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It is challenging to efficiently prepare bimetallic composites with excellent metallurgical bonding. Here, we present a strategy, the ultrasonic insert casting (UIC) process, to solve this problem. The ultrasound cavitation effectively destroys the oxide film and promotes diffusion in the UIC-prepared steel/aluminum bimetallic castings, resulting in a uniform reaction layer between steel and aluminum. The reaction layer contains FeAl3, Al8Fe2Si, and Al4.5FeSi, and has a higher microhardness than the steel/aluminum matrix, with an average thickness of 8 μm. Moreover, the thickness of the reaction layer increases with the improvement of pouring temperature but the thicker reaction layer (approximately 12 μm) does not bring higher strength. The highest shear strength, about 70 MPa, is approximately three times higher than that without ultrasonic treatment. These results indicate a useful strategy for the low cost and high-efficiency preparation of metallurgical boding bimetallic casting.

Sleep deprivation (SD) impairs learning and memory. Investigating the role of epigenetic modifications, such as 5-methylcytosine (m5C), in SD is crucial. This study established an SD mouse model and assessed the mRNA levels of m5C-related genes in brain tissue to identify potential candidates. Results indicated a significant elevation of NSUN2 in the SD group. Behavioral assessments using the Morris water maze test revealed cognitive impairments. Notably, inhibiting NSUN2 markedly alleviated these cognitive deficits and reduced autophagy in SD mice. Mechanistically, NSUN2 inhibition led to a pronounced decrease in PTEN levels, and the m5C modification of PTEN, which was increased by SD, was significantly reduced following NSUN2 knockdown. It was found that NSUN2 stabilizes PTEN mRNA through methylation. In the SD group, PTEN protein levels were elevated, and this increase was counteracted by NSUN2 inhibition. Collectively, the upregulation of PTEN may diminish the beneficial effects of NSUN2 inhibition on cognitive function and autophagy in SD mice. This study suggests that targeting NSUN2 and PTEN could be a novel therapeutic approach to ameliorate cognitive impairments and autophagy associated with SD, offering a promising strategy for the clinical management of SD-related cognitive deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin (Cur) encapsulated in triblock copolymer nanomicelles on lncRNA GAS5 expression and NF-κB signalling pathway in ischemic stroke rats. Using polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethylene (mPEG), polyglutamic acid (PLG), and Cur as raw materials, Cur-PLG-mPEG-PCL nanoparticles were prepared. Its morphology, particle size, and Zeta potential were analyzed. Then seventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into control (Ctrl) group, model group, model + blank nanomicelles (M + BNM) group, model +80 mg/mL Cur (M + C) group, model +40 mg/mL Cur-nanomicelles (M + CNM (40 mg/mL)) group, and model +80 mg/mL Cur nanomicelle (M + CNM (80 mg/mL)) group. The results showed that mean particle size of Cur-PLG-mPEG-PCL was (148.27 ± 27.44) nm, and mean Zeta potential was (−1.97 ± 0.21) mV. The evaluation time of intelligent optimization algorithm based on Single Shot MultiBox Detector (SSD) was significantly shortened, and average EEG power spectrum of ischemic cerebral pawns was significantly lower than that of the control group at θ, α, β, and γ bands for 4h (p < 0.01). These results indicate that the computer intelligent algorithm can be used to evaluate the behaviour of rats, EEG can reflect the changes of cerebral cortical function, and Cur-PLG-mPEG-PCL can improve neurological function and degree of brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the poor leachability of alumina-based ceramic cores, different amount of starch was added to the specimens as pore former. Alumina-based ceramic cores were prepared by hot injection technology using corundum powder as base material, paraffin wax and beeswax as plasticizer, silica powder and magnesium oxide powder as mineralizing agent, wherein the parameters of the hot injection process were as follows:temperature of the slurry was 90℃, hot injection pressure was 0.5 MPa and holding time was 25 s. The effects of starch content on the properties of alumina-based ceramic cores were studied and discussed. The results indicate that during sintering period, the loss of starch in the specimens makes porosity of the alumina-based ceramic cores increase. When starch content increases, the room-temperature flexural strength of the ceramic cores reduces and the apparent porosity increases; the volatile solvent increases and the bulk density decreases. After being sintered at 1560℃ for 2.5 h, room-temperature flexural strength of the alumina-based ceramic cores with starch content of 8%(mass fraction) is 24.8 MPa, apparent porosity is 47.98% when the volatile solvent is 1.92 g/h and bulk density is 1.88 g/cm3, the complex properties are optimal.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a type of neurodegenerative disease characterized by cognitive impairment that is aggravated with age. The pathological manifestations include extracellular amyloid deposition, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and loss of neurons. As the world population ages, the incidence of AD continues to increase, not only posing a significant threat to the well-being and health of individuals but also bringing a heavy burden to the social economy. There is epidemiological evidence suggesting a link between AD and metabolic diseases, which share pathological similarities. This potential link would deserve further consideration; however, the pathogenesis and therapeutic efficacy of AD remain to be further explored. The complex pathogenesis and pathological changes of AD pose a great challenge to the choice of experimental animal models. To understand the role of metabolic diseases in the development of AD and the potential use of drugs for metabolic diseases, the present article reviews the research progress of the comorbidity of AD with diabetes, obesity and hypercholesterolemia, and summarizes the different roles of animal models in the study of AD to provide references for researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to detect the differential expression of microRNA-363-3p (miR-363-3p) in bladder cancer (BC) samples and to explore its influence on metastasis of BC cells., Methods: Expression level of miR-363-3p in 70 cases of BC tissues and paracancerous tissues was detected. After establishing miR-363-3p overexpression model in 253j and RT4 cells, their migratory ability was assessed by Transwell and wound healing assay. The interaction between miR-363-3p and its downstream gene was predicted online and further confirmed by luciferase assay. Their involvement in regulating metastasis of BC cells was finally explored., Results: MiR-363-3p was downregulated in BC tissues compared with that in the paracancerous tissues. Overexpression of miR-363-3p markedly weakened migratory ability in BC cells. BTG2 was the downstream gene binding miR-363-3p. In addition, overexpression of BTG2 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-363-3p on BC cell migration., Conclusions: MiR-363-3p is lowly expressed in BC samples. It weakens in vitro migratory ability in BC cells through downregulating BTG2.