Optimal Geometry for Focused Ion Beam-Milled Samples for Direct-Pull Micro-Tensile Testing Performed In Situ in a Scanning Electron Microscope.

A thorough procedure was developed to efficiently manufacture dogbone samples using focused ion beam (FIB) milling for micro-tensile testing. A Bruker PI 89 PicoIndenter, Billerica, MA, USA, was used as a case study, although the analysis and results are applicable to other micro-mechanical testing systems capable of mounting a standard, Ø12.7 mm × Ø3.

The psychological intervention and clinical efficacy of Rosenthal effect and acupuncture bleeding on middle-aged and young patients with sudden hearing loss.

Combining traditional Chinese medicine theory and modern medical knowledge, this study explores the pathogenesis of sudden hearing loss in middle-aged and young people. Sixty-four young and middle-aged patients with sudden hearing loss who visited a public tertiary hospital in China are chosen as experimental objects. All experimental patients are broken into an experimental group (n = 32) and a control group (n = 32).

Macroscopic transition metal dichalcogenides monolayers with uniformly high optical quality.

The unique optical properties of transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers have attracted significant attention for both photonics applications and fundamental studies of low-dimensional systems. TMD monolayers of high optical quality, however, have been limited to micron-sized flakes produced by low-throughput and labour-intensive processes, whereas large-area films are often affected by surface defects and large inhomogeneity. Here we report a rapid and reliable method to synthesize macroscopic-scale TMD monolayers of uniform, high optical quality.

Antiasthmatic activity of quercetin glycosides in neonatal asthmatic rats.

The present study investigated the anti-asthmatic activity of quercetin glycosides in neonatal asthmatic rats. Rats were divided into four groups: sham (non-asthmatic), asthmatic control, quercetin (25 mg/kg), and quercetin (50 mg/kg). Inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), inflammatory markers, apoptosis, fibrinogen level, prothrombin time, thrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, coagulation factor activity, and histopathology were monitored.

A side-by-side comparison of the solidification dynamics of quasicrystalline and approximant phases in the Al-Co-Ni system.

Quasicrystals and their approximants have triggered widespread interest due to the challenge of solving their complex crystal structures as well as their possibly exceptional properties. The structural motifs of approximants are similar to those of the corresponding quasicrystals, but to what extent are their crystallization pathways the same? Unfortunately, there have been very few in situ experimental investigations to answer this question. Here, by leveraging the high penetrating power of hard X-rays, synchrotron-based X-ray tomography was conducted in order to capture the nucleation and growth of a decagonal quasicrystal and its related approximant.

Improving accuracy of protein contact prediction using balanced network deconvolution.

Residue contact map is essential for protein three-dimensional structure determination. But most of the current contact prediction methods based on residue co-evolution suffer from high false-positives as introduced by indirect and transitive contacts (i.e.

Visualizing the attack of RNase enzymes on dendriplexes and naked RNA using atomic force microscopy.

Cationic polymers such as poly(amidoamine), PAMAM, dendrimers have been used to electrostatically complex siRNA molecules forming dendriplexes for enhancing the cytoplasmic delivery of the encapsulated cargo. However, excess PAMAM dendrimers is typically used to protect the loaded siRNA against enzymatic attack, which results in systemic toxicity that hinders the in vivo use of these particles. In this paper, we evaluate the ability of G4 (flexible) and G5 (rigid) dendrimers to complex model siRNA molecules at low +/- ratio of 2/1 upon incubation for 20 minutes and 24 hours.

[Effect of diameter-controlled Ti-TiO2 nanotubes on the adhesion of osteoblast and fibroblast].

Objective: To study the effect of Ti-TiO2 nanotubes with different diameters on the adhesion of fibroblast and osteoblast, and to find which diameter was more favorable for cells' respective adhesion.

Methods: Pure titanium sheets were polished and then anodized at different potentials for 1 h with Ti as anode and Pt as cathode. TiO2 nanotubes formed at 1, 5, 10 and 20 V potentials served as experimental groups and polished pure titanium served as control group.

Ascorbate-glutathione cycle of mitochondria in osmoprimed soybean cotyledons in response to imbibitional chilling injury.

Osmopriming treatment of chilling-sensitive soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Zhonghuang-22) seeds for 72h at 25°C with polyethylene glycol (PEG8000) solution at -1.

Improved biocompatibility of surface functionalized dendrimer-entrapped gold nanoparticles.

A general approach to modifying preformed dendrimer-entrapped Au nanoparticles with different functionalities is proved to improve their biocompatibility.

[The relationship between IL-13 gene polymorphism and the levels of serum IL-13 and serum eosinophil cation protein in asthmatic children].

Objective: To explore the relationship between IL-3 gene polymorphism and the levels of serum IL-3 and eosinophil cation protein (ECP) for understanding the role of IL-3 gene polymorphism in the mechanism of childhood asthma.

Methods: The method of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was adopted in detecting +1923 site polymorphism of IL-13 gene in intron 3 region, ELISA was employed in detecting the level of serum IL-13, and fluorescent enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to detect the level of serum ECP.

Results: The frequency distribution of TT, TC genotypes of IL-13 Intron 3+1923 site in asthmatic children was higher than that of CC genotype in normal control (P<0.