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The seismic performance of a caisson structure under two types of models with a saturated sandy foundation (CSS) and an expanded polystyrene (EPS) composite soil foundation (CES) are studied using shaking table tests. The macro phenomena of the two different foundation models are described and analyzed. The effects of the replacement of EPS composite soil on seismic-induced liquefaction of backfill and the dynamic performance of a caisson structure are evaluated in detail. The results show that the excess pore water pressure generation in the CES is significantly slower than that in the CSS during the shaking. The dynamic earth pressure acting on the caisson has a triangular shape. The response of horizontal acceleration, displacement, settlement, and rotation angle of the caisson in the CES is smaller than that in the CSS, which means the caisson in the CES has a better seismic performance. Furthermore, the out-of-phase phenomenon between dynamic earth thrust and inertial force in the CES is more obvious than that in the CSS, which is beneficial to reduce the lateral force and improve the stability of the caisson structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamically loaded soils can exhibit large-deformation flow liquefaction or limited-deformation cyclic mobility mechanisms, depending on the initial state of the soil. Undrained cyclic triaxial tests were performed on saturated calcareous and silica sand specimens prepared with different relative densities and subjected to various effective confining pressures and cyclic stress ratios to study the flowability of viscous liquefied sand. The cyclic shear stress–strain rate relationship for calcareous and silica sands transitioned from an elliptical shape to an asymmetric Lamé curve shape as excess pore pressures accumulated under cyclic loading. The asymmetric Lamé curve–shaped relationship demonstrates that the saturated sand exhibited low shearing resistance and high fluidity under elevated excess pore pressures for the conditions evaluated. The average flow coefficient, κ¯ , defined as the maximum shear strain rate triggered by the unit average cyclic shear stress, and the flow curve defining the variation in κ¯ with the number of loading cycles, describes the flowability of the saturated sand and is used to quantify the cyclic failure potential of the saturated sand under a proposed viscous fluid flow failure criterion. The effect of relative density, effective confining pressure, and cyclic stress ratio on the flow curves and the number of cycles to failure under the proposed viscous fluid flow failure criterion is discussed and compared with the cyclic resistance determined from widely used excess pore pressure– and strain-based cyclic failure criteria. The viscous fluid flow cyclic failure criterion is more stringent than these alternative criteria, and the corresponding axial strains are consistent with those associated with liquefaction triggering under cyclic strain approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the robust oxidation conditions in strong acid oxygen evolution reaction (OER), developing an OER electrocatalyst with high efficiency remains challenging in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer. Recent theoretical research suggested that reducing the coordination number of Ir−O is feasible to reduce the energy barrier of the rate‐determination step, potentially accelerating the OER. Inspired by this, we experimentally verified the Ir−O coordination number's role at model catalysts, then synthesized low‐coordinated IrOx nanoparticles toward a durable PEM water electrolyzer. We first conducted model studies on commercial rutile‐IrO2 using plasma‐based defect engineering. The combined in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis and computational studies clarify why the decreased coordination numbers increase catalytic activity. Next, under the model studies' guidelines, we explored a low‐coordinated Ir‐based catalyst with a lower overpotential of 231 mV@10 mA cm−2 accompanied by long durability (100 h) in an acidic OER. Finally, the assembled PEM water electrolyzer delivers a low voltage (1.72 V@1 A cm−2) as well as excellent stability exceeding 1200 h (@1 A cm−2) without obvious decay. This work provides a unique insight into the role of coordination numbers, paving the way for designing Ir‐based catalysts for PEM water electrolyzers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the robust oxidation conditions in strong acid oxygen evolution reaction (OER), developing an OER electrocatalyst with high efficiency remains challenging in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer. Recent theoretical research suggested that reducing the coordination number of Ir−O is feasible to reduce the energy barrier of the rate‐determination step, potentially accelerating the OER. Inspired by this, we experimentally verified the Ir−O coordination number's role at model catalysts, then synthesized low‐coordinated IrOx nanoparticles toward a durable PEM water electrolyzer. We first conducted model studies on commercial rutile‐IrO2 using plasma‐based defect engineering. The combined in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis and computational studies clarify why the decreased coordination numbers increase catalytic activity. Next, under the model studies' guidelines, we explored a low‐coordinated Ir‐based catalyst with a lower overpotential of 231 mV@10 mA cm−2 accompanied by long durability (100 h) in an acidic OER. Finally, the assembled PEM water electrolyzer delivers a low voltage (1.72 V@1 A cm−2) as well as excellent stability exceeding 1200 h (@1 A cm−2) without obvious decay. This work provides a unique insight into the role of coordination numbers, paving the way for designing Ir‐based catalysts for PEM water electrolyzers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high cost of noble metals is one of the key factors hindering the large‐scale application of proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer for hydrogen production. Recently, single‐atom catalysts (SACs) with a potential of maximum atom utilization efficiency enable lowering the metal amount as much as possible; unfortunately, their durability remains a challenge under PEM water electrolyzer working conditions. Herein, a highly‐stable alloyed Pt SAC is demonstrated through a plasma‐assisted alloying strategy and applies to a PEM water electrolyzer. In this catalyst, single Pt atoms are firmly anchored onto a Ru support via a robust metal–metal bonding strength, as evidenced by these complementary characterizations. This SAC is used in a PEM water electrolyzer system to achieve a cell voltage as low as 1.8 V at 1000 mA cm−2. Impressively, it can operate over 1000 h without obvious decay, and the catalyst is present in the form of individual Pt atoms. To the knowledge, this will be the first SAC attempt at a cell level toward long‐term PEM. This work paves the way for designing durable SACs employed in the actual working condition in the PEM water electrolyzer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ex situ conservation is the main method for the protection of endangered wildlife. To explore the effect of ex situ conservation on the gut microbiota of the kiang (Equus kiang), metagenomic sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis was used to investigate the composition and function of the gut microbiota of the kiang. The results showed that ex situ conservation not only protected wildlife, but also affected the composition and function of gut microbiota, as well as the health of animals. In the zoo, the ratio of the relative abundance of Firmicutes to that of Bacteroidetes (F/B) is higher, clusters of potentially pathogenic bacteria (such as Catonella, Catonella, and Mycoplasma) are more numerous, the abundance of resistance genes is higher, and the abundance of metabolic functions is increased. The dynamic changes of the gut microbiota also played an important role in the nutritional absorption, energy metabolism, and environmental adaptation of the kiang. Improving the rearing environment and increasing food diversity play important roles for increasing the diversity of gut microbiota, reducing the spread of potentially pathogenic bacteria, and reducing diseases. In the wild, especially in winter and in food‐deficient areas, food supplementation can enhance the gut microbial homeostasis of wild animals and reduce the impact of crises. In depth studies of the gut microbial function of wildlife have important implications for improving ex situ conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tibetan medicinal materials play a significant role in Tibetan culture. However, some types of Tibetan medicinal materials share similar shapes and colors, but possess different medicinal properties and functions. The incorrect use of such medicinal materials may lead to poisoning, delayed treatment, and potentially severe consequences for patients. Historically, the identification of ellipsoid-like herbaceous Tibetan medicinal materials has relied on manual identification methods, including observation, touching, tasting, and nasal smell, which heavily rely on the technicians' accumulated experience and are prone to errors. In this paper, we propose an image-recognition method for ellipsoid-like herbaceous Tibetan medicinal materials that combines texture feature extraction and a deep-learning network. We created an image dataset consisting of 3200 images of 18 types of ellipsoid-like Tibetan medicinal materials. Due to the complex background and high similarity in the shape and color of the ellipsoid-like herbaceous Tibetan medicinal materials in the images, we conducted a multi-feature fusion experiment on the shape, color, and texture features of these materials. To leverage the importance of texture features, we utilized an improved LBP (local binary pattern) algorithm to encode the texture features extracted by the Gabor algorithm. We inputted the final features into the DenseNet network to recognize the images of the ellipsoid-like herbaceous Tibetan medicinal materials. Our approach focuses on extracting important texture information while ignoring irrelevant information such as background clutter to eliminate interference and improve recognition performance. The experimental results show that our proposed method achieved a recognition accuracy of 93.67% on the original dataset and 95.11% on the augmented dataset. In conclusion, our proposed method could aid in the identification and authentication of ellipsoid-like herbaceous Tibetan medicinal materials, reducing errors and ensuring the safe use of Tibetan medicinal materials in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Although the correlation between oxidative stress and liver metabolic dysfunction has been established in piglets with intrauterine growth restriction, detailed information concerning the molecular mechanisms that facilitate this relationship remains limited. In the present study, metabolomic and transcriptomic techniques were used to investigate differences in gene expression and metabolites in the liver of piglets in intrauterine growth restriction and normal birth weight groups to systematically analyze the potential mechanism of metabolic characteristics induced by oxidative stress in the liver of intrauterine growth restriction piglets. Our results revealed that the intrauterine growth restriction piglets were involved in a variety of metabolic abnormalities, including mitochondrial dysfunction, imbalance of fatty acid composition, disruption to sources of one-carbon unit supply, and abnormal galactose conversion, which may be responsible for oxidative stress in the liver. The correlation between oxidative stress and liver metabolic dysfunction in piglets with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remains limited. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate potential mechanisms of metabolic characteristics induced by oxidative stress in the livers of IUGR piglets using metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis. Analysis of the phenotypic characteristics showed that the liver weight of the intrauterine growth restriction piglets was significantly lower than that of normal birth weight piglets. Intrauterine growth restriction piglets exhibited disordered hepatic cord arrangement and vacuolization as well as excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. In addition, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly decreased in the liver of the intrauterine growth restriction piglets, whereas the level of the lipid peroxidation marker MDA was significantly increased. Finally, our findings revealed that intrauterine growth restriction piglets were involved in a variety of metabolic abnormalities, including mitochondrial dysfunction, imbalance of fatty acid composition, disruption to sources of one-carbon unit supply, and abnormal galactose conversion, which may be responsible for oxidative stress in the liver. In summary, these data provided a detailed theoretical reference for revealing the hepatic metabolic characteristics of intrauterine growth restriction piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein arginine methyltransferases 7 (Prmt7) is expressed in male germ cells, including primordial germ cells, gonocytes, and spermatogonia. Our previous study demonstrated that Prmt7 downregulation reduced the proliferation of GC-1 cells (a cell line of mouse immortalized spermatogonia). However, how Prmt7 regulates spermatogonial proliferation through miRNA and the target gene remains elusive. Here, we experimentally reduced the Prmt7 expression in the GC-1 cells and subjected them to miRNA sequencing to explore the miRNA profile and its Prmt7-responsive members. In total, 48 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), including 36 upregulated and 12 downregulated miRNAs, were identified. After verifying the validity of sequencing results through qRT-PCR assays in randomly selected DEmiRNAs, we predicted the target genes of these DEmiRNAs. Next, we combined DEmiRNA target genes and previously identified differentially expressed genes between Prmt7 knockdown and control groups of GC-1 cells, which resulted in seven miRNA/target gene pairs. Among these miRNA/target gene pairs, we further detected the expression of Col6a3 (collagen type VI alpha 3) as the target gene of mmu-miR-877-3p. The results suggested that Prmt7 downregulation in mouse spermatogonia might function through miR-877-3p/Col6a3. Overall, these findings provide new insights into the role of Prmt7 in male germ cell development through miRNA and target genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study pore structure characteristics and the strength of red sandstone under freeze–thaw cycles, the saturated red sandstone was studied by the combination of freeze–thaw cycle test, high-pressure mercury injection test, uniaxial compression test and theoretical analysis, and research shows that: with the increase of freeze–thaw cycles, the pores of red sandstone continue to expand and extend, macropore volume and the total pore volume increases gradually, and the pore size distribution curves become more continuous. Porosity of samples after 10, 30, 70 and 100 freeze–thaw cycles is 1.14 times, 1.17 times, 1.28 times and 1.44 times of that of 0 cycle, and the uniaxial compressive strength of samples is 0.68 times, 0.53 times, 0.26 times and 0.17 times of that of 0 cycle, respectively. With the increase of freeze–thaw cycles, freeze–thaw damage continues to accumulate, the crack propagation direction changes from axial through-through failure mode to transverse and axial simultaneous failure mode. Taken the change of porosity as a parameter, through the regression analysis of the test data, the functional relationship between uniaxial compressive strength and the change of porosity in red sandstone is established. The research results will provide a theoretical basis for stability research of slopes of railway subgrade in cold region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a finite-time control scheme is proposed for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with external disturbance. First, a finite-time disturbance observer is designed to cope with external disturbance. Then, a nonsingular terminal sliding-mode control scheme is developed, which avoids singularity problem of conventional terminal sliding-mode control. By Lyapunov stability theory, it is proved that the controller guarantees the tracking errors converge to zero in a finite time. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed control strategy is verified by compared simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Telomeres undergo shortening with each cell division, which could be accelerated by infection. The association between virus infection and telomere length is poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the putative associations between leukocyte telomere length (TL), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in a national representative sample of noninstitutionalized population. Methods. We analyzed data that was collected in a cross-sectional setting, where 3,987 participants were enrolled with available data on telomere length. The association between telomere length with previous CMV infection and CRP was analyzed using multivariable linear regression models. We further tested if obesity, measured by body mass index (BMI), and smoking could modify this relationship. Results. In total, around 46% percent of the study population were men and 54% were women. Average ages were 35.1 years for men and 35.0 years for women. One unit increase of CMV antibody IgG titer was associated with -0.07 (95% confidence interval: -0.12, -0.01) unit decrease of leukocyte TL when sex was adjusted for. After additionally adjusting for BMI and smoking status, the magnitude of the association was only slightly decreased to -0.06 (95% confidence interval: -0.11, -0.01). The effect sizes were comparable after additionally adjusting for CRP. These analyses imply that previous CMV infection affects leukocyte TL through pathways other than CRP. Conclusions. Previous CMV infection was associated with shorter leukocyte TL. This association was independent of CRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyzed the application of four autosomal kits and the sensitivity of the combined paternity index (CPI) cutoff value (CPI≥10000) in parentage testing. First, 1442 real trios and 803 real duos were tested using the Goldeneye 25A kit. The Goldeneye 25A kit covers the autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci of the other three kits, so we calculated the CPI value of every case for the four kits. Second, three complex close relative kinship cases were also analyzed to evaluate the application of the CPI cutoff value. The CPI values of all trio cases were higher than 10000 using the four kits; the CPI values of all duo cases were higher than 10000 using the Goldeneye 25A kit; and the CPI values of a portion of the duo cases were lower than 10000 using the other three kits. In the three complex close relative cases, the alleged father or mother was not excluded using 40 autosomal STRs. Adding X chromosome short tandem repeats (X-STR) and samples of biological fathers or mothers, the conclusions were confirmed. The four kits were adequate to draw conclusions in the trio cases; the Goldeneye 25A Kit was adequate to draw conclusions in the duo cases; and the other three kits were not sufficient for a portion of the duo cases. The CPI cutoff value was sensitive for real trio and duo cases. In complex close relative kinship cases, high CPI values may result in false conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy and apoptosis are closely associated. In previous studies, pseudolaric acid B (PAB), a diterpene acid isolated from the root and trunk bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi Gordon (Pinaceae), was demonstrated to induce apoptosis in various cell lines. However, in L929 murine fibrosarcoma and SW579 human thyroid squamous cell carcinoma cells, only autophagy was induced. In the present study, another cell line, MRC5 human lung fibroblast cells, was identified in which PAB only induced autophagy. The relationship between apoptosis and autophagy subsequent to PAB treatment in MRC5 cells was explored. When autophagy was inhibited by 3-methyladenine (3MA), apoptosis was induced in the PAB-treated MRC5 cells. To study the mechanism for the promotion of apoptosis by 3MA in the PAB-treated cells, the expression of members from the apoptotic signal pathways was assessed. As Bcl-2, Bcl-2 associated X and pro-caspase-9 expression following PAB treatment was not affected by 3MA treatment, it was determined that apoptosis was induced independent of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. As Fas and pro-caspase-8 expression following PAB treatment were not altered by 3MA, it was further determined that the death receptor pathway was not induced. However, the phosphorylation of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase and the expression of pro-caspase-3 were upregulated, and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase downregulated, by the combination of PAB and 3MA treatment compared with PAB alone. It was also observed that 3MA did not affect the microtubule aggregation ability of PAB. Therefore, inhibiting autophagy in MRC5 cells did not affect the role of PAB in microtubule aggregation, while apoptosis was induced. This may present a strategy to enhance the anti-tumor effects of PAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of shaking table tests were designed and conducted to study the seismic performance of an inverted T-shape cantilever retaining wall with an anti-sliding tooth at the base using EPS composite soil as backfills. For comparison, the same wall model retaining Nanjing fine sand was simultaneously excited. The macro phenomena and seismic behaviors of two wall-soil systems are depicted in detail and analyzed. The displacement mode of the non-sliding flexible retaining wall and distribution characteristics of dynamic earth pressure acting on the wall back retaining two types of backfills are emphasized. The testing results show that, as a kind of backfill, Nanjing fine sand has a greater peak ground acceleration (PGA) than EPS composite soil under the kinematic interaction between wall and soil, while the difference in the inertial force of the retaining wall itself is not obvious. As the input peak base acceleration increases, Nanjing fine sand which possesses the compaction strength gradually transforms from the global shearing deformation to the wedge sliding deformation, while EPS composite soil with a cemented strength exhibits the block shearing deformation mode under all excitations. The tested retaining walls with the rotation displacement are non-sliding flexible walls. The dynamic deformation mode of backfills is closely related to the inertial interaction between wall and soil, which results in a significant difference in the dynamic earth pressure increment distribution between the walls retaining two types of backfills. The dynamic earth thrust in the retaining wall-Nanjing fine sand system (WSS) has a nonlinear relation with PGA, and the action position approximated 2/3 wall height. A linear relation is more suitable for retaining EPS composite soil and the corresponding action position is about 1/3 wall height. The retaining wall-EPS composite soil system is shown to have a better seismic performance in contrast to WSS. The Seed and Whitman method with 100% PGA is recommended to predict the dynamic earth thrust on the wall retaining EPS composite soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a type of artificial filling material, the shear modulus and damping ratio of expanded polystyrene (EPS) composite soil are two key parameters used to analyze the dynamic stability of an embankment. Nineteen combined axial–torsional tests are conducted on hollow cylinder specimens of EPS composite soil to study its dynamic characteristics under the complex stress path induced by the simulated traffic loadings. The characteristics of skeleton curve, dynamic shear modulus and damping ratio for EPS composite soil are analyzed. It is found that EPS composite soil is characterized by typical dynamic nonlinearity, which is influenced by the mixing ratio and the initial stress state. The increasing cement content can effectively improve the dynamic strength of EPS composite soil. EPS bead content has a slight influence on the initial shear modulus of EPS composite soil as well as the cyclic stress-strain curve in the linear elastic stage. However, the increasing EPS bead content obviously reduces the dynamic strength. The initial shear modulus increases with increasing initial minor principal stress for the isotropic and anisotropic consolidated specimens. The characteristics of modulus attenuation are significantly influenced by the initial minor principal stress, EPS bead content and initial rotation angle of the major principal stress axis. The “structural damping” effect induced by the weak interface formed between EPS beads and cemented soil is an important component of the damping mechanism for the EPS composite soil. Based on the experimental results, this paper provides the empirical models to describe the skeleton curve, modulus attenuation and damping growth characteristics for EPS composite soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Inflammation-dominated sympathetic sprouting adjacent to the necrotic region following myocardial infarction (MI) has been implicated in the etiology of arrhythmias resulting in sudden cardiac death; however, the mechanisms responsible remain to be elucidated. Although P2X7R is a key immune mediator, its role has yet to be explored. Objective We investigated whether P2X7R regulates NF-κB and affects cardiac sympathetic reinnervation in rats undergoing MI. Methods and Results An adenoviral vector with a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sequence inserted was adopted for the inhibition of P2X7R in vivo. Myocardial infarction was induced by left coronary artery ligation, and immediately after that, recombinant P2X7R-shRNA adenovirus, negative adenovirus (control), or normal saline solution (vehicle) was injected intramyocardially around the MI region and border areas. A high level of P2X7R was activated in the infarcted tissue at an early stage. The administration of P2X7R RNAi resulted in the inhibition of Akt and Erk1/2 phosphorylation and decreased the activation of NF-κB and macrophage infiltration, as well as attenuated the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF). Eventually, the NGF-induced sympathetic hyperinnervation was blunted, as assessed by the immunofluorescence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP 43). At 7 days post-MI, the arrhythmia score of programmed electrical stimulation in the vehicle-treated infarcted rats was higher than the MI-shRNA group. Further amelioration of cardiac dysfunction was also detected. Conclusions The administration of P2X7R RNAi during the acute inflammatory response phase prevented the process of sympathetic hyperinnervation after MI, which was associated in part with inhibiting the Akt and ERK1/2 pathways and NF-κB activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The CoSe 2 nanosheet shows a distinguished stability in 30 h at 0.5 A·cm−2 in an AEMWE among best Co-based catalysts. • Electro-oxidation rather than electrolyte immersion builds the high-valence Co and decreases the crystallinity. • The weak crystallinity prefers to maintain the stability of the metallic Co-defect structure and high-valence active site. The active origin of the high-valence-state enhance the oxygen evolution reaction performance, which still lacks confident evidence, especially on how to delay the loss of activity by retaining the valence dynamically stable. Herein, to demonstrate the role of pure electrochemistry on the evolution process is first detailed explored. The electrochemical operation is found benignly for building the high-valence cobalt (Co) on the surface and enhancing the degree of the weakened-crystalline structure due to the selenium (Se) leaching. The anodized CoSe 2 (A-CoSe 2) with the above structures was mainly linked to high intrinsic activity (η = 254 mV@10 mA cm−2) and durability (120 h), as well as a high-current (0.5 A cm−2, 30 h), withstand performance in anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolyzer among best Co-based catalysts. The high durability unravels the increasingly weakly crystalline structure was benign for the dynamical retainment of the metallic Co-defect structure and high-valence active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nanostructure surface layer was fabricated on CuW70 alloy by supersonic fine particles bombarding (SFPB) technology. The microstructure features of the surface layer were characterized by using XRD, SEM, TEM observations. The results show that severe plastic deformation was produced on the surface of SFPB-treated CuW70 alloy, a part of W particles were fragmented and become smaller on the surface, while the Cu particles only exhibit deformation. The thickness of nanostructure surface layer increased depending upon the treatment duration, the well technology was shot peening 60 min, in this case, the thickness up to 21 µm, the grain refinement process of CuW70 alloy involved internal defects proliferation, particles deformation and break up, grain refining of W, and strong plastic deformation of Cu bonding phase. Finally, the random orientation of nano-crystal was formed on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymoquinone, the major active compound isolated from the medicinal Nigella sativa , has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of thymoquinone on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. The effects of thymoquinone on inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1β, NO and PGE 2 production were detected by ELISA. The effects of thymoquinone on PI3K, Akt phosphorylation, and NF-κB activation were detected by western blot analysis. Our results showed that thymoquinone dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, NO and PGE 2 production. Thymoquinone also inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB activation. Furthermore, thymoquinone was found to inhibit LPS-induced PI3K and Akt phosphorylation, which were upstream molecules of NF-κB. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that thymoquinone might inhibit LPS-induced PI3K and Akt phosphorylation, which leading to the inhibition of NF-κB activation and inflammatory mediator production in BV2 microglia cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT. This study tested the hypotheses that experiencing regret would result in ego-depletion, while finding benefits (i.e., “silver linings”) in the regret-eliciting events counteracted the ego-depletion effect. Using a modified gambling paradigm (Experiments 1, 2, and 4) and a retrospective method (Experiments 3 and 5), five experiments were conducted to induce regret. Results revealed that experiencing regret undermined performance on subsequent tasks, including a paper-and-pencil calculation task (Experiment 1), a Stroop task (Experiment 2), and a mental arithmetic task (Experiment 3). Furthermore, finding benefits in the regret-eliciting events improved subsequent performance (Experiments 4 and 5), and this improvement was mediated by participants’ perceived vitality (Experiment 4). This study extended the depletion model of self-regulation by considering emotions with self-conscious components (in our case, regret). Moreover, it provided a comprehensive understanding of how people felt and performed after experiencing regret and after finding benefits in the events that caused the regret. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Simple Summary: Captivity is a common conservation method for endangered animals. However, a growing number of recent studies have shown that some animals in captivity might be in sub-health condition. The gut microbiota has been described as a complex, interactive internal system that has effects on diseases of the host with many interactions, and the occurrence of certain diseases is accompanied by changes and disorder of gut microbiota. We used16S rRNA sequencing technology and a mathematical model to find differences in gut microbiota composition and assembly processes. The results show that captivity might be unfavorable for white-lipped deer by shifting the gut microbiota composition and assembly process. White-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris) is a nationally protected wild animal species in China, as well as a unique and endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Captivity may alleviate the pressure from poaching and contribute to the repopulation and conservation of the population in the wild. The gut microbiota is described as a complex, interactive internal system that has effects on diseases of the host, with many interactions. However, the influence of captivity on the composition and assembly process of gut microbiota in white-lipped deer is unclear. This study applied high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing technology to determine differences in the gut microbiota between captive (CW) and wild (WW) white-lipped deer. We used the null model, neutral community model, and niche width to identify whether captivity affects the composition and assembly process of gut microbiota. The results show that WW has a higher number of Firmicutes and a lower number of Bacteroidetes compared with CW at the phylum level, and it has more opportunistic pathogens and specific decomposition bacteria at the genus level. Principal coordinate analysis also indicated significant differences in the composition and function of gut microbiota in CW and WW. Moreover, the results reveal that captivity shifts the ecological assembly process of gut microbiota by raising the contribution of deterministic processes. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that captivity might potentially have an unfavorable effect on white-lipped deer by continually exerting selective pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A UPLC–MS/MS method was developed for determination of pseudoginsengenin DQ. [•] Detection was performed by ESI+ in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. [•] The validation was all satisfactory in all the biological matrices examined. [•] The method was applied to pharmacokinetic study with administration of 15mg/kg PDQ. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents finite element analyses of negative skin friction on a single pile under various conditions. Negative skin friction is a common problem if a pile is designed in a highly compressible soil. There are two most important parameters in estimating the load caused by negative skin friction: (1) the distribution and magnitude of skin friction and (2) the location of the neutral plane. The neutral plane is the location where the pile and soil settle the same amount or have no relative displacement. Negative skin friction is a very complex phenomenon influenced by many factors. In this paper, a two-dimensional axisymmetric model is built in the finite element program, ABAQUS. The model is first verified with a known case history. A systematic parametric analysis is performed to investigate the influence on both the neutral plane and the magnitude and distribution of negative skin friction along the pile length of various influencing factors, including the consolidation time, the properties of pile/soil interface, the lateral earth pressure coefficient, pile-soil limiting displacement, the intensity of surcharge, and soil stiffness. Based on the analyses, it is found that the location of the neutral plane is significantly influenced by the consolidation time and the stiffness of bearing layer. The distribution and magnitude of negative skin friction is influenced mainly by the pile/soil interface, soil compressibility, and the surcharge intensity. Based on the field measurements from literature and this investigation, a simple design procedure is proposed for estimating the pile load caused by negative skin friction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery/Comprehensive Antibody - Vaccine Immune Monitoring Consortium (CAVD/ CA-VIMC) assisted an international network of laboratories in transferring a validated assay used to judge HIV-1 vaccine immunogenicity in compliance with Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) with the goal of adding quality to the conduct of endpoint assays for Human Immunodeficiency Virus I (HIV-1) vaccine human clinical trials. Eight Regional Laboratories in the international setting (Regional Laboratories), many located in regions where the HIV-1 epidemic is most prominent, were selected to implement the standardized, GCLP-compliant Neutralizing Antibody Assay for HIV-1 in TZM-bl Cells (TZMbl NAb Assay). Each laboratory was required to undergo initial training and implementation of the immunologic assay onsite and then perform partial assay re-validation, competency testing, and undergo formal external audits for GCLP compliance. Furthermore, using a newly established external proficiency testing program for the TZM-bl NAb Assay has allowed the Regional Laboratories to assess the comparability of assay results at their site with the results of neutralizing antibody assays performed around the world. As a result, several of the CAVD/CA-VIMC Regional Laboratories are now in the process of conducting or planning to conduct the GCLP-compliant TZM-bl NAb Assay as an indicator of vaccine immunogenicity for ongoing human clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe sepsis dominates the mortality of non-cardiac intensive care units. The ingenious Toll-like receptor (TLR) system can recognise many infectious organisms through relatively few receptors to trigger pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine release. Further complexity arises from positive and negative signalling feedback loops. Severe sepsis may be a consequence of an inappropriately excessive response or inadequate endogenous negative feedback. Therapies targeting these pathways are currently being evaluated. Alternatively, in clinical scenarios such as compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome, chronic viral sepsis or inadequate vaccine function, TLR signalling may be inadequate. TLR agonists may augment the innate response and are being investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of thermal actions on the pore structural features of granite, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and mercury injection experiments were carried out on granite after thermal treatment (25 °C to 400 °C). The pore structure was investigated from various perspectives, including the capillary pressure curve, the pore–throat ratio, the median saturation pressure, the median pore–throat radius, the porosity, the pore volume, and the pore size distribution. Based on mercury intrusion test data, the Winland model of permeability prediction was modified for a high-temperature tight granite reservoir. The results showed that: (1) As the temperature rose, the mercury injection curve was gradually flattened, and the mercury ejection efficiency gradually increased. Meanwhile, the pore–throat ratio and the median saturation pressure decreased exponentially, and the pore connectivity was enhanced. (2) The median pore–throat radius and the porosity of granite increased exponentially as the temperature increased. Above 200 °C, the median pore–throat radius and the porosity increased substantially. (3) The pore volumes of the transitional pores, mesopores and macropores, and the total pore volume inside the granite, increased as the temperature rose. Especially above 200 °C, the transitional pores and the mesopores were prominently developed, and the pore volumes of the transitional pores and the mesopores took up a significantly greater proportion of the total pore volume. (4) As the temperature rose, the pore size distribution of granite became more extensive, the pore–throat structure was obviously developed, and the pore–throat connectivity was enhanced. (5) The relationship between the micropores' characteristic parameters and the macro-permeability in engineering was established though a modified Winland model, and the modified Winland model had a better prediction effect. The findings provide a solid basis for rock geothermal mining projects and related geotechnical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) vaccine will most likely have to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) to overcome the sequence diversity of the envelope glycoprotein (Env). So far, stabilized versions of Env, such as SOSIP trimers, have been able to induce neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses, but those responses are mainly strain-specific. Here we attempted to broaden NAb responses by using a multivalent vaccine and applying a number of design improvements. First, we used highly stabilized SOSIP.v9 trimers. Second, we removed any holes in the glycan shields and optimized glycan occupancy to avoid strain-specific glycan hole responses. Third, we selected five sequences from the same clade (B), as we observed previously that combining Env trimers from clade A, B and C did not improve cross-reactive responses, as they might have been too diverse. Fourth, to improve antibody (Ab) responses, the Env trimers were displayed on two-component I53-50 nanoparticles (NPs). Fifth, to favor activation of cross-reactive B cells, the five Env trimers were co-displayed on mosaic NPs. Sixth, we immunized rabbits four times with long intervals between vaccinations. These efforts led to the induction of cross-reactive B cells and cross-reactive binding Ab responses, but we only sporadically detected cross-neutralizing responses. We conclude that stabilized HIV-1 Env trimers that are not modified specifically for priming naive B cells are unable to elicit strong bNAb responses, and infer that sequential immunization regimens, most likely starting with specific germline-targeting immunogens, will be necessary to overcome Env's defenses against the induction of NAbs. The antigens described here could be excellent boosting immunogens in a sequential immunization regimen, as responses to bNAb epitopes were induced. Author summary: The overall consensus in the HIV-1 vaccine field is that an effective vaccine should be able to elicit broadly neutralizing responses. In this study we aimed at inducing a cross-neutralizing antibody response using stabilized HIV-1 envelope trimers. We applied a multitude of state-of-the-art antigen design approaches to achieve this goal. Despite these efforts, our immunogens did not induce cross-neutralizing responses efficiently. In-depth analysis of the antibody responses, and antigen-specific B cells elicited by the vaccinations revealed interesting details that can help guide future vaccine design. Presenting the mature envelope proteins on a mixture of monovalent nanoparticles, or co-displayed on a mosaic nanoparticle, induced different amounts of cross-reactive cells. Furthermore, we found that the immunogens used in this study were in some cases able to induce antibody responses to broadly neutralizing epitopes, indicating that these immunogens could be useful in alternative vaccination strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) is a geomaterial that is low in density, porous, and has an enamel surface. A series of unconfined compression and resonant column tests were performed to understand the dynamic performance of LECA. Testing results show that the uncemented LECA is poorly graded but possesses a stable internal structure. The initial shear modulus, shear modulus reduction, and increase in damping with shear strain of uncemented LECA exhibits pressure-dependence. However, for cemented LECA, the increase in cement content and confining pressure leads to significant increases in the strength and stiffness, as well as greater nonlinearity in the dynamic shear modulus reduction. An empirical power law was recommended to describe the relationship between initial shear modulus and unconfined compressive strength. Cemented LECA exhibited larger damping characteristics than uncemented LECA for the range in strains investigated. The minimum damping ratio of LECA with a high cement content may exceed 5.0%, and generally increases with increasing confining pressure. Empirical equations were proposed to describe the modulus and damping ratio trends of LECA at low strains, and these relationships were compared to other geomaterials. The results were placed in the context of the application of LECA as an engineered backfill. • Dynamic properties of lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) are explored. • The experimental dynamic test program considered cemented and uncemented LECA. • The effect of cement content and confining pressure on stiffness and damping is quantified. • Empirical models to estimate dynamic properties are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to develop molecular tools for giant clam species identification, this study reveals the usefulness of a multiplex species-specific PCR for the reliable, rapid and low-cost identification of five giant clam species found in the South China Sea: Hippopus hippopus , Tridacna maxima , Tridacna derasa , Tridacna squamosa and Tridacna noae. We used the mitochondrial COI gene for marker development. Five reverse primers and a common forward primer were designed to generate five different size species-specific PCR fragments. These six primers were combined in a multiplex PCR to enable identification of five giant clam species in a single reaction. This molecular approach provides a simple and rapid identification of the giant clam species from the South China Sea, thus increasing the efficiency and quality of giant clam stock management, protecton and forensic identification by reducing the risk of wrong species identification. • A multiplex PCR was designed to generate five different size species-specific PCR fragments of giant clams. • These six primers were combined in a multiplex PCR to enable identification of five giant clam species in a single reaction. • This species-specific PCR provides a simple and rapid identification of the giant clam species from the South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the incidence and prognosis of malignancy in individuals with thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A)-associated membranous nephropathy (MN). First, we performed a systematic literature review of prevalence of malignancy in THSD7A-associated MN. Then, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 454 patients diagnosed with MN through renal biopsy at our hospital between January 2016 and December 2020. We assessed the presence of serum anti-THSD7A antibodies and performed immunohistochemical staining of renal tissue for THSD7A. Subsequently, we followed patients with THSD7A-associated MN for a minimum of 3–5 years, collecting their clinical, pathological characteristics, and prognosis. Additionally, we conducted a literature review on patients with THSD7A-associated MN in conjunction with malignancy. We identified a total of nine articles containing comprehensive data on THSD7A-associated MN and malignancy. Among 235 patients with THSD7A-positive MN, 36 individuals had concurrent malignancies, resulting in a malignancy prevalence of 13.3% (95% CI: 8.9–17.7%). In our center, we followed up with 15 patients diagnosed with THSD7A-associated MN and observed three cases of concomitant tumors: two cases of lung adenocarcinoma and one case of small cell lung cancer with multiple metastases. The prevalence of malignancy in our cohort was 20%. Notably, we detected positive THSD7A staining in both renal and lung cancer tissues in one patient with small cell lung cancer. Patients with THSD7A-associated MN should undergo vigilant follow-up assessments, with a particular focus on actively seeking potential tumorigenic lesions to prevent misdiagnosis or oversight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective study aims to investigate the prevalence and immunopathologic characteristics of seropositive and seronegative hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy (HBV-MN). Clinicopathologic and serologic records of 420 patients with histologically confirmed HBV-MN between January 2014 and July 2021 were examined to determine the prevalence of seropositive and seronegative HBV-MN. Serum anti-PLA2R antibody testing was conducted on 280 patients with HBV-associated membranous nephropathy (HBV-MN) from August 2018 to July 2021. Immunopathologic characteristics of HBV-MN patients and anti-PLA2R antibody positivity were analyzed. Among 420 pathologically confirmed HBV-MN patients, 230 (54.8%) were seropositive for HBV. The seropositive group exhibited higher blood creatinine values and incidence of liver function abnormalities than the seronegative group (p <.05). Serum anti-PLA2R antibody testing on 280 HBV-MN patients revealed a total positive rate of 44.6%, with the seronegative group showing a significantly higher rate (62.6%) compared to the seropositive group (32.1%) (p <.01). The anti-PLA2R antibody-positive group displayed higher levels of urine protein (p <.05), serum cholesterol (p <.01), and IgG4 subtypes (p <.05) compared to the negative group. Additionally, the positive group had significantly lower levels of serum albumin and IgG than the negative group (p <.01). This comprehensive study reveals a significantly higher prevalence of seronegative HBV-MN than previously thought. The blood creatinine values and incidence of liver function abnormalities was higher in the serology-positive group than in the serology-negative group. Notably, the seronegative group displayed a higher positive rate of anti-PLA2R antibodies compared to the seropositive group, indicating distinctive clinical and immunopathologic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) remains a major problem associated with swine production. Thus, understanding the physiological changes of postnatal IUGR piglets would aid in improving growth performance. Moreover, liver metabolism plays an important role in the growth and survival of neonatal piglets. Results: By profiling the transcriptome of liver samples on postnatal Days 1, 7, and 28, our study focused on characterizing the growth, function, and metabolism in the liver of IUGR neonatal piglets. Our study demonstrates that the livers of IUGR piglets were associated with a series of complications, including inflammatory stress and immune dysregulation; cytoskeleton and membrane structure disorganization; dysregulated transcription events; and abnormal glucocorticoid metabolism. In addition, the abnormal liver function index in the serum [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total protein (TP)], coupled with hepatic pathological and ultrastructural morphological changes are indicative of liver damage and dysfunction in IUGR piglets. Moreover, these results reveal the sex-biased developmental dynamics between male and female IUGR piglets, and that male IUGR piglets may be more sensitive to disrupted metabolic homeostasis. Conclusions: These observations provide a detailed reference for understanding the mechanisms and characterizations of IUGR liver functions, and suggest that the potential strategies for improving the survival and growth performance of IUGR offspring should consider the balance between postnatal catch-up growth and adverse metabolic consequences. In particular, sex-specific intervention strategies should be considered for both female and male IUGR piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We assessed population density and distribution of wildlife by sample line method. • We used the suitable habitat area to calculate the number of wildlife. • The pressure index of livestock on pastures had decreased in recent years. • The wildlife population had less impact on grasslands. Grassland carrying capacity and the number of livestock and wildlife play important roles in maintaining the balance of the grassland ecosystem. In this study, we assessed the grassland-livestock balance between large wild herbivores and livestock. We used the sample line transect method to conduct a survey on population and habitat area of wildlife in Sanjiangyuan National Park, China, from 2016 to 2017 and got detailed information about the population density and distribution of wildlife. The maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) was used to calculate the suitable habitat area of large wild herbivores. In addition, we used a suitable area to calculate the number of wildlife. The results showed that the suitable habitat area of Tibetan wild ass (Equus kiang) and Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picticaudata) were 14,463.7 and 15,306.3 km2, respectively, in Maduo County. The number of Tibetan wild ass and Tibetan gazelle was 12,176 and 4,231, respectively. The results indicated that the number of livestock was higher than that of wild herbivores, and overgrazing was the main cause of grassland desertification. However, the wildlife population had little effect on grasslands. The pressure index of livestock on pastures had gradually decreased in recent years. Therefore, we advise to protect the grasslands and control the number of livestock for maintaining local ecological balance and animal husbandry development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lateral pressure generated by liquefied soil on pile is a critical parameter in the analysis of soil-pile interaction in liquefaction-susceptible sites. Previous studies have shown that liquefied sand behaves like a non-Newton fluid, and its effect on piles has rate-dependent properties. In this study, a simplified pseudo-static method for liquefiable soil-pile interaction analysis is proposed by treating the liquefied soil as a thixotropic fluid, which considers the rate-dependent behavior. The viscous shear force generated by the relative movement between the viscous fluid (whose viscosity coefficient varies with excess pore pressure and shear strain rate) and the pile was assumed to be the lateral load on the pile. The results from the simplified analysis show that the distribution of bending moment is in good agreement with experiments data. Besides, the effects of various parameters, including relative density, thickness ratio of nonliquefiable layer to liquefiable layer, and frequency of input ground motion, on the pile-soil rate-dependent interaction were discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis and synthesis of pertinent research on the subject of nursing professionalism. Background. The number of studies documenting nursing professionalism has been consistently increasing over the years; however, a comprehensive synthesis and analysis of the evidence presented in these reports is currently lacking. Evaluation. The scope reviews were conducted using electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), and Wanfang database. Key Issues. This review included 15 studies and identified 4 significant pertinent issues: (1) the need for further investigation into the implementation level of nursing professionalism; (2) the development of culturally sensitive instruments to assess nursing professionalism; (3) an in‐depth exploration of the associated factors influencing nursing professionalism; and (4) the critical implementation of diverse intervention strategies to enhance nursing professionalism. Conclusions. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the implementation level, assessment tools, influential factors, and intervention strategies in nursing professionalism research. In addition, it emphasizes the future research direction in this field. Implications for Nursing Management. Nursing administrators need to understand the significance of improving the professional education and training of nurses, fostering a conducive work environment, and providing support for their active development of professional skills and nursing professionalism. These factors collectively contribute to the long‐term professional development of nurses and enhance the quality of patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleural empyema can lead to significant morbidity and mortality despite chest drainage and antibiotic treatment, necessitating novel and minimally invasive interventions. Fusobacterium nucleatum is an obligate anaerobe found in the human oral and gut microbiota. Advances in sequencing and puncture techniques have made it common to detect anaerobic bacteria in empyema cases. In this report, we describe the case of a 65-year-old man with hypertension who presented with a left-sided encapsulated pleural effusion. Initial fluid analysis using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) revealed the presence of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Aspergillus chevalieri. Unfortunately, the patient experienced worsening pleural effusion despite drainage and antimicrobial therapy. Ultimately, successful treatment was achieved through intrapleural metronidazole therapy in conjunction with systemic antibiotics. The present case showed that intrapleural antibiotic therapy is a promising measure for pleural empyema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is still one of the leading causes of end-stage kidney disease (ESRD), and complement system activation is a key to the pathogenesis of IgAN. The role of complement C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR in late stage of IgAN remains unknown. Renal specimens of 75 IgAN patients at the stage 4 CKD were stained using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and death. Associations of complement components with baseline clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes were assessed using multivariable Cox regression and Spearman analyses. During a median follow-up of 15.0 months, 27 patients progressed to ESRD and none died. Lower eGFR [hazards ratio (HR), 0.827, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.732–0.935; P = 0.002] and glomerular C3 deposition (HR, 3.179, 95% CI, 1.079–9.363; P = 0.036) were predictive of time to ESRD in stage 4 CKD IgAN. Higher expression of C3a (P = 0.010), C3aR (P = 0.005), C5a (P = 0.015), and C5aR (P < 0.001) was identified in ESRD group than in non-ESRD group. Glomerular C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR deposits were both correlated with a lower baseline eGFR, higher baseline 24 h-urinary protein (24 h-UP) and faster decline of eGFR. Besides, C3a and C5a deposits were found in patients with high S (S1) and T (T1/2) scores, respectively. Complement C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR in IgAN patients with stage 4 CKD may portend a faster deterioration of kidney function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastrointestinal microbiota play an important role in animal host immunity, nutrient metabolism, and energy acquisition, and have therefore drawn increasing attentions. This study compared the diversity of the gut microbiota of both wild and captive bharals, which is an ungulate herbivore of caprid from the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Results: The sequencing of the V4-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene via high-throughput sequencing technology showed that the dominant bacterial phyla are Firmicutes and Bacteroides both in wild and captive bharals. However, their abundance differed significantly between groups. Firmicutes were significantly higher in wild bharals, while Bacteroides were significantly higher in captive bharals. Different diets are likely a key influencing factor in the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota in bharals. Conclusions: Changes in diets affect the diversity of gut microbiota and the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria, increasing the risk of diseases outbreak in captive bharals. The results of this study suggest that the structure and function of the gut microbiota should be regulated via dietary intervention, accurate provision of an individualized diet, and optimization of the functional network of gut microbiota and its interaction with the host. This will improve the ex situ protection of wild animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) is a lightweight granular material, which can be used as an ideal backfilling geomaterial attributed to its porous particles. Through X-ray tomography images, it is found that LECA particle is a porous composite particle with a strong shell and a fragile core, originating from the sintering process of LECA production. Uniaxial compression experiments and discrete element method (DEM) simulations of uniaxial, biaxial and embedded multi-point (EMP) compressions were performed to study the crushing behavior of LECA particles. It is found that DEM simulation can well reproduce the structure and crushing behavior of LECA particles. Particularly, the EMP compression mimicked realistic working status of crushable particles in a stressed granular assembly, and the diverse changes of contact numbers, locations and force magnitudes were replicated in EMP compression. The experiment and simulation results exhibit large scattering in compressive crushing responses, and such variability has inter-particle and intra-particle sources. The size scaling law of crushing strength for the porous LECA particle does not obey the Weibull model prediction which was originally developed for solid particles. A significant variation of Weibull modulus with particle size was observed, attributed to the strong shell and fragile core structure features. The compressive strength would drop with increased lateral constraints, which is opposite to previous observations in the literature and is attributed to the unique stress distribution within LECA particle. Finally, a unified description of particle compressive strength following Weibull distribution is proposed and the experimentally available uniaxial compressive strength law becomes a special case. Particle size effects on uniaxial compressive strength and coordination number effects on Weibull modulus need to be carefully considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geotechnical earthquake engineering profession has struggled with the inherent complexity of the multiphase soil response to cyclic loading owing to the progressive nature of the generation of excess pore pressure (EPP) and degradation of soil stiffness and strength. One approach to improve understanding of the cyclic response and correlate the transition from a two-phase saturated soil to a single, fluid-phase liquefied soil is to treat the soil as a non-Newtonian viscous liquid. However, the work to date suggests that the viscous fluid model approach can only be implemented following the onset of sustained soil liquefaction. This paper presents a unified thixotropic fluid model and framework that effectively links the pre-shear soil fabric and its progressive cyclic response to the onset and maintained state of soil liquefaction. The framework treats the soil fabric as a fluid net-type structure proposed for use with thixotropic fluids, and presents the constitutive state and rate equations describing the deconstruction of the liquefiable soil fabric in response to cyclic loading. The unified framework uses physically meaningful soil parameters that can be obtained from common cyclic laboratory tests to seamlessly link the state-dependent and shear-strain-rate-dependent nature of soils to the generation of EPP, the latter of which is shown to increase in significance as EPP accumulates. The proposed thixotropic-induced excess pore pressure model should prove advantageous for use in forward modelling of the stress–strain rate response of liquefiable soil and generation of EPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The gut microbiota and metabolites play a crucial role in the physiological health of the host and are influenced by various factors, including seasons. We utilized 16s sequencing and untargeted metabolomics to uncover the impact of seasonal change on the gut microbiota and metabolites of Tibetan antelopes. Overall, this study revealed differences in the gut microbiota and metabolites of Tibetan antelopes during the cold and warm seasons. These findings can provide a basis for the conservation of Tibetan antelopes. The Tibetan antelope is an endangered species suffering from poaching and habitat fragmentation. The intestinal flora and metabolites play a crucial role in the physiological homeostasis of hosts, which are influenced by various environmental factors like seasonal variation. In this particular research, our main goal was to explore the alterations in the metabolism and gut microbiota of Tibetan antelopes between the cold season (XB) and warm season (DA), using untargeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene-sequencing analyses. The findings indicated that Tibetan antelopes had a higher alpha-diversity of intestinal microbes during the cold season than during the warm season. Principal co-ordinate analysis revealed notable seasonal discrepancies in the function and structure of intestinal microbes in Tibetan antelopes. The relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly increased during the cold season compared to during the warm season. Furthermore, the Tibetan antelope's primary metabolic functions of the intestinal micro-organisms were significantly higher during the cold season. The untargeted metabolomics analysis results showed a total of 532 metabolites that were significantly different between the cold season and warm season groups. These metabolites were found to be enriched in a total of 62 metabolic pathways. Among the most significant pathways of enrichment were the purine metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism. The levels of related metabolites in those pathways were remarkably higher in the warm season compared to the cold season. The comprehensive analysis of 16S rRNA and the metabolome reveals there is a significant correlation between differential microbiota and differential metabolites. Therefore, the gut microbiota changes caused by seasonal changes influenced the metabolites as well. This research reveals the function of seasonal changes in the intestinal flora and metabolites in the adaptation of Tibetan antelopes to environmental fluctuations and supplies a theoretical basis for instructing the protection management of Tibetan antelopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between atrial fibrillation and the clinical prognosis of patients with sepsis in intensive care unit. A total of 21,538 sepsis patients were enrolled in the study based on the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database, of whom 6,759 had AF. Propensity score matching was used to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without AF. Besides, the inverse probability of treatment weighting, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyzes were performed. Of the 21,538 patients, 31.4% had AF. The prevalence of AF increased in a step-by-step manner with growing age. Patients with AF were older than those without AF. After PSM, 11,180 patients remained, comprising 5,790 matched pairs in both groups. In IPTW, AF was not associated with 28-day mortality [hazard ratio (HR), 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.99–1.15]. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, it was not observed difference of 28-day mortality between patients with and without AF. AF could be associated with increased ICU LOS, hospital LOS and need for mechanical ventilation; however, it does not remain an independent short-term predictor of 28-day mortality among patients with sepsis after PSM with IPTW and multivariate analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining a healthy status is crucial for the successful captive breeding of endangered alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster, AMD), and captive breeding programs are beneficial to the ex-situ conservation and wild population recovery of this species. Meanwhile, the gut microbiota is essential for host health, survival, and environmental adaptation. However, changes in feeding environment and food can affect the composition and function of gut microbiota in musk deer, ultimately impacting their health and adaptation. Therefore, regulating the health status of wild and captive AMD through a non-invasive method that targets gut microbiota is a promising approach. Here, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was employed to reveal the composition and functional variations between wild (N = 23) and captive (N = 25) AMD populations. The results indicated that the gut microbiota of wild AMD exhibited significantly higher alpha diversity (P < 0.001) and greater abundance of the phylum Firmicutes, as well as several dominant genera, including UCG-005, Christensenellaceae R7 group, Monoglobus, Ruminococcus, and Roseburia (P < 0.05), compared to captive AMD. These findings suggest that the wild AMD may possess more effective nutrient absorption and utilization, a more stable intestinal microecology, and better adaption to the complex natural environment. The captive individuals displayed higher metabolic functions with an increased abundance of the phylum Bacteroidetes and certain dominant genera, including Bacteroides, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, NK4A214 group, and Alistipes (P < 0.05), which contributed to the metabolic activities of various nutrients. Furthermore, captive AMD showed a higher level of 11 potential opportunistic pathogens and a greater enrichment of disease-related functions compared to wild AMD, indicating that wild musk deer have a lower risk of intestinal diseases and more stable intestinal structure in comparison to captive populations. These findings can serve as a valuable theoretical foundation for promoting the healthy breeding of musk deer and as a guide for evaluating the health of wild-released and reintroduced musk deer in the future. Key points: • Wild and captive AMD exhibit contrasting gut microbial diversity and certain functions. • With higher diversity, certain bacteria aid wild AMD's adaptation to complex habitats. • Higher potential pathogens and functions increase disease risk in captive AMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we reported the one-step synthesis of chitosan-Fe(OH) 3 beads without the use of acid solvent, which could be used as effective adsorbents for anionic dyes removal. The preparation process was easy and green. The as-prepared beads were characterized for structural and morphological analysis in detail using several techniques, such as Scanning Electron Microscope, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric analysis. The content of Fe(OH) 3 in chitosan-Fe(OH) 3 beads was 54.64 wt%. The removal efficiencies toward anionic dyes: congo red (CR) and methyl orange (MO) by chitosan-Fe(OH) 3 beads were higher than pure chitosan beads. Moreover, the incorporation of Fe(OH) 3 into chitosan beads could overcome the obstacle that powdery Fe(OH) 3 particles are difficult to be separated from the adsorption solutions. The maximum adsorption capacities from Langmuir model for CR and MO by chitosan-Fe(OH) 3 beads were 445.32 and 314.45 mg/g, respectively. The thermodynamic data indicated that the adsorption processes were spontaneous and endothermic. In addition, chitosan-Fe(OH) 3 beads also showed good reusability and the removal efficiencies for both dyes retained above 95% after five cycles. From this work, it suggests that chitosan-Fe(OH) 3 beads have great potential as low-cost and effective adsorbents for the removal of anionic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to explain the mechanism of miR-30a-3p overexpression in sepsis-induced cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. For the in vitro cell experiments, H9c2 cells were divided into three groups, including the untreated normal control (NC), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated and miRNA (treated with LPS and transfection with miRNA-30a-3p) groups. The cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The relative protein expression levels were measured by western blot assay. In the in vivo experiment, a sepsis rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups, including the NC, LPS-injected and miRNA (in which model rats were injected with miR-30a-3p vector at the caudal vein) groups. The myocardial morphology in different groups was observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. In addition, tissue apoptosis and protein expression levels were evaluated by TUNEL and western blot assay, respectively. The results of cell experiments indicated that the cell proliferation rate was significantly increased and the cell apoptosis rate was signifi- cantly downregulated in the miR-30a-3p group compared with the LPS group (both P<0.05). The relative protein expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was markedly decreased in the miRNA group compared with the LPS group, while the levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (AKT) were significantly increased in the miRNA group (all P<0.05). In the in vivo experiments, the myocardial morphology of the miRNA group was improved compared with that of the LPS group. Compared with the LPS group, cell apoptosis in the miRNA group was significantly downregulated (P<0.05), while the relative protein levels (PTEN, PI3K and AKT) in the tissues were also significantly altered (P<0.05). In conclusion, miR-30a-3p overexpression may improve the sepsis-induced cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piperlongumine is an alkaloid compound extracted from Piper longum L. It is a chemical substance with various pharmacological effects and medicinal value, including anti-tumor, lipid metabolism regulatory, antiplatelet aggregation and analgesic properties. The present study aimed to understand whether piperlongumine induces the apoptosis and autophagy of leukemic cells, and to identify the mechanism involved. Cell viability and autophagy were detected using MTT, phenazine methyl sulfate and trypan blue exclusion assays. The apoptosis rate was calculated using flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3, Akt and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) were measured using western blotting. The cell growth of leukemic cells was completely inhibited following treatment with piperlongumine, and marked apoptosis was also induced. Dead cells as a result of autophagy were stained using immunofluorescence and observed under a light microscope. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR signaling was suppressed by treatment with piperlongumine, while p38 signaling and caspase-3 activity were induced by treatment with piperlongumine. It was concluded that piperlongumine induces apoptosis and autophagy in leukemic cells through targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and p38 signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stratified soil is a type of widely distributed special soil, consisting of alternating interlayered soils with distinct properties in both terrestrial and marine sedimentation conditions. It is endowed with anisotropic physical properties and mechanical behavior by its unique laminar structure features. So far, its mechanical behavior has not been fully understood. To systematically investigate the laminar structure effects of stratified soil, artificially prepared stratified soil samples of silty clay interlayered by silty sand were studied. First, the laminar structure features of stratified soil in Yangtze River floodplain deposits at Nanjing, China, were summarized. Then, based on the laminar structure features, preparation method for stratified soil samples was proposed by stacking soil layers one by one, which was basically an integration of soil paste plus consolidation method for silty clay layer preparation and water pluviation plus freezing method for silty sand layer preparation. After verification of the sample preparation method, a series of consolidated-undrained triaxial compression tests were carried out to study the mechanical behavior of stratified soil. The effects of thickness of constituent layers, consolidation conditions (isotropic or anisotropic consolidation), and loading paths (conventional triaxial compression, constant-p compression, and lateral extension) were investigated. The results show that the mechanical behavior of stratified soil (including stress–strain curves, excessive pore pressure accumulation, sample failure modes, and strength index) generally falls in between the behavior of the two constituent layers of soil, i.e., a normally consolidated silty clay and a medium-dense silty sand. The silty clay layer thickness (with fixed silty sand layer thickness), consolidation conditions, and loading paths together determine the stratified soil behavior, either silty sand dominant or silty clay dominant. Laminar structure can improve volumetric dilation trend and thus increase undrained shear strength of stratified soil. The presence of silty clay layer would suppress shear banding development in stratified soil. The strength of stratified soil can be underestimated by experiments using disturbed or remolded samples where the laminar structure is partially or completely lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 10% of MN was associated with cancer, with lung cancer having the highest incidence. • We identified COL3A1, PSENEN, RACGAP1, and TNFRSF10B as candidate genes for LUAD-associated MN. • RACGAP1 was considered to be a pivotal gene mediating lung cancer-associated MN. • Activation of Rac-1 and RhoA contributes to podocyte injury and proteinuria. This study performs a detailed bioinformatics and machine learning analysis to investigate the genetic foundations of membranous nephropathy (MN) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, the gene expression profiles of MN microarray datasets (GSE99339) and LUAD dataset (GSE43767) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained using the limma R package. The biological functions were analyzed with R Cluster Profiler package according to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Machine learning algorithms, including LASSO regression, support vector machine (SVM), Random Forest, and Boruta analysis, were applied to identify hubgenes linked to LUAD-associated MN. These genes' prognostic values were evaluated in the TCGA-LUAD cohort and validated through immunohistochemistry on renal biopsy specimens. A total of 36 DEGs in common were identified for downstream analyses. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted the involvement of the Toll-like receptor 4 pathway and several immune recognition pathways in LUAD-associated MN. COL3A1, PSENEN, RACGAP1, and TNFRSF10B were identified as hub genes in LUAD-associated MN using machine learning algorithms. ROC analysis demonstrated their effective discrimination of MN with high accuracy. Survival analysis showed that lung adenocarcinoma patients with higher expression of these genes had significantly reduced overall survival. In patients with lung adenocarcinoma-associated MN, RACGAP1, COL3A1, PSENEN, and TNFRSF10B were higher expressed in the glomerular, especially RACGAP1, indicating an important role in the pathogenesis of LUAD-associated membranous nephropathy. Our study underscores the critical role of RACGAP1, COL3A1, PSENEN, and TNFRSF10B in the development of LUAD-associated MN, providing important insights for future research and the development of potential therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]