Composite Structures Research Articles

Определение литологического состава осадочных пород для построения объемной модели по данным ГИС

The features of the lithological composition of productive sediments and their consideration in the petrophysical modeling of a volumetric model based on a GIS complex are considered. It is noted that on the basis of X-ray spectral and granulometric analysis, it is possible to obtain reliable information about the structure, texture, component and mineral composition in order to clarify the petrophysical characteristics of the rocks under study. Using the example of two hydrocarbon deposits “K” and “N” the results of determining the lithological composition of sedimentary rocks from core from different age terrigenous deposits are discussed in order to build a petrophysical model of the entire well section, taking into account the areas of lack of information from direct studies (sludge and core). Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis are used to study finely dispersed (clay, siliceous, carbonate, etc.) rocks, which are especially important for accurate diagnosis of the mineral composition of rocks. In addition to the features of the geological structure of the deposit, the quantity and quality of the initial information largely determine the methods of constructing the model and the results obtained. The results of X-ray spectral analysis made it possible to determine the composition of chemical elements and the amount of each element in the sample. Information about the mineral composition of rocks and the lithological differences identified at the first stage are distributed to the part of the section where there is no or insufficient information on the core or sludge. The information obtained on the lithological composition of sediments gives the most complete picture of the geological structure of the section opened by the well and is further used as the basis of a volumetric model based on the data of geophysical surveys of GIS wells.

Programmable Truncated Cuboctahedral Origami Metastructures Actuated by Shape Memory Polymer Hinges

AbstractOver the past few decades, origami‐inspired structures have attracted great attention across various engineering fields due to their unique geometric and mechanical characteristics. Additionally, combining origami structures with active materials is employed to achieve programmable mechanical properties and self‐reconfigurability under external stimuli. In this work, a novel family of truncated cuboctahedral origami metastructures is proposed. These designs integrate shape memory polymers (SMPs) to actively achieve programmable mechanical properties and shape memory behavior. By utilizing SMPs for the creases and stiff materials for the panels, this approach enables deformation along the creases while enhancing the overall structural robustness. The mechanical properties and shape memory processes of these structures are investigated in detail. The proposed origami metastructures exhibit a negative Poisson's ratio and demonstrate excellent energy storage capabilities. Notably, their mechanical properties can be programmed by controlling both temperature and geometric parameters. More particularly, their Poisson's ratio can be tuned within a range of zero to −1. As a result, these truncated cuboctahedral origami metastructures hold significant potential for applications across various engineering domains, particularly in composite structures and active metamaterials.

Study on the Thermal Effect of Spontaneous Combustion of Coal-Based Activated Carbon By-Products Oxidized and Carbonized Powders

ABSTRACT To investigate the spontaneous combustion thermal effect of the by-products oxidized powder (OP) and carbonized powder (CP) produced during the preparation of coal-based activated carbon (CBAC). First, the changes in composition and pore structure of OP and CP compared with raw coal (RC) were measured by coal quality analysis and nitrogen adsorption experiments. The ability of OP and CP to physically adsorb oxygen was determined. Then, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to study the whole process thermal effect of the spontaneous combustion of OP and CP. Finally, the thermal effect of OP and CP during low-temperature oxidation process was further explored by the C80 micro-calorimeter, and the thermodynamic characteristics were also probed. The results show that the content of fixed carbon and carbon elements in OP and CP are significantly greater than that in RC, which makes the pore structure of both complicated. In addition, the total pore volume, average pore size, and specific surface area of OP and CP are greater than that of RC, which is more conducive to the physical adsorption of oxygen by both. No transition platform is caused by the decomposition of intermediate products on the DSC curve of CP. The characteristic temperatures of CP (except T D10) are lower than that of OP, indicating that the spontaneous combustion reaction of CP started earlier than that of OP. However, part of the combustible substance of CP was consumed in the dry distillation process, leading to the thermal release and maximum thermal release rate being smaller than that of OP. The apparent activation energy (E a) of stages H2 and H3 in the low-temperature oxidation process of OP is 75.04 and 11.42 kJ mol−1, while that of CP is 83.11 and 30.91 kJ mol−1. The threshold of CP entering stages H2 and H3 is higher than that of OP. Nevertheless, from the pre-exponential factor (A), the low-temperature oxidation process of CP is more rapid.

Development of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Additive Manufacturing and Multi-Material Structures in Sustainable Applications

This study investigates the mechanical properties of carbon and natural fiber-reinforced Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) composites produced via Additive Manufacturing (AM), focusing on Material Extrusion (MEX). The performance of filaments made from pre-consumer recycled PLA (rPLA) and PETG, with varying weight percentages of hemp and jute short fibers, was evaluated through tensile testing. Comparisons were made between the original filaments (PLA, carbon fiber-reinforced PLA [CF–PLA], and PETG) and their recycled versions. Multi-material compositions—neat PLA and PETG, single-graded (PLA + CF–PLA, PETG + CF–PETG), and multi-gradient (PLA + CF–PLA + PLA, PETG + CF–PETG + PETG)—were analyzed for mechanical properties. Optical microscope images of multi-material specimens were captured before and after fracture to assess failure mechanisms. The results indicate that the original CF–PETG filaments achieved a tensile strength of 50.14 MPa, which is higher than rPLA, PLA, and CF–PLA by 2%, 70%, and 6.7%, respectively. The re-manufactured PLA filaments reinforced with 7 wt% hemp fibers exhibited a tensile strength of 38.8 MPa, representing a 29% increase compared to the original PLA filaments and a 26% improvement over recycled PLA. Additionally, incorporating 7% jute fiber into PETG resulted in a tensile strength of 62.38 MPa, reflecting a 12% improvement over the original PETG filaments and a 15% increase compared to the recycled PETG filaments. Among specimens produced by AM, CF–PLA and rPLA demonstrated the highest tensile and compressive strengths. However, multi-material composites showed reduced mechanical performance compared to neat PLA and PETG, highlighting the need for improved interlayer adhesion. This study emphasizes the importance of optimizing material combinations and fiber reinforcement to enhance the mechanical properties of composites produced through AM.

Electrically switchable behavior in coupled EIT-like meta-molecule and Fabry-Pérot cavity

In this paper, we propose a microstrip Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity embedded with an active electromagnetically-induced-transparency-like (EIT-like) meta-molecule to investigate the electrically switchable behavior. The phenomenon of EIT is achieved by coupling a ‘bright’ comb-line resonator with a ‘dark’ split-ring resonator. The FP cavity is fabricated by etching two narrow slots on a microstrip line. With two different resonance mechanisms working together, the proposed composite EIT-cavity design is shown to exhibit the enhanced EIT-like transmission characteristics, accompanied by two sharp Fano-type line-shapes. By incorporating PIN diodes into the composite EIT-cavity structure, we can dramatically modulate the transmission spectrum via external DC voltage. In particular, we show the multi-band unity modulations through biasing the proposed active samples. Moreover, the slow light on-to-off switching processes are also obtained with modifying the state of PIN diode from dielectric to conductive. Our results may open important opportunities for fabricating dynamic functional photonic devices in the future.

Rhizosphere microbial community assembly as influenced by reductive soil disinfestation to resist successive cropping obstacle.

Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD), which involves creating anaerobic conditions and incorporating large amounts of organic materials into the soil, has been identified as a reliable strategy for reducing soilborne diseases in successive cropping systems. However, limited research exists on the connections between soil microorganism composition and plant diseases under various types of organic material applications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of distinct RSD strategies (control without soil amendment; RSD with 1500 kg ha-1 molasses powder; RSD with 3000 kg ha-1 molasses powder; RSD with 3000 kg ha-1 molasses powder and 37.5-41.3 kg ha-1 microbial agent) on the plant disease index, bacterial community composition and network structure in rhizosphere soil. RSD treatments significantly reduced the occurrence of black shank disease in tobacco and increased soil bacterial diversity. High amounts of molasses powder in RSD treatments further enhanced disease inhibition and reduced fungal abundance and Shannon index. RSD also increased the relative abundance of bacterial phylum Firmicutes and fungal phylum Ascomycota, while decreasing the relative abundance of bacterial phyla Chloroflexi and Acidobacteriota and fungal phylum Basidiomycota in rhizosphere soil. A multiple regression model identified bacterial positive cohesion as the primary factor influencing the plant disease index, with a greater impact than bacterial negative cohesion and community stability. The competition among beneficial bacteria for creating a healthy rhizosphere environment is likely a key factor in the success of RSD in reducing plant disease risk. RSD, especially with higher rates of molasses powder, is a viable strategy for controlling black shank disease in tobacco and promoting soil health by fostering beneficial microbial communities. This study provides guidelines for soil management and plant disease prevention. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development of a nanometre scale X-ray speckle-based CT technique through the 3-D histological assessment of an acute respiratory distress syndrome model

The study of biological soft tissue structures at the micron scale details the function of healthy and pathological tissues, which is vital in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Speckle based X-ray phase contrast tomographic scans at a nanometer scale have the potential to thoroughly analyse such tissues in a quantitative and qualitative manner. Diamond light source, the UKs national synchrotron facility developed and refined a 1-D X-ray speckle-based imaging technique, referred to as Fly scan mode. This novel image acquisition technique was used to perform a rapid structural composition scan of rodent lung histology samples. The rodent samples were taken from healthy and Staphylococcus aureus induced acute respiratory distress syndrome models. The analysis and cross comparison of the fly scan method, absorption-based tomography and conventional histopathology H&E staining microscopy are discussed in this paper. This analysis and cross comparison outline the ways the speckle-based technique can be of benefit. These advantages include improved soft tissue contrast, 3-D volumetric rendering, segmentation of specific gross tissue structures, quantitative analysis of gross tissue volume. A further advantage is the analysis of cellular distribution throughout the volumetric rendering of the tissue sample. The study also details the current limitations of this technique and points to ways in which future work on this imaging modality may progress.

Optimal Design of Multilevel Composite Lubrication Structures on Sliding Guide Rail Surfaces

To optimize the crawling phenomenon of slides under circumstances of low speed and a heavy load, a composite lubrication structure is adopted to alleviate the crawling phenomenon. The response surface optimal-design method establishes a quadratic mathematical model for multistage composite lubrication structure parameters, including crawling time and average friction coefficient. The optimal combination parameters of multistage composite lubrication structures have been determined. The optimal ratio of lubricating oil to molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been identified, and a composite lubrication structure has been proposed to enhance the crawling phenomenon and friction performance of sliding guide rails under medium-speed and medium-load conditions. These research outcomes indicate that when low speed and a heavy load are present, the crawling time and friction coefficient initially diminish and subsequently augment as the width, spacing, and cycle length of the sinusoidal texture and the diameter of the hexagonal pit expand. The optimum configuration of multistage composite lubrication structures is as follows: The width of the sine-wave texture b amounts to 0.15 mm, the cycle length e is 2 mm, the spacing c is 1.5 mm, and the diameter of the hexagonal pit d is 0.2 mm. When the mass ratio of guide oil to MoS2 is 2:1, it exhibits supreme crawling resistance and antifriction attributes. In circumstances involving a medium load and speed, multistage composite lubrication structures manifest pre-eminent friction performance. These data can steer the design of multistage composite lubrication structures on the surface of slide rails.

Nanoparticle integration in adhesive and hybrid single lap joints: effect on strength and fatigue life under environmental aging

Examining the mechanical performance of CFRP and aluminum samples subjected to environmental aging is crucial. Additionally, it is essential to develop methods to enhance their mechanical properties. This research investigates the impact of fullerene and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) on the fatigue life and static strength of bonded and bonded/bolted joints. The study focuses on composite-to-composite (CTC) and composite-to-aluminum (CTA) substrates under three-point bending, both before and after hygrothermal aging. The samples were divided into four categories: (1) neat specimens, (2) specimens with added fullerene, (3) specimens with added SWCNT, and (4) specimens with a combination of 50% SWCNT and 50% fullerene. The experimental results indicated that the optimal nanoparticle ratio for bonded joints differs from that for bonded/bolted joints. Adding nanoparticles to the adhesive increased the fatigue life of SLJs, particularly in samples containing mixed particles and SWCNT. In some cases, nanoparticles amplified the effect of hygrothermal conditions, enhancing fatigue life further. The integration of nanoparticles into the adhesive and the use of bonded/bolted joints significantly improved joint strength, with the combination of both techniques yielding the best results. These modified joints offer a promising alternative to traditional joints in terms of strength and fatigue life. The study enhances understanding of the aging of adhesive and hybrid joints, especially dissimilar joints (composite to metal), and provides insights into their behavior under various environmental aging conditions. These methods show potential for optimizing joints and composite structures, improving durability, and reducing the likelihood of operational failures.

Preparation and Application of Two-Dimensional Ta4C3 MXene/Gold Nanostar Composite SERS Substrates for Thiram Detection.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a novel spectroscopic technique that enables the identification of analytes through analysis of their unique chemical signatures. Its high sensitivity, specificity, and rapid response make it a valuable tool in a range of fields, including biological detection, food safety, and environmental monitoring. However, traditional SERS nanoparticle substrates are susceptible to instability and agglomeration. In this study, Ta4C3 MXene/gold nanostar (AuNSs) hybrids were prepared as SERS substrates. By optimizing the experimental conditions of AuNSs, the optimal preparation method for the Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs composite structure was identified. The addition of MXene to the Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs hybrid substrates was found to enhance the sensitivity of the composite for Raman detection, as evaluated using 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) as a Raman molecule. This improvement in sensitivity is attributed to the enhanced electromagnetic properties of the hybrid substrates, which facilitate more efficient charge transfer and enhance the Raman scattering process. The limit of detection (LOD) of Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs is 10-9 M for PATP and 10-7 M for thiram solutions. In addition, good reproducibility and spatial uniformity were obtained for the Raman signals of Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs. Furthermore, Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs were combined with filter paper to create paper-based SERS substrates that could be used for detection. By directly wiping the apple peel and subsequently detecting the thiram residues using Ta4C3 MXene/AuNSs, the level of detection of thiram residues on the peel surface was down to 7.8 ng/cm2.

Experimental and analytical study on the bending performance of UHPC‐NC narrow steel box composite beams under negative moments

AbstractA novel UHPC‐NC composite structure was proposed to enhance the load‐bearing capacity of concrete beam bridges under negative bending moments. Parameters including steel fiber content in UHPC, reinforcement ratio, and steel box filling height were varied across 8 UHPC‐NC narrow steel box composite beam specimens. The study involved testing, and measurement of failure modes, crack distribution, deformation characteristics, and crack widths. Additionally, a method for calculating maximum crack widths was developed based on crack distribution patterns. Furthermore, a computational model for predicting the ultimate bearing capacity of UHPC‐NC narrow steel box composite beams was constructed. The computed results aligned closely with experimental findings, validating the accuracy of the proposed computational model.

Development of a Composite Filament Based on Polypropylene and Garlic Husk Particles for 3D Printing Applications

Lignocellulosic waste materials are among the most abundant raw materials on Earth, and they have been widely studied as natural additives in materials, especially for polymer composites, with interesting results when it comes to improving physiochemical properties. The main components of these materials are cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, as well as small amounts of other polysaccharides, proteins, and other extractives. Several kinds of lignocellulosic materials, mainly fibers, have been evaluated in polymer matrices, and recently, the use of particles has increased due to their high surface area. Garlic is a spice seed that generates a waste husk that does not have applications, and there are no reports of industrial use of this kind of lignocellulosic material. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is a polymer processing technique that allows for obtaining complex shapes that are hard to obtain with ordinary techniques. The use of composites based on synthetic polymers and lignocellulosic materials is a growing field of research. In the present work, the elaboration and evaluation of 3D-printed polypropylene–garlic husk particle (PP-GHP) composites are reported. First, the process of obtaining a filament by means of a single extrusion was carried out, using different GHP contents in the composites. Once the filament was obtained, it was taken to a 3D printer to obtain probes that were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed with the aim of evaluating the thermal behavior of the 3D-printed PP-GHP composites. According to the obtained results, the crystallization process and thermal stability of the PP-GHP composites were modified with the presence of GHP compared with pristine PP. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that the addition of GHP decreased the storage modulus of the printed composites and that the Tan δ peak width increased, which was associated with an increase in toughness and a more complex structure of the 3D-printed composites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the addition of GHP favored the presence of the β-phase of PP in the printed composites.

Effect of Carbon Nanotubes Functionalization on the Chemical Composition and Electrochemical Characteristics of Composites with Layered Potassium Manganese Oxide

Abstract The influence of pretreatment of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in oxidizers (solutions of H2O2 and HNO3) on the structure and electrochemical properties of composites with layered potassium-manganese oxide (KxMnO2) was studied. Composites were obtained by soaking carbon nanotubes in an aqueous solution of KMnO4. The electrochemical performance of the composites was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge‒discharge methods. It has been established that stronger oxidation of the MWCNTs surface at the functionalization stage leads to a noticeable increase in the reaction rate as well as the optimal potassium content in the KxMnO2 composition, which provides higher capacitive characteristics of the composite (a maximum specific capacitance of 150 F/g and a rate capability of 43% with increasing density current from 0.1 to 2.0 A/g). The resulting composites are promising active components for increasing the capacitive characteristics of conductive carbon black (CB). Compared with an electrode based only on CB, electrodes based on a combination of the composite and CB at a mass ratio of 1:1 showed specific capacitance values approximately 1.5 to 3 times greater, as well as a twofold increase in rate capability (from 35 to 70%) in the range of discharge current density 0.1 to 2.0 A/g.

A novel BiVO4/vermiculite Z-scheme heterojunction with enhanced removal rate of dyes through adsorption photodegradation synergistic mechanism

Water pollution, exacerbated by industrialization, poses severe threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health, particularly due to persistent organic pollutants like dyes. To mitigate this issue, the development of effective and sustainable water treatment technologies is essential. This study presents the synthesis of a novel bismuth vanadate (BVO)/vermiculite (Vt) adsorption-photocatalytic self-cycling composite using a simple hydrothermal method. The composite's Z-scheme heterojunction structure, along with the introduction of surface oxygen vacancies, significantly reduces electron-hole recombination and enhances charge separation. These modifications lead to a 1.64-fold increase in adsorption capacity compared to Vt and a 6.4-fold improvement in photocatalytic efficiency over BVO. The material maintained a 76 % removal efficiency after five usage cycles and demonstrated high efficacy in methylene blue (MB) solutions, even at concentrations up to 300 mg/L. Moreover, the composite displayed stable performance under repeated use and in high-pollutant environments, highlighting its durability and practicality. These characteristics underscore its strong potential for widespread application in environmental remediation and sustainable water resource management, offering an innovative solution to the global challenge of water pollution.

Development and Biocompatibility Assessment of Decellularized Porcine Uterine Extracellular Matrix-Derived Grafts.

Biomaterials derived from biological matrices have been widely investigated due to their great therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine, since they are able to induce cell proliferation, tissue remodeling, and angiogenesis in situ. In this context, highly vascularized and proliferative tissues, such as the uterine wall, present an interesting source to produce acellular matrices that can be used as bioactive materials to induce tissue regeneration. Therefore, this study aimed to establish an optimized protocol to generate decellularized uterine scaffolds (dUT), characterizing their structural, compositional, and biomechanical properties. In addition, in vitro performance and invivo biocompatibility were also evaluated to verify their potential applications for tissue repair. Results showed that the protocol was efficient to promote cell removal, and dUT general structure and extracellular matrix composition remained preserved compared with native tissue. In addition, the scaffolds were cytocompatible, allowing cell growth and survival. In terms of biocompatibility, the matrices did not induce any signs of immune rejection invivo in a model of subcutaneous implantation in immunocompetent rats, demonstrating an indication of tissue integration after 30 days of implantation. In summary, these findings suggest that dUT scaffolds could be explored as a biomaterial for regenerative purposes, which is beyond the studies in the reproductive field.

Enhanced Delivery of Biomolecules into Caco2 Cells Based on the Cell-Penetrating Ability of Keratin Peptides.

Keratin, as a promising bioresource, possesses significant potential for diverse biological applications due to its favorable biocompatibility, low toxicity, biodegradability, and cell adhesion ability. However, there are few studies on the cell-penetrating ability of keratin peptides (KEPs) for biomolecule delivery. Therefore, this study explored the cell-penetrating ability of KEPs with different molecular weights (Mw) on Caco2 cells using fluorescein-labeled insulin (FITC-INS) as the target intracellular biomolecule. The potential cell-penetrating mechanism was elaborated by combining cellular investigation with the physicochemical characterization of KEPs. The result shows that the KEPs <3 kDa (KEP1) exhibited the highest cell-penetrating ability at 2 mg/mL, allowing efficient delivery of FITC-INS into Caco2 cells without covalent bonding. The cellular uptake mechanism was energy-dependent, mainly involving macropinocytosis. The further fractionation of KEP1 reveals that the most effective components consisted of 8-19 amino acids, including specific hydrophobic peptides (e.g., RVVIEPSPVVV and IIIQPSPVVV), PPII amphipathic peptides (e.g., PPPVVVTFP and FIQPPPVVV), and Cys-rich peptides (e.g., LCAPTPCGPTPL and CLPCRPCGPTPL). Additionally, analysis of the secondary and tertiary structure and amino acid composition illustrated that KEP1 exhibited rich hydrophobic residues and disulfide bonds, which probably contributed to its cell-penetrating ability, as opposed to its small particle size and electrostatic interactions. This study reveals the cell-penetrating ability of KEPs, thus highlighting their potential as biomaterials for noncovalently delivering biomolecules.

Simulation of the Evolution of Phase Composition and Austenite Grain Size upon Multi-Pass Hot Deformationof Low-Alloy Steels

The paper presents a model for predicting the structural characteristics and phase composition of low-alloy steels upon hot rolling in the multi-pass deformation mode. The model considers recovery, dynamic, primary, dynamic and static recrystallization of grains, and the normal grain growth, as well as nucleation (including accelerated nucleation during deformation), growth or dissolution, and coarsening of carbonitride particles. The comparison between the calculated results and the experimental data available in the publications shows a satisfactory agreement.

Surface microstructure regulation of a novel N-CQDs /C3N4/Bi2WO6 self-cleaning synergistic photocatalytic degradation of NO coating

As well known, the apparent structure and chemical composition of self-cleaning photocatalytic coatings are crucial for their application. In this study, C3N4 with a large specific surface area was introduced into N-CQDs/Bi2WO6 to construct a highly catalytic active catalyst (CBW-0.5), which continuously degraded 57.7 % of NO. A robust self-cleaning photocatalytic coating (CCBW-B) was prepared by firmly bonding CBW-0.5 to the substrate through a layered spraying process. CBW-0.5 endowed CCBW-B with high catalytic activity, maintaining a degradation rate of 64.9 % for NO, and most of the surface organic dye contamination was degraded after 36 h. Due to the appropriate arrangement of low surface energy substances and micro/nano particles on the surface, CCBW-B with a graded cross network on the surface has contact angles (CA) of 156°/145° for water/olive oil, respectively. The influence of each component of CCBW-B on its photocatalytic and liquid repellent ability was studied, and the patterns for the differences in coating performance due to the changes in surface roughness structure caused by different layer distributions was discussed. In addition, the mechanism for the excellent performance of CCBW-B was explored using SEM, specific surface area, and the theory of the generation and distribution of air pockets. Finally, the durability and self-cleaning ability of CCBW-B were tested, and the synergistic mechanism of self-cleaning and photocatalysis was also provided.

ФОРМАТ ТОК-ШОУ ЛАРРИ КИНГА НА РОССИЙСКОМ ТЕЛЕВИДЕНИИ: ПРЕЕМСТВЕННОСТЬ И ТРАНСФОРМАЦИЯ

The article deals with the talk show format transformation of American TV host Larry King on Russian television. The object of the study was the program collection «Larry King Live», «Television Encounter» by U. Ott, «Rush Hour» by V. Listyev and «Pozner» by V. Pozner. The following parameters for comparing the programs were chosen: the style of the presenter, the choice of the subject of communication and its strategy and tactics, the time of broadcasting, duration, periodicity of the programs, and the degree of audience participation in them. The level of programs personalization, studio design and the use of additional locations, camerawork, entertainment techniques, etc. were also taken into account. According to the authors, over the period since the late 1980s dialog talk shows have been significantly modified under the influence of the specifics of the Russian media system, the changing demands of the target audience, and the country’s ethnic and cultural peculiarities. The authors see the transformation of the dialogical talk show genre in the Russian mediaspace as follows: the expansion of the thematic palette and its linkage to the current socio-political agenda, the complication of the compositional structure of the programs and the discussion drama, the expansion of the range of strategies and tactics of communication between the host and the guest, the techniques of entertainment and emotionality, the strengthening of psychologism and the enrichment of camerawork techniques. The role of the talk show host is also changing – he is becoming an increasingly important participant in the discussion, actively intervening in the course of the conversation and expressing his personal opinion. At the same time, there is a tendency to reduce the role of the audience in the program.

Ruhao Dashi granules exert therapeutic effects on H1N1 influenza virus infection by altering intestinal microflora composition

ObjectiveAntiviral medications for influenza could be ineffective due to the emergence of resistant influenza virus strains. Ruhao Dashi (RHDS) granules possess anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. The present study aimed to determine the efficacy of RHDS granules in treating influenza-infected mice and the mechanism underlying this treatment as well as its effect on the intestinal flora composition of the infected mice.MethodsThe HPLC-UV method was used to identify the active components of RHDS granules. ICR mice were infected with influenza A virus (IAV) H1N1 subtype through a nasal drip. After the influenza mice model was successfully established, the pathological changes in the lungs were observed for 5 days after gavage treatment with 0.9% sterile saline and low, medium, and high doses (0.07, 0.14, and 0.28 g/mL, respectively) of RHDS granules. The serum levels of the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α and sIgA were detected by ELISA. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blotting assay were performed to determine the expression levels of the tight junction (TJ) proteins claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in colon tissues. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of feces samples was conducted to assess the effect of RHDS granules on the gut microbiota.ResultsRHDS granules exerted a protective effect on the lung tissues of IAV-infected mice; moreover, the granules reduced the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and increased the relative expression levels of claudin-1, occludin, and ZO-1 in colon tissues. Furthermore, RHDS granule treatment increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, and Faecalibaculum and decreased the relative abundance of Muribaculaceae; thus, RHDS granules could stabilize the intestinal microbiota to some extent.ConclusionRHDS granules exert a therapeutic effect on IAV-infected mice probably by modifying the structural composition of their intestinal microbiota.