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The symmetrical segmentation of brain tumor images is crucial for both clinical diagnosis and computer-aided prognosis. Traditional manual methods are not only asymmetrical in terms of efficiency but also prone to errors and lengthy processing. A significant barrier to the process is the complex interplay between the deep learning network for MRI brain tumor imaging and the harmonious compound of both local and global feature information, which can throw off the balance in segmentation accuracy. Addressing this asymmetry becomes essential for precise diagnosis. In answer to this challenge, we introduce a balanced, end-to-end solution for brain tumor segmentation, incorporating modifications that mirror the U-Net architecture, ensuring a harmonious flow of information. Beginning with symmetric enhancement of the visual quality of MRI brain images, we then apply a symmetrical residual structure. By replacing the convolutional modules in both the encoder and decoder sections with deep residual modules, we establish a balance that counters the vanishing gradient problem commonly faced when the network depth increases. Following this, a symmetrical threefold attention block is integrated. This addition ensures a balanced fusion of local and global image features, fine-tuning the network to symmetrically discern and learn essential image characteristics. This harmonious integration remarkably amplifies the network's precision in segmenting MRI brain tumors. We further validate the equilibrium achieved by our proposed model using three brain tumor segmentation datasets and four metrics and by juxtaposing our model against 21 traditional and learning-based counterparts. The results confirm that our balanced approach significantly elevates performance in the segmentation of MRI brain tumor images without an asymmetrical increase in computational time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Images captured during rainy days present the challenge of maintaining a symmetrical balance between foreground elements (like rain streaks) and the background scenery. The interplay between these rain-obscured images is reminiscent of the principle of symmetry, where one element, the rain streak, overshadows or disrupts the visual quality of the entire image. The challenge lies not just in eradicating the rain streaks but in ensuring the background is symmetrically restored to its original clarity. Recently, numerous deraining algorithms that employ deep learning techniques have been proposed, demonstrating promising results. Yet, achieving a perfect symmetrical balance by effectively removing rain streaks from a diverse set of images, while also symmetrically restoring the background details, is a monumental task. To address this issue, we introduce an image-deraining algorithm that leverages multi-scale dilated residual recurrent networks. The algorithm begins by utilizing convolutional activation layers to symmetrically process both the foreground and background features. Then, to ensure the symmetrical dissemination of the characteristics of rain streaks and the background, it employs long short-term memory networks in conjunction with gated recurrent units across various stages. The algorithm then incorporates dilated residual blocks (DRB), composed of dilated convolutions with three distinct dilation factors. This integration expands the receptive field, facilitating the extraction of deep, multi-scale features of both the rain streaks and background information. Furthermore, considering the complex and diverse nature of rain streaks, a channel attention (CA) mechanism is incorporated to capture richer image features and enhance the model's performance. Ultimately, convolutional layers are employed to fuse the image features, resulting in a derained image. An evaluation encompassing seven benchmark datasets, assessed using five quality metrics against various conventional and modern algorithms, confirms the robustness and flexibility of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We numerically show that an ultra-thin Weyl semimetal film can achieve an excellent performance of a high polarization extinction ratio (more than 40 dB) and a low insertion loss (less than 0.07 dB). • Monolayer polarizer shows that the optimum insertion loss is not achieved in the band with the highest PER. An isotropic substrate has little effect on the TM mode, while effectively adjusts the position of TE mode transmission peak. Thus, the proposed sandwich structure can further reduce insertion loss (from 0.06 dB to 0.03 dB) and obtain wider acceptances range of angle (from 49. 5 ∘ to 71 ∘). • Due to the high reflectivity of the two interfaces inside the WSM layer, the incident light is reflected several times in the single-layer structure, forming a structure similar to the Fabry-Perot cavity, which seriously affects the polarizer's performance. To overcome the challenges above, the proposed a gradient Fermi level structure eliminates the interference peak, thus resulting a wider bandwidth (approximately 60 % improvement). This method can be generalized to larger thickness cases. • With the increasing demand for on-chip integrated devices, our work can be helpful for the integration of a range of potential optical applications in optical communication and omnidirectional polarization detectors. Recently, Weyl semimetals have been extensively studied due to their unique optical responses, especially in the mid-infrared region. However, the possibility of developing optical polarizers based on Weyl semimetals remains unexplored. In this paper, under the Voigt geometry, we numerically show that an ultra-thin Weyl semimetal film with thickness L = 100 nm can achieve an impressive polarization extinction ratio (more than 40 dB) with a wide acceptance angle. Further, the proposed sandwich structure can effectively adjust the position of the TE mode transmission peak alone, thus obtaining lower insertion loss (from 0.06 dB to 0.03 dB) and wider acceptance range of angle (from 49. 5 ∘ to 71 ∘). The proposed gradient Fermi level structure eliminates the Fabry-Perot cavity resonance, thus resulting a wider bandwidth (approximately 60 % improvement). Our proposed ultra-thin and wide-angle polarizer may have potential applications in optical communication and omnidirectional polarization detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "[Retracted] Clinical significance of miR-1298 in cervical cancer and its biological function in vitro" was published in Oncology Letters in 2021. However, it has since been retracted due to concerns raised by a reader. The reader pointed out that certain data in the article's figures were similar to data from other articles written by different authors that had already been published or were under consideration for publication around the same time. The authors were asked for an explanation but did not respond. The editor has apologized for any inconvenience caused. The authors of the retracted article are Haitao Zhang, Ruihong Zhang, Guiling Zhang, Wenjuan Liu, Zhaoyuan Ma, Caiyun Yue, and Min Yang. [Extracted from the article]

This study is to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanisms of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from the ovaries with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The POI mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CTX) and busulfan. The apoptosis of granulosa cells (GCs) incubated with exosomes extracted from ovarian tissues of control and POI groups was analyzed by flow cytometry. Then, high‐throughput sequencing was performed to detect the difference of miRNAs profile in ovarian tissue‐derived exosomes between the control and POI mice. The effect of differential miRNA on the apoptosis of CTX‐induced ovarian GCs was analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that POI mouse model was successfully established. Exosomes extracted from ovarian of normal and POI group have different effects on apoptosis of GCs induced by CTX. miRNA‐seq found that exosomal miR‐122‐5p in POI group increased significantly. miR‐122‐5p as the dominant miRNA targeting BCL9 was significantly upregulated in ovarian tissues of chemotherapy‐induced POI group. Exosomes derived from the ovaries in the control group and miR‐122‐5p inhibitor group attenuated the apoptosis of primary cultured ovarian GCs. In conclusion, exosomal miR‐122‐5p promoted the apoptosis of ovarian GCs by targeting BCL9, suggested that miR‐122‐5p may function as a potential target to restore ovarian function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the color theory, a precise chromaticity coordinates tracking strategy for the LED color-mixing system is proposed. The relationship between the resulting mixing color and the flux ratio of primary colors is derived according to the center of gravity rule on the CIE1931 chromaticity diagram. Based on this, the hysteresis control is introduced to minimize the color shift caused by aging and temperature effects without requiring any temperature sensor. A prototype with red–green–blue (RGB) strings has been built and evaluated. The experimental results show that the luminous output can be controlled between 100 and 600 lm with an error within ±2%. Any chromaticity coordinate within the triangle enclosed by the points corresponding to RGB can be controlled accurately and the color distance between the output coordinate and the reference coordinate in CIE1976 is less than 0.007 over the whole color gamut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dingkun Pill (DKP) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been shown to have beneficial effects on reproductive function. However, the specific mechanism underlying its effect on POI is not well understood. To investigate the effect of different doses of Dingkun Pill on ovarian function in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) mice and to explore its molecular mechanism through PTEN/PI3K/AKT/FOXO3a signaling pathway. This study will provide valuable insights into the potential clinical application of Dingkun Pill for the treatment of POI. Fifty female ICR mice were randomly divided into normal control (NC) group, model control (MC) group, and Dingkun Pill low, medium, high dose (DKP-L, M, H) groups. Mice were injected with CTX to construct the POI model. Mice in the DKP-L, M, and H groups were given 0.9 g/kg, 1.8 g/kg, and 3.6 g/kg of Dingkun Pill suspension for 21 days, respectively. Mice in the NC and MC groups were given the same amount of normal saline by gavage. Changes in body weight, estrous cycle and gonadal index were observed in each group of mice. Serum levels of FSH, LH, E2 and AMH were detected by ELISA. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining observed the changes of ovarian pathological morphology and follicle counts at all levels. qRT-PCR was used to measure the levels of the PTEN and FOXO3a genes in ovarian tissue. The expression of PTEN/PI3K/AKT/FOXO3a signaling pathway related proteins were detected by Western-blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In POI mice, Dingkun Pill increased body weight, promoted the recovery of estrous cycle, increased ovarian index, and improved pathological morphology of the ovaries. The FSH level decreased in the medium dose group (P < 0.05), the LH level reduced significantly in the medium and high dose groups (P < 0.01), and the E2 level in the high dose group increased (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in AMH levels across all dose groups. The number of growing follicles improved at all levels in the low and medium dose groups, but declined significantly in the high dose group. However, the number of corpus luteum increased significantly in the high dose group (P < 0.001), and the atretic follicles in the three dose groups decreased. Results from qRT-PCR, Western-blot and IHC showed that the moderate dose of Dingkun Pill suppressed the levels of the p-PI3K and p-AKT proteins by upregulating the expression of PTEN in the ovarian tissues of POI mice, thereby inhibiting the expression of the key protein p-FOXO3a. However, the inhibitory effect of the higher dose may be less than that of the lower and intermediate dose groups. The Dingkun Pill modulated hormonal levels, promoted follicle growth and induced ovulation in mice with CTX-induced POI, with better results in the low and moderate dose groups. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/FOXO3a signaling pathway. [Display omitted] • Effect of Dingkun Pill on the estrous cycle of POI mice. • Effect of Dingkun Pill on serum sex hormone levels in POI mice. • Effect of Dingkun Pill on ovarian morphology and follicle count in POI mice. • Effect of Dingkun Pill on PTEN and FOXO3a gene expression levels in ovary tissue of POI mice. • Effect of Dingkun Pill on the expression of PTEN/PI3K/AKT/FOXO3a pathway using western-blot and immunohistochemical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We, the Editor, Institution and Publisher of the journal IETE Journal of Research, have retracted the following article, which is part of the Special Issue titled "Federated Learning for Blockchain Systems and Industrial Internet of Things": Ruihong Zhang & Zhihua Hu (2022) Encryption Method for Blockchain based Data for Safe Transmission Using Fuzzy Algorithm, IETE Journal of Research, DOI: . Following publication, concerns were raised about the peer review and decision-making processes for this special issue. After an investigation by the Taylor & Francis Publishing Ethics & Integrity team, in full cooperation with the Editor-in-Chief and the Institution, it was confirmed that the articles included in this special issue were not reviewed appropriately, in line with the Journal's peer review standards and policy. As the stringency of the peer review process is core to the integrity of the publication process, the Editor and Publisher have decided to retract all of the articles within the above-named Special Issue. The journal has not confirmed if the authors were aware of this compromised peer review process. The journal is committed to correcting the scientific record and will fully cooperate with any institutional investigations into this matter. The authors have been informed of this decision. We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and the COPE guidelines. The retracted articles will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but they will be digitally watermarked on each page as "Retracted". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A practical silver‐catalyzed decarboxylative allylation of α,α‐difluoroarylacetic acids with allyl sulfones is described, which provides a variety of β,β‐difluorinated alkenes in good yields. Notably, the reaction proceeds smoothly in water with good functional group tolerance. The practicality and synthetic value of this process was demonstrated by scaled‐up experiment and elaboration of the products via reduction or Heck reaction. Primary mechanism investigations suggest that a radical process might be involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blending of plant-based cellulose and marine-derived chitosan in micro-level has potential to make fascinating materials. However, this task is frequently hindered by the poor solubility of the polysaccharides. Here, using a green alkali/urea solvent media together with a well-designed dissolving strategy, original cellulose pulp and chitosan power were dispersed into a homogeneous solution. Driven by the intermolecular hydrogen-bond interaction, cellulose and chitosan chains were facially self-assembled into a unique 3D alloy structure. Owing to the rich interface interactions, the tensile strength and breaking elongation of the alloy film increased by 69% and 260%, respectively, when compared to a pure chitosan film. Besides, the 3D alloy films with a pore diameter of 920–1435 nm exhibited an extremely high cell viability which was higher than 95%. Additionally, accelerated wound healing rate of 95.6% reached in the presence of the alloy film after two weeks using a full-thickness wound in a rat model. Unlabelled Image • Chitosan and cellulose were co-dissolved into one green alkali/urea solvent. • Polysaccharide chains were self-assembled into 3D porous alloy films. • Abundant interface interactions led to excellent physicochemical properties. • Biocompatibility and bioactivity of the alloy result in good wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Off-axis parabolic mirror used to eliminating the astigmatism in folded resonator. • Without any astigmatically compensated elements. • Optical elements can be inserted into the off-axis parabolic mirror resonator easily. • The low sensitivity to misalignment kept for the off-axis parabolic mirror resonator. Abstract The astigmatism in a ring cavity has been eliminated based on the off-axis parabolic mirror, which was utilized as the folded mirror instead of the spherical mirror in the laser resonator. There are no astigmatism-compensated elements on the beam path of the laser resonator with very simple design. The experimentally measured results have shown that the ellipticity was more than 0.98 for this kind of design. The misalignment sensitivity for the ring cavity was equivalent to that of the spherical mirror ring cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this account, Ni-P coated diamond (NPCD) with different phosphorus contents was prepared by electroless plating, and Ni-Co-Mn/NPCD composite coatings were formed through electrodeposition. The effect of phosphorus content on NPCD suspension and wear resistance of Ni-Co-Mn/NPCD composite coatings were examined and compared with unmodified diamond particles. The morphology and the chemical composition of the as-prepared materials were determined by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and the hardness was tested by Vickers tester. The volume wear rates and friction coefficients of the coatings were respectively evaluated by ball-on-disk testing machine. The results demonstrated that lower phosphorus contents in NPCD yielded better suspensions, and contributed to higher volume fractions in the composite coatings. The wear resistance of Ni-Co-Mn/LP-NPCD composite coatings was found superior to other NPCD samples and untreated diamonds. However, the latter was weakened as the phosphorus content increased in NPCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cage-free housing systems have attracted considerable attention in the United States recently as they provide more space and other resources (such as litter area, perches, and nest boxes) for hens and are considered to be more favorable from the standpoint of hen welfare. This study was carried out to quantify emissions of aerial ammonia (NH 3 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) from cage-free layer houses in California and compare the values with those for other types of layer houses. Two commercial cage-free houses with 38,000 hens each were monitored from March 1, 2012 to April 1, 2013. Results show that NH 3 and CO 2 concentrations in the houses were affected by ventilation rate, which was largely influenced by ambient air temperature. The PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations in the houses depended on the activity of birds, ventilation rate and relative humidity of the ambient air. The average emission rates of NH 3 , CO 2 , PM 10 and PM 2.5 were 0.29, 89.9, 0.163 and 0.020 g d −1 hen −1 , respectively. The NH 3 emission rate determined in this study was higher than those of aviary houses. The PM 10 and PM 2.5 emission rates were higher than those reported for high-rise layer houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clear understanding of enzyme adsorption during enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass is essential to enhance the cost-efficiency of hydrolysis. However, conclusions from literature often contradicted each other because enzyme adsorption is enzyme, biomass/pretreatment and experimental condition specific, which makes descriptions and modeling of enzyme-substrate interaction difficult and inconsistent from case to case. This study investigated adsorption kinetics and isotherm under actual hydrolysis conditions with commercial cellulase and β-glucosidase on Avicel, dilute acid pretreated Creeping Wild Ryegrass (pCWR) and lignin residue of pCWR after enzymatic hydrolysis. It was found that β-glucosidase has little affinity to Avicel, but significant affinity to dilute acid pCWR and lignin with maximum adsorption capacity ( E max ) of 161.57 and 173.50 mg protein/g-substrate, respectively. During hydrolysis, adsorption of cellulase on Avicel was productive and reversible ( E max = 22.86 mg protein/g-substrate); however, nonproductive and irreversible adsorption of cellulase on pCWR ( E max = 42.55 mg protein/g-substrate) and lignin ( E max = 86.07 mg protein/g-substrate) became significant and resulted in cellulase deactivation. Lignin is a key issue causing high cost of enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. The nonionic surfactant, Tween 20 was found to significantly overcome nonproductive adsorption of cellulase and β-glucosidase on lignin by reducing the adsorption affinity. All adsorption data including with and without Tween 20 were fit well to Langmuir isotherm. The results from this research will provide useful data for model development of enzymatic hydrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulk metals and metal chalcogenides are found to dissolve in primary amine–dithiol solvent mixtures at ambient conditions. Thin-films of CuS, SnS, ZnS, Cu2Sn(Sx,Se1−x)3, and Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1−x)4 (0 ≤x≤ 1) were deposited using the as-dissolved solutions. Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1−x)4 solar cells with efficiencies of 6.84% and 7.02% under AM1.5 illumination were fabricated from two example solution precursors, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ring diode–capacitor network for current-balancing multiple LED strings is presented. The concept is based on utilizing the charge-balance property of capacitors to balance the currents of two adjacent LED strings in each switching cycle. Such current-balancing mechanism propagates over a ring network. The network has several merits, including 1) high current-balancing accuracy, 2) a simple structure, 3) modular and scalable, 4) current-balancing property being less dependent on the string voltages and the values of the capacitors, 5) inherent galvanic isolation between the driver and the LED strings, and 6) operation of the healthy LED(s) being unaffected by the failure LED(s). In addition, the capacitors in the network can be used as resonant tank components for the front-stage driver. An 80-W prototype for balancing the currents of ten LED strings has been built and evaluated. Each string has eight pieces of 1-W LED connected in series. The prototype is driven by a series-resonant converter. Results reveal that the string current variation is less than ±0.5%, irrespective to the variation of the string voltages and capacitor values. The total LED power can be dimmed to 10% of the rated output by a hybrid switching frequency and duty-cycle control scheme. The overall efficiency from the driver input to all LED strings is around 95% over the operating range. Modeling, design, and analysis of four possible configurations will be given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial digesters handling complex waste and organic overloading often encounter unbalanced conditions or failures. With limited studies on the digester recovery from an industry-based waste stream, a complex and high-strength digestate containing up to 79 g COD l−1 from acidified commercial digester was investigated for biochar and alkaline treatments. The addition of biochar and calcium hydroxide successfully decomposed excessive volatile fatty acid up to 18.9 ± 2.5 g l−1 and resumed methane production. The maximum methane yield was obtained from the digester amended with biochar (373.4 ± 6.0 ml g COD−1), followed by calcium hydroxide (350.1 ± 2.5 ml g COD−1). Calcium hydroxide treatment showed a shorter lag phase than the biochar by 44%. Methane production could not be recovered by using sodium hydroxide or untreated digester. This study provides a strategic approach to justify the use of alkalis for restoring sour digesters from industry-based waste streams. • Alkali additives recovered sour digester with initial 79 gCOD l−1 and 19 gVFA l−1. • Sour digestate taken from upset commercial digester presented complex waste stream. • Biochar and calcium hydroxide successfully recovered methane production. • Key process parameters are crucial to justify suitable alkaline treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Getting over recalcitrance of lignocellulose is effective way to fuel production from lignocellulosic biomass. In current work, different pretreatments were applied to enhance the digestibility of corn stover (CS). Results showed that steam explosion (SE)-treated CS produced maximal methane yield (223.2 mL/g vs ) at 1.2 MPa for 10 min, which was 55.2% more than untreated (143.8 mL/g vs ). Whereas 1.5% KOH-treated CS produced maximum methane yield of 208.6 mL/g vs , and significantly ( α < 0.05) improved 45.1% with respect to untreated. Sequent pretreatment of potassium hydroxide and steam explosion (SPPE) (1.5% KOH-1.2 MPa, 10 min) achieved a very significant ( α < 0.01) improvement (80.0%) of methane yield (258.8 mL/g vs ) compared with untreated CS. Methane production could be well explained by the first-order and modified Gompertz models. Besides, SEM, FTIR, and XRD analyses validated structural changes of CS after SPPE. SPPE might be a promising method to pretreat CS in the future AD industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to identify the P-arrival of microseismic signals is proposed in this work, based on the algorithm of intrinsic timescale decomposition (ITD). Using the results of ITD decomposition of observed data, information of instantaneous amplitude and frequency can be determined. The improved ratio function of short-time average over long-time average and the information of instantaneous frequency are applied to the time-frequency-energy denoised signal for picking the P-arrival of the microseismic signal. We compared the proposed method with the wavelet transform method based on the denoised signal resulting from the best basis wavelet packet transform and the single-scale reconstruction of the wavelet transform. The comparison results showed that the new method is more effective and reliable for identifying P-arrivals of microseismic signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Co-digestion of CM and CS were investigated under batch and continuous conditions. [•] CSTR showed stable methane yield of 223±7mL/gVSadded at OLR of 4gVS/L/d. [•] Post-digestion of digestate gave extra energy yield up to 2.6MJ/kgVSadded. [•] Pyrolysis of digestate could produce valuable pyrolysis gas with LCV of 10.9MJ/m3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LED light bulbs are becoming increasingly popular as they consume much less power than traditional incandescent lamps. To enable full compatibility with incandescent lamps, apart from delivering the same light output and quality, they are expected to be operable with standard TRIAC-based light dimmers. However, the input current of the LED light bulbs at dimming could fall below the holding current of the TRIAC, resulting in limited dimming range and lamp flickering. This paper presents a TRIAC-dimmable LED lamp driver allowing wide dimming range. The concept is based on controlling the input reactive power, so that the input current is increased to a level higher than the holding current of the TRIAC, while the LED array power is regulated. The driver consists of two power conversion stages, including a four-quadrant ac–dc converter for shaping the input current and a resonant converter for regulating the output power to the LED array. The two converters share the same switching network. Modeling, analysis, and design of the driver will be presented. An LED prototype has been built and evaluated. Experimental results reveal that the true firing angle of the TRIAC can be adjusted down to 172°, and the lamp power can be dimmed from 7.2 to 0.3 W linearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modular and scalable structure that can perform current-balancing multiple LED strings is presented. The current-balancing function is accomplished by connecting multiple transformers in a daisy chain—the primary and secondary windings of each transformer are connected to two different modules, and thus the two module currents are mutually coupled. The modules are shared with the same input, derived from the output of a switching network, and each module is used to drive an LED string. When there is a fault occurred in a string, such as open- or short-circuit of any LED, such string will be disconnected from the corresponding module. As the output voltage of the module will then increase under such situation, an energy-recycling circuit with each module having an OR-ing diode connected to its input will be activated to clamp the module voltage by recycling energy back to the source. Thus, the faulty string(s) will not affect the normal operation of the healthy strings. A prototype with seven 1 W LED strings has been built and evaluated. Experimental results show that the string current has less than ±1% variation under different dimming levels, string voltage variation of ±30%, and faulty operations in some LED string(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Methane production potential, BD, and kinetics of various substrates were compared. [•] Both of elemental and organic analysis could be used to calculate the TMY and BD. [•] 15% VS of lignin was a critical point in AD of lignocellulosic and manure wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Synergistic effects were found in CS:CM ratios of 3:1 and 1:1. [•] In W-AD and HSS-AD, highest methane yields were obtained at CS:CM ratio of 3:1. [•] Highest volumetric productivity of 14.2L/L was found in SS-AD at CS:CM of 1:1. [•] VFA/TA value of 0.4 was a more important criterion than NH3-N or FA concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the network security and get the real-time situation of network security, the access control method of network security authentication information based on fuzzy reasoning algorithm is proposed. Firstly, a scheme of multi-data source analysis and situational perception assessment is proposed based on the factors of network physical security and service security. At the same time, on the basis of multi-source data fusion, fuzzy reasoning algorithm is used to mine and identify the network attack relevance, so as to achieve the perception control of network security situation. Then based on security situation mining control, role classification is introduced to realize network access control. Finally, the access control flow is designed by combining the physical structure, logical structure and use case diagram of access control. The multi-level security concept and role inheritance are used to control access, and the administrator role is used to restrict some users' operation of transferring access rights. The experimental results show that the method has good security situation perception effect, excellent performance and reliability of network access control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many imaging systems have been developed to monitor the physiological and behavioral status of dairy cows. However, most of these systems do not have the ability to identify individual cows because the systems need to cooperate with radio frequency identification (RFID) to collect information about individual animals. The distance at which RFID can identify a target is limited, and matching the identified targets in a scenario of multitarget images is difficult. To solve the above problems, we constructed a cascaded method based on cascaded deep learning models, to detect and segment a cow collar ID tag in an image. First, EfficientDet-D4 was used to detect the ID tag area of the image, and then, YOLACT++ was used to segment the area of the tag to realize the accurate segmentation of the ID tag when the collar area accounts for a small proportion of the image. In total, 938 and 406 images of cows with collar ID tags, which were collected at Coldstream Research Dairy Farm, University of Kentucky, USA, in August 2016, were used to train and test the two models, respectively. The results showed that the average precision of the EfficientDet-D4 model reached 96.5% when the intersection over union (IoU) was set to 0.5, and the average precision of the YOLACT++ model reached 100% when the IoU was set to 0.75. The overall accuracy of the cascaded model was 96.5%, and the processing time of a single frame image was 1.92 s. The performance of the cascaded model proposed in this paper is better than that of the common instance segmentation models, and it is robust to changes in brightness, deformation, and interference around the tag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) is an emerging biodegradable plastic family that can replace a broad spectrum of conventional thermoplastics and is promising in the sustainable process development and valorization of organic waste. This study established a novel production system of PHA from food waste through halophilic microbial fermentation with spent medium recycling. The essential processing parameters for batch cultivation of Haloferax mediterranei were optimized for food waste substrate (a 40 g/L loading and 2.5 vvm of aeration), which achieved a yield of 0.3 g PHA/g COD consumed. A batch bioreactor system was developed, which produced 7.0 ± 0.7 g/L cell dry mass and 4.5 ± 0.2 g/L PHA with a 20% dissolved oxygen (DO) level. A DO above 50% saturation resulted in faster cell growth and similar cell mass production but 25% less PHA production. The spent saline medium, treated with H2O2 and rotary evaporation, was successfully reused for four consecutive batches and provided consistent PHA concentrations and product qualities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The anaerobic digestion of onion residual from an onion processing plant was studied under batch-fed and continuously-fed mesophilic (35 ± 2 °C) conditions in an Anaerobic Phased Solids (APS) Digester. The batch digestion tests were performed at an initial loading of 2.8 gVS L−1 and retention time of 14 days. The biogas and methane yields, and volatile solids reduction from the onion residual were determined to be 0.69 ± 0.06 L gVS−1, 0.38 ± 0.05 L CH4 gVS−1, and 64 ± 17%, respectively. Continuous digestion tests were carried out at organic loading rates (OLRs) of 0.5–2.0 gVS L−1 d−1. Hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) was added to the APS-Digester along with the onion residual at 16 mg Ca(OH)2 gVS−1 to control the pH of the biogasification reactor above 7.0. At steady state the average biogas yields were 0.51, 0.56, and 0.62 L gVS−1 for the OLRs of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 gVS L−1 d−1 respectively. The methane yields at steady state were 0.29, 0.32, and 0.31 L CH4 gVS−1 for the OLRs of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 gVS L−1 d−1 respectively. The study shows that the digestion of onion residual required proper alkalinity and pH control, which was possible through the use of caustic chemicals. However, such chemicals will begin to have an inhibitory effect on the microbial population at high loading rates, and therefore alternative operational parameters are needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A process model was developed to predict the mass and energy balance for a full-scale (115td−1) high-solids anaerobic digester using research data from lab and pilot scale (1–3000kgd−1 wet waste) systems. Costs and revenues were estimated in consultation with industry partners and the 20-year project cash flow, net present worth (NPW), simple payback, internal rate of return, and revenue requirements were calculated. The NPW was used to compare scenarios in order to determine the financial viability of using a generator for heat and electricity or a pressure swing adsorption unit for converting biogas to compressed natural gas (CNG). The full-scale digester consisted of five 786m3 reactors (one biogasification reactor and four hydrolysis reactors) treating a 50:50 mix (volatile solids basis) of food and green waste, of which 17% became biogas, 32% residual solids, and 51% wastewater. The NPW of the projects were similar whether producing electricity or CNG, as long as the parasitic energy demand was satisfied with the biogas produced. When producing electricity only, the power output was 1.2MW, 7% of which was consumed parasitically. When producing CNG, the system produced 2hm3 y−1 natural gas after converting 22% of the biogas to heat and electricity which supplied the parasitic energy demand. The digester system was financially viable whether producing electricity or CNG for discount rates of up to 13%y−1 without considering debt (all capital was considered equity), heat sales, feed-in tariffs or tax credits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This research was conducted to develop an integrated rotary drum reactor (RDR)-anaerobic-phased solids (APS) digester system for the treatment of municipal solid waste (MSW) to produce biogas energy and achieve waste reduction. A commercial RDR facility was used to provide a 3-d pretreatment and sufficient separation of the organics from MSW and then the organics were digested in a laboratory APS-digester system for biogas production. The organics generated from the RDR contained 50% total solids (TS) and 36% volatile solids (VS) on wet basis. The APS-digester was started at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 3.1gVSL−1 d−1 and operated at three higher OLRs of 4.6, 7.7 and 9.2gVSL−1 d−1. At the OLR of 9.2gVSL−1 d−1 the system biogas production rate was 3.5LL−1 d−1 and the biogas and methane yields were 0.38 and 0.19LgVS−1, respectively. Anaerobic digestion resulted in 38% TS reduction and 53% VS reduction in the organic solids. It was found that the total VFA concentration reached a peak value of 15,000mgL−1 as acetic acid in the first 3d of batch digestion and later decreased to about 500mgL−1. The APS-digester system remained stable at each OLRs for over 100d with the pH in the hydrolysis reactors in the range of 7.3–7.8 and the pH in the biogasification reactor in 7.9–8.1. The residual solids after the digestion had a high heating value of 14.7kJgTS−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of manure-screening on the biogas yield of dairy manure was evaluated in batch digesters under mesophilic conditions (35°C). Moreover, the study determined the biogas production potential of different mixtures of unscreened dairy manure and food waste and compared them with the yield from manure or food waste alone. A first-order kinetics model was developed to calculate the methane yield from different mixtures of food waste and unscreened dairy manure. The methane yields of fine and coarse fractions of screened manure and unscreened manure after 30days were 302, 228, and 241L/kgVS, respectively. Approximately 93%, 87%, and 90% of the biogas yields could be obtained, respectively, after 20days of digestion. Average methane content of the biogas was 69%, 57%, and 66%, respectively. Based on mass balance calculations, separation of the coarse fraction of manure would sacrifice about 32% of the energy potential. The methane yield of the food waste was 353L/kgVS after 30days of digestion. Two mixtures of unscreened manure and food waste, 68/32% and 52/48%, produced methane yields of 282 and 311L/kgVS, respectively after 30days of digestion. After 20days, approximately 90% and 95% of the final biogas yield could be obtained, respectively. Therefore, a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20days could be recommended for a continuous digester. The average methane content was 62% and 59% for the first and second mixtures, respectively. The predicted results from the model showed that adding the food waste into a manure digester at levels up to 60% of the initial volatile solids significantly increased the methane yield for 20days of digestion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Biogas and methane yields of food and green wastes and their mixture were determined using batch anaerobic digesters at mesophilic (35±2°C) and thermophilic (50±2°C) temperatures. The mixture was composed of 50% food waste and 50% green waste, based on the volatile solids (VS) initially added to the reactors. The thermophilic digestion tests were performed with four different feed to inoculum (F/I) ratios (i.e., 1.6, 3.1, 4.0 and 5.0) and the mesophilic digestion was conducted at one F/I (3.1). The results showed that the F/I significantly affected the biogas production rate. At four F/Is tested, after 25days of thermophilic digestion, the biogas yield was determined to be 778, 742, 784 and 396mL/g VS for food waste, respectively; 631, 529, 524 and 407mL/g VS for green waste, respectively; and 716, 613, 671 and 555mL/g VS for the mixture, respectively. About 80% of the biogas production was obtained during the first 10days of digestion. At the F/I of 3.1, the biogas and methane yields from mesophilic digestion of food waste, green waste and their mixture were lower than the yields obtained at thermophilic temperature. The biogas yields were 430, 372 and 358mL/g VS, respectively, and the methane yields were 245, 206, and 185mL/g VS, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of the addition of enzyme products containing cellulase, hemicellulase, and β-glucosidase to anaerobic digestion systems were studied using Jose Tall Wheat Grass (wheat grass) as a model substrate. Anaerobic digestion tests were performed using batch reactors operated at 50°C. The application of enzyme products in three digestion configurations were simulated and investigated: (1) enzyme addition to a single-stage digester, (2) pre-treatment of wheat grass with enzymes followed by a single-stage anaerobic digestion, and (3) enzyme addition to the first stage (hydrolysis and acidification) of a two-stage digestion system. The enzyme products showed positive effects on the solubilization of wheat grass when used alone to treat the wheat grass. However, no significant differences in biogas and methane yields, and volatile solids reduction resulted when the enzyme products were tested in the anaerobic digestion systems. This reveals that the microorganisms present in the inoculum were effective in carrying out the digestion of wheat grass. The types of microorganisms present in the inoculum were identified using 16S rRNA sequence analysis. A comparison of the sequences between the different inocula revealed that the prevalent operational taxonomic units were similar, but that the acidified inoculum contained a higher percentage of the species Thermotogae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The electroless nickel immersion gold (ENIG) surface finish is widely used in electronic packaging. The ENIG induced Au embrittlement has been investigated in SnPb/ENIG/Cu solder joint since several years ago. However, in Sn-based lead-free solder joint, discrepancies still exist about the influence of Au finish on the reliability of the solder joint. This study investigated the effects of ENIG surface finish on the interfacial reaction and thus the mechanical property of Sn-based solder joints. Experimentally, two types of ENIG with different thickness of Au layer were fabricated. The results indicated that the Au layer dissolved into the solder matrix readily in the soldering stage, and then affected the shear strength of the solder joint significantly. The Au migration occurred in the solder joint during isothermal aging. The Au migration is more apparent when the Cu6Sn5 type compound formed at the interface. The embrittlement caused by the weak interface between the (Au1− x Ni x )Sn4 and Ni3Sn4 layers cannot be observed in this study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of different food to microorganism ratios (F/M) (1–10) on the hydrogen production from the anaerobic batch fermentation of mixed food waste was studied at two temperatures, 35±2°C and 50±2°C. Anaerobic sludge taken from anaerobic reactors was used as inoculum. It was found that hydrogen was produced mainly during the first 44h of fermentation. The F/M between 7 and 10 was found to be appropriate for hydrogen production via thermophilic fermentation with the highest yield of 57ml-H2/g VS at an F/M of 7. Under mesophilic conditions, hydrogen was produced at a lower level and in a narrower range of F/Ms, with the highest yield of 39ml-H2/g VS at the F/M of 6. A modified Gompertz equation adequately (R 2 >0.946) described the cumulative hydrogen production yields. This study provides a novel strategy for controlling the conditions for production of hydrogen from food waste via anaerobic fermentation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

(1) Background: Studies on the association between air pollution and developmental delay in children are limited. Therefore, we evaluated the risk of developmental delay in Taiwanese children exposed to air pollution. (2) Methods: We merged the two nationwide databases, and the annual average pollutant concentrations were grouped into tertiles to evaluate the risk of developmental delay (ICD-9 code 315.9). We identified the patients' active residential locations based on the location of the clinic or hospital in which they sought treatment for acute upper respiratory infections (ICD 9 code 460). The two nationwide databases were linked for analysis based on the active residential locations of each participant and the locations of the 74 ambient air quality monitoring stations. (3) Results: We observed an increased risk of developmental delay in children and teenagers exposed to SO2, CO, and NO2. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of developmental delay for comparison among the tertiles with respect to SO2, CO, and NO2 exposures were 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.24), 1.21 (95% CI, 1.09–1.34), and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.261.55), respectively. (4) Conclusions: The present findings suggest that air pollution exposure increases the risk of developmental delay in children and teenagers in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The co-digestion of onion juice and aerobic wastewater sludge produced from an onion processor using an anaerobic mixed biofilm reactor (AMBR) was investigated for biogas energy production potential and waste treatment. Two experiments were conducted to study the performance of an AMBR at different organic loading rates (OLRs) using different mixtures of onion juice and aerobic sludge. In the first experiment, the OLR was increased from 1.24 to 4.37gVS/L/d by increasing the amount of onion juice in the feed mixture while maintaining a constant amount of aerobic sludge. When the OLR reached 4.37gVS/L/d, the AMBR failed as indicated by decreased biogas production and pH. Increase of carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N) from 13.7 to 20.3 and lack of proper alkalinity were suspected to be the causes for the failure. In the second experiment, the C/N of the feed mixture was maintained at about 15 while the OLR was increased from 1.40 to 3.60gVS/L/d. The digester showed stable performance. The average biogas and methane yields of the two experiments were 0.62±0.05L/gVS and 0.37±0.08L/gVS, respectively. It was concluded that the C/N of about 15 was recommended for treating the mixture of onion juice and aerobic sludge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Salmon oil, a by-product of salmon processing, was used as a feedstock for biodiesel production via transesterification in a two-step process. Two different types of salmon oil were tested: salmon oil extracted from acidified salmon hydrolysate and salmon oil extracted from salmon by-products. Optimal amounts of chemicals required to give the highest biodiesel yield from each oil were determined using batch production procedures. It was found that due to the high acid value of salmon oil, alkaline-catalysed transesterification was not an effective method for producing biodiesel from the salmon oil. Therefore a two-step process was applied, in which a sulphuric acid-catalysed pre-treatment was used in the first step to reduce the acid value from 12.0 to 3mg [KOH]g [oil]−1 and then, in the second step, KOH-catalysed transesterification was applied. All experiments were performed at a temperature of 52±2°C with a mixing intensity of 600rpm. Based on the total weight of salmon oil used, the maximum biodiesel yield of 99% was achieved using a total methanol/molar ratio of 9.2% and 0.5% (w/w) KOH. Ester loss due to the formation of emulsion during the washing and drying steps was 15% maximum. This loss could be reduced in practical applications by better design of washing and drying techniques. A preliminary economic analysis showed that the cost of biodiesel production from salmon oil was almost twice that produced from soybean oil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of aeration rate, aeration method, moisture content, and manure age on the characteristics of dairy manure composting with rice straw in terms of composting temperature, oxygen consumption rate, emission of odorous gases, and final compost property. It was found that the aeration rate of 0.25L/min-kg VS was capable of achieving the highest composting temperature, longest retention time of high temperature, and less emission of odor gases. Except for the composting temperature reached, there was no significant difference between bottom-forced and top-diffusion aerations in terms of final compost property. The higher initial moisture content (65%) was more favorable for its higher temperature, longer retention time of high temperature, and more stable end compost obtained. Fresh manure showed better composting performance than the aged manure for its higher temperature reached in less time and less ammonia emission. Oxygen consumption rates were basically similar to those of temperatures. Most emissions of the odorous gases occurred during the first week of composting, therefore, special attention should be paid to this period of time for effective odor control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrogen (H2) production from simulated cheese processing wastewater via anaerobic fermentation was conducted using mixed microbial communities under mesophilic conditions. In batch H2 fermentation experiments H2 yields of 8 and 10mM/gCOD fed were achieved at food-to-microorganism ratios of 1.0 and 1.5, respectively. Butyric, acetic, propionic, and valeric acids were the major volatile fatty acids (VFA) produced in the fermentation process. Continuous H2 fermentation experiments were also performed using a completely mixed reactor (CSTR). The pH of the bioreactor was controlled in a range of 4.0–5.0 by addition of carbonate in the feed material. Maximum H2 yields were between 1.8 and 2.3mM/gCOD fed for the loading rates (LRs) tested with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24h. Occasionally CH4 was produced in the biogas with concurrent reductions in H2 production; however, continuous H2 production was achieved for over 3 weeks at each LR. The 16S rDNA analysis of DNA extracted from the bioreactors during periods of high H2 production revealed that more than 50% of the bacteria present were members of the genus Lactobacillus and about 5% were Clostridia. When H2 production in the bioreactors decreased concurrent reductions in the genus Lactobacillus were also observed. Therefore, the microbial populations in the bioreactors were closely related to the conditions and performance of the bioreactors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Food waste collected in the City of San Francisco, California, was characterized for its potential for use as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion processes. The daily and weekly variations of food waste composition over a two-month period were measured. The anaerobic digestibility and biogas and methane yields of the food waste were evaluated using batch anaerobic digestion tests performed at 50°C. The daily average moisture content (MC) and the ratio of volatile solids to total solids (VS/TS) determined from a week-long sampling were 70% and 83%, respectively, while the weekly average MC and VS/TS were 74% and 87%, respectively. The nutrient content analysis showed that the food waste contained well balanced nutrients for anaerobic microorganisms. The methane yield was determined to be 348 and 435mL/gVS, respectively, after 10 and 28 days of digestion. The average methane content of biogas was 73%. The average VS destruction was 81% at the end of the 28-day digestion test. The results of this study indicate that the food waste is a highly desirable substrate for anaerobic digesters with regards to its high biodegradability and methane yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents information on a study which investigated the advantages of the six-bar linkages mechanism as used in the prosthetic knee from the kinematic and dynamic points of view. Constitution of six-bar mechanisms for prosthetic knee; Kinematic design of six-bar mechanism; Dynamic analysis and knee moment control in swing phase.

Cultivation of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus sajor-caju, on rice and wheat straw without nutrient supplementation was investigated. The effects of straw size reduction method and particle size, spawn inoculation level, and type of substrate (rice straw versus wheat straw) on mushroom yield, biological efficiency, bioconversion efficiency, and substrate degradation were determined. Two size reduction methods, grinding and chopping, were compared. The ground straw yielded higher mushroom growth rate and yield than the chopped straw. The growth cycles of mushrooms with the ground substrate were five days shorter than with the chopped straw for a similar particle size. However, it was found that when the straw was ground into particles that were too small, the mushroom yield decreased. With the three spawn levels tested (12%, 16% and 18%), the 12% level resulted in significantly lower mushroom yield than the other two levels. Comparing rice straw with wheat straw, rice straw yielded about 10% more mushrooms than wheat straw under the same cultivation conditions. The dry matter loss of the substrate after mushroom growth varied from 30.1% to 44.3%. The straw fiber remaining after fungal utilization was not as degradable as the original straw fiber, indicating that the fungal fermentation did not improve the feed value of the straw. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cervical cancer is one of the most malignant tumors in women. miR-1298 was reported to be abnormally expressed and serve crucial role in tumorigenesis of several types of cancer; however, the role of miR-1298 in cervical cancer remains unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical and biological significance of miR-1298 in cervical cancer. To do so, the expression level of miR-1298 in cervical cancer tissues and cells was evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to explore the prognostic significance of miR-1298 in patients with cervical cancer. Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell migration and invasion assays were used to evaluate the effect of miR-1298 on the proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of cervical cancer cells, respectively. The expression of miR-1298 was lower in cancer tissues and cells compared with normal tissues and cells. Furthermore, miR-1298 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor diameter and staging from the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. In addition, patients with low miR-1298 expression had poorer overall survival. These findings suggested that miR-1298 may be considered as an independent prognostic factor for patients with cervical cancer. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that miR-1298 knockdown could promote tumor cell proliferation and migratory and invasive abilities. In addition, nucleus accumbens-associated 1 (NACC1) was demonstrated to be a direct target of miR-1298. Taken together, these findings indicated that miR-1298 overexpression may be considered as a prognostic biomarker for cervical cancer and that miR-1298 may play an inhibitor role in cervical cancer by targeting NACC1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoperiod and temperature are two main factors in the growth of macroalgae, and changes in photoperiod and diurnal temperature difference exist in natural condition. In order to study the effects of photoperiod and diurnal temperature difference on the growth of green algae Ulva prolifera , we cultured this species under three light/dark cycles (light: dark = 10:14, 12:12 and 16:08) with constant (22 °C for light and dark period, noted as 22-22 °C) and diurnal temperature difference (22 °C and 16 °C for light and dark period, respectively, noted as 22-16 °C) conditions. The results showed that: 1) Compared with 10:14 light/dark cycle, the growth of U. prolifera under 12:12 light/dark cycle was significantly enhanced by 39% and 16% for 22-22 °C and 22-16 °C treatments, respectively, while the increase proportion decreased when the daylength increase from 12 h to 16 h. 2) The enhancement in growth induced by diurnal temperature difference was observed under 10:14 light/dark cycle, but not for 12:12 and 16:08 light/dark cycle treatments. 3) The Chl a content and photosynthetic rate increased under short light period and 22-22 °C conditions, while under 22-16 °C conditions, higher photosynthetic rate was observed under 12:12 light/dark cycle and no significant difference in Chl a content was observed. 4) Under 22-22 °C conditions, compared with 10:14 (L:D) treatment, the expression levels of proteins in light-harvesting complexes, PSII and carbon fixation were down regulated, while the photorespiration and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) were up regulated by 16:08 light dark cycle. Then we speculate that the higher photosynthetic rate may be one compensation mechanism in short photoperiod, and under long light period condition the up regulations of photorespiration and PPP can be in charge of the decrease in enhancement growth induced by longer daylength. • The growth of U. prolifera was enhanced by diurnal temperature difference under short daylength, but not for long daylength. • With the increase of daylength, the growth of U. prolifera increased, but the proportion of this enhancement decreased. • The photosynthetic rate increased under short light period. • The photorespiration and pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) were up regulated by longer daylength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the fast development of the nuclear industry, it is inevitable that a considerable amount of uranium (U) is discharged into the environment during mining, use, and disposal processes, which can result in serious radioactive contamination. In this study, the spherical β-cyclodextrin modified titanium dioxide (β-CD/TiO 2) was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method for the capture of U(VI). The removal of U(VI) on β-CD/TiO 2 was dependent on solution pH. The maximum adsorption capacity of β-CD/TiO 2 at pH 5.0 reached 129.8 mg/g for U(VI). The thermodynamic study confirmed that the capture of U(VI) was a spontaneous process. According to the XPS analysis, the hydroxyl groups of β-CD/TiO 2 were responsible for U(VI) removal, which was further demonstrated by DFT calculation at the molecular level. The findings presented in this study are important to the removal of radionuclides from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study aimed to establish a mechanical model for curved tempered vacuum glazing (CTVG) based on thin shells theory. By utilizing the windshield of a specific vehicle as a research object, the ANSYS mechanical simulation model for CTVG was developed. Additionally, CTVG samples were prepared and subjected to wind load performance testing. The simulation results demonstrated that the maximum support stress sustained by the CTVG reached 55.807 MPa, accompanied by a maximum glass deformation of 27.756 μm, both of which satisfied the safety requirements. Furthermore, the analysis of the mechanical model revealed that the maximum surface stress of the CTVG under wind load was directly proportional to the square of the wind speed. The CTVG was capable of withstanding a maximum wind pressure of 1.99 kPa and a maximum wind speed of 56.427 m·s−1, and would be safely deployed at a vehicle speed of 203 km·h−1. The wind load performance test results indicated that the observed trend in the maximum surface stress of the CTVG closely aligned with the theoretically predicted values, deviating within a range of 2.7 MPa. This correspondence signified the reliability and validation of our developed mechanical model. Consequently, this research served as a foundational reference for the advancement and utilization of CTVG products, which would play a beneficial role in reducing vehicle energy consumption when used as automotive window glass in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia (PE) is a disease specific to pregnancy that causes 9–10 % of maternal deaths. Early-onset PE (<34 weeks' gestation) is the most dangerous category of PE. Wnt7a and GPR124 (G protein-coupled receptor 124) are widely expressed in the human reproductive process. Especially during embryogenesis and tumorigenesis, Wnt7a plays a crucial role. However, few studies have examined the association between Wnt7a-GPR124 and early-onset PE. The aim of this study was to examine the significance of Wnt7a and GPR124 in early-onset PE as well as Wnt7a's role in trophoblast cells. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), real-time PCR, and western blotting (WB) were used to investigate Wnt7a and GPR124 expression in normal and early-onset PE placentas. Additionally, FACS, Transwell, and CCK-8 assays were used to diagnose Wnt7a involvement in migration, invasion, and proliferation. In the early-onset PE group, Wnt7a and GPR124 expression was significantly lower than in the normal group, especially in the area of syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs) and extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). A negative correlation was found between Wnt7a RNA and GPR124 expression (r=−0.42, p<0.01). However, the Wnt7a RNA expression level was positive correlated with PE severity. In further cellular functional experiments, knockdown of Wnt7a inhibits HTR8/SVeno cells invasion and migration but has little effect on proliferation and apoptosis. Through the Wnt pathway, Wnt7a regulates trophoblast cell invasion and migration, and may contribute to early-onset preeclampsia pathogenesis. A molecular level study of Wnt7a will be needed to find downstream proteins and mechanisms of interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Anaerobic digestate is a byproduct of anaerobic digestion of organic materials for biogas production. Land application of digestates may provide plant nutrition and suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes. The characteristics of digestates may vary by organic substrates and digestion conditions. To measure nematode-suppressive potential, the rigour and simplicity of a radish bioassay with Heterodera schachtii was expanded. In a three-factor factorial design, three incubation environments, two growth containers and two nematode life stages as inoculum were tested. Containers with 50 g of dry sandy loam soil were inoculated with 500 second-stage juveniles (J2) of H. schachtii or with cysts with equivalent hatchable J2. One seed of radish Raphanus sativus 'Cherry Belle' was planted into each container, and 1 ml of drench treatment was applied. After 64 degree days (4-5 days), roots were washed and stained with acid fuchsin for nematode counting. In three experiments, food waste digestate permeate suppressed nematode root penetration in the growth chamber, glasshouse and laboratory, in cups and tubes, and following inoculation with cysts and J2. However, root penetration by J2 was more greatly reduced after cyst inoculation than after J2 inoculation. Investigations in preserving nematode cysts showed that J2 within cysts remained viable after incubation in sandy loam soil at 23°C in sealed tubes in the laboratory for 35 days. Results of the radish assay predicted nematode-suppressive potential against Pratylenchus vulnus on peach rootstock 'Nemaguard' in a glasshouse experiment. In summary, a straightforward rapid bioassay for measuring nematode suppressiveness of organic liquids was developed for routine use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to dispatch from manufacturing facilities, seeders require rigorous performance evaluations for their seeding capabilities. Conventional manual inspection methods are notably less efficient. This study introduces a wheat seeding detection approach anchored in an enhanced YOLOv5s image-processing technique. Building upon the YOLOv5s framework, we integrated four CBAM attention mechanism modules into its model. Furthermore, the traditional upsampling technique in the neck layer was superseded by the CARAFE upsampling method. The augmented model achieved an mAP of 97.14%, illustrating its ability to elevate both the recognition precision and processing speed for wheat seeds while ensuring that the model remains lightweight. Leveraging this advanced model, we can effectively count and locate seed images, enabling the precise calculation and assessment of sowing uniformity, accuracy, and dispersion. We established a sowing test bench and conducted experiments to validate our model. The results showed that after the model was improved, the average accuracy of wheat recognition was above 97.55% under different sowing rates and travel speeds. This indicates that this method has high precision for the total number of seed particles. The sowing rate and sowing travel speed were consistent with manual measurements and did not significantly affect uniformity, accuracy, or dispersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]