Bioengineered magnetoferritin nanozymes for pathological identification of high-risk and ruptured atherosclerotic plaques in humans

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture results in thrombus formation and vessel occlusion, and is the leading cause of death worldwide. There is a pressing need to identify plaque vulnerability for the treatment of carotid and coronary artery diseases. Nanomaterials with enzyme-like properties have attracted significant interest by providing biological, diagnostic and prognostic information about the diseases. Here we showed that bioengineered magnetoferritin nanoparticles (M-HFn NPs) functionally mimic peroxidase enzyme and can intrinsically recognize plaque-infiltrated active macrophages, which drive atherosclerotic plaque progression and rupture and are significantly associated with the plaque vulnerability. The M-HFn nanozymes catalyze the oxidation of colorimetric substrates to give a color reaction that visualizes the recognized active macrophages for one-step pathological identification of plaque vulnerability. We examined 50 carotid endarterectomy specimens from patients with symptomatic carotid disease and demonstrated that the M-HFn nanozymes could distinguish active macrophage infiltration in ruptured and high-risk plaque tissues, and M-HFn staining displayed a significant correlation with plaque vulnerability (r = 0.89, P < 0.0001).

     

A new cladding technology to bond aluminium on magnesium

ABSTRACT

An in situ hot press bonding technology has been developed to clad aluminium on magnesium. Followed by regular hot rolling, magnesium sheets, covered by ductile and corrosion-resistant aluminium without detectable oxides in the interface, are produced. The new technology requires no welding, vacuum, protective atmosphere or barrier layer, and it makes good interfacial strength and rollability. Aluminium–magnesium intermetallic phases are formed along the clad–core interface at elevated temperatures. They are not detrimental under compression but may cause clad-core delamination in tensile strain. However, the tensile failure is more dependent on the formability of magnesium core than on the strength of interface.     

γ-radiation effects on metal oxide particles and their wetted surfaces

ABSTRACT

Typical metal oxide corrosion products of structural materials have been irradiated with γ-rays in ultra-pure water to investigate the effect of radiation on the surface oxide and the nature of adsorbed water. Analysis techniques including thermal gravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy before and after γ-irradiation were employed to investigate surface structural effects and adsorbed water behaviour. The production of H₂ in the oxide nanoparticle mixtures was investigated by gas chromatography to probe the mechanism of radiolysis in the water/oxide mixtures and the relationship with surface water. The nature of water at the surface of the oxides was affected by γ-radiation and the relationship was dependent on the particle composition. The rate of H₂ production was shown to be oxide dependent, and higher rates of H₂ formation were attributed to the decomposition of surface adsorbed water. Changes to the surface chemistry and H₂ production rates were found to be highly dependent on the surface chemistry of the metal oxide nanoparticle and no bulk structural changes were observed.     

Tunable passively Q-switched thulium doped fluoride fibre (TDFF) laser using reduced graphene oxide-silver (rGO-Ag) as saturable absorber

A tunable, passively Q-switched thulium doped fluoride fibre (TDFF) laser using a reduced-graphene oxide-silver (rGO-Ag) thin film as a saturable absorber (SA) for S band operation is proposed and its efficacy demonstrated. Over a pump power range of 91.4?mW up to 158.6?mW, passively generated Q-switched pulses are observed with repetition rates from 20 to 34.5?kHz and pulse widths from 3.1 to 7.1?µs. The highest pulse energy observed is 101.2?nJ with a signal to noise ratio of ～42?dB. The proposed laser has a tuning range ～52?nm from 1458 to 1510?nm with a tunable bandpass filter (TBPF) introduced into the cavity.     

The analysis for morphological evolution and crystallography of degenerate pearlite in 100Mn13 steel

During approximate 773 K aging treatment of 100Mn13 steel, degenerate pearlite will occur and evolve into lamellar pearlite during growth process. The microstructures of degenerate pearlite and its evolutionary lamellar pearlite are observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that after 748 K, 773 K and 798 K aging, degenerate pearlites occur at grain boundary. At growth front of degenerate pearlite forming at 773 K and 798 K, pearlite presents a morphology of short lamellae of carbide and ferrite, indicating a trend of developing into lamellar pearlite. The higher the temperature is, the more obvious the trend is, and even a conventional lamellar pearlite has developed. However, there is no morphological evolution for degenerate pearlite forming at 748 K aging. Besides, the constituents of degenerate pearlite is identified as M₂₃C₆ and ferrite, and Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship exists between them, (01 )_α//( 1 )_M23C6, [111]_α//[110]_M23C6. This orientation relationship maintains in morphological evolution from degenerate pearlite to lamellar pearlite.     

An evaluation of Acacia mearnsii tannin as an aluminum corrosion inhibitor in acid,alkaline, and neutral media

The electrochemical behavior of aluminum in tannin from Acacia mearnsii bark was evaluated by potentiodynamic polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in media under three different pH conditions: acid, alkaline, and neutral. A relationship among pH, polymerization grade (PG), zeta potential, surface, and electrochemical properties was observed in the inhibition performance of the tannin. At high pH, the oligomer structure of the tannin was affected, resulting in a low PG (4) and high zeta potential (−75 mV), and consequently, the inhibition efficiency decreased (68%) in comparison with that in acid (99%) and neutral media (96%). The values obtained indicate a physisorption mechanism for the aluminum corrosion inhibition in the studied conditions.     

热模锻模具的使用寿命

介绍了模具的损坏形式、模具设计与使用设备对模具寿命的影响及模具使用与维护的有关注意事项。     

Universitärer Forschungscluster „Sustainable Technologies in Metal Production and Processing” (STMP)

Foundation of a university research cluster — Co-operation along the value creation chain from raw materials to components — Evidence of joint performance offers — Utilization of synergies — Integration of Christian Doppler Laboratories — Flexible arrangement of co-operations and networks