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Tensegrities consisting of axially loaded strings and bars have various technologically important applications, for which symmetric configurations are preferred as prototypes. In this study, we investigate the self-equilibrated states of rhombic truncated regular tetrahedral and cubic tensegrities by combining group representation theory and force-density matrix method. The force-density matrices of these tensegrities are analytically block-diagonalized using the irreducible representation matrices of tetrahedral and cubic groups. By making the symmetry-adapted force-density matrix satisfy the necessary number of nullity and positive semi-definiteness, we derive the analytical expressions for self-equilibrium and super-stability of rhombic truncated regular tetrahedral and cubic tensegrities. This work helps to design highly symmetric tensegrities for developing biomechanical models, mechanical metamaterials, and flexible robotics.

Midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons are governed by an endogenous cholinergic system, originated in the mesopontine nuclei. Nicotine hijacks nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and interferes with physiological function of the cholinergic system. In this review, we describe the anatomical organization of the cholinergic system and the key nAChR subtypes mediating cholinergic regulation of DA transmission and nicotine reward and dependence, in an effort to identify potential targets for smoking intervention. Cholinergic modulation of midbrain DA systems relies on topographic organization of mesopontine cholinergic projections, and activation of nAChRs in midbrain DA neurons. Previous studies have revealed that α4, α6, and β2 subunit-containing nAChRs expressed in midbrain DA neurons and their terminals in the striatum regulate firings of midbrain DA neurons and activity-dependent dopamine release in the striatum. These nAChRs undergo modification upon chronic nicotine exposure. Clinical investigation has demonstrated that partial agonists of these receptors elevate the success rate of smoking cessation relative to placebo. However, further investigations are required to refine the drug targets to mitigate unpleasant side-effects.

Due to the needs of industrial development, the different content and uncertain distribution of magnesite mineral lead to great difficulties in o determining its grade, therefore, we propose a combination of near-infrared spectroscopy and the ELM magnesite grade classification model. The model can achieve rapid classification of magnesite grade. Near infrared spectroscopy, considering that different types of H group in magnesite have different absorption degrees to near-infrared spectroscopy, is used to determine the composition and content of magnesite. It is simple, fast, accurate and efficient without destroying the sample. In this paper, we take magnesite 30 group from Yingkou City, Liaoning Province Dashiqiao for the study, collecting their magnesite NIR data samples at 30×973, using principal component analysis (PCA) for data dimensionality reduction process. The main element contribution rate is greater than 99.99% obtained characteristic variables of 10, established quantitative analysis ELM algorithm mathematical model, take 20 groups of samples as the training samples (including 6 super group, 14 groups non), 10 groups of samples for testing samples (including super grade4 groups, 6 groups non), ELM algorithm model hidden layer nodes selection 20. In order to further improve the classification performance, two kinds improved ELM algorithm models are proposed: conduct optimization selection ELM for the traditional ELM input weights and threshold using the circulation patterns and integrate integration-Featured ELM based on Featured ELM. And compare to which use the artificial method, chemical method and BP neural network model approach. The results showed that magnesite grade classification with the near-infrared spectroscopy and ELM model have a distinct advantage regardless of cost or time, and the accuracy rate can reach over 90%, which provides a new way to classify magnesite grade.

Neuropeptide S (NPS), the endogenous neuropeptide ligand of NPSR, has been reported to regulate anxiety-related behavior involved in multiple brain regions, including amygdale, locus coeruleus and Barrington's nucleus. However, little research has been conducted on the anxiolytic-like behaviors of NPS on the hypothalamus, which was an important area in defensive behavior. Here, we investigated a role of hypothalamus in anxiolytic-like behaviors of NPS. We found that NPSR protein of mouse distributed mainly in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). And in the single prolonged stress model (SPS), the results showed that NPS mRNA of the mice exposed to SPS was significantly higher than control, while NPSR mRNA was remarkable lower than control in hypothalamus. Further studies found that NPS intra-VMH infusion dose-dependently (1, 10 and 100pmol) induced anxiolytic effects, using elevated plus maze and open field tests. These anxiolytic effects could be blocked by NPSR antagonist (SHA68), but not by picrotoxin (a GABAA receptor antagonist) and sacolfen (a GABAB receptor antagonist). Meanwhile, our data showed that the expression of c-Fos was significantly increased in VMH after NPS delivered into the lateral ventricles. These results cast a new light on the hypothalamic nucleus in the anxiolytic-like effect of NPS system.

To evaluate the efficacy of imatinib mesylate (IM) for patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and patients after failure of Recombinant Human interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b) therapy.A total of 86 patients with CML in chronic-phase, including 61 newly diagnosed cases and 25 cases of IFN-α2b failure, who received IM at 400 mg daily were retrospectively analyzed. Conventional cytogenetic analysis of R-banding was used to detect chromosome abnormalities and real-time PCR was used to detect BCR-ABL fusion gene.81.9% of newly diagnosed patients and 36.0% of IFN-α2b failure patients achieved partial cytogenetic response (PCyR) by 6 months. In addition, 86.9% of newly diagnosed patients and 68.0% of IFN-α2b failure patients achieved complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) in 24 months. There was significant difference between two groups (P0.001). The median time achieved CCyR in newly diagnosed group and IFN-α2b failure group were 6 months and 15 months, respectively. Compared with newly diagnosed group, IFN-α2b failure group showed lower rate of complete molecular remission (CMR) (70.4% vs 40.0%, P=0.033). There are 14 patients (22.9%) in newly diagnosed patients with cytogenetic resistance, among whom 4 with primary cytogenetic resistance; while there were 14 patients (56.0%) in IFN-α2b failure group with cytogenetic resistance, all of whom with primary resistance.Compared with newly diagnosed patients, CML patients after failure of IFN-α2b therapy have a high rate of primary cytogenetic resistance and low response rate to IM.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical value of urine Prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3) test in the diagnosis of prostate cancer by pooling the published data. Methods: The clinical trials about urine PCA3 test in the diagnosis of prostate cancer were searched in the PubMed (January, 1966-July, 2014). Cochrane library (Section 3, 2013), CNKI (March, 1994-July, 2014). All relevant prospective studies of urine PCA3 test in the diagnosis of prostate cancer were screened. The aggregated sensitivity, specificity, positive likely hood ratio (+LR), negative likely hood ratio (−LR), diagnosis odds ratio (DOR) and area under the area under curve (AUC) were calculated by using Meta-disc 1.4 and STATA 11.0 statistic software. Results: Finally, a total of 13 trials including 3245 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, +LR, −LR, DOR and AUC were 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.65), 0.75 (95% CI: 0.73-0.76), 6.16 (95% CI: 3.39-11.21), 0.50 (95% CI: 0.43-0.59), 5.49 (95% CI: 3.76-8.019) and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.71-0.78), respectively. Conclusion: Urine PCA3 test has acceptable sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, which can be used as non-invasive method for diagnosis of prostate cancer.