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Abstract For the first time, a control strategy based on Fuzzy Sliding Mode Control is implemented in the control of a large amplitude limit cycle of a composite cantilever beam in a multi-dimensional nonlinear form. In the dynamic model establishment of the investigated structure, the higher-order shearing effect is applied, as well as the second-order discretization. Numerical simulation demonstrates that a multi-dimensional nonlinear dynamic system of the investigated structure is demanded for accurate estimation of large amplitude limit cycle responses. Therefore, a control strategy is employed to effectively suppress such responses of the beam in multi-dimensional nonlinear form.

Abstract Background Invasive detection methods such as liver biopsy are currently the gold standard for diagnosing liver cirrhosis and can be used to determine the degree of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. In contrast, non-invasive diagnostic methods, such as ultrasonography, elastography, and clinical prediction scores, can prevent patients from invasiveness-related discomfort and risks and are often chosen as alternative or supplementary diagnostic methods for liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. However, these non-invasive methods cannot specify the pathological grading and early diagnosis of the lesions. Recent studies have revealed that gut microbiome-based machine learning can be utilized as a non-invasive diagnostic technique for liver cirrhosis or fibrosis, but there is no evidence-based support. Therefore, this study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis for the first time to investigate the accuracy of machine learning based on the gut microbiota in the prediction of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Methods A comprehensive and systematic search of publications published before April 2th, 2023 in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science was conducted for relevant studies on the application of gut microbiome-based metagenomic sequencing modeling technology to the diagnostic prediction of liver cirrhosis or fibrosis. A bivariate mixed-effects model and Stata software 15.0 were adopted for the meta-analysis. Results Ten studies were included in the present study, involving 11 prediction trials and 838 participants, 403 of whom were fibrotic and cirrhotic patients. Meta-analysis showed the pooled sensitivity (SEN) = 0.81 [0.75, 0.85], specificity (SEP) = 0.85 [0.77, 0.91], positive likelihood ratio (PLR) = 5.5 [3.6, 8.7], negative likelihood ratio (NLR) = 0.23 [0.18, 0.29], diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) = 24 [14, 41], and area under curve (AUC) = 0.86 [0.83–0.89]. The results demonstrated that machine learning methods had excellent potential to analyze gut microbiome data and could effectively predict liver cirrhosis or fibrosis. Machine learning provides a powerful tool for non-invasive prediction and diagnosis of liver cirrhosis or liver fibrosis, with broad clinical application prospects. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution due to limited clinical data. Conclusion Gut microbiome-based machine learning can be utilized as a practical, non-invasive technique for the diagnostic prediction of liver cirrhosis or fibrosis. However, most of the included studies applied the random forest algorithm in modeling, so a diversified prediction system based on microorganisms is needed to improve the non-invasive detection of liver cirrhosis or fibrosis.

Abstract In this research, an adaptive control strategy adapted from fuzzy sliding mode control is established and applied in chaotic vibration control of a multiple-dimension nonlinear dynamic system of a laminated composite cantilever beam. The third order shearing effect on the vibration of the beam is considered in the nonlinear dynamic model establishment, and the Hamilton principle as well as the Galerkin method is employed. It is discovered that a multi-dimensional nonlinear dynamic system of the cantilever beam needs to be considered for accurate vibration estimation. Therefore, the control strategy appropriate for the chaotic vibration control of a multiple-dimension system of the laminated composite beam is necessary, and then proves to be effective in chaotic vibration control in numerical simulation.

Objective Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, local immune-mediated inflammatory oesophageal disease. Although Budesonide is recommended as one of the first-line drugs for EoE treatment, its efficacy is still controversial in multiple studies. Due to the continuous emergence of new and reliable research evidence in recent years, we updated the meta-analysis using RCT trial results to evaluate the efficacy and safety of budesonide.Materials and method Retrieve the data of the randomised controlled trial literature from 2000 to June 20, 2021, on using Budesonide in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis from the three major databases. Based on the results achieved with the Cochrane risk assessment tool, evaluate the quality of the included literature to extract the data, and perform the Meta-analysis with RevMan5.4 and Stata15.0.Results A total of 958 articles were retrieved, with 10 articles finally included, thus forming a sample size of 712 cases. The main outcome indicators of the meta-analysis are as follows: (1) Histological remission: the Budesonide group performs better than the placebo control group when it comes to histological remission of injuries [RR = 23.82, 95%CI = (13.46, 42.21), p

ObjectivesThis systematic review aimed to comprehensively understand the comorbidity of cerebral palsy (CP) in China.MethodsWe searched through databases in both Chinese and English until December 2022 to gather cross-sectional studies on the comorbidity of CP in China. After two reviewers independently screened the articles, collected the data, and assessed the bias risk, a meta-analysis was conducted using the Stata 17.0 software.ResultsA total of 73 articles were included. Of these, 16 articles reported total comorbidity, with a prevalence of 79.7% (95% CI: 73.8–85.7%); 56 articles reported epilepsy, with a prevalence of 17.9% (95% CI: 15.4–20.4%); 48 articles reported intellectual disability, with a prevalence of 58.0% (95% CI: 51.8–64.3%); 32 articles reported speech disorders, with a prevalence of 48.0% (95% CI: 41.6–54.4%); 41 articles reported hearing disorders, with a prevalence of 17.2% (95% CI: 13.0–21.4%); and 35 articles reported vision disorders, with a prevalence of 23.1% (95% CI: 16.3–29.8%). The topographical type of CP was the primary source of heterogeneity in the prevalence of epilepsy. Diagnostic criteria for CP, clinical type of CP, GMFCS, publishing time, and topographical type of CP were the primary sources of heterogeneity in the prevalence of intellectual disability. Clinical type of CP and topographical type were the primary sources of heterogeneity in the prevalence of speech disorders. Finally, the region was the primary source of heterogeneity in the prevalence of hearing disorders.ConclusionThe prevalence of comorbidities in CP is high in China. Comorbidities are related to the characteristics, severity, and risk factors of brain insult and have a particular relationship with regional economic development and medical and health levels.

Aiming at solving the problems of local halo blurring, insufficient edge detail preservation, and serious noise in traditional image enhancement algorithms, an improved Retinex algorithm for low-light mine image enhancement is proposed. Firstly, in HSV color space, the hue component remains unmodified, and the improved multi-scale guided filtering and Retinex algorithm are combined to estimate the illumination and reflection components from the brightness component. Secondly, the illumination component is equalized using the Weber–Fechner law, and the contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) is fused with the improved guided filtering for the brightness enhancement and denoising of reflection component. Then, the saturation component is adaptively stretched. Finally, it is converted back to RGB space to obtain the enhanced image. By comparing with single-scale Retinex (SSR) algorithm and multi-scale Retinex (MSR) algorithm, the mean, standard deviation, information entropy, average gradient, peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and structural similarity (SSIM) are improved by an average of 50.55%, 19.32%, 3.08%, 28.34%, 29.10%, and 22.97%. The experimental dates demonstrate that the algorithm improves image brightness, prevents halo artifacts while retaining edge details, reduces the effect of noise, and provides some theoretical references for low-light image enhancement.

Donation-based crowdfunding, as part of impact investment, plays a vital role in promoting economic development and alleviating poverty. In order to enhance the lender's enthusiasm for lending behavior, some platforms, for example Kiva, have introduced groups to facilitate lending. This study examines how the group environment can affect the lenders’ behaviors in crowdfunding. It has been found that lenders who join groups contribute 1.2 more loans (about $30-$42) per month than those who do not, but the theoretical mechanism of these differences is unclear. To understand in depth how the group environment affects lending behaviors, we introduce and develop the Person-Organization fit theory and Free-rider theory in this study. Combining machine-learning techniques with empirical analysis, the results show that the matching degree of motivation between group and lender has a positive effect on the lender behavior, i.e., lending to loans, and this relationship is weakened by free-riding in large groups. In addition, the group openness can have different effects on lenders of different group sizes. Our research enriches the existing crowdfunding literature and fills the gap in the research on new lending models in crowdfunding, and it will also be useful for crowdfunding platforms in setting the rules for building groups.

The MADS-box transcription factors have garnered substantial attention due to their crucial involvement in various biological processes, particularly in flower organogenesis. A comprehensive investigation into the MADS-box genes remains lacking in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.). In the current study, to preliminarily explore the potential candidate genes related to flower and fruit development, a genome-wide analysis was carried out to identify and characterize the MADS-box gene family in loquat. Among the 125 identified EjMADS-box members, 49 genes belonged to type Ⅰ, which were subsequently assigned to three subfamilies: Mα (25 genes), Mβ (10 genes), and Mγ (14 genes). Additionally, 76 genes fell under type II, which were categorized into two groups: MIKCC (70 genes) and MIKC* (6 genes). Through the collinearity analysis and comparison of the gene numbers between loquat and other Rosaceae genomes, it was revealed that the type Ⅱ MADS-box members were expanded in Maloideae after a whole genome duplication. The gene expression analysis utilizing various tissues during flower development revealed that the expression patterns of the ABCDE model homologs were conserved in loquat. In addition, several candidate genes potentially involved in flower bud differentiation (EjMADS107/109) and fruit expansion (EjMADS24/46/49/55/61/67/77/86) were identified. This analysis could serve as a fundamental basis for investigating the molecular functions of the MADS-box genes in the development of flowers as well as fruits in loquat.

Objectives This study is conducted to examine whether overall workplace violence (WPV) and its five types are associated with high burn-out among healthcare workers in China.Design A WeChat-based cross-sectional survey. Snowball sampling was used in this study.Participants Front-line healthcare workers (N=3706) from 149 cities across 23 provinces in China responded to the survey, and 22 questionnaires were excluded because of incomplete data.Primary and secondary outcome measures (1) The Chinese Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey was used to measure high burn-out. (2) WPV was assessed using the Chinese version of the Workplace Violence Scale. (3) An anonymous self-designed web-based questionnaire consisting of demographic, behavioural and occupational information was used to identify covariates.Results A total of 3684 front-line healthcare workers (934 physicians and 2750 nurses) were included. Of all participants, 13.3% (491/3193) experienced high burn-out. Adjusted logistic regression revealed that experience of WPV in the past year was associated with high burn-out (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.62). Healthcare workers who had suffered emotional abuse, threat or verbal sexual harassment were more vulnerable to high burn-out.Conclusion This study finds that healthcare workers with WPV, especially emotional abuse, threat and verbal sexual harassment, are more likely to experience burn-out. These types of WPV should be considered in interventions to reduce and prevent burn-out for healthcare workers.

In view of the channel conflict in the process of channel intergration, the conduct research on the omni-channel model of representation enterprises was conducted. Based on case studies and questionnaire survey methods, the fast-fashion brands′ value creation model was analyzed from the strategic model, operation model and profit model. The study found that the channel strategy layout of fast fashion brands is different, the perceived risk of online channel shopping still exists, and there is an inconsistency between online and offline prices and inventory information in terms ofomni-channel integration; cross-border cooperation and joint products make the product more unique. The combination of technology experience and localization promotion strategy can better serve consumer needs; “ordering online, pickup in-store” and “preferential drainage, up-sales” model effectively utilizes the externality of offline and online channels, which can better take the advantages of omni-channels.

ObjectivesEven after the glucose level returns to normal, hyperglycemia-induced cardiac dysfunction as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, inflammatory responses, and apoptosis continued deterioration, showing a long-lasting adverse effect on cardiac function and structure. We aimed to unveil the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying hyperglycemia-induced persistent myocardial injury and cardiac dysfunction.Methods and ResultsRecently, the accumulated evidence indicated epigenetic regulation act as a determining factor in hyperglycemia-induced continuous cardiovascular dysfunction. As an important histone demethylase, the expression of lysine-specific demethylase 3A (KDM3A) was continually increased, accompanied by a sustained decline of H3K9me2 levels in diabetic myocardium even if received hypoglycemic therapy. Besides, by utilizing gain- and loss-of-functional approaches, we identified KDM3A as a novel regulator that accelerates hyperglycemia-mediated myocardial injury by promoting ROS generation, aggregating inflammatory reaction, and facilitating cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. The KDM3A inhibition could significantly ameliorate the adverse effect of hyperglycemia in both diabetes model and diabetic intensive glycemic control model. Mechanically, our data uncovered that KDM3A could promote the expression and transcriptional activity of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB/P65), and the succedent rescue experiments further verified that KDM3A regulates hyperglycemia-induced myocardial injury in an NF-κB/P65 dependent manner.ConclusionThis study revealed histone-modifying enzymes KDM3A drives persistent oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and subsequent myocardial injury in the diabetic heart by regulating the transcription of NF-κB/P65.

Abstract Background Expression of either Cas9 or Cas12a and guide RNAs by a single Polymerase II (Pol II) promoter represents a compact CRISPR expression system and has many advantages for different applications. In order to make this system routine in plant biology, engineering efforts are needed for developing and optimizing such single transcript unit (STU) systems for plant genome editing. Results To develop novel intron-based STU (iSTU) CRISPR system (STU CRISPR 3.0), we first evaluated three introns from three plant species for carrying guide RNAs by using an enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) system in rice. After validation of proper intron slicing, we inserted these gRNA-containing introns into the open reading frames (ORFs) of Cas9 and Cas12a for testing their genome editing capability. Different guide RNA processing strategies have been tested for Cas9 and Cas12a. We demonstrated singular genome editing and multiplexed genome editing with these iSTU-Cas9 and iSTU-Cas12a systems. Conclusion We developed multiple iSTU-CRISPR/Cas9 and Cas12a systems for plant genome editing. Our results shed light on potential directions for further improvement of the iSTU systems.

Abstract Background Tanshinones are diterpenoid compounds that are used to treat cardiovascular diseases. As current extraction methods for tanshinones are inefficient, there is a pressing need to improve the production of these bioactive compounds to meet increasing demand. Results Overexpression of SmMDS (2-c-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase, a tanshinone biosynthesis gene) in transgenic Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots significantly increased the tanshinone yield compared to the control, and total tanshinone content in SmMDS-overexpressing lines increased after elicitor treatment. Total tanshinones increased to 2.5, 2.3, and 3.2 mg/g DW (dry weight) following treatment with Ag+, YE (yeast extract), and MJ (methyl jasmonate), respectively, compared with the non-induced transgenic line (1.7 mg/g DW). Also, qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of two pathway genes was positively correlated with increased accumulation of tanshinone. Conclusions Our study provides an effective strategy for increasing the content of tanshinones and other natural compounds using a combination of genetic engineering and elicitor treatment.

Abstract A variational Bayesian blind restoration reconstruction based on shear wave transform for low-dose medical computed tomography (CT) image is proposed. The proposed algorithm eliminates the effects of the point spread function in the process of low-dose medical CT image reconstruction and improves the reconstructed image quality. The shear wave transform is used to sparsely represent the CT image, which can speed up the efficiency of image processing. In the Bayesian framework, a posteriori probability objective function with unknown parameters is constructed. These unknown parameters include the shear wave coefficients, the point spread function, and the hyper parameters. It specified a Laplacian distribution model for the prior probability distribution of the shear wave coefficients. The autoregressive model is used as the prior model of the point spread function. All of hyper parameters follow the gamma distribution. The variational Bayesian method is used to estimate all of unknown parameters and solve the above posteriori probability objective function. These generalized parameter estimators are used to realize the low-dose CT image blind restoration reconstruction. Computer simulation results indicate that a good performance-reconstructed image can be obtained and some metrics such as peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), universal image quality index (UIQI), structural similarity index metric (SSIM), and sum of square differences error (SSDE) are improved.

Shenmai injection (SMI) is derived from traditional Chinese herbal prescription Shendong yin and widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases. Ophiopogonin D (OPD) is one of the main active components of SMI. The hepatic uptake of OPD is mediated by organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs/oatps) and inhibited by some other components in SMI. This study aimed to identify the active components of SMI responsible for the inhibitory effects on hepatic uptake of OPD in rats and explore the compatibility mechanisms of complex components in SMI based on OATPs/oatps. The known effective fractions, the known components in Shenmai Formula, and the fractions obtained from SMI by HPLC gradual-separation technology were individually/combinedly tested for their effects on OPD uptake in rat primary hepatocytes and recombinant OATP1B1/OATP1B3-expressing HEK293T cells. The results indicated that the OPD uptake was inhibited by panaxadiol-type ginsenosides (ginsenoside Rb1 and Rd), but slightly influenced by panaxatriol-type ginsenosides in rat primary hepatocytes and recombinant cells. The fractions of SMI-3-1 (0–11 min) and SMI-3-3 (15–20 min) obtained by HPLC gradual-separation technology were proved to be the major effective fractions that influenced the OPD uptake, and subsequently identified as ginsenoside Rb1 and Rd, respectively. The plasma concentrations of OPD in rats given OPD+ginsenoside Rb1+ginsenoside Rd were higher compared to rats given OPD alone at the same dose. In conclusion, ginsenoside Rb1 and Rd are the major effective components in SMI that remarkably inhibited the hepatic OPD uptake mediated by OATPs/oatps. The interaction of complex components by OATPs/oatps may be one of the important compatibility mechanisms in SMI.