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The shallow-sea net-cage culture of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) has been developing rapidly in recent years, and the culture mode of feeding formula feed has been accepted by farmers. However, the optimal culture density under the feeding mode is still unknown. To evaluate the influence of culture density on the shallow sea net-cage culture of sea cucumber under a feeding mode, this study examined the growth, digestive enzymes, and gut bacterial community structure of sea cucumber at different culture densities. The culture density was set to 10 kg/cage, 20 kg/cage and 30 kg/cage, marked as F10, F20 and F30, respectively. Sea cucumber seedlings with an initial body weight of (75.11±2.99) g were randomly assigned into 9 cages (3 replicates of each density level) according to the density settings. The net cage is cuboidal and its length, width and height were 4 m, 4 m, and 3 m, respectively. After a 42-day experimental period, the total weight of sea cucumber in each cage was weighted and 20~30 individuals in each cage were randomly sampled for individual weight and body wall weight. Then, intestines from 3 individuals were sampled and preserved at –80 ℃ freezer. Digestive enzyme (Trypsin, Amylase, and Lipase) activities were determined spectrophotometrically using enzyme activity assay kits (Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, China) following the manufacturer's instructions. Gut microbial DNA was extracted, and the V3~V4 region of the prokaryotic ribosomal RNA gene (16S rDNA) was amplified and sequenced on an Illumina Novaseq platform. Sequence data were then analyzed on the platform BMKCloud (www.biocloud.net). The results showed that as culture density increased, the weight gain rate of sea cucumbers in net-cage culture significantly decreased, and both the F20 and F30 groups had significantly lower weight gain rates compared to the F10 group (P < 0.05). In addition, increasing culture density resulted in a significant increase in net production and body wall production rates, although none of the differences were significant (P < 0.05). The feed conversion ratio of the F10 group was the lowest and not significantly different from that of the F20 group, but significantly lower than that of the F30 group (P < 0.05). The enzyme activities of all three digestive enzymes showed a decreasing trend with the culture density increase. The digestive enzyme activity of F30 was significantly lower than that of F10 and F20 (P < 0.05). The similarity of the bacterial community structure between the F10 group and F20 group was relatively high. The ACE index of F10 group was significantly lower than that of the F20 group (P < 0.05), while the Chao1 index, Shannon's index and Simpson's index showed no significant difference from that of the F20 group (P > 0.05). All the microbial diversity indices of the F30 group were significantly lower than those of the other density groups (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of dominant organisms varied with culture density. The relative abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria tended to decrease with increasing density, while the opposite was true for Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria. The relative abundance of Actinobacteria in group F10 was significantly higher than that of group F30 (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Bifidobacteria and Streptococcus was significantly higher in group F10 than in groups F20 and F30 (P < 0.05), and the relative abundance of Oscillospiraceae and Rikenellaceae was significantly higher in the F20 group than in the F10 and F30 groups (P < 0.05). LEfSe analysis showed that F10, F20, and F30 were mainly significantly enriched in Streptococcus, Ruminococcus UCG_005 and Alkanindiges, respectively. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that three gut bacteria genera were significantly positively correlated with digestive enzyme activities, including Streptococcus, unclassified_ Muribaculaceae and UCG_005. According to the benefit estimation, there was little difference in culture benefit between the F20 and F30 groups, both of which were significantly higher than the F10 group. The results indicate that higher culture densities can improve the net-cage culture production of sea cucumber, thus increasing the overall benefit. However, too high culture density could negatively affect the growth, digestive enzymes, and the gut microbial balance of the sea cucumber. Therefore, to improve the overall benefit, it is better to increase the culture density to 20 kg/cage in the current small net-cage feeding mode. These results provide references for the scientific culture of sea cucumbers in shallow-sea net-cage systems, leading to improvements in both quality and culture efficiency.

Abstract Against conventional wisdom, corrugated grain boundaries in polycrystalline graphene, grown on Pt(111) surfaces, are shown to exhibit negative friction coefficients and non-monotonic velocity dependence. Using combined experimental, simulation, and modeling efforts, the underlying energy dissipation mechanism is found to be dominated by dynamic buckling of grain boundary dislocation protrusions. The revealed mechanism is expected to appear in a wide range of polycrystalline two-dimensional material interfaces, thus supporting the design of large-scale dry superlubric contacts.

The natural product Desmosdumotin D (hereafter referred to as Des-D), isolated from the plant Desmos dumosus, showed potent anti-HIV activity. However, the subsequent pharmacological activity and clinical studies are limited due to the low content of Des-D in the plant. Therefore, the total synthesis path of Des-D was optimized in this paper, and the total yield was increased from 4.4% to 11.9%. Additionally, twelve analogues were obtained following the synthesis route of Des-D. The anti-HIV activity evaluation results in vitro showed that Des-D had the highest activity, with an IC50 value of 13.6 μM, and compounds 17 and 11 had the lowest anti-HIV activity, with IC50 values of 101.3 μM and 161.0 μM, respectively. Through the molecular docking of compounds Des-D and 17 with HIV-IN, the results show that phenolic hydroxyl groups and two benzene rings interact with HIV-IN and are possible pharmacodynamic groups.

Background: There is a lack of comprehensive profile assessment on complete blood count (CBC)-derived systemic-inflammatory indices, and their correlations with clinical outcome in patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who achieved successful recanalization by endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Methods: Patients with anterior circulation AIS caused by large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO) were retrospectively screened from December 2018 to December 2022. Systemic-inflammatory indices including ratios of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), and platelet-to-neutrophil (PNR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate inflammation systemic index (AISI) on admission and the first day post-EVT were calculated. Their correlations with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and unfavorable 90-day functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 3–6) were analyzed. Results: A total of 482 patients [65 (IQR, 56–72) years; 33 % female] were enrolled, of which 231 (47.9 %) had unfavorable 90-day outcome and 50 (10.4 %) developed sICH. Day 1 neutrophil and monocyte counts, NLR, MLR, PLR, SII, SIRI, and AISI were increased, while lymphocyte and PNR were decreased compared to their admission levels. In multivariate analyses, neutrophil count, NLR, SII, and AISI on day 1 were independently associated with 90-day functional outcome. Moreover, day 1 neutrophil count, NLR, MLR, PLR, PNR, SII, and SIRI were independently linked to the occurrence of sICH. No admission variables were identified as independent risk factors for patient outcomes. Conclusion: CBC-derived systemic-inflammatory indices measured on the first day after successful EVT are predictive of 90-day functional outcome and the sICH occurrence in patients with anterior circulation AIS-LVO.

Abstract The development of semiconductor photocatalysts is of great significance for the realization of efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE). AgIn5S8, as an emerging ternary metal sulfide photocatalyst, possesses the advantages of suitable bandgap (1.7–2.0 eV), environment‐friendly elements, and strong photostability, which holds great potential to realize high‐efficiency PHE. Although AgIn5S8‐based photocatalysts have achieved promising research progresses, their PHE performances are still far below the level of commercial applications. In this review, the basic semiconductor properties of AgIn5S8 and PHE mechanism are first introduced in detail. Subsequently, the development process and PHE activities of AgIn5S8‐based photocatalysts are systematically summarized, mainly including morphology control, Schottky junction formation through cocatalyst loading, and construction of different types of heterojunctions. Finally, the current issues and the possible solutions of AgIn5S8‐based photocatalysts in future studies are presented.

Background This study aimed to investigate regional levels of TAT (thrombin‐antithrombin complex), PIC (plasmin‐α2 plasmin inhibitor complex), t‐PAIC (tissue plasminogen activator‐plasminogen activator inhibitor complex), sTM (soluble thrombomodulin), and D‐dimer, along with their associations with clinical and procedural characteristics in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular thrombectomy. Methods and Results We retrospectively analyzed 166 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (62±11.54 years of age, 34.3% women) using prospectively maintained clinical databases and blood samples from local ischemic (proximal to thrombus) and systemic (femoral artery, self‐control) arterial compartments. Levels of TAT, PIC, t‐PAIC, and D‐dimer were significantly elevated, whereas sTM was significantly reduced, in local ischemic regions compared with their systemic levels. Each 1‐unit increase in ischemic TAT (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.086 [95% CI, 1.03–1.145]; P=0.002; area under the curve [AUC], 0.833) and PIC (aOR, 1.337 [95% CI, 1.087–1.644]; P=0.006; AUC, 0.771) correlated significantly with higher symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage risk. Additionally, each 1‐unit increase in ischemic TAT (aOR, 1.076 [95% CI, 1.016–1.139]; P=0.013; AUC, 0.797), PIC (aOR, 1.554 [95% CI, 1.194–2.022]; P=0.001; AUC, 0.798), and sTM (aOR, 0.769 [95% CI, 0.615–0.961]; P=0.021; AUC, 0.756) was significantly associated with an increased risk of an unfavorable 90‐day outcome (modified Rankin scale of 3–6). These hemostatic molecules, individually or combined, significantly improved the predictive power of conventional risk factors, as evidenced by significant increases in net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement (all P

Nicotine and nornicotine-typed compounds are well-known for its potential as insecticide. Some researches have shown that nicotine was highly toxic to Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, an invasive and fast spreading pest. Here we report the effects of nornicotine-typed insecticide against D. citri. Novel compounds A1-A8, B1–B28, C1–C18 and D1-D12 were synthesized by reported procedure. And bioassays indicated that some of these compounds exhibited good effects against D. citri. Compounds B2, B3, B8, B12, B13, B22, C5, C7, D5, and D9 exhibited the mortality up to 100% within 120 h in 50 mg/L. And further data shows that A2-5, A7, B1, B8, B20 and B22 showed rapid insecticidal activities against D. citri in 24 h with the low LC50 (LC50

As a valuable mineral resource, uranium is extensively utilized in nuclear power generation, radiation therapy, isotope labeling, and tracing. In order to achieve energy structure diversification, reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels, and promote the sustainable development of energy production and consumption, research on the metallogenic mechanisms and related development technologies of uranium resources has been one of the focuses of China’s energy development. Sandstone-type uranium deposits make up approximately 43% of all deposits in China, making them the most prevalent form of uranium deposit there. Sandstone-type uranium deposits and hydrocarbon resources frequently coexist in the same basin in China. Therefore, this study summarizes the spatial and chronological distribution, as well as the geological characteristics, of typical sandstone-type uranium deposits in China’s hydrocarbon-bearing basins. From the perspectives of fluid action, geological structure, and sedimentary environment, the metallogenic mechanisms of sandstone-type uranium deposits in hydrocarbon-bearing basins are explored. According to the research, the rapid reduction effect of oil and gas in the same basin is a major factor in the generation of relatively large uranium deposits. Additionally, ions such as CO32− and HCO3− in hydrothermal fluids of hydrocarbon-bearing basins, which typically originate from dispersed oil and gas, are more conducive to uranium enrichment and sedimentation. This study provides guidance for efficient sandstone-type uranium deposit exploration and production in hydrocarbon-bearing basins and helps to achieve significant improvements in uranium resource exploitation efficiency.

The number of colleges and universities in China has been increasing year by year. University buildings have tremendous energy-saving potential due to their high personnel density and energy consumption demand. However, there is a lack of research and regulations focusing on such buildings and taking functional requirements, operating patterns, and climate conditions into account. In the HSCW zone of China, the overlap of energy consumption peak and universities’ winter and summer vacations will lead to improper or excessive implementation of energy-saving measures in practice. This research study on a university teaching building in Shanghai simulated the energy consumption with EnergyPlus (Version 22.1.0) to compare the variation trend of the building’s energy consumption (heating, cooling and annual energy consumption) under different design parameter settings. The influence of orientation and window–wall ratio on the energy consumption intensity of classrooms of various sizes was analyzed, and design strategies were proposed. The research indicates that the annual energy consumption of educational buildings in hot summer and cold winter areas can be reduced by approximately 44.4% during vacations. However, cooling energy consumption remains 18.0–19.4% greater than heating energy consumption. The energy intensity of classrooms decreases as the space size increases. Medium-sized classrooms, with an energy intensity ranging from 44.2–47.6 kWh/m2, require priority in energy-efficient design owing to their considerable quantity and high utilization. The findings offer design suggestions for the optimal orientation and window-to-wall ratios of classrooms of different scales, which can be used as a reference for the design of university teaching buildings and the energy-saving retrofit of existing campus buildings.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a fatal disease with high mortality and poor prognosis that triggers multiple severe brain injuries associated with an inflammatory cascade response that cannot be treated with any effective medication. Atorvastatin (ATO) suppresses inflammation, alleviates brain trauma, and eliminates subdural hematoma. Dexamethasone (DXM) also has the capacity to inhibit inflammation. Thus, we combined ATO with low-dose DXM to treat ICH mice in vivo to examine whether the combined treatment can inhibit secondary inflammation around the cerebral hemorrhage and decrease overall mortality. Compared to the monotherapy by either ATO or DXM, the combined treatment significantly improves the survivorship of the ICH mice, accelerates their recovery of impaired neurological function, and modulates the circulating cytokines, oxidative products, and apoptosis. Moreover, the benefit of ATO-DXM combination therapy was most pronounced on day 3 after dosing compared to ATO or DXM alone. Thus, early administration of ATO combined with low-dose-DXM promotes better survival of ICH and improves neurological function by reducing neuroinflammation and brain edema in their early phase.

Abstract Background Air pollution increases the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Atherosclerosis (AS) is the pathological basis of most CVD, and the progression of atherosclerosis and the increase of fragile plaque rupture are the mechanism basis of the relationship between atmospheric particulate pollution and CVD. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of coal-fired fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on the expression levels of atherosclerosis-related proteins (von Willebrand factor (vWF), Endothelin-1 (ET-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin, and to explore the role and mechanism of the progression of atherosclerosis induced by coal-fired PM2.5 via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Methods Different concentrations of PM2.5 were given to apolipoprotein-E knockout (ApoE−/−) mice via intratracheal instillation for 8 weeks. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of vWF, ET-1 in serum of mice. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression and distribution of ICAM-1 and E-selectin in the aorta of mice. Western blot was used to investigate the phosphoylation of proteins relevant to MAPK signaling pathways. Results Coal-fired PM2.5 exacerbated atherosclerosis induced by a high-fat diet. Fibrous cap formation, foam cells accumulation, and atherosclerotic lesions were observed in the aortas of PM2.5-treated mice. Coal-fired PM2.5 increased the protein levels of ET-1, ICAM-1, and E-selectin, but there was no significant difference in the vWF levels between the PM2.5-treatment mice and the HFD control mice. Coal-fired PM2.5 promoted the phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in aortic tissues of mice. Conclusion Coal-derived PM2.5 exacerbated the formation of atherosclerosis in mice, increased the expression levels of atherosclerosis-related proteins in mice serum, and promoted the phosphorylation of proteins relevant to MAPK signaling pathway. Thus, MAPK signaling pathway may play a role in the atherosclerosis pathogenesis induced by Coal-derived PM2.5.

Abstract Subdural haematomas (SDHs) are characterized by rapidly or gradually accumulated haematomas between the arachnoid and dura mater. The mechanism of haematoma clearance has not been clearly elucidated until now. The meningeal lymphatic vessel (mLV) drainage pathway is a novel system that takes part in the clearance of waste products in the central nervous system (CNS). This study aimed to explore the roles of the mLV drainage pathway in SDH clearance and its impacting factors. We injected FITC-500D, A488-fibrinogen and autologous blood into the subdural space of mice/rats and found that these substances drained into deep cervical lymph nodes (dCLNs). FITC-500D was also observed in the lymphatic vessels (LYVE+) of the meninges and the dCLNs in mice. The SDH clearance rate in SDH rats that received deep cervical lymph vessel (dCLV) ligation surgery was significantly lower than that in the control group, as evaluated by haemoglobin quantification and MRI scanning. The drainage rate of mLVs was significantly slower after the SDH model was established, and the expression of lymphangiogenesis-related proteins, including LYVE1, FOXC2 and VEGF-C, in meninges was downregulated. In summary, our findings proved that SDH was absorbed through the mLV drainage pathway and that haematomas could inhibit the function of mLVs.

The continuous temperature rise has raised global concerns about CO2 emissions. As the country with the largest CO2 emissions, China is facing the challenge of achieving large CO2 emission reductions (or even net-zero CO2 emissions) in a short period. With the strong support and encouragement of the Chinese government, technological breakthroughs and practical applications of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are being aggressively pursued, and some outstanding accomplishments have been realized. Based on the numerous information from a wide variety of sources including publications and news reports only available in Chinese, this paper highlights the latest CCUS progress in China after 2019 by providing an overview of known technologies and typical projects, aiming to provide theoretical and practical guidance for achieving net-zero CO2 emissions in the future.

Resulting from bacterial infection, apical periodontitis (AP) is a common inflammatory disease of the periapical region of the tooth. The regeneration of the destroyed periapical alveolar bone and the surrounding periodontium tissues has long been a difficult task in clinical practice. These lesions are closely related to pathogen invasion and an overreactive immune response. It is worth noting that the protective healing process occurs simultaneously, in which mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a crucial function in mediating the immune system and promoting regeneration. Here, we review the recent studies related to AP, with a focus on the regulatory network of MSCs. We also discuss the potential therapeutic approaches of MSCs in inflammatory diseases to provide a basis for promoting tissue regeneration and modulating inflammation in AP. A deeper understanding of the protective action of MSCs and the regulatory networks will help to delineate the underlying mechanisms of AP and pave the way for stem-cell-based regenerative medicine in the future.

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a massive loss of specific neurons, which can be fatal. Acrolein, an omnipresent environmental pollutant, is classified as a priority control contaminant by the EPA. Evidence suggests that acrolein is a highly active unsaturated aldehyde related to many nervous system diseases. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to identify the function of acrolein in neurodegenerative diseases, such as ischemic stroke, AD, PD, and MS, and its exact regulatory mechanism. Acrolein is involved in neurodegenerative diseases mainly by elevating oxidative stress, polyamine metabolism, neuronal damage, and plasma ACR-PC levels, and decreasing urinary 3-HPMA and plasma GSH levels. At present, the protective mechanism of acrolein mainly focused on the use of antioxidant compounds. This review aimed to clarify the role of acrolein in the pathogenesis of four neurodegenerative diseases (ischemic stroke, AD, PD and MS), as well as protection strategies, and to propose future trends in the inhibition of acrolein toxicity through optimization of food thermal processing and exploration of natural products.

The objective of this study was to develop a novel hybrid genipin-crosslinked dual-sensitive hydrogel/nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) drug delivery platform. An ophthalmic anti-inflammatory drug, baicalin (BN) was chosen as the model drug. BNNLC was prepared using melt-emulsification combined with ultra-sonication technique. Additionally, a dual pH- and thermo-sensitive hydrogel composed of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and poloxamer 407 (F127) was fabricated by a cross-linking reaction with a nontoxic crosslinker genipin (GP). GP-CMCS/F127 hydrogel was characterized by FTIR, NMR, XRD and SEM. The swelling studies showed GP-CMCS/F127 hydrogel was both pH- and thermo-sensitive. The results of in vitro release suggested BNNLC gel can prolong the release of baicalin comparing with BN eye drops and BNNLC. Ex vivo cornea permeation study was evaluated using Franz diffusion cells. The apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) of BNNLC gel was much higher (4.46-fold) than that of BN eye drops. Through the determination of corneal hydration levels, BNNLC gel was confirmed that had no significant irritation to cornea. Ex vivo precorneal retention experiments were carried out by a flow-through approach. The results indicated that the NLC-based hydrogel can prolong precorneal residence time. In conclusion, the hybrid NLC-based hydrogel has a promising potential for application in ocular drug delivery. Keywords: Ocular drug delivery, Nanostructured lipid carrier, Semi-IPN hydrogel

The goal of the current study was to determine the appropriate spatial shapes for classroom occupants while saving energy. The research used parametric design and Genetic Algorithm (GA) to achieve this. Four recognized performance indicators, Energy Use Intensity (EUI), Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI), Daylight Factor (DF), and Daylight Autonomy (DA), were used as the evaluation indexes for the research. The tests took place in six east–west-oriented classrooms at Shanghai University, China. The methodology was based on four steps: (1) parametric 3D modeling by Rhino and Grasshopper; (2) using building performance simulation tools; (3) running algorithm optimization; (4) outputting the useful results. The results proved that the methodology worked successfully in reducing energy consumption: optimized classrooms could be reduced by 7.5~14.5%, and classrooms with east directions were generally 4.8~8.3% more efficient than west-facing ones. The indoor lighting environment was also significantly improved, being slightly better than north–south-oriented classrooms in terms of the UDI index (60~75%) and inferior (but still high) in terms of the DF (4.0~7.0%) and DA (60~80%) indexes. The conclusion can help save design time in the early design process of teaching spaces.

For this investigation, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) served, for the first time, as a model organism to evaluate the toxic effect and possible underlying mechanisms under acrolein (ACR) exposure. The results showed that ACR exposure (12.5–100 μM) shortened the lifespan of C. elegans. The reproductive capacity, body length, body width, and locomotive behavior (head thrash) of C. elegans were diminished by ACR, especially the doses of 50 and 100 μM. Furthermore, ACR significantly enhanced the endogenous ROS levels of C. elegans, inhibited the antioxidant-related enzyme activities, and affected the expression of antioxidant related genes. The increasing oxidative stress level promoted the migration of DAF-16 into the nucleus that was related to the DAF-16/FOXO pathway. It was also confirmed by the significant decrease of the lifespan-shortening trend in the daf-16 knockout mutant. In conclusion, ACR exposure induced aging and oxidative stress in C.elegans, resulting in aging-related decline and defense-related DAF-16/FOXO pathways’ activation.

Waste classification is an important part of the renovation of rural human settlements, and the renovation of rural human settlements is also of great significance to global sustainable development. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to study the factors that affect the classification behavior for promoting waste classification behavior. However, few studies have focused on the political participation of rural residents as a driving factor. Therefore, this study aims to explore whether political participation affects rural residents’ waste classification behavior. In particular, this study uses the China Land Economic Survey (CLES), which surveyed 2628 rural households in Jiangsu Province, China, and uses the Probit model to explore the quantitative impact of political participation on farmers’ waste classification behavior. This study finds that: (1) Political participation may significantly improve farmers’ waste classification behavior. Specifically, farmers who participated in the general election were 10.6% more likely to conduct waste classification than those who did not vote in the general election. (2) Groups receiving government subsidies may be more likely to understand the government’s waste classification policy and then carry out waste classification. (3) Residents in areas with high economic development may be more sensitive to opportunity cost than residents in areas with low economic development, so residents in areas with high economic development degree are less willing to participate in waste classification action, and political participation has less influence on waste classification. Therefore, this research helps improve the efficiency of waste classification, ameliorate waste classification behavior, and provide the references for building a more civilized rural living environment.

Dental follicle progenitor/stem cells (DFPCs) are a group of dental mesenchyme stem cells that lie in the dental follicle and play a critical role in tooth development and maintaining function. Originating from neural crest, DFPCs harbor a multipotential differentiation capacity. More importantly, they have superiorities, including the easy accessibility and abundant sources, active self-renewal ability and noncontroversial sources compared with other stem cells, making them an attractive candidate in the field of tissue engineering. Recent advances highlight the excellent properties of DFPCs in regeneration of orofacial tissues, including alveolar bone repair, periodontium regeneration and bio-root complex formation. Furthermore, they play a unique role in maintaining a favorable microenvironment for stem cells, immunomodulation and nervous related tissue regeneration. This review is intended to summarize the current knowledge of DFPCs, including their stem cell properties, physiological functions and clinical application potential. A deep understanding of DFPCs can thus inspire novel perspectives in regenerative medicine in the future.

BackgroundThe incidence of symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is increasing in Chinese aging population, but its clinical and demographic knowledge is still lacking. This study sought to outline the clinical and demographic data of CSDH patients from two medical centers in Tianjin and Chongqing to provide a better understanding for CSDH treatment in China.MethodsAge, sex, etiologies, conscious level on admission, treatment strategies, outcome at discharge, recurrence, and concomitant disease of enrolled patients were recorded. The data were further analyzed after the patients were sub-grouped into young/middle (less than 60 years old) and old (over than 60 years old) age groups.ResultsA total of 1281 CSDH patients were enrolled. Of these, 85.01% were male and 51.91% were aged between 60 and 80 years. 57.61% patients encountered head trauma before diagnosing CSDH. The top three clinical symptoms at admission were headache (58.55%), dyskinesia (36.92%), and dizziness (33.96%). Headache as well as dizziness often happened in young/middle age group, while dyskinesia often occurred in the old age group. The most common concomitant diseases were cardio-cerebrovascular system diseases (41.14%). The concomitant respiratory diseases in aged patients led to unfavorable outcomes (p = 0.049, OR:0.357). The prognosis of old age subgroup receiving conservative treatment was better than those who received burr-hole drainage treatment (p < 0.015, OR:4.091).ConclusionCSDH mostly occurs in aged and male population with a history a head trauma. The respiratory disease often results in unfavorable outcomes in aged patients. Conservative treatment might benefit some patients.

The rack columns have so distinctive characteristics in their design, which have regular perforations to facilitate installation of the rack system that it is more difficult to be analyzed with traditional cold-formed steel structures design theory or standards. The emergence of industrial “big-data” has created better innovative thinking for those working in various fields including science, engineering, and business. The main contribution of this paper lies in that, with engineering data from finite element simulation and physical test, a novel data-driven model (DDM) using artificial neural network technology is proposed for optimization design of thin-walled steel specific perforated members. The data-driven model based on machine learning is able to provide a more effective help for decision-making of innovative design in steel members. The results of the case study indicate that compared with the traditional finite element simulation and physical test, the DDM for the solving the hard problem of complicated steel perforated column design seems to be very promising.

Steel pallet racks (SPRs) are characterized by boltless beam-column connections (BCCs). The role of BCCs becomes more significant during hazardous conditions such as earthquakes. Due to the great number of beam-end connector types and member geometries, the accurate evaluation of their structural behavior, especially under seismic loads, seems to be very difficult to perform so far. In this paper, the authors present results of simulation based on cyclic tests on different types of industrial rack joints by the finite element (FE) modeling of connections. This paper mainly investigates the BCC geometrical factors affecting the dynamic behavior of braced racks. Design indications are consequently provided in order to guarantee a globally homogenous ductility among different BCC configurations under seismic actions.

The structural superlubricity (SSL), a state of near-zero friction between two contacted solid surfaces, has been attracting rapidly increasing research interest since it was realized in microscale graphite in 2012. An obvious question concerns the implications of SSL for micro- and nanoscale devices such as actuators. The simplest actuators are based on the application of a normal load; here we show that this leads to remarkable dynamical phenomena in microscale graphite mesas. Under an increasing normal load, we observe mechanical instabilities leading to dynamical states, the first where the loaded mesa suddenly ejects a thin flake and the second characterized by peculiar oscillations, during which a flake repeatedly pops out of the mesa and retracts back. The measured ejection speeds are extraordinarily high (maximum of 294 m/s), and correspond to ultrahigh accelerations (maximum of 1.1x1010 m/s²). These observations are rationalized using a simple model, which takes into account SSL of graphite contacts and sample microstructure and considers a competition between the elastic and interfacial energies that defines the dynamical phase diagram of the system. Analyzing the observed flake ejection and oscillations, we conclude that our system exhibits a high speed in SSL, a low friction coefficient of 3.6x10-6, and a high quality factor of 1.3x107 compared with what has been reported in literature. Our experimental discoveries and theoretical findings suggest a route for development of SSL-based devices such as high-frequency oscillators with ultrahigh quality factors and optomechanical switches, where retractable or oscillating mirrors are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([emim][OTf]) is an efficient co-solvent and co-promoter for one-pot sequential glycosylation with the combined use of thioglycosides and trichloroacetimidates (or N-phenyltrifluoroacetimidates) donors at room temperature. One-pot glycosylation is efficient for the synthesis of triterpenoid saponins with the combined use of N-phenyltrifluoroacetimidate donors and 2-methyl-5-tert-butylphenyl (Mbp) thioglycoside donors in [emim][OTf]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an economically important, Office International des Epizooties (OIE) notifiable, transboundary viral disease of small ruminants such as sheep and goat. PPR virus (PPRV), a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus, is the causal agent of PPR. Therefore, sensitive, specific and rapid diagnostic assay for the detection of PPRV are necessary to accurately and promptly diagnose suspected case of PPR. Methods: In this study, reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification assays using real-time fluorescent detection (real-time RT-RPA assay) and lateral flow strip detection (LFS RT-RPA assay) were developed targeting the N gene of PPRV. Results: The sensitivity of the developed real-time RT-RPA assay was as low as 100 copies per reaction within 7 min at 40 °C with 95% reliability; while the sensitivity of the developed LFS RT-RPA assay was as low as 150 copies per reaction at 39 °C in less than 25 min. In both assays, there were no cross-reactions with sheep and goat pox viruses, foot-and-mouth disease virus and Orf virus. Conclusions: These features make RPA assay promising candidates either in field use or as a point of care diagnostic technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report a high-temperature exchange bias (EB) effect in melt-spun Mn55Bi45 alloy ribbons. A remarkable spontaneous exchange bias (up to 1700 Oe) was achieved at temperature from 300K to 550 K, which is far higher than what has so far been observed in other alloy systems. Such a phenomenon is attributed to the local antiferromagnetic cluster formed in the ferromagnetic matrix. The observation of high-temperature EB in the Mn55Bi45 alloy is of interest from the perspective of practical applications, and it is a good starting point for designing high-temperature spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reflective cascaded structure with a fiber Lyot filter and a Fabry–Pérot interferometer has been proposed and experimentally demonstrated for ultra-highly temperature measurement. The sensitivity of the sensor can be magnified to −31.4 nm °C−1 based on the Vernier effect, to our knowledge, which is the highest among all-fiber structures without other assisted coating or filling materials. The sensor possesses the remote sensing capability. Furthermore, the initial state can be tuned by loading strains on the Fabry–Perot cavity, so that the maximum sensing range is available at different initial temperatures, and then allowing the sensor to fulfill more practical application needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]