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Some biological materials have bimodulus properties. The elastic modulus in the tensile state is different from its value in the compressive state. The deformation energy decomposition method for bimodulus material can be obtained, and then the deformation energy decompositions of the isotropic and bimodulus frame structure are further realized. On the basis of the quantitative results of the basic deformation energy, the proportions of the areas dominated by shear deformation energy were proposed, which can characterize the ductility of the frame structures. The cases showed that the ratio of the elastic modulus in tensile state to the elastic modulus in compressive state is the important index of bimodulus material, which affects the deformation energy distribution of the bimodulus structure. When the ratio of bimodulus material for the deep beam was 0.2, the proportions of the regions dominated by shear deformation energy for the deep beams located on the 1st to 3rd floors were reduced by 10.00%, 7.77%, and 11.11%, respectively. The bimodulus material improved the ductility performance of the frame structure.

Abstract Depression, a pervasive global mental disorder, profoundly impacts daily lives. Despite numerous deep learning studies focused on depression detection through speech analysis, the shortage of annotated bulk samples hampers the development of effective models. In response to this challenge, our research introduces a transfer learning approach for detecting depression in speech, aiming to overcome constraints imposed by limited resources. In the context of feature representation, we obtain depression-related features by fine-tuning wav2vec 2.0. By integrating 1D-CNN and attention pooling structures, we generate advanced features at the segment level, thereby enhancing the model's capability to capture temporal relationships within audio frames. In the realm of prediction results, we integrate LSTM and self-attention mechanisms. This incorporation assigns greater weights to segments associated with depression, thereby augmenting the model's discernment of depression-related information. The experimental results indicate that our model has achieved impressive F1 scores, reaching 79% on the DAIC-WOZ dataset and 90.53% on the CMDC dataset. It outperforms recent baseline models in the field of speech-based depression detection. This provides a promising solution for effective depression detection in low-resource environments.

In order to give full play to the energy supply potential of distributed energy resources, this paper studies the scheduling optimization of CHP-VPP. First, the CHP unit and various distributed energy sources are aggregated into VPP. Carbon recycling and utilizing are realized through carbon capture and power-to-gas devices. At the same time, carbon storage and hydrogen storage devices are added to decouple carbon capture and P2G procedures. Then, the risk of VPP real-time scheduling is quantified through uncertainty scenario generation and CVaR. Finally, with the goals of operating cost, carbon emission, and operation risk, a multi-objective stochastic scheduling optimization model of VPP is constructed, and the subjective and objective ensemble weighting method is used to solve the problem. The example results show that the proposed method can boost the wastage of wind and photovoltaic power, and also lower the carbon emissions of VPPs.

Sepsis is a intricate pathological process characterized by life-threatening organ dysfunction resulting from a dysregulated host response to infection. It stands as a prominent cause of mortality among critically ill patients globally. The pivotal focus in sepsis management lies in the early identification and prompt administration of antimicrobial agents. Owing to the constraints of current diagnostic methodologies, marked by insufficient sensitivity and delayed outcomes, extensive research has been undertaken to ascertain novel biomarkers for sepsis. In this review, we provide an overview discussing the latest advancements in the study of PTX-3 as a biomarker for sepsis. We acknowledge pivotal discoveries from preceding research and engage in discourse regarding the challenges and limitations confronted by PTX-3 as a sepsis biomarker.

Abstract Hydrogen peroxide photosynthesis suffers from insufficient catalytic activity due to the high energy barrier of hydrogen extraction from H2O. Herein, we report that mechanochemically synthesized keto-form anthraquinone covalent organic framework which is able to directly synthesize H2O2 (4784 μmol h−1 g−1 at λ > 400 nm) from oxygen and alkaline water (pH = 13) in the absence of any sacrificial reagents. The strong alkalinity resulted in the formation of OH-(H2O)n clusters in water, which were adsorbed on keto moieties within the framework and then dissociated into O2 and active hydrogen, because the energy barrier of hydrogen extraction was largely lowered. The produced hydrogen reacted with anthraquinone to generate anthrahydroquinone, which was subsequently oxidized by O2 to produce H2O2. This study ultimately sheds light on the importance of hydrogen extraction from H2O for H2O2 photosynthesis and demonstrates that H2O2 synthesis is achievable under alkaline conditions.

As the proportion of new energy continues to increase, the safety and stability of the new power system are challenged, urgently requiring the allocation of new flexible resources. This paper proposes a two-stage robust capacity optimization model considering flexibility demand constraints. Firstly, the uncertain characteristics of new energy are described, and a model of flexible resource adjustment capacity is established. Then, uncertain parameters are introduced to construct a robust capacity optimization model considering supply-demand balance, solved by column constraint generation algorithm and KKT theorem. Finally, a power system in a certain region of China is selected as the simulation object for empirical analysis to verify the effectiveness of the constructed model. The results show that the two-stage robust configuration optimization model constructed in this paper can address the uncertainty of power system and the flexibility demand brought by new energy, and the planning results can achieve a balance between the safety and economy of the new power system.

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury presents as a critical condition characterized by prolonged hospital stays, elevated mortality rates, and an increased likelihood of transition to chronic kidney disease. Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury suppresses fatty acid oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria of renal tubular epithelial cells, thus favoring a metabolic shift towards glycolysis for energy production. This shift acts as a protective mechanism for the kidneys. However, an extended reliance on glycolysis may contribute to tubular atrophy, fibrosis, and subsequent chronic kidney disease progression. Metabolic reprogramming interventions have emerged as prospective strategies to counteract sepsis-associated acute kidney injury by restoring normal metabolic function, offering potential therapeutic and preventive modalities. This review delves into the metabolic alterations of tubular epithelial cells associated with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury, stressing the importance of metabolic reprogramming for the immune response and the urgency of metabolic normalization. We present various intervention targets that could facilitate the recovery of oxidative phosphorylation-centric metabolism. These novel insights and strategies aim to transform the clinical prevention and treatment landscape of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury, with a focus on metabolic mechanisms. This investigation could provide valuable insights for clinicians aiming to enhance patient outcomes in the context of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.

Taking a twelve-layer RCF-SW structure as an example, the three-dimensional calculation model program of uncontrolled and MRD controlled RCF-SW structure was developed by MATLAB software. The simulation results of the model program are compared with those of the finite element model established by ANSYS software. The results show that the three-dimensional calculation model program of uncontrolled and MRD controlled RCF-SW structure can simulate the dynamic response and damping effect of the structure well. The displacement response of the RCF-SW structure controlled by MRD is smaller than those of the uncontrolled structure at the corresponding time, except for individual time periods.

Abstract Background A variety of hematopoietic abnormalities are commonly seen in human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infected individuals despite antiviral therapy, but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Nef plays an important role in HIV-1 induced T cell loss and disease progression, but it is not known whether Nef participates in other hematopoietic abnormalities associated with infection. Results In the current study we investigated the influence of HIV-1LAI Nef (LAI Nef) on the development of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) into myeloid-erythroid lineage cells, and found that nef expression in HSPCs blocked their differentiation both in vitro and in humanized mice reconstituted with nef-expressing HSPCs. Conclusions Our novel findings demonstrate LAI Nef compromised the development of myeloid-erythroid lineage cells, and therapeutics targeting Nef would be promising in correcting HIV-1 associated hematopoietic abnormalities.

PEKK has good biocompatibility as an implantable material, but its mechanical properties and osseointegration are not satisfied enough. Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is highly wear-resistant, while hydroxyapatite (HA) is a biologically active. However all previous biocomposites made via mechanical mixing of these two bioceramic materials have not been able to meet clinical standards. The aim of this work is to resolve these problems by using newly synthesized bioceramic hybrids. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that these new biomaterials have significantly improved biocompatibility and biomechanical properties when compared to neat PEKK. Surface sulfonation of the hybrids also leads to further improvements of these two properties. S-PEKK/Al2O3 and S-PEKK/HA promote MC3T3-E1 adhesion. PEKK/HA and S-PEKK/HA significantly promote cell proliferation by upregulating both mRNA and protein levels of cell cycle genes to facilitate cells shift from G0/G1 phase to S phase. PEKK/HA hybrids and S-PEKK/Al2O3 promote cell differentiation by upregulating the expression of osteogenic differentiation genes and proteins. PEKK/HA, S-PEKK/Al2O3 and S-PEKK/HA are able to strongly bind to the new bone and exhibit good in vivo osseointegration properties. We conclude that PEKK/HA, S-PEKK/Al2O3 and S-PEKK/HA show good osteogenic ability, especially S-PEKK/HA, and could be promising materials for bone implants.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and chemokine production have been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Our initial bioinformatics analysis identified differentially expressed TLR2 in sepsis and the upstream regulatory microRNA-410-3p (miR-410-3p). Hence, the current study was performed to characterize the potential mechanism by which miR-410-3p modulates mitochondrial dysfunction and chemokine production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mice in vivo and cardiomyocytes in vitro. Next, we identified that miR-410-3p was downregulated, while TLR2 was upregulated in LPS-induced mice and cardiomyocytes. In addition, miR-410-3p was confirmed to target and inhibit the TLR2 expression. Thereafter, gain- or loss-of-function experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of miR-410-3p and TLR2 on mitochondrial function and chemokine production. TLR2 knockdown or miR-410-3p overexpression was found to alleviate mitochondrial membrane damage and mitochondrial swelling, in addition to augmenting the levels of adenosine triphosphate, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the expression levels of CCL7, CCL5, CXCL1, and CXCL9 in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, miR-410-3p-mediated TLR2 inhibition alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced chemokine production in LPS-induced experimental sepsis. Therefore, the overexpression of miR-410-3p may represent a potential strategy for the treatment of sepsis-induced myocardial injury.

To analyze the multidimensional elastic–plastic response of the frame structure with magnetorheological (MR) dampers under strong seismic excitations, the test of the MRD was performed, the location matrix of the MRD in the frame structure was derived, and the multidimensional elastic–plastic calculation models of the frame structure with and without an MRD were established based on the three-segment variable stiffness beam. Taking a five-story reinforced concrete (RC) frame structure as an example, the multidimensional elastic–plastic calculation models were developed by MATLAB software and the dynamic time history analyses were performed under strong seismic excitations. The results show that under the seismic wave, after the MRD is installed in the structure, the maximum horizontal displacements of the top-story node of the structure in X and Y directions is reduced by 51.87% and 39.59%, respectively, and the maximum horizontal accelerations are reduced by 36.67% and 47.86%. The maximum displacements and the story drift ratios of each story of the structure are significantly reduced, and the reduction in the maximum accelerations of each story is small relatively. In the frame structure without an MRD, plastic hinges appear at the ends of most columns, and the structure is characterized by a column hinge yield mechanism. The maximum residual displacement angles of the column end in X and Y directions which reach 1.628 × 10−3 rad and 2.101 × 10−3 rad, respectively. After setting the MRD, the number of plastic hinges in X and Y directions at the column end are both reduced by 37.5%, and the residual displacement angle at some column ends are reduced to 0. The results show that the complied calculation model programs of the frame structure can effectively simulate the multi-dimensional seismic response of the structure with and without MRD.

Summary: Diet and bile play critical roles in shaping gut microbiota, but the molecular mechanism underlying interplay with intestinal microbiota is unclear. Here, we showed that lemon-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (LELNs) enhance lactobacilli toleration to bile. To decipher the mechanism, we used Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) as proof of concept to show that LELNs enhance LGG bile resistance via limiting production of Msp1 and Msp3, resulting in decrease of bile accessibility to cell membrane. Furthermore, we found that decline of Msps protein levels was regulated through specific tRNAserUCC and tRNAserUCG decay. We identified RNase P, an essential housekeeping endonuclease, being responsible for LELNs-induced tRNAserUCC and tRNAserUCG decay. We further identified galacturonic acid-enriched pectin-type polysaccharide as the active factor in LELNs to increase bile resistance and downregulate tRNAserUCC and tRNAserUCG level in the LGG. Our study demonstrates a tRNA-based gene expression regulation mechanism among lactobacilli to increase bile resistance.

To analyze the multi-dimensional seismic mitigation performance and the torsional vibration characteristic of an L-shaped frame structure with a magnetorheological damper (MRD). Firstly, the mechanical property of the MRD is experimentally studied. Then, the calculation models of the L-shaped frame structure without and with MRDs are found through theoretical analysis, and the programs of the calculation models are compiled. Finally, the time history responses of the calculation models are calculated during the excitation of bi-directional seismic wave; the responses of displacement, acceleration, story drift ratio, shear force and bending moment and torsional vibration are then compared and analyzed. The results show that by adjusting the current, the damping force provided by the MRD can be adjusted continuously in the range of 3.1 to 120 kN. The compiled calculation model programs of the L-shaped frame structure without and with MRDs can effectively simulate the multi-dimensional seismic response of the structure. Reasonable arrangement of MR dampers can effectively reduce the displacement, acceleration, shear force, bending moment, multi-dimensional vibration, and torsional vibration response of L-shaped frame structures.

In this research, the influence of additives on the rheological and sedimentary properties of the magnetorheological fluid (MRF) was tested and analyzed. The additives were stearic acid, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and their mixture, respectively. The MRF was composed of carbonyl iron particle, silicone oil, liquid paraffin, graphite particle, bentonite, stearic acid, and SDS. The results indicated that the rheological properties of the MRF were mainly influenced by the mass fraction of carbonyl iron particle. When the mass fractions of carbonyl iron particle and additive were the same, the shear stress of MRF with stearic acid was larger than that of MRF with SDS, and the maximum increment was 73.81%. When the mass fraction of carbonyl iron particle was 40–50%, the shear stress of MRF increased firstly and then decreased with the increase of the external magnetic flux density. When the mass fraction of carbonyl iron particle was 60–70%, the shear stress of MRF increased firstly and then was stable with the increase of the external magnetic flux density. The results indicated that the sedimentary property of MRF with the mixture was better than that of MRF with the stearic acid and SDS. The settling rate of MRF with the mixture increased 91.53% compared to other additives.

Summary: Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) is the leading cause of antibiotic-associated colitis. Here, we report that lemon exosome-like nanoparticles (LELNs) manipulated probiotics to inhibit C. diff infection (CDI). LELN-manipulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Streptococcus thermophilus ST-21 (STH) (LELN-LS) decrease CDI mortality via an LELN-mediated increase in bile resistance and gut survivability. LELN-LS treatment increases the AhR ligands indole-3-lactic acid (I3LA) and indole-3-carboxaldehyde (I3Ald), leading to induction of IL-22, and increases lactic acid leading to a decrease of C. diff fecal shedding by inhibiting C. diff growth and indole biosynthesis. A synergistic effect between STH and LGG was identified. The STH metabolites inhibit gluconeogenesis of LGG and allow fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) to accumulate in LGG; accumulated FBP then activates lactate dehydrogenase of LGG (LGG-LDH) and enhances production of lactic acid and the AhR ligand. Our findings provide a new strategy for CDI prevention and treatment with a new type of prebiotics.

Background/Aims: Elabela (ELA) or Toddler is a recently identified hormone that plays a crucial role in embryonic development through the activation of the apelin receptor (APJ). Our previous study indicated that ELA is highly expressed in adult kidney and the ELA receptor signaling pathway is functional in mammalian systems. Whereas nothing is yet known regarding ELA and diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Here, we evaluated the relationship between serum ELA levels and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: An observational study involving 80 patients divided into groups according to their baseline urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR): Group 1 (ACR ≤ 29 mg/g), Group 2 (ACR = 30–299 mg/g), Group 3 (ACR ≥ 300 mg/g with normal serum creatinine), and Group 4 (ACR ≥ 300 mg/g with increased serum creatinine). The demographic, clinical, and biochemical variables including serum ELA were obtained or measured through disease history, physical examination, or laboratory evidence. Results: The results showed that the serum ELA levels decreased gradually with the deterioration of DKD from the stages of normal albuminuria, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria, to macroalbuminuria and elevated serum creatinine. In addition, ELA had a significantly negative correlation with ACR (r = -0.561, P < 0.001), retinopathy (r = -0.424, P < 0.001), serum creatinine (r = -0.269, P = 0.016), SBP (r = -0.249, P = 0.026), DBP (r = -0.261, P = 0.020) and a positive correlation with eGFR (r = 0.318, P = 0.004). Furthermore, stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that ACR, retinopathy, and LDL-C were considered the most relevant variables to ELA, and ELA, retinopathy, eGFR, and age were important predictors for ACR (t = -4.546, P = 0.000). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the clinical relationship between ELA levels and CKD. Decreased serum ELA levels might be a significant clinical predictor in patients with DKD or even as a promising agent for treating CKD patients.

Background/Aims: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an important mediator of the inflammatory response. It has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, atherosclerosis, and obesity. However, the effects of HMGB1 on diabetic nephropathy remain unclear. Here, we investigated the potential roles and mechanisms of an HMGB1 inhibitor, glycyrrhizic acid (GA), in renal injury with the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rat model. Methods: The diabetic rat was generated by intraperitoneal injection of STZ and then treated with the HMGB1 inhibitor GA or saline for 8 weeks. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: the normal control and saline group (Control), the diabetic rats with saline group (Diabetic) and the diabetic rats plus GA group (Diabetic+GA). Peripheral blood was obtained for measurements of blood glucose, TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-1β. The mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-1β), chemokines (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) and TGF-β1 in the kidneys were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. The protein levels of phosphorylated(p) and total(t) p38 MAPK, JNK, ERK, and NF-κB were measured by western blot. Results: We found that diabetic rats showed obvious renal lesions, an elevated urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) and increased expression levels of TGF-β1 and Col-IV in the kidneys, accompanied by significantly enhanced expression levels of HMGB1, receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) in the kidney tissue. Furthermore, the GA treatment significantly reduced the UAC levels, ameliorated renal injury, and decreased the TNF-α, 1L-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, ICAM-1, TGF-β1 and Col-IV levels. Importantly, the expression levels of HMGBI, RAGE and TLR4 in the kidney tissues of the diabetic rats were also inhibited by the GA treatment. Furthermore, the GA treatment significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of ERK and p38 MAPK and suppressed NF-κB translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the HMGB1 inhibitor GA may improve renal injury and inflammatory responses in diabetic rats by regulating RAGE/TLR4-related ERK and p38 MAPK/NF-κB activation.

The DV-Hop algorithm is widely used because of its simplicity and low cost, but it has the disadvantage of a large positioning error. In recent years, although some improvement measures have been proposed, such as hop correction, distance-weighted correction, and improved coordinate solution, there is room for improvement in location accuracy, and the accuracy is affected in anisotropic networks. A location algorithm based on beacon filtering combining DV-Hop and multidimensional support vector regression (MSVR) is proposed in this paper. In the process of estimating the coordinates of unknown nodes, received signal strength indication (RSSI), MSVR, and weighted least squares method are combined. In addition, the verification error of beacon nodes is proposed, which can select the beacon nodes with smaller errors to reduce the location error. Simulation results show that in different distributions, the location accuracy of the proposed algorithm is at least 34% higher than that of the classical DV-Hop algorithm and at least 28% higher than that of the localization based on multidimensional support vector regression (LMSVR) algorithm. The proposed algorithm has the potential of application in small-scale anisotropic networks.

For patients who have sepsis, acute lung injury (ALI) causes most of death. Metformin (Met) is an anti-hyperglycemic agent and it has extensive pharmacological properties. This study aimed to analyze the influence of Met on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced ALI. Met (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg) were injected and LPS was injected 30 min later. The data suggested Met can reduce release of inflammatory cytokines and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein expression, reduce lung wet/dry ratio, and significantly improve LPS-induced lung destruction during ALI. In addition, Met inhibits LPS-induced neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, reduces MPO activity, and promotes AMPK-α1 expression in lung tissues. Our data suggested that metformin alleviates capillary injury during ALI via AMPK-α1. Keywords: Metformin, Sepsis, Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Electrochemical energy storage (EES) is a promising kind of energy storage and has developed rapidly in recent years in many countries. EES planning is an important topic that can impact the earnings of EES investors and sustainable industrial development. Current studies only consider the profit or cost of the EES planning program, without considering other economic criteria such as payback period and return on investment (ROI), which are also important for determining an optimal EES planning program. In this paper, a new hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method integrating the Bayesian best-worst method (BBWM), the entropy weighting approach, and grey cumulative prospect theory is proposed for the optimal EES planning program selection with the consideration of multiple economic criteria. The BBWM and entropy weighting approach are jointly employed for determining the weightings of criteria, and the grey cumulative prospect theory was utilized for the performance rankings of different EES planning programs. Five EES planning programs were selected for empirical analysis, including 9MW PbC battery EES, 2MW LiFePO lithium ion battery EES, 3MW LiFePO lithium ion battery EES, 2MW vanadium redox flow battery EES, and 3MW vanadium redox flow battery EES. The empirical results indicate the 2MW LiFePO lithium ion battery EES is the optimal one. The sensitivity analysis related to different risk preferences of decision-makers also shows the 2MW LiFePO lithium ion battery EES is always the optimal EES planning program. The proposed MCDM method for the optimal EES planning program selection in this paper is effective and robust, and can provide certain references for EES investors and decision-makers.

With the grid-connected operation of large-scale wind farms, the contradiction between supply and demand of power systems is becoming more and more prominent. The introduction of multiple types of flexible resources provides a new technical means for improving the supply−demand matching relationship of system flexibility and promoting wind power consumption. In this paper, multi-type flexible resources made up of deep peak regulation of thermal units, demand response, and energy storage were utilized to alleviate the peak regulation pressure caused by large-scale wind power integration. Based on current thermal plant deep peak regulation technology, a three-phase peak regulation cost model of thermal power generation considering the low load fatigue life loss and oil injection cost of the unit was proposed. Additionally, from the perspective of supply−demand balance of power system flexibility, the flexibility margin index of a power system containing source-load-storage flexible resources was put forward to assess the contribution from each flexibility provider to system flexibility. Moreover, an optimal dispatching model of a multi-energy power system with large-scale wind power and multi-flexible resources was constructed, aimed at the lowest total dispatching cost of the whole scheduling period. Finally, the model proposed in this paper was validated by a modified RTS96 system, and the effects of different flexibility resources and wind power capacity on the optimal scheduling results were discussed.