Lateral Injection Research Articles

Effect of injection strategy on spray and combustion processes in 2-stroke rod-less opposed piston engine (2S-ROPE)

The 2-stroke Rod-less Opposed Piston Engine (2S-ROPE) is a novel engine design that has garnered attention owing to its high power and low fuel consumption. This study investigated the effects of different fuel injection strategies on the in-cylinder working process of a 2S-ROPE engine, which features a smaller combustion space and lateral injection than conventional diesel engines. A high-precision three-dimensional simulation model was developed to examine the fuel atomization and in-cylinder combustion processes under four distinct injection strategies (S1, S2, S3, and S4). The results demonstrated that the injection strategy significantly influenced the number of oil droplets, particularly for small particles. The number of small droplets in S4 was approximately 6 times that in S1. The double-layer injection strategies (S3 and S4) exhibited a better atomization breakup and oil-air mixing, leading to a faster combustion rate and higher lift power than the single-layer injection strategies (S1 and S2). These findings suggest that the double-layer injection strategy is more suitable for a 2S-ROPE engine, increasing the lift power by up to 23 %. The results can guide the improvement of combustion parameters in most opposed piston engines.

Electromagnetic plasma micro actuator for active airflow control

This study presents a novel electromagnetic plasma micro actuator capable of generating ionic wind at an extremely low voltage. Ionic and electron movements, driven by the Lorentz force, introduce a lateral injection of initiation carriers, resulting in a significant reduction in discharge onset voltage. Straight ionic wind was demonstrated using a tapered gap electrode, which allowed continuous movement of plasma filament along the electrode at the speed of 4m/s when a DC pulse of 900V was applied. The results suggest that the proposed device may address key challenges faced by current ionic wind generators, such as high voltage requirements and limited device lifespans. In addition, a notable change in the airflow was observed when the direction of ionic wind was altered, indicating the feasibility of active airflow control with stable plasma formation and fast response times.

Consistent Delivery of Adeno-Associated Virus via Lateral Tail-Vein Injection in Adult Mice.

Many disorders affect multiple organs or involve different regions of the body, so it is critical to deliver therapeutics systemically to target the affected cells located in different sites. Intravenous injection is a widely used systemic delivery route in preclinical studies that assess treatments intended for body-wide administration. In adult mice, it involves the intravenous administration of the therapeutic agent into the mouse's lateral tail veins. When mastered, tail-vein injections are safe and fast, and only require simple and commonly available tools. However, tail-vein injections are technically challenging and require extensive training and continuous practice to ensure the accurate delivery of the intended dose. Here we describe a detailed, optimized, lateral tail-vein injection protocol that we have developed based on our experience and on recommendations that had been previously reported by other groups. Other than the mouse restrainers and insulin syringes, this protocol requires only reagents and equipment that are readily available in most labs. We found that following this protocol results in consistently successful intravenous delivery of adeno-associated virus (AAV) into the tail veins of unsedated 7-9 week-old mice. Additionally, we describe the optimized protocols for the histological detection of fluorescent reporter proteins and vector genome per diploid genome (vg/dg) quantification used to assess AAV transduction and biodistribution. The goal of this protocol is to aid experimenters in easily performing tail-vein injections successfully and consistently, which can reduce the practice time needed to master the technique.

Buyang Huanwu Decoction attenuates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats via miR-26a-5p mediated PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

This study aims to investigate the mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in treatment of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. A total of 180 SD rats were randomly divided into 5 different groups: sham group, model group, Buyang Huanwu Decoction group, Buyang Huanwu Decoction + miR-26a-5p agomir(agomir) group, Buyang Huanwu Decoction + miR-26a-5p agomir negative control(agomir NC) group. There were 36 rats in each group. Each group was then subdivided into three subgroups for the duration of reperfusion(3, 7, 14 d). A ligature-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) model was carried out on all groups other than sham group. Reperfusion was performed following ischemia for 90 min. Buyang Huanwu Decoction group, agomir group, and agomir NC group were given Buyang Huanwu Decoction twice daily by gavage 24 h after the formation of the model. Sham group and model group were given an equal amount of physiological saline by gavage until the day before sacrifice. At 24 h after ischemia induction, miR-26a-5p agomir was injected into the lateral ventricle in agomir group, miR-26a-5p NC in agomir NC group, and equal amounts of physiological saline in the other groups. 24 h after ischemia induction, BrdU was intraperitoneally injected once daily until the day before sacrifice. Modified neurological severity score(mNSS) was used to evaluate neurological deficits, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining was used to determine the cerebral infarct volume, TUNEL staining was used to assess the apoptosis of parenchymal ischemic brain tissue, and double immunofluorescence staining was used to examine BrdU/NeuN double positive neurons in the parenchymal ischemic brain tissue to evaluate the neuronal regeneration. We employed a luciferase reporter assay to identify and validate that the target gene of miR-26a-5p is PTEN. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) was used to assess gene expression levels of PTEN and miR-26a-5p and Western blot to assess the protein levels of PTEN, PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, and p-Akt. The results revealed that compared with model group, Buyang Huanwu Decoction treatment promoted neural function recovery, reduced the cerebral infarct volume, increased the number of BrdU~+/NeuN~+ neurons, upregulated the expression of miR-26a-5p, regulated the PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and promoted neuronal regeneration in the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats. These effects were significantly enhanced after lateral ventricle injection of miR-26a-5p agomir. The findings prove that Buyang Huanwu Decoction treatment can promote neural function recovery, reduce the cerebral infarct volume, and promote neuronal regeneration in a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rat model, which is likely to be achieved via miR-26a-5p mediated PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Dislocation half-loop control for optimal V-defect density in GaN-based light emitting diodes

V-defects are morphological defects that typically form on threading dislocations during epitaxial growth of (0001)-oriented GaN layers. A V-defect is a hexagonal pyramid-shaped depression with six {101¯1}-oriented sidewalls. These semipolar sidewalls have a lower polarization barrier than the polarization barriers present between the polar c-plane quantum wells and quantum barriers and can laterally inject carriers directly into quantum wells in GaN-based light emitting diodes (LEDs). This is especially important, as the high polarization field in c-plane GaN is a significant factor in the high forward voltage of GaN LEDs. The optimal V-defect density for efficient lateral carrier injection in a GaN LED (∼109 cm−2) is typically an order of magnitude higher than the threading dislocation density of GaN grown on patterned sapphire substrates (∼108 cm−2). Pure-edge dislocation loops have been known to exist in GaN, and their formation into large V-defects via low-temperature growth with high Si-doping has recently been studied. Here, we develop a method for pure-edge threading dislocation half-loop formation and density control via disilane flow, growth temperature, and thickness of the half-loop generation layer. We also develop a method of forming the threading dislocation half-loops into V-defects of comparable size to those originating from substrate threading dislocations.

Viscous fluid flow and heat transfer past a permeable wall jet with convective boundary conditions

PurposeThe steady laminar wall jet flow over a stretching/shrinking surface in the presence of lateral suction or injection with a convective boundary condition is considered.Design/methodology/approachThe partial differential equations for mass, momentum and energy conservation are changed to the system of ordinary differential equations through similarity solution transformations. Solutions, both numerical and asymptotic, to these similarity equations are found in some new ranges of parameters in the governing equations.FindingsThe equations are solved both asymptotically and numerically for a range of the transpiration parameter S and the flow parameter λ given in Mahros et al. (2023), thus greatly extending the range of these previous solutions. Asymptotic solutions for both large and small values of the Prandtl number σ are derived, showing good agreement with additional numerical integrations. It should be noted that in Mahros et al. (2023), only the case when σ=1 was treated. A solution for large λ when S=1 is obtained, showing a different asymptotic form to the case when S>0 in Mahros et al. (2023). Multiple solutions were seen by them for S<0 and the nature of the lower solution branch as S→0 from below is discussed. The question as to whether the lower branch solutions join as λ>0 when S<0 is resolved through obtaining an asymptotic solution λ small.Originality/valueThe accuracy of the solutions has been checked through a detailed comparison between the solutions obtained numerically and analytically, where excellent agreement has been found. This study is important for scientists working in the area of jet flows to become familiar with the flow properties and behaviour of jets.

Synergizing shale enhanced oil recovery and carbon sequestration: A novel approach with dual lateral horizontal wells

The dual challenge of enhancing oil recovery while sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) in oil reservoirs is a pivotal concern in the energy sector. CO2 injection is recognized for its ability to decrease oil density and viscosity, thereby improving oil mobility and recovery rates. Traditionally, efforts have been concentrated either on enhancing oil recovery (EOR) or carbon storage, but not many efforts spent to couple EOR and CO2 sequestration. Hence, novel techniques to optimize engineering designs to synergize EOR with CO2 sequestration is the best approach to maximize the opportunities of storing emission gas and contribute to the global world decarbonization goals.This study introduces an innovative dual lateral horizontal well design, aimed at simultaneously boosting oil recovery from shale reservoirs and enhancing CO2 retention. By integrating a conceptual understanding of oil recovery mechanisms with empirical data from the field, this research contrasts the proposed dual lateral design with the conventional Huff-n-Puff gas injection technique, commonly employed in shale oil formations.Our findings demonstrate that the dual lateral horizontal wells significantly outperform other injection methods in both oil recovery and CO2 storage. Upon optimization, the dual lateral injection design continues to surpass the Huff-n-Puff method in terms of CO2 storage, oil recovery, and net present value (NPV). This investigation not only presents innovative gas injection strategies in shale reservoirs but also provides insights into optimizing gas injection methods to enhance production efficiency and contribute to climate change mitigation through improved carbon capture and storage capacities.Through comprehensive numerical simulations and empirical data analysis, the study explores the optimization of well spacing, revealing that a dual lateral well with optimized spacing between 20 and 30 feet achieves the best outcomes in terms of oil recovery, CO2 retention, and net present value (NPV). The research presents a unique coupling of economic and environmental benefits, supported by economic analysis that includes the potential impact of CO2 tax credits.The novelty of this research is underscored by its integrated approach to CO2-EOR, the development of a dual lateral well design, and the optimization of well spacings for maximized efficiency. By providing a scalable solution that is both economically viable and environmentally sustainable, this research contributes a significant paradigm shift in the field of EOR and CO2 sequestration, with implications for policy and investment strategies in the energy sector. The findings propose a new direction for shale reservoir exploitation, promising to enhance production efficiency while contributing to global efforts in greenhouse gas reduction.

Evidence‐Based Understanding of Lateral Hole Transport During OFF‐State Stress Completing Dynamic GaN‐on‐Si Buffer Charging Model

Gallium nitride (GaN)‐on‐Si high electron mobility transistors require insulating GaN buffers, which are prone to charge trapping and result in dynamic ON‐state resistance (dR DS,on) that negatively impacts performance and reliability. Herein, simultaneous measurements of threshold voltage shift (dV TH) and dR DS,on during OFF‐state stress with microsecond time resolution are employed. Ohmic p‐GaN gate contacts enable the use of dV TH to probe charge accumulation under the gate, while dR DS,on probes charge accumulation in the gate‐drain access region. Comparison of dV TH and dR DS,on provides direct evidence of lateral hole transport in the GaN buffer when exposed to a lateral electric field in OFF‐state. This lateral hole transport causes positive charge accumulation in the buffer under the gate and triggers a newly proposed electron injection mechanism into the same region. Only by considering the combination of lateral hole transport and electron injection under the gate the observed up to fivefold dR DS,on increase in OFF‐state stress compared to back‐gating at low biases can be explained. Furthermore, another electron spillover mechanism is introduced that occurs for large positive charge accumulation under the gate and limits the maximum negative dV TH. All known and newly introduced processes during OFF‐state are summarized in a concise dynamic buffer charging model.

DCPIB Attenuates Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury by Regulating Microglial M1/M2 Polarization and Oxidative Stress

The inflammatory response plays an indispensable role in ischemia–reperfusion injury, the most significant of which is the inflammatory response caused by microglial polarization. Anti-inflammatory therapy is also an important remedial measure after failed vascular reconstruction. Maintaining the internal homeostasis of the brain is a crucial measure for suppressing the inflammatory response. The mechanism underlying the relationship between DCPIB, a selective blocker of volume-regulated anion channels (VRAC), and inflammation induced by cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury is currently unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between DCPIB and microglial M1/M2 polarization-mediated inflammation after cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). DCPIB was administered by a lateral ventricular injection within 5 min after reperfusion. Behavioral assessments were conducted at 1, 3, and 7 days after tMCAO/R. Pathological injuries were evaluated using TTC assay, HE and Nissl staining, brain water content measurement, and immunofluorescence staining. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were analyzed using qPCR and ELISA. Additionally, the phenotypic variations of microglia were examined using immunofluorescence staining. In mouse tMCAO/R model, DCPIB administration markably reduced mortality, improved behavioral performance, and alleviated pathological injury. DCPIB treatment significantly inhibited the inflammatory response, promoted the conversion of M1 microglia to M2 microglia via the MAPK signaling pathway, and ultimately protected neurons from the microglia-mediated inflammatory response. In addition, DCPIB inhibited oxidative stress induced by cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury. In conclusion, DCPIB attenuates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by regulating microglial M1/M2 polarization and oxidative stress.

The Sirtuin 5 Inhibitor MC3482 Ameliorates Microglia‑induced Neuroinflammation Following Ischaemic Stroke by Upregulating the Succinylation Level of Annexin-A1.

In our previous study, we concluded that sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) was highly expressed in microglia following ischaemic stroke, which induced excessive neuroinflammation and neuronal injury. Therefore, SIRT5-targeting interventions should reduce neuroinflammation and protect against ischaemic brain injury. Here, we showed that treatment with a specific SIRT5 inhibitor, MC3482, alleviated microglia-induced neuroinflammation and improved long-term neurological function in a mouse model of stroke. The mice were administrated with either vehicle or 2mg/kg MC3482 daily for 7days via lateral ventricular injection following the onset of middle cerebral artery occlusion. The outcome was assessed by a panel of tests, including a neurological outcome score, declarative memory, sensorimotor tests, anxiety-like behavior and a series of inflammatory factors. We observed a significant reduction of infarct size and inflammatory factors, and the improvement of long-term neurological function in the early stages during ischaemic stroke when the mice were treated with MC3482. Mechanistically, the administration of MC3482 suppressed the desuccinylation of annexin-A1, thereby promoting its membrane recruitment and extracellular secretion, which in turn alleviated neuroinflammation during ischaemic stroke. Based on our findings, MC3482 offers promise as an anti-ischaemic stroke treatment that targets directly the disease's underlying factors.

Dynamics of carrier injection through V-defects in long wavelength GaN LEDs

The efficiency of high-power operation of multiple quantum well (QW) light emitting diodes (LEDs) to a large degree depends on the realization of uniform hole distribution between the QWs. In long wavelength InGaN/GaN QW LEDs, the thermionic interwell hole transport is hindered by high GaN barriers. However, in polar LED structures, these barriers may be circumvented by the lateral hole injection via semipolar 101¯1 QWs that form on the facets of V-defects. The efficiency of such carrier transfer depends on the transport time since transport in the semipolar QWs is competed by recombination. In this work, we study the carrier transfer from the semipolar to polar QWs by time-resolved photoluminescence in long wavelength (green to red) LEDs. We find that the carrier transfer through the semipolar QWs is fast, a few tens of picoseconds with the estimated room temperature ambipolar diffusion coefficient of ∼5.5 cm2/s. With diffusion much faster than recombination, the hole transport from the p-side of the structure to the polar QWs should proceed without a substantial loss, contributing to the high efficiency of long wavelength GaN LEDs.

Planarization of p-GaN surfaces on MOCVD grown V-defect engineered GaN-based LEDs

The large polarization barriers between the quantum wells and quantum barriers in long-wavelength GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs) inhibit their performance by requiring excess driving voltages to reach standard operating current densities. Lateral injection of carriers directly into quantum wells is required to circumvent this issue. V-defects are naturally occurring inverted hexagonal defects with semipolar 101¯1-plane sidewalls generated on surface depressions from threading dislocations. LEDs engineered to intentionally generate V-defects below the active region of the LED can achieve lateral carrier injection through the V-defect sidewalls and have already been able to demonstrate world record wall-plug efficiencies for LEDs in the green-red wavelengths. V-defects can be enlarged during kinetically limited growth where the growth rate of the c-plane GaN is faster than that of their sidewalls, leaving them unfilled. We report on the metal organic chemical vapor deposition growth conditions required to fill in V-defects with p-GaN during epitaxial growth of the LED post the active region. Circular transmission length measurements of Pd/Au contacts processed on p-GaN surfaces with various amounts of unfilled V-defects showed no significant difference in their sheet resistance and specific contact resistance. J–V measurements of LEDs grown with varying unfilled V-defect densities showed no significant difference in the forward bias regime. However, in the reverse bias regime, catastrophic breakdown occurred at markedly lower voltages for samples with larger unfilled V-defect densities. This suggests that unfilled V-defects may act as hotspots for device failure, and planarizing LED surfaces may help prevent early degradation of LED devices.

Propane-2-sulfonic acid octadec-9-enyl-amide, a novel PPARα/γ dual agonist, attenuates molecular pathological alterations in learning memory in AD mice

ABSTRACT Objective Previous studies have revealed that Propane-2-sulfonic acid octadec-9-enyl-amide(N15) exerts a protective role in the inflammatory response after ischemic stroke and in neuronal damage. However, little is known about N15 in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of N15 on AD and explore the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods AD mice model was established by lateral ventricular injection with Aβ25–35. N15 was daily intraperitoneal administered for 28 days. Morris Water Maze was used to evaluate the neurocognitive function of the mice. The expression of PPARα/γ, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Neurotrophin-3 (NT3), ADAM10, PS1 and BACE1 were measured by qPCR. Aβ amyloid in the hippocampus was measured by Congo red assay. Toluidine blue staining was used to detect the neuronal apoptosis. Protein levels of ADAM10, PS1 and BACE1 were determined using immunoblotting. Results N15 treatment significantly reduced neurocognitive dysfunction, which also significantly activated the expression of PPARα/γ at an optimal dose of 200 mg/kg. Administration of N15 alleviated the formation of Aβ amyloid in the hippocampus of AD mice, enhanced the BDNF mRNA expression, decreased the mRNA and protein levels of PS1 and BACE1, upregulated ADAM10 mRNA and protein levels. Conclusion N15 exerts its neuroprotective effects through the activation of PPARα/γ and may be a potential drug for the treatment of AD.

A Review of Lateral Epicondylitis Injection: Drugs Used, Injection Techniques and Guidance Method

Abstract This article aimed to study the most suitable drug for injection, injection techniques and guidance method for treating tennis elbow. The words ‘injection technique’, ‘lateral epicondylitis’ and ‘tennis elbow’ were keyed into PubMed search base, and 145 full-text English language articles were obtained, from which 22 articles were deemed suitable for review based on content and relevance. One article was added from the author’s collection. The eligibility was (a) patients with tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis, (b) patients who had undergone injection therapy and (c) studies that had done a comparison between two or more agents or two techniques or used comparison between using or not using imaging guidance for injection. It was found that corticosteroid injections in tennis elbow produce a short-term improvement in symptoms, while prolotherapy, autologous blood and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may show more efficacy in the long term. In terms of technique, peppering seems to be a better alternative to tender point injections. The use of ultrasound guidance does not seem to have any effect on the overall efficacy of the injection treatment. The evidence in this study shows that it is better to use corticosteroids for short-term improvement, whereas bioactive agents like PRP injections may work better in the long term.

Vialinin A alleviates oxidative stress and neuronal injuries after ischaemic stroke by accelerating Keap1 degradation through inhibiting USP4-mediated deubiquitination

BackgroundOxidative stress is known as a hallmark of cerebral ischaemia‒reperfusion injury and it exacerbates the pathologic progression of ischaemic brain damage. Vialinin A, derived from a Chinese edible mushroom, possesses multiple pharmacological activities in cancer, Kawasaki disease, asthma and pathological scarring. Notably, vialinin A is an inhibitor of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 4 (USP4) that shows anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. However, the precise effect of vialinin A in ischaemic stroke, as well as its underlying mechanisms, remains largely unexplored. PurposeThe present research focuses on the impacts of vialinin A on oxidative stress and explores the underlying mechanisms involved while also examining its potentiality as a therapeutic candidate for ischaemic stroke. MethodsMouse ischaemic stroke was conducted by MCAO surgery. Vialinin A was administered via lateral ventricular injection at a dose of 2 mg/kg after reperfusion. Subsequent experiments were meticulously conducted at the appropriate time points. Stroke outcomes were evaluated by TTC staining, neurological score, Nissl staining and behavioural analysis. Co-IP assays were operated to examine the protein-protein interactions. Immunoblot analysis, qRT-PCR, and luciferase reporter assays were conducted to further investigate its underlying mechanisms. ResultsIn this study, we initially showed that administration of vialinin A alleviated cerebral ischaemia‒reperfusion injury-induced neurological deficits and neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, vialinin A, which is an antioxidant, reduced oxidative stress injury, promoted the activation of the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway and increased the protein degradation of Keap1. The substantial neuroprotective effects of vialinin A against ischaemic stroke were compromised by the overexpression of USP4. Mechanistically, vialinin A inhibited the deubiquitinating enzymatic activity of USP4, leading to enhanced ubiquitination of Keap1 and subsequently promoting its degradation. This cascade caused the activation of Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response, culminating in a reduction of neuronal apoptosis and the amelioration of neurological dysfunction following ischaemic stroke. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that inhibition of USP4 to activate Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway may represent a mechanism by which vialinin A conferred protection against cerebral ischaemia‒reperfusion injury and sheds light on its promising prospects as a therapeutic intervention for ischaemic stroke.

Treating Glabellar Lines With Botulinum Toxin: Does Your Patient Need to Frown Steadily?

The variable relationship between the orbicularis supercilii and frontalis muscles may cause side effects with botulin toxin; steadily frowning is the usual recommendation. Eliminating the need to frown until all injections are over might enhance efficacy and lessen the neurotoxicity risks related to muscle exhaustion. The goal of this study was to investigate whether the digital caliper-assessed distances between the medial and lateral corrugator injection sites and the midline differed significantly in patients persistently frowning from patients resting. Seventy-six individuals with glabellar wrinkles treated with botulinum toxin in the authors' private practices for glabellar lines voluntarily contributed their retrospective data about the positions of injection sites. The investigators had freely chosen to inject the medial and lateral sections of the corrugator supercilii during persistent maximum frown or at rest. The mean differences in distances between the medial and lateral injection points and the estimated midline were clinically trivial (1.0 ± 1.28 and 1.5 ± 2.53 mm, respectively), although the distances between the relaxed and contracted medial and lateral injection sites exceeded 1.8 and 2.5 mm in 33.9% and 46.4% of patients, respectively. Distance differences, not significant before 40 years old, were statistically significant only for the lateral injections in older patients (on average, 1.9 ± 3.01 mm). The average distances from the medial and lateral injection points and the midline appear minimally different in patients who frown until all injections are over and, conversely, patients who rest. Persistently frowning might be advisable only in patients older than 40. Facial asymmetries may be a confounding factor.

Trichinella spiralis-Secreted Products Promote Collagen Capsule Formation through TGF-β1/Smad3 Pathway.

Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) muscle larvae colonize in the host's skeletal muscle cells, which are surrounded by collagen capsules. The mechanism underlying muscle stage larva-induced collagen capsule formation remains unknown. To clarify the mechanism, a T. spiralis muscular-infected mouse model was established by a single lateral tail vein injection with 20,000 T. spiralis newborn larvae (NBL). The infected mice were treated with or without SB525334 (TGF-β1 receptor type I inhibitor). Diaphragms were obtained post-infection, and the expression levels of the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway-related genes and collagen genes (type IV and VI) were observed during the process of collagen capsule formation. The changes in myoblasts under stimulation of the excretory-secretory (ES) products of NBL with or without SB525334 were further investigated. Results showed that the expression levels of type IV collagen gene, type VI collagen gene, Tgfb1, and Smad3 were significantly increased in infected mice muscle cells. The expression levels of all the above genes were enhanced by the products of NBL in myoblast cells. These changes were reversed by co-treatment with SB525334 in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, the TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway can be activated by T. spiralis infection in muscle cells. The activated TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway can stimulate the secretion of collagens by myocytes and plays a promoting role in the process of collagen capsule formation. The research has the limitation that the protein identification of the products of NBL has yet to be performed. Therefore, the specific components in the T. spiralis ES products that induce collagen synthesis should be further investigated.

Analysis of influences of injection parameters on combustion process based on 2-stroke rod-less opposed piston diesel engine

Global concerns about environmental pollution and fuel consumption are increasing, and as emissions regulations become more stringent, exploring new power and structural forms to optimise diesel engines is the way forward for future breakthroughs in diesel engines. The 2-Stroke Rod-less Opposed Piston (2S-ROPE) has been extensively studied for its vibration-free and simple construction. Compared to conventional four-stroke engines, it has a smaller bore, shorter cycle time, higher power and lower fuel consumption in the same time, making it an ideal power source for small engines. In this paper, the rod-less structure is applied to a two-stroke opposed-piston diesel engine for the first time. Based on experimental verification by spraying, a dynamic high-precision three-dimensional model of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is established, using lateral injection, to clarify the various airflow patterns that occur in the cylinder during the intake and exhaust of the 2S-ROPE, and investigates the effects of injection timing and injection pressure on the oil–gas mixing and combustion processes in the 2S-ROPE cylinder. The results show that the in-cylinder turbulent kinetic energy is highest at an injection timing of 15° BTDC (Before Top Dead Center) and that fuel injection has the greatest effect on in-cylinder airflow disturbance at this time. At 17.5° BTDC, the duration of in-cylinder combustion was the longest. The effect of injection timing on the burst pressure is linear, for every 2.5° advance, the maximum pressure in the cylinder increases by about 2 MPa. 20 MPa of injection pressure increases, the stall period is shortened by less than 1°, the combustion duration CA10-90 is shortened with the increase in injection pressure, and for every 20 MPa increase in injection pressure, the burst pressure increases by 1 MPa, which is a significant increase.

Effect of aqueous extract of Corni Fructus on Aβ_(25-35)-induced brain injury and neuroinflammation in mice with Alzheimer's disease

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of Corni Fructus on β-amyloid protein 25-35(Aβ_(25-35))-induced brain injury and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease(AD) mice to provide an experimental basis for the treatment of AD by aqueous extract of Corni Fructus. Sixty C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into a sham group, a model group, a positive control group(huperizine A, 0.2 mg·kg~(-1)), a low-dose aqueous extract of Corni Fructus group(1.3 g·kg~(-1)), a medium-dose aqueous extract of Corni Fructus group(2.6 g·kg~(-1)), and a high-dose aqueous extract of Corni Fructus group(5.2 g·kg~(-1)). The AD model was induced by lateral ventricular injection of Aβ_(25-35) in mice except for those in the sham group, and AD model mice were treated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 24 days. The behavioral test was performed one week before animal dissection. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was performed to observe the morphology of neurons in the hippocampal region. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis level of primary hippocampal cells in mice. ELISA kits were used to detect the levels of β-amyloid protein 1-42(Aβ_(1-42)) and phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein Tau(p-Tau) in mouse brain tissues. Immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to detect the expression of related proteins in mouse brain tissues. MTT assay was used to detect the effect of compounds in aqueous extract of Corni Fructus on Aβ_(25-35)-induced N9 cell injury. Molecular docking was employed to analyze the interactions of caffeic acid, trans-p-hydroxy cinnamic acid, isolariciresinol-9'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, esculetin, and(+)-lyoniresinol with β-amyloid precursor protein(APP), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). Aqueous extract of Corni Fructus could improve the learning and memory abilities of Aβ_(25-35)-induced mice by increasing the duration of the autonomous activity, the rate of autonomous alternation, the preference coefficient, and the discrimination coefficient, and reduce Aβ_(25-35)-induced brain injury and neuroinflammation in mice by increasing the expression levels of interleukin-10(IL-10) and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2) in brain tissues, decreasing the expression levels of Aβ_(1-42), p-Tau, IL-6, TNF-α, cysteine aspartate-specific protease 3(caspase-3), cysteine aspartate-specific protease 9(caspase-9), and Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), and decreasing the number of activated glial cells in brain tissues. The results of cell experiments showed that esculetin and(+)-lyoniresinol could improve Aβ_(25-35)-induced N9 cell injury. Molecular docking results showed that caffeic acid, trans-p-hydroxy cinnamic acid, isolariciresinol-9'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, esculetin, and(+)-lyoniresinol had good binding affinity with APP and weak binding affinity with IL-6 and TNF-α. Aqueous extract of Corni Fructus could ameliorate cognitive dysfunction and brain damage in Aβ_(25-35)-induced mice by reducing the number of apoptotic cells and activated glial cells in the brain and decreasing the expression level of inflammatory factors. Caffeic acid, trans-p-hydroxy cinnamic acid, isolariciresinol-9'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, esculetin, and(+)-lyoniresinol may be the material basis for the anti-AD effect of aqueous extract of Corni Fructus.

Directed energy deposition of SS 316L/SiC composites using coincident and coaxial wire-powder feeding

The wire-powder fed directed energy deposition (WP-DED) process enables the fabrication of metal matrix composites (MMCs) with a high deposition efficiency. Lateral wire-powder feeding as well as lateral wire and coaxial powder feeding are two existing methods for WP-DED of MMCs. However, the lateral filler injection limits the fabrication of three-dimensional parts with complex geometry. In this study, we applied the coaxial wire-powder fed DED (CWP-DED) to fabricate the SS 316L/SiC parts with different SiC weight fractions. The effects of SiC content on defects and microstructure of as-built parts were investigated. Three types of interior defects including pores, inclusions, and cracks were observed in as-built samples fabricated with high SiC content. With an increase in SiC content, the grains were refined by dissolved nano-scale SiC particles and more γ-(FeCrNi) phases transformed into α-(FeCrNi) phases. Tensile properties and the underlying strengthening mechanisms of as-built SS 316/SiC specimens were elucidated. This paper will guide the process development for CWP-DED of high-performance MMCs.