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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has rapidly emerged as the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally, representing a significant and escalating public health challenge. Meconopsis integrifolia (Maxim.) Franch, a traditional Tibetan medicinal herb used for treating hepatitis, remains largely unexplored regarding its therapeutic potential and active components in combating NAFLD. This study first evaluated the in vitro lipid accumulation inhibitory activity of different extraction fractions of M. integrifolia using a HepG2 cell steatosis model. The ethyl acetate fraction was found to significantly reduce triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, inhibit lipid droplet deposition in HepG2 cells, and promote lipid metabolism balance through modulation of the AMPK/SREPB-1c/PPAR-α signaling pathway. Further analysis utilizing chromatographic techniques and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) led to the isolation of 13 compounds from the active ethyl acetate fraction. Notably, compounds 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 were identified for the first time from this Tibetan herb. In vitro activity assays and molecular docking analyses further confirmed that the compounds Luteolin (1), Quercetin 3-O-[2‴, 6‴-O-diacetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside] (6), and Quercetin 3-O-[2‴-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside] (8) are potential key components responsible for the NAFLD-ameliorating effects of M. integrifolia. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of M. integrifolia in treating NAFLD and provides a foundation for its further development and application, underscoring its significance in the advanced utilization of traditional Tibetan medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of three preservation methods (ultrasound, ZnO NPs, and ultrasound combined with ZnO NPs) on the odor, microstructure, and edible quality of fresh-cut lettuce were investigated in this study. When stored for 8 days, significant improvements were observed in the following when using ultrasound combined with ZnO NP treatment to better preserve fresh-cut lettuce (and were reduced when compared with the control group): the color (L* value (34.53); a* value (−5.89); b* value (15.00); browning index (40.63); firmness (25.66); propectin (2.12%); chlorophyll (2.75 mg/100 g); cellulose (20.35%); total phenolic content (0.95 mg/100 g); PAL activity (54.91 U·h−1·g−1); CAT activity (41.78 U·min−1·mg−1); ABTS free-radical scavenging ability (137.62 µmol/L); FRAP total reducing ability (94.42 µmol/L) (p < 0.05), PPO activity (0.85 U·min−1·g−1); MDA (1.97 µmol/g); and H2O2 (54.26 µmol/g). In addition, the results of the volatile components indicated that the use of ultrasound combined with ZnO NP treatment decreased the production of adverse flavor compounds by inhibiting the generation of aldehydes and ketones, as well as by promoting the generation of olefins, nitriles, and quinolines, and the contents of nitriles and quinolines were 20.07% and 2.07% of the total components, respectively. The resultant microstructure indicated that the microchannels generated by ultrasound allowed for the ZnO NPs to enter the intracellular cavity of the fresh-cut lettuce more efficiently; such a finding could serve as a basis for a hypothesis on the mechanism of ultrasound combined with ZnO NP treatment. The results of fresh-cut lettuce preservation when using ultrasound combined with ZnO NPs were better than those that were obtained when using ultrasound and ZnO NP treatment alone. And, using ultrasound combined with ZnO NP treatment as a new preservation method for fresh-cut lettuce provides a promising preservation idea for other fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to prepare monodisperse silica mesoporous microspheres with narrow pore size distribution to promote their application in the field of liquid chromatography. An improved emulsion method was used to prepare silica mesoporous microspheres, and the rotary evaporation temperature, emulsification speed, dosage of porogen DMF, and dosage of the catalyst NH3·H2O were optimized. Subsequently, these microspheres were respectively treated by alkali–heating, calcination, and sieving. The D50 (particle size at the cumulative particle size distribution percentage of 50%) of as–prepared silica mesoporous microspheres is 26.3 μm, and the D90/D10 (the ratio of particle size at a cumulative particle size distribution percentage of 90% to a cumulative particle size distribution percentage of 10%) is 1.94. The resultant silica mesoporous microspheres have distinctive pore structures, with a pore volume of more than 1.0 cm3/g, an average pore size of 11.35 nm, and a median pore size of 13.4 nm. The silica mesoporous microspheres with a large particle size, uniform particle size distribution, large average pore size and pore volume, and narrow mesopore size distribution can basically meet the requirements of preparative liquid chromatographic columns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normally, the acidic impurities in hemihydrate phosphogypsum (HPG) must be neutralized when HPG is utilized, and a little amount of calcium hydroxide (CH) is the best choice. In this paper, the effects of excessive CH (5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, 15 wt.% and 20 wt.% of HPG) for carbonation curing on the performance of hardened HPG paste were studied. According to the results of macro tests and microanalyses of XRD, TG, SEM-EDS, MIP and N2 physisorption, it could be verified that CaF2, Ca3(PO4)2 and a large amount of nanoscale CaCO3 crystals were produced as a result of neutralization and carbonation, and the compressive strength and the water resistance of carbonated HPG + CH paste were significantly improved due to the effects of nanoscale CaCO3 crystals on pore refinement and the coverage on the surfaces of gypsum crystals of the hardened paste. Therefore, this study suggests a feasible and green method for recycling HPG/PG, with the collaborative effects of neutralization, performance enhancement and reductions in CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design of advanced electrocatalysts at the molecular or atomic level is important for improving the performance of hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) and replacing precious metal catalysts. In this study, we describe the fabrication of electrocatalysts based on Fe, Co, or Ni single atoms supported on titanium carbide (TiC) using the molten salt method, i.e., TiC-FeSA, TiC-CoSA, or TiC-NiSA, to enhance HER performance. The introduction of uniformly distributed transition-metal single atoms successfully reduces the overpotential of HERs. Overpotentials of TiC-FeSA at 10 mA cm−2 are 123.4 mV with 61.1 mV dec−1 Tafel slope under acidic conditions and 184.2 mV with 85.1 mV dec−1 Tafel slope under alkaline conditions, which are superior to TiC-NiSA and TiC-CoSA. TiC samples loaded with transition-metal single atoms exhibit high catalytic activity and long stability under acidic and basic conditions. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the introduction of transition-metal single atoms effectively reduces the HER barrier of TiC-based electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New and efficient sensors of nerve agents are urgently demanded to prevent them from causing mass casualties in war or terrorist attacks. So, in this work, a novel hierarchical nanoheterostructure was synthesized via the direct growth of α-Fe2O3 nanorods onto multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) backbones. Then, the composites were functionalized with hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and successfully applied to detect dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP)-sarin simulant gas. The observations show that the HFIP-α-Fe2O3@MWCNT hybrids exhibit outstanding DMMP-sensing performance, including low operating temperature (220 °C), high response (6.0 to 0.1 ppm DMMP), short response/recovery time (8.7 s/11.9 s), as well as low detection limit (63.92 ppb). The analysis of the sensing mechanism demonstrates that the perfect sensing performance is mainly due to the synergistic effect of the chemical interaction of DMMP with the heterostructure and the physical adsorption of DMMP by hydrogen bonds with HFIP that are grafted on the α-Fe2O3@MWCNTs composite. The huge specific surface area of HFIP-α-Fe2O3@MWCNTs composite is also one of the reasons for this enhanced performance. This work not only offers a promising and effective method for synthesizing sensitive materials for high-performance gas sensors but also provides insight into the sensing mechanism of DMMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a 2D stochastic quasi-geostrophic equation driven by jump noise in a smooth bounded domain. We prove the local existence and uniqueness of mild  L p (D) -solutions for the dissipative quasi-geostrophic equation with a full range of subcritical powers  α ∈ (1 2 , 1 ]  by using the semigroup theory and fixed point theorem. Our approach, based on the Yosida approximation argument and Itô formula for the Banach space valued processes, allows for establishing some uniform bounds for the mild solutions and we prove the global existence of mild solutions in  L ∞ (0 , T ; L p (D))  space for all  p > 2 2 α − 1 , which is consistent with the deterministic case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is crucial in achieving global energy transition and carbon neutrality goals. Existing market estimates typically presume linear or exponential growth but fail to consider how market demand responds to the declining cost of underlying technologies. To address this, this study utilizes a learning curve model to project the cost of electrolyzers and its subsequent impact on hydrogen market, aligning with a premise that the market demand is proportional to the cost of hydrogen. In a case study of China's hydrogen market, projecting from 2020 to 2060, we observed substantial differences in market evolution compared to exponential growth scenarios. Contrary to exponential growth scenarios, China's hydrogen market experiences faster growth during the 2020–2040 period rather than later. Such differences underscore the necessity for proactive strategic planning in emerging technology markets, particularly for those experiencing rapid cost decline, such as hydrogen. The framework can also be extended to other markets by using local data, providing valuable insights to investors, policymakers, and developers engaged in the hydrogen market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea Island cotton is the best quality tetraploid cultivated cotton in the world, in terms of fiber quality. Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide in cotton production, and the improper use of herbicides has led to pollen abortion in sea island cotton and, consequently, to a dramatic decrease in yield; however, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, different concentrations (0, 3.75, 7.5, 15, and 30 g/L) of glyphosate were applied to CP4-EPSPS transgenic sea island cotton Xinchang 5 in 2021 and 2022 at Korla, with 15 g/L glyphosate chosen as the suitable concentration. By comparing the paraffin sections of 2–24 mm anthers in the 15 g/L glyphosate treatment group with those in the water control group, we showed that the key period of anther abortion after glyphosate treatment was the formation and development of tetrads, which corresponded to 8–9 mm buds. Transcriptome sequencing analysis of the treated and control anthers revealed a significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes in phytohormone-related pathways, in particular abscisic acid response and regulation pathways. Additionally, after treatment with 15 g/L of glyphosate, there was a significant increase in the amount of abscisic acid in the anthers in the 8–9 mm buds. Further analysis of the differential expression of abscisic acid response and regulatory genes, an abscisic acid response gene GbTCP14 (Gbar_A11G003090) was identified, which was significantly upregulated in buds with 15 g/L glyphosate treatment than the control, and it could be a key candidate gene for the subsequent research involving male sterility induced by glyphosate in sea island cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the poor searchability, population diversity, and slow convergence speed of the differential evolution (DE) algorithm in solving capacitated vehicle routing problems (CVRP), a new multistrategy-based differential evolution algorithm with the saving mileage algorithm, sequential encoding, and gravitational search algorithm, namely SEGDE, is proposed to solve CVRP in this paper. Firstly, an optimization model of CVRP with the shortest total vehicle routing is established. Then, the saving mileage algorithm is employed to initialize the population of the DE to improve the initial solution quality and the search efficiency. The sequential encoding approach is used to adjust the differential mutation strategy to legalize the current solution and ensure its effectiveness. Finally, the gravitational search algorithm is applied to calculate the gravitational relationship between points to effectively adjust the evolutionary search direction and further improve the search efficiency. Four CVRPs are selected to verify the effectiveness of the proposed SEGDE algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed SEGDE algorithm can effectively solve the CVRPs and obtain the ideal vehicle routing. It adopts better search speed, global optimization ability, routing length, and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different soil layer properties have great influence on tunnel leakage. In this paper, the finite element software is used to analyze the homogeneous leakage model of different soil layers and different degrees of lining deterioration. The working conditions of different soil layer properties and different degrees of lining deterioration are established by means of soil layer permeability coefficient and lining permeability coefficient, and the law of tunnel leakage under each working condition is analyzed. This paper innovatively explores the relationship between the severity of tunnel seepage caused by different lining deterioration and the soil layer properties of the tunnel. Finally, by comparing the field survey data of Dinghuaimen with the leakage law and mechanism summarized by the model, the reliability and feasibility of the model method to explore the leakage mechanism are verified. The model test results are consistent with the project survey data. In this paper, the seepage law and mechanism of underwater shield tunnel are explored and the result shows: (1) The leakage laws and stress distribution laws of a single homogeneous soil layer with different strata properties are similar. The flow velocity in the lower half of the tunnel lining is greater than the upper half, and the maximum velocity occurs at the arch foot; the velocity inside the lining is much smaller than that inside the soil layer. The maximum absolute value of the axial stress of the lining occurs at the arch waist on the left and right sides, and the minimum values of the axial stress of absolute values all occur at the dome. (2) The leakage of underwater tunnels is related to the properties of soil layers. The larger the soil permeability coefficient is, the more serious the deterioration of the tunnel lining will be, and the more serious the tunnel leakage will be. (3) The leakage of complex strata follows the law of leakage in a single homogeneous stratum. The leakage of the tunnel is the most serious in the fine sand layer with the largest permeability coefficient. Moreover, when the seepage phenomenon occurs, the water flow tends to seep along the fine sand layer to the tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to meet the requirements of communication security and concealment, as well as to protect marine life, bionic covert communication has become a hot research topic for underwater acoustic communication (UAC). In this paper, we propose a bionic covert UAC (BC-UAC) method based on the time–frequency contour (TFC) of the bottlenose dolphin whistle, which can overcome the safety problem of traditional low signal–noise ratio (SNR) covert communication and make the detected communication signal be excluded as marine biological noise. In the proposed BC-UAC method, the TFC of the bottlenose dolphin whistle is segmented to improve the transmission rate. Two BC-UAC schemes based on the segmented TFC of the whistle, the BC-UAC scheme using the whistle signal with time-delay (BC-UAC-TD) and the BC-UAC scheme using the whistle signal with frequency-shift (BC-UAC-FS), are addressed. The original whistle signal is used as a synchronization signal. Moreover, the virtual time reversal mirror (VTRM) technique is adopted to equalize the channel for mitigating the multipath effect. The performance of the proposed BC-UAC method, in terms of the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and bit error rate (BER), is evaluated under simulated and measured underwater channels. Numerical results show that the proposed BC-UAC method performs well on covertness and reliability. Furthermore, the covertness of the bionic modulated signal in BC-UAC-TD is better than that of BC-UAC-FS, although the reliability of BC-UAC-FS is better than that of BC-UAC-TD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the organ executing gas exchange and directly facing the external environment, the lungs are challenged continuously by various stimuli, causing the disequilibration of redox homeostasis and leading to pulmonary diseases. The breakdown of oxidants/antioxidants system happens when the overproduction of free radicals results in an excess over the limitation of cleaning capability, which could lead to the oxidative modification of macromolecules including nucleic acids. The most common type of oxidative base, 8-oxoG, is considered the marker of DNA oxidative damage. The appearance of 8-oxoG could lead to base mismatch and its accumulation might end up as tumorigenesis. The base 8-oxoG was corrected by base excision repair initiated by 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1), which recognizes 8-oxoG from the genome and excises it from the DNA double strand, generating an AP site for further processing. Aside from its function in DNA damage repairment, it has been reported that OGG1 takes part in the regulation of gene expression, derived from its DNA binding characteristic, and showed impacts on inflammation. Researchers believe that OGG1 could be the potential therapy target for relative disease. This review intends to make an overall summary of the mechanism through which OGG1 regulates gene expression and the role of OGG1 in pulmonary diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Danshen (DS), the dry root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge., has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for many years to promote blood circulation and to inhibit thrombosis. However, the active ingredients responsible for the anti-thrombotic effect and the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully elucidated. Methods: Molecular docking was used to predict the active ingredients in DS and their potential targets by calculating the scores of docking between DS ingredients and thrombosis-related proteins. Then, a chemical-induced zebrafish thrombosis model was applied to confirm their anti-thrombotic effects. Result: The molecular docking results indicated that compared to the control ligand, higher docking scores were observed for several compounds in DS, among which salvianolic acid B (SAB), lithospermic acid (LA), rosmarinic acid (MA), and luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucoside (LG) could attenuate zebrafish caudal vein thrombosis and recover the decrease in heart red blood cells (RBCs) in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: Our study showed that it is possible to screen the potential active components in natural products by combining the molecular docking method and zebrafish in vivo model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the aviation industry has entered a critical period of development, the demand for Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) technology is becoming increasingly urgent. Real-time detection of aviation wind field information and the early warning of wind field shear by atmospheric sounding system are two important factors related to the safe operation of aviation and airport. According to the advantages of ADS-B and Mode S data, this paper uses the Meteo-Particle (MP) model proposed by Sun et al., in their previous research to retrieve high-altitude wind field. Comparing the precision and accuracy of wind field retrieved results, and the optimization parameters of MP model suitable for meteorological model are further studied. To solve the problem of incomplete wind field coverage obtained by retrieval, an extrapolation algorithm of wind field is proposed. The results show that: (1) a comprehensive evaluation index is introduced, which can more effectively evaluate the comprehensive difference of wind field retrieval results in wind speed and direction. (2) The adaptability results of MP model in different periods and altitudes provide some reference for the research of other scholars. (3) The new parameter setting can improve the accuracy of the retrieved results, and the appropriate extrapolation of wind field fills in the blank part of aviation and meteorology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconducting fault current limiters (SFCLs) are attracting increasing attention due to their potential for use in modern smart grids or micro grids. Thanks to the unique non-linear properties of high-temperature-superconducting (HTS) tapes, an SFCL is invisible to the grid with faster response compared to traditional fault current limiters. The quench recovery characteristic of an HTS tape is fundamental for the design of an SFCL. In this work, the quench recovery time of an HTS tape was measured for fault currents of different magnitudes and durations. A global heat transfer model was developed to describe the quench recovery characteristic and compared with experiments to validate its effectiveness. Based on the model, the influence of tape properties on the quench recovery time was discussed, and a safe margin for the impact energy was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deoxynivalenol (DON)—a type B trichothecene mycotoxin, mainly produced by the secondary metabolism of Fusarium—has toxic effects on animals and humans. Although DON's toxicity in many organs including the adrenal glands, thymus, stomach, spleen, and colon has been addressed, its effects on adipocytes have not been investigated. In this study, 3T3-L1 cells were chosen as the cell model and treated with less toxic doses of DON (100 ng/mL) for 7 days. An inhibition of adipogenesis and decrease in triglycerides (TGs) were observed. DON exposure significantly downregulated the expression of PPARγ2 and C/EBPα, along with that of other adipogenic marker genes in 3T3-L1 cells and BALB/c mice. The anti-adipogenesis effect of DON and the downregulation of the expression of adipogenic marker genes were effectively reversed by PPARγ2 overexpression. The repression of PPARγ2′s expression is the pivotal event during DON exposure regarding adipogenesis. DON exposure specifically decreased the di-/trimethylation levels of Histone 3 at lysine 4 in 3T3-L1 cells, therefore weakening the enrichment of H3K4me2 and H3K4me3 at the Pparγ2 promoter and suppressing its expression. Conclusively, DON exposure inhibited PPARγ2 expression via decreasing H3K4 methylation, downregulated the expression of PPARγ2-regulated adipogenic marker genes, and consequently suppressed the intermediate and late stages of adipogenesis. Our results broaden the current understanding of DON's toxic effects and provide a reference for addressing the toxicological mechanism of DON's interference with lipid homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-silica composites with nanoporous structures were synthesized for the adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), taking tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the silicon source and activated carbon powder as the carbon source. The preparation conditions were as follows: the pH of the reaction system was 5.5, the hydrophobic modification time was 50 h, and the dosage of activated carbon was 2 wt%. Infrared spectrum analysis showed that the activated carbon was dispersed in the pores of aerogel to form the carbon-silica composites material. The static adsorption experiments, dynamic adsorption-desorption experiments, and regeneration experiments show that the prepared carbon-silica composites have microporous and mesoporous structures, the adsorption capacity for n-hexane is better than that of conventional hydrophobic silica gel, and the desorption performance is better than that of activated carbon. It still has a high retention rate of adsorption capacity after multiple adsorption-desorption cycles. The prepared carbon-silica composites material has good industrial application prospects in oil vapor recovery, providing a new alternative for solving organic waste gas pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]