Search

To reduce energy consumption, a new pulping process called A-D-E-RC (acidification/desalination/electrolysis/recycle-cooking) was developed by a research group in Guangxi University of China. The present work focuses on the step of recycle cooking (RC) to further investigate the technical feasibility of A-D-E-RC methods. Golden bamboo grass was considered as fiber source material for pulp, and it was cooked with the acidic treating of wastewater from black liquor. Then, the pulp obtained from each cooking was made into paper to test the changes in its physical properties. As a result, the pulp yield increased from 43.9% to 50.2%, after re-using acidified black liquor, and the paper's tear index and tensile index were improved. Therefore, this study demonstrated the feasibility of recycle cooking (RC) fiber materials for pulp applied the acidic treating wastewater from black liquor, and thereby, it further identifies the technical feasibility of A-D-E-RC pulping methods.

The increasing consumption of paper products has led to a shortage of paper fiber raw materials. It is necessary to develop new plant materials to alleviate the shortage of fiber suitable for papermaking. In this study, the fast-growing plant golden bamboo grass (Arundo donax), which is cultivated and planted in Guangxi province of China, was used as a new material for pulping. The average pulp yield by cyclic-cooking method averaged 48.6%, being 4.1% greater than the pulp yield by the ordinary caustic soda method. Much of the increased yield was attributable to the reprecipitation of lignin onto the fibers. The paper properties of the pulp prepared by cycle-cooked method did not decrease significantly, compared with the pulp prepared by the usual single-cooked method. Therefore, the pulp met the requirements of national standards of many kinds of papers. However, the pulp was not suitable for bleaching, due to its high consumption of oxidizing agents to reach the required brightness. Therefore, this research demonstrates that the fast-growing plant, Arundo donax is a good raw material for pulp, and the innovative method of cycle-cooking method can significantly improve the pulp yield.

Objectives: Individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia have a high incidence and fatality rates due to pneumonia. Sarcopenia is a contributing factor to the development of pneumonia in patients with schizophrenia. In this study, we examine the effectiveness of three simple screening questionnaires, namely SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and SARC-F + EBM, in predicting the occurrence of pneumonia in stable patients with schizophrenia who are experiencing sarcopenia. Design: A prospective study. Setting: Patients with stable schizophrenia patients aged ≥50 years in two psychiatric hospitals in western China. Methods: Medical data from patients were collected from September 1 to September 30, 2020. Data specifically from patients diagnosed with pneumonia were collected for a period of one year, from October 2020 to October 2021. Three hundred thirty-five stable schizophrenia patients, among whom 229 were males (68.36 %.), were enrolled in the prospective study. The risk of sarcopenia was evaluated using the SARC-F, SARC-CalF, and SARC-F + EBM scores, with values of ≥4, 11, and 12 indicating an elevated risk of sarcopenia. The collected data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis to establish the association between the scores of these screening tools and the risk of pneumonia in individuals with stable schizophrenia. Results: The rate of pneumonia in stable schizophrenia individuals was 24.48 %. Among the included stable schizophrenia patients, the incidence of pneumonia in individuals with SARC-CalF scores ≥11 was higher than in those with SARC-CalF scores less than 11 (29.91 % vs 14.88 %, P = 0.002). In individuals with SARC-F + EBM scores ≥12, the pneumonia occurrence was higher than that in those with SARC-F + EBM scores less than 12 (37.33 % vs 20.77 %, P = 0.003). However, this pattern was not found in patients with stable schizophrenia who had SARC-F scores of 4 or above and less than 4. Following the implementation of logistic regression data analysis, it has been discovered that persons with SARC-CalF scores greater than or equal to 11 were at a significantly increased risk of having pneumonia compared to patients with SARC-CalF scores less than 11 (OR = 2.441, 95 % CI: 1.367–4.36). After adjusting the possible confounders, patients with SARC-CalF scores ≥11 had a greater danger of pneumonia (OR = 2.518, 95%CI: 1.36–4.665). As a result, it was found that individuals with SACR-F+EBM scores ≥12 were more likely to acquire pneumonia (OR = 2.273, 95%CI: 1.304–3.961) when compared to those with scores

We aimed to investigate the effects of quercetin and taxifolin on gut health in the Chinese sucker (Myxocyprinus asiaticus). Short-term exposure (96 h) was conducted by exposing Chinese sucker to 2.5 mg/L of quercetin (Q2.5), 5 mg/L of quercetin (Q5), 10 mg/L of quercetin (Q10), 2.5 mg/L of taxifolin (T2.5), 5 mg/L of taxifolin (T5), 10 mg/L of taxifolin (T10), and their combination (quercetin and taxifolin: 5 mg/L+5 mg/L, QT). Then, we analyzed intestinal microorganisms, fat composition, digestive enzyme activities, and antioxidant and inflammatory-related gene expression. Both quercetin and taxifolin had an inhibitory effect on the intestinal flora, and the higher the quercetin concentration, the better the inhibitory effect. When compared to quercetin, taxifolin inhibited harmful bacteria more efficiently and maintained the abundance of probiotics. T5 and QT reduced the content of total cholesterol (T-CHO), and QT reduced the content of triglycerides (TG) in intestinal tissues. Q5 inhibited trypsin activity, while T5 increased amylase (AMS) activity in intestinal tissues. Q5, T5, and QT increased the expression of GST, GPx4, SOD1 and CAT in the intestine. The expression levels of GST and CAT in T5 were higher than in the Q5 and QT groups. Q5, T5, and QT inhibited the expression of IL1β, IL6, IL8, TNF-α, and TNF-β, and increased the expression levels of IL10. In summary, using taxifolin alone would be more beneficial with regards to maintaining homeostasis of the intestinal flora and increasing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of the intestinal tract. The optimal application rate of taxifolin was 5 mg/L.

In order to improve the management efficiency of college students' associations, the author combined with ant colony algorithm to study the student management model of college student associations. Firstly, based on the study of the basic idea, principle, process and application scope of ant colony algorithm under the framework of swarm intelligence, several improved versions of the well-known ant colony algorithm are studied in depth, it provides a basis and reference for the research work of core theory and practical engineering application, secondly, the author will introduce the theoretical framework of the diagnosis and evaluation of college student associations. Through extensive literature review, documents, conducted a questionnaire survey in the student associations of colleges and universities in Dalian, and collected a large number of detailed first-hand materials. The model obtained by using ant colony algorithm plays an important role in management.

In order to evaluate the success rate of students’ entrepreneurship more effectively based on a nonlinear differential equation, the author proposes a model for evaluating the success rate of students’ entrepreneurship based on a nonlinear differential equation. These models allow for a score set on the cost of higher education entrepreneurship and determine all higher education entrepreneurship based on it, realizing the cost optimization of higher education entrepreneurship. The simulation results show that the model has scoring and improved student entrepreneurship.

In order to understand the current achievements of vocational students' entrepreneurship, the author creates a model of university students' innovativeness and entrepreneurship. This study analyzes the quality requirements of stakeholders, such as schools and students, for higher education innovation and entrepreneurship education based on research and practical results obtained in Finland and abroad. With the help of probability theory statistics, the relevant indicators are classified, the innovation and entrepreneurship system of vocational educational institutions is built, and the evaluation standards for each indicator are presented. Based on this, the weight of each index is determined and the innovation and entrepreneurship education model of vocational colleges is built. Through the analysis of index scores and total scores at all levels of X Vocational and Technical College and J Vocational College, the total score for innovation and entrepreneurship education at X Vocational College is 3.307 and the total score for innovation and entrepreneurship is 3.307. The education of the J vocational and technical college is 2.743, so the applicability of the model is good.

Gastrointestinal diseases exert a profound impact on global health, leading to millions of healthcare interventions and a significant number of fatalities annually. This, coupled with escalating healthcare expenditures, underscores the need for identifying and addressing potential exacerbating factors. One emerging concern is the pervasive presence of microplastics and nano-plastics in the environment, largely attributed to the indiscriminate usage of disposable plastic items. These nano-plastics, having infiltrated our food chain, pose a potential threat to gastrointestinal health. To understand this better, we co-cultured human gastric fibroblasts (HGF) with polystyrene nano-plastics (PS-NPs) of diverse sizes (80, 500, 650 nm) and meticulously investigated their cellular responses over a 24-hour period. Our findings revealed PS particles were ingested by the cells, with a notable increase in ingestion as the particle size decreased. The cellular death induced by these PS particles, encompassing both apoptosis and necrosis, showcased a clear dependence on both the particle size and its concentration. Notably, the larger PS particles manifested more potent cytotoxic effects. Further analysis indicated a concerning reduction in cellular membrane potential, alongside a marked increase in ROS levels upon PS particles exposure. This suggests a significant disruption of mitochondrial function and heightened oxidative stress. The larger PS particles were especially detrimental in causing mitochondrial dysfunction. In-depth exploration into the PS particles impact on genes linked with the permeability transition pore (PTP) elucidated that these PS particles instigated an internal calcium rush. This surge led to a compromise in the mitochondrial membrane potential, which in tandem with raised ROS levels, further catalyzed DNA damage and initiated cell death pathways. In essence, this study unveils the intricate mechanisms underpinning cell death caused by PS particles in gastric epithelial cells and highlighting the implications of PS particles on gastrointestinal health. The revelations from this research bear significant potential to shape future healthcare strategies and inform pertinent environmental policies.

Abstract In this work, we focus on using reinforcement learning and game theory to solve for the optimal strategies for the dice game Pig, in a novel simultaneous playing setting. First, we derived analytically the optimal strategy for the 2-player simultaneous game using dynamic programming, mixed-strategy Nash equilibrium. At the same time, we proposed a new Stackelberg value iteration framework to approximate the near-optimal pure strategy. Next, we developed the corresponding optimal strategy for the multiplayer independent strategy game numerically. Finally, we presented the Nash equilibrium for simultaneous Pig game with infinite number of players. To help promote the learning of and interest in reinforcement learning, game theory and statistics, we have further implemented a website where users can play both the sequential and simultaneous Pig game against the optimal strategies derived in this work.

Abstract Clustering and layering are widely employed in large‐scale wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to alleviate data implosion, reduce transmission delay and improve energy efficiency. It is vital to conduct performance analysis in clustered WSNs for better defining and designing networks. Here, a general analytical framework based on a randomly spacial model is proposed to conduct inter‐cluster interference analysis and physical‐layer security analysis for clustered WSNs. It is assumed that two adjacent cluster heads exchange confidential massage with a passive eavesdropper and the non‐head nodes in clusters could be selected as cooperative jamming (CJ) nodes to disturb the eavesdropper. All mentioned nodes are randomly located in their specific areas. Under the above settings, three scenarios, namely interference, eavesdropping and CJ are considered, and a stochastic geometry tool based on kinematic measure is employed for analysis. Comparing to existing stochastic geometry methods, the proposed analytical framework can handle arbitrarily shaped, disjoint and tiered networks. The results obtained from extensive simulations have verified the rationality of the framework and demonstrated the impact of different parameters on the performance metrics of interest. The comparison with PPP also shows the advantages of this proposed model.

Games of chance have historically played a critical role in the development and teaching of probability theory and game theory, and, in the modern age, computer programming and reinforcement learning. In this paper, we derive the optimal strategy for playing the two-dice game Pig, both the standard version and its variant with doubles, coined “Double-Trouble”, using certain fundamental concepts of reinforcement learning, especially the Markov decision process and dynamic programming. We further compare the newly derived optimal strategy to other popular play strategies in terms of the winning chances and the order of play. In particular, we compare to the popular “hold at n” strategy, which is considered to be close to the optimal strategy, especially for the best n, for each type of Pig Game. For the standard two-player, two-dice, sequential Pig Game examined here, we found that “hold at 23” is the best choice, with the average winning chance against the optimal strategy being 0.4747. For the “Double-Trouble” version, we found that the “hold at 18” is the best choice, with the average winning chance against the optimal strategy being 0.4733. Furthermore, time in terms of turns to play each type of game is also examined for practical purposes. For optimal vs. optimal or optimal vs. the best “hold at n” strategy, we found that the average number of turns is 19, 23, and 24 for one-die Pig, standard two-dice Pig, and the “Double-Trouble” two-dice Pig games, respectively. We hope our work will inspire students of all ages to invest in the field of reinforcement learning, which is crucial for the development of artificial intelligence and robotics and, subsequently, for the future of humanity.

In recent years, reinforcement learning (RL) has seen increasing applications in the financial industry, especially in quantitative trading and portfolio optimization when the focus is on the long-term reward rather than short-term profit. Sequential decision making and Markov decision processes are rather suited for this type of application. Through trial and error based on historical data, an agent can learn the characteristics of the market and evolve an algorithm to maximize the cumulative returns. In this work, we propose a novel RL trading algorithm utilizing random perturbation of the Q-network and account for the more realistic nonlinear transaction costs. In summary, we first design a new near-quadratic transaction cost function considering the slippage. Next, we develop a convolutional deep Q-learning network (CDQN) with multiple price input based on this cost functions. We further propose a random perturbation (rp) method to modify the learning network to solve the instability issue intrinsic to the deep Q-learning network. Finally, we use this newly developed CDQN-rp algorithm to make trading decisions based on the daily stock prices of Apple (AAPL), Meta (FB), and Bitcoin (BTC) and demonstrate its strengths over other quantitative trading methods.

X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is an inherited disorder characterized by retinal schisis cavities, which can be observed in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. Monitoring disease progression necessitates the accurate segmentation and quantification of these cavities; yet, current manual methods are time consuming and result in subjective interpretations, highlighting the need for automated and precise solutions. We employed five state-of-the-art deep learning models—U-Net, U-Net++, Attention U-Net, Residual U-Net, and TransUNet—for the task, leveraging a dataset of 1500 OCT images from 30 patients. To enhance the models’ performance, we utilized data augmentation strategies that were optimized via deep reinforcement learning. The deep learning models achieved a human-equivalent accuracy level in the segmentation of schisis cavities, with U-Net++ surpassing others by attaining an accuracy of 0.9927 and a Dice coefficient of 0.8568. By utilizing reinforcement-learning-based automatic data augmentation, deep learning segmentation models demonstrate a robust and precise method for the automated segmentation of schisis cavities in OCT images. These findings are a promising step toward enhancing clinical evaluation and treatment planning for XLRS.

Objective(s): This study aimed to evaluate the effects and the underlying mechanisms of tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) on diabetic liver steatosis and cell survival. Materials and Methods: We performed streptozocin injection and used a high-sugar-high-fat diet for mice to develop an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Bodyweight, blood glucose levels, and content of insulin were measured on all of the mice. The liver tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Protein levels of the liver were measured by Western blot analysis in mice. Primary hepatocytes were induced by hypochlorous acid (HClO) and insulin to form insulin resistance (IR). Primary hepatocyte apoptosis was observed by Hoechst staining. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and β-arrestin-2 factor were evaluated by Western blot assay. Results: TBHQ reduced the blood glucose level and content of insulin in serum, increased body weight, and effectively alleviated liver steatosis in diabetic mice. TBHQ significantly up-regulated the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, GLUT4, GSK3β, and β-arrestin-2 in the liver of diabetic mice. Cell experiments confirmed that TBHQ increased the survival ability of primary hepatocytes, and TBHQ improved the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, GLUT4, and GSK3β by activating β-arrestin-2 in primary hepatocytes. Conclusion: TBHQ could alleviate liver steatosis and increase cell survival, and the mechanism is due in part to β-arrestin-2 activation.

AimWe investigated the relationship between the sarcopenia-indicating Ishii test scores and pneumonia risk in stable schizophrenia patients.MethodsThis prospective investigation involves schizophrenic inpatients from two mental health centers in western China. Patient baseline information was gathered over 1 month from September 1 to 30 in 2020. All pneumonia-related patient information, including diagnosis and treatment, was acquired over 1 year between October 2020 and October 2021. Patients with schizophrenia were screened for sarcopenia utilizing a threshold value established by Ishii et al. Using regression analysis, the link between Ishii test scores and pneumonia risk in schizophrenia patients was investigated.ResultThis study recruited 232 males and 107 females with schizophrenia over the age of 50 and older. During a 1-year follow-up period, four patients (3 males and 1 female) acquired pneumonia within 1 week of relapse in schizophrenia; therefore, these patients were excluded from the study. Finally, data were collected for 335 patients. The pneumonia incidences were 29.3% in males and 14.2% in females. Our analysis confirmed that compared to the male schizophrenia patients with Ishii test scores < 105 (non-sarcopenia), those with Ishii test scores ≥ 105 (sarcopenia) exhibited an elevated pneumonia risk (OR = 2.739, 95%CI: 1.406–5.333). Following confounders adjustment, Ishii test scores ≥ 105 remained a risk factor for pneumonia (OR = 2.064, 95%CI: 1.029–4.143). Among females with schizophrenia, the Ishii test scores were not associated with pneumonia risk.ConclusionIn conclusion, our results demonstrated that the Ishii test scores ≥ 105 were strongly associated with pneumonia risk in stable schizophrenic male patients.

AimHere, we investigate the relationship between mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) screening indicators of sarcopenia and the risk of pneumonia in stable patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.MethodThe study is prospective and includes inpatients with schizophrenia from two mental health centers in Western China. The studied screening indicators, MUAC and CC were assessed in standing patients. The relationship between MUAC and CC as sarcopenia screening indicators with the risk of pneumonia in patients with schizophrenia was analyzed by performing a statistical logistic regression analysis.ResultFor this study, 339 patients with schizophrenia, aged 50 years and over were recruited. Moreover, four patients with pneumonia that occurred within 1 week of the relapse of schizophrenia were excluded. As a result, only 335 patients were included in the analysis. Pneumonia has been reported in 82 (24.5%) of all included patients with schizophrenia. Our data analysis confirmed that in the male patients, the higher CC was associated with a lower risk of pneumonia (odds ratio [OR] = 0.751, 95% CI: 0.635–0.889). We have divided men into two cohorts following the values of CC. Our analysis further showed that the patients with CC ≥ 34 cm had a lower risk of pneumonia in men (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.163–0.795).ConclusionWe demonstrate that CC is associated with pneumonia risk in stable men with schizophrenia.

Successful regenerative medicine strategies of xenogeneic extracellular matrix need a synergistic balance among inflammation, fibrosis, and remodeling process. Adaptive macrophage subsets have been identified to modulate inflammation and orchestrate the repair of neighboring parenchymal tissues. This study fabricated PPARγ-primed CD68+CD206+ M2 phenotype (M2γ), and firstly verified their anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerating roles in xenogeneic bioengineered organ regeneration. Our results showed that Th1-type CD3+CD8+ T cell response to xenogeneic-dentin matrix-based bioengineered root complex (xeno-complex) was significantly inhibited by M2γ macrophage in vitro. PPARγ activation also timely recruited CD68+CD206+ tissue macrophage polarization to xeno-complex in vivo. These subsets alleviated proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ) at the inflammation site and decreased CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes in the periphery system. When translated to an orthotopic nonhuman primate model, PPARγ-primed M2 macrophages immunosuppressed IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MMPs to enable xeno-complex to effectively escape immune-mediated rejection and initiate graft-host synergistic integrity. These collective activities promoted the differentiation of odontoblast-like and periodontal-like cells to guide pulp-dentin and cementum-PDLs-bone regeneration and rescued partially injured odontogenesis such as DSPP and periostin expression. Finally, the regenerated root showed structure-biomechanical and functional equivalency to the native tooth. The timely conversion of M1-to-M2 macrophage mainly orchestrated odontogenesis, fibrogenesis, and osteogenesis, which represents a potential modulator for intact parenchymal-stromal tissue regeneration of targeted organs.

Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is one of the most common type of hereditary optic atrophy. Here, we describe the generation and characterization of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line of DOA patient with an OPA1 mutation. The reprogramming of this iPSC line was performed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using the non-integrative Sendai virus. The established hiPSC line retained the disease-associated mutation and showed normal karyotype, pluripotency, and differentiation capacity.

Choroideremia (CHM) is a rare monogenic, X-linked recessive inherited chorioretinal dystrophy caused by loss of function variants in the CHM gene. We successfully generated a novel human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line from a CHM patient with CHM variant using the Sendai-virus based approach. These cells will provide a disease model for further studies on the disease pathogenesis and potential interventions.

RDH12 mutations have been identified in patients diagnosed with severe early-onset retinal dystrophy, including Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and early-onset severe retinal dystrophy (EOSRD). Here, we describe the generation and characterization of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line of a patient with RDH12 mutations. Blood sample was obtained, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were reprogrammed using the non-integrative Sendai virus to generate the iPSC line. The hiPSCs were characterized according to standard protocols including karyotyping, pluripotency marker expression and differentiation towards the three germ layers.

Usherin is the most common causative protein associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Usher syndrome (USH), which are characterized by retinal degeneration alone and in combination with hearing loss, respectively. Usherin is essential for photoreceptor survival and hair cell bundle integrity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying usherin function in normal and disease conditions is unclear. In this study, we investigated structural models of usherin domains and localization of usherin pathogenic small in-frame mutations, mainly homozygous missense mutations. We found that usherin fibronectin III (FN3) domains and most laminin-related domains have a β-sandwich structure. Some FN3 domains are predicted to interact with each other and with laminin-related domains. The usherin protein may bend at some FN3 linker regions. RP- and USH-associated small in-frame mutations are differentially located in usherin domains. Most of them are located at the periphery of β-sandwiches, with some at the interface between interacting domains. The usherin laminin epidermal growth factor repeats adopt a rod-shaped structure, which is maintained by disulfide bonds. Most missense mutations and deletion of exon 13 in this region disrupt the disulfide bonds and may affect local protein folding. Despite low expression of the recombinant entire protein and protein fragments in mammalian cell culture, usherin FN3 fragments are more robustly expressed and secreted than its laminin-related fragments. Our findings provide new insights into the usherin structure and the disease mechanisms caused by pathogenic small in-frame mutations, which will help inform future experimental research on diagnosis, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches.

The accurate diagnosis and prediction for individuals is crucial in computer-aided diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The existing structural magnetic resonance imaging based classification methods of AD diagnosis mainly focus on the voxel level, region level and patch level morphological pattern analysis. However, most of these methods extract features with high dimension which may lead to overfitting problem. Besides, the interaction of different patches is not considered in the classifier ensemble. In this article, we propose a novel anatomical landmarks and directed acyclic graph (DAG) network feature learning based classification algorithm for the diagnosis of AD individuals. First, the anatomical feature patches of gray matter image are identified by the morphological and statistical analysis. Second, a simple and efficient DAG convolutional neural network is proposed to extract the discriminative deep features of image representation. Especially, the deep features are obtained by fusing feature maps of different network levels which contain semantic high-level and high-resolution low-level features. Finally, support vector machine and deep features are utilized to construct the classification model and predict the individual of AD. Experiments on three public datasets including ADNI-1, ADNI-2 and MIRIAD demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively improve the classification performance compared with the state-of-the-art methods for AD diagnosis.

Objectives: To assess ultra-early neuroprognostic significance of GFAP, NF-L, UCH-L1, tau, and S100B concentrations, change trajectory, and combination profile after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA). Methods: Prospective enrollment of 22 OHCA and 10 control patients at an academic tertiary care center between May 1, 2017 and January 28, 2020. Blood was collected within one hour of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (H0), at hours 6 (H6), 12, 18, 24, and daily or until discharge or death. Biomarker concentrations, multifactor score, and trajectory change were assessed and compared to final neurologic status (good vs poor Cerebral Performance Category; CPC 1–2 vs CPC 3–5, respectively). Results: 10 patients had good and 12 had poor neurologic outcomes. Poor outcome patients had higher biomarker concentrations and combined biomarker scores at early time points. The earliest significant difference between good and poor outcome patients’ serum biomarkers were at H12 for GFAP (good median: 425 pg/mL [IQR:370−630] vs poor: 5954[1712–65,055] pg/mL; p

The current wastewater treatment method shows low efficiency in treating wastewater with high concentrations of chemical mechanical pulp (CMP). Therefore, a chlorine dioxide Pretreatment Anaerobic Treatment (DPAT) was developed and applied to treat the CMP wastewater to obtain higher efficiency, obtaining the following results: The biodegradability of CMP wastewater improved after chlorine dioxide pretreatment. The COD of wastewater treated with chlorine dioxide was reduced from 5634 mg/L to 660 mg/L. The removal rate for chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 88.29%, 29.13% higher than the common anaerobic treatment. The reasons for the high efficiency of the DPAT treatment were that chlorine dioxide pretreatment removed the toxic substances in the original wastewater and thereby promoted the proliferation and growth of the anaerobe. The results show that pretreatment with chlorine dioxide can effectively enhance the biodegradability of high-concentration CMP wastewater. Therefore, DPAT treatment of high-concentration CMP wastewater is beneficial to environmental protection.

Usher syndrome 2A (USH2A) is one of the most common genes associated with Usher syndrome type II (USH2) and nonsyndromic autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP). Here, we describe the generation and characterization of two human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines from a RP patient with compound heterogeneous USH2A variants and a USH2 patient with homozygous USH2A variant. Blood samples were obtained and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were reprogrammed using the non-integrative Sendai virus to generate the iPSC lines. The established hiPSC lines retained the disease-associated variants and showed normal karyotype, pluripotency and differentiation capacity.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the major intermediate filament III protein of astroglia cells which is upregulated in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Here we reported that GFAP is truncated at both the C- and N-terminals by cytosolic protease calpain to GFAP breakdown products (GBDP) of 46-40K then 38K following pro-necrotic (A23187) and pro-apoptotic (staurosporine) challenges to primary cultured astroglia or neuron-glia mixed cells. In addition, with another pro-apoptotic challenge (EDTA) where caspases are activated but not calpain, GFAP was fragmented internally, generating a C-terminal GBDP of 20 kDa. Following controlled cortical impact in mice, GBDP of 46-40K and 38K were formed from day 3 to 28 post-injury. Purified GFAP protein treated with calpain-1 and -2 generates (i) major N-terminal cleavage sites at A-56*A-61 and (ii) major C-terminal cleavage sites at T-383*Q-388, producing a limit fragment of 38K. Caspase-6 treated GFAP was cleaved at D-78/R-79 and D-225/A-226, where GFAP was relatively resistant to caspase-3. We also derived a GBDP-38K N-terminal-specific antibody which only labels injured astroglia cell body in both cultured astroglia and mouse cortex and hippocampus after TBI. As a clinical translation, we observed that CSF samples collected from severe human TBI have elevated levels of GBDP-38K as well as two C-terminally released GFAP peptides (DGEVIKES and DGEVIKE). Thus, in addition to intact GFAP, both the GBDP-38K as well as unique GFAP released C-terminal proteolytic peptides species might have the potential in tracking brain injury progression.

Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (BCD) is an autosomal recessively inherited progressive retinal disease. Here, we describe the generation and characterization of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) line of BCD patient with CYP4V2 mutations. The reprogramming of this iPSC line was performed from skin fibroblast by using the Sendai-virus based approach. The established hiPSC line retained the disease-associated mutations and showed normal karyotype, pluripotency and differentiation capacity.

Abstract Background Retinocytoma is a rare benign retinal tumor associated with variants in the RB1 gene. Ophthalmoscopic features can include a translucent retinal mass, calcification, retinal pigment epithelial alteration and chorioretinal atrophy. Methods Detailed ophthalmological examinations were performed in a Chinese patient with retinocytoma and his daughter with bilateral retinoblastoma. Sanger sequencing was performed to detect RB1 genetic variants in the patient, his daughter and tumor tissue from his daughter. Results A 33‐year‐old man presented with poor vision and strabismus in the right eye since childhood. Fundus examination revealed a round yellow‐white lesion stretching from the nasal side of the optic disc to the temporal periphery of the right eye. Sequencing result identified a reported variant (c.658C>G, p.Leu220Val) in the RB1 gene (NM_000321.2) of DNA extracted from peripheral blood of the patient and his daughter. The missense variant was also found in the tumor tissue from his daughter. Conclusions We report detailed clinical features and genetic analysis of a case with unilateral retinocytoma. Retinocytoma has a wide range of clinical phenotypes; genetic testing is therefore a useful tool for the diagnosis of atypical cases.

Background/AimsThe role of Elk-3 in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during liver fibrogenesis remains unclear. Here, we determined the expression of Elk-3 in in vitro and in vivo models and in human liver fibrotic tissues. We also investigated the molecular relationships among Elk-3, early growth response-1 (Egr-1), and the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway during EMT in hepatocytes.Methods : We established anin vitro EMT model in which normal mouse hepatocyte cell lines were treated with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and a CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model. Characteristics of EMT were determined by evaluating the expression levels of related markers. The expression of Elk-3 and its target Egr-1 were analyzed using Western blotting. Gene silencing of Elk-3 was performed using an siRNA knockdown system.Results : The expression levels of mesenchymal markers were increased during TGF-β1-induced EMT of hepatocytes. The expression levels of Elk-3 and Egr-1 were significantly (p

A domestic surfactant preparation has been used in China for a number of years. However, as for other surfactant preparations, there is debate among neonatologists regarding the optimal dose, mode of administration, and the best time of intervention. Objective: To evaluate whether prophylactic administration of surfactant is superior to early treatment in preterm infants < 32 weeks with a high risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Methods: We prospectively compared small premature infants (< 32 weeks) receiving 70 mg/kg bovine surfactant within 30 minutes after birth (prophylactic group, N = 116) with infants who received surfactant therapy for established RDS (early treatment group, N = 91). The primary outcome assessed was the incidence of RDS. The secondary outcomes assessed were severity of RDS, mortality, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia morbidity. Results: Compared with the early treatment group, the prophylactic group had a significantly better PaO2 (at 1 hour, 4 hours, and 12 hours postdose, respectively), better a/APO2 (at 1 hour, 4 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours postdose, respectively), lower PaCO2 (at 1 hour postdose), and a significantly decreased need for mean airway pressure (MAP) and FiO2 on ventilation (p

The traditional Chinese drug Bombyx Batryticatus (BB), which is also named the white stiff silkworm, has been widely used in Chinese clinics for thousands of years. It is famous for its antispasmodic and blood circulation-promoting effects. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, interstitial cell hyperplasia, and myocardial fibrosis are closely related to the N-glycosylation of key proteins. To examine the alterations of N-glycosylation that occur in diabetic myocardium during the early stage of the disease, and to clarify the therapeutic effect of 1-Deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ) extracted from BB, we used the db/db (diabetic) mouse model and an approach based on hydrophilic chromatography solid-phase extraction integrated with an liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS) identification strategy to perform a site-specific N-glycosylation analysis of left ventricular cardiomyocyte proteins. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), hydroxyproline, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and other serum biochemical indicators were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). In addition, the α-1,6-fucosylation of N-glycans was profiled with lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) lectin blots and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled lectin affinity histochemistry. The results indicated that 1-DNJ administration obviously downregulated myocardium protein N-glycosylation in db/db mice. The expression levels of serum indicators and fibrosis-related cytokines were reduced significantly by 1-DNJ in a dose-dependent manner. The glycan α-1,6-fucosylation level of the db/db mouse myocardium was elevated, and the intervention effect of 1-DNJ administration on N-glycan α-1,6-fucosylation was significant. To verify this result, the well-known transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad2/3 pathway was selected, and core α-1,6-fucosylated TGF-β receptor II (TGFR-βII) was analysed semi-quantitatively with western blotting. The result supported the conclusions obtained from LCA lectin affinity histochemistry and lectin blot analysis. The expression level of α-1,6-fucosyltransferase (FUT8) mRNA was also detected, and the results showed that 1-DNJ administration did not cause obvious inhibitory effects on FUT8 expression. Therefore, the mechanism of 1-DNJ for relieving diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM)-associated fibrosis can be concluded as the inhibition of N-acetylglucosamine (N-GlcNAc) formation and the reduction of substrate concentration.

Silk fibroin hydrogel is an ideal model as biomaterial matrix due to its excellent biocompatibility and used in the field of medical polymer materials. Nevertheless, native fibroin hydrogels show poor transparency and resilience. To settle these drawbacks, an interpenetrating network (IPN) of hydrogels are synthesized with changing ratios of silk fibroin/N-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidonemixtures that crosslink by H2O2 and horseradish peroxidase. Interpenetrating polymer network structure can shorten the gel time and the pure fibroin solution gel time for more than a week. This is mainly due to conformation from the random coil to the β-sheet structure changes of fibroin. Moreover, the light transmittance of IPN hydrogel can be as high as more than 97% and maintain a level of 90% within a week. The hydrogel, which mainly consists of random coil, the apertures inside can be up to 200 μm. Elastic modulus increases during the process of gelation. The gel has nearly 95% resilience under the compression of 70% eventually, which is much higher than native fibroin gel. The results suggest that the present IPN hydrogels have excellent mechanical properties and excellent transparency.

Background and aimsDespite the discovery of hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry factor, the mechanism by which it is regulated by miRNAs remains unclear. Adipose tissue-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (AT-hMSCs) have been widely used for differentiated hepatocyte-like cells (DHCs). Here, we established an in vitro HCV infection model using DHCs from AT-hMSCs and identified miRNAs that modulate HCV infectivity.MethodsAT-hMSCs were differentiated into DHCs using the conditional media, and evaluated for hepatocyte characteristics using RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, periodic acid-Schiff staining, and a urea synthesis assay. The expression of HCV candidate receptors was also verified using immunocytochemistry. The levels of candidate miRNAs targeting HCV receptors were then determined by relative quantitative RT-PCR (rqRT-PCR). Finally, DHCs were infected using HCVcc and serum from HCV-infected patients, and infectivity of the virus was measured by rqRT-PCR and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).ResultsThe expected changes in morphology, function and hepatic gene expression were observed during hepatic differentiation. Moreover, the expression of candidate HCV entry factors and miR-27a were altered during hepatic differentiation. The infection and replication of HCV occurred efficiently in DHCs treated with HCVcc or infected with serum from HCV-infected patients. In addition, HCV infectivity was suppressed in miR-27a-transfected DHCs, due to the inhibition of LDLR expression by miR-27a.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that AT-hMSCs are a good source of DHCs, which are suitable for in vitro cultivation of HCV. Furthermore, these results suggest that miR-27a modulates HCV infectivity by regulating LDLR expression.

This paper evaluates recent banking and enterprise reforms in the People’s Republic of China since the Asian financial crisis. It argues that the bad debt problem and the losses in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are highly interdependent, and that both can be traced back to a lack of managerial autonomy, adequate incentive mechanisms, and control structures. However, recent efforts to stabilize the financial system and to reform SOEs do not address these issues, as they are largely redistributive, shifting financial losses between different agents of the economy rather than improving the efficiency of both the financial and real sectors. Major reforms are proposed that properly address the problem of bad debts and SOE losses.