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The trade-off between electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility in fiber sensors impedes their widespread adoption. During sports activities, extensive exposure to body sweat leads to a decline in the electrical performance of the sensors. A multidimensional biomimetic superhydrophobic yarn sensor was prepared, utilizing polyurethane (PU) yarn as the core and dopamine-modified MXene as the sheath. This was achieved by drawing inspiration from the structure of the cerebral cortex to combine the unique plate-tile structure of Nepenthes. Its surface bionic microstructure was constructed to increase the number of conductive connection points, resulting in the plate tile structure and realizing the high sensitivity and ultrahigh hydrophobicity of the yarn sensor. The final yarn prepared exhibited low resistance (0.6 KΩ), high sensitivity (3397.6), and superhydrophobic characteristics (contact angle = 135.3°). Integrating conductive yarns with polyamide knit fabric, fabric sensors are designed to effectively detect minor muscle movements. This capability is essential for precise movement monitoring and ensuring prompt medical assistance for patients with severe injuries. This approach enhances the sensitivity of yarn-based stretch sensors by implementing a multistage bionic yarn structure. Additionally, it remains unaffected by sweat when integrated into athlete monitoring fabrics, thereby ensuring precise monitoring accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete box subgrades constructed from reinforced concrete serve as alternatives to conventional fill subgrades, effectively addressing the scarcity of high-quality fill materials. A hybrid simulation approach that merges coupled dynamics with finite element modelling was adopted for both single-line and double-line ballastless track-box subgrade systems, enabling a comparative analysis of dynamic stress, displacement, and acceleration. The results reveal that, when the two traffic conditions are compared, the dynamic response of the concrete box subgrade under double-line opposing operation shows a marked increase, particularly when the dynamic displacement increases by 80%. Under opposing traffic conditions, the dynamic stress on the subgrade surface exhibits a "saddle" distribution. Vertically, the dynamic stress inversely increases within the roof and rapidly attenuates in the vertical web and floor, with reductions reaching 92.7% at the floor bottom, demonstrating the substantial capacity of the concrete box subgrade to disperse train loads. The peak dynamic displacements recorded at the subgrade surface are 0.178 mm for single-line traffic and 0.320 mm for opposing operations, indicating minimal overall vertical deformation of the concrete box subgrade. Notably, the dynamic displacement on the subgrade surface results primarily from the underlying weak subsoil. Vertical acceleration attenuation occurs predominantly within the vertical web depth, with attenuation rates exceeding 95%. The environmental vibrations induced by high-speed trains predominantly affect the area within 0 to 4 m from the edge of the subgrade floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the impact of the geometric parameters of periodic pile barriers on bandgap characteristics in passive vibration isolation, a two-dimensional, three-component unit cell was developed using the finite element method (FEM). This study analyzed the bandgap properties of periodic pile barriers and validated the effectiveness of the FEM through model testing. The FEM was then methodically applied to evaluate the effects of pipe pile thickness, periodic constant, arrangement pattern, and cross-sectional shape on the bandgap characteristics, culminating in the proposition of a novel H-shaped cross-section for the piles. The results demonstrated that the FEM-calculated bandgap frequency range, featuring steel piles arranged in a square pattern, closely aligned with the attenuation zone in the model tests. The lower band frequency (LBF) was primarily influenced by the pipe pile's inner radius, while the upper band frequency (UBF) was predominantly affected by its outer radius. As the periodic constant increased, the LBF, UBF, and the width of band gap (WBG) all decreased. Conversely, changing the arrangement pattern from square to hexagonal led to increases in UBF and WBG, while the LBF diminished. Notably, the WBG of the H-section steel piles, possessing the same cross-sectional area, was 1.31 times greater than that of the steel pipe piles, indicating an enhanced vibration isolation performance. Additionally, the impact of transverse and vertical characteristic dimensions of the H-shaped pile on the band gap distribution was assessed, revealing that the transverse characteristic dimensions exerted a more significant influence than the vertical dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is the most common sensory disorder associated with human aging. Chronic inflammation is supposed to be an important contributor to ARHL. Yet, the underlying mechanisms of developing cochlear inflammation are still not well understood. In this study, we found that the inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and necroptosis signalings are activated in the cochlea of aged C57BL/6 mice. ER stress activator tunicamycin (TM) induced necroptosis in cochlear HEI-OC1 cells and cochlear explants, while necroptosis inhibitors protected cochlear cells from ER stress-induced cell death. The antioxidants inhibited necroptosis and protected HEI-OC1 cells from TM insults. Necroptotic HEI-OC1 cells promoted the activation of the co-cultured macrophages via Myd88 signaling. Moreover, necroptosis inhibitor protected from TM-induced hearing loss, and inhibited inflammation in C57BL/6 mice. These findings suggest that ER stress-induced necroptosis promotes cochlear inflammation and hearing loss. Targeting necroptosis serves as a potential approach for the treatment of cochlear inflammation and ARHL. • ER stress, necroptosis and inflammation signalings are activated during cochlear aging. • ER stress induces cochlear cell necroptosis partially by ROS production. • Necroptotic cochlear cells activate macrophages via Myd88 signaling. • In mouse, ER stress-induced necroptosis promotes cochlear inflammation and hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]