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Background: Language ability differs between the sexes. However, it is unclear how this sex difference is moderated by genetic factors and how the brain interacts with genetics to support this specific language capacity. Previous studies have demonstrated that the sorting protein-related receptor (SORL1) polymorphism influences cognitive function and brain structure differently in males and females and is associated with Alzheimer's disease risk. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sex and the SORL1 rs1699102 (CC versus T carriers) genotype on language. Methods: 103 non-demented Chinese older adults from Beijing Aging Brain Rejuvenation Initiative (BABRI) database were included in this study. Participants completed language tests, T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resting-state functional MRI. Language test performance, gray matter volume, and network connections were compared between genotype and sex groups. Results: The rs1699102 polymorphism moderated the effects of sex on language performance, with the female having reversed language advantages in T carriers. The T allele carriers had lower gray matter volume in the left precentral gyrus. The effect of sex on language network connections was moderated by rs1699102; male CC homozygotes and female T carriers had higher internetwork connections, which were negatively correlated with language performance. Conclusion: These results suggest that SORL1 moderates the effects of sex on language, with T being a risk allele, especially in females. Our findings underscore the importance of considering the influence of genetic factors when examining sex effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: DNA methylation is expected to become a kind of new diagnosis and treatment method of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neuroinflammation- and immune-related pathways represent one of the major genetic risk factors for AD.Objective: We aimed to investigate DNA methylation levels of 7 key immunologic-related genes in peripheral blood and appraise their applicability in the diagnosis of AD.Methods: Methylation levels were obtained from 222 participants (101 AD, 72 MCI, 49 non-cognitively impaired controls). Logistic regression models for diagnosing AD were established after least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and best subset selection (BSS), evaluated by respondent working curve and decision curve analysis for sensitivity.Results: Six differentially methylated positions (DMPs) in the MCI group and 64 in the AD group were found, respectively. Among them, there were 2 DMPs in the MCI group and 30 DMPs in the AD group independent of age, gender, and APOE4 carriers (p <  0.05). AD diagnostic prediction models differentiated AD from normal controls both in a training dataset (LASSO: 8 markers, including methylation levels at ABCA7 1040077, CNR1 88166293, CX3CR1 39322324, LRRK2 40618505, LRRK2 40618493, NGFR 49496745, TARDBP 11070956, TARDBP 11070840 area under the curve [AUC] = 0.81; BSS: 2 markers, including methylation levels at ABCA7 1040077 and CX3CR1 39322324, AUC = 0.80) and a testing dataset (AUC = 0.84, AUC = 0.82, respectively).Conclusion: Our work indicated that methylation levels of 7 key immunologic-related genes (ABCA7, CNR1, CX3CR1, CSF1R, LRRK2, NGFR, and TARDBP) in peripheral blood was altered in AD and the models including methylation of immunologic-related genes biomarkers improved prediction of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abrasive flow precision machining method is used to smooth the inner wall of the valve sleeve. A method to control the quality of the inner surface of the valve sleeve for precision machining by the abrasive flow was established. Through the method of large eddy simulation and a reasonable sub-grid model, the processing pressure and abrasive particle size are selected to perform numerical simulation analysis on the inner surface of the abrasive flow processing valve sleeve to predict the material removal efficiency and surface processing quality. Analyze the influence of wall shear force, dynamic pressure, particle pressure, and the existence of vortex on particle flow under different processing pressures and particle sizes. The mechanism of precision machining of the inner wall surface of the valve sleeve by abrasive flow is obtained. The experiment of abrasive flow precision machining was carried out by response surface methodology. The results show that the processing pressure and the number of abrasive mesh have a significant impact on the abrasive flow processing. Through the quadratic response surface plot and contour plot, it is found that the roughness has a minimum point and the best process parameters are obtained. The inner wall surface roughness value of the valve sleeve after precision machining by an abrasive flow can reach 0.218 μm. Finally, the roughness prediction model is established by the method of variance analysis, and the quality control method of the inner wall surface of the valve sleeve is obtained by abrasive flow processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abrasive flow precision machining technology was used to carry out numerical simulation and experimental research for the special-shaped deep holes. A large-eddy simulation method was used to numerically analyze the titanium alloy shaped hole parts, and related experimental studies were conducted to reveal the creation mechanism of the surface of the abrasive flow machining special-shaped curved surfaces. The study finds that: the effects of dynamic pressure, velocity, the pressure of abrasive particles on wall surfaces and the effects wall shear force on wall surfaces were revealed through numerical analysis of precision machining of abrasive flow. The vortex position distribution and the cause of the vortex as well as the interaction relationship between the vortex and the abrasive particles in the flow directional sections of the special-shaped section holes were obtained; After precision machining by abrasive flow, the surface roughness of special-shaped curved surfaces improves from Ra=7.136 µm, Rz=40.103 µm to Ra=1.822 µm, Rz=8.964 µm respectively. The protrusions and spheroidization on the inner surfaces of the shaped holes are removed, and the surface quality is significantly improved. The vortex greatly improves the surface quality of the special-shaped curved surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White matter hyperintensity (WMH) is a common finding in aging population and considered to be a contributor to cognitive decline. Our study aimed to characterize the spatial patterns of WMH in different severities and explore its impact on cognition and brain microstructure in non-demented elderly. Lesions were both qualitatively (Fazekas scale) and quantitatively assessed among 321 community-dwelled individuals with MRI scanning. Voxel- and atlas-based analyses of the whole-brain white matter microstructure were performed. The WMH of the same severities was found to occur uniformly with a specific pattern of lesions. The severity of WMH had a significant negative association with the performance of working and episodic memory, beginning to appear in Fazekas 3 and 4. The white matter tracts presented significant impairments in Fazekas 3, which showed brain-wide changes above Fazekas 4. Lower FA in the superior cerebellar peduncle and left posterior thalamic radiation was mainly associated with episodic memory, and the middle cerebellar peduncle was significantly associated with working memory. These results support that memory is the primary domain to be affected by WMH, and the effect may potentially be influenced by tract-specific WM abnormalities. Fazekas scale 3 might be the critical stage predicting a future decline in cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although abrasive flow technology is a non-conventional approach to finishing in precision machining, it offers particular advantages when machining micro-hole workpieces. This paper combines theoretical, numerical, and experimental methods to study the use of abrasive flow technology in this way. The nature of the collision of abrasive particles with a workpiece is analyzed to reveal the exact mechanisms involved in removing material using an abrasive flow. The experimental results show the importance of the plowing effect of the abrasive grains on the surface of the workpiece. The results are discussed in relation to the surface morphology of the workpiece before and after the application of the abrasive flow. After abrasive flow machining the surface roughness values were greatly reduced, achieving measures of between 0.418 and 0.285 μm in some areas. It is concluded that abrasive flow technology holds great promise for the production of high-quality workpiece surfaces in precision engineering. The results of this research offer particular insights for the further development of abrasive flow technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional sorbents, activated carbons (AC), were prepared by one-step microwave activation utilizing peanut shells and sunflower seed husks. The influence of the original particle size of raw materials on the yield and specific surface area of AC was studied, which reached 33.5 % and 1133.27 m/g, respectively. The repetitive and competitive uptakes of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and chromium were applied to investigate the sorption properties of AC. The sorption mechanisms were demonstrated using sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis (XANES). In the repetitive experiment, AC made from peanut shells (AC) still retained 70 % removal efficiency of PFOS after the fourth sorption because sorbed PFOS might form a new organic phase that supplied effective sites for the hydrophobic partition of PFOS. However, the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) decreased dramatically from 60 to 11 % after the fourth uptake because electrostatic attraction was its only removal pathway. In the binary solutes system, AC possessed perfect sorption performance for both PFOS and Cr(VI), which were 885 and 192 mg/g, respectively. In the multivariate solutes system, the XANES spectra indicated that the thiol functional group existed in the resulting AC and a metal chelate was formed between thiol and Zn/Cu. Hence, the presence of Zn/Cu further promoted the removal of PFOS and Cr(VI) through the electrostatic attraction between the anions and positive metal chelate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]