A prospective observational cohort study of the efficacy of tofacitinib plus iguratimod on rheumatoid arthritis with usual interstitial pneumonia

ObjectivesThis study aims to assess the efficacy of tofacitinib (TOF) plus iguratimod (IGU) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (RA-UIP).MethodsThis was a prospective observational cohort, single-center study. Data from 78 RA-UIP patients treated with TOF plus IGU, IGU plus conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), and csDMARDs were analyzed. Clinically relevant responses in RA activity assessment, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) assessment at baseline and follow-up were compared between groups to evaluate the efficacy of TOF plus IGU.ResultsA total of 78 patients were followed up for at least 6 months after treatment. There were significant changes in sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity score (DAS) 28-CRP during the follow-up within each treatment group, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. After 6 months of TOF plus IGU treatment, forced vital capacity (FVC)% (84.7 ± 14.7 vs. 90.7 ± 15.4) and HRCT fibrosis score (7.3 ± 3.4 vs. 7.0 ± 5.6) showed a significant improvement compared to the csDMARDs group (P = 0.031, P = 0.015). The TOF plus IGU-treated patients had a significantly higher regression and lower deterioration than the csDMARDs-treated patients (P = 0.026, P = 0.026) and had a significantly higher response (regression + stability), with overall response rates of 66.7% (16/24) vs. 35.7% (10/28) (P = 0.027), respectively.ConclusionOur results indicate that TOF plus IGU can simultaneously relieve RA and RA-UIP and be better than the csDMARDs with a higher response rate in RA-UIP, which may be a potential choice for “dual treat-to-target”

EbMYBP1, a R2R3-MYB transcription factor, promotes flavonoid biosynthesis in Erigeron breviscapus

Erigeron breviscapus, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, is enriched in flavonoids that are beneficial to human health. While we know that R2R3-MYB transcription factors (TFs) are crucial to flavonoid pathway, the transcriptional regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis in E. breviscapus has not been fully elucidated. Here, EbMYBP1, a R2R3-MYB transcription factor, was uncovered as a regulator involved in the regulation of flavonoid accumulation. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis revealed that a large group of genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis were significantly changed, accompanied by significantly increased concentrations of the flavonoid in EbMYBP1-OE transgenic tobacco compared with the wild-type (WT). In vitro and in vivo investigations showed that EbMYBP1 participated in flavonoid biosynthesis, acting as a nucleus-localized transcriptional activator and activating the transcription of flavonoid-associated genes like FLS, F3H, CHS, and CHI by directly binding to their promoters. Collectively, these new findings are advancing our understanding of the transcriptional regulation that modulates the flavonoid biosynthesis

Direct observation of high temperature superconductivity in one-unit-cell FeSe films

Heterostructure based interface engineering has been proved an effective method for finding new superconducting systems and raising superconductivity transition temperature (TC). In previous work on one unit-cell (UC) thick FeSe films on SrTiO3 (STO) substrate, a superconducting-like energy gap as large as 20 meV, was revealed by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS). Angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) further revealed a nearly isotropic gap of above 15 meV, which closes at a temperature of ~ 65 K. If this transition is indeed the superconducting transition, then the 1-UC FeSe represents the thinnest high TC superconductor discovered so far. However, up to date direct transport measurement of the 1-UC FeSe films has not been reported, mainly because growth of large scale 1-UC FeSe films is challenging and the 1-UC FeSe films are too thin to survive in atmosphere. In this work, we successfully prepared 1-UC FeSe films on insulating STO substrates with non-superconducting FeTe protection layers. By direct transport and magnetic measurements, we provide definitive evidence for high temperature superconductivity in the 1-UC FeSe films with an onset TC above 40 K and a extremely large critical current density JC ~ 1.7*106 A/cm2 at 2 K. Our work may pave the way to enhancing and tailoring superconductivity by interface engineering

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Association of Mg-rich Olivine with Magnetite as a Result of Brucite Marble Assimilation by Basaltic Magma in the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China

An unusual feature of the magmatic Fe-Ti oxide deposits associated with layered intrusions in the Permian Emeishan large igneous province (LIP) in SW China is the association of the mineralization with olivine that is significantly more Mg-rich than those that occur elsewhere. A working hypothesis for the production of Mg-rich olivine is that significant assimilation of carbonate occurred during the formation of the Fe-Ti oxide deposits in the Emeishan LIP. This study provides several lines of supporting evidence from a coeval picritic dyke in the footwall of the Panzhihua layered intrusion at Zhujiabaobao. Country rocks to the Zhujiabaobao picritic dyke are brucite marbles. Olivine phenocrysts in the dyke have Fo contents varying from 79 to 91 mol %. The most Mg-rich olivine phenocrysts (Fo89-91) are present in the margins of the dyke and contain undissolved calcite. Olivine phenocrysts in the marginal sample show reversed zoning in Fo content and contain similar to 20% lower Ni than those with similar Fo contents in the coeval picrites emplaced in the nearby area. Olivine-hosted oxide inclusions in this sample are exclusively Cr-magnetite (calculated atomic Fe3+/Cr3+ > 1) instead of chromite or Cr-spinel (calculated atomic Fe3+/Cr3+ (Nd) values (1 center dot 4-2) but contrasting Sr isotope compositions. The sample with the most Mg-rich olivine (Fo89-90) has the highest initial Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio (0 center dot 7054), whereas samples with more Fe-rich olivine (Fo78-83) have lower initial Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios (0 center dot 7046-0 center dot 7049). The results of mixing calculations indicate that up to similar to 25 wt % assimilation of brucite marble by basaltic magma with a composition similar to that of the average of the coeval high-Ti basalts can readily explain the observed mineralogical and isotopic variations within the dyke. The results from the dyke show that carbonate assimilation by basaltic magma is an efficient way to produce the association of magnetite with olivine that is anomalously rich in magnesium

Multiscale Modeling and Simulation of Directional Solidification Process of Ni-Based Superalloy Turbine Blade Casting

Ni-based superalloy turbine blades have become indispensable structural parts in modern gas engines. An understanding of the solidification behavior and microstructure formation in directional solidified turbine blades is necessary for improving their high-temperature performance. The multiscale simulation model was developed to simulate the directional solidification process of superalloy turbine blades. The 3D cellular automaton-finite difference (CA-FD) method was used to calculate heat transfer and grain growth on the macroscopic scale, while the phase-field method was developed to simulate dendrite growth on the microscopic scale. Firstly, the evolution of temperature field of an aero-engine blade and a large industrial gas turbine blade was studied under high-rate solidification (HRS) and liquid-metal cooling (LMC) solidification processes. The varying withdrawal velocity was applied to change the curved mushy zone to a flat shape. Secondly, the grain growth in the aero-engine blade was simulated, and the grain structures in the starter block part and the spiral selector part in the HRS process were compared with those in the LMC process. The simulated grain structures were generally in agreement with experimental results. Finally, the dendrite growth in the typical HRS and LMC solidification process was investigated and the simulation results were compared with the experimental results in terms of dendrite morphology and primary dendritic spacing

Multi-scale simulation of single crystal hollow turbine blade manufactured by liquid metal cooling process

Liquid metal cooling (LMC) process as a powerful directional solidification (DS) technique is prospectively used to manufacture single crystal (SC) turbine blades. An understanding of the temperature distribution and microstructure evolution in LMC process is required in order to improve the properties of the blades. For this reason, a multi-scale model coupling with the temperature field, grain growth and solute diffusion was established. The temperature distribution and mushy zone evolution of the hollow blade was simulated and discussed. According to the simulation results, the mushy zone might be convex and ahead of the ceramic beads at a lower withdrawal rate, while it will be concave and laggard at a higher withdrawal rate, and a uniform and horizontal mushy zone will be formed at a medium withdrawal rate. Grain growth of the blade at different withdrawal rates was also investigated. Single crystal structures were all selected out at three different withdrawal rates. Moreover, mis-orientation of the grains at 8 mm/min reached ~30°, while it was ~5° and ~15° at 10 mm/min and 12 mm/min, respectively. The model for predicting dendritic morphology was verified by corresponding experiment. Large scale for 2D dendritic distribution in the whole sections was investigated by experiment and simulation, and they presented a well agreement with each other. Keywords: Hollow blade, Single crystal, Multi-scale simulation, Liquid metal coolin

Influence of sloshing on the performance of a trough plate redistributor

A packed tower is one of the components of offshore floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) storage and unloading device. In order to ensure the good redistribution performance of a gas–liquid redistributor in the packed tower, we developed a set of experimental devices which can realize different sloshing conditions and different bias current incoming forms and a corresponding numerical calculation model by combining hydraulic experiments with hydromechanic numerical simulation. Then, the simulation results were verified by using the experimental results, and simulation results and experimental results were analyzed. Finally, the performance of the traditional trough plate redistributor was investigated under the working conditions of quiescence, sloshing and different bias current incoming. And the following research results were obtained. First, under the working condition of quiescence, the liquid flow rate of different sprinkling points on the traditional trough plate redistributor is basically the same and the uniform distribution is presented with the non-uniformity in the order of 10–2. Second, the reason for the uniform redistribution deterioration of the redistributor is mainly the liquid level difference caused by the liquid migration. Third, under the working conditions of quiescence, rolling and pitching, the uniform distribution of trough plate redistributor is rarely affected by the change of bias current degree of the incoming liquid. Under the working condition of sloshing 5°, the non-uniformity difference of the overall orifice flow rate between the liquid incoming in the whole area and that in 2/3 area is less than 5%. Fourth, the non-uniformity of the overall orifice flow rate in the trough plate redistributor is more affected by rolling and pitching. The non-uniformity of the overall orifice flow rate rises to over 0.5 under the working condition of rolling 5° and over 0.3 in pitching 5°. It is indicated that under the working condition of sloshing 5°, the uniform distribution of trough plate redistributor is poor not only in the case of whole area liquid incoming but also in the case of bias current incoming, and it is affected more by sea conditions. In conclusion, the traditional trough plate redistributor is poorly adaptive to the sloshing at sea. Keywords: FLNG, Packed tower, Trough plate redistributor, Rolling, Pitching, Bias current condition, Numerical simulation, Non-uniformit