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Herein, the effect of Ta addition (0 and 2 wt pct) on the tensile properties of a Ni-Co base superalloy was investigated in the temperature range of 23–900 °C. The results revealed that the addition of Ta improved the strength of the superalloy at all experimental temperatures and increased the plasticity at 760 °C. In addition, the microstructural observations indicate that Ta addition promoted the precipitation of γ′ precipitates, as well as the precipitation of (Ta, Ti)-rich MC carbides. The addition of 2 wt pct Ta promoted twinning and, thus, transformed the fracture mechanism of the alloy from an intergranular brittle fracture to a mixed ductile and brittle fracture at 760 °C. Furthermore, the tensile properties and the related microstructures, deformation mechanisms, and fracture mechanisms of the experimental alloys are discussed. Finally, we demonstrated that the combined effect of the increase in the grain boundary strength, the reduction in the critical resolved shear stress, and the promotion of twinning induced the synchronous improvement of strength and plasticity of the alloy at 760 °C.

Aims The aim of this study was to determine the effects of unsaturated fatty acids on clinical plasmids. Methods and results Two unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) at final concentration 0, 0·03, 0·3 and 3 mmol l-1 , respectively, were used to assess the effects on conjugative transfer of a mcr-1-harbouring plasmid pCSZ4 (IncX4) in conjugation experiment. The inhibitory mechanisms were analysed by molecular docking and the gene expression of virB11 was quantitated by qRT-PCR. Target plasmid diversity was carried out by TrwD/VirB11 homology protein sequence prediction analysis. Our results showed that LA and ALA inhibit plasmid pCSZ4 transfer by binding to the amino acid residues (Phe124 and Thr125) of VirB11 with dose-dependent effects. The expression levels of virB11 gene were also significantly inhibited by LA and ALA treatment. Protein homology analysis revealed a wide distribution of TrwD/VirB11-like genes among over 37 classes of plasmids originated from both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Conclusions This study demonstrates representing a diversity of plasmids that may be potentially inhibited by unsaturated fatty acids. Significance and impact of the study Our work reported here provides additional support for application of curbing the spread of multiple plasmids by unsaturated fatty acids.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most ordinary fatal cancers. Recent studies have identified the vital role of genes in the development and progression of Tri-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this research, DGCR8 was studied to identify how it functioned in the metastasis of TNBC.DGCR8 expression of tissues was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) in 50 TNBC patients. Wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to observe the changes in the biological behaviors of TNBC cells through knockdown or overexpression of DGCR8. In addition, qRT-PCR and Western blot assay were performed to discover the potential target protein of DGCR8 in TNBC.DGCR8 expression level in TNBC samples was higher than that of adjacent ones. Besides, the migration ability and invasion ability of TNBC cells were inhibited after DGCR8 was silenced, while they were promoted after DGCR8 was overexpressed. In addition, TGF-β was downregulated after silencing of DGCR8 in TNBC cells, while TGF-β was upregulated after overexpression of DGCR8 in TNBC cells. Furthermore, TGF-β was upregulated in TNBC tissues, which was positively associated with DGCR8.Our study uncovers a new oncogene in TNBC and suggests that DGCR8 can enhance TNBC cell migration and invasion via targeting TGF-β, which provides a novel therapeutic target for TNBC patients.

Mutations in the ectodysplasin A gene ( EDA) cause X-LHED (X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia), the most common human form of ectodermal dysplasia. Defective EDA signaling is linked to hypoplastic development of epithelial tissues, resulting in hypotrichosis, hypodontia, hypohidrosis, and xerostomia. The primary objective of the present study was to better understand the salivary gland dysfunction associated with ectodermal dysplasia using the analogous murine disorder. The salivary flow rate and ion composition of the 3 major salivary glands were determined in adult Eda-deficient Tabby hemizygous male (Ta/Y) and heterozygous female (Ta/X) mice. Submandibular and sublingual glands of Eda-mutant mice were smaller than wild-type littermates, while parotid gland weight was not significantly altered. Fluid secretion by the 3 major salivary glands was essentially unchanged, but the decrease in submandibular gland size was associated with a dramatic loss of ducts in Ta/Y and Ta/X mice. Reabsorption of Na+ and Cl–, previously linked in salivary glands to Scnn1 Na+ channels and Cftr Cl- channels, respectively, was markedly reduced at high flow rates in the ex vivo submandibular glands of Ta/Y mice (~60%) and, to a lesser extent, Ta/X mice (Na+ by 14%). Consistent with decreased Na+ reabsorption in Ta/Y mice, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis detected decreased mRNA expression for Scnn1b and Scnn1g, genes encoding the β and γ subunits, respectively. Moreover, the Na+ channel blocker amiloride significantly inhibited Na+ and Cl– reabsorption by wild-type male submandibular glands to levels comparable to those observed in Ta/Y mice. In summary, fluid secretion was intact in the salivary glands of Eda-deficient mice but displayed marked Na+ and Cl– reabsorption defects that correlated with the loss of duct cells and decreased Scnn1 Na+ channel expression. These results provide a likely mechanism for the elevated NaCl concentration observed in the saliva of affected male and female patients with X-LHED.

Fast extraction of photo-generated charge plays a crucial function in improving the photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of the perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, an effective strategy to decrease the charge recombination losses by introducing versatile carbon nitride ( g-C3N4) nanosheets to the CsPbBr3 films was demonstrated. The incorporation of the g-C3N4 additive can restrain the nucleation and crystalline growth rate of perovskite films by an interaction of lone pair electrons from the exposed N atoms to the PbBr 2 precursor, resulting in high-quality CsPbBr3 films with an increase in crystalline size. Notably, a ‘coupling effect’ between the lone pair electrons from g-C3N4 nanosheets and unsaturated Pb dangling bonds (Br vacancies) around the grain boundaries significantly decreases trap states caused by defects, leading to the fewer recombination centers in CsPbBr3 films. The g-C3N4 nanosheets serving as an energy barrier can also successfully suppress the recombination loss of back electrons with holes from the g-C3N4 interface, yielding a superior PCE of 8.0% with a fill factor of 80.25%. The result opens an alternative path to enhance the performance of CsPbBr3 PSCs by passivating the trap states of perovskite films with the improvement of the crystallization quality and charge extraction efficiency.

The chemical flooding in Daqing Oilfield has entered the following water flooding stage, and about more than 50% of the crude oil remains in the reservoir. In order to maintain the sustainable and effective development of oilfield, the formulation of chemical flooding system suitable for after chemical flooding is studied. The surfactants in field application at home and abroad were investigated. The foam and interfacial properties of the surfactants were measured through a foam scanner and an interfacial tension tester. The properties of the surfactant system were optimized by using compound method. The injection pressure and oil displacement effect of surfactant system were studied by physical simulation experiment. The results show that the compatibility of DWS or AOS with oilfield sewage and polymer is good, and the foaming property and foam stability of DWS or AOS with polymer binary system are good. The ultra-low interfacial tension is formation between DWS and crude oil under oilfield sewage conditions. The foaming property and foam stability of DWS/AOS or DWS/RFD system are good. When the binary system is aged for three months under the condition of nitrogen, the viscosity retention rate is more than fifty percent. The viscosity stability under the condition of nitrogen is better than that in the air. When the liquid–gas ratio is 1:1, the pressure gradient and displacement effect of foam-flooding are the best. This gives a method to improve oil recovery after chemical flooding and provides a basic guarantee for oilfield development.

The Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) effect in the Nimonic 263 superalloy was investigated by tensile test in a wide temperature range, from room temperature to 1033 K (760 °C), and at strain rates between 0.1 and 4 × 10–4 s–1. Types A, B, and C serrations were observed depending upon the test temperatures and strain rates. The activation energy (Q) for serrated flow was determined by employing various methodologies for T

The Portevin–Le Chatelier (PLC) effect in the Nimonic 263 superalloy was investigated by tensile test at a wide temperature ranges from 293 to 1033 K and strain rates between 0.1 and 6.25 × 10−6 s−1. Simple binary alloys Ni-0.4C, Ni-24Cr and Ni-5(8)Mo were also tested in order to identify which elements were responsible for the PLC effect in the Nimonic 263 alloy. The results demonstrated that for Nimonic 263 alloy, PLC effect occurred at certain temperatures and low strain rates. Normal PLC effect exhibiting type-A and -(A + B) serrations was attributed to the enhanced solute diffusion with increasing temperature, while inverse PLC effect with type-C serration was caused by unlocking process. The activation energy for the normal PLC effect was calculated to be 68 kJ/mol, and diffusion of substitutional solutes such as Cr and Mo was identified to be responsible for the PLC effect. In comparison with the PLC effect in simple binary alloys, solute atmospheres formed by different kinds of atoms in Nimonic 263 alloy work more effectively, increasing locking strength and corresponding mean stress drop magnitude.

To investigate the proliferation, odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs) on bioactive glass(BG) and extracted dentin proteins(EDP).Primary HDPCs were isolated from third molars by enzyme digestion and were cultured in Dulbecco's minimum essential medium (DMEM). Then the 4th generation of HDPCs was cultured with DMEM, which contained BG-EDP, BG, and EDP, respectively. Meanwhile HDPCs were cultured in DMEM as control group. Proliferation of HDPCs was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay. Odontogenic differentiation was determined by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay and real-time PCR. Mineralization was investigated by Alizarin red staining and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) assay.The proliferation of HDPCs was increased significantly in BG-EDP group on 3,7,and 9 d (optical density value: 1.36±0.06, 2.52±0.20, 2.72±0.29) compared with BG (optical density value: 1.20±0.26, 2.33±0.26, 2.50±0.30), EDP(optical density value: 1.13±0.15, 2.10±0.13, 2.38±0.22) and control group (optical density value: 0.84±0.17, 1.84±0.18, 1.95±0.19), P0.05. After 7 days, ALP activity of BG-EDP group had no statistical difference compared with EDP group and control group; the expression of odontogenic differentiation genes (DSPP, DMP-1) showed no difference among all the groups(P0.05). After 14 days, ALP activity of BG-EDP group (56.67±1.83) was significantly upregulated compared with EDP group (41.98±9.71) and control group (30.82±6.70), P0.05, but had no statistical difference compared with BG group (56.29±6.20), P0.05; DSPP gene expression was upregulated significantly in BG-EDP group (5.79±1.94) compared with the other groups (P0.05); DMP-1 gene expression of BG-EDP group (3.87±1.87) increased but had no statistical difference compared with the other groups (P0.05). The alizarin red staining showed more mineral nodules in BG-EDP group, the cetylpyridinium chloride semi-quantification presented higher calcification in BG-EDP group (0.27±0.01) compared with the other groups (P0.05).Compared with either BG or EDP, BG-EDP significantly promotes the proliferation, odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of HDPCs.

Positive effects of bioactive glass (BG) on proliferation, mineralization, and differentiation of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) was already verified in various former studies. The Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser sequence (RGDS) was confirmed of affecting cell adhesion. Before further investigation, the objective of this study is to investigate whether RGDS can affect the effects of BG on the adhesion, proliferation and mineralization of hDPCs.hDPCs were harvested from third molars of 18-25-year-old individuals after informed consent. Enzyme digestion technique was used. The 4th to 6th generation of hDPCs were used for all experiments. The cells of the experimental groups were cultured in Dulbecco minimum essential medium (DMEM) containing ionic dissolution products of BG and RGDS of several concentrations (12.5 mg/L, 25.0 mg/L, 50.0 mg/L, 100.0 mg/L, 200.0 mg/L). DMEM containing ionic dissolution products of BG without RGDS was used for cell culture as control group. Cell adhesion was tested 4 h after cell seeding by MTT assay. Cell proliferation was examined at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 d after cell seeding by MTT assay. Cell mineralization was investigated on days 14 and 28 by alizarin red staining. After being stained and dried, mineralized nodules were dissolved by cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) for semi-quantitative test. Results were statistically analyzed by one way ANOVA, SPSS (version 19.0) and P0.05 was considered to be significant.Cell adhesion in BG group showed no difference from that in DMEM group. Compared with BG group, hDPCs in BG+RGDS groups suggested weaker cell adhesion.When the concentration of RGDS increased, the adhered cell number decreased. hDPCs cultured with BG and RGDS showed lower proliferation activity in the early stage, while no significant difference was observed after 3 d. BG group promoted the mineralization of hDPCs compared with positive control group, negative control group and RGDS group. No significant difference was observed between BG+RGDS group and BG group or between RGDS group and positive control group.BG promotes proliferation and mineralization without affecting cell adhesion of hDPCs. Unbounded RGDS inhibits cell adhesion, but has no influence on the positive effects of BG on the proliferation and mineralization of hDPCs.

Sweat secretion is the major function of eccrine sweat glands; when this process is disturbed (paridrosis), serious skin problems can arise. To elucidate the causes of paridrosis, an improved understanding of the regulation, mechanisms and factors underlying sweat production is required. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) exhibits pleiotropic functions that are mediated via its receptors [PACAP-specific receptor (PAC1R), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor type 1 (VPAC1R) and VPAC2R]. Although some studies have suggested a role for PACAP in the skin and several exocrine glands, the effects of PACAP on the process of eccrine sweat secretion have not been examined.To investigate the effect of PACAP on eccrine sweat secretion.Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining were used to determine the expression and localization of PACAP and its receptors in mouse and human eccrine sweat glands. We injected PACAP subcutaneously into the footpads of mice and used the starch-iodine test to visualize sweat-secreting glands.Immunostaining showed PACAP and PAC1R expression by secretory cells from mouse and human sweat glands. PACAP immunoreactivity was also localized in nerve fibres around eccrine sweat glands. PACAP significantly promoted sweat secretion at the injection site, and this could be blocked by the PAC1R-antagonist PACAP6-38. VIP, an agonist of VPAC1R and VPAC2R, failed to induce sweat secretion.This is the first report demonstrating that PACAP may play a crucial role in sweat secretion via its action on PAC1R located in eccrine sweat glands. The mechanisms underlying the role of PACAP in sweat secretion may provide new therapeutic options to combat sweating disorders.

The evolution of γ′ morphology was investigated during cooling and isothermal aging in a newly developed Ni–Co based wrought superalloy. The results showed that unstable flowery γ′ precipitated at a cooling rate of 5°C min−1 and became stable during isothermal aging, and its shape was either spherical or cuboidal depending on the aging temperatures. The evolution mechanism of γ′ morphology was discussed in terms of the diffusion effects, the elastic strain energy and the γ′/γ interface energy.

Effects of Ce addition on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the Ni-Co-based superalloy were investigated. The results showed that addition of Ce to the alloys resulted in a Ce-rich phase (Ni,Co)3Ce formation. The rupture life was improved greatly by Ce addition and the optimal Ce addition was about 0.2 wt.%. Both peak stress and critical stress of dynamic recrystallization were increased with increasing (Ni,Co)3Ce phases, which was mainly due to pinning effect on grain boundary sliding by precipitation.

Non-Circular MUSIC (NC-MUSIC) algorithm with a conformal cylindrical array is included to analyze high performance 2-D Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation. The actual radiation pattern of each microstrip antenna in the conformal array is introduced to analyze the performance of NC-MUSIC algorithm in practice. The simulations show that NC-MUSIC algorithm has a higher resolution than the standard MUSIC algorithm, and the maximum estimation number of NC-MUSIC algorithm is increased, too. In spite of the influence of antennas, NC-MUSIC algorithm achieves 2-D DOA estimation accurately.

Time-resolved force sensing and intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) imaging techniques were applied to the study of the effects of laser energy density on impulse coupling coefficient of laser ablation of water for propulsion. A Transversely Excited at Atmospheric pressure (TEA) CO2 laser operated at 10.6 μm, 30 J pulse energy was used to ablate water contained in a quadrate quartz container. Net imparted impulse and coupling coefficients were derived from the force sensor data and relevant results were presented for various laser energy densities. ICCD imaging was used in conjunction with the dynamic force techniques to examine the dependencies on laser energy density. Results showed that the impulse coupling coefficient could reach a maximum value when laser energy density was about 105 J/m2, and it would increase before laser energy got to this point and would decrease after this point, and ICCD imaging supplied important phenomenon to explain this variation, which were water ablation before laser energy density got to 105 J/m2 and laser-induced air-breakdown with water as an induction when laser energy density was higher than 105 J/m2.

Self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) is a process whereby reactants are ignited to spontaneously transform to products in an exothermic reaction. The aim of this study is to propose a method to join nickel aluminide with AISI 316 stainless steel by SHS and to study the combustion synthesis of nickel aluminide. From the heat of combustion synthesis junctions were formed between annular AISI 316 stainless steel and a powder metallurgy compact of Ni and Al blends. The Al mole ratio for testing the joining grade in the initial powder mixture varied from 25 at.-% to 40 at.-%. In order to check the sufficiency of the SHS reaction, the test temperature was compared with the thermodynamic calculation values. The metallographic analysis indicated that NiAl and Ni3Al were formed in the joint layer.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of stainless steel under the Nd:YAG pulsed laser irradiation were investigated. X-ray diffraction was used to identify the phases in the laser treated layer, and the growth morphology was observed by field emission scanning electron microscope. The results showed that a homogeneous microstructure with fine grains (60–300 nm) can be attained under the applied laser energy densities (2˙175×103 to 3˙585×103 J cm–2) and after that, it was difficult to get further refinement. Mechanical properties including microhardness and sliding wear were evaluated. The results indicated that the laser surface treatment was beneficial to increase the microhardness and to decrease the sliding wear rate.

Discuss the main points of diagnosis of cortriatrium; patient's color Doppler echocardiography (CDE), provide basis for clinical treatment.Inspect 12 cortriatrium cases with CDE, 10 cases with cardiovascular angiography, 12 patients were confirmed by operation. Operations were all carried out under the moderate hypothermia cardiopulmonary bypass with intracardiac correction technique. Abnormal diaphragm in the left a trial was completely removed, and other combined heart malformations were also cured.Four cases for II A type, 1 case for II B type, 6 cases for II A type, 1 case for II B type. Among them, there were 7 cases for combined atrial septal defect, 5 cases for ventricular septal defect, 3 cases for patent ductus arteriosus, 6 cases for pulmonary arterial hypertension. Twelve children all survived, deformity correction was satisfactory, and after operation, recovery went on well in 6 months to 3 years.CDE has specific diagnostic value for cortriatrium; thus, it is the optimal method of diagnosing cortriatrium.

To explore changes of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level in children having undergone radical operation of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and its clinical significance.52 cases of children with TOF hospitalized in our hospital from October 2011 to April 2013 were chosen, and they were all treated with radical operation of TOF. Levels of plasma NT-proBNP in these children were measured before the operation, and 3h, 12h, 48h, 1 week, 1 months, and 3 months after the operation. The cardiac color supersonic diagnostic set was used to examine pulmonary artery transvalvular pressure gradient, right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and right ventricular Tei index.(1) 3h after the operation, the level of NT-proBNP gradually rose and reached its peak 48h after the operation, which was markedly higher than the level before the operation (p0.01), yet the levels measured 1 month and 3 months after the operation were lower than the level before the operation (p0.05). (2) 1 week after the operation, NT-proBNP level, pulmonary artery transvalvular pressure gradient, and RVEDV of the group with right ventricular dysfunction were markedly higher than those of the group with normal right ventricular function (p0.05). (3) 3 months after the operation, levels of plasma NT-proBNP of children in the severe reflux group and moderate reflux group were markedly higher than those in the slight reflux group (p0.05); levels of plasma NT-proBNP of children in the severe reflux group were markedly higher than those of the slight reflux group (p0.05) 1 week or 3 months after the operation.Changes of the NT-proBNP level during early stage after radical operation of children's TOF were in line with changes of the right ventricular function and could be regarded as an objective indicator for evaluating the right ventricular function.

The microstructure of a multiphase NiAl-33.5Cr-0.5Zr intermetallic alloy was examined by SEM with energy dispersive spectroscopy and TEM. The tensile creep behaviour of the hot isostatically pressed NiAl-33.5Cr-0.5Zr alloy was studied. The results of the creep test indicated that all of the creep curves under the present test have similar characteristics: a short primary creep stage, a dominant tertiary creep stage, and nearly identical creep strains (~45%). The apparent stress exponent and the apparent activation energy were analysed and discussed. The mechanism of the creep deformation was also analysed by the observation of TEM.

The microstructures of a new Ni-Co-base disc superalloy, TMW-4M3, before and after the creep test at 725 °C/630 MPa have been systematically investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crept microstructures were marked as three different deformation stages (I, II and III) corresponding to the gradually increased strain. At stage I, stacking fault (SF) shearing was the main deformation mechanism. The SF was extrinsic and lay on {111} plane. However, deformation microtwinning became the dominant mode at stage II and III. The average spacing of deformation twins decreased from 109 ± 15 nm at stage II to 76 ± 12 nm at stage III, whereas the twin thickness did not change significantly. The influence of stacking fault energy (SFE) of γ matrix on the deformation mechanism is discussed. It is suggested that lower SFE in TMW-4M3 is partly responsible for the enhanced creep resistance.

In order to explore the relationship between the different location of myocardial infarction (MI) and reflections of pathognomonic Q potentials on the body surface, an experimental study was carried out in 28 dogs. The results were (1) in 27 of a total 28 dogs after MI formation, abnormal Q maps appeared; (2) right ventricular MI, posterior wall MI and some lateral and apical MI are prone to miss abnormal Q potentials in the conventional 12-lead ECG; and (3) the MI location and relative size diagnosed through electrocardiographic peak mapping (EPM) correlated to acute MI in dog ventricles fairly well. The unexpected Q map reflections of right ventricular MI provide new clues for improving our automatic diagnosis system after further correlative studies. The results strongly support the feasibility of the application of EPM in clinical diagnosis.

3145 Cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) inhibition mimics tumor suppressor protein function and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cell lines. Seliciclib, an orally administered inhibitor...