Study on the Fracture Toughness of Softwood and Hardwood Estimated by Boundary Effect Model.

The tensile strength and fracture toughness of softwood and hardwood are measured by the Boundary Effect Model (BEM). The experimental results of single-edge notched three-point bending tests indicate that the BEM is an appropriate method to estimate the fracture toughness of the present fibrous and porous woods. In softwood with alternating earlywood and latewood layers, the variation in the volume percentage of different layers in a small range has no obvious influence on the mechanical properties of the materials.

Improving the HCHO Sensing Selectivity on Ag-Doped Graphene by Oxygen Functionalization: A First-Principles Study.

Graphene-based sensors typically fail in the selectivity of target gas detection when exposed to complex and multicompound atmospheres. We have thoroughly compared the adsorptions of various interfering gases (CO, NH, CH, CH, CH, CHOH, and CHCl) with target HCHO on AgG and AgOG by first-principles simulations. The results demonstrate that AgG shows a poor selectivity for HCHO detection and an oxygen functionalized one can improve the selectivity by enhancing the adsorption strength of HCHO and weakening those of other gas molecules.

Stress and Defect Effects on Electron Transport Properties at SnO/Perovskite Interfaces: A First-Principles Insight.

The structural and electronic properties of interfaces play an important role in the stability and functionality of solar cell devices. Experiments indicate that the SnO/perovskite interfaces always show superior electron transport efficiency and high structural stability even though there exists a larger lattice mismatch. Aiming at solving the puzzles, we have performed density-functional theory calculations to investigate the electronic characteristics of the SnO/perovskite interfaces with various stresses and defects.

Distinctive Impact of Heat Treatment on the Mechanical Behavior of Nacreous and Crossed-Lamellar Structures in Biological Shells: Critical Role of Organic Matrix.

As biological ceramic composites, mollusk shells exhibit an excellent strength-toughness combination that should be dependent on aragonite/organic matrix interfaces. The mechanical properties and fracture mechanisms of the nacreous structure in the () shell and crossed-lamellar structures in the () shell were investigated, focusing on the critical role of the organic matrix/aragonite interface bonding that can be adjusted by heat treatments. It is found that heat treatments have a negative impact on the fracture behavior of the nacreous structure in the shell, and both the bending and shear properties decrease with increasing heat-treatment temperature because of the loss of water and organic matrix.

An Ingenious Microstructure Arrangement in Deep-Sea Shell against the Harsh Environment.

Mollusk shells generally consist of several macro-layers with different microstructures. To explore the specific role that different macro-layers play in the overall mechanical properties of shells, the microstructures, hardness distribution, and three-point bending behavior in the deep-sea shell were investigated. It is found that the shell presents a hierarchical structure comprising three layers in thickness, that is, the outer, middle, and inner layers, which exhibit homogeneous, prismatic, and nacreous structures, respectively.

Metal/Carboxylate-Induced Versatile Structures of Nine 0D → 3D Complexes with Different Fluorescent and Electrochemical Behaviors.

To investigate the effect of the polycarboxylates and metal ions on the assembly and structures of complexes based on a thiophene-containing bis-pyridyl-bis-amide ,-bis(pyridine-3-yl)thiophene-2,5-dicarboxamide (3-bptpa) ligand, nine 0D → 3D complexes of [Ni(3-bptpa)(1,2-BDC)(HO)] (), [Ni(3-bptpa)(IP)(HO)]·HO (), [Ni(3-bptpa)(5-MIP)(HO)]·HO (), [Ni(3-bptpa)(5-NIP)(HO)] (), [Ni(3-bptpa)(5-AIP)]·2HO (), [Ni(OH)(3-bptpa)(1,3,5-BTC)]·DMA·5HO (), [Cu(3-bptpa)(5-MIP)]·3HO (), [Cu(3-bptpa)(5-AIP)(HO)]·HO (), and [Cu(3-bptpa)(1,3,5-HBTC)] () (1,2-HBDC = 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, HIP = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 5-HMIP = 5-methylisophthalic acid, 5-HNIP = 5-nitroisophthalic acid, 5-HAIP = 5-aminoisophthalic acid, DMA = ,'-dimethylacetamide, and 1,3,5-HBTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) have been hydrothermally/solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by IR, thermogravimetric, powder X-ray diffraction, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex is a zero-dimensional (0D) bimetallic complex. Complexes and feature two similar one-dimensional ladderlike structures.

Tumor suppressor BLU exerts growth inhibition by blocking ERK signaling and disrupting cell cycle progression through RAS pathway interference.

We have previously reported that the 3p21 tumor suppressor regulates cell cycle by blocking JNK/MAPK signaling. Another member of the MAPK family, extracellular signal response kinase (ERK), is induced by the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway and is targeted in anticancer therapy. The effects of on tumor growth were evaluated by measuring the size of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) xenografted tumors intra-tumorally injected with adenovirus 5 ( Ad5) and the viability of NPC cells transferred with .

Fatigue and Fracture Behavior of a Cold-Drawn Commercially Pure Aluminum Wire.

Fatigue properties and cracking behavior of cold-drawn commercially pure aluminum wires (CPAWs) widely used as the overhead transmission conductors were investigated. It was found that the fracture surface of the CPAWs shows an obvious four-stage fracture characteristic, i.e.

[Mechanism of colon cancer cell apoptosis induced by telocinobufagin: role of oxidative stress and apoptosis pathway].

Objective: To investigate the effects of telocinobufagin on viability and apoptosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and explore the mechanism of telocinobufagin-induced apoptosis.

Methods: MTT assay was performed to detect the viability of CRC cells exposed to telocinobufagin. Nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342 and flow cytometry were used to analyze the cell death of CRC cells.

Adjuvant sorafenib after heptectomy for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer-stage C hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant sorafenib after curative resection for patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC)-stage C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Thirty-four HCC patients, classified as BCLC-stage C, received adjuvant sorafenib for high-risk of tumor recurrence after curative hepatectomy at a tertiary care university hospital. The study group was compared with a case-matched control group of 68 patients who received curative hepatectomy for HCC during the study period in a 1:2 ratio.

Efficiency and safety of radiofrequency-assisted hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhosis: A single-center retrospective cohort study.

Aim: To assess the efficiency and safety of radiofrequency-assisted hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis.

Methods: From January 2010 to December 2013, 179 patients with HCC and cirrhosis were recruited for this retrospective study. Of these, 100 patients who received radiofrequency-assisted hepatectomy (RF+ group) were compared to 79 patients who had hepatectomy without ablation (RF- group).

Three-Point Bending Fracture Behavior of Single Oriented Crossed-Lamellar Structure in Shell.

The three-point bending strength and fracture behavior of single oriented crossed-lamellar structure in shell were investigated. The samples for bending tests were prepared with two different orientations perpendicular and parallel to the radial ribs of the shell, which corresponds to the tiled and stacked directions of the first-order lamellae, respectively. The bending strength in the tiled direction is approximately 60% higher than that in the stacked direction, primarily because the regularly staggered arrangement of the second-order lamellae in the tiled direction can effectively hinder the crack propagation, whereas the cracks can easily propagate along the interfaces between lamellae in the stacked direction.

Application of Joint Detection of AFP, CA19-9, CA125 and CEA in Identification and Diagnosis of Cholangiocarcinoma.

Objective: To explore the application of joint detection of serum AFP, CA19-9, CA125 and CEA in identification and diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma (CC).

Materials And Methods: The levels of serum AFP, CA19-9, CA125 and CEA of both 30 patients with CC and 30 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic effects of single and joint detection of those 4 kinds of tumor markers for CC.

Expression of Lamininγ2 in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma tissues and its influence on tumor invasion and metastasis.

Objective: To explore the expression of lamininγ2 in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) tissues and its influence on tumor invasion and metastasis.

Materials And Methods: Paraffin embedding samples of cancer, para-cancer, lymph node metastatic and hepatic metastatic tissues from 79 patients undergoing EHCC resection were collected. Expression of lamininγ2 was detected by immunohistochemistry and its relationship with clinical pathological characteristics and the prognosis of EHCC patients were analyzed.

Coexpression of MYC and BCL-2 predicts prognosis in primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Aim: To investigate whether MYC and BCL-2 coexpression has prognostic significance in primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PGI-DLBCL) patients, and explore its associations with patients' clinical parameters.

Methods: Fresh and paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples from 60 PGI-DLBCL patients who had undergone surgery at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2005 to May 2010 were obtained, and 30 lymphoid tissue samples from reactive lymph nodes of age- and sex-matched patients represented control samples. Staging and diagnostic procedures were conducted according to the Lugano staging system.

Preparation and mechanical property of a novel 3D porous magnesium scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

Porous magnesium has been recently recognized as a biodegradable metal for bone substitute applications. A novel porous Mg scaffold with three-dimensional (3D) interconnected pores and with a porosity of 33-54% was produced by the fiber deposition hot pressing (FDHP) technology. The microstructure and morphologies of the porous Mg scaffold were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the effects of porosities on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the porous Mg were investigated.

Detailed analysis of temporal features on contrast enhanced ultrasound may help differentiate intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis.

Aim: To verify if detailed analysis of temporal enhancement patterns on contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) may help differentiate intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhosis.

Methods: Thirty three ICC and fifty HCC in cirrhosis were enrolled in this study. The contrast kinetics of ICC and HCC was analyzed and compared.

Preparation and characterizations of bioglass ceramic cement/Ca-P coating on pure magnesium for biomedical applications.

Magnesium has been recently recognized as a biodegradable metal for bone substitute applications. In order to improve the biocompatibility and osteointegration of pure Mg, two kinds of coatings, i.e.

[The clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of 103 cases].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients with gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.

Methods: The clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of 103 gastric MALT lymphoma patients admitted to our hospital from April 2001 to August 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The onset of gastric MALT lymphoma was often insidious without specific clinical manifestation, the most common complaints were abdominal pain or discomfort, weight loss, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting.

[The new technology of enhanced radiofrequency ablation is safe and effective for treating giant hepatic hemangioma].

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of the enhanced radiofrequency ablation (RFA) new technology for treatment of giant hepatic hemangiomas.

Methods: From August 2010 to September 2011, 30 patients with giant hepatic hemangiomas (average diameter: 7.7+/-1.

[Immune tolerance induced by human Stro-1 positive mesenchymal stem cells in mouse skin graft].

This study was aimed to evaluate whether human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) and the Stro-1 positive subgroup have inducing immune tolerance effect in mouse skin graft model. Human MSC were isolated and cultured from bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells of healthy adults, and Stro-1 positive cells were sorted out. Female C57BL/6 mice and female BALB/c mice were respectively used as donors and recipients in skin allogenic graft model.

Dynamic enhancing vascular pattern of intrahepatic peripheral cholangiocarcinoma on contrast-enhanced ultrasound: the influence of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Purpose: To analyse the dynamic enhancing features by real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of intrahepatic peripheral cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) in patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Materials And Methods: CEUS was performed by using contrast pulse sequencing (CPS) imaging with mechanical index of <0.2 after injection of 2.

Fyn requires HnRNPA2B1 and Sam68 to synergistically regulate apoptosis in pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: The Src family kinase Fyn, heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (HnRNP) A2B1 and Sam68 are thought to be associated with the metastasis of tumors, but their roles in the regulation of apoptosis remain unclear. This study investigated the role of Fyn and its potential relationship with HnRNPA2B1 and Sam68 in the regulation of apoptosis in pancreatic cancer. Experimental design.