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• Introduction of hybrid amplifier allows Terfenol-D to generate greater strain. • The closed magnetic circuit formed by the nickel cartridge and permanent magnet reduces magnetic leakage and improves output performance. • The harvester is fully compressed to produce 4.13 V peak voltage and 426.4 mW peak power and has stable output characteristics. Vibrating energy harvesters, capable of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, have attracted unprecedented interest in both academia and industry because of their great potential for harvesting energy induced by human activity and energy around the body, and to drive low-power wearable biosensors and electronics, micro-robots, and implantable biomedical devices. In this paper, based on the magnetostrictive inverse effect, we propose a magnetostrictive vibration harvester using Terfenol-D, which generates electrical energy when subjected to human movement. A hybrid force amplification frame is integrated in this harvester to amplify weak biological movements. The detailed mathematical model of the multi-stage force amplification process is established, the hybrid force amplifier is also designed in detail, and its structural dimensions are optimized. The position and form of the bias magnetic field arrangement based on the Terfenol-D harvester is systematically analyzed. The experiment shows that 4.13 V peak voltage and 426.4 mW peak power are generated when the harvester is fully compressed. The output power is 213.16 mW and 371.43 mW at an average acceleration of 2.5 g for slow walking and 4 g for jogging, respectively. The results of this study suggest that the combination of rod Terfenol-D and force amplification mechanisms can be used to design bio-vibrational energy harvester with excellent performance, which is especially suitable for self-powered wearable electronic devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiomyopathy is a kind of cardiovascular diseases, which makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood to other parts of the body, eventually leading to heart failure. Naoxintong (NXT), as a traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preparation, is widely used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including cardiomyopathy, while its underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of NXT on cardiomyopathy and its molecular mechanism in zebrafish model. Methods: The zebrafish cardiomyopathy model was established using terfenadine (TFD) and treated with NXT. The therapeutic effect of NXT on cardiomyopathy was evaluated by measuring the heart rate, the distance between the sinus venosus and bulbus arteriosus (SV-BA), the pericardial area, and the blood flow velocity of zebrafish. Then, the zebrafish hearts were isolated and collected; transcriptome analysis of NXT on cardiomyopathy was investigated. Moreover, the heg1 mutant of zebrafish congenital cardiomyopathy model was used to further validate the therapeutic effect of NXT on cardiomyopathy. Additionally, UPLC analysis combined with the zebrafish model investigation was performed to identify the bioactive components of NXT. Results: In the TFD-induced zebrafish cardiomyopathy model, NXT treatment could significantly restore the cardiovascular malformations caused by cardiac dysfunction. Transcriptome and bioinformatics analyses of the TFD and TFD + NXT treated zebrafish developing hearts revealed that the differentially expressed genes were highly enriched in biological processes such as cardiac muscle contraction and heart development. As a cardiac development protein associated with cardiomyopathy, HEG1 had been identified as one of the important targets of NXT in the treatment of cardiomyopathy. The cardiovascular abnormalities of zebrafish heg1 mutant could be recovered significantly from NXT treatment, including the expanded atrial cavity and blood stagnation. qRT-PCR analysis further showed that NXT could restore cardiomyopathy phenotype in zebrafish through HEG1-CCM signaling. Among the seven components identified in NXT, paeoniflorin (PF) and salvianolic acid B (Sal B) were considered to be the main bioactive ones with myocardial protection. Conclusion: NXT presented myocardial protective effect and could restore myocardial injury and cardiac dysfunction in zebrafish; the action mechanism was involved in HEG1-CCM signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a non-Abelian dark SU(2)D model where the dark sector couples to the Standard Model (SM) through a Higgs portal. We investigate two different scenarios of the dark sector scalars with Z2 symmetry, with Higgs portal interactions that can introduce mixing between the SM Higgs boson and the SM singlet scalars in the dark sector. We utilize the existing collider results of the Higgs signal rate, direct heavy Higgs searches, and electroweak precision observables to constrain the model parameters. The SU(2)D partially breaks into U(1)D gauge group by the scalar sector. The resulting two stable massive dark gauge bosons and pseudo-Goldstone bosons can be viable cold dark matter candidates, while the massless gauge boson from the unbroken U(1)D subgroup is a dark radiation and can introduce long-range attractive dark matter (DM) self-interaction, which can alleviate the small-scale structure issues. We study in detail the pattern of strong first-order phase transition and gravitational wave (GW) production triggered by the dark sector symmetry breaking, and further evaluate the signal-to-noise ratio for several proposed space interferometer missions. We conclude that the rich physics in the dark sector may be observable with the current and future measurements at colliders, DM experiments, and GW interferometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The region known as the Xiong'an New Area serves as a testing and validation research laboratory for the development and utilization of geothermal energy in China. To better understand the lithospheric structure and associated geothermal features in the region, a comprehensive approach was employed, combining deep seismic reflection and an overlapping magnetotelluric sounding (MT) profile analysis. The analysis reveals arched reflections, coinciding with a relatively high-resistivity anomaly, demonstrating concentric patterns that indicate the presence of lithospheric gneiss domes beneath the Rongcheng and Niutuozhen structural highs. Additionally, the seismic image reveals a marked transparent zone characterised by low-resistivity beneath the Niubei slope. These dome-like features are interpreted as plutons and/or intrusive bodies that were formed by upwelling of the asthenosphere during the early Paleogene era. These relatively deep-rooted plutons are highly likely to be the primary heat sources in this geothermal region. Deep-seated faults beneath the Niubei slope act as channels, allowing the flow of fluids and the transfer of heat from the source to shallower levels. Isotope data supports that the notion that near-surface water flows through a shallow network of fractures, ultimately reaching the geothermal reservoir. The interpreted geometry suggests that the gneiss domes likely resulted from a Rayleigh-Taylor instability process. This process involves diapiric flow induced by density inversion, leading to an upwelling of the asthenosphere. These dynamics, superimposed onto a melted layered structure, generate the distinctive arcuate seismic reflectors found at the core of these domes. Surface geology analysis indicates that the initiation and final emplacement of these domes most likely occurred during the late Mesozoic period. • The deep seismic reflection and an overlapping MT profile were integrated to constrain the lithospheric-scale structure and its associated geothermal features beneath beneath the Xiong'an New Area; • The arched reflections with high-resistivity indicate the presence of lithospheric-scale gneiss domes; • The transparent reflection with low-resistivity is interpreted as intrusive bodies and act as heating sources for geothermal field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Surface charge of PA NF membrane was reversed to positive via loading PEI and Zr4+. • Cr3+ rejection increased dramatically from ∼ 40 % to ∼ 90 %. • PEI/Zr4+-PA NF membrane performed effectively in the presence of high concentration trimethoprim. • Negatively-charged bovine serum albumin in the feed did not hinder Cr3+ rejection. This paper focuses on the functionalization of double positively charged polyethylenimine (PEI)/Zr4+-polyamide (PA) nanofiltration (NF) membrane by connecting Zr4+ with positively charged PEI-PA NF membrane surface. In particular, the properties of prepared PEI/Zr4+-PA NF membrane, performance on removing aquatic contaminants (Cr3+ and trimethoprim), and its antifouling ability were evaluated in detail. In this regard, zirconium acetate was successfully adopted as the zirconium source for stable membrane surface charge control. Zr4+ loading increased the hydrophilicity of the PEI-PA NF membrane, improved permeate flux, and enhanced the removal behavior of PEI/Zr4+-PA NF membrane especially when exposed to Cr3+ and trimethoprim at high concentrations. Furthermore, effectiveness of PEI/Zr4+-PA NF membrane was not affected by high filtering degree, filtration cycle, and negatively charged macromolecules, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA). Also, antifouling ability of PEI/Zr4+-PA NF membrane could be further improved by continuously loading Zr4+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • City, town, and rural area residences have different indoor thermal environments. • City residents are sensitive to changes in the indoor operative temperature. • Strong preference for a warmer environment is observed among them. • Different people in the same region display different thermal adaptation behavior. Most thermal comfort studies classify towns as rural areas and compare them with cities, dismissing the unique thermal characteristics of towns. A comparative study on thermal comfort in cities, rural areas, and towns based on their original definitions is required. This study aims to determine the differences between indoor thermal environment and human thermal comfort in residential buildings in cities, towns, and rural areas. This four-month investigation was conducted in Bayannur City using a survey with 141 participants. The survey responses were combined with environmental measurements, and the data analysis showed that the participants' clothing insulation was distributed over a wider range for towns (0.3–0.9 clo) and rural areas (0.9–1.5 clo) than for cities (0.3–0.6 clo). The acceptable operative temperature ranges of city, town, and rural area residents were 20.9–28.0, 17.7–23.3, and 15.1–21.6 ℃, respectively. Although the operative temperature of residential buildings in those areas differed by 5–10 °C, all participants expected a warmer indoor thermal environment. City residents who can adapt to varying conditions can restore thermal comfort more easily than town and rural area residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To combat the new virus currently ravaging the whole world, every possible anti-virus strategy should be explored. As the main strategy of targeting the virus itself is being frustrated by the rapid mutation of the virus, people are seeking an alternative "host targeting" strategy: neutralizing proteins in the human body that cooperate with the virus. The cathepsin family is such a group of promising host targets, the main biological function of which is to digest the extracellular matrix (ECM) to clear a path for virus spreading. To evaluate the potential of cathepsin as a host target, we have constructed a biosensing interface mimicking the ECM, which can detect cathepsin from 3.3 pM to 33 nM with the limit of detection of 1 pM. Based on our quantitative analysis enabled by this biosensing interface, it is clear that patients with background diseases such as chronic inflammation and tumor, tend to have higher cathepsin activity, confirming the potential of cathepsin to serve as a host target for combating COVID-19 virus. Interactions of the secreted factors and the specific sites on the peptide probes can initiate biosensing reactions that can finally digest the heparin network, similar to the digestion of the ECM in the virus spreading process. Through this biomimetic sensing process, the factor secreting activity of virus infested cells can lead to similar biophysical and biological changes as observed in virus spreading. [Display omitted] • Host protein marker of SARS-CoV-2 can be sensitively detected. • Picomolar sensitivity can be achieved through photochemical amplfication • Peptide-based fully synthesizable probe enables cheap and fast detection. • Direct detection in fractioned clinical tissue samples is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of microfluidization treatment time under a pressure of 1 MPa on the structural, physiochemical and functional properties of walnut protein (WP) were evaluated. The results showed that the particle size of WP was significantly reduced by 102.10 % and the absolute zeta potential, solubility, water holding capacity, foaming capacity and stability increased by 336.41 %, 170.69 %, 27.67 g/g, 302.07 % and 334.23 %, respectively, when the microfluidization treatment time was 15 min (P < 0.05). And the oil holding capacity, emulsion capacity and stability of the WP increased from 1.19 g/g to 1.81 g/g, from 34.48 % and 78.82 % to 57.52 % and 98.86 %, respectively. With the extend of microfluidization treatment time, the secondary structure percentages of WP were altered. The WP after microfluidization treatment had optimal gastric digestion, while the intestine digestion was the worst. The amino acid results indicated the microfluidization treatment time did not affect the nutritional quality of WP., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Vector mosquito control is important for preventing and controlling mosquito-borne infectious diseases. This study designed and developed a mosquito killer (MK) with a specific light wavelength, simulated human body temperature, human odor, and a photocatalyst to stimulate CO 2 based on the physiological characteristics and ecological habits of mosquitoes. We tested the trapping effect of individual and multiple mosquito-trapping elements of the MK through two-way selection experiments and compared them with several commercial mosquito traps., Results: The 365 nm wavelength MK was significantly more effective than the 395 nm (Cx. quinquefasciatus: 62.00% vs. 34.25%; Ae. albopictus: 50.75% vs 45.00%, An. sinensis: 49.75% vs 39.00%). Mosquitoes captured by the MK with heaters at 365 nm were significantly more than those captured by the MK without heaters at 365 nm. A trap with a 365 nm wavelength, heating element, and lure showed significantly better capture effectiveness than MK with a 365 nm wavelength, heating element, but without lure (Cx. quinquefasciatus: 67.00% vs. 29.75%, Ae. albopictus: 60.25% vs 36.25%, An. sinensis: 49.75% vs 39.75%). The coated photocatalyst trap with a 365 nm wavelength, heating element, and lure showed significantly better capture effectiveness than the trap without coating (Cx. quinquefasciatus: 54.25% vs. 42.50%; Ae. albopictus: 53.50% vs 44.00%, An. sinensis: 50.00% vs 41.25%). This trap demonstrated a significantly better capture advantage for Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus compared to the three commercial products., Conclusion: The developed mosquito trap with multiple attractant factors significantly enhanced the capture effectiveness of common mosquitoes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Sorghum seeds can discolor during storage. Treatment of seeds with citric acid improves sensory quality and antioxidant activity. This study compared the differences in phenotypic and antioxidant activity between citric acid-treated and water-treated sorghum seeds. The study used transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches to investigate the regulatory mechanisms. The ∆a, ∆b and ∆l values of citric acid-treated sorghum seeds significantly increased after 6 months of storage. The SOD, POD and CAT enzyme activities of the citric acid-treated group were 1.94, 1.91 and 2.45 times higher than those of the control, respectively. The joint transcriptome and metabolome analysis showed that the citric acid-induced changes were mainly focused on the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. Citric acid treatment up-regulated CHS, ANR, MYB and bHLH genes and promoted flavonoid accumulation. In conclusion, citric acid treatment promotes flavonoid accumulation, delays sorghum seed discoloration, and enhances antioxidant activity and storage life., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Zhenhua Li reports financial support, administrative support, article publishing charges, equipment, drugs, or supplies, and travel were provided by Agriculture of Guizhou Province and the Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding of Grain and Oil Crops of Guizhou Province. Zhenhua Li reports a relationship with Agriculture of Guizhou Province and the Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding of Grain and Oil Crops of Guizhou Province. that includes: funding grants, non-financial support, speaking and lecture fees, and travel reimbursement. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Aedes albopictus is an important vector of arboviruses and prefers small containers of stagnant water as oviposition sites. One of the mechanisms mosquitoes use to search for suitable oviposition sites is relying on odor cues from prospective sites and their surroundings. The genetic and molecular bases of this behavior are not known for Ae. albopictus. Oviposition site-searching behavior can be separated into 2 stages: container location and water detection. We applied a glue compound to the antennae and the maxillary palps of adult females to mask their ability to detect molecules that may guide them to preferred oviposition sites. Treatment of the antennae significantly reduces the location index (P < 0.001), indicating a decreased ability to find oviposition sites, whereas no significant difference was observed in mosquitoes with maxillary palps treated with the same glue compound (P > 0.05). The detection time, measured as the duration from contact with the water surface to the deposition of the first egg, was extended in mosquitoes with treated antennae or maxillary palps, supporting the conclusion that olfaction is involved in the detection of oviposition site. Transcriptomic analysis identified differentially expressed olfactory-related genes, including obp67, obp56d-like, obp19d-like and obp67-like. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of obp67 and obp56d-like significantly affected the location index and detection time, respectively. Cas9/guide RNA-mediated knockout of obp56d-like resulted in a prolonged detection time, compared with the wild type (P < 0.05). These findings help to elucidate aspects of the olfactory mechanisms involved in Ae. albopictus oviposition site selection, and provide a basis for the development of mosquito surveillance and control strategies., (© 2024 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

In this paper, the objective was to evaluated the impact of germination of chickpea cultivars (Muying1, Y2-514 and YZ-364) on the bioactivity, volatiles and functional properties. The results showed that the Vitamin C content of Muying1, Y2-514 and YZ-364 after germination significantly increased ( p  < 0.05). Moreover, the germination also caused a significant decrease in lower transition temperatures and enthalpy values in chickpea flours ( p  < 0.05). After germination treatment, β-sheet and random coils in protein secondary structures increased and β-turn decreased in YZ-364; α-helix, β-sheet and random coil in Y2-514 and Muying1 decreased, while β-turn increased. The germination significantly enhanced the functional properties of three chickpea flours ( p  < 0.05). It was proved that the germination significantly enhanced the total phenolic and flavonoids content, antioxidant activity and in vitro protein digestibility. The GC-IMS revealed that the germination could affect the contents of volatile compounds of chickpea flours., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Sprouts have been more and more popular among people all over the world due to their health benefits and good taste. Cold plasma (CP) is a promising and efficient nonthermal technology that has been applied to various aspects, including seed germination, plant growth, the synthesis of secondary metabolites. This review aims to represent the current knowledge status and future insights of CP on germination, nutritional quality and microbial inactivation of sprouts, and influencing mechanism was also discussed. CP under favorable conditions can promote the growth of sprouts, thus increase the yield of sprouts and microgreens. Numerous studies suggest that CP can promote the accumulation of bioactive compounds in sprouts, and subsequently enhance biological activities and so on the antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative effect. CP is an effective method for the inactivation of microorganisms on seeds and sprouts by reactive species. Therefore, CP is a promising technology for the sustainable development of sprouts industry., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aedes albopictus is the most invasive mosquito in the world and often displaces Ae. aegypti in regions where their populations overlap. Interspecific mating has been proposed as a possible cause for this displacement, but whether this applies across the range of their sympatry remains unclear. Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti collected from allopatric and sympatric areas in China were allowed to interact in cage experiments with different crosses and sex-choices. The results confirm that asymmetric interspecific mating occurs in these populations with matings between allopatric Ae. albopictus males and Ae. aegypti females being significantly higher (55.2%) than those between Ae. aegypti males and Ae. albopictus females (27.0%), and sympatric mosquitoes showed a similar but lower frequency bias, 25.7% versus 6.2%, respectively. The cross-mated females can mate second time (remate) with the respective conspecific males and the 66.7% remating success of female Ae. albopictus was significantly higher than the 9.3% of Ae. aegypti females. Furthermore, 17.8% of the matings of Ae. albopictus males exposed to mixed pools of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti females and 9.3% of the matings of Ae. aegypti males with mixed Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus females were interspecific. The difference in the length of clasper between male Ae. albopictus (0.524 mm) and Ae. aegypti (0.409 mm) may be correlated with corresponding mates. We conclude that stronger Ae. albopictus male interspecific mating and more avid female intraspecific remating result in a satyr effect and contribute to competitive displacement of Ae. aegypti as allopatric Ae. albopictus invade during range expansion., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the National Academy of Sciences.)

The quality characteristics of naan from flour products under various packaging methods stored at different temperatures (25, 4 and - 20 °C) for different time (0-49 days) were investigated. Packaging methods included ordinary plastic packaging (OPP), vacuum packaging (VP) and deoxygenation packaging (DP). Sensory value, acid value, moisture content and microbial count of naan during storage were evaluated. The results showed that the total demerit points of sensory of DP naan stored at 25 °C had considerably lower levels. The moisture content of naan in DP and VP at 25 °C during storage had not been affected, while in OPP increased; the acid values of naan increased, but in DP was the lowest; the total microbiological count (MC) of naan in OPP, VP and DP at 5th day reached 2.25, 3.04 and 1.99 log CFU g -1 , respectively. At 4 and - 20 °C, the moisture content of naan in OPP, VP and DP during storage reduced, the acid values at storage the 38th day dramatically increased ( p  < 0.05), the MC slowly increased, but these in DP samples was lower. The Ultraviolet (UV) and microwave (MW) radiation time was varied to study its effect on the shelf life of naan at 25 °C. The moisture content of UV and MW treated naan were not significantly different from those of control naan ( p  > 0.05), but the demerit points, acid values and MC reduced, the shelf life of naan was extended. The combination of DP and MW methods was a better efficient way to reduced negative quality changes of naan during storage., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2019.)

The release of bioactive pigments could be potentially improved by enzyme degradation of plant cell wall polysaccharides. In this study, the objective was to evaluate enzyme type (cellulase and pectinase), pH values, hydrolysis temperature and time on the release of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis ( H. pluvialis ). The results showed that pre-treated H. pluvialis with enzymes could improve the separation yield of astaxanthin. Pectinase release rate of astaxanthin from H. pluvialis was significantly higher than cellulase ( p  < 0.05), and enzyme hydrolysis time was also shorter. The stability study of astaxanthin oleoresin and microcapsule during storage at different temperature, oxygen and illumination was found that the degradation rate of astaxanthin rose with increasing temperature and illumination time, and the retention in oxygen environment decreased. The stability of astaxanthin microcapsules was better than astaxanthin oleoresin., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest., (© The Korean Society of Food Science and Technology 2019.)

The work attempted to study on separating the α', α and β subunits of 7S globulin from soybean proteins by reverse micelles. The effects of six single factors (W 0 , time, temperature, pH, surfactant concentration and salt solution species) on three subunit partitioning were discussed. The main influence factors (time, temperature and surfactant concentration) were optimized by the response surface test (Box-Behnken design, three factor three level) in order to optimize the forward extracting three subunits of 7S globulin. It was observed that the independent factor had substantial effect on the forward extraction yield of three subunits of 7S globulin. The statistical analysis showed that the reverse micelles could significantly affect the forward extraction efficiency of protein subunits. The highest forward extraction efficiency of α', α and β subunits achieved 78.21, 63.65 and 61.34%, respectively. The proposed method also showed that the forward extraction efficiency of subunits with larger molecular weight was higher than low molecular weight.

Objective: To study the effects of p,p'-DDE on the expression of inhibin B in sertoli cells of rats., Methods: Sertoli cells were separated and cultured from testicular tissue of rats, and ensured the dose of test materials by MTT test, and RT-PCR were measured on the changes of inhibin B expression., Results: The results indicated that there was high difference in middle and high dose groups in comparison with control group (P < 0.05), and there were statistical significance in comparison with low dose group, and the gray scale of inhibin B decreased with the increase dose of p,p'-DDE., Conclusion: The results indicated that p,p'-DDE could inhibit the expression of inhibin B.