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Energy modeling and visualization of machining have been recognized as effective and powerful ways to explore energy-saving potential and to improve energy efficiency. However, energy modeling and visualization of the drilling process have not been investigated adequately. To address this challenge, sub-power models-based energy modeling and multi-angle energy visualization analysis methods of drilling process were proposed in this study. More specifically, three tasks were carried out: (1) detailed sub-power models of drilling were established; (2) sub-power models-based energy modeling method of drilling was proposed; (3) based on the detailed sub-power models and energy data, multi-angle energy visualization analysis was conducted. Application of the proposed drilling energy model in common drilling processes indicated that its average prediction accuracy of the proposed drilling energy model was 96.2%. The results also showed that 7417.8 J energy saving and 12.6% energy efficiency improvement were achieved with the visualization analysis. The proposed method contributed to energy-saving activities for the drilling process, including providing high accuracy energy model, analyzing energy saving potential and improving energy efficiency. We believe that the outcomes of this research can help engineers and managers to better understand and manage the energy characteristics of drilling. • Proposing a new, sub-power-based energy modeling method of drilling. • Average prediction accuracy of drilling energy is improved to 96.2%. • A novel multi-angle energy visualization analysis method is proposed. • 7417.8 J energy saving potential is identified by energy visualization analyzing. • Energy efficiency is improved by 12.6% through implementing the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To enhance the enantioselectivity of a hyperthermophilic esterase from archaeon Aeropyrum pernix K1 (APE1547), a directed evolution approach is employed to generate mutant library from the native enzyme. A mutation (TBC26) is identified after one round of epPCR. The enantioselectivity of TBC26 is increased up to 2.6-fold compared to that of wild type enzyme. TBC26 contains five amino acid substitutions (R11G, L36P, V223A, I551L, A564T). The five mutation sites are spatially distant to the catalytic center. According to the published crystal structure of WT and considering the changes of secondary and tertiary structure, here we try to explain the change of enantioselectivity of the TBC26. The results suggest that the change of enantioselectivity of enzyme has a close relationship to the configuration of the enzyme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new compound Ce6−x Ln x MoO15−δ has been synthesized by wet-chemistry method. Their crystal structure and oxide ionic conductivity were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Raman, IR spectrum and A.C. impedance technique. The XRD results showed that Ce6MoO15−δ , Ce5LnMoO15−δ have cubic symmetry with Fm3m space group. The refined lattice parameters showed that their lattice constants decrease with the decrease of the ionic radius of Ln3+. The electrochemical measurements showed that the ionic conductivity of resulting oxides Ce6−x Ln x MoO15−δ have an enhance, which may be a kind of promising material for SOFCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dysregulation of SUMO modification is linked to carcinogenesis. UBC9 is the sole conjugating enzyme in sumoylation and plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis and restraining stress reactions. However, the clinical significance and function of UBC9 in bladder cancer remain unclear. In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of UBC9. UBC9 knock-down and SUMO inhibition were conducted followed by proliferation, migration, and cell cycle assays. RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were used to identify potential mechanisms of UBC9. Cytokine membrane antibody array was used to detect the expression of cytokine. The mass cytometry TOF (CyTOF) was used to explore the association between bladder cancer stem cell-like population and UBC9 expression. Our results showed that UBC9 played a dual role in bladder cancer. UBC9 was up-regulated in bladder cancer, but was negatively correlated with TNM stage and grade. Knocking-down of UBC9 resulted in dramatic activation of inflammatory gene expression, which might cause inhibition of cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis. IL6 was the hub gene in UBC9 regulatory network. Markedly up-regulated IL6 after knocking-down of UBC9 activated the expression of CD44, which was a prominent marker of cancer stem cells. Thus, our results revealed an important and previously undescribed role for UBC9 in modulation of inflammatory signaling of bladder cancer. UBC9 in bladder cancer cells is required to maintain high sumoylation levels and alleviate stress-related inflammation threats to cell survival. Lacking UBC9 contributes to inflammation activation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and stem cell-like population formation, leading to cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xiaokeyinshui (XKYS) formula, an anti-diabetic formula, was recorded in many ancient Chinese medical books. Xiaokeyinshui extract combination (XEC) originated from this ancient formula, consisting extracts of four herbal drugs, namely, Coptidis Rhizoma, Liriopes Radix, bitter melon, and Cassiae Semen. Therapeutic effects of Xiaokeyinshui extract combination (XEC) were assessed on diabetic rats. Herb extracts were prepared and mixed, yielding XEC. XEC were intragastrically given at doses of 260, 380 and 500 mg/kg/d to diabetic rats for 60 days. Anti-diabetic effects of XEC were studied, with measurement of body weight, and assessment of both glycemic control and lipid management. Measurement of oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines were conducted in accordance to protocols of commercial kits. Parameters related to renal functions were also measured. Western blot (WB) analysis was performed to explore the anti-diabetic and renal protective mechanisms of XEC. Compared to diabetic control, XEC exhibited significant effects in both glucose-lowering and lipid management (p < 0.01). Both oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines were reduced after treatment of XEC for two months. In addition, XEC exhibited renal protective effects. WB analysis of liver tissue demonstrated that XEC achieved anti-diabetic effects through up-regulation of InsRα/IRS-1/PI3K/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathway and phosphorylation of AMPK. In addition, renal protective effects were also achieved with down-regulation of RAGE and VEGF expressions in kidney. XEC exerts promising anti-diabetic and renal protective effects on diabetic rats in multi-target mechanisms. XEC could be a satisfying alternative treating T2DM and preventing diabetic nephropathy. Image 1 • Xiaokeyinshui extract combination (XEC) with fixed formula was reported, with its HPLC profiles in two sets of detectors. • Anti-diabetic and renal protective effects of XEC were observed in diabetic rats. • XEC could up-regulate InsRα/IRS-1/PI3K/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathway and phosphorylation of AMPK in liver. • XEC exerts renal protective effects on diabetic rats, including down-regulation of expressions of both RAGE and VEGF. • XEC could be a satisfying alternative treating diabetes mellitus and preventing diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconium-based metal−organic frameworks, namely Zr-based MOF, was employed as adsorbent material in the miniaturized solid phase extraction of organic mercury compounds in food prior to capillary electrophoresis-diode array detector analysis. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. Parameters influencing the extraction and complexation of methylmercury chloride, ethylmercury chloride and phenylmercury chloride such as type of eluent solvent, type and amount of adsorbent were investigated. In addition, linear ranges contained 2.00–300.00 ng mL−1 for MeHg+, 5.00–500.00 ng mL−1 for EtHg+ and PhHg+, and the established method presented good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.998). Under the optimized experimental conditions, the ranges of detection limit and quantitation limit were 0.022–0.067 ng mL−1 and 0.073–0.220 ng mL−1, respectively. The relative standard deviations of intra- and inter-day analysis were less than 3.2 and 3.1%, respectively. Trueness of the present method was successfully accomplished by means of the recovery assays (81.4–98.5%) in the blank samples with two concentration levels. The repeatability %RSD of the method was lower than 2.7%. Overall, the developed approach proved to have the latent capability to be utilized in routine analysis of organic mercury compounds in fish and Dendrobium officinale. Image 1 • MOFs- DUT-67 acts as adsorbent for in situ complexation of mercury compounds. • The Mini-SPE procedure was established to preconcentrate the organic mercury. • The approach was applied in fish and D. officinale samples. • Satisfactory validation characteristics, low LOD and good recovery were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates aerosol hygroscopicity, mixing state, and cloud condensation nucleation as part of the Atmosphere–Aerosol–Boundary Layer–Cloud Interaction Joint Experiment performed in the summer of 2016 at Xingtai (XT), a suburban site located in the center of the North China Plain (NCP). In general, the probability density function (PDF) of the hygroscopicity parameter (κ) for 40–200nm particles had a unimodal distribution, and mean κ-PDF patterns for different sizes were similar, suggesting that the particles were highly aged and internally mixed because of strong photochemical reactions. The κ calculated from the hygroscopic growth factor in the daytime and at night suggests that photochemical reactions largely enhanced the aerosol hygroscopicity. This effect became weaker as the particle size increased. In addition, the aerosol hygroscopicity was much larger at XT than at other sites in the NCP. This is because new particle formation takes place much more frequently in the central NCP, which is heavily polluted from industrial activities, than elsewhere in the region. The evolution of the planetary boundary layer played a dominant role in dictating aerosol mass concentration. Particle size was the most important factor influencing the ability of aerosols to activate, whereas the effect of chemical composition was secondary, especially when supersaturation was high. Using a fixed value of κ = 0.31 to calculate the cloud condensation nuclei number concentration in this region suffices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited evidences were reported about the risk of pre-pregnancy hair dye use or irregular menstruation with abnormal birth weight during pregnancy, and their joint effects were also unknown. The aim of our study was to explore whether the pre-pregnancy exposure of hair dye and irregular menstruation were associated with the risk of abnormal birth weight.Methods: We conducted a nested case-control study from a prospective cohort of 6203 pregnant women. Low birth weight study included 315 mother-infant pairs (105 LBW cases and 210 matched controls), and macrosomia study included 381 mother-infant pairs (127 macrosomia cases and 254 matched controls). Meanwhile, lifestyle information including hair dying custom and menstrual history were collected by face-to-face questionnaires and birth outcomes were extracted from the medical records. The logistic regressions models were used to analyze the join effect of irregular menstruation and hair dye use.Results: Pre-pregnancy hair dye use was associated with increased risk of LBW (adjusted OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.01-2.92, P = 0.048). Irregular menstruation had high risk of LBW (adjusted OR = 2.79, 95% CI: 1.53-5.09, P = 0.001) and macrosomia (adjusted OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.09-3.44, P = 0.023). Additionally, in the LBW study, women who used hair dye with pre-pregnancy BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 had higher OR than those with only one risk factor (3.07 vs 2.53, P trend = 0.015), and women with both hair dye use and irregular menstruation also had higher risk than those with only one factor (4.53 vs 2.07, P trend = 0.05). Moreover, in macrosomia study, women with irregular menstruation and pre-pregnancy BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 had higher risk than those with one factor (13.31 vs 2.09, P trend = 0.001).Conclusion: Our study showed that either pre-pregnancy hair dye use or irregular menstruation was associated with abnormal birth weight, especially, their joint effects could furthermore increase the risk of low birth weight infants when these two factors existed simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]