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The M-type GFRP foldcore was prepared by thermal pressing method and was bonded with the panel to obtain the complete foldcore sandwich structure. The influence of impact energy and impact position on the damage mode and impact dynamic response under the low-velocity impact of GFRP M-type foldcore sandwich structure is studied through experiment and numerical simulation. The results show that the impact position has a significant influence on the damage mode and impact resistance of the foldcore sandwich structure, mainly fracture damage at Base-impact while mainly tensile damage at Node-impact. The impact resistance of Node-impact is better than the Base-impact. The numerical simulation model can also predict the damage mode and the impact dynamic response well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Justicia (Acanthaceae), J. thailandica, is described and illustrated from Thailand. The new species belongs to Justicia sect. Harnieria and is similar to J. quadrifaria and J. championii, but differs on account of the obviously densely white indumentum in the inflorescence bracts and calyx, ovate leaf blades with margin usually entire, spathulate inflorescence bracts and length ratio of calyx to mature capsule. It is assessed to be "Near threatened" (NE) according to IUCN Red List Category and Criteria. Pollen and seed morphology characters are also reported. Species of Justicia sect. Harnieria in Thailand are discussed and a key to the three recognized species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rungia flaviflora (Acanthaceae), a new species from Southeast Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. The new species resembles R. burmanica in shape and texture of leaf, as well as bract and corolla shape, but differs in its growth habit, plant size, cystolith shape, spike length, bract margin, and corolla colour. Among known taxa in the genus, this species is also distinctive in having tricolporate pollen grains and a chromosome number of 22. Information on pollen morphology, chromosome number, and karyotype is given, and a line drawing, color plate, and distribution map of the new species are also provided. This new species was previously misidentified as R. monetaria, which is restricted to Vietnam and does not occur in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As critical dimensions decrease for 32-nm node and beyond, the resist loss increases and resist patterns become more vulnerable to etching failures. Traditional optical proximity correction (OPC) models only consider two-dimensional (XY) contours and neglect height (Z) variations. Rigorous resist simulators can simulate a three-dimensional (3-D) resist profile, but they are not fast enough for correction or verification on a full chip. However, resist loss for positive-tone resists is mainly driven by optical intensity variations, which are accurately modeled by the optical portion of an OPC model. We show that a compact resist model can be used to determine resist loss by properly selecting the optical image plane for calibration. The model can then be used to identify toploss hotspots on a full chip and, in some cases, for correction of these patterns. In addition, the article will show how the model can be made more accurate by accounting for some 3-D effects like diffusion through height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As critical dimensions decrease for 32-nm node and beyond, the resist loss increases and resist patterns become more vulnerable to etching failures. Traditional optical proximity correction (OPC) models only consider two-dimensional (XY) contours and neglect height (Z) variations. Rigorous resist simulators can simulate a three-dimensional (3-D) resist profile, but they are not fast enough for correction or verification on a full chip. However, resist loss for positive-tone resists is mainly driven by optical intensity variations, which are accurately modeled by the optical portion of an OPC model. We show that a compact resist model can be used to determine resist loss by properly selecting the optical image plane for calibration. The model can then be used to identify toploss hotspots on a full chip and, in some cases, for correction of these patterns. In addition, the article will show how the model can be made more accurate by accounting for some 3-D effects like diffusion through height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, the ballistic performance of double-layered steel plates of different materials impacted by blunt- and ogival-nosed projectiles is experimentally investigated by a gas gun. The ballistic limit velocity for each configuration is obtained and compared on the investigation of the effect of the order of layers and the nose shape of projectiles on the ballistic resistance of targets. The experimental results showed that the ballistic limit velocities are higher for the double-layered plates of the upper layer of high strength and low ductility material and the lower layer of low strength and high ductility material than the configuration of the opposite layering order. Moreover, the ballistic limit velocities of ogival-nosed projectiles are significantly smaller than those of blunt-nosed projectiles. Furthermore, the keep integrity ability of ogival-projectiles is obvious stronger than that of blunt-nosed projectiles, and also the blunt-nosed projectiles lose some mass and their length shorten, but the loss of mass and length of ogival-nosed projectiles are tiny that can be neglected. The differences in the ballistic limit velocities between various impact conditions can be related to the transitions of perforation mechanisms and failure models of plates and projectiles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The effect of layering depends on the strength and nose shape of projectiles. [•] The change in strength leads to the failure of projectiles. [•] The strength of projectiles affects the ballistic resistance of targets. [•] The number of layers affects the ballistic resistance of targets. [•] The different layering effect due to the transitions of failure models of targets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The effect of layering depends on the strength of projectiles. [•] The change in strength leads to the failure of projectiles. [•] The strength of projectiles affects the ballistic resistance of targets. [•] The number of layers affects the ballistic resistance of targets. [•] The different layering effect due to the transitions of failure models of targets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, a series of impact tests were conducted to investigate the ballistic performance of monolithic and multi-layered metal plates subjected to impact by blunt rigid projectiles. Layered plates arranged in various combinations of equivalent total thickness were normally impacted at different velocities by a gas gun. Ballistic limit velocity for each configuration target was obtained based on the investigation of the effect of the air gap between layers, the number, order and thickness of layers on the ballistic resistance. The results showed that the monolithic targets were more effective than layered targets when the dominant response of monolithic targets was dishing which involved membrane stretching, and the ballistic limit velocities of layered plates decreased with the increase of the number of layers. Conversely, the monolithic targets had lower ballistic limit velocities than layered targets if total thickness above a specific value that the dominant response of monolithic targets was shearing. Moreover, the air gap significantly affected the ballistic resistance of spaced layered plates. Layered targets with larger air gap were stronger than those with small air gap, and also there were two ballistic limit velocities in the former configuration. On the other hand, as the order of layers affected the ballistic resistance of double-layered targets, the ballistic resistance was better when the first layer was thicker than the second layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a study concerning the synergistic effect of insecticide, piperonyl butoxide on fipronil. It is discussed that the larvae of resistant strain of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis when treated with both piperonyl butoxide and fipronil, an increase in mortality rate by 1.85 to 2.53 times was observed. It further states that the inhibitory activity of piperonyl butoxide towards the microsomal O-demethylase causes differential synergism of fipronil.

Background/Aims: Percutaneous coronary intervention reduces acute myocardial infarction (MI)-induced mortality to a great extent, but effective treatments for MI-induced cardiac fibrosis and heart failure are still lacking. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a variety of roles in cells and have thus been investigated extensively. MicroRNA-223 (miR-223) expression has been reported to be altered in post-MI heart failure in humans; however, the roles of miR-223 in MI remain unknown. Our study aimed to elucidate the roles of miR-223 in cardiac fibrosis. Methods: Cultured cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were activated by TGF-β1 stimulation. Gain and loss of miR-223 and RAS p21 protein activator 1 (RASA1) knockdown in CFs were achieved by transfecting the cells with miR-223 mimics and inhibitors, as well as small interfering RNA-RASA1 (siRASA1), respectively. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (qRT-PCR) was used to determine miR-223-3p and RASA1 expression levels, and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell migration and scratch assays were performed to assess CFs viability and migration, respectively. Western blotting was used to detect collagen I, collagen III, alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), RASA1, p-Akt/t-Akt, p-MEK1/2/t-MEK1/2, and p-ERK1/2/t-ERK1/2 protein expressions, and immunofluorescence assays were used to detect the expression of α-actin, vimentin and α-SMA. Luciferase assays were carried out to determine whether miR-223 binds to RASA1. Rat models of MI were established by the ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. MiR-223 inhibition in vivo was achieved via intramyocardial injections of the miR-223 sponge carried by adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9). The cardiac function was detected by echocardiography, and cardiac fibrosis was shown by Masson's trichrome staining. Results: miR-223 was increased in CFs compared to cardiomypcytes, and TGF-β1 treatment increased miR-223 expression in CFs. The miR-223 mimics enhanced cell proliferation and migration and collagen I, collagen III, and α-SMA protein expression in CFs, while the miR-223 inhibitors had contrasting effects and partially prevented the promoting effects of TGF-β1. qRT-PCR and western blotting revealed that miR-223 negatively regulated RASA1 expression, and the luciferase assays showed that miR-223 suppressed the luciferase activity of the RASA1 3' untranslated region (3'UTR), indicating that miR-223 binds directly to RASA1. Similar to transfection with the miR-223 mimics, RASA1 knockdown enhanced cell proliferation and migration and collagen I, collagen III, and α-SMA protein expression in CFs. Moreover, RASA1 knockdown partially reversed the inhibitory effects of the miR-223 inhibitor on cell proliferation and migration and collagen I, collagen III, and α-SMA protein expression, indicating that the effects of miR-223 in CFs are partially mediated by the regulation of RASA1 expression. Further exploration showed that miR-223 mimics and siRASA1 promoted MEK1/2, ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation, while the miR-223 inhibitors had contrasting effects. The in vivo experiments confirmed the results of the in vitro experiments and showed that miR-223 inhibition prevented cardiac functional deterioration and cardiac fibrosis. Conclusions: miR-223 enhanced cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation in CFs, thus mediated cardiac fibrosis after MI partially via the involvement of RASA1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strobilanthes lamiifolia (Nees) T. Anderson is reported here as a new record for the flora of Vietnam. It is morphologically allied to Strobilanthes sulfurea but differs in the shape of the leaf, bract, and bracteoles. Photographs and line drawings are given together with information on habitat, ecology and preliminary conservation assessment based on IUCN criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passiflora kwangtungensis is a critically endangered Chinese species known from Guangxi, Guangdong, and Jiangxi Provinces. The species belongs to Passiflora subgenus Decaloba, supersection Disemma, section Octandranthus. Field observations decreased rapidly during the 1970s to 1980s, and it was suspected that this species might have been extirpated due to repeated deforestation events throughout southern China. In recent years, however, small isolated populations of this species have been rediscovered in Hunan Province, representing new locality records for P. kwangtungensis. New herbarium collections, color photographs, and silica gel collections have provided an unexpected opportunity to examine the evolutionary significance of this species. The current study presents a revised morphological description of P. kwangtungensis based on fresh material, along with an updated distribution map. Using nrITS sequence data, preliminary insights into the phylogenetic position of P. kwangtungensis are presented. Molecular data support the placement of P. kwangtungensis within supersection Disemma section Octandranthus. However, the exact placement of P. kwangtungensis within this lineage is unclear. The nrITS data suggest that P. kwangtungensis may be sister to a clade containing Passiflora from China, Nepal, India, and Southeast Asia. Morphologically, P. kwangtungensis displays the most similarity P. geminiflora (Nepal, India) and P. henryi (China). Lastly, conservation status and recommendations are made for P. kwangtungensis following the IUCN Red List Criteria, where this species is classified as CR C1+C2a(i); D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acanthus is a unique genus consisting of both true mangrove and terrestrial species; thus, it represents an ideal system for studying the origin and adaptive evolution of mangrove plants to intertidal environments. However, little is known regarding the two respects of mangrove species in Acanthus. In this study, we sequenced the transcriptomes of the pooled roots and leaves tissues for a mangrove species, Acanthus ilicifolius, and its terrestrial congener, A. leucostachyus, to illustrate the origin of the mangrove species in this genus and their adaptive evolution to harsh habitats. Results: We obtained 73,039 and 69,580 contigs with N50 values of 741 and 1557 bp for A. ilicifolius and A. leucostachyus, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on four nuclear segments and three chloroplast fragments revealed that mangroves and terrestrial species in Acanthus fell into different clades, indicating a single origin of the mangrove species in Acanthus. Based on 6634 orthologs, A. ilicifolius and A. leucostachyus were found to be highly divergent, with a peak of synonymous substitution rate (Ks) distribution of 0.145 and an estimated divergence time of approximately 16.8 million years ago (MYA). The transgression in the Early to Middle Miocene may be the major reason for the entry of the mangrove lineage of Acanthus into intertidal environments. Gene ontology (GO) classifications of the full transcriptomes did not show any apparent differences between A. ilicifolius and A. leucostachyus, suggesting the absence of gene components specific to the mangrove transcriptomes. A total of 99 genes in A. ilicifolius were identified with signals of positive selection. Twenty-three of the 99 positively selected genes (PSGs) were found to be involved in salt, heat and ultraviolet stress tolerance, seed germination and embryo development under periodic inundation. These stress-tolerance related PSGs may be crucial for the adaptation of the mangrove species in this genus to stressful marine environments and may contribute to speciation in Acanthus. Conclusions: We characterized the transcriptomes of one mangrove species of Acanthus, A. ilicifolius, and its terrestrial relative, A. leucostachyus, and provided insights into the origin of the mangrove Acanthus species and their adaptive evolution to abiotic stresses in intertidal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acanthus is a unique genus consisting of both true mangrove and terrestrial species; thus, it represents an ideal system for studying the origin and adaptive evolution of mangrove plants to intertidal environments. However, little is known regarding the two respects of mangrove species in Acanthus. In this study, we sequenced the transcriptomes of the pooled roots and leaves tissues for a mangrove species, Acanthus ilicifolius, and its terrestrial congener, A. leucostachyus, to illustrate the origin of the mangrove species in this genus and their adaptive evolution to harsh habitats. Results: We obtained 73,039 and 69,580 contigs with N50 values of 741 and 1557 bp for A. ilicifolius and A. leucostachyus, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on four nuclear segments and three chloroplast fragments revealed that mangroves and terrestrial species in Acanthus fell into different clades, indicating a single origin of the mangrove species in Acanthus. Based on 6634 orthologs, A. ilicifolius and A. leucostachyus were found to be highly divergent, with a peak of synonymous substitution rate (Ks) distribution of 0.145 and an estimated divergence time of approximately 16.8 million years ago (MYA). The transgression in the Early to Middle Miocene may be the major reason for the entry of the mangrove lineage of Acanthus into intertidal environments. Gene ontology (GO) classifications of the full transcriptomes did not show any apparent differences between A. ilicifolius and A. leucostachyus, suggesting the absence of gene components specific to the mangrove transcriptomes. A total of 99 genes in A. ilicifolius were identified with signals of positive selection. Twenty-three of the 99 positively selected genes (PSGs) were found to be involved in salt, heat and ultraviolet stress tolerance, seed germination and embryo development under periodic inundation. These stress-tolerance related PSGs may be crucial for the adaptation of the mangrove species in this genus to stressful marine environments and may contribute to speciation in Acanthus. Conclusions: We characterized the transcriptomes of one mangrove species of Acanthus, A. ilicifolius, and its terrestrial relative, A. leucostachyus, and provided insights into the origin of the mangrove Acanthus species and their adaptive evolution to abiotic stresses in intertidal environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]