This study investigated the correlation between the levels of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-18 and atherosclerotic plaques. A total of 60 Apo E gene (Apo E-/-) mice were fed with high-fat diet in the ...model group and 20 wild male C57BL/6 mice were fed with the basic diet in the control group. The serum levels of IL-17 and IL-18 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Carotid artery ultrasonography was performed and divided into stable plaque, unstable plaque and non-plaque groups. The severity of plaque was estimated by semi-quantitative method and divided into grades I, II and III. The expression levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma total cholesterol and blood glucose level in the model group induced by high-fat diet were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The level in the model group was significantly higher than in the control group at the 16th week (P<0.05). The expression of IL-17 and IL-18 in the model group was significantly higher than that in the control group (t=6.903, 11.02, P<0.05). The concentration of IL-17 and IL-18 in the non-plaque group was significantly lower than that in the stable plaque and unstable plaque groups (P<0.05). The concentration of IL-17 and IL-18 in the stable plaque group was significantly lower than that in the unstable plaque group (P<0.05). Based on the correlation of IL-17 and IL-18 expressions in the model group, the expression of IL-18 increased with the expression of IL-17, indicating that the expression of IL-17 was positively correlated with that of IL-18 (r=0.7195, P<0.001). In conclusion, serum IL-17 and IL-18 played an important role in the formation and development of atherosclerotic plaque, and were related to the stability and severity of plaque. The expression of IL-17 and IL-18 was positively correlated.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Qilin pills (QLPs), a classic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula for treating male infertility, effectively improve semen quality in clinical trials. This study was designed to evaluate the ...effects of QLPs on spermatogenesis, reproductive hormones, oxidative stress, and the testis-specific serinekinase-2 (TSSK2) gene in a rat model of oligoasthenospermia.
Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups. The rat model with oligoasthenospermia was generated by intragastric administration of tripterygium glycosides (TGs) once daily for 4 weeks. Then, two treatment groups were given different doses (1.62 g/kg and 3.24 g/kg) of QLPs once daily for 60 days. Sperm parameters, testicular histology and reproductive hormone measurements, oxidative stress tests, and TSSK2 expression tests were carried out.
QLPs effectively improved semen parameters and testicular histology; restored the levels of FSH, LH, PRL, fT, and SHBG; reduced the levels of oxidative stress products (ROS and MDA); increased testicular SOD activity; and restored the expression of spermatogenesis-related gene TSSK2.
QLPs have a therapeutic effect on a rat model of oligoasthenospermia, and this effect is manifested as improvement of semen quality and testis histology, gonadal axis stability, decreased oxidative stress, and the regulation of testis-specific spermatogenesis-related gene TSSK2.
Background/Aims: Preeclampsia (PE) is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome involving varieties of cytokines, and previous studies have shown that IL-33 and its receptor IL-1RL1 play pivotal ...roles in the development of it. As a polygenetic hereditary disease, it is necessary to study the gene analysis for PE. Therefore, the present study was to determine whether IL-33 rs3939286 and IL-1RL1 rs13015714 associated with susceptibility to PE in Chinese Han women. Methods: 1,031 PE patients and 1,298 controls were enrolled and the genotyping for rs3939286 in IL-33 and rs13015714 in IL-1RL1 was performed by TaqMan allelic discrimination real-time PCR. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was examined to ensure the group representativeness and Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare the differences in genetic distributions between the two groups. Results: No significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies of the two polymorphisms loci were observed between cases and controls. There were also no significant differences in genetic distributions between mild/severe and early/late-onset PE and control groups. Conclusion: Although our data suggested that the polymorphisms of IL-33 rs3939286 and IL-1RL1 rs13015714 might not be critical risk factors for PE in Chinese Han women, the results need to be validated in different nations.
•As a green and carbon-friendly grouting material, RGGM was prepared with industrial by-products at ambient temperature.•Models of the initial fluidity and mechanical strength of RGGM were developed ...using Response Surface Methodology (RSM).•RSM coupled with MOPSO algorithm was implemented for predicting and optimizing the properties of RGGM.•The predicted results obtained just brought a difference around 5% from the experiments results.
As a green and carbon-friendly material, road geopolymer grouting material (RGGM) has a great application potential as a replacement of cement grouting materials in subgrade reinforcement. However, the diversity of its components, including mineral precursors and activators, may mislead engineers in evaluating its performance, especially its fluidity and strength, which limits the popularization and application of RGGM. For this, a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) coupled with multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm was developed for predicting and optimizing the variables that affect the initial fluidity and mechanical strength of RGGM. Initially, a Central-Composite Design (CCD) of RSM has been adopted to establish the statistical models of three responses (28d compressive strength, 28d flexural strength and initial Marsh time) of RGGM. Then, the significant effect of different variables on the three responses was investigated by ANOVA and 3D surface diagrams. Finally, MOPSO algorithm was applied to find global solutions using the three statistical models and optimize the multi-performances of RGGM. It is found that all statistical models are significant because the R-squared are more than 0.9, which can also be verified by the Normal probability plot and Predicted vs actual plot. The effect of water consumption on the three responses is the most significant among the single factors, and for the interaction factors, the interaction between water and NaOH is the most significant. Through the optimization of RSM coupled with MOPSO algorithm, the optimal solutions are predicted and verified only about 5% difference from the experimental results. This optimization method (RSM + MOPSO) is helpful for engineers and researchers to have a comprehensive understanding of the performances of RGGM, which will promote its application to cleaner road reinforcement in road engineering.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BZLF1 gene can trigger EBV from latent infection to lytic replicative phase. The functions of BZLF1 are well known, while little is known about its gene polymorphism. In ...order to elucidate the sequence variations of BZLF1 and its association with malignancies, we analyzed BZLF1 gene in 24 EBV-associated gastric carcinomas, 41 nasopharyngeal carcinomas and 24 throat washing samples from healthy donors in Northern China using PCR-direct sequencing method. Three types and 8 subtypes of BZLF1 were identified. A dominant type BZLF1-A was found in 67 of 89 (75.3%) isolates. Type BZLF1-B was characterized by a common Ala deletion at residue 127, which was detected in 21 of 89 isolates (23.6%). Type BZLF1-C contained only one isolate (GC103), which had the same sequence with the prototype B95-8. Among 3 functional domains of BZLF1 protein, the transactivation domain had most mutations, followed by the bZIP domains (the DNA binding domain and dimerization domain). No prevalence of any subtypes or mutations in the functional domains among three specimen groups was found (
P > 0.05). Our study indicates that BZLF1 subtypes and amino acid changes in functional domains are not preferentially associated with EBV-associated gastric carcinomas or nasopharyngeal carcinomas in Northern China. BZLF1 gene variations are geographically restricted rather than tumor-specific polymorphisms.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•A green road grouting material AASFGM was prepared at ambient temperature.•A multi-index optimization design based grey correlation and objective weighting is applied systematically.•The physical ...properties of AASFGM were tested and compared with those of cement grouting materials.•The microstructure and strength development mechanism of AASFGM was further characterized.
As a green and carbon-friendly material, alkali-activated grouting material (AAGM) has great application potential in reinforcement engineering. In this study, the alkali-activated slag/fly ash grouting material (AASFGM) was prepared with industrial-waste ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA) as raw materials. In order to meet the multi-performance requirements, a multi-index optimization design based on grey correlation and objective weight was adopted to prepare AASFGM pastes. And its physical performances including fresh and harden properties were tested and compared with those of cement grouting materials (CGM), more than that, the microstructure and strength development mechanism of AASFGM was further characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive Spectrum (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). It is found that the AASFGM paste possesses clean production, high mechanical strength, high fluidity, low bleeding rate and low porosity, providing appealing properties as grouting materials for reinforcement. The new multi-index optimization method, based on grey correlation and objective weights determined, is much more scientific and objective to obtain a balanced performance for AASFGM preparation. The optimized AASFGM paste has a uniform and compact microstructure, and it also has remarkable advantages in mechanical strength, bleeding rate and porosity compared with CGM. As a carbon-friendly grouting material, it may become a greener substitute of CGM for the cleaner reinforcement engineering.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•GBFS, UCG and MFASB were used to synthesis the ternary OAGM.•Effects of various factors on flowability, setting time and strength were studied.•Borax is the optimal retarder for the ternary ...OAGM.•The ternary OAGM with BR has high compressive strength and great flowability.•Reaction product, microstructure and pore structure of different OAGMs were studied.
To obtain an environment-friendly grouting material suitable for in situ application, the granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), uncalcined coal gangue (UCG) and microscopic fly ash sinking beads (MFASB) were used to synthesis the one-part alkali-activated grouting material (OAGM). Firstly, OAGMs with different combination of precursors were prepared respectively, which are GBFS-based OAGM (the unitary OAGM), GBFS/UCG-based OAGM (the binary OAGM) and GBFS/UCG/MFASB-based OAGM (the ternary OAGM). The flowability, setting time and compressive strength of them were measured to analyze their applicability and feasibility in grouting engineering and obtain the OAGM with a reasonable combination of precursors. Next, the effects of different water to solid ratios (W/S ratios), different retarders, and the content of selected retarder on the OAGM were investigated to put forward its rational composition under the best overall performance. Finally, the reaction product, microstructure and pore structure of OAGMs were characterized to probe into their mechanism. Results show that compared with other OAGMs, the ternary OAGM with the retarder borax (BR) has the best overall performance. This material not only has the best flowability and the longest setting time, but also has high compressive strength, thus, it is more suitable for grouting engineering. Microstructural tests reveal that adding UCG and MFASB sequentially into GBFS-based OAGM makes important impacts on the formation of C-A-S-H gel, thus affecting the compressive strength. And adding MFASB into the binary OAGM increases the harmless pores, causing the ternary OAGM has higher porosity. However, the increase of porosity does not necessarily bring about the decrease of compressive strength. Besides, pore structure characteristics shows that adding BR increases the porosity of the ternary OAGM. This study can provide guidance for preparing environment-friendly OAGM suitable for in situ application and promote the recycling of industrial solid wastes.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
As a promising sustainable building material, geopolymer/steel-slag composite materials have been poorly known in the field of the interfacial characteristics of geopolymer/steel-slag interface, ...especially at the molecular level. Herein, in this work, molecular dynamics simulation was employed to reveal the interfacial characteristics and mechanical behaviors of geopolymer binder with steel slag aggregate. The molecular models of two geopolymer binders (C-A-S-H and N-A-S-H) and three main minerals of steel slag aggregate (Ca2SiO4, Ca2Fe2O5 and CaCO3) were constructed and carried out. Then the wetting characteristics of different mineral surfaces, interfacial characteristics, interaction mechanisms and mechanical behaviors of various geopolymer/steel-slag interfacial systems were elucidated and compared. It is found that the Ca2SiO4, Ca2Fe2O5 and CaCO3 of steel slag aggregate show strong hydrophilicity, attracting water molecules to accumulated on its mineral surface and promoting the diffusion of Ca2+ and Na + at the interface. The interaction energy of geopolymer/steel-slag systems is mainly composed of electrostatic interaction energy. Thanks to the accumulation of water molecules on the mineral surface, the stronger hydrogen bond interaction occurs at the interface of the geopolymer/steel-slag system. The free metal cations from mineral surfaces and geopolymer binder respectively are coordinated with the accumulated water molecules to emerge hydrated ions, forming composite ionic clusters to stabilize the interfacial interaction. Mechanically, the interaction systems with C-A-S-H binder possess stronger interfacial tensile strength and shear strength. Steel slag with higher Ca2SiO4 content can effectively form strong interfacial bonding, lowering the risk of interfacial tensile failure, whereas steel slag containing more Ca2Fe2O5 can reduce occurrence possibility of shearing damage. CaCO3 formed by carbonization of steel slag, is conductive to strengthening the interfacial interaction with geopolymer binder.
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•MD simulation can reveal the interfacial behaviors of geopolymer/steel-slag.•The interfacial interaction of geopolymer/steel-slag is mainly composed of electrostatic interaction.•The water molecules at the interface produce hydrogen bond interaction.•The water molecules, Ca2+ and Na + migrate to the interface to form hydrated ions.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•A green road grouting material was prepared at ambient temperature.•Provide a pathway to reduce drying shrinkage of geopolymeric grouts.•The modification mechanism of silicon-acrylic (SiA) latex ...contains physical and chemical aspects.
As a green and carbon-friendly material, road geopolymeric grouts have a great application potential as a replacement of cement-based grouts in road reinforcement, but it still possesses some shortcomings, including high drying shrinkage and poor toughness. In this study, four water-soluble polymer latexes were used to prepare the latex modified geopolymeric grouts (LMGG). Four material composition factors, including mixing ratio of mineral precursors, kinds and contents of alkali activators, water-solid ratios and kinds and contents of polymer latexes, were investigated to discuss the effect of each factor on LMGG paste. Then, the physical properties of LMGG were explored and compared with cement-based grouts. Finally, the Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive Spectrum (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used to explore the pore structure, product phase, micromorphology and functional groups to reveal its modification mechanism. In this study, the effects of compositions (mineral precursors, alkali activators, water and polymer latexes) on LMGG pastes were studied and optimized. Using water glass and KOH as activators can obtain excellent strength and initial fluidity. And the addition of 5 wt% silicon-acrylic (SiA) polymer latex had a positive effect on the strength, shrinkage and pore size distribution, improving 7 d compressive strength by 8.1%, 7 d flexural strength by 19.9%, proportion of gel and medium pores by 28.0%, and reducing the total shrinkage by 63.5%. With the addition of SiA latex, the characterization of hydration and geopolymerization product phases of geopolymeric grouts does not change. The modification mechanism of SiA latex in LMGG system involves physical and chemical modification processes. In physical aspect, the polymeric film can be interweaved and wrapped with the geopolymer products, filling cracks and pores. And in chemical aspect, the active groups of SiA latex reacted with the geopolymer products linking the polymer chains with geopolymer products together.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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•MD simulation can reveal the effect of moisture on interfacial behaviors of geopolymer-aggregate interaction;•Wetting characteristics of aggregate surfaces were elucidated and ...compared.•The interfacial mechanism of geopolymer-aggregate with the participation of moisture was explained.•Mechanical behaviors of geopolymer-water-aggregate interface were investigated using peeling and shearing simulation.
The interaction between geopolymer and aggregate largely determines the mechanical properties and durability of the geopolymer concrete. The effects of moisture on interfacial behavior of geopolymer-aggregate interaction are poorly understood, especially at molecular level. Herein, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was employed to reveal the interactive behaviors of geopolymer-aggregate interfacial system with the participation of moisture. Full atomistic models adopted for MD simulations were constructed using the sodium aluminum silicate hydrate (N-ASH) gel model and the main chemical components of the aggregates, SiO2 and CaCO3. Then the wetting characteristics of aggregate surfaces, interfacial characteristics and mechanical behaviors of the geopolymer-aggregate interfacial systems containing interfacial moisture were elucidated and compared. It is found that the SiO2 surface is hydrophobic while the CaCO3 surface exhibits hydrophilic characteristics. Interfacial moisture participates in electrostatic interaction, H-bond interaction and coordination interaction in geopolymer-aggregate interface area. Appropriate interfacial water is beneficial to the interfacial interaction of geopolymer-aggregate system, but excessive water will increase the risk of interfacial failure. The interfacial moisture affects the diffusion behavior of water molecules and Na+ ions in geopolymer to the interfacial region, and the formation of H-bonds and coordination bonds at the interface. Mechanically, with the participation of interfacial moisture, the geopolymer-SiO2 interfacial system possesses stronger tensile strength, and a greater risk of shear failure than that of geopolymer-CaCO3. The above atomic-level findings may facilitate a better design and fabrication of geopolymer concrete in engineering.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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