Surface hydrophilicity improvement of titanium (Ti) is of great significance for the applications of the important biomaterial. In this study, efficient hydrophilicity on the Ti surface is improved ...by an air plasma jet generated by a micro-hollow cathode discharge (MHCD) geometry. Elementary discharge aspects of the plasma jet and surface characteristics of the Ti surface are investigated by varying dissipated power (
P
d
). The results show that the plasma jet can operate in a pulsed mode or a continuous mode, depending on
P
d
. The plume length increases with
P
d
and air flow rate increasing. By optical emission spectroscopy, plasma parameters as a function of
P
d
are investigated. After plasma treatment, water contact angel (WCA) of the Ti sample decreases to a minimum value of 15° with
P
d
increasing. In addition, the surface topography, roughness, and content of chemical composition are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with
P
d
increasing. The results show that Ti–O bond and O–H group on the Ti surface are beneficial to the improvement of the hydrophilicity of Ti surface.
Biominerals, the inorganic minerals of organisms, are known mainly for their physical property-related functions in modern living organisms. Our recent discovery of the enzyme-like activities of ...nanomaterials, coined as nanozyme, inspires the hypothesis that nano-biominerals might function as enzyme-like catalyzers in cells. Here we report that the iron cores of biogenic ferritins act as natural nanozymes to scavenge superoxide radicals. Through analyzing eighteen representative ferritins from three living kingdoms, we find that the iron core of prokaryote ferritin possesses higher superoxide-diminishing activity than that of eukaryotes. Further investigation reveals that the differences in catalytic capability result from the iron/phosphate ratio changes in the iron core, which is mainly determined by the structures of ferritins. The phosphate in the iron core switches the iron core from single crystalline to amorphous iron phosphate-like structure, resulting in decreased affinity to the hydrogen proton of the ferrihydrite-like core that facilitates its reaction with superoxide in a manner different from that of ferric ions. Furthermore, overexpression of ferritins with high superoxide-diminishing activities in E. coli increases the resistance to superoxide, whereas bacterioferritin knockout or human ferritin knock-in diminishes free radical tolerance, highlighting the physiological antioxidant role of this type of nanozymes.
Background:
Ethical challenges are common in clinical nursing practice, and an infectious environment could put nurses under ethical challenges more easily, which may cause nurses to submit to ...negative emotions and psychological pressure, damaging their mental health.
Purpose:
To examine the ethical challenges encountered by nurses caring for patients with the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) and to provide nurses with suggestions and support regarding promotion of their mental health.
Research design and method:
A qualitative study was carried out using a qualitative content analysis. The participants were 18 nurses who agreed to attend an interview and describe their own experiences of providing care to COVID-19 patients in China. They were purposively sampled, and structured, in-depth interviews were performed. Data were iteratively collected and analyzed from February to March 2020.
Ethical considerations:
The proposal was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Second Hospital of Shandong University, China.
Findings:
The findings revealed three main themes and 10 categories. The themes were the following: (1) ethical challenges (people with COVID-19, inequality, professional ethics, and job competency); (2) coping styles (active control and planning, seeking support as well as catharsis, and staying focused); and (3) impacts on career (specialized nursing skills, scientific research ability, and management skills).
Conclusion:
Nurses faced ethical challenges on multiple fronts in caring for COVID-19 patients. The results may help nurses with more safety, ethics, and humanistic care in nursing practice.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Tungsten ditelluride (WTe2) is a semimetal with orthorhombic Td phase that possesses some unique properties such as Weyl semimetal states, pressure‐induced superconductivity, and giant ...magnetoresistance. Here, the high‐pressure properties of WTe2 single crystals are investigated by Raman microspectroscopy and ab initio calculations. WTe2 shows strong plane‐parallel/plane‐vertical vibrational anisotropy, stemming from its intrinsic Raman tensor. Under pressure, the Raman peaks at ≈120 cm−1 exhibit redshift, indicating structural instability of the orthorhombic Td phase. WTe2 undergoes a phase transition to a monoclinic T′ phase at 8 GPa, where the Weyl states vanish in the new T′ phase due to the presence of inversion symmetry. Such Td to T′ phase transition provides a feasible method to achieve Weyl state switching in a single material without doping. The new T′ phase also coincides with the appearance of superconductivity reported in the literature.
The plane‐parallel/plane‐vertical vibrational anisotropies of WTe2 single crystal under high pressure are investigated by Raman spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. WTe2 undergoes a phase transition from orthorhombic Td to monoclinic T′ phase at 8 GPa, where the Weyl states vanish in the new T′ phase due to the presence of inversion symmetry.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective. To explore the data characteristics of tongue and pulse of non-small-cell lung cancer with Qi deficiency syndrome and Yin deficiency syndrome, establish syndrome classification model based ...on data of tongue and pulse by using machine learning methods, and evaluate the feasibility of syndrome classification based on data of tongue and pulse. Methods. We collected tongue and pulse of non-small-cell lung cancer patients with Qi deficiency syndrome (n=163), patients with Yin deficiency syndrome (n=174), and healthy controls (n=185) using intelligent tongue diagnosis analysis instrument and pulse diagnosis analysis instrument, respectively. We described the characteristics and examined the correlation of data of tongue and pulse. Four machine learning methods, namely, random forest, logistic regression, support vector machine, and neural network, were used to establish the classification models based on symptom, tongue and pulse, and symptom and tongue and pulse, respectively. Results. Significant difference indices of tongue diagnosis between Qi deficiency syndrome and Yin deficiency syndrome were TB-a, TB-S, TB-Cr, TC-a, TC-S, TC-Cr, perAll, and the tongue coating texture indices including TC-CON, TC-ASM, TC-MEAN, and TC-ENT. Significant difference indices of pulse diagnosis were t4 and t5. The classification performance of each model based on different datasets was as follows: tongue and pulse < symptom < symptom and tongue and pulse. The neural network model had a better classification performance for symptom and tongue and pulse datasets, with an area under the ROC curves and accuracy rate which were 0.9401 and 0.8806. Conclusions. It was feasible to use tongue data and pulse data as one of the objective diagnostic basis in Qi deficiency syndrome and Yin deficiency syndrome of non-small-cell lung cancer.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Six new C-20 and one new C-19 quassinoids, named perforalactones F-L (1–7), were isolated from twigs of Harrisonia perforata. Spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic experiments were conducted to ...identify their structures. Through oxidative degradation of perforalactone B to perforaqussin A, the biogenetic process from C-25 quassinoid to C-20 via Baeyer–Villiger oxidation was proposed. Furthermore, the study evaluated the anti-Parkinson’s disease potential of these C-20 quassinoids for the first time on 6-OHDA-induced PC12 cells and a Drosophila Parkinson’s disease model of PINK1B9. Perforalactones G and I (2 and 4) showed a 10–15% increase in cell viability of the model cells at 50 μM, while compounds 2 and 4 (100 μM) significantly improved the climbing ability of PINK1B9 flies and increased the dopamine level in the brains and ATP content in the thoraces of the flies.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The preparation of fire-safe and high-performance carbon fiber reinforced composites with reprocessable resin matrix and recyclable reinforced fibers is of great importance and particularly urgent to ...solve the current overreliance on petrochemical resources for composite raw materials. Herein, we propose an effective strategy to simultaneously solve the flammability and nonrecyclability of the epoxy resin-based composites, in the form of fire-safe and catalyst-free dynamic transesterification networks by introducing a phosphaphenanthrene-derived diol as a multifunctional modifier for transesterification without using any toxic catalysts. In this strategy, the phosphaphenanthrene moieties enhanced the fire safety; while the hydroxy groups promoted the construction of catalyst-free dynamic transesterification networks. To our delight, the generated epoxy resin and its composite exhibit excellent mechanical properties, high thermal stability, fire safety, fast repairability and malleability. Furthermore, the resin matrix can be dissolved as the low-mass diol molecules participate in bond exchange reactions to achieve CFs with nearly 100% recyclability.
A new strategy was proposed to design a fire-safe vitrimer with catalyst-free adaptable ester-linked networks and its composite. Furthermore, the vitrimer matrix in the composite was degraded to achieve carbon fibers with nearly 100% recyclability.
L., commonly referred to as dry, green, or field pea, is one of the most common legumes that is popular and economically important. Due to its richness in a variety of nutritional and bioactive ...ingredients, the consumption of pea has been suggested to be associated with a wide range of health benefits, and there has been increasing focus on its potential as a functional food. However, there have been limited literature reviews concerning the bioactive compounds, health-promoting effects, and potential applications of pea up to now. This review, therefore, summarizes the literature from the last ten years regarding the chemical composition, physicochemical properties, processing, health benefits, and potential applications of pea. Whole peas are rich in macronutrients, including proteins, starches, dietary fiber, and non-starch polysaccharides. In addition, polyphenols, especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, are important bioactive ingredients that are mainly distributed in the pea coats. Anti-nutritional factors, such as phytic acid, lectin, and trypsin inhibitors, may hinder nutrient absorption. Whole pea seeds can be processed by different techniques such as drying, milling, soaking, and cooking to improve their functional properties. In addition, physicochemical and functional properties of pea starches and pea proteins can be improved by chemical, physical, enzymatic, and combined modification methods. Owing to the multiple bioactive ingredients in peas, the pea and its products exhibit various health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-renal fibrosis, and regulation of metabolic syndrome effects. Peas have been processed into various products such as pea beverages, germinated pea products, pea flour-incorporated products, pea-based meat alternatives, and encapsulation and packing materials. Furthermore, recommendations are also provided on how to better utilize peas to promote their development as a sustainable and functional grain. Pea and its components can be further developed into more valuable and nutritious products.
•Computer-assisted automated classification of calcaneus fracture in CT images.•ResNet outperformed VGG in bone fracture classification.•High accuracy and reduced runtimes achieved in automatic ...fracture detection using SURF algorithm.•Demonstrate feasibility of using deep learning neural network in automatic calcaneal fracture detection.
The calcaneus is the most fracture-prone tarsal bone and injuries to the surrounding tissue are some of the most difficult to treat. Currently there is a lack of consensus on treatment or interpretation of computed tomography (CT) images for calcaneus fractures. This study proposes a novel computer-assisted method for automated classification and detection of fracture locations in calcaneus CT images using a deep learning algorithm.
Two types of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures with different network depths, a Residual network (ResNet) and a Visual geometry group (VGG), were evaluated and compared for the classification performance of CT scans into fracture and non-fracture categories based on coronal, sagittal, and transverse views. The bone fracture detection algorithm incorporated fracture area matching using the speeded-up robust features (SURF) method, Canny edge detection, and contour tracing.
Results showed that ResNet was comparable in accuracy (98%) to the VGG network for bone fracture classification but achieved better performance for involving a deeper neural network architecture. ResNet classification results were used as the input for detecting the location and type of bone fracture using SURF algorithm.
Results from real patient fracture data sets demonstrate the feasibility using deep CNN and SURF for computer-aided classification and detection of the location of calcaneus fractures in CT images.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Tubulin polymerisation inhibitors that target colchicine binding site were powerful anticancer agents. Although along the years many colchicine binding site inhibitors (CBSIs) have been reported, few ...piperidine derivatives were identified as CBSIs. In this regard, we focussed efforts on the piperidine as a promising chemotype to develop potent CBSIs. Herein, novel piperidine derivatives were synthesised and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities. Among them, compound
displayed powerful anticancer activity with the IC
value of 0.81 µM against PC3 cells, which was significantly better than 5-fluorouracil. It could inhibit tubulin polymerisation binding at the colchicine site and inhibit the tumour growth
and
. Further biological studies depicted that
suppressed the colony formation, induced apoptosis, and inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition against PC3 cells. These results revealed that compound
is a promising colchicine binding site inhibitor for the treatment of cancer and it is worthy of further exploitation.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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