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Autoignition widely exists in combustion devices that feature hot air. The unsteady autoignited flames caused by autoignition are potential hazards to the stable operation of combustion systems, often causing flameout or damage to the combustion devices. In this paper, we present our recent work in understanding the key factors determining the instability of autoignited turbulent jet flames and a novel method to suppress flame instability. Firstly, we studied the flame using a jet-in-hot-coflow burner. The instability behaviors were characterized using a pressure probe and a high-speed camera. When the fuel mole fraction was below a critical value, the amplitude spectrums of the unsteady autoignited flame had low-frequency and high-frequency peaks. The experimental results show that the low-frequency peak is related to the autoignition intermittency and can be eliminated by enhancing chemical reactions. The high-frequency peak is related to the autoignition frequency, and the peak amplitude can be reduced by improving reactants mixing. Considering that the heating rod can enhance the reaction as a heat source and improve mixing as a bluff body, we inserted an electric heating rod into the autoignition spatial region to suppress the flame instability. The suppression of flame instability by heating rod at different temperatures and locations were experimentally studied. The heating rod insertion can significantly reduce low-frequency and high-frequency instability. Moreover, increasing the rod temperature can also effectively reduce the amplitude of high-frequency pressure pulsation. The results show that the electric heating rod is an efficient method to suppress the instability of autoignited flame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Studies have shown that glycolysis metabolism affects the resistance or sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapy drugs. Emerging from recent research, a paradigm-shifting revelation has unfolded, elucidating the oncogenic nature of SKA3 within the context of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Consequently, this work was designed to delve into the effects of SKA3 on glycolysis and cisplatin (CDDP) resistance in LUAD cells and to find new possibilities for individualized treatment of LUAD. Methods: LUAD mRNA expression data from the TCGA database were procured to scrutinize the differential expression patterns of SKA3 in both tumor and normal tissues. GSEA and Pearson correlation analyses were employed to elucidate the impact of SKA3 on signaling pathways within the context of LUAD. In order to discern the upstream regulatory mechanisms, the ChEA and JASPAR databases were utilized to predict the transcription factors and binding sites associated with SKA3. qRT-PCR and Western blot were implemented to assay the mRNA and protein expression levels of SKA3 and TFAP2A. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assays were performed to solidify the binding relationship between the two. Extracellular acidification rate, glucose consumption, lactate production, and glycolysis-related proteins (HK2, GLUT1, and LDHA) were used to evaluate the level of glycolysis. Cell viability under CDDP treatment was determined utilizing the CCK-8, allowing for the calculation of IC50. The expression levels of SKA3 and TFAP2A proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: SKA3 exhibited upregulation in LUAD tissues and cell lines, establishing a direct linkage with glycolysis pathway. Overexpression of SKA3 fostered glycolysis in LUAD, resulting in reduced sensitivity toward CDDP treatment. The upstream transcription factor of SKA3, TFAP2A, was also upregulated in LUAD and could promote SKA3 transcription. Overexpression of TFAP2A also fostered the glycolysis of LUAD. Rescue assays showed that TFAP2A promoted glycolysis in LUAD cells by activating SKA3, reducing the sensitivity of LUAD cells to CDDP. The IHC analysis revealed a positive correlation between high expression of SKA3 and TFAP2A and CDDP resistance. Conclusion: In summary, TFAP2A can transcriptionally activate SKA3, promote glycolysis in LUAD, and protect LUAD cells from CDDP treatment, indicating that targeting the TFAP2A/SKA3 axis may become a plausible and pragmatic therapeutic strategy for the clinical governance of LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jia-Ji electro-acupuncture (EA) has been widely applied in clinic to exhibit curative effects on spinal cord injury (SCI). However, its underlying mechanisms leading to improvement of motor function after SCI remain unclear. Allen’s method was made by NYU Impactor M-III equipment to create the SCI rats model. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: Sham (only laminectomy), Model (SCI group), EA (SCI + Jia-Ji EA treatment), EA + CQ (SCI + Jia-Ji EA treatment + inhibitor chloroquine). Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan assessment showed improvement of hind limb motor function after Jia-Ji electro-acupuncture treatment. Histological change of injured spinal cord tissue was alleviated after treatment, observed by hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining. The mRNA and protein expression levels of RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL were decreased in EA group. Besides, the increased expression of LC3 and reduced expression of P62 after treatment compared with Model group, confirmed that Jia-Ji electro-acupuncture could enhance the autophagy flux. Electron microscopy imaging showed increasing the number of lysosomes, autophagosomes, and autolysosomes after Jia-Ji electro-acupuncture treatment. Furthermore, inhibition of lysosome function with CQ led to partly eliminate the effect of EA on reducing necroptosis. These data make the case that Jia-Ji electro-acupuncture treatment may improve locomotor function by promoting autophagy flux and inhibiting necroptosis.

This study aims to develop a lift-off height model suitable for hydrogen autoignited flames in turbulent hot coflow. The differences in flame structure and lift-off characteristics between hydrogen and acetylene flames are compared through experiments. Due to hydrogen's high flame speed, the autoignition spots of hydrogen are undetectable, and the flame zone becomes regular and continuous. Therefore, the flame speed can be used to improve the calculation of the chemical time scale to incorporate the flame propagation factor into the lift-off height model. A novel model is established to consider the combined effects of flame propagation and autoignition on flame stabilization through the Karlovitz number and Damkohler number, respectively. Positive parameters β and 1- β represent the relative contributions of flame propagation and autoignition. The Ka/Da model successfully predicts the variations in the lift-off height of hydrogen flames at various coflow temperatures and fuel mole fractions. In addition, the good correlations based on the Ka/Da model to the lift-off heights of hydrogen, methane, and ethylene flames in the literature prove the model's generality. Unlike hydrocarbon flames (β < 0.5), hydrogen flames' β is bigger than 0.5, indicating that flame propagation plays a more significant role than autoignition in stabilizing autoignited flames. • Hydrogen autoignited flames have a single continuous flame zone. • The lift-off height model based on hydrocarbon fuels does not apply to hydrogen. • A Ka/Da model considering autoignition and flame propagation has been developed. • Flame propagation plays a greater role in stabilizing hydrogen autoignited flames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reversibility of phase transformation, a basic requirement for functional properties of shape memory alloys, such as superelasticity, is severely affected by plastic deformation. Here, strain glass has been utilized to improve the reversibility of phase transformation. The incorporation of Al into Ti-Zr-Ni-Cu induces strain glass and endows the alloy with reversible phase transformation and thus ideal superelasticity. In situ x-ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical experiments were utilized to verify the mechanism for the conversion from transformation plasticity to superelasticity. This work provides a new way to improve the reversibility of phase transformation and expands the practical implications of strain glass. Conversion from transformation plasticity to reversible superelasticity is realized by employing the strain glass concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]