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We report here the results of nanoparticle-catalyzed synthesis of a variety of silica nanocoils (SiNCs) under similar growth conditions to those of making regular straight silica/silicon nanowires (SiNWs). Synthesis of individual SiNCs with alternating coiled and straight segments was achieved with cobalt nanoparticle catalysts at alternating temperatures. In addition, a variety of SiNCs, including multiple SiNCs sharing the same nanoparticle catalyst, SiNC double helices, and individual SiNCs with varying pitches and diameters were made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO_2 and l%Ce^{3+}-TiO_2 prepared by hydrothermal method were characterized by means of XRD and UV-visible diffusive reflectance spectra (DRS). The results of DRS analysis indicated that the 1%Ce^{3+}-TiO_2 catalyst had significant optical absorption in the visible region between 400–450 nm because electrons could be excited from the valence band of TiO_2 or cerium oxides to Ce 4f level. To investigate the photocatalytic activity of different catalysts for crop fungal disease control, a series of Quine tests were carried out for cucumber powdery mildew and litchi downy blight control in home-made photocatalytic reactor. The results showed that TiO_2 photocatalysis technique should be effective to inhibit the growth of fungal diseases to some extent and P-25 had a higher activity for antifungal control than home-made TiO_2 catalysts. TiO_2-A prepared with Ti(SO_4)_2 is more active to contro 1 antifungal disease than TiO_2-B prepared with TiOSO_4 as precursor because the crystalline of TiO_2-A was higher than that of TiO_2-B. The antifungal index litchi downy blight control was greatly enhanced by doping 1% cerium ion. The antifungal index of 1.0%Ce^{3+}-TiO_2 was (47.0±4.7)%, (82.2±3.5)%, (100±0.0)% under indoor weaker light, solar light and black light, respectively. The results of field experiments showed that the antifungal index of 1.0%Ce^{3+}-TiO_2 was more than that of P-25. The antifungal index of 1.0%Ce^{3+}-TiO_2 was (81.7 ±6.5)%, (67.5 ±4.7)%, (38.6 ±1.9)% for litchi downy blight, maize southern leaf spot, and rice blast, respectively. It was concluded that TiO_2 photocatalysis technique should be an effective way for litchi fungal disease control in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Narrow size distribution Ni nanocrystals with average diameters from 5 to 13 nm (∼20% standard deviation) and a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure were synthesized via rapid thermo-decomposition in the presence of surfactants in solution. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize these nanocrystals. It was found that the solvent determined the rate of the decomposition of Ni precursors, while the surfactants controlled the size and shape of Ni nanocrystals. A three-step process was proposed to explain the synthesis. The purified Ni nanocrystals readily formed micrometer-sized ring structures on TEM grids after solvent evaporation (hexanes), and the magnetic field was found to increase the density of the rings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) and alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) are two plausible candidate genes for Alzheimer disease (AD) based on their important biological function and positional information. To date, numerous studies have investigated their possible association with AD but the results are controversial. Methods: To investigate the potential genetic contribution of the two genes in the Han Chinese population, we performed a case-control association study using 10 polymorphisms (4 in LRP1 and 6 in A2M) that span approximately the whole corresponding gene. Results: Comparison of allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies for polymorphisms in A2M revealed no significant differences between patients and control subjects. For the LRP1 gene, however, we found an overrepresentation of the CTCG haplotype in the control group (p = .002). The difference was still of statistical significance in the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 negative subjects (pCTCG = .003). Multiple logistic regression analysis did not show any evidence of synergism between A2M, LRP1, and APOE. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the CTCG haplotype of LRP1 may reduce the risk of late-onset AD, but A2M is not associated with this disease in the Han Chinese population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is associated with close contact to SARS patients and droplet secretions of those patients. The finding of positive RT-PCR results from stools of SARS patients suggests that stools of SARS patients or sewage containing stools of patients could transmit SARS-CoV. We used a novel style of electropositive filter media particle to concentrate the SARS-CoV from the sewage of two hospitals receiving SARS patients in Beijing. We also used cell culture, RT-PCR and gene sequencing to detect and identify the viruses from sewage. No infectious SARS-CoV contamination was found in any of the samples collected, but the nucleic acid of SARS-CoV could be detected in the sewage from the two hospitals before disinfection. While the RNA was only detected in three samples from the 309th Hospital, the others were negative after disinfection. These findings provide strong evidence that SARS-CoV can be excreted through the stool/urine of patients into sewage system, thus making the sewage system a possible route of transmission. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report a coherenti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy method using tailored ultrafast pulses from a broadband chirped-pulse-amplification Ti: Sapphire laser. Three input waves were obtained at the pulse compressing stage. An air-spaced etalon was used to generate the narrow band waves (2ω1), and a hard aperture mask was used to produce the broadband wave (ω2). Spectral resolution as high as 7 cm-1 can be achieved with the etalon, and the temporal resolution was ∼1 picosecond. Two-dimensional (2D) time-resolved vibrational CARS spectrographs covering 820–1500 cm-1 were obtained from opaque and transparent thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 3, 5, and 12-nm Co nanoparticles were synthesized via thermo-decomposition. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) were used to probe the structures of these nanoparticles. Simulations were carried out to compare the EXAFS profiles of three different crystalline phases of Co. The results of EXAFS and XANES suggested that the reactivity of these nanoparticles towards their environment is inversely proportional to their size. Sharp decreases in the amplitude of EXAFS of these nanoparticles were observed, which could be attributed to the existence of the disorder in those crystalline nanostructures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An impedance matched parametric amplifier (IMPA) with Josephson junctions is fabricated and characterized. A hybrid structure containing coplanar and strip structures is implemented to realize an impedance taper line and a plate capacitor in an LC nonlinear resonator based on Josephson junctions. The upper plate of the capacitor is isolated with SiNx without grounding as well as the strips. Such easily-prepared designs greatly reduce the requirements for lithography alignment and precision, which makes the fabrication process more reliable. The experimental results show that in such IMPA a gain higher than 25 dB with a bandwidth of about 100 MHz can be obtained. This broadband amplifier operates close to the quantum limit. By adjusting the working point, a higher bandwidth of about 400 MHz can be obtained with a gain of about 17 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mechanism of the presence of hidden ZEN in maize is proposed. • Binding of ZEN to zein can result in the "hidden" phenomenon of ZEN in maize. • ZEN binds with zein through hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonds. • ZEN-zein interaction affects ZEN migration and transformation during food processing. Hidden mycotoxins have been reported to be "protected" by macromolecular substances to escape routine determination, but release to free mycotoxins under gastrointestinal conditions. Nowadays, the hidden zearalenone (ZEN) that binding with macromolecular zein has been found in maize. However, the binding mechanism of ZEN with zein in maize has not been clarified. In this study, the formation of ZEN-zein complex was investigated applying ultrafiltration, multi-spectroscopic and molecular modeling techniques. The steady-state and transient fluorescence analysis suggested the ZEN could interact with zein to form the complex driven by hydrophobic force and hydrogen bonds, which is in accordance with the molecular modeling studies. The conformational changes of zein induced by binding with ZEN were revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD). Elucidating the binding mechanism between zein and ZEN could help the development of detecting hidden ZEN and guarantee the safety of maize products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simiao Wan (SMW) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription to empirically treat gouty arthritis (GA) in TCM clinical practice. However, the potential mechanisms of SMW on GA are not fully evaluated. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of macrophage polarization in the anti-GA activity of SMW. Rats were intragastricly treated with SMW for consecutive 7 days. On day 6, monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced arthritis (MIA) in the ankle joint was prepared. Paw volume, gait score and histological score were measured. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), arginase (Arg)-1, phosphorylated (p)-p65, inhibitor of nuclear factor (NF)-κB (IκB)α, p-signal transducer and transcription activator (STAT)3 and p-Janus kinase (JAK)2 in synovial tissues were determined by Western blot. The elevated paw volume, gait score and histological score in MIA rats were significantly decreased by SMW treatment. Meanwhile, SMW significantly decreased the IL-1β level and increased the IL-10 level in serum of MIA rats. Furthermore, SMW reduced the expressions of iNOS, p-p65 and enhanced the expressions of Arg-1, IκBα, p-STAT3 and p-JAK2 in synovial tissues of MIA rats. The results suggest that SMW attenuates the inflammation in MIA rats through promoting macrophage M2 polarization. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) is one of the most polluted mycotoxins in maize and maize-products. To date, however, previous studies have only focused on the presence of free ZEN. To confirm the occurrence of hidden ZEN in maize and maize-products, the samples were pretreated using different hydrolysis methods and in vitro digestion. In this study, significantly increased amount of total detectable ZEN was found by the hydrolysis with compound protease and especially in vitro digestion, which indicated the presence of hidden ZEN in maize. The hidden ZEN can be converted into its free form by in vitro digestion and then be found/detected out. Especially, zein-bound zearalenone was the main "hidden mode" for the presence of hidden ZEN. The amount of total detectable ZEN in digested zein was 7 times higher than that in undigested zein. And also, fluorescence quenching and ultrafiltration studies also showed that ZEN can bind with zein spontaneously by non-covalent bonds. Overall, this study aroused an important issue for risk assessment that the total amount of ZEN in maize products might be underestimated due to the presence of zein-bound ZEN. • Zein-bound ZEN by non-covalent bonds was widely "hidden" in maize and its products. • In vitro digestion confirmed the presence of the hidden ZEN. • Zein-bound ZEN led to the underestimation of ZEN exposure and risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the protective effects of paeoniflorin against preeclampsia-related endothelial damage (ED). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) isolated from healthy puerperae were identified by immunofluorescence assay. After paeoniflorin treatment, HUVECs were induced by soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) and soluble endoglin (sEng) to establish ED. Cell viability, migration, invasion, tube formation, and apoptosis were assessed by (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium MTT assay, Scratch assay, Transwell assay, tube formation assay, and flow cytometry. VEGFA expression in HUVECs was analyzed by Western blot. HUVECs were successfully isolated and identified as Von Willebrand factor (vWF) positive. Individual treatment or cotreatment of sFlt-1 and sEng inhibited migration, invasion and tube formation, enhanced apoptosis, and decreased VEGFA expression in HUVECs. Paeoniflorin pretreatment partially reversed the effects delivered by cotreatment of sFlt-1 and sEng in HUVECs. Paeoniflorin alleviated preeclampsia-related ED caused by overexpression of sFlt-1 and sEng by upregulating VEGFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired osteoblast function is involved in osteoporosis, and microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation may cause abnormal osteoblast osteogenic activity. However, the influence of miRNA on osteoblast activity and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, miR‐103‐3p was found to be negatively correlated with bone formation in bone specimens from elderly women with fractures and ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Additionally, miR‐103‐3p directly targeted Mettl14 to inhibit osteoblast activity, and METTL14‐dependent N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) methylation inhibited miR‐103‐3p processing by the microprocessor protein DGCR8 and promoted osteoblast activity. Moreover, miR‐103‐3p inhibited bone formation in vivo, and therapeutic inhibition of miR‐103‐3p counteracted the decreased bone formation in OVX mice. Further, METTL14 was negatively correlated with miR‐103‐3p but positively correlated with bone formation in bone specimens from elderly women with fractures and OVX mice. Collectively, our results highlight the critical roles of the miR‐103‐3p/METTL14/m6A signaling axis in osteoblast activity, identifying this axis as a potential target for ameliorating osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient degradation and accurate quantification of tetracycline in environment and food samples is pivotal for ensuring public health and safety by monitoring potential contamination and maintaining regulatory standards. Hence, in this study, photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and its electrochemical detection in environment and food samples based on dual-functional silver-doped zinc ferrite nanoparticles embedded chitosan-functionalized carbon nanofibers fabricated on a screen-printed carbon electrode (AgZFO/CHIT-CNF/SPCE) is presented. A hydrothermal method was used in the synthesis of Ag-doped ZFO, and chitosan was functionalized on the CNF surface using a swift and cost-effective chemical modification process of carboxyl groups. Various techniques, such as XRD, HRTEM, elemental mapping, EIS, XPS, FTIR, VSM, BET, UV–Vis DRS, and Raman spectroscopy were used to analyze the characteristics of the prepared nanocomposite. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were used to evaluate the surface-controlled electrocatalytic properties of AgZFO/CHIT-CNF towards tetracycline. Electrochemical tests revealed that the proposed electrode exhibited excellent sensitivity for detecting tetracycline. The fabricated electrode had a low detection limit of 1 nM and a wide linear range (0.2–53.2 μM). The sensor also demonstrated exceptional selectivity, stability, and reusability. The practical feasibility evaluated with real samples, including chicken feed, shrimp, milk, soil, and wastewater, resulted in high recovery values. [Display omitted] • Ultrasensitive detection of polyketide drug tetracycline based on AgZFO/CHIT-CNF/SPCE. • Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline with high efficiency (95.72%) using dual-functional nanocomposite. • This is the first work that reports tetracycline detection using ZFO based nanomaterial. • A very low detection limit (1 nM) in nanomolar range was achieved for proposed sensor. • High recovery values for practical feasibility analysis in wastewater, soil, chicken feed, shrimp, and milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient degradation and accurate quantification of tetracycline in environment and food samples is pivotal for ensuring public health and safety by monitoring potential contamination and maintaining regulatory standards. Hence, in this study, photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and its electrochemical detection in environment and food samples based on dual-functional silver-doped zinc ferrite nanoparticles embedded chitosan-functionalized carbon nanofibers fabricated on a screen-printed carbon electrode (AgZFO/CHIT-CNF/SPCE) is presented. A hydrothermal method was used in the synthesis of Ag-doped ZFO, and chitosan was functionalized on the CNF surface using a swift and cost-effective chemical modification process of carboxyl groups. Various techniques, such as XRD, HRTEM, elemental mapping, EIS, XPS, FTIR, VSM, BET, UV–Vis DRS, and Raman spectroscopy were used to analyze the characteristics of the prepared nanocomposite. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were used to evaluate the surface-controlled electrocatalytic properties of AgZFO/CHIT-CNF towards tetracycline. Electrochemical tests revealed that the proposed electrode exhibited excellent sensitivity for detecting tetracycline. The fabricated electrode had a low detection limit of 1 nM and a wide linear range (0.2–53.2 μM). The sensor also demonstrated exceptional selectivity, stability, and reusability. The practical feasibility evaluated with real samples, including chicken feed, shrimp, milk, soil, and wastewater, resulted in high recovery values. [Display omitted] • Ultrasensitive detection of polyketide drug tetracycline based on AgZFO/CHIT-CNF/SPCE. • Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline with high efficiency (95.72%) using dual-functional nanocomposite. • This is the first work that reports tetracycline detection using ZFO based nanomaterial. • A very low detection limit (1 nM) in nanomolar range was achieved for proposed sensor. • High recovery values for practical feasibility analysis in wastewater, soil, chicken feed, shrimp, and milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and the slow development of new antibacterial agents have led to a growing global health crisis. Here, we identified an antibacterial agent possessing 1-methyl-2,5-diphenylpyridin-1-ium core, MA220607 , with a dual-targeting mechanism of action (MOA), which exhibited effective killing activity against both Gram-positive (MIC = 0.062–2 μg/mL) and Gram-negative bacteria (MIC = 0.5–4 μg/mL). Moreover, our study revealed that MA220607 could block the formation of bacterial biofilm, which might be the reason for low frequency of resistance. MOA studies showed that MA220607 not only promoted FtsZ protein polymerization, but also increased the permeability of bacterial membranes and altered their proton gradients. In addition, MA220607 had low hemolytic toxicity and could significantly inhibit the growth of bacteria in mice. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that MA220607 could block the transition from the tense (T) to relaxed (R) state of FtsZ protein, thereby perturbing the stepping mechanism of FtsZ protein. Overall, our findings suggest that integrating the dual mechanisms targeting FtsZ protein and cell membranes of bacteria into a single scaffold represents a promising direction for the development of new antibacterial agents. [Display omitted] • 1-Methyl-2,5-diphenylpyridin-1-ium derivatives were designed and synthesized. • MA220607 is a potential antibacterial agent with a dual-targeting mechanism of action. • MA220607 has broad spectrum antibacterial effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three new MOFs materials, FeMn-MOF, FeMn/MOF-CFs and FeMn/MOF-CFC, were prepared. • Three types of MOFs can alleviate the inhibition of ammonia nitrogen in AD. • Three types of MOFs can significantly increase the methane production in AD. • FeMn/MOF-CFs and FeMn/MOF-CFC demonstrate excellent recyclability performance. The application of anaerobic digestion (AD) technology could convert rural organic waste (ROW) into renewable energy such as methane, which can help to mitigate the scarcity of fossil fuels and positively impact the global environment. However, the inhibition of ammonia nitrogen remains a significant obstacle to the methane production process with high concentrations of AD. Hence, in this study, three adsorption materials for ammonia nitrogen, namely FeMn-MOF, FeMn/MOF-CFs, and FeMn/MOF-CFC, were synthesized through distinct protocols. Their ability to mitigate the effect of ammonia nitrogen inhibition was investigated in a Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor (CSTR) with total solid (TS) concentration of 10% under a semi-continuous operation of ROW digestion system. The results show that the addition of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) material substantially mitigated the inhibition of ammonia nitrogen and enhanced methane production. Compared with the control group, FeMn/MOF-CFC exhibited the best performance, with a 40.21% decrease in ammonia nitrogen concentration and 66.96 L/L-reactor cumulative methane production. Furthermore, the potential mechanisms underlying microbial community characteristics were explored, indicating that the addition of FeMn/MOF-CFC to AD provides the optimal enhancement of methane production. The addition of FeMn/MOF-CFC can enrich Methanosarcina , enhance the acetoclastic pathway for methane production, and increase the relative activity of coenzyme F 420 , achieving a 193.68% increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Studying the thermal conductivity of S-RM at varies temperatures and rock contents. • Considering the ice-water phase change on the thermal conductivity of S-RM. • A new effective thermal conductivity (ETC) prediction model of S-RM is established. • Considering the weighted ratio of series and parallel to establish the ETC model. • The change law of thermal conductivity of S-RM was revealed. The thermal conductivity of frozen soil-rock mixture (S-RM) is an important parameter affecting its temperature field distribution, and it is also the basic physical parameter for studying the thermal-melting disaster mechanism of S-RM slope in cold regions. However, the effect of ice-water phase change on the thermal conductivity of the frozen S-RM has not been reported. In this paper, the influence of temperatures and rock contents on the thermal conductivity of frozen S-RM were systematically studied by Hot Disk thermal conductivity and NMR tests. Considering the influence of ice-water phase change and high thermal conductivity and inhomogeneity of rock on the thermal conductivity of frozen S-RM, a new effective thermal conductivity (ETC) prediction model of frozen S-RM is established by introducing freezing rate coefficient and weighting ratio. The results showed that the thermal conductivity decreased with the increase of temperature and increased with the increase of rock contents. The correlations of the predicted results are all above 0.97, by calculating the correlation between the predicted value of thermal conductivity and the measured value. The thermal conductivity model has good prediction performance, and can be used to accurately predict the thermal conductivity of S-RM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• FL-MoS 2 -20 with V s gradient (16.3%) was prepared by a chemical etching strategy. • The high V s density can effectively boost N 2 adsorption and reduce E b for NRR. • The HER activity shows a "roller-coaster" type with the increased V s density. • Regulating the asynchronous evolution of NRR and HER results in a high selectivity. • FL-MoS 2 -20 rendered a high NH 3 yield rate (92.95 µg h −1 mg −1) and FE (20.80 %). The electrochemical N 2 reduction reaction (NRR) renders great potential for sustainable ammonia generation but still suffers from serious challenges, which limit the effective enhancement of catalytic performances. Herein, we skillfully utilize the asynchronous NRR and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activities as a function of S-vacancy (V s) concentrations to enhance the NRR activity but sacrifice the HER activity, thus achieving the tradeoff between activity and selectivity towards the NRR. Inspired by the theoretical guidance, the optimized catalyst (FL-MoS 2 -20) with a suitable V s concentration (16.30 %) renders a high NH 3 yield rate of 92.95 ± 2.10 µg h −1 mg −1 and a Faradic efficiency (FE) of 20.80 ± 0.18 %, exceeding virtually all previously published MoS 2 -based NRR catalysts and the overwhelming majority of state-of-the-art NRR catalysts. This work broadens the potential of vacancy engineering to manage the competitive reaction on a single active site and enlightens the catalyst design in the NRR field and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substituting the Haber-Bosch process with electrocatalytic N 2 reduction reaction (NRR) is expected to be realized by optimizing the active sites to boost the sluggish N 2 adsorption and the hydrogenation process without interference by the thermodynamically favored hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a phase engineering strategy for MoS 2 toward NRR is reported. The 1T phase are found to enhance the NRR activity with strong N 2 adsorption. Then, the active site separation can weaken the competitive adsorption between H+ and N 2 reactant on the Mo-edge, improving the NRR selectivity. More importantly, the HER selective basal plane can serve as an H-provider to further accelerate the hydrogenation process of NRR. The optimal MoS 2 /C-0.4 possesses a high ammonia yield rate of 80.38 μg h – 1 mg – 1 cat. and Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 23.76%, outperforming almost all MoS 2 -based electrocatalysts and beyond. This work sheds light on synchronizing the catalytic activity and selectivity for catalytic reactions. [Display omitted] • A high 1T content of 81.45% is obtained by the phase engineering of MoS 2. • 1T-MoS 2 can enhance the NRR activity with strong N 2 adsorption. • Active site separation of Mo-edge and basal plane can improve the NRR selectivity. • Basal plane accelerates the hydrogenation process of NRR as a H-provider. • MoS 2 /C-0.4 exhibits a high NH 3 yield rate of 80.38 μg h – 1 mg – 1 cat. and FE of 23.76%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new critical role of STEAP3 in OA progression. • The functional partners of STEAP3 were identified in rat chondrocytes. • The mechanism of STEAP3 effects was revealed in OA progression. • The results provide the potential of new drug for the progression and treatment of OA. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation and inflammation. The molecular mechanisms underlying OA progression remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the role of STEAP3 (Six Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate 3) in the development of OA. Our results demonstrated that STEAP3 was upregulated in OA cartilage tissues and contributes to the progression of the disease. To elucidate the mechanism, we employed transcriptomic and interaction proteomics analysis, and identified dysregulated genes and pathways associated with STEAP3 overexpression. Specifically, we found that STEAP3 interacted with Rab7A, a protein involved in intracellular trafficking and autophagy, and suppressed its activity. In addition, STEAP3 interacted with activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) and enhanced its activity. Furthermore, our data indicated that the suppression of Rab7A activity by STEAP3 promoted the activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and the promoting effects of RACK1 by STEAP3, both of which in turn activated the MAPK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. In conclusion, our findings highlighted the role of STEAP3 in promoting OA progression. By inhibiting Rab7A activity and promoting RACK1 activity, STEAP3 enhanced inflammation through the activation of RTKs and subsequent activation of the MAPK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. Targeting STEAP3 may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of OA by modulating these interconnected pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipase-loaded hollow colloidosomes are prepared for Pickering interfacial biocatalysis (PIB). Unlike in other systems, colloidosomes are self-assembled by lipases and silica nanoparticles, achieving a high enzyme-loading process without chemical crosslinking, and can stabilize Pickering emulsion due to the amphiphilic lipase confined in the porous shell. Remarkably, the enzyme encapsulation rate is 95.2%, which is better than other enzyme-loaded carriers in PIB reported so far. This system maintains 80.4% of the initial enzyme activity after 10 cycles, which provides a powerful and green platform for interfacial biocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The electronic structures of holey Mo 2 N nanobelts are modulated by sulfur decoration. • The enhanced activity is originated from the optimized hydrogen binding energy. • The stability of oxygen-sensitive Mo 2 N is significantly improved. • A small Tafel slope of 39 mV dec−1 is achieved in acidic media. As one of the candidates to replace noble Pt-based catalysts, low-cost Mo 2 N with rich abundance has attracted much attention in catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to the similar electronic structures to Pt. However, Mo 2 N possesses a strong hydrogen binding ability and is highly sensitive to the oxygen, resulting in limited kinetics associated with deteriorated HER performances. Herein, a sulfur decoration strategy is presented to modulate the electronic structures and surface compositions, so that an optimized hydrogen adsorption free energy and protective sulfide shell can be obtained, leading to significant enhancement of performance with a small Tafel slope of 39 mV dec−1 in acidic media, outperforming the vast majority of reported non-precious metal electrocatalysts for the HER. Moreover, the improvement mechanisms and composition evolution have also been investigated. And the first-principle calculation is provided to give a theoretic evidence for the modulation of corresponding electronic structures. This work verifies that the rational decoration with a second anion is a powerful and effective strategy to design highly active and durable HER electrocatalysts, further demonstrating the importance of anions for the HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fracture properties of concrete containing two expansive agents were assessed. • Addition of UEA expansive agent decreased fracture performance of concrete. • Proper amount of MgO expansive agent improved fracture performance of concrete. • 2:1 was optimal ratio of UEA and MgO expansive agents for fracture performance. Through three-point bending test, the effects of united expansive agent (UEA) and MgO expansive agent on the fracture properties of concrete were investigated. The influence mechanism of the double expansive agents on the fracture properties of concrete was analyzed based on SEM and XRD microscopic experiments. The results indicated that the development tendencies of the concrete fracture parameters varied with the curing ages under different compounding ratios of UEA and MgO expansive agents. The expansive agents generally decreased the initial fracture toughness and unstable fracture toughness of concrete before 28 days, and the fracture toughness increased only when the compounding ratio of UEA and MgO expansive agents was 2:1. During 28 days to 60 days of age, the growth rates of concrete fracture toughness with expansive agents exceeded the ordinary concrete significantly. At 60 days, the initial fracture toughness and unstable fracture toughness of expansive concrete with the compounding ratio of 2:1 reached the maximum values, which were 1.12 times and 1.09 times to that of ordinary concrete, respectively. The SEM test results showed that addition of appropriate amount of MgO expansive agent reduced the bonding cracks between the hydration products and the aggregates, which improved the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) of concrete and reduced the cracks due to dry shrinkage. Based on the experimental results obtained in this study, it can be suggested that the optimal compounding ratio of UEA and MgO expansive agents is 2:1 for improvement in fracture properties of concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of fluorescence probes have been developed for fluorescence imaging of metals in biological cells. However, accurate quantification of metals with fluorescent approaches is challenging due to the difficulty in establishing a standard calibration curve in living cells. Herein, a fluorescence imaging protocol is developed for imaging intracellular Cu2+ and its correlation with the cellular uptake of copper. The total amount of intracellular Cu is detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in parallel. Fluorescence imaging of Cu2+ is accomplished with Rhodamine B derivative modified carbon dots (CDs-Rbh) based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from CDs to rhodamine. Intracellular Cu2+ is correlated with fluorescence ratio at λ em 500–600 nm (rhodamine) to λ em 425–475 nm (CDs) with excitation at λ ex 405 nm. It is found that Cu2+ is linearly correlated with the total intracellular uptaken copper content, with a linear correlation between the relative fluorescence ratio in fluorescence imaging and intracellular Cu derived from ICP-MS, including both Cu(I) and Cu(II) species. The linear calibration equation is lg(F 2 /F 1) = 0.00148 m[Cu]-0.3622. This approach facilitates further investigation and elucidation of copper transition in live cells and the evaluation of their cytotoxicity. Fluorescence imaging of intracellular free cationic copper is correlated with the intracellular uptaken copper by live cells. Image 1 • Fluorescence imaging is developed for intracellular Cu2+ and its correlation with total uptake of copper derived by ICP-MS. • Fluorescence imaging of intracellular Cu2+ is accomplished with a CDs conjugate based on FRET. • It facilitates investigation and elucidation of copper transition in live cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The 2D/2D Bi 2 Se 3 /g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction composites were firstly synthesized. • Heterojunction presented superior activity over solely counterparts. • Bi 2 Se 3 in the composite played double essential roles. • The photo-thermal conversion contributed to improving photocatalytic activity. Solar-energy-driven CO 2 conversion into high-valued fuels has been considered as a promising strategy to alleviate the greenhouse effect and energy crisis problems. However, the rapid charge recombination, poor light utilization and low selectivity, etc. still limit the efficiency of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. In this work, a novel 2D/2D Bi 2 Se 3 /g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction composite has been developed to investigate the improved photocatalytic activity towards CO 2 reduction selectively. Fortunately, an intimate interaction was formed between 2D Bi 2 Se 3 and 2D g-C 3 N 4 , which is very beneficial for the charge separation and transfer. In this composite, Bi 2 Se 3 not only acted as a cocatalyst liked role, but also played as an extra heater for photocatalytic reaction by effective photo-to-heat conversion. As expected, the 2D/2D Bi 2 Se 3 /g-C 3 N 4 composite presented much improved photocatalytic ability for CO 2 reduction to CO, which is about 6.3 times higher than that of pristine g-C 3 N 4 under the irradiation of full spectrum. Notably, the product from CO 2 reduction was nearly 100% CO without other carbon products, and the selectivity for CO was greater than 90% over H 2 evolution. The experimental tests and DFT calculations confirmed that the superiority of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction ability of Bi 2 Se 3 /g-C 3 N 4 composite over other counterparts should be attributed to the synergetic effect of highly improved charge separation and strong photo-to-heat conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, the CO 2 reduction process was studied by in-situ FTIR in detail. The as-proposed composite in this work might provide a potential strategy for developing high efficiency of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction to valuable fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CONSTANS-like (COL) genes play an important role in the photoperiodic flowering pathway. Poplar is a perennial woody plant with a long juvenile phase, but the molecular characterization of COL genes in Populus is limited. In this study, 14 COL genes were identified in the Populus genome. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the PtCOL proteins were divided into three subgroups, and the members of each subgroup had similar gene structure and motif composition. Chromosome distribution analysis showed that 14 PtCOL genes were distributed on 10 chromosomes. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that these proteins contained a highly conserved B-box1 and a conserved CCT domain, but the B-box2 structure was divided into three different types. Promoter analysis found that there were several light-responsive cis -elements in the PtCOL genes. Furthermore, tissue-specific expression showed that all nine PtCOL genes were widely expressed in various tissues and organs of Populus , and were preferentially expressed in the leaves. Additionally, the transcription level of PtCOL exhibited a diurnal oscillation pattern in different light conditions. This study not only provided comprehensive information for further analysis of the function of the PtCOL gene family, but also revealed the biological roles of PtCOL genes in the photoperiod-dependent flowering process of Populus. • Comprehensive analysis of COL family genes has never been reported in woody plants poplar. • PtCOLs play an important role in the regulation of photoperiod. • PtCOLs were widely expressed in various tissues and organs of Populus , and were preferentially expressed in the leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has made a revolution in the mode of pathogen identification. We decided to explore the diagnostic value of blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as mNGS samples in pneumonia. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 467 mNGS results and assessed the diagnostic performance of paired blood and BALF mNGS in 39 patients with pneumonia. Results. For bacteria and fungi, 16 patients had culture-confirmed pathogen diagnosis, while 13 patients were culture-negative. BALF mNGS was more sensitive than blood mNGS (81.3% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.003), and the specificity in BALF and blood mNGS was not statistically significant different (76.9% vs. 84.6%, p = 0.317). For 10 patients without culture test, treatments were changed in 2 patients. For viruses, Epstein-Barr virus was positive in blood mNGS in 9 patients. Human adenovirus was detected in both BALF and blood mNGS in 3 patients. Conclusion. Our study suggests that BALF mNGS is more sensitive than blood mNGS in detecting bacteria and fungi, but blood also has advantages to identify the pathogens of pneumonia, especially for some viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the title compound, {[Tb(C12H8NO2)3(H2O)2]·H2O} n, the TbIII cation is in an eight-coordinate environment, ligated by six carboxylate O atoms from five 3-(pyridin-4-yl)benzoate ( L) ligands and by two O atoms from water molecules. The cations are bridged by the carboxylate O atoms of the L ligands to form a two-stranded polymeric chain which is assembled into a three-dimensional supramolecular network through regular interchain O-H...N hydrogen bonding. On excitation at 320 nm, the title compound displays a series of emissions, which were assigned to the characteristic electronic transitions of TbIII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the title compound, {[NiCl2(C19H17N5O2)2]·4C3H7NO} n, the NiII atom is located on an inversion centre and is in a six-coordinated octahedral geometry, formed by four pyridine N atoms from four N2, N6-bis[(pyridin-3-yl)methyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (BPDA) ligands occupying the equatorial plane and two chloride anions at the axial sites. The bidentate bridging BPDA ligands link the NiII atoms into a two-dimensional corrugated grid-like flexible layer with a (4,4)-connected topology, which consists of left- and right-handed helical chains sharing the common NiII atoms. Investigation of the thermal stability shows that the network is stable up to 573 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been evidenced that liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) are to blame hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence, development, metastasis, and recurrence. Using iron-platinum nanoparticles (FePt-NPs) as a carrier and CD133 antigen as a target, a new strategy to targetly kill LCSCs by integrating HSV-TK suicide gene, 131I nuclide irradiation, and magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) together was designed and investigated in the present study. The results showed that FePt-NPs modified with PEI (PEI-FePt-NPs) could bind with DNA, and the best binding ratio was 1 : 40 (mass ratio). Moreover, DNA binding to PEI-FePt-NPs could refrain from Dnase1 enzyme digestion and could release under certain conditions. LCSCs (CD133+ Huh-7 cells) were transfected with pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK by PEI-FePt-NPs, and the transfection efficiency was 53.65 ± 3.40 %. These data showed a good potential of PEI-FePt-NPs as a gene transfer carrier.131I was labeled with anti-CD133McAb in order to facilitate therapy targeting. The combined intervention of pHRE-Egr1-HSV-TK/anti-CD133McAb-131I/MFH mediated by PEI-FePt-NPs could greatly inhibit LCSCs' growth and induce cell apoptosis in vitro, significantly higher than any of the individual interventions (p < 0.05). This study offers a practicable idea for LCSC treatment, and PEI-FePt-NPs may act as novel nonviral gene vectors and a magnetic induction medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), which is characterized by early menopause before the age of 40 years, affects approximately 1–5% of women. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 1 (CPEB1) is a post-transcriptional regulatory protein that is highly expressed in germ cells and promotes oocytes maturation, and several studies have found microdeletions of chromosome 15q25.2, which contains the CPEB1 gene, in POI patients. However, the deleted region also includes other plausible genes, and thus the contribution of CPEB1 to POI is uncertain. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between CPEB1 deletion and POI in a Chinese cohort. Material and methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) with primers for exon 4 and exon 11 of CPEB1 was performed to detect the CPEB1 deletion in 323 patients with POI and in 300 healthy controls. Subsequent qPCR with primers for each exon of CPEB1 was performed to precisely localize the deletion locus. Results: One patient with primary amenorrhea was found to carry a heterozygous deletion of exons 8–12 of the CPEB1 gene. Conclusion: Our study is the first to search for CPEB1 deletions in POI patients using a simple qPCR method, and we show that CPEB1 deletion is not a common cause for POI in a Chinese cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), which results in vision loss. This study explored the role of miR-126 in high-glucose-induced human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) and its underlying molecular mechanisms. The results showed that the expression levels of miR-126 and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in high-glucose-induced HRECs were downregulated and upregulated, respectively. Functionally, overexpression of miR-126 promoted proliferation and suppressed apoptosis in high-glucose-induced HRECs, while IL-17A reversed the effects induced by miR-126. However, overexpression of IL-17A inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis, while knockdown of IL-17A accelerated the proliferation and repressed apoptosis. In addition, miR-126 repressed the expression of IL-17A, Bax, and caspase-3, while promoting the expression of survivin and phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT; restoration of IL-17A rescued these effects. Furthermore, IL-17A was identified as a target of miR-126. This indicates that miR-126 enhances proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in high-glucose-induced HRECs by activating the PI3K–AKT pathway, increasing survivin levels, and decreasing Bax and caspase-3 expression by targeting IL-17A, suggesting that miR-126 could be a novel target for preventing DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to elucidate the role of long non-coding RNA activated by transforming growth factor-β (lncRNA-ATB) in ovarian cancer and its underlying mechanisms of action. Expression levels of lncRNA-ATB in ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and in a healthy human ovarian cell line were compared using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The results indicated that lncRNA-ATB was expressed at significantly higher levels in SKOV3 cells compared with the healthy cell line. After downregulation of lncRNA-ATB expression in SKOV3 cells using lncRNA-ATB-short hairpin RNA, cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration were assessed using Cell counting kit-8, Live Dead staining, Transwell assay and wound healing assay, respectively. RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to quantify the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), phosphorylated (p)-STAT3, and the additional epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins E-cadherin and vimentin in SKOV3 cells. LncRNA-ATB downregulation significantly reduced SKOV3 cell proliferation, invasion and migration, promoted apoptosis, decreased the expression of p-STAT3 and vimentin, and increased E-cadherin expression. Taken together, these results suggest that lncRNA-ATB downregulation can inhibit ovarian cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and promote cell apoptosis. Lnc-RNA-ATB may therefore be a new target for ovarian cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Small signalling peptides, generated from larger protein precursors, are important components to orchestrate various plant processes such as development and immune responses. However, small signalling peptides involved in plant immunity remain largely unknown. Here, we developed a pipeline using transcriptomics‐ and proteomics‐based screening to identify putative precursors of small signalling peptides: small secreted proteins (SSPs) in rice, induced by rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and its elicitor, chitin. We identified 236 SSPs including members of two known small signalling peptide families, namely rapid alkalinization factors and phytosulfokines, as well as many other protein families that are known to be involved in immunity, such as proteinase inhibitors and pathogenesis‐related protein families. We also isolated 52 unannotated SSPs and among them, we found one gene which we named immune response peptide (IRP) that appeared to encode the precursor of a small signalling peptide regulating rice immunity. In rice suspension cells, the expression of IRP was induced by bacterial peptidoglycan and fungal chitin. Overexpression of IRP enhanced the expression of a defence gene, PAL1 and induced the activation of the MAPKs in rice suspension cells. Moreover, the IRP protein level increased in suspension cell medium after chitin treatment. Collectively, we established a simple and efficient pipeline to discover SSP candidates that probably play important roles in rice immunity and identified 52 unannotated SSPs that may be useful for further elucidation of rice immunity. Our method can be applied to identify SSPs that are involved not only in immunity but also in other plant functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system is insufficiently prognostic for gastric cancer (GC) patients and complementary factors are in urgent need. Here we aimed to develop a comprehensive model, consisting of both immune signatures and cancer signaling molecules, which was expected to accurately improve survival prediction in non-metastatic gastric cancer (GC). We first validated the prognostic value of a combination of 18 immune features and 52 cancer-signaling molecules in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, their expression and distribution were analyzed in consecutive 1180 GC patients using immunohistochemistry. We developed and validated a novel protein-based prognostic classifier using CDH1, an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker, and five immune features (CD3, CD4, CD274, GZMB, and PAX5) by Cox regression model with group LASSO penalty. We observed significant differences in the overall survival of the high- and low-prognostic risk groups (66.8% VS 27.0%, P <.001). A combination of this classifier with age and pTNM stage had better prognostic value than pTNM alone. The model was further validated in both treatment-naive patients and those treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Moreover, GC patients with high-risk score exhibited a favorable prognosis to adjuvant chemotherapy. This integrated classifier could be automatically analyzed and effectively predict survival of GC patients and may provide a new clinically applicable strategy to identify patients who are more likely to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most important therapies in complementary and alternative medicine, acupuncture has been used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Acupuncture of "olfactory three-needle" manipulation can improve the cognitive ability of AD patients. However, the mechanism of "olfactory three-needle" in AD remains largely unknown. Here, we identified that the "olfactory three-needle" therapy and eugenol olfactory stimulation both reduced the deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) protein and increased the expression of synaptophysin (SYP), but only the "olfactory three-needle" enhanced the spatial learning and memory ability of SAMP8. Remarkably, the "olfactory three-needle" inhibited the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and the excessive activation of microglia (MG) in the hippocampus. Our study demonstrates that the "olfactory three-needle" enhances spatial learning and memory ability by inhibiting the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and the excessive activation of MG to reduce the neuroinflammatory response and neurotoxicity of Aβ and promote synaptic regeneration, but it was not completely consistent with the stimulation of the olfactory system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately classify teeth category is important in further dental diagnosis. Analyzing huge dental data, that is, identifying the teeth category, is often a hard task. Current automatic methods are based on computer vision and deep learning approaches. In this study, we aimed to classify the teeth category into four classes: incisor, canine, premolar, and molar. Cone beam computed tomography was used to collect the data. We proposed a seven‐layer deep convolutional neural network with global average pooling to identify teeth category. Data augmentation method was used to enlarge the size of training dataset. The results showed the sensitivities of incisor, canine, premolar, and molar teeth are 88%, 86%, 84%, and 90%, respectively. The average sensitivity is 87.0%. We validated max pooling gives better results than average pooling. Our method is better than three state‐of‐the‐art approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buoyancy-driven underwater gliders are highly efficient winged underwater vehicles driven by modifying the net buoyancy and internal shape. Many advantages, such as wide cruise range, less power consumption, low noise, and no pollution, make the underwater glider an important platform for marine environment observation and ocean resource exploration. For the wide cruise range, attitude control of underwater glider becomes the core technology. In this paper, the underwater glider named OUC-III has been developed for marine observation. To control the attitude of glider, the kinematic and dynamic models of it have been calculated by mathematical analysis. Furthermore, a novel control algorithm is proposed to control the attitude of glider. The algorithm is combined reinforcement learning with Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) and compared with classical ADRC by simulation based on the dynamic model of OUC-III. The simulation experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm compensates well for the ocean current disturbances on OUC-III attitude control mission and it obtains high-precision and high-adaptive control ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To help clinicians understand what to expect from small cerebellar volumes after prematurity, this study aims to characterize the specific impacts of small cerebellar volumes on the infant neurologic examination. A prospective cohort of preterm newborns (<32 weeks' gestational age) had brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies at term-equivalent age. Cerebellar volumes were compared with neurologic examination findings in follow-up, adjusting for severity of intraventricular hemorrhage, white matter injury, and cerebellar hemorrhage. Deformation-based analyses delineated regional morphometric differences in the cerebellum associated with these findings. Of 119 infants with MRI scans, 109 (92%) had follow-up at 19.0±1.7 months corrected age. Smaller cerebellar volume at term was associated with increased odds of truncal hypotonia, postural instability on standing, and patellar hyperreflexia (P <.03). Small cerebellar volume defined as <19 cm3 by 40 weeks was associated with 7.5-fold increased odds of truncal hypotonia (P <.001), 8.9-fold odds postural instability (P <.001), and 9.7-fold odds of patellar hyperreflexia (P <.001). Voxel-based deformation-based morphometry showed postural instability associated with paravermian regions. Small cerebellar volume is associated with specific abnormalities on neurologic examination by 18 months of age, including truncal tone, reflexes, and postural stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore highly effective catalysts with low cost and earth abundant for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), in this work, a novel electrocatalyst of alpha-molybdenum carbide and molybdenum phosphide heterostructure embedded in N-doped carbon (α-MoC 1-x -MoP/C) is synthesized via facile simultaneous carbonization and phosphorization strategy for the first time, which exhibits an excellent hydrogen evolution activity with a Tafel slope of 57 mV dec−1 in an acidic media. A strong electronic interaction between α-MoC 1-x and MoP in the interfaces is verified experimentally and theoretically, which contributes to a mild free energy of H adsorption and smaller charge transfer resistance, resulting in an improved HER activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the drying–wetting cycle test method of concrete under sulfate accelerating erosion, the influence of dry–wet time ratio on concrete sulfate erosion was studied. Under the condition of 7 days for one cycle, five different dry–wet time ratios were designed: 1:3, 1:1, 3:1, 5:1, and 10:1. The basic properties such as compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and dynamic elastic modulus of concrete were tested. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the microstructure of concrete before and after erosion. The test results show that under the environment of sulfate drying–wetting cycle erosion, the change of mechanical properties of concrete are divided into three stages: ascending period, fluctuating period and rapid descending period. Concrete is subjected to periodic damage process of initial damage followed by filling compaction, cracking, further filling, and cracking again, in that order. Dry–wet ratio has a significant effect on concrete sulfate attack. Under the same drying–wetting cycle period, as the dry–wet ratio increases, the degree of deterioration of concrete by sulfate attack increases first and then decreases. When the dry–wet ratio is 5:1, the deterioration is the most serious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissatisfactory yield strength and wear have been critical issues in FCC single phase high entropy alloy (HEA) limiting wide applications as advanced engineering materials, in spite of their attractive mechanical and physical properties. Here we show by introducing graphene layer, the tribological properties of Fe 20 Ni 20 Cr 20 Co 20 Cu 20 /graphene composite coatings can be noticeably enhanced. In this work, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to probe the tribological mechanisms of HEA/graphene composite coatings. It was revealed that the reasonable choice of single-layer graphene geometry and embedding position play an important part in friction reduction and anti-wear of the coatings. The graphene interface not only cause robust dislocation blockage from HEA, but also reduces the accumulation of atoms at surface during sliding. Besides, the influence of temperature on the tribological behavior of the coatings is explored. The tribological performances of the coatings were also investigated by the experimental nanoscratch test, which are consistent with the simulation results. The present work provides a theoretical and technical support for the design of wear-resistant self-lubricating coatings, promoting the engineering applications of HEA coating materials. • HEA/graphene composite coating exhibits lower friction and better wear resistance. • The friction reduction and anti-wear mechanisms were revealed. • A novel design strategy for HEA composite coatings with excellent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the generation of picosecond bursts of copper K-alpha radiation by irradiating a thin copper wire with a short-pulse high-power laser. Use of the ultrashort radiation to measure the response of a gallium arsenide (GaAs) crystal to sudden heating; The picosecond X-ray diffraction that did not require a large facility; Union of X-ray diffraction and picosecond ultrasonics; Use of picosecond pulses of X-rays to directly monitor the spacing between the atoms in the heated layer as a function of depth and time.

Effect of microRNA-27b (miR-27b) on cisplatin chemotherapy sensitivity of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was investigated to provide a reference for clinical prevention of OSCC cell resistance. The clinical tissues of 34 patients with OSCC-resistant cancer and 28 patients with cisplatin-sensitive OSCC in Nanjing General Hospital were collected. The expression levels of miR-27b and Frizzled-7 (FZD7) in cancer tissues were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reation (RT-qPCR). After a certain gradient of cisplatin was used to induce stable acquired resistance of OSCC cell line Tca8113/CDDP, a dose of miR-27b was added to construct a cell line overexpressing miR-27b in the drug-resistant cell line. The effect of cisplatin on the proliferation of drug-resistant OSCC cells was detected by colony formation assay. In addition, the scratch test and Transwell formation assay was performed to examine the effect of cisplatin drug stimulation on proliferation and migration of Tca8113/CDDP. Flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining were used to detect the effect of miR-27b on apoptosis of OSCC-resistant cells after cisplatin chemotherapy. The expression level of miR-27b in cancer tissues of patients with drug-resistant OSCC was significantly lower than that of patients with OSCC cisplatin sensitivity (P<0.05). After high expression of miR-27b, the number of clones of drug-resistant OSCC cells after adding cisplatin drugs can be significantly inhibited. The proliferation and migration ability of drug-resistant OSCC was significantly decreased after the addition of cisplatin in miR-27b overexpression (P<0.05). miR-27 mimic enhanced the pro-apoptotic ability of cisplatin drugs (P<0.05). The expression of FZD7 in cisplation-resistant patients was significantly higher (P<0.05). miR-27b significantly inhibited the expression of FZD7 and β-catenin proteins. miR-27b can inhibit the resistance of OSCC to cisplatin drugs, increase apoptosis of cancer cells, and inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of FZD7/β-catenin signaling pathway activation in drug-resistant cell lines by miR-27b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]