The intracontinental subduction of a>200-km-long section of the Tajik-Tarim lithosphere beneath the Pamir Mountains is proposed to explain nearly 30 km of shortening in the Tajik fold-thrust belt and the Pamir upli...The intracontinental subduction of a>200-km-long section of the Tajik-Tarim lithosphere beneath the Pamir Mountains is proposed to explain nearly 30 km of shortening in the Tajik fold-thrust belt and the Pamir uplift.Seismic imaging revealed that the upper slab was scraped and that the lower slab had subducted to a depth of>150 km.These features constitute the tectonic complexity of the Pamirs,as well as the thermal subduction mechanism involved,which remains poorly understood.Hence,in this study,high-resolution three-dimensional(3D)kinematic modeling is applied to investigate the thermal structure and geometry of the subducting slab beneath the Pamirs.The modeled slab configuration reveals distinct along-strike variations,with a steeply dipping slab beneath the southern Pamirs,a more gently inclined slab beneath the northern Pamirs,and apparent upper slab termination at shallow depths beneath the Pamirs.The thermal field reveals a cold slab core after delamination,with temperatures ranging from 400℃to 800℃,enveloped by a hotter mantle reaching~1400℃.The occurrence of intermediate-depth earthquakes aligns primarily with colder slab regions,particularly near the slab tear-off below the southwestern Pamirs,indicating a strong correlation between slab temperature and seismicity.In contrast,the northern Pamirs exhibit reduced seismicity at depth,which is likely associated with thermal weakening and delamination.The central Pamirs show a significant thermal anomaly caused by a concave slab,where the coldest crust does not descend deeply,further suggesting crustal detachment or mechanical failure.The lateral asymmetry in slab temperature possibly explains the mechanism of lateral tearing and differential slab-mantle coupling.展开更多
To comprehensively understand the Arctic and Antarctic upper atmosphere, it is often crucial to analyze various data that are obtained from many regions. Infrastructure that promotes such interdisciplinary studies on ...To comprehensively understand the Arctic and Antarctic upper atmosphere, it is often crucial to analyze various data that are obtained from many regions. Infrastructure that promotes such interdisciplinary studies on the upper atmosphere has been developed by a Japanese inter-university project called the Inter-university Upper atmosphere Global Observation Network （1UGONET）. The objective of this paper is to describe the infrastructure and tools developed by IUGONET. We focus on the data analysis software. It is written in Interactive Data Language （IDL） and is a plug-in for the THEMIS Data Analysis Software suite （TDAS）, which is a set of IDL libraries used to visualize and analyze satellite- and ground-based data. We present plots of upper atmospheric data provided by IUGONET as examples of applications, and verify the usefulness of the software in the study of polar science. We discuss IUGONET＇s new and unique developments, i.e., an executable file of TDAS that can run on the IDL Virtual Machine, IDL routines to retrieve metadata from the IUGONET database, and an archive of 3-D simulation data that uses the Common Data Format so that it can easily be used with TDAS.展开更多
Three common species of Miniopterus fuliginosus,M.magnater and M.pusillus are known to inhabit China.However,M.fuliginosus and M.magnater are so similar in external morphology as to pose great challenges for accurate ...Three common species of Miniopterus fuliginosus,M.magnater and M.pusillus are known to inhabit China.However,M.fuliginosus and M.magnater are so similar in external morphology as to pose great challenges for accurate classification.Furthermore,taxonomic statuses,distribution ranges and taxonomic keys of these three species have remained controversial.For addressing these outstanding issues,the authors integrated molecular phylogenetic analyses,ensemble species distribution models(ESDMs),multiple morphological comparisons and decision tree algorithms for reassessing their taxonomy and distribution in China.Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I(COI)gene phylogeny revealed three distinct monophyletic groups corresponding to M.fuliginosus,M.magnater and M.pusillus.And the observed distribution patterns indicated M.fuliginosus had a broad distribution across China while M.magnater and M.pusillus exhibited a more restricted distribution,overlapping with M.fuliginosus in South China.And cranial morphometry indicated M.magnater was slightly larger than M.fuliginosus and significantly larger than M.pusillus.Also three-dimensional(3D)skull geomorphometry uncovered distinct features for each species in rostrum,braincase,tympanic bullae and mandibular shape.Decision tree algorithms helped to identify forearm length,braincase breadth and width across the third upper molars as three major taxonomic keys for assisting species identification.This study corroborated the importance of integrative approaches for identifying Miniopterus species and validated a methodological approach applicable to other cryptic species complexes.展开更多
The original online version of this article (Kitadokoro, K., Matsui, S., Osokoshi, R., Nakata, K. and Kamitani, S. (2018) Expression, Purification and Crystallization of Thermostable Mutant of Cutinase Est1 from Therm...The original online version of this article (Kitadokoro, K., Matsui, S., Osokoshi, R., Nakata, K. and Kamitani, S. (2018) Expression, Purification and Crystallization of Thermostable Mutant of Cutinase Est1 from Thermobifida alba. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 9, 215-223. https://doi.org/10.4236/abb.2018.95015) unfortunately contains some mistakes. The author wishes to correct the errors.展开更多
Laminated elastomeric bearings used in seismic isolation rely on the mechanical properties of their constituent elastomers to ensure effective performance.However,despite their resistance to temperature fluctuations a...Laminated elastomeric bearings used in seismic isolation rely on the mechanical properties of their constituent elastomers to ensure effective performance.However,despite their resistance to temperature fluctuations and environmental aggressors,silicone elastomers exhibit relatively low stiffness,limiting their direct applicability in seismic isolation.This study investigates the effect of fumed silica as a reinforcing filler to enhance the mechanical properties of laminated silicone elastomeric bearings.Elastomeric samples were fabricated with varying fumed silica proportions and subjected to Shore A hardness,uniaxial tensile,and lap shear tests to assess the influence of filler content.Additionally,quasi-static tests were conducted on reduced-scale bearing prototypes under combined vertical compression and cyclic horizontal shear to evaluate their seismic isolation performance.The results demonstrate that fumed silica reinforcement significantly increases stiffness,as evidenced by higher Shore A hardness values.However,a trade-off was observed in tensile properties,with reductions in tensile strength and elongation at break.Despite this,the equivalent elastic modulus did not show substantial variation up to large deformations,indicating that stiffness is preserved under most working conditions.Lap shear tests showed that fumed silica improves shear resistance,while quasi-static tests revealed inelastic behavior with small increases in equivalent shear coefficients but no substantial loss in damping ratios.These findings suggest that fumed silica reinforcement enhances silicone elastomers’stiffness and shear resistance while maintaining moderate damping properties,making it a promising approach for improving the mechanical performance of elastomeric bearings in seismic isolation applications.展开更多
Background Three-dimensional terrain models are essential in domains such as video game development and film production.Because surface color is often correlated with terrain geometry,capturing this relationship is cr...Background Three-dimensional terrain models are essential in domains such as video game development and film production.Because surface color is often correlated with terrain geometry,capturing this relationship is critical for generating realistic results.However,most existing methods synthesize either a heightmap or a texture without adequately modeling their inherent correlation.Methods We propose a method that jointly generates terrain heightmaps and textures using a latent diffusion model.First,we train the model in an unsupervised manner to randomly generate paired heightmaps and textures.Then,we perform supervised learning on an external adapter to enable user control via hand-drawn sketches.Results Experiments demonstrate that our approach supports intuitive terrain generation while preserving the correlation between heightmaps and textures.Conclusion Our method outperforms the two-stage and GAN-based baselines by ensuring structural coherence,in which textures naturally align with geometry,successfully accommodating both realistic landscapes and extreme user-defined shapes.展开更多
The chemo-,regio-,and enantio-controlled synthesis of P-chiral phosphines in a general and efficient manner remains a significant synthetic challenge.In this study,a Pd-catalyzed hydrofunctionalization is developed fo...The chemo-,regio-,and enantio-controlled synthesis of P-chiral phosphines in a general and efficient manner remains a significant synthetic challenge.In this study,a Pd-catalyzed hydrofunctionalization is developed for the highly selective synthesis of P-stereogenic alkenylphosphinates and alkenylphosphine oxides via conjugate addition of enynes.Notably,this methodology is suitable for both phosphine oxide and phosphinate nucleophiles,providing a versatile approach for the construction of diverse P-chiral organophosphosphorus compound.展开更多
In this paper, we propose a novel method using artificial neural networks(ANNs) to reconstruct the global 21 cm signal from measurements of the 21 cm power spectrum. The 21 cm global signal provides crucial informatio...In this paper, we propose a novel method using artificial neural networks(ANNs) to reconstruct the global 21 cm signal from measurements of the 21 cm power spectrum. The 21 cm global signal provides crucial information on cosmic evolution from the Dark Ages through cosmic dawn and the Epoch of Reionization. Single-dish telescopes directly measure the global signal, whereas interferometric experiments primarily measure spatial fluctuations,represented by the 21 cm power spectrum. While no direct mathematical relationship exists between these two observables-since they probe fundamentally independent Fourier modes-they are indirectly linked through their common dependence on underlying astrophysical and cosmological parameters. The ANN effectively learns this implicit, model-dependent relationship, enabling it to predict the global signal from the power spectrum. We demonstrate that the ANN accurately recovers the global 21 cm signal across a broad redshift range(z = 7.5–35)even under realistic observational noise scenarios corresponding to SKA-1 observations. The reconstruction accuracy depends significantly on the spatial scales(wavenumber k) included, with larger-scale modes yielding better results due to their stronger sensitivity to global astrophysical processes. Although the ANN method does not provide a model-independent verification of anomalous observations(e.g., the Experiment to Detect the Global Epoch of Reionization Signature absorption trough), it offers a computationally efficient and robust tool to infer the global signal within the context of standard astrophysical and cosmological models.展开更多
Dietary specialists consume specific prey items,and they are often morphologically and behaviorally specialized to feed efficiently on those prey animals.Among specialist snakes,consumption of terrestrial arthropods i...Dietary specialists consume specific prey items,and they are often morphologically and behaviorally specialized to feed efficiently on those prey animals.Among specialist snakes,consumption of terrestrial arthropods is relatively rare.Because most terrestrial arthropods possess hardened sclerites and appendages,it is possible that snakes that feed on arthropods would show specialized prey-handling behavior.In this study,we describe prey-handling behavior of a snake feeding on terrestrial arthropods,which hitherto has not been well documented.We focused on Rhabdophis chiwen,which mainly feeds on earthworms,but also consumes lampyrine firefly larvae,sequestering cardiotonic steroids from them in its defensive organs,called nucho-dorsal glands.When feeding on earthworms,snakes showed size-dependent selection of swallowing direction,but this tendency was not observed when feeding on firefly larvae.Manipulation of firefly larvae did not seem to be efficient,probably because they possess sclerites and appendages such as legs that impede smooth handling.Although fireflies are an essential food for R.chiwen as a toxin source,our results showed that the snake is not adept at handling firefly larvae compared to earthworms,implying that dietary specialization does not necessarily accompany behavioral specialization.We discuss possible reasons for this inconsistency.展开更多
The Cathaysia block in Southeast China has undergone complex compression,collision and tectonic evolution processes,which have led to the formation of rich granites and polymetallic ores.However,its history of crustal...The Cathaysia block in Southeast China has undergone complex compression,collision and tectonic evolution processes,which have led to the formation of rich granites and polymetallic ores.However,its history of crustal evolution and metallogenic mechanisms remain unclear.To explore the deep geodynamic processes in the central Cathaysia block,we deployed a dense broadband seismic array with a station interval of~5 km from July 2017 to August 2020.This seismic array,composed of 80 portable stations,traverses the Nanling and Wuyi metallogenic belts and crosses four deep faults.We employ the teleseismic receiver-function method to estimate the crustal thickness and vP/vS ratio beneath the seismic array.Our results reveal a distinct negative correlation between the crustal thickness and the vP/vS ratio within the crust,which might be closely associated with crustal deformation.The average crustal thickness is~30 km,indicating that the crust was thinned under an extensional environment.However,the crust beneath the Wuyi belt is slightly thicker and has a lower vP/vS ratio than its adjacent areas,which may reflect thickening of the upper crust due to its ductility and lithospheric delamination.展开更多
The thermal conversion process known as biomass gasification has the potential to produce environmentally friendly fuels such as hydrogen.However,tar generation during the gasification remains an issue,affecting opera...The thermal conversion process known as biomass gasification has the potential to produce environmentally friendly fuels such as hydrogen.However,tar generation during the gasification remains an issue,affecting operational efficiency and environmental health.Biochar has been confirmed as an inexpensive and efficient catalyst for tar removal.The challenge lies in creating a highly reactive biochar which can be applied for different types of biomass with varying properties.This review discusses the factors that affect biochar’s reactivity as a catalyst for tar reforming.Additionally,incorporating biochar into a gasification scenario with raw biomass offers a practical solution by leveraging the synergistic behavior.However,this synergy could be either positive or negative:the positive synergy enhances tar removal while the negative synergy has the opposite effect.The numerous factors affecting the results of gasification are presented in this review.It is concluded that the positive synergistic effect resulted from the balance between the available reactants from biomass and biochar,the optimal gas flowrate and the active sites on the carbon surface.Understanding these interactions is crucial for optimizing biochar performance for tar removal.Ultimately,this research provides insights into biochar’s role in biomass gasification and suggests improvements for future studies to enhance the feasibility of biomass gasification with the assistance of biochar.展开更多
The development of cost-effective solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)is crucial for the large-scale application.In this study,anode-supported SOFC single cells were fabricated using a combination of slurry spraying and spin...The development of cost-effective solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)is crucial for the large-scale application.In this study,anode-supported SOFC single cells were fabricated using a combination of slurry spraying and spin-coating technique to achieve a dense Yttria Stabilized Zirconia(YSZ)electrolyte layer while maintaining low production cost.The electrochemical performance of the fabricated SOFC was evaluated using hydrogen and dry methane as fuels.Microstructural analysis confirmed that the YSZ electrolyte exhibited high densification with a thickness of approximately 10μm,ensuring excellent gas-tightness and preventing fuel crossover.The NiO-YSZ anode demonstrated favorable porosity,with well-sintered NiO particles forming a robust framework to facilitate electrochemical reactions.Performance evaluations revealed that under hydrogen operation,the SOFC achieved a peak power density of 1.408 W/cm^(2)at 1000℃,with open-circuit voltages(OCVs)closely matching theoretical predictions.When operated with dry methane,the SOFC maintained stable performance,reaching a peak power density of 0.96 W/cm^(2)at 1000℃,highlighting its potential for direct hydrocarbon utilization.Gas composition analysis of the anode exhaust confirmed the absence of excessive carbon deposition,indicating the effectiveness of the anode microstructure in mitigating coking during methane oxidation.These findings demonstrate that the spray-coated and spin-coated SOFC design offers a promising approach to improving fuel cell efficiency and cost-effectiveness.Future research should focus on optimizing electrolyte fabrication methods and enhancing anode stability in hydrocarbon-fueled operation to further advance the commercialization of SOFC technology.展开更多
Flight feathers represent a hallmark innovation of avian evolution.Recent comparative genomic analyses identified a 284 bp avian-specific highly conserved element(ASHCE)located within the eighth intron of the SIM bHLH...Flight feathers represent a hallmark innovation of avian evolution.Recent comparative genomic analyses identified a 284 bp avian-specific highly conserved element(ASHCE)located within the eighth intron of the SIM bHLH transcription factor 1(Sim1)gene,postulated to act as a cis-regulatory element governing flight feather morphogenesis.To investigate its functional significance,genome-edited(GE)primordial germ cell(PGC)lines carrying targeted ASHCE deletions were generated using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing,with germline chimeric males subsequently mated with wild-type(WT)hens to obtain GE progeny.The resulting GE chickens harbored 257-260 bp deletions,excising approximately half of the Sim1-ASHCE sequence.Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)analysis showed an average 0.32-fold reduction in Sim1 expression in the forelimbs of GE embryos at day 8(E8)compared to WT counterparts.Despite this,GE chickens developed structurally normal flight and tail feathers.In situ hybridization localized Sim1 expression to the posterior mesenchyme surrounding flight feather buds in E8 WT embryos,but not within the buds themselves.These results suggest that partial deletion of Sim1-ASHCE,despite diminishing Sim1 expression,does not disrupt flight feather formation.The excised region appears to possess enhancer activity toward Sim1 but is dispensable for flight feather development.Complete ablation of the ASHCE will be necessary to fully resolve the regulatory role of Sim1 in avian feather morphogenesis.展开更多
The discontinuation of denosumab[antibody targeting receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand(RANKL)]therapy may increase the risk of multiple vertebral fractures;however,the underlying pathophysiology is la...The discontinuation of denosumab[antibody targeting receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand(RANKL)]therapy may increase the risk of multiple vertebral fractures;however,the underlying pathophysiology is largely unknown.In patients who underwent discontinuation after multiple injections of denosumab,the levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b increased compared to pretreatment levels,indicating a phenomenon known as“overshoot.”The rate of decrease in bone mineral density during the withdrawal period was higher than the rate of decrease associated with aging,suggesting that the physiological bone metabolism had broken down.Overshoot and significant bone loss were also observed in mice receiving continuous administration of anti-RANKL antibody after treatment was interrupted,resembling the original pathology.In mice long out of overshoot,bone resorption recovered,but osteoblast numbers and bone formation remained markedly reduced.The bone marrow exhibited a significant reduction in stem cell(SC)antigen 1-and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha-expressing osteoblast progenitors(PαS cells)and alkaline phosphatase-positive early osteoblasts.Just before the overshoot phase,the osteoclast precursor cell population expands and RANKL-bearing extracellular vesicles(EVs)became abundant in the serum,leading to robust osteoclastogenesis after cessation of anti-RANKL treatment.Thus,accelerated bone resorption due to the accumulation of RANKLbearing EVs and long-term suppression of bone formation uncoupled from bone resorption leads to the severe bone loss characteristic of denosumab discontinuation.展开更多
Traffic at urban intersections frequently encounters unexpected obstructions,resulting in congestion due to uncooperative and priority-based driving behavior.This paper presents an optimal right-turn coordination syst...Traffic at urban intersections frequently encounters unexpected obstructions,resulting in congestion due to uncooperative and priority-based driving behavior.This paper presents an optimal right-turn coordination system for Connected and Automated Vehicles(CAVs)at single-lane intersections,particularly in the context of left-hand side driving on roads.The goal is to facilitate smooth right turns for certain vehicles without creating bottlenecks.We consider that all approaching vehicles share relevant information through vehicular communications.The Intersection Coordination Unit(ICU)processes this information and communicates the optimal crossing or turning times to the vehicles.The primary objective of this coordination is to minimize overall traffic delays,which also helps improve the fuel consumption of vehicles.By considering information from upcoming vehicles at the intersection,the coordination system solves an optimization problem to determine the best timing for executing right turns,ultimately minimizing the total delay for all vehicles.The proposed coordination system is evaluated at a typical urban intersection,and its performance is compared to traditional traffic systems.Numerical simulation results indicate that the proposed coordination system significantly enhances the average traffic speed and fuel consumption compared to the traditional traffic system in various scenarios.展开更多
Stony debris flows,characterized by coarse boulders embedded in a sediment-laden matrix,greatly amplify destructive potential by altering flow dynamics and impact forces.Conventional single-phase particle-fluidmixture...Stony debris flows,characterized by coarse boulders embedded in a sediment-laden matrix,greatly amplify destructive potential by altering flow dynamics and impact forces.Conventional single-phase particle-fluidmixture models often struggle to capture the complexities introduced by coarse boulders and multi-phase interactions,while strong-coupling methods can be computationally prohibitive for practical hazard assessments.In this study,we propose a semi-hybrid,fully resolved coupling numerical framework for modeling boulder-laden debris flows.This framework conceptualizes debris flows as a composite system comprising a continuous viscous fluidphase(including finesediments)and a discrete phase of arbitrarily shaped coarse particles.The continuous phase is treated as a generalized nonlinear Coulomb-viscoplastic fluidusing the smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH)method,while coarse particles are modeled via the distributed contact discrete element method(DCDEM).These two phases are coupled through an efficienttwo-way resolved scheme,ensuring accurate simulation of flow-boulder interactions within a unifiedtimeframe.We validate the proposed method against two physical experiments:(1)gravity-driven concrete flows and(2)debris flowinteracting with slit-type barriers.Results confirmthe method's robustness in accurately capturing fluid-solid-structureinteractions and deposition processes.Its capabilities are further showcased through the simulation of a stony debris-flowevent inWenchuan County,China,highlighting its promise for real-world engineering applications and validating the effectiveness of the existing cascade dam system in mitigating debrisflowimpact and energy dissipation.展开更多
This paper reports the internal structures of the Beichuan fault zone of Longmenshan fault system that caused the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, at an outcrop in Hongkou, Sichuan province, China. Present work is a part of ...This paper reports the internal structures of the Beichuan fault zone of Longmenshan fault system that caused the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, at an outcrop in Hongkou, Sichuan province, China. Present work is a part of comprehensive project of Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, trying to understand deformation processes in Longmenshan fault zones and eventually to reproduce Wenchuan earthquake by modeling based on measured mechanical and transport properties. Outcrop studies could be integrated with those performed on samples recovered from fault zone drilling, during the Wenchuan Earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling （WFSD） Project, to understand along-fault and depth variation of fault zone properties. The hanging wall side of the fault zone consists of weakly-foliated, clayey fault gouge of about 1 m in width and of several fault breccia zones of 30-40 m in total width. We could not find any pseudotachylite at this outcrop. Displacement during the Wenchuan earthquake is highly localized within the fault gouge layer along narrower slipping-zones of about 10 to 20 mm in width. This is an important constraint for analyzing thermal pressurization, an important dynamic weakening mechanism of faults. Overlapping patterns of striations on slickenside surface suggest that seismic slip at a given time occurred in even narrower zone of a few to several millimeters, so that localization of deformation must have occurred within a slipping zone during coseismic fault motion. Fault breccia zones are bounded by thin black gouge layers containing amorphous carbon. Fault gouge contains illite and chlorite minerals, but not smectite. Clayey fault gouge next to coseismic slipping zone also contains amorphous carbon and small amounts of graphite. The structural observations and mineralogical data obtained from outcrop exposures of the fault zone of the Wenchuan earthquake can be compared with those obtained from the WFSD-1 and WFSD-2 boreholes, which have been drilled very close to the Hongkou outcrop. The presence of carbon and graphite, observed next to the slipping-zone, may affect the mechanical properties of the fault and also provide useful information about coseismic chemical changes.展开更多
Ambient coarse particles （diameter 1.8-10 μm）, fine particles （diameter 0.1-1.8 μm）, and ultrafine particles （diameter 〈 0.1 μm） in the atmosphere of the city of Shanghai were sampled during the summer of 20...Ambient coarse particles （diameter 1.8-10 μm）, fine particles （diameter 0.1-1.8 μm）, and ultrafine particles （diameter 〈 0.1 μm） in the atmosphere of the city of Shanghai were sampled during the summer of 2008 （from Aug 27 to Sep 08）. Microscopic characterization of the particles was investigated by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （SEM/EDX）. Mass concentrations of Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, and Pb in the size-resolved particles were quantified by using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence （SRXRF）. Source apportionment of the chemical elements was analyzed by means of an enrichment factor method. Our results showed that the average mass concentrations of coarse particles, fine particles and ultrafine particles in the summer air were 9.38 ± 2.18, 8.82 ± 3.52, and 2.02 ± 0.41 μg/m3, respectively. The mass percentage of the fine particles accounted for 51.47% in the total mass of PM10, indicating that fine particles are the major component in the Shanghai ambient particles. SEM/EDX results showed that the coarse particles were dominated by minerals, fine particles by soot aggregates and fly ashes, and ultrafine particles by soot particles and unidentified particles. SRXRF results demonstrated that crustal elements were mainly distributed in the coarse particles, while heavy metals were in higher proportions in the fine particles. Source apportionment revealed that Si, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Rb, and Sr were from crustal sources, and S, Cl, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, and Pb from anthropogenic sources. Levels of P, V, Cr, and Ni in particles might be contributed from multi-sources, and need further investigation.展开更多
基金the Chinese Academy of Sciences Pioneer Hundred Talents Program and the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(Grant No.2019QZKK0708)supported by a MEXT(Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology)KAKENHI(Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research)grant(Grant No.21H05203)Kobe University Strategic International Collaborative Research Grant(Type B Fostering Joint Research).
文摘The intracontinental subduction of a>200-km-long section of the Tajik-Tarim lithosphere beneath the Pamir Mountains is proposed to explain nearly 30 km of shortening in the Tajik fold-thrust belt and the Pamir uplift.Seismic imaging revealed that the upper slab was scraped and that the lower slab had subducted to a depth of>150 km.These features constitute the tectonic complexity of the Pamirs,as well as the thermal subduction mechanism involved,which remains poorly understood.Hence,in this study,high-resolution three-dimensional(3D)kinematic modeling is applied to investigate the thermal structure and geometry of the subducting slab beneath the Pamirs.The modeled slab configuration reveals distinct along-strike variations,with a steeply dipping slab beneath the southern Pamirs,a more gently inclined slab beneath the northern Pamirs,and apparent upper slab termination at shallow depths beneath the Pamirs.The thermal field reveals a cold slab core after delamination,with temperatures ranging from 400℃to 800℃,enveloped by a hotter mantle reaching~1400℃.The occurrence of intermediate-depth earthquakes aligns primarily with colder slab regions,particularly near the slab tear-off below the southwestern Pamirs,indicating a strong correlation between slab temperature and seismicity.In contrast,the northern Pamirs exhibit reduced seismicity at depth,which is likely associated with thermal weakening and delamination.The central Pamirs show a significant thermal anomaly caused by a concave slab,where the coldest crust does not descend deeply,further suggesting crustal detachment or mechanical failure.The lateral asymmetry in slab temperature possibly explains the mechanism of lateral tearing and differential slab-mantle coupling.
基金supported by the Special Edu-cational Research Budget(Research Promotion)[FY2009]the Special Budget(Project)[FY2010 and later years]from the Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology(MEXT),Japansupported by the GRENE Arctic Climate Change Research Project,Japan
文摘To comprehensively understand the Arctic and Antarctic upper atmosphere, it is often crucial to analyze various data that are obtained from many regions. Infrastructure that promotes such interdisciplinary studies on the upper atmosphere has been developed by a Japanese inter-university project called the Inter-university Upper atmosphere Global Observation Network （1UGONET）. The objective of this paper is to describe the infrastructure and tools developed by IUGONET. We focus on the data analysis software. It is written in Interactive Data Language （IDL） and is a plug-in for the THEMIS Data Analysis Software suite （TDAS）, which is a set of IDL libraries used to visualize and analyze satellite- and ground-based data. We present plots of upper atmospheric data provided by IUGONET as examples of applications, and verify the usefulness of the software in the study of polar science. We discuss IUGONET＇s new and unique developments, i.e., an executable file of TDAS that can run on the IDL Virtual Machine, IDL routines to retrieve metadata from the IUGONET database, and an archive of 3-D simulation data that uses the Common Data Format so that it can easily be used with TDAS.
基金the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(32192421)the Special Grant Foundations for National Science and &Technology Basic Research Program of China(2021FY100303)the DFGP Project of Fauna of Guangdong Province(202115)。
文摘Three common species of Miniopterus fuliginosus,M.magnater and M.pusillus are known to inhabit China.However,M.fuliginosus and M.magnater are so similar in external morphology as to pose great challenges for accurate classification.Furthermore,taxonomic statuses,distribution ranges and taxonomic keys of these three species have remained controversial.For addressing these outstanding issues,the authors integrated molecular phylogenetic analyses,ensemble species distribution models(ESDMs),multiple morphological comparisons and decision tree algorithms for reassessing their taxonomy and distribution in China.Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I(COI)gene phylogeny revealed three distinct monophyletic groups corresponding to M.fuliginosus,M.magnater and M.pusillus.And the observed distribution patterns indicated M.fuliginosus had a broad distribution across China while M.magnater and M.pusillus exhibited a more restricted distribution,overlapping with M.fuliginosus in South China.And cranial morphometry indicated M.magnater was slightly larger than M.fuliginosus and significantly larger than M.pusillus.Also three-dimensional(3D)skull geomorphometry uncovered distinct features for each species in rostrum,braincase,tympanic bullae and mandibular shape.Decision tree algorithms helped to identify forearm length,braincase breadth and width across the third upper molars as three major taxonomic keys for assisting species identification.This study corroborated the importance of integrative approaches for identifying Miniopterus species and validated a methodological approach applicable to other cryptic species complexes.
文摘The original online version of this article (Kitadokoro, K., Matsui, S., Osokoshi, R., Nakata, K. and Kamitani, S. (2018) Expression, Purification and Crystallization of Thermostable Mutant of Cutinase Est1 from Thermobifida alba. Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 9, 215-223. https://doi.org/10.4236/abb.2018.95015) unfortunately contains some mistakes. The author wishes to correct the errors.
文摘Laminated elastomeric bearings used in seismic isolation rely on the mechanical properties of their constituent elastomers to ensure effective performance.However,despite their resistance to temperature fluctuations and environmental aggressors,silicone elastomers exhibit relatively low stiffness,limiting their direct applicability in seismic isolation.This study investigates the effect of fumed silica as a reinforcing filler to enhance the mechanical properties of laminated silicone elastomeric bearings.Elastomeric samples were fabricated with varying fumed silica proportions and subjected to Shore A hardness,uniaxial tensile,and lap shear tests to assess the influence of filler content.Additionally,quasi-static tests were conducted on reduced-scale bearing prototypes under combined vertical compression and cyclic horizontal shear to evaluate their seismic isolation performance.The results demonstrate that fumed silica reinforcement significantly increases stiffness,as evidenced by higher Shore A hardness values.However,a trade-off was observed in tensile properties,with reductions in tensile strength and elongation at break.Despite this,the equivalent elastic modulus did not show substantial variation up to large deformations,indicating that stiffness is preserved under most working conditions.Lap shear tests showed that fumed silica improves shear resistance,while quasi-static tests revealed inelastic behavior with small increases in equivalent shear coefficients but no substantial loss in damping ratios.These findings suggest that fumed silica reinforcement enhances silicone elastomers’stiffness and shear resistance while maintaining moderate damping properties,making it a promising approach for improving the mechanical performance of elastomeric bearings in seismic isolation applications.
文摘Background Three-dimensional terrain models are essential in domains such as video game development and film production.Because surface color is often correlated with terrain geometry,capturing this relationship is critical for generating realistic results.However,most existing methods synthesize either a heightmap or a texture without adequately modeling their inherent correlation.Methods We propose a method that jointly generates terrain heightmaps and textures using a latent diffusion model.First,we train the model in an unsupervised manner to randomly generate paired heightmaps and textures.Then,we perform supervised learning on an external adapter to enable user control via hand-drawn sketches.Results Experiments demonstrate that our approach supports intuitive terrain generation while preserving the correlation between heightmaps and textures.Conclusion Our method outperforms the two-stage and GAN-based baselines by ensuring structural coherence,in which textures naturally align with geometry,successfully accommodating both realistic landscapes and extreme user-defined shapes.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC,No.22271241),Yunnan Key Laboratory of Chiral Functional Substance Research and Application(No.202402AN360010)Research Grants Council of Hong Kong(GRF,No.12303422)HKBU KRPS grant for financial support.
文摘The chemo-,regio-,and enantio-controlled synthesis of P-chiral phosphines in a general and efficient manner remains a significant synthetic challenge.In this study,a Pd-catalyzed hydrofunctionalization is developed for the highly selective synthesis of P-stereogenic alkenylphosphinates and alkenylphosphine oxides via conjugate addition of enynes.Notably,this methodology is suitable for both phosphine oxide and phosphinate nucleophiles,providing a versatile approach for the construction of diverse P-chiral organophosphosphorus compound.
基金supported by the National SKA Program of China(No.2020SKA0110401)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC,grant No.12103044).
文摘In this paper, we propose a novel method using artificial neural networks(ANNs) to reconstruct the global 21 cm signal from measurements of the 21 cm power spectrum. The 21 cm global signal provides crucial information on cosmic evolution from the Dark Ages through cosmic dawn and the Epoch of Reionization. Single-dish telescopes directly measure the global signal, whereas interferometric experiments primarily measure spatial fluctuations,represented by the 21 cm power spectrum. While no direct mathematical relationship exists between these two observables-since they probe fundamentally independent Fourier modes-they are indirectly linked through their common dependence on underlying astrophysical and cosmological parameters. The ANN effectively learns this implicit, model-dependent relationship, enabling it to predict the global signal from the power spectrum. We demonstrate that the ANN accurately recovers the global 21 cm signal across a broad redshift range(z = 7.5–35)even under realistic observational noise scenarios corresponding to SKA-1 observations. The reconstruction accuracy depends significantly on the spatial scales(wavenumber k) included, with larger-scale modes yielding better results due to their stronger sensitivity to global astrophysical processes. Although the ANN method does not provide a model-independent verification of anomalous observations(e.g., the Experiment to Detect the Global Epoch of Reionization Signature absorption trough), it offers a computationally efficient and robust tool to infer the global signal within the context of standard astrophysical and cosmological models.
基金supported in part by JST SPRING(JPMJSP2110)by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research(18KK0205,21H02551)Shosuke Takeuchi for personal funding.
文摘Dietary specialists consume specific prey items,and they are often morphologically and behaviorally specialized to feed efficiently on those prey animals.Among specialist snakes,consumption of terrestrial arthropods is relatively rare.Because most terrestrial arthropods possess hardened sclerites and appendages,it is possible that snakes that feed on arthropods would show specialized prey-handling behavior.In this study,we describe prey-handling behavior of a snake feeding on terrestrial arthropods,which hitherto has not been well documented.We focused on Rhabdophis chiwen,which mainly feeds on earthworms,but also consumes lampyrine firefly larvae,sequestering cardiotonic steroids from them in its defensive organs,called nucho-dorsal glands.When feeding on earthworms,snakes showed size-dependent selection of swallowing direction,but this tendency was not observed when feeding on firefly larvae.Manipulation of firefly larvae did not seem to be efficient,probably because they possess sclerites and appendages such as legs that impede smooth handling.Although fireflies are an essential food for R.chiwen as a toxin source,our results showed that the snake is not adept at handling firefly larvae compared to earthworms,implying that dietary specialization does not necessarily accompany behavioral specialization.We discuss possible reasons for this inconsistency.
基金co-supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2016YFC0600201)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41974060 and 41630320)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2-9-2019-037).
文摘The Cathaysia block in Southeast China has undergone complex compression,collision and tectonic evolution processes,which have led to the formation of rich granites and polymetallic ores.However,its history of crustal evolution and metallogenic mechanisms remain unclear.To explore the deep geodynamic processes in the central Cathaysia block,we deployed a dense broadband seismic array with a station interval of~5 km from July 2017 to August 2020.This seismic array,composed of 80 portable stations,traverses the Nanling and Wuyi metallogenic belts and crosses four deep faults.We employ the teleseismic receiver-function method to estimate the crustal thickness and vP/vS ratio beneath the seismic array.Our results reveal a distinct negative correlation between the crustal thickness and the vP/vS ratio within the crust,which might be closely associated with crustal deformation.The average crustal thickness is~30 km,indicating that the crust was thinned under an extensional environment.However,the crust beneath the Wuyi belt is slightly thicker and has a lower vP/vS ratio than its adjacent areas,which may reflect thickening of the upper crust due to its ductility and lithospheric delamination.
基金supported by JST Grant Number JPMJPF2104,Japan.Az Zahra and Alahakoon gratefully acknowledge MEXT of Japan for the scholarship.
文摘The thermal conversion process known as biomass gasification has the potential to produce environmentally friendly fuels such as hydrogen.However,tar generation during the gasification remains an issue,affecting operational efficiency and environmental health.Biochar has been confirmed as an inexpensive and efficient catalyst for tar removal.The challenge lies in creating a highly reactive biochar which can be applied for different types of biomass with varying properties.This review discusses the factors that affect biochar’s reactivity as a catalyst for tar reforming.Additionally,incorporating biochar into a gasification scenario with raw biomass offers a practical solution by leveraging the synergistic behavior.However,this synergy could be either positive or negative:the positive synergy enhances tar removal while the negative synergy has the opposite effect.The numerous factors affecting the results of gasification are presented in this review.It is concluded that the positive synergistic effect resulted from the balance between the available reactants from biomass and biochar,the optimal gas flowrate and the active sites on the carbon surface.Understanding these interactions is crucial for optimizing biochar performance for tar removal.Ultimately,this research provides insights into biochar’s role in biomass gasification and suggests improvements for future studies to enhance the feasibility of biomass gasification with the assistance of biochar.
基金supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 22K04732,Japan.
文摘The development of cost-effective solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)is crucial for the large-scale application.In this study,anode-supported SOFC single cells were fabricated using a combination of slurry spraying and spin-coating technique to achieve a dense Yttria Stabilized Zirconia(YSZ)electrolyte layer while maintaining low production cost.The electrochemical performance of the fabricated SOFC was evaluated using hydrogen and dry methane as fuels.Microstructural analysis confirmed that the YSZ electrolyte exhibited high densification with a thickness of approximately 10μm,ensuring excellent gas-tightness and preventing fuel crossover.The NiO-YSZ anode demonstrated favorable porosity,with well-sintered NiO particles forming a robust framework to facilitate electrochemical reactions.Performance evaluations revealed that under hydrogen operation,the SOFC achieved a peak power density of 1.408 W/cm^(2)at 1000℃,with open-circuit voltages(OCVs)closely matching theoretical predictions.When operated with dry methane,the SOFC maintained stable performance,reaching a peak power density of 0.96 W/cm^(2)at 1000℃,highlighting its potential for direct hydrocarbon utilization.Gas composition analysis of the anode exhaust confirmed the absence of excessive carbon deposition,indicating the effectiveness of the anode microstructure in mitigating coking during methane oxidation.These findings demonstrate that the spray-coated and spin-coated SOFC design offers a promising approach to improving fuel cell efficiency and cost-effectiveness.Future research should focus on optimizing electrolyte fabrication methods and enhancing anode stability in hydrocarbon-fueled operation to further advance the commercialization of SOFC technology.
基金supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China(125A0607)Department of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province(XDYC-KJLJ-2022-0004)。
文摘Flight feathers represent a hallmark innovation of avian evolution.Recent comparative genomic analyses identified a 284 bp avian-specific highly conserved element(ASHCE)located within the eighth intron of the SIM bHLH transcription factor 1(Sim1)gene,postulated to act as a cis-regulatory element governing flight feather morphogenesis.To investigate its functional significance,genome-edited(GE)primordial germ cell(PGC)lines carrying targeted ASHCE deletions were generated using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing,with germline chimeric males subsequently mated with wild-type(WT)hens to obtain GE progeny.The resulting GE chickens harbored 257-260 bp deletions,excising approximately half of the Sim1-ASHCE sequence.Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)analysis showed an average 0.32-fold reduction in Sim1 expression in the forelimbs of GE embryos at day 8(E8)compared to WT counterparts.Despite this,GE chickens developed structurally normal flight and tail feathers.In situ hybridization localized Sim1 expression to the posterior mesenchyme surrounding flight feather buds in E8 WT embryos,but not within the buds themselves.These results suggest that partial deletion of Sim1-ASHCE,despite diminishing Sim1 expression,does not disrupt flight feather formation.The excised region appears to possess enhancer activity toward Sim1 but is dispensable for flight feather development.Complete ablation of the ASHCE will be necessary to fully resolve the regulatory role of Sim1 in avian feather morphogenesis.
文摘The discontinuation of denosumab[antibody targeting receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand(RANKL)]therapy may increase the risk of multiple vertebral fractures;however,the underlying pathophysiology is largely unknown.In patients who underwent discontinuation after multiple injections of denosumab,the levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b increased compared to pretreatment levels,indicating a phenomenon known as“overshoot.”The rate of decrease in bone mineral density during the withdrawal period was higher than the rate of decrease associated with aging,suggesting that the physiological bone metabolism had broken down.Overshoot and significant bone loss were also observed in mice receiving continuous administration of anti-RANKL antibody after treatment was interrupted,resembling the original pathology.In mice long out of overshoot,bone resorption recovered,but osteoblast numbers and bone formation remained markedly reduced.The bone marrow exhibited a significant reduction in stem cell(SC)antigen 1-and platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha-expressing osteoblast progenitors(PαS cells)and alkaline phosphatase-positive early osteoblasts.Just before the overshoot phase,the osteoclast precursor cell population expands and RANKL-bearing extracellular vesicles(EVs)became abundant in the serum,leading to robust osteoclastogenesis after cessation of anti-RANKL treatment.Thus,accelerated bone resorption due to the accumulation of RANKLbearing EVs and long-term suppression of bone formation uncoupled from bone resorption leads to the severe bone loss characteristic of denosumab discontinuation.
基金supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS)Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C)23K03898.
文摘Traffic at urban intersections frequently encounters unexpected obstructions,resulting in congestion due to uncooperative and priority-based driving behavior.This paper presents an optimal right-turn coordination system for Connected and Automated Vehicles(CAVs)at single-lane intersections,particularly in the context of left-hand side driving on roads.The goal is to facilitate smooth right turns for certain vehicles without creating bottlenecks.We consider that all approaching vehicles share relevant information through vehicular communications.The Intersection Coordination Unit(ICU)processes this information and communicates the optimal crossing or turning times to the vehicles.The primary objective of this coordination is to minimize overall traffic delays,which also helps improve the fuel consumption of vehicles.By considering information from upcoming vehicles at the intersection,the coordination system solves an optimization problem to determine the best timing for executing right turns,ultimately minimizing the total delay for all vehicles.The proposed coordination system is evaluated at a typical urban intersection,and its performance is compared to traditional traffic systems.Numerical simulation results indicate that the proposed coordination system significantly enhances the average traffic speed and fuel consumption compared to the traditional traffic system in various scenarios.
基金supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS)KAKENHI(Grant Nos.JP23KK0182,JP23K26356,and JP24K00971).
文摘Stony debris flows,characterized by coarse boulders embedded in a sediment-laden matrix,greatly amplify destructive potential by altering flow dynamics and impact forces.Conventional single-phase particle-fluidmixture models often struggle to capture the complexities introduced by coarse boulders and multi-phase interactions,while strong-coupling methods can be computationally prohibitive for practical hazard assessments.In this study,we propose a semi-hybrid,fully resolved coupling numerical framework for modeling boulder-laden debris flows.This framework conceptualizes debris flows as a composite system comprising a continuous viscous fluidphase(including finesediments)and a discrete phase of arbitrarily shaped coarse particles.The continuous phase is treated as a generalized nonlinear Coulomb-viscoplastic fluidusing the smoothed particle hydrodynamics(SPH)method,while coarse particles are modeled via the distributed contact discrete element method(DCDEM).These two phases are coupled through an efficienttwo-way resolved scheme,ensuring accurate simulation of flow-boulder interactions within a unifiedtimeframe.We validate the proposed method against two physical experiments:(1)gravity-driven concrete flows and(2)debris flowinteracting with slit-type barriers.Results confirmthe method's robustness in accurately capturing fluid-solid-structureinteractions and deposition processes.Its capabilities are further showcased through the simulation of a stony debris-flowevent inWenchuan County,China,highlighting its promise for real-world engineering applications and validating the effectiveness of the existing cascade dam system in mitigating debrisflowimpact and energy dissipation.
基金supported by State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics(project No. LED2008A03) Wenchuan Earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling Project(WFSD),by a Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows(No.201007605) to the first author (T.Togo),and by a 2009 Grant-in-Aid of Fukada Geological Institute
文摘This paper reports the internal structures of the Beichuan fault zone of Longmenshan fault system that caused the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, at an outcrop in Hongkou, Sichuan province, China. Present work is a part of comprehensive project of Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, trying to understand deformation processes in Longmenshan fault zones and eventually to reproduce Wenchuan earthquake by modeling based on measured mechanical and transport properties. Outcrop studies could be integrated with those performed on samples recovered from fault zone drilling, during the Wenchuan Earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling （WFSD） Project, to understand along-fault and depth variation of fault zone properties. The hanging wall side of the fault zone consists of weakly-foliated, clayey fault gouge of about 1 m in width and of several fault breccia zones of 30-40 m in total width. We could not find any pseudotachylite at this outcrop. Displacement during the Wenchuan earthquake is highly localized within the fault gouge layer along narrower slipping-zones of about 10 to 20 mm in width. This is an important constraint for analyzing thermal pressurization, an important dynamic weakening mechanism of faults. Overlapping patterns of striations on slickenside surface suggest that seismic slip at a given time occurred in even narrower zone of a few to several millimeters, so that localization of deformation must have occurred within a slipping zone during coseismic fault motion. Fault breccia zones are bounded by thin black gouge layers containing amorphous carbon. Fault gouge contains illite and chlorite minerals, but not smectite. Clayey fault gouge next to coseismic slipping zone also contains amorphous carbon and small amounts of graphite. The structural observations and mineralogical data obtained from outcrop exposures of the fault zone of the Wenchuan earthquake can be compared with those obtained from the WFSD-1 and WFSD-2 boreholes, which have been drilled very close to the Hongkou outcrop. The presence of carbon and graphite, observed next to the slipping-zone, may affect the mechanical properties of the fault and also provide useful information about coseismic chemical changes.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 10775094, 40973072,41073073)the Shanghai Pujiang Talent Program,the Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology (No.10JC1405500)+1 种基金the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (No. 11ZZ80)the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (No.S30109)
文摘Ambient coarse particles （diameter 1.8-10 μm）, fine particles （diameter 0.1-1.8 μm）, and ultrafine particles （diameter 〈 0.1 μm） in the atmosphere of the city of Shanghai were sampled during the summer of 2008 （from Aug 27 to Sep 08）. Microscopic characterization of the particles was investigated by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy （SEM/EDX）. Mass concentrations of Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, and Pb in the size-resolved particles were quantified by using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence （SRXRF）. Source apportionment of the chemical elements was analyzed by means of an enrichment factor method. Our results showed that the average mass concentrations of coarse particles, fine particles and ultrafine particles in the summer air were 9.38 ± 2.18, 8.82 ± 3.52, and 2.02 ± 0.41 μg/m3, respectively. The mass percentage of the fine particles accounted for 51.47% in the total mass of PM10, indicating that fine particles are the major component in the Shanghai ambient particles. SEM/EDX results showed that the coarse particles were dominated by minerals, fine particles by soot aggregates and fly ashes, and ultrafine particles by soot particles and unidentified particles. SRXRF results demonstrated that crustal elements were mainly distributed in the coarse particles, while heavy metals were in higher proportions in the fine particles. Source apportionment revealed that Si, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Rb, and Sr were from crustal sources, and S, Cl, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, and Pb from anthropogenic sources. Levels of P, V, Cr, and Ni in particles might be contributed from multi-sources, and need further investigation.
