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The swift recuperation of communities following natural hazards heavily relies on the efficiency of transportation systems, facilitating the timely delivery of vital resources and manpower to reconstruction sites. This paper delves into the pivotal role of transportation systems in aiding the recovery of built environments, proposing an evaluative metric that correlates transportation capacity with the speed of post-earthquake recovery. Focusing on optimizing urban population capacity in the aftermath of earthquakes, the study comprehensively examines the impact of pre-earthquake measures such as enhancing building or bridge seismic performance on post-earthquake urban population capacity. The methodology is demonstrated through an analysis of Beijing’s transportation system, elucidating how enhancements to transportation infrastructure fortify the resilience of built environments. Additionally, the concept of a resource supply rate is introduced to gauge the level of logistical support available after an earthquake. This rate tends to decrease when transportation damage is significant or when the demands for repairs overwhelm available resources, indicating a need for retrofitting. Through sensitivity analysis, this study explores how investments in the built environment or logistical systems can increase the resource supply rate, thereby contributing to more resilient urban areas in the face of seismic challenges.

The time-dependent resilience of an in-service aging structure provides quantitative measure of the structural ability to prepare for, adapt to, withstand and recover from disruptive events. Resilience models have been proposed in the literature to evaluate the resilience of aging structures subjected to discrete load processes, which are, however, not applicable to handle resilience problems considering continuous load processes. In this paper, a new method is developed to evaluate the time-dependent resilience of aging structures subjected to a continuous load process. The proposed method serves as the complement of the existing resilience models addressing discrete load processes, and takes into account the aging effects of the structural resistance/capacity and the nonstationarity in loads as a result of climate change. A structure suffers from a damage state upon the occurrence of an upcrossing of the load effect with respect to the resistance/capacity, leading to the reduction of the performance function, followed by a recovery process that restores the performance. The proposed method enables the time-dependent resilience to be evaluated via a closed form solution. It is also revealed that, the proposed resilience model takes an extended form of the existing formula for upcrossing-based time-dependent reliability, thus establishing a unified framework for the two quantities. The applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated through examining the time-dependent resilience of a residential building subjected to wind load. The effects of key factors on resilience, including the nonstationarity and correlation structure of the load process, as well as the resistance/capacity deterioration scenario, are investigated through an example. In particular, the structural resilience would be overestimated if ignoring the potential impacts of climate change, which is a relatively non-conservative evaluation.

Background Congenital absence of the pericardium (CAP) is a rare cardiac abnormality. As pericardial defects are usually asymptomatic, most cases are diagnosed during surgery or on autopsy. The patient in this case was found to have CAP during thoracoscope. Case We present the unusual case of a 69-year-old patient with CAP who experienced sudden ventricular arrhythmia and developed ventricular fibrillation during left upper lobectomy. Surgical operations, the lateral decubitus position, and other external stimuli may be important risk factors for ventricular fibrillation. The patient regained sinus rhythm soon after intrathoracic cardiac compression and pharmacological treatment, including lidocaine spray (2%, 10 ml) administered to the heart surface. The surgery was then completed without any additional instances of ventricular arrhythmia. Conclusions Patients with CAP are more susceptible to cardiac-related adverse events during thoracotomy or thoracoscopy. Treatment of ventricular arrhythmias that occur during lung resection in patients with CAP should be emphasized.

Abstract The lining structures of tunnels are typically constructed using sprayed or cast concrete materials, and their performance and quality during tunnel excavation and blasting are crucial for the stability and safety of tunnels. Therefore, the safe distance between the lining structure and blasting source should be determined to avoid concrete damage caused by blasting vibrations. In this study, taking the subway tunnel of Danshan Station in Qingdao as an example, the JH-2 model is introduced as the constitutive model of the tunnel blasting simulation, and the JH-2 model parameters of the local surrounding rock are obtained by experiments, and finally the numerical simulation and theoretical verification are carried out to study the safety distance of shotcrete under various safety judgment standards. The results indicate that the JH-2 model can effectively simulate the propagation of stress waves under different media conditions, and the closer the strength parameters and pressure constant of the lining structure are to those of the surrounding rock, the safer the concrete–rock bonding interface. During tunnel blasting construction using the ring blasting method, the peak particle velocity (PPV) of the lining structure increases with an increase in the arch angle. Based on the numerical simulation results, we recommend that concrete lining be constructed at a distance of at least 62 m from the blasting source to avoid damage caused by vibrations. The effect of concrete tensile failure caused by longitudinal stress is much smaller than the damage to the bonding interface caused by the PPV and can be neglected.

Aiming at the shortcomings of a traditional centralized control in an active distribution network (AND), this paper proposes a leader-follower distributed group cooperative control strategy to realize multiple operation and control tasks for an ADN. The distributed information exchange protocols of the distributed generation (DG) group devoted to node voltage regulation or exchange power control are developed using a DG power utilization ratio as the consensus variable. On these bases, this study further investigates the leader optimal selection method for a DG group to improve the response speed of the distributed control system. Furthermore, a single or multiple leader selection model is established to minimize the constraints of the one-step convergence factor and the number of leaders to improve the response speed of the distributed control system. The simulation results of the IEEE 33 bus standard test system show the effectiveness of the proposed distributed control strategy. In addition, the response speed of a DG control group can be improved effectively when the single or multiple leaders are selected optimally.

Abstract Resilience assessment of civil structures and infrastructure systems plays a vital role in quantitatively measuring the object's ability to withstand and recover from disruptive events (e.g., natural hazards). The performance of the object (structure or system) may degrade with time, and the external loads often display nonstationary characteristics with time‐varying occurrence rate and/or magnitude. In this context, the resilience would be dependent on the duration of the reference period of interest, known as time‐dependent resilience. This article investigates the effect of recovery profile dependency on the time‐dependent resilience of structures and systems. The term “recovery profile dependency” refers to the association of the post‐hazard recovery processes in the aftermath of different load events within the object's service life, and is reflected through the following three aspects: (1) the temporal correlation between the remaining functionalities associated with different load events; (2) the load–recovery interaction (i.e., the scenario that a load event occurs before the full recovery of the degraded functionality due to the previous load event), and (3) the resource allocation strategy in the presence of limited resources, which affects the expeditiousness of each recovery process. In particular, for (2), the concept of average ratio of interaction is proposed to measure the frequency of load‐recovery interaction. The evaluation of time‐dependent resilience is demonstrated through two examples. It is shown that, the time‐dependent resilience is sensitive to the impact of load–recovery interaction and the selection of resource allocation strategy, but is insensitive to the temporal correlation of the remaining functionalities.

Abstract We synthesized a novel, structured lipid containing caprylic acid at its sn‐1,3 position and docosahexaenoic acid at its sn‐2 position (1,3C‐2D‐TAG) by using a two‐step enzymatic method and then investigated the relationship between the types of fatty acids in the structured lipid and their physiological functions. Furthermore, we compared the effects of similarly structured lipids on postprandial lipid metabolism and obesity protection. The results revealed that the novel structured lipid synthesized using the enzymatic method not only exhibited better physical properties than traditional oils but also had high oxidation stability and crystallization degree. In terms of physiological function, the low‐dose 1,3C‐2D‐TAG group exhibited higher cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lower kidney weight or body weight, and higher serum aspartate aminotransferase and blood urea nitrogen levels than control group, whereas the high‐dose 1,3C‐2D‐TAG group exhibited higher triglyceride levels. Moreover, the medium‐dose 1,3C‐2D‐TAG group had remarkably higher high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and lower low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the high‐lipid, control, and 1,2,3C‐TAG groups; however, the cholesterol and triglyceride levels and kidney and liver functions did not differ significantly among these groups. The study results suggest that 1,3C‐2D‐TAG can not only facilitate the effective utilization of the energy supplied by medium‐chain fatty acids but also help overcome difficulties in the absorption of long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

IntroductionTo investigate the therapeutic effect of clitoris exposure + episioplasty + dermabrasion + platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection + chemexfoliation on vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS).MethodsTwenty children with VLS (under 14 years old) at our hospital from July 2020 to November 2022 were enrolled and treated with clitoris exposure + episioplasty + dermabrasion + PRP injection + chemexfoliation. Additionally, symptomatic changes and improvements in signs were recorded.ResultsSignificant therapeutic effects were achieved in all children enrolled in this study. The Cattanco score was 8.02 ± 1.22 points before surgery, 2.21 ± 0.70 points 3 months after surgery, and 2.61 ± 0.59 points 6 months after surgery, demonstrating that the score after surgery was significantly lower than that before surgery (p < 0.05). Mild complications (one case of mild vulvar swelling, one case of minor bleeding, and one case of superficial ulcer) were observed in three children after surgery, with an overall complication incidence of 15%; all complications were improved after the intervention, and no severe adverse reactions were observed. Recurrence was observed in one child (5%) 6 months after surgery.ConclusionClitoris exposure + episioplasty + dermabrasion + PRP injection + chemexfoliation is an effective approach for the treatment of VLS.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn/searchproj.html, identifier: ChiCTR2100054787.

The resilience index based on the integral of functionality/performance function within a time interval of interest has been widely used in the literature. However, it cannot fully reflect the sensitivity of the resilience of the object (e.g., structure or system) to the variation of functionality. In this paper, a generalized index is proposed to measure the resilience of structures and systems that is sensitive to the instantaneous functionality, as reflected by a generating function involved in the proposed resilience index. The mathematical properties of the proposed resilience model are discussed. It is proven that, the proposed index varies within [0,1], and is a monotone measure. If the generating function is a power function with α being the exponent (called α-fairness function), the additivity property (i.e., superadditivity, additivity, and subadditivity) of the resilience index is dependent on the value of α. It is also observed that the existing resilience index is a special case of the proposed one. A byproduct is that, with a properly selected generating function, the time-dependent reliability problem of an aging structure can also be described by the proposed resilience index. The applicability of the proposed resilience model is demonstrated through four examples.

Myocardial substrate metabolism in cardiac hypertrophy or heart failure shifts from fatty acid oxidation to a greater reliance on glycolysis. Here, the authors show that KLF7 can simultaneously regulate key enzymes in glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation to mitigate metabolic imbalance during cardiac hypertrophy.

Background To satisfy the pharmaceutical care needs of a growing number of patients seeking healthcare in primary care, it is increasingly important to integrate family doctor teams as providers of such care services, while the way bringing the strength of the teams into full play needs to be further explored. Objective To understand the needs of pharmaceutical care services in the community of Shanghai, providing a reference for improving the way of integrating community pharmacists into a family doctor team for delivering such services. Methods This study was conducted from September to December in 2020. Multistage sampling was used to select 349 elderly patients with chronic diseases in the community and 855 main members of family doctor teams〔general practitioners (n=481) , nurses (n=234) , and public health doctors (n=140) 〕 for questionnaire survey. The questionnaire for the patients mainly includes demographics, chronic condition, use of medications, needs and utilization of community-based pharmaceutical care. And the questionnaire for family doctor team members mainly contains demographics, understanding of community-based pharmaceutical care, and pharmaceutical services preferred to be involved in as a provider. Results According to the survey results, the prevalence of three or more chronic diseases, and needing to take medications two or more times a day was 35.8% (125/349) , and 87.4% (305/349) , respectively. Among medication management services, "medication re-prescribing and follow-up" was the most needed〔14.9% (52/349) 〕, and "medication follow-up" was the most used〔14.0% (49/349) 〕. Among medication education services, "universal education on medication cautions for chronic conditions" was the most needed〔70.8% (247/349) 〕, and "healthy lifestyle promotion" was the most used〔9.4% (33/349) 〕. Among family doctor team members, 440 (91.5%) general practitioners, 202 (86.3%) nurses and 112 (80.0%) public health doctors expressed that they had an understanding of pharmaceutical care. In terms of the level of trust in pharmacists, the self-reported level of 302 (62.8%) general practitioners, 183 (78.2%) nurses, and 103 (73.6%) public health doctors was high. The number of general practitioners, nurses, and public health doctors wanting to be involved in "assisting physicians in providing medication selection and use services" was 359 (74.6%) , 112 (47.9%) , and 81 (57.8%) , respectively. The number of general practitioners, nurses, and public health doctors wanting to be involved in "providing nurses with guidance on medication use and management" was 190 (39.5%) , 153 (65.4%) and 57 (40.7%) , respectively. Conclusion Elderly patients with chronic diseases were in urgent need of medication management services, and more medication education services. However, the strength of pharmaceutical professional workforce in the community was weak, and family doctor team members had limited understanding of community-based pharmaceutical services. To efficiently provide residents with such services, it is suggested to train family doctor team members with relevant trainings by pharmaceutical professionals to improve their understanding level and service capability regarding pharmaceutical services at the individual and team levels.

Background Most of the elderly are prone to more than two chronic diseases and polypharmacy. Community health institutions are the key to ensuring rational drug use for in this population. Given many problems existing in the delivery of community pharmaceutical services, how to make better use of existing resources to improve the level of community pharmaceutical services remains to be further explored. Objective To understand the status of community pharmaceutical services implemented in Shanghai, providing a reference for improving community pharmaceutical services. Methods We conducted a survey in Shanghai with 235 pharmaceutical professionals selected by use of phased sampling from September to December 2020 with a questionnaire named as "Community Pharmacists Questionnaire" developed by us based on the results of previous literature review and on-site visits. In November 2020, we conducted a focus group interview with 82 stakeholders (including one pharmaceutical professional, one general practitioner and one community administrator selected from each community, two or three administrators selected from the health commission of each district) in Shanghai guided by an outline named as "Rational Drug Use for the Elderly" developed by us based on the results of previous literature review and on-site visits. The allocation of community pharmaceutical care resources, implementation and management of community pharmaceutical care involved in the interview were extracted as supplements to the survey results. Results Among the 235 community pharmacists surveyed, the prevalence of providing prescription dispensing, prescription review, pharmaceutical drive-thru window services or outpatient consultation and guidance, and prescription comment services was 94.0% (221/235) , 82.6% (194/235) , 64.3% (151/235) , and 51.9% (122/235) , respectively. Among these services, prescription dispensing and prescription review were ranked as the top two in terms of average comprehensive score, indicating that implementing these two services required longer working hours of community pharmacists. In terms of the delivery methods of community pharmaceutical services, community pharmacists mainly used consultation windows〔226 cases (96.2%) 〕, pharmaceutical clinics〔119 cases (50.6%) 〕 and publicity lectures〔109 cases (46.4%) 〕. Only 53 (22.6%) participated in the family doctor team, among whom 22 (41.5%) had the qualification of clinical pharmacist; 47 (88.7%) mainly provided public education on rational drug use, and 45 (84.9%) mainly provided medication guidance and consultation services for patients. In terms of training, 180 cases (76.6%) participated in a training in the past one year, while other 55 (23.4%) cases did not. The number of trainings for most of cases was one or two times〔105 (58.3%) 〕. The way of trainings for most of cases was continuing education〔155 (86.1%) 〕. Both the questionnaire survey and interview results revealed that the main problems existing in the provision of community pharmaceutical services were heavy workload of dispensing/prescription review, lack of clinical knowledge patients' insufficient trust in pharmacists, and lack of performance incentives. Conclusion To meet the pharmaceutical needs of elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions, actions need to be taken to reduce the heavy workload of delivering traditional services in pharmacists, strengthen the clinical training of in-service pharmacists, and encourage pharmacists to join the family doctor team. Through providing pharmaceutical consultations and trainings for other family doctor team members by pharmacists, the scope of influence of pharmaceutical services will be expanded, which contributes to the ensuring of rational drug use.

Abstract Background Krüppel-like factor 7 (klf7), a transcription factor in the nervous system to regulate cell proliferation and differentiation, has been recently identified as a causal gene for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the mechanism behind remains unknown. Result To uncover this mechanism, in this study we characterized the involvement of klf7 in circadian rhythm by knocking down klf7 in N2A cells and examining the rhythmic expression of circadian genes, especially Clock gene. We constructed klf7−/− mice and then investigated into klf7 regulation on the expression of rhythm genes in vivo as well as the use of melatonin to rescue the autism behavior. Our results illustrated that circadian rhythm was disrupted in klf7 knockdown cells and that klf7−/− mice showed autism-like behavior. Also, we found that Clock gene was downregulated in the brain of these klf7−/− mice and that the downstream rhythm genes of Clock were disturbed. Melatonin, as a circadian regulation drug, could regulate the expression level and amplitude of rhythm genes in klf7 knockout cells and further rescue the autistic behavior of klf7−/− mice. Conclusion Klf7 deficiency causes ASD by disrupting circadian rhythm related genes to trigger rhythm oscillations. To treat ASD, maintaining circadian homeostasis is promising with the use of melatonin.

Engineering structures are often subjected to the influences of performance deterioration and multiple hazards during their service lives, and consequently may suffer from damage/failure as a result of external loads. Structural reliability and resilience assessment is a powerful tool for quantifying the structural ability to withstand these environmental or operational attacks. This paper proposes new formulas for structural time-dependent reliability and resilience analyses in the presence of multiple hazards, which are functions of the duration of the reference period of interest. The joint impacts of nonstationarities in multiple hazards due to a changing environment, as well as the deterioration of structural performance, are explicitly incorporated. The correlation between the structural resistances/capacities associated with different hazard types is modeled by employing a copula function. It is observed that, under the context of multiple hazards and aging effects, the time-dependent resilience takes a generalized form of time-dependent reliability. The proposed formulas can be used to guide the adaptive design of structures, where adaptive strategies are identified across a range of possible future service conditions. An example is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method for structural reliability and resilience analyses.

Abstract Prevention and early intervention are the current focus of treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). An increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a feature of the early stages of AD, thus suggesting that the removal of excess ROS can be a viable method of improving AD. Natural polyphenols are able to scavenge ROS and thus promising for treating AD. However, some issues need to be addressed. Among them, important are that most polyphenols are hydrophobic, have low bioavailability in the body, are easily degraded, and that single polyphenols have insufficient antioxidant capacity. In this study, we employed two polyphenols, resveratrol (RES) and oligomeric proanthocyanidin (OPC), and creatively grafted them with hyaluronic acid (HA) to form nanoparticles to address the aforementioned issues. Meanwhile, we strategically grafted the nanoparticles with the B6 peptide, enabling the nanoparticles to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and enter the brain for AD treatment. Our results illustrate that B6‐RES‐OPC‐HA nanoparticles can significantly scavenge ROS, reduce brain inflammation, and improve learning and memory ability in AD mice. B6‐RES‐OPC‐HA nanoparticles have the potential to prevent and alleviate early AD.

BackgroundCongenital Morgagni hernia (CMH) is a rare midline defect involving herniation of abdominal viscera into the thoracic cavity through triangular parasternal gaps in the diaphragm.MethodsThe medical records of three patients with CMH admitted to the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University between 2018 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Pre-operative diagnosis was based on chest x-ray, chest computerized tomography, and barium enema. All patients were treated with single-site laparoscopic ligation of the hernia sac.ResultsHernia repair was successful in all patients (males; age: 14 months, 30 months, 48 months). The average operative time for repair of a unilateral hernia was 20 ± 5 min. Volume of surgical blood loss was 2–3 ml. There was no damage to organs such as the liver or intestines, or to tissues such as the pericardium or the phrenic nerve. Patients were allowed a fluid diet 6–8 h after surgery, and remained on bed rest until 16 h after surgery. No postoperative complications occurred, and patients were discharged on postoperative Day 2 or 3. No symptoms or complications were noted during the 1–48 months of follow-up. Aesthetic outcomes were satisfactory.ConclusionsSingle-site laparoscopic ligation of the hernia sac provides pediatric surgeons a safe and effective technique for repair of CMH in infants and children. The procedure is straightforward, operative time and surgical blood loss are minimal, recurrence is unlikely, and aesthetic outcomes are satisfactory.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship among information processing, risk/benefit perception and the COVID-19 vaccination intention of OHCs users with the heuristic-systematic model (HSM).MethodsThis study conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire via an online survey among Chinese adults. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to examine the research hypotheses.ResultsSystematic information processing positively influenced benefit perception, and heuristic information processing positively influenced risk perception. Benefit perception had a significant positive effect on users' vaccination intention. Risk perception had a negative impact on vaccination intention. Findings revealed that differences in information processing methods affect users' perceptions of risk and benefit, which decide their vaccination intention.ConclusionOnline health communities can provide more systematic cues and users should process information systematically to increase their perceived benefits, consequently increase their willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccine.

Subway stations are important components of subway system planning and urban rail transit where passengers can board, alight, transfer, or wait. With an increase in urban passenger flow, subway stations must meet greater transfer‐space demands commensurate with growing station structure sizes. In this study, the field‐monitoring and analysis method was adopted to investigate the Huaxing Street Station of the Chengdu Metro Line 19 project and explore the temperature‐variation rule in the process of mass‐concrete pouring in the station floor. Based on an ABAQUS large‐finite‐element calculation programme and secondary development of damage and failure research methods, a mechanical model of mass‐concrete pouring in subway‐station floor construction was established. The pouring temperature effect, damage, and failure mechanism of mass‐concrete pouring in subway stations were comprehensively studied. The main results were as follows: (1) the maximum temperature difference between the upper and middle layers of the floor was dominant and reached a peak within 1–3 d after the completion of pouring, and the temperature difference gradually decreased with a decrease in the hydration‐heat reaction. (2) At 0–10 d, the damage ratio of the floor increased by 1.8%, predominantly in the form of longitudinal damage. Within 10–30 d, the damage and failure ratio of the floor increased by 1.86%, primarily in the form of transverse damage and failure. Within 30–40 d, the temperature of the floor stabilized and gradually approached the ambient temperature. The damage and failure ratio of the floor increased by 0.32% at this time. (3) The lower the ambient temperature, the greater was the damage sustained by the floor at different ages, and the ambient temperature had a significant influence on floor damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most common chronic multifactorial diseases, which is associated with the increased concentration of glucose in the blood. Therefore, the utilization of blood lowering agents is clearly a promising approach which can lead to a suppression of the evaluated blood glucose, and thus curing T2DM and other complication. In this study, we evaluated the glucose lowering effect of a varieties of amino acids (alanine and histidine), dipeptides (carnosine and α-alanine-L-histidine), and tripeptide (glutathione) by reacting with glucose, fructose, and sucrose under 37°C and pH 7.4 to mimic their reaction in physiological condition. By measuring the reduction of reactants and the formation of Maillard reaction products over the course of 21 days’ storage, we found that the glucose lowering effect of carnosine was better than the counterparts. The histidine residue in carnosine may contribute to its glucose lowing effect while β-amino acid β-alanine residue could facilitate the glucose lowering effect of carnosine by maintaining its chemical stability during the storage. These results may open up new avenues for the applications of bioactive peptide carnosine as a natural blood sugar lowering agent to control T2DM.

Automobile exhaust-derived particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) can cause spermatogenic cell damage, potentially resulting in male infertility. This study uses male prepubertal Sprague Dawley (SD) rats to explore the molecular mechanisms by which automobile exhaust-derived PM2.5 causes spermatogenic cell damage and induces spermatogenesis dysfunction during sexual maturity by disrupting the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) in spermatogenic cells. Male prepubertal SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control (intratracheal instillation of normal saline), low-dose PM2.5 (5 mg/kg), high-dose PM2.5 (10 mg/kg), and PM2.5 10 mg/kg +Vit (100 mg/kg of vitamin C and 50 mg/kg of vitamin E). The rats were treated for four weeks, with five consecutive treatment days and two non-treatment days, followed by cohabitation. Testicular and epididymal tissues were harvested for analysis. The mitochondria in spermatogenic cells were observed under an electron microscope. UPRmt-, oxidative stress-, and apoptosis-related markers in spermatogenic cells were examined. Spermatogenic cell numbers and conception rate declined significantly with increasing PM2.5 dose, with their mitochondria becoming vacuolated, swollen, and degenerated to varying degrees. The apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was abnormally enhanced in PM2.5 exposed groups compared to the control group. Spermatogenic cell numbers of conception rate gradually recovered, mitochondrial damage in spermatogenic cells was alleviated, and spermatogenic cell apoptosis was significantly reduced after vitamin intervention. In addition, protein levels of superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) were significantly lower, while those of Bcl2-associated X apoptosis regulator (Bax), cleaved caspase 3 (Casp3), and cytochrome c (Cyt-c) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly higher in the high-dose PM2.5 group than in the control group. The levels of UPRmt-related proteins C/EBP homologous protein (Chop), heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60), and activating transcription factors 4 (Atf4) and 5 (Atf5) were higher in the low-dose PM2.5 group, lower in the high-dose PM2.5 group, and gradually recovered in PM2.5 10 mg/kg +Vit group. Our results show that exposure to automobile exhaust-derived PM2.5 induces oxidative stress responses, leads to post-sexual maturation UPRmt dysfunction and mitochondrial impairment, and abnormally enhances spermatogenic cell apoptosis in prepubertal rats, resulting in male infertility.

The Pb39Bi25Sn36 alloy was directionally solidified at varied withdrawal rates followed by quenching. From metallographic observation, composition analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, the solidification sequence of Pb39Bi25Sn36 alloy was characterized. The Sn-dendrite is observed as the primary phase during solidification, followed by the β(Pb7 Bi3 )/Sn divorced eutectic. At lower temperatures, the β(Pb7Bi3 )/Sn binary eutectic is formed in the interdendritic region. However, the quasi-peritectic reaction [L+α-Pb→β(Pb7 Bi3 )+Sn] does not occur as the prediction based on ternary phase diagram analysis, which can be attributed to the unequilibrium solidfication condition. Moreover, the as-cast microstructure is significantly refined with the increasing withdrawal rates. The quenched sample only exhibits the lamellar structure of Sn, β(Pb7Bi3) and Bi phases. The results can provide instructions to optimize the as-cast microstructure of ternary alloys with quasi-peritectic reaction.

Samarium, gadolinium, and yttrium co-doped ceria (Ce0.8Sm0.16Y0.03Gd0.01O1.9, CSYG) and BaIn0.3Ti0.7O2.85 (BIT07) powders were prepared by sol-gel and solid-state reaction methods, respectively. CSYG-BIT07 composite materials were obtained by mechanically mixing the two powders in different ratios and calcining at 1300 °C for 5 h. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as electrical properties and thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) measurements. A series of CSYG-BIT07 composite materials with relative densities higher than 95% were fabricated by sintering at 1300 °C for 5 h. The performance of the CSYG-BIT07 composite electrolyte was found to be related to the content of BIT07. The CSYG-15% BIT07 composite exhibited high oxide ion conductivity (σ800°C = 0.0126 S·cm−1 at 800 °C), moderate thermal expansion (TEC = 9.13 × 10−6/K between room temperature and 800 °C), and low electrical activation energy (Ea = 0.89 eV). These preliminary results indicate that the CSYG-BIT07 material is a promising electrolyte for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs).

The projected increase in sea surface temperature due to climate change is expected to substantially intensify future hurricanes. Wooden light-frame residential buildings are particularly vulnerable to hurricane damage, and their risk is expected to increase due to heightened exposure and intensifying hurricanes. Therefore, adaptation strategies need to be planned to reduce damage to such buildings while considering the impact of climate change on hurricanes. This study investigates the effectiveness of various climate change adaptation strategies for coastal wood-frame single-story residential buildings and demonstrates how these strategies can be planned. The study considers the four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) proposed by the IPCC to investigate the impact of climate change on wind hazard and losses. Additionally, three locations in the coastal United States of varying sizes, exposure, and hurricane hazard levels are considered: Harris County, Texas; Mobile County, Alabama; and Miami-Dade County, Florida. The results show that the increase in wind speeds and losses will be non-linear with time. All considered adaptation strategies decreased losses, with some able to completely counter the increasing losses even under high emission scenarios. Investigating the effectiveness of adaptive measures can guide stakeholders in allocating funds and efforts for hurricane risk management and enhancing community resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have synthesized a new series of layered oxyselenides Bi2LnO4Cu2Se2 (Ln=Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Er, Yb). Their crystal structures and physical properties were studied through X-ray diffraction, electric transport measurements, bulk magnetization and first-principle calculation. All these compounds have a tetragonal structure with space group I4/mmm. They exhibit hole-type metallic behaviours which is also verified by the DFT calculation. The new Bi2LnO4-type block in these compounds may give people some enlightenment in synthesizing new iron-based superconductors or other layered compounds.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disease. To date, more than 1000 genes have been shown to be associated with ASD, and only a few of these genes account for more than 1% of autism cases. Klf7 is an important transcription factor of cell proliferation and differentiation in the nervous system, but whether klf7 is involved in autism is unclear. Methods: We first performed ChIP-seq analysis of klf7 in N2A cells, then performed behavioral tests and RNA-seq in klf7+/− mice, and finally restored mice with adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated overexpression of klf7 in klf7+/− mice. Results: Klf7 targeted genes are enriched with ASD genes, and 631 ASD risk genes are also differentially expressed in klf7+/− mice which exhibited the core symptoms of ASD. When klf7 levels were increased in the central nervous system (CNS) in klf7+/− adult mice, deficits in social interaction, repetitive behavior and majority of dysregulated ASD genes were rescued in the adults, suggesting transcriptional regulation. Moreover, knockdown of klf7 in human brain organoids caused dysregulation of 517 ASD risk genes, 344 of which were shared with klf7+/− mice, including some high-confidence ASD genes. Conclusions: Our findings highlight a klf7 regulation of ASD genes and provide new insights into the pathogenesis of ASD and promising targets for further research on mechanisms and treatments.

The incidence and mortality of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients are 2-3 times higher than those in non-diabetic patients. Abnormal function of the L-type calcium channel in myocardial tissue might result in multiple cardiac disorders such as a prolonged QT interval. Therefore, QT prolongation is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus. Metformin, a hypoglycemic agent, is widely known to effectively reduce the occurrence of macrovascular diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of metformin on prolonged QT interval and to explore potential ionic mechanisms induced by diabetes. Diabetic mouse models were established with streptozotocin and an electrocardiogram was used to monitor the QT interval after 4 weeks of metformin treatment in each group. Action potential duration (APD) and L-type calcium current (ICa-L) were detected by patch-clamp in isolated mice ventricular cardiomyocytes and neonatal cardiomyocytes of mice. The expression levels of CACNA1C mRNA and Cav1.2 were measured by real-time PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence. A shortened QT interval was observed after 4 weeks of metformin treatment in diabetic mice. Patch-clamp results revealed that both APD and ICa-L were shortened in mouse cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, the expression levels of CACNA1C mRNA and Cav1.2 were decreased in the metformin group. The same results were also obtained in cultured neonatal mice cardiomyocytes. Overall, these results verify that metformin could shorten a prolonged QT interval by inhibiting the calcium current, suggesting that metformin may play a role in the electrophysiology underlying diabetic cardiopathy.

Type 2 diabetes is a common metabolic disorder related to insulin resistance, or deficiency of insulin secretion, caused by decreased insulin sensitivity and destruction of islet structure and function. As the second human genome, the microbiota has been observed to have a growing relationship with diabetes in recent years. Microbiota imbalance has been hypothesized to be involved in the regulation of energy metabolism and the inflammatory immune response in diabetes. The present study aimed to investigate whether fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) could alleviate the symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes. To this end, a type 2 diabetes mouse model was first established through the consumption of a high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin (100 mg/kg), and FMT was used to rebuild the gut microbiota of diabetic mice. Fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance tests, and HbA1c levels were monitored, while the hypoglycemic effects of FMT were also observed. Insulin levels were tested by ELISA and related indexes such as HOMA-IR, HOMA-IS, and HOMA-β were calculated. We found that insulin resistance and pancreatic islet β-cells were improved after FMT treatment. Meanwhile, the markers of inflammation in the pancreatic tissue were detected by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, which indicated that inflammatory response decreased following FMT treatment. Furthermore, flow cytometry and western blot results revealed that FMT inhibited the β-cell apoptosis. Here, the effect of FMT on hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes was addressed by improving insulin resistance and repairing impaired islets, thereby providing a potential treatment strategy for type 2 diabetes.

Abstract Power line carrier (PLC) technology plays an increasingly important role in the realization of cost-effective communication in a smart distribution grid. No current channel modeling method is universally applicable to more complex topologies that may emerge in smart grids, such as ring and mesh topologies. This paper presents a novel PLC channel modeling method based on the information node concept, and the universality and feasibility of the proposed method are demonstrated with applications in modeling networks with ring and mesh topologies. The factors that affect the channel characteristics of the networks and the laws that govern their behaviors for different types of topologies are analyzed. The validity and effectiveness of the proposed method are proven using simulation and laboratory tests. This paper provides the necessary theoretical basis and technical means to design the PLC modulation method for smart distribution grids.