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Additional file 1: Materials and methods. Table 1. Specific primer pairs for purinergic P2 receptor genes forand RT-PCR reagents. Fig S1. ATP release from Sca-1+ cells subjected to oxidative stress and hypoxia. Fig S2. mRNA and protein expression of P2R subtypes on Sca-1+ cell membranes. Fig S3. Testing for the optimal P2Y2R-shRNA transfection dose. Fig S4. Reduction in ATP-induced Sca-1+ cell proliferation by non-specific P2R blockade. Fig S5. Gene Ontologyterms related to cell migration or proliferation for genes differentially expressed between ATP-treated and control Sca-1+ cells. Fig S6. Gene Ontologyterms related to cell kinase activity for genes differentially expressed between ATP-treated and control Sca-1+ cells. Fig S7. Confirmation of P2Y2R knockdown in mouse femoral artery. Fig S8. Sca-1+ cell differentiation into smooth muscle cells, inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and endothelia cells.

Vascular repair upon injury is a frequently encountered pathology in cardiovascular diseases, which is crucial for the maintenance of arterial homeostasis and function. Stem/progenitor cells located on vascular walls have multidirectional differentiation potential and regenerative ability. It has been demonstrated that stem/progenitor cells play an essential role in the basic medical research and disease treatment. The dynamic microenvironment around the vascular wall stem/progenitor cells (VW-S/PCs) possesses many stem cell niche-like characteristics to support and regulate cells’ activities, maintaining the properties of stem cells. Under physiological conditions, vascular homeostasis is a cautiously balanced and efficient interaction between stem cells and the microenvironment. These interactions contribute to the vascular repair and remodeling upon vessel injury. However, the signaling mechanisms involved in the regulation of microenvironment on stem cells remain to be further elucidated. Understanding the functional characteristics and potential mechanisms of VW-S/PCs is of great significance for both basic and translational research. This review underscores the microenvironment-derived signals that regulate VW-S/PCs and aims at providing new targets for the treatment of related cardiovascular diseases.

The lithium-ion battery separator plays roles of separating the positive and negative electrodes and providing ion channels, and at the same time, it can play a more important role in the safety of the lithium-ion battery. In this work, a modified PP (polypropylene)/PAN (polyacrylonitrile)/cotton fibers composite membrane with a thermal shut-off function was prepared by a wet-laid process. The results are as follows: When the fibers’ mass fraction was 50%, the composite membrane had the best combination properties, with a tensile strength of 1.644 KN·m−1, the porosity was 63%, and it had good wettability with an aspiration height of 39 mm and a liquid absorption rate of 269%. The thermal shrinkage of the composite membrane was less than 4% after thermal treatment under 160 °C. More importantly, the DSC curve showed that the modified PP/PAN/cotton fibers composite membrane had a thermal shut-off function with the temperature between 110 °C and 160 °C. After thermal treatment under 160 °C for 1 h, the ionic conductivity of the fiber membrane decreased to 0.32 mS·cm−1 from 1.99 mS·cm−1. Electrochemical performance tests showed that the button battery using the fiber composite membrane had a slightly better initial discharge, capacity retention and cycle performance at different rates than the button battery equipped with the PP membrane. The results show that the modified PP/PAN/cotton fibers composite membrane improves the safety and electrochemical performance of lithium-ion battery.

Accurate thermo-mechanical coupling analysis for operational conductors is important to guarantee satisfaction of the safety requirements, e.g., strength safety or safe distance of sag. The paper presents a new method for this analysis, i.e., calculating the temperature fields using finite element analysis, based on which to compute the stress fields using the force equilibrium and compatibility conditions. A few crucial factors are considered for better simulation of the real condition, including the transverse deformation of section due to the interaction forces between the layers, Poisson effect and temperature distributions in the section of the conductors. A typical steel-cored aluminum strand overhead conductor is analyzed to verify the technique presented.

The evaluation on energy characteristics of earthquake-excited building structures with seismic protection devices is actively carried out in this study. The mechanical model of passive friction dampers is first introduced and the dynamic model of building-damper system is proposed. The evaluation criteria of energy responses are developed and applied to the earthquake response mitigation of a real multi-story building incorporated with friction dampers. The observations indicate that the earthquake-induced vibration of the structure can be substantially suppressed and the proposed energy evaluation criteria can be effectively utilized in the examination on seismic mitigation performance.

In China, experimental teaching (ET) in the Library and Information Science (LIS) education should be integrated with theoretical education as an organic whole. An independent, systematic experimental teaching model has been established and operating successfully by setting up laboratories with a digital network Internet environment that greatly helps develop the students' comprehensive quality and innovative ability.

This paper describes a method for evaluation on dynamic characteristics of power transmission towers coupled with power lines under wind load. The evaluation criteria of dynamic responses is developed and applied to the finite element analysis of a power transmission tower-line system under wind load. The numerical results indicate that the proposed energy evaluation criteria can be effectively utilized in the examination on structural dynamic performance.