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In near-field communication (NFC) antennas, soft magnetic ferrites are usually applied as a substrate to reduce eddy current loss and increase magnetic field coupling. For this purpose, the applied ferrites are required to have high permeability and saturation magnetization together with low magnetic loss and dielectric loss. However, for most soft magnetic ferrites, it is difficult to meet all the requirements. Herein novel Ni–Zn ferrite ceramics co-doped by Ho3+ and Co2+ ions with chemical formula Ni0.5−xZn0.5Ho0.02CoxFe1.98O4 (x = 0–0.2) were designed and prepared to balance these needs on the basis of molten salt synthesis with metal nitrates as raw materials and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as the precipitation agent and molten salt precursor. After the substitution of Ho3+, the saturation magnetization and initial permeability decrease, but with further doping of Co2+, the saturation magnetization gradually increases, while the initial permeability continues to decrease. When x = 0.1, the sample will have the lowest dielectric constant, magnetic and dielectric loss, as well as the highest Curie temperature (305 ℃). Moreover, the acquired Ni–Zn ferrites have been applied simulatively in NFC antennas, revealing that the device manufactured with the optimal Ni0.4Zn0.5Ho0.02Co0.1Fe1.98O4 ferrite ceramics would have significantly improved performance at 13.56 MHz with low leakage and long transmit distance of magnetic field. Therefore, the Ni0.4Zn0.5Ho0.02Co0.1Fe1.98O4 ferrite ceramics would be a good candidate for NFC antenna substrates.

Easy-implement and low-cost fabrication of super-hydrophobic/super-oleophobic materials is of great significance for efficient fog harvesting. Herein, we propose a simple two-step procedure based on Cu/1-octadecanethiol (ODT) self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified zinc plates. Interestingly, the whole process mimics the blooming process of flowers in nature: the deposition of copper particle and the subsequent formation of SAM drives the surface undergo gradually stretches and finally blooms to camellia-like nanostructures. The water contact angle (WCA) and oil contact angle (OCA) reach 160 ± 1° and 159 ± 1° respectively, as a result of the formation of layered petal structure that traps air effectively, which is attributed as one of the most important factors for the superamphiphobic effect. In addition to much enhanced facility in fog collection, the materials maintain excellent performance in acid/base environments (1 ≤ pH ≤ 14), broad temperature conditions ranging from −18 °C to 240 °C, and the artificial sea environment, and exhibit capable wear resistance as well as self-cleaning property. The cooperation of all these multiple properties ensures the robustness and stability for efficient fog collection.

Abstract Background Gouty arthritis (GA) is characterized by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal accumulation that instigates NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. The present research endeavors to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underpinning this MSU-induced pyroptotic cascade in GA. Methods J774 cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide and MSU crystals to establish in vitro GA models, whereas C57BL/6 J male mice received MSU crystal injections to mimic in vivo GA conditions. Gene and protein expression levels were evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical assays. Inflammatory markers were quantified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Pyroptosis was evaluated using immunofluorescence staining for caspase-1 and flow cytometry with caspase-1/propidium iodide staining. The interaction between MDM2 and PPARγ was analyzed through co-immunoprecipitation assays, whereas the interaction between BRD4 and the MDM2 promoter was examined using chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays. Mouse joint tissues were histopathologically evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results In GA, PPARγ was downregulated, whereas its overexpression mitigated NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. MDM2, which was upregulated in GA, destabilized PPARγ through the ubiquitin–proteasome degradation pathway, whereas its silencing attenuated NLRP3 activation by elevating PPARγ levels. Concurrently, BRD4 was elevated in GA and exacerbated NLRP3 activation and pyroptosis by transcriptionally upregulating MDM2, thereby promoting PPARγ degradation. In vivo experiments showed that BRD4 silencing ameliorated GA through this MDM2–PPARγ–pyroptosis axis. Conclusion BRD4 promotes inflammation and pyroptosis in GA through MDM2-mediated PPARγ degradation, underscoring the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway in GA management.

Abstract Background Cost-related medication nonadherence (CRN) is associated with poor prognosis among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a population that requires long-term treatment for secondary prevention. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and sociodemographic characteristics of CRN in individuals with COPD in the US. Methods In a nationally representative survey of US adults in the National Health Interview Survey (2013–2020), we identified individuals aged ≥18 years with a self-reported history of COPD. Cross-sectional study. Results Of the 15,928 surveyed individuals, a weighted 18.56% (2.39 million) reported experiencing CRN, including 12.50% (1.61 million) missing doses, 13.30% (1.72 million) taking lower than prescribed doses, and 15.74% (2.03 million) delaying filling prescriptions to save costs. Factors including age

The gut microbiota influences host metabolism and health, impacting diseases. Research into how diet affects gut microbiome dynamics in model organisms is crucial but underexplored. Herein, we examined how dietary adenine affects uric acid levels and the gut microbiota over five generations of Drosophila melanogaster. Wild-type W1118 flies consumed diets with various adenine concentrations (GC: 0%, GL: 0.05%, and GH: 0.10%), and their gut microbiota were assessed via Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Adenine intake significantly increased uric acid levels in the GH group > the GC group. Despite no significant differences in the alpha diversity indices, there were significant disparities in the gut microbiota health index (GMHI) and dysbiosis index (MDI) among the groups. Adenine concentrations significantly altered the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota. High adenine intake correlated with increased uric acid levels and microbial population shifts, notably affecting the abundances of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. The gut microbiota phenotypes included mobile elements, gram-positive bacteria, biofilm-forming bacteria, and gram-negative bacteria. The significantly enriched KEGG pathways included ageing, carbohydrate metabolism, and the immune system. In conclusion, adenine intake increases uric acid levels, alters gut microbiota, and affects KEGG pathways in Drosophila across generations. This study highlights the impact of dietary adenine on uric acid levels and the gut microbiota, providing insights into intergenerational nutritional effects.

Background: The evidence on the association between cobalamin (Cbl) and aging or relevant outcomes is limited and controversial. We aimed to investigate the relationships between cobalamin intake- and function-related biomarkers and biological aging. Methods: The study encompassed 22,812 participants aged 20 years and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A panel of biomarkers or algorithms was used to assess biological aging, including Klemera–Doubal Age Acceleration (KDMAccel), Phenotypic age acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel), telomere length, α-Klotho, and PhenoAge advancement. Weighted generalized linear regression analysis was used to assess the associations between cobalamin-intake biomarkers (serum cobalamin, cobalamin intake from food, cobalamin supplement use, serum methylmalonic acid [MMA], and homocysteine [Hcy]) and function-related biomarkers (functional cobalamin deficiency and cobalamin insensitivity index). Results: Among the 22,812 individuals, the weighted mean (SE) age was 48.3 (0.2) years and 48.0% were males. Unexpectedly, serum and dietary cobalamin as well as serum MMA and Hcy levels were positively associated with most indicators of biological aging. Cobalamin sensitivity was assessed by the combination of binary Cbllow/high and MMAlow/high or Hcylow/high (cutoff values: 400 pg/mL for cobalamin, 250 nmol/L for MMA, and 12.1 μmol/l for Hcy) and a newly constructed cobalamin insensitivity index (based on the multiplicative term of serum cobalamin and serum MMA or Hcy). The multivariable-adjusted β (95%CIs) of KDMAccel in the MMAlowCbllow, MMAlowCblhigh, MMAhighCbllow, and MMAhighCblhigh groups were reference, 0.27 (0.03 to 0.51), 0.85 (0.41 to 1.29), and 7.97 years (5.77 to 10.17) respectively, which were consistent for the combination of serum Hcy and cobalamin. Both cobalamin insensitivity indices were robustly associated with biological aging acceleration in a dose-response pattern (each p

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In recent years, with the improvement of people’s living standards, the incidence of DM has increased year by year in China. DM is a common metabolic syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia caused by genetic, environmental and other factors. At the same time, long-term suffering from DM will also have an impact on the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves, and associated serious diseases. The human body has a large and complex gut microbiota, which has a significant impact on the body’s metabolism. Research shows that the occurrence and development of DM and its complications are closely related to intestinal microbiota. At present, western medicine generally treats DM with drugs. The hypoglycemic effect is fast and strong, but it can have a series of side effects on the human body. Compared with western medicine, Chinese medicine has its unique views and methods in treating DM. TCM can improve symptoms and treat complications by improving the imbalance of microbiota in patients with DM. Its characteristics of health, safety, and reliability are widely accepted by the general public. This article reviews the relationship between intestinal microbiota and DM, as well as the mechanism of TCM intervention in DM by regulating intestinal microbiota.

Whether thymectomy (TM) or thymomectomy (TMM) is better for non-myasthenic patients with early-stage thymoma. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the clinical outcomes and prognoses of non-myasthenic patients with early-stage thymoma treated using thymectomy versus thymomectomy. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and CNKI databases were systematically searched for relevant studies on the surgical treatment (TM and TMM) of non-myasthenic patients with early-stage thymoma published before March 2022. The Newcastle–Ottawa scale was used to evaluate the quality of the studies, and the data were analyzed using RevMan version 5.30. Fixed or random effect models were used for the meta-analysis depending on heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses were performed to compare short-term perioperative and long-term tumor outcomes. A total of 15 eligible studies, including 3023 patients, were identified in the electronic databases. Our analysis indicated that TMM patients might benefit from a shorter duration of surgery (p = 0.006), lower blood loss volume (p

Background: Persistent hyperuricemia can lead to the generation and deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. This can trigger gouty arthritis (GA), which in turn induces inflammation. Activation of the Nod-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome plays a critical role in the onset and progression of GA. Autophagy may have a dual effect on GA with regard to the NLRP3 inflammasome. Therefore, the present study aimed to gain a deeper comprehension of the interaction between autophagy and NLRP3 inflammasome activation is imperative for developing more efficacious treatments for GA. Methods: Peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) were first isolated from GA patients and healthy controls and underwent bulk RNA sequencing analysis. Overexpression and knockdown of dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) was performed in THP-1 monocytes to investigate its role in the immune response and mitochondrial damage. The luciferase assay and Western blot analysis were used to study the interaction between autophagy and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Results: Bulk RNA sequencing analysis showed significant upregulation of DUSP1 expression in PBMCs from GA patients compared to healthy controls. This result was subsequently verified by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). DUSP1 expression in human THP-1 monocytes was also shown to increase after MSU treatment. Downregulation of DUSP1 expression increased the secretion of inflammatory cytokines after MSU treatment, whereas the overexpression of DUSP1 decreased the secretion levels. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) combined with adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) led to mitochondrial damage, which was rescued by overexpressing DUSP1. DUSP1 overexpression further increased the level of autophagy following MSU treatment, whereas downregulation of DUSP1 decreased autophagy. Treatment with the autophagy inhibitor 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) restored inflammatory cytokine secretion levels in the DUSP1 overexpression group. MSU caused pronounced pathological ankle swelling in vivo. However, DUSP1 overexpression significantly mitigated this phenotype, accompanied by significant downregulation of inflammatory cytokine secretion levels in the joint tissues. Conclusions: This study revealed a novel function and mechanism for DUSP1 in promoting autophagy to mitigate the MSU-induced immune response in GA. This finding suggests potential diagnostic biomarkers and anti-inflammatory targets for more effective GA therapy.

Polysaccharides have been assessed as a potential natural active component in Chinese herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory properties. However, the complex and indefinite structures of polysaccharides limit their applications. This study explains the structures and anti-inflammatory potentials of three neutral polysaccharides, RIP-A1 (Mw 1.8 × 104 Da), RIP-B1 (Mw 7.4 × 104 Da) and RIP-B2 (Mw 9.3 × 104 Da), which were isolated from the roots of Isatis indigotica Fort. with sequenced ultrafiltration membrane columns, DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100. The planar structures and microstructures of RIP-A1, RIP-B1 and RIP-B2 were further determined by HPGPC, GC–MS, methylation analysis, FT-IR, SEM and AFM, in which the structure of RIP-A1 was elucidated in detail using 1D/2D NMR. The Raw 264.7 cells were used for the anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. The results showed that RIP-A1, RIP-B1 and RIP-B2 are all neutral polysaccharides, with RIP-A1 having the smallest Mw and the simplest monosaccharide composition of the three. RIP-A1 is mainly composed of Ara and Gal, except for a small quantity of Rha. Its main structure is covered with glycosidic linkages of T-α-Araf, 1,2-α-Rhap, 1,5-α-Araf, T-β-Galp, 1,2,4-α-Rhap, 1,3,5-α-Araf and 1,6-β-Galp with 0.33:0.12:1.02:0.09:0.45:11.41:10.23. RIP-A1 significantly inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines (NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, RIP-A1 could significantly inhibit the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-6 and L-1β. It could also activate IKK, p65 and IκBα (the components of the NF-κB signaling pathway). In conclusion, the above results show the structural characterization and anti-inflammatory potentials of RIP-A1 as an effective natural anti-inflammatory drug.

Abstract Background Gouty arthritis is the most frequently diagnosed inflammatory arthritis worldwide. Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), a regulator of mitochondrial fission, contributes to various inflammatory disorders via activating NLRP3 inflammasome. However, the biological role of Drp1 in gouty arthritis remains undefined. Methods A mouse model of monosodium urate (MSU)-induced gouty arthritis and MSU-stimulated macrophages were established as in vivo and in vitro models, respectively. Histological changes were assessed by H&E and IHC analysis. RT-qPCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of Drp1 and the key molecules in joint tissues and macrophages. Cytokine secretion was measured by ELISA assay, and antioxidant enzymes activities and LDH release were monitored using commercial kits. Mitochondrial structure and functions were assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and MitoSOX staining. Co-IP and GST pull-down assay were used to detect the direct interaction between USP16 and Drp1, as well as the ubiquitination of Drp1. Results Drp1 was elevated in MSU-induced gouty arthritis model, and it induced gouty arthritis via NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In addition, Drp1 activated NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling via modulating mitochondrial fission. Mechanistically, USP16 mediated deubiquitination and stabilization of Drp1 through its direct interaction with Drp1. Functional studies further showed that USP16 was highly expressed in MSU-stimulated macrophages and induced gouty arthritis via Drp1-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conclusion Deubiquitinase USP16 induced gouty arthritis via Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission and NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling.

Hydraulic excavators, characterized by their high efficiency and versatility, are crucial equipment in engineering construction. During the automatic excavation process, the excavator may experience resonance phenomena, which can affect the stability of the entire system. In order to study the vibration harmonic response of the excavator arm in the process of reciprocating motion, firstly, the model of the excavator arm is designed in three-dimensional software, and the finite element meshing software is used to perform hexahedral meshing of the excavator arm model and define the material properties. Secondly, the modal analysis of the excavator arm is carried out by finite element simulation software, and the displacement and acceleration harmonic response analysis is carried out using the modal superposition method. Finally, the vibration experiment of reciprocating motion with different frequencies is carried out on the experimental platform of the excavator arm. The simulation and experimental results show that the maximum value of the displacement and acceleration response of the excavator arm corresponds to the frequency near the second-order intrinsic frequency, and the excavator arm is greatly affected by the second-order intrinsic frequency; controlling the frequency of the reciprocating motion of the hydraulic cylinder within 13 Hz can effectively avoid the resonance phenomenon of the excavator arm device.

Abstracts: MicroRNA-132 (miR-132) is a highly conserved molecule that plays a crucial regulatory role in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The expression levels of miR-132 exhibit variability in various neurological disorders and have been closely linked to disease onset and progression. The expression level of miR-132 in the CNS is regulated by a diverse range of stimuli and signaling pathways, including neuronal migration and integration, dendritic outgrowth, and complexity, synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, as well as inflammation and apoptosis activation. The aberrant expression of miR-132 in various central neurodegenerative diseases has garnered widespread attention. Clinical studies have revealed altered miR-132 expression levels in both chronic and acute CNS diseases, positioning miR-132 as a potential biomarker or therapeutic target. An in-depth exploration of miR-132 holds the promise of enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying CNS diseases, thereby offering novel insights and strategies for disease diagnosis and treatment. It is anticipated that this review will assist researchers in recognizing the potential value of miR-132 and in generating innovative ideas for clinical trials related to CNS degenerative diseases.

The recognition of underwater acoustic targets plays a crucial role in marine vessel monitoring. However, traditional underwater target recognition models suffer from limitations, including low recognition accuracy and slow prediction speed. To address these challenges, this article introduces a novel approach called the Multi-Gradient Flow Global Feature Enhancement Network (MGFGNet) for automatic recognition of underwater acoustic targets. Firstly, a new spectrogram feature fusion scheme is presented, effectively capturing both the physical and brain-inspired features of the acoustic signal. This fusion technique enhances the representation of underwater acoustic data, resulting in more accurate recognition results. Moreover, MGFGNet utilizes the multi-gradient flow network and incorporates a multi-dimensional feature enhancement technique to achieve fast and precise end-to-end recognition. Finally, a loss function is introduced to mitigate the influence of unbalanced data sets on model recognition performance using Taylor series. This further enhances model recognition performance. Experimental evaluations were conducted on the DeepShip dataset to assess the performance of our proposed method. The results demonstrate the superiority of MGFGNet, achieving a recognition rate of 99.1%, which significantly surpasses conventional methods. Furthermore, MGFGNet exhibits improved efficiency compared to the widely used ResNet18 model, reducing the parameter count by 51.28% and enhancing prediction speed by 33.9%. Additionally, we evaluated the generalization capability of our model using the ShipsEar dataset, where MGFGNet achieves a recognition rate of 99.5%, indicating its superior performance when applied to unbalanced data. The promising results obtained in this study highlight the potential of MGFGNet in practical applications.

Background: Data regarding the association of sarcopenia with chronic lung disease (CLD) has led to inconclusive results. The main goal of this research was to investigate the association between sarcopenia and CLD in middle-aged and elderly individuals in China. Methods: The study sample consisted of 11,077 individuals without CLD at baseline chosen from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data from 2015, followed up until 2018. Sarcopenia was identified utilizing the criteria set by the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019) in 2019. Individuals were categorized into no-sarcopenia, possible-sarcopenia, and sarcopenia groups. The outcome of the study was considered to be incident CLD, which included chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pulmonary heart disease, and asthma. The association between sarcopenia and the risk of CLD was also examined by employing weighted Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results: A total of 356 (3.20 %) participants developed CLD during the 3.6-year follow-up period. The cumulative incidence of CLD in the no-sarcopenia, possible-sarcopenia, and sarcopenia groups was 2.80 % (230/8222), 4.37 % (55/1260), and 4.45 % (71/1595), respectively. Individuals with possible sarcopenia {hazard ratio [HR] [95 % confidence interval (CI)]: 1.48 [1.04–2.09]} and sarcopenia [HR (95 % CI): 1.68 (1.12–2.51)] demonstrated a considerably high risk of developing CLD compared to individuals in the no-sarcopenia group. Moreover, individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia, as per the criteria established by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) 2018, were at considerably high risk for developing CLD compared to those in the no-sarcopenia group. Conclusion: This research involving adult Chinese individuals demonstrated a significant association between, possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia with an elevated risk of incident CLD, thereby emphasizing the importance of monitoring respiratory health in this population. Key points: Question: Whether muscle mass and sarcopenia are associated with the development of chronic lung disease (CLD) in Asian middle-aged and elderly individuals.Findings: This longitudinal study encompassing 11,077 adults aged ≥45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data with 3.6 years of follow-up revealed a positive association between sarcopenia at baseline and incidence of CLD.Meaning: The findings suggest that possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia are linked to the development of CLD. Consequently, middle-aged and elderly individuals with possible sarcopenia and sarcopenia can be considered vulnerable regarding the primary prevention strategies for CLD.

To reduce the probability of secondary accidents caused by the direction deviation, body rollover, and excessive deceleration of runaway vehicles during braking on a truck escape ramp (TER), the safety of the occupants and the vehicles must be ensured. Based on the momentum theorem, an intelligent control method for a TER is proposed. In the method, a slope aggregate with a small rolling resistance coefficient is used on the original escape lane, and the information acquisition, braking device control, and braking modules are established. Through these modules, the operation parameters and control parameters of the out-of-control vehicle are obtained in advance, to control the operation state of the runaway vehicle. Achieve the purpose of reducing the braking effect of the slope bed aggregate and ensuring maximum utilization of the braking ramp. Finally, the proposed control method is simulated on the MATLAB/Simulink simulation platform. The results show that the control method can realize safe braking of an out-of-control vehicle at various speeds and different mass conditions, and it can play a highly significant role in the braking of high-speed and heavy-duty vehicles.