Search

In this study, an Er:YAG laser pumped intra-cavity Tm:YAG-Ho:GdVO4 laser was built and debuted at room temperature. At an incident pump power of 9.2 W, this laser obtained a maximum output power of 1.6 W with a slope efficiency of 28.0%. Additionally, the M2 factors at the maximum output power were measured to be 1.06 and 1.03 in the x and y directions, respectively. The results showed that the intra-cavity pumping method of combining thulium and holmium crystals as the gain medium was an effective way to obtain a 2 μm laser with near diffraction limited beam quality.

Coal’s green mining and scientific utilization is the key to achieve the national vision of carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Clarifying the CO2 flow of coal production is the core part of decarbonization. This study uses an environmental extended multi-regional input–output (EEMRIO) model to analyze the impact of embodied emissions on the indirect CO2 emission intensity of coal production between China’s coal mining sector and 141 countries/regions. It is found that the CO2 emission intensity of China’s coal production was 34.14 gCO2/MJ in 2014, while the direct and indirect emission intensities were 16.22 gCO2/MJ and 17.92 gCO2/MJ, respectively. From 2007 to 2014, the direct emission intensity of China’s coal production increased by 23%, while the indirect emission intensity decreased by 30%. The key material and service inputs affecting indirect carbon emissions of coal production in China are electricity service, metal manufacturing, chemical products, coal mining, and transport, which accounted for 85.5% of the total indirect emission intensity of coal production in 2014. Globally, a large portion of CO2 from Chinese coal production is emitted to meet foreign direct and indirect demands for material and service inputs. Policy implications related to this outcome are further discussed in the study.

This paper studies the consensus fault-tolerant control problem of a class of second-order leader–follower multi-agent systems with unknown disturbance and actuator faults, and proposes an integral non-singular terminal sliding mode control algorithm based on a finite-time observer. First, a finite-time disturbance observer was designed based on a combination of high-order sliding mode and dual layers adaptive rules to realize fast estimation and compensation of disturbance and faults. Then, a sliding surface with additional integral links was designed based on the conventional sliding surface, and an integral non-singular terminal sliding mode controller is proposed to realize the robust consensus in finite time and accurately diminish the chattering phenomena. Finally, a numerical example and simulation verify the effectiveness.

Objective: It is currently unclear whether the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection leads to associated alterations in thyroid functions and thyroidal illnesses. This study aims to analyse this relationship in an elderly male cohort over a five-year period.Design: A case retrospective study.Methods: A longitudinal study was designed to collect subjects (≥65 years old) receiving both a thyroid examination and H. pylori infection status determined by 13C-urea breath test in 2013 at our unit. Subjects were followed every 1 to 2 years until December 2017 for laboratory results, visits to outpatient clinics/emergency departments etc. Blood tests and thyroid ultrasonography were performed to determine thyroid function and morphology.Results: 356 male subjects with mean age 78.5 ± 9.8 years were included. Active H. pylori infection was positive in 88 subjects (24.7%). Thyroid function tests and ultrasonography showed similar patterns between H. pylori positive and negative groups. Non-thyroidal-illness syndrome (NTIS) was diagnosed in 30/210 (14%) patients who experienced acute illnesses and hospitalization over five-year follow-up. Notably, NTIS demonstrated significantly higher prevalence in the H. pylori positive group compared to the negative group (17.1 vs. 5.6%, P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that when age, APACHE II score and hemoglobin levels were adjusted, H. pylori status still has significant interrelationship with NTIS (OR = 3.497, P = 0.003).Conclusions: There is a positive association between chronic active H. pylori infection and NTIS prevalence in this elderly male cohort. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of H. pylori infection on NTIS in elderly male patients.

Phenol is a toxic organic molecule that is widely detected in the natural environment, even in drinking water sources. Biological methods were considered to be a good tool for phenol removal, especially microbial immobilized technology. However, research on the “seed” bacteria along with microbial community analysis in oligotrophic environment such as drinking water system has not been addressed. In this study, Acinetobacter sp. DW-1 with high phenol degradation ability had been isolated from a drinking water biofilter was used as seeded bacteria to treat phenol micro-polluted drinking water source. Meanwhile, the whole genome of strain DW-1 was sequenced using nanopore technology. The genomic analysis suggests that Acinetobacter sp. DW-1 could utilize phenol via the β-ketoadipate pathway, including the catechol and protocatechuate branches. Subsequently, a bio-enhanced polyhedral hollow polypropylene sphere (BEPHPS) filter was constructed to investigate the stability of the seeded bacteria during the water treatment process. The denatured gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profile and the quantification of phenol hydroxylase gene results indicate that when the BEPHPS filter was operated for 56 days, Acinetobacter sp. was still a persistent and competitive bacterium in the treatment group. In addition, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing results indicate that Acinetobacter sp., as well as Pseudomonas sp., Nitrospira sp., Rubrivivax sp. were the predominant bacteria in the treatment group, which were different from that in the CK group. This study provides a better understanding of the mechanisms of phenol degradation by Acinetobacter sp. DW-1 at the gene level, and provides new insights into the stability of seeded bacteria and its effects on microbial ecology during drinking water treatment.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a common foodborne pathogen that causes gastroenteritis worldwide. Determining its prevalence and genetic diversity will minimize the risk of infection and the associated economic burden. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is an important tool for molecular epidemiology and population genetic studies of bacteria. Here, we analyzed the genetic and evolutionary relationships of 162 V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated in the Guangdong Province, China, using MLST. In the study, 120 strains were isolated from food samples, and 42 strains were isolated from clinical samples. All strains were categorized into 100 sequence types (STs), of which 58 were novel (48 from the food isolates and 10 from the clinical isolates). ST415 was the most prevalent ST among the food isolates, while ST3 was the most prevalent ST among the clinical isolates. Further, 12 clonal complexes, 14 doublets, and 73 singletons were identified in all ST clusters, indicating high genetic diversity of the analyzed strains. At the concatenated sequence level, non-synonymous sites in both, food and clinical isolates, were associated with purifying selection. Of note, the dN/dS ration was greater than 1 for some housekeeping genes in all isolates. This is the first time that some loci under positive selection were identified. These observations confirm frequent recombination events in V. parahaemolyticus. Recombination was much more important than mutation for genetic heterogeneity of the food isolates, but the probabilities of recombination and mutations were almost equal for the clinical isolates. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the clinical isolates were concentrated in the maximum-likelihood tree, while the food isolates were heterogeneously distributed. In conclusion, the food and clinical isolates of V. parahaemolyticus from the Guangdong Province are similar, but show different evolutionary trends. This may help prevent large-scale spread of highly virulent strains and provides a genetic basis for the discovery of microevolutionary relationships in V. parahaemolyticus populations.

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) refers to the suppression of the startle reflex when the intense startling stimulus is shortly (20–500 ms) preceded by a weak non-startling stimulus (prepulse). Although the main neural correlates of PPI lie in the brainstem, previous research has revealed that PPI can be top-down modulated by attention. However, in the previous attend-to-prepulse PPI paradigm, only continuous prepulse but not discrete prepulse (20 ms) could elicit attentional modulation of PPI. Also, the relationship between the attentional enhancement of PPI and the changes in early cortical representations of prepulse signals is unclear. This study develops a novel attend-to-prepulse PPI task, when the discrete prepulse is set at 150 ms at a lead interval of 270 ms, and reveals that the PPI with attended prepulse is larger than the PPI with ignored prepulse. In addition, the early cortical representations (N1/P2 complex) of the prepulse show dissociation between the attended and ignored prepulse. N1 component is enhanced by directed attention, and the attentional increase of the N1 component is positively correlated with the attentional enhancement of PPI, whereas the P2 component is not affected by attentional modulation. Thus, directed attention to the prepulse can enhance both PPI and the early cortical representation of the prepulse signal (N1).

The anti-reflection properties of hard material surfaces are of great significance in the fields of infrared imaging, optoelectronic devices, and aerospace. Femtosecond laser processing has drawn a lot of attentions in the field of optics as an innovative, efficient, and green micro-nano processing method. The anti-reflection surface prepared on hard materials by femtosecond laser processing technology has good anti-reflection properties under a broad spectrum with all angles, effectively suppresses reflection, and improves light transmittance/absorption. In this review, the recent advances on femtosecond laser processing of anti-reflection surfaces on hard materials are summarized. The principle of anti-reflection structure and the selection of anti-reflection materials in different applications are elaborated upon. Finally, the limitations and challenges of the current anti-reflection surface are discussed, and the future development trend of the anti-reflection surface are prospected.

Path planning for wheeled mobile robots on partially known uneven terrain is an open challenge since robot motions can be strongly influenced by terrain with incomplete environmental information such as locally detected obstacles and impassable terrain areas. This paper proposes a hierarchical path planning approach for a wheeled robot to move in a partially known uneven terrain. We first model the partially known uneven terrain environment respecting the terrain features, including the slope, step, and unevenness. Second, facilitated by the terrain model, we use A⋆ algorithm to plan a global path for the robot based on the partially known map. Finally, the Q-learning method is employed for local path planning to avoid locally detected obstacles in close range as well as impassable terrain areas when the robot tracks the global path. The simulation and experimental results show that the designed path planning approach provides satisfying paths that avoid locally detected obstacles and impassable areas in a partially known uneven terrain compared with the classical A⋆ algorithm and the artificial potential field method.

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is the reduction in the acoustic startle reflex (ASR) when the startling stimulus (pulse) is preceded by a weaker, non-starting stimulus. This can be enhanced by facilitating selective attention to the prepulse against a noise-masking background. On the other hand, the facilitation of selective attention to a target speech can release the target speech from masking, particularly from speech informational masking. It is not clear whether attentional regulation also affects PPI in this kind of auditory masking. This study used a speech syllable as the prepulse to examine whether the masker type and perceptual spatial attention can affect the PPI or the scalp EEG responses to the prepulse in healthy younger-adult humans, and whether the ERPs evoked by the prepulse can predict the PPI intensity of the ASR. The results showed that the speech masker produced a larger masking effect than the noise masker, and the perceptual spatial separation facilitated selective attention to the prepulse, enhancing both the N1 component of the prepulse syllable and the PPI of the ASR, particularly when the masker was speech. In addition, there was no significant correlation between the PPI and ERPs under any of the conditions, but the perceptual separation-induced PPI enhancement and ERP N1P2 peak-to-peak amplitude enhancement were correlated under the speech-masking condition. Thus, the attention-mediated PPI is useful for differentiating noise energetic masking and speech informational masking, and the perceptual separation-induced release of the prepulse from informational masking is more associated with attention-mediated early cortical unmasking processing than with energetic masking. However, the processes for the PPI of the ASR and the cortical responses to the prepulse are mediated by different neural mechanisms.

The development of LiFePO4 (LFP) in high-power energy storage devices is hampered by its slow Li-ion diffusion kinetics. Constructing the composite electrode materials with vanadium substitution is a scientific endeavor to boost LFP’s power capacity. Herein, a series of xLiFePO4·yLi3V2(PO4)3 (xLFP·yLVP) composites were fabricated using a simple spray-drying approach. We propose that 5LFP·LVP is the optimal choice for Li-ion battery promotion, owning to its excellent Li-ion storage capacity (material energy density of 413.6 W·h·kg−1), strong machining capability (compacted density of 1.82 g·cm−3) and lower raw material cost consumption. Furthermore, the 5LFP·LVP||LTO Li-ion pouch cell also presents prominent energy storage capability. After 300 cycles of a constant current test at 400 mA, 75% of the initial capacity (379.1 mA·h) is achieved, with around 100% of Coulombic efficiency. A capacity retention of 60.3% is displayed for the 300th cycle when discharging at 1200 mA, with the capacity fading by 0.15% per cycle. This prototype provides a valid and scientific attempt to accelerate the development of xLFP·yLVP composites in application-oriented Li-ion batteries.

Human norovirus is regarded as the leading cause of epidemic acute gastroenteritis with GII.4 being the predominant genotype during the past decades. In the winter of 2014/2015, the GII.17 Kawasaki 2014 emerged as the predominant genotype, surpassing GII.4 in several East Asian countries. Hence, the influence of host immunity response on the continuous evolution of different GII.17 variants needs to be studied in depth. Here, we relate the inferences of evolutionary mechanisms of different GII.17 variants with the investigation of cross-reactivity and cross-protection of their respective antisera using the expression of norovirus P particles in Escherichia coli. The cross-reactivity assay showed that the antisera of previous strains (GII.17 A and GII.17 B) reacted with recent variants (GII.17 C and GII.17 D) at high OD values from 0.8 to 1.16, while recent variant antisera cross-reacting with previous strains were weak with OD values between 0.26 and 0.56. The cross-protection assay indicated that the antisera of previous strains had no inhibitory effect on recent variants. Finally, mutations at amino acids 353–363, 373–384, 394–404, and 444–454 had the greatest impact on cross-reactivity. These data indicate that the recent pandemic variants GII.17 C and GII.17 D avoided the herd immunity effect of previous GII.17 A and GII.17 B strains through antigenic variation.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is an important foodborne pathogen and its biofilm formation ability facilitates its colonization and persistence in foods by protecting it from stresses including environmental variation and antibiotic exposure. Several important proteins are involved in biofilm formation; however, the identity and function of many remain unknown. In this study, we discovered a hypothetical protein, VP0610 that negatively regulates biofilm formation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and we found that the loss of vp0610 typically results in pleiotropic phenotypes that contribute toward promoting biofilm formation, including significantly increased insoluble exopolysaccharide production and swimming motility, decreased soluble exopolysaccharide production, and decreased bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate production. Pull-down assays revealed that VP0610 can interact with 180 proteins, some of which (Hfq, VP0710, VP0793, and CyaA) participate in biofilm formation. Moreover, deleting vp0610 enhanced the expression of genes responsible for biofilm component (flaE), the sugar phosphotransferase system (PTS) EIIA component (vp0710 and vp0793), and a high-density regulator of quorum sensing (opaR), while reducing the expression of the bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate degradation protein (CdgC), resulting in faster biofilm formation. Taken together, our results indicate that vp0610 is an integral member of the key biofilm regulatory network of V. parahaemolyticus that functions as a repressor of biofilm formation.

The accurate and rapid classification of Salmonella serovars is an essential focus for the identification of isolates involved in disease in humans and animals. The purpose of current research was to identify novel sensitive and reliable serovar-specific targets and to develop PCR method for Salmonella C2 serogroups (O:8 epitopes) in food samples to facilitate timely treatment. A total of 575 genomic sequences of 16 target serovars belonging to serogroup C2 and 150 genomic sequences of non-target serovars were analysed by pan-genome analysis. As a result, four and three specific genes were found for serovars Albany and Hadar, respectively. Primer sets for PCR targeting these serovar-specific genes were designed and evaluated based on their specificity; the results showed high specificity (100%). The sensitivity of the specific PCR was 2.8 × 101–103 CFU/mL and 2.3 × 103–104 CFU/mL for serovars Albany and Hadar, respectively, and the detection limits were 1.04 × 103–104 CFU/g and 1.16 × 104–105 CFU/g in artificially contaminated raw pork samples. Furthermore, the potential functions of these serovar-specific genes were analysed; all of the genes were functionally unknown, except for one specific serovar Albany gene known to be a encoded secreted protein and one specific gene for serovars Hadar and Albany that is a encoded membrane protein. Thus, these findings demonstrate that pan-genome analysis is a precious method for mining new high-quality serovar-targets for PCR assays or other molecular methods that are highly sensitive and can be used for rapid detection of Salmonella serovars.

Currently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, young people are experiencing a decrease in self-efficacy and an increase in mental illness. Though previous studies have shown that self-efficacy and divergent thinking training are positively related, little is known about the impact of divergent thinking training on self-efficacy and emotions. Therefore, our study seeks this answer to support teenagers injured psychologically during disastrous periods. We randomly assigned 70 students to a 2 (time: pretest, post-test) × 2 (groups: divergent thinking training, controlled) mixed design. Participants in the experimental group were given a 9-day divergent thinking training with the theme of “writing down 10 novel functions of the mask,” while those in the control group spent 10 min each day recording what they ate. The self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, and stress of two groups were measured before and after training. Results showed that, compared to the control group, self-efficacy ceased decreasing while anxiety decreased for the experimental group. These findings confirm the positive effect of divergent thinking on teenagers. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Background: The timing of administration of agents and use of combination treatments in COVID-19 remain unclear. We assessed the effectiveness of therapeutics in cohorts in Hong Kong SAR and Anhui, China. Methods: We conducted propensity-score analysis of 4771 symptomatic patients from Hong Kong between 21st January and 6th December 2020, and 648 symptomatic patients from Anhui between 1st January and 27th February 2020. We censored all observations as at 13st December 2020. Time from hospital admission to discharge, and composite outcome of death, invasive mechanical ventilation or intensive care unit admission across 1) all therapeutic options including lopinavir-ritonavir, ribavirin, umifenovir, interferon-alpha-2b, interferon-beta-1b, corticosteroids, antibiotics, and Chinese medicines, and 2) four interferon-beta-1b combination treatment groups were investigated. Findings: Interferon-beta-1b was associated with an improved composite outcome (OR=0.55, 95%CI 0.38, 0.80) and earlier discharge (−8.8 days, 95%CI −9.7, −7.9) compared to those not administered interferon-beta-1b. Oral ribavirin initiated within 7 days from onset was associated with lower risk of the composite outcome in Hong Kong (OR=0.51, 95%CI 0.29, 0.90). Lopinavir-ritonavir, intravenous ribavirin, umifenovir, corticosteroids, interferon-alpha-2b, antibiotics or Chinese medicines failed to show consistent clinical benefit. Interferon-beta-1b co-administered with ribavirin was associated with improved composite outcome (OR=0.50, 95%CI 0.32, 0.78) and earlier discharge (−2.35 days, 95%CI −3.65, −1.06) compared to interferon-beta-1b monotherapy. Interpretation: Our findings support the early administration of interferon-beta-1b alone or in combination with oral ribavirin for COVID-19 patients. Funding: Hong Kong Health and Medical Research Fund; Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Commission; Chinese Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

Abstract Background Staphylococcus epidermidis has emerged as an often encountered pathogen responsible for hospital-acquired infections. The aim of present study is to investigate the microbiological characteristic of S. epidermidis isolates isolated from sterile specimens and skin in a Chinese tertiary hospital. Methods A total of 223 non-duplicate S. epidermidis were collected from various sterile specimens of inpatients among 10 years in Wenzhou, China. 106 S. epidermidis obtained from the skin (urethral orifices) of healthy volunteers. All isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. PCR was used to detect the virulence- and resistance-associated genes and 7 housekeeping genes to determine the sequence types (STs) of selected isolates. Results The resistance rates to antimicrobials tested except linezolid and vancomycin and the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE) of S. epidermidis clinical isolates were significantly higher than those among colonized isolates (P 90%), which was similar to the characteristics of ST59 clone with one locus difference from ST466. ST466 clone competence with Staphylococcus aureus was relatively stronger, relative to ST2, ST20, ST130 and ST59 clones. Conclusion Taken together, a high-level of genetic diversity was found between clinical and colonized S. epidermidis isolates. A novel ST466 clone with distinct and similar characteristics relative to other prevalent clones, emerging as a prevalent clone in China, should be of major concern.

Abstract Background Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia (TRMA) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disease characterized by the clinical triad of megaloblastic anemia, sensorineural deafness, and diabetes mellitus. To date, only 100 cases of TRMA have been reported in the world. Case presentation Here, we describe a six-year-old boy with diabetes mellitus, anemia, and deafness. Additionally, he presented with thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, horizontal nystagmus, hepatomegaly, short stature, ventricular premature beat (VPB), and cerebral infarction. DNA sequencing revealed a novel compound heterozygous mutation in the SLC19A2 gene: (1) a duplication c.405dupA, p.Ala136Serfs*3 (heterozygous) and (2) a nucleotide deletion c.903delG p.Trp301Cysfs*13 (heterozygous). The patient was diagnosed with a typical TRMA. Conclusion Novel mutations in the SLC19A2 gene have been identified, expanding the mutation spectrum of the SLC19A2 gene. For the first time, VPB and cerebral infarction have been identified in patients with TRMA syndrome, providing a new understanding of the phenotype.

Abstract Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with increasing incidence and mortality and represents one of the most common cancer types worldwide. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a complex particle composed of several proteins and lipids, which carries cholesterol into peripheral tissues and also affects the metabolism of fatty acids. Recent reports have indicated an emerging role of LDL in breast cancer, affecting cell proliferation and migration, thereby facilitating disease progression. However, controversy still exists among distinct types of breast cancer that can be affected by LDL. Classical therapeutic approaches, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and lipid-lowering drugs were also reported as affecting LDL metabolism and content in breast cancer patients. Therefore, in this review we summarized and discussed the role of LDL in the development and treatment of breast cancer.

Abstract Background Ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetables have become increasingly popular along with the trend of moving towards a healthy lifestyle. However, RTE vegetables are at a higher risk of containing pathogens, maybe owing to lack of rigorous sanitization procedures. To understand the prevalence and potential risk of Listeria monocytogenes in RTE vegetables, we investigated the contamination level and characteristics of L. monocytogenes isolated from fresh vegetables. Results Twenty-three (5.49%) of the 419 vegetables samples were positive for L. monocytogenes. Phylogenetic group I.1 (1/2a-3a) and II.2 (1/2b-3b-7) strains were predominant in 30 isolates, which accounted for 33.3 and 50.0%, respectively. Multilocus sequence typing of the 30 isolates grouped them into nine sequence types (STs). The most common STs were ST87 (36.7%) and ST8 (26.7%). Virulence analysis showed that all 30 isolates harbored eight classical virulence genes, 10.0% isolates harbored the llsX gene (ST3 and ST1 strains), and 36.7% carried the ptsA gene and belonged to ST87. Approximately 83.3% isolates carried full-length inlA, whereas five isolates had premature stop codons in inlA, three of which belonged to ST9 and two to ST8. Antibiotic susceptibility showed the isolates were varyingly resistant to 13 antibiotics, 26.7% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. Conclusions The fresh vegetables contain some potential hypervirulent L. monocytogenes (ST1 and ST87) in the Chinese markets. In addition, the high rate of L. monocytogenes isolates was multi-drug resistant. Fresh raw vegetables may be a possible transmission route for L. monocytogenes infection in consumers. Therefore, sanitization of raw fresh vegetables should be strengthened to ensure their microbiological safety when used as RTE vegetables.

The cultivated apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is one of the most important crop fruits with high-economic values in the world. In the present study, we characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of apple cultivar ‘Yantai Fuji 8’. The complete cp genome is 160,062 bp in length with a typical quadripartite structure. A total of 112 unique genes were found in the newly sequenced genome, including 78 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and 4 rRNA genes. Of these, 7 protein-coding genes, 7 tRNA genes, and all 4 rRNA genes are duplicated in the inverted regions. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using the full length of cp genome to show the relationships among species in Rosaceae. The complete cp genome will be potential genetic resources for apple breeding programs.

Rotating machinery plays a key role in mechanical equipment, and the fault diagnosis of rotating machinery is a popular research topic. To overcome the dependency on expert knowledge regarding conventional time-frequency analysis diagnosis methods, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods are commonly studied. Although these methods can achieve high-accuracy diagnosis results, they are based on a large number of training samples. A generative adversarial network (GAN) is an algorithm with the capability of generating realistic samples that are similar to the real samples, and it can be applied to solve fault diagnosis problems with insufficient training data, which is called the small sample size condition in this study. However, a single-GAN model cannot achieve a good diagnostic result. To achieve adaptive feature extraction and high diagnosis accuracy, this study proposes an intelligent fault diagnosis method for rotating machinery based on GANs under small sample size conditions. The effectiveness and performance of the proposed method are validated using rolling bearing and gearbox datasets. In these datasets, only 10% and 20% of the samples are selected as the training data. Samples associated with different health conditions and various working conditions are included in the datasets. Compared with those of other diagnosis methods, the high-accuracy and low-volatility diagnosis results indicate that the proposed method can stably distinguish fault modes under different working conditions in an adaptive way, even though few training samples are available.

In multiple unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) formation control systems, high scalability can guarantee the formation stability when UAVs join in or leave the system, and thus improves the robustness of the formation flight. This paper investigates the scalability problem for multi-UAV formation control with double-integrator dynamics. To be more specific, we focus how to build communication links with fixed control parameters such that the formation can always keep stable when adding/removing arbitrary number of UAVs. A bio-inspired method - Veteran Rule is proposed to solve this problem. Compared to the existing methods, our proposed method does not require to re-design or adaptively adjust the control parameters/gains for the changed Laplacian matrix. Furthermore, the convergence rate of the system under the Veteran Rule is analyzed. Surprisingly, the convergence rate of the system reaches the maximum value when all the in-degrees equal a particular value, rather than goes to infinity. Moreover, to guarantee the robustness of the formation system, we study the tolerance on undesired communication links (which break our proposed Veteran Rule). An upper bound for the coupling strength of the undesired communication links is provided by using Gershgorin circle theorem. Finally, simulation results corroborate the effectiveness of our results.

Malware and its variants continue to pose a threat to network security. Machine learning has been widely used in the field of malware classification, but some emerging studies, such as attention mechanisms, are rarely applied in this field. In this paper, we analyze the correspondence between bytecode and disassembly of malware, and propose a new feature extraction method based on multi-dimensional sequence. Also, we construct a new classification framework based on attention mechanism and Convolutional Neural Networks mechanism. Furthermore, we also compare the different architectures based on the attention mechanisms. Experiments on open datasets show that our feature extraction method and our framework have a good classification effect, and the accuracy rate is 0.9609.

Prostate inflammation (PI) is closely related to the development and progression of chronic prostatic diseases: benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 has been reported to be associated with inflammatory diseases, such as infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. Meanwhile, TLR10, which can form heterodimers with TLR2, has been considered an orphan receptor without an exact function. The present study therefore aims to examine the effects of TLR2 and TLR10 on PI. Prostate samples and clinical data were obtained from the patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The inflammatory cell model was established by adding lipopolysaccharide to RWPE-1 cells. Prostate tissues/cells were examined by histological, molecular, and biochemical approaches. Both TLR2 and TLR10 were found to be expressed in prostate tissues and RWPE-1 cells. mRNA/protein expression levels of TLR2 and TLR10 were both positively correlated with prostate tissue inflammatory grades. Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RWPE-1 cells expressed higher levels of TLR2, TLR10, high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), phospho-nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells P65 (phospho-NF-κB P65), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 than control cells. Moreover, HMGB1, phospho-NF-κB P65, IL-6, and IL-8 were downregulated after TLR2 knockdown and upregulated after TLR10 knockdown in RWPE-1 cells. TLR2 stimulation can activate the inflammatory signaling cascade in prostate epithelial cells. Conversely, TLR10 exhibited suppressive effects on inflammation. With antagonistic functions, both TLR2 and TLR10 were involved in PI. TLR10 could be a novel target in modulating inflammatory signal transduction of prostate epithelial cells.

Mammotome-an ultrasound guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) device, has proved beneficial to the treatment of benign breast lesions. The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of ultrasound images of residual cavity and the changes in ultrasound images at follow-up at different intervals after the excision of benign breast lesions by Mammotome® biopsy system. A series of 247 consecutive 8-gauge Mammotome® procedures were performed under ultrasound guidance and multivariate analysis was conducted. We found fibroadenoma and adenomatosis are appeared to be the most common pathological manifestations. Follow-up by ultrasonography at an interval of one month after excision of benign breast lesions by 8-gauge vacuum-assisted Mammotome® biopsy system, is not reliable due to the residual cavity formation. A follow-up schedule starting from at least 3 months after resection is highly recommended. Keywords: Mammotome, Benign breast lesion, Ultrasound image, Residual cavity, Echogenicity

Bacillus cereus and B. thuringiensis are closely related species that are relevant to foodborne diseases and biopesticides, respectively. Unambiguous differentiation of these two species is crucial for bacterial taxonomy. As genome analysis offers an objective but time-consuming classification of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis, in the present study, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was used to accelerate this process. By combining in silico genome analysis and MALDI-TOF MS measurements, four species-specific peaks of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis were screened and identified. The species-specific peaks of B. cereus were m/z 3211, 6427, 9188, and 9214, and the species-specific peaks of B. thuringiensis were m/z 3218, 6441, 9160, and 9229. All the above peaks represent ribosomal proteins, which are conserved and consistent with the phylogenetic relationship between B. cereus and B. thuringiensis. The specificity of the peaks was robustly verified using common foodborne pathogens. Thus, we concluded that genome-guided MALDI-TOF MS allows high-throughput differentiation of B. cereus and B. thuringiensis and provides a framework for differentiating other closely related species.

This study presents an integrated analysis of cohesive bank-collapsed material transportation in a high-curvature channel with a non-cohesive riverbed. A numerical model was established to simulate the erosion and transportation of collapsed materials in a 180° U-bend channel after verification. The novel aspect of this study is that the quantities of the collapsed materials that transformed into suspended and bed loads were comprehensively analyzed. The results show that finer collapsed sediments were only transformed into suspended loads after being eroded, while the coarser particles transformed into both suspended loads and bed loads. When the flow charge was 30 L/s, the quantity of collapsed materials (S1 and S2) that transported downstream was smaller, and coarser materials transformed into suspended loads with a ratio of 88.12–99.86% and bed loads with a ratio of 11.18–0.14%. When the flow charge was 55 L/s, due to the greater shear stress, the quantity of collapsed materials (S1 and S2) that transported downstream was greater, and the ratio ranged from 46.65% to 49.88% and from 50.12% to 53.35%, respectively. This research provides theoretical and practical benefits that reveal the mechanisms of channel bend evolution.

As combat missions become increasingly complex in both space and time, cross-regional joint operations (CRJO) is becoming an overwhelming trend in modern air warfare. How to allocate resources and missions prior to the operation becomes a central issue to improve the combat efficiency. In this paper, we focus on the cooperative mission planning of multiple heterogeneous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in a CRJO. A multi-objective optimization problem is presented with the aim of minimizing the makespan while maximizing the value expectation obtained. Moreover, it is not mandatory for each UAV to return exactly to the base which it takes off. Furthermore, in addition to the constraints commonly found in UAV mission assignment problems, the ammunition inventory at each base is also taken into account. To solve such a problem, we developed an improved genetic algorithm (IGA) with a novel chromosome encoding format. It can determine the number of attacks on a given target based on the expectations obtained, rather than being predetermined. Specifically, an efficient logic-based unlocking mechanism is designed for the crossover and mutation operations in the algorithm. Simulation results show that the developed IGA can efficiently solve the considered problem. Through numerical experimental comparisons, the algorithm proposed in this work is superior to other existing IGA-like algorithms in terms of computational efficiency.

In order to improve the deformation energy consumption and self-centering ability of reinforced concrete (RC) frame beam-column joints for main buildings of conventional islands in nuclear power plants, a new type of self-centering joint equipped with super-elastic shape memory alloy (SMA) bars and a steel plate as kernel components in the core area of the joint is proposed in this study. Four 1/5-scale frame joints were designed and manufactured, including two contrast joints (a normal reinforced concrete joint and a concrete joint that replaces steel bars with SMA bars) and two new model joints with different SMA reinforcement ratios. Subsequently, the residual deformation, energy dissipation capacity, stiffness degradation and self-centering performance of the novel frame joints were studied through a low-frequency cyclic loading test. Finally, based on the OpenSees finite element software platform, an effective numerical model of the new joint was established and verified. On this basis, varying two main parameters, the SMA reinforcement ratio and the axial compression ratio, a simulation was systematically conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed joint in seismic performance. The results show that replacing ordinary steel bars in the beam with SMA bars not only greatly reduces the bearing capacity and stiffness of the joint, but also makes the failure mode of the joint brittle. The construction of a new type of joint with consideration of the SMA reinforcement and the steel plate can improve the bearing capacity, delay the stiffness degradation and improve the ductility and self-centering capability of the joints. Within a certain range, increasing the ratio of the SMA bars can further improve the ultimate bearing capacity and energy dissipation capacity of the new joint. Increasing or decreasing the axial compression ratio of column ends has little effect on the overall seismic performance of new joints.

We report a case of meningitis in a neonate in China, which was caused by a novel multidrug-resistant Cronobacter sakazakii strain, sequence type 256, capsular profile K1:CA1. We identified genetic factors associated with bacterial pathogenicity and antimicrobial drug resistance in the genome and plasmids. Enhanced surveillance of this organism is warranted.

Abstract Background To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS) into a Simplified Chinese version (HAGOS-C) and evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the HAGOS-C in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. Methods The cross-cultural adaptation was performed according to the internationally recognized guidelines of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Outcome Committee. A total of 192 participants were recruited in this study. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine reliability. Construct validity was analyzed by evaluating the correlations between HAGOS-C and EuroQoL 5-dimension (EQ-5D), as well as the short form (36) health survey (SF-36). Responsiveness of HAGOS-C was evaluated according to standard response means (SRM) and standard effect size (ES) between the first test and the third test (6 months after primary THA). Results The original version of the HAGOS was well cross-culturally adapted and translated into Simplified Chinese. HAGOS-C was indicated to have excellent reliability (ICC = 0.748–0.936, Cronbach’s alpha = 0.787–0.886). Moderate to substantial correlations between subscales of HAGOS-C and EQ-5D (r = 0.544–0.751, p

Abstract Background Wiedemann–Steiner syndrome (WDSTS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by facial gestalt, neurodevelopmental delay, skeletal anomalies and growth retardation, which is caused by variation of KMT2A gene. To date, only 2 Chinese WDSTS patients have been reported. Here, we report the phenotypes and KMT2A gene variations in 14 unrelated Chinese WDSTS patients and investigate the phenotypic differences between the Chinese and French cohorts. Methods Next generation sequencing was performed for each patient, and the variants in the KMT2A gene were validated by Sanger sequencing. The phenotypes of 16 Chinese WDSTS patients were summarized and compared to 33 French patients. Results Genetic sequencing identified 13 deleterious de novo KMT2A variants in 14 patients, including 10 truncating, 2 missenses and 1 splicing variants. Of the 13 variants, 11 are novel and two have been reported previously. One of the patients is mosaic in the KMT2A gene. The variation spectra and phenotypic profiles of the Chinese WDSTS patients showed no difference with patients of other ethnicities; however, differ in the frequencies of several clinical features. We demonstrated that variations in the KMT2A gene can lead to both advanced and delayed bone age. We identified 6 novel phenotypes, which include microcephaly, deep palmar crease, external ear deformity, carpal epiphyseal growth retardation, dyslipidemia, and glossoptosis. In addition, patients harbored missense variants in the CXXC zinc finger domain of KMT2A showed more severe neurophenotypes. Conclusion Our study consists of the largest cohort of Chinese WDSTS patients that continues to expand the WDSTS phenotypic and variation spectrum. Our results support the notion that the CXXC zinc finger domain of KMT2A gene is a hotspot for missense variants associated with more severe neurophenotypes.

Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) is the causative agent of grass carp hemorrhagic disease, which has detrimental effects on the grass carp aquaculture industry. There are four known genotypes of GCRV and strains of different GCRV genotypes differ greatly. In this study, the diversity of the protein VP6 from different GCRV stains and the effect of genotype GCRV 096 on replication was investigated in CIK cells. Our results showed that the VP6 protein of GCRV 096 (genotype Ι) exhibited limited homology to that of GCRV GD108 (genotype Ш), with few residues conserved in predicted protein-protein interaction domains. GCRV 096 VP6 protein was expressed and purified and an antiserum against it was characterized. Addition of purified VP6 protein or antiserum to culture media of CIK cells inhibited the replication of GCRV 096 in these cells. In contrast, replication of GCRV GD108 (genotype Ш) was not affected in CIK cells under the same condition. Overall, our results indicated that the protein VP6 and VP6 antiserum did not provide cross-protection against GCRV strains and this can be attributed to differences among GCRV genotypes. It will be important to consider multiple GCRV genotypes in the development of effective GCRV vaccines and other therapies against grass carp hemorrhagic disease. In addition, bioinformatics analysis also suggested that the protein VP6 may have a role in the process of GCRV infection. This study lays the foundation for the prevention of grass carp hemorrhagic disease and further detailed studies on the pathogenesis of GCRV. Keywords: Grass carp reovirus (GCRV), Protein VP6, Replication, Functional analysis

This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Xinmailong injection on rats with myocardial infarction. Thirty-six rats were induced myocardial infarction by operation, and six underwent sham operation. The myocardial infarction rats were randomly divided into three groups, 12 in each, and administered intraperitoneal injection of Xinmailong 5 mg/(kg·d), sodium creatine phosphate 80 mg/(kg·d), or normal saline as control respectively for 14 days. When the treatments were completed, the hemodynamic parameters of the rats were observed, and blood samples were taken to examine blood routine, blood coagulation index, liver and kidney function, inflammatory index, myocardial marker, thrombo-elastography, and other indicators. The morphology of cardiomyocytes was observed through light microscopy, and the microstructure of the myocardial cells was observed under electron microscope. No significant difference was found in blood routine, liver and kidney function, and blood coagulation index between the Xinmailong and sodium creatine phosphate groups compared with the saline control group. However, the inflammatory index and levels of myocardial markers were significantly decreased, and cardiac function was significantly improved. In terms of the morphology of myocardial cells, the Xinmailong group was similar to the sodium creatine phosphate group, the myocardial cell membrane was protected, and myocardial cell damage was reduced. In conclusion, Xinmailong is safe and had anti-inflammatory, heart-improving, and myocardial-protective effects. Its effectiveness is not inferior to that of sodium creatine phosphate.

Antimicrobial resistance has become a major public health threat. Food-related Staphylococcus species have received much attention due to their multidrug resistance. The cfr gene associated with multidrug resistance has been consistently detected in food-derived Staphylococcus species. In this retrospective study, we examined the prevalence of cfr-positive Staphylococcus strains isolated from poultry meat in different geographical areas of China from 2011 to 2016. Two cfr-positive Staphylococcus delphini strains were identified from poultry meat in China. Comparative and whole-genome analyses were performed to characterize the genetic features and overall antimicrobial resistance genes in the two S. delphini isolates 245-1 and 2794-1. Whole-genome sequencing showed that they both harbored a novel 20,258-bp cfr-carrying Tn558 transposon derivative on their chromosomes. The Tn558 derivative harbors multiple antimicrobial resistance genes, including the transferable multiresistance gene cfr, chloramphenicol resistance gene fexA, aminoglycoside resistance genes aacA-aphD and aadD, and bleomycin resistance gene ble. Surprisingly, within the Tn558 derivative, an active unconventional circularizable structure containing various resistance genes and a copy of a direct repeat sequence was identified by two-step PCR. Furthermore, core genome phylogenetic analysis revealed that the cfr-positive S. delphini strains were most closely related to S. delphini 14S03313-1 isolated from Japan in 2017 and 14S03319-1 isolated from Switzerland in 2017. This study is the first report of S. delphini harboring a novel cfr-carrying Tn558 derivative isolated from retail food. This finding raises further concerns regarding the potential threat to food safety and public health safety. The occurrence and dissemination of similar cfr-carrying transposons from diverse Staphylococcus species need further surveillance.

Listeria spp. is an important foodborne disease agent, often found in the fresh mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) and its production environment. The aim of this study was to develop multiplex PCR for rapid identification of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii, and nonpathogenic Listeria in F. velutipes plants. Pan-genome analysis was first used to identify five novel Listeria-specific targets: one for the Listeria genus, one for L. monocytogenes, and three for L. ivanovii. Primers for the novel targets were highly specific in individual reactions. The detection limits were 103–104 CFU/mL, meeting the requirements of molecular detection. A mPCR assay for the identification of pathogenic Listeria, with primers targeting the novel genes specific for Listeria genus (LMOSLCC2755_0944), L. monocytogenes (LMOSLCC2755_0090), and L. ivanovii (queT_1) was then designed. The assay specificity was robustly verified by analyzing nonpathogenic Listeria and non-Listeria spp. strains. The determined detection limits were 2.0 × 103 CFU/mL for L. monocytogenes and 3.4 × 103 CFU/mL for L. ivanovii, for pure culture analysis. Further, the assay detected 7.6 × 104 to 7.6 × 100 CFU/10 g of pathogenic Listeria spiked into F. velutipes samples following 4–12 h enrichment. The assay feasibility was evaluated by comparing with a traditional culture-based method, by analyzing 129 samples collected from different F. velutipes plants. The prevalence of Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes was 58.1% and 41.1%, respectively. The calculated κ factors for Listeria spp., L. monocytogenes, and L. ivanovii were 0.97, 0.97, and 1, respectively. The results of the novel mPCR assay were highly consistent with those of the culture-based method. The new assay thus will allow rapid, specific, and accurate detection and monitoring of pathogenic Listeria in food and its production environment.

In geotechnical engineering and geological survey, the stratum structure and its corresponding physical and mechanical properties are the most concerned. The stratum structure not only affects the safety of the project but also plays a decisive role in the construction method and construction sequence. In this paper, a new type of stratum geological interface recognition system is adopted, and an R-20 rotary drilling rig is used to conduct on-site drilling experiments for a granite site with no ventilation. The research results show that the system can monitor and record the main parameters (axial pressure, drilling rate, rotation speed, flushing fluid pressure, and torque) of the drilling rig during the drilling process. The comparative analysis of monitoring data and on-site survey results shows that different drilling parameters have different sensitivities to changes in the formation structure. According to the prediction accuracy, the ranking from high to low is drilling rate, axial pressure, torque, rotation speed, and flushing fluid pressure. In drilling engineering, by observing the change law of drilling rig parameters, not only can the position of the special rock mass interlayer be predicted, but also the stratum structure and strength can be identified, and the prediction formula is also given. Based on the established drilling specific energy formula, the energy analysis method is used to predict the formation structure and compressive strength, and the corresponding prediction formula is given. The research results show that, compared with the single drilling parameter prediction method, the rock-soil structure and strength identification method based on energy theory has higher prediction accuracy and can meet engineering needs.

Studies on pattern formation in coculture cell systems can provide insights into many physiological and pathological processes. Here, we investigate how the extracellular matrix (ECM) may influence the patterning in coculture systems. The model coculture system we use is composed of highly motile invasive breast cancer cells, initially mixed with inert nonmetastatic cells on a 2D substrate and covered with a Matrigel layer introduced to mimic ECM. We observe that the invasive cells exhibit persistent centripetal motion and yield abnormal aggregation, rather than random spreading, due to a “collective pulling” effect resulting from ECM-mediated transmission of active contractile forces generated by the polarized migration of the invasive cells along the vertical direction. The mechanism we report may open a new window for the understanding of biological processes that involve multiple types of cells.

Aiming at the cyclic impact deformation and failure of tunnel surrounding rock under shear stress, a self-developed rotation-impact simulation test platform was used to determine the number of failures, stress-strain curves, and energy in the process of cyclic impact failure. The failure process of rock under different impact velocities and shear stresses has been systematically studied. Results show that, under the same impact speed, the shear stress will increase with the increase in the rotation speed, but an upper limit will exist. When the rotation speed reaches this upper limit, the shear stress will no longer increase. The presence of shear stress will reduce the number of impacts required for rock failure. When the impact speed is 7.2 m/s, the number of impacts at the maximum rotation speed is 60% of the static state. When the impact velocity is 16.8 m/s, this value is only 33.3%. At the same impact velocity, the stress-strain curves under different rotation speeds do not change significantly, but with the increase in the rotation speed, the slope of the elastic stage of the stress-strain curve gradually decreases, and the corresponding stress of the rock sample decreases when the maximum strain is reached. With the increase in shear stress, the crushing specific energy required for rock failure gradually decreases. The greater the impact velocity, the more obvious the impact of shear stress on energy dissipation. In the tunnel process, when the surrounding rock is subjected to impact loads from different directions, only the axial strain analysis will have certain safety hazards, and timely support and reinforcement work are required.

Introduction and ObjectiveNeoantigen-based immunotherapy is one of the breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy. Benefit from the Cancer Genome Atlas database, we intended to identify mutant peptides with neoantigen property in bladder cancer (BC). Correlations between the immunoreactivity of candidate neoantigens and clinical manifestations were further analyzed.MethodsHLA-A*02:01 restricted mutant (MT) and wildtype (WT) peptides were predicted by using whole exome sequencing data of 412 BC patients in the TCGA database. Binding affinity to HLA-A2 molecules was determined by using T2 cell-based binding assay. The immunoreactivity to WT and MT peptides in HLA-A2+ BC patients was determined by using an ELISPOT assay upon in vitro stimulation with MT and WT peptides individually. Clinical relevance to peptide-specific immunoreactivity was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The disease free survival (DFS) curves were plotted using the Kaplan–Meier method in BC patients with or without mutations and compared using the log-rank test online.ResultsFifty-seven HLA-A*02:01 restricted WT and MT peptides were selected based on predicted high affinity and expression frequency, among which 12 MT peptides from 12 individual genes exhibited strong affinity to HLA-A2 molecules when compared to WT counterparts. MT peptides induced more peptide-specific IFNγ spot forming units (SFUs) than WT counterparts in HLA-A2+ BC patients upon in vitro stimulation. They were negatively correlated to the counts of peripheral leukocytes and platelets. Patients with higher C-reactive protein level exhibited lower immunoreactivity to MT peptides. Combination of MT peptides from 6 genes, including CDKN1AG61V, RHOBP75L, DDB1S25L, AHNAKD4855Y, ANP32AS56L and MKI67H84L covered 47.5% of the patients under investigation. Patients harboring combinational mutations in these genes were associated with a longer DFS according to the cBioportal online analysis.ConclusionTwelve HLA-A*02:01 restricted MT peptides have been identified exhibiting higher binding affinity to HLA-A2 molecules and stronger immunoreactivity than WT counterparts in BC patients. Combination of MT peptides from six genes might be potential as neoantigen candidates in cancer immunotherapy against BC in the future. Inflammatory modulation is inclined to be a strategy to enhance the efficacy of neoantigen-based immunotherapy.

Objective AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A (ARID1A) is frequently mutated or deficient in various types of tumors. However, the role of ARID1A in bladder cancer remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate ARID1A expression and its biological role and correlation with prognosis in patients with urothelial bladder carcinoma (BUC). Methods ARID1A expression levels in BUC and normal tissues were assessed by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and patient outcomes. Downregulation of ARID1A was mimicked by transfection with small interfering RNA in T24 bladder cancer cells, and the effects on cell proliferation and migration were evaluated. Results ARID1A expression was significantly reduced in BUC tissues and was significantly associated with T stage and AJCC stage. Upregulation of ARID1A predicted a better prognosis in BUC patients. ARID1A expression and lymph node status were identified as independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Silencing of ARID1A promoted the proliferation of BUC cells. Conclusions ARID1A may represent a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in patients with BUC.

BackgroundRecent evidence has indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to modulate mRNAs expression by sponging microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the specific mechanism and function of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.Materials and MethodsWe constructed a lung cancer related lncRNA-mRNA network (LCLMN) by integrating differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with miRNA-target interactions. We further performed topological feature analysis and random walk with restart (RWR) analysis of LCLMN. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed to investigate the target DEGs in LCLMN. The expression levels of significant lncRNAs in NSCLC were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The prognostic value of the potential lncRNA was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.ResultsA total of 33 lncRNA nodes, 580 mRNA nodes and 2105 edges were identified from LCLMN. Based on functional enrichment analysis and co-expression analysis, lncRNA EPB41L4A-AS1 was demonstrated to be correlated with the tumorigenesis of NSCLC. RT-qPCR results confirmed that the expression levels of lncRNA EPB41L4A-AS1 in NSCLC tissues were downregulated compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high expression of lncRNA EPB41L4A-AS1 was associated with better overall survival (OS) in NSCLC patients. Further investigation identified that high expression levels of COL4A3BP, CDS2, PURA, PDCD6IP, and TMEM245 were also correlated with better OS in NSCLC patients.ConclusionIn this study, we constructed a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network to investigate potential prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC. We found that lncRNA EPB41L4A-AS1 could function as a regulator in the pathogenesis of NSCLC.

ABSTRACT Increasing data indicate that insects serve as major reservoirs and vectors of viruses, which account for the continuously increasing ecological burden and infectious disease outbreaks. Uncovering the hidden diversity of viruses in insects will further the understanding of the ecological and evolutionary perspectives in the emergence of insect-associated virus diseases. In this study, we queried transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) data from more than 600 species across 32 insect orders dwelling in different ecological habitats and recovered more than 1,213 RNA viruses that were recapitulated in 40 families, 2 unclassified genera, and many unspecified viral groups. These novel viruses included the well-known insect-associated viruses within Flaviviridae, Picornavirales, Bunyavirales, Mononegavirales, Nidovirales, Reoviridae, and Negevirus. More appeared to form novel clusters within previously described taxa or could be resolved as paraphyletic, including the first astrovirus identified in insects, in which many were sufficiently divergent to warrant the establishment of new virus genera or families. Additionally, some viruses were closely related to the recognized plant-, fungus-, and vertebrate-specific species, implying the importance of relationships between insect behavior and virus spread. Comparative genome analyses also revealed high genomic variability with respect to the flexible gene pool and genome architecture of these newly described viruses, including the evidence for genome reshuffling first discovered in Dicistroviridae. The data reflecting the genetically and ecologically diverse viral populations in insects greatly expand our understanding of RNA viruses in nature and highlight that the biodiversity of RNA viruses remains largely unexplored. IMPORTANCE Insects comprise the largest proportion of animals on earth and are frequently implicated in the transmission of vector-borne diseases. However, considerable attention has been paid to the phytophagous and hematophagous insects, with results that provide insufficient and biased information about the viruses in insects. Here, we have delivered compelling evidence for the exceptional abundance and genetic diversity of RNA viruses in a wide range of insects. Novel viruses were found to cover major categories of RNA viruses, and many formed novel clusters divergent from the previously described taxa, dramatically broadening the range of known RNA viruses in insects. These newly characterized RNA viruses exhibited high levels of genomic plasticity in genome size, open reading frame (ORF) number, intergenic structure, and gene rearrangement and segmentation. This work provides comprehensive insight into the origin, spread, and evolution of RNA viruses. Of course, a large-scale virome project involving more organisms would provide more-detailed information about the virus infections in insects.

The effect of diet on the composition of gut microbiota and the consequent impact on disease risk have been of expanding interest. The present review focuses on current insights of changes associated with dietary protein-induced gut microbial populations and examines their potential roles in the metabolism, health, and disease of animals. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol was used, and 29 highly relevant articles were obtained, which included 6 mouse studies, 7 pig studies, 15 rat studies, and 1 in vitro study. Analysis of these studies indicated that several factors, such as protein source, protein content, dietary composition (such as carbohydrate content), glycation of protein, processing factors, and protein oxidation, affect the digestibility and bioavailability of dietary proteins. These factors can influence protein fermentation, absorption, and functional properties in the gut and, consequently, impact the composition of gut microbiota and affect human health. While gut microbiota can release metabolites that can affect host physiology either positively or negatively, the selection of quality of protein and suitable food processing conditions are important to have a positive effect of dietary protein on gut microbiota and human health.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus causes aquatic vibriosis. Its biofilm protects it from antibiotics; therefore, a new different method is needed to control V. parahaemolyticus for food safety. Phage therapy represents an alternative strategy to control biofilms. In this study, the lytic Vibrio phage vB_VpaP_FE11 (FE11) was isolated from the sewers of Guangzhou Huangsha Aquatic Market. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that FE11 has a typical podovirus morphology. Its optimal stability temperature and pH range were found to be 20–50 °C and 5–10 °C, respectively. It was completely inactivated following ultraviolet irradiation for 20 min. Its latent period is 10 min and burst size is 37 plaque forming units/cell. Its double-stranded DNA genome is 43,397 bp long, with a G + C content of 49.24% and 50 predicted protein-coding genes. As a lytic phage, FE11 not only prevented the formation of biofilms but also could destroy the formed biofilms effectively. Overall, phage vB_VpaP_FE11 is a potential biological control agent against V. parahaemolyticus and the biofilm it produces.