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Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic disease, poses a significant global health challenge, with current treatments often fail to prevent the long-term disease complications. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are, adult progenitors, able to repair injured tissues, exhibiting regenerative effects and immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory responses, so they have been emerged as a promising therapeutic approach in many immune-related and inflammatory diseases. This review summarizes the therapeutic mechanisms and outcomes of MSCs, derived from different human tissue sources (hMSCs), in the context of DM type 1 and type 2. Animal model studies and clinical trials indicate that hMSCs can facilitate pleiotropic actions in the diabetic milieu for improved metabolic indices. In addition to modulating abnormally active immune system, hMSCs can ameliorate peripheral insulin resistance, halt beta-cell destruction, preserve residual beta-cell mass, promote beta-cell regeneration and insulin production, support islet grafts, and correct lipid metabolism. Moreover, hMSC-free derivatives, importantly extracellular vesicles, have shown potent experimental anti-diabetic efficacy. Moreover, the review discusses the diverse priming strategies that are introduced to enhance the preclinical anti-diabetic actions of hMSCs. Such strategies are recommended to restore the characteristics and functions of MSCs isolated from patients with DM for autologous implications. Finally, limitations and merits for the wide spread clinical applications of MSCs in DM such as the challenge of autologous versus allogeneic MSCs, the optimal MSC tissue source and administration route, the necessity of larger clinical trials for longer evaluation duration to assess safety concerns, are briefly presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has appeared as an encouraging system for satisfying the requirements of 5G communications in alleviating the spectrum insufficiency problems. The purpose of NOMA in heterogeneous networks (HetNets) is to increase the spectrum exploitation with the cost of proficient allotment of resources. Therefore, to achieve effective resource assignments for NOMA HetNets, this study develops the best user pairing and efficient power allocation approach. Here, the newly devised optimization method, Feedback Sea Lion Optimization (FSLnO), is employed for achieving a less-difficult optimal solution when user pairing. In addition, the designed FSLnO is also accomplished for performing the energy-efficient power allocation process by enhancing the lesser energy effectiveness of the femtocell users. The Feedback Artificial Tree (FAT) and Sea Lion Optimization (SLnO) are combined to create the developed FSLnO algorithm. Additionally, according to evaluation metrics like achievable rate, energy efficiency, sum rate, and throughput, the developed approach performed better, with maximum values of 2.384 Mbits/s, 0.028 Mbits/Joules, 13.27 5 Mbits/s, and 0.154 Mbps, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of a deep learning-constrained compressed sensing (DL-CS) method in non-contrast-enhanced modified DIXON (mDIXON) coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and compare its diagnostic accuracy using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) as a reference standard. Methods: Ninety-nine participants were prospectively recruited for this study. Thirty healthy subjects (age range: 20–65 years; 50% female) underwent three non-contrast mDIXON-based coronary MRA sequences including DL-CS, CS, and conventional sequences. The three groups were compared based on the scan time, subjective image quality score, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The remaining 69 patients suspected of coronary artery disease (CAD) (age range: 39–83 years; 51% female) underwent the DL-CS coronary MRA and its diagnostic performance was compared with that of CCTA. Results: The scan time for the DL-CS and CS sequences was notably shorter than that of the conventional sequence (9.6 ± 3.1 min vs 10.0 ± 3.4 min vs 13.0 ± 4.9 min; p < 0.001). The DL-CS sequence obtained the highest image quality score, mean SNR, and CNR compared to CS and conventional methods (all p < 0.001). Compared to CCTA, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of DL-CS mDIXON coronary MRA per patient were 84.1%, 92.0%, and 79.5%; those per vessel were 90.3%, 82.6%, and 92.5%; and those per segment were 98.0%, 85.1%, and 98.0%, respectively. Conclusion: The DL-CS mDIXON coronary MRA provided superior image quality and short scan time for visualizing coronary arteries in healthy individuals and demonstrated high diagnostic value compared to CCTA in CAD patients. Critical relevance statement: DL-CS resulted in improved image quality with an acceptable scan time, and demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance compared to CCTA, which could be an alternative to enhance the workflow of coronary MRA. Key Points: Current coronary MRA techniques are limited by scan time and the need for noise reduction. DL-CS reduced the scan time in coronary MR angiography. Deep learning achieved the highest image quality among the three methods. Deep learning-based coronary MR angiography demonstrated high performance compared to CT angiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-deformation heat treatment has the potential to improve the microstructure and mechanical properties of nickel-based superalloys. In this work, cold rolling and annealing treatment processes were used to control the microstructure and properties of the Inconel 617 alloy. The microstructure was characterized by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The strengthening mechanism of the Inconel 617 alloy was analyzed based on several strengthening models. The results show that the grain size of Inconel 617 alloy is refined by recrystallization after cold rolling and annealing. Special Σ3 boundaries appear simultaneously within the recrystallization grain and the fraction increases with increasing temperature. The strength and ductility of Inconel 617 alloy increase synergistically after rolling-annealing. The synergistic effect comes from dislocation strengthening, fine grain strengthening, and twin strengthening. Our present work can provide a reference for realizing the strength-ductility synergy of solid-solution strengthened nickel-based superalloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global prevalence of obesity has escalated into a formidable health challenge intricately linked with the risk of developing cardiac diastolic disfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Abnormal fat distribution is potentially strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiac diastolic dysfunction, and we aimed to scrutinize and elucidate the correlation between them. Methods: Following the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically reviewed the literature from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. We focused on studies reporting the mean and standard deviation (SD) of abnormal fat in HFpEF or cardiac diastolic dysfunction patients and the Pearson/Spearman correlation coefficients for the relationship between abnormal fat distribution and the risk of developing cardiac diastolic dysfunction. Data were standardized to the standard mean difference (SMD) and Fisher's z value for meta-analysis. Results: After progressive filtering and selection, 63 studies (43,113 participants) were included in the quantitative analyses. Abnormal fat distribution was significantly greater in participants with cardiac diastolic dysfunction than in controls [SMD 0.88 (0.69, 1.08)], especially in epicardial adipose tissue [SMD 0.99 (0.73, 1.25)]. Abnormal fat distribution was significantly correlated with the risk of developing cardiac diastolic dysfunction [E/E': 0.23 (0.18, 0.27), global longitudinal strain: r=-0.11 (-0.24, 0.02)]. Meta-regression revealed sample size as a potential heterogeneous source, and subgroup analyses revealed a stronger association between abnormal fat distribution and the risk of developing cardiac diastolic dysfunction in the overweight and obese population. Conclusion: Abnormal fat distribution was significantly associated with the risk of developing cardiac diastolic dysfunction. Trial registration: CRD42024543774. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a long-term disease that impacts approximately 1% of the world's population. Currently, levosimendan (Lev) is proposed for PH treatment. However, the mechanism of Lev in the treatment of PH is unknown. Methods: We used hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) to establish a PH cell model. A number of cell biology methods were performed to assay alterations in cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis after Lev treatment. qRT-PCR and WB were performed to test the levels of circUSP34 and miR-1298, and BMP/Smad protein respectively. In addition, the regulatory relationship between circUSP34 or BMPR2 with miR-1298 was verified through the use of double luciferase as well as RIP assay. In addition, we explored the regulatory effect of Lev on the circUSP34/miR-1298/BMP/Smad axis using a rat PH model. Results: Our results demonstrate that Lev inhibited PASMCs cell proliferation, migration and promoted apoptosis exposed to hypoxia. In hypoxia-treated PASMCs, circUSP34 expression got downregulated while miR-1298 upregulated, whereas the addition with Lev resulted in upregulation of circUSP34 expression and downregulation of miR-1298 expression, indicating that circUSP34 can target and regulate miR-1298. In addition, miR-1298 targets and regulates the expression of BMPR2. In a rat PH model induced by hypoxia combined with SU5416, Lev upregulated circUSP34 targeting miR-1298-mediated BMP/Smad axis to alleviate the PH phenotype. Conclusion: We have shown that Lev can be used as a therapeutic drug for PH patients, which works through the circUSP34/miR-1298/BMP/Smad axis to alleviate PH symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thesium chinense Turcz. (Named as Bai Rui Cao in Chinese) and its preparations (e.g., Bairui Granules) have been used to treat inflammatory diseases, such as acute mastitis, lobar pneumonia, tonsillitis, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and upper respiratory tract infection. However, the material basis, pharmacological efficiency, and safety have not been illustrated. Methods: Anti-inflammatory activity-guided isolation of constituents has been performed using multiple column chromatography, and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and ECD calculations. The inhibitory effects on lung inflammation and safety of the crude ethanol extract (CE), Bairui Granules (BG), and the purified active constituents were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated acute lung inflammation (ALI) mice model or normal mice. Results: Seven new compounds (1–7) and fifty-six known compounds (8–63) were isolated from T. chinense, and fifty-four were reported from this plant for the first time. The new flavonoid glycosides 1–2, new fatty acids 4–5, new alkaloid 7 as well as the known constituents including flavonoid aglycones 8–11, lignans 46–54, alkaloids 34 and 45, coumarins 57, phenylpropionic acids 27, and simple aromatic compounds 39, 44 and 58 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that anti-inflammation of T. chinense was attributed to flavonoids and alkaloids by regulating inflammation-related proteins (e.g., TNF, NF-κB, TGF-β). Furthermore, constituents of T. chinense including kaempferol-3-O-glucorhamnoside (KN, also named as Bairuisu I, 19), astragalin (AG, Bairuisu II, 12), and kaempferol (KF, Bairuisu III, 8), as well as CE and BG could alleviate lung inflammation caused by LPS in mice by preventing neutrophils infiltration and the expression of the genes for pro-inflammatory cytokines NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and COX-2. After a 28-day subacute toxicity test, BG at doses of 4.875 g/kg and 9.750 g/kg (equivalent to onefold and twofold the clinically recommended dose) and CE at a dose of 11.138 g/kg (equivalent to fourfold the clinical dose of BG) were found to be safe and non-toxic. Conclusions: The discovery of sixty-three constituents comprehensively illustrated the material basis of T. chinense. T. chinense and Bairui Granules could alleviate lung inflammation by regulating inflammation-related proteins and no toxicity was observed under the twofold of clinically used doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a relatively difficult-to-treat pneumonia in children. The time of radiographic resolution after treatment is variable, a long recovery time can result in several negative effects, and it has attracted our attention. Therefore, exploring factors associated with delayed radiographic resolution will help to identify these children at an early stage and prepare for early intervention. Methods: The data of 339 children with lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae were collected from the Department of Pediatrics of Fu Yang People's Hospital, China from January 2021 to June 2022. After discharge, the children were regularly followed up in the outpatient department and on the WeChat platform for > 8 weeks. According to whether pulmonary imaging (chest radiography or plain chest computed tomography) returned to normal within 8 weeks, the children were divided into the delayed recovery group (DRG) (n = 69) and the normal recovery group (NRG) (n = 270). The children's general information, laboratory examination findings, bronchoscopy results, and imaging findings were retrospectively analyzed. Single-factor analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for delayed radiographic resolution of lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the factors with statistically significant differences underwent multiple-factor logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was then performed to calculate the cutoff value of early predictive indicators of delayed radiographic resolution. Results: Single-factor analysis showed that the following were significantly greater in the DRG than NRG: total fever duration, the hospitalization time, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, D-dimer level, pulmonary lesions involving two or more lobes, a large amount of pleural effusion, the time to interventional bronchoscopy, and mucus plugs formation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the hospitalization time, CRP level, LDH level, pulmonary lesions involving two or more lobes, and a large amount of pleural effusion were independent risk factors for delayed radiographic resolution of lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The cutoff values on the receiver operating characteristic curve were a hospitalization time of ≥ 10.5 days, CRP level of ≥ 25.92 mg/L, and LDH level of ≥ 378 U/L. Conclusion: If patients with lobar pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae have a hospitalization time of ≥ 10.5 days, CRP level of ≥ 25.92 mg/L, and LDH level ≥ 378 U/L, the time of radiographic resolution is highly likely to exceed 8 weeks. Pediatricians must maintain a high level of vigilance for these factors, control the infection as early as possible, strengthen airway management, and follow up closely to avoid complications and sequelae of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, Dynamic Vapor Sorption Resolution combined with a Dino-Lite Edge Digital Microscope was used to document in real-time the swelling/shrinkage behavior of earlywood and latewood cells (wood fiber and vessel) on homogeneous samples of Catalpa bungei C.A.Mey. at the microscopic scale. The results showed that the lumen and cell wall of wood fibers swelled with the increase of relative humidity and shrank with the decrease of relative humidity in the sorption cycle of 0∼95% relative humidity condition. However, vessels showed an opposite trend to the behaviors mentioned above. In any region of both types of cells, latewood cell size (area and diameter) changed more significantly. For diameter change, the change of tangential diameter was larger than that of radial diameter. In addition, in the sorption cycle, the size (area and diameter) change of any region of wood fiber and vessel showed swelling hysteresis. Compared with earlywood cells, latewood cells had a more pronounced swelling hysteretic value, and the swelling hysteretic value in the tangential direction was higher than that in the radial direction in terms of diameter. Sorption hysteresis might be one of the contributing factors to swelling hysteresis. Finally, it was found that under any relative humidity, the dimensional changes of the wood fibers and the vessels were immediately stabilized when the moisture content reached its equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lianhua-Qingwen (LHQW) stands as a compound herbal remedy renowned for its efficacy in addressing pandemic viral ailments like COVID-19. The production of LHQW capsules, however, generates substantial residues, contributing to environmental strain and resource squandering. To counteract this, we have devised a meticulously orchestrated co-fermentation approach, christened as "precise fermentation, PF". This entails a well-coordinated interplay of enzyme, Saccharomyces, and Lactobacillus under precisely controlled temperatures, designed to maximize the utilization of these remnants as invaluable feed additives. The genesis of PF involves an initial phase of sterile liquid-state fermentation (LF) of the residues. This expeditiously establishes the suitability of the evaluated microbial agents, with Lactobacillus plantarum SK3494 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae emerging as the most promising candidates based on criteria including viable cell number, pH, reducing sugar (RS) and protein contents. Subsequent to this, a sterile solid-state fermentation (SF) of the residues was executed, evaluating the degradation potency of a high-temperature-tolerant enzyme blend, Aspergillus niger, and Bacillus subtilis. This investigation revealed the rapid and bountiful liberation of RS through the enzyme cocktail treatment. Guided by these insights, a SF-based PF was formulated under unsterile conditions, structured as follows: (1) enzyme cocktail-mediated soluble sugar release (0.5%, 50 °C, 2 days); (2) S. cerevisiae (106 CFU/g, 30 °C, 1 days); (3) L. plantarum (106 CFU/g, 40 °C, 4 days)-based medicinally active metabolites enrichment. In a comprehensive evaluation, PF outperformed spontaneous fermentation (SF) and other conventional methods for disposing of medicinal herbal residues (MHR). This superiority is reflected in heightened concentrations of total sugar, RS, total antioxidant activity, and total polyphenol content. Furthermore, PF yielded an enrichment of flavonoids such as tectoridin, tricetin, isorhamnetin, apigenin, naringenin, and more. The present study introduces and elucidates the concept of precise fermentation, marking a pioneering advancement in the comprehensive utilization of MHR for augmenting feed supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of lymphoma is a complex multistep process that integrates numerous experimental findings and clinical data that have not yet yielded a definitive explanation. Studies of oncogenic viruses can help to deepen insight into the pathogenesis of lymphoma, and identifying associations between lymphoma and viruses that are established and unidentified should lead to cellular and pharmacologically targeted antiviral strategies for treating malignant lymphoma. This review focuses on the pathogenesis of lymphomas associated with hepatitis B and C, Epstein-Barr, and human immunodeficiency viruses as well as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus to clarify the current status of basic information and recent advances in the development of virus-associated lymphomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global water crisis has led researchers to explore various wastewater treatment methods not only to mitigate environmental pollution and but also to assure the reusability of wastewater for further use. Synthetic polymer-based adsorbents are quite useful for successfully treating wastewater, but their high-cost production and non-biodegradability have restricted their uses. Hence, a main focus has been exclusively given on naturally derived chitosan/alginate-based polyelectrolyte complexes (CS/Alg-based PECs) as adsorbents because of their remarkable features such as nontoxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and ease of modification. In this review article, an attempt has been made to systematically evaluate the most recent developments in CS/Alg-based PECs for the wastewater treatment in terms of their formation, stability, patterns of interaction, limitations, physicochemical properties, and trends in removing heavy metals, dyes, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiomics, an emerging field, presents a promising avenue for the accurate prediction of biomarkers in different solid cancers. Lung cancer remains a significant global health challenge, contributing substantially to cancer-related mortality. Accurate assessment of Ki-67, a marker reflecting cellular proliferation, is crucial for evaluating tumor aggressiveness and treatment responsiveness, particularly in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies (PRISMA-DTA) guidelines. Two authors independently conducted a literature search until September 23, 2023, in PubMed, Embase, andWeb of Science. The focus was on identifying radiomics studies that predict Ki-67 expression in lung cancer. We evaluated quality using both Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) and the Radiomics Quality Score (RQS) tools. For statistical analysis in the meta-analysis, we used STATA 14.2 to assess sensitivity, specificity, heterogeneity, and diagnostic values. Results: Ten retrospective studies were pooled in the meta-analysis. The findings demonstrated that the use of computed tomography (CT) scan-based radiomics for predicting Ki-67 expression in lung cancer exhibited encouraging diagnostic performance. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) in training cohorts were 0.78, 0.81, and 0.85, respectively. In validation cohorts, these values were 0.78, 0.70, and 0.81. Quality assessment using QUADAS-2 and RQS indicated generally acceptable study quality. Heterogeneity in training cohorts, attributed to factors like contrast-enhanced CT scans and specific Ki-67 thresholds, was observed. Notably, publication bias was detected in the training cohort, indicating that positive results are more likely to be published than non-significant or negative results. Thus, journals are encouraged to publish negative results as well. Conclusion: In summary, CT-based radiomics exhibit promise in predicting Ki-67 expression in lung cancer. While the results suggest potential clinical utility, additional research efforts should concentrate on enhancing diagnostic accuracy. This could pave the way for the integration of radiomics methods as a less invasive alternative to current procedures like biopsy and surgery in the assessment of Ki-67 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to investigate the biosorption of lead (Pb) by marine microalgae D. salina through batch model. The D. salina was isolated and identified by standard method and mass cultured in outdoor condition with optimum condition. The sorbent was prepared and analysed through FT-IR spectroscopy, and observed active functional groups such as alkyl halide (C-I and C–Cl), alcohol (C-O), aromatic (C = C), alkene (C = C), C≡N, alkyl (C-H) and amine (N–H) with different stretching were observed at the wavelength between 501.71 and 2897.19 cm−1. The batch experiment was conducted with several factors such as pH, contact time and sorbent dosage. In the pH experiment, the results were shown pH dependent, and the maximum Pb absorption was noticed for 4.5 mg/L at the pH of 7–8, and the lowest Pb absorption was recorded 1.1 mg/L at the pH of 12. In time duration set, the absorption was noticed time dependent, and maximum of Pb removal by contact time was noticed higher in 120 min of 3.9 mg/L and lower absorption in initial time of 30 min. The influence of sorbent dosage on Pb removal was displayed concentration dependent, the maximum removal of lead 6.1 mg/L was noticed in 10 g L−1, and the lowest removal was observed in initial dosage of 2 g L−1. In conclusion, D. salina has more metal binding functional groups and sites on surface, and also it is a cheap cost additional biosorbent for removal of metal from industrial effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Talaromyces marneffei is endemic to eastern India, Southeast Asia, and Guangdong and Guangxi provinces in China. It is common in immunocompromised individuals, especially in HIV-infected patients. Case presentation: A 66-year-old male who had a history of hypertension and resided in Shandong Province (Northern China) was admitted for recurrent fever for one month. The patient had recurrent fever, multiple lymphadenopathies, hepatosplenomegaly, a back rash, and a progressive decrease in white blood cells and platelets. Talaromyces marneffei was isolated from peripheral blood and bone marrow after admission, and suspected fungal cells were found via lymph node pathology. The patient's infection secondary to haemophagocytic syndrome continued to worsen despite antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and symptomatic treatment, leading to death due to multiple-organ failure. Conclusion: Although rare, infection due to Talaromyces marneffei in HIV-negative patients has been increasing in recent years, and we should be vigilant about "new" infections in nonendemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation and myogenic differentiation of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are important factors affecting muscle development and beef quality. There is increasing evidence that circRNAs can regulate myogenesis. We found a novel circRNA, named circRRAS2 that is significantly upregulated in the differentiation phase of bovine MuSCs. Here, we aimed to determine its roles in the proliferation and myogenic differentiation of these cells. The results showed that circRRAS2 was expressed in several bovine tissues. CircRRAS2 inhibited MuSCs proliferation and promoted myoblast differentiation. In addition, chromatin isolation by using RNA purification and mass spectrometry in differentiated muscle cells identified 52 RNA-binding proteins that could potentially bind to circRRAS2, in order to regulate their differentiation. The results suggest that circRRAS2 could be a specific regulator of myogenesis in bovine muscle. CircRRAS2 expression is higher in DM cells than in GM cells. CircRRAS2 could significantly inhibit the proliferation and apoptosis of bovine MuSCs. CircRRAS2 promotes the differentiation of bovine MuSCs into myotubes. CircRRAS2 may exert regulatory effects through multiple RNA binding proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar always suffers from low porosity and/or poor surface functionality, which limit its performances. Among various surface engineering strategies, air oxidation favors both pore development and surface oxygenation for biochar. However, there is still a lack of systematic knowledge and critical perspective on air oxidation in surface engineering of biochar-based materials for various applications. Herein, this review analyzed the mechanisms of air oxidation, summarized the routes of air oxidation in surface engineering of biochar-based materials, investigated the impacts of controlling factors (including operation parameters and intrinsic biochar structure) on pore development and surface oxygenation during air oxidation, and discussed the performances of the resultant materials in pollution control, biomass catalytic conversion and energy storage. This review suggested that air oxidation could be conducted in oxidative torrefaction/pyrolysis, and applied as post-modification or pretreatment processes. Interestingly, air oxidation is efficient in enriching the heteroatoms in the heteroatom-doped biochar, and promoting the doping of metal species on biochar by enriching the anchor sites. This review also highlighted the future challenges concerning air oxidation in the surface engineering of biochar-based materials. Finally, this review was intended to attract broad attention and inspire new discoveries for promoting the application of air oxidation in surface engineering of biochar-based materials for various advanced applications. Highlights: • Air oxidation favors pore development and/or surface oxygenation for biochar. • Air oxidation can be conducted in oxidative torrefaction/pyrolysis, and applied as post-modification or pretreatment processes. • Mechanisms and controlling factors for air oxidation were analyzed, and future challenges were highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is a common respiratory tract infectious disease in children. The study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic efficacy of aerosolized budesonide and N‐acetylcysteine combination therapy for MP infection in children. Methods: One hundred and twenty children with MP infection were included and divided into the control group (received aerosol inhalation of budesonide) and the experimental group (aerosolized budesonide and N‐acetylcysteine). After treatment, the disappearance time of clinical symptoms and efficacy were contrasted between the two groups. Results: With the passage of treatment time, the children's cough score of the two groups were gradually reduced. The children in the experimental group got well from the cough faster than the control group, and the difference reached a significant level on the 5th and 7th days. The time required for fever, rale, and cough to disappear in the experimental group was shorter than those in the control group. As the treatment progressed, a gradual decrease in serum interleukin‐6, tumor necrosis factor‐α, and C‐reactive protein values was detected in both groups, and the decrease was more significant in the experimental group. The total effective rate of the experimental group was 98.33%, which surpassed the control group (93.33%). Conclusion: Budesonide and N‐acetylcysteine combination therapy in the treatment of MP infection in children has a significant effect, and can quickly relieve the clinical symptoms of children with good safety. It is worthy of widespread clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) involves multiple secondary users (SUs) reporting primary user (PU) channel sensing states to the fusion center (FC). However, the high overheads associated with multi-user CSS impose power limitations that limit its usefulness in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) networks. To address this challenge, we propose a virtual CSS, where a single UAV conducts CSS while following a circular flight trajectory in the air. The novelty of our approach is presenting a working frame structure for the UAV flight, including sensing and data transmission periods with further division of the sensing time into mini-sensing slots. In the virtual CSS, UAV performs local sensing decisions in each mini-slot and accumulates them for a final decision. The proposed virtual CSS scheme exploits sequential decision fusion (SDF), which sequentially adds individual mini-slot decisions. Additionally, we leverage machine learning (ML), employing AdaBoost ensembling classifier (ENC), to inspect flight conditions and reconfigure mini-slot periods dynamically for both traditional decision fusion (TDF) and our proposed SDF schemes. Furthermore, we identify an optimal decision threshold (ODT) for the proposed SDF, enabling the comparison of sequential results with an adjustable threshold through majority voting. This novel approach results in energy efficiency and improved throughput for virtual CSS using SDF, surpassing the performance of TDF, which relies on collecting entire mini-slot reports for its final decision. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed SDF following the ENCODT (SDF-ENCODT) scheme compared to existing techniques from the literature. We explore varying levels of UAV flight velocities, moving radius, detection probability demand, and channel signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), reinforcing the significance of our contribution. Our research highlights the motivation to address spectrum scarcity in UAV communication by proposing an innovative virtual CSS scheme based on SDF. The proposed approach enhances spectrum utilization, overcomes power limitations, and substantially improves CSS for UAV networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antitumor efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines has been widely recognized. Leading compounds such as sterols, glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and polyketides constitute their complex active components. The antitumor monomers derived from Chinese medicine possess an attractive anticancer activity. However, their use was limited by low bioavailability, significant toxicity, and side effects, hindering their clinical applications. Recently, new chemical entities have been designed and synthesized by combining natural drugs with other small drug molecules or active moieties to improve the antitumor activity and selectivity, and reduce side effects. Such a novel conjugated drug that can interact with several vital biological targets in cells may have a more significant or synergistic anticancer activity than a single‐molecule drug. In addition, antitumor conjugates could be obtained by combining pharmacophores containing two or more known drugs or leading compounds. Based on these studies, the new drug research and development could be greatly shortened. This study reviews the research progress of conjugates with antitumor activity based on Chinese herbal medicine. It is expected to serve as a valuable reference to antitumor drug research and clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drill feed speed significantly affects the measurement accuracy and efficiency of the micro drill resistance instrument. Generally, different speeds are set according to the density of the wood to be drilled. It is necessary to convert the resistance data measured at different drill feed speeds into resistance data at a uniform speed to properly analyze resistance data. In this study, drill resistance data for a Paulownia wood block was measured with a self-made micro drill resistance instrument at different drill feed speeds. We found that the drill resistance is positively correlated with changes in its feed speed and the natural logarithm of change times for feed speed. We developed a conversion algorithm for the micro drill resistance instrument measurements at different feed speeds. The accuracy of the conversion algorithm is up to 95%. The algorithm can be used to convert the drill resistance of Paulownia wood measured at different drill feed speeds; it has reference value for the mutual conversion of other tree species' drill resistance data measured at different feed speeds. This work may provide a feasible solution to improving micro drill resistance instrument accuracy when drill feed speed error is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is more prevalent in people living with HIV‐AIDS (PLHA) and portends a poorer prognosis. Pharmacokinetic studies suggest the absence of significant interaction between velpatasvir and dolutegravir which has been recently recommended as part of preferred first‐line antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens by WHO. However, clinical data on the use of velpatasvir‐based regimen in PLHA taking dolutegavir is lacking. Hence, we aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir (SOF + VEL) in HCV and HIV coinfected patients on dolutegravir‐based ART. Forty‐five consecutive PLHA with HCV coinfection on dolutegravir‐based ART were prospectively enrolled. All patients were treated SOF + VEL for 12 weeks. Complete haemogram, liver and renal function tests were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks and at end of treatment. Sustained virological response (SVR) was assessed at 12 weeks after end of treatment. The majority were males (95.5%) with a mean age of 32.8 ± 12.3 years. Cirrhosis was present in 6 (13.3%) patients. All patients completed 12 weeks of therapy with SOF + VEL, but SVR could not be assessed in two patients. Forty‐two (97.7%) of the remaining 43 patients attained SVR‐12. SVR‐12 rate was 97.7% and 93.3% by per protocol and intention to treat analysis, respectively. No grade III/IV adverse events were reported, and there was no worsening of blood counts, liver or renal function test parameters. The pan‐genotypic regimen of SOF + VEL is safe and effective in PLHA with HCV coinfection who are on dolutegravir‐based ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain ultrafine isotropic titanium alloy plate, β phase quenching and the subsequent low temperature α/β phase cross rolling are employed in this paper. The microstructure evolution, texture variation and recrystallization behavior are characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD). Tensile properties of the as cross rolled and annealed plates were investigated. The microstructure dependences of strength difference in TD and RD samples were discussed in detail. The results suggest that discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) takes place incompletely which results in a refined but inhomogeneous microstructure after first cross rolling. After second cross rolling, a refined grain with average size ~ 1.24 μm is obtained. The texture is transformed into a B-type ([0001]//ND) texture which results in limited strength differences between TD and RD sample. During subsequent annealing treatment, continuous static recrystallization (CSRX) generates an equiaxed uniform microstructure and the grain size increases with increasing annealing temperature. Tensile tests suggest that TD samples exhibit a higher strength than that of the RD sample in both cross rolling and annealing condition. The strength difference is decreasing with increasing annealing temperature. Finally, the Schmid law is used to analyze the strength difference in TD and RD direction. The RD sample displayed highest SF value for prismatic and pyramidal 〈a〉 slip system which is the origin of the lower yield strength. With increasing annealing temperature, SF value difference of prismatic 〈a〉 slip system between RD and TD sample is decreasing which is beneficial to reduce anisotropy of Ti6Al4V plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of software-aided selection of monoenergetic level for acute necrotising pancreatitis (ANP) depiction compared to other automatic image series generated using dual-energy computed tomography (CT). Methods: The contrast-enhanced dual-source dual-energy CT images in the portal venous phase of 48 patients with ANP were retrospectively analysed. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of pancreatic parenchyma-to-necrosis, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the pancreas, image noise, and score of subjective diagnosis were measured, calculated, and compared among the CT images of 100 kV, Sn140 kV, weighted-average 120 kV, and optimal single-energy level for CNR. Results: CNR of pancreatic parenchyma-to-necrosis in the images of 100 kV, Sn140 kV, weighted-average 120 kV, and the optimal single-energy level for CNR was 5.18 ± 2.39, 3.13 ± 1.35, 5.69 ± 2.35, and 9.99 ± 5.86, respectively; SNR of the pancreas in each group was 6.31 ± 2.77, 4.27 ± 1.56, 7.21 ± 2.69, and 11.83 ± 6.30, respectively; image noise in each group was 18.78 ± 5.20, 17.79 ± 4.63, 13.28 ± 3.13, and 9.31 ± 2.96, respectively; and score of subjective diagnosis in each group was 3.56 ± 0.50, 3.00 ± 0.55, 3.48 ± 0.55, and 3.88 ± 0.33, respectively. The four measurements of the optimal single-energy level for CNR images were significantly different from those of images in the other three groups (P < 0.05). CNR of pancreatic parenchyma-to-necrosis, SNR of the pancreas, and score of subjective diagnosis in the images of the optimal single-energy level for CNR were significantly higher, while the image noise was lower than those in the other three groups (all P = 0.000). Conclusion: Optimal single-energy level imaging for CNR of dual-source CT could improve quality of CT images in patients with ANP, enhancing the display of necrosis in the pancreas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Norcantharidin (NCTD) has multiple antitumor effects. However, NCTD can induce significant hepatotoxicity and the mechanism of hepatotoxicity is not clear for now. Objective: This study aimed to explore the hepatotoxicity of NCTD in rat by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF)-MS (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS) metabolomics. Results: Serum biochemical indices including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (T-BIL) were significantly increased. Histopathological and ultrastructure results revealed that hepatocytes were damaged. Furthermore, the metabolomics results showed that 11 metabolites in serum and 8 metabolites in liver were differential metabolites for NCTD hepatotoxicity. Four metabolic pathways including the sphingolipid metabolism, purine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism were the key metabolic pathways related to NCTD hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: The metabolomics analysis in this study reveal new clues on the hepatotoxicity mechanism of NCTD in rats. These findings have potential applications in the toxicity study of NCTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active learning iteratively constructs a refined training set to train an effective classifier with as few labeled instances as possible. In areas where labeling is expensive, active learning plays an important and irreplaceable role. The main challenge of active learning is to correctly identify critical samples. One of the current mainstream methods is to mine the potential data structure based on clustering and then identify key instances. However, the existing methods all adopt deterministic strategies, and the number of key samples is only related to the number of samples to be classified. The internal structure information of the sample clusters to be classified is not used. After analysis and verification, this deterministic key sample selection strategy has serious label waste. This is a serious problem that urgently needs to be solved in active learning. To this end, we propose an adaptive active learning algorithm based on density clustering (AAKC). Firstly, we introduce k-nearest neighbor information to redefine the local density of the instance. The new sample density can clearly express the local structural information of the sample. Secondly, we developed an adaptive key instance selection strategy based on the k-nearest neighbor sample density, which can adaptively select the necessary number of instance queries according to the structural information of the instance clusters to be classified, avoiding label waste. The experimental results of comparison with other algorithms show that our algorithm uses fewer labels to achieve better classification accuracy and has excellent stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As a distinctive member of the noncoding RNA family, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are generated from single‐stranded, covalently closed structures and are ubiquitous in mammalian cells and tissues. Due to its atypical circular architecture, it was conventionally deemed insignificant dark matter for a prolonged duration. Nevertheless, studies conducted over the last decade have demonstrated that this abundant, structurally stable and tissue‐specific RNA has been increasingly relevant in diverse diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Therefore, regulatory pathways controlled by circRNAs are widely involved in the occurrence and pathological processes of CVDs through their function as miRNA sponges, protein sponges and protein scaffolds. To better understand the role of circRNAs and their complex regulatory networks in CVDs, we summarize current knowledge of their biogenesis and function and the latest research on circRNAs in CVDs, with the hope of paving the way for the identification of promising biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for CVDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin, the only hormone regulating blood glucose level, is strongly associated with diabetes and its complications. Specific recognition and ultrasensitive detection of insulin are of clinical significance for the early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. Inspired by aggregation-induced emission, we presented a turn-on label-free fluorescence aptasensor for insulin detection. Quaternized tetraphenylethene salt was synthesized as the fluorescence probe. Guanine-rich aptamer IGA3 was selected as recognition element. Graphene oxide was chosen as the quencher. Under optimized conditions, the fluorescence aptasensor displayed a wide linear range (1.0 pM–1.0 μM) with a low limit of detection (0.42 pM). Furthermore, the aptasensor was successfully applied to detect insulin in human serum. Spiked recoveries were obtained in the range of 96.06%–104.26%. All these results demonstrated that the proposed approach has potential application in the clinical diagnostics of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of disease-related death worldwide and a significant obstacle to improving patients' health and lives. Mitochondria are core organelles for the maintenance of myocardial tissue homeostasis, and their impairment and dysfunction are considered major contributors to the pathogenesis of various CVDs, such as hypertension, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. However, the exact roles of mitochondrial dysfunction involved in CVD pathogenesis remain not fully understood. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, have been shown to be crucial regulators in the initiation and development of CVDs. They can participate in CVD progression by impacting mitochondria and regulating mitochondrial function-related genes and signaling pathways. Some ncRNAs also exhibit great potential as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for CVD patients. In this review, we mainly focus on the underlying mechanisms of ncRNAs involved in the regulation of mitochondrial functions and their role in CVD progression. We also highlight their clinical implications as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in CVD treatment. The information reviewed herein could be extremely beneficial to the development of ncRNA-based therapeutic strategies for CVD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of information can be derived from the motion form of underwater bubble plumes. As a result of the inadequate light, mutual adhesion, and absence of a background for the bubble plumes, it is difficult to extract features from the images of bubble plumes, and the recognition accuracy is low. Using a combination of nonsubsampled contourlet transform (NSCT) and quantum neural network (QNN), we present a method for extracting bubble plumes features and recognizing their states. To obtain the multi-scale sub-band images, the underwater bubble plumes image is transformed by NSCT. In the case of low-frequency images, the fuzzy set binarization method is used to extract bright spots, after which morphological features are calculated. The differential box counting (DBC) method is used to calculate the fractal dimension for the high-frequency images, which is used as a directional detail feature. In order to achieve accurate state recognition of the underwater bubble plumes, the quantum gate set convolution neural network (QCSCNN) was designed, taking into account the advantages of the quantum gate and the convolution neural network (CNN). In conclusion, the proposed method is implemented and the experimental results indicate that it achieves the promising and satisfactory results. According to the proposed method, it has been confirmed that it is able to achieve a good effect on convergence speed as well as the recognition accuracy of underwater bubble plumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Identification of wood formation, cell wall deposition, lignification, and the maturation process contribute to a better understanding of biomass accumulation processes. Traditional methods for studying xylem development are limited by dyeing effects and discrimination experience, are non-quantitative for the degree of cell wall deposition and lignification, or are unsuitable for broad-leaved trees. In this study, we integrated several already existing methods to improve the discriminative accuracy of the cell development stage and to quantitatively describe the cell wall deposition and lignification degree for both softwood and hardwood tree species. To do this, we collected tree microcores every 7–14 days during a growing season for two species, one conifer (Platycladus orientalis) and one broad-leaved tree (Acer truncatum), in the mountainous areas in Beijing, China. We tracked the xylem development using semi-thin section technology combined with polarization microscopy. This integrated approach allows a quantitative description of the xylem cell wall deposition and lignification process of both hardwood and softwood tree species. This approach can be applied to demonstrate the dynamic process between the cambium layer and the production of wood cells and to describe the cell wall deposition and lignification process of wood cells from generation to maturation. This approach has certain application prospects for exploring scientific issues related to wood formation and accumulation processes in forestry and ecological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Cholesteryl ester transfer proteins (CETP) regulate plasma cholesterol levels by transferring cholesteryl esters (CEs) among lipoproteins. Lipoprotein cholesterol levels correlate with the risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This article reviews recent research on CETP structure, lipid transfer mechanism, and its inhibition. Recent Findings: Genetic deficiency in CETP is associated with a low plasma level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and a profoundly elevated plasma level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which correlates with a lower risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, a very high concentration of HDL-C also correlates with increased ASCVD mortality. Considering that the elevated CETP activity is a major determinant of the atherogenic dyslipidemia, i.e., pro-atherogenic reductions in HDL and LDL particle size, inhibition of CETP emerged as a promising pharmacological target during the past two decades. CETP inhibitors, including torcetrapib, dalcetrapib, evacetrapib, anacetrapib and obicetrapib, were designed and evaluated in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of ASCVD or dyslipidemia. Although these inhibitors increase in plasma HDL-C levels and/or reduce LDL-C levels, the poor efficacy against ASCVD ended interest in CETP as an anti-ASCVD target. Nevertheless, interest in CETP and the molecular mechanism by which it inhibits CE transfer among lipoproteins persisted. Insights into the structural-based CETP-lipoprotein interactions can unravel CETP inhibition machinery, which can hopefully guide the design of more effective CETP inhibitors that combat ASCVD. Summary: Individual-molecule 3D structures of CETP bound to lipoproteins provide a model for understanding the mechanism by which CETP mediates lipid transfer and which in turn, guide the rational design of new anti-ASCVD therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twin–twin interaction plays an important role in tailoring the mechanical properties of magnesium (Mg) alloys. In this study, we studied the effect of different types of twin–twin interactions (Type I, Type II-a and Type II-b) on the subsequent microstructure evolution and mechanical properties through quasi-in-situ electron backscatter diffraction, molecular dynamics simulation and mechanical property test. The results showed that de-twinning and nucleation of secondary twin from the twin boundary dominates plastic deformation during Type II twin–twin interactions, while twin growth dominates plastic deformation during Type I twin–twin interactions. Type II twin–twin interactions can improve both strength and plasticity compared to the Type I twin–twin interactions. In addition, the twin–twin interactions form a stress concentration near the interaction site, but the magnitude and release method of the stress are different for Type II and Type I. The internal stress induced by Type II is released through de-twinning or formation of new twins from twin boundary, while the internal stress induced by Type I is released through merge and growth of initial twin. Such a microstructure evolution mechanism of different types of twin–twin interactions provides a new vision of twining/de-twinning behavior and tailoring mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stature estimation is one of the most basic and important methods of personal identification. The long bones of the limbs provide the most accurate stature estimation, with the femur being one of the most useful. In all the previously reported methods of stature estimation using computed tomography (CT) images of the femur, laborious manual measurement was necessary. A semi-automatic bone measuring method can simplify this process, so we firstly reported a stature estimation process using semi-automatic bone measurement software equipped with artificial intelligence. Multiple measurements of femurs of adult Japanese cadavers were performed using automatic three-dimensional reconstructed CT images of femurs. After manually setting four points on the femur, an automatic measurement was acquired. The relationships between stature and five femoral measurements, with acceptable intraobserver and interobserver errors, were analyzed with single regression analysis using the standard error of the estimate (SEE) and the coefficient of determination (R2). The maximum length of the femur (MLF) provided the lowest SEE and the highest R2; the SEE and R2 in all cadavers, males and females, respectively, were 3.913 cm (R2 = 0.842), 3.664 cm (R2 = 0.705), and 3.456 cm (R2 = 0.686) for MLF on the right femur, and 3.837 cm (R2 = 0.848), 3.667 cm (R2 = 0.705), and 3.384 cm (R2 = 0.699) for MLF on the left femur. These results were non-inferior to those of previous reports regarding stature estimation using the MLF. Stature estimation with this simple and time-saving method would be useful in forensic medical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalpabungei is an economically important native hardwood in China whose hygroscopic behavior is vital for industrial applications as it influences the final product's dimensional stability and mechanical properties. In this study, the adsorption and desorption behavior of earlywood and latewood in the same growth ring of C. bungei wood samples was documented using a dynamic vapor sorption resolution and analyzed using the Guggenheim–Andersen–de Boer (GAB) model. The earlywood and latewood exhibited varying sorption isotherms and hysteresis degrees, and the reasons were analyzed in terms of structure and chemical composition (mainly hemicellulose and lignin). The influence of benzene–alcohol extracts and vessels on sorption characteristics was also examined. The GAB model perfectly fits the experimental data (R2 ≥ 99.7%) over the full relative humidity range. Specifically, parameters such as the internal specific surface area of wood can be obtained from the GAB model to help explain the differences in sorption properties between earlywood and latewood. The maximum water content bound to the primary sites for earlywood and latewood is 6.87% and 7.47%, respectively. Correspondingly, two internal specific surface areas are 261 m2/g and 284 m2/g, respectively. The adsorption isotherms of earlywood and latewood in C. bungei cannot be fully classified as type II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three ternary Laves phase-based eutectic alloys CrFeNbx (x = 2.0, 2.35, 2.7) were designed successfully by combining the binary phase diagrams and thermodynamics calculations. With the increasing Nb content, the solidified microstructures evolved from the primary (Cr, Fe)2Nb plus the eutectic (Cr, Fe)2Nb/Nbss in the CrFeNb2.0, via the full eutectic (Cr, Fe)2Nb/Nbss in the CrFeNb2.35, and finally to the primary Nbss plus the eutectic (Cr, Fe)2Nb/Nbss in the CrFeNb2.7. The full eutectic (Cr, Fe)2Nb/Nbss of the CrFeNb2.35 was found with outstanding thermal stability, and the lamellar eutectic was quite stable even under the heat-treatment of 1273 K/48 h. The compression strength and fracture toughness increased firstly and decreased subsequently with the increase of Nb content, which reached their maximums of 2.54 GPa and 18.25 MPa·m1/2, respectively, in the CrFeNb2.35. The excellent combination of compression strength and fracture toughness in the CrFeNbx (x = 2.0, 2.35, 2.7) were attributed to the synergistic effects of Laves phase strengthening, interface strengthening, solid solution strengthening, alloying toughening and Nbss phase toughening mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulative roll-bonded(ARB) Cu/Nb multilayer composites were cryorolled and room-temperature rolled. The ultimate tensile stress of ARB composite increased from 575 to 683 MPa after cryorolling. The cryorolled composites show better thermal stability. The cryorolling promotes the formation of deformation twins in the Cu layer, thereby increasing the strength of the composite. The zigzag interface with {112} <111> Cu||{112} <110> Nb orientation in ARB sample is transformed into a smooth interface with {110} <111> Cu||{001} <110> Nb orientation in cryorolled sample, improving thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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