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The data-driven intelligent fault diagnosis method has shown great potential in improving the safety and reliability of train operation. However, the noise interference and multi-scale signal characteristics generated by the train transmission system under non-stationary conditions make it difficult for the network model to effectively learn fault features, resulting in a decrease in the accuracy and robustness of the network. This results in the requirements of train fault diagnosis tasks not being met. Therefore, a novel parallel multi-scale attention residual neural network (PMA-ResNet) for a train transmission system is proposed in this paper. Firstly, multi-scale learning modules (MLMods) with different structures and convolutional kernel sizes are designed by combining a residual neural network (ResNet) and an Inception network, which can automatically learn multi-scale fault information from vibration signals. Secondly, a parallel network structure is constructed to improve the generalization ability of the proposed network model for the entire train transmission system. Finally, by using a self-attention mechanism to assign different weight values to the relative importance of different feature information, the learned fault features are further integrated and enhanced. In the experimental section, a train transmission system fault simulation platform is constructed, and experiments are carried out on train transmission systems with different faults under non-stationary conditions to verify the effectiveness of the proposed network. The experimental results and comparisons with five state-of-the-art methods demonstrate that the proposed PMA-ResNet can diagnose 19 different faults with greater accuracy.

Most research on working memory (WM) training for children with developmental dyslexia (DD) has focused on western alphabetical languages. Moreover, most of these studies used a combination of training tasks targeting a variety of WM components, making it difficult to determine whether WM training generates a general improvement in overall reading, or improves specific cognitive skills corresponding to the WM components that are targeted in training. We tested the general and specific effects of WM training on the reading skills of 45 Chinese children with DD, grades 3 to 5. In Experiment 1, the experimental group received a program targeting the verbal WM component; in Experiment 2, the experimental group was trained with a program targeting visuospatial WM. In both experiments the control group played a placebo video game. In Experiment 1, the experimental group outperformed the control group on the visual rhyming task, which is highly correlated with verbal WM. In Experiment 2, the experimental group outperformed the control group on the orthographic awareness test, which is highly correlated with visuospatial WM. Furthermore, in both Experiment 1 and Experiment 2, the experimental groups outperformed the control groups on the fast word naming test, which is highly related to both visuospatial WM and verbal WM. Results indicated that WM training improved specific reading-related cognitive skills that are highly correlated with the specific WM components that were the target of training.

Although the water extract of Eucommia ulmoides leaf (WEE) promotes egg laying in hens, its palatability is poor. To improve the palatability of E. ulmoides leaf, probiotic fermentation was used, and fermented extract E. ulmoides leaf (FEE) was prepared using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. The safety of FEE was investigated using a long-term toxicity test, and no oxidative damage, inflammatory reactions, or histological lesions were observed in the experimental rats receiving dietary supplementation of FEE at 200 mg/kg, suggesting that FEE is suitable for long-term feeding. Subsequently, dietary supplementation of FEE (group C) in comparison with dietary supplementation of WEE (group B), as well as a control (group A), was applied in the hen industry. Laying performance, egg quality, egg nutrition, egg flavor, and the gut microbiome were analyzed comparatively. Interestingly, the laying rate was observed to be four percentage points higher with dietary supplementation of FEE at 200 mg/kg compared with the control and two percentage points higher compared with the dietary addition of WEE at the same dosage. Simultaneously, a slight upregulation in daily feed consumption was determined in the FEE-supplemented group compared with the blank control and the WEE-supplemented group, indicating that the inclusion of FEE stimulated the hens’ appetite. Moreover, variations in egg amino acids, fatty acids, and volatile components were obtained with either dietary addition, FEE or WEE, implying that dietary supplementation of the fermented and water-extracted E. ulmoides leaf extracts contributed to egg flavor change. Furthermore, variations in the gut microbiota were mediated by FEE, increasing the relative abundance of the genus Lactobacillus. These alterations in gut microbiota were tightly related to improved laying performance and egg flavor changes. Our results indicate that FEE is a better alternative feed additive in the hen industry than WEE.

This work describes two new colorimetric nanosensors for label-free, equipment-free quantitative detection of nanomolar copper (II) (Cu 2+ ) and mercury (II) (Hg 2+ ) ions. Both are based on the analyte-promoted growth of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) from the reduction of chloroauric acid by 4-morpholineethanesulfonic acid. For the Cu 2+ nanosensor, the analyte can accelerate such a redox system to rapidly form a red solution containing dispersed, uniform, spherical AuNPs that is related to these particles’ surface plasmon resonance property. For the Hg 2+ nanosensor, on the other hand, a blue mixture consisting of aggregated, ill-defined AuNPs with various sizes can be created, showing a significantly enhanced Tyndall effect (TE) signal (in comparison with that produced in the red solution of AuNPs). By using a timer and a smartphone to quantitatively measure the time of producing the red solution and the TE intensity (i.e., the average gray value of the corresponding image) of the blue mixture, respectively, the developed nanosensors are well demonstrated to achieve linear ranges of 6.4 nM to 100 μM and 6.1 nM to 1.56 μM for Cu 2+ and Hg 2+ , respectively, with detection limits down to 3.5 and 0.1 nM, respectively. The acceptable recovery results obtained from the analysis of the two analytes in the complex real water samples including drinking water, tap water, and pond water ranged from 90.43 to 111.56%. Graphical abstract

Although the water extract of Eucommia ulmoides leaf (WEE) promotes egg laying in hens, its palatability is poor. To improve the palatability of E. ulmoides leaf, probiotic fermentation was used, and fermented extract E. ulmoides leaf (FEE) was prepared using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum . The safety of FEE was investigated using a long-term toxicity test, and no oxidative damage, inflammatory reactions, or histological lesions were observed in the experimental rats receiving dietary supplementation of FEE at 200 mg/kg, suggesting that FEE is suitable for long-term feeding. Subsequently, dietary supplementation of FEE (group C) in comparison with dietary supplementation of WEE (group B), as well as a control (group A), was applied in the hen industry. Laying performance, egg quality, egg nutrition, egg flavor, and the gut microbiome were analyzed comparatively. Interestingly, the laying rate was observed to be four percentage points higher with dietary supplementation of FEE at 200 mg/kg compared with the control and two percentage points higher compared with the dietary addition of WEE at the same dosage. Simultaneously, a slight upregulation in daily feed consumption was determined in the FEE-supplemented group compared with the blank control and the WEE-supplemented group, indicating that the inclusion of FEE stimulated the hens’ appetite. Moreover, variations in egg amino acids, fatty acids, and volatile components were obtained with either dietary addition, FEE or WEE, implying that dietary supplementation of the fermented and water-extracted E. ulmoides leaf extracts contributed to egg flavor change. Furthermore, variations in the gut microbiota were mediated by FEE, increasing the relative abundance of the genus Lactobacillus . These alterations in gut microbiota were tightly related to improved laying performance and egg flavor changes. Our results indicate that FEE is a better alternative feed additive in the hen industry than WEE.

Aiming at the problems of excessive computational load, insufficient real-time performance, and an excessive amount of model parameters in track inspection, this paper proposes a lightweight track feature detection module (YOLO-LWTD) based on YOLO11n: first, the StarNet module is integrated into the backbone network, and its elemental multiplication operation is utilized to enhance the feature characterization capability; second, in the neck part, a lightweight extended path aggregation network reconstructs the feature pyramid information flow paths by combining with the C3K2-Light module to enhance the efficiency of the multi-scale feature fusion; finally, in the head part, a lighter and more efficient detection header, Detect-LADH, is used to reduce the feature decoding complexity. Experimental validation showed that the improved model outperforms the benchmark model in precision, recall, and mean average precision (MAP) by 0.5%, 2.0%, and 0.8%, respectively, with an inference speed of 163 FPS (a 38.1% improvement). The model volume is compressed to 1.5 MB (a 71.1% lightweight rate). This provides an energy-efficient solution for lightweight track detection tasks geared towards embedded deployment or real-time processing.

Underwater adhesive proteins secreted by organisms greatly inspires the development of underwater glue. However, except for specific proteins such as mussel adhesive protein, barnacle cement proteins, curli protein and their related recombinant proteins, it is believed that abundant common proteins cannot be converted into underwater glue. Here, we demonstrate that unfolded common proteins exhibit high affinity to surfaces and strong internal cohesion via amyloid-like aggregation in water. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein, we obtain a stable unfolded protein by cleaving the disulfide bonds and maintaining the unfolded state by means of stabilizing agents such as trifluoroethanol (TFE) and urea. The diffusion of stabilizing agents into water exposes the hydrophobic residues of an unfolded protein and initiates aggregation of the unfolded protein into a solid block. A robust and stable underwater glue can thus be prepared from tens of common proteins. This strategy deciphers a general code in common proteins to construct robust underwater glue from abundant biomass. Underwater adhesive proteins greatly inspired the development of underwater glue but except for specific proteins it is believed that abundant common proteins cannot be converted into underwater glue. Here, the authors demonstrate, using bovine serum albumin as model protein, that unfolded common proteins exhibit high affinity to surfaces and strong internal cohesion via amyloid-like aggregation in water.

Addressing critical challenges in perishable fruit preservation, including hydrophobic surface treatment, protective layer adhesion on complex cuticles, and synergistic integration of preservation components, here we present an eco-friendly amyloid-like protein coating strategy developed through computer-aided molecular simulation. This system employs phase-transitioned lysozyme as an adhesive layer bonded to fruit epicuticular wax, synergized with sodium alginate and cellulose nanocrystals to form a proteinaceous barrier. Validated across 17 fruit varieties, the coating extends shelf-life by 2-5-fold through microbial inhibition, moisture loss reduction, and rot delay, while maintaining 60–98% nutrient retention, surpassing chemical preservation efficacy without toxicity risks. With edible properties, easy washability, and low cost, the coating demonstrates universal applicability for post-harvest and fresh-cut fruits. Notably, it reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 90% versus refrigeration while achieving 2.5-fold longer shelf-life. These positions the amyloid-like protein coating as a practical and sustainable approach to mitigating global food waste issues. There is interest in methods to extend products shelf-life to reduce food waste. Here, the authors report on an amyloid-like protein coating that extends fruit shelf-life 2-5 times by blocking microbes and moisture loss, preserving nutrients, cutting waste and reducing the need for cold chain storage and transport.

Background Macrophages phenotypic deviation and immune imbalance play vital roles in pregnancy-associated diseases such as spontaneous miscarriage. Trophoblasts regulate phenotypic changes in macrophages, however, their underlying mechanism during pregnancy remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the potential function of trophoblast-derived miRNAs (miR-410-5p) in macrophage polarization during pregnancy. Methods Patient decidual macrophage tissue samples in spontaneous abortion group and normal pregnancy group (those who had induced abortion for non-medical reasons) were collected at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from April to December 2021. Furthermore, placental villi and decidua tissue samples were collected from patients who had experienced a spontaneous miscarriage and normal pregnant women for validation and subsequent experiments at the Shenzhen Zhongshan Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital (formerly Shenzhen Zhongshan Urology Hospital), from March 2021 to September 2022. As an animal model, 36 female mice were randomly divided into six groups as follows: naive-control, lipopolysaccharide-model, agomir-negative control prevention, agomir-410-5p prevention, agomir-negative control treatment, and agomir-410-5p treatment groups. We analyzed the miR-410-5p expression in abortion tissue and plasma samples; and supplemented miR-410-5p to evaluate embryonic absorption in vivo. The main source of miR-410-5p at the maternal–fetal interface was analyzed, and the possible target gene, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1, of miR-410-5p was predicted. The effect of miR-410-5p and STAT1 regulation on macrophage phenotype, oxidative metabolism, and mitochondrial membrane potential was analyzed in vitro. Results MiR-410-5p levels were lower in the spontaneous abortion group compared with the normal pregnancy group, and plasma miR-410-5p levels could predict pregnancy and spontaneous abortion. Prophylactic supplementation of miR-410-5p in pregnant mice reduced lipopolysaccharide-mediated embryonic absorption and downregulated the decidual macrophage pro-inflammatory phenotype. MiR-410-5p were mainly distributed in villi, and trophoblasts secreted exosomes-miR-410-5p at the maternal–fetal interface. After macrophages captured exosomes, the cells shifted to the tolerance phenotype. STAT1 was a potential target gene of miR-410-5p. MiR-410-5p bound to STAT1 mRNA, and inhibited the expression of STAT1 protein. STAT1 can drive macrophages to mature to a pro-inflammatory phenotype. MiR-410-5p competitive silencing of STAT1 can avoid macrophage immune disorders. Conclusion MiR-410-5p promotes M2 macrophage polarization by inhibiting STAT1, thus ensuring a healthy pregnancy. These findings are of great significance for diagnosing and preventing spontaneous miscarriage, providing a new perspective for further research in this field.

Urethral stricture secondary to urethral injury, afflicting both patients and urologists, is initiated by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix in the submucosal and periurethral tissues. Although various anti-fibrotic drugs have been applied to urethral stricture by irrigation or submucosal injection, their clinical feasibility and effectiveness are limited. Here, to target the pathological state of the extracellular matrix, we design a protein-based nanofilm-controlled drug delivery system and assemble it on the catheter. This approach, which integrates excellent anti-biofilm properties with stable and controlled drug delivery for tens of days in one step, ensures optimal efficacy and negligible side effects while preventing biofilm-related infections. In a rabbit model of urethral injury, the anti-fibrotic catheter maintains extracellular matrix homeostasis by reducing fibroblast-derived collagen production and enhancing metalloproteinase 1-induced collagen degradation, resulting in a greater improvement in lumen stenosis than other topical therapies for urethral stricture prevention. Such facilely fabricated biocompatible coating with antibacterial contamination and sustained-drug-release functionality could not only benefit populations at high risk of urethral stricture but also serve as an advanced paradigm for a range of biomedical applications. Various anti-fibrotic drugs have been applied to urethral stricture by irrigation or submucosal injection, but their clinical feasibility and effectiveness are limited. Here, the authors design a protein-based nanofilm-controlled drug delivery system with anti-biofilm properties that can be assembled on a catheter.