Effects of electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) on neurons in the colonic myenteric plexus in rats with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation

We studied the effects of electroacupuncture at Zusanli （ST 36） on neurons in the colonic myenteric plexus and on defecation in rats with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation （IBS-C）. We also used intragastric administration of pinaverium bromide as a positive control treatment to reveal the pathway mediating the onset of IBS-C. Both electroacupuncture and pinaverium bromide greatly improved defecation in rats with IBS-C. Immunohistochemical staining of the enteric nervous system neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 in the colonic myenteric plexus showed that electroacupuncture by itself, or in combination with pinaverium bromide, increased the number of neurons and the staining intensity of protein gene product 9.5 in the colonic myenteric plexus. We conclude that visceral hypersensitivity is likely to be a primary cause of constipation in IBS-C rats.

Selective laser melting of NiTi alloy with superior tensile property and shape memory effect

It is a challenge to develop complex-shaped Ni Ti shape memory alloy parts by traditional processing methods, due to the poor machinability of Ni Ti alloy. It is reported that selective laser melting(SLM) of additive manufacturing could overcome this problem. However, the reported SLM-produced Ni Ti exhibits poor tensile ductility due to the inner defects and adverse unidirectional columnar grains from SLM process. In this work, the defect-less SLM-Ni Ti with nondirective columnar grains was fabricated by optimizing the intraformational laser scanning length and interformational laser scanning direction. The obtained lath-shaped SLM-Ni Ti sample exhibits tensile strain of 15.6%, more than twice of the reported maximum result(7%). Besides, the SLM-Ni Ti part with complex geometry displays a shape memory recovery of 99% under compressive deformation of 50%.

Single cell atlas of developing mouse dental germs reveals populations of CD24^(+)and Plac8^(+)odontogenic cells

The spatiotemporal relationships in high-resolution during odontogenesis remain poorly understood.We report a cell lineage and atlas of developing mouse teeth.We performed a large-scale(92,688 cells)single cell RNA sequencing,tracing the cell trajectories during odontogenesis from embryonic days 10.5 to 16.5.Combined with an assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing,our results suggest that mesenchymal cells show the specific transcriptome profiles to distinguish the tooth types.Subsequently,we identified key gene regulatory networks in teeth and bone formation and uncovered spatiotemporal patterns of odontogenic mesenchymal cells.CD24^(+)and Plac8^(+)cells from the mesenchyme at the bell stage were distributed in the upper half and preodontoblast layer of the dental papilla,respectively,which could individually induce nonodontogenic epithelia to form tooth-like structures.Specifically,the Plac8^(+)tissue we discovered is the smallest piece with the most homogenous cells that could induce tooth regeneration to date.Our work reveals previously unknown heterogeneity and spatiotemporal patterns of tooth germs that may lead to tooth regeneration for regenerative dentistry.

Selective laser melted high Ni content TiNi alloy with superior superelasticity and hardwearing

TiNi alloys with high content Ni(52-55 at.%)are perfectly suitable for preparing wear-and corrosionresistant parts that service on the space station,spacecraft,and submarine,because of their superior superelasticity,high strength,and hardwearing.However,the fabrication of complicated Ni-rich TiNi parts by the traditional machining method often faces problems of poor precision,low efficiency,and high cost.In this work,we succeed in preparing an excellent Ti_(47)Ni_(53) alloy by selective laser melting(SLM),and thus,open a new way for the efficient and precise formation of complicated Ni-rich TiNi parts with superelasticity and hardwearing.An optimized processing window for compact parts without defects is reported.The elaborately fabricated Ti_(47)Ni_(53) alloy exhibited a breaking strain of 11%,a breaking stress of 2.0 GPa,a superelastic strain of 9%,and a better hardwearing than that of casting and quenched Ti_(47)Ni_(53) alloy.Besides,the microstructure,phase transformation,and deformation,as well as their influence mechanisms are investigated by in situ transmission electron microscope(TEM)and high-energy X-ray diffraction(HE-XRD).The results obtained are of significance for both fundamental research and technological applications of SLM-fabricated high Ni content TiNi alloys.