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Planar cellular structure panels are affected by a series of factors, which can produce various types of initial damage within the structure and thus affect the service life as well as the starting point and path of crack propagation. Investigating the effect of different initial damage modes on crack expansion paths and failure modes in additively manufactured honeycomb cellular panel under quasi-static three-point bending load. Experimental tests and finite element simulations are used. The quasi-static three-point bending experiments are conducted by using the CMT5305 universal testing machine, and numerical simulations are carried out by combining finite element analysis software ANSYS Workbench. Two kinds of experimental specimens with prefabricated cracks (PFC) and plastic hinge truncation (PHT) are fabricated by using additive manufacturing technology to simulate the initial damage. The final failure of the specimens includes plastic failure dominated by type-I cracks and brittle failure dominated by type-I and type-II mixed cracks. T-0-60 and C-90-60 specimens have the strongest crack suppression and load-bearing ability. With the increase in load speed, the cracking displacement decreases, and peak load increases. The undamaged (UDD) specimens have the strongest crack suppression ability at loading speeds of 10mm/min and 50mm/min, while the damage mode has little effect on the peak load of the specimens. The damage mode affects the crack initiation point, propagation path and failure mode of the cellular structure, and the model with initial damage will enhance the crack suppression ability at a specific inclination angle. In practical engineering applications, as a load-bearing structure, such as the open beam of a truck, two types of structures, T-0-60, and C-90-60, should be given priority, while avoiding the design of C-0-60 structure. As an energy-absorbing structure, such as the front bumper of a car, the cushioning effect should be enhanced by adjusting the hole direction and the initial damage direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt, caused by the soilborne pathogen Fusarium spp., poses a substantial threat to numerous crop species worldwide. The survival of Fusarium pathogens in soil ecosystems can have far-reaching consequences, not only for plant health but also for soil nutrient cycling, which is mediated by diverse microbial communities. This study investigates the impact of Fusarium wilt pathogen survival in soil on the activities of microorganisms involved in nutrient cycling. By examining the interactions between Fusarium pathogens and soil microbial communities, we aim to deepen our understanding of how soilborne pathogens influence nutrient dynamics in agricultural and natural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) is sensitive to Zn, which is involved in basic physiological and biochemical processes.To explore the growth and physiology of pecan in response to Zn application, we used 1‐year‐old annual grafted seedlings (Pawnee) and applied four concentrations of Zn fertilizer (0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.40 g·plant−1); a control (CK; no Zn fertilization) was also included. The growth characteristics, anatomical structure of the leaves and photosynthesis were assessed.Compared with the CK, photosynthesis and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters, leaf area and leaf structure significantly increased at Zn concentrations of 0.05 and 0.10 g·plant−1. In addition, growth of pecan at the seedling stage increased in response to moderate Zn application. In contrast, treatment with 0.20 and 0.40 g·Zn·plant−1 dramatically decreased these physiological indices and inhibited pecan growth.The results show that moderate soil Zn application promotes pecan growth and development by increasing photosynthesis. However excess Zn concentrations were not conducive to seedling growth. The concentration of 0.1 g·Zn·plant−1 was best when considering long‐term soil Zn applications, providing a theoretical foundation for microelement management of pecan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Is there a shared genetic basis or causal relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and a range of psychiatric disorders?Summary Answer: Genome-wide genetic correlation analysis and bidirectional Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis suggest no shared genetic basis or causal relationship of PCOS with psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.What Is Known Already: The comorbidity of PCOS with a range of psychiatric disorders has been recognised by epidemiological investigations yet a causal relationship remains unclear. Understanding of how genetic variations contribute to the susceptibility to PCOS and psychiatry disorders could provide meaningful insights into disease mechanisms.Study Design, Size, Duration: We incorporated summary statistics from the hitherto largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) conducted in subjects with PCOS (Ncase = 9322) or four common psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) (Ncase ranges between 20 352 and 246 363), all of European ancestry.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: We quantified pairwise genetic correlation to understand the shared genetic predisposition using genome-wide genetic variants. We performed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomisation analysis to make causal inferences, using GWAS-identified 102 depression-associated genetic instruments, 6 anxiety-associated instruments, 179 schizophrenia-associated instruments, 30 bipolar disorder-associated instruments and 14 PCOS-associated instruments. We performed several important sensitivity analyses examining sex hormones and utilising different MR approaches.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: We did not find significant genetic correlations (rg) for PCOS with psychiatric disorders (depression (rg = 0.09, P = 0.06), anxiety (rg = 0.15, P = 0.06), schizophrenia (rg = 0.02, P = 0.59), bipolar disorder (rg = 0.08, P = 0.19)). Genetic predisposition to PCOS was associated with depression in some of our MR approaches, without any evidence of pleiotropy (PMR-Egger intercept = 0.60). However, this weak PCOS-depression causal association attenuated to null after adjusting for BMI (1.00 (0.99-1.02), P = 0.28). On the contrary, we did not observe any statistically significant association between genetically instrumented PCOS with other psychiatric disorders (anxiety 1.01 (0.93-1.08), P = 0.89; schizophrenia 1.03 (0.97-1.10), P = 0.37; bipolar disorder 0.96 (0.90-1.03), P = 0.26). Bidirectional MR did not reveal an effect by which mental health conditions influenced PCOS risk.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: Despite our study being the largest in sample size of its kind, the overall negligible causal relationship between PCOS and psychiatric outcomes may reflect a true null association but may also be due to a true effect too modest to be detected. We were not able to investigate PCOS subtypes and used an overall heterogenous PCOS sample due to limited availability of data.Wider Implications Of the Findings: Our comprehensive analysis does not identify a shared genetic basis of PCOS with psychiatric diseases. Although genetically instrumented PCOS appears to correlate with depression, such an effect is likely mediated by BMI, suggesting a role of non-genetic exposures underlying the observed comorbidity.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): The work was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council 2018-02435 (to E.S.V.), Novo Nordisk Foundation NNF19OC0056647 (to E.S.V.), the Adlerbert Research Foundation (to E.S.V.), the SRP in Diabetes at Karolinska Institutet (to E.S.V.) and the Swedish Research Council VR 2018-02247 (to X.J.). The funders had no influence on the data collection, analyses or conclusions of the study. No conflict of interests to declare.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal resources have great development potential and prospects, owing to their wide distribution and high thermal storage temperature. HDR resources are abundant in China, but their exploration and exploitation remain in the early stages. The Yishu fault zone in Shandong Province in eastern China is in a high-temperature geothermal zone of the Pacific Rim. Three craters and 15 hot springs are in this area, which possesses abundant geothermal resources and favourable conditions for the occurrence of HDR resources. Nevertheless, HDR resources in this area have not been studied in detail, and the index-evaluation system for HDR is still imperfect. In this paper, five index layers are selected, including: the gravity and magnetic fields, geothermal field, tectonic activity, reservoir and cover characteristics, and remotely sensed features. Thirteen index elements were also selected as evaluation factors. In combination, these index layers and index elements have established a favourable evaluation index system for HDR resources in this region, and the analytic hierarchy process has been used to determine the weight of each factor. Then, the GIS spatial analysis function is used to carry out spatial superposition analyses for each index element, and finally the distribution characteristics of HDR resources east of the Yishu fault zone were determined, with four favourable selection areas being delineated. The occurrence conditions of HDR resources are analysed in detail with evaluation indexes. It is believed that HDR resources are closely related to neotectonic movement, volcanism and rocks with high heat-generation rates. Searching for areas with geothermal anomalies is indispensable for the evaluation of HDR resources. This study provides a basis for the exploration and development of HDR resources in the region, and it can also provide a reference for similar work in other parts of the country. A set of evaluation indexes to determine favourable areas for HDR resources, including gravity, geothermal field, geological structure and crustal stability, heat storage and heat cover and features on remotely sensed images, is established. East of Yishu fault zone, there is a great potential of HDR resources, with an area of 19 399 km2 of favourable and more favourable areas, accounting for approximately 38.8% of the total area. HDR resources are likely closely associated with neotectonics, igneous activity, geothermal anomalies and rocks with a high heat-generation rate such as granites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provided are numerically predicted flow structural data for a flow passage with an impingement jet array, as well as numerically predicted surface Nusselt number data for the target surface of the passage, which are obtained using a SST k − ω turbulence closure model. The closure model and numerical prediction approach are validated by oil film flow visualization experimental results. Spatially averaged Nusselt number data are well represented by the impingement cooling temperature ratio correlation equation of Goodro et al., which indicates that associated Nusselt number ratios decrease as the Tw/To,in temperature ratio increases to values as high as 2.0. Local, spatially resolved Nusselt numbers and spanwise-averaged surface Nusselt number distributions for TR = 1.1 are consistently higher than TR = 2.0 values, when compared at particular surface locations. Cross flow influences are evidenced by spanwise-averaged, periodically varying Nusselt number values which generally increase with streamwise development. When surface oil flow visualization results are considered with numerically predicted turbulent viscosity ratio results, flow features include locally increased viscosity ratio values near impingement jet stagnation regions, horseshoe vortex signatures, and more focused and more narrow viscosity ratio distributions with streamwise development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To measure the coronal root canal morphology of permanent mandibular first molars using 3D coordinates for more precise conservative endodontic cavity preparation. Methodology: In total, 57 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of sound mandibular molars with fully formed apices without previous endodontic treatment were taken from 33 patients aged 16 to 75 years. The CBCT machine (MCT‐1[EX‐2F], J. Morita Manufacturing Corp, Kyoto, Japan) provided 14‐bit greyscale images with the voxel size of 0.125 mm. All images were taken at 80 kV and 5.0 mA, with a 17‐s exposure time, which were then reconstructed in 3D models and viewed by an endodontist. The gender of the patients and the tooth position, and number of root canals, were recorded. The landmarks of coronal root canals were determined, then the distribution of landmarks, maximum curvature in the axial direction and curvature directions in the horizontal direction of coronal root canals were measured. Distributions of landmarks were analysed using a spatial statistics method. Data about curvature were compared using a t test. Results: Overall, the distribution of root canal orifices and the centre of the canal primary curve were more centralized than other landmarks. The landmarks were located more mesiobuccally to the centre of the occlusal plane of mandibular first molars. Specifically, the measurements of the maximum curvature of coronal root canals in the axial direction were as follows: in 3‐canal teeth, the average angles of curvatures were 22°,23°,15° for mesiobuccal (MB), mesiolingual (ML) and distobuccal (DB) canals, respectively; in 4‐canal teeth, the average angles of curvatures were 24°,26°,15°,22°for MB, ML, DB and distolingual (DL) canals, respectively. The degrees of coronal root canal curvatures in the horizontal direction were as follows: in 3‐canal teeth, the average angles of curvatures were −8°,47°,−2° for MB, ML and DB canals, respectively; in 4‐canals teeth, the average angles were −11°,50°,−28°,45° for MB, ML, DB and DL canals, respectively. Statistically, there was no reliable side or sex difference in any of the measurements (P > 0.05). Conclusions: In permanent two‐rooted mandibular first molars, the coronal canals clustered in the direction of the mesiobuccal side of the occlusal surface of the teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium nitride (TiN) thin films have excellent physical and chemical properties, and are widely used as cutting tools, drills and die protective coatings. However, their limited hardness and corrosion resistance caused by the rough, loose, columnar structure will affect its application in extreme environments. TiN films with refined grains and nanostructure might solve this problem. In this paper, Co and Cr atoms were doped into TiN film to tailor its structure. The effects of Co and Cr content on the Ti(CoCr)N film structure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), microhardness tester and electrochemical corrosion tester. The results show that Co and Cr doping can disturb the columnar growth of TiN films, and lead to refinement of TiN grains. Compared to TiN films without Co and Cr doping, the hardness of Ti(CoCr)N with 2.7 at.% Co and 1.9 at.% Cr increases by about 37% to 31.3 GPa. And Ti(CoCr)N films with 2.7 at.% Co and 1.9 at.% Cr have the best corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiN films deposited by magnetron sputtering are widely used to improve the surface properties of components and prolong their service life. However, for complex shaped workpieces, such as hoods, the shadow effect will cause the nonuniformity of thickness, structure and performance of the as-deposited films and thus reduce their service life. High-power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HPPMS) is characterized by high ionization rate of target atoms, which makes it easy to control the energy and direction of deposited particles, and then to prepare highly uniform and compact films. In this paper, TiN films were deposited on the inner surfaces of a hemispherical workpiece by HPPMS at different working pressure. The film thickness, crystallographic structure, microhardness and morphology of the films were investigated by surface profilometer, XRD, SEM and microhardness tester. The results show that the thickness uniformity of TiN film on the inner surface of the hemispherical workpiece decreases, and the uniformity of structure and hardness increase with the increase of working pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is, so far, unclear whether lianas and trees differ in photosynthetic thermotolerance and response to high temperature and high light. Here, photosynthetic thermotolerance was compared in the leaves of Bauhinia brachycarpa (tree) and Bauhinia comosa (liana). Moreover, the combined treatments of four temperatures (25, 35, 40, and 45°C) and two light intensities [500 and 2,000 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1] were used to investigate the effects of high temperature and high light on PSII activity. The results showed that B. brachycarpa leaves exhibited higher photosynthetic thermotolerance, leaf mass per area, and Ca2+ concentration than those of B. comosa. As the temperature and light intensity increased, maximum quantum yield of PSII decreased significantly, particularly with greater declines in B. comosa than that in B. brachycarpa. Our results suggested that PSII was more sensitive to high temperature and high light in liana species B. comosa than in the congener tree species B. brachycarpa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Modulation structures affect the tensile behaviors of Ti(0 0 0 1)/Ni(1 1 1) nanowires. • Tensile behaviors are changed with layer thickness for isochoric Ti/Ni nanowires. • Modulation ratios significantly affect tensile properties of Ti/Ni nanowires. • Competition of the surface and interface determines the deformation mechanisms. Abstract The tensile behaviors of Ti(0 0 0 1)/Ni(1 1 1) multilayered nanowires are investigated by the molecular dynamics. The results indicate modulation structures may affect the mechanical behaviors of the nanowires dramatically, and plastic deformations are determined by surface effect and interface effect. For isochoric nanowires, deformation behaviors transform from interface driving behavior to surface driving behavior with increasing layer thickness, and an optimal layer thickness of 2.34 nm is discovered. At this size, the interface and Ti layer yield simultaneously at the first yield point, the subsequent plastic behavior is mainly determined by interface rotation and shear offset. For the minimum sample size of 1.31 nm, interface rotation and shear offset dominate the plastic deformations. Nevertheless, plastic deformations are related with grain reorientation, phase transformation and dislocations propagation in Ti layer for the sample size is greater than 2.34 nm, while Ni layer deforms elastically all the time. For non-isochoric nanowires, the results depict modulation ratios significantly influence the elastic modulus and yield strength, but rarely affect the plastic behaviors of the nanowires. The results in present work can provide a guidance to design and exploit high performance metallic multilayered materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymers have good biocompatibility and hydrophilicity because the function of the phospholipid polar groups of MPC side-chain is similar to the natural articular cartilage. MPC has a potential application on surface modification of artificial joints. In this research, MPC was grafted on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) by the photo-induced graft polymerization to form poly 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (PMPC) layer. The microstructure of PMPC layer was studied by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (ATR) equipment, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface wettability of PMPC layer was evaluated by the contact angle test. The wear resistance of MPC modified UHMWPE was evaluated by the wear test. The results show that the PMPC layer has a good lubricating effect and it can reduce the friction coefficient effectively. The benzophenone pretreatment time is an important factor in the graft stability of MPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The To discuss the application value of ultrasonography (US) and 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) scintigraphy in hyperparathyroidism (HPT), so as to provide a more reliable guarantee for surgery or thermal ablation. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four HPT patients admitted to our hospital and the Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University from January 2018 to February 2023 were selected as research participants. All patients underwent cervical US, dual-phase 99mTc-MIBI planar scintigraphy, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and pathological examination. The diagnostic efficiency of the above three imaging modalities was evaluated with pathological findings as the gold standard. In addition, the influence of parathyroid position, size and histological type on imaging results was evaluated. Results: Among the 64 patients, 71 positive lesions were pathologically confirmed. The analysis showed that 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT (Kappa=0.806) and US (Kappa=0.686) had high consistency with pathological findings, while dual-phase 99mTc-MIBI planar scintigraphy had moderate consistency with pathological examination results (Kappa=0.594). Conclusions: 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy can significantly improve the diagnostic rate of parathyroid lesions. US is first recommended for patients suspected of HPT, followed by 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy for confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the application of a stabilized continuous Galerkin finite element method (CGFEM) in the simulation of multiphase flow in poroelastic subsurfaces. The system involves a nonlinear coupling between the fluid pressure, subsurface's deformation, and the fluid phase saturation, and as such, we represent this coupling through an iterative procedure. Spatial discretization of the poroelastic system employs the standard linear finite element in combination with a numerical diffusion term to maintain stability of the algebraic system. Furthermore, direct calculation of the normal velocities from pressure and deformation does not entail a locally conservative field. To alleviate this drawback, we propose an element based post-processing technique through which local conservation can be established. The performance of the method is validated through several examples illustrating the convergence of the method, the effectivity of the stabilization term, and the ability to achieve locally conservative normal velocities. Finally, the efficacy of the method is demonstrated through simulations of realistic multiphase flow in poroelastic subsurfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbochargers are key components of engine air-paths that must be carefully considered during the development process. The combination of fluid, mechanical, and thermal phenomenon make the turbocharger a highly dynamic and nonlinear modeling challenge. The aim of this study is to quantify the dynamic response of the turbocharger system across a frequency spectrum from 0.003 Hz to 500 Hz, i.e., for exhaust gas pulsation in steady state, load steps, and cold start drive cycles, to validate the assumption of quasi-steady assumptions for particular modeling problems. A waste-gated turbine was modeled using the dual orifice approach, a lumped capacitance heat transfer model, and novel, physics-based pneumatic actuator mechanism model. Each submodel has been validated individually against the experimental measurements. The turbine inlet pressure and temperature and the waste-gate actuator pressure were perturbed across the full frequency range both individually and simultaneously in separate numerical investigations. The dynamic responses of turbine housing temperature, turbocharger rotor speed, waste-gate opening, mass flow, and gas temperatures/pressures were all investigated. The mass flow parameter exhibits significant dynamic behavior above 100 Hz, illustrating that the quasi-steady assumption is invalid in this frequency range. The waste-gate actuator system showed quasi-steady behavior below 10 Hz, while the mechanical inertia of the turbine attenuated fluctuations in shaft speed for frequencies between 0.1 and 10 Hz. The thermal inertia of the turbocharger housing meant that housing temperature variations were supressed at frequencies above 0.01 Hz. The results have been used to illustrate the importance of model parameters for three transient simulation scenarios (cold start, load step, and pulsating exhaust flow). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose The effect of the triglyceride ( TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C) ratio ( TG/ HDL-C) on clinical outcomes of acute ischaemic stroke ( AIS) patients is unclear. This study sought to determine whether the TG/ HDL-C ratio in AIS patients is associated with worse outcomes at 3 months. Methods Acute ischaemic stroke patients who were admitted from 2011 to 2014 were enrolled in this study. TG, total cholesterol ( TC), HDL-C and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C) were collected on admission. Three end-points were defined according to the modified Rankin scale ( mRS) score at 3 months after symptom onset (excellent outcome, mRS 0-1; good outcome, mRS 0-2; and death, mRS 6). Results In all, 1006 patients were included (median age 68.5 years; 58.2% male). Higher TG, non- HDL-C and TG/ HDL-C were strongly associated with the three end-points after adjustments: excellent [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.39, OR 1.89 and OR 2.34, respectively] and good ( OR 1.48, OR 2.90 and OR 4.12) outcomes, and death ( OR 0.59, OR 0.29 and OR 0.26). According to receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) analysis, the best discriminating factor was a TG/ HDL-C ≥ 0.87 for excellent outcomes [area under the ROC curve ( AUC) 0.596; sensitivity 73.3%; specificity 42.7%] and non-death ( AUC 0.674; sensitivity 67.8%; specificity 60.6%) as well as a TG/ HDL-C ≥ 1.01 for a good outcome ( AUC 0.652; sensitivity 61.6%; specificity 63.2%). Patients with a TG/ HDL-C < 0.87 had a 2.94-fold increased risk of death (95% confidence interval 1.89-4.55) compared with patients with a TG/ HDL-C ≥ 0.87. Conclusions A lower TG/ HDL-C was independently associated with death and worse outcome at 3 months in AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to investigate the effects of layer spacing and temperature on the deformation mechanism of Ti(0001)/Al(111) multilayered composite. The results indicate that the interface rotation driven by local stress concentration dominates the plastic deformation in the sample with smaller layer thickness at both 0.01 K and 300 K. The confined layer slip of dislocations in Al layer is observed, while basal/prismatic interface formation and the transformation of hcp-Ti to fcc-Ti are presented in Ti layer in the samples with larger thickness at 0.01 K. The results also show that the confined layer slip of dislocations and necking in Al layer is the underlying deformation mechanism in the samples with larger layer thickness at 300 K. We have also presented an in-depth discussion of relative deformation mechanisms in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The onset of abomasal pathophysiology due to parasitism coincides with the presence of adult worms in the lumen, implicating worm excretory/secretory (ES) products acting on the surface mucosa. Caco-2 cell monolayers were grown to confluence on Transwell plates and exposed on the apical side to ES products of adult Haemonchus contortus and Teladorsagia circumcincta . ES products of both species significantly ( p < 0.001) reduced transepithelial electrical resistance after 2 h to 81.1 ± 1.0% and 82.9 ± 1.1% respectively. Immunocytochemical staining of the Caco-2 monolayers for zona occludens-1 and occludin confirmed that the tight junctions remained intact in control medium, but these proteins were internalised from disrupted junctions after exposure to ES products. The components of H. contortus ES products responsible for increased epithelial permeability were partially blocked by phage displaying single chain antibodies derived from sheep immune to field infection and enriched by panning with H. contortus ES products. Immune hosts may therefore be able to reduce the effects of worm chemicals on the gastric epithelium. Permeabilisation of the abomasal surface mucosa by worm chemicals would also explain how cells deep in the gastric glands could rapidly be affected by parasites emerging from the glands or within a day of transplantation of adult worms into naïve hosts, resulting in the pathophysiology typically caused by abomasal nematode parasitism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Hydroxybutyricacid ( BHBA) is an important metabolite that involved in the development of ketosis and fatty liver in dairy cows. Dairy cows with fatty liver displayed high blood concentration of BHBA and very low-density lipoprotein ( VLDL) assembly. The effects of BHBA on VLDL synthesis and assembly in hepatocytes of cows were unclear. In this study, bovine hepatocytes were cultured and treated with different concentrations of BHBA. We found that BHBA treatment upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB 100), apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein ( MTTP) and showed in a firstly increased and then decreased trend. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein levels of LDLR showed in a reverse trend. Consequently, VLDL content was significantly increased in medium-dose BHBA treatment group, while decreased in high-dose group. These results indicate that the effects of BHBA on the VLDL synthesis showed in a dose-dependent manner that low levels of BHBA increase VLDL synthesis and high levels of BHBA decrease VLDL synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate whether intravaginal infusion of probiotics (a lactic acid bacteria cocktail) around parturition would influence metabolic status and increase milk production of transition dairy cows. One hundred pregnant Holstein dairy cows were assigned to 1 of the 3 experimental groups receiving intravaginal infusion of probiotics or carrier (i.e., sterile skim milk) once a week at wk -2, -1, and +1 relative to calving as follows: 2 consecutive probiotics before parturition and 1 carrier dose after parturition (TRT1), 3 consecutive probiotics doses around parturition (TRT2), and 3 consecutive carrier doses around parturition (CTR). The probiotics were a lyophilized culture mixture composed of Lactobacillus sakei FUA3089 and Pediococcus acidilactici FUA3138 and FUA3140 with a cell count of 108 to 109 cfu/dose. Blood was sampled from wk -2 to +3 and milk was sampled on the third day in milk (DIM) and from wk +1 to +5 on a weekly basis. Feed intake and milk production was monitored until wk +8. Results showed that the TRT2 group (366.12 ± 49.77 µmol/L) had a lower (P = 0.01) concentration of NEFA in the serum than the CTR group (550.85 ± 47.16 µmol/L). The concentrations of IgG in the milk were 32.71 ± 3.00 mg/mL in the TRT1 group, 17.47 ± 4.54 mg/mL in the TRT2 group, and 6.73 ± 3.43 mg/mL in the CTR group at 3 DIM (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, both the TRT1 and the TRT2 group had lower haptoglobin in the milk compared with the CTR group at 3 DIM (P < 0.01). The TRT1 group had greater milk protein content than the CTR group (2.99 ± 0.04 vs. 2.82 ± 0.04%; P = 0.02), whereas the TRT2 group tended to have greater lactose content compared with the CTR group (4.53 ± 0.03 vs. 4.44 ± 0.03%; P = 0.05). The effect of treatment interacted with parity with regards to milk production and feed efficiency. Multiparous cows in the TRT1 and TRT2 groups had greater milk production and feed efficiency than those in the CTR group (P < 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively). Among primiparous cows, those in the TRT2 group had greater milk production (P = 0.04) whereas those in the TRT1 group had lower feed intake (P < 0.01) than those in the CTR group. Both the TRT1 and the TRT2 groups had enhanced feed efficiency compared with the CTR group (P < 0.01). In conclusion, intravaginal infusion of lactic acid bacteria modulated concentrations of selected serum metabolites and milk components and increased milk efficiency of transition dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate whether intravaginal infusion of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) around parturition could expedite involution rate of the uterus and improve reproductive performance of postpartum dairy cows. One hundred pregnant Holstein dairy cows were assigned to 1 of 3 experimental groups: (1) 1 dose of LAB in wk -2 and -1 and 1 dose of carrier in wk 1 relative to the expected day of parturition (TRT1); (2) 1 dose of LAB in wk -2, -1, and 1 (TRT2); and (3) 1 dose of carrier in wk -2, -1, and 1 (CTR). The LAB treatment was a lyophilized mixture of Lactobacillus sakei FUA3089, Pediococcus acidilactici FUA3138, and Pediococcus acidilactici FUA3140 with a cell count of 108 to 109 cfu/dose. Uterine involution and ovarian activity was evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography weekly from d 7 to 49 postpartum. Blood samples were collected from a subset of cows to quantify prostaglandin (PG) F2α metabolite (PGFM), PGE2, and progesterone. Cows treated with LAB had smaller cross-sectional areas of gravid horn and uterine body on d 14 postpartum. Cows in TRT2 resumed ovarian cyclicity earlier, as indicated by increased concentrations of serum progesterone. Cows in TRT1 had fewer days open than those in the CTR (110 vs. 150 d), whereas cows in TRT2 and CTR did not differ in days open. In addition, both TRT1 and TRT2 increased the concentrations of PGFM at calving week, and cows in TRT2 also had greater concentrations of PGE2 on d 14 and d 21 postpartum relative to CTR. Overall, cows treated intravaginally with LAB had smaller gravid horn and uterine body on d 14 postpartum than those in the CTR group. Treatment with LAB also increased concentrations of serum PGFM (3,533 ± 328 pg/mL in TRT1, 4,470 ± 372 pg/mL in TRT2, and 2,000 ± 328 pg/mL in CTR on d 0, respectively), with the TRT1 group having fewer cows that resumed ovarian cyclicity but fewer days open compared with both TRT2 and CTR groups. More research is warranted to better understand the mechanism(s) by which intravaginal LAB expedited uterine involution and affected hormonal profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oncoprotein c-Myc is frequently overexpressed in many cancers and is essential for cancer cell proliferation. Ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation is one of the main ways in which cells control c-Myc abundance at a post-translational level. However, the underlying mechanism by which c-Myc is directly deubiquitinated is not fully understood. In this study, by screening ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) that may regulate c-Myc stability, we identified USP37 as a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that stabilizes c-Myc via direct binding. The overexpression of USP37 markedly increases c-Myc abundance by blocking its degradation, whereas the depletion of USP37 promotes c-Myc degradation and reduces c-Myc levels. Further studies indicate that USP37 directly interacts with c-Myc and deubiquitinates c-Myc in a DUB activity-dependent manner. Functionally, USP37 regulates cell proliferation and the Warburg effect by regulating c-Myc levels. Clinically, USP37 is significantly upregulated in human lung cancer tissues, where its expression is positively correlated with c-Myc protein expression. Thus, our findings uncover a previously unrecognized role for USP37 in the regulation of c-Myc stability in lung cancer and suggest that USP37 might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arc-discharge synthesis of Sc-based endohedral metallofullerenes in the presence of methane afforded formation of two new metallofullerene species, Sc4C81 and Sc4C83, but their chromatographic separation proved to be difficult because of insufficient stability. Computational DFT studies are performed to reveal the possible molecular structures of these species. The first structural conjectures were based on the consideration of the Sc–carbon clusters comprising four Sc atoms and one or three carbon atoms in an icosahedral C80-Ih(7) cage. For Sc4C@C80, the tetrahedral Sc4 cluster with the central μ4-C atom was found to be 10 kJ/mol stable than the square cluster. For Sc4C3@C80, our calculation showed that the most stable is the Sc4C3 cluster, in which the triangular C3 moiety is η3- and η2-coordinated by Sc atoms. Whereas Sc4C@C80 has rather small HOMO–LUMO gap and low ionization potential, the HOMO–LUMO gap of Sc4C3@C80 is substantially higher and exceeds that of Sc4C2@C80. Thus, Sc4C3@C80 is predicted to be a kinetically stable endohedral fullerene. At the same time, its thermodynamic stability is rather low and Sc4C@C82–C2v(9) is predicted to be 101 kJ/mol lower in energy than Sc4C3@C80-Ih(7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cancer is one of the top six leading causes of cancer-related death. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an important means of treating liver cancer. Residual cancer after RFA is the most frequent cause of recurrence in cases of liver cancer. The main difference between residual cancer cells and ordinary liver cancer cells is that residual cancer cells experience heat shock. The secretable form of trimeric human tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (stTRAIL) induces apoptosis in a variety of human cancers but not in normal tissues. It has shown potent cancer-selective killing activity and has drawn considerable attention as a possible cancer therapy. In the present work, the therapeutic potential of this stTRAIL-based gene therapy was evaluated in hepatocellular carcinoma subjected to RFA. Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) were isolated and transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding stTRAIL (stTRAIL-MSCs, T-MSCs). Cells treated with heat treatment at 43 °C for 45 min served as simulated residual cancer cells. After treatment with T-MSCs, apoptosis in heat-shock-treated liver cancer cells increased significantly, and caspase-3 was upregulated. When T-MSCs were subcutaneously injected into nude mice, they localized to the tumors and inhibited tumor growth, significantly increasing survival. Collectively, the results of the present study indicate that BM-MSC can provide a steady source of stTRAIL and may be suitable for use in the prevention of the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after RFA with secretable trimeric TRAIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust automated vortex detection algorithms are needed to facilitate the exploration of large-scale turbulent fluid flow simulations. Unfortunately, robust non-local vortex detection algorithms are computationally intractable for large data sets and local algorithms, while computationally tractable, lack robustness. We argue that the deficiencies inherent to the local definitions occur because of two fundamental issues: the lack of a rigorous definition of a vortex and the fact that a vortex is an intrinsically non-local phenomenon. As a first step towards addressing this problem, we demonstrate the use of machine learning techniques to enhance the robustness of local vortex detection algorithms. We motivate the presence of an expert-in-the-loop using empirical results based on machine learning techniques. We employ adaptive boosting to combine a suite of widely used, local vortex detection algorithms, which we term weak classifiers, into a robust compound classifier. Fundamentally, the training phase of the algorithm, in which an expert manually labels small, spatially contiguous regions of the data, incorporates non-local information into the resulting compound classifier. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach by applying the compound classifier to two data sets obtained from computational fluid dynamical simulations. Our results demonstrate that the compound classifier has a reduced misclassification rate relative to the component classifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this Rapid Communication we show that the interplay between the deformation geometric-nonlinearity and distributions of external charges and dipoles lead to the renormalization of the membrane's native flexoelectric response. Our work provides a framework for a mesoscopic interpretation of flexoelectricity and if necessary, artificially "design" tailored flexoelectricity in membranes. Comparisons with experiments indicate reasonable quantitative agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a representative boundary, interphase-interface may affect the strength or ductility of multilayered composites dramatically. However, the effect of the interface with mismatch dislocations on the mechanical behavior of multilayered composites is still not clear. In the present work, we performed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect of interface structures and layer spacing on the mechanical properties of the Ti/Al nanolaminate. The results indicate that there are two transitions of the plastic deformation mechanism in the Ti layer with the increase of layer spacing in the sample with a coherent interface. The plastic deformation mechanism evolves from one that is dominated by dislocation to the phase transformation from the hcp-Ti to the fcc-Ti mode, which transfers to the dislocation slip deformation again. For the samples with an incoherent interface, the plastic deformation is dominated by the transformation from hcp-Ti to fcc-Ti, regardless of the variation of layer spacing, while the plastic deformations in the Al layers are mainly dislocations confined in the layer slip in the samples with both coherent and incoherent interfaces. When the layer spacing is larger than 6.6 nm, an obvious second hardening is observed due to the superior dislocation storage ability of the Ti/Al laminate with the incoherent interface. Meanwhile, extraordinary ductility is obtained when optimal layer spacing is employed in the Ti/Al laminate. Moreover, the phase transformation mechanism of hcp-Ti to bcc-Ti has also been explicated in the present work. The general conclusions derived from this work may provide a guideline for the design of high-performance Ti/Al multilayer and alloy devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clustered multi-hop wireless networks have attracted significant attention for their robustness to fading, hierarchical structure, and ability to exploit the broadcast nature of the wireless channel. The authors propose an opportunistic routing (or relay selection) algorithm for such networks. In contrast to the majority of existing approaches to routing in clustered networks, the algorithm presented in this study only requires channel state information in the final hop, which is shown to be crucial for reaping the diversity offered by the channel. In addition to exploiting the available diversity, our simple cross-layer algorithm has the flexibility to simultaneously satisfy an additional routing objective such as the maximisation of network lifetime. The authors demonstrate through analysis and simulation that our proposed routing algorithm attains full diversity under certain conditions on the cluster sizes, and its diversity is equal to the diversity of more complicated approaches that require full channel state information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlocal nonlinear multiscale field theory is briefly introduced in this paper. The theory is then reduced to a nonlocal linear elastic theory. A meshfree method is applied to solve the governing equation. The entire process of microcrack propagation in the cortical bone, including the propagation of microcrack toward the osteon, around the osteon, and out of the osteon, is simulated. The results show that the cement line between the osteanal bone and the interstitial bone serves as a protective barrier for the Haversian canal. We also observed that, with healing process incorporated in the simulation, cement line serves as a barrier for the microcracks propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: For the difficult deformation of GH4742 superalloy, hot working of the γ+γ′ two phases region is inevitable. The dispersed small size γ′ phase markedly increases hot deformation flow stress and at the same time decreases the plasticity. In this paper, the effect of slow cooling treatment in γ+γ′ two phases region after homogenization on precipitation behavior of γ′ phase was evaluated. The relationships between grain boundary morphology, the size, morphology and distribution of γ′ phase and cooling rate were also investigated. The results showed that the little dendritic-type γ′ phase, γ matrix of lower solution strengthening effect and tortuous grain boundary after slow cooling treatment decreased the hot deformation flow stress of the GH4742 superalloy and increased hot deformation plasticity obviously. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Polymer capsules are formed following the impact of viscous poly-anion drops onto a deep pool of water-like poly-cation solution. During impact, an air bubble is often trapped on the drop/capsule surface, affecting the membrane quality locally. This entrapment has been experimentally examined for a typical anion–cation pair through detailed imaging of the impact crater. Experiments show that the bubble entrapment is caused by the collapse of the impact crater above the top surface of the submerged-and-reacting drop. Locally, the bubble pinch-off can be viewed as the continuous thinning of a gas filament driven by the rebounding bulk flow. In the low impact Weber number (We) regime, the data suggests that both surface tension and inertia govern the entrapment process, whereas, for higher Weber numbers the process is inertia-dominated. The transition condition is found to be coincident with the observation of the critical cone angle for the impact crater, seen in inviscid non-reacting drop impact. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) with flexoelectric and micro-inertia effects is developed to study the free vibration of tube made of elastic centrosymmetric materials. Within this theory, the internal energy density is the function of the strain tensor, deviatoric part of stretch gradient and rotation gradient tensors, dilatation gradient, polarization vector, and electric quadrupoles. The linear coupled governing equations and boundary conditions are derived from the Hamilton variation principle. The torsional vibration problem is analytically solved for non-piezoelectric nanotube with fixed edges. The effect of the nanotube geometry, flexoelectric coefficient, micro-inertia, and micro-stiffness parameters on the natural frequency is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the cyclic polling system with two queues. One queue is severed according to the exhaustive discipline, and the other queue is served according to the 1-limited discipline. At least one of the service and/or switchover times has a regularly varying tail. We obtain the tail behavior of the waiting time distributions. When one of the service and/or switchover times has an infinite second moment, we derive the heavy-traffic behavior of the waiting time distribution at the 1-limited queue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus provides various timber, firewood, landscaping and pulp for paper. Eucalyptus species have been introduced in many countries due to their fast growth, easy management and environmental tolerance. Allelopathy is major cause of biodiversity reduction in Eucalyptus plantations. However, no systematic work has been done on this allelopathic plant and its allelopathic effects on other recipient plants. In this review, allelopathic effects of 75-Eucalyptus species [7-Major Eucaluptus spp: (E. camaldulensis, E. citriodora, E. globulus, E. grandis, E. grandis x E. urophylla, E. tereticornis and E. urophylla) and 68-minor investigated species] are reported. The allelopathic effects of Eucalyptus sp. on acceptors (e.g., plants, crops and microorganisms) have been summarized and the recent progresses in the allelopathic research and future research prospects are discussed. It provides a quick reference to the Eucalyptus spp, their allelopathic effects and uses. It also provides beneficial informations on use of Eucalypus sp., in medicine and agriculture, and suggests how to best manage a forest ecosystem by avoiding allelopathic inhibitory effectgs on other plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hopkinson bar has already worked to measure mechanical properties of materials under high strain rates, but it fails to conduct intermediate strain rates loading with considerable deformation. Thereby, a methodology is proposed for achieving enough large strains under intermediate strain rates. The experimental system based on it is then constructed: a striker bar with same length as incident bar is selected to generate continuous stress wave loading, and a long polymethylmethacrylate bar is preferred as the transmitted bar to guide and record transmitted signals. Thus, loading stress wave is achievable with a nearly constant amplitude and an infinite loading duration. The involved data interpretations are deduced, and verified both theoretically and experimentally. Its measurement capacity is confirmed by loading a thermoplastic polyurethane, and maximum strains up to 12% and 65% under strain rates of 40/s and 270/s, respectively. Finally, the involved influences and factor sensitivities are analyzed for enough experimental accuracy and extensive measurements. •Hopkinson pressure bar is modified to perform a large deformation under intermediate strain rate loading. •A nearly infinite stress wave is achieved with a stable amplitude. •The proposed methodology and deduced formulae are verified theoretically and experimentally. •Its measurement capacity is evaluated and extended for high loading specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the optical confinement in the dielectrically apertured Fabry-Perot microcavity, with focus on physiology. Treatment of the apertured region as embedded in an idealized planar waveguide; Methodology used in the investigation; Detailed information on findings.

Investigates the effects of leading-edge flaps on leading-edge vortices and vortex breakdown. Delta wing model; Flow visualization; Laser Doppler velocimetry measurements; Vortex breakdown location; Axial velocity; Shear layer; Swirl velocity and swirl angle.

Presents a paper which studies the radiation damage in lead tungstate (PbWO4) crystals. Observation of the dose rate dependence of radiation damage in PbWO4; Results of the optimization of the oxygen compensation; Details on the light output degradation; Factors which can lead to radiation damage in oxide scintillators; Details on the study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between thunderstorms and mortality of in-patients. METHODS: Data for in-patients and deaths in internal medicine departments from four hospitals in Shanghai were collected and grouped according to meteorological conditions. RESULTS: Weekly mortality of in-patients was significantly higher on days with thunderstorms than on fine days. This effect was significant for patients in respiratory, cardiovascular and neurology wards but not in the wards of other specialties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This communication demonstrates that the interaction of the oral spirochete Treponema denticola 35405 with KB epithelial cells does not lead to the induction of interleukin-8 production as occurs with a variety of other bacteria. Utilizing the dentilisin protease mutant K1 of T. denticola, this property was demonstrated to be primarily a function of the expression of the protease by strain 35405. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an eigenmode equation suitable for dielectrically analyzing apertured Fabry-Perot microcavity. Significance of microcavity confinement technique; Presentation of the symmetrical Fabry-Perot microcavity; Explanation for the confinement mode due to the aperture; Analysis on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers.

Analyzes the exciton spectral splitting near room temperature from high contrast semiconductor microcavities. Causes of spectral splitting; Components of planar microcavities; Effect of the absorption on the transmission spectrum.

Examines the vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with bulk gallium arsenide active region. Interdependence between transverse far field and aperture size; Attribution of threshold reduction on optical mode and gain profile; Characterization of signal temporal response by using the optical gain switching.

Data are presented demonstrating whispering-gallery mode lasing in a diode with native-oxide lateral confinement and vertical emission. The vertical emission is obtained from distributed Bragg reflectors that confine the mode in the normal direction, and that results in a real wave vector component normal to the crystal surface external to the cavity. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nd2Fe14B-based permanent materials, the intergranular phase has a strong influence on magnetic properties. Here, we study the effect of partial substitution of Fe by Co on the microstructure to gain insight into the mechanism of enhancing magnetic properties of (Nd0.8Pr0.2)2.2Fe14−xCoxB (x = 0, 1.75, 2, 2.25) alloys. Our results show that the substitution Co for Fe changes the magnetic properties obviously by tuning the chemistry and distribution of the intergranular phase between hard magnetic grains. In particular, for (Nd0.8Pr0.2)2.2Fe12Co2B (x = 2) alloy, no obvious intergranular phase is observed. And the through-thickness homogeneity and ultrafine microstructure with an average size of ~25 nm is obtained, which produces maximum product ((BH)max) of 141 kJ/m3, 29% higher than that of quaternary alloy. Our findings provide a new idea to design prospective permanent alloys with increased magnetic properties by tuning the distribution and chemical composition of the intergranular phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients undergoing major non‐cardiac surgery are at risk of cardiovascular complications. Raised levels of high‐sensitivity troponin are frequently detected before operation among these patients. However, the prognostic value of high‐sensitivity troponin in predicting postoperative outcomes remains unclear. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Science Citation Index Expanded was undertaken for observational studies published before March 2018 that reported associations between raised preoperative levels of high‐sensitivity troponin and postoperative major adverse cardiac events and/or mortality after non‐cardiac surgery. Meta‐analyses were performed, where possible, using random‐effects models. Results: Seven cohort studies with a total of 4836 patients were included. A raised preoperative high‐sensitivity troponin level was associated with a higher risk of short‐term major adverse cardiac events (risk ratio (RR) 2·92, 95 per cent c.i. 1·96 to 4·37; I2 = 82·6 per cent), short‐term mortality (RR 5·39, 3·21 to 9·06; I2 = 0 per cent) and long‐term mortality (RR 2·90, 1·83 to 4·59, I2 = 74·2 per cent). The addition of preoperative high‐sensitivity troponin measurement provided improvements in cardiovascular risk discrimination (increase in C‐index ranged from 0·058 to 0·109) and classification (quantified by continuous net reclassification improvement) compared with Lee's Revised Cardiac Risk Index alone. There was substantial heterogeneity and inadequate risk stratification analysis in the included studies. Conclusion: Raised preoperative levels of high‐sensitivity troponin appear to represent a risk for postoperative major adverse cardiac events and mortality. Further study is required before high‐sensitivity troponin can be used to predict risk stratification in routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexoelectricity, the coupling between electric polarization and strain gradients in dielectrics, attracts growing research interest because of its potential to replace/complement piezoelectricity in electromechanical applications. Thanks to the large dielectric permittivity, ferroelectrics exhibit enhanced flexoelectricity and usually serve as the functional ingredient in flexoelectric devices. However, ferroelectric flexoelectricity usually suffers from poor temperature stability, which adversely affects practical applications. In this work, compositional gradients are introduced into Ba1−xSrxTiO3 systems to enhance the temperature stability of flexoelectric behavior. Experimental results show that the drastic variations of flexoelectricity (up to 100 times) from 20 to 120 °C in single component ceramics (such as Ba0.67Sr0.33TiO3 and BaTiO3) can be significantly reduced in graded Ba1−xSrxTiO3 ceramics, in which the flexoelectric coefficient is in the range from 13 to 26 μC/m. The improved stability results from the engineered sequential Curie temperatures of individual layers in graded ceramics and the positive correlation between dielectric constant and flexoelectricity. Our work provides a method to enable the robust performance of flexoelectric devices in an ambient environment with large temperature fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to identify metabolite signatures in the blood of dairy cows before, during, and after diagnosis of metritis that could be used to predict the risk of metritis in transition dairy cows. Direct-injection liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy was used to analyze serum samples collected from both 20 healthy (CON) and 6 metritic cows during -8 and -4 wk, at disease diagnosis, and +4 and +8 wk relative to parturition. Univariate (Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test by R; statistical significance: P < 0.05) and multivariate data (i.e., principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis [PLS-DA]; permutation test for the PLS-DA model, P < 0.05) analyses were conducted to examine alterations of serum metabolites throughout the progress of the disease. Results from univariate analysis indicated that cows with metritis experienced altered concentrations of multiple serum AA, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, acylcarnitines, and hexose during the entire experimental period. Principal component analysis and PLS-DA analyses showed clearly separated clusters for the 2 groups on the basis of measured serum metabolites during 5 time points. It is interesting to note that throughout the 17 wk of the study, several serum metabolites (e.g., PC aa C30:0, PC ae C30:1, SM [OH] C24:1, and SM C24:0) appeared to play a consistent role in distinguishing between the CON and metritic cows. For example, concentrations of PC ae C30:1 were consistently 2-fold greater in premetritic (i.e., mean of 3.10 μM [SEM 0.46] vs. mean of 1.32 μM [SEM 0.18; P = 0.002] at -8 wk prepartum and mean of 1.91 μM [SEM 0.22] vs. mean of 0.83 μM [SEM 0.10; P = 0.001] at -4 wk prepartum) and metritic (1.89 ± 0.23 vs. 0.90 ± 0.11; P = 0.001 at the disease week) cows compared with CON cows. Furthermore, 5 metabolic pathways (i.e., Lys degradation, biotin metabolism, Trp metabolism, Val-Leu-Ile degradation, and protein biosynthesis) were altered in both premetritic and metritic cows. These new findings give insights into the pathomechanism of metritis in dairy cows. Moreover, the area under the curve for 5 ROC curves was 0.995 (95% CI 0.945 to 1) at -8 wk, 0.992 (95% CI 0.938 to 1) at -4 wk, 0.988 (95% CI 0.913 to 1) at disease week, 1 (95% CI 1 to 1) at +4 wk, and 0.99 (95% CI 1 to 1) at 8 wk, respectively, which suggests that serum biomarkers identified have pretty accurate predictive, diagnostic, and prognostic abilities for metritis in transition dairy cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]