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Considering the increasing sediment content and increasing sediment flux of the Yellow River over the years, it is of significance to investigate the potential interfacial force mechanism between pollutants and Yellow River sediment. This article has reviewed the current research on the Yellow River sediments' mineral structures while investigating the potential interaction force between sediment and pollutants in the water environment. This article has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the influence of sediment on the migration of pollutants in the water environment. What is more, the authors have provided an outlook on the future applications of sediment in ecological environmental systems. Yellow River sediment mainly included minerals and some clay phases, while its irregular surface provided sites for the interface adsorption of pollutants. The interface force between the sediment and pollutants is mainly attributed to promoting bacterial growth on the surface of sediments, physisorption, and chemisorption forces. The sediments carry and transport pollutants during the long-distance water flow migration process. The sediment should be effectively utilized and better integrated into ecological or environmental restoration systems. This article provides a reference for studying the behavior of Yellow River sediment and the direction of future efficient utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seals, sea lions, and other aquatic animals rely on their whiskers to identify and track underwater targets, offering valuable inspiration for the development of low-power, portable, and environmentally friendly sensors. Here, we design a single seal-whisker-like cylinder and conduct experiments to measure the forces acting on it with nine different upstream targets. Using sample sets constructed from these force signals, a convolutional neural network (CNN) is trained and tested. The results demonstrate that combining the seal-whisker-style sensor with a CNN enables the identification of objects in the water in most cases, although there may be some confusion for certain targets. Increasing the length of the signal samples can enhance the results but may not eliminate these confusions. Our study reveals that high frequencies (greater than 5 Hz) are irrelevant in our model. Lift signals present more distinct and distinguishable features than drag signals, serving as the primary basis for the model to differentiate between various targets. Fourier analysis indicates that the model's efficacy in recognizing different targets relies heavily on the discrepancies in the spectral features of the lift signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molten titanium-containing blast furnace slag can be used to obtain cast stone materials by controlling a reasonable heat treatment system. The material acquired during this process showcases residual stress, which additionally impacts the macroscopic characteristics of the material. This article simulates the process of manufacturing microcrystalline cast stones based on the self-crystallisation ability of titanium-containing products. This research employs X-ray diffraction to precisely and conveniently assess the residual stress of microcrystalline cast stones and investigates how viscosity and the thermal expansion coefficient influence the residual stress level. The study provides a theoretical foundation for explaining titanium-containing blast furnace slag and combines characterisation methods such as XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (Scanning electron microscope), DTA (Differential thermal analysis), and theoretical calculations such as Factpage and Fullprop to study the effect of the TiO2 content on the microstructure of self-crystallised mechanical characteristics of microcrystalline cast stones through residual stress. The results of the experiment indicate that as the TiO2 content in the system increases, the glass phase is reduced, the crystallinity improves, and the main crystal phase changes from a feldspar phase to a diopside phase. Furthermore, its viscosity, thermal expansion coefficient, and residual stress decrease while its corresponding compressive strength and bending strength increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrate salts (CSs), as one type of organic salts, have been widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Accurate and quantitative detection of CSs in food and medicine is very important for health and safety. In this study, an asymmetric double-opening ring metamaterial sensor is designed, fabricated, and used to detect citrate salts combined with THz spectroscopy. Factors that influence the sensitivity of the metamaterial sensor including the opening positions and the arrangement of the metal opening ring unit, the refraction index and the thickness of the analyte deposited on the metamaterial sensor were analyzed and discussed from electromagnetic simulations and THz spectroscopy measurements. Based on the high sensitivity of the metamaterial sensor to the refractive index of the analyte, six different citrate salt solutions with low concentrations were well identified. Therefore, THz spectroscopy combined with a metamaterials sensor can provide a new, rapid, and accurate detection of citrate salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress-relief coal mine methane surface gas venthole is considered an effective method by which to realize coal mine methane exploitation and outburst prevention. Existing stress permeability models for caved zones, fractured zones, and bending subsidence zones were embedded into FLAC3D simulation software by using the FISH language. In cooperation with the in-situ data of a mine in a Huainan coalfield, the permeability distribution of pressure-relief surface gas drainage via different zones was simulated. The results indicated that the surface gas ventholes were effective for gas extraction from mining areas. By analyzing the distribution of permeability, three zones were identified: (1) the fully compacted zone, (2) the gradually compacted zone, and (3) the "O" type fractured zone. The seepage path of pressure-relief surface gas drainage was visualized. Most of the gas seeps into the adjacent rock mass at first and then is extracted through surface gas ventholes. Meanwhile, seepage of gas with different ventilation modes in longwall-panel, U-type, and Y-type was analyzed. Results shows that the Y-type ventilation mode is better than the U-type for gob gas control in the longwall panel. A comparison between the simulated model and the on-site recorded data is conducted, and results show that the model represents the site condition reasonably well. The simulation results provide theoretical guidance to engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquiritigenin (LQG) is a natural flavonoid from the herb Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch that exhibits multiple biological activities. However, its specific role in antiobesity and its related underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. The primary purpose of this study is to explore the effects and regulatory mechanisms of LQG on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The results show that LQG significantly reduced triglyceride levels and downregulated the expression of transcription factors such as CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Additionally, the expression of sterol-regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), and fatty acid synthase (FASN) involved in lipogenesis was reduced by treatment with LQG. The protein expression levels of light chain 3B (LC3B), autophagy-related protein 7 (ATG7) and p62 were also modulated by LQG, leading to the suppression of autophagy. Further, LQG activated the phosphorylation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), the inhibition of which was followed by the restored expression of autophagy-related proteins. Pretreatment with an mTOR inhibitor also reverted the expression of several genes or proteins involved in lipid synthesis. These results suggest that LQG inhibited lipid accumulation via mTOR-mediated autophagy in 3T3-L1 white adipocytes, indicating the role of LQG as a potential natural bioactive component for use in dietary supplements for preventing obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic high-fat diet (HFD) is associated with the onset and progression of hepatic steatosis, and oxidative stress is highly involved in this process. The potential role of sesamol (SEM) against oxidative stress and inflammation at the transcriptional level in a mice model of hepatic steatosis is not known. In this study, we aimed to investigate the scavenging effects of SEM towards reactive oxygen generated by lipid accumulation in the liver of obese mice and to explore the mechanisms of protection. Markers of oxidative stress, vital enzymes involved in stimulating oxidative stress or inflammation, and nuclear transcription of Nrf2 were examined. Our results showed that SEM significantly inhibited the activity of the HFD-induced hepatic enzymes CYP2E1 and NOX2, associated with oxidative stress generation. Additionally, SEM reversed HFD-induced activation of NF-κB, a redox-sensitive transcription factor, and attenuated the expression of hepatic TNF-α, a proinflammatory molecule. Moreover, SEM enhanced HFD-induced hepatic Nrf2 nuclear transcription and increased the levels of its downstream target genes Ho1 and Nqo1, which indicated antiinflammation and antioxidant properties. Our study suggests that chronic HFD led to hepatic steatosis, while SEM exhibited protective effects on the liver by counteracting the oxidative stress and inflammation induced by HFD. The underlying mechanism might involve multiple pathways at the transcriptional level; the antioxidant defense mechanism was in partly mediated by the upregulation of Nrf2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genistein (GEN) has been shown to significantly inhibit hepatic triglyceride accretion triggered by estrogen deficiency. The main purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the function and molecular mechanism of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) in regulating hepatic lipid metabolism induced by GEN. Different doses of GEN or GEN with an ERβ antagonist were treated with HepG2 cells. Results showed that 25 μM GEN significantly diminished triglyceride levels. Meanwhile, GEN downregulated the levels of genes and proteins involved in lipogenesis, such as sterol-regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1), and upregulated the gene and protein levels of the regulation factors responsible for fatty acid β-oxidation, such as carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1α (CPT-1α) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). Furthermore, 25 μM GEN reduced the levels of phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Moreover, most of these effects from GEN were reverted by pretreatment with the antagonist of ERβ. In conclusion, GEN improved hepatic lipid metabolism by activating ERβ and further modulation of Akt/mTOR signals. The results provide novel aspects of the regulatory mechanism of ERβ on hepatic lipid metabolism and might help to profoundly understand the functions of food-derived phytoestrogens in preventing and treating hepatic steatosis in postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]