Fluorescence Detection of Pb2+ in Environmental Water Using Biomass Carbon Quantum Dots Modified with Acetamide-Glycolic Acid Deep Eutectic Solvent.

In this study, a novel green fluorescent probe material, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs), was prepared by a one-step hydrothermal synthesis method using walnut green skin as a carbon source and acetamide-glycolic acid deep eutectic solvent (AGADES) as a modifier. By covalent coupling, the amide chromophore in AGADES is designed to cover the surface of walnut green skin carbon quantum dots (W-CQDs), forming a fluorescence energy resonance effect and improving the fluorescence performance of the carbon quantum dots. The prepared N-CQDs have a uniform particle size distribution, and the fluorescence quantum efficiency has increased from 12.5% to 32.5%. Within the concentration range of 0.01~1000 µmol/L of Pb2+, the linear detection limit is 1.55 nmol/L, which can meet the trace detection of Pb2+ in the water environment, and the recycling rate reaches 97%. This method has been successfully applied to the fluorescence detection and reuse of Pb2+ in actual water bodies, providing new ideas and methods for the detection of heavy metal ions in environmental water.

Unravelling novel and pleiotropic genes for cannon bone circumference and bone mineral density in Yorkshire pigs.

Leg weakness is a prevalent health condition in pig farms. The augmentation of cannon bone circumference and bone mineral density can effectively improve limb strength in pigs and alleviate leg weakness. This study measured forelimb cannon bone circumference (fCBC) and rear limb cannon bone circumference (rCBC) using an inelastic tapeline and rear limb metatarsal area bone mineral density (raBMD) using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry bone density scanner. The samples of Yorkshire castrated boars were genotyped using a 50K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. The SNP-chip data were imputed to the level of whole-genome sequencing data (iWGS). This study used iWGS data to perform genome-wide association studies and identified novel significant SNPs associated with fCBC on SSC6, SSC12, and SSC13, rCBC on SSC12 and SSC14, and raBMD on SSC7. Based on the high phenotypic and genetic correlations between CBC and raBMD, multi-trait meta-analysis was performed to identify pleiotropic SNPs. A significant potential pleiotropic quantitative trait locus (QTL) regulating both CBC and raBMD was identified on SSC15. Bayes fine mapping was used to establish the confidence intervals for these novel QTLs with the most refined confidence interval narrowed down to 56 kb (15.11 to 15.17 Mb on SSC12 for fCBC). Furthermore, the confidence interval for the potential pleiotropic QTL on SSC15 in the meta-analysis was narrowed down to 7.45 kb (137.55 to137.56 Mb on SSC15). Based on the biological functions of genes, the following genes were identified as novel regulatory candidates for different phenotypes: DDX42, MYSM1, FTSJ3, and MECOM for fCBC; SMURF2, and STC1 for rCBC; RGMA for raBMD. Additionally, RAMP1, which was determined to be located 23.68 kb upstream of the confidence interval of the QTL on SSC15 in the meta-analysis, was identified as a potential pleiotropic candidate gene regulating both CBC and raBMD. These findings offered valuable insights for identifying pathogenic genes and elucidating the genetic mechanisms underlying CBC and BMD.

Leg weakness, a highly prevalent health condition in pig breeding farms, adversely affects the lifespan of breeding pigs. The augmentation of cannon bone circumference (CBC) and bone mineral density (BMD), which are objective measures of limb strength in pigs, can effectively alleviate leg weakness. To identify candidate genes regulating CBC and BMD in pigs, this study performed single-trait genome-wide association studies and multi-trait meta-analysis on all individuals with phenotype data. Additionally, the confidence intervals of quantitative trait locus (QTL) were determined using Bayesian methods. Four CBC-associated QTLs and one BMD-associated QTL were identified. Additionally, one potential pleiotropic QTL associated with both CBC and rear limb metatarsal area BMD (raBMD) was identified. This study demonstrated that DDX42, MYSM1, FTSJ3, and MECOM were candidate genes regulating forelimb CBC, while SMURF2 and STC1 were candidate genes regulating rear limb CBC. Additionally, RGMA was demonstrated to regulate raBMD, while RAMP1 was identified as a potential pleiotropic gene regulating both CBC and raBMD. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying limb growth and bone mineral accumulation.

Direct Observation of Vacancy-Cluster-Mediated Hydride Nucleation and the Anomalous Precipitation Memory Effect in Zirconium.

Controlling the heterogeneous nucleation of new phases is of importance in tuning the microstructures and properties of materials. However, the role of vacancy-a popular defect in materials that is hard to be resolved under conventional electron microscopy-in the heterogeneous phase nucleation remains intriguing. Here, this work captures direct in situ experimental evidences that vacancy clusters promote the heterogeneous hydride nucleation and cause the anomalous precipitation memory effect in zirconium. Both interstitial and vacancy dislocation loops form after hydride dissolution. Interestingly, hydride reprecipitation only occurs on those vacancy loop decorated sites during cooling. Atomistic simulations reveal that hydrogen atoms are preferentially segregated at individual vacancy and vacancy clusters, which assist hydride nucleation, and stimulate the unusual memory effect during hydride reprecipitation. The finding breaks the traditional view on the sequence of heterogeneous nucleation sites and sheds light on the solid phase transformation related to vacancy-sensitive alloying elements.

Monitoring and Prediction of Horizontal Displacement of Underground Enclosure Piles in Subway Foundation Pits.

Urban rail transportation and underground space development and utilization are initiatives to solve urban traffic congestion. The monitoring and prediction of the stability of underground enclosure piles in foundation pits is a key index for the dynamic evaluation of the stability of underground space engineering. In this paper, we focused on the problem that the dynamic prediction accuracy and stability of foundation pit retaining piles in the Qingdao area are not high. Based on the analysis of various time function curves and the physical meaning of the parameters, we proposed the Adjusted-Logistic time function model, which introduces three physical parameters to adjust the deformation velocity and deformation acceleration in different stages for better accuracy. It could predict the deformation process of underground enclosure piles under different geological engineering conditions. It was verified in the field that the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the Adjusted-Logistic function was 0.5316, MAE was 0.3752, and R2 was 0.9937, which were better than those of Gompertz, Weibull, and Knothe time function models. Meanwhile, it showed that with the increase of excavation depth, the maximum horizontal displacement of the underground enclosure piles gradually decreased and finally stabilized at 0.62-0.71 H. We established a catastrophe model of the horizontal displacement cusp at the observation point of the underground enclosure piles by using the time series of the measured data. It could determine the weak location of the underground enclosure pile stability and realize the multipoint warning of the foundation pit stability, which would ensure safe construction.

Experimental Research on NO2 Viscosity and Absorption for (1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Trifluoroacetate + Triethanolamine) Binary Mixtures.

The viscosity (9.34-405.92 mPa·s) and absorption capacity (0.4394-1.0562 g·g-1) of (1-ethyl-3-methylidazolium trifluoroacetate + triethanolamine) binary blends atmospheric pressure in the temperature range of 303.15-343.15 K and at different mole fractions of [EMIM] [TFA] have been carried out. The molar fraction of [EMIM] [TFA] dependence of the viscosity and absorption capacity was demonstrated. The addition of a small amount of [EMIM] [TFA] into TEA led to rapidly decreased rates of binary blends' viscosity and absorption capacity. However, the viscosity and absorption of binary blends did not decrease significantly when [EMIM] [TFA] was increased to a specific value. Compared with the molar fraction of the solution, the temperature had no obvious effect on viscosity and absorption capacity. By modeling and optimizing the ratio of viscosity and absorption capacity of ([EMIM] [TFA] + TEA), it is proven that when the mole fraction of [EMIM] [TFA] is 0.58, ([EMIM] [TFA] + TEA) has the best viscosity and absorption capacity at the same time. In addition, at 303.15 K, ([EMIM] [TFA] + TEA) was absorbed and desorbed six times, the absorption slightly decreased, and the desorption increased.

ICU Physicians' Perception of Patients' Tolerance Levels in Light Sedation Impacts Sedation Practice for Mechanically Ventilated Patients.

Purpose: To investigate physicians' perception of patients' tolerance levels regarding sedation, which could affect sedation practice for mechanically ventilated (MV) patients. Methods: This is a questionnaire survey combined with a 24 h cross-sectional study. The physician's propensity score for light sedation (PS-LS) was estimated by his/her response to the given answers for each item of the questionnaire, which tested the levels of interviewee's desire to manage MV patient with light sedation. Thereby, the mean physicians' PS-LS of each participating ICU (ICU-meanPS-LS) was calculated. The practical measurements of all variables listed on the questionnaire were used to semi-quantitatively assess stimulus intensity of what the recruited patients suffered (i.e., semi-quantitative stimulus intensity, SSI). Sedation depth was assessed by Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS). Results: 555 of 558 (99.5%) physicians from 102 ICUs were concerned with patients' tolerance levels regarding sedation while titrating sedation depth. The physician's PS-LS was non-normally distributed with median (IQR) of 3 (0-5). ICU-meanPS-LS was calculated in 92 out of 102 ICUs participating in the cross-sectional study, which was ranged from -5 to 7 with a median (IQR) of 2.37 (0.16-4.33). A significant increasing trend in prevalence of light sedation was observed over increasing ICU-meanPS-LS quartiles (from Q1 to Q4, χ2-test for trend, p = 0.002). Moreover, odds ratio for probability of light sedation remained significant in MV patients from Q4 ICUs vs. Q1 ICUs, adjusted by APACHE II score (OR, 2.332; 95% CI: 1.463-3.717; p < 0.001) or SSI score (OR, 2.445; 95% CI: 1.468-4.074; p = 0.001). Notably, adjusted OR for mortality was significant in deeply sedated MV patients (OR, 2.034; 95% CI: 1.435-2.884; p < 0.001). Conclusions: ICU physician's individualized perception for patients' tolerance levels regarding sedation, in light sedation affected sedation practice for MV patients.

Wettability Recovery Behavior Governed by Desorption of Hydroxyl Species in Steel.

The radiation induced surface activation (RISA) effect which occurs at the bilayer of metal and oxide due to irradiation contributes to improving the materials surface wettability and enhancing electrothermal characteristics and corrosion resistance. The purpose of the present study is to reveal the correlation between the wettability recovery behavior and the microstructural features of the adsorbed water and/or hydroxyl species on the surfaces. The wettability change due to the RISA effect was investigated in the oxidized austenitic stainless steel with various holding times under darkness after UV irradiation. The microstructure features of the adsorbed water and/or hydroxyl species on the surfaces were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy (SPM). Results show that the contact angle of the specimen after UV irradiation parabolically increased with increasing holding time, regardless of the chemical composition within these two steels. The absorbed water layer was observed in both specimens by Raman analysis, and its intensity decreased with increasing holding time. From the force-distance curves of SPM analysis, the hydrophilic component was rapidly decreased at a holding time below 200 h, then gradually saturated when the holding time increased above 200 h from the SPM analysis. These results reveal that the wettability recovery behavior in oxidized austenitic stainless steels after UV irradiation can be ascribed to two kinds of mechanisms. One is the desorption of the hydrophilic components which are predominant when the contact angle is less than 30°, and the other is the absorption of the hydrophobic components which works mainly when the contact angle is above 30°.