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The improvement of interface compatibility of nanomaterials as nanoadditives was conductive to raise the friction performances in oil. Herein, we successfully constructed a corncob-shaped Ni-BTC MOFs@HNTs nanocomposite through the controllable growth of nanospherical Ni-BTC MOFs on the external surface of HNTs nanotubes. The composition and structure of Ni-BTC MOFs@HNTs were determined by a catalog of characterization. Due to being the better interface compatibility of MOFs in organic compound, the existence of Ni-BTC MOFs on the external surface of HNTs evidently promoted the dispersibility of HNTs nanotubes in oil. The tribological behaviors of Ni-BTC MOFs@HNTs as nanoadditives in base oils were deeply studied by ball-on-ball contact friction. The experimental results showed that the average friction coefficient and wear scar diameter of Ni-BTC MOFs@HNTs -base oil were decreased by 39.7% and 29.4% at 0.04 wt% adding content relative to base oil, respectively. Meanwhile, the carrying capacity of Ni-BTC MOFs@HNTs-base oil was increased by 16.3%. Finally, the worn surfaces lubricated by Ni-BTC MOFs@HNTs-base oil were deeply characterized by a series of spectra analysis, thus revealing the synergistic lubrication effect of Ni-BTC MOFs and HNTs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to apply integrative cardiopulmonary ultrasound (thoracic ultrasound) to the evaluation of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and to determine the relationship between lung ultrasound signs and echocardiographic parameters such as systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and various right ventricular parameters. ILD patients and healthy controls underwent lung ultrasound (LUS) and echocardiographic tests. In addition to traditional echocardiographic parameters, right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVLS_FW) was measured using 2-D speckle-tracking echocardiography. The degree of pulmonary fibrosis or the disease severity of each ILD patient was scored with a semiquantitative scoring method, taking into account multiple LUS signs. Statistical analyses were performed to compare various parameters between ILD patients with and those without pulmonary hypertension. Correlations between the different parameters were then evaluated, and the LUS scores were used to predict pulmonary hypertension using a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Among the 90 patients who qualified for entry into this study, 30% (n = 27) had pulmonary hypertension. The patients with pulmonary hypertension had larger right ventricular dimensions, lower RVLS_FW and higher LUS scores. An effective correlation was found between ILD LUS scores and echocardiographic parameters, especially SPAP (r = 0.735, p < 0.001). The groups were comparable with respect to most echocardiographic parameters, with mild, moderate and severe pulmonary fibrosis, whereas SPAP was significantly higher in the moderate and severe groups. RVLS_FW was obviously reduced in the group with severe pulmonary fibrosis. Although RVLS_FW in the mild pulmonary fibrosis group was in the normal range, it was slightly reduced compared with that of the controls. A cutoff of more than 16 LUS points had 85.2% sensitivity and 80.3% specificity in predicting elevated SPAP (>36 mm Hg). Thoracic ultrasound is useful in the assessment of ILD. As ILD progresses, the structure or function of the right ventricle gradually deteriorates. LUS not only detects lung conditions in ILD, but also indirectly reflects SPAP and right ventricular function. Integrated use of LUS and echocardiography will provide an invaluable point-of-care imaging modality to facilitate the diagnosis, management and treatment of patients with ILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the highly dispersed ball-on-flake nanostructured ZIF-7/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites were successfully constructed by two-step approach, i.e. the electrostatic adsorption (the first step) and in-situ preparation(the second step). The composition and structure of ZIF-7/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites were determined by a series of characterizations (such as XRD, FT-IR, TGA, Zeta potential, XPS, SEM, TEM, etc). The dispersibility and interface compatibility of ZIF-7/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites in base oil (150SN) were intensively probed by Uv-vis spectra and optical microscope, demonstrating that the ZIF-7/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites had a superior interface compatibility in oil. Furthermore, the tribological properties of ZIF-7/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites as additives in base oil were detailedly evaluated on a four-ball friction tester. The experimental results showed that the ZIF-7/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites at 0.05 wt% optimum adding content exerted the reduction by 46.85% of average friction coefficient and 48.74% of wear scar diameter, while exhibiting the improvement by 18.37% of bearing capacity in base oil. In terms of the characterizations of the worn surface (such as FESEM, 3D profile, elemental mapping, XPS, etc), the lubrication mechanism of ZIF-7/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites were deeply discussed and proposed, are attributed to its good dispersibility in base oil, assuming the existence of synergistic lubrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There are still many problems although new concept highway design has practiced for many years in China. The most prominent is the lack of creative generation method guide to highway design, and this is not a problem hard science can solve. This paper introduces extension theory and method, takes the method of new concept slope design as breakthrough point, analyzes the feasibility and method of highway slope creative design using extension thinking mode. Case analysis shows that applying rhombic thinking mode to new concept slope design is appropriate and feasible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cornstalk liquefaction (CSL) in methanol, water or methanol/water mixed solvents was studied at 250–320°C. Each reaction mixture was separated into extract 1 (E1, including the solute in filtrate and methanol-extractable portion), extract 2 (E2, methanol-inextractable but isometric carbon disulfide/acetone-extractable portion) and residue (isometric carbon disulfide/acetone-inextractable portion) by filtration and sequential extraction with methanol and isometric carbon disulfide/acetone mixed solvent. The cornstalk, E1, E2 and the residues were analyzed using a Fourier transformation infrared spectrometer and each E1 was analyzed using a gas chromatography/mass spectrometer. The microstructures of the cornstalk and its derived residues were observed with a scanning electron microscope. The results show that methanol and water exhibited a synergic effect on the CSL. The isometric methanol and water mixed solvent was found to be most effective for CSL at 300°C for 30min. Under such conditions, the total yield of gases, E1 and E2 and the yield of E1 reached 88.1% and 52.4%, respectively. The yields decreased as the temperature or time was further increased, suggesting that some of the extractable species were repolymerized at higher temperatures or for prolonged time. E1 consisted of hydrocarbons, alkanols, tetrahydrofuranylmethanols, arenols, methoxyalkanes, methoxyarenes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, chloromethylbenzenes, nitrogen-containing species and several other species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Pine and its liquefaction residue were liquefied in a methanol/water mixed solvent. [•] The mixed solvent showed significantly synergic effect on pine liquefaction. [•] The compositions of bio-oils obtained in different solvent are quite different. [•] The synergic effect is mainly ascribed to the interaction between the two solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important causes of end stage renal disease in the world. Its hallmark is proteinuria. Therefore, we set out to clarify the structural changes that occur in the glomerular filtration barrier in Chinese patients with true type 2 diabetic nephropathy, and to examine the relationship between these structural changes and proteinuria. Methods: 42 Chinese patients with true T2DN were divided into three groups according to urinary protein excretion. Glomerular volume, endothelial cell density, endothelial cell number, glomerular basement membrane (GBM) width, podocyte density, podocyte number and foot process width were evaluated using light and electron microscopic morphometry. Result: Glomerular volume and endothelial cell number were increased in diabetic patients, but there was no difference between patients with respect to the degree of proteinuria. As proteinuria progressed, endothelial cell density remained unchanged, while the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and podocyte foot process width increased, podocyte density and number decreased. Conclusions: Podocyte and GBM change more obviously during the development of proteinuria. Besides, proteinuria was inversely related to podocyte density, and directly related to GBM and glomerular volume. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Multi-chamber perforated resonator (MCPR) is a kind of typical silencer element which can both attenuate broadband noise and satisfy specific installation requirements. The one-dimensional transfer matrix method (TMM) and finite element method (FEM) are widely used to predict the transmission loss of the resonators. This paper mainly focuses on the comparison between 1D TMM and FEM in which detailed perforation modeling is applied for the acoustic modeling of MCPRs. Five resonators with different acoustic attenuation frequency ranges are built for simulation and test. In order to verify the results of the above methods, a transmission loss test facility is designed based on two-load method. Through adjusting the distance between microphones, the facility’s effective measurement frequency can be changed. The results show that despite of the complex modeling and calculation, FEM with detailed perforation modeling shows good consistency with test results in both frequency and amplitude within entire frequency range. In comparison, TMM is limited by the cut-off frequency when calculating transmission losses. Besides, accuracy of TMM in low frequency range is also affected by perforation conditions. However, TMM is time-saving in calculation and structure optimization. In MCPRs’ development process, TMM can be used to quickly design and optimize structure parameters while FEM can be used to verify the acoustic performance before prototyping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In this study, we proposed a novel strategy the concept of controlled-release hotspots. On the one hand, Ag NPs were encapsulated in the dialdehyde starch granules to prevent oxidation and aggregation, which effectively prolongs the storing period time of the substrate. On the other hand, Ag NPs were released from dialdehyde starch granules, and abundant hotspots were generated at the same. Therefore, the as-prepared substrate can achieve high stability and sensitivity by means of controlled-release hotspots. • In particular, a flexible paper-based substrate based on Ag@CDS was also fabricated and successfully applied to detect the TBZ residues on the surface of the apple by simply wiping sampling. Pesticide residues have long been a major concern for food safety. In this study, a dialdehyde starch-encapsulated silver nanoparticles composite with controlled-release "hotspots" was developed as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. At room temperature, most of the Ag NPs were encapsulated in dialdehyde starch, which is beneficial for improving stability, and when heated to the gelatinization point, Ag NPs are completely released and abundant hot spots are formed. We demonstrated sensitive detection of thiabendazole (TBZ) in or on the surface of an apple by means of two ways, i.e., detecting the analyte in solution after pretreatment and in-situ detecting the analyte by using a flexible paper-based substrate. The results showed that the detection limits of TBZ by the two ways were 0.052 ppm and 0.051 ppm respectively, and the recoveries of TBZ range from 96.80 % to 105.46 %. Overall, this SERS substrate shows great potential for pesticide residue detection in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Saikosaponin a (SSa), which is one major bioactive compound isolated from radix bupleuri, has been demonstrated to exhibit the properties of anticonvulsant and antiepileptic in few reports. This study aims to clarify the molecular mechanism by which SSa protects against pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced epileptic seizure. Methods PTZ induced rat and hippocampal neuron were established. Treated rats or hippocampal neuron with SSa, and mTOR, P70S6K, IL-1β and TNF-α were then determined. Results In PTZ induced rat, SSa significantly reduced seizure severity and duration while markedly elevated seizure latency, and it also down-regulated hippocampal p-mTOR, p-70S6K, L-1β and TNF-α expression. In hippocampal neurons exposed to PTZ, p-mTOR and p-70S6K expression levels were also decreased by SSa. Pre-incubated hippocampal neurons with leucine, an mTOR agonist, reversed the effects of SSa on decreasing cytokines expression and inhibiting cell apoptosis. The treatment of mTOR inhibitor rapamycin prevented against the increase of cytokines expression and hippocampal neuron apoptosis induced by PTZ. Leucine also canceled the alleviation of seizures and induction of hippocampal caspase-3 activity in PTZ induced rat with the treatment of SSa. Conclusion SSa protects against PTZ induced epileptic seizure and hippocampal neuron apoptosis through inhibiting mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Quercetin is widely distributed in plants and has been reported to have effects of anti-inflammation and anti-thrombosis. In this study, we evaluated the protective effect of quercetin on LPS-induced experimental DIC in rabbits, and tried to clarify its mechanism against DIC. Materials and Methods: LPS-induced DIC model in rabbits was established through continuous infusion of 100 ug·kg-1 ·h-1 LPS for a period of 6h. Six groups were divided: quercetin-treated groups (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0mg·kg-1 ·h-1, respectively), LPS-control group, heparin-control group (100IU·kg-1 ·h-1), and saline-control group. APTT, PT, and plasma FIB level were measured, the plasma levels of ALT, BUN, and TNF-α were detected, and the activity of Protein C and ATIII was recorded. Results: A continuous injection of LPS induced a gradual impairment of hemostatic parameters, a rise in plasma level of TNF-α, and damage in renal and hepatic function. The intravenous administration of quercetin significantly attenuated the increase of APTT, PT, ALT, BUN, and TNF-α, and the decrease of plasma FIB level and activity of Protein C and ATIII. Conclusion: Quercetin may have a protective effect against LPS-induced DIC in rabbits through anti-inflammation and anticoagulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]