Simulation of the fast ion instability in SSRF storage ring

Fast ion instability has been observed in the early commissioning and operation of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) storage ring. In this paper, a weak-strong code is used to simulate the fast ion instability in SSRF storage ring. Various fill patterns and gas pressures are investigated. The results show that the mini-train fill patterns are very effective to suppress the growth of the fast ion instability.Comment: This paper is submitted to the proceedings of the first International Particle Accelerator Conference (IPAC10) in Kyoto, Japa

Aggregation-Induced Intermolecular Charge Transfer Emission for Solution-Processable Bipolar Host Material via Adjusting the Length of Alkyl Chain

Molecules with donor–spacer–acceptor configuration have been developed rapidly given their peculiar properties. How to utilize intermolecular interactions and charge transfers for solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) greatly relies on molecular design strategy. Herein, soluble luminophores with D-spacer-A motif were constructed via shortening the alkyl chain from nonane to propane, where the alkyl chain was utilized as a spatial linker between the donor and acceptor. The alkyl chain blocks the molecular conjugation and induces the existence of aggregation-induced intermolecular CT emission, as well as the improved solubility and morphology in a solid-state film. In addition, the length of the alkyl chain affects the glass transition temperature, carrier transport and balance properties. The mCP-3C-TRZ with nonane as the spacer shows better thermal stability and bipolar carrier transport ability, so the corresponding solution-processable phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes exhibit superior external quantum efficiency of 9.8% when using mCP-3C-TRZ as a host material. This work offers a promising strategy to establish a bipolar host via utilizing intermolecular charge transfer process in an aggregated state

Baicalin ameliorates polycystic ovary syndrome through AMP-activated protein kinase

Abstract Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder and regarded as the leading cause of anovulatory infertility. PCOS is characterized by reproductive dysfunction and metabolic disorders. Baicalin (BAL) is one of the most potent bioactive flavonoids isolated from the radix of Scutellaria baicalensis. In the present study, we investigated the potential effects of BAL on PCOS in dehydroepiandrosterone-treated rats. We found that BAL notably reduced the serum levels of free testosterone, total testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, progesterone, and estradiol in PCOS rats. The increase of serum insulin level and HOMA-IR was markedly inhibited by BAL. Moreover, BAL decreased body weights, increased the number of rats with the regular estrous cycle, and ameliorated ovarian histological changes and follicular development in the DHEA-treated PCOS rats. The increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-18) and decrease of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in PCOS rats were suppressed by BAL. BAL induced a significant decrease in the mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes, including 3β-HSD, CYP11A1, CYP19A1, StAR, in ovarian tissues in PCOS rats. Furthermore, BAL inhibited the decrease of AMPK protein level and phosphorylation, the decrease of Akt phosphorylation and the increase of 5α-reductase enzyme 1 expression in ovarian tissues in PCOS rats. The effects of BAL were inhibited by an inhibitor of AMPK, dorsomorphin. The upregulation of AMPK contributed to the beneficial effects of BAL. The results highlight the potential role of BAL for the intervention of PCOS

Cas9/gRNA-Mediated Mutations in <i>PtrFLA40</i> and <i>PtrFLA45</i> Reveal Redundant Roles in Modulating Wood Cell Size and SCW Synthesis in Poplar

Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan proteins (FLAs) play an important role in plant development and adaptation to the environment. However, the roles of FLAs in wood formation remain poorly understood. Here, we identified a total of 50 PtrFLA genes in poplar. They were classified into four groups: A to D, among which group A was the largest group with 28 members clustered into four branches. Most PtrFLAs of group A were dominantly expressed in developing xylem based on microarray and RT-qPCR data. The roles of PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 in group A were investigated via the Cas9/gRNA-induced mutation lines. Loss of PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 increased stem length and diameter in ptrfla40ptrfla45 double mutants, but not in ptrfla40 or ptrfla45 single mutants. Further, our findings indicated that the ptrfla40ptrfla45 mutants enlarged the cell size of xylem fibers and vessels, suggesting a negative modulation in stem xylem cell size. In addition, wood lignin content in the ptrfla40fla45 mutants was increased by nearly 9%, and the lignin biosynthesis-related genes were significantly up-regulated in the ptrfla40fla45 mutants, in agreement with the increase in wood lignin content. Overall, Cas9/gRNA-mediated mutations in PtrFLA40 and PtrFLA45 reveal redundant roles in modulating wood cell size and secondary cell wall (SCW) synthesis in poplar

Early-Life Exposure to Famine and Risk of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Chinese Adults

Background: Early-life exposure to the Chinese famine has been related to the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease later in life. Nevertheless, the long-term impact of famine exposure on metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), a recently proposed term to describe liver disease associated with known metabolic dysfunction, remains unknown. The aim of our study was to explore the relationship between early famine exposure and MAFLD in adulthood. Methods: A total of 26,821 participants (10,994 men, 15,827 women) were recruited from a cohort study of Chinese adults in Shanghai. We categorized participants into four famine exposure subgroups based on the birth year as nonexposed (1963–1967), fetal-exposed (1959–1962), childhood-exposed (1949–1958), and adolescence-exposed (1941–1948). MAFLD was defined as liver steatosis detected by ultrasound plus one of the following three criteria: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes, or evidence of metabolic dysregulation. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed to examine the association between famine exposure and MAFLD. Results: The mean ± standard deviation age of the participants was 60.8 ± 6.8 years. The age-adjusted prevalence of MAFLD was 38.3, 40.8, 40.1, and 36.5% for the nonexposed, fetal-exposed, childhood-exposed, and adolescence-exposed subgroups, respectively. Compared with nonexposed participants, fetal-exposed participants showed an increased risk of adulthood MAFLD (OR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.00–1.21). The significant association between fetal famine exposure and MAFLD was observed in women (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.37), but not in men (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.75–1.03). In age-balanced analyses combining pre-famine and post-famine births as the reference, women exposed to famine in the fetal stage still had an increased risk of MAFLD (OR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.05–1.26). Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to famine showed a sex-specific association with the risk of MAFLD in adulthood

Synergistic improved electrical resistivity-temperature characteristics and DC breakdown strength in insulating XLPE composites by incorporating positive temperature coefficient particles

Weakening the electrical resistivity-temperature dependence of cross-linked polyethene (XLPE) is an effective way to enhance the electric field uniformity of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables. Therefore, an attempt is made to suppress the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) of electrical resistivity by incorporating BaTiO3-based ceramic fillers with positive temperature coefficient (PTC) electrical resistivity into XLPE. Morphology characterization indicated that PTC particles were well dispersed in the XLPE matrix. The measurements of electrical resistivity and DC breakdown strength are carried out from 30 °C to 90 °C. The electrical resistivity and DC breakdown strength of the sample at high temperatures were significantly improved with the introduction of PTC particles, which is attributed to the deep traps near the Curie temperature region. The high doping content has a better suppression of the NTC effect. The activation energy (0.63 eV) and NTC strength (1.74) of the sample with the addition of 10 wt% of PTC are considerably reduced compared with XLPE. The content of PTC particles was positively correlated to the enhancement of electrical resistivity and DC breakdown strength. The optimum content for DC breakdown strength is about 5 wt%. The low electrical resistivity-temperature dependence of insulation performance shows a potential to obtain temperature-stable HVDC cable insulation

The correlation of anandamide with gonadotrophin and sex steroid hormones during the menstrual cycle

Objective(s): The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in plasma anandamide (AEA) levels throughout the normal menstrual cycle, and to analyze the relationship among AEA, sex steroids and gonadotrophins. Materials and Methods: The patients were fertile women with normal menstrual cycle, proposed to get in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment due to oviduct obstruction or male infertility. Patients were divided into two groups, cross-sectional (n=79) and longitudinal (n=10). The plasma AEA levels were examined by the ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) system. The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P) were measured by chemiluminescence. Results: The AEA levels in the late follicular phase were slightly higher than those in the early follicular phase. Subsequently, the AEA levels peaked at the time of ovulation in both two cohorts. Finally, the lowest AEA levels were measured in the luteal phase. Moreover, there were highly significant positive correlations between the plasma AEA concentration and the serum levels of FSH, LH and E2, whereas the AEA level was not correlated with P during the normal menstrual cycle. Conclusion: Our observations reveal a dynamic change in the plasma AEA level, which is closely associated with the levels of gonadotrophin and sex steroid hormones, suggesting that the hormones may be involved in the regulation of AEA levels during the menstrual cycle. Our studies help to design new strategies to improve implantation and treatments for reproductive diseases

Impact of Body Mass Index on Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Among Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Patients

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of body mass index (BMI) on outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) / intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) among polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS patients. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that was performed in the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Patients who were under 35 years old were included in the study and were divided into four groups based on their BMI. The number of retrieved oocytes, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and live births among PCOS and non-PCOS patients were compared between different BMIs. Results: IVF/ICSI pregnancies in obese PCOS women had a considerably higher risk of miscarriage and low rate of clinical pregnancy than in non-obese PCOS pregnancies. However, in non-PCOS patient, obesity significantly elevated miscarriage rate but did not affect clinical pregnancy rate. Conclusion: Obesity in PCOS patients led to poor outcomes of IVF/ICSI