CO2 injection to enhance shale oil recovery provides a win-win solution to meet the global fuel shortage and realize ultimate carbon neutrality. When shale reservoirs contain high salinity water, CO2 ...injection can result in salt precipitation to block the nanometer pores in the shale, causing undesirable formation damage. Understanding salt precipitation and dissolution dynamics at the nanoscale are fundamental to solving this practical challenge. In this work, we developed a shale micromodel to characterize salt precipitation and dissolution based on nanofluidic technology. By directly distinguishing different phases from 50 nm to 5 μm, we identified the salt precipitation sites and precipitation dynamics during the CO2 injection. For the salt precipitation in the nanometer network, we identified two precipitation stages. The ratio of the precipitation rates for the two stages is ~7.9 times that measured in microporous media, because of the slow water evaporation at the nanoscale. For the salt precipitation in the interconnected micrometer pores, we found that the CO2 displacement front serves as the salt particle accumulating site. The accumulated salt particles will in turn impede the CO2 flow. In addition, we also studied the salt dissolution process in the shale micromodel during water injection and found the classical dissolution theory overestimates the dissolution rate by approximately twofold. This work provides valuable pore-scale experimental insight into the salt precipitation and dissolution dynamics involved in shale formation, with the aim to promote the application of CO2 injection for shale oil recovery.
Owing to its high ornamental, medicinal and horticultural values, herbaceous peony (
Pall.) has been widely used as a landscaping and economical plant around the world. However, the lack of an ...efficient and stable regeneration system in
restricts its rapid propagation and large-scale production. By testing the key factors affecting callus formation, proliferation, adventitious bud induction and rooting, here, we developed an in vitro system for callus induction and regeneration in
. Our results show that callus formation was affected by explant types, culture environment, basal medium and plant growth regulators. Using cotyledons as explants, we established good conditions for
callus induction and callus proliferation. We effectively obtained adventitious buds differentiated from callus in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing kinetin (KT) and thidiazuron (TDZ). Adventitious bud growth can be further promoted by adding gibberellin 3 (GA
), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzyleaminopurine (6-BA) into the MS medium. A high percentage of rooting can be achieved by adding indolebutyric acid (IBA) and activated carbon (AC) to ½ MS medium. Overall, our system promotes callus induction and adventitious bud regeneration for
through improved culture conditions and plant growth regulators in the culture media, and lays a foundation for subsequent genetic engineering research.
Despite the attention given to the development of novel responsive implants for regenerative medicine applications, the lack of integration with the surrounding tissues and the mismatch with the ...dynamic mechanobiological nature of native soft tissues remain in the current products. Hierarchical porous membranes based on a poly (urea–urethane) (PUU) nanohybrid have been fabricated by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) of the polymer solution at different temperatures. Thermoresponsive stiffness softening of the membranes through phase transition from the semicrystalline phase to rubber phase and reverse self‐assembly of the quasi‐random nanophase structure is characterized at body temperature near the melting point of the crystalline domains of soft segments. The effects of the porous structure and stiffness softening on proliferation and differentiation of human bone‐marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM‐MSCs) are investigated. The results of immunohistochemistry, histological, ELISA, and qPCR demonstrate that hBM‐MSCs maintain their lineage commitment during stiffness relaxation; chondrogenic differentiation is favored on the soft and porous scaffold, while osteogenic differentiation is more prominent on the initial stiff one. Stiffness relaxation stimulates more osteogenic activity than chondrogenesis, the latter being more influenced by the synergetic coupling effect of softness and porosity.
Elastomeric nanohybrid membranes with thermoresponsive stiffness softening and unique porous structure are developed by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS). The initial stiffness and subsequent stiffness softening coupled with the interconnected micro‐/nano porous structure of the membranes promote niches that regulate the differentiation of human bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells toward the osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages promising smart/scaffolds/coating for tissue reconstruction.
Abstract
Background
Preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to treat cardiovascular disease (CVD). In vivo preclinical studies conducted on ...animal models (murine, porcine, guinea pig, etc.) have employed either syngeneic or human-derived iPSCs. However, no study has been carried out to investigate and report the key genetic differences between the human and animal-derived iPSCs. Our study analysed the gene expression profile and molecular pathway patterns underlying the differentiation of both human and mouse iPSCs to iPSC-cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), and the differences between them via bioinformatic analysis.
Method
Data sets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and included both human and mouse models, and the data for undifferentiated iPSCs and iPSC-CMs were isolated from each. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened and then analysed. The website g:Profiler was used to obtain the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of the DEGs were constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and Cytoscape software. The subclusters were then extracted from the PPI network for further analysis.
Results
iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes expressed many genes related to vascular, endothelial, and smooth muscle repair in the human iPSC-CMs, and prevention of calcification in the mouse iPSC-CMs with clear differences in gene expression, which will affect how iPSCs act in research. Especially in the human iPSC-CMs, and also prevention of calcification processes in the mouse data. The identified differences in gene expression of iPSCs derived from the two species suggests that in vivo studies using mouse iPSC-CMs may not reflect those in humans.
Conclusion
The study provides new insights into the key genes related to the iPSCs, including genes related to angiogenesis, calcification, and striated muscle, endothelium, and bone formation. Moreover, the clear differences between both mouse and human-derived iPSCs have been identified, which could be used as new evidence and guidance for developing novel targeted therapy strategies to improve the therapeutic effects of iPSC treatment in cardiovascular defects.
For the popularized structural application, steel fiber-reinforced expanded-shale lightweight concrete (SFRELC) with high freeze-thaw resistance was developed. The experimental study of this paper ...figured out the effects of air-entraining content, volume fraction of steel fibers, and fine aggregate type. Results showed that while the less change of mass loss rate was taken place for SFRELC after 300 freeze-thaw cycles, the relative dynamic modulus of elasticity and the relative flexural strength presented clear trends of freeze-thaw resistance of SFRELC. The compound effect of the air-entraining agent and the steel fibers was found to support the SFRELC with high freeze-thaw resistance, and the mechanisms were explored with the aid of the test results of water penetration of SFRELC. The beneficial effect was appeared from the replacement of lightweight sand with manufactured sand. Based on the test results, suggestions are given out for the optimal mix proportion of SFRELC to satisfy the durability requirement of freeze-thaw resistance.
Abstract
The burden of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight is considerable across the world. Several risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes have been ...identified. One risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes receiving considerable attention in recent years is gestational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Humans are exposed to a multitude of environmental chemicals with known endocrine-disrupting properties, and evidence suggests exposure to these EDCs have the potential to disrupt the maternal-fetal environment culminating in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. This review addresses the impact of maternal and fetal exposure to environmental EDCs of natural and man-made chemicals in disrupting the maternal-fetal milieu in human leading to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes—a risk factor for adult-onset noncommunicable diseases, the role lifestyle and environmental factors play in mitigating or amplifying the effects of EDCs, the underlying mechanisms and mediators involved, and the research directions on which to focus future investigations to help alleviate the adverse effects of EDC exposure.
Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Abstract
Physical processes that occur within porous materials have wide-ranging applications including - but not limited to - carbon sequestration, battery technology, membranes, oil and gas, ...geothermal energy, nuclear waste disposal, water resource management. The equations that describe these physical processes have been studied extensively; however, approximating them numerically requires immense computational resources due to the complex behavior that arises from the geometrically-intricate solid boundary conditions in porous materials. Here, we introduce a new dataset of unprecedented scale and breadth,
DRP-372
: a catalog of 3D geometries, simulation results, and structural properties of samples hosted on the Digital Rocks Portal. The dataset includes 1736 flow and electrical simulation results on 217 samples, which required more than 500 core years of computation. This data can be used for many purposes, such as constructing empirical models, validating new simulation codes, and developing machine learning algorithms that closely match the extensive purely-physical simulation. This article offers a detailed description of the contents of the dataset including the data collection, simulation schemes, and data validation.
The main objective of this study is investigate the behavior of the Zeta Potential of the MWCNT modified with SDS(Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate) and CTAB(Cetyl Tetraethyl Ammonium Bromide) in presence of ...PVA. Full hydrolyzed PVA was used. As a result, adding PVA in the CNT solution led to decrease the Zeta Potential. The Zeta Potential of suspended colloid varied from 42.00mV to 6.48mV and -45.00mV to -6.4mV at 1.5% concentration of PVA; according with the changing pH, the Zeta Potential dropped to near zero at pH 3 and 11. The pH and PVA has strong influence in the reduction of ZP of MWCNT solution. MWCNT-PVA solution with 33.30mV, -35.69mV at 0.01% of PVA was exposed under AC field; a uniform coat was obtained, with the SDS-MWCNT-PVA solution.
Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is one of the most common pregnancy complications culminating in adverse fetal outcome, including preterm birth, neonatal mortality and stillbirth. Compromised ...placental development and function, especially disruption in angiogenesis and inadequate nutrient supply are contributing factors. Fetal sex also influences placental function. Knowledge of gene expression changes and epigenetic factors contributing to placental dysfunction in FGR pregnancies will help identify biomarkers and help target interventions. This study tested the hypothesis that FGR pregnancies are associated with disruptions in miRNA - an epigenetic factor and mRNAs involving key mediators of angiogenesis and microvessel development. Changes in expression of key genes/proteins involved in placental dysfunction by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry and miRNA changes by RNA sequencing were undertaken with term placenta from 12 control and 20 FGR pregnancies. Findings showed changes in expression of genes involved in steroidogenesis, steroid action, IGF family members, inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors in FGR pregnancies. In addition, upregulation of MIR451A and downregulation of MIR543 in placentas from FGR group with female newborns and upregulation of MIR520G in placentas from FGR group with male newborns were also noted. MIR451A and MIR543 have been implicated in angiogenesis. Consistent with gene changes, CD34, the microvessel angiogenesis marker, also showed reduced staining only in female FGR group. These findings provide evidence that epigentically regulated gene expression changes in angiogenesis and capillary development influence placental impairment in FGR pregnancies. Our preliminary observations also support for these changes to be driven in a sex-specific manner.
Complex fractures and pore structures in the rock strongly influence the mechanical properties, and the process from compression to failure is complicated. Under the action of rock stress, pore ...structure deformation and fractures close or propagate, easily leading to deterioration in the rock mechanical properties until rock failure. Thus, the effects of microscale factors are critical in mechanical properties such as rock strength, elastic modulus, and stress–strain state under the triaxial stress state. It is difficult for physical and mechanical experiments to obtain the qualitative rules of regular structures, but numerical simulation can make up for this defect. In this work, the accuracy of the model was proven through a comparison with previous experimental results. The true triaxial numerical simulation experiments were conducted on representative rocks and natural pore structures. These simulated results revealed that the pore and throat parameters will change abruptly when the particle model volumetric strain is between 0.0108 and 0.0157. When the fracture angle is between 45° and 75°, the fracture has a great influence on the peak stress. The angle between the natural fracture and the fracturing direction should be less than 45° as much as possible. Clay affects the rock strength by influencing the force chains formed by the rock skeleton. Fracturing is easier when the structural clay content is higher than 25%. It is easier to fracture in a direction parallel to the laminated clay when the clay content is below 27%. This work indicates the effects of rock particles, fractures, and clay on the mechanical parameters, providing key fundamental data for further quantifying the fracturing patterns.
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