Search

Nickel slag is the solid waste obtained from the nickel smelting process. Based on the magnetic elements in nickel slag, it is a potential ingredient that could be used in magnetic compound fluid (MCF) polishing. This work discusses polishing in MCF using nickel slag and modified slag. Investigations are conducted into how MCF is affected by the amount of modified slag and nickel slag present during polishing. The connections between shear force, position, material removal rate, morphological characteristics, and polishing quality are covered. Nickel slag is mixed with CaO, the alkalinity is adjusted, and the mixture is heated to 1500 °C to fully melt and oxidize it. The resulting product is modified slag. The morphological changes in MCF slurry before and after polishing were examined using an industrial camera, and the effect of different MCF slurry components on polishing performance was analyzed throughout the polishing process. In addition, the positioning of modified slag within the magnetic cluster formed during the polishing process was determined through a scanning electron microscope and by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy mapping of MCF slurry. The aforementioned research establishes the polishing mechanism for nickel slag and modified slag. The experimental results indicate that the polishing effect of the experimental group with added modified slag is better than that of added nickel slag. Under the same conditions, the surface roughness was reduced by 60% when modified slag was used instead of nickel slag. It was found that the optimal process is where the modified slag content is 10%, where the material removal rate is 1.207 × 108 µm3/min and the surface roughness decrease rate is 95.482%. The polishing shear force is around 2.7N, which is twice as much as that of nickel slag.

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiple autoantibody types, some of which are produced by long-lived plasma cells (LLPC). Active SLE generates increased circulating antibody-secreting cells (ASC). Here, we examine the phenotypic, molecular, structural, and functional features of ASC in SLE. Relative to post-vaccination ASC in healthy controls, circulating blood ASC from patients with active SLE are enriched with newly generated mature CD19−CD138+ ASC, similar to bone marrow LLPC. ASC from patients with SLE displayed morphological features of premature maturation and a transcriptome epigenetically initiated in SLE B cells. ASC from patients with SLE exhibited elevated protein levels of CXCR4, CXCR3 and CD138, along with molecular programs that promote survival. Furthermore, they demonstrate autocrine production of APRIL and IL-10, which contributed to their prolonged in vitro survival. Our work provides insight into the mechanisms of generation, expansion, maturation and survival of SLE ASC.

BackgroundEnhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been widely used in adult surgery. However, few studies have reported the efficacy of ERAS in paediatric patients with Meckel's diverticulum (MD), the aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of ERAS in treating MD.MethodsA prospective randomised controlled study of children with MD admitted to our hospital from Jan 1, 2021 to Dec 31, 2023 were conducted, we developed and implemented an ERAS program for this patients. All cases were strictly selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Among these patients, they were randomly assigned to the ERAS group or the traditional (TRAD) group with random number table row randomization. The main observational indicators were operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage, FLACC pain scale results on 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h after surgery, length of postoperative stay (LOPS), time to first defecation, time to first eating after surgery, time to discontinuation of intravenous infusion, total treatment cost, incidence of postoperative complications, 30-day readmission rate and parental satisfaction rate.ResultsA total of 50 patients underwent Meckel's diverticulectomy during this period, 7 patients were excluded, 23 patients were assigned to the ERAS group and 20 patients were assigned to the TRAD group. There were no significant differences in demographic data and operation time, intraoperative hemorrhage. The FLACC pain scale results on 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h after surgery were significantly lower in the ERAS group. The LOPS was 6.17 ± 0.89 days in the ERAS group and 8.30 ± 1.26 days in the TRAD group, resulting in a significantly shorter LOPS in ERAS group. ERAS could also reduce the first postoperative defecation time, the time to first eating after surgery and the time to discontinuation of intravenous infusion. The treatment cost was decreased in the ERAS group. The rate of complications and 30-day readmission were not significantly different between the two groups.ConclusionsIn this single-center study, the ERAS protocol for patients with MD requiring surgery was safe and effective.

Abstract Background Noncoding RNAs such as circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundant in the human body and influence the occurrence and development of various diseases. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignant cancers. Information on the functions and mechanism of circRNAs in lung cancer is limited; thus, the topic needs more exploration. The purpose of this study was to identify aberrantly expressed circRNAs in lung cancer, unravel their roles in NSCLC progression, and provide new targets for lung cancer diagnosis and therapy. Methods High-throughput sequencing was used to analyze differential circRNA expression in patients with lung cancer. qRT‒PCR was used to determine the level of circHERC1 in lung cancer tissues and plasma samples. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were implemented to observe the impacts of circHERC1 on the growth, invasion, and metastasis of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, dual luciferase reporter assays, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down experiments were performed to confirm the underlying mechanisms of circHERC1. Nucleocytoplasmic localization of FOXO1 was determined by nucleocytoplasmic isolation and immunofluorescence. The interaction of circHERC1 with FOXO1 was verified by RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and western blot assays. The proliferation and migration of circHERC1 in vivo were verified by subcutaneous and tail vein injection in nude mice. Results CircHERC1 was significantly upregulated in lung cancer tissues and cells, ectopic expression of circHERC1 strikingly facilitated the proliferation, invasion and metastasis, and inhibited the apoptosis of lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. However, knockdown of circHERC1 exerted the opposite effects. CircHERC1 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. Further mechanistic research indicated that circHERC1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-142-3p to relieve the repressive effect of miR-142-3p on its target HMGB1, activating the MAPK/ERK and NF-κB pathways and promoting cell migration and invasion. More importantly, we found that circHERC1 could bind FOXO1 and sequester it in the cytoplasm, adjusting the feedback AKT pathway. The accumulation of FOXO1 in the cytosol and nuclear exclusion promoted cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. CircHERC1 is a new circRNA that promotes tumor function in NSCLC and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC. Conclusions CircHERC1 is a new circRNA that promotes tumor function in NSCLC and may serve as a potential diagnosis biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC. Our findings indicate that circHERC1 facilitates the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC cells by regulating the miR-142-3p/HMGB1 axis and activating the MAPK/ERK and NF-κB pathways. In addition, circHERC1 can promote cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis by sequestering FOXO1 in the cytoplasm to regulate AKT activity and BIM transcription.

Abstract Background The 8th tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) classification of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) can be used to estimate the prognosis of gastric neuroendocrine tumor (gNET) and gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (gNEC) patients but not gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (gNENs). Methods First, in the SEER (training) dataset, a TNMG system was built by combining the WHO G grade (G1‐4; NEC grouped into G4) with the 8th AJCC T (T1‐4), N (N0‐1), and M (M0‐1) stage, which was then validated in a Chinese (validation) cohort. Results In all, 2245 gNENs cases from the training dataset and 280 cases from the validation dataset were eligible. The T stage, M stage, and G grade were independent prognostic factors for OS in both datasets (all p

Antibodies directed against DNA in systemic lupus erythematosus are functionally diverse. This study demonstrates that DNAse1L3 is the primary target of a subset of autoantibodies previously considered specific for double-stranded DNA.

In order to study the effect of hydrated phase change materials on the suppression of spontaneous combustion in coal, a thermogravimetric experiment and a reaction activation energy analysis experiment were conducted to explore the changes in the combustion characteristic parameters, characteristic temperature, and activating energy of gas coal, long-flame coal, meagre coal, and lean coal before and after adding hydrated phase change materials. The research results indicated that hydrated phase change materials increased the characteristic temperature point of the coal samples and had effective inhibitory effects on different stages of the oxidation process. However, the effect was best at low temperatures, as hydrated phase change materials undergo phase change and absorb heat when heated at low temperatures, isolating coal from contact with oxygen. The activating energy increased by 1.138–23.048 KJ·mol−1 and the mass loss was reduced by 1.6%–9.3% after inhibition of the coal samples, indicating that the oxidation rate of the various coal samples was slowed down and, thus, spontaneous combustion can be suppressed through the use of hydrated phase change materials. At the same time, this material reduced the combustibility indices of meagre coal and lean coal, as well as the comprehensive combustion indices of long-flame coal and gas coal.

Abstract Background Alpha‐kinase 1 (ALPK1) is a master regulator in inflammation and has been proved to promote renal fibrosis by promoting the production of IL-1β in diabetic nephropathy (DN) mice. Pyroptosis is involved in high glucose (HG)-induced tubular cells injury, characterized by activation of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) and the release of IL-1β and IL-18, resulting in inflammatory injury in DN. It is reasonable to assume that ALPK1 is involved in pyroptosis-related tubular injury in DN. However, the mechanism remains poorly defined. Methods Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed to detect the expression of pyroptosis- and fibrosis-related proteins in renal sections of DN patients and DN mice. DN models were induced through injection of streptozotocin combined with a high-fat diet. Protein levels of ALPK1, NF-κB, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, IL-18 and α-SMA were detected by Western blot. HK-2 cells treated with high-glucose (HG) served as an in vitro model. ALPK1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) was transfected into HK-2 cells to down-regulate ALPK1. The pyroptosis rates were determined by flow cytometry. The concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 were evaluated by ELISA kits. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe translocation of NF-κB and GSDMD. Results The heat map of differentially expressed genes showed that ALPK1, Caspase-1 and GSDMD were upregulated in the DN group. The expression levels of ALPK1, Caspase-1, GSDMD and CD68 were increased in renal biopsy tissues of DN patients by IHC. ALPK1expression and CD68+ macrophages were positively correlated with tubular injury in DN patients. Western blot analysis showed increased expressions of ALPK1, phospho-NF-κB P65, GSDMD-NT, and IL-1β in renal tissues of DN mice and HK-2 cells, accompanied with increased renal fibrosis-related proteins (FN, α-SMA) and macrophages infiltration in interstitial areas. Inhibition of ALPK1 attenuated HG-induced upregulation expressions of NF-κB, pyroptosis-related proteins Caspase-1, GSDMD-NT, IL-1β, IL-18, α-SMA, and pyroptosis level in HK-2 cells. Also, the intensity and nuclear translocation of NF-κB and membranous translocation of GSDMD were ameliorated in HG-treated HK-2 cells after treatment with ALPK1 siRNA. Conclusions Our data suggest that ALPK1/NF-κB pathway initiated canonical caspase-1-GSDMD pyroptosis pathway, resulting in tubular injury and interstitial inflammation of DN.

Intermolecular (4 + 2) cycloaddition with alkynes is a powerful approach to construct isocoumarin moieties, however, regioselectivity remains challenging for the transition metal-catalyzed approach. Here, the authors report copper-catalyzed regioselective (4 + 2) annulations between diaryliodonium salts and alkynes to synthesize isocoumarin-type natural products.

Protein reabsorption in renal proximal tubules is essential for maintaining nutrient homeostasis. Renal proximal tubule-specific gene knockout is a powerful method to assess the function of genes involved in renal proximal tubule protein reabsorption. However, the lack of inducible renal proximal tubule-specific Cre recombinase-expressing mouse strains hinders the study of gene function in renal proximal tubules. To facilitate the functional study of genes in renal proximal tubules, we developed an AMNCreERT2 knock-in mouse strain expressing a Cre recombinase–estrogen receptor fusion protein under the control of the promoter of the amnionless (AMN) gene, a protein reabsorption receptor in renal proximal tubules. AMNCreERT2 knock-in mice were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 strategy, and the tissue specificity of Cre activity was investigated using the Cre/loxP reporter system. We showed that the expression pattern of CreERT2-mEGFP in AMNCreERT2 mice was consistent with that of the endogenous AMN gene. Furthermore, we showed that the Cre activity in AMNCreERT2 knock-in mice was only detected in renal proximal tubules with high tamoxifen induction efficiency. As a proof-of-principle study, we demonstrated that renal proximal tubule-specific knockout of Exoc4 using AMNCreERT2 led to albumin accumulation in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells. The AMNCreERT2 mouse is a powerful tool for conditional gene knockout in renal proximal tubules and should offer useful insight into the physiological function of genes expressed in renal proximal tubules.

RNA secondary structure is important for viral replication, transcription and translation. Here the authors employ SPLASH method and map in vivo RNA interactions and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome in different viral life cycles.

Abstract Transition metal oxides Fe2O3 as lithium‐ion battery anode has aroused intense interest as a result of its high capacity (1007 mA h g−1). Nevertheless, the significant volume expansion during the cycling procession causes its capacity to decay sharply as the anode of lithium‐ion battery. The size and morphology of materials are important factors improving the stability of electrode materials. However, most of the excellent morphology design needs complex processes. The single‐crystalline erythrocyte‐like α‐Fe2O3 nanoparticles are synthesized by one‐step hydrothermal method to improve the electrochemical properties of the α‐Fe2O3 anode, and the Li+ storage kinetics of the erythrocyte‐like α‐Fe2O3 anode are investigated. As a lithium‐ion battery anode material, the erythrocyte‐like α‐Fe2O3 anode exhibits an eminent reversible capacity of 1200.2 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C after 100 cycles. In comparison to raw α‐Fe2O3, the erythrocyte‐like α‐Fe2O3 performs with a better rate property. The special morphological design can effectively improve the stability of α‐Fe2O3 electrode materials.

Abstract Background Human papillomavirus type 39 associated with genital intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cancers, has a high prevalence in Southwest China. HPV E6, E7 are two main papillomavirus oncoproteins, closely relate to the function of HPV immortalization, cell transformation, and carcinogenesis. L1 is the major capsid protein, can reflect the replication status of the virus in cells and the progression of cervical lesions. The purpose of this study is to reveal the prevalence of HPV 39 and the genetic polymorphisms of HPV39 based on E6, E7 and L1 gene in southwest China. Methods Cell samples were collected by cervical scraped for HPV detecting and typing, and HPV39 positive samples were selected out. Important E6, E7 and L1 genes of HPV39 were sequenced and analyzed for the study of HPV39 genetic polymorphisms. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by Maximum-likelihood and Kimura 2-parameters methods in Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 6.0. The selection pressures of E6, E7 and L1 genes were estimated by Datamonkey web server. The secondary and three-dimensional structure of HPV39 E6, E7 proteins were created by sopma server and SWISS-MODEL software. Results 344 HPV39 positive samples were selected from 5718 HPV positive cell samples. Among HPV39 E6-E7 sequences, 20 single nucleotide mutations were detected, including 10 non-synonymous and 10 synonymous mutations; 26 single nucleotide mutations were detected in HPV39 L1 sequences, including 7 non-synonymous and 19 synonymous mutations respectively. 11 novel variants of HPV39 E6-E7 (5 in E6 and 6 in E7) and 14 novel variants of HPV39 L1 were identified in this study. A-branch was the most frequent HPV39 lineage in southwest China during our investigation. Selective pressure analysis showed that codon sites 26, 87, 151 in E6 and 75, 180, 222, 272, 284, 346, 356 in L1 were positively selected sites, as well as codon sites 45, 138, 309, 381 were negative selection sites in L1 gene, E7 has neither positive selection sites nor negative selection sites. A certain degree of secondary and three-dimensional structure dislocation was existed due to the non-synonymous mutations. Conclusions Amino acid substitution affected the secondary and three-dimensional structure of HPV39, and resulting in the differences of carcinogenic potential and biological functions as well as the immune response due to the antigen epitopes difference, the antigen epitopes with stronger adaptability in Southwest will be screened out based on the above research results for the later vaccine development. And gene polymorphism of HPV39 in Southwest China may improve the effectiveness of clinical test and vaccine design, specifically for women in Southwest China.

Abstract The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is constitutively active in PTEN-deficient cancer cells, and its targeted inhibition has significant anti-tumor effects. However, the efficacy of targeted therapies is often limited due to drug resistance. The relevant signaling pathways in PTEN-deficient cancer cells treated with the PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 were screened using a phosphokinase array, and further validated following treatment with multiple PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors or AKT knockdown. The correlation between PTEN expression levels and STAT3 kinase phosphorylation in the tissue microarrays of gastric cancer patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Cell proliferation and clonogenic assays were performed on the suitably treated PTEN-deficient cancer cells. Cytokine arrays, small molecule inhibition and knockdown assays were performed to identify related factors. PTEN-deficient tumor xenografts were established in nude mice that were treated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR and/or STAT3 inhibitors. PTEN deficiency was positively correlated with low STAT3 activity. PI3K/mTOR inhibitors increased the expression and secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and activated the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway. Both cancer cells and in vivo tumor xenografts showed that the combined inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and STAT3 activity enhanced the inhibitory effect of BEZ235 on the proliferation of PTEN-deficient cancer cells. Our findings provide a scientific basis for a novel treatment strategy in cancer patients with PTEN deficiency.

Tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8), also known as ANTXR1, was highly expressed in cancers, and was identified as a biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis in some cancers. However, the clinical role and molecular mechanisms of TEM8 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) are still unclear. The present study aimed to explore its clinical value and the molecular mechanisms of TEM8 underlying the progression of LUAD. Our study found the elevation of TEM8 in LUAD cell lines and tissues. What’s more, we observed that the TEM8 expression level was associated with tumor size, primary tumor, and AJCC stage, and LUAD patients with high TEM8 expression usually have a poor prognosis. Then, we conducted a series of experiments by the strategy of loss-of-function and gain-of-function, and our results suggested that the knockdown of TEM8 suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced apoptosis in LUAD whereas overexpression of TEM8 had the opposite effect. Molecular mechanistic investigation showed that TEM8 exerted its promoting effects mainly through activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In short, our findings suggested that TEM8 played a crucial role in the progression of LUAD by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for LUAD.

Magnetic field-assisted magnetic compound fluid (MCF) ultra-precision machining technology is regarded as an effective method to obtain a smooth surface. However, due to the evaporation and splashing of water in the polishing fluid during processing, the service life of the MCF slurry is reduced. This paper presents a material removal model for MCF polishing, and a novel experimental apparatus is proposed to extend the service life by supplying MCF components into the MCF slurry. Firstly, in order to obtain the ideal polishing tool, the appearance morphologies and the formation process of the MCF slurry were observed by an industrial camera. On this basis, the optimum parameters were determined by multi-factor and multi-level orthogonal experiments. Finally, the investigation of the MCF service life was carried out under the optimal processing parameters. The main findings are summarized as follows. (1) Excellent MCF polishing tools are obtained when the eccentric distance r is 4 mm and the MCF slurry supply V is 1 mL. (2) When the eccentric distance increases from 2 mm to 4 mm, the forming time of the MCF tool decreases sharply, but when the eccentricity exceeds 4 mm, the decreasing trend becomes slow. The molding time grows steadily as the supply is increased. (3) When the machining gap Δ, the MCF carrier speed nc, the eccentricity r, and the revolution speed of magnetic nm are 1 mm, 500 rpm, 4 mm, and 600 rpm, respectively, the ideal machining effect can be obtained. (4) It could be proven that the polishing device is feasible to extend the service time of the MCF slurry by adding MCF components.

Elliptical elements are essential optical surfaces for modifying optical systems. For polishing the whole elliptical surface using doughnut-shaped MCF polishing tool with variable tilt angle, an experimental investigation was conducted in this work. Firstly, a flat workpiece was polished to determine the polishing feasibility. It was found that the middle portion of the polishing tool had optimal ability to remove materials, and the surface roughness Sa at the material removal peak was changed from 134 nm to 17.5 nm within 50 min of polishing. A smoother surface could be obtained using MCF2 slurry and MCF3 slurry, but the use of MCF1 slurry resulted in a rough surface. Then, the effects of working gap h, revolution speed of MCF polishing tool and polishing time on the polishing results were tested to study the polishing characteristics. Sa 9.6 nm and glossiness 278 Gu were obtained, and form error improved from 2.3 μm to 1.3 μm. Finally, the MCF polishing tool was dried to observe the microstructure of the MCF polishing tool after polishing. Abrasive particles were distributed evenly after polishing. It was seen that the abrasive particles were grabbed by the ferric clusters, and the α-celluloses were interleaved between the clusters.

We aim to find a biomarker that can effectively predict the prognosis of patients with cutaneous melanoma (CM). The RNA sequencing data of CM was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and randomly divided into training group and test group. Survival statistical analysis and machine-learning approaches were performed on the RNA sequencing data of CM to develop a prognostic signature. Using univariable Cox proportional hazards regression, random survival forest algorithm, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) in the training group, the four-mRNA signature including CD276, UQCRFS1, HAPLN3, and PIP4P1 was screened out. The four-mRNA signature could divide patients into low-risk and high-risk groups with different survival outcomes (log-rank p < 0.001). The predictive efficacy of the four-mRNA signature was confirmed in the test group, the whole TCGA group, and the independent GSE65904 (log-rank p < 0.05). The independence of the four-mRNA signature in prognostic prediction was demonstrated by multivariate Cox analysis. ROC and timeROC analyses showed that the efficiency of the signature in survival prediction was better than other clinical variables such as melanoma Clark level and tumor stage. This study highlights that the four-mRNA model could be used as a prognostic signature for CM patients with potential clinical application value.

A novel and efficient route is proposed to fabricate Fe3O4/polypyrrole (Fe3O4/PPy) nanotubes via a one-pot process. The one-pot strategy involves the synthesis of Fe3O4/PPy nanotubes by oxidative polymerization of pyrrole (Py) monomer using Fe3+ as an oxidant in the presence of methyl orange (MO) and Fe3+ used as iron source to form Fe3O4 simultaneously in basic conditions without adding any additional iron source and oxidant. The effects of Fe3+ concentration on the morphology and adsorption capacity of the Fe3O4/PPy nanotubes were investigated. The Fe3O4/PPy nanotubes exhibit a tubular structure. Fe3O4 nanoparticles are well dispersed among the PPy nanotubes. The Fe3O4/PPy nanotubes exhibit excellent magnetic property, which make them easy to separate from wastewater by magnetic separation. The diameter of the PPy nanotubes decreased with the increase of the Fe3+ concentration. The Fe3O4/PPy nanotubes showed strong adsorption capability for Cr(VI) with the maximum adsorption capacity of about 451.45 mg·g−1, which is significantly higher than bare Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Cr(VI) was adsorbed on Fe3O4/PPy nanotubes by ion exchange and chelation, where Cr(VI) was partially reduced to Cr(III) due to the existence of −NH+ on the Fe3O4/PPy nanotubes. Furthermore, the Fe3O4/PPy nanotubes are recyclable, retaining 90% of the initial removal efficiency after 5 adsorption/desorption cycles.

Gasdermin D (GSDMD) has been proven to be a key protein in the activation of pyroptosis. Pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells contributes to the progression of tubular injury in kidney diseases. However, it remains elusive whether and how GSDMD is involved in the regulation of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). In this study, we found that tubular injury is accompanied by the up-regulation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and GSDMD in patients with diabetic kidney disease. In addition, we discovered that the expressions of cleaved Caspase-1, active N-terminal fragments of GSDMD (GSDMD-NT), IL-18, and the secretion of IL-1β also increased in the kidneys of db/db mice. These changes were partially ameliorated following intraperitoneal injection of TAK-242, an inhibitor of TLR4. Similar results were observed in human tubular cells (HK-2) subjected to high-glucose (HG) conditions and treated with TAK-242 or parthenolide (inhibitor of NF-κB) by Western blot, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and flow cytometry. These results indicated that TLR4/NF-κB signaling could induce GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in tubular cells in DKD.

A one-step hydrothermal method is reported for synthesizing carbon spheres (Cs) with sucrose as the carbon resource for the anode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Firstly, the influences of synthesis temperature and time on particle size and the morphology of the Cs were researched. Then, modified carbon spheres (MCs) were synthesized with some surfactants, such as hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Finally, nano-sized MCs with an average diameter of 70 nm, owning the smooth surface and uniform spherical morphology systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The outstanding performances of nano-sized MCs synthesized with PVA were demonstrated as anode materials in LIBs. The higher initial discharge capacity of 1180 mAhg−1 and the excellent discharge capacity of 470 mAhg−1 were obtained respectively at 100 mAg−1 (0.27 C) over 50 cycles. The nano-sized MCs has also shown remarkable performance of rate capability of 284.6 mAhg−1 at 1.5 C. In addition, the cycling reversibility of the nano-sized MCs is more stable than that of the sub-micron sized MCs modified with CTAB and no surfactant respectively.

A novel magnetic field-assisted polishing technique was proposed for finishing 3D structured surface using a magnetic compound (MC) slurry. The MC slurry was prepared by blending carbonyl-iron-particles, abrasive grains and α-cellulose into a magnetic fluid which contains nano-scale magnetite particles. An experimental setup was constructed firstly by installing an oscillation worktable and a unit onto a polishing machine. Then, experimental investigations were conducted on oxygen-free copper workpiece with parallel distributed linear V-grooves to clarify the influence of the polishing time and abrasive impact angle on the grooves surface qualities. It was found that (1) the groove form accuracy, i.e. the form retention rate η varied with the polishing locations. Although the form retention rate η deteriorated during the polishing process, the final η was greater than 99.4%; (2) the effective impact angle θm affected the material removal and form accuracy seriously. An increase of the absolute value θm resulted with an increase of material removal rate and a decrease of the form accuracy; (3) the work-surface roughness decreased more than 6 times compared with the original surface after MC slurry polishing. These results confirmed the performance of the proposed new magnetic field-assisted polishing method in the finishing of 3D-structured surface.