Cu2O@PNIPAM core–shell microgels as novel inkjet materials for the preparation of CuO hollow porous nanocubes gas sensing layers

There has been long-standing interest in developing metal oxide-based sensors with high sensitivity, selectivity, fast response and low material consumption. Here we report for the first time the utilization of Cu2O@PNIPAM core–shell microgels with a nanocube-shaped core structure for construction of novel CuO gas sensing layers. The hybrid microgels show significant improvement in colloidal stability as compared to native Cu2O nanocubes. Consequently, a homogeneous thin film of Cu2O@PNIPAM nanoparticles can be engineered in a quite low solid content (1.5 wt%) by inkjet printing of the dispersion at an optimized viscosity and surface tension. Most importantly, thermal treatment of the Cu2O@PNIPAM microgels forms porous CuO nanocubes, which show much faster response to relevant trace NO2 gases than sensors produced from bare Cu2O nanocubes. This outcome is due to the fact that the PNIPAM shell can successfully hinder the aggregation of CuO nanoparticles during pyrolysis, which enables full utilization of the sensor layers and better access of the gas to active sites. These results point out great potential of such an innovative system as gas sensors with low cost, fast response and high sensitivitH. J. gratefully acknowledges financial support of the CSC scholarship. S. P. acknowledges funding from the Community of Madrid under grant number 2016-T1/AMB-1695

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urban Green Spatial Vitality and the Corresponding Influencing Factors: A Case Study of Chengdu, China

Green space integrates diversified urban functions, and the analysis of its utilization, can help improve the vitality of the social and economic development of cities while contributing to the important goal of enhancing urban green space (UGS) planning and management. In this study, the heat value obtained from Baidu heat maps was used as an external representation of spatial vitality, and the factors that influence vitality were analyzed from two dimensions, i.e., the inner and outer space characteristics of green space, using spatial big data such as points of interest (POIs), Open Street Map (OSM) and online review data. The findings indicated that green space and urban resources in Chengdu are highly centralized. That is, a high road network density and nearby transportation facilities make it easier for visitors to reach parks, while peripheral functional density also plays a role in promoting vitality; additionally, reasonable and moderate space and functional layouts are conducive to the development of green space. In addition, our study integrates the tour experience index, which has a strong positive impact on vitality, to better reflect the human-oriented characteristics of green space, which are of great relevance to the construction and renewal of human space in UGSs

A Novel Sulfonamide, Molecularly Imprinted, Upconversion Fluorescence Probe Prepared by Pickering Emulsion Polymerization and Its Adsorption and Optical Sensing Performance

A novel, molecularly imprinted, upconversion fluorescence probe (UCNP@MIFP) for sulfonamide sensing was fabricated by Pickering emulsion polymerization using UCNP@SiO2 particles as the stabilizer and sulfamethazine/sulfamerazine as the co-templates. The synthesis conditions of the UCNP@MIFP were optimized, and the synthesized probe was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, thermogravimetric analyzer, and fluorescence spectrometer. The UCNP@MIFPs showed a good adsorption capacity and a fast kinetic feature for the template. The selectivity experiment revealed that the UCNP@MIFP has a broad-spectrum molecular recognition capability. Good linear relationships were obtained over the concentration range of 1–10 ng/mL for sulfamerazine, sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, and sulfafurazole, with low limits of detection in the range of 1.37–2.35 ng/mL. The prepared UCNP@MIFP has the potential to detect four sulfonamide residues in food and environmental water

P-Fuzz: A Parallel Grey-Box Fuzzing Framework

Fuzzing is an effective technology in software testing and security vulnerability detection. Unfortunately, fuzzing is an extremely compute-intensive job, which may cause thousands of computing hours to find a bug. Current novel works generally improve fuzzing efficiency by developing delicate algorithms. In this paper, we propose another direction of improvement in this field, i.e., leveraging parallel computing to improve fuzzing efficiency. In this way, we develop P-fuzz, a parallel fuzzing framework that can utilize massive, distributed computing resources to fuzz. P-fuzz uses a database to share the fuzzing status such as seeds, the coverage information, etc. All fuzzing nodes get tasks from the database and update their fuzzing status to the database. Also, P-fuzz handles some data races and exceptions in parallel fuzzing. We compare P-fuzz with AFL and a parallel fuzzing framework Roving in our experiment. The result shows that P-fuzz can easily speed up AFL about 2.59× and Roving about 1.66× on average by using 4 nodes

Correlation of Structure, Tunable Colors, and Lifetimes of (Sr, Ca, Ba)Al2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ Phosphors

(Sr, Ca, Ba)Al2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphors were prepared via a high temperature solid-state reaction method. The correlation of phase structure, optical properties and lifetimes of the phosphors are investigated in this work. For the (Sr, Ca)Al2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ phosphors, the different phase formation from monoclinic SrAl2O4 phase to hexagonal SrAl2O4 phase to monoclinic CaAl2O4 phase was observed when the Ca content increased. The emission color of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphors varied from green to blue. For the (Sr, Ba)Al2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphors, different phase formation from the monoclinic SrAl2O4 phase to the hexagonal BaAl2O4 phase was observed, along with a shift of emission wavelength from 520 nm to 500 nm. More interestingly, the decay time of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+changed due to the different phase formations. Lifetime can be dramatically shortened by the substitution of Sr2+ with Ba2+ cations, resulting in improving the performance of the alternating current light emitting diode (AC-LED). Finally, intense LEDs are successfully obtained by combining these phosphors with Ga(In)N near UV chips

An Eco-Friendly Method to Get a Bio-Based Dicarboxylic Acid Monomer 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid and Its Application in the Synthesis of Poly(hexylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PHF)

Recently, we have developed an eco-friendly method for the preparation of a renewable dicarboxylic acid 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from biomass-based 5-hydroxymethylfrufural (HMF). In the present work, we optimized our reported method, which used phosphate buffer and Fe(OH)3 as the stabilizer to improve the stability of potassium ferrate, then got a purified FDCA (up to 99%) in high yield (91.7 wt %) under mild conditions (25 °C, 15 min, air atmosphere). Subsequently, the obtained FDCA, along with 1,6-hexanediol (HDO), which was also made from HMF, were used as monomers for the synthesis of poly(hexylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PHF) via direct esterification, and triphenyl phosphite was used as the antioxidant to alleviate the discoloration problem during the esterification. The intrinsic viscosity, mechanical properties, molecular structure, thermal properties, and degradability of the PHFs were measured or characterized by Koehler viscometer, universal tensile tester, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Derivative Thermogravimetry (DTG), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and weight loss method. The experimental evidence clearly showed that the furan-aromatic polyesters prepared from biomass-based HMF are viable alternatives to the petrochemical benzene-aromatic polyesters, they can serve as low-melting heat bondable fiber, high gas-barrier packaging material, as well as specialty material for engineering applications

Multi-physics coupling finite element analysis of 10kV tri-axial HTS cable

As an important equipment of power transmission, power cable has been required better performance on cable line loss and current ampacity to achieve its high reliability. This paper proposes an advanced application of superconducting transmission technology in power grid, namely tri-axial high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cable. The corresponding simplified model is established for multi-physical field analysis, and the size of each structure is determined through structural design. The temperature distribution of the cable body is analyzed according to multi-physical field coupling, and the influence of flow rate, size and other factors on the stability of the system is studied. In this paper, it is found that increasing liquid nitrogen volume and flow rate have saturation limit for lowering cable body temperature, and the axial temperature rise rate of cable body tends to be stable when it is greater than 4m. Multi-physical field analysis provides a basis for the design of HTS cable length without having system quench or liquid nitrogen gasification

A 14-3-3 Protein-Encoding Gene, <i>BdGF14g</i>, Confers Better Drought Tolerance by Regulating ABA Biosynthesis and Signaling

Abscisic acid (ABA), a phytohormone, enacts a cardinal function in coping with abiotic stress. 14-3-3 proteins can interact with ABA-responsive-element-binding transcription factors (ABFs), a chief constituent of ABA signaling, and play critical roles in the dehydration response involving ABA signaling. Meanwhile, whether and how 14-3-3 proteins regulate ABA signaling to respond to aridity stress is yet to be fully investigated. Herein, BdGF14g, a 14-3-3 gene induced by ABA, H2O2, and PEG treatments, was identified in Brachypodium distachyon (B. distachyon). Overexpression of BdGF14g improved drought stress tolerance in tobacco plants, with a higher survival rate, longer root length, enhanced cell membrane stability, and increased antioxidase activity compared with non-transgenic controls in coping with dehydration. Both drought and exogenous ABA treatments resulted in smaller stomatal apertures in BdGF14g-transgenic lines. Additionally, when an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor was added, the better growth statuses, less H2O2 accumulation, and higher activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase under mannitol stress disappeared. Moreover, BdGF14g interacted with NtABF2, upregulated the endogenous ABA content, and enhanced the transcription of ABA-related genes, including NtNCED1, a crucial ABA biosynthesis gene, under drought conditions. In conclusion, BdGF14g acts as a positive factor in the water deficiency response by affecting ABA biosynthesis and signaling in tobacco plants

The Importance of the Deep Deltoid Ligament Repair in Treating Supination-External Rotation Stage IV Ankle Fracture: A Comparative Retrospective Cohort Study

Background. The necessity of the deep deltoid ligament repair in the treatment of supination-external rotation (SER) ankle stage IV fracture with deltoid ligament rupture is highly debated. We conducted this retrospective research aimed at exploring the curative effect of the deep deltoid ligament repair in treating SER fracture. Methods. Sixty-three patients with closed SER stage IV fractures received open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), using either deep deltoid ligament repair (the DDLR group, 31 patients) or nondeep deltoid ligament repair (the NDDLR group, 32 patients). The radiographic parameters examined include the talocrural angle (TA), fibular length (FL), tibiomedial malleolar angle (TMMA), medial clear space (MCS), and tibiofibular clear space (TFCS). The functional performance parameters examined in the study were visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scales, and range of motion of bilateral ankles (RMBA). Complications, including bone nonunion, infection, and fragment displacement, were also recorded and compared. Results. Similar basic characteristics were found in both cohorts. All patients completed follow-up ranging from 12 to 22 months (mean time: 12.41±4.21 months). The DDLR group had significantly reduced VAS score (p0.05), 6 months (p>0.05), and 12 months (p>0.05), in terms of parameters including TA, FL, TMMA, MCS, TCS, and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scales. Conclusion. Although similar radiographic performances were achieved in both cohorts, the DDLR group displayed enhanced functional outcome postsurgery, indicating that DDLR may be a better potential for the treatment of SER stage IV fracture with deltoid ligament rupture

An Empirical Study of the Restoration Potential of Urban Deciduous Forest Space to Youth

Urban deciduous forests are an important ecological resource and seasonal landscape in the urban environment. However, in the abundant literature on how urban green space promotes human health and well-being, research on urban seasonal deciduous forests is limited. This study aimed to investigate the physiological and psychological recovery potential provided of urban deciduous forest space for youths and the spatial preferences of youths regarding such spaces. We recruited 120 participants to study the restorative potential of two typical urban deciduous forest landscape spaces (experimental groups) and one urban road environment (control group). The results showed that after 15 min of observation, the blood pressure (especially the diastolic blood pressure (p &lt; 0.01)) and pulse of the deciduous forest trail setting (DFTS) group effectively decreased, and the restorative mood significantly increased. Regarding change in emotional parameters, the DFTS group scored higher on &ldquo;interest&rdquo; and significantly higher than the other two groups on positive emotion. The correlation results show that density and level are the key factors affecting spatial preferences regarding complex deciduous forests. An increase in density reduces the mood of re-laxation, and an increase in level decreases fatigue and interest. We suggest (1) constructing foot-paths in urban deciduous forests to reduce their spatial density as to improve the relaxation effect and (2) increasing landscape diversity according to the forest space to facilitate user participation and interest. This study provides a scientific basis for the environmental restoration of deciduous landscapes and for urban forestry management decision-makers based on space type construction