Pharmacological intervention for chronic phase of spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury is an intractable traumatic injury. The most common hurdles faced during spinal cord injury are failure of axonal regrowth and reconnection to target sites. These also tend to be the most challenging issues in spinal cord injury. As spinal cord injury progresses to the chronic phase, lost motor and sensory functions are not recovered. Several reasons may be attributed to the failure of recovery from chronic spinal cord injury. These include factors that inhibit axonal growth such as activated astrocytes, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, myelin-associated proteins, inflammatory microglia, and fibroblasts that accumulate at lesion sites. Skeletal muscle atrophy due to denervation is another chronic and detrimental spinal cord injury–specific condition. Although several intervention strategies based on multiple outlooks have been attempted for treating spinal cord injury, few approaches have been successful. To treat chronic spinal cord injury, neural cells or tissue substitutes may need to be supplied in the cavity area to enable possible axonal growth. Additionally, stimulating axonal growth activity by extrinsic factors is extremely important and essential for maintaining the remaining host neurons and transplanted neurons. This review focuses on pharmacotherapeutic approaches using small compounds and proteins to enable axonal growth in chronic spinal cord injury. This review presents some of these candidates that have shown promising outcomes in basic research(in vivo animal studies) and clinical trials: AA-NgR(310)ecto-Fc(AXER-204), fasudil, phosphatase and tensin homolog protein antagonist peptide 4, chondroitinase ABC, intracellular sigma peptide,(-)-epigallocatechin gallate, matrine, acteoside, pyrvate kinase M2, diosgenin, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, and fampridine-sustained release. Although the current situation suggests that drug-based therapies to recover function in chronic spinal cord injury are limited, potential candidates have been identified through basic research, and these candidates may be subjects of clinical studies in the future. Moreover, cocktail therapy comprising drugs with varied underlying mechanisms may be effective in treating the refractory status of chronic spinal cord injury.

Low‑Temperature Oxidation Induced Phase Evolution with Gradient Magnetic Heterointerfaces for Superior Electromagnetic Wave Absorption

Gradient magnetic heterointerfaces have injected infinite vitality in optimizing impedance matching,adjusting dielectric/magnetic resonance and promoting electromagnetic(EM)wave absorption,but still exist a significant challenging in regulating local phase evolution.Herein,accordion-shaped Co/Co_(3)O_(4)@N-doped carbon nanosheets(Co/Co_(3)O_(4)@NC)with gradient magnetic heterointerfaces have been fabricated via the cooperative high-temperature carbonization and lowtemperature oxidation process.The results indicate that the surface epitaxial growth of crystal Co_(3)O_(4) domains on local Co nanoparticles realizes the adjustment of magnetic-heteroatomic components,which are beneficial for optimizing impedance matching and interfacial polarization.Moreover,gradient magnetic heterointerfaces simultaneously realize magnetic coupling,and long-range magnetic diffraction.Specifically,the synthesized Co/Co_(3)O_(4)@NC absorbents display the strong electromagnetic wave attenuation capability of−53.5 dB at a thickness of 3.0 mm with an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.36 GHz,both are superior to those of single magnetic domains embedded in carbon matrix.This design concept provides us an inspiration in optimizing interfacial polarization,regulating magnetic coupling and promoting electromagnetic wave absorption.

Revisiting Asymmetry for the Decaying Phases of El Ni?o and La Ni?a

This study investigated the relationship be- tween the asymmetry in the duration of El Nifio and La Nina and the length of their decaying phases. The results suggested that the duration asymmetry comes from the long decaying ENSO cases rather than the short decaying ones. The evolutions of short decaying El Nino and La Nina are approximately a mirror image with a rapid decline in the following summer for the warm and cold events. However, a robust asymmetry was found in long decaying cases, with a prolonged and re-intensified La Nina in the following winter. The asymmetry for long decaying cases starts from the westward extension of the zonal wind anomalies in a mature winter, and is further contributed to by the air-sea interaction over the tropical Pacific in the following seasons.

基于CTA颅内动脉瘤形态联合PHASES评分对破裂出血预测研究

目的:分析头颈部计算机断层扫描血管成像(CTA)联合PHASES评分对颅内动脉瘤(IA)破裂出血的预测价值。方法:回顾性分析2021年10月—2023年9月东莞市长安医院诊治的IA患者临床资料,根据IA破裂出血与否分为IA破裂组(n=46)和IA未破裂组(n=44),收集两组临床资料,对比两组患者CTA影像瘤体特征参数和PHASES评分结果。采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析两者联合预测动脉瘤破裂的效能。结果:IA破裂组高血压、糖尿病发生率及PHASES评分均高于IA未破裂组,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。两组病灶位置以颈内动脉(ICA)和大脑中动脉(MCA)为主,但IA破裂组病灶位置在MCA的占比为41.30%,高于IA未破裂组的20.45%,瘤体>7 mm的最多(瘤体7~9.9 mm占65.22%),瘤体形态不规则占58.7%,未破裂组病灶位置在ICA最多(68.18%),瘤体<7 mm的居多(75.00%),瘤体形态规则囊状动脉瘤占93.18%,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。CTA瘤体特征参数比较,IA破裂组患者瘤颈宽度、瘤体高度、瘤体长度、动脉瘤最大直径、入射夹角、动脉瘤体颈比等参数均高于IA未破裂组,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。CTA瘤体特征参数+PHASES评分联合预测曲线下面积为0.916,高于CTA瘤体特征参数(0.901)和PHASES评分(0.731)。结论:CTA瘤体特征参数+PHASES评分联合预测IA患者破裂出血效能最佳。

Exploring the Phase-Strength Asymmetry of the North Atlantic Oscillation Using Conditional Nonlinear Optimal Perturbation

Negative-phase North Atlantic Oscillation（NAO） events are generally stronger than positive-phase ones, i.e., there is a phase-strength asymmetry of the NAO. In this work, we explore this asymmetry of the NAO using the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation（CNOP） method with a three-level global quasi-geostrophic spectral model. It is shown that, with winter climatological flow forcing, the CNOP method identifies the perturbations triggering the strongest NAO event under a given initial constraint. Meanwhile, the phase-strength asymmetry characteristics of the NAO can be revealed. By comparing with linear results, we find that the process of perturbation self-interaction promotes the onset of negative NAO events, which is much stronger than during positive NAO onset. Results are obtained separately using the climatological and zonal-mean flows in boreal winter（December–February） 1979–2006 as the initial basic state. We conclude, based on the fact that NAO onset is a nonlinear initial-value problem, that phase-strength asymmetry is an intrinsic characteristic of the NAO.

Carrier envelope phase effect on the spatial distribution of high-order harmonic generation in asymmetric molecule

The spatial distribution in high-order harmonic generation（HHG） from the asymmetric diatomic molecule He H^（2＋） is investigated by numerically solving the non-Born–Oppenheimer time-dependent Schr？dinger equation（TDSE）. The spatial distribution of the HHG spectra shows that there is little contribution in HHG around the geometric center of two nuclei（z = 1.17 a.u.） and the equilibrium internuclear position of the H nucleus（z = 3.11 a.u.）. We demonstrate the carrier envelope phase（CEP） effect on the spatial distribution of HHG in a few-cycle laser pulse. The HHG process is investigated by the time evolution of the electronic density distribution. The time–frequency analysis of HHG from two nuclei in HeH^（2＋） is presented to further explain the underlying physical mechanism.

Asymmetry of Salinity Variability in the Tropical Pacific during Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation Phases

It has been recognized that salinity variability in the tropical Pacific is closely related to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation(IPO).Here,we use model simulations from 1900 to 2017 to illustrate obvious asymmetries of salinity variability in the tropical Pacific during positive and negative IPO phases.The amplitude of salinity variability in the tropical Pacific during positive IPO phases is larger than that during negative IPO phases,with a more westward shift of a large Sea Surface Salinity(SSS)anomaly along the equator.Salinity budget analyses show that the asymmetry of salinity variability during positive and negative IPO phases is dominated by the difference in the surface forcing associated with the freshwater flux[FWF,precipitation(P)minus evaporation(E)],with a contribution of 40%–50%near the dateline on the equator.Moreover,the relationships between the salinity variability and its budget terms also show differences in their leadlag correlations during positive and negative IPO phases.These differences in salinity variability during different IPO phases produce asymmetric effects on seawater density which can reduce or enhance upper-ocean stratification.Therefore,the salinity effects may modulate the intensity of El Nino-Southern Oscillation(ENSO),resulting in an enhanced(reduced)El Nino but a reduced(enhanced)La Ni?a during positive(negative)IPO phases by 1.6℃psu^(-1)(1.3℃psu^(-1)),respectively.It is suggested that the asymmetry of salinity variability may be related to the recent change in ENSO amplitude associated with the IPO,which can help elucidate ENSO diversity.

Exciton optical absorption in asymmetric ZnO/ZnMgO double quantum wells with mixed phases

The optical absorption of exciton interstate transition in Zn1-xlMgxlO/ZnO/Zn1-xcMgxcO/ZnO/Zn1-xrMgxrO asymmetric double quantum wells(ADQWs)with mixed phases of zinc-blende and wurtzite in Zn1-xMgxO for 0.37<x<0.62 is discussed.The mixed phases are taken into account by our weight model of fitting.The states of excitons are obtained by a finite difference method and a variational procedure in consideration of built-in electric fields(BEFs)and the Hartree potential.The optical absorption coefficients(OACs)of exciton interstate transition are obtained by the density matrix method.The results show that Hartree potential bends the conduction and valence bands,whereas a BEF tilts the bands and the combined effect enforces electrons and holes to approach the opposite interfaces to decrease the Coulomb interaction effects between electrons and holes.Furthermore,the OACs indicate a transformation between direct and indirect excitons in zinc-blende ADQWs due to the quantum confinement effects.There are two kinds of peaks corresponding to wurtzite and zinc-blende structures respectively,and the OACs merge together under some special conditions.The computed result of exciton interband emission energy agrees well with a previous experiment.Our conclusions are helpful for further relative theoretical studies,experiments,and design of devices consisting of these quantum well structures.

Dependence of interferogram phase on incident wavenumber and phase stability of Doppler asymmetric spatial heterodyne spectroscopy

Instrument drifts introduce additional phase errors into atmospheric wind measurement of Doppler asymmetric spatial heterodyne spectroscopy (DASH). Aiming at the phase sensitivity of DASH to instrument drifts, in this paper we calculate the optical path difference (OPD) and present an accurate formula of DASH interferogram. By controlling variables in computational ray-tracing simulations and laboratory experiments, it is indicated that initial phase is directly determined by incident wavenumber, OPD offset and field of view (FOV). Accordingly, it is indicated that retrieved phase of DASH is sensitive to slight structural change caused by instrument drift, which provides the proof of necessary-to-track and -correct phase errors from instrument drifts.

High-energy x-ray diffraction study on phase transition asymmetry of plastic crystal neopentylglycol

As a prototype material of colossal barocaloric effects, neopentylglycol is investigated by combining high-precision differential scanning calorimetric measurement and high-energy x-ray diffraction measurement. The diffraction data at constant temperatures indicate a first-order phase transition with thermal hysteresis as well as the phase transition asymmetry,specifically, the phase transition is completed faster at cooling than at heating. The analysis of resulting pair distribution function confirms the intermolecular disorder in the high-temperature phase. The phase transition asymmetry is quantitatively characterized by time-resolved x-ray diffraction, which is in agreement with the thermal measurement. Also, such an asymmetry is observed to be suppressed at high pressures.

Planar scintigraphy in assessment of mandibular asymmetry: Unilateral condylar hyperplasia vs asymmetric mandibular hyperplasia

Objectives: To 1) explore the planar scintigraphic findings in asymmetry patients caused by unilateral condylar hyperplasia (UCH) or asymmetric mandibular hyperplasia (AMH);2) develop a local agecondylar activity reference norm;and 3) check the accuracy of the new norm and compare with other analytical methods. Material and Method: Chinese patients with mandibular asymmetry and scintigraphic findings available were recruited. Clinical, radiographic records and scintigraphic condylar activity ratio (CAR) were studied. Regression analysis was performed to quantify the relationship between age and CAR to develop a new norm. The sensitivity of condylar activity assessment using a) traditional norm;b) new norm;and c) percentile difference was compared. In patients with serial data available, longitudinal analysis of the scintigraphic changes were checked. Result: 109 patients were eligible for the study. Significant difference in CAR was noted between UCH and AMH patients. Linear relationship was observed between age and CAR. A new norm of the age-CAR was established, which showed improved sensitivity in condylar activity prediction in UCH and AMH when compared with traditional norm. Relative to percentile difference, the sensitivity of new norm was lower in AMH but not in UCH patients. Serial analysis revealed gradual decline in CAR with minimal change in percentile difference. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: There is difference in scintigraphic condylar activity between UCH and AMH patients. A norm of age-CAR relationship was established, which showed improved sensitivity in condylar activity prediction in UCH patients. Further study is required to confirm the role of scintigraphy in AMH.

Atom-pair tunneling and quantum phase transition in asymmetry double-well trap in strong-interaction regime

The quantum effect of nonlinear co-tunnelling process, which is dependent on atom-pair tunneling and asymmetry of an double-well trap, is studied by using an asymmetrical extended Bose–Hubbard model. Due to the existence of atompair tunneling that describes quantum phenomena of ultracold atom-gas clouds in an asymmetrical double-well trap, the asymmetrical extended Bose–Hubbard model is better than the previous Bose–Hubbard model model by comparing with the experimental data cited from the literature. The dependence of dynamics and quantum phase transition on atom-pair tunneling and asymmetry are investigated. Importantly, it shows that the asymmetry of the extended Bose–Hubbard model,corresponding to the bias between double wells, leads to a number of resonance tunneling processes, which tunneling is renamed conditional resonance tunneling, and corrects the atom-number parity effect by controlling the bias between double wells.

The nonequilibrium phase transition and the symmetry revival induced by time delay in an asymmetric bistable system with correlated noises

The nonequilibrium phase transition and the symmetry revival induced by time delay in a bistable system are investigated. The stationary probability distribution function （SPDF） of the bistable system with time delay and correlated noises are calculated by an analytical method and stochastic simulation respectively. The analytical and simulative results indicate that： （1） There is a certain value of λ（λ denotes the strength of correlations between the multiplicative and additive noises） to make the SPDF symmetric under some time delay; however, above or below the given value, the symmetry will be broken; （2） With the monotonic change of λ, the unimodal peak structure of SPDF becomes bimodal at the beginning, then it becomes unimodal again; this means that there is a reentrance phenomenon in the process; （3） There is a critical value of delay time, which makes the lower peak of SPDF equal to the higher one under the critical condition. This means that the symmetry revival phenomenon emerges.

Phase-engineering modulation of Mn-based oxide cathode for constructing super-stable sodium storage

The Mn-based oxide cathode with enriched crystal phase structure and component diversity can provide the excellent chemistry structure for Na-ion batteries.Nevertheless,the broad application prospect is obstructed by the sluggish Na^(+)kinetics and the phase transitions upon cycling.Herein,we establish the thermodynamically stable phase diagram of various Mn-based oxide composites precisely controlled by sodium content tailoring strategy coupling with co-doping and solid-state reaction.The chemical environment of the P2/P'3 and P2/P3 biphasic composites indicate that the charge compensation mechanism stems from the cooperative contribution of anions and cations.Benefiting from the no phase transition to scavenge the structure strain,P2/P'3 electrode can deliver long cycling stability(capacity retention of 73.8%after 1000 cycles at 10 C)and outstanding rate properties(the discharge capacity of 84.08 mA h g^(-1)at 20 C)than P2/P3 electrode.Furthermore,the DFT calculation demonstrates that the introducing novel P'3 phase can significantly regulate the Na^(+)reaction dynamics and modify the local electron configuration of Mn.The effective phase engineering can provide a reference for designing other high-performance electrode materials for Na-ion batteries.

Recent advances in graphene-based phase change composites for thermal energy storage and management

Energy storage and conservation are receiving increased attention due to rising global energy demands.Therefore,the development of energy storage materials is crucial.Thermal energy storage(TES)systems based on phase change materials(PCMs)have increased in prominence over the past two decades,not only because of their outstanding heat storage capacities but also their superior thermal energy regulation capability.However,issues such as leakage and low thermal conductivity limit their applicability in a variety of settings.Carbon-based materials such as graphene and its derivatives can be utilized to surmount these obstacles.This study examines the recent advancements in graphene-based phase change composites(PCCs),where graphene-based nanostructures such as graphene,graphene oxide(GO),functionalized graphene/GO,and graphene aerogel(GA)are incorporated into PCMs to substantially enhance their shape stability and thermal conductivity that could be translated to better storage capacity,durability,and temperature response,thus boosting their attractiveness for TES systems.In addition,the applications of these graphene-based PCCs in various TES disciplines,such as energy conservation in buildings,solar utilization,and battery thermal management,are discussed and summarized.

THE ASYMMETRIC SYNTHESIS OF AMINO ACIDS UNDER POLYMER-SUPPORTED PHASE TRANSFER CATALYTIC CONDITION

The optical alpha-amino acids were synthesized under room temperature by alkylation of N-(diphenyl methylene) glycine t-butyl ester under polymer-supported phase transfer conditions using polymer-supported cinchonine (or quinine) alkaloids as chiral phase transfer catalysts and dichloromethane as solvent, followed by hydrolysis of the above intermediates introduced to the final products-optical alpha-amino acids. This is a new method for the asymmetric synthesis of alpha-amino acids. The influences of catalyst, temperature, substrates, and organic solvents on the chemical yield and optical purities of products were studied.

THz-Wave Difference Frequency Generation by Phase-Matching in GaAs/Al_(x)Ga_(1-x)As Asymmetric Quantum Well

An asymmetric quantum well (AQW) is designed to emit a terahertz (THz) wave by using difference frequency generation (DFG) with the structure of GaAs/Al_(0.2)Ga_(0.8)As/Al_(0.5) Ga_(0.5)As under a doubly resonant condition.It is found that the second-order nonlinear susceptibility χ^((2)) varies with the two pump wavelengths,and it can reach the peak value of 1.61 μm/V when the wavelengths are given as λ_(p1) =9.756 μm and λ_(p2) =10.96 μm,respectively.The numerical results show that the refractive index of one pump wave in the AQW is concerned with not only its own wavelength but also the other wavelength.Phase-matching inside the AQW can be obtained through the tuning of the two pump wavelengths.

Phase separation and transcriptional regulation in cancer development

Liquid-liquid phase separation,a novel biochemical phenomenon,has been increasingly studied for its medical applications.It underlies the formation of membrane-less organelles and is involved in many cellular and biological processes.During transcriptional regulation,dynamic condensates are formed through interactions between transcriptional elements,such as transcription factors,coactivators,and mediators.Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation,but the precise mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis often remain to be elucidated.Emerging evidence has linked abnormal transcriptional condensates to several diseases,especially cancer,implying that phase separation plays an important role in tumorigenesis.Condensates formed by phase separation may have an effect on gene transcription in tumors.In the present review,we focus on the correlation between phase separation and transcriptional regulation,as well as how this phenomenon contributes to cancer development.

Shikimic acid accelerates phase change and flowering in Chinese jujube

The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely unknown. Shikimic acid (ShA) pathway is a main metabolic pathway closely related to the synthesis of hormones and many important secondary metabolites participating in plant phase change. So,whether ShA regulates phase change in plants is worth clarifying. Here, the distinct morphological characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of phase change in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an important fruit tree native to China with nutritious fruit and outstanding tolerance abiotic stresses, were clarified. A combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis found that ShA is positively involved in jujube(Yuhong’×Xing 16’) phase change. The genes in the upstream of ShA synthesis pathway (ZjDAHPS, ZjDHQS and ZjSDH), the contents of ShA and the downstream secondary metabolites like phenols were significantly upregulated in the phase change period. Further, the treatment of spraying exogenous ShA verified that ShA at a very low concentration (60 mg·L^(-1)) can substantially speed up the phase change and flowering of jujube and other tested plants including Arabidopsis, tomato and wheat. The exogenous ShA (60 mg·L^(-1)) treatment in jujube seedlings could increase the accumulation of endogenous ShA, enhance leaf photosynthesis and the synthesis of phenols especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, and promote the expression of genes (ZjCOs, ZjNFYs and ZjPHYs) involved in flowering pathway. Basing on above results, we put forward a propose for the underlying mechanism of ShA regulating phase change, and a hypothesis that ShA could be considered a phytohormone-like substance because it is endogenous, ubiquitous, movable and highly efficient at very low concentrations. This study highlights the critical role of ShA in plant phase change and its phytohormone-like properties.

Phase transition of asymmetric diblock copolymer induced by nanorods of different properties

We investigate the microphase transition of asymmetric diblock copolymer induced by nanorods of different properties using cell dynamics simulation and Brown dynamics.The results show the phase diagram and representative nanostructures of the diblock copolymer nanocomposite.Various structures such as sea-island structure(SI),sea-island and lamellar structure(SI-L),and lamellar structure(L) are observed in the phase diagram.The system undergoes phase transition from SI-L to SI or from L to SI with increasing length of A-like sites for all numbers of nanorods except 10 and 300,and from SI to L with increasing number of nanorods for all lengths of A-like sites.Notably,the polymer system transforms from a tilted layered structure to a parallel lamellar,perpendicular lamellar,and subsequently sea-island structure with increasing length of A-like sites for a rod number of 240.To gain more detailed insight into these structural formation mechanisms,we analyze the evolution kinetics of the system with various lengths of A-like sites of the rods.The pattern evolution and domain growth of the ordered parallel/perpendicular lamellar structure are also investigated.Furthermore,the effects of the wetting strength,rod-rod interaction,polymerization degree,and length of nanorods on the self-assembled structure of asymmetric diblock copolymer/nanorods are studied.Our simulations provide theoretical guidance on the construction of complex-assembled structures and the design of novel functional materials.