ALBERT

Description: This paper aims to reveal the structure of idempotents in neutrosophic rings and neutrosophic quadruple rings. First, all idempotents in neutrosophic rings 〈 R ∪ I 〉 are given when R is C , R , Q , Z or Z n . Secondly, the neutrosophic quadruple ring 〈 R ∪ T ∪ I ∪ F 〉 is introduced and all idempotents in neutrosophic quadruple rings 〈 C ∪ T ∪ I ∪ F 〉 , 〈 R ∪ T ∪ I ∪ F 〉 , 〈 Q ∪ T ∪ I ∪ F 〉 , 〈 Z ∪ T ∪ I ∪ F 〉 and 〈 Z n ∪ T ∪ I ∪ F 〉 are also given. Furthermore, the algorithms for solving the idempotents in 〈 Z n ∪ I 〉 and 〈 Z n ∪ T ∪ I ∪ F 〉 for each nonnegative integer n are provided. Lastly, as a general result, if all idempotents in any ring R are known, then the structure of idempotents in neutrosophic ring 〈 R ∪ I 〉 and neutrosophic quadruple ring 〈 R ∪ T ∪ I ∪ F 〉 can be determined.

Description: The aim of the present study is to enhance photocatalytic performance of ZnO semiconductor by comodification with doping of nonmetal ions and coupling with another semiconductor. Therefore, we synthesized the N-doped ZnO/ZnS photocatalysts via a simple heat-treatment approach using L-cysteine as N and S source in this work. Anthraquinone dye (reactive brilliant blue KNR) is employed as the model contaminants to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of as-synthesized samples under sunlight illumination. The N-doped ZnO/ZnS synthesized by this method shows better photocatalytic activity as compared to that of pure ZnO. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the N-doped ZnO/ZnS composites may be related to the existence of N doping, ZnS/ZnO heterostructure, and covered abundant carbon species on the photocatalyst surface, which causing high absorption efficiency of light, efficient separation of electron-hole pairs, and quick surface reaction in doped ZnO.

Description: The aim of the present study is to enhance photocatalytic performance of ZnO semiconductor by comodification with doping of nonmetal ions and coupling with another semiconductor. Therefore, we synthesized the N-doped ZnO/ZnS photocatalysts via a simple heat-treatment approach using L-cysteine as N and S source in this work. Anthraquinone dye (reactive brilliant blue KNR) is employed as the model contaminants to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of as-synthesized samples under sunlight illumination. The N-doped ZnO/ZnS synthesized by this method shows better photocatalytic activity as compared to that of pure ZnO. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the N-doped ZnO/ZnS composites may be related to the existence of N doping, ZnS/ZnO heterostructure, and covered abundant carbon species on the photocatalyst surface, which causing high absorption efficiency of light, efficient separation of electron-hole pairs, and quick surface reaction in doped ZnO.

Description: This paper aims to explore the algebra structure of refined neutrosophic numbers. Firstly, the algebra structure of neutrosophic quadruple numbers on a general field is studied. Secondly, The addition operator ⊕ and multiplication operator ⊗ on refined neutrosophic numbers are proposed and the algebra structure is discussed. We reveal that the set of neutrosophic refined numbers with an additive operation is an abelian group and the set of neutrosophic refined numbers with a multiplication operation is a neutrosophic extended triplet group. Moreover, algorithms for solving the neutral element and opposite elements of each refined neutrosophic number are given.

Description: A series of (AlCrTiZrV)-Six-N films with different silicon contents were deposited on monocrystalline silicon substrates by direct-current (DC) magnetron sputtering. The films were characterized by the X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and nano-indentation techniques. The effects of the silicon content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the films were investigated. The experimental results show that the (AlCrTiZrV)N films grow in columnar grains and present a (200) preferential growth orientation. The addition of the silicon element leads to the disappearance of the (200) peak, and the grain refinement of the (AlCrTiZrV)-Six-N films. Meanwhile, the reticular amorphous phase is formed, thus developing the nanocomposite structure with the nanocrystalline structures encapsulated by the amorphous phase. With the increase of the silicon content, the mechanical properties first increase and then decrease. The maximal hardness and modulus of the film reach 34.3 GPa and 301.5 GPa, respectively, with the silicon content (x) of 8% (volume percent). The strengthening effect of the (AlCrTiZrV)-Six-N film can be mainly attributed to the formation of the nanocomposite structure.

Description: Genes, Vol. 8, Pages 400: Structural Characterization and Association of Ovine Dickkopf-1 Gene with Wool Production and Quality Traits in Chinese Merino Genes doi: 10.3390/genes8120400 Authors: Fang Mu Enguang Rong Yang Jing Hua Yang Guangwei Ma Xiaohong Yan Zhipeng Wang Yumao Li Hui Li Ning Wang Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is an inhibitor of canonical Wnt signaling pathway and regulates hair follicle morphogenesis and cycling. To investigate the potential involvement of DKK1 in wool production and quality traits, we characterized the genomic structure of ovine DKK1, performed polymorphism detection and association analysis of ovine DKK1 with wool production and quality traits in Chinese Merino. Our results showed that ovine DKK1 consists of four exons and three introns, which encodes a protein of 262 amino acids. The coding sequence of ovine DKK1 and its deduced amino acid sequence were highly conserved in mammals. Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified within the ovine DKK1 genomic region. Gene-wide association analysis showed that SNP5 was significantly associated with mean fiber diameter (MFD) in the B (selected for long wool fiber and high-quality wool), PW (selected for high reproductive capacity, high clean wool yield and high-quality wool) and U (selected for long wool fiber with good uniformity, high wool yield and lower fiber diameter) strains (p < 4.55 × 10−3 = 0.05/11). Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms wide association analysis showed that SNP8 was significantly associated with MFD in A strain and fleece weight in A (selected for large body size), PM (selected for large body size, high reproductive capacity and high meat yield) and SF (selected for mean fiber diameter less than 18 μm and wool fiber length between 5 and 9 cm) strains (p < 0.05), SNP9 was significantly associated with curvature in B and U strains (p < 0.05) and SNP10 was significantly associated with coefficient of variation of fiber diameter in A, PW and PM strains and standard deviation of fiber diameter in A and PM strains (p < 0.05). The haplotypes derived from these 11 identified SNPs were significantly associated with MFD (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that DKK1 may be a major gene controlling wool production and quality traits, also the identified SNPs (SNPs5, 8, 9 and 10) might be used as potential molecular markers for improving sheep wool production and quality in sheep breeding.

Description: Background: The human paraoxonase (PON) gene family has three isoforms: PON1, PON2 and PON3. These genes are implicated as potential risk factors of cerebrovascular disease and can prevent oxidative modification of low-density lipoproteins and atherosclerosis. This study evaluated the association between the genetic variants of all three PON genes and the risks of total stroke, ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke in the Han Chinese population. Methods: A total of 1016 subjects were recruited, including 508 healthy controls and 498 patients (328 with ischemic stroke and 170 with hemorrhagic stroke). A total of 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering the PON genes were genotyped for statistical analysis. Two of the 11 SNPs (rs662 and rs854560) were contextualized in a meta-analysis of ischemic stroke. Results: The presence of rs705381 (-162) in the promoter region of PON1 was significantly associated with total stroke (Padjusted = 0.0007, OR = 0.57 [95% CI = 0.41-0.79]) and ischemic stroke (Padjusted = 0.0017, OR = 0.54 [95% CI = 0.37-0.79]) when analyzed using a dominant model, but was not associated with hemorrhagic stroke. There was also a nominal association between rs854571 (-824) and total stroke. Meta-analysis demonstrated a significant nominal association between rs662 and ischemic stroke, but there was no evidence of an association between rs662 and ischemic stroke risk in a single site association study. Conclusions: These findings indicate that polymorphisms of PON1 gene may be a risk factor of stroke.

Description: Pendent pedestrian path is a new structure form in long-span city bridges to satisfy vehicle passing demand and pedestrian passing demand simultaneously. For such design form, besides the traditional comfort problem caused by pedestrians, the vibration induced by upper passing vehicles and oncoming turbulent wind also cannot be ignored. In this research, the vibration characteristics of the pendent pedestrian path induced by pedestrians, upper vehicles, and turbulent wind are all investigated based on a designed long-span extradosed bridge. The results show that the design of the pedestrian path could satisfy the comfort demands comprehensively regardless of the local magnification effects of pedestrian path vibration. Reducing the spacing of the supported beam is meaningful for suppressing the local vibration effects. The road roughness of the upper pavement has significant effects on the maximum acceleration of pedestrian paths while the influence of the vehicle speed is relatively limited. An approximate quadratic relationship is observed between the buffeting-induced acceleration and the oncoming wind speed. Thus, the pedestrian path should be closed during strong winds.

Description: Neutrosophic extended triplet group is a new algebra structure and is different from the classical group. In this paper, the notion of generalized neutrosophic extended triplet group is proposed and some properties are discussed. In particular, the following conclusions are strictly proved: (1) an algebraic system is a generalized neutrosophic extended triplet group if and only if it is a quasi-completely regular semigroup; (2) an algebraic system is a weak commutative generalized neutrosophic extended triplet group if and only if it is a quasi-Clifford semigroup; (3) for each n ∈ Z + , n ≥ 2 , ( Z n , ⊗ ) is a commutative generalized neutrosophic extended triplet group; (4) for each n ∈ Z + , n ≥ 2 , ( Z n , ⊗ ) is a commutative neutrosophic extended triplet group if and only if n = p 1 p 2 ⋯ p m , i.e., the factorization of n has only single factor.