Damage characteristics and constitutive modeling of the 2D C/SiC composite: Part I – Experiment and analysis

AbstractThis paper reports an experimental investigation on the macroscopic mechanical behaviors and damage mechanisms of the plain-woven (2D) C/SiC composite under in-plane on- and off-axis loading conditions. Specimens with 15°, 30°, and 45° off-axis angles were prepared and tested under monotonic and incremental cyclic tension and compression loads. The obtained results were compared with those of uniaxial tension, compression, and shear specimens. The relationships between the damage modes and the stress state were analyzed based on scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) observations and acoustic emission (AE) data. The test results reveal the remarkable axial anisotropy and unilateral behavior of the material. The off-axis tension test results show that the material is fiber-dominant and the evolution rate of damage and inelastic strain is accelerated under the corresponding combined biaxial tension and shear loads. Due to the damage impediment effect of compression stress, compression specimens show higher mechanical properties and lower damage evolution rates than tension specimens with the same off-axis angle. Under cyclic tension–compression loadings, both on-axis and off-axis specimens exhibit progressive damage deactivation behaviors in the compression range, but with different deactivation rates

Analysis of the expression and distribution of protein O-linked mannose β1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 1 in the normal adult mouse brain

IntroductionProtein O-linked mannose β1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 1 (POMGNT1) is crucial for the elongation of O-mannosyl glycans. Mutations in POMGNT1 cause muscle-eye-brain (MEB) disease, one of the main features of which is anatomical aberrations in the brain. A growing number of studies have shown that defects in POMGNT1 affect neuronal migration and distribution, disrupt basement membranes, and misalign Cajal-Retzius cells. Several studies have examined the distribution and expression of POMGNT1 in the fetal or neonatal brain for neurodevelopmental studies in the mouse or human brain. However, little is known about the neuroanatomical distribution and expression of POMGNT1 in the normal adult mouse brain.MethodsWe analyzed the expression of POMGNT1 mRNA and protein in the brains of various neuroanatomical regions and spinal cords by western blotting and RT-qPCR. We also detected the distribution profile of POMGnT1 in normal adult mouse brains by immunohistochemistry and double-immunofluorescence.ResultsIn the present study, we found that POMGNT1-positive cells were widely distributed in various regions of the brain, with high levels of expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. In terms of cell type, POMGNT1 was predominantly expressed in neurons and was mainly enriched in glutamatergic neurons; to a lesser extent, it was expressed in glial cells. At the subcellular level, POMGNT1 was mainly co-localized with the Golgi apparatus, but expression in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria could not be excluded.DiscussionThe present study suggests that POMGNT1, although widely expressed in various brain regions, may has some regional and cellular specificity, and the outcomes of this study provide a new laboratory basis for revealing the possible involvement of POMGNT1 in normal physiological functions of the brain from a morphological perspective

Emodin Protects against Diabetic Cardiomyopathy by Regulating the AKT/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway in the Rat Model

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been recognized as a major health problem. Emodin (Emo) has been reported to exhibit protective effects against diabetic nephropathy. However, little has been known about the effect of Emo on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). A type 2 DM model was induced in rats by low dose streptozotocin (STZ) combined with high energy intake. We found that Emo-treated groups displayed significantly higher body weight (BW) and lower heart weight (HW)/BW. Furthermore, Emo could significantly decrease blood glucose, total cholesterol (TG) levels, and triglyceride (TC) levels in diabetic rats. Moreover, the Emo-treated group showed a marked increase in heart rate (HR) and showed lower left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LWPWT), and interventricular septal diastolic wall thickness (IVSD). Emo induced a significant increase in phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3β in myocardium. These results suggest that Emo may have great therapeutic potential in the treatment of DCM by Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway

Effect of Directional Movement on Dynamic Light Scattering

Dynamic light scattering is a standard technique of nano-particle sizing in colloid systems. However, it is difficult to measure the particle size accurately in the flowing dispersion, which is inevitable in many applications, such as on-line measurement. In this paper, we present that the wave vector of the scattered light, which is averaged to a constant in traditional technique, varies with time when the particles undergoing not only the random motion but also the directional movement. This variation results in an additional term of sinc function to the traditional intensity autocorrelation function of the scattered light, thus affect the final particle size determination, especially for large velocity of the directional movement. The experimental results agree well with our derivation. We believe this will facilitate the extension of the technique of the dynamic light scattering to a wider range of application, especially of the on-line measurement in the flowing dispersion

The functional role of lncRNAs as ceRNAs in both ovarian processes and associated diseases

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted significant scientific attention due to their central role in regulating gene expression and their profound impact on the intricate mechanisms of ovarian function. These versatile molecules exert their influence through various mechanisms, including the coordination of transcription processes, modulation of post-transcriptional events, and the shaping of epigenetic landscapes. Furthermore, lncRNAs function as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), engaging in intricate interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs) to finely adjust the expression of target genes. The intricate lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network serves as a crucial determinant in governing the multifaceted physiological functions of the ovaries. It holds substantial potential in unraveling the causes and progression of reproductive disorders and, importantly, in identifying new therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers for these conditions. A comprehensive comprehension of lncRNAs and their ceRNA activities within the domain of ovarian biology could potentially lead to groundbreaking advancements in clinical interventions and management strategies. This exploration of lncRNAs and their intricate involvement in the regulatory framework provides an extensive platform for deciphering the complex nature of ovarian physiology and pathology. The ongoing progress in this field, which encompasses in-depth investigations into the functional roles of specific lncRNAs, the elucidation of their complex interactions with miRNAs, and the comprehensive profiling of their expression patterns, holds the promise of making significant contributions to our understanding of ovarian biology and reproductive disorders. Ultimately, these breakthroughs will have wide-ranging translational implications, paving the way for the development of precision therapies and personalized medicine strategies to address the myriad challenges in the realm of reproductive health

WZ-3146 acts as a novel small molecule inhibitor of KIF4A to inhibit glioma progression by inducing apoptosis

Abstract Background Glioma is considered the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system. Although traditional treatments have not achieved satisfactory outcomes, recently, targeted therapies for glioma have shown promising efficacy. However, due to the single-target nature of targeted therapy, traditional targeted therapies are ineffective; thus, novel therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Methods The gene expression data for glioma patients were derived from the GEO (GSE4290, GSE50161), TCGA and CGGA databases. Next, the upregulated genes obtained from the above databases were cross-analyzed, finally, 10 overlapping genes (BIRC5, FOXM1, EZH2, CDK1, KIF11, KIF4A, NDC80, PBK, RRM2, and TOP2A) were ultimately screened and only KIF4A expression has the strongest correlation with clinical characteristics in glioma patients. Futher, the TCGA and CGGA database were utilized to explore the correlation of KIF4A expression with glioma prognosis. Then, qRT-PCR and Western blot was used to detect the KIF4A mRNA and protein expression level in glioma cells, respectively. And WZ-3146, the small molecule inhibitor targeting KIF4A, were screened by Cmap analysis. Subsequently, the effect of KIF4A knockdown or WZ-3146 treatment on glioma was measured by the MTT, EdU, Colony formation assay and Transwell assay. Ultimately, GSEA enrichment analysis was performed to find that the apoptotic pathway could be regulated by KIF4A in glioma, in addition, the effect of WZ-3146 on glioma apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and Western blot. Results In the present study, we confirmed that KIF4A is abnormally overexpressed in glioma. In addition, KIF4A overexpression is a key indicator of glioma prognosis; moreover, suppressing KIF4A expression can inhibit glioma progression. We also discovered that WZ-3146, a small molecule inhibitor of KIF4A, can induce apoptosis in glioma cells and exhibit antiglioma effects. Conclusion In conclusion, these observations demonstrated that targeting KIF4A can inhibit glioma progression. With further research, WZ-3146, a small molecule inhibitor of KIF4A, could be combined with other molecular targeted drugs to cooperatively inhibit glioma progression

Effects of yeast culture on in vitro ruminal fermentation and microbial community of high concentrate diet in sheep

Abstract This research aimed to investigate effects of different yeast culture (YC) levels on in vitro fermentation characteristics and bacterial and fungal community under high concentrate diet. A total of 5 groups were included in the experiment: control group without YC (CON), YC1 (0.5% YC proportion of substrate dry matter), YC2 (1%), YC3 (1.5%) and YC4 (2%). After 48 h of fermentation, the incubation fluids and residues were collected to analyze the ruminal fermentation parameters and bacterial and fungal community. Results showed that the ruminal fluid pH of YC2 and YC4 groups was higher (P < 0.05) than that of CON group. Compared with CON group, the microbial protein, propionate and butyrate concentrations and cumulative gas production at 48 h of YC2 group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), whereas an opposite trend of ammonia nitrogen and lactate was observed between two groups. Microbial analysis showed that the Chao1 and Shannon indexes of YC2 group were higher (P < 0.05) than those of CON group. Additionally, YC supplementation significantly decreased (P < 0.05) Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-001, Streptococcus bovis and Neosetophoma relative abundances. An opposite tendency of Aspergillus abundance was found between CON and YC treatments. Compared with CON group, the relative abundances of Prevotella, Succiniclasticum, Butyrivibrio and Megasphaera elsdenii were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in YC2 group, while Apiotrichum and unclassified Clostridiales relative abundances were decreased (P < 0.05). In conclusion, high concentrate substrate supplemented with appropriate YC (1%) can improve ruminal fermentation and regulate bacterial and fungal composition