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In regard to the non-tool-tilt friction stir welding (NTT-FSW) process, the shoulder concavity has significant effects on the control of heat generation and material flow, and thus is an important geometrical feature for the tool design. In this paper, three types of shoulder concavity angles (SCAs), i.e., 0°, 5°, and 10°, were selected to explore the impact of SCA on the NTT-FSW of 5052 aluminum alloy. The results indicate that the increase of SCA lowers the tool axial force, reduces the nugget width, and weakens the band structure in the nugget. A weakening of shoulder thermal effect occurs from 0° to 5° SCA, leading to an improvement of the structure-property of the NTT-FSW joint. Further increasing the SCA to 10° causes the generation of the secondary sliding frictional heat at the interface between the shoulder-driven material and the base material, and thus the shoulder thermal effect does not show a continuous weakening trend as expected but becomes stronger instead, resulting in the deterioration of the microstructure evolution and the degradation of the tensile strength of NTT-FSW joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a steel fiber and silica fume on the first-crack strength and the flexural toughness of concrete is evaluated. The ten sets of specimens with a steel fiber content of 0, 40, 50, and 60 g/m3 and steel fiber types of wave shear and straight shear types with and without a silica fume content of a 10% replacement of the cement weight were tested. The results show that the combined effect of silica fume and steel fiber improve the first-crack load and deflection of specimens to a certain degree and increase the flexural fracture toughness of specimens greatly. In the strengthening effect of steel fiber silica fume concrete, the steel fiber is of first importance, while silica fume is an auxiliary component. The wet steel fiber-silica fume shotcrete support for controlling the surrounding rock mass can provide the whole supporting effect of the anchor mesh shotcrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effects of Huaier polysaccharide (HP) in doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury in mice. The content of HP in Trametes robiniophila Murr medicinal fungus determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid method was 85.25%. In the in vitro model, the viability of H9c2 cells was significantly increased after HP treatment compared to the control, while doxorubicin (DOX) decreased this parameter. The inhibitory effect of DOX on cell viability was attenuated after HP treatment. In the in vivo model, the body weight of mice in DOX and DOX+HP groups was significantly decreased compared to the control group. ECG showed significantly elevated ST segment in the DOX group, while in the DOX+HP group, ECG was close to normal. The levels of cardiotoxicity markers cTnI and lactate dehydrogenase in the DOX+HP group were significantly lower than in the DOX group. In the DOX group, the myocardial tissue had obvious structural disorder and interfibrillar vacuoles. In the DOX+HP group, the cardiomyocytes were neatly arranged without interfibrillar vacuoles. The expression of the ferroptosis marker glutathione peroxidase 4 was increased in the DOX+HP group compared to the DOX group. Thus, our study reveals that HP attenuated DOX-induced myocardial injury in mice probably by regulating ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blasting excavation method by using explosive is still widely applied in mining and quarrying, and therefore, rock dynamic fracture toughness under blasting loads is one of the most concerned subjects in rock dynamics. In this paper, blasting experiments by using detonators and cement mortar specimens with a mode‐I crack were conducted. The crack initiation time was determined by the strain signal recorded by a signal conditioner. The pressure acting on the hole was obtained by the strains measured from the two strain gauges near the hole, and then the pressure was applied as the dynamic boundary condition of the hole in the subsequent numerical calculation by using ANSYS code. The crack tip open displacements were calculated and applied in the determination of crack tip dynamic intensity factors KI, and accordingly the curve of KI versus time was obtained. The dynamic toughness was determined according to the time of crack initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractures in the forms of joints and microcracks are commonly found in concretes, and their failure mechanism strongly depends on the crack coalescence pattern between pre-existing flaws. The determination of the failure behavior of nonpersistent joints is an engineering problem that involves several parameters as mechanical properties of concrete, normal stress and the ratio of joint surface to total shear surface. The impact of these parameters on the crack coalescence is investigated through the use of computational tools called neural networks. A number of networks of threshold logic units were tested, with adjustable weights. The computational method for the training process was a back-propagation learning algorithm. In this paper, the input data for crack coalescence consists of values of geotechnical and geometrical parameters. As an output, the network estimates the crack type coalescence (i.e., mode I, mode II, or mixed mode I-II) that can be used for stability analysis of concrete structures. The performance of the network is measured and the results are compared to those obtained by means of the experimental method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the joint performances by controlling the thermal effect of tool shoulder, a non-shoulder-plunge (NSP) welding tool is utilized to conduct friction stir welding (FSW) of an Al-Mg aluminum alloy in this paper. Sound FSW joint is successfully produced by using the NSP welding tool. In contrast to conventional FSW (C-FSW), the thermal effect of tool shoulder is effectively reduced by NSP-FSW, leading to a significant size reduction of shoulder-affected zone in the joint. Besides, the NSP-FSW joint shows finer grain structures in the stir zone and thermo-mechanically affected zone, and exhibits lower extents of grain coarsening, dislocation polygonization, and particle dissolution in the heat-affected zone. Hardness maps show that the softening region width of NSP-FSW joint is only nearly half that of C-FSW joint and the NSP-FSW joint exhibits higher hardness in the heat-affected zone than C-FSW joint. The tensile test results indicate that the joint efficiency is improved from 89 % of C-FSW joint to 97 % by the NSP-FSW process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposal of long-lived fission products (LLFPs) produced in reactors has been paid a lot attention for sustainable and clean nuclear energy. Although a few transmutation means have been proposed to address this issue, there are still scientific and/or engineering challenges to achieve efficient transmutation of LLFPs. In this study, we propose a novel concept of advanced nuclear energy system (ANES) for transmuting LLFPs efficiently without isotopic separation. The ANES comprises intense photoneutron source (PNS) and subcritical reactor, which consist of lead–bismuth (Pb-Bi) layer, beryllium (Be) layer, and fuel, LLFPs and shield assemblies. The PNS is produced by bombarding radioactive cesium and iodine target with a laser-Compton scattering (LCS) γ-ray beam. We investigate the effect of the ANES system layout on transmutation efficiency by Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that a proper combination of the Pb-Bi layer and the Be layer can increase the utilization efficiency of the PNS by a factor of ~ 10, which helps to decrease by almost the same factor the LCS γ-beam intensity required for driving the ANES. Supposing that the ANES operates over 20 years at a normal thermal power of 500 MWt, five LLFPs including 99Tc, 129I, 107Pd, 137Cs and 79Se could be transmuted by more than 30%. Their effective half-lives thus decrease drastically from ~ 106 to less than 102 years. It is suggested that this successful implementation of the ANES paves the avenue towards practical transmutation of LLFPs without isotopic separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Growth, spectroscopic and laser properties of Yb3 + -doped GdAl3(BO3)4 crystal: a candidate for infrared laser crystal," that was published on July 11, 2006 issue is presented.

A correction to the article "Transcriptional Targeting of Adenoviral Vector Through the CXCR4 Tumor-Specific Promoter" that was previously published in the journal is presented.

The crop seed is a complex organ that may be composed of the diploid embryo, the triploid endosperm and the diploid maternal tissues. According to the genetic features of seed characters, two genetic models for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of crop seed traits are proposed, with inclusion of maternal effects, embryo or endosperm effects of QTL, environmental effects and QTL-by-environment (QE) interactions. The mapping population can be generated either from double back-cross of immortalized F2 (IF2) to the two parents, from random-cross of IF2 or from selfing of IF2 population. Candidate marker intervals potentially harboring QTLs are first selected through one-dimensional scanning across the whole genome. The selected candidate marker intervals are then included in the model as cofactors to control background genetic effects on the putative QTL(s). Finally, a QTL full model is constructed and model selection is conducted to eliminate false positive QTLs. The genetic main effects of QTLs, QE interaction effects and the corresponding P-values are computed by Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for Gaussian mixed linear model via Gibbs sampling. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to investigate the reliability and efficiency of the proposed method. The simulation results showed that the proposed method had higher power to accurately detect simulated QTLs and properly estimated effect of these QTLs. To demonstrate the usefulness, the proposed method was used to identify the QTLs underlying fiber percentage in an upland cotton IF2 population. A computer software, QTLNetwork-Seed, was developed for QTL analysis of seed traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated levels of circulating triglycerides and increased arterial stiffness are associated with cardiovascular disease. Numerous studies have reported an association between levels of circulating triglycerides and arterial stiffness. We used Mendelian randomization to test whether this association is causal. We investigated the association between circulating triglyceride levels, the apolipoprotein A-V (ApoA5) -1131T>C single nucleotide polymorphism and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) by examining data from 4421 subjects aged 18-74 years who were recruited from the Chinese population. baPWV was significantly associated with the levels of circulating triglycerides after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, heart rate, waist-to-hip ratio, antihypertensive treatment and diabetes mellitus status. The −1131C allele was associated with a 5% (95% confidence interval 3-8%) increase in circulating triglycerides (adjusted for age, sex, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, diabetes mellitus and antihypertensive treatment). Instrumental variable analysis showed that genetically elevated levels of circulating triglycerides were not associated with increased baPWV. These results do not support the hypothesis that levels of circulating triglycerides have a causal role in the development of arterial stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to exploit the potential applications of graphene as gas sensors, the adsorptions of a series of small gas molecules (such as CO, O, NO and HO) on pristine graphene (PG) and Si-doped graphene (SiG) have been investigated by ab initio calculations. Our results indicate that the electronic properties of PG are sensitive to O and NO molecules, but not changed much by the adsorption of CO and HO molecules. Compared with PG, SiG is much more reactive in the adsorption of CO, O, NO and HO. The strong interactions between SiG and the adsorbed molecules induce dramatic changes to the electronic properties of SiG. Therefore, we suggest that SiG could be a good gas sensor for CO, O, NO and HO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomally inherited disorder that causes tumors to form in many organs. It is frequently caused by inactivating mutations in the TSC2 tumor-suppressor gene. TSC2 negatively regulates the activity of the GTPase Rheb and thereby inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. Activation of mTORC1 as a result of lack of TSC2 function is observed in TSC and sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). TSC2 deficiency has recently been associated with elevated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, which in turn correlated with cytoplasmic localization of p27Kip1 (p27), a negative regulator of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2). How AMPK in the absence of TSC2 is stimulated is not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrate that Rheb activates AMPK and reduces p27 levels in Tsc2-null cells. Importantly, both effects occur largely independent of mTORC1. Furthermore, increased p27 levels following Rheb depletion correlated with reduced Cdk2 activity and cell proliferation in vitro, and with inhibition of tumor formation by Tsc2-null cells in vivo. Taken together, our data suggest that Rheb controls proliferation of TSC2-deficient cells by a mechanism that involves regulation of AMPK and p27, and that Rheb is a potential target for TSC/LAM therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total cross sections of electron scattering by eight molecules NF, PF, N(CH), P(CH), NH(CH), PH(CH), NHCH and PHCH, which have some structural similarities, are calculated at the Hartree-Fork level by the modified additivity rule approach [D.H. Shi, J.F. Sun, Z.L. Zhu, H. Ma, Y.F. Liu, Eur. Phys. J. D 45, 253 (2007); D.H. Shi, J.F. Sun, Y.F. Liu, Z.L. Zhu, X.D. Yang, Chin. Opt. Lett. 4, 192 (2006)]. The modified additivity rule approach takes into considerations that the contributions of the geometric shielding effect vary as the energy of incident electrons, the dimension of target molecule, the number of electrons in the molecule and the number of atoms constituting the molecule. The present investigations cover the impact energy range from 30 to 5000 eV. The quantitative total cross sections are compared with those obtained by experiments and other theories. Excellent agreement is observed even at energies of several tens of eV. It shows that the modified additivity rule approach is applicable to carry out the total cross section calculations of electron scattering by these molecules at intermediate and high energies, in particular over the energy range above 80 eV or so. It proves that the microscopic molecular properties, such as the geometrical size of the target and the number of atoms constituting the molecule, are of crucial importance in the TCS calculations. The new results for PH(CH) and PHCH are also presented at energies from 30 to 5000 eV, although no experimental and theoretical data are available for comparison. In the present calculations, the atoms are still represented by the spherical complex optical potential, which is composed of static, exchange, polarization and absorption terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to diode pumping through an optical bifurcated fiber, we take benefit of the birefringence of the Yb3+-doped GdAl3(BO3)4 crystal to get two-polarization and two-wavelength laser operation both in CW and in passive Q-switch regimes. Typical differential slopes are 54% and 30% respectively for the o- and e-waves. In the pulse regime the two o- and e-pulses are synchronous but not simultaneous. Free running laser emissions near 1040 and 1046 nm for the e- and o-waves respectively were obtained with 2.5 nm FWHM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To quantify the changes in the geometric shielding effect in a molecule as the incident electron energy varies, an empirical fraction, which represents the total cross section contributions of shielded atoms in a molecule at different energies, is presented. Using this empirical fraction, the total cross sections for electron scattering by CH4, C2H6, C2H3F3, C2H4, C2F4, C2Cl4 and C2Cl2F2 are calculated over a wide energy range from 30 to 5000 eV by the additivity rule model at the Hartree-Fock level. The quantitative total cross sections are compared with those obtained by experiment and other theories where available. Good agreement is attained above 100 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melting phase transition of atomic clusters has attracted a lot of interest in the last several decades due to their peculiar behaviors different from their bulk counterpart. Investigation of this kind of phase transition leads to the understanding of thermodynamics of finite systems. Recent progress in the experiments measuring thermodynamic properties of sized-selected atomic clusters has motivated the theoretical research interest in this area. In this report, heat capacities of aluminum clusters with around 55 atoms are investigated using extremely long constant energy molecular dynamics simulation with empirical many-body interaction potential. Some features of the heat capacity can be interpreted by the energy spectra obtained from quenches along the trajectories. Dips that emerged in the heat capacities in the previous experiment are not found. Different isomers are taken as the initial structures and found to anneal into the lowest energy structure before melting during the temperature increasing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) assessment at the calcaneus, as a safe and reliable method for evaluating skeletal status, is rapidly gaining in popularity. Assessment by QUS provides three parameters of skeletal status: broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA), speed of sound (SOS) and derived data-stiffness index (STI). The objective of the present study was firstly to determine the normative QUS data on healthy Chinese mainland men and women and secondly to investigate the effects of sex, age and body size on these three QUS parameters. Methods: A study cohort consisting of 725 healthy Chinese women and 568 men aged 10–83 years participated in this investigation. The three QUS parameters all exhibited a characteristic mild rise-then-fall pattern with increasing age in both sexes. Younger men and women had similar QUS values, while older women had lower values than older men. Age-related differences were more pronounced among females. Pearson's correlation and regression analysis showed that weight was a major determinant of QUS in both sexes, along with age. Results: There were some discrepancies between our data and results from other populations, even when the same type of QUS instrument was used, probably as a result of various factors, including ethnic, life-style environment and diet, among others. Conclusions: These normative data will be useful for comparing the results of individual studies, predicting fracture risk of Chinese men and women and determining diagnostic criteria of osteoporosis by QUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-MUC1 single-chain Fv (scFv) fragments generated from the humanised antibody huHMFG1 had adequate antigen-binding properties but very poor stability irrespective of the applied linker or domain orientation. Mutagenesis of heavy-chain framework residue V(H)-71, previously described as a key residue for maintaining the CDR-H2 main-chain conformation and thus important for antigen binding, markedly stabilised the scFv while having only a minor effect on the binding affinity of the molecule. Because of its improved stability, the engineered fragment exhibited immunoreactivity with tumour cells even after 7 days of incubation in human serum at 37 degrees C. It also showed, in contrast to the wild-type scFv, a concentration-dependent binding to the target antigen when displayed on phage. When fusing the scFv to the recombinant ribonuclease rapLRI, only the fusion protein generated with the stable mutant scFv was able to kill MUC1(+) tumour cells with an IC(50) of 80 nM. We expect this novel immunoenzyme to become a promising tool for the treatment of MUC1(+) malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary:Allo-CBSCT (cord blood stem cell transplant) has been applied in six adult patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Anti-lymphocyte globulin (ALG) 40?mg?kg-1?d-1 × 3 days combined with cyclophosphamide (CTX) 20?mg?kg-1?d-1 × 3 days constituted a lower intensive conditioning regimen. The prophylaxis of GVHD consisted of standard CsA and MTX. Patients are all male having a mean age of 26.5 years (range 22-38), and a median weight of 55.6?kg (range 52-60?kg). Cord blood searches were all conducted at Guangzhou Cord Blood Bank. Three of six patients in our study received one unit of cord blood in a procedure, whereas for another three patients, two units of cord blood (double units) were infused at the same time in a transplant protocol. The nine units of umbilical cord blood (UCB) infused contained 1.6-10.7 × 107 nucleated cells/kg body weight of the recipient after thawing. HLA antigens were identical in one unit, 1 antigen mismatched in seven, 2 antigens mismatched in 1. As of February 2003, after a median follow up of 20 months (range 7-50), four patients are alive and disease free. Five patients engrafted with molecular biology analyses showing donor-recipient mixed chimerism post transplant which is stable and persistent. One patient died of severe infection in the third month from transplant and another patient died in the early stage post transplant of serious aspergillus infection without evidence of engraftment.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2004) 33, 33-38. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1704295 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether vanillic acid (VA) mitigated dehydration stress responses in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), and analyzed potential mechanisms mediating this activity. We pretreated 2‑year-old blueberry plants with 40 μM VA for two days, and then induced dehydration stress by irrigating with nutrient solution containing 10% (w/v) polyethylene glycol 6000 for two days. VA pretreatment increased the transcript levels of genes encoding eight antioxidant enzymes in leaves, including iron superoxide dismutase, chloroplast copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, cytoplasmic copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase. These increased transcript levels were consistent with enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and elevated contents of reduced glutathione and ascorbate. Subjecting the V--A‑treated blueberry to dehydration stress further enhanced expression levels of these genes, compared with the control plants subjected only to dehydration stress, increased the contents of endogenous VA, proline, and soluble sugars, enhanced the relative water content and osmotic potential, and reduced the levels of superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and malondialdehyde. So pretreatment of blueberry with VA reduces lipid peroxidation and mitigates dehydration stress by enhancing the endogenous VA content, activating the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes, and increasing the levels of proline and soluble sugars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 23-year-old male suffering from severe aplastic anemia (SAA) weighing 60 kg was successfully treated by unrelated allo-CBSCT (cord blood stem cell transplantation). A six-loci HLA-identical umbilical cord blood (UCB) was infused after conditioning with low-dose cyclophosphamide (CTX) and antilymphocyte globulin (ALG). The prophylaxis of GVHD consisted of CsA and MTX. The infused cord blood provided 1.89 × 107 nucleated cells per kg, cd34-positive cells: 0.89%. neutrophils >0.5 × 109/l were reached 10 days after transplant, and platelets greater than 50.0 × 109/l at day 26. RBC and platelet transfusion independence were reached on days 15 and 18. The patient developed grade 1 skin GVHD 10 months after engraftment of the donor cells. Microsatellite DNA fingerprinting indicated a stable and persistent donor–recipient mixed chimerism, whilst the circulating red cells remain of host origin. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 26, 1121–1123. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on the research article by D.E. Comings and colleagues which hypothesized that the central cannabinoid receptors gene CNR1 might influence susceptibility to IV drug use or alcoholism. Objections to the findings of the research; Molecular basis for the heritability of substance abuse.

With the increasing of wind energy, it is necessary to develop an energy storage system to level the wave of wind power, and to develop a fault current limiter for improvement of the LVRT capability of the wind farm. An innovative idea to deal with the above problem is to develop a superconducting fault current limiter-magnetic energy storage system (SFCL-MES). In this paper, we report the progress of the superconducting coil for a 1-MJ/0.5-MVA FCL-SMES system. The coil consisted of 46 double pancakes, in which 8 pancakes were made of YBCO tapes and the others were made of Bi2223 tapes; the inductance of the coil was 13.3 H, and its rated current was 388 A while the maximum magnetic field was 3.5 T. This coil had been used for a FCL-SMES system, which was installed and tested at a wind farm connected to the live power grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SNX27 is a component of the retromer complex essential for the recycling of transmembrane receptors. SNX27 contains the N-terminal Phox (PX) domain that binds inositol 1,3-diphosphate (Ins(1,3)P2) and is important for the SNX27 localization. Here, we determined the crystal structure of human SNX27 PX domain by X-ray crystallography. We found that the sulfate ion is located in the positively charged lipid-binding pocket of the PX domain, which mimics the phospholipid recognition. In addition, we modelled the SNX27-PX–Ins(1,3)P2 complex to better understand the mechanism of Ins(1,3)P2 recognition by the PX domain of SNX27. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dislocation width and lattice resistance (Peierls stress) of a γ-TiAl alloy are calculated by the density ratio method. The lattice resistance is shown to decrease with the dislocation width. The relationship between the Peierls stress and dislocation width variation is defined by theoretical derivation. The yield stress is negatively correlated with the shear stress of the material. It can become a useful tool for choosing an appropriate shear stress under deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of blade wrap angle on energy performance and unsteady characteristics of the single-channel pump, a single-channel pump with specific speed of 140 was selected as experimental test model and three impeller models with blade wrap angle of 290°, 340° and 390° were respectively designed. The performance of different single-channel pumps with blade wrap angle of 290°, 340° and 390° respectively were tested. Based on the experimental study, the effect of blade wrap angle on the energy characteristics, head pulsation, pressure fluctuation and radial force of the single-channel pump was obtained and analyzed. The results show that with blade wrap angle increases from 290° to 390°, the maximum pump head and efficiency gradually increases and the maximum increase amplitude is 7.3% and 7.79% respectively. The minimum static pressure at impeller outlet under three schemes all occurs at 1.0Qd and bigger blade wrap angle can reduce the mixing loss at impeller outlet. With the increase of blade wrap angle, the head pulsation and pressure fluctuation all decrease gradually. The maximum eighth section under the small flow rate and under the big flow rate occurs at the volute second the section. A higher pressure fluctuation exists around volute tongue. The time-averaged radial force decreases as the blade wrap angle increases and its increase amplitude decreases as the flow rate increases. The research fruits can provide some reference and theoretical basis for the optimization of single-channel pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searching for new cathode materials is very important in the field of Na-ion batteries. Transition metal sodium orthosilicates have attracted much attention due to the significant progress made in its analog of lithium orthosilicates. In this work, density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to study the structural stabilities, electronic and electrochemical properties of Na2FeSiO4 polymorphs, and their corresponding desodiated products NaxFeSiO4. Our results show that formation energies of all the calculated structures differ substantially upon removal of Na, indicating that phase transformations should happen during the desodiation for different polymorphs. NaFeSiO4 is the only energetically stable intermediate phase among the cases, leading to two theoretically voltage plateaus, i.e., ~ 2.0 V (2 ≥ x ≥ 1) and ~ 4.5 V (1 ≥ x ≥ 0) in NaxFeSiO4, respectively. Moreover, the oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ ions is observed during the removal of the first Na ion, while both the oxidation of O and Fe ions occur during the further desodiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving good mechanical properties as well as the dimensional accuracy and the smooth surface quality of selective laser melting printed parts with minimal post treatments are essential in additive manufacturing. In the present study, Inconel 718 samples with different powder layer thickness (20, 30, 40 and 50 μm) were additively fabricated using 3D Systems ProX-300 machine. The results reveal that the lower the layer thickness, the denser and good dimensional accuracy were achieved. Marginally higher mechanical properties and microhardness were also obtained at the lower thickness while the failure strain was still high. This can be explained through significant change in the microstructure due to different cooling rate and thermal cycles. In addition, the formation of ɤ ′ and ɤ ″ intermetallic phases, which were well distributed in the matrix and grain boundaries, during heating/cooling, gave rise in the strengths. Fractography shows the plastic deformation band due to work hardening and the crack initiation sites at sub-micro/micro pores, lack of fusion areas and the boundary of unmelted particles. The study would guide engineers balance their options between the production rate and the building parts’ quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High rotation speed friction stir welding is a promising low-force welding technique that enables the application of friction stir welding on in situ fabrication and repair. High rotation speed friction stir welding experiments (above 3000 rpm) were conducted on an Al-Mn aluminum alloy. The effect of rotation speed on nugget structure and property was investigated in order to illuminate the process features. The results indicate that a notable increase of nugget size occurs at high rotation speeds of 5000-8000 rpm. With increasing rotation speed, the thermal effect is firstly strengthened and then achieves a steady state. The microstructure evolution is more sensitive to welding temperature as rotation speed varies, and thus, the evolution trends of nugget structure morphology (grain size and substructure distribution density) with rotation speed resemble that of welding temperature. Increasing rotation speed above 4000 rpm effectively improves the nugget hardness due to the enhancement of strain hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stochastic resonance of a giant magnetostrictive film-shape memory alloy (GMF-SMA) composite cantilever plate subjected to in-plane stochastic magnetic excitation is studied in the paper. Van der Pol terms are developed to explain the hysteretic phenomena of both GMF and SMA, and the nonlinear dynamic model of GMF-SMA composite cantilever plate subjected to in-plane stochastic magnetic excitation is established. The probability density function of the system's dynamic response is obtained, and the conditions of stochastic bifurcation are analyzed. Numerical simulation and experimental results show that the stochastic noise intensity plays an important role in the system's vibration; the system's response is little when the stochastic noise intensity is weak, and then the system's response increases with the stochastic noise, and finally decreases when the stochastic noise reaches a certain value; the stochastic resonance phenomenon occurs with the stochastic noise varying. The results of this paper are helpful for the application of GMF-SMA composite cantilever plate in vibration reduction fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrafine-grained Al-Mg-Si alloys with four different Mg/Si ratios (=0.75, 1.10, 1.48, and 1.94) were prepared by using extrusion and cold-drawing. The microstructural evolution during aging treatment was examined by using transmission electron microscopy. Hardness and electrical conductivity of the alloys were, respectively, measured before and after aging treatment. Experimental results showed that $$ \beta^{\prime\prime} $$ precipitates were dispersed within the grain interior in all the four aged alloys. Although the precipitate size was insensitive to the Mg/Si ratio, the precipitate number density as well as the inter-precipitate spacing was greatly dependent on the Mg/Si ratio. The optimized Mg/Si ratio within present work was 1.48, which led to the densest precipitation, and resulted in the highest hardness and simultaneously greatest conductivity. These findings are rationalized by considering the precipitation behaviors in the ultrafine-grained length scale and their effect on the hardness-conductivity relationship. A strengthening model was proposed for the ultrafine-grained Al-Mg-Si alloys, which accounted for the multiple contributions from grain size, dislocations, solid solution atoms, and precipitates to the hardness. The calculations were in good agreement with the experimental results. Similarly, the effect of multiple microstructural features on the electrical conductivity was also quantitatively described by adopting a model. The contribution of precipitation to both the hardness and conductivity is well demonstrated for the ultrafine-grained Al-Mg-Si alloys, which will be helpful for material design of advanced ultrafine-grained Al alloys with enhanced performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of joint separation on the shear behavior of planar non-persistent joints under high normal load has been investigated using PFC2D. Initially calibration of PFC was undertaken with respect to the data obtained from experimental laboratory tests to ensure the conformity of the simulated numerical models response. Furthermore, validation of the simulated models were cross checked with the results of direct shear tests performed on non-persistent jointed physical models. Through numerical direct shear tests, the failure process was visually observed, and the failure patterns were found reasonably similar to the experimentally observed trends. The discrete element simulations demonstrated that the failure pattern was mostly influenced by joint separation, while the shear strength was linked to the failure pattern and failure mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of stocking density on serum cortisol (COR) levels and expression of immune genes in the head kidney of juvenile GIFT tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus) after Streptococcus iniae ( S. iniae) infection. Juveniles (2700) were distributed into 30 tanks at five stocking densities (150, 300, 450, 600 and 750 g/m), and each treatment had six replicates. After a 45-day feeding trial, a S. iniae challenge study was conducted for 96 h. Differences in mortality, serum COR and gene expression of C-type lysozyme, heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were analyzed. The levels of serum COR at all infected treatments were significantly higher compared with the levels of pre-infection ( P < 0.05). At 96 h post-infection, serum COR levels of high stocking densities (600 and 750 g/m) were significantly higher than those of low-density groups ( P < 0.05); the mRNA levels of C-type lysozyme, HSP70, IL-1β, TNF-α and IFN-γ were significantly lower in tilapia reared at 600 g/m group than in those reared at 300 g/m group ( P < 0.05). Fish reared in high-density treatments (600 and 750 g/m) exhibited significantly higher post-challenge mortality (43.3 and 40.0 %) at 96 h following S. iniae infection, and it was significantly higher than other groups ( P < 0.05). The data suggest that when living in high stocking density, GIFT tilapia showed decrease in immune capability, together with increased serum COR and susceptibility to S. iniae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL) is known to racemize in aqueous mineral acids and much more readily in superacids, it retains its initial configuration in one of the strongest superacid system, HSO3F-SbF5-SO2ClF due to protective C8,C8′-diprotonation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IL-35 is a newly discovered inhibitory cytokine secreted by regulatory T cells (Tregs) and may have therapeutic potential in several inflammatory disorders. Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a major complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and caused by donor T cells and inflammatory cytokines. The role of IL-35 in aGVHD is still unknown. Here we demonstrate that IL-35 overexpression suppresses CD4+ effector T-cell activation, leading to a reduction in alloreactive T-cell responses and aGVHD severity. It also leads to the expansion of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs in the aGVHD target organs. Furthermore, IL-35 overexpression results in a selective decrease in the frequency of Th1 cells and an increase of IL-10-producing CD4+ T cells in aGVHD target tissues. Serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-22 and IL-23 decrease and IL-10 increases in response to IL-35. Most importantly, IL-35 preserves graft-versus-leukemia effect. Finally, aGVHD grade 2-4 patients have decreased serum IL-35 levels comparing with time-matched patients with aGVHD grade 0-1. Our findings indicate that IL-35 has an important role in reducing aGVHD through promoting the expansion of Tregs and repressing Th1 responses, and should be investigated as the therapeutic strategy for aGVHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the copper content on properties of electroless Ni-Cu-P coating on heat exchanger surface was investigated, such as adhesion strength and surface characteristic, and anti-fouling property, which were considered to mitigate the accumulation of mineral fouling in the heat exchangers. The electroless ternary Ni-Cu-P coatings with different copper content were prepared on mild steel (1015) substrate surfaces by adjusting process parameters. Surface morphologies of coating and adhesion strength were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and MFT-4000 multifunctional material surface performance instrument, respectively. The results showed that the adhesion strength was improved with the addition of copper in the coating. With the increase of copper content, the deposition rate of ternary Ni-Cu-P coatings was increased, and the boundary of nodular became obvious. Moreover, the surface free energy of ternary Ni-Cu-P coatings was increased with the increase of copper content in the coatings and then decreased when enhancing the copper content further. The further fouling experiments indicated that all the ternary Ni-Cu-P coating surfaces with different copper content inhibited the adhesion of fouling compared with the stainless steel surface. The adhesion weight of fouling was approximately in proportion with the copper addition of ternary Ni-Cu-P coatings, but not the value of surface free energy. The work provides evidence that both adhesion strength and anti-fouling ability should be combined to use when applying surface modification in the field of heat exchanger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many irreplaceable advantages of high temperature superconducting (HTS) fault current limiter, applying in electric utilities. It is expected to be able to solve excessive fault current problems and to enhance safety and stability of power systems. In this paper, the R and D of an improved bridge-type 10.5 kV three-phase superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) was present. Each phase adopted a HTS coil with inductance of 6.2 mH. The three coils wound with 8,571 m Bi2223/Ag tapes totally. After installation at a 110 kV/10.5 kV substation in Hunan Province of China, the performances of the whole SFCL were tested, including a three-phase-to-ground short circuit experiment at the pre-setup short circuit point. And then, the SFCL was put into operations in the 10.5 kV power grids for more than 11000 h. About 3 years later, the SFCL was moved, reinstalled, and put into operation again since February 16 of 2011 at a 10.5-kV superconducting power substation located in Baiyin, Gansu Province of China. In this paper, the redesigned and manufactured cryostats with nonmagnetic stainless steel, tests, and long-term operations of the SFCL in 10.5 kV power grids were also described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a plasma enzyme that is capable of inhibiting the progression of atherosclerosis, and is associated with susceptibility of coronary artery disease (CAD). PON protein expression is present in human aortic tissue and it plays an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate PON1 immunohistochemistry in human coronary arteries, determine its polymorphisms and plasma status, and analyze its association with the risk of CAD.Subjects/Methods:PON1 expression in human coronary artery tissues was detected by immunohistochemical staining. PON1 polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction direct sequencing in 2456 unrelated Chinese Han individuals. Serum PON1 levels were indirectly reflected by PON1 activity towards paraoxon and phenylacetate by spectrophotometry, and by its concentrations using a human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Immunohistochemical analysis showed that PON1 expression was lower in atherosclerotic arteries than in normal arteries. PON1 Q192R (rs662) had a significant effect on the risk of CAD (P=0.001). In a logistic regression model, after adjusting for conventional risk factors of CAD, 192R allele carriers had a significantly higher risk of CAD than other allele carriers. Serum PON1 activity and concentrations were significantly reduced in CAD patients compared with controls (P<0.05), and highly associated with the R allele.Conclusions:Low PON1 expression in human atherosclerotic coronary arteries is associated with CAD. Moreover, PON1 Q192R polymorphism is significantly associated with susceptibility of CAD in the Chinese Han population, and the 192R allele might be an independent predictor for CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na-ion battery cathode material NaFeF and the corresponding desodiated products were investigated by using first-principle density functional theory calculations within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) + U framework. Our results show that NaFeF is the only energetically stable intermediate phase among the cases considered in the present work ( x = 0.75, 0.5, 0.25), leading to theoretically two voltage plateaus, i.e., 2.63 V (1 ≥ x ≥ 0.5) and 2.82 V (0.5 ≥ x ≥ 0) in NaFeF, respectively. The mean charge voltage of the extraction of the first 0.5 Na ions agrees well with the experimental value, but the one of the extraction of the second 0.5 Na ions exhibits a relatively low value comparing to the experimental results, indicating that another end phase exists, which is consistent with the recent experiments. Furthermore, the electronic structures upon the desodiation are also discussed, and charge localization into distinct Fe and Fe is found in the intermediate-phase NaFeF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response surface methodology (RSM) in concert with central composite experimental design was firstly applied to optimize the culture condition for larval Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) tilapia. Larvae were reared at different water temperature (16-37 °C) and salinity (0-20 ‰) for 35 days. Results showed that the linear and quadratic effects of temperature and salinity on specific growth rate (SGR), survival and hepatic HAMP-1 mRNA levels were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The interacting effects of temperature and salinity on SGR and survival were significant ( P < 0.05), but the interaction on the levels of hepatic HAMP-1 and c-type lysozyme mRNA was not significant ( P > 0.05). A significant increase in the levels of c-type lysozyme mRNA was observed as salinity increases; the quadratic effects of salinity were insignificant ( P > 0.05). The regression equations of SGR, survival, the levels of hepatic HAMP-1 and c-type lysozyme mRNA toward the two factors of interest were established using multiple regression analysis, with the coefficients of determination being 0.980, 0.982, 0.968, and 0.949, respectively ( P < 0.01). Based on RSM, the optimal temperature/salinity combination was obtained at 28.2 °C/6.8 ‰ of which the greatest SGR (10.08 % day) and survival (91.34 %) were simultaneously attained. Adequately increasing salinity would improve growth, survival, and innate immune function in larval GIFT tilapia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: By using an ovariectomized goat model, we found that estrogen depletion decreases bone quality and makes it susceptible to screw-induced mechanical microdamage. Both diffuse microdamage and linear cracks accumulated up to 3 weeks after screw implantation, and the microdamage was repaired gradually after 4-8 months. Introduction: The aim of this study was to observe the effect of long-term estrogen deficiency on the creation and repair of microdamage in cortical bone adjacent to bone screw. Methods: Cortical bone screws were placed in the tibial diaphyses 28 months after ovariectomy (OVX) or sham operation (Sham-Op) in female goats. The goats were euthanized at 0 day, 21 days, 4 months, and 8 months after screw implantation. Microdamage morphology and repair were examined in peri-screw bone using histomorphometric method, and the nanomechanical properties of peri-screw bone were examined with nanoindentation testing. Results: Tibiae from ovariectomized goats in which screws had been placed had significantly higher levels of diffuse microdamage and significantly more linear cracks than those from sham goats, and the diffuse microdamage was more obvious than linear cracks in the region adjacent to the implant. Both diffuse microdamage and linear cracks accumulated up to day 21 and then gradually repaired at 4 and 8 months after surgery. The trend for bone remodeling in each group was consistent with changes in the level of microdamage. Nanoindentation testing showed that both elastic modulus and hardness in peri-screw bone were significantly decreased in OVX group compared to Sham-Op group. The hardness and elastic modulus also showed a downward trend up to 4 months after screw implantation and then exhibited some recovery after 8 months. Conclusions: Estrogen depletion decreases bone quality and makes it vulnerable to screw-induced mechanical damage, which may compromise the initial stability of an orthopedic implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The present meta-analysis shows no clear association between coffee consumption and the risk of hip fractures. There was a nonlinear association between tea consumption and the risk of hip fracture. Compared to no tea consumption, drinking 1−4 cups of tea daily was associated with a lower risk of hip fracture. Introduction: Prospective cohort and case-control studies have suggested that coffee and tea consumption may be associated with the risk of hip fracture; the results have, however, been inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the association between coffee and tea consumption and the risk of hip fracture. Methods: We performed systematic searches using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and OVID until February 20, 2013, without limits of language or publication year. Relative risks (RRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were derived using random-effects models throughout all analyses. We conducted categorical, dose-response, heterogeneity, publication bias, and subgroup analyses. Results: Our study was based on 195,992 individuals with 9,958 cases of hip fractures from 14 studies, including six cohort and eight case-control studies. The pooled RRs of hip fractures for the highest vs. the lowest categories of coffee and tea consumption were 0.94 (95 % CI 0.71-1.17) and 0.84 (95 % CI 0.66-1.02), respectively. For the dose-response analysis, we found evidence of a nonlinear association between tea consumption and the risk of hip fracture ( p < 0.01). Compared to no tea consumption, 1-4 cups of tea per day may reduce the risk of hip fracture by 28 % (0.72; 95 % CI 0.56-0.88 for 1-2 cups/day), 37 % (0.63; 95 % CI 0.32-0.94 for 2-3 cups/day), and 21 % (0.79; 95 % CI 0.62-0.96 for 3-4 cups/day). Conclusions: We found no significant association between coffee consumption and the risk of hip fracture. A nonlinear association emerged between tea consumption and the risk of hip fracture; individuals drinking 1-4 cups of tea per day exhibited a lower risk of hip fractures than those who drank no tea. The association between 5 daily cups of tea, or more, and hip fracture risk should be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic structure and magnetic transport properties of hydrogen-passivated sawtooth zigzag-edge graphene nanoribbons (STGNRs) are investigated theoretically. It is found that all-sized ground-state STGNRs are ferromagnetic and always feature magnetic semiconductor properties, whose spin splitting energy gap Eg changes periodically with the width of STGNRs. More importantly, for the STGNR based device, the dual spin-filtering effect with the perfect (100%) spin polarization and high-performance dual spin diode effect with a rectification ratio about 1010 can be predicted. Particularly, a highly effective spin-valve device is likely to be realized, which displays a giant magnetoresistace (MR) approaching 1010%, which is three orders magnitude higher than the value predicted based on the zigzag graphene nanoribbons and six orders magnitude higher than previously reported experimental values for the MgO tunnel junction. Our findings suggest that STGNRs might hold a significant promise for developing spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To provide radiographic parameters for optimal placement of posterior second sacral alar iliac (S2AI) screw for instrumentation and fusion of scoliosis to the second sacral level in a Chinese population. Methods: S2AI screw trajectories were mapped on three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) reconstructions of 60 normal adult pelvises. 1 mm inferior and 1 mm lateral to the S1 dorsal foramen were chosen as the entry point, and ideal S2AI screw trajectories were explored by rotating and cutting the 3D pelvis, ensuring that the trajectories were of maximum length and width. The directions and depth of these determined trajectories were then measured. Results: The ideal S2AI screw trajectories could be found in each pelvis. The left and right screw trajectory parameters for males were shown as follows: angulation was L 29.15 ± 8.60° vs. R 29.96 ± 8.28° ( p = 0.286) caudally in the sagittal plane and L 36.49 ± 3.14° vs. R 37.16 ± 3.14° ( p = 0.165) laterally in the transverse plane. The maximal and intrasacral lengths of trajectory were L 121.25 ± 8.33 vs. R 120.63 ± 7.54 mm ( p = 0.460) and L 26.20 ± 3.31 vs. R 26.92 ± 4.76 mm ( p = 0.268). The entry point was L 28.87 ± 3.33 vs. R 29.79 ± 3.55 mm ( p = 0.186) lateral to the second sacral midline, and L 44.14 ± 11.87 vs. R 43.89 ± 12.53 mm ( p = 0.687) underneath the skin. The trajectories for females were more caudal (L: 34.50 ± 6.56° vs. 29.15 ± 8.60°, p = 0.009; R: 35.72 ± 7.53° vs. 29.96 ± 8.28°, p = 0.007) in the sagittal plane, but the lateral angulation in the transverse plane showed no difference between genders ( p > 0.05). The female iliac medullar cavities were obviously narrower than those of males (L: 14.76 ± 2.46 vs. 16.98 ± 3.52, p = 0.006; R: 14.94 ± 2.60 vs. 17.00 ± 2.81, p = 0.005). Although the average maximal length of trajectories for females were about 5 mm shorter than those of males, intrasacral length were equal to those of males. Furthermore, both the distance from entry point to the S2 midline and skin in the transverse plane showed no difference between genders. Conclusion: The feasibility to insert S2AI screws to the sacrum and ilium in an Asian population along with the ideal entry angle and length of trajectory were identified for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Since their discovery in 2006, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have gained increasing interest for tissue regeneration and transplantation therapies. However, teratoma formation after iPSC transplantation is one of the most serious drawbacks that may limit their further clinical application. We investigated here whether human iPSC-derived teratomas could be detected by an integrin-targeting agent (99m)Tc-PEG(4)-E[PEG(4)-c(RGDfK)](2) ((99m)Tc-3PRGD2).Methods: Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were generated and characterized. In vitro integrin α(v)β(3) expression levels of hiPSC- and hiPSC-derived teratoma cells were determined by flow cytometry. (99m)Tc-3PRGD2 was prepared, and planar gamma imaging and biodistribution studies were carried out in teratoma-bearing severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of teratomas with 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) was also performed for comparison. Integrin α(v)β(3) expression in teratoma tissues was determined by immunofluorescence staining.Results: (99m)Tc-3PRGD2 showed high (2.82 ± 0.21 and 2.69 ± 0.73%ID/g at 0.5 and 1 h pi, respectively) and specific (teratoma uptake decreased from 2.69 ± 0.73 to 0.53 ± 0.26%ID/g after blocking with cold 3PRGD2) uptake in teratoma tissues, and planar gamma imaging demonstrated the feasibility of noninvasively detecting the teratoma formation with (99m)Tc-3PRGD2. (18)F-FDG showed low teratoma uptake and thus failed to detect the teratomas. Ex vivo immunofluorescence staining validated the integrin α(v)β(3) expression in the vasculature during teratoma formation.Conclusion: Gamma imaging with (99m)Tc-3PRGD2 is a promising approach for the noninvasive monitoring of tumorigenicity after hiPSCs transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The α-Fe 2O 3/Si two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal (PC) with hexagonal honeycomb structure was fabricated by self-assembly and solution-dipping method based on colloidal monolayer template with 780 and 470 nm diameter polystyrene (PS) spheres. Optical diffraction measurement was carried out under wavelengths of 800, 532 and 400 nm. An interesting dispersion phenomenon with a hexagonal diffraction pattern composed of six elliptical spots is observed under specific wavelengths. Both theoretical and experimental calculations reveal that the diffraction can only occur when the incident wavelength is smaller than $\sqrt{3}/2$ of lattice constant, and both the shape and distribution of these spots can be modified by the PC lattice constant and the incident wavelength. All these results reveal that optical properties of these 2D PC slabs are different from conventional diffractive devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fluorescence of different types of planthopper ( Hemiptera) and moth ( Lepidoptera), which constitute important Chinese agricultural pests, was investigated both in situ in a laboratory setting and remotely using a fluorescence light detection and ranging (lidar) system operating at a range of about 50 m. The natural autofluorescence of different species, as well as the fluorescence from insects that had been dusted with fluorescent dye powder for identification were studied. Autofluorescence spectra of both moths and planthoppers show a maximum intensity peak around 450 nm. Bleaching upon long-time laser illumination was modest and did not affect the shape of the spectrum. A single dyed rice planthopper, a few mm in size, could be detected at 50 m distance by using the fluorescence lidar system. By employing various marking dyes, different types of agricultural pest could be determined. We suggest that lidar may be used in studies of migration and movement of pest insects, including studies of their behavior in the vicinity of pheromone traps and in pheromone-treated fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overexpression of IRX1 gene correlates with the growth arrest in gastric cancer. Furthermore, overexpression of IRX1 gene suppresses peritoneal spreading and long distance metastasis. To explore the precise mechanisms, we investigated whether restoring IRX1 expression affects the angiogenesis or vasculogenic mimicry (VM). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and chick embryo and SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells were used for angiogenesis and VM analysis. Small interfering RNA was used for analyzing the function of BDKRB2, a downstream target gene of IRX1. As results, the remarkable suppression on peritoneal spreading and pulmonary metastasis of SGC-7901 cells by IRX1 transfectant correlates to reduced angiogenesis as well as VM formation. Using the supernatant from SGC-7901/IRX1 cells, we found a strong inhibiting effect on angiogenesis both in vitro and in chick embryo. SGC-7901/IRX1 cells revealed strong inhibiting effect on VM formation too. By gene-specific RNA interference for BDKRB2, or its effector PAK1, we got an effective inhibition on tube formation, cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion in vitro. In conclusion, enforcing IRX1 expression effectively suppresses peritoneal spreading and pulmonary metastasis via anti-angiogenesis and anti-VM mechanisms, in addition to previously found cell growth and invasion. BDKRB2 and its downstream effector might be potential targets for anti-cancer strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]