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Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is a common disease in infants and young children. MPP can also be a potential cause of healthcare-associated pneumonia. However, it is challenging to make an accurate diagnosis in a timely fashion. Our goal is to determine the assay consistencies of acridinium ester chemiluminescence immunoassay (AECLIA) and gelatin particle agglutination (GPA) test for the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) antibody. In this study, a total of 1404 children with suspected MPP were enrolled. Among them, 130 were diagnosed as MPP positive by mycoplasma culture, and 186 were negative. MP antibodies were detected by AECLIA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and GPA. Consistency rates, differences among assays, and diagnosis performance were compared for the three methods. The independent χ 2 test results of AECLIA and ELISA for the detection of MP-IgG and MP-IgM antibodies were χ 2 = 29.210, P

Background Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignant cancer in the adrenal cortex with poor prognosis. Though previous research has attempted to elucidate the progression of ACC, its molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Methods Gene transcripts per million (TPM) data were downloaded from the UCSC Xena database, which included ACC (The Cancer Genome Atlas, n = 77) and normal samples (Genotype Tissue Expression, n = 128). We used weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify gene connections. Overall survival (OS) was determined using the univariate Cox model. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by the search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes. Results To determine the critical genes involved in ACC progression, we obtained 2,953 significantly differentially expressed genes and nine modules. Among them, the blue module demonstrated significant correlation with the “Stage” of ACC. Enrichment analysis revealed that genes in the blue module were mainly enriched in cell division, cell cycle, and DNA replication. Combined with the PPI and co-expression networks, we identified four hub genes (i.e., TOP2A, TTK, CHEK1, and CENPA) that were highly expressed in ACC and negatively correlated with OS. Thus, these identified genes may play important roles in the progression of ACC and serve as potential biomarkers for future diagnosis.

Many aspects of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are still poorly understood. Yet these knowledge gaps have had and could continue to have adverse, unintended consequences for the efficacy and safety of antivirals and vaccines developed against RSV. Mathematical modelling was used to test and evaluate hypotheses about the rate of loss of RSV infectivity and the mechanisms and kinetics of RSV infection spread in SIAT cells in vitro. While the rate of loss of RSV integrity, as measured via qRT-PCR, is well-described by an exponential decay, the latter mechanism failed to describe the rate at which RSV A Long loses infectivity over time in vitro based on the data presented herein. This is unusual given that other viruses (HIV, HCV, influenza) have been shown to lose their infectivity exponentially in vitro, and indeed an exponential rate of loss of infectivity is always assumed in mathematical modelling and experimental analyses. The infectivity profile of RSV in HEp-2 and SIAT cells remained consistent over the course of an RSV infection, over time and a large range of infectivity. However, SIAT cells were found to be ∼ 100× less sensitive to RSV infection than HEp-2 cells. In particular, we found that RSV spreads inefficiently in SIAT cells, in a manner we show is consistent with the establishment of infection resistance in uninfected cells. SIAT cells are a good in vitro model in which to study RSV in vivo dissemination, yielding similar infection timescales. However, the higher sensitivity of HEp-2 cells to RSV together with its RSV infectivity profile being similar to that of SIAT cells, makes HEp-2 cells more suitable for quantifying RSV infectivity over the course of in vitro RSV infections in SIAT cells. Our findings highlight the importance and urgency of resolving the mechanisms at play in the dissemination of RSV infections in vitro, and the processes by which this infectivity is lost.

This study aimed to compare the prevalence of hypertension between the island and rural residents in Dalian, China, and to explore associated risk factors of hypertension in order to provide evidence for the establishment of targeted strategy of hypertension prevention and treatment for island and rural residents. The modified MONICA questionnaire survey was performed on 7764 island and rural residents aged ≥40 years (including 2652 island residents and 5112 rural residents). Our data showed that totally weighted prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in rural residents than in island residents (61.9% vs. 55.2%, P

Great achievements have been made in pedestrian detection through deep learning. For detectors based on deep learning, making better use of features has become the key to their detection effect. While current pedestrian detectors have made efforts in feature utilization to improve their detection performance, the feature utilization is still inadequate. To solve the problem of inadequate feature utilization, we proposed the Multi-Level Feature Fusion Module (MFFM) and its Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Unit (MFFU) sub-module, which connect feature maps of the same scale and different scales by using horizontal and vertical connections and shortcut structures. All of these connections are accompanied by weights that can be learned; thus, they can be used as adaptive multi-level and multi-scale feature fusion modules to fuse the best features. Then, we built a complete pedestrian detector, the Adaptive Feature Fusion Detector (AFFDet), which is an anchor-free one-stage pedestrian detector that can make full use of features for detection. As a result, compared with other methods, our method has better performance on the challenging Caltech Pedestrian Detection Benchmark (Caltech) and has quite competitive speed. It is the current state-of-the-art one-stage pedestrian detection method.

The emergence of Electricity Spot Market makes it possible that distributed electric heating equipment connect with the grid and participate in market competition as well. However, due to the functional limits, it is impossible for the power supply side to have a thorough understanding of the specific conditions of the load characteristics of the power user, and the user side will not take a global consideration of the real-time security and stability of the power grid. This paper focuses on the research about electricity consumption strategy of thermoelectric coupled load with the background of electricity spot market. The main works are as following: An operation strategy of consumer electric heating equipment based on electric spot market is proposed. Besides, an operation mode which responds to the market is obtained by analysing the time span of clearing nodes in power spot market and start-stop characteristics of distributed heat load equipment. Based on this, the operating cost control function of consumer electric heating load is designed, making it possible that the load follows changes of the clearing price under the premise of ensuring that the user’s heat demand is met within a day. Then we had a discussion about the impact of parameter changes on the operating strategy. With the help of the constraints of existing power grid, the operation strategy model of consumer electric heating equipment based on power spot market is realized.

Background/Aims: Mobilization of endogenous stem cells is an appealing strategy for cell therapy However, there is little evidence for reproducible, effective methods of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) mobilization. In the present study, we investigated the mobilizing effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on endogenous MSCs. Methods: Normal adult rats were randomly divided into six groups, namely, EA for 14 days (EA14d), sham EA14d, EA21d, sham EA21d and matched control groups. MSC mobilization efficiency was determined by colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) assays. Mobilized peripheral blood (PB)-derived MSCs were identified by immunophenotype and multi-lineage differentiation potential. Results: CFU-F frequency was significantly increased in the PB of EA14d rats compared with the sham EA and control groups. Moreover, the number of CFU-Fs was increased further in the EA21d group. MSCs derived from EA-mobilized PB were positive for CD90 and CD44, but negative for CD45. Additionally, these cells could differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes and neural-like cells in vitro. Finally, stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) was increased in the PB of rats subjected to EA, and the migration of MSCs was improved in response to SDF-1α. Conclusions: MSCs with multi-lineage differentiation potential can be mobilized by EA. Our data provide a promising strategy for MSC mobilization.

This paper describes a new type of communication network called data and energy integrated communication networks (DEINs), which integrates the traditionally separate two processes, i.e., wireless information transfer (WIT) and wireless energy transfer (WET), fulfilling co-transmission of data and energy. In particular, the energy transmission using radio frequency is for the purpose of energy harvesting (EH) rather than information decoding. One driving force of the advent of DEINs is wireless big data, which comes from wireless sensors that produce a large amount of small piece of data. These sensors are typically powered by battery that drains sooner or later and will have to be taken out and then replaced or recharged. EH has emerged as a technology to wirelessly charge batteries in a contactless way. Recent research work has attempted to combine WET with WIT, typically under the label of simultaneous wireless information and power transfer. Such work in the literature largely focuses on the communication side of the whole wireless networks with particular emphasis on power allocation. The DEIN communication network proposed in this paper regards the convergence of WIT and WET as a full system that considers not only the physical layer but also the higher layers, such as media access control and information routing. After describing the DEIN concept and its high-level architecture/protocol stack, this paper presents two use cases focusing on the lower layer and the higher layer of a DEIN network, respectively. The lower layer use case is about a fair resource allocation algorithm, whereas the high-layer section introduces an efficient data forwarding scheme in combination with EH. The two case studies aim to give a better explanation of the DEIN concept. Some future research directions and challenges are also pointed out.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: We seek to develop a 3D perfusion culture imaging plate for human fecal bacteria co-culture with epithelial cells in a structure that mimics the gut epithelium. We will develop this system for use with patient fecal samples to characterize patient risk of developing cancer. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: E. coli NC101, a strain that harbors the pks gene island, produces the genotoxin colibactin which causes DNA damage that can lead to colorectal cancer development. The genotoxic ability of this bacterium is dependent upon cell-to-cell contact. Here, we present 3D printed E. coli NC101 and intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6) in a perfusion imaging plate, enabling visualization of the cytotoxic effects of the bacteria in real time using confocal microscopy, in combination with flow cytometry analysis for cell cycle arrest (a surrogate marker of DNA damage). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: 40,000 IEC-6 cells were 3D printed in a cylindrical layer in our triple well imaging plate. The cells were infected at an MOI of 100 for 18 hours and time lapse images of the infection were recorded by confocal microscopy. The cells were then harvested for analysis by flow cytometry for cell cycle arrest as a measure of DNA damage. Our images and flow cytometry data show that E. coli NC101 co-localizes with IEC-6 cells and causes cell cycle arrest in phase G2 (infected %G2 = 40.1), compared to uninfected cells (%G2 = 24.7, P = 0.034). Mutant strains lacking adhesion protein FimH or the ability to produce colibactin do not cause G2 cell cycle arrest (P = 0.844 and P = 0.644, respectively). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: We are able to recapitulate the DNA damage phenotype of E. coli NC101 in our 3D culture system. We show here that host-microbe interactions leading to cancer can be modeled in our 3D perfusion system, and we will next use patient fecal samples in our culture system.

At present, with the development of rural tourism in full swing, the protection and renewal of rural eco-tourism landscape has become an important part of rural landscape planning and construction in the new era. From the perspective of tourists’ perception, this paper takes Longji Terrace Scenic Spot in Guilin, Guangxi as an example, and uses ROST CM6 software analyzes tourists’ landscape perception and characteristics from high-frequency vocabulary, semantic network and other aspects. Based on this, it finds out the existing problems in the current landscape planning of rural eco-tourism area, and puts forward planning suggestions. The purpose is to provide reference for the rational planning and allocation of rural tourism landscape, to improve the quality of life of rural residents, and to promote the construction of beautiful villages. The results show that: (1) high-frequency words indicate that tourists focus on human landscape and natural landscape; (2) the semantic network matrix takes “landscape”, “Jiulong Wuhu”, “Longji Terrace”, “Jinkeng Dazhai” as the core; (3) tourists’ perception of the landscape of Longji Terrace Scenic Spot focuses on terrace scenery, ethnic customs and specialties, mountain climbing ways and other aspects; (4) tourists’ emotional evaluation of Longji Terrace Scenic Spot is mainly positive emotion, and relatively less negative emotion.

The dinitroaniline herbicides (particularly trifluralin) have been globally used in many crops for selective grass weed control. Consequently, trifluralin resistance has been documented in several important crop weed species and has recently reached a level of concern in Australian Lolium rigidum populations. Here, we report novel mutations in the L. rigidum α-tubulin gene which confer resistance to trifluralin and other dinitroaniline herbicides. Nucleotide mutations at the highly conserved codon Arg-243 resulted in amino acid substitutions of Met or Lys. Rice calli transformed with the mutant 243-Met or 243-Lys α-tubulin genes were 4- to 8-fold more resistant to trifluralin and other dinitroaniline herbicides (e.g., ethalfluralin and pendimethalin) compared to calli transformed with the wild type α-tubulin gene from L. rigidum. Comprehensive modeling of molecular docking predicts that Arg-243 is close to the trifluralin binding site on the α-tubulin surface and that replacement of Arg-243 by Met/Lys-243 results in a spatial shift of the trifluralin binding domain, reduction of trifluralin-tubulin contacts, and unfavorable interactions. The major effect of these substitutions is a significant rise of free interaction energy between α-tubulin and trifluralin, as well as between trifluralin and its whole molecular environment. These results demonstrate that the Arg-243 residue in α-tubulin is a determinant for trifluralin sensitivity, and the novel Arg-243-Met/Lys mutations may confer trifluralin resistance in L. rigidum.

Background. High-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) can calculate the bolus motion parameters and the ratio of complete esophageal transit besides the conventional esophageal dynamic parameters; therefore, we could better manage the patients with nonobstructive dysphagia (NOD) clinically. Aim. To analyze the HRIM parameter results of NOD patients and evaluate the characteristics of their esophageal motility and transit function. Methods. In total, 58 NOD patients were assessed and the clinical diagnoses were determined. HRIM was performed, and both conventional high-resolution manometry and esophageal transit parameters were analyzed. Results. In 58 NOD patients, 28 patients had achalasia, 3 esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction, and 20 nonspecific esophageal motility disorders, and 7 were normal. Impedance results demonstrated that all the patients with achalasia exhibited incomplete esophageal transit (ICET), three patients with esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction showed ICET, and the average bolus transit time (BTT) was 6.6 ± 1.2 sec. In 20 nonspecific esophageal motility disorders, 13 patients with gastroenterologly reflux disease (GERD) presented ineffective esophageal motility and fragmented peristalsis, and 65.0% swallows had exhibited ICET. However, 49.1% swallows of 7 nonspecific esophageal motility disorder patients with non-GERD had exhibited ICET. The average BTT in 13 GERD patients was longer than that in the non-GERD patients (8.1 ± 1.1 sec versus 5.5 ± 0.3 sec, P

A series of surfactive amphiphilic polymer PAADs were prepared from the copolymerization of sodium acrylate, dodecyl polyoxyethylene acrylate (DPA, a surfmer), and acrylamide under the action of a mixed initiating agent consisting of ammonium persulfate-sodium bisulfite/2,2′-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] dihydrochloride. The aggregative behaviors of PAADs were explored by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, a viscometer, and a surface tension instrument. It was found that the apparent viscosity and surface activity of PAADs were significantly improved by the increase of average sequence length of hydrophobic micro blocks, strong intermolecular hydrophobic association, or the formation of mixed micelles between hydrophobic micro blocks and micromolecular surface-active agent. The introduction of long-chain alkyls on molecular chains prolonged the average sequence length of hydrophobic micro blocks in molecular chains and enhanced the hydrophobic association between molecular chains and the tight arrangement of molecular chains on water surfaces, thereby increasing the surface activity. Moreover, the anionic monomer sodium acrylate on molecular chains, via electrostatic repulsion, promoted the conversion from intrachain association to intermolecular association and thereby facilitated the formation of dense interfacial films, enhancing the surface activity of water solutions. Then, the anion surfmer sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate interacted with the hydrophobic micro blocks on the molecular chains to form mixed micelles, which accelerated the interchain association and enhanced the polymer surface activity. The novel polymeric micelle with higher viscosifying ability and surface activity was expected to be a promising oil drive agent for tertiary oil recovery.

Microspheres have excellent sealing performances such as injectivity, bridging-off, deep migration, and deformation performances, but their plugging effects are limited by the fast swelling rate and poor viscoelasticity. In this study, we synthesized a novel modified microsphere with polymerizable surfactant monomers and cationic monomers. We investigated the influence factors on the swelling performance and rheological properties of the microspheres and explored the ways to improve the plugging performance of hydrophobic-associating microspheres. The association behaviors in aqueous media of poly(acrylamide-co-methacry loyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-co-n-dodecyl poly(etheroxy acrylate) P(AM-DMC-DEA) are proven to be mediated by the DEA content. Moreover, the hydrophobic association interaction has a strong effect on the performance of microspheres such as swelling properties, the rheological performance, and plugging properties. The swelling properties of microsphere studies exhibited the slow swelling rate. The rheological performance measurements showed significant improvements; yield stress, and creep compliance increased rapidly from 404 to 2060 Pa and 3.89 × 10−4 to 1.41 × 10−2 1/Pa, respectively, with DEA content in microspheres rising from 0.0% to 0.22%. The plugging properties of microspheres were enhanced by the slow swelling performance and good viscoelasticity.

Objective: Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can promote functional recovery of the brain after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD). However, the mechanism regulating MSC migration to a hypoxic-ischemic lesion is poorly understood. Interaction between stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and its cognate receptor CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is crucial for homing and migration of multiple stem cell types. In this study, we investigate the potential role of SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis in mediating MSC migration in an HIBD model. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, we first established the animal model of HIBD using the neonatal rat. Bone marrow MSCs were cultured and labeled with 5-bromo-21-deoxyuridine (BrdU) after which 6×106 cells were intravenously injected into the rat. BrdU positive MSCs in the hippocampus were detected by immunohistochemical analyses. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and SDF-1α in the hippocampus of hypoxic-ischemic rats was detected by Western blotting. To investigate the role of hypoxia and SDF-1α on migration of MSCs in vitro, MSCs isolated from normal rats were cultured in a hypoxic environment (PO2=1%). Migration of MSCs was detected by the transwell assay. The expression of CXCR4 was tested using Western blotting and flow cytometry. Results: BrdU-labeled MSCs were found in the rat brain, which suggested that transplanted MSCs migrated to the site of the hypoxic-ischemic brain tissue. HIF-1α and SDF- 1α significantly increased in the hippocampal formations of HIBD rats in a time-dependent manner. They peaked on day 7 and were stably expressed until day 21. Migration of MSCs in vitro was promoted by SDF-1α under hypoxia and inhibited by the CXCR4 inhibitor AMD3100. The expression of CXCR4 on MSCs was elevated by hypoxia stimulation as well as microdosage treatment of SDF-1α. Conclusion: This observation illustrates that SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis mediate the migration of MSCs to a hypoxic-ischemic brain lesion in a rat model.

Radar coincidence imaging is a new method for high-resolution staring imaging. First, the mathematical model is constructed. Second, the theoretical error for radar coincidence imaging in the presence of noise is derived using the parametric imaging method. Third, the factors that affect the error are analyzed. Fourth, the sparse reconstruction algorithm is used to perform numerical simulations of radar coincidence imaging with different parameters. Finally, the effects of signal bandwidth, array configuration, size of the imaging unit, and target complexity on image error in the presence of noise are discussed. This study provides the theoretical framework for parameters selection and SNR requirements for radar coincidence imaging systems.