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This study used accelerometers and hydrophones to measure the vibration and underwater noise from two different types of offshore wind turbine installed near the East China Sea Bridge (Shanghai). Wind speed and rotor speed were also monitored synchronously. The spectrograms of the vibration and underwater noise signals display well-defined spectral lines that are easily distinguishable. Line-component spectra of both vibration and underwater noise signals were synchronously extracted through filtering and correlation analysis. On this basis, relationships between the intensity and frequency of wind turbine vibration and underwater noise line-component spectra, rotor speed, and wind speed were analyzed. Results indicate that rotor speed is positively correlated with wind speed, and that the peak vibration frequencies and intensities of both types of turbine are positively correlated with rotor speed. Consequently, it can be concluded that the frequency and intensity of turbine-generated underwater noise are closely related to wind speed. Additionally, the vibration mechanism and the characterization of underwater noise of the wind turbines have been revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to quantitatively analyze the three-dimensional microstructure of ultra-thin HDF paving boards and molding boards, in order to explore the modeling methods of HDF and attempt to predict its mechanical properties more accurately through theoretical and simulation analyses. In this study, non-destructive analysis of the internal microstructure was conducted using computed tomography (CT) imaging technology. The characteristics of microstructural evolution during the hot compression molding process were explored, and all analyzed data were utilized for 3D reconstruction and simulation model construction. Ultra-thin fiberboards with different fiber ratios were modeled through volume compression and experimentally simulated in tension. The results were compared with experimentally determined results for verification purposes. Additionally, differences in surface roughness, water absorption, and expansion of ultra-thin fiberboards with varying fiber ratios were analyzed. The findings indicate that different fiber ratios have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of ultra-thin fiberboards; tensile strength increases with an increase in medium-length fibers content when fibers are pulled or split, highlighting the key role played by the strength of the fibers themselves. Furthermore, it was observed that surface roughness and water-absorbing expansion rate are lower when a higher proportion of fine fibers is present. The results from this study hold great significance for gaining a deeper understanding of the composition, structure, and properties of ultra-thin fiberboards as well as exploring modeling methods for high-density fiberboards. They also provide guidance for optimizing material formulations and preparation processes while improving performance and quality standards for poplar-ultra-thin fiberboards. • We quantitatively analysed the three-dimensional microstructure of ultra-thin fibreboard paving slabs and moulded panels. • We explored the modelling method of high-density fibreboard and obtained a model of high-density fibreboard with a volume fraction of 90%. • We explored the effects of different fibre ratios on the mechanical properties of ultra-thin fibreboards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogen receptor (ER) is a major transcriptional regulator that plays an important role in the treatment of breast cancer. Herein, we rationally designed and synthesized a novel small-molecule near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe, 2-(4-(2-(2,5-bis(2-fluoro-4-hydroxyphenyl)thiophen-3-yl)vinyl)− 3-cyano-5,5-dimethylfuran-2(5 H)ylidene)malononitrile (TCFT) , which could enable prolonged live-cell imaging by three-dimensional (3D) confocal microscopy. Moreover, this bifunctional probe also exhibited photostability, selective estrogen receptor modulator activity, and potent antiproliferative activity for targeted breast cancer therapy, which would be a prominent NIR fluorescent probe for breast cancer study. [Display omitted] • A novel photostable NIR fluorescent probe TCFT was developed for estrogen receptor. • TCFT was successfully applied in prolong live-cell imaging of estrogen receptor by 3D confocal microscopy. • TCFT exhibited selective estrogen receptor modulator activity and potent antiproliferative activity for breast cancer therapy. • TCFT possessed the potential as a theranostic probe for estrogen receptor (+) breast cancer study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is regarded as a recurring inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, for which treatment approaches remain notably limited. In this study, we demonstrated that ginseng polysaccharides (GPs) could alleviate the development of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC as reflected by the ameliorated pathological lesions in the colon. GPs strikingly suppressed the expression levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines, as well as significantly inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells. Microbiota-dependent investigations by virtue of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, antibiotic treatment and fecal microbiota transplantation illustrated that GPs treatment prominently restored intestinal microbial balance predominantly through modulating the relative abundance of Lactobacillus. Additionally, GPs remarkably influenced the levels of microbial tryptophan metabolites, diminished the intestinal permeability and strengthened intestinal barrier integrity via inhibiting the 5-HT/HTR3A signaling pathway. Taken together, the promising therapeutic potential of GPs on the development of UC predominantly hinges on the capacity to suppress the expression of inflammatory cytokines as well as to influence Lactobacillus and microbial tryptophan metabolites. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An automatic fundamental contour extraction of dugong chirps was presented. • Five categories of dugong chirps were identified. • A specific classification criterion was proposed for the automatic and effective identification of chirp types. • Our results enrich the known repertoire of dugong chirps, and may be useful in future passive acoustic monitoring studies. A steady decrease in the Dugong (Dugong dugon) population has been notices worldwide. Considering the social function and utilization rate, dugong chirp classification has become an important bioacoustics research topic, which may help marine biologists monitor the change of their population, study their behavioral context in different environments and optimise the protection policy. However, the objective classification of dugong chirps has not been adequately addressed in the literature. In this paper, an automatic fundamental contour extraction using the tempo-frequency variables to describe the contours of the fundamental frequency of the chirps is presented. With the automatic fundamental contour extraction, the time–frequency information of dugong chirps can be effectively represented, which gives a good classification performance. Following the principles used for the classification of dolphin whistles, three variables were chosen and performed with hierarchical cluster analysis. Based on these results and further visual examination, five categories of chirps were identified. A simple classification criterion was proposed which could be used in the automatic and effective identification of chirp types. Our findings enrich the known repertoire of dugong chirps, and may be useful in future passive acoustic monitoring studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stem cell transplantation shows great potential to improve the long-term survival of cirrhosis patients. However, therapeutic effects may not be homogeneous across the whole study population. This study constructed an easy-to-use nomogram to improve prognostic prediction and aid in treatment decision making for cirrhotic patients. Methods: From August 2005 to April 2019, 315 patients with decompensated cirrhosis receiving autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation were enrolled in this study. They were randomly classified into training (2/3) and validation (1/3) groups. A predictive model was developed using Cox proportional hazard models and subsequently validated. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated and also compared with other prognostic models. Results: Age, creatinine, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and Child–Turcotte–Pugh class were included in the nomogram as prognostic variables. The nomogram showed high discrimination power concerning the area under receiver operating characteristic curves (3/5-year AUC: 0.742/0.698) and good consistency suggested by calibration plots. Patients could be accurately stratified into poor- and good-outcome groups regarding liver-transplantation free survival after receiving PBSC therapy (P < 0.001). Compared with poor-outcome group, the liver function of patients listed for liver transplantation in the good-outcome group was significantly improved (P < 0.001). Besides, our nomogram achieved a higher C-index (0.685, 95% CI 0.633–0.738) and better clinical utility compared with other conventional prognostic models. Conclusions: The proposed nomogram facilitated an accurate prognostic prediction for patients with decompensated cirrhosis receiving PBSC transplantation. Moreover, it also held the promise to stratify patients in clinical trials or practice to implement optimal treatment regimens for individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resurrection plant Selaginella pulvinata possesses an extraordinary ability to survive longterm desiccation, with the capacity to recover to normal growth after four years in a desiccated state. To understand the phenomenon, we investigated morphology, cytology, physiology, and performed PacBio single-molecule, real-time (SMRT) sequencing and Illumina RNA-sequencing of S. pulvinata during dehydration and rehydration. The full-length transcriptome dataset of S. puvinata consisted of 78,914 isoforms, and 75,819 isoforms (96.07%) were functionally annotated. The mapping rate of RNA-seq was 86.83–93.46% when utilizing the full-length transcriptome dataset as a reference. A total of 17,934 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified during dehydration and rehydration. During dehydration, swollen chloroplasts and mitochondria, as well as vacuolation occupied space in desiccated cells, which cooperated with dense cytoplasm to inhibit the collapse and folding of desiccated cells. Accumulation and up-regulated gene expressions of osmotic agent and protective proteins contributed to the formation of vacuolation and dense cytoplasm. To reduce ROS damage during dehydration, two strategies were employed in S. pulvinata , i.e., reducing ROS production and scavenging ROS. Reducing exposure area, inactive PSII and down-regulated gene expression in photosynthesis decreased ROS production caused by excessive light absorption. Increased activities and up-regulated gene expressions in antioxidant enzyme system promoted ROS scavenging. ABA signaling pathway was hypothesized to play an important regulatory role in the desiccation tolerance of S. pulvinata due to significant ABA accumulation and up-regulated expressions of related genes during dehydration. Moreover, the comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that the pathways involved in dehydration and rehydration of the resurrection species S. pulvinata , S. lepidophylla and S. sellowii were consistent, indicating the similar desiccation tolerance mechanisms existing in the different resurrection species of Selaginella. Our study preliminarily revealed the desiccation tolerance mechanisms of S. pulvinata , which holds significant potential for inspiring biotechnological strategies aimed at enhancing drought tolerance in crops. • Changes of morphology, physiology, cytology and transcriptome level were observed in S. pulvinata during dehydration and rehydration. • Desiccation tolerance of S. pulvinata was an intricate process orchestrated by many genes and metabolic pathways. • The different resurrection species of Selaginella possessed the similar desiccation tolerance mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The magnesium alloy and 304 stainless steel were successfully joined via nanosecond pulsed laser welding. • Highest tensile shear force of 298.7 N was obtained at the speed of 30 mm/s. • Three fracture modes produced at various welding speeds were clarified. • The welding temperature field of magnesium/steel joint was simulated. Nanosecond pulse laser welding was performed on AZ31B magnesium alloy and 304 stainless steel to investigate the impact of welding speed on the joining process. The temperature field of the magnesium/steel laser welding process was simulated using COMSOL software. The findings revealed that a welding speed of 10 mm/s resulted in significant spattering and larger porosity defects in the joint due to excessive heat input. However, when the welding speed was increased to 30 mm/s, these defects disappeared, and the porosity decreased to a minimum, leading to an increased bonding area at the interface. As the speed increased, the heat input decreased, making it more challenging for the porosity to escape from the molten pool and resulting in the formation of larger pores. The shear force test results indicated that the highest shear force was 298.7 N at a welding speed of 30 mm/s. The reduction in porosity and greater penetration depth of the magnesium alloy contributed to the desired mechanical performance. Additionally, the fracture modes were classified as button pullout failure (BPF), base material tearing failure (BTF), and interface failure (IF). The outermost weld seam served as the initial fracture path for both BPF and BTF modes, with BTF ultimately fracturing in the steel base material during tearing. Oxide inclusions, porosity, and the angle of distortion contributed to the fracture path of IF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]