Structural Health Monitoring Design and Performance Evaluation of a Middle-Span Bridge.

Structural health monitoring (SHM) has attracted significant attention over the past two decades due to its ability to provide real-time insight into the condition of structures. Despite the development of several SHM systems for long-span bridges, which play a crucial role in the assessment of these structures, studies focusing on short- or middle-span bridges remain scarce. This research paper presents an efficient and practical bridge monitoring and warning system established on a middle-span bridge, a key crossroad bridge located in Shenzhen. The monitoring system consists of sensors and measuring points that collect a substantial amount of data, enabling the close monitoring of various operational indicators to facilitate the early detection of threshold exceedances. Based on this system, the subtle condition of the bridge can be evaluated, and the operational condition of the bridge can be studied through the comparative analysis of the collected data. Over four months of monitoring, data including the strain and creep of the main beam, the strain and settlement of piers and the crack width of the bridge body are observed. Furthermore, the real-time operational status of the bridge is analyzed and evaluated through the combination of the collected data and the structural finite element model.

Vibration Reduction and Explosion Control Investigation for an Ultra-Shallow Buried Tunnel under Crossing Buildings Based on HHT Analysis.

With the rapid development of underground space utilization, the excavation of new tunnels with ultra-shallow under crossing buildings using the drilling and blasting method is gradually increasing. The blasting vibration will undoubtedly affect the surrounding buildings. Reducing the impact of blasting vibration on ground buildings has become an important technical challenge faced by tunnel blasting technicians. The inlet end of the Xi'an-Chengdu High-Speed Railway Xiannvyan Tunnel passes below a village through an ultra-shallow buried section; as a result, blasting vibration control is a major concern. A design scheme for a 0.6 m footage in tunnel was proposed and verified through field tests. A 0.8 m footage scheme and 1.8 m footage millisecond interference vibration reduction scheme were proposed, respectively. Based on the HHT analysis, by comparing the surface vibration velocities and instantaneous energy obtained from the millisecond delay detonation of cutting holes and the detonation of different charging schemes, we found that the free surface, mass of single dynamite charges, and tunnel burial depth had significant influences on the surface vibration.

Complete chloroplast genome sequences of Myristicaceae species with the comparative chloroplast genomics and phylogenetic relationships among them.

BACKGROUND: Myristicaceae was widly distributed from tropical Asia to Oceania, Africa, and tropical America. There are 3 genera and 10 species of Myristicaceae present in China, mainly distributed in the south of Yunnan Province. Most research on this family focuses on fatty acids, medicine, and morphology. Based on the morphology, fatty acid chemotaxonomy, and a few of molecular data, the phylogenetic position of Horsfieldia pandurifolia Hu was controversial. RESULTS: In this study, the chloroplast genomes of two Knema species, Knema globularia (Lam.) Warb. and Knema cinerea (Poir.) Warb., were characterized. Comparing the genome structure of these two species with those of other eight published species, including three Horsfieldia species, four Knema species, and one Myristica species, it was found that the chloroplast genomes of these species were relatively conserved, retaining the same gene order. Through sequence divergence analysis, there were 11 genes and 18 intergenic spacers were subject to positive selection, which can be used to analyze the population genetic structure of this family. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all Knema species were clustered in the same group and formed a sister clade with Myristica species support by both high maximum likelihood bootstrap values and Bayesian posterior probabilities; among Horsfieldia species, Horsfieldia amygdalina (Wall.) Warb., Horsfieldia kingii (Hook.f.) Warb., Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr. and Horsfieldia tetratepala C.Y.Wu. were grouped together, but H. pandurifolia formed a single group and formed a sister clade with genus Myristica and Knema. Through the phylogenetic analysis, we support de Wilde' view that the H. pandurifolia should be separated from Horsfieldia and placed in the genus Endocomia, namely Endocomia macrocoma subsp. prainii (King) W.J.de Wilde. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide a novel genetic resources for future research in Myristicaceae and provide a molecular evidence for the taxonomic classification of Myristicaceae.

Molecular Mechanism of Chloramphenicol and Thiamphenicol Resistance Mediated by a Novel Oxidase, CmO, in Sphingomonadaceae.

Antibiotic resistance mediated by bacterial enzyme inactivation plays a crucial role in the degradation of antibiotics in the environment. Chloramphenicol (CAP) resistance by enzymatic inactivation comprises nitro reduction, amide bond hydrolysis, and acetylation modification. However, the molecular mechanism of enzymatic oxidation of CAP remains unknown. Here, a novel oxidase gene, cmO, was identified and confirmed biochemically. The encoded CmO oxidase could catalyze the oxidation at the C-1' and C-3' positions of CAP and thiamphenicol (TAP) in Sphingobium sp. strain CAP-1. CmO is highly conserved in members of the family Sphingomonadaceae and shares the highest amino acid similarity of 41.05% with the biochemically identified glucose methanol choline (GMC) oxidoreductases. Molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis analyses demonstrated that CAP was anchored inside the protein pocket of CmO with the hydrogen bonding of key residues glycine (G) 99, asparagine (N) 518, methionine (M) 474, and tyrosine (Y) 380. CAP sensitivity tests demonstrated that the acetyltransferase and CmO could enable a higher level of resistance to CAP than the amide bond-hydrolyzing esterase and nitroreductase. This study provides a better theoretical basis and a novel diagnostic gene for understanding and assessing the fate and resistance risk of CAP and TAP in the environment. IMPORTANCE Rising levels of antibiotic resistance are undermining ecological and human health as a result of the indiscriminate usage of antibiotics. Various resistance mechanisms have been characterized-for example, genes encoding proteins that degrade antibiotics-and yet, this requires further exploration. In this study, we report a novel gene encoding an oxidase involved in the inactivation of typical amphenicol antibiotics (chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol), and the molecular mechanism is elucidated. The findings provide novel data with which to understand the capabilities of bacteria to tackle antibiotic stress, as well as the complex function of enzymes in the contexts of antibiotic resistance development and antibiotic removal. The reported gene can be further employed as an indicator to monitor amphenicol's fate in the environment, thus benefiting risk assessment in this era of antibiotic resistance.

Analysis of Structural Health Monitoring Data with Correlated Measurement Error by Bayesian System Identification: Theory and Application.

Measurement error is non-negligible and crucial in SHM data analysis. In many applications of SHM, measurement errors are statistically correlated in space and/or in time for data from sensor networks. Existing works solely consider spatial correlation for measurement error. When both spatial and temporal correlation are considered simultaneously, the existing works collapse, as they do not possess a suitable form describing spatially and temporally correlated measurement error. In order to tackle this burden, this paper generalizes the form of correlated measurement error from spatial correlation only or temporal correlation only to spatial-temporal correlation. A new form of spatial-temporal correlation and the corresponding likelihood function are proposed, and multiple candidate model classes for the measurement error are constructed, including no correlation, spatial correlation, temporal correlation, and the proposed spatial-temporal correlation. Bayesian system identification is conducted to achieve not only the posterior probability density function (PDF) for the model parameters, but also the posterior probability of each candidate model class for selecting the most suitable/plausible model class for the measurement error. Examples are presented with applications to model updating and modal frequency prediction under varying environmental conditions, ensuring the necessity of considering correlated measurement error and the capability of the proposed Bayesian system identification in the uncertainty quantification at the parameter and model levels.

Transcriptomics integrated with widely targeted metabolomics reveals the cold resistance mechanism in Hevea brasiliensis.

The rubber tree is the primary source of natural rubber and is mainly cultivated in Southeast Asian countries. Low temperature is the major abiotic stress affecting the yield of the rubber tree. Therefore, uncovering the cold resistance mechanism in the rubber tree is necessary. The present study used RNA-sequencing technology and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to analyze the transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in two rubber tree clones with different cold resistance capacities (temperature-sensitive Reyan 8-79 and cold-resistant Yunyan 77-4) at 0 h, 2 h, 6 h, and 20 h of exposure to 4°C. Independent analysis of the transcriptome and metabolitome showed that under prolonged low-temperature treatment, Yunyan 77-4 expressed more genes involved in regulating enzyme activity, changing cell permeability, and synthesizing significant metabolites, such as flavonoids and amino acids, than Reyan 8-79. The KEGG annotation and enrichment analysis identified arginine metabolism and biosynthesis of flavonoids as the major pathway associated with cold resistance. Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis showed that the increase in the expression of genes modulated flavonoid biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, and anthocyanins biosynthesis, resulting in higher levels of metabolites, such as naringenin chalcone, apigenin, dihydroquercetin, cyanidin 3-glucoside, L-arginosuccinate, N-acetyl-ornithine, ornithine, and N-acetyl-glutamate, in Yunyan 77-4 than in Reyan 8-79 after prolonged low-temperature treatment. Phylogenetic analysis identified the genes, such as CHS (gene356) and F3H (gene33147) of flavonoid biosynthesis and NAGS (gene16028, gene33765), ArgC (gene2487), and ASS (gene6161) of arginine biosynthesis were the key genes involved in the cold resistant of rubber tree. Thus, the present study provides novel insights into how rubber clones resist cold and is a valuable reference for cold-resistance breeding.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Knema elegans (Myristicaceae).

Knema elegans is a member of Myristicaceae. The K. elegans chloroplast genome is found to be 155,691 bp in length and has a base composition of A (30.02%), G (19.31%), C (19.89%), and T (30.78%). The genome contained two short inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions (48,122 bp) which were separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region (86,883 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (20,686 bp). The chloroplast genome has 85 protein-coding genes, 27 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Further, complete chloroplast sequence of K. elegans was aligned together with two species of Myristicaceae and five basal angiosperms species for which the complete chloroplast sequence have been reported. This complete chloroplast genome will provide valuable information for the development of DNA markers for future species resource development and phylogenetic analysis of K. elegans.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Knema conferta (Myristicaceae).

Knema conferta is a member of Myristicaceae. The K. conferta chloroplast genome is found to be 155,744 bp in length and has a base composition of A (30.02%), G (19.30%), C (19.90%), and T (30.78%). The genome contained two short inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions (48,052 bp) which were separated by a large single copy (LSC) region (86,926 bp) and a small single copy (SSC) region (20,770 bp). The genome encoded a total of 128 unigenes, including 89 protein-coding genes, 31 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Further, complete chloroplast sequence of K. conferta was aligned together with 2 species of Knema and 5 basal angiosperms species which have reported the complete chloroplast sequence. This complete chloroplast genome will provide valuable information for the development of DNA markers for future species resource development and phylogenetic analysis of K. conferta.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Knema linifolia (Myristicaceae).

Knema linifolia is a member of Myristicaceae. The K. linifolia chloroplast genome is found to be 155,754 bp in length and has a base composition of A (30.02%), G (19.30%), C (19.89%), and T (30.79%). The genome contained two short inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions (48,080 bp) which were separated by a large single copy (LSC) region (86,991 bp) and a small single copy (SSC) region (20,683 bp). The chloroplast genome has 89 protein-coding genes, 31 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Further, complete chloroplast sequence of K. linifolia was aligned together with 2 species of Knema and 5 basal angiosperms species which have reported the complete chloroplast sequence. This complete chloroplast genome will provide valuable information for the development of DNA markers for future species resource development and phylogenetic analysis of K. linifolia.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Horsfieldia amygdalina (Myristicaceae).

Horsfieldia amygdalina is a member of Myristicaceae. The H. amygdalina chloroplast genome is found to be 155,683 bp in length and has a base composition of A (29.99%), G (19.32%), C (19.92%), and T (30.77%). The genome contained two short inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions (37,754 bp) which were separated by a large single copy (LSC) region (86,931 bp) and a small single copy (SSC) region (30,998 bp). The genome encodes 121 unique genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 27 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Further, complete chloroplast sequence of H. amygdalina was aligned together with Horsfieldia pandurifolia, Myristica yunnanensis and other Magnoliales and basal angiosperms species which have reported the complete chloroplast sequence. This complete chloroplast genome will provide valuable information for the development of DNA markers for future species resource development and phylogenetic analysis of H. amygdalina.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Horsfieldia kingii (Myristicaceae).

Horsfieldia kingii is a member of Myristicaceae. The H. kingii chloroplast genome is found to be 155,655 bp in length and has a base composition of A (30.03%), G (19.52%), C (19.72%), and T (30.73%). The genome contained two short inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions (48,052 bp) which were separated by a large single copy (LSC) region (86,912 bp) and a small single copy (SSC) region (20,691 bp). The genome encodes 123 unique genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 27 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Further, complete chloroplast sequence of H. kingii was aligned together with other 2 species of Myristicaceae and other 5 basal angiosperms species which have reported the complete chloroplast sequence. This complete chloroplast genome will provide valuable information for the development of DNA markers for future species resource development and phylogenetic analysis of H. kingii.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Knema furfuracea (Myristicaceae).

Knema furfuracea is a member of Myristicaceae. The K. furfuracea chloroplast genome is found to be 154,527 bp in length and has a base composition of A (29.99%), G (19.31%), C (19.92%), and T (30.78%). The genome contained two short inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions (48,110 bp) which were separated by a large single copy (LSC) region (86,188 bp) and a small single copy (SSC) region (20,229 bp). The chloroplast genome has 87 protein-coding genes, 27 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Further, complete chloroplast sequence of K. furfuracea was aligned together with two species of Myristicaceae and five basal angiosperms species which have reported the complete chloroplast sequence. This complete chloroplast genome will provide valuable information for the development of DNA markers for future species resource development and phylogenetic analysis of K. furfuracea.

Identification of collaboration patterns of dysfunctional pathways in breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women. We aimed to illuminate the molecular dysfunctional mechanisms of BC progression. The mRNA expression profile of BC GSE15852 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database, including 43 normal samples and 43 cancer samples. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BC were screened using the t-test by Benjamin and Hochberg method. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of the selected DEGs were enriched using Hypergeomeric distribution model. In addition, functional similarity network among the enriched pathways was constructed to further analyze the collaboration of these pathways. We found 848 down-regulated DEGs were associated with 16 significant dysfunctional pathways, including PPAR signaling fatty acid metabolism, and 1584 up-regulated DEGs were related to 6 significant dysfunctional pathways, like cell cycle, protein export, and antigen processing and presentation in BC samples. Crosstalk network analysis of pathways indicated that pyruvate metabolism, propanoate metabolism, and glycolysis gluconeogenesis were the pathways with closest connections with other pathways in BC. In addition, other antigen processing and presentation, including 19 DEGs; PPAR signaling pathway, including 18 DEGs; and pyruvate metabolism pathway, including 13 DEGs were further analyzed. Our results suggested that dysfunctional of significant pathways can greatly affect the progression of BC. Several significant disorder pathways were enriched in our comprehensive study. They may provide guidelines to explore the dysfunctional mechanism of BC progression.

Estrogen increases secretion of stromal cell derived factor-1 in human breast cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: Stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is closely related to the biological characteristics of breast cancer. The aim of this article is to investigate if estrogen affects the biological characteristics of breast cancer via affecting secretion of SDF-1. METHODS: The breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 used in this study were divided into control group, estrogen group and estrogen plus estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist group. These groups were treated with different concentrations of 17-ß estradiol or the same concentration of 17-ß estradiol for different times, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were performed. RESULTS: Secretion of SDF-1 was detected in the cell basal medium of MCF-7. When adding a high physiological concentrations of 17-ß estradiol (10(-7) mol/L), the levels of SDF-1 secretion achieved a peak at 2 h and it was 6 times of control group (1823.16 ± 325.18 pg/ml comparing to 308.23 ± 9.23 pg/ml, P < 0.01). However, this effect could be eliminated by the pure estrogen antagonist ICI182 or ICI780. The SDF-1 mRNA levels were consistent with the determined SDF-1 protein levels. At the time point of 2 h, for the 10(-7) mol/L group, the SDF-1 mRNA expression levels were higher than the antagonist group, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that secretion of SDF-1 can be increased by the physiological concentrations of estrogen mainly through regulation of estrogen receptor.

Prevalences of and risk factors for biliary stones and gallbladder polyps in a large Chinese population.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the prevalences of and risk factors associated with the development of gallbladder stones and polyps in a large Chinese population. METHODS: Prevalences of and risk factors for biliary stones and gallbladder polyps were retrospectively investigated among subjects who underwent a general check-up at the Health Screening Centres of Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing Charity Hospital between January 2007 and June 2010. RESULTS: A total of 60,064 people were enrolled in the study. Overall prevalences of biliary stones and gallbladder polyps were 4.2% (n= 2527) and 6.9% (n= 4119), respectively. Risk factors associated with increased odds ratios (ORs) for the development of biliary stones were female gender (OR = 1.51), age ≥ 50 years (OR = 2.09), history of hypertension (OR = 1.37), thickened gallbladder wall (cholecystitis) (OR = 1.98), fasting blood glucose ≥ 6.10 mmol/l (OR = 1.27), body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m(2) (OR = 1.25), systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg (OR = 1.31) and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg (OR = 1.44). Factors associated with gallbladder polyps were female gender (OR = 0.66), thickened gallbladder wall (OR = 2.09), negativity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and positivity for hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) (OR = 2.61), and positivity for both HBsAg and anti-HBc (OR = 3.21). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences of biliary stones and gallbladder polyps among Chinese people are similar to those reported for other populations. Biliary stones appear to be associated with female gender, age, obesity, blood glucose, blood pressure and cholecystitis. Male gender, hepatitis B virus infection and cholecystitis were strong risk factors for the formation of gallbladder polyps.