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[Display omitted] • The rock breaking mechanism using disc tool has been revealed by analyzing the cracks propagation process. • The prefabricated kerf is beneficial to the rock fracture, and the cutting force decreases by more than 30 %. • The reasonable matching relationship of cutting depth, kerf spacing and kerf depth can reduce the SE significantly. To improve the hard rock cuttability of disc tool and decrease its wear rate, a method of rock fragmentation with the help of the prefabricated kerf formed by external waterjet is proposed. Furthermore, a numerical model for rock/disc tool interaction based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is established to reveal the mechanism of rock fragmentation mechanism by disc tool and the effect of prefabricated kerf on rock fragmentation progress, and to investigate the cutting depth of disc tool, kerf parameters and their combination relationships with rock fragmentation performance. Firstly, the micro parameters of particles are calibrated by the uniaxial compression strength (UCS) test of the rock, and the cutting force signals in tests and simulations are compared, thus providing the effectiveness of the proposed model. Secondly, the rock/disc tool interaction mechanism is revealed by analyzing the cracks initiation and propagation microscopically and the variations in the cutting force macroscopically, and the cutting depth of disc tool under the optimal rock fragmentation performance is determined as 20 mm. Finally, the effect of different combinations of cutting depth and kerf parameters (including kerf depth and kerf spacing) on rock fragmentation is considered, and the results indicate that when the diameter of disc tool is equal to the kerf spacing, the rock can be deemed to be unconfined, and the cutting force decreases by more than 30 % compared with that of rock fragmentation without prefabricated kerf. The relationship between the cutting depth and the kerf spacing exerts a significant influence on the specific energy (SE), and the cutting depth and kerf spacing in the optimal case is 20 mm and 100 mm, respectively. The relationship between fractal dimensions of rock fragments and SE is also studied, with the SE increasing linearly with the fractal dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the intracranial malignancy with the highest rates of morbidity and mortality. Chemotherapy is often ineffective against GBM due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB); however, the application of nanotechnology is expected to overcome this limitation. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a degradable and nontoxic functional polymer with good biocompatibility that is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Previous studies have shown that the ability of PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) to penetrate the BBB is largely determined by their size; however, determination of the optimal PLGA NP size requires further research. Here, we report a tandutinib-based prodrug (proTan), which responds to the GBM microenvironment, that was combined with NPs to overcome the BBB. AMD3100-PLGA NPs loaded with proTan inhibited tumor growth and effectively prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Schematic representations of (A) Chemical synthesis of proTan, (B) Synthesis of AMD-PLGA/proTan and (C) Application for drug delivery to GBM. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of the cutting load time series were investigated using chaos and fractal theories to study the information and dynamic characteristics of rock cutting. The following observations were made after analyzing the power spectrum, denoising phase reconstruction, correlation dimension and maximum Lyapunov exponent of the time series. A continuous broadband without a significant dominant frequency was found in the power spectrum. The restructured phase space presented a distinct strange attractor after wavelet denoising. The correlation dimension was saturated at an embedding dimension of 7. Lastly, and the maximum Lyapunov exponent exceeded 0 via the small data method. These findings reflected the chaotic dynamic characteristics of the cutting load time series. The box dimensions of the cutting load were further investigated under different conditions, and the difference in cutting depth, cutting velocity and assisted waterjet types were found to be ineffective in changing the fractal characteristic. As cutting depth become small, rock fragment size also decreased, whereas fractal dimension increased. Moreover, a certain range of cutting velocity increased fragment size but decreased fractal dimension. Therefore, fractal dimension could be regarded as an evaluation index to assess the extent of rock fragmentation. The rock-cutting mechanism remained unchanged under different assisted waterjet types. The waterjet front cutter impacts and damages rock, however, the waterjet behind of cutter is mainly used to clean fragments and to lubricate the cutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A numerical model of rock breakage by cutter is developed based on DEM. • Rock fracture patterns of simulation are consistent with experimental results. • Rock fracture mechanism has investigated and revealed via cracks propagation, stresses and fragments. • The effect of breaking parameters on rock fracture has been investigated and the optimum parameters are obtained. To reveal the mechanism of free-surface rock cutting by a disc cutter and study the effect of cutting parameters on rock cutting performance, a numerical model of rock breakage by a disc cutter is established with the particle flow code (PFC). The numerical model of rock breakage by a disc cutter has been verified by rock breaking tests and can satisfactorily reproduce the rock cutting process. Hence, a numerical model was used to further study the rock breaking mechanism and effects of cutting parameters. The obtained results show that the penetration force first linearly increases and then instantaneously declines. The crushing zone gradually formed with increasing penetration force, and after that, the main crack within the rock rapidly extended to the free surface, which resulted in a decline in the penetration force. The formation of the crushing zone and main crack propagation were influenced by compression stress and tension stress, respectively, and the dissipation of energy was mainly in the stage of crushing zone formation. The peak penetration force has a linear relationship with breaking depth. The specific energy first increases and then decreases with increasing breaking depth, and the minimum value is in the range of 20–25 mm. With increasing tip width, the peak penetration force linearly increases, and the specific energy first increases and then decreases. The optimal rock breaking performance was obtained when the tip width was approximately 1 mm. Compared with the traditional rock breaking method, the preslotting method can significantly reduce the cutter load. When the breaking depth is 20 mm, the peak penetration force under the condition with a preslotting depth of 5 mm decreases by over 87% compared to that without preslotting. The preslotting method provides a potential approach for efficiently breaking hard and extremely hard rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical model of rock fragmentation caused by a roadheader pick was established based on the particle flow code in two dimensions to study the rock fragmentation mechanism of the roadheader pick. The model simulated crack initiation, propagation and chip formation. The feasibility and reliability of the method as well as numerical model were verified by experiment. Results show that the rock fragmentation process includes three stages: crack initiation, crushing zone and radial crack formation, major tensile crack propagation and rock fragment formation. The crushing zone, number of radial cracks, specific energy consumption of rock cutting and dust level increase as the pick-tip corner radius increases. Consequently the pick-tip corner radius should range from 0 to 2 mm to obtain large rock fragments and low specific energy consumption. The damage of medium-hard and hard rock by the roadheader pick is more remarkable than that of soft rock. Furthermore, the sharp pick is suitable for the soft rock, whereas the pick tip with a proper rounding corner is perfect for the medium-hard and hard rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of rare earth on the microstructures as well as properties of Al and its alloys has attracted great attention recently. However, contradictory results always were reported, some previous studies found that rare earth promoted the increment of the tensile properties of Al alloy, some other researchers though rare earth had no significant effect on the tensile properties or decreased the tensile properties. In the present work, the effects of minor rare earth element La on the solidification, aging behaviors and the tensile properties of Al-Mg-Si alloys have investigated by thermal analysis, microstructural characterizations and properties tests. The results demonstrate that the ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of Al-Mg-Si alloy can be increased by adding minor rare earth La. The effect mechanism of La has also been explored, it indicates that minor La enhances the strength of the Al-Mg-Si alloy by decreasing grain size and promoting the precipitation of (Mg, Si) phase. This study provides a way for manufacturing Al-Mg-Si alloys with excellent mechanical properties. • Trace La addition can refine α-Al and promote the precipitation of Mg 2 Si and β ′ phase. • Trace La addition significantly improve the mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si alloy. • The effect mechanisms of trace La addition on Al-Mg-Si alloy have been clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Integrated model based on the population dynamics approach and the cellular automaton method has been developed to simulate the solidification process of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys. • The explanation of the influence of solidification parameters and refiners type in the grains solidification structure. • A universal empirical formula that takes into account of the average radius and the standard deviation of size distribution of TiB 2 in the refiner. An integrated model based on the population dynamics approach and the cellular automaton method has been developed to simulate the solidification process of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys. The nucleation, spherical growth/dissolving and dendritic growth of the α-Al nuclei/grains are taken into account. The model is validated by comparing with the experimental results firstly, and then is applied to calculate the details of the microstructure formation in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys inoculated with Al-5Ti-1B master alloys. The effects of the size distribution of TiB 2 and the solidification conditions on the grain size are investigated. At last, an empirical formula for predicting grain size has been put forward based on the numerical calculations. The formula gives the dependent relationship between the grain size, the cooling rate of melt, the additive amount of refiner, the composition of the solutes and the size distribution of TiB 2 particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheel belt continuous casting and hot extrusion experiments were performed with the Al-0.5wt.%Fe alloys. The effects of minor lanthanum (La) on the microstructures as well as the electrical conductivity and tensile properties have been investigated. The microstructure analyses indicated that minor addition of rare earth element La (500 ppm) not only can achieve the α-Al grain refinement, but also can modify the Al 13 Fe 4 intermetallic phase. The test results of tensile and electrical properties indicated that minor La addition can concurrently enhance the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, elongation as well as the electrical conductivity of Al-Fe alloys. The improvements of strength, ductility and electrical conductivity are mainly ascribed to the α-Al grain refinement, the modification of Al 13 Fe 4 intermetallic phase and the reduction of the solubility of Fe and Si elements in α-Al, respectively. The minor La addition is a promising approach for altering the microstructures and simultaneously enhancing the tensile properties and electrical conductivity of Al-Fe alloys. This study lays foundation for manufacturing Al-Fe alloys with good tensile and electrical properties. Unlabelled Image • Minor La addition can refine α-Al grains, modify minority phase and reduce the solubility of Fe and Si. • The addition of minor La can achieve simultaneous improvements of the tensile properties and electrical conductivity of Al-Fe alloy. • The effect mechanisms of minor La element on the microstructures and properties of Al alloys have been clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel numerical model of rock fragmentation was developed by the hybrid FDEM (finite and discrete element method) to investigate the mechanism of hard rock breakage produced by indenter impact. • A numerical model of rock fracture under indenter impact is developed by the hybrid finite and discrete element method. • Rock breakage patterns are well simulated, which are consistent with experimental results. • Formation of crushing zone, large fragment and cracks are closely related to the contact force. • Formation mechanism of crushing zone and cracks are revealed via the stresses and damage variation. Achieving efficient crushing of hard rocks has always been an urgent problem in mining and tunneling. A novel numerical model of rock fragmentation was developed by the hybrid FDEM (finite and discrete element method) to investigate the mechanism of hard rock breakage produced by indenter impact. Zero-thickness discrete elements embedded into the finite model were used to describe the micromechanics of the rock microscopic cementation via the mixed-mode cohesive traction response. The breakage patterns could be well reproduced by the developed numerical model, which was consistent with the experimental results. The rock breakage features, such as impact crater, crushing zone, small debris, large fragments, symmetrical cracks and lateral cracks, were closely related to the variation in the contact force. The element deletion rate at the crushing stage was larger than that of the relatively stable stage and unloading stage, with the lowest rate of element deletion. The formation mechanisms of the crushing zone, small debris, large fragments, and symmetrical cracks were different. The crushing zone formation related to the cohesive element failure in shear action; the cohesive element failure for small debris formation was caused by the combination of tensile and shear action; the symmetrical and lateral crack formations were both caused by the tensile action on the failed cohesive element, but the tensile stress that produced the cohesive element failure in the lateral crack path was from the compression stress reflected in the boundary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined rock breaking method with the saw blade and conical pick is proposed to improve the rock breaking efficiency. The numerical simulation of combined rock breaking with the saw blade and conical pick is established to investigate the rock damage mechanism. And verified and modified the numerical simulation model with the rock breaking comprehensive test bench, the quantitative analysis error is less than 0.05, indicated quantitative analysis system is accuracy. The result indicated that the cutting parameters of the saw blade and conical pick affect the rock damage. And the cutting parameters of conical pick and structural parameters of rock plate have been studied to influence rock breaking volume. The research result could help optimize the cutting parameters of the saw blade and conical pick to improve the rock breaking efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the primary rock-breaking tool of the tunnel boring machine (TBM), the disc cutter experiences significant wear from the immense cutting load. Given the intricate geological conditions in TBM excavation, accurately assessing the extent of wear on disc cutters solely through experience and predictive models is challenging. Therefore, implementing synchronous wear monitoring when a disc cutter breaks rock to accurately assess the amount of wear on the disc cutter and determine the point at which a tool change is needed is extremely important. In this work, a disc cutter wear test system is designed on the basis of the principle of eddy current testing and the variation in disc cutter wear during cutting is revealed through experiments. The radial reduction rate (Dr) is used as an index of disc cutter wear to analyze the variations in penetration, cutting speed, the cutting resistance coefficient (Cc), and specific energy consumption (SE) in relation to disc cutter wear. The experimental results indicate that the measurement error of the disc cutter wear testing system is 8.6%, which allows disc cutter wear level to be obtained. With increasing cutting displacement, the Dr of the disc cutter first increases rapidly but then slows. The Cc of the disc cutter increases exponentially with increasing Dr under different penetration depths. When the cutting displacement of the disc cutter reaches 40 m, Dr exhibits an exponential growth trend with increasing cutting speed. The critical value of Dr is 0.084. When Dr exceeds this value, the cutting performance exhibits a sharp increase in torque, which significantly impacts the driving efficiency. The research results of this paper provide a reference for creating a disc cutter replacement plan and extending the service life of the disc cutter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effect of microalloying elements on the formation of chemical heterogeneous structure is investigated in Cu-Fe-Zr MGs. • The nature of the microalloying effect on the microstructure has been analysed from a viewpoint of dynamic. • The volume of shear transformation zone decreases in the heterogeneous MGs due to the high fraction of interfaces. • The glassy nanoparticles play a role in the internal record of the local structure evolution during deformation. Although chemical structural heterogeneities were induced into metallic glasses (MGs) to improve their ductility, the nature of the influence of the heterogeneous structure on their deformation behavior is still unclear. Here, by using microalloying elements to tailor the microstructure in Cu-Fe-Zr MGs, the formation of heterogeneous structure and the correlation between the heterogeneous structure and the deformation behavior are discussed. The results show that a honeycomb-like heterogeneous structure is formed in the (Cu 0.5 Fe 0.5) 40 Zr 59 X 1 (X Nb and Ta) alloys. From a viewpoint of dynamic, the nature of the microalloying effect on the microstructure has been analysed. The deformation behavior of (Cu 0.5 Fe 0.5) 40 Zr 59 X 1 MGs with a high population of nanoscale glassy particles (NGPs) is investigated by nanoindentation and bending test. These glassy particles play an interesting role in the internal record of the local structure evolution. It was found that NGPs contiguous to shear bands (SBs) coarsen by Ostwald ripening. However, NGPs within SB would dissolve due to direct mechanical shearing and mixing. It indicates that the volume of shear transformation zone decreases obviously in the heterogeneous MGs due to the high fraction of interfaces. This work is of significance in understanding the relationship between structure and property of MGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the flow regime characteristics and boundary conditions of gas-solid two-phase flow in horizontal pipe pneumatic conveying, the flow characteristics were studied based on the four-way coupled CFD-DEM method. Based on the experimental verification of flow regimes, the flow characteristics at different superficial gas velocities were analyzed from three perspectives. The results showed that the mean value of the pressure at the inlet and the standard deviation of the pressure fluctuation decreased with the superficial gas velocity, as well as the mass of the standard volume particles. The conveying flow regimes of slug flow, dune flow and stratified flow in the pipe were presented in turn, and the particle distribution in the pipe gradually shifted from filling the entire pipe to the bottom of the pipe. The particle velocity in the middle part of the pipe was the highest for slug flow. [Display omitted] • The flow regime characteristics of horizontal pneumatic conveying was numerically studied. • Different superficial gas velocities were analyzed from three perspectives. • Particle velocity gradually increased from the bottom of the pipe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The corrosion resistance of Al-Mg-Si alloys was enhanced through La addition. • La-rich shell formed on Mg 2 Si particles inhibited localized corrosion initiation. • Modified Si particles with La addition could suppress corrosion propagation. The effect of micro-alloying element La on the corrosion behavior of Al-Mg-Si alloys in 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution was investigated. The results demonstrate that micro-alloying La causes the formation of a microstructure with discrete short-rod like Si particles and Mg 2 Si particles with a La-rich surface shell. The La-rich shell slows down the dissolution of the Mg 2 Si particles and mitigates the localized corrosion around the Mg 2 Si particles. The isolated Si particles hinder the corrosion propagation along grain boundaries. As a result, micro-alloying element La causes a significant improvement in the corrosion resistance of Al-Mg-Si alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A combined process is developed for treatment and recovery of metal mixture in WPCBs. • Liquid-liquid phase separation is used for metal enrichment. • Amphoteric metals are separated by low-temperature alkaline smelting. • Noble metals gold and silver are efficiently enriched to form a high-value group. Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) contain a variety of valuable and hazardous materials. Recycling WPCBs is an important subject not only for environmental protection but also for sustainable development of resources. In this work, a new method combined low-temperature alkaline smelting with liquid-liquid phase separation is proposed to separate and recycle metal mixture in pyrolysis residue of WPCBs of mobile phones. During the low-temperature alkaline smelting process, amphoteric metals Al, Pb, Si, Sn, and Zn are firstly separated and recycled from the metal mixture with the separation rates of 99.5%, 81.6%, 97.8%, 88.4% and 95.7%, respectively. To separate the remaining metal mixture mainly containing elements Cu, Fe, Cr, Ni, Au and Ag, a liquid-liquid phase separation system is designed. As a result, the noble metals Au and Ag are concentrated in the copper-rich substance to form a high-value group, while the elements Ni and Cr distribute in the iron-rich substance. The iron-rich substance can be reused in the liquid-liquid phase separation process. In the super-gravity field, the recycling rates of the metals Au, Ag, Cr and Ni reach 98.1%, 99.8%, 95.6% and 75.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the iron-rich substance can be reused back to the liquid-liquid separation system. The copper-rich substance enriched by the noble metals can be efficiently recovered with low energy consumption and less pollution. This work provides an environmentally friendly and efficient route for separating and recycling the metal mixture in WPCBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding an interfacial active element to alloy melt is beneficial to the formation of a well-dispersed microstructure of immiscible alloys. A simple but effective criterion − L B − A < (L A − i − L B − i ) < L A − B is proposed to choose the interfacial active element i for an A (solvent)-B (solute) immiscible alloy with L A-B , L B-A , L A- i and L B- i being the interaction energy parameters for the liquid A-B alloy in the A-rich corner, the liquid A-B alloy in the B-rich corner, the liquid A- i alloy in the A-rich corner and the liquid B- i alloys in the B-rich corner, respectively. Solidification experiments were conducted on Al-Bi and Zn-Pb alloys micro-alloyed with different elements. The proposed criterion is verified by comparing its predictions with the experimental results. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal augers is a new type of mining equipment used in thin coal seam, and directional drilling performance of its drilling tools becomes the key issue in the equipment service life and drilling efficiency. The drilling test bench of a three-bit coal auger is constructed to study vibration and deflection performance of its drilling tools in this paper. Based on some reasonable simplifications and hypotheses of drilling tools, simulation model of a three-bit coal auger is established to analyze its vibration and deflection performance with different drilling depths. Then a novel drill rod stabilizer is designed and the simulation model of a three-bit coal auger with this stabilizer is constructed compared with a normal coal auger to study vibration and deflection performance of drilling tools, which provides scientific basis for stabilizers' arrangement form. Research shows that: the simulation results accords with test results, which verifies correctness and rationality of simulation; vibration and deflection of drilling tools become greater with drilling depth increasing; drill rod stabilizers can effectively reduce drilling tools' vibration and deflection, and are arranged every 5 drill rods and air pipes which is optimal decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical model is developed to calculate the segregation behavior of a micro-alloying element to the liquid/liquid interface and its effect on the liquid/liquid interfacial energy during the solidification of a monotectic alloy based on the thermodynamics of alloys. Experiments are carried out with Al-Bi alloy micro-alloyed by different elements. The model is verified by the experimental results. Calculation results demonstrate that, for an A-B monotectic system, the segregation behavior of the micro-alloying element i depends on the partition coefficient K i (ratio of the mole fraction of i in the B-rich melt to that in the A-rich melt), which is closely related to the atomic interaction energy parameters L A- i for the A- i binary alloy, L B- i for the B- i binary alloy, L A-B for the A-B binary alloy. A simple but efficient criterion is proposed based on K i for choosing the interface active element i for the A-B monotectic alloy: K A < K i < K B. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas-solid injectors are a power source of particles in pneumatic conveying systems. The momentum and energy exchange between particles and the flow field occurs for the first time in a gas-solid injector. The structural parameters of gas-solid injectors have a direct impact on the state of motion of particles. In the previous experimental study [1], we obtained the optimal structural parameters of a gas-solid injector under experimental conditions. However, there were many problems, such as the high cost of experimental equipment, high consumption of human and material resources, and long experimental time. In particular, the amount of reference data obtained from the experiment was limited, and the experimental results had certain manufacturing, human and accidental errors. Therefore, in this paper, the CFD-DEM coupling method is used to simulate the structural parameters affecting the performance of gas-solid injectors. The ejection ratio, energy consumption ratio, residue particle mass, particle outlet velocity, particle conveying ratio, percentage of total particle energy and total energy consumption ratio are adopted as the corresponding indicators to explore the relevant evaluation parameters that are difficult to obtain by experiment. The optimized structural parameters of the gas-solid injector under the corresponding indicators are obtained, which provides a design reference for the gas-solid injector and pneumatic conveying system under different working conditions. [Display omitted] • Evaluation indicators obtained by CFD-DEM are difficult to obtain experimentally. • Optimal structure parameters are obtained under different evaluation indicators. • Nozzle length has the most significant effect on ejection performance. • Residual particle mass should be taken as primary indicator to avoid blockage. • Energy consumption should be taken as important indicator to improve efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influence of related factors on the rock breaking performance is studied. • The relationship between initial crushing pressure, fracturing pressure and compressive strength is revealed. • The order and optimal combination of the influential factors is obtained. To obtain the influence of structural parameters, system pressure, standoff distance, rock characteristics on rock breaking volume and specific energy consumption, the rock breaking experiment using self-excited oscillation pulsed waterjet (SOPW) was carried out. The relationship among rock initial crushing pressure, fracturing pressure with rock compressive strength was investigated, and the change trend between rock breaking morphology and standoff distance was also observed. In addition, the order and optimal parameter combination of influential factors on rock breaking performance using SOPW was obtained through an orthogonal test. The research results show that the rock breaking performance under the impact of SOPW is better than that of continuous water jet in the initial stage, and the difference of rock breaking volume under the action of two-type jet is getting larger as the time going on. Moreover, the initial crushing pressure and fracturing pressure increases with the increase of the compressive strength, and the initial crushing pressure and the fracturing pressure is predicted as 54.4 MPa and 125.8 MPa, respectively, when the rock compressive strength is 80 MPa. Furthermore, the primary and secondary order of various factors on rock breaking performance is system pressure, standoff distance, oscillation cavity length, section cone angle, and the optimal combination is 40 MPa, 10 mm, 70 mm, and 140° for the system pressure, standoff distance, oscillation cavity length and section cone angle, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Prior researchers have identified distinct differences in functional connectivity neuroimaging characteristics among MDD patients. However, the auxiliary diagnosis and subtype differentiation roles of VMHC values in MDD patients have yet to be fully understood. We aim to explore the separating ability of VMHC values in patients with anxious MDD or with non-anxious MDD and HCs., Methods: We recruited 90 patients with anxious MDD, 69 patients with non-anxious MDD and 84 HCs. We collected a set of clinical variables included HAMD-17 scores, HAMA scores and rs-fMRI data. The data were analyzed combining difference analysis, SVM, correlation analysis and ROC analysis., Results: Relative to HCs, non-anxious MDD patients displayed significant lower VMHC values in the insula and PCG, and anxious MDD patients displayed a significant decrease in VMHC values in the cerebellum&#95;crus2, STG, postCG, MFG and IFG. Compared with non-anxious MDD patients, the anxious MDD showed significant enhanced VMHC values in the PCG. The VMHC values in the insula and cerebellum&#95;crus2 regions showed a better ability to discriminate HCs from patients with non-anxious MDD or with anxious MDD. The VMHC values in PCG showed a better ability to discriminate patients with anxious MDD and non-anxious MDD patients., Conclusion: The VMHC values in the insula and cerebellum&#95;crus2 regions could be served as imaging markers to differentiate HCs from patients with non-anxious MDD or with anxious MDD respectively. And the VMHC values in the PCG could be used to discriminate patients with anxious MDD from the non-anxious MDD patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gliomas are one of the most challenging tumors to treat due to their malignant phenotype, brain parenchymal infiltration, intratumoral heterogeneity, and immunosuppressive microenvironment, resulting in a high recurrence rate and dismal five-year survival rate. The current standard therapies, including maximum tumor resection, chemotherapy with temozolomide, and radiotherapy, have exhibited limited efficacy, which is caused partially by the resistance of tumor cell death. Recent studies have revealed that ferroptosis, a newly defined programmed cell death (PCD), plays a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of gliomas and significantly affects the efficacy of various treatments, representing a promising therapeutic strategy. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the latest progress in ferroptosis, its involvement and regulation in the pathophysiological process of gliomas, various treatment hotspots, the existing obstacles, and future directions worth investigating. Our review sheds light on providing novel insights into manipulating ferroptosis to provide potential targets and strategies of glioma treatment., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Ferritin light chain (FtL) is a complex formed by apoferritin and iron core and is one of the main storage forms of iron. Currently, the precise role of FtL in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) remains undetermined. This investigation aimed to elucidate the roles and underlying mechanisms of FtL in CIRI. To induce CIRI, an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model in microglia and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model were established using C57BL/6 J mice. The in vivo and in vitro FtL expression patterns were assessed. Furthermore, the potential regulatory mechanism of FtL at the upstream level was also explored. In addition, the in vivo and in vitro role of FtL in post-ischemic inflammation was also clarified. The results indicated that FtL was up-regulated in OGD-induced microglia and CIRI mice. Moreover, OGD activated HIF1α, which interacted with the FtL promoter region as an activator, thereby increasing FtL expression. Furthermore, FtL attenuated the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL6) and decreased levels of COX2 and iNOS in microglia; however, FtL knockdown had the opposite effects. Up-regulated FtL was observed to inhibit OGD-induced NF-κB activation in microglia, decreased IκBα degradation, and reduced NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation. In summary, this study revealed an underlying mechanism of FtL upregulation via HIF1α and highlighted its protective role against post-ischemic neuroinflammation, indicating the potential of FtL as a target for CIRI treatment., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Rock abrasivity is one of the main factors affecting the wear of rock-cutting tools, which is usually quantified by the CERCHAR Abrasivity Index (CAI). Researchers and engineers study tool wear and predict tool life based on the CAI of rocks. However, there is still a lack of a dataset on rock properties, especially the abrasivity of various rocks. This paper reports the abrasive dataset of 10 kinds of rocks, including sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, and igneous rocks, with the aid of the CERCHAR Abrasivity Test and digital measurement techniques. The dataset comprises rock abrasivity data, point cloud data for visualization, scratch photos, CERCHAR Abrasivity Test force data, and mechanical properties (uniaxial compressive strength) of rock samples. This dataset facilitates future research on rock abrasivity and rock-cutting tool wear., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) could lead to poor clinical outcome(s). The aim of the present study was to establish and validate a predictive model for DCI after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) based on clinical data. Data from a series of 217 consecutive patients with aSAH were reviewed and analyzed. Related risk factors within 72 h after aSAH were analyzed depending on whether DCI recurred. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis was performed to reduce data dimensions and screen for optimal predictors. Multivariable logistic regression was used to establish a predictive model and construct a nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration curves were generated to assess the discriminative ability and goodness of fit of the model. Decision curve analysis was applied to evaluated the clinical applicability of the predictive model. LASSO regression identified 4 independent predictors, including Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Early Brain Edema Score (i.e., "SEBES"), World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies scale score (i.e., "WFNS"), modified Fisher Scale score, and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), which were incorporated into logistic regression to develop a nomogram. After verification, the area under the ROC curve for the model was 0.860. The calibration curve indicated that the predictive probability of the new model was in good agreement with the actual probability, and decision curve analysis demonstrated the clinical applicability of the model within a specified range. The prediction model could precisely calculate the probability of DCI after aSAH, and may contribute to better clinical decision-making and personalized treatment to achieve better outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chen, Jiang, He, Tang and Chen.)

Our design aimed to explore the potential involvement of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the inflammatory response associated with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We also aimed to preliminarily examine the potential impact of a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type I repeats-13 (ADAMTS13) on MMP-9 in AIS. We conducted oxygen-glucose deprivation models of microglia cells and mice models of AIS with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). We assessed the expression pattern of MMP-9 with western blotting (WB) and real-time quantitative PCR both in vivo and in vitro. MMP-9 downregulation was achieved by using ACE inhibitors such as trandolapril. For the MCAO model, we used ADAMTS13-deficient mice. We then evaluated the related neurological function scores, cerebral edema and infarct volume. The levels of inflammation-related proteins, such as COX2 and iNOS, were assessed using WB, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines was measured via enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay in vivo. Our findings indicated that MMP-9 was up-regulated while ADAMTS13 was down-regulated in the MCAO model. Knockdown of MMP-9 reduced both inflammation and ischemic brain injury. ADAMTS13 prevented brain damage, improved neurological function and decreased the inflammation response in mice AIS models. Additionally, ADAMTS13 alleviated MMP-9-induced neuroinflammation in vivo. It showed that ADAMTS13 deficiency exacerbated ischemic brain injury through an MMP-9-dependent inflammatory mechanism. Therefore, the ADAMTS13-MMP-9 axis could have therapeutic potential for the treatment of AIS., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Disentanglement learning aims to separate explanatory factors of variation so that different attributes of the data can be well characterized and isolated, which promotes efficient inference for downstream tasks. Mainstream disentanglement approaches based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) learn interpretable data representation. However, most typical GAN-based works lack the discussion of the latent subspace, causing insufficient consideration of the variation of independent factors. Although some recent research analyzes the latent space on pretrained GANs for image editing, they do not emphasize learning representation directly from the subspace perspective. Appropriate subspace properties could facilitate corresponding feature representation learning to satisfy the independent variation requirements of the obtained explanatory factors, which is crucial for better disentanglement. In this work, we propose a unified framework for ensuring disentanglement, which fully investigates latent subspace learning (SL) in GAN. The novel GAN-based architecture explores orthogonal subspace representation (OSR) on vanilla GAN, named OSRGAN. To guide a subspace with strong correlation, less redundancy, and robust distinguishability, our OSR includes three stages, self-latent-aware, orthogonal subspace-aware, and structure representation-aware, respectively. First, the self-latent-aware stage promotes the latent subspace strongly correlated with the data space to discover interpretable factors, but with poor independence of variation. Second, the following orthogonal subspace-aware stage adaptively learns some 1-D linear subspace spanned by a set of orthogonal bases in the latent space. There is less redundancy between them, expressing the corresponding independence. Third, the structure representation-aware stage aligns the projection on the orthogonal subspace and the latent variables. Accordingly, feature representation in each linear subspace can be distinguishable, enhancing the independent expression of interpretable factors. In addition, we design an alternating optimization step, achieving a tradeoff training of OSRGAN on different properties. Despite it strictly constrains orthogonality, the loss weight coefficient of distinguishability induced by orthogonality could be adjusted and balanced with correlation constraint. To elucidate, this tradeoff training prevents our OSRGAN from overemphasizing any property and damaging the expressiveness of the feature representation. It takes into account both interpretable factors and their independent variation characteristics. Meanwhile, alternating optimization could keep the cost and efficiency of forward inference unchanged and will not burden the computational complexity. In theory, we clarify the significance of OSR, which brings better independence of factors, along with interpretability as correlation could converge to a high range faster. Moreover, through the convergence behavior analysis, including the objective functions under different constraints and the evaluation curve with iterations, our model demonstrates enhanced stability and definitely converges toward a higher peak for disentanglement. To depict the performance in downstream tasks, we compared the state-of-the-art GAN-based and even VAE-based approaches on different datasets. Our OSRGAN achieves higher disentanglement scores on FactorVAE, SAP, MIG, and VP metrics. All the experimental results illustrate that our novel GAN-based framework has considerable advantages on disentanglement.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a significantly malignant and lethal brain tumor with an average survival time of less than 12 months. Several researches had shown that Claudin-3 (CLDN3) is overexpressed in various cancers and might be important in their growth and spread. In this study, we used qRT-PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining assays to investigate the expression levels of various proteins. To explore the proliferation abilities of GBM cells, we conducted the CCK-8 and EdU-DNA formation assays. Wound healing and transwell assays were used to investigate the capacities of invasion and migration of GBM cells. Additionally, we constructed an intracranial xenograft model of GBM to study the in vivo role of CLDN3. Our study devoted to investigate the function of CLDN3 in the pathogenesis and progression of GBM. Our study revealed that CLDN3 was upregulated in GBM and could stimulate tumor cell growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in both laboratory and animal models. We also discovered that CLDN3 expression could be triggered by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and reduced by specific inhibitors of the TGF-β signaling pathway, such as ITD-1. Further analysis revealed that increased CLDN3 levels enhanced TGF-β-induced growth and EMT in GBM cells, while reducing CLDN3 levels weakened these effects. Our study demonstrated the function of CLDN3 in facilitating GBM growth and metastasis and indicated its involvement in the tumorigenic effects of TGF-β. Developing specific inhibitors of CLDN3 might, therefore, represent a promising new approach for treating this devastating disease., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Ischemic stroke (IS) is associated with changes in gene expression patterns in the ischemic penumbra and extensive neurovascular inflammation. However, the key molecules related to the inflammatory response in the acute phase of IS remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, conducted a study using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) on two gene expression profiles, GSE58720 and GSE202659, downloaded from the GEO database. We screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using GEO2R and analyzed 170 differentially expressed intersection genes for Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. We also used Metascape, DAVID, STRING, Cytoscape, and TargetScan to identify candidate miRNAs and genes. The targeted genes and miRNA molecule were clarified using the mice middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion (MCAO/R) model. Our findings revealed that 170 genes were correlated with cytokine production and inflammatory cell activation, as determined by GO and KEGG analyses. Cluster analysis identified 11 hub genes highly associated with neuroinflammation: Ccl7, Tnf, Ccl4, Timp1, Ccl3, Ccr1, Sele, Ccr2, Tlr4, Ptgs2, and Il6. TargetScan results suggested that Ptgs2, Tlr4, and Ccr2 might be regulated by miR-202-3p. In the MCAO/R model, the level of miR-202-3p decreased, while the levels of Ptgs2, Tlr4, and Ccr2 increased compared to the sham group. Knockdown of miR-202-3p exacerbated ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) through neuroinflammation both in vivo and in vitro. Our study also demonstrated that mRNA and protein levels of Ptgs2, Tlr4, and Ccr2 increased in the MCAO/R model with miR-202-3p knockdown. These findings suggest that differentially expressed genes, including Ptgs2, Tlr4, and Ccr2 may play crucial roles in the neuroinflammation of IS, and their expression may be negatively regulated by miR-202-3p. Our study provides new insights into the regulation of neuroinflammation in IS., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

The automatic positioning of underground mobile applications plays a crucial role in enabling intelligent coal mining. However, due to the diverse kinematics and dynamics of these applications, various positioning methods have been proposed to match different targets. Nonetheless, the accuracy and applicability of these methods still fall short of meeting the requirements for field applications. Based on the vibration characteristics of underground mobile devices, a multi-sensor fusion positioning system is developed to enhance the accuracy of positioning in long and narrow global positioning system denied (GPS-denied) underground coal mine roadways. The system combines inertial navigation (INS), odometer, and ultra wide band (UWB) technologies through extended Kalman filter (EKF) and unscented Kalman filter (UKF). This approach enables accurate positioning by recognizing target carrier vibrations and facilitating fast conversion between multi-sensor fusion modes. The proposed system is tested on both a small unmanned mine vehicle (UMV) and a large roadheader, demonstrating that UKF enhances stability for roadheaders with strong nonlinear vibrations while EKF is more suitable for flexible UMVs. Detailed results confirm that the proposed system achieves an accuracy level of 0.15 m, meeting most coal mine application requirements., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing 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., (Copyright © 2023 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To study the mechanism and performance of rock breakage by an undercutting disc cutter with advanced slotting, a three-dimensional numerical model of rock cutting by a disc cutter with advanced slotting assistance was established based on the discrete element method. The parallel bond constitutive model was selected to describe the micromechanical properties of rock. The correctness of the established numerical model is verified through rock breakage experiments, and the rock cutting process by the disc cutter was analyzed by a combination of the force chain and crack distribution. The influencing factors, such as advanced slotting depth, cutting thickness, rock strength, and cutter rotation speed, on rock cutting performance were investigated. The results show that a compact zone is gradually formed between the rock and disc cutter at the beginning, then a large number of microscopic tensile and shear cracks in the compact zone due to micro failure of rock are formed; the subsequent main rock fragment is mainly caused by tensile failure; advanced slotting can reduce the rock bearing capacity and bending resistance, the rock above the advanced slotting fractured easily due to its lower bending resistance, and the volume compact zone is relatively small. When the advanced slotting depth is equal to 12.5 mm, the propulsive force and specific energy consumption of rock cutting by the disc cutter are reduced by 61.6% and 16.5%, respectively. The propulsive force and specific energy consumption increase as the rock strength increases, but they tend to close when the rock strength is greater than 80 MPa, which indicates that advanced slotting assistance is more suitable for hard rock. The results obtained in this paper can provide the operating parameters determination under different factors to some extent of the undercutting disc cutter in a pre-cut condition, which further improve the rock breaking performance of mechanized cutter., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the intracranial malignancy with the highest rates of morbidity and mortality. Chemotherapy is often ineffective against GBM due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB); however, the application of nanotechnology is expected to overcome this limitation. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a degradable and nontoxic functional polymer with good biocompatibility that is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Previous studies have shown that the ability of PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) to penetrate the BBB is largely determined by their size; however, determination of the optimal PLGA NP size requires further research. Here, we report a tandutinib-based prodrug (proTan), which responds to the GBM microenvironment, that was combined with NPs to overcome the BBB. AMD3100-PLGA NPs loaded with proTan inhibited tumor growth and effectively prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing 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., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)