Essential (Mg,Fe, Zn and Cu) and Non-Essential (Cd and Pb) Elements in Predatory Insects (Vespa crabro and Vespa velutina): A Molecular Perspective

The recent introduction of the Asian yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina, into Europe has raised concern regarding the threat to honeybees and the competition with the European hornet, Vespa crabro. The aim of this study was to investigated essential (Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu) and non-essential (Cd and Pb) elements in these two species. Element concentrations were determined in the whole body and separately in the head, thorax and abdomen using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The changes in essential element concentration and speciation during metamorphosis were also studied using size exclusion chromatography followed by AAS and proteomic analysis. In both species, the essential elements were more concentrated in the abdomen due to the presence of fat bodies. Magnesium, Fe and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in V. crabro than in V. velutina and could have been related to the higher aerobic energy demand of the former species required to sustain foraging flight. Low concentrations of Cd and Pb were indicative of low environmental exposure. The concentration and speciation of essential elements, particularly Fe, varied among the developmental stages, indicating a modification of ligand preferences during metamorphosis. Overall, the results in the present study provide a better understanding of the hornet metal metabolism and a foundation for additional studies.     

轧制与退火对T9S钛合金板材组织与性能的影响

研究了轧制变形量及退火温度对T9S钛合金板材显微组织和室温力学性能的影响。结果表明:增加成品轧制变形量,板材组织破碎更充分,退火后形成等轴α相、拉长α相和晶间β相组织形貌,变形流线比较明显,板材室温强度和硬度升高,伸长率降低,弹性模量增加。随着退火温度升高,板材室温强度和硬度逐渐降低,伸长率逐渐提高,横向弹性模量逐渐减小,纵向弹性模量先增加后减小。经(750~790) ℃×45 min空冷退火处理后的板材可以获得较好的强度和塑性的匹配。     

Gastric Adenocarcinomas and Signet-Ring Cell Carcinoma: Unraveling Gastric Cancer Complexity through Microbiome Analysis—Deepening Heterogeneity for a Personalized Therapy

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of global cancer mortality. With the advances of the omic studies, a heterogeneous GC landscape has been revealed, with significant molecular diversity. Given the multifaceted nature of GC, identification of different patient subsets with prognostic and/or predictive outcomes is a key aspect to allow tailoring of specific treatments. Recently, the involvement of the microbiota in gastric carcinogenesis has been described. To deepen this aspect, we compared microbiota composition in signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) and adenocarcinoma (ADC), two distinct GC subtypes. To this purpose, 10 ADC and 10 SRCC and their paired non-tumor (PNT) counterparts were evaluated for microbiota composition through 16S rRNA analysis. Weighted and unweighted UniFrac and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity showed significant community-level separation between ADC and SRCC. Through the LEfSe (linear discriminant analysis coupled with effect size) tool, we identified potential microbial biomarkers associated with GC subtypes. In particular, SRCCs were significantly enriched in the phyla Fusobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Patescibacteria, whereas in the ADC type, Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria phyla were found. Overall, our data add new insights into GC heterogeneity and may contribute to deepening the GC classification.     

基于数据融合的ECT图像重建算法

针对固定电极的ECT成像独立测量值较少和因电极位置的影响而导致重建图像失真等问题,提出了基于旋转电极ECT系统模型和数据融合方法来提高重建图像质量。本模型对16电极的ECT模型进行5次旋转,得到的数据采用两种方式进行处理:一是5组数据分别采用线性反投影(LBP)和修正共轭梯度法(MCG)进行重建,再对重建数据进行主分量分析(PCA)的数据融合;二是直接用PCA数据融合再分别进行LBP和MCG图像重建。实验证明:通过增加测量电容数,结合两种数据处理方式可明显提高重构图像质量,降低成像误差。     

Ti70合金板的组织与力学性能的各向异性

通过拉伸及低温冲击试验、光学显微镜、扫描电镜及X射线衍射仪,对Ti70合金板的组织与力学性能的各向异性进行了研究。结果表明,Ti70合金板热轧及退火后组织未出现明显差异,退火过程中主要以回复为主,但在高密度位错的剪切带上出现了一定数量的再结晶晶粒。退火态Ti70合金板横向屈服强度及低温冲击吸收能量都高于纵向,但抗拉强度低于纵向,表现出了明显的各向异性。退火后Ti70合金板形成了较强的{0002}基面织构,其晶面法向向RD方向(纵向)偏转±30°,向TD(横向)方向偏转±41°。由于基面织构更向RD方向集中,因此造成了Ti70合金板力学性能的各向异性。     

退火温度对EB熔炼低成本TC4钛合金宽厚板组织和性能的影响

采用EB炉一次熔炼TC4合金扁锭作为直轧坯料,在4200 mm宽厚板轧机上成功制备出规格46 mm×2650 mm×8700 mm的低成本TC4合金宽厚板,研究了退火温度对低成本TC4合金板材显微组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明:EB熔炼TC4合金扁锭经过两火换向轧制,粗大铸态组织得到充分破碎,热轧态TC4合金板材显微组织中等轴α或条状α含量较高,横纵向室温拉伸性能差异小,横向室温冲击吸收能量小于纵向,横纵向心部强度均高于表层。TC4合金板材经750~900 ℃退火,横纵截面为等轴组织,经950 ℃退火,横纵截面为双态组织,经980 ℃退火,横截面为双态组织,纵截面为魏氏组织。随着退火温度升高,TC4合金板材抗拉强度和规定塑性延伸强度呈下降趋势,伸长率基本不变,室温冲击吸收能量先升高后降低,900 ℃退火后,强度、伸长率和冲击吸收能量达到最佳匹配。     

Effects of the drying method on the oxidative stability of the free and encapsulated fractions of microencapsulated sunflower oil

The influence of the drying method, freeze-drying and spray-drying, on the oxidative stability of microencapsulated sunflower oil depended on the type of encapsulation matrix. For a dairy-type matrix, formed by sodium caseinate and lactose, greater losses of tocopherols were detected during spray-drying, but both the free and encapsulated oil fractions were more stable against lipid oxidation than their freeze-dried counterparts. Results suggested that the free oil was also constituted by droplets that preserved their interfacial membrane and were protected by the matrix. Therefore, the free oil was not necessarily the non-encapsulated fraction. For a matrix constituted by gelatine, maltodextrin and sucrose, the emulsion showed low stability and a great destabilisation during spray-drying. No significant effect of the drying method on the oxidative stability of the encapsulated fraction was found with this matrix, but the free oil of the spray-dried sample oxidised faster, probably due to the emulsion destabilisation observed, which gave rise to a great amount of oil on the particle surface as a consequence of large droplets poorly stabilised.