Achieving high speed of the stick-slip piezoelectric actuator at low frequency by using a two-stage amplification mechanism (TSAM).

The stick-slip piezoelectric actuator is a promising type for precision positioning with large stroke and high resolution; however, it is still challenging to achieve high motion speed at a relatively low driving frequency. To solve this problem, a novel two-stage amplification mechanism (TSAM) was designed, and correspondingly, a stick-slip piezoelectric actuator was developed. The structure, two-stage amplification principle, and motion processes of the designed actuator were addressed in detail, followed by analyzing the displacement amplification ratio and stress of TSAM via the elastic beam method and finite element method, respectively.

Combination of spontaneous regional brain activity and HTR1A/1B DNA methylation to predict early responses to antidepressant treatments in MDD.

Background: Antidepressant medications are suggested as the first-line treatment in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the drug therapy outcomes vary from person to person. The functional activity of the brain and DNA methylation levels correlate with the antidepressant efficacy.

Guanidyl-implanted UiO-66 as an efficient catalyst for the enhanced conversion of carbon dioxide into cyclic carbonates.

The development of heterogeneous catalysts for promoting epoxide cycloaddition with carbon dioxide is highly desirable for recycling CO and achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. Herein, we designed and synthesized Zr-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) by implanting functional guanidyl into the framework mixing different molar ratios of 4-guanidinobenzoic acid (Gua) with 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDC). Consequently, a small sized Zr-MOF (∼350 nm) can be prepared by implanting Gua with 20% molar ligands, denoted as UiO-66-Gua().

The fast redox cycle of Cu(II)-Cu(I)-Cu(II) in the reduction of Cr(VI) by the Cu(II)-thiosulfate system.

Thiosulfate (SO) is an important ligand to complex metal cations, however, the reactivity of metal-thiosulfate complexes has barely been mentioned. In this study, the reactivity of the Cu(II)-SO system in the reduction of Cr(VI) was investigated. Kinetic results show that the reduction rates of Cr(VI) decrease with increasing pH values from 3.

Calcium-bisphosphonate Nanoparticle Platform as a Prolonged Nanodrug and Bone-Targeted Delivery System for Bone Diseases and Cancers.

Bone and bone-related diseases are the major cause of mobility hindrance and mortality in humans and there is no effective and safe treatment for most of them, especially, for bone and bone metastatic cancers. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are a group of small-molecule drugs for treating osteoporosis and bone cancers but have a very short half-life in circulation, requiring high doses and long-term repeat use that can cause severe side effects. Previous attempts of using nanoparticles to deliver BPs have issues of drug loading capacity and endosome escape/drug release.

Enhanced Mucosal Transport of Polysaccharide-Calcium Phosphate Nanocomposites for Oral Vaccination.

Oral vaccine has attracted much interest, as it can stimulate both mucosal and systemic immunity with noninvasive and good patient compliance. However, the oral vaccine efficiency is strongly constrained by the low absorption of antigens in the small intestine due to the mucosal barriers. Physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles (NPs) have strong effects on antigen mucosal penetration, helping to improve immune response.

Achieving smooth motion and high-speed for piezoelectric stick-slip actuator based on the two-stage lever principle.

With the development of the precision manufacturing industry, actuators' performance requirements are increasingly demanding. However, stick-slip actuators still have the problems of backward motion and low motion speed at low frequencies. In this paper, to decrease the backward motion and achieve high speed at low frequencies, a linear piezoelectric stick-slip actuator is designed based on the two-stage lever principle.

The Effect of Governmental Health Measures on Public Behaviour During the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in radical changes in many aspects of life. To deal with this, each country has implemented continuous health measures from the beginning of the outbreak. Discovering how governmental actions impacted public behaviour during the outbreak stage is the purpose of this study.

Therapeutic Potential of Naturally Occurring Benzofuran Derivatives and Hybrids of Benzofurans with other Pharmacophores as Antibacterial Agents.

Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens are able to evade the host immune system, persist within the human host, and lead to severe disease and even death. At present, bacterial infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality across the world. The development of novel antibacterial agents still represents a challenging endeavor, which is mainly attributed to the continuous emergence of more virulent and drug-resistant pathogens.

Dwarf mice as models for reproductive ageing research.

Dwarf mice are characterized by extremely long lifespan, delayed ovarian ageing, altered metabolism, lower age-related oxidative damage and cancer incidence rate. Snell dwarf, Ames dwarf and growth hormone receptor knockout mice are three commonly used models. Despite studies focusing on ageing and metabolism, the reproductive features of female dwarf mice have also attracted interest over the last decade.

Development of an Enantioselective Synthesis of (-)-Euonyminol.

We detail the development of the first enantioselective synthetic route to euonyminol (), the most heavily oxidized member of the dihydro-β-agarofuran sesquiterpenes and the nucleus of the macrocyclic alkaloids known as the cathedulins. Key steps in the synthetic sequence include a novel, formal oxyalkylation reaction of an allylic alcohol by [3 + 2] cycloaddition; a tandem lactonization-epoxide opening reaction to form the -C2-C3 vicinal diol residue; and a late-stage diastereoselective trimethylaluminum-mediated α-ketol rearrangement. We report an improved synthesis of the advanced unsaturated ketone intermediate by means of a 6--dig radical cyclization of the enyne .

Influence of nanoparticles on the haemostatic balance: between thrombosis and haemorrhage.

Maintenance of a delicate haemostatic balance or a balance between clotting and bleeding is critical to human health. Irrespective of administration route, nanoparticles can reach the bloodstream and might interrupt the haemostatic balance by interfering with one or more components of the coagulation, anticoagulation, and fibrinolytic systems, which potentially lead to thrombosis or haemorrhage. However, inadequate understanding of their effects on the haemostatic balance, along with the fact that most studies mainly focus on the functionality of nanoparticles while forgetting or leaving behind their risk to the body's haemostatic balance, is a major concern.

The impact of HTR1A and HTR1B methylation combined with stress/genotype on early antidepressant efficacy.

Aims: Antidepressants are effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), while many patients fail to respond to antidepressants. Both 5-HT1A (HTR1A) and 5-HT1B (HTR1B) receptors play an important role in antidepressant activity. Meanwhile, DNA methylation is associated with MDD and antidepressant efficacy.

Adding an appropriate proportion of phosphogypsum ensured rice husk and urea composting to promote the compost as substrate utilization.

To explore the effectiveness of urea replacing poultry manure as the nitrogen source in the rice husk composting system, and to promote the utilization of compost products as substrates, 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% of phosphogypsum were added respectively in the urea composting system, and were compared with the chicken manure composting (RCP0). Finally, the fermentation and maturation of RCP0 were achieved, but high EC value limited the utilization of compost products as the substrate. Urea, as an N source, could lower the EC value, but the C/N ratio was uncoordinated during the initial stage of composting.

Identifying patients with major depressive disorder based on tryptophan hydroxylase-2 methylation using machine learning algorithms.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) by developing different machine learning (ML) models based on tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) methylation and environmental stress.

Methods: The data were collected from 291 patients with MDD and 100 healthy control participants: individual basic information, the Negative Life Events Scale (NLES) scores, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) scores and the methylation level at 38 CpG sites in TPH2. Information gain was used to select critical input variables.

Investigation on Tribological and Thermo-Mechanical Properties of TiC Nanosheets/Epoxy Nanocomposites.

In this study, two-dimensional TiC nanosheets were employed to improve the tribological and thermo-mechanical properties of epoxy resin. The TiC nanosheets were prepared by ultrasound-assisted delamination of multilayered TiC microparticles, and the TiC nanosheets/epoxy (TiC/epoxy) nanocomposites were fabricated through physical blending and curing reaction. Scanning electron microscopy results showed that the TiC nanosheets were dispersed uniformly in the epoxy matrix.

Dynamic nano-assemblies based on two-dimensional inorganic nanoparticles: Construction and preclinical demonstration.

Dynamic drug delivery systems (DDSs) have the ability of transforming their morphology and functionality in response to the biological microenvironments at the disease site and/or external stimuli, show spatio-temporally controllable drug delivery, and enhance the treatment efficacy. Due to the large surface area and modification flexibility, two-dimensional (2D) inorganic nanomaterials are being increasingly exploited for developing intelligent DDSs for biomedical applications. In this review, we summarize the engineering methodologies used to construct transformable 2D DDSs, including changing compositions, creating defects, and surface dot-coating with polymers, biomolecules, or nanodots.

Establishment of Routine Clinical Indicators-Based Nomograms for Predicting the Mortality in Patients With COVID-19.

This study aimed to establish and validate the nomograms to predict the mortality risk of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using routine clinical indicators. This retrospective study included a development cohort enrolled 2,119 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and a validation cohort included 1,504 patients with COVID-19. The demographics, clinical manifestations, vital signs, and laboratory tests of the patients at admission and outcome of in-hospital death were recorded.

Biomimetic 2D layered double hydroxide nanocomposites for hyperthermia-facilitated homologous targeting cancer photo-chemotherapy.

Background: Multi-modal therapy has attracted increasing attention as it provides enhanced effectiveness and potential stimulation of the immune community. However, low accumulation at the tumor sites and quick immune clearance of the anti-tumor agents are still insurmountable challenges. Hypothetically, cancer cell membrane (CCM) can homologously target the tumor whereas multi-modal therapy can complement the disadvantages of singular therapies.

Greener production of compost from agricultural biomass residues amended with mule dung for agronomic application.

In this study agro-waste (Agwt) was aerobically composted using cow dung (CD) and mule dung (MD). Totally six different sets of compost treatments were prepared, as T1 (Agwt + CD, 1:1), T2 (Agwt + MD, 1:1), T3 (Agwt + CD, 1:3), T4 (Agwt + MD, 1:3), T5 (Agwt + CD, 3:1) and T6 (Agwt + MD, 3:1) in individual containers. All the compost treatments were degraded for 90 days.

Therapeutic Potential of Indole Derivatives as Anti-HIV Agents: A Mini-review.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is one of the leading causes of human deaths. The advent of different anti-HIV drugs has turned AIDS/HIV from a deadly infection to chronic and manageable disease. However, the development of multidrug-resistant viruses, along with the severe side effects of anti-HIV agents, has compromised their efficacy and limited the treatment options.