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The real-time monitoring and fault diagnosis of modern machinery and equipment impose higher demands on equipment maintenance, with the extraction of morphological characteristics of wear debris in lubricating oil emerging as a critical approach for real-time monitoring of wear, holding significant importance in the field. The online visual ferrograph (OLVF) technique serves as a representative method in this study. Various semantic segmentation approaches, such as DeepLabV3+, PSPNet, Segformer, Unet, and other models, are employed to process the oil wear particle image for conducting comparative experiments. In order to accurately segment the minute wear debris in oil abrasive images and mitigate the influence of reflection and bubbles, we propose a multi-level feature reused Unet (MFR Unet) that enhances the residual link strategy of Unet for improved identification of tiny wear debris in ferrograms, leading to superior segmentation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A thin ceramic wafer was fabricated via an efficient phase inversion/sintering. • The thickness of the ceramic wafer was 250 μm with a mean pore size of 200 nm. • The high Al 2 O 3 loading helps their uniform distribution on membrane surface. • This wafer exhibited an ultrahigh and stable flux and oil removal efficiency. • The fouling analysis shows the dominant fouling mechanism was cake filtration. Efficient preparation of ceramic membranes helps to reduce costs and makes them more competitive in the field of wastewater treatment. In this work, an ultrathin Al 2 O 3 ceramic wafer membrane with a thickness of 250 µm and the mean pore size of approximately 200 nm was prepared from the Al 2 O 3 /polysulfone slurries via a casting-phase inversion/sintering approach. This ultrathin and hydrophilic ceramic wafer has a fully sponge-like and slightly asymmetric structure and desirable porosity, endowing it with an exceptionally high pure water permeability of ∼ 45,000 L m-2h−1 bar−1, an ultrahigh and stable emulsion flux of 2500 ∼ 3500 L m-2h−1 bar−1, as well as a high oil rejection of 99 % against real oilfield produced water (OPW). In addition, the increased Al 2 O 3 content enhanced the thermodynamic instability of the ceramic slurry, leading to the enhanced interfacial instability, which contributes to the uniform distribution of Al 2 O 3 particles on the precursor membrane surface to some extent during the phase inversion process, thus to reduce the surface defects of ceramic membranes after sintering. The membrane fouling analysis revealed that the dominant fouling mechanism was cake filtration, indicating the formation of a relatively dense and smooth skin layer of the ceramic wafer, which endow it with a high flux recovery ratio of 97.8 % by a simple chemical cleaning after OPW filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adjuvanticity of sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and its mechanism were studied in this research. Significant enhancement of antibody production was observed when co-injected with antigen. The levels of anti-BSA antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The possible mechanism of this phenomenon was also investigated in this research, which included the effects of SH on the phagocytosis of macrophages, the production of lysozyme, acid phosphotase and IL-1β generated by macrophages, the proliferation of the lymphocytes in spleen and the production of IL-2 generated by lymphocytes. IL-1β is a co-stimulator in activating Th cells, which manifests its activity together with LFA-1, ICAM-1 and ICAM-2. These observations suggested that SH could be used as a new adjuvant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three typical surface pretreatment strategies (grind, drawing, polishing) are employed to explore the influence of alloy substrate treatment on microstructure and surface performances of arc-ion plated TiN and ZrN films. The luminance and color of the films are measured by the color coordinate value of CIELab system (a color system which is defined by the International Commission on illumination). The crystal phases, morphology and microstructure are characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). In addition, the anti-alkali, salt corrosion and anti-oxidation performances of films are systematically researched. The results show that the films with grinding pretreatment are more like gold color, "L" values are 77.27 cd/m2 and 80.30 cd/m2. The "b" value of TiN film is 29.96, which is the same as that of pure gold. The "a" value of ZrN film is 0.31, which is the same as pure silver. The density of TiN and ZrN films is the best, and both TiN and ZrN films were crystalline. They have the best anti-alkali and anti-oxidation performance. The films with drawing pretreatment show slant red color and have medium brightness values (74.07–76.37 cd/m2), worse compactness, obvious furrows and holes in their microstructures and worse salt corrosion and anti-oxidation performances. However, the TiN films are in amorphous states. The films with polishing pretreatment have the lowest brightness (72.66 cd/m2), gold-like color, superior compactness and best salt corrosion performance, which have a small number of holes. The TiN films with polishing pretreatment are also in amorphous state. Above all, alloy substrate pretreatment by grinding has the best gold-like color, brightness, compactness and corrosion resistance performance. This work exclusively sheds new light on surface pretreatment of alloy substrate by arc-ion plated films and also provides a reference for corrosion resistance performance of gold-like films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systematic research was performed to assess the survival, growth performance, gonadal structure and sex ratio during and after sex reversal induced by estradiol-17β in tiger puffers. The fish of 20 days after hatching (dah) were immersed in different doses (0.2, 2, 20, 100 ppb) for 60 days. There were significant differences in survival rates among groups (p < .05). With the increase in the estradiol-17β dose, the survival rates of tiger puffers decreased, revealing a linear regression relationship with log10 (estradiol + 1; p < .05). The growth tendency of fish in the low-dose group was similar to those in the control group over the same period. The growth in the 20 ppb dose group was significantly slower than in the low-dose and control groups in fish of same age (p < .05), but was significantly faster than in the 100 ppb dose group (p < .05) after 60 days. Intersex fish were categorized into intersex I, II and III types, according to the feminization degree from low to high. Phenotypic intersex puffer fish were found in the 2, 20 and 100 ppb dose groups. Intersex ratios in 2, 20 and 100 ppb were 10%, 43.3% and 46.7%, respectively, the ratios except the ones in 2 ppb group being significantly higher than those in the control group (p < .05). Moreover, 100.0% male induction for intersex II and III types occurred in 20 and 100 ppb groups. Together, these results indicated that estradiol-17β at a dose of 20 ppb was most effective for pseudo-female production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sterility is a serious problem that can affect all bionts. In teleosts, double haploids (DHs) induced by mitogynogenesis are often sterile. This sterility severely restricts the further application of DHs for production of clones, genetic analysis, and breeding. However, sterile DH individuals are good source materials for investigation of the molecular mechanisms of gonad development, especially for studies into the role of genes that are indispensable for fish reproduction. Here, we used the Illumina sequencing platform to analyze the transcriptome of sterile female DH Japanese flounder in order to identify major genes that cause sterility and to provide a molecular basis for an intensive study of gonadal development in teleosts. Through sequencing, assembly, and annotation, we obtained 52,474 contigs and found that 60.7% of these shared homologies with existing sequences. A total of 1225 differentially expressed unigenes were found, including 492 upregulated and 733 downregulated genes. Gene Ontology and KEGG analyses showed that genes showing significant upregulation, such as CYP11A1, CYP11B2, CYP17, CYP21, HSD3β, bcl2l1, and PRLR, principally correlated with sterol metabolic process, steroid biosynthetic process, and the Jak-stat signaling pathway. The significantly downregulated genes were primarily associated with immune response, antigen processing and presentation, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, and protein digestion and absorption. Using a co-expression network analysis, we conducted a comprehensive comparison of gene expression in the gonads of fertile and sterile female DH Japanese flounder. Identification of genes showing significantly different expression will provide further insights into DH reproductive dysfunction and oocyte maturation processes in teleosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germ cell transplantation (GCT) is a promising reproductive technology in animals, including teleost fish. Here, we established a GCT procedure in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Two-year-old male Japanese flounder were treated with temperature (28 °C) and busulfan (two doses, 18 mg/kg) to deplete endogenous germ cells and were then used as recipients. The discontinuous Percoll gradient purified oogonia were used as donor germ cells and transplanted into the recipients' testes through the genital pore. Histological and fluorescent observations showed the colonization, proliferation, and differentiation of transplanted oogonia in the testes of recipient fish. Ten months after GCT, 16 of 17 recipients produced sperm, and among them, two recipients produced donor-derived sperm, which was confirmed by microsatellite genotyping. The sperm of these two recipients were used to fertilize the eggs of wild-type females, and the donor-derived germline transmission rates were 45.5% and 43.0%, respectively, based on the microsatellite paternity analysis of the hatched larvae. Our established protocol can be applied to accelerate the reproduction cycle and be used for generating valuable surrogate breeding material and conserving the germplasm resources of Japanese flounder. • A germ cell transplantation procedure was developed for Paralichthys olivaceus • Best treatment to deplete germ cells is two doses of busulfan in two-year-old males • 16 of 17 recipient males produced sperm only two produced donor-derived sperm • Donor-derived germline of offspring fertilized by donor-derived sperm was 43–45.5% [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of sodium houttuyfonate on the phosphorylation of CaMK II, CREB and ERK 1/2, and the expression of c-Fos. Macrophages were cultured in vitro with or without sodium houttuyfonate in the culture medium. After cell culture, macrophages were lysed and the lysate of the macrophages was collected for analysis. Western-blotting method was adopted to investigate the phosphorylation or the expression of these signal elements. It was found in this research that the phosphorylation levels of CaMK II and CREB and the expression of c-Fos protein in macrophages were increased by sodium houttuyfonate treatment; however, the phosphorylation level of ERK 1/2 was not affected by the treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to investigate the responses of the immune system and intestinal microbiota of half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) to Vibrio vulnificus infection. The innate immune indicators in peripheral blood and liver were measured, and the process of microbial succession monitored. Half-smooth tongue sole (length: 29.75 ± 2.63 cm, bodyweight: 116.21 ± 7.34 g) were selected to perform the pathogen challenge test. The control group (C) was intraperitoneally injected with 100 μL PBS. The inoculation amount of Vibrio vulnificus for the low-dose group (L), moderate-dose group (M), and high-dose group (H) were 1 × 104, 1 × 107, 1 × 1010 cells for each fish, respectively. A decrease and an increase in the proportions of lymphocytes and monocytes, respectively, was observed at 24 h of L, M and H. Within initial 72 h, the joint action of monocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils to cope with the pathogen infection only occurred in H. The serum CH50 and ALP levels were significantly higher and serum lysozyme activity significantly lower in H than those observed in C at 48 h (P < 0.05). Moreover, within the initial 72 h, lysozyme activity of the liver was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in H. The intestinal microbiota shifted significantly within the initial 24 h in H and 48 h in M. The bacteria: Shewanella , Pseudoalteromonas , Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, showed some resistance to Vibrio to a certain range. From our findings, the innate immunity in half-smooth tongue sole is not sensitive to moderate- or low-dose V. vulnificus infection. Leukocytes, ALP, and complement are primarily involved in resisting high-dose infection of V. vulnificus. A variety of intestinal microbial taxa plays a vital role in inhibiting V. vulnificus growth. In addition to bacteria from Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, bacteria from Acidobacteria are also a good probiotic option for resisting V. vulnificus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]