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Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading factor in end-stage renal disease. The complexity of its pathogenesis, combined with the limited treatment efficacy, necessitates deeper insights into potential causes. Studies suggest that ferroptosis-driven renal tubular damage contributes to DKD's progression, making its counteraction a potential therapeutic strategy. Quercetin, a flavonoid found in numerous fruits and vegetables, has demonstrated DKD mitigation in mouse models, though its protective mechanism remains ambiguous. In this study, we delved into quercetin's potential anti-ferroptotic properties, employing a DKD rat model and high glucose (HG)-treated renal tubular epithelial cell models. Our findings revealed that HG prompted unusual ferroptosis activation in renal tubular epithelial cells. However, quercetin counteracted this by inhibiting ferroptosis and activating NFE2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression in both DKD rats and HG-treated HK-2 cells, indicating its renal protective role. Further experiments, both in vivo and in vitro, validated that quercetin stimulates Nrf2. Thus, our research underscores quercetin's potential in DKD treatment by modulating the ferroptosis process via activating Nrf2 in a distinct DKD rat model, offering a fresh perspective on quercetin's protective mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem of large sowing amount and poor sowing uniformity for millet, according to the physical characteristics of the millet seed and its sowing agronomic requirements, an electromagnetic vibration type fine and small-amount seeder was designed, and the main technical parameters of the seeder were determined, in order to realize the functions of furrow opening, electronically controlled seed metering, soil covering and pressing. Based on the principle of electromagnetic vibration, an electromagnetic vibration type seed metering device was designed to achieve uniform seeding of the millet seed with a small sowing amount; a seeding amount electronic control device was designed using an STM32 microcontroller, which realized the switching to sowing agronomic mode and the adjustment of the seeding amount with sowing operation speed; a vibration experimental bench was set up to simulate the vibration state of field operation, and studies on the seeding performance and vibration damping of the seed metering device by the isolation spring were carried out, as well as field sowing tests for verification. When the working voltage of the seed metering device is 80–160 V, the coefficients of variation for seeding uniformity per row and for total seeding uniformity are not greater than 3.57% and 2.39%, respectively, and the seed damage rate is less than 0.5%. The installation of isolation springs can increase the maximum vibration acceleration of the seed metering device by 10.61–28.20%, significantly reducing the impact of external vibrations on the seed metering device. Within the range of suitable sowing operation speeds, the electronic control device can meet the seeding amounts along with sowing operation speed in the 6, 7.5 and 9 kg/hm2 sowing agronomic modes, and the coefficient of variation for seeding uniformity per row, for total seeding uniformity and for sowing uniformity are not greater than 4.63%, 2.48% and 23.38%, respectively. This study provides a reference for the development of sowing machinery for millet crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the inefficient crushing of fertilizer during the mechanized spreading process caused by the caking of high-humidity organic fertilizer, a fertilizer spreader with a combined rotor and lining plate crushing mechanism was proposed in this paper. With the introduction of the basic structure and working principle of the spreader, a particle group model for an organic fertilizer consisting of both caked and bulk fertilizer was built, based on the Hertz–Mindlin model with bonding and the Hertz–Mindlin model with JKR contact, in EDEM to construct an organic fertilizer-crushing-and-spreading model. With the rotor speed, the axial distance of the hammer, and the number of circumferential hammer groups as the experimental factors and the maximum broken bond rate of the caked organic fertilizer and the minimum coefficient of variation of spreading uniformity as the experimental indices, the Box–Behnken test method was employed to establish regression equations for response surface analysis and multi-objective optimization of the test results. The results indicated that, when the rotor speed was 6.47 Hz, the axial distance of the hammer was 90.30 mm, the number of circumferential hammer groups was five, the broken bond rate reached 90.86%, and the coefficient of variation was 21.45%. Verification tests under these conditions showed a broken bond rate of 90.03% and a coefficient of variation of 22.12%, which were consistent with the optimization results. Therefore, our research provides a reference for the structural design of an organic fertilizer spreader and the optimization of its working parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food crisis has increased demand for agricultural resources due to various factors such as extreme weather, energy crises, and conflicts. A solar greenhouse enables counter-seasonal winter cultivation due to its thermal insulation, thus alleviating the food crisis. The root temperature is of critical importance, although the mechanism of soil thermal environment change remains uncertain. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the soil thermal environment of a solar greenhouse in Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, employing a variety of analytical techniques, including theoretical, experimental, and numerical simulation, and deep learning modelling. The results of this study demonstrate the following: During the overwintering period, the thermal environment of the solar greenhouse floor was divided into a low-temperature zone, a constant-temperature zone, and a high-temperature zone; the distance between the low-temperature boundary and the southern foot was 2.6 m. The lowest temperature in the low-temperature zone was 11.06 °C and the highest was 19.05 °C. The floor in the low-temperature zone had to be heated; the lowest value of the constant-temperature zone was 18.29 °C, without heating. The minimum distance between the area of high temperature and the southern foot of the solar greenhouse was 8 m and the lowest temperature reading was 19.29 °C. The indoor soil temperature tended to stabilise at a depth of 45 cm, and the lowest temperature reading at a horizontal distance of 1400 mm from the south foot was 19.5 °C. The Fluent and LSTM models fitted well and the models can be used to help control soil temperature during overwintering in extreme climates. The research can provide theoretical and data support for the crop areas and the heating of pipelines in the solar greenhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-compassion, as a personal psychological resource, has been proved to play an important role in coping with suffering. Based on self-determination theory, the present study attempts to establish that self-compassion can promote trust, and the sense of interpersonal responsibility mediates this relationship. Study 1 used cross-sectional data in a community sample of 322 adults to reveal that self-compassion was positively related to trust, and the mediating effects of the sense of interpersonal responsibility were significant. Study 2 used the latent cross-lagged panel model among 1304 college students at three-time points set at six-month intervals to replicate the results and proved the longitudinal mediating effects across groups. Finally, a casual chain design was used to test the mediation effect in Studies 3 and 4. The results indicated that self-compassion induced by writing task resulted in a sense of responsibility in Study 3 (N = 145), and the manipulated sense of responsibility promoted both trust behaviors and beliefs in Study 4 (N = 125). Through four studies, this study highlights a novel but unexpected viewpoint that treating oneself in a self-compassionate way can not only help individuals cope with various challenges but also motivate them to obtain interpersonal benefits. These findings can help motivate community workers and mental health researchers to increase social capital by focusing on self-compassion and interpersonal responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In this study, we investigated whether AngII receptors (AT1a and AT2) contributed to the development of the aldosterone-induced inflammatory response of rat mesangial cells (RMCs).Materials and Methods: RMCs were isolated from the glomeruli of normal or diabetic rats which were produced by injection of streptozotocin, and cultured in high-glucose media. In order to evaluate the effects of aldosterone, the expression of AT1a, AT2, NF-κB and MCP-1 was detected. In addition, in order to evaluate the role of Ang II receptors, AT1a and AT2 genes were blocked and the expression of NF-κB and MCP-1 was detected. Moreover, for assessing the relationship between NF-κB and MCP-1, the NF-κB gene was blocked and MCP-1 expression was detected.Results: Aldosterone significantly increased AT1a, AT2, NF-κB and MCP-1 levels in RMCs in a dose-dependent manner, whereas eplerenone (EPI), a selective aldosterone antagonist, partly inhibited the effects of aldosterone. When AT1a and AT2 genes were blocked, the expression of NF-κB and MCP-1 was greatly inhibited. Moreover, when the NF-κB gene was silenced, the expression of MCP-1 was reduced.Conclusion: We demonstrated that aldosterone induced an inflammatory response in RMCs cultured in high-glucose media via the AT1a and AT2 pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular calcification is a major complication of maintenance hemodialysis patients. Studies have confirmed that calcification mainly occurs in the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of the vascular media. However, the exact pathogenesis of VSMC calcification is still unknown. This study shows that the crosstalk between calcium and aldosterone via the allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF-1) pathway contributes to calcium homeostasis and VSMC calcification, which is a novel mechanism of vascular calcification in uremia. In vivo results showed that the level of aldosterone and inflammatory factors increased in calcified arteries, whereas no significant changes were observed in peripheral blood. However, the expression of inflammatory factors markedly increased in the peripheral blood of uremic rats without aortic calcification and gradually returned to normal levels with aggravation of aortic calcification. In vitro results showed that there was an interaction between calcium ions and aldosterone in macrophages or VSMC. Calcium induced aldosterone synthesis, and in turn, aldosterone also triggered intracellular calcium content upregulation in macrophages or VSMC. Furthermore, activated macrophages induced inflammation, apoptosis, and calcification of VSMC. Activated VSMC also imparted a similar effect on untreated VSMC. Finally, AIF-1 enhanced aldosterone- or calcium-induced VSMC calcification, and NF- κ B inhibitors inhibited the effect of AIF-1 on VSMC. These in vivo and in vitro results suggest that the crosstalk between calcium ions and aldosterone plays an important role in VSMC calcification in uremia via the AIF-1/NF- κ B pathway. Local calcified VSMC induced the same pathological process in surrounding VSMC, thereby contributing to calcium homeostasis and accelerating vascular calcification., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Jianbing Hao et al.)

Cardiovascular diseases are common in patients with chronic kidney disease. One of the key symptoms is the calcification of the vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which is induced by dysregulated mineral metabolism with high circulating levels of inorganic phosphate (Pi) and calcium. Klotho, which was originally identified as an aging suppressor gene, has been shown to be associated with vascular calcification. Since Klotho was recently identified as a target for nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, the present study aimed to determine whether PPARγ regulates VSMC calcification through modulating the expression levels of Klotho. It was demonstrated that the expression of PPARγ was downregulated during Pi-induced VSMC calcification. In addition, treatment with PPARγ agonists inhibited the calcification and enhanced the expression of Klotho in VSMCs in a PPARγ-dependent manner. Of note, loss of Klotho expression by RNA interference abolished the ability of PPARγ activation to inhibit VSMC calcification. Furthermore, activation of Klotho as well as PPARγ inhibited the expression of Pi transporter 1/2 and reduced Pi influx into VSMCs. To the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to demonstrate that PPARγ regulates VSMC calcification through activating Klotho.

Background: Anticoagulation treatments are an important aspect of hemodialysis; however, few reports have addressed these treatments. This investigation intends to increase the understanding of the current status and improvements of hemodialysis-related anticoagulation treatments in China., Methods: In this study, an epidemiological investigation was conducted that examined 842 patients in 2007 and 1 175 patients in 2012 who underwent hemodialysis anticoagulation treatments in seven blood purification centers in northern Chinese cities., Results: Heparin was the most commonly used anticoagulant, although the percentage of use of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) increased from 26.5% in 2007 to 42.1% in 2012. In 2007, there were no significant differences in anticoagulant selection among either patients with various primary diseases or patients with hemorrhage, thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, or a low hemoglobin level. However, compared with patients with other diseases, significantly lower doses of LMWH were administered to patients with hypertension (55.5 U/kg vs. 67.3 U/kg, P < 0.05) or diabetes (58.5 U/kg vs. 67.3 U/kg, P < 0.05), and patients with hemorrhage received lower doses of heparin than the other patients (61.6 U/kg vs. 71.8 U/kg, P < 0.01). In 2012, patients with diabetic nephropathy (51.5% vs. 36.5%, P < 0.01), hemorrhage (43.4% vs. 31.7%, P < 0.01), or a hemoglobin level below 90 g/L (57.2% vs. 37.1%, P < 0.01) experienced significantly higher doses of LMWH administration; patients with hemorrhage received significantly reduced LMWH dosages (50.4 U/kg vs. 57.8 U/kg, P < 0.05), and patients with thrombosis received significantly higher doses of heparin (73.8 U/kg vs. 62.1 U/kg, P < 0.01) or LMWH (57.8 U/kg vs. 52.6 U/kg, P < 0.05). Antiplatelet drugs were administered to 20.4% of the examined patients in 2007 and 20.7% in 2012. In 2012, patients with hypertension (25.9% vs. 18.5%, P < 0.01) and thrombosis (36.6% vs. 16.1%, P < 0.01) had a higher rate of using antiplatelet drugs than patients with other primary diseases and complications. Patients receiving antiplatelet drugs also received higher doses of heparin than patients without using antiplatelet drugs (74.4 U/kg vs. 65.9 U/kg, P < 0.01). However, the use of the drugs was not correlated with thrombocytopenia. The rate at which coagulation indices were determined increased from 45.7% in 2007 to 64% in 2012., Conclusion: These findings suggested that hemodialysisrelated anticoagulation treatments in China have gradually become more standardized and individualized.