Recognizing Gigerenzer's (1991) dictum that scientists' tools are not neutral (tools-in-use influence theory formulation as well as data interpretation), this article reports theory and examines data ...in ways that transcend the dominant logics for variable-based and case-based analyses. The theory and data analysis tests key propositions in complexity theory: (1) no single antecedent condition is a sufficient or necessary indicator of a high score in an outcome condition; (2) a few of many available complex configurations of antecedent conditions are sufficient indicators of high scores in an outcome condition; (3) contrarian cases occur, that is, low scores in a single antecedent condition associates with both high and low scores for an outcome condition for different cases; (4) causal asymmetry occurs, that is, accurate causal models for high scores for an outcome condition are not the mirror opposites of causal models for low scores for the same outcome condition. The study tests and supports these propositions in the context of customer assessments (n=436) of service facets and service outcome evaluations for assisted temporary-transformations of self via beauty salon and spa treatments. The findings contribute to advancing a nuanced theory of how customers' service evaluations relate to their assessments of overall service quality and intentions to use the service. The findings support the need for service managers to be vigilant in fine-tuning service facets and service enactment to achieve the objective of high customer retention.
In this study, a refined hot forming process for age-hardened aluminum alloys that is referred to as the pre-hardened hot forming (PHF) process was investigated. The ductility of the AA7075-T6 alloy ...was significantly improved during this process, which was evaluated through hot tensile tests ranging from 200 °C to 400 °C. Based on these results, hot stamping tests for automotive components were successfully conducted, and mechanical property testing of post-formed parts were carried out. The results indicate that under the forming temperature of 200 °C, the tensile strength of the formed component maintained more than 92% of the original T6 sheet blank tensile strength and more than 93% of the yield strength. Moreover, the post-formed strength did not decrease monotonically with increasing forming temperature. There was an abnormal drop in the strength of the component formed at 300 °C, which is obviously lower than that of the vicinal temperatures (250 °C and 350 °C). Microstructure observations and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis were conducted to explore the microstructure of the formed components. The results showed that there was no obvious difference among the grain sizes of the formed components under different forming temperatures. The sample formed at 250 °C maintained a large amount of the η′ phase, while the coarse η phase was the dominant precipitate in the microstructure of the sample formed at 300 °C. The contributions of grain boundary strengthening and precipitation strengthening were evaluated based on the Hall-Petch equation and Orowan strengthening theory, respectively. The calculation results showed good agreement with the experimental data. All the results indicated that direct forming of the AA7075-T6 alloy was achieved by the PHF process and that the forming temperature should be limited below 300 °C to obtain satisfactory mechanical properties without a subsequent artificial aging process.
Recent studies have indicated that the plant volatile methyl benzoate (MB) exhibits significant insecticidal bioactivity against several common insects. However, the potential environmental hazards ...of MB and its safety to non-target organisms is poorly understood. In the present study, these characteristics were investigated through laboratory experiments and field investigations. The results revealed that MB was highly toxic to the agricultural pest, fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda. Compared with the commercial pesticide lambda-cyhalothrin, the toxicities of MB against S. frugiperda larvae and adults were comparable and 3.41 times higher, respectively. Behavioral bioassays showed that the percentage repellency of MB to S. frugiperda larvae was 56.72 %, and MB induced 69.40 % oviposition deterrence rate in S. frugiperda female adults. Furthermore, in terms of median lethal concentration (LC50) and median lethal doses (LD50), MB exhibited non-toxic effects on non-target animals with 3-d LC50 of > 1 % to natural predators (Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis), 3-d LD50 of 467.86 µg/bee to the bumblebee Bombus terrestris, 14-d LC50 of 971.09 mg/kg to the earthworm Eisenia fetida, and 4-d LC50 of 47.30 mg/L to the zebrafish Brachydanio rerio. The accumulation of MB in the soil and earthworms was found to be extremely limited. Our comparative study clearly demonstrated that MB is effective as a selective botanical pesticide against S. frugiperda and it is safe to use in the tested environment, with no toxic effects on non-target animals and natural predators.
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•Plant volatile compound methyl benzoate (MB) has a significant insecticidal bioactivity against S. frugiperda.•MB has high repellent activity and oviposition-deterring to S. frugiperda larvae and adult.•MB is safe to tested insect predators, pollinating bumblebees, environmental indicators earthworms and zebrafish.•MB has a very limited accumulation in soil and earthworms.
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been linked to promoting tumor progression by stimulating angiogenesis, cell growth and inflammation. NFKB activity in TAMs may mediate ...inflammation-associated tumor formation. However, most isolated TAMs from established tumors express a M2 phenotype with less NFKB activation and show a strong immunosuppressive phenomenon. How tumors affect the dynamic of NFKB activity in TAMs, and hence maintain their pro-tumor M2 phenotype is still poorly understood. We recently found that hepatoma-derived toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-related ligands are capable of stimulating M2 macrophage differentiation via controlling NFKB RELA/p65 protein homeostasis by selective autophagy. TLR2 signal induces NFKB RELA cytosolic ubiquitination and leads to its degradation by SQSTM1/p62-mediated autophagy. Inhibition of autophagy will rescue NFKB activity and shape the phenotype of hepatoma-polarized M2 macrophages. This suggests that autophagy might play a role in manipulating TAM functions and tumor-associated immune responses. Our study also demonstrates that autophagy can directly control a transcriptional factor in addition to its regulatory molecules. This finding uncovers a new role of autophagy in controlling cellular functions.
Cocaine is a common abused drug that can induce abnormal synaptic and immune responses in the central nervous system (CNS). High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is one kind of inflammatory molecules ...that is expressed both on neurons and immune cells. Previous studies of HMGB1 in the CNS have largely focused on immune function, and the role of HMGB1 in neurons and cocaine addiction remains unknown. Here, we show that cocaine exposure induced the translocation and release of HMGB1 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons. Gain and loss of HMGB1 in the NAc bidirectionally regulate cocaine‐induced conditioned place preference. From the nucleus to the cytosol, HMGB1 binds to glutamate receptor subunits (GluA2/GluN2B) on the membrane, which regulates cocaine‐induced synaptic adaptation and the formation of cocaine‐related memory. These data unveil the role of HMGB1 in neurons and provide the evidence for the HMGB1 involvement in drug addiction.
During basal synaptic transmission, NSF/AP2 maintains synaptic strength by promoting AMPARs to the postsynaptic membrane. After repeated cocaine exposure, HMGB1 translocates to neuronal synaptic sites by competitively combining to GluA2, which impairs the trafficking of AMPARs and sets drug‐induced synaptic encoding.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play nonnegligible roles in the epigenetic regulation of cancer cells. This study aimed to identify a specific lncRNA that promotes the colorectal cancer (CRC) ...progression and could be a potential therapeutic target.
We screened highly expressed lncRNAs in human CRC samples compared with their matched adjacent normal tissues. The proteins that interact with LINRIS (Long Intergenic Noncoding RNA for IGF2BP2 Stability) were confirmed by RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. The proliferation and metabolic alteration of CRC cells with LINRIS inhibited were tested in vitro and in vivo.
LINRIS was upregulated in CRC tissues from patients with poor overall survival (OS), and LINRIS inhibition led to the impaired CRC cell line growth. Moreover, knockdown of LINRIS resulted in a decreased level of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2), a newly found N
-methyladenosine (m
A) 'reader'. LINRIS blocked K139 ubiquitination of IGF2BP2, maintaining its stability. This process prevented the degradation of IGF2BP2 through the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP). Therefore, knockdown of LINRIS attenuated the downstream effects of IGF2BP2, especially MYC-mediated glycolysis in CRC cells. In addition, the transcription of LINRIS could be inhibited by GATA3 in CRC cells. In vivo experiments showed that the inhibition of LINRIS suppressed the proliferation of tumors in orthotopic models and in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models.
LINRIS is an independent prognostic biomarker for CRC. The LINRIS-IGF2BP2-MYC axis promotes the progression of CRC and is a promising therapeutic target.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Multiwalled carbon nanotubes-sulfur (MWCNTs-S) composites were synthesized by chemical activation of MWCNTs and capillarity between sulfur and MWCNTs.•The MWCNTs activated by potassium hydroxide ...(denoted as K-MWCNTs) were used as conductive additive.•The results reveal that the K-MWCNTs-S composites can display excellent cycle stability and rate capability compared to pure S.
Multiwalled carbon nanotubes-sulfur (MWCNTs-S) composites were synthesized by chemical activation of MWCNTs and capillarity between sulfur and MWCNTs. The MWCNTs activated by potassium hydroxide (denoted as K-MWCNTs) were used as conductive additive. The as-prepared K-MWCNTs-S composites can display excellent cycle stability and rate capability with the initial discharge capacity of 741mAhg−1 and capacity retention of 80% after 50 cycles compared to pure S. The improvement in the electrochemical performance for K-MWCNTs-S composites is attributed to the interstitial structure of the MWCNTs resulted from the strong chemical etching, which can facilitate the insertion and extraction of Li ions and more better percolation of the electrolyte, and also ascribed to enhanced electronic conductivity of K-MWCNTs-S composites. It is indicated that the K-MWCNTs-S composites can be used as the cathode materials for lithium–sulfur batteries.
Fluorescent nanodiamond (FND) has recently played a central role in fueling new discoveries in interdisciplinary fields spanning biology, chemistry, physics, and materials sciences. The nanoparticle ...is unique in that it contains a high density ensemble of negatively charged nitrogen–vacancy (NV–) centers as built-in fluorophores. The center possesses a number of outstanding optical and magnetic properties. First, NV– has an absorption maximum at ∼550 nm, and when exposed to green-orange light, it emits bright fluorescence at ∼700 nm with a lifetime of longer than 10 ns. These spectroscopic properties are little affected by surface modification but are distinctly different from those of cell autofluorescence and thus enable background-free imaging of FNDs in tissue sections. Such characteristics together with its excellent biocompatibility render FND ideal for long-term cell tracking applications, particularly in stem cell research. Next, as an artificial atom in the solid state, the NV– center is perfectly photostable, without photobleaching and blinking. Therefore, the NV-containing FND is suitable as a contrast agent for super-resolution imaging by stimulated emission depletion (STED). An improvement of the spatial resolution by 20-fold is readily achievable by using a high-power STED laser to deplete the NV– fluorescence. Such improvement is crucial in revealing the detailed structures of biological complexes and assemblies, including cellular organelles and subcellular compartments. Further enhancement of the resolution for live cell imaging is possible by manipulating the charge states of the NV centers. As the “brightest” member of the nanocarbon family, FND holds great promise and potential for bioimaging with unprecedented resolution and precision. Lastly, the NV– center in diamond is an atom-like quantum system with a total electron spin of 1. The ground states of the spins show a crystal field splitting of 2.87 GHz, separating the m s = 0 and ±1 sublevels. Interestingly, the transitions between the spin sublevels can be optically detected and manipulated by microwave radiation, a technique known as optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). In addition, the electron spins have an exceptionally long coherence time, making FND useful for ultrasensitive detection of temperature at the nanoscale. Pump–probe-type nanothermometry with a temporal resolution of better than 10 μs has been achieved with a three-point sampling method. Gold/diamond nanohybrids have also been developed for highly localized hyperthermia applications. This Account provides a summary of the recent advances in FND-enabled technologies with a special focus on long-term cell tracking, super-resolution imaging, and nanoscale temperature sensing. These emerging and multifaceted technologies are in synchronicity with modern imaging modalities.
Golden 2-Like (G2-like) transcription factors play an important role in plant development. However, the roles of these G2-like regulatory genes in response to abiotic stresses in tomato are not well ...understood.
In this study, we identified 66 putative G2-like genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and classified them into 5 groups (I to V) according to gene structure, motif composition and phylogenetic analysis. The G2-like genes were unevenly distributed across all 12 chromosomes. There were nine pairs of duplicated gene segments and four tandem duplicated SlGlk genes. Analysis of the cis-regulatory elements (CREs) showed that the promoter regions of SlGlks contain many kinds of stress- and hormone-related CREs. Based on RNA-seq, SlGlks were expressed in response to three abiotic stresses. Thirty-six differentially expressed SlGlks were identified; these genes have multiple functions according to Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and are enriched mainly in the zeatin biosynthesis pathway. Further studies exhibited that silencing SlGlk16 in tomato would reduce drought stress tolerance by earlier wilted, lower superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) activities, less Pro contents and more MDA contents.
Overall, the results of this study provide comprehensive information on G2-like transcription factors and G2-like genes that may be expressed in response to abiotic stresses.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Aqueous aluminum batteries are promising post-lithium battery technologies for large-scale energy storage applications because of the raw materials abundance, low costs, safety and high theoretical ...capacity. However, their development is hindered by the unsatisfactory electrochemical behaviour of the Al metal electrode due to the presence of an oxide layer and hydrogen side reaction. To circumvent these issues, we report aluminum-copper alloy lamellar heterostructures as anode active materials. These alloys improve the Al-ion electrochemical reversibility (e.g., achieving dendrite-free Al deposition during stripping/plating cycles) by using periodic galvanic couplings of alternating anodic α-aluminum and cathodic intermetallic Al
Cu nanometric lamellas. In symmetric cell configuration with a low oxygen concentration (i.e., 0.13 mg L
) aqueous electrolyte solution, the lamella-nanostructured eutectic Al
Cu
alloy electrode allows Al stripping/plating for 2000 h with an overpotential lower than ±53 mV. When the Al
Cu
anode is tested in combination with an Al
MnO
cathode material, the aqueous full cell delivers specific energy of ~670 Wh kg
at 100 mA g
and an initial discharge capacity of ~400 mAh g
at 500 mA g
with a capacity retention of 83% after 400 cycles.
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