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This study explores the performance of asphalt mixtures modified with North American rock asphalt and desulfurized rubber particles at varying rubber-to-asphalt ratios ranging from 18% to 36% by weight. A comprehensive set of laboratory tests, including high-temperature rutting tests, low-temperature bending tests, indirect tensile tests, and freeze–thaw splitting tests, were conducted to evaluate the modified mixtures. The results indicate that both wet and dry blending methods produce mixtures that meet technical requirements, with the optimal asphalt-to-aggregate ratio determined to be 7.1%. At a rubber-to-asphalt ratio of 18%, the wet blending method slightly improves high-temperature rutting resistance compared to the dry method. However, an increase in rubber content generally enhances rutting resistance regardless of the blending technique. The wet blending method excels in low-temperature crack resistance, possibly due to better rubber dispersion, while an increase in rubber content diminishes crack resistance due to a thinning asphalt film. In terms of fatigue performance, the dry blending method results in significantly longer fatigue life, with a 27% rubber-to-asphalt ratio exhibiting optimal balance. The dry method consistently outperforms the wet method in water stability, and the resistance to water damage increases with rubber content. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into optimizing rubber-to-asphalt ratios and blending methods for various application needs, showcasing the benefits of rock asphalt and desulfurized rubber particles in asphalt modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drainage tunnel stability is crucial for engineering project safety (e.g., mine engineering and dams), and rockfall events and water release are key indicators of drainage tunnel stability. To address this, we developed a monitoring system to simulate drainage tunnel intrusions based on distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), and we obtained typical characteristics of events like rockfall events and water release. Given the multitude of DAS signal feature parameters and challenges, such as high-dimensional features impacting the classification accuracy of machine learning, we proposed an identification method for drainage tunnel intrusion events using principal component analysis (PCA) and neural networks. PCA reveals that amplitude-related parameters—amplitude, mean amplitude, and energy—significantly contribute to DAS signal classification, reducing the feature parameter dimensions by 54.8%. The accuracy of intrusion event classification improves with PCA-processed data compared to unprocessed data, with overall accuracy rates of 79.1% for rockfall events and 72.7% for water release events. Additionally, the artificial neural network model outperforms the Bayesian and logistic regression models, demonstrating that ANN has advantages in handling complex models for intrusion event classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variable coefficient segmented iron loss calculation model is proposed for high‐voltage multi‐pole asynchronous motors, which fully considers the influence of high‐order harmonic magnetic density on such motors. This model introduces additional hysteresis loss, improved eddy current loss coefficients, and rotation magnetisation coefficients to account for changes in losses due to small hysteresis loops and skin effect, as well as rotation magnetisation losses. A 710 kW 10‐pole asynchronous motor is used as the research object. A full‐domain iron loss calculation model considering stator and rotor tooth top surface losses is developed. The model can be used to accurately calculate the overall and local harmonic iron losses in the stator and rotor cores of high‐voltage multi‐pole asynchronous motors. And quantitatively analyse the distribution pattern of any harmonic iron loss at any location in the motor core. It realises the refinement calculation and analysis of iron losses in the whole domain of high‐voltage multi‐pole asynchronous motor. Finally, no‐load and load tests were conducted on the 710 kW 10‐pole asynchronous motor. The iron losses of the 710 kW 10‐pole asynchronous motor at no load and load are calculated using the above mentioned model and the classical trinomial constant factor model. The results are compared with the measured iron loss values. It is proved that the iron loss model is more accurate in calculating the iron loss of high‐voltage multi‐pole asynchronous motor. The result helps researchers to calculate the iron loss distribution of high voltage motors more accurately. Thus, the design and operating parameters of the motor can be optimised to improve the efficiency and performance of the motor. It provides the necessary technical support and key basis for the reduction of loss and energy saving of high‐voltage motors and the optimisation of their core structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formamidine lead triiodide (FAPbI3) perovskites have attracted increasing interest for photovoltaics attributed to the optimal bandgap, high thermal stability, and the record power conversion efficiency (PCE). However, the materials still face several key challenges, such as phase transition, lattice defects, and ion migration. Therefore, external ions (e.g., cesium ions (Cs+)) are usually introduced to promote the crystallization and enhance the phase stability. Nevertheless, the doping of Cs+ into the A‐site easily leads to lattice compressive strain and the formation of pinholes. Herein, trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) is introduced into the precursor to provide tensile strain outside the perovskite lattice through intermolecular forces. The special strain compensation strategy further improves the crystallization of perovskite and inhibits the ion migration. Moreover, the TOPO molecule significantly passivates grain boundaries and undercoordinated Pb2+ defects via the forming of P═O─Pb bond. As a result, the target solar cell devices with the synergistic effect of Cs+ and TOPO additives have achieved a significantly improved PCE of 22.71% and a high open‐circuit voltage of 1.16 V (voltage deficit of 0.36 V), with superior stability under light exposure, heat, or humidity conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To expand the reliability of interferometry technology, this paper proposes a random two-frame algorithm with high accuracy, high robustness, and immunity to tilt phase-shift. This method uses the equivalence of inter-frame phase-shift and intra-frame phase difference to mine light intensity pixels carrying new phase-shift from different images. Then, the linear random phase-shift plane is fitted by least squares, and the inverse tangent relationship is used to obtain a high-precision phase distribution. This technology uses the principle of light intensity equivalence to fit the linear phase-shift plane and does not require any iterative process. It can effectively suppress the influence of tilt phase-shift while ensuring computational efficiency. The paper verifies that the proposed algorithm has excellent performance in both tilted and non-tilted conditions through simulation and experimental comparison.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common musculoskeletal disease and a leading cause of pain and disability. A key hallmark of OA is cartilage degradation, which occurs due to an imbalance between the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Interleukin-1β(IL-1β) has been reported to regulate ECM metabolism. Nuciferine (Nuc), a natural peptide extracted from the lotus leaf, possesses several significant pharmacological properties. However, the anti-inflammation of Nuc in OA has not been reported. In this study, ELISA and Western blot analyses were used to measure the production of inflammatory mediators in IL-1β-Induced mouse chondrocytes. Additionally, mice with or without surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) were treated with intra-articular injection of Nuc. We found that Nuc significantly reduces the level of iNOS, PEG2, and IL-6 in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Furthermore, Nuc can ameliorate the development of OA in mice. Mechanistically, we found that the chondrocyte-protective effects of Nuc occur via the PTEN/NF-κB pathway. These findings suggest that Nuc could be a potential therapeutic agent for improving OA development., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Severe and fatal COVID-19 cases often display cytokine storm i.e. significant elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with systemic hypoxia. Understanding the mechanisms of these pathogenic manifestations would be essential for the prevention and especially treatment of COVID-19 patients. Here, using a dual luciferase reporter assay for hypoxia-response element (HRE), we initially identified SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 5 (NSP5), NSP16, and open reading frame 3a (ORF3a) to upregulate hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling. Further experiments showed NSP16 to have the most prominent effect on HIF-1α, thus contributing to the induction of COVID-19 associated pro-inflammatory response. We demonstrate that NSP16 interrupts von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) protein interaction with HIF-1α, thereby inhibiting ubiquitin-dependent degradation of HIF-1α and allowing it to bind HRE region in the IL-6 promoter region. Taken together, the findings imply that SARS-CoV-2 NSP16 induces HIF-1α expression, which in turn exacerbates the production of IL-6., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic disease characterized by progressive cartilage degeneration and secondary synovial inflammation. Bergamottin (Ber) is an important natural derivative of the furanocoumarin compound, extracted from natural foods, such as the pulp of grapefruits and pomelos. Ber exhibits several characteristicsthat are beneficial to human health, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and anti-cancer effects. However, the role of Ber in the treatment of OA has not been elucidated to date. Therefore, in the present study, in vitro experiments were conducted, which demonstrated that Ber reduces the secretion of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) under the stimulation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Ber also reversed the IL-1 β-mediated aggrecan and type II collagen degradation within the extracellular matrix (ECM). In addition, in vivo experiments were conducted, in which Ber ameliorated the progression of OA in mice. It was revealed that Ber exerted its cellular effect by activating the Sirt1/NF-kB pathways. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the therapeutic potential of Ber in the context of OA., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Shen, Zhang, Tu and Wang.)