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In this work, a new Mg-2Zn-0.8Sr-0.2Ca alloy with low content of alloying elements was subjected to extrusion at relatively low-temperatures (240 and 200°C) and slow-speed (1.0 mm/s and 0.1 mm/s). The average size and volume fraction of recrystallized grains in the extruded Mg-2Zn-0.8Sr-0.2Ca alloy gradually decreased with the reduction in extrusion rate or extrusion temperature. Some broken second phases including Ca2Mg6Zn3 and Mg17Sr2 appeared in the extruded Mg-2Zn- 0.8Sr-0.2Ca alloy along with some precipitated nano-sized MgZn2 phases. The volume fraction of MgZn2 phases gradually in the alloy increased as extrusion rate or temperature decreased. High performance with yield strength of 393.1 MPa, ultimate tensile strength of 418.4 MPa and the elongation of 5.7% was obtained in the Mg-2Zn-0.8Sr-0.2Ca alloy extruded at 200°C & 0.1 mm/s. The main strengthening mechanisms could be attributed to grain-boundary strengthening, dislocation strengthening, precipitation strengthening, which were related to the change in grain size, second phases and basal texture intensity for the extruded Mg-2Zn-0.8Sr-0.2Ca alloy.

SnSe, a group IV-VI monochalcogenide with layered crystal structure similar to black phosphorus, has recently attracted extensive interest due to its excellent thermoelectric properties and potential device applications. Experimental electronic structure of both the valence and conduction bands is critical for understanding the effects of hole versus electron doping on the thermoelectric properties, and to further reveal possible change of the band gap upon doping. Here, we report the multivalley valence bands with a large effective mass on semiconducting SnSe crystals and reveal single-valley conduction bands through electron doping to provide a complete picture of the thermoelectric physics. Moreover, by electron doping through potassium deposition, the band gap of SnSe can be widely tuned from 1.2 eV to 0.4 eV, providing new opportunities for tunable electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Xingran Du,1,* Jianpeng Xue,2,* Mingzi Jiang,3 Shaoqing Lin,4 Yuzhen Huang,4 Kaili Deng,5 Lei Shu,5 Hanmei Xu,2 Zeqing Li,2 Jing Yao,4 Sixia Chen,4 Ziyan Shen,4 Ganzhu Feng4 1Department of Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, The Engineering Research Center of Synthetic Polypeptide Discovery and Evaluation of Jiangsu Province, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First People’s Hospital of Kunshan, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ganzhu FengDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-025-58509837Fax +86-025-58509994Email zhu1635253@163.comBackground: The development of vaccines is a promising and cost-effective strategy to prevent emerging multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) infections. The purpose of this study was to prepare a multiepitope peptide nanovaccine and evaluate its immunogenicity and protective effect in BALB/c mice.Methods: The B-cell and T-cell epitopes of Omp22 from A. baumannii were predicted using bioinformatics methods and identified by immunological experiments. The optimal epitopes were conjugated in series by 6-aminocaproic acid and chemically synthesized multiepitope polypeptide rOmp22. Then, rOmp22 was encapsulated by chitosan (CS) and poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) to prepare CS-PLGA-rOmp22 nanoparticles (NPs). The immunogenicity and immunoprotective efficacy of the vaccine were evaluated in BALB/c mice.Results: CS-PLGA-rOmp22 NPs were small (mean size of 272.83 nm) with apparently spherical structures, positively charged (4.39 mV) and nontoxic to A549 cells. A high encapsulation efficiency (54.94%) and a continuous slow release pattern were achieved. Compared with nonencapsulated rOmp22, CS-PLGA-rOmp22 immunized BALB/c mice induced higher levels of rOmp22-specific IgG in serum and IFN-γ in splenocyte supernatant. Additionally, lung injury and bacterial burdens in the lung and blood were suppressed, and potent protection (57.14%-83.3%) against acute lethal intratracheal A. baumannii challenge was observed in BALB/c mice vaccinated with CS-PLGA-rOmp22.Conclusion: CS-PLGA-rOmp22 NPs elicited specific IgG antibodies, Th1 cellular immunity and protection against acute lethal intratracheal A. baumannii challenge. Our results indicate that this nanovaccine is a desirable candidate for preventing A. baumannii infection.Keywords: A. baumannii, epitope vaccine, polymeric nanoparticles, PLGA, chitosan

Weyl semimetal is a new quantum state of matter hosting the condensed matter physics counterpart of the relativistic Weyl fermions originally introduced in high-energy physics. The Weyl semimetal phase realized in the TaAs class of materials features multiple Fermi arcs arising from topological surface states and exhibits novel quantum phenomena, such as a chiral anomaly-induced negative magnetoresistance and possibly emergent supersymmetry. Recently it was proposed theoretically that a new type (type-II) of Weyl fermion that arises due to the breaking of Lorentz invariance, which does not have a counterpart in high-energy physics, can emerge as topologically protected touching between electron and hole pockets. Here, we report direct experimental evidence of topological Fermi arcs in the predicted type-II Weyl semimetal MoTe 2 (refs 23-25). The topological surface states are confirmed by directly observing the surface states using bulk- and surface-sensitive angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, and the quasi-particle interference pattern between the putative topological Fermi arcs in scanning tunnelling microscopy. By establishing MoTe 2 as an experimental realization of a type-II Weyl semimetal, our work opens up opportunities for probing the physical properties of this exciting new state.

Graphene/hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has emerged as a model van der Waals heterostructure as the superlattice potential, which is induced by lattice mismatch and crystal orientation, gives rise to various novel quantum phenomena, such as the self-similar Hofstadter butterfly states. Although the newly generated second-generation Dirac cones (SDCs) are believed to be crucial for understanding such intriguing phenomena, fundamental knowledge of SDCs, such as locations and dispersion, and the effect of inversion symmetry breaking on the gap opening, still remains highly debated due to the lack of direct experimental results. Here we report direct experimental results on the dispersion of SDCs in 0°-aligned graphene/h-BN heterostructures using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Our data unambiguously reveal SDCs at the corners of the superlattice Brillouin zone, and at only one of the two superlattice valleys. Moreover, gaps of approximately 100 meV and approximately 160 meV are observed at the SDCs and the original graphene Dirac cone, respectively. Our work highlights the important role of a strong inversion-symmetry-breaking perturbation potential in the physics of graphene/h-BN, and fills critical knowledge gaps in the band structure engineering of Dirac fermions by a superlattice potential.

Yicheng Li,1– 3,* Zhengli Li,2,* Kangjian Deng,2,* Minjun Liao,2,4 Shengguang Yuan,1,2 Zhaoquan Huang2,5 1Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541199, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China; 3Second Clinical Medical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China; 4Science Experiment Center, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Pathology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhaoquan Huang; Shengguang YuanLaboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, Guangxi, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail 477922581@qq.com; yuanshengguang6@163.comPurpose: Preoperative fibrinogen levels are associated with the development, recurrence and metastasis of malignant tumors. This study was designed to investigate the clinical value of preoperative fibrinogen/lymphocyte count ratio (FLR) index in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Patients and Methods: The clinical data of 479 patients with HCC who underwent radical resection were retrospectively analyzed. The correlation between FLR and clinicopathological features was analyzed by chi-square test or non-parametric test. The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed by Kaplan–Meier method.Results: The optimal cut-off value of FLR was determined as 1.6 according to the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, in order to predict prognosis for HCC patients after radical resection. It was further found that FLR level was correlated with tumor size, TNM stage, microvascular invasion and prognosis. Multivariate Cox regression analyses found that FLR was an independent predictor for postoperative OS (overall survival) (p = 0.002) and PFS (progression-free survival) (p = 0.001) in patients with HCC; and the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS and PFS of HCC patients in the FLR ≤ 1.6 level group were significantly higher than those in the FLR > 1.6 level group.Conclusion: Preoperative FLR level is a novel and effective predictor of prognosis in patients with HCC, and elevated FLR level is associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC.Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, FLR, prognosis, recurrence

Xuan-Wei Huang,1,* Xu-Dong Wang,2,* Jie-Lan Lai,2 Ya-Li Lu,2 Kun Deng,3 Ren-Chun Lai2 1The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Department of Anesthesiology, Guangzhou 510080, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Guangzhou 510060, People’s Republic of China; 3Xifeng People’s Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology, Guiyang 520122, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ren-Chun Lai Email lairch@sysucc.org.cnBackground: Whether laryngeal cancer is directly implanted into the lungs during orotracheal intubation is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to find whether orotracheal intubation is an independent risk factor for postoperative pulmonary metastasis in patients undergoing laryngectomy.Patients and Methods: Medical records from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2016, were reviewed. According to similar propensity scores, patients who received orotracheal intubation (tracheal intubation group, n = 515) were matched 1:1 with those who received tracheotomy (tracheotomy group, n = 326) in the induction of general anesthesia. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary metastasis. Secondary outcomes included local recurrence, lymphatic metastasis, tracheostomal recurrence and overall survival.Results: Between the two groups, there was no significant difference in postoperative pulmonary metastasis (P = 0.688), local recurrence (P = 0.215), lymphatic metastasis (P = 0.480), tracheostomal recurrence (P = 0.246) or all-cause death (P = 0.299). The primary site of cancer was an independent risk factor for pulmonary metastasis [HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.13– 0.68; P = 0.013] and local recurrence (HR 2.69, 95% CI 1.39– 5.21; P = 0.003). Type of surgery (HR 3.13, 95% CI 2.03– 4.84; P < 0.001) and N classification of TNM (HR 0.27, 95% CI 0.10– 0.75; P = 0.012) were risk factors for local recurrence. Postoperative chemotherapy was an independent risk factor for lung metastasis (HR 7.58, 95% CI 3.11– 18.47; P < 0.001) and lymphatic metastasis (HR 5.18, 95% CI 2.57– 11.91; P < 0.001), and 5-year overall survival was associated with age (P = 0.028), clinical stage (P < 0.001) and postoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.003) but not with anesthetic technique (P = 0.473).Conclusion: This retrospective study suggests that orotracheal intubation in laryngectomy is not a risk factor for postoperative pulmonary metastasis, local recurrence, lymphatic metastasis or overall survival.Keywords: laryngectomy, lung metastasis, local recurrence, tracheal intubation, tracheotomy

Chunyan Yang, Ce Wang, Zhiwei Rong, Zhenyi Xu, Kui Deng, Weiwei Zhao, Lei Cao, Yaxin Lu, Humara Adnan, Kang Li, Yan Hou Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Public Health School, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Kang Li Tel +86-451-87502939 Fax +86-451-87202885Email likang@ems.hrbmu.edu.cnYan Hou Tel +86-451-87502645Fax +86-451-87202885Email 3167503367@qq.comObjective: Ascites, an accumulation of peritoneal fluid, is associated with poor prognosis of certain cancers. The potential mechanism that ascites worsens prognosis has not been well understood. Lipids have been reported to correlate with the prognosis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Therefore, we aimed here to investigate whether lipids mediate the effect of ascites on the recurrence of EOC.Methods: We collected the demographic and pathological data of 437 previously untreated patients with EOC to investigate the influence of ascites on recurrence. To identify the mechanism that mediates the potential influence of ascites on recurrence, we used ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) to determine the plasma lipid profiles of 53 patients with EOC. We used mediation analysis to evaluate if lipids mediated the effects of ascites on the recurrence of EOC.Results: Patients with ascites had a poorer prognosis, which was associated with higher levels of carbohydrate antigen-CA125 (CA125) and FIGO stage. We identified six different lipid metabolites that were associated with ascites and recurrence. Mediation analysis revealed that the lipids LysoPC(P-15:0), PC(P-34:4), and PC(38:6) may mediate the effects of ascites on recurrence.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that LysoPC(P-15:0), PC(P-34:4), and PC(38:6) mediate the effect of ascites on the prognosis of patients with EOC. We believe therefore that it is reasonable to consider metabolic interventions targeting the metabolism of LysoPC(P-15:0), PC(P-34:4), and PC(38:6) as a palliative treatment for patients with EOC with ascites. Further studies of more patients will be required to validate our findings.Keywords: ascites, recurrence, mediation analysis, lipids, epithelial ovarian cancer

This work considers the optimal scheduling problem for a campus central plant equipped with a bank of multiple electrical chillers and a thermal energy storage (TES). Typically, the chillers are operated in ON/OFF modes to charge TES and supply chilled water to satisfy the campus cooling demands. A bilinear model is established to describe the system dynamics of the central plant. A model predictive control (MPC) problem is formulated to obtain optimal set-points to satisfy the campus cooling demands and minimize daily electricity cost. At each time step, the MPC problem is represented as a large-scale mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem. We propose a heuristic algorithm to obtain suboptimal solutions for it via dynamic programming (DP) and mixed integer linear programming (MILP). The system dynamics is linearized along the simulated trajectories of the system. The optimal TES operation profile is obtained by solving a DP problem at every horizon, and the optimal chiller operations are obtained by solving an MILP problem at every time step with a fixed TES operation profile. Simulation results show desired performance and computational tractability of the proposed algorithm.

© 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited.Despite antiretroviral therapy (ART),humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 persists in a stable latent reservoir1,2, primarily in resting memory CD41 T cells3,4. This reservoir presents a major barrier to the cure of HIV-1

In this paper, we consider the optimal scheduling problem for a campus central plant equipped with a bank of multiple electrical chillers and a Thermal Energy Storage (TES). Typically, the chillers are operated in ON/OFF modes to charge the TES and supply chilled water to the campus. A bilinear model is established to describe the system dynamics. A model predictive control (MPC) problem is formulated to obtain optimal set-points to satisfy the campus cooling demands and minimize daily electricity costs. At each time step, the MPC problem is represented as a large-scale mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem. We propose a heuristic algorithm to search for suboptimal solutions to the MINLP problem based on mixed integer linear programming (MILP), where the system dynamics is linearized along the simulated trajectories of the system. Simulation results show good performance and computational tractability of the proposed algorithm. © 2013 AACC American Automatic Control Council.

Bo Wu,1,2 Shu-Ting Lu,1 Kai Deng,2 Hui Yu,2 Can Cui,2 Yang Zhang,2 Ming Wu,2 Ren-Xi Zhuo,2 Hai-Bo Xu,1 Shi-Wen Huang2 1Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 2Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China Abstract: In recent years, there has been increasing interest in developing a multifunctional nanoscale platform for cancer monitoring and chemotherapy. However, there is still a big challenge for current clinic contrast agents to improve their poor tumor selectivity and response. Herein, we report a new kind of Gd complex and folate-coated redox-sensitive lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticle (Gd-FLPNP) for tumor-targeted magnetic resonance imaging and therapy. Gd-FLPNPs can simultaneously accomplish diagnostic imaging, and specific targeting and controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX). They exhibit good monodispersity, excellent size stability, and a well-defined core-shell structure. Paramagnetic nanoparticles based on gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-bis-cetylamine have paramagnetic properties with an approximately two-fold enhancement in the longitudinal relaxivity compared to clinical used Magnevist. For targeted and reduction-sensitive drug delivery, Gd-FLPNPs released DOX faster and enhanced cell uptake in vitro, and exhibited better antitumor effect both in vitro and in vivo. Keywords: redox-sensitive, tumor-targeted, gadolinium, contrast agents, PLGA

Bo Wu,1,* Bing Wan,2,* Shu-Ting Lu,1 Kai Deng,3 Xiao-Qi Li,1 Bao-Lin Wu,1 Yu-Shuang Li,1 Ru-Fang Liao,1 Shi-Wen Huang,3 Hai-Bo Xu1,2 1Department of Radiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 2Department of Radiology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 3Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers, Ministry of Education, Wuhan University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: The major challenge in current clinic contrast agents (CAs) and chemotherapy is the poor tumor selectivity and response. Based on the self-quench property of IR820 at high concentrations, and different contrast effect ability of Gd-DOTA between inner and outer of liposome, we developed “bomb-like” light-triggered CAs (LTCAs) for enhanced CT/MRI/FI multimodal imaging, which can improve the signal-to-noise ratio of tumor tissue specifically. IR820, Iohexol and Gd-chelates were firstly encapsulated into the thermal-sensitive nanocarrier with a high concentration. This will result in protection and fluorescence quenching. Then, the release of CAs was triggered by near-infrared (NIR) light laser irradiation, which will lead to fluorescence and MRI activation and enable imaging of inflammation. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that LTCAs with 808 nm laser irradiation have shorter T1 relaxation time in MRI and stronger intensity in FI compared to those without irradiation. Additionally, due to the high photothermal conversion efficiency of IR820, the injection of LTCAs was demonstrated to completely inhibit C6 tumor growth in nude mice up to 17 days after NIR laser irradiation. The results indicate that the LTCAs can serve as a promising platform for NIR-activated multimodal imaging and photothermal therapy. Keywords: light triggered, near-infrared light, tumor-specific, multimodal imaging, photothermal therapy, contrast agents

OBJECTIVE: Vaccination is an important method for preventing COVID-19 infection. However, certain vaccines do not meet the current needs. To improve the vaccine effect, discard ineffective antigens, and focus on high-quality antigenic clusters, S1-E bivalent antigens were designed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vaccine delivery is performed using poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). Here, the recombinant S1-E (rS1-E) was covered on PLGA and injected intramuscularly into mice. In total, 48 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into six groups with 8 mice in each group. The mice received intramuscular injections. Prior to vaccination, the hydrophobicity of the rS1-E and the antigenic site of the E protein were both analysed. The morphology, zeta potential, and particle size distribution of rS1-E-PLGA were examined. Anti-S1 and anti-E antibodies were detected in mouse serum by ELISA. Neutralising an-tibodies were detected by co-incubating the pseudovirus with the obtained serum. IL-2 and TNF-a levels were also measured. RESULTS: The designed recombinant S1-E protein was successfully coated on PLGA nanoparticles. rS1-E-PLGA nanovaccine has suitable size, shape, good stability, sustained release and other characteristics. Importantly, mice were stimulated with rS1-E-PLGA nanovaccines to produce high-titre antibodies and a good cellular immune response. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that rS1-E-PLGA nanovaccine may provide a good protective effect, and the vaccine should be further investigated in human clinical trials for use in vaccination or as a booster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore the application of spectral chest CT optimal monochromatic imaging combined with ASIR and ASIR-V to optimize the image quality in the arterial phase. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 62 patients who had undergone contrast-enhanced chest CT examination using spectral CT were included. Twelve sets of arterial phase images were acquired using GSI mode. The CNR, BHA values and subjective scores were statistically analysed. Thus, optimal monochromatic images were obtained. Then, the images were acquired by reconstruction using ASIR and ASIR-V at 30%, 50% and 70% levels. Six sets of images were obtained and compared with QC and the monochromatic image under FBP mode. RESULTS: In FBP mode, the CNR of 80-keV images was 7.7±2.0, showing no significant difference with QC images (p > 0.05). The BHA value in the blood vessels was 45.2±23.1, which was lower than that in QC images (p < 0.05). The subjective image quality score of 80-keV images was 4.50±0.62. No significant difference was found in QC images (p > 0.05). The subjective score of the artefacts was 2.45±0.62, which was lower than that of QC images (p < 0.05). Thus, 80 keV was chosen as the optimal monochromatic energy to be reconstructed with ASIR and ASIR-V. The CNR of the 80keV+50% ASIR-V group was 13.9±4.3, which was higher than those of 140-kVp and 80-keV images in FBP (p < 0.05). The subjective score was 4.90±0.298, which was higher than that of other groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional chest CT images in the arterial phase, 80keV+50% ASIR-V images can effectively eliminate beam-hardening artefacts and improve image quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]