Search

Pre-tightening torque has a significant impact on the performance of a bolt-clamped high-frequency piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer widely used in wire bonding. To develop a vibratory response-based method for the determination of optimal pre-tightening torque, the vibration amplitude signals of the transducer under different excitation conditions were monitored, and the characteristic parameters of the response, involving the resonance frequency, settling time within the initial transient response, and vibration amplitude of the steady-state stage, were extracted. Based on a series of in-depth tests, analyses, and discussions, the influences that the pre-tightening torque has on the vibratory response properties were investigated. Then, the experimental measurement and the random forest method were combined to determine the optimal pre-tightening torque. The performance test results show that the developed method can give the optimal pre-tightening torque according to the desired vibrational response properties, and it is feasible, effective, and reliable as well as improves the adaptability and flexibility of the high-frequency ultrasonic transducer in the application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

n‐Bu4NI/K2S2O8 mediated C−N coupling between aldehydes and amides is reported. A strong electronic effect is observed on the aromatic aldehyde substrates. The transformylation from aldehyde to amide takes place exclusively when an aromatic aldehyde bears electron‐donating groups at either the ortho or para position of the formyl group, while the cross‐dehydrogenative coupling dominates in the absence of these groups. Both the density functional theory (DFT) thermochemistry calculations and experimental data support the proposed single electron transfer mechanism with the formation of an acyl radical intermediate in the cross‐dehydrogenative coupling. The n‐Bu4NI/K2S2O8 mediated oxidative cyclization between 2‐aminobenzamide and aldehydes is also reported, with four quinazolin‐4(3H)‐ones prepared in 65–99 % yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

n‐Bu4NI/K2S2O8 mediated transformylation from p‐anisaldehyde to primary amides is reported. The mechanistic studies suggest the reaction occurs via a single electron transfer pathway. Based on the DFT electronic structure calculations of various reaction pathways, the most plausible mechanism involves the formation of a phenyl radical cation and an arenium ion as the key intermediates. It represents the first example where p‐anisaldehyde is employed as a formyl source via a non‐metal mediated Csp2−Csp2 bond cleavage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CDC6 is an oncogenic protein whose expression level fluctuates during the cell cycle. Although several E3 ubiquitin ligases responsible for the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of CDC6 have been identified, the deubiquitination pathway for CDC6 has not been investigated. Methods: The proteome-wide deubiquitinase (DUB) screening was used to identify the potential regulator of CDC6. Immunofluorescence, protein half-life and deubiquitination assays were performed to determine the protein stability of CDC6. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were implemented to analyse the impacts of OUTD6A-CDC6 axis on tumour growth and chemosensitivity in vitro. N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN)-induced conditional Otud6a knockout (CKO) mouse model and tumour xenograft model were performed to analyse the role of OTUD6A-CDC6 axis in vivo. Tissue specimens were used to determine the association between OTUD6A and CDC6. Results: OTUD6A interacts with, depolyubiquitinates and stabilizes CDC6 by removing K6-, K33-, and K48-linked polyubiquitination. Moreover, OTUD6A promotes cell proliferation and decreases sensitivity to chemotherapy by upregulating CDC6. CKO mice are less prone to BCa tumorigenesis induced by BBN, and knockdown of OTUD6A inhibits tumour progression in vivo. Furthermore, OTUD6A protein level has a positive correlation with CDC6 protein level, and high protein levels of OTUD6A and CDC6 are associated with poor prognosis in patients with bladder cancer. Conclusions: We reveal an important yet missing piece of novel DUB governing CDC6 stability. In addition, our findings propose a model for the OTUD6A-CDC6 axis that provides novel insights into cell cycle and chemosensitivity regulation, which may become a potential biomarker and promising drug target for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating depth, ego-motion, and optical flow from consecutive frames is a critical task in robot navigation and has received significant attention in recent years. In this study, we propose PDF-Former, an unsupervised joint estimation network comprising a full transformer-based framework, as well as a competition and cooperation mechanism. The transformer framework captures global feature dependencies and is customized for different task types, thereby improving the performance of sequential tasks. The competition and cooperation mechanisms enable the network to obtain additional supervisory information at different training stages. Specifically, the competition mechanism is implemented early in training to achieve iterative optimization of 6 DOF poses (rotation and translation information from the target image to the two reference images), the depth of target image, and optical flow (from the target image to the two reference images) estimation in a competitive manner. In contrast, the cooperation mechanism is implemented later in training to facilitate the transmission of results among the three networks and mutually optimize the estimation results. We conducted experiments on the KITTI dataset, and the results indicate that PDF-Former has significant potential to enhance the accuracy and robustness of sequential tasks in robot navigation. • A transformer-based framework for joint pose, depth, and optical flow estimation is proposed. • The competition–cooperation mechanisms are proposed to promote performance improvement. • Achieved notable accuracy in public datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeostatic maintenance is essential for pulp function. Disrupting pulp homeostasis may lead to pulp degeneration, such as fibrosis and calcifications. Sensory nerves constitute a crucial component of the dental pulp. However, the precise involvement of sensory nerves in pulp homeostasis remains uncertain. In this study, we observed the short-term and long-term histological changes in the dental pulp after inferior alveolar nerve transection. Additionally, we cultured primary dental pulp cells (DPCs) from the innervated and denervated groups and compared indicators of cellular senescence and cellular function. The results revealed that pulp fibrosis occurred at 2 w after the operation. Furthermore, the pulp area, as well as the height and width of the pulp cavity, showed accelerated reductions after sensory denervation. Notably, the pulp area at 16 w after the operation was comparable to that of 56 w old rats. Sensory denervation induced excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and increased predisposition to mineralization. Furthermore, sensory denervation promoted the senescence of DPCs. Denervated DPCs exhibited decelerated cell proliferation, arrest in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, imbalance in the synthesis and degradation of ECM, and enhanced mineralization. These findings indicate that sensory nerves play an essential role in pulp homeostasis maintenance and dental pulp cell fate decisions, which may provide novel insights into the prevention of pulp degeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a time- and event-triggered hybrid scheduling for remote state estimation with limited communication resources. A smart sensor observes a physical process and decides whether to send the local state estimate to a remote estimator via a wireless communication channel; the estimator computes the state estimate of the process according to the received data packets and the known scheduling mechanism. Based on the existing optimal time-triggered scheduling, we employ a stochastic event trigger to save precious communication chances and further improve the estimation performance. The minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) state estimate is derived since the Gaussian property is preserved. The estimation performance upper bound and communication rate are analyzed. The main results are illustrated by numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogenation stands out as one of the most promising techniques for converting biomass-derived molecules into valuable products. The expected products of upgrading biomass molecules include hydrocarbon, oxygenate, and methane. Ni-based catalysts have attracted considerable interest owing to their unique properties and relatively low cost. In this work, NiO prepared by the calcination and urea precipitation methods, namely NiO–C and NiO–U, is investigated for the hydrogenation of anisole. It is found that reaction temperature exerts a significant influence on the hydrogenation pathways. At 150 °C, C–reduced NiO proves more inclined towards hydrogenation, while U–reduced NiO demonstrates a tendency for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). Moreover, as the temperature rises, both nickel catalysts change the reaction route to hydrogenolysis and eventually only produce methane at 300 °C, whereas metallic Ni is formed as the catalytic active phase. In situ FTIR experiments suggest the hydrogenolysis pathway and the formation of methane. This work investigates a route to produce methane from biomass molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)‐mediated cancer immunotherapy is attenuated due to the dysfunction of T cells in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Cholesterol metabolism plays a vital role in T cell signaling and effector. While the metabolic fitness of tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells is impaired by nutrition restriction in TME and accumulated metabolites by tumor cells. Here a matrix metalloproteinase‐2‐sensitive tumor‐penetrable nanovesicle is designed to regulate cholesterol metabolism pathway for enhancing photodynamic cancer immunotherapy. The nanovesicles accumulate in tumor and release internalizing RGD to promote deep penetration. Released avasimibe from the nanovesicles simultaneously blocks cholesterol metabolism in CD8+ T and tumor cells, thus reinvigorating the functions of T cells and suppressing the migration of tumor cells. Immune responses induced by PDT‐triggered immunogenic cell death are further improved with cholesterol metabolism blockage. Compared with PDT alone, the designed nanovesicles display enhanced tumor growth inhibition in B16‐F10 mouse tumor model. The approach provides an alternative strategy to improve photodynamic cancer immunotherapy by cholesterol metabolism intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite is a common pollutant encountered in aquaculture systems. During intensive hatchery, accumulation of nitrite can cause massive mortality of juvenile crustaceans. However, the nitrite toxicity and cellular stress responses in juvenile crustaceans is not clearly understood. Here, we investigate the survival, energy metabolism, and cellular stress responses in juvenile P. trituberculatus, an important aquaculture species in China, under acute nitrite stress. The results revealed nitrite resulted in a significant decrease in survival rate of juvenile swimming crab. After nitrite exposure, the activity of catabolic enzymes, such as HK, PK, CS, and CPT-1, were initially enhanced, and then they showed significant decrease at the late stage of exposure, accompanied by reduction in ATP and adenylate energy charge (AEC). The impaired energy homeostasis was possibly associated with disturbed AMPK signaling and enhanced anaerobic metabolism, which was indicated by the high levels of LDH activity and HIF-1α expression. Furthermore, we found that nitrite stress can depress antioxidant systems and unfold protein responses, causing oxidative damage and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and this, in turn, can trigger autophagy and apoptosis through both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways. The results of the present study improve our understanding regarding adverse effects of nitrite on P. trituberculatus and provide valuable information for hatchery management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image dehazing is a fundamental problem in computer vision. However, GT images for supervised dehazing network training are virtually impossible to obtain in the real world. Therefore, unsupervised image dehazing is of great significance. In this paper, a Cycle Generative Adversarial Network (Cycle-GAN) based on the Homology Isomerism Discriminator (HID)-assisted Detail Generation Module (DGM) is proposed to achieve image dehazing under unsupervised training. In order to enable the generator to recover the details of the entire image, especially in images with complex structures, DGM is developed to boost the details performance of the output dehazing results. Then, HID is proposed to boost dehazing performance based on heterogeneous features and Channel-Spatial Attention (CSA) and complement DGM by varied guidance to the generator. Next, the loss functions are updated according to the image dehazing task based on Cycle-GAN under unsupervised learning. Finally, the experimental results under ablation study and comparison to state-of-the-art demonstrate that the proposed method has attractive results in both visual experience and quantitative metrics under various datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ammonia is the most common contaminant in aquaculture systems, including intensive hatchery systems for crustaceans. Although it has been demonstrated that ammonia can result in abortive moulting and massive mortality of juvenile crustaceans, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. The present work is aimed at examining the effect of ammonia exposure on the moulting process as well as molt signaling in the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus, an important aquaculture species in China. We examined the survival rate and moulting rate of the juvenile crabs (C2) and analyzed the expression pattern of the genes in key components of molt signaling during a complete moulting cycle under different concentrations of ammonia. Our results revealed that ammonia has dose-dependent biphasic effects on moulting in juvenile swimming crab. Specifically, low levels of ammonia (5 mg/L) stimulated moulting, while high levels of ammonia (20 mg/L) suppressed the moulting process and caused moulting death syndrome (MDS). The gene expression analysis indicated that low levels of ammonia can reduce the expression of MIH, which encodes the key negative regulator of moulting, and trigger ecdysteroid biosynthesis and ecdysteroid signaling in the juvenile crabs. In contrast, though the high level of ammonia increased MIH expression, it still resulted in excessive ecdysteroids and over-activation of ecdysteroid signaling, which may contribute to the depressed moulting and MDS in the juvenile crabs. The novel findings of this study improve the understanding of ammonia toxicity in brachyura and provide valuable information for hatchery management of P. trituberculatus. Ammonia is a significant concern during hatchery culture in brachyuran species, and its accumulation may lead to abortive moulting and large-scale deaths of the early juveniles. To date, the underlying mechanism for ammonia-induced alteration of the moulting process is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ammonia on the moulting as well as the potential mechanisms in early juveniles of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus, an important aquaculture species in China. We evaluated the survival rate and moulting rate of the juvenile crabs (C2) and analyzed the expression pattern of the genes in key components of molt signaling during a complete moulting cycle under different concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (the control group: <0.1 mg/L; the LA group: 5 mg/L; and the HA group: 20 mg/L). The results showed that: (1) the survival rate in the LA and HA groups was lower than that in the control group at the end of the experiment, and moulting death syndrome (MDS) was only observed in the HA group; (2) the moulting rate was higher in the LA group and lower in the HA group compared to the control group; (3) consistent with the results of the moulting experiment, MIH showed decreased expression, and genes related to ecdysteroid synthesis, ecdysteroid receptors, and responsive effectors exhibited increased expression in the LA group compared to the control group; and (4) although MIH expression was upregulated, increased expression of the genes associated with ecdysteroid synthesis, ecdysteroid receptors and downstream effectors still observed in the HA group. Our results indicated that low levels of ammonia can promote moulting in juvenile swimming crabs by inhibiting the expression of MIH and activating moult signaling, whereas high levels of ammonia inhibit moulting and lead to MDS through impairing moult signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Coccoidea (scale insects) are sap-sucking hemipterous insects with a high diversity of species. They exhibit dramatically variable appearance and sexual dimorphism and are also closely related to human beings as important economic pests and resource insects. However, we know very little about the phylogenetic relationship within Coccoidea. We reconstructed that relationship among five coccoid families (e.g., Aclerdidae, Cerococcidae, Coccidae, Eriococcidae, and Kerriidae) based on mitogenomes. Aclerdidae and Coccidae were recovered as the sister group, successively sister to Cerococcidae, Kerriidae, and Eriococcidae. In addition, there were gene rearrangements occurring in all mitogenomes of coccoid species studied here. The novel gene rearrangement ND6-trnP and trnI-ND2-trnY supported the monophyly of Coccoidea and the sister relationship of Aclerdidae and Coccidae. Coccoidea (scale insects) are important plant parasites with high diversity of species. However, the phylogenetic relationship within Coccoidea has not been fully determined. In this study, we sequenced mitogenomes of six species belonging to five coccoid families. With the addition of three previously published mitogenomes, a total of 12 coccoid species were adopted for the phylogenetic reconstruction based on the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The monophyly of Coccoidea was recovered and Aclerdidae and Coccidae were recovered as the sister group, successively sister to Cerococcidae, Kerriidae, and Eriococcidae. In addition, there were gene rearrangements occurring in all mitogenomes of coccoid species studied here. The novel gene rearrangement ND6-trnP and trnI-ND2-trnY supported the monophyly of Coccoidea and the sister relationship of Aclerdidae and Coccidae. This implies that data from the mitogenome can provide new insight for clarifying the deeper level of phylogenetic relationship within Coccoidea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report herein the design and synthesis of a series of novel acridine-triazole and acridine-thiadiazole derivatives. The newly synthesized compounds and the key intermediates were all evaluated for their antitumor activities against human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF), human gastric cancer cells-803 (MGC-803), hepatocellular carcinoma bel-7404 (BEL-7404), large cell lung cancer cells (NCI-H460), and bladder cancer cells (T24). Most of the compounds exhibited high levels of antitumor activity against MGC-803 and T24 but low toxicity against human normal liver cells (LO2), and their effect was even better than the commercial anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cis-platinum. Further, pharmacological mechanisms such as topo I, cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and neovascularization were all evaluated. Only a few compounds exhibited potent topo I inhibitory activity at 100 μM. In addition, the most active compounds with an IC50 value of 5.52–8.93 μM were chosen, and they could induce cell apoptosis in the G2 stage of MGC-803 or mainly arrest T24 cells in the S stage. To our delight, most of the compounds exhibited lower zebrafish cytotoxicity but could strongly inhibit the formation of zebrafish sub-intestinal veins, indicating a potential for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body with largest mass of glandular tissue. Modeling the liver has been challenging due to its variety of major functions, including processing nutrients and vitamins, detoxification, and regulating body metabolism. The intrinsic shortfalls of conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture methods for studying pharmacokinetics in parenchymal cells (hepatocytes) have contributed to suboptimal outcomes in clinical trials and drug development. This prompts the development of highly automated, biomimetic liver-on-a-chip (LOC) devices to simulate native liver structure and function, with the aid of recent progress in microfluidics. LOC offers a cost-effective and accurate model for pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity studies. This review provides a critical update on recent developments in designing LOCs and fabrication strategies. We highlight biomimetic design approaches for LOCs, including mimicking liver structure and function, and their diverse applications in areas such as drug screening, toxicity assessment, and real-time biosensing. We capture the newest ideas in the field to advance the field of LOCs and address current challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser cladding technology was adapted to fabricate Fe-based shape memory alloy/Nb composite coatings with 5 wt. % Nb doping amounts on 304 stainless steel to promote the microhardness and wear resistance. The SEM, XRD, optical profilometer and electrochemical workstation were used to characterize micromorphology, phase and microstructure. Meanwhile, wear and anti-resistance ability were detected. The results showed that Nb, NbC, ε-martensite, α'-martensite and γ-austenite were found in SMA/Nb coating. The microhardness was enhanced because of the solid solution strengthening and second phase strengthening. Also, the shape recovery rate and anti-corrosion property of the SMA/Nb coating are improved as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a complex nonlinear system, the first-order incremental relationship between the state variables of the beam and ball system (BABS) is asymmetric in the definition domain of the variables, and the characteristics of the system do not satisfy the superposition theorem. Studying the balance control of the BABS can help to better grasp the relevant characteristics of the nonlinear system. In this paper, the deep reinforcement learning method is used to study the BABS based on a visual sensor. First, the detail-reward function is designed by observing the control details of the system, and the rationality of the function is proved based on Q-function; secondly, considering and comparing the applicability of image processing methods in ball coordinate location, an intelligent location algorithm is proposed, and the location effects between the algorithms are compared and analyzed; then, combining the nonlinear theory and LQR theory, a reinforcement learning policy model is proposed to linearize near the equilibrium point, which significantly improves the control effect. Finally, experiments are designed to verify the effectiveness of the above methods in the control system. The experimental results show that the design scheme can be effectively applied to the control system of the BABS. It is verified that the introduction of detail-reward mechanism into a deep reinforcement learning algorithm can significantly reduce the complexity of the nonlinear control system and iterative algorithm, and effectively solve nonlinear control problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Preparation of a magnetic MOF with superior materials and high enzyme load. • The immobilized material has a specific adsorption effect on UGT containing His-tag. • Simultaneous purification and immobilization of the enzyme onto the material. • Immobilization improved the stability of enzyme molecules. • The immobilized enzyme is easy to separate and can be reused. To solve the problem that free glycosyltransferase is difficult to isolate and reuse in ginsenoside Rh2 catalysis and synthesis. In this study, we developed a magnetic nickel-based metal-organic framework (MOF) material (Fe 3 O 4/ PDA@MOF) to enable the separation of recombinant glycosyl transferase (UGT) directly from crude enzyme solutions, while simultaneously immobilizing it by utilizing the specific adsorption of Ni2+ ions to His-tag. Our investigations demonstrated that the Fe 3 O 4 /PDA@MOF@UGT was successfully prepared, which not only maintained enzyme activity, but was reused by low-cost magnetic separation and exhibited enhanced enzyme loading and stability. Following thorough research and optimization, the immobilized enzyme achieved a rare ginsenoside Rh2 concentration of 69.68 µg/mL under optimal conditions, with an initial activity of 61.99 % after six cycles. This cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable biocomposite holds significant promise for industrial applications in enzyme purification and catalytic synthesis of ginsenoside. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib for managing axial spondyloarthritis. Four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science) were applied to search randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for assessing upadacitinib treatment for axial spondyloarthritis published until January 2024. Five RCTs involving 1,246 participants were included. The upadacitinib group had significantly higher percentages of participants achieving Assessment of spondyloarthritis international society (ASAS) 20, ASAS40, ASAS partial remission, Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) 50, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) low disease activity, ASDAS inactive disease, ASDAS clinically important improvement, and ASDAS major improvement, except for Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) absenteeism. Obvious improvements were observed in the upadacitinib group for ASDAS (CRP), BASDAI, Modified BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Canadian Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium (SPARCC) MRI spine, SPARCC MRI sacroiliac joint, Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoLS), ASAS Health Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES), Total Back Pain, Nocturnal Back Pain, WPAI overall work impairment, WPAI presenteeism, and WPAI activity impairment. Adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) incidence rates showed no significant difference differ between upadacitinib and placebo groups. Subgroup analysis revealed that disease subtype and age did not significantly affect efficacy, and upadacitinib demonstrated comparable efficacy to adalimumab for axial spondyloarthritis. Upadacitinib exhibited satisfactory efficacy in treating axial spondyloarthritis, reducing disease activity and significantly enhancing patients' physical function, emotional well-being, and social engagement. This meta-analysis offers robust evidence supporting upadacitinib as a new treatment for axial spondyloarthritis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effects of solution treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Inconel 625 fabricated by electron beam freeform fabrication. The results indicated that the microstructure of the as-deposited specimen exhibited typical dendritic characteristics. Meanwhile, the Laves ((Ni,Fe,Cr) 2 (Nb,Mo,Ti)) phases and needle-shaped δ phases precipitated. The deposition process led to the development of a preferred orientation feature along the building direction, and the typical {001}<100> plate texture was observed. Solution treatments at 900 °C and 1000 °C resulted in the precipitation of more δ phases, and the volume fraction was approximately 5.29 % and 7.96 %, respectively. The precipitated phases fully dissolved at solution temperatures of 1100 °C and 1200 °C, and equiaxed grains with a twin substructure were formed. The recrystallization weakened the preferred orientation, leading to a decrease in grain size and the formation of {111}<1–10> texture. The as-deposited specimen exhibited an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 682 MPa, a yield strength (YS) of 410 MPa, and an elongation of 56.4 %. Solution treatment had minimal impact on the UTS, and the YS was mainly contributed by the solid solution strengthening. However, the elongation was greatly improved at elevated solution temperatures, and the elongation was increased to 72.1 % at most. The primary mode of fracture was toughness fracture, which was attributed to the coalescence of microvoids. The solution treatment at 900 °C led to a fracture pattern that exhibited a combination of toughness and brittleness, and decreased the elongation to 48.5 %. • Inconel 625 was fabricated by electron beam freeform fabrication technique. • Microstructure evolution and microstructure evolution mechanisms were systematically investigated. • The contribution of different strengthening mechanisms to strength was quantitatively analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine whether the combination of resolvin E1 (RvE1) and lipoxin A4 (LXA4) could promote resolution of pulpitis and to investigate the mechanism. Materials and Methods: Preliminary screening was first conducted in four specialized pro‐resolving mediators (SPMs). Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and double‐immunofluorescence labelling were employed to assess the expression of RelA, SIRT1, SIRT6, SIRT7 and pro‐inflammatory factors. Dental pulp fibroblasts (DPFs) were transfected with siRNA to assess the biological role of SIRT7. A pulpitis model was utilized to evaluate the in vivo curative effect. Results: Preliminary results showed that RvE1 and LXA4 reduced the expression of RelA more markedly than other two SPMs. Both RvE1 and LXA4 treatment downregulated nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) activation and increased the expression of SIRT1, SIRT6 and SIRT7, more so in combination than alone. Double‐immunofluorescence labelling showed that SIRT7 co‐localized with p‐p65 and Ac‐p65 in the nucleus. Inhibiting ChemR23 and ALX reversed the expression of RelA mRNA, p‐p65 and Ac‐p65 proteins, pro‐inflammatory factors, SIRT1, SIRT6 and SIRT7. Silencing SIRT7 significantly increased p‐p65 and Ac‐p65 protein levels and decreased SIRT1 and SIRT6 expression. In vivo experiments showed that combined administration of RvE1 and LXA4 promoted pulpitis markedly to resolution. Conclusions: Combination of RvE1 and LXA4 effectively inhibited NF‐κB activation by upregulating SIRT7 expression in DPFs, leading to reduced production of pro‐inflammatory factors and promotion of pulpitis resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ethanol (EtOH) potentiates mirtazapine(MIR)-induced cardiotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice and in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. • MIR(-plus-EtOH) triggers autophagy induction whereas impaired autophagosome clearance, resulting in dysfunctional autophagy. • HMGB1 is involved in the autophagy dysfunction via Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in MIR(-plus-EtOH)-injured H9c2 cells. Previous surveys have revealed that mirtazapine (MIR), one of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, is associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiac events compared with other newer antidepressants. Chronic ethanol (EtOH) abuse could also lead to myocardial injuries. Concerning the common comorbidity of major depression and alcohol dependence, combined consumption of MIR and EtOH might be prevalent in patients with depression, resulting in an additive or synergistic cardiotoxic effect. To this end, the present study evaluated cardiotoxicity induced by MIR-plus-EtOH in vivo (male C57BL/6J mice) and in vitro (H9c2 cardiomyoblasts), Further research on the role of autophagy and underlying signaling pathway were carried out in H9c2 cells. We found that EtOH exacerbated MIR-induced cardiotoxicity both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, EtOH significantly potentiated MIR-induced dysfunctional autophagy as reflected by upregulated protein levels of LC3-II, p62, Beclin1 and LAMP-1. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine alleviated MIR-plus-EtOH-induced myocardial injury. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a positive regulator of autophagy. In our work, HMGB1 knockdown decreased autophagosome accumulation and boosted viability in H9c2 cells. Additionally, HMGB1 blockage markedly upregulated p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR levels which were suppressed in MIR-plus-EtOH treated cells. In general, the present study demonstrates that EtOH potentiates MIR-induced cardiotoxicity which might be attributed to dysfunctional autophagy via inhibiting Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, while HMGB1 knockdown might contribute to improve autophagy flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The polycrystals of S = 1/2 spin-dimer compound BaCu(SeO 3) 2 have been synthesized by using solid-state reaction. Without long-range order, the magnetic susceptibility χ (T) curve presents two anomalies at T 1 = 5 K and T G = 58 K due to antiferromagnetic (AFM) short-range order and short-range ferromagnetic (FM) correlations, respectively, which is further supported by the specific heat and electron spin resonance data. The high-temperature χ (T) curve follows the Curie-Weiss law with θ CW = 11.3 K, showing the dominant intradimer FM interaction. The magnetization M (H) curve at 2 K is characteristic of an AFM-FM transition at 0.4 T, suggesting the weak interdimer AFM couplings. The density function theory calculations and quantum Monte Carlo simulations allow an estimation of the intradimer and interdimer exchanges with J 1 / k B = 39.09 K, J 2 / k B = −1.51 K, and J 3 / k B = −1.68 K. Interestingly, the χ −1(T) curve within θ CW < T < T G deviates downward from paramagnetic Curie-Weiss behavior, mimicking the Griffiths-like phase. This is further supported by the ac magnetic susceptibility and magnetic relaxation measurements. The competing intradimer FM and interdimer AFM exchanges with a subtle ratio between them are proposed to be responsible for the formation of Griffiths-like phase. [Display omitted] • Spin-dimer compound BaCu 2 (SeO 3) 2 has been successfully synthesized. • The χ −1(T) curve within θ CW < T < T G deviates downward from PM Curie-Weiss behavior, mimicking the Griffiths-like phase. • The DFT calculations show that the intradimer interaction is FM with J 1 / k B = 39.09 K, the interdimer couplings are weak. • The magnetization reaches 1.06 μ B /Cu2+ at 30 T, very close to the saturated value of 1.08 μ B /Cu2+ (g = 2.15 from ESR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centralized air-conditioning systems are widely considered a major energy consumer with high energy flexibility, contributing to renewable penetration and power system regulation. Nevertheless, a lack of understanding of their system components' abilities limits the utilization of their full potential. Hereby, we took the centralized air-conditioning systems of two hub airports as typical examples and quantified their energy flexibility potential by cooling load reduction potential (q max), cooling energy storage capacity (Q), based on field test. Cooling plants had the highest potential (q max = 70–110 W c /m2; Q = 500∼1500 Wh c /m2), followed by terminal devices with building thermal mass (q max = 2–11 W c /m2; Q = 10–40 Wh c /m2) and transmission & distribution networks (q max = 50–200 W c /m2; Q = 10–20 Wh c /m2). Various air-conditioning terminal devices utilize building thermal mass to different degrees. During the investigation, the conventional all-air system used 7.8 %∼18.7 % of the building's thermal capacity, whereas that of the radiant floor system significantly increased to 38.9 %∼48.3 %. Consequently, the systems of the hub airports can participate in demand response programs with a cooling load reduction of 2∼15 MW e , for 6–20 h using different operating strategies. These findings shed light on demand-side flexibility characterization and exploitation to support a decarbonized energy system. • Conducting field tests of centralized air-conditioning systems in two hub airports. • Assessing energy flexibility of the air-conditioning systems and their components. • Evaluating the potential for demand response: 2∼15MW e and 6–20 h. • Air-conditioning terminal devices affect the utilization of building thermal mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tidal river networks are affected by the tide and influenced by complex factors related to sediment oxygen demand (SOD). In this study, we used chemical inhibition to measure the oxygen consumption of different types of SOD to explore the specific oxygen consumption mechanism of sediments. Then, we evaluated the diffusion fluxes of the sediment–water interface and factors affecting SOD using diffusive gradients in thin films. Total SOD in the tidal river network area of the Pearl River basin was ∼0.5928 g/m2/day, which was 8.47% higher than that in the non-tidal river network area but lower than that in black and odorous water reported previously. In the tidal river network area, biological SOD was 15.6% higher in summer than in winter, and the difference in total SOD was greatly influenced by human activity. We observed a significant effect of sediment on SOD in winter, whereas there were no significant correlations between sediment and SOD in summer. Different particle-size distributions lead to different organic matter contents, resulting in different biological SOD ratios between seasons. Our study found that seasonal tidal changes can affect ion exchange at the sediment water interface, leading to changes in SOD.These findings will be of great significance for the study of phenomena associated with low dissolved oxygen in tidal river networks and provide directions for future sediment pollution control. [Display omitted] • We evaluated the specific mechanisms of SOD within a tidal river network. • DGT with SOD measurements was used to calculate diffusion flux. • Assessed the effect of the diffusion flux on SOD at the sediment-water interface. • Sediments in TRN area are more easily contaminated than those in the non-TRN areaTides affect the suspended state of sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is often diagnosed at advanced stages, and severe AH usually carries poor prognosis and high short-term mortality. In addition, it is challenging to understand the molecular mechanisms of immune dysregulation and inflammation in AH due to the cellular complexity and heterogeneity. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, previous studies found that AH causes dysfunctional innate immune response in monocytes, involving activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and cytokine signaling pathways. To better understand the coordinated systemic immune response in AH patients, we performed combined single-cell transcriptome, cell-surface protein, and lymphocyte antigen receptor analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples. Our results showed inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were highly expressed in AH, including IL-2, IL-32, CXC3R1 and CXCL16 in monocytes and NK cells, whereas HLA-DR genes were reduced in monocytes. In addition, we also found altered differentiation of T-helper cells (T H 1 and T H 17), which could further lead to neutrophil recruitment and macrophage activation. Lastly, our results also suggest impaired NK-cell activation and differentiation in AH with reduced gene expression of KLRC2 and increased gene expression of KLRG1. Our findings indicate different mechanisms may be involved in impaired immune and inflammatory responses for the cellular subtypes of the PBMCs in AH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freestanding MXene films are promising for compact energy storage ascribing to their high pseudocapacitance and density, yet the sluggish ion transport caused by the most densely packed structure severely hinders their rate capability. Here, a reassembly strategy for constructing freestanding and flexible MXene‐based film electrodes with a tunable porous structure is proposed, where the Ti3C2Tx microgels disassembled from 3D structured hydrogel are reassembled together with individual Ti3C2Tx nanosheets in different mass ratios to form a densely packed 3D network in microscale and a film morphology in macroscale. The space utilization of produced film can be maximized by a good balance of the density and porosity, resulting in a high volumetric capacitance of 736 F cm−3 at an ultrahigh scan rate of 2000 mV s−1. The fabricated supercapacitor yields a superior energy density of 40 Wh L−1 at a power density of 0.83 kW L−1, and an energy density of 21 Wh L−1 can be still maintained even when the power density reaches 41.5 kW L−1, which are the highest values reported to date for symmetric supercapacitors in aqueous electrolytes. More promisingly, the reassembled films can be used as electrodes of flexible supercapacitors, showing excellent flexibility and integrability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Exercise benefits people with abnormal glucose metabolism, and serum ficolin-3 levels have been reported to be associated with diabetes. However, no relevant study has discussed the relationship between high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and ficolin-3 in a Chinese population. Objective To compare the effect of HIIT and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on blood pressure, glucose control, the lipid profile and the serum ficolin-3 level in patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods We recruited 145 patients with prediabetes and 196 T2D patients from March to June 2018. All participants were randomly grouped into HIIT and MICT groups. HIIT consisted of progressing to twelve 1-min bouts at 90% maximal aerobic capacity (1 min recovery), and MICT consisted of progressing to 20 min at 65% maximal aerobic capacity. ˙VO2 peak, body composition, blood pressure, glucose, the lipid profile and the serum ficolin-3 level were measured before and after three weeks of training. Results After 3 weeks of training, participants in both the HIIT and MICT groups had significantly lower SBP, BMI, waist circumference, % body fat, and serum levels of FPG, TC, TGs, UA and ficolin-3, as well as increased vital capacity and VOmax. Additionally, the patients in the HIIT group still had significantly lower levels of 2hPG and LDL-C, regardless of prediabetes or diabetes status. After comparing the differences in the variation in parameters between the HIIT and MICT groups, we found that HIIT could help patients with prediabetes or diabetes acquire better effects of treatment in regard to anthropometry, blood pressure, glucose control, UA and ficolin-3 levels than MICT. Finally, the patients in the HIIT group had a lower rate of loss to follow-up and a higher rate of session attendance. Conclusions Both HIIT and MICT were beneficial exercise strategies for health in patients with prediabetes or T2D. However, HIIT is a more time-efficient strategy and could lower the serum level of ficolin-3 in patients after 3 weeks of training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmunda japonica (Thunb) is a plant with high nutritional and medicinal value. In this study, microwave‐assisted extraction method was used to extract crude polysaccharides (OCPs) and pure polysaccharides (OPPs) from the tender stems and leaves of Osmunda japonica (Thunb). The yields were 22.08 ± 0.52% and 4.51 ± 0.31%, respectively. Structural analysis using (FT‐IR) revealed that the OCP fraction mainly contained β‐pyranose, while the OPP fraction mainly contained α‐pyranose. In combination with the results of XRD analysis, all the samples exhibited an amorphous noncrystalline structure and the absence of triple‐helix formation during the purification process. Functional property analysis showed that the OCPs had better water‐ and oil‐holding capacity and emulsifying properties than those of the other fractions, and the OPPs had good foaming properties. Osmunda japonica (Thunb) polysaccharides could be used as natural additives in the fields of medicine, cosmetics, and food. Practical applications: The addition of polysaccharides usually changes the food matrix, causing changes in rheological properties, which increases water retention and gel formation, resulting the thickening of the food matrix. However, there are very few data on the functional properties of the polysaccharides from Osmunda japonica (Thunb), so it is imperative to evaluate the basic functional properties of polysaccharides. The structure of plant polysaccharides was closely related to its functional properties, so the functional properties of crude polysaccharides and pure polysaccharide products obtained during the extraction and purification process were further investigated. It is expected that its functional properties will emerge in the fields of natural functional food additives, medical and health products, and increase economic benefits for the Osmunda japonica (Thunb) industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical access to high-efficiency anti-corrosion coatings is adding pH-responsive nanocontainers encapsulated with corrosion inhibitors into epoxy resin as it endows the composite coating with significant active long-term corrosion protection. Here, two self-healing coating systems (I-PBZ-EP and II-PBZ-EP) were constructed based on epoxy coating (EP) and benzotriazole-loaded zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) encapsulated with polydopamine (PDA) by one-pot and two-pot methods, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) investigation shows that the low-frequency impedance modulus value (|Z| 0.01Hz) of I-PBZ-EP still reaches 2.16 × 1010 Ω·cm2 which is the highest among all the coatings after 35 d of immersion. |Z| 0.01Hz of the scratched I-PBZ-EP is 1.10 × 105 Ω·cm2 after 13 h of immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, which far surpasses |Z| 0.01Hz of the scratched II-PBZ-EP, exhibiting its excellent self-healing properties. This is because I-PBZ can release more benzotriazole (BTA) (22.5 mg/L and 13.4 mg/L) than II-PBZ (15.8 mg/L and 9.4 mg/L) under acidic and basic conditions to repair the micro-defects. In short, by changing the loading mode of corrosion inhibitors, I-PBZ-EP with a simpler synthesis method manages to provide the long-term anticorrosion protection for the carbon steel substrate. • Core-shell structured nanocomposites (I-PBZ and II-PBZ) were prepared by one-pot and two-pot methods, respectively. • I-PBZ and II-PBZ can release corrosion inhibitors based on pH-stimuli response. • I-PBZ-EP exhibits better self-healing properties compared with II-PBZ-EP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol use disorders affect millions of people worldwide, and there is growing evidence that excessive alcohol intake causes severe damage to the brain of both humans and animals. Numerous studies on chronic alcohol exposure in animal models have identified that many functional impairments are associated with the hippocampus, which is a structure exhibiting substantial vulnerability to alcohol exposure. However, the precise mechanisms that lead to structural and functional impairments of the hippocampus are poorly understood. Herein, we report a novel cell death type, namely pyroptosis, which accounts for alcohol neurotoxicity in mice. Methods: For this study, we used an in vivo model to induce alcohol‐related neurotoxicity in the hippocampus. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were treated with 95% alcohol vapor either alone or in combination with selective cannabinoid receptor antagonists or agonists, and VX765 (Belnacasan), which is a selective caspase‐1 inhibitor. Results: Alcohol‐induced in vivo pyroptosis occurs because of an increase in the levels of pyroptotic proteins such as nucleotide‐binding domain (NOD)–like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), caspase‐1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), and amplified inflammatory response. Our results indicated that VX765 suppressed the expression of caspase‐1 and inhibited the maturation of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and IL‐18. Additionally, chronic alcohol intake created an imbalance in the endocannabinoid system and regulated 2 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R) in the hippocampus. Specific antagonists of CB1R (AM251 and AM281) significantly ameliorated alcohol‐induced pyroptosis signaling and inactivated the inflammatory response. Conclusions: Alcohol induces hippocampal pyroptosis, which leads to neurotoxicity, thereby indicating that pyroptosis may be an essential pathway involved in chronic alcohol–induced hippocampal neurotoxicity. Furthermore, cannabinoid receptors are regulated during this process, which suggests promising therapeutic strategies against alcohol‐induced neurotoxicity through pharmacologic inhibition of CB1R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are widely used as an effective method for epilepsy analysis and diagnosis. For the establishment of an accurate and efficient epilepsy EEG identification system, it is very important to properly extract the features of EEG signals and select appropriate combination features. This paper proposes an automatic epileptic EEG identification method based on hybrid feature extraction. It uses temporal and frequency domain analysis, nonlinear analysis and one-dimensional local pattern recognition method to extract epileptic EEG features. Gradient energy operator and local speed pattern are proposed to better reflect typical feature in the active EEG signals measured during seizure-free intervals. The genetic algorithm is used to select the obtained hybrid features; then the AdaBoost classifier is used to classify epileptic EEG under various classification conditions. Classification results on the dataset developed by University of Bonn show that the proposed method can be used to classify normal EEG, interictal EEG and seizure activity with only a few features. Compared with related researches using the same dataset, the proposed method can obtain an equally satisfactory classification accuracy while the feature amount is reduced by 61–95%. In particular, the classification accuracy of the interictal and normal EEG can reach 99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomatoes are rich in nutrients, yet they have a short shelf life and are prone to decay due to bacterial invasion. Polysaccharides extracted from Osmunda japonica (Thunb) were briefly characterised. The inhibitory effect of polysaccharides on nine kinds of common spoilage and pathogenic bacteria in tomatoes stored postharvest was studied, and the polysaccharides had broad‐spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activities against many tested strains. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimum bactericidal (fungicidal) concentrations (MBCs) were determined, and the lowest MBC against Bacillus cereus was 0.15 g L−1. Various concentrations of an O. japonica (Thunb) polysaccharide (OP) solution were sprayed onto ordinary preservation paper, which then distinctly maintained tomato freshness. OP delayed vitamin C (VC) and titratable acid decreases and increased respiratory intensity in a dose‐dependent manner, reducing malondialdehyde accumulation. The tomatoes could be stored for 30 day at 25 ± 1 °C. OP has potential as a safe, nontoxic natural plant preservative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An iron‐mediated ring‐opening and rearrangement cascade from 4‐alkenylisoxazoles to polysubstituted pyrroles is described. The cascade reaction conditions are compatible with a variety of functional groups, including ketones, esters, amides, and aryl halides. High reactivity is maintained even if the reaction scale is expanded to 0.5 grams. It is the first iron‐catalyzed rearrangement of 4‐alkenylisoxazoles to pyrroles that is independent of the presence of the alkoxy or amino group at position 5 of the isoxazole substrates. A plausible mechanism of the iron‐mediated cascade reaction is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is unknown, and there is no effective treatment. Selecting appropriate animal models will create a good condition for animal experiments on osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To review different experimental animals of osteoarthritis and different modeling methods. METHODS: CNKI, WanFang, VIP and PubMed databases were searched for the articles published from January 2013 to July 2018. The keywords were 'osteoarthritis, models, animals, mice, rats, goats, guinea pigs, sheep" in Chinese and English, respectively. The repetitive articles were excluded, and the articles related to osteoarthritis and animal models were selected for summary and result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, sheep and other animals can be used as animal models for osteoarthritis research. When studying animal models of osteoarthritis, it is important to choose the right animal models and construction methods. Non-surgical models will not make damage to the parts except for joints, which is in accordance with the pathological process of osteoarthritis. But it is difficult to control, thus causing errors, and it cannot simulate traumatic changes. Surgical models induce joint injury by tissue damage, which exhibits advantages in rapid disease progress and obvious outcomes. Therefore, surgical models are optimal choice for short-term experiments. Different experimental animals and modeling schemes have their own advantages and disadvantages, which need to be reasonably selected according to the requirements of experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: At present, the mechanism of exercise preconditioning for myocardial protection has not been fully elucidated. It is reported that Rho/ROCK pathway plays a key role in cardiovascular disease. Whether exercise preconditioning adapts to the myocardium through the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway remains to be studied. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of exercise preconditioning in rats with myocardial injury after exhaustive exercise. METHODS: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats of 5 weeks old were randomly divided into three groups: control group, simple exhaustive exercise group (EE group), and exercise preconditioning group after exhaustive exercise (EP+EE group). At 1 hour after modeling, a serum sample from each rat was taken for biochemical analysis. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase, phosphocreatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase were detected. Myocardial tissue samples from each rat were taken for pathological observation using hematoxylin-alkaline reddish-picric acid staining. TUNEL method was used to observe apoptosis in the myocardial tissue. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-10 in the myocardial tissue were detected by ELISA. The expression of RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2, Bax, and Bcl-2 protein was analyzed by western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The levels of aspartete aminotransferase, phosphocreatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase of the EE group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of aspartate aminotransferase, phosphocreatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase of the EP+EE group were significantly lower than those of the EE group (P < 0.05). The boundary of cardiomyocytes was unclear in the EE group, in which there were more plaque-like or flaky red-like areas as well as more obvious ischemia-anoxia changes as compared with the control group. Some cardiomyocytes presented with unclear boundary in the EP+EE group with some plaque-like brilliant red-like areas, and the degree of ischemia and anoxemia was significantly lower in the EP+EE group than the EE group. The apoptotic index value of the EE group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the apoptotic index value of the EP+EE group was significantly lower than that of the EE group (P< 0.05). The tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-10 levels in the EE group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-10 levels in the EP+EE group were significantly lower than those in the EE group (P < 0.05). The Bci-2/Bax of the EE group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The Bci-2/Bax of the EP+EE group was significantly higher than that of the EE group (P < 0.05). The levels of RheA, RDCK1 and ROCK2 in the EE group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The levels of RhoA, ROCK1 and ROCK2 in the EP+EE group were significantly lower than those in the EE group (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that exercise preconditioning has a protective effect against myocardial injury and improves cardiac function in rats. The mechanism may be related to the Rho/ROCK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a chronic inflammatory disease, periodontitis is responsible for irreversible soft tissue damage and severe alveolar bone resorption. However, curative effects of current therapies are largely confined by the difficulty to simultaneously achieve anti-inflammation and bone regeneration. Also, the dynamic environment in oral cavity easily causes the drugs swallowed or rinsed away by saliva. We report here a one-step treatment based on a core-shell nanofiber membrane fabricated by coaxial electrospinning. Polymeric micelles containing SP600125 were distributed in the shell, while BMP-2 was incorporated in the core. After crosslinking, the nanofiber membrane displayed a prolonged degradation and release period up to 4 weeks. The release of SP600125 was detected at beginning, whereas BMP-2 was not released until day 12. Such a time-programmed release behavior was proved desirable for suppressing the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and enhancing the osteogenic induction in vitro. Further in vivo investigation confirmed that, by simply covering the periodontitis site with our nanofiber membrane, alveolar destruction was largely avoided and bone defects recovered within 2 month. Taken together, we believe that the use of our membrane with sequential release of SP600125 and BMP-2 may become a convenient and highly comprehensive therapy for periodontitis. Unlabelled Image • A micelle-in-nanofiber membrane was fabricated for the one-step treatment of periodontitis. • The core-shell structure endowed the membrane with a time-programmed drug release property. • The membrane exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory and pro-osteogenic propertie in vitro. • It also possessed excellent curative effects on beagle's class II furcation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased nitrogen (N) inputs and subsequent effects on soil microbial stoichiometry have strong influences on organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. The effects of N addition on soil microbial stoichiometry are well documented, but we know little about the mechanisms linking between N addition and soil microbial stoichiometry. We examined how the effects of N addition cascade through soil properties (pH, available N (AN), available phosphorus (AP), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), DOC/AN, AN/AP and DOC/AP ratios), plant community composition (grasses, sedges, forbs, and legumes), plant resource stoichiometry (community-level leaf and root C/N/P ratios), and the composition of main microbial groups (phospholipid fatty acids profile) to influence microbial stoichiometry using a 5-year N fertilization field experiment in a Tibetan alpine meadow. We found that N addition changed soil microbial C/N and N/P ratios, but not microbial C/P ratios, indicating plasticity in microbial stoichiometry to increasing N deposition. Moreover, the changes in microbial stoichiometry were driven by N not C and P concentrations. Structural equation modeling revealed that N addition predominantly controlled soil microbial C/N and N/P ratios through plant leaf and root stoichiometry, but not the composition of plant community and main microbial groups. Our findings suggest that N addition-induced changes in plant resource stoichiometry are the core drivers of soil microbial stoichiometry responses to N deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a chronic infectious disease, periodontitis is the main cause of teeth exfoliation due to its severe inflammatory reaction and periodontal tissue destruction. Recent reports have shown that baicalin could inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway in inflammatory activity of periodontitis, but the efficacy of baicalin is limited due to its poor water solubility. In this work, we report the fabrication and application of baicalin encapsulated D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) polymeric micelles (PMs) through thin-film hydration method. The monodispersed micelles showed a spherical shape in aqueous solution and a prolonged drug-release kinetic. After baicalin was loaded into PMs, cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction were both decreased. The expression of genes (including TNF-α, IL-1β, RANKL and NF-κB) and the phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65 protein in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat gingival fibroblasts were also reduced. Further investigation of drug efficacy in a rat periodontal disease model confirmed that the use of baicalin-PMs could reduce the destruction of alveolar bone and gingival fiber. Moreover, the therapeutic effect of baicalin-PMs was significantly better than that of free baicalin. These results suggest that the direct injection of micelles containing water-insoluble drugs may become a simple but effective method for treating periodontitis. Unlabelled Image • Sub-30 nm baicalin-loaded polymeric micelles were successfully synthesized by thin-film hydration method. • Compared with free drugs, baicalin-loaded micelles showed less cytotoxicity to cell proliferation. • Baicalin-loaded micelles significantly suppressed the development of periodontitis through NF- κB signaling pathway. • Rat periodontitis model proved the treatment efficacy of baicalin-loaded micelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An integrated strategy to identify and screen chemical markers of the two herbs was developed. • An UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS approach coupled with multivariate statistical analysis was carried out. • A total of 113 flavonoids compounds was identified from the two herbs. • 15 flavonoids were identified as marker compounds for the first time. In traditional Chinese medicine, Lysimachiae Herba (LH) and Desmodii Styracifolii Herba (DSH) have been widely used for the treatment of calculi, but there is a certain focus in clinical application. Flavonoids as their pharmacologically active substances were focusly studied to make clear of their chemical compositions and reveal the similarities and differences between LH and DHS by analysis of characteristic marker components at the molecular level. An ultra high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) approach based on metabolite profiling was established. The high-resolution data was acquired through data dependent acquisition (DDA) mode. Based on the targeted and untargeted analytical strategies, a total of 113 compounds were identified, of which 80 compounds existed in LH and 61 in DSH. Then multivariate statistical analysis was applied to further find the characteristic marker components, and a total number of 21 variables were screened as the valuable variables for discrimination. By matching with identified flavonoids, these 21 variables were corresponding to 15 flavonoids (including 6 from LH and 9 from DSH) which were firstly identified as the marker compounds. These results indicated that the UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS method with analysis strategy was a powerful tool for rapidly identification and screening of marker compounds of flavonoids between LH and DSH, and the 15 screened marker compounds provide a chemical basis for the further researches on the mechanisms of LH and DSH in the treatment of cholelithiasis and nephrolithiasis respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Increasing nitrogen (N) deposition has considerable effects on soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition mediated by soil enzyme activities. Few studies, however, have explored how N addition shapes soil enzyme activity patterns by changing plants, soils and microbes. Methods: We conducted a five-year field fertilization experiment (0, 5, 10, and 15 g N m−2 yr.−1) to study how N addition affected soil enzyme activity patterns in the topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil (20–40 cm) in a Tibetan alpine meadow. Enzyme activity patterns were calculated by the percentage of the sum of all measured enzyme activities. The composition of the plant and microbial communities were evaluated through measuring the abundance of plant functional groups and quantifying microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), respectively. Soil pH and available N were also measured. Results: We found that soil N availability primarily controlled plant community composition, but pH controlled the composition of the microbial community, irrespective of soil depth. Soil enzyme activity patterns differed between two soil depths and among N addition rates. Importantly, N addition shaped soil enzyme activity patterns through the changes in soil pH rather than via the composition of the plant and microbial communities. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that N addition can affect components of plant-soil system and, in particular, weaken the linkages between plant and microbial communities and enzyme activity patterns. The work suggests that N enrichment-induced soil acidification plays a key role in SOM decomposition and nutrient cycling in the Tibetan meadow ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A Pd/Fe 2 O 3 catalyst was investigated for hydrodeoxygenation of anisole. • The catalyst shows a remarkable turnover rate per Pd atoms and good stability. • Singly atomically dispersed PdFe bimetallic sites are formed during reaction. • In-situ XAS results suggests each Pd atom coordinated with 2.7 Fe atoms in average. Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is a promising route to convert biomass molecules into biofuels, which is usually promoted by supported noble metal catalysts. It is still one of the key issues to reduce the usage of noble metal for improving the atomic efficiency of the catalyst. As a type of emerging catalytic materials, single-atomically dispersed bimetallic catalyst (SDBM) is a promising candidate for this purpose. Herein, we investigated a single-atomically dispersed Pd/Fe 2 O 3 catalyst with the exceptional HDO activity. At 573 K, anisole conversion is 99% while the selectivity to HDO products is 84%. The turnover rate per Pd atom is 182.2 h−1, which is remarkably greater than that of supported Pd nanoparticles. Additionally, it exhibits good stability for more than 110 h of continuously operation. The authentic catalytic sites during reaction was studied by comprehensive techniques. The presence of the Pd atoms on Fe 2 O 3 changes the surface chemistries of the catalyst surface, then boosts the HDO activity consequently. As unveiled by in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, the Pd atoms are coordinated with 2.76 nearby Fe atoms in average via metallic Pd-Fe bonds. Under HDO reaction conditions, single atomically dispersed Pd 1 Fe 3 bimetallic sites are generated in-situ and act as the authentic catalytic sites. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In estimating optical flow using convolutional neural networks, a gap in accuracy exists between supervised and unsupervised training because supervised methods can obtain more explicit clues from GT data. In this study, we bridge this disparity by introducing a cycle adversarial mechanism to provide additional flow priors. Specifically, this mechanism eliminates the requirement for paired data and enables unsupervised training. Furthermore, it provides more explicit clues for the network and optimizes the flow performance by adversarial training between the generator and the discriminator. Additionally, we propose a redesigned generator named the Recursion-Attention Flow Generator (RAFG) and Homology Isomerism Discriminator (HID) to adapt the UDF-GAN to flow estimation tasks. Finally, we use SpyNet as a teacher network to direct the UDF-GAN to improve the robustness to mode collapse in the early training phase. The experiments were conducted on various public flow datasets, in contrast to several state-of-the-art flow models for flow estimation, that involve CNN- and GAN-based methods trained in unsupervised and supervised manners, respectively. • We introduced the cycle adversarial mechanism into the flow task to provide additional clues for estimation. • We redesigned the generator and discriminator to adapt the network for flow estimation. • We introduced SpyNet as a teacher network to guide the generator directly in the early training phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Battery-free DC microgrid is proposed to charge private EVs solely by PV. • It provides intermittent but free charging service to cover intra-urban transportation. • Influence of intermittent charging on service quality is quantified. • Distributed charging strategy takes the role of energy storage for PV-EV synergy. • Building-connected microgrid can improve SCR and avoid distribution grid upgrade. Charging electric vehicles (EV) by photovoltaics (PV) contributes to achieving carbon neutrality, but puts pressure on urban renewal, e.g., large investments in distribution grid upgrade and energy storage (ES). To solve this problem, we proposed a charging system aiming at providing intermittent but free solar charging service for private EV drivers to cover their daily intra-urban transportation demand. It is a battery-free direct-current (DC) microgrid with a distributed charging strategy, taking variable DC bus voltage as a control signal. The system was optimized and tested by simulation on an office building with 80 private EVs. We performed a system performance comparison, when achieving the same guarantee level of EV use with the parking shed fully cover by PV. A 10-kW charger (DC Level 1) with the strategy can take the role of a 3.5-kW charger (AC Level 2) with ES (26.0 kWh/parking space) to coordinate PV generation and charging load. Furthermore, connecting the system with the adjacent building can increase the annual solar self-consumption rate from 33.3% to 67.9%, and avoid the distribution grid upgrade (average 5.6 kVA/charger). The discounted payback time of this building-connected system decreases from 9.4 to 4.5 years, compared with a conventional solar charging station. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5‐O‐Methylvisammioside is one of major chromones of Radix Saposhnikoviae possessing definite pharmacological activities, but there are few reports with respect to the metabolism of 5‐O‐methylvisammioside. In this work, metabolites in vivo were explored in male Sprague‐Dawley rats and in vitro investigated on rat intestinal bacteria incubation model and were identified by using ultra high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. An online data acquisition method based on a multiple mass defect filter and dynamic background subtraction was developed to trace all probable metabolites. As a result, 26 metabolites in vivo (including 18, 15, 10, and 10 in rat urine, faece, bile, and blood) and 7 metabolites in vitro were characterized, respectively. Additionally, the main metabolic pathways in vivo and in vitro, including deglycosylation, deglycosylation + demethylation, deglycosylation + oxidation, N‐acetylation, and sulfate conjugation, were summarized by calculating the relative content of each metabolite. The obtained results significantly enriched our knowledge about 5‐O‐methylvisammioside metabolism and will lead to a better understanding of its safety and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Two regioselective synthetic routes towards 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles from ynones are reported. One route takes place via first converting the ynones to ynone O -methyl oximes, followed by a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular cyclization. The other involves the formation of 5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles by a cyclocondensation between ynones and hydroxylamine, and subsequent acid mediated dehydration. The two routes are not only both highly regioselective, but also complementary to each other as a pair of regioisomeric 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles are readily prepared from one single ynone substrate. The efficiency of the two routes are further evaluated and demonstrated in the synthesis of three representative 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) flows from land to sea in the Yangtze River basin were simulated for the period 1900–2010, by combining models for hydrology, nutrient input to surface water, and an in-stream retention. This study reveals that the basin-wide nutrient budget, delivery to surface water, and in-stream retention increased during this period. Since 2004, the Three Gorges Reservoir has contributed 5% and 7% of N and P basin-wide retention, respectively. With the dramatic rise in nutrient delivery, even this additional retention was insufficient to prevent an increase of riverine export from 337 Gg N yr −1 and 58 Gg P yr −1 (N:P molar ratio = 13) to 5896 Gg N yr −1 and 381 Gg P yr −1 (N:P molar ratio = 35) to the East China Sea and Yellow Sea (ECSYS). The midstream and upstream subbasins dominate the N and P exports to the ECSYS, respectively, due to various human activities along the river. Our spatially explicit nutrient source allocation can aid in the strategic targeting of nutrient reduction policies. We posit that these should focus on improving the agricultural fertilizer and manure use efficiency in the upstream and midstream and better urban wastewater management in the downstream subbasin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interfacial tension, wettability, foam and emulsification properties of di-tetrapropylene diphenyl ether disulfonates (C12-DADS) gemini-type surfactant have been studied and compared to mono-tetrapropylene diphenyl ether disulfonates (C12-MADS) and tetrapropylene benzene sulfonates (C12-BAS). The results show that the C12-DADS have a lower interfacial activity compared to that of C12-MADS and C12-BAS. The wettability of the three surfactants decreases in the order C12-BAS > C12-DADS > C12-MADS. For foam properties, the foamability and foam stability of C12-MADS and C12-DADS is lower than that of C12-BAS. In addition, the emulsification ability increase in the order C12-DADS < C12-MADS < C12-BAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on cores, well logs and seismic data, we established the isochronous sequence stratigraphic framework of the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation and predicted the shale lithofacies distribution within the sequence stratigraphic framework using geostatistical inversion. The results of our study show that the Lower Member of the Longmaxi Formation is a third order sequence that includes a transgressive systems tract (TST), an early highstand systems tract (EHST) and a late highstand systems tract (LHST). Four lithofacies units have been recognized, specifically siliceous shale, argillaceous shale, calcareous shale and mixed shale. The results of geostatistical inversion reveal that the TST is characterized by flaky siliceous shale and some sparsely distributed calcareous shale. The EHST is dominated by mixed shale with minor amounts of siliceous shale, which occurs in only a small area. Moreover, in the LHST, argillaceous shale occupies almost the entire study region. Comparing to traditional geological research with geophysical research, the vertical resolution of the predictive results of geostatistical inversion could reach 1-2 m. Geostatistical inversion effectively solves the problem of precisely identifying the lithofacies in the Fuling shale gas field and predicting their spatial distribution. This successful study showcases the potential of this method for carrying out marine shale lithofacies prediction in China and other locations with similar geological backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]