Friction and Wear Reduction in Copper with a Gradient Nano-grained Surface Layer

A gradient nano-grained (GNG) surface layer is fabricated on a commercial-purity Cu sample, in which a significant reduction in the coefficient of friction and the wear loss is obtained compared to the coarse-grained and the nano-grained counterparts. A novel mild ploughing mechanism without subsurface damage has been identified in the GNG sample, giving rise to a much reduced wear rate. Sliding induced surface deformation brings about the unique inhomogeneous substructure in the GNG Cu: the topmost layer persists with nanograins without being oxidized, underneath which deformation is well accommodated by grain coarsening adjacent to the dynamic recrystallization layer. Both subsurface structural evolution and stress field model confirm that sliding-induced strain localization is suppressed, which is responsible for the superior friction and wear behaviors of the GNG Cu

the radiation source signals for testing

In the paper, the radiation source signals for testing are from Case Western Reserve University Bearing Data Center. The database has been a standard dataset for testing the effectiveness of feature extraction algorithm and pattern recognition algorithm. Besides, the sampled signals of the database are full of random mechanical noise, which makes the test closer to the real situation. The motor drive end rotor is supported by a test bearing, where a single point of failure is set through discharge machining. The radiation source signals of bearing vibration data used for analysis are obtained under the motor speed of 1797 r/min and load of 0 horsepower. An accelerometer is installed on the motor drive end housing with a bandwidth of up to 5000 Hz, and the vibration data for the test bearing under different fault patterns is collected by a recorder as the radiation source signals, in which the sampling frequency is 12 kHz. The fault types contain outer race fault, the inner race fault, and the ball fault, and the fault diameters, i.e., fault severities, contain 28 mils, 21 mils, 14 mils and 7 mils. Totally 11 types of radiation source signals of bearing vibration data considering different fault categories and fault severities are analyzed, as seen in Table 1. Each data sample is made up of 2048 time series points. For those 550 data samples, each of those 550 data sample are different with different random mechanical noise. Among them, 110 data samples are chosen randomly for the establishment of the knowledge base, with the rest 440 data samples taken as testing data samples

Descriptive statistics of the sample stratified by sex and race.

<p>Descriptive statistics of the sample stratified by sex and race.</p

Number of substance dependent subjects according to DSM-IV for the top three addiction categories: alcohol (A), nicotine (N) and cocaine (C).

<p>(i) is based on the overall sample and (ii) is based on the White women subset.</p

Summary of the 8 most significant SNPs in PKNOX2 gene showing genomewide significant association with substance dependence in White women.

<p>The high-risk allele is in the parenthesis.</p

The Effect of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) on Erectile Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>High prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) has been observed in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). However, whether or not CP/CPPS is a risk factor of ED remains unknown and controversial. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between CP/CPPS and ED.</p><p>Methods</p><p>PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library were searched up to November 11, 2014 to identify studies reporting the association between CP/CPPS and ED. Case–control, cohort and cross-sectional studies were included. Quality of the included studies was assessed. The odds ratio of ED and the mean difference of five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score were pooled using a random effects model. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analyses were performed.</p><p>Results</p><p>Three cross-sectional studies, two case–control studies, and four retrospective studies with 31,956 participants were included to calculate the pooled odds ratio of ED, and two studies with 1499 participants were included to calculate the pooled mean difference of IIEF-5 scores. A strong correlation was found between CP/CPPS and ED (pooled odds ratio: 3.02, 95% CI: 2.18–4.17, <i>P</i> < 0.01), with heterogeneity across studies (<i>I</i>^<i>2</i> = 65%; <i>P</i> < 0.01). A significant decrease in the IIFE-5 score was observed in the CP/CPPS group (pooled mean difference: −4.54, 95% CI: −5.11–−3.98; <i>P</i> < 0.01).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Our study indicates that patients with CP/CPPS have an increased risk of suffering from ED. Assessment of erectile function is necessary for the therapy of patients with CP/CPPS. Further evidence is necessary to confirm the relationship between CP/CPPS and ED.</p></div

Associations of the 8 most significant SNPs in PKNOX2 with six individual substance dependence outcomes (p-values).

<p>Associations of the 8 most significant SNPs in PKNOX2 with six individual substance dependence outcomes (p-values).</p

MiR-150 regulates human keratinocyte proliferation in hypoxic conditions through targeting HIF-1α and VEGFA: Implications for psoriasis treatment

<div><p>Psoriasis is a common and chronic autoimmune skin disease which affects 2 to 3% of the world population. Abnormal proliferation of human keratinocytes is an important feature of psoriasis, along with local hypoxia and vascular abnormal growth. To leverage recent molecular findings into the personalized treatment of psoriasis, we need a strategy that integrates clinical stratification with molecular phenotyping. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large family of small non-coding RNA which regulates diverse biological process, including cell proliferation, by modulating gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. In the present study, we indicated that miR-150 specifically down-regulated expressed in psoriatic skin lesions, and could inhibit HaCaT cells and primary adult human keratinocytes (HKCs)’ proliferation in either normal or hypoxia conditions; by direct targeting, miR-150 could also regulate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). In addition, we found that HIF-1α and VEGFA were highly expressed in the lesional psoriatic skin compared with the non-lesional psoriatic skin, and negatively correlated with miR-150 expression. Taken together, we indicated miR-150 regulates human keratinocytes’ proliferation in hypoxic conditions through targeting HIF-1α and VEGFA in psoriasis for the first time, and provide diagnostic markers and a novel target for psoriasis treatment.</p></div

Characteristics of included studies.

<p>CP = chronic prostatitis, CPPS = chronic pelvic pain syndrome, CP/CPPS = chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, ED = erectile dysfunction, IIEF-5 = 5-item International Index of Erectile Function, NIH-CPSI = National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index.</p><p>Characteristics of included studies.</p

HOTf-Catalyzed, Solvent-Free Oxyarylation of Ynol Ethers and Thioethers

A novel HOTf-catalyzed oxyarylation of ynol ethers and thioethers has been realized with aryl sulfoxides as the oxyarylating reagents, providing α-arylated esters or thioesters in good to excellent yields. Notably, all atoms of the starting materials were incorporated in the product (100% atom economy) and the reaction proceeded under very mild conditions. It was found that the reaction can be ran under air and that the best yields are obtained under solvent-free conditions