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Objective. To investigate the association of the serum adiponectin level with the intima media thickness of the dorsalis pedis artery (D-IMT) and macroangiopathy in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods. We recruited 173 patients with T2DM, of whom 83 had macroangiopathy (MA group) and 90 did not have macroangiopathy (NM group), and 40 normal control subjects (NC group). We measured D-IMT using color B-mode Doppler ultrasonography. Serum adiponectin, blood glucose, lipids, and other clinical characteristics were analyzed. Participants were divided into three subgroups according to serum adiponectin level (high, moderate, and low). Results. Compared with the NM and NC groups, serum adiponectin levels were significantly decreased in the MA group after adjusting for sex and body mass index. Compared with the NM and NC groups, D-IMT was significantly increased in the MA group. Compared with the moderate- and high-adiponectin subgroups, D-IMT was significantly increased in the low-adiponectin subgroup. The prevalence of diabetic macroangiopathy increased gradually with decreasing adiponectin levels. After controlling for age, sex, smoking, and alcohol drinking, partial correlation analysis showed that adiponectin was negatively correlated with D-IMT. Elevated serum adiponectin was independently associated with a decreased risk for diabetic macroangiopathy by logistic regression analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that adiponectin was an independent factor of D-IMT. In receiver operating characteristic analyses, the area under the curve for traditional risk factors plus adiponectin for prediction of macroangiopathy was 0.984, while that of traditional risk factors alone was 0.972. Conclusions. Adiponectin is lower in patients with T2DM with macroangiopathy. We suggest that D-IMT could represent a noninvasive indicator of diabetic macroangiopathy. Decrease of adiponectin as an independent risk factor for both macroangiopathy and D-IMT among Chinese patients with T2DM suggests that adiponectin might have clinical utility in the prediction of diabetic macroangiopathy. This clinical trial is registered in the “Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.” The registration number is ChiCTR-ROC-17011731.

In the present work, the hot deformation behavior, dynamic recovery, dynamic recrystallization and texture evolution of Ti-22Al-25Nb alloy on the conditions of 1100°C with four different thickness reductions (35%, 50%, 65% and 80%) are investigated by isothermal compression testing on Gleeble-3500 thermo-mechanical simulator. The strain rate is 0.1mm/s -1 . Subsequently, metallographic observation and EBSD analysis are carried out. The results show that during the hot deformation, the dynamic recovery (DRV) and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) strongly affect the microstructure and texture evolution. It is observed that with the strain increasing, the intensity of η bcc -fiber increases firstly (crystallographic fiber axis parallel to the compression direction). When the thickness reduction reaches to 80%, the intensity of pole becomes stronger expectedly. Whereas the η bcc -fiber transform into cube components (100 ) unexpectedly. In addition, as the strain increases through 35%-80%, the fraction of large misorientation grain boundaries and fraction of DRX grains gradually increase due to continuous recrystallization. The evolution mechanism of grain orientations and texture during the DRX process will be discussed.

To study the effect of adding NdCl 3 on the characteristics of micro-arc oxidation coating of TC4 titanium alloy, micro-arc oxidation was performed by adding different concentrations of NdCl 3 to the base electrolyte. The changes in the surface morphology, phase composition, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance and erosion resistance of the MAO coating after the addition of NdCl 3 were investigated, utilizing SEM, XRD, XPS, multifunctional material surface tester, electrochemical workstation and autoclave testing methods. The results showed that adding an appropriate amount of NdCl 3 can increase the oxidation voltage and improved the surface morphology of the coating, and the main constituent phases of the coating were rutile TiO 2 , anatase TiO 2 and Nd 2 O 3 . When the concentration of 0.06 g L −1 was added, the thickness and hardness of the coating reached the maximum value of 25.1 μm and 540 HV, and the roughness and coefficient of friction reached the minimum value of 1.022 μm and 0.281. In addition, the corrosion current density and the corrosion rate reached the minimum value of 5.028 × 10 –9 A cm −2 and 1.673 × 10 –3  mm a −1 . Therefore, the coating had excellent abrasion and wear resistance. The erosion experiments indicated that the titanium alloy substrate and the corrosion rate of the MAO coating increased with the extension of the erosion time, and the addition of NdCl 3 could effectively improve the erosion resistance of the TC4 titanium alloy substrate.

To study the effect of adding NdCl.sub.3 on the characteristics of micro-arc oxidation coating of TC4 titanium alloy, micro-arc oxidation was performed by adding different concentrations of NdCl.sub.3 to the base electrolyte. The changes in the surface morphology, phase composition, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance and erosion resistance of the MAO coating after the addition of NdCl.sub.3 were investigated, utilizing SEM, XRD, XPS, multifunctional material surface tester, electrochemical workstation and autoclave testing methods. The results showed that adding an appropriate amount of NdCl.sub.3 can increase the oxidation voltage and improved the surface morphology of the coating, and the main constituent phases of the coating were rutile TiO.sub.2, anatase TiO.sub.2 and Nd.sub.2O.sub.3. When the concentration of 0.06 g L.sup.-1 was added, the thickness and hardness of the coating reached the maximum value of 25.1 m and 540 HV, and the roughness and coefficient of friction reached the minimum value of 1.022 m and 0.281. In addition, the corrosion current density and the corrosion rate reached the minimum value of 5.028 x 10.sup.-9 A cm.sup.-2 and 1.673 x 10.sup.-3 mm a.sup.-1. Therefore, the coating had excellent abrasion and wear resistance. The erosion experiments indicated that the titanium alloy substrate and the corrosion rate of the MAO coating increased with the extension of the erosion time, and the addition of NdCl.sub.3 could effectively improve the erosion resistance of the TC4 titanium alloy substrate.

As the key protection device in the power system, the ageing characteristics of ZnO varistor can directly affect the safe operation of power system. In order to study the influence of Co2O3 content on the electrical properties of ZnO varistors, thermally stimulated current (TSC) characteristics test, capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics test, scanning electron microscope (SEM) test, voltage-current (V-I) test were carried out on ZnO varistors before and after AC ageing tests. The results show that the mean grain size decreases while the varistor voltage increases as the Co2O3 content increases, the barrier height and the defects of ZnO varistors increase with the increase of Co2O3 content, and the barrier height decreases at a certain degree after AC ageing test. As the Co2+ ion radius is close to that of Zn2+ ion, it is easy for Co2+ ions to enter into ZnO lattice during sintering process, which is account for the increase of zinc interstitial of ZnO varistors. When the Co2O3 content exceeds a certain range, the AC degradation degree of ZnO varistors will become much more serious. From the experimental results, ZnO varistors doped with 1.0 mol% Co2O3 exhibit a better performance.

Secondary metabolites (SMs) found in medicinal plants are one of main sources of drugs, cosmetics, and health products. With the increase in demand for these bioactive compounds, improving the content and yield of SMs in medicinal plants has become increasingly important. The content and distribution of SMs in medicinal plants are closely related to environmental factors, especially light. In recent years, artificial light sources have been used in controlled environments for the production and conservation of medicinal germplasm. Therefore, it is essential to elucidate how light affects the accumulation of SMs in different plant species. Here, we systematically summarize recent advances in our understanding of the regulatory roles of light quality, light intensity, and photoperiod in the biosynthesis of three main types of SMs (polyphenols, alkaloids, and terpenoids), and the underlying mechanisms. This article provides a detailed overview of the role of light signaling pathways in SM biosynthesis, which will further promote the application of artificial light sources in medicinal plant production.

The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive comparison of the effects of hip and knee strengthening training in patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP). A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of these two types of strengthening training on patients' lower limb biomechanics, knee pain and function. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the two training modalities and provide evidence-based recommendations for the rehabilitation of patients with PFP. A total of 12 studies were identified through a search of the Web of Science, EBSCO, and PubMed databases. The selected studies comprised nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one comparative controlled trial (CCTs) and two cohort studies (CSs), with a total of 1,066 patients. The quality of the included studies was evaluated via the PEDro scale, and a meta-analysis was conducted via Stata18 software. The results show that both types of strengthening training positively impact pain reduction and improved knee function in PFP patients. Moderate evidence from meta-analyses indicated that hip strengthening training (SMD = −1.740, 95%; CI −2.212 to −1.267, P  < 0.001) was more effective than knee strengthening training (SMD = −1.302, 95%; CI −1.75 to −0.86, P  < 0.001) in reducing pain (VAS). Similarly, Strong evidence suggests that hip strengthening training (SMD = 1.205, 95%; CI 0.968 to 1.443, P  < 0.001) was significantly more effective than knee strengthening training (SMD = 1.023, 95%; CI 0.722 to 1.325, P  < 0.001) in improving knee function (AKPS). Additionally, moderate evidence suggests that hip strengthening training significantly increased hip abductor strength (SMD = 0.848, 95%; CI 0.508–1.187, P  < 0.001) and external rotator strength (SMD = 0.780, 95%; CI 0.416–1.145, P  < 0.001), while strong evidence suggests that knee strengthening training did not significantly enhance knee extensor strength (SMD = 0.212, 95%; CI −0.014 to 0.439, P  = 0.066). Therefore, clinicians should use hip strengthening as one of the primary training interventions when treating patients with PFP.

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) forms membraneless condensates crucial for plant stress responses. However, how plant viruses utilize LLPS to escape host immunity remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that P6 protein encoded by southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) undergoes LLPS. P6 interacts with OsTSN1 to form the P6-OsTSN1-containing droplets co-localized with stress granules (SGs). Within these droplets, P6 enhances OsTSN1 nuclease activity via promoting its multimerization to degrade transcripts with G-A-rich motifs of two transcription factors (TFs), OsNAC15 and OsLHY. These two TFs regulate the transcription of OsJAZ 6, OsJAZ12 , and OsATG8C , key components of jasmonic acid (JA)- and autophagy-associated defense pathways. Furthermore, the degradation of OsNAC15 and OsLHY transcripts in P6-OsTSN1-containing droplets weakens JA- and autophagy-mediated defenses in rice, facilitating SRBSDV infection. Additionally, similar to SRBSDV P6, intrinsically disordered region (IDR)-containing RNA silencing suppressors encoded by rice black-streaked dwarf virus and rice stripe virus, also interact with OsTSN1, promoting the degradation of OsNAC15 and OsLHY transcripts to enhance viral infection. Our findings indicate that OsTSN1 acts as a central positive regulator of virus infection in rice, convergently co-opted by viruses. These insights help us to better understand the roles of LLPS and OsTSN1 in virus infection in rice. Rice-infecting arboviruses adopt convergent strategies to overcome host defenses. Here, the authors show that viral proteins from distinct rice viruses boost OsTSN1 nuclease activity to suppress rice antiviral RNA decay immune response through promoting its phase separation and multimerization.

Objective The aim is to elucidate the effects of mental fatigue (MF) on lower limb biomechanics during stop-jump maneuver in healthy male college students and to evaluate its potential contribution to the heightened risk of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury (NC-ACLI). Methods Using a within-subject experimental design, MF was induced with a 45-minute Stroop task. The visual analogue scale for mental fatigue (VAS-MF), an infrared motion capture system, a three-dimensional force platform, and surface electromyography (sEMG) were employed to collect data on VAS-MF scores, as well as lower limb kinematics, kinetics, and electromyographic activity pertinent to NC-ACLI risk in 36 participants, before and after the MF induction. Paired t-tests and non-parametric statistical analyses were used for evaluation. Results VAS-MF scores increased significantly following MF induction ( P  < 0.001). After induction, participants demonstrated significant reductions in ankle dorsiflexion and knee flexion angle at the moment of peak vertical ground reaction force during stop-jump ( P  < 0.05). Conversely, peak vertical ground reaction force, knee extension moment, and knee abduction moment increased significantly ( P  < 0.05), while knee abduction and hip flexion angles remained unchanged ( P  > 0.05). Regarding muscle activation, rectus femoris sEMG parameters—including median frequency, mean power frequency, mean absolute value amplitude, and root mean square amplitude—were significantly elevated ( P  < 0.05), whereas tibialis anterior sEMG exhibited significant decreases in median frequency and mean power frequency ( P  < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in the sEMG signals of the biceps femoris or lateral gastrocnemius ( P  > 0.05). Conclusion MF significantly modulates certain biomechanical characteristics of the lower limb during stop-jump maneuver, potentially exacerbating the risk of NC-ACLI in healthy male college students. Targeted intervention strategies are recommended to mitigate ACL injury risks under mentally fatigued conditions. Trial registration This study was registered with the China Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No. ChiCTR2400093367, 2024/12/03), a WHO Level 1 registry.

Historians and paleoclimatologists have long studied the connection between ecoclimatic changes and empire growth, transformation, and decline, but striking cases remain rare. Here, we introduce a tree-ring chronology from southern China to reconstruct changes in April-to-November water balance of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River over the last 464 years. The reconstruction supports a quantitative assessment of the spatiotemporal structure of the late Ming megadrought and potential effects on subsequent dynastic transitions. Our results indicate that the late Ming megadrought from 1625 – 1644 CE occurred in both the northern and southern parts of the East Asian monsoon region in China. However, variations in the onset, duration, and magnitude of this event differ between regions. The combination of factors such as Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies, weakened solar activity, and large-scale volcanic eruptions may have contributed to the occurrence of the late Ming megadrought. These factors are also identified as key drivers of interannual to decadal fluctuations in drought in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Our reconstruction provides an historical context for the development of adaptive measures to mitigate future drought impacts in the region.The late Ming megadrought across north-to-south China, lasting from 1625-1644 CE, was influenced by Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies, weakened solar activity, and volcanic eruptions, according to reconstruction of the Yangtze River's water balance using tree-ring chronology.