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Background: Breast cancer (BCa) is a major challenge for women's health worldwide. Ferroptosis is closely related to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the prognostic value of ferroptosis-related genes in BCa remains unclear, and more accurate prognostic models are urgently needed. Methods: Gene expression profiles and clinical information of BCa patients were collected from public databases. LASSO and multivariate Cox regression analysis were utilized to construct the prognostic gene signature. Kaplan–Meier plotter, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and nomogram were used to validate the prognostic value of the gene signature. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to explore the molecular functions and signaling pathways. Results: Differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes between BCa samples and normal tissues were obtained. A novel five-gene signature including BCL2, SLC40A1, TFF1, APOOL, and PRAME was established for prognosis prediction. Patients stratified into high-risk or low-risk group displayed significantly different survival. Kaplan–Meier and ROC curves showed a good performance for survival prediction in different cohorts. Biological function analysis revealed that the five-gene signature was associated with cancer progression, immune infiltration, immune response, and drug resistance. Nomogram including the five-gene signature was established. Conclusion: A novel five ferroptosis-related gene signature and nomogram could be used for prognostic prediction in BCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mounting evidence indicate that cuproptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death, contributes to cancer development and progression. However, a comprehensive analysis regarding the expressions, functions, and regulatory network of cuproptosis-related genes is still lacking. In the present work, cuproptosis-related genes, upstream miRNAs and lncRNAs, and clinical data of breast cancer from TCGA database were analyzed by R language including Cox regression analysis, correlation calculation, ROC curve construction, and survival evaluation, and were further verified by public-available databases. Chemosensitivity and immune infiltration were also evaluated by online tools. SLC31A1 was significantly increased in breast cancer samples than those in normal tissues. SLC31A1 was negatively related to a favorable outcome in breast cancer, and the AUC value increased with the prolongation of follow-up time. LINC01614 and miR-204-5p were potential upstream regulators of SLC31A1. Moreover, SLC31A1 was significantly positively correlated with different immune cells infiltration, immune cell biomarkers, and immune checkpoints in breast cancer. SLC31A1 was a potential cuproptosis-related gene in breast cancer, which was significantly upregulated and was able to predict diagnosis, prognosis, chemosensitivity, and immune infiltration. LINC01640/miR-204-5p/SLC31A1 might be a significant and promising axis during cuproptosis in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of the rotational Doppler effect (RDE) provides opportunities to achieve fast, accurate, and contactless measurement of angular velocity. As the RDE signal is sensitive to the illumination light and its scattering characteristic, how to effectively extract the angular velocity of a detected target becomes one of the key difficulties in this measurement technique. Here, we put forward a scattering modified RDE model to fully understand the frequency-domain behavior of an RDE signal in misaligned illumination. A robust strategy based on the peak-to-peak intervals in a wideband spectrum of the RDE signal is demonstrated to acquire accurate angular velocity, without strict requirement to the alignment of illumination and roughness of the detected surface. Furthermore, the feasibility to extract the spin angular velocity from a composite motion of spin and translation is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Interactions among plants are the main biotic driver for the development of spatial vegetation patterns in dryland ecosystems. The modification of soil properties by perennial plants is an important mechanism. We aimed to examine how spatial vegetation patterns were affected by the local changes in soil physiochemical properties beneath shrubs in different communities. Methods: We investigated 36 plots containing shrub vegetation on the Alxa Plateau, northwestern China. Patch sizes of all shrubs were measured. The median and curvature of patch size distribution (obtained by quadratic regression) were selected as indicators for spatial patterns. We determined soil physiochemical properties beneath the canopy of dominant and other shrub species and in adjacent intershrub spaces. A multi-model inference procedure was employed to analyze the standardized effect of the changes in soil properties and their interactions on the spatial vegetation patterns. Results: Local changes in soil physiochemical properties associated with shrub-soil feedbacks affected spatial vegetation patterns in different aspects. Salt aggregation was positively correlated with deviations from the power-law distribution, while nutrient concentration had no significant effect. Interaction between nutrient and salinity concentration positively affected the median patch size, maintaining a stable Turing-like pattern. Heterogeneity analysis showed that the dominant shrub species are representative of plant-soil interactions for the entire community. Conclusions: Our study suggests that soil salinity accumulated under the canopy of shrubs is the key soil property driving the spatial pattern of vegetation patches on the Alta Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the reading characteristics of normal-sighted young adults using C-Read to provide baseline healthy population values. We also investigated the relationship between the National Eye Institute's Visual Functioning Questionnaire (VFQ-25) score and reading ability, myopia, and hours of screen use, focusing on the extent to which these factors affect participants' visual function and, ultimately, their vision-related quality of life (QoL). Overall, 207 young, healthy participants (414 eyes) aged 18–35 years were tested for reading speed using C-Read connected to a smartphone-based application between December 2022 and January 2023. Each participant received a VFQ-25 questionnaire to evaluate vision-related QoL. Data on daily e-screen usage hours were collected. Among the participants, 91 (44.0%) were women; their mean (SD) age was 22.45 (4.01) years. The mean (SD) reading acuity (RA) was 0.242 (0.124), 0.249 (0.120), and 0.193 (0.104) logarithmic minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) for the right, left, and both eyes, respectively. The mean (SD) maximum reading speed (MRS) was 171.65 (46.27), 168.59 (45.68), and 185.16 (44.93) words per minute (wpm) with the right, left, and both eyes, respectively. The mean (SD) critical print size (CPS) was 0.412 (0.647), 0.371 (0.229), and 0.419 (1.05) logMAR per the right, left, and both eyes, respectively. The RA and CPS were significantly different between sexes (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001). MRS was significantly different between the education level (p = 0.005) and myopia level groups (p = 0.010); however, it was not clear whether this difference was confounded by age. The myopic power in diopters significantly affected RA (coefficient, −0.012; 95% CI, −0.018 to −0.006; p = 0.001); screen time significantly affected MRS (coefficient, 0.019; 95% CI, 0.57 to 6.33; p = 0.019). RA (coefficient, −21.41; 95% CI, −33.74 to −9.08; p = 0.001) and duration of screen use (coefficient, -0.86; 95% CI, −1.29 to −0.43; p < 0.001) independently had a significantly negative correlation with VFQ-25 scores. Our findings provide a baseline value for C-Read in normal-sighted young adults. Refractive status significantly affected RA, while screen time significantly affected MRS. Interventions aimed at enhancing RA may have the potential to maximize vision-related QoL and enable older adults with impaired vision to achieve greater outcomes. Future, larger-scale, C-Read experiments will help provide newer, more optimal methods for the early diagnosis of visual impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial vegetation patterns are associated with ecosystem stability and multifunctionality in drylands. Changes in patch size distributions (PSDs) are generally driven by both environmental and biological factors. However, the relationships between these factors in driving PSDs are not fully understood. We investigated 80 vegetation plots along an aridity gradient in the Alxa plateau, Northwest China. The sizes of vegetation patches were obtained from aerial images, and the heights of patch‐forming species were measured in the field. Soil samples were collected on the bare ground between patches for determination of physiochemical properties. Point pattern analysis was used to infer plant–plant interactions. A model selection procedure was employed to select the best predictors for the shape of PSDs and biological factors (vegetation total cover, community plant height, and plant–plant interactions). We then used structural equation modeling to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of environmental and biological factors on the shape of PSDs. In our study area, two types of PSDs coexisted, namely those that best fit to power law distributions and those that best fit to lognormal distributions. Aridity was the main environmental factor, while community mean height and competition between plants were the main biological factors for the shape of PSDs. As aridity and community mean height increased, power law‐like PSDs were exhibited, whereas competition led to deviations of PSDs from power laws. Aridity affected the shape of PSDs indirectly through changes in community mean height. Community mean height was correlated with competition, thereby indirectly affecting the shape of PSDs. Our results suggest the use of community functional traits as a link between the environment and plant–plant interactions, which may improve the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of PSD dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is an immune checkpoint molecule that mediates the escape of tumor cells from immunosurveillance. Consequently, BTLA and its ligand herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) are potentially immunotherapeutic targets. However, the potential effects of BTLA on tumor cells remain incompletely unknown. Here, we show that BTLA is expressed across a broad range of tumor cells. The depletion of BTLA or HVEM promotes cell proliferation and colony formation, which is reversed by the overexpression of BTLA in BTLA knockout cells. In contrast, overexpression of BTLA or HVEM inhibits tumor cell proliferation and colony formation. Furthermore, the proliferation of a subpopulation with high BTLA was also significantly slower than that of the low BTLA subpopulation. Mechanistically, the coordination of BTLA and HVEM inhibits its major downstream extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) signaling pathway, thus preventing tumor cell growth. This study demonstrates that tumor cell-intrinsic BTLA/HVEM is a potential tumor suppressor and is likely to have a potential antagonist for immunotherapy, thus representing a potential biomarker for the optimal cancer immunotherapeutic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monotypic "bulbilliferous hyphomycete" genus Taxomyces was erected in 1993 for a fungal endophyte isolated from the Yew tree Taxus brevifolia and named Taxomyces andreanae. This fungus was reported to produce the plant-derived anti-cancer drug taxol. The original description of the fungus was not conclusive as to its taxonomic position because no sporulation or other salient morphological features were reported. Consequently, the taxonomic affinities of this fungus have remained obscure. However, a full genome sequence of this strain was generated by a German research group in 2013, in an unsuccessful attempt to detect the biosynthesis genes encoding for taxol. This prompted us to search for phylogenetic marker genes and compare those with the data that recently have become available from state-of-the-art polyphasic taxonomic studies. Surprisingly, the strain turned out to belong to the phlebioid clade of wood-destroying Basidiomycota as inferred from a comparison of its partial ITS, the 28S rDNA (LSU), the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1), the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), and the translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1) sequences. A multi gene genealogy based on these loci revealed that the closest relative is Ceriporiopsis (syn. Mycoacia) gilvescens. Even though such wood-destroying Basidiomycota are regularly encountered among the endophytic isolates after surface-disinfection of plant organs, the vast majority of the reported endophytic fungi belong to the Ascomycota. Nevertheless, the data available now allow for synonymizing Taxomyces with Ceriporiopsis, and the necessary new combination is made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The software-assisted reliability assessment of power electronic converters is increasingly important due to its multi-domain nature and extensive parametric calculations. The rainflow counting algorithm is gaining popularity for its low relative error in device lifetime estimation. Nevertheless, the offline operation of the algorithm prevents most simulation software packages considering other parameters for the device under study, such as aging and the current state of health in the estimation, as it requires a complete loading profile to run recursive comparison. This also brings difficulties in realization in circuit simulators such as SPICE. To tackle the issue, an in-the-loop circuit-based rainflow counting algorithm is proposed in this paper, and applied to estimate the consumed lifetime of the MOSFET in a boost converter for illustration. Instantaneous electrical and thermal performances, and the accumulated stress of the device can be monitored. Not only does this assist in evaluating the state of health of a device, but also allows the possibility of integrating the aging into the lifetime evaluation. The method follows the four-point rainflow counting algorithms, which continuously compares three adjacent temperature fluctuations Δ T j to select full cycles for two rounds, and the remaining cycles are counted as half cycles. To validate the performance, a comparative analysis in terms of counting accuracy and simulation speed was performed alongside the proposed method, MATLAB® and also with a well-accepted half-cycle counting method. Reported results show that the proposed method has an improved counting accuracy compared to the half-cycle counting from 24% to 3.5% on average under different load stresses and length conditions. The accuracy can be effectively improved by a further 1.3–2% by adding an extra comparison round. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of severe low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) in patients with rectal cancer undergoing sphincter-preserving resection, and to provide the clinical basis and reference for the treatment of rectal cancer and the prevention of LARS. Studies on the incidence and risk factors for severe LARS in patients with rectal cancer undergoing sphincter-preserving resection were searched using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After evaluating the study quality and extracting relevant data, RevMan 5.2 and STATA software were used to conduct a meta-analysis. A total of 12 articles were considered eligible for the present meta-analysis. Within these articles, there were 3,877 cases of sphincter-preserving resection for rectal cancer and 1,589 cases of severe LARS; the incidence of severe LARS was 40.99%. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that sex [female; odds ratio (OR), 6.54; 95% CI, 3.63–11.76; Z, 6.27; P<0.00001], radiotherapy and chemotherapy (OR, 3.45; 95% CI, 2.29–5.21; Z, 5.91; P<0.00001), total mesorectal excision (TME; OR, 4.39; 95% CI, 3.32–5.79; Z, 10.41; P<0.00001), and distance between tumor and anal margin (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 0.86–8.72; Z, 1.70; P<0.00001) may be the risk factors for severe LARS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common ischaemic heart disease whose pathological mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Single target drugs, such as antiplatelet aggregation, coronary artery dilation and lipid-lowering medicines, can relieve some symptoms clinically but cannot effectively prevent and treat CHD. Accumulating evidence has revealed that alterations in GM composition, diversity, and richness are associated with the risk of CHD. The metabolites of the gut microbiota (GM), including trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs), affect human physiology by activating numerous signalling pathways. Due to the advantage of multiple components and multiple targets, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can intervene in CHD by regulating the composition of the GM, reducing TMAO, increasing SCFAs and other CHD interventions. We have searched PubMed, Web of science, Google Scholar Science Direct, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), with the use of the keywords "gut microbiota, gut flora, traditional Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, coronary heart disease". This review investigated the relationship between GM and CHD, as well as the intervention of TCM in CHD and GM, and aims to provide valuable insights for the treatments of CHD by TCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the socio-psychological impact of living in high-rise, densely populated urban areas is essential for evaluating the quality of interior urban spaces within vertical urbanism, a field commonly known as ‘Urbanology’. This area combines urban psychology, anthropology and social science, often utilizing empirical methods such as surveys and interviews. This research offers scientific research methods that utilize electroencephalogram (EEG) and an artificial intelligence (AI) generator to establish a system and formula for accessing neuroscientific datasets. The goal is to establish a connection between emotions and the spatial conditions of urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have multi-lineage differentiation potential and play an important role in tissue repair. Studies have shown that BMSCs gather at the injured tissue site after granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration. In this study, we first investigated whether G-CSF could promote BMSC homing to damaged lung tissue induced by bleomycin (BLM) and then investigated whether SDF-1/CXCR4 chemotaxis might be involved in this process. Next, we further studied the potential inhibitory effect of G-CSF administration in mice with lung fibrosis induced by bleomycin. We examined both the antifibrotic effects of G-CSF in mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and its effects on the proliferation, differentiation and chemotactic movement of cells in vitro. Flow cytometry, real-time PCR, transwell and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were used in this study. The results showed that both preventative and therapeutic G-CSF administration could significantly inhibit bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. G-CSF enhanced BMSC migration to lung tissues, but this effect could be alleviated by AMD3100, which blocked the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. We also found that BMSCs could inhibit fibroblast proliferation and transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts through paracrine actions. In conclusion, G-CSF exerted antifibrotic effects in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, in part by promoting BMSC homing to injured lung tissues via SDF-1/CXCR4 chemotaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stresses in the steam-side oxide of boiler tubes are evaluated based on analytical derivations and numerical simulations. With only thermal strain considered, analytical solutions of stress distribution are obtained for a cylindrical geometry representative of boiler tubes and a flat-plate geometry—a typical simplification assumed in the literature to represent boiler tubes with extremely thin oxide scale. In these analytical derivations, the substrate metal has finite dimensions or is assumed to be very thick. The solutions under the approximations of flat-plate geometry and very thick substrate are employed to examine the accuracy of various approximations adopted in the literature to analyze the stress distribution in boiler tubes. For more complicated situations where the contributions from thermal strain, interface roughness, creep of the oxide and metal, and oxide growth are considered, numerical simulations are performed for a cylindrical geometry to evaluate the stress distribution in boiler tubes. The simulation results reveal that: (1) the local radial stress at curved oxide–metal interfaces is enhanced by interface roughness with implications about interfacial crack growth; (2) contrary to the general belief that creep relieves the oxide stresses, creep may actually increase the stresses in the oxide due to different creep rates of the oxide and substrate metal; and (3) the geometrically induced oxide growth strain substantially increases the magnitudes of the hoop and axial stresses in the oxide. Based on the assumption that the failure of the oxide scales is caused by crack growth which is dominated by the stress intensity factor, damage maps are plotted directly using the hoop, axial, and radial stresses as the critical variables. Our work provides a quantitative understanding of the interactions between different thermomechanochemical processes and oxide scale failure in boiler tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we propose a novel design for optical neural network system based on reservoir computing. The optical neurons in the system consist of directional couplers, optical fibers, and optical amplifiers. The nonlinear activation function of optical neuron can be obtained by the optical amplifiers. Mach–Zehnder phase modulators and the directional couplers are used to build the readout matrix in the output layer. The performance of the system is studied by a commercial software of optical fiber telecommunication system. The results show that the randomly connected optical neuron networks of the reservoir computing can provide a better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new approach to controlling and optimizing a single-stage boost-integrated full-bridge dc–dc converter for a stand-alone photovoltaic-battery-powered dc motor system by combining pulse-frequency modulation (PFM), pulsewidth modulation (PWM), and phase angle shift (PAS). Unlike most of the existing multiport dc–dc converters, which aim at regulating the output voltage (first- or second-quadrant operation), the dc motor load requires both voltage and current reversals (four-quadrant operation). The converter is able to perform three tasks simultaneously: maximum power point tracking (MPPT), battery charging/discharging, and driving the dc motor at variable speeds including bidirectional and stall motions. To achieve these control objectives, the boost inductor and the motor inductance operate in different modes such that PFM and PWM can be used to achieve MPPT and a wide motor voltage range, respectively. By properly adjusting the PAS of the duty cycles, the capacitor and battery rms current value can be reduced, while the operation of the converter remains unchanged, hence improving the conversion efficiency. Experimental results of a 26-W laboratory prototype converter confirmed the proposed design and operation and the efficiency improvement by 2–6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese for Interactive Multi-criteria Decision Making) approach, which can characterize the decision makers' psychological behaviors under risk, has been introduced to handle multiple attribute decision making (MADM) problems. Moreover, 2-tuple linguistic term set is an effective tool for depicting uncertainty of the MADM problems. In this paper, we will extend the TODIM method to the MADM with the 2-tuple linguistic information. Firstly, the definition and distance of 2-tuple linguistic information are briefly introduced, and the steps of the classical TODIM method for MADM problems are presented. Then, on the basis of the classical TODIM method, the extended TODIM method is proposed to deal with MADM problems in which the attribute values are in the 2-tuple linguistic information, and its significant characteristic is that it can fully consider the decision makers' bounded rationality which is a real action in decision making. Finally, a numerical example for evaluating the service quality of boutique tourist scenic spot is proposed to verify the developed approach and its practicality and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanisms of nucleation and growth of domains during ferroelectric phase transformation are investigated by using theoretical and computational approaches. It is shown that ferroelectric phase transformation exhibits some peculiar behaviors due to strong long-range dipole-dipole-like interactions involved in the system. Incorporation of electrostatic and elastostatic energies into the classical Landau-Ginzburg-Devonshire theory effectively modifies the coefficients of the polynomial free energy function and introduces extra energy barrier for ferroelectric phase transformation. It is found that independent nucleation of ferroelectric phase in the context of classical nucleation theory is prohibited, because electrostatic interaction generates an insurmountable energy barrier to isolated nucleus. Phase field modeling and computer simulation reveals that, in order to circumvent such an energy barrier, ferroelectric nucleation exhibits strong spatial correlation and self-organization behaviors from the very beginning, and ferroelectric phase transformation proceeds via spatial and temporal evolution of self-accommodating domains that provide a low-energy kinetic pathway throughout the phase transformation process. Theoretical analysis of the critical wavelength of correlated nucleation agrees with the computer simulation. Heterogeneous nucleation as induced by externally applied local electric field and subsequent polarization evolution process is also simulated to further demonstrate such self-organized pattern formation behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daedracoflavan A–E (1 – 5), five new flavonoids were isolated from the resin of Daemonorops draco. Their structures including absolute configurations were established by using spectroscopic and computational methods. All the compounds are new chalcones with the same retro-dihydrochalcone skeleton. Compound 1 features the presence of a cyclohexadienone unit originating from a benzene ring, and the ketone group of C-9 reduced to a hydroxyl group. The bioactivity of all isolated compounds was evaluated in kidney fibrosis and found that compound 2 could dose-dependently inhibit the expression of fibronectin, collagen I, and α-SMA in TGF-β1-induced rat kidney proximal tubular cells (NRK-52E). Interestingly, the replacement of a proton by a hydroxyl group at C-4′ seems to play a crucial role in anti-renal fibrosis activity. Daedracoflavan A–E (1 – 5), five new flavonoids were isolated from the resin of Daemonorops draco. Their structures including absolute configurations were established by using spectroscopic and computational methods. All the compounds are new chalcones with the same retro-dihydrochalcone skeleton. Compound 1 features the presence of a cyclohexadienone unit originating from a benzene ring, and the ketone group of C-9 reduced to a hydroxyl group. The bioactivity of all isolated compounds was evaluated in kidney fibrosis and found that compound 2 could dose-dependently inhibit the expression of fibronectin, collagen I, and α-SMA in TGF-β1-induced rat kidney proximal tubular cells (NRK-52E). Interestingly, the replacement of a proton by a hydroxyl group at C-4′ seems to play a crucial role in anti-renal fibrosis activity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viscoelastic behavior of Sapindus mukorossi pericarp (the covering of the Indian soapberry fruit) was investigated. Samples were subjected to creep-recovery and oscillatory shear tests. The moisture content had a strong effect on the dynamic moduli, whereas the temperature had little effect. Both the storage and loss moduli had a weak dependency on the frequency. In general, the storage and loss moduli decreased and slowly converged with an increase in the moisture content. The storage and loss moduli decreased with an increasing temperature. The creep-recovery experiment and dynamic shear tests indicated that the pericarps with high moisture contents were more prone to permanent deformation. The dynamic shear tests further demonstrated that a low moisture content, temperature, and frequency resulted in the pericarps having a more solid behavior and undergoing elastic deformation. Images of the microstructure showed that cells in the raw pericarps were round, of similar size, and neatly arranged. In the treated pericarps, the cells gradually became smaller and finally disappeared. It was inferred that drying with hot air caused the loss of intracellular substances, which in turn strengthened the dynamic characteristics of the pericarps. The completely dried pericarps thus behaved as strong viscoelastic solid in contrast to the raw pericarps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Microstructure evolution in the electrodes of solid oxide fuel cell is an important degradation mechanism which reduces active sites for redox reaction and the electric conductivity. Phase field models for microstructure evolution simulation are usually expensive for large scale simulations. In this work, a reduced-order coarsening model is developed using dynamic discrepancy reduced modeling, which reduces the model order by inserting Gaussian process stochastic functions into the dynamic equations of Ostwald ripening. The reduced order model has been calibrated on a dataset generated by a phase field model that has been well validated to experiments. A validating dataset has also been generated with which the model prediction show good agreement. This model is further applied to predict long term microstructure evolution in different SOFC electrodes. This work is the first attempt of building a degradation model of SOFC using data science techniques. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A reduced order coarsening model for microstructure evolution prediction in SOFC electrode. • Dynamic discrepancy reduced modeling is used to enhance the Ostwald ripening model. • Phase field simulations used in model training and validation. • First attempt of applying data science technique in the research of SOFC degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In diffuse-interface (phase field) models of polycrystalline solids, the grain boundaries naturally possess a narrow region of finite thickness. A Ginzburg-Landau type kinetic equation for plastic deformation of a solid is derived that combines crystal plasticity and J 2 plasticity. Within such a framework for a polycrystal the grain interior can be defined by crystal plasticity, and the grain boundary region can be assigned J 2 type plasticity. The two are connected smoothly. This allows the modeling framework to accommodate grain boundary sliding (GBS), an important deformation mechanism for creep. The relaxation of elastic modulus of a polycrystalline solid and the power-law creep (both accommodated by GBS) are studied by 2D and 3D simulations, respectively, and the results are compared to the 2D finite-element simulations of Ghahremani and Crossman-Ashby. A strong grain shape dependence and orientation dependence (for non-equiaxed grains) of the GBS effect are predicted by this model. Highlights • Developed a diffuse-interface based model for crystal plasticity. • Grain boundary sliding (GBS) accommodated in the crystal plasticity model. • Simulated creep with GBS based on phase-field simulated 3D grain structures. • Revealed grain shape effect on the anelasticity of polycrystals due to GBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic effects of combining serum circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) levels on patients with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy. Methods: Ninety-nine patients with locally advanced cervical cancer ([FIGO] stage IIB-IVA) undergoing radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) were identified. The association between serum CTC level and clinicopathological parameters was examined. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed by using Cox’s proportional hazards regression model. Results: Elevated CTC and SCC-Ag levels were significantly associated with poor disease-free survival (DFS). Multivariate analysis suggest that serum CTC level, FIGO stage and serum SCC-Ag level were independent prognostic factors for two-year DFS. When CTC and SCC-Ag levels were combined into a new risk model to predict disease progression of cervical cancer patients, it performed a significantly better predictive efficiency compared with either biomarker alone. Conclusion: Serum CTC and SCC-Ag levels are potentially useful biomarkers for prediction of prognosis in locally advanced cervical cancer patients and their combination significantly improves predictive ability for survival in locally advanced cervical cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks are obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites that infect a wide range of animals and humans, causing a variety of both human and animal diseases around the world. Ixodes nipponensis is the most commonly reported tick in Korea and Japan, but it is very rare in China. In this study, six I. nipponensis samples were collected from three black goats in Hunan province, China. Ticks identified morphologically as I. nipponensis were then examined by PCR with two different molecular markers: mitochondrial cox1 and the second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA genes. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis of the cox1 sequences confirmed that all of the examined hard Ixodes ticks represented I. nipponensis. This finding indicates a potential risk of zoonotic I. nipponensis infection in humans and animals in China. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting the occurrence of I. nipponensis infection in goats in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid oxide cells with nickel/yttrium-stabilized zirconia (Ni/YSZ) cermet electrodes exhibit Ni migration which can cause severe cell performance degradation. The experimentally reported migration behavior of Ni is complicated, and the mechanisms remain under debate. This work discusses the possible mechanism of Ni migration related to the oxidation of Ni at the Ni-electrolyte interfaces under polarization via combined experimental study and theoretical analysis. In the experiments, NiO is found at the Ni-YSZ interfaces in the active layer in both tested fuel cells and electrolyzer cells, despite that the nominal oxygen partial pressure at the hydrogen electrode is well below the thermodynamic threshold for Ni oxidation. Due to the volume expansion during Ni oxidation and the outward diffusion nature of NiO growth, Ni oxidation and reduction of NiO back to Ni can cause Ni relocation. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the oxygen partial pressure near the Ni-electrolyte interface can be significantly higher than the hydrogen electrode under polarization, which can cause Ni oxidation and concentration increase of the gaseous Ni(OH) 2 , and the latter accelerates the transport of Ni. As such, a new hypothesis for Ni migration in solid oxide cells is proposed in which the interfacial oxidation of Ni plays an essential role. [Display omitted] • NiO discovered at Ni-YSZ interfaces in the hydrogen electrodes of SOFC after operation. • NiO discovered at Ni-YSZ interfaces in the hydrogen electrodes of SOEC after operation. • Mechanism of nickel oxidation is analyzed in SOFCs and in SOECs. • Linkage between nickel oxidation and nickel migration in SOCs is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The outcome of surgery for degenerative lumbar scoliosis was studied in the Swedish Spine register.Methods: 209 patients (mean age 66 years) were identified; 45 had undergone decompression and/or fusion of one segment (minor group) and 164 had undergone fusion of two or more segments, with or without decompression (major group).Results: VAS back pain, VAS leg pain, ODI and EQ-5D index improved after surgery in both groups (p < 0.05), with medium to large effect sizes of surgery. Global assessment for back pain and satisfaction was significantly better in the major group than in the minor group (p < 0.05) at the 2-year follow-up. Additional spine surgery was observed in 57 out of the 209 patients during a mean period of 5.4 years.Conclusion: Surgery for degenerative lumbar scoliosis improves quality of life with medium to large effect sizes, but carries a high risk of additional surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports an environmentally friendly process to prepare cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from sugarcane bagasse (SCB), by ultrasonication combined with various mechanochemical pretreatments. The pretreatments included continuous steam explosion, dilute alkali-catalyzed (0.4 wt% NaOH) hydrothermal treatment, and bleaching with hydrogen peroxide. The morphology and physiochemical properties of the fibers obtained after each stage of treatment were characterized by various techniques. Suspensions of fibers subjected to different pretreatments were prepared by the same mechanical process. The result proved that continuous steam explosion pretreatment could strip the primary wall and the binding materials related to middle lamella, loosen the structure of fiber cell wall, and promote sequent nanofibrillation of the cellulose fibers. Therefore, the total energy consumption is reduced. The current pretreatments effectively removed non-cellulosic constituents of the raw fibers, using very small amount of chemical reagents. Individual CNFs typically had diameters of 20–40 nm, high aspect ratios, a fine web-like structure, and good thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades political relationships between mainland China and Taiwan have fluctuated precariously between warm peace and cold war. Instead of playing the role of the biblical peacemaker, Christian theologians on both sides have developed irreconcilable nationalist theologies in order to sanctify their respective nationalist programs: Chinese unification versus Taiwanese independence. For the purpose of constructing peace across the Taiwan Strait, a new political theology needs to be built on the centrality of religious freedom to be found in the Bible, democratic values, and the actual politics of both China and Taiwan. The second section of this article analyzes the biblical sources of a Chinese unification theology and a Taiwanese independence theology. The third and fourth sections introduce the historical development of nationalism and nationalist theology in both societies. The fifth section concludes by proposing a democratic union theology that builds on the centrality of religious freedom in the Bible, democratic values, and actual politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing continuum level phase field plasticity theories seek to solve plastic strain by minimizing the shear strain energy. However, rigorously speaking, for thermodynamic consistency it is required to minimize the total strain energy unless there is proof that hydrostatic strain energy is independent of plastic strain which is unfortunately absent. In this work, we extend the phase-field microelasticity theory of Khachaturyan et al. by minimizing the total elastic energy with constraint of incompressibility of plastic strain. We show that the flow rules derived from the Ginzburg-Landau type kinetic equation can be in line with Odqvist's law for viscoplasticity and Prandtl-Reuss theory. Free surfaces (external surfaces or internal cracks/voids) are treated in the model. Deformation caused by a misfitting spherical precipitate in an elasto-plastic matrix is studied by large-scale three-dimensional simulations in four different regimes in terms of the matrix: (a) elasto-perfectly-plastic, (b) elastoplastic with linear hardening, (c) elastoplastic with power-law hardening, and (d) elasto-perfectly-plastic with a free surface. The results are compared with analytical/numerical solutions of Lee et al. for (a-c) and analytical solution derived in this work for (d). In addition, the J integral of a fixed crack is calculated in the phase-field model and discussed in the context of fracture mechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this study with the rapid development of the heavy/large mechanical equipment, the heavy computer numerical control (CNC) vertical lathe has become the ideal processing equipment for the parts of those mechanical equipments. The main factor which affects the machining quality and efficiency of heavy CNC vertical lathe is the mechanical properties of the hydrostatic thrust bearing.Design/methodology/approach This paper did the research based on the large size sector oil pad’s lubrication performance of the hydrostatic thrust bearing in the heavy/large equipments, establishing the lubrication performance distribution mathematical model of the velocity field, flow field, pressure field and so on, analyzing the bearing behavior of the large size sector oil pad.Findings The results show that the oil flow generated by the plate relative motion will be greater than that generated by the pressure difference in area B, with the rotational speed’s increasing of the hydrostatic thrust bearing, and the direction is opposite. The oil flow generated by the centrifugal force will be greater than that generated by the pressure difference in area C, with the rotational speed’s increasing of the hydrostatic thrust bearing, and the direction is opposite. When the rotational speed of the hydrostatic thrust bearing is too high, the friction heat will be not easy to be sent out. The bearing rotating speed should be lower than the comparatively smaller one of ω1 and ω2, which can help avoid the rise of too high temperature.Originality/value The research provides powerful theoretical foundation for practical application of the large size sector oil pad hydrostatic thrust bearing, its structure design and operating reliability, realizing the lubrication performance prediction of the large size hydrostatic thrust bearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a remaining useful life (RUL) prediction model combining a convolutional neural network and a long short‐term memory network (CNNLSTM) to support decision‐making, especially the safety of rotational equipment. It avoids the influence of personnel and realizes the complementary advantages of the network. With the assistance of Bayesian short‐term and long‐term memory neural networks, the remaining life prediction method is able to provide the confidence interval of the remaining life prediction of rolling bearings. The compression between the proposed method and existing state‐of‐the‐art methods validated the good performance of the proposed method. Overall, the proposed method contributes to life prediction and condition‐based maintenance of bearings and complex rotational systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks and tick-borne-diseases have serious public health implications, and screening feasible protein candidates for vaccines development is identified to be an effective alternative to control of tick infestations. In current study, we focused on cloning the full-length gene encoding a heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70), a molecular chaperone of critical functional roles belonging to heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) family, in salivary glands of Haemaphysalis flava, namely Hf-Hsc70, and analyzing the expression of Hf-Hsc70 in different life phases, organs and ambient temperatures. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was performed to amplify the 5′ and 3′ ends of Hf-Hsc70. The expression profiles of Hf-Hsc70 were studied by semi-quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR). The full-length of Hf-Hsc70 was 2363 bp, and contained an ORF of 1965 bp encoding a protein of 648 amino acids. The expression levels of Hf-Hsc70 at different life phases were in the order of female larvae < female fully engorged nymphs < male adult ticks < female full engorged adult ticks < female half engorged adult ticks. The relative expression of Hf-Hsc70 in salivary glands was steadily higher than that in midguts ( p < 0.05) regardless of feeding status. A 3-h of heat stress did not significantly induce the up-regulation of Hf-Hsc70 transcription. These results indicated that Hf-Hsc70 was a constitutive form of HSP70 family, and its expression pattern in different life phases and organs suggested a possible role in blood feeding, which would further make Hsc70 a potential candidate for the development of vaccines against ticks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructure evolution plays an important role in the performance degradation of SOFC electrodes. In this work, we propose a much improved phase field model to simulate the microstructure evolution in the electrodes of solid oxide fuel cell. We demonstrate that the tunability of the interfacial energy in this model has been significantly enhanced. Parameters are set to fit for the interfacial energies of a typical Ni-YSZ anode, an LSM-YSZ cathode and an artificial reference electrode, respectively. The contact angles at various triple junctions and the microstructure evolutions in two dimensions are calibrated to verify the model. As a demonstration of the capabilities of the model, three dimensional microstructure evolutions are simulated applying the model to the three different electrodes. The time evolutions of grain size and triple phase boundary density are analyzed. In addition, a recently proposed bound charge successive approximation algorithm is employed to calculate the effective conductivity of the electrodes during microstructure evolution. The effective conductivity of all electrodes are found to decrease during the microstructure evolution, which is attributed to the increased tortuosity and the loss of percolated volume fraction of the electrode phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hymenolepis nanais a common tapeworm that parasitizes in the small intestine of rodent animals and humans. The present study examined the sequence diversity of three mitochondrial (mt) genes namely NADH dehydrogenase subunits 5 (nad5), small subunit ribosomal RNA (rrnS), and ATPase subunit 6 (atp6) ofH. nanafrom mice in different geographical regions of China. A part of thenad5 (pnad5), completerrnS andatp6 genes were amplified separately from individualH. nanaisolates using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then sequenced. The sequences of pnad5,rrnS, andatp6 were 710 bp, 704–711 bp, and 516 bp in length, respectively. The A + T contents of the sequences were 70.1–73.5% (pnad5), 70.1–71.7% (rrnS), and 76.6–77.9% (atp6). Sequence variation withinH. nanawas 0–1.4% foratp6, 0–1.7% forrrnS, and 0–0.7% for pnad5. The inter-specific sequence differences betweenH. nanaandHymenolepis diminutawere significantly higher, which was 31.6–31.7% (pnad5), 16.1–17.6% (rrnS), and 26.5–27.1% (atp6). Phylogenetic analysis based on the combined three sequences using the maximum parsimony (MP) method supported thatH. nanais a species complex or “cryptic” species. These findings demonstrated clearly the usefulness of the three mtDNA sequences for population genetics and systematic studies ofH. nanaof human and animal health significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the parameters of four types of polarization reflectance models (the Breon physical model, the Nadal–Breon semi-empirical model, the Maignan et al. single parameter model, and the Litvinov et al. model) were analyzed based on the PARASOL observation of three typical features in China three sites (forest, grassland, and desert). Subsequently, combined with the model analysis, the polarization reflectance characteristics of each typical feature were studied. The results reveal that 1) the imitative effect of the Litvinov et al. model about forest was the best, as the linear slope was greater than 0.9 and R 2 was better than 0.8; 2) the linear slope and R 2 of the Nadal–Breon model about all surfaces were higher than 0.8; 3) although fitting slope of the Maignan et al. model was bad under the forest (0.15

Dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) provides a way to tremendously improve the sensitivity of nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Once the spins are hyperpolarized by dissolution DNP, the radicals used as polarizing agents become undesirable since their presence is an additional source of nuclear spin relaxation and their toxicity might be an issue. This study demonstrates the feasibility of preparing a hyperpolarized [1-13&#8836C]2-methylpropan-2-ol (tert-butanol) solution free of persistent radicals by using spin-labeled thermoresponsive hydrophilic polymer networks as polarizing agents. The hyperpolarized 13C signal can be detected for up to 5 min before the spins fully relax to their thermal equilibrium. This approach extends the applicability of spin-labeled thermoresponsive hydrogel to the dissolution DNP field and highlights its potential as polarizing agent for preparing neat slowly relaxing contrast agents. The hydrogels are especially suited to hyperpolarize deuterated alcohols which can be used for in vivo perfusion imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase-field microelasticity theory of Khachaturyan has been widely applied in materials science that is based on the small strain assumption. Here we develop an incremental realization of inelastic deformation (IRID) algorithm to deal with finite/large deformation with yet small elastic strain. A large deformation process is decomposed into a sequence of small deformation processes with intervals. At each interval the grids are stretched to accommodate the average inelastic deformation and advection/rotation operations are performed to account for the heterogeneous inelastic deformation. It is shown that Kachaturyan's Fourier-transform based solutions can be adapted to the stretched grids. The IRID algorithm is compared against literature results regarding growth of a single void under remote stress of different triaxialities. Based on the IRID algorithm a phase-field model is developed that incorporates material microstructure, plasticity, multicomponent diffusion, and surface and grain boundary diffusion. The void growth kinetics and morphology evolution under coupling of diffusion and plasticity under creep are studied and the results show that coupling of the two mechanisms can significantly accelerate growth and coalescence of multiple voids at grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : The development of nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) has revolutionized the study of biological tissues by enabling, e.g., the visualization and quantification of metabolic processes at subcellular length scales. However, the associated sample preparation methods all result in some degree of tissue morphology distortion and loss of soluble compounds. To overcome these limitations an entirely cryogenic sample preparation and imaging workflow is required. Results: Here, we report the development of a CryoNanoSIMS instrument that can perform isotope imaging of both positive and negative secondary ions from flat block-face surfaces of vitrified biological tissues with a mass- and image resolution comparable to that of a conventional NanoSIMS. This capability is illustrated with nitrogen isotope as well as trace element mapping of freshwater hydrozoan Green Hydra tissue following uptake of 15N-enriched ammonium. Conclusion: With a cryo-workflow that includes vitrification by high pressure freezing, cryo-planing of the sample surface, and cryo-SEM imaging, the CryoNanoSIMS enables correlative ultrastructure and isotopic or elemental imaging of biological tissues in their most pristine post-mortem state. This opens new horizons in the study of fundamental processes at the tissue- and (sub)cellular level. Teaser: CryoNanoSIMS: subcellular mapping of chemical and isotopic compositions of biological tissues in their most pristine post-mortem state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : The development of nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) has revolutionized the study of biological tissues by enabling, e.g., the visualization and quantification of metabolic processes at subcellular length scales. However, the associated sample preparation methods all result in some degree of tissue morphology distortion and loss of soluble compounds. To overcome these limitations an entirely cryogenic sample preparation and imaging workflow is required. Results: Here, we report the development of a CryoNanoSIMS instrument that can perform isotope imaging of both positive and negative secondary ions from flat block-face surfaces of vitrified biological tissues with a mass- and image resolution comparable to that of a conventional NanoSIMS. This capability is illustrated with nitrogen isotope as well as trace element mapping of freshwater hydrozoan Green Hydra tissue following uptake of 15N-enriched ammonium. Conclusion: With a cryo-workflow that includes vitrification by high pressure freezing, cryo-planing of the sample surface, and cryo-SEM imaging, the CryoNanoSIMS enables correlative ultrastructure and isotopic or elemental imaging of biological tissues in their most pristine post-mortem state. This opens new horizons in the study of fundamental processes at the tissue- and (sub)cellular level. Teaser: CryoNanoSIMS: subcellular mapping of chemical and isotopic compositions of biological tissues in their most pristine post-mortem state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-FU-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and oxaliplatin-based CRT are commonly used therapies for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). However, patients with a high expression of ERCC1 have a worse prognosis than those with a low expression. In this study, we investigated the effect of XPF–ERCC1 blockers on chemotherapy and 5-FU-based CRT and oxaliplatin (OXA)-based CRT in colorectal cancer cell lines. We investigated the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 5-FU, OXA, XPF–ERCC1 blocker, and XPF–ERCC1 blocker, and 5-FU or OXA combined and analyzed the effect of XPF–ERCC1 blocker on 5-FU-based CRT and oxaliplatin-based CRT. Furthermore, the expression of XPF and γ-H2AX in colorectal cells was analyzed. In animal models, we combined the XPF–ERCC1 blocker with 5-FU and OXA to investigate the effects of RC and finally combined the XPF–ERCC1 blocker with 5-FU- and oxaliplatin-based CRT. In the IC50 analysis of each compound, the cytotoxicity of the XPF–ERCC1 blocker was lower than that of 5-FU and OXA. In addition, the XPF–ERCC1 blocker combined with 5-FU or OXA enhanced the cytotoxicity of the chemotherapy drugs in colorectal cells. Furthermore, the XPF–ERCC1 blocker also increased the cytotoxicity of 5-FU-based CRT and OXA -based CRT by inhibiting the XPF product DNA locus. In vivo, the XPF–ERCC1 blocker was confirmed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of 5-FU, OXA, 5-FU-based CRT, and OXA CRT. These findings show that XPF–ERCC1 blockers not only increase the toxicity of chemotherapy drugs but also increase the efficacy of combined chemoradiotherapy. In the future, the XPF–ERCC1 blocker may be used to improve the efficacy of 5-FU- and oxaliplatin-based CRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer-specific adoptive T cell therapy has achieved successful milestones in multiple clinical treatments. However, the commercial production of cancer-specific T cells is often hampered by laborious cell culture procedures, the concern of retrovirus-based gene transfection, or insufficient T cell purity. Methods: In this study, we developed a non-genetic engineering technology for rapidly manufacturing a large amount of cancer-specific T cells by utilizing a unique anti-cancer/anti-CD3 bispecific antibody (BsAb) to directly culture human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The anti-CD3 moiety of the BsAb bound to the T cell surface and stimulated the differentiation and proliferation of T cells in PBMCs. The anti-cancer moiety of the BsAb provided these BsAb-armed T cells with the cancer-targeting ability, which transformed the naïve T cells into cancer-specific BsAb-armed T cells. Results: With this technology, a large amount of cancer-specific BsAb-armed T cells can be rapidly generated with a purity of over 90% in 7 days. These BsAb-armed T cells efficiently accumulated at the tumor site both in vitro and in vivo. Cytotoxins (perforin and granzyme) and cytokines (TNF-α and IFN-γ) were dramatically released from the BsAb-armed T cells after engaging cancer cells, resulting in a remarkable anti-cancer efficacy. Notably, the BsAb-armed T cells did not cause obvious cytokine release syndrome or tissue toxicity in SCID mice bearing human tumors. Conclusions: Collectively, the BsAb-armed T cell technology represents a simple, time-saving, and highly safe method to generate highly pure cancer-specific effector T cells, thereby providing an affordable T cell immunotherapy to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extending the length of femtosecond laser filament has always been desired for related atmospheric applications. Here we demonstrated that significant extension of filament can be achieved in air by using phase-nested beam which integrates the arise of filamentation and longitudinally extended background reservior in one optical beam. The influences of beam parameters on the length and uniformity of filament and corresponding physical mechanism are revealed. The energy extraction process from the background reservoir to the filament is investigated based on the evolution of pulse profile during the regeneration of filament. A fiber-like model is proposed to explain the capture effect of filament to the background reservior. Our theoretical results will be helpful to understand the mechanism of background reservior in the extending of filament, and may further guide the experimental design of phase-nested beam to achieve long and homogeneous filament in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to research the lubrication performance of large-size rectangular oil pad in hydrostatic thrust bearing for heavy computer numerical control (CNC) vertical lathe.Design/methodology/approach The research establishes the mathematical models of velocity, flux and pressure fields, etc., for lubrication performance distribution, and analyzes its load-bearing behavior.Findings When hydrostatic thrust bearing’s rotating speed is within ω1-ω2, the oil flow generated by plate’s relative motion is greater than that generated by pressure difference and centrifugal force, and in the opposite direction, making it not easy to emit friction heat, so the rotating speed range ω1-ω2 should be avoided for bearing.Originality/value The research provides powerful theoretical basis for the structure design, operating reliability and practical application of large size rectangular oil pad hydrostatic thrust bearing, and realizing the prediction of its lubrication performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enolase, a multifunctional protein, is shown to act as a plasminogen receptor that contributes to fibrinolysis, which plays an important role in preventing the formation of blood clots during tick feeding. The study of enolase genes provides opportunities to develop a potential antigen target for tick control. So far, enolase has been identified in only a few species of ticks. Knowledge of the exact mechanisms of plasminogen activation and fibrinolysis by enolase as a plasminogen receptor is limited. Here, we cloned the enolase full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) from the salivary glands of Haemaphysalis flava, expressed it, and analyzed the function of the recombinant H. flava enolase. The enolase cDNA was 1988 bp in length and encoded 433 amino acid residues. It contained two domains and some highly conserved functional motifs including an assumed membrane re-association region 'AAVPSGASTGI.' The enolase exhibited 83.3 % amino acid similarity to that of the putative enolase of Ixodes ricinus, and 85 % to that of Ornithodoros moubata enolase. After eukaryotic expression in insect cells, Western blot analysis showed that the mouse antiserum against the hexahistidine-tagged recombinant enolase protein recognized a band of approximately 48 kDa. The recombinant enolase bound human plasminogen in a dose-dependent manner and enhanced plasminogen activation in the presence of host tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), most probably to promote fibrinolysis and maintain blood flow at the host-tick interface. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis showed that the expression level of enolase in salivary glands was significantly higher than in other tested tissues. Although the enolase was expressed in all developmental stages, it had the highest expression in the rapid blood feeding period of ticks. These findings indicate that the enolase might play an important role in blood feeding of H. flava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive components in the midgut of ticks play a key role in tick blood digestion, feeding and pathogen transmission. The study of protein and gene targets in midgut provides opportunities to explore novel tick control strategies. Only a few nucleotide sequences are available in public databases for Haemaphysalis flava , an important disease vector for humans and animals. Knowledge of the process of blood digestion by the ticks and protein expression in the digestive tract is limited. Here, we utilize high-throughput sequencing to characterize the midgut transcriptome of fully engorged (FE, average length of 10 mm) and partially engorged (PE, average length of 5 mm) female H. flava . 6.8 GB and 8.3 GB of high-quality sequence data were obtained using Illumina sequencing technology. 54,357,490 and 66,116,050 reads were finally assembled into 76,556 unigenes with mean length of 704 bp. The transcripts involved in blood meal digestion were classified into eight large categories, including peptidase inhibitor, peptidase (serine-, metallo-, cysteine-, aspartic-peptidase), phospholipase, carbohydrate digestion/hydrolases, lipid binding, immunity-related proteins, iron/heme metabolism and secreted proteins. A total of 5508 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between FE and PE. To confirm the DEG results, ten genes involved in blood digestion, feeding and defending from pathogens, were validated using qPCR. Our results not only contribute to better understanding of the changes in midgut transcript expression during different blood feeding stages, but also provide a valuable resource for identifying targets for future tick control studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), which leads to disability, dysfunction, and even death, is a prominent health problem worldwide with no effective treatment. A brain-permeable flavonoid named (-)-epicatechin (EC) modulates redox/oxidative stress and has been shown to be beneficial for vascular and cognitive function in humans and for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in rodents. Here we examined whether EC is able to protect the brain against TBI-induced brain injury in mice and if so, whether it exerts neuroprotection by modulating the NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) pathway. We used the controlled cortical impact model to mimic TBI. EC was administered orally at 3 h after TBI and then every 24 h for either 3 or 7 days. We evaluated lesion volume, brain edema, white matter injury, neurologic deficits, cognitive performance and emotion-like behaviors, neutrophil infiltration, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and a variety of injury-related protein markers. Nrf2 knockout mice were used to determine the role of the Nrf2 signaling pathway after EC treatment. In wild-type mice, EC significantly reduced lesion volume, edema, and cell death and improved neurologic function on days 3 and 28; cognitive performance and depression-like behaviors were also improved with EC administration. In addition, EC reduced white matter injury, heme oxygenase-1 expression, and ferric iron deposition after TBI. These changes were accompanied by attenuation of neutrophil infiltration and oxidative insults, reduced activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9, decreased Keap 1 expression, increased Nrf2 nuclear accumulation, and increased expression of superoxide dismutase 1 and quinone 1. However, EC did not significantly reduce lesion volume or improve neurologic deficits in Nrf2 knockout mice after TBI. Our results show that EC protects the TBI brain by activating the Nrf2 pathway, inhibiting heme oxygenase-1 protein expression, and reducing iron deposition. The latter two effects could represent an Nrf2-independent mechanism in this model of TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hymenolepis nana, commonly known as the dwarf tapeworm, is one of the most common tapeworms of humans and rodents and can cause hymenolepiasis. Although this zoonotic tapeworm is of socio-economic significance in many countries of the world, its genetics, systematics, epidemiology, and biology are poorly understood. In the present study, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of H. nana. The mt genome is 13,764 bp in size and encodes 36 genes, including 12 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA, and 22 transfer RNA genes. All genes are transcribed in the same direction. The gene order and genome content are completely identical with their congener Hymenolepis diminuta. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 protein-coding genes by Bayesian inference, Maximum likelihood, and Maximum parsimony showed the division of class Cestoda into two orders, supported the monophylies of both the orders Cyclophyllidea and Pseudophyllidea. Analyses of mt genome sequences also support the monophylies of the three families Taeniidae, Hymenolepididae, and Diphyllobothriidae. This novel mt genome provides a useful genetic marker for studying the molecular epidemiology, systematics, and population genetics of the dwarf tapeworm and should have implications for the diagnosis, prevention, and control of hymenolepiasis in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The heart relies on continuous energy production and imbalances herein impair cardiac function directly. The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is the primary means of energy generation in the healthy myocardium, but direct noninvasive quantification of metabolic fluxes is challenging due to the low concentration of most metabolites. Hyperpolarized 13 C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides the opportunity to measure cellular metabolism in real time in vivo. The aim of this work was to noninvasively measure myocardial TCA cycle flux (V TCA ) in vivo within a single minute. Methods and results Hyperpolarized [1- 13 C]acetate was administered at different concentrations in healthy rats. 13 C incorporation into [1- 13 C]acetylcarnitine and the TCA cycle intermediate [5- 13 C]citrate was dynamically detected in vivo with a time resolution of 3 s. Different kinetic models were established and evaluated to determine the metabolic fluxes by simultaneously fitting the evolution of the 13 C labeling in acetate, acetylcarnitine, and citrate. V TCA was estimated to be 6.7 ± 1.7 μmol · g − 1 · min − 1 (dry weight), and was best estimated with a model using only the labeling in citrate and acetylcarnitine, independent of the precursor. The TCA cycle rate was not linear with the citrate-to-acetate metabolite ratio, and could thus not be quantified using a ratiometric approach. The 13 C signal evolution of citrate, i.e. citrate formation was independent of the amount of injected acetate, while the 13 C signal evolution of acetylcarnitine revealed a dose dependency with the injected acetate. The 13 C labeling of citrate did not correlate to that of acetylcarnitine, leading to the hypothesis that acetylcarnitine formation is not an indication of mitochondrial TCA cycle activity in the heart. Conclusions Hyperpolarized [1- 13 C]acetate is a metabolic probe independent of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity. It allows the direct estimation of V TCA in vivo, which was shown to be neither dependent on the administered acetate dose nor on the 13 C labeling of acetylcarnitine. Dynamic 13 C MRS coupled to the injection of hyperpolarized [1- 13 C]acetate can enable the measurement of metabolic changes during impaired heart function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can lead to disability, dysfunction, and even death, is a prominent health problem worldwide. Effective therapy for this serious and debilitating condition is needed. Human umbilical cord matrix, known as Wharton's jelly (WJ), provides a natural, interface scaffold that is enriched in mesenchymal stem cells. In this study, we tested the efficacy of WJ tissue transplantation in a weight-drop model of TBI in rats. WJ tissue was cultured and transplanted into the injury site 24 h after TBI. The modified neurologic severity score, body weight, brain edema, and lesion volume were evaluated at various time points after TBI. Cognitive behavior was assessed by the novel object recognition test and the Morris water maze test. Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the perilesional brain area was measured at day 14 after TBI. We found that WJ tissue transplantation lessened TBI-induced brain edema (day 3), reduced lesion volume (day 28), improved neurologic function (days 21-28), and promoted memory and cognitive recovery. Additionally, expression of BDNF mRNA and protein was higher in WJ tissue-treated rats than in sham-operated or vehicle-treated rats. These data suggest that WJ tissue transplantation can reduce TBI-induced brain injury and may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]