Sedimentary environment and organic matter accumulation of Wufeng-Longmaxi shales,southwest Yangtze Plate,China:Insights from geochemical and petrological evidence

Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation is the most developed strata of shale gas in southern China.Due to the complex sedimentary environment adjacent to the Kangdian Uplift,the favorable area for organic-rich shale development is still undetermined.The authors,therefore,focus on the mechanism of accumulation of organic matter and the characterization of the sedimentary environment of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Shales to have a more complete understanding and new discovering of organic matter enrichment and favorable area in the marginal region around Sichuan Basin.Multiple methods were applied in this study,including thin section identification,scanning electron microscopy(SEM)observations and X-ray diffraction(XRD),and elemental analysis on outcrop samples.Five lithofacies have been defined according to the mineralogical and petrological analyses,including mudstone,bioclastic limestone,silty shale,dolomitic shale,and carbonaceous siliceous shale.The paleo-environments have been reconstructed and the organic enrichment mechanism has been identified as a reduced environment and high productivity.The Wufeng period is generally a suboxic environment and the early Longmaxi period is a reducing environment based on geochemical characterization.High dolomite content in the study area is accompanied by high TOC,which may potentially indicate the restricted anoxic environment formed by biological flourishing in shallower water.And for the area close to the Kangdian Uplift,the shale gas generation capability is comparatively favorable.The geochemical parameters implied that new favorable areas for shale gas exploration could be targeted,and more shale gas resources in the mountain-basin transitional zone might be identified in the future.

Environmental characteristics of trace metals in seawater from the Ninety East Ridge in the Indian Ocean

The Ninety East Ridge in the Indian Ocean has complex and unique characteristics.The concentrations and distribution characteristics of 10 trace metals(V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Cu,Cd,Pb,and U)in seawater from the Ninety East Ridge in the Indian Ocean were investigated.Results show that the average concentrations of different trace metals in all the collected seawater samples were 1.134μg/L for V,0.158μg/L for Cr,0.489μg/L for Mn,0.427μg/L for Fe,0.011μg/L for Co,0.395μg/L for Ni,0.403μg/L for Cu,0.097μg/L for Cd,0.139μg/L for Pb,and 3.470μg/L for U.Differences in the horizontal and vertical distributions of all measured trace metals were revealed,and the occurrence of high concentrations was nonuniform.In addition,the significant differences in the concentration distribution of different trace metals in seawater on both sides of the Ninety East Ridge present regional segmentation in the area for various trace metals in deep sea water.This study provided basic data for future investigations on the environmental and ecological impact of trace metals in the Indian Ocean and the potential water mass transport mechanism.

Anion competition for Li^(+)solvated coordination environments in poly(1,3 dioxolane)electrolyte to enable high-voltage lithium metal solid-state batteries

Gel-based polymer electrolytes are limited by the polarity of the residual solvent,which restricts the coupling-breaking behaviour during Li^(+)conduction,resulting in the Li^(+)transport kinetics being greatly affected.Here,we designed anion competitive gel polymer electrolyte(ACPE)by introducing lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate(LiDFOB)anion into the 1,3-dioxolane(DOL)in situ polymerisation system.ACPE enhances the ionic dipole interaction between Li^(+)and the solvent molecules and synergizes with Li^(+)across the solvation site of the polymer ethylene oxide(EO)unit,combination that greatly improves the Li^(+)transport efficiency.As a result,ACPE exhibits 1.12 mS cm^(−1)ionic conductivity and 0.75 Li^(+)transfer number at room temperature.Additionally,this intra-polymer solvation sheath allows preferential desolvation of DFOB−,which contributes to the formation of kinetically stable anion-derived interphase and effectively mitigates side reactions.Our results demonstrate that the assembled Li||NCM622 solid-state battery exhibits lifespan of over 300 cycles with average Coulombic efficiency of 98.8%and capacity retention of 80.3%.This study introduces a novel approach for ion migration and interface design,paving the way for high-safety and high-energy-density batteries.

The Misdirection and Return of Graduate Course Teaching

Graduate course teaching plays an irreplaceable role in knowledge mastery,skill enhancement,and quality cultivation of graduate students.This paper addresses current issues in graduate course teaching,such as ambiguous objectives,formulaic content,formalistic operation,and oversimplified evaluation.It proposes corresponding solutions with the hope of steering graduate course teaching back to its original purpose and realizing its true significance.

Cysteine dioxygenase and taurine are essential for embryo implantation by involving in E2-ERαand P_(4)-PR signaling in mouse

Background Taurine performs multiple physiological functions,and the maintenance of taurine level for most mammals relies on active uptake from diet and endogenous taurine synthesis through its synthesis enzymes,including cysteine dioxygenase(CDO).In addition,uterus tissue and uterus fluid are rich in to urine,and to urine synthesis is regulated by estrogen(E2)and progesterone(P_(4)),the key hormones priming embryo-uterine crosstalk during embryo implantation,but the functional interactions and mechanisms among which are largely unknown.The present study was thus proposed to identify the effects of CDO and taurine on embryo implantation and related mechanisms by using Cdo knockout(KO)and ovariectomy(OVX)mouse models.Results The uterine CDO expression was assayed from the first day of plugging(d 1)to d 8 and the results showed that CDO expression level increased from d 1 to d 4,followed by a significant decline on d 5 and persisted to d 8,which was highly correlated with serum and uterine taurine levels,and serum P_(4) concentration.Next,Cdo KO mouse was established by CRISPER/Cas9.It was showed that Cdo deletion sharply decreased the taurine levels both in serum and uterus tissue,causing implantation defects and severe subfertility.However,the implantation defects in Cdo KO mice were partly rescued by the taurine supplementation.In addition,Cdo deletion led to a sharp decrease in the expressions of P_(4)receptor(PR)and its responsive genes Ihh,Hoxa10 and Hand2.Although the expression of uterine estrogen receptor(ERa)had no significant change,the levels of ERa induced genes(Muc1,Ltf)during the implantation window were upregulated after Cdo deletion.These accompanied by the suppression of stroma cell proliferation.Meanwhile,E2inhibited CDO expression through ERa and P_(4)upregulated CDO expression through PR.Conclusion The present study firstly demonstrates that taurine and CDO play prominent roles in uterine receptivity and embryo implantation by involving in E2-ERa and P_(4)-PR signaling.These are crucial for our understanding the mechanism of embryo implantation,and infer that taurine is a potential agent for improving reproductive efficiency of livestock industry and reproductive medicine.

Uniquely Decomposable Constellation Group-Based Sparse Vector Coding for Short Packet Communications

Sparse vector coding(SVC)is emerging as a potential technology for short packet communications.To further improve the block error rate(BLER)performance,a uniquely decomposable constellation group-based SVC(UDCG-SVC)is proposed in this article.Additionally,in order to achieve an optimal BLER performance of UDCG-SVC,a problem to optimize the coding gain of UDCG-based superimposed constellation is formulated.Given the energy of rotation constellations in UDCG,this problem is solved by converting it into finding the maximized minimum Euclidean distance of the superimposed constellation.Simulation results demonstrate the validness of our derivation.We also find that the proposed UDCGSVC has better BLER performance compared to other SVC schemes,especially under the high order modulation scenarios.

Clinical characteristics and management of coexistent cardiomyopathy in patients with bicuspid aortic valve

BACKGROUND Bicuspid aortic valve(BAV)is the most common congenital heart disease.However,the prevalence,clinical characteristics,and current management of BAV associated with inherited cardiomyopathy,including hypertrophic cardiomy-opathy(HCM),dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM),and left ventricular noncompaction(LVNC)have not been well described.METHODS Consecutive patients diagnosed with BAV at a large tertiary cardiovascular referral center between 2009 and 2018 were retrospectively assessed for HCM,DCM,and LVNC based on clinical and echocardiographic criteria.Patients with coexist-ent conditions were investigated further.RESULTS Of 3533 patients with BAV screened,57(1.6%)had concomitant cardiomyopathy.BAV was combined with HCM in 30 of these patients,with DCM in 19,and with LVNC in eight.Forty-six patients(80.7%)were male,and the mean age at first dia-gnosis was 47 years for BAV with HCM,49 years for BAV with DCM,and 35 years for BAV with LVNC.Heart failure and aortic valve dysfunction were common in these patients,and the prevalence of coexisting aortopathy was 43.3%,26.3%and 25.0%,re-spectively,for BAV with HCM,DCM and LVNC.During the index hospitalization,24 of the 57 patients(42.1%)underwent sur-gery,16(28%)underwent aortic valve and/or aortic surgery,and 16 of the 30 patients with HCM had a Morrow procedure.There were no deaths or other major adverse cardiovascular events.CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of inherited cardiomyopathy was higher in our patients with BAV than in the general popula-tion.Aortopathy and heart failure were common,with almost half of patients requiring surgery at diagnosis.

模拟人体之气的太赫兹波对大鼠浅筋膜的干预作用研究

目的目的通过不同功率太赫兹波辐射SD大鼠背部穴位与非穴位区,探究太赫兹波对浅筋膜干预作用。方法方法将SD大鼠随机分成太赫兹波3档、5档、6档及空白组等4组每组8只,选取“脾俞”“肾俞”及背部一非穴位区进行每天25min,为期两周的辐射,期间每次每只大鼠辐射前后都进行辐射区电阻值的测定。干预两周后取材辐射区浅筋膜,进行HE染色、免疫组化及钙离子浓度测定。结果结果HE染色,与正常组相比,太赫兹波干预穴位区无明显病理变化;免疫组化,太赫兹波干预穴位浅筋膜ERK1/2及P38表达增强;钙离子浓度变化:低功率太赫兹波干预穴位区浅筋膜钙离子浓度变化不明显,高功率干预区钙离子浓度明显升高;电阻值变化:干预后穴位区电阻值降低。结论结论太赫兹波对穴位区可能存在热效应作用,热效应程度与太赫兹波辐射功率正相关,且不同部位组织对太赫兹的热敏感程度也存在差异,以穴位区变化更为显著。

Chemokine platelet factor 4 accelerates peripheral nerve regeneration by regulating Schwann cell activation and axon elongation

Schwann cells in peripheral nerves react to traumatic nerve injury by attempting to grow and regenerate.Howeve r,it is unclear what factors play a role in this process.In this study,we searched a GEO database and found that expression of platelet factor 4 was markedly up-regulated after sciatic nerve injury.Platelet factor is an important molecule in cell apoptosis,diffe rentiation,survival,and proliferation.Further,polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the change in platelet factor 4 in the sciatic nerve at different time points after injury.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed that platelet factor 4 was secreted by Schwann cells.We also found that silencing platelet factor 4 decreased the proliferation and migration of primary cultured Schwann cells,while exogenously applied platelet factor 4 stimulated Schwann cell prolife ration and migration and neuronal axon growth.Furthermore,knocking out platelet factor 4 inhibited the prolife ration of Schwann cells in injured rat sciatic nerve.These findings suggest that Schwann cell-secreted platelet factor 4 may facilitate peripheral nerve repair and regeneration by regulating Schwann cell activation and axon growth.Thus,platelet factor 4 may be a potential therapeutic target for traumatic peripheral nerve injury.

Geology and mineralization of the Hongqiling large magmatic nickel-copper-cobalt deposit(22×10^(4)t)in Jilin Province,China:A review

The Hongqiling large nickel-copper-cobalt deposit(hereafter referred to as the Hongqiling deposit),a typical mafic-ultramafic copper-nickel deposit in China,boasts proven Ni(Ni)resources of approximately 22×10^(4)t,associated copper resources of 2×10^(4)t,and associated cobalt(Co)resources of 0.5×10^(4)t,with Ni reserves ranking 10th among China's magmatic nickel deposits.Geotectonically,the Hongqiling deposit is situated in the superimposed zone between the Xing'an-Mongolian orogenic belt and the circum-Western Pacific's active continental margin belt.Its ore-bearing plutons occur within the metamorphic rocks of the Ordovician Hulan Group,with the emplacement of plutons and the locations of orebodies governed by the deep-seated Huifahe fault and its secondary NW-trending Fujia-Hejiagou-Beixinglong-Changsheng fault zone.In the deposit,the rock assemblages of ore-bearing plutons predominantly encompass gabbro-pyroxenite-olivine pyroxenite-pyroxene peridotite(pluton No.1)and norite-orthopyroxenite-harzburgite(pluton No.7),with ore-bearing lithofacies consisting primarily of olivine pyroxenite and pyroxenite facies.The Hongqiling deposit hosts stratoid,overhanging lentoid,veined,and pure-sulfide veined orebodies.Its ores principally contain metallic minerals including pyrrhotite,pentlandite,chalcopyrite,violarite,and pyrite.Despite unidentified magma sources of ore-bearing mafic-ultramafic rocks,it is roughly accepted that the magmatic evolution in the Hongqiling deposit primarily involved fractional crystallization and crustal contamination.The ore-forming materials were primarily derived from the upper mantle,mixed with minor crustal materials.The ore-bearing mafic-ultramafic rocks in the deposit,primarily emplaced during the Indosinian(208-239 Ma),were formed in an intense extension setting followed by the collisional orogeny between the North China Plate and the Songnen-Zhangguangcai Range Block during the Middle-Late Triassic.From the perspective of the metallogenic geological setting,surrounding rocks,ore-controlling structures,and rock assemblages,this study identified one favorable condition and seven significant indicators for prospecting for Hongqiling-type nickel deposits and developed a prospecting model of the Hongqiling deposit.These serve as valuable references for exploring similar nickel deposits in the region,as well as the deep parts and margins of the Hongqiling deposit.

Towards the insights into the deactivation behavior of acetylene hydrogenation catalyst

A series of model catalysts were obtained by treating commercial fresh and spent catalysts unloaded from the factory with different methods, including green oil dipping, extraction and high-temperature regeneration;finally, the deactivation behavior of the commercial catalyst for acetylene hydrogenation were studied. The influence of various possible deactivation factors on the catalytic performance was elucidated via detailed structural characterization, surface composition analysis, and activity evaluation.The results showed that green oil, carbon deposit and sintering of active metal were the main reasons for deactivation, among which green oil and carbon deposit led to rapid deactivation, while the activity could be recovered after regeneration by high-temperature calcination. The sintering of active metal components was attributed to the high-temperature regeneration in hydrothermal conditions, which was slow but irreversible and accounted for permanent deactivation. Thus, optimizing the regeneration is expected to extend the service life of the commercial catalyst.

Physics package based on intracavity laser cooling ^(87)Rb atoms for space cold atom microwave clock

This article proposes a new physics package to enhance the frequency stability of the space cold atom clock with the advantages of a microgravity environment. Clock working processes, including atom cooling, atomic state preparation,microwave interrogation, and transition probability detection, are integrated into the cylindrical microwave cavity to achieve a high-performance and compact physics package for the space cold atom clock. We present the detailed design and ground-test results of the cold atom clock physics package in this article, which demonstrates a frequency stability of 1.2×10^(-12) τ^(-1/2) with a Ramsey linewidth of 12.5 Hz, and a better performance is predicted with a 1 Hz or a narrower Ramsey linewidth in microgravity environment. The miniaturized cold atom clock based on intracavity cooling has great potential for achieving space high-precision time-frequency reference in the future.

Circulating RNA ZFR promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition process through miR-624-3p/WEE1 axis

Background:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),the most common type of primary liver cancer,is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Previous evidence shows that the expression of circulating RNA ZFR(circZFR)is upregulated in HCC tissues.However,the molecular mechanism of circZFR in HCC is unclear.Methods:Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR)was employed to detect the expression of circZFR,microRNA-624-3p(miR-624-3p)and WEE1 in HCC tissues and cells.RNase R assay and actinomycin D treatment assay were used to analyze the characteristics of circZFR.For functional analysis,the capacities of colony formation,cell proliferation,cell apoptosis,migration and invasion were assessed by colony formation assay,5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine(EdU)assay,flow cytometry assay and transwell assay.Western blot was used to examine the protein levels of WEE1 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related proteins.The interactions between miR-624-3p and circZFR or WEE1 were validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation(RIP)assay.Xenograft models were established to determine the role of circZFR in vivo.Results:circZFR and WEE1 were upregulated,while miR-624-3p expression was reduced in HCC tissues and cells.circZFR could sponge miR-624-3p,and WEE1 was a downstream gene of miR-624-3p.Knockdown of circZFR significantly reduced the malignant behaviors of HCC and that co-transfection with miR624-3p inhibitor restored this change.Overexpression of WEE1 abolished the inhibitory effect of miR624-3p mimic on HCC cells.Mechanistically,circZFR acted as a competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA)to regulate WEE1 expression by targeting miR-624-3p.Furthermore,in vivo studies have illustrated that circZFR knockdown inhibited tumor growth.Conclusions:circZFR knockdown reduced HCC cell proliferation,migration and invasion and promoted apoptosis by regulating the miR-624-3p/WEE1 axis,suggesting that the circZFR/miR-624-3p/WEE1 axis might be a potential target for HCC treatment.

Unstructured Road Extraction in UAV Images based on Lightweight Model

There is no unified planning standard for unstructured roads,and the morphological structures of these roads are complex and varied.It is important to maintain a balance between accuracy and speed for unstructured road extraction models.Unstructured road extraction algorithms based on deep learning have problems such as high model complexity,high computational cost,and the inability to adapt to current edge computing devices.Therefore,it is best to use lightweight network models.Considering the need for lightweight models and the characteristics of unstructured roads with different pattern shapes,such as blocks and strips,a TMB(Triple Multi-Block)feature extraction module is proposed,and the overall structure of the TMBNet network is described.The TMB module was compared with SS-nbt,Non-bottleneck-1D,and other modules via experiments.The feasibility and effectiveness of the TMB module design were proven through experiments and visualizations.The comparison experiment,using multiple convolution kernel categories,proved that the TMB module can improve the segmentation accuracy of the network.The comparison with different semantic segmentation networks demonstrates that the TMBNet network has advantages in terms of unstructured road extraction.

Plasma nitrogen fixation system with dual-loop enhancement for improved energy efficiency and its efficacy for lettuce cultivation

Plasma nitrogen fixation(PNF)has been emerging as a promising technology for greenhouse gasfree and renewable energy-based agriculture.Yet,most PNF studies seldom address practical application-specific issues.In this work,we present the development of a compact and automatic PNF system for on-site agricultural applications.The system utilized a gliding-arc discharge as the plasma source and employed a dual-loop design to generate NO_(x)from air and water under atmospheric conditions.Experimental results showed that the system with a dualloop design performs well in terms of energy costs and production rates.Optimal operational parameters for the system were determined through experimentation,resulting in an energy cost of 13.9 MJ mol^(-1)and an energy efficiency of 16 g kWh^(-1)for NO_(3)^(-)production,respectively.Moreover,the concentration of exhausted NO_(x)was below the emission standards.Soilless lettuce cultivation experiments demonstrated that NO_(x)^(-)produced by the PNF system could serve as liquid nitrate nitrogen fertilizer.Overall,our work demonstrates the potential of the developed PNF system for on-site application in the production of green-leaf vegetables.

Evolution and Characteristics of "Carbon Neutrality Movies"

"Carbon neutrality movies"are movies that focus on carbon neutrality as the object of expression and dissemination.Using carbon neutrality as an element,it influences the development of the plot,reflects environmental changes,and focuses on climate change caused by carbon emissions.At the same time,it focuses on offsetting carbon emissions through carbon neutrality behavior,showcasing the impact of carbon neutrality.From the perspective of ecological movies,the evolution of carbon neutrality movies at three stages can be explored.The first stage is high-carbon movies that reflect the high conflict between humans and the natural environment.The second stage is low-carbon movies,reflecting humanity's pursuit of a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature,thus adopting green and low-carbon behaviors.The third stage is carbon neutrality movies,which awaken or guide the public to pay attention to carbon emissions,promote low-carbon living,guide life practice in a carbon neutrality way,and create a better life.There are three characteristics of"carbon neutrality movies",including scientific reflection on global warming,advocating energy conservation and emission reduction in daily life,and promoting clean energy in policies.

Progress in biological research on Tupaia belangeri

Tupaia belangeri,as a typical tropical species,has high value in biological research.It has the characteristics of small body size,high brain to body mass ratio,short reproductive cycle,short lifespan,and low maintenance cost.In biomedical research,experimental animals considered as substitutes for primates.This review discusses the systematic classification,distribution,and research progress of Scandentia.Emphasis was focus on the research progress,developmental status,and basic biological research in T.belangeri.Believing that the T.belangeri,as the closest species to humans,has many advantages as an experimental animal,and it can be further widely applied in human disease research.Therefore,how to create a clear and stable strain of T.belangeri with a clear genetic background is crucial for the development of the national economy and scientific research.

Semantic Foundation and Evolution Mechanism of the“好不X”(haobu X)Structure

In Chinese,the“好不X”(haobu X)structure expresses three types of meanings(negation,affirmation,and both affirmation-negation),where X exhibits differences in semantic symmetry.So far,no systematic explanatory theory has been proposed to account for these differences.Therefore,this paper presents and argues for an explanatory hypothesis that progresses through four stages:“很不X”(henbu X)=>“好不X”(haobu X)(negation)=>[ironic use]“好不X”(haobu X)(affirmation)=>expansion and obstruction of affirmative“好不”(haobu).Specifically,(1)the basis of the negation“好不X”(haobu X)is attributed to“很不X”(henbu X),and the semantic asymmetry of X(excluding negative words)is explained using politeness principles,irony,and the semantic valence of negation results;(2)the ironic use of the negation“好不X”(haobu X)gives rise to the affirmation“好不X”(haobu X);(3)the grammaticalization and expansion of the positive meaning of“好不”(haobu)extend to X,which cannot appear in the negative meaning“好不__”structure(including words with opposite meanings and high polarity positive words).This explains the semantic symmetry of X in the positive meaning“好不X”(haobu X)structure;(4)when the affirmation“好不”(haobu)expands to the negation“好不X”(haobu X),it encounters both obstacles(X includes neutral and some positive words)and compatibility(X is some other positive words),thus explaining the semantic asymmetry of X in the affirmation-negation“好不X”(haobu X)(i.e.,X is positive words).

A Versatile Method for Uniform Dispersion of Nanocarbons in Metal Matrix Based on Electrostatic Interactions

Realizing the uniform dispersion of nanocarbons such as carbon nanotube and graphene in metals, is an essential prerequisite to fully exhibit their enhancement effect in mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of metal matrix composites(MMCs). In this work, we propose an effective method to achieve uniform distribution of nanocarbons in various metal flakes through a slurry-based method. It relies on the electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged nanocarbons and the positively charged metal flakes when mixed in slurry. For case study, flake metal powders(Al, Mg, Ti,Fe, and Cu) were positively charged in aqueous suspension by spontaneous ionization or cationic surface modification. While nanocarbons, given examples as carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotubes, pristine single-walled carbon nanotube, and carbon nanotube–graphene oxide hybrid were negatively charged by the ionization of oxygen-containing functional groups or anionic surfactant. It was found that through the electrostatic interaction mechanism, all kinds of nanocarbons can be spontaneously and efficiently adsorbed onto the surface of various metal flakes. The development of such a versatile method would provide us great opportunities to fabricate advanced MMCs with appealing properties.

A Receiver-Forwarding Decision Scheme Based on Bayesian for NDN-VANET

Named Data Network(NDN) has caused wide concerns in VANET community because NDN uses a content-centric mechanism that naming content rather than the host. However, integrating NDN into VANET(NDN-VANET) also faces several challenges including consumer/provider mobile, broadcast storm problem and so on. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian-based Receiver Forwarding Decision(BRFD) scheme to mitigate the broadcast storm problem incurred by interest packets in NDN-VANET. In the BRFD, vehicles received an interest packet are required to make forwarding decisions based on Bayesian decision theory according to current network conditions obtained by neighbor interaction. However, the receiver-forwarding decision in BRFD can also cause a conflict issue because multiple vehicles forward copies of the same packet at the same time. So a back-off mechanism is introduced in BRFD. Experimental results show that the BRFD algorithm has better performance in several aspects in contrast to probability-based forwarding scheme and "bread crumb" routing.