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This study reports the copper‐catalyzed α‐indolmethylation of 2‐pyridylacetates with 3‐indoleacetic acids. This reaction offers an approach to generating alkylideneindolenine electrophiles via the oxidative decarboxylation of 3‐indoleacetic acids. The developed reaction system demonstrates good versatility, extending beyond the indolmethylation of 2‐pyridylacetates to include activated esters and nitroalkanes. Moreover, a biological evaluation revealed that several products exhibited antiproliferative activity against different cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keloids are fibroproliferative skin disorders caused by the improper healing of wounded skin. A growing body of evidence suggests the involvement of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) modification in various bioprocesses; however, its role in keloid formation has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the m6A regulator zinc finger CCCH domain containing protein 13 (ZC3H13) on the pathogenesis of keloid formation. ZC3H13 and homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) expression was evaluated in healthy skin and keloid tissues, as well as in human dermal fibroblasts and human keloid fibroblasts (HKF), using qRT-PCR and western blotting. The effects of ZC3H13 overexpression and knockdown on the cell function of HKFs were assessed using CCK8, transwell, and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the influence of ZC3H13 on HIPK2 m6A modification was assessed using MeRIP-qPCR and mRNA stability assays. Both ZC3H13 expression and m6A RNA methylation were upregulated in keloid tissues and HKFs. Silencing of ZC3H13 inhibited proliferation and migration, while enhancing apoptosis in HKFs, whereas overexpression had the opposite effect. Furthermore, HIPK2 levels were high in keloid tissues and HKFs, and a positive correlation was observed between ZC3H13 and HIPK2. In HKFs, ZC3H13 overexpression elevated the m6A levels of HIPK2 mRNA and reduced the rate of HIPK2 mRNA degradation. Mechanically, ZC3H13-induced m6A modifications significantly improved HIPK2 mRNA stability. Collectively, ZC3H13 accelerated keloid formation by mediating the m6A modification of HIPK2 mRNA and maintaining its stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread advent of digital technologies, traditional perspectives in rock mechanics research are poised for further expansion. This paper presents a Brazilian test conducted on granite after non-steady-state thermal disturbance at 25 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, and 600 °C, with detailed documentation of the damage process and failure response using an acoustic emission (AE) apparatus and a digital image correlation (DIC) system. Subsequently, utilizing point cloud data captured by a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning system, a digital reconstruction of the failed specimen's fracture surface was accomplished. The 3D fractal characteristics and roughness response of the digitized fracture surface were studied using the box-counting method and least squares approach. Furthermore, texture information of the digitized fracture surface was calculated using the Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), and statistical characteristics describing the elevation distribution were analyzed. The results elucidate the influence of thermal disturbance temperature on the mechanical parameters of the specimen, acoustic emission behavior, surface strain field evolution, and digital fracture morphology characteristics. The findings indicate a non-linear degradation effect of temperature on the specimen's tensile strength, with a reduction reaching 80.95% at 600 °C, where acoustic emission activity also peaked. The rising thermal disturbance temperature inhibited the crack initiation load at the specimen's center but expanded the high-strain concentration areas and the growth rate of horizontal displacement. Additionally, varying degrees of linear or non-linear relationships were discovered between thermal disturbance temperature and the 3D fractal dimension of the fracture surface, average roughness (Ra), peak roughness (Rz), and root mean square roughness (Rq), confirming the potential of Rsm in predicting the 3D fractal dimension of Brazilian test fracture surfaces. The study of the GLCM of the digitized 3D fracture surface demonstrated a high dependency of its four second-order statistical measures on thermal disturbance temperature. Finally, the statistical parameters of the fracture surface's elevation values showed a significant non-linear relationship with thermal disturbance temperature, with a critical temperature point likely existing between 400 and 600 °C that could precipitate a sudden change in the fracture surface's elevation characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis vulgaris is the most common form of the four clinical types. However, early diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris is difficult due to the lack of effective biomarkers. The aim of this study was to screen potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of psoriasis. In our study, we downloaded the original data from GSE30999 and GSE41664, and the autophagy-related genes list from human autophagy database to identify differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DERAGs) by R software. Then Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed for DERAGs. DERAGs were validated by the other four databases (GSE13355, GSE14905, GSE6710, and GSE55201) to screen biomarkers with high diagnostic value for the early diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris. Finally, DERAGs were verified in our clinical blood samples by ELISA. A total of 12 DERAGs were identified between 123 paired non-lesional and lesional skin samples from patients with psoriasis vulgaris. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated the TORC2 complex was more enriched and the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway was mostly enriched. Three autophagy-related genes (BIRC5, NAMPT and BCL2) were identified through bioinformatics analysis and verified by ELISA in clinical blood samples. And these genes showed high diagnostic value for the early diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris. We identified three autophagy-related genes (BIRC5, NAMPT and BCL2) with high diagnostic value for the early diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris through bioinformatics analysis and clinical samples. Therefore, we proposed that BIRC5, NAMPT and BCL2 may be as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of psoriasis vulgaris. In addition, BIRC5, NAMPT and BCL2 may affect the development of psoriasis by regulating autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little progress has been made in the treatment and prognosis of osteosarcoma in the past 40 years. Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in the progression of osteosarcoma. This study aims to determine immune-associated prognostic biomarkers for osteosarcoma patients. With the help of analytical tools including ESTIMATE, differential gene expression, LASSO, and univariate cox and multivariate cox regression analysis, osteosarcoma gene expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were investigated. Following the establishment of a prognostic risk score model, internal and external validations using the GEO and TARGET databases were carried out. A total of 44 and 55 samples respectively in the GSE21257 and the TARGET databases were included. Our analysis found 93 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the high and low-ImmuneScore groups. Through univariate cox and LASSO analysis, ALOX5AP was identified as an indicator of TME in osteosarcomas. ALOX5AP was then used to construct a prognostic risk model. Internal and external verification revealed that higher expression of ALOX5AP was correlated with lower risk. Through the CIBERSORT algorithm, the level of CD8 T cells was found to negatively correlate with the risk score. This study revealed that ALOX5AP is an indicator for predicting high CD8 lymphocyte infiltration and "hot" tumor microenvironment in osteosarcomas. Thus, ALOX5AP has the potential to act as a biomarker for effective immunotherapies in osteosarcoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observed climate includes both the response to external forcings and internal climate variability. Thus, more reasonable approaches of model evaluation which fully take into account the influence of internal variability are desirable, with the availability of initial-condition large ensembles (LEs). Here we evaluate the newly developed FGOALS-g3 LE (with 110 realizations which differ only in the initial conditions) in terms of the climatology and historical changes of temperature and precipitation extremes, by comparing multiple observational datasets with the full ensemble spread (representing a wide variety of possibilities of internal variability). We show that internal variability does not significantly affect the evaluation of model simulated climatology, but it does for the evaluation of long-term changes. For climatology, the FGOALS-g3 LE reasonably reproduces the global spatial distributions of temperature and precipitation extremes, with pattern correlations exceeding 0.90 for temperature extremes and around 0.70 for precipitation extremes. Specifically, the FGOALS-g3 LE shows an overall warm bias in warm extremes and cold bias in cold extremes aggregated over global land; the biases in extreme precipitation intensity only exist in limited regions while the biases in extreme precipitation amount are more widespread. For the long-term change since 1950, taking internal variability into account, the FGOALS-g3 LE can reasonably simulate the observed changes in cold extremes and precipitation extremes for global land average and for most land regions; while it generally overestimates the warming trend in warm extremes. With the growing availability of initial-condition LEs, it is desirable to apply these more reasonable approaches in model evaluations to fully consider the influence of internal variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient logistics and transport at the port heavily relies on efficient AGV scheduling and planning for container transshipment. This paper presents a comprehensive approach to address the challenges in AGV path planning and coordination within the domain of intelligent transportation systems. We propose an enhanced graph search method for constructing the global path of a single AGV that mitigates the issues associated with paths closely aligned with obstacle corner points. Moreover, a centralized global planning module is developed to facilitate planning and scheduling. Each individual AGV establishes real-time communication with the upper layers to accurately determine its position at complex intersections. By computing its priority sequence within a coordination circle, the AGV effectively treats the high-priority trajectories of other vehicles as dynamic obstacles for its local trajectory planning. The feasibility of trajectory information is ensured by solving the online real-time Optimal Control Problem (OCP). In the trajectory planning process for a single AGV, we incorporate a linear programming-based obstacle avoidance strategy. This strategy transforms the obstacle avoidance optimization problem into trajectory planning constraints using Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions. Consequently, seamless and secure AGV movement within the port environment is guaranteed. The global planning module encompasses a global regulatory mechanism that provides each AGV with an initial feasible path. This approach not only facilitates complexity decomposition for large-scale problems, but also maintains path feasibility through continuous real-time communication with the upper layers during AGV travel. A key advantage of our progressive solution lies in its flexibility and scalability. This approach readily accommodates extensions based on the original problem and allows adjustments in the overall problem size in response to varying port cargo throughput, all without requiring a complete system overhaul. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately predicting short-term congestions in ship traffic flow is important for water traffic safety and intelligent shipping. We propose a method for predicting the traffic flow of ships by applying the whale optimization algorithm to an extreme learning machine. The method considers external environmental uncertainty and complexity of ships navigating in traffic-intensive waters. First, the parameters of ship traffic flow are divided into multiple modal components using variational mode decomposition and extreme learning machine. The machine and the whale optimization algorithm constitute a hybrid modelling approach for predicting individual modal components and integrating the results of individual components. Considering a map between ship traffic flow parameters and congestion, fuzzy c-means clustering is used to predict the level of ship traffic congestion. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, ship traffic flow data of the Yangtze River estuary were selected for evaluation. Results from the proposed method for predicting ship traffic flow parameters are consistent with measurements. Specifically, the prediction accuracy of the ship traffic congestion reaches 76.04%, which is reasonable and practical for predicting ship traffic congestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emamectin benzoate (EMB) is an avermectin insecticide that is extensively used for pest control, but there are few reports concerning its cytotoxic effects on human lymphocytes. In the current study, the hematotoxicity of EMB was evaluated in Molt-4 T-cells, a human T-lymphoblastic cell line with high motility, and the role of vitamin E (VitE) and dithiothreitol (DTT) in attenuating EMB cytotoxicity was characterized. Exposure of Molt-4 cells to EMB decreased cell viability and proliferation, induced a loss of cell clusters, and significantly increased membrane collapse and chromatin condensation. Moreover, EMB significantly increased cell death and suppressed transglutaminase activity. EMB treatment modulated the NF-κB signaling pathway, decreased the expression of p105, p50, and p65/RelA in cytosolic and nuclear fractions, and increased nuclear IκBα expression. EMB increased oxidative stress, as demonstrated by a significant increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Treatment with non-cytotoxic concentrations of VitE or DTT ameliorated the hematotoxicity induced by pretreatment with EMB, increased Molt-4 cell viability, raised the IC50 values of EMB, limited intracellular ROS generation, and mitigated EMB-mediated effects on NF-κB signaling. The results indicate the potential cytotoxicity of EMB on human lymphocytes, and demonstrate that VitE and DTT treatment can reduce the cytotoxic effects of EMB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underground utility tunnels accommodate various types of urban lifelines, which are of great significance for improving the living standards of the citizens. With the rapid development of underground utility tunnels, the large-scale underground utility tunnel systems are gradually becoming the operational lifeblood of China's large cities. Currently, most of the underground utility tunnels' risks are estimated and analyzed from a static perspective, and the analysis results are one-sided. This study proposes a dynamic risk evaluation framework. A risk assessment and sensitivity analysis framework based on Bayesian network is established in this study. Combined with the groundwater and electric tunnel risk accident case study, the operation and maintenance data of Beijing Future Science and Technology City from 2010 to 2018 are collected for learning to obtain the conditional probability of the Bayesian network node by using the K2 algorithm. The overall evolution process from the beginning to the end of groundwater tunnel accidents is clearly described and displayed. Through sensitivity analysis and critical path analysis, the critical points of an accident and the probabilities of risk occurrence are identified and predicted. This proposed framework could facilitate the underground utility tunnel management for controlling risk resources, mitigating risk damage and reducing risk losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on risk control during the construction stage of catenary is relatively limited. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the risk factors during catenary construction, this study determined the causal relationships between the risk factors and established a risk assessment model for catenary construction that analyzed the risks from a causal logic perspective. During the evaluation process, we identified six exogenous variables and twenty-one endogenous variables for risk factors in the construction of catenary based on a literature review in the field of catenary construction and expert opinions, described the cause-and-effect relationships between variables using structural equations and causal diagrams, and established a multi-level catenary construction risks structural causal model. Based on expert fuzzy evaluation and expert experience, the occurrence probability of exogenous variables and the conditional probability of endogenous variables were determined, respectively. Then, the risk assessment model of catenary construction stage based on fuzzy Bayesian Network was constructed to analyze the risk of catenary construction process. The results showed that the personal quality of the construction personnel and the sense of responsibility of the supervision unit had a great impact on the risk level of catenary construction. The findings can help construction personnel fully consider various weak points in catenary construction, thereby ensuring efficient and high-quality catenary construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleic acid aptamers are developed from a pool of random oligonucleotide libraries with an in vitro selection through systematic evolution of ligands via exponential enrichment (SELEX) process, which are capable of specific and high-affinity molecular binding against targets. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of spike protein from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is involved in the early stages of viral infection, is a promising target for aptamer selection. Currently, there are no effective approaches to prevent virus from spreading. In this study, a new ssDNA aptamer RBD/S-A1 binding to the RBD of spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 with high affinity (Kd=1.74 ± 0.2 nM) and low cross-binding activity was selected and evaluated. Although aptamers targeting the RBD of spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 have been described in a handful of previous studies, the RBD/S-A1 aptamer identified in this work may be considered as a potential supplementation for the current diagnosis and research of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the time domain, the radio sky in particular along the Galactic plane direction may vary significantly because of various energetic activities associated with stars, stellar, and supermassive black holes. Multi-epoch Very Large Array surveys of the Galactic plane at 5.0 GHz enabled the finding of a catalogue of 39 variable radio sources in the flux density range 1–70 mJy. To probe their radio structures and spectra, we observed 17 sources with the very-long-baseline interferometric (VLBI) imaging technique and collected additional multifrequency data from the literature. We detected all of the sources at 5 GHz with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope, but only G23.6644–0.0372 with the European VLBI Network (EVN). Together with its decadal variability and multifrequency radio spectrum, we interpret it as an extragalactic peaked-spectrum source with a size of ≲10 pc. The remaining sources were resolved out by the long baselines of the EVN because of either strong scatter broadening at the Galactic latitude < 1° or intrinsically very extended structures on centi-arcsec scales. According to their spectral and structural properties, we find that the sample has a diverse nature. We notice two young H  ii regions and spot a radio star and a candidate planetary nebula. The rest of the sources are very likely associated with radio active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Two of them also display arcsec-scale faint jet activity. The sample study indicates that AGNs are common place even among variable radio sources in the Galactic plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carsharing is regarded as a new mode of transportation that can meet the diversity of travel demands. Carsharing systems have different operating modes, and one-way systems are more widely used since cars can be dropped off at any station. However, their planning involves a series of joint decisions regarding the number, size, and location of stations, as well as the fleet size. This paper develops a data-driven mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for planning one-way carsharing systems that consider the spatial distribution of demand and the interacting decisions between stations. The characteristics of existing stations and their spatiotemporal correlations are an important part of the model. To solve the MILP model, the extension of the Benders decomposition algorithm is adopted. The practicality of the proposed approach is demonstrated in a case study in Beijing, China. The results show that the existing planning of carsharing could result in a serious waste of resources. In contrast, the proposed method can obtain effective results in a reasonable time. The location results corresponding to a different rate of satisfied demand show that increasing the parking spots to improve the interaction between stations can effectively reduce the cost of operations. It should be noted that this paper only considers the benefit of operators. Future works will be carried out to optimize the one-way carsharing system by considering the benefits of operators, as well as the benefits of users and society. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 will be taken into account in future modeling and case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elastic modulus is an important parameter in rock mechanics and engineering geology that determines the mechanical properties of rocks. To analyze the effect of temperature and dynamic loading conditions on the elastic modulus of typical rocks, data and results from international publications are classified, analyzed, discussed and summarized. The findings show that the elastic modulus of different rocks is correlated linearly and negatively with temperatures, which can be attributed to dehydration, phase transition, thermal expansion and thermal decomposition of minerals. The elastic modulus is significantly more sensitive to temperature than to strain rate. In addition, the elastic modulus of sedimentary rocks shows a significant strain rate effect, especially in sandstones, yet it is not observed in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The threshold temperature for peak stress degradation of limestone, sandstone, granite and marble is consistent with that of strain rate effect of elastic modulus. Thermal activation mechanism, Stefan effect, inertia effect and dislocations in crystals are the main contributing factors to the strain rate effect of the elastic modulus in rock materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of thermal treatment and loading conditions on the crack initiation and propagation characteristics of quartz‐diorite, mixed mode I + II fracture tests were conducted by using three‐point bending (TPB) specimens. The numerical model, established on ABAQUS, couples the initial fracture toughness criterion and cohesive zone model to predict the crack initiation and propagation. The effects of thermal treatment and loading conditions on the crack propagation process, crack resistance curve, fracture path, and some fracture parameters at peak load have been analyzed and discussed. The results demonstrate that the thermal treatment has an obvious influence on the crack resistance curve of the specimen. The crack of the specimen will be dominated by the mode I fracture component with crack extension. The numerical results also show that the temperature and loading condition affect the crack length and fracture toughness at peak load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-frequency oscillation (LFO) is among the key factors that threaten interconnected power grids' security and stability and restrict transfer capability. In particular, power systems incur now and then weak damping and forced oscillations. To monitor and control LFO, the principles of online calculation and analysis of two types of LFO are studied in this paper. The big data of wide area measurements is an important information source of LFO analysis. Hence, we should make sure it has access to online system continuously, accurately, and reliably. Nevertheless, the conventional linear data store model has difficulty to meet the processing requirements of high rate, multiple concurrency, and high reliability. To deal with it, a new model of double-set elastic store is proposed in this paper. It transforms the storage space linear model to plane model, realizes the management of power system substation group sets in vertical direction and the management of multiple Phase Measurement Units (PMU) uploading data sets in horizontal direction, and hence solves the problems in continuous and reliable access of the wide area measurements data, which is dense and of large scale and has quick update rate, providing technical support of accuracy and robustness of LFO analysis. The performance test and practical application of the proposed new model of double-set elastic store validate its accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease of nasal mucosa. Loss of function of Th17 cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells plays a role in the pathogenesis of AR. IL18, FOXP3, and IL13 are key genes in the development of AR. However, the genetic associations between IL18, FOXP3 and IL13 genes polymorphisms and AR risk were inconclusive yet. Methods: A meta-analysis was performed by searching through Pubmed, EMBASE, web of science and CNKI databases. The ORs and 95%CIs were used to assess the genetic association between the allelic, dominant and recessive models of IL18, FOXP3 and IL13 genes polymorphisms and AR risk. Results: A total of 15 articles (6 for FOXP3, 5 for IL18, and 5 for IL13) were enrolled in the present study. No association was detected between the IL18 rs187238, rs1946518, rs360721, FOXP3 rs2232365, rs3761548 and IL13 rs1800925 polymorphisms and AR risk (p > 0.05). Significant associations were observed between the allelic (p = 0.001, OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.12–1.56), dominant (p = 0.005, OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.11–1.83) and recessive models (p = 0.01, OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.13, 2.40) of IL13 rs20541 and AR risk. Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed that the IL13 rs20541 was significantly associated with AR risk in Asian population (allelic model: p = 0.009, OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.13–1.63, dominant model: p = 0.005, OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.11–1.83; recessive model: p = 0.01, OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.13–2.40). Conclusions: IL13 rs20541 may contribute to the risk of AR in Asian population. To confirm these results, larger number of case–control study with more subjects is necessary in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital scoliosis (CS) is a congenital disease resulting in abnormal vertebral development. Several studies have indicated that both genetic and environmental factors during pregnancy increase the risk of CS development. However, the exact mechanisms underlying CS pathogenesis remain unknown. To address this issue, both genetic (by whole-exome sequencing) and epigenetic (by methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing) maps from CS disease-discordant monozygotic twins were generated in the present study. The differences in the presence of common and rare single nucleotide polymorphisms and in methylation patterns between the twins were investigated. The results indicated that rare mutations were more likely to underlie CS development compared with common mutations. Furthermore, differences in the allele-specific methylation pattern in the supervillin (SVIL) gene between the twins were identified. It has been reported that SVIL exerts a number of functions associated with CS, indicating its role as a novel mechanism promoting CS pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis gene polymorphisms have been reported to affect aggressive behavior. Corticotropin releasing hormone binding protein (CRHBP) polymorphisms have been shown to contribute to the susceptibility to stress-related disorders, including aggressive behavior. However, no study has been conducted on the relationship between CRHBP polymorphisms and aggressive behavior risk in the Han Chinese population. Methods: A case–control study that comprised 194 male criminals and 303 healthy controls was carried out to investigate the genetic association between several CRHBP gene polymorphisms and aggressive behavior risk in the Hunan Han population. Genotyping was conducted by using the improved multiplex ligase detection reaction method for four CRHBP loci: rs10062367, rs32897, rs7718461, and rs7721799. Results: The incidence of the rs32897C allele was significantly lower in the robbery group compared with the control subjects after a Bonferroni correction (p = 0.016), indicating a protective role for the C allele of rs32897. Interestingly, a haplotypic analysis that was stratified by robbery and intentional injury showed that the haplotype consisting of rs10062367G, rs32897C, rs7718461A, and rs7721799G (which includes the protective rs32897 C allele) was significantly associated with decreased robbery risk (odds ratio [OR] = 0.31, p = 0.0005), but not for intentional injury (OR = 0.82, p = 0.44). The haplotype consisting of rs10062367G, rs32897T, rs7718461A, and rs7721799G carrying the rs32897 T allele significantly increased the risk for robbery (OR = 1.47, p = 0.0213), but not for intentional injury (OR = 0.92, p = 0.64). Conclusions: The rs32897 alleles and the haplotypes containing the rs32897 alleles, including GCAG and GTAG, may be factors associated with committing robbery in the Hunan Han population, and could be used to provide clinical counseling with regard to aggressive behavior. However, further studies including multiple ethnicities are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basic and clinical studies have demonstrated that the free radical scavenger edaravone has cytoprotective effects on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The aim of this research is to explore the effect of edaravone on the apoptotic process involving the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. AMI in rats was established by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. Two hours after AMI model established rats were treated with edaravone, edaravone plus AG490, physiological saline, respectively. We detected antioxidant effects by reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and Glutathione Peroxidase (GSHPx) Activity. The expressions of t-JAK2, p-JAK2, t-STAT3, p-STAT3 and cleaved caspase-3 were examined by western blot. The mRNA levels for Bcl-2, Bax, Fas, and FasL were measured by RT-PCR and apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL. Edaravone significantly improved hemodynamics after AMI (p < 0.05) and reduced the total infarct volumes (p < 0.05). Compared with Sham rats, the mRNA of Bax, Fas, and FasL increased in different degrees in the AMI group, however, the mRNA of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax decreased, especially the myocardial apoptosis index significantly increased in AMI hearts (all p < 0.05). After treatment with edaravone, the mRNA levels of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax significantly upregulated whereas Bax, Fas, FasL apparently decreased, and the protein expressions of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 dramatically increased (p < 0.05). In addition, cotreatment with JAK2 inhibitor AG490 abolished the effects of edaravone. We conclude that edaravone attenuated myocardial apoptosis induced by AMI via JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel type of nanosilica‐supported ultraviolet absorber (SiO2‐N‐0) was successfully prepared by chemically grafting 2,4‐dihydroxybenzophenone (UV‐0) onto the surface of nanosilica (SiO2) with the aid of a coupling agent via a sol–gel method, which was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. SiO2‐N‐0 was then incorporated into poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) to fabricate biodegradable composite film with a casting method. As expected, SiO2‐N‐0 was homogeneously dispersed in PBAT matrix, leading to higher mechanical strength and lower water vapor transmission of PBAT/SiO2‐N‐0 film than those of PBAT/SiO2/UV‐0 film. More importantly, because of its low migration and volatility, SiO2‐N‐0 endowed PBAT film with excellent aging resistance under ultraviolet radiation than did the corresponding low molecular ultraviolet absorber UV‐0. Taken together, these results suggest that thus prepared PBAT/SiO2‐N‐0 composite film may find many applications, especially as biodegradable agricultural mulch film. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:4154–4161, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate the iron stores in plasmapheresis donors and develop and validate an iron deficiency (ID) risk prediction model for plasmapheresis donors with potential or existing ID. Materials and Methods: We assessed plasmapheresis donors' serum ferritin (SF) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels. The candidate factors showing significant differences in the multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to establish a risk prediction scoring system. The participants were divided into a training cohort and an internal validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. Additional plasmapheresis donors from a different station were recruited for external validation. Results: The SF levels in both male and female donors in the high‐frequency group were significantly lower than those of new donors (male: p < 0.001; female: p = 0.008). The prevalence of ID in female regular donors with a high frequency was significantly higher than that in new donors (33.1% vs. 24.6%; odds ratio = 1.209 [95% CI: 1.035–1.412]). Donation frequency, age, Hb, body mass index and being pre‐menopausal were identified as independent risk factors for ID (p < 0.05). The developed model exhibited good discrimination ability (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve >0.7) and calibration (p > 0.05) in development, internal validation cohorts and external validation cohorts. Conclusion: A higher donation frequency has been associated with reduced SF levels and an increased risk of ID in women. The developed ID risk prediction model demonstrates moderate discriminative power and good model fitting, suggesting its potential clinical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The imbalance in neurotransmitter and neuronal metabolite concentration within cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit contributes to obsessive–compulsive disorder's (OCD) onset. Previous studies showed that glutamate mediated upregulation of resting-state activity in healthy people. However, there have been few studies investigating the correlational features between functional and neurochemical alterations in OCD. Methods: We utilize a combined resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) approach to investigate the altered functional connectivity (FC) in association with glutamatergic dysfunction in OCD pathophysiology. Three regions of interest are investigated, i.e., medial prefrontal cortex and bilateral thalamus, for seed-based whole-brain FC analysis as well as MRS data acquisition. There are 23 unmedicated adult OCD patients and 23 healthy controls recruited for brain FC analysis. Among them, 12 OCD and 8 controls are performed MRS data acquisition. Results: Besides abnormal FC within CSTC circuit, we also find altered FCs in large-scale networks outside CSTC circuit, including occipital area and limbic and motor systems. The decreased FC between right thalamus and right middle occipital gyrus (MOG) is correlated with glutamatergic signal within right thalamus in OCD patients. Moreover, the FC between right thalamus and right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) is associated with glutamate level in right thalamus, specifically in patient's group. Finally, the FC between right thalamus and right MOG is correlated with patient's Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) compulsion and total scores, while the right thalamic glutamatergic signal is associated with YBOCS-compulsion score. Conclusion: Our findings showed that the coupled intrinsic functional–biochemical alterations existed both within CSTC circuit and from CSTC to occipital lobe in OCD pathophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel route to the synthesis of boron carbonitride (BC 1.61 N 0.76 ) micro-nano structures called nanosheet-decorated submicrowires is demonstrated for the first time, by annealing amorphous boron powder, natural rubber latex and ferric chloride (FeCl 3 ) at 1200 °C in flowing ammonia atmosphere. The microwires have diameters of about 200–500 nm, while the nanosheets have an average thickness of less than 20 nm. The nanosheets are mostly separated with a bending and crumpling morphology. This micro-nano structure shows good visible-light emission property at 501.2 and 592.6 nm. A combination growth mechanism of vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) and vapor-solid (VS) model is proposed to be responsible for the formation of this BC 1.61 N 0.76 micro-nano structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, mullite–zirconia (ZrO 2 ) composites were fabricated by hot pressing sintering method. The effects of sintering temperature and holding time on the microstructures, phase compositions and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The results indicated that the size of t-ZrO 2 grain varies with sintering temperature and holding time, and the maximum flexural strength of 674.05 MPa and fracture toughness of 12.08 MPa   m 1/2 are obtained when the sintering temperature is 1500 °C with holding times of 20 and 60 min, respectively. Finite element method was employed to analyze the relationship between grain size and mechanical properties of mullite–ZrO 2 composites for the first time. The results showed that the maximum stress on mullite–ZrO 2 interface increases with the growth of t-ZrO 2 grain size, which enhances the generation and propagation of cracks on grain boundaries significantly and degrades the flexural strength and fracture toughness of the mullite–ZrO 2 composite ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by trematode of the genus Schistosoma. Successful reproductive development is critical for the production of eggs, which are responsible for host pathology and disease dissemination. Endogenous small non-coding RNAs play important roles in many biological processes such as protection against foreign pathogens, cell differentiation, and chromosomal stability by regulating target gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In this study, we performed in silico analysis of endogenous small non-coding RNAs in different stages, and sex of S. japonicum focusing on endogenous small interfering RNAs (endo-siRNAs) generated from transposable elements (TEs) and natural antisense transcripts (NATs). Both total and unique siRNA populations show 18-30 nt in length, but the predominant size was 20 nt and the leading first base was adenosine. Sense TE-derived endo-siRNAs reads were higher than antisense reads at different relative positions of TEs, whereas no such difference was observed for NAT-derived endo-siRNAs. TE- and NAT-derived endo-siRNAs were more enriched in the male compared to female worms, with the higher relative expression in early phase of pairing. Putative targets of endo-siRNAs indicated more of them in males (106 and 66) than in females (6 and 23) for TE- and NAT-derived endo-siRNAs, respectively. Our preliminary study revealed vital role of endo-siRNAs during the reproductive development of S. japonicum and provide clues for putative novel targets to suppress worm reproduction and direction for effective anti-schistosomal drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, silicon nitride (Si 3 N 4 ) ceramics added with and without boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were fabricated by hot-pressing method. The influence of sintering temperature and BNNTs content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Si 3 N 4 ceramics were investigated. It was found that both flexural strength and fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 were improved when sintering temperature increases. Moreover, α-Si 3 N 4 phase could transform into β-Si 3 N 4 phase completely when sintering temperature rises to 1800 °C and above. BNNTs can enhance the fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 dramatically, which increases from 7.2 MPa m 1/2 (no BNNTs) to 10.4 MPa m 1/2 (0.8 wt% BNNTs). However, excessive addition of BNNTs would reduce the fracture toughness of Si 3 N 4 . Meanwhile, the flexural strength and relative density of Si 3 N 4 decreased slightly when BNNTs were added. The related toughening mechanism was also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astaxanthin (AST), a natural keto-carotenoid classified as a xanthophyll, is well known for its antioxidant properties. AST can ameliorate the pathological characteristics of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be explored. This study was aimed at exploring whether AST exerts a protective effect on DN via activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2– (Nrf2–) antioxidative response element (ARE) signaling. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated with AST for 12 weeks. We found that AST treatment ameliorated renal morphological injury. Reduced fibronectin and collagen IV protein expression were found in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Furthermore, AST promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and increased its downstream protein heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutase 1 expression. AST also increased the activity of SOD and decreased malondialdehyde generation in the serum of diabetic rats. These results suggest that the renoprotective effect of AST on DN partly depends on Nrf2–ARE signaling. The antioxidative stress effect of AST is responsible for the activation of Nrf2–ARE signaling in DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, much progress has been made on the development of aerospace materials for structural and engine applications. Alloys, such as Al-based alloys, Mg-based alloys, Ti-based alloys, and Ni-based alloys, are developed for aerospace industry with outstanding advantages. Composite materials, the innovative materials, are taking more and more important roles in aircrafts. However, recent aerospace materials still face some major challenges, such as insufficient mechanical properties, fretting wear, stress corrosion cracking, and corrosion. Consequently, extensive studies have been conducted to develop the next generation aerospace materials with superior mechanical performance and corrosion resistance to achieve improvements in both performance and life cycle cost. This review focuses on the following topics: (1) materials requirements in design of aircraft structures and engines, (2) recent advances in the development of aerospace materials, (3) challenges faced by recent aerospace materials, and (4) future trends in aerospace materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim A debate exists over whether using preoperative transarterial chemoembolization for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma before liver transplantation. Numerous studies have been investigating on this, but there is still no unanimous conclusion about the effect of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization . We conducted the meta-analysis of all available studies to systematically evaluate the influence of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization on liver transplant. Methods A systematic search was performed by two authors (Si TF. and Guan RY.) through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Science Citation Index Expanded, combined with Manual Retrieval and Cited Reference Search. The searching cut-off date was 2016/07/31, and all the data obtained were statistically analyzed using Review Manager version 5.1 software (Copenhagen, The Nordic Cochrane Center, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2011) recommended by Cochrane Collaboration. Results The study showed that there was no difference between the experimental group and the control group on perioperative mortality (RR = 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [0.49-2.48], P = 0.82) or biliary complications (RR = 0.96, 95%CI = [0.66-1.39], P = 0.83). Preoperative transarterial chemoembolization had no obvious effect on improving overall survival (HR = 1.05, 95%CI = [0.65-1.72], P = 0. 83) but would result in a higher rate of vascular complications (RR = 2.01, 95%CI = [1.23-3.27], P = 0.005) and a reduction of disease free survival (HR = 1.66, 95%CI = [1.02-2.70], P = 0.04). Subgroup analysis also revealed that patients from transarterial chemoembolization group in Asia had a much lower overall survival rate (HR = 2.65, 95%CI = [1.49-4.71], P = 0.0009) compared with the control group. Conclusions Considering the possible adverse impacts on liver transplantation and the variation in sensitivity to transarterial chemoembolization, clinicians should be more cautious when considering transarterial chemoembolization as the bridging therapy for patients in the waiting list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The best-fit multiple regression response models between fracture surface features and the interaction of temperature and fissure angle are proposed. • The shadow method based on image segmentation shows more promising sensitivity to temperature and fissure angle. • Significant correlations are found between mechanical parameters and fracture surface features. • Fracture surface features affected by potential crack sources and paths derived from thermal activities. • Maximum tensile stress at fissure edge controls the angle effects of fracture surface features. Fractured rocks as typical engineering materials are commonly exposed to temperatures and dynamic perturbations. In this paper, constant amplitude low cycle (CALC) impact tests were carried out on red sandstone containing a single fissure (0°, 30°, 60° and 90°) after thermal treatment (25 °C, 200 °C, 400 °C, 600 °C and 800 °C) utilizing a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). Subsequently, the fracture surfaces of the failure specimens were digitally reconstructed based on point cloud data captured by a three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning. And scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also employed as a complementary tool to study the fracture micromorphology. The fractal and rough features of fracture surfaces based on the box-counting method and image segmentation method were investigated, respectively. Meanwhile, four second-order statistics in the grayscale co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) of the digitized fracture surface after grayscale processing were calculated to describe the fracture surface texture. The best-fit multiple regression models between the fracture surface feature parameters and the interaction of temperatures and fissure angles were constructed and analyzed. Moreover, the relationships between the fracture surface features and the mechanical parameters as well as the intrinsic mechanisms were analyzed and discussed in detail. The results demonstrate that the fractal dimension (D C), joint roughness coefficient (JRC), maximum elevation difference (M D), roughness characterization factor (ω), and GLCM second-order statistics possess specific response patterns to the temperatures and fissure angles. Whether the sensitivity in portraying the fracture surface features to the interaction of temperatures and fissure angles or the reliability of the best-fit multiple regression models, the shadow method based on image segmentation behaves more promisingly. Furthermore, conspicuous correlations can be found between both the feature parameters including the GLCM second-order statistics and the failure strength, strain rate as well as life. The high temperature activates thermal activation mechanisms that alter the potential crack sources and pathways in the grain and rock skeleton, affecting the microscopic fracture face morphology. Finally, the maximum tensile stress at the edge of the prefabricated fissure might be responsible for the angle effect exhibited by the feature parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:We aimed to systematically evaluate the influence of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on long-term prognosis and perioperative safety. Materials and methods:Databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Wanfang, CNKI, VIP data were searched, combined with Manual Retrieval and Cited Reference Search to collect the published randomized controlled trial (RCT) about the influence of pre-TACE for curative resection of HCC. The searching cutoff date was 2016/02/25, all the data obtained were statistically analyzed using RevMan5.2 software recommended by Cochrane Collaboration. Results:A total of 5 RCT including 430 (pre-TACE group: 212, surgery alone group: 218) patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: there was no difference between the 2 groups on overall survival (OS) rate [HR 1.25, 95%CI (0.92–1.68)], disease free survival (DFS) rate [HR 0.95 (0.76–1.19)], perioperative mortality rate [OR 0.70 (0.22–2.30)], or blood loss [SMD 0.07 (−0.14–0.29)], whereas the subgroup analysis revealed that pre-TACE would result in longer operation time [SMD 0.31 (0.06–0.57)], higher postoperative morbidity rate [OR 1.90 (1.02–3.53)] and combined resection rate of perihepatic organs [OR 5.46 (2.73–11.78)] in subgroup with mean tumor diameter >5cm. Conclusions:According to our study, pre-TACE treatment cannot improve the long-term prognosis of resectable HCC. With the growth of the tumor diameter, especially when it is over 5cm, it might add difficulties to surgery and affect the perioperative safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of heavy metals from the aqueous environment via physiochemical adsorption always remains a great challenge owing to the slow kinetics and low removal capacity for the conventional adsorbent. In this study, the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)-rich anaerobic sludge was pyrolyzed for the preparation of magnetic biochar, i.e. SBC-20-500 (SBC: sulfate-reducing sludge-based biochar; 20 denotes the biochar dosage, namely 8 g dried sludge in 400 mL iron solution which is equal to 20 g/L; 500 represents the pyrolysis temperature, i.e. at 500 °C) with tunable pore structure and surface properties towards efficient removal of chromium (Cr (Ⅵ)). The characterization revealed that magnetic biochar SBC-20-500 exhibited higher surface area and larger pore volume compared to non-magnetic SBC-500. Batch experiments on Cr (Ⅵ) removal were performed under different biochar dosages, pH values, initial Cr (Ⅵ) concentrations and temperatures. The results illustrated that magnetic biochar demonstrated much larger Cr (Ⅵ) adsorption capacity with q e of 5.3585 mg/g as compared to non-modified one (q e = 0.7206 mg/g). The maximum Cr (Ⅵ) removal efficiency of SBC-20-500 reached approximately 93.7% within 24 h under the conditions of pH = 3.0, biochar dosage = 0.8 g and initial Cr (Ⅵ) concentration = 50 mg/L. The kinetic and isotherm fitting results suggested that the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model were more suitable for describing the adsorption behavior of Cr (Ⅵ) by SBC-20-500. The XPS and FTIR results confirmed that chemical reduction of Cr (Ⅵ) to Cr (Ⅲ) also played a role in Cr (Ⅵ) removal in the presence of SBC-20-500. Moreover, the Cr (Ⅵ) removal capacity could still achieve 3.50 mg/g even after five adsorption-desorption cycles, indicating the satisfactory reusability of the as-prepared biochar. The results of this study may provide a win-win approach for simultaneous resource recovery from the wasted sulfate-reducing sludge (SRS) and highly-efficient remediation of Cr (Ⅵ)-contaminated environment. [Display omitted] • A novel magnetic biochar derived from sulfate-reducing sludge was prepared. • The magnetic biochar exhibited higher Cr(VI) removal capacity than non-magnetic one. • Cr(VI) removal efficiency achieved 93.7% under 50 mg Cr(VI)/L, pH = 3, dosage = 0.8 g. • Chemisorption and monolayer adsorption were demonstrated in Cr(VI) removal. • Good reusability of magnetic sulfate-reducing sludge-based biochar was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of fungicide mixture is one of the most important measures to extend the service life of highly selective fungicides. Pyraclostrobin (PYR), which has been extensively used to control plant diseases by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration of pathogenic fungi, is at a high risk of resistance development. In this study, the potential of PYR alone or in combination with cystamine, an inhibitor of microbial transglutaminase, to suppress Fusarium graminearum was tested in vitro and in vivo. A synergistic effect of PYR/CYS mixture was observed both in vitro and when applied to etiolated wheat coleoptile. The control effect of PYR/CYS mixture on F. graminearum was better than that of PYR alone, which was reflected by the increased protection effect. The discrepancies of membrane permeability and the redox-physiological state were observed between PYR and PYR/CYS treatments, suggesting that an increased PYR availability in F. graminearum mycelia could be related with the observed synergistic action. Moreover, a synergistic profile was observed between PYR and CYS in regard of massive autophagosomes in mycelia, indicating that enhanced autophagy could be involved in the mode of action of PYR/CYS mixture. The differential content of mitochondrial metabolites between PYR and PYR/CYS treatments also provided evidence for CYS contribution to the fungicidal action of PYR/CYS mixture. The results provide insight into the synergistic mechanism of action of PYR/CYS mixture and an effective way to enhance the efficiency of PYR to combat F. graminearum. [Display omitted] • Cystamine (CYS) exhibits synergistic action with pyraclostrobin (PYR) against F. graminearum. • Autophagy and membrane permeability are involved in mode of action of PYR/CYS combination. • PYR/CYS combination induces severe mitochondrial dysfunctions in F. graminearum. • PYR/CYS combination provides a potential strategy by reducing PYR use to combat F. graminearum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abrasive polishing behavior of Al 62 Cu 25.5 Fe 12.5 quasicrystal on Cu, Al and austenite stainless steel alloys were investigated, to compare with commonly used hard abrasives such as diamond, alumina and silica. The quasicrystal abrasive showed a dominating smearing-type wear mechanism, in sharp contrast to all the other three abrasives, as reflected by large indent size shrinking with respect to surface removal depth. The quasicrystal abrasive polishing, producing a flattened surface with minor depth removal, may open new application fields where low-wearing and fine surface finishing are demanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The train timetable and station operation plan play a critical role in the high‐speed railway (HSR) planning and management. The existing hierarchical optimization methods for the planning process of the HSR would affect the efficiency of train schedules and are often difficult to achieve an optimized scheme. This paper proposes a position‐track‐time three‐dimensional network, which describes the process of train operations in sections and stations at a macroscopic scale, while the track infrastructure including the position of insulation joints in stations are modeled microscopically. The modeled train running times and dwell times are based on standard timetable design values given in full minutes by the China Railway Corporation, while the interlocking times and minimum headway times are not specified explicitly. The problem is formulated as a large‐scale 0–1 linear integer programming model, which is solved using an extended branch‐and‐price algorithm. The effectiveness and precision of the model are verified through a real‐world case study on the Beijing–Shanghai HSR line. The results indicate that the proposed model can effectively improve the line capacity by 17.2% while ensuring that there is no conflict between train operations in sections and stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PbNb 0.02 (Zr 0.95 Ti 0.05 ) 0.98 O 3 (PNZT95/5) ceramics with Mn doping were prepared and the effects of Mn doping on the phase structure and electrical properties were investigated. It was found that Mn addition did not cause a remarkable change in rhombohedral perovskite structure, but significantly altered ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties of the PNZT95/5 ceramics. PNZT95/5 ceramics usually possessed a normal single hysteresis loop character when no aging process was employed, whereas Mn doped PNZT95/5 (PNMZT95/5) ceramics exhibited a double-hysteresis-like loop character because of the defect dipoles formed by Mn 2+ and O 2− vacancies. Meanwhile, ferroelectric features such as the polarization and coercive field showed a strong frequency and temperature dependence. Furthermore, Mn substitution resulted in the weakened dielectric property and enhanced pyroelectric property of the ceramics. The relevant pyroelectric coefficient ( p ) and detectivity figure of merit ( F D ) increased from 7.90×10 −8 to 9.15×10 −8 C cm −2 K −1 and 8.69×10 −5 to 16.74×10 −5 Pa −1/2 , respectively, which make the PNMZT95/5 ceramics potential application in commercial infrared detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PbNb 0.02 (Zr 0.95 Ti 0.05 ) 0.98 O 3 (PNZT95/5) ceramics with Mn doping were prepared and the effects of Mn doping on the phase structure and electrical properties were investigated. It was found that Mn addition did not cause a remarkable change in rhombohedral perovskite structure, but significantly altered ferroelectric and pyroelectric properties of the PNZT95/5 ceramics. PNZT95/5 ceramics usually possessed a normal single hysteresis loop character when no aging process was employed, whereas Mn doped PNZT95/5 (PNMZT95/5) ceramics exhibited a double-hysteresis-like loop character because of the defect dipoles formed by Mn 2+ and O 2− vacancies. Meanwhile, ferroelectric features such as the polarization and coercive field showed a strong frequency and temperature dependence. Furthermore, Mn substitution resulted in the weakened dielectric property and enhanced pyroelectric property of the ceramics. The relevant pyroelectric coefficient ( p ) and detectivity figure of merit ( F D ) increased from 7.90×10 −8 to 9.15×10 −8 C cm −2 K −1 and 8.69×10 −5 to 16.74×10 −5 Pa −1/2 , respectively, which make the PNMZT95/5 ceramics potential application in commercial infrared detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient route for the large scale synthesis of boron nitride (BN) micro-nano structures called nanosheet-assembled microwires is demonstrated for the first time, by annealing amorphous boron powder with ferric chloride (FeCl3) at elevated temperatures in flowing ammonia. The microwires have a very well-proportioned diameter of about 2 μm, while the nanosheets have an average thickness of less than 20 nm. The nanosheets are mostly separated with a bending and crumpling morphology and nearly vertically aligned to the microwire trunk. This micro-nano structure shows strong photoluminescence (PL) emission at 357 nm. It is revealed that FeCl3 reacts with B to generate BCl3, a vital vapor for the growth of BN micro-nano structures in addition to the provision of catalyst Fe. A combination growth mechanism of vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) and vapor–solid (VS) models is proposed to be responsible for the formation of this BN micro-nano structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: xPb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–(1−x)Pb(Zr0.95Ti0.05)O3 (PZN–PZT) pyroelectric ceramics were synthesized by a two-step solid state reaction method. The effects of the PZN content on the phase structure and electrical property of the ceramics were investigated. The results revealed that perovskite phase and PbZrO4 phase coexist in the samples with lower PZN content. The substitution of (Zn, Nb)4+ promoted the formation of rhombohedral phase and improved the ferroelectric properties of the materials. With the increase of PZN content, the amount of PbZrO4 phase decreased because of the formation of liquid phase during the sintering process, which increased the densities of ceramics and dielectric constant (ε r ) of the ceramics. The diffusivity parameter (γ) increased from 1.0266 to 1.3899 when PZN content increased. However, the pyroelectric coefficient (p), remnant polarization (P r ) and coercive field (E c ) increased firstly and then decreased with the increase of PZN content. When x=0.075, the ceramics with the optimum performances could be obtained, with a pyroelectric coefficient of 14.2×10−8 Ccm−2 K−1, voltage response figure of merit of 0.22m2 C−1, detectivity figure of merit of 7.35×10−5 Pa−1/2, dielectric permittivity of 300, dielectric loss of 0.023 and remanent polarization of 32.45μCcm−2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Diminished transplacental glucose transport plays an important role in prenatal calorie restriction (CR) induced reduction in fetal growth. Fetal growth restriction (FGR) has an impact in shaping the adult phenotype with transgenerational implications. To understand the mechanisms underlying prenatal CR-induced transplacental glucose transport, we examined the epigenetic regulation of placental glucose transporter (Glut1 and Glut3) expression. We restricted calories by 50% in C57BL6 pregnant mice from gestational days 10 to 19 (CR; n=8) vs. controls (CON; n=8) and observed a 50% diminution in placental Glut3 expression (P<.05) with no effect on Glut1 expression by reverse transcription and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CR enhanced DNA methylation of a CpG island situated ~1000 bp upstream from the transcriptional start site of the glut3 gene, with no such effect on the glut1 gene as assessed by methylation-sensitive PCR and bisulfite sequencing. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrated enhanced MeCP2 binding to the CpG island of the glut3 gene in response to CR vs. CON (P<.05). Sequential ChIP demonstrated that enhanced MeCP2 binding of the glut3-mCpG island enhanced histone deacetylase 2 recruitment (P<.05) but interfered with Sp1 binding (P<.001), although it did not affect Sp3 or Creb/pCreb interaction. We conclude that late-gestation CR enhanced DNA methylation of the placental glut3 gene. This epigenetic change augmented specific nuclear protein–DNA complex formation that was associated with prenatal CR-induced reduction of placental glut3 expression and thereby transplacental glucose transport. This molecular complex provides novel targets for developing therapeutic interventions aimed at reversing FGR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, a novel silicone rubber/nano-copper nanocomposite for use in intrauterine devices (IUDs) was developed. Moreover, the release rate of Cu2+ ions and the water absorption of the prepared nanocomposite were investigated in detail. The results indicate that the release rate of Cu2+ ions and water absorption capability of the silicone rubber/nanocopper nanocomposite increase as the nano-copper content increases. SEM analysis suggested there is a uniform dispersion of nano-copper in the silicone matrix. Further, systematic analysis indicated that the release rate of Cu2+ ions in the prepared nanocomposite-based IUD can be stabilized for months, which is not possible in the case of traditional IUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural or artificially disturbed rocks containing massive fillings are frequently subjected to various sophisticated temperature and stress perturbations. To investigate the effects of temperature and filling angle on the dynamic mechanical characteristics and fracture patterns of red sandstone, thermal treatments at 25°C, 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C were conducted on red sandstone samples containing single fracture filling angles at 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90°. Subsequently, the dynamic mechanical information and crack evolution of specimens after thermal treatment were tested and recorded utilizing a modified split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test system integrated with a high-speed camera, and the crack expansion modes were identified and analyzed. Meanwhile, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), simulation and one-dimensional stress wave theory were employed to analyze and discuss the thermal damage and failure mechanism of the specimens in detail. The results demonstrate that temperature and filling angle have conspicuous effects on the elastic modulus, thermal expansion, mineral composition, dynamic compressive strength, strain rate effects, and crack expansion modes of the specimens. Tensile cracks dominate the fracture of the specimen during dynamic loading, while shear cracks tend to appear in thermal stress concentration area. Moreover, thermal damage, wave impedance and stress wave propagation path are the critical factors controlling the fracture evolution and dynamic mechanical properties of the specimens. • Effects of thermal treatment on the dynamic behavior of fissure-filled red sandstone. • Fracture patterns of the specimen after the effect of temperature and filling angle are exhibited. • Damage parameters and simulation are employed to characterize the thermal damage. • Wave impedance and stress wave path control the dynamic mechanical response of the specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel silicone rubber/nano-copper nanocomposite for use in intrauterine devices (IUDs) was developed. Moreover, the release rate of Cu2+ ions and the water absorption of the prepared nanocomposite were investigated in detail. The results indicate that the release rate of Cu2+ ions and water absorption capability of the silicone rubber/nanocopper nanocomposite increase as the nano-copper content increases. SEM analysis suggested there is a uniform dispersion of nano-copper in the silicone matrix. Further, systematic analysis indicated that the release rate of Cu2+ ions in the prepared nanocomposite-based IUD can be stabilized for months, which is not possible in the case of traditional IUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is a clear association between excessive ethanol ( EtOH) consumption and the risk of sudden cardiac death. The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated ( HCN) current, If, is known to contribute to spontaneous pacemaker activity of sinoatrial ( SA) node cells. However, the exact mechanisms of EtOH on arrhythmia induction are not well understood. Methods The preparations of SA node were excised from rabbit heart, transmembrane potentials were recorded by standard glass microelectrode technique, and a whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record If in enzymatically isolated rabbit SA node pacemaker cells. Human HCN2 (hHCN2) and HCN4 channels were heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied using 2-electrode voltage clamp technique. Results Superfusion of EtOH increased the spontaneous firing frequency of SA node cells in a reversible fashion. Treatment with ivabradine irreversibly depressed basal firing frequency and markedly attenuated the enhancement effect of EtOH on firing. The stimulatory effects of EtOH on If were concentration-dependent in the range of 1 to 100 mM, with an average EC50 value of 20.81 ± 6.71 mM and Hill coefficient of 1.19 ± 0.10. Furthermore, EtOH reversibly enhanced the HCN currents in a concentration-dependent fashion with an EC50 value of 18.41 ± 2.75 mM for the HCN2 channel and 21.98 ± 3.54 mM for the HCN4 channel, which was accompanied by the acceleration of activation and deactivation kinetics. In addition, EtOH, at both moderate and high doses, caused a shift in the voltage dependence of hHCN4 channel activation to more depolarizing potentials. However, superfusion of high, not moderate, concentration of EtOH caused a shift in the voltage dependence of hHCN2 channel activation to more hyperpolarizing potentials. Conclusions This study provides insight into the molecular interaction of EtOH and the hHCN channels, which may shed light on elucidating the potentially proarrhythmic mechanism of EtOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The uncatalyzed hydrolysis of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in hot compressed water (HCW) in a fused silica capillary reactor (FSCR) was investigated with in situ Raman spectroscopy at reaction temperatures up to 300°C. The phase behavior of CCl4 in water during heating at 34.1–260.0°C was observed by a microscope, and images were recorded with a digital camera. The phase phenomena showed that the CCl4 gasified between 231.3 and 260.0°C during the heating process. The hydrolysis was monitored by tracking the in situ vapor-phase Raman signals for CCl4 and product CO2. Increases in the CO2 Raman peak area over time were correlated to the hydrolysis yield. The quenched liquid products were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and ion chromatography, and the results indicated that the only hydrolysis products were HCl and CO2. The effect of the gasified CCl4 initial concentration (0.076–0.145g/cm3), CCl4(l):H2O(l) volume ratio (1:2, 1:6, 1:10), and reaction temperature (240–300°C) on the hydrolysis rate was investigated. The CCl4 hydrolysis in the FSCR was found to be mainly a vapor phase reaction. Temperature was the prime determining factor for the hydrolysis rate. The CCl4 hydrolysis rate was also dependent on the initial concentration of vapor-phase CCl4 and the initial CCl4(l):H2O(l) volume ratio. The kinetics of CO2 formation was analyzed, and the result showed that it followed the first order with an activation energy of 95.06±6.71kJmol−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]