Crash modification factors for high friction surface treatment on horizontal curves of two-lane highways: A combined propensity scores matching and empirical Bayes before-after approach.

Horizontal curves are locations that, as a result of the changing alignment, may be a contributing factor in roadway departure crashes. One low-cost countermeasure to mitigate crashes at these locations is the installation of the high friction surface treatment (HFST), which increases roadway friction and is intended to help keep drivers on the roadway when traversing a horizontal curve. This treatment has been implemented at numerous curves in Pennsylvania, but the overall safety effectiveness is not known. The purpose of this study is to estimate a suite of Crash Modification Factors (CMFs) for HFST applied to curve sections of undivided two-lane roadways. A novel combination of the empirical Bayes observational before-after study design and propensity score matching was used to estimate CMFs for multiple crash types, crash severities, and roadway settings (urban and rural). Propensity score matching was implemented to identify the most appropriate reference group to use within the empirical Bayes methodology. The results indicate that the installation of HFST is associated with a statistically significant decrease in all crash types and severities considered.

Protocol for detecting lncRNA-protein interaction in vivo using the yeast three-hybrid assay.

Analyses of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-protein interactions provide key clues for understanding the molecular basis of lncRNA-modulated biological processes. Here, we detail a yeast three-hybrid assay to identify the lncRNA-interacting protein. We describe steps for lncRNA bait preparation, screening an RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) cDNA library, and validation of the lncRNA-RBP interaction. The assay can also be further applied to delineate the region of RBP that mediates the RNA-protein interaction. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zhang et al.1.

Correlation Between Intracoronary Vascular Ultrasound Indexes in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease.

Background: Coronary atherosclerosis is a serious and progressive condition characterized by the accumulation of plaques, consisting of fat, cholesterol, and other substances, within the arteries that supply blood to the heart. These plaques can harden and narrow the arteries, leading to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between specific cardiovascular parameters and intracoronary vascular ultrasound indexes in patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease. This investigation aims to explore the relationships between intracoronary vascular ultrasound measurements and three key cardiovascular parameters: epicardial fat pad thickness, mono-platelet polymer levels, and small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL-C) levels. Methods: In this investigation, we applied a comprehensive method to evaluate atherosclerotic plaque characteristics in patients with diverse stages of coronary heart disease (CHD), contrasting these profiles with those of healthy individuals. Our study included 80 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients, 145 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 175 with stable angina pectoris (SAP), and 100 controls. We utilized intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), an advanced imaging technique that surpasses traditional angiography by providing detailed, high-resolution images of both the coronary artery lumen and wall, including plaque composition. This approach is pivotal for assessing plaque stability, a key factor in the risk of rupture and subsequent cardiovascular events, indicated by features like lipid-rich cores and thin fibrous caps. During IVUS, we quantified parameters such as plaque area, load, and the remodeling index, the latter offering insights into vascular adaptation to plaque buildup. Additionally, we conducted a correlation analysis between IVUS indices and three cardiovascular markers: epicardial fat pad thickness, monocyte-platelet aggregates, and sdLDL-C levels. The goal was to ascertain the predictive value of these markers in tandem with IVUS for determining the stability of coronary artery atherosclerotic plaques. This integrative approach enhances understanding of plaque formation and destabilization, potentially informing more effective CHD prevention and management strategies. Results: Our study revealed distinct variations in key parameters across patient groups with different forms of CHD and healthy controls. Notably, we observed significant differences in gender distribution, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus prevalence among these groups. In terms of IVUS indexes and cardiovascular parameters, the SAP group exhibited markedly different results compared to the AMI and UAP groups. Specifically, the SAP patients showed the lowest values for EMMA, plaque area, plaque burden, reconstruction index, and positive remodeling. Additionally, they exhibited the thickest fibrous caps. In contrast, the AMI and UAP groups presented similar outcomes in these aspects. Regarding the epicardial fat pad thickness, the positive rate of monocyte-platelet aggregates, and the levels of sdLDL-C, there were no significant differences between the AMI and UAP groups. However, these parameters were notably higher in the AMI and UAP groups compared to the SAP group. Crucially, we established a significant correlation between the thickness of the epicardial fat pad, the positive rate of monocyte-platelet aggregates, and the sdLDL-C levels with plaque loading rate and remodeling index. These correlations underscore the potential utility of these parameters as indicators of plaque stability and cardiovascular risk in patients with CHD. This highlights the complexity of atherosclerotic disease progression and underscores the importance of a multifaceted approach to assessing and managing CHD. Conclusion: Our research delineates the critical role of the remodeling index, epicardial fat pad thickness, monocyte-platelet aggregates, and sdLDL-C levels as key prognostic tools for assessing coronary plaque stability in coronary artery disease (CAD). These biomarkers collectively provide an enhanced perspective on plaque vulnerability, an essential aspect in the genesis of acute coronary events. Clinically, these findings are pivotal. They offer a refined approach to CAD management and risk evaluation, allowing for the precise identification of patients at increased risk of plaque rupture, a precursor to acute coronary syndromes. This precision facilitates the adoption of more individualized treatment strategies, focusing on aggressive interventions for high-risk patients and more conservative management for those with stable plaques.

Precise Design and Modification Engineering of Single-Atom Catalytic Materials for Oxygen Reduction.

Due to their unique electronic and structural properties, single-atom catalytic materials (SACMs) hold great promise for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Coordinating environmental and engineering strategies is the key to improving the ORR performance of SACMs. This review summarizes the latest research progress and breakthroughs of SACMs in the field of ORR catalysis. First, the research progress on the catalytic mechanism of SACMs acting on ORR is reviewed, including the latest research results on the origin of SACMs activity and the analysis of pre-adsorption mechanism. The study of the pre-adsorption mechanism is an important breakthrough direction to explore the origin of the high activity of SACMs and the practical and theoretical understanding of the catalytic process. Precise coordination environment modification, including in-plane, axial, and adjacent site modifications, can enhance the intrinsic catalytic activity of SACMs and promote the ORR process. Additionally, several engineering strategies are discussed, including multiple SACMs, high loading, and atomic site confinement. Multiple SACMs synergistically enhance catalytic activity and selectivity, while high loading can provide more active sites for catalytic reactions. Overall, this review provides important insights into the design of advanced catalysts for ORR.

Co-Adjusting d-Band Center of Fe to Accelerate Proton Coupling for Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalysis.

The problem in d-band center modulation of transition metal-based catalysts for the rate-determining steps of oxygen conversion is an obstacle to boost the electrocatalytic activity by accelerating proton coupling. Herein, the Co doping to FeP is adopted to modify the d-band center of Fe. Optimized Fe sites accelerate the proton coupling of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on N-doped wood-derived carbon through promoting water dissociation. In situ generated Fe sites optimize the adsorption of oxygen-related intermediates of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on CoFeP NPs. Superior catalytic activity toward ORR (half-wave potential of 0.88 V) and OER (overpotential of 300 mV at 10 mA cm-2 ) express an unprecedented level in carbon-based transition metal-phosphide catalysts. The liquid zinc-air battery presents an outstanding cycling stability of 800 h (2400 cycles). This research offers a newfangled perception on designing highly efficient carbon-based bifunctional catalysts for ORR and OER.

Handedness anomaly in a non-collinear antiferromagnet under spin-orbit torque.

Non-collinear antiferromagnets are an emerging family of spintronic materials because they not only possess the general advantages of antiferromagnets but also enable more advanced functionalities. Recently, in an intriguing non-collinear antiferromagnet Mn3Sn, where the octupole moment is defined as the collective magnetic order parameter, spin-orbit torque (SOT) switching has been achieved in seemingly the same protocol as in ferromagnets. Nevertheless, it is fundamentally important to explore the unknown octupole moment dynamics and contrast it with the magnetization vector of ferromagnets. Here we report a handedness anomaly in the SOT-driven dynamics of Mn3Sn: when spin current is injected, the octupole moment rotates in the opposite direction to the individual moments, leading to a SOT switching polarity distinct from ferromagnets. By using second-harmonic and d.c. magnetometry, we track the SOT effect onto the octupole moment during its rotation and reveal that the handedness anomaly stems from the interactions between the injected spin and the unique chiral-spin structure of Mn3Sn. We further establish the torque balancing equation of the magnetic octupole moment and quantify the SOT efficiency. Our finding provides a guideline for understanding and implementing the electrical manipulation of non-collinear antiferromagnets, which in nature differs from the well-established collinear magnets.

The long non-coding RNA DANA2 positively regulates drought tolerance by recruiting ERF84 to promote JMJ29-mediated histone demethylation.

Tens of thousands of long non-coding RNAs have been uncovered in plants, but few of them have been comprehensively studied for their biological function and molecular mechanism of their mode of action. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis long non-coding RNA DANA2 interacts with an AP2/ERF transcription factor ERF84 in the cell nucleus and then affects the transcription of JMJ29 that encodes a Jumonji C domain-containing histone H3K9 demethylase. Both RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and genetic analyses demonstrate that DANA2 positively regulates drought stress responses through JMJ29. JMJ29 positively regulates the expression of ERF15 and GOLS2 by modulation of H3K9me2 demethylation. Accordingly, mutation of JMJ29 causes decreased ERF15 and GOLS2 expression, resulting in impaired drought tolerance, in agreement with drought-sensitive phenotypes of dana2 and erf84 mutants. Taken together, these results demonstrate that DANA2 is a positive regulator of drought response and works jointly with the transcriptional activator ERF84 to modulate JMJ29 expression in plant response to drought.

Identification and validation of aging-related gene signatures and their immune landscape in diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Aging and immune infiltration have essential role in the physiopathological mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy (DN), but their relationship has not been systematically elucidated. We identified aging-related characteristic genes in DN and explored their immune landscape. Methods: Four datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were screened for exploration and validation. Functional and pathway analysis was performed using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Characteristic genes were obtained using a combination of Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) algorithm. We evaluated and validated the diagnostic performance of the characteristic genes using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the expression pattern of the characteristic genes was evaluated and validated. Single-Sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) was adopted to assess immune cell infiltration in samples. Based on the TarBase database and the JASPAR repository, potential microRNAs and transcription factors were predicted to further elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the characteristic genes. Results: A total of 14 differentially expressed genes related to aging were obtained, of which 10 were up-regulated and 4 were down-regulated. Models were constructed by the RF and SVM-RFE algorithms, contracted to three signature genes: EGF-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix (EFEMP1), Growth hormone receptor (GHR), and Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). The three genes showed good efficacy in three tested cohorts and consistent expression patterns in the glomerular test cohorts. Most immune cells were more infiltrated in the DN samples compared to the controls, and there was a negative correlation between the characteristic genes and most immune cell infiltration. 24 microRNAs were involved in the transcriptional regulation of multiple genes simultaneously, and Endothelial transcription factor GATA-2 (GATA2) had a potential regulatory effect on both GHR and VEGFA. Conclusion: We identified a novel aging-related signature allowing assessment of diagnosis for DN patients, and further can be used to predict immune infiltration sensitivity.

Ultrasensitive mechanical/thermal response of a P(VDF-TrFE) sensor with a tailored network interconnection interface.

Ferroelectric polymers have great potential applications in mechanical/thermal sensing, but their sensitivity and detection limit are still not outstanding. We propose interface engineering to improve the charge collection in a ferroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) copolymer (P(VDF-TrFE)) thin film via cross-linking with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) layer. The as-fabricated P(VDF-TrFE)/PEDOT:PSS composite film exhibits an ultrasensitive and linear mechanical/thermal response, showing sensitivities of 2.2 V kPa-1 in the pressure range of 0.025-100 kPa and 6.4 V K-1 in the temperature change range of 0.05-10 K. A corresponding piezoelectric coefficient of -86 pC N-1 and a pyroelectric coefficient of 95 µC m-2 K-1 are achieved because more charge is collected by the network interconnection interface between PEDOT:PSS and P(VDF-TrFE), related to the increase in the dielectric properties. Our work shines a light on a device-level technique route for boosting the sensitivity of ferroelectric polymer sensors through electrode interface engineering.

HHL1 and SOQ1 synergistically regulate nonphotochemical quenching in Arabidopsis.

Nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) is an important photoprotective mechanism that quickly dissipates excess light energy as heat. NPQ can be induced in a few seconds to several hours; most studies of this process have focused on the rapid induction of NPQ. Recently, a new, slowly induced form of NPQ, called qH, was found during the discovery of the quenching inhibitor suppressor of quenching 1 (SOQ1). However, the specific mechanism of qH remains unclear. Here, we found that hypersensitive to high light 1 (HHL1)-a damage repair factor of photosystem II-interacts with SOQ1. The enhanced NPQ phenotype of the hhl1 mutant is similar to that of the soq1 mutant, which is not related to energy-dependent quenching or other known NPQ components. Furthermore, the hhl1 soq1 double mutant showed higher NPQ than the single mutants, but its pigment content and composition were similar to those of the wildtype. Overexpressing HHL1 decreased NPQ in hhl1 to below wildtype levels, whereas NPQ in hhl1 plants overexpressing SOQ1 was lower than that in hhl1 but higher than that in the wildtype. Moreover, we found that HHL1 promotes the SOQ1-mediated inhibition of plastidial lipoprotein through its von Willebrand factor type A domain. We propose that HHL1 and SOQ1 synergistically regulate NPQ.

Association between fatty acids intake and bone mineral density in adults aged 20-59: NHANES 2011-2018.

Background: Previous studies have investigated the link between fatty acid intake and bone mineral density (BMD), but the results are controversial. This study aims to examine the relationship between fatty acid intake and BMD in adults aged 20-59. Methods: The association between fatty acid consumption and BMD was analyzed using a weighted multiple linear regression model with National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011 to 2018. The linearity relationship and saturation value of the connection between fatty acid consumption and BMD were assessed by fitting a smooth curve and a saturation effect analysis model. Results: The study included 8,942 subjects. We found a significant positive correlation between the consumption of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids and BMD. In subgroup analyses that were stratified by gender and race, this association was still shown to be significant. Based on the smooth curve and saturation effect analysis, we found no saturation effect for the three fatty acids and total BMD. However, there was a turning point (20.52 g/d) between MUFAs intake and BMD, and only MUFAs intake >20.52 g/d showed a positive correlation between MUFAs and BMD. Conclusion: We found that fatty acid intake is beneficial for bone density in adults. Therefore, according to our findings, it is recommended that adults consume moderate amounts of fatty acids to ensure adequate bone mass but not metabolic diseases.

Dual roles for CND1 in maintenance of nuclear and chloroplast genome stability in plants.

The coordination of chloroplast and nuclear genome status is critical for plant cell function. Here, we report that Arabidopsis CHLOROPLAST AND NUCLEUS DUAL-LOCALIZED PROTEIN 1 (CND1) maintains genome stability in the chloroplast and the nucleus. CND1 localizes to both compartments, and complete loss of CND1 results in embryo lethality. Partial loss of CND1 disturbs nuclear cell-cycle progression and photosynthetic activity. CND1 binds to nuclear pre-replication complexes and DNA replication origins and regulates nuclear genome stability. In chloroplasts, CND1 interacts with and facilitates binding of the regulator of chloroplast genome stability WHY1 to chloroplast DNA. The defects in nuclear cell-cycle progression and photosynthesis of cnd1 mutants are respectively rescued by compartment-restricted CND1 localization. Light promotes the association of CND1 with HSP90 and its import into chloroplasts. This study provides a paradigm of the convergence of genome status across organelles to coordinately regulate cell cycle to control plant growth and development.

Huoxue Jiangtang Decoction Alleviates Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Regulating the Oral Microbiota and Food Preferences.

Purpose: As a formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Huoxue Jiangtang Decoction (HJD) has positive effects on diabetes mellitus (DM) through improving of the metabolism of glycolipid and the function of ß-cell. Hence, this research aims to explore the potential therapeutic effects of HJD on diabetes and reveal its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Diabetic rat models induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ) were included in this study. Following successful modeling, diabetic rats were treated with HJD, and then its therapeutic effects in eight weeks were evaluated. In addition to biochemical indicators, two-bottle preference tests were carried out to examine the rats' preferences for fat and sugar, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to disclose the differences of oral microbiota among groups. Finally, Pearson correlation coefficient was used to explore the correlation between oral microbiota and the preferences for fat and sugar. Results: It was found that HJD significantly improved the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glucose tolerance, and dyslipidemia. Additionally, HJD contributed to decreasing preferences for fat and sugar in diabetic rats, which plays an important role in food intake. Furthermore, HJD regulated the abundance, distribution, and structure of oral microbiota in diabetic rats, serving as one of the underlying mechanisms of its antidiabetic effects. Conclusion: Taken with other formulas, HJD functions to improve the metabolism of glycolipid and the function of ß-cell by inhibiting preferences for fat and sugar, as well as regulating the oral microbiota of diabetic rats. Furthermore, a potential correlation between the oral micro-environment and preferences for fat and sugar in STZ-induced diabetic rats is likely to exist.

Expression analysis of irisin during different development stages of skeletal muscle in mice.

BACKGROUND: As a newly discovered muscle factor secreted by skeletal muscle cells, irisin is a polypeptide fragment formed from hydrolysis of fibronectin type Ⅲ domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5). Irisin can promote beigeing of white adipose tissue (WAT) and regulate glucose and lipid metabolisms. However, the functions of irisin in skeletal muscle development remain largely unknown. In order to characterize the expression of irisin, this study investigated the expression of irisin precursor FNDC5 in myoblasts and skeletal muscles during different developmental stages of SPF mice. RESULTS: The Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence assay results showed that FNDC5 was expressed in all the developmental stages of myoblasts and gastrocnemius, but its expression differed at different stages. FNDC5 protein exhibited the highest expression in gastrocnemius of sexually mature mice, followed by elderly mice and adolescent mice, and it displayed the lowest expression in pups. Additionally, FNDC5 protein was mainly expressed in cytoplasm, and it had the highest expression in primary myoblasts, followed by the myotubes with the lowest expression in C2C12 myogenic cells. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, FNDC5 was mainly expressed in cytoplasm and extracellular matrix with different expression levels at different developmental stages of skeletal muscle cells and tissues in mice. This study will provide new strategies for promoting skeletal muscle development and treating muscle- and metabolism-related disease by using irisin.

Chemical approaches for electronic doping in photovoltaic materials beyond crystalline silicon.

Electronic doping is applied to tailor the electrical and optoelectronic properties of semiconductors, which have been widely adopted in information and clean energy technologies, like integrated circuit fabrication and PVs. Though this concept has prevailed in conventional PVs, it has achieved limited success in the new-generation PV materials, particularly in halide perovskites, owing to their soft lattice nature and self-compensation by intrinsic defects. In this review, we summarize the evolution of the theoretical understanding and strategies of electronic doping from Si-based photovoltaics to thin-film technologies, e.g., GaAs, CdTe and Cu(In,Ga)Se2, and also cover the emerging PVs including halide perovskites and organic solar cells. We focus on the chemical approaches to electronic doping, emphasizing various chemical interactions/bonding throughout materials synthesis/modification to device fabrication/operation. Furthermore, we propose new classifications and models of electronic doping based on the physical and chemical properties of dopants, in the context of solid-state chemistry, which inspires further development of optoelectronics based on perovskites and other hybrid materials. Finally, we outline the effects of electronic doping in semiconducting materials and highlight the challenges that need to be overcome for reliable and controllable doping.

Expanding the range of CRISPR/Cas9-directed genome editing in soybean.

The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been widely applied for plant genome editing. The commonly used SpCas9 has been shown to rely on the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequences in the canonical form NGG and non-canonical NAG. Although these PAM sequences are extensively distributed across plant genomes, a broader scope of PAM sequence is required to expand the range of genome editing. Here we report the adoption of three variant enzymes, xCas9, SpCas9-NG and XNG-Cas9, to produce targeted mutation in soybean. Sequencing results determined that xCas9 with the NGG and KGA (contains TGA and GGA) PAMs successfully induces genome editing in soybean genome. SpCas9-NG could recognize NGD (contains NGG, NGA and NGT), RGC (contains AGC and GGC), GAA and GAT PAM sites. In addition, XNG-Cas9 was observed to cleave soybean genomic regions with NGG, GAA and AGY (contains AGC and AGT) PAM. Moreover, off-target analyses on soybean editing events induced by SpCas9 and xCas9 indicated that two high-fidelity Cas9 variants including eSpCas9 (enhanced specificity SpCas9) and exCas9 (enhanced specificity xCas9) could improve the specificity of the GGA PAM sequence without reducing on-target editing efficiency. These findings significantly expand the scope of Cas9-mediated genome editing in soybean. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42994-021-00051-4.

Observation on clinical effect of Huoxue-Jiangtang decoction formula granules in treating prediabetes: a randomized prospective placebo-controlled double-blind trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Prediabetes is a hypermetabolic syndrome with blood sugar levels falling between the normal and diabetes. People with prediabetes have a significantly increased chances of developing diabetes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, tumors, dementia, and other diseases in the future when compared to the healthy population. However, prediabetes is mainly treated based on lifestyle intervention, currently without targeted drug treatment plan. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has a longstanding experience, has been shown in clinical studies to be effective for the treatment of diabetes and its related complications. Furthermore, different dosage forms such as decoction and granule have developed gradually in clinical application. Preliminary studies have found that Huoxue-Jangtang Decoction (HJD), with good hypoglycemic and lipid-regulating effects, is potentially one of the complementary and alternative treatments for prediabetes. Therefore, this project intends to perform a prospective clinical study to observe the clinical effectiveness of HJD on prediabetes and the consistency of the efficacy of formula granules and the elixation. METHODS: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 183 participants are randomly assigned to HJD Formula Granules plus lifestyle intervention, HJD Elixation plus lifestyle intervention, and placebo plus lifestyle intervention. All subjects undergo 1 day of screening before participating in the study, followed by 84 days of drug intervention and observation. During and after treatment, the main outcome measures include fasting blood glucose and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose. DISCUSSION: This research attempts to verify the clinical efficacy and possible mechanism of HJD in the treatment of prediabetes, and prove the consistency of HJD Formula Granules with HJD Elixation. This study also aims to provide a treatment that is both effective and safe for prediabetic patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: ChiCTR2200060813, Registered 12 June 2022.

Analysis of Electromagnetic Characteristics of Copper-Steel Composite Quadrupole Rail.

The ablation and wear of the four-rail electromagnetic launcher during the working process will aggravate the damage of the armature and rail, and greatly affect the service life of the launcher. To effectively alleviate rail damage, this paper applies the copper-steel composite rail to the four-rail electromagnetic launcher and proposes a new four-rail electromagnetic launcher. Based on the quadrupole magnetic field theory, the physical model of the new four-rail electromagnetic launcher is established, and the electromagnetic characteristics of the ordinary and new launchers are compared and analyzed using the finite element method. On this basis, the influence of composite layer parameters on the electromagnetic characteristics of copper-steel composite quadrupole rail is explored. The study found that the new four-rail electromagnetic launcher can provide a better launch magnetic field environment for smart loads, and the current distribution of the armature and the rail contact surface is more uniform, which can effectively improve the contact condition between the armature and the rail. The composite layer parameters of copper-based composite rail will have a certain impact on electromagnetic characteristics, and copper-steel composite rail of appropriate proportions can be selected according to different needs. The model proposed in this paper has a certain degree of scientificity and rationality.

The Construction and Analysis of Infiltrating Immune Cell and ceRNA Networks in Diabetic Foot Ulcer.

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a severe complication characterized by low-grade infectious inflammation and probably associated with specific competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and infiltrating immune cells. Nonetheless, no reliable biomarkers are used for detecting infectious inflammation in DFU. Therefore, it is essential to explore potential biomarkers for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of DFU. Methods: The gene expression profile was retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and divided into two groups, namely, standard samples and DFU samples. To establish the ceRNA networks, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were utilized to analyze differential expression genes (DEGs). The cell type identification was achieved by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) algorithm to screen-specific immune-infiltrating cells associated with DFU. Results: A ceRNA network was constructed with 20 differential expression circRNA (DEcircRNAs), 11 differential expression microRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and 9 differential expression mRNAs (DEmRNAs). Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that DFU was mainly enriched in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and T-cell receptor signaling. In addition, CIBERSORT estimation indicated that CD8+ T cells and Monocytes were significantly related to the expression of IL-6, a DFU-specific infectious inflammation factor. Conclusion: This study identified that some significant ceRNAs (JUNB, GATA3, hsa-circ-0049271 and hsa-circ-0074559) and infiltrating immune cells (CD8+ T cells and monocytes) might be related to DFU infectious inflammation.

Wood-Derived Monolithic Catalysts with the Ability of Activating Water Molecules for Oxygen Electrocatalysis.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is the key reaction on cathode of rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs). However, the lack of protons in alkaline conditions limits the rate of ORR. Herein, an activating water strategy is proposed to promote oxygen electrocatalytic activity by enhancing the proton production from water dissociation. FeP nanoparticles (NPs) are coupled on N-doped wood-derived catalytically active carbon (FeP-NWCC) to associate bifunctional active sites. In alkaline, FeP-NWCC possesses outstanding catalytic activities toward ORR (E1/2  = 0.86 V) and Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) (overpotential is 310 mV at 10 mA cm-2 ). The liquid ZABs assembled by FeP-NWCC deliver superior peak power density (144 mW cm-2 ) and cycle stability (over 450 h). The quasi-solid-state ZABs based on FeP-NWCC also display excellent performances. Theoretical calculation illustrates that the superb bifunctional performance of FeP-NWCC results from the elevated dissociation efficiency of water via FeP NPs to assist the oxygen catalytic process. The strategy of activating water provides a new perspective for the design of ORR/OER bifunctional catalysts. This work is a model for the application of forest biomass.