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ObjectiveMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are essential for tissue formation, neuronal network remodeling, and blood–brain barrier integrity. MMPs have been widely studied in acute brain diseases. However, the relationship with Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the serum MMP3 and MMP9 levels of PD patients and analyze their correlation with non-motor symptoms.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we recruited 73 patients with idiopathic PD and 64 healthy volunteers. Serum MMP3 and MMP9 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Patients with PD were assessed for non-motor symptoms using the Non-motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) and Parkinson’s disease sleep scale (PDSS) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).ResultsSerum MMP3 levels were significantly decreased in PD patients, predominantly those with early-stage PD, compared with controls [12.56 (9.30, 17.44) vs. 15.37 (11.33, 24.41) ng/ml;P= 0.004], and the serum MMP9 levels of PD patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls [522 (419, 729) vs. 329 (229, 473) ng/ml;P< 0.001]. MMP3 levels were positively correlated with the NMSS total score (r= 0.271,P= 0.020) and the single-item scores for item six, assessing the gastrointestinal tract (r= 0.333,P= 0.004), and there was an inverse correlation between serum MMP3 levels and PDSS score (r= –0.246,P= 0.036); meanwhile, MMP9 levels were positively correlated with the NMSS total score (r= 0.234,P= 0.047), and higher serum MMP9 levels were detected in the cognitive dysfunction subgroup than in the cognitively intact subgroup [658 (504, 877) vs. 502 (397, 608) ng/ml,P= 0.008].ConclusionThe serum MMP3 level of PD patients (especially early-stage patients) was significantly lower than that of the healthy control group, and the MMP9 level was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group. MMP3 and MMP9 levels correlate with sleep disturbance and cognitive function in PD patients, respectively.

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), but its neuropathology remains elusive. Our goal is to explore the potential neural substrates of EDS in a large sample of individuals with PD.We recruited 48 PD patients with and 87 PD patients without EDS. We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) between the two groups. We also explored functional connectivity (FC) between the entire brain and regions where ALFF differed between the two groups as well as FC between selected regions of interest. Age, Part III of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS-III) score and use of dopamine receptor agonists were treated as covariates in the comparisons.EDS was associated with significantly lower ALFF in the left angular gyrus, and ALFF in this region correlated negatively with score on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale in patients with PD. EDS was also associated with significantly lower FC between the left angular gyrus and right cerebellum, based on seed-to-voxel and inter-ROI analyses.Our results suggest that EDS in PD patients is associated with reduced spontaneous neural activity in the left angular gyrus and with reduced FC between the left angular gyrus and cerebellum. These findings may help understand and treat EDS in PD.

The etiology of constipation in Parkinson's disease is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to explore changes in regional neural activity and functional connections associated with constipation in a large cohort of individuals with Parkinson's disease.We prospectively recruited 106 patients with Parkinson's disease with constipation and 73 patients with Parkinson's disease without constipation. We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging for the first time to measure differences in regional neural activity and functional connections between the two patient groups.Patients with constipation showed significantly higher amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation than patients without constipation in the right dorsal pons extending into the cerebellum and in the right insula. The two types of patients also showed substantial differences in functional connections linking the superior temporal gyrus, particularly the right superior temporal gyrus, with multiple brain regions.Regional neural activity and functional connectivity in the brain differ substantially between patients with Parkinson's disease with or without constipation. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the pathophysiology of constipation in Parkinson's disease and for identifying therapeutic targets.

To explore differences in gray matter volume (GMV) and white matter volume (WMV) between patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy controls, and to examine whether the structural abnormalities correlate with functional abnormalities.T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were performed on 180 patients with PD and 58 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to compare GMV and WMV between groups, and resting-state fMRI to compare amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the structurally abnormal brain regions.Structural neuroimaging showed smaller whole-brain GMV, but not WMV, in patients. Furthermore, VBM revealed smaller GMV in the right superior temporal gyrus (STG) and left frontotemporal space in patients, after correction for multiple comparisons. Patients also showed significantly higher ALFF in the right STG. GMV in the right STG and left frontotemporal space in patients correlated negatively with age and scores on Part III of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, but not with PD duration.Structural atrophy in the frontotemporal lobe may be a useful imaging biomarker in PD, such as for detecting disease progression. Furthermore, this structural atrophy appears to correlate with enhanced spontaneous brain activity. This study associates particular structural and functional abnormalities with PD neuropathology.

This paper shows a method to calibrating the non-uniformity of the x-ray backscatter image in a side-beam x-ray detection system. The flying spot of x-ray beam cross the luggage under detection per cycle, and every point of the detector being irradiated by flying spot can be taken as an assumed detector. Using calibrators of different thickness and combined with the corresponding mathematical model, the greyscale of the image is uniformed and calibration is achieved.

Visual C++6.0 is selected as development tools while Access 2000 of Microsoft is used to build database, and the technology of ADO is adopted to achieve the connection between them. Though the secondary development of API function provided by SolidWorks, the query module is taken as a plug-in integrated in SolideWorks, which achieves the automatic query.

Topology optimization is a kind of optimized method, which can seek for an optimal allocation of structural material according to the load,constraints and optimization goals .To achieve the lightweight design of the top beam, establishing a minimum strain as the objective function, the volume fraction as the constraint conditions, and the density of design domain as the design variables,implementing the topology optimization for the top beam,the optimal distribution of top beam material is obtained, which provide a basis for the manufacture of top beam.

[1] Shatsky Rise consists of thick (∼30 km maximum) basaltic crust with various geochemical compositions. Geochemistry data indicate that four magma types exist on the plateau; namely normal, low-Ti, high-Nb, and U1349 types. The normal type is the most abundant in volume and appears on all three large edifices of the plateau: Tamu, Ori, and Shirshov massifs. Composition of the normal type is similar to normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) composition, but with slight relative enrichment of the more incompatible elements. The low-Ti type is distinguished from the normal type basalt by slightly lower Ti content at a given MgO. Composition of the high-Nb type is characterized by distinctively high contents of incompatible trace elements. U1349 type basalts are composed of more primitive and depleted compositions compared with the others. The normal type basalts constitute ∼94% of the lava units of the oldest Tamu Massif and non-normal types (i.e., the other three types) basalts comprise ∼57% on the younger Ori Massif, implying that geochemical compositions may have become heterogeneous with time. Petrological examination demonstrates that compositions of the normal-, low-Ti-, and high-Nb-type basalts evolved through fractional crystallization of olivine, plagioclase, and augite in shallow magma chambers (

This paper elaborates on defects in the Petrol- China Changqing Oilfield Cooperation Management Pro- ject in an attempt to improve future cooperative efforts. The paper focuses on the drawbacks in the existing manage- ment process and analyzes the process by using current information management methods. This effort is made in hopes of arriving at the most efficient and effective method to redesign the existing processes.