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Context: Asphalt, a polymer mixture composed of various hydrocarbons, is extensively utilized due to its excellent performance. To evaluate the sensitivity of asphalt concrete to chloride salt damage at the nanoscale, considering the anisotropy of aggregate mineral crystal orientation, molecular dynamic simulations were employed to model the interface interactions between asphalt and aggregate mineral components (silica and calcite) under chloride salt exposure. The wetting processes of water droplets and chloride salt droplets on different crystal surfaces of silica and calcite were analyzed. Furthermore, the adhesive energy, decohesion energy, degradation ratio, and energy ratio of the interaction model between asphalt and aggregate mineral interfaces were analyzed to reveal the variations in the interfaces between the two components. The results demonstrated that the anisotropy of the minerals significantly affects the adhesion energy of asphalt and aggregate. Moreover, the surface hydrophilicity of calcite was larger than that of silica. The interfacial adhesion energy of asphalt-calcite was larger than that of asphalt-silica under dry condition and chloride salt attack, and the interfacial adhesion energy of both asphalt and mineral decreased with the increase of chloride salt concentration. The degradation ratio and energy ratio values of asphalt and calcite were larger than those of asphalt and silica, and the anisotropy of the mineral surface affected the degradation ratio and energy ratio values. This study provides a new method and theoretical basis for further research on the damage mechanism and strengthening measures of asphalt-aggregate under chloride salt attack. Methods: To investigate the interaction between asphalt and mineral aggregates under chloride salt erosion, models of asphalt, aggregate, and asphalt/aggregate composite systems were constructed using the Amorphous Cell module in Materials Studio 2020 software. Molecular dynamic simulations of the asphalt/aggregate composite system were then conducted using the Forcite module, employing the COMPASS II force field to describe atomic and molecular interactions. Initially, considering the crystal orientation and surface configuration of the aggregate minerals, the impact of mineral anisotropy on the asphalt-aggregate interface model was analyzed. Subsequently, by simulating the contact states of nano water droplets and chloride salt droplets with different mineral surfaces, the wetting characteristics of nano water droplets on silica and calcite surfaces were determined. Lastly, considering the corrosion effect of chloride solution at different concentrations, the adhesion energy, debonding energy, degradation ratio, and energy ratio of the asphalt-aggregate interface interaction model were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a critical factor in beef quality. IMF is mainly distributed between muscle fibres and its accumulation can affect the marbling and meat quality of beef. IMF formation and deposition is a complex process and in recent years a group of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), known as circRNAs, have been discovered to play an important role in regulating intramuscular fat deposition. CircRNAs form a covalent loop structure after reverse splicing of precursor mRNAs. They can act by adsorbing miRNAs, thereby reducing their repressive effects on downstream target genes. Based on high-throughput sequencing of circRNAs in intramuscular fat of Qinchuan and Japanese black cattle, we identified a novel circSSBP2 that is differentially expressed between the two species and associated with adipogenesis. We show that circSSBP2 knockdown promotes bovine intramuscular preadipocyte proliferation, whereas overexpression inhibits bovine intramuscular preadipocyte proliferation. We also show that circSSBP2 can act as a molecular sponge for miR-2400 and that miR-2400 overexpression promotes bovine intramuscular preadipocyte proliferation. Furthermore, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) was identified as a direct target gene of miR-2400, and NDRG1 interference promoted the proliferation of bovine intramuscular preadipocytes. In conclusion, our results suggest that circSSBP2 inhibits the proliferation of bovine intramuscular preadipocytes by regulating the miR-2400/NDRG1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A synergistic bioevaporation process was applied to treat the food waste (FW) by using the biofilm-developed corncob as the bulking agent and microbial carrier. During the process, interstitial water was the main water states, accounting for 55.6–76.8% of the total water amount. After the bioevaporation, 3079.27 g (61.05%) of the interstitial water and 48.46 g (3.45%) of the vicinal water was removed from the matrix, while 93.82 g (79.36%) of the bound water was formed. The removal of interstitial water mainly occurred in the cooling stage and the warming stage only lowered the binding energy of bound water, vicinal water and interstitial water. At the end of 1st cycle, the remained interstitial water trapped more tightly and the boundary between vicinal water and interstitial water nearly disappeared. The biofilm thickness in corncob particles was 350–440 µm and mainly dominated by bacteria and fungi with an abundance above 98.0%, in which the fungal Aspergillus reached as high as 22.7%. It seemed the fungi tended to survive in vicinal water abundant environment, but the bacteria preferred to habitat in interstitial water rich condition. Microorganisms had abundant metabolism genes of 29.3–38.5%, and the lipid transport and metabolic genes reached the maximum at Peak 54 ℃, while the carbohydrate transport and metabolic genes was the highest at Warming 46 ℃. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) is widely accepted as a non-destructive testing system for pavement evaluation. This study aims to investigate and evaluate the effects of transverse cracks on the backcalculated layer properties of asphalt pavements from FWD data. 3D finite element (FE) models were developed to simulate various intact and transverse-cracked pavements under an FWD loading history, and the FE models were validated with the field measurements. FWD deflection data from FE models were utilized to backcalculate layer properties using a dynamic viscoelastic backcalculation procedure. The backcalculated results from transverse-cracked pavements were compared to those from intact pavements. The results indicate that the backcalculated asphalt concrete (AC) and base layer moduli of thermal-cracked pavements are significantly different from those of intact pavements. The normalized difference of backcalculated moduli between intact and thermal-cracked pavements ranges from − 68 to 23% for AC layers, while it ranges from − 57 to 36% for base layers. The backcalculation analysis on FWD data of thermal-cracked pavement can lead to an overestimation of AC modulus and an underestimation of base modulus although AC layer is weakened by thermal cracks, which is counter-intuitive to what one would expect that crack in a structural layer will result in a reduction in backcalculated modulus of that layer. Meanwhile, backcalculation procedure failed to analyze the FWD data of reflective-cracked pavements. These observations indicate that backcalculation analysis cannot accurately evaluate the layer conditions and structural performances of transverse-cracked asphalt pavements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BLADE-ON-PETIOLE 2 (BOP2) plays a pivotal role in leaf morphogenesis. Liriodendron tulipifera is a suitable model for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf serration formation, which are largely unknown. Here, we isolated the full-length LtuBOP2 gene and its promoter from L. tulipifera and characterized its function in leaf morphogenesis through multidimensional approaches. The spatiotemporal expression pattern of LtuBOP2 indicated the high expression of LtuBOP2 in stems and leaf buds. We constructed LtuBOP2 promoter, fused the promoter sequences to the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene, and then transformed them into Arabidopsis thaliana. Histochemical GUS staining results indicated that GUS activity was higher in petioles and the main vein. LtuBOP2 overexpression in A. thaliana caused moderate serration in the leaf tip, owing to the increased number of abnormal lamina epidermal cells and defective vascular tissue, thus indicating a novel role of BOP2. The ectopic expression of LtuBOP2 in A. thaliana promoted the expression of the lateral organ boundary gene ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2) and inhibited JAGGED (JAG) and CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON2 (CUC2) expression to establish leaf proximal–distal polarity. Moreover, LtuBOP2 participated in leaf serration formation by promoting the antagonistic relationship between KNOX I and hormones during leaf margin development. Our findings revealed the role of LtuBOP2 in the proximal–distal polarity formation and development of leaf margin morphology, providing new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of the leaf formation development of L. tulipifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the effects of transverse cracking on the deflections of asphalt pavements. 3D finite element models were developed to simulate various intact and cracked asphalt pavements. The deflections of intact and cracked pavements under falling weight deflectometer (FWD) loading were computed and compared. In most cases analyzed, the deflections of cracked pavements are greater than those of intact pavements. For pavements with thermal cracking, the deflections can be 12% and 25% greater than those of intact pavements for cement treated base (CTB) and granular base (GB), respectively. For pavements with reflective cracking, the deflections of cracked pavements can be 98% greater than those of intact pavements, and the deflection decreases sharply across the reflective crack and in some cases it can even increase with increasing distance from the loading center. Crack location and width mainly affect the deflections on the loaded side of crack. Both thermal and reflective cracking have greater influences on the deflections of pavement with a thicker AC layer and a weaker subgrade. The effects of reflective cracking on the deflections are significantly greater than thermal cracking. LTE30–60cm is recommended as a deflection index to distinguish reflective cracking from thermal cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the microscale structural evolution characteristics of aggregates, this study employs confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) to conduct the surface microstructures of six aggregates: limestone, basalt, granite, diabase, sandstone, and recycled aggregate (RA). Quantitative analysis was performed on the surface morphology, roughness parameters, and material ratio of the aggregates. The results indicate that the surface features of the aggregates vary with the type and treatment method, and these distinctions may be attributed to variations in diagenetic conditions. In the original state, the surface texture of limestone, basalt, and diabase is relatively minimal, with arithmetic mean height (R a) distributed between 1.4 μm and 3.5 μm. Conversely, the surface texture of granite, sandstone, and RA is more complex, with R a distributed between 7.5 μm and 9.5 μm. The roughness indices of basalt, limestone, and diabase show an increasing trend after lime treatment, indicating a more pronounced presence of microscopic peaks and pits. In contrast, all roughness indices of granite, sandstone, and RA exhibit a declining after lime treatment. After polishing, the R a of the surfaces of the six different aggregates shows varying degrees of reduction. Specifically, R a decreased by 43.89%, 33.11%, 26.52%, 30.14%, 29.80%, and 38.79% for limestone, basalt, granite, diabase, sandstone, and RA, respectively. Furthermore, the height distribution frequency and material ratio of aggregate surfaces vary with the type and treatment of aggregates. Through grey correlation analysis, the correlation degrees of root mean square slope (R dq), kurtosis (R ku), and surface texture aspect ratio (R tr) are 0.9524, 0.9522, and 0.9514, respectively, belonging to hybrid parameter, height parameter, and spatial parameter. This suggests a close relationship between these parameters and the polished stone value (PSV) of the aggregates. These findings offer valuable insights for improving aggregate selection and treatment processes, potentially leading to enhanced durability and performance of construction materials. [Display omitted] • Aggregate type influences on surface morphology and surface roughness. • The treatment method affects the fractal dimension of aggregates. • The material ratio is related to the type of aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the impact of thermal-oxidative aging and thermal-oxidative-water (TOW) aging on the multiscale bonding behavior between asphalt and aggregate, this study utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) to explore the micromorphology, nanosurface roughness, and surface energy of base asphalt (BA) and crumb rubber modified asphalt (CRMA). Simultaneously, the pull-off test was conducted to assess the bonding strength between asphalt and aggregate. The results revealed that, with aging progression, BA exhibited an increase in black and white beelike structures in terms of average area and maximum length, while the total area and quantity decreased. In contrast, CRMA showed a relatively uniform black-and-white speckle structure in its microscale morphology before and after aging, without the presence of beelike structures. The roughness parameters of asphalt increased with aging, and the presence of moisture intensified this trend. The addition of crumb rubber (CR) reduced the height difference between the peri- and perpetua-phase, resulting in lower roughness for CRMA compared to BA. The surface energy and pull-off strength of both BA and CRMA decreased with aging, with CRMA exhibiting a smaller reduction compared to BA. Specifically, the pull-off strength of BA with aggregate decreased by 10.80%, 42.48%, and 67.08%, while CRMA exhibited reductions of 6.08%, 35.04%, and 52.96% in pull-off strength with aggregate. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated a negative correlation between asphalt surface roughness and macroscopic pull-off strength, while surface energy exhibited a positive correlation with macroscopic pull-off strength. • Aging affects the distribution of beelike structures in asphalt. • The effects of aging on roughness and surface energy are analyzed. • The pull-off strength between asphalt and aggregate decreases with aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geometric diodes, which take advantage of geometric asymmetry to achieve current flow preference, are promising for THz current rectification. Previous studies relate geometric diodes' rectification to quantum coherent or ballistic transport, which is fragile and critical of the high-quality transport system. Here we propose a different physical mechanism and demonstrate a robust current rectification originating from the asymmetric bias induced barrier lowering, which generally applies to common semiconductors in normal environments. Key factors to the diode's rectification are carefully analyzed, and an intrinsic rectification ability at up to 1.1 THz is demonstrated. Current rectification in the THz regime using geometric diodes has been explained previously by exotic transport properties. Here, an alternative mechanism based on asymmetric bias-induced barrier lowering is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Asphalt properties significantly influence beelike structure and surface roughness. • Effects of aging state and modifiers on the surface morphology lead to differences in the microscopic structure of asphalt. • Nano-protrusions and white spots appear on the surface of water-soaked asphalt, further affecting beelike structure. • Chloride salts can form a water-soluble amorphous thin film on the surface of asphalt, encapsulating beelike structure. To reveal the microstructural evolution of asphalt at the nanoscale, this study utilizes an atomic force microscope (AFM) to observe the surface morphology of asphalt and employs roughness theory for its quantitative assessment. The effects of asphalt type, aging state, immersion time, chloride salt concentration, and modifiers on beelike structures and roughness were comprehensively considered. The results demonstrated that the area and number of beelike structures, as well as the roughness, varied with different asphalt types. After aging, the surface morphology of the asphalt became rougher, leading to an increase in surface roughness, while both the number and area of the beelike structures in the asphalt showed a decreasing trend. With increasing immersion time, water penetrated into the asphalt and interacted with its components, disrupting the colloidal structure under dry conditions and causing microstructural damage and peeling. Consequently, distinct nanoscale protrusions and white spots appeared on the asphalt surface. Moreover, the total area of beelike structures decreased, and the roughness parameters increased with an increase in chloride salt concentration. Compared to matrix asphalt, the beelike structures in crumb rubber (CR) modified asphalt disperse into finer, speckled black-and-white patterns. The styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) modifier forms a stable three-dimensional spatial network structure within the asphalt, diminishing the difference between beelike and non-beelike structures. In the original state, the average roughness (R a) and root mean square roughness (R q) of PJ90/CR are 63.0% and 74.0% lower than those of PJ90, respectively. Meanwhile, the R a and R q of PJ90/SBS are 42.7% and 46.9% lower than those of PJ90, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different types of responses have been considered in the past as the driving forces of the top-down cracking (TDC). The horizontal tensile strain at the surface is the most appropriate response of pavement structures for analysing TDC. In computing the horizontal strains, most of the mechanistic design methods of asphalt pavement consider that pavement layers are fully bonded and bottom-up cracking is the critical type of fatigue distress. The bonding condition between pavement layers is one of the significant factors influencing pavement performance. In this research, the effects of interface bonding conditions on top-down fatigue cracking are investigated based on the horizontal tensile strain at the surface. Analysis procedures are conducted using of Lucas algorithm and integration, summation and extrapolation (ISE) methods to determine the horizontal strain responses of asphalt concrete (AC) layer at the surface accurately. The results reveal that the AC layer thickness, type of base layer material and temperature affect the horizontal strains at the surface and debonded locations significantly. When the layers of thick pavement with cement-treated base (CTB) are fully bonded, the TDC is a dominant type of distress at different temperatures analysed, while for the thick pavement with granular base (GB) the surface-initiated cracking occurs only at high temperature. Due to the interface debonding in the thick pavement, the maximum horizontal strains vary at different locations and failure may appear simultaneously at the top and bottom of AC layers or only at one of those regions. For the thin pavement structure, the layer interface bonding conditions hardly influence the mechanistic response at the surface and the pavement with GB is more vulnerable to bottom-up cracking, whereas the likelihood of TDC increases at high temperature for the thin pavement with CTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel non-precious metal electrocatalysts replace precious metal catalysts for water separation and are highly anticipated in commercial applications. The coexistence of crystalline and amorphous phases is thought to facilitate efficient electrocatalytic activity. In this work, a facile strategy is proposed to induce crystalline-amorphous core-shell nanocomposites via direct-current (DC) arc plasma technology. Heterogeneous crystalline amorphous nanocomposites (Fe/MnO@C) formed by coupling transition metal manganese oxide and magnetic iron into a carbon matrix exhibit excellent water oxidation properties. Spin-pinning effect is formed at the ferromagnetic metal/antiferromagnetic manganese oxide interface by controlled surface reconstruction. The established spin pinning effect can reduce the kinetic barriers in the OER (oxygen evolution reaction). The optimized Fe/MnO@C nanocomposite can be applied for OER in pH-universal electrolytes with low overpotential and small Tafel slope. The synergistic effects in an advantageous crystalline-amorphous core-shell nanocomposite significantly boost the reaction dynamics for water splitting. This research may shed light on the construction of high performance and low cost non-precious metal electrocatalysts for water oxidation. • The crystalline-amorphous core-shell nanocomposite with spin pinning effect has prepared by modified arc-discharge method. • The heterogeneous nanostructures disperse homogeneously and show excellent electrochemical water splitting of pH-universal. • The spin pinning effect and coupling effect can reduce the kinetic barriers in OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The viscoelastic characteristics of the asphalt surface layer were described by the MHN model. • The B-SEM was employed to consider the bedrock under asphalt pavement during FWD tests. • The effect of bedrock on viscoelastic responses and back-calculation results were investigated. • The GSA-SVR model provided excellent predictions of bedrock depth. Structural evaluation with a falling weight deflectometer (FWD) plays an essential role in the maintenance and rehabilitation of highways. Research on the influence of bedrock on the results of FWD tests and dynamic back-calculations for asphalt pavements has been a hot topic. In this study, the viscoelastic characteristics of the asphalt surface layer were described by the modified Havriliak-Negami (MHN) model rather than the layered elastic theory computing framework. The effects of bedrock on the deflection time history curves of viscoelastic asphalt pavement under the FWD test were investigated and analyzed by the spectral element method with fixed-end boundary conditions (B-SEM). The effects of bedrock on parametric back-calculation results for the viscoelastic asphalt surface layer and other elastic layers were explored by dynamic back-calculations. To exclude the impact of bedrock and improve the back-calculation accuracy, support vector regression optimized by the gravitational search algorithm (GSA-SVR) was adopted to predict bedrock depth. The viscoelastic responses and dynamic parametric back-calculation results were significantly influenced by bedrock beneath asphalt pavements, and the influence decreased (but was not eliminated) with increasing depth of bedrock. The GSA-SVR model provided excellent predictions of bedrock depth, and it can be applied for pavement performance assessment in road projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of diphenylthiocarbazone, picolinic acid (HL 1 ) with Cu(OAc) 2 ·H 2 O under base condition yields a mesoionic complex [Cu(II)(L 1 ) 2 (L 2 )]·MeOH, where L 2 , mesoionic ligand 2,3-diphenyltetrazole-5-thione ligand, derived from an unusual cyclization of diphenylthiocarbazone. Crystallographic studies show that the mesoionic ligand L 2 is weakly interacted with a planar Cu(II) complex via S…Cu electrostatic force while S donor atom sits on the top of a pyramidal geometry of five-coordinated Cu complex. π-contacts between two adjacent mesoionic ligands L 2 in the crystal are also observed. The complex is characterized by IR, UV/ vis , Powder XRD, and SQuID magnetometry studies on magnetic property of the powder sample are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new inorganic-organic hybrid based on both the new molybdovanadate species and the isoniazid dimer, H 4 K 2 Na 2 (H 2 O) 4 (C 12 H 12 N 4 O 2 )(VMo 7 O 26 ) 2 ·10H 2 O ( 1 ), was synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography, spectroscopic and thermogravimetric analyses. To our knowledge, compound 1 is the first example of inorganic-organic hybrid based on both polyoxometalate and isoniazid. In compound 1 , twelve surface oxygen atoms of [VMo 7 O 26 ] 5− cluster are utilized to make coordination linkage with other components; creating the highest coordination connection in molybdovanadates subfamily. Interestingly, the in situ isoniazid dimerization reaction could occur during the synthesis process, and then the in situ generated isoniazid dimer could function as a linker to join the coordination assembly of 3D architecture. Furthermore, the semiconducting property of compound 1 was investigated by photophysical measurements, demonstrating the characteristics of n-type semiconductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is acknowledged water soluble copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) are extremely unstable in aqueous solutions, which limit their fluorescence applications to a great extent. In this work, it is found the fluorescence intensity and stability of water soluble Cu NCs could obviously be enhanced by the introduction of Zn 2 + . Then, the as modified Cu NCs will be stable enough to be applied as a ratio-metric sensor for S 2 − . This method may provide more broaden avenues for the application of fluorescent Cu NCs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customized buses (CBs) are a new mode of public transportation and an important part of diversified public transportation, providing advanced, attractive and user-led service. The operational activity of a CB is planned by aggregating space–time demand and similar passenger travel demands. Based on an analysis of domestic and international research and the current development of CBs in China and considering passenger travel data, this paper studies the problems associated with the operation of CBs, such as stop selection, line planning and timetables, and establishes a model for the stop planning and timetables of CBs. The improved immune genetic algorithm (IIGA) is used to solve the model with regard to the following: 1) multiple population design and transport operator design, 2) memory library design, 3) mutation probability design and crossover probability design, and 4) the fitness calculation of the gene segment. Finally, a real-world example in Beijing is calculated, and the model and solution results are verified and analyzed. The results illustrate that the IIGA solves the model and is superior to the basic genetic algorithm in terms of the number of passengers, travel time, average passenger travel time, average passenger arrival time ahead of schedule and total line revenue. This study covers the key issues involving operational systems of CBs, combines theoretical research and empirical analysis, and provides a theoretical foundation for the planning and operation of CBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PSO-BPNN is proposed to predict bedrock depth under asphalt pavements aided by FWD. • Theoretical deflections under FWD at several bedrock depths is generated by B-SEM. • The PSO-BPNN model is feasible and effective in predicting bedrock depth. • Compared with the existing models, the PSO-BPNN model is more accurate and reliable. Performance evaluations during and after asphalt pavement construction are essential to ensure long-term and safe operations. These evaluations are performed by obtaining each layer's modulus of the pavement structure by back-calculating the deflection response. However, bedrock under the pavement can seriously affect this analysis. To limit this effect, this paper proposes predicting the bedrock depth by utilizing a data-driven machine learning algorithm based on particle swarm optimization-back propagation neural network (PSO-BPNN) aided by falling weight deflectometer (FWD) tests. Additionally, to provide sufficient data for the PSO-BPNN, a spectral element method with fixed-end boundary conditions (B-SEM) is utilized to calculate the theoretical deflections of multiple pavements at different bedrock depths. After performing a sensitivity analysis, the peak deflections at different measurement points and three time points corresponding to the peak deflection and the two subsequent fluctuation peaks at the load center measurement point are extracted as the input of the PSO-BPNN prediction model. Due to the pervasiveness of measurement errors in field tests, the raw input data are processed by adding random and systematic errors, and the corresponding bedrock depths are taken as the output dataset. The results demonstrate that the PSO-BPNN model is effective and feasible in predicting bedrock depth. Furthermore, in contrast to existing estimation models, the PSO-BPNN prediction model is more accurate and reliable with broad application prospects in road engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastitis, one of the most costly diseases in dairy ruminants, is an inflammation of the mammary gland caused by pathogenic infection. The mechanisms of adaptive immunity against pathogens in mastitis have not been fully elucidated. To investigate T helper cell-mediated adaptive immune responses, we established a mastitis model by challenge with an inoculum of 4 × 106 colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus in the mammary gland of lactating mice, followed by quantification of bacterial burden and histological analysis. The development of mastitis was accompanied by a significant increase in both Th17 and Th1 cells in the mammary gland. Moreover, the relative expression of genes encoding cytokines and transcription factors involved in the differentiation and function of these T helper cells, including Il17, Rorc, Tgfb, Il1b, Il23, Ifng, Tbx21, and Il12, was greatly elevated in the infected mammary gland. IL-17 is essential for neutrophil recruitment to infected mammary gland via CXC chemokines, whereas the excessive IL-17 production contributes to tissue damage in mastitis. In addition, a shift in T helper cell polarization toward Th2 and Treg cells was observed 5 days post-infection, and the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine Il10 was markedly increased at day 7 post-infection. These results indicate that immune clearance of Staphylococcus aureus in mastitis is facilitated by the enrichment of Th17, Th1 and Th2 cells in the mammary gland mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokine production, which is tightly regulated by Treg cells and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A numerical simulation method (B-SEM) of FWD tests is developed considering the bedrock under asphalt pavement structures. • Compared with the finite element method, the B-SEM produces results with considerable accuracy and high computational efficiency. • Shallow bedrock obviously affects the dynamic deflection responses of different pavements. • The impact of bedrock on the modulus back-calculation of pavement layers is concentrated in the subbase and subgrade, and the effect on the surface layer is minimal. The dynamic deflection response obtained by the falling weight deflectometer (FWD) test and back-calculated modulus results play an important role in road engineering. The presence of bedrock may affect the results of FWD tests on asphalt pavement. Many numerical simulation models of FWD tests have been established to obtain the dynamic response of pavement structures without considering the influence of bedrock, which prevents us from further understanding the influence of bedrock on dynamic response of asphalt pavements. Here, we consider the bedrock under asphalt pavement structures with an analysis program based on the spectral method with fixed-end boundary conditions (B-SEM). The B-SEM is employed to observe the dynamic response of a conventional asphalt pavement during the FWD test; the results are compared with those obtained by the finite element method (FEM). Semi-rigid base asphalt pavement, rigid base asphalt pavement, and flexible base asphalt pavement are simulated by the B-SEM with different bedrock depths, and the deflection results are compared and analyzed. Additionally, the bedrock's influence on the dynamic modulus back-calculation results is investigated. The results show that compared with the FEM, the B-SEM produces results with considerable accuracy and high computational efficiency. Furthermore, shallow bedrock has an obvious influence on the dynamic deflection responses of different pavements, as well as the accuracy of the back-calculation results. The impact of bedrock on the modulus back-calculation of pavement layers is concentrated in the subbase and subgrade, with a minimal effect on the surface layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the steric effect of the flexible dicarboxylate ligands on the resultant formations of coordination polymers (CPs), four new Pb II CPs [Pb(1,2-pda)(H 2 O)] n ( 1 ), [Pb(1,3-pda)] n · n H 2 O ( 2 ), [Pb 2 (1,4-pda) 2 (H 2 O)] n ·2 n H 2 O ( 3a and 3b ) have been produced by the isomeric phenylenediacetic acids (H 2 pda). The X-ray crystallography study reveals that CP 1 is a two-dimensional (2D) 4-connected sql (4 4 .6 2 ) network via the weak Pb···O interactions built on 1D chain-like structure. CP 2 crystallizes in orthorhombic system with chiral space group P 2 1 2 1 2 1 , showing a 4-connected sra (4 2 .6 3 .8) framework where a left-handed helical motif is formed by Pb II ions and trans -1,3-pda ligands. More interestingly, CPs 3a and 3b are two true 3D polymorphs and have the different morphology. Topologically, the framework of 3a exhibits a 4-connected lon 6 6 motif, while that of 3b is a (4,6)-connected fsh (4 3 .6 3 ) 2 (4 6 .6 6 .8 3 ) net. It is found that the three isomeric pda anions display the various coordination fashions in four CPs. The different structural arrangements show that the steric effect of the isomeric H 2 pda tectons has a positive role in directing the final products of Pb II CPs. Also, the fluorescent properties of the CPs were studied in the solid state at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new oxidation state Keggin-type isopolyoxomolybdate, (C 3 H 5 N 2 ) 4 H[Mo VI 0.5 Mo VI 12 O 40 ]·H 2 O ( 1 ), was synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography, spectroscopy, and further characterized by IR spectroscopy, UV–vis spectra, ESI-MS and thermogravimetric analysis. All the Mo atoms in the [[Mo VI 0.5 Mo VI 12 O 40 ]] 5 − anion are Mo 6 + , which was confirmed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), bond valence sum (BVS), and UV–vis spectra. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) results suggest that {Mo 12 O 40 } and {Mo 13 O 40 } fragments coexist in compound 1 . Compound 1 demonstrated good electrocatalytic activity for nitrite and hydrogen peroxide reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach for the characterization of linear viscoelastic (LVE) behavior of asphalt concrete is presented in this study. The proposed approach uses the associated function of the original Havriliak-Negami (HN) formulation to model the complex modulus of the material. The model coefficients are determined in two steps. First, the coefficients associated with the complex plane representation of complex modulus are solved in the Cole-Cole domain. Second, the coefficients related to the time-temperature shifting are determined. The results show that the approach can accurately characterize the LVE properties of asphalt concrete contained in the entire data set for the complex modulus. The approach overcomes several shortcomings in the conventional method of constructing a viscoelastic function master curve by fitting a sigmoidal function to test results. Each model coefficient in the proposed approach has a clear physical meaning in interpreting the LVE behavior of asphalt concrete; the same values of model coefficients can be used to construct the master curves of storage modulus, loss modulus, dynamic modulus, and phase angle. Also, the Kronig-Kramers relations are automatically satisfied because the mathematical forms of various viscoelastic functions are theoretically derived from the same complex modulus model, and thus, the results are in compliance with LVE theory. The proposed approach provides a unified and consistent way to characterize the LVE properties of asphalt concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The dynamic modulus is considered as the most important factor of asphalt concrete influencing the field performance of asphalt pavements. The newly developed Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) used the uniaxial dynamic modulus master curve to characterize the temperature and time dependent behavior of asphalt concrete. It is evident that the triaxial dynamic modulus can better characterize the in situ mechanical behavior of the material. This study proposed a model for the construction of triaxial dynamic modulus master curve. A key feature of the proposed model is that it employs the vertical shifting technique to take into account the effect of confining pressure on the dynamic modulus. The vertical shift factor is modeled as a function of the reduced frequency and confining pressure. The triaxial master curve model was evaluated using dynamic modulus test results of three asphalt mixtures obtained at various temperatures, loading frequencies and confining pressures. The predictive accuracy of the proposed model is about the same as that of uniaxial and isobaric master curves, indicating the proposed model is accurate and effective in constructing triaxial dynamic modulus master curves. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Accurate determination of critical structure responses plays a vital role in the ability of the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) to achieve a reliable pavement design. In the MEPDG, the responses generated by a single axle are evaluated at a series of predefined locations, and responses under multiple axle gears are determined using the responses from a single axle following the principle of superposition. This research indicates that the approach currently employed in the MEPDG is able to identify the critical location and obtain the critical response for a tandem axle, while it is inadequate for a tridem or quad axle. The primary reason for the inadequacy is that the response along the outside axle of a tridem or quad gear is not computed and compared to responses at other locations. The erroneous critical location identified by the MEPDG for a tridem or quad axle will lead to an underestimated critical response and consequently an overpredicted pavement life. The results show that the fatigue lives of asphalt concrete (AC) and cement stabilized mixture (CSM) layers could be overpredicted by up to 50 and 200%, respectively. A new set of analysis locations are recommend in this study, and equations for computing responses under multiple axle gears using the principle of superposition are proposed for accurate determination of critical responses and prediction of pavement performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noncoding RNAs, such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), are abundant in livestock. Many lncRNAs that affect the growth rate of livestock have been identified in muscles. However, some of their physiological functions and regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we identified a new lncRNA (lncPRRX1) and investigated its effect on the proliferation of bovine myoblasts. LncPRRX1 was highly expressed in muscle tissue, and interference with lncPRRX1 inhibited the proliferation of bovine myoblasts in vitro. The RNA molecules of lncPRRX1 act on miR-137 as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Overexpression of miR-137 suppressed the proliferation of myoblasts, while inhibition of miR-137 had the opposite effect. In addition, the predicted target genes of miR-137 were significantly enriched in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, in which Cell Division Cycle 42 (CDC42) was shown to be the direct target gene of miR-137, and interference with CDC42 inhibited myoblast proliferation. Furthermore, interference with lncPRRX1 repaired the defects in CDC42 protein levels and cell proliferation caused by miR-137 inhibitors. Our results suggested that lncPRRX1 promoted bovine myoblast proliferation by regulating the miRNA-137/CDC42 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In order to select the optimal treatment strategy for cracked pavements, the cracking conditions should be accurately investigated and evaluated. In this study, the effects of longitudinal cracking on falling weight deflectometer (FWD) deflections were investigated, and a rapid and non‐destructive approach was accordingly proposed to evaluate the longitudinal cracking severity using FWD data for semi‐rigid pavements. 3D finite element models were developed to simulate various intact and cracked pavements to compute the surface deflections under FWD loading. Two cracking types, namely, cracking in asphalt concrete layer (AC cracking) and cracking in both AC and cement‐treated base layers (AC + CTB cracking), were considered. In most cases analyzed, the deflections of cracked pavements are greater than those of intact pavements, and they are only slightly smaller than those of intact pavements in other cases. The effects of longitudinal cracking on deflections increase with increasing crack width and decreasing distance between the crack and the loading center, and longitudinal cracking generally has greater influences on the pavement with a thicker AC layer and weaker subgrade. The effects of AC + CTB cracking on deflections are significantly greater than AC cracking, especially for the cracks near the loading center, and the influences of both AC cracking and AC + CTB cracking are negligible when the deflections are measured more than 1.8 m away from the crack. Accordingly, a rapid and non‐destructive approach was proposed to distinguish the AC cracking and AC + CTB cracking using FWD data for semi‐rigid pavements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Physical light source is absolutely necessary for usual photoelectrochemical measurement. In this work, chemiluminescence reaction rather than physical light source was used for the development of a novel photoelectrochemical DNA biosensor. CIPO (bis(2,4,5-trichlro-6-n-pentoxycarbonylphenyl)oxalate)–H2O2–9,10-diphenylanthrancene was selected as a CL system, which can produce appropriate exciting light and excite photoelectro active materials Ru(bpy)2dppz2+ intercalated into the double-stranded DNA. Using such simple intercalation method, a detection limit of 4.5×10−9 M target DNA was achieved without any amplification process. In addition, the selected CL system could be used to excite AuNPs–Ru(bpy)2dppz2+ complex as well as CdSe QD multilayer, which indicated a good applicability for the established method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asphalt pavements can be damaged by moisture and salt, and the bond strength between asphalt and aggregate is related to the erosion of the salt solution. In this study, considering the migration and diffusion of the solution at the interface, a molecular dynamics modeling method was used to simulate the process where the salt solution erodes the asphalt-aggregate interface, and results show that the solution invades the asphalt-aggregate interface, gradually squeezing the asphalt away from the aggregate surface in a wedge shape, and the interaction force between the asphalt and the aggregate is gradually reduced to 0. The diffusion rate of the solution at the interface is related to the position of the solution. If the solution is farther away from the aggregate, it will be less restricted by the aggregate. NaCl affects the diffusion of water molecules. The greater the concentration of NaCl solution, the lower the height of the wedge formed by the solution at the interface. Compared to quartz, calcite has a stronger limiting effect on the solution, which is manifested by a greater resistance to water damage. Under the attraction of NaCl solution, the polar components are more likely to move toward the solution surface, while the less polar components show different distribution and diffusion states. In this study, we observed the conformational changes in the erosion process of different concentrations of NaCl solutions and calculated the change rule of interaction force, which helps understand the erosion process of salt solutions and provides a new idea for the study of chloride on asphalt pavement spalling. • Studied chlorine salt impacts on asphalt-aggregate via interfacial migration. • Chlorine salt diffusion and asphalt distribution relate to chloride concentration and aggregate type. • The strength of hydrogen bonding at the interface varies with aggregate type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pavement deflections are critical indicators in pavement design and acceptance programs. Falling weight deflectometer (FWD) technique has been widely adopted to measure the dynamic deflections in pavement engineering. Although the dynamic effect of FWD impulse loading on deflections is significant, FWD deflections are still commonly interpreted and examined using the static analysis programs in acceptance projects because of their ease of implementation and high computational efficiency. This may lead to an inability to effectively control the construction quality of pavements. Accordingly, this study aims to propose a simple and accurate approach for converting static deflection to dynamic deflection. Layered elastic theory (LET) and spectral element method (SEM) were adopted to generate the theoretical static and dynamic deflection databases, respectively. Based on the databases, a simple approach is proposed to predict the dynamic deflection only using four static deflections. The proposed approach shows lower computational workload and higher accuracy than other traditional formula forms which include equivalent layer moduli and thicknesses. In the field engineering cases, the calculated static deflections can be 2 ∼ 3 times higher than the measured ones, while the predicted dynamic deflections from the proposed approach match the theoretical dynamic deflections well and are comparable to the measured deflections for both asphalt pavements with asphalt binder or inorganic binder bases and granular bases. This indicates that dynamic deflections can more effectively control the construction quality of asphalt pavements in the FWD deflection-based design program. Meanwhile, the drawbacks of traditional prediction methods are investigated and evaluated. The proposed approach exhibits simpler form and higher accuracy, while avoiding the drawbacks of traditional methods. Combining with the common static LET-based programs, the proposed approach provides a more reasonable and practical way for the construction quality acceptance of asphalt pavements using FWD data. • Dynamic deflection is more effective in controlling pavement construction quality. • Drawbacks of traditional prediction method of dynamic deflection are evaluated. • A simpler and more accurate approach is proposed to predict the dynamic deflection. • The proposed approach is validated and applied in the field engineering cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) random mesostructure models have been broadly utilized to study mechanical behavior and damage mechanisms of asphalt concrete due to their high availability and efficiency. The 2D aggregate gradation that characterizes the area fractions of the simulated aggregates of different sizes significantly affects the simulated mesomechanical properties of asphalt concrete. However, there are very few methods for determining the 2D aggregate gradation from the actual three-dimensional (3D) one. This study proposed a 2D aggregate gradation conversion framework integrating a 3D random aggregate method and machine learning models. First, 3D asphalt concrete mesostructures were generated using polyhedral coarse aggregates with random gradations and shapes. Virtual cutting and sieving procedures were then developed to obtain the 2D aggregates at sections with 1 mm intervals in each mesostructure and acquire the area fractions of aggregates of different sizes, respectively. By averaging the results for the sections in each cutting direction, so-called 2D representative area fractions of aggregates within different grading segments in different directions were obtained. The gradation conversion data sets were established by collecting the volume fractions of coarse aggregates in the 3D mesostructures as input variables and the corresponding 2D representative aggregate area fractions as output variables. Based on the data sets, machine learning models, including linear regression, support vector regression, bagging of regression tree, and neural network (NN), were trained using a 5-fold cross-validation approach and then tested. The results showed that the NN model generally provided the most accurate predictions of the 2D representative aggregate area fractions. The effectiveness of the proposed framework was validated by using both the test sets regarding different sizes of random mesostructures and a mesostructure rebuilt from computed tomography (CT) images of actual asphalt concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent researches have found a strong correlation between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index or the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, there is a lack of research on non-invasive and rapid prediction of cardiovascular risk. We aimed to develop and validate a machine-learning model for predicting cardiovascular risk based on variables encompassing clinical questionnaires and oculomics. Methods: We collected data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The training dataset (80% from the year 2008 to 2011 KNHANES) was used for machine learning model development, with internal validation using the remaining 20%. An external validation dataset from the year 2012 assessed the model's predictive capacity for TyG-index or AIP in new cases. We included 32122 participants in the final dataset. Machine learning models used 25 algorithms were trained on oculomics measurements and clinical questionnaires to predict the range of TyG-index and AIP. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score were used to evaluate the performance of our machine learning models. Results: Based on large-scale cohort studies, we determined TyG-index cut-off points at 8.0, 8.75 (upper one-third values), 8.93 (upper one-fourth values), and AIP cut-offs at 0.318, 0.34. Values surpassing these thresholds indicated elevated cardiovascular risk. The best-performing algorithm revealed TyG-index cut-offs at 8.0, 8.75, and 8.93 with internal validation AUCs of 0.812, 0.873, and 0.911, respectively. External validation AUCs were 0.809, 0.863, and 0.901. For AIP at 0.34, internal and external validation achieved similar AUCs of 0.849 and 0.842. Slightly lower performance was seen for the 0.318 cut-off, with AUCs of 0.844 and 0.836. Significant gender-based variations were noted for TyG-index at 8 (male AUC=0.832, female AUC=0.790) and 8.75 (male AUC=0.874, female AUC=0.862) and AIP at 0.318 (male AUC=0.853, female AUC=0.825) and 0.34 (male AUC=0.858, female AUC=0.831). Gender similarity in AUC (male AUC=0.907 versus female AUC=0.906) was observed only when the TyG-index cut-off point equals 8.93. Conclusion: We have established a simple and effective non-invasive machine learning model that has good clinical value for predicting cardiovascular risk in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photoelectrochemical sensing strategy for highly sensitive detection of small molecules was developed based on the recognition interaction between aptamer and target molecule—ATP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety of computed tomography (CT) fluoroscopy-guided cutting needle biopsy (CNB) for pulmonary nodules ≤ 8 mm.Method: Data of CT fluoroscopy-guided CNB for pulmonary nodules ≤ 8 mm performed in a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and seventeen biopsy procedures for 117 pulmonary nodules (mean size, 7.4 mm) in 114 patients were included in the study. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall diagnostic accuracy were calculated. Univariate analyses were performed to elucidate the risk factors for diagnostic failure (i.e., non-diagnostic, false-positive, or false-negative results). Complications were graded per the Clavien-Dindo Classification.Results: One (0.9 %) non-diagnostic biopsy result was found. The diagnostic accuracy was 95.7 % (112/117). The sensitivity and specificity were 95.8 % (91/95) and 95.5 % (21/22), respectively. PPV and NPV were 98.9 % (91/92) and 87.5 % (21/24), respectively. Univariate analyses showed that nodules in the lower lobes (p = 0.006) and prone biopsy position (p = 0.021) were the significant risk factors for diagnostic failure. The incidence of pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement (Grade IIIa) was 6.8 % (8/117). No Grade IIIb or higher complications were observed.Conclusion: CT fluoroscopy-guided CNB for pulmonary nodules ≤ 8 mm showed a high diagnostic yield without severe complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium (V) is an essential mineral element in animals, but excessive V can lead to many diseases, affecting the health of humans and animals. However, the molecular crosstalk between mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) and inflammation under V exposure is still at the exploratory stage. This study was conducted to determine the molecular crosstalk between MAMs and inflammation under V exposure in ducks. In this study, duck hepatocytes were treated with NaVO 3 (0 μM, 100 μM, and 200 μM) and 2-aminoethyl diphenyl borate (2-APB) (IP 3 R inhibitor) alone or in combination for 24 h. The data showed that V exposure-induced cell vacuolization, enlarged intercellular space, and decreased density and viability. Meanwhile, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), malonaldehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were upregulated under V treatment. In addition, excessive V could lead to a marked reduction in the MAMs structure, destruction of the membrane structure and overload of intracellular Ca2+ and mitochondrial Ca2+. Moreover, V treatment resulted in notable upregulation of the levels of MAMs-relevant factors (IP 3 R, Mfn2, Grp75, MCU, VDAC1) but downregulated the levels of IL-18, IL-1β, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the cell supernatant. Additionally, it also significantly elevated the levels of inflammation-relevant factors (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, MAVS, IL-18, IL-1β, and TXNIP). However, the inhibition of IP 3 R expression attenuated the V-induced variations in the above indicators. Collectively, our results revealed that the maintenance of calcium homeostasis could protect duck hepatocytes from V-induced inflammation injury via MAMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semi-flexible pavement (SFP) has been used as a promising wearing course in heavy traffic roads. It is crucial to investigate the main failure mechanisms caused by different influencing factors on SFPs at medium and high temperatures. In this research, utilising a three-dimensional (3D) finite-element model (FEM), the performance of SFP and conventional pavement under realistic tire–pavement contact stresses was compared by computing the critical responses associated with rutting and top-down cracking (TDC). Besides, experimental studies were conducted on typical asphalt concrete (AC16) and four types of SFP mixtures grouted with cement paste and cement asphalt emulsion pastes (CAEPs) to evaluate their rutting resistance and fatigue cracking potential at medium and high temperatures. The numerical analysis results indicated that SFP mixtures with lower asphalt emulsion (AE) content enhanced rutting resistance significantly while TDC potential was reduced at higher percentages of AE. Compared to dual-tire assembly, the wide-base tire led to less TDC damage and asphalt layer (primary) rutting, but more subgrade (secondary) rutting once carrying the same load. Moreover, based on the findings of laboratory evaluation, SFP with CAEP presented the best performance in terms of fatigue life and permanent deformation when AE to cement by weight (AE/C) was no more than 0.4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]