Macrophage polarization in sepsis: Emerging role and clinical application prospect.

Sepsis is a severe, potentially fatal condition defined by organ dysfunction due to excessive inflammation. Its complex pathogenesis and poor therapeutic outcomes pose significant challenges in treatment. Macrophages, with their high heterogeneity and plasticity, play crucial roles in both the innate and adaptive immune systems.

Quartz Nonadherent and Clean Exfoliation of the Heteroatom-Doped Bulk Carbon Nanotubes Array.

Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes array offers unique properties for various applications. Detaching them from the growth substrate, while preserving their vertical structure, is essential. Quartz, a cost-effective alternative to silicon wafers and metal-based substrates, can serve as both a reaction chamber and a growth substrate.

TEM investigation of nucleation and crystallization of hybrid bismuth nanodiamonds.

Despite great progress in the non-classical homogeneous nucleation and crystallization theory, the heterogeneous processes of atomic nucleation and crystallization remain poorly understood. Abundant theories and experiments have demonstrated the detailed dynamics of homogeneous nucleation; however, intensive dynamic investigations on heterogeneous nucleation are still rare. In this work, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) at the atomic scale was carried out with temporal resolution for heterogeneous nucleation and crystallization.

Exosomal miRNAs-mediated macrophage polarization and its potential clinical application.

Macrophages are highly heterogeneous and plastic immune cells that play an important role in the fight against pathogenic microorganisms and tumor cells. After different stimuli, macrophages can polarize to the M1 phenotype to show a pro-inflammatory effect and the M2 phenotype to show an anti-inflammatory effect. The balance of macrophage polarization is highly correlated with disease progression, and therapeutic approaches to reprogram macrophages by targeting macrophage polarization are feasible.

An outstanding role of novel virus-like heterojunction nanosphere BOCO@Ag as high performance antibacterial activity agent.

The development of highly efficient photonic nanomaterials with synergistic biological effects is critical and challenging task for public hygiene health well-being and has attracted extensive interest. In this study, a type of near-infrared (NIR) driven, virus-like heterojunction was first developed for synergistic biological application. The Ag-coated BiCO nanomaterial (BOCO@Ag) demonstrated good biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, high antibacterial activity and excellent light utilization stability.

Hetero-Core-Shell BiNS-Fe@Fe as a Potential Theranostic Nanoplatform for Multimodal Imaging-Guided Simultaneous Photothermal-Photodynamic and Chemodynamic Treatment.

Photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) and synergistic therapeutic strategies are often sought after, owing to their low side effects and minimal invasiveness compared to chemotherapy and surgical treatments. However, in spite of the development of the most PTT/PDT materials with good tumor-inhibitory effect, there are some disadvantages of photosensitizers and photothermal agents, such as low stability and low photonic efficiency, which greatly limit their further application. Therefore, in this study, a novel bismuth-based hetero-core-shell semiconductor nanomaterial BiNS-Fe@Fe with good photonic stability and synergistic theranostic functions was designed.

"One stone, two birds": engineering 2-D ultrathin heterostructure nanosheet BiNS@NaLnF for dual-modal computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging guided, photonic synergetic theranostics.

It is interesting yet challenging to design theranostic nanoplatforms for the accurate diagnosis and therapy of diseases; these nanoplatforms consist of single contrast-enhanced imaging or therapeutic agents, and they possess their own unique shortcomings that limit their widespread bio-medical applications. Therefore, designing a potential theranostic agent is an emerging approach for the synergistic diagnosis and therapeutics in bio-medical applications. Herein, a lanthanide-loaded (NaLnF) heterostructure BiOCl ultrathin nanosheet (BiNS@NaLnF) as a theranostic agent was synthesized facilely by a solvothermal protocol.

Investigation of Microstructure and Nanoindentation Hardness of C & He Irradiated Nanocrystal SiC Coatings during Annealing and Corrosion.

The microstructure and nanoindentation hardness of unirradiated, irradiated, annealed and corroded SiC coatings were characterized. Irradiation of 400 keV C and 200 keV He with approximately 10 dpa did not cause obvious amorphous transformation to nanocrystal SiC coatings and induced helium bubbles with 2-3 nm dimension distributed uniformly in the SiC matrix. High temperature annealing resulted in the transformation of SiC nanocrystals into columnar crystals in the irradiated region.

The development of a hydrogen-helium dual-beam ion implanter.

Multiple ion beam facilities are powerful tools to simulate the irradiation effects of neutrons on relevant nuclear materials. Since hydrogen and helium are often generated in neutron irradiated materials as transmutation products and they play important roles in the defect evolution, the triple beam accelerator and transmission electron microscope link in situ facility instead of a monobeam or dual-beam facility is necessary to simulate neutron irradiation. A hydrogen-helium dual-beam ion implanter has been developed for a triple ion beam in situ facility at Xiamen University.

Risk of silent myocardial ischemia detected by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) among asymptomatic Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

To explore the prevalence and risk factors of silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) detected by using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in Chinese asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).In this hospital-based retrospective study, 821 T2D patients who were screened for SMI detected by stress myocardial perfusion imaging using SPECT between June 2014 and July 2016 were investigated. Clinical indicators were compared between the patients with SMI and controls without SMI.

Ion Irradiation-Induced Microstructural Evolution of Ni⁻Mo⁻Cr Low Alloy Steels.

As leading candidates of sheet steels for advanced nuclear reactors, three types of Ni⁻Mo⁻Cr high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steels named as CNST1, CNST2 and CNSS3 were irradiated by 400 keV Fe⁺ with peak fluence to 1.4 × 10, 3.5 × 10 and 7.

Investigation of Particles and Gas Bubbles in Zr⁻0.8Sn⁻1Nb⁻0.3Fe Zr Alloys Irradiated by Krypton Ions.

Two types of Zr⁻0.8Sn⁻1Nb⁻0.3Fe Zr alloys were irradiated by krypton ions in the temperature range from 320 to 400 °C.

Stress Corrosion Behaviors of 316LN Stainless Steel in a Simulated PWR Primary Water Environment.

The effect of the strain rate, experimental temperature, Zn content in the test solution, and prefilming time on the mechanical properties was investigated by a tensile test with a slow strain rate, at a chemical solution of 2.2 ppm Li and 1200 ppm B in a static autoclave with 8.2 MPa.

Investigation of Surface Morphology of 6H-SiC Irradiated with He⁺ and H₂⁺ Ions.

Light ion implantation is one of the important procedures of smart cut for SiC-based semiconductor fabrication. This work investigated the surface morphologies and microstructures of single crystal 6H-SiC irradiated by one or both of H₂⁺ and He⁺ ions at room temperature and then annealed at specific temperatures. Blisters evolved from the coalescence of H nanocracks were formed in the H₂⁺ and He⁺+H₂⁺ irradiated sample surface, while circular ripples originated from the pressure release of helium bubbles after high temperature annealing were formed in the He⁺ irradiated sample surface.

The Preparation and Microstructure of Nanocrystal 3C-SiC/ZrO₂ Bilayer Films.

The nanocrystal 3C-SiC/ZrO₂ bilayer films that could be used as the protective coatings of zirconium alloy fuel cladding were prepared on a single-crystal Si substrate. The corresponding nanocrystal 3C-SiC film and nanocrystal ZrO₂ film were also dividedly synthesized. The microstructure of nanocrystal films was analyzed by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Recrystallization-Induced Surface Cracks of Carbon Ions Irradiated 6H-SiC after Annealing.

Single crystal 6H-SiC wafers with 4° off-axis [0001] orientation were irradiated with carbon ions and then annealed at 900 °C for different time periods. The microstructure and surface morphology of these samples were investigated by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ion irradiation induced SiC amorphization, but the surface was smooth and did not have special structures.

Microstructural Evolution, Thermodynamics, and Kinetics of Mo-Tm₂O₃ Powder Mixtures during Ball Milling.

The microstructural evolution, thermodynamics, and kinetics of Mo (21 wt %) Tm₂O₃ powder mixtures during ball milling were investigated using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Ball milling induced Tm₂O₃ to be decomposed and then dissolved into Mo crystal. After 96 h of ball milling, Tm₂O₃ was dissolved completely and the supersaturated nanocrystalline solid solution of Mo (Tm, O) was obtained.

In Situ TEM Study of Microstructure Evolution of Zr-Nb-Fe Alloy Irradiated by 800 keV Kr Ions.

The microstructure evolution of Zr-1.1Nb-1.51Fe-0.

Evolution of Helium Bubbles and Discs in Irradiated 6H-SiC during Post-Implantation Annealing.

The single crystal 6H-SiC with [0001] crystal direction irradiated by 400 keV He⁺ ions with 1 × 10 ions/cm² fluence at 400 °C were annealed at 600, 900, 1200 and 1400 °C for different durations. The evolution of helium bubbles and discs was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. An irradiated layer distributed with fine helium bubbles was formed with a width of ~170 nm after helium ion irradiation.

Microstructural Evolution of Dy₂O₃-TiO₂ Powder Mixtures during Ball Milling and Post-Milled Annealing.

The microstructural evolution of Dy₂O₃-TiO₂ powder mixtures during ball milling and post-milled annealing was investigated using XRD, SEM, TEM, and DSC. At high ball-milling rotation speeds, the mixtures were fined, homogenized, nanocrystallized, and later completely amorphized, and the transformation of Dy₂O₃ from the cubic to the monoclinic crystal structure was observed. The amorphous transformation resulted from monoclinic Dy₂O₃, not from cubic Dy₂O₃.

Energetics of vacancy segregation to [100] symmetric tilt grain boundaries in bcc tungsten.

The harsh irradiation environment poses serious threat to the structural integrity of leading candidate for plasma-facing materials, tungsten (W), in future nuclear fusion reactors. It is thus essential to understand the radiation-induced segregation of native defects and impurities to defect sinks, such as grain boundaries (GBs), by quantifying the segregation energetics. In this work, molecular statics simulations of a range of equilibrium and metastable [100] symmetric tilt GBs are carried out to explore the energetics of vacancy segregation.

Effect of Crystal Orientation on Self-Assembly Nanocones Formed on Tungsten Surface Induced by Helium Ion Irradiation and Annealing.

The self-assembly nanocone structures on the surface of polycrystalline tungsten were created by He⁺ ion irradiation and then annealing, and the resulting topography and morphology were characterized using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The cross-sectional samples of the self-assembly nanocones were prepared using an in situ-focused ion beam and then observed using transmission electron microscopy. The self-assembly nanocones were induced by the combined effect of He⁺ ion irradiation, the annealing process and the chromium impurity.

Advanced phase change composite by thermally annealed defect-free graphene for thermal energy storage.

Organic phase change materials (PCMs) have been utilized as latent heat energy storage and release media for effective thermal management. A major challenge exists for organic PCMs in which their low thermal conductivity leads to a slow transient temperature response and reduced heat transfer efficiency. In this work, 2D thermally annealed defect-free graphene sheets (GSs) can be obtained upon high temperature annealing in removing defects and oxygen functional groups.

Effects of anticipation on perception of facial expressions.

Human beings do not passively perceive the facial expressions of other people, but predict observed facial expressions by employing past experiences. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether and how anticipation affected the perception of facial expressions. A 3-way repeated-measures ANOVA on anticipation, orientation, and facial expression was performed on RTs and recognition accuracy in Experiments 1 and 2.