Ultrafine-grained (UFG) or nanocrystalline (NC) Cu–Al alloys were prepared using equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) to investigate the influence of stacking fault energy (SFE) on the ...microstructural evolution during deformation and the corresponding mechanical properties. The grain refinement mechanism was gradually transformed from dislocation subdivision to twin fragmentation by tailoring the SFE of alloys. Meanwhile, homogeneous microstructures and nanoscale grains were readily achieved in the low-SFE Cu–Al alloys and the equilibrium grain size was decreased by lowering the SFE. Moreover, in the Cu–Al alloy with extremely low SFE, shear fracture occurred during ECAP at strain levels higher than two due to the formation of macroscopic shear bands. In addition, the normalized deformation conditions at large strain were qualitatively discussed. More significantly, the strength and uniform elongation were simultaneously improved by lowering the SFE. This simultaneity results from the formation of profuse deformation twins and microscale shear bands, and their extensive intersections.
Abstract Background The clinical risk factors of delayed gastric emptying (DGE) in patients after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remains controversial. Herein, we conducted a systematic review to ...quantify the associations between clinical risk factors and DGE in patients after conventional PD or pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD). Methods A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library) for studies published from 1970 to 2012 was performed. Cohort, case–control studies, and randomized controlled trials that examined clinical risk factors of DGE were included. Results Eighteen studies met final inclusion criteria (total n = 3579). From the pooled analyses, preoperative diabetes (OR 1.49, 95% CI, 1.03–2.17), pancreatic fistulas (OR 2.66, 95% CI, 1.65–4.28), and postoperative complications (OR 4.71, 95% CI, 2.61–8.50) were significantly associated with increased risk of DGE; while patients with preoperative biliary drainage (OR 0.68, 95% CI, 0.48–0.97) and antecolic reconstruction (OR 0.17, 95% CI, 0.07–0.41) had decreased risk of DGE development. Gender, malignant pathology, preoperative jaundice, intra-operative transfusion, PD vs. PPPD and early enteral feeding were not significantly associated with DGE development (all P > 0.05). Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that preoperative diabetes, pancreatic fistulas, and postoperative complications were clinical risk factors predictive for DGE. Antecolic reconstruction and preoperative biliary drainage result in a reduction in DGE. Knowledge of these risk factors may assist in identification and appropriate referral of patients at risk of DGE.
Summary
It is unknown whether a relationship exists between bone mineral density (BMD) and atherosclerosis with or without vascular calcification. In our study, a negative correlation between carotid ...atherosclerosis and BMD was found in female T2DM patients with vascular calcification, but not in those without calcification and males.
Introduction
Atherosclerosis is considered associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). However, most previous studies focus on patients with arterial atherosclerosis with vascular calcification. It is still unknown whether a relationship exists between atherosclerosis and BMD in patients without calcification. It is also unknown if sex plays a role in this relationship.
Methods
We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study, which included 1459 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (648 males ≥ 50 years old, and 811 postmenopausal females). They were assigned to three groups: group 1 (patients without carotid plaques and without carotid calcification), group 2 (patients with carotid plaques but without carotid calcification), and group 3 (patients with carotid plaques and with carotid calcification). Clinical characteristics and BMD were compared. The relationship between atherosclerosis and BMD was determined by binary logistic regression analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0.
Results
Significant differences were only observed in women. The percentage of osteoporosis was higher in group 3 (43.64%) than in groups 1 (34.82%) and 2 (32.14%) (
P
= 0.016). Low BMD was found in the lumbar (
P
= 0.032), hip (
P
< 0.001), and femoral neck (
P
< 0.001). The odds ratio for osteoporosis increased significantly in a score-dependent manner in postmenopausal female patients with calcified atherosclerosis, but not in uncalcified patients. In men, no differences or relationships were identified.
Conclusion
A negative correlation between carotid atherosclerosis and BMD was found in female T2DM patients with vascular calcification, but not in those without calcification. A similar relationship was not observed in male patients with or without calcification. Thus, the relationship between atherosclerosis and bone mineral density in patients with type 2 diabetes depends on vascular calcifications and sex.
Aims
The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial community of wild Cordyceps cicadae and explore its effect on the production of N6‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐adenosine (HEA) and three ...nucleosides in C. cicadae.
Methods and Results
Illumina high‐throughput sequencing technology was used to analyse the bacterial community in wild C. cicadae. After C. cicadae was isolated and bacteria were isolated from wild C. cicadae, we identified four bacterial strains that independently altered HEA and nucleoside production in a coculture with C. cicadae and four bacteria separately. After cocultivation, the HEA yield from C. cicadae increased markedly. The bacteria in wild C. cicadae did not produce HEA, and the levels of three nucleosides decreased significantly. Both 16S rRNA and community analyses showed close evolutionary relationships and high abundance ratios for the four selected bacterial strains.
Conclusions
Some bacteria exist in wild C. cicadae and have a high abundance ratio. Moreover, the isolated bacteria inhibited the growth of C. cicadae and prevented the production of HEA in axenic cultures.
Significance and Impact of the Study
We discuss the bacterial community in wild C. cicadae and provide a new way to increase HEA production in C. cicadae by coculture with bacterial strains isolated from wild C. cicadae.
This article presents fabrication, microstructure and mechanical properties study of Ti/TiAl functional gradient material. Ti–47Al–2.5V–Cr/Ti–6Al–2Zr–Mo–V gradient material was successfully ...fabricated by the laser melting deposition (LMD) manufacturing process. Microstructure and chemical composition was characterized by OM, SEM, TEM and EPMA. The Vickers hardness and room-temperature tensile property was evaluated on longitudinal direction. Results showed that fully lamellar (FL) microstructure consisted of
γ-TiAl and
α
2-Ti
3Al was formed on the Ti–47Al–2.5V–Cr side, while coarse basket weave microstructure was formed on the Ti–6Al–2Zr–1Mo–1V side. No cracking was found in the gradient zone after aging at 800
°C for 48
h. The room-temperature tensile strength of the as-deposited specimen is up to approximately 1198.8
MPa in the longitudinal direction, while the tensile elongation is approximately 0.4%, indicating a typical brittle fracture.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The combination of Chinese herbs, Astragali Radix and Angelicae Sinensis Radix, could alleviate renal interstitial fibrosis. Astragaloside IV (AS‐IV) and ferulic acid (FA) are ...the two major active constituents in this combination. In this study, we employed rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction to determine whether AS‐IV and FA have the same renoprotective effects and investigated the mechanisms of this action.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Renal pathological changes were evaluated after treatment with AS‐IV, FA or AS‐IV + FA (AF) for 10 days. Meanwhile, the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1), fibronectin, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), phosphorylation of c‐Jun NH2‐terminal kinase (p‐JNK) and nitric oxide (NO) production in kidney were determined. The expressions of fibronectin, α‐SMA, mitogen‐activated protein kinases JNK, extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK), P38 in TGF‐β1‐treated NRK‐49F cells or interleukin‐1‐treated HK‐2 cells after AS‐IV, FA or AF were assessed.
KEY RESULTS AF alleviated the infiltration of mononuclear cells, tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis; reduced the expression of fibronectin, α‐SMA, TGF‐β1 and p‐JNK; and dramatically increased the production of NO in obstructed kidneys. Neither AS‐IV nor FA alone improved renal damage, but both increased NO production. AF inhibited α‐SMA and fibronectin expression in NRK‐49F or HK‐2 cells. Furthermore, AF significantly inhibited IL‐1β‐induced JNK phosphorylation, without affecting ERK or P38 phosphorylation. Neither AS‐IV nor FA alone had any effect on the cells.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS AS‐IV synergizes with FA to alleviate renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis; this was associated with inhibition of tubular epithelial–mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT) and fibroblast activation, as well as an increase in NO production in the kidney.
To investigate the efficacy and safety of combining venetoclax (VEN) with hypomethylated drugs (HMA) in the treatment of higher-risk (IPSS-R score >3.5) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) .
From March ...2021 to December 2022, forty-five MDS patients with intermediate and high risk were treated with VEN in combination with HMAs. Clinical data were collected and analyzed retrospectively, including gender, age, MDS subtype, IPSS-R score, treatment regimen, and efficacy, etc. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model were used to analyze univariate and multivariate of survival prognosis.
①Forty-five patients with MDS, including ninety-one percent were classified as high or very high risk. According to the 2023 consensus proposal for revised International Working Group response criteria for higher-risk MDS, the overall response rate (ORR) was 62.2% (28/45), with the complete response rate (CR) was 33.3% (15/45). For twenty-five naïve MDS, the ORR was 68% (17/25) and the CR rate was 32% (8/25). In nonfirst-line patie
Oxidation resistance is one of key properties of titanium aluminide (TiAl) based alloys for high-temperature applications such as in advanced aero-engines and gas turbines. A new TiAlNbCr alloy with ...micro-addition of yttrium has been developed, but its oxidation behavior is unknown. To provide some fundamental insights, high-temperature oxidation characteristics of this alloy are examined via scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, and X-ray diffraction. We show that distinctive core-multishell globular oxidation and "daisy" flower-like oxidation occur exclusively around Y
O
particles. Globular oxides exhibit multi-layered Y
O
/TiO
/Al
O
-rich/TiO
-rich shell structures from the inside to outside. Flower-like inner oxides consist of core Y
O
particles surrounded by divergent Al
O
and oxygen-rich α
-Ti
Al in the near-scale substrate. As the scale-substrate interface moves inward, the inner oxide structures suffer deeper oxidation and transform into the globular oxide structures. Our results demonstrate that the unique oxidation characteristics and the understanding of formation mechanisms pave the way for the exploration and development of advanced oxidation-resistant TiAl-based materials.
This paper proposes a method of electrochemical micromachining of micro hole or dimple array, in which a patterned insulation plate coated with metal film as cathode is closely attached to workpiece ...plate. When voltage is applied across the workpiece and cathode film over which the electrolyte flows at high speed, hole or dimple array will be produced. The proposed technology offers unique advantages such as short lead time and low cost. The effect of process parameters on the microstructure shape was demonstrated numerically and experimentally. Arrays of holes or dimples of several hundred micrometers diameter have been produced.
Abstract
This research was carried out with focus on the multi-scale structure of meretrix lusoria shell. In mesoscopic, meretrix lusoria shell contains three layers; the thickness of different ...layers is 0.6mm, 0.8mm and 0.7mm respectively. Compared to mesoscopic structure, the microstructure also has three layers, it refers to cuticle, prismatic layer and nacre. The cuticle is composed of a great number of particles, and its main composition is protein.The prismatic layer is composed of stagger structure. The inner layer presents orthogonal-sheets arrangement. This microstructure might show a special enhanced effect for the whole shell. The different inorganic layers’ crystal is same, which is aragonite. The mechanical properties of Meretrix lusoria shell are excellent, its elastic modulus was the same order of magnitude of high strength glass fiber composites. From this research will provide the theoretical basis for designing and producing bioinspired composite materials.
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