Chuzhou University

Geotextiles are excellent anti-filtration materials commonly used in the field of water conservancy engineering; however, the factors affecting the water permeability performance of geotextiles under stressed states during operation have not been fully identified. To investigate the effect of unidirectional stretching on the water permeability of geotextiles, a unidirectional rheological head infiltration test was conducted on the geotextiles using a self-developed test apparatus. In addition, the water permeability of geotextiles with different thicknesses and tensile states was calculated using a set of water permeability calculation methods based on the nonlaminar flow state of geotextiles. The results showed that the water permeability of the W120 geotextile samples initially decreased and then increased under warp stretching and gradually increased under weft stretching. However, the water permeability of the W200 geotextile samples initially decreased and then increased under both warp and weft stretching. Therefore, the thickness of the geotextile affected its permeability properties.

Ultrasonication was used to enhance the low infrared emissivity of a polyurethane (PU)/Al composite coating. The effects that ultrasonication power, ultrasonication time, and pulse time have on the microstructure, infrared emissivity, glossiness, and mechanical properties of the coating were systematically studied. The findings indicate that the thickness of the surface resin layer in the coating decreased noticeably as the ultrasonication power increased but was lower than 50 W. Additionally, the dispersion uniformity and horizontal orientation state of Al powder flakes in the coating significantly improved. After 1 min of ultrasonication, the dispersion state and horizontal orientation state of Al powder flakes as well as the overall surface state of the coating significantly improved. Therefore, infrared emissivity and glossiness of the coating are greatly diminished. These findings indicate that using ultrasonication effectively enhances the microstructure and optical properties of the coating. When the ultrasonic power was 50 W, the ultrasonication time was 5 min, and the pulse time was 2 s/4 s; also, the coating simultaneously had the best infrared emissivity (0.130), glossiness (9.5), adhesion strength (grade 1), flexibility (2 mm), and impact strength (50 kg cm). This work shows that ultrasonic treatment has important value as reference information for use in improving the comprehensive properties of coatings with low infrared emissivity.

This study aims to broaden the current knowledge on the effect of entrepreneurial commitment on entrepreneurial performance. Specifically, this study investigates how entrepreneurial commitment affects entrepreneurial performance through the mediation effect of family-work conflict, and the moderation effect of organization-family support. Using survey data collected from 246 China’s entrepreneurs, this study finds that entrepreneurial commitment affects entrepreneurial performance through family-work conflict/enhancement. In addition, organization-family support has a negatively moderating effect on the relationship of family-work conflict and entrepreneurial performance, and a positively moderating effect on the relationship of family-work enhancement and entrepreneurial performance. This study contributes theoretically to the literature on the relationship of entrepreneurial commitment and entrepreneurial performance through family-work conflict/enhancement, which can help entrepreneurs balance the entrepreneur and family identities.

There are still many challenges including low conductivity of cathodes, shuttle effect of polysulfides, and significant volume change of sulfur during cycling to be solved before practical applications of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. In this work, (FeO)2FeBO3 nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on interconnected nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (NCNs) were synthesized, serving as sulfur carriers for Li–S batteries to solve such issues. NCNs have the cross-linked network structure, which possess good electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, and abundant micropores and mesopores, enabling the cathode to be well infiltrated and permeated by the electrolyte, ensuring the rapid electron/ion transfer, and alleviating the volume expansion during the electrochemical reaction. In addition, polar (FeO)2FeBO3 can enhance the adsorption of polysulfides, effectively alleviating the polysulfide shuttle effect. Under a current density of 1.0 A·g−1, the initial discharging and charging specific capacities of the (FeO)2FeBO3@NCNs-2/S electrode were obtained to be 1113.2 and 1098.3 mA·h·g−1, respectively. After 1000 cycles, its capacity maintained at 436.8 mA·h·g−1, displaying a decay rate of 0.08% per cycle. Therefore, combining NCNs with (FeO)2FeBO3 NPs is conducive to the performance improvement of Li–S batteries.

The development of a bridge damage detection method relies on comprehensive dynamic responses pertaining to damage. The numerical model of a bridge can conveniently considers various damage scenarios and acquire pertinent data, while the entity of a bridge or its physical model proves challenging. Traditional methods for identifying bridge damage often struggle to effectively utilize data acquired from diverse domains, presenting a significant hurdle in addressing cross-domain issues. This study proposes a novel cross-domain damage identification method for suspension bridges using recurrence plots and convolutional neural networks. By employing parameter identification-based modal modification of numerical model, the gap between numerical model and physical models eliminated. Un-threshold multivariate recurrence plots are used for accurately characterizing dynamic responses and extracting deeper damage features. Due to the scarcity of experimental data, which limits the training of robust neural networks, a transfer learning tailored for convolutional neural networks is implemented. This strategy not only addresses the issue of small sample sizes but also significantly enhances the network's ability to identify structural damage across diverse bridge domains. The proposed damage identification method is validated using a combination of numerical simulations and physical experiments on a specific single-span suspension bridge. Results demonstrate that un-threshold multivariate recurrence plots reveal detailed internal structure and damage information. Furthermore, the utilization of improved convolutional neural networks effectively facilitates cross-domain structural damage identification, marking a significant advancement in the field of structural health monitoring.

Global human‐induced warming has intensified water circulation in the atmospheric environment and altered the streamflow generation regime. The VIC hydrological model approach for impact assessment of climate change and human activities mainly focuses on variations in streamflow, but ignores other critical flooding characteristics induced by extreme streamflow, especially bivariate flooding characteristics. In this work, the copula functions are employed to structure the flooding risk under the shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) across the Yellow River basin (YRB). This is based on the multi‐model ensemble (MME) and Delta downscaling outputs (Delta‐MME) of the CMIP6 global climate models (GCMs), as well as the flooding characteristics simulated by VIC hydrological model. Compared to the reference period (1995–2014), Delta‐MME reveals a significant warming and humidifying trend under three SSPs over the YRB. Despite uncertainties originating from climate variables and hydrological model, multiple findings underscore the substantial influence of climate change on the flooding generation regime in YRB. This includes: (a) an increase in the streamflow under all SSPs; (b) a larger flooding peak (Q) and volume (W) under SSP585, with Q and W at the Huayuankou hydrologic station (HYK) increasing by 52.7% and 44.8%, respectively; (c) an advancement in the bivariate flooding risk, particularly in SSP585 where flooding co‐occurrence return period at HYK may be more than 50 times earlier. This study underscores that the urgent need to enhance social resilience to climate change in the YRB.

Despite the widespread investigations on the M‐N‐C type single atom catalysts (SACs) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), an internal conflict between its intrinsic thermodynamically structural instability and apparent catalytic steadiness has long been ignored. Clearly unfolding this contradiction is necessary and meaningful for understanding the real structure‐property relation of SACs. Herein, by using the well‐designed pH‐dependent metal leaching experiments and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, an unconventional structure reconstruction of M‐N‐C catalyst during OER process was observed. Combining with density functional theory calculations, the initial Ni‐N coordination is easily broken in the presence of adsorbed OH*, leading to favorable formation of Ni‐O coordination. The formed Ni‐O works stably as the real active center for OER catalysis in alkaline media but unstably in acid, which clearly explains the existing conflict. Unveiling the internal contradiction between structural instability and catalytic steadiness provides valuable insights for rational design of single atom OER catalysts.

Despite the widespread investigations on the M‐N‐C type single atom catalysts (SACs) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), an internal conflict between its intrinsic thermodynamically structural instability and apparent catalytic steadiness has long been ignored. Clearly unfolding this contradiction is necessary and meaningful for understanding the real structure‐property relation of SACs. Herein, by using the well‐designed pH‐dependent metal leaching experiments and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, an unconventional structure reconstruction of M‐N‐C catalyst during OER process was observed. Combining with density functional theory calculations, the initial Ni‐N coordination is easily broken in the presence of adsorbed OH*, leading to favorable formation of Ni‐O coordination. The formed Ni‐O works stably as the real active center for OER catalysis in alkaline media but unstably in acid, which clearly explains the existing conflict. Unveiling the internal contradiction between structural instability and catalytic steadiness provides valuable insights for rational design of single atom OER catalysts.

Objective This study aimed to develop and evaluate machine-learning models for predicting the onset of overweight in adolescents aged 14‒17, utilizing easily collectible personal information. Methods This study was a one-year prospective cohort study. Baseline data were collected through anthropometric measurements and questionnaires, and the incidence of overweight was calculated one year later via anthropometric measurements. Predictive factors were selected through univariate analysis. Six machine-learning models were developed for predicting the onset of overweight. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was used for global and local interpretation of the models. Results Out of 1,241 adolescents, 204 (16.4%) were identified as overweight after one year. Nineteen features were associated with the overweight incidence in univariable analysis. Participants were randomly divided into a training group and a testing group in a 7:3 ratio. The Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM) algorithm achieved outperformed other models, achieving the following metrics: Accuracy (0.956), Recall (0.812), Specificity (0.983), F1-score (0.855), AUC (0.961). Importance ranking revealed that the top 11 minimal feature set can maintain the stability of model performance. Conclusions The onset of overweight in adolescents was accurately predicted using easily collectible personal information. The LGBM-based model exhibited superior performance. Oversampling technique notably improved model performance. The model interpretation technique provided innovative strategies for managing adolescent overweight/obesity.

Herein, a novel strategy is presented for the photoinduced decarboxylative and dehydrogenative cross-coupling of a wide range of α-fluoroacrylic acids with hydrogermanes.

Metal oxide composites are increasingly developed under the influence of green synthesis technology. However, the lake water environment is getting worse and worse, and the contents of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are seriously exceeding the standard. The outbreak of cyanobacteria caused by eutrophication is getting worse and worse. Microcystin (MC) is a natural toxin caused by cyanobacteria. The death accidents of aquatic animals, birds, animals and even people caused by MC occur from time to time. MC-LR is the most common and abundant microcystins in MC. MC-RR is the two microcystins (L and R represent leucine and tyrosine respectively). Therefore, MC prediction in water is very necessary. However, the existing forecasting means are single and backward, and the emergency monitoring capacity is insufficient. Based on this, this paper established a cyanobacteria information collection system, analyzed and simulated the cyanobacteria sampling, analyzed the vertical distribution characteristics of microcystin during the accumulation of cyanobacteria, and studied the changes of its characteristics, thus providing a scientific basis for the prevention and control of cyanobacteria aggregation. In order to accurately predict the change of MC in cyanobacteria bloom, a set of cyanobacteria information collection system was established using modern technology to achieve the goal of real-time and accurate monitoring of cyanobacteria. The experiment showed that the concentration of MC-LR is higher than that of MC-RR in the process of cyanobacteria aggregation, regardless of the sediment thickness. In the process of blue-green algae deposition, the concentration range of MC-LR is 1.37ng/g ∼ 6.89ng/g, and the concentration range of MC-RR is 0.32ng/g ∼ 5.38ng/g. This experiment has certain significance for predicting the change of MC concentration in water and sediment during algae accumulation and sedimentation in natural water environment, and for carrying out comprehensive water environment management.

This study presents the initial sequencing and characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Hyalinocerus flavoscutatus, making the first comprehensive exploration of the mitogenome in the Hyalinocerus. Utilizing next-generation sequencing techniques, we identified a circular DNA molecule spanning 15,307 bp. The mitogenome comprises 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a primary non-coding region. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic evaluation, based on 13 protein-coding genes and two ribosomal RNA genes, robustly supports H. flavoscutatus as the basal group within Idiocerini. This research unveils valuable insights into the mitogenome of H. flavoscutatus and enhances our understanding of phylogenetic placement within the broader context of related tribes.

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Anidiocerus bimaculatus was sequenced and annotated for the first time, which belongs to the subfamily Eurymelinae. The mitogenome of A. bimaculatus was 15,267 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and one non-coding control region. In this mitogenome, all the PCGs are initially encoded by ATT, ATA, ATG, or TTG, and terminated by TAA, or single T. The overall base composition of A. bimaculatus is 43.6% adenines, 36.0% thymines, 9.1% guanines, and 11.3% cytosines. ML phylogenetic analyses confirmed that Idiocerini forms a monophyletic clade and the newly sequenced A. bimaculatus clustered within the Idiocerini clade based on 13 protein-coding genes and two rRNA genes.

This study examines the effects of water vapor on the performance and stability of a Roots-type hydrogen circulation pump. The accuracy of the numerical model was initially confirmed using air as the experimental medium, and subsequent simulations were conducted with pure hydrogen or mixed media containing water vapor. Analysis of pressure and velocity distribution within the pump revealed that water vapor does not significantly impact these factors. However, the interaction between hydrogen and water vapor results in the formation of larger hydrogen clusters, reducing internal leakage flow and leading to a slight increase in inlet and outlet flow rates. The presence of water vapor in the suction chamber increases turbulence energy in the root region of the rotor, influencing flow patterns and creating multi-scale vortex structures. In the exhaust chamber, the turbulence energy is lower and there are fewer vortices, but high-energy vortices may occur at the connection to the exhaust pipe, affecting the outlet flow rate.

Understanding the variations in activity of enzymes involved in the immune response of insects is important for developing effective microbial insecticides against pest species, the determination of bacteria dosage that caused variation of enzyme activities would assist us to prepare effective concentrations of microbial insecticides. In this study, we measured the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), phenoloxidase (PO), peroxidase (POD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in haemocytes and serum of larvae of the pest Heterolocha jinyinhuaphaga Chu (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) infected with Escherichia coli at different time points post-infection. Infection of fifth-instar larvae with different dosages of E. coli led to significant increases in the activities of these enzymes in haemocytes and serum at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h post-infection. Enzyme activities in haemocytes peaked at 6 h post-infection, but their activities began to decrease at 12 h post-infection. Enzyme activities in serum peaked at 12 h post-infection, and they began to decrease at 24 h post-infection. Additionally, enzyme activities increased with increasing dosages of E. coli. The activities of ACP, PO, POD, and GSH-px peaked at 1 × 107 indiv/mL, and the activities of GR and GST peaked at 1 × 106 indiv/mL, activities decreased thereafter. Two - way analysis of variance showed that the interaction of infection time and dosages of E. coli had no significant effect on the enzyme activities in haemocytes and serum of H. jinyinhuaphaga larvae (P > 0.05).

This paper addresses a novel sliding mode control based on state observer for active magnetic bearing rotor system. Firstly, the state-space model of a radial AMB rotor system is established with considering unbalance disturbance and gyro effect for a vertical flywheel energy storage system. Then a sliding mode function and switching surface are constructed based on an observer. Meanwhile, a separation and decoupling strategy based on Finsler’s lemma is proposed. Through this method, the constraint relationship between the controller gain, active magnetic bearing matrices and the Lyapunov variables is eliminated. After that a method for chattering reduction in the sliding-mode controller is raised. Relied on these techniques, new sufficient conditions for the stability of AMB rotor system are given in the framework of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed sliding mode controller is validated on the experimental platform of the flywheel energy storage system.

This paper constructs an urban sprawl index (USI) based on nighttime lighting data, and explores the impact of urban sprawl on carbon emission intensity (CEI) using panel data model and spatial econometric model. The results show that: (1) In the correlation test between the USI constructed based on nighttime lighting data and the USI constructed from statistical data, most models yield significantly positive results. The USI constructed from nighttime lighting data can be used to characterize urban sprawl. (2) The USI and CEI in the Yangtze River Basin decreased overall. The distance between CEI and USI exhibited a general trend of widening, leading to a gradual weakening of the influence between the two. In spatial distribution, the USI experienced minimal change overall, whereas the second-highest intensity of CEI was notably concentrated towards the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. (3) There is a significant U-shaped relationship and spillover effect between CEI and USI. The impact of the level of economic development and the extent of greening is more pronounced, while the influence of other variables is relatively minor. The results of the study suggest that spatial planning should be tailored to the local economic development status. It is important to leverage the benefits of population agglomeration to enhance the capacity of urban ecological resources and encourage sustainable production practices in cities within the Yangtze River Basin.