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Background Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), as an important group of innate immunity, could respond rapidly to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. In this research, we studied the phenotypic changes of circulatory ILCs in active tuberculosis (TB) disease. Methods We recruited 40 patients with active Mtb infection (TB group) and 41 healthy subjects (NC group), and collected their clinical information and peripheral blood. Circulating ILCs, ILC subsets, dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and the production of cytokines in ILCs were tested by flow cytometry (FCM). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect plasma IL-23. Results Compared with healthy control, total ILCs (0.73% vs. 0.42%, P = 0.0019), ILC1 (0.55% vs. 0.31%, P = 0.0024) and CD117+ ILC2 (0.02% vs. 0.01%, P = 0.0267) were upregulated in TB group. The total IL-17+ lymphocytes were elevated (3.83% vs. 1.76%, P = 0.0006) while the IL-22+ lymphocytes remained unchanged. Within ILC subsets, ILC3, CD117+ ILC2 and ILC1 in TB group all expressed increased IL-17 (15.15% vs. 4.55%, 19.01% vs. 4.57%, 8.79% vs. 3.87%, P P = 0.0557). Plasma IL-23 in TB group was positively correlated to IL-17+ ILC3 (r = 0.4435, P = 0.0141), IL-17+CD117+ ILC2 (r = 0.5385, P = 0.0021) and IL-17+ ILC1(r = 0.3719, P = 0.0430). TB group also had elevated DCs (9.35% vs. 6.49%, P + ILCs was related to severer inflammatory status and poorer clinical condition. Conclusions In active TB disease, circulatory ILCs were upregulated and exhibited IL-17-expressing phenotype. This may expand the understanding of immune reaction to Mtb infection.

The shear-wave velocity (VS) in soil is an important parameter to characterize dynamic soil properties. The Delaney Park downhole array was deployed in 2003 without measuring the shear- and compression-wave velocity (VS and VP) profiles. Thornley et al. (2019) measured the VS and VP profiles using the downhole method after the sensor was removed from the 61 m borehole with casing in the array. However, the waves propagating along the casing wall may have a great influence on the recognition of the first arrival of waves propagating in the soil. Using horizontal and vertical components of weak-motion data of eight local earthquakes recorded by the array, in situ VS and VP profiles were assessed by the seismic interferometry based on deconvolution, respectively. The results are as follows. The VS and VP profiles computed by this study and measured by Thornley et al. (2019) are in relatively good agreement at a depth of 10–45 m and at a depth of 30–45 m, respectively, and in very poor agreement at other depths. The average VS profiles computed by this study are more consistent with the derived VS from the standard penetration test data at the site with slower near-surface velocities relative to the downhole logging analysis. There are strong anisotropy in the strata below 45 m and weak anisotropy with various degrees at various depths in the strata above 45 m.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of baseline peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes on locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients.Clinicopathologic data of 317 LARC patients during July 2010 and October 2016 were retrospectively gathered. X-tile software was used to acquire the optimal cutoff values of neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. Peripheral blood immune score (PBIS) system was proposed and built based on neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes. The Cox model was used to analyze the associations between clinicopathological characteristics and potential outcomes. C-index was used to assess model performance. A nomogram was constructed to predict prognosis, and a calibration plot was used to verify the accuracy of the nomogram prediction model.Cutoff values of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were 4.46 (× 10PBIS, composed of baseline peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, is an independent predictor of the prognosis of LARC. Combination of PBIS and ypTNM stage may be a promising marker to guide adjuvant therapy after the operation.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22026-1

The near-surface part of the crust, also called the skin of the earth, is the arena of human activity of which the stiffness is of great concern to engineers in infrastructure construction. The stiffness reduction of near-surface geomaterials also plays a vital role in geohazards triggering. However, the physical mechanism behind the material softening is still not fully understood. Here, we report a coseismic shear-wave velocity reduction in the near surface by up to a few tens of percent during the strongest shaking from the 11 March 2011 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake and a subsequent two-stage healing process including a rapid recovery within a few minutes and a slow recovery over many years. We also present a theoretical contact model between mineral grains in geomaterials containing multiple metastable contacts at small separations due to the oscillatory hydration interaction, which can explain the emergence of different stages in the healing process., The authors here investigate the stiffness reduction of solid geomaterials during earthquakes via combining field, experimental and numerical data. The study shows multiple metastable contacts at small surface separations below a few diameters of a water molecule due to the oscillatory hydration interaction.

In this study, we utilize acceleration time histories data at eight KiK-net vertical arrays in Japan, recorded between January 2009 to June 2014, to analyze nonlinear seismic site response. Ground motion records provided by seismic vertical arrays allow estimation of in situ soil dynamic parameters. First, the shear modulus is computed from the shear wave velocity using seismic interferometry by deconvolution. Considering each record as an in situ cyclic test under seismic loading, the shear strain is computed as the velocity ratio between two sensors and the shear stress is assumed as a spatial function of accelerations. Using classic hyperbolic regression models, we quantitatively assess the relationships between the in situ soil dynamic parameters and the level of ground motion. We found nonlinearity starts at a quite low level of shear strain of 5 × 10−6–5 × 10−5, and becomes much more significant beyond a relatively high level of strain of 1 × 10−4. The threshold strains from ground motion observations are well consistent with those from previous laboratory tests. Finally, a parametric analysis is presented to discuss the influence of plasticity index on nonlinear soil behavior evaluations. It is concluded that the threshold acceleration of soil nonlinear behavior (generally ranging from 20 to 100 cm/s2) is mainly controlled by the stiffness and plasticity index, and the degree of soil nonlinear behavior is mainly controlled by the stiffness, plasticity index and the level of ground motion.

Lung adenocarcinoma can easily cause malignant pleural effusion which was difficult to discriminate from benign pleural effusion. Now there was no biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity for the malignant pleural effusion. This study used proteomics technology to acquire and analyze the protein profiles of the benign and malignant pleural effusion, to seek useful protein biomarkers with diagnostic value and to establish the diagnostic model. We chose the weak cationic-exchanger magnetic bead (WCX-MB) to purify peptides in the pleural effusion, used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) to obtain peptide expression profiles from the benign and malignant pleural effusion samples, established and validated the diagnostic model through a genetic algorithm (GA) and finally identified the most promising protein biomarker. A GA diagnostic model was established with spectra of 3930.9 and 2942.8 m/z in the training set including 25 malignant pleural effusion and 26 benign pleural effusion samples, yielding both 100 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity. The accuracy of diagnostic prediction was validated in the independent testing set with 58 malignant pleural effusion and 34 benign pleural effusion samples. Blind evaluation was as follows: the sensitivity was 89.6 %, specificity 88.2 %, PPV 92.8 %, NPV 83.3 % and accuracy 89.1 % in the independent testing set. The most promising peptide biomarker was identified successfully: Isoform 1 of caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9 (CARD9), with 3930.9 m/z, was decreased in the malignant pleural effusion. This model is suitable to discriminate benign and malignant pleural effusion and CARD9 can be used as a new peptide biomarker.

The paper starts from the discrimination of the proposition that the distribution of quality benefit is the key factor that affects the quality of participant in project organization, construct owner-construction side game model, gets the conceptual model and solution of participant’s quality action choice, best allocation scheme of quality and efficiency and advised best allocation scheme of quality and efficiency and points out the importance of quality reputation incentives and the way to achieve it.

The kinetic process of the reduction reaction between phosphorous acid and adamsite has been studied to determine the reaction rate equation and to deduce the reaction mechanism, providing the theoretical basis for destroying adamsite by phosphorous acid.

Rapid and precise positioning using cheaper single-frequency receivers in wide areas has become one of the research hot spots in present satellite geodesy field. The author proposes a new real-time modeling method based on regional CORS network. A new precise point positioning service for single-frequency receiver is also designed and realized. Through serial analysis of practical examples from the CORS networks of Shanxi Province, Hubei Province and Wuhan in China, this paper testifies the feasibility of providing real-time positioning service for single-frequency users based on the above methods developed. Results verify that, for reference network with station separation of less than 71 km, user's SD L1 ambiguity can be fixed within several seconds. Once the ambiguity is fixed, single-frequency user could gain rapid and cm-level positioning service in absolute positioning mode. Our work provides a new way of rapid and precise point positioning using single-frequency receivers.

There is in lack of trust in construction projects. It is criticized by many scholars. Trust has the function of decreasing transaction cost and improving project performance. The characteristics of the trustee have important function on occurrence of trust. More specifically, the trustee’s reputation, competence and promise keeping contribute to occurrence of trust.

Palygorskite is widely used as industrial adsorbent and also potential for flue gas desulfurization by adsorption of SO2. The effect of thermal treatment on Palygorskite’s structural properties and its performance in SO2 adsorption were investigated. The textural and structural properties of the prepared palygorskite adsorbent were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and temperature programmed desorption. The result showed the channel of Palygorskite is partial collapsed and the structure is not changed ultimately when thermally treated below 300 °C. The structure of Palygorskite is Gradually changed when the treating temperature is higher than 300 °C and is damaged entirety till 800 °C. As a result, the adsorption capacity of SO2 on Palygorskite decreased drastically. It is suggested that the presences of surface adorbed water and zeolitic water which occupy a large number of adsorption sites are disadvantage for the adsorption of SO2, and dissimilarly the presence of crystal-bonded water is favorable.

Palygorskite supported manganese oxide catalysts (MnOx/PG) were prepared for lower temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx by NH3. Catalyst’s SCR activity was estimated at varied temperatures. Catalyst’s properties were characterized by XRD, NH3 adsorption and TPD. Results showed that MnOx/PG catalyst was highly active for SCR at low-temperature. It was also found that NH3 was mainly adsorbed on palygorskite in two forms. Weakly adsorbed NH3, which was seldom inhibited by loading of MnOx, but was more favorable to SCR. Whereas strongly adsorbed NH3 was more likely to be inhibited by MnOx loading but was inessential for SCR.

Treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) currently relies on the use of antiretroviral drugs. Little is known about Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) outcomes in patients living with AIDS. We conducted a cohort study to investigate long-term survival among CHM-treated AIDS patients. Patients were poor farmers who contracted HIV-1 infection when selling blood in the 1990s. Symptoms of AIDS included recurring respiratory tract infections with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia, swollen lymph nodes and weight loss. 385 patients with AIDS were included and 165 of them used a 16-herb formula for 14 days to 9 months. The eight-year survival rate was 87% for the CHM users and 34% for the non-users (increased survival probability for CHM user, 9.6; 95% CI = 6.0–15.4; p < 0.0001). Survival probability further increased 14.6-fold (95% CI = 8.2–26.1), when excluding the users who received CHM for less than three months. Zero deaths were found in patients who used CHM for six to nine months. All the survivors regained their body weight and none of them experienced a relapse of AIDS or any severe adverse events. After the CHM treatment for an average of 3.6 months, the plasma HIV load was 74.7% lower (paired t-test, p = 0.151) and the number of blood CD4+ lymphocytes increased from 253 to 314 (paired t-test, p = 0.021). Without life-long medication, CHM may be beneficial for long-term survival of AIDS patients.

Political connections has become a research hot spot problem since this concept was proposed at home and abroad. The present domestic researches have yet to further explore the relationship between political connections of private listed companies. By studying the relationship between political connections of private listed companies (going concern) and accounting information quality from 2007 to 2012, this paper found that the accounting information quality of politically connected private enterprise was lower. Different types of political connections had different impact on the quality of accounting information: the government had the greatest effect, then the representatives of CPCC, while others background had little impact. In the post financial crisis era, the negative effect between political connections and accounting information quality of the private listed companies was more significant.

To explore the pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) bronchiolitis and its treatment with glucocorticoids.The pediatric patients with RSV bronchiolitis were divided into an atopic group (n = 50) and a non-atopic group (n = 50) based on whether there were IgE elevation, eczema and dermatitis. Another 25 normal subjects were chosen as a control group. Divided into mild, medium and severe groups, they were finally randomly divided into hormone (dexamethasone) and non-hormone groups. The proportion of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and the expression of Foxp3 mRNA were tested by flow cytometry and RT-PCR retrospectively.The proportion of CD4+ CD25+ Treg and the Foxp3 mRNA expression in the control, non-atopic, and atopic groups reached (10.5 +/- 1.6)% and 0.34 +/- 0.11, (8.8 +/- 2.2)% and 0.26 +/- 0.08, (7.6 +/- 1.8)% and 0.21 +/- 0.09, respectively. There were significant differences among these groups (all P0.05). The mild, medium and severe bronchiolitis groups reached (9.7 +/- 1.6)% and 0.28 +/- 0.08, (7.8 +/- 2.1)% and 0.24 +/- 0.06, (6.7 +/- 1.3)% and 0.20 +/- 0.07 respectively (all P0.05). The proportion of CD4+ CD25+ Treg and the expression of Foxp3 showed significantly negative correlations with severity (r = -0.62, -0.71, both P0.01). That is, they correlated with the severity of disease. The proportion of the CD4+ CD25+ Treg and the expression of Foxp3 mRNA of the hormone group were higher than those of the non-hormone group [(9.5 +/- 2.1)% and 0.33 +/- 0.10 vs (8.5 +/- 1.8)% and 0.27 +/- 0.12, P0.05 and0.01] respectively.CD4+ CD25+ Treg and Foxp3 mRNA are involved in the inflammation of bronchiolitis. And the levels of CD4+ CD25+ Treg and Foxp3 mRNA level is an objective indicator of the severity of RSV bronchiolitis. The effect of glucocorticoids upon RSV bronchiolitis may be in part due to the direct enhancement of production and functions of CD4+ CD25+ Treg and Foxp3 mRNA.

To evaluate the immunogenicity, safety, stability and consistency of three consecutive lots of an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine (Healive).A double-blind, randomized and controlled clinical trial was conducted in healthy volunteers aged from 1 to 8 years. Totally, 400 subjects were enrolled and assigned into four groups, each receiving one of the three lots of Healive or a licensed control vaccine in 0 and 6th month. Safety was assessed through a 30 minutes and three days observation, thereafter. Anti-HAV titers were determined on the 1st, 6th and 7th month after the vaccination.Seroconversion rate of four groups were all 100% by the end of the schedule while GMTs of Healive were 3237.06-3814.14 mIU/ml but were not significantly different. GMT of control vaccine was 1467.49 mIU/ml. Healive and control vaccine were well tolerated with 1%-5% incidence of overall adverse reactions in which most of them were mild and moderate. No severe adverse reaction was reported.The three consecutive lots of Healive were well consistent as indicated by immunogenicity and safety while immunogenicity was better than the vaccine used as control.

Immunization is considered as the most effective way for the prophylaxis of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. This study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of three consecutive lots of a new preservative-free inactivated hepatitis A vaccine (Healive) in healthy children. A double-blind, randomized and controlled clinical trial was conducted in healthy volunteers aged from 1 to 8 years. Total 400 subjects were enrolled and assigned into four groups, receiving one of the three lots of Healive or an established control vaccine. The vaccination was two-dose regimen with 6 months apart. Anti-HAV titers were determined at the 1st, 6th and 7th month. The results showed that Healive was highly immunogenic in children with 100% seroconversion rate (SR) and 3237-3814 mIU/ml geometry mean titer (GMT) 1 month after the second dose. The immunogenicity of Healive was statistically higher than that of the control vaccine with respect to GMT and SR (P=0.037 to P0.001). Both Healive and control vaccine were well tolerated with 1-5% incidence of overall adverse reactions (P0.298). Severe adverse reaction was not reported. Both SRs (1, 6 and 7 months) and GMTs (1 and 7 months) in subjects receiving one of the three consecutive lots of Healive had not statistical difference (P=0.114-0.710), suggesting that Healive was well consistent. The immune responses in younger children (1-3 years) and older children (4-8 years) were similar to each other (P=0.187-0.963). The present study indicated that Healive was greatly consistent between production lots, well tolerated and highly immunogenic in children, which made the preservative-free inactivated hepatitis A vaccine well suitable for inclusion in the routine programme of children vaccination.

To introduce a new surgical approach to rectify the shortened lower limbs.From March 1985 to October 2000, 288 cases of shortened lower limbs were treated and reviewed. Closed fracture at the metaphysis was made by a self-made "needle saw", and then the "multiple-plane and double-track elongation instrument" was adopted to elongate the fractured bone. There were totally 161 cases of male and 127 cases of female included, with average age 21.3 years old, ranging from 12 to 29 years old, among which there were 268 cases elongated at the proximal metaphysis of the tibia, 16 cases at the distal femur and 4 cases at the distal tibia. All of the cases were followed up for 6 to 8 months before clinical evaluation.The lower limbs in 288 cases were elongated for 3.0 to 11.5 cm in 24 to 96 days, averaging 47 days, which fulfilled pre-operative plan. In the second week after the operation, new calculus and periosteum formed obviously in the gap between the fractured parts, and in 6 to 8 months bone union was observed at the fractured site in all cases. There was no nerve or blood vessel injury, or non-union of the metaphysis fracture. The function of the manipulated knee joints and ankle joints recovered well.It is a practical and safe surgical option to rectify the shortened lower limbs by closed fracture at the metaphysis, followed by elongation of the fractured bone, without any complication such as non-union or atrophy of manipulated bone, and with no need of internal fixation or bone grafting.