Search

• Adopted the ground shock effective crater volume as the energy source of the underground explosion, and an equivalent calculation method for ground shock effects in cratering explosion was proposed. • A theoretical conversion method between the three the coupling coefficient of equivalent yield, the coupling coefficient of ground shock energy, and the coupling coefficient of ground shock parameter has been developed. • The changing patterns between the size of visible craters, ground shock effective craters and coupled ground shock energy were revealed. The ground shock induced by underground explosion poses a serious threat to underground projects. Currently, a unified calculation method for ground shock effects coupled with cratering effect has not been established owing to limited test data. This study adopted the ground shock effective crater volume as the energy source of the underground explosion. An equivalent calculation method for ground shock effects in cratering explosion was proposed. A theoretical conversion method between the three the coupling coefficient of equivalent yield, the coupling coefficient of ground shock energy, and the coupling coefficient of ground shock parameter has been developed. Through explosion simulation tests with varying burial depths in clay media, the changing patterns between the size of visible craters, ground shock effective craters and coupled ground shock energy were revealed. A numerical calculation model was established to investigate the relationship between the ground shock effective crater size and energy coupling of the ground shock in detail. By comparing and analyzing the theoretical, experimental, and numerical simulation results, the relationship between the explosive coupling coefficient of ground shock energy and the scaled depth of burial (SDOB) of clay was presented. The research results indicated that there was a linear relationship between the underground explosion compression crater volume (or fragmentation zone volume) and the ground shock energy. The test and numerical simulation analysis results validated the correctness of the coupling coefficient of ground shock conversion calculation method. The obtained clay coupling coefficient of equivalent yield function expression can accurately and rapidly predict the ground shock effect of underground explosions, providing a calculation basis for the anti-explosion design of underground engineering under clay geological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous study, we provided evidence that Astragalus mongholicus Bunge(AM) and its extracts possess a protective capability against radiation-induced damage, potentially mediated through the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). However, we were pleasantly surprised to discover during our experimentation that AM not only offers protection against radiation damage but also exhibits a radiation sensitization effect. This effect may be attributed to a specific small molecule present in AM known as ononin. Currently, radiation sensitizers are predominantly found in nitrazole drugs and nanomaterials, with no existing reports on the radiation sensitization properties of ononin, nor its underlying mechanism. This study aims to investigate the sensitization effect of the small molecule ononin derived from AM on lung cancer radiotherapy, elucidating its specific molecular mechanism of action. Additionally, the safety profile of combining astragalus small molecule ononin with radiation therapy will be evaluated. The effective concentration of ononin was determined through cell survival experiments, and the impact of ononin combined with varying doses of radiation on lung cancer cells was observed using CCK-8 and cell cloning experiments. The apoptotic effect of ononin combined with radiation on lung cancer cells was assessed using Hochester staining, flow cytometry, and WB assay. Additionally, WB and immunofluorescence analysis were conducted to investigate the influence of ononin on HIF-1α/VEGF pathway. Furthermore, Molecular Dynamics Simulation was employed to validate the targeted binding ability of ononin and HIF-1α. A lung cancer cell line was established to investigate the effects of knockdown and overexpression of HIF-1α. Subsequently, the experiment was repeated using tumor bearing nude mice and C57BL/6 mouse models in an in vivo study. Tumor volume was measured using a vernier caliper, while HE, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence techniques were employed to observe the effects of ononin combined with radiation on tumor morphology, proliferation, and apoptosis. Additionally, Immunofluorescence was employed to examine the impact of ononin on HIF-1α/VEGF pathway in vivo , and its effect on liver function in mice was assessed through biochemistry analysis. At a concentration of 25 μM, ononin did not affect the proliferation of lung epithelial cells but inhibited the survival of lung cancer cells. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the combination of ononin and radiation could effectively inhibit the growth of lung cancer cells, induce apoptosis, and suppress the excessive activation of the Hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha/Vascular endothelial growth factor pathway. In vivo experiments showed that the combination of ononin and radiation reduced the size and proliferation of lung cancer tumors, promoted cancer cell apoptosis, mitigated abnormal activation of the Hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha pathway, and protected against liver function damage. This study provides evidence that the combination of AM and its small molecule ononin can enhance the sensitivity of lung cancer to radiation. Additionally, it has been observed that this combination can specifically target HIF-1α and exert its effects. Notably, ononin exhibits the unique ability to protect liver function from damage while simultaneously enhancing the tumor-killing effects of radiation, thereby demonstrating a synergistic and detoxifying role in tumor radiotherapy. These findings contribute to the establishment of a solid basis for the development of novel radiation sensitizers derived from traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thousands of chemicals exist in hydraulic-fracturing (HF) fluids and wastewater from unconventional oil gas development. The carcinogenicity of these chemicals in HF fluids and wastewater has never been systematically evaluated. In this study, we assessed the carcinogenicity of 1,173 HF-related chemicals in the HF chemical data from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We linked the HF chemical data with the agent classification data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at the World Health Organization (WHO) (N = 998 chemicals) to evaluate human carcinogenic risk of the chemicals and with the Carcinogenic Potency Database (CPDB) from Toxnet (N = 1,534 chemicals) to evaluate potential carcinogenicity of the chemicals. The Chemical Abstract Service Registry Numbers (CASRNs) for chemicals were used for data linkage. Among 1,173 chemicals, 1,039 were identified only in HF fluids, 97 only in wastewater, and 37 in both. Compared with IARC, we found information of 104 chemicals, and 48 of them may have potentially carcinogenic risk to human, among which 14 are definitely carcinogenic, 7 probably carcinogenic, and 27 possibly carcinogenic. Using the CPDB data, it suggests that 66 chemicals are potentially carcinogenic based on rats and mouse models. Conclusions Our evaluation suggests that exposure to some chemicals in HF fluids and wastewater may increase cancer risk, and the identified chemicals could be selected as the priority list for drinking water exposure assessment or cancer-related health studies. Image 1 • Among 1, 173 hydraulic-fracturing (HF) related chemicals, 1039 were identified in HF fluids, 97 in wastewater, and 37 in both. • According to IARC, 48 chemicals have a potential carcinogenic risk to human. • According to CPDB, 66 chemicals are potentially carcinogenic based on rats and mouse models. • The assessment indicates that exposure to HF fluids and wastewater may increase cancer risk. • The identified chemicals could be selected as a priority for future water exposure assessment or HF-related cancer studies. Our evaluation suggests that exposure to some chemicals in HF fluids and wastewater may increase cancer risk, and the identified chemicals could be selected as the priority list for drinking water exposure assessment or cancer-related health studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis contribute to morbidity and mortality, and, in particular, are characterized as leading cause on confirmed COVID-19 death. To date, efficient therapeutic approach for such lung diseases is lacking. N-Acetylglucosamine (NAG), an acetylated derivative of glucosamine, has been proposed as a potential protector of lung function in several types of lung diseases. The mechanism by which NAG protects against lung injury, however, remains unclear. Here, we show that NAG treatment improves pulmonary function in bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung injury model measured by flexiVent system. At early phase of lung injury, NAG treatment results in silenced immune response by targeting ARG1+ macrophages activation, and, consequently, blocks KRT8+ transitional stem cell in the alveolar region to stimulate PDGF Rβ+ fibroblasts hyperproliferation, thereby attenuating the pulmonary fibrosis. This combinational depression of immune response and extracellular matrix deposition within the lung mitigates lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis induced by BLM. Our findings provide novel insight into the protective role of NAG in lung injury. [Display omitted] ● NAG improves pulmonary function in BLM-induced lung injury model. ● NAG protects against lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis in BLM-induced lung injury model. ● NAG suppresses inflammatory activation by targeting ARG1+ macrophages after lung injury. ● NAG inhibits aberrant persistence of alveolar KRT8+ cells and hyperproliferation of PDGF Rβ+ fibroblasts during lung injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Polymer blends with self-healing capability when damaged have received increasing interests and have been developing rapidly because of their many potential applications. Here, the polymer blend comprising of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polycaprolactone (PCL) as shape memory matrix was initially prepared by melting blending, and then the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were incorporated to endow the blend with excellent self-healing property in the presence of near infrared (NIR) irradiation (808 nm, 0.14 W). Compared with the traditional heat-induced self-healing shape memory composites, NIR irradiation could not only reduce the healing time, but also can selectively repair the exposed damaged regions without distinct interference to the performance of surrounding parts. As revealed, these composites presented superior shape memory and self-healing behavior in the presence of NIR irradiation. Specifically, the blend containing 50% TPU, 50% PCL and 3 MWCNTs (U1C1-3) possesses shape memory properties as manifested by a ca. 96.8% shape fixing ratio (R f) and ca. 63.9% shape recovery ratio (R r). The surface crack and scratches can be completely recovered in 3 min NIR irradiation. And moreover, this NIR stimulated self-healing could performed repeatedly for at least 4 times, with healing efficiency of ca. 96%. All these observations could be attributed to the hybrid crystalline and amorphous regions of PCL and TPU, as well as the well distribution of MWCNTs in the polymeric matrix. The superior shape memory and self-healing properties, along with the easy and scalable process of fabrication, make these blends ideal candidates for an ensemble of applications, including biomedical, packing and microelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various known and unknown viral diseases can threaten crustacean aquaculture. To develop prophylactic and therapeutic strategies against viruses, crustacean cell lines are urgently needed for immunology and virology studies. However, there are currently no permanent crustacean cell lines available. In this study, we developed a new method for preparing crayfish plasma (CP) and found that CP enhanced the proliferative capacity of haematopoietic tissue (hpt) cells from Cherax quadricarinatus by an EdU (5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine) assay. The optimal CP concentration for hpt cell culture and the optimal subculture method are discussed. To achieve efficient expression of a foreign gene in hpt cells cultured in vitro , different transfection methods and vectors were analysed. We found that Lipofectamine 2000 could be used to efficiently transfect a foreign vector into hpt cells and exhibited a lower level of cytotoxicity than the other methods tested, and transfection of pEGFP-N1/w249 and pDHsp70-EGFP-FLAG resulted in high EGFP expression. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and virus copy number analysis, we found that white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) could infect hpt cells and multiply efficiently. Our results implied that the crayfish hpt cell culture system we improved could be used as a replacement for immortal crustacean cell lines in viral infection studies. Our findings provide a solid foundation for future immortalization and gene function studies in crustacean cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acephalic spermatozoa is an extremely rare disease associated with primary infertility. A recent study showed that genetic alterations in the SUN5 gene lead to this disease, and SUN5 mutations could explain the disease in about half of the patients. Therefore, in the present study, to re-visit the genetic contribution of SUN5 mutations to acephalic spermatozoa, we recruited 15 unrelated affected individuals and screened the SUN5 gene for mutations by whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing. Five of the 15 (33.33%) subjects were found to carry the same homozygous mutation in the SUN5 gene c.381delA (p.V128Sfs*7). Neither homozygous nor compound heterozygous mutations in SUN5 were found in the other 10 patients. The c.381delA mutation resulted in the truncation of the SUN5 protein and decreased the expression and altered the distribution of the outer dense fiber 1 (ODF1) protein. Thus, in our study SUN5 mutations accounted for only one-third of the patients in our cohort, which is lower than the percentage reported previously. Thus, our study suggests that the contribution of SUN5 mutations to acephalic spermatozoa might not be as high as described previously. These results will help in the genetic counseling of patients with acephalic spermatozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) biodegradation was investigated using enrichments obtained in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles, CIP and human fecal sewage. CIP addition inhibited methanogenic activity and altered the bacterial community composition. The magnetite-supplemented enrichments significantly promoted CIP biodegradation, especially in the presence of 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BES). When BES was added, CIP biodegradation in the magnetite-supplemented enrichments was 67% higher than in the magnetite-unamended enrichments. Fe (II) concentrations were also significantly increased in the BES and magnetite-supplemented enrichments. This indicated that there might be a positive relationship of CIP biodegradation with microbial reduction of Fe (III) to Fe (II). As for the magnetite-supplemented enrichments, DNA-sequencing analysis revealed that Stenotrophomonas was the dominant genus, while Desulfovibrio became the dominant genus in the presence of BES. These two genera might be related to Fe (III) reduction in the magnetite. The findings provide a strategy for improving CIP biodegradation during waste treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a rare disease associated with primary infertility; however, ~ 50% of the genetic alterations associated with MMAF remain unclear. Here, we reported the case of a 30-year-old infertile male from a consanguineous family. Whole-exome sequencing identified a homozygous mutation in the CEP135 gene (c.A1364T:p.D455V), with CEP135 previously reported to play a role in centriole biogenesis and specifically central pair assembly. D455V-mutated proteins formed protein aggregates in the centrosome and the flagella, which might potentially affect the function of centriole assembly. Moreover, intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed using sperm from this patient; however, pregnancy failed following embryo transfer. This represents the first report of a homozygous mutation of CEP135 associated with MMAF. These results provide researchers and clinicians with a deeper understanding of the gene involved with MMAF and will help predict and assess pregnancy outcomes associated with in vitro fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective HIV high risk population may face not only the threat of HIV infection but also a higher chance of exposure to environmental contaminants. However, no previous studies have examined the body burden of environmental pollutants including heavy metals among HIV high risk populations. The aim of this study was to investigate whether adults aged 20–59 years old at high risk of HIV infection have higher blood levels of heavy metals compared to those with low risk of HIV infection in United States. Material and methods We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2010 to compare exposures to heavy metals including cadmium, lead, and total mercury by HIV risk status. Results The results showed that people at high risk of HIV had higher blood concentrations of all heavy metals compared to their counterparts with lower HIV risks. In multivariate linear regression models, HIV risk status was significantly associated with increased blood cadmium, lead, and total mercury after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, and poverty income ratio. Conclusions Our study suggests that people at high risk of HIV have significantly higher body burden of heavy metals including cadmium, lead, and mercury compared to those with low risk of HIV. Further longitudinal study collecting more pollutants are warranted to determine the potential health effects of these elevated pollutants on both HIV-infected and HIV high-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During infection, bacteria might generate adaptive responses to facilitate their survival and colonization in the host environment. The alarmone guanosine 5′-triphosphate-3′-diphosphate (ppGpp), the levels of which are regulated by the RelA and SpoT enzymes, plays a critical role in mediating bacterial adaptive responses and virulence. However, the mechanism by which ppGpp regulates virulence-associated traits in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is poorly understood. To investigate the regulatory role of ppGpp, the ppGpp-deficient strain Δ RS ( relA and spoT gene double mutant) and the complemented strain Δ RS ++ (complemented with relA and spoT genes) were constructed. Herein, we reported that the Δ RS strain showed decreased cytotoxicity towards A549 human alveolar adenocarcinoma cell lines and led to reduced mortality, lung edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in a mouse model of acute pneumonia compared to wild-type PAO1 and the complemented strain Δ RS ++ . Subsequent analyses demonstrated that the Δ RS strain displayed reduced T3SS expression, decreased levels of elastase activity, pyocyanin, pyoverdin and alginate, and inhibited swarming and biofilm formation compared to PAO1 and the complemented strain Δ RS ++ . In addition, the results demonstrate that ppGpp-mediated regulation of T3SS, virulence factor production, and swarming occurs in a quinolone quorum-sensing system-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that ppGpp is required for virulence regulation in P. aeruginosa , providing new clues for the development of interference strategies against bacterial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we evaluated the effect of puerarin (PR) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr), as well as 24-hour urine protein levels were effectively ameliorated in DN mice treated with PR (20, 40, 80 mg/kg/day). Furthermore, PR treatment markedly resulted in down-regulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in kidney. Interestingly, the activities of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase (CAT) were increased by PR. An improvement in kidney tissue damage could be observed after PR administration. Further ultrastructural investigation revealed a dramatically ameliorative effect of PR on mitochondrial damage. Meanwhile, the silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) and alpha subunit of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1α) expressions were significantly up-regulated at protein level by PR administration in renal cortex. However, the protein expression of nuclear-factor kappa B (NF-κB) was down-regulated in PR groups. Our present study demonstrates the hypoglycemic and renal protective effects of PR in DN mice, which support its anti-diabetic property. PR exerts its renal protection effect probably via the mechanism of attenuating SIRT1/FOXO1 pathway for renal protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of oxidation cross-linking and sintering additives (TiN, B) on the microstructure formation and heat-resistant performance of freestanding SiC(Ti, B) films synthesized from Ti, B-containing polycarbosilane (TiB-PCS) precursor were investigated. TiB-PCS green films were first cross-linked for 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 4 h, respectively, and then pre-sintered at 950 °C. Finally, they were sintered at 1800 °C to complete the conversion from organic films to inorganic SiC(Ti, B) films. The results reveal that curing time has a great impact on the uniformity and density of SiC(Ti, B) films. TiB-PCS films cured for 3 h yield the best quality SiC(Ti, B) films, which are composed of β-SiC crystals, C clusters, α-SiC nano-crystals, a small amount of TiB 2 and B 4 C. TiB 2 and B 4 C are both steady phases which can inhibit abnormal growth of β-SiC, effectively reduce sintering temperature and help consume excess C from decomposition of amorphous SiO x C y . After high temperature annealing at 1500 °C, 1600 °C and 1700 °C in argon, SiC(Ti, B) films still keep excellent mechanical properties, which makes them attractive candidate materials for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) used at ultra-high temperatures (exceeding 1500 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution has been accepted as an important contributor to asthma development and exacerbation. However, the evidence is limited in China. In this study, we investigated the acute effect of air pollution on asthma hospitalization in Shanghai, China. We applied over-dispersed generalized additive model adjusted for weather conditions, day of the week, long-term and seasonal trends. An interquartile range increase in the moving average concentrations of PM10, SO2, NO2 and BC on the concurrent day and previous day corresponded to 1.82%, 6.41%, 8.26% and 6.62% increase of asthmatic hospitalization, respectively. The effects of SO2 and NO2 were robust after adjustment for PM10. The associations appeared to be more evident in the cool season than in the warm season. Our results contribute to the limited data in the scientific literature on acute effects of air pollution on asthma in high exposure settings, which are typical in developing countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Few prior cohort studies exist in developing countries examining the association of ambient particulate matter (PM) with mortality. We examined the association of particulate air pollution with mortality in a prospective cohort study of 71,431 middle-aged Chinese men. Baseline data were obtained during 1990–1991. The follow-up evaluation was completed in January, 2006. Annual average PM exposure between 1990 and 2005, including TSP and PM10, were estimated by linking fixed-site monitoring data with residential communities. We found significant associations between PM10 and mortality from cardiopulmonary diseases; each 10 μg/m3 PM10 was associated with a 1.6% (95%CI: 0.7%, 2.6%), 1.8% (95%CI: 0.8%, 2.9%) and 1.7% (95%CI: 0.3%, 3.2%) increased risk of total, cardiovascular and respiratory mortality, respectively. For TSP, we observed significant associations only for cardiovascular morality. These data contribute to the scientific literature on long-term effects of particulate air pollution for high exposure settings typical in developing countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) is a perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) substitute. In the current study, potential developmental cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity following HFPO-DA exposure in chicken embryo has been investigated, focusing on the roles of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα), the major molecular target in PFOA-induced toxicities. HFPO-DA was exposed to fertile chicken eggs via air cell injection, morphology and function of the target organs (heart and liver) in hatchlings were investigated with histopathology and electrocardiography, and the serum levels of HFPO-DA had been measured with quadrupole-time of flight liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (Q-TOF LC/MS). Additionally, lentivirus-mediated in ovo PPARα silencing was used to assess the roles of PPARα in HFPO-DA induced developmental toxicities. The results indicated that developmental exposure to HFPO-DA induced developmental cardiotoxicity, including thinned right ventricular wall and elevated heart rates, similar to those observed with PFOA exposure, as well as developmental hepatotoxicity in the form of steatosis. Silencing of PPARα alleviated such effects, suggesting participation of PPARα in HFPO-DA induced developmental toxicities in chicken embryo. Moreover, enhanced expression of PPARα downstream genes, cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (EHHADH), were observed in HFPO-DA exposed animal heart tissues, which can be abolished by PPARα silencing. On the other hand, liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) and CD36 expression were effectively enhanced in exposed liver tissues, but not EHHADH, suggesting differential mechanism of toxicity in heart and liver tissues. In summary, developmental exposure to HFPO-DA induced developmental cardiotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in hatchling chickens similar to PFOA, and PPARα still participates in such toxicities, with some differential downstream gene regulations in different organs. Further investigation on HFPO-DA-induced developmental toxicities is guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The combined process of acidification and ferric-carbon micro-electrolysis was used to pre-treat oil shale retort wastewater. The influence factors, such as optimum acidized condition, ferrous-carbon ratio, pH value and reaction time were investigated. The results showed:in the acidification process,the optimum oil shale retort wastewater acidized conditions were pH value 4.0 and sediment 24h, the content of mineral oils was 1670mg/L, and its removal rate was 61.52%; the content of CODcr is 7400mg/L, and its removal rate was 28.85%; the content of volatile phenol was 891.17mg/L, and its removal rate was 17.03%. In the ferric-carbon micro-electrolysis process, the treatment effect of ferric-carbon micro-electrolysis was the best with ferrous-carbon ratio 5:8, pH value 5.0, reaction time 60min and sediment 2h. After the combined pretreatment of acidification and ferric-carbon micro-electrolysis, the content of CODcr was 1600mg/L, and its removal rate was 78.38%, the content of phenol was 21mg/L, and its removal rate was 97.64%, the content of colority was 697.32 degree, and its removal rate was 79.68%. At the same time, the BOD/COD value of wastewater increased from 0.05 to 0.34 that fully showed the improvement of biochemical property. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, some sufficient conditions ensuring mean square exponential stability of the equilibrium point of a class of stochastic neural networks with reaction–diffusion terms and time-varying delays are obtained. The conditions involving the effect of diffusion terms reduce the conservatism of the previous results. Finally, we give a numerical example to verify the effectiveness of our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Insect cadherin proteins localized in the midgut epithelium were identified as receptors for Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal crystal proteins (Cry toxins). These cadherins facilitated toxin monomer oligomerization and mediated oligomer binding to secondary receptors. It has been reported that Manduca sexta, Helicoverpa armigera, Anopheles gambiae and Diabrotica virgifera cadherin toxin binding regions function as synergists for Cry1A, Cry4Ba and Cry3A toxicity against target insects. In the present study, the toxin binding region fragment of the H. armigera cadherin (hacad1) gene was cloned and fused with the promoter of the cry3Aa gene. The fusion gene pro3Aa-hacad1 and the cry1Ac gene were inserted into shuttle vector pHT304 and introduced into B. thuringiensis acrystalliferous strain BMB171 for coexpression (resulting in recombinant strain BMB1073). SDS-PAGE and mass spectrum analysis showed that BMB1073 could express HaCad1 and Cry1Ac proteins together. Bioassay results demonstrated that insecticidal activities against H. armigera and Spodoptera exigua could be increased 5.1-fold and 6.5-fold, respectively, by BMB1073 compared with the strain which can only express the Cry1Ac protein. Our discovery showed that coexpression of HaCad1 and Cry1Ac toxin in B. thuringiensis enhanced the insecticidal activity of Cry1Ac toward Lepidoptera insects. This finding also revealed a novel strategy for engineering strains and transgenic plants with higher insecticidal activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A kind of non-conjugated blue luminescent polymer based on fluorene and benzoxazole was synthesized via solution condensation polymerization from 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane and 2,7-dicarboxyl-9,9-dioctyl-fluorene and was characterized with H NMR, FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The polymer displayed the maximum photoluminescence emission peak at 415nm and showed high PL spectroscopic stability. The green-to-blue emission intensity ratio I Green/I Blue is only 0.073 even after thermal annealing at 150°C for 30h. After being exposed to UV light for 30min, no bathochromic emission or obvious crosslink is observed. The common phenomenon of greenish blue emission of fluorene-based polymer around 525nm has been effectively restrained in this polymer by introducing the isopropylidene group into the backbone of polymer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper we use gravitational modelling to study the requirement and design of the proof mass for the ASTROD (Astrodynamical Space Test of Relativity using Optical Device) mission. The gravitational interaction between a sphere and a cylinder is described by a 1-D integration for calculating the deviation acceleration of proof mass from the inertial orbit. It is found that the deviation acceleration is almost independent of the shape of proof mass for the combined configuration of proof mass with outer reference mass in ASTROD mission, while it depends on the dimensions of outer reference mass. The rotational-vibration period of proof mass due to the reference mass torque is calculated to be 2.4 days. Strategies for controlling the proof mass rotation is proposed. Requirements to keep the residual acceleration below 10−13 – 10−15m/s2√H z level are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Diesel exhaust (DE) had been associated with cardiopulmonary toxicity and developmental toxicity. However, neonatal very early-in-life exposure had not been extensively studied previously. To investigate the potential effects of neonatal very early-in-life exposure to DE, a brand-new chicken embryo in ovo exposure model had been established, with which the cardiopulmonary effects of DE exposure via air cell infusion at embryonic day 18/19 (ED18/19) were assessed in hatchling chicks post-hatch 0-, 1-, or 2-weeks. Heart rates were assessed with electrocardiography. Cardiac and pulmonary morphologies were investigated with histopathological methods. Cardiopulmonary effects were explored with immunohistochemistry for alpha smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). In further investigations, the expression levels of phosphorylated AhR, serum levels of TGF-β1, phosphorylated SMAD2/3 and phosphorylated p38MAPK were assessed in the lung tissues. Significantly elevated heart rates, increased right ventricular wall thickness and cardiac collagen deposition were observed in the hearts of exposed hatchling chicks. Significantly increased collagen deposition as well as increased vascular alpha-SMA layer thickness/decreased cavity area were observed in exposed animal lungs. These effects persisted up to two weeks post-hatch. Mechanistic studies revealed elevated phosphorylated AhR expression levels in 0-week and 1-week chicken lungs, while phosphorylated SMAD2/3 levels significantly increased in 0-week chicken lungs but decreased in 2-week chicken lungs following DE exposure. Phosphorylation of p38MAPK did not remarkably increase until 2-week post-hatch. In summary, the novel chicken neonatal very early-in-life exposure model effectively exposed the chicken embryos during the neonatal initial breathing, resulting in cardiopulmonary toxicity, which is associated with AHR, TGF-β1 and MAPK signaling. Image 1 • Diesel exhaust in ovo exposure model was established in chicken embryos. • Diesel exhaust in ovo exposure induced cardiopulmonary toxicities in hatchlings. • AhR/TGFβ1/MAPK signaling participates in diesel exhaust exposure-induced toxicities. This study assessed DE-induced cardiopulmonary toxicity in hatchling chicks with a novel in ovo inhalation model, and associated the effects with AhR, TGF-β1 and MAPK signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of oxidation cross-linking and sintering temperature on the microstructure evolution, thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity of continuous freestanding polymer-derived SiC films were investigated. The as-received films consisting of β-SiC nanocrystals embedded in amorphous SiO x C y and free carbon nanosheets were fabricated via melt spinning of polycarbosilane (PCS) precursors and cured for 3 h/10 h followed by pyrolysis from 900 °C to 1200 °C. Results reveal that nanoscale structure (β-SiC/SiO x C y /C free ) provides an ingenious strategy for constructing highly thermal conductive, highly insulating and highly flexible complexes. In particular, the 3 h-cured films sintered at 1200 °C with satisfying thermal conductivity (46.8 W m −1 K −1 ) and electrical resistivity (2.1 × 10 8 Ω m) are suitable for the realization of high-performance substrates. A remarkable synergistic effect (lattice vibration of β-SiC nanocrystals and close-packed SiO x C y , free-electron heat conduction of β-SiC and free carbon, and supporting role of oxygen vacancy) contributing to thermal conductivity improvement is proposed based on the analysis of microstructure, intrinsic properties and simulations. Eventually, the SiC films without additional dielectric layers are directly silk-screen printed with high-temperature silver paste and used as heat dissipation substrates for high-power LED devices via chip-on-board (COB) package. The final devices can emit bright light with low-junction temperature (52.6 °C) and good flexibility owing to the mono-layer SiC substrate with low thermal resistance and desirable mechanical properties. This work offers an effective approach to design and fabricate flexible heat dissipation ceramic substrates for thermal management in advanced electronic packaging fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A careful approach to the optimization of magnetic and dielectric losses in nanomaterials can improve the electromagnetic wave absorption loss performance for certain microwave absorption applications. In this study we prepared dual core (Fe/TiCN) coated with nitrogen (N) doped carbon shell nanocomposite by arc-discharge method under mix atmospheres of working gases and with varying elemental compositions. Among all nanocomposites, (Fe/TiC 0.7 N 0.3)@N–C dual-core@ N- doped shell nanocomposite exhibits enhanced microwave absorption. Owing to the novel dual-core@ N-doped shell structure and numerous defects induced by doping N in carbon shells, an improved dielectric relaxation in composite is observed and the minimum reflection loss was reached −44.36 dB at 5.3 GHz for 4.8 mm thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, low-threshold green and red random lasing actions were investigated in inorganic caesium lead bromide (CsPbBr 3) and caesium lead iodide (CsPbI 3) perovskite microcrystals, which were grown using metal organic chemical vapor deposition. Sharp random lasing emission peaks were visible on the right side of the broad photoluminescence emission spectra. Interferential patterned sapphire substrates and novel metal nanoparticles were used to enhance the lasing emission intensity and reduce the lasing emission thresholds. Fast-decayed random lasing oscillation dynamics and backscattering angular distribution of light confirmed that the multi-scattering of light was important in the reduction of the threshold in thin films on patterned sapphire substrates. Plasmonic enhancement between gold or silver nanoparticles and the perovskite microcrystals contributed similarly to low threshold random lasing emission, which was verified using the simulation result from the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. This work has a wide range of applications in sensing, speckle-free imaging, illumination, and medical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Simplistic formation, advantageous configuration, non-colossal magnetoresistance and broadband absorption are important parameters for microwave absorbent materials. In this study, a core-shell nanocomposite comprising of Sn-filled carbon nanotubes (Sn/CNTs) was prepared by arc discharge method. The microstructure, morphology and surface composition of Sn/CNTs-based core-shell nanocomposites were characterized in detail. Sn/CNTs nanocomposite showed a magnetic signal due to the broken bonds and defects at interfaces in Sn/CNTs. The weak ferromagnetism was found to be helpful in improving magnetic permeability in the Sn/CNTs which confirms its role as a magnetic loss material under incident electromagnetic wave. Sn-filled CNTs revealed an appropriate value of dielectric constant, which plays an important role in impedance matching upon incident electromagnetic wave. The composite of Sn-CNTs and paraffin with a 50 wt % loading showed the lowest reflection loss (RL) of −43.87 dB at 10 GHz, with a wide effective absorption band (RL ≤ −10 dB) of 3 GHz in thickness of 2.3 mm. This enhanced performance is attributed to the combined effect of the conduction loss in one-dimensional core-shell architecture, the interfacial loss Sn-CNT interface, the magnetic loss due to defects-induced ferromagnetism in Sn shell, and in the carbon-containing atomic layers of CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]