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To address the problems of the traditional international standard methods for milk powder quality detection such as subjectivity and lag, this study proposed a rapid method for the detection of the dispersibility and bulk density of milk powder based on residual network (ResNet). The dataset used in this study included 499 particle distribution images taken for 10 groups of instant whole milk powder samples under a 10 × optical microscope. Initially, these sample groups were tested for dispersibility and bulk density using the international standard methods, and classified into different levels of dispersibility and bulk density based on the test results. Subsequently, these microscopic images were used to train the ResNet to facilitate effective classification of different samples. Ultimately, the classification results were used to predict the dispersibility, loose density, and tapped density of instant whole milk powder. Additionally, this study compared the predictive performance of different deep learning models, including ResNet, EfficientNetV2, and Swin Transformer. The results indicated that the deep learning model based on ResNet 152 exhibited the best performance in predicting the dispersibility, loose density, and tapped density of instant whole milk powder, with accuracy rates of 97.50%, 98.75%, and 95.00%, respectively for the test set. The exceptional performance of these deep learning models in milk powder quality detection not only proves that this method can predict the dispersibility and bulk density of milk powder in real time and accurately, but also provides a new technological approach for online quality detection of milk powder.

Disc cutter has a better hard rock breaking performance due to its undercutting mode. To further improve the mechanized excavation efficiency of hard rock roadway in underground coal mine, the rock wedged performance of disc cutter assisted by circumferential pre-slotting was investigated. Based on the rock wedged tests by disc cutter, the mechanism of rock wedged by disc cutter has been understood, and the influencing mechanism of the circumferential pre-slotting on rock fracturing has been revealed. The effects of cutting parameters and slotting parameters on the rock breaking performance of disc cutters were comprehensively evaluated by taking the cutter load, rock fragments volume and specific energy of rock-breaking as indicators, and the significance of the effects of various factors on the rock breaking performance and the corresponding parameter matching relationship of the optimal rock breaking performance of disc cutter were obtained by orthogonal test. The results show that the rock wedged process by disc cutter can be divided into three stages based on the characteristics of cutter load fluctuation and acoustic emission ringing caused by rock fracturing, namely, compressive stage, stress accumulation stage and fragmentation stage. At the condition of same cutting depth, the cutter load and stress with a slotting depth and width is 16 mm and 3 mm decreases more than 40% and 20% respectively compared to that without pre-slotting condition. Based on the orthogonal test with three-factor and four-level, the matching relationship between cutting depth, slotting depth and slotting width under the optimal rock breaking performance is 30, 16 and 3 mm. The cutting depth has the most significant effect on the rock breaking performance of disc cutter, followed by slotting depth and slotting width. The cutter load and rock fragments volume are positively correlated with cutting depth. The specific energy of rock breaking decreases first and then increases with the increase of cutting depth, and the minimum value is at 30 mm. Each index decreases first and then increases with the increase of slotting depth, and the optimal value is 16 mm. When the slotting width exceeds 3 mm, the influence of slotting width on each index is not significant. Circumferential pre-slotting has a good effect on improving the rock wedged performance of disc cutter. At the same time, it is beneficial to improve the loading conditions of disc cutters and prolong the service life of cutters, so as to provide some guidance and reference for the design of disc cutter.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) can lead to sudden cardiac death and life-threatening heart failure. Due to its high fatality rate and limited therapies, the pathogenesis and diagnosis biomarker of ARVC needs to be explored urgently. This study aimed to explore the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in ARVC. The mRNA and lncRNA expression datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to analyze differentially expressed mRNA (DEM) and lncRNA (DElnc) between ARVC and non-failing controls. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) were obtained from the previous profiling work. Using starBase to predict targets of DEmiRs and intersecting with DEM and DElnc, a ceRNA network of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA was constructed. The DEM and DElnc were validated by real-time quantitative PCR in human heart tissue. Protein–protein interaction network and weighted gene co-expression network analyses were used to identify hub genes. A logistic regression model for ARVC diagnostic prediction was established with the hub genes and their ceRNA pairs in the network. A total of 448 DEMs (282 upregulated and 166 downregulated) were identified, mainly enriched in extracellular matrix and fibrosis-related GO terms and KEGG pathways, such as extracellular matrix organization and collagen fibril organization. Four mRNAs and two lncRNAs, including COL1A1, COL5A1, FBN1, BGN, XIST, and LINC00173 identified through the ceRNA network, were validated by real-time quantitative PCR in human heart tissue and used to construct a logistic regression model. Good ARVC diagnostic prediction performance for the model was shown in both the training set and the validation set. The potential lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network and logistic regression model established in our study may provide promising diagnostic methods for ARVC.

Investigations have shown that storage bugs seriously harm grains during storage. In the interim, essential oils (EOs) have been proven to be a good botanical pesticide. The anti-Lasioderma serricorne properties of Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil, which was obtained by steam distillation, were evaluated using DL-limonene, carvone, and their two optical isomer components using contact, repelling, and fumigation techniques. Simultaneously, the fumigation, contact, and repellent activities of carvone and its two optical isomers mixed with DL-limonene against L. serruricorne were evaluated. The results showed that E. ciliata, its main components (R-carvone, DL-limonene), and S-carvone exhibited both fumigations (LC50 = 14.47, 4.42, 20.9 and 3.78 mg/L) and contact (LD50 = 7.31, 4.03, 28.62 and 5.63 µg/adult) activity against L.serricorne. A binary mixture (1:1) of R-carvone and DL-limonene displayed an obvious synergistic effect. A binary mixture (1:1) of carvone and its two optical isomers exhibited an obvious synergistic effect, too. Furthermore, the repellent activity of the EO, carvone, and its two optical isomers, DL-limonene, and a combination of them varied. To stop insect damage during storage, E. ciliata and its components can be utilized as bio-insecticides.

This study explores the isolation and characterization of two acidic polysaccharides from baobab (Adansonia digitata) fruits, named ADPs40-F3 and ADPs60-F3; the two types of acidic polysaccharides exhibited high sugar content and chemical structural features characterized by O–H, C–H, carbonyl C=O, and COOH carboxyl functional groups. The two fractions showed molecular weights of 1.66 × 105 and 9.59 × 104 Da. ADPs40-F3 residues consist of arabinose (2.80%), galactose (0.91%), glucose (3.60%), xylose (34.70%), and galacturonic acid (58.10%). On the other hand, ADPs60-F3 is composed of rhamnose (1.50%), arabinose (5.50%), galactose (2.50%), glucose (3.10%), xylose (26.00%), and galacturonic acid (61.40%). Furthermore, NMR analysis showed that the main acidic structures of ADPs40-F3 and ADPs60-F3 are formed by 4,6)-α-d-GalpA-(1→, →4)-β-d-Xylf-(1→, →4,6)-β-d-Glcp-(1→, →5)-α-L-Araf-(1→, →4,6)-α-d-Galp-(1→ residues and 4)-α-d-GalpA-(1→, →4)-β-d-Xylf-(1→, →6)-β-d-Glcp-(1→, →5)-α-l-Araf-(1→ 4,6)-α-d-Galp-(4,6→, →2)-α-Rhap- residues, respectively, based on the observed signals. Antioxidant assays against DPPH, ABTS+, and FRAP revealed significant antioxidant activities for ADPs40-F3 and ADPs60-F3, comparable to ascorbic acid (VC). Additionally, both polysaccharides exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities, suggesting potential anti-diabetic properties. In vivo evaluation demonstrated that ADPs60-F3 significantly reduced blood glucose levels, indicating promising therapeutic effects. These findings underscore the potential utility of baobab fruit polysaccharides as natural antioxidants and anti-diabetic agents.

Objective To investigate the impact of trainer experience and the types of trainees on quantitative teaching score for surgical education. Methods The present study adopted two-way repeated measures design. The quantitative teaching scores were collected between September 2018 and January 2020. The impact factors were trainer experience and student category. Repeated measure was performed by recording teaching score each month. Results The average of overall teaching score was 0.98±1.58/Teacher/Month. Both teacher experience(P＜0.001) and student category (P＜0.001) had significant impact on teaching score, and these two factors had interaction effect. Teacher experience had remarkable influence on resident and graduate subgroup compared to the other student category. In resident and graduate subgroup, trainer experience had a positive correlation with teaching score (All the between-subgroup comparisons had P＜0.001). However, this effect diminished in the other student category. Conclusions The present teaching system puts in great effort to surgical education for resident and graduate students. And trainer experience is positively correlated with quantitative teaching score.

Oral delivery of insulin exhibits low bioavailability due to the hydrolysis in acidic gastric juice, biodegradation of enzymes, and inefficient penetration through the intestinal mucus and epithelial cell layer. Here, we report a micelle platform to enhance the oral delivery of insulin. Insulin was precipitated by zinc ions to form hydrophobic nanoparticles and subsequently coated with a surfactant polysorbate-80 (Tween-80) to form nanosized micelles (TW-Zn-rhINS). Tween-80 protects the insulin from the degradation of enzymes, meanwhile facilitating the diffusion within mucus and the epithelial cell layer by opening the tight junctions. The micelles were then lyophilized and encapsulated in enteric capsules to overcome acidic hydrolysis in gastric juice. The micelles significantly increased transcellular insulin transport and uptake. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that oral TW-Zn-rhINS micelle capsules (30 IU/kg) decreased the blood glucose of diabetic mice by 58.74% after administration for 6 h, while the postprandial blood glucose dropped by 51.1%. Pharmacokinetics data indicated that the relative oral bioavailability of TW-Zn-rhINS was 7.88%, which was 7.73 times higher than that of insulin. The micelles present a promising platform to enhance the oral bioavailability of insulin, also indicating a potential for oral delivery of protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immune response gene 1 (IRG1) and its metabolite itaconate are implicated in modulating inflammation and oxidative stress, with potential relevance to sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD). This study investigates their roles in SIMD using both in vivo and in vitro models. Mice were subjected to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis, and cardiac function was assessed in IRG1 knockout (IRG1-/-) and wild-type mice. Exogenous 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) supplementation was also examined for its protective effects. In vitro, bone marrow-derived macrophages and RAW264.7 cells were treated with 4-OI following Nuclear factor, erythroid 2 like 2 (NRF2)–small interfering RNA administration to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Our results indicate that IRG1 deficiency exacerbates myocardial injury during sepsis, while 4-OI administration preserves cardiac function and reduces inflammation. Mechanistic insights reveal that 4-OI activates the NRF2/HO-1 pathway, promoting macrophage polarization and attenuating inflammation. These findings underscore the protective role of the IRG1/itaconate axis in SIMD and suggest a therapeutic potential for 4-OI in modulating macrophage responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia who relapse following therapy have few treatment options and face poor outcomes. Immune checkpoint inhibition, for example, by antibody-mediated programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade, is a potent therapeutic modality that improves treatment outcomes in acute myeloid leukaemia. Here, we show that systemically delivered blood platelets decorated with anti-PD-1 antibodies (aPD-1) and conjugated to haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) suppress the growth and recurrence of leukaemia in mice. Following intravenous injection into mice bearing leukaemia cells, the HSC-platelet-aPD-1 conjugate migrated to the bone marrow and locally released aPD-1, significantly enhancing anti-leukaemia immune responses, and increasing the number of active T cells, production of cytokines and chemokines, and survival time of the mice. This cellular conjugate also promoted resistance to re-challenge with leukaemia cells. Taking advantage of the homing capability of HSCs and in situ activation of platelets for the enhanced delivery of a checkpoint inhibitor, this cellular combination-mediated drug delivery strategy can significantly augment the therapeutic efficacy of checkpoint blockade.