Experimental study on opto-acoustic nonlinear frequency-mixing technique with separated basic temperature.

Different from the traditional frequency-mixing technique which employs a contacting transducer, the laser-induced acoustic nonlinear frequency-mixing detection technique utilizes a laser source to instigate crack motion and generate acoustic waves. Thus, apart from the temperature oscillation induced by the pump laser, the "basic temperature" originating from the probe laser can also influence the crack. This additional variable complicates the contact state of the crack, yielding a more diverse range of nonlinear acoustic signal attributes. In light of this, our study enhances the conventional opto-acoustic nonlinear frequency mixing experimental setup by integrating an independent heating laser beam. This modification isolates the impact of the "basic temperature" on crack width while also dialing down the probe laser power to mitigate its thermal effects. To amplify the sensitivity of crack detection, we deliberated on the optimal laser source parameters for this setup. Consequently, our revamped system, paired with fine-tuned parameters, captures nonlinear acoustic signals with an enriched feature set. This investigation can provide support for the non-contact opto-acoustic nonlinear frequency mixing technique in the detection and evaluation of micro-cracks.

Study of thermal effects induced by the high-frequency probing laser in nonlinear opto-acoustic frequency-mixing technique.

Photo-thermal modulation-based nonlinear opto-acoustic frequency-mixing technique is an effective method for detecting micro-cracks. When using this technique for micro-crack detection, the selection of laser source parameters is particularly crucial. Compared to traditional piezo-transducer-based mixing techniques, the characteristic of using a laser as the detection source is the presence of thermal effects. The thermal effect caused by laser irradiation on the sample surface can not only generate acoustic waves but also affect the crack state, thus influencing nonlinear signals. In this paper, an experimental setup using photo-thermal modulation-based nonlinear opto-acoustic frequency-mixing technique has been set up to investigate the thermal effects of the probe laser source. In addition, a corresponding physical model has been established to discuss the physical mechanisms revealed by the experimental results. This study provides a basis for selecting appropriate probe source parameters and scanning positions of laser sources when detecting micro-cracks using the photo-thermal modulation-based nonlinear opto-acoustic frequency-mixing technique.

Interventional chemoembolization for the treatment of severe ulcerative bleeding caused by advanced breast cancer: A report of two cases.

Local ulcerative cutaneous hemorrhage resulting from breast cancer profoundly effects the quality of life of patients, at times even posing a threat to life. While early diagnosis rates of breast cancer have shown improvement, some patients may present at an advanced stage upon consultation. Presently, there is no standardized treatment approach for these patients. In this context, the present study presented two case studies detailing the use of interventional embolization chemotherapy for addressing severe local ulcerative hemorrhage associated with breast cancer. Post-treatment, there was a notable amelioration in the mammary ulceration among the patients, an elevated hemoglobin level compared with baseline and a consequent enhancement in their overall quality of life. These cases may serve as valuable references for the management of such clinical situations.

Clinically approved small-molecule drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a persistent autoimmune ailment that is typified by the development of pannus, proliferation of synovial lining cells, microvascular neogenesis, infiltration of interstitial inflammatory cells, and destruction of cartilage and bone tissue. The disease not only imposes physical pain and economic burden on patients, but also results in a significant decline in their quality of life, rendering it a leading cause of disability. General treatment and drugs are commonly employed to alleviate the condition and symptoms of RA. Cyclooxygenase (COX), janus kinase (JAK), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) et al. have been identified as the main therapeutic targets for RA. This article provides a comprehensive review of the clinical applications and synthetic routes of 26 representative drugs for the treatment of RA, with the aim of facilitating the discovery of more effective new drugs for the treatment of this debilitating disease.

Recent advance of small-molecule drugs for clinical treatment of multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic neoplasm of plasma cells that is currently deemed incurable. Despite the introduction of novel immunomodulators and proteasome inhibitors, MM remains a challenging disease with high rates of relapse and refractoriness. The management of refractory and relapsed MM patients remains a formidable task, primarily due to the emergence of multiple drug resistance. Consequently, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic agents to address this clinical challenge. In recent years, a significant amount of research has been dedicated to the discovery of novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of MM. The clinical utilization of proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib and immunomodulator pomalidomide has been successively introduced. As basic research continues to advance, novel therapeutic agents, including panobinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, and selinexor, a nuclear export inhibitor, have progressed to the clinical trial and application phase. This review aims to furnish a comprehensive survey of the clinical applications and synthetic pathways of select drugs, with the intention of imparting valuable insights for future drug research and development geared towards MM.

Author Correction: Chiral recognition and enantiomer excess determination based on emission wavelength change of AIEgen rotor.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Enhanced DNA Sensing and Chiroptical Performance by Restriction of Double-Bond Rotation of AIE cis-Tetraphenylethylene Macrocycle Diammoniums.

The aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanism of restriction of double-bond rotation (RDBR) was utilized to design an excellent solid emitter and sensor for the first time. Thus, cis-tetraphenylethylene (TPE) macrocycle diammoniums were synthesized and bound to a DNA chain by its two ammonium arms. The formed TPE dicycle at the cis position restricted the rotation of the double bond in both the ground and excited states, resulting in AIE enhancement, chiroptical performance enhancement, and sensing enhancement.

Chiral recognition and enantiomer excess determination based on emission wavelength change of AIEgen rotor.

Chiral recognition, such as enantioselective interactions of enzyme with chiral agents, is one of the most important issues in the natural world. But artificial chiral receptors are much less efficient than natural ones. For tackling the chiral recognition and enantiomer excess (ee) analysis, up until now all the fluorescent receptors have been developed based on fluorescence intensity changes. Here we report that the chiral recognition of a large number of chiral carboxylic acids, including chiral agrochemicals 2,4-D, is carried out based on fluorescent colour changes rather than intensity changes of AIEgen rotors. Moreover, the fluorescence wavelength of the AIEgen rotor linearly changes with ee of the carboxylic acid, enabling the ee to be accurately measured with average absolute errors (AAE) of less than 2.8%. Theoretical calculation demonstrates that the wavelength change is ascribed to the rotation of the AIEgen rotor upon interaction with different enantiomers.

Environmental Benefits of Engine Remanufacture in China's Circular Economy Development.

China has recently implemented broad strategies aimed at achieving a circular economy by providing subsidies for the remanufacture industry and setting a target of 15% increase in energy efficiency in industrial production across sectors, among other strategies. Here, we examine the environmental implications of these policies in the context of engine remanufacture, using an environmental computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. Results indicate that both the subsidy policy and energy efficiency improvement target can contribute to economic growth and emission reductions, but the subsidy policy is estimated to have far greater impacts. The implementation of both can reinforce each other, generating higher economic and environmental benefits than the sum of each occurrence alone. Another major finding from our model is that an additional remanufactured engine only displaces 0.42 (90% confidence interval from 0.32 to 0.47) of a new engine (comprised of new parts), mainly because the lower prices of remanufactured engines lead to greater consumption. This ratio is much lower than the 1:1 perfect displacement commonly assumed in life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. Overall, our study suggests that the subsidizing of engine remanufacture in China can help promote the industry, improve overall economic welfare, and contribute to environmental targets. Our study also contributes to the estimation of more realistic product displacement ratios in LCA.

Evidence for Aggregation-Induced Emission from Free Rotation Restriction of Double Bond at Excited State.

This paper reports that cis-TPE dicycles emit strong fluorescence, while the gem dicycles show almost no emission in solution, demonstrating that the free rotation restriction of the double bond at the excited state is the key factor for AIE effects.

Inhibitory effect of aloe emodin mediated photodynamic therapy on human oral mucosa carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

We report a study on inhibition of human oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo, using novel photosensitizer (PS) aloe emodin (AE) mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT). Distinct morphology changes of oral mucosa carcinoma KB cells were observed under an optical microscope and cell migrations were inhibited owing to AE-PDT. The cell proliferation was blocked in G1 phase and the apoptosis increase were both caused by massive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from photoactivated AE. The upregulation of Caspase-3 and Bax protein levels and downregulation of Bcl-2 protein levels were observed after AE-PDT. The survival time of tumor mouse was prolonged without side effects ascribed to AE-PDT and its inhibitory effect on mice transplantation tumors was significant. It is indicated that AE mediated PDT is an innovative way to oral cancer treatment with the dominances of effectivity, minimal invasion, tissue integrity retention and none side effects on main organs.

Tensile Fracture Behavior and Failure Mechanism of Additively-Manufactured AISI 4140 Low Alloy Steel by Laser Engineered Net Shaping.

AISI 4140 powder was directly deposited on AISI 4140 wrought substrate using laser engineered net shaping (LENS) to investigate the compatibility of a LENS-deposited part with the substrate. Tensile testing at room temperature was performed to evaluate the interface bond performance and fracture behavior of the test specimens. All the samples failed within the as-deposited zone, indicating that the interfacial bond is stronger than the interlayer bond inside the deposit. The fracture surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy disperse X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Results show that the tensile fracture failure of the as-deposited part is primarily affected by lack-of-fusion defects, carbide precipitation, and oxide particles inclusions, which causes premature failure of the deposit by deteriorating the mechanical properties and structural integrity.

Laser Engineered Net Shaping of Nickel-Based Superalloy Inconel 718 Powders onto AISI 4140 Alloy Steel Substrates: Interface Bond and Fracture Failure Mechanism.

As a prospective candidate material for surface coating and repair applications, nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 (IN718) was deposited on American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 4140 alloy steel substrate by laser engineered net shaping (LENS) to investigate the compatibility between two dissimilar materials with a focus on interface bonding and fracture behavior of the hybrid specimens. The results show that the interface between the two dissimilar materials exhibits good metallurgical bonding. Through the tensile test, all the fractures occurred in the as-deposited IN718 section rather than the interface or the substrate, implying that the as-deposited interlayer bond strength is weaker than the interfacial bond strength. From the fractography using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy disperse X-ray spectrometry (EDS), three major factors affecting the tensile fracture failure of the as-deposited part are (i) metallurgical defects such as incompletely melted powder particles, lack-of-fusion porosity, and micropores; (ii) elemental segregation and Laves phase, and (iii) oxide formation. The fracture failure mechanism is a combination of all these factors which are detrimental to the mechanical properties and structural integrity by causing premature fracture failure of the as-deposited IN718.

SOD mimicAEOL-10150 improve lifespan and delay brain aging via inhibition of senescence-associated secretory phenotype in SAMR1 strain / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To observe the anti-aging effects of SOD mimicAEOL-10150 in anti-senescence accelerated mouse resistant 1 (SAMR1) strain. METHODS The lifespan of SAMR1 mice were observed by subcutaneous injection AEOL-101502 mg·kg- 1 once a week. Morris water maze, new object recognition, nesting and forced swimming were used to observe the behavioral changes of animals. Lymphocyte subgroups and ROS were measured by Flow cytometry. The cytokines levels were determined by Luminex method. The number of DCX + neurons in brain tissue was observed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS The results showed that AEOL-10150 could prolong the mean lifespan of SAMR1 mice, but it had no obvious effect on maximal lifespan. What's more, AEOL-10150 could significantly improve the spatial learning memory of aged mice, but it could not increase the number of DCX+ neurons in the hypothalamic MBH and hippocampal DG regions. Then, we observed the effects of AEOL-10150 on peripheral blood lymphocyte subgroups and cytokines. We found that AEOL-10150 significantly modulated the lymphocyte subgroups and cytokine release. Especially, AEOL-10150 can dose-dependently inhibit plasma levels of SASP related inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-17. CONCLUSION The results indicate that AEOL-10150 has anti-aging effects, and the effects are closely related to modulating immunity and inhibiting SASP production.

Pheretima aspergillum decoction suppresses inflammation and relieves asthma in a mouse model of bronchial asthma by NF-κB inhibition.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Guang-Pheretima, the live form of the earthworm Pheretima aspergillum, is a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used for the treatment of asthma, cough, stroke, epilepsy and other diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, anti-seizure, thrombolytic and diuretic properties. Although Guang-Pheretima is effective in the relief of asthma, its pharmacological activity and the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Hence, we investigated the effects of a Pheretima aspergillum decoction (PAD) against inflammation in a model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in BALB/c mice, as well as the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway involved in this process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OVA was used to sensitize and challenge the airway of the mice, and PAD was administrated by gavage. We measured airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in the mice 24h following a final methacholine challenge with whole-body plethysmography. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), serum and pulmonary tissues were collected 48h after the last challenge. The levels of inflammatory factors and the related mRNAs were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. The number of differential inflammatory cells in the BALF was counted. Serum total and OVA-specific IgE levels were measured with ELISA. The activation of NF-κB signaling in the lung was detected by western blotting. In addition, the lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or periodic acid Schiff stain for histopathological examination. RESULTS: PAD treatment significantly alleviated AHR in the asthmatic mice, decreased the mRNA and protein levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 and downregulated IgE. In addition, PAD treatment attenuated mucus secretion and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung while inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling. CONCLUSIONS: PAD effectively inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling in the lungs of mice with OVA-induced asthma, and mitigated AHR and Th2 type inflammatory reactions. Therefore, PAD may serve as a drug candidate for asthma treatment.

Orbital-type trapping of elastic Lamb waves.

The interaction of laser-generated Lamb waves propagating in a plate with a sharp-angle conical hole was studied experimentally and numerically. Part of the energy of the incident wave is trapped within the conic area in two ways: the antisymmetric Lamb wave orbiting the center of the hole and the wave localized at the acute edge. Parameters and conditions for optimal conversion of the incident wave into the trapped modes were studied in this work. Experiments were performed using the laser stroboscopic shearography technique, which delivers the time evolution of the acoustic field in the whole area of interest. The effect of trapping can be used for efficient damping, similar to the one-dimensional acoustical black hole effect.

[Silymarin Protects Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells against Apoptosis Induced by Serum-Deprivation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protection of silymarin against the human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) apoptosis induced by serum deprivation and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: Human umbilical cord MSCs were cultured in the absence of serum, and the silymain of different concentration (1-10 µg/ml) was added into the medium. MTT test was performed to observe the cell proliferation status. After being cultured for 72 hours, the cells were collected, and flow cytometry with Annexin-V-PI double-staining was used to detect the apoptotic cells from the control and silymarin-treated groups. Furthermore, the intracellular contents of BAX and BCL-2 were detected by Western blot for exploring the potential mechanism. RESULTS: The silymarin promoted the proliferation of human UC-MSCs in a dose-dependent manner, reaching its maximal at a dose of 5 µg/ml. Moreover, silymarin could inhibit the serum deprivation-induced apoptosis of MSCs and, the inhibitory rate reached up to 30% when it was added at a concentration of 5 µg/ml. The content of intracellular BAX was obviously elevated after serum-deprivation treatment, and this increase could be blunted by the addition of silymarin. Meanwhile, the content of BCL-2 was not obviously changed. CONCLUSION: The silymarin can stimulate MSC growth and inhibit the apoptosis of MSCs probably by the mitochondria pathway.

[Investigation on the internalization pathway of microparticles into human umbilical cord endothelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanisms underlying the incorporation of microparticles(MP) derived from human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: MPs were isolated from the supernatants of MSCs which had exposed to a hypoxia/serum-deprivation condition. Electron microscope was used to identify the MPs. The surface molecule profile was evaluated with the bead-based flow cytometry technique. The expression level of the phosphatidylserine receptor (PSR) was detected by immunofluorescence cytochemistry. MPs were co-cultured with HUVECs in the presence or absence PSR-antibody, and the internalization of MPs was observed with laser scanning microscopy. RESULTS: The MPs derived from MSCs expressed highly PS, while PSR expressed on the surface of HUVECs. The confocal result revealed that MPs could quickly be uptaken by the endothelial cells, and mainly distributed in the cytoplasm surrounding of the nuclei. The internalization of MPs reduced significantly after PSR specific blockage. CONCLUSION: The reaction between PS on the MP and the PSR of HUVECs plays an important role in the internalization of MSC-MPs.

[Raman Enhancement of a Dipolar Molecule on CVD Graphene].

The CVD graphene was chosen as the Raman enhancement substrate, graphene-enhanced Raman scattering(GERS) of dipolar molecule DREP were explored with a laser wavelength λ = 532 nm of micro-Raman spectroscopy. Upon comparison of the raman signal of DREP molecular latched to a graphene/SiO2 substrate and to a bare SiO2substrate, we found that the Raman signal of pure DREP molecule basically does not exist at low concentrations, until it reaches a certain concentration of 1 x 10⁻5 mol · L⁻¹, its Raman signal emerging and as the increasing of the concentration, Raman signal and fluorescence signal all increase. However, the raman signal of DREP molecular on the grapheme occur at the concentration of 1 x 10⁻7 mol · L⁻¹ and as the increasing of concentration, the raman signal increasing quickly but the fluorescence signal is not obvious. The studies were shown that graphene can achieve the Raman signal of DREP molecule enhancement, and can quench fluorescent backing off, increase the ratio of Raman signal and fluorescence signals. Comparing the GERS of DREP and DR1P molecules with different molecular dipole moment, indicating that the greater the dipole moment, the greater the enhancement factor, the degree of enhancement is stronger. Finally, we analyze the mechanism of Raman enhancement about DREP molecule on the grapheme. The dipole molecular is a pyrene terminal tethered a azobenzene molecular that was modified. There will happen the electron transfer of the pyrene terminal on the graphene interface through π-π interactions, changing the energy level of grapheme and leading to a p-doping. The mechanism of Raman enhancement are chemical mechanisms. The study of GERS of DREP molecular can help the comprehension of grapheme and the mechanism of grapheme enhanced raman scattering, for example the transfer of grapheme electron, the theory of chemical enhancement mechanism and how to separate the chemical enhancement mechanism from electromagnetic enhancement mechanism.

Total date rate of multi-wavelength 2R regenerators for time-interleaved RZ-OOK signals.

Multi-wavelength regeneration free of inter-channel crosstalk is desirable for wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems, especially from the cost-effectiveness point of view. This paper presents the design rules of time-interleaved multi-wavelength 2R regeneration systems based on data-pump four wave mixing (FWM) effect, and several key factors, such as FWM bandwidth, wavelength assignment, and duty cycle, are comprehensively taken into account. The total data rate of time-interleaved WDM regeneration systems along with polarization multiplexing or bidirectional transmission are discussed, which are mainly determined by temporal overlap, spectral broadening and FWM bandwidth. As two examples, an eight-wavelength unidirectional regenerator using polarization multiplexing is designed by optimizing the fiber birefringence, and a six-wavelength bidirectional regenerator is demonstrated by experiment. Each is expected to have a total data rate of about 200 Gb/s for the optical RZ-OOK signals, and the wavelength number is increased at the expense of spectral efficiency.