Search

The detailed regulatory mechanism of LINC00174 in lung cancer (LC) development remains largely unknown. This research was designed to probe into the impacts of LINC00174 in LC cells through modulating the microRNA (miR)-584-3p/ribosomal protein S24 (RPS24) axis. LINC00174, miR-584-3p, and RPS24 expression levels in LC cells and tissues were examined. The constructs altering LINC00174, miR-584-3p, or RPS24 expression were transfected into LC cells to examine the malignant phenotypes of LC cells. The relations among LINC00174, miR-584-3p, and RPS24 were validated. LINC00174 and RPS24 were high-expressed while miR-584-3p was low-expressed in LC. Downregulated LINC00174 or RPS24 or upregulated miR-584-3p inhibited the malignant biological behaviors of LC cells. The silenced miR-584-3p could reverse the repressive effects of reduced LINC00174 on the development of LC cells; while RPS24 overexpression inverted the repressive effects of miR-584-3p elevation on LC cells. Mechanically, LINC00174 bound to miR-584-3p that targeted RPS24. Repressed LINC00174 can relieve the malignant phenotypes of LC cells via modulating the miR-584-3p/RPS24 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jinshui Huanxian granules (JSHX) is a clinical Chinese medicine formula used for treating pulmonary fibrosis (PF). However, the effective components and molecular mechanisms of JSHX are still unclear. In this study, a combination approach using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometry (UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion MS) integrated with network pharmacology was followed to identify the components of JSHX and the underlying molecular mechanisms against PF. UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion MS was used to identify the components present in JSHX. On the basis of the identified components, we performed target prediction using the SwissTargetPrediction database, protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis using STRING database, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis using Metascape and constructed a component-target-pathway network using Cytoscape 3.7.2. Molecular docking technology was used to verify the affinity between the core components and targets. Finally, the pharmacological activities of three potentially bioactive components were validated in transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced A549 cell fibrosis model. As a result, we identified 266 components, including 56 flavonoids, 52 saponins, 31 alkaloids, 10 coumarins, 12 terpenoids and 105 other components. Of these, 90 validated components were predicted to act on 172 PF-related targets and they exhibited therapeutic effects against PF via regulation of cell migration, regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, reduction of oxidative stress, and anti-inflammatory activity. Molecular docking showed that the core components could spontaneously bind to receptor proteins with a strong binding force. In vitro, compared to model group, hesperetin, ruscogenin and liquiritin significantly inhibited the increase of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin (FN) and the decrease of e-cadherin (E-cad) in TGF-β1-induced A549 cells. This study is the first to show, using UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion MS combined with network pharmacology and experimental validation, that JSHX might exert therapeutic actions against PF by suppressing the expression of key factors in PF. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the chemical profiling and pharmacological activities of JSHX and a reference for further scientific research and clinical use of JSHX in PF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jinshui Huanxian granules (JSHX) is a clinical Chinese medicine formula used for treating pulmonary fibrosis (PF). However, the effective components and molecular mechanisms of JSHX are still unclear. In this study, a combination approach using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometry (UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion MS) integrated with network pharmacology was followed to identify the components of JSHX and the underlying molecular mechanisms against PF. UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion MS was used to identify the components present in JSHX. On the basis of the identified components, we performed target prediction using the SwissTargetPrediction database, protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis using STRING database, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis using Metascape and constructed a component-target-pathway network using Cytoscape 3.7.2. Molecular docking technology was used to verify the affinity between the core components and targets. Finally, the pharmacological activities of three potentially bioactive components were validated in transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced A549 cell fibrosis model. As a result, we identified 266 components, including 56 flavonoids, 52 saponins, 31 alkaloids, 10 coumarins, 12 terpenoids and 105 other components. Of these, 90 validated components were predicted to act on 172 PF-related targets and they exhibited therapeutic effects against PF via regulation of cell migration, regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, reduction of oxidative stress, and anti-inflammatory activity. Molecular docking showed that the core components could spontaneously bind to receptor proteins with a strong binding force. In vitro, compared to model group, hesperetin, ruscogenin and liquiritin significantly inhibited the increase of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibronectin (FN) and the decrease of e-cadherin (E-cad) in TGF-β1-induced A549 cells. This study is the first to show, using UPLC-Orbitrap Fusion MS combined with network pharmacology and experimental validation, that JSHX might exert therapeutic actions against PF by suppressing the expression of key factors in PF. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the chemical profiling and pharmacological activities of JSHX and a reference for further scientific research and clinical use of JSHX in PF treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high temperature oxidation behavior of selective laser melting processed IN738LC alloy at different temperatures was studied using isothermal oxidation testing. The phase composition and oxide layer morphology of the oxidation products under various temperature conditions were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), and the oxidation mechanism was discussed. The results reveal that the oxidation kinetic curves of the deposited samples at 900 and 1000 °C show parabolic law, and the oxidation rate constants kp are 2.54 × 10–4 and 7.68 × 10–4mg2/cm4·h, respectively, where the oxidation products at different temperatures are composed of Al2O3, Cr2O3, and TiO2, which meet the complete oxidation resistance level. Element Cr preferentially oxidizes to produce Cr2O3 during the initial oxidation, Ti atoms at the interface extend the diffusion to the surface of the sample through the Cr2O3 layer to produce TiO2, while the Al atoms rapidly diffuse along the fine columnar grain boundaries toward the oxide–metal interface and finally form a dense Al2O3 layer. The holes formed under the oxide film at 1000 °C will reduce the adhesion between the oxide layer and the substrate, meanwhile adversely affecting the oxidation resistance of the sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzyme catalyzed desaturation of intracellular fatty acids plays an important role in various physiological and pathological processes related to lipids. Limited to the multiple transmembrane domains, it is difficult to obtain their three-dimensional structure of fatty acid desaturases. So how they interact with their substrates is unclear. Here, we predicted the complex of Micromonas pusilla delta 6 desaturase (MpFADS6) with the substrate linoleinyl-CoA (ALA-CoA) by trRosetta software and docking poses by Dock 6 software. The potential enzyme–substrate binding sites were anchored by analysis of the complex. Then, site-directed mutagenesis and activity verification clarified that W290, W224, and F352 were critical residues of the substrate tunnel and directly bonded to ALA-CoA. H94 and H69 were indispensable for transporting electrons with heme. H452, N445, and H358 significantly influenced the recognition and attraction of MpFADS6 to the substrate. These findings provide new insights and methods to determine the structure, mechanisms and directed transformation of membrane-bound desaturases. Keypoints: The structure of the Δ6 fatty acid desaturase and substrate complex is modeled. The substrate tunnel and key residues of MpFADS6 catalytic activity are determined. The new insights to determine the mechanism of the membrane-bound desaturases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Platelets are an able regulator of CD4+ T cell immunity. Herein, the mechanisms underlying platelet-regulated effector responses of naïve CD4+ T (Tn) cells were investigated. Methods: Platelet–Tn cell co-cultures of human cells, genetically modified murine models, and high-throughput bioinformatic analyses were combined to elucidate molecular mechanisms of platelet-dependent regulation. Results: Platelets exerted sophisticated regulation on effector responses of type 1, 2, and 17 T helper (Th1/Th2/Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells, in time-, concentration-, and organ-dependent manners and with close cooperation of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and platelet factor 4 (PF4). PF4 at low concentrations reinforced TGFβ signaling by heteromerizing with type III TGFβ receptor (TGFBRIII), and subsequently enhanced TGFBRII expression and TGFβ signaling. High-concentration PF4 had, however, opposite effects by directly binding to TGFBRII, blocking TGFβ–TGFBRII ligation, and thus inhibiting TGFβ signaling. Furthermore, platelet depletion markedly hampered Treg and Th17 responses in the spleen but not in the lymph nodes, blockade of platelet–Tn cell contact diminished platelet effects, while spleen injection of PF4-immobilized microparticles in PF4-deficient mice mimicked platelet effects, suggesting the importance of direct platelet–Tn contact and platelet-bound PF4 for the optimal regulatory effects by platelets. Conclusion: Platelets exert context-dependent regulations on effector responses of Tn cells via PF4-TGFβ duet, suggesting new possibilities of platelet-targeted interventions of T cell immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidant peptides obtained from alcalase-hydrolyzed porcine plasma albumin (AHA, MW <3 kD) were purified by consecutive chromatographic methods, and the antioxidative effects of unpurified AHA and sub-fractions from the first step of HPLC (P4, MW <1.5 kD) and second step of HPLC (P4b, MW <1.5 kD) were evaluated in cell line. P4 exhibits the highest reducing power (0.89) than its further purified fraction P4b (0.69) and unpurified AHA (0.5). Moreover, a concentration of 100 mg/ml of P4 also demonstrates better protective effect on HO-induced oxidative damage and antioxidative enzyme activities (SOD, CAT and GPx) in fibroblast cell than AHA and P4b ( P < 0.05). P4 is composed of seven peptides with MW of 500.19, 524.24, 550.23, 568.19, 656.18, 707.44 and 1,022.70, and their amino acids sequences are identified as LIKQ, LQHK, EQKF, PDIPK, KVPQVS, FKDLGE and EHLREKVL, respectively. All the seven peptides contain lysine, indicating that P4 is lysine-rich peptide fraction. We believe these results, with a more pronounced action of P4 than AHA and P4b plus the characterized amino sequences, would lay the foundation of understanding the antioxidative effect of albumin-derived peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different types of mulching film could variously influence soil properties and plant growth. Yet, surprisingly few studies have investigated the effects of mulching film upon soil microbial diversity and community structure. In this research, two kinds of mulching film, a traditional PE (polyethylene) mulching film and a degradable PBAT ((Poly [butyleneadipate-co-terephthalate])) mulching film, were applied to cotton (Gossypium spp.) plants grown in Xinjiang Province, China. The respective influence of the two mulching films on the cotton's soil microbial (bacteria and fungi) diversity and community were investigated. The results showed that applying the PBAT mulching film could significantly alter the diversity of non-rhizosphere soil fungi when compared to using the PE mulching film. However, neither the PE nor PBAT mulching film had any significant influence on the diversity of soil bacteria and rhizosphere soil fungi. Nevertheless, soil microbial community composition differed under the PBAT mulching film treatment vis-à-vis the PE mulching film treatment. The abundance of Gibellulopsis was higher under the PBAT than PE mulching film treatment. Our study's findings provided an empirical basis for the further application of degradable PBAT mulching film for the sustainable development of cotton crops. Key points: Degradable mulching film alter the diversity of cotton non-rhizosphere soil fungi. Degradable mulching film alter the soil microbial composition of cotton. Degradable mulching film dose not alter the diversity of cotton rhizosphere fungi. Degradable mulching film dose not alter the diversity of cotton soil bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is designed to improve the efficiency of Internet of Things (IoT) structure detection and achieve the smooth operation of IoT networks. First, the connection between the IoT network structure and maxdegree is investigated based on analyzing the IoT supertask network structure to find the main influence factor of maxdegree, along with the conditions for obtaining the optimal maxdegree. Second, a structural algorithm model of optimal supertask network is proposed as the foundation for achieving the minimum maxdegree. Finally, the human behavior recognition database is taken as the research object to verify its performance through the specific instance data. The IoT network structure factors are proved to include the task quantity, resource capacity, number of networks, and Communication Calculation Ratio (CCR). The experimental results also show that the principal factor that affects maxdegree is the number of different tasks. Besides, there is a mutually positive interaction between the network structure and the IoT maxdegree, which complement each other and form the core network of IoT. Moreover, the results reflect the good performance on different datasets of the supertask IoT network structure for the human behavior recognition database. There exists the optimal maxdegree of the model under the condition of 40 tasks, 32 resources, 6 networks and CCR of 6. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm has a shorter length and lower complexity than other related algorithms, which is very suitable for the construction of IoT networks. The research results can provide some references and practical value for the construction and data processing of the IoT structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subcutaneous fat and intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition are closely related to meat production and pork quality. Dingyuan pig, as a native pig breed in China, low selection leads to obvious genetic and phenotypic differences in the population. Individuals with extreme fat content in the population are ideal models for studying the mechanism of fat deposition. In this study, we used RNA-Seq and tandem mass tags-based (TMT) proteomics to analyze the key pathways and genes that specifically regulate subcutaneous fat and IMF deposition in Dingyuan pigs. We identified 191 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 61 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in the high and low back fat thickness (HBF, LBF) groups, 85 DEGs and 12 DAPs were obtained in the high and low intramuscular fat (HIMF, LIMF) groups. The functional analysis showed that the DEGs and DAPs in the backfat groups were mainly involved in carbohydrates, amino acids, and fatty acids metabolism, whereas the IMF groups were involved in the insulin pathway, longevity, and some disease-related pathways. We found 40 candidate genes that might tissue-specifically lipids deposition for subcutaneous and intramuscular fat. Our research provides theoretical reference materials for the improvement of fat deposition traits of local pig breeds in my country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although L-dopa continues to be the gold standard for treating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), it presents long-term complications. Deep brain stimulation is effective, but only a small percentage of idiopathic PD patients are eligible. Based on results in animal models and a handful of patients, dorsal column stimulation (DCS) has been proposed as a potential therapy for PD. To date, the long-term effects of DCS in animal models have not been quantified. Here, we report that DCS applied twice a week in rats treated with bilateral 6-OHDA striatal infusions led to a significant improvement in symptoms. DCS-treated rats exhibited a higher density of dopaminergic innervation in the striatum and higher neuronal cell count in the substantia nigra pars compacta compared to a control group. These results suggest that DCS has a chronic therapeutical and neuroprotective effect, increasing its potential as a new clinical option for treating PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation of energetic electron-positron pairs using multi-petawatt (PW) lasers has recently attracted increasing interest. However, some previous laser-driven positron beams have severe limitations in terms of energy spread, beam duration, density, and collimation. Here we propose a scheme for the generation of dense ultra-short quasi-monoenergetic positron bunches by colliding a twisted laser pulse with a Gaussian laser pulse. In this scheme, abundant γ-photons are first generated via nonlinear Compton scattering and positrons are subsequently generated during the head-on collision of γ-photons with the Gaussian laser pulse. Due to the unique structure of the twisted laser pulse, the positrons are confined by the radial electric fields and experience phase-locked-acceleration by the longitudinal electric field. Three-dimensional simulations demonstrate the generation of dense sub-femtosecond quasi-monoenergetic GeV positron bunches with tens of picocoulomb (pC) charge and extremely high brilliance above 1014 s−1 mm−2 mrad−2 eV−1, making them promising for applications in laboratory physics and high energy physics. The advent of petawatt lasers has reignited interest in the generation of positrons, since they could provide enough energy for practical applications. Here, an all-optical method for the generation of short, energetic positron beams are described numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated carbon (AC) has been widely used in the prevention and control of air and water pollution due to its excellent adsorption ability. However, the adsorption capacity of AC for targeting organic compounds is reduced because of the competitive adsorption of water molecules. The current study proposes hydrophobic modification and regeneration of waste AC as a solution to these issues. Using waste AC as raw material, SiO2 particles were introduced to increase its surface roughness and micropores of AC. Nonpolar alkyl chain groups were grafted on the surface of AC to improve its hydrophobic performance, and high-temperature regeneration was used to increase its specific surface area. The experimental results showed that the water contact angle of AC increased from 30° (hydrophilic) to 142° (hydrophobic) after modification, and it maintained an angle of 139° even after high-temperature regeneration. The specific surface area of hydrophobic AC increased from 290 to 1075 m2 g−1 and the equilibrium adsorption capacity of hydrophobic AC for methylene blue is 425.4 mg g−1 after regeneration. AC-adsorbed methylene blue also has excellent hydrophobicity (145°) and high specific surface area (1250 m2 g−1) after being modified and regenerated by the same methods. After being exposed to air for 600 days, the modified AC still has good hydrophobicity (125°). This indicates that our method of hydrophobic modification combined with regeneration has great significance to the recovery and utilization of waste AC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a Selenium-enriched Bacillus subtilis (SEBS) strain was generated and supplemented to broiler chickens' diet, and the impact in ileum bacterial microbiome, immunity and body weight were assessed. In a nutshell, five hundred 1-old old chicken were randomly divided into five groups: control, inorganic Se, Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), SEBS, and antibiotic, and colonization with B. subtilis and SEBS in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) were measured by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In summary, Chicks fed SEBS or B. subtilis had higher body weight than the control chicks or those given inorganic Se. SEBS colonized in distal segments of the ileum improved bacterial diversity, reduced the endogenous pathogen burden and increased the number of Lactobacillus sp. in the ileal mucous membrane. Species of unclassified Lachnospiraceae, uncultured Anaerosporobacter, Peptococcus, Lactobacillus salivarius, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, and unclassified Butyricicoccus in the ileal mucous membrane played a key role in promoting immunity. Inorganic Se supplementation also improved bacterial composition of ileal mucous membranes, but to a less extent. In conclusion, SEBS improved performance and immunity of broiler chickens through colonization and modulation of the ileal mucous membrane microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological memory (EM) recognizes the importance of previous stress encounters in promoting community tolerance and thereby enhances ecosystem stability, provided that gained tolerances are preserved during non-stress periods. Drawing from this concept, we hypothesized that the recruitment of tolerant species can be facilitated by imposing an initial sorting process (conditioning) during the early stages of community assembly, which should result in higher production (biomass development and photosynthetic efficiency) and stable community composition. To test this, phytoplankton resting stages were germinated from lake sediments originating from two catchments that differed in contamination history: one impacted by long-term herbicides and pesticides exposures (historically contaminated lake) from an agricultural catchment compared to a low-impacted one (near-pristine lake) from a forested catchment. Conditioning was achieved by adding an herbicide (Isoproturon, which was commonly used in the catchment of the historically contaminated lake) during germination. Afterward, the communities obtained from germination were exposed to an increasing gradient of Isoproturon. As hypothesized, upon conditioning, the phytoplankton assemblages from the historically contaminated lake were able to rapidly restore photosynthetic efficiency (p > 0.01) and became structurally (community composition) more resistant to Isoproturon. The communities of the near-pristine lake did not yield these positive effects regardless of conditioning, supporting that EM was a unique attribute of the historically stressed ecosystem. Moreover, assemblages that displayed higher structural resistance concurrently yielded lower biomass, indicating that benefits of EM in increasing structural stability may trade-off with production. Our results clearly indicate that EM can foster ecosystem stability to a recurring stressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rotation of organic cations is considered to be an important reason for the dynamic changes in stability and photoelectric properties of organic perovskites. However, the specific effect of organic cations rotation on formamidine based perovskite is still unknown. In our work, first-principles calculations based on density functional theory are used to examine the effect of the rotation of formamidine cations in FAPbI3 and FA0.875Cs0.125PbI3. We have comprehensively calculated the structure, electronic and optical properties of them. We found a coupling effect between formamidine cations rotation and cesium atom. This coupling effect changes the inclination angle of octahedron to regulate electron distribution, band gaps, and optical absorption. Hence, changing the cation orientation and substitution atom is a feasible way to dynamically adjust the energy band, dielectric constant and absorption edge of perovskite. Preparing perovskite with tunable properties is just around the corner through this way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), a subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), causes high mortality around the world. Previous studies have suggested that the metabolic pattern of tumor is associated with tumor response to immunotherapy and patient's survival outcome. Yet, this relationship in LUAD is still unknown. Methods: Therefore, in this study, we identified the immune landscape in different tumor subtypes classified by metabolism-related genes expression with a large-scale dataset (tumor samples, n = 2181; normal samples, n = 419). We comprehensively correlated metabolism-related phenotypes with diverse clinicopathologic characteristics, genomic features, and immunotherapeutic efficacy in LUAD patients. Results: And we confirmed tumors with activated lipid metabolism tend to have higher immunocytes infiltration and better response to checkpoint immunotherapy. This work highlights the connection between the metabolic pattern of tumor and tumor immune infiltration in LUAD. A scoring system based on metabolism-related gene expression is not only able to predict prognosis of patient with LUAD but also applied to pan-cancer. LUAD response to checkpoint immunotherapy can also be predicted by this scoring system. Conclusions: This work revealed the significant connection between metabolic pattern of tumor and tumor immune infiltration, regulating LUAD patients' response to immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Here we introduce a two-stage procedure protocol for minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) to treat complex pilon fractures and evaluate surgical wound healing and infection rates after this method was applied in clinical practice. Method: This is a retrospective study design. The protocol consisted of immediate (within eight to 24 hours) open reduction and internal fixation of the fibula, using a fibular plate or one third tubular plate and application of an external fixator spanning the ankle joint. Patients were discharged after initial stabilisation and revaluated approximately ten to 14 days after discharge. Formal open reconstruction of the articular surface using MIPO depended on whether soft tissue swelling had lessened. Artificial bone was then injected into the defect rather than open surgery. Objective evaluation criteria were wound infection rates. Objective criteria (amount of post-traumatic arthritis, range of ankle movement, number of arthrodeses) and subjective criteria (pain, swelling, restriction of work or leisure activities) were identified via chart and radiograph reviews, patient interviews and physical examination. Results: Twenty-nine patients, each with one pilon fracture were included. First-stage operations were performed from eight hours to seven days after injury, depending on whether the fracture was open or not. Average time from external fixation to open reduction and revision was one month (range 24-38 days); average time for the second-stage operation was 58 (range 45-110) minutes; average amount of haemorrhage was 400 (range 150-560) ml; average time of follow-up was 24 months and average time of healing was 6.7 (range five to 11.5) months after the second stage. There was no superficial or deep infection or wound-healing problem. All patients had normal functioning ankle joints. Conclusion: Application of the two-stage procedure protocol with MIPO seems to play a key role in reducing infection rates associated with open reduction and internal fixation of pilon fractures. Its effectiveness in closed and open fractures will be further tested by a late randomised controlled study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the design of composite materials, the properties and failure modes/mechanisms are always of the main concern. In this work, the mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of composite laminates with classical fabric stacking patterns ([(0, 90)]8 and [(0, 90)/(± 45)]4) were systematically investigated through mechanical experiments and FEM (finite element method) numerical simulations. The results show that the tensile modulus and bending modulus of the laminates were reduced by 22.2% and 37% after partially changing the stacking angle to ± 45°, but corresponding elongation and bending displacement were increased by 8.8% and 11.7%, respectively. Bending failure mode changes from complete fracture to partial fracture. Meanwhile, the delamination damage and tow peeling from the matrix increase significantly. FEM simulations on tensile and bending processes of the composites indicate that the ± 45° stacking angle leads to the change of the axial stress direction from SX (0°) to SY (± 45°), which is difficult to be observed from mechanical experiments. The FEM simulation provides a cost effective and efficient way for the structural visual optimization design and failure prediction of the actual composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy conservation is not valid in non-Hermitian systems with gain/loss or non-reciprocity, which leads to various extraordinary resonant characteristics. Compared with Hermitian systems, the intersection of non-Hermitian physics and topology generates new phases that have not been observed in condensed-matter systems before. Here, utilizing the designed two-dimensional periodical model with non-reciprocal hopping terms, we show how to obtain both the ellipse-like or hyperbolic-like spectral degeneracy, the topological boundary modes and the bulk-boundary correspondence by the protection of time-reversal symmetry and pseudo-Hermitian symmetry. Notably, the boundary modes and bulk-boundary correspondence can simultaneously appear only for specific selection of the primitive cell, and we explored the analytical solution to verify such gauge-dependent topological behaviors. Our topolectrical circuit simulation provides a flexible approach to confirm the designed properties and clarify the crucial role of pseudo-Hermiticity on the stability of a practical system. In a broader view, our findings can be compared to other platforms such as meta-surface or photonic crystals, for the purpose on the control of resonant frequency and localization properties. Non-Hermitian physics, an active topic in photonics, is also being increasingly extended to investigate the band topologies of condensed-matter systems. Here, the authors report a 2D non-Hermitian model exhibiting exceptional rings and topological boundary modes in the spectral degeneracy, they propose how to realise these features using topolectrical circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock masses generally contain many fissures filled with weak materials. At present, the interaction mechanisms of crack coalescence and seepage in rock with filled fissures are still poorly understood. Therefore, this study conducts systematic laboratory tests on sandstone samples with two filled fissures under hydromechanical coupling conditions. The influences of the fissures, filling, ligament length, and bridge angle on the strength, fracture pattern, and permeability are explored. The results show that the strength properties of the sandstone are weakened more significantly by fissures than by water pressure. The increase of strength properties induced by the fillings is more remarkable in the samples with either a longer ligament length or a lower bridge angle. Unlike for mud filling, for sand filling, most of the sand particles in the fissures are crushed after loading, reflecting that the bearing capacity of the sand filling is fully utilized. Thus, sand filling generally has a greater effect on the strength properties than mud filling does. Furthermore, the failure of double-fissure sandstone can be divided into five modes. With the exception of the samples with a high bridge angle, the samples undergo failure modes that change with the existence of fillings, and for samples with a long ligament length or a low bridge angle, the change is more sensitive to the filling type. The weakening effect of fillings on permeability is associated with the failure mode, and it is more remarkable in samples with the "wing cracks + indirect crack coalescence" or "wing cracks + direct crack coalescence" failure modes than in other samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: 3D printing of MXene frames with tunable electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency is demonstrated. Highly conductive MXene frames are reinforced by cross-linking with aluminum ions. Electromagnetic wave is visualized by electromagnetic-thermochromic MXene patterns. The highly integrated and miniaturized next-generation electronic products call for high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials to assure the normal operation of their closely assembled components. However, the most current techniques are not adequate for the fabrication of shielding materials with programmable structure and controllable shielding efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate the direct ink writing of robust and highly conductive Ti3C2Tx MXene frames with customizable structures by using MXene/AlOOH inks for tunable EMI shielding and electromagnetic wave-induced thermochromism applications. The as-printed frames are reinforced by immersing in AlCl3/HCl solution to remove the electrically insulating AlOOH nanoparticles, as well as cross-link the MXene sheets and fuse the filament interfaces with aluminum ions. After freeze-drying, the resultant robust and porous MXene frames exhibit tunable EMI shielding efficiencies in the range of 25–80 dB with the highest electrical conductivity of 5323 S m−1. Furthermore, an electromagnetic wave-induced thermochromic MXene pattern is assembled by coating and curing with thermochromic polydimethylsiloxane on a printed MXene pattern, and its color can be changed from blue to red under the high-intensity electromagnetic irradiation. This work demonstrates a direct ink printing of customizable EMI frames and patterns for tuning EMI shielding efficiency and visualizing electromagnetic waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The delicate “3D helix–2D sheet–1D fiber–0D dot” hierarchical aerogels were successfully synthesized. The graphene sheets are uniformly intercalated by helical carbon nanocoils, which endow the as-obtained aerogel with abundant porous structures and better dielectric properties. By adjusting the growth parameters of 0D core-shell structured particles and 1D carbon nanofibers, the tunable electromagnetic properties and excellent impedance matching are achieved.Recently, multilevel structural carbon aerogels are deemed as attractive candidates for microwave absorbing materials. Nevertheless, excessive stack and agglomeration for low-dimension carbon nanomaterials inducing impedance mismatch are significant challenges. Herein, the delicate “3D helix–2D sheet–1D fiber–0D dot” hierarchical aerogels have been successfully synthesized, for the first time, by sequential processes of hydrothermal self-assembly and in-situ chemical vapor deposition method. Particularly, the graphene sheets are uniformly intercalated by 3D helical carbon nanocoils, which give a feasible solution to the mentioned problem and endows the as-obtained aerogel with abundant porous structures and better dielectric properties. Moreover, by adjusting the content of 0D core–shell structured particles and the parameters for growth of the 1D carbon nanofibers, tunable electromagnetic properties and excellent impedance matching are achieved, which plays a vital role in the microwave absorption performance. As expected, the optimized aerogels harvest excellent performance, including broad effective bandwidth and strong reflection loss at low filling ratio and thin thickness. This work gives valuable guidance and inspiration for the design of hierarchical materials comprised of dimensional gradient structures, which holds great application potential for electromagnetic wave attenuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Ultrathin, lightweight, and flexible carbon nanotube buckypaper enhanced using MXenes (Ti3C2Tx) for high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding is synthesized through facile electrophoretic deposition. The obtained Ti3C2Tx@CNT hybrid buckypaper demonstrates outstanding EMI shielding effectiveness of 60.5 dB in the X-band at 100 μm and a specific SE value of 5.7 × 104 dB cm2 g−1 at 5 μm.Lightweight, flexibility, and low thickness are urgent requirements for next-generation high-performance electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials for catering to the demand for smart and wearable electronic devices. Although several efforts have focused on constructing porous and flexible conductive films or aerogels, few studies have achieved a balance in terms of density, thickness, flexibility, and EMI shielding effectiveness (SE). Herein, an ultrathin, lightweight, and flexible carbon nanotube (CNT) buckypaper enhanced using MXenes (Ti3C2Tx) for high-performance EMI shielding is synthesized through a facile electrophoretic deposition process. The obtained Ti3C2Tx@CNT hybrid buckypaper exhibits an outstanding EMI SE of 60.5 dB in the X-band at 100 μm. The hybrid buckypaper with an MXene content of 49.4 wt% exhibits an EMI SE of 50.4 dB in the X-band with a thickness of only 15 μm, which is 105% higher than that of pristine CNT buckypaper. Furthermore, an average specific SE value of 5.7 × 104 dB cm2 g−1 is exhibited in the 5-μm hybrid buckypaper. Thus, this assembly process proves promising for the construction of ultrathin, flexible, and high-performance EMI shielding films for application in electronic devices and wireless communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a non-histone nuclear protein which has been intensively studied in various physiological and pathological processes including leukemia. Here in this study, we further demonstrated that HMGB1 presents higher expression in the bone marrow mononuclear cells of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients compared with the normal controls and contributes to the AML pathogenesis and progression by inhibiting apoptosis, facilitating proliferation, and inducing myeloid differentiation blockade of AML cells. Mechanistic investigation revealed that transforming growth factor beta-induced (TGFBI) acts as a potential downstream target of HMGB1 and lentivirus-mediated knockdown of TGFBI expression impaired phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)–induced myeloid differentiation of AML cell lines. On the other hand, chidamide, an orally histone deacetylase inhibitor, decreases HMGB1 expression significantly in AML cells with concomitant upregulation of TGFBI expression, and confers therapeutic effect on AML by inducing cell differentiation, apoptosis and inhibiting cell proliferation. In conclusion, our findings provide additional insights that HMGB1 is a promising therapeutic target of AML, and also present experimental evidence for the clinical application of chidamide as a novel agent in AML therapy by downregulating HMGB1 expression. Key messages: HMGB1 induces cell proliferation and myeloid differentiation blockade and inhibits apoptosis of AML cells. TGFBI acts as a potential target of HMGB1. Chidamide, a selective HDAC inhibitor, confers promising therapeutic effect for AML via downregulating HMGB1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow plumage is common in chickens, especially in breeds such as the Huiyang Bearded chicken, which is indigenous to China. We evaluated plumage colour distribution in F1, F2, and F3 populations of an Huiyang Bearded chicken × White Leghorn chicken cross, the heredity of the yellow plumage trait was distinguished from that of the gold plumage and other known plumage colours. Microscopic analysis of the feather follicles indicated that pheomelanin particles were formed in yellow but not in white feathers. To screen genes related to formation of the pheomelanin particles, we generated transcriptome data from yellow and white feather follicles from 7- and 11-week-old F3 chickens using RNA-seq. We identified 27 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) when comparing the yellow and white feather follicles. These DEGs were enriched in the Gene Ontology classes 'melanosome' and 'melanosome organization' related to the pigmentation process. Down-regulation of TYRP1, DCT, PMEL, MLANA, and HPGDS, verified using quantitative reverse transcription PCR, may lead to reduced eumelanin and increased pheomelanin synthesis in yellow plumage. Owing to the presence of the Dominant white locus, both white and yellow plumage lack eumelanin, and white feathers showed no pigments. Our results provide an understanding of yellow plumage formation in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tibetan chicken is a unique breed that has adapted to the high-altitude hypoxic conditions of the Tibetan plateau. A number of positively selected genes have been reported in these chickens; however, the mechanisms of gene expression for hypoxia adaptation are not fully understood. In the present study, eggs from Tibetan and Chahua chickens were incubated under hypoxic and normoxic conditions, and vascularization in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of embryos was observed. We found that the vessel density index in the CAM of Tibetan chickens was lower than in Chahua chickens under hypoxia conditions. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of CAM tissues were performed in Tibetan and Chahua chicken embryos under hypoxic incubation using RNA-Seq and iTRAQ. We obtained 160 differentially expressed genes and 387 differentially expressed proteins that were mainly enriched in angiogenesis, vasculature development, blood vessel morphogenesis, blood circulation, renin-angiotensin system, and HIF-1 and VEGF signaling pathways. Twenty-six genes involved in angiogenesis and blood circulation, two genes involved in ion transport, and six genes that regulated energy metabolism were identified as candidate functional genes in regulating hypoxic adaptation of chicken embryos. This research provided insights into the molecular mechanism of hypoxia adaptation in Tibetan chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the synchronization control of a non-autonomous Lotka–Volterra system with time delay and stochastic effects is studied. The purpose is to firstly establish sufficient conditions for the existence of global positive solution by constructing a suitable Lyapunov function. Some synchronization criteria are then derived by designing an appropriate full controller and a pinning controller, respectively. Finally, an example is presented to illustrate the feasibility and validity of the main theoretical results based on the Field-Programmable Gate Array hardware simulation tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This 24-week randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority study compared the efficacy and safety of febuxostat, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, with allopurinol using an up-titration method in hyperuricemic Chinese subjects with or without gout. Methods: Eligible adults (serum uric acid [SUA] > 7.0 mg/dl with a history of gout, SUA ≥ 8.0 mg/dl with complications or SUA ≥ 9.0 mg/dl without complications) were randomized (1:1:1) to febuxostat 40 mg/day, 80 mg/day, or allopurinol 300 mg/day. Starting doses of febuxostat 20 mg/day and allopurinol 100 mg/day were up-titrated, up to 16 weeks, to the randomized doses and maintained to week 24. Primary endpoint was non-inferiority of febuxostat 40 mg/day versus allopurinol 300 mg/day based on the percentage of subjects with SUA ≤ 6.0 mg/dl at week 24. The same comparison was made between febuxostat 60 mg/day or 80 mg/day versus allopurinol 300 mg/day. Safety assessments included measurement of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Results: The per-protocol population comprised 472 subjects. Non-inferiority of febuxostat 40 mg/day versus allopurinol 300 mg/day was not demonstrated based on the protocol-defined margin of − 10% (44.7 vs. 50.0%; − 5.3% difference; 95% confidence interval [CI]: − 16.4%, 5.8%); however, superiority over allopurinol 300 mg/day was demonstrated for febuxostat 60 mg/day at week 16 (66.3 vs. 51.2%; a 15.0% difference; 95% CI: 4.2%, 25.9%) and febuxostat 80 mg/day at week 24 (70.0 vs. 50.0%; a 20.0% difference; 95% CI: 9.3%, 30.7%). The frequency of TEAEs was similar across groups, with gout flares occurring frequently. Conclusions: Using a novel dose-titration method, although the primary endpoint of non-inferiority of febuxostat 40 mg/day versus allopurinol 300 mg/day was not reached, non-inferiority and superiority of febuxostat 60 mg/day and 80 mg/day versus allopurinol 300 mg/day was demonstrated at weeks 16 and 24, respectively. Febuxostat demonstrated an acceptable tolerability profile in the treatment of hyperuricemia in Chinese subjects with or without gout. Trial Registration: JapicCTI-132106. Funding: Astellas Pharma Global Development, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed wire electrical discharge machining (HS-WEDM) using hard water working liquid results in the machined surface losing metallic luster and reducing the cutting speed comparing with distilled water working fluid. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the microscopic surface of the workpiece. The chemical composition of the machined surface was analyzed via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results indicated that the primary cause for lost metallic luster of the machine's surface was the Cl− present in hard water, which was easily adsorbed on the surface of the workpiece under high-temperature and pressure inter-electrode conditions, resulting in pitting corrosion. By analyzing the conductivity and the continuous discharge waveforms of distilled water and hard water working liquid, it was determined that the reduced cutting speed was because the hard water working liquid contained ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, which were adsorbed by the colloid in the working fluid. This resulted in the loss of dielectric property for the working fluid. Furthermore, the conductivity of hard water working fluid is higher, making it easier to be broken down under the same voltage, which results in a larger discharge gap and reduced cutting speed. A method of distilling the hard water to remove the ions was presented to circumvent this; after which, the cutting surface recovered metallic luster and the general machining speed increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and is administered via subcutaneous injection. Injection site pain (ISP) associated with subcutaneous administration may affect compliance or hinder initiation of prescribed medications. To improve the patient experience, a new phosphate-free formulation of etanercept was evaluated for reduced ISP associated with administration. Methods: This phase 3b, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, cross-over study compared the prior formulation of etanercept to a phosphate-free formulation. Etanercept-naïve adults with RA or PsA indicated for treatment with etanercept were eligible. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive both etanercept formulations (50 mg) in one of two crossover sequences: prior formulation followed by phosphate-free formulation (sequence AB) or phosphate-free formulation followed by prior formulation (sequence BA) at visits 1 week apart. Patients self-reported ISP using a fit-for-purpose 100-mm visual analog scale within 30 s after injection. Safety outcomes included incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events. Mixed-effects analysis of variance model was used to assess ISP, with treatment, study period, sequence, and disease indication as fixed-effect covariates and patient-within-sequence as random effect. Results: A total of 111 patients enrolled (56 sequence AB; 55 sequence BA). Mean ISP score for prior formulation was 23.1 mm and for phosphate-free formulation was 19.1 mm (mean difference − 4 mm; 95% confidence interval: − 8.0, 0.0; P = 0.048). Patients with the highest ISP scores from the prior formulation (by quartile cut points) had the largest reduction in pain with phosphate-free formulation. Injection site reactions were few in number and similar between formulations; no new safety signals were observed. Conclusions: The new phosphate-free formulation of etanercept had statistically significantly lower mean pain scores than the prior formulation, with largest pain reductions observed among patients who reported highest pain with the prior formulation. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02986139. Funding: Amgen Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li-ion capacitors (LICs) combine the merits of supercapacitors and batteries, which are usually fabricated by battery-type anode and supercapacitor-type cathode. The main challenge for LICs is to make kinetics balance between anode and cathode. Herein, we created a LIC based on superabsorbent polymer salt-derived carbon-based nanomaterials. By annealing the Mn2+ adsorbed polymer salt precursor, the obtained MnO/C anode with a high specific surface area of 762 m2 g−1 displays a high capacity of 540 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and an excellent capacity retention of 80% after 500 cycles. The hierarchical porous carbon cathode is generated by the combined carbonization and KOH activation techniques, which exhibits an excellent capacitive storage performance. After well-matched capacity and kinetic behavior in both anode and cathode, the LIC possesses a high energy density of 97.3 Wh kg−1 and a superior cycle life with 80% capacity retention after 10000 cycles. This work gives a case study to fabricate high-performance energy storage devices by using environmentally friendly electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a simple colorimetric probe was developed for rapid and highly sensitive detection of malathion based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) anti-aggregation mechanism. A certain amount of NaOH can cause the aggregation of citrate-stabilized AuNPs due to the electrostatic interactions, and the color of AuNP solution changes from wine-red to gray. While in the presence of malathion, malathion is easily hydrolyzed in a strong alkali environment (pH > 9), followed by the production of a mass of negative charges, and thus the aggregated AuNPs turns to well-dispersed and the color of AuNP solution changes from gray to wine-red. This characteristic change can be visualized with the naked eye and quantitatively detected by an ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometer. Under optimized conditions, this probe exhibited a linear response to malathion in the concentration range of 0.05–0.8 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) down to 11.8 nM. The probe also showed good specificity for malathion detection in the presence of other interfering pesticide residues. Furthermore, the probe was successfully employed to detect malathion in environmental samples, with a recovery of 94–107% and a relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 8%. The results demonstrated that the proposed colorimetric probe based on anti-aggregation of AuNPs could be used for quantitative analysis of malathion and provided great potential for malathion determination in environmental samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nickel-based superalloy GH4099 was diffusion-bonded with 2-10 μm thick pure nickel interlayer. The joint microstructure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, electron probe micro-analyzer and electron backscattered diffraction; the joint mechanical properties were evaluated by nanoindentation, tensile and Charpy impact tests. It was observed that with the reduction in interlayer thickness, element distribution and hardness across the joining interface became more homogeneous and subsequently produced sound joints due to the suppression of precipitated carbides on joining interface. The strengths of joints were in the range of the base metal as-received. When bonding time or temperatures increased, the bond line of the 2 μm interlayer joint was partially eliminated by the recrystallization across the joining interface, and the strength and elongation (or the absorbed energy) of the joint were same as (or close to) the base metal which underwent the same heating process. However, due to the microstructure degradation induced by the grain coarsening, the absorbed energy of the 2 μm interlayer joint reaches the maximum when the joint bonded under the moderate condition of 1120 °C and 90 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A core-shell structure ZnS nanocomposite was synthesized by wrapping ZnS nanoparticles up in graphene-like nano-cell (GLC@ZnS) through chemical vapor deposition. The morphological and structural characteristics exhibit that the obtained GLC@ZnS composite possesses high-quality ZnS nano-sized particles and laminated graphene-like layers shell. When applied as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, the GLC@ZnS composite (high ZnS content of 97.2%) with diameter of 30 nm delivers high reversible capacities (1134 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.5 A g−1, 890 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 1.0 A g−1) and excellent rate capability (701 mAh g−1 at 8.0 A g−1). The excellent electrochemical performance of the composite is ascribed to the inclosed graphene-like nano-cell, which could localize the active materials and enhance the exchange of charges and ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mirror milling is an effective approach to improve large-scale monolithic thin-walled parts machining quality through ensuring the mirror relations of cutter and supporting head. However, the introduction of supporting head influences the dynamic characteristics of the tool-workpiece system. Essentially, the measured raw signal contains more coupled components and shows more oscillatory and aperiodic behaviors. Therefore, it is difficult to identify the mirror milling chatter using the monitoring signals. Comparing with traditional indicators, Q-factor can be used to describe the machining state in the view of signal oscillatory behavior, which is suitable for chatter-related component extraction in thin-walled part machining. In this paper, chatter-related signal component identification and diagnosis of thin-walled parts based on signal Q-factor and support vector machine (SVM) is proposed. The frequency band with maximal variation of Q-factors is taken as the chatter-related signal component. Using the feature vector constructed by Q-factors and power spectrum values of the determined frequency band, the SVM is used for milling state diagnosis. The prediction accuracy is much higher than the other frequency band and traditional indicators. It indicates the effectiveness of the proposed mirror machining chatter identification method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The affiliation details for the second affiliation were also incorrectly given as 'University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 19B, Yuquan Road, Shijing District, Beijing 100049, China' but should have been 'University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 19A, Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China'. The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-11421-1. J. C (2023) 83:269 b https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-023-11421-1 In this article the affiliation details for the first affiliation were incorrectly given as 'Institute of High Energy Physics, 19B, Yuquan Road, Shijing District, Beijing 100049, China' but should have been 'Institute of High Energy Physics, 19B, Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing 100049, China'. [Extracted from the article]

We consider Einstein-Horndeski gravity with a negative bare constant as a holographic model to investigate whether a scale invariant quantum field theory can exist without the full conformal invariance. Einstein-Horndeski gravity can admit two different AdS vacua. One is conformal, and the holographic two-point functions of the boundary energy-momentum tensor are the same as the ones obtained in Einstein gravity. The other AdS vacuum, which arises at some critical point of the coupling constants, preserves the scale invariance but not the special conformal invariance due to the logarithmic radial dependence of the Horndeski scalar. In addition to the transverse and traceless graviton modes, the theory admits an additional trace/scalar mode in the scale invariant vacuum. We obtain the two-point functions of the corresponding boundary operators. We find that the trace/scalar mode gives rise to an non-vanishing two-point function, which distinguishes the scale invariant theory from the conformal theory. The two-point function vanishes in d = 2 , where the full conformal symmetry is restored. Our results indicate the strongly coupled scale invariant unitary quantum field theory may exist in d ≥ 3 without the full conformal symmetry. The operator that is dual to the bulk trace/scalar mode however violates the dominant energy condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in situ and cleaner electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through two-electron oxygen reduction reaction has drawn increasing attentions in environmental applications as an alterantive to traditional anthraquinone process. Air cathodes avoid the need of aeration, but face the challenges of declined performance during scale-up due to non-uniform water infiltration or even water leakage, which is resulted from changing water pressures and immature cathode fabrication at a large scale. To address these challenges, a three-dimensional (3-D) floating air cathode (FAC) was built around the commercial sponge, by coating with carbon black/poly(tetrafluoroethylene) using a simple dipping-drying method. The FAC floated on the water-air interface without extensive water-proof measures, and could utilize oxygen both from passive diffusion and anodic oxygen evolution to produce H2O2. The FAC with six times of dipping treatment produced a maximum H2O2 concentration of 177.9 ± 26.1 mg L−1 at 90 min, with low energy consumption of 7.1 ± 0.003 Wh g−1 and stable performance during 10 cycles of operation. Our results showed that this 3-D FAC is a promising approach for in situ H2O2 production for both environmental remediation and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new system for the detection of human respiration behind obstacles using impulse ultra-wideband (UWB) radar. In complex environments, low signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) as they can result in significant errors in the respiration, heartbeat frequency, and range estimates. To improve the performance, the complex signal demodulation (CSD) technique is extended by employing the signal logarithm and derivative. A frequency accumulation (FA) method is proposed to suppress mixed products of the heartbeat and respiration signals and spurious respiration signal harmonics. The respiration frequency is estimated using the phase variations in the received signal, and a discrete short-time Fourier transform (DSFT) is used to estimate the range. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated along with that of several well-known techniques in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and reliable quantification of endogenous lipid mediators in complex biological samples is a daunting challenge. In this study, a robust and direct endogenous quantitative method using background subtracting calibration curves by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was first developed for the determination of endogenous lipid mediators in ischemic stroke rats. Absolute quantification without surrogate matrix could be achieved by using background subtracting calibration curves, which were corrected and verified from standard curves constructed on original matrix. The recoveries of this method were in the range of 50.3-98.3%, the precision with the relative standard deviation was less than 13.8%, and the accuracy with the relative error was within ± 15.0%. In addition, background subtracting calibration curves were further verified by validation factors ranging from 90.3 to 110.9%. This validated method has been successfully applied to the analysis of seven endogenous inflammation-related lipid mediators in the brain tissues of ischemic stroke rats. The results indicated that prostaglandins as inflammatory factors and some lipid mediators with neuroprotective effects increased apparently ( p < 0.05) in the stroke groups compared with the normal rats. Besides, the two drugs (isosteviol sodium and edaravone) could significantly reduce ( p < 0.05) the levels of prostaglandin E and prostaglandin F of stroke rats to inhibit inflammation. Based on the results, it is strongly believed that this approach can be readily generalized as a new reference for the quantification of endogenous compounds in the complex biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solutions to the electroweak hierarchy problem typically introduce a new symmetry to stabilize the quadratic ultraviolet sensitivity in the self-energy of the Higgs boson. The new symmetry is either broken softly or collectively, as for example in supersymmetric and little Higgs theories. At low energies such theories contain naturalness partners of the Standard Model fields which are responsible for canceling the quadratic divergence in the squared Higgs mass. Post the discovery of any partner-like particles, we propose to test the aforementioned cancellation by measuring relevant Higgs couplings. Using the fermionic top partners in little Higgs theories as an illustration, we construct a simplified model for naturalness and initiate a study on testing naturalness. After electroweak symmetry breaking, naturalness in the top sector requires a = − λ at leading order, where λ and a are the Higgs couplings to a pair of top quarks and top partners, respectively. Using a multivariate method of Boosted Decision Tree to tag boosted particles in the Standard Model, we show that, with a luminosity of 30 ab at a 100 TeV pp-collider, naturalness could be tested with a precision of 10% for a top partner mass up to 2.5 TeV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the macroscopic constitutive models (MCCM), the Gurson damage model is introduced to build the mesoscopic constitutive models (MSCM) with anisotropy Gurson-Hill1948 and Gurson-Yld2003 damage models. The damage parameters of the Gurson-Hill1948 and Gurson-Yld2003 damage models using orthogonal analysis and inverse computed methods are discussed and compared with experimental and simulation results obtained using the user subroutine VUMAT implemented by Lin. The corresponding sensitivity of the damage parameters was obtained by orthogonal analysis, then these optimized damage parameters could describe the mechanical performance for 08Al sheet with 1 mm thickness. Basically, the simulation results are in accordance with the experiment results. The damage parameters of the Gurson-Hill1948 and Gurson-Yld2003 constitutive models are explored to describe the deep-drawing deforming process, failure performance and obtained equivalent stress, equivalent plastic strain, thickness, damage distribution, and the influence of the friction coefficient during the deep-drawing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During tooth development, the jawbone interacts with dental germ and provides the development microenvironment. Jawbone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (JBMSCs) maintain this microenvironment for root and periodontium development. However, the effect of the jawbone microenvironment on periodontium tissue regeneration is largely elusive. Our previous study showed that cell aggregates (CAs) of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells promoted periodontium regeneration on the treated dentin scaffold. Here, we found that JBMSCs enhanced not only the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) but also their adhesion to titanium (Ti) material surface. Importantly, the compound CAs of PDLSCs and JBMSCs regenerated periodontal ligament-like fibers and mineralized matrix on the Ti scaffold surface, both in nude mice ectopic and minipig orthotopic transplantations. Our data revealed that an effective regenerative microenvironment, reconstructed by JBMSCs, promoted periodontium regeneration by regulating PDLSCs function on the Ti material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rigorous expressions of resonant frequency shift (RFS) in anomalous dispersion enhanced resonant optical gyroscopes (ADEROGs) are deduced without making approximation, which provides a precise theoretical guidance to achieve ultra-sensitive ADEROGs. A refractive index related modification factor is introduced when considering special theory of relativity (STR). We demonstrate that the RFS will not be 'infinitely large' by using critical anomalous dispersion (CAD) and negative modification does not exist, which make the mechanism of anomalous dispersion enhancement clear and coherent. Although step change of RFS will happen when the anomalous dispersion condition varies, the amplification of RFS is limited by attainable variation of refractive index in practice. Moreover, it is shown that the properties of anomalous dispersion will influence not only the amplification of RFS, but also the detection range of ADEROGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]