Review of damage problems of the soft substrate interlayer film

This paper reviews the research progress of soft substrate interlayer film, including the applications and the preparation methods of the soft substrate interlayer film, the testing means of the films’ structure and composition and the researches of the film damage, especially the dynamic damage. As well as the future research directions and applications are put forward

Experimental and numerical investigation of bulging behaviour of hyperelastic textured tubes

The inflation and propagation of a localized instability in elastic tubes shares the same mathematical features with a range of other localization problems, including buckling propagation in long metal tubes under external pressure. Recent research into origami-inspired tubular geometries has suggested that geometric texturing is able to significantly improve metal pipe resistance to propagation buckling failures, with an increase in critical and propagation pressures. This paper aims to investigate whether texturing generates a similar improvement in hyperelastic tubes under axial loading and internal pressure, with elastomer origami structures of recent interest for use as soft actuators and robots. A new fabrication method with 3D printed moulds in a dip process was first developed to enable fabrication of textured tube samples. An experimental study was then conducted on inflated smooth and textured latex tubes, with instability formation observed at a 1 ms resolution. Comparative numerical models with a Mooney–Rivlin material were able to provide a good prediction of experimentally-observed behaviours up to and slightly past the critical pressure and bulge formation. A parametric numerical study is then conducted to show that the number of divisions in the axial direction and circumferential direction have no and modest effects on critical pressure, respectively. The experimental and numerical investigations both showed that the critical pressure of the textured tube was increased compared to the smooth tube, however the degree of increase was a modest 8% and so unlikely to be of significant practical benefit. This work can provide reference and guidelines for future investigations of tubular inflatable origami structures

Direct rosiglitazone action on steroidogenesis and proinflammatory factor production in human granulosa-lutein cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ovarian granulosa cells are the predominant source of estradiol and progesterone biosynthesis in vivo. Rosiglitazone, a synthetic agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma), is applied as the treatment of insulin resistance including women with PCOS. The aim of the study was to investigate the direct effects of rosiglitazone on steroidogenesis and proinflammatory factor production in human granulosa-lutein cells (GLCs).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Primary human GLCs were separated during in vitro fertilization and cultured in the presence of rosiglitazone, GW9662 (an antagonist of PPAR gamma) and hCG. The mRNA expression of key steroidogenic factors including 3beta- hydroxysteriod dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD), cytochrome P-450 scc (CYP11A1), cytochrome P-450 aromatase (CYP19A1), and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Estradiol and progesterone levels in GLCs cultures were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay, and the proinflammtory factors (TNFalpha and IL-6) in conditioned culture media were measured by ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PPAR gamma mRNA levels increased up to 3.24 fold by rosiglitazone at the concentration of 30 microM compared to control (P < 0.05). hCG alone or hCG with rosiglitazone had no significant effects on PPAR gamma mRNA levels. The CYP19A1 mRNA level at exposure to rosiglitazone alone showed a drop, but was not significantly reduced comparing to control. The expression levels of enzymes 3beta-HSD and CYP11A1 in all treatments did not alter significantly. The StAR mRNA expression at exposure to rosiglitazone was significantly increased comparing to control (P < 0.05). The media concentrations of E2 and progesterone by rosiglitazone treatment showed a declining trend comparing to control or cotreatment with hCG, which did not reach significance. Most importantly, treatment with rosiglitazone decreased TNFalpha secretion in a statistically significant manner compared with control (P < 0.05). The concentration of IL-6 following rosiglitazone exposure did not significantly decrease comparing to control.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In cultured GLCs, rosiglitazone stimulated StAR expression, but did not significantly affect steroidogenic enzymes, as well as E2 and progesterone production. Moreover, rosiglitazone significantly decreased the production of TNFalpha in human GLCs, suggesting that PPAR gamma may play a role in the regulation of GLCs functions through inhibiting proinflammatory factors.</p

On electronic structure of polymer-derived amorphous silicon carbide ceramics

The electronic structure of polymer-derived amorphous silicon carbide ceramics was studied by combining measurements of temperature-dependent conductivity and optical absorption. By comparing the experimental results to theoretical models, electronic structure was constructed for a carbon-rich amorphous silicon carbide, which revealed several unique features, such as deep defect energy level, wide band-tail band, and overlap between the band-tail band and defect level. These unique features were discussed in terms of the microstructure of the material and used to explain the electric behavior

Causality between sarcopenia and diabetic nephropathy: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Background and purposeObservational studies have shown that sarcopenia and diabetic nephropathy (DN), are closely related; however, the causal relationship is unclear. This study aims to address this issue using a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study.MethodologyWe data from genome-wide association studies including appendicular lean mass (n = 244,730), grip strength (right: n = 461,089, left: n = 461026), walking speed (n = 459,915), and DN (3283 cases and 181,704 controls) to conduct a bidirectional MR study. First, we conducted a Forward MR analysis to evaluate the causality of sarcopenia on the risk of DN from the genetic perspective with appendicular lean mass, grip strength, and walking speed as exposure and DN as the outcome. Then, DN as the exposure, we performed a Reverse MR analysis to determine whether DN impacted the appendicular lean mass, grip strength, and walking speed of the appendices. Finally, a series of sensitivity studies, such as heterogeneity tests, pleiotropy evaluations, and Leave-one-out analyses, were conducted to assess the MR analysis’s accuracy further.ResultsAccording to a forward MR analysis, a genetically predicted decrease in appendicular lean mass is associated with an increased risk of developing DN risk (inverse variance weighting[IVW]: odd ratio [OR] = 0.863, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.767-0.971; P = 0.014). According to reverse MR results, grip strength decreased as DN progressed (IVW: right β = 0.003, 95% CI: - 0.021 to - 0.009, P = 5.116e-06; left β = 0.003, 95% CI: - 0.024 to - 0.012, P = 7.035e-09). However, the results of the other MR analyses were not statistically different.ConclusionNotably, our findings suggest that the causal relationship between sarcopenia and DN cannot be generalized. According to analysis of the individual characteristic factors of sarcopenia, reducing in appendicular lean mass increases the risk of developing DN and DN is linked to reduced grip strength. But overall, there is no causal relationship between sarcopenia and DN, because the diagnosis of sarcopenia cannot be determined by one of these factors alone

Wireless passive polymer-derived SiCN ceramic sensor with integrated resonator/antenna

This paper presents a passive wireless polymer-derived silicon carbonitride (SiCN) ceramic sensor based on cavity radio frequency resonator together with integrated slot antenna. The effect of the cavity sensor dimensions on the Q-factor and resonant frequency is investigated by numerical simulation. A sensor with optimal dimensions is designed and fabricated. It is demonstrated that the sensor signal can be wirelessly detected at distances up to 20 mm. Given the high-temperature stability of the SiCN, the sensor is very promising for high-temperature wireless sensing applications

A new perspective of hypothalamic disease: Shapiro's syndrome

Shapiro's syndrome (SS) is characterized by spontaneous periodic hypothermia. It occurs to patients regardless of age or sex. To date, &lt;60 cases have been reported worldwide. Current knowledge of the disease is limited to clinical feature since the pathogenesis and etiology are still controversial. In this review, the clinical characteristics, pathological mechanism, and possible etiology of the syndrome were reviewed to improve the clinical understanding of the disease