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AbstractP-xylene (PX), as one of xylenes, is a kind of very important chemical raw material. It is generally fabricated using methanol (MeOH) and toluene (TOL), and serves as a useful intermediary. However, it is difficult to use a simple and convenient tool to distinguish it from TOL and MeOH. Herein, we reported a simple naphthalene diimide-based polycaprolactone polymer (NDI-PCL) as a high-sensitive fluorescent sensor for xylene detection from MeOH and TOL. NDI-PCL was synthesized via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone. NDI-PCL showed a remarkable fluorescence change from blue to green and yellow because of the formation of charge transfer (CT) interaction between naphthalene diimide (NDI) and aromatic solvents. NDI-PCL was successfully applied as the high-sensitive sensor for discriminating binary solvent mixtures such as PX in TOL, MeOH in PX, and MeOH in TOL, and their limit of detection (LOD) were as low as 19 ppm, 16 ppm and 9 ppm. These excellent fluorescence properties ensured that NDI-PCL indicated great potential application in detecting aromatic solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veins are a critical component of the plant growth and development system, playing an integral role in supporting and protecting leaves, as well as transporting water, nutrients, and photosynthetic products. A comprehensive understanding of the form and function of veins requires a dual approach that combines plant physiology with cutting-edge image recognition technology. The latest advancements in computer vision and machine learning have facilitated the creation of algorithms that can identify vein networks and explore their developmental progression. Here, we review the functional, environmental, and genetic factors associated with vein networks, along with the current status of research on image analysis. In addition, we discuss the methods of venous phenotype extraction and multi-omics association analysis using machine learning technology, which could provide a theoretical basis for improving crop productivity by optimizing the vein network architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leakage detection is essential to process safety and loss prevention of pipeline networks. As one of the attractive methods for detecting leakages in single pipelines, infrared thermography (IRT) faces new challenges for leakage detection of pipeline networks. Compared with the single pipeline, the pipeline network has a complicated structure with higher topology features and diverse material composition. In addition, the environment of the pipeline network is complex and changeable. These factors increase the complexity of the infrared (IR) thermal images of pipeline networks, which makes the leakage features too weak to be detected via naked-eye observation in an efficient and precise manner. To address this issue, this study develops an automated detection method for pipeline network leakages under complicated background, which is achieved by combining IRT with the Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (Faster R-CNN) technique. First, the pipeline network system in the complicated background is designed for IR thermal image acquisition and data analysis. Then, an automated leakage detection model is built based on Faster R-CNN, which uses a modified VGG16 network for feature extraction for its outstanding performance in the feature extraction of small objects under complicated backgrounds. Finally, the high efficiency and precision of the proposed method for automated detection of pipeline network leakages in complicated backgrounds are verified by extensive experiments. Meanwhile, the generalization ability of the proposed method is verified by conducting experiments under various experimental conditions (different moments all-day, different viewing angles of IR camera, pedestrian disturbing). In general, the proposed method provides a promising way to detect pipeline network leakages in complicated backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shortage of available water resources and climate change are major factors affecting agricultural irrigation. In order to improve the irrigation water use efficiency, it is necessary to predict the water requirements for crops in advance. Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is a hypothetical standard reference crop evapotranspiration, many types of artificial intelligence models have been applied to predict ETo; However, there are still few in the literature regarding the application of hybrid models for deep learning model parameters optimization. This paper proposes two hybrid models based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) and long-short-term memory (LSTM) neural network, used to predict ETo at the four climate stations, Shaanxi province, China. These two hybrid models were trained using 40 years of historical data, and the PSO was used to optimize the hyperparameters in the LSTM network. We applied the optimized model to predict the daily ETo in 2019 under different datasets, the result showed that the optimized model has good prediction accuracy. The optimized hybrid models can help farmers and irrigation planners to make plan earlier and precisely, and can provide valuable information to improve tasks such as irrigation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperosmolality-gated calcium-permeable channels (OSCA) are characterized as an osmosensor in plants; they are able to recognize and respond to exogenous and endogenous osmotic changes, and play a vital role in plant growth and adaptability to environmental stress. To explore the potential biological functions of OSCAs in maize, we performed a bioinformatics and expression analysis of the ZmOSCA gene family. Using bioinformatics methods, we identified twelve OSCA genes from the genome database of maize. According to their sequence composition and phylogenetic relationship, the maize OSCA family was classified into four groups (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ). Multiple sequence alignment analysis revealed a conserved DUF221 domain in these members. We modeled the calcium binding sites of four OSCA families using the autodocking technique. The expression profiles of ZmOSCA genes were analyzed in different tissues and under diverse abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, high temperature, and chilling using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). We found that the expression of twelve ZmOSCA genes is variant in different tissues of maize. Furthermore, abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, high temperature, and chilling differentially induced the expression of twelve ZmOSCA genes. We chose ZmOSCA2.2 and ZmOSCA2.3, which responded most strongly to temperature stress, for prediction of protein interactions. We modeled the calcium binding sites of four OSCA families using autodocking tools, obtaining a number of new results. These results are helpful in understanding the function of the plant OSCA gene family for study of the molecular mechanism of plant osmotic stress and response, as well as exploration of the interaction between osmotic stress, high-temperature stress, and low-temperature stress signal transduction mechanisms. As such, they can provide a theoretical basis for crop breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The use of enalapril in combination with bisoprolol in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was studied for its effect on cardiac function and inflammatory parameters. Methods. Sixty-two cases of AMI patients admitted to our clinic from November 2019 to November 2021 were selected for the study and grouped according to the random number table method, those enrolled were given conventional treatment such as oxygenation, absolute bed rest, and sedation, and administered low molecular heparin, aspirin, atorvastatin calcium tablets, clopidogrel, and nitrates. The control group (31 cases) was treated with enalapril maleate folic acid tablets, and the treatment group (31 cases) was treated with bisoprolol fumarate tablets on top of the control group, and the efficacy, adverse effects, cardiac function, inflammatory indexes, and oxidative stress indexes of the two arms were contrasted. Results. The incidence of adverse reactions in the therapy cohort was 12.90% higher than that in the controlled arm, but the discrepancy was not medically relevant (P < 0.05). The SOD level was larger than the concentration in the corresponding drug therapy group, and the MDA level was lower than the concentration in the respective test cases (P < 0.05); the incidence of 12.90% adverse reactions in the treatment period was lower than that of 16.13% in the specific drug therapy group, but the variance was not scientifically evident (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Enalapril application combined with bisoprolol in AMI patients is beneficial to boost the efficacy, promote the improvement of cardiac function, reduce the inflammatory response, and improve the oxidative stress with fewer adverse effects, which can ensure the therapeutic security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TTH-CD-MOF was synthesized for sulfate ion adsorption from aqueous solutions, employing cross-linking modification of γ-CD-MOF with N-hydroxyethyl-morpholine as the modifier and triisocyanate as the cross-linking agent. The adsorbent underwent characterization through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N 2 adsorption-desorption, and other analytical methods. Additionally, the impact of factors such as pH, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, and ionic strength on adsorption performance was investigated. Adsorption experiments demonstrated the robust efficiency of TTH-CD-MOF for SO 4 2- up to 95.3%, conforming to Langmuir isothermal and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, and higher temperatures favored SO 4 2- adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity was 189.51 mg·g−1 (25 °C). The adsorption mechanism comprised electrostatic interaction, adsorption within the cavities and pores of γ-CD-MOF. TTH-CD-MOF demonstrates effective sulfate removal from aqueous solutions, establishing its potential as an efficient anion adsorbent. [Display omitted] • TTH-CD-MOF adsorbent with a cubic structure was synthesized using a straightforward method. • The adsorbent incorporates morpholine and carbamate groups as protonation sites. • TTH-CD-MOF demonstrates an outstanding adsorption capacity for SO 4 2- anions. • Adsorption behavior aligns with Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo second-order kinetic equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An NDT method for detecting multi-kind defects simultaneously presenting in adhesively bonded CFRP/steel structures is proposed based on inductive thermography. • Numerical simulations reveal the detection mechanism of the proposed method. • The experiments performed on specimens with prefabricated defects verified the numerical simulation results. • Numerical and experimental results verified the effectiveness of the proposed method. Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has been widely employed for the reinforcement of steel structures, necessitating the testing of resulting adhesively bonded CFRP/steel structures (ABCSS) to ensure structural integrity and safety. However, the simultaneous detection of multiple types of defects within ABCSS poses significant challenges due to variations in defect characteristics and the intricate effects of these defects on the ABCSS. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of inductive thermography (IT) as a comprehensive inspection method for detecting cracks in steel substrates, debonding, and delaminations in ABCSS. To assess the applicability of IT, we conducted numerical simulations and experimental validation to inspect adjacent and overlapped cracks/interfacial defects in ABCSS. Specifically, we analyzed the electromagnetic and thermal responses of ABCSS during IT inspections, investigated temperature indications associated with various defect types, and examined the underlying causes of these indications. Our results demonstrate that IT can simultaneously reveal distinct temperature indications corresponding to different defect types within the inspected ABCSS. This study establishes the effectiveness of IT in simultaneously detecting multi-kind defects present in ABCSS. The findings contribute to advancing non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques for ABCSS and offer valuable insights into the structural health monitoring of such a special hybrid engineering structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory diffraction contrast tomography (LabDCT) is a recently developed technique to map crystallographic orientations of polycrystalline samples in three dimensions non‐destructively using a laboratory X‐ray source. In this work, a new theoretical procedure, named LabXRS, expanding LabDCT to include mapping of the deviatoric strain tensors on the grain scale, is proposed and validated using simulated data. For the validation, the geometries investigated include a typical near‐field LabDCT setup utilizing Laue focusing with equal source‐to‐sample and sample‐to‐detector distances of 14 mm, a magnified setup where the sample‐to‐detector distance is increased to 200 mm, a far‐field Laue focusing setup where the source‐to‐sample distance is also increased to 200 mm, and a near‐field setup with a source‐to‐sample distance of 200 mm. The strain resolution is found to be in the range of 1–5 × 10−4, depending on the geometry of the experiment. The effects of other experimental parameters, including pixel binning, number of projections and imaging noise, as well as microstructural parameters, including grain position, grain size and grain orientation, on the strain resolution are examined. The dependencies of these parameters, as well as the implications for practical experiments, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracts of traditional Chinese herbs (TCH) contain a variety of anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and other bioactive factors. However, the defect of easy degradation or loss of active ingredients limits its application in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) loaded textiles. In this work, TCH extracts containing different active ingredients were innovatively proposed as the core material of microcapsules. The feasibility of microencapsulation of multi-component TCH extracts in the essential oil state was initially demonstrated. Polyacrylate was also used as a binder to load the microcapsules onto the fabric to improve the durability and wash resistance of the treated fabric. Modeling the oil release of microcapsules for controlled release under different conditions may provide new possible uses for the materials. Results show that the constructed microcapsule has a smooth surface without depression and can be continuously released for over 30 days. The release behavior of microcapsules follows different release mechanisms and can be modulated by temperature and water molecules. The incorporation of microcapsules and polyacrylate does not significantly change the fabric's air permeability, water vapor transmission and hydrophilicity. The washing durability and friction properties of the microcapsule-based fabric are greatly improved, and it can withstand 30 washing tests and 200 friction tests. Moreover, the results of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) release assay using human dermal papilla cells (HDP) as an in vitro template confirm that the microcapsule has no toxic effects on human cells. Therefore, the successful microencapsulation of multi-component TCH extracts indicates their potential application in the field of TCM-loaded textiles. [Display omitted] • Multi-component TCH extracts were successfully encapsulated into microcapsules. • The multi-component TCH extracts microcapsules are non-toxic to human cells. • Water molecules can modulate the release of TCH extracts from microcapsules. • Microcapsules in different states follow different release mechanisms. • TCM-loaded textiles have good resistance to washing and rubbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have been widely applied in different industrial fields, thereby necessitating the employment of non-destructive testing (NDT) methods to ensure structural integrity and safety. Active infrared thermography (AIRT) is a fast and cost-efficient NDT technique for inspecting FRP composites. However, this method is easily affected by factors such as inhomogeneous heating, leading to a low level of visualization of defects. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel method called one-dimensional deep convolutional autoencoder active infrared thermography (1D-DCAE-AIRT) to enhance the visualization of internal defects in FRP composites. This method first preprocesses the thermal image sequence acquired by AIRT inspections. Subsequently, high-level thermal features at the pixel level are extracted from the aforementioned preprocessed thermal image sequence using a designed one-dimensional deep convolutional autoencoder (1D-DCAE) model. Finally, the extracted high-level thermal features are employed to generate enhanced visualization results that exhibit improved defect visibility. The results of three kinds of AIRT (eddy current pulsed thermography, flash thermography, and vibrothermography) experiments on FRP composite specimens with artificially introduced defects show that 1D-DCAE-AIRT can effectively enhance the visualization of internal defects. The enhancement effect is better than the conventional techniques of fast Fourier transform (FFT), principal component analysis (PCA), independent component analysis (ICA), and partial least-squares regression (PLSR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the safety of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine among adult people living with HIV (PLWH). In total, 259 PLWH who received at least one dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine were enrolled, and post-vaccination adverse events (AEs) were evaluated seven days following each vaccination dose. The overall AE frequency was 22.8% after dose one, which was higher than after dose two (10.2%) (P < 0.001). No severe side event or vaccine safety concern was observed. Our finding was essential in reducing vaccine hesitancy among PLWH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reactive wetting and interfacial characteristics of the Sn 2Ti active solder were experimentally investigated on sintered polycrystalline diamond (PCD) substrates containing 8–18 wt.% Co binders. The initial spreading temperature of Sn 2Ti on PCD was determined by the continuously elevating temperatures wetting experiment. The Sn 2Ti started to spread on PCD at 500–630 °C. The higher the cobalt content, the lower the initial spreading temperature. Meanwhile, the spreading kinetics analysis through isothermal wetting experiment indicated the spreading process of Sn 2Ti on PCD can be well described by the classic chemical reaction-controlled model at 650–900 °C. Both rod-like TiC carbide and faceted CoSnTi intermetallics (IMCs) were observed at the wetting triple line, with the formation morphologies strongly depending on wetting temperatures. The results obtained in this work are believed to be of importance for the optimization of brazing technique for sintered PCD, and hence the development of PCD diamond machining tools with minimized thermal damages. Unlabelled Image • Sn Ti alloy initiates to spread on sintered PCD at 500–630 °C and reached quasi-equilibrium state at 900 °C. • Spreading of Sn 2Ti alloy on sintered PCD can be well described by the classical PRC model at 650-900 °C. • The adsorption of Ti and the formation of both CoSnTi IMCs and TiC carbide contributed to the reactive spreading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For languages that primarily exploit F0 to signal tonal contrast, the role of phonation cues in tonal perception remains controversial. This study revisits the use of F0 and phonation cues in Cantonese low tone perception (tone 4, 21/tone 6, 22) using synthesized stimuli. In line with previous studies, F0 contour and height were found to be the most salient cues, with F0 height being more important. The effects of non-modal phonation (creaky and breathy voice) were relatively small. Non-modal phonation enhanced low tone perception only in the low F0 range. The results are consistent with the differential integration hypothesis that the perceptual role of phonation is dependent on F0 and that phonation cues integrate with F0 differently depending on F0 height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology of the fatigue crack in nodular cast iron has great influence on the material performance under cyclic loading. In contrast to previous phenomenological studies, the present work attempts to unravel a relation between the crack propagation path and the micro-mechanical fields developing at the microstructural level. To this end, a fatigue crack in a compact tension specimen is imaged with X-ray tomography and a new segmentation procedure based on digital volume correlation is used to distinguish the part of the crack growing in the matrix from the graphite nodules. The micromechanical fields surrounding the tip of the notch as well as the tip of the fully developed fatigue crack are estimated via 3D microstructure-resolved finite element models, whose size is maintained small compared to the specimen by using boundary conditions measured in-situ with digital image correlation. The numerical fields are compared to the location of the crack nucleation site as well as to the crack growth direction. A weak correlation is found between the nucleation site and the equivalent plastic strain, suggesting that nucleation is controlled by plasticity occurring at a lower scale. On the other hand, a clear correlation is revealed between the crack growth direction and the direction perpendicular to the maximum principal stress. Based on this result, a mechanism is proposed to explain the step-like features characterizing the shape of the fatigue crack in nodular cast iron. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A five-band tunable ideal terahertz metamaterial absorber based on subwavelength range is proposed. It consists of a reflective layer, a dielectric layer, and an absorbing layer consisting of an internal closed square ring and an outer open square circle. We have found that the five absorption peaks can reach more than 97% on average. Meanwhile, in order to analyze the absorption mechanism, we studied the different structures and geometric parameters of the absorber and drew the electric field intensity diagram and surface current density diagram at different peaks. Moreover, we also studied the effect of similar opening structures based on this structure on absorption. Therefore, the designed absorber has good frequency selectivity and can be applied to terahertz imaging, detection, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laue micro‐diffraction has proven to be able to reveal material properties at the sub‐grain scale for many polycrystalline materials and is now routinely available at several synchrotron facilities, providing an approach for nondestructive three‐dimensional probing of the microstructures and mechanical states of materials. However, for in situ experiments, maintaining the positioning of the sample throughout the experiment, to achieve a good alignment of the characterized volumes, is a challenging issue. The aim of the present work is to address this problem by developing an approach based on digital image correlation of focused‐beam Laue diffraction patterns. The method uses small changes in the diffraction signal as a focused X‐ray beam is scanned over a surface region to allow corrections to be made for both sample lateral movement and rotation. The method is demonstrated using a tensile deformation experiment on an Al sample with 2.5 µm average grain size. The results demonstrate an accuracy of 0.5 µm for sample position registration and a precision in sample rotation of ∼0.01°. The proposed method is fast to implement and does not require the use of additional surface markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report a numerical investigation of tunable dual-band metamaterial perfect absorber (MMPA) consisting of two-intersecting graphene nanorings arrays. The optical absorption performance of absorber is dominated by the inner/outer radius of nanorings and center distance between the two nanorings. For the resonance modes λ 1 and λ 2 , the sensitivity of probing the surrounding refractive index can reach 7.97 μm/RIU and 13.27 μm/RIU respectively. The absorption performance of the under-study graphene nanorings can be flexibly adjusted by modulating the Fermi level of graphene with voltage. Due to excellent wavelength selectivity and high refractive-index sensitivity, the presented tunable dual-band MMPA has great application prospects as sensors in biopharmaceutical, environmental monitoring. • The proposed nanostructure have two obvious perfect absorption peaks at 31.6 μm and 57.5 μm. • The proposed nanostructure absorption performance can be flexibly adjusted by modulating the Fermi level of graphene. • The sensitivity of the presented MMPA structure are 7.97 μm/RIU and 13.27 μm/RIU. • The figure of merits (FOM) of the presented MMPA structure can reach 7.6872 and 3.1489. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For CFRP-strengthened steel structures, corrosion defects in steel are incredibly hazardous, but there is a lack of effective non-destructive testing methods. Based on the low-power vibrothermography (LVT) technique, this study proposes a quantitative detection framework for corrosion defects of CFRP-strengthened steel structures, including feature extraction algorithms for improving the defect detectability, and a feature enhancement method for reducing the quantification error. First, a finite element model is built to simulate the heat generation under ultrasonic excitation and to obtain the temperature distribution on the specimen surface. The processing results of the simulated thermal images show that feature extraction algorithms (FFT, PCA, and PLSR) effectively extract defect features. Subsequently, the LVT experimental setup was established to detect corrosion defects in CFRP-strengthened steel specimens. The experimental results demonstrate that the LVT technique can selectively heat corrosion defects, and processing results prove that the FFT and PLSR can further enhance the defect detectability. Finally, we propose a feature enhancement method based on gravitational calculation and double-threshold segmentation to reduces the quantification error. The quantitative evaluation relative errors of defects with diameters of 10 mm, 8 mm, and 6 mm are 5.26%, 5.26%, and 10.09%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This is the first study focused on the dynamic responses of ascorbate metabolism to long-term continuous light. • The increase of lettuce shoot biomass under continuous light dependent on specific leaf weight rather than leaf area. • Increased AsA and DHA level under continuous light was mainly attributed to greater GalLDH and APX activity respectively. • Ascorbate-glutathione cycle pays little contribution to ascorbate accumulation under continuous light. To understand the dynamic changes of lettuce growth, ascorbate pool and metabolism under long-term red and blue continuous light (CL, 24/0 h, 200 μmol·m−2·s−1), growth parameters, ascorbate pool size, as well as activities and gene expression levels of key enzymes involved in the ascorbate metabolism in lettuce leaves were investigated every 3 days during 15 days. In comparison with normal photoperiod (Control, 16/8 h, 200 μmol·m−2·s−1), lettuce plants gained greater shoot fresh weight and dry matter under CL, which depended more on specific leaf weight than leaf area. Both reduced ascorbate (AsA) and dehydroascorbate (DHA) contents were remarkably enhanced by CL and keep a relatively stable level during the experiment. The consistent greater contents of AsA and DHA were respectively attributed to the up-regulation of L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase and ascorbate peroxidase activity rather than their gene expression. Although glutathione contents and glutathione reductase activities were elevated by CL, their contribution to AsA regeneration was limited on account of similar activity and expression level of dehydroascorbate reductase with control. In addition, H 2 O 2 content was also raised obviously under CL compared with control, but it was maintained at a relative safety and stable level from day 6. Fluorescence imaging results also showed that CL did not induce oxidative damage on lettuce leaves compared with control. It is concluded that lettuce plants grown under red and blue continuous light for 15 days obtained greater shoot biomass and ascorbate pool size without leaf injury, and 9 days was the most cost-effective duration for yield improvement from an energy standpoint. Ascorbate accumulation under continuous light was primarily and rapidly regulated by the enzymes involved in AsA biosynthesis and oxidation at enzymatic activity level rather than gene expression level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Poor water solubility, short half-life, and low drug efficacy posed a challenge for clinical application of curcumin (CUR). In this work, a kind of CUR prodrug was synthesized by coupling two CUR molecules with a mono-thioether linker for glutathione (GSH)-responsive drug delivery. The synthesized CUR prodrug (CUR-S-CUR dimer) could self-assemble into the homogeneous spherical nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous solution followed by surface functionalization of trace amounts of DSPE-PEG. These CUR-S-CUR@PEG NPs exhibited a small particle size of ∼100 nm, high CUR-loading content of ∼78 wt%, and good colloid stability. Moreover, the CUR-S-CUR@PEG NPs demonstrated much more efficient cellular uptake and intracellular/nuclear drug delivery compared with free CUR, indicating the advantages of small molecular prodrug assembly. In addition, the GSH with high concentration in tumor cells could trigger the disassembly of CUR-S-CUR@PEG NPs. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity assays indicated that the CUR-S-CUR@PEG NPs exhibited the comparable inhibition effect of tumor cell proliferation with free CUR due to sustained drug release. Therefore, these stimuli-responsive CUR-S-CUR@PEG NPs might have promising potential for highly efficient intracellular drug delivery and controlled drug release in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are reports of fluorochloridone (FLC)-induced male reproductive toxicity, but the underlying toxicological mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we looked at how FLC exposure affected the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and the Sertoli cell barrier and studied the molecular mechanisms. Male rats received gavage administration of FLC (30 mg/kg/d) for 14 consecutive days with sample collection at the 7th and 14th day; and primary cultured Sertoli cells were treated with 0–10 μM FLC in vitro for 24 h. Our in vivo findings revealed that FLC exposure caused time-dependent testicular injuries, sperm quality decrease as well as adverse changes in BTB integrity, F-actin organization, and expressions of claudin-11 and Arp3. In Sertoli cells isolated from FLC-treated rat testis, Sertoli cell barrier tightness was increased. In Sertoli cells in vitro exposed to FLC, abnormal changes in the barrier permeability were also observed, and the protein expressions of occludin, claudin-11, ZO-1, connexin-43, and Arp3 were significantly decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the FLC-induced adverse changes in Sertoli cell barrier and F-actin were partly alleviated by the induction of Arp3 overexpression. In conclusion, our findings revealed that FLC perturbed BTB/Sertoli cell barrier function through Arp3-mediated F-actin disorganization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain evolution in pure iron is determined in three dimensions using diffraction contrast tomography at a synchrotron source. During annealing for 75 min at 800 ∘ C , the evolution of initially 1327 grains is quantified as a function of 15 time-steps. A comprehensive statistical analysis is provided based on the equivalent radius, the number of faces and the mean width parameters of the grains. We introduce analytical relations between these parameters, validate them, and discuss their physical meaning. While the sample is fully recrystallized, the growth is found not to be self-similar, as evidenced in changes in the distributions of normalized grain size and number of faces per grain. More importantly, a strong decrease in the slope of the growth rate over the mean width of grain faces is observed, indicating a slowdown of grain growth. The data is used to determine the applicability of the isotropic MacPherson-Srolovitz theory to an anisotropic material such as iron. Geometrical properties that are averaged over the entire grain ensemble are well described by the model, but the properties and evolution of the individual grains exhibit substantial scatter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type I interferons (IFNα/β) regulate diverse aspects of host defense, but their impact on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSC/HSPCs) during infection remains unclear. Hematologic impairment can occur in severe infections, thus we sought to investigate the impact of type I IFNs on hematopoiesis in a tick-borne infection with a virulent ehrlichial pathogen that causes shock-like disease. During infection, IFNα/β induced severe bone marrow (BM) loss, blunted infection-induced emergency myelopoiesis, and reduced phenotypic HSPCs and HSCs. In the absence of type I IFN signaling, BM and splenic hematopoiesis were increased, and HSCs derived from Ifnar1-deficient mice were functionally superior in competitive BM transplants. Type I IFNs impaired hematopoiesis during infection by both limiting HSC/HSPC proliferation and increasing HSPC death. Using mixed BM chimeras we determined that type I IFNs restricted proliferation indirectly, whereas HSPC death occurred via direct IFNαR -mediated signaling. IFNαR-dependent signals resulted in reduced caspase 8 expression and activity, and reduced cleavage of RIPK1 and RIPK3, relative to Ifnar1-deficient mice. RIPK1 antagonism with Necrostatin-1s rescued HSPC and HSC numbers during infection. Early antibiotic treatment is required for mouse survival, however antibiotic-treated survivors had severely reduced HSPCs and HSCs. Combination therapy with antibiotics and Necrostatin-1s improved HSPC and HSC numbers in surviving mice, compared to antibiotic treatment alone. We reveal two mechanisms whereby type I IFNs drive hematopoietic collapse during severe infection: direct sensitization of HSPCs to undergo cell death and enhanced HSC quiescence. Our studies reveal a strategy to ameliorate the type I IFN-dependent loss of HSCs and HSPCs during infection, which may be relevant to other infections wherein type I IFNs cause hematopoietic dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by the global water crisis, the necessity for wastewater treatment has become more important than ever. Herein, γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOF) generated by solvent diffusion method serve as a carrier, and glycol glycidyl ether acts as the cross-linking agent, Crosslinked-CD-MOF (CCM) has been successfully designed. Benefiting from tunable size and fine water stability, CCM used as a framework allows ZnO for a large-area space loading. The resultant ZnO/CCM exhibits well-defined shapes, a narrower band gap, excellent chemical stability, and photocatalytic performance for dye removal. Apart from that, the antibacterial activity was further explored. The study confirmed that ZnO/CCM-3 could degrade above 93% methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet or visible light irradiation, particularly in five cyclic tests. This straightforward yet general approach offers potential applications for CD-MOF-based materials in sewage remediation. [Display omitted] • A ZnO@CCM photocatalyst was synthesized by a facile method. • The photocatalyst showed superior dye photocatalytic degradation property in UV and visible light. • The photocatalyst exhibited excellent antibacterial activities. • The CD-MOF-based photocatalyst has good stability and reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature environment has many negative effects on the drilling fluid system. In order to avoid or delay these negative effects, phase change materials (PLMs) microcapsule technology was introduced into the high temperature drilling fluid system in this study to further improve the applicability of the high temperature resistant drilling fluid under extremely high temperature formation environment. The microcapsules circulate with drilling fluid, and PLMs melt endothermically at high temperature in deep formation and solidify exothermically at shallow formation. A PLMs microcapsule with solar salt (NaNO 3 : KNO 3 = 3:2) as core material and nano silica as shell material was prepared by sol-gel interfacial polymerization. The structure and properties of the microcapsules were characterized, the temperature-control performance of the microcapsule and its stability and compatibility with drilling fluid were evaluated. The results showed that the microcapsules were well encapsulated, and the single microcapsule particles were spherical, but there was a certain agglomeration phenomenon. The particle size distribution of microcapsules was concentrated in 4–16 µm, with a median particle size of 7.79 µm. The highest encapsulation rate was 60.6%, and the melting enthalpy was 68.48 J/g. The microcapsules had no obvious mass loss below 400 ℃ and had excellent thermal stability. It was proved that the microcapsules had good sealability, shear stability and cycling stability, with the enthalpy/mass retention rate all above 90%. The addition of microcapsules will not affect the basic properties of drilling fluid, and can reduce the peak temperature of high temperature drilling fluid. Different from existing researches, this paper uses a method that absorbs heat to slow down the heating rate of drilling fluid in the formation. This is a new idea, which is expected to be widely studied in the field of high temperature drilling fluids. [Display omitted] • PCM microcapsules were prepared to increase the applicability of high temperature drilling fluid. • PCM microcapsules had good morphology, suitable size, and excellent shear and cycling stability. • PCM microcapsules had good compatibility with water-based drilling fluid. • PCM microcapsules had perfect thermal stability and considerable temperature control effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the fluorination technique is introduced into hydrogen storage alloys with the goal of improving the electrochemical performances of modified unitized regenerative proton exchange membrane fuel cells (M-UR-PEMFCs). The discharge performance of the cells is compared in two charging ways, namely, through electrochemical means and gas-solid hydrogenation. Compared to the M-UR-PEMFC, the specific discharge capacity of the hydrogenated fluoridated membrane electrode assembly increased from 59.3 mAh g−1 to 73.40 mAh g−1. The linear sweep voltammetry curve of the system displayed two reduction peaks separately at 0.75 V and 0.55 V which are associated with oxygen reduction at the Pt/C catalyst and the Ir/C catalyst, respectively. With the fluoridated treatment, the time for hydrogen completely evolving from metal hydride increased from 24 h to 48 h when the relative humidity was 100%, and from 72 h to 240 h when the humidity was 60%. However, the system does not work when charged by electrochemical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soybean meal, a by‐product of the soybean oil production industry, has a high protein content but the compact globular structure of the protein from soybean meal limits its wide application in food processing. Allicin has been found to have numerous functional properties. In this study, allicin was interacted with soy protein isolate (SPI). The functional properties of the adducts were investigated. Results: Binding with allicin significantly quenched the fluorescence intensity of SPI. Static quenching was the main quenching mechanism. The stability of adducts decreased with increasing temperature. The greatest extent of binding between allicin and sulfhydryl groups (SH) of SPI was obtained at an allicin/SH molar ratio of 1:2. The amino groups of SPI did not bind with allicin covalently. Soy protein isolate was modified by allicin through covalent and non‐covalent interactions. Compared with SPI, the emulsifying activity index and foaming capacity of adducts with a ratio of 3:1 were improved by 39.91% and 64.29%, respectively. Soy protein isolate‐allicin adducts also exhibited obvious antibacterial effects. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of SPI‐allicin adducts on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 200 and 160 μg mL−1, respectively. Conclusion: The interaction of allicin with SPI is beneficial for the functional properties of SPI. These adducts can be used in different food formulations as emulsifiers, foamers, and transport carriers. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationships between the three-dimensional (3D) grain structure and the local strain distribution within individual grains are investigated. Multimodal X-ray tomography, i.e. attenuation tomography (ACT) and diffraction contrast tomography (LabDCT), was applied, for the first time using a laboratory instrument, to non-destructively characterize the grain structure and the local plastic deformation behavior of a fully recrystallized Al-4mass%Cu alloy. The evolution of the internal strain distribution during tensile deformation was measured in-situ by means of a microstructural feature tracking (MFT) method based on ACT. By a correlation analysis of the microstructural parameters of 855 grains, it was investigated if and how the initial crystallographic orientations and sizes of the grains affect the local deformations. In addition, effects of grain boundaries were analyzed. Only weak correlations are found. It is suggested that specific interactions between neighboring grains, which depend on parameters such as grain shapes and orientation differences, are of critical importance for the development of the local strains. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of annealing twins during recrystallization in a cold-rolled copper single crystal has been studied. A new method is proposed to classify annealing twins according to their orientation relationship with the surrounding deformed matrix. A statistical analysis based on the new classification method shows that during growth of a recrystallized grain, twinning occurs more frequently on twinning planes close to one of the {111} planes of the deformation microstructure, and most frequently when the {111} plane is the dominant slip plane of the deformed matrix for the present single crystal. The differences in morphology for different types of twins are discussed based on growth selection criteria. The study highlights the importance of the local deformation microstructure on the formation of annealing twins. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Redundant dislocations are revealed to play a dominant role in laser shock peening induced plastic deformation in Ni-based superalloys. • Local dislocation densities in γ and γʹ phases are quantified separately using µXRD in a laser shock peened Ni-based superalloy. • A quantitative relationship between micro-scale local hardness increment and dislocation density is established over a millimeter range. Laser shock peening (LSP), a surface modification technique, is promising to enhance the strength and wear resistance for Ni-based superalloys. To understand the strengthening mechanism in a laser shock peened Ni-based superalloy DZ417G, we utilize synchrotron poly- and monochromatic X-ray microdiffraction, as well as electron microscopy and microhardness to quantify the local microstructures and mechanical properties at various depths. In the 1.2-mm-deep hardened layer, the microhardness increases monotonically by ∼50% from the unaffected interior to the surface. Quantitative microdiffraction analysis shows that large amounts of dislocations are introduced by LSP. High densities of 7.1 × 1015 m−2 and 11.8 × 1015 m−2 are seen close to the peened surface for the γ- and γ′-phases, respectively, which are 5 and 20 times of those in the unaffected region. Different gradients of dislocation density are observed for the two phases from interior to surface, and their combined effect accounts well for the hardness increment. Due to the unaltered γ′-precipitates and chemical composition in the LSP affected zone, the large density of dislocations dominates the observed strengthening. Combined poly- and monochromatic X-ray microdiffraction allows quantifying the local microstructures of plastic deformation over a large sampling scale that can hardly be achieved using other materials characterization techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intragranular strains and the microstructure within recrystallizing grains in single phase pure iron have been systematically studied in 3D using synchrotron micro-diffraction. In contradiction to common knowledge we observe that residual elastic strains of up to 1–2 × 10−3 are present in the recrystallizing grains. The local strain variations within individual grains can be similar in magnitude to those between different grains. The effects of processing parameters, including rolling reduction, recrystallized volume fraction, and cooling rate, as well as microstructural parameters, including grain size, orientation and internal misorientation, on the development of local residual elastic strains and microstructure have been quantified. It is suggested that the difference in local defect density between recrystallized grains and the surrounding deformed matrix, as well as the redistribution of medium to long-range residual stresses in the deformed grains, are the main reasons for the development of such strains in the recrystallized grains. The local residual stress levels are calculated and their possible impact on the mechanical properties and recrystallization processes are discussed. [Display omitted] • Local residual stresses in partially recrystallized iron have been mapped in 3D. • Residual elastic strains of up to 1–2 × 10−3 are present in recrystallizing grains. • Deviatoric strain components along different sample directions are different. • Mechanisms for the formation of local residual stresses in recrystallizing grains are clarified. • Importance of local residual stresses for recrystallization process is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cis-trans isomer and polymorphism of 9-(4-(4-nitrostyryl)phenyl)-9H-carbzole (Dye 1 ) were obtained unexpectedly. Each isomer has two polymorphs, which was characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction. Polymorphs T1 and T2 are trans -configuration and both crystallize in monoclinic space group P 21/c. Polymorphs C1 and C2 are cis -configuration and crystallize in triclinic space group P -1 and monoclinic space group P 21/c, respectively. Trans -isomer shows better stability and higher density than that of cis -isomer, but cis -isomer displays better solubility than that of trans -isomer. The molecular structures and packing arrangements of the four kinds of crystals show different features. The twisted conformation of cis -isomer effectively avoids π-π interactions and close packing. Both the trans and cis isomers show remarkable aggregation-induced emission effect in the acetonitrile/water mixture. In addition, fluorescence cell imaging experiment proves the potential application of the two isomers of dye 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Catheter ablation (CA) is an established treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), but the recurrence of AF is not neglected. Young patients with AF were generally more symptomatic and intolerant to long-term drug treatment. We aim to explore clinical outcomes and predictors of late recurrence (LR) in AF patients younger than 45 years after CA to better manage them. Methods. We retrospectively studied 92 symptomatic AF patients who accepted CA from September 1, 2019, to August 31, 2021. Baseline clinical data (including N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, NT-proBNP), ablation outcomes, and follow-up outcomes were collected. Patients were followed up at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Follow-up data were available for 82/92 (89.1%) patients. Results. One-year arrhythmia-free survival was 81.7% (67/82) in our study group. Major complications occurred in 3/82 (3.7%) patients with an acceptable rate. The value of ln(NT-proBNP) (P = 0.025 , odds ratio OR = 1.977 , 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.087-3.596) and a family history of AF (P = 0.041 , HR = 9.269 , 95% CI 1.097-78.295) could independently predict AF recurrence. The ROC analysis of ln(NT-proBNP) showed that NT-proBNP greater than 200.05 pg/ml (area under the curve: 0.772, 95% CI 0.642-0.902, P = 0.001 , sensitivity 0.800, specificity 0.701) was the cut-off point for predicting late recurrence. Conclusions. CA is a safe and effective treatment for AF patients younger than 45 years. Elevated NT-proBNP level and a family history of AF could be used as predictors for late recurrence in young patients. The result of this study may help us take more comprehensive management of those with high-recurrence risks to reduce disease burden and improve quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The EG/MNA composite PCM was prepared successfully. • The addition of nano-silica improved the hydrophilicity and stability. • The encapsulation efficiency of composite PCM was as high as 68.9%. • Composite PCM can inhibit hydrate decomposition and regeneration by temperature control. • Composite PCM can be applied to water-based drilling fluid in hydrate reservoir. During the process of hydrate reservoir drilling, the heat generated by friction in a horizontal well section leads to hydrate decomposition and affects the wellbore stability. Consequently, the low-temperature environment of subsea wellbores can cause hydrate regeneration and flow obstacles. In this study, modified n-alkanes (MNA) with an appropriate phase transition temperature and acceptable latent heat were synthesised, and the thermal conductivity was improved by adding nano-Cu. A composite phase change material (PCM) was prepared using expanded graphite (EG) with adsorbing MNA, and nano-silica modification to improve its hydrophilicity and stability. Structural properties of the composite PCM were characterised via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and nitrogen sorption. The DSC curves revealed an acceptable latent heat capacity and reliability of the prepared composite PCM. In addition, by simulating the temperature heating and cooling during the drilling process, the composite PCM exhibited a reasonable thermoregulating and hydrate decomposition inhibition performance, which can effectively inhibit hydrate decomposition in reservoirs and hydrate regeneration in wellbores. Moreover, the composite PCM exhibited a reasonable compatibility with the drilling fluid. The study results can be applied to realise intelligent temperature control and reduce the risk of drilling in hydrate reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recrystallization and mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline copper prepared by dynamic plastic deformation (DPD) and DPD with additional cold-rolling (DPD+CR) were investigated, with an emphasis on the effects of heterogeneity within the deformation microstructure. The DPD sample was found to develop a heterogeneous structure, consisting of regions with different textures and microstructures. This heterogeneity within the deformed structure leads to the formation of severely clustered grains in partially recrystallized samples. The recrystallization kinetic curve shows an Avrami exponent less than 1, which is explained using a two-stage kinetics model incorporating the heterogeneity. The heterogeneity of the DPD sample is largely reduced by applying additional rolling. This change in deformation path leads to a more random distribution of the recrystallized grains and more conventional recrystallization kinetics. The hardness of the two samples was measured, and the mechanical properties before and after partial recrystallization of both samples are discussed based on the presence of structural heterogeneities on the macroscopic and the microscopic scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The soil and water conservation practices of ecological restoration (ER), fish scale pit (FP), furrow and ridge tillage across the slope (FR), shrub strips (SS), and vegetation-covered ridge (VR) are characteristic of the Jixing small watershed of the low mountain and hilly region of Jilin Province, Northeast China. This study aims to elucidate the effects of soil and water conservation practices on soil conditions after the short-term implementation of practices. Soil samples were collected from five soil and water conservation sites (ER, FP, FR, SS, and VR) and two controls (BL and CT) to investigate their properties. To evaluate the influence of soil and water conservation practices on soil quality, an integrated quantitative index, soil quality index (QI), was developed to compare the soil quality under the different soil and water conservation practices. The results show that not all soil and water conservation practices can improve the soil conditions and not all soil properties, especially soil organic carbon (SOC), can be recovered under soil and water conservation practice in short-term. Moreover, the QI in the five soil and water conservation practices and two controls was in the following order: ER > VR > BL > FR > CT > SS > FP. ER exhibited a higher soil quality value on a slope scale. In the low mountain and hilly region of Northeast China, ER is a better choice than the conversion of farmlands to planted grasslands and woodlands early in the soil and water conservation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By enrichment culturing of soil contaminated with metribuzin, a highly efficient metribuzin degrading bacterium,Bacillussp. N1, was isolated. This strain grows using metribuzin at 5.0% (v/v) as the sole nitrogen source in a liquid medium. Optimal metribuzin degradation occurred at a temperature of 30ºC and at pH 7.0. With an initial concentration of 20 mg L−1, the degradation rate was 73.5% in 120 h. If the initial concentrations were higher than 50 mg L−1, the biodegradation rates decreased as the metribuzin concentrations increased. When the concentration was 100 mg L−1, the degradation rate was only 45%. Degradation followed the pesticide degradation kinetic equation at initial concentrations between 5 mg L−1and 50 mg L−1. When the metribuzin contaminated soil was mixed with strain N1 (with the concentration of metribuzin being 20 mg L−1and the inoculation rate of 1011g−1dry soil), the degradation rate of the metribuzin was 66.4% in 30 days, while the degradation rate of metribuzin was only 19.4% in the control soil without the strain N1. These results indicate that the strain N1 can significantly increase the degradation rate of metribuzin in contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: pH-dependent (pH6.0–8.0) quaternary structural changes of ferric Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) have been investigated using dynamic light scattering. The VHb exhibits a monomeric state under neutral conditions at pH7.0, while the protein forms distinct homodimeric species at pH6.0 and 8.0, respectively. The dissociation constant obtained using the Bio-Layer Interferometry technology indicates that, at pH7.0, the monomer–monomer dissociation of VHb is about 6-fold or 5-fold higher (KD =6.34μM) compared with that at slightly acidic pH (KD =1.05μM) or slightly alkaline pH (KD =1.22μM). The pH-dependent absorption spectra demonstrate that the heme microenvironment of VHb is sensitive to the changes of pH value. The maximum absorption band of heme group of VHb shifts from 402nm to 407nm when pH changes from 6.0 to 8.0. In addition, the fluorescence emission spectra of VHb, taken at excitation wavelength of 295nm, suggest that the single Trp122 fluorescence quantum yields in VHb are decreased due to the formation of the homodimeric species. However, the circular dichroism spectra data display that the secondary structures of VHb are little affected by pH transitions. The pH-dependent peroxidase activity of VHb was also investigated in this study. The optimum pH for VHb using 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as substrate is 7.0, which implies that the monomer state of VHb would exhibit better peroxidase activity than the homodimeric species of VHb at pH6.0 and 8.0. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Boundary migration during recrystallization in the heterogeneous microstructure near a hardness indent in lightly rolled pure Al was followed in 3D. The microstructure after multiple steps of ex-situ annealing was examined using synchrotron white-beam differential-aperture X-ray microscopy, supplemented by scanning electron microscopy. Heterogeneous recrystallization boundary migration was observed and analyzed in terms of driving force and boundary characteristics. The results reveal very similar local stored energies and boundary misorientations for the migrating and stationary boundary segments, whereas the grain boundary normals differ significantly. Effects of grain boundary mobility and deformation microstructure morphology on the migration are discussed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The intelligent temperature-control microcapsules was prepared successfully. • The encapsulation rate was as high as 62.2%. • The prepared microcapsules had good thermal conductivity and reliability. • It can inhibit hydrate decomposition by controlling temperature. • It can be used in water-based drilling fluid during drilling HBS. The friction heat generated during the drilling process of natural gas hydrate bearing sediment (HBS) leads to the temperature of drilling fluid higher than the phase equilibrium temperature of hydrate, which induces hydrate decomposition and wellbore instability. In this work, tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and Nano-silica were microencapsulated by inverse emulsion interfacial polymerization. The effect of different preparation conditions on the encapsulation rate of microcapsules was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the highest encapsulation rate was 62.2% with the melting enthalpy of 121.4 J/g. Polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images were used to characterize the synthesis process and microstructure of microcapsules, which proved a quasi-spherical structure coated with Nano-silica. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the microcapsules also had good thermal conductivity, reliability and thermoregulating performance. The rheological parameters of drilling fluid with 5 wt% microcapsules increased slightly, and the filtration loss decreased, indicating good compatibility. In addition, it is convenient to adjust the melting temperature of the core materials by adding NaCl with different concentrations. This study is of guiding significance to realize intelligent temperature-control of hydrate bearing sediment during drilling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders with unknown etiology. BTBR-T+tf/J (BTBR) mice, a mouse strain with behaviors that resemble autism and with elevated levels of anti-brain antibodies (Abs), have enhanced activation of peripheral B cells and CD4+ T cells and an expanded percentage of CD4+ T cells expressing Vβ6 chains. The CD4+CD25+Vβ6+ and Vβ6-splenic cells of BTBR mice have elevated levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-17, but there appears to be no preferential CD4+ T subset skewing/polarization. The high level of IgG production by BTBR B cells was dependent on T cells from BTBR mice. The CD4+ T cells of BTBR mice, especially those expressing Vβ6 become spontaneously activated and expanded in an autoimmune-like manner, which occurred in both BTBR and B6 hosts that received an equal number of BTBR and B6 bone marrow cells. BTBR mice also have an elevated percentage of peripheral blood neutrophils, which may represent their elevated inflammatory state. B6 offspring derived from B6 dams that were gestationally injected with purified IgG from sera of BTBR mice, but not IgG of B6 mice, developed significantly impaired social behavior. Additionally, B6 offspring that developed in BTBR dams had impaired social behavior, while BTBR offspring that developed in B6 dams had improved social behavior. All of the immunological and behavioral parameters of BTBR mice were compared with those of B6 mice, which have relatively normal behaviors. The results indicate maternal Abs and possibly other maternal influences affect the social behavior of offspring. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Developmental HgCl2 exposures of F1 offspring (H-2q/s) from unsociable SJL/J (H-2s) dams with high susceptibility to Hg-induced autoimmunity (SFvF1) and from highly sociable FVB/NJ (FVB; H-2q) dams with lower susceptibility to Hg-induced autoimmunity (FvSF1) were investigated. Hg exposure increased the serum IgG levels of all offspring at postnatal day 21 (pnd21) and of SJL/J dams but not of FVB dams. Serum IgG anti-brain antibody (Ab) levels of pnd21 SFvF1 offspring and SJL dams were higher than those of the FvSF1 offspring and FVB dams, but Hg only increased the titers of the FVB dams and their offspring. Hg significantly elevated the presence of IgG in all brain regions of the pnd21 SFvF1 offspring, and the SFvF1 offspring had greater amounts of IgG in the brain than the FvSF1 offspring, which had Hg-induced increases in only two brain regions. Cytokine levels were elevated in the brain regions of Hg-treated pnd21 SFvF1 but not of FvSF1 offspring, and SFvF1 females had more brain regions expressing cytokines than the males. At pnd70, the serum IgG, serum antibrain Abs, amounts of brain IgG, and brain cytokine levels of all of the Hg-treated offspring were equivalent to those of their appropriate controls, suggesting that developmental Hg exposure did not induce chronic immunological effects. However, the social behaviors of Hg-exposed SFvF1 offspring at pnd70 were significantly impaired, and SFvF1 females displayed greater decline in social behaviors than males, suggesting that the higher neuroinflammation of SFvF1 females earlier in life is associated with the altered behavior. Thus, developmental Hg exposure induces long-lasting effects on social behavior of offspring, which is dependent on sex and genetics and the induction of neuroinflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effects of mercury (Hg) on social behavior and the mechanisms involved remain unknown. This study shows that Hg chloride (HgCl2) exposure during fetal development does not impair social behavior of a mouse strain susceptible to environment-induced autistic-like behavior based on the parental phenotype. On the contrary, Hg exposure elevated the sociability of females. Since B6 mice are behaviorally normal and BTBR mice display low levels of sociability, the F1 offspring (B6BF1) of female B6 mice and male BTBR mice were used to investigate their social behavior and the effects of Hg. Developmental Hg-treatment increased the serum IgG levels of the post-natal day (pnd) 21 offspring, but not pnd70 offspring or the B6 dams. After Hg treatment, there were negligible levels of serum IgG anti-brain antibodies (Ab) in the pnd21 and pnd70 offspring as well as their dams. However, Hg did elevate IgG deposition in multiple assayed brain regions of the pnd21 offspring, but the higher levels were no longer present at pnd70. Cytokine levels were not changed in pnd21 or pnd70 brain by Hg exposure, suggesting neuroinflammation was not induced. Social behavior was assayed at pnd70. Surprisingly, Hg-treatment significantly enhanced sociability of female B6BF1 offspring, but not that of the male offspring. Our data indicates that developmental exposure to HgCl2 did not impair social behavior of B6BF1 offspring, but it enhanced the sociability of females, which was significantly lower in adult B6BF1 females than B6BF1 males in the absence of any Hg exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boundary migration during recrystallization has been followed by an ex situ electron channelling contrast technique, and protrusions/retrusions formed locally on recrystallization boundaries have been quantified. The results show that the motion of recrystallization boundaries is much more complex than generally appreciated. Locally protrusions/retrusions can provide a driving force comparable in magnitude to the driving force from the stored energy in the deformed matrix. The stop–go motion of the recrystallization boundaries is also discussed and related to the formation of protrusions and retrusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A.SW mice, which are known to be prone to mercury (Hg)-induced immune nephritis, were assessed for their ability to develop autoimmunity to brain antigens after developmental exposure to Hg. Maternal drinking water containing subclinical doses of 1.25μM methyl Hg (MeHg) or 50μM Hg chloride (HgCl2) were used to evaluate developmental (exposure from gestational day 8 to postnatal day 21) induction of immune responses to brain antigens. Only HgCl2 induced autoantibody production; the HgCl2-exposed offspring showed an increased number of CD4+ splenic T cells expressing CD25 and Vβ 8.3 chains, and the brain-reactive immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were predominantly against nuclear proteins (30 and 34 kD). The antibodies were deposited in all brain regions. Although male and female A.SW mice exposed to HgCl2 showed deposition of IgG in multiple brain regions, inflammation responses were observed only in the cerebellum (CB) of female A.SW mice; these responses were associated with increased levels of exploratory behavior. The developmental exposure to MeHg also induced inflammation in the CB and increased exploratory behavior of the female A.SW mice, but the change did not correlate with increased IgG in the brain. Interestingly, the non–Hg-exposed female A.SW mice habituated (adapted to the information and/or stimuli of a new environment) more than the male A.SW mice during exploratory behavior assessment, and the Hg exposure eliminated the habituation (i.e., no changes in behavior with subsequent trials), making the female behaviors more like those of the male A.SW mice. Additionally, gender differences in A.SW brain cytokine expressions prior to Hg exposure were eliminated by the Hg exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Co atoms will permeate into the soft organic material to form a magnetic permeated sublayer (MPS) during the fabrication of an organic spin device, such as Co/OSC/LSMO. We considered the OSC as a two-sublayer structure of MPS and pristine OSC, and then established a dynamic spin-diffusion equation to study the effect of MPS on the spin current polarization and the magnetoresistance of the device. It was found that the MPS will change the spin transport due to its different spin-flip time and mobility from that in the pristine OSC. The splitting of spin-flip times will be favorable to the spin polarization transport. Mobility of spin polarons in the MPS will be reduced due to the scattering of the Co atoms, which will weaken the spin polarization. For a given device, effect of the thickness of the MPS on the spin polarization is discussed. Finally, we calculated the magnetoresistance of a Co/OSC/LSMO device. A theoretical result which is consistent with the experimental data was obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Spin-polarized injection and transport in ferromagnetic/organic semiconductor/ferromagnetic devices are studied theoretically. Based on the spin diffusion theory and Ohm’s law, we obtain the charge current polarization and the magnetoresistance, which takes into account the special carriers in organic semiconductors. From the calculation, it is found that the charge current polarization decreases exponentially from the ferromagnetic layer into the organic layer and polarons are effective spin carriers in organic semiconductors for polarized charge current. To get an apparent magnetoresistance in an organic device, it is better to adopt a spin-dependent interface, and the thickness of the organic interlayer is much smaller than the spin diffusion length. Spin polarons are effective carriers for gaining remarkable magnetoresistance in ferromagnetic/organic semiconductor/ferromagnetic devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A polaron–polaron interaction model is suggested to study the spin injection and transport in an organic semiconductor (OSC) device. The evolutions of spin polarons and spinless bipolarons are calculated from the drift-diffusion equations, in which both the polaron–bipolaron transition and the spin-flipping of a spin polaron are included. Then the spin polarized current is obtained. It is found that the polarons are responsible for the spin polarized transport in an OSC. Different from the case in a normal inorganic semiconductor, spinless bipolarons will affect the spin polarization of the OSC device. Finally, effects of the spin-flip time and the mobility of the carriers on the spin polarization in an organic device are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]