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Objective: To assess the association between short-term exposure level of nitrogen dioxide and the hospitalization risk of heart failure. Methods: Based on China-PEACE Retrospective Heart Failure Study, 117 364 hospitalized patients with heart failure were recruited from 92 hospitals in 62 cities throughout China between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. The daily exposure level of nitrogen dioxide, temperature, and humidity in the same cities during the same period were also collected. We applied the generalized additive model and Bayesian hierarchical model to quantify the lagged effect and cumulative effect of short-term (0-3 days) exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide on the hospitalization risk of heart failure. We further conducted stratified analyses by age, region, and season to identify any difference in the associations between short-term nitrogen dioxide exposure and heart failure among subgroups. Results: The mean age for participants in the analysis was (70.32±12.22) years. The median, minimum and maximum of daily nitrogen dioxide concentration in 62 cities from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 was 26.4 µg/m3, 2.33 µg/m3 and 150.25 µg/m3, respectively. The exposure level of nitrogen dioxide at the same day was associated with the hospitalization risk of heart failure (OR=1.022, 95%CI: 1.012, 1.031). Significant effects were also observed in the moving average concentrations from lag 0-1 to lag 0-3 day (OR=1.020, 95%CI: 1.009, 1.030; OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.004, 1.028; OR=1.013, 95%CI: 1.001, 1.026). Moreover, all of the associations between short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide and the risk of heart failure hospitalization were statistically significant, with no significant difference in all subgroups stratified by age, region, and season. Conclusion: A higher level of short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide could trigger more hospitalizations with heart failure.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos , Poluição do Ar , Insuficiência Cardíaca , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Poluentes Atmosféricos/efeitos adversos , Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Poluição do Ar/efeitos adversos , Poluição do Ar/análise , Teorema de Bayes , China/epidemiologia , Exposição Ambiental/efeitos adversos , Exposição Ambiental/análise , Insuficiência Cardíaca/epidemiologia , Hospitalização , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Dióxido de Nitrogênio/efeitos adversos , Dióxido de Nitrogênio/análise , Material Particulado/análise , Estudos Retrospectivos , Dióxido de Enxofre/análiseRESUMO
Researchers have been aiming to replace copper with carbon nanotube/copper nanocomposites, which are lighter and exhibit better electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. However, the strength is far below pure carbon nanotube assembly and even much lower than some copper-based alloys. This disadvantage hinders the extensive application of carbon nanotube/copper nanocomposites. In this study, the carbon nanotube/aluminum-copper nanocomposites with ultra-strength and stiffness were prepared. The strength and elasticity modulus of composite reached as high as 6.6 and 500 GPa, respectively, while a high conductivity of 1.8 × 107 S/m was maintained. This can be attributed to the diffusion of Cu and Al atoms into the carbon nanotube fiber, which enhances friction between the carbon nanotubes by "pinning" and "bridging". This structure provides us with novel insights into the design of carbon nanotubes/metal nanocomposites with ultrahigh strength and conductivity.
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Objective: To analysis the clinical characteristics of"recurrence"RNA positive patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 ï¼COVID-19ï¼ and compared with those without"recurrence". Methods: 98 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital and designated treatment hospitals in Quanzhou were included in this study from February 2020 to April 2020. There were 55 males and 43 femalesï¼ aged from15 to 83 yearsï¼ with a median age of 57.5 yearsï¼ in which 20 cases were complicated with basic diseases. 15 of these patients had been diagnosed and hospitalized had been found as"recurrence"2019-nCoV RNA positive after discharge while the other 83 cases were all negative. The clinical classification of all patients was common type. Clinical data of the COVID-19 RNA"recurrence"patients were collectedï¼ and general situationsï¼ symptomsï¼ laboratory examinations and CT images were also observed and analyzed. The patients were divided into 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group and 2019-nCoV"non-recurrent"group. There are 10 males and 5 females in 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group while 45 males and 38 females in"non-recurrent"group ï¼χ²=0.800ï¼P=0.371ï¼. The age of 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group ï¼57±21ï¼ was higher than that of"non-recurrent"groupï¼53±17ï¼. 8 of 15 the COVID-19"recurrent"group patients and 12 of 83"non-recurrent"patients have basic diseases. IgG and IgM of 2019-nCoVï¼ IL-6ï¼ procalcitoninï¼ ESRï¼ CRPï¼ BNP and other serum biochemical index levels were measured and compared between groups. Results: ï¼1ï¼ The proportion of patients with common type of COVID-19 was 15.3% during 2-week medical observation after discharge. ï¼2ï¼ All of the 2019-nCoV"recurrent"patients were hospitalized due to COVID-19 RNA positiveï¼ when they were quarantined after discharged from hospital. All the patients with mild symptoms which were clarified as common typeï¼ including 5 cases of feverï¼ 6 cases of coughï¼ 5 cases of expectorationï¼ and 2 cases of slight shortness of breath. The time of symptoms appeared on ï¼5.73±2.82ï¼ days after discharge. ï¼3ï¼ The serum procalcitonin of all 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group patients were normalï¼all<0.05 ng/mlï¼. The BNP of"recurrent"group ï¼151±171ï¼ ng/Lï¼ was higher than that of"non-recurrent"group ï¼63±78ï¼ ng/L ï¼t = 3.207ï¼ P = 0.000ï¼. There was no significant difference in laboratory tests like leukocyte ï¼»ï¼6.17±2.4ï¼ and ï¼6.04±2.41ï¼×109/Lï¼½ï¼ lymphocyteï¼»ï¼1.59±0.52ï¼ and ï¼1.32±0.64ï¼×109/Lï¼½ï¼ CRP ï¼»ï¼12.54±28.20ï¼ and ï¼21.74±25.63ï¼mg/Lï¼½ï¼ ESR ï¼»ï¼31.07±28.72ï¼ and ï¼34.10±22.16ï¼mm/1 hï¼½ï¼ AST ï¼»ï¼24.73±9.15ï¼ and ï¼30.24±23.20ï¼U/Lï¼½ï¼ ALT ï¼»ï¼22.60±12.82ï¼ and ï¼36.47±34.12ï¼U/Lï¼ï¼ LDH ï¼»ï¼268±208ï¼ and ï¼270±164ï¼U/Lï¼½ï¼ D-dimer ï¼»ï¼0.60±0.50ï¼ and ï¼0.84±0.98ï¼µg/Lï¼½ï¼ ferritin ï¼»ï¼294±195ï¼ and ï¼395±319ï¼µg/Lï¼½ï¼ IL-6 ï¼»ï¼9.17±6.42ï¼ and ï¼14.28±17.74ï¼ng/Lï¼½ and BUN ï¼5.77±2.66ï¼ and ï¼4.74±2.81ï¼U/Lï¼½ between"recurrent"and"non-recurrent"groups ï¼all P>0.05ï¼. ï¼4ï¼ In"recurrent"groupï¼ ground glassï¼ exudative or solid lesions could be found in most of the chest CT performed on re-admission. Meanwhileï¼ fibrosis lesion was relatively rare. ï¼5ï¼ There were no secondary transmissions were found to be caused by the 2019-nCoV"recurrent"group patients. Conclusions: Most of the 2019-nCoV patients had underlying diseases and active lesions were still found in CT imagesï¼ so the possibility of virus replication may still exist. All"recurrent"patients had mild illness which may suggest that they were in recovery stage, and no evidence of transmission is found.
Assuntos
COVID-19/diagnóstico , RNA Viral/análise , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , China , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Recidiva , Estudos Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2 , Adulto JovemRESUMO
With high nutritional value in its fruits, Dangshan Su pear has been widely cultivated in China. The stone cell content in fruits is a key factor affecting fruit quality in pear, and the formation of stone cells has been associated with lignin biosynthesis. O-Methyltransferase (OMT) is a key enzyme involved in lignin metabolism within the phenylpropanoid pathway. Here, we screened 26 OMT genes from the Pyrus bretschneideri cv. Dangshan Su genome using the DNATOOLs software. To characterize the OMT gene family in pear, gene structure, chromosomal localization, and conserved motifs of PbOMTs were analyzed. PbOMTs were divided into two categories, type I (designated PbCCOMTs) and type II (designated PbCOMTs), indicating the differentiation of function during evolution. Based on the analysis of multiple sequence alignment, cis-element prediction, and phylogenetic relationships, two candidate genes, PbCCOMT1 and PbCCOMT3, were selected for the analysis of temporal and spatial gene expression in pear. The promoter regions of both PbCCOMT1 and PbCCOMT3 contain regulatory motifs for lignin synthesis. Moreover, the two genes show high similarity and close phylogenetic relationships with CCOMTs in other species. Expression analysis showed that transcript levels of two PbCCOMTs were positively associated with the contents of both stone cells and lignin during the development of pear fruit. These results suggest that PbCCOMT1 and PbCCOMT3 are closely associated with lignin biosynthesis. These findings will help clarify the function of PbOMTs in lignin metabolism and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying stone cell formation in pear.
Assuntos
Biologia Computacional , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Genoma de Planta , Lignina/biossíntese , Metiltransferases/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Pyrus/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Evolução Molecular , Frutas/enzimologia , Frutas/genética , Isoenzimas/genética , Isoenzimas/metabolismo , Metiltransferases/metabolismo , Família Multigênica , Filogenia , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Pyrus/classificação , Pyrus/enzimologia , Alinhamento de Sequência , Transdução de Sinais , SoftwareRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of SATB2 in the pathological diagnosis and differential diagnosis of osteosarcoma. METHODS: Immunostaining of SATB2 was performed in 47 cases of osteosarcomas, 5 osteoblastomas, 4 fibrous dysplasias, 5 myositis ossificans, 10 chondroblastomas, 8 chondrosarcomas, 5 Ewing sarcomas, 5 undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas, 6 fibrosarcomas and 2 leiomyosarcomas. RESULTS: All osteoblastomas (5/5) and myositis ossificans (5/5), 83.0%(39/47) of osteosarcomas and 2/10 of chondroblastomas showed nuclear immunoreactivity for SATB2. SATB2 staining was negative in all cases of fibrous dysplasia, chondrosarcomas, Ewing sarcomas and all bone primary spindle cell sarcomas(undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, fibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma). CONCLUSION: SATB2 is a reliable osteoblastic marker for differential diagnosis of osteosarcoma and non-osteoid sarcoma, although with a limited role in separating osteosarcoma from non-malignant osteoblastic lesions.
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Biomarcadores Tumorais/análise , Neoplasias Ósseas/patologia , Proteínas de Ligação à Região de Interação com a Matriz/análise , Osteossarcoma/patologia , Fatores de Transcrição/análise , Neoplasias Ósseas/química , Condroblastoma/química , Condroblastoma/patologia , Condrossarcoma/química , Condrossarcoma/patologia , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Fibrossarcoma/química , Fibrossarcoma/patologia , Humanos , Leiomiossarcoma/química , Leiomiossarcoma/patologia , Osteoblastoma/química , Osteoblastoma/patologia , Osteossarcoma/química , Sarcoma/química , Sarcoma/patologiaRESUMO
The Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes 56 subtilisin-like serine proteases (subtilases). In order to evaluate the protease activity of a previously uncharacterized subtilase, designated as AtSBT1.9, we cloned its full-length cDNA from A. thaliana seedlings. An AtSBT1.9 mature peptide coding sequence was inserted into the bacterial expression vector, pMAL-c2x, and the recombinant vector was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant AtSBT1.9 tagged by maltose binding protein (MBP) was induced as a 117.5-kDa protein in the soluble form in E. coli BL21 (DE3). MBP-AtSBT1.9 was expressed at a level of 11% (w/w) of the bacterial total protein. Protein purification using Amylose Resin revealed a recombinant AtSBT1.9 protease activity of 9.23 U/mg protein at pH 7 and 25°C. Maximal activity occurred over a broad pH (7-8) and temperature (25°-42°C) optimal range. Validation of AtSBT1.9 protease activity would help in characterizing its in vivo function in A. thaliana.
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Arabidopsis/genética , Clonagem Molecular , Serina Endopeptidases/genética , Subtilisinas/genética , Arabidopsis/metabolismo , DNA Complementar , Ativação Enzimática , Expressão Gênica , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão , Serina Endopeptidases/metabolismo , Subtilisinas/metabolismoRESUMO
UNLABELLED: This research developed a simulation-aided nonlinear programming model (SNPM). This model incorporated the consideration of pollutant dispersion modeling, and the management of coal blending and the related human health risks within a general modeling framework In SNPM, the simulation effort (i.e., California puff [CALPUFF]) was used to forecast the fate of air pollutants for quantifying the health risk under various conditions, while the optimization studies were to identify the optimal coal blending strategies from a number of alternatives. To solve the model, a surrogate-based indirect search approach was proposed, where the support vector regression (SVR) was used to create a set of easy-to-use and rapid-response surrogates for identifying the function relationships between coal-blending operating conditions and health risks. Through replacing the CALPUFF and the corresponding hazard quotient equation with the surrogates, the computation efficiency could be improved. The developed SNPM was applied to minimize the human health risk associated with air pollutants discharged from Gaojing and Shijingshan power plants in the west of Beijing. Solution results indicated that it could be used for reducing the health risk of the public in the vicinity of the two power plants, identifying desired coal blending strategies for decision makers, and considering a proper balance between coal purchase cost and human health risk. IMPLICATIONS: A simulation-aided nonlinear programming model (SNPM) is developed. It integrates the advantages of CALPUFF and nonlinear programming model. To solve the model, a surrogate-based indirect search approach based on the combination of support vector regression and genetic algorithm is proposed. SNPM is applied to reduce the health risk caused by air pollutants discharged from Gaojing and Shijingshan power plants in the west of Beijing. Solution results indicate that it is useful for generating coal blending schemes, reducing the health risk of the public, reflecting the trade-offbetween coal purchase cost and health risk.
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Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Carvão Mineral , Simulação por Computador , Indicadores Básicos de Saúde , Dinâmica não Linear , Centrais Elétricas , Fumaça/análise , Poluentes Atmosféricos/efeitos adversos , China , Monitoramento Ambiental , Humanos , Transtornos Respiratórios/etiologia , Fatores de Risco , Design de SoftwareRESUMO
Objective: To investigate the correlation of Staphylococcus aureus superantigens and human ear keloid formation. Methods: The retrospective case-control study method was used. The discarded keloid tissue was collected from 10 patients (9 females and 1 male, aged 19-59 years) with ear keloid after core excision of ear keloid, and the discarded normal skin tissue was collected from 3 female patients (aged 20-24 years) with pigmented nevus after operation, who were admitted to affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from June 2017 to March 2018. The exudation from ear keloid surface was collected for bacteria culture and identification. The keloid and normal skin tissue were collected to detect the protein expression of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A+enterotoxin B+toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) by Western blotting, and the keloid was divided into superantigen positive group and superantigen negative group according to the protein expression of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A+enterotoxin B+TSST-1. The protein expressions of T cell receptor (TCR) V ß of keloid in 2 groups were detected by Western blotting. Collagen fibers formation and inflammatory cells infiltration in keloid dermis of 2 groups were observed by Masson and hematoxylin eosin staining, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to detect expression of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A, enterotoxin B, and TSST-1 in keloids with superantigen positive. Data were statistically analyzed with paired sample t test. Results: Bacteria were cultured from the exudation on ear keloid surface, hemolysis was observed around the dominant bacteria after being cultured for 24 hours, and the colony was white or golden yellow, which was identified as Staphylococcus aureus. The protein expression of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A+enterotoxin B+TSST-1 of normal skin was negative in 3 patients, and the protein expression was 0.267±0.016. The protein expression of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A+enterotoxin B+TSST-1 of keloid was positive in 4 patients, with the protein expression of 0.472±0.016, which was included into superantigen positive group, and the protein expression of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A+enterotoxin B+TSST-1 of keloid was negative in 6 patients, with the protein expression of 0.255±0.004, which was included into superantigen negative group. The protein expression of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A+enterotoxin B+TSST-1 of keloid in superantigen positive group was obviously higher than that of keloid in superantigen negative group and that in normal skin (t=15.22, 8.63, Pï¼0.01). The protein expression of TCR Vß in keloid of superantigen positive group was 0.389±0.023, which was significantly higher than 0.169±0.014 in superantigen negative group (t=8.62, Pï¼0.01). Masson staining showed that a large number of collagen fibers existed in dermis of keloid in 2 groups. HE staining showed that there were a small number of inflammatory cells infiltration around the blood vessels of keloid dermis in superantigen negative group and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration around the blood vessels of keloid in superantigen positive group. Among the 4 patients with superantigen positive keloid, Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A was positive in 2 patients, Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B was positive in 2 patients, and among that Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A and enterotoxin B were both positive in 1 patient, with no TSST-1 detected in any patient. Conclusions: The superantigen secreted by Staphylococcus aureus is one of the many causes of ear keloid, which may be related to the activation of keloid signal pathway by superantigen of Staphylococcus aureus.
Assuntos
Queloide , Staphylococcus aureus , Adulto , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Correlação de Dados , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Superantígenos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The existing inexact optimization methods based on interval-parameter linear programming can hardly address problems where coefficients in objective functions are subject to dual uncertainties. In this study, a superiority-inferiority-based inexact fuzzy two-stage mixed-integer linear programming (SI-IFTMILP) model was developed for supporting municipal solid waste management under uncertainty. The developed SI-IFTMILP approach is capable of tackling dual uncertainties presented as fuzzy boundary intervals (FuBIs) in not only constraints, but also objective functions. Uncertainties expressed as a combination of intervals and random variables could also be explicitly reflected. An algorithm with high computational efficiency was provided to solve SI-IFTMILP. SI-IFTMILP was then applied to a long-term waste management case to demonstrate its applicability. Useful interval solutions were obtained. SI-IFTMILP could help generate dynamic facility-expansion and waste-allocation plans, as well as provide corrective actions when anticipated waste management plans are violated. It could also greatly reduce system-violation risk and enhance system robustness through examining two sets of penalties resulting from variations in fuzziness and randomness. Moreover, four possible alternative models were formulated to solve the same problem; solutions from them were then compared with those from SI-IFTMILP. The results indicate that SI-IFTMILP could provide more reliable solutions than the alternatives.
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Técnicas de Apoio para a Decisão , Programação Linear , Gerenciamento de Resíduos/economia , Lógica Fuzzy , IncertezaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Presently, interesting research related to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is emerging. However, the development of new therapies and techniques for treatment of refractory diseases is still required in dermatology. We are exploring novel methods to provide stem cell therapy and elucidate research mechanisms underlying troublesome diseases by reprogramming iPSCs from the fibroblasts of keloid lesions from patients in vitro. METHOD: Here, we identified the expression of fibroblastic genes in the fibroblast derived from diseased individuals. Corresponding iPSCs were then produced by transfecting patient fibroblasts with non-modified RNA cocktails, expressing OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, cMYC, NANOG, and LIN28 reprogramming factors. The pluripotency of these patient-derived iPSCs was identified by immunocytochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and teratoma formation in vivo in non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice. RESULTS: All iPSCs derived from patients significantly expressed the pluripotent transcription factors and could be expanded in vitro. Furthermore, induction of terminal differentiation in long-term culture and the capability of forming embryonic bodies to differentiate into all 3 germ layers in vivo were confirmed in immune-deficient mice. CONCLUSION: Fibroblasts from a keloid patient were successfully reprogrammed to iPSCs in vitro. This reprogramming may provide a basis for the production of individualized modified artificial skin to prevent rejections after xenogeneic skin transplantation and trauma through autologous skin transplantation. These cells can also offer a new platform for research on mechanisms underlying skin diseases and personal medical applications.
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Técnicas de Reprogramação Celular/métodos , Fibroblastos/citologia , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/citologia , Queloide , Animais , Diferenciação Celular/fisiologia , Células Cultivadas , Humanos , Fator 4 Semelhante a Kruppel , CamundongosRESUMO
Objective: To describe the distribution and drug resistance of pathogens at hematology department of Jiangsu Province from 2014 to 2015 to provide reference for empirical anti-infection treatment. Methods: Pathogens were from hematology department of 26 tertiary hospitals in Jiangsu Province from 2014 to 2015. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or agar dilution method. Collection of drug susceptibility results and corresponding patient data were analyzed. Results: The separated pathogens amounted to 4 306. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 64.26%, while the proportions of gram-positive bacteria and funguses were 26.99% and 8.75% respectively. Common gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia coli (20.48%) , Klebsiella pneumonia (15.40%) , Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.50%) , Acinetobacter baumannii (5.04%) and Stenotropho-monas maltophilia (3.41%) respectively. CRE amounted to 123 (6.68%) . Common gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (4.92%) , Staphylococcus hominis (4.88%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (4.71%) respectively. Candida albicans were the main fungus which accounted for 5.43%. The rates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia resistant to carbapenems were 3.5%-6.1% and 5.0%-6.3% respectively. The rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to tobramycin and amikacin were 3.2% and 3.3% respectively. The resistant rates of Acinetobacter baumannii towards tobramycin and cefoperazone/sulbactam were both 19.2%. The rates of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia resistant to minocycline and sulfamethoxazole were 3.5% and 9.3% respectively. The rates of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis resistant wards vancomycin were 0, 6.4% and 1.4% respectively; also, the rates of them resistant to linezolid were 1.2%, 0 and 1.6% respectively; in addition, the rates of them resistant to teicoplanin were 2.8%, 14.3% and 8.0% respectively. Furthermore, MRSA accounted for 39.15% (83/212) . Conclusions: Pathogens were mainly gram-negative bacteria. CRE accounted for 6.68%. The rates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia resistant to carbapenems were lower compared with other antibacterial agents. The rates of gram-positive bacteria resistant to vancomycin, linezolid and teicoplanin were still low. MRSA accounted for 39.15%.
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Farmacorresistência Bacteriana , Antibacterianos , Bactérias Gram-Negativas , Humanos , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
This study developed a fuzzy-stochastic programming with Green Z-score criterion (FSGZ) method for water resources allocation and water quality management with a trading-mechanism (WAQT) under uncertainties. FSGZ can handle uncertainties expressed as probability distributions, and it can also quantify objective/subjective fuzziness in the decision-making process. Risk-averse attitudes and robustness coefficient are joined to express the relationship between the expected target and outcome under various risk preferences of decision makers and systemic robustness. The developed method is applied to a real-world case of WAQT in the Kaidu-Kongque River Basin in northwest China, where an effective mechanism (e.g., market trading) to simultaneously confront severely diminished water availability and degraded water quality is required. Results of water transaction amounts, water allocation patterns, pollution mitigation schemes, and system benefits under various scenarios are analyzed, which indicate that a trading-mechanism is a more sustainable method to manage water-environment crisis in the study region. Additionally, consideration of anthropogenic (e.g., a risk-averse attitude) and systemic factors (e.g., the robustness coefficient) can support the generation of a robust plan associated with risk control for WAQT when uncertainty is present. These findings assist local policy and decision makers to gain insights into water-environment capacity planning to balance the basin's social and economic growth with protecting the region's ecosystems.
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Modelos Teóricos , Poluição da Água , Qualidade da Água , Recursos Hídricos , Abastecimento de Água , China , Tomada de Decisões , Lógica Fuzzy , Probabilidade , Risco , IncertezaRESUMO
We report the successful synthesis and characterization of a new type I-II-V bulk form diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) Li(Zn,Mn,Cu)As, in which charge and spin doping are decoupled via (Cu,Zn) and (Mn,Zn) substitution at the same Zn sites. Ferromagnetic transition temperature up to â¼33 K has been observed with a coercive field â¼40 Oe for the 12.5% doping level. µSR measurements confirmed that the magnetic volume fraction reaches nearly 100% at 2 K, and the mechanism responsible for the ferromagnetic interaction in this system is the same as other bulk form DMSs.
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Biopanning of phage-displayed random peptide libraries is a powerful technique for identifying peptides that mimic epitopes (mimotopes) for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). However, peptides derived using polyclonal antisera may represent epitopes for a diverse range of antibodies. Hence following screening of phage libraries with polyclonal antisera, including autoimmune disease sera, a procedure is required to distinguish relevant from irrelevant phagotopes. We therefore applied the multiple sequence alignment algorithm PILEUP together with a matrix for scoring amino acid substitutions based on physicochemical properties to generate guide trees depicting relatedness of selected peptides. A random heptapeptide library was biopanned nine times using no selecting antibodies, immunoglobulin G (IgG) from sera of subjects with autoimmune diseases (primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and type 1 diabetes) and three murine ascites fluids that contained mAbs to overlapping epitope(s) on the Ross River Virus envelope protein 2. Peptides randomly sampled from the library were distributed throughout the guide tree of the total set of peptides whilst many of the peptides derived in the absence of selecting antibody aligned to a single cluster. Moreover peptides selected by different sources of IgG aligned to separate clusters, each with a different amino acid motif. These alignments were validated by testing all of the 53 phagotopes derived using IgG from PBC sera for reactivity by capture ELISA with antibodies affinity purified on the E2 subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2), the major autoantigen in PBC: only those phagotopes that aligned to PBC-associated clusters were reactive. Hence the multiple sequence alignment procedure discriminates relevant from irrelevant phagotopes and thus a major difficulty with biopanning phage-displayed random peptide libraries with polyclonal antibodies is surmounted.
Assuntos
Proteínas do Capsídeo , Capsídeo/imunologia , Biblioteca de Peptídeos , Peptídeos/imunologia , Alinhamento de Sequência , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/imunologia , Algoritmos , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Autoanticorpos/imunologia , Capsídeo/classificação , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/imunologia , Di-Hidrolipoil-Lisina-Resíduo Acetiltransferase , Glutamato Descarboxilase/imunologia , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Cirrose Hepática Biliar/imunologia , Peptídeos/classificação , Complexo Piruvato Desidrogenase/imunologia , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/classificaçãoRESUMO
We report a comprehensive study of the tridimensional nature and orbital characters of the low-energy electronic structure in KCo2Se2, using polarization- and photon energy-dependent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We observed one electron-like Fermi surface (FS) at the Brillouin zone (BZ) center, four electron-like FSs centered at the BZ corner, and one hole-like FS at the BZ boundary. The FSs show weak dispersion along the kz direction, indicating the near-two-dimensional nature of FSs in KCo2Se2. In combination with the local-density approximation calculations, we determined the orbital characters of the low-energy electronic bands, which are mainly derived from the Co 3d orbital, mixed with part of the Se 4p states. The [Formula: see text] orbital gives a significant contribution to the band crossing the Fermi level. A band renormalization of about 1.6 is needed to capture the essential dispersive features, which suggests that electronic correlations are much weaker than that in KyFe2-xSe2.
RESUMO
Experiments were performed from January 1 to 30 January, 1989. Drugs were administered to the preoptic area of hibernating ground squirrels through a chronically implanted cannula on the 2nd day of a torpor bout. When naltrexone (an antagonist of opioid receptor) was injected, part (naltrexone, 0.5 or 1 microgram/microliter/32 min) or all (naltrexone, 2 micrograms/microliters/32 min) of the animals' body temperature was increased and they aroused from hibernation within 20 h after the injection. Further experiments showed that intra-preoptic area perfusion of 1 nmol of ICI 174864 (an antagonist of delta receptor) or nor-BNI (an antagonist of kappa receptor), but not beta-FNA (an antagonist of mu receptor), were able to increase the body temperature of hibernating ground squirrels and arouse them from hibernation in 20 h after the injection. These results indicate that (1) opioid peptides in the preoptic area may be involved in the mechanisms of hibernation; (2) activation of delta and kappa receptors in the preoptic area is indispensable for the maintenance of hibernation in ground squirrels.
Assuntos
Nível de Alerta/efeitos dos fármacos , Encefalina Leucina/análogos & derivados , Hibernação/efeitos dos fármacos , Naltrexona/análogos & derivados , Naltrexona/farmacologia , Antagonistas de Entorpecentes/farmacologia , Área Pré-Óptica/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Mapeamento Encefálico , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Encefalina Leucina/farmacologia , Feminino , Masculino , Receptores Opioides delta/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores Opioides kappa/efeitos dos fármacos , SciuridaeRESUMO
In the title compound, N(CH(2)CH(2)CN)(3), (I), the three cyanoethyl groups adopt a conformation with the CN groups oriented in the same direction, suggesting the compound may behave as a potential tripodal ligand.
RESUMO
In our previous work, it was shown that hibernation could be enhanced by injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 200 micrograms) into the lateral cerebral ventricle of ground squirrels by destructing norepinephrine (NE) nerve terminals in brain areas including hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, hippocampus and periaqueductal gray matter of middle brain. In order to identify the specific area contributing for the modulation of NE system on hibernation, small doses of 6-OHDA (4 micrograms) were microinjected bilaterally into medial preoptic hypothalamus (MPA), lateral preoptic hypothalamus (LPA) and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH). The results showed: (1) Depletion of NE on MPA may facilitate hibernation. (2) Little effect was seen by microinjection of 6-OHDA into LPA. (3) The effect of 6-OHDA on VMH was similar to that on MPA, through the mechanism remains to be investigated.
Assuntos
Hibernação/fisiologia , Oxidopamina/farmacologia , Área Pré-Óptica/fisiologia , Núcleo Hipotalâmico Ventromedial/fisiologia , Animais , Feminino , Hibernação/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Neurônios/fisiologia , Norepinefrina/fisiologia , SciuridaeRESUMO
Measurements of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and Met-enkephalin (MEK) contents in various brain areas and plasma of ground squirrels were carried out by radioimmunoassay (RIA) through euthermia, entrance, deep hibernation and arousal phases of natural hibernation bout. The main results showed that, the beta-EP content in hypothalamus and pituitary during the entrance phase were increased and further deepened during deep hibernation, whereas in hippocampus and plasma the tendency of the changes of beta-EP content took place in an opposite direction, i.e. being lowered down from the euthermia level upon entering the entrance and deep hibernation phase. The content in pons and medulla showed little change through the bout. The contents of MEK were increased during entrance and lowered when entering into deep hibernation to different extent in different brain areas, being most significant change has taken place in hippocampus. These results indicated that the role of beta-EP and MEK in hibernation was different both in regard to brain regional changes of their content and in the degree of the changes.