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Due to the bandwidth constraints in the networked control systems (NCSs), a deadband scheduling strategy is proposed to reduce the data transmission rate of network nodes. A discrete-time model of NCSs is established with both deadband scheduling and network-induced time-delay. By employing the Lyapunov functional and LMI approach, a state feedback H8 controller is designed to ensure the closed-loop system asymptotically to be stable with H8 performance index. Simulation results show that the introduced deadband scheduling strategy can ensure the control performance of the system and effectively reduce the node's data transmission rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the structural and material properties of Cu-poor CuIn1- xGa x Se2 (CIGS) thin films with different gallium contents grown using the co-evaporation technique. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and high-resolution X-ray diffraction measurements were performed. The PL emission peaks observed around 1.0-1.2 eV are attributed to donor-acceptor pair luminescence. These donor-acceptor pair emissions are considered to originate from relatively shallow acceptor and donor energy levels. In addition, the X-ray diffraction spectra of the samples are simulated using a theoretical model. From the analysis, it is found that the sample with higher gallium content exhibits smaller grain size and the microstructure size uniformity is reduced. The theoretical calculation result is consistent with the experimental results derived from the PL spectra. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kinds of modified amorphous silica, grafted vinyl trimethoxysilane (AH-171) and N-(n-butyl)-3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (DYNASYLAN 1189), were obtained from oil shale residue by the technical process of calcination and activation, alkaline dissolution, homogeneous sedimentation with ethylacetate and modification with silane coupling agents. The number of surface hydroxyl groups, modification degree, the structure and other properties of amorphous silica were investigated by chemical method, infrared analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that amorphous silica treated with coupling agents AH-171 and DYNASYLAN 1189 is characterized by modification degrees of surface hydroxyl groups 93.7% and 71.2% and hydrophobic degrees 98% and 94%, respectively, as well as also by improved dispersion in organic solutions. This work gives a valid method to prepare surface modified amorphous silica from the oil shale residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C19H20O8, triclinic, P 1 ‾ $P\bar{1}$ (no. 2), a = 7.0708(4) Å, b = 8.1261(4) Å, c = 16.1067(6) Å, α = 81.252(4)°, β = 81.500(4)°, γ = 77.890(4)°, V = 887.88(8) Å3, Z = 2, R gt (F) = 0.0418, wR ref(F 2) = 0.1158, T = 150 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction coupled with the photosynthesis of pure H2O2 is a challenging and significant task. Herein, using classical CO2 photoreduction site iron porphyrinate as the linker, Ag(I) clusters were spatially separated and evenly distributed within a new metal-organic framework (MOF), namely Ag27TPyP-Fe. With water as electron donors, Ag27TPyP-Fe exhibited remarkable performances in artificial photosynthetic overall reaction with CO yield of 36.5 μmol g-1 h-1 and ca. 100% selectivity, as well as H2O2 evolution rate of 35.9 μmol g-1 h-1. Since H2O2 in the liquid phase can be more readily separated from the gaseous products of CO2 photoreduction, high-purity H2O2 with a concentration up to 0.1 mM was obtained. Confirmed by theoretical calculations and the established energy level diagram, the reductive iron(II) porphyrinates and oxidative Ag(I) clusters within an integrated framework functioned synergistically to achieve artificial photosynthesis. Furthermore, photoluminescence spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical measurements revealed that the robust connection of Ag(I) clusters and iron porphyrinate ligands facilitated efficient charge separation and rapid electron transfer, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic activity., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Crystalline porous materials sustained by supramolecular interactions ( e.g. , π-π stacking interactions) are a type of molecular crystals showing considerable stability, but their applications are rarely reported due to the high difficulty of their construction. Herein, a stable π-π stacking framework formed by a trinuclear copper(I) compound [Cu 3 (HBtz) 3 (Btz)Cl 2 ] ( CuBtz , HBtz = benzotriazole) with pyrazolate-bridged dicopper(I) sites is reported and employed for electrochemical CO 2 reduction, showing an impressive performance of 73.7 ± 2.8% Faradaic efficiency for C 2+ products [ i.e., ethylene (44%), ethanol (21%), acetate (4.7%), and propanol (4%)] with a current density of 7.9 mA cm -2 at the potential of -1.3 V versus RHE in an H-type cell and a Faradic efficiency (61.6%) of C 2+ products with a current density of ≈1 A cm -2 and a reaction rate of 5639 μmol m -2 s -1 at the potential of -1.6 V versus RHE in a flow cell device, representing an impressive performance reported to date. In-situ infrared spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations, and control experiments revealed that the uncoordinated nitrogen atoms of benzotriazolates in the immediate vicinity can act as proton relays and cooperate with the dicopper(I) site to promote the hydrogenation process of the *CO intermediate and the C-C coupling, resulting in the highly selective electroreduction of CO 2 to C 2+ products.

Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are essential polycations that play important roles in various physiological and pathophysiological processes in mammalian cells. The study was to investigate their role in cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the underlying mechanism. Isolated hearts from male Sprague-Dawley rats were Langendorff-perfused and cardiac I/R was achieved by 30 min of global ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Different concentrations of polyamines (0.1, 1, 10, and 15 μmol/L of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine), cyclosporin A (0.2 μmol/L), or atractyloside (20 μmol/L) were given 10 min before the onset of reperfusion. The hemodynamics were monitored; the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in the coronary effluent were measured spectrophotometrically; infarct size was determined by the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining method; and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening was determined spectrophotometrically by the Ca 2+ -induced swelling of isolated cardiac mitochondria. The results showed that compared to I/R alone, 0.1 and 1 μmol/L polyamines treatment improved heart function, reduced LDH release, decreased infarct size, and these effects were inhibited by atractyloside (MPTP activator). In isolated mitochondria from normal rats, 0.1 and 1 μmol/L polyamines treatment inhibited MPTP opening. However, 10 and 15 μmol/L polyamines treatment had the opposite effects, and these effects were inhibited by cyclosporin A (MPTP inhibitor). Our findings showed that polyamines may have either protective or damaging effects on hearts suffering from I/R by inhibiting or activating MPTP opening.

The aim of the present study was to observe whether dopamine receptor (DR) was involved in the effects of sodium salicylate (SS) on the expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in rat cochlear spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Forty-eight hours after primary culture of rat SGNs, immunofluorescence technique was applied to detect expressions of DR1 and DR2, the two subtypes of dopamine receptors. Western blot was performed to assess NMDA receptor NR1 subunit and GABA A receptor subunit α2 (GABRα2) protein expressions in the SGNs after the treatments of SS alone or in combination with DR antagonists. The results demonstrated that: (1) The DR1 and DR2 were expressed in the bodies and axons of the SGN; (2) After the treatment with SS, the surface protein expressions of GABRα2 and NR1 were decreased by 44.69% and 21.57%, respectively, while the total protein expressions showed no significant changes; (3) Neither SS + SCH23390 (DR1 antagonist) group nor SS + Eticlopride (DR2 antagonist) group showed significant differences in GABRα2 and NR1 surface protein expressions compared with the control group. These results suggest that SS regulates the surface GABA A and NMDA receptors trafficking on SGN, and the mechanism may involve DR mediation.

Aim: To investigate the expression pattern of plasma long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Chrohn's disease (CD) patients., Methods: Microarray screening and qRT-PCR verification of lncRNAs and mRNAs were performed in CD and control subjects, followed by hierarchy clustering, GO and KEGG pathway analyses. Significantly dysregulated lncRNAs were categorized into subgroups of antisense lncRNAs, enhancer lncRNAs and lincRNAs. To predict the regulatory effect of lncRNAs on mRNAs, a CNC network analysis was performed and cross linked with significantly changed lncRNAs. The overlapping lncRNAs were randomly selected and verified by qRT-PCR in a larger cohort., Results: Initially, there were 1211 up-regulated and 777 down-regulated lncRNAs as well as 1020 up-regulated and 953 down-regulated mRNAs after microarray analysis; a heat map based on these results showed good categorization into the CD and control groups. GUSBP2 and AF113016 had the highest fold change of the up- and down-regulated lncRNAs, whereas TBC1D17 and CCL3L3 had the highest fold change of the up- and down-regulated mRNAs. Six (SNX1, CYFIP2, CD6, CMTM8, STAT4 and IGFBP7) of 10 mRNAs and 8 (NR_033913, NR_038218, NR_036512, NR_049759, NR_033951, NR_045408, NR_038377 and NR_039976) of 14 lncRNAs showed the same change trends on the microarray and qRT-PCR results with statistical significance. Based on the qRT-PCR verified mRNAs, 1358 potential lncRNAs with 2697 positive correlations and 2287 negative correlations were predicted by the CNC network., Conclusion: The plasma lncRNAs profiles provide preliminary data for the non-invasive diagnosis of CD and a resource for further specific lncRNA-mRNA pathway exploration.

Type A γ-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABAAR) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) are the major inhibitory and excitatory receptors in the central nervous system, respectively. Co-expression of the receptors in the synapse may lead to functional influence between receptors, namely receptor interaction. The interactions between GABAAR and NMDAR can be either positive or negative. However, the mechanisms of interaction between the two receptors remain poorly understood, and potential mechanisms include (1) through a second messenger; (2) by receptors trafficking; (3) by direct interaction; (4) by a third receptor-mediation. Dopamine is the most abundant catecholamine neurotransmitter in the brain, and its receptors, dopamine receptors (DR) can activate multiple signaling pathways. Earlier studies on the interaction between DR and GABAAR/NMDAR have shown some underlying mechanisms, suggesting that DR could mediate the interaction between GABAAR and NMDAR. This paper summarized some recent progresses in the studies of the interaction between DR and NMDAR/GABAAR, providing a further understanding on the interaction between NMDAR and GABAAR mediated by DR.

To evalue the coincidence and correlation between the four domestic quantity assay reagents and with ARCHITECTi2000 immunoassay system. 185 weak-reactive serum samples and standard materials of different concentrations were tested by four domestic quantity assay reagents for HBsAg test and ARCHITECTi2000 immunoassay system. The coincidence, the precision and the correlations between different systems were analyzed. The coincidence rates of the results of 0.05-1.00 IU/ml samples between the four domestic quantity assay reagents and ARCHITECTi2000 immunoassay system were 25.93%, 35.19%, 51.85% and 18.52% respectively, and for those results of more than 1.00 to 10.00 IU/ml samples the coincidence rates were 71.76%, 87.79%, 95.42% and 69.47% respectively. The samples of 0.05 to 0.80 IU/ml weak-reactive serum samples detected by the i2000 system were all negative detected by the four domestic systems. The coincidence rates of more than 7.93 IU/ml serum samples detected by i2000 system were 100% detected by the four domestic systems. The correlations of the four domestic quantity assays were around 0.8629 to 0.9265. The analysis sensitivity of the four domestic quantity assay reagents were below the i2000 system. The results of under 0.80 IU/ml samples detected by i2000 system were disaccord with the results detected by the four domestic systems, whereas for the sapmples over 7.93 IU/ml the results were consistent.

Objective: To investigate whether abnormal translocation of nuclear factor-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) exists in the lesion of vitiligo., Methods: Skin specimens from 8 vitiligo patients and 3 healthy controls were collected, half of them underwent laser co-focal microscopy to detect the Nrf2 location and half of them underwent cell culture. Blister fluid was collected form the 8 vitiligo patients and skin donor sites to detect the levels of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and malonyldialdehyde (MDA) by using detection kit. Expression of Nrf2 in epidermal cell of the 8 vitiligo patients and primary epidermal cell of the 3 healthy controls was identified with cell immunofluorescence histochemistry method. The nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins of all above samples were isolated to be identified by Western blotting., Results: The levels of SOD and CAT in the lesion tissue were significantly lower than those in the skin donor site. The levels of MDA in the lesion tissue were significantly higher than those in the skin donor sites (both P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence histochemistry, showed that Nrf2 was predominantly cytoplasmic in the epidermal cells in the lesion, while Nrf2 expression could be seen in both the cytoplasm and nucleus in the epidermal cells in the normal skin donor sites and skins of the healthy controls. Western blotting showed that the nuclear Nrf2 level in the vitiligo skin lesion was (0.11 +/- 0.03), significantly lower than that in the normal skin donor site (0.27 +/- 0.06) and in the skins of the healthy controls (0.32 +/- 0.02) (both P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the Nrf2 level of in cytoplasm among the three types of tissues (0.63 +/- 0.04, 0.61 +/- 0.03, and 0.65 +/- 0.04, all P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Nrf2 does not translocate from cytoplasm into the nucleus in the lesion of vitiligo patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effect and clinical application of hand-assisted laparoscopic renal surgery., Methods: Forty-five patients with urologic diseases underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic renal surgery: radical nephrectomy was performed on 23 cases, simple nephrectomy on 9 cases, nephroureterectomy on 8 cases, excision of cysts of kidney on 3 cases, partial nephrectomy on 1 case, and upper pole heminephrectomy in duplex kidney on 1 case. The operation was performed by transperitoneal approach in 38 cases and by underwent and by retroperitoneal approach in 7 cases., Results: Hand-assisted laparoscopic renal surgery were performed successfully on all patients. The mean operation time was 154.7 minutes (40 approximately 300 min), and the mean estimated blood loss was 100.4 ml (15 approximately 300 ml)., Conclusion: With the advantages of minimal invasion, less blood loss, faster recovery, hand-assisted laparoscopic renal surgery is worth popularizing in urologic clinical practice.