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Background: Serum trace elements and oxidative stress factors are related to diabetic microvascular complications. The study was to investigate the complex relationship between trace elements, oxidative stress factors, and the severity of microvascular complications of diabetes in older adults. Methods: The present study included patients with or without type 2 diabetes, and blood glucose, blood lipids, trace elements (iron, magnesium, zinc), oxidative stress factors (malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC)) were evaluated. Risk factors for the severity of diabetic microvascular complications in older adults with diabetes were also estimated. Results: There were statistically significant differences in fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc), MDA, NO, SOD, T-AOC, magnesium, and zinc between the two groups (P< 0.05). Iron (rZinc = 0.147, rSOD = 0.180, rT-AOC = 0.193, P < 0.05) was positively correlated with zinc, SOD and T-AOC. Iron was negatively correlated with MDA (rMDA = − 0.146, P < 0.05). Magnesium was positively correlated with SOD (rMagnesium = 0.147, P < 0.05). Zinc (rSOD = 0.616, rT-AOC = 0.575, P < 0.01) was positively correlated with SOD and T-AOC. Zinc (rMDA =− 0.636, rNO=− 0.616, P< 0.01) was positively correlated with MDA and negatively correlated with NO. The course of disease (18.653, [5.726; 60.764], P < 0.01), FBG (1.265, [1.059; 1.511], P < 0.05), HbAlc (1.545, [1.431; 1.680], P < 0.01), MDA (2.989, [1.900; 4.702], P < 0.01) were risk factor for the severity of diabetic microvascular complications. Zinc (0.680, [0.503; 0.919], P < 0.05) and SOD (0.820, [0.698; 0.964], P < 0.05) were protective factors for the severity of diabetic microvascular complications. Conclusion: Serum trace elements are related to oxidative stress levels in older adults with type 2 diabetes. The more stable trace element in older adults with diabetes, the lower the oxidative stress and the fewer microvascular complications of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distorted inflow caused by the complex structure of the steam generator channel head (SGCH) occurs at the entrance to the reactor coolant pump (RCP) in the AP1000 system, which may generate impeller cracks and result in deterioration of performance and stability. In this paper, to analyze the influence of distorted inflow on flow properties of the RCP, the inflow distortion characteristics are studied by a full three-dimensional steady and unsteady numerical simulation. The simulation model was verified experimentally by testing the RCP with a straight pipe and a channel head at different flow rates. Using this model, the inlet distortion was quantified and the variation law of different distortion was obtained. The results showed that a non-uniform swirling flow under lateral pressure differences was formed when the pump was coupled with a channel head instead of a straight pipe, leading to the destruction of circular symmetry of the inflow field. Further increasing the tube length alone was not effective in improving the inflow field of the RCP, and the inlet swirl effect always existed. As the distorted flow entered the pump with a pair of vortices, the chaotic flow field imposed a non-uniform stress on each blade of the impeller, resulting in the unevenly distributed flow rate of each flow-path of the blade. Then, in the flow channels of the impeller, there were obvious asymmetrical vortex core regions, even in opposite directions, which originally formed in the inflow field of the RCP and raised the risk of blade fatigue failure. Owing to the significant effects of inflow distortion produced by the SGCH, understanding the mechanism of non-uniform inflow characteristic is of great value to the design and optimization of the RCP. Abbreviations: RCP: reactor coolant pump; SG: steam generator; SGCH: steam generator channel head

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a multifaceted syndrome with a complex aetiology commonly associated with comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension and renal disease. Various diseases induce systemic, chronic and low‐grade inflammation; microvascular dysfunction; metabolic stress; tissue ischemia; and fibrosis, leading to HFpEF. An effective treatment for HFpEF is lacking, largely owing to its pathophysiological heterogeneity. Recent studies have revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating the pathogenesis of HFpEF and its comorbidities. Methods: This narrative review included original articles and reviews published over the past 20 years found through 'PubMed' and 'Web of Science'. The search terms included "HFpEF," "MicroRNAs," "comorbidities," "Microvascular Dysfunction (MVD)," "inflammation," "pathophysiology," "endothelial dysfunction," "energy metabolism abnormalities" "cardiac fibrosis" and "treatment." Results: Inflammation, MVD, abnormal energy metabolism, myocardial hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis are important pathophysiological mechanisms underlying HFpEF. As gene expression regulators, miRNAs may contribute to the pathophysiology of HFpEF and are expected to serve in the stratification of patients with HFpEF and as prognostic indicators for monitoring treatment responses. Conclusions: A customized strategy based on miRNAs has emerged as an effective treatment for HFpEF. In this review, we discuss recent research surrounding miRNAs and HFpEF and propose potential miRNA targets for the pathophysiology of HFpEF and its comorbidities. Although current research concerning miRNAs and their therapeutic potential is in its early stages, miRNA‐based diagnostics and therapeutics hold great promise in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Printed zinc ion micro‐batteries (PZIMBs) possess characteristics such as miniaturization, customizability, and affordability, making them highly promising for the field of flexible electronic devices. Nevertheless, the current development of PZIMBs is seriously hindered by their limited areal capacity. In this study, PZIMBs with a high areal capacity are conducted based on 3D printing technology by optimizing the material properties, electrode ink formulation, and printing parameters. The cathode material, polyvinylpyrrolidone‐induced ammonium vanadate (P‐NVO) nanobelt, exhibits a high capacity of 457.3 mAh g−1 at 0.1 mA g−1, along with good cycling performance and rate capability. The double‐network hydrogel electrolyte, composed of crosslinked polyacrylamide‐polyvinylpyrrolidone (PAM‐PVP hydrogel electrolyte), demonstrates excellent ionic conductivity (107.22 mS cm−1), high stretchability (970%), and viscosity. The constructed PZIMBs exhibit a high areal capacity of 4.02 mAh cm−2 at 0.5 mA cm−2, along with good mechanical flexibility. Moreover, through the integration of PZIMBs with pressure sensors, an interactive system is developed that resembles electronic skin, and this integration enables practical applications of wearable devices. This study presents a novel approach for fabricating PZIMBs with high areal capacity, thereby contributing to and propelling the advancement of flexible energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An indoor moving target positioning system using UWB(Ultra-wideband) technology was designed. Through the base station installed in a specific location in the room and the tag carried by the mobile object, the improved standard TDOA(Time Difference of Arrival) positioning algorithm obtains the real-time location information of the moving target and completes the accurate positioning of the indoor moving target. Qt was used to develop a PC application software that can display the position and movement trajectory of the positioning target in real time. Finally, an experimental test platform was set up to test the system and the obtained location information was compared with the actual data. The result shows that the overall system communication is stable and meets the positioning requirements.

The construction of photocatalysts with a Z-scheme heterojunction is considered to be a superior strategy for improving photocatalytic activity. In this study, a photocatalyst (PI/TiC/TiO2) with a Z-scheme heterojunction was fabricated, in which polyimide (PI) and TiO2 were used as the organic/inorganic semiconductor photocatalyst and TiC acted as the transmission bridge for electrons between PI and TiO2. In the self-made air flow photocatalytic reactor, the photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of organic dyes by PI/TiC/TiO2 increased with the increase of both the concentration and diffusion rate of O2. The degradation efficiencies of RhB and MB by PI/TiC/TiO2 reached 93.87% and 90.96%, respectively, within 90 min of visible light exposure, showing its outstanding photocatalytic performance. The mechanism analysis indicated that the Z-scheme heterojunction in PI/TiC/TiO2 facilitated the separation and migration of photoexcited charges while retaining stronger redox capabilities for charge carriers. This study provides an insight into the construction of visible light responsive organic/inorganic photocatalysts with Z-scheme heterojunctions for organic pollution treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]