Medium-Entropy Monosilicates Deliver High Corrosion Resistance to Calcium-Magnesium Aluminosilicate Molten Salt.

For decreasing the global cost of corrosion, it is essential to understand the intricate mechanisms of corrosion and enhance the corrosion resistance of materials. However, the ambiguity surrounding the dominant mechanism of calcium-magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) molten salt corrosion in extreme environments hinders the mix-and-matching of the key rare earth elements for increasing the resistance of monosilicates against corrosion of CMAS. Herein, an approach based on correlated electron microscopy techniques combined with density functional theory calculations is presented to elucidate the complex interplay of competing mechanisms that control the corrosion of CMAS of monosilicates.

The central organisation of courtship and rivalry behaviour in Gryllus bimaculatus (deGeer) as revealed by lesions of abdominal connectives.

Behaviour is rooted in the organization and activity of an animal's nervous system. As male crickets use their front wings for sound production, the neural circuits underlying singing had been suggested to be housed in the thoracic ganglia. However, systematic lesion experiments of the CNS demonstrated that the abdominal nervous system is essential for their calling song behaviour.

Preparation of Ca doped wrinkled porous silica (Ca-WPS) for the improvement of apatite formation and mechanical properties of dental resins.

The purpose of this work was to fabricate and characterize Ca doped wrinkled porous silica (Ca-WPS), and evaluate their effect on the mineralization and mechanical properties of resin composites as functional fillers. Ca-WPS were prepared by sol-gel method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and N adsorption-desorption measurements. The mineralization properties of the prepared Ca-WPS particles and the resin composites with different amount of Ca-WPS were evaluated by simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion method.

Wing movements underlying sound production in calling, rivalry, and courtship songs of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus (DeGeer).

We recorded the wing movements and sound signals during the production of calling, rivalry, and courtship song in the bispotted field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Recordings confirm that salient sound pulses during calling and rivalry song are generated during the closing movements of the wings. Wing movements for calling and rivalry song start from an elevated wing position and are performed with a very similar opening-closing movement, indicating that both types of songs may be generated by the same neuronal network.

Lesions of abdominal connectives reveal a conserved organization of the calling song central pattern generator (CPG) network in different cricket species.

Although crickets move their front wings for sound production, the abdominal ganglia house the network of the singing central pattern generator. We compared the effects of specific lesions to the connectives of the abdominal ganglion chain on calling song activity in four different species of crickets, generating very different pulse patterns in their calling songs. In all species, singing activity was abolished after the connectives between the metathoracic ganglion complex and the first abdominal ganglion A3 were severed.

Preparation of Zn doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Zn-MSNs) for the improvement of mechanical and antibacterial properties of dental resin composites.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to explore the enhancement effect of zinc doped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Zn-MSNs), which could form micromechanical interlocking with resin matrix and sustainably release Zn, on the mechanical and antibacterial properties of the dental resin composites.

Methods: Zn-MSNs were prepared by a sol-gel method, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N adsorption/desorption. The mechanical properties of the dental composites reinforced by Zn-MSNs were measured by a universal mechanical testing machine.

Effect of LaO on Microstructure and Thermal Conductivity of LaO-Doped YSZ Coatings.

Enhancing the properties of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) by doping with rare earth elements has been a hot topic for a while. LaO and YO co-doped ZrO (La-YSZ) TBCs and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) TBCs were deposited by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS), and the comprehensive effects of La on the microstructure and property were investigated. The thermal conductivity and microstructure were investigated and were compared with YSZ.

A new method for locating Kikuchi bands in electron backscatter diffraction patterns.

Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) device can provide crystal structure, orientation, and phase content data through analysis of EBSD patterns. The reliability and precision of these data depend on the quality of the band position and zone axes data. This study introduces a new image processing method that can accurately provide the location of Kikuchi bands and poles.

Mussel-Inspired Polydopamine Coating: A General Strategy To Enhance Osteogenic Differentiation and Osseointegration for Diverse Implants.

Surface modifications play an important role in endowing implant surface with excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity. Among the bioinspired surface modifications, the mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) has aroused great interest of researchers. Herein, we fabricated PDA on diverse implant surfaces, including biopolymer, biometal, and bioceramic.

Determining E and E values for yttrium aluminum garnet ceramics using the Duane-Hunt limit.

A major challenge when performing scanning electron microscopy and X-ray analysis on many ceramic materials is their electrical insulation properties, which leads to buildup of the surface charge and reduced contrast in the secondary electron image. A new procedure was established to quantitatively determine the neutral state values, E and E , of yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramics using the Duane-Hunt limit (E ) of Bremsstrahlung, in order to eliminate this charge effect. Thirty-eight E values were linearly fitted with the last portion of X-ray spectra acquired under the incident energy, E , from 0.

High Glucose Induces VEGF-C Expression via the LPA1/3-Akt-ROS-LEDGF Signaling Axis in Human Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cells.

Background/aims: Hyperglycemia has been shown to increase the incidence and metastasis in various types of cancers. However, the correlation between hyperglycemia and lymphatic metastasis in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. Our previous study demonstrated that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) enhances vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression, a lymphangiogenic factor, through activating it receptors LPA1/3 in prostate cancer (PCa) cells.

The enhanced osteogenesis and osteointegration of 3-DP PCL scaffolds structural and functional optimization using collagen networks.

Optimal balance between biological activity and mechanical stability should be meticulously considered during scaffold design for bone tissue engineering applications. To fabricate an individualized construct with biomechanical and biological functionality for bone tissue regeneration, a polycaprolactone-collagen (PCL-COL) composite construct was developed through the combination of three-dimensional printing (3-DP) technology and biomimetic collagen matrix incorporation, with a 3-DP PCL framework maintaining the mechanical stability and a porous collagen matrix improving the biological activity. The results indicate that the compressive modulus of the composite constructs increased synergistically (over 40 MPa), providing sufficient mechanical support during new bone formation.

Through-Layer Buckle Wavelength-Gradient Design for the Coupling of High Sensitivity and Stretchability in a Single Strain Sensor.

Recent years have witnessed a breathtaking development of wearable strain sensors. Coupling high sensitivity and stretchability in a strain sensor is greatly desired by emerging wearable applications but remains a big challenge. To tackle this issue, a through-layer buckle wavelength-gradient design is proposed and a facile and universal fabrication strategy is demonstrated to introduce such a gradient into the sensing film with multilayered sensing units.

Synergetic topography and chemistry cues guiding osteogenic differentiation in bone marrow stromal cells through ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Both the topographic surface and chemical composition modification can enhance rapid osteogenic differentiation and bone formation. Till now, the synergetic effects of topography and chemistry cues guiding biological responses have been rarely reported. Herein, the ordered micro-patterned topography and classically essential trace element of strontium (Sr) ion doping were selected to imitate topography and chemistry cues, respectively.

Molecular Interplay between the Dimer Interface and the Substrate-Binding Site of Human Peptidylarginine Deiminase 4.

Our previous studies suggest that the fully active form of Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) should be a dimer and not a monomer. This paper provides a plausible mechanism for the control of PAD4 catalysis by molecular interplay between its dimer-interface loop (I-loop) and its substrate-binding loop (S-loop). Mutagenesis studies revealed that two hydrophobic residues, W347 and V469, are critical for substrate binding at the active site; mutating these two residues led to a severe reduction in the catalytic activity.

3D plotting of highly uniform Sr(PO)SiO bioceramic scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Bioceramics play an important role in bone regeneration. However, it is challenging to design bioceramic scaffolds with suitable ionic components and beneficial osteo/angio-stimulation ability for enhanced bone regeneration. In this study, we successfully synthesized a pure-phase Sr(PO)SiO (SPS) bioactive ceramic through a solid-state reaction method and further prepared highly uniform SPS bioceramic scaffolds with controlled macropore sizes and mechanical strength by a 3D-plotting technique, and the biological responses of rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (rBMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after culturing with different concentrations of SPS extracts and porous scaffolds were systematically studied.

Application of bioimpedance spectroscopy in Asian dialysis patients (ABISAD-III): a randomized controlled trial for clinical outcomes.

Purpose: Fluid management with body composition monitor based on bioimpedance spectroscopy (BCM-BIS) has been found to be beneficial for dialysis patients. We conducted a study to provide an algorithm for the determination of post-dialysis target weight (PDTW) and to evaluate whether this approach could improve clinical outcomes compared to patients who had PDTW decided clinically.

Methods: Two hundred and ninety-eight dialysis patients participated in this 1-year randomized controlled trial.

On the Mesoporogen-Free Synthesis of Single-Crystalline Hierarchically Structured ZSM-5 Zeolites in a Quasi-Solid-State System.

Hierarchically structured zeolites (HSZs) have gained much academic and industrial interest owing to their multiscale pore structures and consequent excellent performances in varied chemical processes. Although a number of synthetic strategies have been developed in recent years, the scalable production of HSZs single crystals with penetrating and three-dimensionally (3-D) interconnected mesopore systems but without using a mesoscale template is still a great challenge. Herein, based on a steam-assisted crystallization (SAC) method, we report a facile and scalable strategy for the synthesis of single-crystalline ZSM-5 HSZs by using only a small amount of micropore-structure-directing agents (i.

Opposing regulation of megakaryopoiesis by LPA receptors 2 and 3 in K562 human erythroleukemia cells.

Erythrocytes and megakaryocytes (MK) are derived from a common progenitor that undergoes lineage specification. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a lipid growth factor was previously shown to be a regulator for erythropoietic process through activating LPA receptor 3 (LPA3). However, whether LPA affects megakaryopoiesis remains unclear.

Solvothermal-induced self-assembly of Fe2O3/GS aerogels for high Li-storage and excellent stability.

A novel solvothermal-induced self-assembly approach, using colloid sol as precursor, is developed to construct monolithic 3D metal oxide/GS (graphene sheets) aerogels. During the solvothermal process, graphene oxide (GO) is highly reduced to GS and self-assembles into 3D macroscopic hydrogels, accompanying with in situ transformation of colloid sol to metal oxides. As a proof of concept, Fe2 O3 /GS aerogels are synthesized based on Fe(OH)3 sol, in which GS self-assemble into an interconnected macroporous framework and Fe2 O3 nanocrystals (20-50 nm) uniformly deposit on GS.

Lysophosphatidic acid induces reactive oxygen species generation by activating protein kinase C in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in males, and PC-3 is a cell model popularly used for investigating the behavior of late stage prostate cancer. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lysophospholipid that mediates multiple behaviors in cancer cells, such as proliferation, migration and adhesion. We have previously demonstrated that LPA enhances vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C expression in PC-3 cells by activating the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is known to be an important mediator in cancer progression.

Free-standing and binder-free lithium-ion electrodes based on robust layered assembly of graphene and Co3O4 nanosheets.

Free-standing and binder-free Co3O4/graphene films were fabricated through vacuum filtration and thermal treatment processes, in which sheet-like Co3O4 and graphene were assembled into a robust lamellar hierarchical structure via electrostatic interactions. The morphological compatibility coupled with strong interfacial interactions between Co3O4 and graphene significantly promoted the interfacial electron and lithium ion transport. When used as a binder-less and free-standing electrode for lithium-ion batteries, the hybrid film delivered a high specific capacity (~1400 mA h g(-1) at 100 mA g(-1) based on the total electrode weight), enhanced rate capability and excellent cyclic stability (~1200 mA h g(-1) at 200 mA g(-1) after 100 cycles).

Quaternized chitosan as an antimicrobial agent: antimicrobial activity, mechanism of action and biomedical applications in orthopedics.

Chitosan (CS) is a linear polysaccharide with good biodegradability, biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity, which makes it potentially useful for biomedical applications, including an antimicrobial agent either alone or blended with other polymers. However, the poor solubility of CS in most solvents at neutral or high pH substantially limits its use. Quaternary ammonium CS, which was prepared by introducing a quaternary ammonium group on a dissociative hydroxyl group or amino group of the CS, exhibited improved water solubility and stronger antibacterial activity relative to CS over an entire range of pH values; thus, this quaternary modification increases the potential biomedical applications of CS in the field of anti-infection.

Lysophosphatidic acid enhances vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

Clinical evidence suggests that lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis are important processes during the progression of prostate cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C was shown to be a key regulator in these processes. Our previous studies demonstrated that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a low-molecular-weight lipid growth factor, enhances VEGF-C expression in human endothelial cells.

Strontium-containing mesoporous bioactive glass scaffolds with improved osteogenic/cementogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells for periodontal tissue engineering.

To achieve the ultimate goal of periodontal tissue engineering, it is of great importance to develop bioactive scaffolds which can stimulate the osteogenic/cementogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) for the favorable regeneration of alveolar bone, root cementum and periodontal ligament. Strontium (Sr) and Sr-containing biomaterials have been found to induce osteoblast activity. However, there has been no systematic report about the interaction between Sr or Sr-containing biomaterials and PDLCs for periodontal tissue engineering.