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A series of Co1-xZnxFe2O4 particulate nano-ferrites with x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, and 0.8, fabricated by the co-precipitation method, have been investigated. The lattice parameter is found to increase and particle size decreases with increasing x. Mössbauer spectroscopy at room temperature exhibits ferromagnetic hyperfine splitting sextet peaks with a doublet peak overlapping at its center as Zn contents x<0.6, and only a single doublet as x⩾0.7. The fitting results of Mössbauer spectra reveal the occupation rule of nonmagnetic Zn2+ ions and superparamagnetic behavior. At room temperature, the superparamagnetic excitation plays an important role in the magnetic properties. The fitted hyperfine magnetic field of the octahedral and tetrahedral sublattices decreases with increasing Zn content. The saturation magnetization and coercivity monotonously reduce to a small value. However, at low temperature of 5K, the saturation magnetization (Ms) fully reflects the occupation of Zn ions. Zn substitutions that occupied first the tetrahedral sites cause the increase of magnetization when Zn content is below 0.4, while when Zn content is above 0.4, Zn substitutions occupied both the tetrahedral sites and the octahedral site, which leads to the decrease of magnetization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of non-uniform chordwise stiffness distribution on the self-propulsive performance of three-dimensional flexible plates is studied numerically. Some typical stiffness distributions, including uniform, declining, and growing distribution, are considered. First, the normalized bending stiffness K̃ is derived, which can well represent the overall bending stiffness of the non-uniform plates. For different non-uniformly distributed plates with the same K̃, the maximum displacement difference between the trailing and leading edges of the plate during the flapping is almost identical. There exists a common optimal K̃ at which all the plates achieve their optimal performance, i.e., the highest cruising speed and efficiency. Second, we reveal what kind of non-uniform distribution could be the best at a specific K̃ in terms of the propulsive performance. The force analysis indicates that a larger bending deformation in the anterior part for the growing distribution leads to a larger thrust. Hence, the large local slope along the anterior flexible plate is preferred to enhance the propulsive performance. The results obtained in this study may shed some light on a better understanding of the hydrodynamic effect on the self-propulsion of the non-uniform stiffness wings or fins of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene and graphene oxide (GO), as wonder materials, have penetrated nearly every field of research. One of their most attractive features is the functionality and assembly of graphene or GO, in which they can be considered to be chemically functionalized building blocks for creating unconventional porous graphene materials (PGMs) that not only combine the merits of both porous materials and graphene, but also have major advantages over other porous carbons for specific applications. The chemistry and approaches for functionalizing graphene and GO are first introduced, and typical procedures for pore creation (e.g., in-plane pores, 2D laminar pores, and 3D interconnected pore assemblies), self-assembly, and tailoring mechanisms for PGMs to highlight the significance of precise control over the pore morphology and pore size are summarized. Because of their unique pore structures, with different morphologies and intriguing properties, PGMs serve as key components in a variety of applications such as energy storage, electrocatalysis, and molecular separation. Finally, the challenges relating to PGMs from the understanding of chemical self-assembly to specific applications are discussed, and promising solutions on how to tackle them are presented. This provides an insightful outlook for the future development of the chemistry and applications of PGMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Scutellarin (Scu) is the main effective constituent of Erigeron breviscapus which has antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and other therapeutic properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Scu on myocardial infarction (MI) induced by isoprenaline (ISO). Materials and Methods: The rats were subcutaneously injected with ISO (45 mg/kg) on the first day, then single tail-intravenously injected with different doses of Scu (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. The protective effect of Scu on ISO-induced MI was evaluated by measuring markers of heart injury in serum, levels of lipid peroxidation, and antioxidants in heart tissue, observing pathological changes of tissue, and detecting quantified expression of apoptotic-related family members and inflammation. Results: Compared with the model group, the concentration of troponin T (CTn -T) and troponin I (CTn-I), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the serum all decreased in the Scu high dose group. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in heart increased, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNO S) decreased. In addition, the histopathologic aspects showed that pathological heart change was found in the model group, and was reduced to varying degrees in the Scu group. Moreover, the expression of Bax, P53, Caspase3, Caspase9, cytochrome C, NGAL, NFκB, IL-1β and IL-6 in the heart decreased, while the expression of Bcl2 increased. Conclusion: Scu could reduce the degree of MI induced by ISO by improving the antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory capacities of the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The free locomotion of a two-dimensional flapping flexible plate near the flat ground is studied by the lattice Boltzmann method for fluid flow and a finite-element method for the plate motion. The fluid flow and plate deformation are coupled through the immersed boundary scheme. When the leading edge of the plate is forced to oscillate sinusoidally near the ground, the plate may move freely in the horizontal direction due to the fluid-structure interaction. The mechanisms underlying the ground effect are elucidated. Besides a moderate rigidity, it is found that an appropriate density ratio between the plate and surrounding fluid (M) can improve the propulsive efficiency of the plate. When M is relatively small, the lateral force is enhanced, and the input work is increased when the plate is near the ground; when M is large, the deformation of the plate is inhibited and the input work is decreased when the plate is close to the ground. Usually the closer the plate flapping is to the wall, the more efficient the propulsion is, provided that the tail of the plate would not touch the wall. On the other hand, when the plate is close enough (within a critical lowest distance), the efficiency reaches a plateau with the highest efficiency. The vortices pattern and pressure field are also analyzed to explore the mechanism. This study may shed some light on mechanism for self-propulsion of a flexible plate near the ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thymus is the crucial site for T cell development and once believed to be immune privileged. Recently, thymus has gained special attention as it is commonly targeted by infectious agents which may cause pathogenic tolerance and subsequent immunosuppression. Results: We analyzed thymic responses to the challenge with Salmonella typhimurium (STm) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from STm in chicks. Newly hatched chicks were injected intraperitoneally with 5 × 104 CFU/mL STm or 50 mg/kg LPS. After LPS treatment, maximum thymocyte death (3 ~ 5-fold change) compared to controls was found at 12 h, and maximum loss of thymic weight (35 %) and reduced thymic index (20 %) were found at 36 h. After STm infection, maximum thymocyte death and thymic atrophy occurred at 36 and 72 h, respectively. No significant changes of thymic structure, chT1+ and CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio were observed in thymus or spleen tissues after LPS treatment. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis revealed important roles for the TLR4-FOS/JUN signaling pathway in thymic injury. Thus, the major process of thymic atrophy in this study first involved activation of transcriptional factors FOS/JUN upon LPS binding to TLR4 that caused release of inflammatory factors, thereby inducing inflammatory responses and DNA damage and ultimately cell cycle arrest and thymic injury. Conclusions: STm and Salmonella LPS could induce acute chick thymic injury. LPS treatment acted faster than STm. TLR4-FOS/JUN pathway may play an important role in LPS induced chick thymic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedimentation behaviors of an oblate ellipsoidal particle inside narrow [R/a∈(1.2,2.0)] infinitely long circular tubes are studied by the lattice Boltzmann method, where R and a are the radius of the tube and the length of the semimajor axis of the ellipsoid, respectively. The Archimedes numbers (Ar) up to 70 are considered. Four periodic and two steady sedimentation modes are identified. It is the first time that the anomalous mode has been found in a circular tube for an ellipsoidal particle. The phase diagram of the modes as a function of Ar and R/a is obtained. The anomalous mode is observed in the larger R/a and lower-Ar regime. Through comparisons between the anomalous and oscillatory modes, it is found that R/a plays a critical role for the anomalous mode. Some constrained cases with two steady modes are simulated. It is found that the particle settles faster in the unconstrained modes than in the corresponding constrained modes. This might inspire further study on why the particle adopts a specific mode under a certain circumstance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Waste is currently a major problem in the world, both in the developing and the developed countries. Efficient utilization of food waste for fuel and chemical production can positively influence both the energy and environmental sustainability. This study investigated using food waste to produce acetone, butanol, and ethanol (ABE) by Clostridium beijerinckii P260. Results: In control fermentation, 40.5 g/L of glucose (initial glucose 56.7 g/L) was used to produce 14.2 g/L of ABE with a fermentation productivity and a yield of 0.22 g/L/h and 0.35 g/g, respectively. In a similar fermentation 81 g/L of food waste (containing equivalent glucose of 60.1 g/L) was used as substrate, and the culture produced 18.9 g/L ABE with a high ABE productivity of 0.46 g/L/h and a yield of 0.38 g/g. Fermentation of food waste at higher concentrations (129, 181 and 228 g/L) did not remarkably increase ABE production but resulted in high residual glucose due to the culture butanol inhibition. An integrated vacuum stripping system was designed and applied to recover butanol from the fermentation broth simultaneously to relieve the culture butanol inhibition, thereby allowing the fermentation of food waste at high concentrations. ABE fermentation integrated with vacuum stripping successfully recovered the ABE from the fermentation broth and controlled the ABE concentrations below 10 g/L during fermentation when 129 g/L food waste was used. The ABE productivity with vacuum fermentation was 0.49 g/L/h, which was 109 % higher than the control fermentation (glucose based). More importantly, ABE vacuum recovery and fermentation allowed near-complete utilization of the sugars (~98 %) in the broth. Conclusions: In these studies it was demonstrated that food waste is a superior feedstock for producing butanol using Clostridium beijerinckii. Compared to costly glucose, ABE fermentation of food waste has several advantages including lower feedstock cost, higher productivity, and less residual sugars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Waste is currently a major problem in the world, both in the developing and the developed countries. Efficient utilization of food waste for fuel and chemical production can positively influence both the energy and environmental sustainability. This study investigated using food waste to produce acetone, butanol, and ethanol (ABE) by Clostridium beijerinckii P260. Results: In control fermentation, 40.5 g/L of glucose (initial glucose 56.7 g/L) was used to produce 14.2 g/L of ABE with a fermentation productivity and a yield of 0.22 g/L/h and 0.35 g/g, respectively. In a similar fermentation 81 g/L of food waste (containing equivalent glucose of 60.1 g/L) was used as substrate, and the culture produced 18.9 g/L ABE with a high ABE productivity of 0.46 g/L/h and a yield of 0.38 g/g. Fermentation of food waste at higher concentrations (129, 181 and 228 g/L) did not remarkably increase ABE production but resulted in high residual glucose due to the culture butanol inhibition. An integrated vacuum stripping system was designed and applied to recover butanol from the fermentation broth simultaneously to relieve the culture butanol inhibition, thereby allowing the fermentation of food waste at high concentrations. ABE fermentation integrated with vacuum stripping successfully recovered the ABE from the fermentation broth and controlled the ABE concentrations below 10 g/L during fermentation when 129 g/L food waste was used. The ABE productivity with vacuum fermentation was 0.49 g/L/h, which was 109% higher than the control fermentation (glucose based). More importantly, ABE vacuum recovery and fermentation allowed near-complete utilization of the sugars (~98%) in the broth. Conclusions: In these studies it was demonstrated that food waste is a superior feedstock for producing butanol using Clostridium beijerinckii. Compared to costly glucose, ABE fermentation of food waste has several advantages including lower feedstock cost, higher productivity, and less residual sugars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a coupled multi-knuckle mechanical finger was designed. The finger is composed of same-structured knuckles in a connecting link structure, and the knuckles can be combined arbitrarily. The coupling motion is completed under the drive of a single actuator. First, the influences of the angular relationship between the knuckles and working stroke of the knuckles on the actual grasping range of the finger were evaluated, and the kinematic analysis of the knuckle was performed using the closed-loop vector method. Next, an optimization design method based on a genetic algorithm was proposed, which considered the angular relationship as the objective function to optimize the knuckle, which is illustrated with an example. The angle between each pair of knuckles is approximately constant and equal, which indicates that the finger has an approximately circular envelope curve. Subsequently, the finger motion simulation was carried out to verify the optimization design results and evaluate the error in the finger grasping process. The grasper is capable of completing accurate envelopes on cylinders with diameters ranging from 38.97 mm to 127.60 mm. Finally, the prototype of the manipulator was constructed according to the parameters obtained in the optimization design example. The feasibility of the design was verified through a grasping experiment using beakers and other objects. It provides a reference for angle optimization and envelope curve design of the grasper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax recurs at a certain rate after thoracoscopic surgery, and risk factors for that recurrence are in question. The medical records of 248 patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax who were followed for more than 2 years after thoracoscopic surgery were reviewed and retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were used to identify possible risk factors. Twelve patients experienced the recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Patients who experienced the recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax were younger than patients who experienced no recurrence. A larger proportion of the patients who experienced recurrence did not undergo pleurodesis. The variables age, height, weight, body mass index, duration of air leakage, and pleurodesis (performed or not) with a p value less than 0.2 in univariate analysis were entered in multivariate analysis. A younger age and not undergoing pleurodesis were associated with a higher risk of postoperative ipsilateral recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Not undergoing pleurodesis and a younger age are possible risk factors for recurrence of primary spontaneous pneumothorax after thoracoscopic surgery. Thoracic surgeons should pay more attention to pleurodesis, especially in younger patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an ideal method to manipulate biological particles, the dielectrophoresis (DEP) technique has been widely used in clinical diagnosis, disease treatment, drug development, immunoassays, cell sorting, etc. This review summarizes the research in the field of bioparticle manipulation based on DEP techniques. Firstly, the basic principle of DEP and its classical theories are introduced in brief; Secondly, a detailed introduction on the DEP technique used for bioparticle manipulation is presented, in which the applications are classified into five fields: capturing bioparticles to specific regions, focusing bioparticles in the sample, characterizing biomolecular interaction and detecting microorganism, pairing cells for electrofusion and separating different kinds of bioparticles; Thirdly, the effect of DEP on bioparticle viability is analyzed; Finally, the DEP techniques are summarized and future trends in bioparticle manipulation are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the motion of a two-dimensional drop on a surface with stepwise wettability gradient (WG) is studied numerically by a hybrid lattice-Boltzmann finitedifference method. We incorporate the geometric wetting boundary condition that allows accurate implementation of a contact angle hysteresis (CAH) model. The method is first validated through a series of tests that check different constituents of the numerical model. Then, simulations of a drop on a wall with given stepwise WG are performed under different conditions. The effects of the Reynolds number, the viscosity ratio, the WG, as well as the CAH on the drop motion are investigated in detail. It was discovered that the shape of the drop in steady motion may be fitted by two arcs that give two apparent contact angles, which are related to the respective contact line velocities and the relevant contact angles (that specify the WG and CAH) through the relation derived by Cox ["The dynamics of the spreading of liquids on a solid surface. Part 1. viscous flow," J. Fluid Mech. 168, 169-194 (1986)] if the slip length in simulation is defined according to Yue et al. ["Sharp-interface limit of the Cahn-Hilliard model for moving contact lines," J. Fluid Mech. 645, 279-294 (2010)]. It was also found that the steady capillary number of the drop is significantly affected by the viscosity ratio, the magnitudes of the WG, and the CAH, whereas it almost shows no dependence on the Reynolds number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedimentation behaviours of an ellipsoidal particle in narrow and infinitely long tubes are studied by a multi-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). In the present study, both circular and square tubes with 12/13 ⩽ D/A ⩽ 2.5 are considered with the Galileo number (Ga) up to 150, where D and A are the width of the tube and the length of major axis of the ellipsoid, respectively. Besides three modes of motion mentioned in the literature, two novel modes are found for the narrow tubes in the higher Ga regime: the spiral mode and the vertically inclined mode. Near a transitional regime, in terms of average settling velocity, it is found that a lighter ellipsoid may settle faster than a heavier one. The relevant mechanism is revealed. The behaviour of sedimentation inside the square tubes is similar to that in the circular tubes. One significant difference is that the translation and rotation of ellipsoid are finally constrained to a diagonal plane in the square tubes. The other difference is that the anomalous rolling mode occurs in the square tubes. In this mode, the ellipsoid rotates as if it is contacting and rolling up one corner of the square tube when it settles down. Two critical factors that induce this mode are identified: the geometry of the tube and the inertia of the ellipsoid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is an intractable disease with a median survival time of 2 to 3 years. Serum levels of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), surfactant protein A (SP-A), and surfactant protein D (SP-D) are useful biomarkers for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and they are widely used in Japan. Based on clinical use in Japan, a combination of KL-6, SPA, and SP-D is useful at diagnosing interstitial lung diseases and predicting the prognoses for patients with these diseases. However, the differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis from other interstitial lung diseases is still challenging. Several other biomarkers have been identified and are being studied in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrinsic viscosities for prolate and oblate spheroidal suspensions in a dilute Newtonian fluid are studied using a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method. Through directly calculated viscous dissipation, the minimum and maximum intrinsic viscosities and the period of the tumbling state all agree well with the analytical solution for particles with different aspect ratios. This numerical test verifies the analysis on maximum and minimum intrinsic viscosities. Different behavior patterns of transient intrinsic viscosity in a period are analyzed in detail. A phase lag between the transient intrinsic viscosity and the orientation of the particle at finite Reynolds number (Re) is found and attributed to fluid and particle inertia. At lower Re, the phase lag increases with Re. There exists a critical Reynolds number Rea at which the phase lag begins to decrease with Re. The Rea depends on the aspect ratio of the particle. We found that both the intrinsic viscosity and the period change linearly with Re when Re < Rea (low-Re regime) and nonlinearly when Re \> Rea (high-Re regime). In the high-Re regime, the dependence of the period on Re is consistent with a scaling law, and the dependence of the intrinsic viscosity on Re is well described by second-degree polynomial fits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous schemes have been proposed to incorporate a bulk forcing term into the lattice Boltzmann equation. In this paper we present a simple and straightforward comparative analysis of five popular schemes (Shan and Chen, Phys. Rev. E 47, 1815 (1993); Phys Rev Lett. 81. 1618 (1998): He el al., Phys. Rev. E 57, R13 (1998); Guo et al., Phys. Rev. E 65, 046308 (2002); Kupershtokh et al., Comput. Math. Appl. 58, 965 (2009)] in which their differences and similarities are identified. From the analysis we classify the schemes into two groups; the behaviors of the schemes in each group are proven to be identical up to second order. Numerical test simulating the two-dimensional unsteady Taylor-Green vortex flow problem demonstrate that all five schemes are of comparable accuracy for single-phase flow. However, for two-phase flow the situation is different, which is demonstrated by incorporating these schemes into different Shan-Chen-type multiphase models. The forcing scheme in the original Shan-Chen (SC) multiphase model turns out to be inaccurate in terms of the resulting surface tension for different density ratios and relaxation times. In the numerical tests, a typical equation of state and interparticle interactions including next-nearest neighbors were incorporated into the SC model. Our results confirm that the surface-tension values obtained from the original SC lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) simulation depend on the value of the relaxation time τ. For τ < 0.7Δt, the surface tension agree well with the analytical solutions. However, when τ > 0.7Δt, the surface tension turns out to be systematically larger than the analytical one, exceeding it by more than a factor of 2 for τ = 2Δt. In contrast, with the application of the scheme proposed by He et al., the SC LBM produces very accurate surface tensions independent of the value of τ. We also found that the densities of the coexisting liquid and gas can be adjusted to match those at thermodynamic equilibrium if the particle interaction term includes next-nearest-neighbor contributions. The obtained results will be useful for further studies of two-phase flow with high density ratios using the SC LBM approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the viscous coupling effects for immiscible two-phase (gas-liquid) flow in porous media were studied using the Shan–Chen-type single-component multiphase lattice Boltzmann model. Using the model, the two-phase flows in porous media with density ratio as high as 56 could be simulated and the contact angle of the gas-liquid interface at a solid wall is adjustable. To investigate viscous coupling effects, the co- and countercurrent steady-state two-phase flow patterns and relative permeabilities as a function of wetting saturation were obtained for different capillary numbers, wettabilities, and viscosity ratios. The cocurrent relative permeabilities seem usually larger than the countercurrent ones. The opposing drag-force effect and different pore-level saturation distributions in co- and countercurrent flows may contribute to this difference. It is found that for both co- and countercurrent flows, for strongly wet cases and viscosity ratio M>1, knw increase with the driving force and the viscosity ratio. However, for neutrally wet cases, the variations of knw and kw are more complex. It is also observed that different initial pore-level saturation distributions may affect final steady-state distribution, and hence the relative permeabilities. Using the cocurrent and countercurrent steady flow experiments to determine the generalized relative permeabilities seems not correct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a vision-based impedance control algorithm is proposed to regulate the cell injection force, based on dynamic modeling conducted on a laboratory test-bed cell injection system. The injection force is initially calibrated to derive the relationship between the force and the cell deformation utilizing a cell membrane point-load model. To increase the success rate of injection, the injector is positioned out of the focal plane of the camera, used to obtain visual feedback for the injection process. In this out-of-plane injection process, the total cell membrane deformation is estimated, based on the X - Y coordinate frame deformation of the cell, as measured with a microscope, and the known angle between the injector and the X - Y plane. Further, a relationship between the injection force and the injector displacement of the cell membrane, as observed with the camera, is derived. Based on this visual force estimation scheme, an impedance control algorithm is developed. Experimental results of the proposed injection method are given which validate the approach. Note to Practitioners--In biological cell injection, the control of injection forces is important since excessive manipulation force may destroy the membrane or tissue of the biological cell, and lead to failure of the biomanipulation task. Although the injection force is a very important factor that affects the survivability of the injected cells, research on minimally invasive cell injection, based on understanding of the mechanical properties of the cellular membrane, are rare. To resolve this problem, a methodology is presented here to regulate cell injection forces using geometry of cell deformations and micro vision feedback. With the visually measured injection force applied to an injected cell, an impedance control strategy is then developed to regulate the cell injection force through the desired impedance. One advantage of using the impedance control in micromanipulation is that tiny forces exerted on the cell membrane can be reflected in the control system by adjusting the controller impedance coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free-standing polycrystalline films of Ag, Cu and Ag/Cu multilayers were tested in tension using an optical diffraction grating for the measurement of the strain. The yield stress and the rate of work hardening both increase strongly with decreasing layer thickness. These effects combine to raise the stress for ductile fracture up to 700 MPa and to lower the maximum plastic strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droplets interacting with deformable moving boundaries is ubiquitous. The flexible boundaries may dramatically affect the hydrodynamic behavior of droplets. A numerical method for simulating droplet impact on flexible substrates is developed. The effect of flexibility is investigated. To reduce the contact time and increase the remaining upward momentum in the flexible cases, the Weber number should be larger than a critical value. Moreover, the ratio of the natural frequency of the plate to that of the droplet Fr should approximately equal to the reciprocal of the contact time of droplets impact on the rigid surfaces (tctr) at the same We, e.g., Fr≈1/tctr. Only under this circumstance would the kinetic energy convert into the surface energy of the droplet and the elastic energy of the plate simultaneously, and vice versa. Moreover, based on a double spring model, we proposed scaling laws for the maximal deflection of the plate and spreading diameter of the drop. Finally, the droplet impact under different wettability is qualitatively studied. We found that the flexibility may contribute to the droplet bouncing at a smaller contact angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish may take advantage of environmental vortices to save the cost of locomotion. The complex hydrodynamics shed from multiple physical objects may significantly affect fish refuging (holding stationary). Taking a model of a self-propelled flapping plate, we numerically studied the locomotion of the plate in wakes of two tandem cylinders. In most simulations, the plate heaves at its initial position G0 before the flow comes (releasing Style I). In the typical wake patterns, the plate may hold stationary, drift upstream, or drift downstream. The phase diagrams of these modes in the G0-A plane for the vortex shedding patterns were obtained, where A is the flapping amplitude. It is observed that the plate is able to hold stationary at multiple equilibrium locations after it is released. Meanwhile, the minimum amplitude and the input power required for the plate seem inversely proportional to the shedding vortex strength. The effect of releasing style was also investigated. If the plate keeps stationary and does not flap until the vortex shedding is fully developed (releasing Style II), then the plate is able to hold stationary at some equilibrium locations but the flapping plate has a very minor effect on the shedding vortices. However, in Style I, the released plate is able to achieve more equilibrium locations through adjusting the phase of vortex shedding. The effort of the preflapping in Style I is not in vain, because although it consumes more energy, it becomes easier to hold stationary later. The relevant mechanism is explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-rift magmatism along continental margins is usually focused on highly stretched basins or aborted rifts. Adjacent microplates with relatively thick lithosphere are not expected to exhibit intense postrift magmatism. This study identifies 20 mounded structures and associated pathways using two-dimensional, multichannel seismic data and ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) data across the southeastern Xisha Massif of the northwestern South China Sea. This massif is a relatively thick (>20 km) region of crust that forms a microplate between two rift branches. The mounded structures are interpreted as volcanoes, based on their seismic reflections and morphological characteristics. Detachment faults that extend into the middle crust captured the magma and provided pathways for vertical migration. During the rise of magma into the sedimentary stratum, detachment faults still served as the main channels of magmatic migration. The rigidity differences between the basement and the overlying sediments, as well as the stress field, facilitated subordinate pathways for magmatic migration, particularly at the depocenters and flanks of half-grabens. Consequently, larger volcanoes are present above the basement highs, while smaller volcanoes are located in the centers of half-grabens. This study provides criteria for identifying submarine mounded structures of different origins that are applicable beyond the study area. Moreover, this study highlights that detachment faults play a key role in the volcanic systems of the relatively rigid microplates of heterogeneous crustal structure. It also promotes our understanding of post-rift magmatism and the dynamic evolution of continental margins, and the results could be applicable to other areas with similar geological settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic properties of Nd/Ni80Fe20 (Py) bilayer films with different layer thicknesses were investigated. Hysteresis loops were measured at different temperatures, an exchange bias effect is found at low temperature due to the Nd/Py interface. By fitting the temperature dependence of the saturation magnetization, the Néel point of Nd layer is obtained. Ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) experiments were carried out at room temperature as a function of Nd layer thickness. The damping parameter obtained by theoretical fitting of the FMR linewidth shows an increasing trend with increasing Nd layer thickness, which is taken as an indication of the spin pumping effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ether solvents are suitable for formulating solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI)-less ion-solvent cointercalation electrolytes in graphite for Na-ion and K-ion batteries. However, ether-based electrolytes have been historically perceived to cause exfoliation of graphite and cell failure in Li-ion batteries. In this study, we develop strategies to achieve reversible Li-solvent cointercalation in graphite through combining appropriate Li salts and ether solvents. Specifically, we design 1M LiBF4 1,2-dimethoxyethane (G1), which enables natural graphite to deliver ~91% initial Coulombic efficiency and >88% capacity retention after 400 cycles. We captured the spatial distribution of LiF at various length scales and quantified its heterogeneity. The electrolyte shows self-terminated reactivity on graphite edge planes and results in a grainy, fluorinated pseudo-SEI. The molecular origin of the pseudo-SEI is elucidated by ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. The operando synchrotron analyses further demonstrate the reversible and monotonous phase transformation of cointercalated graphite. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of Li cointercalation chemistry in graphite for extreme-condition batteries. The work also paves the foundation for understanding and modulating the interphase generated by ether electrolytes in a broad range of electrodes and batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-propulsion of a three-dimensional flapping flexible plate near the ground is studied using an immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method for fluid flow and a finite-element method for plate motion. When the leading edge of the flexible plate is forced into a vertical oscillation near the ground, the entire plate moves freely due to the fluid-structure interaction. The mechanisms underlying the dynamics of the plate near the ground are elucidated. Based on the propulsive behaviors of the flapping plate, three distinct regimes due to the ground effect can be qualitatively identified. These regimes can be described briefly as the expensive, benefited, and uninfluenced propulsion regimes. The analysis of unsteady dynamics and plate deformation indicates that the ground effect becomes weaker for a more flexible plate. We have found that a suitable degree of flexibility can improve propulsion near the ground. The vortical structure around the plate and the pressure distribution on the plate are analyzed to understand propulsive behaviors. The results obtained in this study can provide some physical insights into the propulsive mechanisms of a flapping flexible plate near the ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an alternative method to implement the contact angle boundary condition on a solid wall and apply it in hybrid lattice-Boltzmann finite-difference simulations of two-phase flows with immersed surfaces in which the flow equations are solved by the lattice-Boltzmann method and the interface equations are solved by the finite-difference method. Using the hyperbolic tangent profile of the order parameter across an interface in phase-field theory, we were able to obtain its unknown value at a ghost point from the information at only one point in the fluid domain. This is in contrast with existing approaches relying on interpolations involving several points. The special feature allows it to be more easily implemented on immersed surfaces cutting through the grid lines. It was properly incorporated into the framework of the hybrid lattice-Boltzmann finite-difference simulation, and applied successfully for several problems with different levels of complexity. First, the equilibrium shapes of a droplet on a sphere with different contact angles and radii were studied under cylindrical geometry and a good agreement with theoretical predictions was found. Preliminary studies on a three-dimensional droplet spreading on a sphere were also performed and the results agreed well with the corresponding axisymmetric results. Second, the spreading of a two-dimensional drop on an embedded inclined wall with a given contact angle was investigated and the results matched those on a flat wall at the domain boundary under the same condition. Third, capillary filling in a cylindrical tube was studied and the speed of the interface in the tube was found to follow Washburn's law. Fourth, a droplet impacting on a sphere was investigated and several different outcomes were captured depending on the Reynolds number, the viscosity ratio, and the wettability and radius of the sphere. Finally, the proposed method was shown to be capable of studying even more complicated problems involving the interaction between a droplet and multiple objects of different sizes and contact angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate analysis of the main chemical components of oil-bearing sludge is an important prerequisite for effective soil remediation and resource reuse. However, precise analysis of the extract components is difficult to achieve because of the mutual interference of saturates, aromatics, and resins, collectively called SAR, and asphaltene that are introduced during chloroform extraction. In this study, SAR was efficiently extracted using nheptane, while asphaltene components were retained in soil because of their insolubility in n-heptane. The maximum yield of SAR extraction was 27.0%, indicating an increase of 1.75% compared to chloroform extraction. The extracted SAR components were separated by chromatography and the main structural units and components were analyzed. The results show that saturates, aromatics, and resins have a single component, a high content of major components, and contain fewer impurities using nheptane extraction. Moreover, the solubility of asphaltene was inhibited during the effective extraction of SAR components with n-heptane and did not influence the subsequent analysis of SAR component. Efficient SAR extraction, accurate SAR component analysis, and high efficiency asphaltene separation was achieved using n-heptane-extraction-assisted pyrolysis. This provides a new method for the component analysis of oily sludge and promotes its efficient separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interaction between two tandem flexible loops with tension and bending stiffness in a viscous flow is investigated by numerical simulations. In most cases, the heads of the loops facing the oncoming flow are fixed but flapping around the head is allowed. The effect of the gap distance between the two passive flapping loops (G) on the drag coefficient is investigated in detail. Here, for the first time, the sudden drag force reduction at a specific G, i.e., Gc for the downstream loop has been found in the two tandem flexible loops system. It is different from the drag "jump" behavior in the two tandem rigid cylinder system. Although the drag is partially associated with the flapping amplitude, the drag force reduction of the downstream loop may be mainly attributed to flow regimes transition or vortices merging mode transition. The vortices merging is also analysed from a Lagrangian viewpoint, which gives insight into the mechanism. The effects of Reynolds number (20 ≤ Re ≤ 100), bending coefficient (10-4 ≤ K ≤ 2 x 10-2), and tension coefficient (10 ≤ S ≤ 1000) are also investigated and the relevant mechanism is explored. If the head of the downstream loop is set free to move laterally, the critical distance (Gc) where the sudden drag reduction occurs would further decrease compared to the fixed case, which is due to the early shedding regime transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of heavy metals from drinking water is of high importance to human health. This study reports the fabrication of a novel cellulose adsorbent from a secondary waste material, i.e., a fiber-rich product (FP) from brewer's spent grain, for Pb and Mn removal from water. FP was sequentially treated by diluted acid, alkali, and bleach to produce purified cellulose fibers, which were then modified by 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) oxidation. The adsorption data fitted the Langmuir isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was determined to be 272.5 mg/g for Pb (II) and 52.9 mg/g for Mn (II) at pH 6.5. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order rate model and nearly completed in 15 min. The performance of the adsorbent in removing Pb and Mn from contaminated tap water was efficient with 87.4% of Pb and 83.9% of Mn. This study provides a novel insight into the fabrication of low-cost and high-capacity cellulose adsorbents from a waste material, then demonstrates its application for water purification. Meanwhile, it allows the integrated utilization of brewer's spent grain, which supports the sustainable resource management and circular economy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilizes Clostridium beijerinckii P260, an anaerobic bacterium capable of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) production, as model bacteria to test the hypothesis that single culture anaerobic granulation can be achieved in accordance with the biogranulation theory developed from the mixed culture studies. After four months of cultivation, C. beijerinckii granules formed under the selection pressure of a selective settling velocity at 9.0 m h−1 in a sequential batch reactor (SBR). These C. beijerinckii granules possess excellent settleability and exceptionally high cell and enzyme concentrations, which demonstrate promising potential in the application for high-rate fermentation and separation of value-added products. However, C. beijerinckii granules only accounted for 25% of the cell mass in the SBR, leaving the rest 75% still in the form of planktonic cells, which indicates an incomplete anaerobic granulation. The lack of ideal feast and famine conditions in the cyclic SBR operation was regarded as the reason. Future research should focus on the optimization of the bioreactor operation to create optimal conditions for inducing the phenotype switch from planktonic to granulated growth mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlinear robust controller design procedure is presented, which is designed to simultaneously satisfy multiple conflicting closed-loop performance specifications. Significantly, a robust performance specification for the experimental system, developed for studying the attitude control of a small-scale helicopter in our previous work, is discussed quantitatively. The robust performance specifications and nominal multiple closed-loop performance specifications are conflicting. Use of the Convex Integrated Design (CID) method can provide, where feasible, a single closed-loop controller which satisfies a set of multiple conflicting performance specifications. However, the resultant controller has a complex form. Here, the standard CID method is extended to a more general control system framework to solve the conflicting simultaneous performance design problem. When compared with the standard CID design, the extended CID design procedure generates a relatively simple closed-loop controller. Finally, the synthesised controller is tested in simulation and is validated with an experimental small-scale test helicopter, demonstrating the performance of the proposed controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the U.S., 30-40% of all food produced ends up as waste. By taking advantage of bio- logical processes this waste nutrients can be converted into value-added 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO). However, food waste contains live bacteria and fungi which must first be inacti- vated, a process typically done with autoclaving under high pressure steam. If contaminants are not removed they can out-compete added industrial microbes for nutrients, resulting in lower yields of bio-products. Unfortunately, sterilization methods such as autoclaving greatly increase production time, and increase energy consumption. This creates a demand for novel microorganisms that can out-compete food waste microbiota by natural means without the need for sterilization of food waste. For this study, several Bacillus licheniformis isolates from Yellowstone National Park were investigated for their potential use in the 2,3- BDO industry. B. licheniformis species are a strain ofindustrialimportance as of late, due to the wide metabolic functions and sustainable growth conditions above 45 °C. Whole genomic sequencing data and biochemical classification of B. licheniformis YNPl-TSU, B. licheniformis YNP2-TSU, and B. licheniformis YNP3-TSU were assessed and revealed a wide assortment of anti-microbial peptides and antibodies as well as catabolic genes for assimilation of glucose, fructose, galactose, xylose, arabinose, mannose, starch and sucrose, and linoleic acid. All three B. licheniformis strains had an optimal growth temperature of 50 °C, and were identified as high 2,3-BDO producers. Each strain YNPl-TSU, YNP2-TSU, and YNP3-TSU yielded 0.44 g/g, 0.45 g/g, and 0.43 g/g from mixed sugars found in non-sterilized food waste, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing grape pomace (GP), a major waste from the wine industry, into multiple valueadded products based on the biorefmery concept has a potential to reduce waste disposal and promote a sustainable bioeconomy. However, its economic feasibility at a commercial scale remains unknown. The present study aims to evaluate the economics of a biorefinery process of GP, by performing comparative techno-economic analysis of three processing scenarios: (1) a whole biorefinery process that fully utilizes GP biomass and produces grape seed oil, polyphenols, and biochar (GSO + GSKP + GB), (2) a process that produces grape seed oil and polyphenols (GSO + GSKP), and (3) a process that produces only grape seed oil (GSO). A plant capacity of about 33,000 metric tons/year was considered in the analysis. Among the three scenarios, the whole biorefinery process (GSO + GSKP + GB) showed the highest economic performance with the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and payback period of 111.7 million US-$, 34.3%, and 2.5 years, respectively, due to the diverse revenues and minimized waste disposal cost. The GSO plant showed the lowest economic performance with a negative NPV. Sensitivity analysis revealed that plant capacity, polyphenol price, polyphenol concentration (percentage) in grape pomace, and biochar price had dominating influences on the economic performance of the biorefinery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic properties and magnetization damping in a series of Ta(5nm)/Fe20Ni 80Nd0.075(3nm)/Cu(tCunm)/Fe50Co50Gd0.07(3nm)/Cu(2nm) multilayers with varying nonmagnetic Cu layer thickness are investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). Two-step hysteresis loops are observed, indicative of individual switching of the two magnetic layers. The saturation magnetization of the multilayers possesses a very close magnitude to the sum of those for the Fe20Ni80Nd0.075 and Fe50Co50Gd0.07 single layer films, and the difference between each other is within 3% only. Element-specific hysteresis loops of each magnetic elements involved the multilayers are further probed by x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, which reveals that Fe, Ni, and Co are ferromagnetically coupled with Nd and anti-ferromagnetically with Gd. The FMR spectra for the multilayers exhibit two-resonance peaks originated from the two magnetic layers. Compared with the NiFe-Nd and FeCo-Gd single magnetic films, the linewidth of NiFe-Nd layer in the multilayers shows a large enhancement, while that of the FeCo-Gd layer decreases. Theoretical fitting of the FMR data indicates that the contribution of two-magnon scattering has played an important role in the observed linewidth of single FeCo-Gd films, which, in turn, causes the larger FMR linewidth than that in the multilayers. The intrinsic Gilbert damping constant of both FeNi-Nd and FeCo-Gd layers is found to increase with increasing thickness of nonmagnetic Cu layer from 0.8nm to 2nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is the major byproduct generated by the brewing industry. It has 50-70% fiber and 14-30% protein contents. This study investigates the technical and economic performances for producing protein-rich product (PP) from BSG using enzyme-assisted fractionation process. This was done through process optimization, scale-up verification, and techno-economic analysis (TEA). The experiment was conducted with varying enzyme (Alcalase) loadings and enzymatic hydrolysis times. The results showed that the optimal condition was using Alcalase loading of 5 µL/g with hydrolysis time of 1 h for achieving a high protein concentration (46%) in PP and protein separation efficiency (80%). Using the optimal condition, the scaled-up process resulted in a consistent PP composition and protein separation efficiency. The experimental conditions and results were input into process simulation model for determining the mass and energy flows, from which TEA is derived. For a processing plant with a capacity of 590 t wet BSG per day, the minimum selling price of PP (MSPP) to achieve a 5% return was determined to be 1044 USD/t. Sensitivity analysis revealed that Alcalase and BSG costs have the most effect on the MSPP. Besides, protein separation efficiency is an important processing parameter in determining the MSPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis (Franch) Hand Mazz (PPY) is a traditional Chinese medicine with antitumor, antibacterial, hemostatic, and anthelmintic activities. Identification of the chemical composition in PPY is helpful to discover its active ingredients and can be used to establish its quality control protocols. Methods: The composition of PPY was identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF-MS/MS) coupled with a molecular networking strategy. First, the UHPLC/QTOF-MS/MS approach was optimized for chemical compound profiling. Then, the MS data were processed using PeakView™ combined with an in-house database to quickly characterize the secondary metabolites. Finally, molecular networking excavated new molecular weights to discover unknown or trace natural products based on the characteristics of each cluster. Results: A total of 222 compounds, including 77 isospirostanols, 2 spirostanols, 19 furostanols, 10 pseudospirostanols, 6 cholesterols, 10 C21 steroids, 5 insect metamorphosis hormones, 3 plant sterols, 6 five-ring triterpenoids, 4 flavonoids, 8 fatty acids, 2 phenylpropanoids, and 8 other compounds, were characterized in PPY by comparing their main fragmentation characteristics and pathways with the literature data, and 62 of them, 54 steroidals and 8 phenylpropanoids, were discovered or tentatively identified for the first time. Conclusions: This study extended the application of a molecular networking strategy to traditional herbal medicines and developed a molecular networking based screening approach with a significant increase in efficiency for the discovery and identification of trace novel natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is the major waste generated by breweries, which contains 20-30% (w/w) proteins and 40-60% (w/w) of fibers. Technologies have been investigated to valorize BSG by extracting proteins from BSG; however, none of them has been implemented on an industrial scale due to the challenges including high drying cost of wet BSG, heavy chemical consumptions, and a large volume of secondary waste after protein extraction. Herein, a wet fractionation process was proposed to fully utilize BSG by simultaneously producing high protein product (HPP) and high fiber product (HFP) through the separation of proteins and fibers from BSG. The effect of different concentrations (1, 3, and 5%, w/w) of chemicals (sodium hydroxide and sodium bisulfite) and enzyme (Alcalase, 5, 20 and 35 µL/g dry BSG) treatments on product yield and composition was investigated to maximize the process separation efficiency and potentially reduce the chemical and enzyme consumptions. The sodium hydroxide and Alcalase treatments improved the protein and fiber separation compared to the sodium bisulfite treatment. Under the optimal condition (20 µL/g dry BSG) using Alcalase, the protein separation efficiency was 84%, and the protein concentration in HPP was 43% (w/w), almost double the protein concentration (23%, w/w) in original BSG. The fiber content of the HFP was more than 80% (w/w), of which hemicellulose is the dominant fiber component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of zinc ferrite chains have been synthesized successfully by using the self-assembly method in different synthesizing magnetic fields. The particle chains are arranged in order on the Si substrate under the assistant magnetic field. The zinc ferrite chains show various length-to-radius aspect ratio, saturation magnetization Ms, remanent magnetization Mr, and coercivity Hc in the corresponding synthesizing magnetic fields. Using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, the Zn substitution mechanism in the ferrite chains has been analyzed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propylene oxide (PPO), a chemical fumigant, has been validated to reduce Salmonella on bulk almonds but has not been evaluated for other tree nuts. There is a need to identify nonpathogenic surrogate microorganisms whose inactivation is comparable to that of Salmonella to assure effective PPO processing parameters in different packaging configurations without introducing Salmonella into the pasteurization facility. The objective of this research was to compare the reduction of Salmonella and three potential surrogate bacterial strains, Enterococcus faecium ATCC 8459, Pediococcus acidilactici ATCC 8042, or Staphylococcus carnosus ATCC 51365, on cashews and macadamia nuts processed by using PPO. Whole cashews and macadamia nuts were coinoculated with a five-strain cocktail of Salmonella and one surrogate, dried to the original water activity of 0.44 to 0.51 before being packaged in woven polypropylene bags (2.3 kg), and shipped overnight in Styrofoam containers under ambient conditions to a commercial facility for PPO treatment. Salmonella and surrogates were recovered by vigorous shaking in phosphate buffer (1:1, m/v), serial diluted, and plated onto tryptic soy agar with an overlay of xylose lysine Tergitol 4 for Salmonella or mannitol salt agar or bile esculin azide agar for each surrogate. The mean log reductions of Salmonella and each surrogate (n = 18), within a sample and among all trials (three independent), were compared by using a matched pairs t test. Reduction in log CFU per gram of Salmonella was significantly greater than that of E. faecium on both macadamia nuts (7.3 ± 0.19 versus 6.4 ± 0.31) and cashews (5.4 ± 0.15 versus 5.1 ± 0.25) and significantly greater than P. acidilactici on both nuts (7.8 ± 0.22 versus 6.3 6 0.33 on macadamia nuts and 4.9 ± 0.22 versus 4.1 ± 0.25 on cashews). Reduction of S. carnosus exceeded that of Salmonella. E. faecium and P. acidilactici may be considered as surrogates for Salmonella on whole macadamia nuts and cashews processed by using PPO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 9 (PTPN9), also named PTP-MEG2, is an important member of the protein tyrosine phosphatase family that is involved in variety of human diseases. However, the role of PTPN9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains to be established. The present evaluated the potential effect and underlying mechanism of action of PTPN9 in ESCC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect PTPN9 protein expression in 84 ESCC tumor specimens and 30 normal esophageal tissues. The association between positive expression of PTPN9 and clinicopathological features and prognosis was analyzed. The prognostic role of PTPN9 was further investigated using multivariate regression analysis. PTPN9-small interfering RNA and microRNA (miR-126)-mimics were transfected into Eca109 cells to construct PTPN9 silencing and an miR-126 ectopic expression cell model. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, cell counting kit-8, Transwell assays and flow cytometry were used to investigate the role of PTPN9 in the process of ESCC progression and its potential downstream signaling pathway. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that PTPN9 was upregulated in ESCC tumor specimens compared with normal esophageal tissues. The χ2 test indicated that positive expression of PTPN9 was correlated with tumor node metastasis stage, tumor classification and node classification. Patients with PTPN9 positive expression had shorter survival time, compared with those that were PTPN9 negative. Multivariate regression analysis with the Cox proportional hazards regression model revealed that PTPN9 expression was a prognostic factor of overall survival for patients with ESCC. Using RNA interference, the present study demonstrated that knockdown of PTPN9 significantly suppressed cell proliferation and invasion in Eca109. Additionally, it was hypothesized that miR-126, described as a tumor suppressor in ESCC, may act at least in part via its inhibition of PTPN9 at the post-transcriptional level. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that PTPN9 is overexpressed in ESCC and associated with poor survival, and may therefore be important in the pathogenesis of ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The thymus in addition to being a central lymphoid organ is also an endocrine organ which produces various neuropeptides that influence the function of this gland. Somatostatin is a neuropeptide that was isolated initially in the hypothalamus and which inhibits the release of growth hormone. The distribution of somatostatin-producing cells and the sequence of somatostatin have been determined in many species. In the present study, we investigated the expression of somatostatin in the thymus of the African ostrich and its sequence by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that somatostatin mRNA was expressed in the thymus and somatostatin immunoreative cells were distributed in both the cortical and medullary regions of the thymus. Results of cDNA cloning revealed that the nucleotide sequence and the encoded protein of African ostrich somatostatin were 348 bases and 116 amino acids in length and that it is highly conserved to that of other reported species. These findings indicated that the somatostatin expressed in the thymus of ostrich might play an important role in the function of the gland. In addition, this research has provided novel molecular data allowing further study of somatostatin in the ostrich. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have developed a low-cost and effective method to align single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) using a series of diamond wire drawing dies. The obtained SWNTs are highly dense and perfectly aligned. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates that the highly dense and perfectly aligned SWNTs (HDPA-SWNTs) form a two-dimensional triangular lattice with a lattice constant of 19.62 Å. We observe a sharp (002) reflection in the XRD pattern, which should be ascribed to an intertube spacing 3.39 Å of adjacent SWNTs. Raman spectra reveal that the radical breath mode (RBM) of SWNTs with larger diameter in the HDPA-SWNTs is suppressed compared with that of as-grown SWNTs. The HDPA-SWNTs have a large density, ∼1.09 g/cm 3, and a low resistivity, ∼2 mΩ cm, at room temperature, as well as a large response to light illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocurrent generated in single-walled carbon nanotube bundles upon camera flash illumination has been studied under different ambient pressures and light intensities. The results show that the intensity of photocurrent depends closely on the ambient pressure and light intensity. With the ambient pressure reduced, the photocurrent exhibits a logarithmic growth behaviour. Meanwhile, the photocurrent increases with the increase in light intensity. In this work, a dynamic model is employed to unveil the origins of the observed photocurrent. A much smaller lifetime of photocarriers ([?]10 ms) is observed than that needed for gas molecular desorption or photodesorption (seconds or longer). Our results are consistent with the model of Schottky barriers being responsible for photocurrent generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]