While experimental methods for characterizing edge fracture have advanced significantly, current modeling approaches often neglect factors like anisotropy evolution and localization, limiting their ability to accurately predict edge fracture across various tests. In the present study, we investigate the anisotropic deformation, localization, and fracture behavior of a dual-phase (DP1000) steel during hole expansion tests using an advanced evolving anisotropic model coupled with a hybrid damage mechanics model. The anisotropic plasticity model is calibrated by tensile tests along different loading directions and is capable of describing both anisotropic hardening and r-value evolution, while the fracture model is calibrated by tests under several stress states. To illustrate the impact of anisotropy, an isotropic version of the model is also included for comparison. The novelty of the investigation is that it originally found the edge fracture of the DP1000 steel is anisotropic and triggered by through-thickness localization induced by material anisotropy. Therefore, only the model with anisotropy can provide a satisfactory prediction of the hole expansion ratio as well as the location of the edge fracture, while the isotropic model overestimates the experiments significantly. The findings provide an in-depth understanding of the importance of anisotropy in evaluating edge fracture behavior, which not only improves the modeling accuracy but also adds a design concept to enhance the edge formability of materials.

Understanding the complex phase transformations during additive manufacturing (AM) of low-alloy multi-phase steels is a necessary task to discover the mechanisms that lead to formation of AM-specific, heterogeneous microstructures. In the present study, investigations were carried out to gain fundamental insights on microstructure evolution of low-alloy steels during AM and upon post-AM heat-treatments. To this end, a low-alloy steel, with a composition similar to DP600 dual-phase (DP) steel, was processed by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Subsequently, two post-L-PBF heat-treatments were applied to obtain ferritic-martensitic DP microstructures. The first heat-treatment consisted of austenitization followed by isothermal holding in ferrite (alpha)/austenite (gamma) region (AIH), whereas the second comprised of inter-critical annealing (IC) in alpha/gamma region. The as-built state exhibited a tempered martensitic microstructure with a weak (almost random) crystallographic texture in combination with compositional and morphological heterogeneities. Combination of multiphase-field simulation and multi-scale microstructure characterization revealed that the formation of compositional and morphological heterogeneities in as-built state was governed by consecutive liquid-solid (delta-ferrite (delta) -> gamma) and solid-solid (gamma <-> martensite (alpha')) phase-transformations. For both post-L-PBF heat-treatments, Mn-segregation bands that formed during L-PBF led to heterogeneous alpha' distribution after annealing. Electron microprobe analysis (EPMA) measurements revealed that the local Mn and C distributions were closely related to the spatial distribution of alpha and alpha'. The AIH heat-treatment resulted in annihilation of morphological heterogeneities, namely coarse- and fine-grained clusters. The absence of austenitization in IC heat-treatment resulted in distribution of ferriticmartensitic DP microstructure in coarse- and fine-grained clusters that inherited the L-PBF specific grain morphology distribution. Lastly, the IC state showed overall best mechanical properties due to the conservation of the heterogenous clustered microstructure, which potentially aided to simultaneously obtain high tensile strength (890.9 MPa) and relatively high ductility (20.5 %).

Development of the descriptors of the multiphase microstructure, which will allow comparing material's local fracture resistance, is the objective of the article. A hypothesis is made that local gradients of properties can realistically represent the tendency to the local fracture and can be an effective indicator for the stretch‐flangeability properties. A novel gradient evaluation algorithm was developed within the study. The algorithm calculates the distribution of gradients for the data given in the form of a cloud of points, independently of the source of these data. Two industrial grade dual‐phase (DP) and complex‐phase (CP) steels are produced from the same cast chemical composition and with the same processing route; however, different parameter setups are studied using a correlative microstructure characterization approach to supply data for gradients evaluation. Obtained electron backscattered diffraction maps are used to generate the representative volume elements and statistically similar representative volume elements, which are subjected to deformation and used to calculate the properties gradients theoretically. The high‐resolution hardness maps are used to directly obtain the hardness gradients. Both methods of gradients calculations are applied to the DP and CP microstructures and prove to be an effective and reliable method for the comparison of materials’ stretch‐flangeability.

We study the effect of laser shock peening (LSP) without protective coating on the surface mechanical property of NiTi alloy. The Vickers microhardness and wear resistance are measured to determine the mechanical property of NiTi samples treated with different LSP parameters (3 J with 10 ns and 5 J with 20 ns). From the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, it can be found that the laser shock peening does not induce obvious grain refinement in the surface region of NiTi alloy. Both compressive and tensile residual stress in the top layer are determined using the hole drilling method. The results show that the LSP treatment without a protective coating increases the roughness and enhances the surface mechanical properties of NiTi alloy. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Local variations in chemical composition, i.e., compositional heterogeneities, play an important role in the thermodynamic stability and spatial distribution of phases in multiphase steels. The influence of heterogeneous elemental distribution on the resulting local microstructure and mechanical properties has been investigated in the present work. Two steels, one with dual-phase (DP) and one with complex-phase (CP) microstructure, were fabricated from the same cast but differently heat treated in the intercritical annealing regime to yield variations in local microstructure formation. The heterogenous distribution of C and Mn that exists on different length scales are quantified by a characterization approach correlating local chemistry, microstructure, and hardness by using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), and nanoindentation. Mn was alternately enriched and depleted in bands parallel to the rolling direction caused by segregation during continuous casting. The local C content was closely associated with the spatial phase distribution resulting from intercritical annealing. In the DP steel, the heterogeneity of C distribution was more pronounced and martensite inherited from the Mn banding due to the lower intercritical annealing temperature. On the other hand, the CP steel, heat treated at higher intercritical annealing temperature, exhibited a more homogenous C distribution resulting in a homogeneous distribution of martensite. In addition to their varying partitioning into the present phases, C and Mn in large martensite islands tended to concentrate in the vicinity of phase interfaces and deplete in the center. Furthermore, chemical boundaries with the smooth transition in local properties were observed in the CP steel. The Mn segregation bands and their impact on martensite morphology and location is reflected by the local hardness distribution. The correlation between compositional heterogeneity, microstructure formation, and microscopic as well as macroscopic mechanical properties is discussed in detail.

A novel criterion for microcrack resistance of multi-phase steels based on property gradient maps is proposed. Two industrial sheets of steel were processed to obtain dual-phase and complex-phase microstructures with exactly the same chemical composition. Experimental investigations showed characteristic differences for the tensile tests, hole expansion and the local plastic behavior during deformation. An innovative full-field modeling approach that explicitly predicts mechanical property gradients as a function of microstructural gradients during forming was developed and validated. This allowed to form a new criterion for evaluation of structure–property relationship in nano-structured multi-phase steels and can reveal the formability limitations.

The development and identification of the complex microscale austenite to ferrite transformation model during continuous cooling based on the Cellular Automata method and DigiCore library is the main goal of the work. The model is designed to predict phase transformation from a fully austenitic range and involves nucleation of ferrite grains with their further growth. The major driving force for the CA grain growth is based on the carbon concentration differences across the microstructure. The model parameters are identified with the inverse analysis method with the goal function defined on the basis of the dilatometric investigation. The basic assumption of the developed model, experimental procedure, as well as subsequent identification stages, are presented within the work.

Background: Porokeratosis (PK) is a rare, heterogeneous group of keratinization disorders with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern and is characterized by the presence of cornoid lamella. Disseminated superficial actinic PK is the most encountered subtype and typically manifests as multiple, small annular plaques with atrophic centers and slightly raised hyperkeratotic edges. Seven associated mutations (SSH1, SART3, MVKP, MVK, MVD, FDPS, and SLC17A9) have been reported in disseminated superficial actinic PK patients. Aim: We searched a Chinese disseminated superficial porokeratosis (DSAP) family to detect the causative genes. In the meantime, we reviewed the articles reported about DSAP in Chinese population, summarizing their clinical manifestations and discussing the incidence of DSAP in Chinese population. Materials and Methods: Sanger sequencing on the MVD and MVK genes was performed to identify the pathogenic mutation in a Chinese family with DSAP. Literature for DSAP cases reported in Chinese populations was searched by Sinomed and PubMed. Results: We identified the c. 875A > G (p. Asn292Ser) mutation in the MVD gene in the family. Conclusions: That mutation was a hotspot mutation. Literature review showed that the age of onset in DSAP family was earlier than that in sporadic patients; the lesion is common in the face in Chinese population which is distinct from studies in Caucasians; ultraviolet exposure is the main aggravating factor.

AIMs: Enhanced aerobic glycolysis is a motivation of fibroblast-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (FMT), leading to kidney fibrosis. 3-Bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) is a glycolysis inhibitor and has fibrosis-protected effect in liver. This study aims to explore the effects of 3-BrPA on aerobic glycolysis and kidney fibrosis in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mice model and transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-beta 1)-stimulated normal rat kidney fibroblast (NRK-49F) cell model in vitro. Main methods: In vivo UUO mouse model and in vitro TGF-beta 1 stimulated cell model were built. Immunohistochemical staining, Western blots, Real-time PCR and fluorescence microscopy were employed to detect extra cellular matrix (ECM) synthesis, fibroblast activation, aerobic glycolysis switch and related signaling pathways. Key findings: HE and Masson's Trichrome staining showed that 3-BrPA substantially suppressed kidney injury and interstitial collagen production. 3-BrPA also attenuated ECM accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, as shown by immunohistochemistry staining, RT-PCR and western blot. Furthermore, 3-BrPA inhibited FMT, as indicated by alpha-SMA and PCNA immunofluorescence double staining. Additionally, the results of MTT assay indicated 3-BrPA prevented TGF-beta 1 induced fibroblasts proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, molecular docking results showed that 3-BrPA effectively decreased the aerobic glycolysis related enzymes Hexokinase-2 (HK-2), Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) and Pyruvate kinase isozymes M2 (PKM-2), as well as inhibited IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 4(IRAK4)/MYC protein levels. Significance: Our study highlighted that 3-BrPA is a potential reno-protective agent in kidney fibrosis through the inhibition of fibroblasts aerobic glycolysis might via IRAK4/MYC signal pathways.

Compositional and microstructural heterogeneity are characteristics of modern multiphase steels. However, the quantitative characterization of these heterogeneities is rarely considered in scientific publications. We characterized the compositional and microstructural heterogeneity of a commercial complex-phase steel (CP800) by combining various electron microscopy techniques and nanoindentation. Compositional gradients of C and Mn were characterized qualitatively and quantitatively through electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) results were utilized to identify and segment the microstructural constituents. A novel nanoindentation approach was used to obtain hardness maps. Cube-corner indenter and micro-newton load were applied to limit the indent depth and spacing between adjacent indents to the nanometer scale. A high-resolution hardness map was obtained and successfully overlapped with EPMA and EBSD results, based on which the correlation between compositional heterogeneity and hardness variation in complex-phase microstructure was successfully established.

To explore the significance of ceramide in the skin barrier and its potential utility within the cosmetics industry, an accurate and high-speed method was used to detect the types of ceramides in the skin and blood of a healthy Chinese population. Forearm cortical skin stratum corneum samples were obtained from four healthy subjects using a noninvasive method. In addition, these subjects were collected intravenously to obtain blood samples. Ceramides were detected in skin and blood samples using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with specialized high-resolution Fourier Transform mass spectrometry machine. Data were analyzed using full-flow lipid analysis software. Peaks representing ceramides were detected in all skin samples and some blood samples. The results show that ceramides in skin are predominantly long-chain ceramides, but mainly short-chain in the blood. Simple and fast qualitative and quantitative analysis of ceramide in the skin and blood provides a basis for the precise addition of ceramide in future skin care products and the metabolic regulation and prevention of various diseases.

Background: Urolithiasis is a prevalent health issue all over the world,To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of low-lose computed tomography(LDCT) for detecting urolithiasis. Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was followed. PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library were searched for original diagnostic studies to identify all relevant studies published prior to May 2020. The index test was LDCT, and the reference standards were comprehensive diagnosis or standard-dose CT (SDCT). Results: 17 studies with 1,761 patients and 2,053 stones were included for the quantitative analysis. The pooled sensitivity was 0.95 (95%CI: 0.93-0.97) in patient-based studies and 0.86 (95%CI: 0.76-0.93) in urolithiasis-based studies. The pooled specificity of LDCT were 0.97 (95%CI: 0.95-0.99) in patient-based studies and 0.98 (95%CI: 0.63-1.00) in urolithiasis-based studies. The Fagan nomogram of LDCT for diagnosis of urolithiasis showed that the probability of urolithiasis is 98% if the LDCT scan is positive and 6% if the LDCT scan is negative. The likelihood ratio plot showed that the summary positive pooled likelihood ratio (LRP) and negative likelihood ratio (LRN) for LDCT was in the left upper quadrant(LUQ) area. Conclusions: LDCT has excellent diagnostic value in urolithiasis. LDCT can detect the urolithiasis specifically, but is limited to differentiate the contents of the stones.

A thorough experimental and numerical analysis of phase transformations in a selected high strength steel was the general objective of the paper.Dilatometric tests were performed for a wide range of cooling rates.Two models based on a mean field approach were considered.The first was an upgrade of the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov equation.The second model was based on the Leblond equation.Both models were identified using inverse analysis of the experimental data.Simulations of various cooling schedules were performed to validate the models.Phase compositions for these cooling schedules were determined.Following this the effect of elements' segregation during solidification of steel on the occurrence of marteniste/bainite bands was accounted for using the developed models.

To verify whether PsA-associated HLA alleles proposed in other populations are also related to PsA in Chinese Han population, a study of PsA susceptible alleles in the HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C and HLA-DRB1 alleles was presented for Chinese Han population. Genotyping was performed by Illumina Miseq platform (Illumina, USA). 50 subtypes and 77 subtypes of HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C and HLA-DRB1 with minor allele frequency (MAF) > 1% were genotyped from two-digit and four-digit resolution analysis in 111 PsA and 207 HCs (healthy controls) collected from Chinese Han population, respectively. Data handling, quality control and association analysis were performed using SPSS 25.0 software. In risk estimate, by mean of Bonferroni correction, a newfound four-digit allele HLA-A*01:01 [P = 5.5 × 10−4, OR 3.35 (1.69–6.66)], four-digit allele HLA-C*06:02 [P = 8.5 × 10−7, OR 3.80 (2.23–6.47)] and six two-digit alleles HLA-A*01 [P = 5.2 × 10−5, OR 3.43 (1.89–6.23)], HLA-B*13 [P = 4.0 × 10−6, OR 2.65 (1.76–4.01)], HLA-B*27 [P = 7.5 × 10−4, OR 5.84 (2.09–16.29)], HLA-B*57 [P = 5.8 × 10−5, OR 20.10 (4.65–86.83)], HLA-C*03 [P = 2.1 × 10−4, OR 0.40 (0.25–0.65)], HLA-C*06 [P = 1.9 × 10−12, OR 4.48 (2.95–6.81)] showed statistical significance by the univariate binary logistic regression analysis. Besides, in the binary logistic regression analysis with multiple variables, when the two alleles HLA-A*01:01 and HLA-C*06:02 were considered as covariates, HLA-A*01:01 [P = 2.7 × 10−3,OR 2.95 (1.46–5.98)] also showed significant association for PsA as risk factor, but may be not the main risk factor [HLA-C*06:02, P = 3.0 × 10−6, OR 3.68 (2.13–6.37)]. When all the above two-digit alleles were included as covariates, HLA-A*01 [P = 4.8 × 10−2, OR 2.00 (1.01–3.94)], HLA-B*13 [P = 4.2 × 10−5, OR 2.62 (1.65–4.16)], HLA-B*27 [P = 1.7 × 10−4, OR 7.62 (2.64–21.96)], HLA-B*57 [P = 2.97 × 10−4, OR 15.90 (3.55–71.18)], HLA-C*06 [P = 6.1 × 10−5, OR 2.70 (1.66–4.40)] showed significant for PsA as risk factors, HLA-C*03 [OR 0.65 (0.39–1.09), P = 0.10] showed no association with PsA. In conclusion, we assessed HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C and HLA-DRB1 alleles in PsA cohort of Chinese Han population, found HLA-A*01:01 and HLA-A*01 may be the susceptible genes associated with PsA, and also confirmed the association of four loci with PsA in Chinese Han population. These findings may extend the susceptibility HLA alleles of PsA and help in developing possible genetic markers to predict PsA.

Objective To establish a noninvasive method for the determination of ceramide (CER) and other lipids in stratum corneum by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry. Methods This study selected 4 cases of healthy people, application of law skin cyanoacrylate adhesive samples, identification of stratum corneum ceramide species, using thermo Q-Exactive wells track quadrupole electrostatic field of high resolution FT Ultimate 3000 mass spectrometry, HPLC, BEH C18(100 ×2. 1mm, 1. 7μm) column, the column temperature was 40 degrees centigrade. Mobile phase A = 60: 40 ACN/H2 0 +10mmo1/L NH4HC02, 0. 1％ HC02H; B IPA/ACN + 10mmol/L = 90: 10 NH4 HC02, 0. 1％ HC02 H. Reverse chromatographic column with flow rate of 0. 3 mL/min and gradient elution. In mass spectrometry, electrospray ionization source (ESI), Full, Mass, and ddMS2 modes are employed. The first resolution is 70 000, and the two resolution is 17500. After data collection, the whole process lipid analysis software (LipidSearch) was used for data analysis. Results The semiquantitative process of 12 kinds of target ceramide subclasses was performed on four skin samples. It can be seen that both Q and Exactive can mention peaks, and the response intensity is between 105 and 107. The samples were positive and negative ion collection, LipidSearch software for database search, in addition to the target lipid, positive ions were identified as high as 300 or more other lipid results in ceramide and triglycerides; negative ion identified more than 30 are nerve amide. Conclusion Q Exactive ultra high resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and LipidSearch lipidomics software can be identified 12 subtypes of epidermal ceramide and other lipids, high sensitive, laid the foundation for the quantitative analysis of later health or lesions and other lipid ceramide, provides a simple and rapid method.

The skin microbiota is an inseparable component of the skin barrier structure, which participates in the stabilization or impairment of the barrier function as well as the development of many skin diseases. To characterize the normal skin microbiota and its association with skin sites, age and sex, we recruited 50 volunteers divided into children, adolescents, young adults, middle-aged adults and the elderly. The skin sites consisted of cheeks, volar forearms (representing dry environments) and upper back (representing sebaceous environments). A total of 9 574 365 high-quality sequences of the V3 to V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene were annotated with taxonomic information related to two archaeal phyla (Thaumarchaeota and Euryarchaeota) and five dominant bacterial phyla (Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Cyanobacteria). The skin bacteria community structure was influenced by skin sites, and was closely related to age and sex. The upper back was dominated by Propionibacterium and Staphylococcus, and the cheeks facilitated the survival of Betaproteobacteria, while Alphaproteobacteria were prevalent on the volar forearms. Regarding the effects of age, after sexual maturity, the cheek microbiota became more similar to sebaceous sites (i.e. the upper back). The volar forearms appeared to experience the aging process earlier than the other two sites. The elderly had greater species richness and diversity and their community composition no longer had skin-site selectivity. Males had a greater species richness than females, but the sex differences in the community structure only present at certain age groups and skin sites.

Objective: The objective of this study was to make noninvasive quantitative analysis of ceramide (CER) in skin of healthy Chinese population by high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Methods: Seven healthy subjects were selected and the stratified skin samples were available using cyanoacrylate adhesion method. High performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, use ceramide Subclass Standard C42H85NO3 Quantification of the 12 corresponding ceramide subclass in the epidermis on the 7 skin samples, which cannot get all the standard of ceramides subclass since the stratum corneum ceramide is complex and diverse. Data were collected and analyzed using full-flow lipid analysis software (LipidSearch). Results: All the seven skin samples contained 12 subclasses of ceramide and the samples were quantitated with ceramide C42H85NO3 standard. The average contents were 33.63, 27.59, 108.57, 220.75, 149.20, 43.06, and 22.78 mu g/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Ceramide is an important lipid in the epidermis and is closely related to the skin barrier function. There are 12 subtypes of ceramide detected in the skin of Chinese healthy people, and there is a difference in the concentration between individuals. The difference may be associated with the skin barrier condition, and may also be related to the unavoidable error in the process of sampling, treatment, and detection.