Epoxy composite materials are widely used in power equipment. As the voltage level increases, the requirement of material properties, including electrical, thermal, and mechanical, has also ...increased. Introducing thermally conductive nanofiller to the epoxy/liquid rubber composites system is an effective approach to improve heat performance, but the effects of thermally conductive nanofillers on relaxation characteristics remain unclarified. In this paper, nano-alumina (nano-Al2O3) and nano-boron nitride (nano-BN) have been employed to modify the epoxy/carboxyl-terminated liquid nitrile–butadiene rubber (epoxy/CTBN) composites system. The thermal conductivity and glass transition temperature of different formula systems have been measured. The effect of the nanofillers on the relaxation behaviors of the resin matrix has been investigated. Results show that the different kinds of nanofillers will introduce different relaxation processes into the matrix and increase the conductivity at the same time. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the synergistic improvement of multiple properties of epoxy resin composites.
Tissue sampling of biliary tract carcinomas (BTCs) for molecular characterization is challenging. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of identifying individual actionable ...mutations derived from bile cell‑free DNA (cfDNA) using targeted deep sequencing. Ten BTC patients, four with gallbladder carcinomas and six with cholangiocarcinomas, were enrolled in the present study. Using targeted deep sequencing with a panel of 150 tumor‑related genes, paired bile cfDNA and tumor DNA were analyzed for mutational variants individually and then compared. The present study, to the best of our knowledge, is the first to reveal that bile cfDNA is predominantly comprised of long DNA fragments, which is not the case for plasma cfDNA. Herein, paired bile cfDNA and tumors from ten BTC patients were examined using targeted deep sequencing. When comparing bile cfDNA and tumor DNA for single nucleotide variation (SNV)/insertion and deletion (Indel), the results using targeted deep sequencing revealed high sensitivity (94.7%) and specificity (99.9%). Additionally, the sensitivity of detecting a copy number variation (CNV) was 75.0%, with a specificity of 98.9%. When comparing two bile extraction methods, including percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage and operation, no significant difference in SNV/Indel or CNV detection sensitivity was noted. Moreover, when examining the tumor stage and incidence site, AJCC stage II and the distal bile duct both had significantly decreased CNV detection sensitivities. The present study revealed that targeted deep sequencing can reliably detect mutational variants within bile cfDNA obtained from BTC patients. These preliminary results may shed light on bile cfDNA as a promising liquid biopsy for BTC patients.
The complete mitochondrial genome of Sydaphera spengleriana was characterized for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome was 16,336 bp including a standard set of 13 protein-coding ...(PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA), and 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The overall nucleotides base composition of the heavy strand is A (26.44%), G (19.89%), C (13.25%), and T (40.41%), with an A + T bias (66.85%). With the exception of eight tRNA genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. The mitogenomic phylogenetic relationships indicated that S. spengleriana was clustered with Bivetiella cancellata within the family Cancellariidae clade with a high bootstrap value.
A knowledge of the adsorption and desorption behavior of sorbates on surface adsorptive site (SAS) is the key to optimizing the chemical reactivity of catalysts. However, direct identification of the ...chemical reactivity of SASs is still a challenge due to the limitations of characterization techniques. Here, we present a new pathway to determine the kinetics of adsorption/desorption on SASs of graphene oxide (GO) based on total internal reflectance fluorescence microscopy. The switching on and off of the fluorescent signal of SAS lit by carbon dots (CDs) was used to trace the adsorption process and desorption process. We find that sodium pyrophosphate (PPi) could increase the adsorption equilibrium of CDs thermodynamically and promote the substrate-assisted desorption pathway kinetically. At the single turnover level, it was disclosed that the species that can promote desorption may also be an adsorption promoter. Such discovery provides significant guidance for improving the chemical reactivity of the heterogeneous catalyst.
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•The kinetics of adsorption and desorption process were revealed, respectively, by monitoring a fluorogenic process of carbon dots on the surface of graphene oxides at the single turnover level•By regulating the equilibrium of adsorption and desorption, a mechanism for the simultaneous promotion of adsorption and desorption has been discovered•A desorption accelerator could play a satisfactory double action, i.e., adsorption promoter on thermodynamics and desorption promoter on kinetics
The complete mitochondrial genome of Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3077 was determined in this study. The circular genome was 90,774 bp in length with the GC content of 38.8%. It contained 30 protein-coding ...genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and 2 ribosome RNA (rRNA) genes. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 8 mitochondrial genomes of Trebouxiophyceae indicated that Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3077 grouped with Chlorellales.
In this paper, we consider hybrid controls for a class of linear quadratic problems with white noise perturbation and Markov regime switching, where the regime switching is modeled by a ...continuous-time Markov chain with a large state space and the control weights are indefinite. The use of large state space enables us to take various factors of uncertain environment into consideration, yet it creates computational overhead and adds difficulties. Aiming at reduction of complexity, we demonstrate how to construct near-optimal controls. First, in the model, we introduce a small parameter to highlight the contrast of the weak and strong interactions and fast and slow motions. This results in a two-time-scale formulation. In view of the recent developments on LQ problems with indefinite control weights and two-time-scale Markov chains, we then establish the convergence of the system of Riccati equations associated with the hybrid LQ problem. Based on the optimal feedback control of the limit system obtained using the system of Riccati equations, we construct controls for the original problem and show that such controls are near-optimal. A numerical demonstration of a simple system is presented here.
Lectins are a superfamily of carbohydrate-recognition proteins that bind to specific carbohydrate structures and play significant roles in immune recognition and clearance of invaders. In the study, ...we investigated the potential mechanisms of PAMP binding and opsonic activities of a c-type lectin and a sialic acid-binding lectin from manila clam Venerupis philippinarum (designed as VpCTL and VpSABL). Both recombinant proteins (rVpCTL and rVpSABL) could bind LPS, PGN, glucan and zymosan in vitro. Coinciding with the PAMPs binding assay, a broad agglutination spectrum was displayed by rVpSABL including gram-positive bacteria Staphyloccocus aureus, gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi, Pseudomonas putida, Proteus mirabilis and fungi Pichia pastoris, while no agglutinative activities on P. mirabilis and P. putida was observed in rVpCTL. Moreover, the phagocytosis and encapsulation ability of hemocytes could be significantly enhanced by rVpCTL and rVpSABL. More remarkable, VpCTL and VpSABL were highly detected in all the examined tissues, especially in gills and hepatopancreas. All the results showed that VpCTL and VpSABL could function as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) with distinct recognition spectrum, perhaps involved in the innate immune responses of V. philippinarum.
•Both rVpCTL and rVpSABL could bind LPS, PGN, glucan and zymosan in vitro.•A broad agglutination spectrum was displayed by recombinant lectins, especially by rVpSABL.•The phagocytosis and encapsulation ability of hemocytes could be significantly enhanced by rVpCTL and rVpSABL.
This article considers the problem of estimating shock lapse rates in term life products. Four models are estimated using Bayesian Multiple-Block Gibbs sampling. Goodness-of-fit was compared using ...weighted average lapse rate fitted error. A simulated data setting was employed to validate the algorithm. Among the methodological contributions to the literature we introduce Bayesian estimation for the lapse rate parameters permitting the identification of parameter distributions as opposed to point estimates. Also we introduce a flexible panel data model accommodating both mixed effects and cross-effects between explanatory variables. The data are weighted in the likelihood function according to their relevance as measured by policy counts. Finally, we utilize a large proprietary dataset of U.S. postlevel premium period term policies that enables superior inference over the parameter estimates. Building on the above improvements and recent data covering the 2008 crisis, we find strong evidence in favor of the Emergency Fund Hypothesis as a driver of shock lapses.
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