Application of Biological Glue-Clay Composite Substrate in Slope Ecological Restoration.

Given the issues of soil cracking, poor water retention during drought, and erosion damage caused by rainfall, we conducted an in-depth study on the water retention properties, cracking resistance, and scouring resistance of biogel-amended clay using evaporation cracking and scouring tests. The hydrophysical properties and cohesive aggregation mechanism of biogel-amended clay were explored, and the results showed that the incorporation of biogel improved the water retention, cracking resistance, and scour resistance of the clay samples. With an increase in the biogel content, the biogel mucous membrane inside the samples improved the cohesion between soil particles, reduced the generation and development of cracks, and improved the cracking resistance. There was no significant cracking of the samples after the biogel content reached 0.3%, which changed the migration of water in the sample, prevented water evaporation, and improved the water retention of the clay samples. Biofilm can change the migration of water in the sample, prevent some evaporation, and reduce the evaporation rate. To a certain extent, it can enhance the water retention capacity of the sample. Enhanced biofilm content significantly reduced scouring in the process of rainfall and runoff erosion of the sample, and biofilm content of 0.2% significantly reduced the surface of the specimen damaged by erosion. The hydrophysical properties of the composite-adhesive-amended clay samples were significantly improved compared with those of the single-bioadhesive-amended clay samples.

Using image-based machine learning and numerical simulation to predict pesticide inline mixing uniformity.

BACKGROUND: Accurate pesticide inline mixing uniformity (PIMU) evaluation for direct nozzle injection systems (DNIS) helps evaluate system performance and develop efficient inline mixers. Based on supervised machine learning (ML), inline mixing images and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are directly associated for realizing intelligent PIMU predictions. RESULTS: Image sets can be reduced to less than 3% of the data size at the same time as retaining 98% of information using principal component analysis (PCA). The CFD results, as referenced values for ML, were justified by mixture sampling experiments. Enhanced images for the long-mixing tube effectively trained models including generalized linear model (GLM), support vector regression (SVR), BP-neural network (NNW), and classification and regression trees (CART). By testing the re-collected images, the verification accuracy of GLM was less than 95% and it failed to recognize uniformity differences under varying working conditions, whereas NNW, CART and SVR realized it with an accuracy for NNW and CART higher than 97% and for SVR slightly lower than 97%. By testing images of the jet mixer, the prediction accuracy compared with the CFD results of NNW and CART was also higher than 97%, although that for SVR was relatively lower, and insignificant declines in accuracy were observed on comparing the results with mixture sampling experiments. CONCLUSION: PCA facilitates evaluations of CFD-referenced PIMU using image-based ML. Models trained by enhanced image sets of the long-mixing tube have satisfactory performance. NNW and CART performed slightly better than SVR, and they can be used as tools to improve the rationality when evaluating PIMU in DNIS. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Numerical Investigation of Mechanical Performance and Micro-Structure Failure of Polymer-Fiber Reinforced Sand.

Natural sand has a loose and porous structure with low strength, and is prone to many geoengineering problems that cause huge losses. In this study, an organic polymer-polymer-fiber blend was used to improve the strength of sand. Using a series of laboratory and numerical simulation tests, researchers have investigated the microdamage behavior of an organic polymer and fiber-treated sand in various types of mechanical tests and explored the improvement mechanism. The results showed that the polymer- and fiber-treated sand enhanced the integrity and exhibited differential damage responses under different test conditions. The increase in polymer content induced uniform force transfer, leading to a wider range of particle motion and crack initiation, whereas the fibers adhered and confined the surrounding particles, inducing an arching force chain and dispersive/buckling cracking. Polymer- and fiber-treated sands increased their energy-carrying capacity and improved their energy release, which affected the damage characteristics. Organic polymers, fibers, and sand particles were wrapped around each other to form an effective interlocking structure, which enhances the integrity and mechanical properties of sand. This study provides novel ideas and methods in the polymer-fiber composite treatment of sand in the microscopic field.

Explaining Chinese Consumers' Continuous Consumption Intention toward Prepared Dishes: The Role of Perceived Risk and Trust.

With the rapid development and the increasing importance of the consumer market of prepared dishes in China, it is imperative to study the formation mechanism of Chinese consumers' continuous consumption intention (CCI) toward prepared dishes for promoting the sustainable development of Chinese prepared dishes industry. The aim of this study is to study the formation mechanism and the role of perceived risk and trust in it. Based on the Expectation Confirmation Model, this study constructed a model of continuous consumption intention of prepared dishes by introducing perceived risk and trust. 381 adult consumers were surveyed and the data was analyzed by an Exploratory Factor Analysis and the Partial Least Squares Structure Equation Model. The results showed that: (1) The confirmation of expectation had a significant positive impact on trust and satisfaction, a significant negative impact on the perceived risk (PR). Trust and satisfaction had a significant positive, while PR had a significant negative, impact on CCI. (2) The dimensions of PR included social, health, quality, psychological and purchasing risk, among which quality risk had a significant negative impact on CCI. (3) All dimensions of trust (ability, integrity, benevolence and government trust) had a significant positive impact on CCI, among which integrity trust played the most important role. (4) Overall, trust had a significant negative impact on PR. Benevolence trust could mitigate all dimensions of PR, integrity trust could mitigate all dimensions of PR except health risk, and ability trust, government trust could only mitigate quality risk. Therefore, the enterprises should pay high attention to the quality of their products and the establishment and maintenance of consumer trust, and the government should establish an authoritative image.

The microbial mechanisms of enhanced humification by inoculation with Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trichoderma longibrachiatum during biogas residues composting.

This study investigated effects of composite microbes (CMs) (Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trichoderma longibrachiatum) on humification during co-composting of biogas residue, spent mushroom substrate and rice straw. Results showed that CMs inoculation elevated degradation ratios of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin by 7.86%, 8.87% and 6.45%, and contents of humus and humic acid were correspondingly promoted by 15.5% and 23.6%, respectively. Relative abundances of bacteria associated with refractory macromolecules degradation (Flavobacterium, Anseongella and Actinomadura) and cellulolytic fungi (Hypocreales_Incertae_sedis, Hypocreaceae and Psathyrellaceae) were raised by CMs addition. Redundancy analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between microbial communities and temperature, fulvic acid and lignocellulose contents. Moreover, CMs inoculation promoted pathways of xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism, and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites, which was closely associated with lignocellulose degradation and humus formation. These results suggested that biological inoculation could enhance composting efficiency and improve compost quality, benefiting biogas residues composting.

Low-volume precision spray for plant pest control using profile variable rate spraying and ultrasonic detection.

Spraying chemical pesticides is one of the important means to control plant pest, and the profile variable spraying is an important technology to achieve precise pesticide application. A profiling tracking control method and an improved algorithm based on CMAC-PID (Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller- Potential Induced Degradation) were proposed in the paper. The test results of the sprayer profiling tracking of the tree canopies showed that the profiling control system using the improved algorithm had significantly better dynamic tracking performance, and the overall mean tracking error was reduced by 35.0%, compared with the traditional CMAC-PID. A spray flow calculation method based on tree canopy volume and leaf area density was proposed. Outdoor testing of the profile variable spraying and conventional spraying was carried out. There was no significant difference between the two spraying methods in terms of droplet coverage, VMD (Volume Median Diameter), NMD (Number Median Diameter), spray quality parameter and relative span coefficient, as well as droplet deposition density. The spray coefficient of variation was reduced by 25.9% and 21.9% inside and outside the tree canopy, respectively. The mean value of the ground deposition coverage of the profile variable spraying and the traditional spray was 13.0% and 33.2%, respectively, indicating a significant impact on the ground droplet deposition coverage by the two spraying methods. The spray flow rate of the profile variable spraying could be decreased by 32.1% compared to the conventional spraying. Profile variable spraying would reduce the cost associated with pesticide use and environmental pollution.

The CYP19A1 rs3751592 variant confers susceptibility to Alzheimer disease in the Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: The CYP19A1 enzyme (aromatase) encoded by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 19A1 gene influences the final step in the biosynthesis of estrogen, which has been associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). It is possible that genetic polymorphisms in CYP19A1 could influence the risk of AD by altering the expression of CYP19A1. The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, which is the most significant known genetic risk factor for AD, may mask the effects of other loci. METHODS: To assess the potential association of CYP19A1 gene polymorphisms with the risk of AD, we conducted a case-control study in a Chinese Han population by recruiting 463 cases, including 207 patients diagnosed with AD and 256 healthy people matched for sex and age. RESULTS: In APOE ε4 carriers, the distributions of the G allele and the AG + GG genotype of CYP19A1 rs3751592 in patients differed significantly (P < 0.05) from those in healthy people. However, no difference was observed in the distribution of CYP19A1 rs1065778 between the patient and control populations, regardless of their APOE ε4 status. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that the rs3751592 A/G polymorphism of the CYP19A1 gene was associated with the incidence of AD in a Chinese Han population, which suggests that CYP19A1 rs3751592 is a predisposing genetic factor for AD.

Association between CYP17A1 rs3824755 and rs743572 gene polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease in the Chinese Han population.

The CYP17A1 gene encodes cytochrome P450c17α, an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of sex hormones, which have been linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). An association between the CYP17A1 rs743572 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and AD has been reported; however, the findings are controversial. In the present study, we investigated the association between rs743572 and another SNP, rs3824755, and AD risk in a Chinese Han population (n=207 patients and 239 controls), and their interaction with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele. We found that the C allele and GC+CC genotypes of rs3824755 conferred protection against AD only in APOE e4 carriers. Both rs3824755 and rs743572 polymorphisms showed interactions with APOE e4. The C allele and GC+CC genotypes of rs3824755 acted as protective factors that decreased the risk of APOE e4 in AD. The CYP17A1 rs743572G allele and AG+GG genotypes were found to be potential risk factors that act synergetically with APOE e4. Moreover, the CA and GG haplotypes were protective and conferred a slight risk, respectively, in APOE e4 carriers. These results indicate that CYP17A1 rs3824755 and rs743572 are associated with AD in the Chinese Han population and act in combination with APOE e4.

CYP2J2 rs890293 polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease in the Chinese Han population.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and memory loss. Increasing evidence indicates that inflammation in the brain is a powerful factor in AD progression. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, the biologically active derivatives of arachidonic acid, synthesized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxygenases, have been proven to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to examine whether polymorphism in CYP2J2, encoding one of the most common CYP epoxygenase isoforms, is associated with late-onset AD (LOAD). This case-control study genotyped 672 representatives of the Chinese Han population, including 321 LOAD patients and 351 healthy controls matched for age and gender, for the functional rs890293 polymorphism within CYP2J2 by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The CYP2J2 rs890293 T allele and GT+TT genotype were significantly associated with an increased risk of LOAD. Further data stratification according to the presence of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele confirmed a strong association between CYP2J2 rs890293 and LOAD, and indicated that the involvement of CYP2J2 in LOAD was independent of ApoE-ϵ4. Our study demonstrated that CYP2J2 rs890293 is a possible predisposing genetic factor for progression of LOAD.

High glucose stimulates adipogenic and inhibits osteogenic differentiation in MG-63 cells through cAMP/protein kinase A/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.

Patients with diabetes tend to have an increased incidence of osteoporosis that may be related to hyperglycemia. In this study, we investigated the effects of high glucose on differentiation of human osteoblastic MG-63 cells and involved intracellular signal transduction pathways. Here, we showed that high glucose suppressed the cell growth, mineralization, and expression of osteogenic markers including Runx2, collagen I, osteocalcin, osteonectin, but inversely promoted expression of adipogenic markers including PPARgamma, aP2, resistin, and adipsin. Moreover, high glucose significantly increased the intracellular cAMP level in a time-dependent manner and induced ERK1/2 activation. Meanwhile, supplementation of H89, a specific inhibitor of PKA, and PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MAPK/ERK kinase, reversed the cell growth inhibition, the down-regulation of osteogenic markers and the up-regulation of adipogenic markers as well as the activation of ERK under high glucose. These results indicate that high glucose can increase adipogenic and inhibit osteogenic differentiation by activating cAMP/PKA/ERK pathway in MG-63 cells, thereby providing further insight into the molecular mechanism of diabetic osteoporosis.