mTreeIllustrator: A Mixed-Initiative Framework for Visual Exploratory Analysis of Multidimensional Hierarchical Data

Multidimensional hierarchical (mTree) data are very common in daily life and scientific research. However, mTree data exploration is a laborious and time-consuming process due to its structural complexity and large dimension combination space. To address this problem, we present mTreeIllustrator, a mixed-initiative framework for exploratory analysis of multidimensional hierarchical data with faceted visualizations. First, we propose a recommendation pipeline for the automatic selection and visual representation of important subspaces of mTree data. Furthermore, we design a visual framework and an interaction schema to couple automatic recommendations with human specifications to facilitate progressive exploratory analysis. Comparative experiments and user studies demonstrate the usability and effectiveness of our framework

Patriotic Fun: Toys and Mobilization in China from the Republican to the Communist Era

This chapter explores the use of leisure to mobilize children in China from the 1910s to the early 1950s, in times of both war and peace. Drawing on normative advice, and commenting on youngsters’ reactions, it describes how ostensibly different regimes similarly deployed toys and play in order to foster children’s engagement in struggles of a political, commercial or military nature. It outlines how a variety of items - from so-called “educational” war toys to figurines and lanterns - could serve to rally children for the nation and familiarize war. The chapter argues that, although mobilization was construed as defensive, patriotic activism and acquaintance with the metaphorical or real battlefield were significant components of Chinese children’s upbringing from the beginning of the twentieth century

The Optical and Electrical Performance of CuO Synthesized by Anodic Oxidation Based on Copper Foam

Metal oxide semiconductor materials have a wide range of applications in the field of solar energy conversion. In this paper, CuO was prepared directly on copper foam substrate by anodic oxidation. The effects of current density and anodizing temperature on sample preparation and performance were studied. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) had been used to determine the morphology and phase structure of the sample, and its optical and electrical properties were discussed through UV-vis spectrophotometer and electrochemical tests. In addition, the influences of experimental conditions such as current density and reaction temperature on the morphology and properties of CuO were systematically discussed. The FESEM images showed that as the anodic oxidation temperature increase, the morphology of the prepared sample changed from nanowires to leaf-like CuO nanosheets. According to the results of XRD, the structure of prepared CuO was monoclinic, and the intensity of diffraction peaks gradually increased as anodizing temperature increased. We found that the optimum current density and anodizing temperature were 20 mA cm−2 and 60 °C, respectively. The results of electrochemical indicated that the CuO electrode based on copper foam (CuO/Cu foam) prepared at the optimum exhibited the highest specific capacitance (0.1039 F cm−2) when the scan rate was 2 mV s−1

Study on Properties and Degradation Behavior of Poly (Adipic Acid/Butylene Terephthalate-Co-Glycolic Acid) Copolyester Synthesized by Quaternary Copolymerization

At present, the development and usage of degradable plastics instead of traditional plastics is an effective way to solve the pollution of marine microplastics. Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) is known as one of the most promising biodegradable materials. Nevertheless, the degradation rate of PBAT in water environment is slow. In this work, we successfully prepared four kinds of high molecular weight polyester copolyesters (PBATGA) via quaternary copolymerization. The results showed that the intrinsic viscosity of PBATGA copolymers ranged from 0.74 to 1.01 dL/g with a glycolic acid content of 0–40%. PBATGA copolymers had excellent flexibility and thermal stability. The tensile strength was 5~40 MPa, the elongation at break was greater than 460%, especially the elongation at break of PBATGA10 at 1235%, and the thermal decomposition temperature of PBATGA copolyesters was higher than 375 °C. It was found that PBATGA copolyester had a faster hydrolysis rate than PBAT, and the weight loss of PBATGA copolymers showed a tendency of pH = 12 > Lipase ≈ pH = 7 > pH = 2. The quaternary polymerization of PBAT will have the advantage of achieving industrialization, unlike the previous polymerization process. In addition, the polymerization of PBATGA copolyesters not only utilizes the by-products of the coal chemical industry, but also it can be promising in the production of biodegradable packaging to reduce marine plastic pollution

Autophagy Activation by Rapamycin Before Hypoxia-Reoxygenation Reduces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Alveolar Epithelial Cells

Background: To determine potential effects of autophagy activation on hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) induced damage of a rat alveolar epithelial cell line. Methods: CCL149 cells were subjected to autophagy agonist (rapamycin, Rap), autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine, 3-MA) or PBS for 1 h before H/R treatment for 2 h, 4 h and 6 h. The optimal concentration of Rap (150 nM, 200 nM and 250 nM) or 3-MA (5 mM, 10 mM and 15 mM) was obtained from MTT assay. Autophagy was determined by fluorescence microscopy of eRFP-LC3 positive cells, transmission electron microscopy of autophagosome, western blot of LC3, AMPK, Beclin-1, HDAC6 and p62 proteins. Endoplasmatic reticulum stress was indicated by detecting expressions of BIP, XBP-1 and CHOP via western blot. Results: Rap at concentration of 250 nM before H/R increased the autophagy formation with more eRFP-LC3 positive cells and higher expressions of LC3-II, Beclin-1, HDAC6 and p62, but lower expressions of BIP, XBP-1 and CHOP in H/R treated CCL149. This effect seemed to be still obvious after H/R exposure for 6 h. The contrary results were obtained by treatment with 5 mM 3-MA. Conclusion: Rap might be a promising agent before mechanical ventilation or reperfusion to prevent re-damage in hypoxia related lung diseases

Plasmonic Cavity for Self-Powered Chemical Detection and Performance Boosted Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection

With the popularization of the Internet of Things, the application of chemical sensors has become more and more extensive. However, it is difficult for a single functional sensor to meet multiple needs at the same time. For the next generation of chemical sensors, in addition to rapid qualitative and quantitative detection, it is also necessary to solve the problem of a distributed sensor power supply. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) are two emerging technologies that can be used for chemical testing. The combination of TENG and SERS technology is proposed to be an attractive research strategy to implement qualitative and quantitative analysis, as well as self-powered detection in one device. Herein, the Ag nanoparticle (NP)@polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) plasmonic cavity is demonstrated, which can be exploited not only as a SERS substrate for qualitative analysis of the target molecules but also as a TENG based self-powered chemical sensor for rapid quantitative analysis. More importantly, the as-designed plasmonic cavity enables prolonged triboelectric field generated by the phenomena of triboelectricity, which in turn enhances the “hot spot” intensities from Ag NPs in the cavity and boosts the SERS signals. In this way, the device can have good feasibility and versatility for chemical detection. Specifically, the measurement of the concentration of many analytes can be successfully realized, including ions and small molecules. The results verify that the proposed sensor system has the potential for self-powered chemical sensors for environmental monitoring and analytical chemistry