Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the loss of neurons and/or myelin sheath, which deteriorate over time and cause dysfunction. Interleukin 17A is the signature cytokine of a subset of ...CD4+ helper T cells known as Th17 cells, and the IL-17 cytokine family contains six cytokines and five receptors. Recently, several studies have suggested a pivotal role for the IL-17A cytokine family in human inflammatory or autoimmune diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and glaucoma. Studies in recent years have shown that the mechanism of action of IL-17A is more subtle than simply causing inflammation. Although the specific mechanism of IL-17A in neurodegenerative diseases is still controversial, it is generally accepted now that IL-17A causes diseases by activating glial cells. In this review, we will focus on the function of IL-17A, in particular the proposed roles of IL-17A, in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
Multi-frame image super-resolution focuses on reconstructing a high-resolution image from a set of low-resolution images with high similarity. Combining image prior knowledge with fidelity model, the ...Bayesian-based methods have been considered as an effective technique in super-resolution. The minimization function derived from maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) is composed of a fidelity term and a regularization term. In this paper, based on the MAP estimation, we propose a novel initialization method for super-resolution imaging. For the fidelity term in our proposed method, the half-quadratic estimation is used to choose error norm adaptively instead of using fixed L 2 norms. Besides, a spatial weight matrix is used as a confidence map to scale the estimation result. For the regularization term, we propose a novel regularization method based on adaptive bilateral total variation (ABTV). Both the fidelity term and the ABTV regularization guarantee the robustness of our framework. The fidelity term is mainly responsible for dealing with misregistration, blur, and other kinds of large errors, while the ABTV regularization aims at edge preservation and noise removal. The proposed scheme is tested on both synthetic data and real data. The experimental results illustrate the superiority of our proposed method in terms of edge preservation and noise removal over the state-of-the-art algorithms.
Here we demonstrate thermal energy storage cement mortar (TESCM) fabricated by integrating ordinary cement mortar with a composite phase change material (PCM) based on n-octadecane and expanded ...graphite (EG). The mass percentage of n-octadecane in the composite PCM can reach as high as 90% due to the excellent adsorption ability of EG, which endows the composite PCM with large latent heat. SEM images of the composite PCM show that n-octadecane is adsorbed into the pores of EG and uniformly covers on the nanosheets of EG, which microstructure contributes to preventing leakage of melted n-octadecane after it changes phase from solid state to liquid state. The n-octadecane/EG composite PCM has a good compatibility with ordinary cement mortar, and does not obviously deteriorate the apparent densities of the TESCM samples. Based on the thermal energy storage performance evaluation, it is found that the TESCM containing the n-octadecane/EG composite PCM plays a role in reducing the variation of indoor temperature, which helps to decrease the energy consumption for buildings.
► A novel kind of cement mortar containing a composite PCM based on expanded graphite and n-octadecane was prepared. ► Mechanical performance of the thermal energy storage cement mortar was tested. ► The thermal energy storage performance of the thermal energy storage cement mortar was evaluated.
Saline-alkali soils pose an increasingly serious global threat to plant growth and productivity. Much progress has been made in elucidating how plants adapt to salt stress by modulating ion ...homeostasis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that affect salt tolerance and devising strategies to develop/breed salt-resilient crops have been the primary goals of plant salt stress signaling research over the past few decades. In this review, we reflect on recent major advances in our understanding of the cellular and physiological mechanisms underlying plant responses to salt stress, especially those involving temporally and spatially defined changes in signal perception, decoding, and transduction in specific organelles or cells.
Patients with chronic kidney disease have an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It has been recognized that the traditional cardiovascular risk factors could only partially explain the ...increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and N-monomethy l-arginine (L-NMMA) are endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases that attenuate nitric oxide production and enhance reactive oxidative specie generation. Increased plasma ADMA and/or L-NMMA are strong and independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease, and various cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and heart failure. Both ADMA and L-NMMA are also eliminated from the body through either degradation by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase-1 (DDAH1) or urine excretion. This short review will exam the literature of ADMA and L-NMMA degradation and urine excretion, and the role of chronic kidney diseases in ADMA and L-NMMA accumulation and the increased cardiovascular disease risk. Based on all available data, it appears that the increased cardiovascular morbidity in chronic kidney disease may relate to the dramatic increase of systemic ADMA and L-NMMA after kidney failure.
•Patients with chronic kidney disease have an increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.•ADMA is an endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases, and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.•Chronic kidney disease causes profound increase of systemic ADMA that attenuates NO production.•Increased cardiovascular morbidity in chronic kidney disease may relate to the dramatic increase of systemic ADMA and L-NMMA.
This study examines the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption on audit fees. We first build an analytical audit fee model to analyze the impact on audit fees for the ...change in both audit complexity and financial reporting quality brought about by IFRS adoption. We then test the model's predictions using audit fee data from European Union countries that mandated IFRS adoption in 2005. We find that mandatory IFRS adoption has led to an increase in audit fees. We also find that the IFRS-related audit fee premium increases with the increase in audit complexity brought about by IFRS adoption, and decreases with the improvement in financial reporting quality arising from IFRS adoption. Finally, we find some evidence that the IFRS-related audit fee premium is lower in countries with stronger legal regimes. Our results are robust to a variety of sensitivity checks.
“Structural superlubricity” is an important fundamental phenomenon in modern tribology that is expected to greatly diminish friction in mechanical engineering, but now is limited to achieve only at ...nanoscale and microscale in experiment. A novel principle for broadening the structural superlubricating state based on numberless micro‐contact into macroscale superlubricity is demonstrated. The topography of micro‐asperities on engineering steel substrates is elaborately constructed to divide the macroscale surface contact into microscale point contacts. Then at each contact point, special measures such as pre‐running‐in period and coating heterogeneous covalent/ionic or ionic/ionic nanocomposite of 2D materials are devised to manipulate the interfacial ordered layer‐by‐layer state, weak chemical interaction, and incommensurate configuration, thereby satisfying the prerequisites responsible for structural superlubricity. Finally, the robust superlubricating states on engineering steel–steel macroscale contact pairs are achieved with significantly reduced friction coefficient in 10−3 magnitude, extra‐long antiwear life (more than 1.0 × 106 laps), and good universality to wide range of materials and loads, which can be of significance for the industrialization of “structural superlubricity.”
A novel principle is proposed to assemble numberless “microscale superlubricity” into “macroscale superlubricity,” where the elaborately constructed micro‐asperities of rough engineering substrate play the role of splitting macro‐surface into micro‐points. Then, at each contact point, special measures, such as pre‐running‐in and heterogeneous 2D materials are devised to manipulate the interfacial ordered state, chemical interaction, and incommensurate configuration, thereby achieving robust macroscale superlubricity.
Flower-like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) microstructures are synthesized based on three-dimensional graphene (3DG) skeleton via a simple and facile one-step hydrothermal method, aiming at constructing ...series of novel composite electrode materials of 3DG/MoS2 with high electrochemical performances for supercapacitors. The electrochemical properties of the samples are evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge tests. Specifically, the optimal 3DG/MoS2 composite exhibits remarkable performances with a high specific capacitance of 410 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and an excellent cycling stability with ca. 80.3% capacitance retention after 10,000 continuous charge-discharge cycles at a high current density of 2 A g−1, making it adaptive for high-performance supercapacitors. The enhanced electrochemical performances can be ascribed to the combination of 3DG and flower-like MoS2, which provides excellent charge transfer network and electrolyte diffusion channels while effectively prevents the collapse, aggregation and morphology change of active materials during charge-discharge process. The results demonstrate that 3DG/MoS2 composite is one of the attractive electrode materials for supercapacitors.
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•3DG/MoS2 has been prepared by a hydrothermal method.•Flower-like MoS2/3DG is used as electrode materials for supercapacitors for the first time.•High specific capacitance and cycling stability are achieved.
Conspectus Many artificial enzymes that catalyze redox reactions have important energy, environmental, and medical applications. Native metalloenzymes use a set of redox-active amino acids and ...cofactors as redox centers, with a potential range between −700 and +800 mV versus standard hydrogen electrode (SHE, all reduction potentials are versus SHE). The redox potentials and the orientation of redox centers in native metalloproteins are optimal for their redox chemistry. However, the limited number and potential range of native redox centers challenge the design and optimization of novel redox chemistry in metalloenzymes. Artificial metalloenzymes use non-native redox centers and could go far beyond the natural range of redox potentials for novel redox chemistry. In addition to designing protein monomers, strategies for increasing the electron transfer rate in self-assembled protein complexes and protein–electrode or −nanomaterial interfaces will be discussed. Redox reactions in proteins occur on redox active amino acid residues (Tyr, Trp, Met, Cys, etc.) and cofactors (iron sulfur clusters, flavin, heme, etc.). The redox potential of these redox centers cover a ∼1.5 V range and is optimized for their specific functions. Despite recent progress, tuning the redox potential for amino acid residues or cofactors remains challenging. Many redox-active unnatural amino acids (UAAs) can be incorporated into protein via genetic codon expansion. Their redox potentials extend the range of physiologically relevant potentials. Indeed, installing new redox cofactors with fined-tuned redox potentials is essential for designing novel redox enzymes. By combining UAA and redox cofactor incorporation, we harnessed light energy to reduce CO2 in a fluorescent protein, mimicking photosynthetic apparatus in nature. Manipulating the position and reduction potential of redox centers inside proteins is important for optimizing the electron transfer rate and the activity of artificial enzymes. Learning from the native electron transfer complex, protein–protein interactions can be enhanced by increasing the electrostatic interaction between proteins. An artificial oxidase showed close to native enzyme activity with optimized interaction with electron transfer partner and increased electron transfer efficiency. In addition to the de novo design of protein–protein interaction, protein self-assembly methods using scaffolds, such as proliferating cell nuclear antigen, to efficiently anchor enzymes and their redox partners. The self-assembly process enhances electron transfer efficiency and enzyme activity by bringing redox centers into close proximity of each other. In addition to protein self-assembly, protein–electrode or protein–nanomaterial self-assembly can also promote efficient electron transfer from inorganic materials to enzyme active sites. Such hybrid systems combine the efficiency of enzyme reactions and the robustness of electrodes or nanomaterials, often with advantageous catalytic activities. By combining these strategies, we can not only mimic some of nature’s most fascinating reactions, such as photosynthesis and aerobic respiration, but also transcend nature toward environmental, energy, and health applications.
Many COVID-19 patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus develop pneumonia (called novel coronavirus pneumonia, NCP) and rapidly progress to respiratory failure. However, rapid diagnosis and ...identification of high-risk patients for early intervention are challenging. Using a large computed tomography (CT) database from 3,777 patients, we developed an AI system that can diagnose NCP and differentiate it from other common pneumonia and normal controls. The AI system can assist radiologists and physicians in performing a quick diagnosis especially when the health system is overloaded. Significantly, our AI system identified important clinical markers that correlated with the NCP lesion properties. Together with the clinical data, our AI system was able to provide accurate clinical prognosis that can aid clinicians to consider appropriate early clinical management and allocate resources appropriately. We have made this AI system available globally to assist the clinicians to combat COVID-19.
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•AI system that can diagnose COVID-19 pneumonia using CT scans•Prediction of progression to critical illness•Potential to improve performance of junior radiologists to the senior level•Can assist evaluation of drug treatment effects with CT quantification
Zhang et al. present an AI-based system, based on hundreds of thousands of human lung CT scan images, that can aid in distinguishing patients NCP versus other common pneumonia and can help to predict the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
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