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Pneumatic actuators exhibit significant potential across various applications owing to their compliance, yet achieving precise motion control remains challenging due to rate-dependent and asymmetric hysteresis. While the Prandtl–Ishlinskii model adeptly captures intricate hysteresis traits, its practical control usage often necessitates intricate inversions, resulting in elevated computational burden and limited accommodation of system uncertainties and model inaccuracies. This study introduces an online, rate-dependent modified generalized Prandtl–Ishlinskii model derived via the gradient descent algorithm. This model is seamlessly amalgamated with a model predictive control strategy, addressing the inversion challenge inherent in the Prandtl–Ishlinskii model. Leveraging integration with a three-layer fuzzy neural network controller, the proposed approach achieves closed-loop trajectory tracking control for a soft bending pneumatic muscle. Convergence analysis, grounded in Lyapunov theory, underscores the efficacy of the proposed model. Comprehensive real-world comparative experiments affirm the approach's effectiveness and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mortality rates for patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) remain unacceptably high compared to the general population, and more specific information about the causes of death is not known. The study aimed to develop and validate a risk prediction model that uses common clinical factors to predict the probability of cardiovascular events in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. The study involved 3488 adult patients who received regular scheduled hemodialysis treatment at 20 hemodialysis centers in southwest China between June 2015 and August 2020, with follow-up until August 2021. The optimal parameter set was identified by multivariable Cox regression analyses and Cross-LASSO regression analyses and was used to establish a nomogram for predicting the risk of cardiovascular events in maintenance hemodialysis patients at 3 and 5 years. The performance of the model was evaluated using the consistency index (Harrell’s C-index), the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration plots. The model was validated by tenfold cross-validation and bootstrapping with 1000 resamples. In the derivation cohort, the model yields an AUC of 0.764 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.737–0.790] and 0.793 [CI, 0.757–0.829] for predicting the risk of cardiovascular events of MHD patients at 3 and 5 years. In the internal validation cohort AUC of 0.803 [95% CI, 0.756–0.849], AUC of 0.766 [95% CI, 0.686–0.846], and the external validation cohort AUC of 0.826 [95% CI, 0.765–0.888], AUC of 0.817 [95% CI, 0.745–0.889] at 3 and 5 years. The model’s calibration curve is close to the ideal diagonal. By tenfold cross-validation analyses, the 3- and 5-year risk of cardiovascular events (AUC 0.732 and 0.771, respectively). By the bootstrap resampling method, the derivation cohort and validation cohort (Harrell’s C-index 0.695 and 0.667, respectively) showed good uniformity with the model. The constructed model accurately predicted cardiovascular events of MHD patients in the 3rd and 5th years after dialysis. And the further research is needed to determine whether use of the risk prediction tool improves clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglia are resident macrophages within the central nervous system, serving as the first responders to neuroinflammation. Glucocorticoids (GCs) may cause damage to brain tissue, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study was divided into two parts: a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mitochondrial translocation intervention experiment and a mitochondrial oxidative stress inhibition experiment. BV-2 microglia were stimulated with dexamethasone (DEX) and treated with either tubastatin-A or mitoquinone (MitoQ) for 24 h. Our results showed that DEX increased the translocation of GRs to mitochondria, and this effect was accompanied by decreases in the expression of mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase 1 (MT-CO1) and mitochondrially encoded cytochrome c oxidase 3 (MT-CO3) and increases in the expression of NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain–associated protein 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, and Gasdermin D (GSDMD). The level of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV (MRCC IV) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was decreased. An elevation in the level of mitochondrial oxidative stress and the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) was also observed. Mechanistically, tubastatin-A significantly suppressed the mitochondrial translocation of GRs, improved the expression of mitochondrial genes, promoted the restoration of mitochondrial function, and inhibited pyroptosis. MitoQ significantly prevented mitochondrial oxidative stress, improved mitochondrial function, and reduced apoptosis and pyroptosis. Both tubastatin-A and MitoQ suppressed DEX-induced pyroptosis. This study substantiates that the increase in the mitochondrial translocation of GRs mediated by GCs exacerbates oxidative stress and pyroptosis in microglia, which indicates that the regulation of mitochondrial pathways by GCs is pathogenic to microglia. The increase in mitochondrial translocation of GRs mediated by GCs aggravates mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, leading to pyroptosis in BV-2 microglia. Tubastatin-A and MitoQ can inhibit GR translocation and oxidative stress in mitochondria, respectively, and these effects can inhibit pyroptosis and other damage induced by GCs to microglia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a line scanning chromatic confocal sensor to solve the problem of limited chromatic confocal measurement due to the small measurement range and low measurement efficiency in the industrial inspection process. To obtain an extensive dispersion range, the advantages of a simple single-axis structure are combined with the advantages of a large luminous flux of a biaxial structure. Considering large-scale measurement, our sensor uses off-axis rays to limit the illumination path and imaging path to the same optical path structure. At the same time, the field of view is expanded, and a symmetrical structure is adopted to provide a compact optical path and improve space utilization. The simulation and physical system test results shows that the sensor scanning line length is 12.5 mm, and the axial measurement range in the 450 nm to 750 nm band is better than 20 mm. The axial resolution of the detector is ±1 µm combined with the subpixel centroid extraction data processing method, and the maximum allowable tilt angle for specular reflection samples is ±7°. The thicknesses of transparent standard flat glass and the wet collagen membrane are measured. The maximum average error is 1.3 µm, and the relative error is within 0.7%. The constructed sensor is of great significance for rapidly measuring the three-dimensional profile, flatness, and thickness in the fields of transparent biological samples, optics, micromechanics, and semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer originating from the malignant transformation of epidermal melanocyte. The dysregulation of cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer, including in melanoma. Aberrant branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) metabolism and related enzymes has been greatly implicated in the progression of multiple types of cancer, whereas remains far from understood in melanoma. Herein, we reported that the critical BCAA metabolism enzyme branched-chain amino acid transaminase 2 (BCAT2) is an oncogenic factor in melanoma by activating lipogenesis via the epigenetic regulation of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and ATP-citrate lyase (ACLY) expressions. Firstly, we found that BCAT2 expression was prominently increased in melanoma, and highly associated with clinical stage. Then, it was proved that the deficiency of BCAT2 led to impaired tumor cell proliferation, invasion and migration in vitro, and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Further, RNA sequencing technology and a panel of biochemical assays demonstrated that BCAT2 regulated de novo lipogenesis via the regulation of the expressions of both FASN and ACLY. Mechanistically, the inhibition of BCAT2 suppressed the generation of intracellular acetyl-CoA, mitigating P300-dependent histone acetylation at the promoter of FASN and ACLY, and thereby their transcription. Ultimately, zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) was identified as the upstream transcriptional factor responsible for BCAT2 up-regulation in melanoma. Our results demonstrate that BCAT2 promotes melanoma progression by epigenetically regulating FASN and ACLY expressions via P300-dependent histone acetylation. Targeting BCAT2 could be exploited as a promising strategy to restrain tumor progression in melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SQZ-PBMC-HPV is an autologous cell vaccine targeting HPV16 viral oncoprotein E6 and E7 using the Cell Squeeze platform (Fig. In summary, the Cell Squeeze platform is a promising intracellular delivery technology based on microfluidic mechanoporation, with high transfection efficiency, high cell viability, high throughput, short production timelines, and good safety data. Cell Squeeze technology demonstrates promising advances The microfluidic Cell Squeeze technology has the ability to deliver a variety of biological materials into a variety of cell types. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, the phase transition, thermal expansion, thermal properties, and the internal microcracks of the NdCu phase are studied in detail. The research shows that the NdCu is stabilized by thermal vibrational entropy with a FeB-type crystal structure, the crystallographic symmetry remains the same from room temperature to 973 K, and only the unit cell constants deviate from the law of linear change near 780 K. Such deviation of the lattice constants is different from the traditional viewpoints of structural phase transition. It is not driven by thermodynamics but by the anisotropic expansion of lattice along different crystallographic axes, resulting in anisotropic stress in different directions. The stresses are eventually released in the form of internal microcracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Osteoporosis is a risk factor for idiopathic scoliosis (IS) progression, but it is still unclear whether IS patients have bone mineral density (BMD) loss and a higher risk of osteoporosis than asymptomatic people. This systematic review aims to explore the differences in BMD and prevalence of osteoporosis between the IS group and the control group. Methods: We searched 5 health science-related databases. Studies that were published up to February 2022 and written in English and Chinese languages were included. The primary outcome measures consisted of BMD z score, the prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia, and areal and volumetric BMD. Bone morphometry, trabecular microarchitecture, and quantitative ultrasound measures were included in the secondary outcome measures. The odds ratio (OR) and the weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to pool the data. Results: A total of 32 case–control studies were included. The pooled analysis revealed significant differences between the IS group and the control group in BMD z score (WMD −1.191; 95% CI − 1.651 to −0.732, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed significance in both female (WMD −1.031; 95% CI −1.496 to −0.566, p < 0.001) and male participants (WMD −1.516; 95% CI −2.401 to −0.632, p = 0.001). The prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in the group with IS was significantly higher than in the control group (OR = 6.813, 95% CI 2.815–16.489, p < 0.001; OR 1.879; 95% CI 1.548–2.281, p < 0.000). BMD measures by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography showed a significant decrease in the IS group (all p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in the speed of sound measured by quantitative ultrasound between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Both the male and female IS patients had a generalized lower BMD and an increased prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis than the control group. Future research should focus on the validity of quantitative ultrasound in BMD screening. To control the risk of progression in IS patients, regular BMD scans and targeted intervention are necessary for IS patients during clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The filling characteristics of rockfill is an engineering problem that cannot be ignored in high dams. Reasonably controlling and optimizing the gradation is critical for improving the compaction quality. The relationship between gradation distribution law and compaction characteristics is investigated using numerical and field experiments, and a method for dam construction gradation design optimization is given. The results show that the Weibull model exhibited better applicability for continuous coarse-grained soil gradation. The extreme porosity of rockfill has a scaling effect, which can be basically eliminated when the maximum particle size reaches 400 mm. The prediction results based on the neural network show that the Weibull model gradation parameters strongly correlate with the porosity. The “occupancy effect”, or “filling effect”, of fine particles, and the “wedge effect”, or “wall effect”, of coarse particles, can explain the relationship between the Weibull model gradation parameters and porosity. The gradation parameters have a corresponding relationship with the classical non-uniformity coefficient Cu and curvature coefficient Cc indexes. Cu and Cc indicators can be used to judge the quality of the gradation at first and then optimize it by using the experimental results of the Weibull model parameters. The research results have application reference value for the filling design and compaction quality evaluation of large-scale coarse-grained soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was aimed at developing an optimized and modified nanostructured lipid carrier of BRD4 protein degrading Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) against non-small cell lung carcinoma. PROTACs are an emerging class of anticancer molecules with nanomolar activity but associated with significant solubility challenges. Lipid-based colloidal systems like nanostructured lipid carriers are widely explored for such highly lipophilic molecules. ARV-825, a cereblon-based PROTAC was investigated for its anticancer efficacy in vitro in 2D and 3D lung cancer models. ARV-825 loaded PEGylated nanostructured lipid carriers (AP-NLC) was prepared using melt emulsification technique. ARV-825 was stabilized using Precirol® ATO5 and Captex® 300 EP/NF as the solid and liquid lipid, respectively. However, hydrophobic ion-pairing with medium chain fatty acid was required to improve drug loading and stability. A hydrodynamic diameter and polydispersity index of 56.33 ± 0.42 nm and 0.16 respectively with zeta potential of -21 ± 1.24 mV was observed. In vitro migration and colony formation assay confirmed the anticancer activity of ARV-825 alone and AP-NLC. Nearly 38% and 50% apoptotic cell population were observed after ARV-825 and AP-NLC treatment. Immunoblotting assay showed complete suppression of BRD4 and c-Myc protein expression for AP-NLC. Most importantly, significant reduction in the growth of multicellular 3D spheroid of A549 cells confirmed the effectiveness of BRD4 PROTAC and its lipid nanoparticle in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). AP-NLC. Higher amount of red fluorescence throughout the spheroid surface further confirmed superior efficacy of AP-NLC in tumor penetration and cell killing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bimetallic nanoparticles afford geometric variation and electron redistribution via strong metal-metal interactions that substantially promote the activity and selectivity in catalysis. Quantitatively describing the atomic configuration of the catalytically active sites, however, is experimentally challenged by the averaging ensemble effect that is caused by the interplay between particle size and crystal-phase at elevated temperatures and under reactive gases. Here, we report that the intrinsic activity of the body-centered cubic PdCu nanoparticle, for acetylene hydrogenation, is one order of magnitude greater than that of the face-centered cubic one. This finding is based on precisely identifying the atomic structures of the active sites over the same-sized but crystal-phase-varied single-particles. The densely-populated Pd-Cu bond on the chemically ordered nanoparticle possesses isolated Pd site with a lower coordination number and a high-lying valence d-band center, and thus greatly expedites the dissociation of H2 over Pd atom and efficiently accommodates the activated H atoms on the particle top/subsurfaces. Quantitatively describing the atomic configuration of the catalytically active sites is challenging. Here the authors demonstrate that tuning crystal-phase of metal single-particle enables to precisely describe the atomic structure of the active sites and accurately identify the activation routes of the reacting molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With thrust weight ratio increasing, integral panel is an important component to reduce the aircraft weight, and it is a great challenge to ensure the forming accuracy and mechanical property in the large-scale panel. Laser shock forming has a great development prospect in realizing integral panel forming and improving its mechanical properties. This work investigated unequal alternate double-sided laser shock forming, which can make 7075 aluminum panel form and induce the hardened layers in both panel sides. The improvements were analyzed in mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of 7075 aluminum panels after unequal alternate double-sided laser shock forming. In the surface and subsurface layer, the residual stress and microhardness were verified to be enhanced by the laser shock wave. The results of XRD and EBSD provided the evidence of grain refinement. The strengthening mechanism of unequal alternate double-sided laser shock forming was analyzed in this work. The grains are distorted and refined during high strain rate plastic deformation due to dislocation slip and accumulation. The mechanical properties were enhanced by unequal alternate double-sided laser shock forming due to the hardened layers in both panel sides. The hardened layers and grain refinement have a great significance in inhibiting the crack generation and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integral panel is an important structure to reduce aircraft weight. Nanosecond laser beams can be used for the forming and surface modification in panels. To explore the propagation of laser-induced stress waves and their influence on surface stress relaxation, a simulation model is used to capture the propagation process of stress waves. The results show that the stress wave first decays rapidly, and then the attenuation rate decreases gradually. In the initial propagation stage, the attenuation of the stress wave can be fitted by σx=Ee-kx; then, after propagating a certain distance, the stress wave amplitude is more suitable to σx= Ex-k. During the propagation processing, the stress wave is reflected on the shocked and back surface. A tensile stress wave is formed by the reflection of the incident compressive stress wave, and the value of the stress wave is improved. The stress wave has a great influence on the residual stress distribution in 1mm thin panels. When the stress wave is reflected on the back surface, a stress is induced into the surface. When the stress wave is reflected by the shocked surface, the stress on the surface is relaxed because the incident wave is a tensile wave. Therefore, when a nanosecond laser is used in thin panels, the shock wave has an important influence on the stress distribution, which needs to be considered in engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fraction of absorbed energy (FAE) is an important parameter to determine the plasma shock wave pressure. With the purpose of obtaining the FAE of material and accurately calculating the plasma shock wave pressure, a method based on laser shock processing (LSP) experiment and finite element simulation was proposed in this work. The Ni-based superalloy GH4169 was selected as experimental material, and the experimental sample was treated by single-point LSP. The residual stress of experimental sample after LSP treatment was determined using sin2ψ method by X-ray residual stress device. In finite element simulation, the initial value of FAE was assumed as 0.1, and then, the LSP finite element simulation was performed with the change of FAE until the results obtained by LSP experiment and simulation were fell into an allowable range. Based on this method, the FAE with 0.13 for Ni-based superalloy GH4169 was obtained. This work can enrich the theory of LSP and provide theoretical guidance for researchers to obtain the accurate FAE of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the effect of confinement media and ablative coating, laser shock processing (LSP) is a surface modification processing with properties of high efficiency, cleaning, and non-pollution. At room temperature, water is used as the common confinement media and black tape is used as ablative coating in LSP. However, due to the instability of water and black tape at high temperature, warm laser shock processing (WLSP) favors silicone oil as confinement media and aluminum foil as ablative coating, where aluminum foil is pasted on specimen surface by thin vacuum grease. Due to the differences in confinement media and ablative coating, this work focuses on the effect of confinement media and ablative coating on surface quality and mechanical property of FGH98 powder material treated by LSP. FGH98 specimens were strengthened by LSP at room temperature with different confinement medias and ablative coatings. Three groups were divided based on confinement media and ablative coating: water+black tape, water+aluminum foil, and silicone oil+aluminum foil. The group of black tape and silicone oil was removed for the absence of practical significance in engineering. 2D and 3D surface topography was observed by white-light interference surface profilometer (WLI). In addition, surface microhardness and compressive residual stress were determined. The results show that a circular pit is induced by LSP, and its shape is similar to the shape of the Gaussian curve. Compared with the other groups, the 2D surface topography of the circular pit section in the silicone oil+aluminum foil group is smoother, which would delay crack initiation. After LSP treatment, surface microhardness is improved by 7.8-10.6%, and compressive residual stress raises from 355MPa to 896MPa in the first group. According to the comparison of residual stress and surface quality, the effect of confinement media and ablative coating groups on laser shock pressure is ranked in order: water+black tape > water+aluminum foil > silicone oil+aluminum foil. The main reasons for that group order are that shock pressure may be consumed by grease cream and the reduced acoustic impedance of silicone oil is lower than that of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified constitutive model, combining laser shock processing and dynamic strain aging (DSA), is used to obtain the compressive residual stress field of In 718 in warm laser shock processing (WLSP) by ABAQUS VUMAT subroutine. In this work, a constitutive model with DSA is simplified by a single equation to integrate the interactions of face-centered cubic (FCC) and body-centered cubic (BCC) crystal structure. The modified Voyiadjis–Abed–Song (VAS) constitutive model is imported by a procedure code developed independently, including the Mises yield criterion application and parameter update. Based on the constitutive model and Gaussian mode laser wave, the strengthen process of WLSP in In 718 is simulated. For the experiment, 30×30×4 mm In718 specimen is strengthened by WLSP without coating. We analyze the amplitude and distribution of residual stress to explore the effect of temperature in impact regions through experiment and simulation. Predicted by the modified VAS constitutive model, the residual stress predicted by the modified VAS constitutive model agrees well with the experimental data at various temperatures. As a result, temperature softening has obvious effect on the residual stress distribution for In 718 in WLSP at 200°C. At 300°C, the residual stress amplitude has no diminution compared with 200°C due to DSA active, even there is thermal softening. DSA promotes the diffused solute atoms gathering and dislocation multiplication, that makes a flow stress reduce at a temperature range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Villages in rural areas are regional complexes with multiple characteristics and functions. Rural tourism has become an important driver in the revitalization of rural China. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China approved the first group of 320 National Key Villages for Rural Tourism (NKVRT) in 2019. This paper takes these first 320 NKVRT as the research object, using GIS as a tool to analyze and discuss their spatial distribution characteristics, and identifies how they are affected by certain influencing factors. The results show the following: (1) the spatial distribution of NKVRT in China exhibits obvious differences, generally characterized as dense in the southeast and sparse in the northwest. Moreover, the development of rural tourism is closely related to the level of urbanization and economic development in the surrounding areas. (2) The core density of NKVRT presents the spatial distribution characteristics as "independent and evident in the high-value areas, gradually decreasing outward in the remaining grade areas." The spatial pattern of core density has a high degree of similarity with the agricultural strategic pattern of the main functional areas of the country. (3) The spatial distribution characteristics of NKVRT are associated with climate, population, topography, precipitation, elevation, land use, and economic development. The spatial distribution characteristics of different types of NKVRT are also distinct. These research results emphasize that the development and growth of rural tourism in China should not only consider the balance between regions, but also the influence of both natural factors and human factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper use of antibiotics results in poor treatment and severe bacterial resistance. In this study, ultrafiltration probes were successfully placed in the ileum of piglets with the aid of anesthetic. After the fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drug danofloxacin (DAN) was intramuscularly administered, blood and ileum ultrafiltrate were collected at different time points and then determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Pharmacokinetics (PK) parameters for plasma and ileum ultrafiltrate were calculated by WinNonlin software. The DAN concentration in ileum ultrafiltrate was much higher than that in plasma during the period 1.2–48 h. The DAN concentration in plasma reached its maximum at 1.10 ± 0.03 h, but reached at 6.00 ± 0.00 h in the ileum ultrafiltrate. The mean Cmax of the ileum is 13.59 times that of plasma. The elimination half-life (T1/2β) in the ileum ultrafiltrate (6.84 ± 1.49 h) was shorter than those in plasma (7.58 ± 3.20 h). The MIC, MBC and MPC of DAN in MH broth against Escherichia coli (O158) were 0.5 µg/mL, 0.5 µg/mL and 4 µg/mL, respectively. Both in vitro and ex vivo kill curves indicated that the killing mechanism of DAN against E. coli is concentration-dependent. The AUC/MPC ratio is 21.33 ± 2.14. Mean PK/PD index (AUC24h/MIC) for ileum ultrafiltrate that achieved bacteriostatic, bactericidal, and eradication were 99.85, 155.57, and 218.02 h, respectively. Three different dosages (1.49 mg/kg, 2.42 mg/kg, and 3.24 mg/kg) were calculated respectively based on AUC24h/MIC ratio above, which might provide a novel approach to the rational design of dosage schedules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoflurane postconditioning alleviates cerebral ischemic–reperfusion injury (CIRI), but the underlying mechanism has not been fully clarified. We previously demonstrated that the transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1)/Smads signaling pathway is involved in the neuroprotective effect of isoflurane postconditioning. TGF-β3 has a highly homologous sequence relative to that of TGF-β1. In this study, we explored the roles of the TGF-β3/Smad3 signaling pathway and myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) in neuroprotection induced by isoflurane postconditioning. A CIRI rat model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion for 1.5 h, followed by 24 h of reperfusion. Isoflurane postconditioning led to lower infarct volumes and neurologic deficit scores, more surviving neurons, and less damaged and apoptotic neurons as compared with those of CIRI rats. Moreover, isoflurane postconditioning upregulated the expressions of TGF-β3, p-Smad3, and MEF2C. However, the neuroprotective effect was reversed by pirfenidone, a TGF-β3/Smad3 signaling pathway inhibitor. Also, pirfenidone treatment downregulated the expression of MEF2C. These results indicate that the TGF-β3/Smad3 signaling pathway contributes to the neuroprotection of isoflurane postconditioning after CIRI and is possibly related to MEF2C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic conversion of the syngas into higher alcohols (HAs) via Fischer–Tropsch (F–T) synthesis is essential due to the widespread applications of HAs. The interfaces of cobalt and cobalt carbide (Co2C) are found to efficiently promote the HAs formation. However, the study on the links between structural evolution of Co–Co2C interfaces and HAs production is still lacking. In this work, Co3O4 with different contents of sodium (Na) as promoters was synthesized and high-pressure F–T reaction (3 MPa) was carried out in the aim of accelerating the Co2C formation and tuning the interfaces of Co–Co2C. XRD, (HR)TEM, ICP, XPS and XAFS were conducted to study the relationship between the variations of Co–Co2C interfaces and HAs production. With the increasing Na contents, the ratios of Co to Co2C decreased as revealed by XAFS and the selectivity of HAs was decreasing. The fitting results from EXAFS revealed that the ratio of Co to Co2C is in direct proportion to the selectivity of HAs. This work provides a theoretical guidance to tune the interfaces of Co–Co2C and improve the HAs production in F–T reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the fuzziness of node trust evaluation and the dynamic evolution of trust decision in spatial information network, a network node trust evolution model based on fuzzy correlation measures is proposed. The model introduces the subjective trust ambiguity of the node, and effectively improves the accuracy of trust classification. Based on the evolution process of node trust strategy selection, the dynamic distribution of different nodes in the network is simulated and simulated to show the equilibrium distribution of evolution. The simulation shows the robustness of the fuzzy trust value calculation model, and verifies the influence of the node interaction on the steady state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that infects a wide range of mammal hosts and birds. Previous genotypic surveys were limited to measure the polymorphisms at the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) that evolved slowly. Data on population structure are available only on E. bieneusi isolates from primates. This study explored the genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics of four mini- and microsatellites and performed a population genetic analysis in 39 E. bieneusi isolates of potentially zoonotic ITS genotype D from farmed foxes and raccoon dogs in China. Sequence polymorphisms facilitated determination of six, two, four, and five genotypes at markers MS1, MS3, MS4, and MS7, respectively. Patterns of phylogeny revealed different levels of diversity within and among the genetic markers. Clear genotypic and phylogenetic divergences between E. bieneusi isolates of ITS genotype D from fur animals and humans were observed at individual markers. Complete linkage disequilibrium and very limited recombination in subsequent population genetic analysis supported a clonal structure for E. bieneusi population from fur animals (FID). Phylogenetic analysis, genetic network, and measures of F and gene flow demonstrated population differentiation of FID from two known human E. bieneusi populations HID (with a clonal structure) and HIA (with an epidemic structure). The data indicated an ideal resolving power of MLST compared to the previously widely used ITS genotyping and confirmed the clonal nature and population differentiation of E. bieneusi in various hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is essential to tumor development, and serum miRNA profiles have been reported in several cancers. However, the serum miRNA profile in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remained unclear. The present study aimed to explore abnormal miRNA profile in sera samples from OSCC patients and the association of miR-483-5p with patient prognosis. Microarray analysis was performed in sera from OSCC patients versus healthy controls. miR-483-5p expression was measured by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and correlated to clinicopathological characteristics of OSCC patients. The prognostic significance was then evaluated with a Kaplan-Meier curve and log-rank tests, using a Cox proportional hazard model. According to microRNA array, 16 miRNAs were upregulated and 10 were downregulated in OSCC patient sera. miR-483-5p expression was significantly increased in OSCC patients (3.23-fold, p < 0.01), and this was significantly correlated with tumor nodal metastasis (TNM) stage and lymph nodal metastases ( p < 0.01, p < 0.01). For predicting OSCC, receiver operating characteristic (ROC)/area under the curve (AUC) analysis confirmed a AUC of 0.85 (sensitivity of 0.853 and specificity of 0.746). OSCC patients with high serum miR-483-5p had lower survival than those with low expression, and multivariate analyses for overall survival revealed that high serum miR-483-5p expression was an independent prognostic factor for OSCC (HR = 2.32, 95 %CI 1.20-4.48). miR-483-5p expression increased in OSCC patient sera, and this may be a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a well-known causative agent of microsporidial infections in a variety of mammal hosts including humans in China, whereas there were no epidemiological data on wild animals bred in captivity, and the role of the neglected hosts in transmission of zoonotic microsporidiasis remains unknown. Herein, we investigated feces from 191 farmed foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) and 162 farmed raccoon dogs ( Nyctereutes procyonoides) for the prevalence and genotypic characteristics of E. bieneusi in Harbin City, northeast China. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the rRNA gene enabled the identification of 53 (27.7 %) and 17 (10.5 %) positives from fox and raccoon dog specimens, respectively. There was only minor difference in prevalence between juvenile and adult foxes. Adult raccoon dogs have an infection rate significantly higher than juveniles. The most common human-pathogenic E. bieneusi, genotype D, is widespread among foxes and raccoon dogs of various ages by sequence analysis of the ITS locus. Genotypes CHN-DC1 and mixed CHN-DC1/WildBoar3 were detected in one adult raccoon dog each. Here is the first report describing the presence of zoonotic E. bieneusi genotypes in farmed foxes and raccoon dogs. The widespread existence of genotype D in surveyed animals is of great concern for public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene, a free-standing two-dimensional crystal with one-atom thickness, exhibits distinct properties that are highly attractive for biosensing and bioimaging, such as a high electrical conductivity, a large planar area, and an excellent ability to quench fluorescence. This article selectively reviews recent advances in the field of graphene-based materials for biosensing and bioimaging. In particular, graphene-based enzyme biosensors, DNA biosensors, and immunosensors are summarized in detail. Graphene-based biotechnology for cell imaging is also described. Future perspectives and possible challenges in this rapidly developing area are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Internet of vehicles (IoV) is an important part of mobile communication system with the development of Internet of things. A novel multiband automobile antenna is proposed, which can cover all frequency bands for the long-term evolution (LTE), the fifth generation wireless systems (5G), the wireless local area network and the dedicated short-range communication (from 690 to 944 MHz and from 1.46 to 6 GHz). The antenna is designed based on the monopole antenna, and the impedance matching performance of the antenna is improved by loading the toothed capacitor and the impedance matching disk. The simulation results show that the automobile antenna achieves good impedance matching in the working bandwidth and obtains omnidirectional radiation pattern in the horizontal direction. The electric field distribution of the antenna placed on the vehicle roof is simulated to evaluate the network performance of the antenna system in the urban environment. The transmission coefficient of the transceiver system using the automobile antenna is also analyzed based on the electromagnetic simulation results and statistical model. The blind area of mobile communication system is effectively covered with the automobile antenna, which could be used to connect the LTE cell and the IoV system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histological transformation into an aggressive B-cell lymphoma indicates a poor survival outcome for patients with indolent marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), which has been less studied. Large-scale data with long-term follow-up to investigate MZL transformation is limited. Here, by reporting a US-Nationwide cohort of 30,619 MZL patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2019, we found that transformation occurred in 2.08% (N = 624) of MZL cases, with the transformation incidence of 3.1 per 1,000 person-years. Advanced Ann Arbor stage, nodal MZL (NMZL) and splenic MZL (SMZL) were associated with an elevated risk of transformation. Certain subtype-specific characteristics, such as non-gastric extra-nodal MZL (vs. gastric, HR, 1.51, 95%CI 1.13–2.04; p = 0.006), and receiving splenectomy for SMZL (HR, 2.04, 95%CI 1.28–3.26; p = 0.003), also indicated a higher risk of transformation. Besides, transformation independently increased the overall mortality risk (HR, 1.38, 95%CI 1.24–1.53, p < 0.001), especially the higher lymphoma-caused mortality risk (HR, 3.21, 95%CI 2.81–3.67, p < 0.001). Transformation was also associated with a higher percentage of lymphoma-caused deaths. The post-transformation prognostic analyses demonstrated that female gender and age ≥ 65 years independently affected patients’ mortalities. These findings, based on the largest cohort to date, contribute to a better understanding of transformed MZL, and provide valuable reference points for guidelines and patient counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]