Search

Near-rigid-body grain rotation is commonly observed during grain growth, recrystallization, and plastic deformation in nanocrystalline materials. Despite decades of research, the dominant mechanisms underlying grain rotation remain enigmatic. We present direct evidence that grain rotation occurs through the motion of disconnections (line defects with step and dislocation character) along grain boundaries in platinum thin films. State-of-the-art in situ four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) observations reveal the statistical correlation between grain rotation and grain growth or shrinkage. This correlation arises from shear-coupled grain boundary migration, which occurs through the motion of disconnections, as demonstrated by in situ high-angle annular dark-field STEM observations and the atomistic simulation-aided analysis. These findings provide quantitative insights into the structural dynamics of nanocrystalline materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • This study analyzes the relationship between ADHD, family relationships, lifestyle, and food intolerance. Methods • This study consisted of 240 children who received treatment at the researchers’ hospital from January 2022 to November 2022. Out of these, 120 children belonged to the ADHD group, while the remaining 120 children were part of the healthy control group. The researchers compared these two groups of children on factors such as family relationships, lifestyle, and food intolerance. Results • The general data of the two groups were not statistically significant but comparable (P > .05); family relationships, lifestyle, and food intolerance all affected children with ADHD (P < .01). Conclusion • In the investigation of children with ADHD compared to healthy children, the influence of family relationships, lifestyle, and food intolerance can all cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vibration energy of the track slab can be converted into electric energy for wireless sensors by piezoelectric energy harvesters. A track laminated circular plate harvester (TLCP harvester) is designed in this paper based on foundation excitation. The central frequency of the harvester is 222 Hz, which is matched with the 222.8 Hz of the track slab. The stiffness curve, damping, equivalent capacitance, and electromechanical coupling coefficient of the harvester are obtained through the experiment. The harmonic balance method and Runge–Kutta's voltage results are consistent with the experimental results. The frequency responses verify the jump phenomenon and soft characteristics. The experiment results show that the maximum output power is 8.07 mW under 7 kΩ load resistance, and the maximum RMS power is 0.3804 mW under 5 kΩ load resistance. This paper develops a safe and high-efficiency piezoelectric energy harvester for track slabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and disruptions in the gastrointestinal microbiota have been positively correlated with a predisposition to factors such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes; however, it is unclear how the microbiome contributes to this relationship. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between early life exposure to a potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist and persistent disruptions in the microbiota, leading to impaired metabolic homeostasis later in life. METHODS: This study used metagenomics, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)– and mass spectrometry (MS)–based metabolomics, and biochemical assays to analyze the gut microbiome composition and function, as well as the physiological and metabolic effects of early life exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) in conventional, germ-free (GF), and Ahr-null mice. The impact of TCDF on Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) in vitro was assessed using optical density (OD 600), flowcytometry, transcriptomics, and MS-based metabolomics. RESULTS: TCDF-exposed mice exhibited lower abundances of A. muciniphila, lower levels of cecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and indole-3- lactic acid (ILA), as well as lower levels of the gut hormones glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), findings suggestive of disruption in the gut microbiome community structure and function. Importantly, microbial and metabolic phenotypes associated with early life POP exposure were transferable to GF recipients in the absence of POP carry-over. In addition, AHR-independent interactions between POPs and the microbiota were observed, and they were significantly associated with growth, physiology, gene expression, and metabolic activity outcomes of A. muciniphila, supporting suppressed activity along the ILA pathway. CONCLUSIONS: These data obtained in a mouse model point to the complex effects of POPs on the host and microbiota, providing strong evidence that early life, short-term, and self-limiting POP exposure can adversely impact the microbiome, with effects persisting into later life with associated health implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancement of the novel strengthening method improvement including electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and structural performance is of utmost importance and essential in reinforced concrete structures. The purpose of this study is to present a state-of-the-art review of methods used in the effective strengthening of conductive concrete and conductive grid-strengthened RC structures. There have been novel experiments into the development of conductive concrete that can be used as both an effective external load and EMI shielding. While most of the literature focuses on developing conductive concrete that is used in casting RC structures, a few researchers have focused on developing RC structures strengthening resistance to external loads and EMI. Using this conductive concrete to strengthen RC structures is insufficient and would require additional conductive grids. This paper reviews such novel strengthening materials that have been developed to shield against external loads and EMI. Numerous research claim that using one type of conductive material to improve the SE of reinforced concrete structures is insufficient and additional conductive materials are necessary. Shielding effectiveness values exceed the standard requirement only when using fully fabricated fiber-reinforced concrete strengthened by the metallic grid. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the type of conductive materials used in the RC structures strengthening to achieve adequate SE as described standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin-walled tubular parts with longitudinal ribs are important lightweight components. To manufacture the complex shape, incremental forming processes like flow forming are increasingly used. However, it is still difficult to form deep longitudinal ribs by conventional flow forming like ball spinning (BS). This paper proposes a novel flow forming process named two-stage flow forming (TSFF) to manufacture the thin-walled tubular parts with deep longitudinal outer ribs. The TSFF process includes two forming stages of preforming and final forming. During the preforming stage, the balls make axially feed movement, which force the metal to flow radially, and preform the longitudinal outer ribs. In the final forming process, the balls make axial feed movement and the blank makes rotation, which forces the metal to flow along circumferential and radial direction. Thus, the wall thickness is reduced, and the deep longitudinal outer ribs are formed. Based on numerical simulation, the forming geometrical dimension by BS and TSFF is compared, and the forming effect of TSFF is better. To make further analysis of metal flow behavior, it can be found that TSFF promotes the metal to flow along tangential and radial direction, while restraining the axial flow of the metal, and finally improve the filling effect of the longitudinal outer ribs. In addition, the key process parameters of TSFF were studied, and it was found that the reduction of preforming and ball diameter had great influence on the filling effect of the outer ribs. Finally, the TSFF experiment is carried, and the result shows that thin-walled tubular parts with deep longitudinal outer ribs formed by TSFF are feasible. This study provides theoretical and experimental support for the development of the novel flow forming process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study investigated the regulatory effects of N6 -methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase like-3 (METTL3) in diabetes-induced testicular damage. Methods: In vivo diabetic mice and high glucose (HG) treated GC-1 spg cells were established. The mRNA and protein expressions were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry staining. Levels of testosterone, blood glucose, cell viability, and apoptosis were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, MTT, and flow cytometry, respectively. Molecular interactions were verified by RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assay. Histopathological staining was performed to evaluate testicular injury. Results: METTL3 and long non-coding RNA taurine up-regulated 1 (lncRNA TUG1) were downregulated in testicular tissues of diabetic mice and HG-treated GC-1 spg cells. METTL3 overexpression could reduce the blood glucose level, oxidative stress and testicular damage but enhance testosterone secretion in diabetic mouse model and HG-stimulated GC-1 spg cells. Mechanically, METTL3-mediated m6A methylation enhanced the stability of TUG1, then stabilizing the clusterin mRNA via recruiting serine and arginine rich splicing factor 1. Moreover, inhibition of TUG1/clusterin signaling markedly reversed the protective impacts of METTL3 overexpression on HG-stimulated GC-1 spg cells. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that METTL3 ameliorated diabetes-induced testicular damage by upregulating the TUG1/ clusterin signaling. These data further elucidate the potential regulatory mechanisms of m6A modification on diabetes-induced testicular injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are a promising drug delivery system to treat brain diseases, as the particle transport trajectory can be manipulated by an external magnetic field. However, due to the complex microstructure of brain tissues, particularly the arrangement of nerve fibres in the white matter (WM), how to achieve desired drug distribution patterns, e.g., uniform distribution, is largely unknown. In this study, by adopting a mathematical model capable of capturing the diffusion trajectories of MNPs, we conducted a pilot study to investigate the effects of key parameters in the MNP delivery on the particle diffusion behaviours in the brain WM microstructures. The results show that (i) a uniform distribution of MNPs can be achieved in anisotropic tissues by adjusting the particle size and magnetic field; (ii) particle size plays a key role in determining MNPs' diffusion behaviours. The magnitude of MNP equivalent diffusivity is reversely correlated to the particle size. The MNPs with a dimension greater than 90 nm cannot reach a uniform distribution in the brain WM even in an external magnitude field; (iii) axon tortuosity may lead to transversely anisotropic MNP transport in the brain WM; however, this effect can be mitigated by applying an external magnetic field perpendicular to the local axon track. This study not only advances understanding to answer the question of how to optimise MNP delivery, but also demonstrates the potential of mathematical modelling to help achieve desired drug distributions in biological tissues with a complex microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assembly of protein complexes is facilitated by assembly chaperones. Alpha and gamma adaptin-binding protein (AAGAB) is a chaperone governing the assembly of the heterotetrameric adaptor complexes 1 and 2 (AP1 and AP2) involved in clathrin-mediated membrane trafficking. Here, we found that before AP1/2 binding, AAGAB exists as a homodimer. AAGAB dimerization is mediated by its C-terminal domain (CTD), which is critical for AAGAB stability and is missing in mutant proteins found in patients with the skin disease punctate palmoplantar keratoderma type 1 (PPKP1). We solved the crystal structure of the dimerization-mediating CTD, revealing an antiparallel dimer of bent helices. Interestingly, AAGAB uses the same CTD to recognize and stabilize the γ subunit in the AP1 complex and the α subunit in the AP2 complex, forming binary complexes containing only one copy of AAGAB. These findings demonstrate a dual role of CTD in stabilizing resting AAGAB and binding to substrates, providing a molecular explanation for disease-causing AAGAB mutations. The oligomerization state transition mechanism may also underlie the functions of other assembly chaperones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile devices have become an increasingly ubiquitous part of our everyday life. We use mobile services to perform a broad range of tasks (e.g., booking travel or conducting remote office work), leading to often lengthy interactions with several distinct apps and services. Existing mobile systems handle mostly simple user needs, where a single app is taken as the unit of interaction. To understand users’ expectations and to provide context-aware services, it is important to model users’ interactions with their performed task in mind. To provide a comprehensive picture of common mobile tasks, we first conduct a small-scale user study to understand annotated mobile tasks in-depth, while we demonstrate that by using a set of features (temporal, similarity, and log sequence), we can identify if a pair of app usage belong to the same task effectively. Secondly, the proposed best task detection model is applied to a large-scale data set of commercial mobile app usage logs to infer characteristics of complex (multi-app) mobile tasks in the wild. By applying an unsupervised learning framework, we discover common mobile task types that span multiple apps based on various extracted characteristics. We observe that users generally perform 17 common tasks with 47 sub-tasks, ranging from “social media browsing” to “dining out” and “family entertainments”. Finally, we demonstrate that we can predict the next complex mobile task that users are likely to perform by leveraging features from the historically inferred mobile tasks and user contexts. Our work facilitates an in-depth understanding of mobile tasks at scale, enabling applications for promoting task-aware services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) has shown potential for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is little evidence of whether NBM-DBS can improve cognitive functioning in patients with advanced AD. In addition, the mechanisms underlying the modulation of brain networks remain unclear. This study was aimed to assess the cognitive function and the resting-state connectivity following NBM-DBS in patients with advanced AD. Methods: Eight patients with advanced AD underwent bilateral NBM-DBS and were followed up for 12 months. Clinical outcomes were assessed by neuropsychological examinations using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography data were also collected. Results: The cognitive functioning of AD patients did not change from baseline to the 12-month follow-up. Interestingly, the MMSE score indicated clinical efficacy at 1 month of follow-up. At this time point, the connectivity between the hippocampal network and frontoparietal network tended to increase in the DBS-on state compared to the DBS-off state. Additionally, the increased functional connectivity between the parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) and the parietal cortex was associated with cognitive improvement. Further dynamic functional network analysis showed that NBM-DBS increased the proportion of the PHG-related connections, which was related to improved cognitive performance. Conclusion: The results indicated that NBM-DBS improves short-term cognitive performance in patients with advanced AD, which may be related to the modulation of multi-network connectivity patterns, and the hippocampus plays an important role within these networks. Trial registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900022324. Registered 5 April 2019—Prospective registration. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=37712 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglial activation and subsequent pathological neuroinflammation contribute to diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, the underlying mechanisms of microgliosis, and means to effectively suppress pathological microgliosis, remain incompletely understood. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is a transcription factor that regulates lipid metabolism. The present study aimed to determine if PPARα affects pathological microgliosis in DR. In global Pparα mice, retinal microglia exhibited decreased structural complexity and enlarged cell bodies, suggesting microglial activation. Microglia-specific conditional Pparα−/− (PCKO) mice showed decreased retinal thickness as revealed by optical coherence tomography. Under streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, diabetic PCKO mice exhibited decreased electroretinography response, while diabetes-induced retinal dysfunction was alleviated in diabetic microglia-specific Pparα-transgenic (PCTG) mice. Additionally, diabetes-induced retinal pericyte loss was exacerbated in diabetic PCKO mice and alleviated in diabetic PCTG mice. In cultured microglial cells with the diabetic stressor 4-HNE, metabolic flux analysis demonstrated that Pparα ablation caused a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. Pparα deficiency also increased microglial STING and TNF-α expression. Taken together, these findings revealed a critical role for PPARα in pathological microgliosis, neurodegeneration, and vascular damage in DR, providing insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms of microgliosis in this context and suggesting microglial PPARα as a potential therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Only the right STS could specifically decode attentional orienting triggered by social but not non-social cues. • The right STS/STG could decode attentional orienting across different social but not non-social cues. • The right STS/STG might serve as a unified and dedicated neural locus for various social attention behaviors. Humans appear to be endowed with the ability to readily share attention with interactive partners through the utilization of social direction cues, such as eye gaze and biological motion (BM). Here, we investigated the specialized brain mechanism underlying this fundamental social attention ability by incorporating different types of social (i.e., BM, gaze) and non-social (arrow) cues and combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with a modified central cueing paradigm. Using multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA), we found that although gaze- and BM-mediated attentional orienting could be decoded from neural activity in a wide range of brain areas, only the right anterior and posterior superior temporal sulcus (aSTS and pSTS) could specifically decode attentional orienting triggered by social but not non-social cues. Critically, cross-category MVPA further revealed that social attention could be decoded across BM and gaze cues in the right STS and the right superior temporal gyrus (STG). However, these regions could not decode attentional orienting across social and non-social cues. These findings together provide evidence for the existence of a specialized social attention module in the human brain, with the right STS/STG being the critical neural site dedicated to social attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that social cues, including eye gaze, can readily guide our focus of attention—a phenomenon referred to as social attention. Here, we demonstrated that internally maintained social cues in working memory (WM) can produce an analogous attentional effect (N = 57). Using the delayed-match-to-sample paradigm combined with the dot-probe task, we found that holding irrelevant gaze cues in WM can induce attentional orienting in college-age adults. Importantly, this WM-induced attention effect could not be explained simply by the perceptual-attentional process, because the identical gaze cues that were only passively viewed and not memorized in WM could not trigger attentional orienting beyond the typical time window of social attention. Furthermore, nonsocial cues (i.e., arrows) held in WM failed to elicit the attentional-orienting effect. These findings provide new evidence for the conceptualization of WM as internally directed attention and highlight the uniqueness of social attention compared with nonsocial attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) inhibitor of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) (KicGAS) encoded by ORF52 is a conserved major tegument protein of KSHV and the first reported viral inhibitor of cGAS. In our previous study, we found that KicGAS is highly oligomerized in solution and that oligomerization is required for its cooperative DNA binding and for inhibiting DNA-induced phase separation and activation of cGAS. However, how KicGAS oligomerizes remained unclear. Here, we present the crystal structure of KicGAS at 2.5 Å resolution, which reveals an "L"-shaped molecule with each arm of the L essentially formed by a single α helix (α1 and α2). Antiparallel dimerization of α2 helices from two KicGAS molecules leads to a unique "Z"-shaped dimer. Surprisingly, α1 is also a dimerization domain. It forms a parallel dimeric leucine zipper with the α1 from a neighboring dimer, leading to the formation of an infinite chain of KicGAS dimers. Residues involved in leucine zipper dimer formation are among the most conserved residues across ORF52 homologs of gammaherpesviruses. The self-oligomerization increases the valence and cooperativity of interaction with DNA. The resultant multivalent interaction is critical for the formation of liquid condensates with DNA and consequent sequestration of DNA from being sensed by cGAS, explaining its role in restricting cGAS activation. The structure presented here not only provides a mechanistic understanding of the function of KicGAS but also informs a molecular target for rational design of antivirals against KSHV and related viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern society, an ever-increasing emphasis is placed on structural safety design that not only considers external loading but extends to reduced electromagnetic interference. Generally, studies only consider shielding effectiveness of strengthening method or materials, and few studies have considered the relationship between damaged areas and shielding effectiveness. Therefore, the influence of metallic grid parameters and fiber reinforced concrete (HSDC) on shielding effectiveness with and without impact loading are studied in this research. Concrete wall strengthening with four types of metallic grid and three thickness types of HSDC were considered. Moreover, the relationship between damaged area ratio and shielding effectiveness was evaluated utilizing the low-velocity drop-weight impact test. In specimens with metallic grid or HSDC, shielding effectiveness with strengthening layer (13.4–64.1%) or thickness (35.6–46.2%) increase and grid size (> 7.8%) decreased. Specimen strengthened by smaller than 55.1% and 101% of the free space area ratio of single and double layer, respectively, exhibit more than 40 dB shielding effectiveness. For the specimen strengthened with HSDC, shielding effectiveness increased with strengthening area, except smaller than 6%. The smallest metallic grid and the thickest HSDC strengthening specimen exhibited improved impact resistance and great shielding effectiveness after impact loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delivering therapeutic agents into the brain via convection-enhanced delivery (CED), a mechanically controlled infusion method, provides an efficient approach to bypass the blood–brain barrier and deliver drugs directly to the targeted focus in the brain. Mathematical methods based on Darcy's law have been widely adopted to predict drug distribution in the brain to improve the accuracy and reduce the side effects of this technique. However, most of the current studies assume that the hydraulic permeability and porosity of brain tissue are homogeneous and constant during the infusion process, which is less accurate due to the deformability of the axonal structures and the extracellular matrix in brain white matter. To solve this problem, a multiscale model was established in this study, which takes into account the pressure-driven deformation of brain microstructure to quantify the change of local permeability and porosity. The simulation results were corroborated using experiments measuring hydraulic permeability in ovine brain samples. Results show that both hydraulic pressure and drug concentration in the brain would be significantly underestimated by classical Darcy's law, thus highlighting the great importance of the present multiscale model in providing a better understanding of how drugs transport inside the brain and how brain tissue responds to the infusion pressure. This new method can assist the development of both new drugs for brain diseases and preoperative evaluation techniques for CED surgery, thus helping to improve the efficiency and precision of treatments for brain diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driving behavior analysis plays an important role in improving the human-like driving capability of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies. In this study, 906 data of drivers stopping normally at urban intersections were extracted from natural driving data to study reaction characteristics and braking characteristics of drivers in real road traffic. The effects of traffic state and traffic density on approach speed and reaction distance were studied using one-way ANOVA, and the relationships between maximum deceleration, average deceleration, braking duration, and influencing factors were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. The main results indicate the following: (1) compare with free driving, the approach speed in the following state was lower, and following traffic also caused drivers with higher speeds to further increase reaction distance in high-density traffic. (2) Traffic density only affected the approach speed in the free-driving condition. High-density traffic caused drivers to reduce speed. (3) There was a clear correlation between approach speed and reaction distance: the greater the approach speed, the longer the reaction distance. (4) The braking characteristics were mainly affected by the self-vehicle motion state. Drivers braked to a stop with greater average deceleration and maximum deceleration in a shorter time when the approach speed was higher or the reaction distance was shorter. (5) Both traffic state and traffic density had an influence on the braking characteristics. Drivers reduced average deceleration and increased braking duration in the following state and high-density traffic. (6) When following a preceding vehicle to stop, the braking characteristics of drivers were no longer influenced by the traffic density but were related to the relative motion state with the preceding vehicle. In addition to the driving behavior analysis, the identification method of traffic participants and ranging method used in this study will also advance the development of autonomous driving technologies and driver assistance systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volatile oil from leaves of Litsea dilleniifolia P. Y. Pai et P. H. Huang was obtained by hydrodistillation. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of volatile constituents were performed by GC/MS and GC/FID. The volatile oil along with two major components was evaluated for their fumigant, contact toxicity and repellency against stored-product insects, namely Tribolium castaneum and Liposcelis bostrychophila. The volatile oil mainly contained decanal (48.4%), eremanthin (10.4%), zerumbone (10.1%) and estragole (9.2%). In bioassays, L. dilleniifolia volatile oil showed toxicity and repellent activities against T. castaneum and L. bostrychophila. The volatile oil, decanal and estragole at 78.63 nL/cm² could cause 82-92% repellency against T. castaneum at 4h post-exposure. Among them, decanal (LC50 = 3.90 mg/L air) and estragole (LC50 = 5.33 mg/L air) had significant fumigant toxicity against T. castaneum, and estragole was strongly toxic to L. bostrychophila (LC50 = 0.61 mg/L air). The two components displayed a similar level of toxicity against T. castaneum in contact assays (LD50 = 21.91 and 20.41 μg/adult, respectively). This work indicates that L. dilleniifolia is promising to be developed as botanical insecticides and repellents to control pest damage in warehouses and storage rooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, an approach is reported for the fabrication of 3D carbon nanofibers (CNFs) wrapped by carbon nanotubes (CNT) with graphitic carbon-encased FeNx nanoparticles originated from metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). It is found that Fe-FeNx@N-CNT/CNFs exhibits outstanding catalytic activity towards ORR, whose half-wave potential are 0.89 V and 0.87 V in alkaline and neutral environments, respectively, much higher than MOF-based catalysts reported so far and commercial Pt/C. When the obtained cathode catalysts are loaded in MFCs for power generation test, the experimental consequences show that the Fe-FeNx@N-CNT/CNFs cathode exhibits a supernal power density of 742.26 mW·m−2 and output current density of 3241 mA·m−2 which are comparable to Pt/C. The splendid ORR catalytic performance is mainly attributable to the three-dimensional structure of carbon nanofibers and the active sites of Fe-Nx. These result in a higher graphitization degree beneficial for electronic mobility, high specific surface area, benign mesoporous nanostructure and excellent mass transfer capability. The strategy provides a new scheme to devise and research Fe-Nx electrocatalysts with MOF-based for the conversion of clean and environment-friendly energy. [Display omitted] • A three-dimensional porous composite catalyst (Fe-FeNx@N-CNT/CNFs) was fabricated. • Fe-FeNx@N-CNT/CNFs exhibits superior stability of ORR. • The catalyst reveals a E 1/2 in alkaline (0.89 V) and neutral (0.87 V) environments. • The catalyst was used as a cathode electrocatalytic material for MFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Straw species significantly impact yellow mealworm (YMW) feeding efficiency. • Straw with low hardness and crystallinity show high chewability and larvae ingestion. • YMW feeding rate positively correlated with hemicellulose and crude protein content. • Physicochemical properties of straw structure impact intestinal microorganisms. Elucidating the influence of straw structure and component on the feeding efficacy of yellow mealworm is pivotal for improving insect protein production from straw. This research utilized four distinct types of straws—water hyacinth straw (WHS), corn straw (CS), rape straw (RAS), and rice straw (RIS)—as the sole substrate for larvae. Results indicated that the straw utilization rate and fresh larval weight gain rate followed the order of WHS > CS > RAS > RIS. Analysis of straw structural characteristics demonstrated that decreasing straw hardness and cellulose crystallinity, while enhancing straw chewability, facilitated the ingestion of larvae. Feeding efficiency of yellow mealworm was positively correlated with the hemicellulose and crude protein content, and inversely correlated with lignin content in the straw. Additionally, the structural characteristics and components of straw significantly influenced the composition of the gut microbiota. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing yellow mealworm feeding on straw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Brain disorders have become a serious problem for healthcare worldwide. Nanoparticle-based drugs are one of the emerging therapies and have shown great promise to treat brain diseases. Modifications on particle size and surface charge are two efficient ways to increase the transport efficiency of nanoparticles through brain-blood barrier; however, partly due to the high complexity of brain microstructure and limited visibility of Nanoparticles (NPs), our understanding of how these two modifications can affect the transport of NPs in the brain is insufficient. Methods: In this study, a framework, which contains a stochastic geometric model of brain white matter (WM) and a mathematical particle tracing model, was developed to investigate the relationship between particle size/surface charge of the NPs and their effective diffusion coefficients (D) in WM. Results: The predictive capabilities of this method have been validated using published experimental tests. For negatively charged NPs, both particle size and surface charge are positively correlated with D before reaching a size threshold. When Zeta potential (Zp) is less negative than -10 mV, the difference between NPs' D in WM and pure interstitial fluid (IF) is limited. Conclusion: A deeper understanding on the relationships between particle size/surface charge of NPs and their D in WM has been obtained. The results from this study and the developed modelling framework provide important tools for the development of nano-drugs and nano-carriers to cure brain diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeted drug delivery in the brain is instrumental in the treatment of lethal brain diseases, such as glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive primary central nervous system tumour in adults. Infusion-based drug delivery techniques, which directly administer to the tissue for local treatment, as in convection-enhanced delivery (CED), provide an important opportunity; however, poor understanding of the pressure-driven drug transport mechanisms in the brain has hindered its ultimate success in clinical applications. In this review, we focus on the biomechanical and biochemical aspects of infusion-based targeted drug delivery in the brain and look into the underlying molecular level mechanisms. We discuss recent advances and challenges in the complementary field of medical robotics and its use in targeted drug delivery in the brain. A critical overview of current research in these areas and their clinical implications is provided. This review delivers new ideas and perspectives for further studies of targeted drug delivery in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this corrigendum to the original article, we have included a revised Fig 2 (I) with the right staining image as shown in this corrigendum (Figure 2), to address the error in the original article. Keywords: CRSwNP; epithelial remodeling; HIPPO; IL-13; YAP EN CRSwNP epithelial remodeling HIPPO IL-13 YAP 713 716 4 02/01/22 20220201 NES 220201 To Editor: In Feb 2021, we published a letter titled "Role of yes-associated protein in interleukin-13 induced nasal remodeling of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps" in Allergy (PMID: 33301614; 10.1111/all.14699). We would like to emphasize, however, that this error did not affect the results and conclusion of the article as the error stemmed from misplacing of the IF image at the wrong grouping column during the preparation of the manuscript revision. [Extracted from the article]

User engagement is crucial to the long-term success of a mobile app. Several metrics, such as dwell time, have been used for measuring user engagement. However, how to effectively predict user engagement in the context of mobile apps is still an open research question. For example, do the mobile usage contexts (e.g., time of day) in which users access mobile apps impact their dwell time? Answers to such questions could help mobile operating system and publishers to optimize advertising and service placement. In this article, we first conduct an empirical study for assessing how user characteristics, temporal features, and the short/long-term contexts contribute to gains in predicting users’ app dwell time on the population level. The comprehensive analysis is conducted on large app usage logs collected through a mobile advertising company. The dataset covers more than 12K anonymous users and 1.3 million log events. Based on the analysis, we further investigate a novel mobile app engagement prediction problem—can we predict simultaneously what app the user will use next and how long he/she will stay on that app? We propose several strategies for this joint prediction problem and demonstrate that our model can improve the performance significantly when compared with the state-of-the-art baselines. Our work can help mobile system developers in designing a better and more engagement-aware mobile app user experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is the main source of toxicity in thoracic radiotherapy. This study proposed a deep learning‐based dual‐omics model, which aims to improve the RP prediction performance by integrating more data points and exploring the data in greater depth. Materials and methods: The bimodality data were the original dose (OD) distribution and the ventilation image (VI) derived from four‐dimensional computed tomography (4DCT). The functional dose (FD) distribution was obtained by weighting OD with VI. A pre‐trained three‐dimensional convolution (C3D) network was used to extract the features from FD, VI, and OD. The extracted features were then filtered and selected using entropy‐based methods. The prediction models were constructed with four most commonly used binary classifiers. Cross‐validation, bootstrap, and nested sampling methods were adopted in the process of training and hyper‐tuning. Results: Data from 217 thoracic cancer patients treated with radiotherapy were used to train and validate the prediction model. The 4DCT‐based VI showed the inhomogeneous pulmonary function of the lungs. More than half of the extracted features were singular (of none‐zero value for few patients), which were eliminated to improve the stability of the model. The area under curve (AUC) of the dual‐omics model was 0.874 (95% confidence interval: 0.871–0.877), and the AUC of the single‐omics model was 0.780 (0.775–0.785, VI) and 0.810 (0.804–0.811, OD), respectively. Conclusions: The dual‐omics outperformed single‐omics for RP prediction, which can be contributed to: (1) using more data points; (2) exploring the data in greater depth; and (3) incorporating of the bimodality data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To harvest acoustic energy from urban railways, a novel and practical acoustic energy harvester is developed. The harvester consists of a piezoelectric circular plate and a Helmholtz resonator. Based on the field test data of urban railways, the resonance frequencies of the piezoelectric circular plate and the Helmholtz resonator are near 800 Hz. The Helmholtz resonator is designed to amplify the sound pressure. Thus, a lumped parameter model is established. The piezoelectric circular plate is used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The simulation results show that the output power of the harvester is approximately 25 μW and the maximum voltage is 0.149 V under the excitation of urban railway noise. The experiment device is also developed. The maximum output power of the harvester is 8.452 μW, and the maximum voltage is 0.082 V. The experimental and the numerical results are in good agreement and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed acoustic energy harvester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress can trigger symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Previously we demonstrated that chronic psychological stress induced microglial remodeling in the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) and contributed to the development of visceral hypersensitivity via synaptic engulfment. However, the specific signaling mechanisms that microglia depend upon to recognize target neurons to facilitate visceral pain remain unknown. Here, we test the hypothesis that the microglia in the CeA contribute to chronic stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity via complement C1q/C3-CR3 signaling-mediated synaptic remodeling. In male and female Fischer-344 rats, micropellets of corticosterone (CORT) or cholesterol (control) were stereotaxically implanted bilaterally onto the CeA. After 7 days, microglial C1q, complement receptor 3 (CR3) expression, and microglia-mediated synaptic engulfment were assessed via RNAscope, quantitative PCR, and immunofluorescence. The microglial inhibitor minocycline, CR3 antagonist neutrophil inhibitory factor (NIF), or vehicle were daily infused into the CeA following CORT implantations. Visceral sensitivity was assessed via a visceromotor response (VMR) to graded pressures of isobaric colorectal distension (CRD). Our results suggest that chronic exposure to elevated CORT in the CeA induced visceral hypersensitivity and amygdala microglial morphological remodeling. CORT increased microglial C1q and CR3 expression and increased microglia-mediated synaptic engulfment. Both groups of animals with minocycline or NIF infusions reversed microglia-mediated synaptic remodeling and attenuated CORT-induced visceral hypersensitivity. Our findings demonstrate that C1q/C3-CR3 signaling is critical for microglia-mediated synaptic remodeling in the CeA and contributes to CORT-induced visceral hypersensitivity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) show altered amygdala activity. We showed previously that stress induces visceral hypersensitivity partially through microglia-modulated synaptic plasticity in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Our current data suggest that the C1q/C3-CR3 cascade initiates microglia-mediated synaptic remodeling in the CeA. Blocking C3-CR3 interaction attenuates stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity. These findings uncover a role of microgliasynapse signaling in the brain-gut regulation and support a future therapeutic target to treat visceral pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, social network analysis is one of the top 20 fields of artificial intelligence. Based on the network signal theory, this study examines the influence of the dual network embeddedness on the premiums of Chinese initial public offerings (IPOs). In this paper we proposed fuzzy regression model for forecasting the impact of venture capital network and underwriter network on IPO premium based on some hypothesis. We find that: (1) Enterprises embedded in the central position of venture capital network will increase the IPO secondary market premium; (2) Secondly, employing underwriter in the central position of underwriting network will increase the IPO secondary market premium; (3) As venture capital are getting closer to the central position of venture capital network, the influence of underwriter network centrality in underwriting network on the increase of IPO secondary market reaction will gradually weaken. The research shows that occupying central position both in venture capital syndication network and underwriting network have the functions of sending signals, then increase the IPO secondary market premium, but the functions of different network signals will replace each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scheme for a Ramsey-coherent population trapping (CPT) atomic clock that eliminates the acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is proposed and experimentally studied. Driven by a periodically microwave modulated current, the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser emits a continuous beam that switches between monochromatic and multichromatic modes. Ramsey-CPT interference has been studied with this mode-switching beam. In eliminating the AOM, which is used to generate pulsed laser in conventional Ramsey-CPT atomic clock, the physics package of the proposed scheme is virtually the same as that of a conventional compact CPT atomic clock, although the resource budget for the electronics will slightly increase as a microwave switch should be added. By evaluating and comparing experimentally recorded signals from the two Ramsey-CPT schemes, the short-term frequency stability of the proposed scheme was found to be 46% better than the scheme with AOM. The experimental results suggest that the implementation of a compact Ramsey-CPT atomic clock promises better frequency stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: CRSwNP; epithelial remodeling; HIPPO; IL-13; YAP EN CRSwNP epithelial remodeling HIPPO IL-13 YAP 600 604 5 02/20/21 20210201 NES 210201 Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common otolaryngologic disease. IF results on day 2 (A-D) and day 24 (E-H), showed that IL-13+VP treatment resulted in a decreased basal cell percentage (D, H), decreased YAP activity in basal cells (B, F), and a decreased basal cell proliferation level (C, G). Generally, YAP inhibits epithelial differentiation.8 However, our results demonstrated that YAP can also promote goblet cell differentiation and YAP inhibitor reversed IL-13-induced goblet cell hyperplasia. [Extracted from the article]

To regenerate, damaged tissue must heal the wound, regrow to the proper size, replace the correct cell types, and return to the normal gene-expression program. However, the mechanisms that temporally and spatially control the activation or repression of important genes during regeneration are not fully understood. To determine the role that chromatin modifiers play in regulating gene expression after tissue damage, we induced ablation in Drosophila melanogaster imaginal wing discs, and screened for chromatin regulators that are required for epithelial tissue regeneration. Here, we show that many of these genes are indeed important for promoting or constraining regeneration. Specifically, the two SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complexes play distinct roles in regulating different aspects of regeneration. The PBAP complex regulates regenerative growth and developmental timing, and is required for the expression of JNK signaling targets and the growth promoter Myc. By contrast, the BAP complex ensures correct patterning and cell fate by stabilizing the expression of the posterior gene engrailed. Thus, both SWI/SNF complexes are essential for proper gene expression during tissue regeneration, but they play distinct roles in regulating growth and cell fate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a common heterogenous disease in the patients with chronic airway diseases. This study investigated the role of blood eosinophil count (BEC) in the classification of CRSwNP and its recurrence in eosinophilic CRSwNP. Methods: Sixty‐five patients who underwent nasal endoscopic resection of CRSwNP were recruited and divided into eosinophilic CRSwNP and non‐eosinophilic CRSwNP groups based on the levels (10% cutoff) of eosinophil infiltration as indicated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results: We recruited 30 patients in the eosinophilic CRSwNP group and 35 patients in the non‐eosinophilic CRSwNP group. The outcome of preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, preoperative Lund‐Mackay score, and preoperative Lund‐Kennedy score between the 2 groups were comparable. The level of BEC in the eosinophilic CRSwNP group was significantly higher than that of non‐eosinophilic CRSwNP group (0.79 ± 0.27 × 109/L vs 0.30 ± 0.22 × 109/L; p < 0.001). We observed a statistical significance in the number of H&E eosinophils (29.11 ± 2.93 vs 3.17 ± 0.51; p < 0.001) and CRSwNP phenotypes (eosinophilic/non‐eosinophilic, 28/3 vs 2/32; p < 0.001) when the cutoff value of BEC was set at 0.39 × 109/L. The disease‐free recurrence (DFR) was found to be statistically significant when the cutoff value of BEC was 0.73 × 109/L in eosinophilic CRSwNP (p = 0.009). Conclusion: Results indicate that BEC may be capable of distinguishing CRSwNP phenotypes as well as predicting polyp recurrence in eosinophilic CRSwNP. Given the relatively small sample size, further studies will be necessary to confirm a role for BEC as a systemic biomarker in CRSwNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main drawbacks of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signals is the large signal envelope fluctuation. Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) is a commonly used metric for quantifying the envelope fluctuations of OFDM signal. However, recent researches have shown that Cubic Metric (CM) is a more accurate metric when it is used to qualify the envelope fluctuation. Clipping and filtering technique can be employed to reduce the CM. The filtering operation in traditional clipping and filtering technique cannot lead the signal to the optimal performance. Therefore, an optimal clipping and filtering algorithm for CM reduction is proposed. The key idea is to consider the impact of filtering operation on in-band and outband components of signals and model the filter design as an optimization problem. The problem is solved to obtain an optimal filter, which is combined with clipping to reduce CM efficiently. Due to the high complexity of solving the opiimizaiion problem, a deep neural network based realizaiion scheme of the optimal clipping and filter algorithm is further proposed. Simulation results show that both the proposed algorithm and corresponding neural network scheme have dose performance, but the filer has much complete compared with existing algorithms, the proposed algorithm and scheme exhibit better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to be a pandemic. The strict prevention and control measures taken by China have proven to be effective, creating a window of opportunity for other countries. The tracking and management of contacts of patients with COVID-19 are important components of prevention and control measures. This article briefly describes the placement of close contacts of patients with COVID-19 under collective quarantine for medical observation in China from the perspective of frontline staff. This article focuses on a community in the Jiading District of Shanghai to provide a reference for placement of close contacts of patients with COVID-19 under collective quarantine for medical observation in other countries and regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the effect of a low-voltage electrical stimulation (ES) on the tenderness of yak longissimus muscle (LM). Samples from 16 yak bulls were divided into four treatment groups: normal chilling (NC), ES and chilling (ES & C) for 72 s (ES &C 72 s), ES & C for 90 s (ES & C 90 s), and ES & C for 108 s (ES & C 108 s). The temperature, the pH, the glycogen content, the Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), the myofibril fragmentation index (MFI), and the muscle ultrastructure were determined during the course of postmortem aging. ES caused a rapid decrease in the pH to form a high-temperature and low-pH environment. The glycogen content gradually decreased with aging. The WBSF value of the ES & C groups was significantly lower than for the NC group (p < .05). The MFI values of ES & C groups after 24 hr postmortem aging were significantly higher than for the NC group. We concluded that ES improved yak meat tenderness during postmortem aging and that the different duration time by ES indicated different effects, and its affect was remarkable in the ES & C 90 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) continues to rise due to the increasing aging population. Among the various genetic factors associated with AD, apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a lipid transporter, stands out as the primary genetic risk factor. Specifically, individuals carrying the ApoE4 allele exhibit a significantly higher risk. However, emerging research indicates that dietary factors play a prominent role in modifying the risk of AD. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a prominent ω-3 fatty acid, has garnered considerable attention for its potential to ameliorate cognitive function. The intricate interplay between DHA and the ApoE genotype within the brain, which may influence DHA's utilization and functionality, warrants further investigation. This review meticulously examines experimental and clinical studies exploring the effects of DHA on cognitive decline. Special emphasis is placed on elucidating the role of ApoE gene polymorphism and the underlying mechanisms are discussed. These studies suggest that early DHA supplementation may confer benefits to cognitively normal older adults carrying the ApoE4 gene. However, once AD develops, ApoE4 non-carriers may experience greater benefits compared to ApoE4 carriers, although the overall effectiveness of DHA supplementation at this stage is limited. Potential mechanisms underlying these differential effects may include accelerated DHA catabolism in ApoE4 carriers, impaired transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and compromised lipidation and circulatory function in ApoE4 carriers. Thus, the supplementation of DHA may represent a potential intervention strategy aimed at compensating for these deficiencies in ApoE4 carriers prior to the onset of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strengthening climate change scenario research is a prerequisite for reducing the impact of climate change on the marine system. This paper systematically reviews the evolution of climate change scenarios from three aspects: its meaning, main characteristics and application. The results show that: (1) Different climate scenarios have played an important role in previous IPCC assessment reports. Special report on emission scenario (SRES) reduce the difference of climate simulation results among different research teams. Representative concentration path (RCP) scenarios strengthen the reference role of emission scenarios for researchers and decision makers in research and response to climate change. Shared socioeconomic path (SSP) scenarios integrate climate policy and socio-economic scenarios to better meet climate change. Research group needs of response, adaptation and vulnerability; (2) Scenario generation technology has gone through three stages of historical data space-time analogy, serial development and parallel development, the improvement of which shortens the development cycle and enhances the consistency of results; (3) The difference of different scenarios is reflected in the characteristics and applications of scenarios, and links the mapping between SRS, RCP and SSP scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage sludge, one of the major byproducts from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), contains high contents of nutritional elements that can be recycled and reutilized to make up the overuse of limited resources on Earth. Currently, the reutilization ratio of sewage sludge is relatively low, most probably due to the high operation costs for its treatment and disposal in WWTPs. This study for the first time realized biogas upgrading, resources conservation and sludge conditioning simultaneously in one anaerobic digestion (AD) reactor for sewage sludge treatment through coupling biogas recirculation with MgCl 2 addition. Results showed that 86% of methane content could be obtained by the intermittent biogas recirculation during AD. When MgCl 2 was further added, soluble orthophosphate and ammonia nitrogen were reduced by 87% and 19% during 17 days' AD. At the same time, around 120 mg/g-total solids (TS) of struvite was estimated to generate in the digested sludge, and the sludge dewaterability was enhanced by 37% when biogas recirculation was performed along with MgCl 2 addition. At last, not only the enhanced electricity generation from biogas with higher methane content but also the increased fertilizer potential of the digestate were analyzed in the context of a local WWTP, reflecting the great potentials and profits of this novel AD system in industrial-scale sewage sludge treatment. Image 1 • A novel anaerobic digestion (AD) system was established in this study. • One AD reactor achieved biogas upgrading, nutrient recovery and sludge conditioning. • Biogas recirculation increased CH 4 content (86%) in the biogas from AD of sludge. • 93% of total phosphorus and 69% of total nitrogen were reserved in solid digestate. • Sludge dewaterability was enhanced by 37% using the novel AD system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lumped parameter transverse vibration model of a composite plate harvester is analyzed via harmonic balance approaches. The harvester is mainly composed of a piezoelectric circular composite clamped by two steel rings and a proof mass on the plate. The lumped parameter model is a 1.5 degree-of-freedom strongly nonlinear system with a higher order polynomial stiffness. A harmonic balance approach is developed to analyze the system, and the resulting algebraic equations are numerically solved by adopting an arc-length continuation technique. An incremental harmonic balance approach is also developed for the lumped parameter model. The two approaches yield the same results. The amplitude-frequency responses produced by the harmonic balance approach are validated by the numerical integrations and the experimental data. The investigation reveals that there coexist hardening and softening characteristics in the amplitude-frequency response curves under sufficiently large excitations. The harvester with the coexistence of hardening and softening nonlinearities can outperform not only linear energy harvesters, but also typical hardening nonlinear energy harvesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus anka mutant strain was isolated using conventional mutation techniques in our laboratory. In our previous study, strain Monascus anka mutant showed high yield of yellow pigments with the characteristics of high protein adhesion, thermal stability, and wide-pH stability. This work focused on the agitation optimization in a 5 L fermentor of strain Monascus anka mutant and two stage agitation speed control strategy was operated as follows: the agitation speed was 400 r/min to improve the Monascus growth and yellow pigments production before culturing 96 hour and then 300 r/min was carried out to extend the time of yellow pigment production with efficient using substrate. The yield of monascus yellow pigments reached 149.43 OD, which was 49.37%，49.25%，35.56%，18.73%, and 41.01% higher than that of 250 r/min, 300 r/min, 350 r/min, 400 r/min, and 450 r/min fermentation, respectively. The maximum specific growth rate (µmax) and the maximum specific production rate of yellow pigments (qy) reached 0.0528 h-1 and 0.2177 OD.g-1 .h-1, respectively. Specific growth rate (µ) maintained higher than 0.01 h-1 from 6 hours to 54 hours, and qy could maintain at 0.10 OD.g-1 .h-1 from 24 hour to 66 hour, which could not be obtained by single agitation control. The data of this work could contribute to making the industrial production of Monascus yellow pigments feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure and mechanical properties of materials produced by wide gap brazing (WGB) and laser beam (LBW) cladding with different blends of Mar M247 and Amdry DF-3 brazing powders were studied. It was shown that LBW Mar M247-based materials comprised of 0.6 to 1wt % B were weldable. The weld properties were superior to WGB deposits with the same bulk chemical composition, due to the formation of a dendritic structure typical for welded joints, and the precipitation of cuboidal borides of Cr, Mo, and W in the ductile Ni-Cr based matrix. Both materials were found to have useful properties for three-dimensional (3D) additive manufacturing (AM) and repair components manufactured from high gamma prime precipitation hardened superalloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that CD8+ T cells contribute to protection from severe dengue virus (DENV) disease and vaccine efficacy. Nevertheless, molecular programs associated with DENV-specific CD8+ T cell subsets have not been defined. Here, we studied the transcriptomic profiles of human DENV-specific CD8+ T cells isolated after stimulation with DENV epitopes from donors who had been infected with DENV multiple times and would therefore be expected to have significant levels of adaptive immunity. We found that DENV-specific CD8+ T cells mainly consisted of effector memory subsets, namely CD45RA-CCR7- effector memory (Tem) and CD45RA+CCR7- effector memory re-expressing CD45RA (Temra) cells, which enacted specific gene expression profiles upon stimulation with cognate antigens. DENV-specific CD8+ T cell subsets in general, and Temra cells in particular, were fully activated and polyfunctional, yet associated with relatively narrow transcriptional responses. Furthermore, we found that DENV-specific CD8+ Tem and Temra cells showed some unique T cell receptor features in terms of overlap and variable (V) gene usage. This study provides a transcriptomic definition of DENV-specific activated human CD8+ T cell subsets and defines a benchmark profile that vaccine-specific responses could aim to reproduce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A modified harmonic balance approach is proposed for piezoelectric mechanical systems. • The proposed approach can handle non-polynomial nonlinear restoring forces, nonlinear damping, and nonlinear electric terms. • Automatic generation of harmonic balance equations and less analysis is required. • Numerical examples and experimental results well support the proposed method. • Both softening and hardening nonlinearities of a piezoelectric energy harvester are predicted and verified. Abstract A semi-analytical approach based on harmonic balance (HB) method is proposed to predict steady-state responses of nonlinear piezoelectric mechanical systems. In order to handle complicated non-polynomial forces of the systems, the alternating frequency/time domain (AFT) progress is applied to establish a set of implicit algebraic equations of HB method. The stabilities of periodic responses are analyzed via Floquet theory. The proposed approach is successfully implemented a nonlinear piezoelectric energy harvester with a magnetic oscillator and a Duffing energy harvester with strong nonlinear electric terms. The HB solutions are well supported by the simulation results of the Runge-Kutta method. Besides, an experiment piezoelectric device is developed by a circular laminated plate, and an experimental model is established by system identifications. The model includes both the nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear damping which are characterized by the combined functions of polynomials and hyperbolic tangents. The model is analyzed via the proposed approach. The numerical simulations under different excitations show good agreements with the harmonic solutions. The frequency sweeps experimentally pursue the system has both softening and hardening nonlinearities which are verified by HB results. The proposed approach requires less analysis during the solving processes, and shows high accuracy to the strongly nonlinear piezoelectric mechanical systems, even the system with complicated nonlinearities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Comprehensive comparison was carried out on HTT as pre- and post-treatment of AD. • Pre- and post- HTT yielded similar increase in methane production from sludge. • HTT at 130 °C followed by AD was more efficient for energy recovery from sludge. • HTT as pre/post-treatment of AD had similar effect on final sludge dewaterability. Abstract Hydrothermal treatment (HTT) has been recognized as a highly efficient technology for organics decomposition and energy/nutrients recovery from waste biomass. Up to now, however, the efficiency of HTT as the pre- and post-treatment of anaerobic digestion (AD) has not been well compared and documented. In this study, the effects of HTT as the pre- (strategy I, HTT + AD) and post-treatment (strategy II, 1st AD + HTT + 2nd AD) of AD of primary sludge were evaluated based on comparative experiments in regards to energy balance, nutrients transformation, and sludge dewaterability. Results show that the optimal HTT temperature was 130 °C for strategy I and strategy II according to the maximum methane production rate (μ) estimated from Gompertz model and the net energy gain (ΔQ) calculated. Although HTT as the post-treatment of AD achieved higher total methane yield and solids reduction, the increment of methane yield was found to be similar through both strategies compared to their control counterparts (no HTT). The decomposition of insoluble organic carbon was also similar via both strategies. Insoluble nitrogen fraction was detected to be the lowest (6.8%) after HTT at 190 °C in strategy II, comparable to that after HTT at 210 °C (∼10.0%) using strategy I. The proportion of bioavailable phosphorus was found to slightly decrease with the increase of HTT temperature in strategy II, probably due to the alkaline pH in the treated digestate. The sludge dewaterability indicated by specific resistance to filtration (SRF) showed a similar trend after AD under the tested conditions of both strategies, which was remarkably improved when HTT was performed at temperatures higher than 170 °C. HTT as the pre-treatment (strategy I) was found to be more energy efficient in comparison to HTT as the post-treatment (strategy II) of AD of primary sludge. In addition, a positive energy efficiency could be achieved when the sludge solids content ≥2.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Mock strawberry-like aminopropyl-modified mesoporous silica (MSAMM-SiO 2) is prepared. • MSAMM-SiO 2 is characterized by SEM, FTIR and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. • The average pore diameter of MSAMM-SiO 2 is 9.27 nm. • The surface area of MSAMM-SiO 2 were 170.19 m2 g−1. • MSAMM-SiO 2 is used for column chromatographic purifying paclitaxel in Taxus × media. Abstract Paclitaxel is a very important chemotherapy drug whose separation from natural resource is still attracting significant interest. In this work, a novel mock strawberry-like aminopropyl-modified mesoporous silica (MSAMM-SiO 2) was synthesized by using the cohydrolysis and condensation method. The morphology and structure of the as-prepared MSAMM-SiO 2 were confirmed by characterization of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. The surface area and average pore diameter of MSAMM-SiO 2 were 170.19 m2 g−1 and 9.27 nm, respectively. The results of adsorption and separation experiments showed that MSAMM-SiO 2 had good separation performance and re-usability in taxoid standard solution or the extract of Taxus × media. The adsorption capacity of MSAMM-SiO 2 was 4.02 mg g−1 at 20 °C and an initial paclitaxel concentration of 0.05 mg g−1. This work introduced a novel mock strawberry-like aminopropyl-modified mesoporous silica for column chromatographic purifying paclitaxel in Taxus × media , which also had the potential for separating other natural products in other plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Our study has successfully established a new rat model of hypertensive crisis using norepinephrine. • Three Rho-kinase inhibitors exert remarkable therapeutic effects on hypertensive crisis from multiple aspects. • Among three Rho-kinase inhibitors, fasudil show a better efficacy in treating hypertensive crisis. Abstract Hypertension crisis is a severe disease and needs emergency treatment in clinic. It is an important task to discover novel drugs which could lower the blood pressure steadily and quickly. However, animal models for screening anti-hypertensive crisis agents are unsatisfactory. The present study aimed to establish a new hypertensive crisis rat model and then explore the therapeutic effects of three Rho-kinase inhibitors including Fasudil, DL0805-1 and DL0805-2 on such a disease model. The hypertensive crisis symptoms were developed on male Wistar rats by subcutaneously injecting small doses of norepinephrine (NE) for 10 days in the initial stage. A sudden increase in blood pressure (BP) was then induced by excessive NE infusion. Compounds to be tested were intravenously injected into the rats immediately when the rapidly increased systolic blood pressure appeared. The results have shown that after small dose administration with NE, the rats could obtain acute BP increase to a high level without sudden death when a large dose of NE was injected. Fasudil, DL0805-1 and DL0805-2 could lower the blood pressure quickly in a dose dependent manner and improve the survival rate. The compounds also prevent the animals from organ damage. In conclusion, we established a novel hypertensive crisis animal model which could evaluate agents within a short time. In this model, we found that three Rho-kinase inhibitors have potential therapeutic effects on hypertensive crisis. This work might contribute to the discovery and development of new anti-hypertensive crisis drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A novel type of a nonlinear energy sink is proposed by introducing a lever to reduce the necessary mass. The lever-type nonlinear energy sink is attached to a two-degree-of-freedom simplified model of whole-spacecraft subjected a harmonic excitation. The transmissibility is used to evaluate the performance of vibration reduction. The harmonic balance method with an alternating frequency time is applied to predict the variation of the transmissibility with the excitation frequency. The harmonic balance solutions are supported by the numerical results. It is found that the disappearance of closed detached resonance response may dramatically decrease the transmissibility. Besides, the quasi-periodic motion may be a predictor to generate the closed detached resonance. The harmonic balance solutions are used to examine the effects of the mass, the nonlinear stiffness and the fulcrum location. With a suitable fulcrum location, the lever-type nonlinear energy sink outperform a conventional nonlinear energy sink with same mass, damping and nonlinear stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]