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Objectives. Osteochondral defects (OCDs) are localized areas of damaged cartilage and underlying subchondral bone that can produce pain and seriously impair joint function. Literature reports indicated that icariin (ICA) has the effect of promoting cartilage repair. However, its mechanism remains unclear. Here, we explored the effects of icariin and extracellular vesicles (EVs) from rabbit synovial-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rSMSCs) on repairing of OCDs. Materials and Methods. Rabbit primary genicular chondrocytes (rPGCs), knee skeletal muscle cells (rSMCKs), and rSMSCs, and extracellular vesicles derived from the latter two cells (rSMCK-EVs and rSMSC-EVs) were isolated and identified. The rPGCs were stimulated with ICA, rSMSC-EVs either separately or in combination. The rSMCK-EVs were used as a control. After stimulation, chondrogenic-related markers were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting. Cell proliferation was determined by the CCK-8 assay. The preventative effects of ICA and SMSC-EVs in vivo were determined by H&E and toluidine blue staining. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to evaluate the levels of COL2A1 and β-catenin in vivo. Results. In vitro, the proliferation of rPGCs was markedly increased by ICA treatment in a dose-dependent manner. When compared with ICA or rSMSC-EVs treatment alone, combined treatment with ICA and SMSC-EVs produced stronger stimulative effects on cell proliferation. Moreover, combined treatment with ICA and rSMSC-EVs promoted the expression of chondrogenic-related gene, including COL2A1, SOX-9, and RUNX2, which may be via the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In vivo, combined treatment with rSMSC-EVs and ICA promoted cartilage repair in joint bone defects. Results also showed that ICA or rSMSC-EVs both promoted the COL2A1 and β-catenin protein accumulation in articular cartilage, and that was further enhanced by combined treatment with rSMSC-EVs and ICA. Conclusion. Our findings highlight the promising potential of using combined treatment with ICA and rSMSC-EVs for promoting osteochondral repair.

The design of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) significantly enhances the antitumor efficacy of T cells. Although some CAR-T products have been approved by FDA in treating hematological tumors, adoptive immune therapy still faces many difficulties and challenges in the treatment of solid tumors. In this study, we reported a new strategy to treat solid tumors using a natural killer-like T (NKT) cell line which showed strong cytotoxicity to lyse 15 cancer cell lines, safe to normal cells and had low or no Graft-versus-host activity. We thus named it as universal NKT (UNKT). In both direct and indirect 3D tumor-like organ model, UNKT showed efficient tumor-killing properties, indicating that it could penetrate the microenvironment of solid tumors. In mesothelin (MSLN)-positive tumor cells (SKOV-3 and MCF-7), MSLN targeting CAR modified-UNKT cells had enhanced killing potential against MSLN positive ovarian cancer compared with the wild type UNKT, as well as MSLN-CAR-T cells. Compared with CAR-T, Single-cell microarray 32-plex proteomics revealed CAR-UNKT cells express more effector cytokines, such as perforin and granzyme B, and less interleukin-6 after activation. Moreover, our CAR-UNKT cells featured in more multifunctionality than CAR-T cells. CAR-UNKT cells also demonstrated strong antitumor activity in mouse models of ovarian cancer, with the ability to migrate and infiltrate the tumor without inducing immune memory. The fast-in and -out, enhanced and prolonged tumor killing properties of CAR-UNKT suggested a novel cure option of cellular immunotherapy in the treatment of MSLN-positive solid tumors.

Abstract Ethylene glycol is a widely utilized commodity chemical, the production of which accounts for over 46 million tons of CO2 emission annually. Here we report a paired electrocatalytic approach for ethylene glycol production from methanol. Carbon catalysts are effective in reducing formaldehyde into ethylene glycol with a 92% Faradaic efficiency, whereas Pt catalysts at the anode enable formaldehyde production through methanol partial oxidation with a 75% Faradaic efficiency. With a membrane-electrode assembly configuration, we show the feasibility of ethylene glycol electrosynthesis from methanol in a single electrolyzer. The electrolyzer operates a full cell voltage of 3.2 V at a current density of 100 mA cm−2, with a 60% reduction in energy consumption. Further investigations, using operando flow electrolyzer mass spectroscopy, isotopic labeling, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, indicate that the desorption of a *CH2OH intermediate is the crucial step in determining the selectively towards ethylene glycol over methanol.

The biological structures of Odontodactylus scyllarus, Gampsocleis grafiosa and Procambarus clarkia have interesting functions. They provide valuable inspiration for creating multi-bionic surface microstructure on Al2O3/TiC cutting tool. The microstructure is expected to effectively improve performance and reliability. This work analyzed performance and reliability of Al2O3/TiC cutting tool with multi-bionic microstructure in intermittent dry turning of AISI 52100 hardened steel. It was found that the dimension and the shape of the multi-bionic surface microstructure were greatly affected by the heat source intensity of the laser pulse. The cumulative damage Dcm of tool was negatively correlated with the fractal dimension Fmca obtained for laser-caused microscopic crack. The correlation coefficient was found to be −0.8635. On the contrary, the fracture toughness KICM was positively correlated with Fmca. The correlation coefficient had a value of 0.8731. A theoretical performance metric Pm was put forward for the tool by fusing tool stress, material damage and fracture toughness. The theoretical performance metric Pm was verified by the experimental tool life. Both tool performance and tool reliability were enhanced by using the proposed surface microstructure. Moreover, the optimum tool performance and the highest tool reliability arose simultaneously when the laser angle was 75°. Tool performance and tool reliability can be separately enhanced by 57% and 63% at this laser angle.

Ultra-fine grain materials are widely used due to their superior material properties. In presented work, ultrasonic vibration extrusion cutting (UVEC) is put forward to prepare ultra-fine grain strip. UVEC induces material to produce strain and strain rate far exceeding that of ordinary severe plastic deformation process. The mathematical model and finite element simulation model of physical field parameters was established. UVEC test platform was set up to verify each other with previous model. Relationship and mechanism among processing parameters, physical field parameters and microstructure changes were analyzed, mechanism of grain refinement in UVEC was revealed. The results show that the grain size can be refined to ultra-fine grain size by UVEC method. With the increase of tool rake angle, the strip equivalent strain/equivalent strain rate decrease gradually, and the grain refinement weakens gradually. Besides UVEC, ordinary turning (OT) and ordinary extrusion cutting (OEC) tests are also carried out. The average grain size of UVEC-strip (0.75 μm) is about 3/4 that of OEC-strip (1.03 μm). The passivation layer depth of OT-strip (38 μm), OEC-strip (58 μm) and UVEC-strip (75 μm) increases gradually.

We theoretically studied the quantum dynamics of a cavity–Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) system in a gravitational field, which is composed of a Fabry–Pérot cavity and a BEC. We also show how to deterministically generate the transient macroscopic quantum superposition states (MQSSs) of the cavity by the use of optomechanical coupling between the cavity field and the BEC. The quantum dynamics of the cavity–BEC system specifically include phase space trajectory dynamics, system excitation number dynamics, quantum entanglement dynamics, and quantum coherence dynamics. We found that the system performs increasingly complex trajectories for larger values of the Newtonian gravity parameter. Moreover, the number of phonon excitations of the system can be increased by coupling the cavity–BEC system to Newtonian gravity, which is analogous to an external direct current drive. The scattering of atoms inside the BEC affects the periodicity of the quantum dynamics of the system. We demonstrate a curious complementarity relation between the quantum entanglement and quantum coherence of cavity–BEC systems and found that the complementarity property can be sustained to some extent, despite being in the presence of the cavity decay. This phenomenon also goes some way to show that quantum entanglement and quantum coherence can be referred to together as quantum resources.

Er3+ has received extensive attention due to its excellent optical properties, especially its emission at 1535 nm in atmospheric propagation window. Enhancement and regulation of 1535 nm emission of Er3+ is of great significance to optical communication. In this work, growing of CsPbBr3 QDs has been controlled through adjusting annealing time which would precisely regulate conduction band of CsPbBr3 QDs to match energy levels of Er3+ enabling energy transfer between Er3+ and CsPbBr3 QDs. By steady-state and transient PL emission and excitation spectroscopy, we reveal multiple energy transfer processes between Er3+ and CsPbBr3 QDs under different excitation wavelengths in Er3+ doped CsPbBr3 QDs glass: under higher energy excitation (∼378 nm), energy transfer from Er3+ to CsPbBr3 QDs and this extra energy within CsPbBr3 QDs decay via a non-radiative pathway; under lower energy excitation (∼524 nm), energy transfer from conduction band of CsPbBr3 QDs to 4S3/2 energy level of Er3+ which significantly enhances PL emission of Er3+ in near infrared region (∼1535 nm, 4I13/2 → 4I15/2). These results provide a facile approach to enhance and regulate PL emission of Er3+ in near infrared region.

Background: The aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio, also known as De Ritis ratio, has been reportedly associated with malnutrition which plays a crucial role in sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between AST/ALT ratio and sarcopenia in the Chinese community-dwelling elderly. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 2751 participants (1343 men and 1408 women) aged ≥60 years was performed. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), grip strength, and gait speed were measured to diagnose sarcopenia according to the latest Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) consensus. The association of AST/ALT ratio with sarcopenia was examined using logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia in the present study was 4.4%. AST/ALT ratio was higher in the sarcopenia group than in the non-sarcopenia group (1.30 ± 0.33 vs. 1.16 ± 0.62, P = 0.010). AST/ALT ratio was negatively correlated with the components of sarcopenia, including ASMI, grip strength, and gait speed. Logistic regression analysis indicated that high AST/ALT ratio (>1.20) was associated with increased risk of sarcopenia even after adjustment for potential confounders (adjusted OR = 2.33, 95%CI = 1.48–3.68, P

Schrödinger cat states, consisting of superpositions of macroscopically distinct states, provide key resources for a large number of emerging quantum technologies in quantum information processing. Here we propose how to generate and manipulate mechanical and optical Schrödinger cat states with distinguishable superposition components by exploiting the unique properties of cavity optomechanical systems based on Bose-Einstein condensate. Specifically, we show that in comparison with its solid-state counterparts, almost a 3 order of magnitude enhancement in the size of the mechanical Schrödinger cat state could be achieved, characterizing a much smaller overlap between its two superposed coherent-state components. By exploiting this generated cat state, we further show how to engineer the quadrature squeezing of the mechanical mode. Besides, we also provide an efficient method to create multicomponent optical Schrödinger cat states in our proposed scheme. Our work opens up a new way to achieve nonclassical states of massive objects, facilitating the development of fault-tolerant quantum processors and sensors.

The morphological characteristic of Dendrobium moschatum (Buch.-Ham.) Sw. 1805 is very distinctive among Dendrobium Sw. 1799, and it has high medicinal and ornamental values. Here, we reported the first complete chloroplast genome of D. moschatum. The complete genome of D. moschatum was 159,701 bp in length with 130 genes, including 38 tRNA, 8 rRNA, and 84 protein-coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that D. moschatum was strongly allied with D. denneanum Kerr. 1933.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in both developed and developing countries. The incidence of pancreatic cancer in China accounts for about a quater of the global incidence, and the epidemiological characteristics and therapeutic strategies differ due to social, economic, cultural, environmental, and public health factors. Non-domestic guidelines do not reflect the clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment patterns of Chinese patients. Thus, in 2018, the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) organized a panel of senior experts from all sub-specialties within the field of pancreatic oncology to compile the Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. The guidelines were made based on both the Western and Eastern clinical evidence and updated every one or two years. The experts made consensus judgments and classified evidence-based recommendations into various grades according to the regional differences, the accessibility of diagnostic and treatment resources, and health economic indexes in China. Here we present the latest version of the guidelines, which covers the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of pancreatic cancer. The guidelines might standardize the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer in China and will encourage oncologists to design and conduct more clinical trials about pancreatic cancer.

Context Morinda officinalis F.C. How. (MO) (Rubiaceae) can strengthen bone function.Objective To examine the functional mechanism and effect of MO polysaccharides (MOPs) in rats with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP).Materials and methods Rats with GIOP were treated with 5, 15 or 45 mL/kg of MOP [n = 15 for each dose, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection every other day for 8 weeks]. The body weight of rats and histomorphology of bone tissues were examined. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived exosomes (Exo) were collected and identified. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) were induced to differentiate into osteoclasts and treated with BMSC-Exo for in vitro studies.Results MOP reduced the body weight (5, 15, or 45 mg/kg MOP vs. phosphate-buffered saline: 8%, 15% and 25%, p

Precisely controlling magnetically tagged cells in a complex environment is crucial to constructing a magneto-microfluidic platform. We propose a two-dimensional model for capturing magnetic beads from non-magnetic fluids under a micromagnetic matrix. A qualitative description of the relationship between the capture trajectory and the micromagnetic matrix with an alternating polarity configuration was obtained by computing the force curve of the magnetic particles. Three stages comprise the capture process: the first, where motion is a parabolic fall in weak fields; the second, where the motion becomes unpredictable due to the competition between gravity and magnetic force; and the third, where the micromagnetic matrix finally captures cells. Since it is not always obvious how many particles are adhered to the surface, attachment density is utilized to illustrate how the quantity of particles influences the capture path. The longitudinal magnetic load is calculated to measure the acquisition efficiency. The optimal adhesion density is 13%, and the maximum adhesion density is 18%. It has been demonstrated that a magnetic ring model with 100% adhesion density can impede the capture process. The results offer a theoretical foundation for enhancing the effectiveness of rare cell capture in practical applications.

Longitudinal-torsional composite ultrasonic vibration has been widely used in grinding. This paper aims to solve the problem that the resonance frequency deviates greatly from the theoretical design frequency and the vibration mode is poor when the horn is matched with a larger tool head. This paper presents how the longitudinal-torsional composite ultrasonic conical transition horn was designed and optimized by the transfer matrix theory and finite element simulation. For this purpose, the spiral groove parameters were optimized and selected by finite element simulation. Then, the modal analysis and transient dynamic analysis of the horn with grinding wheel were carried out to verify the correctness of the theoretical calculation. The impedance analysis and amplitude test of the horn with grinding wheel were carried out. The test results were in very good agreement with the theoretical and simulation results. Finally, the grinding experiment was carried out. The surface roughness of the workpiece in longitudinal-torsional ultrasonic vibration grinding was obviously reduced compared to that of ordinary grinding. All these obtained results demonstrate that the designed longitudinal-torsional composite ultrasonic horn has very good operational performance for practical applications.

Background: Tuberculosis continues to be a significant global burden. Purified protein derivative of tuberculin (TB-PPD) is one type of tuberculin skin test (TST) and is used commonly for the auxiliary diagnosis of tuberculosis. The recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein (EC) test is a new test developed in China.Objective: Evaluate the long-term economic implications of using the EC test compared with the TB-PPD test to provide a reference for clinical decision-making.Methods: The target population was people at a high risk persons of being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The outcome indicator was quality-adjusted life years (QALY). A cost–utility analysis was used to evaluate the long-term economic implications of using the EC test compared with the TB-PPD test. We employed a decision tree–Markov model from the perspective of the whole society within 77 years.Results: Compared with the TB-PPD test, the EC test had a lower cost but higher QALY. The incremental cost–utility ratio was −119,800.7381 CNY/QALY. That is, for each additional QALY, the EC test could save 119,800.7381 CNY: the EC test was more economical than the TB-PPD test.Conclusion: Compared with the TB-PPD test, the EC test would be more economical in the long term for the diagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection according our study.