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Objective • This study aimed to assess the efficacy of combining four-dimensional (4D) color ultrasound with maternal serological index testing in prenatal screening for fetal anomalies. Methods • A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 864 pregnant women who underwent prenatal checkups at the hospital between January 2020 and January 2021. During the mid-pregnancy period, serological tests were performed to determine levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), free β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (Free-HCG β), pregnancyassociated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), and vitamin B12 (VitB12). Additionally, 4D color ultrasound examinations were conducted. The gold standard for evaluation was the results of delivery or labor induction. AFP, Free-HCG β, PAPP-A, and VitB12 levels were compared between the anomaly group and the normal group. The diagnostic efficacy of single and combined detection of serological indexes and 4D color ultrasound was analyzed, with the calculation of the areas under the curve (AUC) for different detection methods. Results • Among the 864 pregnant women, 44 cases (5.09%) exhibited fetal anomalies, while 820 cases (94.91%) did not. The anomaly group showed significantly higher multiples of the median (MOM) values for AFP and Free-HCG β (P < .001) and significantly lower PAPP-A MOM and VitB12 levels (P < .001) compared to the normal group. The sensitivity of single detections for AFP MOM, Free-HCG β MOM, PAPP-A MOM, VitB12, 4D color ultrasound, and combined detection were 63.64%, 68.18%, 65.91%, 54.55%, 77.27%, and 97.93%, respectively. The corresponding AUC values were 0.805, 0.829, 0.818, 0.761, 0.885, and 0.974. Conclusions • The combination of 4D color ultrasound with maternal serological index testing demonstrated high sensitivity in prenatal screening for fetal anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the biomechanical stability of anterior transarticular crossing screw (ATCS) and compare it with anterior transarticular screw (ATS) which may provide basic evidence for clinical application. Methods: Eight human fresh cadaveric specimens (occiput-C4) were tested with 5 conditions including the intact status, the injury status (type II odontoid fracture), the injury+ATS fixation status (traditional bilateral ATS fixation); the injury+unilateral ATCS fixation status; and the injury+bilateral ATCS fixation status. Specimens were applied to a pure moment of 1.5 Nm in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, respectively. The range of motions (ROMs) and the neutral zones (NZs) of C1 to C2 segment were calculated and compared between 5 status. Results: ATS and ATCS fixations significantly reduced the motions in all directions when compared with the intact and injury statues (p < 0.05). In flexion-extension, the ROMs of ATS, unilateral ATCS, and bilateral ATCS were 4.7° ± 2.5°, 4.1° ± 1.9°, and 3.2° ± 1.2°, respectively. Bilateral ATCS resulted in a significant decrease in ROM in flexion-extension when compared with ATS and unilateral ATCS (p = 0.035 and p = 0.023). In lateral bending and axial rotation, there was no significant difference in ROM between the 3 fixations (p > 0.05). Three fixations resulted in similar NZs in all directions (p > 0.05). Conclusion: ATCS is a biomechanically effective alternative or supplemental method for atlantoaxial instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the index system of ecological balanced fertilization for wheat was discussed by data mining method based on this column. Three aspects of provincial average, typical province and all samples were studied, the results and conclusions were as follows: 1 climate condition was one of the main factors of soil formation, which was also an important basis for the division of wheat producing areas. The proportion of available nutrients was different in different wheat producing areas. This was the result of long-term climate and man-made action, and it constituted the basic fertility pattern of soil available nutrient for wheat in China. 2 One of the basic fertility indexes of soil for wheat in China was the proportion of available nutrients, which was the theoretical basis for adjusting the proportion of N, P and K fertilizers. 3 Although the total amount and proportion of available nutrients in different wheat producing areas were different, they can be adjusted to the optimum absorption ratio of wheat by fertilizing measures, so as to achieve the goal of ecological balanced fertilization such as high production and good quality. 4 The basic soil nutrient indexes of more than S 000 kg/hm² of wheat production were less than 6 of hydrolysable N/ available P and less than 7 of available Kl available P, and the fertilization index was that optimum K fertilization amount was 0. 6 - 1. 2 times of optimum P fertilization amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzed the modeling principle, process and application process of the new ecological balanced fertilization model by data mining method based on the relationships among soil abundance - deficiency index, optimum fertilization amount and nutrient conversion rate of N, P, K for rice, wheat and maize in column papers. The results and conclusions were as follows: 1 on the basis of two ecological balanced fertilization models (available and total nutrients), a prediction model system of optimum fertilization amount based on nutrient conversion rate was established, including 3 models. The first model predicted the optimum fertilization amount based on nutrient conversion rate, and the second model determined prediction difference value of optimum fertilization amount in the first amendment based on optimum yield, and the third model determined prediction difference value of optimum fertilization amount in the second amendment based on nutrient conversion rate. 2 Nutrient conversion rate and optimum yield were the common parameters of two models based on contents of available and total nutrients, and they were the core parameters of ecological balanced fertili ration model. In the specific application, the nutrient conversion rate and optimum yield were determined mainly based on the comprehensive comparison between the regional or similar plot or one plot and the experimental plot. 3 The two error amendments were due to the use of the fixed nutrient removal of 100 kg seeds, and underestimated the nutrient conversion rate when higher optimum production and overestimated the nutrient conversion rate when lower optimum production. 4 It was proposed that the nutrient conversion rate was regarded as a comprehensive nutrient index (abundance - deficiency) of ecological balanced fertilization. It was not only a parameter to measure fertilizer efficiency, but also a parameter to measure the abundance - deficiency of nutrients, and a parameter to guide fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the index system of ecological balanced fertilization for rice was discussed by data mining method based on this column. Three aspects of provincial average, typical province and all samples were studied, and the results and conclusions were as follows: 1 climate condition was one of the main factors of soil formation, which was also an important basis for the division of rice growing areas. The proportion of available nutrients was different in different rice growing areas. This was the result of long-term climate and man-made action, which constituted the basic fertility pattern of soil available nutrients for rice in China. 2 One of the basic fertility indexes of rice soil in China was the proportion of available nutrients, which was the theoretical basis for adjusting the proportion of N, P and K fertilizers. 3 Although the total amount and proportion of available nutrients in different rice growing areas were different, they can be adjusted to the optimum absorption ratio of rice by fertilizing measures, so as to achieve the goal of ecological balanced fertilization such as high production and good quality. 4 The basic soil nutrient index of more than 8 000 kg/hm2 of rice production was more than 5 of available Kl available P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the relationships between utilization ratios and conversion rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for wheat by data mining method based on data of "3414 fertilizer field trials" of wheat by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. The results and conclusions were as follows; Q) the conceptual model of fertilizer utilization ratio of wheat for plot was that, YN = a + b x optimum nitrogen application amount + c X optimum fertilizer amount of K + d X rainfall in growth season, YP = a + b X optimum fertilizer amount of K + c X rainfall in growth season, Yk = a + b X temperature in growth season + c X rainfall in growth season - d X optimum yield - e X optimum nitrogen application amount, respectively. @ Fertilizer utilization ratio and nutrient conversion rate had 4 kinds of relationships. No significant relationships: 13, of which 8 were soil nutrients, the results showed that soil nutrients had little effect on nutrient conversion rate and fertilizer utilization ratio; consistent significant relationships; 4, they were all nitrogen and phosphorus, explaining the importance of nitrogen and phosphorus; contrary significant relationships: 6, they were all nitrogen and phosphorus, illustrating that phosphorus and nitrogen had inhibitory effect; complementary significant relationships; 31, the cause of the complementary phenomenon was that the fertilizer utilization ratio was the measuring index of fertilizer efficiency in one season, while the nutrient conversion rate was the measuring index of fertilizer efficiency in more seasons. It showed that the fertilizer utilization rate was significantly correlated, or the nutrient conversion rate was significantly correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the index system of ecological balanced fertilization for wheat by data mining method based on data of "3414 fertilizer field trials" of wheat by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. The results and conclusions were as follows. CD Soil nutrient content could not be used as indicator of fertilizer application of wheat. @The conceptual model of N utilization ratio of wheat for plot was YN = a + b X optimum production - c X optimum fertilizer amount of N - d X temperature in growing season - e X rainfall in growing season, and the conceptual model of P conversion rate was Yp = a + b x optimum production + c x temperature in growing season + d x precipitation in growing season - e x optimum fertilizer amount of P - f x optimum fertilizer amount of K, and the conceptual model of K conversion rate of wheat plots was that, YK = a - b X optimum fertilizer amount of K. @ The conceptual model of the optimum fertilizer amount of N of wheat for plot was YN =a + b x optimum production + c x optimum fertilizer amount of P - d X temperature in growing season - e X rainfall in growing season, and the conceptual model of the optimum fertilizer amount of P was YP =a + b x optimum production + c x optimum fertilizer amount of N + d x optimum fertilizer amount of K, and the conceptual model of the optimum fertilizer amount of K was Y" = a + b X optimum fertilizer amount of P. @ The conceptual model of relative abundance - deficiency value of soil N of wheat for plot was that YN = a - b x temperature in growing season - c x precipitation in growing season, and the conceptual model of relative abundance - deficiency value of soil P was Y.= a +b xoptimum yield +c X optimum fertilizer amount of N +d X precipitation in growing season - e X optimum fertilizer amount of K, and the conceptual model of relative abundance - deficiency value of soil K was YK = a + b X optimum yield + c X optimum fertilizer amount of K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the index system of ecological balanced fertilization for wheat by data mining method based on data of "3414 fertilizer field trials" of wheat by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. The results and conclusions were as follows; (D the optimum N, P and K fertilization amounts of wheat were within the normal range, and the application of this standard could not cause obvious non-point source pollution. ®The conversion rates of N, P and K of wheat were 58. 78%, 58. 63 % and 199. 88 % higher than the utilization ratios of N, P and K under the optimum fertilization amount, respectively. @ At present, the soil N for wheat was in a low equilibrium stage, and soil P and K were in the middle and high levels, in which P was in the accumulation stage, and K was in the depletion stage. @The relationship between fertilizer effect or fertility and optimum production had consistency. The fertilizer effect was negatively correlated with the optimum fertilization amounts of its own nutrient and other nutrients. N, P and K fertilizers had mutual promoting effects when they were balanced. Soil nutrient played an inhibitory role in the fertilizer efficiency of its own nutrient. ®The phosphorus and potassium utilization ratios were significantly positively correlated with the optimum phosphorus fertilization amount and the optimal potassium fertilization amount, which was the scientific basis for phosphorus and potassium concentrated fertilization of wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the relationships between utilization ratios and conversion rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for rice by data mining method based on data of " 3414 fertilizer field trials" of rice by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2()05. The results and conclusions were as follows:

Study Design: A biomechanical human cadaveric study.Objective: The aim of this study was to measure L2-L3 facet joint contact forces in a flexibility test using thin film electroresistive sensors, and facet joint orientation on computed tomographic (CT) scan images, to examine the effects of orientation of lumbar facet joint on the facet joint contact forces.Summary Of Background Data: Biomechanically, the bilateral facet joints play a critical role in maintaining stability of the lumbar spine. The effect of orientation of lumbar facet joints on the contact forces remains unknown.Methods: Eight human cadaveric lumbar spine specimens (L2-L3) were tested by applying a pure moment of ±7.5 Nm in three directions of loading (flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation) with and without a follower preload of 300 N. The orientation of the lumbar facet joints at the L2-L3 was measured on axial CT scans. Bilateral facet contact forces were measured during flexibility tests using thin film electroresistive sensors (Tekscan 6900).Results: The average total peak facet loads was 66 N in axial rotation, 27 N in extension, and 20 N in lateral bending under a pure moment. Under a pure moment with a follower preload of 300 N, the average total peak facet loads was 53 N in axial rotation, 43 N in extension, and 24 N in lateral bending. The facet joint forces were correlated positively and significantly with the orientation in all directions with and without a compressive follower preload (P < 0.05). In addition, the facet joint contact forces at neutral position with a follower preload were correlated positively with the orientation (rs = 0.759, P = 0.001).Conclusion: This study identified that the greater coronal orientation of lumbar facet joints is, the higher the facet joint contact forces are.Level Of Evidence: 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a novel semi‐cannulated lateral mass screw (SC‐LMS) for cervical posterior fixations and compare the fixation stability and safety of SC‐LMS with regular solid lateral mass screw (S‐LMS) in bone cement augmentation and pullout strength using fresh cadaveric cervical vertebrae. Methods: The conventional multiaxial screw for cervical lateral mass fixation was modified to a cannulated screw with two lateral holes, used for bone cement injection in situ. Eight fresh human cervical vertebrae (C3, C4, and C5) were collected and used. μCT scan was performed to evaluate the bone quality of the lateral masses, including bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). SCLMS or S‐LMS were randomly inserted into the paired cervical vertebrae and pulled out as a screw loosening model. These screws were reinserted in with bone cement augmentation, scanned by μCT to obtain the bone cement distribution along the screws, and pulled out to test the screw purchase strength. Results: Fmax values exhibited strong positive correlations with the local BMD (푟 = 0.8640, p < 0.0001) and Tb.Th (푟 = 0.6795, p = 0.0038), whereas a negative correlation with Tb.Sp (푟 = −0.5567, p = 0.0251). A significant difference was observed between the Fmax before and after PMMA injection on the SC‐LMS side (p = 0.019). The SC‐LMS exhibited lower risk of cement leakage than S‐LMS after PMMA injection, and a positive correlation was observed between 퐹max and the distribution volumes on the SC‐LMS side. Conclusion: The novel SC‐LMS provides more robust fixation stability and is safer than the S‐LMS for PMMA augmentation, which may be related to the cement‐screw‐cement‐bone complex formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the feature extraction of multidimensional asynchronous delay-tap plot entropy (ADTPE) and multiclass classification of support vector machine (SVM), we propose a method for recognition of multiple optical modulation formats and various data rates. We firstly present the algorithm of multidimensional ADTPE, which is extracted from asynchronous delay sampling pairs of modulated optical signal. Then, a multiclass SVM is utilized for fast and accurate classification of several widely-used optical modulation formats. In addition, a simple real-time recognition scheme is designed to reduce the computation time. Compared to the existing method based on asynchronous delay-tap plot (ADTP), the theoretical analysis and simulation results show that our recognition method can effectively enhance the tolerance of transmission impairments, obtaining relatively high accuracy. Finally, it is further demonstrated that the proposed method can be integrated in an optical transport network (OTN) with flexible expansion. Through simply adding the corresponding sub-SVM module in the digital signal processer (DSP), arbitrary new modulation formats can be recognized with high recognition accuracy in a short response time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel schemes are proposed to teleport an unknown two-level quantum state probabilistically when the sender and the receiver only have partial information about the quantum channel, respectively. This is distinct from the fact that either the sender or the receiver has entire information about the quantum channel in previous schemes for probabilistic teleportation. Theoretical analysis proves that these schemes are straightforward, efficient and cost-saving. The concrete realization procedures of our schemes are presented in detail, and the result shows that our proposals could extend the application range of probabilistic teleportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A decoding scheme of the orthogonally concatenated codes with low resource utilizations is proposed. In the optical transport networks (OTN), forward error-correction (FEC) techniques are used to reduce the errors which occur in transmissions. Two-orthogonal-concatenated (TOC) codes are widely used in FEC techniques for their powerful error-correction capabilities based on the iterative decoding procedure. However, the framing structure is complex so the decoding procedure is more difficult than the decoding of in–out concatenated codes. And the powerful error-correction capability relies on the multi-iterative decoding processing, thus how to effectively utilize the hardware resources is a very important problem. Especially when the decoding procedure is implemented in the field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices, effective optimizations are required for the limited resources. In this paper we present an iterative decoding scheme in FPGA with low resource utilizations. As an example, an actual engineering application under the G.975.1 recommendation is given to show the efficiency of the proposed design. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A solution to blind recognition of binary cyclic codes is proposed in this paper. This problem could be addressed on the context of non-cooperative communications or adaptive coding and modulations. We consider it as a reverse engineering problem of error-correcting coding. The proposed algorithm recovers the encoder parameters of a cyclic, coded communication system with the only knowledge of the noisy information streams. By taking advantages of soft-decision outputs of the channel and by employing statistical signal-processing methods, it achieves higher recognition performances than existing algorithms which are based on algebraic approaches in hard-decision situations. By comprehensive simulations, we show that the probability of false estimation of coding parameters of our proposed algorithm is much lower than the existing algorithms, and falls rapidly when signal-to-noise ratio increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is present in this paper a new blind frame synchronization method for optical packet transmission systems using Reed–Solomon (RS) codes in hard decision situations. The transmitter sends a sequence of RS coded packets without synchronization words to improve the spectral efficiency and the receiver blindly estimates the start position of each packet in the sequence to achieve frame synchronization. The proposed algorithm estimates the synchronization position based on the architecture of RS codes. If the synchronization is not correct, the packets could not form valid RS code words. According to this fact, the proposed algorithm estimates the synchronization position by searching the position that the packets from which contain the lowest error symbols. To estimate the error symbols number for a packet, we calculate the rank of the syndrome matrix which denotes how many errors occurred in a packet. The proposed algorithm is also compared with previous ones and the computer simulations show that our algorithm yields a good result especially on low SNRs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A method of blind recognition of the coding parameters for binary Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) codes is proposed in this paper. We consider an intelligent communication receiver which can blindly recognize the coding parameters of the received data stream. The only knowledge is that the stream is encoded using binary BCH codes, while the coding parameters are unknown. The problem can be addressed on the context of the non-cooperative communications or adaptive coding and modulations (ACM) for cognitive radio networks. The recognition processing includes two major procedures: code length estimation and generator polynomial reconstruction. A hard decision method has been proposed in a previous literature. In this paper we propose the recognition approach in soft decision situations with Binary-Phase-Shift-Key modulations and Additive-White-Gaussian-Noise (AWGN) channels. The code length is estimated by maximizing the root information dispersion entropy function. And then we search for the code roots to reconstruct the primitive and generator polynomials. By utilizing the soft output of the channel, the recognition performance is improved and the simulations show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method of blind recognition of the coding parameters for binary Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) codes is proposed in this paper. We consider an intelligent communication receiver which can blindly recognize the coding parameters of the received data stream. The only knowledge is that the stream is encoded using binary BCH codes, while the coding parameters are unknown. The problem can be addressed on the context of the non-cooperative communications or adaptive coding and modulations (ACM) for cognitive radio networks. The recognition processing includes two major procedures: code length estimation and generator polynomial reconstruction. A hard decision method has been proposed in a previous literature. In this paper we propose the recognition approach in soft decision situations with Binary-Phase-Shift-Key modulations and Additive-White-Gaussian-Noise (AWGN) channels. The code length is estimated by maximizing the root information dispersion entropy function. And then we search for the code roots to reconstruct the primitive and generator polynomials. By utilizing the soft output of the channel, the recognition performance is improved and the simulations show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzed theoretical basis of ecological balanced fertilization by data mining method based on the relationships among relative abundance - deficiency values of soil nutrients, optimum fertilization amounts and nutrient conversion rates of N, P and K for rice, wheat and maize in column papers. The results and conclusions were as follows: 1 the scientific basis of guiding fertilization by the relative abundance - deficiency value of soil nutrient was insufficient. ®The scientific basis for predicting fertilizer amount according to nutrient conversion rate was sufficient. @There was consistency among the relative abundance - deficiency values of soil nutrients, indicating that the soil nutrient balance was important to the production. © There was some consistency among the optimum fertilizer amounts, indicating that N, P and K fertilizer should be balanced. @ There was some consistency among nutrient conversion rates, indicating that nutrient uptake was consistent, which required the consistency among relative abundance - deficiency values of soil nutrients. When there was inconsistency, it needed to be supplemented by means of fertilization. @The relative abundance - deficiency value of soil nutrient and optimum fertilizer amounts of other nutrients were negatively correlated mostly, indicating that if the relative abundance - deficiency value of soil nutrient was high, the others also should be high, resulting in optimum fertilizer amounts of other nutrients decreased. (J) The nutrient conversion rate was negatively correlated mostly with the optimal fertilizer amounts of other nutrients, indicating that more fertilizer amount of one nutrient lowered its own conversion rate, mean while also reduced the conversion rates of other nutrients. It embodied the unity and balance of nutrient absorption by the crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the index system of ecological balanced fertilization for maize by data mining method based on data of "3414 fertilizer field trials" of maize by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. The results and conclusions were as follows. CD Soil nutrient content could not be used as indicator of fertilizer application of maize. @The conceptual model of N conversion rate of maize for plot was YΝ = a + b X optimum production - c X optimum fertilizer amount of N - d X optimum phosphorus application amount - e X optimum potassium application amount - f x temperature in growth season - g x rainfall in growth season. The conceptual model of P conversion rate of maize for plot was YΚ = a + b x optimum phosphorus application amount - c X optimum nitrogen application amount - d X optimum potassium application amount. The conceptual model of K conversion rate of maize for plot was YΚ = a + b x optimum yield - c x optimum nitrogen application amount - d x optimum phosphorus application amount - e X optimum potassium application amount - f X temperature in growth season - g X rainfall in growth season. @ The conceptual model of the optimum fertilizer amount of N of maize for plot was YΝ = a+ bx optimum phosphorus application amount + c x optimum potassium application amount + d x temperature in growing season + e X rainfall in growing season, and the conceptual model of the optimum fertilizer amount of P was YΡ = a + b X optimum nitrogen application amount, and the conceptual model of the optimum fertilizer amount of K was YΚ = a+ b x optimum nitrogen application amount + c x temperature in growth season + d x rainfall in growth season - e x optimum yield. @ The conceptual model of relative abundance - deficiency value of soil N of maize for plot was that YΝ = a, and the conceptual model of relative abundance - deficiency value of soil P was YΡ = a, and the conceptual model of relative abundance - deficiency value of soil K was Yκ = a + b x optimum nitrogen application amount + c x optimum phosphorus application amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the index system of ecological balanced fertilization for three crops by data mining method based on data of "3414 fertilizer field trials" of rice, wheat and maize by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. A systematic analysis of the materials and methods, the main research contents, the main research results and the main research conclusions of the column was made, in order to enable readers to understand and grasp the overall contents of the following 15 papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LDLR plays a key role in cholesterol homeostasis. LDLR mutations cause familial hypercholesterolemia and premature coronary heart disease. Genetic deletion of the LDLR induces atherosclerosis in mice fed a high-fat diet. LDLR expression is predominantly regulated by SREBP2. PPARα and PPARγ, ligand-activated transcription factors regulating energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism, are antiatherogenic in human and mouse models of atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of activation of PPARα and PPARγ, on LDLR expression in mouse hepatocytes and liver. Treatment of HepG2 cells with fenofibrate, a PPARα ligand, or troglitazone, a PPARγ' ligand, induced expression of LDLR mRNA and protein, increased LDL binding and restored LDLR expression inhibited by LDL and 25-hydroxycholesterol. Activation of PPARα and PPARγ increased the maturation of SREBP2 and was dependent on phosphorylation of Akt. In vivo, a high-fat diet suppressed LDLR expression in mouse liver and elevated plasma LDL-cholesterol; however, fenofibrate and troglitazone restored the high-fat diet-inhibited hepatic LDLR expression and reduced plasma LDL cholesterol. Taken together, our data suggest PPARα and PPARγ ligands activate Akt phosphorylation leading to increased hepatic LDLR expression and reduced plasma LDL cholesterol levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Admission hyperglycemia is a predictor of poor prognosis after ischemic stroke (IS). Previous studies have found that admission hyperglycemia was related to clopidogrel high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) in diabetic patients with myocardial infarction. However, reports on associations between admission hyperglycemia and clopidogrel HTPR remain scarce in IS patients. In this study, we assessed the correlation between admission hyperglycemia and clopidogrel HTPR in patients with IS. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included IS patients who were treated with clopidogrel for at least 5 days. Thromboelastography (TEG) was used to evaluate the platelet function. Clopidogrel HTPR was defined if adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet fibrin clot strength (MAADP)>47 mm. Otherwise, it would be defined as clopidogrel normal on-treatment platelet reactivity (NTPR). Two groups were divided according to admission glucose of 7.8 mmol/L, consistent with previous studies on admission hyperglycemia. The independent risk factors of clopidogrel HTPR were assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 147 patients were evaluated, and 42(28.57%) of patients were identified as clopidogrel HTPR. In the hyperglycemia group (admission glucose level ≥7.8mmol/L), 40.38% patients were defined as clopidogrel HTPR, which was significantly higher than in the normoglycemia group (22.11%, admission glucose level<7.8mmol/L) (P=0.019). According to multivariate analysis, hyperglycemia was independently associated with clopidogrel HTPR (OR=8.36, 1.47-47.55, P=0.017). Admission glucose level was linearly correlated with MAADP (r=0.29, P=0.005). Furthermore, with the increase of admission glucose level tertiles, the incidence of clopidogrel HTPR increased gradually (P for trend=0.008). Conclusions: Admission hyperglycemia is an independent predictor of clopidogrel HTPR and the glucose level is linearly correlated with MAADP in IS patients. Besides, with the increase of glucose level tertiles, the incidence of clopidogrel HTPR increases gradually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel particle filter termed the wavelet-based grey particle filter (WG-PF) is proposed to self-estimate the trajectory of a manoeuvring autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) without prior manoeuvring information. To implement the WG-PF, the particles are sampled by the state transition and grey prediction. The state transition is based on a prior dynamic model, while the grey prediction is a kind of model-free method that predicts the state through historical measurements. Therefore, the WG-PF has the inherent advantages of both model-based and model-free systems. Additionally, the measurement noise covariance is modified by the wavelet transform. Thus, the WG-PF can effectively correct the prior distribution and likelihood function of the particles and then alleviate the sample degeneracy problem. The estimation performances of three filters, the proposed WG-PF, the multiple model particle filter (PF) and the adaptive extended Kalman filter, are evaluated and compared through the experimental data, in which a trajectory plotted by the underwater acoustic positioning sensors is employed as the true trajectory. The grey-prediction-based and wavelet-based PFs are also examined to demonstrate their positive effects in the WG-PF. The presented results show that the WG-PF acquires satisfactory effectiveness, robustness and better estimation accuracy than the other filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying the particle filter (PF) technique, this paper proposes a PF-based algorithm to blindly demodulate the chaotic direct sequence spread spectrum (CDS-SS) signals under the colored or non-Gaussian noises condition. To implement this algorithm, the PFs are modified by (i) the colored or non-Gaussian noises are formulated by autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models, and then the parameters that model the noises are included in the state vector; (ii) the range-differentiating factor is imported into the intruder's chaotic system equation. Since the range-differentiating factor is able to make the inevitable chaos fitting error advantageous based on the chaos fitting method, thus the CDS-SS signals can be demodulated according to the range of the estimated message. Simulations show that the proposed PF-based algorithm can obtain a good bit-error rate performance when extracting the original binary message from the CDS-SS signals without any knowledge of the transmitter's chaotic map, or initial value, even when colored or non-Gaussian noises exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide the basis and reference to further insights into the neural activity of the human brain in a microgravity environment, we discuss the amplitude changes of low-frequency brain activity fluctuations using a simulated microgravity model. Twelve male participants between 24 and 31 years old received resting-state fMRI scans in both a normal condition and after 72 hours in a - 6° head down tilt (HDT). A paired sample t-test was used to test the amplitude differences of low-frequency brain activity fluctuations between these two conditions. With 72 hours in a - 6° HDT, the participants showed a decreased amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in the left thalamus compared with the normal condition (a combined threshold of P<0.005 and a minimum cluster size of 351 mm³ (13 voxels), which corresponded with the corrected threshold of P<0.05 determined by AlphaSim). Our findings indicate that a gravity change-induced redistribution of body fluid may disrupt the function of the left thalamus in the resting state, which may contribute to reduced motor control abilities and multiple executive functions in astronauts in a microgravity environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cysteine (C)-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), the primary receptor for stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), is involved in bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2)-induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitors. To target the in vivo function of CXCR4 in bone and explore the underlying mechanisms, we conditionally inactivated CXCR4 in osteoprecursors by crossing osterix (Osx)-Cre mice with floxed CXCR4 (CXCR4fl/fl) mice to generate knock-outs with CXCR4 deletion driven by the Osx promoter (Osx::CXCR4fl/fl). The Cre-mediated excision of CXCR4 occurred exclusively in bone of Osx::CXCR4fl/fl mice. When compared with littermate controls, Osx::CXCR4fl/fl mice developed smaller osteopenic skeletons as evidenced by reduced trabecular and cortical bone mass, lower bone mineral density, and a slower mineral apposition rate. In addition, Osx::CXCR4fl/fl mice displayed chondrocyte disorganization in the epiphyseal growth plate associated with decreased proliferation and collagen matrix syntheses. Moreover, mature osteoblast-related expression of type I collagen α1 and osteocalcin was reduced in bone of Osx::CXCR4fl/fl mice versus controls, suggesting that CXCR4 deficiency results in arrested osteoblast progression. Primary cultures for osteoblastic cells derived from Osx::CXCR4fl/fl mice also showed decreased proliferation and impaired osteoblast differentiation in response to BMP2 or BMP6 stimulation, and suppressed activation of intracellular BMP receptor-regulated Smads (R-Smads) and Erk1/2 was identified in CXCR4-deficient cells and bone tissues. These findings provide the first in vivo evidence that CXCR4 functions in postnatal bone development by regulating osteoblast development in cooperation with BMP signaling. Thus, CXCR4 acts as an endogenous signaling component necessary for bone formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutability of the w4 flower color locus in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., is conditioned by an allele designated w4-m. Germinal revertants recovered among self-pollinated progeny of mutable plants have been associated with the generation of necrotic root mutations, chlorophyll-deficiency mutations, and sterility mutations. A total of 24 necrotic root mutant lines were generated from a total of 24 independent reversion events at the w4-m locus. The initial mutable population included 4 mutable categories for w4-m, designated (1) low frequency of early excisions, (2) low frequency of late excisions, (3) high frequency of early excisions, and (4) high frequency of late excisions. These mutable categories were based upon flower phenotype, i.e., somatic tissue. A total of 22 of 24 necrotic root mutations occurred from germinal reversions classified in the high frequency of excision categories. Of these 22 mutants, 14 came from early excisions and 8 came from late excisions. These necrotic root mutants were allelic to 6 previously identified necrotic root mutants derived from the study of germinal revertants, i.e., gene tagging studies, chemical mutagenesis, and “spontaneous” occurrences from genetic crosses. Thus, all 30 necrotic root mutants in soybean are allelic. An F2 mapping population from the cross of Minsoy (Rn1 Rn1) × T328 (rn1 rn1) was used to map the Rn1 locus using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The Rn1 locus was located between Satt288 and Satt612 on molecular linkage group G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) mutations cause familial hypercholesterolemia and early atherosclerosis. ABCA1 facilitates free cholesterol efflux from peripheral tissues. We investigated the effects of LDLR deletion (LDLR-/-) on ABCA1 expression. LDLR-/- macrophages had reduced basal levels of ABCA1, ABCG1, and cholesterol efflux. A high fat diet increased cholesterol in LDLR-/- macrophages but not wild type cells. A liver X receptor (LXR) agonist induced expression of ABCA1, ABCG1, and cholesterol efflux in both LDLR-/- and wild type macrophages, whereas expression of LXRα or LXRβ was similar. Interestingly, oxidized LDL induced more ABCA1 in wild type macrophages than LDLR-/- cells. LDL induced ABCA1 expression in wild type cells but inhibited it in LDLR-/- macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner. However, lipoproteins regulated ABCG1 expression similarly in LDLR-/- and wild type macrophages. Cholesterol or oxysterols induced ABCA1 expression in wild type macrophages but had little or inhibitory effects on ABCA1 expression in LDLR-/- macrophages. Active sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1a (SREBP1a) inhibited ABCA1 promoter activity in an LXRE-dependent manner and decreased both macrophage ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux. Expression of ABCA1 in animal tissues was inversely correlated to active SREBP1. Oxysterols inactivated SREBP1 in wild type macrophages but not in LDLR-/- cells. Oxysterol synergized with nonsteroid LXR ligand induced ABCA1 expression in wild type macrophages but blocked induction in LDLR-/- cells. Taken together, our studies suggest that LDLR is critical in the regulation of cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 expression in macrophage. Lack of the LDLR impairs sterol-induced macrophage ABCA1 expression by a sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1-dependent mechanism that can result in reduced cholesterol efflux and lipid accumulation in macrophages under hypercholesterolemic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the index system of ecological balanced fertilization of maize was discussed by data mining method based on this column. Three aspects of provincial average, typical province and all samples were studied, and the results and conclusions were as follows: 1 climate condition was one of the main factors of soil formation, which was also an important basis for the division of maize producing areas. The proportion of available nutrients was different in different maize producing areas. This was the result of long-term climate and man-made action, which constituted the basic fertility pattern of soil available nutrient for maize in China. 2 One of the basic fertility indexes of maize soil in China was the proportion of available nutrients, which was the theoretical basis for adjusting the proportion of N, P and K fertilizers. 3 Although the total amount and proportion of available nutrients in different maize producing areas were different, they can be adjusted to the optimum absorption ratio of maize by fertilizing measures, so as to achieve the goal of ecological balanced fertilization such as high production and good quality. 4 The basic soil nutrient index of more than 9 (XX) kg/hm² of maize production was less than 8 of hydrolysable N/available P, and the fertilization index was that optimum N fertilization amount was more than 0. 8 times of optimum P fertilization amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducted comparative study of the index system of ecological balanced fertilization for rice, wheat and maize by data mining method based on data of" 3414 fertilizer field trials" of rice, wheat and maize by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. The main conclusions of this paper were as follow;

This paper studied the relationships between utilization ratios and conversion rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for maize by data mining method based on data of "3414 fertilizer field trials" of maize by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. The results and conclusions were as follows:

This paper studied the index system of ecological balanced fertilization for maize by data mining method based on data of "3414 fertilizer field trials" of maize by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. The results and conclusions were as follows; (D the optimum N, P and K fertilization amounts of maize were within the normal range, and the application of this standard could not cause obvious non-point source pollution. @The conversion rates of N, P and K of maize were respectively higher than their respective utilization ratios under the optimum fertilization amount. @ At present, the soil N for maize was in an absence state, and soil P and K were in a state of not obvious lack. @Optimum N, P and K fertilization amounts were significantly negatively correlated with their respective conversion ratios, respectively, and it provided a quantitative scientific basis for calculating the optimum fertiliz ation amount according to the nutrient conversion rate. Each province can use this significant relationship to guide the determination of the average optimal fertilization amounts of N, P and K and the optimal production in the province. @ The research results of nutrient conversion rate showed that any excessive application of N, P and K would reduce their own nutrient conversion rates, and may also reduce the conversion rates of other nutrients. The characteristics of crops absorbing N, P and K proportionally required that soil nutrients must be balanced in order to obtain high production, and fertilization was only the main means to regulate soil nutrient balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the nitrogen index system of ecological balanced fertilization for rice by data mining method based on data of" 3414 fertilizer field trials" of rice by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. The results and conclusions were as follows. (D Soil nutrient content could not be used as fertilization indicator of rice. @The conceptual model of nitrogen conversion rate of rice for plot was YN =a+ b X optimum production - c X optimum nitrogen fertilization amount - d X optimum phosphorus fertilization amount, and the conceptual model of phosphorus conversion rate was Yp =a - bx optimum phosphorus fertilization amount - c x optimum potassium fertilization amount, and the conceptual model of potassium conversion rate was YK =a+ b X optimum production+ c X optimum nitrogen fertilization amount - d X optimum potassium fertilization amount - e x annual average precipitation. @ The conceptual model of the optimum nitrogen fertilization amount of rice for plot was YN =a + b x optimum production +c Xoptimum phosphorus fertilization amount -d X annual average precipitation, and the conceptual model of the optimum phosphorus fertilization amount was YP =a + b x optimum nitrogen fertilization amount + c x optimum potassium fertilization amount, and the conceptual model of the optimum potassium fertilization amount was YK =a + b X optimum phosphorus fertilization amount + c X annual average precipitation. @The conceptual model of relative abundance - deficiency value of soil nitrogen of rice for plot was YN =a - b x optimum nitrogen fertilization amount - c x optimum potassium fertilization amount, and the conceptual model of relative abundance - deficiency value of soil phosphorus was Yp =a + b x soil available potassium - c x optimum potassium fertilization amount, and the conceptual model of relative abundance - deficiency value of soil potassium of rice was YK =a - b X optimum potassium fertilization amount. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the index system of ecological balanced fertilization for rice by data mining method based on data of " 3414 fertilizer field trials" of rice by published papers from national soil testing and recommendation since 2005. The results and conclusions were as follows: CD the optimum N, P and K fertilization amounts of rice were within the normal range, and the application of this standard could not cause obvious non-point source pollution. ® N, P and K conversion ratios were 76. 4%, 166. 58% and 261. 89% higher than N, P and K utilization ratios under the optimum fertilizer amount of rice, respectively. @ At present, the soil N for rice was in a low equilibrium stage, and soil P and K were in the middle and high level, in which P was in the accumulation stage, while K was in the depletion stage. @The relationship between fertilizer effect or fertility and optimum production had consistency. The fertilizer effect was negatively correlated with the optimum fertilization amount of its own nutrient. N, P and K fertilizers had mutual promoting effect when they were balanced. Soil nutrient played an inhibitory role in the fertilizer efficiency of its own nutrient. Soil nutrient sometimes played a role in promoting the efficiency of other nutrients, and sometimes inhibited them. It was a positive correlation between soil nutrients with the same attribute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) mediates the transfer of cholesteryl esters from HDL to triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. TaqIB polymorphism (B2 allele) identified in intron 1 is associated with lower plasma CETP concentrations and higher HDL cholesterol levels and may play an antiatherogenic role in humans. However, its molecular mechanism remains unclear. To evaluate the association between the promoter polymorphisms and CETP/HDL cholesterol levels, ten novel and three previously reported polymorphisms located within 3.3 kb of the CETP gene promoter were investigated in a sample of 357 elderly Japanese men. All the promoter polymorphisms were in linkage disequilibrium with each other and with TaqIB. The -2505A allele, the "S" allele of the [gaaa]n repeat ("S" denotes [gaaa]n=329 bp and longer, "L" denotes >329 bp) and TaqIB2 allele were significantly associated with both lower plasma CETP concentrations and higher HDL cholesterol levels whereas -971G/A and -629A/C were significantly associated with CETP concentrations but not with HDL-C levels. The 12-polymorphism haplotypes consisting of -2804, -2505, [gaaa]n, -1930, -1674, -1129, -1046, -971, -875, -827, -629, and TaqIB were analyzed. These 12 polymorphisms generated eight main haplotypes, accounting for 86% of the observed haplotypes. The G/A/S/T/T/C/T/A/C/C/A/B2 haplotype was significantly associated with lower CETP concentrations (2.0±0.6 µg/ml) and higher HDL cholesterol levels (55.1±12.7 mg/dl) than the other seven main haplotypes. The 5- and 3-polymorphism haplotype analyses consisting of -2505 and the [gaaa]n repeat indicated the -2505C/A polymorphism might explain the variation in the CETP concentrations best, and the [gaaa]n repeat and/or the -2505C/A polymorphism may independently determine the variation in HDL cholesterol levels, whereas the -629A/C and TaqIB polymorphisms were not instrumental in determining CETP concentrations as well as HDL cholesterol levels, although the latter has been frequently examined in many association studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep packet inspection in modern networking and security devices use ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) to match regular expressions. TCAM has its advantage in search speed but disadvantages in limited storage and high power consumption. The hierarchical encoding algorithm to save TCAM space is proposed and the codes divided into four layers. The proposal and the results are tested showing that the new algorithm has higher compression efficiency and the compression rate can reach 95-99%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LDLR mutations cause familial hypercholesterolemia and early atherosclerosis. Since ABCA1 facilitates free cholesterol efflux from peripheral tissues, we set out to investigate the effects of LDLR deletion (LDLR-/-) on macrophage ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux. LDLR-/- macrophages had reduced basal levels of ABCA1 and cholesterol efflux. High-fat diet increased cholesterol in LDLR-/-macrophages, but not in wild type cells. LXR agonist induced ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux in LDLR-/- macrophages, and modified lipoproteins induced ABCA1 expression in both cell types. Conversely, LDL induced ABCA1 expression in wild type but inhibited it in LDLR-/- macrophages, while free cholesterol stimulated ABCA1 expression in wild type but had no effect on LDLR-/- macrophages. 25-hydroxycholesterol inhibited SREBP-1 in wild type macrophages but activated it in LDLR-/- cells, and regulated ABCA1 expression differently in these two cell types. Inhibition of SREBP-1 by siRNA induced ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux. Taken together, our studies suggest that LDLR is critical in the regulation of macrophage cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 expression. We believe that absence of the LDLR suppresses ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux under condition of hypercholesterolemia. This may contribute to lipid accumulation in macrophages during the development of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]