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Abstract In this study, we dynamically monitored the glomerular filtration rate and other assessment of renal function and markers of injury in various mice models of acute kidney injury. Male C57BL/6 mice were utilized to establish acute kidney injury models of sepsis, ischemia reperfusion, cisplatin, folic acid, aristolochic acid and antibiotic. In addition to the real time glomerular filtration rate, renal LCN-2 and HAVCR-1 mRNA expression levels, and serum creatinine, urea nitrogen and cystatin c levels were also used to evaluate renal function. In addition, the protein levels of LCN-2 and HAVCR-1 in renal, serum and urine were measured. Our results demonstrated that the changes in biomarkers always lagged the real time glomerular filtration rate during the progression and recovery of renal injury. Cystatin-c can reflect renal injury earlier than other markers, but it remains higher in the recovery stage. Perhaps the glomerular filtration rate does not reflect the greater injury caused by vancomycin plus piperacillin.

Abstract Hypoxic preconditioning (HPC) has been shown to improve organ tolerance to subsequent severe hypoxia or ischemia. However, its impact on intestinal ischemic injury has not been well studied. In this study, we evaluated the effects of HPC on intestinal ischemia in rats. Intestinal rehabilitation, levels of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) by-products, intestinal stem cells (ISCs), levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit α (HIF-1α) and its downstream genes such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1A) were assessed at distinct time intervals following intestinal ischemia with or without the interference of HIF-1α. Our data showed that HPC facilitates the restoration of the intestinal structure and enhances the FAO, by boosting intestinal stem cells. Additionally, HIF-1α, PPARα, and CPT1A mRNA and their protein levels were generally up-regulated in the small intestine of HPC rats as compared to the control group. Our vitro experiment also shows low-oxygen induces highly levels of HIF-1α and its downstream genes, with a concurrent increase in FAO products in IEC-6 cells. Furthermore, the above phenomenon could be reversed by silencing HIF-1α. In conclusion, we hypothesize that HPC can stimulate the activation of intestinal stem cells via HIF-1α/PPARα pathway-mediated FAO, thereby accelerating the healing process post ischemic intestinal injury.

The purpose of this study is to explore the design strategy of public space service of commercial complex based on the Internet of Things. By constructing a three-tier model of environmental energy consumption monitoring and management system for commercial complex, the application of network sensor technology is analyzed, and a data access interface based on Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) service is designed to realize batch hosting of WCF services and reduce the complexity of large-scale publishing services. In addition, this paper proposes a clustering method based on probabilistic topics (PTCM), which divides the service search space into probabilistic topics and effectively narrows the service search scope. The simulation results show that the algorithm shortens the shortest distance between mobile nodes and the average network distance, and improves the perceived service quality of the Internet of Things. This study not only provides new ideas and methods for the design of public space services in commercial complexes, but also provides useful reference for the application and promotion of Internet of Things technology in the field of public services.

To tackle the energy crisis and climate change, wind farms are being heavily invested in across the world. In China's coastal areas, there are abundant wind resources and numerous offshore wind farms are being constructed. The secure operation of these wind farms may suffer from typhoons, and researchers have studied power system operation and resilience enhancement in typhoon scenarios. However, the intricate movement of a typhoon makes it challenging to evaluate its spatial-temporal impacts. Most published papers only consider predefined typhoon trajectories neglecting uncertainties. To address this challenge, this study proposes a stochastic unit commitment model that incorporates high-penetration offshore wind power generation in typhoon scenarios. It adopts a data-driven method to describe the uncertainties of typhoon trajectories and considers the realistic anti-typhoon mode in offshore wind farms. A two-stage stochastic unit commitment model is designed to enhance power system resilience in typhoon scenarios. We formulate the model into a mixed-integer linear programming problem and then solve it based on the computationally-efficient progressive hedging algorithm (PHA). Finally, numerical experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Thermosetting resins have advantages such as high strength, corrosion resistance, and aging resistance, and have excellent prospects for practical application as asphalt modifiers. In order to promote the research of thermosetting resin modified asphalt, to provide direction for its further research, this paper reviews the research progress of thermosetting resin modified asphalt in recent years. The material composition, modification mechanism, and curing behavior of epoxy asphalt, thermosetting polyurethane modified asphalt, unsaturated polyester modified asphalt, and other thermosetting resin modified asphalts are overviewed. Different types of thermosetting resin modified asphalt have different performances, the performance advantages of different thermosetting resin modified asphalts are summarized. At the same time, the existing problems in thermosetting resin modified asphalt and further research directions are provided. Encouraging researchers to produce thermosetting resin modified asphalts using waste or bio-based materials, and to study the recycling technologies and life cycle assessment of thermosetting resin modified asphalt. This paper provides a reference for the study of thermosetting resin modified asphalt.

Abstract The intestinal microbiota is considered to be a forgotten organ in human health and disease. It maintains intestinal homeostasis through various complex mechanisms. A significant body of research has demonstrated notable differences in the gut microbiota of patients with gastrointestinal tumours compared to healthy individuals. Furthermore, the dysregulation of gut microbiota, metabolites produced by gut bacteria, and related signal pathways can partially explain the mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of gastrointestinal tumours. Therefore, this article summarizes the latest research progress on the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal tumours. Firstly, we provide an overview of the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota and discuss the mechanisms by which the intestinal flora directly or indirectly affects the occurrence and development of gastrointestinal tumours by regulating the immune system, producing bacterial toxins, secreting metabolites. Secondly, we present a detailed analysis of the differences of intestinal microbiota and its pathogenic mechanisms in colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. Lastly, in terms of treatment strategies, we discuss the effects of the intestinal microbiota on the efficacy and toxic side effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy and address the role of probiotics, prebiotics, FMT and antibiotic in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumours. In summary, this article provides a comprehensive review of the pathogenic mechanisms of and treatment strategies pertaining to the intestinal microbiota in patients with gastrointestinal tumours. And provide a more comprehensive and precise scientific basis for the development of microbiota-based treatments for gastrointestinal tumours and the prevention of such tumours.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common multifactorial disease, causing various complications, such as chronic metabolism. The current therapies for diabetes mellitus are commercial diabetic drugs that have different definite side effect. However, polysaccharides mainly extracted from natural resources, have advantages of safety, accessibility, and anti-diabetic potential. We have summarized recent research of natural polysaccharides with hypoglycemic activities, focusing on different pharmacological mechanisms in various cell and animal models. The relationships of structure-hypoglycemic effect are also discussed in detail. This review could provide a comprehensive perspective for better understanding on development and mechanism of natural polysaccharides against diabetes mellitus, which have been required by clinical studies yet.

In arid and semiarid regions, vegetation provides essential ecosystem services, especially retarding the desertification process. Vegetation assessment through remote sensing data is crucial in understanding ecosystem responses to climatic factors and large-scale human activities. This study analyzed vegetation cover changes in the Ulan Buh Desert from 1989 to 2019, focusing on the impacts of human activities and key meteorological factors. The results showed that both climatic and human activities contributed to an increasing trend in vegetation cover (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)) over the 30-year period. Temperature and precipitation significantly affected the NDVI in the desert, with temperature having a more substantial influence. The combined impact of average temperature and precipitation on the NDVI was notable. Human activities and meteorological factors caused the vegetation restoration area in the desert to be approximately 35% from 1989 to 2019. Human activities were the primary influencers, responsible for about 60% of vegetation restoration across the study area. Especially from 2004 to 2019, the conversion to farmland driven by human activities dominated the region’s NDVI increase. The research underscores the importance of considering both climatic and human factors in understanding and managing ecosystem dynamics in arid areas like the Ulan Buh Desert. By integrating these factors, policymakers and land managers can develop more effective strategies for sustainable ecosystem management and combating desertification.

Thermal comfort is a key determinant ruling the quality of urban park visits that is mainly evaluated by equivalent meteorological factors and lacks evidence about its relationship with emotional perception. Exposure to green space was believed to be an available approach to increase thermal comfort, but this argument still needs verification to confirm its reliability. In this study, about ~15,000 streetscapes were photographed at stops along sidewalks and evaluated for green view index (GVI) and plant diversity index in five urban parks of Changchun, Northeast China. The faces of visitors were captured to analyze happy, sad, and neutral scores as well as two net positive emotion estimates. Meteorological factors of temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity were measured at the same time for evaluating thermal comfort using equivalent variables of discomfort index (DI), temperature and humidity index (THI), and cooling power index (CP). At stops with higher GVI, lower temperature (slope: from −0.1058 to −0.0871) and wind velocity (slope: from −0.1273 to −0.0524) were found, as well as higher relative humidity (slope: from 0.0871 to 0.8812), which resulted in positive relationships between GVI and thermal comfort evaluated as DI (R2 = 0.3598, p < 0.0001) or CP (R2 = 0.3179, p < 0.0001). Sad score was positively correlated with THI (R2 = 0.0908, p = 0.0332) and negatively correlated with CP (R2 = 0.0929, p = 0.0294). At stops with high GVI, more positive emotions were shown on visitors’ faces (happy minus sad scores, 0.31 ± 0.10). Plant diversity had varied relationships with GVI in parks depending on age. Overall, our study demonstrated that using imagery data extracted from streetscapes can be useful for evaluating thermal comfort. It is recommended to plan a large amount of touchable nature provided by vegetation in urban parks so as to mitigate micro-climates towards a trend with more thermal comfort that evokes more positive emotions.

As global ecological degradation intensifies, the long-term impacts of afforestation on productivity and soil fertility in barren lands have become critical in improving global ecological security and productivity. Through meta-analysis, this study integrates data from 109 barren land afforestation sites across China, aiming to comprehensively analyze the effects on plant productivity and soil fertility while identifying the key environmental drivers of these changes. We found that afforestation consistently enhances plant productivity across 60 years. However, soil fertility and moisture initially surged significantly after afforestation but gradually declined after the first decade, indicating the limited long-term benefits. Climatic factors, namely precipitation and humidity index, are crucial in enhancing plant productivity, while geographic factors, specifically lower elevations and gentler slopes, are associated with greater increases in soil fertility. Elevation and slope are two key factors that influence soil moisture after afforestation. These findings highlight the need for ongoing soil management and ecological maintenance in afforestation projects to sustain the soil fertility benefits. Our study provides a robust scientific foundation for afforestation strategies aimed at barren land restoration and offers valuable insights for policy formulation in barren land afforestation.

An experiment was conducted on a prestressed concrete (PC) composite girder bridge with steel truss webs to investigate its flexural performance. The mechanical characteristics and failure modes of a PC composite girder bridge with steel truss webs was clarified. Finite element (FE) analysis was carried out, and the influence of the girder height-to-span ratio and eccentric loading effect on the flexural performance of a composite beam bridge with a steel truss web was discussed. The method for calculating the cracking bending moment, the bending moment at the rebar yield stage, and the ultimate bending moment of a PC composite girder with steel truss webs was proposed. Key findings include that, in both the elastic and cracking elastic stages, the strain of the bottom and top conforms to the plane-section assumption. Throughout the loading process, there was no occurrence of joint failure or local buckling failure in the steel truss webs; the composite girder ultimately fails due to excessive deformation, indicating that the overall mechanical performance of the composite beam is good. The deflection and stress in the mid-span section decrease with an increasing height-to-span ratio, and there are significant impacts of eccentric loading on deflection and stress. Compared with the results of the FE analysis and test, the calculation methods of the cracking moment, reinforcement yield moment, and ultimate moment of PC composite girders with steel truss webs presented in this paper have a high accuracy.

In order to fully exploit the utilization value of Chinese yam peel, the optimal extraction conditions of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from Chinese yam peel residue were investigated by orthogonal experiment. The extracts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). And the physical and chemical properties of its swelling capacity (SC), water holding capacity (WHC) and oil holding capacity (OHC) were determined. The results showed that the optimal extraction process was 90 min, NaOH concentration was 12 g/L, liquid-solid ratio was 40:1(mL:g), and extraction temperature was 80 ℃. Under the optimal process, the SDF yield of yam peel residue was 11.52%±0.23%. SDF of yam peel residue belongs to cellulose type I, and its infrared absorption peak showed typical polysaccharide absorption peak. SEM results showed that the SDF of yam peel residue was a loose structure formed by many fine particles. Compared with SDF of yam peel, SDF of yam peel residue had better expansion rate, water holding capacity and oil holding capacity (7.63±0.32 mL/g, 9.81±0.21 g/g, 4.45±0.24 g/g, respectively). In conclusion, SDF of Chinese yam peel residue had good physical and chemical properties, which made it potential value as an effective ingredient in functional food.

In order to study the effect of oat β-glucan on yam starch, the yam starch/oat β-glucan blends were prepared by rapid visco analyzer. The gelatinizing properties, thermal properties, rheological properties and digestive properties of the blends were investigated. The gelatinization analysis showed that oat β-glucan could reduce the viscosity and regeneration value of yam starch, and inhibit the short-term regeneration of yam starch. The results of thermal properties showed that the gelatinization enthalpy ΔH of blends was significantly decreased with the addition of oat β-glucan (P

Abstract The group-velocity of the propagation-invariant optical wave-packet generated by the conical superposition can be controlled by introducing well-designed arbitrarily-axisymmetric pulse-front deformation, which permits realizing superluminal, subluminal, accelerating, decelerating, and even nearly-programmable group-velocities. To better understand the tunability of the group-velocity, the generation methods of this propagation-invariant optical wave-packet and the mechanisms of the tunable group-velocity in both the physical and Fourier spaces are investigated. We also have studied the relationship with the recently-reported space–time wave-packet, and this group-velocity-tunable propagation-invariant optical wave-packet should be a subset of the space–time wave-packet.

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) are the most devastating insect pests at the ear stage of maize, causing significant losses to the sweet corn industry. Pesticide control primarily relies on spraying during the flowering stage, but the effectiveness is inconsistent since larvae are beneath husks within hours to a day, making pesticide treatments simpler to avoid. Insufficient understanding of pest activity patterns impedes precise and efficient pesticide control. H. armigera and O. furnacalis in corn fields were monitored in the last few years in Beijing China, and we observed a higher occurrence of both moths during the R1 stage of sweet corn. Moth captures reached the maximum during this stage, with 555–765 moths per hectare corn field daily. The control efficiency of nine synthetic insecticides and five biopesticides was assessed in the field during this period. Virtako, with mineral oil as the adjuvant, appeared to be the most effective synthetic insecticide, with the efficiencies reaching 88% and 87% on sweet and waxy corn, respectively. Pesticide residue data indicated that the corn is safe after 17 days of its use. The most effective bioinsecticide was Beauveria bassiana combined with mineral oil, with 88% and 80% control efficiency in sweet and waxy corn, respectively. These results suggested that spraying effective insecticides 5 days after corn silking could effectively control corn ear pests H. armigera and O. furnacalis. Our findings provide valuable insights for the development of ear pest management strategies in sweet corn.

Objective: To assess the causal effect of systemic iron status by using four biomarkers (serum iron; transferrin saturation; ferritin; total iron-binding capacity) on knee osteoarthritis (OA), hip OA, total knee replacement, and total hip replacement using 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design.Methods: Three instrument sets were used to construct the genetic instruments for the iron status: Liberal instruments (variants associated with one of the iron biomarkers), sensitivity instruments (liberal instruments exclude variants associated with potential confounders), and conservative instruments (variants associated with all four iron biomarkers). Summary-level data for four OA phenotypes, including knee OA, hip OA, total knee replacement, and total hip replacement were obtained from the largest genome-wide meta-analysis with 826,690 individuals. Inverse-variance weighted based on the random-effect model as the main approach was conducted. Weighted median, MR-Egger, and Mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier methods were used as sensitivity MR approaches.Results: Based on liberal instruments, genetically predicted serum iron and transferrin saturation were significantly associated with hip OA and total hip replacement, but not with knee OA and total knee replacement. Statistical evidence of heterogeneity across the MR estimates indicated that mutation rs1800562 was the SNP significantly associated with hip OA in serum iron (odds ratio, OR = 1.48), transferrin saturation (OR = 1.57), ferritin (OR = 2.24), and total-iron binding capacity (OR = 0.79), and hip replacement in serum iron (OR = 1.45), transferrin saturation (OR = 1.25), ferritin (OR = 1.37), and total-iron binding capacity (OR = 0.80).Conclusion: Our study suggests that high iron status might be a causal factor of hip OA and total hip replacement where rs1800562 is the main contributor.

The snow cover in temperate areas is undergoing significant changes, which may affect soil respiration (Rs), the second largest carbon flux in global carbon cycling. However, currently, there are relatively few in situ field studies on the effects of altered snow cover on Rs in temperate areas during the non-growing season compared to the research on Rs during the growing season. Therefore, it limited the accurate prediction of the characteristics and magnitude of changes in soil carbon emissions in temperate areas under global change scenarios. Here, an in situ field experiment was conducted in a typical grassland in Inner Mongolia in China to explore the characteristics of Rs under three different snow cover treatments, i.e., increasing snow (IS), decreasing snow (DS), and ambient snow that was regarded as the control check treatment (CK). The results showed that the range of Rs flux and cumulative emission flux in all treatments in the non-growing season in the study area ranged from 5.87 ± 0.20 to 55.11 ± 6.42 mg CO2 m−2 h−1 and from 22.81 ± 0.68 to 26.36 ± 0.41 g C m−2, respectively. During the observation period, the depth of the largest snow cover for each treatment did not exceed 18 cm, and none of the snow treatments caused significant variations in Rs flux (p > 0.05). However, the cumulative flux of Rs in the whole non-growing season was only stimulated significantly by 15.6% by the IS treatment compared with that of CK. The relatively high Rs flux in the non-growing season was observed to mainly occur in the soil deeply frozen period (DFP) and the soil melting period (SMP). Further analysis revealed that Rs flux under different snow treatments were mainly positively correlated with soil temperature during SMP. The main factors controlling Rs varied with different sampling periods. Our findings suggest that the non-growing season is also an important period of non-negligible carbon emissions from typical grassland soils in temperate zones.

The development of high-intensity ultrafast laser facilities provides the possibility to create novel physical phenomena and matter states. The timing fluctuation of the laser pulses is crucial for pump–probe experiments, which is one of the vital means to observe the ultrafast dynamics driven by intense laser pulses. In this paper, we demonstrate the timing fluctuation characterization and control of the front end of a 100-PW laser that is composed of a high-contrast optical parametric amplifier (seed) and a 200-TW optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (preamplifier). By combining the timing jitter measurement with a feedback system, the laser seed and preamplifier are synchronized to the reference with timing fluctuations of 1.82 and 4.48 fs, respectively. The timing system will be a key prerequisite for the stable operation of 100-PW laser facilities and provide the basis for potential pump–probe experiments performed on the laser.

Abstract Rapid adaptation to a hypoxic environment is an unanswered question that we are committed to exploring. At present, there is no suitable strategy to achieve rapid hypoxic adaptation. Here, we demonstrate that fasting preconditioning for 72 h reduces tissue injuries and maintains cardiac function, consequently significantly improving the survival rates of rats under extreme hypoxia, and this strategy can be used for rapid hypoxic adaptation. Mechanistically, fasting reduces blood glucose and further suppresses tissue mTOR activity. On the one hand, fasting-induced mTOR inhibition reduces unnecessary ATP consumption and increases ATP reserves under acute hypoxia as a result of decreased protein synthesis and lipogenesis; on the other hand, fasting-induced mTOR inhibition improves mitochondrial oxygen utilization efficiency to ensure ATP production under acute hypoxia, which is due to the significant decrease in ROS generation induced by enhanced mitophagy. Our findings highlight the important role of mTOR in acute hypoxic adaptation, and targeted regulation of mTOR could be a new strategy to improve acute hypoxic tolerance in the body.

As a complex neuropsychiatric disease, tic disorder has a more and more significant impact on children's quality of life. Currently, the existing treatment methods mainly include non-drug and drug treatment, and good results have been achieved in clinic. However, limited to the patient's age and adverse events, other effective and safe treatment methods still need to be sought. Existing studies have shown that Chinese patent medicine have a good curative effect and high safety, which may become a new choice for the treatment of tic disorder.

At present, there are hardly any studies about the effect of inulin (IN) on the physicochemical properties and structures of different crystalline starches. In this study, three different crystalline starches (wheat, potato, and pea starch) were compounded with natural IN, and its pasting, retrogradation, and structural characteristics were investigated. Then, the potential mechanism of interaction between IN and starch was studied. The results showed that there were some differences in the effects of IN on the three different crystalline starch. Pasting experiments showed that the addition of IN not only increased pasting viscosity but also decreased the values of setback and breakdown. For wheat starch and pea starch, IN reduced their peak viscosity from 2,515 cP, 3,035 cP to 2,131 cP and 2,793 cP, respectively. Retrogradation experiment dates demonstrated that IN delayed gelatinization of all three starches. IN could reduce the enthalpy of gelatinization and retrogradation to varying degrees and inhibit the retrogradation of starch. Among them, it had a better inhibitory effect on potato starch. The addition of IN reduced the retrogradation rate of potato starch from 38.45 to 30.14%. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and interaction force experiments results showed that IN interacted with amylose through hydrogen bonding and observed the presence of electrostatic force in the complexed system. Based on the above, experimental results speculate that the mechanism of interaction between IN and three crystalline starches was the same, and the difference in physicochemical properties was mainly related to the ratio of amylose to amylopectin in different crystalline starches. These findings could enrich the theoretical system of the IN with starch compound system and provide a solid theoretical basis for further applications.

Reinforced concrete structures in the marine environment face serious corrosion risks. Coating protection and adding corrosion inhibitors are the most economical and effective methods. In this study, a nano-composite anti-corrosion filler with a mass ratio of CeO2:GO = 4:1 was prepared by hydrothermally growing cerium oxide on the surface of graphene oxide. The filler was mixed with pure epoxy resin at a mass fraction of 0.5% to prepare a nano-composite epoxy coating. The basic properties of the prepared coating were evaluated from the aspects of surface hardness, adhesion grade, and anti-corrosion performance on Q235 low carbon steel subjected to simulated seawater and simulated concrete pore solutions. Results showed that after 90 days of service, the corrosion current density of the nanocomposite coating mixed with corrosion inhibitor was the lowest (Icorr = 1.001 × 10−9 A/cm2), and the protection efficiency was up to 99.92%. This study provides a theoretical foundation for solving the corrosion problem of Q235 low carbon steel in the marine environment.

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks as the most common gastrointestinal cancer and is among the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Glaucocalyxin A (GLA), an entkauranoid diterpene isolated from Rab-dosia japonica var., possesses various bioactivities. To date, the data on the effect of GLA on GC are still minimal, and the molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Herein, we found that GLA could significantly inhibit the proliferation, cell adhesion, and invasion of HGT-1, SNU-1, SNU-6, and NCI-N87 GC cells in a dose-dependent manner. GLA enhanced the apoptosis of the GC cells as evidenced by the increased caspase-3 activity and the elevated levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP in GC cells in the presence of GLA. We then showed that the downregulation of Murine Double Minute Clone 2 (MDM2) and Ring Finger Protein 6 (RNF6) by GLA was implicated in the GLA-induced inhibition of the GC cells. Furthermore, MDM2 and RNF6 were identified as the targets of miR-3658 that was downregulated in the GC cells and upregulated by GLA. Moreover, it was shown that miR-3658 was hypermethylated in the GC cells, and GLA could rescue the expression of miR-3658 via demethylation by abrogating EZH2-mediated epigenetic silencing. In addition to the miR-3658-MDM2/RNF6 regulatory axis, activation of the SMG1-UPF mRNA decay pathway contributed to the downregulation of MDM2 and RNF6 by GLA in the GC cells. The inhibitory effect of GLA on gastric cancer and the expression of MDM2 and RNF6 was also validated in in vivo study. Our findings suggest that has the therapeutic potential for GC by downregulating oncogenes via posttranscriptional regulation.

Excitatory and inhibitory neurons in diverse cortical regions are likely to contribute differentially to the transformation of sensory information into goal-directed motor plans. Here, we investigate the relative changes across mouse sensorimotor cortex in the activity of putative excitatory and inhibitory neurons-categorized as regular spiking (RS) or fast spiking (FS) according to their action potential (AP) waveform-comparing before and after learning of a whisker detection task with delayed licking as perceptual report. Surprisingly, we found that the whisker-evoked activity of RS versus FS neurons changed in opposite directions after learning in primary and secondary whisker motor cortices, while it changed similarly in primary and secondary orofacial motor cortices. Our results suggest that changes in the balance of excitation and inhibition in local circuits concurrent with changes in the long-range synaptic inputs in distinct cortical regions might contribute to performance of delayed sensory-to-motor transformation.

To identify odors in complex environments accurately, insects have evolved multiple olfactory proteins. In our study, various olfactory proteins of Odontothrips loti Haliday, an oligophagous pest that primarily affects Medicago sativa (alfalfa), were explored. Specifically, 47 putative olfactory candidate genes were identified in the antennae transcriptome of O. loti, including seven odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), nine chemosensory proteins (CSPs), seven sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), eight odorant receptors (ORs), and sixteen ionotropic receptors (IRs). PCR analysis further confirmed that 43 out of 47 genes existed in O. loti adults, and O.lotOBP1, O.lotOBP4, and O.lotOBP6 were specifically expressed in the antennae with a male-biased expression pattern. In addition, both the fluorescence competitive binding assay and molecular docking showed that p-Menth-8-en-2-one, a component of the volatiles of the host, had strong binding ability to the O.lotOBP6 protein. Behavioral experiments showed that this component has a significant attraction to both female and male adults, indicating that O.lotOBP6 plays a role in host location. Furthermore, molecular docking reveals potential active sites in O.lotOBP6 that interact with most of the tested volatiles. Our results provide insights into the mechanism of O. loti odor-evoked behavior and the development of a highly specific and sustainable approach for thrip management.

Two-Dimensional (2-D) autofocus is an important guarantee for high-resolution imaging of airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) under high maneuvering conditions. The existing 2-D autofocus approaches for bistatic SAR blindly estimate the phase error and do not fully utilize the prior knowledge on phase structure. In this paper, a new interpretation of the Polar Format Algorithm (PFA) for general bistatic SAR imaging is presented. From the viewpoint of Residual Cell Migration (RCM), PFA is converted into 2-D decoupling. By utilizing this new formulation, we analyze the effect of range and azimuth resampling on the residual 2-D phase error and reveal the inherent structure characteristics of the residual 2-D phase error in the wavenumber domain. The 2-D phase error estimation can reduce to one dimensional azimuth phase error estimation. Based on this prior knowledge, a structure-aided 2-D autofocus approach is proposed. Meanwhile, the information of all the data is fully excavated by averaging sub-band data when the azimuth phase error is being estimated. Compared with the existing algorithms, both the parameter estimation precision and computational efficiency are significantly improved. Experimental results clearly demonstrate the correctness of the theoretical analysis and the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women, with a poor survival rate. Thus, there is a need to define effective combination strategies to improve therapy. In this study, we report that dsRNA poly(I:C) up-regulated the expression of IFNβ and apoptosis-associated genes in cervical cancer cells, activating both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways, and eventually inducing cell death. Similarly, proteasome inhibitors also effectively induced cervical cancer cell apoptosis, probably through prevention of p53 degradation, inhibiting NF-κB signal activation and decreasing BCL-2 expression. Importantly, the combination of poly(I:C) with proteasome inhibitors enhanced caspase-8 and caspase-9 activation, and synergistically induced cervical cancer cell apoptosis. Both activated p38 signals and increased ROS levels, and their combination extended these effects. Collectively, we show that the activation of multiple pro-apoptotic pathways by poly(I:C) and proteasome inhibitors underpin a synergistic effect on inducing cervical cancer cell death, suggesting a potential therapeutic combination with clinical relevance.

Controllable preparation of NiFe layered double hydroxides (LDH) on suitable conductive substrate is always a key precondition for their wide applications. Standing NiFe LDH nanosheets were successfully grown on stainless steel fibers felt (SSFF) at room temperature. The prepared SSFF@ NiFe LDH electrocatalyst displayed a high electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolyte as well as alkaline seawater. The effects of mass loading and molar ratio of Ni/Fe on the electrocatalytic activity were also evaluated. With the optimized electrode, the overpotential for the anodic OER process only needs 198 and 260 mV at a current density of 10 and 300 mA cm−2, respectively.

A novel neutral polysaccharide designated as PAP1b was isolated from Areca catechu L. by hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and column chromatography. PAP1b was mainly composed of mannose, galactose, xylose, and arabinose in a ratio of 4.1:3.3:0.9:1.7, with an average molecular weight of 37.3 kDa. Structural characterization indicated that the backbone of PAP1b appeared to be composed mainly of → 6-β-Manp-(1 →, → 4)-α-Galp-(1 → and → 3,6)-β-Manp-(1 →) residues with some branches, and terminal of (1 →)-linked-β-Manp residues. The results of bioactivity experiments showed that PAP1b had antioxidant in vitro, esspecially on scavenging DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. Therefore, the polysaccharide from Areca catechu L. could be used as a potential antioxidant in functional food.

The study investigated the effects of plasma-activated water (PAW) and heat moisture treatment (HMT) on the rheological properties of wheat flour and the in vitro digestibility of steamed bread partially replaced by the modified wheat flour. After HMT, the gelatinization temperature of wheat flour increased and the gelatinization enthalpy reduced. The solubility and swelling power of wheat flour increased after the heat-moisture treatment. The solubility of modified flour after PAW-HMT treatment was lower than that of distilled water (DW)-HMT at the same temperature. The wheat flour with HMT had higher storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G“), and had better ductility and deformability. Common wheat flour was partially replaced by modified flour to make steamed bread. The results indicated that the volume, height, diameter and specific volume of steamed bread were significantly decreased with the addition of HMT flour. However, the hardness, viscosity and chewiness increased significantly. The resistant starch content of steamed bread with the modified wheat flour increased. The results provide new insights for the development of new functional steamed bread.

Plasmonic metal/semiconductor composites have attracted great attention for efficient solar energy harvesting in photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications owing to their extremely high visible-light absorption and tuned effective band gap. In this work, Ag-loaded TiO2 nanocolumn (Ag-TNC) arrays were fabricated based on anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template by combining atomic layer deposition (ALD) and vacuum evaporation. The effects of the Ag loading position and deposition thickness, and the morphology, structure and composition of Ag-deposited TNC arrays on its optical and photocatalytic properties were studied. The Ag-filled TiO2 (AFT) nanocolumn arrays exhibited higher removal efficiency of methylene blue (MB) compared with Ag-coated TiO2 (ACT) nanocolumn arrays and pure TiO2 nanocolumns arrays. Both experimental and theoretical simulation results demonstrated that the enhanced photocatalytic performance of AFT nanocolumn arrays was attributed to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag and the absorption of light by TiO2. These results represent a promising step forward to the development of high-performance photocatalysts for energy conversion and storage.

Here, we report the recent progress on the front end developed for the 100 PW-class laser facility. Using 3 stages of optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) based on lithium triborate (LBO) crystals, we realized a 5.26 J/0.1 Hz amplified output with a bandwidth over 200 nm near the center wavelength of 925 nm. After the compressor, we obtained a pulse duration of 13.4 fs. As the compression efficiency reached 67%, this OPCPA front end could potentially support a peak power of 263 TW at a repetition rate of 0.1 Hz. To the best of our knowledge, among all the 100 TW-level OPCPA systems, it shows the widest spectral width, the shortest pulse duration, and it is also the first OPCPA system working at a repetition-rate mode.

Communication between cortical areas contributes importantly to sensory perception and cognition. On the millisecond time scale, information is signaled from one brain area to another by action potentials propagating across long-range axonal arborizations. Here, we develop and test methodology for imaging and annotating the brain-wide axonal arborizations of individual excitatory layer 2/3 neurons in mouse barrel cortex through single-cell electroporation and two-photon serial section tomography followed by registration to a digital brain atlas. Each neuron had an extensive local axon within the barrel cortex. In addition, individual neurons innervated subsets of secondary somatosensory cortex; primary somatosensory cortex for upper limb, trunk, and lower limb; primary and secondary motor cortex; visual and auditory cortical regions; dorsolateral striatum; and various fiber bundles. In the future, it will be important to assess if the diversity of axonal projections across individual layer 2/3 mouse barrel cortex neurons is accompanied by functional differences in their activity patterns.

Background. Heart failure (HF) is defined as the inability of the heart’s systolic and diastolic function to properly discharge blood flow from the veins to the heart. The goal of our research is to look into the possible mechanism that causes HF. Methods. The GSE5406 database was used for screening the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network were applied to analyze DEGs. Besides, cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was conducted to observe the knockdown effect of hub genes on cell proliferation. Results. Finally, 377 upregulated and 461 downregulated DEGs came out, enriched in the extracellular matrix organization and gap junction. According to GSEA results, Hoft cd4 positive alpha beta memory t cell bcg vaccine age 18–45 yo id 7 dy top 100 deg ex vivo up, Sobolev t cell pandemrix age 18–64 yo 7 dy dn, and so on were significantly related to gene set GSE5406. 7 hub genes, such as COL1A1, UBB, COL3A1, HSP90AA1, MYC, STAT3 and MAPK1, were selected from PPI networks. CCK-8 indicated silencing of STAT3 promoted the proliferation of H9C2 cells and silencing of UBB inhibited the proliferation of H9C2 cells. Conclusion. Our analysis reveals that COL1A1, UBB, COL3A1, HSP90AA1, MYC, STAT3, and MAPK1 might promote the progression of HF and become the biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of HF.

Extrusion is a method of processing that changes the physicochemical and rheological properties of starch and protein under specific temperature and pressure conditions. In this study, twin-screw extrusion technology was employed to prepare yam starch–soy protein isolate complexes. The structure and properties of the complexes and their effects on the quality of dough were studied. The results showed changes in the X-ray diffraction, rheology, and in vitro digestibility of the complexes. The extruded starch–protein complex formed an A+V-type crystal structure with the addition of soy protein isolate. A small amount of soy protein isolate could improve the complex’s viscoelasticity. As the content of soy protein isolate increased, the content of slow-digesting starch and resistant starch in the complexes increased, and the digestibility decreased. The microstructure of the dough indicated that the network structure of the puffed yam starch–protein complex dough was more uniform than that of the same amount of puffed yam starch. The moisture distribution of the dough showed that with the addition of extruded flour, the closely bound water content of the dough increased, and the weakly bound water content decreased. The hardness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience of the dough decreased. In conclusion, extruded starch–protein complexes can improve dough quality and provide technical support for the broad application of yam.

This study was conducted to explore how the insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) of wheat bran with different particle size affects the texture properties, water distribution, protein secondary structure and microstructure of noodles. The results suggested that IDF addition increased the cooking loss and decreased the sensory evaluation because of the damage on dough structure, while as the IDF particle size decreased, the sensory score increased from 78.8 to 82.3 and cooking loss decreased from 8.65% to 7.65%, which could be attributed to that small particle-sized IDF limited the damage on protein network structure, decreased the T22 and t-structure, and increased the β1-structure. Moreover, IDF particle size had a significant correlation with protein secondary structures, texture properties and evaluation score of noodles. In conclusion, adding appropriate particle size would be an effective way of enhancing the nutritional and textural properties of noodles. Keywords: Wheat bran, Insoluble dietary fiber, Water distribution, Microstructure, Noodle quality

Rapid adaptation to extreme hypoxia is a challenging problem, and there is no effective scheme to achieve rapid adaptation to extreme hypoxia. In this study, we found that withaferin A (WA) can significantly reduce myocardial damage, maintain cardiac function, and improve survival in rats in extremely hypoxic environments. Mechanistically, WA protects against extreme hypoxia by affecting BCL2-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3)-mediated mitophagy and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α)-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis pathway among mitochondrial quality control mechanisms. On the one hand, enhanced mitophagy eliminates hypoxia-damaged mitochondria and prevents the induction of apoptosis; on the other hand, enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis can supplement functional mitochondria and maintain mitochondrial respiration to ensure mitochondrial ATP production under acute extreme hypoxia. Our study shows that WA can be used as an effective drug to improve tolerance to extreme hypoxia.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important quality forages worldwide and is cultivated throughout China. Alfalfa is susceptible to a variety of viral diseases during its growth, which has caused huge amounts of commercial losses. However, the profile of the alfalfa virus in China remains ambiguous and the viruses transmitted by Odontothrips loti (Haliday), dominant insect pests in alfalfa, are also poorly understood. In the present study, virus diversity was investigated in the primary alfalfa-growing areas in China. A total of 18 alfalfa viruses were identified through RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Two new plant viruses, Medicago sativa virus 1 (MsV1) and Medicago sativa luteovirus 1 (MsLV1), were detected for the first time. Another four viruses, including the Alfalfa ringspot-associated virus (ARaV), Alfalfa virus F (AVF), Alfalfa enamovirus 1 (AEV1), and Alfalfa deltaparitivirus (ADPV), were reported in China for the first time as well. Both Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and Medicago sativa alphapartitivirus 2 (MsAPV2) are the dominant pathogens, with an infection incidence of 91.7–100%, and 74.4–97.2%, respectively. Additionally, O. loti with first- and second-instar nymphs were shown to acquire the AMV within 0.25 h of feeding on a virus-infected alfalfa. Transmission by thrips to healthy alfalfa plants was also demonstrated. Additionally, we clarified the dynamic changes in the AMV in pre-adult stages of O. loti, which indicated that the AMV is propagated in the nymph stage of O. loti. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the alfalfa virome, confirm the role thrips O. loti plays in alfalfa virus transmission, and improve our fundamental knowledge and management of diseases in China.

The spatiotemporal agglomeration of industries is the most prominent geographical feature of economic activities. Based on the analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution of China’s construction industry agglomeration, this paper analyzes the characteristics and evolution trend of the spatiotemporal agglomeration of construction industry in 31 provinces and cities of China from 2010 to 2019 by using Moran’s index and the spatiotemporal transition measurement model. The findings are as follows: (1) China’s construction industry has experienced two stages in terms of time: steady rise and turbulent rise. Spatially, China’s construction industry, as a whole, the space takes the shape of one horizontal and two vertical, similar to the letter “H” being crossed. And the difference of “East-West” two ends of the industrial agglomeration level is obvious. (2) The Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations (Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang), the Pearl River Delta Urban Agglomerations (Guangdong), Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomerations, and the western region (Xinjiang and Tibet) have significant local features. The four major types of China’s construction industry cluster, which are H-H, H-L, L-H, and L-L, are formed. (3) The time-space transition of China’s construction industry is dominated by the “stable transition” mode. The transition inertia is significant. The regional development has strong path dependence and spatial locking characteristics.

Taking Beijing as the core, this study takes the data related to the construction industry from 2011 to 2018 as the basis. By constructing a cross-regional influence model and collaborative coupling evaluation model of China’s construction industry considering economic, social, and ecological development, this study comprehensively investigates the current situation of the cross-regional development of China’s capital construction industry. Results show that the external contribution of Beijing’s construction industry is manifested in three situations. A general trend of rising first and then falling is also observed. The contribution of Beijing’s construction enterprises to northwest China has long been low, whereas its contribution rate to Tianjin, Hebei, and Guangdong Provinces is high. The regional difference is significant, showing a “catch-up effect.” The contribution degree and the development level of China’s construction industry are usually at a low coupling and antagonistic level. The verification of the influencing factors indicates that the external influence of the construction industry in Beijing has a significant positive effect on the supporting environment of the industry and the development level of the construction industry.

The spotted alfalfa aphid [Therioaphis trifolii (Monell), Homoptera, Drepanosiphidae] is a well-known destructive pest that can significantly reduce alfalfa yields. Herein, the morphology of antennal sensilla of T. trifolii has been examined by using scanning electron microscopy and the ultrastructure of sensilla stellate and placoidea was described by transmission electron microscopy. Stellate sensilla, placoid sensilla, and coeloconic sensilla were found on the 6th segment, and a single sensillum placoidea was located on the 5th segment. Placoid sensilla were also present on the 3rd antennal segment of alate and apterous aphids, and the number was similar between two morphs. Two types of trichoid sensilla and coeloconic sensilla were found on the antennae, respectively. The results of ultrastructure showed that stellate sensilla are innervated by three neurons, while placoid sensilla present three groups of neurons, equipped with 2–3 dendrites in each neuron group. Immunocytochemical localization of odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) was performed on ultrathin sections of sensilla stellate and placoidea, and we observed that the antiserum against OBP6 intensively labeled all placoid sensilla from both primary and secondary rhinaria. OBP7 and OBP8 could also be detected in placoid sensilla, but less strongly than OBP6. In addition, OBP6, OBP7, and OBP8 were densely labeled in stellate sensilla, suggesting OBP6, OBP7, and OBP8 may sense alarm pheromone germacrene A in T. trifolii.

The picosecond optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (ps-OPCPA) with double BBO arrangement can support the ultrabroad spectrum even under a relatively long pump pulse duration (∼100 ps). In this work, five-wave-coupled equations taking into consideration different phase matching conditions between the parametric superfluorescence (PSF) and the signal are proposed to investigate the temporal contrast in ps-OPCPA schemes. Both the temporal contrast and the amplified spectrum are numerically analyzed in double BBO arrangements with four phase matching conditions. Numerical results show that the high temporal contrast and ultrabroad spectrum can be simultaneously realized by choosing the proper phase matching geometry in a double BBO arrangement. The numerical investigation here relaxes the requirement of very short pump pulses in ps-OPCPA, which can provide beneficial guidance for the design and construction of ps-OPCPA.

We report on the long-term correction of a timing fluctuation between the femtosecond regenerative amplifier and the reference oscillator for the seed 100 PW laser system in the Station of Extreme Light (SEL). The timing fluctuation was characterized by a noncollinear balanced optical cross-correlator that maps the time difference to the sum frequency intensity of the amplifier and oscillator laser pulses. A feedback loop was employed to correct the timing jitter by adjusting the time delay line in the amplifier beam path. The timing fluctuation was reduced to 1.26 fs root-mean-square from hundreds of fs over 10 hours. Benefitting from excellent performance and long-term stability, this timing jitter correction scheme, as a component of optical synchronization in the 100 PW laser facility, will be integrated into SEL.

Graphene is a two-dimensional sheet of regular hexagonal honeycomb lattice formed by sp2 hybrid orbital bonding, with only one layer thickness of a single atom, which is known as the “super king” of the 21st century. Previous studies have shown that cerium oxide-graphene oxide (CeO2-GO(4:1)) nanocomposites eliminated the agglomeration of graphene to some extent and the CeO2-GO(4:1) epoxy coating could be prepared with good anti-corrosion performance. In this paper, CeO2-GO(4:1) nanocomposites were prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis method, and the three-electrode method was used for electrochemical tests. The state evolution of CeO2-GO(4:1)/EP coating and the synergy between CeO2-GO(4:1)/EP and corrosion inhibitor in simulated seawater solution with different concentrations (20%, 40%, 60%) were analyzed and illustrated by Optical Microscope (OM) characterization, Open Circuit Potential (OCP), Electrochemical alternating current Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Mott–Schottky curve and Tafel curve. The results indicated that CeO2-GO(4:1) nanocomposites showed good corrosion resistance in a marine environment. This research lays a solid theoretical foundation for the application of cerium oxide-modified graphene oxide anticorrosive coating in marine engineering.

Due to its special two-dimensional lamellar structure, graphene possesses an excellent shielding effect, hydrophobic characteristics and large specific surface area, which can effectively isolate the internal structure from the external corrosive media. However, lamellar graphene is easy to stack and agglomerate, which limits its anti-corrosion performance. In this paper, cerium oxide-graphene oxide (CeO2-GO) nanocomposites were prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis method. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were applied for microstructure examination, showing that a large number of nanoscale granular cerium oxide grew on the lamellar graphene oxide surface, which improved the dispersion performance of graphene inside the matrix. The anti-corrosion properties of the coating were analyzed and illustrated by open circuit potential (OCP), frequency response analysis, Tafel curve and Mott–Schottky curve. The results indicated that the CeO2-GO (4:1) nanocomposite not only eliminated the agglomeration of graphene to some extent, but also prepared the graphene epoxy coating with good dispersion, which further promoted its anti-corrosion performance. The paper proposed a feasible solution for GO dispersion in cement-based materials and lays a solid theoretical foundation for the engineering application of cerium oxide-graphene oxide modified anticorrosive coating.

Essential oils generally derived from one or more plant parts have been used throughout history for many great applications. In this study, the flue-cured tobacco flower buds were subjected to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus (4 h). The essential oil was characterized by means of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The yield of the oil was 0.57% (w/w). After identification of the components, 34 volatile compounds were identified, which contained 55.0% of the oil. β-Cembrenediol (12.24%), carotol (8.55%), isolimonene (7.37%), thunbergol (4.88%) and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (4.09%) were the major constituents of the oil. The essential oil was also tested for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The essential oil was particularly active against Bacillus subtilis, with the lowest Minimal Inhibitory Concentration and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration value (7 and 7 mg/mL). Furthermore, the essential oil and its main compounds showed a strong potent OH scavenging effect, when compared to butylated hydroxytoluene as a positive control. In conclusion, the tobacco flower bud oil is a potential source of novel antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

To explore material basis of in vitro anti-proliferative activity of leukemia cell K562 of petroleum ether phase of product resulting from Galium aparine L. 60% ethanol extraction, the experiment adopts column chromatography combined with thin layer preparation, isolates and purifies petroleum ether, conducts structural identification of obtained single compound and applies MTT method for viability assay of in vitro anti-proliferative activity of leukemia cell K562. Experimental results show that G. aparine L. petroleum ether contains mainly β-sitosterol, daucosterol and dibutyl phthalate and other substances. Under experimental conditions, the three could inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cell K562 with dose-effect and time-effect relationship, of which dibutyl phthalate has strongest activity. Dibutyl phthalate with excellent activity, β-sitosterol with rich content and moderate effect should be the main contributor to its biological activity.

ABSTRACT: Background: Liposuction-curettage is a long-standing and effective treatment for axillary bromhidrosis. However, residual malodor and skin necrosis typically occur following this treatment. Therefore, we improved this method to ensure fewer complications and better outcomes. Here, we have presented our programmed 6-step approach of improved liposuction-curettage. Methods: The programmed 6-step approach of improved liposuction-curettage was used to remove the axillary apocrine glands. We used pointed and obtuse cannulas designed for liposuction-curettage. Results: Patients treated using the programmed 6-step approach of improved liposuction-curettage did not experience any serious complications or residual malodor. Conclusion: The programmed 6-step approach of improved liposuction-curettage was more effective than traditional surgery with respect to the treatment of axillary bromhidrosis.