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Unlike polymers, glass is prone to fracturing under localized stress during roll embossing. Molds traditionally used for glass embossing are rigid and unsuitable for roll embossing. In this investigation, we utilized a modified soft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold, known for its ease of fabrication and superior replication capacity, for roller embossing on glass. This innovation significantly cuts mold expenses while preserving PDMS's hydrophobic and low surface energy attributes. Consequently, it prevents adhesion between the glass and the mold during high-temperature embossing, ensuring that the demolding process does not harm the glass surface. We successfully carried out roll embossing on optical glass with a mere 1.65 mm thickness, using a self-devised stainless steel carrier plate and a mobile induction heating apparatus. This heating methodology departs from the conventional practice of employing multiple heat sources in glass embossing and instead uses a singular heat source. Induction heating is applied directly to the mold and 420 stainless steel carrier. The optical glass surface reaches a remarkably uniform temperature, with a minimal temperature differential of only 2.5 °C, which is highly advantageous for mobile roller embossing, resulting in a high replication rate of V-groove microstructures on glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biological traits are mainly determined by genotype and are also influenced by environmental factors, especially in the process of adapting to different environments, corresponding phenotypic variations may occur. Even for the same animal, there may be some morphological differences due to its long-term adaptation to different habitat environments. Molar teeth are the direct contact point between animals and the environment, which are of great significance in the study of animal adaptability to different environments. Methods: To explore the relationship between the morphology of the molars (upper molars and lower molars) of tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) and environmental variations in different regions, we applied geometric morphometric methods to measure the morphological characteristics of the molars of T. belangeri in 12 different regions of China (Hainan, Daxin, Leye, Xingyi, Xichang, Hekou, Kunming, Mengla, Dali, Tengchong, Pianma, Laboratory bred F1 generation). Result: The results showed that the morphological variations of the lower molars of T. belangeri in 12 different regions were larger, which was more suitable and reference valuable for studying the morphological differences among different geographical populations. The Principal component analysis showed that T. belangeri from 12 regions were clustered into 4 branches: Hainan was clustered into one branch, Daxin was clustered into one branch, Pianma and Tengchong were clustered into one branch and Leye, Xingyi, Hekou, Kunming, Xichang, Mengla, Dali and laboratory bred F1 generation were clustered into one branch. The thin plate spline analysis showed that deformations in the upper molars were mostly concentrated in the alveolar and dental margins. The deformations of the lower molars were mainly concentrated in the alveolar, marginal and occlusal surfaces. Multidimensional scaling showed that there were differences in molars morphology among the 12 locations, with significant variations in Hainan, Daxin, Pianma and Tengchong regions, reflecting the adaptive variation of T. belangeri to different ecological environments. The present results can provide a certain basis for the study of phenotypic adaptation in T. belangeri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a polymer that is both elastic and cost-effective, making it an ideal material for replication molds when creating delicate microstructures. Its surface microstructure is durable, and the replication process is straightforward and fast. However, as the mold is soft, no extensive research has been conducted to prove it is suitable for rolling embossing. Moreover, PDMS is an insulator with high thermal resistance, making it difficult to heat uniformly for embossing. Typically, external heat sources are used to heat PDMS molds indirectly. We developed a double-sided mold with magnetic powder embedded inside PDMS to overcome these challenges and increase hardness and heating efficiency. Our study addresses the air-gap issue when roller embossing convex microlens arrays on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) polymer. Ultimately, this research also realized a double-sided PDMS mold for simultaneous double-sided embossing of two pieces of PMMA convex and concave microlens arrays on a roller, improving the microstructure's replication fidelity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical temperature, critical pressure and P–T–ρ–X data of acetone–water solutions with water mole fractions in a range of 0–60% were measured to provide fundamental data for CFD simulations. Critical temperatures were determined via observing critical opalescence in fused quartz capillary tubes. Meanwhile, critical pressures were measured by heating acetone–water solutions to its critical temperature in an autoclave. The standard deviations of critical temperature and critical pressure were 0.55 K and 0.029 MPa, respectively. The results indicate that only one phase exists during mixing of acetone with water. Moreover, P–T–ρ–X data under 15 and 20 MPa in the temperature range of 460–550 K were measured in the autoclave. The relative deviation of density was 0.32%. Volume-translated Peng-Robinson and Soave–Redlich–Kwong state equations were used to illustrate the P–V–T–X relationship of acetone–water solutions, and the Peng–Robinson state equation with an average absolute relative deviation of 1.19% between fitting and experimental densities was found more accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactivity of the open-shell Gd@C2v-C82 with different charge states towards benzyl bromide was investigated. [Gd@C2v-C82]3− exhibited enhanced activity relative to Gd@C2v-C82 and [Gd@C2v-C82]−. The structural characterizations, including MALDI-TOF MS, UV-vis-NIR, and single crystal X-ray diffraction, indicate the formation of isomeric benzyl monoadducts of Gd@C2v-C82. All three monoadducts contain 1:1 mirror-symmetric enantiomers. Additionally, the addition of the benzyl group and its specific position result in distinct electrochemical behavior of the products compared to the parent Gd@C2v-C82. Theoretical studies demonstrate that only [Gd@C2v-C82]3− has a HOMO energy level that matches well with the LUMO energy level of the PhCH2 radical, providing a rationalization for the observed significantly different reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, stereoscopic image quality assessment has attracted a lot attention. However, compared with 2D image quality assessment, it is much more difficult to assess the quality of stereoscopic images due to the lack of understanding of 3D visual perception. This paper proposes a novel no-reference quality assessment metric for stereoscopic images using natural scene statistics with consideration of both the quality of the cyclopean image and 3D visual perceptual information (binocular fusion and binocular rivalry). In the proposed method, not only is the quality of the cyclopean image considered, but binocular rivalry and other 3D visual intrinsic properties are also exploited. Specifically, in order to improve the objective quality of the cyclopean image, features of the cyclopean images in both the spatial domain and transformed domain are extracted based on the natural scene statistics (NSS) model. Furthermore, to better comprehend intrinsic properties of the stereoscopic image, in our method, the binocular rivalry effect and other 3D visual properties are also considered in the process of feature extraction. Following adaptive feature pruning using principle component analysis, improved metric accuracy can be found in our proposed method. The experimental results show that the proposed metric can achieve a good and consistent alignment with subjective assessment of stereoscopic images in comparison with existing methods, with the highest SROCC (0.952) and PLCC (0.962) scores being acquired on the LIVE 3D database Phase I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: We find that the MYB family transcription factor, LiMYB108, has a novel function to regulate the floral fragrance affected by light intensity. Floral fragrance determines the commercial value of flowers and is influenced by many environmental factors, especially light intensity. However, the mechanism by which light intensity affects the release of floral fragrance is unclear. Here, we isolated an R2R3-type MYB transcription factor LiMYB108, the expression of which was induced by light intensity and located in the nucleus. Light of 200 and 600 μmol m−1 s−1 significantly increased the expression of LiMYB108, which was consistent with the improving trend of monoterpene synthesis under light. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of LiMYB108 in Lilium not only significantly inhibited the synthesis of ocimene and linalool, but also decreased the expression of LoTPS1; however, transient overexpression of LiMYB108 exerted opposite effects. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid assays, dual-luciferase assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrated that LiMYB108 directly activated the expression of LoTPS1 by binding to the MYB binding site (MBS) (CAGTTG). Our findings demonstrate that light intensity triggered the high expression of LiMYB108, and then LiMYB108 as a transcription factor to activate the expression of LoTPS1, thus promoting the synthesis of the ocimene and linalool, which are important components of floral fragrance. These results provide new insights into the effects of light intensity on floral fragrance synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roller embossing is an effective manufacturing process for replicating microstructures onto polymeric substrates, featuring high-volume production, rapid manufacturing, and large-area processing. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a cost-effective mold material that is easy to replicate, but its easy deformability may cause mold distortion under a high roller embossing pressure. Furthermore, PDMS is not an effective induction heating mold because of its high thermal resistance and poor conductivity. Therefore, this research confronted the three main challenges of PDMS: low hardness, poor thermal conductivity, and heating inefficiency. We proposed a PDMS mold embedded with dual magnetic particles (DMP-PDMS), which can improve the hardness and thermal conductivity of PDMS and be directly heated by induction heating. This study designed and constructed a roll-embossing apparatus to fabricate polymer microlens arrays using DMP-PDMS composite molds. It is the first study to use dual magnetic particles embedded in PDMS for direct induction heating and generate an internal heat source to 220 °C within 60 s. Compared with a single type of magnetic particle embedded in PDMS, the heating efficiency is increased by 134%. This study demonstrates the feasibility and potential of induction heating DMP-PDMS molds for rolling embossing instead of replicating microstructures with metal molds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for stroke and exacerbates white-matter damage in focal cerebral ischemia. Our previous study showed that the sigma-1 receptor agonist PRE084 ameliorates bilateral common-carotid-artery occlusion-induced brain damage in mice. However, whether this protective effect can extend to white matter remains unclear. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were treated with high-fat diets (HFDs) combined with streptozotocin (STZ) injection to mimic type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Focal cerebral ischemia in T2DM mice was established via injection of the vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1) into the hippocampus. Three different treatment plans were used in this study. In one plan, 1 mg/kg of PRE084 (intraperitoneally) was administered for 7 d before ET-1 injection; the mice were sacrificed 24 h after ET-1 injection. In another plan, PRE084 treatment was initiated 24 h after ET-1 injection and lasted for 7 d. In the third plan, PRE084 treatment was initiated 24 h after ET-1 injection and lasted for 21 d. The Y-maze, novel object recognition, and passive avoidance tests were used to assess neurobehavioral outcomes. We found no cognitive dysfunction or white-matter damage 24 h after ET-1 injection. However, 7 and 21 d after ET-1 injection, the mice showed significant cognitive impairment and white-matter damage. Only PRE084 treatment for 21 d could improve this white-matter injury; increase axon and myelin density; decrease demyelination; and increase the expressions of myelin regulator 2'-3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNpase) and myelin oligodendrocyte protein (MOG) (which was expressed by mature oligodendrocytes), the number of nerve/glial-antigen 2 (NG2)-positive cells, and the expression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRα), all of which were expressed by oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in mice with diabetes and focal cerebral ischemia. These results indicate that maybe there was more severe white-matter damage in the focal cerebral ischemia of the diabetic mice than in the mice with normal blood glucose levels. Long-term sigma-1 receptor activation may promote oligodendrogenesis and white-matter functional recovery in patients with stroke and with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Preterm birth is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality involving over 10% of infants. Tools for timely diagnosis of preterm birth are lacking and the underlying physiological mechanisms are unclear. The aim of the present study is to improve early assessment of pregnancy progression by combining and optimizing a large number of electrohysterography (EHG) features with a dedicated machine learning framework. Methods: A set of reported EHG features are extracted. In addition, novel cross and multichannel entropy and mutual information are employed. The optimal feature set is selected using a wrapper method according to the accuracy of the leave-one-out cross validation. An annotated database of 74 EHG recordings in women with preterm contractions was employed to test the ability of the proposed method to recognize the onset of labor and the risk of preterm birth. Difference between using the contractile segments only and the whole EHG signal was compared. Results: The proposed method produces an accuracy of 96.4% and 90.5% for labor and preterm prediction, respectively, much higher than that reported in previous studies. The best labor prediction was observed with the contraction segments and the best preterm prediction achieved with the whole EHG signal. Entropy features, particularly the newly-employed cross entropy contribute significantly to the optimal feature set for both labor and preterm prediction. Significance: Our results suggest that changes in the EHG, particularly the regularity, might manifest early in pregnancy. Single-channel and cross entropy may therefore provide relevant prognostic opportunities for pregnancy monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four hypercrosslinked polymer materials (HBT-X, X = H, OH, 2OH and CO) were prepared by cross-linking method with benzotriazole (HBT) and its derivatives modified with oxygen-containing functional groups as monomers, and characterized by BET, TGA, and FT-IR. The adsorption behavior of HBT-X for tetracycline (TC) conformed to the pseudo-second-order equation. And Langmuir isotherm model presented the best description at 25 °C, and the highest theoretical adsorption capacities for TC on HBT-OH was 229.9 mg/g. Freundlich isotherm model became the most suitable model at 45 °C due to the change of main interaction forces between HBT-X and TC. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the TC adsorption on HBT-X was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. After reused for 7 times, the adsorption capacity of HBT-OH for TC was only reduced by about 3.2%. The results of this study indicate that HBT-X show great potential in the removal of TC from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that electronic energy bands are split by spin‐orbit coupling in a system that lacks inversion center, and the bulk Rashba effect in ferroelectric semiconductor GeTe has attracted intensive attention due to its giant Rashba coefficient. However, the Rashba effect in GeTe film will disappear below a critical thickness due to the occurrence of centrosymmetric structure with decreasing thickness. In this paper, GeTe/In2Se3$_2\text{Se}_3$ heterostructures are investigated by means of first‐principle calculations, and it is found that the Rashba effect not only can be revived for the nonpolar‐GeTe film, but also can be enhanced for the ultrathin polar‐GeTe film. The variation of the bias field within the GeTe film in the heterostructure in contrast with that within the isolated GeTe film may be employed to explain the remarkable improvement of Rashba effect and the spin textures around the spin‐split band. Furthermore, the influence of the In2Se3$_2\text{Se}_3$ polarization on the Rashba coefficient is also discussed. With the increasing demands of device miniaturization, the authors hope that the method of constructing heterostructure may be an alternative route to enable large Rashba effect surviving down to the ultrathin film limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking into account the diversity of fullerene ligands and metal salts, metal–fullerene frameworks (MFFs) present a variety of structures. Currently, the structural control of MFFs mainly relies on the design and synthesis of fullerene ligands, while the influence of metal building units on the structures has been rarely studied. The present work represents a systematical investigation of fullerene-linked supramolecular architectures incorporating different metal salts. Treatment of a bidentate N,N-donors fullerene ligand (L1) with six metal salts ([Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, Cd(NO3)2·4H2O, Cu(NO3)2·3H2O, Cu(OAc)2·H2O, FeCl2·4H2O and FeCl3·6H2O]) produced six one-dimensional MFFs, i.e., ZnL1(NO3)2(H2O)2 (1), CdL1(NO3)2 (2), Cu(L1)(H2O)2(NO3)2 (3), CuL1(OAc)(CH3O) (4), FeL1Cl2 (5) and FeL1Cl2(FeCl4) (6). Compounds 1–3, built with nitrates with different metal centers (M(NO3)2, M = Zn, Cd, Cu), present a 1D stair-like, 1D zigzag, and 1D linear chain structure, respectively. Compound 4, synthesized with another Cu(II) salt, Cu(OAc)2, displays a dinuclear Cu-Cu connected 1D stair-like chain structure, rather than the single Cu linked 1D linear chain obtained from Cu(NO3)2. Compounds 5 and 6, assembled from iron chloride of different oxidation states (Fe(II)Cl2 and Fe(III)Cl3) reveal a 1D zigzag and a 1D stair-like chain structure, respectively. The results demonstrate the significant influences of metal salts on the structures of metal–fullerene frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline fuel cells enable the use of earth-abundant elements to replace Pt but are hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in alkaline media. Precious metal-free HOR electrocatalysts need to overcome two major challenges: their low intrinsic activity from too strong a hydrogen-binding energy and poor durability due to rapid passivation from metal oxide formation. Here, we designed a Ni-based electrocatalyst with a 2-nm nitrogen-doped carbon shell (Ni@CNx) that serves as a protection layer and significantly enhances HOR kinetics. A Ni@CNx anode, paired with a Co--Mn spinel cathode, exhibited a record peak power density of over 200 mW/cm² in a completely precious metal-free alkaline membrane fuel cell. Ni@CNx exhibited superior durability when compared to a Ni nanoparticle catalyst due to the enhanced oxidation resistance provided by the CNx layer. Density functional theory calculations suggest that graphitic carbon layers on the surface of the Ni nanoparticles lower the H binding energy to Ni, bringing it closer to the previously predicted value for optimal HOR activity, and single Ni atoms anchored to pyridinic or pyrrolic N defects of graphene can serve as the HOR active sites. The strategy described here marks a milestone in electrocatalyst design for low-cost hydrogen fuel cells and other energy technologies with completely precious metal-free electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen energy-based electrochemical energy conversion technologies offer the promise of enabling a transition of the global energy landscape from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the fundamentals of electrocatalysis in alkaline media and applications in alkaline-based energy technologies, particularly alkaline fuel cells and water electrolyzers. Anion exchange (alkaline) membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) enable the use of nonprecious electrocatalysts for the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), relative to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which require Pt-based electrocatalysts. However, the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) kinetics is significantly slower in alkaline media than in acidic media. Understanding these phenomena requires applying theoretical and experimental methods to unravel molecular-level thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrogen and oxygen electrocatalysis and, particularly, the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process that takes place in a proton-deficient alkaline media. Extensive electrochemical and spectroscopic studies, on single-crystal Pt and metal oxides, have contributed to the development of activity descriptors, as well as the identification of the nature of active sites, and the rate-determining steps of the HOR and ORR. Among these, the structure and reactivity of interfacial water serve as key potential and pH-dependent kinetic factors that are helping elucidate the origins of the HOR and ORR activity differences in acids and bases. Additionally, deliberately modulating and controlling catalyst-support interactions have provided valuable insights for enhancing catalyst accessibility and durability during operation. The design and synthesis of highly conductive and durable alkaline membranes/ionomers have enabled AEMFCs to reach initial performance metrics equal to or higher than those of PEMFCs. We emphasize the importance of using membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) to integrate the often separately pursued/optimized electrocatalyst/support and membranes/ionomer components. Operando/in situ methods, at multiscales, and ab initio simulations provide a mechanistic understanding of electron, ion, and mass transport at catalyst/ionomer/membrane interfaces and the necessary guidance to achieve fuel cell operation in air over thousands of hours. We hope that this Review will serve as a roadmap for advancing the scientific understanding of the fundamental factors governing electrochemical energy conversion in alkaline media with the ultimate goal of achieving ultralow Pt or precious-metal-free high-performance and durable alkaline fuel cells and related technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of nonprecious transition metal nitrides as efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalysts for alkaline fuel cells. It mentions that hydrogen fuel cells have attracted growing attention for high-performance automotive power and hindered by the scarcity of platinum, used to catalyze the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction.

Parenteral sustained release drug formulations, acting as preferable platforms for longterm exposure therapy, have been wildly used in clinical practice. However, most of these delivery systems must be given by hypodermic injection. Therefore, issues including needle-phobic, needle-stick injuries and inappropriate reuse of needles would hamper the further applications of these delivery platforms. Microneedles (MNs) as a potential alternative system for hypodermic needles can benefit from minimally invasive and self-administration. Recently, polymeric microneedle-mediated sustained release systems (MN@SRS) have opened up a new way for treatment of many diseases. Here, we reviewed the recent researches in MN@SRS for transdermal delivery, and summed up its typical design strategies and applications in various diseases therapy, particularly focusing on the applications in contraception, infection, cancer, diabetes, and subcutaneous disease. An overview of the present clinical translation difficulties and future outlook of MN@SRS was also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are widely used in combination with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in clinical practice. We aim to compare the efficacy and safety of TACE combined with RFA or MWA versus TACE monotherapy for intermediate-stage HCC. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies. The outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local tumor control (LTC) rate, and major complication. Subgroup analysis for different TACE combination therapies was performed. Results: Ten studies with 1799 patients with intermediate-stage HCC were included. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) for OS was in favor of TACE combination therapy (HR, 0.50, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40–0.62). Specifically, the TACE combination therapy was associated with higher 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates. Regarding tumor progression, the TACE combination therapy showed significantly better PFS (HR, 0.47, 95% CI, 0.37–0.61) and higher 1-, 2- and 3-year PFS rates than TACE monotherapy. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for the LTC was also in favor of TACE combination therapy (OR, 0.36, 95% CI, 0.24–0.53). No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the major complication rate (OR, 1.26, 95% CI, 0.74–2.16). These results were consistent across subgroups of TACE þ RFA versus TACE and TACE þ MWA versus TACE. Conclusion: TACE combined with RFA or MWA can provide significantly better OS, PFS and LTC than TACE monotherapy for patients with intermediate-stage HCC, without increasing the risk of major complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the static and dynamic states of water network during the phase transitions from double gyroid (Ia3‾d) to double diamond (Pn3‾m) bicontinuous cubic phases and from the latter to the reverse hexagonal (HII) phase in monolinolein based lipidic mesophases by combining FTIR and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). In both cubic(s) and HII phase, two dynamically different fractions of water are detected and attributed to bound and interstitial free water. The dynamics of the two water fractions are all slower than bulk water due to the hydrogen‐bonds between water molecules and the lipid's polar headgroups and to nanoconfinement. Both FTIR and BDS results suggest that a larger fraction of water is hydrogen‐bonded to the headgroup of lipids in the HII phase at higher temperature than in the cubic phase at lower temperature via H‐bonds, which is different from the common expectation that the number of H‐bonds should decrease with increase of temperature. These findings are rationalized by considering the topological ratio of interface/volume of the two mesophases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the static and dynamic states of water network during the phase transitions from double gyroid (Ia3‾d) to double diamond (Pn3‾m) bicontinuous cubic phases and from the latter to the reverse hexagonal (HII) phase in monolinolein based lipidic mesophases by combining FTIR and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). In both cubic(s) and HII phase, two dynamically different fractions of water are detected and attributed to bound and interstitial free water. The dynamics of the two water fractions are all slower than bulk water due to the hydrogen‐bonds between water molecules and the lipid's polar headgroups and to nanoconfinement. Both FTIR and BDS results suggest that a larger fraction of water is hydrogen‐bonded to the headgroup of lipids in the HII phase at higher temperature than in the cubic phase at lower temperature via H‐bonds, which is different from the common expectation that the number of H‐bonds should decrease with increase of temperature. These findings are rationalized by considering the topological ratio of interface/volume of the two mesophases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Aortic stiffness is associated with risk of cardiovascular events. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is the current noninvasive gold standard for assessing aortic stiffness. However, the cfPWV measurement is challenging, requiring simultaneous signals at the carotid and femoral sites. Approach. In this study, the aortic PWV is estimated using a single radial pressure waveform and compared with cfPWV. 111 subjects’ aortic PWVs are estimated from the decomposition of the derived central aortic pressure waveform based on three types of reconstructed flow waveform: the peak of triangular flow waveform based on 30% ejection time (Q 30%tri), the peak of triangular flow waveform based on inflection point (Q tri), and averaged flow waveform (Q avg). The central aortic pressure waveform is derived from a radial pressure waveform via a validated transfer function. Main results. The Q avg is used for estimating aortic PWV without the determination of the peak point of the triangular flow waveforms. The estimated aortic PWV shows good agreement with cfPWV. The mean difference ± SD is 0.29 ± 1.50 m sâˆ'1 (r 2 = 0.29, p < 0.001) for the Q 30%tri; 0.27 ± 1.40 m sâˆ'1 (r 2 = 0.38, p  < 0.001) for the Q tri; 0.23 ± 1.39 m sâˆ'1 (r 2 = 0.40, p  < 0.001) for the Q avg. The correlation between estimated aortic PWV based on Q 30%tri and measured cfPWV is weak. The results of Q tri and Q avg show no obvious difference. Significance. The proposed method can be used as a less complex way than conventional measurement of cfPWV to further assess arterial stiffness and predict cardiovascular risks or events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytantriol-based lipidic mesophases (LMs) are introduced as a platform for cryoenzymology, which relies on the presence of liquid water in LMs at subzero temperatures. After incorporation into LMs, the model enzyme Benzaldehyde lyase (BAL) shows high cryogenic stability and activity. In contrast, BAL in bulk solution undergoes significant secondary structural transitions caused by low temperatures (cold denaturation), demonstrating the potential of this approach to enable in meso cryoenzymology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple epidermal wax protects plants from environmental stresses, determines fruit gloss and improves postharvest storage quality. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis and regulation of apple epidermal waxes are not fully understood. In this study, we isolated a MdDEWAX gene from apple, which localized in the nucleus, expressed mainly in apple fruit, and induced by drought. We transformed the MdDEWAX gene into Arabidopsis , and found that heterologous expression of MdDEWAX reduced the accumulation of cuticular waxes in leaves and stems, increased epidermal permeability, the rate of water loss, and the rate of chlorophyll extraction of leaves and stems, altered the sensitivity to ABA, and reduced drought tolerance. Meanwhile, overexpression or silencing of the gene in the epidermis of apple fruits decreased or increased wax content, respectively. This study provides candidate genes for breeding apple cultivars and rootstocks with better drought tolerance. • Heterologous expression of MdDEWAX in Arabidopsis reduces the accumulation of cuticular wax in leaves and stems. • Heterologous expression of MdDEWAX in Arabidopsis enhances permeability and reduces drought tolerance. • Overexpression or silencing of MdDEWAX in the epidermis of apple fruits decreases or increases wax content, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria is a crisis that threatens public health. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been suggested to be potentially effective alternatives to solve this problem. Here, we tested housefly Phormicin-derived peptides for effects on Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in vitro and in vivo. A decreased bacterial load of MRSA was observed in the mouse scald model after treatment with Phormicin and in the positive control group (vancomycin). A mouse scrape model indicated that Phormicin helps the host fight drug-resistant MRSA infections. The protective effect of Phormicin on MRSA was confirmed in the Hermetia illucens larvae model. Phormicin also disrupted the formation of S. aureus and MRSA biofilms. Furthermore, this effect coincided with the downregulation of biofilm formation-related gene expression (agrC , sigB , RNAIII , altA , rbf , hla , hld , geh and psmɑ). Notably, virulence genes and several regulatory factors were also altered by Phormicin treatment. Based on these findings, housefly Phormicin helps the host inhibit MRSA infection through effects on biofilm formation and related gene networks. Therefore, housefly Phormicin potential represents a candidate agent for clinical MRSA chemotherapy. Unlabelled Image • Phormicin effectively inhibits MRSA infection in skin scratch or scald mice model and promotes the healing of scald wounds. • Phormicin improves the survival of Hermetia illucens larvae infected with MRSA in vivo. • Phormicin inhibits biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. • Phormicin altered gene expression of MRSA biofilm formation and virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gravitational theory including spinor particle is formulated with the suggestion of tetrad fields E α μ by Utiyama, Kibble and Weinberg. 1 – 3 We might take the metric g μ ν = E α μ E β ν η α β as a constraint, that is used the method of Lagrange multiplier. In the weak-field approximation we calculate the metric of a static Dirac spinor particle proton and obtain that the metric is a diagonal g μ μ = η μ μ − 2 G N M / r which coincides with the anticipative result of Newtonian Gravitational potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the termination switching of antiferromagnetic proximity effect in topological insulator. It mentions the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE) in magnetic topological insulators. It reports the ferromagnetism of topological insulator, with a Curie temperature induced by magnetic proximity effect (MPE) of an antiferromagnetic chromium selenide (CrSe).

An advanced constitutive framework for unsaturated soils, the UTUH model, is proposed in this paper, which considers the joint effect of time, suction and overconsolidation within the framework of sub-loading surface plasticity. A reference line, namely the instantaneously normal compression line (INCLs) for unsaturated soils, is introduced from a conceptual framework drawn from constant rates of strain test results to determine creep time and overconsolidation states of unsaturated soils. Subsequently, an isotropic elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model for unsaturated soils is produced by combining viscous deformation with mechanical and hydraulic deformation through overconsolidation parameter. Net stress, suction and time are adopted as fundamental constitutive variables and time-dependent loading collapse yield surface is derived to characterize the relationship between yield stress, suction, and time. Then, an extension to a triaxial stress state is built in the space of mean effective stress, suction, deviator stress and time variable. The hardening of yield surface and sub-loading surface is controlled by viscoplastic volumetric strain and unified hardening parameter. The performance of the proposed UTUH model is addressed through four numerical studies, and the proposed model is validated against experimental data from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of skeletal muscle is a complex biological process involving a variety of regulatory pathways. A deeper understanding of the developmental mechanisms of skeletal muscle is of great significance for the treatment of muscular lesions. In recent years, studies have shown that circRNAs, as a new class of post-transcriptional regulators, play an important regulatory role in a variety of biological processes, but their function in skeletal muscle development remains unclear. Here, we used C2C12 myoblasts to study circ-HIPK3, which has significant differences in the developmental stages of skeletal muscle and is highly expressed. We found that the expression level of circ-HIPK3 was significantly up-regulated (p <.05) with the persistence of C2C12 cell differentiation. Combining the results of bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase reporter experiments, we found that circ-HIPK3 is a sponge of miR-124 and miR-379 that regulate muscle differentiation. Our study shows that circ-HIPK3 can promote the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts, providing a scientific basis for further research on the development of skeletal muscle at the level of circRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although substantial evidence has shown that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is an important therapeutic target in gastric cancer, the overall response rates in patients to mTOR inhibitor everolimus have been less than initially expected. We hypothesized that the limited efficacy of everolimus in gastric cancer is due to the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK).Methods: ERK activation was investigated using western blot. The effects of dual inhibition of ERK and mTOR via genetic and pharmacological approaches were determined using cellular assays and xenograft mouse model.Results: We observed the decreased phosphorylation of mTOR, rS6, and 4EBP1 and increased phosphorylation of ERK and p90RSK in gastric cancer cells exposed to everolimus at clinically relevant concentration. Using both in vitro cell culture assays and in vivo xenograft mouse model, we found that trametinib overcame everolimus resistance by either effectively targeting resistant cells or further enhancing everolimus' efficacy in sensitive cells. Mechanism studies confirmed that trametinib overcame everolimus resistance via specifically inhibiting ERK and regulating ERK-mediated Bcl-2 family proteins in gastric cancer cells.Conclusions: Inhibition of mTOR pathway can induce "paradoxical" activation of ERK in gastric cancer, and this activation can be reversed by trametinib. Since both drugs are clinically available, our findings might accelerate the initiation of clinical trials on gastric cancer using everolimus and trametinib combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by pathological spontaneous beta oscillations (13 Hz–35 Hz) often observed in basal ganglia (BG) composed of subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus (GPe) populations. From the viewpoint of dynamics, the spontaneous oscillations are related to limit cycle oscillations in a nonlinear system; here we employ the bifurcation analysis method to elucidate the generating mechanism of the pathological spontaneous beta oscillations underlined by coupling strengths and intrinsic properties of the STN–GPe circuit model. The results reveal that the increase of inter-coupling strength between STN and GPe populations induces the beta oscillations to be generated spontaneously, and causes the oscillation frequency to decrease. However, the increase of intra-coupling (self-feedback) strength of GPe can prevent the model from generating the oscillations, and dramatically increase the oscillation frequency. We further provide a theoretical explanation for the role played by the inter-coupling strength of GPe population in the generation and regulation of the oscillations. Furthermore, our study reveals that the intra-coupling strength of the GPe population provides a switching mechanism on the generation of the abnormal beta oscillations: for small value of the intra-coupling strength, STN population plays a dominant role in inducing the beta oscillations; while for its large value, the GPe population mainly determines the generation of this oscillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mixed actinide–lanthanide cluster fullerene, Sc2UC@Ih(7)-C80, was isolated and fully characterized. For the first time, the single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis confirms a novel actinide–lanthanide cluster Sc2UC stabilized inside an Ih(7)-C80 cage. Moreover, the U＝C double bond distance is 2.01 Å, the shortest U＝C bond confirmed by crystallography so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the cutting-edge radius effect in micro-cutting, there exists some material sticking in front of the cutting-edge named stagnation zone, above which the material flows as chips. The location of the stagnation zone is reported to be associated with the minimum chip thickness in micro-cutting, which is a significant value influencing the cutting mechanics and the machined surface integrity in micro-cutting. The determination of the minimum chip thickness is of great importance in micro-cutting process. In this paper, the cutting force analysis on the shearing plane was carried out considering the ductile fracture and cutting-edge radius. Based on the cutting force analysis, this paper proposed a new method to determine the minimum chip thickness in micro-cutting of 18Ni maraging steel through finite element simulation. The minimum chip thickness was calculated to be 0.25 times the cutting-edge radius, which is in a good agreement with the velocity distribution analysis of the material around the cutting-edge. In addition, the effect of the plowing depth which was equivalent to the height of the stagnation zone on the residual stress filed was investigated using energy criterion. The energy stored in the machined surface increased with the plowing depth, resulting from the increasing thermal-mechanical load due to plowing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After unloading, the deformation of soils cannot be stable immediately, but continues to expand over time even under constant pressure. In this paper, the expansive deformation over time when effective stress is kept constant is defined as the negative creep, while the compressive creep is described as the positive creep. The division between positive creep and negative creep is named the stable normal compression line (SNCL), on which the stress–strain behaviour of the soil is time-independent. Based on the concept of the SNCL and test results, a new formula for creep is proposed. This formula is simple in form and has less parameters, and both negative creep and positive creep can be well predicted. By incorporating this formula into the current yield function of the unified hardening model, a new time-dependent current yield function is built. Combining the yield function, a flow rule, and transformed stress method, a new three-dimensional time-dependent constitutive model considering both positive and negative creep for clays is derived and presented. The new model is then validated by test results, including multistage loading oedometer tests, triaxial undrained creep tests, and triaxial undrained compression tests at the constant strain rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing high-performance nonprecious electrocatalysts to replace Pt for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been a key challenge for advancing fuel cell technologies. Here, we report a systematic study of 15 different AB2O4/C spinel nanoparticles with well-controlled octahedral morphology. The 3 most active ORR electrocatalysts were MnCo2O4/C, CoMn2O4/C, and CoFe2O4/C. CoMn2O4/C exhibited a half-wave potential of 0.89 V in 1 M KOH, equal to the benchmark activity of Pt/C, which was ascribed to charge transfer between Co and Mn, as evidenced by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) provided atomic-scale, spatially resolved images, and high-energy-resolution electron-loss near-edge structure (ELNES) enabled fingerprinting the local chemical environment around the active sites. The most active MnCo2O4/C was shown to have a unique Co-Mn core–shell structure. ELNES spectra indicate that the Co in the core is predominantly Co2.7+ while in the shell, it is mainly Co2+. Broader Mn ELNES spectra indicate less-ordered nearest oxygen neighbors. Co in the shell occupies mainly tetrahedral sites, which are likely candidates as the active sites for the ORR. Such microscopic-level investigation probes the heterogeneous electronic structure at the single-nanoparticle level, and may provide a more rational basis for the design of electrocatalysts for alkaline fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific cutting energy is an important parameter to evaluate the cutting effectiveness and a focus of research in the micro-cutting. However, the relation between the specific cutting energy and surface generation is still not completely understood. In this study, experiments were carried out to research the relations between the specific cutting energy and chip morphology and surface integrity in micro-milling of maraging steel. A new method was proposed to calculate the effective energy and the non-effective energy by the criterion of whether it contributed to chip formation. The experimental results showed that the chips became more segmented with the decreased proportion of the effective energy, while the increased proportion of the non-effective energy deteriorated the surface finish and contributed to the formation of the plastic deformation layer. Then, by assessing the trade-offs between the surface roughness and the specific cutting energy, the selections of the cutting parameters were suggested to achieve a precision surface finish with relatively low specific cutting energy and high energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the outstanding light-thermal conversion behavior of the SiO SB 2 sb @PPy@mSiO SB 2 sb , a NIR light-controlled drug delivery system is constructed based on the SiO SB 2 sb @PPy@mSiO SB 2 sb and thermosensitive PEG-PCL-PEG copolymer. On the contrary, the PEG-PCL-PEG copolymers will retain their hydrogel phase without NIR irradiation and the drug molecules can still be well encapsulated within the SiO SB 2 sb @PPy@mSiO SB 2 sb , leading to negligible release of 5-FU. In other words, both the excellent light-thermal conversion efficiency of nano PPy in the SiO SB 2 sb @PPy@mSiO SB 2 sb and the thermosensitive gel-sol transition behavior of the PEG-PCL-PEG hydrogel contribute to the sustained release of the drug. The results reveal that both the excellent light-thermal conversion efficiency of the nano PPy in the SiO SB 2 sb @PPy@mSiO SB 2 sb and the thermosensitive gel-sol transition behavior of the PEG-PCL-PEG hydrogel contribute to the sustained release of 5-FU. [Extracted from the article]

A fixed retractor is routinely used during surgery for vestibular schwannoma to maintain the surgical corridor; however, brain injuries can be caused by use of retractors. The aim of this study was to present strategies for retractorless surgery for giant vestibular schwannomas and compare retractorless surgery with traditional retractor-assisted surgery to illustrate feasibility and potentially superiority of retractorless surgery. Clinical data of 61 patients with giant (≥4 cm diameter) vestibular schwannomas undergoing craniotomy were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: 1) 35 patients with traditional retractor surgery performed between June 2016 and July 2017; 2) 26 patients with retractorless surgery performed between June 2016 and July 2018. Duration of operation, intraoperative blood loss, extent of resection, rate of retention of facial nerve function, postoperative brain injury rate, intracranial infection rate, hospitalization time, and grade of facial nerve function were compared between the 2 groups. The incidence of postoperative brain injury was 3.84% in the retractorless surgery group, which was significantly lower compared with the traditional retractor surgery group (22.86%) (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found regarding the other characteristics compared. Through appropriate comprehensive measures, retractorless surgery for giant vestibular schwannomas is an achievable goal. This procedure can reduce the incidence of postoperative brain injury with satisfactory tumor resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of moisture increase under an impervious cover in soils due to thermal gradients is defined as the pot cover effect, which may lead to an obvious soil moisture increase in the shallow soil. This paper explores a measure of laying an impervious layer at an appropriate depth in the process of foundation treatment to eliminate the potential moisture increase in the covered soil. Because the impervious cover above the soil and the impervious layer inside the soil constitute a "double pot cover" structure, the moisture migration in the covered soil with an impervious layer is generalized as the double pot cover effect. To investigate the mechanism of the double pot cover effect and further determine the optimal depth of the impervious layer, a numerical model is established to simulate this problem. Analysis results indicate that the moisture increase under the cover varies with the depth of the impervious layer. As the impervious layer is laid at a certain depth, the moisture increase reaches a minimum value. Moreover, the double pot cover effect under different boundary temperatures is further discussed. Results show that the moisture increase in the covered soil can be significantly reduced by laying the impervious layer slightly below the freezing front (0 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Non-Isolated-Pentagon-Rule (non-IPR) isomer of thorium-based endohedral mono-metallofullerenes (mono-EMFs), Th@C1(17418)-C76, was successfully synthesized and characterized using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The molecular structure of this non-IPR isomer was determined unambiguously as Th@C1(17418)-C76 using a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystallographic results further revealed that the optimal Th site resided at the intersection of two adjacent pentagons, similar to that of U@C1(17418)-C76. Additionally, the UV-vis-NIR spectra of Th@C1(17418)-C76 exhibited distinct differences compared to the previously reported U@C1(17418)-C76, highlighting the distinctive electronic structure of actinium-based endohedral metallofullerenes (EMFs). The Raman spectrum of Th@C1(17418)-C76 exhibited similarities to that previously reported for thorium-based EMFs, indicating the analogous strong metal–cage interactions of thorium-based EMFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3J33B maraging steel is a high-strength steel which is used for fabricating precision elastic components. In this paper, experiments were carried out to investigate chip formation, surface roughness, and top burr formation in micro end milling of 3J33B from an energy perspective. Chip formation and surface roughness in the centerline position of the slots were analyzed based on the average specific cutting energy. Surface roughness and burr size of the two sides of the slots were compared to the variation of the instantaneous specific cutting energy in a half cutting revolution. It was found that the chips became more fragmentized with an increase in the specific cutting energy due to the plowing effect. The formation of the down-milling side required more specific energy than that of the up-milling side. It was proven that the increment of the specific energy on the down-milling side was related to the better surface finish and greater size of top burrs. At last, some suggestions on parameter selection for surface improvement were proposed according to the research results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A unified model for clays and sands, referred to as CSUH model, is proposed. The CSUH model develops the following aspects based on the unified hardening (UH) model: (a) a curved normal compression line in the e -ln p plane is proposed by introducing a parameter to describe the isotropic compression of sands; (b) a drop-shaped yield function, involving a critical state parameter, is adopted to get a better prediction of the shear yield and the critical state of sands; (c) a dilatancy parameter is introduced into the dilatancy equation to consider the density-dependent dilatancy of sands; and (d) different CSLs of sands with different lode's angles in the e - p plane are considered. The CSUH model can degrade into the UH model to describe the behaviors of overconsolidated clays and can further degrade into the modified Cam-clay model to simulate the behaviors of normally consolidated clays. Finally, comparisons with the test data indicate that, the CSUH model cannot only predict the stress-strain relations of both clays and sands in a wide range of overconsolidation ratios or densities and stresses, but also is capable of describing triaxial compression, triaxial extension and three-dimensional behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is produced by a variety of cells involved in inflammation and acts as local intensification signals in pathological processes associated with chronic eye inflammation. This meta-analysis was performed to provide a better understanding of the relationship between IL-6 and diabetic retinopathy. Methods: The study was started with systematic search for literatures by using the PubMed, Web of Science and Embase online databases. The standard mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were was included and then pooled with a random effects model. Results: Thirty-one articles, containing1099 DR patients and 1010 controls, were included in this meta-analysis. The level of IL-6 in the DR group was found to be higher than that in the control group (SMD: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.53−2.70, p < 0.00001).Obvious heterogeneity existed between the studies (p < 0.00001, I2 = 96%). So a subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed. Removing the sensitivity studies, the stability of the overall treatment effect was good. Subgroup analysis showed that the levels of IL-6 in case group were observed to be higher than those in the control group; and the IL-6 levels in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group were also higher than those in the non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) group. (SMD: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.26–1.31, p= 0.003) Conclusion: The results from this current meta-analysis indicated that increased level of IL-6 generally exist in DR patients. And it may associated with the severity of DR. However, large-scale and high-quality studies in future are required to confirm the present findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ultrafine SnO 2 quantum dots (QDs) have been in situ grown on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by a facile method, which only involved a one-step molten salt method at 250 °C under atmosphere environment. The facile low-temperature molten salt method imparts SnO 2 QDs with an average size of only 5.5 nm. The as-prepared mono-dispersed SnO 2 QDs on rGO show enhanced electrochemical performances than those of bare SnO 2 nanoparticles (NPs). Such novel method for in-situ growth of metal oxide QDs on rGO is easy to carry out and scale up, and it is much simpler to grow ultrafine metal oxide QDs than those of traditional methods, such as template methods or hydrothermal methods. The molten salt method may also be used to produce other metal oxide QDs on rGO as electrode materials for LIBs. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of the fabrication process of SnO 2 quantum dots@rGO by facile low-temperature molten salt method fx1 Highlights • Using the molten salt method to in situ grow ultrafine SnO 2 quantum dots on rGO. • The produced SnO 2 QDs with an average size of only 5.5 nm. • The SnO 2 QDs@rGO shows high reversible cycling ability and high discharge capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ordered intermetallic nanoparticles are promising electrocatalysts with enhanced activity and durability for the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The ordered phase is generally identified based on the existence of superlattice ordering peaks in powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). However, after employing a widely used postsynthesis annealing treatment, we have found that claims of "ordered" catalysts were possibly/likely mixed phases of ordered intermetallics and disordered solid solutions. Here, we employed in situ heating, synchrotron-based, X-ray diffraction to quantitatively investigate the impact of a variety of annealing conditions on the degree of ordering of large ensembles of Pt3Co nanoparticles. Monte Carlo simulations suggest that Pt3Co nanoparticles have a lower order-disorder phase transition (ODPT) temperature relative to the bulk counterpart. Furthermore, we employed microscopic-level in situ heating electron microscopy to directly visualize the morphological changes and the formation of both fully and partially ordered nanoparticles at the atomic scale. In general, a higher degree of ordering leads to more active and durable electrocatalysts. The annealed Pt3Co/C with an optimal degree of ordering exhibited significantly enhanced durability, relative to the disordered counterpart, in practical membrane electrode assembly (MEA) measurements. The results highlight the importance of understanding the annealing process to maximize the degree of ordering in intermetallics to optimize electrocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is widely known to be a chronic inflammatory disease. C‐reactive protein (CRP), an important inflammatory factor, plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Nicotine, the main addictive component of cigarette, has been shown to induce the production of CRP. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rosmarinic acid (RA), a polyphenol with antiinflammatory activity, on nicotine‐induced elevation of CRP in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). We found that pretreatment of VSMCs with RA attenuated nicotine‐induced expression of CRP in a time‐ and dose‐dependant manner. In addition, RA also inhibited the activation of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production resulting from nicotine treatment in VSMCs. To confirm these findings in vivo, we constructed a nicotine‐induced atherosclerosis rat model. RA did not significantly reduce the serum nicotine level of the rats, whereas it significantly decreased the levels of serum lipids, including concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the serum level of CRP. RA also led to diminished nicotine‐induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and elevation in the CRP level in the aortic tissue of the model rats. The results of this study suggested a protective role of RA in nicotine‐induced atherosclerosis by inhibiting the ROS–NLRP3 inflammasome–CRP axial, and RA therefore represented a potential effective therapeutic approach to atherosclerosis, in particular for those who smoke. (1) Rosmarinic acid plays a protective role in nicotine‐induced atherosclerosis. (2) Rosmarinic acid downregulates nicotine‐induced C‐reactive protein expression by inhibiting ROS‐mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to simulate the soil response during principal stress rotation, anisotropic unified hardening (UH) model is developed within the framework of elastoplastic theory. Without introducing any additional mechanism to display the role of stress rotation specifically, this model achieves the simulation by considering the material anisotropy. The effect of inherent anisotropy is reflected using the anisotropic transformed stress method, but a new formula for the stress mapping is adopted to keep the mean stress unchanged. Analysis indicates that from the view of the transformed stress tensor, the anisotropic soil is subjected to loading during pure rotation of principal stress axes, so that plastic strains can be calculated. To represent the induced anisotropy, a fabric evolution law is proposed based on laboratory and numerical test results. At the critical state, the fabric tensor reaches a stable value determined by the stress state, while the critical state line is unique in the plane of void ratio versus mean stress. The anisotropic UH model has concise formulation and explicit elastoplastic flexibility matrix and can provide reasonable predictions for the deformation of anisotropic soils when principal stresses rotate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is produced by multinuclear giant cells and acts as local intensification signals in pathological processes associated with chronic eye inflammation. This meta-analysis was performed to provide a better understanding of the relationship between TNF-α and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Method Online electric databases were searched to retrieve all relevant articles published before October 2017. The standard mean difference (SMD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were included and then pooled with a random effects model. Results A total of 16 articles with 1286 participants were included in this meta-analysis. No difference in the level of TNF-α was found between DR patients and healthy controls (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI = −0.09 to 0.68, P  = 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that with respect to the level of TNF-α, the association was significant for studies conducted in Europe (SMD: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.11–1.02, P  = 0.01), patients with type 1 DM (SMD: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.09–2.04, P  = 0.03), studies based on serum samples (SMD: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.12–1.02, P  = 0.01) and studies with a sample size >50 (SMD: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.03–0.75, P  = 0.04). Conclusion The results this meta-analysis indicated that the level of TNF-α in DR patients was significantly different from that in the healthy controls, so TNF-α represents a candidate biomarker for DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A unified theory for the imbibition dynamics of entangled polymer melting into nanopores is presented. Experiments demonstrate the validity of t1/2 dependence but contradict the predictions of the classical Lucas–Washburn equation because of the prefactor. A reversal in dynamics of capillary filling is reported with increasing polymer molecular weight. Polymer imbibition under nanometer confinement can be discussed by two mechanisms: one is the standard hydrodynamic flow, resulting in a parabolic flow profile. When the inner wall has a strong attraction to the polymer, a layer of immobile chains is created, resulting in an increase of the effective viscosity and to slower imbibition. The other is the reptation model proposed by Johner et al., leading to a plug flow profile and to the reduction in the effective viscosity (faster imbibition). The reversal in dynamics of polymer imbibition can be explained by the competition between these two mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]