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Jun Yang,1 Lina Geng,2 Yongmin Ma,3 Xinyi Tang,1 Huiyong Peng,1 Jie Tian,2 Huaxi Xu,2 Shengjun Wang1,2 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated People’s Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu University School of Medicine, Zhenjiang, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head Surgery, The Affiliated People’s Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Shengjun WangDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated People’s Hospital, Jiangsu University, No. 8, Dianli Road, Zhenjiang, 212002, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-511-8891-5573Fax +86-511-8503-8483Email sjwjs@ujs.edu.cnBackground: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by type I hypersensitivity that is mediated by IgE-induced humoral responses. Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) comprise the key helper T cell (Th) subset that promotes antibody production. Signaling lymphocytic activation molecules (SLAMs) participate in regulation of the differentiation and function of Tfh cells, but whether this regulation is involved in the pathogenesis of AR is unknown.Methods: CD4+CXCR5+ Tfh-like cells from peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. The IL-21 and IgE levels in serum were measured by an ELISA. Blood CD4+CXCR5+ Tfh-like cells were sorted and cultured with anti-SLAM mAb in vitro.Results: The frequencies of circulating CD4+CXCR5+ Tfh-like cells appeared virtually unchanged in AR patients, but the expression of SLAMs and SLAM-associated protein (SAP) on circulating Tfh-like cells was significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the level of serum IL-21 was increased in AR patients, and a negative correlation was found between the IL-21 level and SLAM or SAP expression on CD4+CXCR5+ T cells. Treatment with anti-SLAM mAb resulted in reduced IL-21 production by Tfh-like cells in vitro. Additionally, SLAM expression on B cells was significantly decreased, although the percentages of B cells were increased in AR patients.Conclusion: SLAMs negatively regulate IL-21 production in CD4+CXCR5+ Tfh-like cells, which contributes to the pathogenesis of AR.Keywords: AR, circulating Tfh-like cells, SLAM, IL-21

Highly sensitive visual detection of proteins in space is often complicated, since bioassay payloads must achieve sensitive detection and environmental adaptability. Microfluidic chips enabling high degrees of integration and automation are a very promising approach for highly sensitive visualized protein detection in space. Here, we present a chip-based, highly integrated payload technology for the visual detection of proteins onboard the Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft. This device simply and tightly integrated multifunctional bioassay chips, complex fluid control, and execution of multiple programs to provide highly sensitive protein detection. Based on the delicate design of the microfluidic network, superparamagnetic immunoassay particles were successfully used to achieve immunoaffinity enrichment and visual detection in chips. This method demonstrated good performance compared to traditional visual test strips, showing limits of detection in the picomolar range for interleukin (IL)-6. Results measured in orbit indicated rapid visual detection of IL-6 in cell culture media, confirming the validity of the proposed approach for protein detection in space.

Whether fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensities (FVH)-DWI mismatch could predict the outcome or not remains in debate. The aim of this study was to identify if FVH combined with the other markers improved favorable outcome prediction of acute infarctions in patients with unilateral acute internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. Consecutive 68 adult acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarction patients caused by acute ICA occlusion, including favorable (n = 38, mRS ≤ 2) and unfavorable (n = 30, mRS > 2) groups, were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The diagnostic efficiency of favorable clinical outcome of FVH-DWI mismatch was compared with those of DWI lesions volumetry and the combined marker of FVH-DWI mismatch and other factors. There were more prominent FVH-DWI mismatch (≥ 3 sections) (84%), less atrial fibrillation (AFib) (13%), and more tandem MCA normal or mild stenosis (63%) in favorable outcome group than those (30%, 40%, and 27%, respectively) in unfavorable group. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the prominent FVH-DWI mismatch was the positive predictive factor for favorable outcome (OR = 2.643 and 3.200). Prominent FVH-DWI mismatch, in combination with tandem MCA normal or mild stenosis, and absence of Afib, had better performance (AUC = 0.875) than that of initial DWI lesion volumetry (AUC = 0.854) and any other single factor (AUC = 0.634~0.820) in predicting favorable outcome. Prominent FVH-DWI mismatch was associated with favorable outcome in acute infarctions in unilateral ICA occlusion patients. Its predictive performance would be improved when combined with the assessment of tandem lesions of MCA and AFib.

BACKGROUND At present, there is no ideal conventional triple regimen that can effectively treat gastrointestinal (GI) complications in patients after kidney transplantation. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a quadruple regimen including standard-dose tacrolimus, low-dose enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS), low-dose mizoribine (MZR), and corticosteroids, compared with regimens containing standard-dose tacrolimus, corticosteroids, plus either low-dose EC-MPS or standard-dose MZR in patients with mycophenolic acid (MPA)-related GI complications after renal transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between August 2016 and October 2018 in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 115 living donor kidney transplant recipients with MPA-related GI complications were enlisted in a single-center, prospective, randomized, control study. Thirty-six recipients were assigned to the low-dose EC-MPS plus low-dose MZR group, 37 recipients were assigned to the low-dose EC-MPS group, and 39 recipients were assigned to the standard-dose MZR group. We analyzed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), graft rejection, serum creatinine, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody, and the occurrence of adverse events among the 3 groups. RESULTS Compared with baseline, gastrointestinal symptoms improved significantly in all 3 groups. The reduction in mean subscale scores from baseline to month 3 was more significant in the standard-dose MZR group compared with the other 2 groups. The low-dose EC-MPS plus low-dose MZR group had better renal function. The incidence of graft rejection and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and polyomavirus BK (BKV) infection, as well as the incidence of hyperuricemia, in the low-dose EC-MPS plus low-dose MZR group were all significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS This quadruple regimen may be equivalent to regimens containing standard-dose tacrolimus, corticosteroids plus either low-dose EC-MPS or standard-dose MZR in improving GI symptoms after kidney transplant, and is also advantageous for kidney function, graft rejection, and the rates of adverse events.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a quadruple regimen including standard-dose tacrolimus, low-dose enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium (EC-MPS), low-dose mizoribine (MZR), and corticosteroids compared with regimens containing standard-dose tacrolimus, corticosteroids plus either low-dose EC-MPS or standard-dose MZR in patients with mycophenolic acid (MPA)-related GI complications after kidney transplantation. Methods: Between August 2016 and October 2018 in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 115 living donor kidney transplantations with MPA-related GI complications were enrolled in a single-center, prospective study. Thirty-six recipients were assigned to the low-dose EC-MPS plus low-dose MZR group. Thirty-seven recipients were assigned to the low-dose EC-MPS group, and thirty-nine recipients were assigned to the standard-dose MZR group. The three groups were compared with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), graft rejection, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody, serum creatinine levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and incidence of adverse effects. Results: A significant improvement in GI symptoms was observed in all three groups compared with baseline. Renal function was better in the low-dose EC-MPS plus low-dose MZR group. The incidence of graft rejection and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and polyomavirus BK (BKV) infection with the incidence of hyperuricemia were all significantly lower in the low-dose EC-MPS plus low-dose MZR group. Conclusions: The quadruple regimen may be not only equivalent to regimens containing standard-dose tacrolimus, corticosteroids plus either low-dose EC-MPS or standard-dose MZR in improving GI symptoms after kidney transplantation but also advantageous for renal function, graft rejection rates, and the incidence of adverse effects. Funding: This study was funded by the Provincial Key Technologies R & D Program of Shandong Province (Grant No. 26010104011025), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81600092), Key Research and Development Plan of Shandong Province (Grant No. 2017GSF218003). Declaration of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical Approval: Patients gave their informed consent to be in the study, and the study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, China (2016Qilu Hospital of Shandong University IRB Approval No. 2016041).

This paper proposed an analytical method for the calculation of electromagnetic toque in a Permanent Magnet-assisted Synchronous Reluctance Motor (PMASynRM) based on equivalent magnetic network model. The Fourier expression of the electromagnetic torque considering harmonic is theoretically analyzed and simulated. With the aim of reducing torque ripple, the effect of the flux barrier angle on the electromagnetic torque and torque ripple is theoretically studied and simulated in one pole asymmetry and one pole pairs asymmetry structure. Finally, the optimal flux barrier angle is given. There is a good consistence between theoretical and simulation result.

Background Association of de novo human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene-A (MICA) antibodies and proteinuria with graft survival 5 years after renal transplantation. De novo presence of HLA and MICA antibodies after renal transplantation is associated with poor graft survival. Proteinuria after transplantation is also considered a risk factor for premature graft loss. In this study, we investigated the association of de novo HLA and MICA antibodies on proteinuria after renal transplantation and the association of proteinuria and de novo antibodies with graft survival. Methods We enrolled 275 patients without preexisting HLA and MICA antibodies followed for >5 years after renal transplantation. All donor organs were from living-related donors or from an organ donation program. HLA and MICA antibodies were detected by the Luminex method. Patients with proteinuria (>150 mg/d) underwent intermittent 24-hour proteinuria examination. Results The frequencies of de novo HLA and MICA antibody 5 years after transplantation were 25.8% and 12%, respectively. In total, 26.5% of patients had proteinuria at the 5-year follow-up. De novo HLA antibody was associated with increased proteinuria after transplantation (relative risk, 3.12). HLA antibody and proteinuria were both associated with poor 5-year graft survival (P = .027 and P = .006, respectively). Conclusion De novo HLA and MICA antibodies and proteinuria after renal transplantation are all associated with poor graft survival. De novo HLA antibody is independent risk factor for posttransplant proteinuria, and proteinuria affects the association of de novo antibodies with decreased graft survival after transplantation.

The stress-inducible immediate early response gene X-1 (IEX-1) regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis in a cell type and stimulus-dependent manner. The aim of this study was to investigate IEX-1 expression in preeclampsia placenta and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured in the serum isolated from preeclampsia patients, to explore its relationship with the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Thirty preeclampsia patients with 10 cases in the moderate group, 20 cases in the severe group (PE group) and 20 cases of normal pregnant women (control group) were randomly obtained. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry showed that IEX-1 expression was significantly higher in preeclampsia patients than in normal pregnant women (p 0.05). There was also a significant difference between moderate and severe preeclampsia (p 0.05). IEX-1 protein was mainly present in cytoplasm of placental trophoblast cells and decidual cells. Compared with the normal pregnancy group, IEX-1 in the preeclampsia group was colored more obviously, and the color was strengthened in correlation with the severity of the disease using immunocytochemial method. Flow cytometry and MTT revealed that the serum isolated from preeclampsia patients appeared to promote IEX-1 expression in cytoplasm of HUVECs, inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of HUVECs when compared to the serum of normal pregnant women. Our study demonstrates a correlation of IEX-1 expression levels with the severity of preeclampsia. Given a well-known function of IEX-1 in regulation of apoptosis, IEX-1 may be important in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia by regulating placental villous trophoblast and decidual cell apoptosis as well as participation in endothelial cell injury process.

Adaptive neural network (NN) based integrated guidance and control (IGC) is investigated for a missile with input constraints. In order to avoid the explosion of complexity in traditional design, dynamic surface control combined with backstepping are utilized to developed the IGC law. By utilizing Lyapunov synthesis, the closed-loop control signals are proved to be semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded, and the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood of zero by appropriately choosing design constants. Simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

Cardiac complication is a major cause of death in hemodialysis patients. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between plasma catestatin level and cardiac death in those people. A total of 330 maintenance hemodialysis patients were included. Blood samples were collected. Plasma catestatin level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fluid status of each patient was expressed by overhydration to total body weight ratio and daily diuresis. Each patient was followed-up for 36 months, unless some of them died in the follow-up period. In the follow-up period, only one hemodialysis patient was lost, 29 patients were died of cardiovascular diseases, 28 patients were died of other diseases and remaining 272 patients survived. Logistic multivariate regression analysis revealed that patients with plasma catestatin level ≥1.9 ng/ml were associated with increased cardiac death risk (RR 6.13, 95% CI 2.54, 18.45), and survival analysis also showed that cardiac death rate in patients with plasma catestatin level ≥1.9 ng/ml was elevated than that in patients with plasma catestatin level

A novel impact-time-control guidance law based on nonlinear kinematics is presented for an interceptor against a stationary target. Exact closed form expression for the guidance command is derived by introducing an indirect variable, and the performance index of a pseudo-control energy has been minimized to increase the robustness against disturbances appeared at the terminal stage. The implementation of the guidance law involves no estimation of time-to-go procedure but provides for exact time-on-target control. The new guidance law called NITCG(Nonlinear Impact-Time-Control Guidance) can be used in salvo attack where multiple missiles are launched for a simultaneous hit on the target. Numerical simulation results are carried out to verify the performance of the guidance law for different engagement scenarios.

The terminal impact-angle-control guidance problem of a homing missile with a physical constraint on seeker's field of view (FOV) limit is considered. The problem is formulated as an infinite horizon non-linear regulator problem with a state constraint, and solved using an extension of the State Dependent Riccati Equation (SDRE) method: first a baseline SDRE controller is designed without taking into account the state constraint, and then a SDRE regulator is designed augmenting the cost functional to take into account the state constraint and the base-line performance. In our design, the state weighting matrix Q is chosen to be a function of time-to-go to include the distance information between the missile and target, and the input weighting matrix R is designed to be a function of the distance of the constrained state to the allowable boundary. Numerical simulations are carried out for different impact angles and seeker's FOV limits, the results of which verify the effectiveness of the proposed guidance approach.

This paper is concerned with the adaptive finite-time control for a robotic manipulator preceded by unknown non-symmetric deadzone. Radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs) are employed to approximate the unknown dynamics and the deadzone effect of actuators. Adaptive finite-time tracking controller is then proposed based on the finite-time stability theorem in combination with backstepping technique. Consequently, tracking control of a robotic manipulator with finite-time convergent property is achieved even in the presence of unknown uncertainties and deadzone nonlinearity. Stability of the closed-loop system is analyzed via Lyapunov direct method. Simulation studies on a two-joint rigid manipulator are conducted to examine the effectiveness of the proposed control.

This paper presents an adaptive finite time tracking control design for a spacecraft with uncertainties and input saturation. Radial basis function neural networks (RBFNNs) are used to approximate the unknown uncertainties and external disturbances. The input saturation effect is compensated by adding an auxiliary signal. State feedback finite time tracking controller is then proposed based on the finite time control principle and backstepping technique. Consequently, attitude tracking of an uncertain spacecraft with the finite time convergent property is achieved even in the presence of input saturation. Stability of the closed-loop system is analyzed via Lyapunov direct method. Simulation studies are conducted to examine the effectiveness of the proposed control.

A system of the signal acquisition and data processing used for light-emitting diodes induced fluorescence (LED-IF) detection in our laboratory was described in this paper. A high-speed data acquisition module was developed. The function of signal acquisition in real-time and data processing was realized utilizing the graphical programming environment LabVIEW. To reduce the distorted come from the technical limitations of the equipment, low-pass Butterworth filter and wavelet filter were applied in this system. Some FITC-derived amino acids were separated coupled with HPLC. The result had been analyzed and the report was finalized automatically.

T-helper (Th) 22 and Th17 cells are involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. However, the role of Th22 and correlation with Th17 cells in the pathophysiology of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) remain unknown. In our study, Th22 and Th17 cells in peripheral blood of IgAN patients, non-IgA mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (non-IgA MsPGN) patients, and healthy controls were measured by flow cytometry. The concentration of plasma interleukin-22 (IL-22) was examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that Th22 cells, Th17 cells, and plasma IL-22 were significantly elevated in IgAN patients compared with non-IgA MsPGN patients and healthy controls. Th22 cells showed a positive correlation with the levels of plasma IL-22 in IgAN patients. Moreover, a significantly positive correlation between Th22 cells and Th17 in IgAN patients was observed. Furthermore, IgAN patients with proteinuria showed a higher percentage of Th22 cells than IgAN patients without proteinuria. Our data demonstrated that IgAN had increased frequencies of peripheral Th22, Th17 cells and plasma IL-22, indicating that Th22 along with Th17 cells are involved in the immune responses of IgAN.

Background. Renal transplantation is currently the prevalent therapy for most patients with end-stage renal disease. No clinical markers for such rejection have been universally accepted. We aimed to investigate the possibility of use of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I (ABC) on peripheral blood CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes as a marker of acute rejection. Methods. For recipients undergoing renal transplantation from September 2007 to November 2008, peripheral blood samples were obtained pretransplantation and at days 3 and 7 posttransplantation when the patients were still hospitalized and at weeks 2 and 3 and months 1, 2, 3, and 6 posttransplantation. For patients with fever, lumbodynia, gross hematuria, or oliguria after transplantation, blood samples were collected immediately before and at days 3 and 7 after the administration of anti-inflammatory regents. The level of HLA class I (ABC) on peripheral-blood CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes was measured on flow cytometry. Results. For the 79 transplant recipients, the level of HLA class I (ABC) on peripheral-blood CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes was consistently elevated during the first 3 weeks after transplantation, declined gradually to pretransplantation levels, then tapered off and remained stable. Patients experiencing acute rejection (AR) or not after transplantation did not differ in level of HLA class I (ABC) up to 6-month follow-up, except at days 14 and 21 after transplantation, when the level was higher for patients experiencing AR (P Conclusions. Upregulation of HLA class I (ABC) on peripheral-blood CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes could be used as an accurate and reliable predictor of AR after renal transplantation.

At present, with the development of the affection in different layouts and decision-makings of orthophotomap in various fields, the information quantity of digital orthophoto map reflects and decides the affection of decision- makings on deep degrees, and it affects the dependability of analytical result, thereby, to perfect the outputs of digital orthophoto map is a problem that should be solved as soon as possible . The paper summarizes the current status of the digital orthophoto map, introduces the backdrop, and analyses the main question in the development of digital orthophoto map.The paper analyses three contents of information entropy: Shannon-Wiener entropy, Markov information entropy and Co-occurrence Matrix entropy. Through the experiments we find out that using Markov information entropy to account the information quantity of orthophoto character on the digital orthophoto map is the best one. The map load is very important for the map. The paper analyses the complexity and particularity of the digital orthophoto map laod through the introduction of map load of general map. It studies on map load based on information and probability,and puts up a test to try to express the map load of remote sensing orthophoto quantitatively.

The optimal gliding control problem is studied for guided bombs. Optimal control theory is used to describe the characteristics of continuous variation in gliding control system for guided bombs. The optimal control model of guided bomb is built and solved using maximum principle with final state constraints and shooting method for boundary values. The shooting method is modified to meet desired performance index, final states and temporal constraints. An example for guided bomb optimal gliding is given to validate the effectiveness of proposed method.