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Structures such as bridges, offshore platforms, wind power facilities, and drilling rigs generate a corresponding periodic structural response under cyclic loads such as solar radiation, tides and sea-land breeze. Data recovery and forecasting are major parts of the work to ensure structural safety using periodic structural health monitoring data. In this context, a combined method of autoregressive (AR) model and matrix factorization (MF) method is presented to reaching the tasks of data imputation and prediction. The combined method with a graph-based temporal regularizer can well capture the cyclic characteristics and random character. The verification of the method is conducted using an in-situ temperature monitoring dataset of a high-speed railway steel bridge. The application of the method for both data recovery and forecasting with structured missing entries is carried out, which indicates the combined method owns outstanding performance in accurately recover missing entries and making predictions. In the last part, the analysis of rank order and length of time lag is made to show its influence on imputation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The potential advantages of the higher-order resonant modes of a low-pass birdcage coil for parallel imaging are investigated using FDTD simulations in a spherical phantom. Better parallel imaging performance can be achieved in axial planes than in sagittal planes. If more modes are employed, the average g-factor (g mean) and maximum g-factor (g max) will be improved for a specific acceleration factor (R). G-factor performance at 3T (g mean =1.79, g max =3.55) and 7T (g mean =1.60, g max =2.45) can be achieved even with an acceleration factor as high as four when all six order modes of 12-rung low-pass birdcage coil are incorporated for imaging on a mid-axial plane. For a specific number of channels, the optimum combination of corresponding modes can be obtained for different acceleration factors. Based on the g-factor and SNR performance, the total degenerate multi-mode birdcage coil with six order resonant modes has better homogeneous coverage and SENSE performance than the 8-element phased array coil, although requiring fewer channels. In addition, the dielectric effects at high field can improve the parallel imaging performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The human APOE*4 allele is associated with an early age of onset and increased risk of Alzheimer''s disease (AD). Long before the onset of AD, cognitive deficits can be identified in APOE*4 carriers. We examined neurons in the lateral amygdala of young apolipoprotein (apo) E3 and apoE4 targeted replacement (TR) mice for changes in synaptic integrity. ApoE4 mice displayed significantly reduced excitatory synaptic transmission and dendritic arborization. Despite these changes there were no signs of gliosis, amyloid deposition or neurofibrillary tangles in these mice. To our knowledge, this is the first study to suggest that cognitive deficits in APOE*4 carriers are due to inherent defects in synaptic function that appear prior to any age-dependent markers of neuropathology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Social equity consists of opportunity equity and outcome equity. Although numerous studies have used ultimatum games to examine individuals' decision-making behavior in outcome distributions, few studies have explored this behavior in opportunity distributions. Our study used a modified version of the ultimatum game to explore fairness decision-making behavior and the underlying psychological mechanisms of opportunity equity in gain and loss contexts. We found that opportunity equity had a similar influence as outcome equity on people's fairness perception and decision-making behavior, even though the number of opportunities had nothing to do with the outcome. However, we also found that there were some differences between opportunity equity and outcome equity in the behavior pattern of evaluation and reaction processes. Our results provide evidence of inequity aversion for inequality of opportunity and expand inequity aversion theory. These findings may contribute to the reduction of social inequity and promote the development of a more harmonious society. • Opportunity equity had an impact on people's fairness perception and decision-making behavior in gain and loss contexts. • The inequity aversion in the opportunity distribution was smaller than that in the outcome distribution. • Fairness perception was affected by the fairness level of distribution, the actual self-payoff and the actual other-payoff. • The evaluation and reaction processes may be different between the opportunity equity and outcome equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new phylogeny of Brisingida with broad coverage is reported. • Both Brisingida families and four genera are recovered as non-monopheletic. • Brisingida is revised to encompass 5 families and 17 genera. • New genus, species and combinations are described and a diagnostic key is provided. • Convergence caused by paedomorphosis is found in phylogenetically distant genera. Brisingida Fisher 1928 is one of the seven currently recognised starfish orders, and one of the least known taxa as being exclusive deep-sea inhabitants. Modern deep-sea expeditions revealed their common occurrences in various deep-sea settings including seamounts, basins and hydrothermal vent peripheral, underlining the necessity of clarifying their global diversity and phylogeny. In this study, we present a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Brisingida which encompasses the highest taxonomic diversity to date. DNA sequences (COI, 16S, 12S and 28S) were obtained from 225 specimens collected in the global ocean, identified as 58 species spanning 15 of the 17 extant genera. Phylogenetic relationship was inferred using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, revealing polyphyletic families and genera and indicating nonnegligible bias in prior morphology-based systematics. Based on the new phylogeny, a novel classification of the order, consisting of 5 families and 17 genera, is proposed. Families Odinellidae, Brisingasteridae and Novodiniidae (sensu Clark and Mah, 2001) were resurrected to encompass the genera Odinella , Brisingaster and Novodinia. Brisingidae and Freyellidae were revised to include 11 and 3 genera, respectively. A new genus and species, two new subgenera and seven new combinations are described and a key to each genus and family is provided. Transformations of morphological traits were evaluated under the present phylogenetic hypothesis. A series of paedomorphic characters were found in many genera and species, which led to a high degree of homoplasy across phylogenetically distant groups. Our results provide new insights in the phylogeny and ontogeny of the order, and highlight the necessity to evaluate character convergence under sound phylogenetic hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The generalized auto-calibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA) is an auto-calibrating parallel imaging technique which incorporates multiple blocks of data to derive the missing signals. In the original GRAPPA reconstruction algorithm only the data points in phase encoding direction are incorporated to reconstruct missing points in k-space. It has been recognized that this scheme can be extended so that data points in readout direction are also utilized and the points are selected based on a k-space locality criterion. In this study, an automatic subset selection strategy is proposed which can provide a tailored selection of source points for reconstruction. This novel approach extracts a subset of signal points corresponding to the most linearly independent base vectors in the coefficient matrix of fit, effectively preventing incorporating redundant signals which only bring noise into reconstruction with little contribution to the exactness of fit. Also, subset selection in this way has a regularization effect since the vectors corresponding to the smallest singular values are eliminated and consequently the condition of the reconstruction is improved. Phantom and in vivo MRI experiments demonstrate that this subset selection strategy can effectively improve SNR and reduce residual artifacts for GRAPPA reconstruction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

C-type lectins are Ca2+-dependent carbohydrate-binding proteins containing one or more carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRDs). C-type lectins play crucial roles in innate immunity, including nonself-recognition and pathogen elimination. In the present study, two C-type lectins (designated ReCTL-1 and ReCTL-2) were identified from the shrimp Rimicaris exoculata which dwells in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The open reading frames of ReCTL-1 and ReCTL-2 encoded polypeptides of 171 and 166 amino acids respectively, which were both composed of a signal peptide and a single CRD. The key motifs determining the carbohydrate binding specificity of ReCTL-1 and ReCTL-2 were respectively Glu–Pro–Ala (EPA) and Gln–Pro–Asn (QPN), which were firstly discovered in R. exoculata. ReCTL-1 and ReCTL-2 displayed similar pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) binding features and they bound three PAMPs—β-glucan, lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan—with relatively high affinity. In addition, both could efficiently recognize and bind Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. However, ReCTL-1 and ReCTL-2 exhibited different microbial agglutination activities: ReCTL-1 agglutinated Staphylococcus aureus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae , while ReCTL-2 agglutinated Micrococcus luteus , Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. fluvialis. Both ReCTL-1 and ReCTL-2 inhibited the growth of V. fluvialis. All these results illustrated that ReCTL-1 and ReCTL-2 could function as important pattern-recognition receptors with broad nonself-recognition spectra and be involved in immune defense against invaders, but their specificities are not the same. In addition, the two ReCTLs possessed different carbohydrate binding specificities from each other and from the classical pattern: ReCTL-1 with an EPA motif bound d -galactose and l -mannose, while ReCTL-2 with a QPN motif bound d -fucose and N-acetylglucosamine. • ReCTL-1, -2 could act as PRRs to recognize, bind and eliminate specific pathogens. • ReCTL-1 with EPA motif was identified to bind d -galactose and l -mannose. • ReCTL-2 with QPN motif could specifically bind d -fucose and N-GlcNAc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cardiac transplantation has been limited by the inability to long preserve donor hearts safely. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) has been recognized as an important gasotransmitter exerting potent cardioprotection from ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R). Herein we investigated the cardioprotective effects of a novel long-term and slow-releasing H 2 S system, namely DATS-MSN, in heart preservation solution using a heart transplantation models. The release of H 2 S from DATS-MSN was slow and continuous in the University of Wisconsin solution (UW), correspondingly, DATS-MSN application demonstrated superior cardioprotective effects over the control and traditional H 2 S donors after 6 h heart preservation and 1 h reperfusion, associated with greater allograft performance including left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) and dP/dt max , reduced plasmic CK-MB and troponin I levels, inhibited myocardial inflammation, increased antioxidant enzyme activities, preserved mitochondria structure and function, and decreased cardiomyocyte apoptosis index. Also, DATS-MSN application presented significant superiority in long-term allografts survival and function after 8 weeks of transplantation. In the in vitro experiments, cardiomyocytes injury from hypoxia was found to be relived with the treatment of DATS-MSN by anti-inflammatory effects via TLR4/NLRP3 pathway. The present work provides a long-term releasing H 2 S donor compatibly applied in the donor heart preservation, and preliminary explores its underlying mechanisms. Highlights • The present work provides a useful platform in H 2 S study especially in organ preservation field. • It offers an insight into how the H 2 S release patterns from different H 2 S donors affect their physiological functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a rare and poorly understood congenital cardiac abnormality. This study aims to evaluate the clinical features and surgical outcomes of dysfunctional QAV. Methods From January 2011 to May 2017, 36 (mean age 50.7 ± 11.9 y, 19 males) of a total of 3855 patients who underwent aortic valve surgery were identified as having dysfunctional QAV (frequency 0.9%). All patients presented moderate or severe aortic regurgitation, and nine patients (25.0%) had concomitant aortic stenosis. The ascending aortic diameter was over 40 mm in seven patients (19.4%) and over 45 mm in two patients (5.6%). The most common QAV morphology was type B ( n = 12, 33.3%) according to the Hurwitz-Roberts classification. Results All patients underwent aortic valve replacement and two required concomitant ascending aortic replacement. The mean follow-up time was 20.6 ± 14.2 mo. There was no early or late postoperative mortality or major complications. Pathological analysis of dilated ascending aorta demonstrated a relatively normal appearance. The ascending aorta did not grow after surgery (37.3 ± 4.1 mm versus 36.1 ± 2.5 mm, P = 0.084). Both the end-diastolic (58.1 ± 7.0 mm versus 50.0 ± 6.3 mm, P < 0.001) and end-systolic (37.7 ± 6.7 mm versus 32.8 ± 6.0 mm, P < 0.001) left ventricular dimensions were significantly decreased. Conclusions Aortic insufficiency is the predominant pathology in dysfunctional QAV patients. The incidence and extent of aortic dilation is not significant in QAV and not associated with aortic valve phenotypes. Short- and mid-term surgical outcomes were found to be satisfactory in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much has been written on annual variation of tintinnid assemblages although the mechanism causing the annual variation has been poorly studied either in form of species richness or Lorica Oral Diameter (LOD) size-classes. In the present study, a 10-year (May 2003 to December 2012) survey on species occurrence, abundance, and LOD variation of the tintinnid ciliates was conducted in Jiaozhou Bay, western Pacific. In contrast to previous studies, we found summer peaks in tintinnid species richness in Jiaozhou Bay validated by multi-year investigations. We studied phenology of every tintinnid species and explored the mechanism causing the annual variation. The hypothesis was that tintinnid species richness has a winter baseline, to which warm water species added with the progress of the season. We defined the occurrence types of each species, and found there was only one cold occurrence type species. There was no overlap of cold occurrence type and warm occurrence type in the transitional period between winter and summer. The second aim of this study was to explore annual variations in tintinnid assemblages in form of LOD and redundant species. The species frequency distribution patterns among LOD size-classes were similar all year round. The abundance frequency distribution pattern in LOD size-classes could be divided into two phases: cold phase and warm phase with exception of May and September. The portion of redundant species was about 50% in every month. Our result help understand and predict annual variation of tintinnid assemblages in terms of species richness and LOD in world oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Reports of isolated tricuspid valve replacement (iTVR) are relatively rare. The present study aimed to evaluate independent risk factors of perioperative morbidity and mortality after iTVR. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed 118 consecutive patients (42 males; mean age, 49.1 ± 12.9 y) who underwent iTVR from May 2003 to April 2016 in our center. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors associated with perioperative morbidity and mortality following iTVR. Results One hundred one patients (85.6%) were classified as New York Heart Association functional class III or IV preoperatively. The overall perioperative mortality was 11.8% (14/118), and a significant difference was observed between the nonreoperative group and the reoperative group (6.7% versus 18.3%, P = 0.047). The multivariate logistic regression analyses identified that preoperative New York Heart Association functional class IV (OR [odds ratio] = 15.43, 95% CI [confidence interval] = 3.46-68.83, P = 0.000) and ascites (OR = 4.88, 95% CI = 1.24-19.27, P = 0.024) were independent risk factors of perioperative deaths. The previous cardiac surgery (OR = 3.28, 95% CI = 1.41-7.62, P = 0.006) was independently associated with perioperative major adverse events. Conclusions The present study revealed that iTVR has relatively high mortality and morbidity rates. Timely surgery may be recommended for this high-risk cohort of patients before the development of severe heart and end-organ failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To detect the effects of DCs sensitized by mPD-L1-Ig fusion protein in heart transplantation in mice as well as its mechanisms. Method The mPD-L1-IgG1 construct was used to build a yeast expression system, and the fusion protein was expressed by secretion after the transfection of the GS115 yeast strain, purified by affinity chromatography and ion exchange chromatography, and assayed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The ability of the fusion protein to bind to the acceptor PD-1 was tested by ELISA, and the ability of the fusion protein to inhibit the function of T cells was tested by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Results We used the new PD-L1-IgG1 fusion protein to sensitize imDCs and maintained the immature state of DCs, so as to induce stable and effective immune tolerance to heart transplantation. After the treatment of DCs by mPD-L1-Ig in vitro, the levels of CD80, CD40 and I-Ab expression on DCs are relatively weaker, the ability of DCs to stimulates the proliferation of allogeneic spleen T cells was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the levels of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-γ) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) secreted by induced allogeneic T cells were significantly decreased (P<0.01). An in vivo experiment also revealed that DCs sensitized by mPD-L1-IgG1 could prolong the survival time of a transplanted heart to 17.8±1.12days, and alleviate the pathological change of the cardiac allografts compared with other three groups. Conclusion DCs sensitized by the yeast-expressed mPD-L1-Ig fusion protein are shown to alleviate the cardiac allograft rejection in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]