[en] A new 3-D fluorogallophosphate Ga₇P₈O₃₂F₄(C₆H₂₀N₄)₂·3H₃O⁺·H₂O (denoted JGP-4) with a Ga/P ratio of 7/8 has been synthesized hydrothermally by using triethylenetetramine as the template. It crystallizes in the tetragonal, space group P4-bar2₁c (no. 114), with a=15.461(2), b=15.461(2), c=9.3233(1) A, V=2228.67(5) A³ and Z=2. This is the first metal phosphate with a M/P ratio of 7/8. The 3-D anionic framework of JGP-4 is built up from the vertex linkage of the 1-D chains and Ga₅P₄ building units, forming a 3-D open-framework with 8-membered and four square 4-membered rings along the c-axis direction

[en] Highlights: • This paper combines manufacturing value chain with environmental issues. • This paper will be refined EC and ER. The value chain may have dual effects. • We explore different consumption intensity and factor types of ECER in industries. • Policy regulations need to improve to achieve “precise saving and reduction^. China is the largest country in energy consumption and carbon emissions. At the same time, with the continuous rise of China's manufacturing value chain, the impact of the manufacturing value chain on energy conservation and emission reduction is a very necessary and key research. This paper theoretically analyzes the impact of value chain climbing in manufacturing industry on energy conservation and emission reduction, and empirically tests the relationship between the two. This paper further explores the transmission mechanism between the two, and analyzes the hierarchical heterogeneity of the manufacturing industry. It is found that the ascent of manufacturing value chain has a significant promoting effect on energy conservation and emission reduction. In this conduction path, the innovation-driven effect and the structural upgrading effect play a positive role in promoting. Among them, the innovation-driven effect is more powerful and effective in promoting energy conservation and emission reduction. Further analysis shows that in this path, different industries have asymmetric effects on energy saving and emission reduction. Energy-intensive industries have huge potential for energy conservation and emission reduction. In the process of upgrading, technology-intensive industries have a more significant effect of energy conservation and emission reduction, which enables energy conservation, emission reduction, quality and efficiency improvement. In this paper, the policy system of energy saving and emission reduction should be carried out simultaneously. More importantly, it should be detailed by manufacturing industry category. This can greatly improve the efficiency of policy implementation. Finally, “precise energy saving” and “precise emission reduction” will be realized.

[en] The flexible rolling process (FRP) is a novel three-dimensional (3D) forming process that combines the multipoint and traditional rolling forming. The principle of FRP is based on thickness thinning, so the deformation path significantly impacts the forming effect. In this study, the multistep forming process with different deformation paths was introduced to improve the forming effect of FRP. For instance, with the convex surface part, three finite element models of multistep FRP (MSFRP) were established. The corresponding numerical simulations and forming experiments performed among different deformation paths showed the surface part with a longer effective forming region was obtained and the forming regions with more steps in MSFRP were smoother. Thus, the sheet-metal utilization rate was greatly improved. Moreover, the MSFRP can improve the longitudinal bending effect dramatically and thereby endowing the forming part with a better forming effect. Therefore, MSFRP is a prospective method for broad applications.

[en] Digital holographic microscopy has been a powerful metrological technique for phase-contrast imaging. However inherent phase aberrations always exist and degrade the quality of the phase-contrast images. A surface fitting method based on an improved mathematic model is proposed, which can be used to remove the phase aberrations without any pre-knowledge of the setup or manual operation. The improved mathematic model includes not only the usual terms but also the cross terms and the high order terms to describe the phase aberrations with high accuracy. Meanwhile, a non-iterative algorithm is used to solve the parametersand thus less computational load is imposed. The proposed method is applied to the live imaging of cells. The experimental results verify its validity. (fundamental areas of phenomenology(including applications))

[en] Three-Dimensional graphene (3D-G) material is regarded as an excellent carbon material, which reveals cross-linked porous structure, high specific surface area, strong mechanical strength and high conductivity inheriting from the graphene. In this work, we fabricate the novel 3D-G based materials by decoration of sodium citrate (SC) for supercapacitor and lithium ion batteries (LIBs) applications. SC with abundant functional groups and short carbon chain can ensure the interface between graphene sheets or between graphene and other composite materials, lead to shorter diffusion path for ions transportation. Owing to the large surface area and pore volume, 3D-G (SC) shows outstanding specific capacitance (301 F g⁻¹) when it is applied in supercapacitors. Besides that, 3D-G (SC) compounds with Fe₃O₄ particles and [email protected]₃O₄(SC) are applied in LIBs. The [email protected]₃O₄ (SC) has a higher discharge capacity (1310.6 mAh g⁻¹) than [email protected]₃O₄ (1270 mAh g⁻¹) at 0.1 C, and it even increase to an excellent capacity (1550 mAh g⁻¹) after 100 cycles. Moreover, [email protected]₃O₄(SC) shows excellent cycling stability that specific capacity retains 1031 mAh g⁻¹ after 1000 cycles. This work may extend a novel approach to prepare 3D-G electrode material for efficient storage devices.

[en] Based on the principles of massive support and lateral support, a novel double-layered split die (DLSD) for high-pressure apparatus was designed to achieve a higher pressure-bearing capacity and larger sample cavity. The stress distributions of the DLSDs with different numbers of divided blocks were investigated by the finite element method and compared with the stress distributions of the conventional belt-type die (BTD). The results show that the cylinders and first-layer supporting rings of the DLSDs have dramatically smaller stresses than those of the BTD. In addition, increasing the number of divided blocks from 4 to 10 gradually increases the stress of the cylinder but has minimal influence on the stress of the supporting rings. The pressure-bearing capacities of the DLSDs with different numbers of divided blocks, especially with fewer blocks, are all remarkably higher than the pressure-bearing capacity of the BTD. The contrast experiments were also carried out to verify the simulated results. It is concluded that the pressure-bearing capacities of the DLSDs with 4 and 8 divided blocks are 1.58 and 1.45 times greater than that of the BTD. This work is rewarding for the commercial synthesis of high-quality, large-sized superhard materials using a double-layered split high-pressure die.

[en] Neuraminidase (NA), a major surface glycoprotein of influenza virus with well-defined active sites, is an ideal platform for the development of antiviral drugs. However, a growing number of NA mutations have drug resistance to today’s inhibitors. Numerous efforts are made to explore the resistance mechanisms through understanding the structural changes in mutated NA proteins and the associated different binding profiles of inhibitors, via x-ray, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron microscopy, and molecular dynamics methods. This review presents the architectural features of mutated NA proteins, as well as the respective inhibitor sensitivities arising from these spatial differences. Finally, we summarize the resistance mechanisms of today’s neuraminidase inhibitors and the outlook for the development of novel inhibitors. (topical review — soft matter and biological physics)

[en] Highlights: • Three Pb(II)-edta complexes have been synthesized. • The first bilayer 2D Pb-edta compounds with 1D channel are found in these complexes. • They display intense and broad emission bands and wide optical band-gaps. • They can be probably used as wide optical band-gap semiconductor materials. -- Abstract: Three Pb(II)-edta complexes, [Pb₃(edta)(H₂O)Cl₂]_n·(H₂O)_3n (1), [Pb₅(edta)₂(H₂O)₂X₂]_n·(H₂O)_2n (X = Cl (2), Br (3)) (H₄edta = ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) have been synthesized by the reaction of PbX₂ and H₄edta under hydrothermal conditions, and were characterized by elemental analysis, thermal analysis, luminescence, powder X-ray diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results of X-ray crystallographic analysis reveal that these complexes are the first bilayer two-dimensional (2D) Pb-edta coordination polymers with 1D channels. The bilayers of complexes 1, 2 and 3 are linked by [Pb₂Cl₄], [PbCl₂] and [PbBr₂] clusters with carboxylate groups respectively. They are 3D supramolecular structures which are resulted from different halogenide anions. The emission spectra of 1–3 are dominated by intense and broad emission bands which are resulted from the [PbX₂] clusters. Optical absorption spectra indicate that theses complexes have wide optical band-gaps and can be probably used as wide optical band-gap semiconductor materials.

[en] Highlights: •SL-01 is an oral derivative of gemcitabine. •SL-01 possessed activity against human breast cancer growth via apoptotic induction. •SL-01’s activity was more potently than that of gemcitabine. •SL-01 inhibited cancer growth without toxicity to mice. -- Abstract: SL-01 is an oral derivative of gemcitabine that was synthesized by introducing the moiety of 3-(dodecyloxycarbonyl) pyrazine-2-carbonyl at N4-position on cytidine ring of gemcitabine. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of SL-01 on human breast cancer growth. SL-01 significantly inhibited MCF-7 proliferation as estimated by colorimetric assay. Flow cytometry assay indicated the apoptotic induction and cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. SL-01 modulated the expressions of p-ATM, p53 and p21 and decrease of cyclin D1 in MCF-7 cells. Further experiments were performed in a MCF-7 xenografts mouse model. SL-01 by oral administration strongly inhibited MCF-7 xenografts growth. This effect of SL-01 might arise from its roles in the induction of apoptosis. Immunohistochemistry assay showed the increase of TUNEL staining cells. Western blotting indicated the modulation of apoptotic proteins in SL-01-treated xenografts. During the course of study, there was no evidence of toxicity to mice. In contrast, the decrease of neutrophil cells in peripheral and increase of AST and ALT levels in serum were observed in the gemcitabine-treated mice. Conclusion: SL-01 possessed similar activity against human breast cancer growth with gemcitabine, whereas, with lower toxicity to gemcitabine. SL-01 is a potent oral agent that may supplant the use of gemcitabine

[en] To investigate the effects of CAL-101, particularly when combined with bortezomib (BTZ) on mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells, and to explore its relative mechanisms. MTT assay was applied to detect the inhibitory effects of different concentrations of CAL-101. MCL cells were divided into four groups: control group, CAL-101 group, BTZ group, and CAL-101/BTZ group. The expression of PI3K-p110σ, AKT, ERK, p-AKT and p-ERK were detected by Western blot. The apoptosis rates of CAL-101 group, BTZ group, and combination group were detected by flow cytometry. The location changes of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) of 4 groups was investigated by NF-κB Kit exploring. Western blot was applied to detect the levels of caspase-3 and the phosphorylation of AKT in different groups. CAL-101 dose- and time-dependently induced reduction in MCL cell viability. CAL-101 combined with BTZ enhanced the reduction in cell viability and apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed that CAL-101 significantly blocked the PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling pathway in MCL cells. The combination therapy contributed to the inactivation of NF-κB and AKT in MCL cell lines. However, cleaved caspase-3 was up-regulated after combined treatment. Our study showed that PI3K/p110σ is a novel therapeutic target in MCL, and the underlying mechanism could be the blocking of the PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling pathways. These findings provided a basis for clinical evaluation of CAL-101 and a rationale for its application in combination therapy, particularly with BTZ