Effect of Asymmetry on the Contact Time of Droplet Impact on Superhydrophobic Cylindrical Surfaces.

Reducing the contact time during the droplet impact on the surface is crucial for anti-icing, self-cleaning, and heat transfer optimization applications. This study aims to minimize the contact time by modifying the surface curvature to create an asymmetric impact process. Our experiments showed that the increase in Weber numbers (We) and the decrease in the ratio of surface diameter to droplet diameter (D*) intensify the asymmetry of the impact process, yielding four distinct rebound modes. Low asymmetry observes the liquid retract toward the central point (Rebound Modes 1 and 2), whereas high asymmetry yields a wing-like rebound (Rebound Modes 3 and 4). In Rebound Mode 1, increased asymmetry would lead to more extended contact due to the prolonged waiting period. Conversely, the reduction in contact time in Rebound Mode 2 occurs due to increased asymmetry with no waiting period. For Rebound Modes 3 and 4, the retraction time could be divided into three stages, generated by two liquid detachment modes from the surface. Analysis reveals that an increased asymmetry would reduce the retraction time during the first stage but prolong it during the third stage, with no significant effects on the second. Four correlations, each pertaining to a distinct impact mode, are proposed based on these analyses to describe the contact time concerning We and D* for droplets impacting a superhydrophobic cylindrical surface.

Effect of Natural Aging on Cold Forming Performance of 2219 Aluminum Alloy.

To facilitate the manufacturing of the thin-walled components of 2219 aluminum alloy, the quenching-forming-aging (Q-F-A) process has been increasingly utilized. However, natural aging (NA) after quenching significantly affects the cold forming performance of this alloy. In this study, experiments are conducted to investigate the effect of NA time on the cold forming performance of 2219 aluminum alloy. The results indicate that NA can weaken the Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect, thereby reducing its influence on the cold forming performance of the alloy. The PLC effect becomes indistinct when the aging time reaches 2 years. The yield strength of 2219 aluminum alloy increases monotonically with aging time, while the elongation first increases rapidly and then decreases. After an aging time of 2 years, the yield strength increases by 28.6% from that of newly quenched alloys. The strain hardening index and hardening coefficient indicate that short-term NA (less than 4 days) increases the work hardening rate, while long-term NA reduces it. Microstructural analysis shows that the strengthening effect of NA on 2219 aluminum alloy is mainly due to the growth of G.P. zones and the precipitation of θ″ phases. The NA precipitation behavior can also cause the aggregation of solute atoms and weaken the PLC effect.

Molecular Epidemiology and Pathogenic Characterization of Novel Chicken Infectious Anemia Viruses in Henan Province of China.

Chicken infectious anemia (CIA) is an immunosuppressive disease caused by the chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) resulting in heavy economic losses once an outbreak is established. This study conducted a systematic analysis of the epidemiology and pathology of CIA in Henan province, China. A total of 437 clinical tissue samples and 120 poultry disease-related live attenuated vaccines were collected during 2017-2020; of which 45 were positive for CIAV nucleic acid, with a positive rate of 8.08%. Our results showed that genome sequence similarity among a total of 12 CIAV isolates was high, and ranged from 97.1 to 99.3%, and their similarity to the vaccine strains Cux-1 and Del-Ros ranged from 97.8 to 98.6%. However, There were mutations in the locus of the major capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 among all isolates. The subsequent sequence analysis indicated that the isolates of HN-4 and HN-8 showed genetic recombination and follow up animal experiments revealed that HN-4 might be a pathogenic strain. Our results reveal that both field infection and non-CIAV vaccines contamination promote the epidemiology of CIAV in China and some dominant epidemic viruses have undergone recombination and evolution. This study provides important information to help with the prevention and control of CIAV in the poultry industry.

[Comparative study on posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autologous hamstring tendon and LARS artificial ligament in the treatment of KD-â ¢-M knee dislocation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effect of one-stage reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in patients with KD-Ⅲ-M knee injury, and to compare the operation time, hospitalization cost and curative effect after arthroscopic reconstruction of PCL with LARS artificial ligament and autogenous hamstring tendon, ACL reconstruction with autogenous hamstring tendon and MCL repair combined with limited incision. METHODS: From March 2016 to January 2019, a total of 36 patients met the criteria of this study. Twenty patients in group A were treated with autogenous hamstring tendon reconstruction of ACL and PCL and repair of MCL, including 17 males and 3 females, with an average age of (34.7±9.2) years old. Sixteen patients in group B with LARS artificial ligament reconstruction of PCL, with an autogenous hamstring tendon reconstruction of PCL and MCL repair as before as group B, including 15 males and 1 female, with an average age of (36.8±8.6) years old. The operation time, hospitalization time and total hospitalization cost were compared between the two groups. The preoperative and postoperative functions of the two groups were evaluated by Hospital for Sepcial Surgery (HSS) score and Lysholm score respectively, and the curative effects were compared within and between groups. RESULTS: All the patients in the two groups were followed up for at least 1 year. There were no complications such as infection and poor wound healing in both groups. There was significant difference in operation time between (120.25±9.55) min in group A and (106.63±8.85) min in group B (P<0.01). The average hospitalization days in group A was (10.60±1.64) days, while that in group B was (10.38±1.59) days. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The HSS score of group A increased from preoperative 32.95±5.03 to postoperative 84.70±5.72 (P<0.01), and that of group B increased from preoperative 33.81±4.10 to postoperative 85.00±5.25 (P<0.01). The Lyshlom score in group A increased from preoperative 21.10±3.46 to postoperative 80.25±5.75 (P<0.01), and in group B increased from preoperative 21.56±3.01 to postoperative 80.00±4.30(P<0.01). There was no significant difference in preoperative and postoperative scores between the two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the average hospitalization days between the two groups, but the operation time in group A was longerthan that in group B, and the hospitalization cost in group B was higher than that in group A. There was no difference in HSS score and Lysholm score before and follow-up for a certain period of time after operation.

Rebound Behaviors of Multiple Droplets Simultaneously Impacting a Superhydrophobic Surface.

The rebound behaviors of multiple droplets simultaneously impacting a superhydrophobic surface were investigated via lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) simulations. Three rebound regions were identified, i.e., an edge-dominating region, a center-dominating region, and an independent rebound region. The occurrence of the rebound regions strongly depends on the droplet spacing and the associated Weber and Reynolds numbers. Three new rebound morphologies, i.e., a pin-shaped morphology, a downward comb-shaped morphology, and an upward comb-shaped morphology, were presented. Intriguingly, in the edge-dominating region, the central droplets experience a secondary wetting process to significantly prolong the contact time. However, in the center-dominating region, the contact time is dramatically shortened because of the strong interactions generated by the central droplets and the central ridges. These findings provide useful information for practical applications such as self-cleaning, anticorrosion, anti-icing, and so forth.

Comparison of the effectiveness of autologous grafts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A protocol for an overview of systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament rupture is a common motor system injury, and the most effective treatment is anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Choosing the right graft is an important factor to ensure the success of the surgery. Current research shows that the clinical effect of autologous ligaments is better than that of allogeneic ligaments and artificial ligaments. However, there are differences between the autogenous ligaments, and how to choose them is still controversial. This study evaluated the published systematic reviews on the efficacy of different autologous ligament grafts in ACLR, and based on this, conducted a network meta-analysis of related randomized controlled trials. METHODS: We searched 8 international and Chinese databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The methodological quality of systematic reviews will be evaluated by Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR2) measurement tool. Cochrane's risk of bias tool will be used to assess the risk of bias of included randomized controlled trials, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be used to evaluate the evidence quality. Network meta-analysis will be applied to evaluate the therapeutic effect of different autologous grafts. The main outcome measures are IKDC score, clinical failure rate, Lachman test, Lysholm score, and the incidence of complications. Odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval will be used to synthesize the dichotomy results, while the mean difference and 95% confidence interval of continuous variables will be used for continuous variables. RESULTS: This study will provide comprehensive evidence for the application of autologous grafts in ACLR. CONCLUSION: The results of this study will help clinicians make appropriate decisions. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER: INPLASY202090061.

[Mobile Source Emission Inventory with High Spatiotemporal Resolution in Tianjin in 2017].

Mobile source emissions have become a major contributor to air pollution in urban areas. Most of the previous studies focus on the emissions from a single source such as on-road mobile source (vehicles) or non-road mobile source (construction machinery, agricultural machinery, ships, railway diesel locomotives, aircraft), but few studies investigate the mobile source emissions as a whole. In this study, we introduced a method for developing mobile source emission inventory with high spatiotemporal resolution, and applied this method in Tianjin in 2017 to analyze the emission compositions and spatiotemporal characteristics there. The results showed that the CO, VOCs, NOx, and PM10 emissions from the mobile sources were 183.03, 64.18, 149.85, and 8.36 thousand tons, respectively. The on-road mobile source was the main contributor to CO and VOCs emissions, accounting for 85.38% and 86.60%, respectively. The non-road mobile source was the main contributor to NOx and PM10 emissions, accounting for 57.32% and 66.95%, respectively. According to the temporal distributions, the mobile source emissions were lowest in February for all pollutants. Moreover, they were highest in October for CO and VOCs and in August for NOx and PM10. Holidays (such as Spring Festival and National Day) have a significant impact on the temporal distribution of the mobile source emissions. According to the spatial distributions, the CO and VOCs emissions were concentrated in urban areas and roads with heavy traffic flow (highways and national highways), and the NOx and PM10 were concentrated in urban areas and port areas. The spatial distributions of different pollutants were determined by the location of their major contributors. This study can provide the required data for fine air pollution control and air quality simulation in Tianjin. Moreover, this method can be applied to the other areas where a mobile source emission inventory needs to be developed.

[Vehicle Emission Inventory and Scenario Analysis in Liaoning from 2000 to 2030].

Vehicle emissions have become a major source of air pollution in urban cities. The vehicle emission inventory of the Liaoning province from 2000 to 2030 was established based on the COPERT model and ArcGIS, and the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of six pollutants (CO, NMVOC, NOx, PM10, SO2, and CO2) were analyzed. Taking 2016 as the base year, eight scenarios of control measures were designed based on scenario analysis, and the effects of different scenarios on emission reduction were assessed. Results showed that during 2000-2016, CO, NMVOC, NOx, and PM10 emissions at first exhibited increasing trends, after which they decreased. Emissions of SO2 exhibited fluctuating trends, while the emissions of CO2 showed a continuous increase. Passenger cars and motorcycles were the main contributors of CO and NMVOC emissions. Heavy-duty trucks and buses were the main sources of NOx and PM10 emissions. Passenger cars were the major contributors to SO2 and CO2 emissions. Vehicle emissions were significantly higher in the central and southern in Liaoning Province. At the city level, vehicle emissions were mainly concentrated in Shenyang and Dalian. The scenario analysis showed that the implementation of stricter vehicle emission standards can enhance the emission reduction effect. Moreover, accelerating the implementation of new emission standards was beneficial to reduce emissions. The integrated scenario would achieve the maximum emission reduction, with reduction rates of CO, NMVOC, NOx, PM10, CO2, and SO2 at 30.7%, 14.3%, 81.7%, 29.4%, 12.3%, and 12.1%, respectively.

MicroRNA-185 inhibits the growth and proliferation of osteoblasts in fracture healing by targeting PTH gene through down-regulating Wnt/ß -catenin axis: In an animal experiment.

Fracture healing is a repair process of a mechanical discontinuity loss of force transmission, and pathological mobility of bone. Increasing evidence suggests that microRNA (miRNA) could regulate chondrocyte, osteoblast, and osteoclast differentiation and function, indicating miRNA as key regulators of bone formation, resorption, remodeling, and repair. Hence, during this study, we established a right femur fracture mouse model to explore the effect microRNA-185 (miR-185) has on osteoblasts in mice during fracture healing and its underlying mechanism. After successfully model establishment, osteoblasts were extracted and treated with a series of mimics or inhibitors of miR-185, or siRNA against PTH. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis were performed to determine the levels of miR-185, PTH, ß-catenin and Wnt5b. Cell viability, cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by means of MTT and flow cytometry assays. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay verified that PTH is a target gene of miR-185. Osteoblasts transfected with miR-185 mimics or siRNA against PTH presented with decreased levels of PTH, ß-catenin and Wnt5b which indicated that miR-185 blocks the Wnt/ß -catenin axis by inhibiting PTH. Moreover, miR-185 inhibitors promoted the osteoblast viability and reduced apoptosis with more cells arrested at the G1 stage. MiR-185 mimics were observed to have inhibitory effects on osteoblasts as opposed to those induced by miR-185 inhibitors. Above key results indicated that suppression of miR-185 targeting PTH could promote osteoblast growth and proliferation in mice during fracture healing through activating Wnt/ß -catenin axis.

Transrectal microwave thermotherapy causing a short-time influence on sperm quality in Chinese chronic nonbacterial prostatitis patients.

Chronic prostatitis can affect the sperm's quality. Previous studies have shown that transrectal microwave thermotherapy (TRMT) results in symptomatic relief in patients with chronic prostatitis, but the effects on sperm have not been carefully investigated. This study evaluates the impact of TRMT on the relief or decrease of symptoms and quality of sperm when used to treat patients with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis. Sixty patients were enrolled in the study. TRMT treatment was administered over 5 days, 1 h per day. Semen examination was carried out pretreatment and immediately at the conclusion of the 5-day treatment. Also, it was repeated 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months later. The treatment's symptom relief efficacy was evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). After the treatment, the overall NIH-CPSI scores were lower compared to those of pretreatment. In addition, the white blood cells and lecithin in expressed prostatic secretion were normal after the treatment. The sperm count was decreased by 23.8% 3 months after the treatment, sperm motility was reduced by 10.3% immediately after treatment, and sperm deformity was increased by 17.2%. The sperm volume and PH were not affected. However, the sperm quality recovered after treatment and the malformation rate was also lower at 6 months after treatment. TRMT is a favorable and safe treatment option for patients with nonbacterial chronic prostatitis. It could relieve the patient's symptoms and impact on sperm quality in the short-term.

Synergistic Apoptotic Effect of D-Fraction From Grifola frondosa and Vitamin C on Hepatocellular Carcinoma SMMC-7721 Cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer effect of a combination of D-fraction polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa (DFP) and vitamin C (VC) on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro. DFP is a bioactive extract from the maitake mushroom. Anticancer activity was demonstrated using various concentrations of DFP alone or in combination with VC against the human hepatocarcinoma SMMC-7721 cell line. To investigate the anticancer mechanism, studies designed to detect cell apoptosis were conducted. Results from the MTT assay indicated that a combination of DFP (0.2 mg/mL) and VC (0.3 mmol/L) led to a 70% reduction in cell viability. Flow cytometry results indicated that DFP/VC treatment induced apoptosis in approximately 65% SMMC-7721 cells. Cell cycle analysis identified cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase following DFP/VC treatment for 48 hours. In addition, cellular morphological changes were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Western blot analysis revealed that the upregulation of BAX, downregulation of Bcl-2, activation of poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP), and the release of cytochrome c were observed in cells treated with the combination of DFP/VC, which showed that the mechanism of anticancer activity in the SMMC-7721 hepatocarcinoma cells involved induction of apoptosis.

[Reconstruction of complex proximal tibial defects using the long-stem tibial component combined with metallic wedge].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate results of total knee arthroplasty using the long-stem tibial component combined with metallic wedge of knee prosthesis for the treatment of proximal defects. METHODS: From January 2011 to May 2013, 10 patients (11 knees) were treated with total knee arthroplasties using the long-stem tibial component with metallic tibial wedge of knee prosthesis. All the patients were female and the average age was 67 years old (ranged, 60 to 77 years old). All the patients were osteoarthritis. All the patients were classified as T2A style. The patients were evaluated according to knee score system (KSS). RESULTS: All the patients were followed up for 12 months on average (ranged 3 to 29 months). The clinical outcome was assessed using KSS score, including knee pain score, knee stability score, knee range of motion score and knee walking score, knee stairs score. There were significantly differences at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months between pre-and postoperative KSS score. CONCLUSION: The mechanical stability of tibial fixation in primary TKA is significantly increased by using the long-stem tibial component with metallic wedge of knee prosthesis, even in the presence of poor proximal bone.