Surface Properties of Organic Kerogen in Continental and Marine Shale.

The adhesion energy of kerogen in continental and marine shale was innovatively discovered using the colloid probe technique with atomic-force microscopy (AFM). AFM results indicated that the adhesion force of kerogen was higher than the inorganic material in both the continental and marine shale samples. The chemical elements in the two kinds of samples were measured by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis with scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Genome sequencing of rice subspecies and genetic analysis of recombinant lines reveals regional yield- and quality-associated loci.

Background: Two of the most widely cultivated rice strains are Oryza sativa indica and O. sativa japonica, and understanding the genetic basis of their agronomic traits is of importance for crop production. These two species are highly distinct in terms of geographical distribution and morphological traits.

Stable Sodium Storage of Red Phosphorus Anode Enabled by a Dual-Protection Strategy.

Red phosphorus is appealing for anode use in sodium-ion batteries. However, the synthesis of electrochemically stable red P anodes remains challenging due to a notable volume variation upon (de)sodiation, and limited synthetic methods arising from the low ignition and sublimation temperatures. To address the above problems, we herein successfully develop an industrially adaptable process for scalable synthesis of affordable phosphorus/carbon (APC) anode materials with an excellent electrochemical performance at a significantly reduced cost.

The influence of trait mindfulness on incident involvement among Chinese airline pilots: The role of risk perception and flight experience.

Introduction The primary objective of this study is to investigate the relationships between trait mindfulness, risk perception, flight experience, and incident involvement among Chinese airline pilots. Method The study used a sample consisting of 295 commercial airline pilots from China Southern Airlines Ltd. Results The results show that trait mindfulness has a direct and negative effect on airline pilots' incident involvement, and an indirect effect on incident involvement through influencing risk perception.

Polar Solvent Induced Lattice Distortion of Cubic CsPbI Nanocubes and Hierarchical Self-Assembly into Orthorhombic Single-Crystalline Nanowires.

Despite the recent surge of interest in inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals, there are still significant gaps in their stability disturbance and the understanding of their destabilization, assembly, and growth processes. Here, we discover that polar solvent molecules can induce the lattice distortion of ligand-stabilized cubic CsPbI, leading to the phase transition into orthorhombic phase, which is unfavorable for photovoltaic applications. Such lattice distortion triggers the dipole moment on CsPbI nanocubes, which subsequently initiates the hierarchical self-assembly of CsPbI nanocubes into single-crystalline nanowires.

Brightly luminescent and color-tunable green-violet-emitting halide perovskite CHNHPbBr colloidal quantum dots: an alternative to lighting and display technology.

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite (CH3NH3PbX3, X = Cl, Br, or I) quantum dots have become one of the most promising materials for optoelectronic applications. We controllably synthesized CH3NH3PbBr3 quantum dots with a tunable spectrum with the emission peaks covering the range from green (523.6 nm), blue and eventually to deep violet (409.

Tough Reversible Adhesion Properties of a Dry Self-Cleaning Biomimetic Surface.

Geckos have one of the world's most efficient reversible adhesion systems. Even walking in dusty conditions, geckos can dislodge up to 80% of contaminants and recover their adhesion capability after walking as few as four steps. Thus far, artificial dry self-cleaning materials inspired by the geckos' hierarchical fibrillar structure have been only able to remove 55% of collected large particle contaminants with 30 steps.

Characterization of hydrothermal carbonization products (hydrochars and spent liquor) and their biomethane production performance.

To optimize the energy yield (EY) of food waste (FW) via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), a response surface method was applied. Hydrochars and spent liquor were further conducted to evaluate their characterization and anaerobic digestion potential. Results found that optimal parameters for HTC of FW were suggested as temperature of 260 °C, reaction time of 4 h and moisture of 80%, with higher EY of 66.

Multicolor carbon nanodots from food waste and their heavy metal ion detection application.

Multicolor carbon dots (C-dots) have excellent performance characteristics, high photoluminescence efficiency, ease of fabrication and low toxicity. C-dots have been used in a wide variety of fields including bioimaging, biomedicine, photocatalysis and environmental monitoring. The mass production of multicolor CDs using low-cost, facile methods is an important issue for future industrial applications.

Biological Self-Assembly and Recognition Used to Synthesize and Surface Guide Next Generation of Hybrid Materials.

Free-standing, high aspect ratio sulfur-doped carbon nanodot-based hybrid nanowires with a microtubular aspect were synthesized using self-recognition and self-assembly processes of tubulin, a biological molecule precursor of the cytoskeletal microtubule. Physicochemical characterizations (e.g.

Ileocecal junction perforation caused by a sewing needle in incarcerated inguinal hernia: An unusual case report.

Introduction: This case study is concerning the meticulous observation of the moving process and track of 2 ingested needles using interval x-ray radiography, trying to localize the foreign bodies and reduce unnecessary exploration of digestive tract.

Case Presentation: An unusual case of a 1-year, 9-month-old female baby, with incarcerated hernia perforation caused by sewing needles with sharp ends, was reported herein. The patient had swallowed 2 sewing needles.

Photoluminescence mechanism and applications of Zn-doped carbon dots.

Heteroatom-doped carbon dots (CDs) with excellent optical characteristics and negligible toxicity have emerged in many applications including bioimaging, biosensing, photocatalysis, and photothermal therapy. The metal-doping of CDs using various heteroatoms results in an enhancement of the photophysics but also imparts them with multifunctionality. However, unlike nonmetal doping, typical metal doping results in low fluorescence quantum yields (QYs), and an unclear photoluminescence mechanism.

SiO Encapsulated in Graphene Bubble Film: An Ultrastable Li-Ion Battery Anode.

SiO is proposed as one of the most promising anodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) for its advantageous capacity and stable Li uptake/release electrochemistry, yet its practical application is still a big challenge. Here encapsulation of SiO nanoparticles into conductive graphene bubble film via a facile and scalable self-assembly in solution is shown. The SiO nanoparticles are closely wrapped in multilayered graphene to reconstruct a flake-graphite-like macrostructure, which promises uniform and agglomeration-free distribution of SiO in the carbon while ensures a high mechanical strength and a high tap density of the composite.

Sulfur resistance of Ce-Mn/TiO catalysts for low-temperature NH-SCR.

Ce-Mn/TiO catalyst prepared using a simple impregnation method demonstrated a better low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH (NH-SCR) activity in comparison with the sol-gel method. The Ce-Mn/TiO catalyst loading with 20% Ce had the best low-temperature activity and achieved a NO conversion rate higher than 90% at 140-260°C with a 99.7% NO conversion rate at 180°C.

Effects of d-valine on periodontal or peri-implant pathogens: Porphyromonas gingivalis biofilm.

Background: When presented with a surface or an interface, bacteria often grow as biofilms in which cells are held together by an extracellular matrix. Biofilm formation on implants is an initiating factor for their failure. Porphyromonas gingivalis is the primary etiologic bacteria of initiation and progression of periodontal disease.

Effect of pedigree on eating and cooking quality in rice backcross inbred lines of and crosses.

Amylopectin is one of the major determinants of rice ( L.) grain quality, and a large difference in amylopectin is found between two subspecies: and . However, the relationship among rice grain quality, genetic background, and amylopectin has not been clearly established.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gastric stump: A case report and literature review.

We herein report a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gastric stump found 47 years after Billroth II gastric resection for a benign gastric ulcer. A 74-year-old man was referred to another hospital with melena. Endoscopic examination revealed a localized ulcerative lesion at the gastrojejunal anastomosis.

Deciphering the Environmental Impacts on Rice Quality for Different Rice Cultivated Areas.

Background: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is cultivated in a wide range of climatic conditions, and is one of mankind's major staple foods. The interaction of environmental factors with genotype effects major agronomic traits such as yield, quality, and resistance in rice.

Mechanism of byproducts formation in the isobutane/butene alkylation on HY zeolites.

Submicron-size HY zeolites with a particles size of 200-700 nm were synthesized employing a crystal precipitation method in this study. The catalytic activity for the isobutane/butene alkylation was evaluated. The results indicated that butene conversion was above 90% and the selectivity of expected products (C8) was nearly at 90% within 72 h.

Non-concomitant cortical structural and functional alterations in sensorimotor areas following incomplete spinal cord injury.

Brain plasticity, including anatomical changes and functional reorganization, is the physiological basis of functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). The correlation between brain anatomical changes and functional reorganization after SCI is unclear. This study aimed to explore whether alterations of cortical structure and network function are concomitant in sensorimotor areas after incomplete SCI.

Silencing of E3 Ubiquitin Ligase RNF8 Enhances Ionizing Radiation Sensitivity of Medulloblastoma Cells by Promoting the Deubiquitination of PCNA.

DNA damage response induced by ionizing radiation (IR) is an important event involved in the sensitivity and efficiency of radiotherapy in human medulloblastoma. RNF8 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and has key roles in the process of DNA damage and repair. Our study aimed to evaluate the effect of RNF8 in the DNA damage repair induced by IR exposure in medulloblastoma cells.

Evaluation of root-knot nematode disease control and plant growth promotion potential of biofertilizer Ning shield on Trichosanthes kirilowii in the field.

Biofertilizer Ning shield was composed of different strains of plant growth promotion bacteria. In this study, the plant growth promotion and root-knot nematode disease control potential on Trichosanthes kirilowii in the field were evaluated. The application of Ning shield significantly reduced the diseases severity caused by Meloidogyne incognita, the biocontrol efficacy could reached up to 51.

High-solid anaerobic digestion of corn straw for methane production and pretreatment of bio-briquette.

In this study, an integrated process was developed to produce methane and high-quality bio-briquette (BB) using corn straw (CS) through high-solid anaerobic digestion (HS-AD). CS was anaerobic digested by using a leach bed reactor at four leachate recirculation strategies. After digesting for 28 days, highest methane yield of 179.

Collateral vessels on magnetic resonance angiography in endovascular-treated acute ischemic stroke patients associated with clinical outcomes.

Purpose: Collateral vessels were considered to be related with outcome in endovascular-treated acute ischemic stroke patients. This study aimed to evaluate whether the collateral vessels on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) could predict the clinical outcome.

Materials And Methods: Acute stroke patients with internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery occlusion within 6 hours of symptom onset were included.

Facile synthesis of a SiO/asphalt membrane for high performance lithium-ion battery anodes.

Herein, a novel SiO/asphalt membrane was facilely synthesized via demulsification of porous SiO microspheres. After high temperature pyrolysis, SiO/carbon composites not only could function as binder-free anodes, but could also exhibit excellent cycling stability and high initial Coulombic efficiency as anodes for practical application.