Scalable solid-state synthesis of 2D transition metal oxide/graphene hybrid materials and their utilization for microsupercapacitors.

Two-dimensional metal oxide (MO) nanostructures have unique properties compared with their bulk or 0D and 1D (nanoparticle and nanowire) counterparts. Their abundant surface area and atomically thin 2D structure are advantageous for their applications in catalysis and energy, as well as integration with 2D layered materials such as graphene and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). However, fast and scalable synthesis of 2D MOs and their nanocomposites remains challenging. Here, we developed a microwave-assisted solid-state synthesis method for the scalable generation of 2D MOs and 2D MO/rGO nanocomposites with tunable structure and composition. The structures and properties of 2D Fe2O3 and 2D ZnO as well as their nanocomposites with rGO were systematically investigated. The excellent electrochemical properties of such 2D MO/rGO nanocomposites also enable us to use them as electrode materials to fabricate microsupercapacitors. This work provides new insights into the scalable and solid-state synthesis of 2D nanocomposites and their potential applications in catalysis, energy conversion and storage.

Engineered Living Structures with Shape-Morphing Capability Enabled by 4D Printing with Functional Bacteria.

Engineered living structures with the incorporation of functional bacteria have been explored extensively in recent years and have shown promising potential applications in biosensing, environmental remediation, and biomedicine. However, it is still rare and challenging to achieve multifunctional capabilities such as material production, shape transformation, and sensing in a single-engineered living structure. In this study, we demonstrate bifunctional living structures by synergistically integrating cellulose-generating bacteria with pH-responsive hydrogels, and the entire structures can be precisely fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) printing. Such 3D-printed bifunctional living structures produce cellulose nanofibers in ambient conditions and have reversible and controlled shape-morphing properties (usually referred to as four-dimensional printing). Those functionalities make them biomimetic versions of silkworms in the sense that both can generate nanofibers and have body motion. We systematically investigate the processing-structure-property relationship of the bifunctional living structures. The on-demand separation of 3D cellulose structures from the hydrogel template and the living nature of the bacteria after processing and shape transformation are also demonstrated.

Designed Microbial Biosynthesis of Hierarchical Bone-Mimetic Biocomposites in 3D-Printed Soft Bioreactors.

The creation of 3D biomimetic composite structures has important applications in tissue engineering, lightweight structures, drug delivery, and sensing. Previous approaches in fabricating 3D biomimetic composites have relied on blending or assembling chemically synthesized molecules or structures, making it challenging to achieve precise control of the size, geometry, and internal structure of the biomimetic composites. Here, we present a new approach for the creation of 3D bone-mimetic biocomposites with precisely controlled shape, hierarchical structure, and functionalities. Our approach is based on the integration of programmable microbial biosynthesis with 3D printing of gas-permeable and customizable bioreactors. The organic and inorganic components are bacterial cellulose and calcium hydroxyapatite via a mineral precursor, which are generated by Komagataeibacter xylinus and Bacillus simplex P6A, respectively, in 3D-printed silicone bioreactors in consecutive culturing cycles. This study is of high significance to biocomposites, biofabrication, and tissue engineering as it paves the way for the synergistic integration of microbial biosynthesis and additive manufacturing.

Phenotypic Analysis and Molecular Characterization of Enlarged Cell Size Mutant in Nannochloropsis oceanica.

The cell cycle is the fundamental cellular process of eukaryotes. Although cell-cycle-related genes have been identified in microalgae, their cell cycle progression differs from species to species. Cell enlargement in microalgae is an essential biological trait. At the same time, there are various causes of cell enlargement, such as environmental factors, especially gene mutations. In this study, we first determined the phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of a previously obtained enlarged-cell-size mutant of Nannochloropsis oceanica, which was designated ECS. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of the insertion sites of ECS indicated that the insertion fragment is integrated inside the 5'-UTR of U/P-type cyclin CYCU;1 and significantly decreases the gene expression of this cyclin. In addition, the transcriptome showed that CYCU;1 is a highly expressed cyclin. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis and RT-qPCR of cell-cycle-related genes showed that ECS maintains a high proportion of 4C cells and a low proportion of 1C cells, and the expression level of CYCU;1 in wild-type (WT) cells is significantly increased at the end of the light phase and the beginning of the dark phase. This means that CYCU;1 is involved in cell division in the dark phase. Our results explain the reason for the larger ECS size. Mutation of CYCU;1 leads to the failure of ECS to fully complete cell division in the dark phase, resulting in an enlargement of the cell size and a decrease in cell density, which is helpful to understand the function of CYCU;1 in the Nannochloropsis cell cycle.

Base-Mediated Tandem [3 + 2] Cycloaddition/Ring Openning Reaction of Arylhydrazonoyl Chlorides with Arylnitroso Compounds for Synthesis of Substituted Diazene Oxides.

A base-mediated tandem [3 + 2] cycloaddition/ring opening reaction of nitrilimines generated from arylhydrazonoyl chlorides with arylnitroso compounds has been developed. This protocol provides a novel and rapid approach for the synthesis of substituted azoxy compounds under mild conditions with moderate to good yields and a broad substrate scope.

Optical Co-Registration Method of Triaxial OPM-MEG and MRI.

The advent of optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) facilitates the development of on-scalp magnetoencephalography (MEG). In particular, the triaxial OPM emerged recently, making simultaneous measurements of all three orthogonal components of vector fields possible. The detection of triaxial magnetic fields improves the interference suppression capability and achieves higher source localization accuracy using fewer sensors. The source localization accuracy of MEG is based on the accurate co-registration of MEG and MRI. In this study, we proposed a triaxial co-registration method according to combined principal component analysis and iterative closest point algorithms for use of a flexible cap. A reference phantom with known sensor positions and orientations was designed and constructed to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method. Experiments showed that the average co-registered position errors of all sensors were approximately 1 mm and average orientation errors were less than 2.5° in the X -and Y orientations and less than 1.6° in the Z orientation. Furthermore, we assessed the influence of co-registration errors on the source localization using simulations. The average source localization error of approximately 1 mm reflects the effectiveness of the co-registration method. The proposed co-registration method facilitates future applications of triaxial sensors on flexible caps.

Macromolecular Engineering and Additive Manufacturing of Polyisobutylene-Based Thermoplastic Elastomers. II. The Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene)/Poly(phenylene oxide) System.

This series of publications describes research rendering soft polyisobutylene (PIB)-based thermoplastic elastomers 3D printable by blending with rigid chemically compatible thermoplastics. The molecular structure, morphology, physical properties, and 3D printability of such blends have been systematically investigated. The authors' first report was concerned with the rendering of soft poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (SIBS) 3D printable by blending with rigid polystyrene (PS). Here they report the macromolecular engineering of SIBS/polyphenylene oxide (PPO) blends for 3D printing. PPO, a rigid high-performance thermoplastic, is compatible with the hard PS block in SIBS; however, neither PPO nor SIBS can be directly 3D printed. The microphase-separated structures and physical properties of SIBS/PPO blends are systematically tuned by controlling blending ratios and molecular weights. Suitable composition ranges and desirable properties of SIBS/PPO blends for 3D printing are optimized. The morphology and properties of SIBS/PPO blends are characterized by an ensemble of techniques, including atomic force microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and thermal and mechanical properties testing. The elucidation of processing-structure-property relationship of SIBS/PPO blends is essential for 3D printing and advanced manufacturing of high-performance polymer systems.

Spatial accuracy evaluation of magnetic source imaging methods on OPM-based MEG.

The emergence of the optically pumped magnetometer (OPM)-based magnetoencephalography (MEG) has led to new developments in MEG technology. The source imaging results of different magnetic source imaging (MSI) methods show considerable differences, which makes it difficult for researchers to choose an appropriate method. This study assessed time-domain MSI methods implemented in the Brainstorm, FieldTrip, and SPM12 toolboxes using simulations. We proposed using a metric, variational free energy under the Bayesian framework, as an indicator to evaluate source imaging results because it does not require the ground truth of sources but uses the fitness of the measurement data. Our simulations demonstrated the effectiveness of the variational free energy in indicating the quality of the source reconstruction results. We then applied each MSI method to the real OPM-MEG experimental data. We aimed to highlight the characteristics of each method and provide references for researchers choosing an appropriate MSI method.

OMMR: Co-registration toolbox of OPM-MEG and MRI.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) based on optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG) has shown better flexibility in sensor configuration compared with the conventional superconducting quantum interference devices-based MEG system while being better suited for all-age groups. However, this flexibility presents challenges for the co-registration of MEG and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hindering adoption. This study presents a toolbox called OMMR, developed in Matlab, that facilitates the co-registration step for researchers and clinicians. OMMR integrates the co-registration methods of using the electromagnetic digitization system and two types of optical scanners (the structural-light and laser scanner). As the first open-source co-registration toolbox specifically for OPM-MEG, the toolbox aims to standardize the co-registration process and set the ground for future applications of OPM-MEG.

Spillover of a Tobamovirus from the Australian Indigenous Flora to Invasive Weeds.

The tobamovirus yellow tailflower mild mottle virus (YTMMV) was previously reported in wild plants of Anthocercis species (family Solanaceae) and other solanaceous indigenous species growing in natural habitats in Western Australia. Here, we undertook a survey of two introduced solanaceous weeds, namely Solanum nigrum (black nightshade) and Physalis peruviana (cape gooseberry) in the Perth metropolitan area and surrounds to determine if YTMMV has spread naturally to these species. At a remnant natural bushland site where both solanaceous weeds and indigenous Anthocercis hosts grew adjacent to one another, a proportion of S. nigrum and P. peruviana plants were asymptomatically-infected with YTMMV, confirming spillover had occurred. Populations of S. nigrum also grow as weeds in parts of the city isolated from remnant bushland and indigenous sources of YTMMV, and some of these populations were also infected with YTMMV. Fruit was harvested from virus-infected wild S. nigrum plants and the seed germinated under controlled conditions. Up to 80% of resultant seedlings derived from infected parent plants were infected with YTMMV, confirming that the virus is vertically-transmitted in S. nigrum, and therefore infection appears to be self-sustaining in this species. This is the first report of spillover of YTMMV to exotic weeds, and of vertical transmission of this tobamovirus. We discuss the roles of vertical and horizontal transmission in this spillover event, and its implications for biosecurity.

The Growth, Lipid Accumulation and Fatty Acid Profile Analysis by Abscisic Acid and Indol-3-Acetic Acid Induced in Chlorella sp. FACHB-8.

Microalgae are considered a promising source for biodiesel. The addition of plant hormone can exert a significant impact on the production of microalgae biomass and lipid accumulation. Nevertheless, the response of microalgae cells to hormones is species- or strain-dependent. It remains controversial which genes involved in strong increase of fatty acids production in response to abscisic acid (ABA) in Chlorella sp. FACHB-8 strain. We investigated cell growth, lipid accumulation, and fatty acid composition when ABA and indol-3-acetic acid (IAA) were used in the growth medium of Chlorella sp. FACHB-8. The four treatments, including 5 mg/L IAA (E1), 10 mg/L IAA (E2), 10 mg/L ABA (E3), the combination of 5 mg/L IAA and 5 mg/L ABA (E4), were found to increase cell growth, but only 10 mg/L ABA treatment could enhance the lipid accumulation. The fatty acid profile was changed by the addition of ABA, making fatty acids afflux from polyunsaturated fatty acids to monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, which were suitable for diesel application. Furthermore, a transcriptome analysis was conducted, unraveling the differentially expressed genes enriched in fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and biosynthesis of the unsaturated fatty acid pathway in response to ABA. Our results clarified the correlation of fatty acid synthesis-related genes and fatty acid profiles, helping understand the potential response mechanism of Chlorella sp. FACHB-8 strain respond to ABA treatment.

Multiple Source Detection Based on Spatial Clustering and Its Applications on Wearable OPM-MEG.

OBJECTIVE: Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a non-invasive technique that measures the magnetic fields of brain activity. In particular, a new type of optically pumped magnetometer (OPM)-based wearable MEG system has been developed in recent years. Source localization in MEG can provide signals and locations of brain activity. However, conventional source localization methods face the difficulty of accurately estimating multiple sources. The present study presented a new parametric method to estimate the number of sources and localize multiple sources. In addition, we applied the proposed method to a constructed wearable OPM-MEG system. METHODS: We used spatial clustering of the dipole spatial distribution to detect sources. The spatial distribution of dipoles was obtained by segmenting the MEG data temporally into slices and then estimating the parameters of the dipoles on each data slice using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. Spatial clustering was performed using the spatial-temporal density-based spatial clustering of applications with a noise algorithm. The performance of our approach for detecting multiple sources was compared with that of four typical benchmark algorithms using the OPM-MEG sensor configuration. RESULTS: The simulation results showed that the proposed method had the best performance for detecting multiple sources. Moreover, the effectiveness of the method was verified by a multimodel sensory stimuli experiment on a real constructed 31-channel OPM-MEG. CONCLUSION: Our study provides an effective method for the detection of multiple sources. SIGNIFICANCE: With the improvement of the source localization methods, MEG may have a wider range of applications in neuroscience and clinical research.

Imaging somatosensory cortex responses measured by OPM-MEG: Variational free energy-based spatial smoothing estimation approach.

In recent years, optically pumped magnetometer (OPM)-based magnetoencephalography (MEG) has shown potential for analyzing brain activity. It has a flexible sensor configuration and comparable sensitivity to conventional SQUID-MEG. We constructed a 32-channel OPM-MEG system and used it to measure cortical responses to median and ulnar nerve stimulations. Traditional magnetic source imaging methods tend to blur the spatial extent of sources. Accurate estimation of the spatial size of the source is important for studying the organization of brain somatotopy and for pre-surgical functional mapping. We proposed a new method called variational free energy-based spatial smoothing estimation (FESSE) to enhance the accuracy of mapping somatosensory cortex responses. A series of computer simulations based on the OPM-MEG showed better performance than the three types of competing methods under different levels of signal-to-noise ratios, source patch sizes, and co-registration errors. FESSE was then applied to the source imaging of the OPM-MEG experimental data.

Differential Symptom Development and Viral RNA Loads in 10 Nicotiana benthamiana Accessions Infected with the Tobamovirus Yellow Tailflower Mild Mottle Virus.

Yellow tailflower mild mottle virus (YTMMV, genus Tobamovirus) was identified from wild plants of solanaceous species in Australia. Nicotiana benthamiana is a species indigenous to the arid north of Australia. N. benthamiana accession RA-4 (the lab type), which has a mutant, functionally defective, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 1 (Rdr1) gene (Nb-Rdr1m), has played a significant role in plant virology, but little study has been done regarding responses to virus infection by other accessions of N. benthamiana. All wild-collected N. benthamiana accessions used in this study harbored wild-type Rdr1 genes (Nb-Rdr1). We compared symptoms of YTMMV infection and viral RNA load on RA-4 and nine wild-collected accessions of N. benthamiana from mainland Western Australia, an island, and the Northern Territory. After inoculation with YTMMV, RA-4 plants responded with systemic hypersensitivity and all individuals were dead 35 days postinoculation (dpi). Plants of wild-collected accessions exhibited a range of symptoms, from mild to severe, and some, but not all, died in the same period. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR revealed that the Rdr1 mutation was not a predictor of viral RNA load or symptom severity. For example, wild-collected A019412 plants carried more than twice the viral RNA load of RA-4 plants, but symptom expression was moderate. For plants of most accessions, viral RNA load did not increase after 10 dpi. The exception was plants of accession Barrow-1, in which viral RNA load was low until 15 dpi, after which it increased more than 29-fold. This study revealed differential responses by N. benthamiana accessions to infection by an isolate of YTMMV. The Rdr1 gene, whether mutant or wild-type, did not appear to influence viral RNA load or disease expression. Genetic diversity of the 10 N. benthamiana accessions in some cases reflected geographical location, but in other accessions this was not so.

Co-registration Comparison of On-Scalp Magnetoencephalography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) can non-invasively measure the electromagnetic activity of the brain. A new type of MEG, on-scalp MEG, has attracted the attention of researchers recently. Compared to the conventional SQUID-MEG, on-scalp MEG constructed with optically pumped magnetometers is wearable and has a high signal-to-noise ratio. While the co-registration between MEG and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) significantly influences the source localization accuracy, co-registration error requires assessment, and quantification. Recent studies have evaluated the co-registration error of on-scalp MEG mainly based on the surface fit error or the repeatability error of different measurements, which do not reflect the true co-registration error. In this study, a three-dimensional-printed reference phantom was constructed to provide the ground truth of MEG sensor locations and orientations relative to MRI. The co-registration performances of commonly used three devices-electromagnetic digitization system, structured-light scanner, and laser scanner-were compared and quantified by the indices of final co-registration errors in the reference phantom and human experiments. Furthermore, the influence of the co-registration error on the performance of source localization was analyzed via simulations. The laser scanner had the best co-registration accuracy (rotation error of 0.23° and translation error of 0.76 mm based on the phantom experiment), whereas the structured-light scanner had the best cost performance. The results of this study provide recommendations and precautions for researchers regarding selecting and using an appropriate device for the co-registration of on-scalp MEG and MRI.

Ultrathin Polydopamine-Graphene Oxide Hybrid Coatings on Polymer Filters with Improved Filtration Performance and Functionalities.

Thin polymer fiber mats, in particular those made of nonwoven polypropylene (PP) fibers, are extensively used for medical and industrial filtration. The recent pandemic has increased the demand for the fabrication of protective masks. The nonwoven PP filter has limitations in filtration efficiency and lacks advanced functionalities. Here, we propose a simple, effective, and low-cost method to functionalize PP filters and endow antimicrobial and photothermal properties. Our approach is based on the deposition of an ultrathin hybrid coating composed of graphene oxide (GO) and polydopamine on the surface of PP filters by spray-coating. The complementary properties and synergic effects of GO and polydopamine in the ultrathin coating improved the filtration efficiency of the PP filter by 20% with little change in pressure drop. Single component coatings did not result in similar improvements in performance. The ultrathin coating also makes the surface of the filter more hydrophilic with negative charges. The photothermal property of GO enables a rapid temperature increase of the surface-coated filter upon light irradiation for easy sterilization. Furthermore, cationic polymer brushes can be grafted to the ultrathin hybrid coating, which adds the highly desired antimicrobial property to the PP filters for their more effective protection against microorganisms.

Genome-wide analysis and prediction of genes involved in the biosynthesis of polysaccharides and bioactive secondary metabolites in high-temperature-tolerant wild Flammulina filiformis.

BACKGROUND: Flammulina filiformis (previously known as Asian F. velutipes) is a popular commercial edible mushroom. Many bioactive compounds with medicinal effects, such as polysaccharides and sesquiterpenoids, have been isolated and identified from F. filiformis, but their biosynthesis and regulation at the molecular level remains unclear. In this study, we sequenced the genome of the wild strain F. filiformis Liu355, predicted its biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and profiled the expression of these genes in wild and cultivar strains and in different developmental stages of the wild F. filiformis strain by a comparative transcriptomic analysis. RESULTS: We found that the genome of the F. filiformis was 35.01 Mb in length and harbored 10,396 gene models. Thirteen putative terpenoid gene clusters were predicted and 12 sesquiterpene synthase genes belonging to four different groups and two type I polyketide synthase gene clusters were identified in the F. filiformis genome. The number of genes related to terpenoid biosynthesis was higher in the wild strain (119 genes) than in the cultivar strain (81 genes). Most terpenoid biosynthesis genes were upregulated in the primordium and fruiting body of the wild strain, while the polyketide synthase genes were generally upregulated in the mycelium of the wild strain. Moreover, genes encoding UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, which are involved in polysaccharide biosynthesis, had relatively high transcript levels both in the mycelium and fruiting body of the wild F. filiformis strain. CONCLUSIONS: F. filiformis is enriched in a number of gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of polysaccharides and terpenoid bioactive compounds and these genes usually display differential expression between wild and cultivar strains, even in different developmental stages. This study expands our knowledge of the biology of F. filiformis and provides valuable data for elucidating the regulation of secondary metabolites in this unique F. filiformis strain.

Multicomponent DNA Polymerization Motor Gels.

Hydrogels with the ability to change shape in response to biochemical stimuli are important for biosensing, smart medicine, drug delivery, and soft robotics. Here, a family of multicomponent DNA polymerization motor gels with different polymer backbones is created, including acrylamide-co-bis-acrylamide (Am-BIS), poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), and gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) that swell extensively in response to specific DNA sequences. A common mechanism, a polymerization motor that induces swelling is driven by a cascade of DNA hairpin insertions into hydrogel crosslinks. These multicomponent hydrogels can be photopatterned into distinct shapes, have a broad range of mechanical properties, including tunable shear moduli between 297 and 3888 Pa and enhanced biocompatibility. Human cells adhere to the GelMA-DNA gels and remain viable during ≈70% volumetric swelling of the gel scaffold induced by DNA sequences. The results demonstrate the generality of sequential DNA hairpin insertion as a mechanism for inducing shape change in multicomponent hydrogels, suggesting widespread applicability of polymerization motor gels in biomaterials science and engineering.

Active matter therapeutics.

Nanotherapies based on micelles, liposomes, polymersomes, nanocapsules, magnetic nanoparticles, and noble metal nanoparticles have been at the forefront of drug delivery in the past few decades. Some of these nanopharmaceuticals have been commercially applied to treat a wide range of diseases, from dry eye syndrome to cancer. However, the majority involve particles that are passive, meaning that they do not change shape, and they lack motility; the static features can limit their therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we take a critical look at an emerging field that seeks to utilize active matter for therapeutics. In this context, active matter can be broadly referred to as micro or nanosized constructs that energetically react with their environment or external fields and translate, rotate, vibrate or change shape. Essentially, the recent literature suggests that such particles could significantly augment present-day drug delivery, by enhancing transport and increasing permeability across anatomical barriers by transporting drugs within solid tumor microenvironments or disrupting cardiovascular plaque. We discuss examples of such particles and link the transport and permeability properties of active matter to potential therapeutic applications in the context of two major diseases, namely cancer and heart disease. We also discuss potential challenges, opportunities, and translational hurdles.

[Effect of moxibustion on cardiac function and expression of autophagy-related proteins of cardiomyocytes in chronic heart failure rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion on cardiac function and expression of myocardial tumor suppressor protein p53, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphorylated(p)-mTOR (excessive autophagy-associated proteins of cardiomyocytes) in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of CHF. METHODS: SD rats were divided into blank control (n＝11), model(n＝8), autophagy activator (n＝8), autophagy inhibitor (n＝9) and moxibustion(n＝9) groups. The CHF model was established by i．p. injection of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride (DOX, 1 mg/mL, 1-4 mg/kg) every other day. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral "Feishu" (BL13) and "Xinshu" (BL15) for 20 min, 5 times a week for 3 weeks. Rats of the autophagy activator group received gavage of Rapamycin (RAPA, 2 mg/kg) and those of the autophagy inhibitor group received i．p. injection of Methyladenine (3-MA, 15 mg/kg) 5 times a week for 3 weeks after successful modeling. The heart weight and body weight were measured to calculate heart mass index (HW/BW＝heart weight ÷ body weight). Cardiac output (CO) and heart rate (HR) were measured by using a cardiac function meter. Serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) content was assayed by using ELISA, and the expression of myocardial p53, p-mTOR and mTOR proteins was examined by Western blot. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the blank control group, the HR, HW/BW, NT-pro BNP content and p53 expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the CO and ratio of p-mTOR/mTOR were significantly decreased in the model group (P<0.01). (2) Compared with the model group, the HR, HW/BW and NT-pro BNP content of the autophagy inhibitor and moxibustion groups were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and CO and p-mTOR/mTOR ratio were significantly increased in both autophagy inhibitor and moxibustion groups (P<0.01). (3) Compared with the autophagy activator group, the levels of HR, HW/BW, NT-pro BNP and p53 in the autophagy inhibitor and moxibustion groups were significantly lower (P<0.01), and those of CO and p-mTOR/mTOR levels were significantly higher (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion, similar to the autophagy inhibitor, has a protective action on myocardium in CHF rats, which is possible by preventing over expression of myocardial autophagy-associated proteins during CHF.