Crystallization behaviors of CaO–SiO2–CaF2–La2O3 synthesized slag with different basicity have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), field emission scanning electron microscopy ...(SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). It was found that there were mainly three kinds of crystalline phases (La7.58(Si1.048O4)6O2, CaSiO3 and Ca4Si2O7F2) precipitated in the slag during the cooling process. Crystalline phase Ca2SiO3 formed when the basicity was increased to 1.3. The observations confirmed that the rare earth phase (La7.58(Si1.048O4)6O2) precipitated firstly in each slag during the cooling process. With the increase of slag basicity, the crystallization temperature of the rare earth phase decreases while the precipitation peak temperature of CaSiO3 and Ca4Si2O7F2 increase. The morphology of rare earth phase is hollow hexagonal which is filled with substrate phase. The optimum condition for crystallization and separation of rare earth phase was obtained. The basicity of the slag should be controlled between 0.9 and 1.1. The morphology of rare earth phases can grow much better after isothermal heat treatment for 4 h at the crystallization temperature of rare earth phases. The mean size of rare earth phase could increase to more than 60 µm by isothermal heat treatment.
Miniature hydraulic actuators are especially suitable for narrow-space and harsh environment arrangement. However, when using thin and long hoses to connect components, the volume expansion caused by ...pressurized oil inside can have significant adverse effects on the performance of the miniature system. Moreover, the volumetric variation relates to many uncertain factors that are difficult to describe quantitatively. This paper conducted an experiment to test the hose deformation characteristics and presents the Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) to describe the hose behavior. On this basis, a system model of a miniature double-cylinder hydraulic actuation system was established. To decrease the impact of nonlinearity and uncertainty on the system, this paper proposes a Model Predictive Control (MPC) based on Augmented Minimal State-Space (AMSS) model and Extended State Observer (ESO). The extended state space acts as the prediction module model for the MPC, and the disturbance of the ESO estimates is fed to the controller to improve the anti-disturbance capability. The full system model is validated by comparison between the experiment and the simulation. For a miniature double-cylinder hydraulic actuation system, the proposed MPC-ESO control strategy contributes to a better dynamic than conventional MPC and fuzzy-PID. In addition, the position response time can be reduced by 0.5 s and achieves a 4.2% reduction in steady-state error, especially for high-frequency motion. Moreover, the actuation system with MPC-ESO exhibits better performance in suppressing the influence of the load disturbance.
Exposure to addictive substances impairs flexible decision making. Cognitive flexibility is mediated by striatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs). However, how chronic alcohol drinking alters ...cognitive flexibility through CINs remains unclear. Here, we report that chronic alcohol consumption and withdrawal impaired reversal of instrumental learning. Chronic alcohol consumption and withdrawal also caused a long-lasting (21 days) reduction of excitatory thalamic inputs onto CINs and reduced pause responses of CINs in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS). CINs are known to inhibit glutamatergic transmission in dopamine D1 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons (D1-MSNs) but facilitate this transmission in D2-MSNs, which may contribute to flexible behavior. We discovered that chronic alcohol drinking impaired CIN-mediated inhibition in D1-MSNs and facilitation in D2-MSNs. Importantly, in vivo optogenetic induction of long-term potentiation of thalamostriatal transmission in DMS CINs rescued alcohol-induced reversal learning deficits. These results demonstrate that chronic alcohol drinking reduces thalamic excitation of DMS CINs, compromising their regulation of glutamatergic transmission in MSNs, which may contribute to alcohol-induced impairment of cognitive flexibility. These findings provide a neural mechanism underlying inflexible drinking in alcohol use disorder.
The process of liquefaction catalyzed by acid in the acetone/lithium bromide system is an efficient method of transforming lignocellulosic biomass into hydrocarbon fuel precursors. In this study, the ...authors have investigated the effect of reaction temperature, residence time, and dosage of the catalysts on the liquefaction yield and composition of bio-oil precursors produced from the bamboo powder. To understand the liquefaction mechanism, the reaction of liquefaction is compared with the reaction of transformation of sugars and bamboo cellulose under the same conditions. The results show that 140°C is the optimum temperature of the liquefaction reaction. When the temperature is 140°C and the reaction time is 4 h, the bamboo liquefaction yield can reach 98.77%. It was also found that the acid dosage has a significant effect on both the liquefaction yield and the composition of the hydrocarbon fuel precursors. With increase in the dosage of the acid, the yield increases. Most phenols produced in the reaction of liquefaction originate from lignin, while most ketones and hydrocarbon precursors are produced by the transformation of cellulose and hemicellulose.
Background
Immune cells play a pivotal role in the tumor microenvironment, exerting significant influence on tumor progression and patient outcomes, but the current biomarkers are insufficient to ...fully capture the complex and diverse tumor immune microenvironment and the impact of immunotherapy.
Methods
The advent of single‐cell sequencing allows us to explore the tumor microenvironment at an unprecedented resolution, enabling the identification and characterization of distinct subsets of immune cells, thereby paving the way for the development of prognostic models using immune cells. Leveraging single‐cell data, our study deeply investigated the intricacies of immune microenvironment heterogeneity in esophageal carcinoma.
Results
We elucidated the composition, functionality, evolution, and intercellular communication patterns of immune cells, culminating in the construction of an independent prognostic model at the single‐cell level. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of disparities in immune infiltration and immune checkpoint expression between patients categorized into high‐ and low‐risk groups, which may impact patient prognosis.
Conclusion
In summary, our study harnessed multiomics data to delineate the immune profile of esophageal carcinoma patients, provide a method for leveraging molecular signatures of immune cells to identify potential biomarkers, while concurrently providing evidence for the potential benefits of immunotherapy.
A single‐cell dataset GSE was obtained and the immune cells were subclustered to find the differential genes of immune cells. The TCGA‐ESCA cohort was used to construct a prognostic model based on differential genes of immune cells and verify its independent prognostic factors, and finally the differences in immune infiltration between the high and low risk groups were discussed.
Ultrasonic testing is an important non-destructive testing method, which is sensitive to the defects in the diffusion bonding interface. Ultrasonic testing of diffusion bonding interfaces in ...complex-surface components is a challenge due to the geometry and the weak echo signal of the diffusion bonding defects. This paper proposes an interfacial stiffness characterization method based on the spring model for the ultrasonic testing of the diffusion bonding interface of titanium alloy complex-surface component. Finite element models for ultrasonic field are established to analyze the diffusion bonding defects response, the effect of complex surface, and the inconsistency of the bonding interface depth in ultrasonic testing of the titanium alloy complex-surface component. 15 MHz is recommended as the testing frequency of the diffusion bonding interface. Ultrasonic C-scan experiments are conducted using specimens with embedded artificial defects and a titanium alloy complex-surface component. The simulation and experimental results show that the novel interfacial stiffness characterization method can be applied to ultrasonic testing of the diffusion bonding interface (inclination angle less than 14°) in complex-surface components, and the ability to test defects at the diffusion bonding interface can be improved.
The dams formed by rock pillars around underground reservoirs are frequently subjected to drying-wetting cycles, so that rock pillars may be deformed, broken and develop a large number of fractures. ...This further causes a massive loss of water and heavily affects the stability of the dam formed by rock pillars. To explore the damage evolution characteristics and the deterioration mechanism of mechanical properties of sandstone under drying-wetting cycles, mechanical tests were carried out on sandstone samples subjected to different numbers of drying-wetting cycles. Acoustic emission technology was used to real-timely monitor the failure process of sandstone under loading. At the same time, damaged rock samples were observed under a scanning electron microscope. On this basis, the development characteristics of fractures in the sandstone were analyzed, damage evolution of sandstone in different stress loading stages was expounded. Research results show that the more the drying-wetting cycles are, the more obvious the compaction stage and the more significant the deterioration of the peak strength and elastic modulus, accompanied by the gradual decrease of the strain energy and cumulative acoustic emission count. According to scanning electron microscope observations, fractures inside the sandstone increase in quantity and begin to coalesce after 10 drying-wetting cycles, so that loose particles and fracture degree gradually rise, and accumulation of damage causes mechanical properties of sandstone to gradually deteriorate. The research results provide a solid theoretical basis for stability evaluation and protection of dams formed by rock pillars around underground reservoirs in goaf.
•The energy and acoustic emission evolution characteristics of sandstone are comprehensively revealed.•The three-stage damage evolution characteristics of sandstone are clarified.•The mesoscopic deterioration mechanism of sandstone is revealed.
Human NAD-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase or HsIDH3 catalyzes the decarboxylation of isocitrate into α-ketoglutarate in the TCA cycle. HsIDH3 exists and functions as a heterooctamer composed of ...the αβ and αγ heterodimers, and is regulated allosterically and/or competitively by numerous metabolites including CIT, ADP, ATP, and NADH. In this work, we report the crystal structure of HsIDH3 containing a β mutant in apo form. In the HsIDH3 structure, the αβ and αγ heterodimers form the α
βγ heterotetramer via their clasp domains, and two α
βγ heterotetramers form the (α
βγ)
heterooctamer through insertion of the N-terminus of the γ subunit of one heterotetramer into the back cleft of the β subunit of the other heterotetramer. The functional roles of the key residues at the allosteric site, the pseudo allosteric site, the heterodimer and heterodimer-heterodimer interfaces, and the N-terminal of the γ subunit are validated by mutagenesis and kinetic studies. Our structural and biochemical data together demonstrate that the allosteric site plays an important role but the pseudo allosteric site plays no role in the allosteric activation of the enzyme; the activation signal from the allosteric site is transmitted to the active sites of both αβ and αγ heterodimers via the clasp domains; and the N-terminal of the γ subunit plays a critical role in the formation of the heterooctamer to ensure the optimal activity of the enzyme. These findings reveal the molecular mechanism of the assembly and allosteric regulation of HsIDH3.
The paramagnetism and superparamagnetism of magnetic nanomaterials are very important for in vivo applications. The magnetic particles with paramagnetism or superparamagnetism can redistribute the ...magnetic particles after the magnetic field is withdrawn, which is widely used for the separation and purification of biomolecules. At the same time, superparamagnetic particles can also be used as MRI imaging contrast agent. Compared with Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine is different from Western medicine in that it is originated from nature and has thousands of years of clinical efficacy. Therefore, we hope to elaborate the complex mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine through some modern technical means: through the establishment of relevant quality control system, Chinese medicine will be recognized and popularized in the international field. Therefore, this paper discusses the application of magnetic nanomaterials in the chemical composition analysis and drug metabolism of traditional Chinese medicine and its industrial prospect and development path. Firstly, the advantages of magnetic nanomaterials and the shortcomings of chemical composition analysis technology of traditional Chinese medicine are analyzed theoretically. Then, through the experimental simulation, the results show that, under the optimal conditions, the magnetic nanomaterials can be used to analyze the chemical composition of traditional Chinese medicine. The peak current and concentration of THP showed a good linear relationship in the range of 5.2 × 10−8 ∼ 2.1 × 10−5 mol/L, and the detection limit was 1.9 × 10−7 mol/L. Moreover, it showed effective results in repeatability, stability, and interference tests. Therefore, magnetic nanomaterials play an important role in the chemical composition analysis and drug metabolism of traditional Chinese medicine as well as its industrial prospect and development path.
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