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Most deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic are due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)-related respiratory failure. Cytokine storms and oxidative stress are the major players in ARDS development during respiratory virus infections. However, it is still unknown how oxidative stress is regulated by viral and host factors in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we found that activation of NRF2/HMOX1 significantly suppressed SARS-CoV-2 replication in multiple cell types by producing the metabolite biliverdin, whereas SARS-CoV-2 impaired the NRF2/HMOX1 axis through the action of the nonstructural viral protein NSP14. Mechanistically, NSP14 interacts with the catalytic domain of the NAD-dependent deacetylase Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and inhibits its ability to activate the NRF2/HMOX1 pathway. Furthermore, both genetic and pharmaceutical evidence corroborated the novel antiviral activity of SIRT1 against SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 dysregulates the host antioxidant defense system and emphasize the vital role played by the SIRT1/NRF2 axis in host defense against SARS-CoV-2.

Objective The triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index has been shown to be a new alternative measure for insulin resistance. However, no study has attempted to investigate the association of the TyG index with incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in the general population without known cardiovascular diseases. Methods Individuals without known cardiovascular diseases (heart failure, coronary heart disease, or stroke) from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort were recruited. The baseline TyG index was calculated as the Ln [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The association between the baseline TyG index and incident AF was examined using Cox regression. Results Of 11,851 participants, the mean age was 54.0 years; 6586 (55.6%) were female. During a median follow-up of 24.26 years, 1925 incidents of AF cases (0.78/per 100 person-years) occurred. An increased AF incidence with a graded TyG index was found by Kaplan‒Meier curves (P 9.20 levels (aHR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03, 1.37) of the TyG index were associated with an increased risk of AF compared with the middle TyG index category (8.80–9.20). The exposure-effect analysis confirmed the U-shaped association between the TyG index and AF incidence (P = 0.041). Further sex-specific analysis showed that a U-shaped association between the TyG index and incident AF still existed in females but not in males. Conclusions A U-shaped association between the TyG index and AF incidence is observed in Americans without known cardiovascular diseases. Female sex may be a modifier in the association between the TyG index and AF incidence. Graphical Abstract

Background Weight loss is a significant improvement for individuals with overweight or obesity, especially for cardiovascular patients. The driving effects of weight self-perception and attempts to lose weight are vital in weight management, yet weight misperception is a direct culprit for the undesirability of weight control and obesity prevention. This study aimed to investigate weight self-perception and misperception and weight loss attempts in Chinese adults, especially among cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular patients. Methods We collected data from China HeartRescue Global Evaluation Baseline Household Survey 2015. Questionnaires were used to assess self-reported weight and cardiovascular patients. We used kappa statistics to check the consistency between weight self-perception and BMI. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify risk factors associated with weight misperception. Results A total of 2690 participants were enrolled in the household survey, while 157 respondents were cardiovascular patients. According to questionnaire results, 43.3% of cardiovascular patients thought they were overweight and obese, while the percentage is 35.3% among non-cardiovascular patients. Kappa statistics indicated higher consistency of self-reported weight and actual weight among cardiovascular patients. Multivariate analysis showed weight misperception was significantly associated with gender, education level, and actual BMI. Lastly, 34.5% of non-cardiovascular patients and 35.0% of cardiovascular patients were trying to lose weight or keep weight. The majority of these people adopted combined strategies of controlling diet and exercise to lose or maintain weight. Conclusions Weight misperception was highly prevalent among cardiovascular or non-cardiovascular patients. Obese respondents, women, and individuals with lower education levels were more vulnerable to make weight misperception. However, no difference in the purpose of weight loss attempts was indicated among cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular patients.

FOXO has long been associated with aging, exercise, and tissue homeostasis, but it remains unclear what the role is of the muscle FOXO gene in E against high-salt intake(HSI)-induced age-related defects of the skeletal muscle, heart, and mortality. In this research, overexpression and RNAi of the FOXO gene in the skeletal and heart muscle of Drosophila were constructed by building Mhc-GAL4/FOXO-UAS-overexpression and Mhc-GAL4/FOXO-UAS-RNAi system. The skeletal muscle and heart function, the balance of oxidation and antioxidant, and mitochondrial homeostasis were measured. The results showed that exercise reversed the age-related decline in climbing ability and downregulation of muscle FOXO expression induced by HSI. Muscle-specific FOXO-RNAi (FOXO-RNAi) and -overexpression (FOXO-OE) promoted or slowed the age-related decline in climbing ability, heart function, and skeletal muscle and heart structure damage, which was accompanied by the inhibition or activation of FOXO/PGC-1α/SDH and FOXO/SOD pathway activity, and oxidative stress (ROS) increased or decreased in both skeletal muscle and heart. The protective effect of exercise on the skeletal muscle and heart was blocked by FOXO-RNAi in aged HSI flies. FOXO-OE prolonged its lifespan, but it did not resist the HSI-induced lifespan shortening. Exercise did not improve HSI-induced lifespan shortening in FOXO-RNAi flies. Therefore, current results confirmed that the muscle FOXO gene played a vital role in exercise against age-related defects of the skeletal muscle and heart induced by HSI because it determined the activity of muscle FOXO/SOD and FOXO/PGC-1α/SDH pathways. The muscle FOXO gene also played an important role in exercise against HSI-induced mortality in aging flies.

This study aims to investigate the dosage pattern, efficacy, and safety of sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) in Chinese heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients regarding real-world settings. Patients from 27 centers with a confirmed diagnosis of HFrEF and initiated Sac/Val treatment were enrolled. The primary objective was to evaluate the dosage pattern and change of heart failure status. In a final cohort of 983 patients, outpatient Sac/Val treatment demonstrated a similar beneficial effect in NT-proBNP and cardiac function. After initiating the treatment, overall and sub-population showed similar safety and efficacy. Patients who received a higher dose of Sac/Val (> 200 mg/d) demonstrated better improvement in LV function and reduction of NT-proBNP regardless of adjustment. Among Chinese HFrEF patients, Sac/Val showed a comparable reduction in NT-proBNP and improvement in cardiac function. Data further support guideline recommendations of Sac/Val in Chinese population. Optimal up-titration might provide further benefits. Further long-term and prognostic studies are needed. Graphical abstract

Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) is the most commercially successful biological antibacterial agent used for crop through systemic acquired resistance (SAR). In this study, a reproducible and accurate procedure, based on the spectrophotometric/microplate reader analysis, has been developed to detect ASM in tobacco leaves. This method involves oxidation of methyl mercaptan by the Ellman's reagent 5,5'-dithio-bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) to form the yellow derivative 5'-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid (TNB

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a widely recognized pathogen that has caused numerous outbreaks and is prevalent in the marine environment. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the novel V. parahaemolyticus strain BTXS2 and its associated phage, VB_VpP_BT-1011, isolated from the Bohai Coast (Tianjin, China). Strain BTXS2 is a short coryneform bacterium with a terminal flagellum and is able to utilize and metabolize a wide variety of organic matter because of its unique carbon source utilization and enzyme activity. It grows well in medium between pH 5.0 and 9.0 and salinities of simulated freshwater, estuary water, and seawater (NaCl 0.5%-3%). Multiple antibiotic resistance genes and virulence genes that endanger human health were found in the BTXS2 genome. Phage VB_VpP_BT-1011, which infects BTXS2, is a 40,065-bp double-stranded DNA virus of the family Myoviridae with a latent time of 30 min and burst size of 24 PFU/cell. Like its host, the phage tolerates a broad range of environmental conditions (salinity, 0-3% NaCl; pH 5.0-9.0; temperature, 4-37°C). A host range test showed that the phage only infected and inhibited isolate BTXS2. In summary, we investigated a novel V. parahaemolyticus host-phage pair and the antibacterial effect of the phage on V. parahaemolyticus, providing insights into marine microbial ecology and risks.

Background Obesity is an strong risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), and obesity can affect the prognosis of AF. However, the role of weight loss on outcomes after ablation remains unclear. Objectives This study aims to determine the relationship between weight loss and outcomes in patients with AF ablation, as well as the potential dose–response relationship. Methods The Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase databases were searched to identify studies that reported a relationship between weight loss and ablation up to August 17, 2021. Relative risks (RRs) were pooled using random-effects models. Results One randomized, open-labeled clinical trial and seven cohort studies involving 1283 patients were included. The mean body mass index of all included studies was over 30 kg/m2. The clinical trial showed a non-significant benefit of weight loss intervention on AF recurrence (Odd risk [OR] = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70–1.47). Meta-analysis based on observational studies showed that the recurrence rate of AF after ablation was significantly reduced (RR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.22–0.81, I2 = 97%) in relatively obese patients with weight loss compared with the control group. Each 10% reduction in weight was associated with a decreased risk of AF recurrence after ablation (RR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.33–0.88) with high statistical heterogeneity (I2 = 76%). An inverse linear association (Pnon-linearity = 0.27) between AF relapse and increasing weight loss was found. Conclusions Our results first suggest an inverse dose–response association between weight loss and risk of recurrent AF after ablation, with moderate certainty. Graphical Abstract

Background New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) complicating with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with worse prognosis. The systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), serves as a novel inflammatory indicator, is found to be predictive of adverse outcomes. The aim of this study is to explore the association between NOAF and SIRI. Methods A retrospective data included 616 STEMI participants treated with PCI in our cardiology department had been analyzed in present investigation, of which being divided into a NOAF or sinus rhythm (SR) group based on the presence or absence of atrial fibrillation. The predictive role of SIRI for in detecting NOAF had been evaluated by the logistic regression analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Additionally, long-term all-cause mortality between both groups was compared using the Kaplan–Meier test. Results NOAF during hospitalization developed in 7.6% of PCI-treated individuals. After multivariate regression analyses, SIRI remains to be an independently predictor of NOAF (odds ratio 1.782, 95% confidence interval 1.675–1.906, P = 0.001). In the ROC curve analysis, SIRI with a cut-off value of 4.86 was calculated to predict NOAF, with 4.86, with a sensitivity of 80.85% and a specificity of 75.57%, respectively (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.826, P < 0.001). Furthermore, pairwise compassion of ROC curves displayed the superiority of SIRI in the prediction of NOAF in comparison with that of neutrophil/lymphocyte or monocyte/lymphocyte (P < 0.05). In addition, the participants in NOAF group had a significantly higher incidence of all-cause death compared to those in SR group after a median of 40-month follow-up (22.0% vs 5.8%, log-rank P < 0.001). Conclusion SIRI can independently predict NOAF in patients with STEMI after PCI, with being positively correlated to worsened outcomes.

Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has emerged as an alternative to biventricular pacing (BVP) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We aimed to compare the morbidity and mortality associated with LBBAP versus BVP in patients undergoing CRT implantation.Consecutive patients who received CRT from two high-volume implantation centers were retrospectively recruited. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death and heart failure hospitalization, and the secondary endpoint was all-cause death.A total of 491 patients receiving CRT (154 via LBBAP and 337 via BVP) were included, with a median follow-up of 31 months. The primary endpoint was reached by 21 (13.6%) patients in the LBBAP group, as compared with 74 (22.0%) patients in the BVP group [hazard ratio (HR) 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-1.14, P = 0.15]. There were 10 (6.5%) deaths in the LBBAP group, as compared with 31 (9.2%) in the BVP group (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.44-1.86, P = 0.79). No significant difference was observed in the risk of either the primary or secondary endpoint between LBBAP and BVP after multivariate Cox regression (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.45-1.23, P = 0.24, and HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.36-1.67, P = 0.51, respectively) or propensity score matching (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.41-1.29, P = 0.28, and HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.29-1.65, P = 0.40, respectively).LBBAP was associated with a comparable effect on morbidity and mortality relative to BVP in patients with indications for CRT.

A validated particle flow code (PFC2D)-based model was developed to investigate the indirect tensile mechanical behavior of shale containing two central parallel cracks under Brazilian splitting test conditions. The results show that preexisting cracks have a significant and insignificant influence on the tensile strength of shale under LPL and LVL conditions, respectively. When L ⩾ 10 mm, changing the L and H values has little effect on the tensile strength of shale. However, the inclusion of preexisting cracks have a positive effect on reducing the anisotropy of the shale specimens, and in the case of an L/D ratio of 0.3, the shale anisotropy is the lowest. Four failure modes were formed at different β and θ values under LPL conditions. In the case of β⩾60°, the failure mode is mainly affected by β, and when β⩽45°, the failure mode is more complicated than in the case of β⩾ 60°. Only three major failure modes were observed under LVL conditions; in the case of 45°⩽β⩽75° and θ⩽30°, the most complex failure mode occurred.

The preparation of large-area uniform continuous MoSe2 films is a challenge, which greatly limits its large-scale application. It is of great importance to control the preparation conditions to obtain a single-phase structure and excellent semiconductive properties. Herein, we report the preparation of thin MoSe2 films from Mo films using electron beam evaporation. The effects of the evaporation temperature, growth temperature, and growth time on the phase structure and stoichiometric ratio of thin MoSe2 films were investigated. It was concluded that the optimal preparation conditions of MoSe2 are a Se source temperature of 400℃, growth temperature of 600℃, and selenization time of 3 h. It was confirmed that thin MoSe2 films with a 2H phase prepared from a thin Mo film exhibit excellent semiconductor properties in a transistor device.

In this study, fucoidans were extracted from the sea cucumber Thelenota ananas (Ta-FUCs) by enzymatic degradation. Four products with molecular weights of 1380.3, 524.0, 182.4, and 110.3 kDa were obtained, and the Ta-FUC showing optimal anti-adipogenic activities was determined. Results of MTT and Oil red O staining analyses showed that the Ta-FUCs inhibited the proliferation and differentiation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Futhermore, Ta-FUCs significantly downregulated the key transcriptional factors, such as SREBP-1c, PPARγ, and C/EBPα of adipocytes. The Ta-FUCs also activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related genes, such as β-catenin, LRP5, and FrZ. The Ta-FUCs suppressed lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes possibly by decreasing the expression of genes ACC, FAS, ME, GPAT, DGAT, and PILN, which are important in the synthesis of fatty acids and triglycerides; and by increasing the expression of genes PPARα, CPT-1α, and ACOX, which are crucial in fatty acid β-oxidation. The anti-adipogenic activities initially increased and then declined with decreasing molecular weight. Among the Ta-FUCs, the 182.4 kDa Ta-FUC exhibited optimal bioactivities. This study reports for the first time that Ta-FUCs can prevent obesity by regulating the differentiation and lipid accumulation of adipocytes.

EPA-enriched phosphatidylcholine (EPA-PC) and EPA-enriched phosphatidylethanolamine (EPA-PE) are newly identified marine phospholipids. The polar group of phospholipids is known to influence EPA-phospholipid activity. However, the differences in anti-tumor effects between EPA-PC and EPA-PE have not been reported. In this study, we evaluated the effects of two forms of EPA on the proliferation and apoptosis in the lung-cancer cell line 95D as well as possible molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that EPA-PC effectively inhibited proliferative activity and promoted apoptosis of 95D cells in a dose-dependent manner, while EPA-PE had no effect on cell proliferation, although it slightly promoted apoptosis. Western blot results showed that EPA-PC and EPA-PE upregulated the expression of PPARγ, RXRα, and PTEN, and downregulated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, EPA-PC and EPA-PE induced the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene, Bax, and reduced the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-xl. Additionally, EPA-PC and EPA-PE promoted the release of cytochrome c and activated the apoptotic enzyme-cleaved caspase-3. These data suggest that the anti-tumor effect of EPA-phospholipids may be exerted via a PPARγ-related mechanism. EPA-PC was more efficacious as compared to EPA-PE, which might be due to the different polar groups of phospholipids.

Background The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a new alternative measure for insulin resistance. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the associations of the TyG index with the risks of cardiovascular diseases and mortality in the general population. Methods The PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were searched for randomized controlled trials or observational cohort studies reporting associations of the TyG index with cardiovascular diseases and mortality from inception to April 16, 2022. Effect sizes were pooled using random-effects models. Robust error meta-regression methods were applied to fit nonlinear dose–response associations. Evidence quality levels and recommendations were assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system (GRADE). Results Twelve cohort studies (6 prospective and 6 retrospective cohorts) involving 6,354,990 participants were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with the lowest TyG index category, the highest TyG index was related to a higher incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) (3 studies; hazard ratio [HR] = 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68–2.40; I2 = 0%), myocardial infarction (MI) (2 studies; HR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.18–1.56; I2 = 35%), and composite cardiovascular disease (CVD) (5 studies; HR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.23–1.74; I2 = 82%). However, there was no association between the TyG index and mortality (cardiovascular mortality [3 studies; HR = 1.10; 95% CI 0.82–1.47; I2 = 76%] or all-cause mortality [4 studies; HR = 1.08; 95% CI 0.92–1.27; I2 = 87%]). In the dose–response analysis, there was a linear association of the TyG index with the risk of CAD (Pnonlinear = 0.3807) or CVD (Pnonlinear = 0.0612). GRADE assessment indicated very low certainty for CVD, MI, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality, and moderate certainty for CAD. Conclusions Based on our current evidence, a higher TyG index may be associated with an increased incidence of CAD (moderate certainty), MI (very low certainty) and CVD (very low certainty) in the general population. There is a potential linear association of the TyG index with CAD and the composite CVD incidence. Further prospective studies (especially in non-Asians) are needed to confirm our findings.

Concrete-encased concrete-filled steel tube (CECFST) columns and partially encased composite (PEC) beams are both steel-concrete composite members which have outstanding advantages and have been applicated in some engineering constructions. This paper makes an attempt to employ blind bolting technique to assemble CECFST columns to PEC beams. For the purpose of exploring the mechanical performance of this type of assembled joints, firstly, a nonlinear finite element (FE) model was established and validated, where complicated contact interaction was taken into consideration. Plenty of parametric analysis were adopted to find out the effect of ten parameters on strength and initial stiffness of the assembled joint. Numerical analysis showed that mechanic behavior is notably affected by axial load ratio, width and thickness of end-plate, bolt pretension force, bolt diameter, and steel ratio of CECFST column. Full-range analysis was then carried out to observe stress and strain developments and failure modes. Load transfer mechanism in CECFST column was also studied. Design methods to estimate the flexural capacity and initial stiffness of the connections were proposed in accordance with the component models. In comparison, it could be concluded that the calculation results fit well with the analytical results, which confirms that the design formulas could provide a favorable basis in practical design.

The antiferromagnetic topological insulator has attracted lots of attention recently, as its intrinsic magnetism and topological property make it a potential material to realize the quantum anomalous Hall effect at relative high temperature. Until now, only MnBi2Te4 is predicted and grown successfully. The other MB2T4-family materials predicted (MB2T4: M = transition metal or rare earth element, B = Bi or Sb, T = Te, Se, or S) with not only antiferromagnetic topological property but also rich and exotic topological quantum states and dynamically stable (or metastable) structure have not been realized on experiment completely. Here, MnBi2Te4 single crystals have been grown successfully by us. It shows typical antiferromagnetic character with Neel temperature of 24.5 K and a spin-flop transition at H ≈ 35,000 Oe, 1.8 K. In order to obtain the other members of MB2T4-family materials, it is necessary to understand the growth mode of MnBi2Te4. Its growth mode may be the layer-inserting growth mode based on symmetry, which is supported by our X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) result, as the intrinsic chemical states of Mn and Te of MnBi2Te4 are the same with those of inserting material α-MnTe. Understanding the growth mode of MnBi2Te4 can help us to grow the other members of MB2T4-family materials.

Zinc is considered protective against atherosclerosis; however, the association between dietary zinc intake and cardiovascular disease remains debated. We investigated whether dietary zinc intake was associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). This analysis included 5186 participants aged 61.9 ± 10.2 years (48.8% men; 41.3% white, 25.0% black, 21.6% Hispanic, and 12.1% Chinese American) from the MESA. Dietary zinc intake was assessed by a self-administered, 120-item food frequency questionnaire at baseline (2000–2002). Baseline and follow-up CAC were measured by computed tomography. CAC progression was defined as CAC > 0 at follow-up for participants with CAC = 0 at baseline; and an annualized change of 10 or percent change of ≥ 10% for those with 0 0.05). In this multiethnic population free of clinically apparent cardiovascular disease, higher dietary zinc intake from non-red meat sources was independently associated with a lower risk of CAC progression. The MESA trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00005487.

Background To explore the potential heterogeneity of acute kidney injury (AKI) and evaluate the prognostic differences among AKI subphenotypes in critically ill patients with cardiovascular diseases. Methods Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-III database. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to explore the potential subphenotypes of AKI in critically ill patients with cardiovascular diseases. The number of classes was identified by the Bayesian information criterion and entropy. The differences in prognostic ability among the AKI subphenotypes were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Result A total of 7738 AKI patients were enrolled in this study. Using LCA, AKI patients were divided into 4 heterogeneous subphenotypes, which were obviously different from the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stages. Interestingly, class 3 classified by LCA was dominated by stage 2, while the mortality rate in class 3 was significantly different from that in class 1 (15.2% vs. 1.6%, p Conclusions LCA was feasible for AKI classification in critically ill patients with cardiovascular disease, and 4 distinct subphenotypes of AKI patients with different prognoses were identified. Our results highlighted the potential heterogeneity of AKI patients, which is worthy of further investigation.

Exploiting high-performance and cost-effective non-noble metal catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is still greatly important for energy storage devices such as metal-air batteries and fuel cells. In this work, CeO2, NiCo2O4, and NiCo2O4/CeO2 were synthetized by facile hydrothermal method and used as an ORR catalyst. The as-prepared CeO2, NiCo2O4, and NiCo2O4/CeO2 samples were measured by XRD, XPS, SEM, and TEM. Electrochemical characterization tests exhibit that the ORR activity of NiCo2O4 is evidently enhanced by blending with CeO2 nanoparticles. The NiCo2O4/CeO2 composite exhibits more superior electrocatalytic performances and stability in alkaline solution as compared to the pure CeO2 and NiCo2O4. The electrochemical performance of composite is very near to that of 20 wt% Pt/C. Owing to the synergistic interactions, NiCo2O4/CeO2 favors a four-electron pathway in ORR and exhibits a higher ORR activity than CeO2 and NiCo2O4. The outstanding performance confirms the NiCo2O4/CeO2 composite as a promising efficient ORR catalyst in metal-air batteries and fuel cells.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. However, the association between whole milk and CAC progression remains unknown. Recent studies highlighted beneficial effects of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) from whole milk on CVD. In this study, we attempted to investigate the relationship between whole milk consumption and CAC progression, and the potential effect of SCFA in it. We analyzed a population-based cohort with 5273 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) who completed a dietary questionnaire at baseline. CAC was measured at baseline and subsequent follow-up examinations by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scans with Agatston scores. CAC progression was defined as increased CAC scores in the follow-up from the baseline exam. Participants consuming whole milk exhibited lower baseline CAC and CAC progression than those who never/rarely consumed whole milk (P

In recent years, steel or composite beam-column connections adopting blind fasteners have drawn increasing praise due to the rapid development of assembled steel structures. However, limited researches have paid attention to the experimental and analytical behavior of concrete filled double-skin steel tube (CFDST) column blind bolted joints. For investigating the structural performance and seismic behavior of this type of connection, cyclic tests on blind bolted joints to square CFDST columns were carried out to explore the effects of column hollow ratio and end plate type. Finite element analytical modelling of the semi-rigid joint was performed considering complex contact interactions and material models. Good agreement between the test and analytical results was observed in terms of the failure modes and the hysteretic behavior. Substantial parametric analyses were conducted on typical CFDST column connections to observe the influence of parameters including strength of steel tube, column hollow ratio and bolt pretension force. Furthermore, certain constructional measures commonly employed in engineering practice were also discussed. It was concluded that the CFDST column blind bolted to the steel beam joint has favorable seismic behavior and is feasible for application in high-intensity earthquake regions.

In this paper, a fresh strategy for superhydrophobic surface adhesion control was advanced, which was demonstrated through tuning the pillar tip nanostructure on a shape memory polymer (SMP) substrate. The micro-/nanostructured pillars show low-adhesive superhydrophobicity. The nanostructure on pillar tips disappears after pressing by a flat silicon substrate and the surface becomes high-adhesive superhydrophobicity. The nanostructure reappears and the surface returns to the initial low-adhesive state with a further heating process. Invertible low/high adhesion switching can be realized by simply controlling the nanostructure on pillar tips, and the smart controllability can be explained by the polymer’s shape memory effect (SME), based on which, different surface microstructure shapes and corresponding different solid/liquid contact states can be obtained. The work reports smart surface adhesion control through dynamically tuning the surface structure in the nanoscale on SMP. The results can provide a novel method for design of smart superhydrophobic surfaces and further improved the insight into the action of nanostructure on surface wetting/adhesion.

Although the cellular automata (CA) model has been extensively applied in the simulation of ground cover changes, but it is rarely applied in the simulation of the driving forces of karst rock desertification (KRD). KRD has become one of the most serious ecological disasters in southwest China. Thus, it is necessary to accurately identify the driving factors affecting the occurrence and development of KRD. Accurately predicting the future development trend of KRD has great significance for quantitative evaluation of ecological environment governance and restoration in karst areas. We used the actual interpretation of KRD data in 2011 and 2016, based on the geographical detector to select the driving factors for the occurrence and development of KRD, and used the CA model to simulate the spatial and temporal changes of KRD. Results show that (1) the kappa verification accuracy for all types of KRD was above 0.5 when the CA model was used for the simulation of the spatial distribution of KRD and thus the theoretical requirements for accurate identification of the distribution of KRD were met. (2) Driving factors can be accurately screened by using the geodetector model to analyze the driving factors of KRD. The strengths of the factors follow the order lithology (0.35) > population density (0.30) > slope (0.21) > soil erosion (0.16) > altitude (0.05). (3)The combination of geodetector and the CA–Markov model results in the accurate prediction of the evolution of KRD and reduction in the arbitrariness of artificial subjective selection factors and the possibility of misjudgement. (4) From 2011 to 2021, the total area of KRD in the study area decreased at a rate of 29.96 km2·a−1, and KRD land indicated an overall trend of improvement. (5) Under the trend of overall improvement of KRD, some areas remain in which KRD increased and worsened. In the process of governance and protection, the impact of such deterioration on ecological environment must be considered.

In this work, the effect of low-pressure cold plasma treatment, UV and the incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles on thermal degradation and flammability of titanium dioxide (TiO2)/polyetherimide (PEI) nanofibers was evaluated. The morphology of nanocomposite fibers was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry. SEM images of plasma- and UV-treated nanocomposites show that some samples, e.g., those treated at 248 W and 4 min of exposition, seem more brittle compared with other samples. XPS of treated PEI nanocomposite showed that cold plasma treatment breaks C–C/C–H, C–N and C–O bonds at the surface ether groups leading to an increase in carboxyl and O–C bonds. Moreover, UV treatment breaks C–C/C–H and C–N bonds. Surface modification leads also to changes in thermal stability of PEI nanofibers with a decrease of ~ 4 °C in glass transition temperature (Tg) and a reduction of ~ 200 °C in onset temperature under air compared to pristine PEI nanocomposite. Flammability results measured by pyrolysis-combustion flow calorimeter also showed a decrease in initial degradation temperature and a small increase in total heat released. Furthermore, incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles leads, as expected, to an improved flame retardancy with a reduction of ~ 40% in peak heat release rate as a function of TiO2 content, but no significant difference was observed in onset degradation temperature observed by TGA. These results show that surface treatments do not significantly change thermal behavior of PEI nanocomposites and could be used for applications that require materials with improved characteristics.

Diastolic dysfunction is common in various cardiovascular diseases, which could be affected by adiponectin (APN). Nevertheless, the effects of APN on diastolic dysfunction in pressure overload model induced by transverse aorta constriction (TAC) remain to be further elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that treatment of APN attenuated diastolic dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy in TAC mice. Notably, APN also improved active relaxation of adult cardiomyocytes, increased N2BA/N2B ratios of titin isoform, and reduced collagen type I to type III ratio and lysyl oxidase (Lox) expressions in the myocardial tissue. Moreover, APN supplementation suppressed TAC-induced oxidative stress. In vitro, inhibition of AMPK by compound C (Cpc) abrogated the effect of APN on modulation of titin isoform shift and the anti-hypertrophic effect of APN on cardiomyocytes induced by AngII. In summary, our findings indicate that APN could attenuate diastolic dysfunction in TAC mice, which are at least partially mediated by AMPK pathway. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s12265-019-09913-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The present study investigated the anti-osteoporosis function and the mechanism of sialoglycoproteins isolated from the eggs of Gadus morhua (Gm-SGP) on ovariectomized (OVX) rats. After 3 months of Gm-SGP treatment, OVX-induced bone loss was suppressed and uncoupling bone turnover was balanced, as indicated by systemic biomarkers of bone metabolism; no uterine estrogenicity was observed. Moreover, rats administered with Gm-SGP exhibited increased bone mineral density and biomechanical strength and significant restoration of the trabecular microarchitecture compared with rats in the control group. Gm-SGP significantly decreased bone resorption-related indicators in serum. Investigation of the associated mechanisms revealed that Gm-SGP significantly increases the OPG/RANKL ratio at the mRNA and protein levels. Further research suggested that Gm-SGP inhibits the mRNA and protein expressions of important transcription factors of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. It also attenuates the activation of related transduction signaling pathways by inhibiting phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, p38, and NF-κB, and ultimately suppresses the induction of c-Fos and NFATc1. Overall, these results demonstrate that Gm-SGP inhibits bone resorption by suppressing osteoclastogenesis-related MAPK and NF-κB pathways, thereby improving osteoporosis.

This paper reported an innovative semi-rigid composite frame comprised of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns and H-shaped steel beams assembled using flush or extended end plates with blind fasteners. Two specimens of two-story single-bay end plate moment-resisting square or circular CFST frames were investigated by a series of pseudo-dynamic tests. To analyze dynamic response of this type of structure under the earthquake action, time history response and story drift were investigated. The influence of the column section type and the end plate type on seismic performance of semi-rigid moment-resisting CFST frames under different earthquake loading levels were also discussed according to hysteretic behavior, rigidity degradation and energy dissipation capacity. The experimental and analytical results indicated that at the same section width and steel ratio of the column, the rigidity of end plate moment-resisting square CFST frame was greater than that of circular CFST frame, while the story drift of square CFST frame was smaller than that of circular CFST frame. The type of end plate moment-resisting CFST frames with blind fasteners, which can provide good seismic behavior and energy dissipation ability, can be well used in a seismic region.

In order to satisfy the requirements of seismic capacity of cold-formed thin-walled steel structure in low- and multi-rise buildings, an innovative cold-formed thin-walled steel tube truss (CFSTT) shear wall sheathed with both-side oriented strand board (OSB) was proposed in this paper. Five full-scale specimens of CFSTT shear walls which composed of square cold-formed thin-walled steel tubes, tracks, galvanized V-shaped connectors and OSB panels were tested under low-cyclic loading. The seismic performance of CFSTT shear wall was evaluated in terms of hysteretic behavior, envelop curves, ductility and energy dissipation, etc. Then, a practical nonlinear simplified analysis method of CFSTT shear walls under low-cyclic reversed lateral loading was proposed based on the principle of equivalent tie rod model. The double- and four-limb lattice studs were also simplified as single steel tubes. Besides, a pivot modeling approach was suggested to stimulate the sheathing-to-frame connection. Subsequently, the finite element models of CFSTT shear walls were established based on this simplified method and verified by the experimental data. Numerical and experimental results indicated that CFSTT shear walls exhibited excellent seismic performance, and the accuracy of the simplified of lattice stud was verified. Furthermore, the simplified method proposed in this paper will highly facilitate conducting the nonlinear analysis for shear walls.

3D printing (3DP) including light-based 3DP and ink-based 3DP is a rapidly developing technology, which has received much attention of late. Light-based 3DP provides higher feature resolution, but the appropriate materials are limited. Ink-based 3DP is compatible with numerous types of materials, which can be prepared into printable inks and thus has more potential to find novel applications. Graphene-based materials have been extensively investigated in ink-based 3DP owing to their unique properties, such as high conductivity and superior mechanical flexibility. The objects from graphene-based materials via various ink-based 3DP have been reported in many fields, such as biomedical engineering and renewable energy. Still, some practical difficulties, such as the efficiency, cost, and the feasibility of mass production, have restricted it from widespread adoption by most industries. Therefore, to deal with challenges and provide new ideas for related research work, it is critical and essential to understand the ink-based 3DP using graphene-based materials. Here, we review the recent advances of ink-based 3DP of graphene-based materials. We introduce the basic properties and preparation methods of graphene, some promising ink-based 3DP, such as inkjet printing technology, direct-write assembly, and fused deposition modeling and their characteristics. The formation methodology of graphene-based materials, the performance of the as-printed architecture, and their potential applications are emphasized. We also discuss the challenges, research directions, and future trends of ink-based 3D printed graphene-based materials.

Maintaining proper mitochondrial respiratory function is crucial for alleviating cardiac metabolic disorders during obesity, and mitophagy is critically involved in this process. Long non-coding RNA H19 (H19) is crucial for metabolic regulation, but its roles in cardiac disorders, mitochondrial respiratory function, and mitophagy during obesity are largely unknown. In this study, palmitic acid (PA)-treated H9c2 cell and Lep−/− mice were used to investigate cardiac metabolic disorders in vitro and in vivo, respectively. The effects of H19 on metabolic disorders, mitochondrial respiratory function, and mitophagy were investigated. Moreover, the regulatory mechanisms of PA, H19, mitophagy, and respiratory function were examined. The models tested displayed a reduction in H19 expression, respiratory function and mitochondrial number and volume, while the expression of mitophagy- and Pink1/Parkin signaling-related proteins was upregulated, as indicated using quantitative real-time PCR, Seahorse mitochondrial stress test analyzer, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence indicators and western blotting. Forced expression of H19 helped to the recoveries of respiratory capacity and mitochondrial number while inhibited the levels of mitophagy- and Pink1/Parkin signaling-related proteins. Pink1 knockdown also attenuated PA-induced mitophagy and increased respiratory capacity. Mechanistically, RNA pull-down, mass spectrometry, and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation assays showed that H19 could hinder the binding of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A, isoform 2 (eIF4A2) with Pink1 mRNA, thus inhibiting the translation of Pink1 and attenuation of mitophagy. PA significantly increased the methylation levels of the H19 promoter region by upregulation Dnmt3b methylase levels, thereby inhibiting H19 transcription. Collectively, these findings suggest that DNA methylation-mediated the downregulation of H19 expression plays a crucial role in cardiomyocyte or H9c2 cells metabolic disorders and induces cardiac respiratory dysfunction by promoting mitophagy. H19 inhibits excessive mitophagy by limiting Pink1 mRNA translation, thus alleviating this cardiac defect that occurs during obesity.

The concrete-filled steel tube (CFT) composite frames using blind bolts and buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) have been studied with the development of building industrialization and energy dissipation technology. However, there has been no research so far on the probabilistic seismic fragility analysis for the blind-bolted end-plate CFT composite frames with BRBs (BRB-BECFT). Therefore, a total of 6-, 9-, 12- and 20-story BRB-BECFT prototype structures were designed based on the performance-based plastic design method. The results obtained from nonlinear static and dynamic analyses indicated that the four structures achieved predefined performance objectives in terms of story drift, joint rotation, and BRB ductility demand. Subsequently, fragility curves including non-collapse and collapse states were established to evaluate the behavior of the structure for a given intensity measure using the incremental dynamic analysis approach. Meanwhile, the geometric mean of spectral acceleration over a period range (Sa,avg) was selected as the intensity measure to assess the structural collapse capacity. Results showed that the adoption of Sa,avg can result in 32–42% lower data dispersion for the determination of collapse point, and simplification of the process of calculation of the collapse margin ratio of a structure. Furthermore, based on the combination of Sa,avg, residual story drift and BRB core plate strain, a framework of probabilistic seismic damage analysis of structures for combined damage evaluation at three levels of the system, subsystem, and component was summarized and conducted by the 6- and 12-story case study. This is practically useful to assess structural damage state after an earthquake because it could present more information on the probability distribution of various damage scenarios.

This paper aims to evaluate the seismic performance of concrete filled double-skin steel tubular (CFDST) frame structures. An experimental investigation on internal joints to CFDST columns was conducted to assess their seismic behavior, in which non-welding connection method was employed to avoid possible premature welding fracture. Experimental results declared that this type of joint behaved in a semi-rigid manner. Numerical models were then established to simulate the seismic performance of the joints. The moment–rotation relationship and shear behavior of panel zone were both accounted according to the component method and strut model, respectively. Subsequently, a CFDST moment resisting frame with non-welding connections (NWF) was numerically analyzed to detect its seismic response under design-based and maximum considered earthquakes. The numerical results confirmed that the NWF could lower the seismic response in terms of base shear force and joint moment compared with namely rigid frame (NRF). It also verified that the maximum story drift ratios of the NWF were higher than those of the NWF. Increment dynamic analyses (IDA) were also performed to evaluate the collapse behavior. Furthermore, a detailed discussion was conducted to analyze the influence of joint stiffness on global behavior of the NWF. The analytical results verified that this type of NWF had satisfied seismic behavior and excellent anti-collapse performance. More importantly, the NWF could conveniently adjust the stiffness of each story by varying the stiffness of the non-welding connection to decrease the story drift and to achieve a uniform story drift distribution.

Circular concrete filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) has broader application aspects in engineering practice due to its superior confinement and elegant architectural appearance compared with square CFDST. However, there is still lack of an effective and reliable assembled method to connect the circular CFDST column to the beam. This paper focused on the theoretical and structural behavior on the assembled joint between circular CFDST column and composite beam. A sophisticated theoretical model was proposed to evaluate the initial rotational stiffness and moment capacity of the assembled joint. This theoretical model firstly accounted for the curved end plate in bending considering the clamping forces of blind bolts. Furthermore, a simplified arch model was developed to assess the circular steel tube in compression and the stiffness coefficients related to the circular CFDST column determined by the load transfer mechanism were also involved in the theoretical model. Subsequently, an experimental investigation on such kind of joint was conducted as a basis to verify the developed numerical model, indicating the numerical model could well replicate the typical failure modes and hysteresis curves. Parametric analyses based on the validated numerical model were performed to identify the effects of various parameters on the typical assembled joint. The theoretical model was verified to be capable of predicting the initial stiffness and moment capacity of assembled composite joint to circular CFDST column by comparing with the numerically observed results. The theoretical and analytical results performed in this paper would be beneficial for the application of the assembled beam to column joint in CFDST structures.

The light polymer material (LPM), prepared with suitable mix proportion and physical method, is a type of low-carbon and environmental-friendly material. Recently, the LPM is developed as structural material for cold-formed steel (CFS) structures to cover the shortages of traditional CFS shear wall. In this paper, material properties of gypsum-based and cement-based LPM including compressive strength, elastic modulus and thermal property were explored by tests. Experimental results demonstrate that LPM exhibits excellent thermal insulation, and the thermal insulation and compressive strength of LPM satisfy the demand of bearing capacity and thermal insulation property of shear walls. To explore the effect of LPM on seismic response and failure modes of CFS shear walls, three specimens are manufactured and tested under cyclic loading. The existence of LPM in CFS shear wall would restrain the failure of wall studs to some extent. Due to the restriction effect of LPM on wall studs and self-drilling screws and the bond-slip performance between LPM and studs, the shear walls exhibit better seismic behavior than traditional CFS shear walls. At last, a modified equivalent bracing model is employed to predict the lateral stiffness of LPM-filled CFS shear walls considering the effect of filling materials, rib lath, and sheathing. The lateral stiffness obtained by the proposed method is compared to the experimental results in this paper and other researches, and the proposed model is proved to supply a conservative result which is safe to be adopted in the design and application of the LPM-filled CFS shear wall.

An ultrasensitive fluorescence sensing strategy for kanamycin (KANA) determination using endonuclease IV (Endo IV)-powered DNA walker, and hybridization chain reaction (HCR) amplification was reported. The sensing system consists of Endo IV-powered 3D DNA walker using for the specific recognition of KANA and the formation of the initiators, two metastable hairpin probes as the substrates of HCR and a tetrahydrofuran abasic site (AP site)-embeded fluorescence-quenched probe for fluorescence signal output. On account of this skilled design of sensing system, the specific binding between KANA and its aptamer activates DNA walker, in which the swing arm can move autonomously along the 3D track via Endo IV-mediated hydrolysis of the anchorages, inducing the formation of initiators that initiates HCR and the following Endo IV-assisted cyclic cleavage of fluorescence reporter probes. The use of Endo IV offers the advantages of simplified and accessible design without the need of specific sequence in DNA substrates. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the fluorescence biosensor shows excellent sensitivity toward KANA detection with a detection limit as low as 1.01 pM (the excitation wavelength is 486 nm). The practical applicability of this strategy is demonstrated by detecting KANA in spiked milk samples with recovery in the range of 98 to 102%. Therefore, this reported strategy might create an accurate and robust fluorescence sensing platform for trace amounts of antibiotic residues determination and related safety analysis. Graphical abstract Highly efficient fluorescence sensing of kanamycin using Endo IV-powered DNA Walker and hybridization chain, reaction amplification, Xiaonan Qu, Jingfeng Wang, Rufeng Zhang, Yihan Zhao, Shasha Li, Yu Wang, Su Liu*, Jiadong Huang, and Jinghua Yu, an ultrasensitive fluorescence sensing strategy for kanamycin determination using endonuclease IV-powered DNA walker, and hybridization chain reaction amplification is reported.

Aim Inflammation within the perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in obesity plays an important role in cardiovascular disorders. C-reactive protein (CRP) level in obesity patients is significantly increased and associated with the occurrence and progression of cardiovascular disease. We tested the hypothesis CRP derived from PVAT in obesity contributes to vascular remodeling after injury. Methods A high-fat diet (HFD) significantly increased CRP expression in PVAT. We transplanted thoracic aortic PVAT from wild-type (WT) or transgenic CRP-expressing (CRPTG) mice to the injured femoral artery in WT mice. Results At 4 weeks after femoral artery injury, the neointimal/media ratio was increased significantly in WT mice that received PVAT from CRPTG mice compared with that in WT mice that received WT PVAT. Transplanted CRPTG PVAT also significantly accelerated adventitial macrophage infiltration and vasa vasorum proliferation. It was revealed greater macrophage infiltration in CRPTG adipose tissue than in WT adipose tissue and CRP significantly increased the adhesion rate of monocytes through receptor Fcγ RI. Proteome profiling showed CRP over-expression promoted the expression of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 7 (CXCL7) in adipose tissue, transwell assay showed CRP increased monocyte migration indirectly via the induction of CXCL7 expression in adipocytes. Conclusion CRP derived from PVAT was significantly increased in HFD mice and promoted neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury.

In semi-humid regions, accurate prediction of flood processes is challenging. The goal of this study is to gain more insights into the runoff generation mechanism in semi-humid regions using multiple-model comparison method and explore the Bayesian model averaging (BMA) approach to improve flood prediction. This study compares seven runoff generation models for three semi-humid catchments in northern China. Flood events were classified into three categories, low-flow, medium-flow, and high-flow, according to flood peak flow in order to quantify the performance of each model and identify the dominant runoff generation mechanism for semi-humid catchments. Based on the performances of seven runoff generation models, three BMA schemes were used to integrate these models to compare the advantages of different combination methods. For the purpose of improving the performance of BMA over semi-humid regions, a physically based BMA approach, Green-Ampt-BMA approach (G-BMA), was proposed. In the G-BMA approach, an infiltration-excess flow module was added with the surface runoff calculated using the Green-Ampt equation. Considering the heterogeneity of precipitation and underlying surface characteristics, a distribution curve of infiltration capacity was introduced to simulate runoff processes. The results show that models with saturation-excess mechanism perform well for semi-humid catchments. The saturation-excess and infiltration-excess runoff exist simultaneously in a flood process over different catchments with different ratios of infiltration-excess to saturation-excess runoff. We found that the BMA approach effectively takes advantage of each model to provide more accurate forecasts. The physically based G-BMA approach performs better than the BMA approach for semi-humid regions with high ratio of infiltration-excess surface flow, especially in reducing flood peak error and forecast uncertainty.

Microstructure and electromagnetic interference shielding properties of extruded Mg-Zn-Ce-Y-Zr alloys were systematically investigated. A bimodal grain structure of fine recrystallized grains and deformed grains was observed in the alloys. Yttrium (Y) and cerium (Ce) refined the recrystallized grains. Mg-Zn-Ce phase, Mg3Zn3Y2 phase and a few precipitates containing Zn and Zr were observed. Y and Ce additions changed the texture of the alloys. When the total rare earth content reached 4 wt.%, the texture was remarkably weaker than other studied alloys. The shielding capacity increased first and then decreased with Y contents. The value of shielding effectiveness for the extruded Mg-5Zn-1Ce-2Y-0.6Zr alloys reached 79-118 dB in the frequency range of 30 MHz-1.5 GHz, which was significantly higher than that of some aluminum alloys. The addition of Y and Ce is effective in improving the shielding capacity in Mg alloys. The electrical conductivity and second phases in the alloys were important in enhancing shielding effectiveness. The texture and precipitation exerted significant effect on electrical conductivity. In addition, subsequently aging treatment evidently improved shielding effectiveness.

In this paper, the stability problem is studied for inertial neural network with time-varying delays. The sampled-data control method is employed for the system design. First, by choosing a proper variable substitution, the original system is transformed into first-order differential equations. Then, an input delay approach is applied to deal with the stability of sampling system. Based on the Lyapunov function method, several sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the global stability of the equilibrium. Furthermore, when employing an error-feedback control term to the slave neural network, parallel criteria regarding to the synchronization of the master neural network are also generated. Finally, some examples are given to illustrate the theoretical results.

This paper concerns the globally exponential stability in Lagrange sense for Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy Cohen-Grossberg BAM neural networks with time-varying delays. Based on the Lyapunov functional method and inequality techniques, two different types of activation functions which include both Lipschitz function and general activation functions are analyzed. Several sufficient conditions in linear matrix inequality form are derived to guarantee the Lagrange exponential stability of Cohen-Grossberg BAM neural networks with time-varying delays which are represented by T-S fuzzy models. Finally, simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.

This paper aims to investigate the seismic behavior of blind bolted end plate composite frames between square or circular concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) columns and steel beams. Two composite frames were tested under a constant axial load on the CFST columns and a lateral cyclic load on the frame. Each specimen composed of CFST columns and steel beams was selected to represent a plan frame in an assembly building. Failure pattern of the type of frames was analyzed to comprehend the structural response. The seismic resistance ability of the blind bolted CFST frames was also estimated in terms of hysteretic curves, ductility and energy dissipation etc. The effect of column section type and end plate type on the type of semi-rigid CFST frames was studied. The test results showed that at the same steel ratio of the column section, the bearing capacity and energy dissipation of square CFST frame were higher than those of circular CFST frame at ultimate state. Strain response of main members in each CFST frame was also estimated. The internal force analysis of the test CFST frames with semi-rigid connections was discussed and evaluated the effect of the bending moment distribution. It was concluded that the novel typed CFST frames exhibited excellent seismic performance and structural internal force redistribution. The experimental studies will be useful for design and application of the blind bolted CFST frames in fabricated steel structure building.

The effect of sialoglycoprotein isolated from Gadous morhua eggs (Gm-SGP) on ovariectomized (OVX) induced osteoporosis, which is characterized by high bone turnover activity was investigated. Results revealed that Gm-SGP significantly increased bone mineral density, enhanced bone biomechanical properties and repaired the microstructure of the trabecular bone. Also, the treatment with Gm-SGP remarkably decreased biochemical marker contents or activities, such as serum BALP, PICP, BMP-2, TrACP, Cath-K, urine Ca and P, leading to the reduction in bone turnover. The elevation in the rate of bone formative process contributed in the increase of bone turnover. Both BMP-2/Smads and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways played an important role in osteogenesis. Gm-SGP suppressed the key factors expression in these two pathways such as BMP-2, Smad1, Smad4, Lrp-5b, Runx2, Osx, ALP, Col1, OCN and β-catenin. These findings might provide some theoretical basis for the application of Gm-SGP as a potential anti-osteoporotic drug or as functional food.

To explore seismic behavior of blind bolted concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) frames infilled with precast sandwich composite wall panels (SCWPs), a series tests of blind bolted square CFST frames with precast SCWPs under lateral low-cyclic loading were conducted. The influence of the type of wall concrete, wall-to-frame connection and steel brace setting, etc. on the hysteretic curves and failure modes of the type of composite structure was investigated. The seismic behavior of the blind bolted CFST frames with precast SCWPs was evaluated in terms of lateral load–displacement relation curves, strength and stiffness degradation, crack patterns of SCWPs, energy dissipation capacity and ductility. Then, a finite element (FE) analysis modeling using ABAQUS software was developed in considering the nonlinear material properties and complex components interaction. Comparison indicated that the FE analytical results coincided well with the test results. Both the experimental and numerical results indicated that setting the external precast SCWPs could heighten the load carrying capacities and rigidities of the blind bolted CFST frames by using reasonable connectors between frame and SCWPs. These experimental studies and FE analysis would enable improvement in the practical design of the SCWPs in fabricated CFST structure buildings.

To analyze the axial compressive performance of elliptical concrete-filled thin-walled steel tube (ECFTST) columns, finite element (FE) modeling was built up by ABAQUS software in this paper. The material nonlinearity and the complex interaction between steel tube wall and core concrete in an elliptical section were considered in this numerical analysis. Failure modes and interaction mechanism of ECFTST stub columns were also studied. Moreover, a modified equivalent circular diameter approach for ellipse feature was proposed to substitute for the constitutive relation of ECFTST columns. The prediction accuracy of this method was verified by the comparison of the FE and test results in terms of failure modes, axial compressive capacities and axial force-axial displacement relation curves. Further, the influence of diameter-to-thickness ratio, cross-section slenderness and scale effect etc. on the performance of ECFTST stub columns were estimated under axial compressive loading. The results of numerical analysis showed that the axial force-axial displacement curves of the ECFTST stub columns were obviously affected by the confinement factor. Lastly, based on the simple superposition approach and the unified theory approach, two simplified design methods were proposed to predict the axial compressive capacities of ECFTST columns.

Uncertainties still remain in terms of the efficacy of anti-hypertensive treatment on the risk of major cardiovascular (CV) events within prehypertensive levels. This review aims to assess the efficacy and safety of anti-hypertensives on the CV risks in populations within prehypertensive levels. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) concerning active treatment vs placebo in populations within prehypertensive levels were identified through electronic database and manual search. Outcomes included the first co-primary outcomes, stroke, heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. The first co-primary outcomes were defined as composite cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in the included studies. A total of 29 RCTs involving 127,641 participants were identified. Pooled analysis showed active treatment was associated with a significant 7% reduction in risk of the first co-primary outcomes, 14% in stroke, and 10% in HF as compared to placebo (0.86, 0.77-0.96; 0.93, 0.89-0.98; and 0.90, 0.83-0.97). However, there were no significant reductions in risk of MI, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. A significant reduction in risk of the first co-primary outcomes was observed in subpopulations with systolic blood pressure (SBP) 130-139 mmHg (0.94, 0.89-0.99) or prior CVDs (0.88, 0.82-0.94). Meta-regression analyses showed no significant relative risk reductions proportional to the magnitude of the mean baseline BP, mean on-treatment BP, the mean absolute change in BP, the proportion of patients with hypertension, and mean age. In summary, anti-hypertensive treatment has beneficial cardiovascular effects in populations within prehypertensive levels, especially in subpopulations with SBP 130-139 mmHg or prior CVDs.