Metformin Preserves β-Cell Compensation in Insulin Secretion and Mass Expansion in Prediabetic Nile Rats

Prediabetes is a high-risk condition for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Pancreatic β-cells adapt to impaired glucose regulation in prediabetes by increasing insulin secretion and β-cell mass expansion. In people with prediabetes, metformin has been shown to prevent prediabetes conversion to diabetes. However, emerging evidence indicates that metformin has negative effects on β-cell function and survival. Our previous study established the Nile rat (NR) as a model for prediabetes, recapitulating characteristics of human β-cell compensation in function and mass expansion. In this study, we investigated the action of metformin on β-cells in vivo and in vitro. A 7-week metformin treatment improved glucose tolerance by reducing hepatic glucose output and enhancing insulin secretion. Although high-dose metformin inhibited β-cell glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro, stimulation of β-cell insulin secretion was preserved in metformin-treated NRs via an indirect mechanism. Moreover, β-cells in NRs receiving metformin exhibited increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones and alleviated apoptotic unfold protein response (UPR) without changes in the expression of cell identity genes. Additionally, metformin did not suppress β-cell mass compensation or proliferation. Taken together, despite the conflicting role indicated by in vitro studies, administration of metformin does not exert a negative effect on β-cell function or cell mass and, instead, early metformin treatment may help protect β-cells from exhaustion and decompensation.     

基于堆叠稀疏去噪自动编码网络与多隐层反向传播神经网络的铣刀磨损预测模型

刀具磨损状态是机械加工过程中需考虑的重要因素之一.针对铣刀磨损的在线预测问题,建立了一种基于深度学习的铣刀磨损预测模型.首先,将采集到的铣刀切削时的振动信号进行小波去噪后,利用快速傅里叶变换和小波包分解等技术提取时域、频域及时频域上的特征参数,并根据相关性分析从中筛选出合格的特征参数合并为特征向量,以此作为堆叠稀疏去噪自动编码网络(SSDAE)的含噪样本.其次,利用特征后处理的方式对已经筛选出的特征参数进行单调不递减及平滑处理,并将其作为SSDAE的无噪样本来训练该网络.然后,将经过SSDAE降维后的特征向量作为多隐层反向传播神经网络(BPNN)的输入,以这些特征对应的实际铣刀的磨损量作为标签对该网络进行拟合训练.最后,对训练好的模型进行实验验证,通过测试数据集和人为加入噪声的测试数据集的对比,结果显示所提模型不仅具有较高的预测精度,还具有较高的鲁棒性.     

具备无功补偿功能的串联电压调节器

针对电网存在的暂降、低电压、谐波、无功等电能质量问题,采用一种背靠背式单相三电平无耦合变压器的拓扑结构,与H桥等结构相比,无桥臂之间耦合问题,降低了设备损耗及成本,同时本文整流侧采用TTA算法检测无功电流,具备无功补偿功能.对于逆变侧,采用输出电压前馈控制策略,消除了负载对逆变系统控制性能的影响,同时充分利用设备调制度较小的情况,在DSP中采用立即刷新的方式,消除了控制延时的影响,提高了系统的开环增益、响应速度、稳态控制效果和系统鲁棒性.所研制的10 kVA的补偿设备验证了该拓扑结构、TTA算法及控制方法的正确性和有效性.     

Novel TiC-based composites with enhanced mechanical properties

Novel TiC-based composites were synthesized by reactive hot-pressing at 1800 °C for 1 h with ZrB₂ addition as a sintering aid for the first time. The effects of ZrB₂ contents on the phase composition, microstructure evolution, and mechanical properties were reported. Based on the reaction and solid solution coupling effects between ZrB₂ and TiC, the product ZrC may be partially or completely dissolved into the TiC matrix, and then phase separation within the miscibility gap is observed to form lamellar nanostructured ZrC-rich (Zr, Ti)C. The TiC-10 mol.% ZrB₂ (starting batch composition) exhibits good comprehensive mechanical properties of hardness 27.7 ± 1.3 GPa, flexural strength 659 ± 48 MPa, and fracture toughness of 6.5 ± 0.6 MPa m^1/2, respectively, which reach or exceed most TiC-based composites using ceramics as sintering aids in the previous reports.     

Swarming Microdroplets to a Dexterous Micromanipulator

Many astonishing biological collective behaviors exist in nature, and artificial microrobotic swarms have been developed by emulating these scenarios. However, these microswarms typically have single structures and lack the adaptability that many biological swarms exhibit to thrive in complex environments. Inspired by viscoelastic fire ant aggregations and using a combination of experiment and simulation, a strategy to trigger ferrofluid droplets into forming microswarms exhibiting both liquid-like and solid-like behaviors is reported. By spatiotemporally programming an applied magnetic field, microswarms can be liquefied to implement reversible elongation with a high aspect ratio and solidified into entireties to perform overturning and bending behaviors. It is demonstrated that reconfigurability enables the microswarm to be a mobile dexterous micromanipulator, acting not only as a soft “octopus arm” to explore a confined environment and grasp a targeted object but also adaptively navigate multiple terrains, such as uneven surfaces, curved grooves, complex mazes, high steps, narrow channels, and even wide gaps. This microrobotic swarm can reconfigure both shapes and tasks based on the demands of the environment, presenting novel solutions for a variety of applications.     

基于模态局部化的可调式压电驱动谐振质量传感器的设计

该文提出了一种基于模态局部化现象来检测外部质量扰动的可调式压电驱动谐振质量传感器,质量传感器的检测结构由两个不同长度的悬臂梁通过机械耦合梁连接。首先利用哈密顿原理对压电驱动下的非对称谐振元件进行理论建模,采用伽辽金方法求解,得到前两阶模态下的振动特性;理论求解所得固有频率与COMSOL仿真分析、实验数据基本一致。实验研究表明,无调谐质量的谐振器检测范围为2~10 mg,添加调谐质量后的谐振器检测范围提高至1~13 mg,质量检测的分辨率也得到优化。此外,对传感器的结构进行非线性分析研究发现,超谐振动下的谐振器检测灵敏度提升了80%,这为非线性谐振传感器的设计提供了基础。     

PBAT‒PLA膜袋受控需氧堆肥条件下的降解研究

目的 通过对广泛使用的PBAT–PLA生物降解膜袋在受控需氧堆肥条件下的降解机制研究，为生物降解塑料的大规模推广提供重要理论基础。方法 根据GB/T 19277.1—2011，在(58±2)℃需氧条件下，对PBAT–PLA膜袋进行为期160 d的生物降解测试(即工业堆肥)，并以常见的可降解材料微晶纤维素作为参比样品。对降解前后的材料进行红外、扫描电镜、能谱分析，并结合其所在堆肥样本的脂肪酶活性，从多角度探寻降解机制。结果 PBAT–PLA膜袋与微晶纤维素所在的堆肥脂肪酶活性都达到空白堆肥的3倍以上。红外显示由微晶纤维素水分子吸附、糖环打开、基团氧化形成的吸收峰加强，PBAT–PLA膜袋中的酯键峰明显减弱;扫描电镜发现降解的PBAT–PLA膜袋表面覆盖了微生物膜;能谱分析发现，碳元素大幅减少，氧元素增加。结论 微生物在PBAT–PLA膜袋表面生长形成生物膜，分泌大量脂肪酶，水解PBAT–PLA的酯键，使聚合物降解为不同链长的中间体或小分子，同时伴随着氧化，随后被作为碳源，在相关微生物体内被代谢利用，形成最终产物。     

Icy affairs: Understanding recent advancements in the freezing and frozen storage of fish

Freezing methods have evolved over the last 30 years. This review states the effect of various freezing methods on the quality of fish and seafood. Freezing temperatures, freezing, and frozen storage temperatures were also analyzed and reviewed. The changes in the ice crystal, protein, and lipid affect the fish quality and nutritional value during freezing and frozen storage. Freezing methods when combined with various additives or preprocessing approaches help improve the efficacy of freezing and frozen storage. Several experimental or emerging methods also have positive effects on the products' quality. According to the metadata reanalysis of quality markers, freshly frozen fish using different freezing methods may vary much in terms of ice diameter, but not others. High pressure freezing or immersion freezing-derived fish retains the best quality through frozen storage. More data are required on freezing methods (electrical-assisted freezing, microwave-assisted freezing, magnetic-assisted freezing, radiofrequency-assisted freezing, and the commercial's application and investment should be considered in the future. This review sheds light on finding a balanced initial shear force during freezing and the use of certain additives to control freezing-related damages. Focusing on ice diameter alone may be futile (e.g., liquid N₂ freezing). Future optimization of technologies should be in a way that several processes along the farm to fork such as freezing, frozen storage, thawing, thermal processing of fish, and even refabrication of food should mutually complement each other's needs to deliver safe and high-quality fish to the consumer's plate, even after a prolonged shelf-life.     

基于乙酰胆碱酯酶和氧化应激研究海胆酮对阿尔茨海默症的作用机制

海胆酮是一种酮式类胡萝卜素，主要从海胆及藻类等海洋生物中提取。本文研究海胆酮对乙酰胆碱酯酶（acetylcholinesterase，AChE）的抑制作用，应用酶动力学、荧光光谱、圆二色光谱和分子对接技术研究海胆酮对AChE的抑制机理，并用淀粉样β蛋白片段25～35（amyloid beta-peptide 25-35，Aβ25-35）诱导大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤细胞（PC12细胞）建立阿尔茨海默症（Alzheimer’s disease，AD）模型，研究海胆酮对AD细胞模型氧化应激损伤的作用。结果表明，海胆酮有很强的AChE抑制活性，其半抑制质量浓度为（16.29±0.97）μg/mL，抑制常数Ki为3.82 μg/mL，表现为竞争性抑制；海胆酮可诱导AChE二级结构改变，更容易与AChE活性中心氨基酸Ser200、His440、Trp84和Tyr121结合，阻碍底物碘代硫代乙酰胆碱（acetylthiocholine iodide，ATCI）与酶结合，从而引起酶活力降低。海胆酮能有效抑制Aβ25-35诱导PC12细胞的AChE活力，降低丙二醛含量，增加超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活力，减轻Aβ25-35诱导的PC12细胞氧化应激损伤。本研究基于AChE和氧化应激阐明了海胆酮对AD的潜在作用机制，为海胆酮在功能食品、生物医药等领域的应用提供了数据支持和理论根据。