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Background: Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is the main pathological change in vascular remodeling, a complex cardiopulmonary disease caused by hypoxia. Some research results have shown that ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) can improve vascular remodeling, but the effect and mechanism of Rg1 on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension are not clear. The purpose of this study was to discuss the potential mechanism of action of Rg1 on HPH. Methods: C57BL/6 mice, calpain-1 knockout mice and Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were exposed to a low oxygen environment with or without different treatments. The effect of Rg1 and calpain-1 silencing on inflammation, fibrosis, proliferation and the protein expression levels of calpain-1, STAT3 and p-STAT3 were determined at the animal and cellular levels. Results: At the mouse and cellular levels, hypoxia promotes inflammation, fibrosis, and cell proliferation, and the expression of calpain-1 and p-STAT3 is also increased. Ginsenoside Rg1 administration and calpain-1 knockdown, MDL-28170, and HY-13818 treatment showed protective effects on hypoxia-induced inflammation, fibrosis, and cell proliferation, which may be associated with the downregulation of calpain-1 and p-STAT3 expression in mice and cells. In addition, overexpression of calpain 1 increased p-STAT3 expression, accelerating the onset of inflammation, fibrosis and cell proliferation in hypoxic PASMCs. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 may ameliorate hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling by suppressing the calpain-1/STAT3 signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT Aims This study aimed to investigate the association of maternal birth weight (MBW) with early and late gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods A total of 69318 pregnant Japanese women were included in this birth cohort study. The associations between maternal birth weight and early gestational diabetes mellitus (diagnosed at

In model-based definition (MBD), product manufacturing information (PMI) semantic representation errors (SREs) are known to hinder the model readability, understandability, and processibility. Existing model quality test tools cannot detect PMI SREs efficiently and reliably; considering ontology's powerful abilities for semantic representation and logical consistency check, an ontology-based systematic methodology is proposed for their automatic and intelligent detection. Through the analysis of typical characteristics of PMI SREs’ content and style, four aspects of PMI SREs were identified, namely, the associated objects, structural integrity, parameters, and symbols. A three-dimensional PMI ontology (3DPMIOnto) framework was established, which included a PMI extraction module, a PMI ontology instance generation module, a rule-based inference module, and a message feedback module. In the Web Ontology Language, the object and data property of these ontology classes, including dimension annotation, geometric tolerance annotation, datum annotation, roughness annotation, and associated object classes, have been thoughtfully designed, which allows an automatic generation of ontology instances. The Semantic Web Rule Language was used to present four types of PMI SRE detection rules as per their classification. The application program interface of the commercial computer-aided design (CAD) software was used to extract PMI from the MBD model and imported to 3DPMIOnto to execute an intelligent inference process, where PMI SREs were filtered and fed back to the CAD software for redesign. A prototype system was developed and two cases study were performed. The results demonstrated the efficiency, feasibility, and openness of the proposed methodology.

The spray cooling and tempering technology has a series of advantages, such as improving the tempering quality and reducing energy consumption. In order to optimize the tempering technological parameters, it is necessary to accurately control the thermal history and temperature distribution of a hot glass surface during spray cooling. However, measuring the inner temperature of tempered glass proved challenging. The Euler-Lagrangian approach was utilized for simulating the process of spray cooling the glass surface. To validate the accuracy of model predictions, experimental studies were conducted on the tempering of glass by a single nozzle. The numerical outcomes exhibit strong correspondence with the experimental findings. Building upon the foundation, the study analyzed the heat transfer mechanisms in different states including film boiling, nucleate boiling, and forced convection. Subsequently, the effects of spray distance, spray loading fraction, spray pressure, and final cooling temperature on the heat transfer rate and temperature homogeneity were discussed. The results revealed that reducing the spray distance, increasing the spray loading fraction and spray pressure can improve the cooling rate and reduce energy consumption, but it aggravated the uneven distribution of temperature over the glass surface. Moderately increasing the final cooling temperature had little effect on the tempering quality of glass, but it significantly reduced the energy consumption for spray cooling. Within the experimental range, the optimal final cooling temperature was 573.15 K.

Abstract Extremophile organisms are known that can metabolize at temperatures down to − 25 °C (psychrophiles) and up to 122 °C (hyperthermophiles). Understanding viability under extreme conditions is relevant for human health, biotechnological applications, and our search for life elsewhere in the universe. Information about the stability and dynamics of proteins under environmental extremes is an important factor in this regard. Here we compare the dynamics of small Fe-S proteins – rubredoxins – from psychrophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms, using three different nuclear techniques as well as molecular dynamics calculations to quantify motion at the Fe site. The theory of ‘corresponding states’ posits that homologous proteins from different extremophiles have comparable flexibilities at the optimum growth temperatures of their respective organisms. Although ‘corresponding states’ would predict greater flexibility for rubredoxins that operate at low temperatures, we find that from 4 to 300 K, the dynamics of the Fe sites in these homologous proteins are essentially equivalent.

Abstract Background Global studies exploring the relationship between parity and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are scarce. Furthermore, no study has examined the relationship between parity and CKD in Japan. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between parity and the prevalence of CKD in a Japanese population, considering the clinical history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and current body mass index (BMI) based on menopausal status. Methods This cross-sectional study included 26,945 Japanese multiparous women (5,006 premenopausal and 21,939 postmenopausal women) and 3,247 nulliparous women (1,599 premenopausal and 1,648 postmenopausal women). Participants were divided into two groups based on their menopausal status (premenopausal and postmenopausal women). The relationship between parity and the prevalence of CKD was evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model adjusted for several covariates, including a clinical history of HDP and current BMI. Results The relationship between parity and the prevalence of CKD was not statistically significant in either premenopausal or postmenopausal multiparous women. A clinical history of HDP was significantly associated with an increased risk of CKD in premenopausal and postmenopausal multiparous women. However, the relationship between a clinical history of HDP and CKD in premenopausal women was weakened after adjusting for current BMI. Furthermore, the current BMI was significantly associated with an increased risk of CKD in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Conclusions Parity is not significantly associated with the prevalence of CKD in premenopausal and postmenopausal multiparous women. A clinical history of HDP is a risk factor for CKD in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Current BMI is also associated with an increased risk of CKD in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Therefore, continuous surveillance and preventive measures against CKD should be provided to women with a clinical history of HDP. In addition, maintaining an appropriate body weight is beneficial in reducing the risk of CKD.

BackgroundSuperior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula is a rare and difficult complication after abdominal trauma. Utilizing comprehensive endovascular treatment represents an effective approach to managing this condition.Case presentationWe report a case involving a 53-year-old female with a history of trauma who presented with complaints of abdominal pain, malaise, and melena. A computed tomographic scan revealed the presence of a superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula. The fistula was occluded using four Interlock detachable coils, and a covered stent was positioned over the arteriovenous fistula in the superior mesenteric artery. Following endovascular treatment, the patient's abdominal pain and melena symptoms disappeared.ConclusionUtilizing covered stents and Interlock detachable coils for endovascular treatment of a superior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula proves to be both feasible and highly effective.

Abstract This study investigated the association of parity with hypertension prevalence in Japanese women while considering a clinical history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and menopausal status. This cross‐sectional study included 30,530 Japanese women (6700 premenopausal; 23 830 postmenopausal). The association between parity and the prevalence of hypertension was evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model with possible confounders. In premenopausal women, no statistically significant association between parity and hypertension prevalence was found. When not adjusted for current body mass index (BMI), a linear graded association was observed between parity and the prevalence of hypertension in postmenopausal women. However, the association between parity and hypertension prevalence in postmenopausal women was attenuated after adjustment for current BMI. Both current BMI and a clinical history of HDP were significantly associated with a high risk of hypertension in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Our results also suggest that continuous surveillance and preventive measures for hypertension should be provided for women with HDP and high parity.

In this publication, the potential non-gadolinium magnetic resonant imaging agent—nanoparticulate K2Mn[Fe(CN)6]—its comparison sample KFe[Co(CN)6], as well as their reference samples were measured and analyzed using Mn, Co and Fe L-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (L XAS). From the information obtained, we conclude that K2Mn[Fe (CN)6] has a high spin (hs)-Mn(II) and a low spin (ls)-Fe(II), while KFe[Co(CN)6] has an hs-Fe(II) and an ls-Co(III). In these Prussian blue (PB) analog structures, the L XAS analysis also led to the conclusion that the hs-Mn(II) in K2Mn[Fe(CN)6] or the hs-Fe(II) in KFe[Co(CN)6] bonds to the N in the [M(CN)6]4−/3− ions (where M = Fe(II) or Co(III)), while the ls-Fe(II) in K2Mn[Fe(CN)6] or the ls-Co(III) in KFe[Co(CN)6] bonds to the C in the [M(CN)6]4−/3− ion, suggesting the complexed metalloligand [Mn(II) or Fe(II)] occupies the N-bound site in PB. Then, nuclear resonant vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) was used to confirm the results from the L XAS measurements: the Mn(II), Eu(III), Gd(III), Fe(II) cations complexed by [M(CN)6]n−-metalloligand all take the N-bound site in PB-like structures. Our NRVS studies also prove that iron in the K2Mn[Fe(CN)6] compound has a 2+ oxidation state and is surrounded by the C donor atoms in the [M(CN)6]n− ions.

In order to alleviate the shortage of water in Xinjiang cotton fields, to ensure the sustainable development of the cotton industry in southern Xinjiang, it is necessary to determine a suitable “dry sowing and wet emergence” water quantity plan for cotton fields in southern Xinjiang to change the current situation. In this study, to explore the irrigation regime of “dry sowing and wet emergence” for cotton in Korla, Xinjiang, by combining field experiments and modeling simulations, the effects of different irrigation amounts on the water–heat–salt and seedling emergence characteristics of “dry sowing and wet emergence” cotton fields were investigated; the soil, water, and salt transport under different irrigation regimes was simulated by using HYDRUS-2D, and the seedling emergence rate of the cotton under different irrigation regimes was obtained through the establishment of a regression model. The results indicated that, in the field experiment, the soil water content of the 0−40 cm soil layer showed an overall trend of first increasing and then decreasing with time, while the soil salt content showed an overall trend of first decreasing and then increasing over time. The soil water content at the drip heads and cotton rows position, as well as on the 15th day, increased by an average of 5.58 cm3·cm−3 compared to before irrigation, and the soil salt content decreased by an average of 2.74 g/kg compared to before irrigation. In the irrigation water range of 675−825 m3/hm2, reducing the irrigation water amount increased the cotton emergence rate by 3.86% and the cotton vigor index by 70.53%. After the model simulation, it is recommended to choose the cotton “dry sowing and wet emergence” irrigation regime with a low to medium water amount (300−450 m3/hm2) at 14-day intervals or a low to medium water amount (300−375 m3/hm2) at 7-day intervals, which can obtain a higher seedling emergence rate.

Vertically ordered mesoporous silica films (VMSF) are a class of porous materials composed of ultrasmall pores and ultrathin perpendicular nanochannels, which are attractive in the areas of electroanalytical sensors and molecular separation. However, VMSF easily falls off from the carbonaceous electrodes and thereby impacts their broad applications. Herein, carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNS) were served as an adhesive layer for stable growth of VMSF on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). CNNS bearing plentiful oxygen-containing groups can covalently bind with silanol groups of VMSF, effectively promoting the stability of VMSF on the GCE surface. Benefiting from numerous open nanopores of VMSF, modification of VMSF’s external surface with carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3)-specific antibody allows the target-controlled transport of electrochemical probes through the internal silica nanochannels, yielding sensitive quantitative detection of CA15-3 with a broad detection range of 1 mU/mL to 1000 U/mL and a low limit of detection of 0.47 mU/mL. Furthermore, the proposed VMSF/CNNS/GCE immunosensor is capable of highly selective and accurate determination of CA15-3 in spiked serum samples, which offers a simple and effective electrochemical strategy for detection of various practical biomarkers in complicated biological specimens.

Abstract Background Quinoa is a highly nutritious and novel crop that is resistant to various abiotic stresses. However, its growth and development is restricted due to its limited utilization of soil phosphorus. Studies on the levels of phosphorus in quinoa seedlings are limited; therefore, we analyzed transcriptome data from quinoa seedlings treated with different concentrations of phosphorus. Results To identify core genes involved in responding to various phosphorus levels, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis method was applied. From the 12,085 expressed genes, an analysis of the gene co-expression network was done. dividing the expressed genes into a total of twenty-five different modules out of which two modules were strongly correlated with phosphorus levels. Subsequently we identified five core genes that correlated strongly either positively or negatively with the phosphorus levels. Gene ontology and assessments of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes have uncovered important biological processes and metabolic pathways that are involved in the phosphorus level response. Conclusions We discovered crucial new core genes that encode proteins from various transcription factor families, such as MYB, WRKY, and ERF, which are crucial for abiotic stress resistance. This new library of candidate genes associated with the phosphorus level responses in quinoa seedlings will help in breeding varieties that are tolerant to phosphorus levels.

Objective To analyze the active ingredients of Xiaoyao Pill and its molecular mechanisms in the treatment of chloasma. Methods The active ingredients of Xiaoyao Pill, its target proteins and the targets related to human chloasma were searched through BATMAB-TCM database, GeneCards database, CTD database and GEO database, and the network diagram of active ingredient-disease targets was constructed. STRING database was used to construct protein interaction network, followed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Finally, the active ingredients and common targets were verified by molecular docking. Results Xiaoyao Pill contained many key active ingredients such as angelica, 1-methyl-2-dodecyl-4-quinolone, ergotamine, palmitic acid, behenic acid, azelaic acid, and retinol, which possibly regulated expression of proteins related to core genes such as AKT1, INS, TNF, TP53, IL1B, KCNA1, PPARG, and JUN, resulting in the improvement of melasma. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the pathways involved in the action of Xiaoyao Pill included neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, dopaminergic synapses, CAMP signaling, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion. Molecular docking showed that the binding energies of TNF-ergotamine, IL1B-ergotamine, PPARG-ergotamine and JUN-ergotamine were all

Abstract Background Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) originates in high altitude areas, such as the Andes, and has some inherent characteristics of cold, drought, and salinity tolerance, but is sensitive to high temperature. Results To gain insight into the response mechanism of quinoa to high temperature stress, we conducted an extensive targeted metabolomic study of two cultivars, Dianli-3101 and Dianli-3051, along with a combined transcriptome analysis. A total of 794 metabolites and 54,200 genes were detected, in which the genes related to photosynthesis were found down-regulated at high temperatures, and two metabolites, lipids and flavonoids, showed the largest changes in differential accumulation. Further analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and transcription factors revealed that quinoa inhibits photosynthesis at high temperatures, and the possible strategies being used for high temperature stress management are regulation of heat stress transcription factors (HSFs) to obtain heat tolerance, and regulation of purine metabolism to enhance stress signals for rapid response to high temperature stress. The tolerant genotype could have an enhanced response through lower purine levels. The induction of the stress response could be mediated by HSF transcription factors. The results of this study may provide theoretical references for understanding the response mechanism of quinoa to high temperature stress, and for screening potential high temperature tolerant target genes and high temperature tolerant strains. Conclusions These findings reveal the regulation of the transcription factor family HSF and the purinergic pathway in response to high temperature stress to improve quinoa varieties with high temperature tolerance.

Milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies, in which αS-casein is the major milk allergen. Under optimized conditions, mixed starter (containing Lactobacillus plantarum 7-2 and commercial starter) effectively degraded αS-casein of skimmed milk and reduced the pressure of stomach digestion. The fermented milk prepared by mixed starter was determined by ELISA, the antigenicity of αS-casein was reduced by 77.53%. Compared with the fermented milk prepared by commercial starter, label-free quantitative proteomics demonstrated that the mixed starter more efficiently degraded the epitopes of major milk allergens and influenced the digestion pattern of the fermented milk. Therefore, L. plantarum 7-2 shows positive potential in reducing the antigenicity of αS-casein and others. In addition, this study predicted that the new epitopes produced in the fermentation process could induce immunity using molecular simulation.

The response of cells to environmental stimuli, under either physiological or pathological conditions, plays a key role in determining cell fate toward either adaptive survival or controlled death. The efficiency of such a feedback mechanism is closely related to the most challenging human diseases, including cancer. Since cellular responses are implemented through physical forces exerted on intracellular components, more detailed knowledge of force distribution through modern imaging techniques is needed to ensure a mechanistic understanding of these forces. In this work, we mapped these intracellular forces at a whole-cell scale and with submicron resolution to correlate intracellular force distribution to the cytoskeletal structures. Furthermore, we visualized dynamic mechanical responses of the cells adapting to environmental modulations in situ. Such task was achieved by using an informatics-assisted atomic force microscope (AFM) indentation technique where a key step was Markov-chain Monte Carlo optimization to search for both the models used to fit indentation force–displacement curves and probe geometry descriptors. We demonstrated force dynamics within cytoskeleton, as well as nucleoskeleton in living cells which were subjected to mechanical state modulation: myosin motor inhibition, micro-compression stimulation and geometrical confinement manipulation. Our results highlight the alteration in the intracellular prestress to attenuate environmental stimuli; to involve in cellular survival against mechanical signal-initiated death during cancer growth and metastasis; and to initiate cell migration.

ObjectiveTo examine the trend in the incidence of atopic dermatitis (AD) and the influence of age, period and birth cohort on AD incidence among residents of China and four developed Asian countries from 1990 – 2019, and to provide a reference for the prevention and control of AD in China. MethodsThe data on the incidence of AD among residents of China and four Asian countries ( Japan, Korea, Israel and Singapore) from 1990 – 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019) database. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was used to describe country-specific trend in the incidence of AD and an age-period-cohort (APC) model was constructed to analyze effects of age, period and birth cohort on AD incidence. ResultsThe annual age standardized incidence of AD among residents in China increased from 1990 – 2019 with an EAPC value of 0.0212% (95 confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.0077% – 0.0347%). In contrast, the annual age standardized incidence of AD decreased during the 30-year period among the residents of Japan, South Korea, Israel, and Singapore, with the EAPC values of – 0.0433% (95%CI = – 0.0655% – – 0.0211%), – 0.0206% (95%CI: – 0.0380% – – 0.0032%), – 0.0073% (95%CI: – 0.0077% – – 0.0069%), and – 0.0276% (95%CI: – 0.0452% – – 0.0099%), respectively. The results of APC model analysis showed that the residents aged 0 – 4 years and 70 – 94 years were at high risk of AD incidence in China and in the four Asian countries. The risk of AD incidence among the residents in China increased over time but decreased with the year of birth; while, the risk of AD incidence among residents of in the four Asian countries decreased over time but increased with the year of birth. ConclusionThe incidence of AD among residents in China has increased year by year from 1990 to 2019, indicating that in comparison with the situation in the four developed Asian countries, the prevention and control of AD need to be promoted among residents in China, especially among the children and the elderly.

ObjectiveTo explore changing trend of disease burden of neonatal diseases in China from 1990 to 2019 and to provide evidence for prevention and treatment of neonatal diseases. MethodsThe data on neonatal diseases in China for years of 1990 and 2019 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019). The number of patients, standardized prevalence, mortality, standardized mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), standardized YLLs, years lived with disability (YLDs), standardized YLDs, disability adjusted life years (DALYs), standardized DALYs, and estimated annual percent change (EAPC) were adopted to evaluate variations in disease burden of neonatal diseases between 1990 and 2019. ResultsCompared with those in 1990, both the number of patients and standardized prevalence rate of neonatal diseases in China increased, with the EAPC of 2.83% (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 2.59%, 3.07%) and 2.52% (95%UI: 2.33%, 2.72%); while the mortality and standardized mortality rates were both on the decline, with the EAPC of − 6.40% (95%UI: − 6.64%, − 6.16%) and − 5.10% (95%UI: − 5.59%, − 4.62%), respectively. The neonatal diseases-related YLDs and standardized YLDs rate increased, with the EAPC of 4.05% (95%UI: 3.88%, 4.21%) and 3.86% (95%UI: 3.68%, 4.04%); but the YLLs, standardized YLLs rate, the DALYs, and standardized DALYs rate decreased, with the EAPC of − 6.40% (95%UI: − 6.16%, − 6.64 %), − 5.11% (95%UI: − 4.62%, − 5.59%), − 4.75% (95%UI: − 4.48%, − 5.02%), and − 4.09% (95%UI: − 3.74%, − 4.45%). Among the neonatal diseases, preterm birth was the leading category as ranked by standardized rate of prevalence, mortality, YLLs, and DALYs; nonspecific neonatal infections was the leading category as ranked by standardized YLDs. ConclusionThe prevalence and YLDs rate of neonatal diseases in China increased in 2019 compared with those in 1990. Early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal diseases should be improved to reduce the burden caused by the diseases.

Biofertilizers with phosphate-solubilizing microorganism (PSM) inoculations have been suggested to diminish the limitation of phosphorus (P) deficiency in plants. However, their applications in agriculture are restricted due to the inconstant effects of various PSMs. Proper carriers for the inoculations may overcome this shortcoming and improve PSMs’ effectiveness. The objective of this study was to investigate whether straw compost, a type of organic material, can act as a carrier for improving the efficiencies of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and fungi named Acinetobacter sp. and Aspergillus niger, respectively, in soils. We monitored the growth and cellular physiological responses of one type of model plants, named perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), under four soil treatments, including non-fertilization, PSM inoculation alone, straw compost addition alone, and the combined applications of both PSMs and straw compost. We found the combined treatments significantly improved the growth by 14.7% for shoot height and 79.7% for shoot weight, respectively, on average. P and potassium (K) uptakes of ryegrass were also increased by 102.5% and 65.3%, respectively, after the application of both PSMs and straw compost. Furthermore, physiological properties, such as photosynthetic efficiency and P-transportation capacity, of ryegrass were also significantly improved under combined treatments when compared to other treatments, regardless of the types of PSM included. The piecewise structural equation model further indicated that PSM inoculation and straw compost input are synergistically contributing to the nutrient uptake of ryegrass through many direct and indirect ways. We propose that straw compost is a good carrier material for PSMs’ survival and would improve their plant growth promotion ability in soil. Our results provide valuable insights into the exploitation and utilization of P-biofertilizers in agriculture.

To enhance the utilization of summer–autumn tea, a water-soluble polysaccharide (D1N1) was isolated through a series of techniques including hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and column chromatography. The structure of D1N1 was determined through the utilization of ultraviolet, Fourier-transform infrared, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. The results revealed that glucose was the predominant component of D1N1, accounting for 95% of its composition. Additionally, D1N1 also contained galactose, arabinose, and rhamnose. The molecular weight (Mw) of D1N1 was determined to be 224.71 kDa. The backbone of D1N1 consisted of →4)-α-D -Glcp (1→, →3,4)-α-D-Galp-(1→, →4,6)-α-D -Glcp (1→ at a molar ratio of 35:1:1, and branching at the O-3 position of →3,4)-α-D-Galp-(1→ and O-6 position of →4,6)-α-D-Glcp (1→ with α-D -Glcp (1→. In addition, the antioxidant activity of D1N1 was also evaluated. D1N1 exhibited excellent antioxidant bioactivity against the DPPH, superoxide anion radical, and ABTS+ radical. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of summer–autumn tea polysaccharide as a potential functional food.

Flexible grippers with superior gripping capabilities are essential for carrying objects. Herein, an origami chomper‐based flexible gripper is designed using a combination of the origami technique and a newly developed nonlinear topology optimization method. This novel origami chomper‐based flexible gripper exhibits superior gripping performance, as revealed by a series of experiments, including gripping range capability under an identical input load, maximum gripping ratio, gripping adaptability, and achieving richer gripping characteristics by size scaling. The origami chomper‐based flexible gripper can handle a wide range of object irregularities in textures and uneven shapes and can enable effective gripping of objects across scales from millimeters to centimeters to decimeters through size scaling. This study paves the way for innovative high‐performance designs of flexible grippers.

Background: As the major pathophysiological feature of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is vital for the occurrence of cardiovascular complications. The activation of calpain-1 mediates the production of endothelial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impairs nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, resulting in vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED). Ginsenoside Rg1 is thought to against endothelial cell dysfunction, but the potential mechanism of CIH-induced VED remains unclear. Methods: C57BL/6 mice and human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) were exposed to CIH following knockout or overexpression of calpain-1. The effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on VED, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the expression levels of calpain-1, PP2A and p-eNOS were detected both in vivo and in vitro. Results: CIH promoted VED, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction accompanied by enhanced levels of calpain-1 and PP2A and reduced levels of p-eNOS in mice and cellular levels. Ginsenoside Rg1, calpain-1 knockout, OKA, NAC and TEMPOL treatment protected against CIH-induced VED, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which is likely concomitant with the downregulated protein expression of calpain-1 and PP2A and the upregulation of p-eNOS in mice and cellular levels. Calpain-1 overexpression increased the expression of PP2A, reduced the level of p-eNOS, and accelerated the occurrence and development of VED, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in HCAECs exposed to CIH. Moreover, scavengers of O2• −, H2O2, complex Ⅰ or mitoKATP abolished CIH-induced impairment in endothelial-dependent relaxation. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 may alleviate CIH-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction by suppressing the formation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species through the calpain-1 pathway.

Nuclear resonant vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) is an excellent synchrotron-based vibrational spectroscopy. Its isotope specificity and other advantages are particularly good to study, for example, iron center(s) inside complicated molecules such as enzymes. In order to investigate some small energy shifts, the energy scale variation from scan to scan must be corrected via an in-situ measurement or with other internal reference peak(s) inside the spectra to be calibrated. On the other hand, the energy re-distribution within each scan also needs attention for a sectional scan which has a different scanning time per point in different sections and is often used to measure weak NRVS signals. In this publication, we: (1) evaluated the point-to-point energy re-distribution within each NRVS scan or within an averaged scan with a time-scaled (not energy-scaled) function; (2) discussed the errorbar contributed from the improper “distribution” of ΔEi or the averaged ΔE within one scan (Eerr1) vs. that due to the different ΔEi from different scans (Eerr2). It is well illustrated that the former (Eerr1) is as important as, or sometimes even more important than, the latter (Eerr2); and (3) provided a procedure to re-calibrate the published NRVS-derived PVDOS spectra in case of need. This article establishes the concept that, at least for sectional NRVS scans, the energy positions should be corrected according to the time scanned rather than be scaled with a universal constant, as in a conventional calibration procedure.

Objective To explore the association of hub genes and immune infiltration with acne pathogenesis by integrating and analyzing multi-chip data. Methods Gene microarray datasets were obtained from the GEO database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the acne phenotype-related gene module were screened using the "limma" R package and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Moreover, GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were performed. STRING online database and Cytoscape software were used to construct protein interaction network and to screen hub genes. Analysis of immune cell infiltration and correlation of hub genes with immune cell infiltration were based on the CIBERSORT algorithm. Results A total of 154 DEGs were screened. The DEGs associated with signaling receptor binding, cytokine activity and chemokine receptor binding were mainly enriched in pathways such as viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptors, cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, chemokine signaling, NF-κB signaling and IL-17 signaling. The PPI network was constructed with 139 nodes and 1 597 edges, identifying two hub genes (CCR5, CXCL8). Among the 22 infiltrating immune cells, lesional site exhibited more neutrophils, activated mast cells, activated dendritic cells and activated CD4 memory T cells, but fewer regulatory T cells, resting dendritic cells and resting mast cells, in comparison to normal controls. Conclusion Changes in hub genes and immune cell infiltration, as identified by bioinformatics methods, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of acne.

The convenient construction of carbon-based electrochemical immunosensors with high performance is highly desirable for the efficient detection of tumor biomarkers. In this work, an electrochemical immunosensor was fabricated by integrating a biofunctionalized mesoporous silica nanochannel film with a carbon-based electrode, which can enable the sensitive determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in serum. The commonly used carbonaceous electrode, glassy carbon electrode (GCE), was employed as the supporting electrode and was pre-treated through electrochemical polarization to achieve the stable binding of a vertically ordered mesoporous silica film with amino groups (NH2-VMSF) without the use of any adhesive layer. To fabricate the immunorecognition interface, antibodies were covalently immobilized after the amino groups on the outer surface of NH2-VMSF was derivatized to aldehyde groups. The presence of amino sites within the high-density nanochannels of NH2-VMSF can facilitate the migration of negatively charged redox probes (Fe(CN)63-/4-) to the supporting electrode through electrostatic adsorption, leading to the generation of electrochemical signals. In the presence of CEA, the formation of immunocomplexes on the recognitive interface can reduce the electrochemical signal of Fe(CN)63-/4- on the supporting electrode. Based on this principle, the sensitive electrochemical detection of CEA was achieved. CEA can be determined to range from 0.01 ng mL−1 to 100 ng mL−1 with a limit of detection of 6.3 pg mL−1. The fabricated immunosensor exhibited high selectivity, and the detection of CEA in fetal bovine serum was achieved.

Congenital malformations are functional and structural alterations in embryonic or foetal development resulting from a variety of factors including maternal health status. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal birth weight (MBW) and the prevalence of congenital malformations in offspring using data from a nationwide birth cohort study in Japan including 103,060 pregnancies. A binary logistic regression model with adjustment for various covariates revealed that an MBW of

BackgroundHemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) due to red cell alloimmunization, is an important cause of fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, fetal and neonatal outcome of HDFN managed with intrauterine transfusion (IUT) in China are unknown. In addition, fetal and neonatal outcomes according to the type of maternal red cell alloantibodies involved and outcomes of hydrops fetalis are also unclear.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to evaluate fetal and neonatal outcomes of severe red-cell alloimmunization treated by IUT, to compare the outcomes according to the type of antibody, and to investigate the perinatal and postnatal outcomes of hydrops fetalis due to red cell alloimmunization.MethodsA retrospective study of pregnancies affected by HDFN and managed with IUT at a tertiary care university hospital in China between January 2001 and December 2018 was performed. Fetal and neonatal outcomes were investigated, and comparison of outcomes depending on the type of antibody and comparison of outcome between hydrops fetalis and fetuses without hydrops were also conducted.Results244 IUTs were performed in 81 fetuses from 80 pregnancies. Anti-RhD was the major etiology of HDFN requiring IUT (71.6%). The fetal survival rate was 90.1%. The survival rate of the hydropic fetuses was significantly lower than those of the non hydropic fetuses (61.2% vs. 95.6%) (P = 0.002**). Compared with non hydropic fetuses, hydropic fetuses had significantly lower gestational age and lower hemoglobin level at first IUT. The neonatal survival rate was 98.6%. Exchange transfusions were required in 26% of the neonates. 30.1% of neonates had late anemia and required top-up transfusions, and hydropic fetuses required more late top-up transfusions than fetuses without hydrops. No significant difference in fetal and neonatal outcomes was found among the four subgroups stratified by the antibody involved.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that IUT is an effective and safe therapy for severe HDFN at our institution. Early detection and treatment of hydrops is critical for perinatal outcomes. Particular attention should be paid to late postnatal anemia in affected neonates and top-up transfusion is still commonly needed.

Although the anti-inflammatory properties of developmental endothelial locus-1 (DEL-1) are well known, few studies have examined the role of DEL-1 in spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, the protective effect of DEL-1 on SCI was investigated using hypoxia/recovery (H/R) injury of astrocytes and a mouse SCI model. The effects of DEL-1 overexpression/silencing on primary astrocytes were assessed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were intrathecally injected with recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) at T10, and DEL-1 was permanently expressed. Protein levels in the spinal cord, functional testing, and electrophysiology, pathology, and immunofluorescence were all measured after treatment. DEL-1 overexpression significantly increased the expression of SIRT1/SERCA2At the same time, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis were all significantly inhibited, the motor function of SCI rats was noticeably restored, and the myelin sheath of the injured site was more complete. Furthermore, after DEL-1 silencing SIRT1/SERCA2 expression decreased, while inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptotic responses increased significantly. DEL-1 treatment, however, did not increase SERCA2 expression after SIRT1 silencing. These findings demonstrate that DEL-1 protects against SCI via SIRT1/SERCA2 signaling, promoting spinal neural recovery.

Objective To explore molecular mechanisms of polygonum multiflorum in the treatment of androgenic alopecia and to provide underlying drug targets. Methods Bioinformatics analysis tool for molecular mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine and five disease gene databases were used to establish effective ingredients-targets of polygonum multiflorum network and protein-protein interaction network. The core sub-network was extracted through network topology, and then GO and KEGG analyses were performed. Finally, these top 10 molecules with highest connectivity were performed to molecular docking. Results A total of 1 357 common target genes were generated based on the intersection of effective ingredients-targets of polygonum multiflorum and underlying disease targets. The core sub-network including 67 genes was extracted by topological analysis. The KEGG enrichment results showed that polygonum multiflorum produce biological functions mainly through regulating inflammatory response, apoptosis, oxidative stress and autophagy pathways. The molecular docking results demonstrated the binding energy of PIK3CA-emodin, PIK3CA-chrysophanol, PIK3CA-guaijaverin and PIK3CB-emodin were less -9 kcal/mol. Conclusions The mechanism of polygonum multiflorum to treat androgenic alopecia is that PI3K/Akt pathway was mediated to regulate the expression of PIK3CA and PIK3CB to cell apoptosis through emodin. In addition, it is involved in the process of the inhibition of inflammatory response and oxidative stress, and induction of melanin production.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa wild.), a dicotyledonous plant native to the Andes, is an increasingly popular pseudograin owing to its high nutritional value, stress resistance capabilities, and gluten-free properties. In this study, we aimed to explore the dynamic changes in different varieties of quinoa at the seedling stage and their regulatory networks. Here, we found that the leaves of quinoa showed obvious coloration after 45 days, and four quinoa seedling types (red, white, yellow, and black) were subjected to ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) and transcriptome sequencing to identify their differentially expressed genes and metabolites. A total of 29 differential metabolites and 19 genes (14 structural and 5 regulatory genes) were identified, and consistent differences were observed in the flavonoid, phenolic acid, and alkaloid metabolites in the different quinoa types. These differential metabolites were significantly enriched in flavonoid and flavonol biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways. In addition, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) technology was used to detect the expression of four structural genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway and four regulatory genes (interaction network). The results revealed that the structural and regulatory gene transcript levels in the flavonoid pathway were higher in the red quinoa cultivars than in the white, yellow, and black. Additionally, the differences in the leaves of these four quinoa cultivars were mainly due to differences in flavonoid, phenolic acid, and alkaloid accumulation. Our findings provide a basis for understanding the accumulation and coloration mechanisms of flavonoids, phenolic acids, and alkaloids in quinoa seedlings of different colors and also provide a theoretical basis for future investigations.

This article investigates the application of the pulse voltage method for detecting interturn short-circuit faults in the high-voltage windings of dry-type voltage transformers. We determined the characterization parameters of the high-voltage windings of dry-type voltage transformers and trends in the variation of the characterization parameters with frequency in the presence and absence of faults. The viability of using the pulse voltage method for the detection of interturn short-circuit faults in dry-type voltage transformers was analyzed. A pulse voltage test platform was designed to analyze the response voltage waveforms using pulse-oscillating voltage experiments on transformers with various short-circuit faults. The results demonstrate that during a turn-to-turn short circuit, the equivalent resistance and inductance of a high-voltage winding are significantly lowered. When employing the pulse voltage method to investigate interturn short-circuit faults, tiny inductors are connected in parallel to produce an oscillating voltage waveform that is more uniform. Upon incurring a short circuit between turns, the pulse’s oscillating voltage frequency increases. The greater the number of turns in the short-circuit fault is, the more significant the effect of the test.

Quinoa is of great interest because it is cold- and drought-resistant; however, little research has been performed on quinoa under high relative humidity (RH) stress. In this study, quinoa seedlings of a highly HR-resistant variety (“Dianli-439”) and a sensitive variety (“Dianli-969”) were subjected to morphological and physiological measurements and metabolome and transcriptome analyses to investigate their response to high RH stress. In total, 1060 metabolites were detected, and lipids and flavonoids were the most abundant, with 173 and 167 metabolites, respectively. In total, 13,095 differentially expressed genes were identified, and the results showed that abscisic acid, auxin, and jasmonic-acid-related genes involved in plant hormone signaling may be involved in the response of quinoa seedlings to high RH stress. The analysis of the transcription factors revealed that the AP2/ERF family may also play an important role in the response to high RH stress. We identified the possible regulatory mechanisms of the hormone signaling pathways under high RH stress. Our findings can provide a basis for the selection and identification of highly resistant quinoa varieties and the screening of the metabolite-synthesis- and gene-regulation-related mechanisms in quinoa in response to RH stress.

Fault diagnosis and classification (FDC) is an important part of prognostics and health management for ensuring safety and performance in the flight. However, it is challenging to achieve accurate FDC only based on single senor readings. In this paper, a fused FDC model among multiple different sensors is stabled by a hybrid deep learning architecture combining a sparse autoencoder (SAE) and a convolutional neural network (CNN). The hybrid model uses the SAE to enhance the hidden fault signal features in the multiple sensor signals, and then classifies the obtained feature map using the CNN. This method, which combines the advantages of the SAE in feature extraction and of the CNN in local feature recognition, fully utilizes the spatiotemporal coupling characteristics of multi-sensor signals. The FDC accuracy obtained by the proposed method when applied to a flight test data set is 93.78%, compared with 66.67% obtained using the combined SAE and feedforward neural network method and 83.11% obtained using the CNN only.

Abstract Accumulating evidence indicates that circFOXM1 (Hsa_circ_0025033) is highly expressed in several cancers; however, the function of circFOXM1 in glioma and the molecular mechanism have not been well explored. In the present study, we found that expression of circFOXM1 was upregulated in both glioma tissues and cell lines. In addition, circFOXM1 knockdown suppressed glioma-cell proliferation, activated apoptosis in vitro, and repressed tumour growth in vivo. Moreover, we clarified that circFOXM1 binds with miR-432, which was downregulated in glioma cells. Furthermore, we indicated that Gα12, a direct target of miR-432, was highly expressed in glioma cells, and Gα12 silencing might limit the progression of glioma. Rescue assays indicated that Gα12 reversed the inhibitory effect of circFOXM1 silencing on glioma-cell tumorigenesis. In conclusion, circFOXM1 acts as a sponge of miR-432 to promote the proliferation and aggressiveness of glioma cells through the Gα12 signalling pathway.

Building an efficient and reliable small target motion detection visual system is challenging for artificial intelligence robotics because a small target only occupies few pixels and hardly displays visual features in images. Biological visual systems that have evolved over millions of years could be ideal templates for designing artificial visual systems. Insects benefit from a class of specialized neurons, called small target motion detectors (STMDs), which endow them with an excellent ability to detect small moving targets against a cluttered dynamic environment. Some bio-inspired models featured in feed-forward information processing architectures have been proposed to imitate the functions of the STMD neurons. However, feedback, a crucial mechanism for visual system regulation, has not been investigated deeply in the STMD-based neural circuits and its roles in small target motion detection remain unclear. In this paper, we propose a time-delay feedback STMD model for small target motion detection in complex backgrounds. The main contributions of this study are as follows. First, a feedback pathway is designed by transmitting information from output-layer neurons to lower-layer interneurons in the STMD pathway and the role of the feedback is analyzed from the view of mathematical analysis. Second, to estimate the feedback constant, the existence and uniqueness of solutions for nonlinear dynamical systems formed by feedback loop are analyzed via Schauder's fixed point theorem and contraction mapping theorem. Finally, an iterative algorithm is designed to solve the nonlinear problem and the performance of the proposed model is tested by experiments. Experimental results demonstrate that the feedback is able to weaken background false positives while maintaining a minor effect on small targets. It outperforms existing STMD-based models regarding the accuracy of fast-moving small target detection in visual clutter. The proposed feedback approach could inspire the relevant modeling of robust motion perception robotics visual systems.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a dicotyledonous annual amaranth herb that belongs to the family Chenopodiaceae. Quinoa can be cultivated across a wide range of climatic conditions. With regard to its cultivation, nitrogen-based fertilizers have a demonstrable effect on the growth and development of quinoa. How crops respond to the application of nitrogen affects grain quality and yield. Therefore, to explore the regulatory mechanisms that underlie the responses of quinoa seedlings to the application of nitrogen, we selected two varieties (i.e., Dianli-1299 and Dianli-71) of quinoa seedlings and analyzed them using metabolomic and transcriptomic techniques. Specifically, we studied the mechanisms underlying the responses of quinoa seedlings to varying concentrations of nitrogen by analyzing the dynamics of metabolites and genes involved in arginine biosynthesis; carbon fixation; and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate biosynthetic pathways. Overall, we found that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) of quinoa are affected by the concentration of nitrogen. We detected 1057 metabolites, and 29,012 genes were annotated for the KEGG. We also found that 15 DEMs and 8 DEGs were key determinants of the differences observed in quinoa seedlings under different nitrogen concentrations. These contribute toward a deeper understanding of the metabolic processes of plants under different nitrogen treatments and provide a theoretical basis for improving the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of quinoa.

In recent years, intense pulsed light (IPL) has been widely used in clinical practice and has made great progress in the treatment of melasma. Since multiple mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of melasma, at the present time, IPL is often used clinically as a comprehensive treatment according to different etiologies, with remarkable efficacy, high safety and good patient compliance. Therefore, here we review the research progress of IPL in the treatment of melasma.

Vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED) is linked with the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease. Astragaloside IV (As-IV) has exhibited significant improvement for endothelial dysfunction. Nonetheless, the protective mechanism is not clear. Therefore, the present study investigated the potential mechanism of As-IV on VED. Calpain-1 knockout and wild-type C57BL/6 mice exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) were established and treated with As-IV (40, 80 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) subjected to CIH exposure were pretreated with As-IV, MDL-28170 (calpain-1 inhibitor) and SRT1720 (SIRT1 activator) for 48 h in vitro. The endothelial function, inflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial function were measured to evaluate VED. Our data revealed that As-IV treatment ameliorated CIH-induced endothelial-dependent vasomotion and augmented nitric oxide (NO) production. As-IV administration suppressed the secretion of inflammation, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. As-IV treatment reduced the expression of calpain-1 and restored the downregulated expression of SIRT1 and Thr172 AMPK and Ser1177 eNOS phosphorylation. The effects of calpain-1 knockout and SRT1720 were similar to the effect of As-IV on VED. These findings demonstrated that As-IV ameliorated VED induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia via the calpain-1/SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway.

Abstract Background To investigate the relationship between an increase in the pre- and post-operative mean platelet volume (MPV) and superficial femoral artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) rate. Methods and results We recruited patients that underwent superficial femoral artery stenting for lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans at our hospital from March 2015 to March 2018. All patients gave venous blood three days before and following implantation. Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography angiography or digital subtraction angiography were used for regular follow-up examination. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of ISR after superficial femoral artery stenting. We enrolled 173 patients, of which 34 (19.6%) were determined as having ISR for a mean of 8.9 ± 2.7 months (3–12 months). Neutrophil count, neutrophil ratio, lymphocyte ratio and platelet count pre-implantation, and platelet count and MPV after stent implantation, and the pre- and post-operative mean platelet volume difference (MPVD) and mean platelet volume difference ratio (MPVDR) were all statistically different when comparing the ISR and non-restenosis groups (p

The transparent inhibition zone by p-coumaric acid (pCA) proving its inhibitory effect on quorum sensing. The treatment with a mixture of 0.1% Potassium Sorbate (PS)+0.01% pCA resulted in gradual inhibition of the viable counts of meat. In addition, the microbial counts of the samples treated with the mixture of pCA and PS were significantly lower than that treated with PS alone, which indicated that the effect of the mixture on bacteria and protein decomposition was stronger than that of PS alone, which can better delay the spoilage of meat. P-coumaric acid reduced the generation of biogenic amines, mitigating the spoilage of chilled pork meat. During sensory evaluation, pork meat treated with the mixture of pCA and PS scored higher than the control group. P-coumaric acid could be used to reduce the amount of PS, and the application of the mixture greatly enhanced the preservation efficiency and the quality of pork.

We conducted an in situ study on CFRP fracturing process using atomic-force-microscopy-based stress-sensitive indentation. Tensile stress distribution during fracture initiation and propagation was directly observed quantitatively. It led to a discovery that previously believed catastrophic fracture of individual carbon fiber develops in a controllable manner in the polymer matrix, exhibiting 10 times increase of fracture toughness. Plastic deformation in crack-bridging polymer matrix was accounted for the toughening mechanism. The model was applied to explain low temperature strength weakening of CFRP bulk material when matrix plasticity was intentionally ‘shut down’ by cryogenic cooling.

Long-term hypoxia can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons that can lead to brain injury diseases. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is widely used in the antiapoptotic therapy of brain injury diseases. However, its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of AS-IV on hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in hippocampal neurons and explored its possible mechanism. In vivo, mice were placed in a hypoxic circulatory device containing 10% O2 and gavaged with AS-IV (60 and 120 mg/kg/d) for 4 weeks. In vitro, mouse hippocampal neuronal cells (HT22) were treated with hypoxia (1% O2) for 24 hours in the presence or absence of AS-IV, MDL-28170 (calpain-1 inhibitor), or YC-1 (HIF-1α inhibitor). The protective effect of AS-IV on brain injury was further explored by examining calpain-1 knockout mice. The results showed that hypoxia induced damage to hippocampal neurons, impaired spatial learning and memory abilities, and increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. Treatment with AS-IV or calpain-1 knockout improved the damage to hippocampal neurons and spatial learning and memory, attenuated oxidative stress and inhibited cell apoptosis. These changes were verified in HT22 cells. Overexpression of calpain-1 abolished the improvement of AS-IV on apoptosis and oxidative stress. In addition, the effects of AS-IV were accompanied by decreased calpain-1 and HIF-1α expression, and YC-1 showed a similar effect as AS-IV on calpain-1 and caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that AS-IV can downregulate the calpain-1/HIF-1α/caspase-3 pathway and inhibit oxidative stress and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons induced by hypoxia, which provides new ideas for studying the antiapoptotic activity of AS-IV.

Traditional settlements are widely concerned by academic circles for their unique settlement patterns, exquisite residential buildings, and rich historical and cultural connotations, and their protection and development is an important proposition for rural revitalization. Therefore, from the perspective of big data mining (BDM), this paper explores its application in architectural space and settlement protection of traditional settlements in Hainan and provides new ideas for the protection and renewal of traditional settlements in Hainan. The attribute elements of spatial data of settlement groups are analyzed by the decision tree classification mining method. In order to avoid the multivalued tendency of ID3 algorithm and improve the efficiency of decision tree generation by ID3 algorithm, an improved ID3 algorithm is proposed by introducing user interest and simplifying the calculation process of the algorithm. At the same time, the graph theory recognition method of grid pattern is proposed. Aiming at the intersection graph and direction relation graph of straight line pattern, grid pattern recognition is realized by solving the connectivity, intersection, and subsequent construction of the maximum complete subgraph. Experiments show that the improved ID3 algorithm has better running efficiency than the parallel algorithm based on cooccurrence matrix. The analysis of the architectural space of traditional settlements in Hainan will help us better grasp social activities and provide direction for the protection and renewal of traditional settlements from the perspective of tourists and residents.

Driven by the ever-increasing demand for fingerprint-resistant techniques in modern society, numerous researches have proposed to develop innovative antifingerprint coatings based on superhydrophobic/superoleophobic surface design. However, whether superhydrophobic/superoleophobic surfaces have favorable repellency to the microscopic fingerprint is in fact an open question. Here, we establish a reliable method that enables evaluating the antifingerprint capability of various surfaces in a quantitative way. We show that superhydrophobicity is irrelevant with fingerprint repellency. Regarding superoleophobic surfaces, two distinct wetting states of microscopic fingerprint residues, i.e., the “repellent” and the “collapsed” states, are revealed. Only in the “repellent” state, in which the fingerprint residues remain atop surface textures upon being pressed, superoleophobic surfaces can bring about favorable antifingerprint repellency, which correlates positively with their receding contact angles. A finger-deformation-dependent intrusion mechanism is proposed to account for the formation of different fingerprint wetting states. Our findings offer important insights into the mechanism of fingerprint repellency and will help the design of high-performance antifingerprint surfaces for diverse applications.

First-principles density-functional theory was used to analyze the effects of Al on the mechanical properties, stability, elastic constant, and elastic anisotropy of AlxCrFeCoNiCu (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) HEAs. The calculations of volume modulus, shear modulus, and Young’s modulus show that the increase of Al content can improve the strength of HEAs, and the degree of influence of Al on Young’s modulus of the HEAs is higher than that of shear modulus and volume modulus. The calculations of Cauchy pressure, Paugh ratio, and Poisson’s ratio show that FeCoNiCrCu, Al0.5CrFeCoNiCu, and AlCrFeCoNiCu have good flexibility and plasticity. AlxCrFeCoNiCu HEAs with different Al contents all exhibit elastic anisotropy.

To improve the surface properties of 5083 aluminum, Al0.8FeCrCoNiCu0.5Yx (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2) high-entropy alloy coatings were prepared by laser cladding. The phase structure and microstructure of the Al0.8FeCrCoNiCu0.5Yx coatings were characterized by XRD and SEM. The tribological properties of the coating were tested by a friction and wear tester. An electrochemical workstation tested the corrosion resistance of the coating. The results show that when Y content is less than 0.2, the Al0.8FeCrCoNiCu0.5Yx coating is in the FCC1, BCC1, and BCC2 phases. When Y is added to 0.2, the coating appears rich in the Y phase. With the increased Y content, the hardness of the coating can increase. The average hardness of Y0, Y0.05, Y0.1, and Y0.2 are 479HV0.2, 517HV0.2, 532HV0.2, and 544HV0.2, respectively. Microstructure evolution leads to an increase in the hardness of the coating. The effect of Y on the wear resistance of the Al0.8FeCrCoNiCu0.5Yx coatings is consistent with the hardness. Al0.8FeCrCoNiCu0.5Y0.2 coating has the lowest wear rate, at is 8.65 × 10−6 mm3/Nm. The corrosion current density of Al0.8FeCrCoNiCu0.5Y0.05 and Al0.8FeCrCoNiCu0.5Y0.1 coatings is in the order of 10−8, which is less than Al0.8FeCrCoNiCu0.5Y0.2 and Al0.8FeCrCoNiCu0.5. The performance of each component coating is superior to that of the substrate.

Elastic modulus measured through atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based indentation on single carbon fiber (CF) is found with dependence on lateral applied stress. An in situ indentation experiment inside a high-resolution transmission electron microscope was performed to quantitatively understand this phenomenon by observing microstructure change in the indented area. Change of graphitic basal plane misalignment angle during indentation was linked to a continuous change of modulus with the help of finite element simulation. The established relationship between modulus and indentation force was further used to calculate residual stress distribution in CF imbedded in a CF reinforced polymer composite using the AFM indentation technique. The stress-induced formation of nanoscale defects in the CF and their transformation into fracture were directly characterized.

Detecting small defects against a complex surface is highly challenging but crucial to ensure product quality in industry sectors. However, in the detection performance of existing methods, there remains a huge gap in the localization and segmentation of small defects with limited sizes and extremely weak feature representation. To address the above issue, this paper presents a weighted matrix decomposition model (WMD) for small defect detection against a complex surface. Firstly, a weighted matrix is constructed based on texture characteristics of RGB channels in the defect image, which aims to improve contrast between defects and the background. Based on the sparse and low-rank characteristics of small defects, the weighted matrix is then decomposed into low-rank and sparse matrices corresponding to the redundant background and defect areas, respectively. Finally, an automatic threshold segmentation method is used to obtain the optimal threshold and accurately segment the defect areas and their edges in the sparse matrix. The experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms state-of-the-art methods under various quantitative evaluation metrics and has broad industrial application prospects.

Metal–organic frameworks have been a new type of adsorbent in environmental remediation due to their simple preparation processes and stable chemical properties in water. However, they are limited by their low adsorption capacities to some organic pollutants. Herein, ZIF-67 nanoparticles with a high Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) surface area were designed and successfully synthesized by a time-saving, low cost, and environment liquid phase synthesis method at room temperature. The physicochemical properties of ZIF-67 nanoparticles were well studied by various measurements, such as x-ray diffraction, BET analysis, and scanning transmission microscopy. Meanwhile, the ZIF-67 nanoparticles with the stable structure are introduced as the adsorbent for trapping brilliant green in pollutant water, exhibiting the ultra-high adsorption capacity of 1989 mg g−1 due to their high specific surface area (425 m2 g−1) and the interaction between π–π and the benzene ring. Moreover, the ZIF-67 showed acceptable reusability after regeneration with ethanol. Evidently, the ZIF-67 nanoparticles show excellent adsorption performances for organic dyes. This work can give a new application to zeolite imidazole framework materials in water treatment.