The intermediate product Li2S2 plays a pivotal role in the charge/discharge process of lithium–sulfur batteries. However, the structural configuration and relevant properties of Li2S2 are unclear. In ...this work, by using ab initio calculations, we present results of novel phases, average open circuit voltages (V ocs), and electronic properties of the stable Li2S2. Two new Li2S2 phases are predicted: orthorhombic (Cmca) and orthorhombic (Immm) structures. The calculated V ocs of hexagonal (P63/mmc), orthorhombic (Cmca), and orthorhombic (Immm) are 3.91, 3.95, and 3.88 V, respectively. In particular, the calculated band gap of the Immm structure is about 0.225 eV, which is smaller than that of Li2S. The narrow band gap of Li2S2 derives from the electronic lump between the Li s state and S 3p state for the orthorhombic structure. Therefore, the electronic properties of Li2S2 are markedly influenced by the structural configuration.
A look at how effective nanoparticle probes are in the diagnosis of cancer biomarkers, cells and tissues through fluorescence is offered. Topics addressed include nanoparticles for fluorescent ...detection, the detection of extracellular cancer biomarkers and the detection of tumor tissue in vivo.
Summary
We developed a new tool to assess the severity of osteoporotic vertebral fracture using radiographs of the spine. Our technique can be used in patient care by helping to stratify patients ...with osteoporotic vertebral fractures into appropriate treatment pathways. It can also be used for research purposes.
Purpose
The aim of our study was to propose a semi-quantitative (SQ) grading scheme for osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs.
Methods
On AP radiographs, the vertebrae are divided into right and left halves, which are graded (A) vertical rectangle, (B) square, (C) traverse rectangle, and (D) trapezoid; whole vertebrae are graded (E) transverse band or (F) bow-tie. Type A and B were compared with normal and Genant SQ grade 1 OVF, Type C and D with grade 2 OVF, and Type E and F with grade 3 OVF. Spine AP radiographs and lateral radiographs of 50 females were assessed by AP radiographs SQ grading. After training, an experienced board-certified radiologist and a radiology trainee assessed the 50 AP radiographs.
Results
The height-to-width ratio of the half vertebrae varied 1.32–1.48. On lateral radiographs, 84 vertebrae of the 50 patients had OVFs (38 grade 1, 24 grade 2, and 22 grade 3). On AP radiographs, the radiologist correctly assigned 84.2%, 91.7%, and 77.2% and the trainee correctly assigned 68.4%, 79.2%, and 81.8% of grade 1, 2, and 3 OVFs, respectively. Compared with lateral radiographs, the radiologist had a weighted Kappa of 0.944 including normal vertebrae and 0.883 not including normal vertebrae, while the corresponding Kappa values for the trainee were 0.891 and 0.830, respectively.
Conclusion
We propose a new semi-quantitative grading system for vertebral fracture severity assessment on AP spine radiographs.
The effect of serum protein adsorption on the biological fate of Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) is investigated. Through a proteomic analysis, it is shown that G‐quadruplexes templated on the surface ...of a gold nanoparticle in the form of SNAs mediate the formation of a protein corona that is rich in complement proteins relative to SNAs composed of poly‐thymine (poly‐T) DNA. Cellular uptake studies show that complement receptors on macrophage cells recognize the SNA protein corona, facilitating their internalization, and causing G‐rich SNAs to accumulate in the liver and spleen more than poly‐T SNAs in vivo. These results support the conclusion that nucleic acid sequence and architecture can mediate nanoparticle–biomolecule interactions and alter their cellular uptake and biodistribution properties and illustrate that nucleic acid sequence is an important parameter in the design of SNA therapeutics.
The effect of serum protein adsorption on the biological fate of Spherical Nucleic Acids (SNAs) is determined with respect to their recognition and uptake by macrophage cells and their biodistribution in mice. These properties are found to be dependent upon nucleic acid sequence, providing insight into an important parameter for the design of SNA therapeutics.
We present a stable partitioned iterative scheme for solving fluid–body interaction problems at low structure-to-fluid mass ratio. The scheme relies on the so-called nonlinear interface force ...correction based on Aitken’s extrapolation process to stabilize the coupled partitioned system employing an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian finite element framework. Approximate interface force correction is constructed through subiterations to account for the missing effects of off-diagonal Jacobian terms in the partitioned staggered scheme. Through the generalized Aitken’s geometric extrapolation process with a dynamic stabilization parameter, the interface corrections allow to satisfy the force equilibrium with arbitrary accuracy while expanding the scope of partitioned iterative schemes for fluid–structure interaction with strong added-mass effects. To assess the proposed iterative scheme against the standard strong coupling, effects of mass ratio are investigated for a freely vibrating circular cylinder. We show that our second-order scheme is stable for low mass density ratio and hence is able to handle strong added-mass effects. The numerical stability and robustness of the scheme is then demonstrated for a new application of tandem square cylinder undergoing complex wake-induced vibration and galloping.
Nitrogen (N) remobilization from reserves to sinks is essential for seedling establishment and seed production. Cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1) is up-regulated during both seed germination and ...seed filling in plants. However, the specific roles of the individual GS1 isogenes with respect to N remobilization, early seedling vigour, and final seed productivity are not known. In this study, impairment of seed germination and seedling establishment is demonstrated in the single knockout mutant gln1;2, and the double knockout mutant gln1;1:gln1;2. The negative effect of Gln1;2 deficiency was associated with reduced N remobilization from the cotyledons and could be fully alleviated by exogenous N supply. Following reproductive growth, both the single and double Gln1;2-knockout mutants showed decreased seed yield due to fewer siliques, less seeds per silique, and lower dry weight per seed. The gln1;1 single mutant had normal seed yield structure but primary root development during seed germination was reduced in the presence of external N. Gln1;2 promoter-green fluorescent protein constructs showed that Gln1;2 localizes to the vascular cells of roots, petals, and stamens. It is concluded that Gln1;2 plays an important role in N remobilization for both seedling establishment and seed production in Arabidopsis.
We report tensile experiments on Ni80P20 metallic glass samples fabricated via a templated electroplating process and via focused ion beam milling, which differed only in their surface energy states: ...Ga-ion-irradiated and as-electroplated. Molecular dynamics simulations on similar Ni80Al20 systems corroborate the experimental results, which suggest that the transition from brittle to ductile behavior is driven by sample size, while the extent of ductility is driven by surface state.
Ghrelin, a stomach-derived orexigenic hormone, has stimulated great interest as a potential target for obesity control. Pharmacological evidence indicates that ghrelin’s effects on food intake are ...mediated by neuropeptide Y (NPY) and agouti-related protein (AgRP) in the central nervous system. These include intracerebroventricular application of antibodies to neutralize NPY and AgRP, and the application of an NPY Y1 receptor antagonist, which blocks some of the orexigenic effects of ghrelin. Here we describe treatment of Agrp−/−;Npy−/− and Mc3r−/−;Mc4r−/− double knockout mice as well as Npy−/− and Agrp−/− single knockout mice with either ghrelin or an orally active nonpeptide ghrelin agonist. The data demonstrate that NPY and AgRP are required for the orexigenic effects of ghrelin, as well as the involvement of the melanocortin pathway in ghrelin signaling. Our results outline a functional interaction between the NPY and AgRP pathways. Although deletion of either NPY or AgRP caused only a modest or nondetectable effect, ablation of both ligands completely abolished the orexigenic action of ghrelin. Our results establish an in vivo orexigenic function for NPY and AgRP, mediating the effect of ghrelin.
FeCoCrAlNi high-entropy alloy coating was synthesized with premixed high-purity Co, Cr, Al and Ni powders on 304 stainless steel by laser surface alloying, aiming at improving corrosion and ...cavitation erosion resistance. Phase constituents, microstructure and microhardness were investigated using XRD, SEM, and microhardness tester, respectively. The cavitation erosion and electrochemical corrosion behavior of FeCoCrAlNi coating in 3.5% NaCl solution were also evaluated using an ultrasonic vibrator and potentiodynamic polarization measurement. Experimental results showed that with appropriate laser processing parameters, FeCoCrAlNi coating with good metallurgical bonding to the substrate could be achieved. FeCoCrAlNi coating was composed of a single BCC solid solution. The formation of simple solid solutions in HEAs was the combined effect of mixing entropy (ΔSmix), mixing enthalpy (ΔHmix), atom-size difference (δ) and valence electron concentration (VEC), and the effect of ΔSmix was much larger than that of the other factors. The microhardness of the FeCoCrAlNi coating was ~3 times that of the 304 stainless steel. Both the corrosion and cavitation erosion resistance of the coating were improved. The cavitation erosion resistance for FeCoCrAlNi HEA coating was ~7.6 times that of 304 stainless steel. The corrosion resistance was also improved as reflected by a reduction in the current density of one order of magnitude as compared with 304 stainless steel.
•FeCoCrAlNi high-entropy alloy coating has been synthesized by laser alloying.•The formation rules of solid solutions in high-entropy alloy were investigated.•The microhardness of the coating was ~3 times that of the substrate.•The high-entropy alloy coating showed a superior corrosion resistance.•The high-entropy alloy coating showed a superior cavitation erosion resistance.
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