Explore the vast range of titles available.

Magnetic levitation (MagLev) is a promising density-based analytical technique with numerous applications. Several MagLev structures with different levels of sensitivity and range have been studied. However, these MagLev structures can seldom satisfy the different performance requirements simultaneously, such as high sensitivity, wide measurement range, and easy operation, which have prevented them from being widely used. In this work, a tunable MagLev system was developed. It is confirmed by numerical simulation and experiments that this system possesses a high resolution down to 10−7 g/cm3 or even higher compared to the existing systems. Meanwhile, the resolution and range of this tunable system can be adjusted to meet different requirements of measurement. More importantly, this system can be operated simply and conveniently. This bundle of characteristics demonstrates that the novel tunable MagLev system could be handily applied in various density-based analyses on demand, which would greatly expand the ability of MagLev technology.

The effect of the temperature on the characteristics of the oxide films on AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) at 1073–1273 K was investigated through scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction. Elemental enrichments in the outer oxide layer and internal oxide zone were studied. The oxidation resistance of AlCoCrFeNi HEA was compared with two commercial alloys [825 Ni-based alloy and 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS)] with similar Cr content at 1273 K. These alloys are ranked as follows in descending order of oxidation resistance at 1273 K: AlCoCrFeNi HEA, 825 Ni-based alloy, and 2205 DSS. At 1273 K, both Cr and Mo were enriched in the outer oxide layer on 825 Ni-based alloy and 2205 DSS. Only Cr enrichment was observed on the AlCoCrFeNi HEA, but the Cr content in the outer oxide layer on the HEA was greater than those on the 825 Ni-based alloy and 2205 DSS. This might be the main reason why the AlCoCrFeNi HEA showed the best oxidation resistance among the three studied alloys.

Traditional manual measurement of Cobb angle is a time-consuming process and leads to different results. To address this issue, this paper proposes a deep learning-based method of locating the vertebral center points. The whole X-ray can be input into the network for prediction, without worrying about the detection of cervical vertebrae with similar characteristics to the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. First, key points predicting and noise points filtering operations are employed to obtain vertebral center points for fitting. Then, the spine curve is fitted, and the slope of the normal line of the spine curve is adjusted according to an empirical formula. Finally, the Cobb angle allowed by the error is calculated. Through the reliability analysis of the traditional manual measurement method and the automatic detection method in this paper, ICC (intraclass correlation coefficient) with the two observers was 0.897 and 0.901, respectively, and MAD (mean absolute deviation) was 3.13° and 3.04° respectively. This indicates that the automatic detecting method by computer has good reliability. Therefore, this method can be used to detect scoliosis quickly and effectively.

Electrochemical hydrogen charging was performed on a 30CrMnSiNi2A steel tensile sample, and the difference in hydrogen-charging effect with different hydrogen-charging times, current densities, and toxic agents was compared. The effect of hydrogen on the tensile strength, elongation and failure mode of the material was studied by the tensile test of slow strain rate. Results of the test show that hydrogen can greatly reduce the tensile strength, plastic deformation capacity, and elongation of 30CrMnSiNi2A steel, and the higher the hydrogen concentration in the material is, the more obvious the reduction will be. Hydrogen can make the failure mode of 30CrMnSiNi2A steel change from ductile failure to quasi-joint fracture and intergranular fracture.

Lawsonia intracellularis , the etiologic agent of proliferative enteropathy (PE), is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium possessing a type III secretion system (T3SS), which enables the pathogen to translocate effector proteins into targeted host cells to modulate their functions. T3SS is a syringe-like apparatus consisting of a base, an extracellular needle, a tip, and a translocon. The translocon proteins assembled by two hydrophobic membrane proteins can form pores in the host-cell membrane, and therefore play an essential role in the function of T3SS. To date, little is known about the T3SS and translocon proteins of L. intracellularis . In this study, we first analyzed the conservation of the T3S apparatus between L. intracellularis and Yersinia , and characterized the putative T3S hydrophobic major translocon protein LI1158 and minor translocon protein LI1159 in the L. intracellularis genome. Then, by using Yersinia pseudotuberculosis as a surrogate system, we found that the full-length LI1158 and LI1159 proteins, but not the putative class II chaperone LI1157, were secreted in a − Ca 2+ and T3SS-dependent manner and the secretion signal was located at the N terminus (aa 1–40). Furthermore, yeast-two hybrid experiments revealed that LI1158 and LI1159 could self-interact, and LI1159 could interact with LI1157. However, unlike CPn0809 and YopB, which are the major hydrophobic translocon proteins of the T3SS of C. pneumoniae and Yersinia , respectively, full-length LI1158 was non-toxic to both yeast and Escherichia coli cells, but full-length LI1159 showed certain toxicity to E. coli cells. Taken together, despite some differences from the findings in other bacteria, our results demonstrate that LI1158 and LI1159 may be the translocon proteins of L. intracellularis T3SS, and probably play important roles in the translocation of effector proteins at the early pathogen infection stage.

To explore the influence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA levels before and after induction chemotherapy (IC), tumor response to IC, and baseline factors on overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). A nomogram was subsequently constructed to explore the individualized optimal cumulative cisplatin dose (CCD) in concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). A total of 581 LA-NPC patients were included, randomly divided into training and validation cohorts in a 7:3 ratio. In the training cohort, a nomogram was subsequently established based on multivariate Cox regression analysis and then validated. Subsequently, patients were classified into different risk groups based on the nomogram, and the impact of different levels of CCD on survival outcomes was evaluated. EBV DNA levels after IC, tumor response to IC, age, and LDH were independent prognostic factors of OS. Schoenfeld residual analysis indicated overall satisfaction of the proportional hazards assumption for the Cox regression model. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.758 (95% CI: 0.695-0.821) for the training cohort and 0.701 (95% CI: 0.589-0.813) for the validation cohort. Calibration curves demonstrated good correlation between the nomogram and actual survival outcomes. DCA confirmed the clinical utility enhancement of the nomogram over the TNM staging system. For OS, patients in the medium/high-risk group with a CCD > 200 mg/m² had better outcomes than those with CCD ≤ 200 mg/m², although the difference was not statistically significant ( = 0.097). No significant difference was observed in local relapse-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and progression-free survival (PFS) across various levels of CCD in different risk subgroups ( > 0.05). The nomogram based on EBV DNA levels after IC, tumor response, LDH, and age effectively predicts OS in LA-NPC patients, aids in risk stratification, and may guide treatment decisions.

Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired through two major pathways, homology-directed recombination (HDR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). While HDR can only occur in S/G2, NHEJ can happen in all cell cycle phases (except mitosis). How then is the repair choice made in S/G2 cells? Here we provide evidence demonstrating that APC Cdh1 plays a critical role in choosing the repair pathways in S/G2 cells. Our results suggest that the default for all DSBs is to recruit 53BP1 and RIF1. BRCA1 is blocked from being recruited to broken ends because its recruitment signal, K63-linked poly-ubiquitin chains on histones, is actively destroyed by the deubiquitinating enzyme USP1. We show that the removal of USP1 depends on APC Cdh1 and requires Chk1 activation known to be catalysed by ssDNA-RPA-ATR signalling at the ends designated for HDR, linking the status of end processing to RIF1 or BRCA1 recruitment. The choice between homologous recombination and non-homologous end-joining is largely influenced by cell cycle. Here the authors show that APCCdh1 promotes homologous recombination by removing USP1, allowing polyubiquitinated histones to recruit BRCA1.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) remains the most common Gram‐positive bacterium causing neonatal meningitis and GBS meningitis continues to be an important cause of mortality and morbidity. In this study, we showed that GBS penetration into the brain occurred initially in the meningeal and cortex capillaries, and exploits a defined host cell signaling network comprised of S1P 2 , EGFR, and CysLT1. GBS exploitation of such network in penetration of the blood–brain barrier was demonstrated by targeting S1P 2 , EGFR, and CysLT1 using pharmacological inhibition, gene knockout and knockdown cells, and gene knockout animals, as well as interrogation of the network (up‐ and downstream of each other). More importantly, counteracting such targets as a therapeutic adjunct to antibiotic therapy was beneficial in improving the outcome of animals with GBS meningitis. These findings indicate that investigating GBS penetration of the blood–brain barrier provides a novel approach for therapeutic development of GBS meningitis. Synopsis Group B Streptococci (GBS) exploit specific host factors S1P2, EGFR and CysLT1 to penetrate the blood‐brain barrier, which is the essential step in the development of GBS meningitis. These host factors function as a distinct network, with S1P2 and CysLT1 acting as upstream and downstream molecules of EGFR. S1P2, EGFR and CysLT1 are key host molecules contributing to the pathogenesis of GBS meningitis. Targeting these molecules as an adjunct therapy improves the outcome of animals with GBS meningitis. Graphical Abstract Group B Streptococci (GBS) exploit specific host factors S1P2, EGFR and CysLT1 to penetrate the blood‐brain barrier, which is the essential step in the development of GBS meningitis. These host factors function as a distinct network, with S1P2 and CysLT1 acting as upstream and downstream molecules of EGFR.

The present research utilized diffusion bonding to create a metallurgically bonded Incoloy 825/carbon steel bimetal. The interfacial bonding behavior of bimetals was investigated using a variety of heat treatment technologies. The interfacial bonding shear strength increased initially and then decreased with increasing tempering time, reaching a maximum at 45 minutes. The cohesion strength was attributed to the diffusion distance and diffusion gradient of chromium in terms of interfacial diffusion behavior. The precipitation behavior of carbides and their associated cohesion strength were observed as a function of tempering time using an image-based analysis technique. The uniform diameter, area, and sphericity of the carbides resulted in a high cohesion strength. Additionally, a nanoindentation technique was used to characterize the interfacial cohesion behavior, taking into account dislocation multiplication and localized mechanical behavior during deformation. The critical shear strength of dissimilar metals near the bimetal interface reaches its maximum and the geometrically necessary dislocation (GN(D) densities remain constant after 45 minutes of tempering, indicating that a high interfacial bonded shear strength may be attributed to localized compatible deformation of dissimilar metals near the bimetal interface.

Background Severe spinal deformity (Cobb angle > 90°) often leads to cardiopulmonary dysfunction, posing significant surgical risks. We report a rare case of severe kyphoscoliosis with cardiopulmonary failure treated with non-invasive ventilation, anti-shock treatment, Halo-pelvic traction (HPT), and orthopedic surgery, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary cooperation. Case presentation A 13-year-old Boy with genetic suspicion of distal arthrogryposis (Type 5D) presented with Cobb angles of 94° (scoliosis) and 69° (kyphosis), respiratory failure (PO 2 36.3 mmHg), and pre-shock status. A multidisciplinary team stabilized the patient using non-invasive ventilation, nutritional optimization and HPT. Post-traction correction rates reached 46.8% (coronal) and 53.6% (sagittal). Subsequent posterior spinal fusion (T1-L5) achieved 69% correction, resolving cardiopulmonary dysfunction and resulting in a highly satisfactory therapeutic outcome. Conclusions This case illustrates a case with severe spinal deformity combined with extremely severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction and highlights the importance of multidisciplinary cooperation in high-risk pediatric patients.