Search Results (3,224)

Vomitoxin is a member of the monotrichous mycotoxin family with a complex chemical structure and significant biological activity. This toxin has strong immunosuppressive toxic effects and can cause serious damage to human and animal health. In this study, an on-site immune detection method based on an immune SiO₂@QD fluorescent probe was developed, which realized the rapid and quantitative detection of emetic toxins in grains. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a polymer containing a large number of amino groups, and the binding of PEI to the surface of quantum dots can serve to regulate growth and provide functionalized groups. A SiO₂@QD nanotag with good dispersibility and a high fluorescence intensity was synthesized by combining a PEI interlayer on the surface of SiO₂ nanospheres. Utilizing the electrostatic adsorption of the amino group in PEI, CdSe/ZnS QDs were self-assembled on the surface of SiO₂ nanospheres. In the stability test, the SiO₂@QDs could maintain basically the same fluorescence intensity for 90 consecutive days in the dark at 4 °C, showing a high fluorescence stability. The fluorescence-enhanced QD immune probe was formed by coupling with anti-DON monoclonal antibodies through carbodiimide chemical synthesis. For the detection of spiked wheat flour samples, the immuno-SiO₂@QD fluorescent probe showed excellent sensitivity and stability, the detection limit reached 0.25 ng/mL, and the average recovery rate was 92.2–101.6%. At the same time, the immuno-SiO₂@QD fluorescent probe is simple to operate, is capable of rapid responses, and has great potential in the rapid detection of vomitoxins in grains. Full article

Slope instability often brings serious threats to human production and life, which causes huge economic losses. The slope displacement calculation under seismic action is very important to ensure the safety and stability of a slope. At present, there are few studies on the displacement calculation of multi-stage loess slopes under seismic action. Based on the basic theory of soil dynamics and the introduction of the comprehensive slope ratio, this paper proposes a new displacement calculating method of multi-stage homogeneous loess slopes under seismic action and provides the calculation formula. The rationality of the theoretical calculation is verified using the numerical simulation software Geo Studio (V2022). The study shows that it is feasible to simplify the geometric characteristics of multi-stage loess slopes by adopting the comprehensive slope ratio, which can also reasonably reflect the displacement characteristics of multi-stage loess slopes under seismic action. The example verification shows that the deviation of the peak horizontal displacement between the calculating method of this paper and the numerical simulation result is 5.5%, which shows that the calculation method of this paper is reasonable and has a certain application value. Full article

(1) Background: This study aimed to detect whether alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation could reduce lead (Pb)-induced testicular toxicity in roosters. (2) Methods: A total of 48 roosters, aged 20 weeks, were selected and randomly allocated to six treatment groups: basic diet (CON); CON + 150 mg/kg (CH₃OO)₂Pb (LPB); CON + 300 mg/kg (CH₃OO)₂Pb (HPB); CON + 300 mg/kg ALA (ALA); LPB + 300 mg/kg ALA (ALP); and HPB + 300 mg/kg ALA (AHP). (3) Results: The testicular Pb content was obviously higher in the LPB and HPB groups than in the CON group, while ALA supplementation reduced the testicular Pb content (p < 0.05). Roosters showed a significant increase in serum testosterone, sperm viability, sperm concentration, and testicular score in the AHP group compared with the HPB group. Pb exposure caused a remarkable increase in sperm abnormality and testicular malondialdehyde level, which were down-regulated by ALA supplementation (p < 0.05). RNA sequencing identified 227 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the HPB and CON groups and 220 DEGs between the HPB and AHP groups. (4) Conclusions: ALA supplementation mitigated Pb-induced testicular damage, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for Pb toxicity in birds and potentially other species. Full article

Background: More and more women are following a vegan and vegetarian diet. For some, the use of a vegan diet during lactation is controversial. Purpose: The aim of the study was to comparatively analyze the concentration of selected hormones, micro- and macronutrients, vitamins, and the basic composition and antioxidant status of the milk of vegan women, compared to the milk of omnivorous women. Methods: The study included 17 breastfeeding vegan women and 27 omnivorous women. The basic composition of human milk was analyzed using the MIRIS HMATM analyzer (Uppsala, Sweden) The levels of hormones and vitamins were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent method. In order to determine the antioxidant activity and micro- and macroelements, spectrophotometric methods were used. Results: The vegan group was characterized by a lower average age, lower BMI, and lower WHR index compared to the control group. The milk of vegan women showed significantly higher cortisol concentrations and lower iron, vitamin B6, and antioxidant status than the milk of omnivorous women. Conclusions: A vegan diet helps maintain a healthy body weight and is more popular among younger women, under 30 years of age. Higher levels of milk cortisol in vegan women may indicate a high level of anxiety and stress experienced by breastfeeding women, which may have negative consequences not only for breastfeeding mothers but also for the development of their children. Lack of appropriate supplementation in women who do not consume meat and animal products may cause a deficiency of micro- and macroelements in breast milk. Full article

The assessment of ocular surface temperature (OST) plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and management of various ocular diseases. This paper introduces significant enhancements to the ThermOcular system, initially developed for precise OST measurement using infrared (IR) thermography. These advancements focus on accuracy improvements that reduce user dependency and increase the system’s diagnostic capabilities. A novel addition to the system includes the use of EyeTags, which assist clinicians in selecting control points more easily, thus reducing errors associated with manual selection. Furthermore, the integration of state-of-the-art semantic segmentation models trained on the newest dataset is explored. Among these, the OCRNet-HRNet-w18 model achieved a segmentation accuracy of 96.21% MIOU, highlighting the effectiveness of the improved pipeline. Additionally, the challenge of eliminating eyelashes in IR frames, which cause artifactual measurement errors in OST assessments, is addressed. Through a newly developed method, the influence of eyelashes is eliminated, thereby enhancing the precision of temperature readings. Moreover, an algorithm for blink detection and elimination is implemented, significantly improving upon the basic methods previously utilized. These innovations not only enhance the reliability of OST measurements, but also contribute to the system’s efficiency and diagnostic accuracy, marking a significant step forward in ocular health monitoring and diagnostics. Full article

Background: Wrist immobilization is a common clinical intervention for wrist injuries; however, its repercussions on gait parameters and plantar support have not been extensively investigated. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine whether wrist immobilization causes alterations in foot pressure and center of gravity, considering hand dominance and visual conditions (eyes open or closed). Methods: The research experiment was conducted using the PodoPrint S4 platform. Basic descriptive statistics were calculated to summarize the variables. Additionally, in the mixed linear model (t-tests use Satterthwaite’s method) an analysis of variance for repeated measures (ANOVA-RM) was conducted for the determination of the objectives of the study. Results: This study included a total of 44 participants (29 females and 15 males), with an average age of 36.5 years (SD = 17.5). Immobilization, independent of eye condition, resulted in significant alterations in antero-posterior oscillation and in a larger plantar support area. In addition, the results suggest that the eye state significantly influences plantar support, independent of limb immobilization or dominance. Conclusions: Our findings reveal significant alterations in antero-posterior oscillation and plantar support due to immobilization, suggesting a dynamic interplay between wrist function and lower limb biomechanics. Full article

In order to reduce the edge waves and defects of the strip in the forming process and obtain better properties of the strip, it is urgent to establish a better flexible cold forming process. In this paper, a finite element model of the production line was established to simulate the forming process, and the effective stress distribution at the corner of the strip was simulated. The effect of cold working hardening was basically consistent with that calculated by the analytical method and tensile test results. A mathematical model of the maximum normal strain along the tangent direction of the strip’s outer edge of each pass was established. With the constraint conditions that the maximum value of the normal strain value of each pass is less than the critical value and the upper and lower limit of the horizontal value of each test factor, and the maximum value of the normal strain of each pass as the goal, the number of cold forming passes, the bending angle of each pass and the working roll diameter of the roll have been determined. The optimized process parameters were used in the simulations. No edge wave at the strip edge and no “Bauschinger effect” in forming before high-frequency induction welding was found. The method proposed in this paper can optimize the key process parameters before the production line is put into operation, minimize the possible buckling of the strip edge during the forming process, and reduce the possible loss caused by design defects. Full article

In the context of globalization and cultural diversity, the former residences of historical dignitaries in townships hold profound historical and cultural value, making them an important part of cultural heritage. However, as urbanization accelerates, these former residences encounter numerous challenges, necessitating a heightened focus on their protection and restoration. In this study, we utilized Wu’s Juren Mansion in Fujian as a focal point to delve deeply into the restoration design of the former residences of historical dignitaries in townships. This study covers the basic information, historical evolution, and surrounding environment of the building and investigated its damage in detail—including damage to the gatehouse, corridor, main building, roll roof, and walls—classified and counted the defect locations, and deeply analyzed the causes of damage. Based on relevant laws and regulations, we determined the nature, design principles, and foundation of the restoration project. We then formulated specific restoration measures, such as repairing and maintaining roofs, wooden structures, and walls, as well as measures for wood selection, adhesive use, and termite control. The restoration strategies and design schemes proposed in this study can effectively eliminate safety hazards, preserve the original style of the building to the greatest extent, and maintain historical and cultural value. At the same time, this research provides a reference example for the protection and development of former residences of historical dignitaries in townships and promotes the sustainable development of rural cultural heritage. Full article

Basic principles of ferroelectric activity induced by the noncollinear alignment of spins are reviewed. There is a fundamental reason why the inversion symmetry can be broken by certain magnetic order. This situation occurs when the magnetic order simultaneously involves ferromagnetic ($\mathit{F}$) and antiferromagnetic ($\mathit{A}$) counterparts, transforming under the spatial inversion $\mathcal{I}$ and time reversal $\mathcal{T}$ as $\mathcal{I}\mathit{F}=\mathit{F}$ and $\mathcal{IT}\mathit{A}=\mathit{A}$, respectively. The incompatibility of these two conditions results in breaking the inversion symmetry, which manifests itself in the electric polarization $\overrightarrow{P}$. The noncollinear alignment of spins is one of examples of such coexistence of $\mathit{F}$ and $\mathit{A}$. This coexistence principle imposes a constraint on possible dependencies of $\overrightarrow{P}$ on the directions of spins, which can include only “antisymmetric coupling” in the bond, ${\overrightarrow{\mathcal{P}}}_{ij}·[{\mathit{e}}_i\times {\mathit{e}}_j]$, and “single-ion anisotropy”, ${\mathit{e}}_i·$ $\overrightarrow{\mathbb{\Pi }}$ ${\mathit{e}}_i$. Microscopically, ${\overrightarrow{\mathcal{P}}}_{ij}$ can be evaluated in the framework of superexchange theory. For the single Kramers doublet, this theory yields ${\overrightarrow{\mathcal{P}}}_{ij}\sim {\overrightarrow{\mathit{r}}}_{ij}^{\phantom{0}}$, where ${\overrightarrow{\mathit{r}}}_{ij}^{\phantom{0}}$ is the spin-dependent part of the position operator induced by the relativistic spin-orbit coupling. ${\overrightarrow{\mathit{r}}}_{ij}^{\phantom{0}}$ remains invariant under spatial inversion, providing the microscopic reason why noncollinear alignment of spins can induce $\overrightarrow{P}$ even in centrosymmetric crystals. The symmetry properties of ${\overrightarrow{\mathit{r}}}_{ij}^{\phantom{0}}$ can be rationalized from the viewpoint of symmetry of Kramers states. Particularly, the commonly used Katsura–Nagaosa–Balatsky (KNB) rule $\overrightarrow{P}\propto {\overrightarrow{ϵ}}_{ji}\times [{\mathit{e}}_i\times {\mathit{e}}_j]$ (${\overrightarrow{ϵ}}_{ji}$ being the direction of the bond $ij$) can be justified only for relatively high symmetry of the bonds. The single-ion anisotropy vanishes for the spin ${\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}$ or if magnetic ions are located in inversion centers, thus severely restricting the applicability of this microscopic mechanism. The properties of multiferroic materials are reconsidered from the viewpoint of these principles. A particular attention is paid to complications caused by possible deviations from the KNB rule. Full article

In view of the problems of low work efficiency and high operating costs caused by manual harvesting of Chinese cabbage in China, in this study, a Chinese cabbage harvester with agronomic integrity was designed. The harvester is mainly composed of a crawler chassis, a drawing device, a flexible clamping device, a cutting device, and a horizontal delivery device. Firstly, physical properties of Chinese cabbage such as diameter, plant height, weight, and drawing rate of Chinese cabbage were measured and analyzed to provide necessary basic data for the design of the harvester. Secondly, simulation tests were conducted on the Chinese cabbage harvesting process; a 3D model of Chinese cabbage using SolidWorks 2022 was established and filled with particles using the three-layer stacking method. At the same time, SolidWorks was applied to simplify the model of the Chinese cabbage harvester. The belt of the machine model was set as a flexible body through RecurDyn 2023 software and coupled with EDEM 2022 for simulation analysis. Based on single factor tests, the BBD model was applied to conduct multi-factor response surface analysis on the above factor levels. The optimal working conditions of the harvester were obtained as follows: the rotating speed of the cutting device was 207.85 r/min, the rotating speed of the flexible clamping conveyor belt was 165.51 r/min, the rotating speed of the drawing device was 102.38 r/min, and the machine walking speed was 1.37 km/h. The qualified rate of Chinese cabbage harvesting was the highest, achieving a maximum theoretical value of 97.91%. Field validation tests were conducted on the designed Chinese cabbage harvester. Based on the actual operating conditions of the Chinese cabbage harvester and the simulated operating parameters, the optimal parameter combination was finally determined as follows: rotating speed of the root cutting device was 200 r/min, rotating speed of the flexible clamping conveyor belt was 160 r/min, rotating speed of the drawing device was 100 r/min, and machine walking speed was 1.4 km/h, respectively. Through field verification tests, the highest qualified rate of Chinese cabbage harvesting reached 93.19%, showing a good harvesting effect, which approximates the simulated optimal qualified rate of 97.91%, meeting the mechanized harvesting demand of Chinese cabbage. This study provides reference to the further design and development of Chinese cabbage harvesters in the future. Full article

For the double-sided inductor–capacitor–capacitor (DS-LCC) compensation topology, the parametric deviation of compensation elements results in the mismatch between the resonant frequency and operating frequency. Furthermore, this mismatch leads to the loss of the load-independent constant output characteristics. Therefore, an innovative design approach based on the reduction in the capacitance ratio is proposed to attain the load-independent constant current under the parametric deviation. With the presented method, simply by reducing the compensation capacitor ratio, the load-independent constant current output characteristics can be preserved, and fluctuations in the transmission gain caused by the parametric deviation are minimized. This implies that when the constant transmission gain is achieved by the frequency modulation (FM) control, the required FM range can be reduced. Finally, from the experimental results, in the load range of 3 Ω to 33 Ω, compared to the high capacitance ratio, the load-independent constant current characteristics can be maintained at the low capacitance ratio. In addition, without parametric deviation, the transmission efficiencies at different capacitance ratios are basically the same at 93.5% and 94.2%, respectively. However, the transmission efficiencies under different parametric deviations at the low capacitance ratio are 87.4% and 84.9%, but only 73.9% and 68.2% at the high capacitance ratio. Full article

A basic feature of El Niño is an abnormal increase in the surface temperature of the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can throw ocean–atmosphere interactions out of balance, resulting in heavy rainfall and severe storms. This climate anomaly causes different levels of impacts worldwide, such as causing droughts in some regions and excessive rainfall in others. Therefore, it is important to determine the formation of El Niño by predicting the changes in the sea surface temperature (SST) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. In this paper, we propose a multi-element fusion network model based on convolutional long short-term memory (ConvLSTM) and an attention mechanism to predict the SST and analyze the effects of different elemental inputs on the model’s prediction performance using the prediction results. The experimental results show that using the sea surface wind (SSW) and sea level anomaly (SLA) as multi-element inputs to predict the SST overcame the shortcomings of the single-element forecast model, and the prediction accuracy of the two-element fusion model was better than that of the three-element fusion model. In the two-element fusion model, using the SSW as an input predicted the SST with a lower prediction error than using the SLA as an input and had better prediction performance compared with other benchmark models. For predicting the SST in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, the monthly average root mean square error (RMSE) was mainly concentrated in the range of 0.4–0.8 °C, and the regions with a larger error dispersion were located in the spatial range of 5° S–5° N and 130° W–90° W, and the monthly average regional RMSE was mainly concentrated in the range of 0.5–1 °C. Finally, we also validated the prediction performance of the model for the SST in El Niño and La Niña years, and the prediction results of the model in La Niña years were better than those in El Niño years. Full article

The frequency linearity of a frequency-swept light signal is critical for ensuring the precision of Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave (FMCW) laser ranging systems. A two-stage nonlinearity correction mechanism for frequency-swept light is proposed, combining both data-driven and principle-based approaches. In the main correction stage utilizing an electro-optic phase-locked loop (EO-PLL), high temporal resolution phase detection is achieved. To address the failure of the EO-PLL caused by a bandwidth limitation of the digital loop filter (DLF), a novel pre-correction mechanism is developed based on a data-driven approach. In this mechanism, the neural network (NN) model establishes a mapping relationship between the input and output of the real laser-modulation system, which effectively simulates this physical system and avoids the risk of trial-and-error damage. Afterwards, the Soft Actor–Critic (SAC) model interacts with the NN model and trains a decision-making agent to determine the optimal modulation strategy for the nonlinearity pre-correction of the frequency-swept light. During the training process of the SAC agent, both the modulation strategy and the accuracy of evaluating the strategy’s effectiveness are optimized. Moreover, in contrast to the basic Actor–Critic model, the SAC model enhances the exploration of modulation possibilities by maximizing entropy expectation of random strategy, thereby improving the robustness of the pre-correction mechanism. Finally, the frequency-swept characteristic analysis experiment proves that integrating NN-SAC with EO-PLL enables frequency locking under the reduced bandwidth of the DLF. Additionally, through actual ranging experiments, it is also demonstrated that the proposed mechanism significantly enhances ranging precision, repeatability, and stability. Therefore, by integrating data-driven and principle-based approaches, this investigation offers an innovative perspective for the nonlinearity correction of FMCW laser ranging and, furthermore, electro-optic control scenarios. Full article

Aging is a predominant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. There is evidence demonstrating that senescent cells not only play a significant role in organism aging but also contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases in younger ages. Encouraged by recent findings that the elimination of senescent cells by pharmacogenetic tools could slow down and even reverse organism aging in animal models, senolytic drugs have been developed, and the translation of results from basic research to clinical settings has been initiated. Because numerous studies in the literature show beneficial therapeutic effects of targeting senescent cells in cardiomyopathies associated with aging and ischemia/reperfusion and in atherosclerotic vascular disease, senolytic drugs are considered the next generation of therapies for cardiovascular disorders. However, recent studies have reported controversial results or detrimental effects caused by senolytic therapeutic approaches, including worsening of cardiac dysfunction, instability of atherosclerotic plaques, and even an increase in mortality in animal models, which challenges the translation of senolytic therapy into the clinical practice. This brief review article will focus on (1) analyzing and discussing the beneficial and detrimental effects of senolytic therapeutic approaches in cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular aging and (2) future research directions and questions that are essential to understand the controversies and to translate preclinical results of senolytic therapies into clinical practice. Full article

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been deemed a promising therapeutic method for treating diverse diseases. siRNA-based therapeutics provide a distinct mechanism of action by selectively targeting and silencing disease-causing genes at the post-transcriptional level. This paper provides an overview of the present state of siRNA-based therapeutics, highlighting their potential in different therapeutic areas. The first section of this review introduces the basic principles of siRNA technology, including its mechanism of action and delivery methods. Subsequently, we discuss the impediments associated with siRNA delivery and manufacturing development and the strategies for overcoming these obstacles. The clinical advancement of siRNA therapeutics in various disease areas, including cancer, genetic disorders, viral infections, and inflammatory diseases, is summarized. Lastly, we summarize the successes, failures, and lessons learned from the development of siRNAs. With advancements in delivery systems and improvements in target selection, the field of medicine can be revolutionized, and siRNA therapeutics can offer new treatment options for patients. Full article