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This paper intensively explores the critical issues related to the quantitative and accurate evaluations of FCG behavior in the early stage, macro fatigue fracture toughness, and the critical crack size for damage tolerance in nuclear graphite. To address these issues, scale-span FCG tests were carried out using two typical specimens, CT and SEM in-situ specimens. These results indicate that the FCG threshold and the effective FCG length have a significant correlation with the modified maximum loop stress theory for a mixed I/II mode. In particular, the effective FCG length (aeq) and the applied stress threshold of polycrystalline graphite are important parameters for fatigue damage tolerance design in engineering application. The influencing factors of ΔKth,eq and aeq were discussed in detail using the mixed I/II mode, respectively. In addition, the scattered values of ΔKIC for this graphite can be quantitatively estimated using the Weibull distribution equation. The predicated parameters and experimental results demonstrate a strong correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Uncaria rhynchophylla is an evergreen vine plant, belonging to the Rubiaceae family, that is rich in terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) that have therapeutic effects on hypertension and Alzheimer’s disease. GATA transcription factors (TF) are a class of transcription regulators that participate in the light response regulation, chlorophyll synthesis, and metabolism, with the capability to bind to GATA cis-acting elements in the promoter region of target genes. Currently the charactertics of GATA TFs in U. rhynchophylla and how different light qualities affect the expression of GATA and key enzyme genes, thereby affecting the changes in U. rhynchophylla alkaloids have not been investigated. In this study, 25 UrGATA genes belonging to four subgroups were identified based on genome-wide analysis. Intraspecific collinearity analysis revealed that only segmental duplications were identified among the UrGATA gene family. Collinearity analysis of GATA genes between U. rhynchophylla and four representative plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Coffea Canephora, and Catharanthus roseus was also performed. U. rhynchophylla seedlings grown in either red lights or under reduced light intensity had altered TIAs content after 21 days. Gene expression analysis reveal a complex pattern of expression from the 25 UrGATA genes as well as a number of key TIA enzyme genes. UrGATA7 and UrGATA8 were found to have similar expression profiles to key enzyme TIA genes in response to altered light treatments, implying that they may be involved in the regulation TIA content. In this research, we comprehensively analyzed the UrGATA TFs, and offered insight into the involvement of UrGATA TFs from U. rhynchophylla in TIAs biosynthesis.Key message: Identify the GATA gene family from U. rhynchophylla and analyze the expression levels of key enzyme genes and UrGATA genes under different lights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Renal hypouricemia (RHUC), a rare inherited disorder characterized by impaired uric acid reabsorption and subsequent profound hypouricemia, occurs mainly due to variants in SLC22A12 or SLC2A9. Only anecdotal cases and one small-scale RHUC screening study have been reported in the Chinese population. Methods: A total of 19 patients with RHUC from 17 unrelated families were recruited from our center. The medical history, clinical manifestations, biochemical exam, and clinical outcomes were collected. Next-generation sequencing-based targeted gene sequencing or whole exon sequencing was performed. Results: A total of 22 variants in SLC22A12 or SLC2A9 were found in 19 patients. The variant c.944G>A (p.W315X) in SLC2A9 was identified in three patients. Three variants c.165C>A (p.D55E), c.1549_1555delGAGACCC (p.E517Rfs*17), and c.1483T>C (p.W495R) in SLC22A12 and three variants c.1215+1G>A (splicing variant), c.643A>C (p.T215P), and c.227C>A (p.S76X) in SLC2A9 were novel. A proportion of 10 out of 19 patients presented with exercise-induced acute kidney injury (EIAKI). The renal outcome was favorable. Five patients had nephrolithiasis, in whom three had hypercalciuria. Conclusion: The current study reported six novel variants in SLC22A12 and SLC2A9 genes of Chinese patients with RHUC. The variant c.944G>A (p.W315X) in SLC2A9 may be common in Chinese patients. EIAKI is the main clinical phenotype associated with RHUC in our cohort, with a favorable outcome. Hypercalciuria presented in some RHUC patients is a new finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking may have great diagnostic value in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and hypertensive heart disease. Exploring the diagnostic and clinical research value of cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracks in evaluation of myocardium deformation in patients with subclinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(SHCM)and subclinical hypertensive heart disease(SHHD). Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) scans were performed on a 1.5 T MR scanner in 33 patients with SHCM, 31 patients with SHHD, and 27 controls(NS). The CMR image post-processing software was used to analyze the characteristics of routine cardiac function, different global and regional myocardial strain in each group. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare age, blood pressure, heart rate, routine cardiac function, body mass index (BMI), as well as the strain between different segments within each of the three groups. Once a significant difference was detected, a least significant difference (LSD) comparison would be performed. The diagnostic efficacy of different parameters in differentiating SHHD from SHCM was evaluated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and the best cut-off value was determined. There was no statistical difference among three groups (P>0.05) in routine cardiac function while significant statistical differences were found in the global myocardial strain parameters and the peak strain parameters of some segments (especially basal segments) (P < 0.05). The global radial peak strain (GRPS) was most effective (AUC = 0.885, 95% CI: 0.085–0.971, P<0.001) with a sensitivity and specificity of 84% and 88% at a cut-off value of 40.105, contributing to distinguishing SHCM from SHHD group. Cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking could detect left ventricular deformation in patients with SHCM and SHHD group. The abnormality of strain has important research value for subclinical diagnosis and clinical evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implant-associated infections caused by biomedical catheters severely threaten patientsʼ health. The use of electrochemical control on NO release from benign nitrite equipped in the catheter can potentially resolve this issue with excellent biocompatibility. Inspired by nitrite reductase, a Cu-BDC (BDC: benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid) catalyst with coordinated Cu(II) sites was constructed as a heterogeneous electrocatalyst to control nitrite reduction to nitric oxide for catheter antibacteria. The combined results of in situ and ex situ tests unveil the key function of interconversion between Cu(II) and Cu(I) species in NO2− reduction to NO. After being incorporated into the actual catheter, the Cu-BDC catalyst exhibits high electrocatalytic activity toward NO2− reduction to NO and excellent antibacteria efficacy with a sterilizing rate of 99.9%, paving the way for the development of advanced metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) electrocatalysts for catheter antibacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoblast differentiation is regulated by various transcription factors, signaling molecules, and posttranslational modifiers. The histone acetyltransferase Mof (Kat8) is involved in distinct physiological processes. However, the exact role of Mof in osteoblast differentiation and growth remains unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that Mof expression with histone H4K16 acetylation increased during osteoblast differentiation. Inhibition of Mof by siRNA knockdown or small molecule inhibitor, MG149 which is a potent histone acetyltransferase inhibitor, reduced the expression level and transactivation potential of osteogenic key markers, Runx2 and Osterix, thus inhibiting osteoblast differentiation. Besides, Mof overexpression also enhanced the protein levels of Runx2 and Osterix. Mof could directly bind the promoter region of Runx2/Osterix to potentiate their mRNA levels, possibly through Mof-mediated H4K16ac to facilitate the activation of transcriptional programs. Importantly, Mof physically interacts with Runx2/Osterix for the stimulation of osteoblast differentiation. Yet, Mof knockdown showed indistinguishable effect on cell proliferation or apoptosis in MSCs and preosteoblast cells. Taken together, our results uncover Mof functioning as a novel regulator of osteoblast differentiation via the promotional effects on Runx2/Osterix and rationalize Mof as a potential therapeutic target, like possible application of inhibitor MG149 for the treatment of osteosarcoma or developing specific Mof activator to ameliorate osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically changed the landscape of cancer treatment. However, only a few patients respond to ICI treatment. Thus, uncovering clinically accessible ICI biomarkers would help identify which patients will respond well to ICI treatment. A comprehensive objective response rate (ORR) data of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy in pan-cancer would offer the original data to explore the new biomarkers for ICIs. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase for clinical trials on July 1, 2021, limited to the years 2017–2021, from which we obtained studies centering around anti–PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy. Finally, 121 out of 3099 publications and 143 ORR data were included. All of the 31 tumor types/subtypes can be found in the TCGA database. The gene expression profiles and mutation data were downloaded from TCGA. A comprehensive genome-wide screening of ORR highly correlated mutations among 31 cancers was conducted by Pearson correlation analysis based on the TCGA database. Results: According to the ORR, we classified 31 types of cancer into high, medium, and low response types. Further analysis uncovered that "high response" cancers had more T cell infiltration, more neoantigens, and less M2 macrophage infiltration. A panel of 28 biomarkers reviewed from recent articles were investigated with ORR. We also found the TMB as a traditional biomarker had a high correlation coefficient with ORR in pan-cancer, however, the correlation between ITH and ORR was low across pan-cancer. Moreover, we primarily identified 1044 ORR highly correlated mutations through a comprehensive screening of TCGA data, among which USH2A, ZFHX4 and PLCO mutations were found to be highly correlated to strengthened tumor immunogenicity and inflamed antitumor immunity, as well as improved outcomes for ICIs treatment among multiple immunotherapy cohorts. Conclusion: Our study provides comprehensive data on ORR of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy across 31 tumor types/subtypes and an essential reference of ORR to explore new biomarkers. We also screened out a list of 1044 immune response related genes and we showed that USH2A, ZFHX4 and PLCO mutations may act as good biomarkers for predicting patient response to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass, microarchitectural deterioration, and increased bone fragility. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity also results in bone loss, which is associated with an imbalanced gut microbiome. However, whether HFD-induced obesity or HFD itself promotes osteoclastogenesis and consequent bone loss remains unclear. In this study, we developed HFD-induced obesity (HIO) and non-obesity (NO) mouse models to evaluate the effect of HFD on bone loss. NO mice were defined as body weight within 5% of higher or lower than that of chow diet fed mice after 10 weeks HFD feeding. NO was protected from HIO-induced bone loss by the RANKL /OPG system, with associated increases in the tibia tenacity, cortical bone mean density, bone volume of cancellous bone, and trabecular number. This led to increased bone strength and improved bone microstructure via the microbiome-short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) regulation. Additionally, endogenous gut-SCFAs produced by the NO mice activated free fatty acid receptor 2 and inhibited histone deacetylases, resulting in the promotion of Treg cell proliferation in the HFD-fed NO mice; thereby, inhibiting osteoclastogenesis, which can be transplanted by fecal microbiome. Furthermore, T cells from NO mice retain differentiation of osteoclast precursors of RAW 264.7 macrophages ex vivo. Our data reveal that HFD is not a deleterious diet; however, the induction of obesity serves as a key trigger of bone loss that can be blocked by a NO mouse-specific gut microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In addition to diet and metabolism, the occurrence of foam cells and atherosclerosis are also related to environmental factors. Individual studies have shown that ultraviolet B (UVB) can regulate the progression of atherosclerosis, but with different results. Whether or not UVB has a dual effect on atherosclerosis and what mechanism is involved has not been reported. Methods: After THP-1-derived foam cells were treated with UVB in different ways, the effects of UVB on foam cells were investigated by western blotting, cholesterol efflux experiment, oil red O staining and other methods. Results: UVB plays a dual role on foam cell formation, and this effect is related to cholesterol efflux. UVB of 50 mJ/cm2 can promote cholesterol efflux in foam cells, while UVB of 200 mJ/cm2 can inhibit cholesterol efflux. UVB induces cholesterol efflux from foam cells in an autophagy-dependent manner, as the beneficial effect of UVB at 50 mJ/cm2 can be reversed by the autophagy inhibitor 3-Methyladenine (3-MA). In addition, silencing the expression of ultraviolet radiation resistance-associated gene (UVRAG) can inhibit autophagy and reduce cholesterol efflux, and overexpressing UVRAG yields the opposite result. Conclusion: In conclusion, our research proves that UVB exhibits a dual role in foam cell formation by regulating cholesterol efflux. Further more, we also reveal that UVRAG-mediated autophagy is the underlying mechanism of UVB-induced cholesterol efflux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black phosphorus (BP) as an emerging two-dimensional material has been found that it possesses excellent potential applications in a variety of fields. Recently, it has been also proved that BP can exhibit excellent lubricating properties when it was used as water- or oil-based lubricant additive. In the present work, in order to explore the tribological properties of BP nanoflakes used as the solid filler in polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), spark plasma sintering (SPS) was used to prepare the BP/PTFE composites. Meanwhile, in consideration of the characteristics of BP easy to be oxidized, BP was actively oxidized to prepare the degraded BP (d-BP)/PTFE composites. Then Si3N4 balls were used as counterpart balls to conduct tribological experiments. The results of tribological experiment showed d-BP/PTFE composites with a d-BP content of 5 wt.% exhibited the best tribological properties under dry sliding and water environment condition. The characterizations and analyses of the counterpart balls and worn surfaces demonstrated that a layer of transfer film composed of phosphorus oxide reduced the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate. Besides, when the composites were used in an environment of water, the phosphorus oxide on the surface can dissolve in water and form a hydrogen bond network and thus further reduced friction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since industrial robots have redundant degree-of-freedom (DOF), both tool orientation and redundant angle have to be well planned to determine a unique robotic posture. The existing sequential planning method mainly uses the method developed specifically for machine tools to plan tool orientation and then adjusts the redundant angle to improve the robot stiffness, ignoring the differences in stiffness, configuration, etc. between robots and machine tools and the influence of tool orientation on the stiffness. Moreover, due to the kinematics of robot is highly nonlinear, the tool orientation with maximum stiffness cannot guarantee smooth joint motion. To address these problems, this paper proposes an integrated strategy that considers comprehensively robot stiffness and joint motion to plan the tool orientation and redundant angle simultaneously. The stiffness feasible space (SFS) of the robot along the entire tool path is first constructed, which is used as constraint for the subsequent tool orientation and redundant angle planning. Then, a machining error-controllable joint smoothing model is proposed to smooth three joints subjected to the heavy kinematic loads to improve the kinematics performance, and the other three joints are used to maintain the tool at its planned position to control the machining error. To simplify the solving process, an alternate strategy of first generating tool orientation and redundant angle and then checking stiffness constraints is developed, and the iteration solving is repeated until all the generated tool orientations and redundant angles are in their SFSs. Meanwhile, the machining error caused by the smoothing of joint motion is also controlled. Finally, the conducted experiments validate the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum dialkyldithiocarbamate (MoDTC) is widely used as a friction modifier in engine lubricating oil. Under MoDTC lubrication, the friction and wear behaviors of tungsten-doped diamond-like carbon (W-DLC) films annealed at 100–400 °C were discussed and evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Raman spectroscopy. Under (polymerized alpha olefin) PAO + MoDTC lubrication, the coefficient of friction of all samples decreased, but the wear rates of the W-DLC films annealed at 300 °C increased significantly. By interacting with zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), the wear rates of W-DLC films annealed at different temperatures declined significantly owing to the formation of dense phosphate tribofilms on the worn surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High mobility is the essential feature of vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs), which however challenges the low cost and real-time security of the network. The concept of Trust Communication (TC) is proposed to address the issue. Following this concept, each vehicle gains a trust value depending on its performance of communication. Then, other vehicles choose to communicate with the vehicle owning a high enough trust value. In this way, the security of VANETs is improved with low cost and high timeliness, since the storage space and computing time are obviously reduced compared with traditional methods. However, how to allocate the trust value and how to make a trust communication method to adapt the complex scenario of VANETs are crucial and unsolved problems. In this paper, we make an in-depth investigation on the Trust Communication issue in VANETs. Firstly, we introduce the background of the Trust Problems in VANETs. Then, the most basic trust models for VANETs and a classification of these models are surveyed and discussed. Given the limitations of these basic models, we further present various improvement measures for each model. Finally, we discuss the performances of the trust models under various application scenarios. In particular, the suitable application scenario for each model and potential improvements are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differential diagnosis of abnormalities in the prostate is broad, covering common (acinar adenocarcinoma, benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic prostatitis, hemorrhage, cysts, calcifications, atrophy and fibrosis) and less common conditions (tumors other than acinar adenocarcinoma, granulomatous prostatitis containing tuberculosis, abscesses and other conditions, and idiopathic disorders such as amyloidosis and exophytic benign prostatic hyperplasia). Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the prostate gland and imaging guidelines, such as the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.1 (PI-RADS v2.1), have dramatically improved the ability to distinguish common abnormalities, especially the ability to detect clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). Overlap can exist in the clinical history and imaging features associated with various common/uncommon prostate abnormalities, and biopsy is often required but is invasive. Prostate abnormalities can be divided into two categories: category 1, diseases for which PI-RADS scores are suitable for use, and category 2, diseases for which PI-RADS scores are unsuitable for use. Radiologists must have an intimate knowledge of other diseases, especially uncommon conditions. Past relevant history, symptoms, age, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, MRI manifestations, and the applicability of the PI-RADS assessment should be considered when diagnosing prostate abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We proposed a silicon-based monolithic integrated multi-wavelength InAs/GaAs quantum dot microring laser array with radially coupled waveguides. To achieve the stable multi-wavelength lasing of the laser array in the 1.3 μm band, the three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method is used to numerically optimize structure parameters of the microring laser with a connected III–V waveguide. The results show that the microring laser can realize a stable mode TE50,1 with an outer-wall radius of 3.5 μm, a microring width of 1.0 μm, a cladding thickness of 1.50 μm, an etching depth of 5.255 μm and a waveguide width of 0.5 μm. The mode wavelength is 1302.43 nm with a quality factor of 20,093.6. The optical coupling efficiency from the laser to the waveguide is about 47.8%. Moreover, mode wavelengths can be adjusted by the microring radius. When the microring width is 1.0 μm, changing the outer-wall radius from 2.7 to 3.9 μm with an interval of 0.2 μm, the mode wavelength ranges from 1289.29 to 1307.28 nm with a step of about 3.00 nm. It is feasible to achieve multi-wavelength laser arrays for monolithic silicon integration, which facilitates the preparation of silicon-based III–V multi-wavelength integrated light sources for dense wavelength division multiplexing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the electronic excited states of hypoxanthine in solution such as water and acetonitrile are investigated by the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) method. We demonstrated for the first time that the intermolecular excited-state electron transfer (ESET) from solvents to the hypoxanthine through excited-state intermolecular hydrogen-bonds cluster exhibits obvious site-selectivity. Excited-state electron transfer could only occur at the N7 site of hypoxanthine molecule in water solution, while that is the N9 site in acetonitrile. Potential energy surfaces for different electronic states of hypoxanthine with and without the influence of the excited-state hydrogen bonding cluster are also discussed. Site-selective ESET is proposed to induce the internal conversion of hypoxanthine from S2 state to S1 at a conical intersection, which is responsible for the ultrashort lifetime of hypoxanthine in excited state in solution. These results pave a novel way to understand the photophysical and photochemical behaviors of DNA bases and their derivatives in solution phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The relationship between depression and long-term clinical outcomes in peritoneal dialysis is unclear. This study was to explore the effect of depressive symptoms on patient survival and technique survival in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. Methods: Patients who had received CAPD therapy for ≥ 3 months were recruited from January to June, 2009, with follow-up until June, 2019. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was used to evaluate depressive symptoms (BDI scores ≥ 14) at baseline. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and the secondary outcome was technique failure. Results: Participants were 275 CAPD patients (mean age 49.6 ± 15.9 years, male 54.2%). Of these, 86 (31.3%) experienced depressive symptoms. The depressive group had fewer males, longer PD duration at enrollment, higher calcium levels, and lower residual glomerular filtration rates (all P < 0.05) than the non-depressive group. Long-term patient survival (P = 0.037) and technique survival (P = 0.003) were significantly poorer in depressive group than in non-depressive group. After adjustment for confounders in multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models, depressive symptoms remained independent predictors of mortality risk [hazard ratio (HR) 1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–2.48; P = 0.035] and technique failure (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.07–3.47; P = 0.029). Conclusion: The prevalence of patients with depressive symptoms was 31.3% in this cohort. The patient survival rate and technique survival rate in depressive group were lower than in non-depressive group. Depressive symptoms were independent risk factors for long-term mortality and technique failure in CAPD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyalphaolefin (PAO) oil is one of the most commonly-used based oil to decrease the fuel energy consumption of mechanical systems, like vehicles. Nevertheless, it heavily relies on environmental toxic organic additives with sulfur, phosphorus, and/or chlorine. Accordingly, nano-carbon materials, such as nano-diamond (ND), onion-like-carbon (OLC) and graphene (Gr.), was adopted to develop a novel kind of environmentally-friendly PAO-based lubricants with low toxic additives. Synergetic effects between nano-carbon materials and MoDTC additives were investigated to enhance friction-reduction and anti-wear performances of PAO oil with molybdenum di-thiocarbamate (MoDTC) additive. Experimental results show that ND and OLC additives are effective in the enhancement of friction-reduction and anti-wear performances of self-mated AISI 52100 steels lubricated under poly-alpha-olefin (PAO) oil with Mo-DTC additive, due to the formation of tribo-film consist of MoSx, polishing, ball-bearing and reinforcement effects of nano-particles. Via the addition of ND or OLC additive with a content of 0.05 wt.%, the optimized dosage of MoDTC additive can be significantly decreased from 1 to 0.1 wt.%. Friction coefficient of self-mated AISI 52100 steels lubricated under PAO oil with 0.1 wt.% Mo-DTC and 0.05 wt.% ND additive is about 0.05, approximately equal to that lubricated under PAO oil with 1 wt.% Mo-DTC additives. Moreover, ND additive resulted in a lower friction coefficient, better wear resistance (about 2.3 × 10− 16 m3/N m) and shorter duration of run-in period than OLC additive in PAO oil with MoDTC additive. Graphene is not helpful to enhance the friction-reduction and anti-wear performance of PAO oil with or without MoDTC, due to the absence of polishing, ball-bearing and reinforcement of nano-particles effects. Although, individual addition of OLC additive in PAO oil also caused friction-reduction effectiveness, serious wear damage occurred attributed to the abrasive of nano-particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of copper nanowires (Cu NWs) and ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium perchlorate, in short [BMIM] [ClO4]) on the tribological properties of ionic liquid under external voltages were explored using friction tests in this paper. The results showed that the ionic liquid with 0.15 wt.% Cu NWs after 60 days exhibited better lubricating property at a low voltage of 0.5 V. The worn surfaces characterized by SEM and XPS illustrated that the existence of the Cu2O could increase wear of friction pairs when Cu particles were oxidized. How the different forms of copper affect the lubrication of ionic liquid under external voltages were further discussed. This work provides a new thought of using metal ions to improve the lubrication performance of ionic liquids under external voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor for the development of advanced liver disease including fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The relative contribution of virological factors to disease progression has not been fully defined and tools aiding the deconvolution of complex patient virus profiles is an unmet clinical need. Variable viral mutant signatures develop within individual patients due to the low-fidelity replication of the viral polymerase creating 'quasispecies' populations. Here we present the first comprehensive survey of the diversity of HBV quasispecies through ultra-deep sequencing of the complete HBV genome across two distinct European and Asian patient populations. Seroconversion to the HBV e antigen (HBeAg) represents a critical clinical waymark in infected individuals. Using a machine learning approach, a model was developed to determine the viral variants that accurately classify HBeAg status. Serial surveys of patient quasispecies populations and advanced analytics will facilitate clinical decision support for chronic HBV infection and direct therapeutic strategies through improved patient stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exchange rate fluctuations continue to intensify because of global economic integration. Research on the characteristics of exchange rate volatility is particularly urgent and important. In this paper, the fractal theory is introduced. The function box counting method and the qth-order moment structure partition function method are applied to test the multi-fractal features of USD/CNY exchange rate. On this basis, the multi-fractal spectrum analysis is carried out. It is found that USD/CNY exchange rate has multi-fractal characteristics and there is a strong connection between the standard deviation of the scale index and volatility of USD/CNY exchange rate. By adjusting the standard deviation of scaling exponents, we construct the multi-fractal volatility index and build a dynamic model for testing and forecasting the volatility of USD/CNY exchange rate based on fractal theory. The model lnS¯α-ARMA(1,1) for measuring and forecasting volatility proposed in our paper is demonstrated to be a good fit to the exchange rate data, which provides sound methodological reference for exchange rate volatility measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the physical environment on populations of organisms endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas have attracted increased scientific interest in recent years. Triplophysa leptosoma (Cobitidae: Cypriniformes) is an endemic species restricted to the Tibet Plateau and adjacent areas. Its distribution includes river systems around the Qilian mountains areas which located in the northeast edge of Tibet Plateau, including the Shiyang River, Heihe River and Shule River in the Hexi Corridor, Qaidam Basin river system and Yellow River system. In this study, we use mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome b gene 1000 bp and cytochrome oxidase I gene 635 bp) to investigate the effects of geomorphological changes associated with the uplift of the Qilian Mountains on the major patterns of intraspecific diversification and population structure of the T. leptosoma. Based on our data, phylogenetic relationships among the 48 haplotypes revealed five major clades with strong geographic orientation. Our results suggest that the origin of these clades may correspond to the intermittent uprise of the Qilian Mountains. The Quaternary climatic changes and glacial-interglacial cycles had an important effect on the differentiation of haplotypes and the genetic diversity of the T. leptosoma. Meanwhile, population expansion also occurred during the repeated glacial event and the basin interconnections in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the potential merits of palladium oxide sensing electrode. PdO is applied on a solid-state potentiometric sensor on an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte as sensing electrode for the first time. The physical properties, morphology, chemical properties, and sensing performance of synthetic PdO electrode are characterized. An attractive phenomenon is observed that the thicknesses of PdO electrode have a little impact on the sensor response. The sensing mechanism is discussed regarding to the impedance analysis and sensing results of the sensor. We find that the change of electric potential of the sensor in CO environment is irrelevant to mobile oxygen in electrolyte, and the charged intermediate on the PdO is proposed to contribute the sensor signal. In addition, the response of sensor depends logarithmically on the concentrations of CO, and the slope is −33.4 mV/decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the microstructures and dielectric properties of PZT coatings prepared by supersonic plasma spraying. Samples of the PZT coatings were evaluated by various techniques. The phases and microstructures of the coatings were investigated by XRD, SEM, and TEM, respectively. The results showed that the coatings deposited on steel substrate had a dense microstructure, and there was no phase transformation during spraying. Additionally, the Curie temperature of the PZT coatings was about 370 °C by the investigation of dielectric constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the effect of social support and coping style on depression in patients on CAPD in Southern China. Methods: The patients undergoing CAPD therapy for more than 3 months were recruited from Jan 1 to May 31, 2009. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Social Support Rating Scale, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form (SF-36) were used to evaluate depression, social support, coping style, and quality of life (QoL), respectively. Results: Of the 191 recruited patients, 65 patients (34.0 %) suffered from depression, with a BDI-II score of 23.8 ± 8.4. The average score of QoL (44.9 ± 13.9 vs. 64.7 ± 14.2, p < 0.001), social support (37.9 ± 7.2 vs. 42.1 ± 7.3, p < 0.001), and 'confrontation' coping style (17.2 ± 3.9 vs. 18.8 ± 3.8, p = 0.006) in depressed patients was significantly lower than those in non-depressed patients, respectively. While the depressed patients had significantly higher score of 'acceptance-resignation' coping style (12.9 ± 2.5 vs. 10.4 ± 3.5, p < 0.001) compared with those of non-depressed patients. Univariate analysis showed that the BDI-II score was negatively associated with social support ( r = −0.284, p < 0.001) and 'confrontation' ( r = −0.180, p = 0.013), but positively associated with 'acceptance-resignation' ( r = 0.482, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR = 0.971, p = 0.038), female sex (OR = 2.211, p = 0.039), diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.046, p = 0.015), long PD duration (OR = 1.021, p = 0.020), fatigue (OR = 2.500, p = 0.032), high Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score (OR = 1.143, p = 0.001), low social support (OR = 0.945, p = 0.046), and high 'acceptance-resignation' (OR = 1.096, p = 0.020) were independently associated with depression. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of depression in CAPD patients. Age, female sex, diabetes mellitus, long PD duration, fatigue, sleep disturbance, low social support, and high 'acceptance-resignation' coping style were independently associated with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of layered zirconium glycine- N, N-dimethylphosphonate (ZGDMP), with the functional groups -COOH, has been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Situ polymerization method was employed to prepare castor oil-based polyurethane/layered zirconium phosphonate (PU/ZGDMP- n) nanocomposite films. The structure and morphology of ZGDMP in PU matrix have been characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that the morphology and properties of PU-based nanocomposites greatly depend on the functional groups -COOH because of the chemical reactions and physical interactions involved. The tensile test shows that the tensile strength and elongation at break for the nanocomposite films increase with the loading of ZGDMP as compared to those of the virgin PU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of functionally gradient material (FGM) theory was used to design ceramic nozzle based on the erosion wear behaviors of the ceramic nozzles and the outstanding properties of FGM. The purpose is to reduce the tensile stress at the entry region of the nozzle during sand blasting processes. The design theory and methods of gradient ceramic nozzle were proposed. The physical, micromechanical, and composition distribution models of gradient ceramic nozzle were established. The optimum composition distribution of the gradient ceramic nozzle material was determined from the solution of the multi-objective optimization calculation by constructing the models of the composition distribution versus the structural integrity of the compact in fabricating process. Results showed that compressive residual stresses appeared at the entry area of the gradient ceramic nozzle. The optimized component distribution exponent p is 0.5. An SiC/(W,Ti)C gradient ceramic nozzle material was synthesized by hot-pressing according to the design result. Results showed that the surface Vickers hardness of the FGM-1 gradient ceramic nozzle materials was greatly improved in comparison with that of the other layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cDNA library was constructed from the liver of Lampetra japonica. 10077 ESTs were obtained by random selecting clones for sequencing. The results demonstrated that 8515 ESTs were assembled into 648 consensus sequences, represented 2210 unique transcripts, 47.06% of which were predicted as full length cDNAs. In addition, 1562 ESTs were singlets. Using the BLAST to align the assembled ESTs, we found that 93.9% (2053) transcripts shared similarity to sequences published in GenBank databases. The functional annotations to assembled ESTs showed that the genes, involved in immunology, blood coagulation and metabolism of jawed vertebrates, were highly expressed in the liver of L. japonica. Furthermore, 8 potential novel genes were identified. Further comparing liver transcriptome of L. japonica with Fundulus heteroclitus, Mus musculus, Bos Taurus, and Homo sapiens revealed that the genes of Chitinase and Polysaccharides metabolism were more highly expressed in L. japonica than the others, which implied that they may play an important role in immunity of L. japonica. In addition, using the TargetScan, we marked microRNA target within 3′ UTR of L. japonica liver transcriptome. The data indicated that some microRNA targets were homology with the targets embeded in human cancer genes. The result seems to provide a useful clue to the treatment of human cancer. Therefore, the present work will be an important resource for investigating the functional genomics and proteomics of L. japonica as well as evolution of vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We, first, demonstrate an optimized structure design and analyze the optical mode properties of 1.3 μm wavelength square microcavity lasers on silicon with InAs/InGaAs quantum-dot active region and mid-point output waveguides. Si-based square microcavities with whispering-gallery-like modes have been proposed for optimizing their quality factors (Q factors). Three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method is used to numerically analyze the optical mode characteristics. The influences of the side-length of the microcavity, the output waveguide width, and the etching depth on the optical modes of the microcavity are investigated in detail. It indicates that the Q factor increases with increasing etching depth, and decreases rapidly as the waveguide width increases. The results show that with the side length of 18 μm, the waveguide width of 1.0 μm, and the etching depth of 3.5 μm, the Q factor is the highest, and the mode distribution is optimal. The mode wavelength and Q factor are 1305.9 nm and 4694.8, respectively. Advantages of more stable and evenly distributed mode profiles for Si-based square microcavity lasers have been demonstrated, and compared with the Si-based disk microcavity (microdisk) lasers. It promises a potential alternative laser structure for Si-based optoelectronic integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep problems significantly affect the quality of life of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week ball combination exercise, continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) stimulation, and combined intervention on sleep problems in children with ASD. Forty-five ASD children were divided into three intervention groups (ball combination exercise(n = 12), cTBS stimulation(n = 10), combined (n = 12) and a control group (n = 11). The intervention groups underwent intervention, while the control group maintained daily activities. The effects were assessed using the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) scale. The results revealed that after 12 weeks of intervention, three programs reduced sleep problems in children with ASD. The post-test scores of the cTBS group (p = 0.002) and the combined group (p < 0.001) were significantly lower than the baseline scores on the CSHQ scale. The exercise group (p = 0.002) and the combined group (p < 0.001) showed significant improvement in sleep anxiety, while there was no statistically significant difference in the effectiveness of the three interventions for sleep-onset delay. The combined group outperformed the single intervention groups in the CSHQ score and sleep anxiety sub-dimensions. The combined intervention group showed slightly superior performance in sleep onset latency, however, there was no significant difference. Three interventions alleviated sleep issues in ASD children, with the combined method proving more effective. This study validates non-pharmacologic and combined approaches for ASD sleep problems. Future research should delve deeper into the mechanisms of these interventions in ASD children’s sleep improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass, microarchitectural deterioration, and increased bone fragility. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity also results in bone loss, which is associated with an imbalanced gut microbiome. However, whether HFD-induced obesity or HFD itself promotes osteoclastogenesis and consequent bone loss remains unclear. In this study, we developed HFD-induced obesity (HIO) and non-obesity (NO) mouse models to evaluate the effect of HFD on bone loss. NO mice were defined as body weight within 5% of higher or lower than that of chow diet fed mice after 10 weeks HFD feeding. NO was protected from HIO-induced bone loss by the RANKL /OPG system, with associated increases in the tibia tenacity, cortical bone mean density, bone volume of cancellous bone, and trabecular number. This led to increased bone strength and improved bone microstructure via the microbiome-short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) regulation. Additionally, endogenous gut-SCFAs produced by the NO mice activated free fatty acid receptor 2 and inhibited histone deacetylases, resulting in the promotion of Treg cell proliferation in the HFD-fed NO mice; thereby, inhibiting osteoclastogenesis, which can be transplanted by fecal microbiome. Furthermore, T cells from NO mice retain differentiation of osteoclast precursors of RAW 264.7 macrophages ex vivo. Our data reveal that HFD is not a deleterious diet; however, the induction of obesity serves as a key trigger of bone loss that can be blocked by a NO mouse-specific gut microbiome., (© 2023. The Author(s).)