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A bio-matrix material (BMM) system is used to pretreat swine wastewater and reduce the nitrogen (N) concentration to the tolerance range of plants in constructed wetlands. In this study, rice straw (RS), wheat straw (WS), and corn stalk (CS) were applied to treat pollutants from swine wastewater, respectively. This one year-long field experiment make up for the lack of long-term experiments and mechanistic investigations of BMM. The pollutant removal efficiency, degradation process of crop straw, and the abundance of nitrogen cycling genes were determined in different BMM systems. The results showed that the removal efficiency of COD, TN, NH4+, and NO3− was the best in the initial 6 months. Furthermore, RS and WS exhibited favorable annual removal efficiency of TN and NH4+, which were 32.81% and 32.99%, 35.3% and 34.97%, respectively. Moreover, the removal efficiency of COD was 30.81% in three BMM systems. Meanwhile, it was found that the dry matter (DM) degradation of crop straws was fast in the first 4–5 months. The degradation rates of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were 94.19%, 94.36%, and 87.32%, respectively, in 1 year. The abundance of nitrogen cycling genes significantly increased by adding BMM, compared with CK (P < 0.05). This showed the abundance of the hzsB gene in RS was the highest, while nirK, nirS, AOA, and AOB were the highest in WS. The addition of RS and WS was better than that of CS in promoting the abundance of nitrogen cycling microorganisms. The results indicated that adding BMM could enhance the anaerobic ammonia oxidation, nitrification, and denitrification. This study not only extends our comprehension of BMM mechanisms in swine wastewater treatment but also serves as a guiding light for numerous farms in similar climate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the numerical approximations for stochastic differential equations with non-Lipschitz drift or diffusion coefficients. A modified truncated Euler-Maruyama discretization scheme is developed. Moreover, by establishing the criteria on stochastic C-stability and B-consistency of the truncated Euler-Maruyama method, we obtain the strong convergence and the convergence rate of the numerical method. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate our theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that the perturbation of controller parameters may cause severe performance deterioration in practice, this work is focused on asynchronous resilient H ∞ control for discrete-time switched systems under average dwell time switching. The multiple non-monotonic Lyapunov function approach is employed to analyze the stability and H ∞ performance to reduce the conservation level. First, an H ∞ stability criterion is derived for general switched nonlinear systems, based on which a sufficient condition is further obtained for the resultant closed-loop system under asynchronous average dwell time switching. Then, a synthesis condition for a resilient output-feedback H ∞ controller is developed using Fensler's lemma. Finally, the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed controller design method are demonstrated by two simulated examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin K (VK) comprises a group of substances with chlorophyll quinone bioactivity and exists in nature in the form of VK1 and VK2. As its initial recognition originated from the ability to promote blood coagulation, it is known as the coagulation vitamin. However, based on extensive research, VK has shown potential for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Studies demonstrating the beneficial effects of VK on immunity, antioxidant capacity, intestinal microbiota regulation, epithelial development, and bone protection have drawn growing interest in recent years. This review article focuses on the mechanism of action of VK and its potential preventive and therapeutic effects on infections (eg, asthma, COVID-19), inflammation (eg, in type 2 diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, aging, atherosclerosis) and autoimmune disorders (eg, inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis). In addition, VK-dependent proteins (VKDPs) are another crucial mechanism by which VK exerts anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. This review explores the potential role of VK in preventing aging, combating neurological abnormalities, and treating diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Although current research appoints VK as a therapeutic tool for practical clinical applications in infections, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases, future research is necessary to elucidate the mechanism of action in more detail and overcome current limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use red blood cell stabilizer to store the antibody screening and antibody identification reagent red blood cells (RBCs) treated with 0.01 mol/L DTT and investigate its value in the pre-transfusion examinations of patients treated with daratumumab. Determined the optimal incubation time for the 0.01 mol/L DTT-treated RBCs method by evaluating the effect of treatment at different time points. Added ID-CellStab to store DTT-treated RBCs, determined the maximum shelf life of reagent RBCs by monitoring the hemolysis index, and assessed changes in the antigenicity of blood group antigens on the surface of RBCs during storage with antibody reagents. A protocol for long-term storage of reagent red blood cells treated with the 0.01 mol/L DTT method was established. The optimal incubation time was 40-50 min. RBCs could be stored stably for 18 days after adding ID-CellStab. The protocol was able to eliminate pan-agglutination caused by daratumumab, with no significant changes in the antigens of most blood group systems, except for some attenuation of K antigen and Duffy blood group system antigens during the storage period. The storage protocol of reagent RBCs based on the 0.01 mol/L DTT method does not affect the detection of most blood group antibodies and retains a certain degree of detection ability for anti-K antibodies, allowing patients treated with daratumumab to quickly perform pre-transfusion examinations, making up for the shortcomings of currently commercial reagent RBCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening disease that has received considerable critical attention in the field of intensive care. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of vitamin K2 (VK2) in ALI. Intraperitoneal injection of 7 mg/kg LPS was used to induce ALI in mice, and VK2 injection was intragastrically administered with the dose of 0.2 and 15 mg/kg. We found that VK2 improved the pulmonary pathology, reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and levels of TNF-α and IL-6, and boosted the level of IL-10 of mice with ALI. Moreover, VK2 played a significant part in apoptosis by downregulating and upregulating Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 expressions, respectively. As for further mechanism exploration, we found that VK2 inhibited P38 MAPK signaling. Our results also showed that VK2 inhibited ferroptosis, which manifested by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and iron levels, increasing glutathione (GSH) level, and upregulated and downregulated glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions, respectively. In addition, VK2 also inhibited elastin degradation by reducing levels of uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein (uc-MGP) and desmosine (DES). Overall, VK2 robustly alleviated ALI by inhibiting LPS-induced inflammation, apoptosis, ferroptosis, and elastin degradation, making it a potential novel therapeutic candidate for ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Long-round needle usage can treat muscular pain, but there is little research on cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR). OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of long-round needle usage in treating CSR. METHODS: Ninety-eight patients with CSR were randomly divided into control and observation groups. They were treated with filiform needles and long-round needles, respectively. The therapeutic effect, safety, inflammatory factors and neck dysfunction index (NDI), McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ) and Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOL-74) scores were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the effective rate and safety of the observation group were better than those of the control group. The NDI and MPQ scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the GQOL-74 score was higher than that in the control group. The level of interleukin-8 in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the level of interleukin-10 was significantly higher than that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Long-round needle therapy has a good effect on patients with CSR, which can safely improve the quality of life of patients with mild local inflammatory damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major agricultural province, understanding the spatial distribution characteristics of non-point source pollution in Liaoning Province plays a crucial role in preventing and controlling non-point source pollution. This paper uses the pollution discharge coefficient method to calculate the TN and TP load of non-point source pollution in each city of Liaoning Province in 2019. The results indicate that: (1) In 2019, the emissions of TN and TP from non-point source pollution in Liaoning Province were 245.6 thousand t and 23.2 thousand t, respectively. Livestock and poultry farming is the main source of TN and TP pollution. (2) The total amount of standard pollution load was 361.269 billion m3. TN is the main source of non-point source pollution, with TN and TP accounting for 67.96% and 32.04%, respectively. Overall, pollution in the central and western regions is more serious than in the eastern regions, while pollution in the plain areas is worse than in the mountainous and hilly areas. Chaoyang should be a key focus in terms of the prevention and control of non-point source pollution, and the abundant total water resources play a crucial role in reducing pollution levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the effect of role reversal and standardized patient simulation on the training of new nurses. Method: This study was conducted in a territory hospital in China between August 2021 and August 2022. The selected staff were all newly recruited and trained nurses, with a total of 58 cases. This study is a randomised controlled trial. The selected nurses were randomly divided into two groups. One group of 29 nurses (the control group) received routine training and assessment; the other group (the experimental group) was given role reversal combined with a standardized vertebral patient training examination. The implementation effects of different training and assessment methods were compared and analysed. Results: Before the training, the core competence scores of nurses in the two groups were lower, and there was no significant data difference (P > 0.05). After training, the core competence scores of nurses were improved, and the score of nurses in the experimental group was 165.49 ± 22.34. The difference was statistically significant when compared with the score of nurses in the control group (P < 0.05), indicating that nurses in the experimental group had better abilities. At the same time, the satisfaction of the two groups of nurses with the training was 96.55% (experimental group) and 75.86% (control group), and the difference in data was significant (P < 0.05). The satisfaction of the experimental group of nurses was higher, and the training effect was better. Conclusion: In the training of new nurses, the combined application of role interchange and standardized patient training and assessment methods has significant effects, which can improve the core competency of nurses and improve the training satisfaction of nurses, which is significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to design a linear delay feedback control to stabilise an unstable hybrid stochastic delay differential equation in distribution. Under the global Lipschitz condition, sufficient criteria are established to guarantee the stability of the controlled system. Then LMI techniques are employed to design the control law in two structure forms: state feedback and output injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes and compares the structure and diversity of gut microbiota in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) in Northern China to healthy individuals to identify clinical features associated with dysbiosis. We included 60 Chinese pSS patients and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. DNA was extracted from stool samples and subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA gene analysis (V3-V4) for intestinal dysbiosis. In addition, patients were examined for laboratory and serological pSS features. A Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to assess correlations between individual bacteria taxa and clinical characteristics. The alpha-diversity (Chao1 and Shannon Index) and beta-diversity (unweighted UniFrac distances) of the gut microbiota differed significantly between pSS patients and healthy controls. Further analysis showed that several gut opportunistic pathogens (Bacteroides, Megamonas, and Veillonella) were significantly more abundant in pSS patients and positively correlated with their clinical indicators. In contrast, some probiotic genera (Collinsella, unidentified_Ruminococcaceae, Romboutsia, and Dorea) were significantly decreased in pSS patients and negatively correlated with their clinical indicators. Therefore, pSS patients in Northern China showed a dysbiotic intestinal microbiome enriched for potentially pathogenic genera that might be associated with autoimmune disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to design the feedback control based on past states to stabilise a class of nonlinear stochastic differential equations driven by G-Brownian motion. By building up the connection between the delay feedback control and the control function of no-delay, sufficient conditions are established in terms of size of the time delay ensuring both the pth moment exponential stability and quasi-surely exponential stability of the delay feedback controlled system. Moreover, methods for determining the upper bound of the length of the time delay and further designing the delay feedback controller are provided. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate our new theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional pre-job training mainly provides theoretical lectures and operational skill training for new nurses. However, it has a single teaching method, lacks in comprehensiveness and flexibility, and has unsatisfactory teaching effects. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the influence of the flipped classroom and mind map in the pre-job training of newly recruited nurses. Method: A total of 92 nurses newly recruited in 2019 were included in the present study and randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group and the control group (n = 46, each). An ordinary training program was applied in the control group, and the flipped classroom + mind map training method was applied in the intervention group. All the new nurses were evaluated using the autonomous learning ability scale before and after pre-job training. Results: The results of the present study showed that before the pre-job training, the total scores of independent learning ability, learning motivation, self-management ability, learning cooperation ability and information quality of nursing staff were similar in the control group and the intervention group; the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). After the application of different training methods, the total score of independent learning ability (84.95 ± 5.146 vs. 66.73 ± 11.213), learning motivation (28.65 ± 3.198 vs. 22.78 ± 5.995), self-management ability (24.97 ± 3.586 vs. 17.89 ± 4.153), learning and cooperation ability (14.391 ± 1.584 vs. 12.17 ± 2.584) and information quality score (16.93 ± 1.306 vs. 13.89 ± 2.651) in the intervention group were significantly higher than in the control group; the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The flipped classroom + mind map training method can effectively improve the autonomous learning ability of newly recruited nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the stabilization problem for nonlinear stochastic delay systems with Markovian switching by feedback control based on discrete-time state and mode observations. By constructing an efficient Lyapunov functionals, we establish the sufficient stabilization criteria not only in the sense of exponential stability (both the mean-square stability and the almost sure stability) but also in other sense – that of H ∞ stability and asymptotic stability. Meanwhile, the upper bound on the duration τ between two consecutive state and mode observations is obtained. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

QKI is a vital regulator in RNA splicing and maturation, but its role in cervical cancer (CC) is little known. In this study, we found that QKI is decreased in human CC, and overexpression of QKI inhibits HeLa cell proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of cancer cells. We identified hundreds of endogenous QKI-regulated alternative splicing events (ASEs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in QKI-overexpressed HeLa cells by RNA-seq and selectively validated their expression by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that QKI-regulated ASEs and DEGs were closely related to cancer, apoptosis, and transcriptional regulatory functions. In short, QKI may affect the occurrence and development of CC by regulating gene expression through AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crater is one of the main obstacles that need to be avoided when Mars probe lands. In order to further improve the accuracy of crater detection, this paper proposes a combined detection method based on deep learning. Firstly, the random structured forest is trained offline to detect the edge information of craters. Secondly, according to the detected edge information of the crater, the candidate areas of the crater are determined with the morphological method. For the identified candidate areas of the crater, Alexnet network trained by transfer learning was used to identify crater areas. Compared with other methods, the proposed method has relatively good effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at determining the beneficial effect of Clostridium butyricum (CB) RH2 on ceftriaxone-induced dysbacteriosis. To this purpose, BALB/c mice were exposed to ceftriaxone (400 mg/ml) or not (control) for 7 days, and administered a daily oral gavage of low-, and high-dose CB RH2 (108 and 1010 CFU/ml, respectively) for 2 weeks. CB RH2 altered the diversity of gut microbiota, changed the composition of gut microbiota in phylum and genus level, decreased the F/B ratio, and decreased the pro-inflammatory bacteria (Deferribacteres , Oscillibacter , Desulfovibrio , Mucispirillum and Parabacteroides) in ceftriaxone-treated mice. Additionally, CB RH2 improved colonic architecture and intestinal integrity by improving the mucous layer and the tight junction barrier. Furthermore, CB RH2 also mitigated intestinal inflammation through decreasing proinflammatory factors (TNF-α and COX-2) and increasing anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10). CB RH2 had direct effects on the expansion of CD4+ T cells in Peyer's patches (PPs) in vitro , which in turn affected their immune response upon challenge with ceftriaxone. All these data suggested that CB RH2 possessed the ability to modulate the intestinal mucosal and systemic immune system in limiting intestinal alterations to relieve ceftriaxone-induced dysbacteriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the landscape pattern can disturb legacy nitrogen (N) release by influencing hydrological and biogeochemical processes; thus, understanding the effects of landscape patterns on riverine N exports from legacy sources is critical for preparing water quality improvement strategies. In this study, an empirical statistical model that incorporates the net anthropogenic nitrogen input (NANI), runoff coefficient, and residential land area percentage was used to quantify the contribution of legacy sources to annual riverine ammonium nitrogen (NH4+–N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−–N), and total nitrogen (TN) exports in eight adjacent agricultural catchments in subtropical southern China. The results indicated that annual riverine NH4+–N, NO3−–N, and TN exports from legacy sources ranged from 0.36–1.03, 3.09–4.89, and 3.94–6.79 kg ha−1 year−1, respectively, during the 2012–2017 period. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to analyze the interactions between legacy N release and landscape metrics at both the landscape and class levels. The RDA results suggested that higher dispersion, lower shape complexity, and greater heterogeneity in landscape patches can enhance the release of legacy N at the landscape level. In agricultural and residential areas, higher release of legacy N was associated with patches that are unfragmented and have a low shape complexity, whereas in woodland areas, the opposite was true. These analyses provide scientific support for preparing legacy N control strategies from the perspective of landscape ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constipation is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders accompanied with intestinal dysbiosis. Laxatives for constipation usually have side effects. Bee honey is a natural food with unique composition, antimicrobial properties, and bifidogenic effect. In order to assess whether honey can ameliorate loperamide‐induced constipation in BALB/c mice through the alteration of the gut microbiota, the present study was undertaken. Mice were given Jarrah honey (7.5 g/kg body weight) by gavage once per day for 5 days. Fecal water content, intestinal transit rate together with the colon concentrations of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine; 5‐HT) were evaluated. Furthermore, we determined the effect of honey treatment on gut microbiota in mice using stool genomic 16S rRNA sequencing. As a result, honey showed an obvious improvement in fecal water content and alleviated constipation by modulating the microbial composition of the microbiota, and this was highly associated with a proportional decrease in gut Desulfovibrio. In addition, we found that the colon level of neurotransmitters SP and VIP was significantly related to microbial variations. Our results indicate that gut microbiota is involved in the alleviation of loperamide‐induced constipation by honey supplementation in mice, and it could be considered as an evaluating parameter in constipation therapy strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: DCBLD2 expression dysregulation has been reported in several types of human cancer. As yet, however, the role of DCBLD2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not known. Methods: CRC tissues were obtained from patients undergoing surgery from February 2009 to May 2014 (n = 90). Tissue microarray construction and immunohistochemistry were carried out to determine DCBLD2 expression. In vivo studies were performed in 4-week-old BALB/c nude mice. In vitro studies were conducted using CRC-derived HT29 and HCT116 cell lines. Results: DCBLD2 expression was found to be significantly increased in CRC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues (p < 0.001). In addition, we found that DCBLD2 expression was positively correlated with the stage of the disease, the degree of differentiation and vascular invasion. High DCBLD2 expression was significantly associated with a poor overall survival. In vitro, DCBLD2 expression downregulation significantly reduced CRC cell proliferation and invasion. In a mouse xenograft model, DCBLD2 expression downregulation reduced lung metastasis and increased overall survival. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that DCBLD2 overexpression induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activates the JAK/STAT3 pathway. Conclusions: We found that high DCBLD2 expression correlated with a poor clinical outcome, as well as tumorigenesis, invasion and metastasis of CRC cells. DCBLD2 may serve as a prognostic biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut dysbiosis induced by high-fat diet (HFD) may result in low-grade inflammation leading to diverse inflammatory diseases. The beneficial effects of probiotics and prebiotics on obesity have been reported previously. However, their benefits in promoting human health and the underlying mechanisms still need to be further characterized. This study is aimed at understanding how probiotic Bacillus licheniformis Zhengchangsheng® (BL) and prebiotic xylooligosaccharides (XOS) influence the health of a rat model with HF (60 kcal %) diet-induced obesity. Five groups of male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were fed a normal fat diet (CON) or an HFD with or without BL and XOS supplementation for 3 weeks. Lipid profiles, inflammatory biomarkers, and microbiota composition were analyzed at the end of the experiment. Rats fed an HFD exhibited increased body weight and disordered lipid metabolism. In contrast, combined BL and XOS supplementation inhibited body weight gain and returned lipid metabolism to normal. Furthermore, BL and XOS administration changed the gut microbiota composition and modulated specific bacteria such as Prevotellaceae, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Ruminococcaceae. In addition, supplements of combined BL and XOS obviously reduced the serum LPS level, which was significantly related to microbial variations. Our findings suggest that modulation of the gut microbiota as a result of probiotic BL and prebiotic XOS supplementation has a positive effect on HFD-induced obesity in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing waste produced from swine farming operations is a significant agricultural and environmental challenge. Confined animal feeding operations continually generate large amounts of animal waste, which necessitates adequate waste management systems. This study examines the use of multistage surface flow constructed wetlands (SFCWs) to treat pig farm sewage. The wastewater removal rate, sediment deposits, physicochemical properties, and microbial community compositions of each segment of a SFCW were examined. The results indicated that removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), NH4+, NO3−, and total phosphorus (TP) were 89.8%, 97.9%, 98.2%, 87.6%, and 96.4%, respectively, in the multistage SFCW. The general trend showed increase in the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and oxidation reduction potential (Eh) from the beginning of the SFCW to its end. Sediment concentrations of N and P in each segment of the SFCW generally decreased, suggesting their accumulation in each segment. High-throughput sequencing indicated that the bacterial diversity increased over time. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes were dominant in multistage SFCW bacterial communities at the phylum level. Results further indicate that DO and Eh are major environmental factors that influence the bacterial community distribution. Overall, our findings suggest that multistage SFCWs not only improve contaminant removal but also change the bacterial community composition and promote bacterial community diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Emerging evidence suggests a close link between gut microbiota and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between gut microbiota and the DNA methylation of adiponectin (an adipocyte-specific adipocytokine) in rats, following diet-induced NAFLD. Methods: 50 male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups with or without a high fat diet (HFD), antibiotics, and probiotics, in order to establish an imbalanced gut microbiota and probiotic treatment model in NAFLD rats. After 13 weeks of treatment, blood, liver, and cecal tissue samples were collected. Serum lipids, liver function indexes by biochemical analyzers, and changes in liver pathology with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and masson staining were detected. Furthermore, the serum adiponectin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and liver adiponectin methylation levels in the promoter regions by pyrophosphate sequencing were determined. High throughput Illumina sequencing targeted microbial 16S genes, bioinformatics and statistical analysis identified cecal-associated gut microbiota. Results: HFD with antibiotic exposure showed the most severe steatohepatitis and a severe gut microbiota alteration. Reduced bacterial diversity was also seen and the abundances of Firmicutes, Lactobacillus, Cyanobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chlamydiae, Chlamydiales, Rubrobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Blautia, Shewanella, Bacteroides, Bacteroides acidifaciens, and Bacteroides uniformis, were shown to be partly reversed by probiotic treatment. Decreased serum adiponectin levels and increased DNA methylation levels of adiponectin promoter regions were also markedly associated with the NAFLD progression during gut microbiota alteration. Conclusion: Our results suggested that both gut microbiota alteration and adiponectin variability may be drivers of NAFLD progression and that targeting the gut microbiota, such as via administration of a probiotic, may delay NAFLD progression via adiponectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural and economic activities may profoundly determine phosphorus (P) budget characteristics that affect environmental quality; therefore, P budget characteristics were investigated at the farm and catchment scales, and the total-phosphorus (TP) concentrations in stream water were observed to examine their relationships in eight Chinese subtropical catchments. The results showed that chemical fertilizer accounted for 67-76% of the total P input and cereal grain comprised of 60-62% of the output in the planting farms, while animal feed and animal product accounted for 62-95 and 48-71% in the planting-livestock farms and livestock farms, respectively, indicating that agro-farming systems determined the P budget characteristics at the farm scale. The P input, output, and surplus intensities linearly increased with agricultural incomes in the agro-farming systems, suggesting that economic activities greatly affected the P budget characteristics at the farm scale. The catchment P budget characteristics were largely shaped by the characteristics at the farm scale; the planting-livestock farm proportion was negatively correlated (R2 > 0.55) while the livestock farm proportion was positively correlated (R2 > 0.59) with catchment P budget items. These effects on catchment P budget characteristics greatly deteriorated stream water quality; both the TP concentrations and loadings in stream water were significantly correlated to catchment P input, output, and surplus intensities. Considering the higher economic benefits and lower P input and surplus intensities due to the closed P cycle loop between cropping and husbandry, planting-livestock system should be promoted at the farm scale to protect catchment water environmental quality in subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a kind of feedback control based on discrete-time state observations was proposed to stabilize continuous-time hybrid stochastic systems in the mean-square sense. We find that the feedback control there still depends on the continuous-time observations of the mode. However, it usually costs to identify the current mode of the system in practice. So we can further improve the control to reduce the control cost by identifying the mode at discrete times when we make observations for the state. In this paper, we aim to design such a type of feedback control based on the discrete-time observations of both state and mode to stabilize the given hybrid stochastic differential equations (SDEs) in the sense of mean-square exponential stability. Moreover, a numerical example is given to illustrate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to stabilize hybrid stochastic differential equations with norm-bounded uncertainties by feedback controls based on the discrete-time observations of both state and mode. The control structure appears only in the drift part (the deterministic part) of a stochastic differential equations, and the controlled system will be robustly exponentially stable in mean square. Our stabilization criteria are in terms of linear matrix inequalities whence the feedback controls can be designed more easily in practice. An example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of our results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with the robust stabilization problem for a class of continuous-time hybrid uncertain stochastic systems with time-varying delay. Our attention is focused on the design of a feedback controller based on discrete-time state observations such that, for all admissible uncertainties, the closed-loop system is robustly exponentially stable in the mean square, independent of the time delay. By employing the Razumikhin technique, sufficient conditions are firstly established to guarantee the existence of the desired robust controller; they are given in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). It should be pointed out that in this paper the time-varying delay is just required to be a bounded function rather than a bounded differentiable one as in most existing results. The developed theory is illustrated by a numerical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased nitrogen (N) concentrations in water bodies have highlighted issues regarding nutrient pollution in agricultural catchments. In this study, the ammonium-N (NH -N), nitrate-N (NO -N), and total N (TN) concentrations were observed in the stream water and groundwater of two contrasting catchments (named Tuojia and Jianshan) in subtropical central China from 2010 to 2014, to determine the rice agriculture impacts on the hydrographic patterns, and N export characteristics of the catchments. The results suggested that greater amounts of stream flow (523.0 vs. 434.7 mm year) and base flow (237.6 vs. 142.8 mm year) were produced in Tuojia than in Jianshan, and a greater base flow contribution to stream flow and higher frequencies of high-base flow days were observed during the fallow season than during the rice-growing season, indicating that intensive rice agriculture strongly influences the catchment hydrographic pattern. Rice agriculture resulted in moderate N pollution in the stream water and groundwater, particularly in Tuojia. Primarily, rice agriculture increased the NH -N concentration in the stream water; however, it increased the NO -N concentrations in the groundwater, suggesting that the different N species in the paddy fields migrated out of the catchments through distinct hydrological pathways. The average TN loading via stream flow and base flow was greater in Tuojia than in Jianshan (1.72 and 0.58 vs. 0.72 and 0.15 kg N ha month, respectively). Greater TN loading via stream flow was observed during the fallow season in Tuojia and during the rice-growing season in Jianshan, and these different results were most likely a result of the higher base flow contribution to TN loading (33.5 vs. 21.3%) and greater base flow enrichment ratio (1.062 vs. 0.876) in Tuojia than in Jianshan. Therefore, the impact of rice agriculture on catchment eco-hydrological processes should be considered when performing water quality protection and treatment in subtropical central China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedo-transfer functions (PTFs) have been widely used to estimate soil hydraulic properties in the simulation of catchment eco-hydrological processes. However, the accuracy of existing PTFs is usually inadequate for use. To develop PTFs for local use, soil columns were collected from a double rice-cropped agricultural catchment in subtropical central China. The PTFs for saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and parameters (θs,α, andn) of the van Genuchten model for the soil water retention curve (SWRC) were obtained based on soil’s basic properties, and compared with models developed by Li et al. in 2007 and Wösten et al. in 1999, respectively. Our results indicated thatKsin the range of 0.04–1087 cm d−1andθsin the range of 0.34–0.51 cm3 cm−3were both well estimated with theR2adjof 0.72 and 0.87, respectively, butα(0.04–0.65 cm−1) andn(1.05–1.21) were relatively poorly predicted with the respectiveR2adjof 0.38 and 0.55, despite the use of more input parameters. Our local derived PTFs outperformed the other two existing models. However, if the local PTFs for paddy soils are not available, the Wösten et al. 1999 model can be proposed as a useful alternative. Therefore, this study can improve our understanding of the development and application of PTFs for predicting paddy soil hydraulic properties in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal-spatial geographic distribution of archaeological sites and its feature between 10.0-2.8 ka BP (ka BP= thousands of years before 0 BP, where '0 BP' is defined as the year AD 1950) were determined, based on GIS spatial analysis in the Poyang Lake Basin. The relationship between geographic distribution of sites of different periods under subsistence existence of ancient civilizations, climate and environmental change was investigated. The results revealed numerous archaeological sites of the Neolithic Age (10.0-3.6 ka BP). The sites were mainly located in the northern part of the Poyang Lake Basin, a hilly and mountainous area with many river terraces suitable for the development of human civilization. The number of archaeological sites rapidly increased during the Shang and Zhou dynasties (3.6-2.8 ka BP) and spread widely on the floodplains of the middle and lower reaches of Ganjiang River and onto the west, south, and southeast beach areas of the Poyang Lake. Holocene records of climate change suggested that it was possible that climate fluctuations had a great impact on human evolution in the study area. Before 3.6 ka BP, westward and northward expansion of Neolithic cultures in the Poyang Lake watershed occurred under the background of climate amelioration (becoming warmer and wetter). The ancient people lived in the hilly areas with high elevation. The simple mode of a fishing and gathering economy was mostly suited to this area in the early Neolithic Age. The scope of human activities was expanded and cultural diversity developed in the late Neolithic Age. However, with population growth and increasing survival pressure in a dry-cold climatic stage after 3.6 ka BP, this simple living mode had to be abandoned, and various forms of economy, the majority being agriculture, were developed on flood plains of the lower reaches of numerous rivers around Poyang Lake. This promoted flourishing of the Bronze culture of South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient intramolecular dearomative cyclization via visible light-induced photoredox catalysis allows for a highly regioselective dearomative cyclization of α-bromo-N-benzyl-alkylamides to construct 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes in the presence of an iridium catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High nitrogen (N) concentrations in rural domestic water supplies have been attributed to excessive agricultural N leaching into shallow groundwater systems; therefore, it is important to determine the impact of agriculture (e.g., rice production) on groundwater quality. To understand the impact of agricultural land use on the N concentrations in the shallow groundwater in subtropical central China, a large observation program was established to observe ammonium-N (NH-N), nitrate-N (NO-N), and total N (TN) concentrations in 161 groundwater observation wells from April 2010 to November 2012. The results indicated that the median values of NH-N, NO-N, and TN concentrations in the groundwater were 0.15, 0.39, and 1.38 mg N L, respectively. A total of 36.3 % of the water samples were categorized as NH-N pollution, and only a small portion of the samples were categorized as NO-N pollution, based on the Chinese Environmental Quality Standards for Groundwater of GB/T 14848-93 (General Administration of Quality Supervision of China, ). These results indicated of moderate groundwater NH-N pollution, which was mainly attributed to intensive rice agriculture with great N fertilizer application rates in the catchment. In addition, tea and vegetable fields showed higher groundwater NO-N and TN concentrations than other agricultural land use types. The factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) suggested that the flooded agricultural land use types (e.g., single-rice and double-rice) had potential to impose NH-N pollution, particularly in the soil exhausting season during from July to October. And, the great N fertilizer application rates could lead to a worse NO-N and TN pollution in shallow groundwater. Hence, to protect groundwater quality and minimize NH-N pollution, managing optimal fertilizer application and applying appropriate agricultural land use types should be implemented in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic imides were selectively reduced to the corresponding ω-hydroxylactams in high yields with (EtO)3SiH (triethoxysilane) or PMHS (polymethylhydrosiloxane) under catalysis of zinc diacetate dehydrate [Zn(OAc)2.2H2O] (10%) and tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) (10%). This catalytic protocol showed good functional group tolerance as well as excellent regioselectivity for unsymmetrical imides bearing coordinating groups adjacent to the carbonyl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A [Ir(ppy)2(dtb-bpy)]PF6-catalyzed intramolecular radical cyclization of o-iodophenylacrylamides affording indolin-2-ones in moderate to excellent yields via 5-exo-trig radical cyclization under visible light is presented. This method provides new access to the synthesis of indolin-2-ones under mild reaction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasingly, the characteristics of nitrogen (N) loading have been recognized to be critical for the maintenance and restoration of water quality in agricultural watersheds, in response to the spread of water eutrophication. This paper estimates N loading and investigates its influencing factors in ten small watersheds variously dominated by forest and agricultural land use types in the subtropics of China, over an observation period of 23-29 months. The results indicate that the average concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), NH-N, and NO-N were 0.83, 0.07, and 0.46 mg N L in the forest watersheds and 1.49-5.16, 0.21-3.23, and 0.99-1.30 mg N L in the agricultural watersheds, respectively. Such concentrations exceed the national criteria for nutrient pollution in surface waters considerably, suggesting severe stream pollution in the studied agricultural watersheds. The average annual TN loadings (ANL) were estimated to be 1,640.8 kg N km year in the agricultural watersheds, 63.3-86.1 % of which was composed of dissolved inorganic N (DIN; comprising NO-N and NH-N). The watershed with intensive livestock production (i.e., the maximum livestock density of 2.66 animal units (AU) ha) exhibited the highest ANL (2,928.7 kg N km year) related to N loss with effluent discharge. The results of correlation and principle component analysis suggest that livestock production was the dominant influencing factor for the TN and NH-N loadings and that the percentages of cropland in watersheds can significantly increase the NO-N loading in agricultural watersheds. Therefore, to restore and maintain water quality, animal production regulations and more careful planning of land use are necessary in the agricultural watersheds of subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use has obvious influence on surface water quality; thus, it is important to understand the effects of land use patterns on surface water quality. This study explored the relationships between land use patterns and stream nutrient levels, including ammonium-N (NH-N), nitrate-N (NO-N), total N (TN), dissolved P (DP), and total P (TP) concentrations, in one forest and 12 agricultural catchments in subtropical central China. The results indicated that the TN concentrations ranged between 0.90 and 6.50 mg L and the TP concentrations ranged between 0.08 and 0.53 mg L, showing that moderate nutrient pollution occurred in the catchments. The proportional areal coverages of forests, paddy fields, tea fields, residential areas, and water had distinct effects on stream nutrient levels. Except for the forest, all studied land use types had a potential to increase stream nutrient levels in the catchments. The land use pattern indices at the landscape level were significantly correlated to N nutrients but rarely correlated to P nutrients in stream water, whereas the influence of the land use pattern indices at the class level on stream water quality differentiated among the land use types and nutrient species. Multiple regression analysis suggested that land use pattern indices at the class level, including patch density (PD), largest patch index (LPI), mean shape index (SHMN), and mean Euclidian nearest neighbor distance (ENNMN), played an intrinsic role in influencing stream nutrient quality, and these four indices explained 35.08 % of the variability of stream nutrient levels in the catchments ( p<0.001). Therefore, this research provides useful ideas and insights for land use planners and managers interested in controlling stream nutrient pollution in subtropical central China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necessity and feasibility of antiviral therapy in patients with liver cirhosis have caught much attention. By summarizing the relevant guidelines/consensus statements and evidence - based medicine data in recent years, the advances in indications, strategies, drug options, and benefit/risk in antiviral therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV) - and hepatitis C virus (HCV) - related cirhosis are reviewed. T e data reveal that for both HBV - and HCV - related cirhosis, successful treatment may suppress viral replication, improve patients ' conditions, delay disease progression, prolong survival, reduce complications, and create better conditions for surgical and minimally invasive operations for hepatocellular carcinoma. Because of the good safety of nucleos( t) ide analogues (NA), it is recommended that patients with HBV - related cirhosis (including those in decompensation stage and with complications) should receive NA as soon as possible. As interferon may cause many adverse reactions, antiviral therapy for HCV - related cirhosis becomes more difficult than that for HBV - related cirhosis. Careful selection of indications is necessary. Standardization of the strategies for antiviral therapy is important in the treatment of liver cirhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim The endocannabinoid system is involved in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS). Here, we investigated whether genetic variants of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor ( CNR1) and fatty acid amide hydrolase ( FAAH) are associated with the pathogenesis of IBS. Methods In total, 292 patients with IBS and 298 healthy controls were enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) and DNA sequencing were applied to determine the genotyping of polymorphic triplet AAT repeats located at the 3′-end of the CNR1 gene. The single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) C385A at the FAAH gene (rs324420) was determined by PCR using Taq Man SNP Genotyping Assay Sets. Results A total of eight alleles with AAT triplet repeats in the CNR1 gene were detected. The alleles were divided into two groups (≤ 10 and > 10) and three genotypes (≤ 10/≤ 10, ≤ 10/> 10, and > 10/> 10). The frequency of > 10 alleles was significantly higher in the IBS group (90.6%) when compared with the control group {81.7%, P < 0.001, odds ratio ( OR) (95% confidence interval [ CI]) = −0.128}. In addition, the genotypes > 10/> 10 were significantly associated with IBS ( P < 0.001, OR [95% CI] = −0.163). The frequency of the A allele and the distribution of the AA genotype in the FAAH gene in the IBS group were not significantly different from those in the control group ( P > 0.05), even though the frequency of the AA genotype was lower in the IBS group (1.0%) than that in the control group (3.4%, P = 0.089, OR [95% CI] = 3.345). Conclusions The variation in the ( AAT)n repeat of the CNR1 gene conferred an increased risk for developing IBS, while rs324420 ( C385) in the FAAH gene was not associated with IBS pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water eutrophication in subtropical regions of southern China threatens watershed health and is of major concern. However, annual phosphorus (P) loading and its dominant causes are still unclear, especially at the watershed scale. In this study, we investigated dynamic P loadings and associated factors (e.g., land use, livestock production, and runoff depth) in ten watersheds that varied in area from 9 to 5,212 ha in a hilly area of Hunan Province, China. A flowmeter was installed at the outlet of each watershed, and total P (TP) and soluble P (SP) concentrations were monitored periodically from June 2010 to October 2012. The results showed that annual P loadings (APLs) in the ten watersheds ranged from 22.8 to 247.8 kg P/km and that P loss primarily occurred from April to June of each year during the main rainfall season in the study area. In addition, the average eutrophication (>0.05 mg P/L) ratio for stream waters was 86.7 % during the study period, which was indicative of a potentially serious condition for the local water environments. Annual P loadings were linearly related to livestock density (LD; R = 0.92, p < 0.01), whereas the eutrophication ratio of stream water was significantly ( p < 0.05) correlated with LD ( R = 0.61), percentage cropland ( R = 0.71), and percentage forest cover ( R = −0.68). Thus, it is concluded that the control of livestock production has the greatest potential for reducing P loadings in watersheds in this subtropical area. This will be beneficial to the amelioration and protection of local environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of soil P leaching on water eutrophication have widely been concerned. However, there is no dependable method to quantitatively estimate the P leaching risk of soils. In this study, a simple soil column method was developed using two calcareous Fluvisols, silt loam and loam. The soil column was 20 cm in length and 5 cm in diameter, and distilled water was continuously supplied from the top. The volume and dissolved reactive P (DRP) concentrations of leachate were measured. Results showed that DRP concentrations in leachate increased slowly for the low soil Olsen-P levels but rapidly for the high Olsen-P levels. According to these two-phase changes in the DRP versus soil Olsen-P contents, the thresholds of P leaching risk were estimated to be 41.1 and 62.3 mg P kg−1 (Olsen-P) for silt loam and loam, respectively. The P leaching intensity of soils increased by 3- to 540-fold if the soil Olsen-P contents accumulated from 6.6 to 155.5 mg P kg−1. The outcomes derived from this study regarding the determination of P leaching threshold and intensity by the soil column method also need a further verification on more soils with a wide range of physical and chemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidences show that genetic polymorphisms falling in miRNA binding sites can alter the strength of miRNA binding and disturb miRNA-mediated posttranscriptional regulation. Our study aimed to investigate the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in putative miRNA binding sites in gastric cancer (GC). Based on microarray and quantitative reverse transcription PCR analyses, we found that miR-181a was significantly upregulated in GC tissues. Bioinformatics survey was used to explore SNPs within miR-181a binding sites. Three SNPs were genotyped in a case–control study (500 cases and 502 controls). The T allele genotypes (rs12537CT and TT) of MTMR3 were found associated with significantly increased GC risk [adjusted odds ratio 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36–2.16, P = 3.99×10–5] and poor overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) 1.38, 95% CI 1.03–1.83, P = 0.029], although they were not an independent prognostic factor in multivariate Cox regression analysis (HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.95–1.72, P = 0.11). We further demonstrated that the rs12537CT genotype carriers had lower MTMR3 mRNA expression levels than CC genotype carriers in GC tissues (P = 0.013), whereas no significant difference in miR-181a expression levels was found (P = 0.135). Luciferase assay revealed that miR-181a directly targeted MTMR3, and its suppressive effect was enhanced when the rs12537C allele was substituted by T variant, although the difference was not significant (P = 0.055). Our study suggested that rs12537 is associated with susceptibility and prognosis of GC in southern Han Chinese, and miR-181a and its target gene MTMR3 play important roles in GC. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Osteopontin (OPN) plays an important role in metastasis and relapse of human cancer. However, the whole story of OPN relating to cancer has been far from clear untill now. To investigate the expression of OPN in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its relationships with recurrence and metastasis of HCC, normal and malignant liver tissues from patients with HCC were analyzed using immunohistochemical staining. OPN expression was inhibited by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in HCC cells lines, and then colony formation and matrigel invasion were examined. The results showed that expression of OPN was associated with metastasis of HCC with a positive rate of OPN in the tissue of HCC (70.00%), which was highly more obvious than those in paracarcinoma tissue and normal liver tissue ( P < 0.01). In HCC cell lines, OPN depletion could reduce formed colony and metastasizing numbers in vitro. In conclusion, Expression of OPN in the tissue of HCC is related to metastasis or metastases. Specific siRNA could decrease expressions of OPN at both mRNA and protein levels, and abates the invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, suggesting that OPN might be a promising agent for treatment of metastasis and recurrence of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dopamine transporter gene ( SLC6A3) represents a promising candidate involved in the development of alcoholism. This study aimed to explore the association between the 9-repeat allele ( A9) of a 40-bp variable number tandem repeat ( VNTR) polymorphism in the 3′ un-translated region (3′ UTR) of the SLC6A3 gene and alcoholism. Methods: The SLC6A3 VNTR was genotyped by PCR in unrelated Mexican Americans including 337 controls and 365 alcoholics. Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare the genotype and allele distribution. Meta-analyses were performed for population-based case-control association studies of the SLC6A3 VNTR polymorphism with alcoholism. Data were analyzed under random effect models with the Comprehensive Meta-analysis (v.2) statistical software package. Results: In Mexican Americans, no significant difference was found in allele and genotype distribution between controls and alcoholics or between controls and alcoholics with alcohol withdrawal seizure (AWS) or delirium tremens (DT) (unadjusted p > 0.05). A total of 13 research articles were included in the meta-analyses. No significant difference of the SLC6A3 VNTR A9 was noted between controls and alcoholics at the genotypic and allelic level when all ethnic populations, only Caucasian populations, or only Asian populations were considered ( p > 0.05). Significant associations were observed between SLC6A3 VNTR A9 and alcoholics with AWS or DT at the genotypic as well as allelic level when all ethnic populations or only Caucasian populations were considered ( p < 0.05, OR 1.5-2.1). Conclusions: Meta-analyses suggest a possible association between the SLC6A3 VNTR A9 and alcoholic subgroup with AWS or DT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]