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Age-dependent alterations in microglia behavior have been implicated in neurodegeneration and CNS injuries. Here, we compared the transcriptional profiles of young versus aged microglia during stroke recovery. CD45intermediateCD11b+ microglia were FACS-isolated from the brains of young (10-week-old) and aged (18-month-old) male mice with sham operation or 14 days after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion and subjected to RNA-sequencing analysis. Functional groups enriched in young microglia are indicative of upregulation in cell movement, cell interactions, inflammatory responses and angiogenesis, while aged microglia exhibited a reduction or no change in these features. We confirmed reduced chemoattractive capacities of aged microglia toward ischemic brain tissue in organotypic slide co-cultures, and delayed accumulation of aged microglia around dead neurons injected into the striatum in vivo. In addition, aging is associated with an overall failure to increase the expression of microglial genes involved in cell–cell interactions, such as CXCL10. Finally, impaired upregulation of pro-angiogenic genes in aged microglia was associated with a decline in neovascularization in aged mice compared to young mice after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion. This study provides a new resource to understand the mechanisms underlying microglial alterations in the aged brain milieu and sheds light on new strategies to improve microglial functions in aged stroke victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films have been considered a promising sustainable alternative for nonrenewable and nonbiodegradable petroleum-based plastic films. However, their relatively low toughness and poor folding endurance are two remaining challenges for commercial application. In this work, inspired by fiber-reinforced polymer, a transparent CNF film with favorable combination of toughness and folding endurance is demonstrated by a facile and scalable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber-reinforced strategy. The as-prepared PET fiber-reinforced CNF film not only exhibits a maximum average toughness of 13.7 ± 2.4 MJ/m3 that is nearly 4 times stronger than that of pure CNF film (3.7 ± 1.1 MJ/m3), but also presents superior bending flexibility with a folding endurance of over 104 times that is an order of magnitude higher than that of pure CNF film (~4 × 103 times). Moreover, its underlying principle for the enhanced toughness and foldability is explored. This work provides a facile strategy to prepare tough yet foldable CNF film and could promote its industrial uses in the fields of energy storage devices, packaging, and electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supported Pt catalysts have been extensively investigated for CO2 hydrogenation with methane and CO as the principal products. In this work, a Pt/In2O3 catalyst prepared with decomposition precipitation was tested for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol. The Pt/In2O3 catalyst exhibited a highly improved activity towards CO2 hydrogenation, with methanol selectivity of ca. 100% at temperatures below 225 °C, 74% at 275 °C and 54% at 300 °C, respectively, compared to the pure In2O3 catalyst. This represents the highest methanol selectivity reported on Pt catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation. The stability of the Pt/In2O3 catalyst at elevated temperatures has also been higher than that of the pure In2O3 catalyst, indicated by the methanol formation rate decreasing only to 95% of the initial rate after 5 h in the reaction stream and remaining largely constant thereafter. In contrast, the pure In2O3 catalyst loses 20% of the initial methanol formation rate after 9 h in the reaction stream. The characterization of the catalysts confirms that the Pt nanoparticles are well dispersed on In2O3 with a particle size below 3 nm. The strong metal–support interaction (SMSI) between Pt and In2O3 improves the stability of the catalyst and prevents the over-reduction of In2O3. The synergy between the supported Pt nanoparticles and In2O3 balances the hydrogen activation and the density of the surface oxygen vacancies in In2O3, resulting in the high activity for CO2 hydrogenation and enhanced stability of the Pt/In2O3 catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming growth factor α (TGF-α) has been reported to play important roles in neurogenesis and angiogenesis in the injured brain. The present study characterizes a novel role for TGFα in oligodendrocyte lineage cell survival and white matter integrity after ischemic stroke. Three days after transient (60 min) middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), TGFα expression was significantly increased in microglia/macrophages and neurons. Expression of the receptor of TGFα—epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)—was increased in glial cells after ischemia, including in oligodendrocyte lineage cells. TGFα knockout enlarged brain infarct volumes and exacerbated cell death in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrocytes three days after tMCAO. TGFα-deficient mice displayed long-term exacerbation of sensorimotor deficits after tMCAO, and these functional impairments were accompanied by loss of white matter integrity and impaired oligodendrocyte replacement. In vitro studies confirmed that 5 or 10 ng/mL TGFα directly protected OPCs and oligodendrocytes against oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced cell death, but exerted no effects on OPC differentiation. Further studies identified STAT3 as a key transcription factor mediating the effects of TGFα on OPCs and oligodendrocytes. In conclusion, TGFα provides potent oligodendrocyte protection against cerebral ischemia, thereby maintaining white matter integrity and improving neurological recovery after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Integrated molding the web-reinforced foam sandwich composite lifting lug based on thermal expansion molding process technology. • The influence of the web structure on the compression performance and failure mode of the lifting lug samples is analyzed. • Establish the connection scheme of the steel sleeve and clarify the failure mechanism of the steel sleeve under axial compression. • The connection failure model of the lifting lug is established, and the connection performance and failure mode of the steel sleeve are analyzed by the finite element method and test. • The integrated molding of the battery box verifies the engineering value of TEMP technology. Complex lifting lug connection structures often hinder the integral molding of main load-bearing components in automotive, aerospace, construction, and other fields, thus limiting the potential for lightweight structural design. In this paper, a method of forming web-reinforced sandwich composite lifting lug structure of the new energy vehicle by thermal expansion molding process (TEMP) is proposed, and connection failure analysis model is established to verify the process-structure-performance relationship. First, compression tests and failure analysis confirmed that the web-reinforced structure significantly improved the strength and stiffness of the lifting lugs. Then, the hybrid connection mode of the steel sleeve through the thermal expansion film and glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP) was designed, and the reliability of the steel sleeve interface connection was verified by the axial press out test. Finally, the lifting lug was simulated to be mounted on the vehicle body, and the comprehensive connection performance was verified by connection compression test, finite element analysis (FEA) and macroscopic failure mode. This study determined that the web-reinforced structure increased the initial failure load of the lifting lug by 65%, surpassing 60 kN compared to the pure foam sandwich structure. The maximum pressure load of the steel sleeve reaches 11.24 kN, and the comprehensive connection strength can meet the static load of the battery box more than 6000 kg. The TEMP technology has the potential to integrate and scale up main bearing components with complex web reinforcement structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective recovery of peripheral nerve injury (PNI) after surgical treatment relies on promoting axon regeneration and minimizing the fibrotic response. Decellularized amniotic membrane (dAM) has unique features as a natural matrix for promoting PNI repair due to its pro-regenerative extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the fragile nature and rapid degradation rate of dAM limit its widespread use in PNI surgery. Here we report an engineered composite membrane for PNI repair by combining dAM with gelatin (Gel) nanofiber membrane to construct a Gel nanofiber-dAM composite membrane (Gel-dAM) through interfacial bonding. The Gel-dAM showed enhanced mechanical properties and reduced degradation rate, while retaining maximal bioactivity and biocompatibility of dAM. These factors led to improved axon regeneration, reduced fibrotic response, and better functional recovery in PNI repair. As a fully natural materials-derived off-the-shelf matrix, Gel-dAM exhibits superior clinical translational potential for the surgical treatment of PNI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a stroke subtype that is associated with high mortality and disability rate. Mitochondria plays a crucial role in neuronal survival after ICH. This study first showed that activation of adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) by AdipoRon could attenuate mitochondrial dysfunction after ICH. In vivo, experimental ICH model was established by autologous blood injection in mice. AdipoRon was injected intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg). Immunofluorescence staining were performed to explicit the location of AdipoR1, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1a (PGC1α). The PI staining was used to quantify neuronal survival. The expression of AdipoR1 and its downstream signaling molecules were detected by Western blotting. In vitro, 10 μM oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb) was used to induce the neuronal injury in SH-SY5Y cells. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was used to detect the neuronal apoptosis and necrosis. Mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was measured by a JC-1 kit and mitochondrial mass was quantified by mitochondrial fluorescent probe. In vivo, PI staining showed that the administration of AdipoRon could reduce neuronal death at 72 h after ICH in mice. AdipoRon treatment enhanced ATP levels and reduced ROS levels in perihematoma tissues, and increased the protein expression of AdipoR1, P-AMPK, PGC1α, NRF1 and TFAM. In vitro, the JC-1 staining and Mito-tracker™ Green showed that AdipoRon significantly alleviated OxyHb-induced collapse of Δψm and enhanced mitochondrial mass. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis indicated that the neurons treated with AdipoRon showed low necrotic and apoptotic rate. AdipoRon alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction after intracerebral hemorrhage via the AdipoR1–AMPK–PGC1α pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Counterfeiting of integrated circuits (ICs) has become an increasingly vital concern for the security of commercial and mission-critical systems. Moreover, they pose an immense economic, security, and safety threat. We propose a comprehensive detection and prevention framework consisting of a multi-functional on-chip aging sensor, and post-fabrication authentication methodology. This framework targets several classes of counterfeit ICs, such as recycled, remarked, out-of-spec, cloned, and over-produced ICs. First, the new sensor consists of both antifuse memory and aging sensors. To reduce reference-circuit related area-overhead, the initial electronic properties of sensor circuits are stored in a global database, accessed by unique chip via challenge-response pairs. Second, this work consists of a two aging-sensor approach, based on IC wear-out effects, using a recently proposed electromigration (EM) aging sensor and a ring oscillator aging sensor. This method can be effective for chip usage estimation of both short and long time periods. Hence, it can serve as a more accurate timer for the chip to meter the long term usage, which can allow for timed services of some functionality of a chip, in addition to detection of the recycled/remark ICs. Third, on top of the new sensor, we propose a new post-fabrication authentication methodology to detect and prevent non-defective counterfeit ICs. All fabricated ICs will be registered in a global database and activated with a unique chip ID, which is written into the antifuse memory. Simulation results show that the combined aging sensors have a high degree of accuracy when compared to traditional on-chip sensors. Highlights • We propose a new on-chip sensor which combines a one-time programmable (OTP) antifuse memory block with existing aging sensors. Unlike existing methods, here, the memory block is not used as a counter but as a storage for a unique chip ID, timestamp of activation, and other important chip assets. The critical information stored in antifuse memory can be encrypted against tampering and be verified by challenge-response pairs. • The proposed on-chip sensor combines two types of aging sensors to detect short-term and long-term aging effects effectively and area-efficiently. The RO-based sensor is effective for short-time usage detection, and the EM-based aging sensor is accurate and area-efficient for long-term usage detection. The EM-based aging sensor exploits the natural aging/failure mechanism of interconnect wires to time the aging of the chip. It can serve as a more accurate timer for the chip to meter the usage of long time periods. This method enables timed service for some functionality of a chip and can also avoid over-usage of the authorized period for a chip or a system under certain security requirements. • In addition to the on-chip aging sensor, we also propose a post-fabrication authentication methodology to detect and prevent non-defective counterfeit ICs. All fabricated ICs are registered and activated with a unique chip ID in a global database. The unique chip ID will be written into the antifuse memory during a registration process and the chip will be activated. This method not only prevents cloned and over-produced ICs, but also mitigates the need for reference circuits in existing aging sensor designs. This significantly reduces area overhead, as the initial electronic properties of the sensor circuits can be stored in the global database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of GO with different oxidation levels were prepared via a modified Hummers' method, in which the oxidant/graphite ratio and oxidation time were varied. The change of GO structure as a function of oxidation level was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction measurements. The prepared GO were used for reinforcing epoxy resins, and the surfaces of GO were functionalized by the amine hardener during the dispersion process. Microscopic observations show that the oxidation level has a significant impact on the dispersion state of GO in the epoxy matrix. Both GO with the low and high oxidation levels tend to have low degree of dispersion, even aggregate. The influences of oxidation level on the performances of epoxy/GO composites, including curing behaviors, rheological, thermal and mechanical properties, were investigated in detail. Notably, the GO with optimum level of oxidation (denominated as GO-4) shows superior toughening effects on the epoxy matrix, compared to the reported epoxy/GO composites. The incorporation of merely 0.2 wt% GO-4 would yield 56 and 128% enhancement in the critical stress intensity factor ( K IC ) and the critical strain energy release rate ( G IC ), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to prepare Polyethersulfone (PES) melt-spun fibers, epoxy (EP) oligomer was adopted as a novel plasticizer. The plasticization of EP on PES was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and rheological techniques. The results revealed that the glass transition temperature ( T g ), the complex viscosity ( η ∗ ), and melt processing temperature ( T mp ) of PES/EP blends decreased significantly with the increase of EP content. FTIR spectroscopy and rheological behavior demonstrated no signs of crosslinking reactions occurring between PES and EP molecules. Finally, PES melt-spun fibers were successfully obtained by using EP as a plasticizer, showing the highest tensile strength at 2.71 cN/dtex. The morphologies of the fibers observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) presented smooth and uniform surface, and compact fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The ideal management of SAH patients with negative initial DSA findings remains unresolved. Objective. (i) To present risk factors, clinical courses, and outcomes in different types of SAH patients with negative DSA findings; (ii) to explore the differences of basal vein between aSAH patients and NASAH patients; and (iii) to evaluate the value of repeated DSA for these patients. Methods. All SAH patients with negative initial DSA findings between 2013 and 2015 in our hospital were enrolled and were further categorized as perimesencephalic SAH (PMN-SAH) or nonperimesencephalic SAH (nPMN-SAH). Risk factors, clinical courses, outcomes, and the basal vein drainage patterns were compared. Results. A total of 137 patients were enrolled in the present study. The PMN-SAH group had better GOS and mRS values at 1-year follow-up. Moreover, the nPMN-SAH group had a higher rate of complications. The basal vein drainage pattern showed significant difference when comparing each of the NASAH subtypes with aSAH groups. There was a significant higher rate of a responsible aneurysm in nPMN-SAH group upon repeated DSA. Conclusions. SAH patients with negative initial DSA findings had benign clinical courses and outcomes. Repeated DSA studies are strongly advised for patients with the nPMN-SAH pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the tackified PDCPD (PDCPD-T) specialized for vacuum assistant resin infusion process (VARI) was developed. The epoxy resin and methyl nadic anhydride (NMA) was subsequently added to the PDCPD-T to improve the interfacial bonding with the carbon fibres. The results showed that the introduction of NMA-cured epoxy undermined the mechanical properties of the PDCPD-T owing to the agglomeration of the tackifier particles. Nonetheless, the mechanical properties of the CFRCs based on the co-cured blends of the PDCPD-T and the NMA-cured epoxy were comprehensively improved compared to the composites based on the PDCPD-T. The improvement was that a part of NMA-cured epoxy in the co-cured blends would phase separate on the surface of the carbon fibre, which formed the "bridge" connecting the matrix and the carbon fibre. In addition, the degree of the tackifier agglomeration would also decrease due to the decrease in the surrounding epoxy concentration. [Display omitted] • The continuous carbon fiber reinforced polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) composites based on the vacuum-assisted resin infusion process are realized by tackifying the dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) monomer. • The further addition of anhydride-cured epoxy resin to the tackified DCPD monomer solves the problem of poor interfacial bonding between the PDCPD resin and the carbon fiber. • The carbon fiber composites based on the modified PDCPD matrix are proved to be far superior in interlaminar fracture toughness and impact resistance than the epoxy-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Sn doped TiO 2 (Sn-TiO 2) coating CsPbBr 3 perovskite quantum dots to prepared core–shell CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 nanocrystals. • The CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 prepared using solution techniques such as supersaturation recrystallization, sol–gel coating, and solvothermal crystallization. • The CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 have wider absorption range and higher photocatalytic activity. • The CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 can sustainably work in the aqueous system for a long time. All-inorganic perovskite materials have attracted much attention in the field of photocatalysts due to their unique photoelectric properties.However, the inherent poor stability of perovskite quantum dots significantlyhinders their practical applications. Herein, to settle the instabilities of inorganic perovskite materials, Sn-TiO 2 coated CsPbBr 3 quantum dots named CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 , are fabricated via resaturated recrystallization, sol–gel coating and solvothermal crystallization.The XRD results demonstrated that the core–shell structure of CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 nanocrystals was successfully synthesized.Moreover, excellent dispersion is verified for CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 nanocrystals with a core–shell structure by TEM. The particle size of CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 nanocrystals is 15–30 nm, where the core size for CsPbBr 3 quantum dots is 4–8 nm, and the Sn-TiO 2 shell thickness is 2–8 nm.The photocatalytic activity of nanocomposites was studied by the photodegradation of RhB aqueous solution under the irradiation of 100 mWcm−2 air mass 1.5 global AM1.5G sunlight. Compared with traditional photocatalyst P25, the core–shell structured CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 nanocrystals exhibited better photocatalytic performance, with a degradation efficiency of 96.6% and a degradation rate constant of 10.68 × 10-2 min−1 in 30 min of catalytic time, which was five times higher than that of P25.The core–shell structured CsPbBr 3 /Sn-TiO 2 nanocrystals have long-term stability in water system and have potential practical application value in the field of environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web-reinforced foam sandwich structures have excellent mechanical properties due to the enhancement of the structural moment of inertia and the increase in the degree of integration. The present study prepared foam sandwich composites and web-reinforced foam sandwich composites through a novel thermal expansion molding process (TEMP). In addition, four conventional structures, including laminate, foam sandwich, I-beam composite, and web-reinforced foam sandwich structures, were prepared using vacuum-bag-only (VBO) technology. The feasibility of the technology was explored through the structure and properties of foam, the matching of foam and resin, and the porosity of the composites after forming. The three-point bending test showed that the stiffness and strength of the web reinforced foam sandwich prepared by TEMP technology are increased by 18.8% and 4.1%, respectively, compared with VBO technology. Moreover, the TEMP technology was more effective in processing the sandwich composite compared with the VBO technology. The failure mechanisms of the web-reinforced foam sandwich composite for the three-point bending experiment were determined by finite element analysis (FEA), and the accuracy of the finite element model was verified. The TEMP technology involved in this research provides guidance for the application of complex web-reinforced foam sandwich composites in the field of lightweight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The AMF with different densities was prepared by liquid-liquid interface self-assembly method. • A series of AMF@SiO 2 @NaYbF 4 : 2%Er3+ composite structures were constructed to enhance UC emission intensity of Er3+ ions. • The UC emission intensity of the single NaYbF 4 : 2%Er3+ microdisk was enhanced by 6.98 time. • The physics mechanism of the plasmon-enhanced UC luminescence is carefully studied. [Display omitted] Harnessing the precious metal plasmon effect is a powerful way to enhance the upconversion luminescence of rare-earth materials, so it has received extensive attention from researchers. In this study, a series of AMF@SiO 2 @NaYbF 4 : Er3+ composite structures were constructed with an Au mono-layer film (AMF) as the substrates and SiO 2 as the isolation layer to enhance the upconversion emission intensity of a single NaYbF 4 : 2%Er3+ microdisk. When the size of Au nanoparticles was 72 nm and the thickness of the SiO 2 isolation layer was 24 nm, the upconversion emission enhancement factor of the single NaYbF 4 : 2%Er3+ microdisk reached 6.98 under 980 nm laser excitation, due mainly to the enhancement of the local electromagnetic field. The upconversion luminescence properties of a single NaYbF 4 : 2%Er3+ microdisk were significantly affected by the size of Au nanoparticles, the density of the AMF substrate, and the thickness of the SiO 2 isolation layer. The plasmon-enhanced upconversion luminescence mechanism was studied according to its luminescence properties, dynamic tests, and theoretical simulation. The synergistic effects in the local electromagnetic field, luminescence quenching, and local surface plasmon resonance effect are also discussed. The results of this research provide an invaluable theoretical basis for enhancing the upconversion luminescence of rare-earth materials with the help of AMF substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: To compare the effects of various recombinant growth factors on bladder regeneration and angiogenesis for tissue engineering of bladder in patients with neurogenic bladder through in vitro cellular biological methods. Materials and methods: Human bladder smooth muscle cells (HBSMCs) and human bladder urothelial cells (HBUCs) were cultured from patients with neurogenic bladder and used for comparative evaluations of various growth factors. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also used. Eight potential growth factors, platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB), platelet-derived growth factor CC (PDGF-CC), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), were selected and their effects on the proliferation, migration, and wound healing of HBSMCs, HBUCs, and HUVECs were compared. Results: PDGF-BB, PDGF-CC, bFGF, VEGF, IGF-1, or HGF enhanced the proliferation, migration, and wound healing of HBSMCs, whereas TGF-β1 inhibited their proliferation. Proliferation, migration, and wound healing of HBUCs and HUVECs were enhanced by bFGF, VEGF, EGF, IGF-1, or HGF, whereas inhibited by TGF-β1. PDGF-BB failed to enhance cell activity of HUVECs, whereas PDGF-CC could enhance their migration and wound healing. PDGF-BB, EGF, and VEGF were the most potent factors for stimulating the activities of HBSMCs, HBUCs, and HUVECs, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings suggest the potential use of a combination of PDGF-BB, EGF, and VEGF for bladder regeneration and angiogenesis. The synergetic effects of the three growth factors on cell activities in a three-dimensional scaffold and an animal model with neurogenic bladder need to be further evaluated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Swine influenza viruses (SIV) are zoonotic pathogens that pose a potential threat to human health. In this study, we analyzed the differential mitochondrial proteomes of H3N2 SIV-infected human lung A549 cells using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) analysis. In the comparative analysis, 24 altered proteins (13 upregulated and 11 downregulated) were identified in the mitochondria of H3N2 SIV-infected cells; these proteins were involved in cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, cellular movement, and post-translational modification. Moreover, the transcriptional profiles of 16 genes corresponding to the identified proteins were estimated by real time RT-PCR. IPA analysis suggested that the differentially expressed proteins were clustered primarily into the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and d-glucose signaling pathways. In addition, oxidative phosphorylation and integrin signaling appeared to be major pathways modulated in the mitochondria of infected cells. We further demonstrated that apolipoprotein L2 was upregulated in the cytoplasm and translocated to mitochondria during virus infection. These results were verified by Western blot analysis coupled with confocal microscopy. Collectively, the mitochondrial proteome data provide insights to further understand the underlying mechanisms of H3N2 SIV cross-species infection. Biological significance: In recent years, proteomics has emerged as an indispensable tool to unveil the complex molecular events in virology. we firstly perform mitochondrial proteomic profiles of human cells infected with H3N2 subtype SIV to understand virus–host interactions, and 24 differentially expressed proteins in mitochondrial proteomes were identified in SIV-infected cells. The proteins that were identified to have differential expression were involved in cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, post-translational modification, cell morphology, cellular assembly, cell death, and energy production. Furthermore, Western blot analysis and a confocal assay further demonstrated that the cellular protein APOL2 partially co-localized with mitochondria after virus infection. This is a very important discovery in the underlying replication and pathogenesis of SIV which provides a potential target clue for the design of anti-SIV drugs. Our results will inspire basic study on SIV infection and drive the understanding for replication and pathogenesis of SIV to control this disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Previous studies show that triptolide (TPT), a diterpenoid isolated from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f, inhibits dendritic cell (DCs) maturation. Whether TPT-conditioned DCs (TPT-DCs) may regulate allospecific immune responses remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of TPT on allostimulatory function and phenotype of rat bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs). Methods: Brown Norway rats BMDCs were cultured with or without TPT and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). IL-10 in supernatants was quantitatively measured, and the cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and used as stimulators in mixed leukocyte reaction in which naive Lewis rat T lymphocytes were used as responders. The tolerogenic potential of TPT-BMDCs was evaluated in vivo in a rat model of MHC fully mismatched kidney transplantation. Results: After treatment with TPT, BMDCs remained immature with low expression of CD80 and CD86 in the presence of LPS. At low concentrations of TPT (1 and 2.5 nM), BMDCs produced higher levels of IL-10 than the untreated cells (431 and 205.4 pg/ml, respectively, vs. 122.9 pg/ml, p < .05). T cells cocultured with TPT-BMDCs were hyporesponsive in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction. The CD25+foxp3+Treg cell populations increased from 19.9% to 29.7% in the coculture system. Without immunosuppressive therapy, infusion of TPT-BMDCs in recipients before transplantation prolonged rat kidney allograft survival (18.8 ± 1.30 days). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that TPT inhibits the maturation and allogenicity of BMDCs and promotes the expansion of CD25+foxp3+ regulatory T cells. It suggests that TPT-DCs are potentially useful for preventing kidney transplant rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The maximum contribution ratio of snowmelt water to runoff was 59.8% higher than inland mountainous areas in Erdaobaihe River Watershed. • The response of water supply to climate change in semi-humid areas was very significant. • Snowmelt waterwill affect the balance of local water resources under the scenarios of global warming. Snow is an important form of water storage which profoundly affects the hydrological processes in alpine watersheds, especially the runoff during snowmelt period. As the strong impact of climate change, the concern about snowmelt water to runoff in alpine watersheds is dramatically growing. However, the studies are mainly focused on arid and semi-arid areas, the research on semi-humid regions sensitive to the climate change need to be strengthened. In this study, for evaluating the contribution of snowmelt water to runoff in snowmelt period, we calculated the stable isotope values (δD, δ18O and d -excess) of different water bodies including river, snow, rain, groundwater, and snowmelt water in the Erdaobaihe River watershed of Changbai Mountains area. The results indicated that the δ18O values of snowmelt water showed an increasing trend with increasing temperature, while the d-excess values of snowmelt water showed a decreasing trend. During the snowmelt period, the snow cover ratio varied from 20.31% to 0.02%. The contribution ratio of snowmelt water to runoff was from 14.4% to 59.8% with average of 42.60% and the total contribution discharge was about 36.56 × 106 m3, which was higher than inland mountainous areas as different elevation and climate. As the stable water source of river, the groundwater contributed 19.2–61.6% with average of 43.88%. The snowmelt water plays an important role in regional water balance. Owing to climate change, the snowfall period in Changbai Mountains was gradually shortening and extreme snowfall events were increasing. The results will provide evidence for further hydrological studies and help to plan future water management strategies in the alpine watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fiber-reinforced composite (FRP) shaft need to consider vibration performance of the transmission system to improve work efficiency, comfort, service life and safety. The fiber materials and tubes containing metal connectors are important parts of the FRP shaft so that the study on the vibration performance of these two key components is of great significance for an in-depth understanding of the vibration performance of shafts. The finite element analysis (FEA), pulse vibration excitation technique (PVET) and formula computing were used to study the effect of the vibration characteristics of shafts. This study revealed that increasing the modulus of the fiber is one of the effective methods to increase the natural frequency of the FRP tube and the damping ratio of the carbon FRP tubes were slightly smaller compared with basalt and glass fiber. The FEA of FRP tube results were not distinct from the measured and calculated results so that these FEA results were relatively reliable. The damping of the tube with metal flanges at both ends were weaken compared the FRP tube. This work will be of great significance to the optimization design of the vibration performance of FRP shafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent optical network (TON) is now rapidly booming to be popular, and a threat of an all-optical crosstalk attack with high power will emerge. In this paper, the penalty of crosstalk attack propagation, including intrachannel crosstalk inside the optical cross-connects, as well as direct and indirect interchannel crosstalk within fibers, is evaluated. Our work has proved that these crosstalk attacks do propagate in the TON but with limited propagation stages, which will be useful for the planning, management, and design of TON. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Triptolide (TPT), a component of the Chinese herb Triptergium wilfordii, has potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activity and is used clinically in recipients of kidney transplantation. Aim of the study: This work aimed to investigate the effect of TPT on the differentiation of regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) from CD4+ cells in rats. Materials and methods: MACS-purified rat CD4+ cells were costimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 in the presence of TGF-β to induce the expression of FoxP3, which was detected by flow cytometry. TPT and cyclosporine A (CsA) were separately added into the cultures to observe the effect on the expression of FoxP3. Kidney transplantation was performed in rats that either received no treatment or were treated with TPT after transplantation. Results: TPT treatment enhanced the expression of FoxP3 in CD4+ cells, whereas CsA inhibited the FoxP3 expression. In the rat kidney transplantation model, the recipient rats treated with TPT survived longer than the control rats (18–19.83 vs 6.83 days, P <0.05). Meanwhile, the FoxP3+ T cells in the spleens of treated rats were higher than those from the untreated rats (12.4% vs 4.7%, P <0.05). Conclusions: These data suggest that TPT may promote the differentiation of CD4+ cells to FoxP3+ Tregs. This would be at least one of the pathways responsible for the immunosuppressive activity of TPT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction. The high incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in diabetes highlights the need for good treatment strategies. Recent evidence indicates that blockade of the angiotensin type I receptor (AT1) may reverse ED from various diseases. Aim. To explore the role of cavernous renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the pathogenesis of diabetic ED and the role of losartan in the treatment of diabetic ED. Methods. The AT1 blocker (ARB) losartan (30 mg/kg/d) was administered to rats with streptozocin (65 mg/kg)-induced diabetes. Erectile function, cavernous structure, and tissue gene and protein expression of RAS in the corpora cavernosa were studied. Main Outcome Measure. We sought to determine the changes of cavernous RAS in the condition of diabetes and after treatment with losartan. Results. RAS components (angiotensinogen, [pro]renin receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE], and AT1) were expressed in cavernosal tissue. In diabetic rats, RAS components were upregulated, resulting in the increased concentration of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the corpora. A positive feedback loop for Ang II formation in cavernosum was also identified, which could contribute to overactivity of cavernous RAS in diabetic rats. Administration of losartan blocked the effect of Ang II, downregulated the expression of AT1 and Ang II generated locally, and partially restored erectile function (losartan-treated group revealed an improved intracavernous pressure/mean systemic arterial pressure ratio as compared with the diabetic group (0.480 ± 0.031 vs. 0.329 ± 0.020, P < 0.01). However, losartan could not elevate the reduced smooth muscle/collagen ratio in diabetic rats. Conclusions. The cavernous RAS plays a role in modulating erectile function in corpora cavernosa and is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic ED. ARB can restore diabetic ED through downregulating cavernous RAS. Yang R, Yang B, Wen Y, Fand F, Cui S, Lin G, Sun Z, Wang R, and Dai Y. Losartan, an angiotensin type I receptor blocker, restores erectile function by down-regulation of cavernous renin-angiotensin system in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. J Sex Med 2009;6:696–707. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoplastic composites have the characteristics of high strength, fatigue resistance and easy recycling. They have received wide attention and are used in construction, automobile and other fields. An accurate monitoring technique is necessary for monitoring their internal state in the molding process and structure health in the service process. Traditional mechanical and electrical sensors have many disadvantages, such as large size and slow response. Therefore, they are not appropriate for embedded measuring and real-time monitoring. Optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors present many advantages over traditional and other advanced sensors, such as resistance to electromagnetic interference, light weight and less influence on materials. Generally, FBGs are embedded in composites and/or structures to monitor temperature and strain. The principle of FBG sensor and three key demodulation techniques are introduced firstly, including tunable Fabry-Perot (F-P) filter demodulation, especially the high-speed demodulation technique based on swept wavelength tunable laser, linear filter demodulation and matched grating. Secondly, the progress of monitoring technology based on FBGs for three molding scheme is reviewed, including hot compression molding, fused deposition molding and automated fiber placement molding. Thirdly, the progress of structural health monitoring for thermoplastic composites is also reviewed. Finally, some intelligent thermoplastic composite structures based on FBGs are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Have prepreg with excellent performance and ability to be stored at room temperature ready. • Consistently study the hygrothermal aging performance of CFRP. • Anticipate the natural lifespan of carbon fiber composites to exceed 60 years. In this research, we investigated the hygrothermal aging process and mechanism of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) prepared by prepreg and suitable to be stored at room temperature. By submerging CFRP in distilled water under different temperatures, we have conducted moisture absorption, chemical structure, mechanical properties, fracture morphology, thermal properties and lifespan prediction of CFRP. The prepreg system may be stored for at least 60 days at room temperature, due to the results of FT-IR and DSC analysis. The moisture absorption is increased linearly with the square root of aging time; it follows the Fick's second law. An important part in the hygrothermal aging of CFRP is taken by plasticization and degradation. It is predicted by the residual strength model, that the lifespan under natural conditions is greater than 60 years. We believe that this study can benefit the extensive and safe application of prepreg that is suitable to be stored at room temperature in engineering application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filament-wound composite tubular structures are frequently used in transmission systems, pressure vessels, and sports equipment. In this study, the failure mechanism of composite tubes reinforced with different fibres under low-velocity impact (LVI) and the radial residual compression performance of the impacted composite tubes were investigated. Four fibres, including carbon fiber-T800, carbon fiber-T700, basalt fibre, and glass fibre, were used to fabricate the composite tubes by the winding process. The internal matrix/fibre interface of the composite tubes before the LVI and their failure mechanism after the LVI were investigated by scanning electric microscopy and X-ray micro-computed tomography, respectively. The results showed that the composite tubes mainly fractured through the delamination and fibre breakage damage under the impact of 15 J energy. Delamination and localized fibre breakage occur in the glass fibre-reinforced composite (GFRP) and basalt fibre-reinforced composite (BFRP) tubes when subjected to LVI. While fibre breakage damage occurs globally in the carbon fibre-reinforced composite (CFRP) tubes. The GFRP tube showed the best impact resistance among all the tubes investigated. The basalt fibre-reinforced composite (BFRP) tube exhibited the lowest structural impact resistance. The impact resistance of the CFRP-T700 and CFRP-T800 tube differed slightly. The radial residual compression strength (R-RCS) of the BFRP tube is not sensitive to the impact, while that of the GFRP tube is shown to be highly sensitive to the impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we successfully synthesized silver-coated gold nanorods (Au@Ag NRs) via a facile wet chemical method. The catalytic property of Au@Ag NRs in water solution was much better than that of Au NRs in water solution. To obtain high catalytic properties, we self-assembled a single-layer Au@Ag NR array by evaporation on a silicon wafer. The catalytic activity of the Au@Ag NR array was probed using the reduction of 4-nitrothiophenol. The reaction processes were monitored and identified through in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based on the confocal Raman microscope system. This study provides a simple and fast method to improve the catalytic property of the noble nanoparticles. • Ag@Au nanorods(NRs) are rationally designed and fabricated via a facile wet chemical method, which have better catalytic property than Au NRs. • A single-layer Au@Ag NRs array is successfully self-assembled by evaporation on a silicon wafer. • The catalytic performance of Au@Ag NRs array using the reduction of 4-nitrothiophenol (4NTP) is chosen as a model reaction. • The reaction processes are real-time monitored through in situ SERS spectroscopy with the confocal Raman microscope system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nano/micro-materials exhibit superior and fascinating optical properties due to their unique 4f–4f transitions. They have been extensively investigated in various fields. Thus, studying the upconversion optical characteristic, especially for Er3+, Tm3+, and Ho3+ ions, is extremely important and useful. In this work, a strong upconversion emission with a candy-like fluorescent pattern has been discovered in a single NaYF 4 : Yb3+/Ho3+ microrod via confocal microscopy under NIR 980 nm excitation. When the Yb3+ ion-doped concentrations and the excitation power are increased, the Ho3+ ions show an increased blue emission intensity and high R/G ratio in single NaYF 4 microrod, which is due to the cross-relaxation between Ho3+ ions. The corresponding upconversion emission behaviors and physical mechanisms have been studied on the basis of the spectral characteristics of Ho3+ ions and rate equations. Meanwhile, the candy-like emission pattern of single NaYF 4 microrod is explained by establishing optical models, which because of the occurrence of fluorescence total reflection. The present study is of great importance in NaYF 4 micro-materials doped with rare-earth ions, thereby providing new applications in optical anti-counterfeiting, 3D-displays, and wave-guides. Image 1 • The effect of Yb3+ ions concentrations and excitation power on the upconversion emission of Ho3+ ions have been discussed. • The higher R/G ratio of Ho3+ ions has been explained by rate equations. • The candy-like pattern of single NaYF 4 microrod has been studied by established optical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a phase inversion approach was employed to fabricate four different thicknesses (20 μm to 100 μm) of polyethersulfone (PES) porous films with visible holes (1 hole/cm2) on the surface, applied as interleaves to improve the interlaminar fracture toughness of carbon fiber/epoxy composite laminates prepared by vacuum assistant resin infusion process (VARI). The film could dissolve into the epoxy resin which as clearly evident by the optical microscopy under a controlled condition. It was noted that the thickness of the resin-rich layer and the distribution of PES microspheres in the interlaminar layer depended on the thickness of the PES porous film. Also, mode I and mode II fracture toughness, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), flexural properties as well as tensile properties of the CF/EP composites had all been characterized and analyzed in detail and in order. The results demonstrated that mode I and mode II fracture energies at the optimal interleaved laminates for the toughened system were increased by 61.5% and 55.1% compared to the composites without interleaves, respectively. Besides, PES porous film interleaved laminates displayed an increase of 32% for the interlaminar shear strength and no significant changes in the flexural and tensile properties. It was observed that the films induced toughening via two mechanisms: i) cohesive failure in a thicker resin region and ii) crack deflection and microcrack caused by PES microspheres, illustrated in the microstructure analysis of the failure surfaces and the observations of the crack propagation path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most promising bio-based materials, but its inherent hydrophobicity limits its application. Although nanocellulose (NCC) is a desirable reinforcement for PLA, the poor interface compatibility between the two has been a challenge. In this work, hydroxyapatite (HAP) modified NCC was prepared, and the obtained NCC/HAP reinforcement was used to prepare PLA/NCC-HAP composites. Different ratios of NCC to HAP were studied to explore their effects on the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of the composites. When the ratio of NCC to HAP was 30/70, the tensile strength and tensile modulus of the composite film reached 45.6 MPa and 2.34 GPa, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis results indicate that thermal stability of the composites was significantly improved compared with pure PLA, reaching 346.6 °C. The above revelations show that NCC/HAP significantly improved the interface compatibility with PLA matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When monitoring the environment with wireless sensor networks, the data sensed by the nodes within event backbone regions can adequately represent the events. As a result, identifying event backbone regions is a key issue for wireless sensor networks. With this aim, we propose a distributed and morphological operation-based data collection algorithm. Inspired by the use of morphological erosion and dilation on binary images, the proposed distributed and morphological operation-based data collection algorithm calculates the structuring neighbors of each node based on the structuring element, and it produces an event-monitoring map of structuring neighbors with less cost and then determines whether to erode or not. The remaining nodes that are not eroded become the event backbone nodes and send their sensing data. Moreover, according to the event backbone regions, the sink can approximately recover the complete event regions by the dilation operation. The algorithm analysis and experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can lead to lower overhead, decrease the amount of transmitted data, prolong the network lifetime, and rapidly recover event regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]