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This paper presents load factors for the residual capacity of highway bridges strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. These load factors are intended to reflect structural loadings when a CFRP system malfunctions, so that a catastrophic event is prevented. To determine dead and live load factors under such an unordinary situation, stochastic inverse models are formulated per measure theory. Various bridge configurations and structural loadings are sampled from those used for calibrating the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) Bridge Design Specifications (BDS). With an increase in span length over 18.3 m (60 ft), the dead load controls the response of the bridges relative to the live load. In accordance with inverse standard normal distributions, the live load effects are appropriate for representing service loadings (37.7% of the 75-year ultimate load effects, on average), which can thus be coupled with the residual capacity of the strengthened bridges. The most probable values are mathematically calculated to estimate the dead and live factors, and their influence is investigated on the moment and shear of the bridges. Analytical approaches, such as exceedance probability and safety index, substantiate that the calculated load factors outperform the load factors stipulated in a published design guideline. For the evaluation of residual capacity, the dead and live load factors are proposed to be 1.05 and 0.60, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional biomass boiler operations predominantly rely on manual control, with adjustments made based on operator experience. This approach not only demands considerable manpower but also leads to suboptimal resource utilization. Addressing the specific operational dynamics of biomass boilers, this study introduces a controller designed around the STM32 microcontroller. This device employs a modular architecture and incorporates cost-effective chips and peripheral components. To enhance energy efficiency and the overall user experience, the controller utilizes pulse width modulation pulse modulation alongside a fuzzy PID control strategy. Capable of toggling between manual and automatic modes for local operations, it also supports data logging directly on the device or in the cloud. Tailored to meet diverse user requirements, the controller facilitates remote monitoring and management. It employs a strategic control mechanism for various motors, ensuring precise hot water temperature measurements within the boiler and enabling data uploads to cloud platforms. This not only conserves energy and reduces labor costs but also promotes environmental sustainability and operational efficiency. Through ongoing refinement and rigorous testing, the controller has achieved a level of maturity that underscores its readiness for widespread implementation.

Abstract Engineering human tissue with diverse cell types and architectures remains challenging. The cerebral cortex, which has a layered cellular architecture composed of layer-specific neurons organised into vertical columns, delivers higher cognition through intricately wired neural circuits. However, current tissue engineering approaches cannot produce such structures. Here, we use a droplet printing technique to fabricate tissues comprising simplified cerebral cortical columns. Human induced pluripotent stem cells are differentiated into upper- and deep-layer neural progenitors, which are then printed to form cerebral cortical tissues with a two-layer organization. The tissues show layer-specific biomarker expression and develop a structurally integrated network of processes. Implantation of the printed cortical tissues into ex vivo mouse brain explants results in substantial structural implant-host integration across the tissue boundaries as demonstrated by the projection of processes and the migration of neurons, and leads to the appearance of correlated Ca2+ oscillations across the interface. The presented approach might be used for the evaluation of drugs and nutrients that promote tissue integration. Importantly, our methodology offers a technical reservoir for future personalized implantation treatments that use 3D tissues derived from a patient’s own induced pluripotent stem cells.

The ozone (O3) variations in southeast China are largely different between mountainous forest areas located inland, and lowland urban areas located near the coast. Here, we selected these two kinds of areas to compare their similarities and differences in surface O3 variability from diurnal to seasonal scales. Our results show that in comparison with the lowland urban areas (coastal areas), the mountainous forest areas (inland areas) are characterized with less human activates, lower precursor emissions, wetter and colder meteorological conditions, and denser vegetation covers. This can lead to lower chemical O3 production and higher O3 deposition rates in the inland areas. The annual mean of 8-h O3 maximum concentrations (MDA8 O3) in the inland areas are ~15 μg·m−3 (i.e. ~15%) lower than that in the coastal areas. The day-to-day variation in surface O3 in the two types of the areas is rather similar, with a correlation coefficient of 0.75 between them, suggesting similar influences on large scales, such as weather patterns, regional O3 transport, and background O3. Over 2016–2020, O3 concentrations in all the areas shows a trend of “rising and then falling”, with a peak in 2017 and 2018. Daily MDA8 O3 correlates with solar radiation most in the coastal areas, while in the inland areas, it is correlated with relative humidity most. Diurnally, during the morning, O3 concentrations in the inland areas increase faster than in the coastal areas in most seasons, mainly due to a faster increase in temperature and decrease in humidity. While in the evening, O3 concentrations decrease faster in the inland areas than in the coastal areas, mostly attributable to a higher titration effect in the inland areas. Seasonally, both areas share a double-peak variation in O3 concentrations, with two peaks in spring and autumn and two valleys in summer and winter. We found that the valley in summer is related to the summer Asian monsoon that induces large-scale convections bringing local O3 upward but blocking inflow of O3 downward, while the one in winter is due to low O3 production. The coastal areas experienced more exceedance days (~30 days per year) than inland areas (~5-10 days per year), with O3 sources largely from the northeast. Overall, the similarities and differences in O3 concentrations between inland and coastal areas in southeastern China are rather unique, reflecting the collective impact of geographic-related meteorology, O3 precursor emissions, and vegetation on surface O3 concentrations.

In this study, the multi-year data of meteorology and O3 from remote sensing and ground observations are applied to characterize the 3-D changes of O3 in the troposphere over central and eastern China (CEC) induced by the tropical cyclones (TCs) in the tropical and subtropical ocean regions over Northwest Pacific. The CEC-regional average of near-surface O3 levels is significantly elevated with 6.0 ppb in the large coverage by the TCs in the subtropical ocean, while the TCs in the tropical ocean alter near-surface O3 weakly, indicating the latitudinal-located TCs in the subtropical offshore ocean could largely influence the O3 variations over CEC. The sub-seasonal change with the positive and negative anomalies of near-surface O3 is induced by the tropical TCs from June to July and from August to October. The peripheral circulation of TCs in the subtropical offshore ocean persistently enhances the O3 concentrations over CEC during the season of East Asian summer monsoons. The positive O3 anomalies maintain from the entire troposphere to the lower stratosphere over CEC in the peripheries of subtropical TCs, while the tropical TCs cause the positive O3 anomalies merely in the lower troposphere. The O3 transport and accumulation, photochemical production and stratospheric intrusion are climatologically confirmed as the major meteorological mechanisms of TCs affecting the O3 variations. This study reveals that the downward transport of stratospheric O3 of TCs in the subtropical ocean exerts a large impact on the atmospheric environment over CEC, while the regional O3 transport and photochemical productions dominate the lower troposphere over CEC with less impact of stratospheric intrusion from the TCs in the tropical ocean region. These results present the climatology of tropospheric O3 anomalies in China induced by the TCs over the Northwest Pacific with enhancing our comprehension of the meteorological impact on O3 variations over the East Asian monsoon region.

This paper presents the infiltration of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) through concrete confined with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets. Despite the popularity of such a rehabilitation method in upgrading the strength and ductility of existing reinforced concrete columns, scarce information is available when these members are exposed to H2SO4 as a result of changes in service environments after strengthening. In an experimental comparative study alongside plain concrete, the efficacy of CFRP confinement is elaborated in the context of durability. Concrete specimens with and without CFRP confinement are immersed in a 5% solution for up to 6 weeks and are used to examine their physical and chemical responses. In the concrete subjected to the acid, H2SO4 dissolves the cement binder, alters surface-level pH values, and lowers the electrical resistivity of the plain concrete. Although the resin of the CFRP allows the ingress of H2SO4, the influence was not as significant as that of its plain counterpart. The CFRP system impedes the progression of chlorides through the conditioned concrete, which is beneficial in mitigating the potential corrosion damage of strengthened concrete members, preserves the integrity of the conditioned concrete, and lessens the absorption and effective diffusivity of H2SO4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Doppler Weather radar observations and numerical simulations applying the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) system, this study focused on the rapid intensification (RI) of Typhoon “Mekkhala” (2006) in the inshore area in 2020. The simulated track of the typhoon relatively matched with the observation, with a slight eastward bias compared to the observed track. During the phase of RI, there was a slight weakening of vertical wind shear between 200–500 hPa. The temporary decrease in vertical wind shear became a favorable factor for the intensification of the typhoon. In general, vertical wind shear of the lower atmosphere is the key to supporting the RI of Typhoon Mekkhala. In the middle troposphere, the southward component of the vertical wind shear suddenly increases, indicates that the inflow of southern wind to the core of the typhoon had strengthened. Thus, the strengthening of the moisture transport by enhanced southern wind, contributed to the intensification of the typhoon. During the intensification of the typhoon, the low-level vorticity was significantly enhanced, and the high vorticity values expanded from the lower to higher troposphere. The vertical distribution of vorticity transformed from symmetry to asymmetry. The development of secondary circulation on both sides of the typhoon is a dynamic factor for intensification.

Crystal monochromators are indispensable optical components for the majority of beamlines at synchrotron radiation facilities. Channel-cut monochromators are sometimes chosen to filter monochromatic X-ray beams by virtue of their ultrahigh angular stability. Nevertheless, high-accuracy polishing on the inner diffracting surfaces remains challenging, thus hampering their performance in preserving the coherence or wavefront of the photon beam. Herein, a magnetically controlled chemical–mechanical polishing (MC-CMP) approach has been successfully developed for fine polishing of the inner surfaces of channel-cut crystals. This MC-CMP process relieves the constraints of narrow working space dictated by small offset requirements and achieves near-perfect polishing on the surface of the crystals. Using this method, a high-quality surface with roughness of 0.614 nm (root mean square, r.m.s.) is obtained in a channel-cut crystal with 7 mm gap designed for beamlines at the High Energy Photon Source, a fourth-generation synchrotron radiation source under construction. On-line X-ray topography and rocking-curve measurements indicate that the stress residual layer on the crystal surface was removed. Firstly, the measured rocking-curve width is in good agreement with the theoretical value. Secondly, the peak reflectivity is very close to theoretical values. Thirdly, topographic images of the optics after polishing were uniform without any speckle or scratches. Only a nearly 2.5 nm-thick SiO2 layer was observed on the perfect crystalline matrix from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy photographs, indicating that the structure of the bulk material is defect- and dislocation-free. Future development of MC-CMP is promising for fabricating wavefront-preserving and ultra-stable channel-cut monochromators, which are crucial to exploit the merits of fourth-generation synchrotron radiation sources or hard X-ray free-electron lasers.

Abstract Background Cold inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) is a key protein in the hypothermic therapy. Highly expressed CIRP exerts a neuroprotective effect on neurons. The aim of this study is to provide the evidence of the protective effects of CIRP on the glial cells and explore the downstream pathway of CIRP. Results The results of this study demonstrated that the cell viability of the glial cells with CIRP overexpression was increased significantly compared to the control. With CIRP overexpression, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) mRNA expression was found increasing significantly and the mRNA expressions of derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), bcl-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) were not upregulated compared to the control. EGF and CIRP co-expression was demonstrated on the glial cells. With CIRP expression, EGF expression on the glial cells was increased statistically compared to the control. Conclusion CIRP overexpression increases the cell viability of the glial cells, exerting a neuroprotective effect. EGF expression is activated on the glial cells with CIRP overexpression, implying a pathway of CIRP neuroprotection via EGF activation.

This paper presents a comparative experimental study on the axial behavior of concrete subjected to alkali-silica reaction (ASR) with and without confinement by carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets. A total of 120 cylinders are cast using two types of coarse aggregates to represent variable levels of ASR: rhyolite (reactive) and substitutes granite (non-reactive) at a replacement ratio ranging from 0 to 100%. As per a test standard, the cylinders are conditioned in a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. The physical properties of the concrete and the solution are measured over time to examine the reciprocal action between the NaOH and rhyolite, followed by microscopic observations on the progression of ASR through the concrete. Sixty cylinders are confined and all specimens are monotonically loaded to failure. The load-carrying capacity of the confined cylinders noticeably increases compared with that of the plain concrete, while the degree of improvement is controlled by the ASR-damaged concrete core. The average toughness of the cylinders decays with ASR, accompanied by irreversible energy dissipation and degraded CFRP-concrete interaction. The failure characteristics of both plain and confined cylinders are also influenced by ASR, dependent on the replacement ratio, particularly for the integrity of the core. An analytical model is formulated to understand the implications of ASR, including an assessment of an existing design approach, and is further used for design recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface ozone (O3) is influenced not only by anthropogenic emissions but also by meteorological factors, with wind direction being one of the most overlooked factors. Here, we combine the observational data of both O3 and wind flow to compare the variation in surface O3 with wind direction between coastal and inland regions of Fujian, a province in the southeast coast of China with complicated topography. We further conduct a numerical simulation using a global chemical transport model, GEOS-Chem, to interpret the observational results, explore the linkages between these O3 variations and wind flows, and identify the dominant processes for the occurrence of high O3 that varies with wind flows. The results from the observations over 2015–2021 suggest that, over coastal regions, surface O3 concentrations show a strong dependence on wind flow changes. On average, during the daytime, when southeasterly winds prevail, the mean of O3 concentrations reaches 83.5 μg/m3, which is 5.0 μg/m3 higher than its baseline values (the mean O3 concentrations), while the northwesterly winds tend to reduce surface O3 by 6.4 μg/m3. The positive O3 anomalies with southeasterly wind are higher in the autumn and summer than in the spring and winter. During the nighttime, the onshore northeasterly winds are associated with enhanced O3 levels, likely due to the airmass containing less NO2, alleviating the titration effects. Over inland regions, however, surface O3 variations are less sensitive to wind flow changes. The GEOS-Chem simulations show that the prevailing southeasterly and southwesterly winds lead to the positive anomaly of chemical reactions of O3 over coastal regions, suggesting enhanced photochemical production rates. Furthermore, southeasterly winds also aid in transporting more O3 from the outer regions into the coastal regions of Fujian, which jointly results in elevated surface O3 when southeasterly winds dominates. When affected by wind flows in different directions, the chemical reaction and transport in the inland regions do not exhibit significant differences regarding their impact on O3. This could be one of the reasons for the difference in O3 distribution between coastal and inland regions. This study could help to deepen our understanding of O3 pollution and aid in providing an effective warning of high-O3 episodes.

This paper presents the evaluation of prestressed concrete bridges carrying light rail loading, which is significantly unexplored relative to bridges subjected to conventional heavy-haul and highspeed trains. Four bridges in Denver, CO, are selected to investigate static and dynamic responses, including flexural behavior, passenger occupancy, statistical properties, live load distributions, natural frequencies, and user comfort. Three-dimensional finite element models are developed to complement in-place findings. The measured train loadings are statistically stable along with Gaussian distributions and increase by 10.8% when their average operating speed rises from 32.9 to 49.0 mph (53 to 78 kmh). Passenger loading that is stochastic in nature also increases the train loading by 23.3%, on average. Existing design approaches for live load distributions deviate from those attained from the field, which is particularly noticeable for interior girders. Deflection control criteria used in practice are not applicable either. In accordance with the deflection and frequency of the bridges, the user comfort of light rail systems (pedestrians and passengers) is assessed. Statistical properties are acquired and characterized, which are valuable when developing design guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-sitosterol, a natural plant steroid, has been shown to promote anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in the body. In this study, β-sitosterol was used to protect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell damage in bovine mammary epithelial cells, which are commonly studied as a cell model of mammary inflammatory response and lipogenesis. Results showed that treatment with a combination of LPS and β-sitosterol significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammation, while increasing the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and activating the hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1α)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signaling pathway to inhibit apoptosis and improve lipid synthesis-related gene expression. Our finding suggests that β-sitosterol has the potential to alleviate inflammation in the mammary gland.

This paper presents an experimental study on the physical characteristics of internally cured concrete using organic and inorganic materials, including chloride-related responses. The curing agents saturated before mixing the concrete are microporous lightweight aggregate (LWA), crushed returned concrete aggregate (CCA), and superabsorbent polymer (SAP). The inorganic agents (LWA and CCA) replace the concrete's fine aggregate by 25 to 75% in mass, while the organic agent (SAP) is added to the concrete mixture by 0.2 to 0.6% of the cement mass. A variety of test schemes are employed-namely, compression strength, resonant frequency, drying shrinkage, chloride permeability, and digital microscopy. Selected specimens are preloaded to examine the performance of the internally cured concrete subjected to service loading. The compressive strength of the concrete decreases as the amount of the curing agents increases. The strength decrease rate of the LWAand SAP-mixed concrete is more rapid than that of the CCA-mixed concrete. In terms of resonant frequency, the LWA-mixed concrete is more susceptible relative to its CCA and SAP counterparts because of the LWA's microporous structure. The concrete mixed with LWA reveals dynamic to static elastic modulus ratios higher than the concrete with the other agents. Although all concrete mixtures' drying shrinkage is influenced by the agents' quantity, the inclusion of SAP results in more shrinkage. Electric charges passed through the internally cured concrete are higher than those of the control concrete, which represent the degree of chloride permeability. The occurrence of cracks in the concrete caused by preloading accelerates the mobility of chloride ions; nonetheless, the addition of SAP alleviates the implications of the mechanical damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between the characteristics of quality components and trace elements of Niaowang tea from Guizhou Province in mountainous plateau areas. The contents of catechin monomers and eight other trace elements were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively. The results showed that the tender summer leaves of Niaowang tea in Guizhou Province had the highest content of catechins at 3558.15~2226.52 μg·g−1. The content of ester catechins was the highest in summer, amounting to 69.75~72.42% of the total catechins. The content of non-ester catechins was the highest in autumn, reaching 52.54~62.28% of the total catechins; among ester catechins, the mass fraction of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) showed a pattern of mature summer leaves > tender summer leaves > mature autumn leaves > tender autumn leaves, and the mass fractions of gallocatechin gallate (GCG) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) were larger in autumn than in summer; gallocatechin (GC) had no significant correlation with different trace elements, and Mn had no significant correlations with different catechin monomers. EGCG was significantly negatively correlated with As, Se, Hg, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Additionally, gallic acid (GA) was significantly negatively correlated with As, Hg and Ni. Other catechin monomers were largely significantly positively correlated with trace elements. The biochemical indicators of the phenotype of Niaowang tea show that the summer and autumn buds are suited for making high-quality green tea.

Abstract Objective Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been used on drug‐resistant Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) for more than two decades until now, but the stimulating targets are still under exploration until now. In this study, the authors reported the efficacy of the bilateral posteroventral globus pallidus interna (GPi) DBS on tic severity and neuropsychiatry symptoms of seven individuals with GTS. Method Seven patients with drug‐resistant GTS were enrolled in this study. The severity of these patients was evaluated with Yale Global Tics Severity Scale (YGTSS), Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). Bilateral posteroventral GPi were selected as the permanent stimulating targets. Follow‐up period was at least 5 years after surgery in the enrolled patients. Results After surgery, one patient reported no improvement during the follow‐up period, and a device removal surgery was performed. The other six patients reported minor to significant improvement. The overall YGTSS, YBOCS, HAMA HAMD, and GAF scores of these patients were changed positively after surgery, but only the improvement of the motor tic and HAMD scores had a statistical difference. No surgical complication was reported. Conclusions Bilateral posteroventral GPi DBS could relieve the motor tics and depressive symptoms of the enrolled patients significantly, but the vocal tics and other psychiatric symptoms presented a progression without statistical difference during the follow‐up period. The results of this study suggested that bilateral posteroventral GPi are effective targets for the motor tics in GTS patients, especially with prominent depressive symptoms.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a typical fungal toxin found in feed, is highly carcinogenic. Oxidative stress is one of the main ways it exerts its toxicity; therefore, finding a suitable antioxidant is the key to reducing its toxicity. Astaxanthin (AST) is a carotenoid with strong antioxidant properties. The aim of the present research was to determine whether AST eases the AFB1-induced impairment in IPEC-J2 cells, and its specific mechanism of action. AFB1 and AST were applied to IPEC-J2 cells in different concentrations for 24 h. The AST (80 µM) significantly prevented the reduction in the IPEC-J2 cell viability that was induced by AFB1 (10 μM). The results showed that treatment with AST attenuated the AFB1-induced ROS, and cytochrome C, the Bax/Bcl2 ratio, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3, which were all activated by AFB1, were among the pro-apoptotic proteins which were diminished by AST. AST activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway and ameliorates antioxidant ability. This was further evidenced by the expression of the HO-1, NQO1, SOD2, and HSP70 genes were all upregulated. Taken together, the findings show that the impairment of oxidative stress and apoptosis, caused by the AFB1 in the IPEC-J2 cells, can be attenuated by AST triggering the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

This paper presents the axial behavior of plain and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)-confined concrete in an acidic environment. Despite extensive investigations of its durability, there still is a research gap in understanding the performance of confined concrete under this detrimental condition. Various exposure conditions are tested to deteriorate the concrete with a 5% concentration sulfuric acid solution. Ancillary tests are conducted to characterize the effect of acid exposure on the materials' strength and physical properties, including thermogravimetric analysis. The efficacy of CFRP confinement is examined using 72 concrete cylinders. The performance of the constituent materials is degraded by acid exposure. The presence of CFRP wrapping disturbs the permeation of the acid into the core concrete, and impedes chemical reactions associated with the concrete-acid interaction. With an increase in acid exposure time, the effectiveness of the CFRP wrapping is reduced. The extent of initial core damage (prior to CFRP wrapping) is an important factor influencing the capacity, failure mode, toughness, and stress-strain behavior of the confined concrete. The initial damage, however, does not change the concrete's strength decrease rate. An analytical model is calibrated to predict the acidic response of the CFRP-confined concrete, which results in design recommendations based on a performance efficiency factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northward typhoon configuration along the southeast coast of China (TCN-SEC) is one of the key circulation patterns influencing the coastal cities in southeast China (CCSE). Here, we analyzed the air quality in CCSE during the high-incidence typhoon period from 2019 to 2021. Multi-source measurements were carried out to explore the impact of super typhoon 2114 ‘Chanthu’ on the air quality in CCSE. The results showed that the TCN-SEC and its surrounding weather situation had a favorable impact on the increase in pollutant concentration in CCSE, especially on the increase in O3 concentration. From 13 September to 17 September 2021, affected by the cyclonic shear in the south of super typhoon 2114 ‘Chanthu,’ the strong wind near the ground, stable relative humidity, strong precipitation, and the significantly reduced wind speed had a substantial effect on PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and NO2 concentrations. Calm and light air near the ground, weak precipitation, high daily maximum temperatures, and minimum relative humidity may provide favorable meteorological conditions for the accumulation of O3 precursors and photochemical reactions during the day, resulting in the daily peak values of O3 exceeding 160 μg/m3. The evolution of wind, relative humidity, and boundary layer height could play an important role in the variations in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations by influencing pollutant accumulation or diffusion. It was suggested that the atmospheric structure of horizontal stability and vertical mixing below 1500 m could play a significant role in the accumulation and vertical distribution of ozone. The results highlight the important role of typhoons in the regional environment and provide a scientific basis for further application of multi-source observation data, as well as air pollution control.

Both zearalenone (ZEA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce oxidative stress, and even apoptosis in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T), but not much attention has been given to the synergistic effect of ZEA and LPS. In this study, we treated MAC-T cells with different concentrations of LPS (1, 10, 50, and 100 μg/mL) and ZEA (5, 15, and 30 μM) to induce cell damage. Previous results show that MAC-T cell viability decreases with increasing LPS concentration. Meanwhile, 1 µg/mL LPS and ZEA were selected for combined treatment in subsequent studies. It was found that co-treatment with ZEA and LPS increases the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), decreases mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduces glutathione (GSH). ZEA and LPS are found to activate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by increasing the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP78), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). It increases cell apoptosis by suppressing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), indicated by up-regulation of Bcl2-associated X protein (Bax) and Cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinases 3 (caspase-3) expression. The above results suggest that the synergistic effect of ZEA and LPS aggravate cytotoxicity.

This paper presents a multiscale modeling approach to understand the behavior of anchorage concrete in prestressed concrete bridge girders strengthened with post-tensioned near-surfacemounted (NSM) carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips. The macroscale, mesoscale, and microscale responses of the concrete are represented by continuum finite element, discrete-object physics, and analytical representative element models, respectively. Domain decomposition and integration are implemented in accordance with an information-passing mechanism. The post-tensioned NSM CFRP results in macroscale strain softening near the anchorage and it also causes a regional net strain increase responsible for macroscale and microscale damage. The existence of a rapid crack-propagation phase is ascertained in the anchorage concrete from a mesoscale standpoint, which influences stress transfer from the anchor bolt to the contiguous concrete. The microscale damage of the concrete rapidly propagates when mechanical distress is applied due to post-tensioning the NSM CFRP and stabilizes with a decrease in stress transfer from the cementitious binder to aggregate inclusion in the representative element. The concept of effective stress is proposed to link the macroscale and microscale responses of the anchorage concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum, is one of the most prevalent contaminants in livestock feed and causes very large losses to animal husbandry every year. Taraxasterol, isolated from Taraxacum officinale, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidative stress, and antitumor effects. In the present study, bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) were used as a model, and different concentrations of taraxasterol (0, 1, 5, 10, and 20 μg/mL) were used to protect against DON-induced cell damage. The results showed that taraxasterol at a concentration of 10 μg/mL significantly increased cell viability. Analysis of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels indicated that taraxasterol substantially decreased LDH release caused by DON. Taraxasterol effectively alleviated the depletion of glutathione (GSH), the increase in the lipid peroxidation of malondialdehyde (MDA), the reduction in total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity, and the decrease in total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) induced by DON. The results further showed that taraxasterol reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Taraxasterol was found to relieve endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by suppressing the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP78), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and the transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and reducing cell apoptosis by suppressing the expression of caspase-3 and Bcl2-associated X (BAX) and upregulating the expression of the antiapoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2). Our research results indicate that taraxasterol could alleviate DON-induced damage to MAC-T cells.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin that is mainly produced by Fusarium fungi in food and feed. It causes many adverse effects on mammals, but there is little research on the effects of ZEA on intestinal mucosal immunity and intestinal flora in animals or humans. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of short-term ZEA exposure on mucosal immunity and the microecological balance of the intestine. We found that the morphological structure of the intestinal mucosa in mice was severely destroyed after ZEA was administered by gavage for one week, and the mRNA expression levels of mucosal β-defensin, Mucin-1, Mucin-2, interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels were significantly increased. In addition, the intestinal microflora was altered by ZEA. Our study showed that ZEA not only caused inflammation of the mucous membrane but also disturbed the microecological balance of the intestine in mice.

β-sitosterol, a phytosterol with multiple biological activities, has been used in the pharmaceutical industry. However, there are only a few reports on the use of β-sitosterol in improving milk synthesis in dairy cows. This study aimed to investigate the effects of β-sitosterol on milk fat and protein syntheses in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) and its regulatory mechanism. MAC-T cells were treated with different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, or 40 μM) of β-sitosterol, and the expression levels of milk protein and fat synthesis-related genes and proteins were analyzed. β-sitosterol at 0.1, 1, and 10 μM concentrations promoted the mRNA and protein expression of β-casein. β-sitosterol (0.1, 1, 10 μM) increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of signal transducer activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) of the JAK2/STAT5 and mTOR signaling pathways. It also stimulated the milk fat synthesis-related factors, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and stearyl CoA desaturase (SCD). β-sitosterol (0.1, 1, 10 μM) also significantly increased the expression of growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-related genes. Notably, the compound inhibited the expression of the negative regulator, the suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) at the two lower concentrations (0.1, 1 μM), but significantly promoted the expression at the highest concentration (30 μM). These results highlight the role of β-sitosterol at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 μM in improving milk protein and fat syntheses, regulating milk quality. Therefore, β-sitosterol can be used as a potential feed additive to improve milk quality in dairy cows.

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a common cause of cognitive dysfunction. However, little is known whether the altered reconfiguration pattern of brain modular architecture regulates cognitive dysfunction in SVD.Methods: We recruited 25 cases of SVD without cognitive impairment (SVD-NCI) and 24 cases of SVD with mild cognitive impairment (SVD-MCI). According to the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile, healthy controls (HC) were divided into 17 subjects (HC-low risk) and 19 subjects (HC-high risk). All individuals underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive assessments. Graph-theoretical analysis was used to explore alterations in the modular organization of functional brain networks. Multiple regression and mediation analyses were performed to investigate the relationship between MRI markers, network metrics and cognitive performance.Results: We identified four modules corresponding to the default mode network (DMN), executive control network (ECN), sensorimotor network and visual network. With increasing vascular risk factors, the inter- and intranetwork compensation of the ECN and a relatively reserved DMN itself were observed in individuals at high risk for SVD. With declining cognitive ability, SVD-MCI showed a disrupted ECN intranetwork and increased DMN connection. Furthermore, the intermodule connectivity of the right inferior frontal gyrus of the ECN mediated the relationship between periventricular white matter hyperintensities and visuospatial processing in SVD-MCI.Conclusions: The reconfiguration pattern of the modular architecture within/between the DMN and ECN advances our understanding of the neural underpinning in response to vascular risk and SVD burden. These observations may provide novel insight into the underlying neural mechanism of SVD-related cognitive impairment and may serve as a potential non-invasive biomarker to predict and monitor disease progression.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin, which may cause immune response and inflammation of bovine mammary glands. Mastitis impairs animal health and results in economic loss. Curcumin (CUR) is a naturally occurring diketone compound, which has attracted widespread attention as a potential anti-inflammatory antioxidant. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether CUR can reduce the damage of bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) induced by LPS and its underlying molecular mechanism. The MAC-T cell line was treated with different concentrations of LPS and CUR for 24 h. The results showed that CUR rescued the decrease of MAC-T cell viability and cell damage induced by LPS. At the same time, 10 µM CUR and 100 µg/mL LPS were used to treat the cells in the follow-up study. The results showed CUR treatment reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the expression of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6 and IL-1β) and the rate of apoptosis induced by LPS. These effects were associated with the activation of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NFE2L2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway coupled with inactivation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inflammatory and caspase/Bcl2 apoptotic pathways.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin of the Fusarium genus that can cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and Apoptosis in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). Polydatin (PD), a glycoside purified from Polygonum cuspidatum, has antioxidant properties. This study aimed to explore whether PD can alleviate ZEA-induced damage on bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). We found that incasing the concentration of ZEA (0, 7.5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 240 μM) gradually decreased the cell viability. PD treatment alone at 5, 10, and 20 μM did not affect cell viability. Follow-up studies then applied 30 μM of ZEA and 5 μM of PD to treat cells; the results showed that the ZEA + PD treatment group effectively reduced cell oxidative damage compared with the ZEA treatment group. The qPCR analysis showed that ZEA treatment significantly up-regulated the expression of ER stress-related genes, relative to the control. However, adding PD significantly down-regulated the expression of ER stress-related genes. The cell apoptosis detection results showed that, compared with the ZEA treatment group, the ZEA + PD treatment group down-regulated the Bax gene and up-regulated the Bcl-2 gene expressions, which reduced the cell apoptosis rate and Caspase-3 activity. Taken together, these results indicate that PD reduces ZEA-induced apoptosis by inhibiting oxidative damage and ER stress.