Discharge domains regulation and dynamic processes of direct-current triboelectric nanogenerator.

Direct-current triboelectric nanogenerators arising from electrostatic breakdown can eliminate the bottleneck problem of air breakdown in conventional triboelectric nanogenerators, offering critical benefits of constant-current output, resistance to electromagnetic interference, and high output power density. Previous understanding is that its output characteristics are described by a capacitor-breakdown model or dictated by one or two discharge domains in direct-current triboelectric nanogenerators. Here, we demonstrate that the former holds only for ideal conditions and the latter cannot fully explain the dynamic process and output performance.

Localization on a-priori information of plane extraction.

Localization constitutes a critical challenge for autonomous mobile robots, with flattened walls serving as a fundamental reference for indoor localization. In numerous scenarios, prior knowledge of a wall's surface plane is available, such as planes in building information modeling (BIM) systems. This article presents a localization technique based on a-priori plane point cloud extraction.

Precision-Driven Multi-Target Path Planning and Fine Position Error Estimation on a Dual-Movement-Mode Mobile Robot Using a Three-Parameter Error Model.

The multi-target path planning problem is a universal problem to mobile robots and mobile manipulators. The two movement modes of forward movement and rotation are universally implemented in integrated, commercially accessible mobile platforms used in logistics robots, construction robots, etc. Localization error in multi-target path tracking is one of the crucial measures in mobile robot applications.

Hydroxysafflower Yellow A Inhibits Vascular Adventitial Fibroblast Migration via NLRP3 Inflammasome Inhibition through Autophagy Activation.

Inflammation is closely associated with progression of vascular remodeling. The NLRP3 inflammasome is the key molecule that promotes vascular remodeling via activation of vascular adventitia fibroblast (VAF) proliferation and differentiation. VAFs have a vital effect on vascular remodeling that could be improved using hydroxysafflower yellow A (HSYA).

Potential active compounds and molecular mechanism of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction for atherosclerosis, based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

To explore the potential active compounds and molecular mechanism of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction (XFZYD) in the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. The effective components and action targets of XFZYD were screened by using TCMSP database. And then, the action targets of AS were collected by GeneCards database.

Bioinspired morphing wings: mechanical design and wind tunnel experiments.

Bioinspired morphing wings are part of a novel research direction offering greatly increased adaptability for use in unmanned aerial vehicles. Recent models published in the literature often rely on simplifications of the bird wing apparatus and fail to preserve many of the macroscopic morphological features. Therefore, a more holistic design approach could uncover further benefits of truly bioinspired bird wing models.

Reconstruction of Flight Parameters of a Bat for Flapping Robots.

The flight of bats is comparatively less documented and understood than birds and insects and may provide novel inspiration for the design of flapping flight robots. This study captured the natural flight of short-nosed fruit bats (Cynopterus sphinx) by an optical motion capture system, "OptiTrack", with pasted markers on the wings and body to reconstruct the flight parameters. Due to the self-occlusion at some moments, points on the membrane wings cannot be captured by any cameras.

Direct Measurements of the Wing Kinematics of a Bat in Straight Flight.

Bat is the only mammal in the nature that can fly. Compared with birds and insects, bats are quite special in that their wings are formed by an elastic membrane, which renders that the airfoil deforms greatly during downstroke and upstroke. Due to the compliant skin of a bat, the movements of its wings are three-dimensionally complex during diverse flight behaviors.

Winged forelimbs of the small theropod dinosaur Caudipteryx could have generated small aerodynamic forces during rapid terrestrial locomotion.

Pennaceous feathers capable of forming aerodynamic surfaces are characteristic of Pennaraptora, the group comprising birds and their closest relatives among non-avian dinosaurs. However, members of the basal pennaraptoran lineage Oviraptorosauria were clearly flightless, and the function of pennaceous feathers on the forelimb in oviraptorosaurs is still uncertain. In the basal oviraptorosaur Caudipteryx both the skeleton and the plumage, which includes pennaceous feathers forming wing-like arrangements on the forelimbs, are well known.

Roscovitine attenuates intimal hyperplasia via inhibiting NF-κB and STAT3 activation induced by TNF-α in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Roscovitine is a selective CDK inhibitor originally designed as anti-cancer agent, which has also been shown to inhibit proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, its effect on vascular remodeling and its mechanism of action remain unknown. In our study, we created a new intimal hyperplasia model in male Sprague-Dawley rats by trypsin digestion method, which cause to vascular injury as well as the model of rat carotid balloon angioplasty.

Endometrial breakdown with sustained progesterone release involves NF-κB-mediated functional progesterone withdrawal in a mouse implant model.

Irregular uterine bleeding is a major side effect of long-acting progestogen-only contraceptives in women, and is the primary reason women discontinue their use. In this study, a mouse model of endometrial breakdown was established using a subcutaneous progesterone implant to understand how irregular bleeding begins. Although progestogens sustained decidualization, endometrial breakdown was still observed in this model.

[Hydroxysafflor yellow A inhibits rat vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation possibly via blocking signal transduction of MEK-ERK1/2].

Objective: To elucidate the effect of hydroxysafflor yellow A ( HYSA) on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the related mechanism.

Methods: VSMCs derived from SD rats were treated with DMEC culture medium (Control), 10 ng/ml PDGF (PDGF group), pretreatment with HYSA at different doses (1, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 µmol/L) for 24 h then cotreatment with PDGF. After 24 h, MTT assay, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were performed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of HYSA on VSMCs proliferation.

Acetylbritannilactone Modulates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling and Regulates Angiogenesis in Endothelial Cells.

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of 1-O-acetylbritannilactone (ABL), a compound extracted from Inula britannica L., on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling and angiogenesis in endothelial cells (ECs). We showed that ABL promotes VEGF-induced cell proliferation, growth, migration, and tube formation in cultured human ECs.

Reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress might alter the course of heart failure via caspase-12 and JNK pathways.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays an important role in mediating ischemic heart cell death. The aim of this study was to investigate whether manipulation of a key factor of the ER stress pathway, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit α (eIF2α), can change the natural history of heart failure (HF).

Methods: HF was induced using coronary artery ligation in adult rats and a selective eIF2α dephosphorylation inhibitor, salubrinal (Sal), was used.

On-line concentration and pressurized capillary electrochromatographic analysis of phytohormones in corn.

A pressurized CEC (pCEC) method was developed for the separation of phytohormones, in which UV absorbance was used as the detector and a monolithic silica-ODS column as the separation column. The parameters (including the concentration of organic solvent in the mobile phase, pH of the electrolyte buffer, applied voltage) affecting the separation resolution were evaluated. Two on-line concentration techniques, namely, solvent gradient zone sharpening effect and field-enhanced sample stacking, were utilized to improve detection sensitivity.

[Determination of acetylbritannilactone in inulicin and rat plasma by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with on-line sweeping concentration technique].

A method was established for the determination of acetylbritannilactone (ABL) in inulicins and rat plasma by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC), in which on-line sweeping technique was applied to elevate the sensitivity of the detection. The column used was an uncoated fused silica capillary with a size of 57 cm (effective length of 50 cm) x 75 microm i.d.

[Determination of osteopontin at trace levels by non-gel sieving capillary electrophoresis].

A method of non-gel sieving capillary electrophoresis (NGSCE) was established to determine osteopontin at trace levels. The capillary used was uncoated fused silica with a size of 57 cm x 75 microm i. d.

Rapidly tuning miniature transversely excited atmospheric-pressure CO2 laser.

An experimental study of a rapidly tuning miniature transversely excited atmospheric-pressure CO2 laser is reported. To rapidly shift laser wavelengths over selected transitions in the 9-11 microm wavelength region, we have utilized a high-frequency stepping motor and a diffraction grating. The laser is highly automated with a monolithic microprocessor controlled laser line selection.