Fluoride impairs vascular smooth muscle A7R5 cell lines via disrupting amino acids metabolism.

Given the insidious and high-fatality nature of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the emergence of fluoride as a newly identified risk factor demands serious consideration alongside traditional risk factors. While vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play a pivotal role in the progression of CVDs, the toxicological impact of fluoride on VSMCs remains largely uncharted. In this study, we constructed fluorosis model in SD rats and A7R5 aortic smooth muscle cell lines to confirm fluoride impaired VSMCs. Fluoride aggravated the pathological damage of rat aorta in vivo. Then A7R5 were exposed to fluoride with concentration ranging from 0 to 1200 µmol/L over a 24-h period, revealing a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and migration. The further metabolomic analysis showed alterations in metabolite profiles induced by fluoride exposure, notably decreasing organic acids and lipid molecules level. Additionally, gene network analysis underscored the frequency of fluoride's interference with amino acids metabolism, potentially impacting the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Our results also highlighted the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters pathway as a central element in VSMC impairment. Moreover, we observed a dose-dependent increase in osteopontin (OPN) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA level and a dose-dependent decrease in ABC subfamily C member 1 (ABCC1) and bestrophin 1 (BEST1) mRNA level. These findings advance our understanding of fluoride as a CVD risk factor and its influence on VSMCs and metabolic pathways, warranting further investigation into this emerging risk factor.

Analysis of extreme ultraviolet radiation and hydrodynamics simulation at the core of laser-produced nickel plasmas.

The non-uniformity and transient nature of laser-produced plasma are critical factors that affect the analysis of the extreme ultraviolet spectra of highly charged ions and the diagnosis of plasma states. This paper systematically investigates the characteristics of extreme ultraviolet radiation and the hydrodynamic evolution of laser-produced nickel plasmas from two perspectives: high-spatio-temporal-resolution extreme-ultraviolet spectroscopic measurement and radiation hydrodynamics simulation. The consistency between the four-band experimental spectra and their theoretically simulated spectra confirms the accuracy of the atomic structure parameters and plasma state parameters. We also analyze the significant contribution of the 3d-4f double-excited state radiation to the spectral profile and discuss the influence of the self-absorption caused by plasma opacity on the characteristics of extreme ultraviolet radiation. The findings are crucial for accurately understanding the characteristics of extreme ultraviolet radiation, the hydrodynamic evolution, and the application of medium- and high-Z laser-produced plasma as a pulsed short-wavelength light source.

Coalescence-Induced Self-Propelled Particle Transport with Asymmetry Arrangement.

We experimentally investigated the coalescence-induced droplet-particle jumping phenomenon on a submillimeter scale in symmetric and asymmetric particle arrangements with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles and stainless steel (SS) particles. Coalescence-induced droplet-particle jumping exhibited excellent capability and interesting behavior for both droplet jumping enhancement and particle transport. The particle increased the normalized droplet jumping velocity from 0.250 for no particle case to 0.315 and 0.320 for symmetric and asymmetric particle cases. Compared with similar-sized macrostructures fixed between droplets, better jumping performance with particles may be attributed to avoiding the work of adhesion during droplet-macrostructure separation. Besides, all particles always sunk at the bottom in the symmetric cases, while the stick mode for PMMA particles and sink, wander, and jet modes for SS particles appeared in the asymmetry cases. We revealed that the asymmetric particle arrangement induces an unbalanced surface tension force, which may provide a driving force in the vertical direction. Additionally, a small enough resistive force caused by hydrophobic particles is another necessary condition for the wonder and jet mode. Finally, we realized a significantly superior particle transport in the asymmetric SS particle cases with maximum particle height reaching ∼2.1 mm, ∼12.4 times the particle radius, the most significant vertical self-propelled transport distance currently.

FV-429 induces apoptosis by regulating nuclear translocation of PKM2 in pancreatic cancer cells.

Of all malignancies, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), constituting 90% of pancreatic cancers, has the worst prognosis. Glycolysis is overactive in PDAC patients and is associated with poor prognosis. Drugs that inhibit glycolysis as well as induce cell death need to be identified. However, glycolysis inhibitors often fail to induce cell death. We here found that FV-429, a derivative of the natural flavonoid wogonin, can induce mitochondrial apoptosis and inhibit glycolysis in PDAC in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, FV-429 inhibited intracellular ATP content, glucose uptake, and lactate generation, consequently leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in PDAC cells. Furthermore, it decreased the expression of PKM2 (a specific form of pyruvate kinase) through the ERK signaling pathway and enhanced PKM2 nuclear translocation. TEPP-46, the activator of PKM2, reversed FV-429-induced glycolysis inhibition and mitochondrial apoptosis in the PDAC cells. In addition, FV-429 exhibited significant tumor suppressor activity and high safety in BxPC-3 cell xenotransplantation models. These results thus demonstrated that FV-429 decreases PKM2 expression through the ERK signaling pathway and enhances PKM2 nuclear translocation, thereby resulting in glycolysis inhibition and mitochondrial apoptosis in PDAC in vitro and in vivo, which makes FV-429 a promising candidate for pancreatic cancer treatment.

GL-V9 inhibits the activation of AR-AKT-HK2 signaling networks and induces prostate cancer cell apoptosis through mitochondria-mediated mechanism.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a serious health concern for men due to its high incidence and mortality rate. The first therapy typically adopted is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, patient response to ADT varies, and 20-30% of PCa cases develop into castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). This article investigates the anti-PCa effect of a drug candidate named GL-V9 and highlights the significant mechanism involving the AKT-hexokinase II (HKII) pathway. In both androgen receptor (AR)-expressing 22RV1 cells and AR-negative PC3 cells, GL-V9 suppressed phosphorylated AKT and mitochondrial location of HKII. This led to glycolytic inhibition and mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, GL-V9 inhibited AR activity in 22RV1 cells and disrupted the feedback activation of AKT signaling in condition of AR inhibition. This disruption greatly increased the anti-PCa efficacy of the AR antagonist bicalutamide. In conclusion, we present a novel anti-PCa candidate and combination drug strategies to combat CRPC by intervening in the AR-AKT-HKII signaling network.

Demographic and Behavioral Risk Factors Predict Functional Limitations Associated with Subjective Cognitive Decline in Americans with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Secondary Analysis.

Prior research indicates that subjective cognitive decline (SCD) affects approximately one-third of older adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, there is limited population-based research on risk factors associated with SCD-related functional limitations within this vulnerable subgroup. A secondary data analysis of 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data was conducted to address this gap, focusing on Americans ≥45 years old with COPD (N = 107,204). Several sociodemographic and health-related factors were independently associated with SCD-related functional limitations. Retired and unemployed individuals were significantly more likely to require assistance with day-to-day activities due to memory loss or confusion compared to employed individuals (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.2-8.0; AOR = 5.8, 95% CI: 3.01-1.5, respectively). Additionally, unemployed individuals were over five times more likely to report confusion or memory loss affecting social activities (AOR = 5.7, 95% CI: 2.9-11.0). Disparities were also observed among different racial groups, with Black/African Americans (AOR = 4.9, 95% CI: 2.3-10.4) and Hispanics (AOR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-4.7) more likely than White and non-Hispanic people, respectively, to give up daily chores due to SCD. Our findings underscore the need for culturally sensitive interventions to address functional limitations faced by retired, unemployed, and minority adults with COPD and SCD.

Dental Hygiene Students' Knowledge, Understanding and Intended Use of Caries Preventive Regimens and Community Water Fluoridation.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine dental hygiene students' perspectives regarding their knowledge and understanding about caries prevention strategies and their intention to use these regimens in clinical practice. Dental hygienists' knowledge and understanding of caries prevention is critical because they are the primary providers of these regimens and the relevant education.Methods This 2019 national cross-sectional online survey was designed by the University of Maryland (UMD), structured by the ADA staff for online administration, distributed and collected by the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA) to 9533 email addresses, and de-identified response data were analyzed by UMD. The survey included questions on three caries preventive regimens: fluoride varnish, dental sealants, and silver diamine fluoride (SDF), and items on community water fluoridation (CWF), respondent's demographics and intent to use the regimens. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Significance was set at p<0.05.Results Of the 235 surveys returned (response rate 2.5%) the majority were female, White and born in the United States. Over half were in associate degree programs; nearly a third were in baccalaureate programs. Respondents reported greater knowledge/understanding and intention to use fluoride varnish and dental sealants than SDF. Less than half (44.7%) reported knowledge/understanding of SDF and only 22.6% had a high level of confidence regarding applying it. Additionally, only 31.1% indicated they were extremely likely to use SDF upon graduation.Conclusions To reduce the prevalence of caries, dental hygiene graduates must be well-versed with the latest science-based preventive procedures, including non-invasive caries prevention and control therapies. The results of this survey, albeit non representative of the general population of dental hygiene students, suggest a need for a more extensive review of the caries preventive regimen content, especially for silver diamine fluoride, of dental hygiene curricular programs.

Emerging role of RNA modification and long noncoding RNA interaction in cancer.

RNA modification, especially N6-methyladenosine, 5-methylcytosine, and N7-methylguanosine methylation, participates in the occurrence and progression of cancer through multiple pathways. The function and expression of these epigenetic regulators have gradually become a hot topic in cancer research. Mutation and regulation of noncoding RNA, especially lncRNA, play a major role in cancer. Generally, lncRNAs exert tumor-suppressive or oncogenic functions and its dysregulation can promote tumor occurrence and metastasis. In this review, we summarize N6-methyladenosine, 5-methylcytosine, and N7-methylguanosine modifications in lncRNAs. Furthermore, we discuss the relationship between epigenetic RNA modification and lncRNA interaction and cancer progression in various cancers. Therefore, this review gives a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which RNA modification affects the progression of various cancers by regulating lncRNAs, which may shed new light on cancer research and provide new insights into cancer therapy.

Reconstruction and analysis of transient evolution images of laser-produced plasma plumes.

We introduce a method for the analysis and simulation of transient images of laser-produced plasma (LPP) plumes. This method comprises three steps: (i) calculating the two-dimensional distribution of plasma parameters using a radiation hydrodynamics model, (ii) constructing radiation paths through ray tracing, and (iii) solving the radiation transport equation along these paths. In our simulations, we have meticulously considered factors that could influence the imaging results, including the quantum efficiency to different radiation wavelengths, the imaging lens' transmittance, the target surface's reflectivity, and the absorption, emission, and scattering quantum effect of the detector processes occurring in the plasma. We applied this method to analyze and simulate the transient images of aluminum plasma plumes in a background air environment at a pressure of 2000 Pa. The results demonstrate that our method not only produces simulated images that align with experimental results but also provides a reliable distribution of plasma state parameters and clearly identifies the ion species radiating in different bands. Given its capability in transient image reconstruction and its adaptability as a tool for spectral simulation and analysis of LPPs, we believe this method holds significant potential for spectral diagnostics in fields such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, extreme ultraviolet lithography sources, and high-energy-density physics, among others.

Multilevel and multicomponent intervention to promote colorectal cancer screening among underserved Vietnamese Americans: A cluster randomized trial.

Purpose: The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a non-invasive method for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, particularly effective in underserved Vietnamese American communities with low screening rates. This study reports on a culturally tailored multilevel intervention, incorporating FIT, aimed at increasing CRC screening among these populations aged 50 or above in the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. Methods: From 2017 to 2020, we conducted a two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of a culturally tailored, multicomponent multilevel intervention aimed at increasing CRC screening uptake via enhanced self-awareness and self-efficacy, improved access to care, and changes in social norms and removal of stigma. The intervention group received multicomponent, multilevel CRC intervention including provision of a FIT self-sampling kit, with intervention approaches informed by the Centers for Disease Control's Clinical Preventive Services (CPS) Guidelines for adults 50+. The control group received only the CPS education. Results: The study sample consisted of 746 eligible Vietnamese American participants recruited from 20 community-based organizations, with 95% having limited English proficiency. At 12-month follow-up, the intervention group showed substantially higher rates of FIT completion (89.56% vs. 7.59%, p < .001) and any CRC testing (91.48% vs. 42.41%, p < .001) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results suggest that the community-based, culturally-tailored multilevel intervention, which incorporates with FIT self-testing, effectively enhances CRC screening among low-income Vietnamese Americans. Additionally, these results underscore the significance of community-oriented strategies, like collaborating with relevant community-based organizations, in achieving CRC screening targets.

Mass transfer of microbubble in liquid under multifrequency acoustic excitation - A theoretical study.

Microbubble's mass transfer under external acoustic excitation holds immense potential across various technological fields. However, the current state of acoustic technology faces limitations due to inadequate control over bubble size in liquids under external excitation. Here, we conducted numerical investigations of the mass transfer behavior of microbubbles in liquids under multifrequency acoustic excitations with different frequencies (in the MHz range), pressure amplitudes (in the range of several atmospheric pressures), and amplitude ratios. We identified various pressure threshold regions for the growth of gas bubbles (radii range from a few microns to tens of microns) and observed common intersections between single and multifrequency excitations that enable effective control of the growth intervals and final size of bubbles by adjusting the ratio of pressure amplitude and frequency value. Allocating power to the lower frequency component of multifrequency acoustic excitation is recommended to facilitate mass transfer or diffusion, as small-frequency acoustic excitation has a more significant effect than the higher frequency in the growth region. Our study provides a better understanding of the dynamics of bubbles under complex excitations and has practical implications for developing methods to control and promote bubble-related processes.

Bone-Targeted Biomimetic Nanogels Re-Establish Osteoblast/Osteoclast Balance to Treat Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.

Insufficient bone formation and excessive bone resorption caused by estrogen deficiency are the major factors resulting in the incidence of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). The existing drugs usually fail to re-establish the osteoblast/osteoclast balance from both sides and generate side-effects owing to the lack of bone-targeting ability. Here, engineered cell-membrane-coated nanogels PNG@mR&C capable of scavenging receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and responsively releasing therapeutic PTH 1-34 in the bone microenvironment are prepared from RANK and CXCR4 overexpressed bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) membrane-coated chitosan biopolymers. The CXCR4 on the coated-membranes confer bone-targeting ability, and abundant RANK effectively absorb RANKL to inhibit osteoclastogenesis. Meanwhile, the release of PTH 1-34 triggered by osteoclast-mediated acid microenvironment promote osteogenesis. In addition, the dose and frequency are greatly reduced due to the smart release property, prolonged circulation time, and bone-specific accumulation. Thus, PNG@mR&C exhibits satisfactory therapeutic effects in the ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model. This study provides a new paradigm re-establishing the bone metabolic homeostasis from multitargets and shows great promise for the treatment of PMOP.

Asperuloside Promotes Apoptosis of Cervical Cancer Cells through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mitochondrial Pathway / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effects of asperuloside on cervical cancer based on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondrial pathway.@*METHODS@#Different doses (12.5-800 µg/mL) of asperuloside were used to treat cervical cancer cell lines Hela and CaSki to calculate the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of asperuloside. The cell proliferation was analyzed by clone formation assay. Cell apoptosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential were determined by flow cytometry. The protein expressions of cleaved-caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, Cyt-c, cleaved-caspase-4 and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) were analyzed by Western blot. And the inhibitor of ER stress, 4-phenyl butyric acid (4-PBA) was used to treat cervical cancer cells to further verify the role of ER stress in the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells induced by asperuloside.@*RESULTS@#Asperuloside of 325, 650, and 1300 µg/mL significantly inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of Hela and CaSki cells (P<0.01). All doses of asperuloside significantly increased intracellular ROS levels, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, significantly reduced Bcl-2 protein expression level, and increased Bax, Cyt-c, GRP78 and cleaved-caspase-4 expressions (P<0.01). In addition, 10 mmol/L 4-PBA treatment significantly promoted cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis (P<0.05), and 650 µg/mL asperuloside could reverse 4-PBA-induced increased cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis and cleaved-caspase-3, -4 and GRP78 protein expressions (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Our study revealed the role of asperuloside in cervical cancer, suggesting that asperuloside promotes apoptosis of cervical cancer cells through ER stress-mitochondrial pathway.

[Screening of pathogenic molecular markers of Staphylococcus aureus in children based on whole genome sequencing technology]. / åŸºäºŽå ¨åŸºå› ç»„æµ‹åºæŠ€æœ¯ç­›é€‰å„¿ç«¥é‡‘é»„è‰²è‘¡è„çƒèŒçš„è‡´ç— ç›¸å ³åˆ†å­æ ‡å¿—ç‰©.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in children, and to compare the molecular characteristics of different types of strains (infection and colonization strains) so as to reveal pathogenic molecular markers of S. aureus. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used to conduct nasopharyngeal swab sampling from healthy children in the community and clinical samples from infected children in the hospital. Whole genome sequencing was used to detect antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes. A random forest method to used to screen pathogenic markers. RESULTS: A total of 512 S. aureus strains were detected, including 272 infection strains and 240 colonization strains. For virulence genes, the carrying rates of enterotoxin genes (seb and sep), extracellular enzyme coding genes (splA, splB, splE and edinC), leukocytotoxin genes (lukD, lukE, lukF-PV and lukS-PV) and epidermal exfoliating genes (eta and etb) in infection strains were higher than those in colonization strains. But the carrying rates of enterotoxin genes (sec, sec3, seg, seh, sei, sel, sem, sen, seo and seu) were lower in infection strains than in colonization strains (P<0.05). For antibiotic resistance genes, the carrying rates of lnuA, lnuG, aadD, tetK and dfrG were significantly higher in infection strains than in colonization strains (P<0.05). The accuracy of cross-validation of the random forest model for screening pathogenic markers of S. aureus before and after screening was 69% and 68%, respectively, and the area under the curve was 0.75 and 0.70, respectively. The random forest model finally screened out 16 pathogenic markers (sem, etb, splE, sep, ser, mecA, lnuA, sea, blaZ, cat(pC233), blaTEm-1A, aph(3')-III, ermB, ermA, ant(9)-Ia and ant(6)-Ia). The top five variables in the variable importance ranking were sem (OR=0.40), etb (OR=3.95), splE (OR=1.68), sep (OR=3.97), and ser (OR=1.68). CONCLUSIONS: The random forest model can screen out pathogenic markers of S. aureus and exhibits a superior predictive performance, providing genetic evidence for tracing highly pathogenic S. aureus and conducting precise targeted interventions.

Transcriptome profiling in rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum tissues during the developmental transition of pre-ruminant to the ruminant in yaks.

The development of the four stomachs of yak is closely related to its health and performance, however the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we systematically analyzed mRNAs of four stomachs in five growth time points [0 day, 20 days, 60 days, 15 months and 3 years (adult)] of yaks. Overall, the expression patterns of DEmRNAs were unique at 0 d, similar at 20 d and 60 d, and similar at 15 m and adult in four stomachs. The expression pattern in abomasum was markedly different from that in rumen, reticulum and omasum. Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM) analysis demonstrated that multi-model spectra are drastically enriched over time in four stomachs. All the identified mRNAs in rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum were classified into 6, 4, 7, and 5 cluster profiles, respectively. Modules 9, 38, and 41 were the most significant three colored modules. By weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), a total of 5,486 genes were categorized into 10 modules. CCKBR, KCNQ1, FER1L6, and A4GNT were the hub genes of the turquoise module, and PAK6, TRIM29, ADGRF4, TGM1, and TMEM79 were the hub genes of the blue module. Furthermore, functional KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that the turquoise module was involved in gastric acid secretion, sphingolipid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, etc., and the blue module was enriched in pancreatic secretion, pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism, etc. Our study aims to lay a molecular basis for the study of the physiological functions of rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum in yaks. It can further elucidate the important roles of these mRNAs in regulation of growth, development and metabolism in yaks, and to provide a theoretical basis for age-appropriate weaning and supplementary feeding in yaks.

Parental Health Literacy, Empowerment, and Advocacy for Food Allergy Safety in Schools: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 8% of elementary school-aged children in the United States have food allergies, a complicated health management situation that requires parents to use many types of health literacy, empowerment, and advocacy skills to work with school staff to protect their children. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study examined (a) whether the highest versus lowest levels of functional, communicative, and critical health literacy are associated with higher perceived effectiveness of parental advocacy behaviors for safe food allergy management in schools [parental advocacy]; and (b) whether communicative and critical health literacy are more strongly associated with parental advocacy than functional health literacy. METHODS: A sample of parents of elementary school-aged children was recruited through 26 food allergy organizations and a research patient registry. Participants completed an anonymous online survey. Self-reported measurements of parental health literacy, empowerment, and advocacy were adapted and refined through pre-testing and pilot-testing. General linear model analyses were conducted to predict parental advocacy. KEY RESULTS: Participants (N = 313) were predominantly White, college-educated mothers with moderately high levels of food allergy knowledge, health literacy, empowerment, and parental advocacy skills. Parents who scored at the highest levels in the three dimensions of health literacy reported they engaged in more effective advocacy behaviors than parents who scored at the lowest levels. Parental advocacy was predicted largely by parental empowerment and the quality of the relationship with the school (B = .41 and B = .40, respectively). Functional health literacy and the child's diagnosis of asthma were smaller predictors. While accounting for covariates, functional health literacy was significantly associated with parental advocacy whereas communicative and critical health literacy were not. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to impact parental empowerment and parent-school relationships, including a health-literate universal precautions approach of communicating food allergy school policies, may influence parental advocacy for food allergy safety in schools. Further research could use a performance-based multidimensional measure of health literacy. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2023;7(3):e165-e175.].

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This online survey of parents of school-aged children in the U.S. examined health literacy predictors of effective parental advocacy behaviors for safe food allergy management in elementary schools. The results suggest that the parents' quality of their relationship with the school, parental empowerment, functional health literacy, and the child's diagnosis of asthma were associated with parents' reports of effective advocacy for food allergy safety, but communicative and critical health literacy were not.

Dynamic wetting of Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids on microstructured surfaces.

Hypothesis Although extensive research has been conducted on the dynamic wetting of Newtonian fluids, limited insights have been gained for viscoelastic fluids, particularly on engineered surfaces. We hypothesize that differences in dynamic wetting on microstructured surfaces exist between such fluids, which may be attributed to variations in viscosity and elasticity as well as changes in the microscopic morphology of the moving contact line. Experiments To systematically investigate the wetting differences between Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids on microstructured surfaces, we conducted forced wetting experiments of glycerol-water and carboxymethyl cellulose aqueous solutions on microstructured polytetrafluoroethylene surfaces through a modified Wilhelmy plate method. Findings Results demonstrated an apparent difference in the relationship between the dynamic contact angle and moving velocity with different microstructured surfaces for Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids. The power-law exponent between the capillary number and cubic of the dynamic contact angle increases with the strengthening of shear thinning and elastic effects. In contrast, this exponent is rarely influenced by the scale of microstructured surfaces, particularly in highly viscous regions where viscous force dominates. In addition, viscosity affects the viscous bending and distance that liquid molecules jump at the contact line. These findings have potential applications in coating complex fluids on engineered surfaces.

Inhibiting the Leidenfrost Effect by Superhydrophilic Nickel Foams with Ultrafast Droplet Permeation.

Inhibiting the Leidenfrost effect has drawn extensive attention due to its detrimental impact on heat dissipation in high-temperature industrial applications. Although hierarchical structures have improved the Leidenfrost point to over 1000 °C, the current performance of single-scale structures remains inadequate. Herein, we present a facile high-temperature treatment method to fabricate superhydrophilic nickel foams that demonstrate ultrafast droplet permeation within tens of milliseconds, elevating the Leidenfrost point above 500 °C. Theoretical analysis based on the pressure balance suggests that these remarkable features arise from the superhydrophilic property, high porosity, and large pore diameter of nickel foams that promote capillary wicking and vapor evacuation. Compared to solid nickel surfaces with a Leidenfrost temperature of approximately 235 °C, nickel foams nucleate boiling at high superheat, triggering an order of magnitude higher heat flux. The effects of the pore diameter and surface temperature on droplet permeation behaviors and heat transfer characteristics are also elucidated. The results indicate that droplet permeation is dominated by inertial and capillary forces at low and high superheat, respectively, and moderate pore diameters are more conducive to facilitating droplet permeation. Furthermore, our heat transfer model reveals that pore diameter plays a negligible role in the heat flux at high surface temperatures due to the trade-off between effective thermal conductivity and specific surface area. This work provides a new strategy to address the Leidenfrost effect by metal foams, which may promise great potential in steel forging and nuclear reactor safety.

Conjunctival infiltrates and cytokines in an experimental immune-mediated blepharoconjunctivitis rat model.

Purpose: To characterize the histopathological and immunological findings of a rat model of allergic blepharoconjunctivitis (BC) and demonstrate its potential utility for the assessment of BC therapies. Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and topically challenged with OVA (BC group) or PBS (control group), while a corticosteroid group was pre-treated with triamcinolone acetate 24 h before the challenge. Morphological features were evaluated and tissues were harvested for histological, flow cytometry and cytokine analysis. Results: The BC group rats developed eyelid excoriations, redness, and conjunctival edema 24 h after the OVA challenge, while corticosteroid pre-treated and PBS-challenged rats were unaffected. The BC features were reduced despite repeated challenges for 5 days. Massive immune cell infiltration was observed in conjunctivae of BC rats, while no significant infiltration was seen in the other groups. Populations of T cells, mono-macrophages, neutrophils, and NK cells made up more than 77% of CD45+7AAD- cells in the conjunctival tissues. T cell proportions were increased at 96 h compared to 24 h post-challenge, while macrophages decreased during the same time period. Eosinophils and intraepithelial neutrophils were detected in the BC rats, but not in the PBS and corticosteroid groups. BC eyes had significantly higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-2, while IL-4 and IL-6 levels were similar to controls. Conclusion: A robust BC response was detected in this rat model which was suppressed by corticosteroid pre-treatment. Immune cell composition and cytokine profiles changed over time.

Corrigendum: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with aortic calcification: a cohort study with propensity score matching.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.880683.].