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The efficacy of surgical intervention in ameliorating long-term prognosis for moderate volume of cerebral hemorrhage in the thalamus-internal capsule region remains unsubstantiated by clinical investigations. Consequently, the acquisition of credible evidence is imperative to authenticate the effectiveness of these methodologies. One hundred and three eligible patients with moderate-volume thalamus-internal capsule region cerebral hemorrhage. Twenty-seven pairs of successful matches after using the 1:1 propensity score matching method, totaling 54 patients, were analyzed. The short- and long-term treatment outcomes of patients in the stereotactic surgery and conservative treatment groups were compared. The prognosis of the 2 groups of patients was analyzed by logistic regression analysis and model comparison. The primary outcome of this study was to assess the assessment of daily living scores after 6 months of treatment. Based on the analysis of this study, the assessment of daily living of the surgical group were significantly higher than those of the conservative treatment group after 6 months of treatment (P < 0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. The amount of residual hematoma was significantly lower in the stereotactic surgery group than in the conservative treatment group at 3 days, 7 days, and 2 weeks after the onset of the disease (P < 0.001), and the complication rate was lower than the conservative treatment group (P < 0.05). Univariate logistic regression showed that the risk of severe neurological dysfunction for patients in the surgery group was (odds ratio -0.27, 95% confidence interval: 0.08–0.86, P < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio was 0.29 (95% confidence interval: 0.09–0.96, P < 0.05) after adjusting for all covariates. For moderate-volume thalamus-internal capsule region cerebral hemorrhage, stereotactic paracentesis has the advantage of a shorter hospital stay and a lower complication rate than conservative treatment. Moreover, it yields superior outcomes in terms of daily living assessment scores after six months of treatment and enhanced neurological recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• To realize precise location and self-correction of a fault sensor in HVAC, an exponential function method is proposed. • A novel decentralized flat sensor diagnosis network for HVAC system is established. • A decentralized swarm intelligence optimization algorithm for sensors fault detection and self-correction is developed. • The convergence of the algorithm is proved theoretically and the feasibility is demonstrated by hardware test. Under a self-organizing and flat sensors network structure, a novel decentralized sensors fault detection and self-correction method is proposed. In the self-organizing sensors network, each sensor is updated as smart agent and is connected based on basic physical relations and can communicate with adjacent nodes. This network possess the advantages of plug-and-play and can reduce the high labor and maintenance cost, without having to build central monitor. For the proposed decentralized method, each smart sensor is treated as an individual which has its own utility with local coupling between adjacent nodes. And a decentralized swarm intelligence optimization algorithm is designed and executed in all the smart nodes in parallel to achieve the sensors fault detection and self-correction. Moreover, convergence property of the presented method is analyzed theoretically. Simulation results and hardware platform test on an actual HVAC system illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A novel decentralized constrained optimization model for islanded power system is presented. • A decentralized flat DGs control network structure is established. • Developing a decentralized algorithm based on penalty function achieves the global optimal optimum solution. • The convergence of presented algorithm is proved and the feasibility is demonstrated as well. Abstract A novel decentralized method for optimal load distribution in an isolated power system is proposed. In contrast to the traditional centralized method, the load economic dispatch is distributed to every smart distributed generator (DG) without the need for a monitoring host. Similar to the structure, mechanism and characteristics of biological communities, a smart DG node can communicate with adjacent nodes and operate collaboratively to complete the optimal operation of an isolated power system. The task is formulated as a decentralized optimization with a number of local constraints and is solved by a penalty function method. With the economic dispatch algorithm computed in all of the DG nodes in parallel, a new, fully distributed flat control network is established. The convergence property of the novel method is analysed theoretically. Simulation results on an illustrative system provide support for the validity of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharide is one of the main active components of Polygonatum sibiricum. For this study, P. sibiricum polysaccharides (PSP) were obtained through purification using DEAE-Cellulose52 and Sephacryl G-150 column chromatography. The obtained samples were named PSP1, PSP2 and PSP3. The PSP1 sample was found to have the highest content and the best solubility, and a subsequent. So, its structure and characterization were analyzed. The main sugar residue linkages were found to be → 1)-β-D-Fruf-(2 → 1)-β-D-Fruf-(2 → 1), 1 → -β-D-Fruf-(2 → 6)α-D-Glcp (1→, →4)-β-D-Manp-(1 → 4)-β-D-Manp-(1→ and →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1 → 4)-β-D-Manp-(1→ link existed. Branch chain analysis indicated →1,6)-β-D-Fruf-(2→, β-D-Fruf-(2→, →1,6)-β-D-Fruf-(2→, →6)-β-D- Fruf-(2→ link existed, and the link site was at position C-6. In vitro antioxidant activity tests showed that PSP1 had a certain scavenging effect on DPPH, hydroxyl radical, superoxide anion radical and a particular effect on the chelating ability of ferrous. This suggested that P. sibiricum polysaccharides may be a potential antioxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel decentralized method as a solution to a typical problem in HVAC systems, the optimal distribution problem, which can be described as the optimal control of equipment groups such as the pump and chiller groups, with the goal of attaining optimum allocation in response to a given demand under actual constraints. In this decentralized control system, each unit is fitted with a decentralized controller such that it becomes a smart unit, such as a smart pump or a smart chiller, which can communicate with the other units and thus operate collaboratively to satisfy the control requirements and be energy efficient. The concept of decentralized control is introduced first, then a decentralized optimal control algorithm, which could be applied to the group operation of both pumps and chillers, is developed and validated through the simulation of different cases, and further demonstrated through application to actual hardware. Compared with the traditional centralized control method, this decentralized control method is much more flexible and scalable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bauxite mining on karst results in several ecological and environmental issues including heavy metal pollution, soil erosion and the destruction of vegetation. In turn, these may affect the distribution of plant communities and endanger human health. In general, bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) are pioneer plants, lacking roots, vascular systems and well-developed cuticles. Due to their high sensitivity to the environment, they are often used to monitor air and soil pollution. A total of 25 bryophyte taxa from 19 genera and 9 families were recorded on Goujiang karst bauxite near the city of Zunyi in the Guizhou Province of southwestern China. Eleven principal bryophyte communities were identified, most of which consisted of only one species (monospecific assemblage), although the proportion of these single-species communities differed at the six locations. The levels of heavy metals also differed in soil from the six locations: iron, 8748.9–10,023 μg/g; zinc, 146.7–240.9 μg/g; copper, 24.6–60.4 μg/g; and nickel, 35.6–95.1 μg/g. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the bryophyte communities and environmental variables revealed the effect of gradient (slope), altitude and heavy metals in the soil on the distribution of the principal bryophyte communities. More than 36% of bryophyte taxa identified reproduced asexually by gemmae, as gemmiferous bryophyte communities tolerate substrates with high levels of heavy metals more readily than non-gemmiferous communities do. The distribution of heavy metals in the soil is reflected in the distribution of the bryophyte communities. The distribution characteristics of the principal bryophyte communities and of the gemmiferous bryophyte communities are useful in monitoring heavy metal pollution in karst bauxite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic disease of unknown aetiology with limited effective treatment options. It is important to explore novel therapeutic targets and develop potential drugs for IPF.Purpose: The aim of the present study was to analyse nontargeted plasma metabolites in patients with IPF and investigate whether cannabinoid receptor (CB2) activation mediates the antifibrotic effect of icariin (ICA).Methods: We used an untargeted metabolomics method to detect the global metabolic profiles in the plasma of stable IPF patients and patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as healthy subjects. The untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed that IPF showed differential metabolites and perturbed signalling pathways. ICA is pharmacologically bioactive and possesses extensive therapeutic capacities such as osteoprotective, neuroprotective, cardiovascular protective, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and reproductive function. Therefore, ICA was administered to a pulmonary fibrosis rat model for 4 weeks and then the effect of ICA on pulmonary fibrosis was examined by dissection and histology.Results: The metabolites in the plasma were determined by untargeted LC-MS. An unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) was used to observe the distribution of each sample, and a supervised partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) results showed that there was significant separation between any two groups. ROC curve analyses revealed that 8 metabolites with high AUCs above 0.7 between the three groups of plasma samples. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that 3 metabolites are involved in retrograde endocannabinoid signalling. Meanwhile, Retrograde endocannabinoid signalling was identified significantly different in IPF group from other groups by Kyoto encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and then we further confirmed the endocannabinoid signalling by detecting the expression of the main receptors in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, COPD rat model and normal rats. Consistent with previous studies, we found that the elevation of CB1 and CB2 in the lung tissues could be a signature of the pulmonary fibrosis rat model. Importantly, ICA may alleviate bleomycin-induced lung injury by decreasing CB1 and CB2 expression in the bleomycin-induced rat model.Conclusion: Taken together, we measured the global metabolic profile of IPF patients and identified CB2 as a novel potential target. ICA treatment demonstrated outstanding therapeutic effects on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and targeting on CB2 may be the main underlying mechanism. ICA is a promising drug candidate to cure pulmonary fibrosis and mediate antagonists of the CB2 receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To evaluate the effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (PA-MSHA) injection on the survival rate of rats post cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were subcutaneously injected with 0.125ml, 0.25ml or 0.5ml PA-MSHA for 8days or 16days before CLP. The survival rate and physiological appearance of rats in each group were monitored daily post CLP. The expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and cytokines related to inflammation was evaluated. We found that the 0.5ml-8d (0.5ml PA-MSHA injected for 8days) group had the highest 7-day survival rate (91.7%), which was significantly improved compared with the CLP-only group (33.3%). Furthermore, our results showed that PA-MSHA effectively increased serum pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) at the early stage (8days) but increased anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-4 and IL-10) at the late stage (16days). PA-MSHA significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of TLR4 at 8 and 16days. After PA-MSHA pretreatment, CLP had no marked effect on the levels of most inflammatory factors. To explore potential protective mechanisms of PA-MSHA against CLP, we examined the effect of PA-MSHA on murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells and found that PA-MSHA induced endotoxin tolerance. In conclusion, this study suggested that precisely controlling the dosage and time of PA-MSHA administration can effectively increase the rat survival rate post CLP, which may be mediated through regulating inflammatory mediators and inducing endotoxin tolerance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be involved in regulating epilepsy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibly regulatory mechanism of small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) on epilepsy. Quantitative real-time PCR was utilized to detect the expression of SNHG1, microRNA (miR)-181a, and B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2). Through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were determined. The viability and apoptosis of CTX-TNA2 cells were measured using MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Western blot assay was performed to analyze the protein levels of Bcl-2, BCL2-associated X, and Caspase-3. The relationships between miR-181a and SNHG1/BCL-2 were confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. SNHG1 expression was down-regulated in EP tissues and kainic acid (KA)-induced CTX-TNA2 cells. The apoptosis and release of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and COX-2) in KA-induced CTX-TNA2 cells were suppressed by SNHG1 overexpression and promoted by miR-181a up-regulation. In addition, we confirmed that SNHG1 targeted miR-181a, whereas BCL-2 was a target gene of miR-181a. Negative correlations between SNHG1 and miR-181a, as well as miR-181a and BCL-2 were exhibited. Both the up-regulation of miR-181a and down-regulation of BCL-2 reversed the inhibiting effects of SNHG1 on apoptosis and inflammatory response of KA-induced CTX-TNA2 cells, and the promoting effect upon cell viability. SNHG1 alleviated the progression of EP by modulating the miR-181a/BCL-2 axis in vitro, thus SNHG1 could act as a possible therapeutic target for treating EP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe-doped α-MoO 3 nanoarrays was first synthesized by a simplistic solid-state chemical reaction strategy. • Fe-doped MoO 3 nanoarrays exhibited a high response. • The high response originated from more internal oxygen vacancies and surface ionized oxygen species. • The nanoarrays have also excellent selectivity, rapid response-recovery and good long-term stability. Fe-doped α-MoO 3 nanoarrays have been synthesized via a facile two-step solid-state chemical reaction process. The Fe element was effectively doped into the α-MoO 3 nanoarrays self-assembled by nanoplates via an initial room-temperature solid-state reaction and a subsequent mesothermal calcination. The gas-sensing properties of Fe-doped α-MoO 3 nanoarrays were investigated and the possibility of its application to gas sensors was explored. The result indicated that 0.3 mol% Fe-doped α-MoO 3 nanoarrays exhibited a high response value (28.5) towards 100 ppm xylene within 2 s, which is attributed to its more oxygen vacancies and surface ionized oxygen species. Furthermore, the 0.3 mol% Fe-doped α-MoO 3 nanoarrays also manifested a good selectivity and long-term stability. Therefore, the Fe-doped MoO 3 nanoarrays are a potential candidate for xylene sensor in future sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NaNb x Ta 1-x O 3 , sodium tantalate and niobate with B atoms substitution is synthesized by a facile one-step hydrothermal method. They are effective photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from water splitting without co-catalyst. NaNb 0.33 Ta 0.67 O 3 exhibits the best performance with produced H 2 of 1038 μmol g−1 in 5 h, which is more than 5 times than NaTaO 3 and NaNbO 3. It is also close to 5 times and 2 times than NaTaO 3 /Pt and NaNbO 3 /Pt, respectively. NaNb 0.33 Ta 0.67 O 3 has a transition state crystal structure between NaTaO 3 and NaNbO 3 crystalline phase. Moreover, XPS, ESR and TEM characterizations demonstrates that there are abundant oxygen vacancies in NaNb 0.33 Ta 0.67 O 3. These features give the catalyst excellent properties, such as good light harvesting and efficient charge separation confirmed by optical and electrochemical characterizations. This work may offer a strategy to develop perovskite sodium tantalate and niobate with controllable crystal structure and oxygen vacancies for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in the absence of co-catalyst. [Display omitted] • NaNb x Ta 1-x O 3 photocatalysts were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. • NaNb x Ta 1-x O 3 had superior photocatalytic H 2 evolution ability without co-catalyst. • The maximum yield of H 2 was 1038 μmol. g−1 over NaNb 0.33 Ta 0.67 O 3 in 5 h. • Produced H 2 over NaNb 0.33 Ta 0.67 O 3 was more than 5 times than NaTaO 3 and NaNbO 3. • Excellent performance depended on transition state structure and oxygen vacancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ag 2 O/Ag 2 CO 3 heterostructure photocatalysts synthesized and regulated using simple one-step solid-state chemical process at room temperature exhibited outstanding visible light-driven photocatalytic acivity. • The heterojunction were in situ constructed by one-step room temperature solid-state method. • The composition of heterojunction can be in situ regulated by solid-state method. • The regulation mechanism of heterojunction has also been revealed. • The obtained Ag 2 O/Ag 2 CO 3 displays outstanding photocatalytic activity and reusability. Ag-based photocatalysts have excellent photocatalytic properties, but their photocatalytic degradation performance is limited by the serious photocatalytic corrosion. In order to enhance the stability of photocatalytic degradation of Ag-based photocatalysts, here, the Ag 2 O/Ag 2 CO 3 heterojunction was in-situ constructed and conveniently regulated by controlling the alkalinity of room temperature solid-state chemical reaction system. The photocatalytic degradation activity of the obtained heterojunction was influenced by the in-situ regulated component and band position of the Ag 2 O/Ag 2 CO 3 heterojunction. The obtained optimal products AAC-6 displayed remarkable photocatalytic activity and high reusability. The apparent rate constant of AAC-6 is 20 times than that of Ag 2 CO 3 , it is also far higher than that of P25. The significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the matching energy position between Ag 2 CO 3 and Ag 2 O, which can facilitate the visible light absorption ability and the efficient separation of photoinduced charges carriers. This study explored an in-situ one-step solid-state strategy to construct Ag 2 CO 3 -based heterojunction catalyst with outstanding photocatalytic performance, which may open a new perspective for the preparation of excellent photocatalytic degradation materials by solid-state chemical method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper analyzes observation data in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region from 2012 to 2013, and explores the impact of typhoon periphery on high ozone and high aerosol pollution episodes (double high episodes). Observation analysis show that severe tropical storms to severe typhoons are mainly located in the range of 10°N-30°N, 116°E-135°E when double high episodes occur. Meanwhile, obvious high temperature, low humidity, low wind speed, high actinic flux, high aerosol optical depth (AOD), and high single scattering albedo (SSA) can be observed in double high episodes. The diurnal cycle of the PM 2.5 is significant in double high episodes, and the average peak concentration in the afternoon can exceed 90 μg/m3. The diurnal cycle of PM 2.5 in non–double high episodes is not significant, and the average value is about 34–39 μg/m3. The ozone peak concentration in double high episodes is 81–103 ppbv, which is about 27–40 ppbv higher than that of non–double high episodes. High correlation can be found between the aerosol and ozone diurnal cycles in double high episodes, and r2 reaches 0.76. In double high episodes, black carbon, nitrate, and sea salt decrease while sulfate, ammonium, secondary organic carbon, and total PM 2.5 significantly increase in the afternoon. The growth of PM 2.5 in double high episodes is mainly contributed by scattered fine particles from photochemical processes and transmission. The mechanisms that control the double high episodes in the PRD are described below. Ozone and aerosol begin to accumulate under unfavorable meteorological conditions. Via local photochemical processes and external transport, the scattered aerosol increases and leads to an increase in multiple scattering and actinic radiation, which is in turn more favorable for photochemical reaction and further increases the ozone concentration. Meanwhile, high oxidizability promotes the formation of scattered aerosol, creating positive feedback. In addition, the scattered aerosol increases backscattering, which increases the photolysis rate and ozone concentration in the middle and upper boundary layer. Meanwhile, downdraft and turbulence transports high-concentration ozone to the ground. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The impact of typhoon periphery on high ozone and high aerosol pollution episodes (double high episodes) are analyzed. • The double high episodes were characterized by high temperature, low humidity, low wind speed, high UVA, and high SSA. • In double high episodes, BC, NO 3 -, and Na+ decrease as SO 4 2-, NH 4 +, SOC, and PM 2.5 significantly increase in the afternoon. • The growth of PM 2.5 in double high episodes is mainly contributed by scattering fine particles. • Under the control of typhoon periphery, the actinic flux is the key factor causing double high episodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]