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Abstract Background Serum uric acid (SUA) is an important pathogenetic and prognostic factor for heart failure (HF). Gender differences are apparent in HF. Furthermore, gender differences also exist in the association between SUA and prognosis in various cardiovascular diseases. However, the gender difference for SUA in the prediction of long-term prognosis in HF is still ambiguous. Methods A total of 1593 HF patients (897 men, 696 women) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2018 cycle were enrolled in our final analysis. Participants were categorized according to gender-specific SUA tertile. We assessed the association between SUA and long-term prognosis of HF patients, defined as all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality, in different genders via Kaplan–Meier curve analysis, Cox proportional hazard model, and Fine-Gray competing risk model. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) was performed to investigate the dose-response relationship between SUA and outcomes. Results Gender differences exist in demographic characteristics, clinical parameters, laboratory tests, and medication of HF patients. After a median follow-up of 127 months (95% CI 120–134 months), there were 853 all-cause deaths (493 events in men, 360 events in women) and 361 cardiovascular deaths (206 events in men, 155 events in women). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that SUA had gender difference in the prediction of cardiovascular mortality (Log-rank p

Domestic waste incineration slag (WIS) includes fly ash and slag. Fly ash is classified as hazardous waste because it contains heavy metals. Most of slag are directly stacked or landfilled due to problems such as large output and low utilization rate. Harmless treatment is imminent. If WIS is used effectively in the road engineering, which can realize the high-quality and high-efficiency recycling of WIS, and it is of great significance to save resources and protect the environment. This study applies a geopolymer prepared from WIS fly ash as a stabilizing agent in WIS blending macadam for use as a pavement base mixture, and reports the mechanical properties (unconfined compressive strength, splitting strength, and resilience modulus) of the geopolymer-stabilized WIS blending macadam (GeoWIS). The leaching concentrations of harmful heavy metals of GeoWIS soaked in water were also investigated. Finally, the strength formation and heavy metal stability mechanisms were explored. The unconfined compressive strength, splitting strength, and compressive resilient modulus of GeoWIS all increased with increasing geopolymer content and decreasing WIS content. The strength of GeoWIS was derived from its geopolymerization and hydration products (C-S-H gel, N-A-S-H gel, and AFt). When the geopolymer content reached 12%–14%, the GeoWIS without natural macadam met the strength criterion of the asphalt pavement base. Through physical adsorption and chemical bonding, the geopolymer significantly reduced the leaching of harmful heavy metals. In GeoWIS with 50% WIS and stabilized with 10% geopolymer, the Cr, Ni, Cd, and Pb concentrations met the grade Ⅲ groundwater standard. Concentrations of heavy metals leached from GeoWIS are low and exert little impact on environment.

Abstract Aims The study aims to explore the real‐world titration patterns of sacubitril/valsartan in a chronic heart failure (HF) follow‐up management system and the effect on the recovery of ventricular remodelling and cardiac function in China. Methods and results This is a single‐centre, observational study of 153 adult outpatients with HF and reduced ejection fraction who were managed in the chronic HF follow‐up management system and prescribed with sacubitril/valsartan from August 2017 to August 2021 in China. All patients tried to titrated sacubitril/valsartan to the tolerant dose during follow‐up. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who reached and maintained the target dose of sacubitril/valsartan. The main secondary outcomes were the changes in left atrium diameter, left ventricular end‐diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from baseline to 12 months. Among the patients, 69.3% were male, with a median age of 49 years. The baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 117.6 ± 18.3 mmHg before starting the treatment of sacubitril/valsartan. Benefiting from the management system, 117 (76.5%) patients achieved the target dose of sacubitril/valsartan, and the median time to reach the target dose was 3 (IQR 1–5) months. Advanced age and lower SBP may be predictors of failure to reach the target dose. Compared with baseline, standard treatment resulted in a pronounced improvement in left ventricular geometry and cardiac function. The patients showed a significant increase in LVEF [28 (IQR 21–34) % vs. 42 (IQR 37.0–54.3) %, P 40%, and 81.1% experienced an increase in LVEF of ≥10%. After 12 month follow‐up, the proportion of patients with New York Heart Association classification I or II increased from 41.8% to 96.4%. Additionally, there was a significant improvement in N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (P

In order to achieve the high quality and large-scale utilization of domestic waste incineration slag (WIS) in pavement base, a geopolymer prepared using fly ash from domestic waste incineration was used to replace the cement to stabilized WIS blending macadam used in the pavement base. The durability of the geopolymer stabilized WIS blending macadam (called as GeoWIS) was investigated, including the water stability, freeze-thaw resistance and dry shrinkage. The strength formation was identified using SEM analyses. Furthermore, the durability of GeoWIS was investigated and compared with those of cement stabilized macadam (CSM). Results show that the 7 days compressive strength of GeoWIS meets the strength criterion of the asphalt pavement base (≥2 MPa), except for the combination of 8% geopolymer and 100% WIS. The water stability coefficient and residual compressive strength ratio of GeoWIS increase as the geopolymer increases and WIS decreases. The cumulative dry shrinkage and dry shrinkage coefficient decrease as the WIS increases, while the cumulative water loss rate of GeoWIS increases. SEM analysis shows that the geopolymer reaction generates C-S-H gels, N-A-S-H gels, and Aft, which is the source of the GeoWIS strengths. GeoWIS has better water stability than CSM, and its freeze-thaw resistance and average dry shrinkage coefficient are lower than the average values for CSM.

With the rapid development of asphalt pavement technology, it has attracted considerable attention to improving the durability of asphalt pavement. An effective action is to use modified asphalt with high performance and durability. Polyurethane (PU) has been used in asphalt pavement engineering to enhance the durability and service life of asphalt pavement because of its excellent high-temperature performance, toughness, wear resistance, aging resistance and oil resistance. However, PU modified asphalt technology is still in the exploratory stage. The preparation, modification mechanism and working performances of PU modified asphalt need to be further clarified. Therefore, this paper summarized the research progress of PU modified asphalt and its mixture. The composition of PU modified asphalt was introduced. The addition methods of PU materials and preparation process parameters of the PU modified asphalt were determined. The modification mechanism of PU on asphalt was discussed. The effects of polyurethane on asphalt were analyzed and the road performances of its mixture were evaluated. Finally, the development tendency towards PU modified asphalt and its mixture were forecasted.

Abstract Aims Heart failure (HF) remains a major public health problem with increasing prevalence in China. This study evaluated the clinical performance and quality measures for HF management to identify gaps in the standardization of care for patients hospitalized for HF in China. Methods and results Following the results of China‐HF stage I (2012–2015), the second stage of the China‐HF was launched in 2017. Among 113 hospitals with ≥100 cases, the China‐HF Stage II assessed the quality of care measures for HF and compared results with previous data in China and the US‐based Get with The Guidelines‐Heart Failure (GWTG‐HF) registries. In total, 34 938 patients hospitalized with HF were enrolled from January 2017 to October 2020. Echocardiographic left ventricular function and natriuretic peptide test were performed in 93.7% and 93.0% of the cases, respectively. Adherence to standardized guidelines in China‐HF stage II was higher than that in the China‐HF stage I, but generally lower than GWTG‐HF registry with 78.2% of eligible patients was prescribed oral diuretics, 78.7% renin‐angiotensin‐system inhibitors, and 82.2% beta‐blockers. Implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization devices were implanted in 3.9% and 14.6%, respectively. In contrast, the proportion of eligible patients discharged with spironolactone (87.8%) was higher than GWTG‐HF. The median length of hospitalization was 9 (6, 12) days, and 938 (2.8%) patients died or withdrew from treatment during hospitalization. Conclusions Despite significant improvements in the use of guideline‐recommended testing and therapy, there remain major gaps in quality of care for patients hospitalized for HF in China that are generally larger than gaps observed in the United States.

Abstract Aims Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) are more vulnerable to intracardiac thrombus than other types of cardiomyopathies, although explicit anticoagulant strategy is not sure. Too aggressive anticoagulation therapy can lead to severe bleeding events. Hence, we want to construct a risk stratification model for intracardiac thrombus in PPCM patients. Methods and results A total of 159 suspected PPCM cases were initially screened, whereas 123 confirmed cases were enrolled in the final analysis. The study population was randomly assigned as derivation group (N = 83) and validation group (N = 40). The derivation cohort was utilized to develop the model, and the validation cohort was used to internal validate the discriminatory ability of the model. Formation of intracardiac thrombus was detected in 22 patients. After adjusted by multivariable logistic regression analysis, left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF, OR 0.772, 95% CI 0.665–0.897, P = 0.001), haemoglobin levels (OR 1.050, 95% CI 1.003–1.099, P = 0.038), and thrombocyte counts (OR 1.018, 95% CI 1.006–1.029, P = 0.003) were identified as risk factors independently associated with intracardiac thrombus and were finally included in the tentative risk stratification model with a C‐indexes of 0.916 (95% CI: 0.850–0.982, P

Abstract Aims There is limited evidence for the correlation between short‐term mortality and red cell distribution width (RDW) in critical patients with heart failure. Herein, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate whether RDW was independently associated with short‐term mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure. Methods and results As a retrospective cohort study, it involved a total of 9465 patients with heart failure from the MIMIC‐IV database. The target‐dependent and independent variables were in‐hospital mortality, 90 day mortality and RDW measured at baseline, respectively. The relationship between all‐cause death and baseline RDW in hospital and after 90 days of admission to ICU was evaluated by using the Kaplan–Meier plot and Cox proportional hazard analysis. The average age of participants was 74.4 (64.2, 83.5) years old, among whom about 54.6% were male. Results of the adjusted Cox proportional hazard model revealed that RDW had a positive association with both in‐hospital and 90 day mortality risk after the adjustment of confounders (HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04–1.15, P

This paper presents nano-SiO2 modified microcapsules prepared by in-situ polymerization to improve their performance. Low-quality vegetable oil was selected as the main material and Melamine Urea Formaldehyde (MUF) modified by nano-SiO2 was selected as the shell material. Firstly, the optimal preparation parameters of the nano-SiO2 modified microcapsules were determined, including the emulsifier type, emulsifier concentration, emulsifier shearing speed, the core-shell ratio, reaction pH, reaction temperature, and nano-SiO2 content, respectively, by using the Scanning Electronic Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo-Gravimetric analysis (TGA) and nanoindentation test, etc. Secondly, the properties of the prepared microcapsules were evaluated. The particle size of the prepared nano-SiO2 modified microcapsules was ∼ 78–96 μm, and the average size was 88.16 μm. The average core content was 85.39 %, which exceeds the upper limit of 80 % of existing microcapsules. The nano-hardness and Young’s modulus were 0.33 and 2.63 GPa, respectively, improved by at least 1.4 times compared to existing microcapsules. The mass loss of microcapsules was 0.95 % at 182.73 °C, which is at least 2.9 times higher than the thermal stability of existing microcapsules. The results showed that the addition of nano-SiO2 can obviously improve the performance of microcapsules.

A disintegrin and metalloprotease domain family protein 17 (ADAM17) is a new member of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) but its role in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is obscure. To test the hypothesis that ADAM17 knockdown mitigates while ADAM17 overexpression aggravates cardiac fibrosis via regulating ACE2 shedding and myofibroblast transformation in diabetic mice, ADAM17 gene was knocked down and overexpressed by means of adenovirus-mediated short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) and adenovirus vector carrying ADAM17 cDNA, respectively, in a mouse model of DCM. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography, histopathology and immunohistochemistry were performed in all mice and in vitro experiments conducted in primary cardiofibroblasts. The results showed that ADAM17 knockdown ameliorated while ADAM17 overexpression worsened cardiac dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis in diabetic mice. In addition, ADAM17 knockdown increased ACE2 while reduced AT1R expression in diabetic hearts. Mechanistically, ADAM17 knockdown decreased while ADAM17 overexpression increased cardiac fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation through regulation of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, ADAM17 knockdown attenuates while ADAM17 overexpression aggravates cardiac fibrosis via regulating ACE2 shedding and myofibroblast transformation through TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway in diabetic mice. Targeting ADAM17 may provide a promising approach to the prevention and treatment of cardiac fibrosis in DCM.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) often involves cardiovascular complications; however, treatment regimens are limited. ROCK1 (rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1) serves as a pathological factor in several diabetic complications. Herein, we aimed to explore the effect of Fasudil (a ROCK1 inhibitor) on the progress of cardiac dysfunction in type 2 DM (T2DM), and to explore the possible mechanisms. Type II diabetic mice models were established by inducing insulin resistance through a high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) injection. NMCMs (neonatal mouse ventricular cardiac myocytes) in the control group were treated with 5.5 mM glucose, while those in the High Glucose (HG) group were treated with 33 mM glucose and 10 nmol/L insulin. In vivo, we found that type 2 diabetes enhanced the expression and activation of ROCK1 (p < 0.05). The ROCK1 inhibitor, Fasudil, prevented cardiac dysfunction, fibrosis, oxidative stress and myocardial ultrastructural disorders (p < 0.05) in the diabetic mice. In vitro, ROCK1 was upregulated in HG-induced cardiomyocytes, and ROCK1 inhibition using Fasudil reversed the increased apoptosis, consistent with in vivo results. Mechanistically, ROCK1 inhibition abrogated apoptosis, relieved mitochondrial fission, and efficiently attenuated the escalated production of reactive oxygen species in vitro and in vivo. The content of Ser616-phosphorylated dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) increased while ROCK1 led to apoptosis in HG-treated cardiomyocytes, which could be partly neutralized by ROCK1 inhibition with Fasudil, consistent with the in vivo results. Fasudil attenuated the cardiac dysfunction in diabetes by decreasing excessive mitochondrial fission via inhibiting Drp1 phosphorylation at serine 616.

BackgroundThe most common presentation of decompensated HF is dyspnea, and arterial blood gas analysis is an excellent tool for the decision-making process for most dyspneic patients. However, data on the prognostic value of ABG in HF patients are limited. Herein, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate whether the utilization of arterial blood gas analysis was independently associated with re-hospitalization in patients with heart failure.MethodsAs a retrospective cohort study, the relevant clinical data of hospitalized patients admitted to Zigong Fourth People's Hospital, Sichuan, China from December 2016 to June 2019 with a diagnosis of HF were analyzed. The re-hospitalization within 6 months and the use of intravenous diuretic, nitrates, inotropes, or vasopressors were compared between patients with and without arterial blood gas analysis. We used a multivariable logistic regression model, propensity score analysis, and an inverse probability-weighting model to ensure the robustness of our findings.ResultsWe included 1,605 patients with heart failure. The overall re-hospitalization rate within 6 months was 38.2%; it was 34.8% and 41.8% for heart failure patients with or without arterial blood gas analysis, respectively. In the inverse probability-weighting model, the use of arterial blood gas analysis was associated with a 26% lower re-hospitalization rate within 6 months.ConclusionThe performance of arterial blood gas analysis is associated with a 6-month rehospitalization rate benefit in a general population of heart failure patients. This association warrants further investigation.

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity is a highly concerning issue, and the mechanism by which DOX induces cardiotoxicity is likely to be multifactorial. NADPH oxidase (NOX) is associated with DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Setanaxib (GKT137831), a preferential direct inhibitor of NOX1 and NOX4, can delay or prevent the progression of many cardiovascular disorders by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In this study, we investigated the role of GKT137831 in ameliorating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and the potential mechanisms of its action.Methods and Results: The mice model of cardiotoxicity induced by DOX was established, and GKT137831 treatment was performed at the same time. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were treated with DOX or GKT137831 for in vitro experiments. We found that DOX administration impaired cardiac function in vivo, reflected by decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening (FS%). DOX also impaired the viability of NRCMs in vitro. In addition, DOX increased the levels of NOX1 and NOX4 expression and ROS production and the cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate, both in vivo and in vitro. GKT137831 improved cardiac function, as indicated by the increased LVEF and FS%. In vitro, GKT137831 improved NRCM viability. It also decreased ROS production and the cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate. Apoptotic indices, such as cleaved PARP (c-PARP), cleaved caspase 3 (CC3) and BAX expression levels, were decreased, and the antiapoptotic index of Bcl-2 expression was increased. DOX markedly activated phosphorylated JNK, ERK and p38 proteins in NRCMs. Specific inhibitors of JNK (SP600125), ERK (PD98059) or p38 (SB203580) inhibited DOX-induced apoptosis of NRCMs. GKT137831 pretreatment inhibited excessive DOX-induced MAPK pathway activation.Conclusion: This study revealed that GKT137831 can alleviate DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting NOX1/4-driven ROS production. The upregulation of MAPK pathway induced by NOX1/4-derived ROS production may be the potential mechanism of GKT137831 action. GKT137831 may be a potential drug candidate to ameliorate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Abstract Background Hypertension is a highly prevalent disease and the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Metabolic syndrome could also be the risk factor for CKD. We sought to study the association between metabolic syndrome components and the prevalence of CKD in patients with hypertension. Methods We carried out a multi-center cross-sectional study from Apr. 2017- Apr. 2018 in 15 cities in China. Results A total of 2484 patients with hypertension were enrolled. Among them, 56% were male and the average age was 65.12 ± 12.71 years. The systolic BP/diastolic BP was 142 ± 18/83 ± 12 mmHg. Metabolic syndrome components turned out to be highly prevalent in patients with hypertension, ranging from 40 to 58%. The prevalence of chronic kidney disease reached 22.0%. Multi-variate logistic analysis revealed that elevated triglyceride (TG) (OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.28–2.57, p

Type-1 cardiorenal syndrome refers to acute kidney injury induced by acute worsening cardiac function. Worsening renal function is a strong and independent predictive factor for poor prognosis. Currently, several problems of the type-1 cardiorenal syndrome have not been fully elucidated. The pathogenesis mechanism of renal dysfunction is unclear. Besides, the diagnostic efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity of the existing biomarkers are doubtful. Furthermore, the renal safety of the therapeutic strategies for acute heart failure (AHF) is still ambiguous. Based on these issues, we systematically summarized and depicted the research actualities and predicaments of the pathogenesis, diagnostic markers, and therapeutic strategies of worsening renal function in type-1 cardiorenal syndrome.

Background and Purpose: Macrovascular complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by increased aortic stiffness, is a major cause leading to many adverse clinical outcomes. It has been reported that ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) can improve glucose tolerance, enhance insulin activity, and restore the impaired endothelial functions in animal models. The aim of this study was to explore whether Rb1 could alleviate the pathophysiological process of arterial stiffening in diabetes and its potential mechanisms.Experimental Approach: Diabetes was induced in male C57BL/6 mice by administration of streptozotocin. These mice were randomly selected for treatment with Rb1 (10−60 mg/kg, i. p.) once daily for 8 weeks. Aortic stiffness was assessed using ultrasound and measurement of blood pressure and relaxant responses in the aortic rings. Mechanisms of Rb1 treatment were studied in MOVAS-1 VSMCs cultured in a high-glucose medium.Key Results: Rb1 improved DM-induced arterial stiffening and the impaired aortic compliance and endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Rb1 ameliorated DM-induced aortic remodeling characterized by collagen deposition and elastic fibers disorder. MMP2, MMP9, and TGFβ1/Smad2/3 pathways were involved in this process. In addition, Rb1-mediated improvement of arterial stiffness was partly achieved via inhibiting oxidative stress in DM mice, involving regulating NADPH oxidase. Finally, Rb1 could blunt the inhibition effects of DM on AMPK phosphorylation.Conclusion and Implications: Rb1 may represent a novel prevention strategy to alleviate collagen deposition and degradation to prevent diabetic macroangiopathy and diabetes-related complications.

The microstructure of asphalt affects the micro-mechanical properties. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the surface elastic modulus and nanohardness of asphalt binder. Relevant mechanical indexes were quantitatively evaluated by contact mechanical model. Five types of asphalts, including different grades, oil sources, and before and after modification, were selected as test objects, and the effects of asphalt binder type, aging, water, and anti-stripping agent on the asphalt micromechanics were explored. The results showed that the micromechanical properties of asphalt binder are affected by grade, oil source, and modification. The aging resistance of modified asphalt binder is better than that of unmodified asphalt binder. Water immersion reduces the surface micromechanical properties of the asphalt binder. The effect of the anti-stripping agent on the modified asphalt binder is greater than that of the unmodified asphalt binder.

To reduce the temperature of asphalt pavements in summer and improve their high-temperature stability, tourmaline anion powder (TAP) was used as a modifier to prepare modified asphalt, which actively cools the pavement. The effects of different TAP contents on the high- and low-temperature performance of modified asphalt and its pavement cooling performance were studied based on the dynamic shear rheometer, low-temperature bending beam rheometer, and indoor rutting plate temperature difference tests; subsequently, the optimum TAP content was determined. Modified asphalt was used to prepare an active cooling antirutting asphalt mixture, and its pavement cooling performance was verified via outdoor lighting tests. High- and low-temperature dynamic modulus and low-temperature semicircular splitting tests were used to evaluate the high- and low-temperature performance; further, freeze-thaw splitting and immersion Marshall tests were performed to evaluate the water stability of the active cooling antirutting asphalt mixture. The results denote that TAP is useful for improving the rutting factor of asphalt. When the TAP content is 16% of the asphalt material, the maximum cooling value of the surface in laboratory tests becomes 5.9°C. When compared with an ordinary asphalt mixture, the dynamic stability of the active cooling antirutting asphalt mixture at medium and high temperatures increased by 18%–22%. The fracture energy can be increased by 12% at low temperatures. The maximum cooling value of the surfaces in outdoor tests is 7.2°C, and the water stability slightly decreases; however, it still satisfies the specification requirements.

Because of the large amount of gravel with particle sizes over 40 mm in the soil-rock mixture (SRM), it is impossible to determine its California Bearing Ratio (CBR) via the indoor test method, which is a key parameter for designing the backfill in underground mined cavities or the road subgrade constructed with SRM. In this paper, X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning and 3D reconstruction technology were used to construct the 3D structure of SRM particles with a particle size greater than 5 mm. Based on the vertical vibration test method (VVTM) and PFC3D, the numerical simulation method (NSM-CBR) of SRM was established. The CBR of the SRM with a maximum particle size over 40 mm (SRM-G) was studied by NSM-CBR, and the effects of factors such as maximum particle size, soil content, and large-size particle content (d ≥ 40 mm) on the CBR were investigated via NSM-CBR. Based on the laboratory tests and NSM-CBR, the prediction model and the determining method of CBR of SRM-G were established and verified. The results show that the maximum deviation between the CBR obtained from NSM-CBR and laboratory tests was 7.4%. The CBR of SRM-G decreases linearly with the increase in soil content and increases with the increase in maximum particle size and large-size particle content. The practical project shows that the maximum deviation between the predictive and measured values of the CBR of SRM-G was less than 1.5%, indicating that the prediction model and the method established in this paper have high reliability.

The use of wireless sensors to monitor concealed damage to asphalt pavement has become an important research topic. The main obstacle to wireless sensor applications is the protection of sustainable power supplies. For this study, the self-powered damage-detection aggregate (SPA) was fabricated by encapsulating the piezoelectric vibrator with epoxy resin, prepared by compositing the piezoelectric ceramics (PZT) and polyvinylidene fluoride. The optimal PZT content in the piezoelectric vibrator was recommended as 60% according to the test results. The sensing and driving characteristics, sensitivity, and mechanical strength of the SPAs were studied, and the best SPA is recommended. The compressive strength of the SPA was 16 MPa at a temperature of 160 °C, which is far greater than the average tire pressure of 0.5 MPa to 1.3 MPa on pavement. During laboratory testing, a voltage of 75.0 V and an energy of 4.31 μJ was harvested when an SPA was embedded in an asphalt mixture slab. The coefficient of the acoustic wave attenuation, obtained from the SPA, decreased as the crack width in an asphalt pavement increased. We proved that the application of acoustic waves excited by the SPA to monitor concealed cracks of asphalt pavement is feasible. Keywords: Asphalt pavement, Concealed damage, PZT, Sensor, Acoustic wave, Intelligent monitoring

The high pavement temperature plays an important role in the development of urban heat island (UHI) in summer. The objective of this study was to develop water retentive and thermal resistant cement concrete (WTCC) to enhance the pavement cooling effects. The WTCC was prepared by combining a water retentive material and a high aluminum refractory aggregate (RA) with porous cement concrete (PCC). Water retention capacity test, fluidity test, and compressive strength test were used to determine the composition ratio of the water retentive material. Mechanical performance and cooling effects of WTCC were evaluated by compressive and flexural strength tests and temperature monitoring test. The mass ratios of fly ash, silica fume, cement, and water in the water retentive material were determined as 65:35:15:63.9. The compressive strength and the flexural strength of WTCC after 28 days curing were 30.4 MPa and 4.6 MPa, respectively. Compared with stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixture, PCC, and water retentive cement concrete (WCC), surface temperature of WTCC decreased by 11.4 °C, 5.5 °C, and 4.1 °C, respectively, and the internal temperatures of WTCC decreased by 10.3 °C, 6.1 °C, and 4.6 °C, respectively. The water retentive material has benefits of strength improvements and temperature reduction for WTCC. Based on the results, WTCC proved to have superior cooling effects and the potential to efficiently mitigate the UHI effects and be used in medium traffic roads.

The surface energy and bonding coefficient of asphalt are important factors that affect the adhesion performance of asphalt/aggregate. In this study, the micro-bee-like-structure of asphalt and force curves between the microscope-probe and asphalt were measured via atomic force microscopy (AFM). To investigate the influence of asphalt properties on micro-adhesion of asphalt, five types of asphalt were used in four states: original, aged at 163 °C, immersed in water and added anti-stripping agent. The results demonstrate that the surface energy of grade 90 asphalt is greater than that of grade 70 asphalt when oil source is the same and that of modified asphalt is greater than matrix asphalt. The surface energies and bonding coefficients of asphalts decreased after aging and immersion. The surface energies of asphalts were greatly improved by adding anti-stripping agent and the bonding coefficients of the asphalts increased by 5.04–37.14% after adding an anti-stripping agent.

Atherosclerosis (AS) in diabetic patients is often associated with low stability, which might be largely attributed to unfavorable macrophage polarization and increased inflammatory response induced by hyperglycaemia. Ginsenoside Rg3 is one of the main active principles of Panax Ginseng, which has been reported to be a natural ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), a key nuclear transcriptional factor involved in inflammation and macrophage differentiation. However, it remains unclear if Rg3 could exert protective effects on plaque stability in diabetes. In this study, we investigated the role of ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 in macrophage polarization and AS plaque stability using advanced glycation end products-treated macrophages and diabetic AS mice models. In vitro, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) treatment promoted the expression of proinflammatory molecules and M1 surface markers, whereas 20(S)-Rg3 could reverse the M1 polarization to the M2 phenotype. In vivo, the administration of 20(S)-Rg3 promoted AS lesion stability and reduced the plaque burden, accompanied by increased M2 macrophages and reduced M1 macrophages. In addition, PPARγ antagonist GW9662 co-administration mostly blocked these effects, suggesting the important role of PPARγ pathways in mediating 20(S)-Rg3 effects in macrophage polarization and atherosclerosis progression. Together, these results demonstrated an immunomodulatory role of ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 in promoting macrophages to a profile of the M2 type through PPARγ-dependent mechanisms, and indicated a potential role of 20(S)-Rg3 in the prevention and treatment of diabetic atherosclerosis.

BackgroundVascular calcification and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are closely related in patients with end‐stage renal disease and diabetes mellitus. Specific protein 1 (Sp1) is a transactivation molecule that plays a crucial role in the regulation of apoptosis, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and other pathological disorders. There is evidence that specific protein 1 (Sp1) directly stimulates the transcription of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and that BMP2 plays a key role in the calcification process in the BMP2–expressing F9 cell model system. Here, we investigated whether Sp1 plays an important role in vascular calcification and its potential regulatory mechanism in vascular calcification. Methods and ResultsIn this study, vascular calcification was induced in male Wistar rats by administration of nicotine (25 mg/kg) and vitamin D3 (300 000 IU/kg). These rats were randomly selected for treatment with adenovirus harboring Sp1 knockdown gene or empty virus. The mechanism of Sp1 in vascular smooth muscle cells cultured in high phosphate medium was studied. Based on our findings, the Sp1 gene silencing or inhibition improved calcium deposition, which was partly achieved by inhibiting phenotype switch, apoptosis, and matrix vesicle release of vascular smooth muscle cells. Moreover, Sp1 can activate BMP2 transcription by binding to the Sp1‐binding element of the BMP2 promoter. ConclusionsOverall, elevated Sp1 exerts a pro‐apoptotic effect, promoting BMP2 transcription and further accumulating vascular calcification. Proper and timely regulation of Sp1 expression may be a potential strategy for treatment of aging, end‐stage renal disease, and diabetic‐related macrovascular disease treatment.

To study and evaluate the adhesion between recycled concrete aggregate and asphalt, the contact angles (CAs) between droplet (water and ethanol) and recycled concrete aggregate (RCA), natural aggregates, and solid bitumen (matrix asphalt, SBS modified asphalt) were tested via the sessile drop method with an optical microscope. The surface free energy was then calculated. The CAs between hot asphalt and RCA and natural aggregates were tested via the hanging slice method. The adhesive energy between asphalt and RCA and natural aggregates were calculated based on the test results of the surface free energy and CAs. Then, the influence of RCA on the water stability and fatigue performance of the asphalt mixture was analyzed by testing the water stability and fatigue properties of hot mix asphalts containing RCA (HMA-RCA) with different aggregates and RCA dosages. The surface energy of the various aggregates and the CAs between aggregates and asphalts were sorted as follows: Granite > RCA > serpentinite > limestone. The surface energy and CA of RCA were very close to that of serpentinite. The adhesive energy between various aggregates and asphalt were sorted as follows: Limestone > serpentinite > RCA > granite. The adhesive energy between RCA and asphalt was also very close to that of serpentinite. The residual Marshall stability, tensile strength ratio, and fatigue performance of the HMA-RCAs were gradually reduced along with the increasing RCA dosage. This effect may be attributed to the fact that the adhesive energy between the RCA and the asphalt was less than that of water and that the asphalt was easily stripped from the RCA surface. Excessive RCA content in the aggregate can lead to excessive porosity of the HMA-RCA. The CAs and adhesive energy between RCA and asphalt showed significant effects on the water stability and fatigue performance of HMA-RCA.

MicroRNA-7a/b (miR-7a/b) protects cardiac myocytes from apoptosis during ischemia/reperfusion injury; however, its role in angiotensin II (ANG II)-stimulated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) remains unknown. Therefore, the present study investigated the anti-fibrotic mechanism of miR-7a/b in ANG II-treated CFs. ANG II stimulated the expression of specific protein 1 (Sp1) and collagen I in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and the overexpression of miR-7a/b significantly down-regulated the expression of Sp1 and collagen I stimulated by ANG II (100 nM) for 24 h. miR-7a/b overexpression effectively inhibited MMP-2 expression/activity and MMP-9 expression, as well as CF proliferation and migration. In addition, miR-7a/b also repressed the activation of TGF-β, ERK, JNK and p38 by ANG II. The inhibition of Sp1 binding activity by mithramycin prevented collagen I overproduction; however, miR-7a/b down-regulation reversed this effect. Further studies revealed that Sp1 also mediated miR-7a/b-regulated MMP expression and CF migration, as well as TGF-β and ERK activation. In conclusion, miR-7a/b has an anti-fibrotic role in ANG II-treated CFs that is mediated by Sp1 mechanism involving the TGF-β and MAPKs pathways.

Macrophage infiltration contributes to the instability of atherosclerotic plaques. In the present study, we investigated whether selective inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway can enhance the stability of atherosclerotic plaques by activation of macrophage autophagy. In vitro study, selective inhibitors or siRNA of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways were used to treat the rabbit's peritoneal primary macrophage cells. Inflammation related cytokines secreted by macrophages were measured. Ultrastructure changes of macrophages were examined by transmission electron microscope. mRNA or protein expression levels of autophagy related gene Beclin 1, protein 1 light chain 3 II dots (LC3-II) or Atg5-Atg12 conjugation were assayed by quantitative RT-PCR or Western blot. In vivo study, vulnerable plaque models were established in 40 New Zealand White rabbits and then drugs or siRNA were given for 8 weeks to inhibit the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed to observe the plaque imaging. The ultrastructure of the abdominal aortic atherosclerosis lesions were analyzed with histopathology. RT-PCR or Western blot methods were used to measure the expression levels of corresponding autophagy related molecules. We found that macrophage autophagy was induced in the presence of Akt inhibitor, mTOR inhibitor and mTOR-siRNA in vitro study, while PI3K inhibitor had the opposite role. In vivo study, we found that macrophage autophagy increased significantly and the rabbits had lower plaque rupture incidence, lower plaque burden and decreased vulnerability index in the inhibitors or siRNA treated groups. We made a conclusion that selective inhibition of the Akt/mTOR signal pathway can reduce macrophages and stabilize the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques by promoting macrophage autophagy.

Abstract The pig gut virome plays a vital role in the gut microbial ecosystem of pigs. However, a comprehensive understanding of their diversity and a reference database for the virome are currently lacking. To address this gap, we established a Pig Virome Database (PVD) that comprised of 5,566,804 viral contig sequences from 4650 publicly available gut metagenomic samples using a pipeline designated “metav”. By clustering sequences, we identified 48,299 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) genomes of at least medium quality, of which 92.83% of which were not found in existing major databases. The majority of vOTUs were identified as Caudoviricetes (72.21%). The PVD database contained a total of 2,362,631 protein-coding genes across the above medium-quality vOTUs genomes that can be used to explore the functional potential of the pig gut virome. These findings highlight the extensive diversity of viruses in the pig gut and provide a pivotal reference dataset for forthcoming research concerning the pig gut virome.

Abstract A substantial body of empirical evidence reveals that physical activity is associated with a wide range of positive physical and mental health outcomes. However, an absence of comprehensive syntheses is observed concerning the varying effects of different exercise intensities on the improvement of physical health among children and adolescents. The aim of this review is to systematically investigate the effects of different exercise intensities on the physical fitness of children and adolescents, to analyses the optimal exercise intensities for improving physical fitness, and to provide a relevant theoretical basis for optimizing school physical education curricula. A systematic search strategy was used in this study in four online databases (PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO and Web of Science). Intervention studies that met the inclusion criteria underwent a thorough screening process, and their methodological quality was assessed utilizing the PEDro scale. The selected literature was systematically analyzed and evaluated through induction, summary, analysis, and evaluation. These findings indicate that high-intensity exercise training exerts significant positive effects on body composition, cardiopulmonary function and muscle fitness in children and adolescents. Therefore, we suggest that schools should focus on high-intensity sports in their physical education curriculum, which can further improve the student's PHYSICAL FITNESS.