Recent Advances on Preparation Method of Ti-Based Hydrogen Storage Alloy

Ti-based hydrogen storage alloy is one of the most common solid-state hydrogen storage materials due to its high hydrogen absorption capacity, low dehydrogenation temperature and rich resources. This paper mainly presents the influence of several different preparation methods of Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys on the hydrogen storage performance including traditional preparation methods (smelting, rapid quenching and mechanical alloying) and novel methods by plastic deformation (cold rolling, equal channel angular pressing and high-pressure torsion). The microstructure analysis and hydrogen storage properties of Ti-based alloy are summarized thoroughly corresponding with the preparation processes mentioned above. It was found that slight introduction of lattice defects including dislocation, grain boundary, sub-grain boundary and cracks by severe plastic deformation (SPD) was beneficial to improve the hydriding/dehydriding kinetic characteristic. However, the nonuniform composition and residual stress of the alloy may be caused by SPD, which is not conducive to the improvement of hydrogen storage capacity. In the future, it would be expected that new methods and technologies combined with dopant and modification are applied to Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys to make breakthroughs in practical application.

Achieve Personalized Anonymity Through Query Blocks Exchanging

In cyberspace security,the privacy in location-based services(LBSs) becomes more critical. In previous solutions,a trusted third party(TTP) was usually employed to provide disturbance or obfuscation,but it may become the single point of failure or service bottleneck. In order to cope with this drawback,we focus on another important class,establishing anonymous group through short-range communication to achieve k-anonymity with collaborative users. Along with the analysis of existing algorithms,we found users in the group must share the same maximum anonymity degree,and they could not ease the process of preservation in a lower one. To cope with this problem,we proposed a random-QBE algorithm to put up with personalized anonymity in user collaboration algorithms,and this algorithm could preserve both query privacy and location privacy. Then we studied the attacks from passive and active adversaries and used entropy to measure user's privacy level. Finally,experimental evaluations further verify its effectiveness and efficiency.

An Improved Fine-Grained Encryption Method for Unstructured Big Data

In the big data protecting technologies, most of the existing data protections adopt entire encryption that leads to the researches of lightweight encryption algorithms, without considering from the protected data itself. In our previous paper (FGEM), it finds that not all the parts of a data need protections,the entire data protection can be supplanted as long as the critical parts of the structured data are protected. Reducing unnecessary encryption makes great sense for raising efficiency in big data processing. In this paper, the improvement of FGEM makes it suitable to protect semi-structured and unstructured data efficiently. By storing semi-structured and unstructured datum in an improved tree structure, the improved FGEM for the datum is achieved by getting congener nodes. The experiments show the improved FGEM has short operating time and low memory consumption.

Viral vectored vaccines:design,development,preventive and therapeutic applications in human diseases

Human diseases,particularly infectious diseases and cancers,pose unprecedented challenges to public health security and the global economy.The development and distribution of novel prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines are the prioritized countermeasures of human disease.Among all vaccine platforms,viral vector vaccines offer distinguished advantages and represent prominent choices for pathogens that have hampered control efforts based on conventional vaccine approaches.Currently,viral vector vaccines remain one of the best strategies for induction of robust humoral and cellular immunity against human diseases.Numerous viruses of different families and origins,including vesicular stomatitis virus,rabies virus,parainfluenza virus,measles virus,Newcastle disease virus,influenza virus,adenovirus and poxvirus,are deemed to be prominent viral vectors that differ in structural characteristics,design strategy,antigen presentation capability,immunogenicity and protective efficacy.This review summarized the overall profile of the design strategies,progress in advance and steps taken to address barriers to the deployment of these viral vector vaccines,simultaneously highlighting their potential for mucosal delivery,therapeutic application in cancer as well as other key aspects concerning the rational application of these viral vector vaccines.Appropriate and accurate technological advances in viral vector vaccines would consolidate their position as a leading approach to accelerate breakthroughs in novel vaccines and facilitate a rapid response to public health emergencies.

Taurolidine improved protection against highly pathogenetic avian influenza H5N1 virus lethal-infection in mouse model by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway

Taurolidine(TRD),a derivative of taurine,has anti-bacterial and anti-tumor effects by chemically reacting with cell-walls,endotoxins and exotoxins to inhibit the adhesion of microorganisms.However,its application in antiviral therapy is seldom reported.Here,we reported that TRD significantly inhibited the replication of influenza virus H5N1 in MDCK cells with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration(EC_(50))of 34.45μg/mL.Furthermore,the drug inhibited the amplification of the cytokine storm effect and improved the survival rate of mice lethal challenged with H5N1(protection rate was 86%).Moreover,TRD attenuated virus-induced lung damage and reduced virus titers in mice lungs.Administration of TRD reduced the number of neutrophils and increased the number of lymphocytes in the blood of H5N1 virus-infected mice.Importantly,the drug regulated the NF-κB signaling pathway by inhibiting the separation of NF-κB and IκBa,thereby reducing the expression of inflammatory factors.In conclusion,our findings suggested that TRD could act as a potential anti-influenza drug candidate in further clinical studies.

Gut microbiota from end-stage renal disease patients disrupt gut barrier function by excessive production of phenol

End stage renal disease (ESRD), an advanced stage of chronic kidney disease, has received increasing attention as a leading public health problem (Webster et al., 2017). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESRD are invariably accompanied by chronic systemic inflammation which plays central roles in CKD progression (Cachofeiro et al., 2008) and the increased mortality due to cardiovascular disease (Landray et al., 2004).

The Application of a Safe Neutralization Assay for Ebola Virus Using Lentivirus-Based Pseudotyped Virus

Dear Editor,Zaire Ebola virus(EBOV)is a negative-sense singlestranded RNA virus that is capable of causing acute hemorrhagic fever with a frightening fatality rate that can reach up to 90%.Due to its high lethality and frequent recurrence,EBOV is a substantial threat to public health.Research about live EBOV is restricted to BSL-4 laboratories;therefore,conventional serological detection methods do not provide a safe way to evaluate neutralizing activity,resulting in a bottleneck in antibody-based detection of viruses such as EBOV.Here,we aim to develop and apply a neutralization assay for EBOV using a generated lentivirus-based pseudotyped EBOV bearing GP on its surface.

Prevention and control of zoonoses at their source:from the Chinese perspective

Zoonoses are a significant public health concern and cause considerable socioeconomic problems globally.The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS),highly pathogenic avian influenza(HPAI),and Ebola virus disease(EVD)has had a significant effect on the national economy and public health in China,and other countries.This review analyzed zoonotic disease issues faced by China,and the main factors contributing to the risk of zoonotic disease.The Chinese government has devised new strategies and has taken measures to deal with the challenges of these diseases,and the prevention and control of zoonoses at their source.A strategy that is suited to China’s national conditions,is proposed.