Improving Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis by DS Evidence Theory Based Fusion Model

Rolling bearing plays an important role in rotating machinery and its working condition directly affects the equipment efficiency. While dozens of methods have been proposed for real-time bearing fault diagnosis and monitoring, the fault classification accuracy of existing algorithms is still not satisfactory. This work presents a novel algorithm fusion model based on principal component analysis and Dempster-Shafer evidence theory for rolling bearing fault diagnosis. It combines the advantages of the learning vector quantization (LVQ) neural network model and the decision tree model. Experiments under three different spinning bearing speeds and two different crack sizes show that our fusion model has better performance and higher accuracy than either of the base classification models for rolling bearing fault diagnosis, which is achieved via synergic prediction from both types of models

An Ensemble Stacked Convolutional Neural Network Model for Environmental Event Sound Recognition

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with log-mel audio representation and CNN-based end-to-end learning have both been used for environmental event sound recognition (ESC). However, log-mel features can be complemented by features learned from the raw audio waveform with an effective fusion method. In this paper, we first propose a novel stacked CNN model with multiple convolutional layers of decreasing filter sizes to improve the performance of CNN models with either log-mel feature input or raw waveform input. These two models are then combined using the Dempster–Shafer (DS) evidence theory to build the ensemble DS-CNN model for ESC. Our experiments over three public datasets showed that our method could achieve much higher performance in environmental sound recognition than other CNN models with the same types of input features. This is achieved by exploiting the complementarity of the model based on log-mel feature input and the model based on learning features directly from raw waveforms

Reduction in IL-33 expression exaggerates ischaemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial injury in mice with diabetes mellitus

Aims: The underlying mechanism(s) of vulnerability of the diabetic myocardium to ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury is not fully understood. Interleukin-33 (IL-33) has been reported showing the beneficial effect to the myocardium on I/R injury. The aims of this study were to test whether diabetes mellitus (DM) affects myocardial levels of IL-33 and to examine whether reduction in IL-33 is responsible for exaggerated I/R injury in the diabetic myocardium. Methods and results: DM hearts were challenged with I/R in vivo, whereas while isolated cardiomyocytes in vitro were conditioned with high glucose (HG) followed by an anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) challenge. Myocardial levels of IL-33 were decreased in mice with DM which was associated with increased protein kinase C βII (PKCβII) activation. Exogenous IL-33 prevented the DM-induced PKCβII activation and attenuated I/R injuries (myocardial infarction size and apoptosis). HG-conditioned myocytes incurred exaggerated apoptosis when compared with naïve myocytes after A/R which was attenuated by IL-33. HG activated PKCβII in cardiomyocytes, which was further enhanced by A/R. IL-33 prevented the PKCβII activation in myocytes with HG or HG and A/R. Inhibition of PKCβII prevented the beneficial effect of IL-33. Finally, IL-33 up-regulated diacylglycerol kinase zeta (DGK-zeta) in cardiomyocytes and reversed the down-regulation of myocardial DGK-zeta in mice with DM. Conclusion: Our results indicate that decreased levels of IL-33 are responsible for the increased sensitivity of the myocardium to I/R in DM. Reduction in IL-33 results in a chronic activation of PKCβII. I/R further enhances PKCβII activation in the diabetic myocardium which results in exaggeration of myocardial injury

Drivers of Spatiotemporal Eukaryote Plankton Distribution in a Trans-Basin Water Transfer Canal in China

Planktonic eukaryotes are important components of aquatic ecosystems, and analyses of the whole eukaryotic planktonic community composition and function have far-reaching significance for water resource management. We aimed to understand the spatiotemporal variation and drivers of eukaryotic plankton distribution in the Middle Route Project of the South-to-North Water Diversion in Henan Province, China. Specifically, we examined planktonic assemblages and water quality at five stations along the canal and another one located before the dam in March, June, September, and December 2019. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the eukaryotic plankton community was primarily composed of 53 phyla, 200 genera, and 277 species, with Cryptophyta, Ciliophora, and norank_k_Cryptophyta being the dominant phyla. Redundancy analysis of the eukaryotic community and environmental factors showed that five vital factors affecting eukaryotic plankton distribution were oxidation-reduction potential, nitrate nitrogen, pH, total phosphorus, and water flow velocity. Furthermore, the geographical distribution of eukaryotic communities was consistent with the distance decay model. Importantly, environmental selection dominantly shaped the geographical distribution of the eukaryotic community. In summary, our study elucidates the ecological response of planktonic eukaryotes by identifying the diversity and ecological distribution of planktonic eukaryotes in trans-basin diversion channels

Giant panda loan exhibitions in China underdeliver on educating visitors: insights and recommendations for improvements

Giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca exhibits are popular attractions for zoos and wildlife parks. However, it remains to be investigated whether such exhibits enhance visitor knowledge about pandas and broader conservation issues. We conducted questionnaire surveys at giant panda exhibits at three city zoos and five wildlife parks in China. Although visitors were generally interested in the giant panda, this was not reflected in their post-exhibit knowledge of giant panda biology. Socio-demographically, men were more knowledgeable of giant panda biology than women. Knowledge correlated positively with respondent level of education. Younger respondents (< 45 years) knew most about giant pandas and expressed an interest in learning more about them using social media. The most informed respondents had visited other giant panda exhibits previously. Respondents were generally satisfied with the giant panda exhibits (mean score 4.44/5). Wildlife parks delivered a better educational outcome than city zoos. We recommend approaches to improve the visitor experience further and to leverage public interest in broader conservation engagement and action in China

The combined effect of a novel formula of herbal extracts on bacterial infection and immune response in Micropterus salmoides

Herbal extracts have been considered as ideal alternative to antibiotics in aquaculture and application of combinatory effective extracts always can exhibit the enhanced bioactivity with high efficiency. In our study, a novel herbal extract combination GF-7, which is composed of Galla Chinensis, Mangosteen Shell extracts as well as the effective parts of Pomegranate peel and Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extracts, was prepared and applied for the therapy of bacterial infection in aquaculture. The HPLC analysis of GF-7 was also investigated for quality control and chemical identification. In the bioassay, GF-7 had excellent antibacterial activity against various aquatic pathogenic bacteria in vitro, and the related MIC values were between 0.045 and 0.36 mg/mL. After feeding Micropterus salmoide with GF-7 (0.1, 0.3, and 0.6%, respectively) for 28 days, the activities of ACP, AKP, LZM, SOD, and CAT of the liver in each treatment group were significantly increased and the content of MDA was significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the hepatic expression of the immune regulators including IL-1β, TNF-α, and Myd88 at different times was up-regulated in varying degrees. The challenge results exhibited a good dose-dependent protective effect on M. salmoides infected with A. hydrophila, which was further confirmed by liver histopathology. Our results imply that the novel combination GF-7 is a potential natural medicine for the prevention and treatment of numerous aquatic pathogenic infectious diseases in aquaculture

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 is associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) measured as skin autofluorescence: The Rotterdam Study

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in tissues with aging and may influence age-related diseases. They can be estimated non-invasively by skin autofluorescence (SAF) using the AGE Reader™. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) may inhibit AGEs accumulation through anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties but evidence in humans is scarce. The objective was to investigate the association between serum 25(OH)D3 and SAF in the population-based cohort study. Serum 25(OH)D3 and other covariates were measured at baseline. SAF was measured on average 11.5 years later. Known risk factors for AGE accumulation such as higher age, BMI, and coffee intake, male sex, smoking, diabetes, and decreased renal function were measured at baseline. Linear regression models were adopted to explore the association between 25(OH)D3 and SAF with adjustment for confounders. Interaction terms were tested to identify effect modification. The study was conducted in the general community. 2746 community-dwelling participants (age ≥ 45 years) from the Rotterdam Study were included. Serum 25(OH)D3 inversely associated with SAF and explained 1.5% of the variance (unstandardized B = − 0.002 (95% CI[− 0.003, − 0.002]), standardized β = − 0.125), independently of known risk factors and medication intake. The association was present in both diabetics (B = − 0.004 (95% CI[− 0.008, − 0.001]), β = − 0.192) and non-diabetics (B = − 0.002 (95% CI[− 0.003, − 0.002]), β = − 0.122), both sexes, both smokers and non-smokers and in each RS subcohort. Serum 25(OH)D3 concentration was significantly and inversely associated with SAF measured prospectively, also after adjustment for known risk factors for high SAF and the number of medication used, but the causal chain is yet to be explored in future studies. Clinical Trial Registry (1) Netherlands National Trial Register: Trial ID: NTR6831 (http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=6831). (2) WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform: under shared catalogue number NTR6831 (www.who.int/ictrp/network/primary/en/)

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes Reduce A1 Astrocytes via Downregulation of Phosphorylated NFκB P65 Subunit in Spinal Cord Injury

Background/Aims: Neurotoxic A1 astrocytes are induced by inflammation after spinal cord injury (SCI), and the inflammation-related Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NFκB) pathway may be related to A1-astrocyte activation. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising therapy for SCI, where transplanted MSCs exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating proinflammatory factors, such as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α and NFκB. MSC-exosomes (MSC-exo) reportedly mimic the beneficial effects of MSCs. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether MSCs and MSC-exo exert inhibitory effects on A1 astrocytes and are beneficial for recovery after SCI. Methods: The effects of MSC and MSC-exo on SCIinduced A1 astrocytes, and the potential mechanisms were investigated in vitro and in vivo using immunofluorescence and western blot. In addition, we assessed the histopathology, levels of proinflammatory cytokines and locomotor function to verify the effects of MSC and MSC-exo on SCI rats. Results: MSC or MSC-exo co-culture reduced the proportion of SCIinduced A1 astrocytes. Intravenously-injected MSC or MSC-exo after SCI significantly reduced the proportion of A1 astrocytes, the percentage of p65 positive nuclei in astrocytes, and the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells in the ventral horn. Additionally, we observed decreased lesion area and expression of TNFα, Interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-1β, elevated expression of Myelin Basic Protein (MBP), Synaptophysin (Syn) and Neuronal Nuclei (NeuN), and improved Basso, Beattie &#38; Bresnahan (BBB) scores and inclined-plane-test angle. In vitro assay showed that MSC and MSC-exo reduced SCI-induced A1 astrocytes, probably via inhibiting the nuclear translocation of the NFκB p65. Conclusion: MSC and MSC-exo reduce SCI-induced A1 astrocytes, probably via inhibiting nuclear translocation of NFκB p65, and exert antiinflammatory and neuroprotective effects following SCI, with the therapeutic effect of MSCexo comparable with that of MSCs when applied intravenously