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Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) contributes to interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary fibrosis (PF), thus representing a potential therapeutic target for PF. In this study, we first verified the increased expression of IL-1β in human fibrotic lung specimens and mouse lung tissues after intratracheal (i.t.) instillation of bleomycin (BLM), after which the pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic effects of recombinant IL-1β were tested in mice. The results above suggested that vaccination against IL-1β could be an effective strategy for managing PF. An anti-IL-1β vaccine (PfTrx-IL-1β) was designed by incorporating two IL-1β-derived polypeptides, which have been verified as the key domains that mediate the binding of IL-1β to its type I receptor, into Pyrococcus furiosus thioredoxin (PfTrx). The fusion protein PfTrx-IL-1β was prepared by using E. coli expression system. The vaccine was well tolerated; it induced robust and long-lasting antibody responses in mice and neutralized the biological activity of IL-1β, as shown in cellular assays. Pre-immunization with PfTrx-IL-1β effectively protected mice from BLM-induced lung injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. In vitro experiments further showed that anti-PfTrx-IL-1β antibodies counteracted the effects of IL-1β concerning pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokine production by primary mouse lung fibroblast, macrophages (RAW264.7), and type II alveolar epithelial cell (A549), primary mouse lung fibroblast activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of alveolar epithelial cells. In addition, the vaccination did not compromise the anti-infection immunity in mice, as validated by a sepsis model. Our preliminary study suggests that the anti-IL-1β vaccine we prepared has the potential to be developed as a therapeutic measure for PF. Further experiments are warranted to evaluate whether IL-1β vaccination has the capacity of inhibiting chronic progressive PF and reversing established PF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor location information, which is an indispensable label for linking the vast amount of data circulating in the world of IoT, 5G, and AI, is essential. This paper proposes a novel template pattern matching-based acoustic positioning method, Location Template-based Positioning Model, for indoor acoustic source localisation. This innovative technology, similar to the passive SONAR systems on submarines, uses audible acoustic waves to locate acoustic sources in complex indoor environments. The proposed LTPM is a statistical model, and it calculates the coordinates of acoustic sources by matching input acoustic signals with template acoustic signals that are pre-collected from preset locations. A comprehensive overview of the principles and implementations of LTPM is provided, and its feasibility is verified through preliminary positioning tests in this paper. It is hoped to provide research references for the advancement of pattern matching-based acoustic indoor positioning technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effect of cooling rate on a-C-to-graphene transformation in RTP process was studied. • There were no C atoms precipitated from C-Ni intermixing layer during cooling process. • RTP method exhibited different mechanism from traditional Ni-catalyzed CVD technique. • The transformation was dominated by C diffusion and Ni-induced crystallization. • Regular arrangement of as-grown RTP graphene highly depended on the cooling rate. Amorphous carbon with Ni as catalyst can be transformed into graphene on the dielectric substrate directly without the subsequent transfer process during rapid thermal processing (RTP). However, the effect of cooling rate on this transformation process is still not fully understood yet, leading to the controversy of underlying mechanism. Here, by the combined reactive molecular dynamics simulation with experimental approach, we investigated the evolution of RTP graphene structure and diffusion behavior of C atoms with cooling rates. Results demonstrated that for each case, there were no C atoms precipitated from C-Ni intermixing layer during the cooling process, which was different from the behavior observed in the Ni-catalyzed CVD growth process of graphene. This confirmed that the a-C-to-graphene transformation mechanism during the RTP process was dominated by the C diffusion and Ni-induced crystallization rather than the traditional dissolution/precipitation mechanism for graphene growth. Most importantly, it was also found that tailoring the cooling rate could achieve the regular arrangement of distorted structure in as-grown RTP graphene and thus promote the high-quality synthesis of graphene, which was confirmed by the experimental result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new coagulant, the efficiency and performance of Moringa oleifera seed presscake extract for the coagulation removal of direct black 19 was investigated under different operation conditions in contrast with polyaluminum chloride (PAC). The results indicated that the removal efficiencies decreased with rising pH for both of the two coagulants in the pH range of 5-9, and Moringa oleifera seed presscake extract was more efficient than PAC at pH 5-8 ( P < 0.05). The optimal temperature for the two coagulants was 25 °C, and Moringa oleifera seed presscake extract was also better than PAC at every temperature ( P < 0.05). The removal of direct black 19 increased with the increase of dosages of Moringa oleifera seed presscake extract and PAC. Both of NaCl and Na 2 SO 4 increased the coagulation efficiency of Moringa oleifera seed presscake extract. In contrast, NaCl increased the removal percentage of PAC, but Na 2 SO 4 decreased the performance. The suspended solid simulated by kaolin improved the direct black 19 removal. Overall, The Moringa oleifera seed presscake extract is better for direct black 19 removal than PAC ( P < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• GAD of ta-C was realized by adjusting the filtered incident carbon ions. • GAD benefited a notable reduction of residual stress without distinct hardness loss. • The superior corrosion resistance of ta-C was obtained at glancing angle of 45°. • High sp3 content and enhanced hydrophobicity contributed to anti-corrosion. Tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) films were obliquely deposited on silicon substrate using a custom-made 45 degree double-bent filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) system. The effect of glancing angle in a range of 0° to 75° on the growth characteristics, mechanical and electrochemical corrosion behavior of the films were focused. Results showed that increasing the incident angle of carbon ions resulted in a rough surface with agglomerated particles. As the glancing angle changed from 0° to 75°, the residual stress of ta-C film decreased by 28.8%, while the high hardness exceeding 30 GPa were maintained in the films due to the small reduction (13.6%) of sp3 hybridized carbon content. The electrochemical corrosion tests in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution revealed that the superior corrosion resistances were obtained at glancing angle of 45°, which could be discussed in terms of the relatively high sp3 bonded carbon content and the enhanced hydrophobicity properties of the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we fabricated the tetrahedral amorphous carbon (ta-C) films with thicknesses of 20 nm, 40 nm and hydrogenated diamond-like carbon (DLC:H) film with thickness of 1.1 μm on 316 stainless steel substrate (316SS). The electrochemical corrosion performances of two typical amorphous carbon (a-C) films in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution were focused. Results revealed that both ultrathin ta-C films exhibited superior corrosion resistance than that of DLC:H film, because the high content of sp3 bonded carbon and low porosity in ta-C films significantly suppressed the diffusion of corrosion media. However, a thickness threshold beyond 20 nm was proposed to obtain the superior corrosion resistance for ta-C films due to the emerged pitting of 316SS. For DLC:H film, the deterioration of corrosion resistance could be attributed to the hydrogen-containing interface, the large sp2 clusters with high electron transport, and the higher porosity density in carbon matrix. Image 1 • The effects of thickness, atomic bonds and porosity on corrosion of a-C were studied. • SVET revealed the distinct changes in local electrochemical performances for films. • Thick DLC:H exhibited limited corrosion protective efficiency. • Ultrathin ta-C with high sp3 content and low porosity remarkably reduced corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]