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Background: The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) as an alternative to low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for extended thromboprophylaxis of abdominal/pelvic cancer-related postoperative thromboembolism (VTE) is unclear. We aim to investigate the efficacy and safety of DOACs vs. LMWH in these patients. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using EMBASE, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and Web of science through May 19th, 2023 for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that compared the outcomes with DOACs vs. LMWH for extended thromboprophylaxis among patients undergoing abdominal/pelvic cancer surgery. Primary efficacy outcome was clinical VTE, and safety outcome was clinically relevant bleeding complications reported within the 30-day postoperative period. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023413175). Results: We identified 5078 articles and selected 29 full-text articles for eligibility. A total of 9 studies (2 RCTs and 7 observational studies) encompassing 2651 patients were included for systematic review and 7 for meta-analysis. When compared with LMWH extended thromboprophylaxis, DOACs had a similar incidence of VTE (RR: 0.65 [95% CI: 0.32–1.33], I2 = 0%), major bleeding (RR: 1.68 [95% CI: 0.36–7.9], I2 = 26%), and clinically relevant non-major bleeding (RR: 0.68 [95% CI: 0.39–1.19], I2 = 0%). Subgroup analysis suggested no difference according to the study type (RCTs versus observational studies) regarding clinical VTE or major bleeding (Pinteraction = 0.43 and Pinteraction = 0.71, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that DOACs for extended thromboprophylaxis were an effective and safe alternative to LMWH after major abdominal/pelvic cancer-related surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss a minimal lepton flavor model with two modular A 4 symmetries, one acting on neutrinos and the other acting on charged leptons. Two corresponding moduli fields are restricted at stabilizers. To avoid vanishing or degenerate lepton masses, the stabilizer in the charged lepton sector always preserves a Z 3 symmetry, and that in the neutrino preserves a Z 2 symmetry. By scanning all viable stabilizers, a unique Trimaximal TM2 mixing is predicted. However, the prediction of the lightest neutrino mass and the mass parameter in neutrinoless double beta decay, as well as two Majorana phases, are different and classified into three cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A novel approach known as intraosseous regional administration (IORA) has emerged as a technique for delivering prophylactic antibiotics, and it results in higher tissue concentrations around the knee. It is hypothesized that IORA of cefazolin for antibiotic prophylaxis during total knee arthroplasty will result in sustained effective levels for a longer duration. The aim of the current study was to investigate temporal changes in peri-knee cefazolin blood concentrations after IORA of cefazolin. Methods: Twelve rabbits were randomly divided into two groups, with six rabbits in each group. In control group a single intravenous bolus injection of cefazolin (10 mL, 100 mg) was administered into the marginal ear vein. In experimental groupexperimental group the same dose of cefazolin was injected into the left tibial marrow cavity after tourniquet inflation at the base of the left thigh. Blood samples were collected periodically at different timepoints, and cefazolin concentrations were determined. Results: The intraosseous treatment resulted in significant differences in plasma cefazolin concentrations at all timepoints. Experimental group exhibited higher plasma cefazolin concentrations than control group. Conclusions: Cefazolin in intraosseous regional prophylaxis exhibits effectiveness in intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis by maintaining concentrations above the minimum inhibitory concentration for extended durations, rather than relying solely on high concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential mobility serves as a pivotal determinant in reshaping urban social spaces and driving spatial differentiation and segregation within cities. This study harnesses a rich dataset from surveys and the housing market in Nanjing, China to dissect the spatial distribution patterns of its mobile population. Employing the Mantel Test—a novel approach in this context—we assess the interplay between spatial shifts in residential locations and the socio-demographic attributes of individuals, thereby shedding light on the socio-spatial dynamics across various migration categories. Our findings underscore a pronounced trend in the post-2000 era of China's housing marketization: residential migrations occur predominantly within a five-year cycle. The decay in migration distances aligns with the migration field formula, suggesting a systematic attenuation of mobility over spatial extents. The study identifies a strong congruence between the mobility rings—zones of frequent residential movement—and the micro-level characteristics of residents, reflecting the nuanced fabric of urban stratification. Furthermore, we unveil how macro-level institutional frameworks and the housing market milieu substantially shape and limit the migration frequency, hinting at the overarching impact of policy and economic landscapes on residential mobility patterns. The paper culminates by articulating the underlying dynamics of urban residential migration, providing a comprehensive account that contributes to the discourse on sustainable urban development and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Backgound: Celastrol, a leptin sensitiser, has been shown to inhibit food intake and reduce body weight in diet-induced obese mice, making it a potential treatment for obesity and metabolic diseases. Adiponectin signalling has been reported to play an important role in the treatment of obesity, inflammation, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Materials and methods: Wild-type (WT) and AdipoR1 knockout (AdipoR1-/-) mice were placed on a chow diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) and several metabolic parameters were measured. Celastrol was then administered to the HFD-induced mice and the response of WT and AdipoR1-/- mice to celastrol in terms of body weight, blood glucose, and food intake was also recorded. Results: AdipoR1 knockout caused elevated blood glucose and lipids, impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in mice, as well as increased susceptibility to HFD-induced obesity. After 14 days of treatment, WT and AdipoR1-/- mice showed significant reductions in body weight and blood glucose and improvements in glucose tolerance. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that AdipoR1 plays a critical role in metabolic regulation and that the improvement of weight and metabolic function by celastrol is independent of the AdipoR1-mediated signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intra-abdominal infections are the second most common cause of sepsis in the intensive care unit. Intestinal epithelial injury due to abdominal sepsis results in a variety of pathological changes, such as intestinal bacteria and toxins entering the blood, leading to persistent systemic inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction. The increased apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells induced by sepsis further exacerbates the progression of sepsis. Although several studies have revealed that circRNAs are involved in intestinal epithelial injury in sepsis, few studies have identified the roles of circRNAs in intestinal epithelial apoptosis. Methods: We used laser capture microdissection to obtain purified epithelial cells located in intestinal crypts from four patients with abdominal sepsis induced by intestinal perforation and four samples from age and sex-matched non-septic patients. Microarray analysis of circRNAs was conducted to assess differentially expressed circRNAs between patients with and without sepsis. Lastly, in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to study the mechanism of circFLNA in intestinal epithelial apoptosis during sepsis. Results: circFLNA was upregulated in the intestinal epithelium after abdominal sepsis induced by intestinal perforation. Inhibition of miR-766-3p impaired si-circFLNA-mediated inhibition of apoptosis and inflammation factor levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated HIEC-6 cells. circFLNA aggravated apoptosis and inflammation through the Fas-mediated apoptosis pathway in both LPS-treated HIEC-6 cells and a mouse cecal ligation and puncture model. Conclusion: Our findings showed that circFLNA promotes intestinal injury in abdominal sepsis through the Fas-mediated apoptosis pathway by sponging miR-766-3p. The circFLNA/miR-766-3p/Fas axis has potential as a novel therapeutic target for treating intestinal injury in sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China becomes more and more international, the number of people traveling abroad is also increasing. The demand for English recognition is becoming more and more vigorous, and traditional translation software is time-consuming, laborious, and less accurate. This article optimizes the target detection model YOLOV3. Firstly, the image is divided into multiple model structures, and the K-means++ clustering algorithm is used to determine the target detection prior frame value and the high frame of the corresponding frame according to the characteristics of the English image. Then, by using K-means++ clustering algorithm to optimize the anchor parameters, the model structure is better adapted to the English identification dataset scene; finally, the feature information extracted by the DarkNet-53 model is spliced to improve the structure of the YOLOV3 convolutional layer, using 3090 graphics card GPU to perform multiscale training and testing. Experimental results show that the improved YOLOV3 algorithm in this paper has a mAP of 0.95 on the English identification dataset and a detection speed of 50fps, which is 0.11 higher than the mAP before optimization. Therefore, optimizing the YOLOV3 algorithm in this article has a good effect. In the future, English translation will become a necessary software program for Chinese people to go abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between illness perceptions, medication beliefs, and self-reported adherence to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy in adult Chinese patients with asthma. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the asthma outpatient clinic of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University (Shanghai, China) between October 2018 and September 2019. Illness perceptions, medication beliefs, and medication adherence were assessed using validated scales, specifically the Medication Adherence Report Scale for Asthma, Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire -Specific, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Spearman correlation and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the relationship among these factors. Results: A total of 234 patients were included in this study. Of this group, 99 (42.3%) participants were non-adherent to their ICS medication. Medication adherence correlated negatively with 'illness identity' (perceived symptom), 'emotional response' (perceived emotional effect) and concerns about medication (r=-0.16, −0.16 and −0.15, respectively, p < 0.05). After adjusting for illness perceptions, medication beliefs and demographics, beliefs about the necessity of medication (odds ratio [OR]: 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.30), and emotional response to the disease (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80–0.99) were significantly associated with medication adherence in patients with asthma. Beliefs about the necessity of medication and emotional response to the illness have a strong influence on self-reported medication adherence in adult patients with asthma in China. Interventions targeted adherence improvement among patients with asthma may be tailored to the individual's baseline perceptions and medication beliefs, and focus on modifying inaccurate illness perceptions and medication beliefs as the main targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to unveil the generation and variation rule of the main taste components in braised broth for 10 quantitative repeated braising cycles. The major taste compounds of three groups (MS, broth cooked with meat and spices; M, broth cooked with meat; and S, broth cooked with spices) were systematically analyzed by the state‐of‐art chromatography and electronic sensory technology. As braising cycles progressed, contents of free 5′‐nucleotides and amino acids were increased in MS and M, while those nucleotides were not detected in S. A significant discrimination of taste in MS and M was revealed by electronic tongue evaluation during the process. As the formation rates (FR) of taste compounds and the transformation rates (TR) of taste compounds to volatile compounds were mainly accounting for the generation and variation of flavor in broth, a hypothesis was proposed to illustrate the whole variation of taste compounds in the process integrally that the ratio of FR/TR dividing the process into three stages, Degradation, Balance, and Accumulation. Practical applications: The traditional braising process and formula are empirical and extensive, which impede the increase in meat products output. Nowadays, the industry of braising products is facing a problem of standardization and quality control, and needs to carry out scientific and quantitative process improvement efficiently. Therefore, the developed comprehensive approach demonstrates great potential for braised meat broth flavor monitoring and quality control in an objective and holistic manner. It provides data support and new ideas of technology development for quality control in the process of meat braising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study used clinical data and expression data of miRNAs to develop a prognostic survival signature for NPC patients to detect high-risk subject. Results: We identified 160 differentially expressed miRNAs using RNA-Seq data from the GEO database. Cox regression model consisting of hsa-miR-26a, hsa-let-7e, hsa-miR-647, hsa-miR-30e, and hsa-miR-93 was constructed by the least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) in the training set. All the patients were classified into high-risk or low-risk groups by the optimal cutoff value of the 5-miRNA signature risk score, and the two risk groups demonstrated significant different survival. The 5-miRNA signature showed high predictive and prognostic accuracies. The results were further confirmed in validation and external validation set. Results from multivariate Cox regression analysis validated 5-miRNA signature as an independent prognostic factor. A total of 13 target genes were predicted to be the target genes of miRNA target genes. Both PPI analysis and KEGG analysis networks were closely related to tumor signaling pathways. The prognostic model of mRNAs constructed using data from the dataset GSE102349 had higher AUCs of the target genes and higher immune infiltration scores of the low-risk groups. The mRNA prognostic model also performed well on the independent immunotherapy dataset Imvigor210. Conclusions: This study constructed a novel 5-miRNA signature for prognostic prediction of the survival of NPC patients and may be useful for individualized treatment of NPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive Eulerian model based on μ (I) rheology theory is established to describe the granular flow inside moving bed heat exchangers (MBHEs). The established model is validated, and the rheological parameters involved in μ (I) model are determined using the experimental results of velocity distributions for three kinds of typical granular materials in a thin silo. Detailed results regarding the particle velocity, solid volume fraction, particle intergranular shear stress, resistance, and energy dissipation of three different granular flows in a staggered-arranged MBHE and an aligned-arranged MBHE are revealed and discussed. The relationship among dimensionless dissipation, velocity, and pressure in the transition zone is analyzed to demonstrate the influences of granular properties and pipe arrangement on granular flow. [Display omitted] • A Eulerian model based on μ (I) theory is established for granular flows in MBHEs. • The rheological parameters are determined by the measured particle velocities. • Granular flows in SMBHE are more uniform than those in AMBHE. • The resistances of pipes increase with particle friction coefficient and density. • The high dissipative regions occur above the first pipes and in transition zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brain metastasis is an important cause of increased mortality in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In brain metastasis, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is frequently impaired, forming blood–tumor barrier (BTB). The efficacy of chemotherapy is usually very poor. However, the characteristics of BTB and the impacts of BTB on chemotherapeutic drug delivery remain unclear. The present study investigated the structure of BTB, as well as the distribution of routine clinical chemotherapeutic drugs in both brain and peripheral tumors. Methods: Bioluminescent image was used to monitor the tumor load after intracranial injection of lung cancer Lewis cells in mice. The permeability of BBB and BTB was measured by fluorescent tracers of evans blue and fluorescein sodium. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed to analyze structural differences between BBB and BTB. The concentrations of chemotherapeutic drugs (gemcitabine, paclitaxel and pemetrexed) in tissues were assayed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: Brain metastases exhibited increased BTB permeability compared with normal BBB detected by fluorescence tracers. TEM showed abnormal blood vessels, damaged endothelial cells, thick basement membranes, impaired intercellular endothelial tight junctions, as well as increased fenestrae and pinocytotic vesicles in metastatic lesions. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence revealed that astrocytes were distributed surrounded the blood vessels both in normal brain and the tumor border, but no astrocytes were found in the inner metastatic lesions. By LC-MS/MS analysis, gemcitabine showed higher permeability in brain metastases. Conclusions: Brain metastases of lung cancer disrupted the structure of BBB, and this disruption was heterogeneous. Chemotherapeutic drugs can cross the BTB of brain metastases of lung cancer but have difficulty crossing the normal BBB. Among the three commonly used chemotherapy drugs, gemcitabine has the highest distribution in brain metastases. The permeability of chemotherapeutic agents is related to their molecular weight and liposolubility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Downstream-of-kinase 3 (Dok3), a member of the Dok family of adaptor proteins plays a critical role in inflammatory response and immune regulation; however, the role of Dok3 in cisplatin-induced AKI remains unclear. This study explored the effect and potential molecular mechanisms of Dok3 in cisplatin-induced AKI using Dok3 knockout (Dok3−/−) and control mice (129S) with or without administration of a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin. Apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and Hoechst staining. Inflammatory factors were measured using ELISA kits. Protein and gene expression levels were measured by western blot analysis and real-time PCR, respectively. The results showed that Dok3 was expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells. Dok3 expression was decreased in kidneys of mice treated with cisplatin and cisplatin-treated HK2 cells. Dok3−/− mice showed lower creatinine levels and NGAL expression, and increased survival rates compared to 129S mice. Cisplatin-induced production of TNF-α and IL-6, and renal tubular cell apoptosis was attenuated in Dok3−/− mice. In vitro experiments demonstrated that HK2 cells overexpressing Dok3 exhibited exacerbated cisplatin-induced apoptosis and production of TNF-α and IL-6. These findings demonstrate that Dok3 regulates cisplatin-induced AKI by regulating apoptosis and inflammation. • Dok3 was expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells, and its expression was decreased after cisplatin treatment. • Knockout of Dok3 attenuated the renal inflammation and apoptosis in cisplatin-treated mice. • HK2 cells overexpressing Dok3 exhibited exacerbated cisplatin-induced apoptosis and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searching for biomarkers of senescence remains necessary and challenging. Reliable and detectable biomarkers can indicate the senescence condition of individuals, the need for intervention in a population, and the effectiveness of that intervention in controlling or delaying senescence progression and senescence‐associated diseases. Therefore, it is of great importance to fulfill the unmet requisites of senescence biomarkers especially when faced with the growing global senescence nowadays. Here, we established that DNA G‐quadruplex (G4) in mitochondrial genome was a reliable hallmark for mesenchymal senescence. Via developing a versatile and efficient mitochondrial G4 (mtG4) probe we revealed that in multiple types of senescence, including chronologically healthy senescence, progeria, and replicative senescence, mtG4 hallmarked aged mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, we revealed the underlying mechanisms by which accumulated mtG4, specifically within respiratory chain complex (RCC) I and IV loci, repressed mitochondrial genome transcription, finally impairing mitochondrial respiration and causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings endowed researchers with the visible senescence biomarker based on mitochondrial genome and furthermore revealed the role of mtG4 in inhibiting RCC genes transcription to induce senescence‐associated mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings depicted the crucial roles of mtG4 in predicting and controlling mesenchymal senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The occurrence and progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) impair T-cell immune responses, causing immune escape and subsequently affecting the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is upregulated in varying cancers, but its role in LUAD immune escape is elusive. This work attempted to explore molecular mechanisms of AURKA regulation in LUAD immune escape. Methods: Through bioinformatics analysis, AURKA level in LUAD was evaluated, and potential upstream transcription factors of AURKA were predicted using hTFtarget. ETS variant transcription factor 4 (ETV4) expression in LUAD was analyzed through The Cancer Genome Atlas. Pearson’s correlation analysis was then utilized to test the correlation between AURKA and ETV4. Interaction and binding between AURKA and ETV4 were validated through dual-luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) tested relative mRNA expression of AURKA and ETV4 in LUAD cells, cell counting kit-8 assayed cell viability, and Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the protein level of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Coculture of LUAD cells with activated CD8+ T cells was carried out, and an LDH assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells against LUAD cells. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in the coculture system were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot assessed protein levels of JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3. Results: Compared to normal tissues, AURKA and ETV4 were upregulated in tumor tissues, and AURKA presented a negative association with CD8+ T-cell immune infiltration but a positive association with PD-L1. qRT-PCR unveiled significantly upregulated mRNA of AURKA and ETV4 in LUAD cells compared to normal lung epithelial cells. Knockdown of AURKA significantly decreased cell viability and PD-L1 protein level in LUAD cells, enhanced cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells against LUAD cells and IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α expression, while overexpression of AURKA yielded opposite results. Furthermore, the knockdown of ETV4 could reverse the oncogenic characteristics of cells caused by AURKA overexpression. Conclusion: Our study illustrated that ETV4/AURKA axis promoted PD-L1 expression, suppressed CD8+ T-cell activity, and mediated immune escape in LUAD by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serine peptidase inhibitor, clade B, member 10 (SERPINB10) contributes to allergic inflammation in asthma. However, its role in the T-helper type 2 (Th2) response of allergic asthma is not known. The goal of this study was to unveil the function of SERPINB10 in the Th2 response of allergic asthma and the mechanism by which SERPINB10 affects the viability of Th2 cells.Methods: Th2 cytokines and serum levels of house dust mite (HDM)-specific IgE in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were examined by ELISA in an HDM-induced asthma model. The number and apoptosis of Th1 and Th2 cells in mouse lungs were measured by flow cytometry. Naïve CD4 T cells from patients with asthma were cultured under appropriate polarizing conditions to generate Th1 and Th2 cells. SERPINB10 expression in polarized Th1 and Th2 cells was quantified by real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. SERPINB10 expression was knocked down in human CD4 T cells with lentivirus.Results: Knockdown of SERPINB10 expression significantly diminished HDM-induced Th2 cytokine secretion and level of HDM-specific IgE. After HDM exposure, SERPINB10-knockdown mice had diminished numbers of Th2 cells, but similar numbers of Th1 cells, compared with those in negative-control mice. Th2 cells of SERPINB10-knockdown mice were more susceptible to apoptosis than that of control mice. Stimulating T-cell receptors (TCRs) with anti-CD3 antibody caused upregulation of SERPINB10 expression in polarized Th2 cells, but not polarized Th1 cells. Knockdown of SERPINB10 expression resulted in fewer numbers and greater apoptosis of polarized Th2 cells.Conclusion: Our results suggest that SERPINB10 may contribute to allergic inflammation and the Th2 response of asthma by inhibiting the apoptosis of Th2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time identification and monitoring of the railway track dynamic parameters are necessary to ensure the safe operation of the railway transportation systems. Traditional global structural parameter identification methods have the problem of low efficiency in identifying structural parameters of railway track dynamic systems. To tackle the inefficiency problem, this paper proposes a new parameter identification method for railway track systems on the basis of the substructural identification algorithm. First, the railway track system is divided into several substructures depending on the vehicle loads. The parametric expression of the interface forces of the target substructure is constructed by the Chebyshev polynomials. Then, the sensitivity of the dynamic responses to the structural parameters and the interface force parameters can be obtained. The substructure parameters and the load parameters are identified simultaneously by the coupled iterative optimization algorithm based on the sensitivity analysis. The proposed substructural identification method greatly improves computational efficiency in the iterative process of parameter identification because the proposed method significantly reduces the number of parameters to be identified. Finally, a numerical example for a railway track dynamic system is employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed substructural identification method. The results from the numerical study show that changes in the structural parameters of rail track systems can be accurately identified using the proposed substructural identification method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the SU(5) grand unified extension of flavour models with multiple modular symmetries. The proposed model involves two modular S4 groups, one acting in the charged fermion sector, associated with a modulus field value τT with residual Z 3 T symmetry, and one acting in the right-handed neutrino sector, associated with another modulus field value τSU with residual Z 2 SU symmetry. Quark and lepton mass hierarchies are naturally generated with the help of weightons, which are SM singlet fields, where their non-zero modular weights play the role of Froggatt-Nielsen charges. The model predicts TM1 lepton mixing, and neutrinoless double beta decay at rates close to the sensitivity of current and future experiments, for both normal and inverted orderings, with suppressed corrections from charged lepton mixing due to the triangular form of its Yukawa matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in PINK1 (PTEN‐induced putative kinase 1) are associated with autosomal recessive early‐onset Parkinson's disease. Full‐length PINK1 (PINK1‐l) has been extensively studied in mitophagy; however, the functions of the short form of PINK1 (PINK1‐s) remain poorly understood. Here, we report that PINK1‐s is recruited to ribosome fractions after short‐term inhibition of proteasomes. The expression of PINK1‐s greatly inhibits protein synthesis even without proteasomal stress. Mechanistically, PINK1‐s phosphorylates the translation elongation factor eEF1A1 during proteasome inhibition. The expression of the phosphorylation mimic mutation eEF1A1S396E rescues protein synthesis defects and cell viability caused by PINK1 knockout. These findings implicate an important role for PINK1‐s in protecting cells against proteasome stress through inhibiting protein synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) are widely spread across the world. Asymptomatic or inconspicuous CT/NG infections are difficult to diagnose and treat. Traditional methods have the disadvantages of low detection rate, inaccurate results, and long detection time. However, Xpert CT/NG makes up for the aforementioned shortcomings and has research value and popularization significance. Methods. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched, and studies were screened using Xpert CT/NG for diagnosing CT/NG. QUADAS-2 was used to evaluate the quality of the eligible studies. Then, two groups of researchers independently extracted data from these studies. Meta-analyses of sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the area under the curve (AUC) of the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve were conducted using Meta-DiSc 1.4. Finally, Deek's funnel plots were made using Stata 12.0 to evaluate publication bias. Results. 14 studies were identified, and 46 fourfold tables were extracted in this meta-analysis. The pooled SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC in diagnosing CT were 0.94 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93–0.95), 0.99 (95% CI: 0.99–1.00), 97.17 (95% CI: 56.76–166.32), 0.07 (95% CI: 0.04–0.12), 1857.25 (95% CI: 943.78–3654.86), and 0.9960, respectively. The pooled SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC in diagnosing NG were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93–0.96), 1.00 (95% CI: 1.00–1.00), 278.15 (95% CI: 152.41–507.63), 0.08 (95% CI: 0.06–0.12), 4290.70 (95% CI: 2161.78–8516.16), and 0.9980, respectively. Conclusions. Xpert CT/NG had high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for CT and NG. However, more evidence is required to confirm that Xpert CT/NG might serve as the primary method for detecting CT and NG and even the gold standard for diagnosis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The granular materials involved in industrial moving beds vary widely, and the corresponding flow characteristics differ. This paper compares the flow characteristics of three kinds of typical granular materials, namely, glass beads, corundum beads, and coarse sand. The repose, internal friction, and particle-wall friction angles of these materials are measured, and the flow characteristics of these materials in near 2D silos, in moving beds with aligned pipes and staggered pipes are studied by particle image velocimetry (PIV). Detailed results regarding the vertical velocity distributions, horizontal velocity distributions, local velocity field surrounding pipes, and dimensionless tangential velocity distribution around pipes of the three granular materials are revealed and compared. The mass flow index of silos, the kinetic energy correction factor in certain cross sections and average dimensionless tangential velocities around pipes are calculated to reveal the similarities and differences of flow characteristics for different granular materials in moving beds. Three kinds of typical granular materials are selected to compare their flow characteristics in a near 2D silo and moving beds with aligned and staggered pipes by PIV. In addition to horizontal and vertical velocity, the local velocity field and tangential velocity distribution around pipes are revealed and compared. Unlabelled Image • Three kinds of typical granular materials are selected to compare their flow characteristics. • The repose, internal friction, and wall friction angles of these materials are measured. • Flow characteristics of these materials in a near 2D silo are studied by PIV. • Flow characteristics in moving beds with aligned and staggered pipes are revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study supersymmetric (SUSY) flipped SU(5) × U(1) unification, focussing on its predictions for proton decay, fermion masses and gravitational waves. We performed a two-loop renormalisation group analysis and showed that the SUSY flipped SU(5) model predicts a high GUT scale MGUT> 1016 GeV. We also investigated the restrictions on the MB−L scale which is associated with the U(1)χ breaking scale. We found that the MB−L scale can vary in a broad region with negligible or little effect on the value of MGUT. Proton decay in this model is induced by dimension-6 operators only. The dimension-5 operator induced by SUSY contribution is suppressed due to the missing partner mechanism. We found that the partial decay width p → π0e+ is high suppressed, being at least one order of magnitude lower than the future Hyper-K sensitivity. We also studied fermion (including neutrino) masses and mixings which can also influence proton decay. We presented two scenarios of flavour textures to check the consistency of the results with fermion masses and mixing. The B − L gauge breaking leads to the generation of cosmic strings. The B − L scale here is not constrained by gauge coupling unification. If this scale is very close that of GUT breaking, strings can be unstable due to the decay to monopole-antimonople pair. Such metastable strings can be used to explain the NANOGrav signals of stochastic gravitational wave background, which may be interpreted here as resulting from the decay of metastable cosmic strings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) used as an alternative to low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for thromboprophylaxis after cancer surgery for venous thromboembolic events (VTE) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of DOACs versus LMWH in these patients. Materials and methods: A search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science was carried out and included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies that directly compared DOACs with LMWH for thromboprophylaxis in patients after cancer surgery through July 25, 2023. The primary efficacy and safety outcomes were VTE, major bleeding, and clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB) within 30 days of surgery. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2) tool for RCTs and ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023445386). Results: We retrieved 5149articles, selected 27 for eligibility, and included 10 studies (three RCTs and seven observational studies) encompassing 3054 patients who underwent postoperative thromboprophylaxis with DOACs (41%) or LMWH (59%). Compared to LMWH thromboprophylaxis, DOACs had a comparable risk of VTE (RR:0.69[95% CI:0.46–1.02], I2 = 0%), major bleeding (RR:1.55 [95% CI:0.82–2.93], I2 = 2%), and CRNMB (RR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.4–1.98], I2 = 31%) during the 30-day postoperative period. Subgroup analysis of VTE and major bleeding suggested no differences according to study type, extended thromboprophylaxis, tumor types, or different types of DOAC. Conclusion: DOACs are potentially effective alternatives to LMWH for thromboprophylaxis in patients undergoing cancer surgery, without increasing the risk of major bleeding events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suppose that On (2 ≤ n ≤ ∞) is a Cuntz algebra. There exists a number 1 ≤ k(π, Ω) ≤ ∞ such that if the cyclic representations (H, π, Ω) and (H′,π′, Ω′) of the Cuntz algebra On are unitary equivalent, k(π, Ω) = k(π′, Ω′). Applying the number, one can define a minimal representation of On and give a sufficient condition of the minimality for a representation of On. Moreover, the relations between minimal states and minimal representations of Cuntz algebras and the relations between the minimality and the irreducibility of the representation of On are investigated, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal disease. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy had shown an effect on osteoarthritis in both some animal experiments and clinical studies, but there was no systematic review to confirm the value of shockwave therapy in the treatment of all types of osteoarthritis and compare it with other traditional therapies (especially traditional Chinese medicine). Method. PubMed, Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WANFANG database, and VIP database were searched up to December 10, 2019, to identify randomized controlled trials comparing shockwave therapy and other treatments for osteoarthritis. Visual analogue scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index were extracted and analyzed by RevMan and STATA software as outcomes of pain reduction and functional improvement. Adverse reactions were recorded to evaluate the safety of shockwave therapy. Results. Shockwave therapy had significant improvement in both pain reduction and functional improvement compared with placebo, corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, medication, and ultrasound (P < 0.05). In functional improvement, shockwave therapy showed statistical improvement compared with kinesiotherapy and moxibustion (P < 0.05) but not with acupotomy surgery (P = 0.24). A significant difference between shockwave therapy and platelet-rich plasma was observed in pain reduction (P < 0.05) but not in functional improvement (P = 0.89). Meanwhile, a statistical difference was found between shockwave therapy and fumigation in functional improvement (P < 0.05) but not in pain reduction (P = 0.26). Additionally, there was no statistically significant difference between shockwave therapy and manipulation in both pain reduction (P = 0.21) and functional improvement (P = 0.45). No serious adverse reaction occurred in all of studies. Conclusions. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy could be recommended in the treatment of osteoarthritis as a noninvasive therapy with safety and effectiveness, but the grade of recommendations needs to be discussed in a further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-specific among asthma patients; and to assess the association between patients' belief and adherence to inhaled corticosteroid therapy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the asthma clinic of Zhongshan Hospital, to Fudan University (Shanghai, China) between April 2016 and March 2018. The Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-specific was translated into Chinese according to international guidelines. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and confirmatory factor analysis were calculated to validate the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-specific. The relationship between the adherence and the belief subscale were assessed using Kruskal–Wallis test. Results: Two hundred and seventeen patients were recruited in this study. The Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-specific was deemed reliable based on the results of Cronbach's alpha coefficient and test–retest intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC, ICC= 0.759). Confirmatory factor analysis showed acceptable model fit for the two-factor model. Patients' compliance was closely related to their belief about inhaled corticosteroid. The adherence rates were highest for the accepting groups, and lowest for the skeptical groups. Higher adherence was significantly associated with higher necessity-concerns differential (p =.001) and lower concern (p =.004). Conclusions: The Chinese version of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-specific can be used as a reliable tool by the clinicians to identify beliefs and behaviors of individual to improve adherence in Chinese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Candida is a fungus that causes various types of candidemia, which is the fourth major infectious disease of the blood system. MALDI-TOF-MS is a simple and rapid detection instrument. The aim of the present study was to verify the accuracy of MALDI-TOF-MS in detecting Candida. Method: A pooled analysis of articles on MALDI-TOF-MS for diagnosis of candidemia was performed. The quality of original research was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) guidelines. Stata 12.0 software was used to merge the correct identification rates of Candida and Candida subspecies and obtain pooled sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic methods. Heterogeneity was found in the subgroup analysis of the included articles. Hence, we explored the factors causing the heterogeneity and its impact on the overall situation. Sensitivity analysis was used to examine the effect of Candida level on total response. Egger's test was used to evaluate the publication bias of the included articles. Results: A total of 16 articles in Pubmed, 79 articles in Embase, 1 article in Cochrane Library, 30 articles in Web of Science and 3 from other sources were identified, of which 10 articles were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The overall identification accuracy was 100%. Conclusion: The accuracy of MALDI-TOF-MS for the identification of Candida was 100%. Further research is necessary to determine whether MALDI-TOF-MS can be used as a clinical diagnostic standard for the identification of Candida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel reactive electrochemical ceramic membrane (RECM) system was designed. • RECM system has dual functions of membrane filtration and contaminant degradation. • rTNA/SnO 2 -Sb/PbO 2 anode has excellent electrochemical property, stability and safety. • RECM system can efficiently and sustainably eliminate enrofloxacin from wastewater. A novel reactive electrochemical ceramic membrane (RECM), assembled by ceramic membrane and reduced TiO 2 nanotube arrays (rTNA) based PbO 2 membrane anode with a Sb-SnO 2 interlayer (rTNA/Sb-SnO 2 /PbO 2), was developed in this study with the dual functions of low-pressure membrane filtration and efficient removal of antibiotics from wastewater. Compared with Ti/Sb-SnO 2 and rTNA/Sb-SnO 2 membrane anodes, rTNA/Sb-SnO 2 /PbO 2 anode exhibited higher oxygen evolution potential, larger active surface area and promising electrochemical stability, owing to the introduction of rTNA structure and PbO 2 layer. The rTNA/Sb-SnO 2 /PbO 2 RECM also achieved a higher electrochemical degradation performance than Ti/Sb-SnO 2 and rTNA/Sb-SnO 2 RECMs, as well as a lower energy consumption. The antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENR) removal of the rTNA/Sb-SnO 2 /PbO 2 RECM in the flow-through mode was 5.4 times higher than that in the flow-by mode. These results were ascribed to the improved mass transfer of ENR towards anode surface and reactive oxygen species (i.e., H 2 O 2 , O 2 −, and OH) production. According to theoretical computations and the detection results of intermediates, the degradation pathway involved the defluorination, hydroxylation, decarboxylation, and breakage of quinolone and/or piperazine rings of ENR under the attack of hydroxyl radicals in the RECM system. The findings demonstrated the application potential of the rTNA/Sb-SnO 2 /PbO 2 RECM in removing ENR from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, El-Khartoum Square, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt. Correction to: I Scientific Reports i https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-29135-w, published online 25 July 2018 This Article and the accompanying Supplementary Data file contain an error in the affiliations, where an affiliation was inadvertently omitted for author Yasmine Gomaa. [Extracted from the article]

Presents a study which examined the electronic properties of potassium absorbed sodium from zeolite Linde type A (LTA). Methodology used to conduct the study; Information on the electronic structure calculations; Details on the two absorption systems; Description of the electronic valance charge density countour plot on the xy plane; Findings of the study.

Children, as a special group, have their own peculiarities in terms of individualized medication use compared to adults. Adverse drug reactions have been an important issue that needs to be addressed in the hope of safe medication use in children, and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions is partly due to genetic factors. Anti‐infective drugs are widely used in children, and they have always been an important cause of the occurrence of adverse reactions in children. Pharmacogenomic technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and there are now many guidelines describing the pharmacogenomics of anti‐infective drugs. However, data from paediatric‐based studies are scarce. This review provides a systematic review of the pharmacogenomics of anti‐infective drugs recommended for gene‐guided use in CPIC guidelines by exploring the relationship between pharmacogenetic frequencies and the incidence of adverse reactions, which will help inform future studies of individualized medication use in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated immune responses induced by purified Ebola virus (EBOV) soluble glycoprotein (sGP) subunit vaccines via intradermal immunization with microneedle (MN) patches in comparison with intramuscular (IM) injection in mice. Our results showed that MN delivery of EBOV sGP was superior to IM injection in eliciting higher levels and longer lasting antibody responses against EBOV sGP and GP antigens. Moreover, sGP-specific immune responses induced by MN or IM immunizations were effectively augmented by formulating sGP with a saponin-based adjuvant, and they were shown to confer complete protection of mice against lethal mouse-adapted EBOV (MA-EBOV) challenge. In comparison, mice that received sGP without adjuvant by MN or IM immunizations succumbed to lethal MA-EBOV challenge. These results show that immunization with EBOV sGP subunit vaccines with adjuvant by MN patches, which have been shown to provide improved safety and thermal stability, is a promising approach to protect against EBOV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly enantioselective (91‐ > 99% ee) Michael addition of α‐nitroacetate to α,β‐unsaturated pyrazolamide was developed in the presence of a bifunctional squaramide. Satisfactory isolated yields (42%‐99%) have been achieved with a wide range of α,β‐unsaturated pyrazolamides, albeit acceptor of this type displayed poor reactivity in the precedent reports. The adducts resulting from this protocol are useful synthetic intermediates for further synthetic modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aspects of 3-neutrino mixing and oscillations in vacuum and in matter with constant density are investigated working with a real form of the neutrino Hamiltonian. We find the (approximate) equalities θ 23 m = θ 23 and δ m = δ , θ 23 (θ 23 m) and δ (δ m) being respectively the atmospheric neutrino mixing angle and the Dirac CP violation phase in vacuum (in matter) of the neutrino mixing matrix, which are shown to represent excellent approximations for the conditions of the T2K (T2HK), T2HKK, NO ν A and DUNE neutrino oscillation experiments. A new derivation of the known relation sin ⁡ 2 θ 23 m sin ⁡ δ m = sin ⁡ 2 θ 23 sin ⁡ δ is presented and it is used to obtain a correlation between the shifts of θ 23 and δ due to the matter effect. A derivation of the relation between the rephasing invariants which determine the magnitude of CP and T violating effects in 3-flavour neutrino oscillations in vacuum, J CP , and of the T violating effects in matter with constant density, J T m ≡ J m , reported in [1] without a proof, is presented. It is shown that the function F which appears in this relation, J m = J CP F , and whose explicit form was given in [1] , coincides with the function F ˜ in the similar relation J m = J CP F ˜ derived in [2] , although F and F ˜ are expressed in terms of different sets of neutrino mass and mixing parameters and have completely different forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a response to "comment on 'Pooled analysis of Xpert bladder cancer based on the 5 mRNAs for rapid diagnosis of bladder carcinoma'" by Gopal Sharma. With this comment, author highlighted the strengths and limitations of the study. With this response, we respond to this and make a comparison of the results and conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal occurrence of Perkinsus spp. infection in the wild clam, Soletellina acuta , along the coast of Wuchuan County, southern China was investigated over one year using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method combined with sequencing technique. The tissue distribution of P. olseni in ( S. acuta ) was also compared among four tissues, namely the gill, mantle, digestive gland, and siphon, using the real-time PCR method. S. acuta populations were concurrently infected by two Perkinsus spp., P. olseni and P. beihaiensis , among different sampling months. Prevalence of Perkinsus spp. infection in the clam ranges from 9.4% to 50.6% and is significantly different among seasons, and was significantly higher in the March sampling period (spring), while it was significantly lower in the June sampling period (summer). Different seasonal patterns of prevalence occur between P. olseni and P. beihaiensis infection in the clam ( S. acuta ). S. acuta is more prone to be infected by P. olseni than by P. beihaiensis . The results of qPCR assay demonstrated that positive rate of P. olseni in S. acuta differs significantly among the four tissues. P. olseni infected the gill and mantle tissues more preferably than the siphon tissue; however, the concentration of the parasite did not differ significantly among the four tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogen receptor-β005 (ER-β005) is a novel compound developed by our group; however, its application has been greatly hindered due to its low solubility. A nanosuspension of insoluble drugs is a nanoscale colloidal dispersion that has extremely higher drug-loading compared with other nanomedicines. In this study, nanosuspensions of ER-β005 (Nano-ER-β005) stabilized by a food protein, β-casein (β-CN), were prepared via an antisolvent-precipitation method to improve oral absorption and thus promote therapeutic efficacy. Nano-ER-β005, which has a diameter of 110 nm and drug-loading of 50%, was developed. Analyses of fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectra demonstrated a strong interaction between β-CN and drug particles in Nano-ER-β005, indicating that β-CN is a potent nanosuspension stabilizer. The oral bioavailability of Nano-ER-β005 was 1.6-fold greater than that of raw drug particles. Additionally, ER-β005 was confirmed to have a strong therapeutic effect against pain reactions in animal models, and inhibition of this effect was significantly increased with Nano-ER-β005 treatment. In conclusion, by using β-CN as a stabilizer, nanosuspensions of ER-β005 were developed and oral absorption was enhanced. Moreover, ER-β005 is a powerful drug that inhibits pain reactions, and its therapeutic efficacy was markedly increased in the Nano-ER-β005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Materials and Methods Results Conclusion Following worldwide progress in digital technology, the utilization of advanced technology to update the concept and mode of education has become an important way to improve the quality and scale of talent training. Adoption of virtual reality technology has a positive effect on dental education. Virtual reality technology has been introduced into Chinese dental education nearly 10 years ago, and a holistic teaching system that employs virtual simulation technology to assist instructors in teaching and students in learning has gradually been formed.Based on the work of the West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, we introduced the necessity and advantages of the application of virtual simulation technology in talent training in dentistry and the status of this teaching system.A virtual dental simulation teaching system was constructed and applied in China. Virtual reality technology was incorporated into the four elements of the teaching system. This reformed system carried out educational informatization in terms of the construction of a virtual simulation teaching platform, development of virtual simulation teaching resources, improvement of the student training model, and upgrading of teaching management.The holistic teaching system implemented at the West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, highlights the successful incorporation of virtual reality technology into various aspects of dental education. The construction of this system reflects the deep integration of modern information technology and dental education, with the aim of helping dental educators promote teaching methods and management model in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry-cured meat products are popular worldwide because of their distinct flavor. However, the high sodium chloride levels of these products have raised public health concerns. Accordingly, to meet the needs of consumers, it is necessary to develop low-salt dry-cured meat products with high quality and safety. In this review, we discuss the effects of salt on dry-cured meat products, current research on salt reduction, and the advantages and disadvantages of salt reduction strategies. In addition, we also summarize salt reduction methods for meat products using exogenous mediation strategies, discuss salt reduction mechanisms used for mediated curing, and present future research directions for mediated salting strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is an inflammatory mycosis of the central nervous system caused by meninge infection or brain parenchyma with Cryptococcus species. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome are particularly susceptible. There have been increasing reports of CM in HIV-negative patients in China over the last few years. Case presentation: A 31-year-old healthy Chinese male presented with fever and gradually developed headache, projectile vomiting, and other manifestations that were later confirmed as Cryptococcus gattii meningoencephalitis. However, multiple disease changes occurred during the course of treatment, and the regimen was accordingly modified after the diagnosis of post-infectious inflammatory response syndrome (PIIRS). The patient eventually recovered. Conclusion: There has been a growing trend in the incidence of C. gattii meningoencephalitis in HIV-negative patients. It shows rapid onset and severe prognosis. This case report can provide a reference to treat PIIRS following CM in HIV-negative patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract RNA editing was first discovered in mitochondrial RNA molecular. However, whether adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing has functions in nuclear genes involved in mitochondria remains elusive. Here, we retrieved 707,246 A-to-I RNA editing sites in Macaca mulatta leveraging massive transcriptomes of 30 different tissues and genomes of nine tissues, together with the reported data, and found that A-to-I RNA editing occurred frequently in nuclear genes that have functions in mitochondria. The mitochondrial structure, the level of ATP production, and the expression of some key genes involved in mitochondrial function were dysregulated after knocking down the expression of ADAR1 and ADAR2 , the key genes encoding the enzyme responsible for RNA editing. When investigating dynamic changes of RNA editing during brain development, an amino-acid-changing RNA editing site (I234/V) in MFN1 , a mediator of mitochondrial fusion, was identified to be significantly correlated with age, and could influence the function of MFN1. When studying transcriptomes of brain disorder, we found that dysregulated RNA editing sites in autism were also enriched within genes having mitochondrial functions. These data indicated that RNA editing had a significant function in mitochondria via their influence on nuclear genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dispersive modal characteristics of propagating guided waves are useful for efficiently detecting defects in high-speed railway rails due to their advantages. This paper presents an effective method for directly analyzing the effect of defects in rails on the dispersive modal characteristics of propagating guided waves, which can be utilized for the defect detection in rails. By using the semianalytical finite element method and from the characteristic equations of the guided wave propagation in waveguides, a general perturbation method is developed to provide an exact relationship between the perturbations of structural stiffness caused by damage and the perturbations of dispersive modal characteristics of propagating guided waves. Thus, the phase velocity and group velocity for the damaged waveguide can be accurately predicted. From the obtained propagating guided wave modes, a mode selection index used for selecting effective guided waves for damage detection is introduced by evaluating the nodal displacements and energy concentrations on the rail surfaces. Finally, a numerical study for a high-speed rail is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for rail defect detection and propagating mode selection. The results of the numerical study show that the dispersive modal properties of propagating modes are affected by the location and size of defects in the rail, and the proposed method can give useful information for effective detection of defects in rails. Defects often occur in rails, which can be detected by using guided waves. Guided waves have advantages of high detection efficiency, long propagation distance, and small attenuation along the propagation path, which is particularly useful for detecting rail defects in practices. In the defect detection process, the group velocity and phase velocity dispersion curves should be analyzed, and the effect of rail defects on these dispersion curves needs to be fully investigated for effective damage identification. Also, these results can be useful for selecting appropriate guided wave modes and effective measuring positions for detecting defects in rails by guided wave testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing rural land collective property right system with clear ownership, complete powers and functions, smooth transfer, and strict protection is the basic guarantee to the equal exchange of land elements. In this study, the reform of relevant lega systems to China's rural land transfer was introduced firstly, and then the guiding ideology of China's rural land transfer was proposed. Finally, the ways of practicing rural land transfer in China were discussed. Based on the premise of insisting on and improving the strictest l and preservation system, farmers should have the right to occupy, use, and transfer their contracted land, and they can transfer their l and contracting and manaement right in ways of exchange, subcontracting, renting, sock cooperation, and trust. Exploring the ways of equal exchage of land elements according to local conditions is an important political and economic issue concerning the livelihood and development of farmers in China, so it should be conducted under the guidace of the correct ideas to integrate scattered land in China's rural areas, develop moderate-scale management, shorten the income gap between urba and rural areas, and realize balancing development of urban and rural areas in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under unbalanced grid faults, the output currents of a photovoltaic (PV) system injected into the grid lose their sinusoidal and balanced appearance. The interaction between such unbalanced currents and voltages leads to fluctuations in active and reactive powers. This study investigates the instantaneous output power characteristics of a PV inverter and its flexible power control strategy under unbalanced grid faults. A new optimal parameter model of power control is established to generate minimal integrated power fluctuations under the constraint of harmonic distortion in the output current. Finally, the optimal power control of the PV inverter based on dead beat current tracking is realized. The feasibility of the proposed control strategy is verified with the power system transient software PSCAD/EMTDC. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study tested the hypothesis that encapsulation of influenza vaccine in microneedle patches increases vaccine stability during storage at elevated temperature. Methods: Whole inactivated influenza virus vaccine (A/Puerto Rico/8/34) was formulated into dissolving microneedle patches and vaccine stability was evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays of antigenicity and immunogenicity after storage for up to 3 months at 4, 25, 37 and 45°C. Results: While liquid vaccine completely lost potency as determined by hemagglutination (HA) activity within 1-2 weeks outside of refrigeration, vaccine in microneedle patches lost 40-50% HA activity during or shortly after fabrication, but then had no significant additional loss of activity over 3 months of storage, independent of temperature. This level of stability required reduced humidity by packaging with desiccant, but was not affected by presence of oxygen. This finding was consistent with additional stability assays, including antigenicity of the vaccine measured by ELISA, virus particle morphological structure captured by transmission electron microscopy and protective immune responses by immunization of mice in vivo. Conclusions: These data show that inactivated influenza vaccine encapsulated in dissolving microneedle patches has enhanced stability during extended storage at elevated temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-enriched mesoporous carbon nanofibers (NMCNFs) were prepared by an electrospinning technique using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) nanosheets both as sacrificial template and N-doping source. The resultant NMCNF film has a high N-doping level of 8.6 wt% and a high specific surface area of 554 m 2 g −1 . When directly used as the electrode material for supercapacitor, the free-standing NMPCNF film shows a significantly improved capacitive performance including a higher specific capacitance (220 F g −1 at 0.2 A g −1 ) and a better rate capability (∼70% retention at 20 A g −1 ) than those of microporous carbon nanofiber film prepared using the same process without using g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets (145 F g −1 at 0.2 A g −1 and ∼45% retention at 20 A g −1 ). Moreover, the NMCNFs show superior stability with only a ∼3% decrease of its initial capacitance after 1000 cycles at a high current density of 10 A g −1 . More significantly, the energy density of a symmetrical supercapacitor (SC) based on the NMPCNF film can reach 12.5 Wh kg −1 at a power density of 72 W kg −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]