The potential of induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs)for modeling and treating metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)and metabolic associated steatohepatitis(MASH)is emerging.MAFLD is a growing global health...The potential of induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs)for modeling and treating metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)and metabolic associated steatohepatitis(MASH)is emerging.MAFLD is a growing global health concern,currently with limited treatment options.While primary mesenchymal stem cells hold promise,iPSCs offer a versatile alternative due to their ability to differentiate into various cell types,including iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells.However,challenges remain,including optimizing differentiation protocols,ensuring cell safety,and addressing potential tumorigenicity risks.In addition,iPSCs offer the possibility to generate complex cellular models,including three-dimensional organoid models,which are closer representations of the human disease than animal models.Those models would also be valuable for drug discovery and personalized medicine approaches.Overall,iPSCs and their derivatives offer new perspectives for advancing MAFLD/MASH research and developing novel therapeutic strategies.Further research is needed to overcome current limitations and translate this potential into effective clinical applications.展开更多
Background:Antimicrobial resistance(AMR)poses a significant and growing public health challenge in East and Southern Africa.Despite formal commitments to the National Action Plans,domestic financing for AMR remains cr...Background:Antimicrobial resistance(AMR)poses a significant and growing public health challenge in East and Southern Africa.Despite formal commitments to the National Action Plans,domestic financing for AMR remains critically limited,with most countries continuing to depend heavily on external donor funding.Objective:This narrative review examines the current extent to which domestic fiscal commitments align with national AMR policy goals across the two regions.Methods:Government websites for ministries of health and finance,donor platforms,and three academic databases(Scopus,JSTOR,Google Scholar)were searched for eligible articles.National budget statements and media reports were also reviewed where available.Three researchers independently screened titles and summaries,followed by full-text reviews to confirm eligibility.Results:The findings reveal that while several countries have developed National Action Plans,very few have allocated domestic funding to implement them.Only Malawi,Nigeria and Uganda reported modest domestic contributions,while in other countries such as Zambia,Ethiopia,and South Africa,AMR programs remain largely donor-financed or lack dedicated budget lines altogether.Veterinary and laboratory sectors are particularly underfunded,with minimal integration into broader AMR strategies.While this review has several limitations including restricted access to current,comprehensive national budget data and a reliance on secondary sources such as donor and World Health Organization reports,which may introduce bias,the patterns identified in this review still offer valuable insight into regional funding dynamics and can inform future policy and research efforts.Conclusion:We conclude that without dedicated domestic financing and accountability mechanisms,AMR efforts in the region may face significant sustainability challenges observed in other health responses such as human immunodeficiency virus.Strengthening AMR governance requires clear budgetary commitments,sustainable cofinancing models,and policy instruments to reduce dependency on external support.展开更多
BACKGROUND Poor glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is often accompanied by multiple complications,including diabetic nephropathy(DN),diabetic retinopathy(DR),diabetic peripheral neuropath...BACKGROUND Poor glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is often accompanied by multiple complications,including diabetic nephropathy(DN),diabetic retinopathy(DR),diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN),and cardiac structural abnormality left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH).Early identification of high-risk populations for these complications and the implementation of intervention measures are crucial for improving patient outcomes.Serum alpha-1-microglobulin(α1-MG),a multifunctional protein synthesized by the liver and lymphocytes,has been considered a potential biomarker of diabetes-related diseases in recent years.AIM To investigate the associations of serumα1-MG with DN,DR,DPN,and LVH in T2DM patients and its predictive value.METHODS This retrospective study included 5045 T2DM patients.The study participants were stratified into quartiles according to their serumα1-MG levels.Multivariate logistic regression,restricted cubic spline,and explainable machine learning models were employed for risk assessment and feature importance evaluation.RESULTS Increasedα1-MG levels were observed in patients with DN,DR,DPN,and LVH(all P<0.001).Multivariate logistic regression revealed that each standard deviation increase inα1-MG was associated with an 84%increase in DN risk(OR:1.84,95%CI:1.62-2.10,P<0.001),a 17%increase in DR risk(OR:1.17,95%CI:1.07-1.28,P<0.001),a 14%increase in DPN risk(OR:1.14,95%CI:1.03-1.27,P=0.014),and a 28%increase in LVH risk(OR:1.28,95%CI:1.18-1.38,P<0.001).Subgroup analyses and machine learning confirmed the associations of elevatedα1-MG with these complications in T2DM patients.CONCLUSION Elevated serumα1-MG levels were independently associated with increased risks of DN,DR,DPN,and LVH in T2DM patients,suggesting its potential as a predictive biomarker.展开更多
Objective To develop a multimodal imaging atlas of a rat brain-computer interface(BCI)that incorporates brain,arterial,bone tissue and a BCI device using mixed reality(MR)for three-dimensional(3D)visualization.Methods...Objective To develop a multimodal imaging atlas of a rat brain-computer interface(BCI)that incorporates brain,arterial,bone tissue and a BCI device using mixed reality(MR)for three-dimensional(3D)visualization.Methods An invasive BCI was implanted in the left visual cortex of 4-week-old Sprague–Dawley rats.Multimodal imaging techniques,including micro-CT and 9.0 T MRI,were used to acquire images of the rat cranial bone structure,vascular distribution,brain tissue functional zones,and BCI device before and after implantation.Using 3D-slicer software,the images were fused through spatial transformations,followed by image segmentation and 3D model reconstruction.The HoloLens platform was employed for MR visualization.Results This study constructed a multimodal imaging atlas for rats that included the skull,brain tissue,arterial tissue,and BCI device coupled with MR technology to create an interactive 3D anatomical model.Conclusions This multimodal 3D atlas provides an objective and stable reference for exploring complex relationships between brain tissue structure and function,enhancing the understanding of the operational principles of BCIs.This is the first multimodal 3D imaging atlas related to a BCI created using Sprague–Dawley rats.展开更多
Purpose: The purpose of this umbrella review was to synthesize the evidence from systematic reviews on the benefits and harms of exercise therapy and physical activity(PA) for the secondary prevention and management o...Purpose: The purpose of this umbrella review was to synthesize the evidence from systematic reviews on the benefits and harms of exercise therapy and physical activity(PA) for the secondary prevention and management of low back pain(LBP).Methods: An umbrella review was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise therapy and PA in the management and secondary prevention of LBP. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,and Physiotherapy Evidence Database(PEDro), including reference lists of relevant reviews, covering studies published between January 1,2010 and May 20, 2024. Eligible studies were systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials and observational studies, with or without meta-analyses. The primary outcome for secondary prevention was LBP recurrence, while for management, primary outcomes included pain intensity and disability, with adverse events as secondary outcomes. Data were extracted across immediate, short-term, intermediate, and longterm follow-up periods. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation(GRADE) framework was used to assess the certainty of evidence, and the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews tool(AMSTAR) tool was applied by 2 independent reviewers(JC, QL, and/or DXMW) to evaluate the quality of the included reviews. The study was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework(OSF).Results: A total of 70 systematic reviews were included, 43 with meta-analyses, 7 with network meta-analyses, and 20 without meta-analyses.Six(out of 10) reviews with meta-analyses for secondary prevention indicated a small benefit from general exercises and leisure-time PA(low-to-moderate certainty). For LBP management, 35(out of 36) reviews reported that exercise therapies such as Pilates, motor control,mixed exercise, Tai Chi, water-based exercises, and yoga showed small beneficial effects on pain and disability compared to minimal intervention mainly in the short-term(low-to-moderate certainty). Seven network meta-analyses favored motor control and Pilates over other forms of exercise to reduce pain(low certainty). Adverse events were reported in less than 31% of the reviews, predominantly involving postexercise soreness and temporary increases in pain, mainly in yoga-related studies. Adverse events were considered minor, and no serious adverse events were reported.Conclusion: There is low-to-moderate certainty that exercise therapy and leisure-time PA are beneficial for improving pain and preventing the recurrence of LBP. However, evidence on the potential harms of these interventions is limited, and adverse events related to exercise and PA remain under-investigated.展开更多
Rice(Oryza sativa L.)plays a pivotal role in global food security,yet its breeding is constrained by its long generation time and seasonality.To enhance rice breeding efficiency and meet future food demands,we have de...Rice(Oryza sativa L.)plays a pivotal role in global food security,yet its breeding is constrained by its long generation time and seasonality.To enhance rice breeding efficiency and meet future food demands,we have developed a vertical hydroponic breeding system integrated with light-emitting diodes(LEDs)light-ing in a closed plant factory(PF),which significantly accelerates rice growth and generation advance-ment.The results show that indica rice can be harvested as early as after 63 days of cultivation,a 50%reduction compared with field cultivation,enabling the annual harvesting of 5-6 generations within the PF.A hyperspectral imaging(HSI)system and attenuated total reflectance infrared(ATR-IR)spec-troscopy were further employed to characterize the chemical composition of the PF-and field-cultivated rice.Metabolomics analysis with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)revealed that,com-pared with the field-cultivated rice,the PF-cultivated rice exhibited an up-regulation of total phenolic acids along with 68 non-volatile and 19 volatile metabolites,such as isovitexin,succinic acid,and methylillicinone F.Overall,this study reveals the unique metabolic profile of PF-cultivated rice and high-lights the potential of PFs to accelerate the breeding of crops such as rice,offering an innovative agricul-tural strategy to support food security in the face of global population growth and climate change.展开更多
Lycii Radicis Cortex(LRC)is a medicinal and food homologous plant with various pharmacological activities,including anti-tumor effects.This study explores the anti-tumor effect of LRC on non-small cell lung cancer(NSC...Lycii Radicis Cortex(LRC)is a medicinal and food homologous plant with various pharmacological activities,including anti-tumor effects.This study explores the anti-tumor effect of LRC on non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and its molecular mechanism using mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma cells.LRC significantly suppressed the growth of NSCLC.Besides,RNA sequencing of mice tumors and hematoxylin&eosin and immunofluorescence staining revealed that LRC promoted the infiltration of T lymphocytes,specifically GZMB~+CD8~+T lymphocytes,in tumor tissues.The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of spleen RNA indicated that LRC up-regulated PD-1-downstream pathways,suggesting that LRC exerted its effects through the PDL1/PD-1 pathway.Further experiments revealed that LRC interacted with PD-L1,blocking PD-L1/PD-1 binding and thus restoring the T cell killing activity on tumor cells.Together,these results support using LRC as healthy food to improve anti-tumor immunity in patients with NSCLC.展开更多
The inherent black-box nature of machine learning(ML) models limits their interpretability and broader application in heavy precipitation forecasting. Evaluating the reliability of these models involves analyzing the ...The inherent black-box nature of machine learning(ML) models limits their interpretability and broader application in heavy precipitation forecasting. Evaluating the reliability of these models involves analyzing the link between predictions and predictors. In this study, ERA5 reanalysis data, CERES satellite observations, and ground-based meteorological observatories were utilized to compile more comprehensive multi-type predictors for developing a Bayesian optimized XGBoost model for the nowcasting of heavy precipitation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the pre-summer rainy season. A comparison of model performance with different combinations of input features and classical machine learning algorithms demonstrated that the Bayesian optimized XGBoost model achieved the best overall performance, with an average Critical Success Index of 68.30%. Permutation Importance(PI) and shapley Additive Explanations(SHAP) methods were utilized to interpret feature effects in heavy precipitation forecasting. The results indicated that precipitable water vapor(PWV), cloud, relative humidity, and seasonal and diurnal variables had more significant effects on the model output as individual features. Furthermore, the collective influence of derivatives from PWV and meteorological parameters(e.g., temperature, relative humidity, pressure and dew point temperature)showed a significant enhancement over their individual impacts, indicating synergistic interactions among these predictors.Applying explainable artificial intelligence(XAI) to ML models helps understand how models utilize features for forecasting, enhances the reliability of forecasts, and guides feature selection and the mitigation of overfitting phenomena.展开更多
Chromium (Cr), a persistent soil pollutant, has detrimental effects on plants and living things, and its contamination in soil increased as a result of human-induced activities. Pakistan suffers from a lack of fresh w...Chromium (Cr), a persistent soil pollutant, has detrimental effects on plants and living things, and its contamination in soil increased as a result of human-induced activities. Pakistan suffers from a lack of fresh water supplies;hence most people use metal-containing water and wastewater to irrigate their crops. Exposure to Cr toxicity, the plant reduces their morphological and physiological growth which ultimately decreases crop productivity. The current study was designed to investigate the foliar application of hesperidin (HSP) at varying effluent rates (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L^(−1)) on wheat growth under tannery wastewater irrigated soil. Cr toxicity caused a change in the concentration of chlorophyll molecules, indicating early signs of stress. Modifications in the ultrastructure of chloroplasts, the elevated activity of chlorophyllase, and the generation of reactive oxygen species were causing the reduction in chlorophyll. Cr stress disrupted total soluble protein concentrations and the activity of antioxidation-related enzymes and NRA, suggesting the onset of oxidative stress. On the other hand, the application of HSP reduced oxidative damage by improving protein concentration (37%), chlorophyll concentration (37%), and antioxidant enzyme activity such as CAT (65%), SOD (46%), and POD (68%). Furthermore, HSP raised the concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules, which may indicate better redox homeostasis and stress tolerance. These molecules include GSH, GSSG, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolics, and anthocyanins. HSP therapy lessened the impact of Cr stress on lipid peroxidation markers. HSP enhanced these measures during the investigation. Cr stress raised the concentrations of total free amino acids and nitrogen oxide and decreased the radical scavenging activity in wheat. Cr stress raised the concentration of all soluble sugars, primarily reducing and non-reducing sugars, whereas the application of HSP strengthened these osmo protectants even more results of the present investigation indicate that exogenous HSP is a feasible and eco-friendly approach to improving plant resistance against Cr toxicity by efficiently reducing the physiological strain and metabolic stress caused by Cr in wheat plants.展开更多
For any country,the availability of electricity is crucial to the development of the national economy and society.As a result,decision-makers and policy-makers can improve the sustainability and security of the energy...For any country,the availability of electricity is crucial to the development of the national economy and society.As a result,decision-makers and policy-makers can improve the sustainability and security of the energy supply by implementing a variety of actions by using the evaluation of these factors as an early warning system.This research aims to provide a multi-criterion decision-making(MCDM)method for assessing the sustainability and security of the electrical supply.The weights of criteria,which indicate their relative relevance in the assessment of the sustainability and security of the energy supply,the MCDM method allow users to express their opinions.To overcome the impact of uncertainty and vagueness of expert opinion,we explore the notion of picture fuzzy theory,which is a more efficient and dominant mathematical model.Recently,the theory of Aczel-Alsina operations has attained a lot of attraction and has an extensive capability to acquire smooth approximated results during the aggregation process.However,Choquet integral operators are more flexible and are used to express correlation among different attributes.This article diagnoses an innovative theory of picture fuzzy set to derive robust mathematical methodologies of picture fuzzy Choquet Integral Aczel-Alsina aggregation operators.To prove the intensity and validity of invented approaches,some dominant properties and special cases are also discussed.An intelligent decision algorithm for the MCDM problem is designed to resolve complicated real-life applications under multiple conflicting criteria.Additionally,we discussed a numerical example to investigate a suitable electric transformer under consideration of different beneficial key criteria.A comparative study is established to capture the superiority and effectiveness of pioneered mathematical approaches with existing methodologies.展开更多
Hypoglycemia limits optimal glycemic management of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM).Fear of hypoglycemia(FoH)is a significant psychosocial consequence that negatively impacts the willingness of T1DM patien...Hypoglycemia limits optimal glycemic management of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM).Fear of hypoglycemia(FoH)is a significant psychosocial consequence that negatively impacts the willingness of T1DM patients to engage in and profit from the health benefits of regular physical activity(e.g.,cardiometabolic health,improved body composition,cardiovascular fitness,quality of life).Technological advances,improved insulin regimens,and a better understanding of the physiology of various types of exercise could help ameliorate FoH.This narrative review summarizes the available literature on FoH in children and adults and tools to avoid it.展开更多
The paper introduces the method of high-density seismic imaging exploration, discusses its features different from conventional shallow seismic reflection wave technique, and illustrates the application effect of the ...The paper introduces the method of high-density seismic imaging exploration, discusses its features different from conventional shallow seismic reflection wave technique, and illustrates the application effect of the method using three samples of engineering geological explorations on land and in water exploration of underground cavity, location survey of sunk ship and investigation of channel silt depth.展开更多
Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 that manifests as a variety of clinical manifestations,including liver damage commonly detected by a hepa...Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 that manifests as a variety of clinical manifestations,including liver damage commonly detected by a hepatocellular pattern from liver function tests.Liver injury is associated with a worse prognosis overall.Conditions associated with the severity of the disease include obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities,which are also associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).The presence of NAFLD,similarly to obesity,is associated with an unfavourable impact on the coronavirus disease 2019 outcome.Individuals with these conditions could present with liver damage and elevated liver function tests due to direct viral cytotoxicity,systemic inflammation,ischemic or hypoxic liver damage or drug side effects.However,liver damage in the setting of NAFLD could also be attributed to a pre-existing chronic low-grade inflammation associated with surplus and dysfunctional adipose tissue in these individuals.Here we investigate the hypothesis that a pre-existing inflammatory status is exacerbated after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection,which embodies a second hit to the underestimated liver damage.展开更多
Objective To comparatively study the toxicity of four metal-containing nanoparticles(MNPs) and their chemical counterparts to the air-blood barrier(ABB) permeability using an in vitro model.Methods ABB model, which wa...Objective To comparatively study the toxicity of four metal-containing nanoparticles(MNPs) and their chemical counterparts to the air-blood barrier(ABB) permeability using an in vitro model.Methods ABB model, which was developed via the co-culturing of A549 and pulmonary capillary endothelium, was exposed to spherical CuO-NPs(divided into CuO-40, CuO-80, and CuO-100 based on particle size), nano-Al2O3(sheet and short-rod-shaped), nano-ZnO, nano-Pb S, CuSO4, Al2(SO4)3, Zn(CH3COO)2, and Pb(NO3)2 for 60 min.Every 10 min following exposure, the cumulative cleared volume(ΔTCL) of Lucifer yellow by the model was calculated.A clearance curve was established using linear regression analysis of ΔTCL versus time.Permeability coefficient(P) was calculated based on the slope of the curve to represent the degree of change in the ABB permeability.Results The results found the increased P values of CuO-40, CuO-80, sheet, and short-rod-shaped nano-Al2O3, Al2(SO4)3, and Pb(NO3)2.Among them, small CuO-40 and CuO-80 were stronger than CuO-100 and CuSO4;no difference was observed between Al2(SO4)3 and sheet and short-rod-shaped nano-Al2O3;and nano-Pb S was slightly weaker than Pb(NO3)2.So clearly the MNPs possess diverse toxicity.Conclusion ABB permeability abnormality means pulmonary toxicity potential.More studies are warranted to understand MNPs toxicity and ultimately control the health hazards.展开更多
We present the discovery of TCP J07222683+6220548,a new ultracompact binary system of the AM CVn type.This system was first identified displaying aΔV=7.6 mag outburst on 2025-01-20.9416 UTC by the New Milky Way wide-...We present the discovery of TCP J07222683+6220548,a new ultracompact binary system of the AM CVn type.This system was first identified displaying aΔV=7.6 mag outburst on 2025-01-20.9416 UTC by the New Milky Way wide-field survey for transients and later independently detected by ASAS-SN and ZTF.The outburst peaked at V_(max)=12.45 and lasted for seven days,followed by a series of rebrightenings.No previous outbursts are found in archival data.Positive superhumps with a period of 0.032546±0.000084 day(46.87±0.12 minutes),barely detectable during the main outburst,became clearly visible during the first rebrightening that lasted from day 18 to day 24 after the initial outburst.No convincing change in the superhump period was detected.Dense time-series photometry follow-up by a pair of 0.5 m INASAN robotic telescopes,together with VSNET and AAVSO observers,was essential for identifying TCP J07222683+6220548 as an AM CVn system and triggering confirmation spectroscopy with the 2.5 m CMO SAI telescope.Some outbursting AM CVn systems lacking such detailed follow-up may remain unrecognized among the newly discovered cataclysmic variable candidates.展开更多
Functional hubs with disproportionately extensive connectivities play a crucial role in global information integration in human brain networks.However,most resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(R-fMRI)st...Functional hubs with disproportionately extensive connectivities play a crucial role in global information integration in human brain networks.However,most resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(R-fMRI)studies have identified functional hubs by examining spontaneous fluctuations of the blood oxygen level-dependent signal within a typical low-frequency band(e.g.,0.01–0.08 Hz or 0.01–0.1 Hz).Little is known about how the spatial distributions of functional hubs depend on frequency bands of interest.Here,we used repeatedly measured R-fMRI data from 53 healthy young adults and a degree centrality analysis to identify voxelwise frequency-resolved functional hubs and further examined their test-retest reliability across two sessions.We showed that a wide-range frequency band(0.01–0.24 Hz)accessible with a typical sampling rate(fsample=0.5 Hz)could be classified into three frequency bands with distinct patterns,namely,low-frequency(LF,0.01–0.06 Hz),middle-frequency(MF,0.06–0.16 Hz),and high-frequency(HF,0.16–0.24 Hz)bands.The functional hubs were mainly located in the medial and lateral frontal and parietal cortices in the LF band,and in the medial prefrontal cortex,superior temporal gyrus,parahippocampal gyrus,amygdala,and several cerebellar regions in the MF and HF bands.These hub regions exhibited fair to good test-retest reliability,regardless of the frequency band.The presence of the three frequency bands was well replicated using an independent R-fMRI dataset from 45 healthy young adults.Our findings demonstrate reliable frequency-resolved functional connectivity hubs in three categories,thus providing insights into the frequency-specific connectome organization in healthy and disordered brains.展开更多
Limited integration of contextual factors in maternal care contributes to slow progress towards achieving MDG5 in sub-Sahara Africa. In Ngorongoro, rural Tanzania, the maternal mortality ratio is high with 642 materna...Limited integration of contextual factors in maternal care contributes to slow progress towards achieving MDG5 in sub-Sahara Africa. In Ngorongoro, rural Tanzania, the maternal mortality ratio is high with 642 maternal deaths/100,000 live births. Skilled birth attendants (SBAs) assist only 7% of deliveries. This study, undertaken from 2009 to 2011, used Participatory Action Research involving local stakeholders (Maasai women and men, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), hospital staff) to examine reasons for low utilization of SBAs and moreover to develop proposals how to integrate contextual factors and local needs in the health care system. Interviews, observations and literature study were also conducted. Thaddeus and Maine’s Three Delays model is used to structure the analysis. Delaying factors in decision making at home: negative perceptions by the community on availability and quality of care in the hospital;discontinuity of care by TBAs;food and financial insecurity;desired nearness to cattle and family;limited recognition of maternal deaths;limited male health education and suboptimal birth preparedness. Delaying factors in reaching the hospital: vehicle and road limitations. Delaying factors in receiving hospital care: limited (human) resources and limited knowledge sharing at the hospital. Community members and health workers proposed: increasing food/financial security;tailoring male health education;combining TBA/SBA care to provide continuous, culturally appropriate labour support;creating separate maternity wards;increasing the number and training of staff;ensuring continuous availability of Emergency Obstetric Care. Applying solutions to increase hospital utilization seems complex as collaborative actions by multiple actors and institutions are needed to create both a needs based and clinically sound continuum of maternal care. To follow-up this process of integrating local solutions into the maternal care system, we suggest to adapt the WHO Strategic Approach—a top-down framework for the implementation of innovations—to fit this bottom-up approach.展开更多
Communication network has communication capacity and connection reliability of the links. They canbe independently defined and can be used separately, and when the reliability of a communication network isanalyzed fro...Communication network has communication capacity and connection reliability of the links. They canbe independently defined and can be used separately, and when the reliability of a communication network isanalyzed from a macroscopical angle of view, it is more objective to express the performance index of a commu-nication network as a whole. The reliability index weighted capacity is just obtained by integrating these two pa-rameters. It is necessary to further study the algorithm to calculate the reliability index of the communicationnetwork with a complicated topologic structure and a whole algebraic algorithm is therefore proposed for calcula-tion of the reliability index weighted capacity of a communication network with a topologic structure. The wholecomputational procedure of the algorithm is illustrated with a typical example.展开更多
The changes in growth status, ion contents, betaine levels and betaine\|aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) activity in seedlings of nonhalophyte barley treated with different concentrations of NaCl and KCl were studied. Re...The changes in growth status, ion contents, betaine levels and betaine\|aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) activity in seedlings of nonhalophyte barley treated with different concentrations of NaCl and KCl were studied. Results showed that the inhibition of growth in barley seedlings increased as enhancing NaCl and KCl for 96h and NaCl inhibitory degree was higher than that of KCl. The K\++ content of barley seedlings in NaCl was lower than the control, while the Na\++ content was higher, the levels of Na\++ fell in the seedlings treated with KCl, but K\++ levels rose, and K\++ content was higher than that of Na\++. The betaine levels of barley shoots rose with the increase in both external salt concentration and treatment time. Higher BADH activity was observed in low\|salt concentration but lower slightly in high\|salt concentration.展开更多
Information on the center of genetic diversity of soybean（Glycine max） will be helpful not only for designing efficient strategies for breeding programs, but also for understanding the domestication and origin of th...Information on the center of genetic diversity of soybean（Glycine max） will be helpful not only for designing efficient strategies for breeding programs, but also for understanding the domestication and origin of this species. Here, we describe an analysis of genetic diversity based on simple-sequence repeat（SSR） variations within a core collection of 2 111 accessions of Chinese soybean landraces. Prior to the diversity assessment, the geographic origin of each accession was mapped. The map was then divided into grids each 2.5° in latitude and 5° in longitude. We found two regions that had higher number of alleles（NA） and greater polymorphic information content（PIC） values than the others. These regions are adjacently located within grid position of 30°–35°N×105°–110°E, which includes the valley of the middle and lower reaches of the Wei River, and the valley of the upper reaches of the Hanjiang River. It was also observed that in many regions, genetic diversity decreased with the increase in distance from the center. Another region, in northern Hebei Province（115°–120°E×40°–42.5°N）, was observed having higher diversity than any surrounding regions, indicating that this is a sub-center of soybean diversity. Based on the presented results, the domestication and origin of soybean are also discussed.展开更多
基金American Heart Association Award,No.24IVPHA1288417and FCT Fellowships,No.2022.13253.BDANA.
文摘The potential of induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs)for modeling and treating metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)and metabolic associated steatohepatitis(MASH)is emerging.MAFLD is a growing global health concern,currently with limited treatment options.While primary mesenchymal stem cells hold promise,iPSCs offer a versatile alternative due to their ability to differentiate into various cell types,including iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells.However,challenges remain,including optimizing differentiation protocols,ensuring cell safety,and addressing potential tumorigenicity risks.In addition,iPSCs offer the possibility to generate complex cellular models,including three-dimensional organoid models,which are closer representations of the human disease than animal models.Those models would also be valuable for drug discovery and personalized medicine approaches.Overall,iPSCs and their derivatives offer new perspectives for advancing MAFLD/MASH research and developing novel therapeutic strategies.Further research is needed to overcome current limitations and translate this potential into effective clinical applications.
文摘Background:Antimicrobial resistance(AMR)poses a significant and growing public health challenge in East and Southern Africa.Despite formal commitments to the National Action Plans,domestic financing for AMR remains critically limited,with most countries continuing to depend heavily on external donor funding.Objective:This narrative review examines the current extent to which domestic fiscal commitments align with national AMR policy goals across the two regions.Methods:Government websites for ministries of health and finance,donor platforms,and three academic databases(Scopus,JSTOR,Google Scholar)were searched for eligible articles.National budget statements and media reports were also reviewed where available.Three researchers independently screened titles and summaries,followed by full-text reviews to confirm eligibility.Results:The findings reveal that while several countries have developed National Action Plans,very few have allocated domestic funding to implement them.Only Malawi,Nigeria and Uganda reported modest domestic contributions,while in other countries such as Zambia,Ethiopia,and South Africa,AMR programs remain largely donor-financed or lack dedicated budget lines altogether.Veterinary and laboratory sectors are particularly underfunded,with minimal integration into broader AMR strategies.While this review has several limitations including restricted access to current,comprehensive national budget data and a reliance on secondary sources such as donor and World Health Organization reports,which may introduce bias,the patterns identified in this review still offer valuable insight into regional funding dynamics and can inform future policy and research efforts.Conclusion:We conclude that without dedicated domestic financing and accountability mechanisms,AMR efforts in the region may face significant sustainability challenges observed in other health responses such as human immunodeficiency virus.Strengthening AMR governance requires clear budgetary commitments,sustainable cofinancing models,and policy instruments to reduce dependency on external support.
文摘BACKGROUND Poor glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is often accompanied by multiple complications,including diabetic nephropathy(DN),diabetic retinopathy(DR),diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN),and cardiac structural abnormality left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH).Early identification of high-risk populations for these complications and the implementation of intervention measures are crucial for improving patient outcomes.Serum alpha-1-microglobulin(α1-MG),a multifunctional protein synthesized by the liver and lymphocytes,has been considered a potential biomarker of diabetes-related diseases in recent years.AIM To investigate the associations of serumα1-MG with DN,DR,DPN,and LVH in T2DM patients and its predictive value.METHODS This retrospective study included 5045 T2DM patients.The study participants were stratified into quartiles according to their serumα1-MG levels.Multivariate logistic regression,restricted cubic spline,and explainable machine learning models were employed for risk assessment and feature importance evaluation.RESULTS Increasedα1-MG levels were observed in patients with DN,DR,DPN,and LVH(all P<0.001).Multivariate logistic regression revealed that each standard deviation increase inα1-MG was associated with an 84%increase in DN risk(OR:1.84,95%CI:1.62-2.10,P<0.001),a 17%increase in DR risk(OR:1.17,95%CI:1.07-1.28,P<0.001),a 14%increase in DPN risk(OR:1.14,95%CI:1.03-1.27,P=0.014),and a 28%increase in LVH risk(OR:1.28,95%CI:1.18-1.38,P<0.001).Subgroup analyses and machine learning confirmed the associations of elevatedα1-MG with these complications in T2DM patients.CONCLUSION Elevated serumα1-MG levels were independently associated with increased risks of DN,DR,DPN,and LVH in T2DM patients,suggesting its potential as a predictive biomarker.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82172524 and No.81974355)National Innovation Platform Development Program(No.2020021105012440),China+3 种基金Major Program of Hubei Province(No.2021BEA161),ChinaMajor Key Project of Hubei Province(No.JD2023BAA005),ChinaWuhan Union Hospital Free Innovation Preliminary Research Fund(No.2024XHYN047),ChinaJoint Funds for the Innovation of Science and Technology(No.2024Y9062),Fujian Province,China.
文摘Objective To develop a multimodal imaging atlas of a rat brain-computer interface(BCI)that incorporates brain,arterial,bone tissue and a BCI device using mixed reality(MR)for three-dimensional(3D)visualization.Methods An invasive BCI was implanted in the left visual cortex of 4-week-old Sprague–Dawley rats.Multimodal imaging techniques,including micro-CT and 9.0 T MRI,were used to acquire images of the rat cranial bone structure,vascular distribution,brain tissue functional zones,and BCI device before and after implantation.Using 3D-slicer software,the images were fused through spatial transformations,followed by image segmentation and 3D model reconstruction.The HoloLens platform was employed for MR visualization.Results This study constructed a multimodal imaging atlas for rats that included the skull,brain tissue,arterial tissue,and BCI device coupled with MR technology to create an interactive 3D anatomical model.Conclusions This multimodal 3D atlas provides an objective and stable reference for exploring complex relationships between brain tissue structure and function,enhancing the understanding of the operational principles of BCIs.This is the first multimodal 3D imaging atlas related to a BCI created using Sprague–Dawley rats.
基金funded by the Medical Research Future Fund-MRFF 2019 (Rapid Applied Research TranslationRART award)funded by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship-RTP+1 种基金funded by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Research Fellowshipsfunded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Leadership Fellow level 2
文摘Purpose: The purpose of this umbrella review was to synthesize the evidence from systematic reviews on the benefits and harms of exercise therapy and physical activity(PA) for the secondary prevention and management of low back pain(LBP).Methods: An umbrella review was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise therapy and PA in the management and secondary prevention of LBP. A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,and Physiotherapy Evidence Database(PEDro), including reference lists of relevant reviews, covering studies published between January 1,2010 and May 20, 2024. Eligible studies were systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials and observational studies, with or without meta-analyses. The primary outcome for secondary prevention was LBP recurrence, while for management, primary outcomes included pain intensity and disability, with adverse events as secondary outcomes. Data were extracted across immediate, short-term, intermediate, and longterm follow-up periods. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation(GRADE) framework was used to assess the certainty of evidence, and the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews tool(AMSTAR) tool was applied by 2 independent reviewers(JC, QL, and/or DXMW) to evaluate the quality of the included reviews. The study was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework(OSF).Results: A total of 70 systematic reviews were included, 43 with meta-analyses, 7 with network meta-analyses, and 20 without meta-analyses.Six(out of 10) reviews with meta-analyses for secondary prevention indicated a small benefit from general exercises and leisure-time PA(low-to-moderate certainty). For LBP management, 35(out of 36) reviews reported that exercise therapies such as Pilates, motor control,mixed exercise, Tai Chi, water-based exercises, and yoga showed small beneficial effects on pain and disability compared to minimal intervention mainly in the short-term(low-to-moderate certainty). Seven network meta-analyses favored motor control and Pilates over other forms of exercise to reduce pain(low certainty). Adverse events were reported in less than 31% of the reviews, predominantly involving postexercise soreness and temporary increases in pain, mainly in yoga-related studies. Adverse events were considered minor, and no serious adverse events were reported.Conclusion: There is low-to-moderate certainty that exercise therapy and leisure-time PA are beneficial for improving pain and preventing the recurrence of LBP. However, evidence on the potential harms of these interventions is limited, and adverse events related to exercise and PA remain under-investigated.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(2023YFF1001500)the Local Financial Funds of National Agricultural Science and Technology Center,Chengdu(NASC2022KR02,NASC2023TD08,NASC2021ST08,NASC2021PC04,NASC2022KR07,NASC2022KR06,and NASC2023ST04)+2 种基金the Agricultural Science and Technology Innova-tion Program(ASTIP-34-IUA-01,ASTIP-34-IUA-02,ASTIP-IUA-2023003,and ASTIP2024-34-IUA-09)the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund(Y2023YJ07 and SZ202403)the Sichuan Science and Technology Program(2023YFN003,2024NSFC1261,2023YFQ0100,and 2023ZYD0089).
文摘Rice(Oryza sativa L.)plays a pivotal role in global food security,yet its breeding is constrained by its long generation time and seasonality.To enhance rice breeding efficiency and meet future food demands,we have developed a vertical hydroponic breeding system integrated with light-emitting diodes(LEDs)light-ing in a closed plant factory(PF),which significantly accelerates rice growth and generation advance-ment.The results show that indica rice can be harvested as early as after 63 days of cultivation,a 50%reduction compared with field cultivation,enabling the annual harvesting of 5-6 generations within the PF.A hyperspectral imaging(HSI)system and attenuated total reflectance infrared(ATR-IR)spec-troscopy were further employed to characterize the chemical composition of the PF-and field-cultivated rice.Metabolomics analysis with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)revealed that,com-pared with the field-cultivated rice,the PF-cultivated rice exhibited an up-regulation of total phenolic acids along with 68 non-volatile and 19 volatile metabolites,such as isovitexin,succinic acid,and methylillicinone F.Overall,this study reveals the unique metabolic profile of PF-cultivated rice and high-lights the potential of PFs to accelerate the breeding of crops such as rice,offering an innovative agricul-tural strategy to support food security in the face of global population growth and climate change.
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,China(2022A1515011575)National Natural Science Foundation of China,China(81873154)President Foundation of Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Southern Medical University,China(1202103010)。
文摘Lycii Radicis Cortex(LRC)is a medicinal and food homologous plant with various pharmacological activities,including anti-tumor effects.This study explores the anti-tumor effect of LRC on non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and its molecular mechanism using mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma cells.LRC significantly suppressed the growth of NSCLC.Besides,RNA sequencing of mice tumors and hematoxylin&eosin and immunofluorescence staining revealed that LRC promoted the infiltration of T lymphocytes,specifically GZMB~+CD8~+T lymphocytes,in tumor tissues.The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of spleen RNA indicated that LRC up-regulated PD-1-downstream pathways,suggesting that LRC exerted its effects through the PDL1/PD-1 pathway.Further experiments revealed that LRC interacted with PD-L1,blocking PD-L1/PD-1 binding and thus restoring the T cell killing activity on tumor cells.Together,these results support using LRC as healthy food to improve anti-tumor immunity in patients with NSCLC.
基金Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao Special Administrative Region (0009/2024/RIB1)Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2020B0301030004)。
文摘The inherent black-box nature of machine learning(ML) models limits their interpretability and broader application in heavy precipitation forecasting. Evaluating the reliability of these models involves analyzing the link between predictions and predictors. In this study, ERA5 reanalysis data, CERES satellite observations, and ground-based meteorological observatories were utilized to compile more comprehensive multi-type predictors for developing a Bayesian optimized XGBoost model for the nowcasting of heavy precipitation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the pre-summer rainy season. A comparison of model performance with different combinations of input features and classical machine learning algorithms demonstrated that the Bayesian optimized XGBoost model achieved the best overall performance, with an average Critical Success Index of 68.30%. Permutation Importance(PI) and shapley Additive Explanations(SHAP) methods were utilized to interpret feature effects in heavy precipitation forecasting. The results indicated that precipitable water vapor(PWV), cloud, relative humidity, and seasonal and diurnal variables had more significant effects on the model output as individual features. Furthermore, the collective influence of derivatives from PWV and meteorological parameters(e.g., temperature, relative humidity, pressure and dew point temperature)showed a significant enhancement over their individual impacts, indicating synergistic interactions among these predictors.Applying explainable artificial intelligence(XAI) to ML models helps understand how models utilize features for forecasting, enhances the reliability of forecasts, and guides feature selection and the mitigation of overfitting phenomena.
基金The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Researchers Supporting Project Number(RSP2025R182),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘Chromium (Cr), a persistent soil pollutant, has detrimental effects on plants and living things, and its contamination in soil increased as a result of human-induced activities. Pakistan suffers from a lack of fresh water supplies;hence most people use metal-containing water and wastewater to irrigate their crops. Exposure to Cr toxicity, the plant reduces their morphological and physiological growth which ultimately decreases crop productivity. The current study was designed to investigate the foliar application of hesperidin (HSP) at varying effluent rates (25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L^(−1)) on wheat growth under tannery wastewater irrigated soil. Cr toxicity caused a change in the concentration of chlorophyll molecules, indicating early signs of stress. Modifications in the ultrastructure of chloroplasts, the elevated activity of chlorophyllase, and the generation of reactive oxygen species were causing the reduction in chlorophyll. Cr stress disrupted total soluble protein concentrations and the activity of antioxidation-related enzymes and NRA, suggesting the onset of oxidative stress. On the other hand, the application of HSP reduced oxidative damage by improving protein concentration (37%), chlorophyll concentration (37%), and antioxidant enzyme activity such as CAT (65%), SOD (46%), and POD (68%). Furthermore, HSP raised the concentrations of non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules, which may indicate better redox homeostasis and stress tolerance. These molecules include GSH, GSSG, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolics, and anthocyanins. HSP therapy lessened the impact of Cr stress on lipid peroxidation markers. HSP enhanced these measures during the investigation. Cr stress raised the concentrations of total free amino acids and nitrogen oxide and decreased the radical scavenging activity in wheat. Cr stress raised the concentration of all soluble sugars, primarily reducing and non-reducing sugars, whereas the application of HSP strengthened these osmo protectants even more results of the present investigation indicate that exogenous HSP is a feasible and eco-friendly approach to improving plant resistance against Cr toxicity by efficiently reducing the physiological strain and metabolic stress caused by Cr in wheat plants.
文摘For any country,the availability of electricity is crucial to the development of the national economy and society.As a result,decision-makers and policy-makers can improve the sustainability and security of the energy supply by implementing a variety of actions by using the evaluation of these factors as an early warning system.This research aims to provide a multi-criterion decision-making(MCDM)method for assessing the sustainability and security of the electrical supply.The weights of criteria,which indicate their relative relevance in the assessment of the sustainability and security of the energy supply,the MCDM method allow users to express their opinions.To overcome the impact of uncertainty and vagueness of expert opinion,we explore the notion of picture fuzzy theory,which is a more efficient and dominant mathematical model.Recently,the theory of Aczel-Alsina operations has attained a lot of attraction and has an extensive capability to acquire smooth approximated results during the aggregation process.However,Choquet integral operators are more flexible and are used to express correlation among different attributes.This article diagnoses an innovative theory of picture fuzzy set to derive robust mathematical methodologies of picture fuzzy Choquet Integral Aczel-Alsina aggregation operators.To prove the intensity and validity of invented approaches,some dominant properties and special cases are also discussed.An intelligent decision algorithm for the MCDM problem is designed to resolve complicated real-life applications under multiple conflicting criteria.Additionally,we discussed a numerical example to investigate a suitable electric transformer under consideration of different beneficial key criteria.A comparative study is established to capture the superiority and effectiveness of pioneered mathematical approaches with existing methodologies.
文摘Hypoglycemia limits optimal glycemic management of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM).Fear of hypoglycemia(FoH)is a significant psychosocial consequence that negatively impacts the willingness of T1DM patients to engage in and profit from the health benefits of regular physical activity(e.g.,cardiometabolic health,improved body composition,cardiovascular fitness,quality of life).Technological advances,improved insulin regimens,and a better understanding of the physiology of various types of exercise could help ameliorate FoH.This narrative review summarizes the available literature on FoH in children and adults and tools to avoid it.
文摘The paper introduces the method of high-density seismic imaging exploration, discusses its features different from conventional shallow seismic reflection wave technique, and illustrates the application effect of the method using three samples of engineering geological explorations on land and in water exploration of underground cavity, location survey of sunk ship and investigation of channel silt depth.
文摘Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 that manifests as a variety of clinical manifestations,including liver damage commonly detected by a hepatocellular pattern from liver function tests.Liver injury is associated with a worse prognosis overall.Conditions associated with the severity of the disease include obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities,which are also associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).The presence of NAFLD,similarly to obesity,is associated with an unfavourable impact on the coronavirus disease 2019 outcome.Individuals with these conditions could present with liver damage and elevated liver function tests due to direct viral cytotoxicity,systemic inflammation,ischemic or hypoxic liver damage or drug side effects.However,liver damage in the setting of NAFLD could also be attributed to a pre-existing chronic low-grade inflammation associated with surplus and dysfunctional adipose tissue in these individuals.Here we investigate the hypothesis that a pre-existing inflammatory status is exacerbated after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection,which embodies a second hit to the underestimated liver damage.
基金sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No.81372949]the Young Scholar Scientific Research Foundation of China CDC [No.2016A206]
文摘Objective To comparatively study the toxicity of four metal-containing nanoparticles(MNPs) and their chemical counterparts to the air-blood barrier(ABB) permeability using an in vitro model.Methods ABB model, which was developed via the co-culturing of A549 and pulmonary capillary endothelium, was exposed to spherical CuO-NPs(divided into CuO-40, CuO-80, and CuO-100 based on particle size), nano-Al2O3(sheet and short-rod-shaped), nano-ZnO, nano-Pb S, CuSO4, Al2(SO4)3, Zn(CH3COO)2, and Pb(NO3)2 for 60 min.Every 10 min following exposure, the cumulative cleared volume(ΔTCL) of Lucifer yellow by the model was calculated.A clearance curve was established using linear regression analysis of ΔTCL versus time.Permeability coefficient(P) was calculated based on the slope of the curve to represent the degree of change in the ABB permeability.Results The results found the increased P values of CuO-40, CuO-80, sheet, and short-rod-shaped nano-Al2O3, Al2(SO4)3, and Pb(NO3)2.Among them, small CuO-40 and CuO-80 were stronger than CuO-100 and CuSO4;no difference was observed between Al2(SO4)3 and sheet and short-rod-shaped nano-Al2O3;and nano-Pb S was slightly weaker than Pb(NO3)2.So clearly the MNPs possess diverse toxicity.Conclusion ABB permeability abnormality means pulmonary toxicity potential.More studies are warranted to understand MNPs toxicity and ultimately control the health hazards.
基金support of the Foundation for the Development of Theoretical Physics and Mathematics BASIS(project 24-2-1-6-1)supported by the UKRI Science and Technology Facilities Council and is a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh(grant ST/N002512/1)and Queen’s University Belfast(grant ST/N002520/1)within the LSST:UK Science Consortium+4 种基金supported by the National Science Foundation under grants No.AST-1440341 and AST-2034437primarily funded to search for near earth asteroids through NASA grants NN12AR55G,80NSSC18K0284,and80NSSC18K1575partially funded by Kepler/K2 grant J1944/80NSSC19K0112 and HST GO-15889STFC grants ST/T000198/1 and ST/S006109/1made use of the Astrophysics Data System,funded by NASA under Cooperative Agreement 80NSSC21M00561。
文摘We present the discovery of TCP J07222683+6220548,a new ultracompact binary system of the AM CVn type.This system was first identified displaying aΔV=7.6 mag outburst on 2025-01-20.9416 UTC by the New Milky Way wide-field survey for transients and later independently detected by ASAS-SN and ZTF.The outburst peaked at V_(max)=12.45 and lasted for seven days,followed by a series of rebrightenings.No previous outbursts are found in archival data.Positive superhumps with a period of 0.032546±0.000084 day(46.87±0.12 minutes),barely detectable during the main outburst,became clearly visible during the first rebrightening that lasted from day 18 to day 24 after the initial outburst.No convincing change in the superhump period was detected.Dense time-series photometry follow-up by a pair of 0.5 m INASAN robotic telescopes,together with VSNET and AAVSO observers,was essential for identifying TCP J07222683+6220548 as an AM CVn system and triggering confirmation spectroscopy with the 2.5 m CMO SAI telescope.Some outbursting AM CVn systems lacking such detailed follow-up may remain unrecognized among the newly discovered cataclysmic variable candidates.
基金The study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFA0701402)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82021004,81971690,81620108016,and 11835003)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(2019NTST24).
文摘Functional hubs with disproportionately extensive connectivities play a crucial role in global information integration in human brain networks.However,most resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(R-fMRI)studies have identified functional hubs by examining spontaneous fluctuations of the blood oxygen level-dependent signal within a typical low-frequency band(e.g.,0.01–0.08 Hz or 0.01–0.1 Hz).Little is known about how the spatial distributions of functional hubs depend on frequency bands of interest.Here,we used repeatedly measured R-fMRI data from 53 healthy young adults and a degree centrality analysis to identify voxelwise frequency-resolved functional hubs and further examined their test-retest reliability across two sessions.We showed that a wide-range frequency band(0.01–0.24 Hz)accessible with a typical sampling rate(fsample=0.5 Hz)could be classified into three frequency bands with distinct patterns,namely,low-frequency(LF,0.01–0.06 Hz),middle-frequency(MF,0.06–0.16 Hz),and high-frequency(HF,0.16–0.24 Hz)bands.The functional hubs were mainly located in the medial and lateral frontal and parietal cortices in the LF band,and in the medial prefrontal cortex,superior temporal gyrus,parahippocampal gyrus,amygdala,and several cerebellar regions in the MF and HF bands.These hub regions exhibited fair to good test-retest reliability,regardless of the frequency band.The presence of the three frequency bands was well replicated using an independent R-fMRI dataset from 45 healthy young adults.Our findings demonstrate reliable frequency-resolved functional connectivity hubs in three categories,thus providing insights into the frequency-specific connectome organization in healthy and disordered brains.
文摘Limited integration of contextual factors in maternal care contributes to slow progress towards achieving MDG5 in sub-Sahara Africa. In Ngorongoro, rural Tanzania, the maternal mortality ratio is high with 642 maternal deaths/100,000 live births. Skilled birth attendants (SBAs) assist only 7% of deliveries. This study, undertaken from 2009 to 2011, used Participatory Action Research involving local stakeholders (Maasai women and men, traditional birth attendants (TBAs), hospital staff) to examine reasons for low utilization of SBAs and moreover to develop proposals how to integrate contextual factors and local needs in the health care system. Interviews, observations and literature study were also conducted. Thaddeus and Maine’s Three Delays model is used to structure the analysis. Delaying factors in decision making at home: negative perceptions by the community on availability and quality of care in the hospital;discontinuity of care by TBAs;food and financial insecurity;desired nearness to cattle and family;limited recognition of maternal deaths;limited male health education and suboptimal birth preparedness. Delaying factors in reaching the hospital: vehicle and road limitations. Delaying factors in receiving hospital care: limited (human) resources and limited knowledge sharing at the hospital. Community members and health workers proposed: increasing food/financial security;tailoring male health education;combining TBA/SBA care to provide continuous, culturally appropriate labour support;creating separate maternity wards;increasing the number and training of staff;ensuring continuous availability of Emergency Obstetric Care. Applying solutions to increase hospital utilization seems complex as collaborative actions by multiple actors and institutions are needed to create both a needs based and clinically sound continuum of maternal care. To follow-up this process of integrating local solutions into the maternal care system, we suggest to adapt the WHO Strategic Approach—a top-down framework for the implementation of innovations—to fit this bottom-up approach.
基金Sponsored by the Natural Science Foundation of Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai) (Grant No. HIT(WH). 2002. 7)
文摘Communication network has communication capacity and connection reliability of the links. They canbe independently defined and can be used separately, and when the reliability of a communication network isanalyzed from a macroscopical angle of view, it is more objective to express the performance index of a commu-nication network as a whole. The reliability index weighted capacity is just obtained by integrating these two pa-rameters. It is necessary to further study the algorithm to calculate the reliability index of the communicationnetwork with a complicated topologic structure and a whole algebraic algorithm is therefore proposed for calcula-tion of the reliability index weighted capacity of a communication network with a topologic structure. The wholecomputational procedure of the algorithm is illustrated with a typical example.
文摘The changes in growth status, ion contents, betaine levels and betaine\|aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) activity in seedlings of nonhalophyte barley treated with different concentrations of NaCl and KCl were studied. Results showed that the inhibition of growth in barley seedlings increased as enhancing NaCl and KCl for 96h and NaCl inhibitory degree was higher than that of KCl. The K\++ content of barley seedlings in NaCl was lower than the control, while the Na\++ content was higher, the levels of Na\++ fell in the seedlings treated with KCl, but K\++ levels rose, and K\++ content was higher than that of Na\++. The betaine levels of barley shoots rose with the increase in both external salt concentration and treatment time. Higher BADH activity was observed in low\|salt concentration but lower slightly in high\|salt concentration.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(973,G1998010203 and 2004CB117203)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program(ASTIP)of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
文摘Information on the center of genetic diversity of soybean（Glycine max） will be helpful not only for designing efficient strategies for breeding programs, but also for understanding the domestication and origin of this species. Here, we describe an analysis of genetic diversity based on simple-sequence repeat（SSR） variations within a core collection of 2 111 accessions of Chinese soybean landraces. Prior to the diversity assessment, the geographic origin of each accession was mapped. The map was then divided into grids each 2.5° in latitude and 5° in longitude. We found two regions that had higher number of alleles（NA） and greater polymorphic information content（PIC） values than the others. These regions are adjacently located within grid position of 30°–35°N×105°–110°E, which includes the valley of the middle and lower reaches of the Wei River, and the valley of the upper reaches of the Hanjiang River. It was also observed that in many regions, genetic diversity decreased with the increase in distance from the center. Another region, in northern Hebei Province（115°–120°E×40°–42.5°N）, was observed having higher diversity than any surrounding regions, indicating that this is a sub-center of soybean diversity. Based on the presented results, the domestication and origin of soybean are also discussed.
