Nano-Enhanced Phase Reinforced Magnesium Matrix Composites: A Review of the Matrix, Reinforcement, Interface Design, Properties and Potential Applications.

Magnesium matrix composites are essential lightweight metal matrix composites, following aluminum matrix composites, with outstanding application prospects in automotive, aerospace lightweight and biomedical materials because of their high specific strength, low density and specific stiffness, good casting performance and rich resources. However, the inherent low plasticity and poor fatigue resistance of magnesium hamper its further application to a certain extent. Many researchers have tried many strengthening methods to improve the properties of magnesium alloys, while the relationship between wear resistance and plasticity still needs to be further improved. The nanoparticles added exhibit a good strengthening effect, especially the ceramic nanoparticles. Nanoparticle-reinforced magnesium matrix composites not only exhibit a high impact toughness, but also maintain the high strength and wear resistance of ceramic materials, effectively balancing the restriction between the strength and toughness. Therefore, this work aims to provide a review of the state of the art of research on the matrix, reinforcement, design, properties and potential applications of nano-reinforced phase-reinforced magnesium matrix composites (especially ceramic nanoparticle-reinforced ones). The conventional and potential matrices for the fabrication of magnesium matrix composites are introduced. The classification and influence of ceramic reinforcements are assessed, and the factors influencing interface bonding strength between reinforcements and matrix, regulation and design, performance and application are analyzed. Finally, the scope of future research in this field is discussed.

The Role of Lithium in the Aging Precipitation Process of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloys and Its Effect on the Properties.

It is well known that the development of lightweight alloys with improved comprehensive performance and application value are the future development directions for the ultra-high-strength 7xxx series Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys used in the aircraft field. As the lightest metal element in nature, lithium (Li) has outstanding advantages in reducing the density and increasing the elastic modulus in aluminum alloys, so Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys containing Li have gained widespread attention. Furthermore, since the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloy is usually strengthened by aging treatment, it is crucial to understand how Li addition affects its aging precipitation process. As such, in this article, the effects and mechanism of Li on the aging precipitation behavior and the impact of Li content on the aging precipitation phase of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys are briefly reviewed, and the influence of Li on the service properties, including mechanical properties, wear resistance, and fatigue resistance, of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys are explained. In addition, the corresponding development prospects and challenges of the Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Li alloy are also proposed. This review is helpful to further understand the role of Li in Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys and provides a reference for the development of high-strength aluminum alloys containing Li with good comprehensive properties.

Neiella litorisoli sp. nov., an alginate lyase: producing bacterium from South China Sea, and proposal of Echinimonadaceae fam. nov. in the order Alteromonadales.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated HB171785T, was isolated from soil sample collected from Qishui Bay, Hainan, China. The strain grew optimally at pH 7-8, 37-40 °C and with NaCl 3-4%. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was found to be Q-8 and the major fatty acids were C16:0, C16:1 ω7c/C16:1 ω6c, C18:1 ω7c/C18:1 ω6c and C12:0 3OH. The polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine. The size of the draft genome was 4.32 Mbp with G + C content 49.7%. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the closest phylogenetically related species were Neiella marina j221T, "Neiella holothuriorum" 126 and Echinimonas agarilytica KMM 6351T with the similarities of 98.2, 96.0 and 95.0%, respectively. The phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene and phylogenomic tree based on core genome showed that strain HB171785T clustered together with N. marina j221T, with the highest values of average nucleotide identity (82.9%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (25.4%). The combined phylogenetic relatedness, phenotypic and genotypic features supported the conclusion that strain HB171785T represents a novel species of the genus Neiella, for which the name Neiella litorisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HB171785T (= MCCC 1K04625T = KCTC 82319T). In addition, Echinimonadaceae fam. nov. in the order Alteromonadales was proposed.

[Potential toxic effects of TDCIPP on the thyroid in female SD rats].

Objective: To investigate the potential toxic effects and mechanisms of Tris(1; 3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) on thyroid in female SD rats.Methods: Thirty-two 3-weeks-old female SD rats were randomly divided into normal group(treated with corn oil ), and low/moderate/high-dose group treated with TDCIPP (dissolved in corn oil )(n=8). All rats were treated with corn oil or TDCIPP (50, 100, 250 mg/(kg·d)) once a day during a 21-day period. All rats were sacrificed after the last administration. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T3), 3,3',5,5'-tetraiodothyronine (T4), free 3,3',5,5'-tetraiodothyronine (FT4) were detected with ELISA kit. Morphology of thyroid was observed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Expressions of genes and proteins correlate with thyroid were measured respectively by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot. Results: Compared with control group, morphology of thyroid showed follicles irregular arrangement, hypocolloid, and follicular hyperplasia in TDCIPP treatment groups. The levels of serum TSH in low-dose TDCIPP group and T3 in high-dose TDCIPP group were significantly higher than those in control group(P＜0.05). Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) mRNA expression was decreased distinctly in low-dose TDCIPP group, while the expression of thyroperoxidase (TPO) mRNA was increased notably in moderate and high-dose TDCIPP groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01). Compared with control group, the level of TRß protein was decreased significantly in moderate and high-dose TDCIPP groups, while the expressions of udp-glucuronosyl-transferases (UGTs) and cytochrome-p450-3A1 (CYP3A1) proteins were upregulated notably in TDCIPP treatment groups(P＜0.05). Conclusion: Treated with 50 mg/(kg·d) TDCIPP can cause thyroid hyperplasia, change the levels of thyroid hormones, and disturb thyroid function, therefore, it has toxic effects on the thyroid.

MiR-214 prevents the progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by targeting PD-L1.

OBJECTIVE: We explored the role and mechanism of miR-214 involvement in the progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: The expression levels of miR-214 and PD-L1 in human DLBCL cell lines and in tissue samples from patients with DLBCL were determined using quantitative RT-PCR. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to determine the correlation between the expressions of miR-214 and PD-L1. Cell viability, invasiveness and apoptosis were respectively examined in cells of the DLBCL line OCI-Ly3 using CCK-8, transwell and flow cytometry assays. The expression level of PD-L1 was determined via immunoblotting. Inflammatory cytokine secretion was determined via enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: miR-214 was downregulated and PD-L1 was upregulated in DLBCL tissues and cell lines in comparison to normal adjacent tissues or normal B-cell. This indicates a negative correlation in the expression levels. Overexpression of miR-214 inhibited cell viability and invasion and induced apoptosis of OCI-Ly3 cells. Moreover, miR-214 was shown to target PD-L1 mRNA by binding to its 3'-untranslated region (UTR). Knockdown of PD-L1 attenuated the malignant phenotype of OCI-Ly3 cells. Overexpression of miR-214 inhibited tumor growth by targeting PD-L1 in vivo. CONCLUSION: By targeting PD-L1, miR-214 regulates the progression of DLBCL in vitro and in vivo.

[Effects of soybean isoflavones on the energy metabolism of swimming mice].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model for loaded swimming, so as to investigate the energy metabolism effects of soybean isoflavones (SI) on swimming mice. METHODS: Thirty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into three groups:normal control, swimming group, and swimming+SI group. The normal control group mice were fed a basic AIN-93M diet, the SI groups were supplied with soybean isoflavones(4 g/kg).Two weeks later, the mice were forced to swim for an hour,and then all the mice were killed, the samples of blood, liver and muscles of hind were collected.The serum contents of lactic acid(Lac), the activities of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), creatine kinase (CK) and ATPase were measured. RESULTS: Compared with normal control,the serum content of Lac was significantly improved in the group of the swimming control and SI(P<0.05),the activity of LDH in the serum was obviously improved in the group of the swimming control and SI, and the activity of CK and SDH were both significantly improved in the group of the swimming control and SI except the activity of SDH in the liver of the group SI; compared with the swimming control,the serum contents of Lac,the activities of LDH, ATPase, SDH, CK were obviously improved(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Soybean isoflavones can improve the energy metabolism,antioxidant capacity of the swimming mice.

[Statistical analysis of papers in Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology from 2009 to 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the status and papers information of Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology, and provide a guide for authors, readers and editing staffs. METHODS: We retrieved papers of Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology from 2009 to 2013 from CNKI, and performed a statistical analysis of papers information contained in the text using bibliometrics method. Papers information such as document type, found support, author affiliation type, and discipline classification, etc. was analyzed. RESULTS: Seven hundred and forty two papers including 27 full English articles in total were published in Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology from 2009 to 2013. More papers were supported by national, provincial, and the other foundation, it was about 82.6% of all papers. CONCLUSION: Chinese Journal of Applied Physiology has stable manuscript resources, various discipline papers, and play an important role for development of applied physiology in China.