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Point cloud completion aims to estimate the whole shapes of objects from their partial scans, and one of the main obstacles that prevents current methods from being applied in real-world scenarios is the variety of structural losses in real-scanned objects, which can hardly be fully included and reflected by the training samples. In this paper, we introduce Patch Sequence Autoregression Network (PSA-Net), a learning-based method that can be trained without the partial point clouds in dataset and is inherently adaptable to input scans with different levels of shape incompleteness: It makes restoring the unseen parts of objects be equivalent to predicting the missing tokens in local patch embedding sequences, and such prediction can start from any initial states. Specifically, we first introduce a Sequential Patch AutoEncoder that reconstructs complete point clouds from quantized patch feature sequences. Second, we establish a Mixed Patch Autoregression pipeline that can flexibly infer the whole sequence from any number of known tokens at any positions. Third, we propose a Voting-Based Mapping module that makes input points softly vote for their possible related tokens in sequences based on their local areas, which transforms partial point clouds to masked sequences in test. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations on two synthetic and four real-world datasets illustrate the competitive performances of our network when comparing with existing approaches. [Display omitted] • A Sequential Patch AutoEncoder for shape generation from quantized feature sequence. • A Mixed Patch Autoregression pipeline for token prediction from any initial states. • A Voting-based Mapping module for transformation from partial shapes to sequences. • Competitive performances on two synthetic and four real-world datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• G661R mutation of ADAMTS10 causing glaucoma introduced in mice using CRISPR/Cas9. • ADAMTS10 is expressed along optic nerve axons and in retinal ganglion cells. • ADAMTS10 is not colocalized with fibrillin microfibrils in retina and optic nerve. • ADAMTS10 could function independent of fibrillin. • ADAMTS10 regulates transforming growth factor beta signaling in developing retina. Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease that causes irreversible blindness due to loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. We previously identified a G661R mutation of ADAMTS10 (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with ThromboSpondin type 1 motif 10) as the disease-causing mutation in a beagle model of glaucoma. ADAMTS10 is a secreted matrix metalloproteinase that belongs to the ADAMTS family which is involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover. Previous studies have shown that ADAMTS10 binds fibrillin microfibrils, promotes their formation, and influences their fibrillin isoform composition. Here, we established a mouse model carrying the G661R mutation of ADAMTS10 (ADAMTS10G661R/G661R) to investigate its ocular phenotypes related to glaucoma and to explore possible functions of ADAMTS10. We found that ADAMTS10 was expressed in the inner retina and along RGC axons in the optic nerve. However, ADAMTS10 was not colocalized with fibrillin microfibrils in these tissues, suggesting fibrillin-independent function for ADAMTS10. In electroretinogram experiments, we found that ADAMTS10G661R/G661R mice had reduced amplitude of retinal responses to dim light stimulus, indicating RGC dysfunction. The reduced RGC function coincided with RGC axon structural changes manifested as smaller optic nerves and fewer optic nerve axons, which may contribute to glaucoma. The reduced number of optic nerve axons found for ADAMTS10G661R/G661R mice occurred early, suggesting developmental deficits. Subsequent experiments found increased apoptosis in the retina of ADAMTS10G661R/G661R mice during postnatal development, which could result in fewer RGCs produced, accounting for fewer optic nerve axons in adulthood. Consistent with a protective effect of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling against apoptosis during retinal development as shown previously by others, we found increased apoptosis accompanied by decreased TGFβ signaling in the developing retina of ADAMTS10G661R/G661R mice, suggesting a novel role for ADAMTS10 in regulating TGFβ signaling which could involve direct interaction between ADAMTS10 and latent TGFβ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a common malignant bone tumor in adolescents, osteosarcoma (OS) possesses a very poor prognosis and lacks effective treatments. In this study, we developed a multifunctional nanotherapeutic agent (WSe 2 /AIPH/GOx) that can combine photothermal therapy (PTT) /thermodynamic therapy (TDT) /starvation therapy (ST) against OS. The prepared WSe 2 /AIPH/GOx exhibited a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 37.3% under 808 nm near-infrared laser irradiation, which could effectively eliminate tumor cells. In addition, the local high temperature caused by photothermal heat induces the rapid release and decomposition of AIPH, generating oxygen-independent alkyl radicals that promote tumor cell death in the hypoxic microenvironment. More importantly, the introduction of GOx depletes glucose to starve tumor cells on the one hand, and on the other hand can indirectly increase the thermal sensitivity of cells. In vivo experiments have demonstrated that WSe 2 /AIPH/GOx can effectively inhibit tumor growth in mice due to the combined effects of multiple therapies. Overall, this work provides an effective strategy for potential osteosarcoma treatment based on combination therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging digital economy has facilitated the digital transformation of the logistics industry toward a standard and collaborative state. The logistics infrastructure has accordingly attracted much attention as the basis for supporting digital economy implementation. Moreover, the initiatives of regional collaborative development, such as in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) of China, have accelerated the integration of logistics infrastructure and operation-level collaboration. Fortunately, the Cyber-Physical Internet (CPI) has created new opportunities for promoting infrastructure integration through the cyber, physical and internet dimensions. However, regional infrastructure integration in the GBA faces various challenges associated with CPI network operations. Thus, a bottom-up approach is proposed to facilitate logistics infrastructure integration in the CPI environment based on the conceptual fusion of computer networks. Considering the fundamental difference in network fusion and operation mechanisms between CPI and computer networks, a CPI-LI2 (logistics infrastructure integration) framework is designed as an integrated solution. Finally, a simulation study is conducted using real-life medical logistics data from the GBA to verify the effectiveness of the CPI-LI2 framework. Experiments show that the framework is well adapted to large-scale logistics networks with dynamically changing links. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cholesteryl ester(CE) generated from the mitochondria associated membrane (MAM). • MAM-resident ACAT controls the Esterification of Cholesterol. • Progesterone suppressed CE level, CE / FC ratio and the length of MAM. • Progesterone decreased ACAT1 expression through the PGRMC1 receptor. • The ERK1/2 pathway maybe involved in the progesterone mediated regulation of ACAT1. Cholesteryl ester(CE), generated from the mitochondria associated membrane (MAM), is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In theory, the different neuroprotective effects of progesterone in AD are all linked to MAM, yet the effect on cholesterol esterification has not been reported. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the regulation of progesterone on intracerebral CE in AD models and the underlying mechanism. APP/PS1 mice and AD cell model induced by Aβ 25-35 were selected as the research objects. APP/PS1 mice were daily administrated intragastrically with progesterone and The Morris Water Maze test was performed to detect the learning and memory abilities. Intracellular cholesterol was measured by Cholesterol/Cholesteryl Ester Quantitation Assay. The structure of MAMs were observed with transmission electron microscopy. The expression of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1), ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 were detected with western blotting, immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence. Progesterone suppressed the accumulation of intracellular CE, shortened the length of abnormally prolonged MAM in cortex of APP/PS1 mice. Progesterone decreased the expression of ACAT1, which could be blocked by progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) inhibitor AG205. The ERK1/2 pathway maybe involved in the progesterone mediated regulation of ACAT1 in AD models, rather than the PI3K/Akt and the P38 MEPK pathways. The results supported a line of evidence that progesterone regulates CE level and the structure of MAM in neurons of AD models, providing a promising treatment against AD on the dysfunction of cholesterol metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 6-Degree-of-Freedom (6-DoF) robotic grasping is a fundamental task in robot manipulation, aimed at detecting graspable points and corresponding parameters in a 3D space, i.e affordance learning, and then a robot executes grasp actions with the detected affordances. Existing research works on affordance learning predominantly focus on learning local features directly for each grid in a voxel scene or each point in a point cloud scene, subsequently filtering the most promising candidate for execution. Contrarily, cognitive models of grasping highlight the significance of global descriptors, such as size, shape, and orientation, in grasping. These global descriptors indicate a grasp path closely tied to actions. Inspired by this, we propose a novel bio-inspired neural network that explicitly incorporates global feature encoding. In particular, our method utilizes a Truncated Signed Distance Function (TSDF) as input, and employs the recently proposed Transformer model to encode the global features of a scene directly. With the effective global representation, we then use deconvolution modules to decode multiple local features to generate graspable candidates. In addition, to integrate global and local features, we propose using a skip-connection module to merge lower-layer global features with higher-layer local features. Our approach, when tested on a recently proposed pile and packed grasping dataset for a decluttering task, surpassed state-of-the-art local feature learning methods by approximately 5% in terms of success and declutter rates. We also evaluated its running time and generalization ability, further demonstrating its superiority. We deployed our model on a Franka Panda robot arm, with real-world results aligning well with simulation data. This underscores our approach's effectiveness for generalization and real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High recurrence rates after surgery and unacceptable side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are challenges in the treatment of osteosarcoma (OS). Therefore, the development of nanoplatforms with combined tumor inhibition efficiency and fewer side effects is a promising strategy for the treatment of OS. In this paper, a biocompatible therapeutic nanoplatform (Fe-Zr@PDA@GOx) was constructed with a simple and efficient strategy for the treatment of OS. First, as an excellent Fenton reaction reagent, iron ions in the nanoplatform can generate highly toxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH) with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) in the tumor microenvironment and induce tumor cell death. Then, the modification of polydopamine endows the nanoplatform with photothermal responsiveness, with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 28.0%. Importantly, the conversed heat by polydopamine both promotes the release of glucose oxidase (GOx) and increases the rate of the Fenton reaction. Furthermore, GOx-mediated starvation treatment (SDT) can also provide suitable reaction conditions and sufficient H 2 O 2 to realize the amplification of chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Finally, the doping of Zr ions can interact with Fe to form dual active centers in the Fenton reaction and further accelerate the generation of •OH. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments reveal the synergistic photothermal/CDT/SDT anti-tumor effect. Therefore, this work provides an effective strategy for the treatment of OS. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subsea pipeline is prone to corrosion due to the combined influence of a complex environment and internal fluid. The corrosion defect results in the local thinning of the wall thickness of the pipeline, affecting the pipeline collapse response under external pressure. In the present study, the buckling response of subsea pipelines with irregular corrosion defect is analyzed. First, a method for calculating the critical buckling pressure of pipelines with irregular corrosion defect is proposed. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified by comparing it with finite element (FE) results and experimental tests. Then, the effects of defect size, steel grade and diameter-to-thickness ratio on the defect interaction and critical buckling pressure of the pipeline are explored. Finally, the application range of the present method is extended by considering defect length, initial ovality and internal pressure. • A semi-analytical method for the critical buckling pressure of pipeline with irregular corrosion defects is proposed. • The proposed method is verified by experimental tests and finite element modelling. • The influencing factors of buckling response of the pipeline with irregular corrosion defects are clarified. • The application range of the present method is further extended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remanufacturing is widely considered a solution to environmental pollution and resource shortage but its progression is influenced by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), remanufacturers, consumers and public policy makers. This research studies the optimal price and production quantity of new and remanufactured products with a two-stage model under both scenarios under which the remanufacturing is conducted by the OEM or by the third-party remanufacturer (TPR). A non-cooperative game model is used at the second stage when the TPR conducts remanufacturing. The models consider both the impact of the product life cycle through the market growth factor at the second stage and the influence of consumers’ perceived value of new and remanufactured products, which depends on the identity of the remanufacturer. Both theoretical and numerical analyses show that both the life cycle phase and consumers’ perception have an impact on the OEM’s decision whether to allow the TPR in the remanufacturing business. The results also reveal that the market may not be efficient for maximizing the environmental sustainability and societal equity. Governments may need to interfere with the market in order to promote the TPR manufacturing, especially when the product is at the mature or declining phases of its life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic identification for victims using unmanned platforms is essential to increasing the efficiency of post-disaster searching and rescuing efforts. Different from pedestrians in upright poses, human bodies at the disaster scenes may appear in images under different planar rotations and hence rotation-invariant detection is necessary. This paper focuses on the computer vision and proposes a new visual feature, i.e. Sector-ring HOG (SRHOG), to facilitate the rotated human detection. The new feature is achieved by modifying the gradient binning and spatial binning based on the histograms of oriented gradients (HOG) and can express the rotation of image patch into the cyclic shift of final descriptor. Employing it in rotated human detection can avoid the interpolation approximation existing in image rotation and increase the detection performance. Experimentally, we first confirm the sufficient discrimination power of SRHOG in a public pedestrian dataset and further demonstrate the feasibility of bigger detection windows in an extension of this pedestrian dataset. Finally, the high performance of SRHOG for rotated human bodies is demonstrated on a victim dataset which has varied backgrounds, body postures and shear changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pipeline is prone to collapse under the combined external pressure and multiple corrosion defects. Experiments of the full-scale pipelines with longitudinally, circumferentially and diagonally dual defects are conducted, respectively. Finite element models are established to simulate the experimental process, and achieved good consistency. Then the influences of corrosion defect dimensions on the interaction are analyzed, and the corresponding critical spacing is determined. Moreover, the collapse modes of the pipeline under different defect forms are studied. The collapse mode of the pipeline with two external corrosion defects changes from U-shaped to ∞-shaped mode. However, the collapse modes for the pipeline with internal and external corrosion defects or two internal corrosion defects are irregular and the deformation is mainly concentrated on the region of corrosion defects. In addition, the critical pressure of the pipeline is sensitive to the defect distribution type (distributed axially, circumferentially, or diagonally along the pipeline, etc.). Finally, a formula for estimating the collapse pressure of the pipeline with dual corrosion defects is proposed. The comparison between the proposed formula and finite element results proves that this formula can be used for the collapse pressure of the pipeline with multiple corrosion defects in a slightly conservative manner. • Experiments of full-scale pipelines with dual corrosion defects are conducted. • A FE model is established to evaluate the interaction between dual corrosion defects. • The effects of various parameters on the collapse pressure are considered. • The collapse modes of the pipe under different defect forms are studied. • The formula for dual corrosion defects is extended for multiple corrosion defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel carbon fiber/MXene coalition (CF-Ar-MXene) is synthesized via a bidirectional aryl diazonium chemistry method using p-phenylenediamine as a chemical bridge, which effectively combines the two materials with different dimensions and makes full use of the advantages of both. CF-Ar-MXene coalition materials achieve high surface roughness and rich oxygen-containing active groups due to the presence of MXene on the surface of CF, which leads to the favorable interfacial interaction and compatibility between CF-Ar-MXene and epoxy resin (EP) matrix. As expected, after the incorporation of CF-Ar-MXene coalition into EP matrix, the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of EP composites are significantly improved. For example, with the addition of 3 wt% CF-Ar-MXene coalition, the peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP) of EP composites decrease by 42.6%, 48.2% and 32.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, the TG-IR results indicate that the amount of combustible volatile products and toxic gases also significantly decrease. Notably, with 2 wt% loading of CF-Ar-MXene coalition in EP composites, the tensile strength and elongation at break increase by 49.9% and 40.5%, respectively. Therefore, the efficient cooperation between CF and MXene in CF-Ar-MXene coalition and excellent interface compatibility with EP matrix are the main reasons for the excellent flame retardancy and mechanical properties of EP/CF-Ar-MXene composites. [Display omitted] • CF-Ar-MXene coalitions were prepared by a bidirectional aryl diazonium chemistry method for the first time. • The method used in this experiment is efficient and eco-friendly compared with the traditional modification method for CF. • CF-Ar-MXene coalitions achieved high filler efficiency in reducing the fire hazards and smoke production of EP. • Mechanical properties of EP/CF-Ar-MXene composites were efficiency enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Al11Cr4 was prepared by diffusion of electrodeposited Al/Cr composite film. [•] The compositional range of Al11Cr4 was from Al75.0Cr25.0 to Al76.0Cr24.0. [•] The decomposition temperature of Al11Cr4 was 829°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal runaway (TR) has become a critical issue for lithium-ion battery-based electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage stations. Accurate thermal-electric estimation is significant for the safety of lithium-ion batteries (LIB). To predict the highly correlated behavior of temperature and voltage variation characteristics during the TR process, a thermal-electric coupled TR model within the full range of State of Charge (SOC) is constructed in this study. The electric quantity normalized concentration c eq is defined and used to construct the corresponding numerical relationship between temperature and voltage in the model. This model can effectively fit the battery TR temperature and voltage variation behavior under both adiabatic TR test and oven test results. Furthermore, the model-based analysis proves that the temperature and voltage changes during the TR can be mutually obtained through the stable numerical coupling relationship. Besides, the relationship between SOC and the concentration field is established. Moreover, the feasibility of using the normalized concentration to couple the voltage and temperature signal is verified. This study provides perspectives for the coupling relationships of TR characteristic signals and multi-signal coupled modeling of lithium-ion battery TR. ● A thermal-electric coupled model is proposed for the full range of SOC. ● The maximum error of voltage estimation model is less than 0.05 V. ● This study guides the multi-signal coupled thermal runaway state estimation. ● The proposed methodology can be utilized for thermal runaway propagation modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a methacrylic gelatin/oxidized dextran/montmorillonite‑strontium/polypyrrole (GOMP) hydrogel was prepared. The GOMP hydrogel had dual network structure which was formed through photoinitiator-initiated double bond polymerization and Schiff base reaction. The network structure led to a sustained release of the antitumor drug, doxorubicin (DOX). Polypyrrole introduced the conductivity and high photothermal conversion capacity to the GOMP hydrogel, which showed a photothermal conversion efficiency of 31.61 % under 808 nm laser radiation. The GOMP hydrogel had good swelling properties in solvents. Further study showed that the GOMP hydrogel had good biocompatibility and excellent biodegradability in vitro and in vivo. The experiments of in vitro tumor therapy and in vivo anti-tumor recurrence indicated that the DOX-loaded GOMP hydrogel had synergistic effects on tumor cell apoptosis based on chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. In addition, montmorillonite‑strontium (MMT-Sr) doped in the hydrogel not only improved the mechanical properties of the hydrogel but also promoted potential bone regeneration. The multifunctional DOX-loaded GOMP hydrogel with bone regeneration, photothermal therapy, and chemotherapy functions has great potential application for treating osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the deep-sea environment, pipelines are prone to buckling instability under the coupling effect of hydrostatic pressure and corrosion defects. This instability phenomenon is affected by the pipe dimensions, material parameters and corrosion defects. Based on the shell buckling theory, a semi-analytical method is proposed to analyze the elastoplastic buckling response of the pipe with dual corrosion defects. The buckling pressure of the pipe can be solved by the characteristic equation numerically. Then, the results of semi-analytical approach are in good agreement with those of experimental tests and FE analysis, which verifies the accuracy of the approach. The effects of geometric dimensions, material parameters, corrosion defect depth and angle on the buckling pressure of the pipe are analyzed in details. In addition, based on the FE model, the collapse mode and the post-buckling response of the pipe with asymmetric dual corrosion defects are considered. The application scope of the semi-analytical approach for pipes with different defect lengths and initial ovality is analyzed. Finally, the semi-analytical approach is extended for pipes with multiple corrosion defects. • A buckling pressure equation is developed for the pipe with asymmetric dual defects. • The equation is verified based on experimental tests and finite element analysis. • The effects of various parameters on the buckling pressure are investigated. • The post-buckling responses of the corroded pipe are analyzed. • The application range of the proposed equation is further extended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A tetrapeptide (Leu-Asp-Tyr-Glu) from maize (TPM) is a bioactive peptide. Here we reported that TPM extended the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans under heat and oxidative stress. Specifically, TPM (10mM) increased the average longevity of C. elegans by 36.9% and 27.6% under heat stress (35°C) and oxidative stress, respectively. Further studies demonstrated that the significant longevity-extending effects of TPM on C. elegans could be attributed to its in vitro and in vivo free radical-scavenging effects and its up-regulation of stress-resistance-related proteins, including superoxide dismutase-3 (SOD-3) and heat shock protein-16.2 (HSP-16.2). Real-time PCR results showed that the up-regulation of ageing-associated genes such as daf-16, sod-3 and hsp-16.2, in addition to skn-1, ctl-1 and ctl-2, could also contribute to the stress-resistance effect of TPM. These results indicate that TPM can (or has the potential to) protect against external stress and extend lifespan under stress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Polycrystalline yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia nanoparticles having a grain size around 50-80nm were fabricated in aqueous poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution by mechanical attrition in a planetary mill, with the PVA used as a capping agent. The surface-modified nanoparticles displayed a significant near-band-edge photoluminescence with emission band centered at 428nm due to the good surface passivation of the nanoparticles by the PVA molecules. An enhancement of the blue emission was observed when the nanoparticles were embedded in solid PVA matrix. Elevating the temperature of the zirconia nanoparticle solution from 337.5 to 357.5K lead to temperature quenching of the luminescence due to the decrease of emissive centers caused by desorption of PVA from the nanoparticle surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in-situ formed hemostatic hydrogel (GelMA/OD/Borax) was prepared for the emergency wound hemostasis and anti-inflammation applications. Gelatin was chosen as the backbone and modified with methacrylic anhydride (MA) to synthesize GelMA, which showed the admirable UV light activatable polymerizing ability. Aldehyde groups, which cross-linked with the -NH 2 on the tissue surface and afforded the tissue adhesion, were produced by oxidizing the o-hydroxyl groups of dextran. Further, the sodium tetraborate formed dynamic boric acid ester bonds with the oxidized dextran (OD). With this triple-network structure, the as-prepared hydrogel presented excellent hemostatic capacity and surmounted a high blood pressure of 165 mmHg, which is higher than the threshold systolic blood pressure of healthy adults (i.e., 120 mmHg). The mechanical property, morphology, biocompatibility and degradation of the hydrogel were character Borax, the hydrogel successfully blocked the bleeding and accelerated the wound healing. This research provides a new modality for the design of a multifunctional hemostatic hydrogel for effective hemostasis and wound healing. • GelMA/OD/Borax hydrogel is reported for the wound hemostasis and anti-inflammation. • The hemostatic hydrogel can surmount a high blood pressure of 165 mmHg. • The hydrogel is biocompatible, degradable, and has a good antibacterial capacity. • The hydrogel can accelerate the wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decapitation and root pruning, can impact plant morphological and physiological characteristics, which may determine the efficiency of phytoremediation. However, the effects of decapitated and root-pruned plants on the characterization of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and enzymatic activity, which determine the bioavailability of soil pollutants, have rarely been reported. This study aims to characterize DOM and enzymatic activity in the rhizosphere soil of Sedum alfredii when treated by decapitation and root pruning. Decapitation, slight pruning (10% root cutting), and their combination stimulated S. alfredii to secrete more DOM in the rhizosphere soil compared with the control. Furthermore, the proportions of hydrophilic increased from 42.7% in the control to 57.1% in the decapitation and slight pruning combination. Soil urease, invertase, and neutral phosphatase activities were higher in the rhizosphere soil of decapitated and root-pruned S. alfredii , and the highest values were observed with their combination. DOM from the soils of decapitated and root-pruned S. alfredii had significantly higher Cd extraction ability compared with that of the untreated species. Based on the findings of this study, we suggest that decapitation and root pruning can improve the phytoremediation efficiency of S. alfredii by increasing the bioavailability of Cd in its rhizosphere. [Display omitted] • The biomass and Cd uptake in S. alfredii were risen by decapitation and root cutting. • DOM levels in the soils enhanced with the application of agronomic practices. • The hydrophilic fractions were increased obviously by decapitation and root cutting. • Activities of soil enzymes were significantly increased by root-pruned S. alfredii. • Treated S. alfredii can increased the Cd extraction capacities of DOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) were used to characterize mercury film electrodeposited onto a Pt(111) electrode at room temperature. Depending on the amount of Hg deposit, two different growth modes were observed. At low Hg coverage, crystalline (0001)Hg adlayer accompanied by 30°-rotated (111)-Pt patches was found on Pt(111). Deposition of multilayer Hg resulted in layered PtHg2 and PtHg4 amalgams, which grew epitaxially by aligning their (201) and planes, respectively, parallel to the Pt(111) substrate. The preference of these epitaxial relationships for the electrochemically formed Pt–Hg intermetallic compounds on Pt(111) could result from minimization of the surface energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Raw point clouds obtained from real-world scanning are always incomplete and ununiformly distributed, which would result in structural losses of object shapes and bring about difficulties in further high-level 3D vision tasks. Therefore, a learning-based method called CRA-Net is proposed in this paper to repair partial point clouds and predict complete object shapes. Compared with most existing networks that only leverage global features, CRA-Net successfully utilizes local features to restore clearer details of object shapes with low instability. First, we propose an adaptive neighborhood query method that is able to adjust query centers and radiuses to cover different object shapes and acquire balanced local regions. Second, we build a parallel encoder to extract multiscale features from the input. Third, we design a cross-regional attention module based on graph attention network. It quantifies underlying relationships among all the local features under certain conditions interpreted by global features. Based on such relationships, each conditional local feature vector is able to search across the regions and selectively absorb other local features. Fourth, we design a coarse decoder to collect these cross region features and generate the skeleton of complete point cloud. Finally, we refine the coarse point cloud by comparing it with the input, and up sample it using folding-based layers. Our network is first trained and tested on manually made partial-complete point clouds pairs generated by the scanning process of a virtual LiDAR on eight categories of objects. Then it is tested on real-world point clouds of indoor and outdoor scenes. Compared with existing representative methods, our CRA-Net always restores the most accurate point clouds with the clearest details. • An adaptive neighborhood query algorithm that acquires balanced local regions for partial point cloud. • A cross-regional attention module that learns relationships among local regions under shared global conditions. • A two-step decoder that generates complete point clouds based on cross-region features from coarse to fine. • Better performance on simulated and real-world data, a comprehensive relation between local areas of inputs and outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The buckling behavior of the corroded submarine pipeline subjected to external pressure is analyzed. A semi-analytical approach for the elastic–plastic buckling pressure of a pipe with asymmetric local wall thinning is developed. Based on this method, the buckling pressure is calculated by solving the characteristic equations of different buckling modes. When the depth of internal and external local wall thinning is equal, the semi-analytical approach can be used to determine the buckling pressure of pipe with symmetrical corrosion defect, and it also can be used for the buckling analysis of the pipe containing only an internal or external corrosion defect by making the external or internal defect depth being zero. Then, the accuracy and necessity of the proposed approach are verified by comparing with the finite element modeling, experimental tests and previous equations, respectively. The effects of various parameters, viz., radius-to-thickness ratio, defect angle and depth, corrosion defect position, and yield stress, on the buckling pressure are investigated in details. The applicability of the semi-analytical approach is discussed under the condition of both internal and external pressure and different defect lengths. Finally, the post-buckling behavior of corroded pipe is investigated in details. • A buckling pressure formula is developed for the corroded pipe. • The formula is verified by experimental tests and finite element modeling. • The effects of various parameters on the buckling pressure are considered. • The application range of the formula is further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive bleeding is a great threat to the life safety of patients, which is a challenging clinical problem. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a kind of multifunctional dressing material with hemostatic ability and antibacterial performance to promote wound healing and repair. To resolve this issue, in this study, a carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/sodium alginate (SA)/oxidized dextran (ODE) (CSO) multifunctional hydrogel was developed. The hydrogel could rapidly gel through Schiff base reaction and amide reaction and firmly adhere to the skin at the wound, to realize the fast hemostasis. Importantly, it was verified that the hydrogel could prevent the Staphylococcus aureus -caused wound infection, owing to the antibacterial effect of CMCS and ODE. In addition, the CSO hydrogel had good water retention capacity and was able to mimic the three-dimensional structure of the natural extracellular matrix, thereby promoting wound repair in mice. In vitro whole-blood clotting assay demonstrated that red blood cells could be adhered to the surface of hydrogel, showing good hemostasis in rat liver injury and tail amputation models. Together with the biocompatible feature, CSO hydrogel holds a great application prospect in hemostasis and wound healing. • Carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium alginate/oxidized dextran hydrogel was prepared. • The hydrogel had excellent adhesion, mechanical properties and biodegradability. • The hydrogel could firmly adhere to the skin at the wound. • The hydrogel reduced the blood loss on rat liver injury and tail bleeding models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bi3+ induces the gelatinization of ALG and reacts with Na 2 S. • The Bi 2 S 3 NPs enable the CT imaging and the enhancement of tumor RT. • The sensitized RT enhances the hypoxia of TME and activates TPZ. • The Bi 2 S 3 NPs generate the hyperthermia to eradicate the cancer cells. Radiotherapy (RT) is becoming a pervasive therapeutic pattern in clinical cancer therapy. However, the hypoxic microenvironment of tumors has a strong resistance to radiotherapy and could lead to a potential recurrence and metastasis after the treatment. Therefore, the use of synergistic strategies for improving and supplementing the RT efficiency is important. Herein, a novel Bi 2 S 3 /alginate (ALG) hydrogel containing tirapazamine (TPZ) was designed for the effective suppression of tumor recurrence, by introducing Bi3+ into the ALG, Na 2 S and TPZ solution. In this formulation, Bi3+ was used to crosslink with the ALG to form the hydrogel and react with S2− to simultaneously form Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles in the hydrogel matrix. The resulting Bi 2 S 3 nanoparticles not only exhibit the superb radiosensitization effect to boost the effective eradication of tumors during RT but also manifest an excellent photothermal transforming performance for tumor hyperthermia and computed tomography (CT) imaging capacity for tumor monitoring. Furthermore, the RT caused hypoxia could activate the reductive prodrug TPZ and enhance its therapeutic efficiency. The reported hydrogel system provides an efficient and safe therapeutic strategy for current local tumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance polymer fibers have broad applications in composites due to high strength and excellent toughness. However, the enhancement in tensile strength often results in a decrease in elongation at break, and simultaneous increase of strength and toughness is still challenging for aramid fiber. Herein, an effective method based on relaxation time theory is proposed to simultaneously enhance the tensile strength and elongation at break for heterocyclic aramid fiber. Ultra-high molecular weight heterocyclic aramid (HMPBIA) was added in the heterocyclic aramid (PBIA) spinning dope to prepare fibers. The structure evolution of fiber is studied in detail combining with experiment and simulation. Results of Molecular Dynamics simulations prove that HMPBIA acts as a role of mainstay by maintaining straight chain conformation in highly oriented fibers. This unique mainstay-body structure weaken slippage between molecular chains when the fiber is subject to tension. Further characterizations by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirm the formation of mainstay-body structure in the fiber, which improves tensile strength and elongation at break by 17.7% and 16.7%, respectively. Image 1 • HMPBIA is added into the spinning solution, and it doesn't lead to too high viscosity while ensuring compatibility. • The orientation evolution of fibers was studied from the point of relaxation time of macromolecular chains. • HMPBIA plays a role like a mainstay in PBIA fiber, which helps to increase the average length of fibrils. • Enhanced tensile strength and elongation at break of PBIA fiber are simultaneously realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packs with high self-discharge accelerate the capacity decline and even cause the safe issues. It is important to keep the self-discharge rate at a uniform and small level for all the cells in a pack. The traditional clustering methods are either costly or time-consuming. In this paper, a novel classification method is invented to realize the fast estimation of the relative self-discharge rate. Firstly, the balancing technology for large-scale cells is proposed to ensure the voltage equalization. Small batches of equalized cells are then clamped in detection circuits to realize the external mapping of the internal current originated from the self-discharge. The relative self-discharge rates of the cells are estimated by the equivalent parallel circuit model with self-discharge. The results show that the method can detect the cell with a relative self-discharge rate of 3%/month for three cells at a time within 1 h. To further classify the cells according to the relative self-discharge rate, microammeters are connected in each branch of the detection circuits. The results show that the method can identify the relative self-discharge rate in less than 2 h, and the errors can be kept within 0.1%/month. • A fast and economic relative self-discharge rate detection method is proposed. • The relative self-discharge rate is estimated by monitoring branch currents. • The method can estimate relative self-discharge rate and realize classification. • The method is verified by experiment and simulation with good accuracy. • The method is fast within 2 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) has been reported to mediate the neuroprotective effect of progesterone, but the exact mechanism has not been elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the signalling pathway downstream of PGRMC1 in progesterone-induced neuroprotection. Recognition of the mechanism of progesterone opens novel perspectives for the treatment of diseases of the nervous system. The PGRMC1 protein level was knocked down in rat primary cortical neurons, and Aβ 25 – 35 was used to establish an Alzheimer's disease cell model. The neuroprotective effect of progesterone was assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining and a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Then, proteomic and bioinformatic methods were used to analyse the proteins altered in response to PGRMC1 silencing to identify target proteins and signalling pathways involved in PGRMC1-mediated progesterone-induced neuroprotection. These findings were further verified by using signalling pathway inhibitors and western blotting. The neuroprotective effect of progesterone was significantly attenuated with PGRMC1 silencing. The expression of many proteins in the Ras signalling pathway was significantly changed in response to PGRMC1 silencing. FTI-277 inhibited progesterone-induced neuroprotection. Progesterone increased the expression of total Ras and Grb2. These findings provide new perspectives for understanding the mechanism of and role of PGRMC1 in progesterone-induced neuroprotection. The Ras signalling pathway is the signalling pathway downstream of PGRMC1 in the mediation of progesterone-induced neuroprotection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of highly compatible polydimethylsiloxane/epoxy system has been a challenging task. Here, we designed and synthesized a vinyl-containing bifunctional epoxy resin, which was chemically bonded with polydimethylsiloxane by hydrosilylation. A silicone-epoxy block hybrid network with restricted micromorphology and outstanding macro-performance was formed. The phase separation scale of polydimethylsiloxane/epoxy system was strictly restricted by molecular structure design and the modified PDMS was transparent. The mechanical test results showed that the tensile strength, elongation at break and shear strength of the hybrid material were increased by 391%, 78% and 292% respectively. More importantly, the initial thermal decomposition temperature of the hybrid material increased, and its thermal residue at 800 °C was kept at a high level. All these results indicate that we have prepared a transparent, high-performance polydimethylsiloxane material, which is expected to be applied in many prospects such as heat resistant adhesive and transparent surface coating. Unlabelled Image • A novel epoxy modified polydimethylsilicone was prepared. • The phase separation scale of polydimethylsiloxane/epoxy system was strictly restricted. • The mechanical properties of polydimethylsilicone were improved. • The initial thermal decomposition temperature of polydimethylsiloxane was also increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is closely related to abnormal glucose metabolism in the central nervous system. Progesterone has been shown to have obvious neuroprotective effects in the pathogenesis of AD, but the specific mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of progesterone on the glucose metabolism of neurons in amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin 1 (PS1) mice and Aβ-induced AD cell model. :APP/PS1 mice were treated with 40 mg/kg progesterone for 40 days and primary cultured cortical neurons were treated with 1 μM progesterone for 48 h.Then behavior tests,2-NBDG glucose uptake tests and the protein levels of glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3), GLUT4, cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) were examined. :Progesterone increased the expression levels of GLUT3 and GLUT4 in the cortex of APP/PS1 mice, accompanied by an improvement in learning and memory. Progesterone increased the levels of CREB and PPARγ in the cerebral cortex of APP/PS1 mice. In vitro, progesterone increased glucose uptake in primary cultured cortical neurons, this effect was blocked by the progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1)-specific blocker AG205 but not by the progesterone receptor (PR)-specific blocker RU486. Meanwhile, progesterone increased the expression of GLUT3, GLUT4, CREB and PPARγ, and AG205 blocked this effect. These results confirm that progesterone significantly improves the glucose metabolism of neurons.One of the mechanisms of this effect is that progesterone upregulates protein expression of GLUT3 and GLUT4 through pathways PGRMC1/CREB/GLUT3 and PGRMC1/PPARγ/GLUT4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rigid macromolecular chains possess weak mobility and have difficulty with conformational adjustment, resulting in some "free intermolecular interaction sites" of hydrogen bonds. Herein, aramid oligomers (OPBIA) with different average polymerization degree (DP) were synthesized and added in aramid fiber (PBIA) to fill these free interaction sites, aiming to form stronger interchain hydrogen bonding interactions and achieve self-enhancement in mechanical properties of aramid fiber. Variable-temperature Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was employed to in situ monitor the evolution of hydrogen bonds in aramid from 30 °C to 360 °C. The results show that the value of hydrogen bonding enthalpy change is −19.37 kJ mol−1 after adding OPBIA5 (DP = 5) in PBIA, whose absolute value is obviously larger than that of PBIA (−13.14 kJ mol−1). This demonstrates that the oligomer improves intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions effectively. Correspondingly, the tensile strength and compressive strength of PBIA/OPBIA5 fiber increases by 23.1% and 29.4%, respectively, compared to those of PBIA fiber. Besides, the enhancement of properties is related to the DP of oligomers, OPBIA with low DP has stronger effect on intermolecular hydrogen bonds than OPBIA with high DP. Nevertheless, the oligomer tends to self-aggregate when its DP is too low. In addition, the oligomers can plasticize the macromolecules at high temperatures, which is advantageous for further increasing the orientation and tensile strength of aramid fibers. Image 1 • The free hydrogen bonding interaction sites in aramid fiber are filled to some extent by its oligomers. • The evolution of hydrogen bonds from 30 °C to 360 °C was in situ monitored by variable-temperature FTIR spectrometer. • The enthalpy change of hydrogen bonds was calculated through the variable-temperature FTIR spectra. • The mechanical properties and compressive strength of aramid fiber are both significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A parametrical study of purge flow film cooling was experimentally conducted. • Influence of purge slot width, position, and injection angle and injection rate was documented. • Detailed flow structures were visualized to support experimental observations. • A new correlation was specifically developed for purge flow film cooling over turbine endwalls. The design of an efficient cavity slot between assembled components, where purge air is injected, is especially crucial to the durability and efficiency of an aero-engine, since the purge air is relevant to sealing and film cooling of the hot component. In this paper, film cooling for purge flow injected from slots upstream the endwall of a turbine vane is systematically investigated in a linear cascade using Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP). The influence of the slot width (0.020−0.044 times vane axial chord length), position (0.11−0.24 times vane axial chord length in front of turbine passage inlets), and inclination angle (20−45°) is examined for coolant injection ratios of 0.3−2.0 %, with an attempt to develop a new correlation specifically for purge flow film cooling over a turbine endwall, since existing correlations in literature only work for slot injection on flat plates. The experimental tests are undertaken in extensive ranges of the slot geometry and the injection rate that are typically seen in a modern engine. For better understanding the impacts of the affecting parameters, five-hole probe and thermocouple measurements and numerical simulations were carried out as well to visualize the coolant-with-mainstream mixing flows. The measured local film coverage, pitchwise- and area-averaged cooling effectiveness are presented and discussed, in combination with the probe-detected and numerically-modeled flow structures to elaborate the experimental observations. The current results sufficiently reveal the changing tendency of purge flow film cooling caused by the variations of the slot geometry. Additionally, the newly-developed correlation is well validated using own experimental data and datasets in literature, proving the capability of the correlation to predict film cooling for purge flow injected from slots with such geometrical parameter ranges. The correlation can be a helpful tool to support the selection of an efficient slot in its preliminary design stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crosstalk between subchondral bone and articular cartilage is considered a central feature of osteoarthritis (OA) initiation and progression, but its underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Meanwhile, specific administration of drugs in subchondral bone is also a great challenge during investigation of the process. We here explore the role of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1)/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) axis in the crosstalk between subchondral bone and articular cartilage in OA pathogenesis, using osmotic infusion pumps implanted in tibial subchondral bone directly to ensure quantitative, continuous and steady drug delivery over the entire experiment. We found that increased SDF-1 in subchondral bone firstly induced subchondral bone deterioration by erroneous Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) recruitment and excessive bone resorption in anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) mice. Deterioration of subchondral bone then led to the traverse of SDF-1 from subchondral bone to overlying cartilage. Finally, SDF-1 from underlying subchondral bone combined with CXCR4 in chondrocytes to induce articular cartilage degradation by promoting the shift of transforming growth factor-β receptor type I (TβRI) in chondrocytes from activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) to activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1). More importantly, specific inhibition of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in ACLT rats attenuated OA by stabilizing subchondral bone microarchitecture, reducing SDF-1 in cartilage and abrogating the shift of TβRI in chondrocytes. Our data demonstrate that the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis may coordinate the crosstalk between subchondral bone and articular cartilage in OA pathogenesis. Therefore, specific inhibition of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in subchondral bone or intervention in SDF-1 traverse may be therapeutic targets for OA. Unlabelled Image • SDF-1/CXCR4 axis coordinates crosstalk between subchondral bone and articular cartilage. • Increased SDF-1 in subchondral bone firstly induces subchondral bone deterioration. • Deterioration of subchondral bone then leads to the traverse of SDF-1 to overlying cartilage. • SDF-1 combines with CXCR4 in chondrocytes to induce cartilage degradation. • Specific inhibition of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in subchondral bone via osmotic infusion pump attenuates OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel is a kind of hemostatic agent with good application prospect. However, the water molecules on the wound made the hydrogel less adhesive to wet wound tissue. Herein, the carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/oxidized dextran (OD)/γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) hydrogel was prepared using a double-barreled syringe for hemostasis of diffuse and incompressible wound bleeding. The hydrogel formation was based on the intramolecular lactam bonds, intermolecular amide bonds, and Schiff base bonds. In the hydrogel, the super hydrophilic γ-PGA could drain the surface moisture of the wound and create a local dry environment for enhanced surface adhesion. In vivo study showed that the CMCS/ODex/γ-PGA hydrogel possesses a good biosafety and biodegradability. Interestingly, the CMCS/ODex/γ-PGA hydrogel exhibited excellent hemostatic abilities in dynamic humid environment and resisted a high blood pressure of 238 mmHg, which exceeds the threshold systolic blood pressure of healthy adults (i.e. , 120 mmHg). Together with the antibacterial and reactive nitrogen species scavenging activities, this study is expected to provide a new method to design the wet-surface adhesives for the efficient hemostatic application. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, core-shell structured FeSiBCCr@SiO2&ZrO2 amorphous magnetic powder cores (AMPCs) were successfully prepared by the sol-gel method using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and zirconium oxychloride hydrate (ZrOCl2·8H2O) as raw materials. The growth mechanism and potential chemical reactions of the SiO2&ZrO2 mixed insulation layer were analyzed by XRD, XPS and SEM‒EDS. In addition, the effect of the insulation layer content on the soft magnetic properties of FeSiBCCr@SiO2&ZrO2 AMPCs was systematically investigated. The SiO2&ZrO2 insulation layer can significantly increase the resistivity, effectively improve the DC bias performance and reduce the core loss of AMPCs. S2* (1.2 mL TEOS and 1.4 g ZrOCl2·8H2O) had a minimum core loss of 2290 mW/cm3 at high frequency (50 mT, 1 MHz). It had a high effective permeability of 48.2 and a superior direct current (DC) bias performance of 77.9% at 8 kA/m. This study provides a valid method to practically produce SMPCs with high resistivity, low core loss at high frequency and excellent DC bias performance through a novel insulation coating process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Welding residual stress (WRS) adversely affects the fatigue cracking of U-rib-to-deck joints. The distribution and relaxation of the WRS of a U-rib-to-deck joint were calculated and analyzed by combining measurement and simulation and considering the inhomogeneity of the material. First, the initial WRS was simulated by using the actual high-temperature material properties of the base metal (BM) and weld metal (WM), and the simulation value was verified against measured data. Second, based on the simulated initial WRS, its relaxation was simulated using the Chaboche cyclic-plasticity constitutive model of BM and WM, and the influence of cycle number, stress amplitude, and stress ratio on WRS relaxation was investigated. The results show that the WRS relaxation changes its value but not its distribution trend. Most of the WRS relaxation occurs in the first cyclic loading, accounting for approximately 90% of the total relaxation. The relaxation increases with cycle number increasing until a stable state is reached after between seven and ten cycles. The WRS relaxation increases with stress amplitude or stress ratio increasing. Finally, a predicted equation for WRS relaxation was proposed based on the cycle number, stress amplitude, and stress ratio. • Measurement and simulation of the WRS were carried out considering actual material properties. • WRS relaxation of U-rib-to-deck joint under cyclic loading was investigated. • A prediction equation for WRS relaxation was proposed considering three influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ivermectin has been proposed as a potential anti-inflammatory drug in addition to its antiparasitic activity. Here we investigated the potential role of ivermectin in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) using the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or bleomycin (BLM)-induced mice models. Male C57BL/6 mice were given ivermectin orally every day for the remainder of the experiment at doses of 1 or 2 mg/kg after 24 h of LPS or BLM treatment. Ivermectin reversed severe lung injury caused by LPS or BLM challenge, including mortality, changes in diffuse ground-glass and consolidation shadows on lung CT imaging, lung histopathological scores, lung wet/dry ratio, and protein content in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Furthermore, ivermectin also reduced total lung BALF inflammatory cells, infiltrating neutrophils, myeloperoxidase activity, and plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels in mice treated with LPS or BLM. Finally, the mechanism study showed that LPS or BLM administration increased JNK, Erk1/2, and p38 MAPK phosphorylation while decreasing IκBα expression, an inhibitor of NF-κB. However, ivermectin increased IκBα expression but blocked elevated phosphorylated JNK and p38 MAPK, not Erk1/2, in both ALI mice. These findings suggested that ivermectin may alleviate ALI caused by LPS or BLM in mice, partly via lowering the inflammatory response, which is mediated at least by the inhibition of MAPK and NF-κB signaling. Collectively, ivermectin might be used to treat acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome. [Display omitted] • Ivermectin attenuates the acute lung injury induced by LPS and bleomycin in mice. • Ivermectin decreases the lung infiltrated neutrophils and the MPO activity in acute lung injury mice. • Ivermectin inhibits JNK and p38MAPK and NF-κB signal pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Efficient synthesis of MoSe 2 @PVP NSs via a simple one-pot synthesis. • MoSe 2 @PVP NSs have high physiological stability, biosafety and metabolizability. • MoSe 2 @PVP NSs can mimic the antioxidant properties of CAT, SOD, POD, and GPx. • MoSe 2 @PVP NSs eliminate many ROS and RNS and demonstrate a thermal durability. • MoSe 2 @PVP NSs exhibite high anti-inflammatory efficacy in the AP mouse model. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease with high mortality which could cause an inflammatory responses such as edema and necrosis of the pancreatic tissue. Studies have proved that the excessive produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play an important role in the pathogenesis of AP. Although progresses have been made for ROS and RNS elimination using artificial enzymes, biocompatible nanomaterials with advanced multi-enzymatic activities have been rarely studied. In this study, we constructed a simple and efficient method to fabricate a two-dimensional (2D) MoSe 2 @PVP nanosheets (NSs) as an artificial enzyme to treat oxidative stress-related diseases. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments proved that MoSe 2 @PVP NSs have good biocompatibility. Interestingly, the MoSe 2 @PVP NSs simultaneously showed the thermal durable peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase mimicking capacities, which endowed the material with good ROS and RNS scavenging abilities. The MoSe 2 @PVP NSs were engaged in treating the AP in an animal model, which led to a significant down-regulation of serum levels of amylase, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Further H&E staining of pancreatic tissue validated the AP therapeutic effect of MoSe 2 @PVP NSs. We hope that our research will facilitate the development of multifunctional artificial enzymes for the treating of oxidative stress-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Efficient synthesis of MoSe 2 @PVP NSs via a simple one-pot synthesis. • MoSe 2 @PVP NSs have high physiological stability, biosafety and metabolizability. • MoSe 2 @PVP NSs can mimic the antioxidant properties of CAT, SOD, POD, and GPx. • MoSe 2 @PVP NSs eliminate many ROS and RNS and demonstrate a thermal durability. • MoSe 2 @PVP NSs exhibite high anti-inflammatory efficacy in the AP mouse model. Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a disease with high mortality which could cause an inflammatory responses such as edema and necrosis of the pancreatic tissue. Studies have proved that the excessive produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play an important role in the pathogenesis of AP. Although progresses have been made for ROS and RNS elimination using artificial enzymes, biocompatible nanomaterials with advanced multi-enzymatic activities have been rarely studied. In this study, we constructed a simple and efficient method to fabricate a two-dimensional (2D) MoSe 2 @PVP nanosheets (NSs) as an artificial enzyme to treat oxidative stress-related diseases. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments proved that MoSe 2 @PVP NSs have good biocompatibility. Interestingly, the MoSe 2 @PVP NSs simultaneously showed the thermal durable peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase mimicking capacities, which endowed the material with good ROS and RNS scavenging abilities. The MoSe 2 @PVP NSs were engaged in treating the AP in an animal model, which led to a significant down-regulation of serum levels of amylase, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Further H&E staining of pancreatic tissue validated the AP therapeutic effect of MoSe 2 @PVP NSs. We hope that our research will facilitate the development of multifunctional artificial enzymes for the treating of oxidative stress-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the electromagnetic properties of FeSiCr soft magnetic powder cores (SMPCs) were optimized by providing a novel insulation process. Magnesium acetate tetrahydrate and oxalic acid dihydrate were used as raw materials for the sol-gel method. The powder was then heat-treated at 700 °C so that it was evenly coated by an insulating layer. Thermogravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to demonstrate that the layer heat-treated at 700 °C was the ideal MgO layer and was uniformly coated on the surface of the FeSiCr powder. Additionally, the potential reactions and growth mechanism of the MgO layer were analyzed. The effects of the magnesium acetate tetrahydrate content on the soft magnetic properties of the FeSiCr@MgO SMPCs were investigated. The optimal soft magnetic performance (P cv = 248.48 mW/cm3, measured at 2500 kHz and 10 mT) was achieved at a magnesium acetate tetrahydrate content of 0.50 wt%, yielding a direct current-bias performance of up to 92.3% at 100 Oe. In addition, the FeSiCr@MgO SMPCs effectively improved the heat dissipation performance, which is necessary to avoid high-temperature damage, thereby enhancing their applicability in high-frequency and high-current environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some chemotherapy can damage tumor cells, releasing damage-related molecular patterns including ATP to improve immunological recognition against the tumor by immunogenic cell death (ICD). However, the immune-stimulating ATP may be rapidly degraded into immunosuppressive adenosine by highly expressed CD39 and CD73 in the tumor microenvironment, which leads to immune escape. Based on the above paradox, a liposome nanoplatform combined with ICD inducer (oxaliplatin) and CD39 inhibitor (POM-1) is designed for immunochemotherapy. The liposomes efficiently load the phospholipid-like oxaliplatin prodrug, and the cationic charged surface could adsorb POM-1. Rationally designed DSPE-PEG n -pep, on the one hand, could cover and hide POM-1 to avoid systematic toxicity and, on the other, achieve a response and charge reversal to favor POM-1 shedding and tumor deep penetration. This combination maximizes the ICD effect, and takes two-pronged advantage of stimulating the immune response and relieving immune suppression. The designed POL can effectively inhibit the growth of in situ, lung metastasis and postoperative recurrence melanoma model and form long-term immune memory. With the powerful clinical transformation potential of nanoliposome platforms, this new synergistic strategy is expected to enhance anticancer effects safely and effectively. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An automatic blade detection process, FPFH-NvA, is proposed to detect scratch and deformation. • Sliding sampling window is used to reduce computation burden in each detection process. • A filtering algorithm extracting features of blade surface is introduced to reduce false detections. • Numerical case on real detective blades and its effect analysis are carried out. Blade defects such as scratch and deformation always cause performance degradation or even failure of gas turbine, and furtherly threat energy safety. Therefore, defect detection of individual blades is important in gas turbine maintenance. Currently, defect detection is mostly manually implemented, so it is necessary to design an automatic method to reduce labor costs. However, most available detection methods require CAD models or prior shapes of blades, which might not always be acquirable for gas turbine users. Besides, those methods are not suitable for practical use because of their high demands for detection equipment. In this paper, a simple but efficient 3D vision-based defect detection process using point clouds is proposed to detect scratches and deformation accurately. First, sliding sampling window is used to reduce the computation burden in each detection process. Second, a pipeline of detection algorithms based on underline surface analysis is proposed to extract local geometry features and predict potential defects. Last, a filtering algorithm is introduced to reduce false detections. The whole process is carried on with real defective blades, and its effects are both intuitively and quantitatively evaluated. The results show that a multi-step detection process based on FPFH is able to detect both scratch and deformation accurately, which will be suitable for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MXene-based nanofibrous membrane for the multi-modal antibacterial applications. • The nanofibrous membranes can control the release of antibiotics. • Hyperthermia can destroy bacteria and further promote AMX release. • The nanofibrous membrane as a physical barrier promotes the wound healing. Featured with a three-dimensional network structure, electrostatic spinning nanofibrous membranes can maintain the hygroscopic balance in the wound place and promote the wound healing, thus have been extensively studied as a promising wound healing dressing. In this study, amoxicillin (AMX), MXene, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were mixed and electrospun into an antibacterial nanofibrous membrane (MXene-AMX-PVA nanofibrous membrane). In the composite nanofibrous membrane, the PVA matrix could control the release of AMX to combat bacterial infection, while the MXene could transform the near-infrared laser into heat, leading to local hyperthermia to promote the AMX release. Meanwhile, the local hyperthermia could also destroy the noncellular components of bacteria and synergistically cause the bacterial inactivation. The bacteriostatic activity and wound healing ability of the composite nanofibrous membrane were systematically verified on the S. aureus in vitro and the S. aureus -infected mouse skin defect model in vivo. This membrane not only functioned as a physical barrier to co-load the AMX and MXene, but also exhibited the high antibacterial and accelerated wound healing capacity, which will advance the design of novel wound healing dressings and antibacterial strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study investigated the effect of co-incorporation of two different kinds of nano materials with different forms, layers (Na-MMT) and mesoporous silica particles (MCM-41), into the polymer matrix on the corrosion performance of epoxy resin. Correspondingly corrosion performance of the coatings was studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 3.5% NaCl aqueous solution and salt spray test. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement showed that the Na-MMT layers were exfoliated and the hexagonal framework structure of MCM-41 was retained during and after the composite preparation. The co-incorporation of Na-montmorillonite (Na-MMT) and MCM-41 into the epoxy coating possessed the best corrosion resistance than incorporating either Na-MMT or MCM-41 particles separately due to different interfacial structures between the fillers and the matrix. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Alternation of surface markers on monocytes is associated with the development of inflammation. The goals of the present study were to detect CD47 expression on monocytes by flow cytometry and explore its relationship with disease severity and MODS in burned patients. The results show CD47 expression on monocytes from all burned patients (n =21) was lower than that from the healthy population (n =21) for 24 days after burn. There was a significant difference in CD47 expression on monocytes between the patients with differing burn severity in the first 7 days after injury (P <0.05). Considering the relationship between CD47 expression and MODS, we found the CD47 expression on monocytes from patients with MODS was lower (P <0.05) in the first 3 days after injury than that from patients without MODS. In conclusion, diminished CD47 expression on monocytes is associated with burn severity and the occurrence of MODS in burn patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the regeneration of trichloroethylene (TCE) spent activated carbon using persulfate oxidation and iron activated persulfate (IAP) oxidation. Both processes resulted in decreases in the adsorbability of regenerated activated carbons. IAP was shown to rapidly degrade the aqueous TCE and causes a significant mineralization of the TCE. The release of chloride ions provided evidence of this. Persulfate oxidation mainly resulted in desorption of TCE from the activated carbon and only partial mineralization of the TCE through a carbon activated persulfate reaction mechanism. Concerning destruction of the TCE, in the regeneration test using persulfate, 30% of the original TCE was present in the solution and 9% remained on the activated carbon after the first regeneration cycle. In contrast, in the test that used IAP, it was observed that no TCE was present in the solution and only approximately 5% of the original TCE remained on the activated carbon after the first regeneration. Following the regeneration cycles, elemental analysis was carried out on the samples. BET surface area and EDS analysis showed some effects on the physico-chemical properties of the activated carbon such as a slight decrease in the surface area and the presence of iron precipitates on the carbon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: This study aimed to use the automated Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) software to assess the value of different CT modalities (non-contrast CT, CT angiography [CTA]-arterial, CTA-venous, and arterial- and venous-phase mismatch-ASPECTS) in predicting the final infarct extent and clinical outcome in large-vessel occlusion stroke.Methods: This retrospective study included patients with large-vessel occlusion stroke who underwent reperfusion therapy during 2015 to 2019. Correlations between different CT-ASPECTS modalities and follow-up CT-ASPECTS and outcome were determined using Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the ability of different CT-ASPECTS modalities to identify patients with good outcomes.Results: One hundred and thirty-five patients were included. We found almost-perfect correlation between CTA-venous-ASPECTS and follow-up CT-ASPECTS (r = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.89-0.95), better than that in other CT modalities. The 90-day modified Rankin scale (mRS) score substantially correlated with CTA-venous-ASPECTS (r = -0.64; 95% CI: -0.73 to -0.52). The ROC curve analysis showed CTA-venous-ASPECTS had the highest area under the curve (AUC: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.75-0.89; P < 0.001), followed by mismatch-ASPECTS (AUC: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.65-0.85; P < 0.001). When emphasizing the sensitivity for identifying patients with good outcomes, the best cut-off point of mismatch-ASPECTS was -3 with the highest sensitivity (91.30%).Conclusions: CTA-venous-ASPECTS is a reliable tool to predict the infarct extent and outcome. Furthermore, mismatch-ASPECTS may represent images in different angiographic phases and was sensitive for prognosis prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Properties of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) were significantly modified by a hydrogen bonding (H-bond) monomer–bisphenol A (BPA). BPA lowered the Tm of PHBV and widened the heat-processing window of PHBV. At the same time, a dynamic H-bond network in the blends was observed indicating that BPA acted as a physical cross-link agent. BPA enhanced the Tg of PHBV and reduced the crystallization rate of PHBV. It resulted in larger crystallites in PHBV/BPA blends showed by WAXD. However, the crystallinity of PHBV was hardly reduced. SAXS results suggested that BPA molecules distributed in the inter-lamellar region of PHBV. Finally, a desired tension property was obtained, which had an elongation at break of 370% and a yield stress of 16MPa. By comparing the tension properties of PHBV/BPA and PHBV/tert-butyl phenol blends, it was concluded that the H-bond network is essential to the improvement of ductility. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

FTIR spectroscopy was used to verify the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bond (inter-H-bond) between poly(3-hydroxybutyrate co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and bisphenol A (BPA). By monitoring the spectral changes during PHBV crystallization and blends dissociation, the absorptivity ratio of C&z.dbnd6;O bonds in crystalline and amorphous regions in PHBV and that of H-bonded and free C&z.dbnd6;O in PHBV/BPA blends were experimentally determined as 1.40 and 1.68, respectively. Using curve-fitting program, the C&z.dbnd6;O absorptions in spectra of blends were ascribed to three types of bonds: amorphous, crystalline and H-bonded C&z.dbnd6;O. The crystallinity of PHBV and the fraction of H-bonded C&z.dbnd6;O were calculated. These results indicated that the H-bond clearly suppressed the PHBV crystallization. Furthermore, the fraction of BPA molecules that simultaneously formed two hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) with C&z.dbnd6;O was estimated. It revealed that there existed a H-bond network in PHBV/BPA blends. This network was compared with the covalent network by estimating the number of atoms between every two adjacent crosslink points in chain. Up to the high density of H-bond discussed in this paper, there was always a certain part in PHBV that crystallized due to the dynamic character of hydrogen bonds; however, the hydrogen bonds significantly reduced the crystallization rate of PHBV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Soil aggregate exerts an important part in carbon turnover as well as soil nutrients. Biochar (BC) has considerable potential as a soil amendment in enhancing the levels of soil total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN), as well as the microbial activity. However, it remains largely unclear about whether BC plus chemical fertilisers have synergistic effect on the soil properties within aggregates. In the present study, the 2-year field experiment was performed for examining distributions of TOC, TN, and microbial community compositions in the aggregate fractions in calcareous soil fertilised with BC and/or chemical fertilisers. The treatments comprised the application of no fertiliser (CK), chemical fertilisers (NPK), biochar (BC), and biochar plus chemical fertilisers (BC + NPK). Our study suggested that the BC + NPK treatment evidently enhanced the stability of aggregates (MWD) compared to other treatments. Compared with CK and NPK treatments, all BC-amended treatments elevated the TOC level in bulk soil and within each aggregate fraction by 12.99–126.40%, of which, 2–0.25 mm fraction displayed the largest increase. Similar increases in the TN level by 23.95–52.66% were observed in bulk soil and within 2–0.25 mm fraction. Moreover, all NPK-amended treatments significantly elevated the total PLFAs in bulk soil and within each fraction compared with CK. The BC + NPK treatments dramatically elevated the relative fungal abundance and fungi/bacteria ratio in bulk soil and within > 2 mm fraction relative to CK and NPK treatments, similar increases were observed in the 2–0.25 mm fraction following the application of BC alone. In addition, the 2–0.25 mm fraction showed the greatest levels of TN, TOC, C/N ratio, along with total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the soil TN content is the primary parameter that affects microbial community compositions within aggregates. The present study indicated that the application of BC in combination with NPK fertilisers can serve as an efficient approach to improve soil structure and micro-ecological environment, as well as to enhance TOC and N storage in the aggregate fractions of calcareous soil. • The highest SOC, TN and total PLFAs contents were observed in small macroaggregate. • The BC + NPK treatment significantly improved soil aggregate stability. • All BC-amended treatments significantly increased SOC content in each aggregate. • The BC + NPK treatment notably elevated fungal relative abundance in > 2 mm fraction. • TN was the dominant factor affecting the changes in microbial community composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]