Current Status of Angiogenic Cell Therapy and Related Strategies Applied in Critical Limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) constitutes the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), it is characterized by progressive blockade of arterial vessels, commonly correlated to atherosclerosis. Currently, revascularization strategies (bypass grafting, angioplasty) remain the first option for CLI patients, although less than 45% of them are eligible for surgical intervention mainly due to associated comorbidities. Moreover, patients usually require amputation in the short-term. Angiogenic cell therapy has arisen as a promising alternative for these “no-option” patients, with many studies demonstrating the potential of stem cells to enhance revascularization by promoting vessel formation and blood flow recovery in ischemic tissues. Herein, we provide an overview of studies focused on the use of angiogenic cell therapies in CLI in the last years, from approaches testing different cell types in animal/pre-clinical models of CLI, to the clinical trials currently under evaluation. Furthermore, recent alternatives related to stem cell therapies such as the use of secretomes, exosomes, or even microRNA, will be also described.     

Nb和时效时间对热轧中锰TRIP钢中P偏聚的影响

热轧态中锰TRIP钢首先经650 ℃退火2 h,随后在550 ℃进行等温时效热处理,采用场发射扫描电镜(FE-SEM)研究该钢中P的偏聚和时效析出行为的变化情况。结果表明,中锰TRIP钢中P在晶界的偏聚是一种非平衡偏聚现象,临界时间约为50 h,与理论计算结果48 h较为吻合。在局部偏聚区域内,C与P存在共偏聚的关系,即P偏聚量高的地方,C含量也高。而合金元素Nb具有抑制P偏聚的效果,在20~70 h时效时间内,可以相对降低6.57%~19.5%的最大P偏聚量。根据电子背散射衍射(EBSD)菊池线分析,P偏聚量低于2.28at%时,P为固溶状态,高于2.28at.%时,P为析出状态。     

夹杂物对工程机械用钢Q345FCA疲劳寿命的影响

采用QBWP-6000J型简支梁旋转弯曲疲劳试验机测定了高疲劳寿命工程机械用钢Q345FCA的疲劳寿命;采用扫描电镜(SEM)对疲劳断口形貌进行了观察,并用附带的能谱仪(EDS)寻找断口上的夹杂物;借助夹杂物自动分析系统对钢中的夹杂物进行了分析。通过对试验数据的分析,计算得出了Q345FCA钢和Q345钢夹杂物的表面临界尺寸、次表面临界尺寸和内部临界尺寸。结果表明,Q345FCA钢的疲劳极限为273 MPa,Q345钢的疲劳极限为266 MPa。Q345FCA钢和Q345钢中夹杂物尺寸均小于临界夹杂物尺寸,且断口形貌显示所有疲劳断裂均不是由夹杂物所引起,夹杂物不是疲劳源。     

New insight to the oxidation kinetics of silicon-containing steel at high temperature

This study investigated the oxidation kinetics of silicon-containing steel at 1150–1300 °C using a Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer under atmospheric conditions similar to that of an industry reheating furnace. There is a critical time point for the oxidation kinetics at an oxygen concentration of 4·0 vol.-%., following which the oxidation rate constant increases with the increasing oxidation temperature. The model coefficient A in the kinetic oxidation equation was found to be constant. However, before the critical time point, the oxidation rate constant remained unchanged; the model coefficient A decreased with the increasing temperature. Therefore, the kinetic model of silicon-containing steel for isothermal oxidation was observed to be a modified one on the basis of the experimental data. In addition, the critical time point was prolonged with the increasing isothermal oxidation temperature. Moreover, the oxidation activation energy of the tested silicon-containing steel was 366·16 kJ mol^?1.     

Double polarization hysteresis and dramatic influence of small compositional variations on the electrical properties in Bi4Ti3O12 ceramics

This work reports the existence of double polarization hysteresis (P–E) loop in Aurivillius-phase ferroelectric Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BiT) and reveals dramatic influence of small compositional variations on the electrical properties of it. The double polarization hysteresis is a characteristic of the interaction of defects with domain walls. This characteristic becomes more pronounced in Bi-deficient and Mg-doped BiT due to an increase in oxygen vacancy concentration at the lattices. Normal and saturated P–E loop is recalled by Nb donor doping, and associated composition Bi₄Ti_2.97Nb_0.03O_12.015 (BiT-0.03Nb) shows high remnant polarization (P_r = 12.5 μC/cm²) and large field-induced strain (S₃₃ = 5.6 × 10^?4). In addition, this doping results in bulk conductivity (σ_b) of BiT decreasing dramatically and associated activity energy (E_a) increasing significantly. In contrast, high oxide ion conductivity is induced with Mg²⁺ acceptor doping, and at 600 °C the optimum composition has ionic conductivity of ?0.65 × 10^?2 S cm^?1 in the bulk.     

Propagation of surface cracks on beam blank in the mould during continuous casting

ABSTRACT

We focus on crack propagation to investigate surface cracks in the mould during continuous casting, based on the crack initiation mechanism proposed in previous studies. The temperature and stress data of a solidified shell were extracted, and an extended finite element model based on the continuous damage theory of elastic–plastic materials was developed to simulate surface crack propagation. The results showed that, in the cracked area, stress concentration occurred at the crack tip, and the element split open and the crack propagated when the maximum principal stress in the stress concentration area reached the critical value. Prefabricated cracks in the fillet and web mainly developed into longitudinal cracks in the mould. The theoretical mechanism of this study was found to be the same as the crack propagation mechanism observed during the actual production of beam blanks. Thus, this study reveals the theoretical principle of crack initiation and propagation and can provide theoretical guidance for controlling surface cracks during beam blank continuous casting.     

In-situ molecular-level hybridization enabling high-sulfonation-degree sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membrane with excellent anti-swelling ability and proton conduction

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membrane with high sulfonation degree (SD) is a promising substitute of Nafion as proton exchange membrane (PEM), due to the excellent proton conductivity and low cost. However, its widespread application is limited by the inferior structural stability. Here, we report the fabrication of high SD SPEEK membrane with outstanding structural stability through an in-situ molecular-level hybridization method. Concretely, the ionic nanophase of SPEEK membrane is filled with precursors, which are then in-situ converted into polymer quantum dots (PQDs) by a microwave-assisted polycondensation process. In this manner, the micro-phase separation structure of SPEEK membrane is well maintained. PQDs with abundant hydrophilic functional groups together with the inherent –SO₃H groups impart hybrid membrane highly enhanced proton conductivity of 138.2 mS cm⁻¹ at 80 °C, which is comparable to Nafion. This then offers a 116.3% enhancement in device output power. Meanwhile, PQDs act as cross-linkers via generated electrostatic interactions with SPEEK, affording hybrid membrane with SD of 94.1% an ultralow swelling ratio of 1.35% at 25 °C, about 35 times lower than control membrane. More importantly, the in-situ molecular-level hybridization method is versatile, which can also boost the performances of chitosan (CS)-based membranes.     

Technology enhanced learning of quantitative critical thinking

A Quantitative Critical Thinking (QCT) software tool was developed in this study to facilitate students’ learning of quantitative critical thinking via repeated practice by chemical engineering students reading a core module called fluid-solid systems. The software tool generated detailed calculation steps to typical engineering design problems encountered in this module that contained weaknesses, flaws or even errors. Students utilized the software tool to practice identifying these weaknesses, flaws or errors in the design solutions and then present a better or correct design by applying the concepts and knowledge acquired in the module. Since the QCT software tool was built upon an existing design software tool that was able to generate the correct, detailed design calculation steps to design problems, students were able to check their own design calculations against those presented by the software tool during this second learning step, thereby engaging in and learning quantitative critical thinking via a repeated practice approach. The software tool was successful in enhancing the performance of second-year undergraduate students in solving a question that required quantitative critical thinking in the final examination of the module. The average percentage scores achieved by students for the question who reported higher frequencies of usage of the software were generally higher than those who reported lower frequencies of usage or did not utilize the software tool throughout the semester.     

LWD仪器临界电压数据读取分析与解决

锂电池是LWD仪器正常工作的动力来源,是仪器的心脏。仪器出井后,需要在井口读取数据,当锂电池的电量接近耗尽时,会导致数据读取失败的问题。该问题处理不当,会造成长期占用井口,影响钻井时效,严重时还可能会因短路造成昂贵的LWD仪器损坏。锂电池的临界电压问题暴露了该仪器的设计缺陷,在此通过技术方法充分利用INSITE系统本身提供的功能,绕过其设计缺陷将问题解决。