A Soy Protein-Based Film Based on Chemical Treatment and Microcrystalline Cellulose Reinforcement Obtained from Corn Husk Byproducts.

Developing an environmentally friendly soy protein-based film that offers excellent performance has garnered considerable interest while also posing a significant challenge. Herein, we propose the strategy of covalent and noncovalent cross-linking to improve the mechanical properties of the films. First, chemical denaturation was carried out under the combined action of sodium sulfite, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium hydroxide, and urea to reshape the structure of the protein to improve the solubility of protein and release active groups. Then, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from low-cost agro-industrial byproducts (corn husk) was employed to balance the covalent cross-linking reaction between proteins and the noncovalent reaction between MCC and protein. The results indicate that the structure and properties of the soy protein-based films were modified and improved through chemical treatment in conjunction with biomass enhancement. It is concluded that the addition of 1% MCC improves the tensile strength, elastic modulus, water solubility, and water vapor permeability of "MCC-1%" by 64.7, 75.9, 22.7, and 12.9%, respectively. Additionally, the resulting film of "MCC-1%" exhibits better resistance to thermal degradation and improved thermo-stability. However, the elongation at break decreased by increasing the addition of MCC. Thus, this work may provide a simple and affordable approach to preparing a high-performing soy protein-based film.

Preparation of MgAl-LDHs loaded with blast furnace slag and its removal of Cu(II) and methylene blue from aqueous solution.

Blast furnace slag (BFS) is a kind of waste produced in industrial production, as well as a valuable secondary resource. In this paper, layered double hydroxides composites (BFS/LDHs) were prepared by aqueous polymerization, with industrial waste BFS as modifier and magnesium nitrate, aluminium nitrate, and urea as raw materials. BFS/LDHs have been characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier infrared spectrometer (FT IR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and the specific surface area analyser (BET). The adsorption of BFS/LDHs on Cu (II) and methylene blue (MB) was investigated by batch experiments. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of BFS/LDHs to Cu (II) is stronger than that of MB. What's more, the solid concentration effect was found in the process of sorption kinetics and sorption isotherms. The sorption kinetics curves of Cu (II) and MB on BFS/LDHs were well fitted by the quasi-second-order kinetics under different adsorbent concentrations. Langmuir and Freundlich sorption isotherm models were used to analyse the adsorption. It showed that the adsorption conforms to Langmuir and Freundlich's adsorption isotherm models. The BFS/LDHs composites have good recycling availability in this adsorption process of Cu (II) and MB, the removal capacity of which was reduced by 16.1% and 3.8% after being recycled for six times, respectively. More importantly, BFS/LDHs composites are not only expected to become a sewage treatment agent, but also to solve the problem of industrial waste treatment, which is a win-win strategy.

[Penehyclidine hydrochloride regulates angiopoietin 2/vascular endothelial cadherin (Ang2/VE-cadherin) pathway to alleviate LPS induced lung injury in rats].

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHCD) on vascular endothelial injury in septic rats. Methods Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced sepsis group (model group), low dose PHCD (0.3 mg/kg) group, medium dose PHCD (1.0 mg/kg) group and high dose PHCD (3.0 mg/kg) groups, ten mice for each group. Normal saline was injected into the tail vein of the control group, and 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected into the tail vein of the rats in other groups to prepare the sepsis rat models. After the models were successfully established, low, medium and high doses (0.3, 1.0, 3.0 mg/kg) of PHCD solution were injected into the tail vein of the rats of corresponding groups. Wet/dry mass ratio (W/D) of lung tissue of rats in each group was measured, and ELISA was used to assay interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6 content and rat plasma angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of lung tissues. Immunohistochemical staining was used to observe the expression of Ang2 in the right lung tissues. Western blot analysis was performed to detect Ang2 and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) protein in lung tissues. Results Compared with the control group, the W/D ratio of the lung tissues of rats in the model group and the contents of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in BALF were significantly increased; the lung tissues showed obvious pathological damage, with up-regulation of Ang2 expression and down-regulation of VE-Cadherin expression. Compared with the model group, the W/D ratio of the lung tissues of rats in three PHCD treatment groups and the contents of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in BALF were significantly reduced; the pathological damage of lung tissue was significantly reduced, with down-regulation of Ang2 expression and up-regulation of VE-cadherin expression. Conclusion PHCD can reduce LPS-induced lung inflammation in rats with sepsis by regulating the Ang2/VE-Cadherin pathway, thereby improving vascular endothelial injury.

Vision-Based Automated Recognition and 3D Localization Framework for Tower Cranes Using Far-Field Cameras.

Tower cranes can cover most of the area of a construction site, which brings significant safety risks, including potential collisions with other entities. To address these issues, it is necessary to obtain accurate and real-time information on the orientation and location of tower cranes and hooks. As a non-invasive sensing method, computer vision-based (CVB) technology is widely applied on construction sites for object detection and three-dimensional (3D) localization. However, most existing methods mainly address the localization on the construction ground plane or rely on specific viewpoints and positions. To address these issues, this study proposes a framework for the real-time recognition and localization of tower cranes and hooks using monocular far-field cameras. The framework consists of four steps: far-field camera autocalibration using feature matching and horizon-line detection, deep learning-based segmentation of tower cranes, geometric feature reconstruction of tower cranes, and 3D localization estimation. The pose estimation of tower cranes using monocular far-field cameras with arbitrary views is the main contribution of this paper. To evaluate the proposed framework, a series of comprehensive experiments were conducted on construction sites in different scenarios and compared with ground-truth data obtained by sensors. The experimental results show that the proposed framework achieves high precision in both crane jib orientation estimation and hook position estimation, thereby contributing to the development of safety management and productivity analysis.

Empagliflozin improves kidney senescence induced by D-galactose by reducing sirt1-mediated oxidative stress.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have received widespread attention because of their significant protective effects on the kidney. Previous studies have shown that Sirt1, as which is an antiaging protein, is closely related to the maintenance of redox homeostasis. The goal of this study was to determine whether empagliflozin could ameliorate D-galactose-induced renal senescence in mice, and examine the possible mechanisms of Sirt1. We constructed a rapid ageing model in mice by administering D-galactose. An ageing model was constructed by treating cells with high glucose. Treadmill and Y-maze tests were used to assess exercise tolerance and learning memory ability. Pathologically stained sections were used to assess kidney injury. Tissue and cell senescence were evaluated by senescence-associated ß-galactosidase staining. The expression levels of P16, SOD1, SOD2 and Sirt1 were detected by immunoblotting. D-gal-treated mice exhibited significant age-related changes, as measured by behavioural tests and ageing marker protein levels. empagliflozin alleviated these ageing manifestations. In addition, Sirt1, SOD1 and SOD2 levels were downregulated in model mice and upregulated by empagliflozin treatment. Empagliflozin had similar protective effects at the cellular level, and these effects were reduced by the Sirt1 inhibitor. Empagliflozin has an antiaging effect, which may be related to reducing Sirt1-mediated oxidative stress.

SFRP2 is a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker and Suppresses the Proliferation of Pituitary Adenoma.

Pituitary adenoma (PA) constitutes one of the most common intracranial tumors. The present study was designed to identify potential diagnostic markers for PA. We used gene expression profiles (GEO: GSE26966 and GEO: GSE63357 datasets) derived from human PA and nontumor samples that were made freely accessible by the gene expression omnibus (GEO) datasets. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened between 14 normal specimens and 34 PA specimens by the use of the limma package of the R. The diagnostic genes were determined using a LASSO regression model and SVM-RFE analysis. SFRP2 expression in PA cells was analyzed using RT-PCR, and the effect of SFRP2 dysregulation on PA cell proliferation was measured using CCK-8 analysis. In this study, 361 DEGs were identified: 309 genes were downregulated and 52 genes were upregulated. The results of KEGG assays revealed that the 361 DEGs were mainly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, growth hormone synthesis, secretion and action, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. Results from the LASSO regression model and the SVM-RFE analysis indicated that LOC101060391 and SFRP2 were diagnostic genes. In contrast to normal tissue, the expressions of LOC101060391 and SFRP2 were much lower in PA samples. According to the ROC assays, high LOC101060391 and SFRP2 expression had an AUC value >0.9 for PA. Upregulation of SFRP2 distinctly inhibited the proliferative capacity of PA cells, as shown by CCK-8 analysis. Furthermore, knockdown of SFRP2 had an influence on cell growth in both the AtT-20 and HP75 cell lines. Taken together, our findings indicate that LOC101060391 and SFRP2 have diagnostic potential for PA. Furthermore, SFRP2 may be an antioncogene and a therapeutic target for PA.

Peptidoglycan-Mediated Bone Marrow Autonomic Neuropathy Impairs Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells via a NOD1-Dependent Pathway in db/db Mice.

Impairment of bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) contributes to the progression of vascular complications in subjects with diabetes. Very small amounts of bacterial-derived pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) establish the bone marrow cell pool. We hypothesize that alteration of the PAMP peptidoglycan (PGN) exacerbates HSPC dysfunction in diabetes. We observed increased PGN infiltration in the bone marrow of diabetic mice. Exogenous administration of PGN selectively reduced the number of long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs), accompanied by impaired vasoreparative functions in db/db mouse bone marrow. We further revealed that bone marrow denervation contributed to PGN-associated HSPC dysfunction. Inhibition of NOD1 ameliorated PGN-induced bone marrow autonomic neuropathy, which significantly rejuvenated the HSPC pools and functions in vivo. These data reveal for the first time that PGN, as a critical factor on the gut-bone marrow axis, promotes bone marrow denervation and HSPC modulation in the context of diabetes.

Preparation of a High-Temperature Soybean Meal-Based Adhesive with Desired Properties via Recombination of Protein Molecules.

A soybean protein-based adhesive with desired adhesion properties and low processing cost is prepared by a simple and practical method, which is of great significance to the sustainable utilization of resources and human health. Nevertheless, the protein of high-temperature soybean meal (HSM) has a high degree of denaturation and low solubility, endowing the resultant soybean-based adhesive with a high viscosity and unstable bonding performance. Herein, we propose the strategy of protein molecular recombination to improve the bonding properties of the adhesive. First, chemical denaturation was carried out under the combined action of sodium sulfite, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium hydroxide, urea, or sodium dodecyl sulfate/sodium hydroxide to reshape the structure of the protein to release active groups. Then, thermal treatment was employed to facilitate the protein repolymerization and protein-carbohydrate Maillard reaction. Meanwhile, the epichlorohydrin-modified polyamide (PAE) as a crosslinking agent was introduced to recombine unfolded protein and the products from Maillard reaction to develop an eco-friendly soy protein-based adhesive with an excellent and stable bonding performance. As expected, the highest cycle wet bond strength of the adhesive sample of 1.20 MPa was attained by adding a combination of 2% SDS and 0.5% sodium hydroxide, exceeding the value required for structural use (0.98 MPa) of 22.44% according to the JIS K6806-2003 commercial standard. Moreover, the adhesive possessed the preferable viscosity and viscosity stability accompanied by good wettability. Noteworthily, the adhesive had a short time of dry glue, which could be solved by combining it with soybean meal (SM) at the ratio of 30:10.

The Relationships among Plasma Fetuin-B, Thyroid Autoimmunity, and Fertilization Rate In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer.

Objective: The objective of the study is to investigate the relationships between fetuin-B, thyroid autoimmunity (TAI), and pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Design, Patients, and Measurements. In this prospective study, 180 women who were preparing for pregnancy with IVF-ET were included. There were 120 women with TAI positive and 60 negative controls matched with age and BMI. Results: The 180 women had mean ± SD age of 31.4 ± 4.0 years, with a mean ± SD BMI of 21.0 ± 1.6 kg/m2. There was a significant difference in the level of fetuin-B in women with TAI positive compared with TAI negative group (65.2 ± 18.5 vs. 76.4 ± 25.1, P=0.001). Fetuin-B had a negative relationship with thyroid antibodies even after adjusting for other variables (OR (95%CI) = 0.98 (0.96-0.99), P=0.002). Compared with women with TAI negative, those with TAI positive had a significantly higher risk of low fertilization (20.0% vs. 6.7%; P=0.035). And we found no difference in terms of pregnancy, abortion, implantation, and live birth rate between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that both fetuin-B and TAI were the independent factors to lead the low fertilization of IVF-ET (OR (95%CI) = 0.96 (0.94-0.99) and 4.084 (1.39-15.30), P=0.004 and 0.019, respectively). Conclusion: Fetuin-B was significantly associated with TAI and low fertilization rate in women undergoing IVF-ET. Decreased fetuin-B in women with TAI may be the underlying reason for the lower IVF-ET success rate.

Computer Vision-Based Construction Process Sensing for Cyber-Physical Systems: A Review.

Cyber-physical systems (CPSs) are generally considered to be the next generation of engineered systems. However, the actual application of CPSs in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry is still at a low level. The sensing method in the construction process plays a very important role in the establishment of CPSs. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the application potential of computer vision-based sensing methods and provide practical suggestions through a literature review. This paper provides a review of the current application of CPSs in the AEC industry, summarizes the current knowledge gaps, and discusses the problems with the current construction site sensing approach. Considering the unique advantages of the computer vision (CV) method at the construction site, the application of CV for different construction entities was reviewed and summarized to achieve a CV-based construction site sensing approach for construction process CPSs. The potential of CPS can be further stimulated by providing rich information from on-site sensing using CV methods. According to the review, this approach has unique advantages in the specific environment of the construction site. Based on the current knowledge gap identified in the literature review, this paper proposes a novel concept of visual-based construction site sensing method for CPS application, and an architecture for CV-based CPS is proposed as an implementation of this concept. The main contribution of this paper is to propose a CPS architecture using computer vision as the main information acquisition method based on the literature review. This architecture innovatively introduces computer vision as a sensing method of construction sites, and realizes low-cost and non-invasive information acquisition in complex construction scenarios. This method can be used as an important supplement to on-site sensing to further promote the automation and intelligence of the construction process.

miRNA-125a modulates autophagy of thyroiditis through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

The present study examined the potential function and underlying mechanisms of microRNA-125a (miR-125a) in thyroiditis. Mice were subcutaneously administered with 100 µg porcine thyroglobulin weekly for 2 weeks to establish the thyroiditis model. Results of the in vivo study demonstrated that miR-125a serum expression was upregulated in thyroiditis mice compared with the control group. In vitro studies were performed on a mouse macrophage cell line in which a model of thyroiditis was established using 10 ng/ml human interferon-γ. Upregulated miR-125a expression was achieved via mimic transfection. Increased miR-125a expression reduced autophagy and cell proliferation, increased the apoptotic rate and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6 and IL-18 via downregulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling pathway. PI3K inhibition enhanced the ability of miR-125a to increase the inflammatory response in vitro via regulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. These results suggest miR-125a inhibited autophagy in a model of thyroiditis through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Effects of thermal treatment on the properties of defatted soya bean flour and its adhesion to plywood.

With an attempt to economically and efficiently improve the water resistance of defatted soya bean flour (DSF)-based wood adhesives, DSF was subjected to thermal treatment at various temperatures (65°C, 80°C, 95°C, 110°C and 125°C) for 30 min. The effects of thermal treatment temperature onto the chemical structure, crystalline degree, water-insoluble content and acetaldehyde value of the thermally treated DSF (T-DSF) were investigated. The thermal stabilities and bonding properties of soya bean adhesives prepared from T-DSF and cross-linker epichlorohydrin-modified polyamide (EMPA) were also investigated. Test results indicated that both the water-insoluble content and the acetaldehyde value of T-DSF increased after thermal treatment, reaching the highest values of 27.28% and 26.81 mg g-1, respectively. All plywood bonded with the T-DSF-based adhesive withstood a 28 h boiling-dry-boiling accelerated ageing treatment, while plywood bonded with the DSF-based adhesive delaminated after 4 h of water boiling, demonstrating the significantly improved water resistance of the T-DSF-based adhesives. Related analyses also confirmed that this improvement was due to: (i) the formation of insoluble cross-linked structures of T-DSF resulting from protein-protein self-cross-linking reactions and the protein-carbohydrate Maillard reaction and (ii) increased cross-linking efficiency between T-DSF and cross-linker EMPA owing to more T-DSF-reactive groups being released after thermal treatment.

The Effect of Thermo-Chemical Treatment on the Water Resistance of Defatted Soybean Flour-Based Wood Adhesive.

The aim of this study was to effectively improve the water resistance of a defatted soybean flour (DSF)-based adhesive by subjecting DSF to thermo-chemical treatment in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and then the crosslinking with epichlorohydrin-modified polyamide (EMPA). The effect of thermo-chemical treatment on the structures and properties of the DSF and DSF-based adhesive were investigated by plywood evaluation, boiling-water-insoluble content, and acetaldehyde value measurements, as well as FTIR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and rheology analyses. The test results revealed that the water resistance of the DSF-based adhesive was significantly improved, attributed to the formation of a solid three-dimensional crosslinked network structure resulted from the repolymerization of DSF, the Maillard reaction between the protein and carbohydrate, and chemical crosslinking between the crosslinker and DSF. Moreover, SDS destroyed the hydrophobic interactions within protein and inhibited macromolecular aggregations during the thermal treatment. Therefore, more reactive groups buried within the globular structure of the soybean protein component of DSF could be released, which supported the repolymerization, Maillard reaction, and chemical crosslinking of DSF, thereby leading to an improved crosslinking density of the cured DSF-based adhesive. In addition, the adhesive composed of thermo-chemically treated DSF and EMPA exhibited preferable viscosity and viscosity stability suitable for the production of wood composites.

Efficacy of alogliptin combined with motor imagery under hyperbaric oxygen in diabetic nephropathy with silent cerebral infarction.

In the present study, we evaluated the curative effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor alogliptin combined with motor imagery under hyperbaric oxygen in diabetic nephropathy (DN) with silent cerebral infarction (SCI). Two-hundred newly diagnosed DN patients with and without SCI were included. The SCI patients were divided into two treatment groups: Alogliptin (A group, n=50) and alogliptin combined with motor imagery under hyperbaric oxygen (B group, n=50). The degrees of neurocognitive dysfunction were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Thromboelastograms (TEGs) mapping were conducted. Serum glycoprotein VI (GPVI) mRNA expression and urine 11-DH-TXB2 levels were determined. Compared to group A patients, the severity of neurofunctional defects, GPVI mRNA expression and 11-DH-TXB2 levels were significantly lower in group B (P<0.05), while comprehensive, MoCA scores were higher in group B. The MoCA subscores of visuospatial/executive function, attention and concentration were significantly higher compared to group A (P<0.05). The sub-scores of computation, abstract thinking, language competence, memory and orientation were also higher in group B but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). TEG indexes were improved in both groups after treatment as manifested by increased R and K values, but there was significant improvement in group B. Intra-group comparisons revealed a time-dependent effect of treatment. In conclusion, the treatment of alogliptin combined with motor imagery under hyperbaric oxygen can better promote thrombolysis absorption, restore brain damage and improve neurocognitive function in DN with silent cerebral infarction.