Search

"Trapiche-like" texture is distinct from "trapiche" texture as typically observed in emeralds, amethysts, and aquamarines. It is also occasionally encountered in sapphires from Changle, eastern North China Craton. The advent of the trapiche-like texture has enhanced the ornamental value of sapphire, although its origin is still unclear. In this study, techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), have been applied to test the spectroscopic data of the cores, arms, and blue sectors of trapiche-like sapphires from Changle and explore the mineralogical characteristics of different domains. The main component of the core, arms, and blue sectors of trapiche-like sapphire is corundum (Al2O3), with trace elements including Fe, Ti, Mg, Cr, V, Ga, etc. From arms to cores to sectors, trace elements show a trend of increasing and then decreasing. Nb and Ta elements are more enriched in the arms than in the sectors, indicating the existence of rutile. With changes in physicochemical conditions during magma evolution, rutile melted, and related voids were filled with glassy inclusions, which formed the arms of trapiche-like sapphires. Field observations of primary deposits, as well as petrological and geochemical analyses, reveal that the trapiche-like sapphire of Changle belongs to magmatic sapphire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Glioma is the most prevalent form of primary malignant brain tumor and is often associated with a grim prognosis. Exosomes, minute extracellular vesicles, are secreted by various cells and hold a significant role in tumor growth and invasion. Examining the contents they carry allows for a deeper understanding of tumor characteristics and progression. Moreover, exosomes possess the capability to traverse the blood–brain barrier, functioning as effective delivery vehicles. By encapsulating chemotherapy drugs and other molecules, we can achieve an enhanced therapeutic outcome. This article primarily delves into the impact of exosomes on glioma development, as well as the latest strides in diagnosis and treatment. This underscores the advantages and potential avenues for future research in the realm of exosomes for glioma diagnosis and treatment. Gliomas, the most prevalent primary malignant brain tumors, present a challenging prognosis even after undergoing surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Exosomes, nano-sized extracellular vesicles secreted by various cells, play a pivotal role in glioma progression and contribute to resistance against chemotherapy and radiotherapy by facilitating the transportation of biological molecules and promoting intercellular communication within the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, exosomes exhibit the remarkable ability to traverse the blood–brain barrier, positioning them as potent carriers for therapeutic delivery. These attributes hold promise for enhancing glioma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in exosome research within the realm of tumors. In this article, we primarily focus on elucidating the role of exosomes in glioma development, highlighting the latest breakthroughs in therapeutic and diagnostic approaches, and outlining prospective directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a complex psychiatric disorder with unclear etiology and pathological features. Neuroscientists are increasingly proposing that schizophrenia is an abnormality in the dynamic organization of brain networks. Previous studies have found that the dynamic brain networks of people with SZ are abnormal in both space and time. However, little is known about the interactions and overlaps between hubs of the brain underlying spatiotemporal dynamics. In this study, we aimed to investigate different patterns of spatial and temporal overlap of hubs between SZ patients and healthy individuals. Specifically, we obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the public dataset for 43 SZ patients and 49 healthy individuals. We derived a representation of time-varying functional connectivity using the Jackknife Correlation (JC) method. We employed the Betweenness Centrality (BC) method to identify the hubs of the brain's functional connectivity network. We then applied measures of temporal overlap, spatial overlap, and hierarchical clustering to investigate differences in the organization of brain hubs between SZ patients and healthy controls. Our findings suggest significant differences between SZ patients and healthy controls at the whole-brain and subnetwork levels. Furthermore, spatial overlap and hierarchical clustering analysis showed that quasi-periodic patterns were disrupted in SZ patients. Analyses of temporal overlap revealed abnormal pairwise engagement preferences in the hubs of SZ patients. These results provide new insights into the dynamic characteristics of the network organization of the SZ brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) possesses a non‐collinear spin order while the ferroelectric order breaks space inversion symmetry. This allows efficient electric‐field control of magnetism and makes it a promising candidate for applications in low‐power spintronic devices. Epitaxial strain effects have been intensively studied and exhibit significant modulation of the magnetic order in bismuthBiFeO3, but tuning its spin structure with continuously varied uniaxial strain is still lacking at this moment. Herein, in situ uniaxial tensile strain is applied to a freestanding BiFeO3 film by mechanically stretching an organic substrate. A scanning nitrogen‐vacancy (NV) microscopy is applied to image the nanoscale magnetic order in real space. The strain is continuously increased from 0% to 1.5% and four images under different strains are acquired during this period. The images show that the spin cycloid tilts by ≈12.6° when strain approaches 1.5%. A first principle calculation is processed to show that the tilting is energetically favorable under such strain. The in situ strain applying method in combination with scanning NV microscope real‐space imaging ability paves a new way in studying the coupling between magnetic order and strain in BiFeO3 films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper completes the welding of 4-mm-pure copper with bobbin tool-friction stir welding technology for the first time, and we discovered the evolution of microstructure by combining the temperature field evolution, microstructure, mechanical properties, electrical properties, and chemical corrosion resistance of welded joints. The findings demonstrate that the temperature field is dynamic, with the advancing side experiencing the highest peak temperature (422 °C). The size of recrystallized grain in the stir zone (SZ) is slightly larger than that of the base metal (BM), and the "banded structure" of alternating coarse-grain bands and fine grain bands is observed in this region. The microstructure of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) has larger grain size. Both the advancing and retreating sides of the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) have a distinct microstructure, with the advancing side having a more pronounced elongated and curved microstructure. The welded joint has a specific microstructure gradient from the standpoint of the overall microstructure, which results in the fracture location at TMAZ with the biggest microstructure gradient in the tensile test, and the welded joint's efficiency is only 57.56% of the base metal. At the same time, the resistivity and the chemical corrosion resistance of the welded joint will decrease. During the welding process, the grains in the stir zone mainly undergo geometric dynamic recrystallization and the heat-affected zone mainly undergoes dynamic recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell penetration is a typical micromanipulation technique widely utilized in many cell biological applications. The significant cell deformation generated during penetration can mechanically damage the cell and even cause the death of the cell. Measuring the intracellular displacement resulting from cell deformation can provide a quantitative evaluation of the mechanical harm done to cells during penetration. The existing labeled intracellular displacement measurement approaches have limitations in spatial resolution and must introduce markers, which cause further harm to the cell. Moreover, label-free methods, such as traditional optical flow methods, are not suitable for measuring the inconsistent intracellular displacement distribution due to cell penetration. This paper presents a label-free noncontact method for measuring the intracellular displacements during penetration. First, based on a finite element simulation, the uneven distribution of intracellular displacements due to penetration was modeled by a quadratic model. Then, by combining the obtained displacement model with the Farnebäck dense optical flow method, a model-based optical flow method was developed to measure intracellular displacements. Finally, the method was used to ascertain the intracellular displacement in porcine oocyte penetration experiments. The forward-backward error of the proposed detection method is less than 0.5 pixels, lower by 49.3% and 26.1%, respectively, compared with two typical Farnebäck optical flow methods. This method could be used to analyze cell damage during penetration. With an appropriate extension, the method may be suitable for measuring the intracellular displacement due to cell manipulations other than penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammation that can lead to loss of range of joint abnormalities in severe cases. Diosgenin has anti-inflammatory effects. This paper discussed the effect and mechanism of diosgenin on excessive proliferation and inflammatory response of synovial cells in RA. CCK-8 detected the cell viability, TUNEL assay detected the apoptosis of cells and western blot detected the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Wound healing was used to detect cell migration and western blot detected the expression of migration-related proteins. ELISA kits were used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines in cells. Diosgenin can inhibit the proliferation and migration of RA synovial cells. At the same time, diosgenin could reduce the inflammatory response of RA synovial cells, during which the expression of PDE3B was significantly decreased. By overexpressing PDE3B, we found that diosgenin inhibited the proliferation, migration, and inflammatory response of RA synovial cells by downregulating PDE3B. Diosgenin can inhibit excessive proliferation and inflammatory response of synovial fibroblasts by targeting PDE3B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane-type acoustic metamaterials have a favorable noise suppression effect. Hence, a membrane-type acoustic metamaterial plate (MAML) with an X-shaped pendulum arm and cylindrical mass blocks (CMB) was proposed in this paper. The theoretical model based on spring–mass systems and numerical simulation models of the membrane-type acoustic metamaterial cell (MAMC) were established under fixed and periodic boundary conditions to reveal the noise attenuation mechanism quantitatively, and the necessity of the CMB is discussed. Based on the results, it can be observed that the normal displacement of the membrane is nearly zero when the noise frequency is at the peak of the sound transmission loss (STL) curve. However, when the frequency is at the valley of the STL curve, the displacement is nonzero and fluctuates significantly. Meanwhile, by comparing the STL curves with and without the CMB, it was found that the MAMC performance is improved effectively by the CMB at low frequencies. The effective mass density of MAMC was found to be negative. To verify the accuracy of numerical calculations, an impedance tube experiment was conducted. Finally, orthogonal experiments were designed to describe the effects of the structural parameters a, l, and t on the effective bandwidth Ω, peak frequency Φ, and comprehensive index ξ and to obtain the optimal structural parameter combinations for different indexes. This work further contributes to applying and developing the membrane-type acoustic metamaterial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a sub-wavelength sector acoustic metamaterial (SAM) cell was presented for duct noise attenuation. A numerical model considering thermal-viscous loss was established to quantitatively reveal the influence of different structure parameters on the effective bandwidth and peak frequency. Findings clarify that thermal dissipation occurs mainly in the cavity and viscous dissipation exists mainly in the channel. The negative effective bulk modulus for SAM was calculated by the parametric retrieving method. A developed sector acoustic metamaterial (DSAM) structure was proposed by periodically configuring the SAM. The corresponding numerical model was established, and the effective bandwidth of DSAM was calculated. Results demonstrate that the DSAM has sufficient bandwidth to ensure noise attenuation. The experiments were conducted using the quadrupole method acoustic test system under dual-load conditions. The error of the STL curve peak frequency for the SAM cell compared with the numerical calculation was 0.51 %, and the error of the effective bandwidth was 1.4 %, which verified the accuracy of the numerical model. This study serves as an essential catalyst for applying acoustic metamaterial in the field of duct noise attenuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification as the most prevalent mammalian RNA internal modification has been considered as the invasive biomarkers in clinical diagnosis and biological mechanism researches. It is still challenged to explore m6A functions due to technical limitations on base- and location-resolved m6A modification. Herein, we firstly proposed a sequence-spot bispecific photoelectrochemical (PEC) strategy based on in situ hybridization mediated proximity ligation assay for m6A RNA characterization with high sensitivity and accuracy. Firstly, the target m6A methylated RNA could be transferred to the exposed cohesive terminus of H1 based on the special self-designed auxiliary proximity ligation assay (PLA) with sequence-spot bispecific recognition. The exposed cohesive terminus of H1 could furtherly trigger the next catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) amplification and in situ exponential nonlinear hyperbranched hybridization chain reaction for highly sensitive monitoring of m6A methylated RNA. Compared with conventional technologies, the proposed sequence-spot bispecific PEC strategy for m6A methylation of special RNA based on proximity ligation-triggered in situ nHCR performed improved sensitivity and selectivity with a detection limit of 53 fM, providing new insights into highly sensitive monitoring m6A methylation of RNA in bioassay, disease diagnosis and RNA mechanism. [Display omitted] • Sequence-Site bispecific recognition provide a more accurate and sensitive way to detect N6-methyladenosine modification. • Photoelectrochemistry performed with in situ hybridization mediated proximity linkage analysis. • In situ nonlinear hyperbranched hybridization chain reaction realizes high signal amplification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• • Slc7a5 knockdown results in 34 differentially regulated genes. • • B1a but not B2 cells are depleted when Slc7a5 is knocked down in adult mice. • • Slc7a5-deficient bone marrow B1a cells fail to develop due to dysregulation of the mTOR signaling pathway. Slc7a5 is an important amino acid transporter that is highly expressed in metabolically active and rapidly proliferating cells. To explore the effect of Slc7a5 on adult B cell development, we conditionally deleted Slc7a5 in murine B cells and observed a significant reduction of B1a cells. In contrast to PI3K-Akt pathway activation, activity of the mTOR pathway was decreased. This may result from intracellular amino acid starvation in Slc7a5 knockdown (Slc7a5 KD) bone marrow B cells, thereby dampening B1a development. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated increased translation and reduced proliferation in Slc7a5 KD bone marrow B cells. Overall, the results of our study highlight the importance of Slc7a5 in peritoneal B1a cell development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune thyroid disorder that predominantly affects women. The role of the T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing 4 (TIM4)/ NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway in macrophages has previously been studied, but its effects on macrophage-mediated HT has not yet been reported. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to explore the regulatory role of TIM4/NLRP3 in the effects of M1 macrophages on the inflammation, apoptosis and cell adhesion of thyroid follicular cells. To induce M1 macrophage, 10 ng/ml of LPS and 20 ng/ml IFN-γ were applied for the administration of THP-1 cells for 24 h. After induction, the mRNA expressions of M1 macrophage markers were assessed utilizing reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay were adopted for the appraisement of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Additionally, the expression levels of TIM4 and NLRP3 before or after transfection were tested using RT-qPCR and western blotting. The release of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) were estimated using RT-qPCR and western blotting was adopted for the estimation of phosphorylated (p)-p65, p65, I-κB and p-I-κB. Furthermore, the apoptosis level as well as the accompanied proteins was appraised via TUNEL and western blotting. The mRNA and protein expressions of αvβ3 were evaluated employing RT-qPCR and western blotting. The results demonstrated that TIM4 silencing decreased NLRP3 expression level in M1 macrophages. Moreover, TIM4 silencing in M1 macrophages reduced the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, as well as the phosphorylation levels of p65 and IκB in M1 macrophages co-cultured with Nthy-ori 3-1 cells, whereas NLRP3 overexpression significantly reversed these effects. Furthermore, NLRP3 overexpression reversed the decreased apoptotic rate and cell adhesion of Nthy-ori 3-1 cells induced by TIM4 silencing. In summary, the present study demonstrated that TIM4-silencing alleviated the inflammatory damage, apoptosis and cell adhesion of M1 macrophages co-cultured with Nthy-ori 3-1 cells through downregulation of NLRP3. Therefore, the regulation of M1 macrophages via the TIM4/NLRP3 axis may be a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of patients with HT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer/mesoporous silica composites have drawn much attention. In this study SBA-15 mesoporous silicas with three morphologies including fiber, nano-rod and sphere were synthesized and characterized. Polyurethane (PU)/SBA-15 composites were prepared via an in-situ reactive-layer spray technique on urea granules. And the effects of SBA-15 on structure and controlled release performance of coating were elucidated and compared to n -SiO 2 . The results showed that rod-like SBA-15 with an average particle size of 700 nm extremely improved the release properties of PU at the same filler loading, but the other two SBA-15 fillers had no effect on PU instead. SEM images reflected that although SBA-15 particles were all well-dispersed in PU matrix to form a sea-island structure, PU/fiber-like SBA-15 composite coating had some obvious defects. Conversely, n -SiO 2 particles of coating gathered and formed large agglomerates without voids. TGA studies suggested that PU/rod-like SBA-15 composite as a coating material had a much higher thermal stability than PU and PU/ n -SiO 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a magnetic scanning microscope equipped with a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center scanning probe that has the ability to mechanically tune the strain of soft matter in-situ. The construction of the microscope and a continuous strain-tuning sample holder are discussed. An optically detected magnetic resonance protocol utilized in the imaging is described. In order to show the reliability of this microscope, the strain conduction is estimated with finite element simulation, and x-ray diffraction is required for calibration when freestanding crystal films are under consideration. A magnetic imaging result is displayed to demonstrate the nano-scale imaging capability. The microscope presented in this work is helpful in studying strain-coupled magnetic physics such as magnetic phase transition under strain and strain-tuned cycloidal orientation tilting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A healthy lymphatic system is required to return excess interstitial fluid back to the venous circulation. However, up to 49% of breast cancer survivors eventually develop breast cancer-related lymphedema due to lymphatic injuries from lymph node dissections or biopsies performed to treat cancer. While early-stage lymphedema can be ameliorated by manual lymph drainage, no cure exists for late-stage lymphedema when lymph vessels become completely dysfunctional. A viable late-stage treatment is the autotransplantation of functional lymphatic vessels. Here we report on a novel engineered lymphatic flap that may eventually replace the skin flaps used in vascularized lymph vessel transfers. The engineered flap mimics the lymphatic and dermal compartments of the skin by guiding multi-layered tissue organization of mesenchymal stem cells and lymphatic endothelial cells with an aligned decellularized fibroblast matrix. The construct was tested in a novel bilayered wound healing model and implanted into athymic nude rats. The in vitro model demonstrated capillary invasion into the wound gaps and deposition of extracellular matrix fibers, which may guide anastomosis and vascular integration of the graft during wound healing. The construct successfully anastomosed in vivo, forming chimeric vessels of human and rat cells. Overall, our flap replacement has high potential for treating lymphedema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel class of ROCK inhibitors was reported. • Compound 12b showed good selectivity and potent activity against ROCK I and II. • 12b was proved to be a promising lead compound of anti-glaucoma. The Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs) are associated with the pathology of glaucoma and discovery of ROCK inhibitors has attracted much attention in recent years. Herein, we report a series of 3,4-dihydrobenzo[ f ][1,4]oxazepin-5(2 H)-one derivatives as a new class of ROCK inhibitors. Structure-activity relationship studies led to the discovery of compound 12b , which showed potent activities against ROCK I and ROCK Ⅱ with IC 50 values of 93 nM and 3 nM, respectively. 12b also displayed considerable selectivity for ROCKs. The mean IOP-lowering effect of 12b in an ocular normotensive model was 34.3%, and no obvious hyperemia was observed. Overall, this study provides a good starting point for ROCK-targeting drug discovery against glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we proposed an oocyte orientation selection method based on the minimum strain position in the penetration process in order to maximize the developmental potential of the operated oocytes. Considering the symmetry of an oocyte during the penetration process, we analyzed only the intracellular strain of the lower half of the oocyte (from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock). Firstly, the strain distribution in the penetration process was calculated using the finite element analysis method. The influences of penetration force, zona pellucida thickness, oocyte radius, Young's modulus of the cytoplasm, and zona pellucida on the strain distribution were studied. The simulation results showed that the strain values at the 4 o'clock and 9 o'clock areas were significantly smaller than those at the 5 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 7 o'clock, and 8 o'clock areas. Secondly, the experimental strain distribution during penetration was evaluated for the first time using an optical flow method. The experimental strain distribution was strongly positively correlated to the aforementioned simulated results. Finally, the developmental potential of the penetrated porcine oocyte with different orientations was evaluated using the cleavage rate (48 h after penetration and parthenogenetic activation). The cleavage rate was strongly negatively correlated to the intracellular strain. We inferred that a smaller strain on the polar body areas in the penetration process caused less potential damage, which leads to a higher developmental potential of the penetrated oocyte. The optimized oocyte orientations, with the polar body at the 4 o'clock and 9 o'clock areas, are determined based on the minimum strain position in the penetration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on the crack propagation mechanism of bone has important research significance and clinical medical value for the selection of cutting parameters and the development of new surgical tools. In this paper, an extended finite element method (X-FEM) model of ultrasonic bone cutting considering microstructure was developed to further study the ultrasonic bone cutting mechanism and to quantitatively analyze the effects of cutting direction, ultrasonic parameters, and cutting parameters on the mechanism of ultrasonic bone cutting crack propagation. The results show that ultrasonic bone cutting is essentially a controlled crack propagation process, in which brittle crack and fatigue crack are the main crack propagation mechanisms. In order to improve the efficiency of ultrasonic bone cutting, large amplitude and high-frequency ultrasonic vibration are preferred. Compared with the other two cutting directions, the crack propagation deflection angle in the transverse cutting direction is the largest, resulting in the worst cutting surface. Therefore, in the path planning of orthopedic surgical robots, the transverse cutting direction should be avoided as much as possible. Frequency only has a significant effect on the crack propagation rate and has a positive correlation. There is a positive correlation between the deflection angle, propagation length, propagation rate, and amplitude, which provides the possibility to control the direction and length of crack propagation by controlling the amplitude of ultrasonic. The feed speed is much lower than the ultrasonic vibration speed, which makes the influence of ultrasonic vibration speed on the crack propagation characteristics dominant. The X-FEM model of ultrasonic bone cutting provides an effective method for selecting reasonable machining parameters of orthopedic robot and optimize the design of ultrasonic osteotome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• By assembling the wire mesh at the inlet of the side branches, the ISMM with better performance is formed. • The analytical models of SMM and ISMM are developed considering the effect of grazing flow. • The pressure acoustic model, CFD-LNS model and CAA model are developed. • The acoustic performance of SMM and ISMM is described quantitatively, and the advantages of ISMM are clarified. A space-folded metamaterial muffler (SMM) for pipe noise attenuation was proposed in this paper, and an improved space-folded metamaterial muffler (ISMM) was formed by arranging wire meshes at the branch inlet. Under the absence of flow and grazing flow, analytical models of SMM and ISMM were developed based on the wave expansion method and Green's function, and correspondingly, the computational fluid dynamics - linear Navier-Stokes (CFD-LNS) numerical models were established. The acoustic characteristics of responsive space (RS) were described through the complex frequency plane. The transmission coefficient of SMM was obtained and verified by sound transmission loss experiments. The results indicate that due to the thermal-viscous effects, the minimum transmission coefficient of RS cannot reach 0. Therefore, the thermal-viscous effect is one of the critical factors. By the parameter retrieving method, it is clarified that the SMM is a single-negative acoustic metamaterial. The effect of the grazing velocity on the transmission coefficient and impedance was revealed quantitatively. The grazing velocity is positively correlated with impedance at the side branch inlet and negatively correlated with total impedance. Therefore, an increase in the grazing velocity will weaken the muffler performance. Since the CFD-LNS model cannot characterize aerodynamic noise, a computational aeroacoustics (CAA) model was established for SMM and ISMM. Numerical results show that the velocity and vorticity at the side branch inlet significantly decrease due to the wire mesh. When Ma is 0.1, 0.05, and 0.01, ISMM reduces aerodynamic noise by 6.11 dB, 9.19 dB, and 2.76 dB, respectively, compared to SMM. Therefore, ISMM has better aerodynamic noise suppression capability. Finally, noise reduction experiments of the ISMM under the grazing flow were performed in an anechoic chamber, and the effectiveness of the ISMM in practical applications was verified by acoustic imaging and spectrogram results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration coefficient can represent the relationship between force and depth in the rock drilling process, but its understanding is limited. Therefore, based on the rock drilling theory with a hydraulic breaking hammer, a mathematical model of the penetration coefficient is established in this paper, and the main influencing factors of the penetration coefficient are determined. The discrete element method is used to establish a rock simulation model that can represent the real characteristics, and the variation law of the penetration coefficient under cyclic impact is studied. In addition, the drilling processes of drill bits with different impact velocities, shapes, and angles are simulated to evaluate the effects of operational parameters on the penetration coefficient. The results show that cyclic impact will change the rock cohesion and affect the change in the penetration coefficient. With an increase in impact times by the same drill bit, the penetration coefficient first increases and tends to be stable, and then decreases. Regarding operational parameters, the impact velocity has little effect on the penetration coefficient, while the shape and angle of the drill bit have a significant effect on the penetration coefficient, and a drill bit with a smaller angle is accompanied by more rock debris. Highlights: A theoretical model of the penetration coefficient is established. DEM simulation reveals the rock drilling mechanism under cyclic impact. The effect law and significance of operation parameters are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond have been developed as a sensitive magnetic sensor and broadly applied on condensed matter physics. We present a design of a scanning probe microscope based on a nitrogen-vacancy center that can operate under various experimental conditions, including a broad temperature range (20–500 K) and a high-vacuum condition (1 × 10−7 mbar). The design of a compact and robust scanning head and vacuum chamber system is presented, which ensures system stability while enabling the convenience of equipment operations. By showcasing the temperature control performance and presenting confocal images of a single-layer graphene and a diamond probe, along with images of a ferromagnetic strip and an epitaxial BiFeO3 film on the SrTiO3 substrate, we demonstrate the reliability of the instrument. Our study proposes a method and a corresponding design for this microscope that extends its potential applications in nanomagnetism and spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The autoimmune condition Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a disease wherein lymphocytes mediate the autoimmune damage and destruction of the thyroid gland. There are currently no effective means of treating HT, with the primary strategies of thyroid hormone therapy, surgery, or immunomodulatory therapy being associated with serious risks and side effects. There is thus a clear and urgent need to identify novel treatments for HT. In this study, we utilize female SD rats induced HT to evaluated the ability of transplanted MSCs to regulate Th17/Treg interactions in a rat Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) model system. The results showed that Rats in the HT model group exhibited increased thyroid autoantibody levels consistent with successful model development, whereas these levels were lower in rats treated with MSCs. There were also fewer thyroid lesions and less lymphoid infiltration of the thyroid in MSC-treated rats relative to HT model rats, as well as fewer Th17 cells and more Treg cells – an observation consistent with the cytokine analyses. All of these showed that MSCs can regulate Th17/Treg interactions in a rat Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) model system. It suggested that transplanted MSCs could be a potential immunotherapy strategy for the treatment of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affective lability is an important feature of psychopathology. However, there is limited relevant research involving adolescents. To fill this research gap, the present study assessed the relationship between childhood trauma and affective lability among adolescents using a moderated mediation model. A total of 3738 students were recruited from four high schools in Shenzhen, China, between September and December 2019. The participants completed self-reported questionnaires measuring childhood trauma, affective lability, body image dissatisfaction, and the experience of being bullied. Linear regression and moderated mediation analyses were used in this study. Linear regression analysis showed that emotional abuse and body image dissatisfaction positively predicted affective lability in boys and girls (all p < 0.001). Body image dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between emotional abuse and affective lability. In the moderated mediation model, being bullied moderated the direct path from emotional abuse to affective lability (p = 0.0236, p = 0.0188), and gender did not have a significant moderating effect on any direct or indirect path (all p > 0.05). A causal relationship could not be ascertained due to the cross-sectional design, and the results cannot be generalized to other populations. The findings support that childhood trauma has an impact on affective lability in adolescents. Specifically, body image dissatisfaction and being bullied affect the relationship between emotional abuse and affective lability. • Emotional abuse positively predicted affective lability among adolescents. • Body image dissatisfaction mediates the relationship between emotional abuse and affective lability among adolescents. • Experiences of being bullied moderate the relationship between emotional abuse and affective lability among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network motif analysis approaches provide insights into the complexity of the brain's functional network. In recent years, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been reported to result in abnormal information interactions in macro- and micro-scale functional networks. However, most existing studies remain limited due to potentially ignoring meso-scale topology information. To address this gap, we aimed to investigate functional motif patterns in ADHD to unravel the underlying information flow and analyze motif-based node roles to characterize the different information interaction methods for identifying the abnormal and changing lesion sites of ADHD. The results showed that the interaction functions of the right hippocampus and the right amygdala were significantly increased, which could lead patients to develop mood disorders. The information interaction of the bilateral thalamus changed, influencing and modifying behavioral results. Notably, the capability of receiving information in the left inferior temporal and the right lingual gyrus decreased, which may cause difficulties for patients in processing visual information in a timely manner, resulting in inattention. This study revealed abnormal and changing information interactions based on network motifs, providing important evidence for understanding information interactions at the meso-scale level in ADHD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although copper has excellent thermal conductivity, poor wear resistance seriously limits its development. In this paper, a Cu matrix surface composite material reinforced by FeCoNiCrAl high-entropy alloy particles was prepared by friction stir processing. The microstructure and properties of the composite were investigated. The results showed that both the FSP process and the addition of HEA particles contributed to the refinement of the Cu-matrix grains. A diffusion layer with a width of about 0.8 µm was formed at the interface between the HEA particles and the Cu matrix. Compared with received Cu, the microhardness of Cu matrix in the composites was increased by 69.8%, the wear rate was reduced by 29.7%, and the wear resistance was significantly improved. Mean while, the ductility of the composite was consistent with that of the received Cu, and the thermal conductivity reached 87% of the received Cu. Therefore, this paper provided a new possibility for developing multifunctional structural materials with high wear resistance, high ductility, and high thermal conductivity. • HEA particle reinforced Cu-matrix surface composites were successfully prepared via FSP, and the grain size of the matrix was significantly reduced. • HEA particles and Cu matrix formed a diffusion layer continuous with good interfacial bonding. • Compared with traditional particle reinforcement, HEA particle was an excellent reinforcement particle. • The prepared surface composite has significantly improved wear resistance, while maintaining good ductility and thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of adding a small amount of the rare earth (RE) element Gd into a high-strength Mg97Zn1Y2 alloy containing a long periodic stacking ordered (LPSO) phase on the microstructure, phase composition, and corrosion behavior of the alloy were investigated. By adding different contents of X wt% Gd (X=0,3,6,10). With the incorporation of the rare earth element Gd, the morphology of the secondary phase underwent a continuous transition from a continuous network-like form to a discontinuous and blocky phase. The electrochemical test results show that the corrosion current density of Mg97Zn1Y2 is 13.62 μA/cm2 higher than that of the Mg97Zn1Y2–10 wt%Gd alloy. At this time, Mg97Zn1Y2–10 wt%Gd alloy exhibits the best corrosion resistance, which has improved by 2.11 % compared to the substrate. Additionally, the number of pitting pits and corrosion products formed on the surface of Mg97Zn1Y2–10 wt%Gd alloy is lower than that of other alloys. • Adding Gadolinium to Mg97Zn1Y2 alloy affects the dispersion of the second phase, the structural shape, and the content change. • The emergence of the Mg12Zn (Y, Gd) composite phase enhances the nucleation and growth rates of the LPSO phase. • Corrosion resistance is enhanced when the second phase is uniformly distributed and structurally continuous in the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The theoretical model of ultrasonic bone cutting is developed. • Relationship between cutting force and vibration displacement of anti-node. • An indirect measurement method of ultrasonic bone cutting force is proposed. • The effectiveness of the measurement method is verified by simulation and experiment. The measurement method of ultrasonic bone cutting force is an urgent problem to be solved in the application of ultrasonic osteotome in robot assisted orthopaedic surgery. It is of great significance to realize bone layer perception and cutting force control in the process of surgery. In this paper, an indirect measurement method of ultrasonic bone cutting force based on anti-node vibration displacement is proposed for the first time. Firstly, a one-dimensional numerical model for the interaction between ultrasonic osteotome and bone tissue is established. The model consists of two modules. The first module is the electromechanical model of ultrasonic osteotome, including piezoelectric transducer model and stepped horn model. The second module is the load model simulating ultrasonic bone cutting, which can be expressed by the Kelvin-Voigt model. The influence of load on the vibration characteristics of ultrasonic osteotome was studied by a one-dimensional numerical model. A full factorial design of experiment is used to collect the necessary data for developing and validating the models. Then, the indirect measurement model of ultrasonic bone cutting force is developed by using grey wolf optimized BP (GWO-BP) neural network algorithm. Taking the effective value x 1rms and vibration frequency f x 1 of anti-node vibration displacement as inputs, the effective value F rms of cutting force is output. It is found that the predicted effective value of cutting force is in good agreement with the corresponding numerical calculated effective value of cutting force. Finally, the continuous system of ultrasonic osteotome and bone tissue interaction is simulated by finite element method, the discrete system of ultrasonic osteotome and bone tissue interaction is simulated by physical method, and the experimental platform for indirect measurement of cutting force is built. The corresponding relationship between cutting force and anti-node vibration displacement is illustrated, which further verifies the effectiveness and feasibility of the indirect measurement method of ultrasonic bone cutting force based on anti-node vibration displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A local optimal flow distribution calculation model is constructed based on the closed parallel multi-channel model. • A multi-objective comprehensive evaluation based on the optimal time zone is proposed. • The flow distribution scheme of a small lead-bismuth fast reactor with long life and natural circulation is studied. A reasonable flow distribution can flatten the temperature distribution at the core outlet and reduce the temperature fluctuation, improving the economy and safety of the reactor. Different from a forced circulation reactor, the flow distribution of a natural circulation reactor is automatically adjusted according to the relationship between the fuel assembly power and inlet resistance. In this work, first, a local optimal flow distribution calculation model is constructed based on the closed parallel multi-channel model. Second, a Multi-objective comprehensive evaluation based on the optimal time zone is proposed to find an optimal flow distribution scheme that satisfies multiple requirements during the entire life-cycle. Third, the flow distribution scheme of a small lead-bismuth fast reactor with long life and natural circulation (SPALLER-100) is studied. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) algorithm is chosen as the evaluation method with three evaluating indicators for calculation. Ultimately, the subchannel code is selected to verify the flow distribution scheme. The analysis results show that the scheme based on the power distribution of 3182 days performs the best. Compared with the scheme designed by the beginning of life (BOL), the maximum outlet temperature difference reduced by 30 K, the standard deviation of the maximum outlet temperature difference reduced by 41%, and maximum output power increased by 2.35%. The results are in good agreement with the SUBCHANFLOW code, and the maximum relative error is less than 4.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initiation is the rate-limiting step in translation, and its dysregulation is vital for carcinogenesis, including hematopoietic malignancy. Thus, discovery of novel translation initiation regulators may provide promising therapeutic targets. Here, combining Ribo-seq, mass spectrometry, and RNA-seq datasets, we discovered an oncomicropeptide, APPLE (a peptide located in ER), encoded by a non-coding RNA transcript in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). APPLE is overexpressed in various subtypes of AML and confers a poor prognosis. The micropeptide is enriched in ribosomes and regulates the initiation step to enhance translation and to maintain high rates of oncoprotein synthesis. Mechanically, APPLE promotes PABPC1-eIF4G interaction and facilitates mRNA circularization and eIF4F initiation complex assembly to support a specific pro-cancer translation program. Targeting APPLE exhibited broad anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo. This study not only reports a previously unknown function of micropeptides but also provides new opportunities for targeting the translation machinery in cancer cells. [Display omitted] • An oncomicropeptide, APPLE, encoded by a non-coding RNA transcript was discovered • APPLE regulates translation initiation to support selective oncoprotein synthesis • APPLE promotes PABPC1-eIF4G interaction, mRNA looping, and eIF4F complex assembly • Targeting APPLE exhibited broad anti-cancer effects in vitro and in vivo Sun et al. characterized a micropeptide APPLE (a peptide located in ER) that regulates translation initiation and is required for a high demand of oncoprotein synthesis in cancer cells. The study provides the first evidence of micropeptides in translation regulation and new perspectives on translation machinery dysregulation in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrethroid insecticide deltamethrin has been reported to have an effect on vertebrate development and cardiovascular disease. Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) is considered to have cardioprotective effects and melatonin is known to regulate sleep-waking cycles. In this experiment, we used transgenic zebrafish Tg (kdrl:mCherry) and Tg (myl7:GFP) to investigate whether STS and melatonin could reverse the cardiovascular toxicity and neurotoxicity induced by deltamethrin. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 25 μg/L deltamethrin at 10 hpf and treated with 100 mmol/L STS and 1 μmol/L melatonin showed that deltamethrin treatment affected normal cardiovascular development. In situ hybridization and qRT-PCR results showed that deltamethrin could interfere with the normal expression of cardiovascular development-related genes vegfr2 , shh , gata4 , nkx2.5 , causing functional defects in the cardiovascular system. In addition, deltamethrin could affect the sleep-waking behavior of larvae, increasing the activity of larvae, decreasing the rest behavior and the expression of hcrt , hcrtr , aanat2 were down-regulated. The addition of melatonin and STS can significantly alleviate cardiovascular toxicity and sleep-waking induced by deltamethrin, while restoring the expression of related genes to normal levels. Our study demonstrates the role of STS and melatonin in protecting cardiovascular and sleep-waking behavior caused by deltamethrin. • Cardiovascular and neuroprotective effects of STS and MT on zebrafish larvae. • DM causes heart and vessel morphology and functional damage, affecting sleep-waking. • Heart beat amplitude to evaluate cardiac function and angiogenesis simulation. • Affect the expression of vegfr2 , shh , gata4 , nkx2.5 and hcrt , hcrtr , aanat2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major cellular component in tumor microenvironment, the distribution, frequency, and prognostic significance of infiltrating B cell subsets in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain controversial. Using tyramide signal amplification (TSA) based fluorescent multiplexed immunohistochemistry in situ, we evaluated the distribution and frequency of B cell subsets in two independent HCC cohorts (n = 619). The results were further confirmed by flow cytometry. Correlations of B cell subsets with clinicopathologic features and patient prognosis were analyzed. Five B cell subsets were defined by multiplexed immunohistochemistry and each subset was clearly separated by t-SNE dimension reduction analysis. Notably, the densities of all B cell subsets were significantly decreased in the tumor. The frequency of plasma cells within B cells was most abundant in the tumor. In training cohort (n = 258), high densities of tumor-infiltrating CD20+ B cells, naive B cells, IgM+ memory B cells, CD27− isotype-switched memory B cells, and plasma cells were associated with superior survival. Multivariate analysis further identified CD20+ B cells, naive B cells, and CD27− isotype-switched memory B cells as independent prognosticators for survival. Unsupervised cluster analysis confirmed increased B cell subsets harbored superior survival. In addition, high density of B cells was correlated with smaller tumor size and well differentiation. The results were validated in the independent cohort of 361 HCC patients. Intratumor infiltration of B cells is significantly impaired during HCC progression. High densities of tumor-infiltrating B cells imply a better clinical outcome. Therapies designed to target B cells may be a novel strategy in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]