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Zirconium-based metallic glasses (Zr-MGs) are demonstrated to exhibit high mechanical strength, low elastic modulus and excellent biocompatibility, making them promising materials for endosseous implants. Meanwhile, tantalum (Ta) is also well known for its ideal corrosion resistance and biological effects. However, the metal has an elastic modulus as high as 186 GPa which is not comparable to the natural bone (10–30 GPa), and it also has a relative high cost. Here, to fully exploit the advantages of Ta as endosseous implants, a small amount of Ta (as low as 3 at. %) was successfully added into a Zr-MG to generate an advanced functional endosseous implant, Zr58Cu25Al14Ta3 MG, with superior comprehensive properties. Upon carefully dissecting the atomic structure and surface chemistry, the results show that amorphization of Ta enables the uniform distribution in material surface, leading to a significantly improved chemical stability and extensive material-cell contact regulation. Systematical analyses on the immunological, angiogenesis and osteogenesis capability of the material are carried out utilizing the next-generation sequencing, revealing that Zr58Cu25Al14Ta3 MG can regulate angiogenesis through VEGF signaling pathway and osteogenesis via BMP signaling pathway. Animal experiment further confirms a sound osseointegration of Zr58Cu25Al14Ta3 MG in achieving better bone-implant-contact and inducing faster peri-implant bone formation.

Abstract γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA), as an environmentally sustainable material, is extensive applied in agriculture for enhancing water and fertilizer utilization efficiency, augmenting crop yield, and ameliorating soil conditions. However, the effect of γ-PGA in conjunction with sesame cake fertilizer on the soil environment remains uncertain.The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of γ-PGA on soil nutrients, water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and maize yield across various levels of sesame cake fertilizer. Additionally, the study seeks to identify the optimal ratio to establish a theoretical and practical foundation for sustainable agricultural development and the promotion of ecological agriculture. Through field experiments, nine treatments were established, comprising three levels of sesame cake fertilizer application rates (B1 = 900 kg/hm2 for low fertility, B2 = 1100 kg/hm2 for medium fertility, and B3 = 1300 kg/hm2 for high fertility) and three levels of γ-PGA application rates (R1 = 200 kg/hm2, R2 = 400 kg/hm2, and R3 = 600 kg/hm2). The results can be outlined as follows: (1) When γ-PGA application rate increased, total nitrogen (TN) exhibited a synergistic effect under B1 treatment, but an antagonistic effect under B2 and B3 treatments. At the 6-leaf stage (V6), 12-leaf stage (V12), and tasseling stage (VT), available phosphorus (AP) exhibited antagonistic effects. However, at the filling stage (R2) and maturity stage (R6), AP in B1 and B2 treatments at various depths underwent partial transformation into a synergistic effect. The levels of available potassium exhibited a notable antagonistic effect, leading to a decrease in harvest index (HI). B2 treatment demonstrated superior results compared to the B1 and B3 treatments, with the highest levels observed under B2R1 treatment; (2) TN content in the 0–40 cm soil layer increased during the filling period, and it was uniformly distributed in the 40–60 cm soil layer. When the soil AP was located in the 0–60 cm soil layer, there was an increase in AP content during the mature period. Following the tasseling period, different treatments exhibited varying patterns of increase in response to the presence of potassium within the 0–60 cm soil layer. Consequently, in cases where the sesame cake fertilizer content is low, the interaction between γ-PGA can compensate for the deficiency of fertilizer, thereby enhancing water and nitrogen utilization efficiency. The optimal fertilization strategy for enhancing soil nutrient distribution, WUE and NUE, and yield is proposed to be the application of 1100 kg/hm2 sesame cake fertilizer and 200 kg/hm2 γ-PGA.

Energy-resolved neutron imaging is an effective way to investigate the internal structure and residual stress of materials. Different sample sizes have varying requirements for the detector's imaging field of view (FOV) and spatial resolution. Therefore, a dual-mode energy-resolved neutron imaging detector was developed, which mainly consisted of a neutron scintillator screen, a mirror, imaging lenses, and a time-stamping optical fast camera. This detector could operate in a large FOV mode or a high spatial resolution mode. To evaluate the performance of the detector, the neutron wavelength spectra and the multiple spatial resolution tests were conducted at CSNS. The results demonstrated that the detector accurately measured the neutron wavelength spectra selected by a bandwidth chopper. The best spatial resolution was about 20 μm in high spatial resolution mode after event reconstruction, and a FOV of 45.0 mm × 45.0 mm was obtained in large FOV mode. The feasibility was validated to change the spatial resolution and FOV by replacing the scintillator screen and adjusting the lens magnification.

Stem cell-mediated bio-root regeneration is an alternative tooth replacement strategy; however, physiologically functional bio-root regeneration with distinctive dentin structure remains challenging. In this study, the distinct arrangements of collagen fibril bundles were identified that account for hierarchical structural differences between dentin, cementum, and alveolar bone. Thus, an “engineered pre-dentin” was fabricated, which was a dentin hierarchical structure mimicking collagen (MC) scaffold, with well-aligned hierarchical mineralized collagen fibril bundles. The results revealed that it has a stronger effect on promoting biological root regeneration in nude mice and miniature pigs with dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) and periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSC) sheets compared to hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate (HA/TCP). The success rate in the MC group was also higher than that in the HA/TCP group (67% and 33%, respectively). In conclusion, the hierarchical dentin-mimicking scaffold can enhance the regeneration of bio-roots, which provides a promising strategy for tooth regeneration.

IntroductionIn the field of facility agriculture, the accurate identification of tomatoes at multiple stages has become a significant area of research. However, accurately identifying and localizing tomatoes in complex environments is a formidable challenge. Complex working conditions can impair the performance of conventional detection techniques, underscoring the necessity for more robust methods.MethodsTo address this issue, we propose a novel model of YOLOv8-EA for the localization and identification of tomato fruit. The model incorporates a number of significant enhancements. Firstly, the EfficientViT network replaces the original YOLOv8 backbone network, which has the effect of reducing the number of model parameters and improving the capability of the network to extract features. Secondly, some of the convolutions were integrated into the C2f module to create the C2f-Faster module, which facilitates the inference process of the model. Third, the bounding box loss function was modified to SIoU, thereby accelerating model convergence and enhancing detection accuracy. Lastly, the Auxiliary Detection Head (Aux-Head) module was incorporated to augment the network's learning capacity.ResultThe accuracy, recall, and average precision of the YOLOv8-EA model on the self-constructed dataset were 91.4%, 88.7%, and 93.9%, respectively, with a detection speed of 163.33 frames/s. In comparison to the baseline YOLOv8n network, the model weight was increased by 2.07 MB, and the accuracy, recall, and average precision were enhanced by 10.9, 11.7, and 7.2 percentage points, respectively. The accuracy, recall, and average precision increased by 10.9, 11.7, and 7.2 percentage points, respectively, while the detection speed increased by 42.1%. The detection precision for unripe, semi-ripe, and ripe tomatoes was 97.1%, 91%, and 93.7%, respectively. On the public dataset, the accuracy, recall, and average precision of YOLOv8-EA are 91%, 89.2%, and 95.1%, respectively, and the detection speed is 1.8 ms, which is 4, 4.21, and 3.9 percentage points higher than the baseline YOLOv8n network. This represents an 18.2% improvement in detection speed, which demonstrates good generalization ability.DiscussionThe reliability of YOLOv8-EA in identifying and locating multi-stage tomato fruits in complex environments demonstrates its efficacy in this regard and provides a technical foundation for the development of intelligent tomato picking devices.

Background: Nitrate, a key component of saliva, has been shown widely physiological functions in the human body. But its function on bone metabolism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the function and mechanism of saliva nitrate on osteoporosis and the function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods: Saliva nitrate removal or supplemental interventions were performed for 1 month in ovariectomized (OVX) osteopenia mice. The nitrate levels in saliva and serum were detected. The bone formation and bone microarchitecture in the OVX mouse model were investigated by quantitative Micro--computed tomography imaging, histological staining and serum bone biomarker analysis. The effects of nitrate on the functional homeostasis of BMSCs in OVX mice were explored by Ki67 immunofluorescence staining, Ki67 flow staining, alizarin red staining, qPCR and western blotting. Finally, downstream signaling pathways were screened by proteomics and verified by western blotting. Results: The results showed that nitrate deficiency exacerbated osteoporosis, while nitrate administration prevent osteoporosis in OVX mice. Nitrate increased the expression of PINP, a biomarker of bone formation, in OVX mice. Besides, nitrate enhanced the proliferative capacity and osteogenic function of BMSCs in OVX mice in vitro and in vivo. In addition, nitrate upregulated the expression levels of osteogenesis-related genes ALP, Run2 and OPN of BMSCs. EGFR and mTOR signaling were screened as the key downstream of nitrate, and phosphorylated protein levels of its subfamily members AKT, ERK and S6K were significantly upregulated by nitrate. Conclusion: The present results showed saliva nitrate preventively protects against osteoporosis through enhances the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation potential of BMSCs. The effects of nitrate on bone homeostasis are closely related to the EGFR/AKT/ERK and mTOR/S6K signaling axes. The translational potential of this article: Our study provides experimental evidence for the use of saliva nitrate as an effective candidate for the prevention of osteoporosis and maintenance of bone homeostasis.

Background Periodontitis and atherosclerosis are both chronic inflammatory diseases with a high prevalence. Increasing evidence supports the independent association between severe periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, in which oral microorganisms may play an important role. We aimed to evaluate the characteristic changes of salivary microbiome and metabolome in patients with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) and periodontitis. Methods and Results The subjects were obtained from a cross‐sectional study that included 1933 participants aged 40 years or older from rural northeast China. The study enrolled 48 subjects with CAS and 48 controls without CAS matched by sex, age, body mass index, and prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We performed full‐length 16S rDNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomics of saliva samples from 96 subjects. We found that CAS was closely associated with an increased abundance of Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Cutibacterium. Furthermore, patients with CAS had higher prevalence of severe periodontitis than the control group. Notably, periodontal pathogens such as Tannerella and Anaeroglobus were not only associated with periodontitis but also enriched in patients with CAS, whereas periodontal health‐associated Neisseria was more abundant in those without CAS. We also identified 2 lipid metabolism pathways, including glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism, as associated with CAS. The levels of trimethylamine N‐oxide and inflammatory mediator leukotriene D4 were significantly higher in patients with CAS, whereas the levels of carnosine were significantly lower, than those in controls. Additionally, serum levels of inflammatory marker high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein were significantly increased in CAS and positively correlated with the abundance of Anaeroglobus and leukotriene D4 in saliva. Conclusions Our study suggests that characteristic changes in salivary microbiota and metabolites are closely related to CAS, and periodontitis and associated microorganisms may be involved in the initiation and progression of CAS.

Abstract Many tissues and organ systems have intrinsic regeneration capabilities that are largely driven and maintained by tissue-resident stem cell populations. In recent years, growing evidence has demonstrated that cellular metabolic homeostasis plays a central role in mediating stem cell fate, tissue regeneration, and homeostasis. Thus, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms that regulate metabolic homeostasis in stem cells may contribute to our knowledge on how tissue homeostasis is maintained and provide novel insights for disease management. In this review, we summarize the known relationship between the regulation of metabolic homeostasis and molecular pathways in stem cells. We also discuss potential targets of metabolic homeostasis in disease therapy and describe the current limitations and future directions in the development of these novel therapeutic targets.

Abstract Background The development of deep learning (DL) algorithms for use in dentistry is an emerging trend. Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent oral diseases, which has a notable impact on the life quality of patients. Therefore, it is crucial to classify periodontitis accurately and efficiently. This systematic review aimed to identify the application of DL for the classification of periodontitis and assess the accuracy of this approach. Methods A literature search up to November 2023 was implemented through EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to screen eligible studies, and the quality of the studies was evaluated by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology with the QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) tool. Random-effects inverse-variance model was used to perform the meta-analysis of a diagnostic test, with which pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR), negative LR, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated, and a summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) plot was constructed. Results Thirteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. After excluding an outlier, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive LR, negative LR and DOR were 0.88 (95%CI 0.82–0.92), 0.82 (95%CI 0.72–0.89), 4.9 (95%CI 3.2–7.5), 0.15 (95%CI 0.10–0.22) and 33 (95%CI 19–59), respectively. The area under the SROC was 0.92 (95%CI 0.89–0.94). Conclusions The accuracy of DL-based classification of periodontitis is high, and this approach could be employed in the future to reduce the workload of dental professionals and enhance the consistency of classification.

Shell morphological traits are important quantitative traits in shellfish. Shell morphology is usually affected by many factors, such as the ecological environment and shellfish genetics. It is considered the results of comprehensive actions of natural selection, micro-evolution, and heredity. Measuring shell morphological traits aids our understanding of the current situation of germplasm resources among shellfish species or intraspecific populations and also provides important breeding traits for shellfish breeding programs. For most shellfish, quality traits (eg. live weight and soft body weight) are considered the important breeding traits, but there are practical issues in using these traits, such as the inability or difficulty in measuring them in vivo. It is well known that shellfish quality traits are closely related to shell morphological traits. However, a simple correlation analysis between quality and morphological traits cannot adequately explain all the intrinsic links between these traits. In this study, Manila clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) were collected from nine geographical locations along the north and south coasts of China. The shell morphology and quality characteristics were measured and analyzed for the nine different populations of clams. Furthermore, the main factors affecting the quality traits were analyzed using cluster analysis to reveal the genetic relationships among the populations. The optimal regression equations were constructed using the morphological traits with the soft weights of these populations. For all populations, shell length, shell height, shell width, and shell thickness were measured using a vernier caliper (with an accuracy of 0.01 mm) and a thickness gauge. After wiping the surface of clams with filter paper, their live weight was measured on an electronic balance (with an accuracy of 0.01 g). A scalpel was used to sample the soft body from the clams. After drying, soft body weights were calculated using the difference between live weight and shell weight. The morphological data, including mean values, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation, were calculated using SPSS 26.0. To eliminate the effects of size differences among individuals, two morphological scale parameters (shell width/shell length and shell height/shell length) were calculated to reflect the morphological characteristics of the clams. In addition, stepwise linear regression analyses were performed to obtain the correlation coefficients, direct path coefficients, correlation indexes, indirect path coefficients, and determine the coefficients using SPSS26.0 software. The correlation coefficient and multiple regression analyses of the traits were evaluated. The multiple regression equations were established for all populations. Cluster analysis was used to assess each trait using the calibrations (to calculate the ratio of each trait to shell length). The heatmap displayed the shortest distance method for the Euclidean distance between the different populations. There were significant differences in the effects of shell length, shell height, shell width, and shell thickness on live weight and soft body weight of clams. Morphological traits were significantly correlated with body weight and soft weight (P < 0.05), except for shell thickness. The results of determination coefficient revealed shell width had the greatest impact on live weights of the Putian, Jinzhou, and Chaozhou populations, with determination coefficients of 0.277, 0.232, and 0.307, respectively. The determination coefficients of soft body weights indicated that shell width played very important roles in determining soft body weights of the Putian and Chaozhou populations, with determination coefficients of 0.249 and 0.443, respectively. By calculating the total of determination coefficients, the results are consistent with the correlation index R2 for each trait. For the total determinant effects, the sum of determination coefficients for the morphological traits with soft body weights were greater than 0.850 in most populations. In contrast, the sum of determination coefficients for the morphological traits with soft body weights were less than 0.850 in Laizhou, Zhuanghe, Donggang, and Jinzhou. Based on the path analysis and the determination coefficient analysis, shell width had the greatest impact on live weights and soft body weights in most populations. The maximum values of the two morphological proportion parameters (shell width/shell length and shell height/shell length) were found in the Laizhou population (0.49 and 0.74), while the minimum proportion parameters were detected in the Dalian Donggang population (0.42 and 0.67). Among the shell morphological traits, shell thickness had the largest coefficient of variation (22.74), while shell height had the smallest coefficient of variation (9.47). By testing for statistically significant variation in the partial regression coefficient, the optimal regression equations of the morphological traits for soft body weight were constructed for all the populations. The cluster analysis revealed that different clam populations did not have a typically regional characteristic in terms of the shell morphological traits. There was an irregular north-south alternating clustering phenomenon. According to the present findings, shell thickness and morphological ratio parameters (ratio of shell height to shell length and ratio of shell width to shell length) are important indicators for evaluating the growth potential and nutritional status of clams in aquaculture. The present results provide a scientific basis for morphological discrimination and germplasm resource evaluation for geographical populations of clams and also aid breeding strategies to predict breeding traits for aquaculture breeding programs, including guidance for the selective breeding of clams.

To investigate the mechanism and influence of applying gamma-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) on soil water infiltration, laboratory experiments and numerical simulations were conducted using Hydrus-1D. These studies assessed the impact of various application rates of γ-PGA on soil water characteristic parameters. Orthogonal simulation experiments on soil bulk density, γ-PGA application rates, and burial depths were performed utilizing predefined soil water characteristic values (twelve groups: nine groups of numerical simulation experiments and three groups of laboratory verification tests), and the soil infiltration characteristics were analyzed. Concurrently, an empirical model was developed to elucidate the relationships between the empirical model parameters and influencing factors, as well as to examine the sensitivity of these factors to changes in soil infiltration rate. The relationship between cumulative infiltration and the distance of wetting front movement, based on the water balance equation, was refined. The results indicated that γ-PGA significantly affected soil water characteristic parameters, where the saturated water content and the reciprocal of soil intake suction increased with rising γ-PGA applications (p < 0.01), while the saturated hydraulic conductivity and the parameter n decreased (p < 0.01), with no notable changes in the retained water content (p > 0.05). The trend in cumulative infiltration influenced by various factors could be modeled by a capacitive charging model function, which yielded a superior fit. A negative correlation existed between the sensitivity index and all the influencing factors (p < 0.05), with the order of influence being soil bulk density, γ-PGA application rate, and γ-PGA burial depth, respectively. Utilizing the modified water balance equation, the ratio of cumulative infiltration to wetting front migration distance corresponded more closely with a power function. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further studies on the effects of γ-PGA on crop growth characteristics in fields and the optimization of γ-PGA technical element combinations.

The manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum has become an important bivalve species in worldwide aquaculture due to its delicious taste and high commercial value. With the rapid expansion of clam farming, there is an urgent need to obtain genetic improvement by selective breeding, such as family-based selection of improved varieties. In this study, 10 microsatellite loci were selected to establish four multiplex PCR groups using four different fluorescences (FAM, ROX, HEX, TAM). The accuracy of these loci was verified by the 100% success rate of parentage assignment in a full-sib family. Parentage assignment was carried out in the mixed-mating parents and their offspring with unknown pedigree information. The genotyping of ten microsatellite loci generated 90 alleles, having the observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranging from 0.333 to 0.729. The expected heterozygosity (He) varied from 0.358 to 0.794. The PIC ranged from 0.342 to 0.763, with a mean value of 0.620. The theoretical combined parentage exclusion (cEP) power for all ten microsatellites was 97% with known genotypes of one parent (P1) and 99% for given the genotypes of both parents (P2). The actual successful assignment rate reached 98% by using all four sets of multiplex microsatellites, serving as the effective method for parentage assignment in the clams. The development and application of multiplex microsatellite genotyping methods provide a cost-effective method for pedigree reconstruction, population genetics and selective breeding of the commercially important clams.

Abstract The optimal operation of reservoir groups is a strongly constrained, multi-stage, and high-dimensional optimization problem. In response to this issue, this article couples the standard Pelican optimization algorithm with adaptive ε constraint methods, and further improves the optimization performance of the algorithm by initializing the population with a good point set, reverse differential evolution, and optimal individual t-distribution perturbation strategy. Based on this, an improved Pelican algorithm coupled with adaptive ε constraint method is proposed (ε-IPOA). The performance of the algorithm was tested through 24 constraint testing functions to find the optimal ability and solve constraint optimization problems. The results showed that the algorithm has strong optimization ability and stable performance. In this paper, we select Sanmenxia and Xiaolangdi reservoirs as the research objects, establish the maximum peak-cutting model of terrace reservoirs, apply the ε-IPOA algorithm to solve the model, and compare it with the ε-POA (Pelican algorithm coupled with adaptive ε constraint method) and ε-DE (Differential Evolution Algorithm) algorithms, the results indicate that ε. The peak flow rate of the Huayuankou control point solved by the IPOA algorithm is 12,319 m3/s, which is much lower than the safe overflow flow rate of 22,000 m3/s at the Huayuankou control point, with a peak shaving rate of 44%, and other algorithms do not find effective solutions meeting the constraint conditions. This paper provides a new idea for solving the problem of flood control optimal operation of cascade reservoirs.

Abstract Heat stress (HS) can cause a series of stress responses, resulting in numerous negative effects on the body, such as the diminished food intake, carcass quality and reproductive capacity. In addition to the negative effects on the peripheral system, HS leads to central nervous system (CNS) disorders given its toll on neuroinflammation. This neuroinflammatory process is mainly mediated by microglia and astrocytes, which are involved in the activation of glial cells and the secretion of cytokines. While the regulation of inflammatory signaling has a close relationship with the expression of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), HS-induced neuroinflammation is closely related to the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Moreover, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are key players in the development of neuroinflammation. Chromium (Cr) has been widely shown to have neuroprotective effects in both humans and animals, despite the lack of mechanistic evidence. Evidence has shown that Cr supplementation can increase the levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a major neurotrophic factor with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This review highlights recent advances in the attenuating effects and potential mechanisms of Cr-mediated IGF-1 actions on HS-induced neuroinflammation, providing presently existing evidence supporting the neuroprotective role of Cr.

The traditional loader drive system is based on the hydraulic torque converter as the key component, and its gear is shifted through the coordination of the clutch and gearbox, which greatly increases power loss and operator fatigue. To address the above problem, a variable-structure hydrostatic drive system is proposed. This system adopts a closed-loop design and adjusts the displacement of the pump and dual motors to follow the throttle opening of the vehicle, achieving automatic gear shifting and smooth speed regulation. It can also automatically change the system structure according to the vehicle’s speed, meeting the vehicle’s demand for rapid switching output of high torque and high speed. At the same time, in the displacement matching control process, an adaptive sliding mode control scheme based on radial basis function neural network compensation is proposed. This scheme designs an adaptive hyperparameter update strategy according to the characteristics of the system to effectively compensate for changes in uncertain factors. Experimental results show that, compared to traditional drive systems, this system has the characteristics of simple operation, smooth speed regulation, and high fuel economy.

Summary: The crosstalk between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the host immune function plays a key role in the efficiency of tissue regeneration and wound healing. However, the difference in immunological modulation and tissue regeneration function between MSCs from different sources remains unclear. Compared to PDLSCs, BMMSCs, and ADSCs, DPSCs exhibited greater tissue regeneration potential and triggered more M2 macrophages in vivo. DPSCs elicited the polarization of M2a macrophages by conditioned medium and transwell assay and exhibited higher expression levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). Specific blocking of CCL2 could significantly inhibit the DPSCs-induced polarization of M2 macrophages. DPSCs promoted wound healing of the palatal mucosa and M2 macrophages polarization in vivo, which could be significantly impaired by CCL2-neutralized antibody. Our data indicate that DPSCs exert better tissue regeneration potential and immunoregulatory function by secreting CCL2, which can enhance MSCs-mediated tissue regeneration or wound healing.

Diphenyl carbonate (DPC) is one of the versatile carbonates, and is often used for the production of polycarbonates. In recent years, the catalytic synthesis of DPC has become an important topic but the development of a highly active metal-free catalyst is a great challenge. Herein, a series of ionic liquids-SBA-15 hybrid catalysts with different functional groups have been developed for the synthesis of DPC under solvent-free condition, which are effective and clean instead of the metal-containing catalysts. It is found that in the presence of [SBA-15-IL-OH]Br catalyst, methyl phenyl carbonate (MPC) conversion of 80.5% along with 99.6% DPC selectivity is achieved, the TOF value is thrice higher than the best value reported by using transition metal-based catalysts. Moreover, the catalyst displays remarkable stability and recyclability. This work provides a new idea to design and prepare eco-friendly catalysts in a broad range of applications for the green synthesis of carbonates.

Abstract Micrognathia is a severe craniofacial deformity affecting appearance and survival. Previous studies revealed that multiple factors involved in the osteogenesis of mandibular bone have contributed to micrognathia, but concerned little on factors other than osteogenesis. In the current study, we found that ectopic activation of Fgf8 by Osr2-cre in the presumptive mesenchyme for masseter tendon in mice led to micrognathia, masseter regression, and the disrupted patterning and differentiation of masseter tendon. Since Myf5-cre;Rosa26R-Fgf8 mice exhibited the normal masseter and mandibular bone, the possibility that the micrognathia and masseter regression resulted directly from the over-expressed Fgf8 was excluded. Further investigation disclosed that a series of chondrogenic markers were ectopically activated in the developing Osr2-cre;Rosa26R-Fgf8 masseter tendon, while the mechanical sensing in the masseter and mandibular bone was obviously reduced. Thus, it suggested that the micrognathia in Osr2-cre;Rosa26R-Fgf8 mice resulted secondarily from the reduced mechanical force transmitted to mandibular bone. Consistently, when tenogenic or myogenic components were deleted from the developing mandibles, both the micrognathia and masseter degeneration took place with the decreased mechanical sensing in mandibular bone, which verified that the loss of mechanical force transmitted by masseter tendon could result in micrognathia. Furthermore, it appeared that the micrognathia resulting from the disrupted tenogenesis was attributed to the impaired osteogenic specification, instead of the differentiation in the periosteal progenitors. Our findings disclose a novel mechanism for mandibular morphogenesis, and shed light on the prevention and treatment for micrognathia.

The stability and toxicity of quinolines are difficult to degrade by conventional physicochemical and biological methods, posing a threat to human health and the environment. In this study, we prepared NiCo2S4/g-C3N4 particles and applied them in an electrochemical reactor to form a three-dimensional catalytic particle electro-Fenton system (3D-EF), which can efficiently remove quinoline from wastewater. The NiCo2S4/g-C3N4 catalytic particles were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS. The optimum conditions for 3D-EF were 30 min reaction time, 60 g/L NiCo2S4/g-C3N4 particles dosage, pH value of 3, 67.6 mmol/L H2O2 concentration, 12.1 ms/cm conductivity and 5 A current. Under the optimum conditions, a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate of 95.6% was achieved. NiCo2S4/g-C3N4 catalytic particles can be easily recovered by filtration and can be reused. Kinetic analysis showed that the COD degradation of quinoline solutions by the 3D-EF followed a first-order kinetic model. To determine the important role of hydroxyl radicals in the electrochemical process, electron paramagnetic reaction (EPR) and radical scavenging experiments were performed. Finally, in order to elucidate the degradation mechanism, the intermediates were identified by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and two possible degradation pathways were proposed. Meanwhile, the biochemical analysis of quinoline wastewater was also performed.

Summary: Melatonin has been reported to improve nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and exploring the underlying mechanisms will be beneficial for better treatment of NAFLD. Choline-deficient high-fat diet (CDHFD)- and methionine/choline-deficient diet (MCD)-fed mice with melatonin intervention exhibit significantly decreased liver steatosis, lobular inflammation, and focal liver necrosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that melatonin selectively inhibits pro-inflammatory CCR3+ monocyte-derived macrophages (MoMFs) and upregulates anti-inflammatory CD206+ MoMFs in NAFLD mice. Liver-infiltrating CCR3+CD14+ MoMFs are also significantly increased in patients with NAFLD. Mechanistically, melatonin receptor-independent BTG2-ATF4 signaling plays a role in the regulation of CCR3+ MoMF endoplasmic reticulum stress, survival, and inflammation. In contrast, melatonin upregulates CD206+ MoMF survival and polarization via MT1/2 receptors. Melatonin stimulation also regulates human CCR3+ MoMF and CD206+ MoMF survival and inflammation in vitro. Furthermore, CCR3 depletion antibody monotherapy inhibits liver inflammation and improves NAFLD in mice. Thus, therapies targeting CCR3+ MoMFs may have potential benefits in NAFLD treatment.

Abstract Purpose Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease. The aim of our study is to explore the role and the regulatory mechanism of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 in MPP+‐induced pyroptosis in a cell model of PD. Materials and Methods MPP+‐treated SH‐SY5Y cells were used as an in vitro model of dopaminergic neurons for PD. Expression levels of miR‐5047 and YAF2 mRNA were determined through qRT‐PCR. TUNEL staining was carried out to analyze neuronal apoptosis. Luciferase activity assay was accomplished to analyze the combination of miR‐5047 with NEAT1 or YAF2 3ʹ‐UTR region. Besides, concentrations of IL‐1β and IL‐18 in supernatant samples were analyzed by using ELISA assay. Expression level of proteins were examined through Western blot. Results NEAT1 and YAF2 expression were increased, while miR‐5047 expression was declined in the SH‐SY5Y cells treated with MPP+. NEAT1 was a positively regulator to SH‐SY5Y cells pyroptosis induced by MPP+. In addition, YAF2 was a downstream target of miR‐5047. NEAT1 promoted YAF2 expression via inhibiting miR‐5047. Importantly, the promotion of NEAT1 to SH‐SY5Y cells pyroptosis induced by MPP+ was rescued by miR‐5047 mimic transfection or YAF2 downregulation. Conclusion In conclusion, NEAT1 was increased in MPP+‐induced SH‐SY5Y cells, and it promoted MPP+‐induced pyroptosis through facilitating YAF2 expression by sponging miR‐5047.

Background & Aims: Phospholipase D1 (PLD1), a phosphatidylcholine-hydrolysing enzyme, is involved in cellular lipid metabolism. However, its involvement in hepatocyte lipid metabolism and consequently non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been explicitly explored. Methods: NAFLD was induced in hepatocyte-specific Pld1 knockout (Pld1(H)-KO) and littermate Pld1flox/flox (Pld1-Flox) control mice feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 wk. Changes of the lipid composition in the liver were compared. Alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) cells and mouse primary hepatocytes were incubated with oleic acid or sodium palmitate in vitro to explore the role of PLD1 in the development of hepatic steatosis. Hepatic PLD1 expression was evaluated in liver biopsy samples in patients with NAFLD. Results: PLD1 expression levels were increased in the hepatocytes of patients with NAFLD and HFD-fed mice. Compared with Pld1-Flox mice, Pld1(H)-KO mice exhibited decreased plasma glucose and lipid levels as well as lipid accumulation in liver tissues after HFD feeding. Transcriptomic analysis showed that hepatocyte-specific deficiency of PLD1 decreased Cd36 expression in steatosis liver tissues, which was confirmed at the protein and gene levels. In vitro, specific inhibition of PLD1 with VU0155069 or VU0359595 decreased CD36 expression and lipid accumulation in oleic acid- or sodium palmitate-treated AML12 cells or primary hepatocytes. Inhibition of hepatocyte PLD1 significantly altered lipid composition, especially phosphatidic acid and lysophosphatidic acid levels in liver tissues with hepatic steatosis. Furthermore, phosphatidic acid, the downstream product of PLD1, increased the expression levels of CD36 in AML12 cells, which was reversed by a PPARγ antagonist. Conclusions: Hepatocyte-specific Pld1 deficiency ameliorates lipid accumulation and NAFLD development by inhibiting the PPARγ/CD36 pathway. PLD1 may be a new target for the treatment of NAFLD. Impact and implications: The involvement of PLD1 in hepatocyte lipid metabolism and NAFLD has not been explicitly explored. In this study, we found that the inhibition of hepatocyte PLD1 exerted potent protective effects against HFD-induced NAFLD, which were attributable to a reduction in PPARγ/CD36 pathway-mediated lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Targeting hepatocyte PLD1 may be a new target for the treatment of NAFLD.

China is a large consumer of meat and meat products. People’s daily diets include a variety of meat, but meat food adulteration problems are common. This paper discusses the research progress of the electronic nose and near-infrared spectroscopy in the field of meat adulteration detection. Through the study of dozens of related papers in recent years, it has been found that the use of the electronic nose and near-infrared spectroscopy for meat detection has the advantages of speed, a nondestructive nature, high sensitivity, strong quantitative analysis, high automation, a wide applicability, an improved product quality, and cost reduction over the traditional detection, but it may be limited in detecting the adulteration of a specific meat, and there are issues with the life and stability of the sensors of the electronic nose in the process of detection, along with the problems of the high requirements for the modeling of the data of near-infrared spectroscopy. This paper takes adulterated meat as the research object and briefly summarizes the detection principles of the electronic nose and near-infrared spectroscopy, as well as the types of sensors applied in the electronic nose. The research progress of the electronic nose and near-infrared detection technology in meat adulteration assessment is reviewed, the advantages and disadvantages of the two in practical application are analyzed, the classification of pattern recognition methods and their applications in meat identification are described, and the feasibility and practical significance of the joint application of the two in meat adulteration detection are envisioned. Meanwhile, the challenges faced by the two in meat detection are pointed out.

To improve the control performance and energy efficiency of the hydrostatic transmission (HST) system of wheel loaders, this study proposes a novel variable structure dual-motor hydrostatic transmission system, accompanied by a multivariable control strategy based on fuzzy sliding mode control. By constructing a simulation model of the transmission system, the performance of the novel transmission system is verified, and the control effects of common control strategies are compared. The simulation results show that the proposed control strategy and system have good matching and can adapt to disturbances actively. Field experiment results show that the proposed solution can achieve smooth automatic shifting of wheel loaders, while effectively adjusting system pressure, flow, and power. Compared with the traditional hydrodynamic torque converter loader transmission system, its transmission efficiency is effectively increased by 30%, and the efficiency is increased by 8% compared with the traditional hydrostatic transmission system This achievement is of great significance for improving the working efficiency of wheel loaders and reducing energy consumption. The future research focus is to further improve the multivariable control strategy, achieve intelligent operation, and improve the efficiency and reliability of the transmission system.

Aiming at the same batch of spiral bevel gears with the same gear material， NC milling method and heat treatment specification， a bootstrap resampling is carried out on a small number of tooth surface deviation sample data based on the bootstrap method， a large number of sample data are obtained and a bootstrap statistical model of batch spiral bevel gear tooth surface deviation is established； the probability characteristic value of the sequential points of tooth surface measurement is calculated， and whether they conform to the normal distribution is tested by k-s； the estimated true value， estimated interval and other parameters are selected to describe their statistical laws and results； through the cubic NURBS surface fitting method， the variation law of the tooth surface deviation of the whole batch is obtained， and the effective evaluation of the tooth surface accuracy of the whole batch is realized. The bootstrap statistical model provides a theoretical basis for guiding the modification of tooth surface processing parameters and efficient and stable production.

Background: A high detection rate of diabetes among dental visitors has been reported recently. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between periodontitis and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels among non-diabetic individuals. Methods: The EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Open GREY databases were searched, and observational studies published until 1st June 2023 were identified. A methodological quality assessment was conducted based on the original and modified versions of the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Cohort, case–control, and cross-sectional studies that performed clinical periodontal examinations and measured HbA1c levels in non-diabetic adults were included. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the weighted mean difference (WMD) between individuals with and without periodontitis. Results: In total, 29 case–control and 5 cross-sectional studies were selected from 2583 potentially eligible articles. Among them, sixteen case–control and three cross-sectional studies with moderate to high quality were selected for the meta-analyses. The HbA1c levels in periodontitis patients were significantly higher than those in individuals with healthy periodontal conditions (WMD = 0.16; p < 0.001) among the non-diabetic populations. Conclusions: This study reveals a significant association between periodontitis and HbA1c levels in non-diabetic populations. Thus, HbA1c screening may be recommended to detect potential hyperglycemia in non-diabetic periodontitis patients.

China has the largest production yield of Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum in the world. Most of the clam seeds for aquaculture are mainly derived from artificial breeding in southern China, likely resulting in the loss of genetic variation and inbreeding depression. To understand the genetic and haplotype diversity of R. philippinarum, 14 clam populations sampled from different regions of China were analyzed by three molecular markers, including COI, 16SrRNA and ITS. Based on the results of the COI and ITS genes, the 14 populations showed a moderate to high level of genetic diversity, with an average haplotype diversity of 0.9242 and nucleotide diversity of 0.05248. AMOVA showed that there was significant genetic differentiation among all populations (mean FST of the total population was 0.4534). Pairwise FST analysis showed that genetic differentiation reached significant levels between Laizhou and other populations. Two Laizhou populations showed great divergence from other populations, forming an independent branch in the phylogenetic tree. The shared haplotypes Hap_2 and Hap_4 of COI appeared most frequently in most clam populations. In contrast, 16SrRNA analysis of the clam populations revealed the dominated haplotype Hap_2, accounting for 70% of the total number of individuals. The haplotype diversity of the Laizhou population (Laizhou shell-wide (KK) and Laizhou dock (LZMT)) was relatively higher than other populations, showing multiple unique haplotypes (e.g., Hap_40, Hap_41 and Hap_42). These findings of genetic and haplotype diversity of clam populations provide guiding information for genetic resource conservation and genetic improvement of the commercially important R. philippinarum.

Background & Aims: Hepatic inflammation is a hallmark of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Double negative T (DNT) cells are a unique subset of T lymphocytes that do not express CD4, CD8, or natural killer cell markers, and studies have suggested that DNT cells play critical and diverse roles in the immune system. However, the role of intrahepatic DNT cells in NAFLD is largely unknown. Methods: The proportions and RNA transcription profiling of intrahepatic DNT cells were compared between C57BL/6 mice fed with control diet or methionine-choline–deficient diet for 5 weeks. The functions of DNT cells were tested in vitro and in vivo. Results: The proportion of intrahepatic DNT cells was significantly increased in mice with diet-induced NAFLD. In NAFLD mice, the proportion of intrahepatic TCRγδ+ DNT cells was increased along with elevated interleukin (IL) 17A; in contrast, the percentage of TCRαβ+ DNT cells was decreased, accompanied by reduced granzyme B (GZMB). TCRγδ+ DNT cell depletion resulted in lowered liver IL17A levels and significantly alleviated NAFLD. Adoptive transfer of intrahepatic TCRαβ+ DNT cells from control mice increased intrahepatic CD4 and CD8 T cell apoptosis and inhibited NAFLD progression. Furthermore, we revealed that adrenic acid and arachidonic acid, harmful fatty acids that were enriched in the liver of the mice with NAFLD, could induce apoptosis of TCRαβ+ DNT cells and inhibit their immunosuppressive function and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) or AKT signaling pathway activity. However, arachidonic acid facilitated IL17A secretion by TCRγδ+ DNT cells, and the NF-κB signaling pathway was involved. Finally, we also confirmed the variation of intrahepatic TCRαβ+ DNT cells and TCRγδ+ DNT cells in humans. Conclusions: During NAFLD progression, TCRγδ+ DNT cells enhance IL17A secretion and aggravate liver inflammation, whereas TCRαβ+ DNT cells decrease GZMB production and lead to weakened immunoregulatory function. Shifting of balance from TCRγδ+ DNT cell response to one that favors TCRαβ+ DNT regulation would be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

Abstract Background Convincing evidence of the periodontitis as a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) is lacking due to shared risk factors, and no cohort study has investigated the association between CHD and periodontitis in Chinese populations. Methods This study used a prospective cohort study design. The analysis included 4591 participants aged 40 years and older (3146 men and 1445 women). The association between CHD and periodontitis was estimated using relative risk (RR) calculated using modified Poisson regression. Multiple mediation analysis was used to differentiate the relative effects (RE) from different risk factors on the effect of periodontitis on CHD. Results In the analysis using the imputed dataset and fully adjusted model, participants with periodontitis at baseline had 37% increased risk of CHD overall compared to those without periodontitis at baseline (RR 1.37; 95% CI 0.96–1.95). Most of the association can be explained by age, sex, history of diabetes, history of hypertension, uric acid and education (RE 0.76; 95% CI 0.41–1.02). Conclusion Periodontitis was weakly associated with an increased risk of CHD among the middled-aged and elderly in China. Further studies are required to identify more mediators and elucidate the mechanisms of how periodontitis increases the risk of CHD.

In order to explore the influencing factors and laws of ultrasonic sensor detecting wheat canopy height, designed an ultrasonic sensor detection height test platform with speed adjustable function. Taking step surface, bare soil and wheat canopy as the research objects, a canopy height calculation method based on K-mean clustering is proposed, and the response characteristics of ultrasonic detection to three media under different operating speeds are explored. Firstly, the step detection test results show that the average detection error of ultrasonic sensor is 1.35%. When the sensor detection distance is switched at the step, with the increase of detection distance, the actual offset at the step increases first and then tends to be stable, and the maximum offset is 10.4cm. The test results of bare soil slope show that the relative error between the detection distance and the manual measurement distance is 1.4% under quasi-static conditions. The leading or lagging of detection under moving conditions is affected by multiple factors such as terrain undulation, speed and detection range. The detection test results of wheat canopy showed that the detection distance was larger than the manual measurement distance, and the smaller the canopy density, the greater the detection error and error variance. When the moving speed is 0.3m/s-1.2m/s, the average detection deviation of the ultrasonic sensor for five kinds of wheat canopy density is 0.14m, and the maximum variance of the detection deviation is 0.07cm2. In this paper, the research on the response characteristics of ultrasonic to the detection of bare soil and sparse canopy in wheat field can provide technical support for the detection of crop canopy in the field.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution is wildly used to remove membrane fouling-derived organic materials and restore membrane flux, which can result in the formation of halogenated by-products. To reduce the halogenated by-products, a combined cleaning process with NaClO and peroxides including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peroxydisulfate (PDS), and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were applied in offline mode to remove the organic fouling. It was found that all the combined cleaning processes could effectively restore the membrane flux. Compared with the process of NaClO cleaning followed by peroxide cleaning (NaClO–peroxide), fewer halogenated by-products were generated in the NaClO post-combined cleaning process (peroxide–NaClO), and the PDS–NaClO cleaning process exhibited the best performance in controlling by-products. Overall, most by-product generation showed a positive correlation with reaction time and temperature.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) leads to hippocampal damage and causes a variety of physiopathological responses, including the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), neuroinflammation, and alterations in synaptic plasticity. As an important trace element, strontium (Sr) has been reported to have antioxidant effects, to have anti-inflammatory effects, and to cause the inhibition of adipogenesis. The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effects of Sr on hippocampal damage in NAFLD mice in order to elucidate the underlying mechanism of Sr in NAFLD. The mouse model of NAFLD was established by feeding mice a high-fat diet (HFD), and the mice were treated with Sr. In the NAFLD mice, we found that treatment with Sr significantly increased the density of c-Fos+ cells in the hippocampus and inhibited the expression of caspase-3 by suppressing ERS. Surprisingly, the induction of neuroinflammation and the increased expression of inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus following an HFD were attenuated by Sr treatment. Sr significantly attenuated the activation of microglia and astrocytes induced by an HFD. The expression of phospho-p38, ERK, and NF-κB was consistently significantly increased in the HFD group, and treatment with Sr decreased their expression. Moreover, Sr prevented HFD-induced damage to the ultra-structural synaptic architecture. This study implies that Sr has beneficial effects on repairing the damage to the hippocampus induced by an HFD, revealing that Sr could be a potential candidate for protection from neural damage caused by NAFLD.

Environmental pollution, resource waste, and ecological imbalance have raised global concerns. Against this backdrop, green supply chain management (GSCM) becomes the focus of corporate sustainable development. Based on the institutional theory, thus study explores the influence of command-and-control environmental regulation (CCER) and market-based environmental regulation (MBER) over GSCM, as well as the regulating effect of environmental dynamism on the influence. A total of 191 valid responses were obtained through a questionnaire survey. The analysis of these responses shows that: CCER and MBER positive affect GSCM; environmental dynamism negatively regulates the correlations of CCER and MBER with GSCM. Based on these findings, theoretical guides and managerial implications were obtained for corporate GSCM.

The gear test bench is important equipment for analyzing gear performance, detecting gear quality, and providing basic data for gear design and machining. In order to monitor the running state of the gear test bench, predict its running performance both timely and effectively, and guarantee its stable operation, a digital twin-based state monitoring method of the gear test bench is proposed in this paper. The state monitoring system of the gear test bench based on the digital twin model is constructed to simulate its normal running state in real time. On this basis, through the acquisition of physical information of the gear test bench, the developing of the state monitoring system, and the simulation of the digital twin model, the real-time state monitoring of the normal operation gear test bench is realized. The test results of the closed power flow gear test bench show that the digital twin simulation results of the gear test bench are basically consistent with it. The proposed state monitoring system can map the normal running state of the gear test bench, so as to realize the running state monitoring of the gear test bench.

Periodontitis is an irreversible inflammatory response that occurs in periodontal tissues. Given the size and diversity of natural flora in the oral mucosa, host immunity must strike a balance between pathogen identification and a complicated system of tolerance. The innate immune system, which includes innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), certainly plays a crucial role in regulating this homeostasis because pathogens are quickly recognized and responded to. ILCs are a recently discovered category of tissue-resident lymphocytes that lack adaptive antigen receptors. ILCs are found in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs and are particularly prevalent at mucosal barrier surfaces, where they control inflammatory response and homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that ILCs are important players in periodontitis; however, the mechanisms that govern the innate immune response in periodontitis still require further investigation. This review focuses on the intricate crosstalk between ILCs and the microenvironment in periodontal tissue homeostasis, with the purpose of regulating or improving immune responses in periodontitis prevention and therapy.

To ensure boom sprayer safety and spraying efficiency, the sprayer boom height must be adjusted during pesticide application. The field variation characteristics of the sprayer boom height are the basis of the boom balance adjustment. A boom height detection system based on ultrasonic sensors was designed. Field tests were performed in 2.0 ha of vacant fields and 13.44 ha of wheat stubble fields. A signal processing method based on the K-means clustering algorithm was used to preprocess the ultrasonic sensor data. The results showed that the K-means clustering algorithm could effectively improve the detection accuracy of an ultrasonic sensor. The boom height variation was greatest at the sides of the boom, and the primary frequencies of the boom height variation were concentrated within a low-frequency band from 0 Hz to 1 Hz. The U-turn operation was more likely to cause the boom to contact the crop canopy or the ground than row operation. As the spraying speed increased, the maximum boom height variation and maximum roll angle increased; these primary components decreased in frequency, and the amplitude clearly increased. The maximum boom height variation exceeded 50 cm, and the maximum roll angle exceeded 3°, which not only aggravated the droplet drift but also caused damage to the boom and nozzles due to contact with the ground or the crop canopy. These findings can provide a theoretical basis for use in the development of an automatic boom height adjustment system.

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by neuritic plaques, the main protein components of which are β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides deposited as β-sheet-rich amyloid fibrils. Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA) consists of cerebrovascular deposits of Aβ peptides; it usually accompanies Alzheimer’s disease, though it sometimes occurs in the absence of neuritic plaques, as AD also occurs without accompanying CAA. Although neuritic plaques and vascular deposits have similar protein compositions, one of the characteristic features of amyloids is polymorphism, i.e., the ability of a single pure peptide to adopt multiple conformations in fibrils, depending on fibrillization conditions. For this reason, we asked whether the Aβ fibrils in neuritic plaques differed structurally from those in cerebral blood vessels. To address this question, we used seeding techniques, starting with amyloid-enriched material from either brain parenchyma or cerebral blood vessels (using meninges as the source). These amyloid-enriched preparations were then added to fresh, disaggregated solutions of Aβ to make replicate fibrils, as described elsewhere. Such fibrils were then studied by solid-state NMR, fiber X-ray diffraction, and other biophysical techniques. We observed chemical shift differences between parenchymal vs. vascular-seeded replicate fibrils in select sites (in particular, Ala2, Phe4, Val12, and Gln15 side chains) in two-dimensional 13C-13C correlation solid-state NMR spectra, strongly indicating structural differences at these sites. X-ray diffraction studies also indicated that vascular-seeded fibrils displayed greater order than parenchyma-seeded fibrils in the “side-chain dimension” (~ 10 Å reflection), though the “hydrogen-bond dimensions” (~ 5 Å reflection) were alike. These results indicate that the different nucleation conditions at two sites in the brain, parenchyma and blood vessels, affect the fibril products that get formed at each site, possibly leading to distinct pathophysiological outcomes.

Damage to intestinal epithelial cell proliferation or intestinal stem cell (ISC) maintenance may trigger inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and protecting the ISCs is critical for IBD treatment. Here, we found that in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis mice model, colon epithelium and Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells (ISCs) renew quickly during the first 3 days. We also found that during this renewing period, SMAD4 and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) expression were significantly upregulated. An extra BMP4 treatment could preserve the Lgr5+ ISCs and the colon epithelium turnover, and could significantly decrease colon mucosal damage. Moreover, we found that BMP4 regulated ID3 expression in the colon epithelium. Depletion of ID3 could significantly reduce the epithelium renewal and ratio of Lgr5+ ISCs at the base of crypts. In conclusion, the present study showed that BMP4 could maintain epithelium cellular proliferation and the ISCs function through ID3 in mice with DSS-induced colitis. The administration of exogenous BMP4 supplement could alleviate DSS-induced colitis by restoring epithelium cellular proliferation and ISC function, suggesting the possible therapeutic function of BMP4 for ulcerative colitis.

Management of salivary gland hypofunction caused by irradiation (IR) therapy for head and neck cancer remains lack of effective treatments. Salivary glands, especially the parotid gland, actively uptake dietary nitrate and secrete it into saliva. Here, we investigated the effect of dietary nitrate on the prevention and treatment of IR-induced parotid gland hypofunction in miniature pigs, and elucidated the underlying mechanism in human parotid gland cells. We found that nitrate administration prevented IR-induced parotid gland damage in a dose-dependent manner, by maintaining the function of irradiated parotid gland tissue. Nitrate could increase sialin expression, a nitrate transporter expressed in the parotid gland, making the nitrate-sialin feedback loop that facilitates nitrate influx into cells for maintaining cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. Furthermore, nitrate enhanced cell proliferation via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–protein kinase B (AKT)–mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in irradiated parotid gland tissue. Collectively, nitrate effectively prevented IR-induced xerostomia via the EGFR–AKT–MAPK signaling pathway. Dietary nitrate supplementation may provide a novel, safe, and effective way to resolve IR-induced xerostomia.

Side reactions between free radicals and impurities decelerate the catalytic degradation of organic contaminants from coking wastewater by Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs). Herein, we report the disposal of coking wastewater by α-MnO2/PMS process via a direct electron transfer mechanism in this study. By the removal assays of the target compound of phenol, the PMS mediated electron transfer mechanism was identified as the dominated one. Water quality parameters including initial pH, common anions and natural organic matters demonstrated limited influences on phenol degradation. Afterwards, α-MnO2/PMS process was applied on the disposal of coking wastewater. The treatment not only eliminated organic contaminants with COD removal of 73.8% but also enhanced BOD5/COD from 0.172 to 0.419, within 180 min of reaction under conditions of 50 g/L α-MnO2, 50 mM PMS and pH0 7.0. COD removal decreased only 1.1% after five-time cycle application, suggesting a good reuse performance. A quadratic polynomial regression model was further built to optimize the reaction conditions. By the model, the dosage of α-MnO2 was identified as the most important parameters to enhance the performance. The optimal reaction conditions were calculated as 50 g/L α-MnO2, 50 mM PMS and pH0 6.5, under which COD removal of 74.6% was predicted. All aforementioned results suggested that the α-MnO2/PMS process is a promising catalytic oxidation technology for the disposal of coking wastewater with good practical potentials.

In order to effectively suppress the negative effects of salt ions contained in saline soils on agricultural soil quality and crop growth, this study took advantage of the water-saving properties and better soil improvement properties of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA). By carrying out various experiments, the following relationships have been found. (1) The lab experiment studies the effect of the γ-PGA application on the infiltration of sandy loam soil. The application rates of γ-PGA are 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%, respectively. (2) HYDRUS-1D is used to simulate water infiltration of sandy loam soil under multiple factors (bulk density, γ-PGA application rate, and the application depth of γ-PGA). (3) The effect of γ-PGA on soil solute (Cl−) transport is also explored in this paper. The results show that bulk density and the application depth of γ-PGA (p < 0.01) have higher effects on cumulative infiltration than the application amount of γ-PGA (p < 0.05). A lower γ-PGA application rate will increase the proportion of unavailable soil water by 3%. The established empirical models have good results. Furthermore, when the γ-PGA application rate is 0.3% (0.02-cm2 min−1), the Cl− hydrodynamic dispersion coefficient is the highest. The study recommends applying the γ-PGA at 1.4 g cm−3, 5–20 cm, and 0.2%. The results of this study are conducive to an in-depth understanding of the physicochemical properties of poly-γ-glutamic acid, improving the utilization rate of salinized land, achieving agricultural water and fertilizer conservation and yield enhancement, and guaranteeing sustainable land use and sustainable development of agroecological environment.

Objectives: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is of common occurrence during liver surgery and liver transplantation and may cause hepatic impairment, resulting in acute liver dysfunction. Nitrate plays an important physiological regulatory role in the human body. Whether dietary nitrate could prevent HIRI is, however, unknown.Methods: A HIRI mouse model was established in that the blood supply to the median lobe and left lateral lobe was blocked for 60 min through the portal vein and related structures using an atraumatic clip. Sodium nitrate (4 mM) was administrated in advance through drinking water to compare the influence of sodium nitrate and normal water on HIRI.Results: Liver necrosis and injury aggravated after HIRI. The group treated with sodium nitrate showed the lowest activities of plasma aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase and improved outcomes in histological investigation and TUNEL assay. Mechanistically, sodium nitrate intake increased plasma and liver nitric oxide levels, upregulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)–related molecules to reduce malondialdehyde level, and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes to modulate hepatic oxidative stress.Conclusions: Dietary inorganic nitrate could prevent HIRI, possibly by activating the NRF2 pathway and modulating oxidative stress. Our study provides a novel therapeutic compound that could potentially prevent HIRI during liver transplantation or hepatic surgery.

Roughly 25% of mouse genes are embryonically lethal when knocked out, preventing the generation of viable mouse models. Here the authors use CRISPR-Cas9 to edit one blastomere of a two-cell embryo to generate viable chimeric mice.

4.5 wt% Si steel sheets with four different yttrium (Y) contents (0, 0.006, 0.012 and 0.016 wt%) were fabricated by hot rolling, normalizing, warm rolling and a final annealing process. Y addition greatly weakened the γ -fiber (⟨111⟩//ND) texture and enhanced the {001} ⟨130⟩ and {114} ⟨481⟩ texture components, and the magnetic properties were improved related to the effects of Y on the recrystallized grain nucleation. Y segregation at the grain boundaries inhibited the nucleation of {111} oriented grains at grain boundaries, which was beneficial to the nucleation and growth of other oriented grains elsewhere. At the same rolling reduction, Y2O2S inclusion caused more stress concentration than Al2O3 inclusion. Y2O2S in deformed grains with low energy storage provided more preferential nucleation sites for {001} ⟨130⟩ and {114} ⟨481⟩ grains. Strong {001} ⟨130⟩ and {114} ⟨481⟩ recrystallization textures due to the high mobility were obtained in samples containing 0.012 wt% Y.

Summary: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs) play important roles in the alleviation of inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Interleukin-33 (IL-33), a member of the IL-1 family, has been shown to regulate innate and adaptive immunity. However, it is still unknown whether ADSCs regulate immune responses via IL-33. We show here that ADSCs produced IL-33 in response to IL-1β stimulation, which depended on TAK1, ERK, and p38 pathways. ADSCs-derived IL-33 drove the proliferation of CD4+Foxp3+ST2+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and alleviated experimental autoimmune Sjögren syndrome in mice. Importantly, human ADSCs also produced IL-33 in response to IL-1β. Thus, we have revealed a previously unrecognized immunoregulatory function of ADSCs by IL-33 production in experimental autoimmunity, which may have clinical applications for human immunopathology.

Phospholamban (PLN) is a mini-membrane protein that directly controls the cardiac Ca2+-transport response to β-adrenergic stimulation, thus modulating cardiac output during the fight-or-flight response. In the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane, PLN binds to the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), keeping this enzyme's function within a narrow physiological window. PLN phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A or increase in Ca2+ concentration reverses the inhibitory effects through an unknown mechanism. Using oriented-sample solid-state NMR spectroscopy and replica-averaged NMR-restrained structural refinement, we reveal that phosphorylation of PLN’s cytoplasmic regulatory domain signals the disruption of several inhibitory contacts at the transmembrane binding interface of the SERCA-PLN complex that are propagated to the enzyme’s active site, augmenting Ca2+ transport. Our findings address long-standing questions about SERCA regulation, epitomizing a signal transduction mechanism operated by posttranslationally modified bitopic membrane proteins.

Stray neutrons might cause several negative impacts. However, it is usually difficult to conduct precise stray neutron simulations using the Monte Carlo method. Therefore, in this study, a measurement technique was proposed to study the stray neutrons experimentally inside the neutron scattering instruments at China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). The adopted measurement instruments comprise an extended-range Bonner sphere spectrometer and a commercial neutron ambient-dose-equivalent dosimeter, which enables us to directly measure the neutron spectra and ambient-dose equivalent H*(10) values. Verification experiments were performed inside the BL06 beam line experimental area at CSNS at two exposed locations with different sample conditions. Comparison of the experimentally measured neutron spectra, integral neutron fluence, and H*(10) value with the simulations demonstrated the feasibility of using the proposed method for studying stray neutrons for the neutron instruments.

The flow and heat transfer characteristics of supercritical fluid in a U-tube have an important influence on the safe operation of a moderator, and the variation of gravity direction is suitable for special working conditions of the moderator. In this study, the three-dimensional turbulence flow and heat transfers of supercritical liquid hydrogen in a U-tube were investigated at an Re number ranging from 16,425 to 54,750 under constant heat flux (q = 80 kW/m2). The total length of the U-tube was 1725 mm, which had an entrance length L/D of 23, with the inner diameter and wall thickness of D × δ = 10 × 2 mm. The finite volume method was adopted, and the grid independence was verified by the grid convergence index (GCI). The calculation results of three turbulence models (SST k-w, RNG k-ε, Standard k-ε) were compared with the corresponding experimental data to obtain the turbulence model with the smallest error. The convective heat transfer characteristics with different values of heat flux (q = 30 kW/m2~100 kW/m2), mass flow (G = 3 g/s~10 g/s), and gravity (gx, gy, gz) were compared. Meanwhile, the heat transfer characteristics of supercritical liquid and conventional liquid hydrogen were compared. The results show that Nu increased from 5 g/s to 10 g/s by 56.6%, and mass flow rate had a greater impact on the variation of Nu; when gravity direction was consistent with the flow direction of liquid hydrogen (gx direction), the Nu number inside the channel was 4.21% and 5.56% higher than that in gy and gz direction, respectively. Supercritical liquid hydrogen has a stronger heat transfer ability than conventional liquid hydrogen, of which the Nu number is 16.7% higher. This study can provide useful guidance for the design of flow and heat transfer of supercritical liquid hydrogen in a U-tube and its application in moderators. Furthermore, it provides reference technical values for thermal safety and thermal management of the target station to ensure its safe and stable operation.

Introduction High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity is accompanied by compromised nitric oxide (NO) signaling and gut microbiome dysregulation. Inorganic dietary nitrate, which acts as a NO donor, exerts beneficial effects on metabolic disorders. Here, we evaluated the effects of dietary nitrate on HFD-induced obesity and provided insights into the underlying mechanism.Research design and methods To investigate the preventive effect of dietary nitrate on HFD-induced obesity, C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into four groups (n=10/group), including normal control diet group (normal water and chow diet), HFD group (normal water and HFD), HFD+NaNO3 group (water containing 2 mM NaNO3 and HFD), and HFD+NaCl group (water containing 2 mM NaCl and HFD). During the experiment, body weight was monitored and glucolipid metabolism was evaluated. The mechanism underlying the effects of nitrate on HFD-induced obesity was investigated by the following: the NO3--NO2--NO pathway; endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels; gut microbiota via 16SRNA analysis.Results Dietary nitrate reduced the body weight gain and lipid accumulation in adipose and liver tissues in HFD-fed mice. Hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance caused by HFD were improved in mice supplemented with nitrate. The level of eNOS was upregulated by nitrate in the serum, liver, and inguinal adipose tissue. Nitrate, nitrite, and cGMP levels were decreased in mice fed on HFD but reversed in the HFD+NaNO3 group. Nitrate also rebalanced the colon microbiota and promoted a normal gut microbiome profile by partially attenuating the impacts of HFD. Bacteroidales S24-7, Alistipes, Lactobacillus, and Ruminococcaceae abundances were altered, and Bacteroidales S24-7 and Alistipes abundances were higher in the HFD+NaNO3 group than that in the HFD group.Conclusions Inorganic dietary nitrate alleviated HFD-induced obesity and ameliorated disrupted glucolipid metabolism via NO3--NO2--NO pathway activation and gut microbiome modulation.

Objective: The oral microbiota plays a key part in the initial colonization by pathogens and the chronic inflammatory reaction of the host. We measured variations in the salivary microbiota and evaluated their potential associations with periodontitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods: We investigated the salivary microbiota of patients with COPD and periodontitis (n = 21) compared with that in patients with periodontitis alone (n = 36) and with healthy controls (HCs; n = 14), using pyrosequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16s rRNA genes.Results: Bacterial richness and diversity were significantly higher in patients suffering from COPD, and the bacterial family Lachnospiraceae was observed frequently only among patients with COPD and periodontitis. Veillonella, Rothia, Actinomyces, and Fusobacterium were the core bacterial genera that showed significant differences among patients with coincident COPD and periodontitis, patients with periodontitis alone, and HCs (p < 0.05). Veillonella, Rothia, and Actinomyces were observed much more frequently in patients with COPD and periodontitis, compared with that in HCs. All tested populations were divided into subgroups based on sex, smoking, or periodontitis index. In the subgroup with a bleeding index >2, Rothia was significantly different in periodontitis with and without COPD groups compared with HCs. In the subgroup with a plaque index >2.5, Rothia and Veillonella showed significant differences in periodontitis with and without COPD groups compared with HCs.Conclusion: Variations in salivary microbiota may be associated with COPD and periodontitis.