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Superlattices constructed with the wide-band-gap semiconductor ZnO and magnetic oxide FeO, both in the wurtzite structure, have been investigated using spin-polarized first-principles calculations. The structural, electronic and magnetic properties of the (ZnO)n/(w-FeO)n superlattices were studied in great detail. Two different interfaces in the (ZnO)n/(w-FeO)n superlattices were identified and they showed very different magnetic and electronic properties. Local symmetry-driven interfacial magnetization and electronic states can arise from different Fe/Zn distributions at different interfaces or spin ordering of Fe in the superlattice. The local symmetry-driven interfacial magnetization and electronic states, originating either from different Fe/Zn distribution across interfaces I and II, or by spin ordering of Fe in the superlattice, can be identified. It was also found that, in the case of the ferromagnetic phase, the electrons are more delocalized for the majority spin but strongly localized for the minority spin, which resulted in interesting spin-dependent transport properties. Our results will pave the way for designing novel spin-dependent electronic devices through the construction of superlattices from semiconductors and multiferroics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To accomplish various and efficient inhibitions of coal spontaneous combustion (CSC) and solve the safety hazards of CSC encountered in the production and operation of coal mining enterprises, inhibitors play an important role in the prevention and management of CSC. Herein, we report quercetin, which is selection as an antioxidant to prepare a composite solid lipid inhibitor. The concentration of the composite solid lipid inhibitor with the best inhibition effect on the active groups is selected by Fourier pressure infrared experiments, the change pattern of gas content and characteristic temperature released from coal samples during an oxidation process warming process was tested by using a programmed warming test system and simultaneous thermal analysis experiments, and finally, the inhibitory rate and combustion characteristic index were calculated. The results of the research showed that 10 mass% of quercetin had the most impact on the various groups, the highest inhibitor rate of the composite solid lipid inhibitor is 80.67% in the coal low-temperature oxidation process, compared to the raw coal, the heat release of coal treated with the composite solid lipid inhibitor was decreased by 507.65 J g−1, the maximum amount of heat emitted was lowered by 60%, and the flammability index was reduced by 56.4. A composite solid lipid inhibitor containing quercetin developed in this paper indicated high effectiveness in inhibiting CSC, which is vital for coping with the safety management of coal mine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, face sheet/core debonding failure in the plastic forming of aluminum foam sandwich panel (AFSP) was numerically investigated. The mechanism of debonding failure during the forming process was analyzed first, and then, the bilinear cohesive zone model (CZM) was introduced to simulate the damage and the failure of adhesive layer, and the detailed parameters of CZM were characterized on the basis of the experiments and simulations of flatwise tensile and lap shear of AFSP. Extensive simulations on the plastic forming of spherical and saddle-shaped AFSPs were performed with a macroscopic equivalent AFSP model to gain further insight into the debonding behavior, and multi-point forming experiments were carried out and the deformed parts were scanned using X-ray to verify the face sheet/core debonding predictions using CZM. Furthermore, the effect of cohesive properties on face sheet/core debonding failure was researched, and the results reveal that debonding failure can be avoided by decreasing the initial stiffness of adhesive and increasing the maximum traction and the critical fracture energy of adhesive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons is known to be associated with defects in mitochondrial biogenesis caused by aging, environmental factors, or mutations in genes, leading to Parkinson's disease (PD). As PD has not yet been successfully cured, the strategy of using small molecule drugs to protect and restore mitochondrial biogenesis is a promising direction. This study evaluated the efficacy of synthetic chiisanoside (CSS) identified in the leaves of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus to prevent PD symptoms. The results show that in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model, CSS pretreatment can effectively alleviate the reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells, thereby lessening the defects in the C. elegans model including DA neuron degeneration, dopamine-mediated food sensitivity behavioral disorders, and shortened lifespan. Mechanistically, we found that CSS could restore the expression of proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1-alpha (PGC-1α), a key molecule in mitochondrial biogenesis, and its downstream related genes inhibited by 6-OHDA. We further confirmed that this is due to the enhanced activity of parkin leading to the ubiquitination and degradation of PGC-1α inhibitor protein Zinc finger protein 746 (ZNF746). Parkin siRNA treatment abolished this effect of CSS. Furthermore, we found that CSS inhibited 6-OHDA-induced expression of miR-181a, which targets parkin. The CSS's ability to reverse the 6-OHDA-induced reduction in mitochondrial biogenesis and activation of apoptosis was abolished after the transfection of anti-miR-181a and miR-181a mimics. Therefore, the neuroprotective effect of CSS mainly promotes mitochondrial biogenesis by regulating the miR-181a/Parkin/ZNF746/PGC-1α axis. CSS potentially has the opportunity to be developed into PD prevention agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the numerical study on the plastic forming of aluminum foam sandwich panel (AFSP). Three-dimensional (3D) tetrakaidecahedral (TKD) model and cubic-spherical (CS) AFSP model on the mesoscale as well as a 3D equivalent AFSP model on the macroscale were constructed first, and then, detailed finite element (FE) simulations on plastic forming processes of AFSP were carried out to gain further insight into the deformation characteristics and the forming defects. Plastic forming experiments of cylindrical AFSPs with different target radii were performed subsequently. It is found that mesoscopic TKD and CS AFSP models reflect more specific deformation characteristics and forming defects; however, the results obtained by the CS AFSP model are closer to the experimental results in terms of the forming defects, the shape errors, and the thickness variations. Furthermore, the CS AFSP FE model using 8-node linear brick with reduced integration and hourglass control elements saves the most calculation time among the three AFSP FE models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous roll forming (CRF) is a new technology that combines continuous forming and multi-point forming to produce three-dimensional (3D) curved surfaces. Compared with other methods, the equipment of CRF is very simple, including only a pair of bendable work rolls and the corresponding shape adjustment and support assembly. By controlling the bending shapes of the upper and lower rolls and the size of the roll gap during forming, double curvature surfaces with different shapes can be produced. In this paper, a simplified expression of the exit velocity of the sheet is provided, and the formulas for the calculation of the longitudinal curvature radius are further derived. The reason for the discrepancy between the actual and predicted values of the longitudinal radius is deeply discussed from the perspective of the distribution of the exit velocity. By using the response surface methodology, the effects of the maximum compression ratio, the sheet width, the sheet thickness, and the transverse curvature radius on the longitudinal curvature radius are analyzed. Meanwhile, the correction coefficients of the predicted formulas for the positive and negative Gaussian curvature surfaces are obtained as 1.138 and 0.905, respectively. The validity and practicability of the modified formulas are verified by numerical simulations and forming experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The movement disorder Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequently diagnosed neurodegenerative disease, and is associated with aging, the environment, and genetic factors. The intracellular aggregation of α-synuclein and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta are the pathological hallmark of PD. At present, there is no successful treatment for PD. Maackiain (MK) is a flavonoid extracted from dried roots of Sophora flavescens Aiton. MK has emerged as a novel agent for PD treatment that acts by inhibiting monoamine oxidase B. In this study, we assessed the neuroprotective potential of MK in Caenorhabditis elegans and investigated possible mechanism of this neuroprotection in the human SH-SY5Y cell line. We found that MK significantly reduced dopaminergic neuron damage in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-exposed worms of the BZ555 strain, with corresponding improvements in food-sensing behavior and life-span. In transgenic worms of strain NL5901 treated with 0.25 mM MK, the accumulation of α-synuclein was diminished by 27% (p < 0.01) compared with that in untreated worms. Moreover, in worms and the SH-SY5Y cell line, we confirmed that the mechanism of MK-mediated protection against PD pathology may include blocking apoptosis, enhancing the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and augmenting autophagy by increasing PINK1/parkin expression. The use of small interfering RNA to downregulate parkin expression in vivo and in vitro could reverse the benefits of MK in PD models. MK may have considerable therapeutic applications in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]