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Corrosion damage mechanisms of nickel-based alloy G3 at 600 °C with a mixture of H2O, CO2, H2S and H2 were explored using ultra-high-temperature and high-pressure corrosion experiments, slow strain rate tensile tests and a series of microscopic characterization methods. Results unveil that G3 alloy exhibited a low corrosion rate on average. The corrosion product film consists of two layers – an inner layer of Cr2O3 and an outer layer of a mixture of Ni3S2 and Cr2O3. The material experienced plasticity losses of 49.5 % and 24.3 % after corrosion and aging, respectively. Precipitation of M23C6 at grain boundary occurred after corrosion and aging, resulting in chromium depletion and intergranular corrosion within weak grain boundary regions, which reduced plasticity of G3 alloy.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with limited treatment success, characterized by chronic inflammation and progressive cartilage and bone destruction. Accumulating evidence has shown that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) released by activated neutrophils are important for initiating and perpetuating synovial inflammation and thereby could be a promising therapeutic target for RA. K/B × N serum transfer-induced arthritis (STIA) is a rapidly developed joint inflammatory model that somehow mimics the inflammatory response in patients with RA. Human gingival-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) have been previously shown to possess immunosuppressive effects in arthritis and humanized animal models. However, it is unknown whether GMSCs can manage neutrophils in autoimmune arthritis. Objectives: To evaluate whether infusion of GMSCs can alleviate RA by regulating neutrophils and NETs formation. If this is so, we will explore the underlying mechanism(s) in an animal model of inflammatory arthritis. Methods: The effects of GMSCs on RA were assessed by comparing the symptoms of the K/B × N serum transfer-induced arthritis (STIA) model administered either with GMSCs or with control cells. Phenotypes examined included clinical scores, rear ankle thickness, paw swelling, inflammation, synovial cell proliferation, and immune cell frequency. The regulation of GMSCs on NETs was examined through immunofluorescence and immunoblotting in GMSCs-infused STIA mice and in an in vitro co-culture system of neutrophils with GMSCs. The molecular mechanism(s) by which GMSCs regulate NETs was explored both in vitro and in vivo by silencing experiments. Results: We found in this study that adoptive transfer of GMSCs into STIA mice significantly ameliorated experimental arthritis and reduced neutrophil infiltration and NET formation. In vitro studies also showed that GMSCs inhibited the generation of NETs in neutrophils. Subsequent investigations revealed that GMSCs secreted prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to activate protein kinase A (PKA), which ultimately inhibited the downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway that is essential for NET formation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that infusion of GMSCs can ameliorate inflammatory arthritis mainly by suppressing NET formation via the PGE2-PKA-ERK signaling pathway. These findings further support the notion that the manipulation of GMSCs is a promising stem cell-based therapy for patients with RA and other autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Summary: Allergic asthma is a chronic non-communicable disease characterized by lung tissue inflammation. Current treatments can alleviate the clinical symptoms to some extent, but there is still no cure. Recently, the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has emerged as a potential approach for treating allergic asthma. Gingival-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs), a type of MSC recently studied, have shown significant therapeutic effects in various experimental models of autoimmune diseases. However, their application in allergic diseases has yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, using an OVA-induced allergic asthma model, we demonstrated that GMSCs decrease CD11b+CD11c+ proinflammatory dendritic cells (DCs), reduce Th2 cells differentiation, and thus effectively diminish eosinophils infiltration. We also identified that the core functional factor, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) secreted by GMSCs, mediated its effects in relieving airway inflammation. Taken together, our findings indicate GMSCs as a potential therapy for allergic asthma and other related diseases.

ABSTRACTLiquid crystal elastomers are active materials that combine the anisotropic properties of liquid crystals with the elasticity of polymer networks. The LCEs exhibit remarkable reversible contraction and elongation capabilities in response to external stimuli, rendering them highly promising for diverse applications, such as soft robotics, haptic devices, shape morphing structures, etc. However, the predominant reliance on heating as the driving stimulus for LCEs has limited their practical applications. This drawback can be effectively addressed by incorporating fillers, which can generate heat under various stimuli. The recent progress in LCE composites has significantly expanded the application potential of LCEs. In this minireview, we present the design strategies for soft actuators with LCE composites, followed by a detailed exploration of photothermal and electrothermal LCE composites as prominent examples. Furthermore, we provide an outlook on the challenges and opportunities in the field of LCE composites.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the pressure relief characteristics of shale brittle fracture caused by large-scale tectonic uplift and its impact on shale oil enrichment, this paper, taking the Chang 73 sub-member of Yanchang Formation in Yan'an area of Ordos Basin as the research object, quantitatively analyzes the evolution of different lithological properties from overpressure to underpressure or near normal pressure, and further summarizes its influence on the enrichment of shale oil by utilizing the modified overpressure identification plate and numerical simulation techniques and taking into account the effects of temperature reduction, elastic rebound, and brittle rupture of overpressured shale in the process of tectonic uplift. The results show that the origins of overpressure at the end of the Early Cretaceous in the Chang 73 sub-member in the study area are mainly hydrocarbon generation and disequilibrium compaction, and the overpressure of the sandstone layer mainly originates from the overpressure transference from the neighboring source rocks; elastic rebound and temperature reduction due to tectonic uplift since the Late Cretaceous dominates the formation of underpressure in the Chang 73 sub-member sandstones in the study area, and brittle fracture pressure relief and temperature reduction lead to the formation of weak overpressure or near normal pressure in the Chang 73 sub-member shale. The timing of brittle fracture pressure relief of the top and bottom sets of organic-rich shale in the Chang 73 sub-member of the study area is not synchronized, resulting in large transport dynamics (source-reservoir excess pressure difference) between the top and bottom sets of organic-rich shale and their intercalated sandstones with magnitudes ranging from 16 to 22 MPa. Meanwhile, fractures in the top shale have closed during oil and gas preservation, and there is an excess pressure differential of about 1.42-6.80 MPa between it and the underlying sandstone, which strengthens the hydrocarbon containment capacity of the shale. Differential evolution of formation pressure under different source-reservoir configurations plays an important role in controlling shale oil enrichment.

In this study, the corrosion behavior of N80 steel exposed to 80 bar supercritical CO2 and 0–15 bar H2S environments was investigated by weight loss test, surface analysis, water chemistry simulation, corrosion thermodynamic and kinetic calculations. The results show that a very low H2S pressure of 0.004 bar in supercritical CO2 environment boosts the corrosion rate of N80 steel, whereas the rate is considerably reduced with further increasing the H2S pressure. The variation of corrosion rate with H2S pressure largely depends on the changes in cathode process and overall protectiveness of corrosion product film caused by H2S. As the H2S pressure rises, the evolution of corrosion product film on the steel is as follows: FeCO3 dominated film below 0.16 bar H2S, FeCO3 and FeS mixed film within 0.16–4 bar H2S, and FeS dominated film over 4 bar H2S. Benefiting from the integrity of film structure and the uniformity of film composition, N80 steel experiences uniform corrosion in the formation environment of FeCO3 or FeS dominated film. However, the localized corrosion easily occurs in the formation environment of FeCO3 and FeS mixed film owing to the loss of film integrity induced by uneven precipitation of FeCO3 inside the corrosion product film.

Focal iron overload is frequently observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), yet its functional significance remains elusive. Herein, we report that iron deposition in lesion aggravates arthritis by inducing macrophage ferroptosis. We show that excessive iron in synovial fluid positively correlates with RA disease severity as does lipid hyperoxidation of focal monocyte/macrophages. Further study reveals high susceptibility to iron induced ferroptosis of the anti-inflammatory macrophages M2, while pro-inflammatory M1 are less affected. Distinct glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) degradation depending on p62/SQSTM1 in the two cell types make great contribution mechanically. Of note, ferroptosis inhibitor liproxstatin-1 (LPX-1) can alleviate the progression of K/BxN serum-transfer induced arthritis (STIA) mice accompanied with increasing M2 macrophages proportion. We thus propose that the heterogeneous ferroptosis susceptibility of macrophage subtypes as well as consequent inflammation and immune disorders are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in RA.

To compare the muscular characteristics of “hit” and “miss” actions in roundhouse kicks among taekwondo athletes, and explore the similarities, differences, and implications for training, motion tests were conducted on ten taekwondo athletes using Noraxon32 and VICON. The results showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in integrated electromyography (EMG) during the initiation and kicking phases between “miss” and “hit” actions. However, during the retraction phase, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the left rectus femoris, left peroneus longus, right biceps femoris, right semitendinosus, and right tibialis anterior muscles. The tibialis anterior muscle of the swinging leg was activated first in the “hit” action, while the biceps femoris was activated first in the “miss” action. The supporting-side rectus femoris was activated first in the “hit” action, whereas it was the biceps femoris in the “miss” action. In both techniques, the gluteus maximus was the last muscle to be activated. The “miss” action had a longer cycle, and the duration of muscle work was longer than in the “hit” action. During the retraction phase of the front leg roundhouse kick, the muscles worked more than during the kicking phase, with the erector spinae and tibialis anterior being the core force-producing muscles in both techniques, characterized by high EMG values and long activation times. In the “miss” action, the thigh muscles drove the calf muscles, while the “hit” action exhibited the opposite pattern. “Hit” actions had a faster cycle compared to “miss,” with greater force generation in “miss.” The hip flexors and knee extensors of the kicking leg were the core force-producing muscles during the kicking process, determining the effectiveness and completion of the action.

IL-2 inducible T cell kinase (ITK) is critical in T helper subset differentiation and its inhibition has been suggested for the treatment of T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases. T follicular helper (Tfh), Th17 and regulatory T cells (Treg) also play important roles in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), while the role of ITK in the development of RA and the intricate balance between effector T and regulatory T cells remains unclear. Here, we found that CD4+ T cells from RA patients presented with an elevated ITK activation. ITK inhibitor alleviated existing collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and reduced antigen specific antibody production. Blocking ITK kinase activity interferes Tfh cell generation. Moreover, ITK inhibitor effectively rebalances Th17 and Treg cells by regulating Foxo1 translocation. Furthermore, we identified dihydroartemisinin (DHA) as a potential ITK inhibitor, which could inhibit PLC-γ1 phosphorylation and the progression of CIA by rebalancing Th17 and Treg cells. Out data imply that ITK activation is upregulated in RA patients, and therefore blocking ITK signal may provide an effective strategy to treat RA patients and highlight the role of ITK on the Tfh induction and RA progression.

Abstract Bilayer graphene (BLG) is intriguing for its unique properties and potential applications in electronics, photonics, and mechanics. However, the chemical vapor deposition synthesis of large-area high-quality bilayer graphene on Cu is suffering from a low growth rate and limited bilayer coverage. Herein, we demonstrate the fast synthesis of meter-sized bilayer graphene film on commercial polycrystalline Cu foils by introducing trace CO2 during high-temperature growth. Continuous bilayer graphene with a high ratio of AB-stacking structure can be obtained within 20 min, which exhibits enhanced mechanical strength, uniform transmittance, and low sheet resistance in large area. Moreover, 96 and 100% AB-stacking structures were achieved in bilayer graphene grown on single-crystal Cu(111) foil and ultraflat single-crystal Cu(111)/sapphire substrates, respectively. The AB-stacking bilayer graphene exhibits tunable bandgap and performs well in photodetection. This work provides important insights into the growth mechanism and the mass production of large-area high-quality BLG on Cu.

Aircraft targets, as high-value subjects, are a focal point in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image interpretation. To tackle challenges like limited SAR aircraft datasets and shortcomings in existing detection algorithms (complexity, poor performance, weak generalization), we present the Feature Enhancement and Multi-Scales Fusion Network (FEMSFNet) for SAR aircraft detection. FEMSFNet employs diverse image augmentation and integrates optimized Squeeze-and-Excitation Networks (SE) with residual network (ResNet) in a SdE-Resblock structure for a lightweight yet accurate model. It introduces ssppf-CSP module, an improved pyramid pooling model, to prevent receptive field deviation in deep network training. Tailored for SAR aircraft detection, FEMSFNet optimizes loss functions, emphasizing both speed and accuracy. Evaluation on the SAR Aircraft Detection Dataset (SADD) demonstrates significant improvements compared to the contrasted algorithms: precision rate (92%), recall rate (96%), and F1 score (94%), with a maximum increase of 12.2% in precision, 12.9% in recall, and 13.3% in F1 score.

Dissimilar metal welded joints are increasingly and widely applied in any field of manufacturing. Meanwhile, a novel keyhole gas tungsten arc (K-TIG) welding technology presents the advantages of high productivity, high precision as well as low cost. This paper investigated microstructural characterization of K-TIG welded SAF2205/Q235 dissimilar joints with different welding torch deviations. Moreover, evolution of local microstructure and stress–strain behavior from transition zone was discussed by means of crystal plasticity finite element modeling. The results show that solid–solid phase transformation mode in the weld metal changes due to the change of constituent alloy elements. Noted that transition zone on the Q235 side includes compact martensite with high hardness, and the elements and mechanical properties present a severe gradient distribution. Transition zone with high strength has a greater resistance to plastic deformation. In addition, a large strain gradient takes place near the transition zone and on the side of an austenite grain with a high Schmid factor. Besides, the twin boundary is prone to deform at a lower stress level, which leads to a new strain partition. Therefore, stress–strain incompatibility caused by a difference in both mechanical properties and crystal structure is the root cause of K-TIG DMWJs failure.

Abstract Background Periodontitis is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), the keystone periodontal pathogen, has been reported in our recent study to cause immune-overreaction and induce cognitive impairment. Monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (mMDSCs) possess potent immunosuppressive function. It is unclear whether mMDSCs-mediated immune homeostasis is impaired in AD patients with periodontitis, and whether exogenous mMDSCs could ameliorate immune-overreaction and cognitive impairment induced by Pg. Methods To explore the influence of Pg on cognitive function, neuropathology and immune balance in vivo, 5xFAD mice were treated with live Pg by oral gavage, three times a week for 1 month. The cells of peripheral blood, spleen and bone marrow from 5xFAD mice were treated with Pg to detect the proportional and functional alterations of mMDSCs in vitro. Next, exogenous mMDSCs were sorted from wild-type healthy mice and intravenously injected into 5xFAD mice that were infected with Pg. We used behavioral tests, flow cytometry and immunofluorescent staining to evaluate whether exogenous mMDSCs could ameliorate the cognitive function, immune homeostasis and reduce neuropathology exacerbated by Pg infection. Results Pg exacerbated cognitive impairment in 5xFAD mice, with the deposition of amyloid plaque and increased number of microglia in the hippocampus and cortex region. The proportion of mMDSCs decreased in Pg-treated mice. In addition, Pg reduced the proportion and the immunosuppressive function of mMDSCs in vitro. Supplement of exogenous mMDSCs improved the cognitive function, and enhanced the proportions of mMDSCs and IL-10+ T cells of 5xFAD mice infected with Pg. At the same time, supplement of exogenous mMDSCs increased the immunosuppressive function of endogenous mMDSCs while decreased the proportions of IL-6+ T cells and IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells. In addition, the deposition of amyloid plaque decreased while the number of neurons increased in the hippocampus and cortex region after the supplement of exogenous mMDSCs. Furthermore, the number of microglia increased with an increase in the proportion of M2 phenotype. Conclusions Pg can reduce the proportion of mMDSCs, induce immune-overreaction, and exacerbate the neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in 5xFAD mice. Supplement of exogenous mMDSCs can reduce the neuroinflammation, immune imbalance and cognitive impairment in 5xFAD mice infected with Pg. These findings indicate the mechanism of AD pathogenesis and Pg-mediated promotion of AD, and provide a potential therapeutic strategy for AD patients.

Lacustrine shale reservoirs present intricate attributes such as the prevalence of lamination, rapid sedimentary phase transitions, and pronounced heterogeneity. These factors introduce substantial challenges in analyzing and comprehending reservoir characteristics. Thin-section imaging offers a direct medium to observe these traits, yet the intrinsic compromise between image resolution and field of view impedes the concurrent capture of comprehensive details and contextual overview. This study delves into the application of super-resolution (SR) techniques to augment the segmentation of thin-section images from lacustrine shale, an unconventional reservoir. SR application furnishes high-resolution images, facilitating a robust analysis of morphology, texture, edge properties, and target classification. Utilizing data from the lacustrine shale reservoir of the Ordos Basin, we evaluate our methodology and assess the impact of SR enhancement on segmentation. Quantitative results indicate significant improvements, with the Jaccard index for shale increasing from 0.4790 (Low-Resolution) to 0.7803 (ESRGAN) in the Y channel of the YCrCb color space after level set segmentation, exemplifying the efficacy of SR in shale gas and oil reservoirs. This research underscores the necessity to consider lacustrine shale's unique features while formulating and implementing SR techniques for improved information extraction. Furthermore, it highlights SR's potential for propelling future research and industry-specific applications.

Due to magnetic gearing effects, spoke-type permanent magnet vernier machines (ST-PMVMs) have the merit of high torque density, where an extra torque amplification coefficient, i.e., pole ratio (the pole-pair ratio of PMs to armature windings) is introduced. However, different from surface-mounted PMVM, the variation of torque against pole ratio in ST-PMVMs is non-linear, which is increased at first and then decreased. This article is devoted to identify the optimal pole ratio of ST-PMVMs by equivalent magnetic circuit model. It is found that except the P r th air-gap magnetomotive force (MMF) harmonic having the same pole-pair of PM, the Pa th air-gap MMF harmonic having the same pole-pair of armature winding is also induced due to the modulation of doubly salient air-gap structure. The P r th MMF harmonic produces positive torque, while Pa th MMF harmonic produces negative torque. With the increase of pole ratio, the proportion of Pa th MMF harmonic as well as negative torque is increased, which reduces the advantages of high pole ratio coefficient. Further, the influence of dimension parameters on the performance of ST-PMVMs under different pole ratio are investigated. Results show that ST-PMVMs with pole ratio 2.6 have high torque density, low cogging torque and high power factor simultaneously. Finally, a prototype is manufactured to validate the analysis.

In the Yan’an gas field, southeast of Ordos Basin, the discovered natural gas reserves are 114 billion cubic meters. Highly productive gas reservoirs were formed in paleokarst. By using 164 samples from 27cores, the geochemical study of diagenetic evolution was carried out, and the relationship between different diagenesis environments was discussed by using scanning electron microscopy, carbon and oxygen isotope, and isotopic and fluid inclusion microthermometric observations. Results show that the lithology of reservoir is anhydrite-bearing mud powder crystal dolomite, powder crystal dolomite, and karst breccia dolomite; the filling includes dolomite, calcite, anhydrite, quartz, fluorite, and clay minerals; δ13C (‰ PDB) value is between −6.31‰ and 1.01‰, δ18O (‰ PDB) value ranges from −11.36‰ to −6.54‰, and the 87Sr/86Sr value ranges from 0.7077 to 0.7081. The overall carbon isotope of Majiagou Formation decreases first and then increases, and the strontium isotope evolution curve generally increases first and then decreases, indicating that the water environment of Majiagou Formation experienced a relatively high salinity concentration period and a relative desalinization period during deposition. The stratigraphic development shows a cyclical trend, responding to the multistage transgression and regression process. The homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions is 70–100°C, salinity is 0–3.5%, homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions is 70–100°C, salinity is >3.5%, homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions is 100–160°C, salinity is 0–3.5%, homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions is 100–160°C, salinity is >3.5%, homogenization temperature of fluid inclusion temperature is 160–200°C, and salinity is >3.5%, indicating that the fluid source in the sedimentation and diagenesis process is seawater, atmospheric freshwater, hydrocarbon fluid, and deep thermal fluid. The diagenetic environments are divided into marine diagenetic environments, metric freshwater diagenetic environments, and burial diagenetic environments.

Background Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that is commonly used to treat many ailments. It belongs to the Polygonacae family and grows in northwest and southwest China. At high elevations, the color of the plant’s young leaves is purple, which gradually changes to green during the growth cycle. Anthraquinone, which is known for various biological activities, is the main bioactive compound in R. tanguticum. Although a significant amount of research has been done on R. tanguticum in the past, the lack of transcriptome data limits our knowledge of the gene regulatory networks involved in pigmentation and in the metabolism of bioactive compounds in Rheum species. Methods To fill this knowledge gap, we generated high-quality RNA-seq data and performed multi-tissue transcriptomic analyses of R. tanguticum. Results We found that three chlorophyll degradation enzymes (RtPPH, RtPao and RtRCCR) were highly expressed in purple samples, which suggests that the purple pigmentation is mainly due to the effects of chlorophyll degradation. Overall, these data may aid in drafting the transcriptional network in the regulation and biosynthesis of medicinally active compounds in the future.

The Shanxi Formation (Shan 1 and Shan 2 Members) shales show good prospects in shale gas development in the Yan'an area of Ordos Basin. Based on the simulation experiment of hydrocarbon generation of low maturity shale samples, the hydrocarbon generation characteristics of shale samples was studied systematically. Then, combined with the geochemical analysis of shale and gas generation simulation, shale gas potential was evaluated. The results reveal that Shan 1 and Shan 2 shale samples are favorable for shale gas enrichment by and large, with C1–C5 maximum yields of 146.96–160.83 mg/g TOC and 148.48–148.67 mg/g TOC respectively at a heat rate of 20 °C/h and 2 °C/h. The Shan 1 and Shan 2 shales are basically the same in terms of organic carbon production potential of each unit. The carbon isotopic composition of alkane gas reveals that heteroatomic compounds (NSOs) cracking is an important mechanism for shale gas generation of Shanxi Formation shales, and conducive to gas generation at high-to over-mature stages. Given thermal history and kinetic parameters of hydrocarbon generation, the shales of Shanxi Formation reached the maximum gas production potential in the Late Cretaceous, with a maximum yield of 160.3 mg/g TOC under present geological conditions. During geological history, the Shanxi Formation shales went through high-to over-maturity evolution, mainly producing dry gas, and their gas generation capacity was controlled by the organic matter abundance and cracking capacity. The gas generation potential of Shan 2 shale is higher than that of Shan 1, due to its higher TOC.

Compounds that selectively modulate multiple targets can provide clinical benefits and are an alternative to traditional highly selective agents for unique targets. High-throughput screening (HTS) for multitarget-directed ligands (MTDLs) using approved drugs, and fragment-based drug design has become a regular strategy to achieve an ideal multitarget combination. However, the unexpected presence of pan-assay interference compounds (PAINS) suspects in the development of MTDLs frequently results in nonspecific interactions or other undesirable effects leading to artefacts or false-positive data of biological assays. Publicly available filters can help to identify PAINS suspects; however, these filters cannot comprehensively conclude whether these suspects are “bad” or innocent. Additionally, these in silico approaches may inappropriately label a ligand as PAINS. More than 80% of the initial hits can be identified as PAINS by the filters if appropriate biochemical tests are not used resulting in false positive data that are unacceptable for medicinal chemists in manuscript peer review and future studies. Therefore, extensive offline experiments should be used after online filtering to discriminate “bad” PAINS and avoid incorrect evaluation of good scaffolds. We suggest that the use of “Fair Trial Strategy” to identify interesting molecules in PAINS suspects to provide certain structure‒function insight in MTDL development.

Abstract B10 cells are regulatory B cells capable of producing IL-10 for maintaining immune homeostasis. Dysregulation of B10 cells occurs in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Modulation or adoptive transfer of B10 cells is a promising therapeutic strategy. The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the metabolites of microbiota, play a critical role in maintaining immune homeostasis and are the potential drugs for the modulation of B10 cells. It is not clear whether and how SCFAs upregulate the frequency of B10 cells. Here, we found that SCFAs could promote murine and human B10 cell generation in vitro. Upregulation of B10 cells by butyrate or pentanoate was also observed in either healthy mice, mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis, or mice with collagen-induced arthritis. Moreover, SCFA treatment could ameliorate clinical scores of colitis and arthritis. Adoptive transfer of B cells pretreated with butyrate showed more alleviation of DSS-induced colitis than those without butyrate. A further study demonstrates that SCFAs upregulate B10 cells in a manner dependent on their histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory activity and independent of the G-protein-coupled receptor pathway. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the MAPK signaling pathway was enriched in B10 cells treated with butyrate. A study with inhibitors of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK demonstrated that activating p38 MAPK by butyrate is critical for the upregulation of B10 cells. Moreover, HDAC inhibitor has similar effects on B10 cells. Our study sheds light on the mechanism underlying B10 cell differentiation and function and provides a potential therapeutic strategy with SCFAs and HDAC inhibitors for inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

Stem cell-based therapy is a promising option for repair of injured tissue. Stem cells have homing characteristics and can be mobilized to the injury sites following activation, under the regulation of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. However, a sufficient level of stem cell aggregation and retention is essential for ensuring favorable repair outcomes. Problems related to stem cell delivery/recruitment efficiency and retention in the injury site are among the main challenges faced during in vivo studies on stem cell therapy. In this study, we designed an SDF-1(alpha) magnetic nanoparticle delivery system for stem cell recruitment. We expressed and purified a biotin-labeled SDF-1(alpha) protein and immobilized it on streptavidin-modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) through the streptavidin–biotin linkage, with an efficiency of approximately 14%. The physicochemical properties of the SDF-MNP in glycerol buffer were similar to those of the streptavidin-modified MNP. Further evidence suggested that SDF-MNP barely show cytotoxicity even at a concentration of 125 µg/ml MNP and have a promising chemotaxis effect on mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and in vivo. Our study provides a strategy for the assembly of magnetic nanoparticle carrier systems for protein factors, as well as preliminary evidence for the application of SDF-MNP in stem cell-based therapy for the regeneration of injured bone tissue.

Cichorium glandulosum Boiss. et Huet (CG) and Cichorium intybus L. (CI) are widely used as the main raw material of functional food with hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic effects. Due to the lack of comparison on the chemical ingredients and efficacy, they were often used imprecisely and interchangeably. It is necessary to distinguish between them. With the plant metabolomics based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF-MS) and multivariate chemometric techniques, the chemical ingredients were characterized and 59 compounds between CG and CI were classified. As for antioxidative and hypoglycemic activities in vitro, CI extraction exhibited better antioxidant activity than CG, while CG extraction showed stronger hypoglycemic activity. Furthermore, a bivariate correlation between the chemical composition and efficacy of the extract was also analyzed, and three differentially strong correlation components between CI and CG were prepared, and the antioxidative and hypoglycemic efficacies were compared in vivo and different active phenotypes were obtained. Finally, we revealed chemical and biological differences between CG and CI, providing a basis for achieving better quality control and developing more effective functional foods.

The structure and morphology of Cu films deposited by DC magnetron sputtering on silicon and stainless-steel substrates at different deposition temperatures of −140 °C, −95 °C, −55 °C, 25 °C (RT), 50 °C, and 200 °C were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that all Cu films presented strong orientation of the (111) and (200) peaks. The Cu films deposited at low temperatures (lower than −55 °C) showed the bilayer structures, in which the upper layer appeared to be a loose and porous structure and the lower layer near the substrate had a fine and dense structure that consisted of small grains. In addition, the Cu films deposited at low temperatures could be observed a large roughness. The roughness tended to decline and then increase with the rising of deposition temperature. The ball-on-disc reciprocating sliding tribometer was employed to evaluate the tribological behaviors of the Cu films at current-carrying levels of 0 A, 0.5 A, and 1.0 A. The results revealed that the Cu films deposited at low temperatures exhibited outstanding current-carrying friction performance and low electrical contact resistance (ECR), peeling only at 0.5 A and 1.0 A. Nevertheless, the Cu films deposited at the relatively high temperature exhibited oxidative wear caused by electric arc ablation at 0.5 A and 1.0 A. Additionally, the wear mechanism was discussed in terms of the structure and morphology of the wear track and formation of the tribo-film.

BackgroundPeriodontal pathogen and gut microbiota are closely associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), the keystone periodontal pathogen, can induce cognitive impairment. The gut has a connection and communication with the brain, which is an important aspect of the gut–brain axis (GBA). In the present study, we investigate whether Pg induces cognitive impairment through disturbing the GBA.MethodsIn this study, Pg was orally administered to mice, three times a week for 1 month. The effects of Pg administration on the gut and brain were evaluated through behaviors, gut microbiota, immune cells, glymphatic pathway clearance, and neuroinflammation.ResultsPg induced cognitive impairment and dysbiosis of gut microbiota. The α-diversity parameters did not show significant change after Pg administration. The β-diversity demonstrated that the gut microbiota compositions were different between the Pg-administered and control groups. At the species level, the Pg group displayed a lower abundance of Parabacteroides gordonii and Ruminococcus callidus than the control group, but a higher abundance of Mucispirillum schaedleri. The proportions of lymphocytes in the periphery and myeloid cells infiltrating the brain were increased in Pg-treated animals. In addition, the solute clearance efficiency of the glymphatic system decreased. Neurons in the hippocampus and cortex regions were reduced in mice treated with Pg. Microglia, astrocytes, and apoptotic cells were increased. Furthermore, amyloid plaque appeared in the hippocampus and cortex regions in Pg-treated mice.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that Pg may play an important role in gut dysbiosis, neuroinflammation, and glymphatic system impairment, which may in turn lead to cognitive impairment.

In this article, a network of central pattern generators is used for the motion planning of a hexapod robot. There are many parameters in the planning network, which determine the motion performance of the hexapod robot. On the other hand, the network is a highly nonlinear coupling network, which is difficult to obtain optimal parameters by an analytical method. Optimizing these parameters to make the robot walk well is a multi-objective optimization process. There is a certain mutual exclusion relationship among the targets. To find a well-performing network as soon as possible, a multi-objective genetic algorithm is used for the process of parameter tuning. The hexapod robot simulation model is performed in Webots, and the motion performance parameters of the robot are obtained through built-in sensors and are also considered as mean values of the optimization algorithm. The optimization algorithm is written and run with MATLAB. Finally, the optimization algorithm and simulation results are proven by an experiment.

Abstract Background Banana wilt disease, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4), is one of the most devastating diseases in banana (Musa spp.). Foc is a soil borne pathogen that causes rot of the roots or wilt of leaves by colonizing the xylem vessels. The dual RNA sequencing is used to simultaneously assess the transcriptomes of pathogen and host. This method greatly helps to understand the responses of pathogen and host to each other and discover the potential pathogenic mechanism. Results Plantlets of two economically important banana cultivars, Foc TR4 less susceptible cultivar NK and susceptible cultivar BX, were used to research the Foc-banana interaction mechanism. Notably, the infected NK had more significantly up-regulated genes on the respiration machinery including TCA cycle, glyoxylate, glycerol, and glycolysis compared to BX at 27 h post inoculation (hpi). In addition, genes involved in plant-pathogen interaction, starch, sucrose, linolenic acid and sphingolipid metabolisms were uniquely more greatly induced in BX than those in NK during the whole infection. Genes related to the biosynthesis and metabolism of SA and JA were greatly induced in the infected NK; while auxin and abscisic acid metabolisms related genes were strongly stimulated in the infected BX at 27 hpi. Furthermore, most of fungal genes were more highly expressed in the roots of BX than in those of NK. The fungal genes related to pathogenicity, pectin and chitin metabolism, reactive oxygen scavenging played the important roles during the infection of Foc. CCP1 (cytochrome c peroxidase 1) was verified to involve in cellulose utilization, oxidative stress response and pathogenicity of fungus. Conclusion The transcriptome indicated that NK had much faster defense response against Foc TR4 than BX and the expression levels of fungal genes were higher in BX than those in NK. The metabolisms of carbon, nitrogen, and signal transduction molecular were differentially involved in pathogen infection in BX and NK. Additionally, the putative virulence associated fungal genes involved in colonization, nutrition acquirement and transport provided more insights into the infection process of Foc TR4 in banana roots.

This paper investigates the optimal design method of switched reluctance machines (SRMs) for mitigating torque ripple and improving average torque under the low speed operation. In order to produce high torque for hill climbing or overload start-up of micro electric vehicles (EVs) and reduce the converter capacity, an SRM with four times torque overload capability and two times speed range with constant power is needed. To improve the SRM performance, first, a new method called multiphase excitation (MPE) method for calculating resultant static torque is adopted, which takes the cross-coupling and magnetic saturation into consideration to reduce the calculation error bought by the traditional method called single-phase excitation (SPE) method; second, optimal methods, including parameters sensitivity analysis, multi-objective optimization function, and winding connection types, have been taken to release the magnetic saturation, to improve average torque, and to depress torque ripple. Compared with the initial scheme, the torque ripple is minimized from 55.33% to 14.84% and the average torque is improved by 8.36%. The experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.

Star sensors are indispensable spatial measurement sensors for high-resolution earth observation and astronomical observations, and the demand for high measurement accuracy of satellite sensors continues to increase; thus, the star sensor optical machine adjustment error cannot be ignored. The commonly used installation error correction method cannot solely meet the precision analysis requirements. In this paper, the relationship between the optical machine installation and the star sensor measurement error is analyzed, and several common adjustment error correction methods are compared. An adjustment method for optical machines is proposed to meet the requirements of very high precision star sensors. The assembly precision requirements of the investigated very high precision star sensor are analyzed considering the whole machine, and then the optical components are controlled through optical precision adjustments to satisfy the precision requirements. Finally, through the complete machine calibration, the star sensor precision adjustment for an optical machine structure is verified. This method meets the requirements of very high precision sensors and is suitable for the precision adjustment of optical machine structures, which is of practical significance to improve the precision of star sensors. Keywords: Very high precision star sensor, Optical machine structure, Alignment precision, Precision adjustment

The 7075 aluminum alloy was an important structural material in the field of aeronautics and astronautics. With the development of this field, the requirements for its comprehensive properties were increasing. A novel casting method, the impact jet solid-liquid compound casting, was adopted to fabricate the 3A21/7075 aluminum alloy cladding material. Retrogression and reaging (RRA) treatment was further applied to the 3A21/7075 aluminum alloy cladding material in order to investigate the influence of RRA on microstructure and microhardness of the 3A21/7075 aluminum alloy cladding material. Then, the electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) technique and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) together with the energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and the hardness test were utilized to analyze the influence of RRA treatment on microstructure and hardness of the 3A21/7075 aluminum alloy cladding material. The research results showed the 3A21/7075 aluminum alloy cladding material had better deformability. The amount of fine and dispersed phases precipitated in grains was in favor of improving the comprehensive mechanical properties of the 3A21/7075 aluminum alloy cladding material. This research might provide data and a theoretical approach for the engineering application of the 3A21/7075 aluminum alloy cladding material.

Excessive nitrogen (N) application is widespread in Southern China. The effects of N fertilization on soil properties and crop physiology are poorly understood in tropical red loam soil. We conducted a field experiment to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization rates on physiological attributes (chlorophyll, plant metabolic enzymes, soluble matters) on banana leaves, soil properties (soil enzymes, soil organic matter (SOM), soil available nutrients) as well as banana crop yield in a subtropical region of southern China. The N rates tested were 0 (N0), 145 (N145), 248 (N248), 352 (N352), 414 (NFT), and 455 (N455) g N per plant. The correlations among soil factors, leaf physiological factors and crop yield were evaluated. The results indiated that the high rates of N fertilization (NFT and N455) significantly decreased soil available potassium (K) content, available phosphorus (P) content, glutamine synthetase (GS) activity, and soluble protein and sugar contents compared with lower N rates. The N352 treatment had the highest crop yields compared with higher N rates treatments, followed by the N455 treatment. However, there were no significant differences in crop yields among N fertilization treatments. Factor analysis showed that the N352 treatment had the highest integrated score for soil and leaf physiological factors among all treatments. Moreover, the N352 treatment was the most effective in improving carbon and nitrogen metabolism in banana. Crop yield was significantly and positively linearly correlated with the integrated score (r = 0.823, p < 0.05). Path analysis revealed that invertase, SOM and sucrose synthase (SS) had a strong positive effect on banana yield. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) suggested that available K, invertase, acid phosphatase and available P were the most important factors impacting leaf physiological attributes. Cluster analysis demonstrated distinct differences in N application treatment related to variations in soil and leaf factors. This study suggested that excessive N fertilization had a negative effect on soil fertility, crop physiology and yield. The lower N rates were more effective in improving crop yield than higher rates of N fertilization. The N rate of 352 g N per plant (N352) was recommended to reduce excess N input while maintaining the higher yield for local farmers’ banana planting.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a large, polyphyletic group of aquatic microorganisms capable of absorbing large amounts of iron and synthesizing intercellular nano-scaled nanoparticles termed magnetosomes. In our previous transcriptomic studies, we discovered that a novel gene (MGMSRv2_2046, termed as mg2046) in Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense strain MSR-1 was significantly up-regulated during the period of magnetosome synthesis. In the present study, we constructed a MSR-1 mutant strain with deletion of mg2046 (termed Δmg2046) in order to evaluate the role of this gene in cell physiological status and magnetosome formation process. In comparison with wild-type MSR-1, Δmg2046 showed similar cell growth, but much lower cell magnetic response, smaller number and size of magnetosomes, and reduced iron absorption ability. mg2046 deletion evidently disrupted iron uptake, and redox equilibrium, and strongly inhibited transcription of dissimilatory denitrification pathway genes. Our experimental findings, taken together with results of gene homology analysis, indicate that Mg2046 acts as a positive regulator in MSR-1 under microaerobic conditions, responding to hypoxia signals and participating in regulation of oxygen metabolism, in part as a co-regulator of dissimilatory denitrification pathway with oxygen sensor MgFnr (MGMSRv2_2946, termed as Mg2946). Mg2046 is clearly involved in coupled regulation of cellular oxygen, iron and nitrogen metabolism under micro-aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Our findings help explain how MSR-1 cells initiate dissimilatory denitrification pathway and overcome energy deficiency under microaerobic conditions, and have broader implications regarding bacterial survival and energy metabolism strategies under hypoxia.

Head and neck cancer is the 6th most common malignancy worldwide and urgently requires novel therapy methods to change the situation of low 5-years survival rate and poor prognosis. Targeted therapy provides more precision, higher efficiency while lower adverse effects than traditional treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Blockade of PD-1 pathway with antibodies against PD-1 or PD-L1 is such a typical targeted therapy which reconstitutes anti-tumor activity of T cell in treatments of cancers, especially those highly expressing PD-L1, including head and neck cancers. There are many clinical trials all over the world and FDA has approved anti-PD-1/PD-L1 drugs for head and neck cancers. However, with the time going, the dark side of this therapy has emerged, including some serious side effects and drug resistance. Novel materials like nanoparticles and combination therapy have been developed to improve the efficacy. At the same time, standards for evaluation of activity and safety are to be established for this new therapy. Here we provide a systematic review with comprehensive depth on the application of anti-PD1/PD-L1 antibodies in head and neck cancer treatment: mechanism, drugs, clinical studies, influencing factors, adverse effects and managements, and the potential future developments.

This study proposes a dual-loop supplementary frequency control (SFC) scheme for back-to-back voltage source converter high-voltage DC (BTB-VSC-HVDC) interconnecting asynchronous AC grids, to provide frequency support for each other after a large disturbance. The proposed dual-loop SFC consists of the frequency-active power (f–P) loop and the frequency-reactive power (f–Q) loop. The former deployed on the P-loop of VSC-HVDC can provide frequency support for the disturbed grid during the primary frequency regulation and improve the steady-state characteristics of the frequency response, while the latter attached to the Q-loop of VSC-HVDC supports virtual inertia to ameliorate the transient characteristics of the frequency response. Simulation studies are conducted based on the equivalently simplified model of Southwest Power Grid and Hubei Power Grid interconnected by Chongqing-Hubei BTB-VSC-HVDC. Simulation results show that the proposed SFC scheme can effectively improve the transient and steady-state characteristics of the system frequency response under a wide range of operating condition.

Regulatory B cells (Breg) have immune suppressive functions in various autoimmune/inflammation models and diseases and are found to be enriched in diverse B cell subsets. The lack of a unique marker or set of markers efficiently identifying Breg cells impedes detailed investigation into their origin, development, and immunological roles. Here, we perform transcriptome analysis of IL-10-expressing B cells to identify key regulators for Breg biogenesis and function and identify CD9, a tetraspanin-family transmembrane protein, as a key surface marker for most mouse IL-10+ B cells and their progenitors. CD9 plays a role in the suppressive function of IL-10+ B cells in ex vivo T cell proliferation assays through a mechanism that is dependent upon B/T cell interactions. CD9+ B cells also demonstrate inhibition of Th1-mediated contact hypersensitivity in an in vivo model system. Taken together, our findings implicate CD9 in the immunosuppressive activity of regulatory B cells.

We report a cathodoluminescence (CL) study of layered germanium sulfide (GeS) where we observe a sharp emission peak from flakes covered with a thin hexagonal boron nitride film. GeS is a material that has recently attracted considerable interest due to its emission in the visible region and its strong anisotropy. The measured CL peak is at ~1.69 eV for samples ranging in thickness from 97 nm to 45 nm, where quantum-confinement effects can be excluded. By performing ab initio ground- and excited-state simulations for the bulk compound, we show that the measured optical peak can be unambiguously explained by radiative recombination of the first free bright bound exciton, which is due to a mixing of direct transitions near the Γ-point of the Brillouin Zone and it is associated to a very large optical anisotropy. The analysis of the corresponding excitonic wave function shows a Wannier–Mott interlayer character, being spread not only in-plane but also out-of-plane.

Tetraspanins are transmembrane proteins that modulate multiple diverse biological processes, including signal transduction, cell–cell communication, immunoregulation, tumorigenesis, cell adhesion, migration, and growth and differentiation. Here, we provide a systematic review of the involvement of tetraspanins and their partners in the regulation and function of B cells, including mechanisms associated with antigen presentation, antibody production, cytokine secretion, co-stimulator expression, and immunosuppression. Finally, we direct our focus to the signaling mechanisms, evolutionary conservation aspects, expression, and potential therapeutic strategies that could be based on tetraspanins and their interacting partners.

This research aims to establish a finite element analysis model of the polishing process of silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics and to study the change processes of the polishing force, which can lead to stress and strain inside SiC under different processing parameters. This will provide a more reasonable scheme for the actual processing of brittle materials. The simulation results indicate that the interference of the impact force can be effectively reduced by changing the abrasive particle size and polishing depth, and that the polishing force can be changed in a relatively stable range to improve the surface quality of the brittle material. Subsequently, polishing experiments are carried out in accordance with the computer-controlled precision polishing process. The experimental results reveal that the abrasive particle size and polishing depth are the most relevant factors for the minimization of surface roughness. In addition, the influence trends of surface quality of the experimental results at different process parameters match well with the simulation results. These research results are meaningful and helpful for the selection of reasonable polishing parameters in order to obtain good surface quality in the SiC polishing process.

We report a unique constant phase element (CPE) behavior ( 1 Z = Q 0 ( j ω ) α ) of the electrolyte−graphene interface with both Q 0 and α showing dependence on the gate voltage. The frequency response of the electrolyte−graphene interface was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The result suggests that (1) the electrolyte−graphene interface should be characterized as a CPE ( α < 1), rather than an ideal capacitor; and (2) both Q 0 and α show ambipolar dependence on the applied voltage. We speculate that the CPE behavior of the electrolyte−graphene interface arises from the charged impurities on the substrate and the defects in the graphene lattice, which could introduce inhomogeneity of local density of states (DOS). The low density of states of graphene makes α sensitive to these local DOS near the Dirac point, and thus showing dependence on the gate voltage. Measurement of the electrolyte−graphene interface capacitance based on multi-frequency capacitance-voltage (CV) profiling was demonstrated, and the extraction of the carrier mobility was performed. The study could lead to a more accurate understanding of the capacitive behavior of the electrolyte−graphene interface, which is instructive for the design and analysis of devices involving the electrolyte−graphene interface for nanoelectronics and bioelectronics applications.

Lateral flow devices are versatile and serve a wide variety of purposes, including medical, agricultural, environmental, and military applications. Yet, the most promising opportunities of these devices for diagnosis might reside in point-of-care (POC) applications. Disposable paper-based lateral flow strips have been of particular interest, because they utilize low-cost materials and do not require expensive fabrication instruments. However, there are constraints on tuning flow rates and immunoassays functionalization in papers, as well as technical challenges in sensors’ integration and concentration units for low-abundant molecular detection. In the present work, we demonstrated an integrated lateral flow device that applied the capillary forces with functionalized polymer-based microfluidics as a strategy to realize a portable, simplified, and self-powered lateral flow device (LFD). The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface was rendered hydrophilic via functionalization with different concentrations of Pluronic F127. Controlled flow is a key variable for immunoassay-based applications for providing enough time for protein binding to antibodies. The flow rate of the integrated LFD was regulated by the combination of multiple factors, including Pluronic F127 functionalized surface properties and surface treatments of microchannels, resistance of the integrated flow resistor, the dimensions of the microstructures and the spacing between them in the capillary pump, the contact angles, and viscosity of the fluids. Various plasma flow rates were regulated and achieved in the whole device. The LFD combined the ability to separate high quality plasma from human whole blood by using a highly asymmetric plasma separation membrane, and created controlled and steady fluid flow using capillary forces produced by the interfacial tensions. Biomarker immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection from plasma was demonstrated with a graphene nanoelectronic sensor integrated with the LFD. The developed LFD can be used as a flexible and versatile platform, and has the potential for detecting circulating biomarkers from whole blood. Sandwich-immunoassays can be performed directly on the LFD by patterning receptors for analytes on a desired substrate, and detections can be performed using a variety of sensing methods including nanoelectronic, colorimetric, or fluorescence sensors. The described bio-sensing technology presents an alternative for POC testing using small samples of human whole blood. It could benefit regions with limited access to healthcare, where delays in diagnosis can lead to quick deterioration of the quality of life and increase the morbidity and mortality.

Achieving relatively high-accuracy short-term wind speed forecasting estimates is a precondition for the construction and grid-connected operation of wind power forecasting systems for wind farms. Currently, most research is focused on the structure of forecasting models and does not consider the selection of input variables, which can have significant impacts on forecasting performance. This paper presents an input variable selection method for wind speed forecasting models. The candidate input variables for various leading periods are selected and random forests (RF) is employed to evaluate the importance of all variable as features. The feature subset with the best evaluation performance is selected as the optimal feature set. Then, kernel-based extreme learning machine is constructed to evaluate the performance of input variables selection based on RF. The results of the case study show that by removing the uncorrelated and redundant features, RF effectively extracts the most strongly correlated set of features from the candidate input variables. By finding the optimal feature combination to represent the original information, RF simplifies the structure of the wind speed forecasting model, shortens the training time required, and substantially improves the model’s accuracy and generalization ability, demonstrating that the input variables selected by RF are effective.

The stability of an electrodeposited nanocrystalline Ni-based alloy coating in a H2S/CO2 environment was investigated by electrochemical measurements, weight loss method, and surface characterization. The results showed that both the cathodic and anodic processes of the Ni-based alloy coating were simultaneously suppressed, displaying a dramatic decrease of the corrosion current density. The corrosion of the Ni-based alloy coating was controlled by H2S corrosion and showed general corrosion morphology under the test temperatures. The corrosion products, mainly consisting of Ni3S2, NiS, or Ni3S4, had excellent stability in acid solution. The corrosion rate decreased with the rise of temperature, while the adhesive force of the corrosion scale increased. With the rise of temperature, the deposited morphology and composition of corrosion products changed, the NiS content in the corrosion scale increased, and the stability and adhesive strength of the corrosion scale improved. The corrosion scale of the Ni-based alloy coating was stable, compact, had strong adhesion, and caused low weight loss, so the corrosion rates calculated by the weight loss method cannot reveal the actual oxidation rate of the coating. As the corrosion time was prolonged, the Ni-based coating was thinned while the corrosion scale thickened. The corrosion scale was closely combined with the coating, but cannot fully prevent the corrosive reactants from reaching the substrate.

The novel Cr-containing low alloy steels have exhibited good corrosion resistance in CO2 environment, mainly owing to the formation of Cr-enriched corrosion film. In order to evaluate whether it is applicable to the CO2 and H2S coexistence conditions, the corrosion behavior of low-chromium steels in CO2-H2S environment with high pressure and high temperature was investigated using weight loss measurement and surface characterization. The results showed that P110 steel suffered localized corrosion and both 3Cr-P110 and 5Cr-P110 steels exhibited general corrosion. However, the corrosion rate of 5Cr-P110 was the highest among them. The corrosion process of the steels was simultaneously governed by CO2 and H2S. The outer scales on the three steels mainly consisted of FeS1−x crystals, whereas the inner scales on Cr-containing steels comprised of amorphous FeS1−x, Cr(OH)3 and FeCO3, in contrast with the amorphous FeS1−x and FeCO3 mixture film of P110 steel. The more chromium the steel contains, the more chromium compounds the corrosion products contain. The addition of chromium in steels increases the uniformity of the Cr-enriched corrosion scales, eliminates the localized corrosion, but cannot decrease the general corrosion rates. The formation of FeS1−x may interfere with Cr-enriched corrosion scales and lowering the corrosion performance of 3Cr-P110 and 5Cr-P110 steels.