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Objectives. Although patients with grade 2 glioma have a relatively better prognosis and longer survival than those with high-grade glioma, there are still a number of patients with disappointing outcomes. In order to accurately predict the prognosis of patients, relevant risk factors were included in the analysis to establish a clinical prediction model so as to provide a basis for clinically individualized treatment. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted in patients diagnosed with grade 2 glioma. Data including clinical features, pathological type, molecular classification, neuroimaging examination, treatment, and survival were collected. The data sets were randomly assigned, with 80% of the data used for model building and 20% for validation. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to construct the model using important risk factors and present it in the form of a nomogram. The nomogram was evaluated a using C-index and calibration chart. Results. A total of 160 patients were enrolled in this analysis, including 128 in the training group and 32 in the validation group. In the training group, eight important risk factors including preoperative KPS, the first presenting symptom, the extent of resection, the gross tumor size, 1p19q, IDH, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were identified to construct the model. The C-index of the training group and the validation group was 0.832 and 0.801, respectively, indicating that the model had good prediction ability. The calibration charts of the two groups were drawn respectively, which showed that the calibration line and the standard line had a good consistency, which suggested that the model-predicted risk had a good consistency with the actual risk. Conclusions. Based on the data of our center, a nomogram prediction model with eight variables has been established as an off-the-rack tool and verified its accuracy, which can guide clinical work and provide consultation for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The aim of the study is to explore the clinical efficacy and prognosis factors of joint application of laparoscopic radical resection of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and docetaxel therapy in treating COAD of middle and advanced stages. Methods. The clinical data of 103 COAD patients of middle and advanced stages treated in our hospital from July 2016 to July 2018 were selected for the retrospective analysis, all patients received the treatment scheme of combining laparoscopic radical resection of COAD with docetaxel therapy for the observation of short-term efficacy, follow-up was conducted to record their 3-year survival, and relevant factors affecting patient prognosis were analyzed by the logistic regression model. Results. After treatment, the total remission rate of patients was 75.73% (78/103), the total incidence rate of adverse reactions was 16.50% (17/103); patients' level values of various serum tumor markers after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.001); according to the univariate analysis results, for COAD patients with different tumor diameters, differentiated degrees, TNM stages, perineural invasion degrees, pathological types, and depths of invasion, their modality rates were statistically different (P < 0.05); and the logistic regression analysis showed that tumor diameter ≥5 cm, poor differentiation, TNM stage IV, perineural invasion, pathologically signet-ring cell carcinoma, and T3-invasion were the independent risk factors affecting patient prognosis (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Combining laparoscopic radical resection of COAD with docetaxel therapy in treating COAD of middle and advanced stages achieves affirmed short-term efficacy, which can reduce patients' level of serum tumor markers and ensure high safety and good survival prognosis. Tumor diameter, differentiated degree, TNM stage, perineural invasion, pathological type, and T3-invasion are the relevant factors affecting the prognosis of middle and advanced COAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantaginis Semen (PS) has been used to promote diuresis and clear away dampness. Recent reports have shown that PS can be used to treat gouty nephropathy (GN). However, the action and mechanism of PS have not been well defined in treating GN. The present study aimed to define the molecular mechanisms of PS as a potential therapeutic approach to treat GN. A combination of network pharmacology and validation experiments in GN is used to understand the potential mechanism. Information on pharmaceutically active compounds in PS and gene information related to GN was obtained from public databases. The compound target network and protein-protein interaction network were constructed to study the mechanism of action of PS in the treatment of GN. The mechanism of action of PS in the treatment of GN was analyzed via Gene Ontology (GO) biological process annotation and Kyoto Gene and Genomics Encyclopedia (KEGG) pathway enrichment. Validation experiments were performed to verify the core targets. The GN rat model was prepared by the method of combining yeast and adenine. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the morphology of renal tissue in rats. ELISA was applied to detect TGF-β1, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels in renal tissue. The expressions of TGF-β1, TNF-α, and IL-1β were determined using immunohistochemistry. Through the results of network pharmacology, we obtained 9 active components, 118 predicted targets, and 149 GN targets from the public database. Based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI), 26 hub genes for interaction with PS treating for GN were screened, including MMP9, TNF, IL1β, and IL6. The enrichment analysis results showed that the treatment of GN with PS was mainly involved in the TGF-β1 signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, and PI3K Akt signaling pathway. Validation experiment results showed that PS could reduce the content of urinary protein and UA and deregulate the expression of TGF-β1, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the treatment of GN. The molecular mechanism of PS in the treatment of GN indicated the synergistic features of multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway of traditional Chinese medicine, which provided an essential scientific basis for further elucidating the mechanism of PS in the treatment of GN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 12‐week feeding trial was conducted to assess the impact of fishmeal replacement with blood meal or dried porcine solubles on the growth performance, body composition and intestinal morphology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fishmeal was 50% substituted with either blood meal or dried porcine solubles, or two‐third substituted with both alternative products, at a 1:1 ratio. There was no significant difference in survival, final weight, weight gain ratio, feed conversion ratio or condition factor between the control and experimental groups (p >.05), although the visceral somatic index of the blood meal group was higher than that of the control group (p <.05). Crude lipid content was significantly higher in the dried porcine soluble group than that in the control group (p <.05), while other nutrient levels were not significantly different (p >.05). The amino acid composition of each experimental group was not significantly different from that of the control (p >.05). The intestinal villus height and fold depth of each experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p <.05). The results of this study show that two‐third fishmeal substituted with both blood meal and dried porcine solubles, at a 1:1 ratio, is the optimal fishmeal replacement for common carp growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillary water absorption of concrete is closely related to its pore structure, permeability, and durability. This paper intensively investigates the effects of imposed damage, including freeze-thaw damage and loading damage, on the capillary water absorption of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). Freeze-thaw cycle test, loading test, and the experiment of capillary water absorption were carried out, respectively. The results demonstrate that the addition of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) results in the increase in the capillary absorption behavior of RAC without imposed damage, and there exists a linear correlation between the behaviors of capillary water absorption and chloride penetration of RAC. The imposed freeze-thaw damage or load damage of RAC boosts with the increase of RCA replacement percentages after suffering the same freeze-thaw cycles or loading level. The imposed freeze-thaw damage and load damage further lead to the increase in the capillary water absorption of RAC, and the capillary absorption coefficient of RAC increases linearly with the increased RCA replacement percentages, after suffering the same freeze-thaw cycles or loading level. Furthermore, capillary absorption coefficient increases linearly with the growth of imposed freeze-thaw damage or load damage degree, which can be used to estimate the capillary absorption behavior of RAC exposed to the extreme environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the personalized and diverse service needs, service scheme configuration should be more quick and flexible in the process of product service system (PSS) scheme design. Service modularization can effectively improve the service configuration efficiency and modules’ reusability. However, compared with the modularity of tangible products, the partition of service modules in the practical context is still a problem to be discussed. In this paper, a service partition approach for PSS based on the fuzzy graph and Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence is presented. Firstly, service activities correlation analysis is carried out, according to which the fuzzy graph is drawn. By setting different thresholds, the fuzzy graph is cut, and different partition results are obtained. Secondly, the evaluation indexes of customization, generalization, and technological evolution are proposed and used as evidence sources of the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence. Through the synthesis of the evidence sources, the optimal partition scheme is got. Finally, to verify the method, a case study is illustrated through the NC machine tools module partition. And results show that the proposed method can provide specific ideas and concrete guidance of the service module partition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is an important QFD decision problem to determine the engineering characteristics and their corresponding actual fulfillment levels. With the increasing complexity of actual engineering problems, the corresponding QFD matrixes become much huger, and the time spent on analyzing these matrixes and making decisions will be unacceptable. In this paper, a solution for efficiently solving the QFD decision problem is proposed. The QFD decision problem is reformulated as a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model, which aims to maximize overall customer satisfaction with the consideration of the enterprises’ capability, cost, and resource constraints. And then an improved algorithm G-ICA, a combination of Imperialist Competitive Algorithm (ICA) and genetic algorithm (GA), is proposed to tackle this model. The G-ICA is compared with other mature algorithms by solving 7 numerical MINLP problems and 4 adapted QFD decision problems with different scales. The results verify a satisfied global optimization performance and time performance of the G-ICA. Meanwhile, the proposed algorithm’s better capabilities to guarantee decision-making accuracy and efficiency are also proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) is widely used in assisted reproductive technology (ART), but it often leads to precocious maturation of the endometrium such that it impairs embryonic implantation and limits pregnancy rates. Previous studies have shown the traditional Chinese medicine, the Zishen Yutai pill (ZYP), to be effective in treatment of threatened as well as recurrent miscarriages, and it can improve embryonic implantation rates in patients undergoing IVF treatment. In the present study, the ZYP has been found to ameliorate precocious endometrial maturation in a mouse model of different COH. Molecular evaluations, real-time PCR, relative RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry have indicated that the ZYP increased the expression of HOXA10, an important marker of uterine receptivity. Elevation of HOXA10 led to further upregulation of its target gene, integrin β3, and downregulation of EMX2, two additional markers of uterine receptivity. In this way, the ZYP may mitigate COH-induced precocious maturation of the endometrium and improve uterine receptivity by upregulating HOXA10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the influence of different thickness ratios on the mechanical properties of rock-concrete composite, a 50 mm diameter split Hopkinson pressure bar device (SHPB) was used to conduct impact loading tests on ϕ 50 mm × 50 mm cylindrical composite with sandstone thickness of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 mm. The results show that with the increase of the proportion of rock in the composite, the dynamic compressive strength increases gradually, and the dynamic elastic modulus increases linearly. When the rock thickness increases, the average strain rate decreases and the peak strain decreases. In dynamic loading combination behind the rock specimen with concrete cushion, absorb energy decrease with the increase of rock accounted concrete; when the rock is 25 mm, total absorption energy reached its lowest point; when the thickness of the rock is greater than the thickness of concrete, concrete and adjacent parts of rock joint cushion absorb the energy into a rising trend. With the increase of the proportion of rock, the degree of fragmentation of the composite specimens decreases gradually, and the fragments are mostly concrete with smaller particle size, which is correlated with the dynamic compressive strength. The rock-concrete interface is a weak surface relative to the materials on both sides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the application value of combined detection of serum homocysteine (Hcy), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the diagnosis of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Methods. 90 patients with CSVD admitted to our hospital within the past year were identified as the research subjects, and the patients with cognitive dysfunction were assigned to the experimental group, and those with normal cognitive function were assigned to the control group according to the evaluation of cognitive dysfunction by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with 45 cases in each group. Results. The experimental group obtained remarkably elevated Hcy levels than the control group P < 0.05 . The patient's cognitive dysfunction is mainly attributed to the impact of serum Hcy. TLR4 and Hcy were negatively correlated with MoCA scores P > 0.05 . In comparison with the control group, the experimental group had significantly higher levels of Hcy, serum CRP, and interleukin (IL)-6 P < 0.05 . Conclusion. The combined detection of serum Hcy, TLR4, and CRP features a high clinical value in the diagnosis of CSVD, which contributes to the prevention and treatment of cognitive dysfunction in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second language learning has been shown to impact and reshape the central nervous system, anatomically and functionally. Most of the studies on second language learning and neuroplasticity have been focused on cortical areas, whereas the subcortical neural encoding mechanism and its relationship with L2 learning have not been examined extensively. The purpose of this study was to utilize frequency-following response (FFR) to examine if and how learning a tonal language in adulthood changes the subcortical neural encoding in hearing adults. Three groups of subjects were recruited: native speakers of Mandarin Chinese (native speakers (NS)), learners of the language (L2 learners), and those with no experience (native speakers of foreign languages (NSFL)). It is hypothesized that differences would exist in FFRs obtained from the three language experience groups. Results revealed that FFRs obtained from L2 learners were found to be more robust than the NSFL group, yet not on a par with the NS group. Such results may suggest that in human adulthood, subcortical neural encoding ability may be trainable with the acquisition of a new language and that neuroplasticity at the brainstem level can indeed be influenced by L2 learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Observe the effect of the Chinese herbal extracts, Yin-Xing-Tong-Zhi, in tablet form, on improving vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND). Methods. Sixty-eight patients with VCIND were divided randomly into treatment and placebo groups with oral administration of Yin-Xing-Tong-Zhi tablets (YXTZTs) or placebo, respectively, for 24 weeks. Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) subscale score, MMSE score, Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change Plus Caregiver Input (CIBIC-Plus) score, expression of interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α in serum, and variation of blood-lipid levels were evaluated at different time points. Results. At weeks 12 and 24, the scores for the ADAS-Cog, CIBIC-Plus, and MMSE of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). All clinical scales at week 24 of the control group were significantly different from those before treatment (P<0.05). Expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in the two groups was reduced significantly with variation of the clinical scales of cognitive impairment. Conclusion. YXTZTs may delay the development of cognitive impairment in VCIND patients by modulating expression of VCIND-associated proinflammatory factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IL-28B, belonging to type III interferons (IFN-λs), exhibits a potent antitumor activity with reduced regulated T cells (Tregs) population, yet the effect of IL-28B on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and if IL-28B can downregulate Tregs directly in vitro are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of IL-28B on Tregs in the spleen and TME in H22 tumor-bearing mice and verified the downregulation of IL-28B on Tregs in vitro. We found that rAd-mIL-28B significantly inhibited tumor growth and reduced the frequency of splenic CD4+Foxp3+ T cells. The levels of CXCL13, ICAM-1, MCP-5, and IL-7 in the serum, and the levels of IL-15 and sFasL in the tumor tissue decreased significantly after rAd-mIL-28B treatment relative to rAd-EGFP. Furthermore, the percentage of CD8+ cells in the TME was significantly increased in the rAd-mIL-28B group compared with the untreated group. In vitro, splenocytes were stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28 and IL-2 in the presence of TGF-β with or without IL-28B for three days and followed by flow cytometric, RT-PCR, and IL-10 production analysis. The results showed that IL-28B significantly reduced the proportion of induced Foxp3+ cells. It demonstrated that IL-28B may be used as a promising immunotherapy strategy against cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the dynamic mechanical properties and energy consumption of fissured sandstone with different dip angles under impact load, impact compression tests were conducted on seven groups of and intact and fractured sandstone specimens with different dip angles using the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) device with 0.3 MPa air pressure. The influence of dip fissures on the crushing shape, dynamic compressive strength, dynamic elastic modulus, dynamic peak strain, dynamic average strain rate, dynamic stress-strain curve, and energy consumption of rock specimens was systematically analyzed. The results show that the 45° fissure angle is the best fragile angle according to the failure mode and dynamic compressive strength of the specimen and that difference in specimen failure modes specimens is attributed to the existence of fractures with different dip angles. The dynamic elastic modulus reaches the minimum when the fissure angle is 45° and the maximum when the fissure angle is 90°. The dynamic peak strain is the lowest and minimal influence of fissure angle on the average strain rate of the specimen is presented when the fissure angle is 45°. From the stress-strain curves, the two specimen ends are most vulnerable to the relative sliding and dislocation of the lateral fissure angle during impact compression when the fissure angle is 45°. With stable incident energy in the test, a prominent relationship exists between the reflected energy, transmission energy, and energy consumption and the fissure angles. In addition, the fissure angle exhibits a prominent influence on reflected energy and the energy consumption of the specimen when the fissure angle ranges from 45° to 60°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN) is a common renal disease that lacks effective drug intervention. Aconiti Lateralis Radix (Fuzi), a natural Chinese medical herb, is found with significant therapeutic effects on various diseases in the clinic. However, its effects on MesPGN have not been reported. This study is aimed to discuss the therapeutic effects of the aqueous extract of Aconiti Lateralis Radix (ALR) and the polysaccharides of Aconiti Lateralis Radix (PALR) on MesPGN as well as the underlying mechanism. In this study, we, firstly, studied the anti-MesPGN mechanism of ALR and PALR. ALR and PALR inhibit the proliferation of the mesangial cells through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, induce the G0/G1 phase of block and apoptosis, inhibit the activity of Cyclin E and CDK2, increase the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-8/caspase-8, and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 proteins, and effectively inhibit the growth of the mesangial cells. Overall, our data suggest that ALR and PALR may be potential candidates for MesPGN and that PALR is more effective than ALR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To determine the key objectives of WFAS "Technical Specifications of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: General Rules for the Drafting" (hereinafter referred to as General Rules). Methods. From the medical institutions, colleges, and scientific research organizations at major levels in China and overseas, leading researchers and experts in the field of acupuncture-moxibustion standardization, as well as some experienced foreign specialists in acupuncture-moxibustion, were selected as the respondents. The questionnaire was prepared by using the website of Questionnaire Star, and 60 links of the questionnaire were sent out through e-mail. Excel was used to set up the database and conduct statistical analysis. Results. Fifty-one valid questionnaires were collected with effective recovery rate of 85%, involving 9 countries (China, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, United States, and Canada) from 3 continents. Most experts agreed with us on the target people, structural elements, and text structure proposed in General Rules and held that the General Rules should emphasize the safety and international applicability and should stipulate in details the common problems (contraindications, indications, taboo crowd, target people, therapeutic effects) of various techniques and the specific contents of technical operation (manipulating techniques, selection of patient's body position and treated areas, disinfection and environmental requirements, selection of acupuncture-moxibustion instruments, cautions, needle retention time, treatment frequency, precise location of the acupoints, treatment course) in order to enhance the practicality and operability. Conclusion. The key objectives of General Rules mainly include target people, structural elements, text structure, safety requirements, common technical problems of acupuncture-moxibustion, and specific details of technical manipulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the influence characteristics of water bath at different temperatures on rock physical and dynamic mechanical properties, a total of 15 groups of temperature-water bath treatment were carried out on coal mine roadway sandstone at 25°C∼95°C, and the basic physical parameters were tested. The impact compression test was carried out using the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) device. The results show that, with the increase of water bath temperature, the particle gap on the specimen surface increases. The volume, mass, and density of the specimens all increased with the increase of water bath temperature, and the increase was closely related to the water bath temperature. The dynamic compressive strength increases as a quadratic function of the water bath temperature, and the rate of increase is different before and after 45°C. The dynamic peak strain and average strain rate showed a quadratic function with the water bath temperature. The dynamic peak strain before 45°C decreased with the temperature increasing, and the dynamic peak strain after 45°C increased with the temperature increasing. The dynamic elastic modulus increased first and then decreased with the increase of water bath temperature and reached the maximum at 45°C. The failure pattern of sandstone is spalling. With the increase of water bath temperature, the fracture degree of the specimen gradually decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astroviruses (AstVs) are major causative agents of gastroenteritis in children and have been reported in many species. Canine astrovirus (CaAstV), as an enteric pathogen, has been widely detected worldwide, but little is known about their genetic diversity and evolution, partly owing to a lack of genomic data. Here, we sequenced 12 nearly full‐length CaAstV genomes to address the gap in knowledge. We found 14 (13.2%) and 7 (3.35%) CaAstV‐positive samples from pet dogs with and without diarrhoea, respectively. Co‐infections were with co‐infection with Torque teno canis virus (TTCaV) reported for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis of the ORF2 gene revealed four major lineages. In particular, lineage 4 might have evolved from a recombinant virus from lineage 2 and lineage 3. The strains sequenced here clustered with lineages 2, 3 and 4 in contrast with other Chinese strains identified previously that clustered with lineages 2 and 4. Amino acid sequence alignment within lineage revealed intralineage amino acid diversity and that the type of epidemic strains within lineages changes over time. Three amino acids substitutions located in predicted B‐cell epitopes, which might be involved escape of host immunity. Moreover, frequent inter‐clade ORF2 gene recombinants were identified. The identification of individual recombination events and a recombinant lineage indicated that recombination plays a crucial role in CaAstV genetic evolution and diversity by generating divergent viruses. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis of ORF1b, the most conserved gene of astrovirus, revealed a close relationship between CaAstV and California sea lion astroviruses. Overall, we report detailed information on the genetic evolution and diversity of CaAstV, which indicates that CaAstV may pose challenges for diagnostics and future control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly emerged lineage 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses (PRRSVs) (especially the NADC30‐like and NADC34‐like viruses) have posed a direct threat to the Chinese pig industry since 2013. The phylogenetic, epidemic, and recombinant properties of these viruses have not yet systematically analysed in China. This report presents regular surveillance and field epidemiological studies for PRRSV across China from 2007 to 2019. From over 4,000 detected clinical samples, 70 open reading frame five sequences and four complete genomes of lineage 1 viruses were successfully obtained. Combined with global data, we conducted an extensive and systematic molecular phylogeny analysis using a maximum likelihood tree. The Chinese lineage 1 viruses were clustered, and their temporal and spatial distribution was further explored. Multiple viral introductions of lineage 1 virus from the United States to China were detected, and some became endemic in China. There are three sub‐lineage 1 clusters: lineage 1.5 (NADC34‐like), lineage 1.6 and New Intro cluster (NADC30‐like). These viruses show high genetic diversity and a wide distribution in China, with Henan Province showing the highest diversity. Moreover, Chinese lineage 1 viruses have developed an endemic NADC30‐like cluster. The demographic feature of this cluster showed a more or less constant population expansion history with a recent decreasing trend. Moreover, the genome recombination of Chinese lineage 1 with two dominant clusters (Chinese HP‐PRRSVs: lineage 8.7 and VR2332‐like: lineage 5.1) was frequently detected, both of which have commercial vaccine strains available. Furthermore, recombination hotspots were discovered near NSP9 and ORF2‐4 regions of the genome. Overall, these findings provide important insights into the evolution and geographical diversity of Chinese lineage 1 PRRSV. These results will facilitate the development of programmes for the control and prevention of the emerging lineage 1 viruses in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To investigate the association of ptosis, levator, and jaw winking in Marcus Gunn jaw-winking synkinesis (MGJWS), and the risk factor of preservation and outcomes of the unilateral levator excision and frontalis suspension. Methods. Clinical features of MGJWS case series from 2011 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Association between jaw winking and ptosis/levator function was statistically analyzed. The patients underwent unilateral levator excision and frontalis suspension using silicone rod or autogenous fascia lata. Clinical outcomes were evaluated in operated patients and the independent risk factors of residual jaw winking were investigated after a long follow-up. Results. There were 42 MGJWS patients in 2011 to 2018, accounting for 2.87% of all congenital blepharoptosis. 80% of mild jaw winking was accompanied with mild ptosis and fair levator function, and moderate-to-severe jaw winking was often accompanied with moderate-to-severe ptosis and poor levator function (P<0.05). Ptosis showed a strong association with excursion of jaw winking (R = 0.785, P<0.01). Jaw winking was resolved in all 34 operated patients with good correction of ptosis. Severity of jaw winking is an independent risk factor for the residual synkinesis after surgery. Severe preoperative jaw winking had an 18.05 times increased risk of postoperative residual synkinesis compared with moderate jaw winking (P<0.05). Conclusions. In MGJWS eyelid excursion of jaw winking has a direct correlation with ptosis and dysfunction of levator muscle. Unilateral levator aponeurosis excision and frontalis suspension is an efficient approach for MGJWS. Severe jaw winking is a risk factor of residual eyelid synkinesis after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the existing vision-based autonomous landing systems for micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) on moving platforms, the limited range of landmark localization, the unknown measurement bias of the moving platform (such as wheel-slip or inaccurate calibration of encoders), and landing trajectory knotting seriously affect system performance. To overcome the above shortcomings, an autonomous landing system using a composite landmark is proposed in this paper. In the proposed system, a notched ring landmark and two-dimensional landmark are combined as an R2D landmark to provide visual localization over a wide range. In addition, the wheel-slip and imprecise calibration of encoders are modeled as the unknown measurement bias of the encoders and estimated online via an extended Kalman filter. The landing trajectory is planned by a solver as a convex quadratic programming problem in each control cycle. Meanwhile, an iterative algorithm for adding equality constraints is proposed and used to verify whether the planned trajectory is feasible or not. The simulation and actual landing experiment results verify the following: the visual localization with the R2D landmark has the advantages of wide localization range and high localization accuracy, the pose estimation result of the moving platform with unknown encoder measurement bias is continuous and accurate, and the proposed landing trajectory planning algorithm provides a continuous trajectory for reliable landing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To investigate the changes of thickness in each layer, the morphology and density of inner neurons in rhesus monkeys' retina at various growth stages, thus contribute useful data for further biological studies. Methods. The thickness of nerve fiber layer (NFL), the whole retina, inner plexiform layer (IPL), and outer plexiform layer (OPL) of rhesus monkeys at different ages were observed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The morphology and the density of inner neurons of rhesus monkey retina were detected by immunofluorescence. Results. The retina showed the well-known ten layers, the thickness of each retinal layer in rhesus monkeys at various ages increased rapidly after infant, and the retina was the thickest in adulthood, but the retinal thickness stop growing in senescent. Quantitative analysis showed that the maximum density of inner neurons was reached in adolescent, and then, the density of inner neurons decreased in adults and senescent retinas. And some changes in the morphology of rod bipolar cells have occurred in senescent. Conclusions. The structure of retina in rhesus monkeys is relatively immature at infant, and the inner retina of rhesus monkeys is mature in adolescent, while the thickness of each retinal layer was the most developed in the adult group. There was no significant change in senescence for the thickness of each retinal layer, but the number of the neurons in our study has a decreasing trend and the morphological structure has changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SP110 gene and TNF-α gene among pulmonary TB (PTB) and spinal TB (STB) patients. Methods. In a total of 190 PTB patients, 183 STB patients were enrolled as the case group and 362 healthy individuals at the same geographical region as the control group. The SP110 SNPs (rs722555 and rs1135791) and the promoter -308G>A (rs1800629) and -238G>A (rs361525) polymorphisms in TNF-α were genotyped. Results. TNF-α -238G>A polymorphism was involved in susceptibility to STB, but not to PTB. The TNF-α -238 A allele was a protective factor against STB (A versus G: OR [95% CI] = 0.331 [0.113–0.972], P=0.044). Furthermore, the presence of the -238 A allele was considered a trend to decrease the risk of STB (AG versus GG: P=0.062, OR [95% CI] = 0.352 [0.118–1.053]; AA + AG versus GG: P=0.050, OR [95CI%] = 0.335 [0.113–0.999]). However, SP110 SNPs (rs722555 and rs1135791) and TNF-α -308G>A (rs1800629) showed no association with PTB and STB in all genetic models. Conclusion. The TNF-α -238 A allele appeared a protective effect against STB, whereas the SP110 SNPs (rs722555 and rs1135791) and TNF-α -308G>A (rs1800629) showed no association with susceptibility to PTB and STB patients in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii can infect all warm-blooded animals including human beings. T. gondii dense granule protein 16 (TgGRA16) as a crucial virulence factor could modulate the host gene expression. Here, a DNA vaccine expressing TgGRA16 was constructed to explore the protective efficacy against T. gondii infection in Kunming mice. The immune responses induced by pVAX-GRA16 were also evaluated. Mice immunized with pVAX-GRA16 could elicit higher levels of specific IgG antibody and strong cellular response compared to those in controls. The DNA vaccination significantly increased the levels of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10) and the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in mice. After lethal challenge, mice immunized with pVAX-GRA16 (8.4±0.78 days) did not show a significant longer survival time than that in controls (7.1±0.30 days) (p>0.05). However, in chronic toxoplasmosis model (administration of 10 brain cysts of PRU strain orally), numbers of tissue cysts in mice immunized with pVAX-GRA16 were significantly reduced compared to those in controls (p<0.05) and the rate of reduction could reach 43.89%. The results indicated that the TgGRA16 would be a promising vaccine candidate for further development of effective epitope-based vaccines against chronic T. gondii infection in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The micro-Extended Analog Computer (uEAC) is an electronic implementation inspired by Rubel’s EAC model. In this study, a fully connected uEACs array is proposed to overcome the limitations of a single uEAC, within which each uEAC unit is connected to all the other units by some weights. Then its computational capabilities are investigated by proving that a Turing machine M can be simulated with uEAC-computable functions, even in the presence of bounded noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]