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Out-of-oven curing of epoxy resins with economical and energy-efficient techniques is vital for manufacturing advanced composite structures. In this study, the effects of a magnetic particle (MP)-induced in situ heating technique on the heating temperatures and mechanical properties of epoxy resins were investigated. The results showed that the proposed technique quickly increased the epoxy resin temperature and steadily heated the polymer until it was fully cured. With increasing MP concentrations from 6 wt% to 22 wt%, a notable increase in the heating ratio from 3.27 °C/min to 8.96 °C/min and steady increases in the heating temperature from 92.61 °C to 115.03 °C were observed. Surface modification of the MPs improved the homogeneity of the heating field and cross-linking and also increased the heating ratio and steady heating temperature. With merely 2.5 h of induction heating, the flexural moduli and strengths of functionalized MP/epoxy samples with MP loads of 6 wt%, 13 wt% and 22 wt% were 45.1%, 42.8%, 40.5% and 6.3%, 33.5%, 39.4% higher than those of oven-cured control samples. These findings provide essential knowledge for fabricating advanced polymeric composite structures without an oven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) contribute significantly to the initiation, progression, and prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD). Additionally, HDACs regulate the tumor microenvironment, immune escape, and tumor stem cells, and are closely linked to COAD prognosis. We developed a prognostic model for COAD that incorporates HDACs to evaluate their specific roles. The COAD dataset containing clinical and mutation data was collected using the TCGA and GEO databases to obtain genes associated with HDAC. LASSO analysis and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to determine the presence of prognostic genes. Multivariate Cox analysis was also used to determine risk scores for HDAC-related features. Furthermore, genomic alterations, immune infiltration, and drug response were compared between high- and low-risk groups. Cellular experiments validated the potential regulatory role of BRD3 on COAD proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. The median risk scores, calculated based on the characteristics, demonstrated a more significant prognostic improvement in patients in the low-risk group. Furthermore, HDAC-related features were identified as important independent prognostic factors for patients with COAD. Additionally, genomic mutation status, immune infiltration, and function, as well as response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, were found to be associated with risk scores. Subgroup analyses indicate that anti-PD-1 therapy may be beneficial for patients in the low-risk group. Additionally, a decrease in risk score was associated with a decrease in immune infiltration. Finally, HCT116 and HT29 cells exhibited inhibition of BRD3 gene proliferation and migration, as well as promotion of apoptosis. In patients with COAD, HDAC-related characteristics may be useful in predicting survival and selecting treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for the seismic vibrator in land exploration has increased, and a more refined model that could capture the coupled vibration dynamics of the vibrator–ground interaction system is urgently required. In this paper, an improved vibrator–ground coupled dynamics (VGCD) model is newly proposed with consideration of the coupling effects of near-source area and nonlinear baseplate–earth interaction. The partial differential equations of the VGCD model are discretized by utilizing the Galerkin method. After verifying the convergence and solution of the proposed model, the comprehensive comparisons of the dynamic response of the VGCD interaction system with the traditional models are presented to reveal the effects of coupled ground on the vibrator dynamics. Moreover, a systematical parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of the ground parameters on the force transmissibility between the vibrator and the ground. The numerical analyses indicate that the coupled vibration of the ground has a great influence on the dynamic response of the VGCD interaction system and further affects the output performance of the vibrator. This work could be beneficial to a more accurate evaluation of the coupling effects induced by vibrator–ground interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We revisit the condensation scenario of charged pions in external magnetic field and rotation, which was first considered by Y. Liu and I. Zahed. Based on the Ginzburg-Landau analysis of the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model, we find that the charged-pion condensation takes place only when both a strong coupling constant and negatively large baryon chemical potential are applied. Besides, our numerical calculation shows that the chiral restoration induced by the interplay between magnetic field and rotation (i.e., the rotational magnetic inhibition) interrupts the formation of the charged-pion condensate. This suggests that the analysis of such condensation requires a careful treatment of the inner structure of pions, which was not taken into account before. We also discuss the underlying physical mechanism of our finding and the indication of charged-rho condensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) has been transformed by the development and approval of new targeted therapies. This analysis aimed to rank and compare the new therapies for gMG using efficacy and safety data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov (up to November 2022) for RCTs of targeted drugs for gMG. We used a Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis (NMA) model and a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) model for statistical analysis. The primary outcome was the change in quantitative myasthenia gravis score (QMGS) from baseline, while the secondary outcome was the risk ratio (RR) of adverse events (AEs) during treatment. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to rank these targeted drugs, with higher SUCRA values indicating better efficacy or lower likelihood of AEs. Results: In total, 13 studies (872 subjects) were included in this analysis evaluating 10 targeted drugs (batoclimab, belimumab, CFZ533, eculizumab, efgartigimod, nipocalimab, rituximab, ravulizumab, rozanolixizumab, and zilucoplan). With regards to the primary outcome, batoclimab [standardized mean difference (SMD), − 1.61; 95% credible interval (CrI), − 2.78, − 0.43] significantly reduced QMGS in patients with gMG when compared with placebo and was ranked as the most efficacious drug. Ranked second and third were eculizumab (SMD, − 0.67; 95% CrI, 1.43, 0.01) and zilucoplan (SMD, − 0.54; 95% CrI, − 1.56, 0.46), respectively. Nipoclimab (SMD, − 0.02; 95% CrI, − 1.04, 1.00) had the worst efficacy and ranked last among all targeted drugs. In our study, except for batoclimab, there was no statistically significant difference in the reduction of patient QMGS for the remaining targeted agents compared with placebo. With regards to the secondary outcomes, only batoclimab (RR, 0.19; 95% CrI, 0, 0.97) led to a significant reduction in the incidence of AEs when compared with the placebo. Belimumab (RR, 0.85; 95% CrI, 0.57, 1.19), CFZ533 (RR, 0.95; 95% CrI, 0.72, 1.25), eculizumab (RR, 0.99; 95% CrI, 0.85, 1.21), and efgartigimod (RR, 0.93; 95% CrI, 0.76, 1.15) also led to a lower incidence of AEs, although these effects were not significantly different from the placebo. Conclusions: Batoclimab had the best efficacy and safety for the treatment of gMG and was ranked first out of the 10 targeted drugs included in this study. Eculizumab was ranked second, and nipocalimab had the worst efficacy. With the exception of batoclimab, the incidence of AEs for the remaining drugs was not statistically significantly different from placebo. We note, however, that wide CrIs reflect the uncertainty in this analysis owing to the small number of available studies and low numbers of study participants; moreover, batoclimab had the widest CrI of all drugs in this analysis. More well-designed studies with long-term follow-up are needed to further evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of these drugs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the evolution pattern of forest ground force in Fanjing Mountain and provide a scientific basis for ecological management and forest restoration in the Fanjing Mountain area, the trend analysis method was used to study the evolution characteristics and patterns of soil texture at different elevation and profile levels in Fanjing Mountain in 1982 and 2014 after 32 years. The results show that the trend of increasing sand and clay and decreasing silt in the soils of Fanjing Mountain is evident, and the overall soil texture of Fanjing Mountain evolves from Silty loam to Silty clay loam. Soil sanding and claying coexist in Fanjing Mountain. The trend of soil texture evolution in different vertical zones at different altitudes shows a "V" pattern of change. The total variation of soil grain size indexes is more drastic at the highest and lowest elevations of Fanjing Mountain than in the middle, while the variation is relatively stable at the middle of the elevation. The evolution of soil texture at different levels of Fanjing Mountain is C > A > B, and the evolution of the C layer is due to the significant increase of sand particles, which may be related to the weathering of the soil parent material. Layers A and B, on the other hand, are due to an increase in clay, which may be related to the decomposition and uptake by soil microorganisms and plants. In summary, the different successional characteristics of soil texture with elevation and profile level are important factors driving the different natural successional status' of the forests in Fanjing Mountain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing severity of global climate and energy problems has made renewable energy an inevitable choice for achieving a low-carbon society. Hydrogen is regarded as one of the most promising renewable energy due to its excellent characteristics, such as abundant and extensive resources, high calorific value, and non-pollution. How to achieve efficient hydrogen storage is one of the main hot spots of hydrogen energy research. For on-board hydrogen storage systems, which could be used for portable power sources and fuel cell vehicles, how to store hydrogen safely and effectively is one of the most urgent technological bottlenecks to overcome. The solid-state storage based on hydrogen storage materials has the advantages of low hydrogen storage pressure, high energy efficiency, safety and reliability, compared to conventional compressed hydrogen and cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage methods. It may be one of the most promising solutions to solve the above problems. Among the hydrogen storage materials, the lightweight composite hydrides Li–Mg–N–H system holds great promise for vehicular hydrogen storage applications owing to its moderate thermodynamic properties (∆Hdes ~ 44 kJ mol−1 H2 and ∆Sdes ~ 112 J mol−1 H2·K) and relatively high hydrogen capacity (~ 5.6 wt%). However, the Li–Mg–N–H material itself has poor cycling performance and a high energy barrier, resulting in a low dehydrogenation rate and high operating temperature. Apart from this, the multi-field coupling of mass and energy transfer also poses a challenge, hindering its on-board applications. In this paper, we present the modification methods and research status of the Li–Mg–N–H system's hydrogen storage materials. The effects of composition modification, nanocrystallization and catalyst addition on the thermal/kinetic properties of hydrogen storage materials in the Li–Mg–N–H system are expounded. The difficulties and directions for enhancing the hydrogen storage performance of Li–Mg–N–H system are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nonlinear interaction between the vibrator and ground is important for the vibrator–ground system which is related to structural design, diagnosis and prognosis of the vibrator. Thus, it is necessary to model the vibrator–ground interaction system reasonably and study its dynamic response. In this paper, a nonlinear dynamic model of the vibrator–ground system with consideration of surface topographies is developed and the correlation of surface roughness to the soil–baseplate interaction characteristics is revealed. The developed model is verified by comparing simulation results with field tests. Based on this model, some useful nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the vibrator are analyzed: (a) the baseplate vibration behaviors; (b) the contact uniformity; (c) the ground force. Moreover, a parametric analysis is conducted and the influences of several system parameters are discussed in details. The results indicate that the surface topography has great influence on the vibrator–ground interaction and further, affects the dynamic response of the vibrator. This research can provide references for the operation and optimization of the vibrator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothermia is a promising neuroprotective treatment. This study aims to explore and optimize the intervention scheme of intra-arterial hypothermia (IAH) in a middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) rat model. The MCAO/R model was established with a thread that could be retracted 2 h after occlusion. Cold normal saline was injected into the internal carotid artery (ICA) through a microcatheter in different infusion conditions. Grouping followed an orthogonal design (L9[34]) based on three critical factors closely associated with IAH: perfusate temperature (4, 10, 15 °C), infusion flow rate (1/3, 1/2, 2/3 blood flow rate of ICA), and duration (10, 20, 30 min), resulting in 9 subgroups (H1, H2 to H9). A myriad of indexes were monitored, such as vital signs, blood parameters, changes in local ischemic brain tissue temperature (Tb), ipsilateral jugular venous bulb temperature (Tjvb), and the core temperature of the anus (Tcore). After 24 h and 72 h of cerebral ischemia, cerebral infarction volume, cerebral water content, and neurological function were assessed to explore the optimal IAH conditions. The results revealed that the three critical factors were independent predictors for cerebral infarction volume, cerebral water content, and neurological function. The optimal perfusion conditions were 4 °C, 2/3 RICA (0.50 ml/min) for 20 min, and there was a significant correlation between Tb and Tjvb (R = 0.994, P < 0.001). The vital signs, blood routine tests and biochemical indexes showed no significant abnormal changes. These findings revealed that IAH was safe and feasible with the optimized scheme in an MCAO/R rat model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: By comparing the chloroplast genomes of three willows, it is found that the genome structure is relatively conservative, and the large variations are more derived from the noncoding regions. Salix L., the largest genus in Salicaceae, has great value in ecology and economy. Here, we compared the chloroplast genomes of three important sand-fixing shrubs of the genus Salix: Salix gordejevii (size: 155,279 bp); S. cheilophila (size: 155,322 bp); and S. psammophila (size: 155,278 bp). The quadripartite circular structures of these genome sequences have the same structure and gene contents with 84 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Long repeats including forward and palindromic repeats were found in three plastomes. The mononucleotide simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were dominant and accounted for more than 64% in all three plastomes, whereas hexanucleotide SSRs existed only in S. gordejevii. The noncoding and intergenic regions have greater variations than the coding regions, and eight highly variable regions were identified within the Salix chloroplast genomes, which could be utilized as potential markers for phylogenetic studies and phylogeography. In addition, we found 34 indels with more than 5 bases, which can be used to further identify S. gordejevii and S. psammophila with similar morphologies. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole cp genomes showed that S. gordejevii and S. magnifica are closely related, S. psammophila was a sister to S. suchowensis, and S. cheilophila clustered with them. The completed genomes in this study provide useful genetic resources for future research on species identification, phylogenetic relationships, and the adaptive evolution of Salix species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate changes in dynamic functional network connectivity (FNC) in patients with vestibular migraine (VM) and explore their relationship with clinical manifestations. Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data were scanned from 35 VM patients without peripheral vestibular lesion and 40 age-, sex- and education-matched healthy controls (HC). Independent component analysis (ICA), sliding window (SW) and k-means clustering analysis were performed to explore the difference in FNC and temporal characteristics between two groups. Additionally, Pearson's partial correlation analysis was adopted to investigate the relationship between clinical manifestations and rs-fMRI results in patients with VM. Results: Compared with HC, patients with VM showed increased FNC in pairs of extrastriate visual network (eVN)-ventral attention network (VAN), eVN-default mode network (DMN) and eVN-left frontoparietal network (lFPN), and exhibited decreased FNC in pairs of VAN-auditory network (AuN). The altered FNC was correlated with clinical manifestations of patients with VM. Additionally, we found increased mean dwell time and fractional windows in state 2 in VM patients compared with HC. Mean dwell time was positively correlated with headache impact test-6 (HIT-6) scores, fractional windows was positively associated with dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) scores. Conclusion: Our results indicated that patients with VM showed altered FNC primarily between sensory networks and networks related to cognitive, emotional and attention implementation, with more time spent in a state characterized by positive FNC between sensor cortex system and dorsal attention network (DAN). These findings could help reinforce the understanding on the neural mechanisms of VM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the poisoning resistance of LaNiAl, high-purity Cu-coated LaNiAl was prepared using magnetron sputtering. SEM, EDS, and TEM were employed to examine the Cu-coated LaNiAl. The results show that copper is deposited on the surface of LaNiAl in the form of nanodots. With the increase of sputtering power, the particle size of nanoparticles decreases and the coverage increases. Kinetic curves of hydrogen absorption were generated for both bare and Cu-coated LaNiAl under different impurity gases. Cu-coated LaNiAl shows better hydrogen absorption performance. Copper nanodots deposited by magnetron sputtering can improve the poisoning resistance of hydrogen storage alloys. Using XPS, surface states of samples were initially examined both before and after CO poisoning. The analysis shows that the copper oxide/metal interfaces improved resistance to CO-containing impurity gases through catalytic oxidation of CO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for clean energy and growing concerns regarding environmental sustainability have led to greater attention devoted toward the production of clean fuels via green chemistry. In this respect, ammonia is a green alternative to fossil fuels and can serve as a clean energy source. There is now great interest in realizing the electrochemical reduction in atmospheric nitrogen (N2) for cheap, environmentally friendly and reliable ammonia (NH3) production worldwide. However, the robustness of the triple bond in N2 and the low efficiency of candidate catalysts limit the utility of this conversion. Single atom catalysts have been found to be more effective than nanoparticles due to their unique properties, and thus have been studied extensively for the nitrogen reduction reaction. In this review, we have covered the recent advances in design and synthesis of noble metal and non-noble metal single atom catalysts for the electrochemical reduction in nitrogen during the years 2018–2022. The catalyst efficiencies, with reference to coordination preferences and theoretical studies have been discussed. Moreover, we also provide insights into the current challenges and some considerations for further future studies. 摘要: 随着人们对清洁能源需求的增加, 以及对环境可持续性的担忧日益加剧, 通过绿色化学生产清洁燃料受到越来越多的关注。氨是化石燃料的绿色替代品, 可以作为清洁能源。目前, 人们对实现大气中氮气 (N2) 的电化学还原以生产氨 (NH3), 从而在全球范围内实现廉价、环保和可靠的氨生产产生了浓厚兴趣。然而, N2中三键的稳定性以及催化剂的低效率限制了这一转化的实用性。单原子催化剂因其独特的性质而比纳米催化剂更高效, 并已被广泛应用于氮还原反应 (NRR) 。在这篇综述中, 我们介绍了2018 − 2022年以来用于电化学氮还原的贵金属和非贵金属基单原子催化剂 (SAC) 的设计和合成的最新进展。基于对配位环境和理论计算的研究, 对催化剂的效率进行了讨论。此外, 还在与NRR的进一步研究相关的当前挑战和未来前景方面提出了我们的见解。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of waterborne acrylic resin was prepared by the solution polymerization with octafluoroamyl methacrylate (OF-PMA), 2-butoxy ethanol, and acrylic monomers as raw materials and N, N-dimethyl ethanolamine as pH regulator. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the OF-PMA monomers were successfully grafted onto the resin. The effects of the addition mode and content of OF-PMA on the properties of waterborne acrylic resin were studied. The properties of waterborne acrylic polymer and its coating were tested by a thermogravimetric analyzer, an optical contact angle measuring instrument, and a tensile testing machine. The results showed that after the introduction of OF-PMA monomer into acrylic resin, the tensile strength of the resin was increased by 14.31 MPa. Moreover, the water resistance and heat resistance of resin coating were also improved obviously and the as-modified resin coating exhibited better fullness, adhesion of Gt0, and the hardness of 4H. The novel acrylic resin exhibits a potential application prospect in the fields of waterborne wood coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The projection pursuit model is an important tool for processing high-dimensional nonnormal and nonlinear data, and it has a wide range of applications. In this paper, clustering analysis and information entropy theory are simultaneously introduced into the projection pursuit model. The K-means clustering method is used to cluster high-dimensional data, and information entropy is used to measure the overall dispersion and local aggregation of projection data. A projection pursuit model based on clustering and information entropy is proposed. The new model has both the classification advantages of clustering analysis and the evaluation advantages of the projection pursuit model. In the case test, different cases are tested by using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Epps-Pulley test, etc. The results show that in most cases, the new model is better than the original model, and the advantage is clearer when the data dimension is higher. Finally, the new model is applied to the agricultural drought risk assessment of Qiqihar, a major grain-producing area in China that is prone to drought. The regional agricultural drought risk shows a downward trend over time. Spatially, the risk of the central and southern regions is low, while the risk of the northern and western regions is high. Regional ability to resist disasters is the main reason for the spatial and temporal differences. This paper extends projection pursuit model theory, analyzes the characteristics of the spatiotemporal variation in regional agricultural drought risk, and provides a reference for identifying the hidden dangers of drought disasters and disaster reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the structural, thermodynamic, electronic, and optical properties of the β-BeO phase of ZnO under negative pressure calculated via first-principles method. We analyzed the phase transition by the local density approximation, and we find that the structural phase transition from wurtzite B4 to metastable β-BeO phase occurred at − 10.2 GPa. We used the Debye model to calculate the thermodynamic properties. The results show that the bulk modulus decreases with increasing temperature or decreasing pressure whereas the heat capacity and thermal expansion coefficient increase with increasing temperature or decreasing pressure. We employed the hybrid functional (Becke-Lee-Young-Parr exchange–correlation functional) method to predict the electronic and optical properties. The band structure calculations confirmed that the β-BeO phase possesses an indirect wider band gap than that of B4 phase. Redshift in band gap energy and optical properties are observed with decreasing pressure. The dielectric function ε1(ω) calculations validate that the β-BeO phase exhibits metallic behaviour at around 16.3 eV, whereas optical constants exploration has confirmed its transparent nature. The present study proves that the β-BeO phase ZnO may be potentially applicable in next-generation electronics. Additionally, it is helpful in material sciences to understand and examine the surrounding pressure during a variety of mineral formation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) with a high aspect ratio (>2000) have remarkable flexibility and photoelectric properties. Moreover, these nanowires are an important alternative for flexible transparent electrodes because of their significant electrical conductivity and low cost when fabricated into conductive networks on transparent substrates. Most reported AgNWs have low aspect ratios and are accompanied by numerous nanoparticles, which require an additional purification treatment. A one-step synthesis is still challenging for high-purity AgNWs with ultra-high aspect ratios (>2000), thin diameters, and few particle by-products. In this work, we propose a strategy to effectively improve the aspect ratio of AgNWs. We used a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) mixture as the capping agent and explored the effects of mixing PVPs with two different molecular weights: 1,300,000 Da and 40,000 Da. The fabricated AgNWs are highly pure (AgNPs×100 < 0.29 pieces/square micron) with diameters of about 40 nm, an aspect ratio of more than 2000, and a quality factor of 7407.41. Thus, our strategy paves the way for low-cost and large-scale manufacturing of high-purity flexible transparent electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Estimating the goafs ahead of iron mine in advance is essential to ensure the safety of mining. Xishimen Iron Mine is located at Hebei Province, China, which faces high risk of collapse due to the goafs. To understand the geological conditions (the location and scale of goafs) ahead of the mine tunnel, the Seismic Ahead-prospecting was used to predict adverse geology ahead. Based on the ahead-prospecting method, two goafs ahead of the mine tunnel face were successfully predicted. For the artefact abnormal body in migration, the numerical simulation based on finite difference method was conducted to real the influence of exist tunnel 2#, helping better recognize and interpret the geological conditions of migration image result. Finally, the more accurate location and scale of the two goafs were deduced. Moreover, the paper provides reference and guidance for geological exploration of other similar metal mine engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ThO2 (thoria) is an important semiconductor, optical material, and mineral. It has Fm 3 - m phase at normal pressure, and it transforms to the Pnma phase under high pressure. The electronic and optical properties of ThO2 are important and urgent to study for its applications. Since the exhaustive optical properties of ThO2 are scarce, we used the GGA + U method to calculate the electronic and optical properties of ThO2 at normal pressure as well as under high pressure in detail. Our calculated band gap of Fm 3 - m phase increases with increasing pressure, while that of the Pnma phase nearly keeps constant. A blue shift in optical properties is found with increasing pressure. We discussed the relation between the band, the imaginary part of the dielectric function, and the density of states. We also used proper equations to fit the relation between band gap, absorption coefficient, and pressure. The acquired properties under pressure indicate phase transition as well as having application significance. Our studies not only stimulate the related researches but also pave a road for future application of ThO2 in the field of geosciences, physics, and materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human brain undergoes rapid development during childhood, with significant improvement in a wide spectrum of cognitive and affective functions. Mapping domain- and age-specific brain activity patterns has important implications for characterizing the development of children's cognitive and affective functions. The current mainstay of brain templates is primarily derived from structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and thus is not ideal for mapping children's cognitive and affective brain development. By integrating task-dependent functional MRI data from a large sample of 250 children (aged 7 to 12) across multiple domains and the latest easy-to-use and transparent preprocessing workflow, we here created a set of age-specific brain functional activity maps across four domains: attention, executive function, emotion, and risky decision-making. Moreover, we developed a toolbox named Developmental Brain Functional Activity maps across multiple domains that enables researchers to visualize and download domain- and age-specific brain activity maps for various needs. This toolbox and maps have been released on the Neuroimaging Informatics Tools and Resources Clearinghouse website (http://www.nitrc.org/projects/dbfa). Our study provides domain- and age-specific brain activity maps for future developmental neuroimaging studies in both healthy and clinical populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose methods for synthesizing multilayer optical lattices of cold atoms in a layer-by-layer manner, to unlock the potential of optical lattices in simulating novel multilayer systems. The scheme combines compressed Gaussian beams of far red-detuned laser and an optical device with modified Michelson interferometers as key components. The compressed Gaussian beam makes possible standalone and purely two-dimensional optical lattices, which are the building blocks of target multilayer optical lattices. The modified Michelson interferometers split one compressed Gaussian beam into several beams, in a manner allowing delicate control over the vertical distances between the outgoing beams and their propagation directions. We illustrate the proposal with the displaced dice lattice, which is a trilayer lattice that maps to the dice lattice when projected to the same layer. Both the dice model and its interesting variants may be realized. We also discuss extensions to other interesting multilayer lattices such as the twisted multilayer lattices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the user congestion problem in cognitive radio spectrum allocation process, this paper, based on the game theory spectrum allocation model, proposes an equilibrium spectrum allocation algorithm based on potential game theory to quickly reach the Nash equilibrium of the game process among cognitive users and the balanced allocation of users among multiple channels. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can achieve balanced allocation of cognitive users among channels, avoid excessive congestion of some channels and improve spectrum utilization. In addition, it can converge to Nash equilibrium in a short time. It can effectively improve the SIR and communication quality of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quasars, which are exceptionally bright objects at the centres (or nuclei) of galaxies, are thought to be produced through the accretion of gas into disks surrounding supermassive black holes1–3. There is observational evidence at galactic and circumnuclear scales4 that gas flows inwards towards accretion disks around black holes, and such an inflow has been measured at the scale of the dusty torus that surrounds the central accretion disk5. At even smaller scales, inflows close to an accretion disk have been suggested to explain the results of recent modelling of the response of gaseous broad emission lines to continuum variations6,7. However, unambiguous observations of inflows that actually reach accretion disks have been elusive. Here we report the detection of redshifted broad absorption lines of hydrogen and helium atoms in a sample of quasars. The lines show broad ranges of Doppler velocities that extend continuously from zero to redshifts as high as about 5,000 kilometres per second. We interpret this as the inward motion of gases at velocities comparable to freefall speeds close to the black hole, constraining the fastest infalling gas to within 10,000 gravitational radii of the black hole (the gravitational radius being the gravitational constant multiplied by the object mass, divided by the speed of light squared). Extensive photoionization modelling yields a characteristic radial distance of the inflow of approximately 1,000 gravitational radii, possibly overlapping with the outer accretion disk. Observations of highly redshifted broad absorption lines of helium and hydrogen atoms provide unambiguous evidence of fast infalling gas that is merging into an accretion disk around a black hole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is caused by CTG nucleotide repeat expansions in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the dystrophia myotonica protein kinase (DMPK) gene. The expanded CTG repeats encode toxic CUG RNAs that cause disease, largely through RNA gain-of-function. DM1 is a fatal disease characterized by progressive muscle wasting, which has no cure. Regenerative medicine has emerged as a promising therapeutic modality for DM1, especially with the advancement of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology and therapeutic genome editing. However, there is an unmet need to identify in vitro outcome measures to demonstrate the therapeutic effects prior to in vivo clinical trials. In this study, we examined the muscle regeneration (myotube formation) in normal and DM1 myoblasts in vitro to establish outcome measures for therapeutic monitoring. We found normal proliferation of DM1 myoblasts, but abnormal nuclear aggregation during the early stage myotube formation, as well as myotube degeneration during the late stage of myotube formation. We concluded that early abnormal nuclear aggregation and late myotube degeneration offer easy and sensitive outcome measures to monitor therapeutic effects in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, the microstructure, mechanical properties, and textures of warm rolled interstitial-free steel annealed at four different temperatures (730, 760, 790, and 820°C) were studied. The overall structural features of specimens were investigated by optical microscopy, and the textures were measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Nano-sized precipitates were then observed by a transmission electron microscope (TEM) on carbon extraction replicas. According to the results, with increased annealing temperatures, the ferrite grains grew; in addition, the sizes of Ti4C2S2 and TiC precipitates also increased. Additionally, the sizes of TiN and TiS precipitates slightly changed. When the annealing temperature increased from 730 to 820°C, the yield strength (YS) and the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) showed a decreasing trend. Meanwhile, elongation and the strain harden exponent (n value) increased to 49.6% and 0.34, respectively. By comparing textures annealed at different temperatures, the intensity of {111} texture annealed at 820°C was the largest, while the difference between the intensity of {111}<110> and {111}<112> was the smallest when the annealing temperature was 820°C. Therefore, the plastic strain ratio (r value) annealed at 820°C was the highest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Little is known about the effects of developmental trauma on the neural basis of cognitive control among adults who do not have posttraumatic stress disorder. To examine this question, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare the effect of subliminal priming with earthquake-related images on attentional control during a Stroop task in survivors of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China (survivor group, survivors were adolescents at the time of the earthquake) and in matched controls (control group). We found that the survivor group showed greater activation in the left ventral anterior cingulate cortex (vACC) and the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus during the congruent versus incongruent condition, as compared to the control group. Depressive symptoms were positively correlated with left vACC activation during the congruent condition. Moreover, psychophysiological interaction results showed that the survivor group had stronger functional connectivity between the left parahippocampal gyrus and the left vACC than the control group under the congruent-incongruent condition. These results suggested that trauma-related information was linked to abnormal activity in brain networks associated with cognitive control (e.g., vACC-parahippocampal gyrus). This may be a potential biomarker for depression following developmental trauma, and it may also provide a mechanism linking trauma reminders with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socioeconomic status (SES) is a complex phenomenon that is predicted by a broad spectrum of variables and is often conceptualized as a combination of financial, occupational, and educational influences. SES is associated with symptoms of depression and depression-related personality traits. Many studies have focused on the relationship between SES and depression symptoms in clinical subjects; however, there are few studies of the neural basis of the relationship between SES and depression-related personality traits in nonclinical subjects. Thus, in the present study, we studied the neural basis of the relationship between SES and depression-related traits. The first step was to use voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to investigate the neuroanatomical basis underlying family SES in a large sample of healthy subjects. We found a significant negative correlation between family SES and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) that extending to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Then, the mediation analysis revealed that the correlation between family SES, especially family income, and depression-related traits were mediated by the region of the mPFC that extending to the ACC volume. These findings suggest that the family income may play more important role in driving depression-related traits than that of parental education. They also suggest that the mPFC extension to the ACC may play an important role in the correlation between familial SES, especially with respect to family income and the depression-related traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a laser-diode end-pumped high-repetition frequency laser operating at 1.34 μm. Under acousto-optic Q-switched operation frequency of 50, 75, and 100 kHz, we study experimentally the characteristics of the output pulse versus the pump power. At 11.6 W pump power and 100 kHz repetition rate, we obtain an average output power of 2.33 W with a pulse width of 153.6 ns and a peak power of 150 W. We achieve a peak-peak pulse fluctuation of less than 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neovascularization, including angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and vasculogenesis, occurs in physiological and pathological state. Efficient and controlled reconstruction of functional vascular network is necessary. Nerves and blood vessels establish intricate branching network in every organ which share anatomical and functional characteristics. Nerves direct vessel branching patterns and arterial differentiation in the developmental embryonic limb skin. Various neurotransmitters exert antiapoptotic, chemotactic and proliferative effect on EC and SMC, and modulate all the phases of neovascularization. Hence, we proposed that the perivascular nerves may play critical roles in neovascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perilla frutescens is a medicinal plant that produces various bioactive compounds, including unsaturated fatty acids and phenolic compounds such as rosmarinic acid (α- O-caffeoyl-3, 4 -dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, RA). Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) catalyzes the first step in the tyrosine-derived branch of RA biosynthesis, and TAT is presumed to have a role in RA accumulation. Here, we report the isolation of full-length TAT cDNA (designated PfTAT) from P. frutescens. Sequence analysis revealed that PfTAT contained 1,535 bp long and an open reading frame of 1,233 bp encoding 411 amino acid residues. Analysis of PfTAT genomic DNA revealed 7 exons and 5 introns. The 5′ flanking sequence of PfTAT was also cloned, and a group of putative cis-acting elements such TATA box, CAAT box, TC-rich repeats and G box were identified. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that constitutive expression of PfTAT in leaves was much higher than in roots and stems. A vector was constructed containing the PfTAT gene derived by the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Transgenic P. frutescens overexpressing PfTAT was obtained with an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system and overexpression was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot. PfTAT mRNA expression in transgenic plant lines measured by real-time quantitative PCR was 2-3 times greater than PfTAT expression in the untransformed plant line. Also, enhanced gene expression corresponded to significantly increased RA in PfTAT-transgenic lines, as quantified by HPLC. Our data emphasize the importance of PfTAT in the production of RA in P. frutescens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The case of a 27-year-old Chinese patient with bilateral eyelid thickening and ptosis secondary to the rare condition of pachydermoperiostosis is presented. Surgical treatment was performed by horizontal tightening via a full-thickness wedge resection combined with levator shortening and advancement. Satisfactory aesthetic and functional results were achieved. The histopathology of eyelid tissue showed sebaceous gland hyperplasia and chronic inflammatory response. Level of Evidence V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cosmetic scleral shells provide a superior alternative to enucleation or evisceration in the setting of phthisis bulbi. However, corneal irritation often minimizes the wearing time of a scleral shell. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a total conjunctival flap covering in the management of mild phthisis bulbi with a sensitive cornea. Methods: The surgical technique involved a total conjunctival flap covering combined with superficial lamellar keratectomy to allow the fitting of a cosmetic scleral shell over a sensitive cornea. The records of patients with mild phthisis bulbi who underwent this technique from September 2003 through July 2011 were reviewed. Postoperative and long-term complications were noted. Outcome measures included cosmetic appearance, complications, and patient satisfaction. Results: A total of 58 patients (58 eyes) were identified. The mean age at surgery was 28.5 years (range = 2-65 years) and the mean follow-up period (follow-up rate = 66 %) was 42.6 months (range = 6-98 months). Postoperative complications like epithelial inclusion cyst (one eye), intolerance of scleral shell wear (2 eyes), and deterioration of phthisis bulbi (3 eyes) were observed during the follow-up interval. Surgical success was achieved in 52 subjects (90 %) with the desired prosthetic appearance and motility and no further intervention was required. Conclusion: The total conjunctival flap is an easy and effective globe-conserving alternative to enucleation or evisceration in the cosmetic rehabilitation of patients with mild phthisis bulbi. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycoproteins derived from Hansenula polymorpha can not be used for therapeutic purposes due to their high-mannose type asparagine-linked (N-linked) glycans, which result in immune reactions and poor pharmacokinetic behaviors in human body. Previously, we reported that the trimannosyl core N-linked glycans (ManGlcNAc) intermediate can be generated in endoplasmic reticulum in HpALG3 and HpALG11 double-mutant H. polymorpha. Here, we describe the further modification of the glycosylation pathway in this double-defect strain to express glycoproteins with complex human-like glycans. After eliminating the impact of HpOCH1, three glycosyltransferases were introduced into this triple-mutant strain. When human β-1,2- N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I (hGnTI) was efficiently targeted in early Golgi, more than 95 % glycans attached to the glycoproteins were added one N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). With subsequently introduction of rat β-1,2- N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase II (rGnTII) and human β-1,4-galactosyltransferase I (hGalTI), several glycoengineered strains can produce glycoproteins bearing glycans with terminal N-acetylglucosamine or galactose. The expression of glycoproteins with glycan GalGlcNAcManGlcNAc represents a significant step toward the ability to express fully humanized glycoproteins in H. polymorpha. Furthermore, several shake-flask and bioreactor fermentation experiments indicated that, although the cells do display a reduction in growth rate, the glycoengineered strains are still suitable for high-density fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinch-1, a widely expressed focal adhesion protein, has been demonstrated to be up-regulated in multiple solid tumor-associated stromal cells, particularly at invasive edges. It was supposed that Pinch-1 was intimately associated with development and progression of tumors. The expression of Pinch-1 in hematopoietic microenvironment in patients with leukemia remains unclear. This study focused on the expression of Pinch-1 in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) from leukemia patients and its possible effect. BMSC was isolated and cultured from bone marrow in leukemia patients and normal healthy donors. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to determine Pinch-1 mRNA and protein level in BMSC, respectively. Lentiviral vector containing Pinch-1 siRNA was constructed, and the recombinant lentivirus particle was packaged in 293 cells. Effectiveness of Pinch-1 siRNA was determined by Western blot. The proliferation, apoptosis and motility of leukemia BMSC subjected to Pinch-1 knockdown using siRNA were tested by flow cytometry, TUNEL assay and Transwell system, respectively. Pinch-1 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated in ALL and AML BMSC compared to normal BMSC ( p < 0.01). Although there was no difference in Pinch-1 mRNA between ALL and AML BMSC, cellular levels of Pinch-1 protein in ALL BMSC were significantly higher than that in AML BMSC ( p < 0.01). Overexpressed Pinch-1 was significantly reduced in leukemia BMSC transfected with Pinch-1 siRNA evidenced by Western blot. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the percentage of cells in S + G2 phases in leukemia BMSC transfected with Pinch-1 siRNA was significantly lower than control ( p < 0.01). The percentage of apoptotic cells in leukemia BMSC transfected with Pinch-1 siRNA was 19.8 ± 1.0%, significantly higher than controls ( p < 0.01). The number of leukemia BMSC transfected with Pinch-1 siRNA that migrated to the lower chamber after culturing for 24 h was 8.4 ± 1.1 per field, significantly lower than controls ( p < 0.01). Pinch-1 mRNA and protein in leukemia BMSC were up-regulated drastically compared with BMSC from healthy donors. Leukemia BMSC displayed hypoproliferation, decreased migration and increased apoptosis after transfecting Pinch-1 siRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have attracted the attention of scientists and clinicians due to their self-renewal, capacity for multipotent differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties. Some essential problems remain to be solved before the clinical application of MSC. Platelet lysate (PL) has recently been used as a substitute for FBS in MSC amplification in vitro to achieve clinically applicable numbers of MSC. In addition to promising trials in regenerative medicine, such as in the treatment of major bone defects and myocardial infarction, MSC have shown therapeutic effect other than direct hematopoiesis support in hematopoietic reconstruction. It has been confirmed that MSC promote hematopoietic cell engraftment and immune recovery after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, probably through the provision of cytokines, matrix proteins, and cell-to-cell contacts. Their suppressive effects on immune cells, including T cells, B cells, NK cells and DC cells, suggest MSCs as a novel therapy for GVHD and other autoimmune disorders. These cells thus present as promising candidates for cellular therapy in the fields of regenerative medicine, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and autoimmune disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti-Cr- and Ti-Mn-based alloys were prepared to be low- and high-pressure stage metals for a double-stage super-high-pressure metal hydride hydrogen compressor. Their crystallographic characteristics and hydrogen storage properties were investigated. The alloy pair TiZrMn-CrVFe/TiCrMnFe was optimized based on the comprehensive performance of the studied alloys. The product hydrogen with a pressure of 100 MPa could be produced from 4 MPa feed gas when hot oil was used as a heat reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The α-gliadins from Crithopsis delileana (Schult) Roshev (2n=2x=14, KK) were investigated by Acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (A-PAGE) analysis. It was indicated that the electrophoresis mobility of gliadins from C.delileana had obvious difference with those from common wheat in α, γ and ω region. Using primers designed from published sequences of α-gliadin genes, three α-gliadin genes were isolated from C. delileana, which were designated as gli-ka1, gli-ka2 and gli-ka3, respectively. Two in-frame stop codons were found in the coding sequences of gli-ka3, indicating that gli-ka3 could be a pseudogene. The gli-ka2 was a gliadin with an odd number of cysteines, resulting from a non-synonymous mutation. This change might lead to the interactive behavior of gli-ka2. Three α-gliadin genes of C. delileana had the similar but not identical primary structures to the corresponding gene sequences from other wheat related species. By the alignment of α-gliadin genes from Triticeae, phylogenetic analysis indicated that three α-gliadin genes of C. delileana clustered together with all α-gliadin genes from Ee genome of Lophopyrum elongatum by an interior paralleled branch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) of a vespertilionid bat, Miniopterus fuliginosus ( M. f.), and a pteropodid bat, Rousettus leschenaultii ( R. l.) was measured non-invasively during induced hypothermia (37-10°C for M. f. and 37-24°C for R. l.) with perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. In both species, the average CBF was found to decrease with rectal temperature. The patterns of hypothermia-induced regional CBF changes, however, were different between the two species. In the pteropodid bat, the extent of CBF decrease at lower rectal temperature was similar in the cortex and thalamus, resulting in an unchanged thalamus/cortex CBF ratio. In contrast, the thalamus/cortex CBF ratio in the vespertilionid species increased progressively with decreasing rectal temperature (1.52 ± 0.14 at 37 ± 1°C vs. 2.28 ± 0.29 at 10 ± 1°C). These results suggest that the manner in which the two bat species cope with low body temperature may be reflected by a differential CBF regulation between thalamus and cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]