Exploiting the instability of smart structure for reconfiguration

Aiming to verify the concept of using heteroclinic connections to reconfigure smart structures, a multistable buckled beam with integrated Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires is utilized as a high fidelity model. The Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires are resistively heated to provide the actuation force to stabilize the unstable configuration and the transition of the beam from one unstable equilibrium condition to the other. This concept provides a means of reducing the energy requirement for transitions between configurations of the structure, which is an energy-efficient reconfiguration scheme between equal-energy unstable (but actively controlled) equilibria. This letter presents a detailed design of the system, and how the active (heated) SMA wires control the structure stay in unstable configuration and drive the structure to achieve reconfiguration. Exploiting the instability of the smart structure has significant interests in many power reduction applications, including active flow control, reconfiguration of large deployable aerospace structures, and MEMS devices

Potential molecular and cellular mechanisms of the effects of cuproptosis-related genes in the cardiomyocytes of patients with diabetic heart failure: a bioinformatics analysis

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for heart failure, and diabetes-induced heart failure severely affects patients’ health and quality of life. Cuproptosis is a newly defined type of programmed cell death that is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular disease, but the molecular mechanisms involved are not well understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify biomarkers associated with cuproptosis in diabetes mellitus-associated heart failure and the potential pathological mechanisms in cardiomyocytes.MaterialsCuproptosis-associated genes were identified from the previous publication. The GSE26887 dataset was downloaded from the GEO database.MethodsThe consistency clustering was performed according to the cuproptosis gene expression. Differentially expressed genes were identified using the limma package, key genes were identified using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA) method, and these were subjected to immune infiltration analysis, enrichment analysis, and prediction of the key associated transcription factors. Consistency clustering identified three cuproptosis clusters. The differentially expressed genes for each were identified using limma and the most critical MEantiquewhite4 module was obtained using WGCNA. We then evaluated the intersection of the MEantiquewhite4 output with the three clusters, and obtained the key genes.ResultsThere were four key genes: HSDL2, BCO2, CORIN, and SNORA80E. HSDL2, BCO2, and CORIN were negatively associated with multiple immune factors, while SNORA80E was positively associated, and T-cells accounted for a major proportion of this relationship with the immune system. Four enriched pathways were found to be associated: arachidonic acid metabolism, peroxisomes, fatty acid metabolism, and dorsoventral axis formation, which may be regulated by the transcription factor MECOM, through a change in protein structure.ConclusionHSDL2, BCO2, CORIN, and SNORA80E may regulate cardiomyocyte cuproptosis in patients with diabetes mellitus-associated heart failure through effects on the immune system. The product of the cuproptosis-associated gene LOXL2 is probably involved in myocardial fibrosis in patients with diabetes, which leads to the development of cardiac insufficiency

A fluorinated bihydrazide conjugate for activatable sensing and imaging of hypochlorous acid by 19F NMR/MRI.

Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is one of the most important reactive oxygen species (ROS) and plays a vital role in many physiological and pathological processes. The comprehensive exploration of mechanistic details and the potential clinical translation necessitate the development of reliable probes for prompt and accurate detection of HClO in complex biological environments. Herein we report a fluorinated bihydrazide conjugate as a 19F NMR/MRI probe with a "turn-on" character for the detection of HClO. This probe could selectively respond to HClO, leading to a significant recovery of 19F signals for 19F NMR/MRI. Activatable sensing and imaging of HClO were achieved with SMMC-7721 cells and nude mice, which demonstrates that this small molecular conjugate could serve as a selective probe for real-time sensing and imaging of HClO in biological systems

Characteristics and Geological Implications of Lacustrine Carbonate of Nantun Formation in Hailar Basin

Globally, lacustrine carbonate rocks are often found in rift lake basins. Because they often do not form large-scale conventional or unconventional reservoirs, they have not received enough attention in previous oil and gas exploration. Recent years, exploration examples in China show that lacustrine carbonate has close relationship with unconventional oil and gas. Mudstone with carbonate deposits always has a good exploration effect in the area. However, the genesis of lacustrine carbonate is still controversial. The sediment environment difference between carbonate and mudstone and its effects on unconventional hydrocarbon accumulation are not yet clear. This paper focuses on lacustrine carbonate found in the Nantun Formation in Hailar Basin. Through the analysis of lithofacies, geochemistry, and logging data, several findings have been obtained in the current study. (a) Two kinds of lacustrine carbonates, micrite dolomite and marlstone, which represent semideep to deep lake environments, have been identified in the research area. (b) Lacustrine dolomite (LD), whose genesis may relate to magmatic movement and deep hydrothermal processes, shows an extremely dry, hot paleoclimate and a saline, anaerobic ancient water condition. (c) Carbonate deposition in mudstone is related to the condensation section, and marlstone and micrite dolomite represent the beginning and end of the condensation section, respectively. Compared with mudstone around carbonate rocks, LD represents a drier, hotter, and saltier environment, which is of significance for sedimentary environment identification. In addition, the mudstone with lacustrine carbonate deposits has better organic matter characteristics and can form good unconventional oil and gas reservoirs that are of great significance for further exploration

Multifunctional Ag@Fe(2)O(3) yolk-shell nanoparticles for simultaneous capture, kill, and removal of pathogen

We combined silver and iron oxide nanoparticles to make unique Ag@Fe(2)O(3) yolk-shell multifunctional nanoparticles by the Kirkendall effect. After the surface functionalization using glucose, the Ag@Fe(2)O(3)-Glu conjugates exhibited both high capture efficiency of bacteria and potent antibacterial activity. The Ag@Fe(2)O(3) yolk-shell nanostructures may offer a unique multifunctional platform for simultaneous rapid detection and capture of bacteria and safe detoxification treatment.National Science Foundation of China[21021061, 81000662]; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[2010121012]; Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University[NCET-10-0709

Gradient differences of immunotherapy efficacy in metastatic melanoma related to sunlight exposure pattern: A population-based study

BackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized metastatic melanoma (MM) treatment in just a few years. Ultraviolet (UV) in sunlight is the most significant environmental cause of melanoma, which is considered to be the main reason for tumor mutation burden (TMB) increase in melanoma. High TMB usually predicts that PD-1 inhibitors are effective. The sunlight exposure pattern of MM might be a clinical feature that matches TMB. The relationship between sunlight exposure patterns and immunotherapy response in MM is unclear. This study aims to investigate the correlation between sunlight exposure patterns and immunotherapy response in MM and establish nomograms that predict 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate.MethodsWe searched the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and enrolled MM cases from 2005-2016. According to the advent of ICIs in 2011, the era was divided into the non-ICIs era (2005-2010) and the ICIs era (2011-2016). Patients were divided into three cohorts according to the primary site sunlight exposure patterns: head and neck in the first cohort, trunk arms and legs in the second cohort, and acral sites in the third cohort. We compared survival differences for each cohort between the two eras, performed stratified analysis, established nomograms for predicting 3- and 5-year OS rate, and performed internal validation.ResultsComparing the survival difference between the ICIs and non-ICIs era, head and neck melanoma showed the greatest improvement in survival, with 3- and 5-year OS rate increasing by 10.2% and 9.1%, respectively (P=0.00011). In trunk arms and legs melanoma, the 3- and 5-year OS rate increased by 4.6% and 3.9%, respectively (P<0.0001). There is no improvement in survival in acral melanoma (AM) between the two eras (P=0.78). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve (AUC) and calibration graphs show good discrimination and accuracy of nomograms. Decision curve analysis (DCA) suggests good clinical utility of nomograms.ConclusionsBased on the classification of sunlight exposure patterns, there is a gradient difference in immunotherapy efficacy for MM. The degree of sunlight exposure is positively correlated with immunotherapy response. The nomograms are sufficiently accurate to predict 3- and 5-year OS rate for MM, allowing for individualized clinical decisions for future clinical work

Eye movements as predictor of cognitive improvement after cognitive remediation therapy in patients with schizophrenia

AimBaseline cognitive functions of patients predicted the efficacy of cognitive remediation therapy (CRT), but results are mixed. Eye movement is a more objective and advanced assessment of cognitive functions than neuropsychological testing. We aimed to investigate the applicability of eye movements in predicting cognitive improvement after patients with schizophrenia were treated with CRT.MethodsWe recruited 79 patients with schizophrenia to complete 8 weeks of CRT and assessed their cognitive improvement outcomes. Eye movements were assessed by prosaccades, antisaccades, and free-viewing tasks at baseline, and neuropsychological tests in four cognitive domains were assessed before and after treatment to calculate treatment outcomes. Predictors of demographic information, clinical characteristics, and eye movement measures at baseline on cognitive improvement outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. We further compared the predictive performance between eye movement measurements and neuropsychological test regarding the effect of CRT on cognitive improvement, and explored factors that could be affect the treatment outcomes in different cognitive domains.ResultsAs operationally defined, 33 patients showed improved in cognition (improved group) and 46 patients did not (non-improved group) after CRT. Patients with schizophrenia being employed, lower directional error rate in antisaccade task, and lower the gap effect (i.e., the difference in saccadic latency between the gap condition and overlap condition) in prosaccade task at baseline predicted cognitive improvement in CRT. However, performance in the free-viewing task not associated with cognitive improvement in patients in CRT. Our results show that eye-movement prediction model predicted the effect of CRT on cognitive improvement in patients with schizophrenia better than neuropsychological prediction model in CRT. In addition, baseline eye-movements, cognitive reserve, antipsychotic medication dose, anticholinergic cognitive burden change, and number of training sessions were associated with improvements in four cognitive domains.ConclusionEye movements as a non-invasiveness, objective, and sensitive method of evaluating cognitive function, and combined saccadic measurements in pro- and anti-saccades tasks could be more beneficial than free-viewing task in predicting the effect of CRT on cognitive improvement in patients with schizophrenia