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To investigate the description and evolution of the damage state of rock-like brittle materials, the physical meaning of each elastic modulus method parameter based on the strain equivalence hypothesis and the limitations of the model application are discussed. The modulus change during the triaxial cyclic loading and unloading test of limestone is studied. Moreover, the defects of the unloading modulus substitution method and the statistical damage evolution model in damage evolution analysis are discussed. The results show the existing elastic modulus method can only be used to reflect the damage evolution process of rock under uniaxial compression, and the unloading modulus substitution method cannot correctly describe the damage state and its evolution law. In addition, the statistical damage constitutive model can only be regarded as a theoretical self-consistent solution under the numerical range [0, 1] of the statistical damage evolution model. Based on the above research, a damage characterization variable and its evolution model considering the effects of damage strain threshold are proposed. Additionally, the constitutive model below the damage strain threshold and the damage constitutive model above the damage strain threshold are established, respectively. The sensitivity of model parameters is also analyzed in this study. The final results show that the proposed model and method can not only reasonably explain the damage mechanism of rocks under triaxial compression, but also accurately simulate the full stress-strain process, which is rationable and feasible.

Objective: In order to realize the detection of apple sugar content, a nondestructive prediction method of apple sugar content based on the characteristic gray series of apple reflection spot image in darkroom system is proposed. Methods: The laser with the peak wavelength of 670 nm absorbed by the apple was used as the illumination light source, which was incident from the illumination port of the integrating sphere. The apple sample was placed at the sample port of the integrating sphere, and the reflection spot of the apple sample was obtained at the measuring port of the integrating sphere. Through the image collected by mobile phone, the gray information of the reflection spot image of apple under the irradiation of this wavelength was studied. It was found that the gray distribution of the reflection spot image of apple with different sugar content was different. Using partial least squares （PLS） algorithm, for 90 samples of three apple species in the training set, taking the pixel frequency （i.e. characteristic Gray Series） with gray value between 90~110 in the outer ring area of the reflected spot image as the sugar content related component, the three apple species were modeled and predicted respectively, so as to realize the nondestructive and rapid measurement of apple sugar content. Results: The predictive correlation coefficients of three kinds of apples in the training set were 0.89, 0.84 and 0.94 respectively. Based on the designed three kinds of apple sugar content prediction model, another 60 samples of the three apple species are verified. The prediction correlation coefficients of the three corresponding kinds of apple sugar degree in the verification set can reach 0.70, 0.73 and 0.76 respectively. Conclusion: Compared with the method of using multi wavelength fusion to predict apple sugar content, using a single strong absorption wavelength and the characteristic gray series of apple reflection spot image in darkroom system can be used as the basis of apple sugar content prediction, which provides a new research idea for apple sugar content prediction.

Augmented Renal Clearance (ARC) refers to the increased renal clearance of circulating solute in critically ill patients. In this study, the analytical research method of transcriptomics combined with metabolomics was used to study the pathogenesis of ARC at the transcriptional and metabolic levels. In transcriptomics, 534 samples from 5 datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus database were analyzed and 834 differential genes associated with ARC were obtained. In metabolomics, we used Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry to determine the non-targeted metabolites of 102 samples after matching propensity scores, and obtained 45 differential metabolites associated with ARC. The results of the combined analysis showed that purine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and arachidonic acid metabolism were changed in patients with ARC. We speculate that the occurrence of ARC may be related to the alteration of renal blood perfusion by LTB4R, ARG1, ALOX5, arginine and prostaglandins E2 through inflammatory response, as well as the effects of CA4, PFKFB2, PFKFB3, PRKACB, NMDAR, glutamate and cAMP on renal capillary wall permeability.

Background: Bone tissue defect, one of the common orthopaedicdiseases, is traumatizing and affects patient’s lifestyle. Although autologous and xenograft bone transplantations are performed in bone tissue engineering, clinical development of bone transplantation is limited because ofvarious factors, such as varying degrees of immune rejection, lack of bone sources, and secondary damage to bone harvesting.Methods: We synthesised a heparinised gelatine-hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate (HG-HA-TCP) scaffold loaded with sustained-release vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) analysed their structure, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. Additionally, the effects of HG-HA-TCP (VEGF) scaffolds on osteogenic differentiation and vascularisation of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) in vitro and bone regeneration in vivo were investigated.Results: HG-HA-TCP scaffold possessed good pore structure, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility. HG-HA-TCP scaffold loaded with VEGF could effectively promote SHED proliferation, migration, and adhesion. Moreover, HG-HA-TCP (VEGF) scaffold increased the expression of osteogenesis- and angiogenesis-related genes and promoted osteogenic differentiation and vascularisation in cells. In vivo results demonstrated that VEGF-loaded HG-HA-TCP scaffold improved new bone regeneration and enhanced bone mineral density, revealed byhistological, micro-CT and histochemical straining analyses. Osteogenic and angiogenic abilities of the three biological scaffolds wereranked as follows: HG-HA-TCP (VEGF) > G-HA-TCP (VEGF) > G-HA-TCP.Conclusion: HG-HA-TCP (VEGF) scaffold with good biocompatibility could create an encouraging osteogenic microenvironment that could accelerate vessel formation and osteogenesis, providing an effective scaffold for bone tissue engineering and developing new clinical treatment strategies for bone tissue defects.

This work studied cycle stability of dual-phase lithium titanate (LTO)/TiO2 nanowires as a lithium battery anode. Dual-phase LTO/TiO2 nanowires were successfully synthesized by hydrothermal method at various times lithiation of 10, 24, and 48 h at 80 °C. SEM images show that the morphology of dual-phase LTO/TiO2 is nanowires with a size around 100-200 nm in diameter. The XRD analysis result indicates nanowires main components are anatase (TiO2) and spinel Li4Ti5O12. The first discharge specific capacity of LTO/TiO2-10, LTO/TiO2-24, and LTO/TiO2-48 was 181.68, 175.29, and 154.30 mAh/g, respectively. After the rate capacity testing, the LTO/TiO2-10, LTO/TiO2-24, and LTO/TiO2-48 have been maintained at 161.25, 165.25, and 152.53 mAh/g separately. The retentions for each sample were 86.71, 92.86, and 89.79 %. Based on the results of electrochemical performance, increased LTO content helped increase samples cycle stability. However, the prolonged lithiation time also produced impurities, which reduced the cycle stability.

Hepatic fibrosis can develop into cirrhosis or even cancer without active therapy at an early stage. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be involved in the regulation of a wide variety of important biological processes. However, lncRNA mechanism(s) involved in cholestatic liver fibrosis remain unclear. RNA sequence data of hepatic stellate cells from bile duct ligation (BDL) mice or controls were analyzed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Based on WGCNA analysis, a competing endogenous RNA network was constructed. We identified LINC00663 and evaluated its function using a panel of assays, including a wound healing assay, a dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Functional research showed that LINC00663 promoted the activation, migration and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of LX-2 cells and liver fibrosis in BDL mice. Mechanistically, LINC00663 regulated splicing factor 2 (SF2)-fibronectin (FN) alternative splicing through the sponging of hsa-miR-3916. Moreover, forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) specifically interacted with the promoter of LINC00663. In summary, we elaborated the fibrotic effects of LINC00663 in human hepatic stellate LX-2 cells and in bile duct-ligated cholestasis mice. We established a FOXA1/LINC00663/hsa-miR-3916/SF2-FN axis that provided a potential target for the diagnosis and targeted therapy of cholestatic liver fibrosis.

Objective: The clinical use of intermittent infusion of vancomycin (IIV) and continuous infusion of vancomycin (CIV) is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of IIV and CIV by using a meta-analysis for cohort studies and randomized controlled trials. Methods: We compared the probabilities of target attainment (PTA) for the measured concentration (Cm) ≥the target concentration (Ct), the PTA for the area under the drug concentration curve/minimal inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC) ≥400, the duration of treatment, nephrotoxicity, and overall mortality after vancomycin treatment as reported in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science. Results: A total of 14 studies with 1640 patients were included in the meta-analysis. For IIV, the PTA of Cm ≥ Ct (RR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.60–0.88), and nephrotoxicity (RR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.34–2.14) were significantly different from those of CIV. The treatment duration (SMD = 0.08, 95% CI = −0.08–0.25), the PTA of AUC/MIC ≥ 400 (RR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.70–1.00) and mortality (RR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.72–1.25) were not significantly different from those of CIV. Conclusions: The results showed that CIV was easier to achieve Ct and safer than IIV. Additional randomized controlled trials focusing on the concentration of vancomycin are needed for further analysis. Keywords: Vancomycin, Intermittent, Continuous, Effectiveness, Safety

Abstract Background Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes. Diosgenin is a natural steroidal saponin with a variety of beneficial effects, including antidiabetic effects, and is a raw material for the synthesis of carrier hormones. In our study, we aimed to assess the antioxidant effects of diosgenin in diabetic mice. Methods Male C57 mice were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks and intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 2 consecutive days. Eligible mice were divided into the normal control group (CON), diabetic group (DM), low-dose diosgenin (50 mg/kg) group (DIO50) and high-dose diosgenin (100 mg/kg) group (DIO100). Treatment was started 6 weeks after the induction of diabetes by STZ and continued for 8 weeks. Blood sugar and body weight were monitored dynamically. The behavioural effects of diosgenin were detected by a hot tail immersion test and paw tactile responses. HE staining was used to evaluate edema and degeneration of the sciatic nerve. The levels of SOD, MDA and GPx were tested according to the instructions of the respective kits. The levels of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, and P

Continents with cratonic cores can resist deformation, and thus survive billions of years in the geological record. Tectonic reworking is a significant process that weakens and destructs cratons, but our understanding of the process remains incomplete. In the South China Block, Mesozoic cyclical tectonics destructed a large portion of its cratonic lithosphere. Here, we synthesized the structural evolution of extensional domes and illustrated the process of lithospheric thinning. Unlike the previous rapid, one-cycle delamination model, we propose a newmodel that multicycle compression and extension progressively destructed the lithosphere, which reconciles both surface geology and deep process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]