2,020 results on '"Liqun Zhang"'
Search Results
2. A Flexible Skin Bionic Thermally Comfortable Wearable for Machine Learning‐Facilitated Ultrasensitive Sensing
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Pengju Di, Yue Yuan, Mingyue Xiao, Zhishan Xu, Yicong Liu, Chenlin Huang, Guangyuan Xu, Liqun Zhang, and Pengbo Wan
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advanced thermal management ,flexible electronics ,machine learning‐facilitated human‐interactive sensing ,MXene ,skin bionic microstructure ,Science - Abstract
Abstract Tremendous popularity is observed for multifunctional flexible electronics with appealing applications in intelligent electronic skins, human–machine interfaces, and healthcare sensing. However, the reported sensing electronics, mostly can hardly provide ultrasensitive sensing sensitivity, wider sensing range, and robust cycling stability simultaneously, and are limited of efficient heat conduction out from the contacted skin interface after wearing flexible electronics on human skin to satisfy thermal comfort of human skin. Inspired from the ultrasensitive tactile perception microstructure (epidermis/spinosum/signal transmission) of human skin, a flexible comfortably wearable ultrasensitive electronics is hereby prepared from thermal conductive boron nitride nanosheets‐incorporated polyurethane elastomer matrix with MXene nanosheets‐coated surface microdomes as epidermis/spinosum layers assembled with interdigitated electrode as sensing signal transmission layer. It demonstrates appealing sensing performance with ultrasensitive sensitivity (≈288.95 kPa−1), up to 300 kPa sensing range, and up to 20 000 sensing cycles from obvious contact area variation between microdome microstructures and the contact electrode under external compression. Furthermore, the bioinspired electronics present advanced thermal management by timely efficient thermal dissipation out from the contacted skin surface to meet human skin thermal comfort with the incorporated thermal conductive boron nitride nanosheets. Thus, it is vitally promising in wearable artificial electronic skins, intelligent human‐interactive sensing, and personal health management.
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- 2024
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3. Synthesis and performance evaluation of low-molecular-weight biobased polyester rubber as a novel eco-friendly polymeric plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride
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Qinan Zhang, Jiahui Sun, Zehao Yao, Xuejia Ding, Zhao Wang, and Liqun Zhang
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polyester plasticizer ,polyvinyl chloride ,biobased polyester rubber ,migration resistance ,low-temperature resistance ,Technology - Abstract
Developing eco-friendly polymeric plasticizers with excellent migration resistance is one of the research hotspots in the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) industry. A low-molecular-weight biobased polyester rubber (LMW-BPR) was synthesized from five biobased polyester monomers in a 100-L reactor and evaluated as a potential eco-friendly polymeric plasticizer for PVC. The obtained LMW-BPR is an amorphous polyester material with a low glass transition temperature of −48°C and a molecular weight of 22 kg/mol, which is lower than that of existing polyester rubber but higher than those of most polyester plasticizer commodities. Plasticized PVC composites with a total plasticizer content of 50 phr were prepared by using the mixture of LMW-BPR and di-isononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH, an eco-friendly monomeric plasticizer commodity) as the plasticizer. The migration resistance test showed that the migration loss of plasticizer in plasticized PVC composite decreased significantly with the increase of LMW-BPR content. When the content of LMW-BPR reaches 30 phr, the plasticized PVC composites are almost nonmigratory. In addition, compared with PVC composite plasticized by pure DINCH, co-plasticized PVC composites containing LMW-BPR exhibit higher tensile strength and thermal stability, and their flexibility, low-temperature resistance and biocompatibility are also maintained at a similar level to the former. Overall, LMW-BPR is an effective eco-friendly polymeric plasticizer for PVC and also sustainable and scalable, thus it is worthy of wide application.
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- 2024
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4. Distribution of mercury and methylmercury in aquacultured fish in special waters formed by coal mining subsidence
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Yeyu Chen, Liugen Zheng, Xing Chen, Jie Hu, Chang Li, Liqun Zhang, and Hua Cheng
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Subsidence water ,Aquaculture fish ,Mercury methylation ,Sediment ,Feeding influence ,Environmental pollution ,TD172-193.5 ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 - Abstract
In China, fence net aquaculture practices have been established in some subsidence waters that have been formed in coal mining subsidence areas. Within this dynamic ecological context, diverse fish species grow continuously until being harvested at the culmination of their production cycle. The purpose of this study was to investigate diverse factors influencing the bioavailability and distribution of mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg), which have high physiological toxicity in fish, in the Guqiao coal mining subsidence area in Huainan, China. Mercury and MeHg were analyzed in 38 fish samples of eight species using direct mercury analysis (DMA-80) and gas chromatography–cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (GC-CVAFAS). The analysis results show that the ranges of Hg and MeHg content and methylation rate in the fish were 7.84–85.18 ng/g, 0.52–3.52 ng/g, and 0.81–42.68 %, respectively. Meanwhile, conclusions are also summarized as following: (1) Monophagous herbivorous fish that were fed continuously in fence net aquaculture areas had higher MeHg levels and mercury methylation rates than carnivorous fish. Hg and MeHg contents were affected by different feeding habits of fish. (2) Bottom-dwelling fish show higher MeHg levels, and habitat selection in terms of water depth also partially affected the MeHg content of fish. (3) The effect of fence net aquaculture on methylation of fish in subsidence water is mainly from feed and mercury-containing bottom sediments. However, a time-lag is observed in the physiological response of benthic fishes to the release of Hg from sediments. Our findings provides baseline reference data for the ecological impact of fence net aquaculture in waters affected by soil subsidence induced by coal mining in China. Prevalent environmental contaminants within coal mining locales, notably Hg, may infiltrate rain-induced subsidence waters through various pathways.
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- 2024
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5. Flexible antibacterial degradable bioelastomer nanocomposites for ultrasensitive human–machine interaction sensing enabled by machine learning
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Zihong Fu, Mingcheng Wang, Chenlin Huang, Zehui Li, Yue Yuan, Shikai Hu, Liqun Zhang, and Pengbo Wan
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antibacterial ,degradable bioelastomer nanocomposites ,MXene ,skin‐inspired flexible electronic sensor ,ultrasensitive intelligent wearable human‐interactive sensing ,Chemistry ,QD1-999 ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Abstract Flexible wearables have attracted extensive interests for personal human motion sensing, intelligent disease diagnosis, and multifunctional electronic skins. However, the reported flexible sensors, mostly exhibited narrow detection range, low sensitivity, limited degradability to aggravate environmental pollution from vast electronic wastes, and poor antibacterial performance to hardly improve skin discomfort and skin inflammation from bacterial growth under long‐term wearing. Herein, bioinspired from human skin featuring highly sensitive tactile sensation with spinous microstructures for amplifying sensing sensitivity between epidermis and dermis, a wearable antibacterial degradable electronics is prepared from degradable elastomeric substrate with MXene‐coated spinous microstructures templated from lotus leaf assembled with the interdigitated electrode. The degradable elastomer is facilely obtained with tunable modulus to match the modulus of human skin with improved hydrophilicity for rapid degradation. The as‐obtained sensor displays ultra‐low detection limit (0.2 Pa), higher sensitivity (up to 540.2 kPa−1), outstanding cycling stability (>23,000 cycles), a wide detection range, robust degradability, and excellent antibacterial capability. Facilitated by machine learning, the collected sensing signals from the integrated sensors on volunteer's fingers to the related American Sign Language are effectively recognized with an accuracy up to 99%, showing excellent potential in wireless human movement sensing and smart machine learning‐enabled human–machine interaction.
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- 2024
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6. Biomechanical evaluation of different oblique lumbar interbody fusion constructs: a finite element analysis
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Zhengquan Xu, Qingcong Zheng, Liqun Zhang, Rongsheng Chen, Zhechen Li, and Weihong Xu
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Finite element analysis ,Oblique lateral interbody fusion ,Biomechanical evaluation ,Adjacent segment degeneration ,Diseases of the musculoskeletal system ,RC925-935 - Abstract
Abstract Background Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to investigate the biomechanical differences between different adjunct fixation methods for oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) and to further analyze its effect on adjacent segmental degeneration. Methods We built a single-segment (Si-segment) finite element model (FEM) for L4-5 and a double-segment (Do-segment) FEM for L3-5. Each complete FEM was supplemented and modified, and both developed two surgical models of OLIF with assisted internal fixation. They were OLIF with posterior bilateral percutaneous pedicle screw (TINA system) fixation (OLIF + BPS) and OLIF with lateral plate system (OLIF + LPS). The range of motion (ROM) and displacement of the vertebral body, cage stress, adjacent segment disc stress, and spinal ligament tension were recorded for the four models during flexion/extension, right/left bending, and right/left rotation by applying follower load. Results For the BPS and LPS systems in the six postures of flexion, extension, right/left bending, and right/left rotation, the ROM of L4 in the Si-segment FEM were 0.32°/1.83°, 0.33°/1.34°, 0.23°/0.47°, 0.24°/0.45°, 0.33°/0.79°, and 0.34°/0.62°; the ROM of L4 in the Do-segment FEM were 0.39°/2.00°, 0.37°/1.38°, 0.23°/0.47°, 0.21°/0.44°, 0.33°/0.57°, and 0.31°/0.62°, and the ROM of L3 in the Do-segment FEM were 6.03°/7.31°, 2.52°/3.50°, 4.21°/4.38°, 4.21°/4.42°, 2.09°/2.32°, and 2.07°/2.43°. BPS system had less vertebral displacement, less cage maximum stress, and less spinal ligament tension in Si/Do-segment FEM relative to the LPS system. BPS system had a smaller upper adjacent vertebral ROM, greater intervertebral disc stress in terms of left and right bending as well as left and right rotation compared to the LPS system in the L3-4 of the Do-segment FEM. There was little biomechanical difference between the same fixation system in the Si/Do-segment FEM. Conclusions Our finite element analysis showed that compared to OLIF + LPS, OLIF + BPS (TINA) is more effective in reducing interbody stress and spinal ligament tension, and it better maintains the stability of the target segment and provides a better fusion environment to resist cage subsidence. However, OLIF + BPS (TINA) may be more likely to cause adjacent segment degeneration than OLIF + LPS.
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- 2024
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7. Flexible Bioinspired Healable Antibacterial Electronics for Intelligent Human‐Machine Interaction Sensing
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Kuo Liu, Mingcheng Wang, Chenlin Huang, Yue Yuan, Yao Ning, Liqun Zhang, and Pengbo Wan
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healable antibacterial elastomer ,intelligent human‐machine interface ,MXene ,skin bionic flexible electronics ,wearable ultrasensitive diagnostic healthcare sensing ,Science - Abstract
Abstract Flexible electronic sensors are receiving numerous research interests for their potential in electronic skins (e‐skins), wearable human‐machine interfacing, and smart diagnostic healthcare sensing. However, the preparation of multifunctional flexible electronics with high sensitivity, broad sensing range, fast response, efficient healability, and reliable antibacterial capability is still a substantial challenge. Herein, bioinspired by the highly sensitive human skin microstructure (protective epidermis/spinous sensing structure/nerve conduction network), a skin bionic multifunctional electronics is prepared by face‐to‐face assembly of a newly prepared healable, recyclable, and antibacterial polyurethane elastomer matrix with conductive MXene nanosheets‐coated microdome array after ingenious templating method as protective epidermis layer/sensing layer, and an interdigitated electrode as signal transmission layer. The polyurethane elastomer matrix functionalized with triple dynamic bonds (reversible hydrogen bonds, oxime carbamate bonds, and copper (II) ion coordination bonds) is newly prepared, demonstrating excellent healability with highly healing efficiency, robust recyclability, and reliable antibacterial capability, as well as good biocompatibility. Benefiting from the superior mechanical performance of the polyurethane elastomer matrix and the unique skin bionic microstructure of the sensor, the as‐assembled flexible electronics exhibit admirable sensing performances featuring ultrahigh sensitivity (up to 1573.05 kPa−1), broad sensing range (up to 325 kPa), good reproducibility, the fast response time (≈4 ms), and low detection limit (≈0.98 Pa) in diagnostic human healthcare monitoring, excellent healability, and reliable antibacterial performance.
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- 2024
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8. Comparison of Mothership Versus Drip‐and‐Ship Models for Endovascular Treatment of Basilar Artery Occlusion in the London Metropolitan Area
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Lucio D'Anna, Andrew Falzon, Oi Yean Wong, Jonsdottir Erla, Nikola Christos, Oliver Spooner, Soma Banerjee, Liqun Zhang, and Rob Simister
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basilar artery occlusion ,drip‐and‐ship ,ischemic stroke ,mechanical thrombectomy ,mothership ,Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ,RC346-429 ,Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system ,RC666-701 - Abstract
Background To date it is uncertain whether the drip‐and‐ship (DS) model (transport to the nearest primary stroke centers) or the mothership (MS) model (direct transportation to the comprehensive stroke center) is the best prehospital stroke system of care to deliver endovascular thrombectomy in patients with basilar artery occlusion. In the present analysis, we aim to investigate the impact of MS versus DS model in patients with basilar artery occlusion treated with endovascular thrombectomy in the London metropolitan area. Methods This is a multicenter observational, investigator‐initiated, retrospective study comparing outcomes (functional independence, defined as modified Rankin scale scores of 0 through 2, the rate of successful reperfusion, and the rate of complications postprocedure) in DS versus MS stroke patients with basilar artery occlusion admitted in 5 thrombectomy capable centers in London (United Kingdom). Results Of 113 patients, 38 (33.6%) patients were MS and 75 (66.4%) were DS. Between the 2 groups we did not observe statistically significant differences for most of the clinical characteristics. There was a significant difference regarding the rate of functional independence at 3 months between the MS and DS groups, respectively 47.4% versus 36% (P = 0.047). Rates of complications postprocedure and successful recanalization did not differ between the 2 groups. Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that MS model was an independent predictor of functional independence at 90 days (odds ratio [OR] 1.17; [95% CI, 1.11–1.26]; P = 0.003 and independent negative predictor of postoperative complications (OR, 0.39; [95% CI, 0.16–0.98]; P = 0.045). Conclusion Our study showed that MS model was a predictor of functional independence at 3 months and reduced risk of postoperative complications post‐endovascular thrombectomy in patients with basilar artery occlusion in a metropolitan area.
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- 2024
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9. Research progress on sustainability of key tire materials
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Sai Deng, Ruixin Chen, Shiyu Duan, Qingxiu Jia, Xinmin Hao, and Liqun Zhang
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additives ,cord fabric ,green tires ,sustainability ,Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials ,TA401-492 ,Environmental engineering ,TA170-171 - Abstract
Abstract In recent years, countries worldwide have engaged actively in the research and development of green and sustainable materials in the face of the increasing depletion of petroleum resources, the need to reduce material waste, and the environmental pollution caused by the various types of waste. In the tire industry, the key materials for the various components of tires are mostly dependent on petroleum resources. Development of green tires and green processing technologies using sustainable materials is an important development direction for the future of the tire industry, and many tire‐manufacturing companies have proposed their visions for the development of eco‐friendly tires. Rubber, cord fabric, and additives are the main materials used in tire manufacturing. This article summarizes the research status of the green materials that can meet the requirements of environmental friendliness and sustainability, replace traditional materials, and reduce petroleum resource consumption in existing tire production. These materials mainly include natural rubber or bio‐based synthetic rubber, green renewable cord fabrics, and green processing additives. The prospects for the application of these new green materials in tire manufacturing are also discussed.
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- 2023
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10. Mechanical dependence of 3D-printed thermoplastic polyurethane reinforced with minor continuous carbon fibres
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Mengyuan Hao, Jun Wang, Runguo Wang, Min Gong, Liang Zhang, Dongrui Wang, Yonglai Lu, Liqun Zhang, and Xiang Lin
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elastomer ,carbon fibres ,mechanical properties ,additive manufacturing ,Science ,Manufactures ,TS1-2301 - Abstract
Mechanical dependence of 3D-printed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) reinforced with continuous carbon fibres (CCFs) on the selected printing conditions was investigated. The melt-extrusion-based 3D-printing (ME3DP) method was employed to fabricate specimens, of which the dependence of tensile, flexural and cryo-impact properties on layer thickness, printing speed and layer number was evaluated. Results showed that the printed TPU reinforced with raw CCFs revealed an over five-fold increase in tensile yield stress with the occurrence of necking phenomenon whereas those reinforced with preimpregnated CCFs (PCCFs) displayed brittle fracture which was also confirmed by the impact testing. The flexural strength and modulus of the printed CCFs/TPU were greatly raised over that of TPU and the PCCFs provided a much more enhancement. Both the increased yield stress and flexural strength implied an improved capacity for dynamic load bearing. Finally, the structure–property relationship was established via interface microstructure detection and simulation.
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- 2023
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11. Solvent-Free Environmentally Friendly Method to Prepare Thermo-Reversible Fully Bio-Based Elastomers
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Jie Yu, Hui Yang, Haijun Ji, Xin Zhang, Rui Wang, Shuainan Zhao, Runguo Wang, and Liqun Zhang
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Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Published
- 2023
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12. Recyclable thermally conductive poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) composites prepared via forced infiltration
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Chenglin Li, Yi Han, Qingyuan Du, Daming Wu, Jingyao Sun, Zhao Wang, and Liqun Zhang
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forced infiltration ,poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) matrix ,recyclable thermal interface material ,Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials ,TA401-492 ,Environmental engineering ,TA170-171 - Abstract
Abstract With the rapid development of electronic equipment and communication technology, the demand for polymer composites with high thermal conductivity and mechanical properties has increased significantly. However, its nondegradable polymer matrix will inevitably bring more and more serious environmental pollution. Therefore, it is urgent to develop biodegradable thermally conductive polymer composites. In this work, biodegradable poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is used as the matrix material, and vacuum‐assisted filtration technology is employed to prepare carbon nanotube (CNT) and cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) networks with high thermal conductivity. Then CNT–CNC/PBAT composites with high thermal conductivity and excellent mechanical properties are prepared by the ultrasonic‐assisted forced infiltration method. Both experiment and simulation methods are used to systematically investigate the thermally conductive and dissipation performances of the CNT–CNC/PBAT composites. Above all, a simple alcoholysis reaction is applied to realize the separation of the PBAT matrix and functional fillers without destroying the conductive network skeleton, which makes it possible for the recycling of thermally conductive polymer composites.
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- 2023
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13. Topological network design toward high‐performance vegetable oil–based elastomers
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Shuangjian Yu, Yeqing Li, Siwu Wu, Zhenghai Tang, Liqun Zhang, and Baochun Guo
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bio‐based elastomer ,dual‐network ,recycling ,topological network ,vegetable oil ,Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials ,TA401-492 ,Environmental engineering ,TA170-171 - Abstract
Abstract As a kind of bio‐derived feedstock, vegetable oil (VO) shows great potential to replace petroleum‐based monomers to develop sustainable polymer materials because of its easy availability, low cost, bio‐renewable, and environmentally friendly nature. However, due to the high cross‐linking density and amorphous nature, directly cured VOs generally tend to be brittle and weak. To date, it is still difficult to adopt VOs and their derivatives as structural materials to prepare high‐performance elastomers. To address this important issue, a multi‐scale topology design strategy was proposed in this work. First, topology regulation and functionalization of VO‐based networks were realized by managing functional groups proportion during the bulk polymerization of epoxidized soybean oil with dimer fatty acids. Furthermore, a second polymer (SN) network was introduced into the VO‐based network as a protective layer via interfacial cross‐links. The generated VO‐based elastomers (VOEs) exhibit unprecedented comprehensive properties (VO content ≥70 wt.%, Tg as low as −24.4°C, toughness up to 6.8 MJ/m3). Besides, the VOEs also exhibit excellent reprocessability and self‐healing capability. Overall, this work developed a novel kind of VOEs with significant comprehensive advantages and provided important inspiration for the preparation of high‐performance elastomers through multi‐scale topology regulation.
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- 2023
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14. Construction of topological entanglement at the interface between silicone rubber and nano-silica to achieve excellent crack extension resistance
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Linru Jiang, Jingchao Li, Weizhen Zhang, Yonglai Lu, and Liqun Zhang
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rubber ,polymer composites ,mechanical properties ,topological entanglement ,epoxidized silicone rubber ,Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials ,TA401-492 ,Chemical technology ,TP1-1185 - Abstract
The poor tear resistance of silicone rubber dramatically limits its application range. In this study, a topological entanglement structure of molecular chains was constructed at the interface between the matrix and silica by introducing epoxidized silicone rubber into silicone rubber/silica composites. We found that this topologically entangled structure could improve the crack propagation resistance of the composites by inducing the orientation of molecular chains. The results showed that adding 5 phr of 15% epoxy silicone rubber raised the silicone rubber composite’s tear strength and elongation at break, they increased by 330% and 140, respectively. This work provides a new idea for preparing silicone rubber composites with high tear resistance to better expand the application field of silicone rubber.
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- 2023
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15. The biological effects of terahertz wave radiation-induced injury on neural stem cells
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Yunxia Wang, Yu Xiong, Man Chen, Fei Liu, Haiyan He, Qinlong Ma, Peng Gao, Guiming Xiang, and Liqun Zhang
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Medical imaging ,Radiation physics ,Applied sciences ,Science - Abstract
Summary: Terahertz (THz) is an electromagnetic wave with a radiation wavelength range of 30–3000 μm and a frequency of 0.1–10 THz. With the development of new THz sources and devices, THz has been widely applied in various fields. However, there are few studies on biological effects of THz irradiation on the human neural stem cells (hNSCs) and mouse neural stem cells (mNSCs), which need to be further studied. We studied the biological effects of THz radiation on hNSCs and mNSCs. The effects of THz irradiation time and average output power on the proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA damage of NSCs were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The results showed that the proliferation and apoptosis of NSCs were dose-dependently affected by THz irradiation time and average output power. The proliferation of hNSCs was more vulnerable to damage and apoptosis was more serious under the same terahertz irradiation conditions compared to those of mNSCs.
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- 2023
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16. Multi-layered electrolytes for solid-state lithium batteries
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Yilin Hu, Wei Li, Jianxun Zhu, Shu-Meng Hao, Xuan Qin, Li-Zhen Fan, Liqun Zhang, and Weidong Zhou
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Solid-state batteries ,Interface ,Multi-layer solid-state electrolytes ,High-voltage cathodes ,Lithium metal anode ,Energy industries. Energy policy. Fuel trade ,HD9502-9502.5 ,Renewable energy sources ,TJ807-830 - Abstract
Solid-state lithium batteries are promising candidates for improving battery safety and boosting energy density. However, the application of both typical solid-state electrolytes, inorganic ceramic/glass and organic polymer electrolytes, are facing their respective inherent challenges, including large interfacial resistance and unwanted interfacial reactions of inorganic electrolytes, and narrow electrochemical stability windows of polymer electrolytes. The design of multi-layer solid-state electrolytes, such as inorganic/inorganic, inorganic/polymer and polymer/polymer structures, provides a viable solution to these issues by effectively improving the interfacial stability and widening the electrochemical window, which exhibits unparallel advantages in solid-state batteries with the help of non-diffusible characteristic of solid-state electrolytes. Given the extensive research and progress reported, this paper reviews the latest advancements in multi-layer solid-state electrolytes and categorizes them into inorganic-based, polymer-based and composite-based systems. Each is discussed separately, focusing on their design rationales, functional mechanisms, electrochemical performances, and residual challenges. In addition, to meet the requirements of practical applications, the potential strategies for further development of multi-layer solid-state electrolytes are also briefly presented.
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- 2023
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17. Construction of the first high-density SNP genetic map and identification of QTLs for the natural rubber content in Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin
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Yushuang Yang, Bi Qin, Qiuhui Chen, Qiuhai Nie, Jichuan Zhang, Liqun Zhang, and Shizhong Liu
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Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin ,Natural rubber content ,Genetic map ,Single nucleotide polymorphism ,Quantitative trait locus ,Whole-genome resequencing ,Biotechnology ,TP248.13-248.65 ,Genetics ,QH426-470 - Abstract
Abstract Background Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin (TKS) is a promising commercial alternative natural rubber (NR) yielding plant. Cultivating TKS with a high NR content is an important breeding target, and developing molecular markers related to NR content can effectively accelerate the breeding process of TKS. Results To construct a high-density SNP genetic map and uncover genomic regions related to the NR content in TKS, an F1 mapping population of TKS was constructed by crossing two parents (l66 and X51) with significant differences in NR contents. The NR content of the F1 plants ranged from 0.30 to 15.14% and was distributed normally with a coefficient of variation of 47.61%, indicating quantitative trait inheritance. Then, employing whole-genome resequencing (WGR), a TKS genetic linkage map of 12,680 bin markers comprising 322,439 SNPs was generated. Based on the genetic map and NR content of the F1 population, six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for NR content with LOD > 4.0 were identified on LG01/Chr01 and LG06/Chr06. Of them, the 2.17 Mb genomic region between qHRC-C6-1 and qHRC-C6-2 on ChrA06, with 65.62% PVE in total, was the major QTL region. In addition, the six QTLs have significant additive genetic effects on NR content and could be used to develop markers for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in TKS with a high NR content. Conclusion This work constructed the first high-density TKS genetic map and identified the QTLs and genomic regions controlling the NR content, which provides useful information for fine mapping, map-based cloning, and MAS in TKS.
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- 2023
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18. Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cerebral Venous Thrombosis and Mortality
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Thanh N. Nguyen, Muhammad M. Qureshi, Piers Klein, Hiroshi Yamagami, Mohamad Abdalkader, Robert Mikulik, Anvitha Sathya, Ossama Yassin Mansour, Anna Czlonkowska, Hannah Lo, Thalia S. Field, Andreas Charidimou, Soma Banerjee, Shadi Yaghi, James E. Siegler, Petra Sedova, Joseph Kwan, Diana Aguiar de Sousa, Jelle Demeestere, Violiza Inoa, Setareh Salehi Omran, Liqun Zhang, Patrik Michel, Davide Strambo, João Pedro Marto, Raul G. Nogueira, and SVIN COVID-19 Global COVID Stroke Registry
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Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system ,RC666-701 - Published
- 2024
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19. Synthesis of novel thermoplastic polyester elastomers with biobased amorphous polyester as the soft segment
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Yanyan Xu, Qinan Zhang, Zhao Wang, and Liqun Zhang
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Biobased ,Thermoplastic ,Polyester elastomers ,Block copolymers ,Copolymerization ,Polymers and polymer manufacture ,TP1080-1185 - Abstract
The development of sustainable polymers from biobased blocks is urgently desirable. In this work, a class of novel biobased thermoplastic polyester elastomers, namely poly(butylene terephthalate)-poly(1,4-butylene/2,3-butylene succinate) (PBT-PBBS) copolyesters, were designed and synthesized via melt oligomer polycondensation of common PBT oligomer and biobased PBBS oligomer. The obtained PBT-PBBS copolyesters exhibited desired block structure and contained a hard phase of crystallized PBT and a soft phase of amorphous PBBS. Their mechanical properties could be tailored by tuning the polycondensation time or the molar ratio of PBT to PBBS. Specifically, the tensile strength and the elongation at break of these copolyesters could be flexibly adjusted in the range of 6–13 MPa and 240–650%, respectively. Therefore, they are expected to be widely used in the fields of elastomers, hot-melt adhesives, and toughening modifiers.
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- 2023
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20. Research progress on deep learning in magnetic resonance imaging–based diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer: a review on the current status and perspectives
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Mingze He, Yu Cao, Changliang Chi, Xinyi Yang, Rzayev Ramin, Shuowen Wang, Guodong Yang, Otabek Mukhtorov, Liqun Zhang, Anton Kazantsev, Mikhail Enikeev, and Kebang Hu
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deep learning ,machine learning ,computer-aided diagnosis ,prostate cancer ,radiotherapy ,precision therapy ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,RC254-282 - Abstract
Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has emerged as a first-line screening and diagnostic tool for prostate cancer, aiding in treatment selection and noninvasive radiotherapy guidance. However, the manual interpretation of MRI data is challenging and time-consuming, which may impact sensitivity and specificity. With recent technological advances, artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) based on MRI data has been applied to prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Among AI techniques, deep learning involving convolutional neural networks contributes to detection, segmentation, scoring, grading, and prognostic evaluation of prostate cancer. CAD systems have automatic operation, rapid processing, and accuracy, incorporating multiple sequences of multiparametric MRI data of the prostate gland into the deep learning model. Thus, they have become a research direction of great interest, especially in smart healthcare. This review highlights the current progress of deep learning technology in MRI-based diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. The key elements of deep learning-based MRI image processing in CAD systems and radiotherapy of prostate cancer are briefly described, making it understandable not only for radiologists but also for general physicians without specialized imaging interpretation training. Deep learning technology enables lesion identification, detection, and segmentation, grading and scoring of prostate cancer, and prediction of postoperative recurrence and prognostic outcomes. The diagnostic accuracy of deep learning can be improved by optimizing models and algorithms, expanding medical database resources, and combining multi-omics data and comprehensive analysis of various morphological data. Deep learning has the potential to become the key diagnostic method in prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment in the future.
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- 2023
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21. Dielectric elastomer actuators for artificial muscles: A comprehensive review of soft robot explorations
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Yuhao Wang, Xuzhi Ma, Yingjie Jiang, Wenpeng Zang, Pengfei Cao, Ming Tian, Nanying Ning, and Liqun Zhang
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Artificial muscles ,Dielectric elastomer actuators ,Bioinspired ,Soft robots ,Smart materials ,Chemical technology ,TP1-1185 - Abstract
Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) artificial muscle is a typical interdisciplinary research category, which has developed by leaps and bounds in the past 20 years, showing great application prospects in various fields. Upon external electrical stimulation, dielectric elastomers (DEs) display large deformation, high energy density and fast response, affording a promising material candidate for soft robotics. Herein, the working mechanisms, commonly used materials as well as the concepts for improving the performance of DEA materials are introduced. Various DEA driven soft robots, including soft grippers, bioinspired artificial arms, crawling/walking/underwater/flying/jumping soft robots and tunable lenses, are then described in detail. Finally, the main challenges of DEA driven soft robots are summarized, and some perspectives for promoting the practical application of DEAs are also proposed.
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- 2022
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22. A comparative study of 85 hyperelastic constitutive models for both unfilled rubber and highly filled rubber nanocomposite material
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Hong He, Qiang Zhang, Yaru Zhang, Jianfeng Chen, Liqun Zhang, and Fanzhu Li
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Rubber-like materials ,Hyperelastic constitutive model ,Strain energy function ,Phenomenological model ,Micromechanical network model ,UHYPER subroutine ,Technology ,Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) ,TA1-2040 - Abstract
Nonlinear finite element analysis is widely used for structural optimization of the design and the reliability analysis of complex elastomeric components. However, high-precision numerical results cannot be achieved without reliable strain energy functions (SEFs) of the rubber or rubber nanocomposite material. Although hyperelastic constitutive models have been studied for nearly 80 years, selecting one that accurately describes rubber's mechanical response is still a challenge. This work reviews 85 isotropic SEFs based on both the phenomenological theory and the micromechanical network theory proposed from the 1940s to 2019. A fitting algorithm which can realize the automatic fitting optimization and determination of the parameters of all SEFs reviewed is developed. The ability of each SEF to reproduce the experimental data of both the unfilled and highly filled rubber nanocomposite is quantitatively assessed based on a new proposed evaluation index. The top 30 SEFs for the unfilled rubber and the top 14 SEFs for the highly filled rubber nanocomposite are presented in the ranking lists. Finally, some suggestions on how to select an appropriate hyperelastic constitutive model are given, and the perspective on the future progress of constitutive models is summarized.
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- 2022
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23. A Novel Interface Agent for Preparation of High Gas Barrier Organic Montmorillonite/Brominated Butyl Rubber Nanocomposites
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Zhibo Huang, Xiaohui Wu, Yan Shi, and Liqun Zhang
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brominated butyl rubber ,nanocomposites ,organic montmorillonite ,solution blending ,Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials ,TA401-492 ,Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) ,TA1-2040 - Abstract
Abstract Organic montmorillonite/brominated butyl rubber nanocomposites are prepared by improved solution blending, i.e., preparation of organic clay suspension and suspension blending with brominated butyl rubber solution by adding polytetramethylene ether glycol as interface agent. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy show that polytetramethylene ether glycol has good dispersing effect on organic clay. Transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis demonstrates that both intercalated and exfoliated structures are obtained in organic montmorillonite/brominated butyl rubber nanocomposites. The mechanical performances and the gas barrier properties of the organic montmorillonite/brominated butyl rubber nanocomposites are improved greatly, which proves that the high‐performance clay/rubber nanocomposites are prepared in nonpolar solvent.
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- 2023
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24. RpoZ regulates 2,4-DAPG production and quorum sensing system in Pseudomonas fluorescens 2P24
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Yarui Wei, Baozhu Dong, Xiaogang Wu, Mingmin Zhao, Dong Wang, Na Li, Qian Zhang, Liqun Zhang, and Hongyou Zhou
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Pseudomonas fluorescen 2P24 ,rpoZ ,2,4-DAPG ,quorum sensing ,biocontrol ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
IntroductionPseudomonas fluorescens 2P24 was isolated from soil of natural decay associated with wheat take-all and it can effectively control soil-borne diseases caused by a variety of plant pathogens. 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG), is produced by P. fluorescens 2P24 and plays an important role in the prevention and control of plant diseases. To understand the resistant mechanism, in this study, we conducted experiments to explore the regulation role of rpoZ in the synthesis of the antibiotic 2,4-DAPG and regulation of QS system.MethodsA random mini-Tn5 mutagenesis procedure was used to screen regulators for phlA transcription in stain PM901, which containing a phlA∷lacZ transcriptional fusion reporter plasmid. We identified 12 insertion mutants could significantly change phlA gene expression. By analyzing the amino acid sequences of the interrupted gene, we obtained a mutant strain Aa4-29 destroyed the rpoZ gene, which encodes the omiga subunit. We constructed the plasmid of rpoZ mutant (pBBR-△rpoZ) transformed into competent cells of P. fluorescens 2P24 by electro-transformation assay. The strains of P. fluorescens 2P24/pBBR, 2P24-△rpoZ/pBBR, 2P24-△rpoZ/pBBR-rpoZ were used to evaluate the regulation role of rpoZ in 2,4-DAPG production and quorum sensing system.ResultsAccording to β-galactosidase activity, we found that rpoZ positively regulated the expression of phlA (a synthesis gene of 2,4-DAPG) and PcoI (a synthesis gene of PcoI/PcoR QS signal system) at the transcriptional level. The production of 2,4-DAPG antibiotic and signal molecule AHL was influenced by rpoZ. Further, rpoZ was involved in regulating rsmA expression. RpoZ also has a certain regulatory effect on rpoS transcription, but no effect on the transcription of phlF, emhABC and emhR. According to the biocontrol assay, P. fluorescens 2P24 strains with rpoZ showed obvious antagonism ability against the Rhizoctonia solani in cotton, while the mutant strain of rpoZ lost the biocontrol effect. RpoZ had a significant effect on the swimming and biofilm formation in P. fluorescens 2P24.ConclusionOur data showed that rpoZ was an important regulator of QS system, 2,4-DAPG in P. fluorescens 2P24. This may imply that P. fluorescens 2P24 has evolved different regulatory features to adapt to different environmental threats.
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- 2023
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25. Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cerebral Venous Thrombosis and Mortality
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Thanh N. Nguyen, Muhammad M. Qureshi, Piers Klein, Hiroshi Yamagami, Mohamad Abdalkader, Robert Mikulik, Anvitha Sathya, Ossama Yassin Mansour, Anna Czlonkowska, Hannah Lo, Thalia S. Field, Andreas Charidimou, Soma Banerjee, Shadi Yaghi, James E. Siegler, Petra Sedova, Joseph Kwan, Diana Aguiar de Sousa, Jelle Demeestere, Violiza Inoa, Setareh Salehi Omran, Liqun Zhang, Patrik Michel, Davide Strambo, João Pedro Marto, and Raul G. Nogueira
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covid-19 ,cerebral venous thrombosis ,vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia ,mortality ,sars-cov-2 ,stroke ,Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system ,RC666-701 - Abstract
Background and Purpose Recent studies suggested an increased incidence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We evaluated the volume of CVT hospitalization and in-hospital mortality during the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the preceding year. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective study of 171 stroke centers from 49 countries. We recorded COVID-19 admission volumes, CVT hospitalization, and CVT in-hospital mortality from January 1, 2019, to May 31, 2021. CVT diagnoses were identified by International Classification of Disease-10 (ICD-10) codes or stroke databases. We additionally sought to compare the same metrics in the first 5 months of 2021 compared to the corresponding months in 2019 and 2020 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04934020). Results There were 2,313 CVT admissions across the 1-year pre-pandemic (2019) and pandemic year (2020); no differences in CVT volume or CVT mortality were observed. During the first 5 months of 2021, there was an increase in CVT volumes compared to 2019 (27.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 24.2 to 32.0; P
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- 2022
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26. Chitosan oligosaccharide as a plant immune inducer on the Passiflora spp. (passion fruit) CMV disease
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Liqun Zhang, Lu Yu, Zhi Zhao, Pei Li, and Shuming Tan
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chitosan oligosaccharide ,anti-CMV activity ,Passiflora spp. ,plant immune inducer ,brassinosteroids cell signaling pathway ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), one of the main viruses, is responsible for Passiflora spp. (passion fruit) virus diseases, which negatively affect its planting, cultivation, and commercial quality. In this study, a laboratory anti-CMV activity screening model for Passiflora spp. CMV disease was first established. Then, the effects of different antiviral agents of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), dufulin (DFL), and ningnanmycin (Ning) on CMV virulence rate in Passiflora spp. were determined. The virulence rate and anti-CMV activity in Passiflora spp. treated with COS were 50% and 45.48%, respectively, which were even better than those of DFL (66.67% and 27.30%, respectively) and Ning (83.30% and 9.17%, respectively). Field trials test results showed COS revealed better average control efficiency (47.35%) against Passiflora spp. CMV disease than those of DFL (40.93%) and Ning (33.82%), indicating that COS is effective in the control of the Passiflora spp. CMV disease. Meanwhile, the nutritional quality test results showed that COS could increase the contents of soluble solids, titratable acids, vitamin C, and soluble proteins in Passiflora spp. fruits as well as enhance the polyphenol oxidase (PPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) activity in the leaves of Passiflora spp. seedlings. In addition, the combined transcriptome and proteome analysis results showed that COS mainly acted on the Brassinosteroids (BRs) cell signaling pathway, one of plant hormone signal transduction pathway, in Passiflora spp., thus activating the up-regulated expression of TCH4 and CYCD3 genes to improve the resistance to CMV disease. Therefore, our study results demonstrated that COS could be used as a potential plant immune inducer to control the Passiflora spp. CMV disease in the future.
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- 2023
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27. Combining a Density Gradient of Biomacromolecular Nanoparticles with Biological Effectors in an Electrospun Fiber‐Based Nerve Guidance Conduit to Promote Peripheral Nerve Repair
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Binghui Jin, Yiling Yu, Chenghao Lou, Xiaodi Zhang, Bowen Gong, Jinghao Chen, Xiangxiang Chen, Zihan Zhou, Liqun Zhang, Jian Xiao, and Jiajia Xue
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controlled release ,electrospun nanofibers ,gradient scaffolds ,nerve guidance conduits ,peripheral nerve repair ,Science - Abstract
Abstract Peripheral nerve injury is a serious medical problem with limited surgical and clinical treatment options. It is of great significance to integrate multiple guidance cues in one platform of nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) to promote axonal elongation and functional recovery. Here, a multi‐functional NGC is constructed to promote nerve regeneration by combining ordered topological structure, density gradient of biomacromolecular nanoparticles, and controlled delivery of biological effectors to provide the topographical, haptotactic, and biological cues, respectively. On the surface of aligned polycaprolactone nanofibers, a density gradient of bioactive nanoparticles capable of delivering recombinant human acidic fibroblast growth factor is deposited. On the graded scaffold, the proliferation of Schwann cells is promoted, and the directional extension of neurites from both PC12 cells and dorsal root ganglions is improved in the direction of increasing particle density. After being implanted in vivo for 6 and 12 weeks to repair a 10‐mm rat sciatic nerve defect, the NGC promotes axonal elongation and remyelination, achieving the regeneration of the nerve not only in anatomical structure but also in functional recovery. Taken together, the NGC provides a favorable microenvironment for peripheral nerve regeneration and holds great promise for realizing nerve repair with an efficacy close to autograft.
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- 2023
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28. Structure, dynamics and free energy studies on the effect of point mutations on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with ACE2 receptor.
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George Rucker, Hong Qin, and Liqun Zhang
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to infect people worldwide, and the virus continues to evolve in significant ways which can pose challenges to the efficiency of available vaccines and therapeutic drugs and cause future pandemic. Therefore, it is important to investigate the binding and interaction of ACE2 with different RBD variants. A comparative study using all-atom MD simulations was conducted on ACE2 binding with 8 different RBD variants, including N501Y, E484K, P479S, T478I, S477N, N439K, K417N and N501Y-E484K-K417N on RBD. Based on the RMSD, RMSF, and DSSP results, overall the binding of RBD variants with ACE2 is stable, and the secondary structure of RBD and ACE2 are consistent after the point mutation. Besides that, a similar buried surface area, a consistent binding interface and a similar amount of hydrogen bonds formed between RBD and ACE2 although the exact residue pairs on the binding interface were modified. The change of binding free energy from point mutation was predicted using the free energy perturbation (FEP) method. It is found that N501Y, N439K, and K417N can strengthen the binding of RBD with ACE2, while E484K and P479S weaken the binding, and S477N and T478I have negligible effect on the binding. Point mutations modified the dynamic correlation of residues in RBD based on the dihedral angle covariance matrix calculation. Doing dynamic network analysis, a common intrinsic network community extending from the tail of RBD to central, then to the binding interface region was found, which could communicate the dynamics in the binding interface region to the tail thus to the other sections of S protein. The result can supply unique methodology and molecular insight on studying the molecular structure and dynamics of possible future pandemics and design novel drugs.
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- 2023
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29. Predicting the aesthetics of dynamic generative artwork based on statistical image features: A time-dependent model.
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Pu Meng, Xin Meng, Rui Hu, and Liqun Zhang
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Several automated aesthetic assessment models were developed to assist artists in producing artwork with high aesthetic appeal. However, most of them focused on static visual art, such as photographs and paintings, and evaluations of dynamic art received less attention. Dynamic visual art, especially computer-based art, includes diverse forms of artistic expression and can enhance an audience's aesthetic experience. A model for evaluating dynamic visual art can provide valuable feedback and guidance for improving artistic skills and creativity, thereby benefiting audiences. In this study, we created eight generative artworks with dynamic art forms based on a commonly used method. We established a time-dependent model to predict the aesthetics based on visual features. We quantified the artworks according to selected image features and found that these features could effectively capture the characteristics of the changing visual forms during the generation process. To explore the effects of time-varying features on aesthetic appeal, we built a panel regression model and found that the aesthetic appeal of the generated artworks was significantly affected by their skewness of the luminance distribution, vertical symmetry, and mean hue value. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that the aesthetic appeal of dynamic generative artworks could be predicted by integrating image features into the temporal domain.
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- 2023
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30. Late Window Imaging Selection for Endovascular Therapy of Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke: An International Survey
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Thanh N. Nguyen, Piers Klein, Anne Berberich, Simon Nagel, Mohamad Abdalkader, Ana Herning, Yimin Chen, Xiaochuan Huo, Zhongrong Miao, Sunil A. Sheth, Muhammad M. Qureshi, James E. Siegler, Simona Sacco, Daniel Strbian, Urs Fischer, Hiroshi Yamagami, Espen Saxhaug Kristoffersen, Volker Puetz, Wouter Schonewille, Georgios Tsivgoulis, Brian Drumm, Soma Banerjee, Jelle Demeestere, Fana Alemseged, Else C. Sandset, Anita Ante Arsovska, Kailash Krishnan, Permesh S. Dhillon, Angel Corredor, Rodrigo Rivera, Petra Sedova, Robert Mikulik, Hesham E. Masoud, Sheila O. Martins, Thang Huy Nguyen, Mai Duy Ton, Xinfeng Liu, Yuyou Zhu, Fengli Li, Wan Asyraf Wan Zaidi, Marialuisa Zedde, Shadi Yaghi, Jian Miao, Violiza Inoa, Liqun Zhang, Rytis Masiliūnas, Peter Slade, Sarah Shali Matuja, João Pedro Marto, Patrik Michel, Jens Fiehler, Götz Thomalla, Alicia C. Castonguay, Maxim Mokin, Mark Parsons, Bruce C.V. Campbell, Dileep R. Yavagal, Diederik Dippel, Mayank Goyal, Osama O. Zaidat, Tudor G. Jovin, Wei Hu, Raul G. Nogueira, Zhongming Qiu, Jean Raymond, and Gustavo Saposnik
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endovascular therapy ,large vessel occlusion ,late window ,mechanical thrombectomy ,Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ,RC346-429 ,Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system ,RC666-701 - Abstract
Background Current stroke guidelines recommend advanced imaging (computed tomography [CT] perfusion or magnetic resonance imaging) prior to endovascular therapy (EVT) in patients with late presentation of large vessel occlusion. Adherence to guidelines may be constrained by resources or timely access to imaging. We sought to understand the factors which influence late window imaging selection for EVT candidates with large vessel occlusion. Methods We conducted an international survey from January to May 2022. The questions aimed to identify advanced imaging and treatment decisions based on access to imaging, time delays, and simulated patient scenarios. Results There were 3000 invited participants and 1506 respondents, the majority (89.6%) from comprehensive stroke centers in high‐income countries. Neurointerventionalists comprised 31.8% and noninterventionalists 68.2% of respondents. Overall, 70.7% reported routine use of advanced imaging for late EVT selection, and 63.6% reported its usage in every case. There was greater availability of advanced imaging in comprehensive stroke centers versus primary stroke centers (67.0% versus 33.7%; P
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- 2023
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31. Content and distribution of mercury in coal and its relation to depositional environment—A case study on coals from the Shanxi Formation in Huainan Coalfield
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Liugen Zheng, Liqun Zhang, Yunlong Wang, Yeyu Chen, Yongchun Chen, Shikai An, and Yanfei Xu
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coal ,mercury ,depositional environment ,representation ,form ,Science - Abstract
Mercury in coals might emit into the environment from coal combination, and finally cause environmental pollution. In this paper, 26 coal samples were selected from No. 1 which is coal in the Shanxi Formation of Zhangji and Xinjier mines in the Huainan coalfield. The mineralogical and geochemical components of coal samples were determined by DMA-80 mercury-measuring instrument, XRF, XRD, ICP-MS, and the relationship between the depositional environment of the coal seam and mercury enrichment was analyzed. The results show that the mercury content of coal in the study area ranged from 0.03 to 0.93 μg/g, with an arithmetic means of 0.21 μg/g, higher than the background values of coal in China and the world. The mercury content of Shanxi Formation coal varied among different mines, the arithmetic mean value of mercury in Zhangji coal mine and Xinjier mine coal is 0.35 μg/g and 0.12 μg/g respectively. Due to the complex depositional environment and depositional facies, the distribution of mercury content in the coal seam is quite different. XRD, Microscopic observation and the ratio of (CaO + MgO + Fe2O3)/(SiO2+ Al2O3) and Al2O3/TiO2 show that the main mineral in the depositional environment of this study area is kaolinite, quartz and pyrite, and the depositional facies are intercontinental and sea-land, so the parent rock type belongs to acid bedrock. The Ni/Co, Sr/Ba, and Sr/Cu ratios were used to indicate a weak oxidation-reduction, Marine salt water, and an arid and hot environment. The vertical distribution of mercury in coal and the characteristics of the depositional environment are combined to show that mercury in coal is easily affected by redox conditions, paleosalinity and paleoclimate in the depositional environment. At the same time, mercury accumulation is more easily in the depositional environment dominated by seawater intrusion than in the terrigenous input.
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- 2023
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32. A genetic screen in Arabidopsis reveals the identical roles for RBP45d and PRP39a in 5’ cryptic splice site selection
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Weihua Huang, Liqun Zhang, Yajuan Zhu, Jingli Chen, Yawen Zhu, Fengru Lin, Xiaomei Chen, and Jirong Huang
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Arabidopsis ,5’ splice site selection ,cryptic splice site ,U1 snRNP ,RBP45d ,PRP39a ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
Cryptic splice sites in eukaryotic genome are generally dormant unless activated by mutation of authentic splice sites or related splicing factors. How cryptic splice sites are used remains unclear in plants. Here, we identified two cryptic splicing regulators, RBP45d and PRP39a that are homologs of yeast U1 auxiliary protein Nam8 and Prp39, respectively, via genetic screening for suppressors of the virescent sot5 mutant, which results from a point mutation at the 5’ splice site (5’ ss) of SOT5 intron 7. Loss-of-function mutations in RBP45d and PRP39a significantly increase the level of a cryptically spliced variant that encodes a mutated but functional sot5 protein, rescuing sot5 to the WT phenotype. We furtherly demonstrated that RBP45d and PRP39a interact with each other and also with the U1C, a core subunit of U1 snRNP. We found that RBP45d directly binds to the uridine (U)-rich RNA sequence downstream the 5’ ss of SOT5 intron 7. However, other RBP45/47 members do not function redundantly with RBP45d, at least in regulation of cryptic splicing. Taken together, RBP45d promotes U1 snRNP to recognize the specific 5’ ss via binding to intronic U-rich elements in plants.
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- 2022
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33. Dual gradients of bioactive components on electrospun fibers for cell migration and controlled stem cell differentiation
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Longfei Li, Tong Wang, Kelly Van, Xiaodi Zhang, Xindan Zhang, Jian Song, Rui Shi, Liqun Zhang, and Jiajia Xue
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Electrospun nanofibers ,Layer-by-layer self-assembly ,Dual gradients ,Cell migration ,Tissue interface ,Bone tissue engineering ,Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials ,TA401-492 - Abstract
The construction of gradient scaffolds to mimic the in vivo microenvironment for promoting tissue regeneration is attractive, especially by incorporating biochemical cues with physical guidance to manipulate cell behavior. Here, we report a general method to generate dual concentration-gradient of two types of bioactive components on scaffolds composed of uniaxially aligned electrospun nanofibers through layer-by-layer self-assembly. Different layers of collagen (COL) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) are sequentially coated onto the specific positions of uniaxially aligned electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers upon electrostatic attraction. In this case, dual stepwise gradients of COL and CS are generated along the fiber alignment. In demonstrating the potential application, the dual gradients can effectively promote the migration and proliferation of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) and spatially control their osteogenic differentiation. This simple strategy for generating dual gradients can be easily extended to different types of gradient scaffolds for bone regeneration and related applications involving cell migration, stem cell differentiation, and tissue interface.
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- 2022
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34. Current trends in bio‐based elastomer materials
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Shuai Tang, Jiao Li, Runguo Wang, Jichuan Zhang, Yonglai Lu, Guo‐Hua Hu, Zhao Wang, and Liqun Zhang
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bio‐based elastomers ,chemically cross‐linked ,natural rubber ,synthetic rubber ,Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials ,TA401-492 ,Environmental engineering ,TA170-171 - Abstract
Abstract Elastomers play an irreplaceable role in our society due to their unique properties. Natural rubber is directly obtained from plants and is widely used in tires, shoes, etc. Recently, modified natural rubbers are proposed to expand the application of natural rubber. However, these natural rubbers have a limited variety of molecular structures and may not be able to meet ever‐demanding applications. Traditional synthetic elastomers have a variety of molecular structures and their properties are used in various fields, but mainly originate from fossil resources. This review deals with bio‐based elastomers, and more specifically natural rubber and bio‐based synthetic elastomers. Based on reprocessability, bio‐based elastomers can also be divided into bio‐based chemically cross‐linked ones and thermoplastic ones. Compared to traditional fossil‐based elastomers, bio‐based ones may alleviate environmental pollution and promote the sustainable development of the elastomer industry.
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- 2022
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35. Fabrication of a High-Performance and Reusable Planar Face Mask in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Shui Hu, Hongchi Tian, Shijia Zhang, Dan Wang, Guozhuo Gong, Weihua Yue, Keyang Liu, Song Hong, Rui Wang, Qingqing Yuan, Yonglai Lu, Dong Wang, Liqun Zhang, and Jianfeng Chen
- Subjects
Mask ,Reusable ,Particle filtration efficiency ,Disinfection ,Schlieren photography ,Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) ,TA1-2040 - Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a surge in demand for face masks, with the massive consumption of masks leading to an increase in resource-related and environmental concerns. In this work, we fabricated meltblown polypropylene (mb-PP)-based high-performance planar face masks and investigated the effects of six commonly used disinfection methods and various mask-wearing periods on the reusability of these masks. The results show that, after three cycles of treatment using hot water at 70 °C for 30 min, which is one of the most scalable, user-friendly methods for viral disinfection, the particle filtration efficiency (PFE) of the mask remained almost unchanged. After mask wearing for 24 h and subsequent disinfection using the same treatment procedures, the PFE decreased to 91.3%; the average number of bacterial and fungal colonies was assessed to be 9.2 and 51.6 colony-forming units per gram (CFU∙g−1), respectively; and coliform and pyogenic bacteria were not detected. Both the PFE and the microbial indicators are well above the standard for reusable masks after disinfection. Schlieren photography was then used to assess the capabilities of used and disinfected masks during use; it showed that the masks exhibit a high performance in suppressing the spread of breathed air.
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- 2022
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36. Clinical effectiveness of posterior-only approach using polyetheretherketone cage combined with single-segment instrumentation for lumbar tuberculosis in children
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Zhengquan Xu, Lanhua Chen, Changsheng Wang, Liqun Zhang, and Weihong Xu
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Abstract We sought to investigate the outcomes of posterior-only approach using polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage combined with single-segment instrumentation (modified-approach) for mono-segment lumbar tuberculosis in children. Between February 2008 and August 2017 in our hospital, 18 children with single-segment lumbar tuberculosis enrolled in this study were treated by modified-approach. Medical records and radiographs were retrospectively analyzed. Mean follow-up time was 54.6 ± 12.1 months. No severe complications were noted to have occurred. Measures indicated there was satisfactory bone fusion for all patients. Mean Cobb angles were significantly decreased from preoperative angle (19.8° ± 13.1°) to those both postoperatively (− 4.9° ± 7.6°) and at final follow-up (− 3.5° ± 7.3°) (both P
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- 2021
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37. Quantitative proteomics reveals that dormancy-related proteins mediate the attenuation in mycobacterium strains
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Hong Wang, Li Wan, Jiahui Shi, Tao Zhang, Huiming Zhu, Songhao Jiang, Shuhong Meng, Shujia Wu, Jinshuai Sun, Lei Chang, Liqun Zhang, Kanglin Wan, Jiaqi Yang, Xiuqin Zhao, Haican Liu, Yao Zhang, Erhei Dai, and Ping Xu
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mycobacterium tuberculosis ,quantitative proteomics ,virulence ,attenuation ,dormancy ,Infectious and parasitic diseases ,RC109-216 - Abstract
Although members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) exhibit high similarity, they are characterized by differences with respect to virulence, immune response, and transmissibility. To understand the virulence of these bacteria and identify potential novel therapeutic targets, we systemically investigated the total cell protein contents of virulent H37Rv, attenuated H37Ra, and avirulent M. bovis BCG vaccine strains at the log and stationary phases, based on tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics. Data analysis revealed that we obtained deep-coverage protein identification and high quantification. Although 272 genetic variations were reported in H37Ra and H37Rv, they showed very little expression difference in log and stationary phase. Quantitative comparison revealed H37Ra and H37Rv had significantly dysregulation in log phase (227) compared with stationary phase (61). While BCG and H37Rv, and BCG and H37Ra showed notable differences in stationary phase (1171 and 1124) with respect to log phase (381 and 414). In the log phase, similar patterns of protein abundance were observed between H37Ra and BCG, whereas a more similar expression pattern was observed between H37Rv and H37Ra in the stationary phase. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the upregulated proteins detected for H37Rv and H37Ra in log phase were virulence-related factors. In both log and stationary phases, the dysregulated proteins detected for BCG, which have also been identified as M. tuberculosis response proteins under dormancy conditions. We accordingly describe the proteomic profiles of H37Rv, H37Ra, and BCG, which we believe will potentially provide a better understanding of H37Rv pathogenesis, H37Ra attenuation, and BCG immuno protection.
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- 2021
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38. Tailored Dynamic Viscoelasticity of Polyurethanes Based on Different Diols
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Jiadong Wang, Min Wang, Chenxin Xu, Yang Han, Xuan Qin, and Liqun Zhang
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micro-phase separation ,polyurethane ,dynamic viscoelasticity ,diols ,Organic chemistry ,QD241-441 - Abstract
The development of damping and tire materials has led to a growing need to customize the dynamic viscoelasticity of polymers. In the case of polyurethane (PU), which possesses a designable molecular structure, the desired dynamic viscoelasticity can be achieved by carefully selecting flexible soft segments and employing chain extenders with diverse chemical structures. This process involves fine-tuning the molecular structure and optimizing the degree of micro-phase separation. It is worth noting that the temperature at which the loss peak occurs increases as the soft segment structure becomes more rigid. By incorporating soft segments with varying degrees of flexibility, the loss peak temperature can be adjusted within a broad range, from −50 °C to 14 °C. Furthermore, when the molecular structure of the chain extender becomes more regular, it enhances interaction between the soft and hard segments, leading to a higher degree of micro-phase separation. This phenomenon is evident from the increased percentage of hydrogen-bonding carbonyl, a lower loss peak temperature, and a higher modulus. By modifying the molecular weight of the chain extender, we can achieve precise control over the loss peak temperature, allowing us to regulate it within the range of −1 °C and 13 °C. To summarize, our research presents a novel approach for tailoring the dynamic viscoelasticity of PU materials and thus offers a new avenue for further exploration in this field.
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- 2023
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39. Epitaxial growth of 2.5-μm quaternary AlInGaN for n-cladding layer in GaN-based green laser diodes
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Lingrong Jiang, Jianping Liu, Aiqin Tian, Masao Ikeda, Liqun Zhang, Peng Wu, Wei Zhou, and Hui Yang
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AlInGaN ,Epitaxy ,Morphology ,Strain ,Science (General) ,Q1-390 - Abstract
The ridge morphology, which is related to random atomic step meandering, appears in thick AlInGaN films grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition on both GaN templates and free-standing GaN substrates; this can be primarily attributed to the in-plane compressive strain in the thick layer. Therefore, a 2.5-μm Al0.08In0.0123GaN film with a slightly tensive strain was grown, with a regular and smooth step-flow morphology; the root mean square deviation of the film (with a size of 5 μm × 5 μm) was 0.56 nm.
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- 2021
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40. Second primary malignancy among malignant solid tumor survivors aged 85 years and older
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Zhijia Zhang, Fei Liu, Yanlin Qu, Liqian Qiu, Liqun Zhang, and Qiao Yang
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Abstract The cancer burden in the oldest old has increased rapidly. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of second primary malignancy (SPM) in malignant solid tumor survivors aged 85 years and older utilizing the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A total of 128,466 malignant solid tumor patients had been identified between 2000 and 2011, including 6774 patients who developed a SPM. The overall crude incidence of developing a SPM was 5.3%. Considering death as a competing event, the 3, 5, and 10-year cumulative incidence was 1.9%, 3.2%, and 5.4%, respectively. Relative younger age, male gender, surgery history, local stage and first primary malignancy (FPM) site located in the urinary system were related to higher cumulative incidence. A median time interval of 24.0 months was found between diagnosis of FPM and SPM. The most common SPM site was digestive system, whereas the least common was oral cavity and pharynx. The median overall survival (OS) was 49.0 months, and the median survival after SPM was 13.0 months. Relative older age, male gender and black race were associated with worse OS and survival after SPM, as well as higher hazard ratios of death. In conclusions, this study performed a comprehensive analysis of SPM among malignant solid tumor survivors aged 85 years and older. Additional studies are needed to characterize the specific cancer type of interest.
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- 2021
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41. Biobased and Recyclable Polyurethane for Room-Temperature Damping and Three-Dimensional Printing
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Tao Shou, Shikai Hu, Yaowen Wu, Xian Tang, Guoqing Fu, Xiuying Zhao, and Liqun Zhang
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Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Published
- 2021
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42. Preliminary efficacy of a digital therapeutics smartphone application for methamphetamine use disorder: An experimental study
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Liqun Zhang, Nan Li, Yuanhui Li, Tianjiao Zhang, Dai Li, Yanru Liu, Xiang Liu, and Wei Hao
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digital therapeutics ,methamphetamine ,cognitive functions ,approach bias modification training ,cognitive behavioral therapy ,Psychiatry ,RC435-571 - Abstract
Methamphetamine is the most widely used illicit drug in China. Treating methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is challenging due to the lack of effective pharmacotherapies. This study is an experimental study to investigate the efficacy of smartphone-based digital therapeutics in treating MUD at the community level. One hundred participants were recruited and randomized into a digital therapeutics (DTx) group (n = 52) and a treatment as usual (TAU) group (n = 48). The DTx group used a smartphone application to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy, approach bias modification, cognitive training, and contingency management for 8 weeks. The TAU group received counseling from social workers and professional psychotherapists. Cue-induced craving, cognitive functions, PHQ9, and GAD7 were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Wilcoxon tests were performed with bootstrap and multiply imputation to estimate the treatment effect size. The DTx group showed a significant reduction in drug craving [Wilcoxon effect size = −0.267, 95% CI = (−0.435, −0.099), p = 0.002] and a significant improvement in cognitive function [Wilcoxon effect size = 0.220, 95% CI = (0.009, 0.432), p = 0.041]. The DTx group had overall 1, 8, and 24-week attritions of 8%, 11.5%, and 38.5%, respectively. The study shows that Digital therapeutics is feasible and potentially beneficial as a complement to community substance use treatment programs.
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- 2022
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43. Functional analysis of multiple nifB genes of Paenibacillus strains in synthesis of Mo-, Fe- and V-nitrogenases
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Qin Li, Haowei Zhang, Liqun Zhang, and Sanfeng Chen
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Paenibacillus ,nifB gene ,Mo-nitrogenase ,Alternative nitrogenases ,Microbiology ,QR1-502 - Abstract
Abstract Background Biological nitrogen fixation is catalyzed by Mo-, V- and Fe-nitrogenases that are encoded by nif, vnf and anf genes, respectively. NifB is the key protein in synthesis of the cofactors of all nitrogenases. Most diazotrophic Paenibacillus strains have only one nifB gene located in a compact nif gene cluster (nifBHDKENX(orf1)hesAnifV). But some Paenibacillus strains have multiple nifB genes and their functions are not known. Results A total of 138 nifB genes are found in the 116 diazotrophic Paenibacillus strains. Phylogeny analysis shows that these nifB genes fall into 4 classes: nifBI class including the genes (named as nifB1 genes) that are the first gene within the compact nif gene cluster, nifBII class including the genes (named as nifB2 genes) that are adjacent to anf or vnf genes, nifBIII class whose members are designated as nifB3 genes and nifBIV class whose members are named as nifB4 genes are scattered on genomes. Functional analysis by complementation of the ∆nifB mutant of P. polymyxa which has only one nifB gene has shown that both nifB1 and nifB2 are active in synthesis of Mo-nitrogenase, while nifB3 and nifB4 genes are not. Deletion analysis also has revealed that nifB1 of Paenibacillus sabinae T27 is involved in synthesis of Mo-nitrogenase, while nifB3 and nifB4 genes are not. Complementation of the P. polymyxa ∆nifBHDK mutant with the four reconstituted operons: nifB1anfHDGK, nifB2anfHDGK, nifB1vnfHDGK and nifB2vnfHDGK, has shown both that nifB1 and nifB2 were able to support synthesis of Fe- or V-nitrogenases. Transcriptional results obtained in the original Paenibacillus strains are consistent with the complementation results. Conclusions The multiple nifB genes of the diazotrophic Paenibacillus strains are divided into 4 classes. The nifB1 located in a compact nif gene cluster (nifBHDKENX(orf1)hesAnifV) and the nifB2 genes being adjacent to nif or anf or vnf genes are active in synthesis of Mo-, Fe and V-nitrogenases, but nifB3 and nifB4 are not. The reconstituted anf system comprising 8 genes (nifBanfHDGK and nifXhesAnifV) and vnf system comprising 10 genes (nifBvnfHDGKEN and nifXhesAnifV) support synthesis of Fe-nitrogenase and V-nitrogenase in Paenibacillus background, respectively.
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- 2021
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44. Improved the dielectric properties of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer filled with MXene nanosheets and BaTiO3 nanofibers
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Zhaoxia Luo, Liqun Zhang, Yongri Liang, Shipeng Wen, and Li Liu
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Dielectric elastomer (DE) ,MXene ,BaTiO3 nanofiber ,Electrospinning ,Composites ,Polymers and polymer manufacture ,TP1080-1185 - Abstract
To achieve high deformation under a low electric field intensity is still a big challenge for the dielectric elastomers (DE) potentially used in artificial electronic skin and artificial muscles. Herein, poly-dopamine (PDA) modified 1D barium titanate (BT@PDA) nanofibers and 2D MXene nanosheets with high aspect ratio and large dipole moment were fabricated, and introduced into TPU elastomers. Results showed that the interfacial polarization and micro-capacitor structure formed by MXene sheets lead to the high dielectric constant, and high dielectric loss of MXene/TPU composites with low modulus. The interfacial polarization caused by BT@PDA nanofibers resulting in high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss of BT@PDA/TPU composites with high modulus. Combing the advantages of the two fillers, the MXene/BT@PDA/TPU composites showed high dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, low modulus. The electrical sensitivity factor of 0.5 wt% MXene/5 wt% BT@PDA/TPU composite (11.38) was much higher than the sum of that of 0.5 wt% MXene/TPU (1.73) and 5 wt% BT@PDA/TPU (4.35) composites at a low filler content, showing the 0.5 wt% MXene/5 wt% BT@PDA/TPU dielectric composite had a large deformation under a low electric field. This work can provide an effect strategy to design DE nanocomposites with good deformation performance.
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- 2022
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45. Neural tissue engineering: From bioactive scaffolds and in situ monitoring to regeneration
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Bowen Gong, Xindan Zhang, Ahmed Al Zahrani, Wenwen Gao, Guolin Ma, Liqun Zhang, and Jiajia Xue
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external stimulation ,nerve guidance conduit ,nerve imaging ,peripheral nerve injury ,tissue engineering ,Biotechnology ,TP248.13-248.65 - Abstract
Abstract Peripheral nerve injury is a large‐scale problem that annually affects more than several millions of people all over the world. It remains a great challenge to effectively repair nerve defects. Tissue engineered nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) provide a promising platform for peripheral nerve repair through the integration of bioactive scaffolds, biological effectors, and cellular components. Herein, we firstly describe the pathogenesis of peripheral nerve injuries at different orders of severity to clarify their microenvironments and discuss the clinical treatment methods and challenges. Then, we discuss the recent progress on the design and construction of NGCs in combination with biological effectors and cellular components for nerve repair. Afterward, we give perspectives on imaging the nerve and/or the conduit to allow for the in situ monitoring of the nerve regeneration process. We also cover the applications of different postoperative intervention treatments, such as electric field, magnetic field, light, and ultrasound, to the well‐designed conduit and/or the nerve for improving the repair efficacy. Finally, we explore the prospects of multifunctional platforms to promote the repair of peripheral nerve injury.
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- 2022
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46. Optimization of Physical Refining Process of Camellia Oil for Reduction of 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-Diol (3-MCPD) Ester Formation Using Response Surface Methodology on a Laboratory Scale
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Liqun Zhang, Pinggu Wu, Xiaoling Xiang, Dajin Yang, Liyuan Wang, and Zhengyan Hu
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3-MCPD esters ,response surface analysis ,optimized refining process parameters ,reduction of 3-MCPD ,Organic chemistry ,QD241-441 - Abstract
Refined and deodorized camellia oil has been reported to contain a high amount of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol esters (3-MCPDE) due to the high-temperature deodorization step. To reduce 3-MCPDE in camellia oil, the physical refining process of camellia oil was simulated on a laboratory scale. Response surface methodology (RSM) was designed to modify and optimize the refining process with five processing parameters (water degumming dosage, degumming temperature, activated clay dosage, deodorization temperature and deodorization time). The optimized new refining approach achieved a 76.9% reduction in 3-MCPDE contents, in which the degumming moisture was 2.97%, the degumming temperature was 50.5 °C, the activated clay dosage was 2.69%, the deodorizing temperature was 230 °C, and the deodorizing time was 90 min. A significance test and analysis of variance results demonstrated that the deodorization temperature and deodorization time contributed significantly to the reduction of 3-MCPD ester. The joint interaction effects of activated clay dosage and deodorization temperature were significant for 3-MCPD ester formation.
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- 2023
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47. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Human Beta-Defensin Type 3 Crossing Different Lipid Bilayers
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Rabeta Yeasmin, Ann Brewer, Lela R Fine, and Liqun Zhang
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Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Published
- 2021
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48. HBD-2 binds SARS-CoV-2 RBD and blocks viral entry: Strategy to combat COVID-19
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Liqun Zhang, Santosh K. Ghosh, Shrikanth C. Basavarajappa, Yinghua Chen, Pravesh Shrestha, Jackson Penfield, Ann Brewer, Parameswaran Ramakrishnan, Matthias Buck, and Aaron Weinberg
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Therapeutics ,Virology ,Science - Abstract
Summary: New approaches to complement vaccination are needed to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and stop COVID-19-related deaths and medical complications. Human beta defensin 2 (hBD-2) is a naturally occurring epithelial cell-derived host defense peptide that has anti-viral properties. Our comprehensive in-silico studies demonstrate that hBD-2 binds the site on the CoV-2-RBD that docks with the ACE2 receptor. Biophysical measurements confirm that hBD-2 indeed binds to the CoV-2-receptor-binding domain (RBD) (KD ∼ 2μM by surface plasmon resonance), preventing it from binding to ACE2-expressing cells. Importantly, hBD-2 shows specificity by blocking CoV-2/spike pseudoviral infection, but not VSVG-mediated infection, of ACE2-expressing human cells with an IC50 of 2.8 ± 0.4 μM. These promising findings offer opportunities to develop hBD-2 and/or its derivatives and mimetics to safely and effectively use as agents to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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- 2022
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49. Body roundness index is a superior indicator to associate with the cardio‐metabolic risk: evidence from a cross‐sectional study with 17,000 Eastern-China adults
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Jinjian Xu, Liqun Zhang, Qiong Wu, Yaohan Zhou, Ziqi Jin, Zhijian Li, and Yimin Zhu
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Body roundness index ,Cardio‐metabolic risk factors ,Eastern-China adults ,Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system ,RC666-701 - Abstract
Abstract Background To investigate the ability of body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and body adiposity index (BAI) for predicting non-adipose cardio-metabolic risk. Methods A total of 17,360 Chinese subjects aged 18–95 years old who escaped cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes were recruited in the cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and multinomial logistic regression were conducted to examine the association of anthropometric indicators with cardio-metabolic risk factors. Results The mean age of subjects were 53.7(13.1) years, 41.6 % were males. The areas under the curve (AUC) demonstrated that WC, BMI, WHR, WHtR and BRI were able to predict high cardio-metabolic risk (AUC > 0.70). Meanwhile, multinomial logistic regression showed BRI was significantly associated with high cardio-metabolic risk (OR 3.27, 95% CI 3.01–3.55). The optimal cut-off values of BRI for high cardio-metabolic risk were (
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- 2021
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50. Designing a Coupling Agent with Aliphatic Polyether Chain and Exploring Its Effect on Silica/Natural Rubber Nanocomposites under the Action of Non-Rubber Contents
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Xiaobo Zhai, Xin Chen, Fangyuan Zheng, Dongli Han, Junchi Zheng, Xin Ye, Xiaolin Li, and Liqun Zhang
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NR ,coupling agent ,VOC ,NRCs ,Organic chemistry ,QD241-441 - Abstract
In order to prepare engineering tires with lower rolling resistance and better wet slip resistance in a more environmentally friendly way. In this study, a series of low volatile organic compound (VOC) Mx–Si69 coupling agents (x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, which means the number of ethoxy group in bis-(γ-triethoxysilylpropyl)-tetrasulfide (Si69) substituted by the aliphatic polyether chain) were applied to silica/NR nanocomposites to prepare tire tread with excellent performance. Firstly, M1–Si69 was substantiated as the best choice of Mx–Si69 and Si69 to achieve comprehensive optima in the mechanical properties of silica/NR nanocomposites characterized by dynamic and static mechanical properties. Afterwards, the modification of silica with M1–Si69 induced by Non-Rubber Contents (NRCs) in silica/NR nanocomposites was revealed by comparing the filler network, micromorphology, and mechanical properties of isoprene rubber (IR) and NR nanocomposites. Furthermore, compared with Si69, the M1–Si69 coupling agent was found to conspicuously reduce the energy loss and improve the safety performance of engineering tires according to evaluations of the rolling resistance and dynamic thermomechanical properties of the silica/NR nanocomposites. Finally, the critical function of M1–Si69 in reducing ethanol (a kind of volatile organic compound (VOC)) emissions from the reaction of coupling agent and silica was disclosed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.
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- 2023
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