Identification of Tartary Buckwheat Varieties Suitable for Forage via Nutrient Value Analysis at Different Growth Stages

It is important to select buckwheat varieties suitable for foraging and determining their best harvest time as increasing attention was paid to the forage value of buckwheat. Here, eight tartary buckwheat varieties were identified as suitable for forage based on their potential forage value through assaying the contents of ash, crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, nitrogen free extract, calcium, phosphorus, total flavonoids, and rutin in these tartary buckwheat varieties at flowering, pustulation, and mature stages, respectively. In addition, analysis of relative feed value (RFV), relative forage quality (RFQ), and principal component analysis (PCA) based on the assayed contents was applied for comprehensive evaluation of these tartary buckwheat varieties. Results showed that all the eight tartary buckwheat varieties possessed potential high forage value as their RFV is from 121.31% to 217.39% and RFQ from 117.26% to 224.54% at all three stages. In particular, both RFV and RFQ values of PS-07 reached the highest at the flowering stage among the eight tartary buckwheat varieties, followed by CQ-3 and EWPS. Accordingly, the comprehensive scoring of principal component values of PS-07 and CQ-3 are relatively higher at the flowering stage. Our research thus revealed that the eight tartary buckwheat varieties are all suitable for forage, and also provided an experimental basis for selecting the eight tartary buckwheat varieties harvested at different growth stages for livestock forage

Model predictive control of VSC-HVDC transmission system for power supply to passive networks

In the traditional double closed-loop control strategy for VSC-HVDC transmission system that supply power to passive networks, the control structure is complex, the PI parameters are more difficult, the tuning is slow, and the response speed is slow. Rectifier-side direct power control based on model prediction and direct AC voltage control strategy on inverter side are proposed. Based on the discrete mathematical model of the converter, the system output under all switching function combinations is calculated by the ergodic method, and the switching function that minimizes the objective function is selected to act on the inverter. The utility model has the advantages of simple structure, no complicated PI parameter setting, fast dynamic response, high voltage quality electric energy to the passive network, good steady state performance and dynamic performance. The simulation results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy

Rutin Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Cell Apoptosis by Upregulating miRNA-877-3p Expression

(1) Background: pancreatic cancer is one of the most serious cancers due to its rapid and inevitable fatality, which has been proved very difficult to treat, compared with many other common cancers. Thus, developing an effective therapeutic strategy, especially searching for potential drugs, is the focus of current research. The exact mechanism of rutin in pancreatic cancer remains unknown. (2) Method: three pancreatic cancer cell lines were used to study the anti-pancreatic cancer effect of rutin. The potent anti-proliferative, anti-migration and pro-apoptotic properties of rutin were uncovered by cell viability, a wound-healing migration assay, and a cell apoptosis assay. High-throughput sequencing technology was used to detect the change of miRNAs expression. Immunoblotting analysis was used to detect the expression of apoptotic proteins. (3) Results: CCK-8 and EDU assays revealed that rutin significantly inhibited pancreatic cancer cells’ proliferation (p < 0.05). A wound-healing assay showed that rutin significantly suppressed pancreatic cancer cells’ migration (p < 0.05). A flow cytometric assay showed that rutin could promote pancreatic cancer cells’ apoptosis. Intriguingly, rutin significantly upregulated miR-877-3p expression to repress the transcription of Bcl-2 and to induce pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis. Accordingly, rutin and miR-877-3p mimics could promote apoptotic protein expression. (4) Conclusions: our findings indicate that rutin plays an important role in anti-pancreatic cancer effects through a rutin-miR-877-3p-Bcl-2 axis and suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer

A Self‐Purifying Smart Mask Integrated With Metal–Organic Framework Membranes and Flexible Circuits

Abstract Masks are essential personal protective equipment during pandemics. Conventional masks that act as physical barriers due to size‐dependence filtration and electrostatic absorption may quickly lose their protection effectiveness due to surface degradation, generating massive obsoleted masks and ecological contamination. Here, a self‐purifying smart mask that combines active protection to airborne particles and hazardous gases while conducting real‐time monitoring is developed. Electrospun ZIF‐8/polyacrylonitrile membranes are used to replace melt‐blown non‐woven fabrics without additional electret processes. The active ingredients of ZIF‐8 can interact with intercepted pathogens and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), resulting in pathogen death and TVOC decomposition. When the electrospinning time exceeds 1 h, the membranes can block particulate matters with a filtration efficiency of over 99.58% and absorb TVOC with an efficiency of 92.57%. Its high disinfection performance can maintain for at least 72 h with an antibacterial rate of 99.07%. In addition, flexible circuits integrated with masks can quantify filtration effectiveness and monitor environmental parameters. The mask with the capability to renew its surface can enhance the endurance of masks for daily use and reduce the usage of single‐use masks. They can accommodate diverse demands in public health emergencies, occupational disease prevention, and biohazard defense

A flexible wearable device coupled with injectable Fe3O4 nanoparticles for capturing circulating tumor cells and triggering their deaths

Elimination of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood can be an effective therapeutic approach to disrupt metastasis. Here, a strategy is proposed to implement flexible wearable electronics and injectable nanomaterials to disrupt the hematogenous transport of CTCs. A flexible device containing an origami magnetic membrane is used to attract Fe3O4@Au nanoparticles (NPs) that are surface modified with specific aptamers and intravenously injected into blood vessels, forming an invisible hand and fishing line/bait configuration to specifically capture CTCs through bonding with aptamers. Thereafter, thinned flexible AlGaAs LEDs in the device offer an average fluence of 15.75 mW mm−2 at a skin penetration depth of 1.5 mm, causing a rapid rise of temperature to 48 °C in the NPs and triggering CTC death in 10 min. The flexible device has been demonstrated for intravascular isolation and enrichment of CTCs with a capture efficiency of 72.31% after 10 cycles in a simulated blood circulation system based on a prosthetic upper limb. The fusion of nanomaterials and flexible electronics reveals an emerging field that utilizes wearable and flexible stimulators to activate biological effects offered by nanomaterials, leading to improved therapeutical effects and postoperative outcomes of diseases