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Background: Glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma B (GPNMB)/osteoactivin was first identified in the human melanoma cell lines. GPNMB plays a key role in the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative functions as well as osteoblast differentiation, cancer progression, and tissue regeneration. Recently, GPNMB was used as an anti-aging vaccine for mice. The present study aimed to investigate the potential of biofluid GPNMB as an aging biomarker in humans using serum and urine samples from an aging Chinese population. Methods: We analyzed RNA-sequencing data (GSE132040) from 17 murine organs across different ages to assess the gene expression of potential ageing biomarkers. Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the relationship between gene expression and age. Meanwhile, a cross-sectional population study was conducted, which included 473 participants (aged 25-91 years), a representative subset of participants from the Peng Zu Study on Healthy Ageing in China (Peng Zu Cohort). Biofluid GPNMB levels were measured by ELISA. The associations of serum and urine GPNMB levels with various clinical and anthropometrical indices were assessed using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. Results: In mice, the Gpnmb mRNA expression levels showed a significant positive association with age in multiple organs in mice (P < 0.05). In Peng Zu Cohort, biofluid (both serum and urine) GPNMB levels showed a positive correlation with age (P < 0.05). Univariate linear regression analysis revealed that serum GPNMB levels were negatively associated with skeletal muscle mass index (SMI, P < 0.05) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, P < 0.05), and urine GPNMB levels showed a negative association with total bile acids (TBA, P < 0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis further indicated that serum GPNMB levels negatively correlated with the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII, P < 0.05), and the urine GPNMB levels maintained a negative association with TBA (P < 0.05), additionally, urine GPNMB levels in men were significantly lower than in women (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The biofluid GPNMB was a strong clinical biomarker candidate for estimating biological aging.

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Tunnel widening is a frequent problem following arthroscopic ligament reconstruction surgery that may primarily arise from a graft-tunnel mismatch caused by errors in surgical instruments and methods. The present study aimed to observe the influence of current surgical instruments and methods on graft-tunnel matching. We established an in vitro model using porcine Achilles tendons and tibias, and compared traditional surgical instruments (control group) with custom instruments (experimental group). Graft measurements, bone-tunnel creation, and measurements of the maximum pullout force of the graft from the bone tunnel were performed. Results indicated that the measuring gauge developed by our research group (capable of accurate measurement of graft diameters) may mitigate errors arising from graft-diameter measurement using traditional measuring cylinders. Therefore, errors caused by current surgical instruments and surgical methods led to an increase in graft-tunnel mismatches. The degree of mismatch was greater at the tibial end than at the femoral end.

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Low phosphate (Pi) availability decreases photosynthesis, with phosphate limitation of photosynthesis occurring particularly during grain filling of cereal crops; however, effective genetic solutions remain to be established. We previously discovered that rice phosphate transporter OsPHO1;2 controls seed (sink) development through Pi reallocation during grain filling. Here, we find that OsPHO1;2 regulates Pi homeostasis and thus photosynthesis in leaves (source). Loss-of-function of OsPHO1;2 decreased Pi levels in leaves, leading to decreased photosynthetic electron transport activity, CO2 assimilation rate, and early occurrence of phosphate-limited photosynthesis. Interestingly, ectopic expression of OsPHO1;2 greatly increased Pi availability, and thereby, increased photosynthetic rate in leaves during grain filling, contributing to increased yield. This was supported by the effect of foliar Pi application. Moreover, analysis of core rice germplasm resources revealed that higher OsPHO1;2 expression was associated with enhanced photosynthesis and yield potential compared to those with lower expression. These findings reveal that phosphate-limitation of photosynthesis can be relieved via a genetic approach, and the OsPHO1;2 gene can be employed to reinforce crop breeding strategies for achieving higher photosynthetic efficiency.

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Shrews being insectivores, serve as natural reservoirs for a wide array of zoonotic viruses, including the recently discovered Langya henipavirus (LayV) in China in 2018. It is crucial to understand the shrew-associated virome, viral diversity, and new viruses. In the current study, we conducted high-throughput sequencing on lung samples obtained from 398 shrews captured along the eastern coast of China, and characterized the high-depth virome of 6 common shrew species (Anourosorex squamipes, Crocidura lasiura, Crocidura shantungensis, Crocidura tanakae, Sorex caecutiens, and Suncus murinus). Our analysis revealed numerous shrew-associated viruses comprising 54 known viruses and 72 new viruses that significantly enhance our understanding of mammalian viruses. Notably, 34 identified viruses possess spillover-risk potential and six were human pathogenic viruses: LayV, influenza A virus (H5N6), rotavirus A, rabies virus, avian paramyxovirus 1, and rat hepatitis E virus. Moreover, ten previously unreported viruses in China were discovered, six among them have spillover-risk potential. Additionally, all 54 known viruses and 12 new viruses had the ability to cross species boundaries. Our data underscore the diversity of shrew-associated viruses and provide a foundation for further studies into tracing and predicting emerging infectious diseases originated from shrews.

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Ultrahigh-temperature Joule-heating of carbon nanostructures opens up unique opportunities for property enhancements and expanded applications. This study employs rapid electrical Joule-heating at ultrahigh temperatures (up to 3000 K within 60 s) to induce a transformation in nanocarbon aerogels, resulting in highly graphitic structures. These aerogels function as versatile platforms for synthesizing customizable metal oxide nanoparticles while significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to conventional furnace heating methods. The thermal conductivity of the aerogel, characterized by Umklapp scattering, can be precisely adjusted by tuning the heating temperature. Utilizing the aerogel's superhydrophobic properties enables its practical application in filtration systems for efficiently separating toxic halogenated solvents from water. The hierarchically porous aerogel, featuring a high surface area of 607 m2 g-1, ensures the uniform distribution and spacing of embedded metal oxide nanoparticles, offering considerable advantages for catalytic applications. These findings demonstrate exceptional catalytic performance in oxidative desulfurization, achieving a 98.9% conversion of dibenzothiophene in the model fuel. These results are corroborated by theoretical calculations, surpassing many high-performance catalysts. This work highlights the pragmatic and highly efficient use of nanocarbon structures in nanoparticle synthesis under ultrahigh temperatures, with short heating durations. Its broad implications extend to the fields of electrochemistry, energy storage, and high-temperature sensing.

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Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have demonstrated effectiveness in treating various cancers, particularly exhibiting specificity in targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. Recent advancements in phase 3 clinical trials have broadened current understanding of ADCs, especially trastuzumab deruxtecan, in treating other HER2-expressing malignancies. This expansion of knowledge has led to the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of trastuzumab deruxtecan for HER2-positive and HER2-low breast cancer, HER2-positive gastric cancer, and HER2-mutant nonsmall cell lung cancer. Concurrent with the increasing use of ADCs in oncology, there is growing concern among health care professionals regarding the rise in the incidence of interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis (ILD/p), which is associated with anti-HER2 ADC therapy. Studies on anti-HER2 ADCs have reported varying ILD/p mortality rates. Consequently, it is crucial to establish guidelines for the diagnosis and management of ILD/p in patients receiving anti-HER2 ADC therapy. To this end, a panel of Chinese experts was convened to formulate a strategic approach for the identification and management of ILD/p in patients treated with anti-HER2 ADC therapy. This report presents the expert panel's opinions and recommendations, which are intended to guide the management of ILD/p induced by anti-HER2 ADC therapy in clinical practice.

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Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) function to control infectious agents as well as to propagate inflammatory response in a variety of disease conditions. DNA damage associated with chromatin decondensation and NACHT domain-leucine-rich repeat-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation have emerged as crucial events in NET formation, but the link between the two processes is unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1), a key DNA repair enzyme, regulates NET formation triggered by NLRP3 inflammasome activation in neutrophils. Activation of mouse neutrophils with canonical NLRP3 stimulants LPS and nigericin induced NET formation, which was significantly abrogated by pharmacological inhibition of PARP-1. We found that PARP-1 is required for NLRP3 inflammasome assembly by regulating post-transcriptional levels of NLRP3 and ASC dimerization. Importantly, this PARP-1-regulated NLRP3 activation for NET formation was independent of inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, because caspase-1 and gasdermin D processing as well as IL-1ß transcription and secretion remained intact upon PARP-1 inhibition in neutrophils. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of caspase-1 and gasdermin D had no effect on NLRP3-mediated NET formation. Mechanistically, PARP-1 inhibition increased p38 MAPK activity, which was required for downmodulation of NLRP3 and NETs, because concomitant inhibition of p38 MAPK with PARP-1 restored NLRP3 activation and NET formation. Finally, mice undergoing bacterial peritonitis exhibited increased survival upon treatment with PARP-1 inhibitor, which correlated with increased leukocyte influx and improved intracellular bacterial clearance. Our findings reveal a noncanonical pyroptosis-independent role of NLRP3 in NET formation regulated by PARP-1 via p38 MAPK, which can be targeted to control NETosis in inflammatory diseases.

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Water vapor inevitably exists in the environment, which causes adverse impacts on many crucial chemical reactions. However, high water vapor of up to 10 vol %─relevant to a broad spectrum of industrial practices-for catalytic implications has been less investigated or neglected. As such, we explored an industry-relevant, humidity-highly sensitive benzene oxidation only in the presence of 10 vol % water vapor using the well-established Pt/Co3O4 catalysts, to bring such an important yet ignored topic to the forefront. Results revealed that Pt/Co3O4 catalysts possessing higher contents of Pt nanoparticles exhibited marked tolerance to water vapor interference. Under an incomplete benzene conversion condition, the input of 10 vol % water vapor indeed impaired the catalytic performance of Pt/Co3O4 catalyst significantly, which, in fact, was caused by the unfavorable formation of carboxylate species covering the catalyst's surface engendering irrecoverable activity loss, instead of the well-accepted water competitive adsorption. While such activity loss can be restored by elevating the reaction to a higher temperature. This study helps us to understand the compromised catalytic activity caused by high humidity, urging the systematic evaluation of well-established catalyst systems in high water vapor-contained conditions and pressing the development of water-tolerant catalysts for real-life application consideration.

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The increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant global health concern, affecting millions of individuals each year. Accurate diagnosis of acute CVD poses a formidable challenge, as misdiagnosis can significantly decrease patient survival rates. Traditional biomarkers have played a vital role in the diagnosis and prognosis of CVDs, but they can be influenced by various factors, such as age, sex, and renal function. Soluble ST2 (sST2) is a novel biomarker that is closely associated with different CVDs. Its low reference change value makes it suitable for continuous measurement, unaffected by age, kidney function, and other confounding factors, facilitating risk stratification of CVDs. Furthermore, the combination of sST2 with other biomarkers can enhance diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of sST2, focusing on its diagnostic and prognostic value as a myocardial marker for different types of CVDs and discussing the current limitations of sST2.

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Melon seeds have received considerable attention in recent years because of their high protein content, but they have not yet been fully used. The modification of melon seed protein (MSP) using ultrasound-assisted pH-shifting treatment was investigated in this study by analyzing structural characteristics and functional properties. The particle size, free sulfhydryl content, surface hydrophobicity, solubility, secondary structure, water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity, emulsification activity index, and emulsification stability index of MSP were determined. MSP treated with ultrasound-assisted, pH-shifting had a smaller particle size, lower free sulfhydryl content, higher surface hydrophobicity, and solubility increased from 43.67 % to 89.12 %. The secondary structure of MSP was affected by ultrasonic treatment, manifesting as an α-helix increase and ß-helix, ß-turn, and random coil content decrease, which may be the reason why the protein structure became more compact after treatment. The water and oil holding capacities of MSP increased from 2.74 g/g and 3.14 g/g in untreated samples to 3.19 g/g and 3.97 g/g for ultrasound-treated samples, and further increased to 3.97 g/g and 5.02 g/g for ultrasound-assisted, pH-shifting treatment at pH 9.0, respectively. The emulsification activity index of MSP was 21.11 m2/g before treatment and reached a maximum of 32.34 m2/g after ultrasound-assisted, pH-shifting treatment at pH 9.0. The emulsification stability of MSP was maximized by ultrasonic treatment at pH 7.0. Ultrasound-assisted, pH-shifting treatment can effectively improve the functional properties of MSP by modifying the protein structure, which improves the potential application of melon seed protein in the food industry.

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In this paper, the problem of highly performance motion control of tank bidirectional stabilizer with dead zone nonlinearity and uncertain nonlinearity is addressed. First, the electromechanical coupling dynamics model of bidirectional stabilizer is developed finely. Second, the dead zone nonlinearity in bidirectional stabilizer is characterized as the combination of an uncertain time-varying gain and a bounded disturbance term. Meanwhile, an adaptive robust controller with dead zone compensation is proposed by organically combining adaptive technique and extended state observer (ESO) through backstepping method. The adaptive technique is employed to reduce the impact of unknown system parameter and dead zone parameter. Furthermore, the ESO is constructed to compensate the lumped uncertainties including unmodeled dynamics and dead zone residual, and integrated together via a feedforward cancellation technique. Moreover, the adaptive robust control law is derived to ensure final global stability. In stability analysis, the asymptotic tracking performance of the proposed controller can be guaranteed as the uncertainty nonlinearities in tank bidirectional stabilizer are constant. It is also guaranteed to achieve bounded tracking performance when time-varying uncertainties exist. Extensive co-simulation and experimental results verify the superiority of the proposed strategy.

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Supported membranes and mixed matrix membranes have a limitation of harming the mass transfer due to the incompatibility between the support layer or the matrix and the active components of the membrane. Self-standing membranes, which could structurally abandon the support layer, altogether avoid the adverse effect, thus greatly facilitating the transmembrane mass transfer process. However, the abandonment of the support layer also reduces the membrane's mechanical properties and formability. In this review, our emphasis will be on self-standing membranes within the realm of materials and separation engineering. We will explore the materials employed in the fabrication of self-standing membranes, highlighting their ability to simultaneously enhance membrane performance and promote self-standing characteristics. Additionally, we will delve into the diverse techniques utilized for crafting self-standing membranes, encompassing interfacial polymerization, filtration, solvent casting, Langmuir-Blodgett & layer-by-layer assembly, electrospinning, compression, etc. Throughout the discussion, the merits and drawbacks associated with each of these preparation methods were elucidated. We also provide a brief overview of the applications of self-standing membranes, including water purification, gas separation, organic solvent nanofiltration, electrochemistry, and membrane reactor, as well as a brief description of the general strategies for performance enhancement of self-standing membranes. Finally, the current status of self-standing membranes and the challenges they may encounter were discussed.

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PURPOSE: Modifying foot progression angle (FPA), the angle between the line from the heel to the second metatarsal head and the line of progression, can reduce peak knee adduction moment (pKAM). However, determining the optimal FPA that minimizes pKAM without inducing unnatural walking patterns can be challenging. This study investigated the FPA-pKAM relationship using a robotic stepping trainer to assess the feasibility of determining the optimal FPA based on this relationship. Additionally, it examined knee moments during stepping with three different FPAs, as stepping is a recommended exercise for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rehabilitation. METHODS: Twenty-six asymptomatic individuals stepped on a robotic stepping trainer, which measured 6-axis footplate-reaction forces/torques and three-dimensional (3-D) ankle kinematics to determine external knee moments. The robot rotated the footplates slowly (~0.5 deg/sec) between 10°-toe-out and 10°-toe-in while participants stepped continuously, unaware of the footplate rotations. The slope of pKAM-FPA relationship during continuous stepping was determined. Peak 3-D knee moments were compared between the 10°-toe-in, 0°-FPA, and 10°-toe-out FPAs with repeated-measure ANOVA. Multiple linear regression determined the covariates that predicted pKAM during stepping. RESULTS: Eighteen participants had lower pKAM and KAM impulse with 10°-toe-in than 10°-toe-out (p < 0.001) and 0°-FPA (p < 0.001 and p = 0.008, respectively) (called toe-in responders). Conversely, eight participants reduced pKAM and KAM impulse with 10°-toe-out compared to 0°-FPA (p < 0.001, p = 0.017) and 10°-toe-in (p = 0.026, p = 0.004) (called toe-out responders). A linear pKAM-FPA relationship was determined for each individual, and its slope (the pKAM rate with FPA) was positive for toe-in responders (p < 0.01) and negative for toe-out responders (p = 0.02). Regression analysis revealed that smaller pKAM with toe-in in toe-in responders was explained by increased tibia medial tilt, tibia internal rotation, footplate-reaction lateral force, footplate-reaction anterior force, and decreased footplate-reaction internal rotation torque. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals may exhibit different responses to FPA modification during stepping. The slope and intercept of the linear pKAM-FPA relationship can be determined for individual subjects. This allows for a targeted pKAM reduction through guided FPA positioning and potentially offers subject-specific precision KOA rehabilitation.

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Obesity is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory metabolic disorder, with pathogenesis influenced by genetic and non-genetic factors such as environment and diet. Intestinal microbes and their metabolites play significant roles in the occurrence and development of obesity by regulating energy metabolism, inducing chronic inflammation, and impacting intestinal hormone secretion. Epigenetics, which involves the regulation of host gene expression without changing the nucleotide sequence, provides an exact direction for us to understand how the environment, lifestyle factors, and other risk factors contribute to obesity. DNA methylation, as the most common epigenetic modification, is involved in the pathogenesis of various metabolic diseases. The epigenetic modification of the host is induced or regulated by the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites, linking the dynamic interaction between the microbiota and the host genome. In this review, we examined recent advancements in research, focusing on the involvement of intestinal microbiota and DNA methylation in the etiology and progression of obesity, as well as potential interactions between the two factors, providing novel perspectives and avenues for further elucidating the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of obesity.

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The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron subvariants raises concerns regarding the effectiveness of immunity acquired from previous Omicron subvariants breakthrough infections (BTIs) or reinfections (RIs) against the current circulating Omicron subvariants. In this study, we prospectively investigate the dynamic changes of virus-specific antibody and T cell responses among 77 adolescents following Omicron BA.2.3 BTI with or without subsequent Omicron BA.5 RI. Notably, the neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) titers against various detected SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the emerging Omicron CH.1.1, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, EG.5.1, and JN.1 subvariants, exhibited a significant decrease along the time. A lower level of IgG and NAbs titers post-BTI was found to be closely associated with subsequent RI. Elevated NAbs levels and shortened antigenic distances were observed following Omicron BA.5 RI. Robust T cell responses against both Omicron BA.2- and CH.1.1-spike peptides were observed at each point visited. The exposure to Omicron BA.5 promoted phenotypic differentiation of virus-specific memory T cells, even among the non-seroconversion adolescents. Therefore, updated vaccines are needed to provide effective protection against newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants among adolescents.

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The purpose of feature selection in protein sequence recognition problems is to select the optimal feature set and use it as training input for classifiers and discover key sequence features of specific proteins. In the feature selection process, relevant features associated with the target task will be retained, and irrelevant and redundant features will be removed. Therefore, in an ideal state, a feature combination with smaller feature dimensions and higher performance indicators is desired. This paper proposes an algorithm called IIFS2.0 based on the cache elimination strategy, which takes the local optimal combination of cached feature subsets as a breakthrough point. It searches for a new feature combination method through the cache elimination strategy to avoid the drawbacks of human factors and excessive reliance on feature sorting results. We validated and analyzed its effectiveness on the protein dataset, demonstrating that IIFS2.0 significantly reduces the dimensionality of feature combinations while also improving various evaluation indicators. In addition, we provide IIFS2.0 on https://112.124.26.17:8006/ for researchers to use.

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Numerous variational methods have been proposed for solving quantum many-body systems, but they often face exponentially increasing computational complexity as the Hilbert space dimension grows. To address this, we introduce a novel approach using quantum neural networks to simulate the dissipative dynamics of many-body open quantum systems. This method combines neural-network quantum state representation with the time-dependent variational principle, both implemented via quantum algorithms. This results in accurate open quantum dynamics described by the Lindblad quantum master equation, exemplified by the spin-boson and transverse field Ising models. Our approach avoids the computational expense of classical algorithms and demonstrates the potential advantages of quantum computing for many-body simulations. To reduce measurement errors, we introduce a projection reset procedure, which could benefit other quantum simulations. In addition, our approach can be extended to simulate non-Markovian quantum dynamics.

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PURPOSE: Melatonin has promising protective effects for retinopathy. However, its roles in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We aimed to explore its roles and mechanisms in a ROP model. METHODS: Hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to observe the morphology of the retina. Immunofluorescence was used to detect positive (Nrf2+ and VEGF+) cells. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the level of nuclear expression of PCNA in retinal tissue. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe the morphology and structure of pigment cells. qRT-PCR was used to assay the expression of miR-23a-3p, Nrf2, and HO-1. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, ß-actin, and Lamin B1. RESULTS: Melatonin or miR-23a-3p antagomir treatment could ameliorate the Oxygen-induced pathological changes, increased the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1, SOD, and GSH-Px, and decreased the expression of VEGF, miR-23a-3p, MDA and the apoptosis in the ROP model. Further target prediction and luciferase reporter assays confirmed the targeted binding relationship between miR-23a-3p and Nrf2. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that melatonin could ameliorate H2O2-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress injury in RGC cells by mediating miR-23a-3p/Nrf2 signaling pathway, thereby improving retinal degeneration.

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Constructing a ocean Internet of Things requires an essential ocean environment monitoring system. However, the widely distributed existing ocean monitoring sensors make it impractical to provide power and transmit monitored information through cables. Therefore, ocean environment monitoring systems particularly need a continuous power supply and wireless transmission capability for monitoring information. Consequently, a high-strength, environmentally multi-compatible, floatable metamaterial energy harvesting device has been designed through integrated dynamic matching optimization of materials, structures, and signal transmission. The self-powered monitoring system breaks through the limitations of cables and batteries in the ultra-low-frequency wave environment (1 to 2 Hz), enabling real-time monitoring of various ocean parameters and wirelessly transmitting the data to the cloud for post-processing. Compared with solar and wind energy in the ocean environment, the energy harvesting device based on the defective state characteristics of metamaterials achieves a high-energy density (99 W/m3). For the first time, a stable power supply for the monitoring system has been realized in various weather conditions (24 h).