Compressive Strength Prediction of Rubber Concrete Based on Artificial Neural Network Model with Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm.

Conventional neural networks tend to fall into local extremum on large datasets, while the research on the strength of rubber concrete using intelligent algorithms to optimize artificial neural networks is limited. Therefore, to improve the prediction accuracy of rubber concrete strength, an artificial neural network model with hybrid algorithm optimization was developed in this study. The main strategy is to mix the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, using the SA algorithm to compensate for the weak global search capability of the PSO algorithm at a later stage while changing the inertia factor of the PSO algorithm to an adaptive state. For this purpose, data were first collected from the published literature to create a database. Next, ANN and PSO-ANN models are also built for comparison while four evaluation metrics, MSE, RMSE, MAE, and R2, were used to assess the model performance. Finally, compared with empirical formulations and other neural network models, the result shows that the proposed optimized artificial neural network model successfully improves the accuracy of predicting the strength of rubber concrete. This provides a new option for predicting the strength of rubber concrete.

Felsic volcanism as a factor driving the end-Permian mass extinction.

The Siberian Traps large igneous province (STLIP) is commonly invoked as the primary driver of global environmental changes that triggered the end-Permian mass extinction (EPME). Here, we explore the contributions of coeval felsic volcanism to end-Permian environmental changes. We report evidence of extreme Cu enrichment in the EPME interval in South China. The enrichment is associated with an increase in the light Cu isotope, melt inclusions rich in copper and sulfides, and Hg concentration spikes. The Cu and Hg elemental and isotopic signatures can be linked to S-rich vapor produced by felsic volcanism. We use these previously unknown geochemical data to estimate volcanic SO2 injections and argue that this volcanism would have produced several degrees of rapid cooling before or coincident with the more protracted global warming. Large-scale eruptions near the South China block synchronous with the EPME strengthen the case that the STLIP may not have been the sole trigger.

Simultaneous Infection of the Skin Surface and Dermal Tissue with Two Different Fungus Mimicking Pyoderma Gangrenosum: A Case Report.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection driven by subphylum Mucormycotina. Cutaneous mucormycosis is the third most common presentation of mucormycosis, and its characterized presentation is an indurated plaque that rapidly evolves to necrosis. Trichophyton rubrum is one of the most common dermatophytes that mainly cause superficial infections and seldom induce deep infections. The present report presents a case of cutaneous fungal infection, in which two kinds of fungus were isolated, and the skin lesion mimicked pyoderma gangrenosum. Trichophyton rubrum was isolated from the crust and hyphae of subphylum Mucormycotina were found in dermal tissue. The irregular systemic and topical use of steroid therapy is the possible cause of the mixed fungal infection in this patient, suggesting the importance of regular steroid therapy.

A Novel Mutation in the Pyrin Domain of the NOD-like Receptor Family Pyrin Domain Containing Protein 3 in Muckle-Wells Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is a group of rare, heterogeneous autoinflammatory disease characterized by interleukin (IL)-1ß-mediated systemic inflammation and clinical symptoms involving skin, joints, central nervous system, and eyes. It encompasses a spectrum of three clinically overlapping autoinflammatory syndromes including familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), and neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease. CAPS is associated with gain-of-function missense mutations in NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), the gene encoding NLRP3. Moreover, most mutations leading to MWS occurred in exon 3 of NLRP3 gene. Here, we reported a novel mutation occurred in exon 1 of NLRP3 gene in an MWS patient and attempted to explore the pathogenic mechanism. METHODS: Genetic sequence analysis of NLRP3 was performed in an MWS patient who presented with periodic fever, arthralgia, and multiform skin lesions. NLRP3 was also analyzed in this patient's parents and 50 healthy individuals. Clinical examinations including X-ray examination, skin biopsy, bone marrow aspiration smear, and blood test of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum levels of IL-1ß, immunoglobulin E (IgE), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and extractable nuclear antigen were also analyzed. The protein structure of mutant NLRP3 inflammasome was calculated by SWISS-MODEL software. Proteins of wild type and mutant components of NLRP3 inflammasome were expressed and purified, and the interaction abilities between these proteins were tested by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay. RESULTS: X-ray examination showed no abnormality in the patient's knees. Laboratory tests indicated an elevation of CRP (233.24 mg/L) and ESR (67 mm/h) when the patient had fever. Serum IL-1ß increased to 24.37 pg/ml, and serum IgE was higher than 2500.00 IU/ml. Other blood tests were normal. Bone marrow aspiration smear was normal. A novel point mutation c.92A>T in exon 1 of NLRP3 gene was identified, which caused a p.D31V mutation in pyrin domain (PYD) of NLRP3. SPR assay showed that this point mutation may strengthen the interaction between the PYD of NLRP3 and the PYD of the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein. The mutation c.92A>T in exon 1 of the NLRP3 gene was not found in the patient's parents and 50 healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The mutation c.92A>T in exon 1 of the NLRP3 gene is a novel mutation associated with MWS. The p.D31V mutation might promote the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and induce MWS in this patient.

White-opaque Switching in Different Mating Type-like Locus Gene Types of Clinical Candida albicans Isolates.

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans (C. albicans) can become a pathogen causing superficial as well as life-threatening systemic infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Many phenotypic attributes contribute to its capacity to colonize human organs. In our study, 93 C. albicans isolates from patients of various candidiasis in a hospital of China were surveyed. We aimed to investigate the white-opaque (WO) switching competence, drug sensitivity, and virulence of mating type-like (MTL) a/α isolates. METHODS: Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene and the MTL configuration were detected in all the isolates by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. White/opaque phenotype and doubling time of cell growth were determined. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of antifungal agent were measured using broth microdilution method. RESULTS: Sixty-four isolates (69.6%) were classified to serotype A, 19 (20.6%) to serotype B, and 9 (9.8%) to serotype C. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis showed that these isolates were divided into four different subgroups of ITS genotypes. Most of our clinical isolates were MTL a/α type, while 6.8% remained MTL a or MTLα type. The frequency of opaque phenotype was 71.0% (66 isolates). Following the guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M27-A3, all isolates were susceptible to caspofungin and a few (0.6-3.2%) of them showed resistance against amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole. CONCLUSIONS: From these analyses, there were comparatively more C. albicans strains classified into serotype B, and the frequency of opaque phase strains was significant in the clinical isolates from China. Genetic, phenotypic, or drug susceptibility patterns were not significantly different from previous studies. MTL a/α isolates could also undergo WO switching which facilitates their survival.

Microbiological characteristics of medically important Trichosporon species.

Trichosporon species are opportunistic pathogens associated with a high mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Disseminated trichosporonosis is uncommon but reports are increasing. In this study, using 16 stock clinical isolates of suspected Trichosporon species and 4 known Trichosporon strains, we investigated the morphology, physio-biochemistry, molecular biology and antifungal susceptibility characteristics of these Trichosporon spp. and discovered that ITS sequence-based identification is a rapid and accurate identification alternative to most phenotypic or physio- biochemical methods. In vitro antifungal susceptibility tests showed high amphotericin B, itraconazole and terbinafine MIC value in these Trichosporon strains.

Structure and Function of a Novel Silencer in 5' Flanking Distal Region of Human beta Globin Gene.

A novel silencer fragment(310 bp) was recently discovered and identified to locate between -2 132 bp and -1 822 bp upstream from the cap site of beta-globin gene by gel retardation assay and luciferase reporter gene expression analysis. DNA footprinting assays were performed to determine the interaction between its DNA sequence and binding proteins from the nuclear extract of Hela cells. The results showed that there were two nuclear protein binding sites in thissilencer, one was the -2 017--2 011 bp sequence CTTCCGC" and the other was the -2 006--1 997 bp sequence "CACTTTATTT". Two sequences were mutated into "CTTAAGC" and "CACTTAAGTT", respectively by two mutagenic primer pairs, in order to construct two mutation types of the 310 bp fragment. The competitive gel retardation assays showed that two mutation types of the 310 bp fragment and their four smaller DNA fragments, which were formed respectively by the digestion of restriction enzyme BspTI, all lost their competitive ability against the wild type of 310 bp fragment probe for DNA-binding proteins without exception. Furthermore, the double-strand oligonucleotides, which contained both the sequences of "CTTCCGC" and "CACTTTATTT", were synthesized, and the competitive gel retardation assays showed that they competed ability against wild type 310 bp fragment probe for DNA-binding proteins. The results suggest that two binding sites of the nuclear proteins are involved or associated with a potential DNA-DNA interaction. Moreover, the specific DNA-binding proteins were purified from the nuclear extract of Hela cells by using "DNA-binding protein purification kit" for magnetic isolation. In order to identify the purified DNA-binding proteins, a SDS-PAGE was performed. By using the silver staining, the PAGE electrophoretogram showed that these two nuclear proteins specifically bound to these two sites of the silencer, appearing as two definite bands. The molecular weight of each protein was determined to be 37 kD or 81 kD, respectively.