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Background: Yu Linzhu (YLZ) is a classical Chinese traditional formula, which has been used for more than 600 years to regulate menstruation to help pregnancy. However, the mechanism of modern scientific action of YLZ needs to be further studied. Methods: Thirty SD female rats were divided into three groups to prepare the blank serum and drug-containing serum, and then using UHPLC-QE-MS to identify the ingredients of YLZ and its drug-containing serum. Twenty-four SD female rats were divided into four groups, except the control group, 4-vinylcyclohexene dicycloxide (VCD) was intraperitoneally injected to establish a primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) model of all groups. Using vaginal smear to show that the estrous cycle of rats was disturbed after modeling, indicates that the POI model was successfully established. The ELISA test was used to measure the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in the serum of rats. HE stain was used to assess the morphology of ovarian tissue. The localization and relative expression levels of CX43 protein were detected by tissue immunofluorescence. Primary ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) were identified by cellular immunofluorescence. CCK8 was used to screen time and concentration of drug-containing serum and evaluate the proliferation effect of YLZ on VCD-induced GCs. ATP kit and Seahorse XFe24 were used to detect energy production and real-time glycolytic metabolism rate of GCs. mRNA and protein expression levels of HIF1α, CX43, PEK, LDH, HK1 were detected by RT-PCR and WB. Results: UHPLC-QE-MS found 1702 ingredients of YLZ and 80 constituents migrating to blood. YLZ reduced the FSH while increasing the AMH and E2 levels. In ovarian tissues, YLZ improved ovarian morphology, follicle development, and the relative expression of CX43. In vitro studies, we found that YLZ increased the proliferative activity of GCs, ATP levels, glycolytic metabolic rate, HIF1α, CX43, PEK, HK1, LDH mRNA, and protein levels. Conclusions: The study indicated that YLZ increased the proliferation and glycolytic energy metabolism of GCs to improve follicular development further alleviating ovarian function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the attack of harmful environmental substances, the reinforcements in concrete can be corroded. The corrosion of reinforcements induces the concrete crack and the reduction in structural capacity. The complex durability deterioration at the material scale is commonly oversimplified in the structural analysis, and the influence of reinforcement corrosion distribution can hardly be evaluated in traditional methods. Benefitted from the accurate material model and efficient solution technologies, a structural life-cycle probabilistic evaluation method is proposed based on the material uncertainty influence. The computational framework consists of three steps. First, the simulation of chloride ingress in structural cross-section considering mesoscopic variation; second, the finite element analysis of structural response with modifying reinforcement corrosion states; third, the structural life-cycle performances are evaluated probabilistically with the trained Artificial Neural Network model. Focussed on the life-cycle hysteretic performance of the reinforced concrete column, the whole procedure is operated for illustration, and the time-dependent decreasing structural performance are investigated. Compared with widely used macroscopic methods, the model precision can be refined over 90%. By discussion effects of different measures to improve structural performance are studied, including increasing concrete strength and concrete cover. The results show that the thicker concrete cover can postpone the initial deterioration and significantly increase structural life-cycle performance probabilistically, and with the same designed action effect, the structural service life can be extended over 85% to reach same reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A probabilistic model for the spatial distribution of heavy vehicles on the bridge deck is proposed. • The methodology is developed for vehicle scenarios associated with the maximum effect of long-span bridges. • The proposed model is able to take into account the stationarity of vehicle distribution for different effect types. • A simulation example is given based on the site-specific WIM data, and the response results are compared with those calculated by load models from different national design codes. The traffic scenarios that may cause extreme load effects are of great importance to the safety assessment of bridge structures. The traditional simulation method of traffic flow cannot depict the distribution pattern of vehicles on the bridge deck when the maximum effect is induced. In this paper, a probabilistic Gaussian mixture model (GMM) for heavy vehicle scenarios on the bridge deck under free-flow condition is proposed for long-span bridges based on collected Weigh in Motion (WIM) data. The scenarios of extreme response under free-flow occur more frequently than congestion scenarios and are of similar value and relevance in the daily management and safety assessment of long-span bridges. A non-stationary Poisson process is utilized to simulate the uneven occurrence of heavy vehicles in different lanes, and it is assumed that they are located within the artificially defined cells on the bridge deck. Then, Nataf transformation is employed to consider the correlation of gross vehicle weights (GVWs) within close range in the same lane. The numerical study is carried out on a long-span cable-stayed bridge to investigate the effects of correlation in GVWs and stationarity of vehicle distribution location on the structural responses. The load responses calculated by the proposed model and Monte Carlo method for different effects are compared with the values derived from code model. The results show that with the increase of the correlation level of the neighboring GVWs, the simulated responses are more prone to get extreme values, which means an increasing probability of the most unfavorable spatial distribution of on-bridge vehicles. The same results are also found under the non-stationary simulation state for vehicle location. The non-stationary Poisson process provides an efficient, highly feasible method, which is also in the safe side, for simulating the vehicle spatial distribution for specific effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of myocardial damage associated with high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity remains largely unknown. Transmembrane protein 126B (TMEM126B), as a complex I assembly factor, plays a key role in regulating mitochondrial function. In the present study, the effects of TMEM126B on mitochondrial function were investigated using genetic knockout approach in HFD-induced mouse models with obesity. We found that TMEM126B was significantly increased in HFD-treated cardiac samples. Genetic ablation of TMEM126B alleviated HFD-mediated metabolic disorder and heart injury. TEM results suggested that cardiac mitochondrial integrity was improved in TMEM126B knockout mice compared with the wild type (WT) mice after HFD challenge. Additionally, the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by HFD was alleviated in mice with TMEM126B knockout, as evidenced by the decreased protein expression levels of dynamic-related protein-1 (DRP1) and fission-1 (FIS1) and increased expression of mitofusin-1 (MFN1). The mitochondrial impairments were further confirmed in palmitic acid (PA)-incubated cardiomyocytes, as evidenced by the down-regulated membrane potential and ATP levels, and by the up-regulated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA damage, which were significantly reversed by TMEM126B knockdown in vitro. Finally, TMEM126B ablation suppressed mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic death in the hearts of HFD mice. Therefore, TMEM126B led to mitochondrial impairments, contributing to the pathogenesis of HFD-induced cardiac injury, and blockage of TMEM126B could inhibit mitochondrial dysfunction, paving the road to new therapeutic modalities for the prevention of obesity-associated heart injury. • TMEM12B knockout protects against HFD-induced mitochondrial injury in hearts of mice. • TMEM126B knockdown reduces mitochondrial ROS and DNA damage. • TMEM126B knockout suppresses apoptosis in hearts of HFD-fed mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic micro-simulation is the newly developed approach for loading calculation of long span bridges. The approach is quite precise, but computationally expensive to consider the full extent of traffic loading scenarios during a bridge lifetime. To address this shortfall, an efficient multi-scale traffic modelling approach is proposed. The proposed approach uses micro- and macro-simulation with different load model varieties (LMVs), or fidelities (levels of detail) of traffic loading in different bridge regions, to achieve optimal computation efficiency while maintaining the precision of loading calculation. Metrics of influence line (IL) characteristics, such as degree of nonlinearity, are proposed to evaluate the appropriateness of the choice of LMV, and standards of the metrics are also investigated to quantify the implementation of LMVs on bridge IL regions in the multi-scale modelling. Finally, two typical ILs are used along with random traffic modelling to study the feasibility of the proposed approach. It is shown that the multi-scale modelling approach proposed here achieves high computational efficiency and accuracy, which is significant for the massive traffic load simulation for lifetime bridge load effect analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Geometrical data of 4407 aggregate particles recognized from real cross-sections. • The recommend joint distribution function for aggregate size and aspect ratio. • A three-level particle model framework with size, aspect ratio and surface texture. • A mesoscale modeling method with the distribution control of aggregate shapes. • Numerical experiments on 800 models validate the significance of modeling method. Abstract Numerical simulation of concrete materials has become widely accepted, and modeling the aggregate based on the actual material is critical. However, the particle shape control still needs to be improved. In this paper, a refined aggregate modeling method is proposed using statistical rules based on image recognition. The geometrical data of 4407 real particles are extracted from the specimen cross-sections, and the joint probability distributions of particle size and aspect ratio are investigated. The statistical rules are remarkable and stable. The recommended distribution functions for geometrical parameters are provided to guide the simulation. The aggregate model is refined to a three-level framework based on the particle size, aspect ratio, and surface texture, and a corresponding concrete modeling method is also proposed. To investigate the method effect, numerical experiments on 800 models are conducted. The results show that it is necessary to precisely control the particle aspect ratio for accurate simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatase type II (INPP4B) is overexpressed in CRC tissues, and emerges as an oncogene. However, the mechanism by which INPP4B regulates CRC cell proliferation remains largely unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of INPP4B in CRC. Materials and methods: The expression levels of mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. The expression levels of protein were determined by Western blot. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and BrdU incorporation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation abilities. Bicistronic luciferase assays and the m7GTP pull down assay were performed to measure the cap-dependent translation in cells. Results: INPP4B promotes CRC cell proliferation by increasing mTORC1 activity. Furthermore, it was shown that the activation of mTORC1 signaling by INPP4B led to increased cap-dependent translation, which is essential for INPP4B-mediated CRC cell proliferation. Finally, it was demonstrated that increased AKT and serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 activity contributed to the activation of cap-dependent translation induced by INPP4B. Conclusion: Collectively, the present study reveals INPP4B promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation by activating mTORC1 signaling and cap-dependent translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Morphology evolution characters of corroded low alloy steel were extracted. • 3D morphology reconstruction-based model for corroded steel specimen was developed. • Effects of corroded rough morphology were revealed and quantitatively analysed. • Prediction equations for corroded steel were put forward to describe the nominal material properties. The evolution law in surface morphology of low alloy steel after corrosion was investigated through accelerated corrosion test in this paper. Specimens with varying corroded levels were parametrically reconstructed based on their fractal features. The influence of morphology on mechanical degradation was quantified based on uniaxial tensile simulation, and the accuracy was assessed by comparison with existing tests and methods. The analysis results indicate that the morphology of corroded steel has significant additional adverse effects on its nominal mechanical properties and can reach 15% maximum on yield strength, which cannot be reflected by traditional methods that only consider corrosion-induced section reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new friction model is proposed to describe structural spherical hinges working in quasi-static process. • Coefficient of stiffness deviation from the model can be explained microscopically by asperity-based theory. • Impact study of curvature and coverage on coefficient of friction makes the model highly compatible in application. • Parameter calibration for the model is executed through a hinge test. • Comparison with Dahl model shows competitiveness of the model in terms of application and test data matching. For most frictional issues in structural engineering, the classical friction law named after Coulomb is a reliable and convenient tool, but it cannot be used to predict a slippage-related quasi-static process due to the lack of relevant items. In this paper, based on some commonly used dynamic friction models, a new rate-independent friction model is proposed to describe a quasi-static frictional process in structural field, e.g., the motion of a spherical hinge bearing in a pedestrian bridge under reciprocal pedestrian and temperature loads. Most quasi-static processes happen at the pre-sliding regime when a friction contact tends to slide slightly before the Coulomb friction is reached. The well-known Dahl model, LuGre model, and other test-based dynamic models are surveyed, and their shortcomings in engineering use are summarized subsequently. The new model, the same as the Dahl model, is rate-independent, but adopts a more engineering-oriented form. On the basis, it can be easily applied on a finite element analysis by adjusting a built-in ideal elastoplastic model. Meanwhile, the accuracy has no obvious decrease according to a test-based comparison between the Dahl model and the new. The coefficient of stiffness deviation, defined as the deviation of the pre-sliding friction stiffness from the initial friction stiffness, is introduced into the new model, which makes the model possible to predict the energy dissipation at the pre-sliding regime and can be well explained by the asperity-based theory at microscopic level. The impacts from the curvature and the coverage of a contact on the coefficient of static friction are assessed by the finite element method. It is shown that the curvature has very few impacts while the coverage is highly positively related to the observed coefficient of friction. A friction test of a spherical hinge is then carried out to verify the new model. By data regression, the coefficient of stiffness deviation for the proposed model and the exponent for the Dahl model are identified as 0.492 and 2.272, respectively. A comparison of friction torque-slippage hysteresis loops shows both the Dahl model and the proposed model have good predication as the normal force is large enough and the proposed one is even better in some load cases. Finally, a brief application on a pedestrian bridge of the new model is introduced. It indicates that there will be some mechanical residuals when a spherical hinge is applied with a reciprocating load, but the residuals tend to be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two fatigue evaluation methods are proposed considering the coupling effects of traffic load and thermal load based either on vehicular and thermal fatigue load models, or on measurements of thermal and traffic loads. In order to improve the safety management at large-scale construction sites, the paper by I Yang, Zhang, Zhang, Wang, Dong and Fang i establishes a specialized fall hazard management system. The International Association for Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE) was founded in 2006 to create a fertile ground for promoting the study, research, and applications in the design, assessment, prediction, and optimal management of life-cycle performance, safety, reliability and risk of civil structures and infrastructure systems (http://www.ialcce.org). [Extracted from the article]

Cellular Automaton (CA), an efficient dynamic modeling method that is widely used in traffic engineering, is newly introduced for traffic load modeling. This modeling method significantly addresses the modest traffic loads for long-span bridges. It does, however, require improvement to calculate precise load effects. This paper proposed an improved cellular automaton with axis information, defined as the Multi-axle Single-cell Cellular Automaton (MSCA), for the precise micro-simulation of random traffic loads on bridges. Four main ingredients of lattice, cells’ states, neighborhoods and transition rules are redefined in MSCA to generate microscopic vehicle sequences with detailed vehicle axle positions, user-defined cell sizes and time steps. The simulation methodology of MSCA is then proposed. Finally, MSCA is carefully calibrated and validated using site-specific WIM data. The results indicate: (1) the relative errors (REs) for the traffic parameters, such as volumes, speeds, weights, and headways, from MSCA are basically no more than ±10% of those of WIM data; (2) the load effects of three typical influence lines (ILs) with varied lengths of 50, 200 and 1000 m are also confidently comparable, both of which validate the rationality and precision of MSCA. Furthermore, the accurate vehicle parameters and gaps generated from MSCA can be applied not only for precise traffic loading on infrastructures but also for the accurate estimation of vehicle dynamics and safety. Hence, wide application of MSCA can potentially be expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a site-specific traffic load model for long-span multi-pylon cable-stayed bridge. Structural effects are primarily investigated based on influence lines, which are identified as either global effect (GE) or partial effect (PE) depending on the effective influenced region. GEs are further categorised as sensitive effect (SE), insensitive effect (ISE) or less sensitive effect (LSE), considering sensitivity to unbalanced traffic loading. Three on-bridge traffic states are simulated, and Weibull extrapolations are utilised to predict the extreme responses. These responses are analysed and compared with several design codes. Results indicate the maximum response is only 75% of the value calculated based on the design code of China (D60), and even lower than other codes. The responses show strong positive correlation with traffic parameters of annual average daily traffic volume and heavy vehicle proportion, and the on-bridge traffic states have significant influence on the responses. Further, the identified effects of ISE, SE and LSE present different responses, which indicate specific load models are needed accordingly. Finally, a site-specific traffic load model consisting of load form, loading pattern, multi-lane factor and load value is recommended, which gives an accurate illustration on the structural effects and traffic responses. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• The multiphysics model is proposed for non-shrinkage concrete early age behavior. • The coupling simulation is built with chemical, humidity and mechanical process. • The differences between material behavior and structural performance are tested. • The mulitphysics behaviors of clustered shearing connector pocket is simulated. • Numerical optimizations are conducted about material, curing and structural design. Early age behavior of shearing connectors is of great significance for the performance of composite structures. To improve the structural mechanical state and reduce the risk of shrinkage cracks, the non-shrinkage concrete and the clustered shearing connector pocket are used in engineering applications, but the existing empirical model can hardly describe the physicochemical process in the actual structure. Focusing onresponsestiphysics mechanism of concrete shrinkage and the contribution of expansion additive, a comprehensive model is proposed for non-shrinkage concrete in this paper, and the processes of the hydration reaction, the humidity transport, and the mechanical response are included. The free shrinkage test regresses the parameter of material shrinkage, and the corresponding structural test verifies the multiphysics model of the clustered shearing connector pocket. With the volume increasing along the hydration reaction of expansion additives, the −120 με shrinkage of normal concrete is compensated to the 160 με expansion. In the clustered shearing connector pocket, the slight expansion of non-shrinkage concrete can keep the structural compression state and eliminate the risk of local cracks. According to structural test, the early age behavior is constrained by the prefabricated deck, reinforcement and clustered studs greatly, and the expansion strains at the pocket upper and bottom are reduced by about 16% and 72%, respectively. In the multiphysics simulation, not only the time-dependent shrinkage strains at different positions are predicted accurately, but also the detailed distributions of hydration ratio, relative humidity and mechanical stress are also presented. Eventually, the numerical comparison discusses the improvement of non-shrinkage concrete, the influence of relative humidity in the curing environment and the design modification of stud layout, and the peak stress in stud bodies can be reduced by about 18.42%, which is significant and practical for improving related construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The comprehensive model of concrete early-age hydration behavior is proposed. • Mesoscopic material feature and multiphysics coupling mechanism are combined. • The time-dependent hydration process and physics field distributions are predicted. • Model can be modified for different curing environments and specified additives. • Effects of curing environment and material proportions are studied by simulations. The early-age hydration behavior of concrete is of great significance for structural construction and service performance. Hydration is a complex multiphysics process coupling the field of chemical reaction, humidity transport, heat conductivity, and mechanical response. The random distribution of different phases in the material has a marked impact on hydration, and the material's mesoscopic feature is also important for the accurate prediction of concrete hydration behavior. Combining the material mesoscopic feature and multiphysics hydration mechanism, a comprehensive theoretical framework is proposed with detailed material modelling and physics coupling relationship in this paper. Besides the overall simulation procedure, the study on model modification methods for different curing environments and different concrete materials, especially the influence of expansion additives, is also conducted. Based on the application of concrete material and specified expansion agent in engineering, experiments are carried out to investigate the hydration process and mechanical shrinkage of concrete. The results are used for parameter regression and model validation. With the model's advantages in describing multiphysics influence and the mesoscopic features, the detailed time-dependent hydration process and spatial distribution of related physics can be simulated precisely and conveniently. At last, the influences of environmental states and mixing parameters on concrete hydration behavior are investigated, and the control of curing humidity and aggregate details is found necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the antinociceptive action of relationship between Herba Epimedium (HE) and 5-HT1A receptor, between Herba Epimedium (HE) and 5-HT2A receptor. We used the hot-plate method and the writhing assay in mice by the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection and observed the analgesic effect of HE. Furthermore, through the i.c.v. injection, 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist Buspirone, antagonist Propranolol, the adrenaline β1-receptor selective blocking agent Metoprolol, and 5-HT2A receptor agonist hydrochloride DOI and antagonist Ketanserin were used, and, 5 min later, HE was used to investigate the impacts of drugs on the analgesic effect in the same way. Results showed that HE had fast and significant antinociception in nervous system, and the effects can persist for a long time. Buspirone and Hydrochloride DOI can remarkably increase the antinociception of HE in nervous system. Ketanserin leads to a significant decrease in its antinociception in nervous system; Metoprolol also has antinociceptive action in nervous system, but it can inhibit the antinociceptive effect of Herba Epimediumin peripheral region. These results suggest that HE has significant antinociception effect and its mechanism is related with 5-HT1A receptor, 5-HT2A receptor, and adrenaline β1-receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete components of existing bridges often have complex and time-dependent stresses due to external load and internal degradation. The reliable information of the stress state plays an important role in performance assessment, life cycle prediction and strengthening and maintenance strategy. Some key bridge components generally carry predominant uniaxial loads, such as girders, towers and pillars, which make it meaningful to focus on the uniaxialin-situstresses. This article presents a non-destructive method to identify the uniaxialin-situstresses in concrete components for existing bridges using core-drilling method based on influence functions (IFs). Axial and tangential IFs are defined and calibrated, followed by numerical identifications of different stress fields and experimental tests on concrete specimens. The influence of inhomogeneity and randomness of concrete in the identification tests are evaluated by comparisons of measured data from various strain gages and reduced by introduction of interpolation functions, synthetical IFs and optimisation solutions. The relationship between identification accuracy and damage cost is also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: There were several tendons breakout on bottom slabs happening during construction stage of continuous pre-stressed concrete bridges in recent years in China. The paper studies one case based on numerical simulation that happened on a 47+75+47m continuous pre-stressed concrete rigidframe bridge. In this paper, both linear elastic and nonlinear inelastic analysis are developed, concrete and reinforcements stress levels before and after pre-stressed tendons stressed are compared, and the path of crack appearance are revealed by calculation. The effects of the incorrect arrangement of reinforcement during construction are also analyzed, which is proved not to be the leading reason of the failure. The outcomes of the finite element analysis indicate that oversize of the longitudinal prestressed tendons and unreasonable sizes of the bottom slab are the main reasons of the failure. Some advices to avoid similar accident are given for future design. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Concrete structures in the atmosphere may suffer from the problem of steel corrosion induced by the carbonation process. Most of previous research on concrete carbonation problems has been performed on the macro-scale. These studies did not consider the influence of the aggregates, which should be involved on meso-scale. In order to extend the present studies on the problems of concrete carbonation from macro-scale to meso-scale, an improved method to simulate the random aggregate structure (RAS) in concrete has been proposed. This method can be divided into two steps: the process of RAS in a three-dimensional model, and the process of numerical analysis in a cross-section. In this method, the effect of the randomness on the results of RAS is analysed. Based on the mass conservation law and kinetic model of chemical reactions, a simplified numerical model of concrete carbonation is developed. The effect of the key parameters in this model such as effective diffusion coefficient of CO2 and carbonation reaction constant is discussed. The comparison of the simulations of concrete carbonation process on macro-scale and meso-scale is discussed as well. Finally, an application of the method to determine the proper composition of concrete in the practical engineering is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Ozone integrated with internal micro-electrolysis (O3/IE) was applied to electrochemically oxidize reactive red X-3B owing to its well-established synergetic effect in the present study. The final removal rates of color, COD, TOC and AOX were found to be 99%, 85%, 59%, and 74%, respectively, when the following optimal conditions were used: dyestuff concentration of 1g/L with a pH of 9.0, a reaction temperature of 60°C, 400g of iron scraps with the diameter in the range of 0.9–2.0mm and 10g/h ozone flow rate. The dominant degradation mechanism of reactive red X-3B was elucidated by the addition of radical scavenger/enhancer. The results indicated that the formation of hydroxyl radicals in the presence of ozone was the major contributing factor in O3/IE system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CAP37, a neutrophil-derived protein, originally identified for its antimicrobial activity is now known to have strong immunoregulatory effects on host cells. Recently, we described its expression and localization within the vascular endothelium associated with atherosclerotic plaques. Since CAP37 is a potent activator of endothelial cells and monocytes, two of the key cellular components of the atherosclerotic plaque, this study was undertaken to determine whether CAP37 had functional effects on smooth muscle cells another important cellular participant in atherosclerosis. Sections from atherosclerotic lesions were stained for the presence of CAP37 and smooth muscle cell α actin. The effect of CAP37 on aorta smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation was investigated and the upregulation of adhesion molecules was determined. Immunocytochemistry indicated that CAP37 was present in a subset of smooth muscle cells within atherosclerotic lesions, but was absent in normal vessels. Flow cytometry using double labeling for the proliferation marker Ki-67 and CAP37 demonstrates that CAP37 is mainly expressed in proliferating smooth muscle cells. We show that CAP37 supports migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells in vitro. Furthermore, CAP37-treated smooth muscle cells expressed higher levels of the cell adhesion molecule ICAM-1 when compared with untreated cells. We suggest that due to its localization to atherosclerotic plaques and its ability to modulate smooth muscle cells, CAP37 may play a role in the progression of this disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The accurate and efficient simulation of steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) is of great significance for its further application in civil engineering. Problems of existing modelling methods can be recognized as two points; (1) the integral model only simplified fibre contribution into the unified post-peak ductility in concrete element but cannot reflect the material variation caused by real fibre distribution, and (2) the separate model built the concrete matrix and fibre inclusions respectively, but the directly random fibre distributions still need to be refined based on the actual material. In this paper, based on the X-ray image recognition results from real SFRC material, a mathematical model of fibre distribution and orientation is proposed for SFRC simulation, and the detailed value distributions of geometrical parameters are optimized for convenience and accuracy of material modelling. In the geometrical extraction of near 4000 fibres from X-ray images, the whole comprehensive procedure of image processing, enhancement and recognition is presented with technologies like pixel semantic classification and Hough transform. With the proposed geometrical mathematical model, the modelling method that consists of multiple refined sampling is illustrated with mechanical applications. After the model verification by experimental comparison, the detailed contribution of steel fibre and the effect of fibre distribution refinement are discussed as well. • A geometrical mathematic model of fiber distribution and orientation is proposed. • Geometrical data of 3907 fibers are recognized and extracted from X-ray images. • Mathematic model is optimized with X-ray image recognition of real SFRC material. • Modelling method of SFRC is proposed with geometrical mathematic model embedded. • Effect of model refinement and fiber volume on SFRC mechanical behaviour is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile reinforced polymer composites have excellent structural performance including mechanical properties and thermal properties, which are benefited from their relative complex architecture of the reinforcement. Tailoring the geometry of the fabric can achieve desired material properties, but the complex geometry imposes some challenges to explore such a design space. The present study intends to develop a design optimization method for enhancing the thermal conductivity of plain woven textile composites. Parametric formulations for both the architecture of the reinforcement and the effective thermal properties, which are predicted by using an analytical homogenization method, are derived. Based on these explicit formulations, the sensitivities of thermal conductivities of the textile composites with respect to the geometric parameters for the reinforcement can also be derived, and the thermal conductivity optimization problem is numerically solved by using the gradient-based method. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, where a carbon fibre reinforced plain woven textile composite is considered for the illustration purpose. Results show that the proposed approach can provide efficient solutions in terms of the enhancement of thermal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A refined cellular automata model for the simulation of concrete chloride ingress. • The effect of component random distribution at mesoscale introduced in model. • Complex conditions in chloride ingress transferred in the evolution rules. • A detailed method flow with specified calculation order and time step division. • The experimental and numerical comparisons validated the method accuracy. Chloride ingress is a severe problem for the durability of concrete structures worldwide, and the relevant researches are of great significance. According to the requirements on accurate and efficient prediction, the development of numerical simulation method is critical. Existing simulations on macroscale and mesoscale cannot balance solution efficiency and material variability well. In this paper, a refined method with cellular automata is proposed based on the mesoscopic features. The set of cell state variables is built up under the framework of cellular automata taking the effects of aggregate distribution, moisture transport, chloride diffusion and ion absorption into consideration, and the corresponding evolution rules are also developed. Due to the mutual relationship among the variables, the particular solution order is also specified in the method flow. The solution details such as the size of cell division and the length of time step are discussed and optimized, and the 10.0-mm cell size and 1.0-month time step is recommended for the stable and accurate calculation. To verify the accuracy of the method, the comparison between the refined method and the results of chemical tests is conducted, and the simulated relationship of average concentration to the depth is accurate. Compared with the macroscopic model and mesoscopic model, the concentration distribution caused by material variability is described more precisely in the model with cellular automata, and the efficiency is improved greatly as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust design optimization algorithm is proposed for variable angle tow composite structures in the presence of uncertainties in the constituent material properties and applied loads. The proposed algorithm uses a stochastic perturbation method to propagate these uncertainties through to the simulated structural response, measured in terms of buckling load. The expected value plus a selected number of standard deviations of the response in the form of a bi-criteria problem. To describe the curvilinear fibres, two types of fibre path function, namely linear- and nonlinear-variation formulae, are adopted to illustrate the proposed methodology. A comparison between the resulting robust designs and deterministic designs is made, and changes to the final designs of fibre tow paths arising from the inclusion of uncertainty are discussed. It is shown that the robust designs out-perform the deterministic designs under real-world situations that include uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite structures in a thermal environment may suffer from buckling failures due to thermally induced compressive forces, leading to concerns over their application in environmentally aggressive conditions. This issue is addressed by proposing a novel approach to the design of tow paths for enhancing thermal buckling performance, and it can also overcome the problems of tow gaps and overlapping. A level set function, such as defined by signed distance function, for representing a series of equidistant tows throughout the laminate, is adopted here to formulate an optimization problem that seeks to maximize the buckling load under thermal loading, and the level set values are thus the design variables. Sensitivities of thermal buckling eigenvalues with respect to tow paths, i.e. level set values, are derived through the adjoint method, and they are used to solve the optimization problem through the Hamilton-Jacobi equation. In this study, numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, where laminated plates made of various materials under different boundary conditions are considered. Results show that the proposed approach can provide efficient solutions with enhanced buckling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nitrogen transformation strains, including three ammonium transformation strains, one nitrite strain and one nitrogen fixer, were inoculated at different swine carcass composting stages to regulate the nitrogen transformation and control the nitrogen loss. The final total nitrogen content was significantly increased (p < 0.01). The bacterial communities were assessed by amplicon sequencing and association analysis. Proteobacteria , Actinobacteria , Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the four most dominant phyla., Brevibacterium , Streptomyces and Ochrobactrum had a significant (p < 0.05) and positive correlation with total nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen content in both groups. The quantitative results of nitrogen transformation genes showed that ammonification, nitrification, denitrification and nitrogen fixation were simultaneously present in the composting process of swine carcasses, with the latter two accounting for a higher proportion. The ammonium transformation strains significantly (p < 0.05) strengthened nitrogen fixation and remarkably (p < 0.01) weakened nitrification and denitrification, which, however, were notably (p < 0.05) enhanced by the nitrite strain and nitrogen fixer. In this research, the inoculated strains changed the bacterial structure by regulating the abundance and activity of the highly connected taxa, which facilitated the growth of nitrogen transformation bacteria and regulated the balance/symbiosis of nitrogen transformation processes to accelerate the accumulation of nitrogen. Unlabelled Image • Nitrogen turnover microbes increased final total nitrogen content by 50.06%. • Inocula reduced microbial diversity and increased dominant genus abundance. • Inocula improved microbial symbiosis during nitrogen transformation. • Inocula regulated abundance of corresponding genera and highly connected taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, temperature control for massive concrete structures during the construction phase is based on experience instead of using advanced methods such as predictive control method. In this paper, a predictive control method with a hybrid data-based artificial neural network (ANN) model is proposed. The main parameters of the numerical model are identified based on the data measured from the site. Since the limitation of the measured data, a rich dataset is generated by the numerical model with the identified parameters. Finally, a hybrid data-based ANN model for predicting the temperature indicator of massive concrete is developed. A case study in which the temperature control of concrete in a real bridge anchorage foundation construction in Southwestern China is conducted. Results show that the maximum temperature of concrete can be controlled around the target temperature by the proposed method. The average temperature decline rate decreases from 0.19 °C/h to 0.14 °C/h in the period of 120 h (i.e., from 60 h to 180 h after the concrete pouring) at a sudden decrease of 8 °C in environmental temperature, thereby enabling a significant reduction in the risk of concrete cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly studied the spatial variability of the chloride caused by the inhomogeneous mesoscopic structure of the concrete in a numerical simulation approach. To conduct the research, a method to generate the random aggregate structure (RAS) based on elliptical and polygonal aggregates was firstly proposed. Secondly, the governing equation of the chloride diffusion process was numerically solved by the finite element method. Several important issues in this method, e.g, how to explicitly consider the ITZ in the meso-scale model, were discussed. The design method of the concrete cover with the consideration of the spatial variability was proposed as well. The effects of several key parameters related to the mesoscopic structure of the concrete on the degree of the spatial variability of the chloride were comprehensively studied. Based on the results and discussion, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) the influence of the spatial variability of the chloride on the thickness of the concrete cover is significant enough that cannot be neglected in practice even after the consideration of construction error; (2) the degree of the spatial variability of the chloride is not sensitive to the mesoscopic material structure of the concrete; (3) the rebars have a limited influence on the degree of the spatial variability of the chloride provided that the size of the aggregate is comparable to the diameter of the rebar. Finally, a general result on the spatial variability of the chloride was also provided to help design the proper thickness of the concrete cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A 3D random porosity media model is proposed to simulate the properties of cement mortar. • The model employs a Weibull random field and exponential correlation function. • Model parameters are estimated based on the X-ray computed tomography data. • Saptial variability associated with chloride content in cement mortar is simulated using the proposed model in conjunction with MCS method. Cement-based materials are typical porous media in which the spatial pores are of vital importance to flow problems, such as chloride ion penetration. This study proposes a three-dimensional (3D) random porous media model to characterize the spatial distribution associated with the porosity in cement mortar. The proposed model addresses the random heterogeneity in material properties using a Weibull random field and an exponential correlation function. The spatial distribution data associated with the porosity of the cement mortar, including the marginal distribution of the porosity and correlation structure of the Weibull random field, are obtained via X-ray computed tomography (XCT). The results indicate that the isotropic exponential correlation function is adequate for characterizing the correlation structure of the Weibull field with a maximum correlation length of 5.7515 mm. Moreover, a comparison of the simulated and measured porosity fields suggests that the proposed model can capture the characteristics of the porosity distribution in cement mortar. Considering the correlation in the porosity leads to a larger variance in the mean porosity of the mortar in the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). In the example, the chloride diffusion in the cement mortar is illustrated using the proposed 3D random porous media model coupled with finite element (FE) analysis. The effect of the spatial correlation of the porosity on chloride diffusion in cement mortar was discussed from a probabilistic perspective. The proposed model provides insights into considering the properties of heterogeneous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effectiveness of using a 3 kW rotary continuous-wave laser transmitter for removing salt from severely corroded steel surfaces. It proposes an improved surface treatment flow that includes laser treatment as a pre-treatment step. This study focuses on severely corroded weathering steel with artificial corrosion pits that require painting after surface treatment to prevent corrosion under the film. This study demonstrates that the laser can effectively remove salt during the rust removal process, and the proposed surface treatment flow can prevent the re-corrosion of more than 5 % of the treated surface area in high-temperature, high-humidity environments for one week, providing a quality surface for paint coating. This study suggests that laser surface treatment can be used as a pretreatment step for abrasive blasting and should be further explored and promoted in engineering applications. • Demonstrated laser surface cleaning outperforms abrasive blasting in removing salts. • Introduced an improved Turning Time Test method for quantitative assessment of salt residues on surfaces before paint coating. • Proposed a combined laser and blasting protocol that significantly reduces the risk of under-film corrosion. • Demonstrated the suitability of laser cleaning as a preliminary step for abrasive blasting and recoating processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the Honghe Bridge project located in Yunnan Province, Southwest China, a steel/ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC) composite deck is used in the suspension bridge with a 700 m main span, and the steel stud connectors are used in the 50 mm–thick UHPC layer. To investigate the shrinkage behavior of UHPC and the relevant influence, the in situ time-dependent strain is measured continuously, and within the 20-day curing time, the material behavior is summarized based on test results. This paper proposes a prediction model for UHPC shrinkage which is refined from the widely used B3 model for normal concrete material, and the parameter values are modified and optimized by experimental comparison. Combining the numerical model and the finite element analysis model of the composite deck, the detailed mechanical state in structural parts is studied. For the practical construction, the simulation results indicate that the small thickness of UHPC above the stud and weak bond strength can influence the eventual structural performance greatly. In the discussion of stress distribution at different locations of the deck, the potential crack on the edge and the corner of the UHPC–steel interface and the mechanical damage on the stud connector around are also indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel traffic conflict risk indicators that consider vehicle weight are proposed. • Comprehensive traffic flow data based on weigh-in-motion (WIM) technique are used. • A microscopic traffic simulation model is developed to depict the space–time propagation of weight-based safety risk. • Weight-based safety surrogate measure is superior, especially when heavy vehicles are prevalent. Introduction: Vehicle weight is deterministic to the impact force in collision, and thus the injury risk of vehicle occupants. In China, involvement of heavy vehicles in overall and fatal crashes are prevalent, even though heavy vehicles only constitute a small proportion of overall registered motor vehicles. However, vehicle weight is rarely considered in the existing traffic conflict risk prediction and assessment models because of the unavailability of required data. Method: Novel risk indicators for the diagnosis of traffic conflict risk map, considering the effect of vehicle weight, are proposed, with the advantage of comprehensive traffic flow characteristics and vehicle weight data using Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) technique. Weight-incorporated risk level (WRL) and weight integrated risk level (WIRL) are established to quantify the traffic conflict risk, at an instant and over a specified time period, respectively, by extending the conventional traffic conflict risk measures including time-to-collision (TTC) and modified potential collision energy (PCE). Then, a microscopic traffic simulation model is adopted to estimate the traffic conflict risk map along a highway segment that has partial lane closure. The traffic conflict risk performances, between the risk indicators with and without considering the vehicle weight, are compared. Results: The traffic conflict risks estimated using conventional risk indicators without considering the vehicle weight are generally lower than that based on WRL and WIRL. The difference is more profound when the proportion of heavy vehicles in the traffic stream increases. Conclusions: The finding is indicative to remedial engineering measures including variable message sign, speed limit, and ramp metering that can mitigate the real-time crash risks on highways, especially in adverse environmental and weather conditions, with due consideration of vehicle composition and crash worthiness of vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ti 2 CoGe based magnetic tunnel junction with various kinds of interface are built. • Interface free energy and interface magnetic properties are investigated. • The MTJ with the interface containing pure Co atom possesses the largest TMR ratio of 9.51 × 105. The magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device employing inverse Heusler alloy as electrode has great potential for application in spintronics. In this work, we performed first-principles calculations combined with nonequilibrium Green's function to study the spin transport properties of Heusler alloy based Ti 2 CoGe/MgO/Ti 2 CoGe MTJ with various atomic terminations. The calculated interface free energy (γ) indicates that TiCo-terminated interface could be easily formed than TiGe-terminated interface, and the interface containing pure Ge atom is the most favorable owing to its lowest γ. Spin transport calculations reveal that tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio in MTJ with natural TiCo terminated interface (1.58 × 104) is higher than that with natural TiGe-terminated interface (2.99 × 103). When the interfacial Ti atom in TiCo-terminated interface is substituted by Co atom, the transport ability of majority spin electrons is promoted. Moreover, our calculation indicates that the MTJ with the interface containing pure Co atom possesses the largest TMR ratio of 9.51 × 105. Our work paves the way for the fabrication of Ti 2 CoGe based MTJ for practical application in spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The coating impedance index (CI) was defined to study the synergistic effect. • The calculation formula of the synergistic effect (ΔCI) was proposed. • The levels of consequences induced by irradiation, corrosion and their synergism were determined. • Synergistic effect was a key factor in the failure of organic coating protective systems. The synergistic effect between irradiation and corrosion in atmospheric environments resulted in the complex failure mechanism of an organic coating protective system with many types of failure modes. In this study, the coating impedance index (CI) was defined to quantitatively evaluate the degradation degree of an organic coating protective system and the calculation formula of the synergistic effect (ΔCI) was proposed to study the synergistic effect. And that based on the values of the coating impedance index (CI), the levels of consequences, which were generated by UV irradiation, corrosion and their synergistic effect, were determined, respectively. The failure mechanism of two kinds of organic coating protective systems in an urban and a plateau atmospheric simulating environments were quantitatively studied using accelerated tests in conjunction with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) on the basis of the coating impedance index (CI) and the quantitative calculation of the synergistic effect (ΔCI). It was found that the synergistic effect between irradiation and corrosion played a major role in the failure of these two kinds of organic coating protective systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria play an essential part in guaranteeing normal cellular physiological functions through providing ATP and participating in diverse processes and signaling pathways. Recently, more and more studies have revealed the vital roles of mitochondria in coping with stressors in the aging process, metabolic disturbances and neurological disorders. Mitochondrial stress responses, including the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR mt ), antioxidant defense, mitochondrial fission, mitochondrial fusion and mitophagy, are induced to maintain cellular integrity in response to stress. The sirtuin family, a group of NAD + -dependent deacetylases, has been the focus of much attention in recent years for their multiple regulatory functions, especially in aging and metabolism. Recent reports validated the significant link between mitochondrial stress responses and the sirtuin family, which may help to elucidate the pathogenesis and therapies for diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. This review will summarize recent related studies and illuminate the interplay between sirtuins and mitochondrial stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic progressive disease which leads to elevated pulmonary arterial pressure and right heart failure. 3,7-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)icaritin (ICT), an icariin derivatives, was reported to have potent inhibitory activity on phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) which plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PAH. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of ICT on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rat model and reveal the underlying mechanism. MCT-induced PAH rat models were established with intragastric administration of ICT (10, 20, 40 mg/kg/d), Icariin (ICA) (40 mg/kg/d) and Sildenafil (25 mg/kg/d). The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVHI) were measured. Pulmonary artery remodeling was assessed by H&E staining. Blood and lung tissue were collected to evaluate the level of endothelin 1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO), and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The expressions endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and PDE5A in lung tissues were determined by Western blot analysis. The results showed that ICT reduced RVHI and mPAP, and reversed lung vascular remodeling in rats with MCT-induced PAH. ICT also reversed MCT-induced ET-1 elevation, NO and cGMP reduction in serum or lung tissue. Moreover, ICT administration significantly induced eNOS activation and PDE5A inhibition. ICT with lower dose had better effects than ICA. In summary, ICT is more effective in preventing MCT-induced PAH in rats via NO/cGMP activation compared with ICA. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism of the action of ICT that may have value in prevention of PAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel framework for multi-lane factors (MLFs) for bridge traffic loading is proposed in this work. A general equation of MLF, consisting of a combination coefficient, a lane correction coefficient, and a share factor is established. The calculation methodology for lifetime MLF uses bivariate extreme-value theory based on coincident extreme lane loading events. Example application of the framework to a site using Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) data is demonstrated, in which traffic simulations and bivariate extreme value bootstrapping are implemented to calibrate the MLF model. For the site studied, statistical results of WIM data indicate the traffic loads in adjacent lanes are different but correlated. Calibration of the MLF model illustrates that the dependence between extreme coincident lane load effects is influenced by the correlation of traffic loads in adjacent lanes. Two key parameters, share factor and weight restriction, are found to have distinct influences on the calibrated values of MLFs, and so need to be considered in a site-specific assessment of multi-lane bridge traffic loading. The proposed general MLF framework provides a deep understanding of multi-lane traffic loading, and can be calibrated for any bridge or traffic stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including the conceptual bridge design, an assessment procedure for existing bridges and a framework for the performance assessment of metallic bridges.

Background and Aim Of the Study: The prosthesis of choice for a tricuspid valve replacement is still unkown. This meta-analysis was undertaken to review the results of mechanical and bioprosthetic valves in the tricuspid position.Methods: We identified all relevant studies published in the past 20 years (from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2014) through the Embase, Current Contents, and PubMed databases. The hazard ratio and its 95% confidence limits were utilized to evaluate time-to-event related effects of surgical procedures. The Q-statistic, Index of Inconsistency test, funnel plots, and Egger's test were used to assess the degree of heterogeneity and publication bias. Random effects models were used, and study quality was also assessed.Results: In our meta-analysis, 22 studies published from 1995 to 2014 were reviewed and 2630 patients and 14,694 follow-up years were analyzed. No statistically significant difference was identified between mechanical and biological valves in terms of survival, reoperation, and prosthetic valve failure. The respective pooled hazard ratio estimates were 0.95 (0.79 to 1.16, p = 0.62, I(2)  = 29%), 1.20 (0.84 to 1.71, p = 0.33, I(2)  = 0%), and 0.35 (0.06 to 2.01, p = 0.24, I(2)  = 0%). A higher risk of thrombosis was found in mechanical tricuspid valve prostheses (3.86, 1.38 to 10.82, p = 0.01, I(2)  = 0%).Conclusions: No statistically significant difference was identified between mechanical and biological valves in terms of survival, reoperation, or prosthetic valve failure, but mechanical tricuspid valve prostheses had a higher risk of thrombosis. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12730 (J Card Surg 2016;31:294-302). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of seasonal variations on Crataegus pinnatifida, changes in antioxidant activity and active components in C. pinnatifida leaves, roots, twigs, and fruits from May to October were investigated. Through correlation analysis of climatic factors and 7 phenolic compounds yield, the phenolic compounds content was positively correlated with temperatures and daytime. The correlation coefficient of temperatures and daytime were 0.912 and 0.829, respectively. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging and reducing power tests were employed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the C. pinnatifida. C. pinnatifida leaves exhibited significant advantages in terms of higher phenolic contents and excellent antioxidant activities. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that 2 main PC characterize the C. pinnatifida phenolic composition (82.1% of all variance). C. pinnatifida leaves in September possessed remarkable antioxidant activity. The results elucidate that C. pinnatifida leaves, as renewable parts, are suitable for application as antioxidant ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an extremely simple triphenylamine-based luminogen 1-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-2-phenylethanone (TPACO) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) characteristic was readily synthesized as a super-sensitive fluorescent water sensor. TPACO exhibits remarkable solvatochromic effect and ultrahigh sensitivity to trace water in organic solvents with good linear"intensity-to-content" relationships. The detection limit of TPACO for water in tetrahydrofuran and 1,4-dioxane can be as low as 76 ppm (0.0068 vol%) and 31 ppm (0.0032 vol%), respectively. Under UV irradiation, the probe can signify water content in organic solvents with distinguishable fluorescence color change observable by naked eye. In addition, the emission of TPACO can be quenched by alkali via keto-enol isomerization. [Display omitted] • A simple luminogen with AIE and TICT effect was synthesized by a one-step reaction. • The probe displays solvatochromic and a remarkable "on-off-on" optical property. • The probe has ultrahigh sensitivity to trace amounts of water in organic solvents. • The detection limit of the probe was as low as 31 ppm (0.0032 vol%). • Distinguishable fluorescence color change could be observed via naked eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Right atrial appendage aneurysm (RAAA) is a rare malformation of the heart. Here, we present a case of RAAA in an elderly man, who has remained asymptomatic for over 10 months of follow‐up. The aneurysm was initially discovered by echocardiography, and confirmed by further investigations using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and 320‐row detector computed tomography (320R‐CT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous research has found heroin addicts to be impulsive. This study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging technology to investigate the differences between heroin addicts and normal controls in neural activity associated with cognitive regulation of behavior. Twenty-one Chinese men participated in this study, 11 of whom were newly admitted heroin-addicted patients and 10 of whom were healthy volunteers. In the experimental task, the subjects were required to first identify the correct directions of arrowheads and then give the opposite answers. Behaviorally, the heroin-dependent patients took a much shorter time to complete the more demanding second part of the task but committed more errors than the normal controls. This pattern of behavior, characteristic of people who are disinhibited and who tend to be impulsive, was consistent with previous reports of impulsivity observed in people who have abused heroin. The neural activity of the patients that was associated with performing the experimental task of cognitive regulation was different to that of the normal controls in terms of the pattern of prefrontal activation, the attenuation of activity in the anterior cingulate, and the additional recruitment of the right inferior parietal region. This study is the first that seeks to understand the neural activity associated with impulsive behavior in people who abuse heroin. The pattern of imaging data obtained resembled the pattern of data observed in immature brains attempting to exercise cognitive control of behavior. Further theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]