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With the change in drug-resistant pattern, MDR/RR-TB was faced with underlying changes in regimens. A multi-center, large-scale, retrospective study performed aims to provide a recommendation of drug selection on optimization of outcome for the patients. The study was conducted in six TB-specialized hospitals in China. Patients were included from 2018-2021 and followed up throughout the treatment. Using a multivarariable and propensity score-matched logistic regression analysis, we evaluated associations between outcomes and drug use, as well as clinical characteritics. Of 3112 patients, 74.29% had treatment sucess, 14.52% lost to follow-up, 9.67% failure, and 1.51% died. Treatment success was positively associated with Bedaquiline(Bdq), Linezolid(Lzd), and Cycloserin(Cs). Capreomycin(Cm) increased the risk of unfavorable outcomes. other drugs such as Amikacin(Amk) and clofazimine had no significant effect on outcomes. If isolates were susceptible to fluoroquinolones(FQs), FQs could decrease the risk of unfavorable outcomes. The recommendation order for the treatment of MDR/RR-TB is Bdq, Lzd, and Cs. FQs were decreased in use intensity. Injection drugs, whether Amk or Cm, are not recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time truck dispatching is an important function of the open-pit mine transportation system. However, most of the existing methods are not comprehensive enough to consider the optimisation of both full truck hauling and empty truck travelling stages. Further, most of the real-time dispatching criteria are fixed, which cannot meet the variety of production requirements. To address the above problems, we consider both full and empty truck dispatching, and different from previous studies, we develop a real-time dispatching model with two parts for heterogeneous fleets in open-pit mines: a full truck dispatching model for truck-finished loading at the loading place, and an empty truck dispatching model for truck-finished dumping at the dumping place. Specifically, the proposed model has three goals for minimisation: (a) the waiting time of the trucks, (b) the deviation from the planned path flow rate, and (c) the transportation cost. Furthermore, the weights of the three sub-objectives can be changed to meet the production requirements for different real scenarios. Simulation results show that the proposed model can achieve a higher production by at least 14% and decrease the cost by at least 6% and has better adaptability to different production requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate how exercise-induced myocardial hypertrophy preconditioning affects cardiac fibroblasts in the context of myocardial fibrosis, a chronic disease that can cause cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure. Heart failure was induced in male C57BL/6 mice via Transverse aortic constriction, and some mice were given swimming exercise before surgery to test the effects of exercise-induced myocardial hypertrophy preconditioning on myocardial fibrosis. Myocardial tissue was evaluated for fibrosis, senescent cells, and apoptotic cells. Myocardial fibroblasts from rats were cultured and treated with norepinephrine to induce fibrosis which were then treated with si-Nrf2 and analyzed for markers of fibrosis, senescence, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. Exercise-induced myocardial hypertrophy preconditioning reduced myocardial fibrosis in mice, as shown by decreased mRNA expression levels of fibrosis-related indicators and increased cell senescence. In vitro data indicated that norepinephrine (NE) treatment increased fibrosis-related markers and reduced apoptotic and senescent cells, and this effect was reversed by pre-conditioning in PRE+NE group. Preconditioning activated Nrf2 and downstream signaling genes, promoting premature senescence in cardiac fibroblasts and tissues isolated from preconditioned mice. Moreover, Nrf2 knockdown reversed proapoptotic effects, restored cell proliferation, reduced senescence-related protein expression, and increased oxidative stress markers and fibrosis-related genes, indicating Nrf2's crucial role in regulating oxidative stress response of cardiac fibroblasts. Exercise-induced myocardial hypertrophy preconditioning improves myocardial fibrosis which is Nrf2-dependent, indicating the protective effect of hypertrophy preconditioning. These findings may contribute to the development of therapeutic interventions to prevent or treat myocardial fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to accomplish a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials that dissected the influence of tocotrienol supplementation on various anthropometric and cardiometabolic indices in all individuals, irrespective of health condition. This research was carried out in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement guidelines. 17 eligible articles were included in the final quantitative analysis. Current study revealed that tocotrienol consumption was not associated with CRP, WC, MDA, BMI, IL-6, HbA1C, ALT, AST, creatinine TNF-α, FPG, BW, DBP, and SBP. We did observe an overall increase in BW (SMD: 0.063 kg, 95% CI: −0.200, 0.327, p = 0.637) and DBP (SMD: 0.249 mmHg, 95% CI: 0.053, 0.446, p = 0.013). In addition, a significant reduction in SBP was observed (SMD: −0.616 mmHg, 95% CI: −1.123, −0.110, p = 0.017). In summary, our meta-analysis revealed that tocotrienol consumption was associated with increase in BW and DBP and decrease in SBP. Significant associations were not observed for other outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the relationship between the blood urea nitrogen/creatinine (BUN/Cre) ratio and all-cause or cause-specific mortality in the general population. Participants were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during 1999 to 2014. Baseline variables were acquired from questionnaires and examinations. Death status were ascertained from National Death Index records. Cox proportional hazards models with cubic spines were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular and cancer mortality. A total of 42038 participants were enrolled in the study with a median 8.13 years of follow-up. Older people and women tend to have a higher BUN/Cre ratio. After multivariable adjustment, BUN/Cre ratio between 11.43 and 14.64 was associated with the lowest all-cause mortality compared with the participants with the lowest quartile (HR 0.83 [0.76, 0.91]; p < 0.001). The highest quartile of BUN/Cre ratio was associated with the lowest risk of cancer mortality (HR 0.64 [0.53, 0.78]; p < 0.001). Restricted cubic splines showed BUN/Cre was nonlinearly associated with all-cause mortality and linearly associated with cancer mortality. This study confirmed a U-shape relationship between BUN/Cre ratio and all-cause mortality in the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we model a fully covered duopoly market in which two firms offer a differentiated information product that exhibits positive network effects and a complementary premium service to consumers. For each firm, there are two marketing strategies: the freemium strategy and the bundling strategy. We find that, under the market equilibrium, a firms' decision whether to employ the freemium strategy or not depends largely on the quality of the information product compared to its rival. When the information product quality is similar and the products' intrinsic values are sufficiently large, both firms will be better off by adopting the freemium strategy, while the bundling strategy will prevail if the products' intrinsic values are sufficiently small. Additionally, when the magnitude of complementary effects or network effects exceeds a given threshold, both firms' profit can be enhanced by an increase in the degree of product complementarity or in the intensity of network effects. We also demonstrate that a firm can benefit from an increasing market size only if the intrinsic value of its information product is sufficiently large. Finally, we extend our model to the uncovered market and derive the equilibrium prices and profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speed profiles affect fuel economy tremendously, especially, when vehicles running on an urban road with numerous signalized intersections. To improve fuel economy, in this study, we propose a double-layer speed optimization method with real-time computation that considers traffic signal information collected via vehicle-to-infrastructure communication and traffic conditions. In the first layer, we use a Dijkstra algorithm to optimize the average eco-speed between adjacent intersections with full-horizon traffic signal information, and in the second layer, we use an optimal control method to plan a real-time speed profile with average speed constraints. We conduct numerous field tests using a test bed and an experimental vehicle platform. The test results demonstrate that by computing optimal solutions in real time, the proposed double-layer speed optimization method has the potential to improve fuel economy and decrease trip time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Speed and reaction time have an important influence on traffic safety. The highway landscape can affect psychological and physiological characteristics, which are associated with the speed and reaction time of drivers. This study aimed to understand the association between the highway landscape and driving speed and reaction time.Methods: Two simulation experiments were conducted, referred to as experiment 1 and experiment 2. Forty-four drivers were recruited to participate in the experiments. Based on the road alignment and enclosure degree, in experiment 1 and experiment 2 the highway landscape was divided into 24 and 8 types, respectively. VS-Design was used to establish the virtual scenes. A KMRTDS driving simulator was used to perform the experiments.Results: Driver reaction time decreased with an increase in the enclosure degree of the road. Moreover, in straight sections, the speed decreased with an increase in the enclosure degree of the road, whereas in curved sections, the speed was mainly affected by the road geometric alignment.Conclusions: The driver's perceived ability was significantly affected by the highway landscape, and optimization of the highway landscape environment is necessary to promote transportation efficiency and improve the traffic safety situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the microbe-chromate [Cr(VI)] interaction and the effect of quinoid analogue anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS) on aerobic Cr(VI) reduction byIntrasporangium chromatireducensQ5-1. The addition of redox mediator AQS, which might expedite the electron transfer, promoted Cr(VI) bioreduction. Addition of carbon sources, such as maltose, acetate, sucrose and lactose stimulated the AQS-promoted Cr(VI) reduction of strain Q5-1. Induction experiment clarified that the enzyme involves in the Cr(VI) reduction is constitutive. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectra showed the existence of trace Cr distributed on the cell surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that the Cr(III) complex was bound to the cell surface (0.87%, atomic percent). The spectra shifts detected by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that Cr(III) was bound to the carbonyl and amide groups. In addition, Cr(VI) reduction by different cell fractions showed that Cr(VI) reduction was occurred extracellularly rather than intracellularly. The results disclosed that Cr(VI) detoxification of strain Q5-1 was mainly associated with extracellular Cr(VI) reduction process in combination with trace Cr(III) adsorption on the cell surface. A schematic figure depicting the interactions between strain Q5-1 and Cr(VI) was presented. This study enhanced the understanding of the microbe-Cr(VI) interaction mechanism and revealed the AQS-promoted aerobic Cr(VI) reduction of strain Q5-1. Such strain and quinoid analogue-mediated bacterial Cr(VI) reduction may facilitate the bioremediation for Cr(VI)-polluted environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) patients with a history of multiple anti-TB treatments are the ‘neglected’ group to the free anti-TB treatment policy in China. To understand the experiences of TB patients with multiple previous treatments with regard to bacteriological diagnosis and treatment regimens, especially for second-line anti-TB drugs, and how this might influence the risks of multidrug and extensively drug-resistant TB (M/XDR-TB). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 county/district TB clinics in five provinces of China. The study participants were TB patients that had at least two previous treatment episodes that lasted longer than 1 month each. Face-to-face interviews and drug susceptibility testing (DST) were conducted with the consenting participants. A total of 328 TB patients were recruited. The proportion of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was 58.2% in the 287 DST-confirmed patients. Forty-two percent of the patients did not complete their first treatment course. About 23.8% of the participants had a history of taking second-line drugs, and more than 77.8% of them were treated in county TB dispensaries where only sputum microscopy was applied. Multivariate analysis found that the use of second-line drugs was significantly associated with frequency of previous treatments (p<0.01), but not with drug resistance profiles of patients. Patients with multiple previous treatments are at extremely high risk of MDR-TB in China. The unregulated use of second-line drugs bring about the threat of XDR-TB epidemic. DST-guided treatment and strict regulations of anti-TB treatment should be assured for the high-risk TB patients for the prevention and control of M/XDR-TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of transition metal (Zn, Cu, Mn) complexes with chelidamic acid (2,6-dicarboxy-4-hydroxypyridine, H3CAM) and 4,4′-bipyridine (bipy), [Zn2(bipy)Cl2] n (1), {[Zn2(HCAM)(H2CAM)2] · (bipy) · 3.5H2O} n (2), [Mn3(HCAM)3(H2O)7] · (bipy) · 3H2O (3), [Mn2(HCAM)2(bipy) · (H2O)2] · 4H2O (4), [Cu2(HCAM)2(bipy) · (H2O)2] · 4H2O (5), and Cu2(HCAM)2(bipy) · (H2O)2 (6), have been synthesized by hydrothermal or solution methods and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structural analyses reveal that 1 exhibits a zigzag chain of Zn(II), Cl−, and 4,4′-bipyridine. In 2, a 1-D polymeric [Zn2(HCAM)(H2CAM)2] n chain and a discrete 4,4′-bipyridine assemble into a 2-D supramolecular network via H-bonds. Complex 3 consists of asymmetric units of Mn3(HCAM)3(H2O)7 that are linked by hydrogen bonds to form a 2-D H-bonded network. Complexes 4–6 are isomorphous and possess discrete structures. The photoluminescent properties of 1–6 at room temperature were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To further understanding of the mechanisms of development of resistance to penicillin in Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the role of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) mutations to antibiotics resistance a meta-analysis was performed. Major databases, Pubmed, Current Contents, Biosis previews, Web of Science, were searched for studies that published within 1997 through to 2007, and reported the penicillin MIC and the alteration of PBP 1a, 2b and 2x (genes or proteins) of clinical S. pneumoniae isolates. Papers were reviewed by 2 persons and used standard criteria to enroll them. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Overall, 20 studies were included in the meta-analysis. For the included 1771 clinical S. pneumoniae isolates, the susceptibility to penicillin decreased in inverse proportion to the presence of mutated pbp genes. The mutations of the conserved amino acid motifs STMK and SRNVP of PBP 1A, STMK and LKSG of PBP2X, and SSNT of PBP2B are critical for the penicillin resistance. Those motifs can be used as markers for the penicillin susceptibility of S. pneumoniae. These results are useful in helping define the mechanism of penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of the mobile phase focusing on loading mass for the separation of sanguinarine and chelerythrine by a preparative high performance liquid chromatograph (prep-HPLC) was investigated. The effects of the mobile phase with modifiers (ion pair, disodium hydrogen phosphate, and triethylamine) on loading mass were compared. Finally, disodium hydrogen phosphate buffer was selected to optimize. The optimum HPLC mobile phase was 0.05 mol/L disodium hydrogen phosphate buffer and acetonitrile (MeCN) (70/30, v/v) (pH = 3-3.5, adjusted by H3PO4). A larger loading mass and volume were obtained in the shorter time. Furthermore, it had been found that the general ion pair RP-HPLC for alkaloids analysis was not suitable for preparative separation for the components because of its low sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method based on liquid-membrane transport combined with solvent extraction has been proposed for the separation and purification of rutaecarpine from E. rutaecarpa var. officinalis. The effects of the membrane solvent, the pH value in the feed solution, H2SO4 concentration in the stripping solution, and the temperature on rutaecarpine transport were investigated. The interactions between rutaecarpine and the membrane solvents are discussed. An optimal liquid-membrane transport system was obtained. The results indicate that a simple liquid-membrane system with kerosene as the membrane phase can effectively separate and purify rutaecarpine from E. rutaecarpa var. officinalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors reflect on the health system of poor countries including India, Indonesia, and Vietnam not benefiting from the Millenium Development Goal (MDG). They state that the disparity between the educated and uneducated, and the rich and the poor in emerging economies is increasing. An overview of several papers on inequity and disadvantaged population is offered. The authors also add that the only 0.1% of poor Indians benefited from the gross national income and antenetal care services.

Background: In China, less than one-fifth of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases are detected. MDR-TB screening is conducted amongst the following five high-risk groups of TB patients: chronic cases, close contacts of MDR-TB patients, patients with treatment failure, relapsed and returned patients, and smear-positive patients at the end of the third month of initial treatment. Objective: To estimate the possibility of detecting MDR-TB cases if only the high-risk screening strategy is applied in China. Methods: A secondary analysis was applied to the surveillance-based longitudinal data of all sputum smear-positive TB patients in Prefecture E and Prefecture W of China from 2013 to 2015. The population attributable risk (PAR) was estimated using odds ratios for five risk factors/predictors and exposure proportions amongst all MDR-TB cases. Results: A total of 3513 TB patients (2807 from Prefecture E and 706 from Prefecture W) were included. Males accounted for 77.91% (2737/3513) of the patients. The average age was 52.5 ± 20.0 years old. Overall, 40.34% (71/176) of MDR-TB patients were from the five high-risk groups during the three-year study period. The detected proportion of MDR-TB cases using the high-risk screening strategy was significantly higher in Prefecture E than in Prefecture W. The PAR% for all five risk factors/predictors was 43.4% (95% CI: 24.6-61.7%), 49.9% (95% CI: 31.3-67.0%), and 30.3% (95% CI: 12.9-50.1%) in Prefecture E and 36.6% (95% CI: 10.4-64.5%), 13.3% (95% CI: −1.7-39.7%), and −82.5% (95% CI: −117.5-−11.2%) in Prefecture W in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively. The PAR% for the five specific risk factors/predictors ranged from 0.4% (95% CI: −0.2-4.8%) to 21.0% (95% CI: 13.1-30.0%) in these two prefectures. Conclusion: In general, a high-risk screening strategy would miss more than half of the MDR-TB patients because they do not belong to the five high-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During surveys of plant pathogens in the desert regions of Xinjiang Province, China, a leaf spot was observed on Cynanchum sibiricum. The suspected fungus was isolated and identified using morphology and molecular phylogeny. Morphologically, the fungus was similar to Neodidymelliopsis species. Phylogenetic analyzes of combined internal transcribed spacer (ITS); the large subunit of the ribosomal rDNA (LSU); RNA polymerase II the second largest subunit (rpb2), and β-tubulin gene (tub2) sequences showed that our isolates formed a distinct monophyletic lineage in Neodidymelliopsis. This new clade is identified as Neodidymelliopsis cynanchi sp. nov. based on the phylogenetic and morphological evidence. In addition, N. urticae is synonymized with N. cannabis based on morphology and phylogeny. Furthermore, we emphasize that in-depth revisions are required to assure the taxonomic status of N. sambuci, N. tinkyukuku and N. salvia. This is the first report of Neodidymelliopsis species associated with C. sibiricum leaf spot. The results expand our knowledge of Didymellaceae taxa and microfungi associated with desert environments in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]