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Toxic and nontoxic volatile organic compound (VOC) gases are emitted into the atmosphere from certain solids and liquids as a consequence of wastage and some common daily activities. Inhalation of toxic VOCs has an adverse effect on human health, so it is necessary to monitor their concentration in the atmosphere. In this work, we report on the fabrication of inorganic nanotube (INT)-tungsten disulfide, paper-based graphene–PEDOT:PSS sheet and WS2 nanotube-modified conductive paper-based chemiresistors for VOC gas sensing. The WS2 nanotubes were fabricated by a two-step reaction, that is oxide reduction and sulfurization, carried out at 900 °C. The synthesized nanotubes were characterized by FE-SEM, EDS, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and TEM. The synthesized nanotubes were 206–267 nm in diameter. The FE-SEM results show the length of the nanotubes to be 4.5–8 µm. The graphene–PEDOT:PSS hybrid conductive paper sheet was fabricated by a continuous coating process. Then, WS2 nanotubes were drop-cast onto conductive paper for fabrication of the chemiresistors. The feasibility and sensitivity of the WS2 nanotube-modified paper-based chemiresistor were tested in four VOC gases at different concentrations at room temperature (RT). Experimental results show the proposed sensor to be more sensitive to butanol gas when the concentration ranges from 50 to 1000 ppm. The limit of detection (LOD) of this chemiresistor for butanol gas was 44.92 ppm. The WS2 nanotube-modified paper-based chemiresistor exhibits good potential as a VOC sensor with the advantages of flexibility, easy fabrication, and low fabrication cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work recovered Ni or Cu cations from simulated electroplating wastewater to synthesize Ni/Cu nano-catalysts for H2 generation by ethanol steam reforming (ESR). Aluminum lathe waste was used as a framework to prepare the structured catalyst. Li–Al–CO3 layered double hydroxide (LDH) was electrodeposited on the surface of the framework. The LDH was in a platelet-like structure, working as a support for the formation of the precursor of the metal catalysts. The catalytic performance and the coke properties of a 6Cu_6Ni two-stage catalyst configuration herein used for ESR catalytic reaction were studied. The Cu–Ni two-stage catalyst configuration (6Cu_6Ni) yielded more H2 (~10%) than that by using the Ni-based catalyst (6Ni) only. The 6Cu_6Ni catalyst configuration also resulted in a relatively stable H2 generation rate vs. time, with nearly no decline during the 5-h reaction. Through the pre-reaction of ethanol-steam mixture with Cu/LiAlO2 catalyst, the Ni/LiAlO2 catalyst in the 6Cu_6Ni catalyst configuration could steadily decompose acetaldehyde, and rare acetate groups, which would evolve condensed coke, were formed. The Ni nanoparticles were observed to be lifted and separated by the carbon filaments from the support and had no indication of sintering, contributing to the bare deactivation of the Ni/LiAlO2 catalyst in 6Cu_6Ni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine the interaction between a retailer's information acquisition and a manufacturer's advertising strategies by incorporating the advertising threshold effect under manufacturer encroachment. We elaborate on two acquisition timings, namely, ex ante acquisition and ex post acquisition, depending on whether the retailer makes the information acquisition decision before or after the manufacturer's advertising decision. We demonstrate that under ex ante acquisition, the retailer's acquisition incentive and the manufacturer's optimal advertising level exhibit a non-monotonic relationship with the advertising threshold. Under ex post acquisition, given that the threshold is not too high, the retailer's acquisition incentive weakly increases with the advertising threshold, and the optimal advertising level is always pushed up by the advertising threshold effect and the acquisition inducing effect. More importantly, the advertising threshold effect does not necessarily hurt (benefit) the manufacturer (retailer), as the information acquisition effect can conditionally alleviate the detrimental effect of the advertising threshold. Moreover, the retailer may prefer either ex ante acquisition or ex post acquisition, depending on the advertising level comparison. By contrast, the manufacturer prefers ex post acquisition only when the acquisition incentive under ex post acquisition is higher than that under ex ante acquisition; otherwise, the manufacturer always weakly prefers ex ante acquisition. • The interaction between a retailer's information acquisition and a manufacturer's advertising strategies is studied. • The advertising threshold effect is incorporated under manufacturer encroachment. • Two acquisition timings, namely, ex ante acquisition and ex post acquisition, are examined. • The advertising threshold effect does not necessarily hurt (benefit) the manufacturer (retailer). • The firms may prefer either ex ante acquisition or ex post acquisition under certain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Less-time consuming and low cost electrocatalyst developed by probe sonication method. • Ni-SiO 2 nanoparticles decorated graphene nanosheets catalyst exhibits superior activity to guaifenesin drug. • Highly sensitive amperometric method explored for guaifenesin oxidation with detection limit of 5.7 nM. A highly sensitive amperometric method is performed for determination of the pharmaceutical drug guaifenesin (GFN), which is commonly used for temporary relief from congested chest, cough and other breathing illnesses. Over dosages of GFN may cause nausea and vomiting. Hence, developing a sensor strip for rapid detection of GFN is essential. In this regard, we prepared Ni-SiO 2 nanosphere-decorated multilayer graphene nanosheets (Ni-SiO 2 /MLG) composite catalyst for GFN detection by probe sonication. The catalyst was characterised by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses. Disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) were modified with Ni-SiO 2 /MLG catalyst to evaluate GFN oxidation behaviour by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry techniques. Ni-SiO 2 /MLG/SPCE exhibited a good linear range of detection (0.1–317.5 µM), high sensitivity (408.88 µA mM−1 cm−2) and low detection limit (5.7 nM). It is also exhibited high selectivity to GFN in the presence of interference molecules within the high positive potential range. Stability and reproducibility analyses indicated that the unique Ni-SiO 2 /MLG composite materials can be an excellent candidate to fabricate a flexible electrode for biosensing and other electrochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study reports a new perfusion-based, micro three-dimensional (3-D) cell culture platform for drug testing using enabling microfluidic technologies. The features of this cell culture platform include maintaining homogenous and stable culture environments, efficient medium delivery and cells/agarose (scaffold) loading; allowing realization of more precise and high-throughput cell culture-based assays. In this work, the perfusion-based, micro 3-D cell culture platform was designed and was fabricated based on SU-8 lithography and PDMS (poly-dimethylsiloxane) replication processes. The performance of the integrated pneumatic micropumps and cells/agarose loading mechanism were experimentally evaluated. The results show that in all of the 15 pneumatic micropumps studied, the medium delivery mechanism was able to provide a uniform flow output at flow rates ranging from 3.6μl/h to 439.0μl/h, depending on the applied pulsation frequency of the micropumps. In addition, the cell/agarose (scaffold) loading mechanism was proven to be able to perform sample loading tasks precisely and accurately in all of the 15 microbioreactors investigated with adjustable loading volumes of 0.22μl, 0.18μl and 0.14μl at applied air pressures of 10psi, 12psi and 15psi, respectively, in the microvalves. Furthermore, anti-cancer drug testing was successfully demonstrated using the proposed culture platform and fluorescent microscopic observation. As a whole, because of miniaturization, not only does this perfusion 3-D cell culture platform provide a homogenous and steady cell culture environment, but it also reduces the need for human intervention. Moreover, due to the integrated pumping of the medium and the cell/agarose (scaffold) loading mechanisms, time efficient and economical research work can be achieved. These characteristics are found particularly useful for high-precision and high-throughput 3-D cell culture-based drug testing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study used an un-balanced magnetron sputtering system to deposit different thickness of diamond-like carbon (DLC) film on Co–Cr–Mo and Ti–6A1–4V alloy substrate. Wear test, Raman spectroscopy analysis, nano-indentation test and morphology of contact surface were conducted to evaluate the tribological performance of these films for bio-medical applications. The ring-on-disk wear testing shows that the thicker film leads to the lower friction coefficient and higher wear resistance. In the testing process, the fluctuating friction coefficient of DLC coated Co–Cr–Mo substrate was less than that of DLC coated Ti–6Al–4V substrate. Raman spectroscopy analysis and nano-indentation test provide the underlying mechanism for the enhancement of the wear resistance. The DLC coated Co–Cr–Mo substrate provides better wear resistance than the DLC coated Ti–6Al–4V substrate owing to better adhesion of DLC film to the Co–Cr–Mo substrate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using phylogenetic and population genetic approaches, the present study reports the phylogeographic structure of the sharp-snouted pitviper (Deinagkistrodon acutus), a threatened snake species with commercial and medicinal importance in China. The entire mitochondrial ND2 gene (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2) sequences of 86 individuals of D. acutus from 14 localities across its range in China were determined. Based on the results of phylogenetic analyses, distribution of diagnostic sites, haplotype network, and AMOVA hierarchical analysis, an east–west division of the whole D. acutus population could be observed. Geographically, a line formed by a lake, river, and mountain chain (the Poyang Lake, Gan River to the southern end of the Wuyi Mountains), results in vicariance and approximately vertically splits the range into two and the whole population into two main lineages (western and eastern). The bifurcating tree suggested generally west to east dispersal trend. The data fit the isolation by distance (IBD) model well. Star-like clusters in haplotype network, significantly negative values of Fs statistics, and unimodal mismatch distributions all suggest recent demographic expansions in four areas. The results show that isolation, dispersal, bottleneck, and expansion jointly constitute the history of D. acutus. In a haplotype network, the excessive predominance of central haplotypes, few medium-frequency haplotypes, predominance (73.1%) of the singletons among the derived haplotypes, most of which are connected to the central haplotype by only one mutational step, unsymmetrical campanulate unimodal curve of mismatch distributions and leftwards shift of the peaks, all suggest that the whole D. acutus population is a young population with low genetic diversity. Based on the data, the first priority for conservation action should be given to the Huangshan unit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The experiments of electronic speckle pattern interferometer (ESPI) successfully applied to sandwich plates with two inserts has been earliest presented in this paper. Proposed ESPI has advantages of full-field and non-destructive testing, which can measures microscopic out-of-plane displacement in the elastic region without wasting specimen. For validation purpose, the finite element method (FEM) analysis was conducted. By comparing the results of ESPI and FEM displacement fields around the inserts, a convincing agreements is revealed. The effect of insert spatial interval on the deformation of two-inserted sandwich plates was obtained by the ESPI and FEM: the wider the spatial interval of the two inserts is, the bigger the out-of-plane displacement at the insert center of sandwich loaded by the same force is. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Magnetization is the key to inspection of a tank floor via the magnetic-flux-leakage (MFL) technique. In order to optimize the magnetic circuit of the MFL detector and obtain the best detection effects, the influences of the magnet size on the floor magnetization condition, the gap magnetic flux density, and the magnetic force were studied with the help of the finite element method (FEM) and the effects of some other parameters, such as the magnet pole spacing and pole-piece thickness, on the signal-to-noise ratio were analyzed. The simulation results indicate that variation of the magnet width affects the magnetization much more than variation of the magnet thickness and that the detector can reach a trade-off between the magnetization effects and the driving force when the magnet is about 30 mm thick and 40 mm wide. On condition that the floor has reached its magnetizing saturation, an increase in the magnet-pole spacing and the pole-piece thickness can improve the testing sensitivity and the signal-to-noise ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses that due to modifications to the natural stone topology and wetland landscape in Tibet and construction of roads and thermoelectric plant has led to threat for the Tibetan hot-spring snakes.

A capacitive immunosensor on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was fabricated successfully by using an insulating poly (o-phenylenediamine) (OPD) film. Two methods, covalently coupling and copolymerization, were developed to immobilize the antitransferrin onto the GCE for sensitively probing transferrin. The capacitance change of the electrode caused by the interaction between antigen–antibody was monitored by the potentiostatic step. The immunosensors demonstrated a highly specific response to transferrin in a sample solution. The stable insulating property of the OPD film made immunosensor renewable in acid elution. For the immunosensor fabricated by the covalently coupling method, the linear detection range was 0.1 to 45.0 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 0.061 ng/mL (S/N = 3). For immunosensor fabricated by the copolymerization method, the linear detection range was 5.0 to 17.5 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 2.0 ng/mL. This indicated that the immunosensor prepared by the covalently coupling method showed better sensitivity and a wider detection range than one fabricated by the copolymerization method. Compared with self-assembled monolayers, the method of using the insulating OPD film simplified the process of immunosensor fabrication and provided a new approach to prepare capacitive immunosensor on carbon substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an analytical closed-form solution for Mode-I energy release rate of an adhesively bonded sandwich beam is derived from the modified elastic foundation model. For validation purpose, a model based on the finite element method (FEM) was also constructed using the modified crack closure integral technique to calculate the compliance and Mode-I energy release rate of the sandwich beam. Comparison between the closed-form solution and the FEM solution showed a good agreement. The results of calculations also showed a significant effect of the adhesive layer of the sandwich beam on fracture analysis. This means that the effect of the adhesive layer of the sandwich beam cannot be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the enantioselective hydrolysis of (R,S)-ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate ((R,S)-EHPB) in isooctane or in a biphasic solution, Lipase PS having an enantiomeric ratio (i.e. the E value) of 22 for the (S)-enantiomer was screened as the best lipase to produce the remaining (R)-ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate ((R)-EHPB). When (R)-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoic acid ((R)-HPBA) was the desired product, one might employ Novozym 435, possessing (R)-stereoselectivity with E=22, as the biocatalyst. The results of using Lipase PS in the enantioselective transesterification of (R,S)-EHPB in isooctane indicated that addition of more vinyl acetate (VA) could suppress the hydrolysis side-reaction, leading to an apparent E value >100. The result of E>100 was also found when initial VA concentration was fixed at 80 mM and (R,S)-EHPB concentrations increased from 5.4 to 190 mM. Vinyl laurate was further selected as the best acyl donor after comparing the enzyme performances among all vinyl esters employed and considering the easiness of product separation in the down-stream process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Product disassembly is a basic period of life cycle design. This paper first introduces the modelling method and basic concepts of the disassembly activity logic network, then establishes the optimal model of the minimum disassembly cost. According to the characteristics of the model, the solution for the single disassembly object is acquired by constructing the orthogonal list storage structure and the reverse search algorithm which follows the depth-first policy. A complete example is illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is associated with recurrent pulmonary infections and inflammation. We previously reported that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α decreases gap junction connectivity in cell lines derived from the airway epithelium of non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) subjects, a mechanism that was defective in cells derived from CF patients, and identified the tyrosine kinase c-Src as a possible bridge between TNF-α and Cx43. To examine whether this modulation also takes place in primary epithelial cells, the functional expression of Cx43 was studied in non-CF and CF airway cells, obtained from surgical polypectomies and turbinectomies, which were grown either on culture dishes or permeable filters. Expression of Cx43 was detected by immunofluorescence on cells grown under both culture conditions. Non-CF and CF airway cells also showed intercellular diffusion of Lucifer Yellow. Dye coupling was rapidly abolished in non-CF cells in the presence of TNF-α, lipopolysaccharide and lysophosphatidic acid, and could be prevented by tyrphostin47, an inhibitor of Src tyrosine kinases. This down-regulation, however, was not detected in CF airway cells. These data indicate that CFTR dysfunction is associated with altered Src signaling, resulting in the persistence of gap junction connectivity in primary and transformed CF airway cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various studies on stress–strain modeling of adhesively bonded sandwich beams are briefly described in this paper. An analytical model of sandwich beams taking into account contribution of adhesive layers towards the overall beam stiffness is then proposed. In this model the displacements of each of the five constituent layers of a sandwich beam are computed considering the overall continuity conditions of the sandwich beam. The Euler–Ostrogradskii equations are used to derive the equations of equilibrium, which contain four differential equations with 12 orders. For validation purpose, a case study of a simply supported three-point bending sandwich beam subjected to a load at the mid-span of the beam is carried out using the proposed analytical method, finite element method and a theory proposed by Allen [Analysis and Design of Structural Sandwich Panels, Oxford, UK, 1969]. From the comparison of results obtained from the three methods, there are reasons to suggest improvements in reliability and accuracy of the proposed analytical method, which takes the effect of the adhesive layers into account, over Allen’s theory. The proposed method has clearly shown that the contribution of the adhesive layers to the overall strength of a given sandwich beam cannot be neglected. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ambient particles may cause pulmonary inflammation with ensuing morbidity. Particle-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro has been used as an indicator of particle toxicity. To identify particle components that were related to particle toxicity, Andersen dichotomous impactors were used to collect ambient fine (PM[sub 2.5]) and coarse (PM[sub 2.5-10]) particles in central Taiwan with extraction in endotoxin-free water. Mouse mono-cyte-macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 cells were exposed to particle extracts at 40 µg/ml for 16 h, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was measured in the medium by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell viabilities were all greater than 82%. Coarse particles stimulated higher TNF-αproduction than fine particles, and this was associated with greater particulate endotoxin content. Polymyxin B inhibited 42% of TNF-α production elicited by coarse particles and 32% of TNF-α production elicited by fine particles. In fine particles, TNF-α production was negatively correlated with Zn content, while no element in coarse particles correlated with TNF-α production. Results suggest that endotoxin and other components may be important factors for TNF-α production by macrophages in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 2-arylindoles containing novel heteroaromatic substituents on the tryptamine tether, based on compound 1, was prepared and evaluated for their ability to act as gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists. Successful modifications of 1 included chain length variation (reduction) and replacement of the pyridine with heteroaromatic groups. These alterations culminated in the discovery of compound 27kk which had excellent in vitro potency and oral efficacy in rodents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BackgroundThe occurrence of asthma may be associated with dietary factors. ObjectiveTo examine the association between nutrient intake and physician-diagnosed asthma and allergic rhinitis. MethodsA stratified, multiple-staged sampling design was used to select study areas, in which household interviews were carried out to gather information on health status and 24-h food recall. Data from 1166 adolescents, 13–17 years of age, were analysed. ResultsIn univariate analysis, total calorie and energy-adjusted fat intake were associated with the prevalence of asthma, whereas vitamin A and vitamin C intake showed negative association with asthma. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for sex and levels of urbanization; intake of saturated fats was associated with increased risk (OR = 2.02 for an increase of one SD, 95%CI 1.40–2.90), while monounsaturated fats were inversely related to asthma (OR = 0.65 for an increase of one SD, 95%CI 0.43–0.99). Vitamin C intake in the lowest quartile was associated with elevated risk for asthma with marginal significance (OR = 1.81, 95%CI 0.88–3.71, P = 0.10). None of the nutritional factors was associated with allergic rhinitis. ConclusionResults from this cross-sectional survey suggest that saturated and monounsaturated fats may have different effects on airway inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies have suggested that the dietary pattern may be associated with the prevalence of asthma. We previously reported that an increased intake of foods of animal origin was associated with the occurrence of allergic rhinitis and asthma in adolescents. Here we examined the effect of dietary cholesterol in a murine model of allergic pulmonary inflammation. Methods: Weanling C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet containing 0.02% cholesterol or a diet supplemented with 1% or 2% cholesterol. Four weeks later the mice were sensitized with intraperitoneal ovalbumin (OVA) followed by OVA or saline inhalation 2 weeks later. OVA aerosol-induced inflammation was significantly enhanced by dietary supplementation of 1% or 2% cholesterol. Results: Among OVA-challenged mice, leukocyte numbers, particularly those of eosinophils, in the bronchoalveolar space increased by 3- to 5-fold with the cholesterol supplement. Among OVA aerosol-challenged mice, the levels of interleukin-5 and cysteinyl leukotrienes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly higher in those fed the 2% cholesterol diet compared with mice on the control diet. Conclusions: Dietary cholesterol may enhance pulmonary allergic inflammation.Copyright © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects over 250 million individuals globally and stands as the third leading cause of mortality. Respiratory viral infections serve as the primary drivers of acute exacerbations, hastening the decline in lung function and worsening the prognosis. Notably, Human Parainfluenza Virus type 3 (HPIV-3) is responsible for COPD exacerbations with a frequency comparable to that of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza viruses. However, the impact of HPIV-3 on respiratory epithelium within the context of COPD remains uncharacterized. In this study, we employed in vitro reconstitution of lower airway epithelia from lung tissues sourced from healthy donors (n = 4) and COPD patients (n = 5), maintained under air–liquid interface conditions. Through a next-generation sequencing-based transcriptome analysis, we compared the cellular response to HPIV-3 infection. Prior to infection, COPD respiratory epithelia exhibited a pro-inflammatory profile, notably enriched in canonical pathways linked to antiviral response, B cell signaling, IL-17 signaling, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, in contrast to non-COPD epithelia. Intriguingly, post HPIV-3 infection, only non-COPD epithelia exhibited significant enrichment in interferon signaling, pattern recognition receptors of viruses and bacteria, and other pathways involved in antiviral responses. This deficiency could potentially hinder immune cell recruitment essential for controlling viral infections, thus fostering prolonged viral presence and persistent inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In low-pressure wax injection molding, cooling time refers to the period during which the molten plastic inside the mold solidifies and cools down to a temperature where it can be safely ejected without deformation. However, cooling efficiency for the mass production of injection-molded wax patterns is crucial. This work aims to investigate the impact of varying surface roughness on the inner walls of the cooling channel on the cooling efficiency of an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool. It was found that the cooling time for the injection-molded products can be determined by the surface roughness according to the proposed prediction equation. Employing fiber laser processing on high-speed steel rods allows for the creation of microstructures with different surface roughness levels. Results demonstrate a clear link between the surface roughness of cooling channel walls and cooling time for molded wax patterns. Employing an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool with a surface roughness of 4.9 µm for low-pressure wax injection molding can save time, with a cooling efficiency improvement of approximately 34%. Utilizing an aluminum-filled epoxy resin rapid tool with a surface roughness of 4.9 µm on the inner walls of the cooling channel can save the cooling time by up to approximately 60%. These findings underscore the significant role of cooling channel surface roughness in optimizing injection molding processes for enhanced efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preclinical studies of nanoparticles for pulmonary therapeutics are often performed on 2D cell cultures or in vitro models that do not include a mucus barrier. However, the mucus layer lining the lungs is an essential barrier for drugs to permeate in order to exert a therapeutic effect. Herein, the role of surface coating of lanthanide‐doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) and their interaction with the mucus barrier are explored using a patient‐derived 3D cell culture model. The upconverted emissions from the UCNPs are used to track them throughout the 3D model and study their localization as a function of administration time and mucus thickness. Positively charged, ligand‐free, and negatively charged, supported lipid bilayer‐coated UCNPs are evaluated. A substantial difference in the residence time in mucus and mucociliary clearance of each type of UCNP is observed in a realistic and relevant model. As such, these results underscore the need for preclinical investigations in tissue models, especially with respect to the surface properties of the nanoparticles under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtosecond-laser modified silicon materials have excellent optoelectronic properties and device application prospects, thus capturing pervasive interest from academia and industry. Nevertheless, efficiently achieving large-area uniform modification on silicon surfaces with Gaussian laser beams, especially fabricating evenly and extensively distributed microcone structures, remains a formidable obstacle. Our theoretical and experimental investigations demonstrate that the pulse-shaping technique effectively regulates the light–matter interaction, leading to improved surface uniformity through nonlinear and linear modulation. A large-area uniformly distributed microcones are prepared on the silicon surface through pure temporal modulation of the pulse. In addition, the method is easy to implement and has good compatibility. These findings carry significant implications for advancing the femtosecond-laser processing technology and promoting the industrial utilization of modified silicon materials, including photoelectric detection and solar cell fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microchannel burners suffer from low combustion efficiency and poor stability in applications. In order to explore the effect of wall reaction on methane/air premixed combustion performances in the microchannel, the effects of wall activity, inlet velocity, pressure, and equivalence ratio on the temperature and radical distribution characteristics were studied by CFD computational simulations. It is found that as the reaction pressure increases, there are more free-radical collisions, causing the reaction temperature to rise. The OH radicals participate in the reaction at the active near wall so that the mass fraction of the OH radical on the active wall is lower than that on the inert wall. As the equivalence ratio increases from 0.6 to 1.2, the high-temperature regions increase but the maximum temperature decreases. The mass fraction of OH radical increases with the increase of the equivalence ratio, and the increase of OH radical near the inert wall is larger than that of the active wall. As the flow rate increases, the disturbance increases, and the combustion reaction becomes more intense, resulting in an increase in the temperature and the mass fraction of OH radicals. The mass fraction of H, O, OH, and CH3 radicals in the inert wall was slightly higher than that in the active wall, in which the peak mass fraction of CH3 radical appeared at the axial position closest to the entrance, while the other three radicals reached the peak at about the same axial position. This study provides a reference for combustion stability in microcombustors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium (Ti)-based alloys are eye-catching biomaterials extensively utilized in human implants due to their outstanding ability to facilitate cell growth. This research aims to propose a new approach to explore the ultrafast laser processing on alloy surfaces for achieving and regulating the proliferation of biological cells. The study is to directly use the polarization of ultrafast laser irradiation on the surface of chromium-titanium nitride (CrTiN) thin film to fabricate the periodic structures, which can promote cell proliferation. This improvement is accomplished by employing surface patterning and creating nanocrystalline structures. The nanocrystalline layer is treated with laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), forming subwavelength ripples directly on the surface. The ripples are preferentially formed perpendicular to the direction of laser polarization by controlling the fluence. Through the straightforward technique of ultrafast laser treatment, the wettability transition is contributed to by the combination of LIPSS and modified surface chemistry. It is indicated by the findings that the laser-irradiated CrTiN alloy film exhibits surface ripples and a nanocrystalline phase. This work has the potential to enhance cell proliferation for biomedical engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal microbiota is a potential determinant of obesity, with probiotic bile salt hydrolase (BSH) as one of the key mechanisms in the anti-obesity effects. In this study, we present a Lactobacillus acidophilus GOLDGUT-LA100 (LA100) with high BSH activity, good gastric acid and bile salt tolerance, and a potential anti-obesity effect. LA100's anti-obesity effects were evaluated in a high-fat diet-induced, obese mouse model. LA100 administration alleviates high-fat diet-induced pathophysiological symptoms, such as body weight gain, high serum glucose and cholesterol level, hepatic lipid accumulation, and adipose inflammation. These results demonstrate concrete anti-obesity benefit in animal models and show promising applications in future clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest of earth-abundant bifunctional electrocatalysts for highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is essential for clean and renewable energy systems. Herein, directed by the experimental analysis, we demonstrate layered nickel lithium phosphosulfide (NiLiP2S6) crystal as a highly efficient water-splitting catalyst in alkaline media. With strained lattice due to stacked layers as observed by TEM and electronic structure analysis performed by XPS showed mixed Ni2+,3+ oxidation states induced by addition of Li as a cation, NiLiP2S6 displays excellent OER (current density of 10 mA cm–2 showed an overpotential of 303 mV vs. RHE and a Tafel slope of 114 mV dec–1) and HER activity (current density of −10 mA cm–2 showed an overpotential of 184 mV vs. RHE and a Tafel slope of 94.5 mV dec–1). Finally, an alkaline media was employed to demonstrate the overall water splitting using NiLiP2S6 as both the anode and the cathode, which attained a 50 mA cm−2 current density at 1.68 V. This bimetallic phosphosulfide, together with long-term stability and enhanced intrinsic activity, shows enormous potential in water splitting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed pulsating flow planar tube bundle heat exchanger (DPFPTB-HE) can improve heat transfer and have a high prospect of application in the industry. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software Fluent was utilized as an analysis tool, and the factors affecting heat transfer in heat exchangers were comprehensively studied based on the theory of fluid mechanics and heat transfer in this article. The local average surface Nusselt number(Nuv) evaluated the heat transfer performance. Results found that the DPFPTB-HE proposed in this paper has more uniform distribution of cold fluid in the shell domain and higher heat transfer efficiency in each layer of the tube bundle compared with the conventional planar tube bundle heat exchanger (PTB-HE). In this paper's single-factor analysis experimental session, the study showed that with the inlet velocity increases, Nuv increases; as the length of the branch pipe increases, Nuv decreases; branch pipe diameter increases, Nuv decreases. The results obtained Nuv by applying the optimal experimental parameters selected by the Taguchi method were 7.22% larger than the maximum value in the control group. The numerical result and methodology are beneficial for providing further insight into guiding the optimization of heat exchanger structure and promoting industrial progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new coumarin, 7-( γ,γ-dimethylallyloxy)-6-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin ( 1), was isolated from the mixed fermentation broth of two mangrove fungi (strain No. K38 and E33) isolated from the South China Sea coast. The structure of 1 was determined by comprehensive spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR techniques. Primary bioassays showed that compound 1 at 0.25 mM has no inhibitory activity against Fusarium graminearum, Gloeosporium musae, Rhizoctonia solani, and Phytophthora sojae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To observe the difference in number of epidermal stem cell and its function between wild-type (WT) mice and the third generation of Terc knockout (G3Terc-/- ) mice. Methods Flowcytometry was used to analyse and sort epidermal stem cells; Quantitative real-time PCR is used to analyse the relative expression level of p21 in epidermal stem cells; Self-renewal ability was reflected by the number of colonies formed by epidermal stem cells. Results Basal and suprabasal ratios in epidermal stem cells in WT mice were (9.56±1.06)% and (1.22±0.08)% respectively; basal and suprabasal ratios in epidermal stem cell in G3Terc-/- mice were (17.36±3.56)% and (2.92±0.72)% respectively. Relative p21 expression level in G3Terc-/- mice was 6.40 fold to WT mice; Number of colonies formed by WT mice epidermal stem cells were (280.20±29.81) per 104 cell, number of colonies formed by G3Terc-/- mice epidermal stem cells were (29.28±5.24) per 104 cell, which present significant difference to each other (P<0.05) . Conclusion Compared to WT mice, epidermal stem cells in G3Terc-/- mice were aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were cultured in reconstituted skim milk with different solids contents to compare the thermotolerance of resulting cultures. As milk concentration was increased from 5 to 30 wt%, the population of non-lactose-fermenting strains increased by around 1 log at stationary growth phase. High solids milk maintained relative stable pH (ΔpH<0.5) when fermented with a lactose-fermenting strain, compared to a drastic pH drop by 1.35 in low solids milk. All four strains cultured in 20 or 30 wt% milk demonstrated significant improvements in cell survival (remaining viability > 108 CFU/mL) and growth capability after heat treatment at 65 °C for 10 min, indicating a general thermoprotective effect irrespective of metabolic pathways. Besides cellular response to high osmolality during bacterial growth, we proposed that the increased concentration of protective dairy components and the increased viscosity and thermal resistance of culture medium also contributed to the excellent thermotolerance. • LAB grown in 20%–30% skim milk showed better thermotolerance than that in 5% milk. • The improved thermotolerance was general for four strains with different metabolism. • After 10-min heating at 65 °C, residual viability of each strain was > 108 cfu/mL. • Cellular stress response may be activated when grown in high solids milk. • The rich protective agents and high viscosity of milk medium may protect cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) provide an efficient way to utilize energy from biomass while it offer advantages such as pollution avoidance, high energy conversion efficiency, and flexibility for a wide range of applications. MFCs have gained much attention and are considered as current research hotspot in bioenergy. To further improve the reaction area, microbial compatibility, and to increase the power generation efficiency in the design and manufacturing of a small-scale MFC, the use of 3D printing technology and the employment of a high-efficiency mixing area are proposed in this work. Carbon cloth is employed as the electrode substrate of the MFC. Moreover, the carbon nanotubes and graphene dispersions are used to modify the carbon electrode plates. The results show that the graphene modified carbon cloth electrode MFC has a maximum power density of 199.24 mW m−2 at a current density of 1.52 A m−2. While the unmodified carbon cloth electrode MFC has a current density of 0.63 A m−2. This indicates that the graphene modified carbon cloth electrode MFC achieved a maximum power density of about 232% compared with the unmodified carbon cloth electrode MFC. The lowest internal resistance obtained was 0.66 kΩ when the electron transfer medium was accounted. This indicated a low anode impedance which is desired in MFC systems. Result revealed that the graphene modified carbon cloth electrode is the best electrode material based on the enhanced power density and lowered internal resistance. The results of the work aims to provide insight in the improvement of the MFC electrode modification technology. • The study aims to improve the power generation efficiency of MFCs. • Carbon cloth is employed as an electrode substrate. • A designed mixer is introduced to enhance the reaction rate in the MFCs. • Results have shown a maximum power density of 0.633 A m−2. • Carbon cloth and graphene are the best choices as plate materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a synthetic and structural studies of a linear bis-catechol amide, N,N'-bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-1,7-diazaheptane (5-LICAM) and its complexes with nickel and cobalt. Utilization of a polymer-supported, sulfonated analog, 5-LICAMs, as a biomimetic ligand for divalent metal ion removal from aqueous solution.

Reports on the structure of polymer pendant ligands. Biomimetic approach to selective metal ion removal and recovery from aqueous solution with polymer-supported sulfonated catechol and linear catechol amide ligands; Iron ion selectivity; Chelate effect for the ligand; Rates of removal and recovery of iron ions.

Most of metamorphic testing (MT) research works focused on the generation and application of metamorphic relations (MRs). There is no clear conclusion about the relationship between test case generation methods and performance of MT. In this article, we introduce a novel method based on adaptive random testing (ART) and MR for MT test case generation. It proposes a family of algorithms for MT test cases generation, named as MT based ART (MT-ART). Three distances are measured to generate the next MT test case. In order to verify the performance of this method, series of experiments on four programs with different numbers of inputs are introduced. The results show that MT-ART performs better than other ART algorithms not only in test effectiveness, but also in test efficiency and test coverage. Based on this article, the following conclusions can be drawn: first, considering the effectiveness of MRs and test cases in MT may lead to better results. In this way, most of the existing research can be improved by this method. This is the most important contribute of our research. Second, not only the source test cases, but also the follow-up test cases can improve the performance of MT. Therefore, they should be considered together during the process of the next test case generation. Third, the average distance performs better than the max distance and the minimum distance in metamorphic test case selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Non-destructive examination and 350℃ bursting pressure tests of defected tube. • Probabilistic bursting pressure model of Inconel690 tube with volume defect. • Fit for service criterion for Inconel690 tube with less conservatism. Fit for service(FFS) assessment of Steam Generator Tube(SGT) plays a key role in safety operating of Pressurized Water Reactors. Engineering practices have emerged probabilistic method is a powerful tool in reducing redundant safety margin of FFS assessment strategy. The aim of this work is to develop a probabilistic structural integrity assessment method for typical Inconel690 alloy SGT with volume defect. The study consists of four parts: Firstly, an experiment program including tensile test, eddy current examination and SGT bursting test were introduced. Then, potential bursting pressure models were analyzed based on test dataset. Proper bursting pressure model was suggested. Thirdly, probabilistic bursting pressure prediction model was developed based on Monte Carlo Simulation. At last, parametric study was performed and an application instance on anti-vibration bar fretting wear was presented. The results indicated the proposed SGT structural integrity assessment method is less conservative than current repair criterions. This study represents a further step towards developing of smart FFS assessment of Nuclear Power Plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtosecond laser hyperdoped silicon, known commonly as black silicon (b-Si), has attracted substantial interest from various fields due to its high absorptance and responsivity ranging from visible to near-infrared wavelengths. However, due to the non-uniformity of b-Si layer and the lattice defects present in it, the processing technique used presently introduces high noise in devices manufactured using b-Si. In this study, a lateral heterojunction is designed and manufactured at the b-Si and silicon interface to restrain the leakage current. Precisely, the lateral structure could support the b-Si photodetector in suppressing the dark current to 783 nA at a bias of -5 V, quite low in terms of orders of magnitude compared to that for the vertical ones. Simultaneously, the photo-to-dark current ratio of 155 is obtained at the same bias voltage with a pertinent external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 371%. Riding on the advantages of low noise, high signal-to-noise ratio, and high sensitivity, this work shows promising prospects for the application of b-Si-based photodetectors toward large-scale integration in optical-electronics or flip-chip interconnection systems. • The dark current of b-Si photodetector is suppressed by a lateral heterojunction. • The detector exhibits a high photo-to-dark current ratio at reverse bias voltage. • The photoconductive gain is achieved for a wide coverage of wavelength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Burkina Faso, gender inequality prevents women from meeting their reproductive needs, leading to high rates of unintended pregnancies, abortions and deaths. Evidence shows that empowering women may increase the proportion of demand for family planning satisfied using modern methods (mDFPS), but few studies have measured this process in multiple spheres of life. We investigated how empowerment influences the mDFPS among married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in Burkina Faso.Methods: We analyzed data from the 2010 Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) on 4714 MWRA with reproductive needs living in 573 communities. We used principal component analysis (PCA) and Cronbach's alpha test to explore and assess specific and consistently relevant components of women's agency in marital relationships. Aggregated measures at the cluster level were used to assess gender norms and relationships in communities. Descriptive statistics were performed and multilevel logistic regression models were carried out to concurrently gauge the effects of women's agency and community-level of gender equality on mDFPS, controlling for socioeconomic factors.Results: Overall, less than one-third (30.8%) of the demand for family planning among MWRA were satisfied with modern methods. Participation in household decision-making, freedom in accessing healthcare, and opposition to domestic violence were underlying components of women's agency in marital relationships. In the full model adjusted for socioeconomic status, freedom in accessing healthcare was significantly (aOR 1.27, CI 1.06-1.51) associated with mDFPS. For community-level variables, women's greater access to assets (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.13-2.61) and family planning messages (aOR 2.68, 95% CI 1.64-4.36) increased mDFPS, while higher fertility expectations (aOR 0.75, 95% CI 0.64-0.87) reduced it. Unexpectedly, women in communities with higher rates of female genital mutilation were more likely (aOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.52-3.99) to have mDFPS.Conclusions: Empowering women has the potential to reduce gender inequality, raise women's agency and increase mDFPS. This influence may occur through both balanced marital relationships and fair community gender norms and relationships. Progress toward universal access to reproductive services should integrate the promotion of women's rights.Trial Registration: No clinical trial has been performed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A F 2 population was developed from the flexuosus × reticulatus cross with distinct phenotypic differences. • The ddRAD-seq protocol was used to genotype the F 2 population generating high-quality SNPs. • A high-density genetic map containing 12 linkage groups was constructed with 1090 bin markers. • Haplotype map and linkage relationship heat map verified a high-quality feature of the genetic map. Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an economically important fruit crop with high phenotypic diversity, but the high-density genetic map suitable for QTL analysis of multiple phenotypes is unavailable to date. In this study, we adopted double-digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) for large-scale discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and construction of a high-density genetic map in melon. A F 2 population containing 140 individuals was developed from two parental lines, H581 and H906, which respectively belonged to flexuosus and reticulatus botanical groups and showed a significant phenotypic difference. Approximately 441 Gb of data containing 3.4 × 109 paired-end reads were obtained following the ddRAD-seq. Mining this dataset, 11,073 SNPs were detected between the two parents, of which 4654 valid SNPs were finally retained in the population for genetic map construction. In total, 1090 bin markers, consisting of all the 4654 SNPs, were sorted into 12 linkage groups (LGs). The total length of the bin map was 1462.30 cM, with an average marker density of 1.39 cM and a recombination rate of 3.90 cM/Mb. Haplotype map and linkage relationship heat map revealed that most of the recombination blocks were well defined in the segregating population, confirming a high accuracy of the bin map. This map could be used for discovery of QTLs/genes related to the diverse phenotypes between the two botanical groups, further facilitating molecular breeding in melon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium is the lightest metal and is extensive in the structural application. The metal matrix composites are developed to improve the strength of magnesium alloys. In this research, AZ91 alloy reinforced with 1 wt% WS 2 was produced using stir casting process. The composite was homogenized for 24 h at 410 °C and subsequently aged for 10 h at 200 °C. The severe plastic deformation was performed using equal channel angular pressing (ECAP). The phase composition was analyzed using X-ray diffraction techniques. The microstructure, fractography, and mechanical properties of ECAPed composites have been investigated using scanning electron microscope, and universal testing machines, respectively. The results indicate that B-phases are present in the form of particles inside and at grain boundaries in annealed composites, which are refined to needle-shaped precipitates at grain boundaries, and grains size is refined to 0.2 μm after 4passes of ECAP. Microhardness and tensile yield strength are proportional to the number of passes, and 20.45% and 103.5% are increased respectively after 4pass. The UTS was found to be maximum (324.8 MPa) for 4P WS 2 /AZ91. Fractography analysis revealed that plastic fracture in annealed and elastic-plastic fracture occurred after 4P WS 2 /AZ91 MMC. • WS 2 /AZ91 (MMCs) were manufactured by stir casting method and subsequently annealed are deformed by ECAP. • ECAP effects on microstructure and mechanical behavior of WS 2 /AZ91 MMCs have been investigated. • The relation between number of passes and strength has been established. • The investigations reveal that 4pass-WS 2 /AZ91 exhibits maximum hardness and ultimate tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conformal cooling channel (CCC) follows the mold core or cavity profile to carry out uniform cooling in the cooling stage. However, the significant pressure drop along the cooling channels is a distinct disadvantage of the CCC. In this study, an innovative waterfall cooling channel (WCC) was proposed and implemented. The WCC cools the injected products via surface contact, replacing the conventional line contact to cool the injected products. The WCC was optimized using numerical simulation software. Silicone rubber molds with two kinds of cooling channels were designed and implemented. The cooling time of the molded part was evaluated using a low-pressure wax injection molding machine. The experimental results of the cooling time of the molded part were compared with the simulation results from numerical simulation software. The results showed that the optimal mesh element count was about 1,550,000 with a mesh size of 1 mm. The simulation software predicted the filling time of the water cup injection-molded product to be approximately 2.008 s. The cooling efficiency for a silicone rubber mold with a WCC is better than that of the silicone rubber mold with a CCC since the core and cavity cooling efficiency is close to 50%. The pressure drop of the WCC is smaller than that of the CCC, which reduces the pressure drop by about 56%. Taking a water cup with a mouth diameter of 70 mm, a height of 60 mm, and a thickness of 2 mm as an example, the experimental results confirmed that the use of the WCC can save the cooling time of the product by about 265 s compared with the CCC. This shows how a WCC can increase cooling efficiency by approximately 17.47%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The administration of probiotics is an effective approach for treatment of Helicobacter pylori , which is associated with human gastrointestinal diseases and cancers. To explore more effective probiotics for H. pylori infection elimination, bacteria from infant feces were screened in this study. We successfully isolated the Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis strains and evaluated its efficacy to inhibit H. pylori growth in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that a B. animalis strain (named BB18) sustained a high survival rate after incubation in gastric juice. The rapid urease test suggested that B. animalis BB18 reduced pathogen loads in H. pylori -infected Mongolian gerbils. Alleviation of H. pylori infection-induced gastric mucosa damage and decreased levels inflammatory cytokines were observed after the B. animalis BB18 administration. These findings demonstrated that B. animalis BB18 can inhibit H. pylori infection both in vitro and in vivo , suggesting its potential application for the prevention and eradication therapy of H. pylori infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wideband dissipative soliton is generated in a passively mode-locked cavity by optimizing the distribution of chromatic dispersion and gain filtering in cavity. The maximal 3 dB bandwidth of 61.1 nm is obtained. The corresponding pulse width is compressed to 222 fs with chirp, which could be further compressed to 42 fs according to the Fourier transform limitation. The signal-to-noise ratio is 80.3 dB. The single pulse energy is 0.18 nJ. The dynamics process is investigated by dispersive Fourier transformation during the building-up. The simulation investigation on dissipative soliton formation is provided according to the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which are relatively consistent with the experiment. The results demonstrate that a weak normal net dispersion close to zero and efficient gain bandwidth are critical to the formation of wideband dissipative soliton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous studies on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity have been published, only a handful are focused on the intraspecific level or consider population‐level models (separate models per population). We endeavored to fill this knowledge gap relative to the Qinghai‐Tibetan plateau (QTP) by combining species distribution modeling (SDMs) with population genetics (i.e., population‐level models) and phylogenetic methods (i.e., phylogenetic tree reconstruction and phylogenetic diversity analyses). We applied our models to 11 endemic and widely distributed herpetofauna species inhabiting high elevations in the QTP. We aimed to determine the influence of environmental heterogeneity on species' responses to climate change, the magnitude of climate‐change impacts on intraspecific diversity, and the relationship between species range loss and intraspecific diversity losses under 2 shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP245 and SSP585) and 3 future periods (2050s, 2070s, and 2090s). The effects of global climatic change were more pronounced at the intraspecific level (22% of haplotypes lost and 36% of populations lost) than the morphospecies level in the SSP585 climate change scenario. Maintenance of genetic diversity was in general determined by a combination of factors including range changes, species genetic structure, and the part of the range predicted to be lost. This is owing to the fact that the loss and survival of populations were observed in species irrespective of the predicted range changes (contraction or expansion). In the southeast (mountainous regions), climate change had less of an effect on range size (>100% in 3 species) than in central and northern QTP plateau regions (range size <100% in all species). This may be attributed to environmental heterogeneity, which provided pockets of suitable climate in the southeast, whereas ecosystems in the north and central regions were homogeneous. Generally, our results imply that mountainous regions with high environmental heterogeneity and high genetic diversity may buffer the adverse impacts of climate change on species distribution and intraspecific diversity. Therefore, genetic structure and characteristics of the ecosystem may be crucial for conservation under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is an additive manufacturing process that uses a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material. The FFF is able to fabricate physical models with sophisticated geometries. Unfortunately, the mechanical property of the fabricated physical models is limited. Therefore, this drawback will limit the application of the fabricated physical models made by FFF. To improve this drawback, this work demonstrates a simple method to increase the tensile strength of printed parts. This method combines filament preheating and ultraviolet (UV) resin reinforcement methods. The tensile strength of the printed tensile test piece with a filling density of 100% was soaked in UV resin and then cured with a wavelength of 405 nm for 30 min. The tensile strength was increased from 35.08 to 37.5 MPa with an improvement rate of about 6.9%. The tensile strength was increased from 35.08 to 43.97 MPa when the filling density was 100% and the filament was preheated at 50 °C with an improvement rate of about 25.34%. Combining filament preheating and UV resin reinforcement methods, the tensile strength was increased from 35.08 to 46.75 MPa. The improvement rate in tensile strength is up to 33.26%. The failure mechanism of the tensile test sample made by combining UV resin reinforcement and filament preheating method is also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practice, the fused deposition modeling technique is widely used for producing various plastic functional components in the research and development stage. In particular, adhesive bonding is capable of bonding dissimilar materials quickly. However, the bonding strength is affected by human factors. In addition, bolts are also used to bond small 3D printed parts for making a large 3D physical model. However, this locking method is not resistant to vibration. The feature of fusion bonding of thermoplastic materials is known for its weldability. Rotary friction welding (RFRW) has low energy consumption in the welding field. In general, the weld quality is affected by the process parameters of RFRW significantly. The Taguchi method was used to optimize the process parameters of RFRW of dissimilar polymeric rods to reduce random efforts by the trial-and-error method. The most critical control factor is the weld time. The contribution percentage for the weld time, feed rate, rotational speed, and preheating temperature is 35.21%, 27.85%, 24.84%, and 12.10%, respectively. The optimal process parameters of the frictionally welded parts with better bending strength are the feed rate of 0.05 mm/s, preheating temperature of 50 ℃, rotational speed of 950 rpm, and weld time of 20 s. The bending strength of the frictionally welded parts can be enhanced by about 1.29 to 1.538 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of PRKAG2 in the maintenance of heart function is well established, but little is known about how PRKAG2 is regulated in cardiomyocytes. In this study, we investigated the role of the lncRNA PRKAG2-AS, which is present at the PRKAG2 promoter, in the regulation of PRKAG2 expression. PRKAG2-AS expression was predominantly nuclear, as determined by RNA nucleoplasmic separation and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Knockdown of PRKAG2-AS in the nucleus, but not the cytoplasm, significantly decreased the expression of PRKAG2b and PRKAG2d. Interestingly, we found that PRKAG2-AS and its target genes, PRKAG2b and PRKAG2d, were reduced in the hearts of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy, suggesting a potential role for PRKAG2-AS in myocardial ischemia. Indeed, knockdown of PRKAG2-AS in the nucleus resulted in apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. We further elucidated the mechanism by which PRKAG2-AS regulates PRKAG2 transcription by identifying 58 PRKAG2-AS interacting proteins. Among them, PPARG was selected for further investigation based on its correlation and potential interaction with PRKAG2-AS in regulating transcription. Overexpression of PPARG, or its activation with rosiglitazone, led to a significant increase in the expression of PRKAG2b and PRKAG2d in cardiomyocytes, which could be attenuated by PRKAG2-AS knockdown. This finding suggests that PRKAG2-AS mediates, at least partially, the protective effects of rosiglitazone on hypoxia-induced apoptosis. However, given the risk of rosiglitazone in heart failure, we also examined the involvement of PRKAG2-AS in this condition and found that PRKAG2-AS, as well as PRKAG2b and PRKAG2d, was elevated in hearts with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and that overexpression of PRKAG2-AS led to a significant increase in PRKAG2b and PRKAG2d expression, indicating that up-regulation of PRKAG2-AS may contribute to the mechanism of heart failure by promoting transcription of PRKAG2. Consequently, proper expression of PRKAG2-AS is essential for maintaining cardiomyocyte function, and aberrant PRKAG2-AS expression induced by hypoxia or other stimuli may cause cardiac dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Megalocytivirus genus includes three genotypes, red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV), infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV), and turbot reddish body iridovirus (TRBIV), and has caused mass mortalities in various marine and freshwater fish species in East and Southeast Asia. Of the three genotypes, TRBIV-like megalocytivirus is not included in the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)-reportable virus list because of its geographic restriction and narrow host range. In 2017, 39 cases of suspected iridovirus infection were isolated from fingerlings of giant sea perch (Lates calcarifer) cultured in southern Taiwan during megalocytivirus epizootics. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with different specific primer sets was undertaken to identify the causative agent. Our results revealed that 35 out of the 39 giant sea perch iridovirus (GSPIV) isolates were TRBIV-like megalocytiviruses. To further evaluate the genetic variation, the nucleotide sequences of major capsid protein (MCP) gene (1348 bp) from 12 of the 35 TRBIV-like megalocytivirus isolates were compared to those of other known. High nucleotide sequence identity showed that these 12 TRBIV-like GSPIV isolates are the same species. Phylogenetic analysis based on the MCP gene demonstrated that these 12 isolates belong to the clade II of TRBIV megalocytiviruses, and are distinct from RSIV and ISKNV. In conclusion, the GSPIV isolates belonging to TRBIV clade II megalocytiviruses have been introduced into Taiwan and caused a severe impact on the giant sea perch aquaculture industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AZ91 reinforced with four different concentrations (0,0.3,0.6,1)wt% of WS 2 micro particles were fabricated using stir casting method. The samples were deformed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) after homogenization. The scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to investigate the microstructure and phase composition respectively. The results reveal that rod-like precipitates produced during the homogenization process are refined and bounded in the grain boundaries by the combined effect of WS 2 enrichment and increasing number of passes of ECAP. The needle precipitates are eminent in 1pass 0.3 wt%WS 2 /AZ91. The β-Mg 17 Al 12 and extracted Al particles are dissolved and secondary phases are produced by dynamic recrystallization after 2pass 1 wt%WS 2 /AZ91. The maximum crystallite size and microstrain distribution have been observed for 1pass 0.6 wt%WS 2 /AZ91. The mechanical properties investigation represents that 2pass 0.6 wt%WS 2 /AZ91 has optimal yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. The (22.143)%, (44.735)% and (92) % increment in yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation have been observed in 2pass 1 wt%WS 2 /AZ91 compared with homogenized monolithic AZ91 alloy respectively. The maximum young's modulus (6696.218MPa) has been found for 1pass homogenized WS2/AZ91 and minimum (4108.165MPa) for homogenized 0.6 wt%WS 2 /AZ91. The ECAP deformed 1pass 0.3 wt%WS 2 /AZ91 exhibits the maximum strain hardening rate. The YTS, UTS, and elongation are (30.41) %, (47.6) % and (51.9)% increased after 2pass-0.6 wt%WS 2 /AZ91. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]