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Anoplophora glabripennis is one of the most devastating wood-boring beetles that attacks poplars. However, one poplar species, Populus deltoides, has strong resistance to Anoplophora glabripennis infestation, the underlying defense mechanisms against Anoplophora glabripennis are poorly understood. Secondary metabolites play a crucial role in plants to combat biological stress. Here, based on transcriptome and metabolome, we demonstrated that the mechanisms for responses to mechanical damage and insect infestation were different. The degree of reactions to adult groove production, larval incubation, and larval frass production was not identical. In addition, the potential genes with insect resistance activity were identified. Predominant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) found in the phloem of Populus deltoides include anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase5 (PdUGT72E), peroxidase 73 (PdPod73), peroxidase A2 (PdPodA2) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (PdMIF) responded to stress caused by Anoplophora glabripennis, which further resulted in activation of the plant defense system against insects via changes in regulation of metabolic pathways, such as tyrosine metabolism pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway and flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. Therefore, this work has laid a foundation for further unraveling the mechanisms involved in this interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the feasibility of producing high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steel using advanced wire-fed laser additive manufacturing (LAM-W) and wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technologies. Optimized parameters were independently developed for each heat source, utilizing a self-designed HSLA steel wire as the feedstock. Microstructural features and mechanical properties of the fabricated steels were characterized and compared, taking into account differences in heat input and cooling rates. LAM-W samples exhibited a finer columnar grain microstructure, while both LAM-W- and WAAM-produced steels predominantly showed lower bainite and granular bainite microstructures. LAM-W demonstrated higher strength and hardness, lower ductility, and comparable low-temperature toughness compared to WAAM. Both processes demonstrated an excellent balance between strength and ductility, with absorbed energy exceeding 100 J at −40 °C. The study confirms the feasibility of producing high-strength and tough HSLA steel parts using LAM-W and WAAM technologies, and compares the advantages and disadvantages of each method. These findings assist in selecting the most suitable wire-fed AM process for HSLA steel fabrication at high deposition rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni-Co/ZrO2 composite coatings were fabricated by electrochemical deposition from sulfamate solutions containing zirconia nanoparticles. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the effect of mechanical stirring and ultrasonic agitation in plating solutions on the structure and properties of Ni-Co/ZrO2 composite coatings. The morphology, microstructure, microhardness, anti-corrosion and wear resistance of the composites were investigated via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Vickers microhardness testing, electrochemical workstation utilization and friction wear testing. The hardness, friction coefficient, wear loss, corrosion rate of the composite coating prepared with mechanical stirring, and ultrasonic agitation were 533 and 680 HV; 0.40 ± 0.02 and 0.35 ± 0.02; 2.15 × 10−5; 0.85 × 10−5 g·m−1; and 0.36 and 0.07 mm/year, respectively. In comparison to mechanical stirring, ultrasonic agitation could more uniformly disperse the zirconia nanoparticles to obtain Ni-Co/ZrO2 composite coatings, which has simplicity and compactness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the response of carburized 20CrNi2MoV steel to cryogenic treatment including microstructure and wear resistance. Two cryogenic treatment methods including cryogenic treatment at −80 °C (CT) and deep cryogenic treatment at −196 °C (DCT) as well as conventional heat treatment (CHT) were carried out after carburizing process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were employed for microstructure characterization. The wear resistance was investigated by ball-on-disc sliding wear test on a multi-functional tribometer. The results show that the wear resistance of the experimental steel has been improved by 17% due to CT and by 25.5% due to DCT when compared to CHT. This significant improvement in wear resistance after cryogenic treatment is attributed to the microstructural changes including the finer martensitic structure, the reduction of retained austenite and the development of fine and more numerous carbides. Among these factors, the precipitation of fine carbides plays a more prominent role in enhancing wear resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of intravitreal injection of conbercept in combination with retinal laser photocoagulation in the treatment of diabetic macular edema., Methods: Ninety patients with diabetic macular edema were selected and grouped into an observation group and a control group using random number table, 45 patients (45 eyes) each group. The control group was given retinal laser photocoagulation, while the observation group was given intravitreal injection of Conbercept on the basis of panretinal photocoagulation. The Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA), thickness of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and macular thickness were measured through relevant examinations before and after treatment. The intraocular pressures of patients in the two groups were evaluated, and moreover the complications were recorded., Results: The RNFL thickness and macular thickness of the two groups had no statistically significant differences before treatment (P>0.05) and decreased significantly after treatment; the decrease amplitude of the observation group was significantly larger than that of the control group (P<0.05). The BCVA of both groups significantly increased in the 1 st , 2 nd and 4 th week after treatment (P<0.05); the increase amplitude of BCVA of the observation group was more significant than that of the control group at different time points after treatment (P<0.05). The intraocular pressure of the observation group was not significantly different with that of the control group in the 1 st , 2 nd and 4 th week after treatment (P>0.05). There were no severe eye complications and systemic adverse reactions in both groups in the process of follow up., Conclusion: Intravitreal injection of conbercept in combination with retinal laser photocoagulation performs better in improving the BCVA and central macular thickness of patients with diabetic macular edema compared to retinal laser photocoagulation and has high safety., (Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.)

Objective: To observe the influence of psychological intervention on pain, immune system and adrenocortical functions of patients receiving lung cancer surgery., Methods: We selected 124 patients who received surgery for treating stage I or II lung cancer and divided into experimental group and control group. The experimental group received comprehensive psychological intervention while the control group was given conventional nursing intervention. Pain of patients in two groups was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). Before and after intervention, CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+) and free cortisol level in serum were measured. Moreover, QLQ-C30, a life quality measurement scale developed by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) was used., Results: Compared to control group, VAS of patients in experimental group remarkably decreased before anesthesia, 6 hour, 12 hour 24 hour and 48 hour after surgery (P<0.05), and moreover, OLQ-C30 score and various factor scores (except physical symptoms) in experimental group were much higher (P<0.05). No statistical significant difference was found in immune index between two groups before intervention (P>0.05). Differences of CD3(+) and CD4(+) before and after intervention were both statistically significant (P<0.05), so did free cortisol level (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Comprehensive psychological intervention can effectively relieve pain, improve immune functions and enhance quality of life for patients suffering from lung cancer surgery.

Introduction: Myeloma bone disease (MBD) is the result of the increased activity of osteoclasts (OCs), which is not accompanied by a comparable increase of osteoblast (OB) function, thus leading to enhanced bone resorption. Osteoblasts can also regulate osteoclast activity through expression of cytokines, such as receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), which activates osteoclast differentiation, and osteoprotegerin (OPG), which inhibits RANKL by acting as a decoy receptor., Material and Methods: Based on a series of 21 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and human osteoblast cell line HFOB1.19, we provide evidence that the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) of patients with MM exhibit normal phenotype, but showed reduced efficiency to differentiate into OBs as compared with normal controls., Results: In vitro assays showed that MM cells inhibited the potential of osteogenic differentiation of BMMSCs from healthy controls and rendered the OBs sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. There was no evidence of the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive OCs. The osteogenic differentiation of HFOB1.19 was also inhibited in the presence of RPMI 8266 or XG7 MM cells, as confirmed by von Kossa and ALP staining. Osteoblast s induced from BMMSCs supported survival and proliferation of MM cells, especially when the MM cells were cultured in medium containing rhTRAIL and dexamethasone. Multiple myeloma cells proliferated and grew well in the presence of residual OBs., Conclusions: Besides OCs, our results demonstrated that OBs and MM cells were dependent upon each other and made a microenvironment suitable for MM cells.