The Emerging Regulatory Role of Circular RNAs in Periodontal Tissues and Cells

Periodontitis is a chronic complex inflammatory disease associated with a destructive host immune response to microbial dysbiosis, leading to irreversible loss of tooth-supporting tissues. Regeneration of functional periodontal soft (periodontal ligament and gingiva) and hard tissue components (cementum and alveolar bone) to replace lost tissues is the ultimate goal of periodontal treatment, but clinically predictable treatments are lacking. Similarly, the identification of biomarkers that can be used to accurately diagnose periodontitis activity is lacking. A relatively novel category of molecules found in oral tissue, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded endogenous, long, non-coding RNA molecules, with covalently circular-closed structures without a 5’ cap and a 3’ tail via non-classic backsplicing. Emerging research indicates that circRNAs are tissue and disease-specific expressed and have crucial regulatory functions in various diseases. CircRNAs can function as microRNA or RNA binding sites or can regulate mRNA. In this review, we explore the biogenesis and function of circRNAs in the context of the emerging role of circRNAs in periodontitis pathogenesis and the differentiation of periodontal cells. CircMAP3K11, circCDK8, circCDR1as, circ_0062491, and circ_0095812 are associated with pathological periodontitis tissues. Furthermore, circRNAs are expressed in periodontal cells in a cell-specific manner. They can function as microRNA sponges and can form circRNA–miRNA–mRNA networks during osteogenic differentiation for periodontal-tissue (or dental pulp)-derived progenitor cells.     

Mixing enhancement mechanism of combined H2–Water jets in supersonic crossflows in a combustor with an expanded section

To obtain the mixing enhancement mechanism of H₂–Water combined jets in supersonic crossflows in a combustor with expanded section for rotating detonation ramjet, the flow field shape and spray structure were studied by experimental and numerical methods. The Eulerian–Lagrangian method was used to investigate the diffusion mechanism and H₂–Water interaction law of combined jets with different sequences. At the same time, high-speed photography and the schlieren technique were used to capture the flow field. The effects of jet pressure drop, orifice diameter, orifice spacing, incoming Mach number, and other parameters on the penetration depth of water jets were studied. The results of experiment and simulation show that using H₂–Water combined jets, the penetration depth of the jet spray can be greatly increased and the jet mixing effect can be significantly improved, which will contribute to the engine's ignition and stable combustion. In the case of pre-water/post-H₂, the penetration depth of the hydrogen jet is greater. In the case of pre-H₂/post-water, the hydrogen jet raises the water spray mainly by protecting the integrity of the water column.     

基准平面垂直断面法在爆破漏斗试验中的应用

系统阐述了基准平面垂直断面法在爆破漏斗试验中测量爆破漏斗体积的基本原理,并将隧道激光断面仪应用于金厂河矿1 750 m水平15^#采场底部切割巷道爆破漏斗试验爆破漏斗体积测量中。通过与传统体重法等计算法所得漏斗体积分析比较,结果表明基于隧道激光断面仪与3D Mine软件分析的基准平面垂直断面法实用性强、操作方便、结果直观可靠,达到试验预期目的。     

Optical properties of transparent polycrystalline ruby (Cr:Al2O3) fabricated by high-pressure spark plasma sintering

Doped transparent ceramics with high optical quality can serve as materials for photonic applications such as laser gain media. In that regard, transparent polycrystalline alumina has potential for high-power applications due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, combined with unique doping possibilities. However, optical birefringence of Al₂O₃ crystals make achieving sufficiently high optical transmittance a processing challenge. In the present study, we demonstrated fabrication of highly transparent 0.5 at.% Cr:Al₂O₃ ceramics by high-pressure spark plasma sintering (HPSPS). The optical properties of these polycrystalline ruby ceramics were analyzed in order to assess possible laser operation (at 694.3 nm). The obtained ceramics exhibit high in-line transmittance (～72.5 % at 700 nm), equivalent to a scattering coefficient of 2.15 cm^?1, and characteristic ruby photoluminescence. The theoretically estimated lasing threshold and percentage of absorbed pump power indicate that such ruby ceramic lasers could operate at reasonable thresholds of 80?225 mW with short lengths of 0.5?5 mm. Thus, HPSPS is a promising method for producing laser-quality doped transparent ceramics for compact laser systems.     

Predetermination of potential plastic hinges on reinforced concrete frames using GFRP reinforcement

In the past, glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP)-reinforcement has been successfully applied in reinforced concrete (RC) structures where corrosion resistance, electromagnetic neutrality, or cuttability were required. Previous investigations suggest that the application of GFRP in RC structures could be advantageous in areas with seismic activity due to their high deformability and strength. However, especially the low modulus of elasticity of GFRP limited its wide application as GFRP-reinforced members usually exhibit considerably larger deformations under service loads than comparable steel-reinforced elements. To overcome the aforementioned issues, the combination of steel and GFRP reinforcement in hybrid RC sections has been investigated in the past. Based on this idea, this paper presents a novel concept for the predetermination of potential plastic hinges in RC frames using GFRP reinforcement. To analyze the efficiency of the concept, nonlinear finite element simulations were performed. The results underscore the high efficiency of hybrid steel-GFRP RC sections for predetermining potential plastic hinges on RC frames. The results also indicate that the overall seismic behavior of RC structures could be improved by means of GFRP as both the column base shear force during the seismic activity as well as the plastic deformations after the earthquake were considerably less pronounced than in the steel-reinforced reference structure.     

Benchmark experiment of large-angle scattering reaction cross section of iron at 14 MeV using two shadow bars – Comparison of experimental results with ENDF/B-VIII –

ABSTRACT

It is important to perform neutron transport simulations with accurate nuclear data in the neutronics design of a fusion reactor. However, absolute values of large-angle scattering cross sections vary among nuclear data libraries even for well-examined nuclide of iron. Benchmark experiments focusing on large-angle scattering cross sections were thus performed to confirm the correctness of nuclear data libraries. The series benchmark experiments were performed at a DT neutron source facility, OKTAVIAN of Osaka University, Japan, by the unique experimental system established by the authors’ group, which can extract only the contribution of large-angle scattering reactions. This system consists of two shadow bars, target plate (iron), and neutron detector (niobium). Two types of shadow bars were used and four irradiations were conducted for one experiment, so that contribution of room-return neutrons was effectively removed and only large-angle scattering neutrons were extracted from the measured four Nb reaction rates. The obtained experimental results were compared with calculations for five nuclear data libraries including JENDL-4.0, JEFF.-3.3, FENDL-3.1, ENDF/B- VII, and recently released ENDF/B-VIII. It was found from the comparison that ENDF/B-VIII showed the best result, though ENDF/B-VII showed overestimation and others are in large underestimation at 14 MeV.     

KDP/DKDP倍频晶体主截面定位方法

KDP/DKDP倍频晶体是惯性约束聚变系统中的关键元件,其主截面方向与晶体相位匹配角、晶体吸收系数紧密相关。为了实现KDP/DKDP倍频晶体主截面方向的高精度定位,本文提出一种光强测量间接定位方法。通过激光器结合稳功率仪及半波片输出稳定线偏振光,同时旋转相互正交的起偏器与检偏器可获得晶体的最佳消光位置即为主截面方向。推导了该测量系统光强的琼斯矩阵模型,给出了光强与起偏器、检偏器角度间的关系表达式。采用最小二乘方法拟合经过起偏器、倍频晶体及检偏器的光强变化曲线,从而可精确定位倍频晶体主截面的方向。通过计算机仿真模拟和实验验证了该方法的正确性和可行性。实验表明,该方法定位的重复测量精度优于0.02°,满足惯性约束聚变系统中KDP/DKDP倍频晶体主截面的定位控制精度要求。     

卫生纸机压榨部运行参数及能效关系分析与优化

通过对纸机压榨部压力和压榨脱水原理的分析，得到出压榨部纸幅干度可作为压榨部的能耗指标，同时确定压榨线压力和纸机车速是压榨部能耗的主要影响因素。结合纸机实际生产测试并记录压榨脱水数据，绘制测试数据曲线图并拟合压榨线压力、纸机车速和出压榨部纸幅干度三者之间的函数关系，最终确定压榨线压力和纸机车速的最优取值范围。通过对测试数据的分析和拟合，控制压榨线压力在90 kN/m、纸机车速在1075 m/min时，纸幅质量可满足正常生产的要求，还可以节约2.1%的电能，实现卫生纸机压榨部的能耗优化。     

Environmental impact estimation of ceramic lightweight aggregates production starting from residues

Within a circular economy approach, this study investigates the environmental impact of lightweight aggregates (LWAs) produced starting from different mixes of different clays with brewery sludge and cattle bone flour ash (CBA), used as poring and fertilizing agents, respectively. The environmental impact was evaluated by means of release tests, insulation capacity, carbon footprint (CFP), and particulate matter emission during pellet firing. Release tests representative of LWAs realistic application showed very high release of phosphate and satisfactory release of potassium. The thermal insulation of the LWAs was tested by thermal imaging camera and resulted highly variable depending on the composition, with the mix containing CBA performing best. This latter composition leads also to the smallest CO₂ equivalent emission, due to the calorific power of CBA, allowing lower consumption of fossil fuels during the LWA production. Finally, total particulate emissions during the thermal treatment resulted similar in terms of mass for all mixes, while differences in terms of particle morphology and composition occurred. Samples containing residue resulted with a quite good release behavior, CFP, and insulation properties, but higher emission of particles, particularly when glass is added.