Recent progress in self-repairing coatings for corrosion protection on magnesium alloys and perspective of porous solids as novel carrier and barrier

Featuring low density and high specific strength, magnesium(Mg) alloys have attracted wide interests in the fields of portable devices and automotive industry. However, the active chemical and electrochemical properties make them susceptible to corrosion in humid, seawater, soil,and chemical medium. Various strategies have revealed certain merits of protecting Mg alloys. Therein, engineering self-repairing coatings is considered as an effective strategy, because they can enable the timely repair for damaged areas, which brings about long-term protection for Mg alloys. In this review, self-repairing coatings on Mg alloys are summarized from two aspects, namely shape restoring coatings and function restoring coatings. Shape restoring coatings benefit for swelling, shrinking, or reassociating reversible chemical bonds to return to the original state and morphology when coatings broken;function self-repairing coatings depend on the release of inhibitors to generate new passive layers on the damaged areas. With the advancement of coating research and to fulfill the demanding requirements of applications, it is an inevitable trend to develop coatings that can integrate multiple functions(such as stimulus response, self-repairing, corrosion warning,and so on). As a novel carrier and barrier, porous solids, especially covalent organic frameworks(COFs), have been respected as the future development of self-repairing coatings on Mg alloys, due to their unique, diverse structures and adjustable functions.

Effects of CXCR7-neutralizing antibody on neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and cognitive function in the chronic phase of cerebral ischemia

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its receptor CXCR4 are essential regulators of the neurogenesis that occurs in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus.However,the effects of CXCR7,a new atypical receptor of stromal cell-derived factor-1,on hippocampal neurogenesis after a stroke remain largely unknown.Our study is the first to investigate the effect of a CXCR7-neutralizing antibody on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and the associated recovery of cognitive function of rats in the chronic stage of cerebral ischemia.The rats were randomly divided into sham,sham+anti-CXCR7,ischemia and ischemia+anti-CXCR7 groups.Endothelin-1 was injected in the ipsilateral motor cortex and striatum to induce focal cerebral ischemia.Sham group rats were injected with saline instead of endothelin-1 via intracranial injection.Both sham and ischemic rats were treated with intraventricular infusions of CXCR7-neutralizing antibodies for 6 days 1 week after surgery.Immunofluorescence staining with doublecortin,a marker for neuronal precursors,was performed to assess the neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus.We found that anti-CXCR7 antibody infusion enhanced the proliferation and dendritic development of doublecortin-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus in both ischemic and sham-operated rats.Spatial learning and memory functions were assessed by Morris water maze tests 30-32 days after ischemia.CXCR7-neutralizing antibody treatment significantly reduced the escape latency of the spatial navigation trial and increased the time spent in the target quadrant of spatial probe trial in animals that received ischemic insult,but not in sham operated rats.These results suggest that CXCR7-neutralizing antibody enhances the neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and improves the cognitive function after cerebral ischemia in rats.All animal experimental protocols and procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of China Medical University(CMU16089 R)on December 8,2016.

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase/reactive oxygen species pathway is involved in apoptosis and pyroptosis in epilepsy

Dysfunction of neuronal nitric oxide synthase contributes to neurotoxicity,which triggers cell death in various neuropathological diseases,including epilepsy.Studies have shown that inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity increases the epilepsy threshold,that is,has an anticonvulsant effect.However,the exact role and potential mechanism of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in seizures are still unclear.In this study,we performed RNA sequencing,functional enrichment analysis,and weighted gene coexpression network analysis of the hippocampus of tremor rats,a rat model of genetic epilepsy.We found damaged hippocampal mitochondria and abnormal succinate dehydrogenase level and Na+-K+-ATPase activity.In addition,we used a pilocarpine-induced N2a cell model to mimic epileptic injury.After application of neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 7-nitroindazole,changes in malondialdehyde,lactate dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase,which are associated with oxidative stress,were reversed,and the increase in reactive oxygen species level was reversed by 7-nitroindazole or reactive oxygen species inhibitor N-acetylcysteine.Application of 7-nitroindazole or N-acetylcysteine downregulated the expression of caspase-3 and cytochrome c and reversed the apoptosis of epileptic cells.Furthermore,7-nitroindazole or N-acetylcysteine downregulated the abnormally high expression of NLRP3,gasdermin-D,interleukin-1βand interleukin-18.This indicated that 7-nitroindazole and N-acetylcysteine each reversed epileptic cell death.Taken together,our findings suggest that the neuronal nitric oxide synthase/reactive oxygen species pathway is involved in pyroptosis of epileptic cells,and inhibiting neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity or its induced oxidative stress may play a neuroprotective role in epilepsy.

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7 antibody enhances neural plasticity after ischemic stroke

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its receptor C-X-C chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4) have been shown to regulate neural regeneration after stroke.Howeve r,whether stromal cell-derived factor-1 receptor CXCR7,which is widely distributed in the develo ping and adult central nervous system,participates in neural regeneration remains poorly unde rstood.In this study,we established rat models of focal cerebral ischemia by injecting endothelin-1 into the cerebral co rtex and striatum.Starting on day 7 after injury,CXCR7-neutralizing antibody was injected into the lateral ventricle using a micro drug delivery system for 6 consecutive days.Our results showed that CXCR7-neutralizing antibody increased the total length and number of sprouting co rticospinal tra ct fibers in rats with cerebral ischemia,increased the expression of vesicular glutamate transporter 1 and growth-related protein 43,marke rs of the denervated spinal cord synapses,and promoted the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the striatum.In addition,CXCR7 antibody increased the expression of CXCR4 in the striatum,increased the protein expression of RAS and ERK1/2 associated with the RAS/ERK signaling pathway,and im proved rat motor function.These findings suggest that CXCR7 improved neural functional recovery after ischemic stroke by promoting axonal regeneration,synaptogenesis,and myelin regeneration,which may be achieved by activation of CXCR4 and the RAS/ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Simultaneous refinement of α-Mg grains and β-Mg_(17)Al_(12) in Mg-Al based alloys via heterogeneous nucleation on Al_(8)Mn_(4)Sm

Due to the significant differences in the formation temperature and crystal structure between the primaryα-Mg and eutecticβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12),it is a great challenge to achieve simultaneous refinement of the primary and eutectic phases in Mg-Al based alloys via heterogeneous nucleation.Surprisingly,we found that theα-Mg andβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12) in the AZ80 alloy can be simultaneously refined after 0.2 wt.%Sm addition,with the grain size decreasing from∼217±15μm to∼170±10μm and theβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12) morphology changing from a typical continuous network to a nod-like or spherical structure.The simultaneous refinement mechanism is investigated through solidification simulation,transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and differential thermal analysis(DTA).In the AZ80-0.2Sm alloy,many Al8Mn4Sm particles can be observed near the center of theα-Mg grains or inside theβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12).Crystallographic calculations further reveal that the Al8Mn4Sm has good crystallographic matching with both theα-Mg andβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12),so it possesses the potency to serve as heterogeneous nucleation sites for both phases.The promoted heterogeneous nucleation on the Al8Mn4Sm decreases the undercooling required by the nucleation of the primary and eutectic phases,which enhances the heterogeneous nucleation rate,thus causing the simultaneous refinement of theα-Mg andβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12).The orientation relationships between the Al8Mn4Sm and Mg/Mg_(17)Al_(12) are identified,which are[1210]_(Mg)//[010]_(Al8Mn4Sm),(1010)_(Mg)//(301)_(Al8Mn4Sm) and[112]_(Mg_(17)Al_(12))//[010]_(Al8Mn4Sm),(110)_(Mg_(17)Al_(12))//(301)_(Al8Mn4Sm),respectively.Furthermore,the refinement of theβ-Mg_(17)Al_(12) accelerates its dissolution during the solution treatment,which is beneficial for cost saving in industrial applications.Other Al8Mn4RE compounds such as Al8Mn4Y might have the same positive effect on the simultaneous refinement due to the similar physicochemical properties of rare earth elements.This work not only proves the possibility of simultaneously refining the primary and eutectic phases in Mg-Al based alloys via heterogeneous nucleation,but also provides new insights into the development of refiners for cast Mg alloys.

A corrosion-resistant and age-hardenable Mg-Al-Mn-Ca-Ce dilute alloy with fine-grained structure processed by controlled rolling

Low strength and poor corrosion resistance are two long-standing bottlenecks with dilute Mg alloys.Here,we report that the corrosion resistance of Mg-0.6Al-0.5Mn-0.2Ca(wt.%)alloy sheet can be significantly improved by micro-alloying with 0.3 wt.%Ce,and the strength can be considerably augmented after aging treatment.Simultaneous optimization of strength,ductility,and corrosion resistance is difficult due to the inherent trade-off in Mg alloys.Surprisingly,our aged Mg-0.6Al-0.5Mn-0.2Ca-0.3Ce alloy features with yield strength(YS)of∼194 MPa,ultimate tensile strength(UTS)of∼265 MPa,elongation to failure(EF)of∼17.2%,and corrosion rate(CR)of 2.2 mm y^(−1),the combination of which exhibits competitive advantage over other comparative dilute Mg alloys.It is found that Ce addition decreases the activity of cathodic phases,inhibits detrimental effects of Fe impurities,and forms a protective Ce-containing surface film.The high strength stems from the precipitation of ordered Guinier-Preston(G.P.)zones dispersed in uniform fine grains with an average grain size of∼8.2μm.The atomic-scale G.P.zones result in a noticeable age hardening response but do not act as crack initiation and propagation site,so our alloy also performs satisfactory ductility.This work sheds light on the design and fabrication of strong,ductile,and corrosion-resistant dilute magnesium alloys to be used in electronic products and automotive bodies.

Reporting and methodological quality of meta-analyses of acupuncture for patients with migraine:A methodological investigation with evidence map

Background:Acupuncture has been widely used to relieve migraine-related symptoms.However,the findings of previous systematic reviews(SRs)and meta-analyses(MAs)are still not completely consistent.Their quality is also unknown,so a comprehensive study is needed.Objective:To evaluate the reporting and methodological quality of these MAs concerning acupuncture for migraine,and summarize evidence about the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for migraine.Search strategy:Pub Med,Embase,Cochrane Library,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Chinese Biomedical Databases,Wanfang Data,and VIP databases were searched from inception to September 2020,with a comprehensive search strategy.Inclusion criteria:The pairwise MAs of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)concerning migraine treated by acupuncture or acupuncture-based therapies,with a control group that received sham acupuncture,medication,no treatment,or acupuncture at different acupoints were included.Data extraction and analysis:Two independent investigators screened studies,extracted relevant data,and assessed reporting and methodological quality using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)2009 and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR 2),then all results were cross-checked.Spearman correlation test was used to evaluate the correlation between reporting and methodological quality scores.Results:A total of 20 MAs were included in this study.The included MAs indicated that acupuncture was efficacious and safe in preventing and treating migraine when compared with control intervention.There was a high correlation between reporting and methodological quality scores(rs=0.87,P<0.001).The quality of the included SRs needs to be improved mainly with regard to protocol and prospective registration,using a comprehensive search strategy,summarizing the strength of evidence body for key outcomes,a full list of excluded studies with reasons for exclusion,reporting of RCTs’funding sources,and assessing the potential impact of risk of bias in RCTs on MA results.Conclusion:Acupuncture is an effective and safe intervention for preventing and treating migraine,and could be considered as a good option for patients with migraine.However,the reporting and methodological quality of MAs included in this overview is suboptimal.In the future,AMSTAR 2 and PRISMA tools should be followed when making and reporting an SR with MA.

Effect of Microstructures and Textures on Different Surfaces on Corrosion Behavior of an as-Extruded ATZ411 Magnesium Alloy Sheet

The effect of textures on different surfaces of an as-extruded Mg-4 Al-1 Sn-1 Zn(ATZ411) alloy sheet on its corrosion behavior was systematically investigated. The microstructure was examined by optical/scanning electron microscopy. The texture was characterized by X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction. The corrosion performance was evaluated by immersion tests, electrochemical measurements, and corrosion morphology observation. The results showed that there were obvious differences in the corrosion morphology and corrosion resistance on different surfaces. The surface perpendicular to extrusion direction had better corrosion resistance and more uniform corrosion damage than that perpendicular to the normal direction and that perpendicular to the transverse direction in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The corrosion morphology was mainly determined by the distribution of the second phase and fine-grained regions. The corrosion rate was more related to the overall texture.