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Abstract Background The Sleep Condition Indicator (SCI), an insomnia measurement tool based on the updated Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria with sound psychometric properties when applied in various populations, was evaluated here among healthcare students longitudinally, to demonstrate its measurement properties and invariance in this particularly high-risk population. Methods Healthcare students of a Chinese university were recruited into this two-wave longitudinal study, completing the simplified Chinese version of the SCI (SCI-SC), Chinese Regularity, Satisfaction, Alertness, Timing, Efficiency, Duration (RU_SATED-C) scale, Chinese Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4-C), and sociodemographic variables questionnaire (Q-SV) between September and November 2022. Structural validity, measurement invariance (MI), convergent and discriminant validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability of the SCI-SC were examined. Subgroups of gender, age, home location, part-time job, physical exercise, and stress-coping strategy were surveyed twice to test cross-sectional and longitudinal MI. Results We identified 343 valid responses (62.9% female, mean age = 19.650 ± 1.414 years) with a time interval of seven days. The two-factor structure was considered satisfactory (comparative fit index = 0.953–0.989, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.931–0.984, root means square error of approximation = 0.040–0.092, standardized root mean square residual = 0.039–0.054), which mostly endorsed strict invariance except for part-time job subgroups, hence establishing longitudinal invariance. The SCI-SC presented acceptable convergent validity with the RU_SATED-C scale (r ≥ 0.500), discriminant validity with the PHQ-4-C (0.300 ≤ r

Abstract Background Depression and anxiety symptoms among medical students are often a concern. The Patient Health Questionnaire-Four (PHQ-4), an important tool for depression and anxiety screening, is commonly used and easy to administer. This study aimed to assess and update the longitudinal measurement invariance and psychometric properties of the simplified Chinese version. Methods A three-wave longitudinal survey was conducted among healthcare students using the PHQ-4. Structural validity was based on one-factor, two-factor, and second-order factor models, construct validity was based on the Self-Rated Health Questionnaire (SRHQ), Sleep Quality Questionnaire (SQQ), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and longitudinal measurement invariance (LMI), internal consistency, and test–retest reliability were based on structural consistency across three time points. Results The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that two-factor model was the best fit, and LMI was supported at three time points. Inter-factor, factor-total, and construct validity correlations of the PHQ-4 were acceptable. Additionally, Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega, and the intraclass correlation coefficient demonstrated acceptable/moderate to excellent reliability of the PHQ-4. Conclusions This study adds new longitudinal evidence that the Chinese version of the PHQ-4 has promising LMI and psychometric properties. Such data lends confidence to the routine and the expanded use of the PHQ-4 for routine screening of depression and anxiety in Chinese healthcare students.

Cardiac arrest and successful resuscitation cause whole-body ischemia and reperfusion, leading to brain injury and extracerebral multiple organ dysfunction. Brain injury is the leading cause of death and long-term disability in resuscitated survivors, and was conceptualized and treated as an isolated injury, which has neglected the brain-visceral organ crosstalk. Extracerebral organ dysfunction is common and is significantly associated with mortality and poor neurological prognosis after resuscitation. However, detailed description of the characteristics of post-resuscitation multiple organ dysfunction is lacking, and the bidirectional interactions between brain and visceral organs need to be elucidated to explore new treatment for neuroprotection. This review aims to describe current concepts of post-cardiac arrest brain injury and specific characteristics of post-resuscitation dysfunction in cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hepatic, adrenal, gastrointestinal, and neurohumoral systems. Additionally, we discuss the crosstalk between brain and extracerebral organs, especially focusing on how visceral organ dysfunction and other factors affect brain injury progression. We think that clarifying these interactions is of profound significance on how we treat patients for neural/systemic protection to improve outcome.

Background: Post-cardiac arrest brain injury (PCABI) is the leading cause of death in survivors of cardiac arrest (CA). Carbon monoxide-releasing molecule (CORM-3) is a water-soluble exogenous carbon monoxide that has been shown to have neuroprotection benefits in several neurological disease models. However, the effects of CORM-3 on PCABI is still unclear. Methods: A mice model combined asystole with hemorrhage was used. Mice were anesthetized and randomized into 4 groups (n = 12/group) and underwent either 9.5 min CA followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or sham surgery. CORM-3 (30 mg/kg) or vehicle (normal saline) were administered at 1 h after return of spontaneous circulation or sham surgery. Survival, neurologic deficits, alterations in the permeability of the brain-blood barrier and cerebral blood flow, changes of oxidative stress level, level of neuroinflammation and neuronal degeneration, and the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway were measured. Results: In CORM-3 treated mice that underwent CA/CPR, significantly improved survival (75.00% vs. 58.33%, P = 0.0146 (24 h) and 66.67% vs. 16.67%, P

Background: While serum uric acid (SUA) is known as a cardiovascular disease risk factor and is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, the relationship between SUA and cardiovascular adaptability under exercise stress remains unclear. Aims: This study aims to elucidate the relationship between SUA levels and cardiovascular fitness, particularly as manifested during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Methods: Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004, this study included 5765 participants aged 12–49 years. Heart rate recovery (HRR) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing was measured as an indicator of cardiovascular fitness. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore the association between SUA levels and heart rate recovery at 1 min (HRR1) and 2 min (HRR2) post-exercise. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, an inverse relationship was found between SUA levels and both HRR1 and HRR2. Multivariate adjusted smoothing spline plots demonstrated a decrease in HRR1 and HRR2 with increasing SUA levels. This negative correlation was observed across nearly all subgroups. Conclusions: Elevated SUA levels are indicative of poorer cardiovascular adaptability in the adult US population.

The hypothesis of paternal origins of health and disease (POHaD) indicates that paternal exposure to adverse environment could alter the epigenetic modification in germ line, increasing the disease susceptibility in offspring or even in subsequent generations. p,p′-Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p′-DDE) is an anti-androgenic chemical and male reproductive toxicant. Gestational p,p′-DDE exposure could impair reproductive development and fertility in male offspring. However, the effect of paternal p,p′-DDE exposure on fertility in male offspring remains uncovered. From postnatal day (PND) 35 to 119, male rats (F0) were given 10 mg/body weight (b.w.) p,p′-DDE or corn oil by gavage. Male rats were then mated with the control females to generate male offspring. On PND35, the male offspring were divided into 4 groups according whether to be given the high-fat diet (HF): corn oil treatment with control diet (C-C), p,p′-DDE treatment with control diet (DDE-C), corn oil treatment with high-fat diet (C-HF) or p,p′-DDE treatment with high-fat diet (DDE-HF) for 35 days. Our results indicated that paternal p,p′-DDE exposure did not affect the male fertility of male offspring directly, but decreased sperm quality and induced testicular apoptosis after the high-fat diet treatment. Further analysis demonstrated that paternal exposure to p,p′-DDE and pre-pubertal high-fat diet decreased sperm Igf2 DMR2 methylation and gene expression in male offspring. Hence, paternal exposure to p,p′-DDE and pre-pubertal high-fat diet increases the susceptibility to male fertility impairment and sperm Igf2 DMR2 hypo-methylation in male offspring, posing a significant implication in the disease etiology.

Photosynthetic pigments are fundamental for plant photosynthesis and play an important role in plant growth. Currently, the frequently used method for measuring photosynthetic pigments is spectrophotometry. Additionally, the SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter, with its advantages of easy operation and non-destructive testing, has been widely applied in land agriculture. However, the application prospects of its test results in horticultural plants have not yet been proven. This study examines the reliability of SPAD values for predicting chlorophyll concentrations. Using fresh and senescent leaves from four common horticultural plants, we measured SPAD values, photosynthetic pigment concentrations, and leaf color parameters. A generalized linear mixed model demonstrated that SPAD values are a reliable indicator for predicting chlorophyll concentrations, yet interspecific variations exist. Based on the predictive power of SPAD values for chlorophyll, we first propose an Enrichment Index (CEI) and a Normal Chlorophyll Concentration Threshold (NCCT). The CEI can be used to compare SPAD values among different species, and the NCCT value can serve as a more accurate indicator for assessing the growth potential of old trees. However, due to a limited sample size, further research with larger samples is needed to refine the diagnosis of plant growth potential and enhance the management of ornamental plant cultivation.

The health status of the battery of new energy electric vehicles is related to the quality of vehicle use, so it is of high practical application value to predict the health status of the battery of electric vehicles. In order to predict the health status of lithium battery, this study proposes to optimize the empirical modal decomposition method and obtain the ensemble empirical modal decomposition algorithm, and use this algorithm to collect the vibration signal of the battery, then use wavelet transform to pre-process the collected signal, and finally combine K-mean clustering and particle swarm algorithm to cluster the signal types to complete the prediction of battery State of Health. The experimental results show that the ensemble empirical modal decomposition algorithm proposed in this study can effectively perform signal acquisition for different state types of batteries, and the K-mean clustering-particle swarm algorithm predicts a 63 % decrease in the health state of the battery at 600 cycles, with a prediction error of 2.6 %. Therefore, the algorithm proposed in this study is feasible in predicting the battery health state.

ABSTRACTThe fitness of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is thought to be an important determinant of a strain’s ability to be transmitted. Studies in the laboratory have demonstrated that MDR-TB strains have reduced fitness but the relative transmissibility of MDR-TB versus drug-susceptible (DS) TB strains in human populations remains unresolved. We used data on genomic clustering from our previous molecular epidemiological study in Songjiang (2011-2020) and Wusheng (2009-2020), China, to compare the relative transmissibility of MDR-TB versus DS-TB. Genomic clusters were defined with a threshold distance of 12-single-nucleotide-polymorphisms and the risk for MDR-TB clustering was analyzed by logistic regression. In total, 2212 culture-positive pulmonary TB patients were enrolled in Songjiang and 1289 in Wusheng. The clustering rates of MDR-TB and DS-TB strains were 19.4% (20/103) and 26.3% (509/1936), respectively in Songjiang, and 43.9% (29/66) and 26.0% (293/1128) in Wusheng. The risk of MDR-TB clustering was 2.34 (95% CI 1.38-3.94) times higher than DS-TB clustering in Wusheng and 0.64 (95% CI 0.38-1.06) times lower in Songjiang. Neither lineage 2, compensatory mutations nor rpoB S450L were significantly associated with MDR-TB transmission, and katG S315 T increased MDR-TB transmission only in Wusheng (OR 5.28, 95% CI 1.42-19.21). MDR-TB was not more transmissible than DS-TB in either Songjiang or Wusheng. It appears that the different transmissibility of MDR-TB in Songjiang and Wusheng is likely due to differences in the quality of the local TB control programmes. Suggesting that the most effective way to control MDR-TB is by improving local TB control programmes.

Summary: Background: With improved tuberculosis (TB) control programs, the incidence of TB in China declined dramatically over the past few decades, but recently the rate of decrease has slowed, especially in large cities such as Shanghai. To help formulate strategies to further reduce TB incidence, we performed a 10-year study in Songjiang, a district of Shanghai, to delineate the characteristics, transmission patterns, and dynamic changes of the local TB burden. Methods: We conducted a population-based study of culture-positive pulmonary TB patients diagnosed in Songjiang during 2011–2020. Genomic clusters were defined with a threshold distance of 12-single-nucleotide-polymorphisms based on whole-genome sequencing, and risk factors for clustering were identified by logistic regression. Transmission inference was performed using phybreak. The distances between the residences of patients were compared to the genomic distances of their isolates. Spatial patient hotspots were defined with kernel density estimation. Findings: Of 2212 enrolled patients, 74.7% (1652/2212) were internal migrants. The clustering rate (25.2%, 558/2212) and spatial concentrations of clustered and unclustered patients were unchanged over the study period. Migrants had significantly higher TB rates but less clustering than residents. Clustering was highest in male migrants, younger patients and both residents and migrants employed in physical labor. Only 22.1% of transmission events occurred between residents and migrants, with residents more likely to transmit to migrants. The clustering risk decreased rapidly with increasing distances between patient residences, but more than half of clustered patient pairs lived ≥5 km apart. Epidemiologic links were identified for only 15.6% of clustered patients, mostly in close contacts. Interpretation: Although some of the TB in Songjiang's migrant population is caused by strains brought by infected migrants, local, recent transmission is an important driver of the TB burden. These results suggest that further reductions in TB incidence require novel strategies to detect TB early and interrupt urban transmission. Funding: Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (ZD2021CY001), National Natural Science Foundation of China (82272376), National Research Council of Science and Technology Major Project of China (2017ZX10201302-006).

Cooperative control for multiple vehicles is a promising technology with the capability to improve traffic efficiency and fuel savings. Given its potential for both commercial and military applications, multiple unmanned vehicle formation has attracted considerable attention recently. In this paper, the use of formation control for connected and autonomous vehicles was explored and a novel distributed formation control approach was proposed. To begin, the evolution mechanism of multi-lane formation was investigated and a formation transition model based on a finite state machine was constructed. A bi-level formation control scheme was then proposed; this framework’s upper and lower levels were used to perform trajectory planning and MPC-based control, respectively. A novel trajectory planning approach was constructed by combining the distributed consensus algorithm and the potential field method. Moreover, additional acceleration constraints were imposed on the trajectory planning algorithm. Finally, three scenarios were designed to validate the proposed formation control algorithm using Webots. The results illustrate that a formation deployed with the proposed formation control algorithm can handle abnormal situations and realize consensus within 12s.

Single factor experiments combined with response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the extraction process of melanin from Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds of Tianshui and evaluated its antioxidant activity. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions were determined as follows: NaOH concentration was 1.11 mol/L, extraction temperature was 59 ℃, solid-liquid ratio was 1:23 g/mL, extraction time was 2 h. Under the optimal process parameters, the yield of melanin from Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds of Tianshui was 7.60%±0.05%, which was close to the predicted value (7.75%) of the model, and the relative error was 0.66%. It showed that the regression term and the fitting degree of the model were good, and the optimized process conditions were feasible. The results of antioxidant experiments in vitro showed that the scavenging rates of melanin from Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds on hydroxyl radical (·OH), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS+·) reached 66.07%±0.96%, 61.27%±0.97%, 62.19%±0.83%, respectively, which indicated that melanin from Zanthoxylum bungeanum seeds of Tianshui had good scavenging activity on·OH, DPPH· and ABTS+·.

This study explored the impact of integrating fermented feed into the starter diet of lambs, focusing on growth, health, serum antioxidants, immune markers, rumen fermentation, and microbial communities. Thirty-six ten-day-old female Tail Han lambs were randomly divided into three experimental groups, which were separately fed with alfalfa hay (LA group), tail vegetable fermented feed (LB group), and tail vegetable fermented feed supplemented with 0.1% microbial inoculants (LC group) during the experimental period. This study assessed the influence of fermented feed on various parameters, including growth performance, fiber degradation, rumen fermentation, enzymatic activities, and ruminal histomorphology. The results indicate that compared to the control group, the addition of fermented feed can increase the daily weight gain of lambs. Simultaneously, the addition of fermented feed can enhance the total antioxidant capacity of serum (p < 0.05). The addition of fermented feed promoted the increased height of villi in the duodenum or jejunum of lambs (p < 0.05), and the ratio of villi height to crypt depth in the LB and LC groups was also improved (p < 0.05). The addition of fermented feed increased the richness and diversity of the rumen microbial community in lambs (p < 0.05), primarily increasing the relative abundance of Ruminococcus_1, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Lachnospiraceae, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group.

BackgroundPoor adherence increases the risk of unfavorable outcomes for tuberculosis (TB) patients. Mobile health (mHealth) reminders become promising approaches to support TB patients’ treatment. But their effects on TB treatment outcomes remain controversial. In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated the effect of the reminder application (app) and the smart pillbox on TB treatment outcomes compared with the standard care in Shanghai, China.MethodsWe recruited new pulmonary TB (PTB) patients diagnosed between April and November 2019 who were aged 18 or above, treated with the first-line regimen (2HREZ/4HR), and registered at Songjiang CDC (Shanghai). All eligible patients were invited to choose the standard care, the reminder app, or the smart pillbox to support their treatment. Cox proportional hazard model was fitted to assess the effect of mHealth reminders on treatment success.Results260 of 324 eligible patients enrolled with 88 using standard care, 82 the reminder app, and 90 the smart pillbox, followed for a total of 77,430 days. 175 (67.3%) participants were male. The median age was 32 (interquartile range [IQR] 25 to 50) years. A total of 44,785 doses were scheduled for 172 patients in the mHealth reminder groups during the study period. 44,604 (99.6%) doses were taken with 39,280 (87.7%) monitored by the mHealth reminders. A significant time-dependent downward linear trend was observed in the monthly proportion of dose intake (p

The visualization of workshop information can affect production management and efficiency. Information can be presented both graphically and non-graphically (for example, in the form of data lists or tables). Graphical representations are intuitive and clear, but currently, most of them are based on statistical data, which makes it difficult to convey logical linkages between information and cannot help managers make decisions effectively. With the aim of designing the workshop production system with visual processes in small-sized enterprises, the key visualization technologies of the process flow chart, including the visual design of process flow chart, process card management, process flow chart release, process control, and production schedule monitoring, were all addressed in detail. On this basis, the mechanical manufacturing workshop production management system was created using C#.NET as the programming language. The main contribution of the research is that the system designed used the process flow chart as the main line through all functional modules and integrated all process data on the process nodes of the process flow chart to realize the graphical monitoring of workshop production schedule. The visualization technology of the process flow chart makes the system simple to use and easy to understand, which significantly improves information management and work efficiency in the workshop. Additionally, it provides the technical foundation for flow-driven production information transfer in the workshop and can serve as a universal standard for the process module in workshop production management systems.

Abstract Background Cardiac Arrest (CA) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The present study aimed to establish a simple and stable rat model of CA induced by transesophageal cardiac pacing for the investigation of cerebral resuscitation. Materials and Methods A total of 26 healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into two groups: Sham-operated (n = 6) and experimental (n = 20) groups. High-frequency cardiac pacing (50 Hz, 2 ms and 30 V) was maintained for 3 min to induce CA. Providing CA was not achieved, an additional 2 min of pacing was performed 30 min later. After 4 min following the onset of CA, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was initiated. Results CA was successfully induced in all 20 rats by this setting of high-frequency cardiac pacing. Among them, CA was induced in six rats after 2 min of pacing; the remaining 14 rats underwent CA after 3 min of pacing. When electrical stimulation was terminated the rate of Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA) was 85% (17/20), the rate of Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) was 15% (3/20) and no asystole occurred. Of the 17 PEA rats, 16 were successfully resuscitated and the average duration of CPR was 106.75 ± 30.81 s. A total of three rats succumbed within 24 h, and one rat succumbed between 24 and 48 h following successful resuscitation; 12 rats survived to

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) that act as messengers mediate communication between parent and recipient cells through their contents, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. These endogenous vesicles have emerged as a novel cell-free strategy for the treatment of diseases. EVs can be released by various types of cells with unique biological properties. Recent studies have shown that native EVs are used as therapeutic agents to promote tissue repair by delivering various growth factors and trophic factors including VEGF, EGF, TFN-α, IL-1β, and TGF-β to participate in all physiological processes of wound healing. Furthermore, to improve their specificity, safety, and efficiency for wound healing, the content and surface of EVs can be designed, modified, and engineered. The engineering strategies of EVs are divided into parent cell modification and indirect modification of EVs. The therapeutic potential of current EVs and engineered EVs for wound healing still requires the exploration of their large-scale clinical applications through innovative approaches. Herein, we provide an overview of the current biological knowledge about wound healing and EVs, as well as the application of native EVs in promoting wound healing. We also outline recent advances in engineering EV methodologies to achieve ideal therapeutic potential. Finally, the therapeutic applications of engineered EVs in wound healing are reviewed, and the challenges and prospects for the translation of engineered EVs to clinical applications are discussed.

Ischemia/reperfusion caused by cardiac arrest (CA) disturbs endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and redox balance in neurons. AA147, originally developed as a pharmacologic activator of the activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), can protect multiple tissues from ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and restoring ER function. However, it is unclear whether pharmacologic treatment of AA147 could ameliorate post-CA cerebral IRI and whether it is associated with proteostasis regulation and anti-oxidative stress mechanism. In the present study, mice were subjected to 9 min-CA surgery followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). AA147 or vehicle was administered 1 day before the operation and 15 min after the return of spontaneous circulation. We found that AA147 restored neurological function and reduced dead neurons in mice suffering from CA. Moreover, AA147 inhibited CA/CPR-caused neuronal apoptosis and ER stress, indicated by reduced TUNEL-positive neurons, surged expression of Bcl-2/Bax, and down expression of cleaved caspase-3, caspase-12, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). The expression of ATF6 and its regulated gene glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) increased significantly after the administration of AA147, suggesting the activation of the ATF6 pathway. In addition, AA147 also alleviated the upsurge of the ROS generation and MDA levels as well as increased SOD activity, accompanied by enhancement of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its modulated heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions. Cotreatment of AA147 with inhibitors of the ATF6 or Nrf2 significantly suppressed AA147-dependent reductions in ROS scavenging and neuronal death after CA/CPR. The results suggested that AA147 could confer neuroprotection against post-CA cerebral IRI through inhibition of oxidative stress along with ER stress-associated apoptosis, which is attributed to the coregulation of both ATF6 and Nrf2 signaling pathways activity. Our findings support the potential for AA147 as a therapeutic approach to improve post-CA brain injury.

Objective: Brain ischemia leads to the accumulation of unfolded/misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen and consequently, ER stress. To help cells restore ER function, a series of adaptive stress response pathways, collectively termed the unfolded protein response (UPR), are activated. We have previously demonstrated that the UPR pathway initiated by ATF6 is pro-survival in transient ischemic stroke. However, the effect of ATF6 activation on the outcome after permanent ischemic stroke remains unknown. Here, we addressed this knowledge gap.Method: sATF6-KI mice with functional short-form ATF6 (sATF6) predominantly expressed in forebrain neurons were subjected to two ischemic stroke models: photothrombotic stroke and permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). Both short-term and long-term functional outcomes were evaluated. Changes in neuroinflammation and cerebrovascular density after pMCAO were also assessed.Results: Compared to littermate controls, sATF6-KI mice performed significantly better in open field, cylinder, and foot fault tests on day 1 or 3 after photothrombotic stroke. However, on days 7 and 14 after stroke, the performance of these functional tests was not significantly different between groups, which is likely related to mild brain damage associated with this stroke model. Thus, to evaluate the long-term effects of ATF6 activation in permanent stroke, we turned to our pMCAO model. We first found that on day 4 after pMCAO, functional outcome was better, and infarct volumes were smaller in sATF6-KI mice vs controls. Next, the 15-day stroke outcome study indicated that compared to control mice, sATF6-KI mice consistently exhibited improved performance in neurologic scoring, tight rope test, and tape removal test, after pMCAO. Moreover, sATF6-KI mice showed higher vascular density and lower activation of both astrocytes and microglia around stroke regions on day 16 after pMCAO.Conclusions: Here, we presented the first evidence that activation of the ATF6 UPR branch is protective in permanent ischemic stroke, which further supports the therapeutic potential of targeting the ATF6 pathway in stroke.

BackgroundThe management of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a key action for the realization of the “End tuberculosis (TB) Strategy” worldwide, and it is important to identify priority populations. In this prospective cohort study, we evaluated the prevalence of LTBI and incidence of active TB among close contacts and explored the suitable TB control strategy in schools.MethodsWe designed a cohort with 2 years of follow-up, recruiting freshman/sophomore TB patients’ close contacts from three administrative districts in Shanghai. These were chosen based on different levels of TB incidence reported in 2019. Questionnaires were included and all participants received both tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) at baseline, then tracked the outcomes of them during the follow-up period.ResultsThe prevalence of LTBI was 4.8% by QFT. Univariate analysis showed that the risk of LTBI was higher in those contacting bacteriologically confirmed patients or did not have BCG scars, including smokers. The risk increased with poor lighting and ventilation conditions at contact sites. Multivariate analysis showed that those contacting with bacteriologically confirmed patients (OR=4.180; 95%CI, 1.164-15.011) or who did not have BCG scars (OR=5.054; 95%CI, 2.278-11.214) had a higher risk of being LTBI, as did the current smokers (OR=3.916; 95%CI, 1.508-10.168) and those who had stopped smoking (OR=7.491; 95%CI, 2.222-25.249). During the 2-year follow-up period, three clinically diagnosed cases of TB were recorded, the 2-year cumulative incidence was 0.4% (95%CI 0.1-1.2), the median duration for TB occurrence was 1 year, the incidence rate of active TB was 2.0 per 1000 person-years with a total of 1497.3 observation person-years. For those LTBI, no one initiated preventive treatment, in the QFT (+) cohort, 1 TB case was observed, 71 person-years with an incidence rate of 14.1 14.1 (95%CI 2.5-75.6) per 1000 person-years, in the TST (+++) cohort, 2 TB cases were observed 91.5 person-years with an incidence rate of 21.9 (95%CI 6.0-76.3) per 1000 person-years.ConclusionsThe results suggest that school close contacts are one of the key populations for LTBI management. Measures should be taken to further reduce the prevalence of LTBI and the incidence of active TB among them.

Abstract Background Large-scale rural-to-urban migration has changed the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in large Chinese cities. We estimated the contribution of TB importation, reactivation of latent infection, and local transmission to new TB cases in Shanghai, and compared the potential impact of intervention options. Methods We developed a transmission dynamic model of TB for Songjiang District, Shanghai, which has experienced high migration over the past 25 years. We calibrated the model to local demographic data, TB notifications, and molecular epidemiologic studies. We estimated epidemiological drivers as well as future outcomes of current TB policies and compared this base-case scenario with scenarios describing additional targeted interventions focusing on migrants or vulnerable residents. Results The model captured key demographic and epidemiological features of TB among migrant and resident populations in Songjiang District, Shanghai. Between 2020 and 2035, we estimate that over 60% of TB cases will occur among migrants and that approximately 43% of these cases will result from recent infection. While TB incidence will decline under current policies, we estimate that additional interventions—including active screening and preventive treatment for migrants—could reduce TB incidence by an additional 20% by 2035. Conclusions Migrant-focused TB interventions could produce meaningful health benefits for migrants, as well as for young residents who receive indirect protection as a result of reduced TB transmission in Shanghai. Further studies to measure cost-effectiveness are needed to evaluate the feasibility of these interventions in Shanghai and similar urban centers experiencing high migration volumes.

Autonomous driving is one of the promising technologies to tackle traffic accident and congestion problems nowadays. Even though an autonomous vehicle is operated without humans, it is necessary to reflect the driving characteristics of a human driver. This can increase user acceptance to autonomous driving system, which in turn will improve driving safety because of human occupants' trust in it. In this paper, a combined trajectory planning and tracking algorithm is proposed for the vehicle control. Firstly, traffic environments and driving styles are modeled with the Artificial Potential Field (APF) approach. Secondly, those APF values are integrated into the Model Predictive Control (MPC) design process, which can optimize the trajectories and control outputs. In this way, we add people's driving habits and styles into the controller, so that the controlled vehicle can move under the effects of the traffic environments and human's driving styles. At last, autonomous driving, which reflects two types of human drivers' driving styles (a cautious driving style and an aggressive one), is tested by the simulation experiments in two scenarios (car-following and lane-changing). Furthermore, the result demonstrates that the proposed algorithm can reflect driving styles. Accordingly, this novel controller can be utilized in the autonomous vehicle control field.

Because the random states of the projectile explosion position relative to the intersection target, the dispersion characteristics of warhead fragments are inconsistent, and it is difficult to provide a scientific calculation model of the target damage of warhead fragments formed by projectile proximity explosions. This paper studies a testing method of the projectiles explosive position using a combination of six screen sensors and an area array camera. We set up a calculation model of the projectile proximity explosion position parameters, which establishes the proximity explosion area probability of the projectile hitting the target. The calculation method of the target damage condition probability under the condition of firing multiple projectiles in one test was researched according to the dispersion characteristics of projectile proximity explosion, the damage area of the target, and the intersection condition of the projectile and the target. We also establish a target damage probability calculation model under the condition of an effective projectile proximity explosion hitting the target. The experimental results show that the target damage results of a theoretical simulation calculation and an actual projectile proximity explosion test data calculation were basically consistent. Moreover, the proposed target damage calculation model was verified under the probability of multiple projectile proximity explosions hitting the target.

The channel model optimization algorithm plays a critical role in novel communication method research. Wireless sensor connections using capacitive coupling communication inside a metal cabinet such as spacecraft are an emerging communication technology. However, channel modeling along with optimization methods have not been systematically investigated. In this paper, a modified artificial immune algorithm (MAIA) was developed to optimize a few tens of model parameters for the capacitive coupling communication channel within a metal cabinet. The mathematical model of the communication channel was derived from the equivalent circuit model by analyzing the capacitive coupling electric field distribution. Unknown parameters in the model were optimally estimated by adopting MAIA with the objective of minimizing the root mean square error (RMSE) between the model computed data and simulation or experimental data. The proposed scheme enhanced the convergence performance by incorporating the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm, modifying the strategies of immune operations and introducing a similarity detection step. Validation results showed that the frequency response of the optimized model matched well with the simulation and experimental data, verifying the feasibility and robustness of the proposed MAIA. Compared with three other state-of-the-art ABC algorithms and three enhanced intelligent algorithms, it was demonstrated that the proposed algorithm performed better with respect to convergence speed and accuracy. The study provided a multiparameter channel model estimation solution for capacitive coupling communication within a metal cabinet research.

Abstract Background The internal rural-to-urban migration is one of the major challenges for tuberculosis (TB) control in China. Patient costs incurred during TB diagnosis and treatment could cause access and adherence barriers, particularly among migrants. Here, we estimated the prevalence of catastrophic costs of TB patients and its associated factors in an urban population with internal migrants in China. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted to enroll culture-confirmed pulmonary TB patients in Songjiang district, Shanghai, between December 1, 2014, and December 31, 2015. Consenting participants completed a questionnaire, which collected direct and indirect costs before and after the diagnosis of TB. The catastrophic cost was defined as the annual expenses of TB care that exceeds 20% of total household disposable income. We used logistic regression to identify factors associated with catastrophic costs. Results Overall, 248 drug-susceptible TB patients were enrolled, 70% (174/248) of them were from migrants. Migrant patients were significantly younger compared to resident patients. The total costs were 25,824 ($3689) and 13,816 ($1974) Chinese Yuan (RMB) in average for resident and migrant patients, respectively. The direct medical cost comprised about 70% of the total costs among both migrant and resident patients. Overall, 55% (132 of 248) of patients experienced high expenses (>10% of total household income), and 22% (55 of 248) experienced defined catastrophic costs. The reimbursement for TB care only reduced the prevalence of catastrophic costs to 20% (49 of 248). Meanwhile, 52% (90 of 174) of the internal migrants had no available local health insurance. Hospitalizations, no available insurance, and older age (> 45-year-old) contributed significantly to the occurrence of catastrophic costs. Conclusions The catastrophic cost of TB service cannot be overlooked, despite the free policy. Migrants have difficulties benefiting from health insurance in urban cities. Interventions, including expanded medical financial assistance, are needed to secure universal TB care.

The parameters calculation model of a six-screen intersection with linear motion is used to test the projectile explosion location parameter under the condition of long-range artillery firing, which brings a significant test error, the main reason for the error is that the projectile has its own gravity during the flight, it makes the flight path of the projectile is a curved trajectory. To improve the test accuracy, this paper uses the projectile particle motion equation and six-screen intersection geometry relationship and considers the impact of the projectile's gravity acceleration and air resistance; it studies a calculation model and method of relative location for projectile proximity explosion under the spatial projectile curved motion. Then, it analyzes the error reason for calculating relative coordinate of projectile passing through the detection screen interval by using six-screen intersection test method based on linear motion. By introducing the gravitational acceleration and air resistance during the projectile flight process, establishes the variable trajectory parameters calculation model for a projectile with the curved motion passing through a six-screen intersection test system. Through the high-altitude projectile proximity explosion location test, this paper uses the method of the ballistic lateral camera to obtain the experimental data of projectile explosion location parameter. It compares the experimental data by using the six-screen intersection test method with linear motion and curved motion. The results show that the calculation model based on the curved motion model is closer to actual coordinate data of the projectile proximity explosion location.

In this paper, a novel self-mixing interferometer based on reflective phase modulation (RPM) method has been developed to perform micro-displacement reconstruction with nanometer accuracy. Broaden harmonic components spectrum of the self-mixing signal is produced by employing a high-frequency vibrating reflective mirror as the phase modulation device. Phase demodulation is implemented applying the orthogonal demodulation algorithm subject to the signal spectrum, in which orthogonal signal can be extracted from the harmonic components of the expanded Bessel function. The principle and signal processing approach are introduced in detail, and the simulation results indicate that the reconstruction error can be reduced as the number of reflections increases. A series of experiments at different vibration amplitudes show that the reconstructed errors are all less than 10 nm with modulation frequency of 1 kHz. And the minimum error of 3 nm has been achieved at the measured amplitude of 229 nm, which demonstrates the technical-superiority and high-performance of the method.

Background. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the risk factors for central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), according to the guidelines of the 2017 Thyroid Imaging Report and Data System (TI-RADS) published by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Methods. This study included a retrospective analysis of 844 patients with PTC who were pathologically diagnosed, treated with central lymph node dissection, and divided into CLNM and nonmetastatic groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the relationship between the TI-RADS score and CLNM. Results. Among 844 patients, 439 developed CLNM, with a metastasis rate of 52% and a TI-RADS score of 9.42 ± 2.262, which were higher than those of the non-CLNM group (P

Owing to the maximum utilization efficiency of the metal atoms, single-atom catalysts (SACs), which have higher catalytic activity and selectivity than traditional nanocatalysts, have been used as sensing materials for signal amplification and sensitive detection of biomolecules. Recently, single-atom Au catalysts have attracted attention. Au nanoparticles have high catalytic activity, and the loading efficiency on the support can be further increased by downsizing Au nanoparticles to single atoms. Compared with other oxide supports, the higher density of vacancies on the CeO2 surface can accommodate more Au atoms, and thereby CeO2 can stabilize more metal atoms. In this paper, we describe an electrochemical sensor based on Au–CeO2 nanocomposites for ultrasensitive and highly selective detection of H2O2 released from A549 cells by immobilizing single-atom Au on specific facets of CeO2. Due to the abundant oxygen vacancies on the surface and the strong interactive effect between Ce ions and Au atoms, this sensor displayed excellent electrochemical performance, with a detection limit of 1.4 nM. The synergistic effect of CeO2 and Au atoms also resulted in high catalytic activity and stability. This study shows that the single-atom nanozyme sensing strategy can be applied to the sensitive detection of reactive oxygen species. Thus, single-atom sensors have broad application prospects in clinical analysis and physiology.

The high adsorption capacity of Fe3O4 and C3N4 for heavy metals and the amalgam effect of Bi2O3 were exploited using a Fe3O4/Bi2O3/C3N4-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the determination of Cd2+ and Pb2+. The electrochemical response performance of the Fe3O4/Bi2O3/C3N4/GCE was studied by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The electrochemical conditions were optimized, including the pH of the buffer solution, content of Fe3O4/Bi2O3/C3N4 on the electrode surface, deposition potential and deposition time. Under optimum conditions, the Fe3O4/Bi2O3/C3N4/GCE sensor shows a linear response from 0.01 μmol/L to 3 μmol/L. The minimum detectable quantity for Cd2+ and Pb2+ are 3 × 10−9 mol/L and 1 × 10−9 mol/L, respectively. Interference studies were carried out. The sensitivity of the Fe3O4/Bi2O3/C3N4/GCE sensor to Cd2+and Pb2+ does not significantly change in the presence of coexisting heavy metal ions. The Fe3O4/Bi2O3/C3N4/GCE sensor exhibits good stability and repeatability. The Fe3O4/Bi2O3/C3N4/GCE sensor was used to detect Cd2+and Pb2+ in river water samples to demonstrate its real-world application.

Background Animal disease models represent the cornerstone in basic cardiac arrest (CA) research. However, current experimental models of CA and resuscitation in mice are limited. In this study, we aimed to develop a mouse model of asphyxial CA followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to characterize the immune response after asphyxial CA/CPR. Methods and Results CA was induced in mice by switching from an O2/N2 mixture to 100% N2 gas for mechanical ventilation under anesthesia. Real‐time measurements of blood pressure, brain tissue oxygen, cerebral blood flow, and ECG confirmed asphyxia and ensuing CA. After a defined CA period, mice were resuscitated with intravenous epinephrine administration and chest compression. We subjected young adult and aged mice to this model, and found that after CA/CPR, mice from both groups exhibited significant neurologic deficits compared with sham mice. Analysis of post‐CA brain confirmed neuroinflammation. Detailed characterization of the post‐CA immune response in the peripheral organs of both young adult and aged mice revealed that at the subacute phase following asphyxial CA/CPR, the immune system was markedly suppressed as manifested by drastic atrophy of the spleen and thymus, and profound lymphopenia. Finally, our data showed that post‐CA systemic lymphopenia was accompanied with impaired T and B lymphopoiesis in the thymus and bone marrow, respectively. Conclusions In this study, we established a novel validated asphyxial CA model in mice. Using this new model, we further demonstrated that asphyxial CA/CPR markedly affects both the nervous and immune systems, and notably impairs lymphopoiesis of T and B cells.

Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a recently observed side effect in patients after microwave ablation (MWA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with negative outcomes. The aim of this study is to explore the risk factors of affecting the occurrence of AKI (stages 1b, 2, and 3), because they have a higher mortality rate than patients with AKI (stage 1a) and without AKI.Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 1,214 patients with HCC who were treated with MWA under ultrasound (US) guidance in our department between January 2005 and November 2017 were enrolled. We evaluated the influence of 20 risk factors. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used for statistical analysis. The possible risk factors of AKI after MWA for HCC were summarized.Results: AKI, AKI (stage 1a), and AKI (stages 1b, 2, and 3) after MWA were found in 34, 15, and 19 patients (2.80, 1.24, and 1.57%), respectively. Among 34 patients with AKI, 10 cases with AKI (stage 1a) and 6 cases with AKI (stages 1b, 2, and 3) recovered before their discharge without any treatment for AKI and 9 cases with AKI (stages 1b, 2, and 3) with further treatment. Four cases who had chronic renal failure before MWA of liver accepted renal dialysis. By univariate analysis, the number of antenna insertions (P = 0.027, OR = 3.3), MWA time ≥20 min (P = 0.029, OR = 4.3), creatinine (Cr)-pre above the upper limit of the reference value (P < 0.001, OR = 35.5), albumin (Alb)-pre (P = 0.030, OR = 0.9), and red blood cell (RBC)-pre (P < 0.001, OR = 0.3) were significant risk factors. By multivariate analysis, Cr-pre ≥ 110 μmol/L (P < 0.001, OR = 31.4) and MWA time ≥20 min (P = 0.043 OR = 9.9) were the independent risk factors.Conclusion: AKI (stages 1b, 2, and 3) is a relatively serious complication after MWA for HCC, which is related to MWA time and Cr-pre. It requires attention by clinicians. So it is of great necessity to assess the Cr-pre level and reduce the MWA time to

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine whether plasma transferrin levels are associated with longitudinal changes in cognitive performance in older individuals with normal cognition (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Methods: At baseline, there were a total of 358 participants from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort, including 58 older individuals with CN, 198 older individuals with MCI, and 102 patients with AD. Linear mixed models were utilized to examine the associations of plasma transferrin levels with changes in cognitive performance over time after adjustment of several potential covariates. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) were used to examine the global cognition of participants.Results: First, no significant differences in the plasma transferrin levels were observed across three diagnostic groups. Second, in the cross-sectional analyses, the baseline plasma transferrin levels were negatively associated with the MMSE scores in the CN group, but not in the MCI or the AD group. Third, in the longitudinal analyses, we found that a higher plasma transferrin was associated with a steeper cognitive decline in the MCI and AD groups, but not in the CN group.Conclusion: Higher plasma transferrin levels were associated with a steeper cognitive decline in participants with MCI and AD.

Context: Baicalin (BL) and baicalein (B) as the major flavonoids of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Lamiaceae) have been investigated intensively, and shown to possess a multitude of pharmacological activities. Objective: This study systematically evaluates the stability of BL and B in monomer and total flavonoid fraction (FSR) form in vitro, and further studies whether the protective measures are effective to make B and BL stable enough to meet the requirement of quantitative analysis in various biological samples. Materials and methods: The stability of BL and B was evaluated by investigating the influence factors such as pH (2.0, 3.0, 4.5, 6.8, 7.4 and 9.0), temperature (4, 25 and 40 °C), antioxidant (vitamin C and Na2SO3) and sunlight. After the protective measures were taken, stability of BL and B in plasma, urine and tissue homogenates was evaluated through post-preparative stability (stored at 4 °C for 24 h), three freeze–thaw cycles stability and long-term stability test (stored in refrigerator at −20 °C for 15 days). In addition, by comparing the degradation parameters of BL and B obtained from the monomer administration group with those of the FSR administration group, drug–drug interaction of coexistent components in FSR on the stability of BL and B was discussed. Results: The degradation of BL and B was both pH- and temperature-dependent with their correlation coefficents for first-order kinetics equation larger than 0.99, and acidic environment (pH 2–4.5), lower temperature (

The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate whether there was an association between glutathione S-transferase M1(GSTM1)gene polymorphism and Parkinson’s disease (PD) susceptibility by pooling published data.

Background: Mathematics homework is highly prevalent in East Asia. Teachers and parents expect mathematics homework to improve students' performance; however, studies have not clearly defined the effectiveness of the assignment of different amounts of homework. Aims: This study analyses the differential effect of homework amount on various facets of Chinese students' mathematics achievement using a longitudinal design. It aims, thereby, to contribute to the existing knowledge of homework effectiveness and mathematics learning and to provide insights for student development. Sample: The sample included 2383 grade 9 students from a mid-sized city with a moderate level of economic and educational development in central China. Methods: We administered a student-reported questionnaire, collected school reports of mathematics achievements to track retrospective longitudinal variations in mathematics over half a year and analysed the differential effectiveness of homework on mathematics achievement at four hierarchical cognitive levels with Hierarchical Linear Model. Results: The results indicated that assigning more homework at the class level could enhance students' mathematics achievement at a low cognitive level, although this effectiveness tended to disappear when the set homework time reached about 1.5-2 h. We did not find evidence that assigning more homework enhances students' mathematics achievement at higher cognitive levels. Conclusions: Overall, this study provides evidence on the effectiveness of homework and offers implications for educational practice and future research.

Abstract Objective To determine excess mortality in a cohort of people with tuberculosis in Shanghai. Methods Participants were local residents in 4 (of 19) districts in Shanghai, registered in one of four tuberculosis clinics between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2008. Baseline data were collected at the most recent diagnosis of tuberculosis and mortality was assessed between March and May of 2014. We calculated standardized mortality ratios (SMR) and case-fatality rates for all participants and for subgroups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to quantify associations between co-morbidities and mortality from all causes and from tuberculosis. Findings We registered 4569 subjects in the cohort. Overall, the cohort had an SMR for deaths from all causes of 5.2 (95% confidence interval, CI: 4.8-5.6). Males had a higher SMR than females (6.1 versus 3.0). After adjustment for age and sex, hazard ratios (HR) for deaths from all causes were significantly greater in previously treated people (HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.08-1.49) and sputum smear-test positive people (HR: 1.55; 95% CI: 1.35-1.78). The risk of death from tuberculosis was also significantly greater for previously treated people (HR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.24-2.86) and smear positive people (HR: 3.16; 95% CI: 2.06-4.87). Conclusion People with tuberculosis in Shanghai have an increased risk of mortality. Earlier diagnosis and more vigilant follow-up may help to reduce mortality in this group.

With the rapid development of autonomous vehicles and mobile robotics, the desire to advance robust light detection and ranging (Lidar) detection methods for real world applications is increasing. However, this task still suffers in degraded visual environments (DVE), including smoke, dust, fog, and rain, as the aerosols lead to false alarm and dysfunction. Therefore, a novel Lidar target echo signal recognition method, based on a multi-distance measurement and deep learning algorithm is presented in this paper; neither the backscatter suppression nor the denoise functions are required. The 2-D spectrogram images are constructed by using the frequency-distance relation derived from the 1-D echo signals of the Lidar sensor individual cell in the course of approaching target. The characteristics of the target echo signal and noise in the spectrogram images are analyzed and determined; thus, the target recognition criterion is established accordingly. A customized deep learning algorithm is subsequently developed to perform the recognition. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can significantly improve the Lidar detection performance in DVE.

A practical approach was developed in the study for drought monitoring in Guangdong province of China on the basis of vegetation supply water index (VSWI) and precipitation distance index (PDI). A comprehensive index for assessment of agro-drought severity (SADI) was then established from the normalized VSWI and PDI. Using MODIS satellite images and precipitation data from ground-observed meteorological stations, we applied the approach to Guangdong for drought monitoring in 2006. The monitoring results showed that the drought severity on average was very low in the province during the main growing season from May to September in 2006. However, seasonal variation of the severity was also obvious in difference counties of the province. Higher severity of drought could be seen in the periods of late-June (In China each month is traditionally divided into 3 periods. Each is with 10 days and has different names. This division system is mainly with consideration of farming seasons hence has been widely used as the basis of drought monitoring periods in China. In order to keep this tradition, we define, for example, for June, the early-June as the period from 1st to 10th of June, the mid-June as the period from 11th to 20th, and the late-June as the period from 21st to 30th. So mid-August denotes the period from 11th to 20th of August, and early-July the period from 1st to 10th of July, and so on.), early-July, mid-August and late-September. Regionally, Leizhou Peninsula in the west had the most serious drought before mid-May. Validation indicated that our monitoring results were generally consistent with the drought statistics data and the results from Chinese National Satellite Meteorological Center (CNSMC), which used only remote sensing data. This consistence confirmed the applicability of our approach for drought monitoring. Our better identification of drought severity in Leizhou Peninsula of western Guangdong than that of CNSMC might suggest that the approach developed in the study was able to provide a better alternative to increase the accuracy of drought monitoring for agricultural administration and farming.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a class of hazardous pollutants, are difficult to dissipate in the natural environment. In this study, a cyanobacterial strain Anabaena PD-1 showed good resistance against PCB congeners. Compared to a control group, chlorophyll a content decreased 3.7% and 11.7% when Anabaena PD-1 was exposed to 2 and 5 mg/L PCBs for 7 d. This cyanobacterial strain was capable of decomposing PCB congeners which was conclusively proved by determination of chloride ion concentrations in chlorine-free medium. After 7 d, the chloride ion concentrations in PCB-treated groups (1, 2, 5 mg/L) were 3.55, 3.05, and 2.25 mg/L, respectively. The genetic information of strain PD-1 was obtained through 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. The GenBank accession number of 16S rRNA of Anabaena PD-1 was KF201693.1. Phylogenetic tree analysis clearly indicated that Anabaena PD-1 belonged to the genus Anabaena. The degradation half-life of Aroclor 1254 by Anabaena PD-1 was 11.36 d; the total degradation rate for Aroclor 1254 was 84.4% after 25 d. Less chlorinated PCB congeners were more likely to be degraded by Anabaena PD-1 in comparison with highly chlorinated congeners. Meta- and para-chlorines in trichlorodiphenyls and tetrachlorobiphenyls were more susceptible to dechlorination than ortho-chlorines during the PCB-degradation process by Anabaena PD-1. Furthermore, Anabaena PD-1 can decompose dioxin-like PCBs. The percent biodegradation of 12 dioxin-like PCBs by strain PD-1 ranged from 37.4% to 68.4% after 25 days. Results above demonstrate that Anabaena PD-1 is a PCB-degrader with great potential for the in situ bioremediation of PCB-contaminated paddy soils.

In the title compound, C17H21N2O6P·CH3OH, the planes of the 4-nitroaniline and 2-hydroxyphenyl groups form a dihedral angle of 84.04 (8)°. The P atom exhibits tetrahedral geometry involving two O-ethyl groups, a Cα atom and a double-bonded O atom. In the crystal, O—H...O, N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the α-aminophosphonic acid and methanol molecules into chains that propagate parallel to the a axis.

The nonlinearization approach of Lax pair is applied to the case of the Neumann constraint associated with a 3 × 3 matrix spectral problem, from which a new Neumann system is deduced and proved to be completely integrable in the Liouville sense. As an application, solutions of the first nontrivial equation related to the 3 × 3 matrix spectral problem are decomposed into solving two compatible Hamiltonian systems of ordinary differential equations.

The cyanobacterium Anabaena PD-1, which was originally isolated from polychlorobiphenyl (PCB)-contaminated paddy soils, has capabilities for dechlorinatin and for degrading the commercial PCB mixture Aroclor 1254. In this study, 25 upregulated proteins were identified using 2D electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). These proteins were involved in (i) PCB degradation (i.e., 3-chlorobenzoate-3,4-dioxygenase); (ii) transport processes [e.g., ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter substrate-binding protein, amino acid ABC transporter substrate-binding protein, peptide ABC transporter substrate-binding protein, putrescine-binding protein, periplasmic solute-binding protein, branched-chain amino acid uptake periplasmic solute-binding protein, periplasmic phosphate-binding protein, phosphonate ABC transporter substrate-binding protein, and xylose ABC transporter substrate-binding protein]; (iii) energetic metabolism (e.g., methanol/ethanol family pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent dehydrogenase, malate-CoA ligase subunit beta, enolase, ATP synthase β subunit, FOF1 ATP synthase subunit beta, ATP synthase α subunit, and IMP cyclohydrolase); (iv) electron transport (cytochrome b6f complex Fe-S protein); (v) general stress response (e.g., molecular chaperone DnaK, elongation factor G, and translation elongation factor thermostable); (vi) carbon metabolism (methanol dehydrogenase and malate-CoA ligase subunit beta); and (vii) nitrogen reductase (nitrous oxide reductase). The results of real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that the genes encoding for dioxygenase, ABC transporters, transmembrane proteins, electron transporter, and energetic metabolism proteins were significantly upregulated during PCB degradation. These genes upregulated by 1.26- to 8.98-fold. These findings reveal the resistance and adaptation of cyanobacterium to the presence of PCBs, shedding light on the complexity of PCB catabolism by Anabaena PD-1.

Under a constraint between the potentials and eigenfunctions, the nonlinearization of the Lax pairs associated with the discrete hierarchy of a generalization of the Toda lattice equation is proposed, which leads to a new symplectic map and a class of finite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems. The generating function of the integrals of motion is presented, by which the symplectic map and these finite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems are further proved to be completely integrable in the Liouville sense. Finally, the representation of solutions for a lattice equation in the discrete hierarchy is obtained.

In the title compound, C20H14N4, all the non-H atoms are roughly coplanar with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0776 Å. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N—H...N hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the (overline a + overline b). The chains are connected by intermolecular C—H...N hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking interactions between inversion-related phenanthroline, imidazole and phenyl rings with centroid–centroid distances in the range 3.777 (1)–3.905 (1) Å.

In the title compound, (C2H8N)6[V10O28]·H2O, the [V10O28]6− polymetalate anion has crystallographic mirror symmetry with six V atoms and 12 O atoms lying on the mirror plane. Each of the VV atoms adopts a distorted octahedral geometry. Eight terminal O atoms are bonded to VV atoms with double bonds and the others act as bridging atoms. In the crystal structure, a network of N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds helps to establish the packing.

In the title compound, [Mn(C13H9N2O)2(CH3OH)2]Cl, the MnIII atom (site symmetry overline{1}) is coordinated by two N,O-bidentate 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)phenolate ligands and two methanol molecules, to generate a distorted trans-MnN2O4 octahedral geometry for the metal ion. The dihedral angle between the aromatic ring systems in the ligand is 16.0 (3)°. In the crystal structure, the complex cations and chloride anions are linked by O—H...Cl and N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds. The chloride ion lies on a crystallographic twofold axis.