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Rapid developments in satellite remote-sensing technology have enabled the collection of geospatial data on a global scale, hence increasing the need for covariance functions that can capture spatial dependence on spherical domains. We propose a general method of constructing nonstationary, locally anisotropic covariance functions on the sphere based on covariance functions in R 3 . We also provide theorems that specify the conditions under which the resulting correlation function is isotropic or axially symmetric. For large datasets on the sphere commonly seen in modern applications, the Vecchia approximation is used to achieve higher scalability on statistical inference. The importance of flexible covariance structures is demonstrated numerically using simulated data and a precipitation dataset. Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The dangerous inducers of muscle atrophy are inflammatory reaction, oxidative stress, and cachexia, etc. β‐Glucan, an important food derived active ingredient, has been reported to exert anti‐inflammatory effects, however, its effects on regulating myoblast differentiation and protein degradation are unclear. This study is aimed to investigate the mechanism of oat β‐glucan on alleviating muscle atrophy. RESULTS: The results showed that oat β‐glucan treatment reversed tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) induced abnormal myoblast differentiation and reduced muscle atrophy related MuRF‐1 and Atrogin‐1 protein expression. The similar phenomenon was observed after using MCC950 (NLRP3 specific inhibitor) or AS1842856 (FoxO1 specific inhibitor) to suppress NLRP3 and FoxO1 expression, respectively. Exposure to β‐glucan or AS1842856 also inhibited TNF‐α induced the activation of TLR4/NF‐κB pathway by inactivating FoxO1, and subsequently suppressed the expression of NLRP3. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that oat β‐glucan exerts essential roles in promoting myoblast differentiation and alleviating muscle atrophy via inactivating FoxO1 and NLRP3 inflammasome signal pathway. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous mechanisms have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) promote the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the role of lnc-LRRTM4 in the progression of CRC remains unclear. In this article, we found that lnc-LRRTM4 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and cell lines and that lnc-LRRTM4 could promote the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells. These consequences were achieved by lnc-LRRTM4 directly binding to the promoter of LRRTM4 to induce its transcription. Moreover, lnc-LRRTM4 enhanced the growth of CRC cells in vivo by promoting cell cycle progression and reducing apoptosis. Taken together, our results revealed that lnc-LRRTM4 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells, suggesting that it may be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coated carbide tools are widely used in the processing of nickel-based superalloys due to their excellent wear resistance, high strength, and good hardness at high temperatures. In this paper, the high-speed milling experiments and finite element simulation of Inconel 718 are carried out by using PVD TiAlN-coated carbide tools. Simulations of tool temperature, cutting force, and chip morphology were performed to analyze the effect of cutting speed on the degree of sawtooth chip formation and the effect of sawtooth chip formation on the cutting force and tool wear. The results show that the cutting temperature mainly focuses on the rake face, and with the cutting speed increasing from 60 to 120 m/min, the maximum temperature of the rake face increases from 580 to 660 ℃. The maximum temperature region (MTR) on the rake face gradually approaches the tool nose with a decrease in the cutting speed. The generation of sawtooth chips leads to fluctuations in the cutting force component. As the cutting speed increases, the degree of chip sawing increases. The effect of the sawtooth chip on the fluctuation of the cutting force will also increase, thus increasing the degree of tool wear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutting force in lathe work is closely related to tool wear and affects the turning quality. Direct measurement of the cutting force by measuring the strain of the tool holder is challenging because the tool holder design aims to be highly rigid in order to undertake large cutting forces. Accordingly, the most popular dynamometer designs modify the standard tool holder by decreasing the structural rigidity of the holder, which reduces the machining precision and is not widely accepted. In order to solve the issue of the low stiffness of the dynamometer reducing the machining precision, in this paper, the ultra-low strain on the tool holder was successfully detected by the highly sensitive semiconductor strain gauges (SCSG) adjacent to the blade cutting insert. However, the cutting process would generate much heat, which increases the force measuring area temperature of the tool holder by about 30 °C. As a result, the readout drifted significantly with the temperature changes due to the high temperature coefficient of SCSG. To solve this problem, the temperature on the tool holder was monitored and a BP neural network was proposed to compensate for temperature drift errors. Our methods improved the sensitivity (1.14 × 10−2 mV/N) and the average relative error of the BP neural network prediction (≤1.48%) while maintaining the original stiffness of the tool holder. The smart tool holder developed possesses high natural frequency (≥6 kHz), it is very suitable for dynamic cutting-force measurement. The cutting experiment data in the lathe work show comparable performance with the traditional dynamometers and the resolution of the smart tool holder is 2 N (0.25% of total range). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sanjiangyuan National Park (SNP), the first national park in China, is one of the most important biodiversity conservation areas in the Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve (SNNR) and even the world. The threatened ungulates play an irreplaceable role in maintaining the ecosystem diversity and stability in SNNR. Here, based on 1434 occurrence records of six ungulates, the maximum entropy model, with two different strategies, was utilized to determine the priority reserves. The results indicated that the priority reserves in SNNR was mainly located in and around SNP, which were mainly distributed in the middle east, middle west, and southwest of SNNR. Six ungulates shared preference for altitude ranging 4000–5000 m, the average annual temperature below −3.0°C, and average annual precipitation ranging 200–400 mm on meadow, steppe, and unused land. The proportion of high and medium suitable areas for ungulates in SNP was higher than that in SNNR. As the SNP is not contiguously spaced in space, and some core wildlife habitats are not included, it is suggested to optimize the functional areas and adjust the boundary range on the basis of the pilot scope of SNP, so as to enhance the integrity and connectivity of each functional area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaussian processes (GPs) are popular models for functions, time series, and spatial fields, but direct application of GPs is computationally infeasible for large datasets. We propose a multi-scale Vecchia (MSV) approximation of GPs for modeling and analysis of multi-scale phenomena, which are ubiquitous in geophysical and other applications. In the MSV approach, increasingly large sets of variables capture increasingly small scales of spatial variation, to obtain an accurate approximation of the spatial dependence from very large to very fine scales. For a given set of observations, the MSV approach decomposes the data into different scales, which can be visualized to obtain insights into the underlying processes. We explore properties of the MSV approximation and propose an algorithm for automatic choice of the tuning parameters. We provide comparisons to existing approaches based on simulated data and using satellite measurements of land-surface temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the individual and the collective is one of the most important topics in Confucianism. Though this concept has been widely studied, ming 名 (meaning 'name'), one of its most crucial categories, has not yet been deeply explored within this theoretical domain. This article discusses four aspects of ming and their contributions to the relationship between the self and community. Firstly, Confucius' proposition of zhengming 正名 (rectifying names or the rectification of names) implies that language, especially that of rulers or gentlemen 君子 (junzi), has a considerable impact on both ethical and political practices. In this sense, ming as language establishes a relationship between rulers and the communities they govern. Secondly, in Confucius' use of ming, reputation also reflects the attributes of a collectivity. On one hand, reputation functions as a social evaluation system; on the other, it can also be used to shape social values. Both aspects of language and reputation can be found in Confucius' sayings, and are essentially determined by the sound attributes of ming. Thirdly, ming is interpreted to mean "role" in the later explanations and commentaries of Analects 13.3, which signifies that each individual has their own role in the community to which they belong. The position of a social individual is determined according to their relationship with others. Simultaneously, it is also the idea of "role" that brings a hierarchical order to family, state, clan, and "all under heaven". Finally, the relationship between ming and yi 義 (appropriateness) implies the correlation between a name and the subject to which it refers. For ethical or political participants, yi means that the name-bearer is bound to a series of demands regarding their behaviors and virtues, which can lead to a "thick" conception of the subject, that is, the role of a complex of virtues, duties, and even rights (albeit implicit). Although the meaning of ming was becoming more complicated and profound during the development of early Confucianism, it has always functioned as the bond between individual and community. In this regard, the Confucian theory of ming can contribute some insights toward the combination of Confucianism and communitarianism, and also toward the modernization of Confucianism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receptor‐like kinases (RLKs) are a large group of plant‐specific transmembrane proteins mainly acting as receptors or co‐receptors of various extracellular signals. They usually turn extracellular signals into intracellular responses via altering gene expression profiles. However, recent studies confirmed that many RLKs can physically interact with diverse membrane‐localized transport proteins and regulate their activities for speedy responses in limited tissues or cells. In this minireview, we highlight recent discoveries regarding how RLKs can work with membrane transport proteins collaboratively and thereby trigger cellular responses in a precise and rapid manner. It is anticipated that such regulation broadly presents in plants and more examples will be gradually revealed when in‐depth analyses are conducted for the functions of RLKs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coated tools are currently widely used tool technology in machining. The influence of tool coating on heat transfer has become an active field of research enjoying constantly increasing attention in the field of machining. This paper is devoted to the cutting temperature in machining H13 hardened steel with monolayer coated tools (TiN, TiAlN, and Al2O3) and multilayer coated tools (TiN/TiC/TiN and TiAlN/TiN). Equivalent composite thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of multilayer coated tools were calculated using the equivalent approach. The established heat transfer analytical models estimated coating temperature in turning. The effect of tool coating in steady and transient heat transfer was studied, as well as the cutting temperature distribution. It reveals that the tool coating material and coating thickness can influence the cutting temperature distribution of coated tool. Thermal conductivity of coating material affects the steady cutting temperature distribution, and thermal diffusivity of coating material affects the transient cutting temperature distribution of coating tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiAlN coated tools, known for their excellent resistance to high-temperature and low friction coefficient, are widely used in the processing Ti-6Al-4 V alloy. This study conducted a systematic analysis of the wear phenomenon of TiAlN coated tools during the dry milling of Ti-6Al-4 V alloy. Based on molecular dynamics (MD) and experiments, the interaction mechanism between diffusion wear and other wear mechanisms was investigated. The study further investigated the influence of tool wear on the machined surface morphology and chips. The results revealed tool diffusion wear was identified as the outward diffusion of Co and W elements. Ti element diffusion was more responsive to changes in temperature and pressure. During the tool wear process, a synergistic effect was observed between diffusion wear and adhesion wear. The combined impact of diffusion wear and oxidation wear weakened the tool's strength. The main forms of defects on the machined surface were grooves, pits, surface tears, and adhesion. As tool wear increased, the aggravation of grooves was the main reason for the reduction of roughness of machined surface. Additionally, as tool wear increased, the chip transitioned from a conical spiral chip to an arc-shaped chip, and an increase in the sawtooth degree of chips. • Diffusion wear escalates, with the diffusion of the Co and the W elements being the main cause of tool diffusion wear. • A synergistic effect between diffusion wear and adhesion wear during the tool wear process. • The combined action of diffusion wear and oxidation wear results in a reduction in tool strength. • As tool wear increased, the roughness of the machined surface increases, with the groove being the main influencing factor. • The chip transitioned from a conical spiral chip to an arc-shaped chip, and an increase in the sawtooth degree of chips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coating effect on the cutting temperature has long been a hot topic in understanding heat transfer mechanism in machining coated tools, and especially the multi-layer coated tools. For multi-layer coated tools, the coating structure, coating thickness, and coating material will affect the cutting temperature of the tools. This paper is devoted to the cutting temperature in dry turning of H13 hardened steel with multi-layer coatings. New analytical models for estimating coating temperature and coating–substrate interface temperature were proposed. The multi-layer coating can be equivalent to mono-layer composite coating, which applies equivalent coating layer approach, and was developed to estimate the cutting temperature in turning by heat transfer model of mono-layer coated tool. The analyzed results were compared with appropriate experimental process data using thermocouples and FEM simulated data. The models can accurately reflect the cutting temperature of two multi-layer coated tools under the same cutting condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food has three main properties: nutritional, sensory, and health-related functions. Nutrients, which provide components of the body and energy to maintain basic life activity, are very important. At present and in the future, the sensory function of food, especially its effects on health, will be given increasing attention. Moreover, miRNAs, small noncoding single-stranded RNA molecules first identified in 1993, play essential roles in post-transcriptional regulation. This review summarizes the regulation of the biological function of nutrients, including carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. We further elucidated the effects of nutrients on modulating the physiological function of the body via altering miRNA profiles. Increasing evidence has revealed that dietary nutritional regulation plays an important role in embryonic development, postnatal growth and development, and senescence. Deficiency or excess of certain nutrients is closely correlated with disease occurrence and development. Current studies have indicated that nutrient treatments exert variable biological effects by modulating miRNA expression. In summary, nutrient-regulated miRNAs might be novel mediators of nutrient-modulating biological functions and play irreplaceable roles in regulating physiological functions, suggesting a new approach for revealing the molecular mechanism of nutritional regulation. [Display omitted] • Nutrients exert crucial roles in regulating physiological functions. • Nutrients including carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber alter miRNA profile. • miRNA is the novel mediator of nutrients modulating biological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tool wear damages the surface quality of the workpiece and increases equipment downtime. Tool wear prediction is of great importance for reducing processing costs and improving processing efficiency. This paper applies multisensor fusion technology to predict tool wear. The cutting force, vibration, and acoustic emission signals are collected simultaneously during the milling process. The time domain, frequency domain, and time–frequency domain characteristics of each signal are extracted, reduced, and filtered through correlation analysis. A GSA-BP prediction model is established by a BP neural network in which the weights and thresholds are optimized through the gravitational search algorithm (GSA). The test results show that the prediction results of the GSA-BP model are in good agreement with the actual wear, and the prediction accuracy is higher than that of the traditional BP neural network model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the lack of relevant investigation research on the evolution of mining stress in high stope of metal mines, the understanding of how to ensure the safety during mining process is not clear at all. In this paper, by monitoring the mining-induced pressure of the surrounding rock in the 16-2# stope of Lilou Iron Mine, the evolution of the mining-induced pressure of the subsequent filling and mining method of the high-stage empty field is obtained. The study shows that there are three stages of pressure change in the second-step stope of Lilou Iron Mine: I (stress rising stage), II (stable stage), and III (pressure relief stage), and the mining stress in the surrounding rock is transferred from the top to bottom. The stress transfer model of stope is proposed, and the variation of vertical stress versus the depth is fitted; the four horizontal sections are fitted, respectively. By establishing the three-dimensional numerical model and distributed excavation simulation, the time-space evolution of mining stress is obtained and compared with the in-site measuring result. The two results show high consistency, and the effectiveness of numerical simulation is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid‐phase laser irradiation technology was utilized to synthesize graphene‐coated tungsten carbide (WC@G) core–shell composite materials with regular spherical morphology. Characterization via scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy revealed the evolution of WC particle microstructure from sharp edges to regular spherical shapes post‐laser irradiation. High‐resolution TEM displayed a tightly knit core–shell structure. Raman spectroscopy confirmed graphene presence through D, G, and 2D peaks. Incorporation of WC@G into a titanium diboride matrix, followed by discharge plasma sintering, yielded TiB2/WC@G composite ceramic materials. Compared to TiB2/WC/G composite ceramic materials, the WC@G core–shell structure significantly enhanced sintering performance. Optimal mechanical properties were achieved with 6 wt.% WC@G, exhibiting a relative density of 99.6%, Vickers hardness of 18.5 GPa, flexural strength of 696.9 MPa, and fracture toughness of 8.5 MPa m1/2. Characterization identified graphene detachment, pull‐out, and fracture deflection as key mechanisms enhancing toughness in TiB2/WC@G composite ceramic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a mild and transition‐metal‐free approach for the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) of unactivated fluoroarenes with primary aliphatic amines to form aromatic amines is reported. This reaction is facilitated by the formation of cationic fluoroarene radical intermediates in the presence of an acridinium‐based organic photocatalyst under blue‐light irradiation. Various electron‐rich and electron‐neutral fluoroarenes are competent electrophiles for this transformation. A wide range of primary aliphatic amines, including amino acid esters, dipeptides, and linear and branched amines are suitable nucleophiles. The synthetic utility of this protocol is demonstrated by the late‐stage functionalization of several complex drug molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tribological performance between 45 hardened steel and Si 3 N 4 /TiC based composite ceramic tool materials containing 5 wt% graphene platelets with different orientation angle of graphene have been investigated by pin-on-disc tests in dry sliding conditions. The experimental results show that the composite ceramic tool materials with different orientation angle of graphene have different friction coefficients and wear rates. The friction coefficient and wear rate of the developed ceramic tool materials with the 30°orientation angle is 0.46 and 4.29 × 10-6 mm3/N·m, respectively, which is decreased by 31.3% and 63.0% compared with that of the commonly distributed 0° orientation angle. Experimental analysis shows that the improvement can be attributed to the uniform distribution of the adhered tribofilm and the combined effect of graphene pull-out and the contact area between graphene and the friction surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) modified semiconductor photocatalysts for visible light photodegradation of organic contaminant has attracted increasing attention, but the tedious preparation procedure of CQDs hinders their large-scale application. Coal tar pitch (CTP) is a rich by-product isolated from the coke industry. The molecule of CTP consists of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon nucleus and alkyl side chains or heteroatom functional groups attached to the edge of the nucleus, which is similar in structure to CQDs and should be considered as natural CQDs. Based on this perception, we first propose the use of CTP as a natural alternative for CQDs, and prepare effective CTP/TiO 2 composite photocatalysts by a simple green one-step solvothermal method. With Rhodamine B (RhB) as target pollutant, the as-prepared CTP/TiO 2 composite photocatalysts have higher photocatalytic activity than pure TiO 2 under visible light irradiation. The apparent degradation rate constant of the CTP/TiO 2 composite photocatalyst with optimum CTP content is 23 times higher than that of pure TiO 2. The main active species involved in the photocatalytic degradation of RhB are holes (h+) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH). The usage of cheap raw materials and facile synthesis method paves the way for the large-scale preparation of effective CTP/TiO 2 composite photocatalysts. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, we have successfully achieved the atmospheric pressure catalytic synthesis of nanodiamonds by applying high stress to Ti3C2/Ni composite and then performing chlorine gas etching at atmospheric pressure. In this work, we chose three different catalysts (Fe, Co and Ni), with Ti3C2 as the precursor, aiming to investigate the effect of catalyst type on the synthesis of NDs. The results show that all three catalysts can catalyze the synthesis of NDs and that the crystal type and plasticity of the catalysts may have an important effect on the type and size of the resulting ND. When Fe and Ni were used as catalysts, the percentage of C-type NDs obtained was higher than that of C-type NDs catalyzed by Co (hexagonal close-packed crystal structure) due to its face-centered cubic crystal structure. In contrast, more H-type NDs were catalytically synthesized when Co (hexagonal close-packed crystal structure) was used as the catalyst. In addition, the number of small-size NDs (< 10 nm) catalytically synthesized by Co was significantly more than that catalytically synthesized by Fe and Ni, this may be caused by the poor plasticity of Co with a hexagonal close-packed crystal structure compared to Fe and Ni with a face-centered cubic crystal structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upland buzzard (Buteo hemilasius), Saker falcon (Falco cherrug), and Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) are three common large raptors in the Sanjiangyuan National Park (SNP), China's first national park. Among them, Upland buzzard and Saker falcon play a significant role in controlling plateau rodent populations and reducing the transmission of pathogens carried by rodents. The Himalayan vulture can provide services for the redistribution and recycling of nutrients in the ecosystem, and play an irreplaceable role in the celestial burial culture of Tibetans in China. Exploring their habitat suitability is important for the protection of the three raptors. Our research was based on the current distribution of Upland buzzard, Saker falcon, and Himalayan vulture that we had extensively surveyed in the Sanjiangyuan National Park from 2016 to 2017. Combined with the correlation analysis of environmental variables, we utilized maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) to evaluate and compare the habitat suitability of the three species in the Sanjiangyuan National Park. Elevation, climate, and human disturbance factors, which had direct or indirect effects on species survival and reproduction, were all included in the model. Among them, elevation was the most important environmental variables affecting the suitability of habitats of three species. Temperature‐related factor was another important predictor. The high (>60%) suitable habitat areas for Upland buzzard, Saker falcon, and Himalayan vulture were 73,017.63, 40,732.78, and 61,654.33 km2, respectively, accounted for 59.32%, 33.09%, and 50.08% of the Sanjiangyuan National Park and their total suitable area (i.e., the sum area of high and moderate habitats) reached 96.07%, 60.59%, and 93.70%, respectively. Besides, the three species have overlapping areas for the suitable habitats, which means that overlapping areas should be highly valued and protected. Therefore, understanding the distribution of suitable habitats of the three raptors can provide useful information and reasonable reference for us to put forward suggestions for their protection and regional management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interfacial mechanical properties of the alumina/graphene (Al2O3/GR) nanocomposite ceramic tool materials were studied by molecular dynamic simulations. The effects of pull‐out velocity of graphene, system temperature, vacancy defect, and wrinkled graphene on the interfacial mechanical properties were investigated. Results show that a large interfacial shear stress (382 MPa) exists between the Al2O3/GR interface. The maximum pull‐out force and interfacial shear stress increase with increasing graphene pull‐out velocity. The increase of temperature reduces the maximum pull‐out force and interfacial shear stress. Moreover, the load transfer capacity is reduced and the creep of the matrix occurs. These factors reduce the fracture toughness of the Al2O3/GR nanocomposites. A moderate amount of vacancy defects in graphene increases the interfacial pull‐out force and shear stress of Al2O3/GR nanocomposite ceramic tool. Compared with Al2O3/GR nanocomposite ceramic tools, the interfacial interaction energy and shear stress of pleated graphene and Al2O3 were increased by 13.87% and 41.08% respectively, with better toughening and reinforcement. The results are of significance in further understanding of the interfacial mechanical properties at the nanoscale and then beneficial to improve the mechanical properties and engineering performance of Al2O3/GR composite ceramic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ex situ conservation is the main method for the protection of endangered wildlife. To explore the effect of ex situ conservation on the gut microbiota of the kiang (Equus kiang), metagenomic sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis was used to investigate the composition and function of the gut microbiota of the kiang. The results showed that ex situ conservation not only protected wildlife, but also affected the composition and function of gut microbiota, as well as the health of animals. In the zoo, the ratio of the relative abundance of Firmicutes to that of Bacteroidetes (F/B) is higher, clusters of potentially pathogenic bacteria (such as Catonella, Catonella, and Mycoplasma) are more numerous, the abundance of resistance genes is higher, and the abundance of metabolic functions is increased. The dynamic changes of the gut microbiota also played an important role in the nutritional absorption, energy metabolism, and environmental adaptation of the kiang. Improving the rearing environment and increasing food diversity play important roles for increasing the diversity of gut microbiota, reducing the spread of potentially pathogenic bacteria, and reducing diseases. In the wild, especially in winter and in food‐deficient areas, food supplementation can enhance the gut microbial homeostasis of wild animals and reduce the impact of crises. In depth studies of the gut microbial function of wildlife have important implications for improving ex situ conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A railway, highway and grassland paddock fencing are the main causes of habitat fragmentation, and the fences also impair the gazelles' ability to evade predators. Przewalski's gazelle I Procapra przewalskii i is a flagship species and a Category I National Protected Wild Animal Species in China, has a restricted distribution and is endemic to the Qinghai Lake region. [Extracted from the article]

With the continuous development of cloud computing, cloud security has become one of the most important issues in cloud computing. For example, data stored in the cloud platform may be attacked, and its security is difficult to be guaranteed. Therefore, we must attach weight to the issue of how to protect the data stored in the cloud. To protect data, data monitoring is a necessary process. Based on autonomic computing, we develop a cloud data monitoring system on the cloud platform, monitoring whether the data is abnormal in the cycle and analyzing the security of the data according to the monitored results. In this paper, the feasibility of the scheme can be verified through simulation. The results show that the proposed method can adapt to the dynamic change of cloud platform load, and it can also accurately evaluate the degree of abnormal data. Meanwhile, by adjusting monitoring frequency automatically, it improves the accuracy and timeliness of monitoring. Furthermore, it can reduce the monitoring cost of the system in normal operation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dosimetry models can be used to predict the dose of inhaled material, but they require several parameters including particle size distribution. The reported particle size distributions for aerosols from electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products vary widely and don't always identify a specific product. A low-flow cascade impactor was used to determine the particle size distribution [mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD); geometric standard deviation (GSD)] from 20 different cartridge based ENDS products. To assess losses and vapor phase amount, collection efficiency of the system was measured by comparing the collected mass in the impactor to the difference in ENDS product mass. The levels of nicotine, glycerin, propylene glycol, water, and menthol in the formulations of each product were also measured. Regardless of the ENDS product formulation, the MMAD of all tested products was similar and ranged from 0.9 to 1.2 μm with a GSD ranging from 1.7 to 2.2. There was no consistent pattern of change in the MMAD and GSD as a function of number of puffs (cartridge life). The collection efficiency indicated that 9%–26% of the generated mass was deposited in the collection system or was in the vapor phase. The particle size distribution data are suitable for use in aerosol dosimetry programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lots of heat generated in the cutting deformation zone can cause the temperature rising of cutting tool and workpiece during the cutting process. Tool temperature is mainly depended on the heat energy entering into tool in the secondary deformation zone. Higher working temperature can weaken the cutting tool strength and then deteriorate the tool wear. Advanced coating layer deposited on the tool substrate can change the tool-chip friction and affect the heat partition in the tool-chip interface. In order to reveal the mechanism of heat conduction in the secondary deformation zone, the model of heat partition into cutting tool was built. With the aid of finite element method (FEM), the relative parameters which were necessary for the solving of heat partition model were quantified. Actual cutting experiments were carried out to the verification of the FEM models by means of the cutting force and temperature measurement. Influences of coatings (i.e., coating materials, coating thickness) and cutting speeds on the heat partition were analyzed. And then, rake face temperatures obtained at four kinds of coated tools were compared. The investigation results showed that TiC coating appears as the maximum value and Al2O3 coating appears as the minimum value of heat partition coefficient into cutting tool among these four kinds of coatings (i.e., TiC, TiN, TiAlN, Al2O3). With the increasing of coating thickness and cutting speeds, heat partition into cutting tool all showed a decrease trend. Al2O3-coated tool had the maximum rake face temperature among these four kinds of coated tools; however, the location of peak temperature on the rake face of Al2O3-coated tool was the shortest distance from the tool tip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The interest has been increasing on the phenolic compounds in plants because of their nutritive function as food and the roles regulating plant growth. However, their underlying genetic mechanism in barley is still not clear. Results: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (FLC) and antioxidant activity (AOA) in 67 cultivated and 156 Tibetan wild barley genotypes. Most markers associated with phenolic content were different in cultivated and wild barleys. The markers bPb-0572 and bPb-4531 were identified as the major QTLs controlling phenolic compounds in Tibetan wild barley. Moreover, the marker bPb-4531 was co-located with the UDP-glycosyltransferase gene (HvUGT), which is a homolog to Arabidopsis UGTs and involved in biosynthesis of flavonoid glycosides. Conclusions: GWAS is an efficient tool for exploring the genetic architecture of phenolic compounds in the cultivated and Tibetan wild barleys. The DArT markers applied in this study can be used in barley breeding for developing new barley cultivars with higher phenolics content. The candidate gene (HvUGT) provides a potential route for deep understanding of the molecular mechanism of flavonoid synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron-titania-ilmenite triplex composite particles (TCPs) are prepared through a facile calcination induced fractional crystallization route for the first time with natural ilmenite as the starting material. The effects of the calcination condition on the composition, structure and properties of the composites were studied. It is found that the stepwise calcination in oxidizing (first) and reducing (second) environments is the key point to realize the high efficient fractional crystallization and reduction of ilmenite. Contrast experiments with different calcination conditions have also been carried out, and the results reveal that it is possible to tailor the composition and structure of the composite particles by control over the duration of the reduction process. The electromagnetic properties of the TCPs are studied and the results demonstrate that they present ferromagnetic and microwave absorbing properties depended on the processing condition and the composition of the composites, and may have some promising applications in the fields of magnetic materials and microwave absorbers. This work provides a new strategy for the economic and large scale fabrication of multicomponent electromagnetic composites with tailored composition and property from low-cost starting materials, which may be extended to the preparation of other metal-oxide composites or other compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicate glass/Ni-NiO double shell composite hollow microspheres (DSCHMs) were prepared in large scale though a fast sol combustion route. Single shell silicate glass hollow microspheres (SGHMs) were used as low density support of the Ni-NiO composite shell, which also serve as the robust first shell of the DSCHMs. Ni-NiO composite shells were assembled on the surface of the SGHMs through fast combustion of a precursor mixture containing nickel ions, organic fuels in air. The thickness of the Ni-NiO composite shell can be tuned simply by controlling the repeating times of the Ni-NiO shell assembly. The electromagnetic property and microwave absorption performance of the as-obtained DSCHMs were investigated, which exhibit strong dependence on the thickness of the Ni-NiO composite shell. This work provides a new strategy for the high efficient fabrication of composite particles through fast assembly of functional shells with tailored composition, structure and electromagnetic properties on large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature distribution in monolayer-coated cutting tools is calculated with heat conduction model established based on non-Fourier law and obtained using Laplace transform. A number of different coating materials, starting from uncoated up to three coatings (TiN, TiC, AlO), in combination with the carbide, are calculated. Simulated cutting experiments are carried out to verify the temperature of this heat conduction model. An infrared camera attached on the fixture is used to research the heat conduction behavior on the rake face along coating thickness of cutting. The study results demonstrate that the calculated temperature shows a similar trend as the measured temperature when it is analyzed along the coating thickness direction. Coated tools are more effective than uncoated tools in diminishing temperatures during cutting. AlO coating has better thermal barrier effect than TiN and TiC coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coated cutting tools have been widely employed in metal cutting operations owing to its excellent abrasion resistance and heat transfer performances. Rake face temperature is the primary factor that determines the temperature distribution in the cutting tool body. Based on the heat source theory, a new prediction model is proposed in this paper to forecast the temperature distribution on the rake face. Infrared image is used to develop a new turning experimental apparatus to measure the rake face temperature of coated tool during the cutting process. Rake face temperature measurement results are used to verify the proposed model prediction results of temperature distribution. Several cutting tests are carried out with monolayer coated tools in the machining of H13 hardened steel. The rake face temperature in monolayer coated tool for machining H13 shows an increase trend as the cutting speed increases. The influence parameters including thermo-physical properties and tool/workpiece frictional coefficient of coating material on temperature distribution in coated tools are discussed and illustrated. The research results presented in this paper can help to access the potential of coated tools used in the hardened steel machining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO 2 -graphene aerogel (TiO 2 -GA) 3D hybrids were directly assembled via a one-pot hydrothermal process followed by freeze-drying without using any structure-directing agent. The hybrids with a hierarchical structure exhibited large surface area (S BET = 283.6 m 2 g −1 ) and high pore volume (V p = 0.278 cm 3 g −1 ), in which the ultradispersed TiO 2 nanoparticles were in a single crystal phase of anatase. When used as the anodes for lithium ion battery, the TiO 2 -GA hybrids exhibited higher reversible capacity, more stable cycling performance and better rate-capability than TiO 2 ascribed to the unique 3D nanoporous structure and the synergistic interaction of GA and TiO 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality indicators can be used to characterize the status and quantify and qualify the change of aquatic ecosystems under different disturbance regimes. Although many studies have been done to develop and assess indicators and discuss interactions among them, few studies have focused on how to improve the predicted indicators and explore their variations in receiving water bodies. Accurate and effective predictions of ecological indictors are critical to better understand changes of water quality in aquatic ecosystems, especially for the real-time forecasting. Process-based water quality models can predict the spatiotemporal variations of the water quality indicators and provide useful information for policy-makers on sound management of water resources. Given their inherent constraints, however, such process models alone cannot actually guarantee perfect results since water quality models generally have a large number of parameters and involve many processes which are too complex to be efficiently calibrated. To overcome these limitations and explore a fast and efficient forecasting method for the change of water quality indictors, we proposed a new framework which combines the process-based models and data assimilation technique. Unlike most traditional approaches in which only the model parameters or initial conditions are updated or corrected and the models are run online, this framework allows the information extracted from observations and outputs of process models to be directly used in a data-driven local/modified local model. The results from the data-driven model are then assimilated into the original process model to further improve its forecasting ability. This approach can be efficiently run offline to directly correct and update the output of water quality models. We applied this framework in a real case study in Singapore. Two of the water quality indicators, namely salinity and oxygen were selected and tested against the observations, suggesting that a good performance of improving the model results and reducing computation time can be obtained. This approach is simple and efficient, especially suitable for real-time forecasting systems. Thus, it can enhance forecasting of water quality indictors and thereby facilitate the effective management of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica–nickel–carbon composite microspheres with shelly hollow structures and tunable electromagnetic properties were prepared in large scale through a three-step route. Micron-sized precursor microspheres were prepared firstly by spray drying of water glass. Then a subsequent acid leaching with diluted hydrochloric acid was carried out to eliminate the Na2O in the precursor microspheres to get single shell silica hollow microspheres (SHMs). Afterwards, Ni–C composite shells were assembled on the surface of the previously formed SHMs through a calcination route in an inert atmosphere to form silica–nickel–carbon composite shelly hollow microspheres (CSHMs) through decomposition of the reactants and carbon thermal reduction. By properly tuning the calcination conditions, silica–nickel CSHMs with gradients in composition can also be prepared. The electromagnetic properties of the CSHMs were studied and the results demonstrate that they present ferromagnetic and microwave absorbing properties related to the shell composition. The DSHPs thus obtained may have some promising applications in the fields of low-density magnetic materials and microwave absorbers. This work provides a new strategy to fabricate shelly hollow particles, which can be expected to be extended to the controlled preparation of similar structures with various compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The revision task on technical specification for application of autoclaved aerated concrete products JGJ/T17 is under way, which was assigned in November 2013.The framework, thoughts and contents of revision on the specification are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphs are used to model many real objects such as social networks and web graphs. Many real applications in various fields require efficient and effective management of large-scale, graph-structured data. Although distributed graph engines such as GBase and Pregel handle billion-scale graphs, users need to be skilled at managing and tuning a distributed system in a cluster, which is a non-trivial job for ordinary users. Furthermore, these distributed systems need many machines in a cluster in order to provide reasonable performance. Several recent works proposed non-distributed graph processing platforms as complements to distributed platforms. In fact, efficient non-distributed platforms require less hardware resource and can achieve better energy efficiency than distributed ones. GraphChi is a representative non-distributed platform that is disk-based and can process billions of edges on CPUs in a single PC. However, the design drawbacks of GraphChi on I/O and computation model have limited its parallelism and performance. In this paper, we propose a general, disk-based graph engine called gGraph to process billion-scale graphs efficiently by utilizing both CPUs and GPUs in a single PC. GGraph exploits full parallelism and full overlap of computation and I/O processing as much as possible. Experiment results show that gGraph outperforms GraphChi and PowerGraph. In addition, gGraph achieves the best energy efficiency among all evaluated platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Novel systematically patterned 1D iron oxide nanostructure arrays assembled on hollow glass spheres (HGS) are successfully prepared, and thus low density core/shell composite hollow spheres are fabricated. Glass/α-FeOOH (akaganeite) composite spheres are synthesized firstly through a facile low-temperature hydrothermal process independent of surfactants or external forces. The α-FeOOH shells are assembled by nanobelts with a mean width of ca. 100nm and an average length of 700nm. After calcining at 400°C for 3.0h, α-Fe2O3 (hematite) nanostructure arrays grown on HGS can be obtained, preserving the same belt-like morphology. On the basis of a series of contrast experiments, the probable growth process of the akaganeite nanobelts on HGS is proposed. Magnetic measurements of the glass/α-Fe2O3 core/shell products are carried out, and the results show that the as-obtained products exhibit weakly ferromagnetic behaviors at room temperature, which are much enhanced at a lower temperature (5K). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) inhibiting cancer cell growth has been associated with its downregulation of cyclin D1 protein expression at transcription level or translation level. Here, we have demonstrated that SAHA inhibited EGF-induced Cl41 cell transformation via the decrease of cyclin D1 mRNA stability and induction of G0/G1 growth arrest. We found that SAHA treatment resulted in the dramatic inhibition of EGF-induced cell transformation, cyclin D1 protein expression and induction of G0/G1 growth arrest. Further studies showed that SAHA downregulation of cyclin D1 was only observed with endogenous cyclin D1, but not with reconstitutionally expressed cyclin D1 in the same cells, excluding the possibility of SAHA regulating cyclin D1 at level of protein degradation. Moreover, SAHA inhibited EGF-induced cyclin d1 mRNA level, whereas it did not show any inhibitory effect on cyclin D1 promoter-driven luciferase reporter activity under the same experimental conditions, suggesting that SAHA may decrease cyclin D1 mRNA stability. This notion was supported by the results that treatment of cells with SAHA decreased the half-life of cyclin D1 mRNA from 6.95h to 2.57h. Consistent with downregulation of cyclin D1 mRNA stability, SAHA treatment also attenuated HuR expression, which has been well-characterized as a positive regulator of cyclin D1 mRNA stability. Thus, our study identifies a novel mechanism responsible for SAHA inhibiting cell transformation via decreasing cyclin D1 mRNA stability and induction of G0/G1 growth arrest in Cl41 cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lung carcinogenesis is a complex process in an unregulated inflammatory environment. Curcumin has been extensively investigated as a multi-target anti-tumor and anti-inflammation compound. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel inflammation-related mechanism for curcumin-induced inhibition of lung tumor growth. We found that neutrophil elastase, an important regulator of inflammatory processes, directly triggered tumor cell proliferation in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, and curcumin could completely suppress the excess tumor proliferation induced by neutrophil elastase. α1-antitrypsin is synthesized by tumor cells and is the natural inhibitor of neutrophil elastase. We found that curcumin counteracted the decrease of α1-antitrypsin induced by neutrophil elastase by inducing the promoter activity of α1-antitrypsin and promoting its expression in A549 cells. The inhibition of neutrophil elastase-induced proliferation by curcumin was dependent on the PI3K/Akt pathway. Knockdown of α1-antitrypsin by siRNA further enhanced the tumor cell proliferation induced by neutrophil elastase and significantly blocked the anti-proliferation effect of curcumin against neutrophil elastase. Curcumin remarkably inhibited the primary tumor growth of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) in C57BL/6 mice. We further showed that curcumin upregulated the level of α1-antitrypsin in primary tumor tissue by promoting its local expression, and the protein level of neutrophil elastase in tumor tissue was obviously decreased in mice treated with curcumin. Overall, our results suggest that neutrophil elastase and α1-antitrypsin play important roles in modulating lung tumor proliferation in inflammatory microenvironment and curcumin inhibits neutrophil elastase-induced tumor proliferation via upregulating α1-antitrypsin expression in vitro and in vivo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work, novel peanut-like α-Fe2O3 superstructures were prepared successfully by a simple one-pot solvothermal method independent of surfactants or templates. The as-obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The SEM and TEM results revealed that the peanut-like superstructures had thin “waists” and hemispherical ends, and were composed of hematite nanoplatelets (end sections) and irregular blocks (center sections). By properly monitoring the reaction condition and component of the reaction system, the morphology of the α-Fe2O3 superstructures can be tuned to be elliptic, rhombic and olive-like. Based on a series of contrast experiments, the probable growth mechanism and fabrication process involving oriented aggregation and Ostwald ripening of the peanut-like structures were proposed. The magnetic hysteresis measurement indicated that the as-obtained α-Fe2O3 superstructures exhibited ferromagnetic behaviors with wide open M–H loop (the coercivity of the sample was 3836.9Oe). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Porous micro-spherical aggregates of LiFePO4/C nanocomposites were prepared with a process of spray drying at 200°C and subsequent heat treatment at 700°C for 12h by a novel and simple template-free sol–gel-SD method independent of surfactants or templates. The results indicate that the as-obtained LiFePO4 porous microspheres have the mean diameter of 19.8μm, average pore size of 45nm, and large specific surface area (20.2m2 g−1) with evenly distributed carbon (4.5wt.%). The particles can be easily brought into contact with electrolyte, facilitating electric and lithium ion diffusion. They present large reversible discharge capacity of 137.5mAhg−1 at the current density of 0.1C, good rate capacity of 53.8mAhg−1 at 10C, and excellent capacity retention rate closed to 100% after various current densities in the region of 2.0–4.3V. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Eco-exergy has been widely used in the assessment of ecosystem health, parameter estimations, calibrations, validations and prognoses. It offers insights into the understanding of ecosystem dynamics and disturbance-driven changes. Particularly, structurally dynamic models (SDMs), which are developed using eco-exergy as the goal function, have been applied in explaining and exploring ecosystem properties and changes in community structure driven by biotic and abiotic factors. In this paper, we review the application of eco-exergy for the assessment of ecosystem health and development of structurally dynamic models (SDMs). The limitations and possible future applications of the approach are also addressed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Spray drying and carbothermal method was employed to investigate reaction mechanism and electrochemical performance of LiFePO4/C cathode by using different carbon sources. Micro-structural variations of LiFePO4/C precursors using different carbon sources were studied by Thermo-gravimetric (TG)/Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). The LiFePO4/C samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy. The results indicated that the crystallization temperature of LiFePO4 was 453°C, while the transform temperature was 539°C from Li3Fe2(PO4)3 to LiFePO4. At 840°C, LiFePO4/C sample with an excess of impurity phase Fe2P gave much poorer electrochemical performance. The severe decomposition of LiFePO4/C happened at 938°C and generated impurity phases Li4P2O7 and Fe2P. The clear discharge platform of Fe2P emerged at around 2.2V. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Novel glass/Fe3O4core/shell composite hollow spheres with the shell layer assembled by multi-layered wafers were successfully synthesized by reduction of a glass/α-Fe2O3precursor, which was obtained through a facile solvothermal process. The effects of some reaction parameters on the morphology of the shell layers and the magnetic properties of the products were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mesoporous LiFePO4/C microsphere was successfully prepared by spray drying assisted template method (SDATM) with citric acid as a template. This material has an average pore size of 50nm and gives large specific surface area (32.2m2 g−1) with evenly distributed carbon (4.3wt.%). It is also easy to bring into contact with electrolyte, facilitate the electric and lithium ion diffusion. It presents large reversible capacity of 158.8mAhg−1 at C/10, even high rate capacity of 59.7mAhg−1 at 20C, and excellent capacity retention rate closed to 95.5% after various current densities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanocrystalline silicon carbide was synthesized from the precursor prepared by spray drying slurry of water glass and carbon black. The effect of process parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time and carbon content, on phase evolution, crystallite size and specific surface of the resulting samples were characterized by XRD, SEM and BET. The results show the powder produced in this process has a very fine crystallite size and high specific area and the reaction can be completed at 1550°C for 2h when the C/Si ratio is 5 or larger. In addition, the powder is of high purity, because sodium oxide in the precursor can be eliminated by the escape of sodium at high temperature. It is a simple and cost-efficient method to synthesize nanocrystalline silicon carbide using cheap and abundant water glass as silicon source. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A structurally dynamic model based on the UNEP software PAMOLARE I [Jørgensen, S.E., Tsuno, H., Hidaka, T., Mahler, H., Santiago V., 2003. PAMOLARE I Training Package, Planning and Management of Lakes and Reservoirs: Models for Eutrophication Management. UNEP-DTIE-IETC and ILEC, 1091 Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-0001, Japan], was developed for Lake Fure situated 12–17km north of Copenhagen, Denmark. The model was calibrated and validated against two years data from 2001 and 2002, respectively. Furthermore, the model was applied for examining the effects of an ongoing restoration project in the lake by testing three different prognosis scenarios: (1) aeration of the hypolimnion, (2) biomanipulation by removing the trash fish from the lake, (3) two processes described in the two scenarios were applied simultaneously. The calibration yielded acceptable results with a standard deviation (S.D.) of less than 45% for the phytoplankton abundance considered as the most important state variable in the model. The validation results were acceptable for the key state variable, phytoplankton abundance, compared to the observations. Thus, the model was applied to set up prognoses and the results from the prognoses showed that a major improvement in the water quality of the lake might be expected with a significant reduction in the phytoplankton abundance and in the concentration of total phosphorus (TP) in 10 years as expected from the restoration project in the lake. Moreover, the model suggested that the combined application of biomanipulation and aeration practices described in Scenario 3 was the most effective among the three restoration scenarios tested, in obtaining a significant reduction in both phytoplankton abundance and the concentration of TP in the lake. The validation of prognoses is possible when data are available on the development of the lake''s status at later stages of the restoration project and after. The lower confidence in data possibly resulted in the high discrepancy from the observations in the validation simulations for zooplankton, the peak values of cyanobacteria, and the timing of phytoplankton, zooplankton and cyanobacteria in the calibration and validation simulations. These have to be taken into account during evaluating the results from the model for the management of the lake. It is recommended that an improved predictive model based on the one presented in this paper is developed due to the explained limitations in the current model developed in this study. It is also suggested that such a model is incorporated into monitoring of the lake''s status for a better-informed decision-making in the management of Lake Fure in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An integrated model was developed to estimate the loadings of nutrients and organic matter from point and non-point sources in a watershed by use of the software Pamolare. The model accounted for the loadings from industrial and municipal wastewaters, atmospheric deposition and runoff from the drainage area. We tested the model using data from Lake Glumsø, Denmark, with a drainage area of about 1054.9 ha and with known annual loadings into the lake in 1978, 1982 and 2000. The model was first calibrated against one year''s record, followed by one year''s validation, and finally a prognosis scenario was performed. The predictions by the model were consistent with the observations. Thus, the model may be applicable for estimating nutrient loadings from drainage areas, when observations in general are not available. It can also be used to examine the current conditions and test the effects of management and planning scenarios within a watershed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]