ABSTRACT
Enhancing active states on the catalyst surface by modulating the adsorption-desorption properties of reactant species is crucial to optimizing the electrocatalytic activity of transition metal-based nanostructured materials. In this work, an efficient optimization strategy is proposed by co-modulating the dual anions (C and S) in Ni3C/Ni3S2, the heterostructured electrocatalyst, which is prepared via a simple hot-injection method. The presence of Ni3C/Ni3S2 heterojunctions accelerates the charge carrier transfer and promotes the generation of active sites, enabling the heterostructured electrocatalyst to achieve current densities of 10/100 mA cm-2 at 1.37 V/1.53 V. The Faradaic efficiencies for formate production coupled with hydrogen evolution approach 100%, accompanied with a stability record of 350 h. Additionally, operando electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), in situ Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations further demonstrate that the creation of Ni3C/Ni3S2 heterointerfaces originating from dual anions' (C and S) differentiation is effective in adjusting the d-band center of active Ni atoms, promoting the generation of active sites, as well as optimizing the adsorption and desorption of reaction intermediates. This dual anions co-modulation strategy to stable heterostructure provides a general route for constructing high-performance transition metal-based electrocatalysts.
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The synthesis of zeolites through more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective methods was deemed significant in both industrial applications and academic fields. Conventional hydrothermal synthesis strategies have encountered difficulties in producing pure silica MFI zeolite (silicalite-1) under amine-free conditions. This was primarily attributed to the competitive growth of quartz, keatite, or magadiite during the crystallization process. In this work, it was found that the lack of nucleation ability was an important reason for the poor crystallization stability of the methanol solution. Well-crystallized silicalite-1 zeolites with uniform particle sizes were achieved through the cooperative guidance of methanol and seed crystals. Large-scale experiments with silicalite-1 zeolite demonstrated good reproducibility. Combined with the TG-IR and N2 adsorption-desorption results, it was observed that, when an extremely small amount of seed (0.97 wt %) was introduced, methanol could play a role as a crystallization promoter in the hydrothermal synthesis system. Furthermore, a lower alkaline-to-silica ratio and water-to-silica ratio were conducive to the progression of the crystallization process. In summary, this work presented a hydrothermal synthesis strategy for the synthesis of silicalite-1 zeolite in a methanol solution without the need for a large amount of seeds and provided an effective pathway for the low-cost, large-scale production of silicalite-1 zeolite.
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Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is characterized by a high rate of metastasis and recurrence, leading to a poor prognosis for affected patients. Intestinal metastasis of LUSC is a rare clinical occurrence. Treatment options for LUSC patients with intestinal metastasis are limited, and no standard therapy guidelines exist for managing these cases. In this review, we discuss the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of LUSC patients with intestinal metastasis and present a rare case of LUSC with intestinal metastasis. We describe a patient who presented with a severe cough and chest pain and diagnosed with LUSC and bone tumor. Initially, the primary LUSC and bone tumor were controlled with standard treatments. However, the primary LUSC reoccurred shortly after treatment, this time with intestinal metastasis, for which effective treatments are lacking. Our observation from the case suggests that LUSC metastasizing to intestinal tract is associated with a poorer prognosis.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Lung Neoplasms , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/secondary , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/secondary , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Male , Intestinal Neoplasms/secondary , Intestinal Neoplasms/pathology , Prognosis , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Middle Aged , Fatal Outcome , Aged , Bone Neoplasms/secondaryABSTRACT
To understand the ecology of species and promote biotechnology through beneficial strain selection for improving starch yield in maize wet-milling steeping, bacterial diversity and community structure during the counter-current steeping process in a commercial steeping system were characterized and investigated. The microbial diversity in the steeping liquor, which consisted of 16 phyla, 131 families, and 290 genera, was more abundant compared to those present on the surface of unsteeped maize. As the counter-current steeping progressed, exposing newer maize to the older steepwater, Lactobacillus dominated, replacing Rahnella, Pseudomonas, Pantoea, and Serratia. The thermophilic and acidophilic microbial consortia were enriched through adaptive evolution engineering and employed to improve starch yield. Several steeping strategies were evaluated, including water alone, SO2 alone, mono-culture of B. coagulans, microbial consortia, and a combination of consortium and SO2. Combining the microbial consortium with SO2 significantly increased the starch yield to, about 66.4 ± 0.5%, a 22% and 46% increase over SO2 alone and the consortium alone, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) of steeped maize structure indicated that the combination of consortium and SO2 disrupted the protein matrix and widened gaps between starch granules in maize endosperm. This released proteins into the steepwater and left starch granules in the aleurone layer. The steeping strategy of using thermophilic and acidophilic microbial consortium as additives shows potential application as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional maize steeping procedures.
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Atherosclerosis (AS) is an inflammatory arterial disorder that occurs due to the deposition of the excessive lipoprotein under the artery intima, mainly including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and other apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a crucial role in transmitting signals in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. GPCRs recognize inflammatory mediators, thereby serving as important players during chronic inflammatory processes. It has been demonstrated that free fatty acids can function as ligands for various GPCRs, such as free fatty acid receptor (FFAR)1/GPR40, FFAR2/GPR43, FFAR3/GPR41, FFAR4/GPR120, and the lipid metabolite binding glucose-dependent insulinotropic receptor (GPR119). This review discusses GPR43 and its ligands in the pathogenesis of AS, especially focusing on its distinct role in regulating chronic vascular inflammation, inhibiting oxidative stress, ameliorating endothelial dysfunction and improving dyslipidemia. It is hoped that this review may provide guidance for further studies aimed at GPR43 as a promising target for drug development in the prevention and therapy of AS.
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Extensive use of pesticides in agricultural production has been causing serious health threats to humans and animals. Among them, phorate is a highly toxic organophosphorus insecticide that has been widely used in planting. Due to its harmful effects on human and animal health, it has been restricted for use in many countries. Analytical methods for the rapid and sensitive detection of phorate residues in agricultural products are urgently needed. In this study, a new method was developed by combining surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and immunochromatography assay (ICA). Hybrid magnetic Fe3O4@Au@DTNB-Ab nanoprobes were prepared by modifying and growing Au nanoseeds on an Fe3O4 core. SERS activity of the nanoprobe was optimized by adjusting the concentration of the Au precursor. A rapid and sensitive assay was established by replacing the traditional colloidal gold-based ICA with hybrid SERS nanoprobes for SERS-ICA. After optimizing parameters including coating antibody concentrations and the composition and pH of the buffer solution, the limit of detection (LOD) for phorate could reach 1 ng/mL, with a linear range of 5~100 ng/mL. This LOD is remarkably lower than the maximum residue limit in vegetables and fruits set by the Chinese government. The feasibility of this method was further examined by conducting a spiking test with celery as the real sample. The result demonstrated that this method could serve as a promising platform for rapid and sensitive detection of phorate in agricultural products.
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BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is an age-related condition characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and function. The occurrence of sarcopenia has a huge impact on physical, psychological, and social health. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia is becoming an important public health issue. METHOD: 35 six-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups, one of which served as a control group, while the rest of the groups were constructed as a model of sarcopenia by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose. The intervention with lactoferrin, creatine, and their mixtures, respectively, was carried out through gavage for 8 weeks. Muscle function was assessed based on their endurance, hanging time, and grip strength. The muscle tissues were weighed to assess the changes in mass, and the muscle RNA was extracted for myogenic factor expression and transcriptome sequencing to speculate on the potential mechanism of action by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. RESULT: The muscle mass (lean mass, GAS index), and muscle function (endurance, hanging time, and grip strength) decreased, and the size and structure of myofiber was smaller in the model group compared to the control group. The intervention with lactoferrin and creatine, either alone or combination, improved muscle mass and function, restored muscle tissue, and increased the expression of myogenic regulators. The combined group demonstrated the most significant improvement in these indexes. The RNA-seq results revealed enrichment in the longevity-regulated pathway, MAPK pathway, focal adhesion, and ECM-receptor interaction pathway in the intervention group. The intervention group may influence muscle function by affecting the proliferation, differentiation, senescence of skeletal muscle cell, and contraction of muscle fiber. The combined group also enriched the mTOR-S6K/4E-BPs signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and energy metabolism-related pathways, including Apelin signaling, insulin resistance pathway, and adipocytokine signaling pathway, which affect energy metabolism in muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Lactoferrin and creatine, either alone or in combination, were found to inhibit the progression of sarcopenia by influencing the number and cross-sectional area of muscle fibers and muscle protein synthesis. The combined intervention appears to exert a more significant effect on energy metabolism.
Subject(s)
Creatine , Disease Models, Animal , Lactoferrin , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Muscle, Skeletal , Sarcopenia , Animals , Lactoferrin/pharmacology , Male , Sarcopenia/drug therapy , Sarcopenia/metabolism , Creatine/pharmacology , Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects , Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism , Mice , Muscle Strength/drug effects , Signal Transduction/drug effectsABSTRACT
This publisher's note contains a correction to Opt. Lett.49, 2505 (2024)10.1364/OL.520642.
ABSTRACT
Soft robots adapt to complex environments for autonomous locomotion, manipulation, and perception are attractive for robot-environment interactions. Strategies to reconcile environment-triggered actuation and self-powered sensing responses to different stimuli remain challenging. By tuning the in situ vapor phase solvent exchange effect in continuous electrospinning, an asymmetric highly-aligned all-fiber membrane (HAFM) with a hierarchical "grape-like" nanosphere-assembled microfiber structure (specific surface area of 13.6 m2 g-1) and excellent mechanical toughness (tensile stress of 5.5 MPa, and fracture toughness of 798 KJ m-3) is developed, which shows efficient asymmetric actuation to both photothermal and humidity stimuli. The HAFM consists of a metal-organic framework (MOF)-enhanced moisture-responsive layer and an MXene-improved photothermal-responsive layer, which achieves substantial actuation with a bending curvature up to ≈7.23 cm-1 and a fast response of 0.60 cm-1 s-1. By tailoring the fiber alignment and bi-layer thickness ratio, different types of micromanipulators, automatic walking robots, and plant robots with programmable structures are demonstrated, which are realized for self-powered information perception of material type, object moisture, and temperature by integrating the autonomous triboelectric effect induced by photothermal-moisture actuation. This work presents fiber materials with programable hierarchical asymmetries and inspires a common strategy for self-powered organism-interface robots to interact with complex environments.
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BACKGROUND: Interleukin 24 (IL-24) has been implicated in the nociceptive signaling. However, direct evidence and the precise molecular mechanism underlying IL-24's role in peripheral nociception remain unclear. METHODS: Using patch clamp recording, molecular biological analysis, immunofluorescence labeling, siRNA-mediated knockdown approach and behavior tests, we elucidated the effects of IL-24 on sensory neuronal excitability and peripheral pain sensitivity mediated by T-type Ca2+ channels (T-type channels). RESULTS: IL-24 enhances T-type channel currents (T-currents) in trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons in a reversible and dose-dependent manner, primarily by activating the interleukin-22 receptor 1 (IL-22R1). Furthermore, we found that the IL-24-induced T-type channel response is mediated through tyrosine-protein kinase Lyn, but not its common downstream target JAK1. IL-24 application significantly activated protein kinase A; this effect was independent of cAMP and prevented by Lyn antagonism. Inhibition of PKA prevented the IL-24-induced T-current response, whereas inhibition of protein kinase C or MAPK kinases had no effect. Functionally, IL-24 increased TG neuronal excitability and enhanced pain sensitivity to mechanical stimuli in mice, both of which were suppressed by blocking T-type channels. In a trigeminal neuropathic pain model induced by chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve, inhibiting IL-22R1 signaling alleviated mechanical allodynia, which was reversed by blocking T-type channels or knocking down Cav3.2. CONCLUSION: Our findings reveal that IL-24 enhances T-currents by stimulating IL-22R1 coupled to Lyn-dependent PKA signaling, leading to TG neuronal hyperexcitability and pain hypersensitivity. Understanding the mechanism of IL-24/IL-22R1 signaling in sensory neurons may pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies in pain management.
Subject(s)
Calcium Channels, T-Type , Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases , Receptors, Interleukin , Sensory Receptor Cells , Signal Transduction , Trigeminal Ganglion , src-Family Kinases , Animals , Calcium Channels, T-Type/metabolism , Calcium Channels, T-Type/genetics , src-Family Kinases/metabolism , Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism , Trigeminal Ganglion/metabolism , Male , Sensory Receptor Cells/metabolism , Sensory Receptor Cells/drug effects , Sensory Receptor Cells/physiology , Receptors, Interleukin/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Interleukins/metabolismABSTRACT
SUMMARY: Spinal cord injury (SCI) usually arises from compression due to traffic accidents and falls, resulting in varying degrees of movement, sensory loss, and possible paralysis. Glabridin (Gla) is a natural compound derived from licorice. It significantly affects drug development and medicine because of its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-tumoral, antibacterial, bone protective, cardiovascular protective, neuroprotective, liver protective, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic properties. Various methods were employed to administer Gla to SCI mice in order to investigate its impact on the recovery of motor function. The mice were allocated into four cohorts using a randomization procedure. In the sham cohort, solely the lamina of vertebral arch was surgically exposed without causing any harm to the spinal cord tissue. Conversely, the injury cohort was subjected to spinal cord tissue damage and received no treatment thereafter. The mice in the remaining two cohorts received a dosage of 40 mg/kg Gla every two days via either intraperitoneal or intrathecal injection for a duration of 42 d following spinal cord injury. We conducted behavioral tests utilizing the Basso Mouse Scale score and gait analysis techniques. Magnetic resonance imaging and hematoxylin and eosin were employed to evaluate scar tissue formation. Systemic inflammation in mice was evaluated by employing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gla promoted motor function recovery in mice following SCI and improved the pathological environment in the damaged area. These alterations were more evident in mice subjected to the intrathecal injection method. Intraperitoneal injections appear to be more beneficial for controlling systemic inflammatory responses. Although more intensive studies are required, Gla exhibits promising clinical potential as a cost-effective dietary phytochemical.
La lesión de la médula espinal (LME) generalmente surge de la compresión producto de caídas y accidentes de tránsito, lo que resulta en alteraciones del movimiento, pérdida sensorial y posible parálisis. La Glabridina (Gla) es un compuesto natural derivado del regaliz, constituyéndose en un aporte significativo para el desarrollo de fármacos y la medicina debido a sus propiedades antiinflamatorias, antioxidantes, antitumorales, antibacterianas, osteoprotectoras, cardioprotectoras, neuroprotectoras, hepatoprotectoras, antidiabéticas y contra la obesidad. En el presente trabajo se emplearon varios métodos para administrar Gla a ratones con lesión medular con el fin de investigar su impacto en la recuperación de la función motora. Los ratones fueron distribuidos en cuatro grupos mediante un procedimiento de aleatorización. En el grupo simulado, únicamente se expuso quirúrgicamente la lámina del arco vertebral sin causar ningún daño al tejido de la médula espinal. Por el contrario, el grupo lesionado fue sometido a daño del tejido de la médula espinal, sin recibir tratamiento posterior. Los ratones de los dos grupos restantes recibieron una dosis de 40 mg/kg de Gla cada dos días mediante inyección intraperitoneal o intratecal durante 42 días después de la lesión de la médula espinal. Fueron realizadas pruebas de comportamiento utilizando la puntuación de la escala Basso Mouse y técnicas de análisis de la marcha. Se emplearon imágenes por resonancia magnética y se aplicaron tinciones histológicas (Hematoxilina & Eosina) en muestras para evaluar la formación de tejido cicatricial. La inflamación sistémica en ratones se evaluó mediante el empleo de un ensayo inmunoabsorbente ligado a enzimas. Gla promovió la recuperación de la función motora en ratones después de una lesión medular y mejoró el entorno patológico en el área dañada. Estas alteraciones fueron más evidentes en ratones sometidos al método de inyección intratecal. Las inyecciones intraperitoneales parecen ser más beneficiosas para controlar las respuestas inflamatorias sistémicas. Aunque se requieren estudios más intensivos, Gla exhibe un potencial clínico prometedor como fitoquímico dietético rentable.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Mice , Phenols/administration & dosage , Spinal Cord Injuries/drug therapy , Isoflavones/administration & dosage , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Cell Survival , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Neuroprotective Agents , Recovery of Function , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Motor Activity/drug effectsABSTRACT
Diffractive deep neural networks, known for their passivity, high scalability, and high efficiency, offer great potential in holographic imaging, target recognition, and object classification. However, previous endeavors have been hampered by spatial size and alignment. To address these issues, this study introduces a monolayer directional metasurface, aimed at reducing spatial constraints and mitigating alignment issues. Utilizing this methodology, we use MNIST datasets to train diffractive deep neural networks and realize digital classification, revealing that the metasurface can achieve excellent digital image classification results, and the classification accuracy of ideal phase mask plates and metasurface for phase-only modulation can reach 84.73% and 84.85%, respectively. Despite a certain loss of degrees of freedom compared to multi-layer phase mask plates, the single-layer metasurface is easier to fabricate and align, thereby improving spatial utilization efficiency.
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Background and objective: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is widely used because of the many advantages of a robotic approach. The da Vinci Si robot is one of the most commonly used surgical robot systems, but it may be associated with higher costs owing to the use of consumable surgical supplies. Our aim was to conduct a preliminary investigation of the capability of the MP1000 system for RARP. Methods: In this prospective, multicentre, single-blinded study, we randomly assigned 42 patients scheduled to undergo RARP between April and September 2021 to a da Vinci Si group (control) or an MP1000 group (intervention). Patients underwent RARP performed using the assigned robotic system and were followed up at 3-mo intervals. The primary outcome was the rate of conversion to open/laparoscopic surgery. Secondary outcomes were installation and operation times, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative surgical margin status, hospital stay, incontinence, complications, safety indicators, and surgeon ergonomics. Key findings and limitations: All procedures were successfully completed without conversion to open/laparascopic surgery or major complications. Secondary outcomes, including oncological and ergonomic indicators, did not differ significantly between the groups over the study period. One patient in the control group experienced dysuria (Clavien-Dindo grade 3). No patients had incontinence at 3 mo. A limitation of the study is the small sample size. Conclusions and clinical implications: RARP with the MP1000 system is feasible, safe, and effective in the management of localised prostate cancer. Patient summary: We assessed the effectiveness and safety of the new MP1000 robot system for robot-assisted removal of the prostate in comparison to the da Vinci Si robot. We found no difference in effectiveness or safety among 42 patients with prostate cancer who were assigned randomly to one of the two systems. We conclude that the MP1000 is a suitable robot for this surgery.
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Objective: To observe the efficacy of different anti-infective treatment regimens on acute appendicitis in children, a retrospective study was conducted by collecting previous cases. Methods: Ninety children with acute appendicitis who received laparoscopic appendectomy from May 2020 to September 2022 were included in this retrospective study. According to the different anti-infective treatment regimens, they were divided into Piperacillin-Tazobactam group, Piperacillin-Tazobactam+Metronidazole group, and Cefminox+Metronidazole group (n=30). Three groups of children received medication treatment before surgery. The postoperative recovery, treatment effect, bacterial clearance, complication rate, pharmacoeconomic evaluation, and adverse reactions were compared. Results: The effective rates in the three groups were 83.33%, 90.00%, and 90.00%, respectively (P > .05). There were no differences in the bacterial clearance, complication incidence, and incidence of pharmaceutical side effects among the three groups (P > .05). The total hospitalization cost, total drug cost, and antimicrobial drug cost in Cefminox + Metronidazole group were lower than those in Piperacillin-Tazobactam group and Piperacillin-Tazobactam + Metronidazole group, respectively (P < .05). The intensity of antibacterial drug use in Piperacillin-Tazobactam group was the lowest, followed by Piperacillin-Tazobactam + Metronidazole group and Cefminox + Metronidazole group (P < .05). Conclusion: The three anti-infective regimens have the same therapeutic effect on acute appendicitis in children. However, the regimen of Cefminox + Metronidazole is the most economical option and can be used as the preferred treatment for acute appendicitis in children. As the preferred treatment for acute appendicitis in children. The Piperacillin-Tazobactam group has the lowest intensity of antibiotic use and can reduce bacterial resistance.
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BACKGROUND: Renal function after left renal vein (LRV) ligation following en bloc resection of segmental inferior vena cava (IVC) and right kidney is understudied. We assessed the impact of LRV ligation on postoperative renal function following en bloc resection of segmental IVC and right kidney. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 28 patients who underwent LRV ligation during en bloc resection of segmental IVC and right kidney. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, intraoperative factors, complications, length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and patient survival were collected. Pre- and postoperative renal function was retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty patients underwent robot-assisted surgery and eight patients underwent open surgery. The median operative time was 162 min and estimated blood loss was 350 mL. Ten patients had normal renal function and 12 patients had an initial increase in creatinine but improved gradually. Six patients developed acute renal failure; five patients gradually recovered in 5-32 days after temporary hemodialysis. Renal replacement therapy significantly correlated with maximal anterior-posterior diameter of the LRV (p = 0.001). Complications were observed in 11 cases, four of which were Clavien-Dindo grades I-II. Thirteen patients were alive with no recurrence, nine patients were alive with metastasis, and six cases died during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: LRV ligation following en bloc resection of segmental IVC and right kidney is feasible, with no significant long-term impact on renal function. The maximum anterior-posterior diameter of the LRV is a reliable method for predicting renal replacement therapy in the absence of collateral circulation.
Subject(s)
Kidney Neoplasms , Renal Veins , Vena Cava, Inferior , Humans , Vena Cava, Inferior/surgery , Vena Cava, Inferior/pathology , Male , Female , Renal Veins/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Middle Aged , Ligation , Kidney Neoplasms/surgery , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Aged , Follow-Up Studies , Adult , Survival Rate , Nephrectomy/methods , Postoperative Complications , Prognosis , Kidney/surgery , Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods , Kidney Function Tests , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/surgery , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathologySubject(s)
Renal Veins , Solitary Kidney , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/surgery , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Prognosis , Nephrectomy/methods , Dissection/methodsABSTRACT
Using zinc oxide (ZnO), tourmaline (TM), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as main raw materials, a novel ZnO/TM/PET negative ion functional fiber was created. The rheological properties of a ZnO/TM/PET masterbatch were investigated; the morphology, XRD, and FT-IR of the fibers were observed; and the mechanical properties, thermal properties, and negative ion release properties of the new fiber were tested. The results showed that the average particle size of the ZnO/TM composite is nearly 365 nm, with an increase in negative ion emission efficiency by nearly 50% compared to the original TM. The apparent viscosity of fiber masterbatch decreases with the increase in the addition of the ZnO/TM composite, and the rheological properties of the PET fiber masterbatch are not significantly effected, still showing shear thinning characteristics when the amount of addition reaches 10%. The ZnO/TM composite disperses well in the interior and surface of the ZnO/TM/PET fiber matrix. The prepared ZnO/TM/PET fiber has excellent properties, such as fineness of 1.54 dtex, glass transition temperature of 122.4 °C, fracture strength of 3.31 cN/dtex, and negative ion release of 1640/cm3, which shows great industrialization potential.
ABSTRACT
Chronic pain represents a prevalent and costly medical challenge globally. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), one type of ligand-gated ion channels found extensively in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, have emerged as promising therapeutic targets for chronic pain. Although there are currently no FDA-approved analgesics specifically targeting nAChRs, accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence suggest that selective ligands for alpha 7 (α7) nAChRs show potential for treating chronic pain, boasting a reduced incidence of side effects compared with other nicotinic receptor types. The recent structural resolution of human α7 nAChRs has confirmed their negative association with heightened pain, providing a valuable foundation for the development of targeted medications. This review presents a comprehensive overview, encompassing insights into the roles of α7 nAChRs derived from structural and functional studies, recent advancements in pharmacology, and investigations into their involvement in the pathophysiology of chronic pain. Moreover, the review addresses the variability in analgesic effects based on the type of receptor agonist and highlights the current research limitations. As such, this review offers potential therapeutic approaches for the development of innovative strategies for chronic pain management.
ABSTRACT
Sensor technology plays a pivotal role in various aspects of the petroleum industry. The conventional quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) liquid-phase detection method fails to discern the viscosity and density of solutions separately, rendering it incapable of characterizing the properties of unknown liquid solutions. This presents a formidable challenge to the application of QCM in the petroleum industry. In this study, we aim to assess the feasibility of exclusively utilizing a single QCM sensor for liquid viscosity measurements. Validation experiments were conducted, emphasizing the influence of temperature and solution concentration on the viscosity measurement results. The results indicate that the QCM liquid viscosity response model can achieve viscosity measurements in the temperature range of 20 to 60 °C and concentration range of 10%-95% glycerol solution using a single QCM, with a maximum error of 7.32%. Simultaneously, with the objective of enhancing the model's measurement precision, as an initial investigation, we employed a backpropagation neural network combined with genetic algorithm (to optimize the measurement data. The results demonstrate a substantial improvement in the measurement accuracy of the QCM sensor, with a root mean square error of 3.89 and an absolute error of 3.07% in predicting viscosity values. The purpose of this research was to extend neural networks into the evaluation system of QCM sensors for assessing the viscosity properties of liquid in the oil industry, providing insights into the application of QCM sensors in the petroleum industry for viscosity measurement and improving measurement accuracy.