Interfacial Fabrication of Supramolecular Polymer Networks Using Mussel-Inspired Catechol–Iron Complexes

The liquid-liquid interface provides a promising platform to construct supramolecular polymers and materials with advanced functions. However, supramolecular polymerization at the interface usually requires monomers with different or even orthogonal solubilities, which significantly limit the number of usable monomers. Here, we report a new strategy to construct supramolecular polymer networks at the oil-water interface using a water-soluble catechol-iron complex and an oil-soluble diend-functionalized polymer. Owing to the dynamic catechol-iron coordination bond and imine bond, the resulting supramolecular polymer networks demonstrate excellent dynamic features and responsiveness to different stimuli including the pH, redox, competing ligands, and temperature. With a supramolecular polymer network serving as a building block, emulsions and 2D films can be generated that have potential applications in encapsulation, release, and molecular separation

Evaluation of the biological toxicity of fluorine in Antarctic krill

Antarctic krill is a potentially nutritious food source for humans, but fluorine (F) toxicity is a matter of concern. To evaluate the toxicity of F in Antarctic krill, 30 Wistar rats were divided into three groups with different dietary regimens: a control group, a krill treatment group (150 mg·kg−1 F), and a sodium fluoride (NaF) treatment group (150 mg·kg−1 F). After three months, F concentrations in feces, plasma, and bone were determined, and the degree of dental and skeletal fluorosis was assessed. The F concentrations in plasma and bone from the krill treatment group were 0.167 0±0.020 4 mg.L−1 and 2 709.8±301.9 mg·kg−1, respectively, compared with 0.043 8±0.005 5 mg·L−1 and 442.4±60.7 mg·kg−1, respectively, in samples from the control group. Concentrations of F in plasma and bone in the krill treatment group were higher than in the control group, but lower than in the NaF treatment group. The degree of dental fluorosis in the krill treatment group was moderate, compared with severe in the NaF treatment group and normal in the control group. The degree of skeletal fluorosis did not change significantly in any group. These results showed that the toxicity of F in Antarctic krill was lower than for an equivalent concentration of F in NaF, but it was toxic for rats consuming krill in large quantities. To conclude, we discuss possible reasons for the reduced toxicity of F in Antarctic krill. The present study provides a direct toxicological reference for the consideration of Antarctic krill for human consumption

First-principles investigation of martensitic transformation and magnetic properties of Ni2XAl (X=Cr, Fe, Co) Heusler compounds

The tetragonal distortion, magnetic and electronic properties of full Heusler compounds Ni2XAl (X = Cr, Fe, Co) have been studied by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The obtained lattice parameters, magnetic moments and bulk modulus are well consistent with available data of references. The ferromagnetic Ni2XAl compounds are more favorable than non-magnetic compounds. The resistance to volume deformation increases as the order of Ni2CrAl \u3c Ni2FeAl \u3c Ni2CoAl. Ni2CrAl have no tetragonal martensitic transformation and shape memory effect along Bain paths, but adjusting the stoichiometric ratio may lead to magnetic shape memory effect. Ni2CrAl are favorable in L21 austenite phase with magnetic moments of 3.503μB/f.u. Ni2FeAl and Ni2CoAl have austenite-to-martensite transformation existence, i.e., they have shape memory effect by applying external magnetic field and temperature. The corresponding lattice constants of L10 martensite phase are a = b = 5.211 Å, c = 6.983 Å and a = b = 5.109 Å, c = 7.051 Å, and magnetic moments are about 3.292μB/f.u. and 1.791μB/f.u., respectively. Finally, total and partial density of sates are analyzed to clarify the physical origin of Ni2XAl compounds, such as magnetism and phase transformation

Evidence for Mesozoic shear along the western Kunlun and Altyn-Tagh fault, northern Tibet (China)

International audienceThe strike-slip faults of north Tibet accommodate part of the Cenozoic convergence between India and Asia. Along the Karakax valley south of Yecheng and near the Xidatan trough south of Golmud, the active traces of the Altyn-Tagh and Kunlun faults follow narrow belts of metamorphic rocks. The deformation recorded in those mylonites is sinistral strike-slip. Rb/Sr and 40Ar/39Ar ages of deformation from syntectonic fabrics formed at 350–400°C 120 Ma. Argon loss suggests that deformation was associated to a 250–300°C thermal pulse that lasted 5–20 Ma after the onset of movement. Unroofing occurred much later, around 25 Ma when sudden cooling suggests a component of thrusting or more likely normal faulting. The Cretaceous shear may be related to collision between the Qiantang and the Lhasa blocks. The Karakax and Xidatan shear zones may have formed a unique, continuous boundary in the Cretaceous, which was later reused by the Tertiary strike-slip faults, leading to potentially calculable offsets along the Altyn-Tagh fault

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Like Weak Inducer of Apoptosis Accelerates the Progression of Renal Fibrosis in Lupus Nephritis by Activating SMAD and p38 MAPK in TGF-β1 Signaling Pathway

This study aim was to explore the effects of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in lupus nephritis and its potential underlying mechanisms. MRL/lpr mice were used for in vivo experiments and human proximal tubular cells (HK2 cells) were used for in vitro experiments. Results showed that MRL/lpr mice treated with vehicle solution or LV-Control shRNA displayed significant proteinuria and severe renal histopathological changes. LV-TWEAK-shRNA treatment reversed these changes and decreased renal expressions of TWEAK, TGF-β1, p-p38 MAPK, p-Smad2, COL-1, and α-SMA proteins. In vitro, hTWEAK treatment upregulated the expressions of TGF-β1, p-p38 MAPK, p-SMAD2, α-SMA, and COL-1 proteins in HK2 cells and downregulated the expressions of E-cadherin protein, which were reversed by cotreatment with anti-TWEAK mAb or SB431542 treatment. These findings suggest that TWEAK may contribute to chronic renal changes and renal fibrosis by activating TGF-β1 signaling pathway, and phosphorylation of Smad2 and p38 MAPK proteins was also involved in this signaling pathway

Effects of Total Dissolved Gas Supersaturation on the Survival of Juvenile <i>Procypris rabaudi</i> and Juvenile <i>Myxocyprinus asiaticus</i> at Varying Water Depth in a Natural River

Total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation, which can be caused by flood discharge, results in gas bubble disease (GBD) in fish and threatens their survival downstream of dams. TDG supersaturation has become a serious environmental problem in the Yangtze River. Few studies have evaluated the effect of TDG supersaturation on fish in natural rivers during periods of flood discharge. To estimate fish tolerance to TDG supersaturation under natural conditions, juvenile Myxocyprinus asiaticus and juvenile Procypris rabaudi were exposed to TDG-supersaturated water for 96 h at various depths (0–0.3 m, 0.3–1.3 m, 1.3–2.3 m and 0–2.3 m) during periods of flood discharge of Dagangshan hydropower station. The results showed that juvenile Procypris rabaudi and juvenile Myxocyprinus asiaticus exhibited obvious GBD signs. An increase in exposure time decreased survival probability of the two species. Deeper water depths can increase the tolerance of juvenile Procypris rabaudi to TDG supersaturation in natural rivers during periods of flood discharge while it cannot improve the survival of juvenile Myxocyprinus asiaticus. Compared with juvenile Myxocyprinus asiaticus, juvenile Procypris rabaudi showed weaker tolerance of TDG supersaturation in shallow water, and juvenile Procypris rabaudi were more vulnerable to TDG supersaturation than juvenile Myxocyprinus asiaticus even if the TDG level (116%) was low

Driver Distraction Detection Based on Cloud Computing Architecture and Lightweight Neural Network

Distracted behavior detection is an important task in computer-assisted driving. Although deep learning has made significant progress in this area, it is still difficult to meet the requirements of the real-time analysis and processing of massive data by relying solely on local computing power. To overcome these problems, this paper proposes a driving distraction detection method based on cloud–fog computing architecture, which introduces scalable modules and a model-driven optimization based on greedy pruning. Specifically, the proposed method makes full use of cloud–fog computing to process complex driving scene data, solves the problem of local computing resource limitations, and achieves the goal of detecting distracted driving behavior in real time. In terms of feature extraction, scalable modules are used to adapt to different levels of feature extraction to effectively capture the diversity of driving behaviors. Additionally, in order to improve the performance of the model, a model-driven optimization method based on greedy pruning is introduced to optimize the model structure to obtain a lighter and more efficient model. Through verification experiments on multiple driving scene datasets such as LDDB and Statefarm, the effectiveness of the proposed driving distraction detection method is proved