Characterization, Applications and New Technologies of Civil Engineering Materials and Structures.

With the continuous development of large-scale maintenance of infrastructure, accurate, reasonable, and efficient mechanical behavior evaluation and performance prediction of civil materials and structures have become the keys to improving service durability and intelligent maintenance management for infrastructure [...].

Analysis and Comparison of New-Born Calf Standing and Lying Time Based on Deep Learning.

Standing and lying are the fundamental behaviours of quadrupedal animals, and the ratio of their durations is a significant indicator of calf health. In this study, we proposed a computer vision method for non-invasively monitoring of calves' behaviours. Cameras were deployed at four viewpoints to monitor six calves on six consecutive days. YOLOv8n was trained to detect standing and lying calves. Daily behavioural budget was then summarised and analysed based on automatic inference on untrained data. The results show a mean average precision of 0.995 and an average inference speed of 333 frames per second. The maximum error in the estimated daily standing and lying time for a total of 8 calf-days is less than 14 min. Calves with diarrhoea had about 2 h more daily lying time (p < 0.002), 2.65 more daily lying bouts (p < 0.049), and 4.3 min less daily lying bout duration (p = 0.5) compared to healthy calves. The proposed method can help in understanding calves' health status based on automatically measured standing and lying time, thereby improving their welfare and management on the farm.

Study on the Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Concrete Pavements in Seasonally Frozen Regions.

In seasonally frozen regions, concrete pavement is exposed to cycles of freeze-thaw and erosion from de-icing salt, which can lead to unfavorable service conditions and vulnerability to damage. This paper examines the compressive strength, flexural-tensile strength, abrasion resistance, permeability, and spacing factor of concrete, taking into account the impact of various curing conditions, de-icing salt solutions, and mass fractions on the concrete's freeze-thaw resistance. Two test methods, the single-face method and the fast-freezing method, were used to comparatively analyze the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete. The analysis was based on the surface scaling, water absorption rate, mass loss rate, relative dynamic elastic modulus, and relative durability index. The results indicate that the presence of salt solution significantly worsened the degree of concrete damage caused by freeze-thaw cycles. The use of freeze-thaw media, specifically sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), and potassium acetate (KAc) at mass fractions of 5%, 4.74%, and 5%, respectively, had the greatest impact on the surface scaling of concrete. However, their effect on the water absorption rate was inconsistent. When the freeze-thaw medium was water, the concrete's relative dynamic elastic modulus and relative durability index were 9.6% and 75.3% higher, respectively, for concrete cured in 20 °C-95% RH conditions compared to those cured in 0 °C-50% RH conditions. We propose a comprehensive relative durability index (DFw) by combining the results of two methods of freeze-thaw tests. The DFw of concrete cured in 0 °C-50% RH conditions was 83.8% lower than that of concrete cured in 20 °C-95% RH conditions when exposed to a freeze-thaw medium of 5% mass fraction NaCl solution. To evaluate the salt freeze-thaw resistance of concrete pavement, it is recommended to use surface scaling and DFw together.

PPanG: a precision pangenome browser enabling nucleotide-level analysis of genomic variations in individual genomes and their graph-based pangenome.

Graph-based pangenome is gaining more popularity than linear pangenome because it stores more comprehensive information of variations. However, traditional linear genome browser has its own advantages, especially the tremendous resources accumulated historically. With the fast-growing number of individual genomes and their annotations available, the demand for a genome browser to visualize genome annotation for many individuals together with a graph-based pangenome is getting higher and higher. Here we report a new pangenome browser PPanG, a precise pangenome browser enabling nucleotide-level comparison of individual genome annotations together with a graph-based pangenome. Nine rice genomes with annotations were provided by default as potential references, and any individual genome can be selected as the reference. Our pangenome browser provides unprecedented insights on genome variations at different levels from base to gene, and reveals how the structures of a gene could differ for individuals. PPanG can be applied to any species with multiple individual genomes available and it is available at https://cgm.sjtu.edu.cn/PPanG .

Arthroscopic Medial Bi-portal Extra-articular Debridement for Recalcitrant Medial Epicondylitis.

Medial epicondylitis, or golfer's elbow, is characterized by pain and tenderness at the tendon insertion points of the pronator teres and flexor carpi radialis. Conservative treatment is sufficient for most patients, whereas surgical treatment is the best choice for intractable medial epicondylitis. With open surgery or arthroscopic surgery, good clinical results have been reported. However, there is still no consensus on which surgical technique is more ideal. We describe our technique of arthroscopic medial bi-portal extra-articular debridement, which is a safe and effective technique that allows more accurate debridement and maximum protection of the ulnar nerve while reducing surgical scars, relieving postoperative pain, reducing the probability of elbow infection and ankylosis, and shortening the recovery time.

Freeze-Thaw Damage Characterization of Cement-Stabilized Crushed Stone Base with Skeleton Dense Gradation.

The skeleton dense graded cement-stabilized crushed stone base is a widely used material for road construction. However, this material is susceptible to freeze-thaw damage, which can lead to degradation and failure, for which there is still a lack of an in-depth understanding of the freeze-thaw damage characteristics. This study aims to assess the mechanical performance and the freeze-thaw damage characteristics of the cement-stabilized crushed stone base with skeleton dense gradation based on a mechanical test and acoustic technology in a laboratory. There is a gradually increasing trend in the mass loss rate of the base material with an increase in freeze-thaw cycles. The curve steepens significantly after 15 cycles, following a parabola-fitting pattern relationship. The compressive strength of the cement-stabilized crushed stone base also decreased with a parabola-fitting pattern, and the decrease rate may accelerate as the freeze-thaw cycles increase. The resilience modulus of the base material decreased with increasing freeze-thaw cycles, following a parabolic trend. This suggests that the material's resistance to freeze-thaw damage decreases with increasing cycles. The ultrasonic wave velocity decreased with increasing freeze-thaw cycles, exhibiting a parabolic trend. This decline can be attributed to microcracks and defects developing within the material, offering insights for monitoring and predicting its service life. The damage progression of the cement-stabilized crushed stone base was found to occur in three stages: initial, stationary, and failure. The duration of stage I increased with freeze-thaw cycles, while the duration of stage III decreased. The findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms and processes of freeze-thaw damage in a cement-stabilized crushed stone base with skeleton dense gradation.

Freeze-Thaw Damage Characteristics of Concrete Based on Compressive Mechanical Properties and Acoustic Parameters.

Concrete is a versatile material widely used in modern construction. However, concrete is also subject to freeze-thaw damage, which can significantly reduce its mechanical properties and lead to premature failure. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the laboratory performance and freeze-thaw damage characteristics of a common mix proportion of concrete based on compressive mechanical tests and acoustic technologies. Freeze-thaw damage characteristics of the concrete were evaluated via compressive mechanical testing, mass loss analysis, and ultrasonic pulse velocity testing. Acoustic emission (AE) technology was utilized to assess the damage development status of the concrete. The outcomes indicated that the relationships between cumulative mass loss, compressive strength, and ultrasonic wave velocity and freeze-thaw cycles during the freezing-thawing process follow a parabola fitting pattern. As the freeze-thaw damage degree increased, the surface presented a trend of "smooth intact surface" to "surface with dense pores" to "cement mortar peeling" to "coarse aggregates exposed on a large area". Therefore, there was a rapid decrease in the mass loss after a certain number of freeze-thaw cycles. According to the three stages divided by the stress-AE parameter curve, the linear growth stage shortens, the damage accumulation stage increases, and the failure stage appears earlier with the increase in freeze-thaw cycles. In conclusion, the application of a comprehensive understanding of freeze-thaw damage characteristics of concrete based on compressive properties and acoustic parameters would enhance the evaluation of the performance degradation and damage status for concrete structures.

IFI16 Positively Regulates RIG-I-Mediated Type I Interferon Production in a STING-Independent Manner.

Previous studies have shown that interferon gene-stimulating protein (STING) is essential for IFN-γ-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) as the DNA sensor and RNA sensor to induce transcription of type I interferon (IFN-I) and is essential for IFI16 to synergize with DNA sensor GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) in induction of IFN-I transcription. While other and our previous studies have shown that IFI16 enhanced retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-, which was an RNA sensor, and mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS)-, which was the adaptor protein of RIG-I, induced production of IFN-I, so we wonder whether IFI16 regulates the signal pathway of RNA-RIG-I-MAVS-IFN-I in a STING-dependent manner. We used HEK 293T cells, which did not express endogenous STING and were unable to mount an innate immune response upon DNA transfection and found that IFI16 could enhance RIG-I- and MAVS-mediated induction of IFN-I in a STING-independent way. Furthermore, we found that upregulation of the expression of NF-kappa-B essential modulator (NEMO) by IFI16 was not the mechanism that IFI16 regulated the induction of IFN-I. In conclusion, we found that IFI16 regulated the signal pathway of RNA-RIG-I-MAVS-IFN-I in a STING-independent manner.

Gastrodin regulates the TLR4/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway to reduce neuroinflammation and microglial activation in an AD model.

BACKGROUND: Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae) is a medicinal plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. The rhizomes contain numerous active components, of which Gastrodin (p-hydroxymethylphenyl-B-D-glucopyranoside) forms the basis of the traditional medicine Gastrodiae Rhizoma. Gastrodin is also found in other medicinal plants and has neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in neurodegeneration. Research indicates that consuming meals and drinks containing Gastrodiaelata can enhance cognitive functioning and memory in elderly patients. The mechanisms relevant to the problem have not been completely understood. PURPOSE: The aim was to examine the in vivo and in vitro anti-neuroinflammatory effects of Gastrodin. STUDY DESIGN: The neuroprotective effects of Gastrodin on the TLR4/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway and Stat3 phosphorylation in LPS-treated C57BL/6 mice and BV-2 cells were investigated. METHODS: 1. C57BL/6 mice were assigned to model, gastrodin, donepezil, and control groups (n = 10 per group). The Gastrodin group received 100 mg/kg/d for five days, and the Dopenezil group 1.3 mg/kg/d. A neuroinflammation model was established by administering intraperitoneal injections of 2 mg/kg LPS to all groups, excluding the control. To induce microglial activation in Gastrodin-treated mouse microglial BV-2 cells, 1 µg/ml LPS was introduced for 24 h Morris water mazes were utilized to evaluate learning and spatial memory. Expression and subcellular localization of TLR4/TRAF6/NF-κB axis-related proteins and p-Stat3, Iba-1, GFAP, iNOS, and CD206 were assessed by immunofluorescence, western blots, and ELISA. qRT-PCR was performed to determine and measure IL-1ß, TNF-α, cell migration, and phagocytosis. Overexpression of TRAF6 was induced by transfection, and the effect of Gastrodin on IL-1ß and p-NF-κB p65 levels was assessed. RESULTS: 1. In mice, gastrodin treatment mitigated LPS-induced deficits in learning and spatial memory, as well as reducing neuroinflammation in the hippocampus, expression of TLR4/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway proteins, activation of microglia and astrocytes, and phosphorylation of Stat3. 2. Gastrodin pretreatment improved LPS-induced inflammation in vitro, reducing expression of TLR4/TRAF6/NF-κB-associated proteins and p-Stat3, inducing microglial transformation from M1 to M2, and inhibiting migration and phagocytosis. Overexpression of TRAF6 inhibited the Gastrodin-induced effects. CONCLUSION: Gastrodin suppresses neuroinflammation and microglial activation by modifying the TLR4/TRAF6/NF-κB pathway and Stat3 phosphorylation.

Pedigree genome data of an early-matured Geng/japonica glutinous rice mega variety Longgeng 57.

By using PacBio HiFi technology, we produced over 700 Gb of long-read sequencing (LRS) raw data; and by using Illumina paired-end whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing technology, we generated more than 70 Gb of short-read sequencing (SRS) data. With LRS data, we assembled one genome and then generate a set of annotation data for an early-matured Geng/japonica glutinous rice mega variety genome, Longgeng 57 (LG57), which carries multiple elite traits including good grain quality and wide adaptability. Together with the SRS data from three parents of LG57, pedigree genome variations were called for three representative types of genes. These data sets can be used for deep variation mining, aid in the discovery of new insights into genome structure, function, and evolution, and help to provide essential support to biological research in general.

Intelligent weight prediction of cows based on semantic segmentation and back propagation neural network.

Accurate prediction of cattle weight is essential for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of livestock management practices. However, conventional methods often involve labor-intensive procedures and lack instant and non-invasive solutions. This study proposed an intelligent weight prediction approach for cows based on semantic segmentation and Back Propagation (BP) neural network. The proposed semantic segmentation method leveraged a hybrid model which combined ResNet-101-D with the Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) attention mechanism to obtain precise morphological features from cow images. The body size parameters and physical measurements were then used for training the regression-based machine learning models to estimate the weight of individual cattle. The comparative analysis methods revealed that the BP neural network achieved the best results with an MAE of 13.11 pounds and an RMSE of 22.73 pounds. By eliminating the need for physical contact, this approach not only improves animal welfare but also mitigates potential risks. The work addresses the specific needs of welfare farming and aims to promote animal welfare and advance the field of precision agriculture.

Reduced expression of semaphorin 3A in osteoclasts causes lymphatic expansion in a Gorham-Stout disease (GSD) mouse model. / ç ´éª¨ç»†èƒžä¸­ä¿¡å·ç´ 3Aè¡¨è¾¾çš„å‡å°‘å¯¼è‡´å°é¼ GSDæ¨¡åž‹ä¸­æ·‹å·´ç®¡æ‰©å¼ .

Gorham-Stout disease (GSD) is a sporadic chronic disease characterized by progressive bone dissolution, absorption, and disappearance along with lymphatic vessel infiltration in bone-marrow cavities. Although the osteolytic mechanism of GSD has been widely studied, the cause of lymphatic hyperplasia in GSD is rarely investigated. In this study, by comparing the RNA expression profile of osteoclasts (OCs) with that of OC precursors (OCPs) by RNA sequencing, we identified a new factor, semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), which is an osteoprotective factor involved in the lymphatic expansion of GSD. Compared to OCPs, OCs enhanced the growth, migration, and tube formation of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), in which the expression of Sema3A is low compared to that in OCPs. In the presence of recombinant Sema3A, the growth, migration, and tube formation of LECs were inhibited, further confirming the inhibitory effect of Sema3A on LECs in vitro. Using an LEC-induced GSD mouse model, the effect of Sema3A was examined by injecting lentivirus-expressing Sema3A into the tibiae in vivo. We found that the overexpression of Sema3A in tibiae suppressed the expansion of LECs and alleviated bone loss, whereas the injection of lentivirus expressing Sema3A short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into the tibiae caused GSD-like phenotypes. Histological staining further demonstrated that OCs decreased and osteocalcin increased after Sema3A lentiviral treatment, compared with the control. Based on the above results, we propose that reduced Sema3A in OCs is one of the mechanisms contributing to the pathogeneses of GSD and that expressing Sema3A represents a new approach for the treatment of GSD.

miR-206 alleviates LPS-induced inflammatory injury in cardiomyocytes via directly targeting USP33 to inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Previous reports have confirmed that miR-206 participates in inflammatory cardiomyopathy, but its definite mechanism remains elusive. This study aims to elucidate the potential mechanism of miR-206 in septic cardiomyopathy (SCM). The primary mouse cardiomyocytes were isolated and exposed to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to construct a septic injury model in vitro. Then, the gene transcripts and protein levels were detected by RT-qPCR and/or Western blot assay. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory responses were evaluated by CCK-8/EdU, flow cytometry, and ELISA assays, respectively. Dual luciferase assay, Co-IP, and ubiquitination experiments were carried out to validate the molecular interactions among miR-206, USP33, and JAK2/STAT3 signaling. miR-206 was significantly downregulated, but USP33 was upregulated in LPS-induced cardiomyocytes. Gain-of-function of miR-206 elevated the proliferation but suppressed the inflammatory responses and apoptosis in LPS-induced cardiomyocytes. USP33, as a member of the USP protein family, was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-206 and could catalyze deubiquitination of JAK2 to activate JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Rescue experiments presented that neither upregulation of USP33 nor JAK2/STAT3 signaling activation considerably reversed the protective effects of miR-206 upregulation in LPS-induced cardiomyocytes. The above data showed that miR-206 protected cardiomyocytes from LPS-induced inflammatory injuries by targeting the USP33/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, which might be a novel target for SCM treatment.

High-throughput synthesis of nanoparticles using oscillating feedback microreactors: a selective scaling-out strategy.

High-throughput synthesis of high-quality nanoparticles using traditional methods is difficult because of the complexities in controlling residence time and concentration. Passive oscillating feedback micromixers (OFMs) can overcome these difficulties. However, it remains a challenge to significantly increase throughput while retaining the microfluidic advantages. In this work, a selective scaling-out strategy was used to generate a series of enlarged OFMs, which were demonstrated to produce BaSO4 nanoparticles. A novel chaotic convection synthesis mode was found to produce high-quality BaSO4 nanoparticles (mean size, 24.91 nm; size distribution, 10-50 nm) at a high throughput of 281.4 mL min-1. The NP production rate can reach 538.4 g h-1, far exceeding the reported production rates.

Protective effect of tretinoin derivative and TXNRD1 protein on streptozotocin induced gestational diabetes via an age-rage signaling-pathway.

BACKGROUND: In the present study effect of tretinoin derivative was investigated on the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in mice model in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes was induced in mice by injecting Streptozotocin (STZ) for 5consecutive days at a dose of 65 mg/kg body weight through the intraperitoneal route. Tretinoin derivative was given to the mice at 0.12 and 0.25 mg/kg doses through gavage in normal saline alternately for one week after STZ injection. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that tretinoin derivative administration to the diabetic mice significantly (P<0.05) alleviated the blood FBG and FINS levels. Administration of tretinoin derivative to the diabetic mice significantly (P<0.05) promoted the blood HDL level and alleviated TC and TG levels. The administration of tretinoin derivative to the diabetic mice significantly (P<0.05) alleviated the CRP, IL-6and TNF-α production in pancreatic tissues. Tretinoin derivative administration to the diabetic mice significantly (P<0.05) elevated the SOD activity, and CAT level and lowered the MDA level in pancreatic tissues. The TXNRD1 expression in diabetic mice was comparable to that in the normal group after administration of tretinoin derivativeat the dose of 0.25 mg/kg dose. In silico data demonstrated that tretinoin derivativeinteracts with TXNRD1 protein with the binding affinity ranging from -10 to 9.4 kcal/ mol. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, tretinoin derivative administration effectively regulated streptozotocin-induced changes in fasting blood glucose, insulin level, high-density lipid level and triglyceride level in diabetic mice in vivo. The streptozotocin-induced excessive production of C-reactive protein and inflammatory cytokines was also down-regulated in diabetic mice on administration of tretinoin derivative. Therefore, tretinoin derivative can be investigated further as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Self-similar pulse compression in a tapered Pb-silicate photonic crystal fiber at 2 µm.

We report a 2-µm all-fiber nonlinear pulse compressor based on a tapered Pb-silicate photonic crystal fiber (PCF), which is capable of achieving large compression with low pedestal energy. A tapered Pb-silicate photonic crystal fiber with increased nonlinear coefficients is proposed for achieving self-similar pulse compression (SSPC) at 2 µm. The dynamic evolution of the fundamental order soliton is numerically analyzed based on the designed tapered fiber. After pulse compression in a tapered fiber with a length of 2.2 m, an initial 1.76 ps pulse can be compressed to 88 fs, increasing the peak power from 4.4 to 86 W with a compression factor of 20 and a quality factor of 98%. The results reveal that exponential variation yields superior compression performance and provides a promising solution for generating high-power femtosecond pulses at 2 µm.

Preparation and Performance Investigation of Epoxy Resin-Based Permeable Concrete Containing Ceramsite.

Permeable concrete is an innovative type of concrete that provides a sustainable solution for stormwater management by allowing water to seep through and be filtered naturally. This study focuses on the preparation and performance investigation of an epoxy resin-based permeable concrete containing ceramsite. In this study, ceramsite, a lightweight aggregate, is used as a substitute for conventional aggregates in the concrete mixture. The epoxy resin is then added to improve the strength and durability of the concrete. A series of tests, including compressive strength, water permeability, and freeze-thaw resistance tests, are conducted to evaluate the performance of the epoxy resin-based permeable concrete. The results show that with an increasing epoxy resin binder-aggregate ratio, the compressive strength of the epoxy resin-based permeable concrete significantly increases while the permeability coefficient decreases. Different types of aggregates have varying effects on the compressive strength and permeability coefficient of epoxy resin-based permeable concrete, with high-strength clay ceramsite providing the highest compressive strength and lightweight ceramsite having the highest permeability coefficient. In addition, the discrete element simulation method effectively and feasibly determines the ultimate load and accurately simulates the compressive strength of the permeable cement-based mixture, consistent with the measured compressive strength. A quadratic polynomial regression analysis yielded an R2 value of around 0.93, showing a strong relationship between durability and freeze-thaw cycles. The findings contribute to the development of sustainable construction materials for stormwater management and offer potential applications in various infrastructure projects.

Enteric glial cells aggravate the intestinal epithelial barrier damage by secreting S100ß under high-altitude conditions.

Damage to the intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) has been reported under high-altitude (HA) conditions and may be responsible for HA-associated gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. However, this pathogenetic mechanism does not fully explain the GI stress symptoms, such as flatulence and motility diarrhea, which accompany the IEB damage under HA conditions, especially for the people exposed to HA acutely. In the present study, we collected the blood samples from the people who lived at HA and found the concentration of enteric glial cells (EGCs)-associated biomarkers increased significantly. HA mouse model was then established and the results revealed that EGCs were involved in IEB damage. Zona occludens (ZO)-1, occludin, and claudin-1 expression was negatively correlated with that of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S100ß under HA conditions. In order to learn more about how EGCs influence IEB, the in vitro EGC and MODE-K hypoxia experiments that used hypoxic stimulation for simulating in vivo exposure to HA was performed. We found that hypoxia increased S100ß secretion in EGCs. And MODE-K cells cultured in medium conditioned by hypoxic EGCs showed low ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 levels of expression. Furthermore, treatment of MODE-K cells with recombinant mouse S100ß resulted in diminished levels of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 expression. Thus, HA exposure induces greater S100ß secretion by EGCs, which aggravates the damage to the IEB. This study has revealed a novel mechanism of IEB damage under HA conditions, and suggest that EGCs may constitute a fresh avenue for the avoidance of GI disorders at HA.