Baicalein exerts beneficial effects in lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary inflammation by modulating macrophage polarization and inhibiting pyroptosis.

The disruption of the immune system by viral attack is a major influencing factor in the lethality of COVID-19. Baicalein is one of the key effective compounds against COVID-19. The molecular mechanisms regarding the anti-inflammatory properties of Baicalein are still unclear. In this study, we established LPS-induced mice to elucidate the role of Baicalein in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) and its potential molecular mechanisms. In vivo experiments showed that Baicalein could significantly ameliorate LPS-induced acute lung injury and reduce proteinous edema in lung tissue. In addition, Baicalein inhibited M1 macrophage polarization, promote M2 macrophage polarization, and regulate inflammatory responses. Furthermore, Baicalein could inhibit the expression of protein molecules associated with pyroptosis and mitigate the lung tissue injury. In summary, we revealed the therapeutic effects of Baicalein in acute lung injury, providing the theoretical basis for its clinical application.

Characteristic Evaluation of Gas Chromatography with Different Detectors for Accurate Determination of Sulfur Hexafluoride.

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), which survives in the atmosphere for an extremely long period of time, is the most potent greenhouse gas regulated under the Kyoto Protocol. So, the accurate monitoring of atmospheric SF6 plays an important role in the study of the control policies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The instruments for SF6 measurement are typically calibrated using certified reference materials. The concentrations of the commercially available SF6 reference materials usually have a broad range, from 1 µmol/mol to 6000 µmol/mol. Some characteristics including sensitivity, linear range, relative standard deviation, and accuracy are crucial for the determination of SF6 in such a broad concentration range. Therefore, the selection of a proper detector for the accurate determination of SF6 with such a broad range is extremely important to establish a gas chromatography (GC) method for developing SF6 reference materials. In this paper, several typical GC methods with different detectors, including a thermal conductivity detector (TCD), a pulsed discharge helium ionization detector (PDHID), and a flame photometric detector (FPD), were carefully established for the accurate determination of SF6 with different concentrations. The results show that an FPD detector has a relatively narrow linearity range, thus a quadratic equation should be established for building a calibration curve. The PDHID and TCD have good linearity with coefficients of 1.0000 in the concentration range of 10-100 µmol/mol (using a PDHID), and 100-1000 µmol/mol (using a TCD), respectively. Further considering the measurement errors of indication results, the PDHID is suitable for SF6 measurement when the concentrations are below 100 µmol/mol, whereas the TCD is suitable for SF6 measurement when the concentrations are over 100 µmol/mol. These results provide useful guidance in choosing an appropriate GC detector for the accurate determination of SF6, which are especially very helpful for developing SF6 reference materials.

Serum proteomics identifies novel diagnostic biomarkers for asthma in preschool children.

Background: Asthma is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, reversible airway obstruction, and chronic airway inflammation. It is the most common chronic disease in childhood. However, the diagnosis of childhood asthma remains challenging, and there is an urgent need to develop new diagnostic methods. Methods: To identify biomarkers of asthma in children, we adopted the Orbitrap-based data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry proteomics method to analyze the serum proteomic signatures of children with acute asthma and convalescent children. Results: We identified 747 proteins in 46 serum samples and 50 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that distinguished between asthmatic and healthy children. Next, functional enrichment analysis of the DEPs was conducted, it was indicated that the DEPs were significantly enriched in immune-related and function terms and pathways. Furthermore, we performed statistical analysis and identified MMP14, ABHD12B, PCYOX1, LTBP1, CFHR4, APOA1, IGHG4, ANG and IGFALS proteins as the diagnostic biomarker candidates. Ultimately, a promising asthma diagnostic model for preschool children based on IGFALS was built and evaluated. The area under the curve (AUC) of the IGFALS model was 0.959. Conclusions: In this study, the DIA proteome strategy was used and the largest number of proteins of asthmatic children serum proteomics was identified. The proteomics results showed that the DEPs play the central role of the inflammation-immune mechanism in asthma pathogenesis, suggesting that these proteins may be used in asthma diagnosis, prognosis, or therapy, and suggested biomarkers for asthma of preschool children. In conclusion, our results provide insight into the pathophysiology of asthma. We believe that the diagnostic model will facilitate clinical decision-making regarding asthma in preschool children.

Single-Dose Rifapentine in Household Contacts of Patients with Leprosy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that a single dose of rifampin has protective effects against leprosy in close contacts of patients with the disease. Rifapentine was shown to have greater bactericidal activity against Mycobacterium leprae than rifampin in murine models of leprosy, but data regarding its effectiveness in preventing leprosy are lacking. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomized, controlled trial to investigate whether single-dose rifapentine is effective in preventing leprosy in household contacts of patients with leprosy. The clusters (counties or districts in Southwest China) were assigned to one of three trial groups: single-dose rifapentine, single-dose rifampin, or control (no intervention). The primary outcome was the 4-year cumulative incidence of leprosy among household contacts. RESULTS: A total of 207 clusters comprising 7450 household contacts underwent randomization; 68 clusters (2331 household contacts) were assigned to the rifapentine group, 71 (2760) to the rifampin group, and 68 (2359) to the control group. A total of 24 new cases of leprosy occurred over the 4-year follow-up, for a cumulative incidence of 0.09% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02 to 0.34) with rifapentine (2 cases), 0.33% (95% CI, 0.17 to 0.63) with rifampin (9 cases), and 0.55% (95% CI, 0.32 to 0.95) with no intervention (13 cases). In an intention-to-treat analysis, the cumulative incidence in the rifapentine group was 84% lower than that in the control group (cumulative incidence ratio, 0.16; multiplicity-adjusted 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.87; P = 0.02); the cumulative incidence did not differ significantly between the rifampin group and the control group (cumulative incidence ratio, 0.59; multiplicity-adjusted 95% CI, 0.22 to 1.57; P = 0.23). In a per-protocol analysis, the cumulative incidence was 0.05% with rifapentine, 0.19% with rifampin, and 0.63% with no intervention. No severe adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of leprosy among household contacts over 4 years was lower with single-dose rifapentine than with no intervention. (Funded by the Ministry of Health of China and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Chinese Clinical Trial Registry number, ChiCTR-IPR-15007075.).

Repeated inoculation of antimony resistant bacterium reduces antimony accumulation in rice plants.

Applying beneficial bacteria in rice rhizosphere to manage heavy metal behaviour in soil-plant system is a promising strategy. However, colonization/domination of exogenous bacteria in rhizosphere soils remains a challenge. In this study, a bacterium Ochrobactrum anthropi, which showed the potential of transforming soluble SbIII into Sb2O3 mineral, was repeatedly inoculated into the rice rhizosphere weekly throughout the rice growth period, and the colonization of this bacterium in rice rhizosphere soils and its effect on Sb accumulation in rice plants were investigated. Results showed that repeated inoculants changed the native bacterial community in rhizosphere soils in comparison with the control, but the inoculated O. anthropi was not identified as an abundant species. With weekly inoculation, the decrease in Sb in rice roots and straws was maintained throughout the rice growth period, with decrease percentages ranging from 36 to 49% and 33-35%. In addition, decrease percentages of Sb in husks and grains at the maturing stage obtained 34 and 37%, respectively. Furthermore, the XRD identified the formation of valentinite (Sb2O3) on rice root in inoculation treatment, and the decrease percentages in aqueous SbIII in rhizosphere were 53-100% through the growth period. It demonstrated that weekly inoculants performed their temporary activity of valentinite formation, and reduced Sb accumulation in rice plants efficiently. This study suggests that regardless of successful colonization, repeated inoculation of beneficial bacteria is an option to facilitate the positive effects of inoculated bacteria in the management of heavy metal behaviour.

High-performance vertical field-effect organic photovoltaics.

Limited by the inherent energy loss (Eloss) in carrier transport process, the device efficiency of organic solar cells shows inferior to traditional inorganic photovoltaic devices. Generally, molecular design, morphology optimization and interfacial engineering are usually required to alleviate Eloss. Here, vertical field-effect organic photovoltaic (VFEOPV) by integrating an bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) organic photovoltaic (OPV) with vertical field effect transistor (VFET) is invented, in which VFET generates a large, uneven, internal electric field, eliminating the requirement for driving force to dissociate excitons and prevents non-radiative recombination in OPV. In this way, the performance of solar cell can be well controlled by the gate voltage of VFET and the Eloss of VFEOPVs based on J71: ITIC system is dramatically reduced below 0.2 eV, significantly improving power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 10% to 18% under gate voltage of 0.9 V, which only causes negligible additional power consumption (~10-4mJ/cm2). Besides, the device also exhibits multi-functionality including transistor and phototransistors with excellent photodector performance. This work provides a new and general strategy to improve the OPV performance which is compatible with present optimization methods, and can be applied to improve PCE of other types of solar cells such as Perovskite and inorganic solar cells.

Study of the Effect of Cell Prestress on the Cell Membrane Penetration Behavior by Atomic Force Microscopy.

In recent years, atomic force microscopes have been used for cell transfection because of their high-precision micro-indentation mode; however, the insertion efficiency of the tip of AFM into cells is extremely low. In this study, NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells cultured on a flexible dish with micro-groove patterns were subjected to various substrate strains at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. It was found that the cell stiffness depends on the prestress of the cell membrane, and that the insertion rate of AFM tips into the cell membrane is proportional to the stiffness through the AFM indentation experiment. The finite element analysis proves that prestress increases the bending stiffness of the cytoskeleton, allowing it to better support the cell membrane, which realizes the stress concentration in the contact area between the AFM tip and the cell membrane. The results indicate that the prestress contributes to the mechanical properties of the cell and suggest that the insertion efficiency could be greatly improved with an increase of the prestress of the cell membrane.

Ultrasound-mediated piezoelectric nanoparticle modulation of intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system for rate control in atrial fibrillation.

Rate control is a cornerstone of atrial fibrillation treatment. Barium titanate nanoparticles (BTNPs) are piezoelectric nanomaterials that can generate local electromagnetic fields under ultrasound activation, stimulating nearby neuronal tissue. This study aimed to modulate the inferior right ganglionated plexus (IRGP) of the heart and reduce the ventricular rate during rapid atrial pacing (RAP)-induced atrial fibrillation using ultrasound-mediated BTNPs. Adult male beagles were randomly divided into a phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group (n = 6) and a BTNP group (n = 6). PBS or nanoparticles were injected into the IRGP of both groups before RAP. The biological safety of the material was evaluated according to electrophysiology recordings, thermal effects and level of inflammation. Compared to the PBS group, the BaTiO3 piezoelectric nanoparticle group had reduced ventricular rates in the sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation models after stimulating the IRGP by applying ultrasound. In addition, transient stimulation by BTNPs did not lead to sustained neuronal excitation in the IRGP. The activation of the BTNPs did not induce inflammation or thermal damage effects in the IRGP. Ultrasound-mediated BTNP neuromodulation can significantly reduce the ventricular rate by stimulating the IRGP. Thus, ultrasound-mediated BTNP neuromodulation is a potential therapy for atrial fibrillation rate control.

Subthreshold splenic nerve stimulation prevents myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion injury via neuroimmunomodulation of proinflammatory factor levels.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical outcomes following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury are strongly related to the intensity and duration of inflammation. The splenic nerve (SpN) is indispensable for the anti-inflammatory reflex. This study aimed to investigate whether splenic nerve stimulation (SpNS) plays a cardioprotective role in myocardial I/R injury and the potential underlying mechanism. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham group, I/R group, SpNS group, and I/R plus SpNS group. The highest SpNS intensity that did not influence heart rate was identified, and SpNS at this intensity was used as the subthreshold stimulus. Continuous subthreshold SpNS was applied for 1 h before ligation of the left coronary artery for 45 min. After 72 h of reperfusion, samples were collected for analysis. RESULTS: SpN activity and splenic concentrations of cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP)-related neurotransmitters were significantly increased by SpNS. The infarct size, oxidative stress, sympathetic tone, and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6, were significantly reduced in rats subjected to subthreshold SpNS after myocardial I/R injury compared with those subjected to I/R injury alone. CONCLUSIONS: Subthreshold SpNS ameliorates myocardial damage, the inflammatory response, and cardiac remodelling induced by myocardial I/R injury via neuroimmunomodulation of proinflammatory factor levels. SpNS is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of myocardial I/R injury.

Enhancing the mechanical strength and toughness of epoxy resins with linear POSS nano-modifiers.

Glass transition temperature (T g) always deteriorates while improving the strength of epoxy resins which inherently suffer from brittleness. Herein, novel linear polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)-epoxy nano-modifiers are synthesized with variable contents of POSS. The thermomechanical properties and chemical structure study of the POSS-epoxy indicates significant differences of the rigid POSS content in the linear nano-modifiers. By taking advantage of the synergistic effect of nanofillers and linear polymers, the modifiers disperse at the molecular level when POSS-epoxy is utilized as a co-curing agent for epoxy resins, allowing the applied force to be transferred into the polymer matrix. A good balance of T g, stiffness, and fracture toughness can be obtained. At 5 wt% of the nano-modifier, the resultant epoxy resins showed 27% enhancement in the Young's modulus relative to the neat epoxy. In addition, the T g and strength of epoxy thermosets are improved due to the increased cross-linking density, rough surface and tortuous path that resulted in good dispersion of energy during crack propagation.

Study on the Collection Efficiency of Bioaerosol Nanoparticles by Andersen-Type Impactors.

Airborne transmission is much more common than previously thought. Based on our knowledge about SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) infection, the aerosol transmission routes for all respiratory infections must be reassessed. Thus far, the COVID-19 outbreak has caused catastrophic public health and economic crises, posing a serious threat to the lives and health of people around the world and directing public attention toward the airborne transmission of pathogens. The novel coronavirus transmission in the form of nanoaerosols in a wider range hinders prevention and early warning efforts. As a classical bioaerosol sampler, the Andersen six-stage sampler is widely used in the collection and research of aerosol particles. In this study, the physical and biological collection efficiency of the six-stage sampler was explored by qPCR and colony counting method. Results showed that the physical collection efficiency reached more than 50% when the particle size was larger than 0.75 µm. However, the overall biological collection efficiency was only 0.25%. In addition, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry were used to detect the microbial state after sampling, and the results showed that the proportion of the collected live bacteria was less than 15% of the total. This result is of great significance not only for the application of the Andersen six-stage sampler in collecting nanosized bioaerosols, but also provides reference for the selection of subsequent detection technologies for effective collection.

Molecular and morphological evidence reveals a new fern species of Hymenasplenium (Aspleniaceae) from south and southwestern China.

Hymenaspleniumobtusidentatum, a new fern species of the H.excisum subclade of Hymenasplenium (Aspleniaceae) from south and southwestern China was described. Molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological observations of H.obtusidentatum and related species clearly indicated that this is a distinct taxonomic entity. Phylogenetically, H.obtusidentatum was confirmed to represent a diverging lineage in the H.excisum subclade of Hymenasplenium and was closely related to one lineage that includes accessions identified as H.obscurum, H.pseudobscurum and H.tholiformis. Morphologically, H.obtusidentatum can be distinguished by the combination of its lamina base truncate, stipe not shiny and with color of reddish brown to dark brown, and pinna marginal teeth that are not sharp, but blunt or rounded. A complete species description and comparison with related species in the H.excisum subclade were provided. The holotype of H.obtusidentatum was designated.

The effect of recombinant human interferon α1b treatment of infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infection on subsequent wheezing

Abstract Objective: To investigate the impact of recombinant human interferon α1b (rhIFNα1b) treatment in infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections on subsequent wheezing. Methods: The clinical data of infants (n = 540) with viral pneumonia, wheezy bronchitis, or bronchiolitis hospitalized in 19 Chinese hospitals from June 2009 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The parameters relevant to wheezing episodes within the last year were collected by telephone and questionnaires. The rhIFNα1b treatment group (n = 253) and control group (n = 287) were compared in terms of wheezing episodes within the last year. Moreover, the wheezing group (95 cases) and non-wheezing group (445 cases) were compared. Results: Out of 540 cases, 95 (17.6%) experienced wheezing episodes, 13.8% (35/253) cases treated with rhIFNα1b, and 20.9% (60/287) cases without rhIFNα1b experienced wheezing episodes within the last year. The rhIFNα1b treatment significantly improved wheezing episodes within the last year, compared with the control peers (p = 0.031). Single-factor regression showed statistically significant differences between the wheezing and non-wheezing groups in terms of age, rhIFNα1b use, childhood and family history of allergy, housing situation, and feeding history (p < 0.05). Binary logistic regression showed a childhood history of allergy (OR = 2.14, p = 0.004), no rhIFNα1b use (OR = 1.70, p = 0.028), and living in a crowded house (OR = 1.92, p = 0.012) might be risk factors of subsequent wheezing. Accordingly, breastfeeding (OR = 0.44, p = 0.008) and hospitalization age of 1-year-old (OR = 0.58, p = 0.024) were protective factors. Conclusions: Early use of rhIFNα1b in infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections and breastfeeding could prevent subsequent wheezing. Living in a crowded house could promote subsequent wheezing.

Oral Supplementation With Butyrate Improves Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via a Gut-Brain Neural Circuit.

Objective: Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by the intestinal microbiota, plays a protective role in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but the mechanisms involved in this process remain unelucidated. We aimed to explore the effect of butyrate on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through the gut-brain neural circuit. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham group (sham), I/R group (I/R), I/R+ butyrate group (butyrate), and I/R+ butyrate+ vagotomy group (vagotomy). The rats were treated with sodium butyrate for 4 weeks, and the gut-brain neural circuit was investigated by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. Results: Butyrate treatment significantly reduced the infarct size and decreased the expression of creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase myocardial isoenzyme (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) compared with the values found for the I/R group. In addition, the I/R-induced increases in inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were attenuated by butyrate. However, the above-mentioned protective effects were diminished by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. The RNA sequencing results also revealed that the butyrate-induced protective changes at the cardiac transcription level were reversed by vagotomy. An analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV) and the detection of norepinephrine (NE) showed that butyrate significantly inhibited the I/R-induced autonomic imbalance, but this inhibition was not observed in the vagotomy group. Butyrate treatment also suppressed the neural activity of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and superior cervical ganglion (SCG), and both of these effects were lost after vagotomy. Conclusions: Butyrate treatment significantly improves myocardial I/R injury via a gut-brain neural circuit, and this cardioprotective effect is likely mediated by suppression of the sympathetic nervous system.

End-to-End AUV Motion Planning Method Based on Soft Actor-Critic.

This study aims to solve the problems of poor exploration ability, single strategy, and high training cost in autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) motion planning tasks and to overcome certain difficulties, such as multiple constraints and a sparse reward environment. In this research, an end-to-end motion planning system based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed to solve the motion planning problem of an underactuated AUV. The system directly maps the state information of the AUV and the environment into the control instructions of the AUV. The system is based on the soft actor-critic (SAC) algorithm, which enhances the exploration ability and robustness to the AUV environment. We also use the method of generative adversarial imitation learning (GAIL) to assist its training to overcome the problem that learning a policy for the first time is difficult and time-consuming in reinforcement learning. A comprehensive external reward function is then designed to help the AUV smoothly reach the target point, and the distance and time are optimized as much as possible. Finally, the end-to-end motion planning algorithm proposed in this research is tested and compared on the basis of the Unity simulation platform. Results show that the algorithm has an optimal decision-making ability during navigation, a shorter route, less time consumption, and a smoother trajectory. Moreover, GAIL can speed up the AUV training speed and minimize the training time without affecting the planning effect of the SAC algorithm.

The effect of recombinant human interferon α1b treatment of infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infection on subsequent wheezing.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of recombinant human interferon α1b (rhIFNα1b) treatment in infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections on subsequent wheezing. METHODS: The clinical data of infants (n=540) with viral pneumonia, wheezy bronchitis, or bronchiolitis hospitalized in 19 Chinese hospitals from June 2009 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The parameters relevant to wheezing episodes within the last year were collected by telephone and questionnaires. The rhIFNα1b treatment group (n=253) and control group (n=287) were compared in terms of wheezing episodes within the last year. Moreover, the wheezing group (95 cases) and non-wheezing group (445 cases) were compared. RESULTS: Out of 540 cases, 95 (17.6%) experienced wheezing episodes, 13.8% (35/253) cases treated with rhIFNα1b, and 20.9% (60/287) cases without rhIFNα1b experienced wheezing episodes within the last year. The rhIFNα1b treatment significantly improved wheezing episodes within the last year, compared with the control peers (p=0.031). Single-factor regression showed statistically significant differences between the wheezing and non-wheezing groups in terms of age, rhIFNα1b use, childhood and family history of allergy, housing situation, and feeding history (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression showed a childhood history of allergy (OR=2.14, p=0.004), no rhIFNα1b use (OR=1.70, p=0.028), and living in a crowded house (OR=1.92, p=0.012) might be risk factors of subsequent wheezing. Accordingly, breastfeeding (OR=0.44, p=0.008) and hospitalization age of ≤1-year-old (OR=0.58, p=0.024) were protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: Early use of rhIFNα1b in infants hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections and breastfeeding could prevent subsequent wheezing. Living in a crowded house could promote subsequent wheezing.

Consideration of the Management of Pediatric Fever Clinics During the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Outbreak.

Since the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection in Wuhan City, China, pediatric cases have gradually increased. It is very important to prevent cross-infection in pediatric fever clinics, to identify children with fever in pediatric fever clinics, and to strengthen the management of pediatric fever clinics. According to prevention and control programs, we propose the guidance on the management of pediatric fever clinics during the nCoV pneumonia epidemic period, which outlines in detail how to optimize processes, prevent cross-infection, provide health protection, and prevent disinfection of medical staff. The present consideration statement summarizes current strategies on the pre-diagnosis, triage, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of 2019-nCoV infection, which provides practical suggestions on strengthening the management of pediatric fever clinics during the nCoV pneumonia epidemic period.

Asthma susceptible genes in children: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: During the last decade, a number of studies have evaluated the potential association between some genetic polymorphisms and childhood asthma risk, however, the results of published studies appear conflicts. The aim of the present study was to investigate association between genetic polymorphisms and pediatric asthma. METHODS: Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang, and Weipu database. Pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the associations. RESULTS: Fifty five case-control studies were finally included in this meta-analysis, including 17,971 pediatric asthma cases and 17,500 controls. Eighteen polymorphisms were identified, of which, 9 polymorphisms were found to be associated with asthma risk in overall populations: IL-13 +2044G/A, IL-4 -590C/T, ADAM33 F+1, ADAM33 T2, ADAM33 T1, ADAM33 ST+4,ORMDL3 rs7216389, VDR FokI, VDR TaqI. Furthermore, IL-13 +2044G/A, IL-4 -590C/T, ADAM33 T2, ADAM33 T1, VDR BsmI polymorphisms may cause an increased risk of asthma among Chinese children. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis found that IL-13 +2044G/A, IL-4 -590C/T, ADAM33 F+1, ADAM33 T2, ADAM33 T1, ADAM33 ST+4,ORMDL3 rs7216389, VDR FokI, and VDR TaqI polymorphisms might be risk factors for childhood asthma. Further study with large population and more ethnicities is needed to estimate these associations.

Multibody System-Based Adaptive Formation Scheme for Multiple Under-Actuated AUVs.

Underwater vehicles' coordination and formation have attracted increasing attention since they have great potential for real-world applications. However, such vehicles are usually under-actuated and with very limited communication capabilities. On the basis of the multibody system concept, a multiple autonomous underwater vehicle formation and communication link framework has been established with an adaptive and radial basis function (RBF) strategy. For acoustic communication, a packets transmission scheme with topology and protocol has been investigated on the basis of an acoustic communication framework and transmission model. Moreover, the cooperative localization errors caused by packet loss are estimated through reinforcement learning radial basis function neural networks. Furthermore, in order to realize formation cruising, an adaptive RBF formation scheme with magnitude reduced multi-layered potential energy functions has been designed on the basis of a time-delayed network framework. Finally, simulations and experiments have been extensively performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods.

Underactuated AUV Nonlinear Finite-Time Tracking Control Based on Command Filter and Disturbance Observer.

The three-dimensional (3D) path following problem of an underactuated autonomous underwater vehicle with ocean currents disturbances is addressed in this paper. Firstly, the motion equation under the ocean currents disturbance is established, and the dynamic model of 3D tracking error is constructed based on virtual guidance method. Then, a finite-time control scheme based on super-twisting observer and command filtered backstepping technology is proposed. We adopt super-twisting observer based on finite-time theory to observe the ocean currents disturbances for improving the system robust. A command filtered backstepping is proposed to replace the differential process in the conventional backstepping method for avoiding the differential expansion problem. The filter compensation loop is designed to ensure the accuracy of the filtered signal, and the anti-integration saturation link is designed considering the influence of integral saturation. Lyapunov stability theory is used to prove the stability of the underactuated AUV. Simulation studies are conducted to show the effectiveness and robustness of the controller.