AIM:To correlate circulating soluble ST2(sST2) levels with the severity of ulcerative colitis(UC) and serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines,and to demonstrate the predictive power of sST2 levels for differentiati...AIM:To correlate circulating soluble ST2(sST2) levels with the severity of ulcerative colitis(UC) and serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines,and to demonstrate the predictive power of sST2 levels for differentiation between active and inactive UC.METHODS:We recruited 153 patients:82 with UC,26 with Crohn's disease(CD) and 43 disease controls [non-inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)].Subjects were excluded if they had diagnosis of asthma,autoimmune diseases or hypertension.The serum levels of sST2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines [pg/mL;median(25th-75th)] as well as clinical features,endoscopic and histological features,were subjected to analyses.The sST2 performance for discrimination between active and inactive UC,non-IBD and healthy controls(HC) was determined with regard to sensitivity and specificity,and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient(r).To validate the method,the area under the curve(AUC) of receiver-operator characteristic(ROC) was determined(AUC,95% CI) and the total ST2 content of the colonic mucosa in UC patients was correlated with circulating levels of sST2.RESULTS:The serum sST2 value was significantly higher in patients with active [235.80(90.65-367.90) pg/mL] rather than inactive UC [33.19(20.04-65.32) pg/mL],based on clinical,endoscopic and histopathological characteristics,as well as compared with non-IBD and HC(P < 0.001).The median level of sST2 in CD patients was 54.17(35.02-122.0) pg/mL,significantly higher than that of the HC group only(P < 0.01).The cutoff was set at 74.87 pg/mL to compare active with inactive UC in a multicenter cohort of patients.Values of sensitivity,specificity,and ability to correctly classify UC,according to activity,were 83.33%,83.33% and 83.33%,respectively.The AUC of the ROC curve to assess the ability of this molecule to discriminate between active vs inactive UC was 0.92(0.86-0.97,P < 0.0001).The serum levels of sST2 in patients with UC significantly correlated with endoscopic and histo-pathological scores(r = 0.76 and r = 0.67,P < 0.0001,respectively),and 展开更多
Dear Editor,We read with great interest the recently published article titled“Observation of peripheral refraction in myopic anisometropia in young adults”by Du et al[1].The study conducted at the InEye Hospital of ...Dear Editor,We read with great interest the recently published article titled“Observation of peripheral refraction in myopic anisometropia in young adults”by Du et al[1].The study conducted at the InEye Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM provides valuable insights into the relationship between anisometropia and peripheral refraction in myopic young adults.We commend the authors for their thorough investigation and adherence to ethical guidelines.While the study contributes significantly to our understanding of myopic anisometropia,we would like to draw attention to some limitations that merit consideration for a comprehensive interpretation of the findings.展开更多
The industry sector is a very large producer and consumer of data,and many companies traditionally focused on production or manufacturing are now relying on the analysis of large amounts of data to develop new product...The industry sector is a very large producer and consumer of data,and many companies traditionally focused on production or manufacturing are now relying on the analysis of large amounts of data to develop new products and services.As many of the data sources needed are distributed and outside the company,FAIR data will have a major impact,both by reducing the existing internal data silos and by enabling the efficient integration with external(public and commercial)data.Many companies are still in the early phases of internal data”FAIRification”,providing opportunities for SMEs and academics to apply and develop their expertise on FAIR data in collaborations and public-private partnerships.For a global Internet of FAIR Data&Services to thrive,also involving industry,professional tools and services are essential.FAIR metrics and certifications on individuals,data,organizations,and software,must ensure that data producers and consumers have independent quality metrics on their data.In this opinion article we reflect on some industry specific challenges of FAIR implementation to be dealt with when choices are made regarding”Industry GOing FAIR”.展开更多
Background:Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant primary bone tumor.The prognosis for patients with disseminated disease remains very poor despite recent advancements in chemotherapy.Moreover,current treatment reg...Background:Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant primary bone tumor.The prognosis for patients with disseminated disease remains very poor despite recent advancements in chemotherapy.Moreover,current treatment regimens bear a significant risk of serious side effects.Thus,there is an unmet clinical need for effective therapies with improved safety profiles.Taurolidine is an antibacterial agent that has been shown to induce cell death in different types of cancer cell lines.Methods:In this study,we examined both the antineoplastic and antiangiogenic effects of taurolidine in animal models of osteosarcoma.K7M2 murine osteosarcoma cells were injected,both intramuscular and intraperitoneal,into 60 BALB/c mice on day zero.Animals were then randomized to receive treatment with taurolidine 2%(800 mg/kg),taurolidine 1%(400 mg/kg),or NaCl 0.9%control for seven days by intravenous or intraperitoneal administration.Results:After 35 days,mice were euthanized,and the tumors were harvested for analysis.Eighteen mice were excluded from the analysis due to complications.Body weight was significantly lower in the 2%taurolidine intraperitoneal treatment group from day 9 to 21,consistent with elevated mortality in this group.Intraperitoneal tumor weight was significantly lower in the 1%(p=0.003)and 2%(p=0.006)intraperitoneal taurolidine treatment groups compared to the control.No antineoplastic effects were observed on intramuscular tumors or for intravenous administration of taurolidine.There were no significant differences in microvessel density or mitotic rate between treatment groups.Reduced body weight and elevated mortality in the 2%taurolidine intraperitoneal group suggest that the lower 1%dose is preferable.Conclusions:In conclusion,there is no evidence of antiangiogenic activity,and the antitumor effects of taurolidine on osteosarcoma observed in this study are limited.Moreover,its toxic profile grants further evaluation.Given these observations,further research is necessary to refine the use of taurolidine in os展开更多
Corrosion resistance of titanium(Ti)alloys is closely connected with their microstructure which can be adjusted and controlled via different annealing schemes.Herein,we systematically investigate the specific effects ...Corrosion resistance of titanium(Ti)alloys is closely connected with their microstructure which can be adjusted and controlled via different annealing schemes.Herein,we systematically investigate the specific effects of annealing on the corrosion performance of Ti-6 Al-3 Nb-2 Zr-1 Mo(Ti80)alloy in 3.5 wt.%NaCl and 5 M HCl solutions,respectively,based on open circuit potential(OCP),potentiodynamic polarization,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),static immersion tests and surface analysis.Results indicate that increasing annealing tempe rature endows Ti80 alloy with a higher volume fraction ofβphase and finerαphase,which in turn improves its corrosion resistance.Surface characterization demonstrates thatβphase is more resistant to corrosion thanαphase owing to a higher content of Nb,Mo,and Zr in the former;additionally,the decreased thickness of a phase alleviates segregation of elements to further restrain the micro-galvanic couple effects betweenαandβphases.Meanwhile,the influential mechanisms of environmental conditions on corrosion of Ti80 alloy are discussed in detail.As the formation of a highly compact and stable oxide film on surface,annealed Ti80 alloys exhibit a low corrosion current density(10^(-6)A/cm^(2))and high polarization impedance(10^(6)Ω·cm^(2))in 3.5 wt.%NaCl solution.However,they suffer severe corrosion in 5 M HCl solution,resulting from the breakdown of native oxide films(the conversion of TiO_(2)to aqueous Ti^(3+)),active dissolution of substrate Ti to aqueous Ti^(3+)and existence of micro-galvanic couple effects.Those findings could provide new insights to designing Ti alloys with high-corrosion resistance through microstructural optimization.展开更多
This paper presents a comprehensive study on the model predictive control(MPC)of doubly fed induction generators(DFIG)in wind energy conversion systems(WECS);in particular the MPC of the rotor side converter.The gener...This paper presents a comprehensive study on the model predictive control(MPC)of doubly fed induction generators(DFIG)in wind energy conversion systems(WECS);in particular the MPC of the rotor side converter.The general principle of prevalent MPC strategies is discussed to introduce the theoretical framework in the first place.Furthermore,mainstream and high-performance MPC methods of DFIGs have been identified as model predictive current control(MPCC),model predictive torque control(MPTC),and model predictive power control(MPPC).Starting from analyzing dynamic models,these MPC strategies are investigated in terms of operating principles and technical developments.The paper further investigates implementation of MPC strategies in unbalanced grids.Based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of several case studies,performance of various MPC schemes is compared and their special features are identified.Guidelines for designing MPC strategies of DFIGs in WECS are provided.展开更多
Polyploid cells,which contain more than one set of chromosome pairs,are very common in nature.Polyploidy can provide cells with several potential benefits over their diploid counterparts,including an increase in cell ...Polyploid cells,which contain more than one set of chromosome pairs,are very common in nature.Polyploidy can provide cells with several potential benefits over their diploid counterparts,including an increase in cell size,contributing to organ growth and tissue homeostasis,and improving cellular robustness via increased tolerance to genomic stress and apoptotic signals.Here,we focus on why polyploidy in the cell occurs and which stress responses and molecular signals trigger cells to become polyploid.Moreover,we discuss its crucial roles in cell growth and tissue regeneration in the heart,liver,and other tissues.展开更多
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV),an enteropathogenic coronavirus,has catastrophic impacts on the global pig industry.However,there remain no effective drugs against PEDV infection.In this study,we utilized a reco...Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV),an enteropathogenic coronavirus,has catastrophic impacts on the global pig industry.However,there remain no effective drugs against PEDV infection.In this study,we utilized a recombinant PEDV expressing renilla luciferase(PEDV-Rluc)to screen potential anti-PEDV agents from an FDAapproved drug library in Vero cells.Four compounds were identified that significantly decreased luciferase activity of PEDV-Rluc.Among them,niclosamide was further characterized because it exhibited the most potent antiviral activity with the highest selectivity index.It can efficiently inhibit viral RNA synthesis,protein expression and viral progeny production of classical and variant PEDV strains in a dose-dependent manner.Time of addition assay showed that niclosamide exhibited potent anti-PEDV activity when added simultaneously with or after virus infection.Furthermore,niclosamide significantly inhibited the entry stage of PEDV infection by affecting viral internalization rather than viral attachment to cells.In addition,a combination with other small molecule inhibitors of endosomal acidification enhanced the anti-PEDV effect of niclosamide in vitro.Taken together,these findings suggested that niclosamide is a novel antiviral agent that might provide a basis for the development of novel drug therapies against PEDV and other related pathogenic coronavirus infections.展开更多
Dear Editor,Great progress has been made in the clinical use of photodynamic therapy(PDT)for the treatment of patients with superficial tumors[1].However,cancer recurrence and metastasis have limited the application o...Dear Editor,Great progress has been made in the clinical use of photodynamic therapy(PDT)for the treatment of patients with superficial tumors[1].However,cancer recurrence and metastasis have limited the application of PDT in the treatment of solid tumors and advanced cancers.In this context,combining PDT with other complementary immunotherapy regimens may overcome these limitations of PDT[2].展开更多
Background: Sodium benzoate (E 211) is widely used to delay yeast spoilage of acidic foods and beverages. Numerous cases of adverse reactions to benzoate hav e been recorded, but most of the studies that have been con...Background: Sodium benzoate (E 211) is widely used to delay yeast spoilage of acidic foods and beverages. Numerous cases of adverse reactions to benzoate hav e been recorded, but most of the studies that have been conducted lacked proper placebo controls or blinding. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine t he incidence of intolerance to sodium benzoate among subjects who experienced re peated episodes of acute urticaria/angio-oedema following the ingestion of a m eal or a product containing this substance. Methods: This was a retrospective st udy based on the analysis of data from patients reported to have experienced epi sodes of urticaria, with or without angio-oedema, after ingesting meals or pro ducts containing sodium benzoate. At the first visit to the outpatients clinic, a careful history was taken. Patients were then given the following diagnostic t ests: tests for IgE for common inhalant allergens and food allergens, and a doub le-blind, placebo-controlled challenge with sodium benzoate. Results: A tota l of 47 subjects were enrolled in the study; five (11% ) showed at least one re levant positive reaction to an IgE test for food allergy. Only one subject (2% ) had a reaction after the ingestion of 75 mg of sodium benzoate without an adve rse reaction to placebo. Conclusion: This study shows that the percentage of rep eated episodes of acute urticaria/angio-oedema reactions induced by sodium ben zoate is very low (2% ). In view of our results, we suggest that when faced wit h patients who have suffered adverse reactions that could be attributed to sodiu m benzoate, physicians should also carefully evaluate other possible causes.展开更多
Background:Pasteurella multocida is an important and old zoonotic pathogen worldwide which has an impressive host spectrum including numerous domestic and wild animals as well as birds,causing specific diseases or out...Background:Pasteurella multocida is an important and old zoonotic pathogen worldwide which has an impressive host spectrum including numerous domestic and wild animals as well as birds,causing specific diseases or outbreak with great economic impact.It has never been reported that P.multocida can cause an epidemic in wild rodents.In June 5–17,2016,more than 1000 rodent deaths of an unknown cause quickly spread in the PuEr City,Yunnan province,southwestern China.Methods:The rodents in affected areas and outside of the epidemic areas were collected and screened for possible known pathogens including Yersinia pestis,rabies virus and hantavirus as well as other bacteria.The possible bacterial pathogens were isolated both by culture medium and by mouse inoculation in parallel.The isolates were identified by the Vitek GNI card and PCR assays for 16S rRNA genes.The pathogen strains were selected for whole genome sequencing analysis.Results:A total of 123 rodents were collected from 25 sample sites at affected area,among of which,all 119 dead rodents were negative for the pathogen under consideration except P.multocida,and all four live rodents were negative for P.multocida.In addition,480 rodents collected from other 23 counties outside of the epidemic area in Yunnan were negative for with P.multocida.A total of 14 strains of P.multocida(six directly isolated from the field rodents and eight from the experimental mice that were injected with the organ substrates from the dead rodents)belonged to serogroup A and serogroup F represented by 9 N and 20 N were identified in these epidemic areas.Whole genome sequencing revealed that the serogroup F strain shared 99%similarity to P.multocida Pm70 from chicken,but contained a 50 k bp insertion sequence.The serogroup A strain shared 95%similarity to P.multocida FDAARGOS_385 from a human patient,but contained four large structural differences.Histological abnormalities were identified in the livers,lungs,hearts and brains of the inoculated mice.Conclusions:The simultaneous occu展开更多
Let {(Xi, Si, μi) : i ℃ N} be a sequence of probability measure spaces and (*Xi, L(*Si), L(*μi)) be the Loeb measure space with respect to (Xi, Si, μi) for i ℃ N. Let X =× Xi, S = ×Si,μ = ×μi. We...Let {(Xi, Si, μi) : i ℃ N} be a sequence of probability measure spaces and (*Xi, L(*Si), L(*μi)) be the Loeb measure space with respect to (Xi, Si, μi) for i ℃ N. Let X =× Xi, S = ×Si,μ = ×μi. We prove that × L(*Si) CL(*S) and in embedding meaning.展开更多
Following a large-scale phylogenetic study of the lichenized genus Cora(Basidiomycota:Agaricales:Hygrophoraceae),we formally describe 70 new species,honouring the seventieth birthday of David Leslie Hawksworth,one of ...Following a large-scale phylogenetic study of the lichenized genus Cora(Basidiomycota:Agaricales:Hygrophoraceae),we formally describe 70 new species,honouring the seventieth birthday of David Leslie Hawksworth,one of the preeminent figures in mycology and lichenology in the past 50 years.Based on an updated phylogeny using the ITS fungal barcoding locus,we now recognize 189 taxa in a genus that until recently was considered to represent a single species;including this contribution,92 of these are formally recognized,including five taxa based on historical names or collections that have not been sequenced.Species of Cora can be recognized by a combination of morphological(size,colour,lobe configuration,surface hairs,hymenophore size and shape),anatomical(thallus thickness,cortex structure,photobiont type,hyphal papillae),and ecogeographical features(substrate,habitat,distribution),and a keytable allowing the identification of all accepted taxa is provided.The new species are:Cora accipiter Moncada,Madrin˜a´n&Lücking spec.nov.,C.applanata Moncada,Soto-Medina&Lücking spec.nov.,C.arachnodavidea Moncada,Dal Forno&Lücking spec.nov.,C.arborescens Dal Forno,Chaves&Lücking spec.nov.,C.arcabucana Moncada,C.Rodrı´guez&Lücking spec.nov.,C.aturucoa Lücking,Moncada&C.Vargas spec.nov.,C.auriculeslia Moncada,Ya´nez-Ayabaca&Lücking spec.nov.,C.barbifera Moncada,Patin˜o&Lücking spec.nov.,C.boleslia Lücking,E.Morales&Dal Forno spec.nov.,C.caliginosa Holgado,Rivas Plata&Perlmutter spec.nov.,C.campestris Dal Forno,Eliasaro&Spielmann spec.nov.,C.canari Nugra,Dal Forno&Lücking spec.nov.,C.caraana Lücking,Martins&Lucheta spec.nov.,C.casasolana Moncada,R.-E.Pe´rez&Lücking spec.nov.,C.caucensis Moncada,M.Gut.&Lücking spec.nov.,C.celestinoa Moncada,CabreraAmaya&Lücking spec.nov.,C.comaltepeca Moncada,R.-E.Pe´rez&Herrera-Camp.spec.nov.,C.corani Lücking,E.Morales&Dal Forno spec.nov.,C.corelleslia Moncada,A.Sua´rez-Corredor&Lücking spec.nov.,C.crispoleslia Moncada,J.Molina&Lücking spec.nov.,C.cuzcoensis Holgado,Rivas展开更多
The investigation by SEM/TEM, porosity, and X-ray diffraction measurements of the graphitization process starting from amorphous carbon nanospheres, prepared by glucose carbonization, is reported. Aspects studied are ...The investigation by SEM/TEM, porosity, and X-ray diffraction measurements of the graphitization process starting from amorphous carbon nanospheres, prepared by glucose carbonization, is reported. Aspects studied are the annealing temperature in the 750–1000 °C range, the type of inert carrier gas, and time of treatment in the 2–6 h range. It is investigated how these parameters influence the structural and morphological characteristics of the carbon materials obtained as well as their nanostructure. It is shown that it is possible to maintain after graphitization the round-shaped macro morphology, a high surface area and porosity, and especially a large structural disorder in the graphitic layers stacking, with the presence of rather small ordered domains. These are characteristics interesting for various catalytic applications. The key in obtaining these characteristics is the thermal treatment in a flow of N2. It was demonstrated that the use of He rather than N2 does not allow obtaining the same results. The effect is attributed to the presence of traces of oxygen, enough to create the presence of oxygen functional groups on the surface temperatures higher than 750 °C, when graphitization occurs. These oxygen functional groups favor the graphitization process.展开更多
The purpose of the paper was to assess the frequency of secondary transmissions of primary pneumonic plague relative to the onset of fever.A simple backcalculation method was employed to estimate the frequency of seco...The purpose of the paper was to assess the frequency of secondary transmissions of primary pneumonic plague relative to the onset of fever.A simple backcalculation method was employed to estimate the frequency of secondary transmissions relative to disease-age.A likelihood-based procedure was taken using observed distributions of the serial interval(n = 177) and incubation period(n = 126).Furthermore,an extended model was developed to account for the survival probability of cases.The simple backcalculation suggested that 31. 0%(95%confidence intervals(CI):11.6,50.4) and 28.0%(95%CI:10.2,45.8) of the total number of secondary transmissions had occurred at second and third days of the disease,respectively,and more than four-fifths of the secondary transmission occurred before the end of third day of disease.The survivorship-adjusted frequency of secondary transmissions was obtained,demonstrating that the infectiousness in later stages of illness was not insignificant and indicates that the obtained frequencies were likely biased on underlying factors including isolation measures.In conclusion,the simple exercise suggests a need to implement countermeasures during pre-clinical stage or immediately after onset.Further information is needed to elucidate the finer details of the disease-age specific infectiousness.展开更多
Background Endoscopic brush cytology is a promising surveillance technique for Barrett’s esophagus. However, there is a need for ancillary biomarkers to incr ease the sensitivity of cytology and to allow identificati...Background Endoscopic brush cytology is a promising surveillance technique for Barrett’s esophagus. However, there is a need for ancillary biomarkers to incr ease the sensitivity of cytology and to allow identification of patients at increased risk for disease progression. The aims of this study were to eval uate the feasibility of fluorescence in situ hybridization of endoscopic brush c ytology specimens and to determine if there are specific chromosomal changes in cytologic specimens from patients with cancer that are not present in patients w ithout dysplasia. Methods Archival cytology slides from 16 patients with Barrett ’s esophagus were studied: 8 negative for dysplasia and 8 positive for adenocar cinoma. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to detect two alterations: H ER-2 gene(17q11.2-q12) and 20q13.2 region amplification. Observations For 7 of 8 adenocarcinoma cases, there was amplification/aneusomy of at least one of the two analyzed regions by fluorescence in situ hybridization. None of the samples negative for dysplasia were abnormal for either of the two genomic regions stud ied.Conclusions Fluorescence in situ hybridization is feasible by using routine Barrett’s esophagus cytologic specimens. Differences in genomic makeup can be d etected in cells from patients negative for dysplasia and in those with adenocar cinoma.展开更多
This research reports on potentiality in the solar chimney as an exhaust ventilation device through a hypothetical statement that convenient weather conditions exist on sub-humid warm climate to enhance the performanc...This research reports on potentiality in the solar chimney as an exhaust ventilation device through a hypothetical statement that convenient weather conditions exist on sub-humid warm climate to enhance the performance ofa SC （solar chimney）, in order to increase ventilation to dissipate metabolic heat from inhabitants of airtight buildings. The methodology used in this research integrates the use of simplified mathematical models that predict in a semi-empirical way a potential volume flow through estimation of kinetic power generation, by natural circulation and stack effect in a typical covered-plate air solar collector. The study was carried out during the warm month of April, an important warm season for Colima, where the prevailing wind is about 6.8 m/s, the average temperature of maximums and minimums oscillates between 15.4℃and 34.4 ℃ with average relative humidity of 65% according to national weather service. A scale model of the SC was installed on environmental chambers. The results showed that this device is capable of generating ventilation conditions around light breeze parameters near between 0.6 m/s and 1.5 m/s width, a better performance at day in 45% approximately than the night values, making ventilation rates up 0.24 ACH （air changes per hour） as average air change rate.展开更多
Polycythemia vera is a rare chronic myeloproliferative disease. Its exceptional association with pregnancy can lead to severe complications. Antithrombotic treatment could prevent such adverse outcome. A patient with ...Polycythemia vera is a rare chronic myeloproliferative disease. Its exceptional association with pregnancy can lead to severe complications. Antithrombotic treatment could prevent such adverse outcome. A patient with two previous pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, was treated by hydroxyurea for polycythemia vera. She started a new unexpected gestation without this myelosuppressive treatment and the pregnancy was conducted uneventfully with low molecular weight heparin and low dose aspirin. Thrombotic complications required the reintroduction of hydroxyurea. Diagnosis of polycythemia vera during pregnancy is a very difficult task due to physiologic changes occurring during gestation. Adverse outcome including severe vascular complications can be a preclinical phase of the disease. An adequate therapy could prevent these complications.展开更多
基金Supported by FONDECYT grant 1070954 and DA-CLC 2803
文摘AIM:To correlate circulating soluble ST2(sST2) levels with the severity of ulcerative colitis(UC) and serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines,and to demonstrate the predictive power of sST2 levels for differentiation between active and inactive UC.METHODS:We recruited 153 patients:82 with UC,26 with Crohn's disease(CD) and 43 disease controls [non-inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)].Subjects were excluded if they had diagnosis of asthma,autoimmune diseases or hypertension.The serum levels of sST2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines [pg/mL;median(25th-75th)] as well as clinical features,endoscopic and histological features,were subjected to analyses.The sST2 performance for discrimination between active and inactive UC,non-IBD and healthy controls(HC) was determined with regard to sensitivity and specificity,and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient(r).To validate the method,the area under the curve(AUC) of receiver-operator characteristic(ROC) was determined(AUC,95% CI) and the total ST2 content of the colonic mucosa in UC patients was correlated with circulating levels of sST2.RESULTS:The serum sST2 value was significantly higher in patients with active [235.80(90.65-367.90) pg/mL] rather than inactive UC [33.19(20.04-65.32) pg/mL],based on clinical,endoscopic and histopathological characteristics,as well as compared with non-IBD and HC(P < 0.001).The median level of sST2 in CD patients was 54.17(35.02-122.0) pg/mL,significantly higher than that of the HC group only(P < 0.01).The cutoff was set at 74.87 pg/mL to compare active with inactive UC in a multicenter cohort of patients.Values of sensitivity,specificity,and ability to correctly classify UC,according to activity,were 83.33%,83.33% and 83.33%,respectively.The AUC of the ROC curve to assess the ability of this molecule to discriminate between active vs inactive UC was 0.92(0.86-0.97,P < 0.0001).The serum levels of sST2 in patients with UC significantly correlated with endoscopic and histo-pathological scores(r = 0.76 and r = 0.67,P < 0.0001,respectively),and
文摘Dear Editor,We read with great interest the recently published article titled“Observation of peripheral refraction in myopic anisometropia in young adults”by Du et al[1].The study conducted at the InEye Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM provides valuable insights into the relationship between anisometropia and peripheral refraction in myopic young adults.We commend the authors for their thorough investigation and adherence to ethical guidelines.While the study contributes significantly to our understanding of myopic anisometropia,we would like to draw attention to some limitations that merit consideration for a comprehensive interpretation of the findings.
文摘The industry sector is a very large producer and consumer of data,and many companies traditionally focused on production or manufacturing are now relying on the analysis of large amounts of data to develop new products and services.As many of the data sources needed are distributed and outside the company,FAIR data will have a major impact,both by reducing the existing internal data silos and by enabling the efficient integration with external(public and commercial)data.Many companies are still in the early phases of internal data”FAIRification”,providing opportunities for SMEs and academics to apply and develop their expertise on FAIR data in collaborations and public-private partnerships.For a global Internet of FAIR Data&Services to thrive,also involving industry,professional tools and services are essential.FAIR metrics and certifications on individuals,data,organizations,and software,must ensure that data producers and consumers have independent quality metrics on their data.In this opinion article we reflect on some industry specific challenges of FAIR implementation to be dealt with when choices are made regarding”Industry GOing FAIR”.
文摘Background:Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant primary bone tumor.The prognosis for patients with disseminated disease remains very poor despite recent advancements in chemotherapy.Moreover,current treatment regimens bear a significant risk of serious side effects.Thus,there is an unmet clinical need for effective therapies with improved safety profiles.Taurolidine is an antibacterial agent that has been shown to induce cell death in different types of cancer cell lines.Methods:In this study,we examined both the antineoplastic and antiangiogenic effects of taurolidine in animal models of osteosarcoma.K7M2 murine osteosarcoma cells were injected,both intramuscular and intraperitoneal,into 60 BALB/c mice on day zero.Animals were then randomized to receive treatment with taurolidine 2%(800 mg/kg),taurolidine 1%(400 mg/kg),or NaCl 0.9%control for seven days by intravenous or intraperitoneal administration.Results:After 35 days,mice were euthanized,and the tumors were harvested for analysis.Eighteen mice were excluded from the analysis due to complications.Body weight was significantly lower in the 2%taurolidine intraperitoneal treatment group from day 9 to 21,consistent with elevated mortality in this group.Intraperitoneal tumor weight was significantly lower in the 1%(p=0.003)and 2%(p=0.006)intraperitoneal taurolidine treatment groups compared to the control.No antineoplastic effects were observed on intramuscular tumors or for intravenous administration of taurolidine.There were no significant differences in microvessel density or mitotic rate between treatment groups.Reduced body weight and elevated mortality in the 2%taurolidine intraperitoneal group suggest that the lower 1%dose is preferable.Conclusions:In conclusion,there is no evidence of antiangiogenic activity,and the antitumor effects of taurolidine on osteosarcoma observed in this study are limited.Moreover,its toxic profile grants further evaluation.Given these observations,further research is necessary to refine the use of taurolidine in os
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFB0301201)the Yunnan Rare Metal Materials Genetic Engineering Project(2018ZE013)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51425402 and 51671073)。
文摘Corrosion resistance of titanium(Ti)alloys is closely connected with their microstructure which can be adjusted and controlled via different annealing schemes.Herein,we systematically investigate the specific effects of annealing on the corrosion performance of Ti-6 Al-3 Nb-2 Zr-1 Mo(Ti80)alloy in 3.5 wt.%NaCl and 5 M HCl solutions,respectively,based on open circuit potential(OCP),potentiodynamic polarization,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS),static immersion tests and surface analysis.Results indicate that increasing annealing tempe rature endows Ti80 alloy with a higher volume fraction ofβphase and finerαphase,which in turn improves its corrosion resistance.Surface characterization demonstrates thatβphase is more resistant to corrosion thanαphase owing to a higher content of Nb,Mo,and Zr in the former;additionally,the decreased thickness of a phase alleviates segregation of elements to further restrain the micro-galvanic couple effects betweenαandβphases.Meanwhile,the influential mechanisms of environmental conditions on corrosion of Ti80 alloy are discussed in detail.As the formation of a highly compact and stable oxide film on surface,annealed Ti80 alloys exhibit a low corrosion current density(10^(-6)A/cm^(2))and high polarization impedance(10^(6)Ω·cm^(2))in 3.5 wt.%NaCl solution.However,they suffer severe corrosion in 5 M HCl solution,resulting from the breakdown of native oxide films(the conversion of TiO_(2)to aqueous Ti^(3+)),active dissolution of substrate Ti to aqueous Ti^(3+)and existence of micro-galvanic couple effects.Those findings could provide new insights to designing Ti alloys with high-corrosion resistance through microstructural optimization.
基金supported in part by RMIT Startup fund under CC 101219in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 62101473in part by the Guangdong Natural Science Foundation under Grant 2023A1515010653.
文摘This paper presents a comprehensive study on the model predictive control(MPC)of doubly fed induction generators(DFIG)in wind energy conversion systems(WECS);in particular the MPC of the rotor side converter.The general principle of prevalent MPC strategies is discussed to introduce the theoretical framework in the first place.Furthermore,mainstream and high-performance MPC methods of DFIGs have been identified as model predictive current control(MPCC),model predictive torque control(MPTC),and model predictive power control(MPPC).Starting from analyzing dynamic models,these MPC strategies are investigated in terms of operating principles and technical developments.The paper further investigates implementation of MPC strategies in unbalanced grids.Based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of several case studies,performance of various MPC schemes is compared and their special features are identified.Guidelines for designing MPC strategies of DFIGs in WECS are provided.
基金supported by the Project EVICARE (No.725229)of the European Research Council (ERC)to J.P.G.S.the ZonMw-TAS program (No.116002016)to J.P.G.S./Z.L.+2 种基金the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs,Agriculture and Innovation and the Netherlands CardioVascular Research Initiative (CVON)the Dutch Heart Foundation to J.P.G.S.Juntao Fang is supported by a Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC)fellowship program (No.201906210082).AV acknowledges support by the ERCAdG 787171,POLICE.
文摘Polyploid cells,which contain more than one set of chromosome pairs,are very common in nature.Polyploidy can provide cells with several potential benefits over their diploid counterparts,including an increase in cell size,contributing to organ growth and tissue homeostasis,and improving cellular robustness via increased tolerance to genomic stress and apoptotic signals.Here,we focus on why polyploidy in the cell occurs and which stress responses and molecular signals trigger cells to become polyploid.Moreover,we discuss its crucial roles in cell growth and tissue regeneration in the heart,liver,and other tissues.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31602033 and 32172839)the China Scholarship Council under grant 201908410129.
文摘Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus(PEDV),an enteropathogenic coronavirus,has catastrophic impacts on the global pig industry.However,there remain no effective drugs against PEDV infection.In this study,we utilized a recombinant PEDV expressing renilla luciferase(PEDV-Rluc)to screen potential anti-PEDV agents from an FDAapproved drug library in Vero cells.Four compounds were identified that significantly decreased luciferase activity of PEDV-Rluc.Among them,niclosamide was further characterized because it exhibited the most potent antiviral activity with the highest selectivity index.It can efficiently inhibit viral RNA synthesis,protein expression and viral progeny production of classical and variant PEDV strains in a dose-dependent manner.Time of addition assay showed that niclosamide exhibited potent anti-PEDV activity when added simultaneously with or after virus infection.Furthermore,niclosamide significantly inhibited the entry stage of PEDV infection by affecting viral internalization rather than viral attachment to cells.In addition,a combination with other small molecule inhibitors of endosomal acidification enhanced the anti-PEDV effect of niclosamide in vitro.Taken together,these findings suggested that niclosamide is a novel antiviral agent that might provide a basis for the development of novel drug therapies against PEDV and other related pathogenic coronavirus infections.
基金Yang Hao received finacial support from the China Scholarship and Jilin Province Chinese Postdoctoral International Exchange Program(YJ20220406)Zili Gu,Zhenfeng Yu and Sen Ma received financial support from the China Scholarship Council,and Peter ten Dijke received funding from Cancer Genomics Centre NetherlandsTimo Schomann and Alireza Haghparast received funding from the European Commission,grants H2020-MSCA-RISE CANCER(777682)and H2020-WIDESPREAD-05-2017-Twinning SIMICA(852985).
文摘Dear Editor,Great progress has been made in the clinical use of photodynamic therapy(PDT)for the treatment of patients with superficial tumors[1].However,cancer recurrence and metastasis have limited the application of PDT in the treatment of solid tumors and advanced cancers.In this context,combining PDT with other complementary immunotherapy regimens may overcome these limitations of PDT[2].
文摘Background: Sodium benzoate (E 211) is widely used to delay yeast spoilage of acidic foods and beverages. Numerous cases of adverse reactions to benzoate hav e been recorded, but most of the studies that have been conducted lacked proper placebo controls or blinding. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine t he incidence of intolerance to sodium benzoate among subjects who experienced re peated episodes of acute urticaria/angio-oedema following the ingestion of a m eal or a product containing this substance. Methods: This was a retrospective st udy based on the analysis of data from patients reported to have experienced epi sodes of urticaria, with or without angio-oedema, after ingesting meals or pro ducts containing sodium benzoate. At the first visit to the outpatients clinic, a careful history was taken. Patients were then given the following diagnostic t ests: tests for IgE for common inhalant allergens and food allergens, and a doub le-blind, placebo-controlled challenge with sodium benzoate. Results: A tota l of 47 subjects were enrolled in the study; five (11% ) showed at least one re levant positive reaction to an IgE test for food allergy. Only one subject (2% ) had a reaction after the ingestion of 75 mg of sodium benzoate without an adve rse reaction to placebo. Conclusion: This study shows that the percentage of rep eated episodes of acute urticaria/angio-oedema reactions induced by sodium ben zoate is very low (2% ). In view of our results, we suggest that when faced wit h patients who have suffered adverse reactions that could be attributed to sodiu m benzoate, physicians should also carefully evaluate other possible causes.
基金This study was funded by the State Key Research Development Program of China(2016YFC1201902,2016YFC1200301)the Natural Science Foundation of China(81621005,81773492,81760607,81360413)the Program of Cultivation of Technologically Innovative Talents of Yunnan(2014HB093).
文摘Background:Pasteurella multocida is an important and old zoonotic pathogen worldwide which has an impressive host spectrum including numerous domestic and wild animals as well as birds,causing specific diseases or outbreak with great economic impact.It has never been reported that P.multocida can cause an epidemic in wild rodents.In June 5–17,2016,more than 1000 rodent deaths of an unknown cause quickly spread in the PuEr City,Yunnan province,southwestern China.Methods:The rodents in affected areas and outside of the epidemic areas were collected and screened for possible known pathogens including Yersinia pestis,rabies virus and hantavirus as well as other bacteria.The possible bacterial pathogens were isolated both by culture medium and by mouse inoculation in parallel.The isolates were identified by the Vitek GNI card and PCR assays for 16S rRNA genes.The pathogen strains were selected for whole genome sequencing analysis.Results:A total of 123 rodents were collected from 25 sample sites at affected area,among of which,all 119 dead rodents were negative for the pathogen under consideration except P.multocida,and all four live rodents were negative for P.multocida.In addition,480 rodents collected from other 23 counties outside of the epidemic area in Yunnan were negative for with P.multocida.A total of 14 strains of P.multocida(six directly isolated from the field rodents and eight from the experimental mice that were injected with the organ substrates from the dead rodents)belonged to serogroup A and serogroup F represented by 9 N and 20 N were identified in these epidemic areas.Whole genome sequencing revealed that the serogroup F strain shared 99%similarity to P.multocida Pm70 from chicken,but contained a 50 k bp insertion sequence.The serogroup A strain shared 95%similarity to P.multocida FDAARGOS_385 from a human patient,but contained four large structural differences.Histological abnormalities were identified in the livers,lungs,hearts and brains of the inoculated mice.Conclusions:The simultaneous occu
基金The Special Science Foundation (00jk207) of the Educational Committee of Shaanxi Province.
文摘Let {(Xi, Si, μi) : i ℃ N} be a sequence of probability measure spaces and (*Xi, L(*Si), L(*μi)) be the Loeb measure space with respect to (Xi, Si, μi) for i ℃ N. Let X =× Xi, S = ×Si,μ = ×μi. We prove that × L(*Si) CL(*S) and in embedding meaning.
基金This study was partially supported by three grants from the National Science Foundation:TICOLICHEN-The Costa Rican Lichen Biodiversity Inventory(DEB 0206125 to The Field MuseumPI Robert Lücking)+8 种基金Neotropical Epiphytic Microlichens-An Innovative Inventory of a Highly Diverse yet Little Known Group of Symbiotic Organisms(DEB 0715660 to The Field MuseumPI R.Lücking)Phylogenetic Diversity of Mycobionts and Photobionts in the Cyanolichen Genus Dictyonema,with Emphasis on the Neotropics and the Galapagos Islands(DEB 0841405 to George Mason UniversityPI J.LawreyCo-PIs:R.Lücking,P.Gillevet).The Verein der Freunde des Botanischen Gartens und Botanischen Museums Berlin-Dahlem e.V.(https://www.bgbm.org/de/BGBM/freunde/index.html)supported molecular sequencing work for specimens collected as part of the Pilotprojekt Kooperation mit dem Botanischen Garten Bogotá(BMBF,see below).The Universidad Distrital Francisco Jose´de Caldas,Bogota´,is thanked for the support to the lichen herbarium and the curatorial work of the UDBC collections.The Jardı´n Bota´nico de Bogota´Jose´Celestino Mutis organized field trips to Sumapaz,Pen˜a Blanca,and Pasquilla(Bogota´),by agreement with the Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin,partially financed through the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBFPilotprojekt Kooperation mit dem Botanischen Garten BogotáForderkennzeichen:01DN13030).The Universidad de los Andes,Bogota´,provided logistic support for field work in Chingaza.Fe´lix Fernandez,owner of El Secreto Private Reserve in Garagoa,Colombia,is thanked for providing access to the area.The Galapagos Lichen Inventory acknowledges support by successive science directors of the Charles Darwin Foundation(Alan Tye,Mark Gardener,Rodolfo Martinez,Ulf Hardter,and Noemi d’Ozouville)executive director Arturo Izurieta.Frank Bungartz and collaborators are further indebted to the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park(particular Galo Quezada and Victor Carrio´n,granting specimen export permits)This publi
文摘Following a large-scale phylogenetic study of the lichenized genus Cora(Basidiomycota:Agaricales:Hygrophoraceae),we formally describe 70 new species,honouring the seventieth birthday of David Leslie Hawksworth,one of the preeminent figures in mycology and lichenology in the past 50 years.Based on an updated phylogeny using the ITS fungal barcoding locus,we now recognize 189 taxa in a genus that until recently was considered to represent a single species;including this contribution,92 of these are formally recognized,including five taxa based on historical names or collections that have not been sequenced.Species of Cora can be recognized by a combination of morphological(size,colour,lobe configuration,surface hairs,hymenophore size and shape),anatomical(thallus thickness,cortex structure,photobiont type,hyphal papillae),and ecogeographical features(substrate,habitat,distribution),and a keytable allowing the identification of all accepted taxa is provided.The new species are:Cora accipiter Moncada,Madrin˜a´n&Lücking spec.nov.,C.applanata Moncada,Soto-Medina&Lücking spec.nov.,C.arachnodavidea Moncada,Dal Forno&Lücking spec.nov.,C.arborescens Dal Forno,Chaves&Lücking spec.nov.,C.arcabucana Moncada,C.Rodrı´guez&Lücking spec.nov.,C.aturucoa Lücking,Moncada&C.Vargas spec.nov.,C.auriculeslia Moncada,Ya´nez-Ayabaca&Lücking spec.nov.,C.barbifera Moncada,Patin˜o&Lücking spec.nov.,C.boleslia Lücking,E.Morales&Dal Forno spec.nov.,C.caliginosa Holgado,Rivas Plata&Perlmutter spec.nov.,C.campestris Dal Forno,Eliasaro&Spielmann spec.nov.,C.canari Nugra,Dal Forno&Lücking spec.nov.,C.caraana Lücking,Martins&Lucheta spec.nov.,C.casasolana Moncada,R.-E.Pe´rez&Lücking spec.nov.,C.caucensis Moncada,M.Gut.&Lücking spec.nov.,C.celestinoa Moncada,CabreraAmaya&Lücking spec.nov.,C.comaltepeca Moncada,R.-E.Pe´rez&Herrera-Camp.spec.nov.,C.corani Lücking,E.Morales&Dal Forno spec.nov.,C.corelleslia Moncada,A.Sua´rez-Corredor&Lücking spec.nov.,C.crispoleslia Moncada,J.Molina&Lücking spec.nov.,C.cuzcoensis Holgado,Rivas
基金supported by EU project INCAS "Integration of Nanoreactor and multisite CAtalysis for a Sustainable chemical production" (Grant agreement no: 245988)
文摘The investigation by SEM/TEM, porosity, and X-ray diffraction measurements of the graphitization process starting from amorphous carbon nanospheres, prepared by glucose carbonization, is reported. Aspects studied are the annealing temperature in the 750–1000 °C range, the type of inert carrier gas, and time of treatment in the 2–6 h range. It is investigated how these parameters influence the structural and morphological characteristics of the carbon materials obtained as well as their nanostructure. It is shown that it is possible to maintain after graphitization the round-shaped macro morphology, a high surface area and porosity, and especially a large structural disorder in the graphitic layers stacking, with the presence of rather small ordered domains. These are characteristics interesting for various catalytic applications. The key in obtaining these characteristics is the thermal treatment in a flow of N2. It was demonstrated that the use of He rather than N2 does not allow obtaining the same results. The effect is attributed to the presence of traces of oxygen, enough to create the presence of oxygen functional groups on the surface temperatures higher than 750 °C, when graphitization occurs. These oxygen functional groups favor the graphitization process.
文摘The purpose of the paper was to assess the frequency of secondary transmissions of primary pneumonic plague relative to the onset of fever.A simple backcalculation method was employed to estimate the frequency of secondary transmissions relative to disease-age.A likelihood-based procedure was taken using observed distributions of the serial interval(n = 177) and incubation period(n = 126).Furthermore,an extended model was developed to account for the survival probability of cases.The simple backcalculation suggested that 31. 0%(95%confidence intervals(CI):11.6,50.4) and 28.0%(95%CI:10.2,45.8) of the total number of secondary transmissions had occurred at second and third days of the disease,respectively,and more than four-fifths of the secondary transmission occurred before the end of third day of disease.The survivorship-adjusted frequency of secondary transmissions was obtained,demonstrating that the infectiousness in later stages of illness was not insignificant and indicates that the obtained frequencies were likely biased on underlying factors including isolation measures.In conclusion,the simple exercise suggests a need to implement countermeasures during pre-clinical stage or immediately after onset.Further information is needed to elucidate the finer details of the disease-age specific infectiousness.
文摘还记得初中数学课程里有乘法结合律,抽出公因数放到括弧外头,例如 AB+AC 的 A 是公因数,于是把它抽出,写成 A(B+C)。在数学上,这是个用作化简算式的概念。当然,学生不单要知道 AB+AC 可写成 AB+C,也应懂得倒过去,把 AB+C展开成 B+AC。括弧内的 B 与 C 是两个独立的个体。其实它们是有关系的。
文摘Background Endoscopic brush cytology is a promising surveillance technique for Barrett’s esophagus. However, there is a need for ancillary biomarkers to incr ease the sensitivity of cytology and to allow identification of patients at increased risk for disease progression. The aims of this study were to eval uate the feasibility of fluorescence in situ hybridization of endoscopic brush c ytology specimens and to determine if there are specific chromosomal changes in cytologic specimens from patients with cancer that are not present in patients w ithout dysplasia. Methods Archival cytology slides from 16 patients with Barrett ’s esophagus were studied: 8 negative for dysplasia and 8 positive for adenocar cinoma. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to detect two alterations: H ER-2 gene(17q11.2-q12) and 20q13.2 region amplification. Observations For 7 of 8 adenocarcinoma cases, there was amplification/aneusomy of at least one of the two analyzed regions by fluorescence in situ hybridization. None of the samples negative for dysplasia were abnormal for either of the two genomic regions stud ied.Conclusions Fluorescence in situ hybridization is feasible by using routine Barrett’s esophagus cytologic specimens. Differences in genomic makeup can be d etected in cells from patients negative for dysplasia and in those with adenocar cinoma.
文摘This research reports on potentiality in the solar chimney as an exhaust ventilation device through a hypothetical statement that convenient weather conditions exist on sub-humid warm climate to enhance the performance ofa SC （solar chimney）, in order to increase ventilation to dissipate metabolic heat from inhabitants of airtight buildings. The methodology used in this research integrates the use of simplified mathematical models that predict in a semi-empirical way a potential volume flow through estimation of kinetic power generation, by natural circulation and stack effect in a typical covered-plate air solar collector. The study was carried out during the warm month of April, an important warm season for Colima, where the prevailing wind is about 6.8 m/s, the average temperature of maximums and minimums oscillates between 15.4℃and 34.4 ℃ with average relative humidity of 65% according to national weather service. A scale model of the SC was installed on environmental chambers. The results showed that this device is capable of generating ventilation conditions around light breeze parameters near between 0.6 m/s and 1.5 m/s width, a better performance at day in 45% approximately than the night values, making ventilation rates up 0.24 ACH （air changes per hour） as average air change rate.
文摘Polycythemia vera is a rare chronic myeloproliferative disease. Its exceptional association with pregnancy can lead to severe complications. Antithrombotic treatment could prevent such adverse outcome. A patient with two previous pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia, was treated by hydroxyurea for polycythemia vera. She started a new unexpected gestation without this myelosuppressive treatment and the pregnancy was conducted uneventfully with low molecular weight heparin and low dose aspirin. Thrombotic complications required the reintroduction of hydroxyurea. Diagnosis of polycythemia vera during pregnancy is a very difficult task due to physiologic changes occurring during gestation. Adverse outcome including severe vascular complications can be a preclinical phase of the disease. An adequate therapy could prevent these complications.
