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Biofilms, which are essential vectors of bacterial survival, protect microbes from antibiotics and host immune attack and are one of the leading causes that maintain drug-resistant chronic infections. In nature, compared with monomicrobial biofilms, polymicrobial biofilms composed of multispecies bacteria predominate, which means that it is significant to explore the interactions between microorganisms from different kingdoms, species, and strains. Cross-microbial interactions exist during biofilm development, either synergistically or antagonistically. Although research into cross-species biofilms remains at an early stage, in this review, the important mechanisms that are involved in biofilm formation are delineated. Then, recent studies that investigated cross-species cooperation or synergy, competition or antagonism in biofilms, and various components that mediate those interactions will be elaborated. To determine approaches that minimize the harmful effects of biofilms, it is important to understand the interactions between microbial species. The knowledge gained from these investigations has the potential to guide studies into microbial sociality in natural settings and to help in the design of new medicines and therapies to treat bacterial infections.

The efficacy of mindfulness-based intervention for heart diseases remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the impact of mindfulness-based intervention on heart diseases.We have search PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through August 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of mindfulness-based intervention versus usual care on heart diseases. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.Five RCTs involving 458 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control group for heart diseases, mindfulness-based intervention is associated with significantly increased 6 minute walking test [mean difference (MD) = 14.74; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 2.50-26.97; P = .02], decreased heart rate (MD = -2.54; 95% CI = -4.76 to -0.31; P = .03) and stress score (MD = -2.31; 95% CI = -4.23 to -0.38; P = .02), but shows no obvious impact on anxiety score (MD = -3.48; 95% CI = -7.98 to 1.03; P = .13) or respiratory rate (MD = -0.42; 95% CI = -1.31 to 0.46; P = .35).Mindfulness-based intervention can provide additional benefits to heart diseases.

Zhao Wang,1 Xiaoxia Song,2 Qingbo Fang,3 Weige Xia,1 Aihua Luo2 1Department of Orthopedics, The Second Poverty Relief Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (The Fifth People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region), Urumqi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Poverty Relief Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (The Fifth People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region), Urumqi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Vascular Surgery, People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Aihua LuoDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Poverty Relief Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (The Fifth People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region), No. 159, West Kashi Road, Urumqi, 830000, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-18116803983Email 33180536@qq.comPurpose: To investigate the association of polymorphism of IL-1β rs16944(T/C) with intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD), explore the possible mechanism and evaluate the predictive value of IL-1β for IDD.Patients and Methods: A total of 196 consecutive patients with IDD were recruited, and 196 healthy controls were matched to these patients based on sex and age (± 3 years). The polymorphisms of IL-1β rs16944(T/C), rs1143623(G/C), rs10490571(T/C) and rs2853550(A/G) were determined, and serum IL-1β, MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif-4 (ADAMTS-4) levels were measured. Univariate analysis was performed with Student t-test or one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc and Chi-square test. Variables with two-sided P< 0.10 were included in multivariate analysis, which employed a backward stepwise logistic regression model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value.Results: Multivariate analysis showed that the polymorphism of IL-1β rs16944(T/C) was independently associated with IDD. The risk for IDD was significantly increased in TT and TC genotype compared with CC genotype, and the OR of TT genotype was higher than that of TC genotype. ANOVA analysis showed that serum concentration of IL-1β was highest in IL-1β rs16944 TT genotype, intermediate in TC genotype, and lowest in CC genotype. Similarly, serum concentrations of MMP-3 and ADAMTS-4 demonstrated the same tendency of TT > TC > CC genotype. Serum concentrations of MMP-1 and MMP-9 were higher in TT genotype than in TC and CC genotype. The area under curve (AUC) of IL-1β levels in predicting IDD was 0.788 (SE: 0.023, P=0.001, 95% CI: 0.742– 0.834), and the predictive value was modest with a sensitivity of 77.0% and a specificity of 75%.Conclusion: Polymorphism of IL-1β rs16944(T/C) affected IDD susceptibility through upregulation of serum levels of IL-1β and subsequent stimulation of ECM degradation. IL-1β levels could be applied in predicting IDD.Keywords: intervertebral disk degeneration, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, IL-1β, susceptibility, predictive value

The markov prediction and analysis is a method based on markov chain theory, according to the present states and tendency of some variables, the possible states in a given period in the future will be forecasted. To determine the transition probability matrix is the crux of this method. This paper applies stochastic time series based on markov chain model to forecast the developing trends of China’s energy consumption structure under the influence of energy policy. This model is adopted to forecast the total amount of energy consumption and the trends of energy production and consumption structures. China’s energy consumption during 2006–2011 are simulated and its trends in 2015 and 2020 are forecast through this model. Results demonstrate that this model can effectively simulate and forecast the total amount and structures of primary energy consumption. Although the growth rate of energy consumption in China has decreased under the energy saving policy, but it not enough to achieve the objective of carbon reduction.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in China, and poses a threat to public health due to its increasing incidence and mortality rates. Concurrent cancer is defined as one or more organs in the same individual having ≥2 primary malignancies occurring simultaneously or successively; however, concurrent cases are rare and poorly studied. The present study recruited a Chinese family presenting multiple cases of concurrent cancer and performed whole exome sequencing in one unaffected and two affected individuals to identify the causative mutations. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and tumor tissue samples. Following an exome capture and quality test, the qualified library was sequenced as 100 bp paired-end reads on an Ion Torrent platform. Clean data were obtained by filtering out the low-quality reads. Subsequently, bioinformatics analyses were performed using the clean data. After mapping and annotating in 1000 Genomes Project database, the existing SNP database and the Cancer Gene Census (CGC) database, it was revealed that the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit S7 gene was a candidate gene with somatic mutations, and a subset of 16 genes were candidate genes with germline mutations. The findings of the present study may improve the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of concurrent cancer.

The aim was to analyze quantitative (mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content) and qualitative (G10398A polymorphism) mtDNA alterations as well as human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in cervical cancer prognosis. One hundred and twenty-two cases of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cervical carcinoma specimens were collected from the Yichang Tumor Hospital and Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in the recent 10 years together with medical records. A quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was used to determine the copy number of the mitochondrial DNA and HPV expression levels. G10398A polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP assay. The overall survival of patients with higher mtDNA content was significantly reduced compared with lower mtDNA content patients (P = 0.029). But there was no difference of prognosis between the mtDNA 10398 A allele and G allele. However, the Kaplan-Meier survival curve illustrated a significantly reduced overall survival in the patients with 10398A plus high mtDNA copy number compared with the other groups (P

The purpose of this paper is to give a novel carbon pricing model gamed between firms and government. Under non-gratuitous mode of emission rights for distribution adopted by the government, from their own profits of view, the both sides of the deal played the game of price, according to the demand and supply in the market, the transaction prices were decided by the market mechanisms.

The aim of the study was to investigate the tumor-suppressor effect of GALC in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and determine whether GALC was downregulated by promoter hypermethy-lation in the NPC cell line, CNE-2Z. Forty-one archival NPC biopsy specimens were compared with 15 chronic nasopharyngitis specimens. EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) was verified by in situ hybridization and GALC protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Promoter methylation in CNE-2Z cells was analyzed by bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction. The functional role of GALC in NPC was investigated by restoring GALC expression in CNE-2Z cells via treatment with the DNA-deme-thylating agent 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza‑dC). EBER was expressed in 92.68% NPC specimens but no chronic nasopharyngitis specimens (P0.01). GALC protein was present in 60% of chronic nasopharyngitis specimens and 24.39% NPC specimens (P0.05). GALC protein expression was present significantly more frequently in tumors without lymph node metastasis than in those with metastasis (P0.05). Logistic regression showed that GALC protein expression protected against lymph node metastasis (P0.05). GALC protein expression was not correlated with age, gender and TNM stage (P0.05). Treatment of GALC-negative CNE-2Z cells with 5-Aza-dC reduced GALC promoter methylation and restored GALC expression in a dose-dependent manner (P0.05). The re-expression of GALC in CNE-2Z cells reduced cell proliferation and migration compared to the controls (P0.05). GALC was downregulated by promoter hypermethylation and contributed to the pathogenesis of EBV-associated NPC. The findings showed the putative tumor-suppressor effect of GALC in NPC.

Untraceability" is an important property of Proxy blind signature. Zhang proposed some new untraceable blind signatures in order to enhance the security of Cai et al. (2007) and Hu et al. (2007)'s schemes. However, this study shows there are three important conclusions: 1. By reduction, we prove that the cryptanalysis method proposed by Zhang is improper and Cai et al. (2007)'s schemes does satisfy the property of untraceability; 2. On that basis, we pinpoints a new analysis method of untraceability which has effectively proved that Hu et al. (2007)'s scheme doesn't satisfy the property of untraceability. Furthermore, the method can be used as a standard method which could analyze other schemes related with blind signature; 3. Zhang's scheme is unpractical since the cost of the scheme is higher compared with Cai et al. (2007)'s scheme.

Fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) plays significant roles in biological processes such as tumor cell invasion and metastasis. However, little is known about prognostic value of FSCN1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). FSCN1 mRNA and protein expression were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot in NSCLC tissues and paired adjacent normal lung tissues. Furthermore, the association of FSCN1 protein expression with clinicopathological characteristics including the survival was explored in 156 NSCLC patients. In our results, FSCN1 mRNA and protein expression were obviously higher in NSCLC tissues than in normal lung tissues. High levels of FSCN1 protein were positively correlated with status of differentiated degree, clinical stage, N classification, and M classification in NSCLC. Meanwhile, higher FSCN1 protein expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival in patients with NSCLC. Multivariate analyses showed that increased FSCN1 protein expression was a poor independent prognostic biomarker for NSCLC patients. In conclusions, FSCN1 plays an important role on NSCLC progression and prognosis and may serve as a convictive prognostic biomarker for NSCLC patients.

In the present work we undertook the complete mitochondrial genome sequencing of an important cholangiocarcinoma model inbred rat strain for the first time. Its mitogenome was 16,312 bp and coding 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes. A total of 96 SNPs were examined when compared to reference BN sequence.

The effects of microadditions of V and Be on age-hardening, microstructure, and mechanical behavior of Al-Li-Cu-Mg alloy 8090 are investigated. Small additions of V and Be significantly increase the peak hardness and mechanical properties of the alloy aged at 190 °C. A transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/ EDS), optical, and X-ray diffraction investigation shows a higherS′ (Al2CuMg) precipitate density for alloys containing V and Be, indicating an enhanced nucleation rate forS’ precipitation. The V and Be additions are more effective than prior-aging deformation for increasing the yield strength of age-hardened 8090 alloy. The V addition increases ductility significantly, which is attributed to the homogeneous distribution of slip lines and extensive cross slip that occurs during deformation of the V-containing alloy.

It is important to study optical limiting material for laser protection. As a new developing material, carbon nanotubes have exhibit perfect optical limiting property. The experiments are carried out with samples of different solvent and concentration. The results confirm that the optical limiting effect is due to carbon nanotubes and the surfactant is a good solvent to improve the limiting effect to make carbon nanotubes suitable for application.

This paper surveys the most basic traffic equilibrium models and give a efficient algorithm for the traffic equilibrium model with elastic demands. At last we establish the convergence and estimate.

We consider a solution proposed for solving the fixed demand user optimized network equilibrium problem with asymmetric user costs. We give a solution algorithm for the Jacobian matrix of the costs is asymmetry which is equal to the user optimal one with a special cost whose Jacobian matrix is symmetry and at last we give solution algorithm analysis, derive estimates on the speed of convergence of the algorithm.

The effects of Be microaddition 0n age-hardening, microstructure, tensile properties, impact toughness, and fracture. behaviour of Al–Li alloy 8090. are investigated. The higher S (Al2CuMg) and σ(AlLi) precipitate densities for alloy containing Be indicates an enhanced nucleation rate for the transformation. Be is more effective than prior-ageing deformation for increasing the yield strength of the age-hardened 8090 alloy, with no loss m ductility and impact toughness. Resume Les effets de. microadditiol is de Be dans les alliages Al–Li 8090 ont ete etudies au niveau du vieillissement, de la microstructure, des proprietes mecaniques, de la resistance a l’impact ainsi que des modes de rupture. Les plus hautes densites de precipites S (Al2CuMg) et σ (Al–Li) semblent entrainer une augmentation du taux de germination de transformation pour ces alliages contenant de Be. Le Be est plus efficace qu’une deformation effectuee avant le vieillissement pour augmenter la limite d’ elasticite des alliages 8090 ...

A simple and practical method is presented for determining the apparent thermal properties of sand molds suitable for use in foundries. The apparent conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and specific heat are readily and accurately determined for five types of sand molds from a heat balance analysis of the sand mold during the solidification of the casting. The accuracy of the data obtained is demonstrated by the good agreement between the measured temperature distributions and those calculated by numerical techniques using the apparent thermal properties obtained from the heat balance analysis. Resume Une methode simple et pratique est presentee afin de determiner les proprietes thermiques apparentes de moules de sabledestines a etre utilises en fonderie. La conductivite apparente, la diffusivite thermique et la chaleur specifique sont facilement et precisement obtenues pour cinq types de moule en sable au moyen d'une analyse de bilan thermique du moule durant la solidification du lingot. La precis...

This paper considers user equilibrium as a nonlinear complementarity problem when the Jacobian of arc travel cost function is symmetric and asymmetric. It shows solutions of user equilibrium exist and corresponding arc flow is unique. It also presents a novel modified FBLSA algorithm which makes full use of the advantage of dealing with large-size road network of column generation method.Finally,numerical results show this algorithm successfully decreases the number of variables and enjoys quick rate of convergence.

In the real traffic network, traffic flows usually consist of two or more kinds of vehicles, such as motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle running in a mixed way. In this paper, we present a bilevel optimization model of area traffic signal optimum timing control in mixed traffic flows. Finally we give an effective algorithm for the problems.

A power penalty approach has been proposed to linear complementarity problem but not to Horizontal Linear Complementarity Problem (HLCP) because the coefficient matrix is not positive definite. It is skillfully proved that HLCP is equivalent to a variational inequality problem and a mixed linear complementarity problem for the first time. A power penalty approach is proposed to the mixed linear complementarity problem based on approximating the HLP by a nonlinear equation. It has been proved that the solution to this equation is feasible and converges to that of the HLP at a rate of at least ሺ ሻ ௞/ଶ in the Euclidean norm.