正常小鼠血清通过抑制focal adhesion信号通路减轻小鼠放射性肺炎

目的探讨正常小鼠血清(NMS)对放射性肺炎的治疗作用及可能机制。方法建立胸腔照射诱导的放射性肺炎模型,将小鼠分为对照组、静脉注射血清组、照射组和照射后静脉注射血清组。注射血清组小鼠在照射后立即静脉注射正常小鼠血清100μL,对照组小鼠注射100μL生理盐水,隔天注射1次,共注射8次。照射后15 d取材,HE染色检测肺组织形态学变化,ELISA检测小鼠肺组织和血清中炎症因子肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、转化生长因子-β(TGF-β)、白细胞介素-1α(IL-1α)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)水平;流式细胞术检测肺组织内淋巴细胞比例变化。外泌体miRNA高通量测序探索处理后小鼠的信号通路变化,qRT-PCR检测免疫相关基因的表达水平,使用Western blotting检测黏着斑通路talin-1、tensin 2、FAK、vinculin、α-actinin和paxillin蛋白的表达。结果与照射组相比,照射后注射血清组小鼠肺脏器系数、血清及肺组织上清液中炎症因子TNF-α、TGF-β、IL-1α、IL-6水平显著降低(P<0.05),CD45^(+)、CD4^(+)、T_(reg)淋巴细胞在小鼠肺组织中的浸润程度显著下降(P<0.05);肺中Egfr和Pik3cd的mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著下调,talin-1、tensin 2、FAK、vinculin、α-actinin和paxillin蛋白的表达水平也显著降低(P<0.05)。结论正常小鼠血清通过抑制focal adhesion信号通路关键蛋白的表达减轻电离辐射诱发的小鼠放射性肺炎。

Adhesion of Technical Lignin-Based Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane Adhesives for Wood Bonding

Lignin is the most abundant aromatic natural polymer,and receiving great attention in replacing various petro-leum-based polymers.The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of technical lignin as a polyol for the synthesis of non-isocyanate polyurethane(NIPU)adhesives to substitute current polyurethane(PU)adhesives that have been synthesized with toxic isocyanate and polyols.Crude hardwood kraft lignin(C-HKL)was extracted from black liquor from a pulp mill followed by acetone fractionation to obtain acetone soluble-HKL(AS-HKL).Then,C-HKL,AS-HKL,and softwood sodium lignosulfonate(LS)were used for the synthesis of technical lignin-based NIPU adhesives through carbonation and polyamination and silane as a cross-linker.Their adhesion per-formance was determined for plywood.FTIR spectra showed the formation of urethane bonds and the reaction between lignin and silane.The NIPU adhesives prepared with C-HKL showed the highest adhesion strength among the three lignin-based NIPU adhesives.As the silane addition level increased,the adhesion strength of NIPU adhesives increased whereas formaldehyde emission decreased for all NIPU adhesives prepared.These results indicate that NIPU adhesives based on technical kraft lignin have a great potential as polyol for the synth-esis of bio-based NIPU adhesives for wood bonding.

Adhesion strength of tetrahydrofuran hydrates is dictated by substrate stiffness

Understanding the hydrate adhesion is important to tackling hydrate accretion in petro-pipelines.Herein,the relationship between the Tetrahydrofuran(THF)hydrate adhesion strength(AS)and surface stiffness on elastic coatings is systemically examined by experimental shear force measurements and theoretical methods.The mechanical factor-elastic modulus of the coatings greatly dictates the hydrate AS,which is explained by the adhesion mechanics theory,beyond the usual factors such as wettability and structural roughness.Moreover,the hydrate AS increases with reducing the thickness of the elastic coatings,resulted from the decrease of the apparent surface elastic modulus.The effect of critical thickness for the elastic materials with variable elastic modulus on the hydrate AS is also revealed.This study provides deep perspectives on the regulation of the hydrate AS by the elastic modulus of elastic materials,which is of significance to design anti-hydrate surfaces for mitigation of hydrate accretion in petro-pipelines.

Analysis of wheel-rail adhesion redundancy considering the thirdbody medium on the rail surface

Purpose–In response to the problem of insufficient traction/braking adhesion force caused by the existence of the third-body medium on the rail surface,this study aims to analyze the utilization of wheel-rail adhesion coefficient under different medium conditions and propose relevant measures for reasonable and optimized utilization of adhesion to ensure the traction/braking performance and operation safety of trains.Design/methodology/approach–Based on the PLS-160 wheel-rail adhesion simulation test rig,the study investigates the variation patterns of maximum utilized adhesion characteristics on the rail surface under different conditions of small creepage and large slip.Through statistical analysis of multiple sets of experimental data,the statistical distribution patterns of maximum utilized adhesion on the rail surface are obtained,and a method for analyzing wheel-rail adhesion redundancy based on normal distribution is proposed.The study analyzes the utilization of traction/braking adhesion,as well as adhesion redundancy,for different medium under small creepage and large slip conditions.Based on these findings,relevant measures for the reasonable and optimized utilization of adhesion are derived.Findings–When the third-body medium exists on the rail surface,the train should adopt the low-level service braking to avoid the braking skidding by extending the braking distance.Compared with the current adhesion control strategy of small creepage,adopting appropriate strategies to control the train’s adhesion coefficient near the second peak point of the adhesion coefficient-slip ratio curve in large slip can effectively improve the traction/braking adhesion redundancy and the upper limit of adhesion utilization,thereby ensuring the traction/braking performance and operation safety of the train.Originality/value–Most existing studies focus on the wheel-rail adhesion coefficient values and variation patterns under different medium conditions,without considering whether the rail surface with different medium can provide sufficient traction/braking utilized adhesion coefficient for the train.Therefore,there is a risk of traction overspeeding/braking skidding.This study analyzes whether the rail surface with different medium can provide sufficient traction/braking utilized adhesion coefficient for the train and whether there is redundancy.Based on these findings,relevant measures for the reasonable and optimized utilization of adhesion are derived to further ensure operation safety of the train.

Oxalate regulates crystal-cell adhesion and macrophage metabolism via JPT2/PI3K/AKT signaling to promote the progression of kidney stones

Oxalate is an organic dicarboxylic acid that is a common component of plant foods.The kidneys are essential organs for oxalate excretion,but excessive oxalates may induce kidney stones.Jupiter microtubule associated homolog 2(JPT2)is a critical molecule in Ca^(2+)mobilization,and its intrinsic mechanism in oxalate exposure and kidney stones remains unclear.This study aimed to reveal the mechanism of JPT2 in oxalate exposure and kidney stones.Genetic approaches were used to control JPT2 expression in cells and mice,and the JPT2 mechanism of action was analyzed using transcriptomics and untargeted metabolomics.The results showed that oxalate exposure triggered the upregulation of JPT2,which is involved in nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NAADP)-mediated Ca^(2+)mobilization.Transcriptomic analysis revealed that cell adhesion and macrophage inflammatory polarization were inhibited by JPT2 knockdown,and these were dominated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT signaling,respectively.Untargeted metabolomics indicated that JPT2 knockdown inhibited the production of succinic acid semialdehyde(SSA)in macrophages.Furthermore,JPT2 deficiency in mice inhibited kidney stones mineralization.In conclusion,this study demonstrates that oxalate exposure facilitates kidney stones by promoting crystal-cell adhesion,and modulating macrophage metabolism and inflammatory polarization via JPT2/PI3K/AKT signaling.

Development of a cell adhesion-based prognostic model for multiple myeloma:Insights into chemotherapy response and potential reversal of adhesion effects

Multiple myeloma(MM)is a hematologic malignancy notorious for its high relapse rate and development of drug resistance,in which cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance plays a critical role.This study integrated four RNA sequencing datasets(CoMMpass,GSE136337,GSE9782,and GSE2658)and focused on analyzing 1706 adhesionrelated genes.Rigorous univariate Cox regression analysis identified 18 key prognosis-related genes,including KIF14,TROAP,FLNA,MSN,LGALS1,PECAM1,and ALCAM,which demonstrated the strongest associations with poor overall survival(OS)in MM patients.To comprehensively evaluate the impact of cell adhesion on MM prognosis,an adhesion-related risk score(ARRS)model was constructed using Lasso Cox regression analysis.The ARRS model emerged as an independent prognostic factor for predicting OS.Furthermore,our findings revealed that a heightened cell adhesion effect correlated with tumor resistance to DNA-damaging drugs,protein kinase inhibitors,and drugs targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.Nevertheless,we identified promising drug candidates,such as tirofiban,pirenzepine,erlotinib,and bosutinib,which exhibit potential in reversing this resistance.In vitro,experiments employing NCIH929,RPMI8226,and AMO1 cell lines confirmed that MM cell lines with high ARRS exhibited poor sensitivity to the aforementioned candidate drugs.By employing siRNA-mediated knockdown of the key ARRS model gene KIF14,we observed suppressed proliferation of NCIH929 cells,along with decreased adhesion to BMSCs and fibronectin.This study presents compelling evidence establishing cell adhesion as a significant prognostic factor in MM.Additionally,potential molecular mechanisms underlying adhesion-related resistance are proposed,along with viable strategies to overcome such resistance.These findings provide a solid scientific foundation for facilitating clinically stratified treatment of MM.

Coupling of Adhesion and Anti‑Freezing Properties in Hydrogel Electrolytes for Low‑Temperature Aqueous‑Based Hybrid Capacitors

Solid-state zinc-ion capacitors are emerging as promising candidates for large-scale energy storage owing to improved safety,mechanical and thermal stability and easy-to-direct stacking.Hydrogel electrolytes are appealing solid-state electrolytes because of eco-friendliness,high conductivity and intrinsic flexibility.However,the electrolyte/electrode interfacial contact and anti-freezing properties of current hydrogel electrolytes are still challenging for practical applications of zinc-ion capacitors.Here,we report a class of hydrogel electrolytes that couple high interfacial adhesion and anti-freezing performance.The synergy of tough hydrogel matrix and chemical anchorage enables a well-adhered interface between hydrogel electrolyte and electrode.Meanwhile,the cooperative solvation of ZnCl2 and LiCl hybrid salts renders the hydrogel electrolyte high ionic conductivity and mechanical elasticity simultaneously at low temperatures.More significantly,the Zn||carbon nanotubes hybrid capacitor based on this hydrogel electrolyte exhibits low-temperature capacitive performance,delivering high-energy density of 39 Wh kg^(-1)at-60°C with capacity retention of 98.7%over 10,000 cycles.With the benefits of the well-adhered electrolyte/electrode interface and the anti-freezing hydrogel electrolyte,the Zn/Li hybrid capacitor is able to accommodate dynamic deformations and function well under 1000 tension cycles even at-60°C.This work provides a powerful strategy for enabling stable operation of low-temperature zinc-ion capacitors.

Adhesion property of AlCrNbSiTi high-entropy alloy coating on zirconium:experimental and theoretical studies

Experimental scratch tests and first-principles calculations were used to investigate the adhesion property of AlCrNbSiTi high-entropy alloy(HEA)coatings on zirconium substrates.AlCrNbSiTi HEA and Cr coatings were deposited on Zr alloy substrates using multi-arc ion plating technology,and scratch tests were subsequently conducted to estimate the adhesion property of the coatings.The results indicated that Cr coatings had better adhesion strength than HEA coatings,and the HEA coatings showed brittleness.The special quasi-random structure approach was used to build HEA models,and Cr/Zr and HEA/Zr interface models were employed to investigate the cohesion between the coatings and Zr substrate using first-principles calculations.The calculated interface energies showed that the cohesion between the Cr coating and the Zr substrate was stronger than that of the HEA coating with Zr.In contrary to Al or Si in the HEA coating,Cr,Nb,and Ti atoms binded strongly with Zr substrate.Based on the calculated elastic constants,it was found that low Cr and high Al content decreased the mechanical performances of HEA coatings.Finally,this study demonstrated the utilization of a combined approach involving first-principles calculations and experimental studies for future HEA coating development.

Optimizing Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Stability via Minimal Bubble Adhesion at Electrodeposited Crack-Structured NiP_(x)Catalysts

In response to the ongoing energy crisis,advancing the field of electrocatalytic water splitting is of utmost significance,necessitating the urgent development of high-performance,cost-effective,and durable hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts.But the generated gas bubble adherence to the electrode surface and sluggish separation contribute to significant energy loss,primarily due to the insufficient exposure of active sites,thus substantially hindering electrochemical performance.Here,we successfully developed a superaerophobic catalytic electrode by loading phosphorus-doped nickel metal(NiP_(x))onto various conductive substrates via an electrodeposition method.The electrode exhibits a unique surface structure,characterized by prominent surface fissures,which not only exposes additional active sites but also endows the electrode with superaerophobic properties.The NiP_(x)/Ti electrode demonstrates superior electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction,significantly outperforming a platinum plate,displaying an overpotential of mere 216 mV to achieve a current density of-500 mA cm^(-2) in 1 M KOH.Furthermore,the NiP_(x)/Ti electrode manifests outstanding durability and robustness during continuous electrolysis,maintaining stability at a current density of-10 mA cm^(-2) over a duration of 2000 h.Owing to the straightforward and scalable preparation methods,this highly efficient and stable NiP_(x)/Ti electrocatalyst offers a novel strategy for the development of industrial water electrolysis.

The Clinical Value of Ultrasound Image Texture Analysis in the Diagnosis of Uterine Adhesions

Purpose: This review examines the diagnostic value of transvaginal 3D ultrasound image texture analysis for the diagnosis of uterine adhesions. Materials and Methods: The total clinical data of 53 patients with uterine adhesions diagnosed by hysteroscopy and the imaging data of transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from June 2022 to August 2023 were retrospectively analysed. Based on hysteroscopic surgical records, patients were divided into two independent groups: normal endometrium and uterine adhesion sites. The samples were divided into a training set and a test set, and the transvaginal 3D ultrasound was used to outline the region of interest (ROI) and extract texture features for normal endometrium and uterine adhesions based on hysteroscopic surgical recordings, the training set data were feature screened and modelled using lasso regression and cross-validation, and the diagnostic efficacy of the model was assessed by applying the subjects’ operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: For each group, 290 texture feature parameters were extracted and three higher values were screened out, and the area under the curve of the constructed ultrasonographic scoring model was 0.658 and 0.720 in the training and test sets, respectively. Conclusion Relative clinical value of transvaginal three-dimensional ultrasound image texture analysis for the diagnosis of uterine adhesions.

Improvement Mechanism of Adhesion Performance of Anti-stripping Agents and Coupling Agents on Asphalt-Aggregate Interface Based on Molecular Dynamics

This study examined the mechanisms for improving the adhesion performance of the asphalt-aggregate interface with two anti-stripping agents and two coupling agents.The investigation of contact behavior between various asphalt-aggregate surfaces was conducted using molecular dynamics(MD)simulations.The interaction energy and the relative concentration distribution were employed as the parameters to analyze the enhancement mechanisms of anti-stripping agents and coupling agents on the asphalt-aggregate interface.Results indicated that the adhesion at the asphalt-aggregate interface could be strengthened by both anti-stripping agents and coupling agents.Anti-stripping agents primarily improve adhesion through the reinforcement of electrostatic attraction,while coupling agents primarily upgrade adhesion by strengthening the van der Waals.Hence,the molecular dynamics modeling and calculation techniques presented in this study can be utilized to elucidate the development mechanism of the asphalt-aggregate interface through the use of anti-stripping agents and coupling agents.

Diamond-Like Carbon Depositing on the Surface of Polylactide Membrane for Prevention of Adhesion Formation During Tendon Repair

Post-traumatic peritendinous adhesion presents a significant challenge in clinical medicine.This study proposes the use of diamond-like carbon(DLC)deposited on polylactic acid(PLA)membranes as a biophysical mechanism for anti-adhesion barrier to encase ruptured tendons in tendon-injured rats.The results indicate that PLA/DLC composite membrane exhibits more efficient anti-adhesion effect than PLA membrane,with histological score decreasing from 3.12±0.27 to 2.20±0.22 and anti-adhesion effectiveness increasing from 21.61%to 44.72%.Mechanistically,the abundant C=O bond functional groups on the surface of DLC can reduce reactive oxygen species level effectively;thus,the phosphorylation of NF-κB and M1 polarization of macrophages are inhibited.Consequently,excessive inflammatory response augmented by M1 macrophage-originated cytokines including interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)is largely reduced.For biocompatibility evaluation,PLA/DLC membrane is slowly absorbed within tissue and displays prolonged barrier effects compared to traditional PLA membranes.Further studies show the DLC depositing decelerates the release of degradation product lactic acid and its induction of macrophage M2 polarization by interfering esterase and PLA ester bonds,which further delays the fibrosis process.It was found that the PLA/DLC membrane possess an efficient biophysical mechanism for treatment of peritendinous adhesion.

Near-zero-adhesion-enabled intact wafer-scale resist-transfer printing for high-fidelity nanofabrication on arbitrary substrates

There is an urgent need for novel processes that can integrate different functional nanostructures onto specific substrates,so as to meet the fast-growing need for broad applications in nanoelectronics,nanophotonics,and fexible optoelectronics.Existing direct-lithography methods are difficult to use on fexible,nonplanar,and biocompatible surfaces.Therefore,this fabrication is usually accomplished by nanotransfer printing.However,large-scale integration of multiscale nanostructures with unconventional substrates remains challenging because fabrication yields and quality are often limited by the resolution,uniformity,adhesivity,and integrity of the nanostructures formed by direct transfer.Here,we proposed a resist-based transfer strategy enabled by near-zero adhesion,which was achieved by molecular modification to attain a critical surface energy interval.This approach enabled the intact transfer of wafer-scale,ultrathin-resist nanofilms onto arbitrary substrates with mitigated cracking and wrinkling,thereby facilitating the in situ fabrication of nanostructures for functional devices.Applying this approach,fabrication of three-dimensional-stacked multilayer structures with enhanced functionalities,nanoplasmonic structures with~10 nm resolution,and MoS2-based devices with excellent performance was demonstrated on specific substrates.These results collectively demonstrated the high stability,reliability,and throughput of our strategy for optical and electronic device applications.

Association between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 to depression and blood-brain barrier penetration in cerebellar vascular disease

BACKGROUND Cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD)is a prevalent cerebrovascular disease in clinical practice that is often associated with macrovascular disease.A clear understanding of the underlying causes of CSVD remains elusive.AIM To explore the association between intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)and blood-brain barrier(BBB)penetration in CSVD.METHODS This study included patients admitted to Fuyang People’s Hospital and Fuyang Community(Anhui,China)between December 2021 and March 2022.The study population comprised 142 patients,including 80 in the CSVD group and 62 in the control group.Depression was present in 53 out of 80 patients with CSVD.Multisequence magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI were applied in patients to determine the brain volume,cortical thickness,and cortical area of each brain region.Moreover,neuropsychological tests including the Hamilton depression scale,mini-mental state examination,and Montreal cognitive assessment basic scores were performed.RESULTS The multivariable analysis showed that age[P=0.011;odds ratio(OR)=0.930,95%confidence interval(CI):0.880-0.983]and ICAM-1 levels(P=0.023;OR=1.007,95%CI:1.001-1.013)were associated with CSVD.Two regions of interest(ROIs;ROI3 and ROI4)in the white matter showed significant(both P<0.001;95%CI:0.419-0.837 and 0.366-0.878)differences between the two groups,whereas only ROI1 in the gray matter showed signi-ficant difference(P=0.046;95%CI:0.007-0.680)between the two groups.ICAM-1 was significantly correlated(all P<0.05)with cortical thickness in multiple brain regions in the CSVD group.CONCLUSION This study revealed that ICAM-1 levels were independently associated with CSVD.ICAM-1 may be associated with cortical thickness in the brain,predominantly in the white matter,and a significant increase in BBB permeability,proposing the involvement of ICAM-1 in BBB destruction.

Direct measurement and theoretical prediction model of interparticle adhesion force between irregular planetary regolith particles

Interparticle adhesion force has a controlling effect on the physical and mechanical properties of planetary regolith and rocks.The current research on the adhesion force of planetary regolith and rock particles has been primarily based on the assumption of smooth spherical particles to calculate the intergranular adhesion force;this approach lacks consideration for the adhesion force between irregular shaped particles.In our study,an innovative approach was established to directly measure the adhesion force between the arbitrary irregular shaped particles;the probe was modified using simulated lunar soil particles that were a typical representation of planetary regolith.The experimental results showed that for irregular shaped mineral particles,the particle size and mineral composition had no significant influence on the interparticle adhesion force;however,the complex morphology of the contact surface predominantly controlled the adhesion force.As the contact surface roughness increased,the adhesion force gradually decreased,and the rate of decrease gradually slowed;these results were consistent with the change trend predicted via the theoretical models of quantum electrodynamics.Moreover,a theoretical model to predict the adhesion force between the irregular shaped particles was constructed based on Rabinovich’s theory,and the prediction results were correlated with the experimental measurements.

Silk fibroin-based biopolymer composite binders with gradient binding energy and strong adhesion force for high-performance micro-sized silicon anodes

Micro-sized silicon anodes have shown much promise in large-scale industrial production of high-energy lithium batteries.However,large volume change(>300%)of silicon anodes causes severe particle pulverization and the formation of unstable solid electrolyte interphases during cycling,leading to rapid capacity decay and short cycle life of lithium-ion batteries.When addressing such issues,binder plays key roles in obtaining good structural integrity of silicon anodes.Herein,we report a biopolymer composite binder composed of rigid poly(acrylic acid)(PAA)and flexible silk fibroin(SF)tailored for micro-sized silicon anodes.The PAA/SF binder shows robust gradient binding energy via chemical interactions between carboxyl and amide groups,which can effectively accommodate large volume change of silicon.This PAA/SF binder also shows much stronger adhesion force and improved binding towards high-surface/defective carbon additives,resulting in better electrochemical stability and higher coulombic efficiency,than conventional PAA binder.As such,micro-sized silicon/carbon anodes fabricated with novel PAA/SF binder exhibit much better cyclability(up to 500 cycles at 0.5 C)and enhanced rate capability compared with conventional PAA-based anodes.This work provides new insights into the design of functional binders for high-capacity electrodes suffering from large volume change for the development of nextgeneration lithium batteries.

A Boron-based Adhesion Aid for Efficient Bonding of Silicone Rubber and Epoxy Resin

We improved the adhesion between silicon based insulating materials and epoxy resin composites by adding the adhesion promoter cycloborosiloxane(BSi,cyclo-1,3,3,5,7,7-hexaphenyl-1,5-diboro-3,7-disiloxane).The experimental results show that the addition of BSi in the silicone rubber(SR)system significantly increases the tensile shear strength between BSi and epoxy resin(EP),reaching 309%of the original value.On this basis,the mechanism of BSi to enhance the adhesion effect was discussed.The electron deficient B in BSi attracted the electron rich N and O in EP to enhance the chemical interaction,combined with the interfacial migration behavior in the curing process,to improve the adhesion strength.This study provides the design and synthesis ideas of adhesive aids,and a reference for further exploring the interface mechanism of epoxy resin matrix composites.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Hysterosalpingography in the Identification of Intrauterine Adhesions in Infertile Women in a Referral Centre, Southern Nigeria

Background: Examination of the endometrial cavity is crucial in the management of infertile women. This evaluation is done by Hysterosalpingography (HSG) in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. The diagnostic value and accuracy of hysterosalpingography varies in various centres and has not been assessed in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), hence this study. Methodology: A prospective cross sectional study done among 101 infertile women at the gynaecology clinic of the UPTH from December 2018 to July 2019. Socio-demographic data of women who met the eligibility criteria were collected. Their hysterosalpingographic and outpatient hysteroscopic findings were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS for windows version 20.0. The validity and reliability statistics of hysterosalpingography for the identification of endometrial adhesions were determined and significance was reported at p-value < 0.05. The analyzed data was presented in tables and figure. Result: The respondents were all married, 66.3% of them were nulliparous, while 54.5% were above 35 years of age. Most, 93.1% of the studied group had at least secondary education and had duration of infertility of more than 2 years. There was a moderate strength of agreement in the diagnostic accuracy of HSG with hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of intrauterine adhesions;showing sensitivity and specificity of 59.6% and 90.9% respectively. The accuracy of HSG in the identification of intrauterine adhesions in this study was 73.3%. The agreement in the diagnostic accuracy of HSG using Hysteroscopy as a gold standard for intrauterine adhesions was therefore moderately significant (k = 0.482). Conclusion: HSG had an overall fair strength of agreement with office hysteroscopy in the identification of intrauterine adhesions. It is a specific but not a sensitive predictor of intrauterine adhesion.

Reduction of ice adhesion on nanostructured and nanoscale slippery surfaces

Ice nucleation and accretion on structural surfaces are sources of major safety and operational concerns in many industries including aviation and renewable energy.Common methods for tackling these are active ones such as heating,ultrasound,and chemicals or passive ones such as surface coatings.In this study,we explored the ice adhesion properties of slippery coated substrates by measuring the shear forces required to remove a glaze ice block on the coated substrates.Among the studied nanostructured and nanoscale surfaces[i.e.,a superhydrophobic coating,a fluoropolymer coating,and a polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)chain coating],the slippery omniphobic covalently attached liquid(SOCAL)surface with its flexible polymer brushes and liquid-like structure significantly reduced the ice adhesion on both glass and silicon surfaces.Further studies of the SOCAL coating on roughened substrates also demonstrated its low ice adhesion.The reduction in ice adhesion is attributed to the flexible nature of the brush-like structures of PDMS chains,allowing ice to detach easily.

Improved interfacial adhesion for stable flexible inverted perovskite solar cells

Flexible perovskite solar cells have attracted widespread attention due to their unique advantages in lightweight,high flexibility,and easy deformation,which are suitable for portable electronics.However,the inverted(p-i-n)structured devices suffer from poor stability largely due to the low adhesion at the brittle interface(the hole transport layer/perovskite).Herein,zeolitic imidazolate framework-67(ZIF-67)is applied to inverted structured cells to optimize the interface and prolong the device lifetime.As a result,the flexible devices based on ZIF-67 obtain the champion power conversion efficiency of 20.16%.Over 1000 h under continuous light irradiation,the device retains 96%and 80%of its original efficiency without and with bias,respectively.Notably,devices show mechanical endurance with over 78%efficiency retention after 10,000 cycles of consecutive bending cycles(R=6 mm).The introduction of ZIF-67 suppresses the cracking in device bending,which results in improved environmental stability and bending durability.