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Toward high‐density single atom catalysts (SACs), the interaction between neighboring SACs and the induced non‐linear loading effect become crucial for their intrinsic catalytic performance. Despite recent investigations on homonuclear SACs, understanding such effect in heteronuclear SACs remains limited. Using Fe and Co SACs co‐supported on the nitrogen‐doped graphene as a model system, the loading effect on the site‐specific activity of heteronuclear SACs toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is here reported by density functional theory calculations. The Fe site exhibits an oscillatory decrease in activity with the loading. In contrast, the Co site has a volcano‐like activity with the optimum performance achieved at ≈16.8 wt.% (average inter‐site distance: ≈7 Å). At the ultra‐high loading of 38.4 wt.% (inter‐site distance: ≈4 Å), the Co site is the only ORR active site, whereas Fe sites turn into spectators. This distinct loading‐dependent activity between the Fe and Co sites can be ascribed to their difference in the binding capability with the substrate and the dxz and dyz orbitals’ occupation. These findings highlight the importance of the loading effect in heteronuclear SACs, which could be useful for the development of high‐performance heteronuclear and high‐entropy SACs toward various catalytic reactions in the high‐loading regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease associated with the aging of the population, and it reduces the quality of life of patients. It is characterized by the destruction of articular cartilage and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Owing to the unclear pathogenesis of OA, current treatment methods have significant limitations. Oxidative stress has been revealed to play an important role in the development of OA. Our experiments indicated that the levels of GSH decreased and the level of MDA increased in chondrocytes, which induced ferroptosis in chondrocytes in OA. We also revealed that ferroptosis was the main mechanism of cartilage destruction caused by the addition of the ferroptosis activator erastin and the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1. NOX1 is the main modulator of oxidative stress by increasing the generation of reactive oxidative species (ROS). We suppressed the expression of NOX1 in chondrocytes through cell transfection. The expression of collagen II and MMP13, and the secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α were reversed. An increase in the mitochondrial membrane potential and a decrease in the level of intracellular ROS indicate an improvement in oxidative damage. Additionally, we determined the effect of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway on NOX1-mediated chondrocyte injury. We found that NOX1 inhibited the expression of Nrf2/HO-1, but the activation of Nrf2 improved the oxidative damage to chondrocytes in vivo and vitro. This study revealed that NOX1-mediated oxidative stress induces chondrocyte ferroptosis by inhibiting the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Our findings contribute to revealing the pathogenesis of OA, providing targets for drug design and optimizing the clinical treatment of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) emitting pH-dependent blue photoluminescence (PL) in aqueous solutions were solvothermally prepared and modified with a new fluorophore molecule, N-chlorobenzyl dithiomaleimide dimethyl diacetate (NCBDTM), with pH-dependent yellow-green PL in aqueous solutions and irreversible PL emission quenching in alkaline aqueous solutions at basic pHs. In the π-complex system formed by donor CNPs and acceptor NCBDTM molecules, energy transfer occurs by the FRET mechanism. Due to the implementation of the FRET mechanism, a significant Stokes shift of 170 nm is observed, making this and similar systems promising for the visualization of pH-dependent processes in the green-yellow visible light region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel seaweed and mussel inspired bilayer anti-oil-fouling and antifogging coating was proposed. The coating shows water resistance, mechanical durability, and long-term environmental stability. The coating performs good in anti-oil-fouling and anti-fogging. [Display omitted] Ecofriendly fabrication of anti-oil-fouling materials is of interest. Surfaces with underwater superoleophobicity have been fabricated which exhibit limited mechanical durability and water resistance. In this study, we report on a bioinspired bilayer design of a transparent anti-oil-fouling coating. Seaweed surfaces show anti-oil-fouling in the sea due to its high surface hydration ability. Mussels can adhere tightly onto a surface with good stability in the sea by virtue of its levodopa-containing secretions. The surface layer was fabricated using a crosslinked combination of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and sodium alginate (AlgS) inspired by seaweed, with the addition of calcium ions. Polydopamine (PDA), a derivative of levodopa, was used as the underlayer to enhance bonding strength and water resistance. Oil that adhered to the coated surface was spontaneously detached upon immersion in water. The mechanism underlying this anti-oil-fouling effect was elucidated using Gibbs free energy theory. The coating exhibited mechanical durability and water resistance. The coating is transparent and preserves the original color of the substrate. The coated glass showed stable anti-fogging and anti-frost performance. These coatings hold promise for a wide range of anti-oil-fouling applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, low‐velocity impact properties and impact damage responses of a novel type of 3D hybrid auxetic structures made from carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates were investigated experimentally and numerically. The structures were first fabricated with three different rib's width ratios t1/t0, and then impacted with three different impact energies of 30, 40, and 50 J using a drop tower impact system equipped with a cylindrical impactor. The finite element (FE) models were built in ABAQUS/Explicit, and the Hashin criteria were applied to predict the failure of the structures. The contact force histories, energy histories, displacements, and failure modes were compared between the experiment and FE simulation at all three impact energy levels. The failure morphologies and mechanisms were obtained and studied. The impact testing results suggest that the 3D auxetic structure with a higher t1/t0 ratio can lead to higher peak contact force and sustain higher impact energy. The failure of the structure starts from the middle area and propagates to the upper and lower areas. This research provides a better understanding of the impact responses and failure modes of the 3D auxetic lattice structure, which can promote the potential applications of the auxetic materials. Highlights: Drop weight low‐velocity impact responses of 3D novel hybrid auxetic lattice structures are investigated through both experiment and finite element simulation.The effects of structural parameters on the impact performance of the 3D auxetic structures at different impact energy levels are analyzed.The failure morphologies and mechanisms of the 3D auxetic structures are studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The factors affecting electrophysiological recordings from active micro-nano-collaborative bioelectronic devices were discussed in terms of principle and fabrication. An overview of the applications of active micro-nano-collaborative bioelectronic devices in cardiomyocytes and neurons was further presented. The challenges faced by active micro-nano-collaborative bioelectronic devices in intracellular electrophysiological studies and their prospective biomedical applications are discussed. The development of precise and sensitive electrophysiological recording platforms holds the utmost importance for research in the fields of cardiology and neuroscience. In recent years, active micro/nano-bioelectronic devices have undergone significant advancements, thereby facilitating the study of electrophysiology. The distinctive configuration and exceptional functionality of these active micro-nano-collaborative bioelectronic devices offer the potential for the recording of high-fidelity action potential signals on a large scale. In this paper, we review three-dimensional active nano-transistors and planar active micro-transistors in terms of their applications in electro-excitable cells, focusing on the evaluation of the effects of active micro/nano-bioelectronic devices on electrophysiological signals. Looking forward to the possibilities, challenges, and wide prospects of active micro-nano-devices, we expect to advance their progress to satisfy the demands of theoretical investigations and medical implementations within the domains of cardiology and neuroscience research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As chloride (Cl−) is a commonly found anion in natural water, it has a significant impact on electrocatalytic oxidation processes; yet, the mechanism of radical transformation on different types of anodes remains unexplored. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influence of chlorine-containing environments on the electrocatalytic degradation performance of levofloxacin using BDD, Ti4O7, and Ru-Ti electrodes. The comparative analysis of the electrode performance demonstrated that the presence of Cl− improved the removal and mineralization efficiency of levofloxacin on all the electrodes. The enhancement was the most pronounced on the Ti4O7 electrode and the least significant on the Ru-Ti electrode. The evaluation experiments and EPR characterization revealed that the increased generation of hydroxyl radicals and active chlorine played a major role in the degradation process, particularly on the Ti4O7 anode. The electrochemical performance tests indicated that the concentration of Cl− affected the oxygen evolution potentials of the electrode and consequently influenced the formation of hydroxyl radicals. This study elucidates the mechanism of Cl− participation in the electrocatalytic degradation of chlorine-containing organic wastewater. Therefore, the highly chlorine-resistant electrocatalytic anode materials hold great potential for the promotion of the practical application of the electrocatalytic treatment of antibiotic wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent experiments have shown that using van der Waals assembly to stack graphene layers can facilitate extraordinary transport behavior of water and ions, paving the way for the design of new desalination devices utilizing graphene channels. However, the performance of pure graphene is inadequate due to the inherent trade-off between water permeability and ion selectivity. In this study, we conducted a series of molecular dynamics simulations and found that surface functionalization can significantly enhance the desalination efficiency of multilayer graphene channels. When maintaining a constant surface charge density, the fluxes of water and ions first increase slowly and then rapidly with the increase in channel height. Notably, the channel can always achieve an ion rejection rate of over 65% for cations and more than 95% for small channel heights. Conversely, for a given channel height, an increased surface charge density causes the fluxes of water and ions to decrease rapidly to zero and the ion rejection rate to rise quickly to 100%. Additionally, the translocation time, occupancy number, and electrostatic interaction with charged residues for water and ions are heavily influenced by the channel height and surface charge density. As a result, properly sized and surface-functionalized multilayer graphene channels have the potential to revolutionize desalination membrane design, allowing for high efficiency water filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the effects of different fertilization methods on embryo quality and clinical outcome in advanced age infertility patients with fewer oocytes retrieved. Methods Clinical data of 706 advanced age infertility patients with fewer oocytes retrieved who underwent in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) in our center were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into IVF group (559 cases) and ICSI group (147 cases) according to the fertilization method. The general information, fertilization, embryo quality and clinical outcome were compared between two groups. Results There were no significant differences in female age, body mass index (BMI), anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and baseline FSH (bFSH) between the two groups (P >0. 05). There were no significant differences in the number of oocytes retrieved, the total fertilization failure rate, normal fertilization rate, 2PN cleavage rate, Transplantable embryo rate, high-quality embryo rate and cycle cancellation rate between the two groups (P >0. 05) . The Mil egg rate in IVF group was significantly higher than that in ICSI group (P <0. 05) . There were no significant differences in the number of embryo transfers, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, early abortion rate, multiple pregnancy rate, ectopic pregnancy rate, live birth rate, birth weight and male female ratio between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusions ICSI cannot improve the embryo quality and clinical outcome for the advanced age infertility patients with fewer oocytes retrieved. IVF remains the preferred fertilization method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ejector-based hydrogen supply and recirculation system (HSRS) for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) system has the advantages of compact size and zero power consumption, compared with the HSRS using a recirculation pump. However, the conventional ejector with a single venturi nozzle can only function within a narrow power range of the PEMFC system due to its restricted primary inlet pressure. This study proposed a novel ejector design with nested nozzles to solve this problem. The key geometric parameters, including the nozzle diameters of a large nozzle (BN), a small nozzle (SN), and the axial distance between two nozzles, were optimized using CFD simulations to obtain the maximum entrainment capability. The BN mode is responsible for the stack's higher load operations, while the SN mode supports the lower power operations. Additionally, a bypass was used parallel to the nested-nozzle ejector in the HSRS to extend the ejector operating range further. The consistent CFD simulation and testing results of the nested-nozzle ejector showed effective hydrogen entrainment capability between 9% and 100% of power output for a 150 kW PEMFC stack. Moreover, the new nested-nozzle ejector HSRS showed much-reduced anode inlet pressure fluctuation compared to the HSRS using two conventional ejectors. • Optimal design and testing of a nested-nozzle PEMFC hydrogen ejector. • Optimization of seven key geometric parameters using CFD simulations. • Incorporated a bypass in HSRS to extend ejector operating range. • Investigation of PEMFC anode pressure fluctuation of alternative HSRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the effects of various acid etching patterns on the sensitivity of teeth and their clinical effectiveness following composite resin repair. Materials and methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies on the postoperative sensitivity (POS) of composite resin restorations after using different bonding systems. The retrieval was from the inception of the databases to August 13, 2022, with no filter of written language. Literature screening was conducted by two independent researchers. The Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool was adopted for quality evaluation, and Stata 15.0 for analysis. Results: Twenty-five randomized controlled trials were included in the present study. Following resin composite restoration, 1309 restorations were bonded by self-etching (SE) adhesives, whereas 1271 restorations were bonded by total-etching (TE) adhesives. The meta-analyses showed that there is no evidence to prove the SE and TE will affect POS at present when measured using the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria [RR = 1.00 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.04)], the World Dental Federation (FDI) [RR = 1.06 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.15)], or the visual analog scale (VAS) [SMD = 0.02 (95% CI: −0.15, 0.20)] scales. At a certain follow-up time, TE adhesives provide better outcomes in terms of color match, marginal staining, and marginal adaptation. In other words, TE adhesives have better esthetic results. Conclusions: The type of bonding technique (ER and SE) does not affect the risk and degree of POS in class I/II and class V restorations. Further research is required to verify whether these findings apply to different forms of composite resin restorations. Clinical relevance: Besides the fact that TE barely increase postoperative sensitivity, it also yields superior cosmetic results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of bio‐adaptable performance, elaborate structure, and biological functionality for degradable bone implants is crucial in harnessing the body's regenerative potential to remold load‐bearing bone defects. Herein, material–structure–function integrated additive manufacturing (MSFI‐AM) is deployed to innovate novel zinc‐based bone implants, namely Zn–Mg–Cu alloy. In situ alloying of AM and boundary engineering strategy yield prominent mechanical properties, and the degradation products enable a mechanical self‐strengthened effect, thus coordinating mechanical degeneration and promoting mechanical adaptability. In addition, MSFI‐oriented Zn alloy implants successfully manifest in situ multifunctions of augmenting osteogenesis, immunoregulation, angiogenesis, and anti‐infective activity in vitro and expediting bone ingrowth and regeneration in vivo through the sustained release of divalent metal cations and triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structure construction. Overall, MSFI‐AMed Zn alloy implants signify promising clinical translation prospects for load‐bearing applications, and an integrated approach is proposed to endow degradable bone implants with boosted bio‐adaptable performance and in situ bio‐multifunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium (Ti) and Ti-based alloy materials are ideal brackets that restore bone defect, and the mechanism of related genes inducing bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to osteogenic differentiation is currently a hot research topic. In order to screen key genes of BMSCs during the osteogenic expression process, we acquired data sets (GSE37237 and GSE84500) which were in the database Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Investigations on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their enrichment of functions were conducted. We constructed relative protein-protein interaction (PPI) network by using Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) and visualized the expression of DEGs with Cytoscape. A total of 279 DEGs were discerned, which could be divided into 177 down regulated genes and 102 up regulated genes. In addition, the DEGs' enrichment and pathways included regulation of actin cytoskeleton, inflammatory mediator regulation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) pathway, cell cycle, Rheumatoid arthritis, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway and Ras signaling pathway ect. It showed that 10 notable up regulated genes were mainly in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. Then we used a technology named surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) to prepare gradient nanostructured (GNS) surface Ti and seeded well-growing BMSCs on the surface of SMAT Ti and native pure Ti. Cell Counting Kits-8 (CCK-8), apoptosis experiment, immunofluorescence technology and staining experiments for alka-line phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red staining (ARS) were used to research the proliferation, adhesion and differentiation ability of BMSCs seeded on SMAT Ti compared with native pure Ti. We used quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) technology so as to verify the expression of the most significant 5 genes. In summary, these results indicated novel point of views into candidate genes and potential mechanism for the further study of BMSCs' behaviors seeded on SMAT Ti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling pathway is significantly upregulated in influenza virus infection, which impairs the antiviral response. Blocking this signaling pathway may reduce the damage, lower the virus titer in lung tissue, and alleviate the symptoms of infection to promote recovery. In addition to the enhanced viral immune response, using of immune checkpoint inhibitors in influenza virus infection is controversial, the aim of this study was to identify the key factors and regulatory mechanisms in the PD-1 checkpoint blockade response microenvironment in influenza infection. Methods: A BALB/c mouse model of influenza A/PR8(H1N1) infection was established then constructed, and whole-transcriptome sequencing including mRNAs, miRNAs (microRNAs), lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs), and circRNAs (circular RNAs) of mice treated with PD-1 checkpoint blockade by antibody treatment and IgG2a isotype control before infection with A/PR8(H1N1) were performed. Subsequently, the differential expression of transcripts between these two groups was analyzed, followed by functional interaction prediction analysis to investigate gene-regulatory circuits. Results: In total, 84 differentially expressed dif-mRNAs, 36 dif-miRNAs, 90 dif-lncRNAs and 22 dif-circRNAs were found in PD-1 antagonist treated A/PR8(H1N1) influenza-infected lungs compared with the controls (IgG2a isotype control treated before infection). In spleens between the above two groups, 45 dif-mRNAs, 36 dif-miRNAs, 57 dif-lncRNAs, and 24 dif-circRNAs were identified. Direct function enrichment analysis of dif-mRNAs and dif-miRNAs showed that these genes were mainly involved in myocardial damage related to viral infection, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, RAP1 (Ras-related protein 1) signaling pathway, and Axon guidance. Finally, 595 interaction pairs were obtained for the lungs and 462 interaction pairs for the spleens were obtained in the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) complex network, in which the downregulated mmu-miR-7043-3p and Vps39–204 were enriched significantly in PD-1 checkpoint blockade treated A/PR8(H1N1) infection group. Conclusions: The present study provided a basis for the identification of potential pathways and hub genes that might be involved in the PD-1 checkpoint blockade response microenvironment in influenza infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero-shot learning (ZSL) facilitates the transfer of knowledge from seen to unseen categories through high-dimensional vectors that capture both known and unknown class names. However it encounters challenges with domain shift arising from a lack of sufficient labeled data. Although transductive zero-shot learning (TZSL) addresses this bias by including samples from unseen classes, it still faces obstacles in enhancing TZSL performance. In this study, We introduce the Structure Alignment Variational Autoencoder Generative Adversarial Network (SA-VAEGAN), a novel approach that enhances the alignment between visual and auxiliary spaces. We delved into the underlying causes of domain shift and introduced a structural alignment (SA) strategy to tackle these challenges. The SA model thoroughly accounts for both inter-class and intra-class dynamics, designed to leverage the model's comprehension of high-level semantic relations to disambiguate confusion among similar classes and mitigate intra-class confusion by penalizing atypical visual samples within classes. Assessed across four benchmark datasets, SA-VAEGAN has established a new performance standard, underscoring its efficiency in addressing the domain shift challenge within TZSL tasks, and achieving high accuracy. • We introduce the concept of root-oriented optimization models for the first time. • We deploy a generative model integrated with the structure alignment strategy. • The proposed model outperforms state-of-the-art methods on four benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Both‐column acetabular fracture is a type that accumulates both the pelvis and acetabulum with complex fracture line alignment and has variant fracture fragments. The selection of different reduction landmarks and sequences produces different qualities of reduction. This study aims to compare the operation‐related items, quality of reduction, and hip functional outcome by using different reduction landmarks and sequences for management of both‐column acetabular fractures (BCAF). Methods: A consecutive cohort of 42 patients from January 2013 to January 2019 with BCAF were treated operatively with different reduction landmarks and sequences: pelvic ring fractures reduction first (PRFRF group) and acetabular fractures reduction first (AFRF group). Preoperative computer visual surgical procedures were applied. There were 22 patients in PRFRF group and 20 patients in AFRF group. The surgical details, complications, radiographic and clinical results were recorded. The quality of reduction was assessed by the Matta scoring system. The functional outcome was evaluated by the modified Merle d'Aubigné and Postel scoring system. The measurement data were analyzed using the t‐test of independent samples and rank‐sum test of ranked data. Results: The real reduction sequence in both groups was almost identical to the preoperative surgical procedures. The excellent/good quality of reduction in PRFRF group (21/22) was better than AFRF group (17/20). Operative time (152.3 ± 16.3 mins) and intra‐operative blood loss (639.5 ± 109.9ml) were significantly reduced in PRFRF group (p < 0.05). The incidence of deep vein thrombosis in PRFRF group (2/22) was less than AFRF group (4/20), but without statistical signification. Conclusion: Selection of an appropriate reduction landmark and sequence could result in better quality of reduction, operative time, and decreased blood loss during treatment of BCAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative to estimate the energy of internal solitary waves (ISWs) in the real ocean. The energy of ISW is related to speed and amplitude. It is a problem to obtain the propagation speed of ISW from a single optical remote sensing image. Generally, the nonlinear phase speed (NPS) of ISW can be regarded as the propagation speed of ISW. This paper proposes a new inversion approach for NPS of ISW based on an optical remote sensing image. The simulation platform of optical remote sensing was used to conduct the ISW experiment in the laboratory, and the data were obtained by a series of experiments. Three NPS inversion models of ISW are investigated by support vector regression (SVR), Random forest (RF) and Deep neural network (DNN) based on a single optical remote sensing image. The accuracy of the inversion models was verified by the in-situ data of GF-1 satellite images, GF-4 satellite images and Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images. In the verification results, the SVR inversion model has high accuracy in different sea areas and water depths. The RF and DNN inversion models both have high inversion accuracy in the water depth range of 93–299 m in the South China Sea. Compared with the other two traditional methods for calculating ISW NPS, the SVR inversion model still has the highest accuracy. The results showed that the NPS models of ISW are suitable and effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling pathway is significantly upregulated in influenza virus infection, which impairs the antiviral response. Blocking this signaling pathway may reduce the damage, lower the virus titer in lung tissue, and alleviate the symptoms of infection to promote recovery. In addition to the enhanced viral immune response, using of immune checkpoint inhibitors in influenza virus infection is controversial, the aim of this study was to identify the key factors and regulatory mechanisms in the PD-1 checkpoint blockade response microenvironment in influenza infection. Methods: A BALB/c mouse model of influenza A/PR8(H1N1) infection was established then constructed, and whole-transcriptome sequencing including mRNAs, miRNAs (microRNAs), lncRNAs (long noncoding RNAs), and circRNAs (circular RNAs) of mice treated with PD-1 checkpoint blockade by antibody treatment and IgG2a isotype control before infection with A/PR8(H1N1) were performed. Subsequently, the differential expression of transcripts between these two groups was analyzed, followed by functional interaction prediction analysis to investigate gene-regulatory circuits. Results: In total, 84 differentially expressed dif-mRNAs, 36 dif-miRNAs, 90 dif-lncRNAs and 22 dif-circRNAs were found in PD-1 antagonist treated A/PR8(H1N1) influenza-infected lungs compared with the controls (IgG2a isotype control treated before infection). In spleens between the above two groups, 45 dif-mRNAs, 36 dif-miRNAs, 57 dif-lncRNAs, and 24 dif-circRNAs were identified. Direct function enrichment analysis of dif-mRNAs and dif-miRNAs showed that these genes were mainly involved in myocardial damage related to viral infection, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, RAP1 (Ras-related protein 1) signaling pathway, and Axon guidance. Finally, 595 interaction pairs were obtained for the lungs and 462 interaction pairs for the spleens were obtained in the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) complex network, in which the downregulated mmu-miR-7043-3p and Vps39–204 were enriched significantly in PD-1 checkpoint blockade treated A/PR8(H1N1) infection group. Conclusions: The present study provided a basis for the identification of potential pathways and hub genes that might be involved in the PD-1 checkpoint blockade response microenvironment in influenza infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system requires an adequate hydrogen supply and circulation to achieve its expected performance and operating life. An ejector-based hydrogen circulation system can reduce the operating and maintenance costs, noise, and parasitic power consumption by eliminating the recirculation pump. However, the ejector's hydrogen entrainment capability, restricted by its geometric parameters and flow control variability, can only operate properly within a relatively narrow range of fuel cell output power. This research introduced the optimal design and operation control methods of a dual-ejector hydrogen supply/circulation system to support the full range of PEMFC system operations. The technique was demonstrated on a 70 kW PEMFC stack with an effective hydrogen entrainment ratio covering 8% to 100% of its output power. The optimal geometry design ensured each ejector covered a specific output power range with maximized entrainment capability. Furthermore, the optimal control of hydrogen flow and the two ejectors' opening and closing times minimized the anode gas pressure fluctuation and reduced the potential harm to the PEMFC's operation life. The optimizations were based on dedicated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and system dynamics models and simulations. Bench tests of the resulting ejector-based hydrogen supply/circulation system verified the simulation and optimization results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilevel resistive switching in memristive devices is vital for applications in non-volatile memory and neuromorphic computing. In this study, we report on the multilevel resistive switching characteristics in SnSe/SrTiO3(STO) heterojunction-based memory devices with silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) top electrodes. The SnSe/STO-based memory devices present bipolar resistive switching (RS) with two orders of magnitude on/off ratio, which is reliable and stable. Moreover, multilevel state switching is achieved in the devices by sweeping voltage with current compliance to SET the device from high resistance state (HRS) to low resistance state (LRS) and RESET from LRS to HRS by voltage pulses without compliance current. With Ag and Cu top electrodes, respectively, eight and six levels of resistance switching were demonstrated in the SnSe/SrTiO3 heterostructures with a Pt bottom electrode. These results suggest that a SnSe/STO heterojunction-based memristor is promising for applications in neuromorphic computing as a synaptic device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-dimensional (3D) printing of a SiO2-filled thermosetting polyimide (SiO2@TSPI) composite with outstanding performance is realized via the direct ink writing (DIW) of polyamide acid (PAA) composite ink and thermal treatment conducted thereafter. The composite ink consists of phenylethynyl-terminated PAA and silica nanoparticles, where the SiO2 nanoparticles serve as the rheology modifier that is necessary for the DIW technique to obtain self-supporting feedstock during 3D printing and the reinforcement filler that is used to enhance the performance of the final composite. As a result, printed parts with complex geometry and robust thermal stability are obtained. Due to the extrusion-based DIW technique, the printed structures exhibit anisotropic mechanical strength that highly depends on printing roads. This simple and convenient means of realizing 3D structures of thermosetting polyimides is a promising strategy in aerospace and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoglycemia is a common complication which occurs during the treatment of diabetes, closely associated with cardiovascular events. A sudden decrease in blood glucose increases the risk of arrhythmia, which can lead to sudden cardiac death. This event is usually accompanied by abnormal electrophysiological activities in cardiomyocytes. However, traditional models do not efficiently reflect real-time cardiomyocyte electrophysiological changes under various glucose deprivation conditions in a large-scale and high-throughput manner. Therefore, we need to develop a new biosensing platform to aid in related scientific research. In this study, a cardiomyocyte-based biosensor was developed for real-time, noninvasive monitoring of the electrophysiological responses of cardiomyocytes under different glucose concentrations. The findings show that low-glucose conditions result in abnormal electrophysiology in cardiomyocytes, but autophagy enables cells to survive this adversity. Inhibition of autophagy exacerbates electrophysiological abnormalities, and long-term glucose starvation causes irreversible damage to cardiomyocytes. The proposed chronic and dynamic cardiomyocyte-based biosensing platform provides a new tool for understanding the effects of hypoglycemia on the in vitro cardiomyocyte-based heart model, revealing that autophagy has the potential to be an alternative treatment for diabetes and hypoglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si-B-Mo-Y modified SiC/SiC composites were prepared by reactive melt infiltration (RMI) process to study their high-temperature water-oxygen corrosion resistance, and to compare them with SiC/SiC composites prepared by RMI using Si. The results show that the corrosion rates of the modified composites are only 1/9, 1/10 and 1/3 of those of the comparison samples at 1200°C, 1300°C and 1400°C, respectively, which is attributed to the higher densification of the modified composites. More importantly, the modified composites were able to form borosilicates, which effectively healed the oxide film defects; meanwhile, yttrium silicate inhibited the reaction between borosilicates and water vapor. • Highly densified SiC/SiC composites prepared by Si-B-Mo-Y melt infiltration. • Comparison of water-oxygen corrosion performance of SBMY-SiC/SiC composites and Si-SiC/SiC composites. • The oxidation rate of SBMY-SiC/SiC composites is slower due to the synergistic effect of the composite oxide film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Karakoram Fault Zone displays distinctive topographic and tectonic characteristics, with intricate river drainage systems. Although there are extensive thermochronological datasets for the western Tibetan Plateau, limited investigations have been carried out to uncover the low-temperature thermal history of the Karakoram Fault Zone, which connects the Lhasa terrane with the Pamir. In this contribution, apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology was conducted on 13 basement and 4 conglomerate samples collected from the western Gangdese batholith and the Ayi Mountain Range, on either side of the Karakoram fault. Inverse thermal history modeling results reveal that the western Gangdese batholith experienced two stages of rapid basement cooling at 27–23 Ma (late Oligocene-early Miocene) and 16–4 Ma (middle Miocene-Pliocene). The adjacent Ayi Mountain Range experienced cooling in the late Miocene (∼8 Ma) and during the Pliocene to Pleistocene (4–1 Ma). We suggest that tectonic forces associated with rollback and lateral break-off of the Indian continental lithosphere, and the dextral strike-slip activity of the Karakoram fault were responsible for the first cooling phase. The second accelerated cooling phase was due to the deep fragmentation of the Indian slab, the activity of the Karakoram normal fault, and associated ∼ E -W extension. Additionally, since the late Oligocene, the Indus River incision has likely also contributed to the exhumation of the western Tibetan Plateau. Subsequently, the western Gangdese batholith reached high elevations, resulting in the reversal of the Yarlung River. The dextral-normal motion of the Karakoram fault, which is still active today, was the main cause of the Pliocene to Pleistocene accelerated cooling detected in the Ayi Mountain Range. • Two stages of late Cenozoic rapid cooling occurred in the north of the Karakoram Fault. • The south side of the Karakoram fault experienced Pliocene-Pleistocene rapid cooling. • A topographic inversion occurred in the Karakoram Fault Zone since the early Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of online reviews has provoked a substantial deal of academic research, providing proof of online reviews' influence on purchase intention in consumer behavior. However, the current empirical research often yields inconsistent and inconclusive results. In order to bridge the gap in our understanding of the relationship between purchase intention and its determinants, a meta-analysis of 156 studies with 214 effect sizes and 69,006 observations was conducted. Additionally, two new factors - review content type and review format - were included in the study. The results showed that all antecedents significantly affect purchase intention, with review valence showing the most potent effect (r = 0.563). Furthermore, individualism, product type, and four study characteristics are important moderating factors. In conclusion, this study provides more reliable generalizations, and its findings are beneficial to scholars, managers, retailers, and website owners, for example, to help set the agenda for future research efforts and to provide practical guidance that could boost marketing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline rocks crop out in subduction‐related volcanic arcs globally, whose genesis is explained by partial melting of hybrid diapiric mélanges in the mantle wedge. Such a new model has not yet been evidenced by field‐based investigations, where mélanges and alkaline arc rocks have spatial‐temporal and genetic connections. In this study, we identified these two types of rock units exposed in Western Tianshan, and established their petrogenetic relationship through field, geochronologic, geochemical, and thermodynamic investigations. Our results suggest that partial melts produced by melting of the mélange matrix at pressures of 2.8–2.4 GPa and 1.8–1.4 GPa with temperatures of 1000–1200°C can replicate the major‐element contents and trace‐element abundances of the regional alkaline arc rocks. This finding not only supports the hypothesis that diapir melting of subducted mélanges has a capacity to generate alkaline arc magma, but also provides insight into material recycling at subduction zone settings. Plain Language Summary: Oceanic lithosphere subduction in convergent margins is key for transferring materials from the surface to Earth's interior. The mélanges and arc rocks preserved in ancient orogenic belts may have archives to understand both processes and components of subducted materials, which is critical for our knowledge of arc magmatism and continent formation. In this study, we report these rocks in Western Tianshan, where subducted mélanges and alkaline arc rocks are spatially and temporally correlated. Upon field, geochronologic, geochemical, and thermodynamic investigation, we propose that at the late stage of oceanic lithosphere subduction, high‐pressure mélange rocks, on the one hand, were rapidly exhumed from depths along the cold subduction channel and, on the other hand, their melted equivalents may migrate buoyantly into the hot mantle wedge to have generated alkaline magmas. Our study establishes the genetic connections between high‐pressure mélanges and alkaline arc rocks, and provides new insight into material recycling at subduction zone settings. Key Points: Late Carboniferous alkaline arc rocks and high‐pressure mélanges exposed in Western Tianshan are closely correlated in genesisMélange diapir melting is a plausible mechanism to generate alkaline arc magmasBoth physical exhumation and diapir melting may be two possible pathways for mélange transfer at subduction settings [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the potential applications of transition metal nitrides in modern electronic and spintronic devices, we have systematically studied the magnetic properties of δ-MoN induced by the Mn dopant, with the goal of identifying the origin of magnetism and figuring out the magnetic coupling mechanism between the Mn dopants. Based on the density functional theory, one Mn atom doped at different Mo sites (2a and 6c in the International Tables) in the unit cell of δ-MoN was firstly studied. It was found that the Mn dopant located at the 2a or 6c site leads to significant spin splitting of the density of states, suggesting that the Mn doping induces magnetism in δ-MoN. The calculations were then extended to a 2 × 1 × 2 supercell, which contains two impurity Mn atoms. Detailed analysis reveals that the different couplings of the Mn–Mn pair cannot be simply attributed to the different Mn–Mn distances but are closely related to the electronic processes that take place in the segment (–N– or –N–Mo–N–) that connects two Mn dopants. The mechanisms responsible for the FM/AFM coupling of the Mn–Mn pairs are the superexchange and the p–d exchange mediated by the N atoms, and the d–d coupling between the host Mo atom and the Mn dopant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperprolactinemia is a common endocrine disease in women of reproductive age. Research has shown that patients with hyperprolactinemia often have decreased bone mineral density and an increased risk of fractures. However, there is still a lack of effective treatments. Paeoniflorin, one of the primary bioactive components in peony, is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Research has shown that paeoniflorin promotes osteoblast differentiation. However, whether paeoniflorin plays a role in hyperprolactinemia-induced osteoblastogenesis inhibition is not yet clear. In this study, we investigated the effect of paeoniflorin on prolactin (PRL)-mediated inhibition of osteoblast function. Our results showed that prolactin significantly reduced the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Osterix, and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) in MC3T3-E1 cells cultured in an osteoblast differentiation medium, suggesting that prolactin inhibited osteoblast function. After treatment with paeoniflorin (PF), the expression of these osteoblast markers was upregulated. In addition, our findings proved that paeoniflorin increased the absorbance values of ALP-positive cells and the areas of alizarin red S (ARS) deposition compared to those in the prolactin group, suggesting that paeoniflorin reversed the PRL-induced reduction in osteoblast differentiation. The PRL-induced activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was significantly reversed by paeoniflorin, indicating that paeoniflorin promoted osteoblast function by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. In summary, these results showed that paeoniflorin alleviated the inhibitory effect of prolactin on osteoblastogenesis by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Central Asia, the Carboniferous is a crucial period in the formation of the Tianshan Belt and associated bending of the Kazakhstan tectonic collage. In order to reveal Carboniferous magmatic events of the region and their tectonic implications, we conducted field investigations, zircon U–Pb dating, whole-rock geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic studies on the Early Carboniferous Dahalajunshan Formation and Late Carboniferous Yishijilike Formation volcanic rocks of the Wusun Mountain Range (southern Yili-Central Tianshan Block). Volcanic rocks of the Dahalajunshan Formation consist of calc-alkaline basalt, andesite and dacite, yielding new zircon U–Pb ages of ~ 350 Ma. They have positive whole-rock εNd(t) values (+ 0.5 to + 1.6). In contrast, the Yishijilike Formation volcanic rocks dominantly comprise alkaline and calc-alkaline bimodal suites that erupted at ~ 337 Ma to 313 Ma and have higher whole-rock εNd(t) values (+ 2.3 to + 4.3). These two episodes of Carboniferous magmatism were correlated with partial melting of depleted mantle that metasomatized by slab-derived fluids. The late Carboniferous Wusun Mountain magmatic belt shows characteristics of a back-arc system that evolved due to trench retreat relative to the southern margin of the Yili-Central Tianshan Block. This mechanism induced an extensional regime with gradually depleting magma sources. The asymmetric retreat of the paleo-subduction zones of the South Tianshan Ocean and Junggar Ocean relative to the Yili-Central Tianshan Block was hence a vital driving force for the bending of the Kazakhstan Orocline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous research has demonstrated that colorectal cancer (CRC) progression was promoted by circN4BP2L2. This study aimed to further explore the mechanism of circN4BP2L2 in the development of CRC from the perspective of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). Cancer-associated fibroblasts cell (CAFs) and normal fibroblasts cell (NFs) were isolated from CRC tissues and adjacent tissues, respectively. The ultra-centrifugation was used for extraction of their related sEVs. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed using CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively. Transwell assay was conducted to measure cell migration. The tube formation ability was assessed by tube formation assay. The target relationships between circN4BP2L2 and miR-664b-3p, and miR-664b-3p and HMGB3 were validated by dual-luciferase reporter detection. The effect of CAFs-derived sEV (CAFs-sEVs) circN4BP2L2 on CRC was further studied in nude mice. CAFs-exo promoted cell proliferation, migration, tube formation ability, and inhibited apoptosis of CRC cells. CAFs-sEV circN4BP2L2 knockdown reversed the above results. CircN4BP2L2 directly targeted miR-664b-3p, and HMGB3 was targeted by miR-664b-3p. Moreover, subcutaneous tumorigenesis and liver metastasis of nude mice with CRC were repressed by CAFs-sEV circN4BP2L2 knockdown. CAFs-sEV circN4BP2L2 knockdown restrained CRC cell proliferation and migration by regulating miR-664b-3p/HMGB3 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the current fault isolation and single-fault assessment methods for power plant industrial control information security, there are problems of low attack point capture accuracy, long time, and poor evaluation effect. A Bayesian attack graph-based intelligent risk assessment of power plant industrial control information security is proposed. method. The attack graph technology is used to model the risk elements identified in the risk analysis, and the probabilistic model and Bayesian probabilistic attack graph are used to describe the relationship between system threats and attack behaviors. Deeply understand the basic elements of attack graph modeling for information collection, automatically generate tools to construct and optimize attack graphs, use sample information to modify the original estimates of parameters, and the hyperparameters of the prior distribution are determined by the node probability value. Analyze the attack sample data to obtain the attribute data of the node, so as to complete the posterior estimation parameter learning. The basic credibility of each proposition in the recognition framework is determined, and the weight vector of evidence is determined. Analyze the specific information security threats of the industrial control system of the power plant, obtain the basic credibility function, and establish the risk calculation formula. Quantify the language assessment of security threats by experts, construct an intelligent risk assessment model for power plant industrial control information security, and design the implementation process of risk assessment based on the risk analysis of attack graphs. The weight value of security threats and the result of credibility distribution are determined to complete the intelligent assessment. It can be seen from the experimental results that the short-term energy of this method is gradually invalid, the information is in the storage stage, and no new evaluation information will be added. The highest accuracy of capturing attack points under passive and active attacks is 91% and 93%, respectively, and the longest capturing of attack points. The time does not exceed 20 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a bone and joint disease with pathological characteristics such as articular cartilage degeneration injury and synovial and subchondral bone reactive hyperplasia. Once cartilage is damaged, it is difficult to repair it by itself. Current clinical practice is mainly limited to symptomatic treatment, not changing the degenerative process of osteoarthritis. The important goal of nanomedicine is targeted delivery. Nanoparticles (NPs) can provide many unique potential functions for the targeted treatment of arthritis. This review summarizes the research progress of nanomaterials as a drug delivery system in the treatment of osteoarthritis from three aspects: (1) the etiology of OA and the current research status of applying nanoparticles to treat OA, (2) the construction of osteoarthritis models, and (3) the classification of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which showed that adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-dependent chromatin remodeler SMARCAD1 transfers the entire histone octamer from one DNA segment to another in an ATP-dependent manner but is also capable of de novo nucleosome assembly from histone octamer because of its ability to simultaneously bind all histones. Topics include the need of recombinant SMARCAD1 dephosphorylation to bine nucleosomes and interaction of SMARCAD1 with nucleosomes in a unique manner.

Background. The Ron receptor tyrosine kinase (RON) can act as a protooncogene and may play a prominent role in the initiation and development of lung cancer. microRNAs (miRNA) are master regulators of gene expression through direct or indirect regulation, and impact all aspects of cell biology. Methods. Nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were stratified based on RON expression to identify miRNA profiles associated with RON expression levels, differentially expressed miRNA regulated by RON were screened out, and their biological behavior was analyzed. Results. miRNA expression was most significantly affected by cancer type, and we found 85 miRNAs that were significantly differentially expressed between NSCLC and SCLC. There were 46 miRNAs differentially expressed between high RON expressing NSCLC compared to low RON expressing NSCLC. Biological processes and pathways found to be significantly influenced by RON expression included epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activation of the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusions. These data may provide the basis for a novel strategy to characterize lung cancer by RON expression and microRNA genotyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryogenic liquid nitrogen fracturing is expected to provide an effective stimulation method for hot dry rock reservoirs to increase heat production. This paper establishes a three-dimensional model to calculate the distributions of temperature and stress of the reservoir rock when liquid nitrogen is injected into the wellbore. The sensitivity of different parameters and water fracturing to the stress state is studied. The results indicate that when liquid nitrogen is injected into the bottom of well, a huge heat exchange occurs on the rock surface, which generates great thermal stress on the fluid-solid interface, and the value of thermal stress exceeds the tensile strength of rock. For the effect of parameters, the primitive temperature of the rock has a significant impact on the value of maximum principal stress. The pressure drop and ambient pressure affect the thermal stress slightly. At the same time, a series of experiments are conducted to validate the effect of thermal stress induced by liquid nitrogen injection on the rock fracture. As the temperature rises, the shale samples are broken more severely at the action of thermal stress. Thus, the study of liquid nitrogen fracturing provides a scientific and effective method for geothermal exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As thermal structure components in scramjet engines, carbon-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composites are often subject to an ablation coupled with heat and particle flows. This study simulates the working environment of the scramjet engine's thermal structure component by coupling an Al 2 O 3 particle flow with a plasma flow. The ablation behaviour of C/SiC composites in the presence and absence of particle impact have been comprehensively analysed. The results show that the factor dominating the ablation behaviour varies with temperature. At relatively low temperatures, the particles have difficulty breaking down the dense SiO 2 layer formed from the oxidation of SiC in the presence of heat flow which is the dominant factor. As the temperature rises, the SiC begins to shift towards active oxidation. A few defects appear in the oxide layer, leading to a significant particle mechanical flaking effect. Particle flow is the dominant factor. However, a higher temperature led to the substantial active oxidation of SiC, and the oxide layer dissipated, exposing more defects. The heat flow causes a strong oxidation reaction, and the scouring effect of the particles is significant as well, both of which play a dominant role in the ablation process. • At lower ablation temperatures, SiC forms a dense oxide layer, with heat flow predominantly governing the ablation process. • As temperature rises, SiC undergoes active oxidation, resulting in defects within the oxide layer, where particle flow controls the ablation process. • At higher temperatures, both heat flow and particle flow jointly govern the ablation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kazakhstan collage system, occurring as a tightly curved configuration with oroclinal structures, holds significant information to uncover the orogenic process and continental geodynamics of the CAOB. Palaeomagnetic data and regional geological correlation document that Kazakhstan orocline was not formed until the Middle Devonian, broadly corresponding to the time of Junggar-Ocean subduction. To exert temporal constraints on the subduction and understand associated magmatism, we conducted zircon U-Pb dating and Hf isotopic analysing as well as whole-rock geochemical and Nd-Sr study for the Devonian magmatic rocks in the Northwestern Chinese Tianshan. Zircon U-Pb dating results showed two phases of magmatism of 390.6 ± 1.8 Ma and 371.2 ± 2.4 Ma, respectively. These rocks have monzogranite compositions, with high SiO2 (75.9–77.9 wt.% and 74.1 wt.%), medium-high K2O (2.06–3.85 wt.% and 3.81–4.82 wt.%) concentrations, showing calc-alkaline and peraluminous characteristics (A/CNK = 1.02–1.03 and 1.03–1.09). They also display evident depletions in Ba, Nb, Ta, P, and Ti relative to LREEs, Rb, and Th, showing striking features of subduction-related magma. The variations of zircon εHf(t) values (−0.60 to +5.53 and +2.12 to +8.39 for two samples) may suggest an extensive interaction between old crustal rocks and mantle-derived juvenile components. Therefore, the Middle-Late Devonian magmatism can be correlated with Devonian Volcanic Belt in Kazakhstan, which constituted a magmatic belt generated by the subduction of Junggar-Ocean plate. The steady-state distributions and long-term geochemical variations of Early Devonian-Early Carboniferous arc-related magmatism in the Northwestern Chinese Tianshan allow us to conclude the lack of retreat of magmatic belts in the southern limb of the Kazakhstan Orocline. Accordingly, rapid retreat in the west and north limbs of orocline vs. normal subduction in the Northwestern Chinese Tianshan, supports the asymmetric retreat model interpreting the first stage of bending of Kazkhstan collage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The histone chaperone FACT (FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription) modulates nucleosome structure during many processes requiring access to chromatinized DNA. Here, we review recent biochemical and structural insight into how FACT acts in both nucleosome assembly and disassembly, to maintain chromatin structure while DNA is being worked on by polymerases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone growth and metabolism are mainly regulated by a series of intracellular molecules and extracellular stimuli. Exosome, as a nanoscale substance secreted to the outside of the cells, plays an extensive role in intercellular communication. This review provides theoretical references and evidences for further exploration of exosomes as noncoding RNA carriers to regulate bone tissue recovery through the following aspects: (1) basic characteristics of exosomes, (2) research progress of exosomal noncoding RNA in bone tissue engineering, (3) current status and advantages of engineering exosomes as nanocarriers for noncoding RNA delivery, and (4) problems and application prospects of exosome therapy in the field of orthopedics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural, magnetic, and spin transport properties of δ-MoN with one Cr atom substituted at different Mo sites (2a and 6c in the International Tables) have been studied by spin-polarized first-principles calculations and nonequilibrium Green's function method. The Cr dopants located at 2a and 6c sites [corresponding to the configurations of Cr-MoN(2a) and Cr-MoN(6c)] lead to significant spin splitting of the density of states and contribute 2.86 and 2.70 μB magnetic moments, respectively. Detailed analysis reveals that interactions between the Cr dopant and its neighboring Mo atoms play crucial roles in the magnetic properties of Cr-MoN(2a) and Cr-MoN(6c). The Cr substitution induces evident antiferromagnetic polarization to its Mo neighbors, and each Mo atom possesses − 0.02 to − 0.51 μB magnetic moment antiparallel to the magnetic moment of the Cr dopant. Unlike the pure δ-MoN, the spin-up and the spin-down currents of the Cr-doped systems exhibit obvious spin polarization, and the spin-polarized effect is more enhanced when the Cr dopant is located at the 6c site. Under the examined bias range of 0–1.0 V, Cr-MoN(2a) displays no more than 6.5% spin polarization, whereas in Cr-MoN(6c) case, up to 22.8% of the spin polarization is attained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition films from amorphous (a-) to microcrystalline (µc-) silicon were prepared by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition using silane decomposition with either varied hydrogen-to-silane ratio, R, or with fixed R = 3 but a varied substrate temperature, T[sub s]. Raman results indicate that there is a threshold for the structural transition from a- to µc-Si:H in both cases. The onset of the structural transition is found to be R≈2 at T[sub s] = 250°C and T[sub s] asymp; 200°C at R = 3. The properties of the material were studied by infrared absorption, optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and conductivity temperature dependence. We observed that the peak frequency of the Sill wag mode remains at 630-640 cm[sup -1] for all the films, but the hydrogen content shows two regimes of fast and slow decreases separated by the onset of microcrystallinity. When microcrystallinity increased, we observed that (a) the SiO vibration absorption at 750 cm[sup -1] and 1050-1200 cm[sup -1] appeared, (b) the relative intensity of the 2090 cm[sup -1] absorption increased, (c) the low-energy optical absorption at photon energy < 1.4 eV increased one to two orders of magnitude, (d) the low-energy PL band at ∼ 1.0 eV emerged with a decrease of total PL intensity, and (e) the conductivity activation energy decreased. The aforementioned changes correlated well with the crystallinity of the material. We attribute the observations mainly to the formation of the c-Si gain boundaries during crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adding a second endoscopic therapy to epinephrine injection might improve hemostatic efficacy in patients with high-risk bleeding ulcers but the optimum modality remains unknown. We aimed to estimate the comparative efficacy of different dual endoscopic therapies for the management of bleeding peptic ulcers through random-effects Bayesian network meta-analysis.Methods: Different databases were searched for controlled trials comparing dual therapy versus epinephrine monotherapy or epinephrine combined with another second modality until September, 30 2016. We estimated the ORs for rebleeding, surgery and mortality among different treatments. Adverse events were also evaluated.Results: Seventeen eligible articles were included in the network meta-analysis. The addition of mechanical therapy (OR 0.19, 95% CrI 0.07-0.52 and OR 0.10, 95% CrI 0.01-0.50, respectively) after epinephrine injection significantly reduced the probability of rebleeding and surgery. Similarly, patients who received epinephrine plus thermal therapy showed a significantly decreased rebleeding rate (OR 0.30, 95% CrI 0.10-0.91), as well as a non-significant reduction in surgery (OR 0.47, 95% CrI 0.16-1.20). Although differing, epinephrine plus mechanical therapy did not provide a significant reduction in rebleeding (OR 0.62, 95% CrI 0.19-2.22) and surgery (OR 0.21, 95% CrI 0.03-1.73) compared to epinephrine plus thermal therapy. Sclerosant failed to confer further benefits and was ranked highest among the 5 treatments in relation to adverse events.Conclusions: Mechanical therapy was the most appropriate modality to add to epinephrine injection. Epinephrine plus thermal coagulation was effective for controlling high risk bleeding ulcers. There was no further benefit with sclerosants with regard to rebleeding or surgery, and sclerosants were also associated with more adverse events than any other modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lonicera japonica flos (LJF) is widely used for different health benefits in various external preparations in traditional medicines, cosmetics and personal care products. However, its components that are absorbed via the skin remain poorly studied. In the present work, the skin permeability coefficient (log Kp) of known chemical components of LJF was computed using a linear free-energy relationship equation. The results showed that the potential skin-permeating components (SPCs) whose log Kp was suggested to exceed −7.0 included flavonoids, essential oils, phenols and phenolic acids, and triterpenoids, but only a few glycosides. It was further revealed that highly hydrophilic glycosyl groups produced a very adverse effect on the skin absorption of glycoside molecules. The SPCs of LJF methanol extract were collected via in vitro skin permeation experiments, and analysed by LC-MS/MS using an untargeted strategy. A total of 43 SPCs were found, including 13 compounds from the major component classes, namely 9 non-glycoside flavonoids, 1 organic acid (i.e., chlorogenic acid) and 3 iridoid glycosides. The chromatographic peak areas indicated that the detectable absorption of chlorogenic acid and iridoid glycosides with poor skin permeability was ascribed to their high contents in the plant. The experimental observations were in good agreement with the potential SPCs screened, which suggested that the skin permeability of compounds was not influenced by coexisting compounds in LJF. This was also confirmed by the fact that no significant change in skin electrical resistance was observed after the application of LJF methanol extract. To sum up the findings, the flavonoids and essential oils in LJF can enter the body through the skin in terms of good skin permeability and relatively high contents, presumably being effective components of the external preparations. On the other hand, the chlorogenic acids, iridoid glycosides and triterpenoids (mostly present as saponins) are delivered only marginally even when high doses are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In petroleum engineering, nitrogen drilling is an important technology for building wellbores between surfaces and reservoirs. To uncover the downhole flow field and the change rules of rock temperature during drilling with nitrogen jet, we constructed a CFD model by coupling the property equations of nitrogen. The flow fields of nitrogen jet and rock temperature distribution at different times were simulated. Results showed that the high speed nitrogen jet can be efficiently generated because of the nozzle acceleration and the impingement effect can be induced during drilling. The temperature of the nitrogen jet decreased due to the Joule-Thomson effect. This phenomenon suggested that the nitrogen jet induced additional thermal cracks on the bottomhole rock, which was very beneficial for the improvement of rock-breaking efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid nitrogen jet fracturing is expected to provide a novel treatment for reservoir stimulation. To verify its feasibility, the flow fields in cavity at different times are simulated by CFD method. Then the transient temperature and pressure distributions are analyzed. Based on the cavity pressure distributions, the pressure boosting effect is evaluated. The results show that the nitrogen gas close to the cavity entrance is easily pushed out and the temperature in this region decreases quickly during liquid nitrogen jet fracturing. However, the temperature at the cavity bottom increases firstly at the squeezing action of liquid nitrogen jet and then decreases due to the heat transfer induced by the low temperature liquid nitrogen jet. Compared with water jet, the liquid nitrogen jet can generate equivalent pressure boosting effect in the cavity. Due to the compressibility of nitrogen gas, the pressure boosting process of liquid nitrogen jet fracturing falls behind the hydrajet fracturing. This study identifies the pressure boosting capability of liquid nitrogen jet and can further provide theoretical basis for the researches of this fracturing treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid nitrogen jet is regarded as an excellent technology for the well drilling and reservoir fracturing. To evaluate the flow field structure of liquid nitrogen jet, a 2-D CFD model is established. The transient velocity and temperature fields of liquid nitrogen jet is simulated. The results show that the liquid nitrogen jet also clearly presented the velocity boundary and potential core region similar to the water jet. Given the temperature difference between the jet and surrounding fluid, the liquid nitrogen jet has an obvious temperature boundary, on which the jet temperature is equal to the initial value. According to the phase of the jet, the flow structure can be divided into the liquid nitrogen jet and non-liquid nitrogen jet regions. The temperature boundary shows a larger width than the velocity boundary for liquid nitrogen jet. Moreover, both width and length of the liquid nitrogen jet region are greater than the potential core region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the clinical curative effect of filiform needle retention with red-hot needling therapy in treating stenosing tendosynovitis of the radial styloid. Methods: 60 cases of stenosing tendosynovitis radial styloid patients were divided into a treatment group and control group according to sequence of doctors' office visits, 30 cases in each group. For the treatment group, filiform needle retention with red-hot needling therapy was applied. For the control group, local block therapy was applied. VAS score was used to evaluate the degree of easement of pain immediately after the first treatment. The VAS score was also used to evaluate the clinical curative effect at the one-week follow-up after observing one treatment course, and at the following three-month follow-up. Results: After the first treatment, the VAS score of both groups decreased. Comparison of decreasing extent indicated that the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). It showed that both therapies had comparative effects on extent of easement of pain. After one treatment course, the total effective rate in each was 93.33% in the treatment group, and 90.00% in the control group. Comparison between both groups indicated that the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). After one treatment course, the total effective rate was 99.89% in the treatment group, and 75.00% in the control group during the next three-month follow-up. Comparison between both groups indicated that the difference was statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The filiform needle with red-hot needling therapy was superior to local nerve block therapy in treating stenosing tendosynovitis of the radial styloid in producing a clinical curative effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which measured electroluminescence energy spectra and their total intensity as a function of temperature and generation rate of a-Si:H p-i-n solar cells made with and without hydrogen dilution. Theoretical background; Computational approach considered; Results.

Presents a study that examined electroluminescence and forward bias current in p-i-n and p-b-i-n a-Si:H solar cells. Experimental details; Results of the study.