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Background: This study evaluated the feasibility, complications, graft survival rate, and clinical outcomes of joint-preserving resection using a custom-made endoprosthesis and liquid nitrogen-inactivated autologous bone graft reconstruction in patients with malignant bone tumors around the knee joint. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 23 consecutive patients who underwent joint preservation surgery between 2008 and 2018 at our center. The study cohort included 13 patients who underwent custom-made endoprosthesis reconstruction and 10 who underwent liquid nitrogen-inactivated autologous bone graft reconstruction. The resected bone length, distance between the resection line and the joint, intraoperative blood loss, operation time, complications, and MSTS were compared between the two groups. Results: The median follow-up time was 68.5 months in the endoprosthesis group and 65.3 months in the inactivated autograft group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, resected bone length, distance between the resection line and the joint, or intraoperative blood loss between the two groups. The operative time was longer in the inactivated bone graft group than in the endoprosthesis group (p < 0.001). The endoprosthesis group had more complications (six patients) and reoperations due to complications (five) than the inactivated autograft group (one), but there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (p = 0.158). The inactivated autograft group had one patient with type 1b complications, while the endoprosthesis group had one with type 1b complications, one with type 2b complications, and one with type 4a complications. One patient in the endoprosthesis group with type 5a complications experienced two soft tissue recurrences. The overall 5-year survival rate was 86.5% and the graft survival and final limb salvage rates were 100% in both groups. After the follow-up period, the mean MSTS scores were 91% ± 7% in the endoprosthesis group and 94% ± 6% in the inactivated autograft group, with no significant difference (p = 0.280). Conclusion: Joint-preserving resection is a reliable and effective tumor resection method that can achieve good postoperative function. There were no significant differences in the incidence of complications, overall survival rate, or graft survival rate between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Coal Science & Technology (0253-2336) is the property of Coal Science & Technology 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.)

The content and distribution of pore unfrozen water directly reflect the coal thawing process. It is the key to break through the evolution of coal pore structure under low temperature to study the pore ice melting speed. Taking bituminous coal in Yuan Zhuang, China as the research object, this paper studied pore thawing characteristics of coal samples with different liquid nitrogen freezing time through nuclear magnetic resonance technology. The experimental results clearly demonstrate that appropriate liquid nitrogen freezing time could greatly expand the macropore of bituminous coal, while the expansion effect of micropore and mesopore was less affected by the freezing time. As the freezing time increased, the pores and pore throats of saturated bituminous coal underwent two phases of ice-water transition expansion and liquid nitrogen low-temperature shrinkage. There were differences in the local thermal conductivity of coal samples with different liquid nitrogen freezing time, resulting in different thawing speeds of pore water at the same thawing temperature. When the freezing time increased, the thermal conductivity of coal samples increased due to the pore freezing shrinkage, which can greatly improve the thawing speed of coal samples. Combine the experimental date with heat transfer mechanism to study the thawing speed of the coal frozen by liquid nitrogen. Analyze the unfrozen water distribution and local thermal conductivity in thawing process, which effectively connects the macro-level and micro-level of coal. [Display omitted] • Liquid nitrogen freezing has the best effect on the expansion of macropore in bituminous coal. • The pore structure undergoes two stages of expansion and shrinkage with the increase of freezing time. • The increased freezing time leads to pore freezing shrinkage, which can improve the thawing speed of coal sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Coal Science & Technology (0253-2336) is the property of Coal Science & Technology 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.)

• Design a novel liquefied natural gas cold energy utilization process. • Storage cold energy enables power generation and cryogenic carbon capture. • Achieve thermodynamic balance between nitrogen liquefaction and LNG regasification. • The round-trip efficiency of the liquid nitrogen energy storage system is 75.26%. • The proposed system's initial investment cost is 947.58 $/kW. The judicious utilization of cryogenic energy released during the regasification process of liquid natural gas (LNG) is important for enhancing the operational efficiency of combined-cycle power plants utilizing LNG. This study introduces an innovative natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) process, denoted as NGCC-LNES, designed for power generation and carbon capture through the utilization of LNG cryogenic energy, specifically targeting the alleviation of the load on conventional coal-fired peak-shaving power plants. The proposed process lowers the boiling point of liquid nitrogen below the LNG storage temperature through nitrogen pressurization. Subsequently, the cold energy inherent in LNG is harnessed to liquefy nitrogen, and the surplus cold energy is stored for the continuous liquefaction of CO 2. Illustrating this concept with an NGCC system featuring a 1 kg/s LNG flow rate, we developed a numerical calculation model employing Aspen Plus for a comprehensive analysis encompassing energy, exergy, and power peak regulation. Furthermore, this study conducts an in-depth examination of the influence exerted by the peak-to-valley power-price ratio on the payback period of the system. It also explores the prospective applications of this innovative system in China and other major LNG-importing nations worldwide as a replacement for peak-shaving coal-fired power plants. The results show that over a 24-hour operational period, the LNES system can consistently and reliably supply 2722.82 kW of power for 8 h, achieving a round-trip efficiency of 75.26 %. Specifically, the exergy efficiencies of the NGCC-LNES during the energy storage and release phases are determined as 58.50 % and 54.44 %, respectively. Notably, as the peak-to-valley power price ratio escalates from 2.5 to 5, the payback period of the system investment contracts significantly, decreasing from 24.62 years to 4.25 years. Remarkably, the initial investment cost of the LNES technology stands at 947.58 $/kW, positioning it competitively relative to alternative energy storage technologies such as compressed air, sodium-sulfur batteries, and flow batteries, and closely aligns with pumped hydro energy storage solutions. Importantly, this innovative technology has the capacity to reduce carbon emissions by 0.21 % and 1.5 % for major global LNG importers by 2022 and China by 2060, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, most of the LNG receiving stations built in China use the combination of PSA nitrogen and liquid nitrogen to supply nitrogen, which meets less demand for the daily use and the large demand for unloading in the receiving station. Taking Guangdong Dapeng LNG receiving station as an example, the operating cost of purchasing liquid nitrogen to assist the PSA nitrogen production system and liquid nitrogen gasification system for nitrogen supply alone is compared, and the scheme feasibility of liquid nitrogen gasification system for nitrogen supply alone is discussed by analyzing the amount of nitrogen demand. Results of practices show that in the case of low production capacity of PSA nitrogen production system, the use of liquid nitrogen gasification system alone has more advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical treatment of malignant bone tumors comprises tumor resection and reconstruction. The most commonly used reconstruction method is prosthesis replacement, which achieves good early function, but has a high long-term incidence of complications. Another reconstruction option is autologous bone replantation, which has the advantages of anatomical matching and no need for large bone bank support. Few studies have evaluated reconstruction with liquid nitrogen-inactivated autogenous bone.The present study aimed to evaluate the oncological results, bone healing results, complications, and indications of reconstruction with liquid nitrogen-inactivated autogenous bone grafts.The study population comprised 21 consecutive patients. The tumor site was the tibia in 9 cases, femur in 8, and humerus in 4. There were 37 osteotomy ends in total. After freezing and rewarming, the medullary cavity of the autogenous bone was filled with antibiotic bone cement. Seventeen patients received bilateral plate fixation, 2 received intramedullary nail and distal plate fixation, and 2 received single plate fixation.The average follow-up was 31 ± 6 months. Eighteen patients survived without tumors, and the 3-year survival rate was 80.4%. All cases had adequate surgical margins, but recurrence developed in 1 patient. Metastasis occurred in 3 patients, who all died of metastasis. Intraoperative inactivated bone fracture occurred in 1 patient, and screw breakage was found in 1 patient. Nonunion occurred at 1 humeral diaphysis osteotomy site, and 1 patient was lost to follow-up; the average healing time of the other 35 ends was 13 ± 6 months, and the bone healing rate was 97.2%. The average bone healing times in the metaphysis and diaphysis were 9 ± 3 months and 15 ± 6 months (P = .003). The average bone healing times in the upper and lower limbs were 16.6 ± 7.4 months and 12.3 ± 5.8 months (P = .020). The average Muscle and Skeletal Tumor Society score was 28 ± 3 (21-30) in the 18 survivors.Liquid nitrogen-inactivated autologous bone replantation for primary malignant limb tumor was safe and effective, as shown by the relatively low complication rate, high bone healing rate, and satisfactory postoperative function. This is a reliable biological reconstruction method for malignant bone tumors with specific site and bone destruction characteristics.

Abstract: With the combined advantages of high reliability, compact size and low electromagnetic interference, a high frequency operating thermoacoustic cooler system, i.e. a pulse tube cooler driven by a thermoacoustic heat engine, is quite promising for space applications. This article introduced a high frequency standing-wave thermoacoustic heat engine-driven pulse tube cooler system working around 300Hz with axial length being 1.2m. To improve the thermal efficiency of such system, an optimization has been carried out, both analytically and experimentally, by observing the influence of the dimensions of the stack, the hot buffer length and the acoustic pressure amplifier tube length. So far, a no-load temperature of 68.3K has been obtained with 4.0MPa helium and 750W heating power. With 500W heating power, a no-load temperature of 76.9K and 0.2W cooling power at 80K have been achieved. Compared with former reports, the performance has been improved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order to study the liberation characteristics of different macerals in coal, one must improve the liberation degree of macerals in coal and promote the utilization of macerals based on their properties. Based on the idea of quick cooling to change the brittleness and toughness of different macerals, the characteristics of macerals in coal are studied here by liquid nitrogen quenching pretreatment. In particular, coarse-grained samples (with a particle size of 1–3 mm) were. For this study, coal samples were sourced from the Yan'an Formation (J2y), a middle Jurassic coal formation in the Huangling no. 1 coal mine, located in northern Shaanxi Province, China. Firstly, we analyzed the coal properties and coal petrographic characteristics by the Chinese national standard method. Secondly, the distribution characteristics of macerals in different particle sizes (>0.9, 0.5–0.9, 0.1–0.5, and <0.1) were studied. Then, the samples with different particle sizes were quenched with or without liquid nitrogen to obtain the experimental group and blank group products. Finally, the differences in the liberation characteristics between the experimental group and the blank group products were studied via analyzing the micromorphology, specific surface area, pore volume, pore size and liberation degree. Our results for the particles size and liberation degree analysis indicate that inertinite and vitrinite were enriched in the coarse particles (>0.5 mm) and fine particles (<0.1 mm) here, respectively. Moreover, quenching pretreatment could contribute to the liberation of different macerals from coal, mainly because of the different effects of stress on the different components when they suddenly encounter cold, and this kind of liberation is mainly arc-shaped liberation between different macerals. In addition, along with the above results, this paper presents an optimized model for the liberation of macerals based on a combination of screening, liquid nitrogen quenching pretreatment and re-crushing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Guangdong Agricultural Sciences is the property of South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences 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.)

Exploration of deep mineralization, particularly where the mineralization of interest is covered by a conductive overburden, is still a challenge for the conventional transient electromagnetic (TEM) method, which measures TEM response using induction coils as the sensor. However, sensors such as fluxgate and superconductive quantum interfere device (SQUID) magnetometers can measure the B-field directly, which can provide more reliable deep information for mineralization exploration. In this paper, we report on the research and development of our newly developed high-temperature superconductor (HTS) SQUID magnetometer, which is cooled by liquid nitrogen at 77 K, and its application in TEM measurement for deep exploration in a gold deposit in China. This improved SQUID magnetometer version has a good performance with noise (60 fT/ Hz ), slew rate (0.8 mT/S), dynamic range (100 dB), sensitivity (6.25 mV/nT), and bandwidth (DC-20 kHz). To find deep and peripheral ore in the Baiyun gold deposit located in Liaoning Province, NE China, both the SQUID magnetometer and induction coil were used for TEM data acquisition. Results show that TEM can detect the distribution of local strata and the faults contained within them. Results also indicate that the SQUID magnetometer has superior response performance for response over geological targets with slower decay time when compared to the induction coil signals. The SQUID magnetometer is more sensitive at observing the induced-polarization effect which is closely related to the ore-controlling faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of South China Fisheries Science is the property of South China Fisheries Science Editorial Department 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.)

With the continually increasing mining depths, heat stress and spontaneous combustion hazards in high-temperature mines are becoming increasingly severe. Mining production risks from natural hazards and exposures to hot and humid environments can cause occupational diseases and other work-related injuries. Liquid nitrogen injection, an engineering control developed to reduce heat stress and spontaneous combustion hazards in mines, was successfully utilized for environmental cooling and combustion prevention in an underground mining site named "Y120205 Working Face" (Y120205 mine) of Yangchangwan colliery. Both localized humidities and temperatures within the Y120205 mine decreased significantly with liquid nitrogen injection. The maximum percentage drop in temperature and humidity of the Y120205 mine were 21.9% and 10.8%, respectively. The liquid nitrogen injection system has the advantages of economical price, process simplicity, energy savings and emission reduction. The optimized heat exchanger used in the liquid nitrogen injection process achieved superior air-cooling results, resulting in considerable economic benefits.

Alpinia oxyphylla was one of the four famous south medicines in China. Its seeds were the recalcitrant seeds, which could not be preserved in dried and frozen environment, therefore, the seeds of Alpinia oxyphylla could not be reserved by regular way, in low temperature and low humidity conservation. In order to solve the A. oxyphylla seeds with long-term and stability storage, we focused on seed moisture content and freezing manner, cryopreservation method optimization, seed vigor indexes under liquid nitrogen, and the effects of cryopreservation on the physiological and biochemical characteristics. The seed vigor indexes, including germination, activity of α-amylase, SOD, POD, dehydrogenase, MDA. The results showed that the A. oxyphylla seeds with water content of 13.92%-14.38% cryopreservated by rapid freezing could obtain the optimum effect. After liquid nitrogen freezing, the germination rate of the seeds decreased significantly, but with the extension of the freezing time, the germination rate was more than 50%. There was no significant effect on the activity of α-amylase and the content of MDA in liquid nitrogen, a decrease in the dehydrogenase and POD activity of seeds after freezing, and the activity of SOD increased with the adding of freezing time. Above results indicate that freezing time have a certain influence on seeds vigor of A. oxyphylla, but it can promote some performance of seeds. Both in germination rate, and physiological and biochemical indexes, show that A. oxyphylla seeds preserved with liquid nitrogen is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic measurement of high temperature superconducting (HTS) magnetic levitation (Maglev) vehicle is a very important and difficult problem. In order to investigate the dynamic characteristics behavior of HTS Maglev, an HTS Maglev dynamic measurement system (SCML-03) was successfully developed in Applied Superconductivity Laboratory (ASCLab) of Southwest Jiaotong University, P. R. China. The system is mainly constituted by the circular permanent magnet guideway (PMG), liquid nitrogen vessel, data acquisition and processing, mechanical drive, autocontrol and so on. The PMG is fixed along the circumferential direction of a big circular disk with diameter 1500 mm. The maximum linear velocity of the PMG is about 300 kin/h when the circular disk rotates round the central axis at 1280 rpm. The liquid nitrogen vessel with high temperature superconductors is placed above the PMG, and the vessel is not three-dimensional rigid connection with measurement sensor devices. These sensors can detect weak force change from three-dimensional directions. The maximal vertical and horizontal support force of the system are 3350 N and 500 N, respectively. Test process and results of the HTS Maglev dynamic test system are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 injection in coal seams, which is a significant initiative to mitigate environmental problems caused by greenhouse gases, often leads a sequence of changes in the physical properties of coal reservoirs. To look into how the pore structure changes in the process of CO2 sequestration, we selected fresh coal from Huoerxinhe coal mine in China as the object. Then, acid treatment and SC-CO2 extraction were used to dissolve Organic and inorganic components in coal. Thus, by using SEM, LTGA-N2 apparatus and XRD, the characteristics of pore parameter and fractal dimension variation were discussed. The research results show that, the APS of samples THF, HCL-HF and Y-C increase, while the total PV decreases and the pore connectivity deteriorates. The pore connectivity of Samples THF and HCL-HF is improved (THF-C, HCL-HF-C), but the total pore volume continuously reduces. In addition, solvents treatment and SC-CO2 extraction mainly act on the microporous fraction. After solvents pretreatment, the changes in the pore size distribution curves are mainly manifested in the reduction of number of micropores, especially in the micropores around 3–4 nm. There is a small increase in micropores for samples Y-C and HCL-HF-C, with the pore size mainly concentrated around 4 nm, while the pores of the sample THF-C mainly show an increase within the scope of 3–16 nm. Generally, solvent pretreatment and SC-CO2 extraction help to simplify pore structure. However, the sample HCL-HF-C shows opposite change characteristics. In a short period of time, the larger pore fractal dimension, the less beneficial it is to the flow of CO2, while pore fractal dimension becomes progressively less useful in assessing pore connectivity with increasing time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content and distribution of unfrozen water in coal affect directly its pore structure and macroscopic mechanical properties. It is key to break through the theory of cryogenic mining technology to study the ice–water phase transition process of frozen coal. Taking bituminous coal in Yuan Zhuang, China, as the research object, this paper studied pore thawing characteristics of coal frozen by liquid nitrogen through nuclear magnetic resonance technology. The experimental results demonstrate that the unfrozen water content was exponentially related to temperatures. In the early thawing stage of the coal sample, the thawing speed of micropore was the fastest. The cumulative porosity has a linear relationship with the cumulative pore-throat distribution, and an exponential relationship with the unfrozen water content. According to the analysis of thermodynamics, pore water with high pressure and small aperture has low freezing point, causing the micropore structure was first generated with thawing. In general, during the thawing process of bituminous coal frozen by liquid nitrogen, there are more micropores and strong connectivity, which contain less ice and water. There are less mesopores and macropores, while the connectivity in the early thawing stage is poor, but the content of ice and water in that is large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porosity characteristics of coal seams serve as a pivotal factor in assessing the development potential of coalbed methane (CBM) resources, significantly influencing the adsorption and permeability capabilities of coal reservoirs, as well as the accumulation, entrapment, and preservation of CBM. In this study, we focused on the coal seams of the Xishanyao Formation in the western part of the southern Junggar Basin (NW China). By leveraging the complementarity of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), low-temperature liquid nitrogen experiments, and high-pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) in spatial exploration range and precision, we conducted a comprehensive analysis to achieve a fine description of porosity characteristics. Furthermore, we explored the coal petrology factors controlling the pore characteristics of the Xishanyao Formation, aiming to provide geological evidence for the selection of favorable areas and the development potential evaluation of CBM in the study area. The results indicate the following: (1) The total pore volume of the coal samples is 6.318 × 10−3 cm3/g on average, and the micropore volume accounts for a relatively high proportion (averaging 44.17%), followed by the fine pores (averaging 39.41%). The average porosity is approximately 3.87%, indicating good gas storage and connectivity of the coal seams, albeit with some heterogeneity. The coal reservoir is dominated by micropores and fine pores with diameters less than 100 nm, and the pore structure is characterized by low pore volume and high pore area. (2) The pore structure is influenced by both the coalification degree and the coal maceral. Within the range of low coalification, porosity increases with the increase in coalification degree. Building upon this, an increase in the vitrinite content promotes the development of micropores and fine pores, while an increase in the inertinite content promotes the development of meso–macropores. The clay mineral content exhibits a negative correlation with the adsorption pore volume ratio and a positive correlation with the seepage pore volume ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study established and characterized a new cell line (MAF) from the fin of blunt snout bream ( Megalobrama amblycephala), a freshwater fish cultivated in China. MAF cells proliferated well in medium 199 supplemented with 10 % fetal bovine serum at 28 °C and have been subcultured more than 95 times in almost a year. MAF cells were revived at 90–95 % viability after 3–6 months of storage in liquid nitrogen. Karyotyping indicated that the modal chromosome number of MAF cells was 48. The MAF cell line consisted predominantly of fibroblastic and epithelial-like cells from M. amblycephala, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence and mitochondrial 12s rRNA sequencing. Viral susceptibility tests showed that MAF cells were susceptible to infection by snakehead rhabdovirus, spring viremia carp virus, and channel catfish virus, which was demonstrated by the presence of cytopathic effect, high viral titers, and PCR products. Bacterial cytotoxicity studies showed that extracellular products from Aeromonas hydrophila were toxic to MAF cells. Cu 2+ was also cytotoxic to MAF cells, and the 24-h IC 50 value was 144.48 μmol/l. When MAF cells were transfected with pEGFP-N1 plasmid, bright fluorescent signals were observed, and the transfection efficiency reached up to 5 %. These results suggest that the MAF cell line may provide a valuable tool for studying virus pathogenesis, as well as cytotoxicity testing and genetic manipulation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaves were collected from a total of 62 trees displaying virus-like disease symptoms such as rugose mosaic in leaf, irregular shaped leaf blades or small leaf blades in a survey of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L. cv Red Lamp) in Shandong Province, the largest cherry production area in China. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis indicated that Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), Prune dwarf virus (PDV), Little cherry virus- 2 (LChV-2), Cherry virus A (CVA) and Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) were present and that most of the samples (70%) were infected by at least two viruses. A case study in this survey of two selected trees revealed that a mixed infection with these five viruses simultaneously caused two types of field symptoms: late-maturity in fruits or fruit blast. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the relative proportion of the virus titers was distinct in the two sampled trees. The PNRSV titer was significantly higher than the four other viruses in the trees that exhibited fruit blast. Phylogenetic analysis of the PNRSV coat protein (CP) gene showed that the isolates HSY-4-1 and X-3, obtained from the two sampled trees separately, were classified into different subgroups of Group I isolates, which is characterized by a six-nucleotide insertion. A non-synonymous substitution was identified in the six-nucleotide insertion in the PNRSV CP gene in one of the two isolates. This is the first detailed study of the incidence of multiple sweet cherry viruses in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, increasing numbers of pink-coloured CVD synthetic diamonds have appeared on the market. One of the major sources is Huzhou SinoC Semiconductor Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Zhejiang province of China. In this article, seven pink-coloured CVD-grown diamonds produced in the last two years by Huzhou have been investigated and identified, including their gemological and spectroscopic characteristics. In DiamondView, they fluoresced orange–red, with an obscure striated growth structure, which is common for CVD synthetics. The mid-IR absorption spectra of these samples showed some single nitrogen and hydrogen-related features (1130, 1344, 3123, 3323 cm−1), which indicated that the diamonds were type Ib and were CVD-grown diamonds. The H1a defect annealed out at approximately 1400 °C, whereas the 3107 cm−1 defect was produced by annealing above 1700 or 1800 °C. This implied that the samples had undergone two separate heat treatments: first, a high-temperature anneal (possibly an HPHT treatment to reduce any brown colour), which would have produced the 3107 cm−1 defects and a small number of A centres, followed by irradiation, followed by annealing above 800 °C to make the vacancies mobile. The UV–Vis–NIR absorption spectra showed distinct NV-related features (575 and 637 nm), the main reason for the pink colour. Photoluminescence spectra obtained at liquid nitrogen temperature recorded radiation-related emissions (388.9, 503.5 nm), a strong N-V centre, H3 and H2 defects, and many unassigned emissions. These pink CVD products can be separated from natural and treated pink-coloured diamonds by a combination of optical spectroscopic properties, such as fluorescence colour, and absorption features in the infrared and UV–Vis regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Abnormal prolactin levels can lead to male infertility. However, the regulation mechanism of prolactin in the epididymis is still unclear. We studied the effects of prolactin on the epididymis function of Yanshan Cashmere bucks using the prolactin inhibitor bromocriptine. The results show that the inhibition of prolactin decreased the serum estradiol concentrations and the expression of the prolactin receptor protein in the epididymis (p < 0.05). The inhibition of prolactin also increased the height of the epididymal epithelium in the caput and cauda, as well as the diameter of the epididymal duct in the caput (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, prolactin inhibition decreased the duct diameter in the epididymal cauda (p < 0.05). Then, transcriptome analyses showed that the differentially expressed genes ESR2, MAPK10, JUN, ACTL7A, and CALML4 were enriched in multiple pathways, including the estrogen signaling pathway, the GnRH signaling pathway, the cAMP signaling pathway, the chemical carcinogenesis–reactive oxygen species pathway, steroid binding, and calcium ion binding, which may be the key genes in the prolactin regulation of epididymal function. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of prolactin regulating epididymis function in bucks. Yanshan Cashmere bucks are seasonal breeding animals and an important national genetic resource. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of prolactin (PRL) in the epididymal function of bucks. Twenty eleven-month-old Cashmere bucks were randomly divided into a control (CON) group and a bromocriptine (BCR, a prolactin inhibitor, 0.06 mg/kg body weight (BW)) treatment group. The experiment was conducted from September to October 2020 in Qinhuangdao City, China, and lasted for 30 days. Blood was collected on the last day before the BCR treatment (day 0) and on the 15th and 30th days after the BCR treatment (days 15 and 30). On the 30th day, all bucks were transported to the local slaughterhouse, where epididymal samples were collected immediately after slaughter. The left epididymis was preserved in 4% paraformaldehyde for histological observation, and the right epididymis was immediately preserved in liquid nitrogen for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The results show that the PRL inhibitor reduced the serum PRL and estradiol (E2) concentrations (p < 0.05) and tended to decrease luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations (p = 0.052) by the 30th day, but no differences (p > 0.05) occurred by either day 0 or 15. There were no differences (p > 0.05) observed in the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone (T), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations between the two groups. The PRL receptor (PRLR) protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm and intercellular substance of the epididymal epithelial cells. The PRL inhibitor decreased (p < 0.05) the expression of the PRLR protein in the epididymis. In the BCR group, the height of the epididymal epithelium in the caput and cauda increased, as did the diameter of the epididymal duct in the caput (p < 0.05). However, the diameter of the cauda epididymal duct decreased (p < 0.05). Thereafter, a total of 358 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the epididymal tissues, among which 191 were upregulated and 167 were downregulated. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses revealed that ESR2, MAPK10, JUN, ACTL7A, and CALML4 were mainly enriched in the estrogen signaling pathway, steroid binding, calcium ion binding, the GnRH signaling pathway, the cAMP signaling pathway, and the chemical carcinogenesis–reactive oxygen species pathway, which are related to epididymal function. In conclusion, the inhibition of PRL may affect the structure of the epididymis by reducing the expression of the PRLR protein and the secretion of E2. ESR2, MAPK10, JUN, ACTL7A, and CALML4 could be the key genes of PRL in its regulation of epididymal reproductive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microscopic pore development of most coal seams in China leads to different permeability of coal seams and different gas drainage efficiency. Representative three coal rank coal samples were selected for saturation-centrifugation observation. The microscopic pore characteristics of coal samples were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid nitrogen adsorption methods. The experimental results showed that the coal samples were subjected to saturation-centrifugation and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tests. It was found that the pores of the low-rank coal (XJ-1, XJ-2) were developed at various stages, and the connectivity between the pores was good and the permeability was also good. The adsorption pores of the intermediate coal (HB-1, HB-2) and high-rank coal (ZM-1, ZM-2) were relatively developed, and the connectivity between the pores was slightly poor. The parallel coal seam samples of coals of different ranks were better than the vertical bedding. The adsorption of liquid nitrogen showed that the low-order coal had more open pores and good gas permeability; the high-order coal had more openings at one end, more ink bottles, and narrow holes, and the gas permeability was not good. Studying the micropore structure and permeability of coals of different ranks has guiding significance for mastering the law of coal seam gas storage and transportation, extracting drilling arrangements, and increasing gas drainage and reducing greenhouse effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal is China's main energy source and fuel. Coal spontaneous combustion is one of the most prominent issues that threaten the production safety of coal mining, storage, and transportation. In order to explore the factors affecting coal spontaneous combustion, we investigated the pore structure characteristics of the coal based on the fractal theory, through the low temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption experiment of coal. The fractal dimension of the coal sample was calculated, and the oxygen adsorption quantity of the same coal sample was obtained by using the physical adsorption experiment of coal. Experimental and fitting results showed that coal sample has obvious surface fractal dimension features and pore structure fractal features. Fractal dimension expressed coal oxygen adsorption well. In the meantime, the coal samples with lower fractal dimension, higher temperature, smaller porosity usually have less oxygen adsorption quantity. This research cannot only enrich the study of oxygen adsorption in porous media such as coal, but also help to understand its spontaneous combustion mechanism in depth, thereby reducing the occurrence of spontaneous combustion disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China Power Grid is actively building a new energy-based ultra-high voltage grid system. Therefore, the researches on fire safety of power grid are of great importance. This paper firstly investigates the fire accident characteristics in the substation system. With the focuses on the transformer oil fires, the early detection and early warning, modification, fire monitoring and extinguishing systems of transformer oil are reviewed. It is found that the researches on flowing and jet fires should be reinforced while modified oil and pyrolysis gas detection can be applied for reducing the fire probability. Secondly, the fire risks and characteristics of cables are summarized for the transmission and distribution lines, and the methods of early warning, fire prevention and rescue are analyzed. For the wildfire threatening the transmission and distribution cables, the characteristics of wildfire and corresponding firefighting methods are reviewed. The water mist and liquid nitrogen are identified as the most effective ways of extinguishing cable fires and advanced fire detection and long-range drone fire extinguishing technologies should be improved for wildfires. Finally, the thermal runaway mechanism and fire characteristics of LIB in the energy storage system are summarized, and the difficulties in fire extinguishing are discussed. The application of the existing fire detection system in the field of LIB is proposed, and the early warning indicators for intelligent fire protection are introduced. In the future, the intelligent fire protection systems will improve the safety of energy storage systems, and efficient test platforms and reliable test standards will continue to be demanded to reduce the likelihood of thermal runaway and fire severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solar light response and photoelectrons produced by widespread semiconducting mineral play important roles in biogeochemical cycles on Earth's surface. To explore the potential influence of photoelectrons generated by semiconducting mineral particles on nitrate-reducing microorganisms in the photic zone, a marine heterotrophic denitrifier Halomonas sp. strain 3727 was isolated from seawater in the photic zone of the Yellow Sea, China. This strain was classified as a Halomonadaceae. Whole-genome analysis indicated that this strain possessed genes encoding the nitrogen metabolism, i.e., narG, nasA, nirBD, norZ, nosB, and nxr, which sustained dissimilatory nitrate reduction, assimilatory nitrate reduction, and nitrite oxidation. This strain also possessed genes related to carbon, sulfur, and other metabolisms, hinting at its substantial metabolic flexibility. A series of microcosm experiments in a simulative photoelectron system was conducted, and the results suggested that this bacterial strain could use simulated photoelectrons with different energy for nitrate reduction. Nitrite, as an intermediate product, was accumulated during the nitrate reduction with limited ammonia residue. The nitrite and ammonia productions differed with or without different energy electron supplies. Nitrite was the main product accounting for 30.03% to 68.40% of the total nitrogen in photoelectron supplement systems, and ammonia accounted for 3.77% to 8.52%. However, in open-circuit systems, nitrite and ammonia proportions were 26.77% and 11.17%, respectively, and nitrogen loss in the liquid was not observed. This study reveals that photoelectrons can serve as electron donors for nitrogen transformation mediated by Halomonas sp. strain 3727, which reveals an underlying impact on the nitrogen biogeochemical cycle in the marine photic zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation and productivity of shale gas are mainly controlled by the characteristics of shale reservoirs; study of these characteristics forms the basis for the shale gas exploitation of the Lower Cambrian Niutitang Formation (Fm), Southern China. In this study, core observation and lithology study were conducted along with X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and electronic scanning microscopy (SEM) examinations and liquid nitrogen (N2) adsorption/desorption and CH4 isothermal adsorption experiments for several exploration wells in northwestern Hunan Province, China. The results show that one or two intervals with high‐quality source rocks (TOC>2 wt%) were deposited in the deep‐shelf facies. The source rocks, which were mainly composed of carbonaceous shales and siliceous shales, had high quartz contents (>40 wt%) and low clay mineral (<30 wt%, mainly illites) and carbonate mineral (<20 wt%) contents. The SEM observations and liquid nitrogen (N2) adsorption/desorption experiments showed that the shale is tight, and nanoscale pores and microscale fractures are well developed. BJH volume (VBJH) of shale ranged from 2.144×10–3 to 20.07×10–3 cm3/g, with an average of 11.752×10–3 cm3/g. Pores mainly consisted of opened and interconnected mesopores (2–50 nm in diameter) or macropores (>50 nm in diameter). The shale reservoir has strong adsorption capacity for CH4. The Langmuir volume (VL) varied from 1.63 to 7.39 cm3/g, with an average of 3.95 cm3/g. The characteristics of shale reservoir are controlled by several factors: (1) A deep muddy continental shelf is the most favorable environment for the development of shale reservoirs, which is controlled by the development of basic materials. (2) The storage capacity of the shale reservoir is positively related to the TOC contents and plastic minerals and negatively related to cement minerals. (3) High maturity or overmaturity leads to the growth of organic pores and microfractures, thereby improving the reservoir storage capacity. It can be deduced that the high percentage of residual gas in Niutitang Fm results from the strong reservoir storage capacity of adsorbed gas. Two layers of sweet spots with strong storage capacity of free gas, and they are characterized by the relatively high TOC contents ranging from 4 wt% to 8 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term coal mining activities have significantly disturbed the groundwater system, resulting in aquifer water characterized by high levels of Na + , SO 4 2- , and total dissolved solid (TDS), posing environmental health risks. To investigate the disturbance effects of coal mining activities on the groundwater system and ascertain the goaf water (OGW) environmental impacts, this study focuses on the surface water (SW), major aquifers, and OGW of Jiaozhuang Coal Mine. Through ion analysis and self-organizing map (SOM) clustering, the study analyzes the hydrochemical characteristics of the aquifer water, summarizes the accumulation patterns of OGW, and evaluates water quality of irrigation and drinking using sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (SSP), and comprehensive pollution index (F). The results show that the hydrochemical characteristics of the groundwater system are influenced by a combination of cation exchange, dissolution, and mixing processes, with deep aquifers exhibiting high Na + and SO 4 2- levels. The OGW mainly originates from the coal roof sandstone aquifers water (RSW) and 3rd limestone aquifer water (3LW). Additionally, the groundwater shows high alkalinity and salinity hazards, with irrigation water quality assessments falling into general and unsuitable water quality area. Moreover, the groundwater quality is below Class III standards, with the worst being Class V, rendering it unsuitable as a drinking water source. Untreated discharge of OGW to the surface can easily threaten human drinking water health. The study results are helpful in identifying and controlling groundwater pollution caused by coal mining, ensuring the safety and sustainable utilization of water resources in mining areas and surrounding regions., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Copyright of Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering is the property of Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering 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.)

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are active regulators of numerous biological and physiological processes and play an important role in the regulation of animal ovaries and other reproductive related organs. To understand the molecular mechanisms of miR-10 family, we investigated the molecular characteristics and the relative expression of sheep miR-10a and miR-10b (miR-10a/b) and conducted bioinformatics analysis. Methods: During the period 2018-2019 total of 20 samples including blood and tissues such as hypothalamus, pituitary and ovary were collected from the Hu sheep raised in the National Meat Sheep Experimental Station of China (Luoyang City, Henan Province, China). Blood was collected from jugular vein by vacuum and anticoagulation blood collection tube and stored in refrigerator at -20C. The tissues were placed into the cryopreservation tube treated with Diethy pyrocarbonate (DEPC) water and stored in liquid nitrogen. All the samples were processed for isolation and confirmed with biochemical analysis and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Result: The target genes were predicted by three kinds of target gene predicting software. The function of target genes and their involved pathways were obtained by gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The relative expression of miR-10a/b in sheep ovary was extremely significantly higher than that in hypothalamus and pituitary gland (P<0.01). The relative expression of miR-10b in ovary or pituitary was extremely significantly higher than that of miR-10a (P<0.01) and the relative expression of miR-10b in hypothalamus was significantly higher than that of miR-10a (P<0.05). These results serve as a foundation for further study on the Sheep miR-10 family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natural Gas Industry is the property of Natural Gas Industry Journal Agency 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.)

Gemmological and spectroscopic characteristics are reported for two type IIa blue CVD synthetic diamonds from Huzhou SinoC Semiconductor Science and Technology Co. Ltd, China. These are the first relatively large (1.76 and 2.63 ct) blue CVD synthetics examined in NGTC’s laboratories, and their colour was slightly brighter than other blue synthetic diamonds that we have encountered. In the DiamondView, they fluoresced blue (with purple-red in one sample), which is unusual for CVD synthetics. The mid- and near-IR absorption spectra of one sample showed no hydrogen-related features, while the other synthetic diamond showed a weak absorption at 6853 cm−1 attributed to hydrogen. The spectra of both samples had a very weak line at 1332 cm−1 due to isolated nitrogen and a distinct band at 9282 cm–1 related to radiation. A very strong GR1 absorption feature was detected by UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectra obtained at liquid-nitrogen temperature recorded emissions related to radiation (mainly in the 480–510 nm region), N-V and [Si-V]– centres, and several unassigned weak emissions. This combination of optical centres strongly suggests that these samples underwent post-growth treatment to improve their transparency before they were irradiated to produce blue colouration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to design high temperature superconducting (HTS) Maglev launch system, three NdFeB permanent magnetic guideways (PMGs) are investigated and compared for the better levitation forces and guidance forces. The laboratory-scale HTS Maglev launch system was designed and developed successfully in the Applied Superconductivity Laboratory (ASCLab), Southwest Jiaotong University, China. The cooling process of the melt-textured YBaCuO bulk superconductors is made in a big low temperature tube, which is connected with PMG. The method merit is to eliminate fluctuation of liquid nitrogen in the operation test. The longitudinal slopes of the PM guideway are designed with 0–30 degree from the horizontal, and transverse slopes is designed with 15 degree from the horizontal. The HTS Maglev launch system is carried out an experiment in the laboratory. Test results indicate design validity of the HTS Maglev launch system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's first HTS power cable project was started in the second half of 2002 and on site system installation was finished at Puji Substation of China Southern Power Grid in March, 2004. This cable system consists of three 33.5 m, 35 kV/2 kArms cables, six terminations, and a dosed cycle liquid nitrogen cooling station. The conductors of the cables were made of 4 layers of BSCCO 2223 HTS tapes. Off grid field testing and live grid trial operation has been carded out since the completion of the installation. In this paper, we will report the key technical parameters of the system. Descriptions of the installation site, demonstration of the system installation, and results of testing and trial operation will also be presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) poses a significant risk to the mobility of patients. Carbonic anhydrase 12 (CA12) can boost apoptosis and inflammation in several cancers, but its role in OA is unknown. Methods: Differentially expressed genes in OA were analyzed using the GEO database (GSE169077). RT-qPCR and western blot estimated relative mRNA and protein levels of CA12. Cell viability and apoptosis were estimated by cell counting and flow cytometry assays. Oxidative stress (OxS) was determined by detecting with ROS and MDA levels, as well as CAT and SOD activities. Cytokine levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA. Parameters associated with apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) were detected by western blot. The m6A modification profile was determined by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Results: Relative CA12 and wilms' tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP) mRNA and protein levels were overexpressed in OA articular cartilages and IL-1β-challenged chondrocytes CHON-001. CA12 silencing impaired IL-1β-induced cell apoptosis, inflammation, OxS, and ECM degradation in chondrocytes. Yet, CA12 overexpression exerted an opposing function. WTAP reinforced the stability of CA12 mRNA depending on the m6A modification. Furthermore, WTAP knockdown weakened cell apoptosis, inflammation, OxS, and ECM degradation in chondrocytes induced by IL-1β, but these changes were impaired after CA12 overexpression. In addition, WTAP knockdown mitigates cartilage degeneration in DMM-induced mouse models. Conclusion: IL-1β-induced WTAP enhances CA12 mRNA stability depending on m6A modification, thus promoting chondrocyte apoptosis, inflammatory response, OxS, and ECM degradation, providing evidence to support the possibility of WTAP and CA12 as potential targets for OA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of Sanhuang Xiexin Decoction (SXD) on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in mice and its underlying mechanism. Methods: The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantitate and qualify SXD. A total of 15 female BALB/c mice were inoculated subcutaneously on the right hypogastrium with 3×105 of 4T1-Luc cells to establish TNBC mouse model. All mice were divided randomly into 3 groups, including phosphate buffered solution (PBS), SXD and doxorubicin (DOX) groups (positive drug). Additionally, tumor growth, pathological changes, serum lipid profiles, expression of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway and its key targets including inflammatory factors, cell cycle and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were investigated. Besides, the biosafety of SXD was also evaluated in mice. Results: Rhein, coptisine, berberine hydrochloride and baicalin were all found in SXD, and the concentrations of these 4 components were 0.57, 2.61, 2.93, and 46.04 mg/g, respectively. The mouse experiment showed that SXD could notably suppress the development of tumors and reduce the density of tumor cells (P<0.01). The serum lipid analysis and Oil-Red-O staining both showed the differences, SXD group exhibited higher serum adiponectin and HDL-C levels with lower TC and LDL-C levels compared to the PBS and DOX groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. SXD also decreased the levels of phospho-JAK2 (p-JAK2), phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3) expressions and its downstream factors, including mostly inflammatory cytokine, EMT markers, S phase of tumor cells and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression (P<0.05 or P<0.01), respectively. The biosafety assessment of SXD revealed low levels of toxicity in mice. Conclusion: SXD could inhibit TNBC by suppressing JAK2-STAT3 phosphorylation which may be associated with modulation of lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Numerous studies have reported alterations in the composition of gut microbiota in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), with changes becoming more pronounced as the disease progresses. However, the association between the progression of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and AIS remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the microbial differences among TIA, AIS, and healthy controls (HC) while exploring the associations between disease progression and gut microbiota. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from acute TIA patients (n = 28), AIS patients (n = 235), and healthy controls (n = 75) and analyzed using 16 s rRNA gene sequencing. We determined characteristic microbiota through linear discriminant analysis effect size and used the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to assess their predictive value as diagnostic biomarkers. Results: Our results showed significant gut microbial differences among the TIA, AIS, and HC groups. Patients with AIS exhibited higher abundances of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus, along with lower abundances of Butyricicoccaceae and Lachnospiraceae _UCG-004. Further analysis revealed that the abundance of characteristic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Streptococcus , was negatively correlated with HDL levels, while Lactobacillus was positively correlated with risk factors such as homocysteine (Hcy). In contrast, the abundance of Lachnospiraceae _UCG-004 was negatively correlated with both Hcy and D-dimer levels. ROC models based on the characteristic bacteria Streptococcus and Lactobacillus effectively distinguished TIA from AIS, yielding areas under the curve of 0.699 and 0.626, respectively. Conclusion: We identified distinct changes in gut bacteria associated with the progression from TIA to AIS and highlighted specific characteristic bacteria as predictive biomarkers. Overall, our findings may promote the development of microbiome-oriented diagnostic methods for the early detection of AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repair of the damaged meniscus is a scientific challenge owing to the poor self-healing potential of the white area of the meniscus. Tissue engineering provides a new method for the repair of meniscus injuries. In this study, we explored the superiority of 2% hyaluronic acid chitin hydrogel in temperature sensitivity, in vitro degradation, biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and other biological characteristics, and investigated the advantages of hyaluronic acid (HA) and Transforming Growth Factor β1 (TGF-β1) in promoting cell proliferation and a matrix formation phenotype. The hydrogel loaded with HA and TGF-β1 promoted cell proliferation. The HA + TGF-β1 mixed group showed the highest glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content and promoted cell migration. Hydroxypropyl chitin (HPCH), HA, and TGF-β1 were combined to form a composite hydrogel with a concentration of 2% after physical cross-linking, and this was injected into a rabbit model of a meniscus full-thickness tear. After 12 weeks of implantation, the TGF-β1 + HA/HPCH composite hydrogel was significantly better than HPCH, HA/HPCH, TGF-β1 + HPCH, and the control group in promoting meniscus repair. In addition, the new meniscus tissue of the TGF-β1 + HA/HPCH composite hydrogel had a tissue structure and biochemical content similar to that of the normal meniscus tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) is sporadic, highly heterogeneous, and its underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain largely elusive. Proteomics research aims to uncover the biological processes and key proteins involved in disease progression. However, no proteomic studies to date have specifically focused on EOAD brain tissue. Method: We integrated proteomic data from brain tissues of two Alzheimer's disease (AD) cohorts and constructed a protein co-expression network using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). We identified modules associated with EOAD, conducted functional enrichment analysis to understand the biological processes involved in EOAD, and pinpointed potential key proteins within the core modules most closely linked to AD pathology. Results: In this study, we identified a total of 2,749 proteins associated with EOAD. Through protein co-expression network analysis, we discovered 41 distinct co-expression modules. Notably, the proteins within the core module most closely linked to AD pathology were significantly enriched in neutrophil degranulation. Additionally, we identified two potential key proteins within this core module that have not been previously reported in AD and validated their expression levels in 5xFAD mice. Conclusion: In summary, through a protein co-expression network analysis, we identified EOAD-related biological processes and molecular pathways, and screened and validated two key proteins, ERBB2IP and LSP1. These proteins may play an important role in the progression of EOAD, suggesting they could serve as potential therapeutic targets for the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tellurium (Te)-bearing adularia-sericite epithermal Au-Ag deposits are widely distributed in calc-alkaline magmatic arcs and are an important current and future source of precious and critical metals. The source of ore-forming fluids in these deposits remains unclear due to the lack of in situ isotopic evidence on Au-, Ag-, and Te-bearing minerals. To advance the understanding of the source and evolution of Te and precious metals, herein, we combine in situ Pb isotope analysis with He, Ne, and Ar isotope and microthermometric analysis of fluid inclusions in ore and gangue minerals from two Te-rich and two Te-poor epithermal Au-Ag deposits that occur in an Early Cretaceous magmatic arc in the North Heilongjiang Belt, northeastern China. Ore minerals (hessite, petzite, calaverite, altaite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and galena) from Te-rich Au-Ag deposits, including Sandaowanzi and Yongxin, have the least radiogenic Pb isotope compositions (206Pb/204Pb from 18.1 to 18.3) and the lowest μ1 values (the 238U/204Pb ratio of the lead source down to 9.14) of the deposits studied. For these Te-rich deposits, noble gas isotope data show that fluid inclusions in ore minerals contain a large proportion of mantle He (up to 25%), whereas barren early-stage minerals do not (<1%). The Pb, noble gas isotope, and fluid inclusion microthermometric results suggest that Te-rich ore-forming fluids were likely discharged from mafic magmas into convecting meteoric flow systems at shallow levels (<2 km). In contrast to the Te-rich deposits, ore minerals from the Te-poor Dong'an Au-Ag deposit have radiogenic Pb isotope compositions (206Pb/204Pb from 18.8 to 18.9) and the highest μ1 values (up to 10.54). Fluid inclusions in ore minerals contain a small proportion of mantle He (1% to 5%). The results suggest that metals and ore-forming fluids in these deposits were discharged from either more crustally contaminated intermediate-felsic magmas or leached from upper crustal rocks by convecting meteoric flow systems. Although the Te-poor Tuanjiegou Au-Ag deposit has a non-radiogenic Pb isotope composition consistent with a mafic magma source, Te is much less abundant (electrum [>95%] is the major gold- and silver-bearing mineral) than Au. The main exploration implication of these results is that unexplored volcano-plutonic centers in the northeast Xing'an Block with less radiogenic Pb isotope compositions (206Pb/204Pb < 18.3) and containing fluids with a high proportion of mantle He are more likely to generate Te-rich epithermal Au-Ag deposits than other volcano-plutonic centers in NE China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research / Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu is the property of Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 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.)

The China Dark Matter Experiment (CDEX) is an experiment of detecting light weakly interacting massive particles by using the p-type point contact germanium (pPCGe) detector. The underground laboratory of the CDEX is situated in Jinping Mountain in Sichuan province of China. In this experiment, a 1200-L liquid argon (LAr) scintillator is employed as anti-coincidence veto detector to maximally rule out the background radiation, and to provide a stable low-temperature surrounding for the pPCGe detector. A self-circulation argon liquefaction system with three Pulse Tube Refrigerators is developed to satisfy the zero boil-off condition of the LAr detector; bubbles formed during system operation are prevented by LAr sub-cooling condition. Meanwhile, an actively cooled LAr shield outside the LAr detector is used to prevent the external heat radiation from propagating inside to keep the required 1.0 K temperature gradient inside the LAr detector. The structure of the cryogenic system and the testing results of this cryogenic system by using liquid nitrogen are presented in the paper. The testing results indicate that the cryogenic system satisfies the dark matter experiment requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial ground freezing (AGF) has been applied widely in the construction of urban transportation infrastructure in China for the last two decades. This study provides a comprehensive review of the regional application, distribution, new developments, existing problems, and challenges of AGF. The innovative achievements of AGF in theory and technology are presented using selected prominent or typical engineering examples. Accidents or problems occurring in previous projects and the engineering risks of AGF technology were analyzed. In addition, the competition and integration of AGF technology with other construction methods are discussed. Furthermore, future research needs, including freezing tube installation issues related to directional drilling, miniaturization of construction equipment, artificial intelligence, information technology, and construction safety, are proposed. Finally, the expectations of AGF technology in urban development are predicted based on the new policies of urban groundwater protection issued in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula primarily utilized for treating gut disorders. GQD showed therapeutic effects on several diseases in clinical and animal studies by targeting gut microbes. Our recent studies also found that GQD efficiently alleviated anxiety in methamphetamine-withdrawn mice via regulating gut microbiome and metabolism. Given that various studies have indicated the link between the gut microbiome and the development of depression, here we endeavor to explore whether GQD can manage depression disorders by targeting the gut microbiome. Methods and materials: The depression-like model was induced in rats through chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and the depression levels were determined using the sucrose preference test (SPT). To address the depression-like behavior in rats, oral administration of GQD was employed. The colon microbiome and metabolite patterns were determined by 16s rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, respectively. Results: We found 6 weeks of CUMS can induce depression-like behavior in rats and 4 weeks of GQD treatment can significantly alleviate the depression-like behavior. GQD treatment can also ameliorate the histological lesions in the colon of CUMS rats. Then, CUMS increased the abundance of gut microbes, while GQD treatment can restore it to a lower level. We further discovered that the abundances of 19 bacteria at the genus level were changed with CUMS treatment, among which the abundances of Ruminococcus, Lachnoclostridium, Pygmaiobacter, Bacteroides, Pseudomonas, and Pseudomonas Family_XIII_AD3011_group were stored by GQD treatment. Besides, we identified the levels of 36 colon metabolites were changed with CUMS treatment, among which the levels of Fasciculic acid B, Spermine, Fludrocortisone acetate, alpha-Ketoglutaric acid, 2-Oxoglutaric acid, N'-(benzoyloxy)-2-(2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl) ethanimidamide, N6-Succinyl Adenosine Oleanolic acid, KQH, Ergosta-5,7,9(11),22-Tetraen-3-beta-Ol, Gentisic acid, 4-Hydroxyretinoic Acid, FAHFA (3:0/16:0), Leucine-enkephalin and N-lactoyl-phenylalanine can be restored by GQD treatment. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence supporting the therapeutic efficacy of GQD in alleviating depression-like behavior in CUMS rats, potentially being targeted on colon bacteria (especially the abundance of Ruminococcus and Bacteroides) and metabolites (especially the level of Oleanolic acid). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe subtype of hemorrhagic stroke. The molecular mechanisms of its secondary brain damage remain obscure. To investigate the alterations in gene and metabolite levels following SAH, we construct the transcriptome and metabolome profiles of the rat cerebral cortex post-SAH using whole transcriptome sequencing and untargeted metabolomics assays. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that there were 982 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 540 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) between the sham group and SAH 1d, and 292 DEGs and 254 DEMs between SAH 1d and SAH 7d. Most notably, DEGs were predominantly involved in the activation of immune and inflammatory pathways, particularly the Complement and coagulation cascades, TNF signaling pathway, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. Metabolic analysis revealed that the metabolic pathways of Arginine and proline, Arachidonic acid, Folate biosynthesis, Pyrimidine, and Cysteine and methionine were remarkably affected after SAH. Metabolites of the above pathways are closely associated not only with immune inflammation but also with oxidative stress, endothelial cell damage, and blood-brain barrier disruption. This study provides new insights into the underlying pathologic mechanisms of secondary brain injury after SAH and further characterization of these aberrant signals could enable their application as potential therapeutic targets for SAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tibetan pigs are a unique swine strain adapted to the hypoxic environment of the plateau regions in China. The unique mechanisms underlying the adaption by Tibetan pigs, however, are still elusive. Only few studies have investigated hypoxia-associated molecular regulation in the lung tissues of animals living in the plateau region of China. Our previous study reported that ssc-miR-101-3p expression significantly differed in the lung tissues of Tibetan pigs at different altitudes, suggesting that ssc-miR-101-3p plays an important role in the adaptation of Tibetan pigs to high altitude. To understand the underlying molecular mechanism, in this study, the target genes of ssc-miR-101-3p and their functions were analyzed via various methods including qRT-PCR and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. The action of ssc-miR-101-3p was investigated by culturing alveolar type-II epithelial cells (ATII) of Tibetan pigs under hypoxic conditions and transfecting ATII cells with vectors overexpressing or inhibiting ssc-miR-101-3p. Overexpression of ssc-miR-101-3p significantly increased the proliferation of ATII cells and decreased the expression of inflammatory and apoptotic factors. The target genes of ssc-miR-101-3p were significantly enriched in FOXO and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways required to mitigate lung injury. Further, FOXO3 was identified as a direct target of ssc-miR-101-3p. Interestingly, ssc-miR-101-3p overexpression reversed the damaging effect of FOXO3 in the ATII cells. In conclusion, ssc-miR-101-3p targeting FOXO3 could inhibit hypoxia-induced apoptosis and inflammatory response in ATII cells of Tibetan pigs. These results provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms elucidating the response of lung tissues of Tibetan pigs to hypoxic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although significant amounts of methane are present in anthracite coal seams, coalbed methane resources cannot be extracted effectively and quickly. This study mainly focused on investigating the pore system and methane adsorption capacity to clarify the storage of coalbed methane. Anthracite coal samples from the Anzenan coalbed methane block in China were collected, and pore characterization methods (low-pressure N2 adsorption, mercury injection experiments, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations) and methane isothermal adsorption experiments were conducted. The results showed that few mesopores and nanoscale macropores were present in the anthracite coal samples. The volume of the 2-300 nm pores in these coal samples obtained from the N2 adsorption experiment was lower than 0.01 cm3/g. SEM observations also revealed that only a small number of mesopores and nanoscale macropores could be seen, and most of these pores were isolated. In terms of the methane isothermal adsorption data, it was found these anthracite coals have a large methane adsorption capacity, and the Langmuir volume ranges from 19.5 to 28.4 cm3/g, with an average of 22.2 cm3/g. With increasing ash yield, the Langmuir volume decreased linearly, indicating that methane molecules were mainly adsorbed in the organic matter of coal. As methane is mainly adsorbed in the micropores of coal organic matter and there are few mesopores and nanoscale macropores in the organic pores in coal, there are not enough tunnels to transport the adsorbed methane molecules to the outside. Thus, it is difficult to extract coalbed methane from anthracite. This study reveals the impact of pore system limitations on the storage and extraction of coalbed methane in anthracite coal. The findings can be applied to the extraction of coalbed methane from anthracite coal seams worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endemic to the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China, elongate loach (Leptobotia elongata) has become a vulnerable species mainly due to overfishing and habitat destruction. Thus far, no genome data of this species are reported. As a result, lacking of such genomic information has restricted practical conservation and utilization of this economic fish. Here, we constructed chromosome-level genome assemblies for both male and female elongate loach by integration of MGI, PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing technologies. Two primary genome assemblies (586-Mb and 589-Mb) were obtained for female and male fishes, respectively. Indeed, 98.22% and 98.61% of the contig sequences were anchored onto 25 chromosomes, with identification of 26.22% and 25.92% repeat contents in both assembled genomes. Meanwhile, a total of 25,215 and 25,253 protein-coding genes were annotated, of which 97.41% and 98.8% could be predicted with functions. Taken together, our genome data presented here provide a valuable genomic resource for in-depth evolutionary and functional research, as well as molecular breeding and conservation of this economic fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]