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Congyang Xue,1 Xiaopei Lu,2 Guangda Sun,1 Nan Wang,1 Gansheng He,1 Wenqiang Xu,1 Zhipeng Xi,1 Lin Xie1 1Department of Spine Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Surgery, Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lin Xie, Department of Spine Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 100th. Shizi Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210028, People’s Republic of China, Email xielin@njucm.edu.cnPurpose: To explore the validity of the thoracic spine Hounsfield Unit (HU) measured by chest computed tomography (CT) for opportunistic screening of diabetic osteoporosis. The current study attempted to establish a diagnostic threshold for thoracic spine HU in a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) population with osteoporosis.Patients and Methods: The current study retrospectively included 334 patients with T2DM. They underwent chest CT and Dual-energy X-ray (DXA) between August 2021 and January 2022 in our hospital. HU values were measured on the resulting chest CT images at thoracic spine 11 and 12 to construct regions of interest. All patients were grouped according to the lowest T-value of DXA examination: osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal bone density. HU values were compared with T-values in each group of patients, and receiver operating characteristics curves were plotted to calculate diagnostic thresholds as well as sensitivity and specificity.Results: There was a strong correlation between the HU values of chest CT and the T-values of DXA (p < 0.01). The sensitivity for osteoporosis was 88.7% for T11 attenuation≤ 98 HU and the specificity for osteoporosis was 87.5% for T12 attenuation ≤ 117HU; the specificity for normal BMD was 85.4% for T11 attenuation ≥ 147 HU and 82% for T12 attenuation ≥ 146 HU.Conclusion: Chest CT can be used to screen patients with T2DM for opportunistic osteoporosis and help determine if they need DXA screening. The current study suggests that when the HU threshold of T11 ≤ 98/T12 ≤ 117, patients may need further osteoporosis screening.Keywords: osteoporosis, T2DM, HU, thoracic vertebra, chest CT

Guiyuan He,1,&ast; Xi Wang,1,&ast; Beiqing Li,1 Lei Wang,1 Jing Zhang,2 Yang Shi,1 Wenxiu Zhu,1 Ming Shi1,3 1Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Medicine, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Laboratory, Central Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ming Shi, Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Medicine & Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, 116037, People’s Republic of China, Email zhsh6655@sohu.comPurpose: Fragile sites are specific chromosomal regions showing gaps, poor staining, contractions, or even breaks in the chromosomes. These spontaneous and heritable fragile sites are prone to structural variations which can lead to adverse reproductive outcomes. This paper aims to present a specific case study of a female patient, with a mosaic karyotype involving chromosome 16q22 fragile site which is very rare in clinic and her experience of infertility.Case Presentation: A 37-year-old woman is diagnosed with ten-year primary infertility. She worked in a factory, and she was occasionally exposed to paint. She underwent two cycles of follicular monitoring with intrauterine insemination (IUI) using her husband’s sperm six years ago but failed. Most of her prepregnancy tests were normal, except a not smooth right fallopian tube. Her G-band karyotype of peripheral blood lymphocytes was mos 46, XX, del(16)(q22)[40]/46, XX, fra(16)(q22)[29]/46, XX, fra(16)tr(16)(q22)[3]/46, XX[28] which inherited from her mother. The SCE assay detected a significantly higher frequency of SCEs in the 16q region of the patient’s chromosomes compared to her mother and a healthy control. However, the average SCEs per chromosome were quite close. Moreover, copy number variation (CNV) sequencing showed no deletion nor duplication at 16q22.Conclusion: Infertility cannot be completely attributed to the fragile site on chromosome 16q22. Assisted reproductive technology combined with preimplantation genetic testing may help in achieving a healthy live birth.Keywords: fragile sites, infertility, fra(16)(q22), del(16)(q22), SCE, CNV

Guanjin He,1,&ast; Qifeng Yang,2,&ast; Yuyang Shen,3 Lanzhi Zhang,2 Jingping Wu,2 Hongbin Cheng1 1Dermatology Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 2Medical Aesthetic Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 3Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Jingping Wu; Hongbin Cheng, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 39, Shi-Er-Qiao Road, Jinniu District, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 15928747715 ; +86 13880848134, Email jingpingwu2022@163.com; chenghongbin@cdutcm.edu.cnAbstract: Our team used a new kite flap preparation method to repair wounds after the removal of a benign facial tumor with satisfactory aesthetic results. Thus, this modified kite flap has significant value in facial trauma repair.Keywords: facial wound repair, modified kite flap, experience, case series

Dongning Lyu, Guangyu He, Kan Zhou, Jin Xu, Haifei Zeng, Tongyu Li, Ningbo Tang Department of Nephrology Clinic, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Dongning Lyu, Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, No. 8 Qiuyue Road, Liangqing District, Nanning, Guangxi, 530200, People’s Republic of China, Tel +8613377191933, Email tsj757700@163.comPurpose: Uremia, which is characterized by immunodeficiency, is associated with the deterioration of kidney function. Immune-related genes (IRGs) are crucial for uremia progression.Methods: The co-expression network was constructed to identify key modular genes associated with uremia. IRGs were intersected with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between uremia and control groups and key modular genes to obtain differentially expressed IRGs (DEIRGs). DEIRGs were subjected to functional enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. The candidate genes were identified using the cytoHubba tool. The biomarkers were identified using various machine learning algorithms. The diagnostic value of the biomarkers was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The immune infiltration analysis was implemented. The biological pathways of biomarkers were identified using gene set enrichment analysis and ingenuity pathway analysis. The mRNA expression of biomarkers was validated using blood samples of patients with uremia and healthy subjects with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).Results: In total, four biomarkers (PDCD1, NGF, PDGFRB, and ZAP70) were identified by machine learning methods. ROC analysis demonstrated that the area under the curve values of individual biomarkers were > 0.9, indicating good diagnostic power. The nomogram model of biomarkers exhibited good predictive power. The proportions of six immune cells significantly varied between the uremia and control groups. ZAP70 expression was positively correlated with the proportions of resting natural killer (NK) cells, naïve B cells, and regulatory T cells. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the biomarkers were mainly associated with translational function and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. ZAP70 regulated NK cell signaling. The PDCD1 and NGF expression levels determined using qRT-PCR were consistent with those determined using bioinformatics analysis.Conclusion: PDCD1, NGF, PDGFRB, and ZAP70 were identified as biomarkers for uremia, providing a theoretical foundation for uremia diagnosis. Keywords: differential expression analysis, WGCNA, immune infiltration, nomogram, diagnosis

Tinghan Deng,1 Huilan Zheng,1 Ying Zhu,2 Ming Liu,3 Guanjin He,1 Ya Li,1 Yichen Liu,1 Jingping Wu,4 Hongbin Cheng1 1Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610075, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gynecology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610075, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Medical Oncology/Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Medical Cosmetology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610075, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jingping Wu; Hongbin Cheng, Email wujingping@cdutcm.edu.cn; chenghongbin@cdutcm.edu.cnBackground: Human skin microbiome is the first barrier against exogenous attack and is associated with various skin disease pathogenesis and progression. Advancements in high-throughput sequencing technologies have paved the way for a deeper understanding of this field. Based on the bibliometric analysis, this investigation aimed to identify the hotspots and future research trends associated with human skin microbiomes studied over the past decade.Methods: The published research on skin microbiome from January 2013 to January 2023 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Data cleaning processes to ensure robust data and the bibliometrix packages R, CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Origin, and Scimago Graphica for bibliometric and visual analyses were utilized.Results: A total of 1629 published documents were analyzed. The overall publication trend steadily increased, with relatively fast growth in 2017 and 2020. The United States of America has the highest number of publications and citations and shows close collaborations with China and Germany. The University of California, San Diego, indicated a higher number of publications than other institutions and the fastest growth rate. The top three most publishing journals on this topic are Microorganisms, Frontiers in Microbiology, and Experimental dermatology. Gallo RL is the most influential author with the highest h- and g-index and most publications in skin microecology, followed by Grice EA and Kong HH. The top 10 most frequently used keywords in recent years included skin microbiome, microbiome, staphylococcus aureus, diversity, atopic dermatitis, skin, bacteria, infections, gut microbiota, and disease.Conclusion: The skin microbiome is an area of research that requires continuous analysis, and even with much-achieved progress, future research will further be aided as technology develops.Keywords: skin microbiome, bibliometric, trends, skin barrier, skin immune

Liping Mai,1,&ast; Guodong He,1,&ast; Jing Chen,1 Jiening Zhu,1 Shaoxian Chen,1 Hui Yang,1 Mengzhen Zhang,1 Xinghua Hou,1 Miaola Ke,2 Xiaohong Li1,3 1Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Blood Transfusion, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People’s Republic of China; 3Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiaohong Li, Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, People’s Republic of China, Email lixiaohong@gdph.org.cn Miaola Ke, Department of Blood Transfusion, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People’s Republic of China, Email keml@sysucc.org.cnBackground: Profilin-1 (PFN1) regulates the dynamic balance of actin and plays an important role in cell functions as a hub protein in signaling molecule interaction networks. Dysregulation of PFN1 is related to pathologic kidney diseases. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) was recently reported as an inflammatory disorder, however, the molecular mechanisms of PFN1 in DN remain unclear. Therefore, the present study was conducted to explore the molecular and bioinformatic characteristics of PFN1 in DN.Methods: Bioinformatics analyses were performed on the chip of database in DN kidney tissues. A cellular model of DN was established in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) induced by high glucose. The PFN1 gene was overexpressed or knocked-down to investigate its function in DN. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. PFN1 and proteins in the related signaling pathways were evaluated by Western blotting.Results: The expression of PFN1 was significantly increased in DN kidney tissues (P < 0.001) and was correlated with a high apoptosis-associated score (Pearson’s correlation = 0.664) and cellular senescence-associated score (Pearson’s correlation = 0.703). PFN1 protein was mainly located in cytoplasm. Overexpression of PFN1 promoted apoptosis and blocked the proliferation of HK-2 cells treated with high levels of glucose. Knockdown of PFN1 led to the opposite effects. Additionally, we found that PFN1 was correlated with the inactivation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in HK-2 cells treated with high levels of glucose.Conclusion: PFN1 might play an integral role in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis during DN development by activating the Hedgehog signaling pathway. This study provided molecular and bioinformatic characterizations of PFN1, and contributed to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to DN.Keywords: PFN1, diabetic nephropathy, bioinformatic characterization, Hedgehog signaling pathway, apoptosis

Guangda He,1 Runqing Ji,1 Xiqian Huo,1 Xiaoming Su,1 Jinzhuo Ge,1 Wei Li,1 Lubi Lei,1 Boxuan Pu,1 Aoxi Tian,1 Jiamin Liu,1 Lihua Zhang,1 Yongjian Wu2 On behalf of the China PEACE Collaborative Group1National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Clinical Research for Cardiovascular Medications, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lihua Zhang, National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, NHC Key Laboratory of Clinical Research for Cardiovascular Medications, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, 167 Beilishi Road, Beijing, 100037, People’s Republic of China, Email zhanglihua@fuwai.com Yongjian Wu, Department of Cardiology, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, People’s Republic of China, Email wuyongjian@fuwai.comBackground: Inflammation contributes to the progression of heart failure (HF). However, long-term inflammatory trajectories and their associations with outcomes in patients with acute HF remain unclear.Methods: Data was obtained from the China Patient-Centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events Prospective Heart Failure Study, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was used to reflect the inflammatory level. Only patients who survived over 12-month and had hsCRP data at admission, 1-, and 12-month after discharge were included. The latent class trajectory modeling was used to characterize hsCRP trajectories. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to explore the association between hsCRP trajectories and following mortality.Results: Totally, 1281 patients with a median 4.77 (interquartile range [IQR]: 4.24– 5.07) years follow-up were included. The median age was 64 years (IQR: 54– 73 years); 453 (35.4%) were female. Four distinct inflammatory trajectories were characterized: persistently low (n = 419, 32.7%), very high-marked decrease (n = 99, 7.7%), persistently high (n = 649, 50.7%), and persistently very high (n = 114, 8.9%). Compared with the persistently low trajectory, the all-cause mortality was increased in a graded pattern in the persistently high (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23– 2.07) and persistently very high (HR: 2.56, 95% CI: 1.83– 3.70) trajectories; nevertheless, the mortality was not significantly increased in very high-marked decrease trajectory (HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.57– 1.54).Conclusion: Four distinct inflammatory trajectories were identified among patients with acute HF who survived over 12-month. Patients with persistently high and very high trajectories had significantly higher mortality than those with the persistently low trajectory.Keywords: heart failure, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, trajectory, latent class trajectory modeling, mortality

Electricity is an important output of the global energy system. Large amounts of water can be consumed in the process of producing electricity. This article focuses on how that water is virtually transferred from power-generating regions to electricity-consuming areas. We propose two metrics, i.e., water substitution ratio and virtual water transfer loss, to assess the efficiency of water use for power generation and virtual transmission of water through the power transmission system, respectively. These metrics are used to estimate the effects of the West–East Electricity Transmission project in China on the water resources used in power-generating regions. Results show that the electricity delivered by the project increased from 228 TWh in 2008 to 683 TWh in 2017. With the construction of wind and solar energy projects, the growth rate of virtual water was slightly slower than that of the electricity transmitted. In 2017, 2.4 km3 of virtual water was transmitted eastward. The corresponding virtual water transfer loss throughout the transmission system was approximately 100 million m3. We estimate that the virtual water footprint of the project will exceed 4.4 km3 by 2030, which may affect the sustainability of water resources and the ecological environment in western regions of China.

Organic aerosols generated from the smoldering combustion of wood critically impact air quality and health for billions of people worldwide; yet, the links between the chemical components and the optical or biological effects of woodsmoke aerosol (WSA) are still poorly understood. In this work, an untargeted analysis of the molecular composition of smoldering WSA, generated in a controlled environment from nine types of heartwood fuels (African mahogany, birch, cherry, maple, pine, poplar, red oak, redwood, and walnut), identified several hundred compounds using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) and nano-electrospray high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) with tandem multistage mass spectrometry (MSn). The effects of WSA on cell toxicity as well as gene expression dependent on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and estrogen receptor (ER) were characterized with cellular assays, and the visible mass absorption coefficients (MACvis) of WSA were measured with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The WSAs studied in this work have significant levels of biological and toxicological activity, with exposure levels in both an outdoor and indoor environment similar to or greater than those of other toxicants. A correlation between the HRMS molecular composition and aerosol properties found that phenolic compounds from the oxidative decomposition of lignin are the main drivers of aerosol effects, while the cellulose decomposition products play a secondary role; e.g., levoglucosan is anticorrelated with multiple effects. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are not expected to form at the combustion temperature in this work, nor were they observed above the detection limit; thus, biological and optical properties of the smoldering WSA are not attributed to PAHs. Syringyl compounds tend to correlate with cell toxicity, while the more conjugated molecules (including several compounds assigned to dimers) have higher AhR activity and MACvis. The negative correlation between cell toxicity and AhR activity suggests that the toxicity of smoldering WSA to cells is not mediated by the AhR. Both mass-normalized biological outcomes have a statistically significant dependence on the degree of combustion of the wood. In addition, our observations support the fact that the visible light absorption of WSA is at least partially due to charge transfer effects in aerosols, as previously suggested. Finally, MACvis has no correlation with toxicity or receptor signaling, suggesting that key chromophores in this work are not biologically active on the endpoints tested.

Guangyu He,1 Amos Z Dai,2 Vamiq M Mustahsan,1 Christopher L Blum,2 Imin Kao,1 Fazel A Khan2 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; 2Department of Orthopedics, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, USACorrespondence: Fazel A Khan, Email fazel.khan@stonybrookmedicine.eduIntroduction: Computer navigation and customized 3D-printed jigs improve accuracy during bone tumor resection, but such technologies can be bulky, costly, and require intraoperative radiation, or long lead time to be ready in OR.Methods: We developed a method utilizing a compact, inexpensive, non-X-ray based 3D surface light scanner to provide a visual aid that helps surgeons accurately draw osteotomy lines on the surface of exposed bone to reproduce a well-defined preoperative bone resection plan. We tested the accuracy of the method on 18 sawbones using a distal femur hemimetaphyseal resection model and compared it with a traditional, freehand method.Results: The method significantly reduces the positional error from 2.53 (± 1.13) mm to 1.04 (± 0.43) mm (p< 0.001), and angular error of the front angle from 2.10° (± 0.83°) to 0.80° (± 0.66°) (p=0.001). The method also reduces the mean maximum deviation of the bone resection, with respect to the preoperative path, from 3.75mm to 2.69mm (p=0.003). However, no increased accuracy was observed at the back side of the bone surface where this method would not be expected to provide information.Discussion: In summary, we developed a novel 3D-LAD navigation technology. From the experimental study, we demonstrated that the method can improve the ability of surgeons to accurately draw the preoperative osteotomy lines and perform resection of a primary bone sarcoma, with comparison to traditional methods, using 18 sawbones.Keywords: computer-assist surgery, 3D light assisted drawing, osteotomy lines, structured-light scanning, surgical technique

The finite volume method (FVM) is used to numerically investigate the sloshing behaviors of dual liquid tanks with gas inflow in this study. The sloshing process of a single liquid tank is simulated to verify the feasibility of the numerical method. Three different inlet boundary conditions are then discussed in order to obtain a reasonable gas flow rate. The sloshing process of a dual liquid tank with the gas inflow is simulated, and the effects of three different factors on the sloshing behaviors are investigated. The results indicate that the overload, flow rate, and filling ratio can affect the peak value of the impact force acting on the tank wall. The impact force is positively proportional to the overload (1G, 3G, or 5G). An increase in flow rate (50 g/s, 1000 g/s, or 5000 g/s) or a decrease in filling ratio (99.52%, 75.64%, or 63.69%) can increase the size and number of bubbles, leading to intensified sloshing behavior and increased impact force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospray (ES) has attracted significant interest due to its advantages in generating uniform droplets and enabling controlled deposition. However, the complex interactions and droplet motion mechanisms between fluids and electric fields are still not well understood. Herein, this study presents a three-dimensional numerical model based on the volume of fluid and Lagrangian approaches to simulate the ES process in the pulsed jet mode. The model accurately captures the morphology and the atomization characteristics in the pulsed jet mode of ES. The effects of voltage and Reynolds number on the length of the non-atomized zone (including quasi-static Taylor cone, transition zone, and jet), diameter of the jet breakup, and atomization characteristics are discussed. Also, the mechanism of atomized droplets is revealed by analyzing the magnitudes of different types of forces imposing on the droplets in the electric field. The results indicate that higher Reynolds numbers lead to increased length of non-atomized zone and diameter of jet breakup, while the elevated voltages enhance atomization. Electric and Coulomb forces are, respectively, the dominant forces of forming the jet and expanding the atomization angle. Coulomb force increases the atomization angle, and electric field force increases the velocity of atomized droplets. Gravity and drag-force effects are relatively negligible throughout the atomization process. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the electrospray mechanisms and provide insights for optimizing electrospray applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The draft genome, morphological description, and phylogenetic placement of Coniella lustricola sp. nov. (Schizoparmeaceae) are provided. The species was isolated from submerged detritus in a fen at Black Moshannon State Park, Pennsylvania, USA and differs from all other Coniella species by having ellipsoid to fusoid, inequilateral conidia that are rounded on one end and truncate or obtuse on the other end, with a length to width ratio of 2.8. The draft genome is 36.56 Mbp and consists of 870 contigs on 634 scaffolds (L50 = 0.14 Mb, N50 = 76 scaffolds), with 0.5% of the scaffold length in gaps. It contains 11,317 predicted gene models, including predicted genes for cellulose, hemicellulose, and xylan degradation, as well as predicted regions encoding for amylase, laccase, and tannase enzymes. Many members of the Schizoparmeaceae are plant pathogens of agricultural crops. This draft genome represents the first sequenced Coniella genome and will be a valuable tool for comparisons among pathogenic Coniella species.

The purpose of this paper is to study on the power extraction of the hydrofoil by performance of the coupled oscillating heave and pitch motions. The numerical analysis is conducted by using the Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and the realizable k- ɛ turbulent model of the Star-CCM+ software. A 3D oscillating hydrofoil of NACA0015 section with aspect ratio of 7 is selected for the present analysis at two inflow velocities and three frequencies. The numerical results of lift and drag coefficients, horizontal and vertical forces coefficients, power efficiency in time domain and average value of those parameters are presented and discussed. According to the numerical results, the high efficiency of hydrofoil is found at the reduced frequency of 0.18 and the flow velocity of 1 m/s and the low efficiency is obtained at the reduction frequency of 0.06 and the flow velocity of 2 m/s. Moreover, the contour results of vorticity, streamline and pressure distribution are also presented and discussed. The computational model depicts clear vortex patterns surrounding the hydrofoil, which has a major impact on the power performance of oscillating hydrofoil.

Smart grids are rolling out internationally, with the United States (U.S.) nearing completion of a significant USD4-plus-billion federal program funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA-2009). The emergence of smart grids is widespread across developed countries. Multiple approaches to analyzing the benefits of smart grids haveemerged. The goals of this white paper are to review these approaches and analyze examples of each to highlight their differences, advantages, and disadvantages.This work was conducted under the auspices of a joint U.S.-China research effort, the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) Implementation Plan, Smart Grid. We present comparative benefits assessments (BAs) of smart grid demonstrations in the U.S. and China along with a BA of a pilot project in Europe. In the U.S., we assess projects at two sites: (1) the University of California, Irvine campus (UCI), which consists of two distinct demonstrations: Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Irvine Smart Grid Demonstration Project (ISGD) and the UCI campus itself; and (2) the Navy Yard (TNY) area in Philadelphia, which has been repurposed as a mixed commercial-industrial, and possibly residential, development. In China, we cover several smart-grid aspects of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city (TEC) and the Shenzhen Bay Technology and Ecology City (B-TEC). In Europe, we look at a BA of a pilot smart grid project in the Malagrotta area west of Rome, Italy, contributed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission.The Irvine sub-project BAs use the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) Smart Grid Computational Tool (SGCT), which is built on methods developed by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The TEC sub-project BAs apply Smart Grid Multi-Criteria Analysis (SG-MCA) developed by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with fuzzy logic. The B-TEC and TNY sub-project BAs are evaluated using new approaches developed by those project teams. JRC has adopted an approach similar to EPRI’s but tailored to the Malagrotta distribution grid.

Integrating variable energy resources, notably solar and wind, requires better understanding of where, when and how much of variable resources are available. China's ambitious solar energy development goal will be greatly facilitated by the resources assessment at higher spatial and temporal resolution. We utilized 10-year hourly solar irradiation data from 2001 to 2010 from 200 representative locations to develop provincial solar availability profiles. We found that China has a potential stationary solar capacity from 4700GW to 39300GW, distributed solar about 200 GW, and the annual solar output could reach 6900 TWh to 70100 TWh. Resources are most concentrated in northwest provinces, topped by Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Gansu. The challenge of solar development in China is integration rather than resources. The spatial and temporal variation of the solar resource show an efficient, robust, and inter-connected national grid and sound energy planning would be necessary to facilitate the integration of these vastly available but variable solar resources.

Meizhu Yan1 ,* Manru Shen1 ,* Linfang Xu1 ,* Jiying Huang,1 Guijun He,1 Min An,1 Xiaocui Li,1 Zhenjun Gao,1 Xin Meng2 1Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai 201700, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Hospital Infection Management, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai 201700, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhenjun GaoDepartment of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, 1158 East Gongyuan Road, Shanghai 201700, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail prom_doc@163.comXin MengDepartment of Hospital Infection Management, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, 1158 East Gongyuan Road, Shanghai 201700, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-21-69719190-5515Email qphospital_mx@126.comBackground: Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are precursor cells of cancer-associated fibroblasts that promote tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 has been reported to exhibit anticancer effects against several tumor cells; however, the function and mechanism underlying the effects of exendin-4 on pancreatic cancer cells remain unclear.Methods: Gene expression levels were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot assay. Cell viability, migration and invasion were assessed using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively. A xenografted tumor model was established in mouse to evaluate the effects of exendin-4 in vivo.Results: Exendin-4 treatment led to the inactivation of PSCs and suppressed their proliferation and migration. Moreover, we also found that exendin-4 attenuated NF-κB-dependent SDF-1 secretion. Furthermore, pancreatic cancer cells incubated with conditioned medium obtained from exendin-4-treated PSCs showed a decreased ability to proliferate, migrate, and invade as compared to the control cells, which is similar to the effects induced by the CXCR4 inhibitor, AMD3100. Consistent with in vitro results, we also confirmed that exendin-4 indirectly targeted pancreatic cancer cells in vivo by attenuating the function of PSCs and suppressing the deposition of extracellular matrix.Conclusion: These results revealed that exendin-4-treated PSCs could suppress pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and invasion, offering a potential strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.Keywords: pancreatic cancer, pancreatic stellate cells, exendin-4, SDF-1

Yang Bao,1,* Yijun Zhu,1,* Guangbao He,1 Hongwei Ni,1 Chenxia Liu,1 Limin Ma,1 Lifeng Zhang,2 Dongping Shi1 1Department of Anesthesiology, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai 201800, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Anesthesiology, Jiading Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai 201821, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Dongping ShiDepartment of Anesthesiology, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, No.1 Chengbei Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, Shanghai 201800, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail dongpingshi@yandex.com Lifeng ZhangDepartment of Anesthesiology, Jiading Maternal and Child Health Hospital, No 1216 Gaotai Road, Jiading District, Shanghai, Shanghai 201821, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail zhanglifeng2019@126.comBackground: Dexmedetomidine (Dex) was reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory effect in the nervous system. However, the mechanism by which Dex exhibits anti-inflammation effects on LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia cells remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the role of Dex in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells.Methods: The BV2 cells were stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). BV2 cells were infected with short-hairpin RNAs targeting NF-κB (NF-κB-shRNAs) and NF-κB overexpression lentivirus, respectively. In addition, miR-340 mimics or miR-340 inhibitor was transfected into BV2 cells, respectively. Meanwhile, the dual-luciferase reporter system assay was used to explore the interaction of miR-340 and NF-κB in BV2 cells. CCK-8 was used to detect the viability of BV2 cells. In addition, Western blotting was used to detect the level of NF-κB in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-12, IL-10 and MCP-1 in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells were measured with ELISA.Results: The level of miR-340 was significantly upregulated in Dex-treated BV2 cells. Meanwhile, the level of NF-κB was significantly increased in BV2 cells following infection with lenti-NF-κB, which was markedly reversed by Dex. LPS markedly increased the expression of NF-κB and proinflammatory cytokines in BV2 cells, which were reversed in the presence of Dex. Moreover, miR-340 mimics enhanced the anti-inflammatory effects of Dex in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells via inhibiting NF-κB and proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, Dex obviously inhibited LPS-induced phagocytosis in BV2 cells.Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggested that Dex might exert anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells via upregulation of miR-340. Therefore, Dex might serve as a potential agent for the treatment of neuroinflammation.Keywords: NF-κB, dexmedetomidine, BV2 microglia cells, postoperative cognitive dysfunction

Micronutrient deficiencies caused by lack of Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and Vitamin A in the human body have negative effect with regard to health issues worldwide. Imbalances of these nutrients in the human body create a significant risk of illness and mortality among children under five years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Some of the food crops that thought to reduce micronutrients include rice, sweet potato, dry bean, sorghum, corn, barley, and finger millet have been biofortified through ways of agronomic practices, conventional breeding, or modern biotechnology. Despite the fact that dry beans address Fe and Zn deficiencies based on recommended dietary allowances (RDA), they often take a long time to cook. Many communities have limited cooking resources which make them rely on burning wood, charcoal or other biofuels that require more time and money. This study identified dry bean cultivars with enhanced Fe and Zn concentration levels and fast cooking time from 200 cultivars. Experiments were conducted under a complete randomized block design with two replications, 200 cultivars, and two different agro-ecologies. Iron and Zinc concentration levels were determined from the harvested seed grains of each bean cultivar using X-Ray Fluorescence while cooking time of similar cultivars were determined using the Mattson cooker. The variation of Fe and Zn concentration was significantly different at (p Key words: Micronutrient deficiencies, Biofortification, Cultivars, Cooking time, Vulnerable group, Variation, INTRODUCTION Iron and Zinc are essential micronutrients for body growth, development, reproduction and other physiological functions in the human body [1]. The available data on zinc level in serum and [...]