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Gut immaturity leads to feeding difficulties in very preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation at birth). Maternal milk (MM) is the optimal diet but often absent or insufficient. We hypothesized that bovine colostrum (BC), rich in protein and bioactive components, improves enteral feeding progression, relative to preterm formula (PF), when supplemented to MM. Aim of the study is to determine whether BC supplementation to MM during the first 14 days of life shortens the time to full enteral feeding (120 mL/kg/d, TFF120). This was a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial at seven hospitals in South China without access to human donor milk and with slow feeding progression. Infants were randomly assigned to receive BC or PF when MM was insufficient. Volume of BC was restricted by recommended protein intake (4–4.5 g/kg/d). Primary outcome was TFF120. Feeding intolerance, growth, morbidities and blood parameters were recorded to assess safety. A total of 350 infants were recruited. BC supplementation had no effect on TFF120 in intention-to-treat analysis [n (BC) = 171, n (PF) = 179; adjusted hazard ratio, aHR: 0.82 (95% CI: 0.64, 1.06); P = 0.13]. Body growth and morbidities did not differ, but more cases of periventricular leukomalacia were detected in the infants fed BC (5/155 vs. 0/181, P = 0.06). Blood chemistry and hematology data were similar between the intervention groups. BC supplementation during the first two weeks of life did not reduce TFF120 and had only marginal effects on clinical variables. Clinical effects of BC supplementation on very preterm infants in the first weeks of life may depend on feeding regimen and remaining milk diet. Trial Registration: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov : NCT03085277. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with COPD. • COPD is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes after interventional surgery. • The identification and proper management of COPD should be considered. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the main types of cardiovascular disease and is characterized by myocardial ischemia as a result of narrowing of the coronary arteries. To evaluate the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on outcomes in patients with CAD treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for observational studies and post-hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials published before Jan 20, 2022, in English. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs), risk ratios (RRs), and hazard ratios (HRs) for short-term outcomes (in-hospital and 30-day all-cause mortality) and long-term outcomes (all-cause mortality, cardiac death, major adverse cardiac events) were extracted or transformed. Nineteen studies were included. The risk of short-term all-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with COPD than in those without COPD (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.05–1.93), as were the risks of long-term all-cause mortality (RR 1.68, 95% CI 1.50–1.88) and long-term cardiac mortality (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.41–2.41). There was no significant between-group difference in the long-term revascularization rate (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99–1.04) or in short-term and long-term stroke rates (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.58–1.37 and HR 1.38, 95% CI 0.97–1.95). Operation significantly affected heterogeneity and combined results for long-term mortality (CABG, HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04–1.66; PCI, HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.58–2.13). COPD was independently associated with poor outcomes after PCI or CABG after adjustment for confounders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion from a temporary to a permanent stoma (PS) following rectal cancer surgery significantly impacts the quality of life of patients. However, there is currently a lack of practical preoperative tools to predict PS formation. The purpose of this study is to establish a preoperative predictive model for PS using machine learning algorithms to guide clinical practice. In this retrospective study, we analyzed clinical data from a total of 655 patients who underwent anterior resection for rectal cancer, with 552 patients from one medical center and 103 from another. Through machine learning algorithms, five predictive models were developed, and each was thoroughly evaluated for predictive performance. The model with superior predictive accuracy underwent additional validation using both an independent testing cohort and the external validation cohort. The Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) approach was employed to elucidate the predictive factors influencing the model, providing an in-depth visual analysis of its decision-making process. Eight variables were selected for the construction of the model. The support vector machine (SVM) model exhibited superior predictive performance in the training set, evidenced by an AUC of 0.854 (95 % CI:0.803–0.904). This performance was corroborated in both the testing set and external validation set, where the model demonstrated an AUC of 0.851 (95%CI:0.748–0.954) and 0.815 (95%CI:0.710–0.919), respectively, indicating its efficacy in identifying the PS. The model(https://yangsu2023.shinyapps.io/psrisk/) indicated robust predictive performance in identifying PS after anterior resection for rectal cancer, potentially guiding surgeons in the preoperative stratification of patients, thus informing individualized treatment plans and improving patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote energy saving, high efficiency and quality production in the mechanical manufacturing industry, a large number of studies have been conducted on modelling and evaluation. However, most of the approaches have focused on single objective modelling, evaluation and conventional machining method like unidirectional turning (UDT). This paper presents a multi-objective modelling and evaluation method for energy, efficiency, economy and quality using a new process of forward-and-reverse multidirectional turning (MDT). Firstly, the multi-objective influential factors of cutting parameters for energy consumption, cutting time, production cost and surface roughness of MDT are analyzed to establish the corresponding models, respectively. Then taking the energy consumption, cutting time, production cost and surface roughness as the objectives, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is applied for the multi-objective evaluation through different processes. Finally, the case study shows the practicability of the MDT method and evaluation method for energy optimization and energy conservation. • Proposing a new method of energy saving and high efficiency production oriented multidirectional turning (MDT). • Illustrating the characteristics of MDT. • Establishing entropy-weight and fuzzy evaluation models. • Analyzing the practicability of the multi-objective evaluation and models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benign anastomotic strictures (BAS) significantly impact patients' quality of life and long-term prognosis. However, the current clinical practice lacks accurate tools for predicting BAS. This study aimed to develop a machine-learning model to predict BAS in patients with rectal cancer who have undergone anterior resection. Data from 1973 patients who underwent anterior resection for rectal cancer were collected. Multiple machine learning classification models were integrated to analyze the data and identify the optimal model. Model performance was evaluated using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, decision curve analysis (DCA), and calibration curves. The Shapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) algorithm was utilized to assess the impact of various clinical characteristics on the optimal model to enhance the interpretability of the model results. A total of 10 clinical features were considered in constructing the machine learning model. The model evaluation results indicated that the random forest (RF)model was optimal, with the area under the test set curve (AUC: 0.888, 95% CI: 0.810–0.965), accuracy: 0.792, sensitivity: 0.846, specificity: 0.791. The SHAP algorithm analysis identified prophylactic ileostomy, operative time, and anastomotic leakage as significant contributing factors influencing the predictions of the RF model. We developed a robust machine-learning model and user-friendly online prediction tool for predicting BAS following anterior resection of rectal cancer. This tool offers a potential foundation for BAS prevention and aids clinical practice by enabling more efficient disease management and precise medical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effects of dietary supplementation with Antarctic krill oil (AKO) on longitudinal bone growth in adolescent male Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) mice for 21 days were investigated. Histological results showed that AKO promoted longitudinal bone growth, increased skeletal mineral content and strength, enhanced entochondrostosis supported by higher longitudinal bone growth rate and growth plate height. Then, the potential mechanisms responsible for these observations were measured, results showed that AKO increased the secretion of the GH-IGF-1 pathway and entochondrostosis-related factors in serum increased the expression of IGF-1 in the liver and bone, which promoted proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes, vascular invasion and bone formation related gene expression. AKO promoted longitudinal bone growth, using the GH-IGF-1 pathway, suggesting that AKO might be a potential functional food to improve growth potential of adolescents. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Intake of Antarctic krill oil (AKO) greatly increased longitudinal bone growth. • AKO increased proliferative and hypertrophic zone heights in growth plate. • AKO increased the process of entochondrostosis. • AKO regulated bone growth of adolescent mice using the GH-IGF-1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that is commonly accompanied by inflammation. Scoparone is a biologically active constituent isolated from Artemisia capillaris and possesses anti-inflammatory activity. However, the effect of scoparone on inflammatory response in OA has not been authenticated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of scoparone in OA in vitro . Our results showed that IL-1β treatment significantly inhibited the cell viability of chondrocytes, whereas the inhibition effect was attenuated by scoparone in a dose-dependent manner. IL-1β also efficiently induced the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), MMP-3, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 in chondrocytes. However, scoparone dose-dependently suppressed the induction. In addition, scoparone repressed IL-1β-induced the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in chondrocytes. Furthermore, the activation of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway induced by IL-1β was diminished by scoparone treatment. Taken together, these findings indicated that scoparone inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediators in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes via regulating the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway. Thus, scoparone may be used as a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutrient fortification of human milk is often required to secure adequate growth and organ development for very preterm infants. There is concern that formula-based fortifiers (FFs) induce intestinal dysfunction, feeding intolerance, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Bovine colostrum (BC) may be an alternative nutrient fortifier, considering its high content of protein and milk bioactive factors.Objective: We investigated whether BC was superior to an FF product based on processed bovine milk and vegetable oil to fortify donor human milk (DHM) for preterm pigs, used as a model for infants.Methods: Sixty preterm pigs from 4 sows (Danish Landrace × Large White × Duroc, birth weight 944 ± 29 g) received decreasing volumes of parenteral nutrition (96-72 mL ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ d-1) and increasing volumes of enteral nutrition (24-132 mL ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ d-1) for 8 d. Pigs were fed donor porcine milk (DPM) and DHM with or without FF or BC fortification (+4.6 g protein ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ d-1).Results: DPM-fed pigs showed higher growth (10-fold), protein synthesis (+15-30%), villus heights, lactase and peptidase activities (+30%), and reduced intestinal cytokines (-50%) relative to DHM pigs (all P < 0.05). Fortification increased protein synthesis (+20-30%), but with higher weight gain and lower urea and cortisol concentrations for DHM+BC compared with DHM+FF pigs (2- to 3-fold differences, all P ≤ 0.06). DHM+FF pigs showed more diarrhea and reduced lactase and peptidase activities, hexose uptake, and villus heights relative to DHM+BC or DHM pigs (30-90% differences, P < 0.05). Fortification did not affect NEC incidence but DHM+BC pigs had lower colonic interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 concentrations relative to the remaining pigs (-30%, P = 0.06). DHM+FF pigs had higher stomach bacterial load than did DHM, and higher bacterial density along intestinal villi than did DHM and DHM+BC pigs (2- to 3-fold, P < 0.05).Conclusions: The FF product investigated in this study reduced growth, intestinal function, and protein utilization in DHM-fed preterm pigs, relative to BC as fortifier. The relevance of BC as an alternative nutrient fortifier for preterm infants should be tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Holder pasteurization (HP) destroys multiple bioactive factors in donor human milk (DM), and UV-C irradiation (UVC) is potentially a gentler method for pasteurizing DM for preterm infants.Objective: We investigated whether UVC-treated DM improves gut maturation and resistance toward bacterial infections relative to HP-treated DM.Methods: Bacteria, selected bioactive components, and markers of antioxidant capacity were measured in unpasteurized donor milk (UP), HP-treated milk, and UVC-treated milk (all from the same DM pool). Fifty-seven cesarean-delivered preterm pigs (91% gestation; ratio of males to females, 30:27) received decreasing volumes of parental nutrition (average 69 mL · kg-1 · d-1) and increasing volumes of the 3 DM diets (n = 19 each, average 89 mL · kg-1 · d-1) for 8-9 d. Body growth, gut structure and function, and systemic bacterial infection were evaluated.Results: A high bacterial load in the UP (6×105 colony forming units/mL) was eliminated similarly by HP and UVC treatments. Relative to HP-treated milk, both UVC-treated milk and UP showed greater activities of lipase and alkaline phosphatase and concentrations of lactoferrin, secretory immunoglobulin A, xanthine dehydrogenase, and some antioxidant markers (all P < 0.05). The pigs fed UVC-treated milk and pigs fed UP showed higher relative weight gain than pigs fed HP-treated milk (5.4% and 3.5%), and fewer pigs fed UVC-treated milk had positive bacterial cultures in the bone marrow (28%) than pigs fed HP-treated milk (68%) (P < 0.05). Intestinal health was also improved in pigs fed UVC-treated milk compared with those fed HP-treated milk as indicated by a higher plasma citrulline concentration (36%) and villus height (38%) (P < 0.05) and a tendency for higher aminopeptidase N (48%) and claudin-4 (26%) concentrations in the distal intestine (P < 0.08). The gut microbiota composition was similar among groups except for greater proportions of Enterococcus in pigs fed UVC-treated milk than in pigs fed UP and those fed HP-treated milk in both cecum contents (20% and 10%) and distal intestinal mucosa (24% and 20%) (all P < 0.05).Conclusions: UVC is better than HP treatment in preserving bioactive factors in DM. UVC-treated milk may induce better weight gain, intestinal health, and resistance against bacterial infections as shown in preterm pigs as a model for DM-fed preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi-stable composite laminates with piezoelectric transducers have been shown to capture energy over a wide frequency range and deliver significantly greater energy than resonant devices. In this work, the influence of lay-up design on the performance of bi-stable piezoelectric energy harvester (BPEH) based on bi-stable hybrid symmetric laminate (BHSL) is analyzed and verified. The initial voltage induced by stable configuration and longitudinal curvature of BPEH with different lay-up and hybrid width were calculated and analyzed by a static finite element analysis. The lay-up can vary initial voltage and longitudinal in opposite directions, and hybrid width can adjust these two variables in the same direction. The strain variations of piezoelectric transducer between two stable configurations were also analyzed. The initial voltage of BPEH depends on strain variations in the two directions. And then the finite element results are verified by experiment. Three types of BPEH were manufactured and actuated by two methods to measure their output powers. These BPEHs presented different dynamic responses, and the output powers under different vibration modes were measured. The highest output power of BPEH in this work is 42.2 mW and the highest power density is 78.1 mW/cm 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi-stable composite shells with initial curvature have obtained much attention due to their lightweight and morphing. The twisting deformation after curing is induced by thermal residual stress generated during the manufacture of the bistable composite shells, which has a significant influence on the mechanical behavior and the cured shape of bistable composite shells with initial curvature. This paper put forward a method to control the twisting by introducing an adjustive angle. An analytical model is developed to capture the suit adjustive angle, which makes the bistable composite shells without twisting. The analytical predictions are verified by results based on the experiments and finite element results. Moreover, the effect of initial radius, ply angle, thermal expansion coefficients, and elasticity modulus on an adjustive angle is considered by the analytical model, which can provide a guide for designing the bistable composite structures without twisting. The curvatures after twisting control are provided to predict the configuration of bistable composite shells with initial curvature. • A method to control the twisting is presented by introducing an adjustive angle. • The bistable composite shells with initial curvature without twisting are obtained by twisting control. • The adjustive angle is directly proportional to the initial radius and has a nonlinearity to the ply angle. • The curvature of bistable composite shells with initial curvature without twisting is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quasi-zero-stiffness (QZS) vibration isolator is usually composed of positive and negative stiffness elements in parallel. The negative stiffness element usually requires specific constraint boundaries to form negative stiffness characteristics, which cannot meet the lightweight design of spacecraft structures. So the bi-stable hybrid symmetric laminate (BHSL) is presented as a negative stiffness element. A finite element model (FEM) is developed to carry out static and dynamic analyses of this vibration isolator. An equivalent theoretical model is developed based on the restoring force–displacement curve of BHSL. The approximate analytical solutions and direct numerical solutions are obtained by employing the averaging method and the Runge-Kutta method, respectively. Different types of the steady-state response are obtained, namely the symmetrical multi-harmonic response, the asymmetric multi-harmonic response and the single-harmonic response. There exists a small gap between the analytical solutions and the Runge-Kutta solutions or the FEM results only at the low frequency excitation due to the super-harmonics. The displacement transmissibility is used to quantify the vibration isolation performance of this vibration isolator. The experiment is designed to verify the theoretical and FEM models from static and dynamic analysis perspectives. The results show adjusting geometric parameters and lay-up designs can improve the vibration isolation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A micromechanical model to predict the stress relaxation of composite bolted connections based on viscoelastic theory has been presented. A number of experiments were conducted to validate the model. The influence of the initial clamp forces and the plate thicknesses of GFRP and CFRP on the stress relaxation were investigated. The stress relaxation predicted showed a good agreement with the experimental data with the deviation of about 6%. It shows that there exists a certain time, which is approximately 5 times of the relaxation time, and the contribution of the composites’ viscoelasticity could be ignored when the time is greater than the certain time. The loss of the clamp forces was primarily caused by the increase in plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tool-part interaction during the manufacture of the bistable composite shells with initial curvature is inevitable, which has a noticeable influence on stable configurations. The effect of tool-part interaction is considered by introducing a shear layer whose parameters are determined by a series of experiments. This paper develops an analytical model with shear layer effect based on the Rayleigh-Ritz model to capture the configuration variation with bistable composite shell with initial curvature. The model reveals the rule of curvature change in different radii and plies, which provides a criterion for the existence of bistability. The results show tool-part interaction has a significant influence on thin bistable composite shells with initial curvature whose prediction accuracy is improved. The analytical predictions are verified by results based on the experiments and finite element models. Moreover, the influences of initial radius, cross-section angle, stacking sequence, and twisting response are analyzed. The twist behavior of two stable configurations is investigated, which can provide a guide for designing the bistable composite structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy modeling has been recognized as an effective analytical methodology and management tool that helps to predict the energy consumption and to manage the efficiency and performance of energy utilization. With a wide distribution and large amount of energy consumption at a low efficiency, the mechanical manufacturing industry has considerable energy saving potential. In this study, a new method of energy conservation and high efficiency production oriented multidirectional turning is proposed to overcome the performance deficiencies of traditional turning in the mechanical manufacturing industry. Based on energy and production performance analysis, the energy consumption model of the forward-and-reverse multidirectional turning is established through the process stage-oriented modeling method. Besides, the case study indicates the high (more than 97%) accuracy of the proposed energy consumption model for forward-and-reverse multidirectional turning. This study contributes to a new production method and energy models to reduce energy consumption and improve production efficiency. • Proposing a new method of forward-and-reverse multidirectional turning (MDT). • Illustrating the characteristics of the MDT. • Establishing energy consumption models. • Analyzing the practicability of the method for energy-efficient production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new human milk fat substitute (HMFS) was produced from butterfat. A 2-week’s feeding experiment was performed using three groups of rats with 10wt.% fat in their feed; the fat was either (1) butterfat-based HMFS+long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), (2) the reference oil+LCPUFA, or (3) the reference oil without LCPUFA. The apparent fat absorption after intake of butterfat-based HMFS (95.9%±1.8%) was significantly higher than the other two groups, indicating that much less calcium soap was formed after feeding butterfat-based HMFS. Calcium contents in urines and faeces from the two groups fed LCPUFA in their diet were lower than those without supplementation of LCPUFA, suggesting that LCPUFA could improve calcium absorption by reducing the calcium excretion. It can thus be concluded that the butterfat-based HMFS improves fat absorption, and supplementation of LCPUFA in the formula improves calcium absorption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • TRIM38 was decreased by IL-1β in chondrocytes. • TRIM38 protected against IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury. • TRIM38 contributed to IL-1β-induced NF-κB activation. • TRIM38 regulated IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury by NF-κB. Tripartite motif protein 38 (TRIM38) has been documented as a vital modulator of inflammation. However, the relevance of TRIM38 in osteoarthritis is not yet known. In this work, we aimed to explore any possible effects of TRIM38 on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-stimulated chondrocytes, an in vitro cellular model of osteoarthritis. Analyzing our data showed significant decreases in the levels of TRIM38 in chondrocytes following IL-1β stimulation. Gain-of-function studies revealed that overexpression of TRIM38 markedly increased the viability of IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes while decreasing their rate of apoptosis and degeneration. Conversely, depletion of TRIM38 enhanced the sensitivity of chondrocytes to IL-1β-induced injury. Further research demonstrated that TRIM38 was capable of inhibiting IL-1β-induced activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling. Reactivation of NF-κB markedly reversed TRIM38-overexpression-mediated effects, while inhibition of NF-κB significantly abolished TRIM38-depletion-induced effects in IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. In summary, the findings of this work suggest that TRIM38 is capable of ameliorating IL-1β-induced apoptosis and degeneration of chondrocytes via suppression of NF-κB signaling. Our work indicates a potential role of TRIM38 in osteoarthritis and proposes it as a new therapeutic target for osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel paper-based colorimetric sensor array was developed by inkjet printing method with polyethylene glycol (PEG) immobilization system. Eight commercially available pH indicators with sequential pH segments in nearly whole pH range were dissolved in nine mixed inks to fabricate the 3 × 3 sensor array on mixed cellulose ester (MCE) paper. Based on homogeneous deposition of inkjet printing, the eight pH indicators were sufficiently immobilized on MCE paper with the assistance of PEG-400, which guaranteed pH detection of aqueous samples on sensor array without hydrophobic barriers. Besides, the indicating range of each indicator obtained an extension through the addition of PEG 400, which remarkably enriched the distinguishable capability of sensor array and benefited for high resolution of pH detection. As such, the as-fabricated paper-based sensor array exhibited an excellent discrimination ability in pH range of 1.00–13.60 with a high resolution of 0.20 pH unit, not only for standard pH buffer solutions but for real aqueous samples. A paper-based colorimetric sensor array was fabricated by inkjet printing technique based on eight commercialized pH indicators. After adoption of PEG-400 immobilization system, an extension of corresponding indicating range of each pH indicators was achieved, which remarkably enriched variable factors of color difference map. Furthermore, the addition of PEG-400 immobilization system implicated the improvement of homogeneity and printability of indicators, which guaranteed the reproducibility and repeatability of as-designed colorimetric sensor array. [Display omitted] • A paper-based colorimetric sensor array was developed, achieving the nearly whole pH range detection with high resolution. • Hydrophilic polymer PEG 400 was utilized for the immobilization of pH indictors. • Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to discriminate different pH values. • The volume of samples needed for analysis was less than 10 μL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether commencement of antibiotics within 3 postnatal days in preterm, very low birth weight (VLBW; ≤1500 g) infants is associated with the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).Study Design: Preplanned statistical analyses were done to study the association between early antibiotic treatment and later NEC development, using the NEOMUNE-NeoNutriNet cohort of VLBW infants from 13 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in 5 continents (n = 2831). NEC incidence was compared between infants who received early antibiotics and those who did not, with statistical adjustments for NICU, gestational age, birth weight, sex, delivery mode, antenatal steroid use, Apgar score, and type and initiation of enteral nutrition.Results: The incidence of NEC was 9.0% in the group of infants who did not receive early antibiotics (n = 269), compared with 3.9% in those who did receive early antibiotics (n = 2562). The incidence remained lower in the early antibiotic group after stepwise statistical adjustments for NICU (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.35-0.94, P < .05) and other potential confounders (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12-0.47; P < .0001).Conclusions: In this large international cohort of preterm VLBW infants, a small proportion of infants did not receive antibiotics just after birth, and these infants had a higher incidence of NEC. It is important to better understand the role of such variables as time, type, and duration of antibiotic treatment on NEC incidence, immune development, gut colonization, and antibiotic resistance in the NICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics have received widespread attention as an emerging contaminant, but limited information was available during wetland restoration. The occurrence and characteristics of microplastics and their interaction with heavy metals in surface sediments from the Jinjiang Estuarine restored mangrove wetland were investigated. The abundance of microplastics ranged from 490 ± 127.3 to 1170 ± 99.0 items/500 g dry sediment, and the restored regions were much higher than mudflats, indicating mangrove restoration promoted its accumulation. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were the main materials of microplastics after Raman spectroscopy identification. SEM-EDS images illustrated the mechanical erosion and chemical weathering on microplastics' surface, and Cr, Zn, Pb, and Cd were observed in elemental composition. The contents of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, As, and Cd accumulated in microplastics were not correlated with their total concentrations in sediments except for Hg, indicating that they might not be derived from sediments. • Mangrove restoration could promote microplastics accumulation and planting patterns could also influence the distribution of microplastic • EDS images illustrated that heavy metals such as Cr, Zn, Pb, Cd were observed in elemental composition of microplastics • The relationship of accumulated heavy metals between microplastics and sediments indicating that they might not derive from sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated the effects of processing demands in PM tasks on recognition memory. • Semantic search effects were largely independent of lexical access. • Naming effects were largely independent of lexical access and search initiation. Memory researchers acknowledge the importance of semantic processing in recognition and recall, but there is a significant disconnect from the literature that addresses how to conceptualize words. We use the lexical literature to ask more analytic questions about the effects of semantic processing on memory. A prospective memory task requiring the initiation of a semantic search that was imposed during an ongoing task had an effect on the delayed recognition of words from the ongoing task, and this effect was similar whether the ongoing task was lexical decision (Experiment1) or naming (Experiment2). This finding indicates that the effect on memory of initiating a semantic search is in addition to the effect of lexical access. Further, although an associate-search prospective memory task and a multi-target prospective memory task both enhanced delayed recognition, the pattern of hits and false alarms was different. This finding indicates that prospective memory difficulty is not responsible for the enhancement on the delayed recognition test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for wheat growth and has a critical influence on yield and quality. This study aims to examine how medium nitrogen level (240 kg/hm2) affects the starch granule development, starch accumulation, and structural characteristics of wheat starch. The results showed that nitrogen treatment could reduce the biosynthesis of starch and amylose, delay the degradation of starch in pericarp, and promote the proportion of B-type small starch granule in endosperm compared with those in the N0. In addition, the composition and distribution of starch granules were changed, the crystal structure in the inner lamellae and ordered structure in the external region of starch granules were affected, and the swelling power and solubility of starch during wheat development were increased. The effect of nitrogen treatment on the mRNA expression of enzymes related to starch biosynthesis or degradation varied in different developmental stages. During middle and later grain filling stages, AGPase , GBSSI , and GBSSII were lower, and SSS , SBE , and DBE were higher in N240 than in N0. This study indicated that nitrogen application at booting stage significantly affected the structural characteristics of starch, and ultimately determines its quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlinear device is presented for simultaneous vibration absorption and energy harvesting. This device is composed of a nonlinear energy sink and a piezoelectric energy harvester (NES-EH), and its core component is the simply-supported bi-stable piezoelectric composite laminate (BPCL). Its outstanding advantages are light weight, simple and reliable structure. The theoretical model is developed to model a harmonically excited linear oscillator coupled with NES-EH. The Runge–Kutta method and the harmonic balance method (HBM) are used to solve the theoretical model numerically and analytically. The vibration suppression efficiency is utilized to quantify the vibration absorption performance, while the energy harvesting performance is assessed by bandwidth for energy harvesting and maximum voltage within the bandwidth. The effects of the excitation amplitude, the concentrated mass of NES-EH, the length and width of BPCL, and the load resistance are considered on the performances of NES-EH. The vibration absorption and energy harvesting performances of NES-EH can be improved by adjusting these parameters. In addition, the proposed NES-EH can achieve the goal of higher power density and normalized power density under low-amplitude excitation and simultaneously have a good vibration absorption effect. Finally, approximate analytical solutions are obtained by using HBM to exhibit various bifurcations and singularities. • Simply-supported bi-stable piezoelectric composite is first used to integrate vibration absorption and energy harvesting. • NES-EH has advantages of light weight, simple and reliable structure dueto no high strength frame or external device. • Mathematical modeling is developed to forecast the performances of NES-EH. • The effects of excitation amplitude, concentrated mass of NES-EH, geometries of BPCL, and load resistance are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As we known, composite sandwich structure with advantages of high specific strength/modulus, high temperature resistance, damping, etc., which is widely used in various fields. And there is more space in its core to supply for multi-functional filler, which provides the possibility for special engineering applications (such as heat insulation, wave absorption, etc.). In this paper, a new type of lightweight composite lattice structure (called X-type lattice structure) is proposed based on the stretching dominated idea of quadrilateral grid and lattice strut. The mechanical properties and failure behavior of X-type lattice structures are investigated based on theoretical and experimental methods. The experiment results show that the mechanical properties of the X-type lattice sandwich structure is more superior than those of other pyramidal lattice sandwich structures. In theoretical analysis, we found the fact that the shear equivalent stiffness of X-type lattice structure is independent of the loading direction, while the shear strength is related to the loading direction. Meanwhile, its minimum shear strength will be reached at the 0 degrees loading direction, and the maximum shear strength will be obtained when the loading direction is 45 degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bi-stable device is presented for simultaneous vibration absorption and energy harvesting by introducing the piezoelectric element into the bi-stable nonlinear energy sink (BNES), which is called the bi-stable piezoelectric absorber (BPZA). BPZA only consists of the cantilever bi-stable piezoelectric composite laminate (BPCL) and tip masses. This BPZA is a lightweight, simple and reliable structure since it does not need any external devices to maintain bistability. A finite element model (FEM) and an equivalent theoretical model are developed to model a harmonically excited linear oscillator coupled with BPZA. The Runge-Kutta method is used to solve the theoretical model numerically. The effects of the excitation amplitude, the tip mass of BPZA and the load resistance are considered on the vibration suppression efficiency and energy harvesting of BPZA. The results show adjusting these parameters can improve the vibration suppression efficiency and energy harvesting of BPZA. In addition, the experimental prototype is prepared and verifies the rightness of the finite element model and theoretical model. The BPZA achieves the goal of higher power density at lower acceleration and simultaneously has a good vibration absorption effect. Maximum power of 15.8mW is generated at an excitation frequency of 22 Hz and acceleration of 0.5 g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological activities of heparan sulfate (HS) are intimately related to their molecular weights, degree and pattern of sulfation and homogeneity. The existing methods for synthesizing homogeneous sugar chains of low dispersity involve multiple steps and require stepwise isolation and purification processes. Here, we designed a mesoporous metal-organic capsule for the encapsulation of glycosyltransferase and obtained a microreactor capable of enzymatically catalyzing polymerization reactions to prepare homogeneous heparosan of low dispersity, the precursor of HS and heparin. Since the sugar chain extension occurs in the pores of the microreactor, low molecular weight heparosan can be synthesized through space-restricted catalysis. Moreover, the glycosylation co-product, uridine diphosphate (UDP), can be chelated with the exposed metal sites of the metal-organic capsule, which inhibits trans-cleavage to reduce the molecular weight dispersity. This microreactor offers the advantages of efficiency, reusability, and obviates the need for stepwise isolation and purification processes. Using the synthesized heparosan, we further successfully prepared homogeneous 6- O -sulfated HS of low dispersity with a molecular weight of approximately 6 kDa and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 1.032. Notably, the HS generated exhibited minimal anticoagulant activity, and its binding affinity to fibroblast growth factor 1 was comparable to that of low molecular weight heparins. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the 3:1 internal resonance, the primary and secondary resonances of an axially moving thin circular cylindrical panel are investigated in the present work. The governing equation and the compatibility equation are established based on the Donnell's nonlinear shell theory and solved to obtain the nonlinear steady-state responses by combining the Galerkin method and the method of multiple scales. The analytical solutions are verified by numerical solutions based on the Runge-Kutta Method. The governing equation includes both the quadratic nonlinearity and the cubic nonlinearity, so the perturbation solutions need to consider three time scales. The quadratic nonlinearity causes the softening behavior of the system. Natural frequencies and the 3:1 internal resonance condition are obtained by the linear analysis. Under the primary resonance, the internal resonance causes the coupling of the first two modes to complicate the nonlinear dynamic response. The response for the second mode possesses an extra bulge or peak due to the internal resonance. The quadratic nonlinearity results in the zero frequency drift and the second-order harmonic. Under the secondary resonance, the exciting force only arouses the second mode. Results are shown to examine the effects of the internal resonance, the exciting force and viscous damping coefficients on the nonlinear dynamic response of an axially moving thin circular cylindrical panel. • Axially moving circular cylindrical panels is non-linearly modeled. • Both primary and secondary resonances under 3:1 internal resonance are investigated. • Energy transfer among first two modes，zero frequency drift and second-order harmonic is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effects of a new CR with less smell on CRMB's performance are investigated. • Variance analysis is adopted to compare effects of two factors on less smell CRMB. • Besides less smell merit, new CR's addition can improve bitumen's performance. • A low viscosity for CRMB with Inman leads to less energy consumption and emissions. The smell generated by crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB) is unfavorable or offensive, leading to many complaints from people involved. Therefore, a new crumb rubber (CR) product with less smell has been developed. The study aims at investigating the influence of the new CR on high-temperature rheological properties of the CRMB derived from different bitumen sources. Besides, the effect degrees of the bitumen source and the new CR percentage on its rheological properties was compared with analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. The rheological properties tests were conducted on three base binders (Inman, Nustar and Kuwait) and the CRMB with less smell CR before and after rolling thin film oven test by Brookfield Viscometer and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). The results show that similar to common CRs, the addition of the new CR can increase viscosity of the CRMB and improve high-temperature rheological properties of bitumen binders. CRMB exhibits a different viscoelastic behavior from the styrene-butadienestyrene block copolymer (SBS) modified bitumen, and the former has a wider linear region than the latter. But an increasing CR percentage leads to a narrower linear viscoelastic region for the CRMB. In case of the improvement of high-temperature rheological properties of bitumen binders, it is not only related to the CR percentages but bitumen source. Finally, ANOVA results indicate that bitumen source has a greater contribution than CR percentage to the high-temperature rheological properties of CRMB. On the basis of the results discussed, the CRMB produced from Nustar and with 15% new CR is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Explored a new method of resource utilization of electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) in construction materials. • Summarized the advantages and disadvantages of resource utilization of EMR in construction materials. • Provided an outlook on the future resource utilization of EMR in construction materials. The storage of electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) has significantly hampered the growth of the electrolytic metallic manganese (EMM) industry. EMR harbours numerous harmful components, including ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N), soluble manganese, and heavy metals. EMR, if untreated, is typically left exposed in the open air, presenting a serious hazard to both the ecosystem and public health. This danger arises from the potential decomposition of soluble ammonium sulphate and other sulphates, which can emit harmful gases such as NH 3 and SO 2. The extensive accumulation of EMR contaminates surrounding soil and water bodies. Moreover, inhalation of heavy metals by humans could pose severe health risks. Managing and treating these wastes also significantly depletes financial resources. Over recent years, several resource utilisation techniques for producing unburnt bricks, geopolymers, road base materials, cement and cementitious materials, ceramics, and ceramsite using EMR have been proposed globally. However, these resource utilisation methods come with their own set of issues, including the ineffective control of NH 3 -N, high sulphate content, and questionable long-term durability performance. This situation has resulted in a dearth of mature, eco-friendly methods for utilising EMR. This study aims to evaluate the potential of using EMR in building materials. It reviews the development of EMM, the formation of EMR, its physical, chemical, and ecological characteristics, the analysis of its harmful components, and the current state of resource utilisation in building materials over the last 30 years. EMR has found applications in building materials such as cement and cementitious, road base materials, geopolymers, bricks, ceramics, and ceramsites. The advantages and disadvantages of various resource utilisation methods are examined and related challenges and prospects are discussed. Finally, we deliberate on the present challenges and future possibilities of EMR utilisation in the construction materials industry. It is our hope that this review will provide insights into addressing the challenge of resourceful use of EMR in construction materials, thereby contributing to the sustainable growth of the EMM industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a bistable piezoelectric wind energy harvester (BPEH) is proposed, which is primarily made of bistable hybrid symmetric laminate (BHSL) and PZT, manufactured through a curing process. The air-solid-electric coupled finite element analysis model is established to simulate the dynamic response behavior of the BPEH and investigate the effects of varying airflow velocities on the flow field characteristics and performance output. A series of experimental studies on BPEH were conducted in the wind speed range of 8.5 m/s-16.5 m/s. The results show that at a wind speed of 14.5 m/s, the BPEH has an optimum external load of 60 k Ω , a maximum power output of 7.21 mW and a maximum amplitude of 93.065 mm. Therefore, the simple structure of the harvester proposed in this work may open a new way for bistable composite structures to acquire wind energy widely in natural environments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method of electrolytic manganese slag (EMR) resource utilization was proposed. • Almost all ammonia nitrogen in EMR is recovered by high-temperature calcination. • Manganese in EMR can be stably cured in cement-based materials. • The toxic leaching results of EMR after resource utilization were consistent with GB8978-1996. High temperature calcination and mechanical ball milling are the most effective methods for increasing the volcanic ash activity of electrolytic manganese residues (EMR) and pretreating hazardous substances (NH 3 -N and Mn2+). In this study, the effects of different calcination temperatures (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 °C) and different EMR dosages (10, 15, and 20 %) on the mechanical properties, microscopic properties, and leaching toxicity of mortar were investigated. The results showed that the compressive strength of the prepared mortar mixture at different ages increased by 13.14 % to 24.5 % at a calcination temperature of 800 °C and dosage of 10 % EMR. Microscopic tests were performed to characterise the distribution of ettringite and calcium silicate hydrate gels on the surface of the mixed mortar. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and leaching toxicity analysis revealed the presence of EMR in the form of CaSiO 3 , MnO(OH) 2 , and M−NH 4 +. The leaching toxicity of Mn2+ and NH 3 -N in the EMR-blended mortar was significantly lower than the emission standards. The use of EMR in construction materials assists in resource utilisation and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GATA transcription factor family participates in plant biological processes and abiotic stress across various crop species, but their function in response to salinity stress remains unexplored, particularly in tomato. Here, a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) GATA gene, SlGATA17 , was characterized in the tolerance to salinity stress. SlGATA17 had transcription activity in yeast, and the transcriptional activation domain was location on 32–60 amino acids of the N-terminal. SlGATA17 expression was induced by heat, cold, ABA, ACC and IAA treatments, but inhibited by NaCl and PEG treatments. In this study, the Slgata17 mutant plants showed slight injury symptoms compared to wild-type plants under salinity stress, and higher expression levels of stress-related marker genes (SlDREB2A , SlAREB1 , SlRD29A and SlP5CS1). Heterologous expression of SlGATA17 in Arabidopsis promoted seed germination under NaCl, ABA and mannitol conditions, and inhibited ABA content and the expression levels of ABA related genes (AtNCED3 , AtNCED5 , AtNCED9 , AtABI3 , AtEM1 and AtEM6). However, SlGATA17 transgenic Arabidopsis were hypersensitive to NaCl at the post-germination stage. Yeast two assay and BiFC assay showed that tomato transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (SlHY5) interacts with SlGATA17. Yeast one assay and Dual-Luc assay showed that SlHY5 negatively regulated SlGATA17 expression via binding to the GATA-box of SlGATA17 promoter. SlHY5-SlGATA17 might function as a regulatory module in response to abiotic stress. • Knockout of SlGATA17 gene enhances tomato salinity tolerance in tomato, while overexpression of SlGATA17 gene was contrary. • SlGATA17 protein interacts with SlHY5, which inhibits SlGATA17 gene expression by binding to its promoter. • Ectopic expression of SlGATA17 in Arabidopsis leads to decreased ABA synthesis and enhanced seed germination rate under stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the demand of high speed and large indexing in automatic machine, a novel inner displaced cam mechanism is presented and researched on dynamics. Multi-degree of freedom dynamics model taking transverse and torsional vibration of input and output shafts into account is established by using lumped parameter method for the mechanism. The natural frequency of the mechanism and the dynamic respond is solved. Based on sensitivity analysis method, the influence of the parameters to the first-order natural frequency is analyzed. The input shaft and the shunt shaft diameters are considered to have more impact on the 1st order natural frequency than the other parameters. Finally, the mode test is carried out to obtain the natural frequencies of the prototype so that the feasibility of the dynamic model is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the optimal restoration pattern, this study explored the soil physicochemical properties and distribution characteristics of heavy metals under various planting patterns in the mangrove restoration wetland which in Jinjiang, Fujian Province. Based on 30 soil samples collected from the wetland in April 2019, we thoroughly analyzed the distribution characteristics of soil physicochemical properties (particle size (PS), pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP)) and nine heavy metals elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, As, V, Co) under different planting patterns. Pollution levels were also studied, and heavy metal concentrations in soil were investigated by correlation analysis, with relevant experimental data from April 2016 and April 2017 used in the comparative analysis. The results showed that in the entire study area, the concentrations of SOM, TN and TP in the low-density area were 35.8%, 18.03%, and 21.36% higher than those in the high-density area, respectively. In the plot of " A - K–C , Acanthus ilifolius - Kandelia obovate - Aegiceras corniculatum ", the concentrations of SOM, TN and TP were more easily accumulated. The trend in average concentrations of 9 heavy metals were as follows: Zn > V > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ni > As > Co > Cd. The concentration of heavy metals in the soil of the " A - K–C , Acanthus ilifolius - Kandelia obovate - Aegiceras corniculatum , 0.5 × 0.5 m (II#3)" plot was the lowest, and a preliminary conclusion that the II#3 pattern for the restoration of soil heavy metal has a more significant role. Based on the Geo-accumulation Index (I geo) and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (E r i), the pollution levels of the 8 elements other than Cd either did not reach high levels or had no pollution. Moreover, pH value was negatively correlated with SOM at 5% confidence level, and the correlation coefficient was −0.354 (p < 0.05). The TP increased but the TN decreased year by year, and we can thus consider that the wetland soil and the activated sludge have the same nitrification and denitrification, which is worth for further study. With the increase of wetland restoration time, heavy metals were gradually removed; the concentrations of Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cd in the fifth year were significantly lower than before, and the pollution levels were also significantly reduced. The research methods and results can provide theoretical and scientific bases for further study of wetland vegetation and can help in choosing feasible restoration methods for further wetland restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high-production-volume industrial chemical that facilitates the development of breast cancer. However, the molecular mechanism associated with BPA-induced breast cancer cell proliferation and migration remains elusive. In our study, we exposed MCF-7 cells to different concentrations of BPA (0.1, 1 and 10 μM) for 24, 48, or 72 h. We found that BPA exposure significantly promoted MCF-7 cell proliferation and migration but not invasion. To elucidate the mechanisms, the differentially expressed genes between the BPA and control groups were investigated with the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database through GEO2R. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and pathway action network analyses demonstrated the important role of the cell cycle pathway in the effects of BPA exposure on MCF-7 cells. Importantly, analysis with the cytoHubba plugin of Cytoscape software coupled with analysis of enriched genes in the cell cycle pathway identified PTTG1 and CDC20 (two hub genes) as key targets associated with BPA-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation and migration. Interestingly, BPA significantly increased the protein expression levels of PTTG1 but not CDC20. Knockdown of PTTG1 inhibited the BPA-induced increase in proliferation and maintained cell cycle progression. In addition, we confirmed that the increased expression of PTTG1 upon BPA exposure was caused by miR-381-3p inhibition. Moreover, we verified that miR-381-3p expression was low and inversely correlated with PTTG1 expression in breast cancer tissues. Together, these findings demonstrate that BPA promotes high PTTG1 expression and alters the cell cycle to enhance MCF-7 cell proliferation by inhibiting miR-381-3p expression. Image 1 • BPA promotes MCF-7 cell proliferation and migration. • BPA drives PTTG1-dependent cell cycle. • BPA enhances PTTG1 expression by suppressing miR-381-3p expression. • miR-381-3p is negatively correlated with PTTG1 level in breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]