ISA: Ingenious Siamese Attention for object detection algorithms towards complex scenes.

The interference of complex environments on object detection tasks dramatically limits the application of object detection algorithms. Improving the detection accuracy of the object detection algorithms is able to effectively enhance the stability and reliability of the object detection algorithm-based tasks in complex environments. In order to ameliorate the detection accuracy of object detection algorithms under various complex environment transformations, this work proposes the Siamese Attention YOLO (SAYOLO) object detection algorithm based on ingenious siamese attention structure. The ingenious siamese attention structure includes three aspects: Attention Neck YOLOv4 (ANYOLOv4), siamese neural network structure and special designed network scoring module. In the Complex Mini VOC dataset, the detection accuracy of SAYOLO algorithm is 12.31%, 48.93%, 17.80%, 10.12%, 18.79% and 1.12% higher than Faster-RCNN (Resnet50), SSD (Mobilenetv2), YOLOv3, YOLOv4, YOLOv5-l and YOLOX-x, respectively. Compared with traditional object detection algorithms based on image preprocessing, the detection accuracy of SAYOLO is 4.88%, 11.51%, 1.73%, 23.27%, 18.12%, and 5.76% higher than Image-Adaptive YOLO, MSBDN-DFF + YOLOv4, Dark Channel Prior + YOLOv4, Zero-DCE + YOLOv4, MSBDN-DFF + Zero-DCE + YOLOv4, and Dark Channel Prior + Zero-DCE + YOLOv4, respectively.

First Report of Stem and Leaf Blight Disease on Mesona chinensis Caused by Rhizoctonia solani in China.

Mesona chinensis is an important medicinal and edible plant resource distributed in eight provinces in southern China. In December 2021, an unknown stem and leaf blight disease was found in M. chinensis cultivation areas in Longzhou County, Guangxi, China. Sixty days after transplanting, the incidence of this disease was 10%. Leaf spots mostly appeared from the leaf edge, were irregular, brown to dark brown, causing more than half of the leaf or the whole leaf to die. The infected stem first showed dark brown spots, then constricted slightly, became necrotic and rotted with the expansion of the spots, resulting in the death of the whole plant. Loose cobweb-like mycelia, which resembled Rhizoctonia, could be seen on the diseased tissues in conditions of high humidity. To identify the pathogen, diseased stems and leaves with typical symptoms from Longzhou County were collected and surface-sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 s. Small fragments (5×5 mm) at the junction of diseased and healthy tissues were disinfected with 1% NaClO for 1min, washed with sterile water three times, transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 28°C for 3 days. Mycelial tips were removed, and six isolates (No. R1-R6) were obtained. The colonies were initially gray white and later light brown. Many nearly round to irregular sclerotia appeared after 7 days of culture. The sclerotia turned from light brown to deep brown and were 1 to 5 mm in diameter. The mycelium branched at a 90° angle, with septa near the branches and a constriction of the mycelium at the base of the branch. These morphological characteristics were consistent with Rhizoctonia. For molecular identification, genomic DNA of the six isolates was obtained using an extraction kit (Biocolor, Shanghai, China), and primers ITS4/ITS5 were used to amplify the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and 5.8S rRNA (White et al. 1990). A 750 bp DNA fragment was obtained and the sequences were deposited in GenBank (OM095383-OM095388). All isolates had ≥ 99% identity with anastomosis group AG1-1B (HG934429 and HQ185364) of R. solani. A phylogenetic tree showed that the isolates and those from anastomosis group AG1-1B clustered into one branch. To satisfy Koch's postulates, the isolates from diseased leaf (No. R1, R2, and R3) and diseased stem (No. R4, R5, and R6) were inoculated on leaves and stems of 45-day-old M. chinensis plants. Five leaves and stems were inoculated with mycelial plugs of each isolate without wounding and another five leaves and stems were inoculated with mycelial plugs of each isolate after pinprick wounding. Control wounded leaves and stems were inoculated with sterile PDA discs. To maintain high humidity, the plants were incubated at 28°C and covered with transparent plastic covers. Diseased spots first appeared 24 h after inoculation. Three days post-inoculation, all inoculated leaves and stems showed symptoms like those observed in the field, whereas controls were asymptomatic. The pathogen was re-isolated from the diseased inoculated tissues using the method described above, and isolated fungi had the morphological characteristics of R. solani. Thus, the pathogen causing stem and leaf blight disease of M. chinensis was determined to be R. solani. The host range of R. solani is wide, and anastomosis group AG1-1B has been reported to infect plants such as rice, bean, fig, cabbage, and lettuce (Sneh et al. 1991). To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani causing a stem and leaf blight on M. chinensis, and provides a basis for diagnosis and control of the disease.

Gene co-expression network analysis identifies BRCC3 as a key regulator in osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts through a ß-catenin signaling dependent pathway.

OBJECTIVES: The prognosis of osteoporosis is very poor, and it is very important to identify a biomarker for prevention of osteoporosis. In this study, we aimed to identify candidate markers in osteoporosis and to investigate the role of candidate markers in osteogenic differentiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network analysis, we identified three hub genes might associate with osteoporosis. The mRNA expression of hub genes in osteoblasts from osteoporosis patients or healthy donor was detected by qRT-PCR. Using siRNA and overexpression, we investigated the role of hub gene BRCC3 in osteogenic differentiation by alkaline phosphatase staining and Alizarin red staining. Moreover, the role of ß-catenin signaling in the osteogenic differentiation was detected by using ß-catenin signaling inhibitor XAV939. RESULTS: We identified three hub genes that might associate with osteoporosis including BRCC3, UBE2N, and UBE2K. UBE2N mRNA and UBE2K mRNA were not changed in osteoblasts isolated from osteoporosis patients, compared with healthy donors, whereas BRCC3 mRNA was significantly increased. Depletion of BRCC3 promoted the activation of alkaline phosphatase and formation of calcified nodules in osteoblasts isolated from osteoporosis patients and up-regulated ß-catenin expression. XAV939 reversed the BRCC3 siRNA-induced osteogenic differentiation. Additionally, inhibited osteogenic differentiation was also observed after BACC3 overexpression, and this was accompanied by decreased ß-catenin expression. CONCLUSION: BRCC3 is an important regulator for osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts through ß-catenin signaling, and it might be a promising target for osteoporosis treatment.

One-pot engineering TiO2/graphene interface for enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of multiple organics.

It is challenging to design a multifunctional structure or composite for the simultaneous adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water. Towards this goal, in this work we innovatively engineered interfacial sites between TiO2 particles and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheets by employing an in situ one-pot one-step solvothermal method. The interface was associated with the content of RGO, solvothermal time and solvent ratio of n-pentanol to n-hexane. It was found that with a moderate amount of RGO (25%), TiO2 nanoparticles were well dispersed on the surface of the RGO or wrapped by the RGO, thus leading to full contact and strong interactions to form a Ti-O-C interfacial structure. But with low content of RGO (6%), TiO2 aggregates were a mixture of nanosheets, nanoparticles and nanorods. 25%RGO/TiO2 also had 175% higher surface area (146 m2 g-1), 95% larger volume (0.339 cm3 g-1) and smaller band gap than 6%RGO/TiO2. More importantly, 25%RGO/TiO2 demonstrated higher adsorption efficiency (25%) and four times faster degradation rate than TiO2 (0%). It also exhibited good capability to eliminate multiple organics and stable long-term cycle performance (up to 93% retention after 30 cycles). Its superiority was attributed to the large surface area and unique interface between the TiO2 and RGO, which not only provided more active sites to capture pollutants, but enhanced charge transfer (3 µA cm-2, five times higher than TiO2). This work offers a promising way to purify water through engineering new material structure and integrating adsorption and photodegradation technologies.

Highly porous N-doped graphene nanosheets for rapid removal of heavy metals from water by capacitive deionization.

This work reports on a highly porous N-doped graphene-based capacitive deionization device, which exhibits a high removal efficiency (90-100%), fast removal (<30 min), and good regeneration performance (10 cycles, 99% retention) for multiple heavy metals (Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, etc.) in water with a wide range of concentrations (0.05-200 ppm).

Oxygen vacancy induced fast lithium storage and efficient organics photodegradation over ultrathin TiO2 nanolayers grafted graphene sheets.

In this work we have developed a unique structure of ultrathin (5nm) TiO2 nanolayers grafted graphene nanosheets (TiO2/G) and integrated oxygen vacancy (VO) into TiO2 to enhance its lithium storage and photocatalytic performances. The defective TiO2/G was synthesized by a solvothermal and subsequent thermal treatment method. When treated in a H2 atmosphere, the resulting TiO2-x/G(H2) has lower crystallinity, smaller crystal size, richer surface VO, higher surface area, larger pore volume, and lower charge transfer resistance than that reduced by NaBH4 solid, i.e., TiO2-x/G(NaBH4). More importantly, the surface VO in the TiO2-x/G(H2) could remarkably inhibit the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs compared with the bulk Vo in the TiO2-x/G(NaBH4). As a result, the combination of all the factors contributed to the superiority of TiO2-x/G(H2), which demonstrated not only 70% higher specific capacity, longer cycling performance (1000 cycles) and better rate capability for lithium-ion battery, but also higher photocatalytic activity and 1.5 times faster degradation rate for organic pollutants removal than TiO2-x/G(NaBH4). The findings in this work will benefit the fundamental understanding of TiO2/G surface chemistry and advance the design and preparation of functional materials for energy storage and water treatment.

Sulfur-infiltrated porous carbon microspheres with controllable multi-modal pore size distribution for high energy lithium-sulfur batteries.

Sulfur has received increasing attention as a cathode material for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity. However, the commercialization of Li-S batteries is limited by the challenges of poor electrical conductivity of sulfur, dissolution of the polysulfide intermediates into the electrolyte, and volume expansion of sulfur during cycling. Herein, we report the fabrication of novel-structured porous carbon microspheres with a controllable multi-modal pore size distribution, i.e., a combination of interconnected micropores, mesopores and macropores. Cathodes made of sulfur infiltrated in such a hierarchical carbon framework provide several advantages: (1) a continuous and high surface area carbon network for enhanced electrical conductivity and high sulfur loading; (2) macropores and large mesopores bridged by small mesopores to provide good electrolyte accessibility and fast Li ion transport and to accommodate volume expansion of sulfur; and (3) small mesopores and micropores to improve carbon/sulfur interaction and to help trap polysulfides. An initial discharge capacity at 1278 mA h g(-1) and capacity retention at 70.7% (904 mA h g(-1)) after 100 cycles at a high rate (1 C) were achieved. The material fabrication process is relatively simple and easily scalable.

Porous microspheres of MgO-patched TiO2 for CO2 photoreduction with H2O vapor: temperature-dependent activity and stability.

A novel MgO-patched TiO2 microsphere photocatalyst demonstrated 10 times higher activity toward CO production from CO2 photoreduction with H2O vapor, when the reaction temperature increased from 50 to 150 °C. The catalytic performance of hybrid MgO-TiO2 was much more stable than TiO2, particularly at a higher temperature, likely due to easier desorption of reaction intermediates and the enhanced CO2 adsorption by MgO.

Synthesis of axially chiral oxazoline-carbene ligands with an N-naphthyl framework and a study of their coordination with AuCl·SMe(2).

Axially chiral oxazoline-carbene ligands with an N-naphthyl framework were successfully prepared, and their coordination behavior with AuCl·SMe(2) was also investigated, affording the corresponding Au(I) complexes in moderate to high yields.

A highly efficient kinetic resolution of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts achieved by N-Ar axially chiral Pd-complexes catalyzed asymmetric allylation.

Palladium complexes with an axially chiral N-Ar framework have been developed. These complexes showed high stereoselectivities in asymmetric allylic arylation to achieve the kinetic resolution of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts, affording up to 99% ee of (E)-allylation products and 92% ee of recovered Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts.

Synthesis of chiral mono(N-heterocyclic carbene) palladium and gold complexes with a 1,1'-biphenyl scaffold and their applications in catalysis.

Axially chiral mono(NHC)-Pd(II) and mono(NHC)-Au(I) complexes with one side shaped 1,1'-biphenyl backbone have been prepared from chiral 6,6'-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2'-diamine. The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystal structure diffraction. The Pd(II) complex showed good catalytic activities in the Suzuki-Miyaura and Heck-Mizoroki coupling reactions, and the (S)-Au(I) complexes also showed good catalytic activities in the asymmetric intramolecular hydroamination reaction to give the corresponding product in moderate ee.

The remarkable enhancement of CO-pretreated CuO-Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3 supported catalyst for the reduction of NO with CO: the formation of surface synergetic oxygen vacancy.

NO reduction by CO was investigated over CuO/γ-Al2O3, Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3, and CuOMn2O3/γ-Al2O3 model catalysts before and after CO pretreatment at 300 °C. The CO-pretreated CuO-Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst exhibited higher catalytic activity than did the other catalysts. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Raman, and H2-temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) results, as well as our previous studies, the possible interaction model between dispersed copper and manganese oxide species as well as γ-Al2O3 surface has been proposed. In this model, Cu and Mn ions occupied the octahedral vacant sites of γ-Al2O3, with the capping oxygen on top of the metal ions to keep the charge conservation. For the fresh CuO/γ-Al2O3 and Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalysts, the -Cu-O-Cu- and -Mn-O-Mn- species were formed on the surface of γ-Al2O3, respectively; but for the fresh CuO-Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst, -Cu-O-Mn- species existed on the surface of -Al2O3. After CO pretreatment, -Cu-□-Cu- and -Mn-□-Mn- (□ represents surface oxygen vacancy (SOV)) species would be formed in CO-pretreated CuO/γ-Al2O3 and CO-pretreated Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalysts, respectively; whereas -Cu-□-Mn- species existed in CO-pretreated CuO-Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3. Herein, a new concept, surface synergetic oxygen vacancy (SSOV), which describes the oxygen vacancy formed between the individual Mn and Cu ions, is proposed for CO-pretreated CuO-Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. In addition, the role of SSOV has also been approached by NO temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and in situ FTIR experiments. The FTIR results of competitive adsorption between NO and CO on all the CO-pretreated CuO/γ-Al2O3, Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3, and CuO-Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3 samples demonstrated that NO molecules mainly were adsorbed on Mn2+ and CO mainly on Cu+ sites. The current study suggests that the properties of the SSOVs in CO-pretreated CuO-Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst were significantly different to SOVs formed in CO-pretreated CuO/γ-Al2O3 and Mn2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalysts, and the SSOVs played an important role in NO reduction by CO.

Effect of cobalt precursors on the dispersion, reduction, and CO oxidation of CoO(x)/γ-Al2O3 catalysts calcined in N2.

The present work tentatively investigated the effect of cobalt precursors (cobalt acetate and cobalt nitrate) on the physicochemical properties of CoO(x)/γ-Al(2)O(3) catalysts calcined in N(2). XRD, Raman, XPS, FTIR, and UV-vis DRS results suggested that CoO/γ-Al(2)O(3) was obtained from cobalt acetate precursors and CoO was dispersed on γ-Al(2)O(3) below its dispersion capacity of 1.50 mmol/(100 m(2) γ-Al(2)O(3)), whereas Co(3)O(4)/γ-Al(2)O(3) was obtained from cobalt nitrate precursors and Co(3)O(4) preferred to agglomerate above the dispersion capacity of 0.15 mmol/(100m(2) γ-Al(2)O(3)). Compared with Co(3)O(4)/γ-Al(2)O(3), CoO/γ-Al(2)O(3) catalysts were difficult to be reduced and easy to desorb oxygen species at low temperatures and presented high activities for CO oxidation as proved by H(2)-TPR, O(2)-TPD, and CO oxidation model reaction results. A surface incorporation model was proposed to explain the dispersion and reduction properties of CoO/γ-Al(2)O(3) catalysts.

Effect of MnO(x) modification on the activity and adsorption of CuO/Ce(0.67)Zr(0.33)O(2) catalyst for NO reduction.

The present work explored the effect of MnO(x) modification on the activity and adsorption of CuO/Ce(0.67)Zr(0.33)O(2) catalyst for NO reduction by CO. XRD, Raman, UV, XPS, H(2)-TPR, and in situ FT-IR were used to characterize these catalysts. Results suggested that the incorporation of copper and manganese species resulted in the lattice expansion and the decease of microstrain of ceria-zirconia, thus inducing the formation of oxygen vacancies. There was a strong interaction between surface copper, manganese, and the support via charge transfer. The addition of manganese species could promote the reduction of the resultant catalysts and assist copper oxide in changing the valence and the support in supplying oxygen. These reduction behaviors were dependent on the loading amounts of MnO(x) and the impregnation procedure. In addition, the introduction of MnO(x) cannot change the adsorption type of NO, but readily helped to activate the adsorbed NO species. As a result, these factors were responsible for the enhancement of activity and selectivity through MnO(x) modification.