Search

Reading teaching is an important part of college English teaching. Questions are commonly raised in daily teaching of English reading. Effective questions can help language teachers and students to improve the effect of teaching and learning English respectively. Faced with the existing problems of classroom questions in college reading classes, the paper is to explore the deep reasons for the problems. Factors concerning good question designing are listed. In order to design effective classroom questions, improve the teaching effect of college English reading and develop students’ reading ability, some suggestions are made about what college English teachers need to do.

The thematic survey and monitoring results of natural resources (TMR) provide scientific, detailed and reliable data support for government management departments to grasp the overall situation, reflect the society and people’s lives. Therefore, product quality for TMR is a major concern of outcome producers and users. This paper discusses the quality evaluation model and test method of TMR, and summarizes and proposes methods to improve the quality of the results by examining the quality of different TMR.

Gout is a form of arthritis caused by hyperuricemia that can significantly affect a patient's quality of life. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effects of astaxanthin, a carotenoid with strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, on gout. The results of animal experiments showed that in terms of animal serological indicators, astaxanthin has the same effect as colchicine in treating gouty arthritis. The outcomes of clinical trials showed that the astaxanthin at 8 mg/d combined with celecoxib at 100 mg/d worked better than celecoxib at 200 mg/d according to ESR and UA, and according to CRP, the effect was comparable. The molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of astaxanthin included inhibition of COX-2 and anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. Collectively, astaxanthin ameliorated gout in rats’ model of gouty arthritis and clinical trials suggesting that it has potential as a dietary supplement to assist in the treatment of gouty arthritis.

In order to improve the rapid response and intelligent level of public security patrol, a set of networked UAV intelligent patrol solution is constructed based on 5G, UAV(unmanned aerial vehicle), MEC(multi-access edge computing) and AI(artificial intelligence). UAV network connection is realized through dedicated 5G communication terminal, high-definition video remote backhaul is realized with 5G uplink ultra-large bandwidth, and ultra-low latency of 5G MEC is used to realize precise control of UAV beyond visual range. Aiming at the video features of low-altitude UAVs, the face recognition algorithm is optimized, the face is accurately captured in real time and the character feature AI recognition is performed to realize smart patrol and defense. Application practices and tests were carried out on the construction site, real-time monitoring of whether people near the construction site were wearing masks, the expected results were achieved.

Coxsackievirus A10 (CVA10) is the main pathogen of hand, foot, and mouth disease in China. However, there are no CVA10-specific drugs and vaccines, and the pathogenesis and effects of this virus in the body are unknown. We investigated the effect of a clinically isolated CVA10 virus strain (CVA10–25) to investigate its effect in suckling mice through different infection routes. We observed the dynamic distribution and proliferation of the virus in mouse tissues by infecting suckling mice with different doses of the virus and mice of different ages with the same dose of the virus. We also analysed the pathological characteristics after infection. A formaldehyde-inactivated experimental vaccine was prepared to immunise 5-week-old BALB/c female mice three times, and newborn suckling mice were tested for the presence of maternally transmitted antibodies. The viral load in each organ after intracerebral administration was higher than that after intraperitoneal administration; the peroral administration route did not cause disease in mice. Mouse paralysis and death after infection were related to age. The skeletal muscles, heart, and lung showed histopathological changes after infection. We established a 2-day-old BALB/c suckling mouse model that could be infected intracranially to study the pathogenesis and pathology of CVA10. Maternally transmitted antibodies protected the mice against the virus. This study provides a reference for CVA10-related pathogenesis and vaccine research.

Esophageal and tracheal foreign body ingestion trigger common pediatric emergencies. In this case report, we describe a pediatric patient with simultaneous tracheal and esophageal obstruction caused by foreign bodies. A child aged 2 years and 1 month swallowed a pair of metallic magnetic beads at the same time; one bead entered the trachea and the other bead entered the esophagus. We suspected that the two magnetic beads were mutually attracted and thus became trapped in their respective lumina. The tracheal foreign body was uneventfully removed; this dislodged the esophageal foreign body, which was then excreted. There were no serious complications in the present case, but parents and medical personnel should be mindful of the potential hazards associated with ingestion of multiple magnetic foreign bodies. A high index of suspicion is appropriate. Investigations must be carefully planned. Treatment should not be delayed; the consequences of delay may be serious.

Background: Hypertension is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease and to mortality. The combined effects of sleep factors on the risk of hypertension are unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of combined sleep factors on the risk of hypertension and to explore whether this association is independent of genetic risk.Methods: This population-based prospective cohort study included 170,378 participants from the UK Biobank study. We conducted a healthy sleep score based on a combination of major five sleep factors and a genetic risk score based on 118 risk variants. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results: A total of 170,378 participants were included. Compared to participants with a healthy sleep score of 0–1, those with healthy sleep scores of 2 (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.83–0.98), 3 (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75–0.88), 4 (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.68–0.81), or 5 (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59–0.77) had increasingly lower risks of hypertension (P for trend

Background and Aims: The diagnosis of Wilson’s disease (WD) is challenging by clinical or genetic criteria. A typical early pathological change of WD is the increased liver lipid deposition and lowered serum triglyceride (TG). Therefore, the contents of serum lipids may provide evidence for screening of biomarkers for WD.Methods: 34 WD patients, 31 WD relatives, and 65 normal controls were enrolled in this study. Serum lipidomics data was acquired by an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry system, and the data were analyzed by multivariate statistical methods.Results: Of all 510 identified lipids, there are 297 differential lipids between the WD and controls, 378 differential lipids between the relatives and controls, and 119 differential lipids between the patients and relatives. In WD, the abundances of most saturated TG were increased, whereas other unsaturated lipids decreased, including phosphatidylcholine (PC), sphingomyelin (SM), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), ceramide (Cer), and phosphatidylserine (PS). We also found many serum lipid species may be used as biomarkers for WD. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of PS (35:0), PS (38:5), and PS (34:0) were 0.919, 0.843, and 0.907. The AUCs of TG (38:0) and CerG1 (d42:2) were 0.948 and 0.915 and the AUCs of LPC (17:0) and LPC (15:0) were 0.980 and 0.960, respectively. The lipid biomarker panel exhibits good diagnostic performance for WD. The correlation networks were built among the different groups and the potential mechanisms of differential lipids were discussed. Interestingly, similar lipid profile of WD is also found in their relatives, which indicated the changes may also related to the mutation of the ATP7B gene.Conclusions: Lipid deregulation is another important hallmark of WD besides the deposition of copper. Our lipidomic results provide new insights into the diagnostic and therapeutic targets of WD.

This report summarizes three “eyeless sight” experiments and reaffirms the authenticity of the phenomenon of clairvoyance (extrasensory perception). On 2014 and 2015, a total of 37 trials were conducted. Each trial involved a computer printing a 5-character permutation (e.g. 37K9J) in bold type on a piece of paper which was then folded to conceal the text. The “eyeless sight” practitioner was a girl who had previously been trained to develop her “eyeless sight” ability. The practitioner held the folded specimen between her thumb and forefinger. After adjusting to a specific state of consciousness (Second Consciousness State, SCS), the practitioner visualized a “ Third Eye Screen” (TES) in front of her forehead. The five-character string was then automatically perceived on the TES by the practitioner. After the perceived image stabilized, the permutation was reported to the researcher and transcribed. The whole experimental process was recorded on video cameras. The mean chance expectation for the correct hit rate of a five-character permutation is p≈10-70 and is vanishingly small. The importance of the SCS and the image generation process on the TES is discussed. Key words: Eyeless sight - Extrasensory perception (ESP) - Psychokinesis (PK) - Third Eye Screen (TES) - First Consciousness State (FCS) - Second Consciousness State (SCS) - recognition of characters with fingers (Clairvoyance)

Osteoporosis is becoming a highly prevalent disease in a large proportion of the global aged population. Serum metabolite markers may be important for the treatment and early prevention of osteoporosis. Serum samples from 32 osteoporosis and 32 controls were analyzed by untargeted metabolomics and lipidomic approaches performed on an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) system. To find systemic disturbance of osteoporosis, weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and statistical methods were employed for data-mining. Then, an in-depth targeted method was utilized to determine potential markers from the family of key metabolites. As a result, 1,241 metabolites were identified from untargeted methods and WGCNA indicated that lipids metabolism is deregulated and glycerol phospholipids, sphingolipids, fatty acids, and bile acids (BA) are majorly affected. As key metabolites of lipids metabolism, 66 bile acids were scanned and 49 compounds were quantified by a targeted method. Interestingly, hyocholic acids (HCA) were found to play essential roles during the occurrence of osteoporosis and may be potential markers. These metabolites may be new therapeutic or diagnosis targets for the screening or treatment of osteoporosis. Quantified measurement of potential markers also enables the establishment of diagnostic models for the following translational research in the clinic.

Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) has a considerably bad prognosis, and its pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to identify real hub genes to better explore the pathophysiology of PAAD and construct a prognostic panel to better predict the prognosis of PAAD using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithms.Methods: WGCNA identified the modules most closely related to the PAAD stage and grade based on the Gene Expression Omnibus. The module genes significantly associated with PAAD progression and prognosis were considered as the real hub genes. Eligible genes in the most significant module were selected for construction and validation of a multigene prognostic signature based on the LASSO-Cox regression analysis in The Cancer Genome Atlas and the International Cancer Genome Consortium databases, respectively.Results: The brown module identified by WGCNA was most closely associated with the clinical characteristics of PAAD. Scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB) was significantly associated with PAAD progression and prognosis, and was identified as the real hub gene of PAAD. Moreover, both transcriptional and translational levels of SAFB were significantly lower in PAAD tissues compared with normal pancreatic tissues. In addition, a novel multigene-independent prognostic signature consisting of SAFB, SP1, and SERTAD3 was identified and verified. The predictive accuracy of our signature was superior to that of previous studies, especially for predicting 3- and 5-year survival probabilities. Furthermore, a prognostic nomogram based on independent prognostic variables was developed and validated using calibration curves. The predictive ability of this nomogram was also superior to the well-established AJCC stage and histological grade. The potential mechanisms of different prognoses between the high- and low-risk subgroups were also investigated using functional enrichment analysis, GSEA, ssGSEA, immune checkpoint analysis, and mutation profile analysis.Conclusion: SAFB was identified as the real hub gene of PAAD. A novel multigene-independent prognostic signature was successfully identified and validated to better predict PAAD prognosis. An accurate nomogram was also developed and verified to aid in the accurate treatment of tumors, as well as in early intervention.

Abstract Background Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) is an enzyme family involved in cell aerobic metabolism of tricarboxylic acid cycle. However, the landscape of IDH mutations in pan‐cancer has not been fully characterized. Methods Tissue or blood samples were subjected to next‐generation sequencing (NGS) for detection the IDH mutation. Results A total of 28.868 patients from more than 20 solid tumor species were analyzed. A total of 374 cases (1.30%) with IDH mutations were identified. Among all the IDH mutations cases, 80 (21.4%) were biliary tract cancer (BTC), 80 (21.4%) were lung cancer, 57 (15.2%) were liver cancer, and 42 (11.2%) were colorectal cancer. The most common IDH variant were IDH1 and IDH2 which were discovered in 0.81% cases and 0.47% cases, respectively. However, there were significant differences in IDH1 and IDH2 mutation frequency among different tumor species (p = 0.0003). Of the patients with IDH1 mutations, about 53.0% of these mutations occur in codons 132. Codons 172 (25.4%) was high‐frequency mutation subtypes in IDH2 mutation. TP53, PBRM1, and BAP1 were the most significantly mutated genes in BTC which were different from others cancer. Moreover, TMB were significantly higher in lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer than BTC (p = 0.0164, p

Volatility monitoring of a tiny amount of organic solvent, which reflects the profound understanding of the micro‐environmental chemical physics effect, plays a significant role in chemical reactions. Common approaches, such as microfluidic technology, undeniably encounter the issue of complicated fabrication or high cost, impeding their large‐scale application for monitoring the processes of chemical physics in micro‐reactions. Herein, a helical polymer film (HPF) molded by a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) is reported to record the helical arrangement. By infiltrating less than 1.0 μL volatile solvent into the HPF and monitoring the corresponding reflection spectral behaviors, an intrinsic dynamic chemical physics process, solvent properties, and molecular interactions between the solvent and the polymer network are quantitatively evaluated. Furthermore, to further explore the underlying interaction mechanism that results in spectral band shift, a dynamical model is established and elucidated, providing remarkable information and understanding of the dynamic chemical physics processes and interfacial molecular interactions between the solvent and the polymer. This work has tied a close bond among chemical engineering, photonics, and soft condensed physics, which can provide an avenue for the new field of application of LC photonics beyond display and optics.

Recent studies have demonstrated the benefits of metformin on patients with lymphomas. B-cell receptor (BCR)-PI3K-AKT pathway-dependent cholesterol synthesis may represent a positive feedback mechanism responsible for the pathogenesis of BCR-dependent diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). Thus, restriction of lipid synthesis would affect the integrity of lipid-forming membranes and block the BCR signaling pathway. Our in vitro findings suggested that the blocking effect of metformin on BCR signaling pathway is possibly exerted via blocking the biosynthesis of cholesterol. A retrospective case-control study was subsequently conducted on type II diabetic patients with DLBCL who were on metformin. Metformin was identified to be associated with improved response rate and PFS in diabetic patients and appeared to be an effective therapeutic drug against DLBCL.

With the development of basic theoretical research and equipment, laser additive manufacturing technology is widely used in the manufacture of large complex components. However, the internal stress in laser additive manufacturing process tends to result in distortion and cracking. Stress and deformation control has become an urgent issue in laser additive manufacturing process. In this paper, research progress of residual stress in laser additive manufacturing was reviewed from various aspects such as residual stress forming mechanism, test methods, control measures. Furthermore, the main problems and research directions were proposed for the research of stress and deformation control technology, which provides guidance for the research of "shape control" in laser additive manufacturing.

Abstract Background FAM92A1–289(abbreviated FAM289) is recognized as one of the newly-discovered putative oncogenes. However, its role and molecular mechanisms in promoting cancer progression has not yet been elucidated. This study was performed to reveal its oncogenic functions and molecular mechanisms in human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell models with knockdown or overexpression of FAM289 in vitro and in vivo. Methods To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying FAM289-mediated tumor progression, the protein-protein interaction between FAM289 and Galectin-1 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation, followed by an analysis of the expression and activity of Galectin-1-associated signaling molecules. Knockdown and overexpression of FAM289 in glioma cells were applied for investigating the effects of FAM289 on cell growth, migration and invasion. The determination of FAM289 expression was performed in specimens from various stages of human gliomas. Results FAM289-galectin-1 interaction and concomitant activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway participated in FAM289-mediated tumor-promoting function. Since the expression of DNA methyl transferase 1 (DNMT1) and DNA methyl transferase 3B (DNMT3B) was regulated by FAM289 in U251 and U87-MG glioma cells, Galectin-1 interaction with FAM289 may promote FAM289 protein into the cell nucleus and activate the ERK pathway, thereby upregulating DNMTs expression. Drug resistance tests indicated that FAM289-mediated TMZ resistance was through stem-like property acquisition by activating the ERK pathway. The correlation between FAM289, Galectin-1 expression and the clinical stage of gliomas was also verified in tissue samples from glioblastoma patients. Conclusions Our results suggest that high expression of FAM289 in GBM tissues correlated with poor prognosis. FAM289 contributes to tumor progression in malignant glioma by interacting with Galectin-1 thereby promoting FAM289 protein translocation into the cell nucleus. FAM289 in the nucleus activated the ERK pathway, up regulated DNMTs expression and induced stem-like property gene expression which affects drug resistance of glioma cells to TMZ. This study provided functional evidence for FAM289 to be developed as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

Zn-Al-Mg alloy coating, the most promising protective steel coating of the 21st century, is widely employed in construction, automotive, and other fields, due to its high surface and edge corrosion. In recent years, with the increasing demand for Zn-Al-Mg coating, a series of basic studies on Zn-Al-Mg coating materials has been carried out by foreign scholars, making significant progress and achievements. Simultaneously, the gap in the galvanizing industry between domestic and international has been expanding year by year. In order to gradually reduce gradually this gap with foreign countries, it is necessary to summarize and review the research achievements of foreign researchers. In this paper, the research progress into high corrosion resistant Zn-Al-Mg hot dip coatings was reviewed from the perspective of interfacial reactions in pots, coating structures, corrosion mechanisms of surface and cut edges, as well as corrosion product types of Zn-Al-Mg coatings. According to the range of Al content, laboratory and commercial Zn-Al-Mg coatings are divided into three types: "low-aluminum, " "medium-aluminum, " and "high-aluminum" coatings. There are differences in these coatings, including growth kinetics in the intermetallic compound layers of the different types of coating. In order to control the thickness of the coating, reasonable immersion time and temperature should be controlled. There are also differences in the solidification structures of the three types. Primary Al or Zn crystal, Zn/MgZn2 binary eutectics, and Zn/MgZn2/Al ternary eutectics would form in "low-aluminum" and "medium-aluminum, " while Al-rich dendrites, an intergranular Zn-rich phase, a Mg2Si phase, and a MgZn2 phase would occur with "high-aluminum" coatings. During surface corrosion in "low-aluminum" or "medium-aluminum, " the MgZn2 phase is ionized first, giving rise to a dense corrosion product to inhibit corrosion, such as basic zinc salt (BZS) or layered double hydroxide (LDH). Meanwhile, in the cut edge, a self-healing phenomenon occurs; the proposed explanation in this paper for this is Mg-containing corrosion product flowing or pH changing. However, there are some disputed aspects that need further study. In the hot dipping process, the intermetallic compound thickness should be controlled by the interfacial reaction at the steel/liquid melts through changing the molten bath temperature and holding time. The influence of Mg2Zn11 phase and MgZn2 on the corrosion resistance of Zn-Al-Mg coating is also controversial, so that the microstructure of Zn-Al-Mg coating needs further investigation for corrosion. Furthermore, a kinetic model of the corrosion process should be established to discover the controlling factors in the corrosion reaction, so that the life of the coating can be extended.

Abstract Background Diaphragm weakness occurs rapidly in adult animals treated with mechanical ventilation (MV), but the effects of MV on the neonatal diaphragm have not been determined. Furthermore, it is unknown whether co-existent lung disease exacerbates ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction (VIDD). We investigated the impact of MV (mean duration = 7.65 h), either with or without co-existent respiratory failure caused by surfactant deficiency, on the development of VIDD in newborn lambs. Methods Newborn lambs (1–4 days) were assigned to control (CTL, non-ventilated), mechanically ventilated (MV), and MV + experimentally induced surfactant deficiency (MV+SD) groups. Immunoblotting and quantitative PCR assessed inflammatory signaling, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy, and oxidative stress. Immunostaining for myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms and quantitative morphometry evaluated diaphragm atrophy. Contractile function of the diaphragm was determined in isolated myofibrils ex vivo. Results Equal decreases (25–30%) in myofibrillar force generation were found in MV and MV+SD diaphragms compared to CTL. In comparison to CTL, both MV and MV+SD diaphragms also demonstrated increased STAT3 transcription factor phosphorylation. Ubiquitin-proteasome system (Atrogin1 and MuRF1) transcripts and autophagy indices (Gabarapl1 transcripts and the ratio of LC3B-II/LC3B-I protein) were greater in MV+SD relative to MV alone, but fiber type atrophy was not observed in any group. Protein carbonylation and 4-hydroxynonenal levels (indices of oxidative stress) also did not differ among groups. Conclusions In newborn lambs undergoing controlled MV, there is a rapid onset of diaphragm dysfunction consistent with VIDD. Superimposed lung injury caused by surfactant deficiency did not influence the severity of early diaphragm weakness.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG) is well documented strain with wide clinical applications. We investigated herein the possible protection role of LGG in against early preneoplastic colon carcinogenesis Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rat model. Sprague Dawley rats were pre-treated with or without LGG via oral gavage, followed by ACF induction with Dimethylhydrazine (DMH). LGG treated groups showed significant decrease in total number of ACF’s, and increased Bax, P53, and Caspase-3 proteins expression with significant attenuation of NFkB, Cox2 and β catenin expression compared to DMH group. Serum cytokines array revealed significant elevation of IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ, and attenuated level of IL-10 in LGG+DMH treated animals. Finally, the 16S rRNA fecal microbiome genomic analysis showed that LGG alters the gut microbiome structure, composition and functions at phylum, family and genus level. Collectively, LGG reduces colon ACFs incidence and multiplicity via inhibition of pro-carcinogenesis biomarkers and modulate the gut microbiome.

The intermediate pressure outer cylinder of steam-turbine of new units fractured during the 168 h running. The cracks were also found on the other bolts used on the intermediate pressure outer cylinder. It showed by the failure analysis that the brittle fracture occurred because of the high axial stress. The stress distribution was studied based on finite element analysis.The full screw thread and fine grid blocks were used to gain the higher calculation accuracy. It said that the stress of the screw thread was closely influenced by the stress of the mean stress of screw and the stress-strain curve. The force on the three screw threads which near the screw was higher than other screw threads.The maximum stress on the screw threads was 2.5 times of the screw and reached 82.8% of yield strength at the operating condition. The loading process was simulated and it showed that the stess was influenced by the loading process. Considering the service condition of the bolts,the fracture of the bolts was mainly caused by the lack of safety tolerance and the additional stress.

The promising quasi-Z-Source inverter (qZSI) can regulate the DC-link voltage. In the study, a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive system is established with the qZSI. Based on the small-signal model, a feedback and feedforward compound control strategy is proposed and the dynamic performance of the converter is analyzed. The simulation and experimental results indicate that the compound control strategy effectively improves the static and dynamic characteristics of the DC-link voltage and reduces the influence of power variation on the DC-link voltage.

This paper investigates an iterative learning control for single-input, single-output, and linear time-invariant discrete system. The special design of the learning gain matrix is introduced, where a finite uniform quantizer is incorporated with an encoding and decoding mechanism to realize the zero-error convergence of a tracking problem. Furthermore, the boundary-level calculation is considerably improved using lifting technique and infinity-norm of vectors under this mechanism. Some illustrations of the simulations verify the theoretical results.

A variable gain feedback PDα-type iterative learning control (ILC) update rate is proposed for the fractional-order nonlinear systems with time delay. The learning update rate combines the open-loop and closed-loop strategy, in which the system's current tracking error and the previous iterative control of the tracking error are simultaneously used to correct the control effect. So, the proposed method could both speed up the convergence rate along the iteration direction and reduce the tracking error along the time direction. Furthermore, the algorithm ensures that the system has good learning efficiency and control performance at the different running time and iterative batches due to the time-iteration-variable learning gain. The sufficient condition for the convergence of the proposed algorithm is analyzed. Finally, the validity of the proposed method is verified on a numerical example and a wind power generation system.

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Neuro-modulation becomes a promising way to address it. For an effective modulation, closed-loop mode is necessary but difficult. A control algorithm, which can adjust itself to get desired suppression of epileptic activity, is in great need. In this paper, active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) is utilized for its satisfied disturbance rejection and regulation performance. However, fixed observer parameters are difficult to fit the time-varying electrophysiological signals. Therefore, based on the estimation errors, an iterative learning approach is designed to get the parameters of an extended state observer (ESO). By combining the advantages of ADRC and the iterative learning, a learning type ADRC (LTADRC) is proposed to suppress the high amplitude epileptiform waves generated by the Jansen's neural mass model (NMM). For those variable parameters of an ESO, scalable bandwidths can be obtained to adapt to time-varying disturbance signals. It is of great significance for both ADRC and the neuro-modulation of epilepsy. Simulation results show that, compared with ADRC, much better performance can be obtained. It may provide a promising closed-loop regulation way for epilepsy in clinics.

In order to improve the accuracy of group emotion recognition, a group emotion recognition model based on global scene feature and local face feature is constructed in this paper. When extracting global scene features, with the consideration of that the different size of the background objects may have different influences on the emotion recognition, the paper proposes a feature extraction algorithm for the global scene based on the fusion of multi-scale feature maps. With the consideration of the emotion propagation between different figures in the image, the paper proposes a LSTM based algorithm for fusion the face features among different figures. Experiments show that the global scene feature extraction algorithm proposed in this paper has higher accuracy than the global scene feature extraction algorithm based on standard network architecture. Besides, the facial emotion feature fusion algorithm based on LSTM has higher classification accuracy than the fusion algorithm based on average calculation and the algorithm based on voting. Besides, the group emotion recognition model proposed in this paper has an accuracy 24.38% higher than the benchmark method, 13.32% higher than the deep learning method and 14.57% higher than the deep learning method.

This paper presents a novel off-line iterative learning control algorithm for multiple-input-multiple-output time-varying discrete stochastic systems. Using the steady-state Kalman filtering method, we provide a novel framework for the selection of optimal/sub-optimal fixed learning gain matrices in real applications, which is convenient for engineers. Meanwhile, this framework considerably decreases the calculation about the operations of inverting matrix by introducing a matrix Riccati equation at every iteration. It is strictly proved that the input error covariance converges to its steady-state value asymptotically in the mean square sense, and accordingly, the tracking error covariance also converges. The numerical simulations verify the theoretical results.

Context: β-Sitosterol (BS), the primary constituent of plants and vegetables, exhibits multiple biological effects. Objective: This study explores its effect of immune-regulation on macrophages and its potential for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) therapy. Materials and methods: In vitro, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were treated with 5, 25 and 50 μM BS in the M1 or M2 polarization conditions. In vivo, either i.p. injection with 20 or 50 mg/kg BS every 2 d after boost immunization of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) or adoptive transfer of 2 × 106 BS-treated BMDMs (BS-BMDMs) at the day before CIA were adopted in mice to test the therapeutic effect. IL-10 antibody depletion was used in the period of above treatments to discuss the underlying mechanism. Results: The phenotypes and function of BMDMs showed that 5, 25 and 50 μM BS significantly repressed the M1 polarization and augmented M2 polarization dependent upon concentration. The expression of iNOS, IL-1β, CD86 and MHCII in 25 μM BS-treated M1-polarized BMDMs was reduced by 50.2, 47.1, 87.1 and 31.3%, respectively. In contrast, the expression of arginase-1, IL-10, CD163 and CD206 in 25 μM BS-treated M2-polarized BMDMs was increased by 65.6, 107.4, 23.5 and 51.3%, respectively. In CIA mice, either i.p. injection with BS or adoptive transfer of BS-BMDMs could alleviate the symptoms of ankle swelling (vehicle group: 3.13 ± 0.102 mm; 20 mg/kg BS group: 2.64 ± 0.043 mm; 50 mg/kg BS group: 2.36 ± 0.084 mm; BMDMs group: 3.09 ± 0.174 mm; BS-BMDMs group: 2.43 ± 0.042 mm), reduce the levels of collagen-specific antibodies (IgG and IgG1, but not IgG2c, p

A developed and verified thermodynamic model based on the atom and molecule coexistence theory (AMCT) is employed to predict activities relative to pure liquids in standard state in Mg-Al, Mg-Zn, Al-Zn and Mg-Al-Zn melts through the calculated mass action concentrations of structural units, i.e., Ni. According to AMCT, Ni can be extrapolated and calculated by the chemical equilibrium constant of a structural molecule, i.e., Ki, in the Mg-Al-Zn ternary system and binary subsystems. In this paper, the standard Gibbs free energy function, for reported activities and mixing thermodynamic properties in Mg-Al, Mg-Zn and Al-Zn melts, was regressed and optimized. The results showed that Ki and Ni were deduced by Gibbs free energy function at the studied temperature. The results of calculating thermodynamic properties in the full composition range for liquid Mg-Al-Zn from 880 to 1100 K, as well as Mg-Al from 923 to 1073 K, Mg-Zn from 880 to 973 K and Al-Zn from 1000 to 1073 K, are presented in the paper by coupling with Ni and AMCT. An excellent agreement is noticed between the calculated values of this study and measured thermodynamic data from the references, suggesting that the AMCT can be well applied to describe and predict the activities of the Mg-Al-Zn system and its subsystems.

Objective To examine the role of the long noncoding RNA LINC01296 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and to explore the underlying mechanism. Methods We detected LINC01296 expression levels in a cohort of 51 paired CRC and normal tissues. We also assessed the effects of LINC01296 on cell proliferation and apoptosis in CRC cells in vitro , and measured its effect on tumor growth in an in vivo mouse model. We identified the potential downstream targets of LINC01296 and assessed its regulatory effects. Results Expression levels of LINC01296 were elevated in 37/51 CRC tissues compared with the corresponding normal tissues and were significantly associated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. Knockdown of LINC01296 using antisense oligonucleotides inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis of colon cancer cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo . Knockdown of LINC01296 also significantly increased the gene expression of p15 in colon cancer cells. LINC01296-specific suppression of p15 was validated by the interaction between enhancer of zeste homolog 2 and LINC01296. Conclusion Overexpression of LINC01296 suppressed the expression of p15 leading to CRC carcinogenesis. These findings may provide the basis for novel future CRC-targeted therapies.

Background: Qing-Yi Decoction (QYD) is a classic precompounded prescription with satisfactory clinical efficacy on acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the chemical profile and overall molecular mechanism of QYD in treating AP have not been clarified.Methods: In the present study, a rapid, simple, sensitive and reliable ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS)-based chemical profile was first established. An integration strategy of network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking based identified ingredients was further performed to screen out the potential targets and pathways involved in the treatment of QYD on AP. Finally, SD rats with acute pancreatitis were constructed to verify the predicted results through a western blot experiment.Results: A total of 110 compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, monoterpenes, iridoids, triterpenes, phenylethanoid glycosides, anthraquinones and other miscellaneous compounds were identified, respectively. Eleven important components, 47 key targets and 15 related pathways based on network pharmacology analysis were obtained. Molecular docking simulation indicated that ERK1/2, c-Fos and p65 might play an essential role in QYD against AP. Finally, the western blot experiments showed that QYD could up-regulate the expression level of ERK1/2 and c-Fos, while down-regulate the expression level of p65.Conclusion: This study predicted and validated that QYD may treat AP by inhibiting inflammation and promoting apoptosis, which provides directions for further experimental studies.

An analytical model of laminated composite double-plate system (LCDPS) is established, which efficiently analyzes the common 3D plate structure in engineering applications. The proposed model combines the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and the classical delamination theory, and then the LCDPS’s vibration characteristics are investigated. In the process of analysis, the improved Fourier series method (IFSM) is used to describe the displacement admissible function of the LCDPS, which can remove the potential discontinuities at the boundaries. Five sets of artificial springs are introduced to simulate the elastic boundary constraints, and the restraints of the Winkler elastic layer can be adjustable. The improved Fourier series is substituted into the governing equations and boundary conditions; then, applying the Rayleigh–Ritz method, we take all the series expansion coefficients as the generalized coordinates. After that, a set of standard linear algebraic equations was obtained. On this basis, the natural frequency and mode shapes of the LCDPS can be obtained by solving the standard eigenvalue problem. By the discussion of numerical examples and the comparison with those of the reports in the literature, the convergence and the reliability of the present approach are validated. Finally, the parametric investigations of the free vibration with complex boundary conditions are carried out, including the influence of boundary conditions, lamination scheme, plate geometric parameters, and elastic coefficient between two plates.

Risk assessment of debris flow is conducted by multicriteria decisions. Based on the shortcomings of the existing methods in determining the weight of assessment factors, this paper proposes a new approach to conduct a risk assessment of debris flow. This new approach regards the weight of factors as a uniform random variable, whose bounds could be determined by the equal weight method, maximal deviation method, and entropy method. The results of this new approach are obtained by Monte Carlo simulation. According to the risk of 72 debris flows collected in Beichuan, Sichuan, China, this new approach proves convergent. It is suggested that the minimum sample amount of Monte Carlo simulation should be 63095. The result also demonstrates that sorted results with different weights of factors vary a lot, so it is not convincing to sort samples with a specific weight.

This article mainly analyzes the free vibration characteristic of the sandwich piezoelectric beam under elastic boundary conditions and thermal environment. According to the first-order shear deformation theory and Hamilton’s principle, the thermo-electro-elastic coupling equations of the sandwich piezoelectric beam are obtained. Meanwhile, elastic boundary conditions composed of an array of springs are introduced, and the displacement variables and external potential energy of the beam are expressed as wave functions. By using the method of reverberation-ray matrix to integrate and solve the governing equations, a search algorithm based on golden-section search is introduced to calculate the required frequency parameters. A series of numerical results are compared with those reported in literature studies and obtained by simulation software to verify the correctness and versatility of the search algorithm. In addition, three parametric research cases are proposed to investigate the frequency parameters of sandwich piezoelectric beams with elastic restraint conditions, material parameters, thickness ratio, different temperature rises, and external electric potential.

In this paper, we adopt D-type and PD-type learning laws with the initial state of iteration to achieve uniform tracking problem of multi-agent systems subjected to impulsive input. For the multi-agent system with impulse, we show that all agents are driven to achieve a given asymptotical consensus as the iteration number increases via the proposed learning laws if the virtual leader has a path to any follower agent. Finally, an example is illustrated to verify the effectiveness by tracking a continuous or piecewise continuous desired trajectory.

Background Chemokine (C-X3-C motif) ligand 1 (CX3CL1)/ CX3C chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) signaling is important in modulating the communication between neurons and resident microglia/migrated macrophages in the central nervous system (CNS). Although CX3CR1 deficiency is associated with an improved outcome following ischemic brain injury, the mechanism of this observation is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate how CX3CR1 deficiency influences microglia/macrophage functions in the context of its protection following brain ischemia. Methods Wild-type (WT) and CX3CR1-deficient (CX3CR1-/-) mice were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion. The ischemic brain damage was monitored by rodent high-field magnetic resonance imaging. Neurological deficit was assessed daily. Neuronal apoptotic death and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were analyzed by immunostaining and live imaging. Activation/inflammatory response of microglia/macrophage were assessed using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, 5- bromo-2-deoxyuridine labeling, cytokine ELISA, and real-time PCR. Results CX3CR1-/- mice displayed significantly smaller infarcts and less severe neurological deficits compared to WT controls, following MCAO. In addition, CX3CR1-/- MCAO mice displayed fewer apoptotic neurons and reduced ROS levels. Impaired CX3CR1 signaling abrogated the recruitment of monocyte-derived macrophages from the periphery, suppressed the proliferation of CNS microglia and infiltrated macrophage, facilitated the alternative activation (M2 state) of microglia/macrophages, and attenuated their ability to synthesize and release inflammatory cytokines. Conclusion Our results suggest that inhibition of CX3CR1 signaling could function as a therapeutic modality in ischemic brain injury, by reducing recruitment of peripheral macrophages and expansion/activation of CNS microglia and macrophages, resulting in protection of neurological function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis that is a common gastrointestinal disease. Particularly, macrophages differentiate into different phenotypes and exert diverse functions in acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP), respectively. In AP, macrophages in the pancreas and other related organs are mainly activated and differentiated into a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, and furthermore secrete inflammatory cytokines and mediators, causing local inflammation of the pancreas, and even intractable systemic inflammatory response or multiple organ failure. In CP, macrophages often exhibit a M2 polarisation and interact with pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) in an autocrine and paracrine cytokine-dependent manner to promote the progression of pancreatic fibrosis. As the severity of pancreatic fibrosis aggravates, the proportion of M2/M1 macrophage cytokines in the pancreas increases. The discovery of macrophages in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis has promoted the research of targeted drugs, which provides great potential for the effective treatment of pancreatitis. This paper provides an overview of the roles of various macrophages in the pathogenesis of pancreatitis and the current research status of pancreatitis immunotherapy targeting macrophages. The findings addressed in this review are of considerable significance for understanding the pivotal role of macrophages in pancreatitis.

The COVID-19 has emerged as an epidemic, causing severe pneumonia with a high infection rate globally. To better understand the pathogenesis caused by SARS-CoV-2, we developed a rhesus macaque model to mimic natural infection via the nasal route, resulting in the SARS-CoV-2 virus shedding in the nose and stool up to 27 days. Importantly, we observed the pathological progression of marked interstitial pneumonia in the infected animals on 5-7 dpi, with virus dissemination widely occurring in the lower respiratory tract and lymph nodes, and viral RNA was consistently detected from 5 to 21 dpi. During the infection period, the kinetics response of T cells was revealed to contribute to COVID-19 progression. Our findings implied that the antiviral response of T cells was suppressed after 3 days post infection, which might be related to increases in the Treg cell population in PBMCs. Moreover, two waves of the enhanced production of cytokines (TGF-α, IL-4, IL-6, GM-CSF, IL-10, IL-15, IL-1β), chemokines (MCP-1/CCL2, IL-8/CXCL8, and MIP-1β/CCL4) were detected in lung tissue. Our data collected from this model suggested that T cell response and cytokine/chemokine changes in lung should be considered as evaluation parameters for COVID-19 treatment and vaccine development, besides of observation of virus shedding and pathological analysis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has recently emerged as a global threat. Understanding workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding this new infectious disease is crucial to preventing and controlling it. This study aimed to assess KAP regarding COVID-19 during the outbreak among workers in China. The present study was part of a cross-sectional online survey study conducted based on a large labor-intensive factory, which has 180,000 workers from various Chinese provinces, from 2 February 2020 to 7 February 2020. KAP related to COVID-19 were measured by 32 items, each item was measured with an agree/disagree/unclear format, and only correct responses were given 1 point. KAP regarding COVID-19 were measured with 20 items, 6 items and 6 items, respectively. A total of 123,768 valid responses (68.8%) were included in the analysis. Generally, the levels of knowledge (mean: 16.3 out of 20 points), attitudes (mean: 4.5 out of 6 points), and practices (mean: 5.8 out of 6 points) related to COVID-19 were high. Only 36,373 respondents (29.4%) disagreed that gargling with salt water is effective in protecting against COVID-19. Moreover, older respondents had decreased levels of knowledge and practices related to COVID-19 (both P values for the trend

In this paper, we discuss the consensus tracking problem by introducing two iterative learning control (ILC) protocols (namely, Dα-type and PDα-type) with initial state error for fractional-order homogenous and heterogenous multi-agent systems (MASs), respectively. The initial state of each agent is fixed at the same position away from the desired one for iterations. For both homogenous and heterogenous MASs, the Dα-type ILC rule is first designed and analyzed, and the asymptotical convergence property is carefully derived. Then, an additional P-type component is added to formulate a PDα-type ILC rule, which also guarantees the asymptotical consensus performance. Moreover, it turns out that the PDα-type ILC rule can further adjust the final performance. Two numerical examples are provided to verify the theoretical results.

The underlying molecular mechanisms of chronic pancreatitis (CP) developing into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain largely unknown. Here we show that the level of serotonin in mouse pancreatic tissues is upregulated in caerulein-induced CP mice. In vitro study demonstrates that serotonin promotes the formation of acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) and the activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), which results from the activation of RhoA/ROCK signaling cascade. Activation of this signaling cascade increases NF-κB nuclear translocation and α-SMA expression, which further enhance the inflammatory responses and fibrosis in pancreatic tissues. Intriguingly, quercetin inhibits both ADM lesion and PSCs activation in vitro and in vivo via its inhibitory effect on serotonin release. Our findings underscore the instrumental role of serotonin-mediated activation of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway in development of PDAC from CP and highlight a potential to impede PDAC development by disrupting tumor-promoting functions of serotonin.

Pancreatic disorders cause a broad spectrum of clinical diseases, mainly including acute and chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, and are associated with high global rates of morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the pathogenesis of pancreatic disease remains obscure, and there is a lack of specific treatments. T lymphocytes (T cells) play a vital role in the adaptive immune systems of multicellular organisms. During pancreatic disease development, local imbalances in T-cell subsets in inflammatory and tumor environments and the circulation have been observed. Furthermore, agents targeting T cells have been shown to reverse the natural course of pancreatic diseases. In this review, we have discussed the clinical relevance of T-cell alterations as a potential outcome predictor and the underlying mechanisms, as well as the present status of immunotherapy targeting T cells in pancreatitis and neoplasms. The breakthrough findings summarized in this review have important implications for innovative drug development and the prospective use of immunotherapy for pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

In the case of preheating and non-preheating, the rapid prototyping system of high-power fiber laser and electromagnetic induction heating equipment was used to fabricate 12CrNi2 alloy steel. The microstructure of the molded parts was observed under a scanning electron microscope, and the hardness test of different parts was conducted using the Victorinox hardness tester. The tensile properties in different directions were tested using the universal material testing machine. This study investigated the effect of preheating on the microstructure, hardness, and tensile properties of laser melting deposited 12CrNi2 alloy steel in different directions. The obtained results show that the microstructure of the single-channel molten pool without preheating is lath martensite, and the molten pool of block-shaped forming parts is tempered martensite and bainite mixed structure. No obvious structural difference between XOZ and YOZ sections is observed. However, the overall hardness of the YOZ cross section is larger than that of the XOZ cross section. Large-scale macroscopic crack defects appear in both sections, and the mechanical properties are poor. Under preheating conditions, bainite transformation occurs in the molten pool because of the decrease in the temperature gradient. The single-channel molten pool shows an excellent bainite structure. No tempered martensite transformation in the molten pool of block-shaped forming parts, mainly granular bainite, is observed. Cross-sectional hardness distribution is more uniform with preheating than without preheating. High tensile strength and low plasticity are detected in the tensile and overlap directions. The tensile strength is up to 1189 MPa, the yield strength is 951 MPa, and the elongation is only 2.8%. No obvious anisotropy in performance is observed. Preheating can reduce the temperature gradient in the molten pool, reduce the thermal stress, effectively control the crack defects, promote the homogenization of the microstructure, reduce the anisotropy of the microstructure and properties, and improve the mechanical properties of the alloy steel forming parts.

The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has revolutionized cancer treatment. ICI stimulates the immune system to recognize and destroys cancer cells via immune checkpoint proteins. However, these drugs can also induce immune-related adverse events (irAE) in off-target organs, such as the heart. The most common manifestation of heart damage is myocarditis, and these rear off-target effects can be life-threatening. Existing data indicate that ICI induces miss-target effects through several mechanisms, including direct binding to surface proteins expressed in normal tissues, activation of T cells that cross-react with miss-target tissues, production of autoantibodies and pro-inflammatory cytokines. A better understanding of the adverse effects of cancer immunotherapy and its underlying mechanisms will help to develop biomarkers to identify at-risk patients and prevent these irAEs.