Urban drone stations siting optimization based on hybrid algorithm of MILP and machine learning.

Urban environments, characterized by high population density and intricate infrastructures, are susceptible to a range of emergencies such as fires and traffic accidents. Optimal placement and distribution of fire stations and ambulance centers are thus imperative for safeguarding both life and property. An investigation into the distribution inefficiencies of emergency service facilities in selected districts of Chengdu reveals that imbalanced distribution of these facilities results in suboptimal response times during critical incidents. To address this challenge, a two-stage clustering method, incorporating X-means and K-means algorithms, is employed to identify optimal number and locations for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) fire stations and drone ambulance centers. A Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model is subsequently constructed and solved using the Gurobi optimization platform. Bayesian optimization-a machine learning technique-is exploited to elucidate the interplay between response speed and service capacity of these UAV-based emergency service stations under an optimized layout. Results affirm that integration of MILP and machine learning provides a robust framework for solving complex problems related to the siting and allocation of emergency service facilities. The proposed hybrid algorithm demonstrates substantial potential for enhancing emergency preparedness and response in urban settings.

Molecular epidemiology of Brucella abortus isolated from the environment in Ningxia Hui autonomous region, China.

Brucellosis is among the key zoonotic infectious diseases in China, and The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region represents a major endemic area, and it is one of the main causes of poverty in the region due to illness. In Ningxia, there is substantial research on Brucella melitensis, studies on the molecular epidemiology of Brucella abortus are notably scarce. Consequently, this study aims to undertake pathogenic isolation and molecular epidemiological research on Brucella abortus isolated from the environment in Ningxia, providing insights and evidence to advance the prevention and control measures for brucellosis in the region. Building on traditional pathogenic detection methods, this research employs whole-genome sequencing(WGS) techniques and bioinformatics software to conduct a phylogenetic comparison of Ningxia strains and strains of Brucella abortus from various geographical origins. The results indicate that four Brucella abortus strains are classified as biovar 3 and MLST type ST2. It is shown that the local strains were closer phylogenetic relationships with strains from Asian and European countries. The presence of Brucella abortus in certain environmental sectors of Ningxia indicates a risk of transmission from the environment to animals and subsequently to humans. In conclusion, the Brucella abortus exists in some farming environments in Ningxia, and exists for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of the disinfection effect of the farming environment to provide a basis for the forward movement of the gate of brucellosis prevention and control.

BrMYB116 transcription factor enhances Cd stress tolerance by activating FIT3 in yeast and Chinese cabbage.

Cd (cadmium) is a highly toxic heavy metal pollutant often present in soil and detrimentally impacting the production and quality of horticultural crops. Cd affects various physiological and biochemical processes in plants, including chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthesis, mineral uptake and accumulation, and hormonal imbalance, leading to cell death. The MYB family of transcription factors plays a significant role in plant response to environmental influences. However, the role of MYB116 in abiotic stress tolerance remains unclear. In this study, we reported that Chinese cabbage transcription factor BrMYB116 enhanced Cd stress tolerance in yeast. The expression level of BrMYB116 was increased by Cd stress in Chinese cabbage. Additionally, yeast cells overexpressing BrMYB116 showed improved Cd stress tolerance and reduced Cd accumulation. Moreover, we found that BrMYB116 interacted with facilitator of iron transport (FIT3) to enhance Cd stress tolerance. ChIP-qPCR results showed that ScFIT3 was activated through specific binding to its promoter. Additionally, the overexpression of ScFIT3 induced Cd stress tolerance and reduced Cd accumulation in yeast and Chinese cabbage. These results suggest new avenues for plant genomic modification to mitigate Cd toxicity and enhance the safety of vegetable production.

Genome-Wide Identification, Expression Analysis and Functional Study of DELLA Genes in Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis).

BACKGROUND: DELLA protein is a crucial factor which played pivotal roles in regulating numerous intriguing biological processes in plant development and abiotic stress responses. However, little is known about the function and information of DELLA protein in Chinese cabbage. METHODS: Using 5 DELLA gene sequences in Arabidopsis Thaliana as probes, 5 DELLA genes in Chinese cabbage were identified by Blast search in Chinese cabbage database (Brassica database (BRAD)). The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), ExPaSy, SWISS-MODEL, DNAMAN, MEGA 11, PlantCARE were used to identify and analyze the DELLA gene family of Chinese cabbage. Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The function of BraA10gRGL3 was verified by overexpression and phenotypic analysis of BraA10gRGL3 and yeast hybrid. RESULTS: In this study, 5 BraDELLAs homologous to Arabidopsis thaliana were identified and cloned based on the Brassica database, namely, BraA02gRGL1, BraA05gRGL2, BraA10gRGL3, BraA06gRGA and BraA09gRGA. All BraDELLAs contain the DELLA, TVHYNP, and GRAS conserved domains. Cis-element analysis revealed that the promoter regions of these 5 DELLA genes all contain light-responsive elements, TCT motif, I-box, G-box, and box 4, which are associated with GA signaling. Transcriptome analysis results proved that the expression of BraA02gRGL1, BraA05gRGL2, and BraA10gRGL3 in Y2 at different growth stages were lower than them in Y7, which is consistent with the phenotype that Y7 exhibited stronger stress tolerance than Y2. It is worth emphasizing that even through the overexpression of BraA10gRGL3-Y7 in Arabidopsis resulted in smaller leaf size and lower fresh weight compared to the wild type (WT) Arabidopsis: Columbia, a stronger response to abiotic stresses was observed in BraA10gRGL3-Y7. It indicated that BraA10gRGL3-Y7 can improve the stress resistance of plants by inhibiting their growth. Moreover, the yeast two-hybrid experiment confirmed that BraA10gRGL3-Y7 can interacted with BraA05gGID1a-Y7, BraA04gGID1b1, BraA09gGID1b3-Y2, and BraA06gGID1c, whereas BraA10gRGL3-Y2 cannot interact with any BraGID1. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, BraDELLAs play important role in plant development and response to abiotic stress. The differences in amino acid sequences between BraA10gRGL3-Y2 and BraA10gRGL3-Y7 may result in variations in their protein binding sites, thus affecting their interaction with the BraGID1 family proteins. This systematic analysis lays the foundation for further study of the functional characteristics of DELLA genes of Chinese cabbage.

Whole Genome-Sequencing and Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacillus anthracis from 2019-2023 in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.

BACKGROUND: Since 2019, the incidence of anthrax in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has increased significantly compared with previous years, so in this situation the anthrax in the Ningxia region not only had a detrimental impact on public health, but also inflicted significant economic repercussions. Therefore, we conducted a molecular epidemiological study of 20 strains from 2019-2023 isolates. This study investigated the origin of Bacillus anthracis and its genetic diversity. METHODS: We conducted canonical single-nucleotide polymorphisms (CanSNPs) typing and whole genome sequencing based on the extracted nucleic acid of Bacillus anthracis. Based on the whole genome drafts, we studied the genomic characteristics of 20 isolates. Meanwhile, we performed phylogenetic studies based on genome-wide core single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using MEGA's Maximum Likelihood (ML) method and core-genome-based multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) of the core genomes of these strains using BioNumerics' minimum spanning tree (MST) model. RESULTS: The 20 isolates were categorized into sub-lineages A.Br.001/002, and comparative genomic analyses of these strains with other isolates from other parts of the world showed that the strains from Ningxia were correlated with isolates from Europe, Indonesia, Georgia (USA), and Beijing (China). For the 20 isolates in Ningxia, the genetic relationship of the isolates isolated from the same year or region was relatively close. CONCLUSION: The A.Br.001/002 subgroup was the dominant endemic strain in Ningxia. The genetic relationship and phylogenesis between isolates from Ningxia and strains from Europe and Indonesia suggest that anthrax spread around the globe through ancient trade routes.

[Advances in the application of fecal microbiota transplantation for the treatment of nervous system diseases].

The intestinal microbiota exhibits a strong correlation with the function of the central nervous system, exerting influence on the host brain through neural pathways, immune pathways, and microbial metabolites along the gut-brain axis. Disorders in the composition of the intestinal microbial are closely associated with the onset and progression of neurological disorders, such as depression, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. It has been proven that fecal microbiota transplantation can improve symptoms in animal models of neurological diseases and clinical patients. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the composition and function of the human intestinal microbiota, as well as the intricate the relationship between the human intestinal microbiota and nervous system diseases through the gut-brain axis. Additionally, it delves into the research advancements and underlying mechanism of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of nervous system diseases. These findings offer novel insights and potential avenues for clinical interventions targeting nervous system diseases.

A deep learning-based 3D Prompt-nnUnet model for automatic segmentation in brachytherapy of postoperative endometrial carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To create and evaluate a three-dimensional (3D) Prompt-nnUnet module that utilizes the prompts-based model combined with 3D nnUnet for producing the rapid and consistent autosegmentation of high-risk clinical target volume (HR CTV) and organ at risk (OAR) in high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR BT) for patients with postoperative endometrial carcinoma (EC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: On two experimental batches, a total of 321 computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained for HR CTV segmentation from 321 patients with EC, and 125 CT scans for OARs segmentation from 125 patients. The numbers of training/validation/test were 257/32/32 and 87/13/25 for HR CTV and OARs respectively. A novel comparison of the deep learning neural network 3D Prompt-nnUnet and 3D nnUnet was applied for HR CTV and OARs segmentation. Three-fold cross validation and several quantitative metrics were employed, including Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Hausdorff distance (HD), 95th percentile of Hausdorff distance (HD95%), and intersection over union (IoU). RESULTS: The Prompt-nnUnet included two forms of parameters Predict-Prompt (PP) and Label-Prompt (LP), with the LP performing most similarly to the experienced radiation oncologist and outperforming the less experienced ones. During the testing phase, the mean DSC values for the LP were 0.96 ± 0.02, 0.91 ± 0.02, and 0.83 ± 0.07 for HR CTV, rectum and urethra, respectively. The mean HD values (mm) were 2.73 ± 0.95, 8.18 ± 4.84, and 2.11 ± 0.50, respectively. The mean HD95% values (mm) were 1.66 ± 1.11, 3.07 ± 0.94, and 1.35 ± 0.55, respectively. The mean IoUs were 0.92 ± 0.04, 0.84 ± 0.03, and 0.71 ± 0.09, respectively. A delineation time < 2.35 s per structure in the new model was observed, which was available to save clinician time. CONCLUSION: The Prompt-nnUnet architecture, particularly the LP, was highly consistent with ground truth (GT) in HR CTV or OAR autosegmentation, reducing interobserver variability and shortening treatment time.

Geographic information system-based multi-criteria decision-making analysis for investment assessment of wind-photovoltaic-shared energy storage power stations: a case study of Shanxi Province.

As the center of the development of power industry, wind-photovoltaic (PV)-shared energy storage project is the key tool for achieving energy transformation. This research seeks to construct a feasible model for investment appraisal of wind-PV-shared energy storage power stations by combining geographic information system (GIS) and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. Firstly, a comprehensive criteria system is established from the perspectives of orography, economy, resources, climate, and society, and the evaluation data is described using probabilistic linguistic term sets (PLTSs). Then, to avoid the weight deviation produced by the single weighting approach, a comprehensive weighting model including the best-worst method (BWM) and entropy weight method is provided to calculate the weights of criteria. Next, expert weights are calculated based on trust analysis. Finally, alternatives are ranked by the improved gained and lost dominance score (GLDS) method. To verify the validity of the model, an empirical investigation is carried out in Shanxi Province. The results show that the economy is the primary factor influencing the investment decision. Among all the projects approved by the government, alternative F4 located in Yanzhuang Town, Yuanping City is the best investment object. Furthermore, to illustrate the stability of the result, triple sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis are conducted in Shanxi Province. This study expands the application scope of GIS and MCDM method by first providing support for government and investors to identify optimal investment targets.

A community-based cross-sectional study of dietary composition and associated factors among tuberculosis patients in China.

To determine the dietary structure and its associated factors of tuberculosis (TB) patients in the community. This cross-sectional study analysed the dietary intake of 300 TB patients in two impoverished counties in China. Food intake was collected by using food frequency and two consecutive 24-h dietary review (24hdr) methods. The dietary composition and dietary structure of TB patients were compared with China's 2022 Dietary Reference Intake (DRIs) and the average reference value of dietary composition (ARC) in China in 2013. Binary logistic regression models were used to explore the factors associated with inadequate intake of animal food, insufficient protein and fat energy supply in patients with TB. The daily intake of various foods in TB patients was measured and the results were as follows: staple foods-median 372.12 g (interquartile range [IQR] 315.87 g); vegetables-median 200.00 g (IQR 205.55 g); fruits-median 20.22 g (IQR 36.82 g); animal foods-median 100.82 g (IQR 180.74 g); dairy products-median 0.00 g (IQR 0.00 g); nuts-median 17.10 g (IQR 29.75 g). The average daily intakes of vegetables, fruits, animal food, dairy products, soy and nuts were lower than those recommended by the DRIs (P < 0.01). Compared to women, men consumed more whole grains and mixed legumes, but less fruit. The dietary structures, including food and nutrient supply for energy, protein and fat, were significantly different in 300 patients compared with DRIs or ARC values. Inadequate rates of animal food intake were observed in 54.85% of men and 59.57% of women. Protein undersupply rates were 66.02% in men and 56.38% in women, while fat undersupply rates were 52.91% in men and 52.13% in women. The study revealed that being 18-49 years old, being the Han nationality, having less than 2 h of physical activity per day on average, and eating twice a day were risk factors for inadequate animal protein intake, protein energy deficiency and fat energy deficiency. TB patients from impoverished counties in China have inadequate intake of several food categories and insufficient protein and fat energy supply, correlating with multiple factors in socio-demographics, behavioral practices, and TB disease. To improve the nutritional status of TB patients, urgent public health actions, especially carrying out nutritional screening and evaluation once diagnosed, developing individualized nutritional support treatment plans, strengthening dietary nutritional health education and intervention, and advocating for enhanced nutritional support, should be taken.

Alginate microspheres encapsulating hox transcript antisense RNA siRNA regulate the Hedgehog-Gli1 pathway to alleviate epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors resistance.

The long non-coding RNA HOTAIR and the Hedgehog-Gli1 signaling pathway are closely associated with tumor occurrence and drug resistance in various cancers. However, their specific roles in the development of EGFR-TKIs resistance in non-small cell carcinoma remain unclear. To address the issue of EGFR-TKIs resistance, this study utilized the electrospray method to prepare sodium alginate microspheres encapsulating HOTAIR siRNA (SA/HOTAIR siRNA) and investigated its effects on RNA interference (RNAi) in the gefitinib-resistant cell line PC9/GR. Furthermore, the study explored whether HOTAIR could modulate EGFR-TKIs resistance through the Hedgehog-GLi1 signaling pathway. The experimental results showed that sodium alginate (SA) microspheres demonstrated excellent biocompatibility with high encapsulation efficiency and drug-loading capacity, effectively enhancing the silencing efficiency of siRNA. HOTAIR siRNA significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of PC9/GR cells while promoting apoptosis. Additionally, HOTAIR siRNA effectively suppressed tumor growth and downregulated the Hedgehog-GLi1 pathway and anti-apoptotic proteins, which were confirmed in animal experiments. Moreover, SA/HOTAIR siRNA exhibited superior inhibition of cellular and tumor functions compared to using HOTAIR siRNA alone. Clinical research findings indicated that monitoring the expression level of HOTAIR in the serum and urine samples of NSCLC patients before and after receiving EGFR-TKIs treatment can predict the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs to a certain extent. This study provided evidence that HOTAIR siRNA effectively mitigated the development of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs by inhibiting the Hedgehog-GLi1 pathway. Furthermore, it introduced a reliable and long-lasting drug delivery system for combating acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs.

PHB3 interacts with BRI1 and BAK1 to mediate brassinosteroid signal transduction in Arabidopsis and tomato.

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant hormones that are essential in plant growth and development. BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1) and BRI1 ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (BAK1), which are located on the plasma membrane, function as co-receptors that accept and transmit BR signals. PROHIBITIN 3 (PHB3) was identified in both BRI1 and BAK1 complexes by affinity purification and LC-MS/MS analysis. Biochemical data showed that BRI1/BAK1 interacted with PHB3 in vitro and in vivo. BRI1/BAK1 phosphorylated PHB3 in vitro. When the Thr-80 amino acid in PHB3 was mutated to Ala, the mutant protein was not phosphorylated by BRI1 and the mutant protein interaction with BRI1 was abolished in the yeast two-hybrid assay. BAK1 did not phosphorylate the mutant protein PHB3T54A . The loss-of-function phb3 mutant showed a weaker BR signal than the wild-type. Genetic analyses revealed that PHB3 is a BRI1/BAK1 downstream substrate that participates in BR signalling. PHB3 has five homozygous in tomato, and we named the closest to AtPHB3 as SlPHB3.1. Biochemical data showed that SlBRI1/SlSERK3A/SlSERK3B interacted with SlPHB3.1 and SlPHB3.3. The CRISPR-Cas9 method generated slphb3.1 mutant led to a BR signal stunted relatively in tomatoes. PHB3 is a new component of the BR signal pathway in both Arabidopsis and tomato.

Metabolite Profiling and Comparative Metabolomics Analysis of Jiaozhou Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) Planted in Different Areas.

BACKGROUND: Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) is one of the most popular vegetables in China because of its taste and health benefits. The area of production has obvious effects on the quality of Chinese cabbage. However, metabolite profiling and variations in different production areas are still unclear. METHODS: Here, widely targeted metabolite analyses based on the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) approach were performed to study the metabolite profiling of Chinese cabbage planted in the Jiaozhou and Jinan areas. RESULTS: A total of 531 metabolites were detected, of which 529 were present in the Chinese cabbage from both areas, 108 were found to be chemicals related to Chinese traditional medicine, and 79 were found to correspond to at least one disease. Chinese cabbage is rich in nutritious substances such as lipids, phenolic acids, amino acids and derivatives, nucleotides and derivatives, organic acids, flavonoids, glucosinolates, saccharides, alcohols, and vitamins. Comparative analysis showed that the metabolic profiles differed between areas, and 89 differentially altered metabolites (DAMs) were characterized. Of these, 78 DAMs showed higher levels in Jinan Chinese cabbage, whereas 11 had higher levels in Jiaozhou Chinese cabbage. Two metabolites, S-(Methyl)glutathione and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide, were unique in Jiaozhou Chinese cabbage. Based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, the DAMs were enriched into 23 pathways, of which tryptophan metabolism and thiamine metabolism were the significant enrichment pathways. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new insights into the metabolite profiles and production areas affecting the metabolite variations of Chinese cabbage, which will be useful for functional Chinese cabbage cultivation.

Prediction of the incidence trend of pulmonary tuberculosis in students of Shanxi Province / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To establish an autoregressive moving average model for the prediction of tuberculosis cases in students of Shanxi Province, and to provide scientific basic for the prevention and treatment of pulmonary tuerculosis among students.@*Methods@#A optimized ARIMA model was set up based on reported monthly data of TB in students from January 2010 to September 2019 in Shanxi Province by SAS 9.3 software, and the incidence trend in the next two years was predicted.@*Results@#The average reported rate of active TB in students of Shanxi Province was 23.52 per 100 000 from 2010 to 2019,showing an overall downward trend(χ2=999 980.46，P<0.01). The optimal model was SARIMA(0，1，1)(0，1，1)12,SBC=982.16. The fitted equation was (1-0.63B) (1-B12)Yt=(1-0.61B12)εt. The mean relative error was 19.35%,and the predicted incidence trend was consistent with the previous years,and the peak was from March to May.@*Conclusion@#Substantial progress has been made in student TB prevention of Shanxi Province. The ARIMA product season model is suitable for forecasting the TB incidence in students,so as to provide scientific guidance for its early prevention and control.