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Abstract Background Given that viral infections can increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as spontaneous miscarriage, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and preterm birth, the effects of COVID-19, a novel emerging coronavirus disease rapidly spreading globally, on pregnancy outcomes have garnered significant attention. Methods We conducted a review of studies related to pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 over the past five years (December 2019 to April 2023), utilizing search engines such as PubMed, Web of Science, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). This study was registered with PROSPERO with ID: CRD42024540849. Results A total of 218 articles were screened, with 15 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for this research, including 12 cohort studies, one cross-sectional study, one case-control study, and one case series. Six studies found that the preterm birth rate was higher in the infected group compared to the control group; five studies showed that the cesarean section rate was higher in the infected group; three studies found that the APGAR scores of newborns were higher in the control group than in the infected group; three studies indicated that the mortality rate of newborns in the infected group was higher than that in the control group. Conclusions Our retrospective review suggests that compared to pregnant women not infected with SARS-CoV-2, those diagnosed with COVID-19 are more likely to experience adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, cesarean delivery, and low birth weight in newborns.

Summary: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent mental disorder with serious impacts on life and health. Neuroimaging offers valuable diagnostic insights. However, traditional computer-aided diagnosis methods are limited by reliance on researchers’ experience. To address this, we proposed an evolutionary neural architecture search (M-ENAS) framework for automatically diagnosing MDD using multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). M-ENAS determines the optimal weight and network architecture through a two-stage search method. Specifically, we designed a one-shot network architecture search (NAS) strategy to train supernet weights and a self-defined evolutionary search to optimize the network structure. Finally, M-ENAS was evaluated on two datasets, demonstrating that M-ENAS outperforms existing hand-designed methods. Additionally, our findings reveal that brain regions within the somatomotor network play important roles in the diagnosis of MDD, providing additional insight into the biological mechanisms underlying the disorder.

Human Action Recognition (HAR) based on skeleton sequences has attracted much attention due to the robustness and background insensitivity of skeletal data. The convolutional neural network (CNN) for spatio-temporal representation learning has been widely utilized for skeleton-based HAR. However, the long-term spatio-temporal modeling and action category-specific feature attention have not been fully exploited. In order to explore the current potential of CNNs for skeleton-based HAR, a novel CNN architecture with temporal-channel attention and convolution fusion is proposed. Specially, the network architecture is composed of two novel modules, the Temporal-Channels Attention Module (TCA) and Multiscale Temporal Convolution Fusion module (MTCF). TCA module is designed to generate a temporal-channel attention matrix for different visual channels and temporal features, motivating the CNN to focus on the critical category-associated feature representation learning. Along the channels, MTCF module adapts the grouped residual connections to flexibly extend the convolutional temporal receptive field, without introducing additional parameters. By reverse stacking, MTCF module creates a bidirectional information interaction among inter-channels, compensating for the receptive field and information imbalance between subgroups from different branches. The proposed method was evaluated on three benchmark datasets, including NTU RGB-D, NTU RGB-D120 and FineGYM. The results show that the proposed TCA-MTCF method improves the CNNs’ ability to model long-term temporal features of skeleton sequences, achieving the state-of-the-art performance for HAR.

Due to the low toxicity, biocompatibility and eco-friendliness, microorganisms have received a lot of attention for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesis. This work isolated a fungal strain capable of efficiently generating AuNPs from aerobic granular sludge, named XY3. Comparison of 18S rDNA sequence results showed that fungus XY3 belongs to Candida rugopelliculosa. AuNPs were synthesized by initiating an Au3+-induced stress response that prompted the reduction of Au3+ to Au0 by the fungus XY3. It is worth noting that the addition of nutritional substrates weakens the stress response induced by Au3+, resulting in a decrease in the yield of AuNPs. As evidenced by nystatin inhibition studies, the synthesis of AuNPs is based on biochemical reactions rather than purely physical changes. The XRD results suggested that XY3-secreted biomolecules were involved in the reduction of Au3+ and AuNPs synthesis. The results of the three variation patterns of reducing power, biomolecules, and AuNPs absorbance revealed that Au3+ reduction was mostly dependent on the reducing polysaccharides. In addition, extracellular proteins were shown to be involved in the synthesis of AuNPs, which is responsible for the uniform distribution of AuNPs. This work provided a wide and cost-effective seed source for AuNPs synthesis, and also offered a resourceful solution for residual sludge treatment of fungal type aerobic granular sludge.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus, has become recognized as a cardiometabolic disease. In normoxic conditions, the majority of the ATP production (>95%) required for heart beating comes from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation of fatty acids (FAs) and glucose, with the remaining portion coming from a variety of sources, including fructose, lactate, ketone bodies (KB) and branched chain amino acids (BCAA). Increased FA intake and decreased utilization of glucose and lactic acid were observed in the diabetic hearts of animal models and diabetic patients. Moreover, the polyol pathway is activated, and fructose metabolism is enhanced. The use of ketones as energy sources in human diabetic hearts also increases significantly. Furthermore, elevated BCAA levels and impaired BCAA metabolism were observed in the hearts of diabetic mice and patients. The shift in energy substrate preference in diabetic hearts results in increased oxygen consumption and impaired oxidative phosphorylation, leading to diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the precise mechanisms by which impaired myocardial metabolic alterations result in diabetes mellitus cardiac disease are not fully understood. Therefore, this review focuses on the molecular mechanisms involved in alterations of myocardial energy metabolism. It not only adds more molecular targets for the diagnosis and treatment, but also provides an experimental foundation for screening novel therapeutic agents for diabetic cardiomyopathy.

The dual-active hybrid full-bridge (H-FDAB) DC–DC converter has great potential in medium-voltage high-power photovoltaic power station applications by introducing a three-level bridge arm to increase the output voltage range. However, its mathematical model and optimum modulation schemes have not been fully explored. Under the traditional PI control, the H-FDAB DC–DC converter will produce significant reflux power, which will lead to a decrease in converter efficiency and output voltage fluctuation. On this basis, this paper proposes a reflux power optimization strategy for an H-FDAB DC-DC converter based on active disturbance rejection control (ADRC). Firstly, the structure and power characteristics of the H-FDAB DC–DC converter are analyzed, and the relationship among the reflux power, the transmission power, and the phase shift angle is derived. Secondly, to reduce the complexity of the control calculation, upon the foundation of dual phase-shifting modulation, the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) condition is used to solve for the phase shift angle that corresponds to the minimum reflux power. Simultaneously, we develop an ADRC loop utilizing an extended state observer (ESO) for the real-time estimation of system states. We also consider the sudden changes in input voltage, load switching, and transmission power fluctuations caused by reflux power optimization strategies as system disturbances and compensate for them accordingly. Finally, the experiments conclusively validate the designed control strategy’s correctness and feasibility.

Objective. During in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment, the reproductive endocrine regulatory mechanisms hold pivotal importance. Specifically, the serum estradiol (E2) level during ovulation emerges as a critical factor influencing pregnancy outcomes. This retrospective study aimed to comprehensively compare two common clinical regimens based on the grouping of serum E2 levels and the number of oocytes retrieved on the trigger day. Our objective was to evaluate the pregnancy outcomes in IVF-ET patients across different ovarian response groups, exploring the efficacy of the dual-trigger and single-trigger regimens to provide valuable insights for optimizing clinical strategies in the context of IVF-ET. Methods. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 2778 infertile patients who underwent ART (IVF/ICSI). Subsequently, a detailed statistical analysis was performed on 1032 patients following an antagonist regimen. Participants were categorized into single-trigger and dual-trigger groups based on real-world trigger protocols, considering different ovarian responses. Comprehensive statistical assessments were conducted on baseline characteristics, ovulation induction, and pregnancy outcomes. Results. Baseline characteristics and cycle parameters among the three patient groups (high ovarian response, normal response, and poor response) exhibited no significant differences between the dual-trigger and single-trigger regimen groups. Despite the dual-trigger regimen utilizing a significantly lower HCG dose, no notable discrepancies were observed in laboratory results and pregnancy outcomes (embryo transfer rate, pregnancy rate, and live birth rate) for normal and high responders. Remarkably, E2 levels were higher in the dual-trigger group compared to the single-trigger group. In high and normal responders, the dual-trigger regimen demonstrated increased oocyte counts and oocyte acquisition rates, coupled with decreased transfer cancellation rates attributed to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Intriguingly, patients with a poor ovarian response experienced no graft cancellations due to OHSS prevention in either group. Conclusion. For patients with high and normal ovarian responses, the utilization of a dual-trigger regimen on the trigger day effectively mitigates the risk of OHSS. Our large sample study supports the substitutability of the dual-trigger regimen over the single-trigger regimen without compromising pregnancy outcomes. However, this conclusion is not applicable to patients with poor ovarian responses. The results of this study highlight the necessity of adopting a customized and individualized treatment approach that should be based on the patient’s ovarian response. Additionally, recognizing the pivotal role of the endocrine environment in influencing pregnancy outcomes and the occurrence of OHSS, further exploration of the effects of different triggering regimens on endocrine parameters is warranted. Such investigations will contribute to enhancing the reproductive outcomes of IVF-ET technology.

This paper designed a hollow filter rod using cellulose diacetate as the raw material. A combination method involving single factor test and orthogonal test was used to analyze the impact of forming factors on physical characteristics. The results showed that the circumference of filter rods was negatively related to vapor pressure. The hardness was both positively connected with vapor pressure and tow-filling amount, while it increased initially and then reduced with the increase of plasticizer content. The roundness and weight varied little with vapor pressure. However, roundness was associated with plasticizer content and negatively associated with tow-filling amount. Besides, weight was positively associated with both plasticizer content and tow-filling amount. The orthogonal test results revealed that the tow-filling amount was the most important factor influencing the performance of filter rods, with vapor pressure and plasticizer content being secondary considerations. The best parameter combination was vapor pressure of 0.18 MPa, plasticizer content of 20%, and tow-filling amount of 1.19 g. The improved cigarette filter rod had a hardness of 92.07%, which was 5.61% greater than the previous value and only 0.08% higher than the optimal value. The enhanced performance of filter rods was attributable to three-dimensional entangled structures formed by cellulose diacetates and rational arrangement of tows and voids.

The real-time operational safety of in-service bridges has received wide attention in recent years. By fully utilizing the health monitoring data of bridges, a structural abnormal pattern detection method based on data mining can be established to effectively ensure the safety of in-service bridges. This paper takes a large-span arch bridge as the research object, analyzes the time-based variation of the main monitoring data of the structure, establishes Lasso regression models for load characteristic indicators and vertical bending fundamental frequency of the structure under different time scales, and uses the residuals of the Lasso model to indicate the structural state and identify abnormal patterns. Firstly, the monitoring data of bridge structural temperature, girder end displacement, and girder acceleration were analyzed, and the interrelationships were studied to extract characteristic parameters of structural load characteristics and structural frequency. Then, the time-varying patterns of structural response were analyzed, and Lasso regression models and their regression variables were discussed based on monitoring data under two different time scales: daily cycle and annual cycle. The abnormal pattern detection method for bridge structures was developed. Finally, the effectiveness of this method was verified by taking the bridge deck pavement replacement as the abnormal pattern. The research results indicate that the proposed bridge structure abnormal pattern detection method based on Lasso regression can effectively monitor changes in the state of the bridge, and the residual dispersion of the model established on the annual cycle scale is relatively smaller than that on the daily cycle scale, resulting in better abnormal detection performance.

The electronic structures of Ge nanowires under the [110] direction stress are calculated via effective-mass k · p theory, and the results manifest eight equivalent L -valleys will be split into fourfold degenerate L _1 -valleys and L _2 -valleys. With increasing stress, the electron levels at the L _1 -valleys and L _2 -valleys can be pushed close to and away from those at the Γ-valley, respectively, which causes the appearance of a rising inflection point in the Γ-valley filling ratio and gain peak intensity at around 2.5 GPa stress. Moreover, we prove the positive net peak gain with small diameters is apt to be obtained considering the free-carrier absorption loss.

IntroductionOff-label drug use is a global problem for which many countries and regions have issued legal provisions or reached an expert consensus. Off-label use is sometimes a necessity, especially since antibacterial drugs have become one of the most widely used drugs in pediatric settings and the issue of causing antimicrobial resistance has increasingly become unavoidable. It also poses additional risks, such as adverse drug reactions.MethodsOur study analyzed the antimicrobial prescriptions of pediatric inpatients in a large Chinese hospital in the first half of 2021. This retrospective investigation included 6,829 prescriptions, including 2,294 off-label prescriptions. We performed descriptive analyses of prescription antimicrobial agents among pediatric populations and reported the percentages and frequencies.Results It was found that off-label use of antibiotics was present in many children (n = 1,665, 48.9%) and was most common in newborns (n = 328, 82.8%). Among the commonly used antibiotics in pediatric patients, cephalosporins (n = 2,778, 40.7%) accounted for a relatively low proportion of offlabel use (n = 360, 15.7%), while macrolides (n = 628, 27.4%) and penicillins (n = 610, 26.6%) accounted for a higher proportion. The off-label type mainly referred to the appropriate population (46.5%) and dosage (dose, 10.0%; frequency of administration, 48.3%).DiscussionOff-label use was due to imperfect labels, improper medications, or medication errors. Only a few consensuses could apply to pediatric patients. More clinical trials are required to update the consensus, and drug labels must be continuously improved. The prescription behavior of doctors is also needed to be regulated. Rational use of drugs, especially antimicrobials, is the responsibility of all people, including the states, medical institutions, and individuals.

IntroductionTissue-resident stem cells (TRSCs) have the ability to self-renew and differentiate throughout an individual’s lifespan, and they utilize both mechanisms to maintain homeostasis and regenerate damaged tissues. Several studies suggest that these stem cells can serve as a potential source for cell-replacement-based therapy by promoting differentiation or expansion. In recent years, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been demonstrated to effectively stimulate stem cell proliferation and differentiation, promote tissue regeneration, and inhibit inflammatory responses.AimsTo present a comprehensive overview of current application and mechanism of LIPUS on tissue resident stem cells.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science for articles on the effects of LIPUS on tissue resident stem cells and its application.ResultsThe LIPUS could modulate cellular activities such as cell viability, proliferation and differentiation of tissue resident stem cells and related cells through various cellular signaling pathways. Currently, LIPUS, as the main therapeutic ultrasound, is being widely used in the treatment of preclinical and clinical diseases.ConclusionThe stem cell research is the hot topic in the biological science, while in recent years, increasing evidence has shown that TRSCs are good targets for LIPUS-regulated regenerative medicine. LIPUS may be a novel and valuable therapeutic approach for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases. How to further improve its efficiency and accuracy, as well as the biological mechanism therein, will be the focus of future research.

AimTargeted retinal photocoagulation (TRP) is an emerging laser technology for retinal targeted therapy. TRP can specifically act on unperfused retinal capillaries and retinal intermediate ischemic areas, reduce damage to tissue perfusion areas and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) complications or adverse events. In this regard, this review discusses the treatment options, efficacy, and latest progress of TRP for diabetic retinopathy (DR) based on randomized controlled trial (RCT), meta-analysis, case review, and other existing studies.MethodsIn-depth research was conducted on articles about the proposal and development of TRP, its simple application in DR, and combined therapy. In order to review the new progress, application methods, effects, and prospects of TRP in the treatment of DR, the articles related to TRP in the databases of PubMed and Web Of Science since this century were comprehensively analyzed.ResultsTRP is effective in treating DR and may become a substitute for PRP in the future. In addition, the treatment regimen of TRP combined with intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs can also be used as a new therapeutic approach to expand the treatment regimen for the treatment of DR, and this combination therapy also has effects on other retinal vascular diseases.ConclusionsWith the advancement of technology, TRP has been continuously applied in clinical practice, and its potential benefits have opened up broad prospects for the treatment of DR. The combination therapy of TRP and anti-VEGF is expected to become a new option for patients with DR an retinal diseases.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common mental illness resulting in immune disorders and even thoughts of suicidal behavior. Neuroimaging techniques serve as a quantitative tool for the assessment of MDD diagnosis. In the domain of computer-aided magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis, current research predominantly focuses on isolated local or global information, often neglecting the synergistic integration of multiple data sources, thus potentially overlooking valuable details. To address this issue, we proposed a diagnostic model for MDD that integrates high-frequency and low-frequency information using data from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). First, we designed a meta-low-frequency encoder (MLFE) and a meta-high-frequency encoder (MHFE) to extract the low-frequency and high-frequency feature information from DTI and sMRI, respectively. Then, we utilized a multilayer perceptron (MLP) to extract features from fMRI data. Following the feature cross-fusion, we designed the ensemble learning threshold voting method to determine the ultimate diagnosis for MDD. The model achieved accuracy, precision, specificity, F1-score, MCC, and AUC values of 0.724, 0.750, 0.882, 0.600, 0.421, and 0.667, respectively. This approach provides new research ideas for the diagnosis of MDD.

Catabolite control protein A (CcpA), an important global regulatory protein, is extensively found in S. aureus. Many studies have reported that CcpA plays a pivotal role in regulating the tricarboxylic acid cycle and pathogenicity. Moreover, the CcpA-knockout Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in diabetic mice, compared with the wild-type, showed a reduced colonization rate in the tissues and organs and decreased inflammatory factor expression. However, the effect of CcpA-knockout S. aureus on the host’s energy metabolism in a high-glucose environment and its mechanism of action remain unclear. S. aureus, a common and major human pathogen, is increasingly found in patients with obesity and diabetes, as recent clinical data reveal. To address this issue, we generated CcpA-knockout S. aureus strains with different genetic backgrounds to conduct in-depth investigations. In vitro experiments with high-glucose-treated cells and an in vivo model study with type 1 diabetic mice were used to evaluate the unknown effect of CcpA-knockout strains on both the glucose and lipid metabolism phenotypes of the host. We found that the strains caused an abnormal metabolic phenotype in type 1 diabetic mice, particularly in reducing random and fasting blood glucose and increasing triglyceride and fatty acid contents in the serum. In a high-glucose environment, CcpA-knockout S. aureus may activate the hepatic STAT5/PDK4 pathway and affect pyruvate utilization. An abnormal metabolic phenotype was thus observed in diabetic mice. Our findings provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in diabetic patients infected with S. aureus.

Introduction: Surface and subsurface defects were easily induced during abrasive machining process of optical crystals due to their high brittleness. Accurate characterization of these defects is the prerequisite for obtaining optical components with high surface integrity. Objectives: This work aims to evaluate subsurface defects of CaF2 single crystals induced by abrasive machining, the mappings between micro cracks and diffraction pattern curves, and the influence of micro cracks on lattice structures. Methods: Molecular dynamics simulation, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction experiments and cross-sectional TEM detection were used in this work. Results: In grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) detection experiments on lapping and polished specimens, shifts phenomenon of the peak position under the non-theoretical grazing incidence angle indicated that the subsurface was damaged to a certain extent. The micro cracks of the subsurface were evaluated by the consistent characteristic of “peak drift” of the diffraction pattern curve in both experiments and simulations. In addition, cross-sectional TEM results showed that regular micro cracks were found on the subsurface, which agreed well with the simulation results. Conclusion: The subsurface defects of CaF2 single crystals induced by abrasive machining, and the influence of micro cracks on lattice structures can be evaluated by molecular dynamics simulation. The simulation results revealed the mappings between the micro cracks and diffraction pattern curve, which demonstrated that a phenomenon of “peak drift” occurred near the diffraction angle of a specific crystal plane. This work provided a novel technology for the nondestructive testing of defects of single crystal materials at nano- and micro- scales.

Depression is the most common non⁃motor symptom of Parkinson's disease. However, the pathogenesis of depression in Parkinson's disease (DPD) remains undetermined. In order to further standardize and improve clinical diagnosis and treatment of DPD, relevant domestic experts of traditional Chinese and Western medicine from Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Guangdong and Tianjin, Beijing, Shanghai jointly developed "Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine (2021 edition)" after detailed discussions both online and offline. With integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, the consensus sorts out diagnosis, evaluation tools and treatment of Western medicine according to the diagnostic criteria of Parkinson's disease and depression, and traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment system based on syndrome differentiation of Parkinson's disease according to the traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis of tremor syndrome and depression syndrome. Different treatment methods are provided for the early and advanced stages of Parkinson's disease according to the treatment principles of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. The expert consensus is superior in clinic and relatively safe, which can be used as a reference for clinicians.

PPARγ is well-known as the target receptor of TZD anti-diabetic drugs. However, recently the therapeutic benefits of these TZD drugs have been compromised by many severe side effects because of their full PPARγ agonistic action to lock the AF-2 helix. Herein, we conducted a virtual screening in the combination with structure-based design, synthesis and biological evaluation both in vitro and in vivo, leading to the identification of a potent candidate YG-C-20 as the SPPARγM with improved and safer anti-diabetic therapeutics. Mechanistically, this compound presented such desired pharmacological profiles (e.g., preferable anti-diabetic efficiencies and minimized side effects) mainly via selectively inhibiting the CDK5-mediated phosphorylation of PPARγ-Ser273 and up-regulating the expression of insulin-sensitive genes Adiponectin and Glut4, yet lacking the classical full agonism to induce the adipogenesis and the expression of key adipogenic genes including PPARγ, aP2, CD36, LPL, C/EBPα and FASN. Further validation led to the final recognition of its (R)-configured isomer as the potential conformational form. Subsequent molecular docking studies revealed a unique hydrogen-bonding network of (R)-YG-C-20 with three full PPARγ agonism-unrelated residues, especially with PPARγ-Ser273 phosphorylation-associated site Ser342, which not only gives a clear verification for our structure-based design but also provides a proof of concept for the abovementioned molecular mechanism.

Abstract The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) genome project aims to reveal the genetic information and regulatory network of herbal medicines, and to clarify their molecular mechanisms in the prevention and treatment of human diseases. Moreover, the TCM genome could provide the basis for the discovery of the functional genes of active ingredients in TCM, and for the breeding and improvement of TCM. The traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (TCM-Blast) is a web interface for TCM protein and DNA sequence similarity searches. It contains approximately 40G of genome data on TCMs, including protein and DNA sequence for 36 TCMs with high medical value.The development of a publicly accessible TCM genome alignment database hosted on the TCM-Blast website ( http://viroblast.pungentdb.org.cn/TCM-Blast/viroblast.php ) has expanded to query multiple sequence databases to obtain TCM genome data, and provide user-friendly output for easy analysis and browsing of BLAST results. The genome sequencing of TCMs helps to elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of important secondary metabolites and provides an essential resource for gene discovery studies and molecular breeding. The TCMs genome provides a valuable resource for the investigation of novel bioactive compounds and drugs from these TCMs under the guidance of TCM clinical practice. Our database could be expanded to other TCMs after the determination of their genome data.

In the cold regions of China, lignin-rich corn straw accumulates at high levels due to low temperatures. The application of psychrotrophic lignin-degrading bacteria should be an effective means of overcoming the low-temperature limit for lignin degradation and promoting the utilization of corn straw. However, this application is limited by the lack of suitable strains for decomposition of lignin; furthermore, the metabolic mechanism of psychrotrophic lignin-degrading bacteria is unclear. Here, the whole genome of the psychrotrophic lignin-degrading bacterium Arthrobacter sp. C2, isolated in our previous work, was sequenced. Comparative genomics revealed that C2 contained unique genes related to lignin degradation and low-temperature adaptability. DyP may participate in lignin degradation and may be a cold-adapted enzyme. Moreover, DyP was proven to catalyze lignin Cα-Cβ bond cleavage. Deletion and complementation of the DyP gene verified its ability to catalyze the first-step reaction of lignin degradation. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that the transcriptional expression of the DyP gene was upregulated, and the genetic compensation mechanism allowed C2ΔDyP to degrade lignin, which provided novel insights into the survival strategy of the psychrotrophic mutant strain C2ΔdyP. This study improved our understanding of the metabolic mechanism of psychrotrophic lignin-degrading bacteria and provided potential application options for energy-saving production using cold-adapted lignin-degrading enzymes.

Coronavirus disease 2019 was first discovered in December 2019 and subsequently became a global pandemic with serious political, economic, and social implications worldwide. We urgently need to find drugs that can be effective against COVID-19. Among the many observational studies, ivermectin has attracted the attention of many countries. Ivermectin is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug that also has some antiviral effects. We reviewed studies related to ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 over the last 2 years (2019.12–2022.03) via search engines such as PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost. Seven studies showed a lower mortality rate in the ivermectin group than in the control group, six studies found that the ivermectin group had a significantly fewer length of hospitalization than the control group, and eight studies showed better negative RT-PCR responses in the IVM group than in the control group. Our systematic review indicated that ivermectin may be effective for mildly to moderately ill patients. There is no clear evidence or guidelines to recommend ivermectin as a therapeutic agent for COVID-19, so physicians should use it with caution in the absence of better alternatives in the clinical setting, and self-medication is not recommended for patients.

Abstract The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of a rapidly spreading illness, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), affecting more than seventeen million people around the world. Diagnosis and treatment guidelines for clinicians caring for patients are needed. In the early stage, we have issued “A rapid advice guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infected pneumonia (standard version)”; now there are many direct evidences emerged and may change some of previous recommendations and it is ripe for develop an evidence-based guideline. We formed a working group of clinical experts and methodologists. The steering group members proposed 29 questions that are relevant to the management of COVID-19 covering the following areas: chemoprophylaxis, diagnosis, treatments, and discharge management. We searched the literature for direct evidence on the management of COVID-19, and assessed its certainty generated recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Recommendations were either strong or weak, or in the form of ungraded consensus-based statement. Finally, we issued 34 statements. Among them, 6 were strong recommendations for, 14 were weak recommendations for, 3 were weak recommendations against and 11 were ungraded consensus-based statement. They covered topics of chemoprophylaxis (including agents and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) agents), diagnosis (including clinical manifestations, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respiratory tract specimens, IgM and IgG antibody tests, chest computed tomography, chest x-ray, and CT features of asymptomatic infections), treatments (including lopinavir-ritonavir, umifenovir, favipiravir, interferon, remdesivir, combination of antiviral drugs, hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine, interleukin-6 inhibitors, interleukin-1 inhibitors, glucocorticoid, qingfei paidu decoction, lianhua qingwen granules/capsules, convalescent plasma, lung transplantation, invasive or noninvasive ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)), and discharge management (including discharge criteria and management plan in patients whose RT-PCR retesting shows SARS-CoV-2 positive after discharge). We also created two figures of these recommendations for the implementation purpose. We hope these recommendations can help support healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients.

Biodegradable microarc oxidation (MAO) coatings were prepared on the Mg-2.0Zn-0.5Ca alloys treated with and without deep cryogenic treatment (DCT). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were used to characterize the coating morphology and phase composition. The electrochemical corrosion behavior was investigated using the electrochemical workstation. The effects of DCT on the formation mechanism and corrosion behavior of the MAO coatings were investigated. The results indicate that the DCT has refining effect on the Mg-2.0Zn-0.5Ca alloy. The mechanisms of the coating formation and growth can be influenced by the introduction of the DCT through influencing the grain size, phase precipitation and crystal defect states of the substrate. The changing of the microstructure of the alloy can alter the spark discharge characteristics of the MAO reaction. The DCT has an effect on the controllability of the corrosion rate of the MAO coated samples.

Abstract Background Carvacrol is a food additive with various bioactivities, including reducing the blood glucose level as well as improvement of heart function, in diabetic mice. We explored the antihyperglycemic effect of carvacrol and its effect on the key hepatic enzymes accounting for glucose metabolism. Methods A streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes-mellitus model in mice was used. Mice were divided randomly into a control group, diabetic group, low dose carvacrol-treated diabetic group (10 mg/kg body weight [BW]), and high dose carvacrol-treated diabetic group (20 mg/kg BW). Carvacrol was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) in each carvacrol-treated group daily for 4 weeks and 6 weeks, respectively. The level of random plasma glucose, fasting plasma glucose, and plasma insulin was determined at 4 weeks and 6 weeks after carvacrol administration. The plasma level of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and the activity of hepatic key enzymes related to glucose metabolism were determined. Results Carvacrol treatment decreased the levels of random plasma glucose and fasting plasma glucose, significantly in a dose-dependent manner. A significant improvement in glucose tolerance and a significant decrease in the plasma level of TG were observed in carvacrol-treated diabetic mice at a dose of 20 mg/kg BW compared with that in vehicle-treated diabetic mice. There was no significant difference in the plasma level of TC and insulin between vehicle-treated diabetic mice and carvacrol-treated diabetic mice. Carvacrol treatment at a dose of 20 mg/kg BW significantly reduced the plasma level of LDH but not AST, ALT, or ALP, compared with that in the vehicle-treated diabetic group. The activity of hexokinase (HK), 6-phosphofructokinase (PFK), and citrate synthetase (CS) was increased by carvacrol treatment in diabetic mice. Conclusions Carvacrol exerted an anti-hyperglycemic effect in STZ-induced diabetic mice. This was achieved through regulating glucose metabolism by increasing the activity of the hepatic enzymes HK, PFK, and CS.

The backfilling of lime soil in ultra-deep and ultra-narrow foundation trenches is a difficult construction link, and ordinary-cemented soil has drawbacks, including poor strength, impermeability, and frost resistance. To solve these problems, fly ash (FA)–water glass (WG)-composite-cemented soil is developed based on a background project. The three-factor orthogonal tests are conducted on the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the composite-cemented soil, and the optimal engineering mix proportion is proposed for the FA-WG-composite-cemented soil. Its UCS is compared with that of cemented soil only doped with FA or WG (FA- and WG-cemented soil). In addition, the cyclic wetting–drying tests, cyclic freeze–thaw tests, and impermeability tests are carried out to study the endurance of the composite-cemented soil in cold regions rich in water. The hydration products of the composite-cemented soil are investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and the curing mechanism of the composite-cemented soil is discussed from the microscopic perspective. The research results indicate that the mixing ratio of cement is crucial to the strength development of the cemented soil; the mixing ratio of FA greatly influences the strength development of the cemented soil in the middle and late stages; the mixing ratio of WG only slightly affects the strength. The ratio of cement, FA, and WG of 9%:12%:3% is the optimal engineering mix proportion of the composite-cemented soil. Compared with ordinary-cemented oil and FA- and WG-cemented soil, the composite-cemented soil shows significantly improved compressive load-bearing capacity. The permeability coefficient of the composite-cemented soil is always obviously lower than that of the ordinary-cemented soil after any curing period. Despite the mass loss, the composite-cemented soil is superior to the ordinary one in overall endurance after wetting–drying and freeze–thaw cycles. Through SEM and XRD analysis, the content of hydration products of the composite-cemented soil is found to be obviously higher than that of ordinary-cemented soil after any curing period, and the hydrates exert stronger cementing action on soil particles in the composite-cemented soil. The contents of C-S-H gel and Aft crystals in the composite-cemented soil are apparently larger than those in the ordinary-cemented soil. Under the alkali activation of WG, the FA produces free SiO32− and AlO2−, which undergo the polymerization reaction with Ca2+ to generate C-S-H gel and C-A-H gel, further promoting the hydration of cement.

Porous composites have been widely used in the adsorption and catalysis field due to their special structure, abundant sites, and light weight. In this work, an environmentally friendly porous composite was successfully prepared via a facile freeze-drying method, in which cotton cellulose nanofiber (CCNF) was adopted as the main framework to construct the connected flue structure, and aramid nanofiber (ANF) was used as a reinforcer to enhance its thermal property. As-prepared porous materials retained a regulated inter-connected hole structure and controllable porosity after ice template evolution and possessed improved resistance to thermal collapse with the introduction of a small amount of aramid nanofiber, as evaluated and verified by FTIR, SEM, and TGA measurements. With the increased addition of cotton cellulose nanofiber and aramid nanofiber, the porous composites exhibited decreased porosity and increased pressure drop performance. For the CCNF/ANF-5 sample, the pressure drop was 1867 Pa with a porosity of 7.46 cm3/g, which best met the required pressure drop value of 1870 Pa. As-prepared porous composite with adjustable interior structure and enhanced thermal property could be a promising candidate in the tobacco field.

A three-dimensional cutting simulation prediction model based on DEFORM-3D finite element software was developed and experimentally validated, with a maximum error of 21.1% between the experimental and simulation results. The effects of the difference in cutting mechanism between conventional machining (CM) and laser-assisted machining (LAM) of TC6 titanium alloy on the tool wear and the surface roughness were investigated in terms of the cutting force and the cutting temperature. The depth of the laser-heated layer was mainly responsible for the difference in the cutting mechanism between the two methods. When the depth of the heating layer was smaller than the cutting depth, the tool wear of the LAM was larger than that of the CM. When the depth of the heating layer was larger than the cut depth, the surface roughness of the LAM was higher than that of the CM. Range analysis revealed that the cutting speed had the largest effect on the maximum wear depth of the rake face. Based on linear regression analysis, the cutting depth had a larger effect on the surface roughness in LAM. The average error between the linear regression prediction equation and the experimental results for surface roughness was 4.30%.

Retinopathy of prematurity is an ophthalmic disease with a very high blindness rate. With its increasing incidence year by year, its timely diagnosis and treatment are of great significance. Due to the lack of timely and effective fundus screening for premature infants in remote areas, leading to an aggravation of the disease and even blindness, in this paper, a deep learning-based collaborative edge-cloud telemedicine system is proposed to mitigate this issue. In the proposed system, deep learning algorithms are mainly used for classification of processed images. Our algorithm is based on ResNet101 and uses undersampling and resampling to improve the data imbalance problem in the field of medical image processing. Artificial intelligence algorithms are combined with a collaborative edge–cloud architecture to implement a comprehensive telemedicine system to realize timely screening and diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity in remote areas with shortages or a complete lack of expert medical staff. Finally, the algorithm is successfully embedded in a mobile terminal device and deployed through the support of a core hospital of Guangdong Province. The results show that we achieved 75% ACC and 60% AUC. This research is of great significance for the development of telemedicine systems and aims to mitigate the lack of medical resources and their uneven distribution in rural areas.

Background: It is well-established that activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling plays important roles in cancer development and progression. However, the underlying mechanism by which the NF-κB pathway is constitutively activated in cancer remains largely unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of PICALM interacting mitotic regulator (PIMREG) on sustaining NF-κB activation in breast cancer. Methods: The underlying mechanisms in which PIMREG-mediated NF-κB constitutive activation were determined via immunoprecipitation, EMSA and luciferase reporter assays. The expression of PIMREG was examined by quantitative PCR and western blotting analyses and immunohistochemical assay. The effect of PIMREG on aggressiveness of breast cancer cell was measured using MTT, soft agar clonogenic assay, wound healing and transwell matrix penetration assays in vitro and a Xenografted tumor model in vivo. Findings: PIMREG competitively interacted with the REL homology domain (RHD) of NF-κB with IκBα, and sustained NF-κB activation by promotion of nuclear accumulation and transcriptional activity of NF-κB via disrupting the NF-κB/IκBα negative feedback loop. PIMREG overexpression significantly enhanced NF-κB transactivity and promoted the breast cancer aggressiveness. The expression of PIMREG was markedly upregulated in breast cancer and positively correlated with clinical characteristics of patients with breast cancer, including the clinical stage, tumor-node-metastasis classification and poorer survival. Interpretation: PIMREG promotes breast cancer aggressiveness via disrupting the NF-κB/IκBα negative feedback loop, which suggests that PIMREG might be a valuable prognostic factor and potential target for diagnosis and therapy of metastatic breast cancer. Fund: The science foundation of China, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou Education System, and the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou. Keywords: PIMREG, Breast cancer, NF-κB, IκBα, Negative feedback loop

Polyurethane cement (PUC) is now commonly used in the reinforcement of old bridges, which exhibit various issues such as poor toughness, temperature-sensitive mechanical properties, and brittle failure. These problems can lead to the failure of the reinforcement effect of the PUC on old bridges in certain operating environments, leading to the collapse of such reinforced bridges. In order to alleviate these shortcomings, in this study, the toughness of PUC is improved by adding polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, carbon fiber, and steel fiber. In addition, we study the change law of the flexural strength of PUC between −40 °C and +40 °C. The control parameters evaluated are fiber type, fiber volume ratio, and temperature. A series of flexural tests and scanning electron microscope (SEM) test results show that the flexural strength first increases and then decreases with the increase in the volume-doping ratio of the three fibers. The optimum volume-mixing ratios of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber, carbon fiber, and steel fiber are 0.3%, 0.04% and 1%, respectively. Excessive addition of fiber will affect the operability and will adversely affect the mechanical properties. The flexural strength of both fiber-reinforced and control samples decreases with increasing temperature. Using the flexural test results, a two-factor (fiber content, temperature) BP neural network flexural strength prediction model is established. It is verified that the model is effective and accurate, and the experimental value and the predicted value are in good agreement.

Abstract Surface downward longwave radiation (SDLR) is a major component of the energy budget. Although studies have reported the spatiotemporal variations of SDLR in China, the spatiotemporal coverage of the situ measurements used is always limited. In this study, the gradient boosting regression tree (GBRT) was developed to reconstruct SDLR based on air temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH), and downward shortwave radiation (DSR). Ground measurements collected at the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) and the Arid and Semi‐arid Region Collaborative Observation Project (ASRCOP) were used to build and evaluate the GBRT model. The evaluation results showed that the daily SDLR estimates are correlated well with the SDLR in situ, with an overall root mean square errors (RMSE) of 16.5 Wm−2 and a correlation coefficient (R) value of 0.91 for the validation data set. Comparison with existing SDLR products showed that accuracy and trends of the SDLR estimates based on the GBRT method are reasonable. To obtain long‐term SDLR data for spatiotemporal analysis over China, densely distributed reconstructed DSR and ground measured Ta and RH collected at 756 Chinese Meteorological Administration (CMA) stations were used as input to estimate the SDLR based on the GBRT method over China during 1958–2015. The long‐term estimated SDLRs at the selected 563 stations showed that SDLR increased at an average rate of 1.3 Wm−2 per decade over China from 1958 to 2015. The trend of SDLR is positively correlated with the trend in Ta and water vapor pressure, whereas negatively correlated with the trend in DSR.

Uniform polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes were synthesized by a self-assembly method under relatively dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy were employed to characterize the morphology and molecular structure of the PANI products. SEM images show that the PANI nanotubes have uniform morphology and form compact coating on the substrate surface. For comparison, aggregated PANI was also synthesized by conventional polymerization method. The performance of the PANI products on carbon steel was studied using eletrochemical measurement and immersion corrosion experiment in 3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution. The corrosion potentials of carbon steel samples increase by 0.196 V and 0.060 V after coated with PANI nanotubes and aggregated PANI, respectively, and the corrosion currents density decrease by about 76.32% and 36.64%, respectively. The 6-day immersion experiment showed that the carbon steel samples coated by PANI nanotubes showed more excellent anticorrosion performance, because the more compact coating formed by PANI nanotubes may inhibit the corrosion process between the anodic and cathodic.

Vascular complications induced by diabetes constitute the principal cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. It has been reported that carvacrol (CAR) possesses a wide range of biological activities. The effects of CAR on diabetes-induced vasculopathy remain unknown. In this study, diabetic mice were created by the intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in male C57BL/6 J mice to investigate whether CAR provided a protective effect against diabetes-induced vasculopathy and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. We found that CAR decreased blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. Moreover, CAR ameliorated diabetes-induced aortic morphological alterations, as evidenced by an increased thickness in the intima-media width and an increased number of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) layers. Further studies revealed that CAR inhibited hypercontractility in the aortas of diabetic mice and VSMCs in response to hyperglycemia, as evidenced by the relaxation of phenylephrine(PE)-induced vasoconstriction, the decreased expression of smooth muscle (SM)-α-actin, and the increased expression of Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Furthermore, the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was inhibited in the aortas of diabetic mice and VSMCs in response to hyperglycemia, while CAR treatment activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results strongly suggest that CAR plays a protective role in diabetes-induced aortic hypercontractility, possibly by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. CAR is a potential drug for the treatment of diabetic vasculopathy.

The Hippo–YAP1/TAZ pathway is a highly conserved central mechanism that controls organ size through the regulation of cell proliferation and other physical attributes of cells. The transcriptional factors Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) and PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) act as downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, and their subcellular location and transcriptional activities are affected by multiple post-translational modifications (PTMs). Studies have conclusively demonstrated a pivotal role of the Hippo–YAP1/TAZ pathway in cardiac development, disease, and regeneration. Targeted therapeutics for the YAP1/TAZ could be an effective treatment option for cardiac regeneration and disease. This review article provides an overview of the Hippo–YAP1/TAZ pathway and the increasing impact of PTMs in fine-tuning YAP1/TAZ activation; in addition, we discuss the potential contributions of the Hippo–YAP1/TAZ pathway in cardiac development, disease, and regeneration.

Ceramic matrix composites have high hardness, so their machining requires high grinding forces that cause severe wear of the grinding head. To investigate this problem, the present study investigated the cutting performance of conventional grinding (CG) and laser-assisted grinding (LAG) of SiC _f /SiC ceramic matrix composites using electroplated diamond grinding heads. Firstly, a three-dimensional transient heat transfer model based on a Gaussian heat source was developed to observe the surface and internal temperature field distributions of SiC _f /SiC ceramic matrix composites subjected to laser irradiation. Secondly, the effects of laser heating temperature on the workpiece surface on the grinding forces were analysed. It was found that the axial and feed grinding forces were more than 40% lower under LAG than CG due to the removal mechanism of the SiC matrix changing from brittle fracture to ductile fracture and the oxidation reactions occurred in the SiC _f /SiC ceramic matrix composites. Thirdly, the material removal mechanism was analysed by observing the morphology of machined surfaces, which showed that ductile removal from the SiC matrix occurs during LAG. Finally, it is also founded that the mean height of exposed abrasive grains from machined surface was reduced by 1.02 μ m, 12.52 μ m in LAG and CG respectively. The forms of wear caused by abrasive grains were studied. Under CG, the abrasive grains mainly exhibit cleavage fractures; while under LAG, micro-abrasion is the main wear form.

This paper investigates the discrete characteristic and edge effect of subsurface microhardness of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The results show that the discrete degree of Ti-6Al-4V alloy microhardness decreases with increasing loading force. When the loading force is 200 gf, only five microhardness measurements are needed to reduce the interference of discrete characteristic. Importantly, the edge effect was found during measuring the subsurface microhardness of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The edge effect means that the microhardness value is little when its indentation position is close to a workpiece edge. Finite element analysis reveals that the low support strength of workpiece edge is responsible for the edge effect. This study further clarifies that a Vickers indenter is not suitable for characterizing the machined subsurface microhardness on account of the limitations of edge effect and indenter size.

Abstract Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global epidemic afflicting 20–30% in the general population. The animal model of NAFLD available at the present are less clinically relevant. In this study. We aimed to establish a NAFLD model of rhesus monkeys and develop an ultrasonographic steatosis score (USS) system to grade hepatic steatosis in this model. Methods We performed hepatic ultrasonography and blood biochemical tests on 86 rhesus monkeys with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS), among which 45 animals were further assessed by histopathological analysis. Results The liver histological features of rhesus monkeys NAFLD were resemble to those of NAFLD patients. There was a close correlation between the histological steatosis grade and the USS (Spearman’s coefficient, 0.705, p

Hyperinsulinemia can precede the development of insulin resistance. Here the authors identify a PKD2 mutation that leads to hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in Rhesus monkey and show that PKD2 deficiency promotes beta cell insulin secretion by activating L-type Ca2+ channels.

Abstract Background Small RNA and degradome sequencing have identified a large number of miRNA-target pairs in plant seeds. However, detailed spatial and temporal studies of miRNA-mediated regulation, which can reflect links between seed development and germination are still lacking. Results In this study, we extended our investigation on miRNAs-involved gene regulation by a combined analysis of seed maturation and germination in barley. Through bioinformatics analysis of small RNA sequencing data, a total of 1324 known miRNA families and 448 novel miRNA candidates were identified. Of those, 16 known miRNAs with 40 target genes, and three novel miRNAs with four target genes were confirmed based on degradome sequencing data. Conserved miRNA families such as miR156, miR168, miR166, miR167, and miR894 were highly expressed in embryos of developing and germinating seeds. A barley-specific miRNA, miR5071, which was predicted to target an OsMLA10-like gene, accumulated at a high level, suggesting its involvement in defence response during these two developmental stages. Based on target prediction and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis of putative targets, nine highly expressed miRNAs were found to be related to phytohormone signalling and hormone cross-talk. Northern blot and qRT-PCR analysis showed that these miRNAs displayed differential expression patterns during seed development and germination, indicating their different roles in hormone signalling pathways. In addition, we showed that miR393 affected seed development through targeting two genes encoding the auxin receptors TIR1/AFBs in barley, as over-expression of miR393 led to an increased length–width ratio of seeds, whereas target mimic (MIM393)-mediated inhibition of its activity decreased the 1000-grain weight of seeds. Furthermore, the expression of auxin-responsive genes, abscisic acid- and gibberellic acid-related genes was altered in miR393 misexpression lines during germination and early seedling growth. Conclusions Our work indicates that miRNA-target pairs participate in gene expression regulation and hormone interaction in barley embryo and provides evidence that miR393-mediated auxin response regulation affects grain development and influences gibberellic acid and abscisic acid homeostasis during germination.

Background: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), a common complication of diabetes mellitus, eventually leads to heart failure. Carvacrol is a food additive with diverse bioactivities. We aimed to study the protective effects and mechanisms of carvacrol in DCM.Methods: We used a streptozotocin-induced and db/db mouse model of types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM), respectively. Both study groups received daily intraperitoneal injections of carvacrol for 6 weeks. Cardiac remodeling was evaluated by histological analysis. We determined gene expression of cardiac remodeling markers (Nppa and Myh7) by quantitative real-time PCR and cardiac function by echocardiography. Changes of PI3K/AKT signaling were determined with Western blotting. GLUT4 translocation was evaluated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining.Results: Compared with control mice, both T1DM and T2DM mice showed cardiac remodeling and left ventricular dysfunction. Carvacrol significantly reduced blood glucose levels and suppressed cardiac remodeling in mice with T1DM and T2DM. At the end of the treatment period, both T1DM and T2DM mice showed lesser cardiac hypertrophy, Nppa and Myh7 mRNA expressions, and cardiac fibrosis, compared to mice administered only the vehicle. Moreover, carvacrol significantly restored PI3K/AKT signaling, which was impaired in mice with T1DM and T2DM. Carvacrol increased levels of phosphorylated PI3K, PDK1, AKT, and AS160 and inhibited PTEN phosphorylation in mice with T1DM and T2DM. Carvacrol treatment promoted GLUT4 membrane translocation in mice with T1DM and T2DM. Metformin was used as the positive drug control in T2DM mice, and carvacrol showed comparable effects to that of metformin on cardiac remodeling and modulation of signaling pathways.Conclusion: Carvacrol protected against DCM in mice with T1DM and T2DM by restoring PI3K/AKT signaling-mediated GLUT4 membrane translocation and is a potential treatment of DCM.

It is of great importance for climate change studies to construct a worldwide, long-term surface downward longwave radiation (Ld, 4–100 μm) dataset. Although a number of global Ld datasets are available, their low accuracies and coarse spatial resolutions limit their applications. This study generated a daily Ld dataset with a 5-km spatial resolution over the global land surface from 2000 to 2018 using atmospheric parameters, which include 2-m air temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH) at 1000 hPa, total column water vapor (TCWV), surface downward shortwave radiation (Sd), and elevation, based on the gradient boosting regression tree (GBRT) method. The generated Ld dataset was evaluated using ground measurements collected from AmeriFlux, AsiaFlux, baseline surface radiation network (BSRN), surface radiation budget network (SURFRAD), and FLUXNET networks. The validation results showed that the root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE), and correlation coefficient (R) values of the generated daily Ld dataset were 17.78 W m−2, 0.99 W m−2, and 0.96 (p < 0.01). Comparisons with other global land surface radiation products indicated that the generated Ld dataset performed better than the clouds and earth’s radiant energy system synoptic (CERES-SYN) edition 4.1 dataset and ERA5 reanalysis product at the selected sites. In addition, the analysis of the spatiotemporal characteristics for the generated Ld dataset showed an increasing trend of 1.8 W m−2 per decade (p < 0.01) from 2003 to 2018, which was closely related to Ta and water vapor pressure. In general, the generated Ld dataset has a higher spatial resolution and accuracy, which can contribute to perfect the existing radiation products.

Nb powder with an average diameter of 15 μ m was added to the molten pool during wire arc additive manufacturing of 5B06 aluminum alloy. The unmelted Nb with high melting point and the in-situ alloying of Al _3 Nb acted as heterogeneous nucleation core. The fine equiaxed grains with a diameter less than 50 μ m was achieved, and the texture intensity of which was obviously weakened. An improvement in both the ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the Nb added samples were observed, and the micro-hardness of which was also improved due to the refined grain structure.

The downward longwave radiation (Ld, 4–100 μm) is a major component of research for the surface radiation energy budget and balance. In this study, we applied five machine learning methods, namely artificial neural network (ANN), support vector regression (SVR), gradient boosting regression tree (GBRT), random forest (RF), and multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), to estimate Ld using ground measurements collected from 27 Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) stations. Ld measurements in situ were used to validate the accuracy of Ld estimation models on daily and monthly time scales. A comparison of the results demonstrated that the estimates on the basis of the GBRT method had the highest accuracy, with an overall root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 17.50 W m−2 and an R value of 0.96 for the test dataset on a daily time scale. These values were 11.19 W m−2 and 0.98, respectively, on a monthly time scale. The effects of land cover and elevation were further studied to comprehensively evaluate the performance of each machine learning method. All machine learning methods achieved better results over the grass land cover type but relatively worse results over the tundra. GBRT, RF, and MARS methods were found to show good performance at both the high- and low-altitude sites.

Downward surface solar radiation (Rs) plays a dominant role in determining the climate and environment on the Earth. However, the densely distributed ground observations of Rs are usually insufficient to meet the increasing demand of the climate diagnosis and analysis well, so it is essential to build a long-term accurate Rs dataset. The extremely randomized trees (ERT) algorithm was used to generate Rs using routine meteorological observations (2000–2015) from the Climate Data Center of the Chinese Meteorological Administration (CDC/CMA). The estimated Rs values were validated against ground measurements at the national scale with an overall correlation coefficient value of 0.97, a mean bias of 0.04 Wm−2, a root-mean-square-error value of 23.12 Wm−2, and a mean relative error of 9.81%. It indicates that the estimated Rs from the ERT-based model is reasonably accurate. Moreover, the ERT-based model was used to generate a new daily Rs dataset at 756 CDC/CMA stations from 1958 to 2015. The long-term variation trends of Rs at 454 stations covering 46 consecutive years (1970–2015) were also analyzed. The Rs in China showed a significant decline trend (−1.1 Wm−2 per decade) during 1970–2015. A decreasing trend (−2.8 Wm−2 per decade) in Rs during 1970–1992 was observed, followed by a recovery trend (0.23 Wm−2 per decade) during 1992–2015. The recovery trends at individual stations were found at 233 out of 454 stations during 1970–2015, which were mainly located in southern and northern China. The new Rs dataset would substantially provide basic data for the related studies in agriculture, ecology, and meteorology.