Gamma-glutamyl transferase 5 overexpression in cerebrovascular endothelial cells improves brain pathology,cognition,and behavior in APP/PS1 mice

In patients with Alzheimer’s disease,gamma-glutamyl transferase 5(GGT5)expression has been observed to be downregulated in cerebrovascular endothelial cells.However,the functional role of GGT5 in the development of Alzheimer’s disease remains unclear.This study aimed to explore the effect of GGT5 on cognitive function and brain pathology in an APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease,as well as the underlying mechanism.We observed a significant reduction in GGT5 expression in two in vitro models of Alzheimer’s disease(Aβ_(1-42)-treated hCMEC/D3 and bEnd.3 cells),as well as in the APP/PS1 mouse model.Additionally,injection of APP/PS1 mice with an adeno-associated virus encoding GGT5 enhanced hippocampal synaptic plasticity and mitigated cognitive deficits.Interestingly,increasing GGT5 expression in cerebrovascular endothelial cells reduced levels of both soluble and insoluble amyloid-βin the brains of APP/PS1 mice.This effect may be attributable to inhibition of the expression ofβ-site APP cleaving enzyme 1,which is mediated by nuclear factor-kappa B.Our findings demonstrate that GGT5 expression in cerebrovascular endothelial cells is inversely associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis,and that GGT5 upregulation mitigates cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice.These findings suggest that GGT5 expression in cerebrovascular endothelial cells is a potential therapeutic target and biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease.

Argatroban promotes recovery of spinal cord injury by inhibiting the PAR1/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Argatroban is a synthetic thrombin inhibitor approved by U.S.Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of thrombosis.However,whether it plays a role in the repair of spinal cord injury is unknown.In this study,we established a rat model of T10 moderate spinal cord injury using an NYU Impactor ModerⅢand performed intraperitoneal injection of argatroban for 3 consecutive days.Our results showed that argatroban effectively promoted neurological function recovery after spinal cord injury and decreased thrombin expression and activity in the local injured spinal cord.RNA sequencing transcriptomic analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes in the argatroban-treated group were enriched in the JAK2/STAT3 pathway,which is involved in astrogliosis and glial scar formation.Western blotting and immunofluorescence results showed that argatroban downregulated the expression of the thrombin receptor PAR1 in the injured spinal cord and the JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway.Argatroban also inhibited the activation and proliferation of astrocytes and reduced glial scar formation in the spinal cord.Taken together,these findings suggest that argatroban may inhibit astrogliosis by inhibiting the thrombin-mediated PAR1/JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway,thereby promoting the recovery of neurological function after spinal cord injury.

A Single-Layer Piezoelectric Composite Separator for Durable Operation of Li Metal Anode at High Rates

Piezoelectric ceramic and polymeric separators have been proposed to effectively regulate Li deposition and suppress dendrite growth,but such separators still fail to satisfactorily support durable operation of lithium metal batteries owing to the fragile ceramic layer or low-piezoelectricity polymer as employed.Herein,by combining PVDF-HFP and ferroelectric BaTiO_(3),we develop a homogeneous,single-layer composite separator with strong piezoelectric effects to inhibit dendrite growth while maintaining high mechanical strength.As squeezed by local protrusion,the polarized PVDF-HFP/BaTiO_(3)composite separator generates a local voltage to suppress the local-intensified electric field and further deconcentrate regional lithium-ion flux to retard lithium deposition on the protrusion,hence enabling a smoother and more compact lithium deposition morphology than the unpoled composite separator and the pure PVDF-HFP separator,especially at high rates.Remarkably,the homogeneous incorporation of BaTiO_(3)highly improves the piezoelectric performances of the separator with residual polarization of 0.086 pC cm^(-2)after polarization treatment,four times that of the pure PVDF-HFP separator,and simultaneously increases the transference number of lithium-ion from 0.45 to 0.57.Beneficial from the prominent piezoelectric mechanism,the polarized PVDF-HFP/BaTiO_(3)composite separator enables stable cyclic performances of Li||LiFePO_(4)cells for 400 cycles at 2 C(1 C=170 mA g^(-1))with a capacity retention above 99%,and for 600 cycles at 5 C with a capacity retention over 85%.

Gliding arc discharge in combination with Cu/Cu_(2)O electrocatalysis for ammonia production

Highly efficient and green ammonia production is an important demand for modern agriculture.In this study,a two-step ammonia production method is developed using a gliding arc discharge in combination with Cu/Cu_(2)O electrocatalysis.In this method,NO_(x)is provided by the gliding arc discharge and then electrolyzed by Cu/Cu_(2)O after alkaline absorption.The electrical characteristics,the optical characteristics and the NO_(x)production are investigated in discharges at different input voltage and the gas flow.The dependence of ammonia production through Cu/Cu_(2)O electrocatalysis on pH value and reduction potential are determined by colorimetric method.In our study,two discharge modes are observed.At high input voltage and low gas flow,the discharge is operated with a stable plasma channel which is called the steady arc gliding discharge mode(A-G mode).As lowering input voltage and raising gas flow,the plasma channel is destroyed and high frequency breakdown occurs instead,which is known as the breakdown gliding discharge mode(B-G mode).The optimal NO_(x)production of 7.34 mmol h^(-1)is obtained in the transition stage of the two discharge modes.The ammonia yield reaches0.402 mmol h^(-1)cm^(-2)at pH value of 12.7 and reduction potential of-1.0 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE).

Implementation of a Nesting Repair Technology for Transportation Pipeline Repair

Filling methods in the mining industry can maximize the recovery of mineral resources and protect the underground and surface environments.In recent years,such methods have been widely used in metal mines where pipeline transportation typically plays a decisive role in the safety and stability of the entirefilling system.Because thefilling slurry contains a large percentage of solid coarse particles,the involved pipeline is typically eroded and often damaged during such a process.A possible solution is the so-called nesting repair technology.In the present study,nesting a 127 mm outer diameter pipeline in 151 mm inner diameter borehole is considered to meet the repair objective.First,by using the rheological theory,the pipeline transmission resistance and self-flow conveying range are calculated under different working conditions.It is shown that the pipeline transmission resistance is larger when the inner diameter of casing is 80 mm,and the limitflow rate of vertical pipeline self-flow is 120 m^(3)/h;moreover,when the pipeline diameter is 100 mm and theflow rate is 140 m^(3)/h,the self-flow conveying can be satisfied in most of the underground−455 m stage.Accordingly,a plan is presented for the nesting repair strategy,based on the installation of a drill bit under the casing and lowering the casing into the borehole as if it were a drill pipe.Finally,the outcomes of such a strategy are verified.Thefillingflow rate range using the new pipelines is found to be in the range from 188.60 to 224.39 m^(3)/h,and its averagefillingflow rate reaches 209.83 m^(3)/h when conveying 2319.6 m long-distance quarry.

Study on Sealing Characteristics of Sliding Seal Assembly of Aircraft Hydraulic Actuator

The hydraulic actuator,known as the"muscle"of military aircraft,is responsible for flight attitude adjustment,trajectory control,braking turn,landing gear retracting and other actions,which directly affect its flight efficiency and safety.However,the sealing assembly often has the situation of over-aberrant aperture fit clearance or critical over-aberrant clearance,which increases the failure probability and degree of movable seal failure,and directly affects the flight efficiency and safety of military aircraft.In this paper,the simulation model of hydraulic actuator seal combination is established by ANSYS software,and the sealing principle is described.The change curve of contact width and contact pressure of combination seal under the action of high-pressure fluid is drawn.The effects of different oil pressure,fit clearance and other parameters on the sealing performance are analyzed.Finally,the accelerated life test of sliding seal components is carried out on the hydraulic actuator accelerated life test rig,and the surface morphology is compared and analyzed.The research shows that the O-ring is the main sealing element and the role of the check ring is to protect and support the O-ring to prevent damage caused by squeezing into the fit clearance,so the check ring bears a large load and is prone to shear failure.Excessive fit clearance is the main factor affecting the damage of the check ring,and the damage parts are mainly concentrated at the edge of the sealing surface.This paper provides a theoretical basis for the design of hydraulic actuator and the improvement of sealing performance.

Ferroptosis inhibition protects vascular endothelial cells and maintains integrity of the blood-spinal cord barrier after spinal cord injury

Maintaining the integrity of the blood-spinal cord barrier is critical for the recove ry of spinal cord injury.Ferro ptosis contributes to the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury.We hypothesized that ferroptosis is involved in disruption of the blood-s pinal cord barrier.In this study,we administe red the ferroptosis inhibitor liproxstatin-1 intraperitoneally after contusive spinal co rd injury in rats.Liproxstatin-1 improved locomotor recovery and somatosensory evoked potential electrophysiological performance after spinal cord inju ry.Liproxstatin-1 maintained blood-spinal cord barrier integrity by upregulation of the expression of tight junction protein.Liproxstatin-1 inhibited ferroptosis of endothelial cell after spinal cord injury,as shown by the immunofluorescence of an endothelial cell marker(rat endothelium cell antigen-1,RECA-1) and fe rroptosis markers Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 and 15-lipoxygenase.Liproxstatin-1reduced brain endothelial cell ferroptosis in vitro by upregulating glutathione peroxidase 4 and downregulating Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member4 and 15-lipoxygenase.Furthermore,inflammatory cell recruitment and astrogliosis were mitigated after liproxstatin-1 treatment.In summary,liproxstatin-1im proved spinal cord injury recovery by inhibiting ferroptosis in endothelial cells and maintaining blood-s pinal co rd barrier integrity.

Microscopic mechanism study and process optimization of dimethyl carbonate production coupled biomass chemical looping gasification system

Biomass chemical looping gasification technology is one of the essential ways to utilize abundant biomass resources.At the same time,dimethyl carbonate can replace phosgene as an environmentfriendly organic material for the synthesis of polycarbonate.In this paper,a novel system coupling biomass chemical looping gasification with dimethyl carbonate synthesis with methanol as an intermediate is designed through microscopic mechanism analysis and process optimization.Firstly,reactive force field molecular dynamics simulation is performed to explore the reaction mechanism of biomass chemical looping gasification to determine the optimal gasification temperature range.Secondly,steady-state simulations of the process based on molecular dynamics simulation results are carried out to investigate the effects of temperature,steam to biomass ratio,and oxygen carrier to biomass ratio on the syngas yield and compositions.In addition,the main energy indicators of biomass chemical looping gasification process including lower heating value and cold gas efficiency are analyzed based on the above optimum parameters.Then,two synthesis stages are simulated and optimized with the following results obtained:the optimal temperature and pressure of methanol synthesis stage are 150℃ and 4 MPa;the optimal temperature and pressure of dimethyl carbonate synthesis stage are 140℃ and 0.3 MPa.Finally,the pre-separation-extraction-decantation process separates the mixture of dimethyl carbonate and methanol generated in the synthesis stage with 99.11%purity of dimethyl carbonate.Above results verify the feasibility of producing dimethyl carbonate from the perspective of multi-scale simulation and realize the multi-level utilization of biomass resources.

Measuring moisture content of dead fine fuels based on the fusion of spectrum meteorological data

Dead fine fuel moisture content(DFFMC)is a key factor affecting the spread of forest fires,which plays an important role in evaluation of forest fire risk.In order to achieve high-precision real-time measurement of DFFMC,this study established a long short-term memory(LSTM)network based on particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm as a measurement model.A multi-point surface monitoring scheme combining near-infrared measurement method and meteorological measurement method is proposed.The near-infrared spectral information of dead fine fuels and the meteorological factors in the region are processed by data fusion technology to construct a spectral-meteorological data set.The surface fine dead fuel of Mongolian oak(Quercus mongolica Fisch.ex Ledeb.),white birch(Betula platyphylla Suk.),larch(Larix gmelinii(Rupr.)Kuzen.),and Manchurian walnut(Juglans mandshurica Maxim.)in the maoershan experimental forest farm of the Northeast Forestry University were investigated.We used the PSO-LSTM model for moisture content to compare the near-infrared spectroscopy,meteorological,and spectral meteorological fusion methods.The results show that the mean absolute error of the DFFMC of the four stands by spectral meteorological fusion method were 1.1%for Mongolian oak,1.3%for white birch,1.4%for larch,and 1.8%for Manchurian walnut,and these values were lower than those of the near-infrared method and the meteorological method.The spectral meteorological fusion method provides a new way for high-precision measurement of moisture content of fine dead fuel.

Recent progress on efficient perovskite/organic tandem solar cells

The concept of tandem solar cells(TSCs) is an effective way to substantially further improve the efficiency of solar cells. The excellent optoelectronic properties and bandgap tunability of perovskites make them promising for constructing efficient TSCs. Currently, TSCs based on perovskite have been extensively studied. Besides, the performance of organic solar cells has been greatly improved recently due to the wider and more efficient spectral utilization. Accordingly, research on perovskite/organic TSCs has garnered significant attention. It has potential application advantages in emerging fields such as wearable devices by virtue of flexibility. In addition, orthogonal solvents can be adopted to realize the separate preparation of subcells with the solution method, which greatly reduces fabrication complexity;moreover, fabrication with less equipment significantly cuts down the device cost. Meanwhile, organics with more adjustability on the optoelectronic properties provide more tuning strategies for high-performance perovskite/organic TSCs. However, comprehensive and timely reviews on the perovskite/organic TSCs are deficient. Therefore, we expect to accomplish a review on this innovative TSCs to facilitate researchers with a deeper understanding of perovskite/organic TSCs. Herein, we firstly review the significant progress of perovskite and organic solar cells. Then, current achievements of perovskite/organic TSCs are summarized and introduced with a particular focus on the device structure design. Finally, we discuss existential challenges and propose effective strategies for future engineering.

Adaptive energy-preserving algorithms for guiding center system

We develop two types of adaptive energy preserving algorithms based on the averaged vector field for the guiding center dynamics,which plays a key role in magnetized plasmas.The adaptive scheme is applied to the Gauss Legendre’s quadrature rules and time stepsize respectively to overcome the energy drift problem in traditional energy-preserving algorithms.These new adaptive algorithms are second order,and their algebraic order is carefully studied.Numerical results show that the global energy errors are bounded to the machine precision over long time using these adaptive algorithms without massive extra computation cost.

Enhancing surface adhesion of polytetrafluoroethylene induced by two-step in-situ treatment with radiofrequency capacitively coupled Ar/Ar+CH_(4)+NH_(3) plasma

Although some progress in plasma modification of the polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) surface has been made recently,its adhesion strength still needs to be further improved.In this work,the surface of a PTFE sample was treated with a two-step in-situ method.Firstly,the PTFE surface was treated with capacitively coupled Ar plasma to improve its mechanical interlocking performance;then,Ar+NH_(3)+CH_(4) plasma was used to deposit an a-CNx:H cross-linking layer on the PTFE surface to improve the molecular bonding ability.After treatment,a high specific surface area of 2.20 and a low F/C ratio of 0.32 were achieved on the PTFE surface.Its surface free energy was increased significantly and its maximum adhesion strength reached77.1 N·10 mm^(-1),which is 56% higher than that of the single-step Ar plasma-treated sample and32% higher than that of the single-step Ar+CH_(4)+NH_(3) plasma-treated sample.

Progress in Gel Polymer Electrolytes for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion battery is a potential application system for large-scale energy storage due to the advantage of higher nature abundance and lower production cost of sodium-based materials.However,there exist inevitably the safety problems such as flammability due to the use of the same type of organic liquid electrolyte with lithium-ion battery.Gel polymer electrolytes are being considered as an effective solution to replace conventional organic liquid electrolytes for building safer sodium-ion batteries.In this review paper,the authors present a comprehensive overview of the research progress in electrochemical and physical properties of the gel polymer electrolyte-based sodium batteries.The gel polymer electrolytes based on different polymer hosts namely poly(ethylene oxide),poly(acrylonitrile),poly(methyl methacrylate),poly(vinylidene fluoride),poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene),and other new polymer networks are summarized.The ionic conductivity,ion transference number,electrochemical window,thermal stability,mechanical property,and interfacial issue with electrodes of gel polymer electrolytes,and the corresponding influence factors are described in detail.Furthermore,the ion transport pathway and ion conduction mechanism are analyzed and discussed.In addition,the advanced gel polymer electrolyte systems including flame-retardant polymer electrolytes,composite gel polymer electrolytes,copolymerization,single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes,etc.with more superior and functional performance are classified and summarized.Finally,the application prospects,development opportunities,remaining challenges,and possible solutions are discussed.

Amorphous Electrode:From Synthesis to Electrochemical Energy Storage

Electrochemical batteries and supercapacitors are considered ideal rechargeable technologies for next-generation energy storage systems.The key to further commercial applications of electrochemical energy storage devices is the design and investigation of electrode materials with high energy density and significant cycling stability.Recently,amorphous materials have attracted a lot of attention due to their more defects and structure flexibility,opening up a new way for electrochemical energy storage.In this perspective,we summarize the recent research regarding amorphous materials for electrochemical energy storage.This review covers the advantages and features of amorphous materials,the synthesis strategies to prepare amorphous materials,as well as the application and modification of amorphous electrodes in energy storage fields.Finally,the challenges and prospective remarks for future development in amorphous materials for electrochemical energy storage are concluded.

A Model Predictive Control Algorithm Based on Biological Regulatory Mechanism and Operational Research

Dear Editor,This letter presents an intelligent model predictive control algorithm inspired by biological regulatory mechanism and operational research. In terms of overall architecture, based on biological regulatory system and operational research theory, priority factor module and central coordination module are innovatively added on the basis structure of heuristic dynamic programming to carry out overall regulation of the system.

A Three-Dimensional Model for the Formation Pressure in Wellbores under Uncertainty

Formation pressure is the key parameter for the analysis of wellbore safety.With increasing drilling depth,how-ever,the behavior of this variable becomes increasingly complex.In this work,a 3D model of the formation pres-sure under uncertainty is presented.Moreover a relevant algorithm is elaborated.First,the logging data of regional key drilling wells are collected and a one-dimensional formation pressure profile along the well depth is determined.Then,a 3D model of regional formation pressure of the hierarchical group layer is defined by using the Kriging interpolation algorithm relying on a support vector machine(SVM)and the formation pressure of the drilled wells.To validate the method,the formation pressure of one pre-drilled well is compared with the well logging results.The comparison reveals that the maximum relative error is less than 4.5%.The software based on this model is complemented by a computer visualization technology,which provides a relevant tool for under-standing and analyzing the 3D formation pressure.The outcomes of this study are intended to support the char-acterization of areas with missing or poor 3D seismic data and provide more accurate information for the analysis of wellbore integrity.

Pavement Performance Research Progress and Evaluation of Asphalt Mixture Incorporating Iron Ore Tailings

In order to solve the problems caused by the storage of iron ore tailings (IOTs), many researchers conducted a series of experimental studies on the reuse of IOTs. The results of many studies showed that it was feasible to use IOTs for road engineering. This paper summarized the composition, gradation and particle characteristics of IOTs from chemical and physical aspects, and proved the feasibility of IOTs replacing traditional aggregate for asphalt concrete. Then, the research on the road performance of asphalt concrete incorporating IOTs were summarized and reviewed, including the evaluation of high-temperature stability, low-temperature crack resistance, fatigue resistance and water stability. The water stability and the improvement of adhesion between asphalt and IOTs aggregate were discussed in detail. Finally, the performance of IOTs as asphalt concrete aggregate and the existing defects were evaluated, and future research directions were proposed.

生殖激素产品的应用和发展趋势

生殖激素是调控动物体内复杂生殖过程并影响繁殖性能的一系列的重要激素。近年来,利用生殖激素的批次化生产繁殖技术被广泛使用,提高了母猪的繁殖效率,促进了养猪业向集约化和规模化方向的发展。目前在批次化生产过程中主要采用孕马血清促性腺激素(PMSG)和人绒毛膜促性腺激素(HCG)以及化学类激素进行繁殖调控。但是这些产品的应用仍存在一些问题,因此需要开发出成本低、活性好的高品质蛋白类生殖激素产品,应用于猪场批次化生产中,提高生猪养殖效率和降低生产成本,为提升我国乃至全球畜牧业的动物繁殖效率做出贡献,为动物和人类的健康提供重要保证。

单甲基环取代聚苯胺防腐性能的研究进展

实验研究发现,取代聚苯胺或聚苯胺衍生物中存在的供电子基(如氧基、烷基、氨基等)能够有效提高聚苯胺涂层的防腐性能。其中单甲基环取代聚苯胺因其特有的高导电性、可逆的氧化还原等特性,已经成为防腐领域中的研究热点。文中通过介绍聚苯胺及其衍生物涂层的防腐性能以及不足,归纳总结了单甲基环取代聚苯胺衍生物(对位取代、间位取代、邻位取代)防腐涂层的防腐性能;复合改性材料对单甲基环取代聚苯胺衍生物涂层的防腐性能的提高;此外展望了单甲基环取代聚苯胺衍生物未来的发展趋势。

5G Flexible Optical Transport Networks with Large-Capacity, Low-Latency and High-Efficiency

The fifth generation(5G) of mobile communications are facing big challenges, due to the proliferation of diversified terminals and unprecedented services such as internet of things(IoT), high-definition videos, virtual/augmented reality(VR/AR). To accommodate massive connections and astonish mobile traffic, an efficient 5G transport network is required. Optical transport network has been demonstrated to play an important role for carrying 5G radio signals. This paper focuses on the future challenges, recent studies and potential solutions for the 5G flexible optical transport networks with the performances on large-capacity, low-latency and high-efficiency. In addition, we discuss the technology development trends of the 5G transport networks in terms of the optical device, optical transport system, optical switching, and optical networking. Finally, we conclude the paper with the improvement of network intelligence enabled by these technologies to deterministic content delivery over 5G optical transport networks.