axial tensile strength, ultimate tensile strain, modulus of elasticity, and axial compressive strength of two-graded RCC all decrease with increasing amounts of fly ash content. At 90 days, the relations between these properties and two variables, fly ash to cementitious material ratio (F/CF) and water to cementitious material ratio (W/CF), between splitting tensile and cube compressive strengths, between axial tensile and cube compressive strengths, and between axial and splitting tensile strengths were analyzed. The values for these properties of two-graded RCC were lower than those of grout enriched two-graded RCC at the same age, F/CF and W/CF, and adding crystalline additive to the grout enriched two-graded RCC may produce higher values for these properties than that without crystalline additive in most cases. The results confirm the feasibility of using crystalline additive in two-graded RCC of high RCC arch dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous study, advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (RAGE) was observed to bind to S100A8/A9 and cause epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). The results from target gene prediction revealed that microRNA (miR)-185-5p had a RAGE binding site. However, the function of miR-185-5p in the invasion and migration of breast cancer remains ambiguous. In the present study, the expression of miR-185-5p was examined in breast cancer tissues and cells. Clinical features revealed a negative correlation between miR-185-5p and tumor size, as well as in tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis in breast cancer. In addition, miR-185-5p was negatively associated with RAGE, and this miRNA reversed the EMT of breast cancer by modulating RAGE in vitro. In addition, miR-185-5p inhibited the S100A8/A9-induced EMT of breast cancer cells by the nuclear factor-κB/Snail signaling pathway. Notably, miR-185-5p upregulation inhibited the F-actin polymerization induced by S100A8/A9 in breast cancer. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-185-5p and reduction of RAGE inhibited lung metastasis node in vivo. Thus, miR-185-5p represents a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer by modulating RAGE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, hierarchical porosity of electrode materials has attracted numerous attentions due to allowing the smooth mass transportation and capability of improving the rate performance of electrochemical applications. In this study, hierarchically porous N-doped carbon (HPDC) materials were fabricated in a facile and scalable way via the dehalogenation of polyvinyl dichloride and applied as electrode materials for assembling symmetric aqueous supercapacitors. The resulted supercapacitors were found having a very high specific energy of 21.5 Wh kg in 1.0 M LiSO with a safe operating voltage of 1.8 V. The enhanced capacitive performance was ascribed to both the HPDC's abundant pore hierarchy with a large accessible surface area and also the applicable neutral electrolyte with a wide stable potential. Besides the potentially scalable production of hierarchically porous carbon materials with high capacitive performance, our work may also envision that other halogenated polymers such as polyvinyl chloride and its wastes can be easily converted into useful carbon materials via our developed dehalogenation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Haemoptysis is a common clinical symptom with a complicated aetiology. Patients usually visit pulmonologists initially and are misdiagnosed due to physician ignorance regarding the rare causes of haemoptysis. Methods: We report three cases of haemoptysis due to pulmonary vein stenosis accompanied by catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and review the related literature. Results: The three patients presented haemoptysis and they all had the history of catheter ablation. They received kinds of non‐invasive and invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Finally they were confirmed to have pulmonary vein stenosis by either pulmonary angiography or thorax computed tomography three‐dimensional reconstructions. Conclusions: Haemoptysis could be caused by pulmonary vein stenosis secondary to catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Doctors should be aware of this rare aetiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective bulk modulus K of brittle porous materials such as concrete is related to the matrix bulk modulus $$K_\mathrm{m}$$ and is affected by factors such as the pore shape and Poisson's ratio. Basing on Walsh functions and the complex variable function solution for the square pore, this paper derives a formula for calculating the effective bulk modulus of a medium with square pores under planar arrangement condition. Meanwhile, the effective bulk modulus of a model with a random pore distribution is calculated using a numerical method. The results of the numerical calculation and the formula are compared with the results of tests and numerical simulations from previous studies. The results show that there is a critical porosity for the theoretical formula; when the porosity is lower than the critical porosity, the results of the single-pore formula match the test and numerical results well, whereas when the porosity exceeds the critical porosity, the results of the multi-pore formula match the test and numerical results; when the porosity is greater than 0.45, the results of the numerical simulation deviate significantly from those of the theoretical formula. A verification of the numerical results versus the theoretical results shows that the square pore formula is an excellent representation of the relationship between the effective bulk modulus and the matrix bulk modulus for porous media such as concrete within limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Efficient catalysts are required to promote oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in order to implant ORR‐involved clean energy technologies such as fuel cells and metal‐air batteries. In this study, (111) facet‐exposed CoFe2O4 nano‐octahedrons crystals (NOCs) were grown on graphene via facile hydrothermal method and investigated as catalyst for ORR. The as‐made CoFe2O4 NOCs‐graphene composite exhibits very high activity towards ORR, meanwhile, excellent durability and very good tolerance to methanol were observed, which verifies the importance of exposing active facets of non‐precious metal‐based catalysts and also demonstrates its high potentials of replacing precious Pt for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study numerically investigates the aerodynamic performance of the morphing airfoil and wing with leading edge (LE) and trailing edge (TE) parabolic flaps. Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations coupled with the Spalart-Allmaras (S-A) turbulence model are employed to simulate the flow fields. Firstly, the parameterization method for the morphing airfoil with LE and TE parabolic flaps is proposed. Secondly, the influence of several design parameters, namely, LE droop angle, LE droop position, TE deflection angle, and TE deflection position, on the airfoil aerodynamics are further explored. Moreover, the aspect ratio (AR) effect for the wing based on the morphing airfoil is also investigated. Simulation results demonstrate that the parabolic flaps outperform the articulated flaps in lift generation, drag reduction, and aerodynamic efficiency enhancement, with an improvement in CL and L/D by 39.2% and 108.4% at α=4° , respectively. A larger LE droop angle can increase the stall margin, whereas the LE droop position barely influences airfoil aerodynamics at small angles of attack. The increment of the TE deflection angle significantly augments the lift. As the TE deflection position moves downstream, the suction peaks at the LE and TE are decreased and flow separation is also delayed. Furthermore, a larger AR can achieve higher efficiency, whereas a smaller AR is more beneficial for flow separation suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active flow control is an effective discipline to significantly improve the performance of the flying wing aircraft. The present work aims to investigate the aerodynamics of a high-speed flying wing with the novel co-flow jet (CFJ) technique, where three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations are exploited. Firstly, the aerodynamics of conventional and CFJ flying wings is compared to reveal the CFJ control effects under high-speed conditions. Secondly, the impacts of several pivotal geometrical parameters, namely suction slot location, suction slot angle, and CFJ spanwise location, are further investigated. Results show that applying the CFJ technique could improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the high-speed flying wing. Specifically, the CFJ flying wing could increase the lift by 5.1%, decrease the drag by 15.3%, enhance the corrected aerodynamic efficiency by 5.5%, and augment the corrected productivity efficiency by 10.9% at Cμ = 0.005 and α = 4° compared to the conventional one. The variation in suction slot location scarcely influences the lift generation and the overall aerodynamic performance. Furthermore, the increase in suction slot angle slightly reduces the drag due to the augmented jet reactionary force oriented to the leading-edge. Finally, a larger CFJ spanwise location is more conducive to achieving better aerodynamic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs the mechanical vibration and acoustic waves of a hydraulic support tail beam for an accurate and fast coal-rock recognition. The study proposes a diagnosis method based on bimodal deep learning and Hilbert-Huang transform. The bimodal deep neural networks (DNN) adopt bimodal learning and transfer learning. The bimodal learning method attempts to learn joint representation by considering acceleration and sound pressure modalities, which both contribute to coal-rock recognition. The transfer learning method solves the problem regarding DNN, in which a large number of labeled training samples are necessary to optimize the parameters while the labeled training sample is limited. A suitable installation location for sensors is determined in recognizing coal-rock. The extraction features of acceleration and sound pressure signals are combined and effective combination features are selected. Bimodal DNN consists of two deep belief networks (DBN), each DBN model is trained with related samples, and the parameters of the pretrained DBNs are transferred to the final recognition model. Then the parameters of the proposed model are continuously optimized by pretraining and fine-tuning. Finally, the comparison of experimental results demonstrates the superiority of the proposed method in terms of recognition accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heteroatom doped carbon materials (DCM) have gained tremendous attention due to their highly promising applications as well as low costs, therefore, time-/cost-/operation-effective fabrication of doped carbon materials holds great meanings to both scientific and practical fields. Here in this study, metal-free DCM could be fabricated rapidly (<5 min) at room-temperature, which could engage the efficient incorporation of heteroatom during the dechlorination of polyvenyldichloride (PVDC) by strong alkaline (like KOH). Cases of N, S, or P-DCM were investigated as demonstrations, which proofed our strategy being capable of effectively incorporating in-situ dehalogenated carbon sites with any available hetero-elements. Meanwhile, major byproduct, as investigated, were KCl and water, which could be eco-friendly disposed. Since the in-situ dehalogenated carbon sites are very reactive, our strategy should be not limited to the fabrication of single or two heteroelements, and it should fit the synthesis of multiple heteroelement DCM for broad interests of DCM investigations and application explorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure hydraulic fracture (HF) is an important part of the safety assessment of high concrete dams. A stress-seepage-damage coupling model based on the finite element method is presented and first applied in HF in concrete dams. The coupling model has the following characteristics: (1) the strain softening behavior of fracture process zone in concrete is considered; (2) the mesh-dependent hardening technique is adopted so that the fracture energy dissipation is not affected by the finite element mesh size; (3) four coupling processes during hydraulic fracture are considered. By the damage model, the crack propagation processes of a 1 : 40 scaled model dam and Koyna dam are simulated. The results are in agreement with experimental and other numerical results, indicating that the damage model can effectively predict the carrying capacity and the crack trajectory of concrete gravity dams. Subsequently, the crack propagation processes of Koyna dam using three notches of different initial lengths are simulated by the damage model and the coupling model. And the influence of HF on the crack propagation path and carrying capacity is studied. The results reveal that HF has a significant influence on the global response of the dam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical simulations of the creep characteristics of the structural plane of rock mass are very useful. However, most existing simulation methods are based on continuum mechanics and hence are unsuitable in the case of large displacements and deformations. The discontinuous deformation analysis method proposed by Genhua is a discrete one and has a significant advantage when simulating the contacting problem of blocks. In this study, we combined the viscoelastic rheological model of Burgers with the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) method. We also derived the recurrence formula for the creep deformation increment with the time step during numerical simulations. Based on the minimum potential energy principle, the general equilibrium equation was derived, and the shear creep deformation in the structural plane was considered. A numerical program was also developed and its effectiveness was confirmed based on the curves obtained by the creep test of the structural plane of a rock mass under different stress levels. Finally, the program was used to analyze the mechanism responsible for the creep features of the structural plane in the case of the toppling deformation of the rock slope. The results showed that the extended DDA method is an effective one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 50-year-old man brought to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University with upper abdominal discomfort. The diagnosis of the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a irregular protruding lesion across the stomach's cardiac region. Computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) detected a gigantic cardiac leiomyoma. The stromal tumor was removed using submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection method.

• This review highlights the fundamental roles of metallo-phthalocyanines for various electrocatalysis. • Discussion on activity descriptors for various electrocatalysis with metallo-phthalocyanines. • Summary on the going reports on metallo-phthalocyanines for energy applications. • Discussion on strategies to benchmark to performance of MN4-molecular electrocatalysts. • The difficulties and future directions for the metallo-phthalocyanines based materials at practical level. Metal phthalocyanines (MPcs) and their derivatives are not only considered as potential electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER) and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) but also as ideal models to understand the origin of activity of various electrocatalysts. The volcano correlations are usually used to understand the inception of synergistic reactivity of molecular electrocatalysts that the appropriate binding strength of reaction intermediate is essential. The M(III)/(II) redox potential, which was found to be the key activity descriptors for ORR process, while M(IV)/(III) and M(II)/(I) redox couples for OER, HER, and CO 2 RR, respectively. The aim of this review is (i) to simplify the existing bridges between the quantum parameters of MPcs and their activities, (ii) to highlight the recent advancements on MPcs-based materials for ORR, OER, HER and CO 2 RR, and (iii) to emphasize the future aspects from the combined approach of molecular, supramolecular and material science engineering for above mentioned electrocatalysis. The efforts in this work presents the "systematic design principles" which may be useful for researchers in constructing electrode materials for energy processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations on Ag nanostructures/reduced graphene oxide composites have been frequently reported, yet the morphology control of those loaded Ag nanocrystals is still challenging. We herein develop a facile method to grow triangular Ag nanoplates (AgP) on polyethylenimine-modified reduced graphene oxide (AgP/PEI-rGO). The AgP/PEI-rGO hybrids show unexpected high stability against chloride ions (Cl−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is possibly due to the strong interaction between surface Ag atoms with the amine groups of PEI. In the chronoamperometry measurements for detecting H2O2, N2H4, and NaNO2, the AgP/PEI-rGO hybrid shows very wide linear ranges (usually 10−6-10−2 mol L−1 for H2O2, N2H4, and NaNO2) and low detection limits (down to ≈1×10−7 mol L−1), which demonstrate the promising electrochemical sensor applications of these metal/graphene hybrids with well-defined morphologies and facets. In addition, this strategy could be extended to the deposition of other noble metals on rGO with controlled morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers are important precursors for the fabrication of carbon materials. Herein, halogenated polymers are explored as precursors for the synthesis of high-quality carbon materials via alkaline dehalogenation. It is found that the halogen elements (F, Cl) connecting to vinylidene units are highly reactive so that dehalogenation can take place a few seconds at room temperature by simple hand grinding in the presence of strong inorganic alkaline. Furthermore, the halogen element-leaving sites are shown to be susceptible to heteroatom doping (e.g., N doping) to become stable capacitive sites for charge storage (e.g., ions). By using a mixture of NaOEt and KOH as dehalogenation reagents, abundant hierarchical pores (macro/meso/micropores) in the resultant doped carbon matrix for fast mass transportation can be created. Very high capacitance (328 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1) and rate capability (75.3% retention at 50 A g−1 and 62.5% retention at 100 A g−1) are observed for the newly developed halogenated polymer-derived doped carbon materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we report a potentially scalable strategy for the cost/time-efficient production of water-soluble functionalized few layered graphene (FcG) through the mild defluorination of graphite fluoride (GF) at room temperature (RT). The strategy includes mechanical milling which is of high simplicity and operability, and subsequently water purification. By using heteroatom-containing alkaline such as NaNH 2 and Na 2 S, N or S dopants can be functionalized into the defluorinated graphene, leading to the formation of N- and S-doped FcG, respectively. Our methodology of defluorination of GF allows the fabrication of water soluble FcG in much safer ways relative to the conventional Hummers' method that involves strong acidic/oxidative ambience and disposal of large amount of salt wastes. Meanwhile, the abundance of GF and the simplicity of processibility may also facilitate the practical uses of FcG obtained via our methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now, inflammatory pain, especially ones with central sensitization in the spinal cord, is far from effectively treated. Yu-Xue-Bi Tablets (YXB) is a patented medicine, which has been widely applied for inflammatory pain. However, its therapeutic characteristics and mechanism remain unknown. This study is designed to evaluate the analgesic characteristics and explore the underlying mechanism of YXB in the inflammatory pain model induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). The analgesic effects were measured by Von Frey test. The expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was quantified by immunofluorescence. The expression of immune factors was analyzed via Luminex assay. The further quantifications of C–C Motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) were verified by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The transmigration of macrophage and activation of microglia were evaluated by immunofluorescence. Spinal injections of purified CCL3, CCR1 antagonist (J113863) and CCR5 antagonist (Maraviroc) were used to clarify roles of CCL3 assumed in the pharmacological mechanism of YXB. In CFA mice, YXB ameliorated the mechanical allodynia in dose and time dependent way, suppressed the central sensitization in dose dependent way. In the L5 spinal cord, YXB downregulated the expression of macrophage M1 pro-inflammatory factors TNFRI and CCL3, inhibited the transmigration of circulating macrophage and the activation of microglia. Purified CCL3 led to the transmigration of macrophage, activation of microglia, central sensitization, and mechanical allodynia in the Sham mice. Inhibitors of CCR1 and CCR5 attenuated above symptoms in CFA mice. Purified CCL3 blocked YXB mediated down regulation of CCL3, inhibition of macrophage transmigration, but not activation of microglia. YXB exerts the analgesic effects by inhibiting CCL3-mediated peripheral macrophage transmigrate into spinal cord. This study provided a novel approach for inflammatory pain treatment and new insight into the pharmacological action of YXB. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that seriously hinders limb activities and affects patients’ lives. We performed a meta-analysis aiming to systematically review and quantitatively synthesize the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an adjunct therapy for clinical PD patients. Methods: An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journals Database and Wanfang data to identify randomized trials evaluating TCM adjuvant therapy versus conventional treatment. The change from baseline of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale score (UPDRS) was used to estimate the effectiveness of the therapies. Results: Twenty-seven articles involving 2314 patients from 1999 to 2013 were included. Potentially marked improvements were shown in UPDRS I (SMD 0.68, 95%CI 0.38, 0.98), II (WMD 2.41, 95%CI 1.66, 2.62), III (WMD 2.45, 95%CI 2.03, 2.86), IV (WMD 0.32, 95%CI 0.15, 049) and I-IV total scores (WMD 6.18, 95%CI 5.06, 7.31) in patients with TCM plus dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) compared to DRT alone. Acupuncture add-on therapy was markedly beneficial for improving the UPDRS I–IV total score of PD patients (WMD 10.96, 95%CI 5.85, 16.07). However, TCM monotherapy did not improve the score. The effectiveness seemed to be more obvious in PD patients with longer adjunct durations. TCM adjuvant therapy was generally safe and well tolerated. Conclusions: Although the data were limited by methodological flaws in many studies, the evidence indicates the potential superiority of TCM as an alternative therapeutic for PD treatment and justifies further high-quality studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Very small CoOx particles were incorporated into Ag/rGO composite. [•] CoOx could promote the ORR activity of the resulted nanocomposites. [•] Underlying mechanism was given to explain the high-performance of CoOx-Ag/rGO. [•] Our strategy provides the possiblity to form better Ag-based ORR catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and versatile synthesis method was developed to prepare inorganic multi-metal oxide hollow spheres with tunable compositions. The colloidal nanosheets of layered double hydroxides (LDH) with pre-determined compositions were used as precursors for multi-metal oxides and carbon spheres (CSs) prepared by hydrothermal carbonization of glucose were used as hard templates. Electrostatic force drove the positively charged LDH nanosheets to be anchored by the negatively charged CSs once they were mixed, leading to the formation of core-shell structures. Finally, multi-metal oxides with hollow spherical structures were obtained by calcination. These hollow spheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Results revealed that the as-prepared oxide hollow spheres could exactly inherit the metal-to-metal ratios of initial LDH precursors, which provided an effective way to control the compositions of oxide shells. This strategy was suitable for preparation of a series of oxide hollow spheres from binary to multi-component ones, including MgO/Al2O3, MgO/Fe3O4, NiO/Al2O3, and ZnO/NiO/Al2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apigenin is a natural flavonoid with significant biological activity, but poor solubility in water and low bioavailability limits its use in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this paper, apigenin-7-O-β-(6″-O)-d-glucoside (AG) and apigenin-7-O-β-(6″-O-succinyl)-d-glucoside (SAG), rare apigenin glycosyl and succinyl derivatives formed by the organic solvent-tolerant bacteria Bacillus licheniformis WNJ02 were used in a 10.0% DMSO (v/v) system. The water solubility of SAG was 174 times that of apigenin, which solved the application problem. In the biotransformation reaction, the conversion rate of apigenin (1.0 g/L) was 100% at 24 h, and the yield of SAG was 94.2%. Molecular docking showed that the hypoglycemic activity of apigenin, apigenin-7-glucosides (AG), and SAG was mediated by binding with amino acids of α-glucosidase. The molecular docking results were verified by an in vitro anti-α-glucosidase assay and glucose consumption assay of active compounds. SAG had significant anti-α-glucosidase activity, with an IC50 of 0.485 mM and enhanced glucose consumption in HepG2 cells, which make it an excellent α-glucosidase inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although genetically modified (GM) food is becoming increasingly available, consumers are showing a growing awareness about the need to identify GM and non-GM foodstuff: the reliable identification of GM/non-GM food is therefore an important tool in the social, health and safety debates. The present research responds to this need (i) through developing a novel “single-pot” preparation of PAMAM magnetite nanoparticles (PMNPs) and by fully defining their specific characteristics; (ii) by demonstrating the capability of the PMNPs to isolate genomic DNA from different sample foods; and (iii) by experimentally demonstrating the identification of the isolated DNA by gel-electrophoresis, thus being capable of screening GM and non-GM food. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent malignant tumors in the world. The only serological marker widely used for the diagnosis of HCC is alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Despite that AFP is widely used for the diagnosis of HCC, it has a limit as a serological marker due to its low sensitivity and specificity. The human cervical cancer proto-oncogene 1 (HCCR-1) was previously reported as a new biomarker for HCC. To further evaluate the HCCR-1 as a biomarker for HCC, we conducted the prospective cohort study. We evaluated the significance of simultaneous measurement of 2 tumor markers in the diagnosis of HCC in China, Japan and Korea. Two markers for HCC, AFP and HCCR-1, were measured in the sera obtained from 1,338 patients at the time of initial diagnosis of HCC. Of the 1338 HCC patients, 616 (46%) and 686 (51.3%) were sero-positive for AFP and HCCR-1, respectively. The positive rate for HCC was increased up to 74.1% in combined use of AFP and HCCR-1. Many cases (54%) for AFP-negative HCC were positive for HCCR-1 and vice versa. More importantly, the diagnostic rate for small HCC (< 2 cm) was significantly improved in the combined analysis of AFP and HCCR-1 to 56.9% although it was only 40.1% and 23.4% in the single analysis of HCCR-1 and AFP, respectively. Our result suggests that the HCCR-1 could be an useful biomarker for HCC while the diagnostic rate could be significantly improved in the combined use of HCCR-1 and AFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel dualmodality probe was prepared by linking 188Re-HGRGD (D) F with CdTe QDs, which was monitored using radio-thin layer chromatography (TLC) and -high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The 188Re-HGRGD (D) F-CdTe QDs probe possesses a radiochemistry yield of 92.1% and strong photoluminescence (PL) stability. However, the radiochemical purity of 188Re-HGRGD (D) F-QDs would reduce to 74.8%, which should be further improved, after incubation with newborn calf serum (NCF) for 24h. Human glioblastoma U87MG cells, known to express a high-affinity to RGD, were used to assess the in vitro cell binding of probe. The results showed that the radio-signal was in accord with the change of PL intensity, which meant the successful integration of 188Re and QDs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is the most widely used tumor marker in detecting patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it has been indicated that HCCR-1 (human cervical cancer oncogene 1) might be supplementary to AFP in the detection. We conducted a prospective study in 120 normal and 524 liver disease patients to evaluate the significance of simultaneous measurement of 2 tumor markers (AFP and HCCR-1) in the diagnosis of HCC through the cohort study in Korea and China. We also performed immunohistochemical studies using 25 normal subjects (N), 32 liver cirrhosis (LC) and 116 HCC tissues. The sensitivities of AFP (20 ng/mL) and HCCR-1 (10 ng/mL) in HCC were 55.8% (164/294) and 44.2% (130/294), respectively. When AFP was combined with HCCR-1, sensitivities increased to 4.2% (N), 12.7% (chronic hepatitis; CH), 50.0% (LC), and 77.2% (HCC), respectively. Although there was no significant difference in the diagnostic rate for HCC between AFP and HCCR-1, many cases for AFP-negative HCC were positive for HCCR-1 and vice versa. Moreover, the combined use of AFP and HCCR-1 improved the diagnostic rate to 70.8% in small HCC (< 2 cm) and 81.6% in large HCC (&ges; 2 cm), respectively. AFP and HCCR-1 are independent markers. Our result suggests that the HCCR-1 could be an useful biomarker for HCC while the diagnostic rate could be significantly improved in the combined use of HCCR-1 and AFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aqueous CdWO4 QDs were synthesized by the reaction of CdCl2 and Na2WO4 in the presence of mercaptoacetic acid (TGA) as capping reagent. The crystal morphology, particle size and its distribution of as-prepared products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM, SAED) atomic force microscopy (AFM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), respectively. Qualitative assays for functional groups on the QDs’ surface were measured by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Photoluminescence properties of QDs were studied by photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The results showed that the single QD with diameter of about 8±2nm was single-crystal. The particle size distribution of QDs was normal. Infrared absorption bands of carboxylic group on the surface of CdWO4 QDs were observed around 1610–1550cm−1 (nonsymmetrical vibration of –COO−) and 1400cm−1 (symmetric vibration of C–O). With reaction-time going, PL peak position shifted from 498 to 549nm and intensity of PL increased first and then decreased. PL peak position of QDs was blue-shift compared with 570nm WO6 6− luminescence center of bulk CdWO4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Multi-functional magnetic, photoluminescent and photocatalytic CoFe2O4–ZnO nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by a collosol method. The average diameter of the prepared CoFe2O4–ZnO nanocomposites was 30±5nm, and a diffusion layer was formed to link CoFe2O4 and ZnO. The saturation magnetization of the CoFe2O4–ZnO nanocomposites was 8.99emu/g. Generation of ZnO from Zn(OH)2 collosol was nearly complete after thermal decomposition at about 380°C. A photoluminescence emission peak was observed at 443nm when excitated at 350nm. Degradation of methyl orange is performed by CoFe2O4–ZnO nanocomposites under ultraviolet radiation, with a degradation rate of up to 93.9%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To date, “metal-free” catalysts originating from graphene and CNTs have been revealed to contain metal impurities. Many types of such “metal-free” carbons have been synthesized by metal-involving methods, and it is urgent to confirm the origin of the catalytic performance. Herein, we verified that residual metals were inevitably present in these N-doped carbons and the catalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was due to the remaining metals, present at only a ppm level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Low field NMR for exploring water migration law of concrete during curing. • Industrial CT for monitoring pore development in the process of strength formation. • Investigating the relationship among strength, water migration and internal pores. Low-heat and moderate-heat cement concrete (LHCC and MHCC) are compared to study the internal pore development and water migration law in the process of strength formation. NMR and industrial CT are used for measuring. The results show that the hydration rate is the fastest within 3d, and strength increase is also the most obvious. Compared with 1d, the compressive strength of LHCC increases by 44%, accompanied by a 21% decrease of capillary water proportion. In contrast, the strength of MHCC increases by 56%, following with a 19% decrease on capillary water proportion. Although the total porosity of LHCC is significantly higher than that of MHCC during curing, the pore growth rate is lower. The pore structure of MHCC is better, in which the proportion of larger pores (>10 mm3) is obviously lower. Finally, the relationship among compressive strength, water migration and internal porosity is in good agreement with the experimental values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: For the first time, Cadmium tungstate (CdWO4)–TiO2 composite nanofilms on a glass substrate were prepared by means of the dip-coating technique, in which collodion was used as a dispersant and film-forming agent. The films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermo gravimetric and thermal analyses (TG/DTA), FTIR and photoluminescence (PL) methods, respectively. SEM and XRD characterization of these films indicated that CdWO4 particles crystallized in a monoclinic wolframite-type structure whereas TiO2 particles were Anatase phase; and both of them were well distributed in the nanofilms. FTIR spectra proved the presence of CdWO4 on the nanofilms. Photoluminescent results showed that the emitting peak of CdWO4 films blue shifted slightly relative to that of CdWO4 crystal. Moreover, the PL intensity of CdWO4–TiO2 composite nanofilm was much higher than that of CdWO4 nanofilm. We ascribed that the introduction of TiO2 should be responsible for the PL enhancement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: AWO4 (A=Ca, Ba, Sr) nanofilms on a glass substrate are prepared through the combination of the reverse micelle system with the dip-coating technology, in which collodion is used as a dispersant and film-forming agent. The nanofilms are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and IR spectra, respectively. The results indicate that the tungstate nanoparticles having a tetragonal scheelite structure are well distributed on the substrate. PL results indicate that a blue-shift emission band peak of the nanofilms appears when they are excited at 240nm relative to those of the bulk materials, and a red-shift emission band peak of nanofilms appears compared with nanoparticles, which can be attributed to the quantum size effect. IR spectra reveal that a large absorption band, which is ascribed to the W–O stretching vibration in WO4 tetrahedron, is observed around 820cm−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Evaluation of potential fatigue for the elderly could minimize their risk of injury and thus encourage them to do more physical exercises. Fatigue-related gait instability was often assessed by the changes of joint kinematics, whilst planar pressure variability and asymmetry parameters may complement and provide better estimation. We hypothesized that fatigue condition (induced by the treadmill brisk-walking task) would lead to instability and could be reflected by the variability and asymmetry of plantar pressure. Fifteen elderly adults participated in the 60-min brisk walking trial on a treadmill without a pause, which could ensure that the fatigue-inducing effect is continuous and participants will not recover halfway. The plantar pressure data were extracted at baseline, the 30th minute, and the 60th minute. The median of contact time, peak pressure, and pressure-time integrals in each plantar region was calculated, in addition to their asymmetry and variability. After 60 min of brisk walking, there were significant increases in peak pressure at the medial and lateral arch regions, and central metatarsal regions, in addition to their impulses (p < 0.05). In addition, the variability of plantar pressure at the medial arch was significantly increased (p < 0.05), but their asymmetry was decreased. On the other hand, the contact time was significantly increased at all plantar regions (p < 0.05). The weakened muscle control and shock absorption upon fatigue could be the reason for the increased peak pressure, impulse, and variability, while the improved symmetry and prolonged plantar contact time could be a compensatory mechanism to restore stability. The outcome of this study can facilitate the development of gait instability or fatigue assessment using wearable in-shoe pressure sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DC bias may affect the transient transfer characteristics of the current transformer (CT), threatening the correct action of the relay protection and the safe operation of the power system. Compared with the high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission in the unipolar-earth loop operation mode and geomagnetically induced current (GIC), the amplitude of the stray current is smaller, and the randomness and fluctuation are larger and accompanied by sudden changes. Combining the characteristics of stray current and the CT equivalent model considering the eddy current loss of the iron core, the mechanism of local transient saturation under the influence of bias magnetization is explained, and the CT saturation phenomenon caused by stray current and its effect on line distance protection are simulated and analyzed. The research shows that the influence of low amplitude and high duration of stray current will make the magnetic flux of CT grow and affect the transmission of steady-state and transient-state so that the measurement impedance appears amplitude-phase shift, which leads to under-range rejection of distance protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]