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Previous studies have suggested that levels of sodium and chloride in the blood may be indicative of the prognosis of different medical conditions. Nevertheless, the assessment of the prognostic significance of the sodium-to-chloride (Na/Cl) ratio in relation to in-hospital mortality among individuals suffering from acute heart failure (AHF) remains unexplored. In this study, the participants were selected from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database and divided into three groups based on the Na/Cl ratio level upon admission. The primary results were the mortality rate within the hospital. Cox regression, Kaplan–Meier curves, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and subgroup analyses were utilized to investigate the correlation between the admission Na/Cl ratio and outcomes in critically ill patients with AHF. A total of 7844 patients who met the selection criteria were included in this study. After adjusting for confounders, the multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that the baseline Na/Cl ratio significantly elevated the risk of in-hospital mortality among critically ill patients with AHF (HR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.21–1.49). Furthermore, when the Na/Cl ratio was converted into a categorical factor and the initial tertile was taken as a point of comparison, the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the second and third tertiles were 1.27 (1.05–1.54) and 1.53 (1.27–1.84), respectively. Additionally, a P value indicating a significant trend of < 0.001 was observed. ROC curve analysis showed that Na/Cl ratio had a more sensitive prognostic value in predicting in-hospital mortality of AHF than the sodium or chloride level alone (0.564 vs. 0.505, 0.544). Subgroup examinations indicated that the association between the Na/Cl ratio upon admission and the mortality rate of critically ill patients with AHF remained consistent in the subgroups of hyponatremia and hypochlorhydria (P for interaction > 0.05). The linear relationship between the Na/Cl ratio and in-hospital mortality in AHF patients indicates a positive association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flame-retardancy of polymeric materials has garnered great interest. Most of the flame retardants used in copolymers are functionalized additives, which can deteriorate the intrinsic properties of these materials. As a new type of flame retardant, functionalized metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can be used in surface coatings of polymers. To reduce the flammability, a mixture of phytic acid, multi-wall carbon nanotubes, zirconium-based MOFs, and UiO-66 was coated on a PC/ABS substrate. The structure of the UiO-66-based flame retardant was established by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, and SEM. The flammable properties of coated PC/ABS materials were assessed by LOI, a vertical combustion test, TGA, CCT, and Raman spectroscopy. The presence of a UiO-66-based coating on the PC/ABS surface resulted in a good flame-retardant performance. Heat release and smoke generation were significantly reduced. Importantly, the structure and mechanical properties of PC/ABS were less impacted by the presence of the flame-retardant coating. Hence, this work presents a new strategy for the development of high-performance PC/ABC materials with both excellent flame-retardancy and good mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacticaseibacillus is one of the predominant microorganisms in gut from human and animal, and the lacticaseibacillus have effective applications against the viral diarrhea of piglets in the farm. However, the function and the concrete cell single pathways of the active ingredient from lacticaseibacillus was not clear within anti-infection in the postbiotics research. Here, we compared the biological function of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) purified from lacticaseibacillus casei (L. casei) and gene editing lacticaseibacillus casei with the CRISPER-Cas9 technology, which were with the ability of antioxidation and anti-inflammation, and the EPS could also inhibit the ROS production within the Porcine Small Intestinal Epithelial Cells-J2 (IPEC-J2). Interestingly, we found that both of EPS and genome editing lacticaseibacillus casei could specifically target the IFN-λ expression in the IPEC-J2, which was beneficial against the PEDV infection in the virus replication and production with the qRT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence methods. Finally, the STAT3 cell single pathway was stimulated to transcribe IFN-λ with the EPS to elucidate the detailed mechanism of activating type III IFN signals receptor of IL-10R2, which play the function between anti-inflammation and anti-virus in the PEDV infection. Taken together, our research linked a postbiotics of EPS with the antiviral infection of PEDV, which suggest that the lacticaseibacillus itself still have displayed the potential immunomodulatory activities, and highlight the immunomodulatory potential of EPS-producing microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the rapid development projects in developing economies in mining, urban renewal, dams, and transportation sector that require displacement and resettlement of people or communities, project-induced migrants have become a societal group that interests researchers and practitioners. Nevertheless, the nexus between resettlement housing quality and the quality of life of the project-induced migrants are relatively new. Using a recent survey in Ellembelle, Ghana, this paper examines such connections through Partial least squares path modeling. The results indicate the impact of the community environment is the highest predictor of the migrants' quality of life, followed by assess to public facilities before the internal and external housing features. This reveals that the migrants place greater importance on the efficiency of infrastructural services, social relationship, accessibility and connectivity, open spaces for community gatherings and recreation, and their safety and security in the resettlement community than on their houses. The study has several practical and theoretical implications for migrants, local authorities, policymakers, and mining developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the most commonly consumed botanical foods. Owing to its anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, ginger has been widely used as a homemade remedy during the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; however, the mechanisms of its therapeutic activities against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain obscure. In this study, we used a drug-likeness approach to screen the active compounds of ginger. Next, we identified candidate targets of active compounds responsible for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects of ginger using chemical similarity searching and SARS-CoV-2-human protein–protein interaction (PPI) data. Finally, we analyzed PPIs, Gene Ontology enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment of the candidate proteins using different bioinformatics tools. A network comprising ginger compounds, human proteins, and SARS-CoV-2 proteins was built through Cytoscape 3.3. The results indicate that the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of ginger involves 20 active compounds, 18 potential human targets, and 12 SARS-CoV-2 proteins. These form a pharmacological network in which sigma nonopioid intracellular receptor 1 (SIGMAR1) and histone deacetylase 2 may be druggable hub proteins. In addition, molecular docking showed that 8-gingerdione and dihydrocapsaicin may preferentially interact with SIGMAR1, which was confirmed by further molecular dynamics simulation (150 ns) experiments. In conclusion, ginger targets multiple human proteins and affects multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins to exert anti-COVID-19 effects. Although further experimental verification is needed, this study provides a quick visual overview of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 action of ginger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: With an input‐side boost inductor, current source inverter (CSI) naturally has the unique performance of voltage boosting and continuous input current, but its switching devices need to have reverse blocking capability. Switched‐capacitor (SC) multilevel inverter (MLI) features self‐balancing capacitor voltages and flexible structure, but it suffers the problems of inrush charging current of capacitors and pulse input current. By combining the CSI's input characteristics and the SC‐MLI's output features, this work presents a new five‐level inverter. Its input current is continuous, and there is no inrush current. In addition, the voltage gain is improved to 2/(1−d), where d is the duty ratio of the inductor's charging mode. With the unique structure, the duty ratio ranges from 0 to 1, and it is independent of the modulation ratio of the inverter. This makes the control more flexible. In addition to topology, operation, and modulation, parameter design, power loss, and comparison study are analyzed in detail. Finally, simulation results with fuel cell as input, and experimental results are provided to verify the superior performance of the proposed inverter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a common chronic disease that is characterized by respiratory symptoms including cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. The underlying mechanisms of this disease are not fully elucidated, so more research is needed to identify better therapeutic compounds and biomarkers to improve disease outcomes. In this present study, we used bioinformatics to analyze the gene expression of adult asthma in publicly available microarray datasets to identify putative therapeutic molecules for this disease. We first compared gene expression in healthy volunteers and adult asthma patients to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for further analysis. A final gene expression signature of 49 genes, including 34 upregulated and 15 downregulated genes, was obtained. Protein–protein interaction and hub analyses showed that 10 genes, including POSTN, CPA3, CCL26, SERPINB2, CLCA1, TPSAB1, TPSB2, MUC5B, BPIFA1, and CST1, may be hub genes. Then, the L1000CDS2 search engine was used for drug repurposing studies. The top approved drug candidate predicted to reverse the asthma gene signature was lovastatin. Clustergram results showed that lovastatin may perturb MUC5B expression. Moreover, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and computational alanine scanning results supported the notion that lovastatin may interact with MUC5B via key residues such as Thr80, Thr91, Leu93, and Gln105. In summary, by analyzing gene expression signatures, hub genes, and therapeutic perturbation, we show that lovastatin is an approved drug candidate that may have potential for treating adult asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) is one of the most important prognostic factors for breast cancer patients, and DNA methylation is involved in ALNM of breast cancer. However, the methylation profile of breast cancer ALNM remains unknown. Methods: Breast cancer tissues were collected from patients with and without ALNM. We investigated the genome-wide DNA methylation profile in breast cancer with and without ALNM using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). Then, differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were verified by targeted bisulfite sequencing. Results: A total of 21491 DMRs were identified between the lymph node positive group and negative group. Compared to the LN-negative breast cancer, LN-positive breast cancer had 10,920 hypermethylated DMRs and 10,571 hypomethylated DMRs. Then, 10 DMRs in the gene promoter region were detected by targeted bisulfite sequencing, these gene included HOXA5, PTOV1-AS1, RHOF, PAX6, GSTP1, RASGRF2, AKR1B1, BNIP3, CRMP1, ING5. Compared with negative lymph node, the promoter methylation levels of RASGRF2, AKR1B1 and CRMP1 increased in positive lymph node, while the promoter methylation level of RHOF decreased in positive lymph node. In addition, Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data showed that RASGRF2, AKR1B1 and CRMP1 were low expressed in breast Cancer tissues, while RHOF was high expressed in breast Cancer tissues. Furthermore, in addition to highly methylated AKR1B1, RASGRF2 and CRMP1 gene promoters, BNIP3, GSTP1, HOXA5 and PAX6 gene promoters were also methylated in ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer with ALNM. Conclusions: When compared to negative lymph node breast cancer, the positive lymph node breast cancer has a differential methylation status. Promoter methylation of RASGRF2, AKR1B1, CRMP1 and RHOF in lymph node positive breast cancer tissues was significantly different from that in lymph node negative breast cancer tissues. AKR1B1, RASGRF2, CRMP1, BNIP3, GSTP1, HOXA5 and PAX6 genes were methylated in ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer with ALNM. The study provides an important biological base for understanding breast cancer with ALNM and developing therapeutic targets for breast cancer with ALNM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess how the presence of an invasive plant and different-sized decomposers affect plant litter decomposition under different seasonal conditions, we allocated leaves of native Ficus virens Aiton into four different mesh sizes (0.025, 0.042, 0.5 and 5 mm) with and without invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. We incubated them for 65 days in an eutrophic lake in summer and winter respectively. The average decomposition rate was significantly higher in summer than in winter, and was significantly higher in mixtures than in F. virens monocultures in both seasons. The presence of A. philoxeroides in the mixture significantly increased invertebrate density and microbial respiration rates in summer but not in winter. Furthermore, contribution of invertebrates to decomposition was higher in the early stage of decomposition and lower in the late stage in summer, yet that of microbes was relatively constant in winter. Contribution of microinvertebrates increased in summer but that of meio-, macroinvertebrates increased in winter. Our findings indicate that the presence of an invasive plant altered litter decomposition, which may depend on seasonal variations, invertebrate density and decomposition stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to use fewer components to generate more output levels for power interfaces of low dc voltage sources such as fuel cells. First, two switched‐capacitor voltage lifters (SCVLs) with similar structure and same function are summarized. Each of them uses a single capacitor and has the advantage of identical voltage stress for all components. Then, the SCVLs are combined with a T‐type unit to develop two 17‐level inverters. The SCVLs is responsible for voltage boosting, while the T‐type unit uses two flying capacitors to increase the number of output levels. In addition to the use of three capacitors, the two 17‐level inverters employ 13 and 14 semiconductor switches respectively, and all components' voltage stresses do not exceed the dc input voltage. Simple structure, reduced capacitors' count, and low components' voltage stress are the main merits of the proposed inverters compared with other 17‐level inverters. Beyond theoretical analysis, both steady‐state and dynamic performances are verified experimentally, and the highest efficiency measured by the experiment is up to 97.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The molecular mechanisms underlying chemoresistance are still poorly understood in nasopharyngeal cancer. The protein expression of ERCC1 in DNA repair genes has been reported related to resistance platinum and predicting treatment outcomes in various malignant carcinomas, but the benefit for predicting outcomes with optimal cutoff value of ERCC1mRNA is controversial. The level of plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is positively correlated with clinical stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The predictive value of ERCC1mRNA from receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) and EBV-DNA level for stratified treatment with stage II NPC is exactly unclear. This study aims to assess the predictive value of combined EBV-DNA and ERCC1 in stage II nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with concurrent cisplatin, and provide guidance for future stratified treatment. Methods: A total of 86 stage II NPC patients who received IMRT and concurrent cisplatin-based chemotherapy with or without cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy had measurements of ERCC1 mRNA, and pretreatment EBV-DNA levels were analyzed by real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Associations of ERCC1 mRNA and pretreatment EBV-DNA levels with clinical characteristics and survivals were evaluated. Results: Cutoff value of ERCC1 mRNA obtained from ROC curve was used, and there were significant differences in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and overall response rate (ORR) between high expression group and low expression group (p = 0.021 and 0.030 and 0.000, respectively). Patients with pretreatment EBV-DNA <2000 copies/mL had significantly better PFS and ORR (p = 0.024 and 0.043, respectively) and a marginally significant impact on OS (p = 0.062) than those with pretreatment EBV-DNA ≥2000 copies/mL. Patients were divided into three groups by combination of ERCC1 mRNA and EBV-DNA level: ERCC1 mRNA low expression/pre-EBV-DNA <2000 copies/mL, ERCC1 mRNA low expression/pre-EBV-DNA ≥2000 copies/mL, and ERCC1 mRNA high expression/pre-EBV-DNA ≥2000 copies/mL. There were significant differences in ORR among the three groups (p = 0.005). The median follow-up was 62 months (range 22-84) with a follow-up rate of 90.70%. In these groups by combination of ERCC1 mRNA and EBV-DNA level, 1, 3, 5-year OS were 100%, 100%, 100%; 100%, 94.1%, 90.9%; and 100%, 85%, 72.9%, respectively (p = 0.038); 1, 3, 5-year PFS were 100%, 100%, 100%; 97.1%, 91.2%, 84.8%; and 95%, 85%, 71.4%, respectively (p = 0.028). Multivariate analysis showed that combination of ERCC1 mRNA and EBV-DNA levels remained independent prognostic factor but not ERCC1 mRNA and EBV-DNA alone. Conclusions: Combined ERCC1 mRNA and pre-EBV-DNA is a better prognostic biomarker in stage II NPC patients treated with concurrent chemoradiation. Patients with ERCC1 mRNA high expression/pre-EBV-DNA ≥2000 copies/mL may benefit from more aggressive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of invasive Alternanthera philoxeroides mats on native leaf litter decomposition, we allocated two native leaf species of contrasting recalcitrance (Neosinocalamus affinis and Ficus virens) in litterbags with four different mesh sizes (0.025, 0.042, 0.5, and 5 mm) and the bags were either incubated under floating A. philoxeroides mats (Vegetated site) or under floating plastic foam boards without A. philoxeroides mats (Unvegetated site) for 65 days in Jianhu Lake, China, in July 2020. The average decomposition rates increased with pore size of litterbags. The interaction intensity of the site effect in leaf mass loss was negative in 0.025 mesh and positive in other meshes, while no significance existed between two native species in the same mesh sizes and sites. The contribution of microbes to decomposition was more than 50% in both sites. The contribution in the vegetation site was as follows: microbes > microinvertebrates > meioinvertebrates > macroinvertebrates, compared with microbes > macroinvertebrates > meioinvertebrates > microinvertebrates in the unvegetated site. The results suggest that A. philoxeroides mats can promote the decomposition of native leaf litter, and that the roles of micro-, meio-, and macroinvertebrates in decomposition are important but underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible, self-healing hydrogels with a variety of desirable properties are required for artificial skin applications. Here, we report a novel ionic conductive composite hydrogel consisting of polyacrylamide (PAM), a silk sericin (SS) network and NaCl for use on bionic skin. The use of NaCl made the hydrogels good ionic conductors. Intrinsic interactions between the PAM and SS endowed the hydrogel with good mechanical properties, including a high tensile strength of 0.36 MPa and a compressive strength of 0.38 MPa. The ionic hydrogel showed a high transparency of 93%, a high adhesion strength of 52 kPa, and good conductivity. After being fractured, two pieces of the ionic hydrogel were re-bonded without external stimulation, which simulated the self-healing properties of skin after injury. The hydrogel displayed moisturizing and anti-mildew properties after being stored at room temperature for 2 months. These ionic hydrogels may find applications in artificial skin, human–machine interfaces and soft robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This retrospective study analyzed the polymorphisms and phenotypic frequencies of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 in a Han Chinese population. Methods: Tests for polymorphisms of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 were performed in over 3000 (3099‐3931) samples using an Illumina HiSeq X Ten sequencer. Following the guidance of the PharmGKB and PharmVar databases, the polymorphisms of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 were transformed into phenotypes, which included ultrarapid metabolizers (UMs), rapid metabolizers (RMs), normal metabolizers (NMs), intermediate metabolizers (IMs) and poor metabolizers (PMs). Results: A total of 3122 samples were tested for polymorphisms in CYP2C9 and the overall polymorphism frequency was found to be 8.8%; the phenotypic frequency for CYP2C9 was 91.2% NMs, 8.23% IMs and 0.16%, PMs. The overall polymorphism frequency of CYP2C19 was tested in 3099 samples and found to be 60.1%; the phenotypic frequency for CYP2C19 was 39.9% NMs, with 1.06% RMs, 45.62% IMs and 13.42% PMs. The overall polymorphism frequency of CYP2D6 was tested in 3931 samples and found to be 88.04%; the phenotypic frequency of CYP2D6 was 95.43% NMs, 3.35% IMs and 0.52% PMs. Using 2690 samples, the polymorphisms and phenotypic distributions of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 were examined simultaneously. We found that 96.36% of the samples contained mutations while 66.51% corresponded with phenotypic changes. Conclusions: Polymorphisms and phenotypic changes of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 are relatively frequent in the Han Chinese population. Thus, preemptive pharmacogenetic testing of CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 should be recommended prior to dosing substrate drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are obviously ethnic differences between the UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms. Due to the difference of genetic background and environment, the treatment with colorectal cancer patients of Guangxi Zhuang should not completely follow the Euramerican or Chinese han patients. The study aimed to explore the correlation of UGT1A1 gene polymorphism of Guangxi Zhuang metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with irinotecan -based chemotherapy, in order to develop an individualized irinotecan regimen for mCRC patients of Guangxi Zhuang.Methods: From June 2013 and June 2015, a total of 406 patients of Guangxi who were histologically diagnosed as metastatic colorectal cancer with 102 patients of this cohort with three generations of Zhuang, and 86 patients that conformed to inclusion and exclusion criteria were competitively enrolled. The distribution of UGT1A1 gene polymorphism was analyzed-retrospectively in all patients. Pyrosequencing method was used to detect the UGT1A1*28 and*6 gene polymorphism in the 86 Guangxi Zhuang mCRC patients. After first-line chemotherapy with FOLFIRI regimen, the relationship between gene polymorphism of UGT1A1 and adverse reactions, and efficacy of Irinotecan were analyzed with χ2 test and Kaplan-Meier method.Results: UGT1A1*28 wild-type (TA6/6), heterozygous mutant (TA6/7) and homozygous mutant (TA7/7) accounted for 69.8, 30.2 and 0%, respectively. UGT1A1*6 wild type (G/G), heterozygous mutation type (G/A) and homozygous mutant (A/A) accounted for 76.7%, 20.9 and 2.3%, respectively. UGT1A1*28 TA6/7 type could increase the risk of grade 3~4 diarrhea (p = 0.027), which did not increase the risk of grade 3~4 neutropenia (p = 0.092). UGT1A1*6G/A and A/A type could increase the risk of grade 3~4 diarrhea and neutropenia (p = 0.001; p = 0.017). After chemotherapy with FOLFIRI, there was no significant difference in response rate (RR) (p = 0.729; p = 0.745) or in median progression-free survival (mPFS) between the wild-type, mutant treatment of UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6 (7.0 m vs 7.4 m, p = 0.427; 6.9 m vs 7.0 m p = 0.408).Conclusions: The distribution of UGT1A1*28 and UGT1A1*6 gene polymorphism in Guangxi Zhuang patients were differed from the existing reported of European people and Chinese Han population. The UGT1A1 gene polymorphism with irinotecan chemotherapy-associated diarrhea and neutropenia were closely related. There was no significant association between UGT1A1 gene polymorphism and therapeutic efficacy of irinotecan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge on aquatic macrophyte decomposition has well developed, yet the decomposition and associated biotic factors along a vertical gradient in waters remain less examined. Here, we used Vallianeria natans leaves to investigate the decomposition rate and associated decomposers and microalgae at different vertical depths, by placing V. natans leaves into litterbags (0.5 and 5 mm meshes) and incubating them at the air–water interface (AW), sediment-water (SW) interface, and 10 cm (B10) or 20 cm (B20) burial in sediment over 60 days in a littoral zone of lake. Decomposition rates decreased with increased depths in each mesh size, with significant differences among and between AW (0.028 d−1), SW (0.022 d−1), B10 (0.014 d−1) and B20 (0.011 d−1) treatments in 0.5 mm litterbags and no significant difference between B10 (0.027 d−1) and B20 (0.025 d−1) in 5 mm litterbags. The average contribution of macroinvertebrates to biomass loss was highest in B20 (44.66%), lowest in AW (22.66%) and midst in both SW (25.35%) and B10 (38.78%), and was much less than that of both microbes and microalgae at each location. We show the importance of macroinvertebrates, microbes and microalgae in mediating macrophyte decomposition rate in response to different vertical locations in freshwaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A leaf-bag field experiment was conducted to investigate the decomposition and release of nutrients from leaves of two aquatic macrophytes (floating-leaved Trapa bispinosa and submerged Vallisneria natans) deposited in the four vertical locations (i.e. air-water interface, AW; sediment-water interface, SW; buried at a depth of 10 cm, B10; buried at a depth of 20 cm, B20) of littoral zone in Nanhu Lake, China, for 60 days from July to August 2015. Leaf initial quality significantly influenced mass loss and nutrient release except TN (total nitrogen) remaining. Compared to V. natans, T. bispinosa leaves decomposed faster under the same treatments. The decomposition was greatly affected by both leaf chemical quality and the location of deposition. With the increasing depth of vertical locations, leaf biomass loss and nutrient release of both T. bispinosa and V. natans decreased. In addition, initial N:P ratio and cellulose were the major determinants for decomposition in AW and SW treatments while total phenol in B10 and B20. Our results suggest that the combined effect of leaf chemical quality and burial could mediate macrophyte mass loss and release of nutrients and carbon, which in turn can influence organic matter accumulation and nutrient cycling in shallow freshwater lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to explore hyper-O-linked N-acetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) with an elevation of the expression of O-linked-β-N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) in human bladder cancer.Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for OGT and O-GlcNAcylation was performed in 20 paired human bladder cancer and adjacent normal tissues, as well as in human bladder cancer tissue microarrays (N = 169). The expression level of OGT and O-GlcNAcylation in cell lines were detected using the Western blot analysis. The effects of O-GlcNAcylation on the cell proliferation of bladder cancer were detected using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and clone formation assays. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle analysis were detected using flow cytometry. The autophagy of bladder cancer cells was investigated using the Western blot analysis, and GFP-LC3 plasmid was used to detect the autophagic flux. MTT assay was performed to detect the sensitivity of bladder cancer cells to cisplatin after OGT knockdown.Results: The expression of OGT and the O-GlcNAcylation were upregulated in bladder cancer tissues and cell lines. O-GlcNAcylation and OGT were observed in nucleus and cytoplasm and found to be higher in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) than in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Reducing hyper-O-GlcNAcylation by OGT knockdown inhibited the proliferation of bladder cancer cells in vitro and xenograft tumor growth in vivo, triggered apoptosis, as well as led to cell cycle arrest. It also increased autophagy in bladder cancer cells. This study demonstrated increased autophagy pro-survival, but not pro-death. Reducing hyper-O-GlcNAcylation by OGT knockdown facilitated the chemosensitivity of bladder cancer cells to cis-platinum.Conclusions: The data indicated that hyper-O-GlcNAcylation enhanced oncogenic phenotypes and was involved in DNA damage response in bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioma is the most common type of malignant intracranial tumor in adults and is associated with the highest mortality rate. Although surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other treatment methods have progressed, the median survival of patients with glioma is only 14–15 months. Glioma cells are able to penetrate along blood vessels and invade into the surrounding normal brain tissue so that an overall resection of the tumor cannot be performed. In the process of metastasis, the resistance of cancer cells to anoikis has an important role. When tumor cells escape from their original environment, anoikis resistance aids their survival. In the present study, reverse transcription-semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-sqPCR), RT-quantitative PCR and western blotting demonstrated that the transcription factor, motor neuron and pancreas homeobox 1 (MNX1), was ectopically expressed in glioma cells compared with normal HUVEC-C human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Furthermore, its expression was higher in more malignant glioma cell lines (T98G and M059K) compared with the less malignant glioma cell line (U-87 MG) and normal HUVEC-C cells. An adhesion assay using fibronectin demonstrated that MNX1 and tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) overexpression in HUVEC-C and U-87 MG cells reduced adhesion and forced them to suspend. Additionally, MNX1 and TrkB overexpression was demonstrated to increase the ability of cells to bypass anoikis. MNX1 and TrkB knockdown increased adhesion and promoted apoptosis after suspension. It was further demonstrated that MNX1 functioned as a transcription factor binding in the upstream regulatory region of TrkB to activate its expression. The results of the present study suggested that MNX1 may suppress the adhesion and apoptosis rates of tumor cells by activating TrkB. The results of the present study suggest that MNX1 may represent a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy vs. concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods: We reviewed data of locoregionally advanced NPC patients who underwent 2 different treatment plans, 1 with induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (IC + CCRT) and the other with only concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). All patients received cisplatin 80 mg/m2 3 weeks one cycle concurrently with intensity-modulated radiation therapy, and three IC protocols were included for the IC + CCRT group.Results: Data of 262 patients treated from May 2011 to November 2014 were found eligible for our study. With a median follow-up of 29.02 months, no significant differences were detected between the two groups on the 2-year overall survival or OS rates (96.63 vs. 92.86%, P = 0.169), 2-year distant metastasis-free survival or DMFS rates (91.57 vs. 86.90%, P = 0.246) and 3-year DMFS rates (90.45 vs. 82.14%, P = 0.093). However, they were statistically different on 2-year locoregional failure-free survival or LFFS rates (94.94 vs. 86.90%, P = 0.020), 3-year OS rates (95.51 vs. 82.14%, P = 0.002) and 3-year LFFS rates (93.82 vs. 79.76%, P = 0.001). The most common severe (grade 3-4) adverse events we recorded were Nausea/vomiting (36.52 vs. 33.33%), leukopenia (14.04 vs. 4.76%), thrombocytopenia (3.93 vs. 3.57%) and hepatic toxicity (3.37 vs. 2.38%).Conclusion: Compared with CCRT, the treatment plan IC + CCRT produced significantly encouraging outcomes in locoregionally advanced NPC patients on local progression-free survival and 3-year overall survival position, but might raise the risk of certain adverse reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports novel antimicrobial properties and shape memory properties of zwitterionic copolymers synthesized with 3-dimethyl(methacyloyloxyethyl) ammonium propane sulfonate (DMAPS) and acrylic acid (AA). The results demonstrate that the DMAPS- co -AA copolymer successfully integrates the antimicrobial properties and shape memory properties. The zwitterionic copolymer has good antimicrobial activity with bacteriostasis mechanism. Though the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) of DMAPS- co -AA copolymer is much higher, zwitterionic copolymer is a good candidate of environmental friendly antimicrobial agent due to its nontoxic and biocompatibility. The shape memory properties of zwitterionic copolymer further encourage them many smart biomedical applications, such as suture and drug release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) infiltration is obviously increased and closely associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). • TAMs significantly promoted RCC cells migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). • TAMs promote migration, invasion and EMT via activating IL-6/STAT3 signaling in RCC. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote tumor cell growth and metastasis in various human cancers. However, the role of TAMs in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rarely investigated. Herein, we observed that the infiltration of TAMs was obviously elevated in RCC tumor tissues, high infiltration of TAMs was closely associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in RCC patients. In vitro assays further indicated that the conditioned medium of TAMs (TAMs CM) facilitated migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in RCC cells. Moreover, we found that IL-6 was involved in the functions of TAMs in RCC; IL-6 neutralizing antibody (IL-6NA) partly abolished the effect of TAMs on RCC cells. In addition, we demonstrated that TAMs might exert their roles by activating STAT3 signaling in RCC, and IL-6 was responsible for TAMs-induced STAT3 signaling activation. In conclusion, our results revealed that high infiltration of TAMs may promote RCC cells migration, invasion, and EMT via modulating IL-6/STAT3 signaling, further suggesting a potential of novel treatment strategies targeting TAMs or IL-6 for metastatic RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallized glass fibers have the excellent electric conductivity and low price compared with carbon fibers. Metallized glass fibers were fabricated by coating copper on the surface using different processing technologies and the effects of processing technology on the properties of copper coated glass fibers were discussed. By hand laying up molding, metallized glass fiber reinforced plastic (MGFRP) with good dispersion and interfacial cohesion was prepared successfully. The piezoresistive properties of MGFRP were compared with those of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFPR). The results show that copper coated on glass fibers with volume resistivity of 10 −5 Ω·cm have the good electrical conductivity and cohesion between two phases through optimizing the pretreatment technology of glass fibers and the formula of chemical plating solution. MGFRP has the distinct and similar piezoresistive characteristics with CFRP and exhibits the better piezoresistive sensitivity to fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-way shape changing polymers are attractive in recent years. In this short communication, carbon black (CB)/shape memory polyurethane (SMPU)-elastic polyurethane (EPU) laminated composite is prepared and electro-active two-way shape changing behavior is reported for the first time. First, the CB/SMPU composite demonstrates good electro-active shape recovery due to good electricity conduction. When the CB/SMPU composite film is elongated and form polymer laminates by combining with EPU substrate, the resulted CB/SMPU-EPU polymer laminate shows electro-active two-way shape changing behavior, e.g., bending by applying electric current, and reverse bending upon cooling without electric current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, pyridine containing polyurethanes (PUPys) are attractive to fabricate supramolecular polymer networks. In this paper, thermogravimetric analysis was used to investigate thermal stability of PUPys quantitatively. The results show that the PUPys have at least two stages of degradation. The thermal stability of PUPys is better under oxygen as compared with nitrogen. PUPys based on hexamethylene diisocyanate tends to have higher onset decomposition temperature, but lower end decomposition temperature as compared with PUPys based on diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI). The PUPys with lower pyridine unit content have improved thermal stability at lower temperature range. The addition of rigid hard segment improves the decomposition temperature of pyridine unit, but promotes the weight loss at higher temperature range. Finally, it is proposed that the thermo-oxidative degradation of PUPys might be explained with the association of pyridine ring with hydrogen atom or hydroperoxides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Antibacterial agents receive a great deal of attention around the world due to the interesting academic problems of how to combat bacteria and of the beneficial health, social and economic effects of successful agents. Scientists are actively developing new antibacterial agents for biomaterial applications. This paper reports the novel antibacterial agent siloxane sulfopropylbetaine (SSPB), which contains reactive alkoxysilane groups. The structure and properties of SSPB were systematically investigated, with the results showing that SSPB contains both quaternary ammonium compounds and reactive siloxane groups. SSPB has good antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli (E. coli, 8099) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus, ATCC 6538). The minimal inhibition concentration is 70μmol/ml SSPB against both E. coli and S. aureus. In addition, the SSPB antibacterial agent can be used in both weak acid and weak alkaline environments, functioning within the wide pH range of 4.0–9.0. The SSPB-modified glass surface killed 99.96% of both S. aureus and E. coli organisms within 24h. No significant decrease was observed in this antibacterial activity after 20 washes. Moreover, SSPB does not induce a skin reaction and is nontoxic to animals. Thus, SSPB is an ideal candidate for future applications as a safe, environmentally friendly antibacterial agent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mesogen-jacketed liquid crystal polymers have attracted considerable interest in recent years. In this paper, a series of poly (PEPCS)-based mesogen-jacketed liquid crystal copolymers (MJLCPs) with a different 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate (HEA) content has been synthesised and characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarising optical microscopy (POM). The hydroxyl groups are attached to the backbone in the PEPCS-co-HEA copolymers to facilitate further chemical crosslinking. These PEPCS-based MJLCPs show a reversible phase transition when the HEA content is lower than 30 wt%. Tg and Ti shift to lower temperatures as the HEA content increases. POM studies reveal that the PEPCS and PEPCS-co-HEA copolymers all show a transition from the nematic to isotropic phase on heating and from the isotropic to nematic phase on cooling. Below Tg, the long range orientational ordering of the mesogenic units is fixed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, smart materials have drawn wide attention from many researchers. In this paper, laminated shape memory polymer composite (SMPC) exhibiting two-way shape memory effect (SME) has been prepared by combining the pre-elongated shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) with the un-elongated elastic polyurethane (PU). Then the shape memory behaviors, laminated structure and two-way SME mechanism are investigated systematically. The results show that two-way shape memory behaviors, i.e., bending upon heating and reverse bending upon cooling, are achieved in the resulted SMPU-based-SMPCs. In addition, the SMPCs show the compositive thermal properties and dynamic mechanical properties due to their physical combination of layer-by-layer. Furthermore, the shape memory mechanism can be ascribed to the reversible change of two forces, i.e., recovery force in the SMPU layer and bending force in the elastic PU layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As a result of the development of the social economy, China is currently urbanizing at an unprecedented rate: a particular social group with an extremely large number of members is in the process of being involuntarily peeled away from the traditional, agricultural mode of production. These people have to face an unfamiliar life in the city and constitute a subset within the social group of new urban migrants-landless rural residents. Because landless rural residents have a unique self-identity, this article was based upon two related presuppositions: first, landless rural residents possess the characteristics of peasants; their social memories of the past and the temporal and spatial transformation of their personal experiences in modern society could potentially influence and restrict the depth and development of their self-identification with their status. Second, as with urban residents, the status of landless rural residents is externally recognized by the household registration system; however, status and self-identity are more directly informed by the attitudinal and behavioral choices that the landless rural residents individually make with regard to urban society, which could potentially affect their adaptation to urban life. On these grounds and based upon field research on the landless rural residents of X village, Y province, this article analyzes the issue of their transformation, adaptation, and self-identity, from the three perspectives of their nonagricultural occupations, their urbanized living environment, and the status that the household registration system granted to these new urban residents. The study shows that the social memories of rural life can influence the life paths of the elderly among the landless rural residents: in getting or seeking employment, the elderly display numerous disadvantages; in their interaction with their neighbors, they are unable to recapture their familiar memories of social contact; they are not aware of the rights and benefits attached to their urban residential status; they are not willing to assimilate into the urban environment, so vastly different from rural life; and their aspirations for their self-identity are low. However, the new generation of landless rural residents displays fairly strong aspirations to become urban residents: they distance themselves from agricultural production early on; they show understanding of their new completely different urban life; and they are willing to become members of the urban residents' community. Thus, there are fairly distinct internal disparities within the group of landless rural residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, a series of pyridine containing supramolecular polyurethanes (PUPys) were synthesized from BINA, HDI and BDO. Then the structure, morphology and thermal-induced shape memory effect (SMEs) of PUPys were investigated systematically. Results show that strong hydrogen bonding is formed in the urethane group as well as in the pyridine ring; and phase separation consisting of soft phase and hard phase occurs in the PUPy. In addition, it is found that the lower limit of BINA content for PUPys exhibiting good SMEs is 30wt%. PUPys with higher BINA content show higher shape fixity, higher shape recovery and better strain stability. Moreover, the shape recovery force increases with the decreasing of BINA content. Finally, the temperature-dependent FT-IR spectra support that the hydrogen bonding in the pyridine ring serves as the molecular switch; while the hydrogen bonding in the urethane groups acts as the physical netpoints for the utilization of PUPys as SMMs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this communication, novel moisture-sensitive shape memory polyurethane (SMPU) was synthesized from 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and N,N-bis(2-hydroxylethyl) isonicotinamide (BINA) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO). Results show that the BINA based SMPUs have excellent moisture absorption properties which are not only influenced by the temperature, but also by the relative humidity (RH). As a result, high strain recovery with fast recovery speed is obtained after immersion in the moisture condition for a short time. FT-IR spectra provide a proof to the mechanism of moisture-sensitive SME which is based on the dissociation or disrupt of hydrogen bonding in the pyridine ring induced by moisture absorption. Thus, the strain recovery is achieved in the moisture-sensitive SMPUs by decreasing the glass transition temperature (T g) below ambient temperature without external heating. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The crystalline structure and photoluminescence (PL) properties of europium-doped cerium dioxide synthesized by the solid-state reaction method were analyzed. CeO2:Eu3+ phosphor powders exhibit the pure cubic fluorite phase up to 10mol% doping concentration of Eu3+. With indirect excitation of CeO2 host at 373nm, the PL intensity quickly increases with increasing Eu3+ concentration, up to about 1mol%, and then decreases indicating the concentration quenching. While with direct excitation (467nm), much more stronger PL emissions, especially the electric dipole emission 5D0–7F2 at 612nm, are observed and no concentration quenching occurs up to 10mol% doping concentration of Eu3+. The nature of this behavior and the cause of the concentration quenching were discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Co-doped SnO2 thin films are grown on sapphire (0001) substrates at 600 °C by the technique of dual-beam pulsed laser deposition. The prepared films show preferred orientation in the [100] direction of the rutile structure of SnO2. Nonequilibrium film growth process results in doping Co into SnO2 much above the thermal equilibrium limit. A Film with 3% of Co is ferromagnetic at room temperature with a remanent magnetization of ∼26% and a coercivity of ∼9.0 mT. As Co doping content x increases, the optical band gap absorption edge (E 0) of the Co-doped SnO2 thin films initially shows a redshift at low x up to x =0.12 and then increases at the higher x, which are attributed to the sp–d exchange interactions and alloying effects, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The unique advantages of impedance source inverters make them more suitable for new energy fields that need to boost and invert low dc voltages. In order to enhance the boost capability, this work derives a new high-gain quasi-switched boost inverter (HG-qSBI) from the original qSBI topology. Specifically, the voltage gain is improved from 1/(1-2d) to 1/(1-3d) by adding one switched-capacitor unit formed by one capacitor, one transistor, and two diodes, here d is the duty ratio for shoot-through states of the inverter. It inherits the advantages of single inductor and continuous input current, and the modulation strategy is exactly the same as the original qSBI. Moreover, all components employed in the HG-qSBI withstand the same voltage stress. All these features are verified by both three-phase simulation and single-phase experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg conbercept in patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathological myopia (pmCNV). Methods: The 177 pmCNV patients were randomly assigned in a 3:1 ratio to receive conbercept or sham injection, respectively. The conbercept group receive conbercept intravitreal injections administered on a pro re nata (PRN) basis after 3 monthly loading doses. The sham group received three consecutive monthly sham injections and then one conbercept injection followed by PRN conbercept intravitreal injections. Results: At month 3, the mean BCVA for the two groups were improved by 12.0 letters (conbercept group, from 54.05 letters to 66.05 letters) and 0.6 letters (sham group, from 49.77 letters to 50.33 letters), respectively (p < 0.001). The mean central retinal thickness (CRT) at month 3 in the two groups decreased 62.0 μm (conbercept group, from 348.90 μm to 286.18 μm) and 4.4 μm (sham group, from 347.86 μm to 343.47 μm) (p < 0.001). At month 9, the mean BCVA improved by 13.3 letters in the conbercept group and 11.3 letters in the sham group. The mean CRT decreased 73.6 μm in the conbercept group and 55.9 μm in the sham group (p < 0.001). The most common ocular adverse events were associated with intravitreal injections, such as conjunctival haemorrhage and increased intraocular pressure. Conclusion: Intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg conbercept provided improvement in visual and anatomical outcomes in pmCNV patients with low rates of ocular and nonocular safety events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The c-Myc protein strongly stimulates cellular proliferation, inducing cells to exit G0/G1 and enter the cell cycle. At a molecular level, Myc prevents growth arrest and drives cell cycle progression through the transcriptional regulation of Myc-target genes. Expression of the growth arrest and DNA damage inducible gene 45 (gadd45) is elevated in response to DNA damaging agents, such as ionizing radiation via a p53-dependent mechanism, upon nutrient deprivation, or during differentiation. Gadd45 holds a vital role in growth arrest as ectopic expression confers a strong block to proliferation. Exposure of quiescent cells to mitogen stimulates a rapid increase in c-Myc expression which is followed by the subsequent reduction in gadd45 expression. The kinetics of these two regulatory events suggest that Myc suppresses the expression of gadd45, contributing to G0/G1 phase exit of the cell cycle. Indeed, ectopic Myc expression in primary and immortalized fibroblasts results in the suppression of gadd45 mRNA levels, by a mechanism which is independent of cell cycle progression. Using an inducible MycERTM system, rapid suppression of gadd45 mRNA is first evident approximately 0.5 h following Myc activation. The reduction in gadd45 mRNA expression occurs at the transcriptional level and is mediated by a p53-independent pathway. Moreover, Myc suppression and p53 induction of gadd45 following exposure to ionizing radiation are non-competitive co-regulatory events. Myc suppression of gadd45 defines a novel pathway through which Myc promotes cell cycle entry and prevents growth arrest of transformed cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, a quasi-analytic method for solving structural optimization problems has been developed by co-ordinated use of mathematical transformations, high-quality approximation and a two-level approximation strategy. The method which has the advantages of both generality in applications and high efficiency in computations is especially of benefit to large practical design problems. Several typical examples of different sorts have been optimized to test its power. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fritillariae Thunbergii Flos (FTF) included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1977 Edition) is a Chinese medicinal herb traditionally used to treat bronchitis. In recent years, it has been applied in the treatment of lung cancer. However, the molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. The screening of bioactive compounds, acquisition of drug targets, network construction, and experimental validation in vivo were combined to explored the mechanism of FTF in the treatment of lung carcinoma with regards to systems pharmacology. The network Lung Cancer Pathway consisted of 114 nodes (44 compounds and 70 potential targets) and 361 edges, as well as modules that included inflammatory response, angiogenesis, negative regulation of the apoptotic process, and positive regulation of cell proliferation and migration. It was examined by conducting experiments that involved the administration of ethanol-based extracts of FTF in Lewis lung carcinoma mice. The extracts exerted excellent anti-lung cancer effects in vivo by significantly inhibiting tumor proliferation, thereby extending the survival period of tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, FTF induced the downregulation of PIK3CG, Bcl-2, eNOS, VEGF, p-STAT3, and STAT3 genes in tumor-bearing mice. The findings of the present study verify the therapeutic effects and mechanism of FTF on lung cancer and provide a theoretical basis to support the comprehensive utilization of FTF resources. Image 1 • Systems Pharmacology revealed 44 important compounds and 70 potential targets of Fritillariae Thunbergii Flos. • The possible mechanism of Fritillariae Thunbergii Flos in lung cancer treatment involved inflammatory response, angiogenesis, apoptotic process, and cell proliferation and migration. • PIK3CG, Bcl-2, eNOS, VEGF, p-STAT3, and STAT3 genes in tumor-bearing mice could be the key targets of Fritillariae Thunbergii Flos in lung cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a new five-level inverter is developed by inserting a switched-capacitor (SC) unit into the traditional three-level neutral-point-clamped (NPC) inverter phase leg. The SC unit consists of two capacitors and one bidirectional switch, all of which withstand a quarter of the dc input voltage. While increasing the output levels, the performance is also improved in terms of power loss, common-mode voltage, switching stress dv/dt, and output filter. Compared to other five-level inverters like the conventional NPC and active NPC five-level topologies, the new solution not only reduces the number of components and simplifies the design but also has the advantage of self-balanced capacitor voltages. The analysis, simulation, and experiment indicate that the proposed inverter is suitable for a wide range of applications like renewable source grid-connected interfaces and motor drivers. Simulation and experimental results of grid-connected operation verify that the new inverter is capable of providing both active and reactive power to the grid. Its excellent performance is also experimentally evaluated by a 1.2-kW prototype and the measured efficiency is above 97% for a wide range of load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fabricating smart materials with supramolecular switch is an attractive research topic in recent years. In this communication, shape memory polyurethane supramolecular networks are synthesized from BINA, HDI, MDI and BDO. DSC results show that amorphous soft phase and hard phase are formed through different intermolecular hydrogen bondings at the regions of pyridine units and urethane groups in the resulted BINA containing polyurethanes (BIN-PUs). Moreover, DMA results show that the BIN-PUs have higher modulus ratio (E g / E r >400) and much higher maximum tanδ. These results determine that the BIN-PUs exhibit excellent shape memory effect: higher shape fixity (>97%) and higher shape recovery (>91.7%). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Novel polymer laminate exhibiting two-way shape memory effect has been prepared by layer technique with the shape memory polymer and elastic polymer. In this paper, we demonstrate the two-way shape memory behavior, i.e., bending on heating and reverse bending on cooling; describe the preparation procedure; and investigate its two-way shape memory mechanism. Finally, it suggests that the mechanism can be ascribed to the release of elastic strain of shape memory polymer layer upon heating, and the elastic strain recovery induced by the bending force of substrate layer upon cooling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reservoir compensation and resettlement are the two important keys for enforced migration for water conservancy projects. For reservoir migrants in China, the most severe loss of inundation is that of land, so land rights are the most critical in land acquisition compensation (LAC). In this study, based on the field survey of Wuxikou reservoir migrants in China, a social relations approach is adopted to analyze the gender gaps in the three dimensions of rules, resources and power in LAC. Besides, the study discusses the causes of gender gaps in LAC of reservoir migrants, both external and internal. External causes include the absence of a gender perspective in land systems design and migration policies, the insufficient implementation of related compensation policies, etc. Similarly, internal causes include a deviation of village rules and customary laws from policies, the patriarchal gender culture of "son preference", and the marital mobility of virilocal residence. Studies find that gender gaps exist in related local policies and laws, as well as their enforcement. Besides, migrant women lacked participation in rule-making. The distribution of compensation resources was skewed towards men, while migrant women had de facto difficulties in accessing financial compensation, productive lands, and living sites. However, migrant men had more power in the leadership of village affairs, expression in village meetings, and decision-making in family affairs than migrant women. The findings of the study reveal that to bridge the gender gaps of reservoir migrants' rights and socio-economic benefits, governments or development enterprises should reasonably build up an equal gender environment and empower migrant women, which will help to achieve the sustainable development of water projects in China. • Compensation and resettlement keys for enforced migration of WCPs • LAC for sustainable environmental management of Wuxikou Hydropower Projects • China's future water conservancy requires paradigm shifts. • Study helps to achieve the sustainable development of water projects in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Minimally invasive surgery has achieved good results in the treatment of cerebral haemorrhage.However, no large-scale clinical study has demonstrated that surgical treatment of cerebral haemorrhages less than 30 ml can improve the curative effect. Our study explored the efficacy and complication of stereotactic drainage based on the amount of cerebral hemorrhage (15-30 ml) in hypertensive basal ganglia.Method: Sixty patients with hypertensive basal ganglia haemorrhages were divided into a control group and an experimental group with 30 patients in each group. Patients in the control group were treated conservatively. In contrast, those in the experimental group received stereotactic drainage, and urokinase was injected into the haematoma cavity after the operation. The haematoma volume at admission and 1, 3, 7 and 30 days after treatment and National Institute of Health stroke scale(NIHSS) score data were recorded. Complications after treatment in the two groups of data were compared and analysed.Result: No significant differences in age, sex, time of treatment after onset, admission blood pressure, admission haematoma volume or admission NIHSS score were noted between these two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, significant differences in haematoma volume were noted between the two groups on the 1st, 3rd, 7th and 30th days after treatment (P < 0.05). The amount of hematoma of patients in the experimental group was significantly reduced compared with that in the control group, and the NIHSS scores were significantly different on the 3rd, 7th and 30th days after treatment. The neurological deficit scores of patients in the experimental group were significantly reduced compared with those in the control group, and the incidence of pulmonary infection and venous thrombosis in the lower limbs of patients in the experimental group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that stereotactic drainage affected the early neurological function of patients with small and medium basal ganglia haemorrhages.Conclusion: For patients with small and medium basal ganglia haemorrhages, stereotactic drainage can be used due to the faster drainage speed of haematomas after operation, which is beneficial to the recovery of neurological function and reduce complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, vertical gallium nitride (GaN) Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) with an ultra-low turn-on voltage VON (0.37 V) were demonstrated. Due to the process of O2 plasma treatment, GaON was formed on the surface of GaN and further modified the surface potential of the material surface, which made the VON decrease from 0.62 to 0.37 V. Spin-on-glass was deposited on top of devices to form the floating guard ring, which was used to improve the breakdown voltage to 681 V (at J = 1 A/cm2) by reducing the electric field distribution. The vertical GaN SBDs exhibit a specific on-resistance (RON) of 2.6 mΩ cm2. Deterioration of the device under different stress time changes slightly showed great stability of the devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape-memory polymers with supramolecular switch have received increasing attention. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of supramolecular shape-memory polyurethane based on Cu(II)-pyridine coordination, obtained by mixing pyridine containing polyurethane with CuCl2. The results show that there are strong metal-ligand coordination interactions formed between Cu(II) and the pyridine ring in a series of CuCl2-doped polyurethane samples. The Cu(II)-pyridine coordination plays a crucial role in the enhanced physical netpoints for outstanding shape-memory properties. Indeed, the so-synthesized CuCl2-doped polyurethane exhibits not only a rapid tensile shape recovery but also excellent crimp shape recovery. The CuCl2-doped polyurethane containing suitable metal-ligand coordination interactions shows more than 99% shape fixation and more than 95% shape recovery. Our findings promote further applications of shape-memory polymers in multiple engineering fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C nanofibers are prepared by electrospinning and heat treatment. • The as-obtained Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C nanofibers can be used as self-standing cathodes. • The NVP particles were embedded in uniform porous carbon nanofibers to form a flexible 3D network structure. • Even at a rate of 30 C, the discharge capacity was up to 30 mA h g−1. Abstract A facile and simple electrospinning method was adopted to prepare a 3D network of Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C flexible fiber membrane as self-standing cathodes for sodium ion batteries. The physical and electrochemical performances are investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electrochemical tests. The Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 /C nanorods displayed an excellent sodium storage performance. For example, it showed an initial capacity of 107 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.1 C and retained almost 100% of the initial capacity at the 100th cycle. Moreover, the discharge capacity was up to 30 mA h g−1 at 30 C, suggesting a high rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional epoxy polymers are thermo-set and difficult to recycle and reuse. In this study, a series of linear thermoplastic epoxy polymers (EPx) with shape memory properties were prepared by using a bifunctional monoamine diglycolamine (DGA) as a curing agent and an equivalent amount of bifunctional rigid epoxy resin (E-51) and bifunctional flexible epoxy resin (polypropylenglycol diglycidyl ether, PPGDGE) in a bulk polymerization reaction. The results showed that these samples can fully react under the curing process of, 60 °C/2 h, followed by 80 °C/2 h, followed by 120 °C/2 h. The introduction of different contents of PPGDGE can adjust the Tg of the material to adapt to different environmental requirements, and can significantly increase the fracture strain of the material and improve its micro-phase separation structure. Thus, Rf of the material is close to 100%, and Rr is increased from 87.98% to 97.76%. Importantly, this linear chain structure allows the material to be easily recycled and reprocessed by dissolving or melting, and also means the material shows potential for 3D printing or other thermoplastic remolding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better understand the interrelation between liquid crystal fillers and functional polymers, a series of liquid crystalline shape memory polyurethane composites (LC-SMPUCs), named shape memory polyurethane (SMPU)-4-hexadecyloxybenzoic acid (HOBA) composites, are prepared by incorporating HOBA into SMPU based on a polyethylene glycol (PEG) soft segment. The results demonstrate that the dimerization structure of HOBA is maintained in the as-prepared SMPU-HOBA composites, facilitating liquid crystalline properties. Characterization results display smectic C phase upon heating, while the isotropic temperature shifts to a higher temperature, broadening the temperature range of the liquid crystalline phase. The SMPU-HOBA composites form a two-phase separated structure containing a SMPU phase and a HOBA phase; the incorporated HOBA can promote crystallizability of both soft and hard segments of SMPU, while crystalline hard phases are maintained within the high temperature range. Thus, SMPU-HOBA composites demonstrate a two-step modulus change upon heating that releases a triple-shape memory effect. The final shape fixing ratio is higher than 99%, and the final shape recovery ratio reaches 90%. Therefore, the SMPU-HOBA composites successfully provide a desirable combination of liquid crystalline properties and triple-shape memory properties, making them ideal candidates for smart sensor, smart labels, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming to elucidate the influence of liquid crystal fillers on the structure and properties of liquid-crystalline (LC) shape-memory polyurethane (SMPU) composites, a series of LC-SMPU composites are successfully prepared by adding various concentrations of 4-dodecyloxybenzoic acid (DOBA) to shape-memory polyurethane containing 40 wt% hard segment content (SMPU40). The structure, morphology, thermal properties, liquid crystalline properties, and shape memory properties are systematically investigated. The results demonstrate that DOBA is successfully incorporated into the polymer matrix of SMPU40 without interrupting the dimerization structure of DOBA that allows it to exhibit LC properties. The incorporated DOBA not only improves the crystallizability of the soft segment but also promotes the crystallizability of the hard segment. The isothermal crystallization kinetics further reveal that the crystallization rate of the hard segment decreases as the DOBA content increases, and the crystallization of the LC-SMPU composites nucleates in a similar manner. The LC-SMPU composites are composed of a DOBA phase and an SMPU phase, which further forms soft phase-hard phase microphase separation structures. The composite tends to only maintain the nematic LC properties of DOBA due to the interruption of polyurethane chains. However, the LC-SMPU composites exhibit good triple-shape memory effects. The first step of strain recovery is associated with the melting transition of soft segment crystals of the polyurethane matrix, and the second step of strain recovery is resulted from the melting transition of the DOBA crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a series of novel shape memory polyurethanes (SMPUs) containing tertiary amine groups are prepared by designing hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI)-N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) as soft segments and HDI-BDO as hard segments. The structure and properties of the MDEA-based SMPUs are investigated using FT-IR, NMR, DSC, TGA, DMA, POM and AFM. The results demonstrate that the MDEA-based SMPU is composed of an amorphous soft phase and hard phase. The hard phase is amorphous below 20 wt% hard segment content (HSC), whereas the HDI-BDO segments form a semi-crystalline hard phase above 30 wt% HSC. This morphology exhibits good thermally induced SMEs with 100 % shape fixity and more than 80 % shape recovery. Moreover, the MDEA-based polyurethanes are expected to be further multifunctionalized for antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, multi-responsiveness and many other properties. This work provides a new strategy for designing multifunctional shape memory polymers with amine-containing polyurethanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]