A Potent,Selective CBX2 Chromodomain Ligand and Its Cellular Activity During Prostate Cancer Neuroendocrine Differentiation

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are epigenetic regulators that facilitate both embryonic development and cancer progression. PcG proteins form Polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1 and PRC2). PRC2 trimethylates histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3), a histone mark recognized by the N-terminal chromodomain (ChD) of the CBX subunit of canonical PRC1. There are five PcG CBX paralogs in humans. CBX2 in particular is upregulated in a variety of cancers, particularly in advanced prostate cancers. Using CBX2 inhibitors to understand and target CBX2 in prostate cancer is highly desirable; however, high structural similarity among the CBX ChDs has been challenging for developing selective CBX ChD inhibitors. Here, we utilize selections of focused DNA encoded libraries (DELs) for the discovery of a selective CBX2 chromodomain probe, SW2_152F. SW2_152F binds to CBX2 ChD with a K_d of 80 nM and displays 24-1000-fold selectivity for CBX2 ChD over other CBX paralogs in vitro. SW2_152F is cell permeable, selectively inhibits CBX2 chromatin binding in cells, and blocks neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cell lines in response to androgen deprivation.     

Studies on waterline corrosion processes and corrosion product characteristics of carbon steel in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution

The waterline corrosion behaviors of carbon steel partially immersed in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution were investigated using the wire beam electrode technique, and the effects of corrosion products on the processes of waterline corrosion were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the initial stage and development stage of waterline corrosion were mainly controlled by the concentration and diffusion of dissolved oxygen, respectively, and the deceleration stage of waterline corrosion was mainly affected by corrosion products. The main component of the yellow corrosion products was γ-FeOOH, and γ-FeOOH that exhibited a high reduction reactivity could be involved in the cathodic reaction. The black corrosion products were mainly composed of Fe₃O₄ with strong thermodynamic stability and the processes of dissolved oxygen diffusion and ion transports were obviously affected due to the continuous accumulation of Fe₃O₄ on the surface of the electrodes. Polarity reversals were observed on the single electrodes below the waterline, but the reasons for the phenomena were different from each other.     

Micromembrane absorber with deep-permeation nanostructure assembled by flowing synthesis

A micromembrane adsorber with deep-permeation nanostructure (DPNS) has been successfully fabricated by flowing synthesis. The nanoparticles are in-situ assembled in membrane pores and immobilized in each membrane pore along the direction of membrane thickness. The nanoparticles with a lower size and thinner size distribution can be achieved owing to the confined space effect of the membrane pores. As a concept-of-proof, the nano ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 are fabricated in porous membrane pores for methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RhB) adsorption. The adsorption rate is increased significantly owing to the enhanced contact and mass transfer in the confined space. The adsorption capacity for the RhB is also increased, since the size of the nanoparticles assembled in membrane pores is smaller with more active sites exposed. This micromembrane adsorber with DPNS has good reusability and can provide a promising prospect for industrial application.     

Precise quantification of the antibacterial activity of chitosan by NB medium neutralizer

In the present research,nutrient broth(NB)medium was identified to be able to neutralize the antibac-terial activity of chitosan and its derivatives.Therefore,an improved test method independent of NB medium was proposed to precisely quantify the antibacterial effectiveness and efficiency of chitosan.The minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC)of chitosan was 60 μg mL-1 against S.aureus and E.coli,and 0.01％(w/v)chitosan could kill 100％of bacteria within 3 min.From another point of view,the neutralizing efficiency of NB could be tripled by adding 25 g L-1 of sodium chloride.Then the neutraliz-ing mechanism of NB medium was ascribed to flocculation between chitosan and protein.Adding extra sodium chloride could significantly reduce the size of floccules,and smaller floccules would lose the ability of binding with bacteria directly,showing higher neutralizing rate on the macro scale.     

氧化铝纤维束织造过程中摩擦磨损性能研究

运用往复线性摩擦试验方法,搭配自制的摩擦试验夹具,模拟织造过程中氧化铝纤维束-筘齿的摩擦行为,研究加载力、预加张力和摩擦频率对悬空状态下氧化铝纤维束摩擦磨损性能的影响.结果表明:随着加载力的增加,氧化铝纤维束所受摩擦力及长丝断裂根数增加,摩擦系数减小;在预加张力为0.40 N时,氧化铝纤维束所受摩擦力和摩擦系数出现最小值,磨损程度也最小;在摩擦稳定阶段,摩擦频率增加,则氧化铝纤维束所受摩擦力先下降,后略有上升,当摩擦频率增加至5 Hz时,氧化铝纤维束的摩擦系数较1 Hz时增加18.7％,磨损程度也最为严重.     

The structure,vacancy characteristics,and magnetic properties of GdMn1-xCrxO3 ceramics

To investigate the evolution of the structural and enhanced magnetic properties of GdMnO₃ systems induced by the substitution of Mn with Cr, polycrystalline GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃ samples were synthesized via solid-state reactions. XRD characterization shows that all GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃ compounds with single-phase structures crystallize well and that Cr³⁺ ions entering the lattice sites of GdMnO₃ induce structural distortion. SEM results indicate that the grain size of the synthesized samples (a few microns) decreases as the Cr substitution concentration increases. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy reveals that vacancy-type defects occur in GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃ ceramics and that the vacancy size and concentration clearly change with the Cr content. The temperature and field dependence of the magnetization curves show that Cr substitution significantly influences the magnetic ordering of the gadolinium sublattice, improving the weak ferromagnetic transition temperature and magnetization of GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃. The enhanced magnetization of GdMn_1-xCr_xO₃ is closely related to the vacancy defect concentration.     

Phase composition,microstructure and thermophysical properties of the Srx(Zr0.9Y0.05Yb0.05)O1.95+x ceramics

Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7) ceramics were prepared by solid state reaction sintering. The sintered Sr_1.0(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_2.95 is a single-phase solid solution while the sintered Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=0.9?0.7) are composites, and a significant grain growth inhibition is observed in the sintered Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9). Rare-earth elements distribution in the bulk materials indicates that Yb and Y preferentially substitute Zr-sites in SrZrO₃, and the highest solubility of RE₂O₃ in pure SrZrO₃ is ～0.8 mol%. The sintered Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x have high thermal expansion coefficients up to ～11.0×10^?6 K^-1 (1200°C). Sr_0.8(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_2.75 has the lowest thermal conductivity of 1.38 W·m^-1·K^-1 at 800°C. Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9, 0.8) show no phase transition from 600 to 1400°C, whereas Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=0.9, 0.8) have excellent high-temperature phase stability over the whole investigated temperature range. Therefore, Sr_x(Zr_0.9Y_0.05Yb_0.05)O_1.95+x (x=1.0, 0.9, 0.8) are considered as promising TBCs materials that might be operated at higher temperatures compared to YSZ.     

High energy-storage performance of lead-free AgNbO3 antiferroelectric ceramics fabricated via a facile approach

AgNbO₃ lead free AFE ceramics are considered as one of the promising alternatives to energy storage applications. In the majority of studies concerning the preparation of AgNbO₃ AFE ceramics, an oxygen atmosphere is required to achieve high performance, increasing the complexity of the fabrication process. Herein, a facile approach to preparing AgNbO₃ ceramics in the ambient air was reported, in which the AgNbO₃ ultrafine powder with stable perovskite structure was synthesized by hydrothermal method instead of the conventional ball milling process, leading to a lower temperature of phase formation and thus smaller grain size. The resulting ceramics sintered at 940 °C displayed high breakdown strength (216 kV/cm) and a recoverable energy density of 3.26 J/cm³ with efficiency of 53.5 %. Also, the high thermal stability of recoverable energy density (with minimal variation of ≤20 %) and efficiency (≤ 10 %) over 30–150℃, enables AgNbO₃ ceramics achieved to be a promising candidate for energy storage applications.     

Additive Manufacturing of Stable Energy Storage Devices Using a Multinozzle Printing System

The development of the Internet of things has prompted an exponential increase in the demand for flexible, wearable devices, thereby posing new challenges to their integration and conformalization. Additive manufacturing facilitates the fabrication of complex parts via a single integrated process. Herein, the development of a multinozzle, multimaterial printing device is reported. This device accommodates the various characteristics of printing materials, ensures high-capacity printing, and can accommodate a wide range of material viscosities from 0 to 1000 Cp. Complete capacitors, inclusive of the current collector, electrode, and electrolyte, can be printed without repeated clamping to complete the preheating, printing, and sintering processes. This method addresses the poor stability issue associated with printed electrode materials. Furthermore, after the intercalation of LiFePO₄ with Na ions, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results reveal that the Na ions permeate the interlayer structure of LiFePO₄, enhancing the ion migration channels by increasing the ion transmission rate. A current rate of 2.5 mAh ensures >2000 charge/discharge cycles, while retaining a charge/discharge efficiency of 96% and a discharge capacity of 91.3 mAh g⁻¹. This manufacturing process can provide conformal power modules for a diverse range of portable devices with various shapes, improving space utilization.     

A Biologically Muscle-Inspired Polyurethane with Super-Tough,Thermal Reparable and Self-Healing Capabilities for Stretchable Electronics

Polymeric elastomers play an increasingly important role in the development of stretchable electronics. A highly demanded elastic matrix is preferred to own not only excellent mechanical properties, but also additional features like high toughness and fast self-healing. Here, a polyurethane (DA-PU) is synthesized with donor and acceptor groups alternately distributed along the main chain to achieve both intra-chain and inter-chain donor-acceptor self-assembly, which endow the polyurethane with toughness, self-healing, and, more interestingly, thermal repair, like human muscle. In detail, DA-PU exhibits an amazing mechanical performance with elongation at break of 1900% and toughness of 175.9 MJ m⁻³. Moreover, it shows remarkable anti-fatigue and anti-stress relaxation properties as manifested by cyclic tensile and stress relaxation tests, respectively. Even in case of large strain deformation or long-time stretch, it can almost completely restore to original length by thermal repair at 60 °C in 60 s. The self-healing speed of DA-PU is gradually enhanced with the increasing temperature, and can be 1.0–6.15 µm min⁻¹ from 60 to 80 °C. At last, a stretchable and self-healable capacitive sensor is constructed and evaluated to prove that DA-PU matrix can ensure the stability of electronics even after critical deformation and cut off.