Overcoming the biofilm barrier by cell-like microbubbles for the treatment of biofilm-associated implant infections

Although the advent of antibiotics has significantly improved the quality of life of infected patients,bacterial infections continue to pose a serious threat to public health[1,2].According to a recent report,within the next 30 years,bacterial infections are projected to surpass cancer in terms of lethality rates,resulting in an alarming 10 million deaths annually by 2050 due to the development of bacterial resistance[3].Moreover,the formation of bacterial biofilms hampers the penetration of antibacterial agents and inhibits the host immune response,making biofilm infections extremely challenging to treat[4-7].Hence,the development of innovative antimicrobial biofilm therapeutics is imperative.

Modulating J-V hysteresis of planar perovskite solar cells and mini-modules via work function engineering

Commercialization of perovskite solar cells(PSCs) requires the development of high-efficiency devices with none current density-voltage(J-V) hysteresis. Here, electron transport layers(ETLs) with gradual change in work function(WF) are successfully fabricated and employed as an ideal model to investigate the energy barriers, charge transfer and recombination kinetics at ETL/perovskite interface. The energy barrier for electron injection existing at ETL/perovskite is directly assessed by surface photovoltage microscopy, and the results demonstrate the tunable barriers have significant impact on the J-V hysteresis and performance of PSCs. By work function engineering of ETL, PSCs exhibit PCEs over 21% with negligible hysteresis. These results provide a critical understanding of the origin reason for hysteresis effect in planar PSCs, and clear reveal that the J-V hysteresis can be effectively suppressed by carefully tuning the interface features in PSCs. By extending this strategy to a modified formamidinium-cesium-rubidium(FA-Cs-Rb) perovskite system, the PCEs are further boosted to 24.18%. Moreover, 5 cm × 5 cm perovskite mini-modules are also fabricated with an impressive efficiency of 20.07%, demonstrating compatibility and effectiveness of our strategy on upscaled devices.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D Is Associated with Islet Homeostasis in Type-2 Diabetic Patients with Abdominal Obesity

Objective Isletαcells input is essential for insulin secretion fromβcells.The present study aims to investigate the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D]and islet function homeostasis in type-2 diabetes(T2D)patients.Methods A total of 4670 T2D patients from seven communities in Shanghai,China were enrolled.The anthropometric indices,biochemical parameters,serum 25(OH)D,and islet function[including C-peptide(C-p)and glucagon]were measured.Results The fasting plasma glucose(FPG),glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c),glucagon,and C-p levels exhibited a significantly decreasing trend in T2D patients as the 25(OH)D levels increased.Next,the population was divided into two groups:abdominal obesity and non-abdominal obesity groups.After adjustment,the 25(OH)D level was found to be associated with HbA1c,glucagon,and homeostasis model assessment ofβ(HOMA-β)in the non-abdominal obesity group.There was a significant relationship between 25(OH)D and HbA1c,glucagon,HOMA-IR,baseline insulin or C-p in the abdominal obesity group.In the abdominal obesity group,the ordinary least squares(OLS)regression and quantile regression revealed that 25(OH)D was obviously associated with glucagon and fasting C-p levels.In the abdominal obesity group,the moderate analysis revealed a significant interaction effect of 25(OH)D and glucagon on C-p(P=0.0124).Furthermore,the conditional indirect effect of 25(OH)D on the glucagon/C-p ratio was significantly lower at 1 standard deviation(SD)below the mean(P=0.0002),and lower at the mean of the course of diabetes(P=0.0007).Conclusion 25(OH)D was found to be negatively correlated to glucagon and C-p in T2D patients with abdominal obesity.The 25(OH)D influenced C-p in part by influencing glucagon.The effect of 25(OH)D on the glucagon/C-p ratio in T2D patients with abdominal obesity,in terms of islet homeostasis,is influenced by the course of diabetes.

Using shape-memory alloy staples to treat comminuted manubrium sterni fractures: A case report

BACKGROUND Comminuted manubrium sterni fractures are rare,and internal fixation methods are limited.This report explored a practical and feasible method of internal fixation for comminuted manubrium sterni fractures.CASE SUMMARY A 17-year-old female was injured in a car accident for which she underwent debridement and suturing of her head and anterior chest wounds in another hospital.Eight days later,the patient was transferred to our hospital for surgical treatment.The manubrium sterni was found intraoperatively to be split into three irregular fragments with obvious overlap and separation displacement.Meanwhile,a manubriosternal joint dislocation and left first rib cartilage fracture were observed.The retraction force of the shape-memory alloy staples was used to pull the fracture fragments together.Two more titanium locking plates were then used to fix the manubrium sterni and corpus sterni longitudinally,and the left first rib cartilage fracture was repositioned and fixed with a titanium locking plate.A postoperative computed tomography scan showed reduced and rigid fixation of the comminuted manubrium sterni fractures.The patient recovered well with no significant complaints of discomfort.The patient was discharged 10 days postoperatively after the stitches had been removed.CONCLUSION Shape-memory alloy staples had the advantage of being safe and effective during the repositioning and internal fixation of comminuted manubrium sterni fractures.Therefore,they provided a new surgical option for comminuted manubrium sterni fractures.

Fecal microbiota transplantation:whole grain highland barley improves glucose metabolism by changing gut microbiota

Highland barley(HB)is a high-altitude cereal with rich nutritional components and potential health benefits.To clarify its hypoglycemic effect and mechanism,we investigated the effect of whole grain HB and fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)on glucose metabolism and gut microbiota in high-fat diet and streptozotocin(HFD/STZ)-induced diabetic mice.The results showed that HB(40%)significantly decreased fasting blood glucose and the area under the glucose tolerance curve,significantly increased insulin secretion and improved insulin resistance in HFD/STZ-induced diabetic mice(P<0.05).Inflammatory factors and blood lipid indices were also significantly alleviated after 12 weeks of 40%HB intervention(P<0.05).Additionally,beneficial bacteria,such as Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia,were significantly enriched in the gut of diabetic mice after whole grain HB intervention.Meanwhile,the results of further FMT experiments verified that the fecal microbiota after the 40%HB intervention not only significantly increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia but also effectively improved glucose metabolism and alleviated the inflammatory state in HFD/STZ-induced diabetic mice.Collectively,our study confirmed the bridge role of gut microbiota in improving glucose metabolism of whole grain HB,which could promote the development of precision nutrition.

An innovative classification system for ranking the biological effects of marine aromatic hydrocarbons based on fish embryotoxicity

Petroleum hydrocarbon pollution is a global concern,particularly in coastal environments.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) are regarded as the most toxic components of petroleum hydrocarbons.In this study,the biomonitoring and ranking effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs on the marine fish model Oryzias melastigma embryos were determined in the Jiulong River Estuary(JRE) and its adjacent waters in China.The results showed that the levels of petroleum hydrocarbons from almost all sites met the primary standard for marine seawater quality,and the concentrations of the 16 priority PAHs in the surface seawater were lower compared with those in other coastal areas worldwide.A new fish expert system based on the embryotoxicity of O.melastigma(OME-FES) was developed and applied in the field to evaluate the biological effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs.The selected physiological index and molecular indicators in OME-FES were appropriate biomarkers for indicating the harmful effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs.The outcome of OME-FES revealed that the biological effect levels of the sampling sites ranged from level Ⅰ(no stress) to level Ⅲ(medium stress),which is further corroborated by the findings of nested analysis of variance(ANOVA) models.Our results suggest that the OME-FES is an effective tool for evaluating and ranking the biological effects of marine petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs.This method may also be applied to evaluate other marine pollutants based on its framework.

In Situ Atomic Reconstruction Engineering Modulating Graphene-Like MXene-Based Multifunctional Electromagnetic Devices Covering Multi-Spectrum

With the diversified development of big data,detection and precision guidance technologies,electromagnetic(EM)functional materials and devices serving multiple spectrums have become a hot topic.Exploring the multispectral response of materials is a challenging and meaningful scientific question.In this study,MXene/TiO_(2)hybrids with tunable conduction loss and polarization relaxation are fabricated by in situ atomic reconstruction engineering.More importantly,MXene/TiO_(2)hybrids exhibit adjustable spectral responses in the GHz,infrared and visible spectrums,and several EM devices are constructed based on this.An antenna array provides excellent EM energy harvesting in multiple microwave bands,with|S11|up to−63.2 dB,and can be tuned by the degree of bending.An ultra-wideband bandpass filter realizes a passband of about 5.4 GHz and effectively suppresses the transmission of EM signals in the stopband.An infrared stealth device has an emissivity of less than 0.2 in the infrared spectrum at wavelengths of 6-14μm.This work can provide new inspiration for the design and development of multifunctional,multi-spectrum EM devices.

Functional assessment of cadherin as a shared mechanism for cross/dual resistance to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab in Helicoverpa zea

Helicoverpa zea is a major target pest of pyramided transgenic crops expressing Cry1,Cry2 and/or Vip3Aa proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)in the United States.Laboratory-selected Cry1Ac/Cry2Ab cross resistance and fieldevolved practical dual resistance of H.zea to these two toxins have been widely reported.Whether the widespread Cry1Ac/Cy2Ab dual resistance of H.zea has resulted from the selection of one shared or two independent resistance mechanisms by pyramided Bt crops remains unclear.Cadherin is a well-confirmed receptor of Cry1Ac and a suggested receptor of Cry2Ab in at least three Lepidopteran species.To test whether cadherin may serve as one shared mechanism for the cross and dual resistance of H.zea to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab,we cloned H.zea cadherin(HzCadherin)cDNA and studied its functional roles in the mode of action of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab by gain-and lossof-function analyses.Heterologous expression of HzCadherin in H.zea midgut,H.zea fat body and Sf9 cells made all three of these cell lines more susceptible to activated Cry1Ac but not activated Cry2Ab,whereas silencing HzCadherin of H.zea midgut and fat body cells significantly reduced the susceptibility to Cry1Ac but not Cry2Ab.Likewise,suppressing HzCadherin with siRNA made H.zea larvae resistant to Cry1Ac.These results clearly demonstrate that HzCadherin is not a receptor for Cry2Ab,and thus it is unlikely to serve as one shared mechanism for the cross and dual resistance of H.zea to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab.

Efficient adsorption separation of methane from C_(2)-C_(3) hydrocarbons in a Co(Ⅱ)-nodes metal-organic framework

Methane(CH_(4))as a substitute for other mineral fuels plays a crucial role in reducing energy consumption and preventing environmental pollution.The present study employs a solvothermal method to fabricate a porous framework Co-metal-organic framework(Co-MOF)containing two distinct secondary building units(SBUs):an anionic[Co_(2)(μ_(2)-OH)(COO)_(4)(H_(2)O)]and a neutral[CoN_(2)(COO)_(2)].Notably,within the anionic SBUs,the coordinated water molecules induce the generation of divergent unsaturated Co(Ⅱ)centers in the unidirectional porous channels,thereby creating open metal sites.The adsorption performance of Co-MOF towards pure component gases was systematically investigated.The results demonstrated that Co-MOF exhibits superior adsorption capacity for C_(2)-C_(3) hydrocarbons compared to CH_(4),which offers the potential for efficient adsorption and separation of CH_(4) from C_(2)-C_(3) hydrocarbons.The gas selectivity separation ratios of Co-MOF for C_(2)H_(6)/CH_(4) and C_(3)H_8/CH_(4) were calculated using the ideal adsorbed solution theory method at 273/298 K and 0.1 MPa.The results revealed that Co-MOF achieved remarkable equilibrium separation selectivity for CH_(4) and C_(2)-C_(3) hydrocarbon gases among non-modified MOFs,signifying the potential of the synthesized Co-MOF for efficient recovery and purification of CH_(4) from C_(2)-C_(3) hydrocarbons.Breakthrough experiments further demonstrate the ability of Co-MOF to purify methane from C_(2)-C_(3) hydrocarbons in practical gas separation scenarios.Additionally,molecular simulation calculations further substantiate the propensity of anionic SBUs to interact with C_(2)-C_(3) hydrocarbon compounds.This study provides a novel paradigm for the development of porous MOF materials in the application of gas mixture separation.

The microbial community,nutrient supply and crop yields differ along a potassium fertilizer gradient under wheat-maize double-cropping systems

Soil microorganisms play critical roles in ecosystem function.However,the relative impact of the potassium(K)fertilizer gradient on the microbial community in wheat-maize double-cropping systems remains unclear.In this long-term field experiment(2008-2019),we researched bacterial and fungal diversity,composition,and community assemblage in the soil along a K fertilizer gradient in the wheat season(K0,no K fertilizer;K1,45 kg ha^(-1) K_(2)O;K_(2),90 kg ha^(-1)K_(2)O;K3,135 kg ha^(-1)K_(2)O)and in the maize season(K0,no K fertilizer;K_(1),150 kg ha^(-1) K_(2)O;K_(2),300 kg ha^(-1)K_(2)O;K_(3),450 kg ha^(-1)K_(2)O)using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal internally transcribed spacer(ITS)data.We observed that environmental variables,such as mean annual soil temperature(MAT)and precipitation,available K,ammonium,nitrate,and organic matter,impacted the soil bacterial and fungal communities,and their impacts varied with fertilizer treatments and crop species.Furthermore,the relative abundance of bacteria involved in soil nutrient transformation(phylum Actinobacteria and class Alphaproteobacteria)in the wheat season was significantly increased compared to the maize season,and the optimal K fertilizer dosage(K2 treatment)boosted the relative bacterial abundance of soil nutrient transformation(genus Lactobacillus)and soil denitrification(phylum Proteobacteria)bacteria in the wheat season.The abundance of the soil bacterial community promoting root growth and nutrient absorption(genus Herbaspirillum)in the maize season was improved compared to the wheat season,and the K2 treatment enhanced the bacterial abundance of soil nutrient transformation(genus MND1)and soil nitrogen cycling(genus Nitrospira)genera in the maize season.The results indicated that the bacterial and fungal communities in the double-cropping system exhibited variable sensitivities and assembly mechanisms along a K fertilizer gradient,and microhabitats explained the largest amount of the variation in crop yields,and improved wheat?maize yields by 11.2-22.6 and 9.2-23.8%with K addition,respectively.These modes are shaped contemporaneously by the different meteorological factors and soil nutrient changes in the K fertilizer gradients.

Strongly Coupled Ag/Sn-SnO_(2)Nanosheets Toward CO_(2)Electroreduction to Pure HCOOH Solutions at Ampere‑Level Current

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) converts intermittent renewable electricity into value-added liquid products with an enticing prospect,but its practical application is hampered due to the lack of high-performance electrocatalysts.Herein,we elaborately design and develop strongly coupled nanosheets composed of Ag nanoparticles and Sn-SnO_(2) grains,designated as Ag/Sn-SnO_(2) nanosheets(NSs),which possess optimized electronic structure,high electrical conductivity,and more accessible sites.As a result,such a catalyst exhibits unprecedented catalytic performance toward CO_(2)-to-formate conversion with near-unity faradaic efficiency(≥90%),ultrahigh partial current density(2,000 mA cm^(−2)),and superior long-term stability(200 mA cm^(−2),200 h),surpassing the reported catalysts of CO_(2) electroreduction to formate.Additionally,in situ attenuated total reflection-infrared spectra combined with theoretical calculations revealed that electron-enriched Sn sites on Ag/Sn-SnO_(2)NSs not only promote the formation of*OCHO and alleviate the energy barriers of*OCHO to*HCOOH,but also impede the desorption of H*.Notably,the Ag/Sn-SnO_(2)NSs as the cathode in a membrane electrode assembly with porous solid electrolyte layer reactor can continuously produce~0.12 M pure HCOOH solution at 100 mA cm^(−2)over 200 h.This work may inspire further development of advanced electrocatalysts and innovative device systems for promoting practical application of producing liquid fuels from CO_(2).

Dredged marine soil stabilization using magnesia cement augmented with biochar/slag

Dredged marine soils(DMS)have poor engineering properties,which limit their usage in construction projects.This research examines the application of reactive magnesia(rMgO)containing supplementary cementitious materials(SCMs)to stabilize DMS under ambient and carbon dioxide(CO_(2))curing conditions.Several proprietary experimental tests were conducted to investigate the stabilized DMS.Furthermore,the carbonation-induced mineralogical,thermal,and microstructural properties change of the samples were explored.The findings show that the compressive strength of the stabilized DMS fulfilled the 7-d requirement(0.7-2.1 MPa)for pavement and building foundations.Replacing rMgO with SCMs such as biochar or ground granulated blast-furnace slag(GGBS)altered the engineering properties and particle packing of the stabilized soils,thus influencing their performances.Biochar increased the porosity of the samples,facilitating higher CO_(2) uptake and improved ductility,while GGBS decreased porosity and increased the dry density of the samples,resulting in higher strength.The addition of SCMs also enhanced the water retention capacity and modified the pH of the samples.Microstructural analysis revealed that the hydrated magnesium carbonates precipitated in the carbonated samples provided better cementation effects than brucite formed during rMgO hydration.Moreover,incorporating SCMs reduced the overall global warming potential and energy demand of the rMgO-based systems.The biochar mixes demonstrated lower toxicity and energy consumption.Ultimately,the rMgO and biochar blend can serve as an environmentally friendly additive for soft soil stabilization and permanent fixation of significant amounts of CO_(2) in soils through mineral carbonation,potentially reducing environmental pollution while meeting urbanization needs.

Leech Poecilobdella manillensis protein extract ameliorated hyperuricemia by restoring gut microbiota dysregulation and affecting serum metabolites

BACKGROUND Hyperuricemia(HUA)is a public health concern that needs to be solved urgently.The lyophilized powder of Poecilobdella manillensis has been shown to significantly alleviate HUA;however,its underlying metabolic regulation remains unclear.AIM To explore the underlying mechanisms of Poecilobdella manillensis in HUA based on modulation of the gut microbiota and host metabolism.METHODS A mouse model of rapid HUA was established using a high-purine diet and potassium oxonate injections.The mice received oral drugs or saline.Additionally,16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics were performed to identify changes in the microbiome and host metabolome,respectively.The levels of uric acid transporters and epithelial tight junction proteins in the renal and intestinal tissues were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS The protein extract of Poecilobdella manillensis lyophilized powder(49 mg/kg)showed an enhanced anti-trioxypurine ability than that of allopurinol(5 mg/kg)(P<0.05).A total of nine bacterial genera were identified to be closely related to the anti-trioxypurine activity of Poecilobdella manillensis powder,which included the genera of Prevotella,Delftia,Dialister,Akkermansia,Lactococcus,Escherichia_Shigella,Enterococcus,and Bacteroides.Furthermore,22 metabolites in the serum were found to be closely related to the anti-trioxypurine activity of Poecilobdella manillensis powder,which correlated to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways of cysteine and methionine metabolism,sphingolipid metabolism,galactose metabolism,and phenylalanine,tyrosine,and tryptophan biosynthesis.Correlation analysis found that changes in the gut microbiota were significantly related to these metabolites.CONCLUSION The proteins in Poecilobdella manillensis powder were effective for HUA.Mechanistically,they are associated with improvements in gut microbiota dysbiosis and the regulation of sphingolipid and galactose metabolism.

The Middle Miocene lobe-shaped and band-shaped submarine fans in the Lingshui Sag,Qiongdongnan Basin:source-to-sink system,genesis and implication

Deepwater oil and gas exploration is the key to sustainable breakthroughs in petroleum exploration worldwide.The Central Canyon gas field has confirmed the Lingshui Sag is a hydrocarbon-generating sag,and the deepwater reservoirs in the Lingshui Sag still have more fabulous oil and gas exploration potential.Based on drilling data and three-dimensional(3D)seismic data,this paper uses seismic facies analysis,seismic attribute analysis,and coherence slice analysis to identify the types of submarine fans(lobe-shaped and band-shaped submarine fans)that developed in the Lingshui Sag during the Middle Miocene,clarify the source-to-sink system of the submarine fans and discuss the genesis mechanism of the submarine fans.The results show that:(1)the deepwater source-to-sink system of the Lingshui Sag in the Middle Miocene mainly consisted of a“delta(sediment supply)-submarine canyon(sediment transport channel)-submarine fan(deepwater sediment sink)”association;(2)the main factor controlling the formation of the submarine fans developed in the Lingshui Sag was on the relative sea level decline;and(3)the bottom current reworked the lobe-shaped submarine fan that developed in the northern Lingshui Sag and formed the band-shaped submarine fan with a greater sand thickness.This paper aims to provide practical geological knowledge for subsequent petroleum exploration and development in the deepwater area of the Qiongdongnan Basin through a detailed analysis of the Middle Miocene submarine fan sedimentary system developed in the Lingshui Sag.

Long-term ocean temperature trend and marine heatwaves

Marine heatwaves(MHWs)can cause irreversible damage to marine ecosystems and livelihoods.Appropriate MHW characterization remains difficult,because the choice of a sea surface temperature(SST)temporal baseline strongly influences MHW identification.Following a recent work suggesting that there should be a communicating baseline for long-term ocean temperature trends(LTT)and MHWs,we provided an effective and quantitative solution to calculate LTT and MHWs simultaneously by using the ensemble empirical mode decomposition(EEMD)method.The long-term nonlinear trend of SST obtained by EEMD shows superiority over the traditional linear trend in that the data extension does not alter prior results.The MHWs identified from the detrended SST data exhibited low sensitivity to the baseline choice,demonstrating the robustness of our method.We also derived the total heat exposure(THE)by combining LTT and MHWs.The THE was sensitive to the fixed-period baseline choice,with a response to increasing SST that depended on the onset time of a perpetual MHW state(identified MHW days equal to the year length).Subtropical areas,the Indian Ocean,and part of the Southern Ocean were most sensitive to the long-term global warming trend.

Diameter-dependent ultra-high thermoelectric performance of ZnO nanowires

Zinc oxide(ZnO)shows great potential in electronics,but its large intrinsic thermal conductivity limits its thermoelectric applications.In this work,we explore the significant carrier transport capacity and diameter-dependent thermoelectric characteristics of wurtzite-ZnO(0001)nanowires based on first-principles and molecular dynamics simulations.Under the synergistic effect of band degeneracy and weak phonon-electron scattering,P-type(ZnO)_(73) nanowires achieve an ultrahigh power factor above 1500μW·cm^(-1)·K^(-2)over a wide temperature range.The lattice thermal conductivity and carrier transport properties of ZnO nanowires exhibit a strong diameter size dependence.When the ZnO nanowire diameter exceeds 12.72A,the carrier transport properties increase significantly,while the thermal conductivity shows a slight increase with the diameter size,resulting in a ZT value of up to 6.4 at 700 K for P-type(ZnO)_(73).For the first time,the size effect is also illustrated by introducing two geometrical configurations of the ZnO nanowires.This work theoretically depicts the size optimization strategy for the thermoelectric conversion of ZnO nanowires.

Time-energy distribution of photoelectron from atomic states with different magnetic quantum numbers in elliptically polarized laser fields

A Wigner-distribution-like(WDL)function based on the strong-field approximation(SFA)theory is used to investigate the ionization time of the photoelectron emitted from the initial states with different magnetic quantum number m in elliptically polarized electric fields.The saddle-point method is adopted for comparisons.For different m states,a discrepancy exists in the WDL distributions of the photoelectrons emitted in a direction close to the major axis of the laser field ellipse.Based on the saddle-point analysis,this discrepancy can be ascribed to the interference between electrons ionized from two tunneling instants.Our results show that the relationships between the tunneling instants and kinetic energy of photoelectrons are the same for different m initial states when the Coulomb potential is not considered.Our work sheds some light on the ionization-time information of electrons from different magnetic quantum states.

Effect of temperature and time on the precipitation ofκ-carbides in Fe-28Mn-10Al-0.8C low-density steels:Aging mechanism and its impact on material properties

In low-density steel,κ-carbides primarily precipitate in the form of nanoscale particles within austenite grains.However,their precipitation within ferrite matrix grains has not been comprehensively explored,and the second-phase evolution mechanism during aging remains unclear.In this study,the crystallographic characteristics and morphological evolution ofκ-carbides in Fe-28Mn-10Al-0.8C(wt%)low-density steel at different aging temperatures and times and the impacts of these changes on the steels’microhardness and properties were comprehensively analyzed.Under different heat treatment conditions,intragranularκ-carbides exhibited various morpho-logical and crystallographic characteristics,such as acicular,spherical,and short rod-like shapes.At the initial stage of aging,acicularκ-carbides primarily precipitated,accompanied by a few spherical carbides.κ-Carbides grew and coarsened with aging time,the spherical carbides were considerably reduced,and rod-like carbides coarsened.Vickers hardness testing demonstrated that the material’s hardness was affected by the volume fraction,morphology,and size ofκ-carbides.Extended aging at higher temperatures led to an increase in carbide size and volume fraction,resulting in a gradual rise in hardness.During deformation,the primary mechanisms for strengthening were dislocation strengthening and second-phase strengthening.Based on these findings,potential strategies for improving material strength are proposed.

Ghrelin inhibits autophagy mediated by AKT/mTOR pathway to ameliorate retinal angiogenesis induced by high glucose stress

AIM:To observe the effect of ghrelin,a growth hormonereleasing peptide,on retinal angiogenesis in vitro under high glucose(HG)stress and to explore the possible mechanism of autophagy.METHODS:Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRMECs)were treated with high concentration of glucose alone or in combination with ghrelin.The cell migration,tube formation and the expression of the autophagy-related proteins LC3-II/I,Beclin-1,p62,phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT)/AKT and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin(p-mTOR)/mTOR were detected.Then,to clarify the correlation between ghrelin effect and autophagy,AKT inhibitor VIII was adopted to treat HRMECs,and cell migration,tube formation as well as the protein expressions of LC3-II/I,Beclin-1 and p62 were observed.RESULTS:Under HG stress,ghrelin inhibited migration and tube formation of HRMECs.Ghrelin inhibited the increases in the protein levels of LC3-II/I,Beclin-1 and the decreases in the protein levels of p62,p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR induced by HG stress.Moreover,under the action of AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors,the effects of ghrelin on migration and tube formation were both reduced.In addition,the expression of LC3-II/I and Beclin-1 were significantly up-regulated and the expression of p62 was down-regulated.CONCLUSION:Retinal angiogenesis under in vitro HG stress can be inhibited by ghrelin through activating AKT/mTOR pathway to inhibit autophagy.

CrossFormer Embedding DeepLabv3+ for Remote Sensing Images Semantic Segmentation

High-resolution remote sensing image segmentation is a challenging task. In urban remote sensing, the presenceof occlusions and shadows often results in blurred or invisible object boundaries, thereby increasing the difficultyof segmentation. In this paper, an improved network with a cross-region self-attention mechanism for multi-scalefeatures based onDeepLabv3+is designed to address the difficulties of small object segmentation and blurred targetedge segmentation. First,we use CrossFormer as the backbone feature extraction network to achieve the interactionbetween large- and small-scale features, and establish self-attention associations between features at both large andsmall scales to capture global contextual feature information. Next, an improved atrous spatial pyramid poolingmodule is introduced to establish multi-scale feature maps with large- and small-scale feature associations, andattention vectors are added in the channel direction to enable adaptive adjustment of multi-scale channel features.The proposed networkmodel is validated using the PotsdamandVaihingen datasets. The experimental results showthat, compared with existing techniques, the network model designed in this paper can extract and fuse multiscaleinformation, more clearly extract edge information and small-scale information, and segment boundariesmore smoothly. Experimental results on public datasets demonstrate the superiority of ourmethod compared withseveral state-of-the-art networks.