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To better understand the stress-corrosion behavior of friction stir welding (FSW), the effects of the microstructure on the stress-corrosion behavior of the FSW in a 2198-T34 aluminum alloy were investigated. The experimental results show that the low-angle grain boundary (LABs) of the stir zone (SZ) of FSW is significantly less than that of heated affected zone (HAZ), thermo-mechanically affected zone (TMAZ), and parent materials (PM), but the grain boundary precipitates (GBPs) T1 (Al2CuLi) were less, which has a slight effect on the stress corrosion. The dislocation density in SZ was greater than that in other regions. The residual stress in SZ was +67 MPa, which is greater than that in the TMAZ. The residual stress in the HAZ and PM is −8 MPa and −32 MPa, respectively, and both compressive stresses. The corrosion potential in SZ is obviously less than that in other regions. However, micro-cracks were formed in the SZ at low strain rate, which indicates that the grain boundary characters and GBPs have no significant effect on the crack initiation in the stress-corrosion process of the AA2198-T34. Nevertheless, the residual tensile stress has significant effect on the crack initiation during the stress-corrosion process.

BACKGROUND: Patients with sepsis often exhibit an acute inflammatory response, followed by an immunosuppressive phase with a poor immune response. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. METHODS: We sought to comprehensively characterize the transcriptional changes in neutrophils of patients with sepsis by transcriptome sequencing. Additionally, we conducted a series of experiments, including real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and flow cytometry to investigate the role of arginase-1 signaling in sepsis. RESULTS: Through the analysis of gene expression profiles, we identified that the negative regulation of T cell activation signaling was enriched, and the expression of arginase-1 was high in neutrophils from patients with sepsis. Furthermore, we conducted flow cytometry and found that the function of CD8(+) T cells in septic patients was impaired. Moreover, neutrophils from septic patients inhibited the percentage of polyfunctional effector CD8(+) T cells through arginase-1. Additionally, the proportions of granzyme B(+)IFN(-)γ(+)CD8(+) T and TNF(-)α(+)IFN(-)γ(+)CD8(+) T cells increased after inhibition of arginase-1 signaling. CONCLUSION: The impaired effector function of CD8(+) T cells could be restored by blocking arginase-1 signaling in patients with sepsis.

Developing a high-efficienct, low-cost and stable non-noble-metal-based bifunctional electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as oxygen electrode material in the rechargeable zinc–air battery is crucial in renewable energy conversion technologies. In this work, nitrogen-doped hollow carbon sphere (NHCS) decorated with various nickel selenide (NixSe) nanoparticles had been designed and successfully prepared. Among them, the Ni0.85Se–NHCS with the highest percentage of Ni3+ could serve as a new efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst toward ORR/OER (with an onset potential of 0.850 V for ORR and a potential of 1.583 V at 10 mA·cm−2 for OER) in an alkaline medium. Furthermore, the assembled Zn–air battery coupled with Ni0.85Se–NHCS electrode has excellent discharging–charging performance and long lifetime. This work provides a valuable understanding on transition metal non-oxide electrocatalysts and expands the applications of selenide-based materials.

Objective Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are the most commonly used medications for mood and anxiety disorders in women. Many women need to continue or initiate these medications during pregnancy, but there is concern about potential withdrawal effects in the newborn, referred to as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The reason why some infants remain asymptomatic while others are affected has not been elucidated. The objective of this study was to examine whether genetic differences in maternal drug metabolism influence the incidence of NAS. Methods Women who took Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors s/SNRIs during pregnancy were recruited from obstetrical clinics. DNA was extracted from saliva samples for genetic analyses of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme polymorphisms. Delivery and NAS data were collected from electronic medical records. Results Ninety-five women participated. The overall NAS rate was 16.2%. Mild NAS was seen in 13.8% of neonates and severe NAS, in 2%. One-quarter (25%) of the neonates with mild withdrawal symptoms were born to mothers with polymorphisms associated with slower metabolism of their particular antidepressant, but this association was not statistically significant. Conclusion Importantly, the overall rate of NAS in our study was lower than previously reported. Maternal CYP polymorphisms did not affect the rate of NAS in neonates exposed to SSRIs/SNRIs in utero. This study lends added assurance to patients requiring SSRIs or SNRIs during pregnancy.

Epigenetic gene-regulation abnormalities have been implicated in various neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and depression, as well as in the regulation of mood and anxiety. In addition, epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the actions of psychiatric drugs. Current anxiolytic drugs have significant shortcomings, and development of new medications is warranted. Two proteins, G9a (also known as EHMT2 or KMT1C) and GLP (G9a-like protein, also known as EHMT1 or KMT1D), which methylate lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9), could be promising anxiolytic targets. Postnatal genetic knock-out of G9a reduces anxiety-related behavior, consistent with the reduction of G9a levels by some medications used to treat anxiety (amitriptyline, imipramine and paroxetine). Conversely, there is increased anxiety-like behavior in mice with GLP haplodeficiency. We sought to determine whether two pharmacological inhibitors of G9a/GLP, UNC0642 and A-366, would have similar effects to genetic G9a/GLP insufficiency. We found that G9a/GLP inhibition with either compound reduced anxiety-like behaviors when administered to adult mice, in conjunction with decreased H3K9 methylation in the brain. In contrast, exposure to these compounds from embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5) until birth increased anxiety-like behaviors and decreased social interaction in adulthood, while H3K9 methylation was at normal levels in the brains of the adult mice. These findings reinforce genetic evidence that G9a/GLP has different effects on anxiety-like behavior at different stages of brain development, and suggest that targeting this histone methyltransferase pathway could be useful for developing new anxiolytic drugs. These data also suggest that antidepressant exposure in utero could have negative effects in adulthood, and further investigation of these effects is warranted.

One-dimensional (1D) ZnO/Mn3O4 core/shell nanorod arrays (NRAs) and nanotube arrays (NTAs) have been controllably synthesized via a facile electrochemical deposition process and characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM, EDS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical experiments. To assess the properties of 1D ZnO/Mn3O4 core/shell nanostructures for use in supercapacitors, cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charging–discharging measurements were performed. Remarkably, the ZnO/Mn3O4 core/shell NTAs electrode is found to exhibit 2.5 times higher capacitance, better rate performance and smaller inner resistance than the ZnO/Mn3O4 NRAs. These findings indicate that the novel 1D architectures offer a very promising design for supercapacitors.

The nanofluid as a pivotal role in heat transfer system has attracted more and more attention. Herein, the stearic acid-modified CuS (SA-CuS) nanoparticles with a uniform diameter of 60 nm were synthesized successfully by a facile two-phase approach. Accordingly, the CuS-oil nanofluids, with SA-CuS concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.04 vol%, were prepared by a one-step method in the heat transfer oil. These CuS-oil nanofluids exhibit good stability and considerable enhanced thermal conductivity. The improvement is even up to 20.5% with a volume fraction of 0.04 vol% at 30 °C. Furthermore, the effect of volume fraction and temperature on the viscosity of the nanofluids was also systematically investigated.

Two H 2 bta supramolecular complexes, [Fe(bpy) 2 (bta)]·6H 2 O ( 1 ) and [Cu(Hbta) 2 ]·4H 2 O ( 2 ) (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, H 2 bta = bis(tetrazoly)amine), have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In mononuclear complex 1 a well-resolved water chain formed by hydrogen-bonding interactions has been observed, while 2 possesses a 1D spiral chain structure. The cyclic voltammogram (CV) of H 2 bta ligand and 1 have been investigated and the E p = −0.308 V for H 2 bta ligand and E p = −0.365 V for 1 may be attributed to the oxidation process of bta − − e → bta and the negative value of E p show the H 2 bta can act as a good reducing ligand.

Seven 3-D metallic complexes coordinated and controlled by the deprotonated anions of H2BTA ligand (H2BTA = bis(tetrazolyl)amine): a 0-D compound of Co(HBTA)3·4.5H2O (1), two 1-D compounds of Cu(BTA)(H2O)2 (2) and Mn4(BTA)4(H2O)12·2H2O (3), a 2-D compounds [Mn7(BTA)6(OH)2(H2O)12] (4) and three 3-D compounds containing two isomorphous complexes of [Mn(BTA)2Na2(H2O)2] (5) and [Co(BTA)2Na2(H2O)2] (6) as well as Mn(BTA)(H2O) (7) have been synthesized under different synthetic conditions and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In 1–7, the deprotonated anions of the H2BTA ligand control the different crystal structures using not only the different coordinations to transition metal ions as several different multidentate ligands but simultaneously the formation of complementary intermolecular hydrogen bonds.

Seven isomorphous 1D chain Ln3+ complexes Ln(BTA)(HCOO)(H2O)3 (Ln = Pr (1), Gd (2), Eu (3), Tb (4) Dy (5), Er (6) and Yb (7)), and two formate coordinating and bridging 3D Ln3+ complexes Ln(HCOO)3 (Ln = Pr (8) and Nd (9)) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Although the Ln3+ ions in 1–7 have different radius, the trivalent lanthanide ions in 1–7 show the same coordinated environment. The well-defined single crystal structures of 8 and 9 are first samples for formate-bridged Ln3+ metallic complexes. The luminescent properties of solid samples of 2–5 at room temperature and the magnetic property of 2 have been also reported and discussed in this paper.

The centrosymmetric title complex, [Fe(C2H2N9)2(H2O)2]·2H2O, has been prepared by an in situ [2+3] cyclo­addition reaction of dicyanamide with sodium azide and ferrous sulfate, with heating and stirring. The FeII ion is coordinated by four N atoms from two 5-(1H-tetra­zol-5-ylamino)-1H-tetra­zolate ligands and two water mol­ecules in axial positions in an octa­hedral geometry. The complex is linked into a three-dimensional network by O—H⋯N, N—H⋯O and N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds.