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Background and Aim: Serum pepsinogens (PGs) are biomarkers for gastric mucosal damage and have been reported to be associated with atherosclerosis. Its correlation with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is still unknown. This study aimed to explore the association between serum PGs and ASCVD for providing physicians with an integrative picture to make rational plans in the diagnosis and treatment of ASCVD.Methods and Results: The concentrations of serum PGs and their distributions between ASCVD and non-ASCVD were compared by non-parametric test, Chi-squared test and Fisher exact test. The correlation between variables was analyzed by Spearman's correlation test. The association of serum PGs with ASCVD was analyzed by the binary logistic regression and two-piecewise linear regression. A total of 8355 recruited cases were eligible for the study. The concentrations of serum PGs were significantly different between the ASCVD and non-ASCVD groups (P = 0.025, P < 0.001). The lower PGI and PGR levels were significantly correlated with a high risk of ASCVD presence after adjustment for 26 potential covariates. Moreover, there was a linear relationship between the high level of PGII and the high risk of ASCVD [adjusted OR = 1.16 (1.00, 1.37), P = 0.07]. A nonlinear relationship of PGI/PGR and ASCVD (P = 0.08/<0.001) was also revealed. The risk of ASCVD increased with a range of log PGI ≥2.13 (PGI≥131 ng/mL) [adjusted OR = 4.67 (1.00, 23.17)], and decreased with a range of log PGR ≥0.22 (1.65) [adjusted OR = 0.59 (0.48, 0.74), P < 0.001].Conclusions: Serum PGI and PGR are nonlinearly correlated with ASCVD, while PGII is linearly correlated with ASCVD. Among all PGs, PGR may serve as a reliable biomarker for ASCVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cyclic variation characteristics of the fuel-air mixture formation are essential for the fuel economy and the operating stability of engines. In this work, the cyclic variations of flash boiling and non-flash sprays were investigated experimentally by ultraviolet–visible laser absorption-scattering (UV-LAS) and high-speed Mie scattering optical diagnostics. The cyclic variations in the spray morphology and the mass distributions of liquid/vapor phase of acetone were characterized, and the effects of fuel temperature (T f , 55–200 °C) and injection pressure (P i n j , 5–35 MPa) on the cyclic variations were analyzed. It was found that variations in morphology (penetration varies ± 10%) and fuel concentration distributions are more significant for the flash boiling sprays than those for the non-flash sprays, and the variations increase with the spray development, especially after end of injection. The cyclic variations of vapor mass distribution (M v) increases by 22% when superheat degree varies from −47.8 to 97.2 °C and is reduced by 61% when increasing P i n j from 5 MPa to 35 MPa for the flash boiling spray. This study can provide insightful analysis and quantitative data for evaluating the issues caused by cyclic variations of spray such as spray impingement, ignition unreliability and combustion instability. • Spray variations of non-flash and flash boiling were investigated experimentally. • Effects of injection pressure/fuel temperature were quantitatively characterized. • Spray penetration and projected area can fluctuate up to 20% and 27%, respectively. • Cyclic variations of flash boiling spray are more significant than non-flash spray. • A quantitative evaluation method for concentration variations has been proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inhomogeneity and separability of supercritical state were verified experimentally. • The liquid-like and gas-like phases were visualized by optical diagnostic techniques. • The widom line is the crossover line in the supercritical state. Sufficient understanding of the supercritical state is important for exploring supercritical jet spray in thermodynamic cycle power machinery. However, in conventional studies, the phase division of supercritical state and supercritical jet spray is simple and rough, and whether the pseudo-boiling (or widom) line exists widely in various fluids, especially fossil fuels, is still not proved by experiments. In this paper, the phase inhomogeneity and separability in the supercritical state of fossil fuels are studied by using high-speed Mie scattering and UV-LAS (ultraviolet–visible laser absorption/scattering) optical diagnostic techniques. Acetone is selected as the single representative component of fossil fuels. The results show that acetone is inhomogeneous in the supercritical state at fuel temperature T f < 1.13 T c and fuel pressure P f < 1.74 P c , where T c and P c are the critical temperature and pressure, and can be further divided into liquid-like phase and gas-like phase, which is similar to the properties of inert fluids and simple fluids reported in previous literatures. The transition region (measured at interval of pressure 0.2 MPa) between the liquid-like phase and gas-like phase contains thermodynamic extremum lines such as constant pressure specific heat, volume expansion coefficient, and isothermal compression rate, which supports the view that the widom (or pseudo-boiling) line is used as the crossover in the supercritical state. When the state of acetone spray passes through the transition region, the liquid-like and gas-like phases will have dramatic changes in the optical and macroscopic properties of spray (For example, when the injection temperature is equal to the critical temperature of 235 °C, the stable liquid-like areas crossing the pseudo-boiling line decreases by 9 times as much as that without crossing the pseudo-boiling line). The results of this paper have important reference values for the study of the supercritical spray atomization regime and the establishment of the simulation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Treatment of the pentadentate macrocyclic ligand 4-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,7-dithia-4,10-diazacyclododecane, L, and the hexadentate macrocyclic ligand 4,10-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,7-dithia-4,10-diazacyclododecane, L′, with one equivalent of a M2+ metal salt (M=Co, Ni, Cu) in methanol yielded six mononuclear complexes, [CoL(MeCN)](ClO4)2 (1), [NiL(H2O)]Cl2 (2), [CuL(MeCN)](ClO4)2 (3) and [ML′](ClO4)2 (4–6). Their solid state crystal structures were determined using X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. In complexes 1–3, the metal centres exhibit a slightly distorted octahedral geometry, resulting from the coordination of three nitrogen and two sulfur donating atoms in the ligand L and one solvent molecule (MeCN for complexes 1 and 3, water for complex 2) whereas in complexes 4–6, the coordination around the metal centres was satisfied by four nitrogen and two sulfur atoms from the ligand L′. The electronic spectra and electrochemistry of these complexes are reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: High quality polymer films can be easily produced by low-potential anodic oxidation of fluorene and its alkyl-polymer precursor through 9,9 position (9,9-dibromohexylfluorene, 9-(6-bromohexyl)fluorene, poly(fluorene-9,9-diyl-alt-alkan-1,6-diyl); Scheme 1) in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) or mixed electrolytes of BFEE+CHCl3. As-formed polymer films showed good redox behavior and were characterized by UV–vis, infrared, fluorescence spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Fluorescence spectral studies both in solution and in solid-state revealed that as-formed polymer films were good blue-green light emitters with strong emissions at about 420 and 560nm. The substitutions of alkyl group and alkyl-polymer fluorene precursors were helpful for the red shift of emission wavelength of as-formed polyfluorenes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An octahedral coordinated nickel(II) hydrazinium complex was prepared by reaction of NiCl 2 with trimethyl hydrazinium showing reversible phase transition, dielectric anomaly and thermochromism. [Display omitted] • A nickel complex based on hydrazinium exhibits switchable thermochromic properties. • The nickel complex also shows reversible dielectric property and phase change. • The mechanism of thermochromism was explained by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Thermochromism in copper complexes is known, but nickel thermochromic complex materials are less reported. Herein, we synthesized a nickel metal complex [(Me 3 NNH 2) 2 NiCl 4 ] (1) based on 1,1,1-trimethylhydrazinium iodide and nickel chloride, which exhibited excellent switching properties in terms of dielectric and phase change and thermochromic properties from yellow to blue. Compound 1 was subjected to the variable temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction, and it was found that the crystal space group did not change after the temperature exceeded the phase transition point, so the thermochromism may be caused by the structural phase transition of the compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of manganese(II) halide MnCl 2 ·4H 2 O and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine N(CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 ) 3 in the concentrated acid HCl at 65 °C resulted in the formation of an inorganic–organic hybrid complex: [(C 6 H 22 N 4 ) 2 (H 3 O)(MnCl 6 )(MnCl 5 )(Cl) 2 ]·3H 2 O ( 1 ) and a known byproduct [(C 6 H 22 N 4 )Cl 4 ]·H 2 O. The analogue reactions between MnBr 2 ·4H 2 O and N(CH 2 CH 2 NH 2 ) 3 in HBr acid gave a pure complex [(C 6 H 22 N 4 ) 2 Br 5 ](MnBr 5 ) ( 2 ). Crystal structures revealed that Mn centers in 1 adopted trigonal bipyramidal and octahedral two geometries, while in 2 showed only trigonal bipyramidal geometry. Luminescent investigation exhibited complex 1 gave pink luminescence and complex 2 emitted yellow light in solid states, which were both directly originated from the coordinated geometries of Mn 2+ ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High quality free-standing poly (3-(4-fluorophenyl)thiophene) (PFPT) films with conductivity of 10−1 S/cm were electrosynthesized in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) by direct anodic oxidation of the monomer 3-(4-fluorophenyl)thiophene (FPT) on stainless steel sheet. As-formed flexible and shiny PFPT films can be cut into various shapes by a knife or a pair of scissors. The structure, thermal stability and morphology of PFPT films were studied by FT-infrared, UV–vis, Raman spectroscopy thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Uncontrolled estrogen exposure can induce an imbalance in BCL2/BAX expression in endometrial cells, leading to precancerous lesions and type I endometrial adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to explore the mechanism underlying this phenomenon. We show that the activated estrogen receptor can suppress the expression of BAX by upregulating a group of microRNAs including hsa-let-7 family members and hsa-miR-27a, thereby promoting an increased BCL2/BAX ratio as well as enhanced survival and proliferation in the affected cells. These ER-regulated hsa-let-7 microRNAs can be detected in most hyperplastic endometria, suggesting their potential utility as indicators of estrogen over-exposure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Reacting a bidentate ligand H 2 L, 2-(2-methoxybenzyl)-2-methylpropane-1,3-dithiol, with Fe3(CO)12 formed a diiron hexacarbonyl complex (1Me) from which a diiron hexacarbonyl complex (1H) pendant with a phenolic group was derived via in-situ demethylation. Further deprotonation of complex 1H gave a diiron pentacarbonyl species (1) in which a rare bond between the soft metal FeI and the relatively hard base phenolate formed, FeI-OR (R = phenolic moiety). This bonding may be a suitable mimic of the bonding feature, {FeIFeI}R-OH/OH2 found in the [FeFe]-hydrogenase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: High quality free-standing polyfluorene (PFe) films were synthesized electrochemically by direct anodic oxidation of fluorene in pure boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) on stainless steel sheet. The oxidation potential of fluorene in this medium was measured to be only 1.1V versus SCE, which was much lower than that determined in acetonitrile+0.1molL−1 TBATFB. PFe films obtained from this medium showed good electrochemical behavior, good thermal stability with conductivity of 0.25Scm−1, indicating that BFEE is a better medium than acetonitrile for the electrosyntheses of PFe films. FTIR and 1H NMR spectral investigations indicated that the polymerization of fluorene occurred mainly at 2, 7 position. As-formed PFe films can be partly dissolved in acetone, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, etc. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]