Investigation on the contaminate of hand washing activities on the surface of environmental objects in intensive care unit.

To detect the contaminate of faucets in hospitals and the splash during hand washing, and to explore the reasonable layout of hand washing pools. Two faucets with roughly the same spatial layout in the ICU of a third-class first-class general hospital were selected, and the farthest splashing distance and specific splashing points were measured by color paper. Samples were detected by ATP detection technology and routine microbial detection method, and the contaminate of faucets was analyzed. After 72 h of daily hand-washing activities, the furthest distance to the splash point was about 100 cm around the faucet, and the place 40-110 cm around the faucet was contaminated seriously. The farthest distance that the splash point reached was about 80 cm around the faucet with the center of the circle, and the area 40-60 cm around the faucet was heavily contaminated. The distance from the water outlet of the long handle and the short handle faucet to the detection point had a high negative correlation (r = - 0.811, P < 0.001) and a moderate negative correlation (r = - 0.475, P = 0.001) with the number of splash points, respectively. The qualified rates of ATP detection and microbial culture were 25% and 15%, respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and other pathogenic bacteria were detected in the water outlet of the faucet and the surrounding environment. Safe hand hygiene facilities are one of the important guarantees of hand hygiene effect. Clean objects and objects related to patients should not be placed within 1 m range near the water outlet of faucet. Anti-splash baffle should be installed as much as possible when conditions permit to reduce the contaminate caused by splash during hand washing.

The Gene Rearrangement and Transcriptional Regulation of Non B Cell-Derived Immunoglobulin.

Traditionally, immunoglobulin (Ig) expression has been attributed solely to B cells/plasma cells with well-documented and accepted regulatory mechanisms governing Ig expression in B cells. Ig transcription is tightly controlled by a series of transcription factors. However, increasing evidence has recently demonstrated that Ig is not only produced by B cell lineages but also by various types of non-B cells (non-B-Ig). Under physiological conditions, non-B-Ig not only exhibits antibody activity but also regulates cellular biological activities (such as promoting cell proliferation, adhesion, and cytoskeleton protein activity). In pathological conditions, non-B-Ig is implicated in the development of various diseases including tumour, kidney disease, and other immune-related disorders. The mechanisms underline Ig gene rearrangement and transcriptional regulation of Ig genes in non-B cells are not fully understood. However, existing evidence suggests that these mechanisms in non-B cells differ from those in B cells. For instance, non-B-Ig gene rearrangement occurs in an RAG-independent manner; and Oct-1 and Oct-4, rather than Oct-2, are required for the transcriptional regulation of non-B derived Igs. In this chapter, we will describe and compare the mechanisms of gene rearrangement and expression regulation between B-Ig and non-B-Ig.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes as Drug Carriers for Delivering miRNA-29b to Ameliorate Inflammation in Corneal Injury Via Activating Autophagy.

Purpose: Corneal injury (CI) resulting in corneal opacity remains a clinical challenge. Exosomes (Exos) derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been proven effective in repairing various tissue injuries and are also considered excellent drug carriers due to their biological properties. Recently, microRNA-29b (miR-29b) was found to play an important role in the autophagy regulation which correlates with cell inflammation and fibrosis. However, the effects of miR-29b and autophagy on CI remain unclear. To find better treatments for CI, we used Exos to carry miR-29b and investigated its effects in the treatment of CI. Methods: BMSCs were transfected with miR-29b-3p agomir/antagomir and negative controls (NCs) to obtain Exos-29b-ago, Exos-29b-anta, and Exos-NC. C57BL/6J mice that underwent CI surgeries were treated with Exos-29b-ago, Exos-29b-anta, Exos-NC, or PBS. The autophagy, inflammation, and fibrosis of the cornea were estimated by slit-lamp, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunofluorescence, RT‒qPCR, and Western blot. The effects of miR-29b-3p on autophagy and inflammation in immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (iHCECs) were also investigated. Results: Compared to PBS, Exos-29b-ago, Exos-29b-anta, and Exos-NC all could ameliorate corneal inflammation and fibrosis. However, Exos-29b-ago, which accumulated a large amount of miR-29b-3p, exerted excellent potency via autophagy activation by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and further inhibited corneal inflammation via the mTOR/NF-κB/IL-1ß pathway. After Exos-29b-ago treatment, the expressions of collagen type III, α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, and vimentin were significantly decreased than in other groups. In addition, overexpression of miR-29b-3p prevented iHCECs from autophagy impairment and inflammatory injury. Conclusions: Exos from BMSCs carrying miR-29b-3p can significantly improve the therapeutic effect on CI via activating autophagy and further inhibiting corneal inflammation and fibrosis.

All-optical instantaneous RF signal frequency measurement system based on a linear ACF with a steep slope.

A new microwave photonic structure for measuring the frequency of an RF signal, to the best of our knowledge, is presented. The frequency of an unknown RF signal can be determined by simply measuring the system output optical powers. The proposed frequency measurement system can be designed so that the ratio of the two system output optical powers as a function of the RF signal frequency or the amplitude comparison function (ACF) has a steep linear slope over a wide frequency range. This enables the RF signal frequency to be measured in high resolution and high accuracy. The proposed frequency measurement system has a simple and compact structure, and is free of high-speed photodetectors as well as RF components and instruments. It also has a fast response time compared to many reported photonics-based frequency measurement systems. A proof-of-concept experiment is carried out. Experimental results show a linear ACF with a slope of more than 4.4 dB/GHz over a frequency measurement range of 5-26 GHz and a frequency measurement accuracy of better than ±0.1G H z.

Discrimination and evaluation of commercial salmons by low-molecule-weight compounds: Oligopeptides and phosphatides.

In this study, the overall sensory characteristics and low-molecule-weight compounds were analyzed to achieve the discrimination of different commercial salmons and investigate the salmon's sensory and nutritional quality. The results showed that above the overall sensory properties, O. mykiss, S. salar, and O. kisutch were the most satisfied salmons by the panel with the desirable texture and flavor, which displayed a large potential for growth in the consumption market. The alcohols and sulfur compounds were key volatile compounds contributing to typical aroma of O. masou and O. gorbuscha, response higher than others by 147% to 167%. The oligopeptides and phospholipids in salmon could be used as biomarkers for discrimination of these salmon. Oligopeptides were also closely related to the taste quality of salmon. Seventeen oligopeptides showed potential umami activity based on molecular docking results, especially Arg-Val and Ser-Asn, which were the key tastants contributing to the umami of salmon.

Thrombectomy improves functional independence in severe basilar artery occlusion with favorable collateral circulation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of collateral circulation on the outcomes of thrombectomy versus medical management alone in basilar artery occlusion (BAO) patients with varying stroke severities. METHODS: Data from the ATTENTION cohort were used to perform a post-hoc analysis comparing the outcomes of thrombectomy with medical management in BAO patients with varying degrees of collateral circulation and stroke severity. Basilar Artery on Computed Tomography Angiography (BATMAN) scores were used to quantify the collateral circulation, and the effect was estimated through a primary outcome of 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, mRS ≤2). Favorable versus unfavorable BATMAN scores were analyzed as both continuous and categorical variables, and an adjusted multivariate regression model was applied. RESULTS: Among 221 BAO patients, thrombectomy significantly improved functional independence compared to medical management in patients with favorable BATMAN scores (aOR 7.75, 95% CI 2.78-26.1), but not in those with unfavorable BATMAN scores (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 0.28-6.92; pinteraction = 0.028). When treated as a continuous variable, increased BATMAN score was found to be associated with a higher likelihood of functional independence in the thrombectomy group (aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.44-2.81; pinteraction = 0.053). In severe stroke patients with higher BATMAN scores (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥21), we identified a significant interaction for treatment effect with thrombectomy compared to medical management (pinteraction = 0.042). CONCLUSION: An increased BATMAN score was significantly associated with a higher probability of functional independence after thrombectomy than after medical management, particularly in patients with severe BAO.

Sialic Acids Blockade-Based Chemo-Immunotherapy Featuring Cancer Cell Chemosensitivity and Antitumor Immune Response Synergies.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with cancer, although the majority of such patients achieve low response rates; consequently, new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. The upregulation of sialic acid-containing glycans is a common characteristic of cancer-related glycosylation, which drives disease progression and immune escape via numerous pathways. Herein, the development of self-assembled core-shell nanoscale coordination polymer nanoparticles loaded with a sialyltransferase inhibitor, referred to as NCP-STI which effectively stripped diverse sialoglycans from cancer cells, providing an antibody-independent pattern to disrupt the emerging Siglec-sialic acid glyco-immune checkpoint is reported. Furthermore, NCP-STI inhibits sialylation of the concentrated nucleoside transporter 1 (CNT1), promotes the intracellular accumulation of anticancer agent gemcitabine (Gem), and enhances Gem-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD). As a result, the combination of NCP-STI and Gem (NCP-STI/Gem) evokes a robust antitumor immune response and exhibits superior efficacy in restraining the growth of multiple murine tumors and pulmonary metastasis. Collectively, the findings demonstrate a novel form of small molecule-based chemo-immunotherapy approach which features sialic acids blockade that enables cooperative effects of cancer cell chemosensitivity and antitumor immune responses for cancer treatment.

Molecular hydrogen promotes retinal vascular regeneration and attenuates neovascularization and neuroglial dysfunction in oxygen-induced retinopathy mice.

BACKGROUND: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a proliferative retinal vascular disease occurring in the retina of premature infants and is the main cause of childhood blindness. Nowadays anti-VEGF and retinal photocoagulation are mainstream treatments for ROP, but they develop a variety of complications. Hydrogen (H2) is widely considered as a useful neuroprotective and antioxidative therapeutic method for hypoxic-ischemic disease without toxic effects. However, whether H2 provides physiological angiogenesis promotion, neovascularization suppression and glial protection in the progression of ROP is largely unknown.This study aims to investigate the effects of H2 on retinal angiogenesis, neovascularization and neuroglial dysfunction in the retinas of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mice. METHODS: In this study, mice that were seven days old and either wild-type (WT) or Nrf2-deficient (Nrf2-/-) were exposed to 75% oxygen for 5 days and then returned to normal air conditions. Different stages of hydrogen gas (H2) inhalation were administered. Vascular obliteration, neovascularization, and blood vessel leakage were analyzed and compared. To count the number of neovascularization endothelial nuclei, routine HE staining of retinal sections was conducted. Immunohistochemistry was performed using DyLight 594 labeled GSL I-isolectin B4 (IB4), as well as primary antibodies against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and Iba-1. Western blots were used to measure the expression of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Notch1, Dll4, and HIF-1α. Additionally, the expression of target genes such as NQO1, HO-1, Notch1, Hey1, Hey2, and Dll4 was measured. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with H2 under hypoxia were used as an in vitro model. RT-PCR was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of Nrf2, Notch/Dll4, and the target genes. The expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed using immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Our results indicate that 3-4% H2 does not disturb retinal physiological angiogenesis, but ameliorates vaso-obliteration and neovascularization in OIR mice. Moreover, H2 prevents the decreased density and reverses the morphologic and functional changes in retinal astrocytes caused by oxygen-induced injury. In addition, H2 inhalation reduces microglial activation, especially in the area of neovascularization in OIR mice. H2 plays a protective role in vascular regeneration by promoting Nrf2 activation and suppressing the Dll4-induced Notch signaling pathway in vivo. Also, H2 promotes the proliferation of HUVECs under hypoxia by negatively regulating the Dll4/Notch pathway and reducing ROS levels through Nrf2 pathway aligning with our findings in vivo.Moreover, the retinal oxygen-sensing mechanisms (HIF-1α/VEGF) are also involved in hydrogen-mediated retinal revascularization and neovascularization suppression. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our results indicate that H2 could be a promising therapeutic agent for POR treatment and that its beneficial effect in human ROP might involve the activation of the Nrf2-Notch axis as well as HIF-1α/VEGF pathways.

[Rules of prescriptions for heart failure of dilated cardiomyopathy based on latent structure model and association rules].

The latent structure model and association rules analysis were employed to explore the compatibility rules of prescriptions for heart failure of dilated cardiomyopathy, with a view to providing theoretical support for the clinical treatment of this disease based on syndrome differentiation and the formulation of guidelines. The articles about the treatment of heart failure of dilated cardiomyopathy were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed. The database was established in Microsoft Excel 2019. Lantern 5.0 and Rstudio were used to analyze the latent structure and association rules of Chinese medicine with the frequency greater than 4.00%. Furthermore, the frequency structure model was used to mine the rules of prescriptions for heart failure of dilated cardiomyopathy. The study included 175 traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) prescriptions, involving 128 Chinese medicines, with the cumulative frequency of 1 847. High-frequency medicines included Astragali Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Poria, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, with the main effects of tonifying, activating blood, resolving stasis, and releasing exterior. A total of 17 hidden variables, 34 hidden categories, and 6 comprehensive cluster models, along with 15 core prescriptions, were obtained. According to the prescriptions, the patients mainly had the syndromes of heart-Yang and Qi deficiency, Qi deficiency and blood stasis, heart-kidney Yang deficiency or Qi-Yin deficiency. Fifty-four strong association rules were obtained through association rule analysis. The highest degree of support was observed for the combination of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Astragali Radix, while the highest degree of confidence was found for the combination of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma-Cinnamomi Ramulus-Ophiopogonis Radix-Astragali Radix. The heart failure of dilated cardiomyopathy, characterized by internal deficiency and excess manifestations, is attributed to deficiency, stasis, and water. These factors are closely associated with the heart, lung, and spleen. The treatment should follow the principle of invigorating Qi and warming Yang, and meanwhile the method of activating blood and resolve stasis or moving Qi and promoting urination can be adopted according to the specific syndrome of patients.

Dynamic causes contribute to the increasing trend of red tides in the east China sea during 2020-2022.

Red tide is a marine phenomenon caused by the excessive growth of microscopic algae in the ocean. This study aims to analyze the development trends of red tides in the past 20 years and the dynamic external causes that induce red tides based on existing satellite remote sensing and numerical simulation data. And the changes in dominant species of red tides in different seasons are analyzed. The results show significant temperature fluctuations within the week before the red tide occurs, with an average increase of 1.42 °C. In contrast, the change in salinity is relatively small. Meanwhile, ocean fronts are areas in the ocean where different water masses meet and form boundaries. The average strength of ocean fronts increased by 3.7%, indicating enhanced ocean mixing over a short period of time. Under the combined influence of these factors, the probability of a red tide outbreak in the East China Sea increases rapidly. Therefore, this study has important reference value for further research on the causes of red tides and their response to ocean dynamic changes.

A core scientific problem in the treatment of central nervous system diseases: newborn neurons.

It has long been asserted that failure to recover from central nervous system diseases is due to the system's intricate structure and the regenerative incapacity of adult neurons. Yet over recent decades, numerous studies have established that endogenous neurogenesis occurs in the adult central nervous system, including humans'. This has challenged the long-held scientific consensus that the number of adult neurons remains constant, and that new central nervous system neurons cannot be created or renewed. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of the alterations and regulatory mechanisms of endogenous neurogenesis following central nervous system injury, and describe novel treatment strategies that target endogenous neurogenesis and newborn neurons in the treatment of central nervous system injury. Central nervous system injury frequently results in alterations of endogenous neurogenesis, encompassing the activation, proliferation, ectopic migration, differentiation, and functional integration of endogenous neural stem cells. Because of the unfavorable local microenvironment, most activated neural stem cells differentiate into glial cells rather than neurons. Consequently, the injury-induced endogenous neurogenesis response is inadequate for repairing impaired neural function. Scientists have attempted to enhance endogenous neurogenesis using various strategies, including using neurotrophic factors, bioactive materials, and cell reprogramming techniques. Used alone or in combination, these therapeutic strategies can promote targeted migration of neural stem cells to an injured area, ensure their survival and differentiation into mature functional neurons, and facilitate their integration into the neural circuit. Thus can integration replenish lost neurons after central nervous system injury, by improving the local microenvironment. By regulating each phase of endogenous neurogenesis, endogenous neural stem cells can be harnessed to promote effective regeneration of newborn neurons. This offers a novel approach for treating central nervous system injury.

Characteristics and health impacts of bioaerosols in animal barns: A comprehensive study.

Bioaerosols produced during animal production have potential adverse effects on the health of workers and animals. Our objective was to investigate characteristics, antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs), and health risks of bioaerosols in various animal barns. Poultry and swine barns had high concentrations of airborne bacteria (11156 and 10917 CFU/m3, respectively). Acinetobacter, Clostridium sensu stricto, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus were dominant pathogenic bacteria in animal barns, with Firmicutes being the most abundant bacterial phylum. Based on linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), there were more discriminative biomarkers in cattle barns than in poultry or swine barns, although the latter had the highest abundance of bacterial pathogens and high abundances of ARGs (including tetM, tetO, tetQ, tetW sul1, sul2, ermA, ermB) and intI1). Based on network analyses, there were higher co-occurrence patterns between bacteria and ARGs in bioaerosol from swine barns. Furthermore, in these barns, relative abundance of bacteria in bioaerosol samples was greatly affected by environmental factors, mainly temperature, relative humidity, and concentrations of CO2, NH3, and PM2.5. This study provided novel data regarding airborne bio-contaminants in animal enclosures and an impetus to improve management to reduce potential health impacts on humans and animals.

A new strategy for accelerating recovery of anaerobic granular sludge after low-temperature shock: In situ regulation of quorum sensing microorganisms embedded in polyvinyl alcohol sodium alginate.

Low-temperature could inhibit the performance of anaerobic granular sludge (AnGS). Quorum sensing (QS), as a communication mode between microorganisms, can effectively regulate AnGS. In this study, a kind of embedded particles (PVA/SA@Serratia) based on signal molecule secreting bacteria was prepared by microbial immobilization technology based on polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate to accelerate the recovery of AnGS system after low temperature. Low-temperature shock experiment verified the positive effect of PVA/SA@Serratia on restoring the COD removal rate and methanogenesis capacity of AnGS. Further analysis by metagenomics analysis showed that PVA/SA@Serratia stimulated higher QS activity and promoted the secretion of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) in AnGS. The rapid construction of EPS protective layer effectively accelerated the establishment of a robust microbial community structure. PVA/SA@Serratia also enhanced multiple methanogenic pathways, including direct interspecies electron transfer. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PVA/SA@Serratia could effectively strengthen AnGS after low-temperature shock.

Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity and Cognitive Outcomes: A Post hoc Analysis of SPRINT-MIND.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness has been confirmed to be associated with cognitive impairment. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is widely regarded as the gold standard for assessing arterial stiffness, yet it is not readily accessible. In response, the use of estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) has been proposed as a more accessible and cost-effective alternative. ePWV not only offers ease of calculation but also covers a broader spectrum of vascular aging processes, some of which may be distinct from those detected by cfPWV. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between ePWV and cognitive outcomes in SPRINT-MIND (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension). METHODS: This study was a post hoc analysis of the SPRINT-MIND. The primary endpoint was a composite outcome including probable dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The calculation of ePWV was based on age and mean blood pressure. The association between ePWV and cognitive outcomes was assessed Using Cox regression analysis. The response of ePWV to antihypertensive treatment at 12 months was used to define treatment efficacy. RESULTS: 8,563 patients were enrolled. The ePWV was found to be independently associated with risk of probable dementia (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: HR, 95% CI: 1.70, 1.08-2.68, P = 0.023, P for trend = 0.013), MCI (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: HR, 95% CI: 2.35, 1.71-3.23, P < 0.001, P for trend < 0.001), and the composite outcome of probable dementia or MCI (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: HR, 95% CI: 2.17, 1.65-2.86, P < 0.001, P for trend < 0.001). The combined effect of treatment allocation and the response of ePWV to treatment exhibited that intensive/ePWV responders had the lowest risk of the primary outcome (Log-rank P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: EPWV demonstrated independent predictive value for cognitive outcomes in SPRINT-MIND.

Mussel inspired sequential protein delivery based on self-healing injectable nanocomposite hydrogel.

Polysaccharide based self-healing and injectable hydrogels with reversible characteristics have widespread potential in protein drug delivery. However, it is a challenge to design the dynamic hydrogel for sequential release of protein drugs. Herein, we developed a novel mussel inspired sequential protein delivery dynamic polysaccharide hydrogel. The nanocomposite hydrogel can be fabricated through doping polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) into reversible covalent bond (imine bonds) crosslinked polymer networks of oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CEC), named PDA NPs@OHA-l-CEC. Besides multiple capabilities (i.e., injection, self-healing, and biodegradability), the nanocomposite hydrogel can achieve sustained and sequential protein delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). PDA NPs doped in hydrogel matrix serve dual roles, acting as secondary protein release structures and form dynamic non-covalent interactions (i.e., hydrogen bonds) with polysaccharides. Moreover, by adjusting the oxidation degree of OHA, the hydrogels with different crosslinking density could control overall protein release rate. Analysis of different release kinetic models revealed that Fickian diffusion drove rapid VEGF release, while the slower BSA release followed a Super Case II transport mechanism. The novel biocompatible system achieved sequential release of protein drugs has potentials in multi-stage synergistic drug deliver based on dynamic hydrogel.

Association of serum albumin with heart failure mortality with NYHA class IV in Chinese patients: Insights from PhysioNet database (version 1.3).

BACKGROUND: Studies have proved that low albumin level is associated with increased mortality in most diseases, such as chronic kidney disease and hepatic cirrhosis. However, the relationship between albumin and all-cause death in heart failure patients in China is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the association between albumin level and 28-day mortality in Chinese hospitalized patients with NYHA IV heart failure. METHODS: A total of 2008 Chinese patients were included. The correlation between serum albumin level and mortality was tested using a cox proportional hazards regression model. The smooth curve fitting was used to identify non-linear relationships between serum albumin and mortality. The Forest plot analysis was used to assess the association between albumin and 28-day mortality in different groups. RESULTS: Compared with patients with NYHA II-III, patients with NYHA IV had lower albumin level and higher mortality within 28 days. The albumin on admission was independently and inversely associated with the endpoint risk, which remained significant (hazard ratio: 0.80; 95 % confidence interval: 0.66 to 0.96; p = 0.0196) after multivariable adjustment. The smooth curve fitting showed with the increase of albumin, the mortality within 28 days would decrease. A subgroup analysis found that the inverse association between the albumin level and risk of the mortality was consistent across the subgroup stratified by possible influence factors. CONCLUSION: Serum albumin level is negatively associated with 28-day mortality in hospitalized heart failure patients within NYHA IV in China, which can be used as an independent predictor.

PaCHNOC: Packet and Circuit Hybrid Switching NoC for Real-Time Parallel Stream Signal Processing.

Real-time heterogeneous parallel embedded digital signal processor (DSP) systems process multiple data streams in parallel in a stringent time interval. This type of system on chip (SoC) requires the network on chip (NoC) to establish multiple symbiotic parallel data transmission paths with ultra-low transmission latency in real time. Our early NoC research PCCNOC meets this need. The PCCNOC uses packet routing to establish and lock a transmission circuit, so that PCCNOC is perfectly suitable for ultra-low latency and high-bandwidth transmission of long data packets. However, a parallel multi-data stream DSP system also needs to transmit roughly the same number of short data packets for job configuration and job execution status reports. While transferring short data packets, the link establishment routing delay of short data packets becomes relatively obvious. Our further research, thus, introduced PaCHNOC, a hybrid NoC in which long data packets are transmitted through a circuit established and locked by routing, and short data packets are attached to the routing packet and the transmission is completed during the routing process, thus avoiding the PCCNOC setup delay. Simulation shows that PaCHNOC performs well in supporting real-time heterogeneous parallel embedded DSP systems and achieves overall latency reduction 65% compared with related works. Finally, we used PaCHNOC in the baseband subsystem of a real 5G base station, which proved that our research is the best NoC for baseband subsystem of 5G base stations, which reduce 31% comprehensive latency in comparison to related works.

Elevated KDM4D Expression in Pterygium: Impact and Potential Inhibition by Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effects of elevated KDM4D expression and potential therapeutic effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on pterygium. Methods: The expression levels of KDM4D in the primary pterygium (n = 29) and normal conjunctiva (n = 14) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The effects of KDM4D on pterygium fibroblasts were detected by the CCK-8 assay, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay, flow cytometry, and scratch wound healing assay. The relative expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts stimulated by interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and LBP was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot. The effects of LBP on pterygium fibroblasts were detected using flow cytometry and scratch wound healing assays. Results: The expression level of KDM4D in pterygium was higher than that in normal conjunctiva. KDM4D increased the cell viability of pterygium fibroblasts. The differentially expressed genes identified in the LM-MS assay enriched in "actin filament organization" and "apoptosis." KDM4D promoted migration and inhibited apoptosis of pterygium fibroblasts in vitro. Inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8, enhanced the expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts. LBP inhibited the expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts and decreased their cell viability. Moreover, LBP attenuated the KDM4D effects on migration and apoptosis of pterygium fibroblasts. Conclusions: Elevated KDM4D expression is a risk factor for pterygium formation. LBP inhibits the expression of KDM4D in pterygium fibroblasts and may be a potential drug for delaying pterygium development.

Periprosthetic hip infections caused by Brucella: a rare case report and literature review.

Periprosthetic hip infection caused by Brucella abortus is rare and only a few cases have been reported. This current case report presents a case of a man in his early 50s who developed periprosthetic hip infection 2 years after right hip arthroplasty. There was no fever or pain, the usual cardinal signs of infection, except for a sinus tract at the previous surgical incision. Laboratory and arthrocentesis culture examinations (done twice) confirmed infection with B. abortus. Accordingly, a two-stage revision surgery was performed accompanied by antibiotic treatment with doxycycline and rifampicin after each stage. There was no recurrence at the 2-year follow-up, with good functional recovery of the hip joint. Clinically, this case serves to highlight the fact that periprosthetic hip infections caused by B. abortus might not present with the typical symptoms such as fever or hip pain. Furthermore, this current case involved a chronic sinus tract, so the diagnostic and therapeutic course of this case offers useful insights for managing similar cases in the future. In addition, a review of the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of Brucella-caused periprosthetic hip infection is presented.

Hierarchical surface-modification of nano-Cu toward one pot H-transfer-coupling-cyclization-CO2 fixation tandem reactions.

Fixation of CO2 into dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives has enormous applications in both production of natural products and antidepressant drugs, and reducing the green-house effect. However, the relatively complicated multi-step processes limit the further expansion of such a valuable CO2 conversion strategy. Herein, we hierarchically modify the surface of Cu nanoparticles (NPs) with Ag NPs and the robust metal-organic framework (MOF), ZIF-8, and report the presence of the Cu-Ag yolk-shell nanoalloy based heterogeneous catalysts, Cu@Ag and Cu@Ag@ZIF-8. The latter exhibits a crystalline "raisin bread" structure and specific synergic activity for catalyzing the tandem reactions of intra-molecular H-transfer, C-C and C-O coupling, cyclization, and carboxylation from CO2, leading to the first non-homogeneous preparation of dihydroisobenzofuran derivatives in high yield, selectivity, and recyclability under mild conditions. Theoretical calculations elucidate the tandem reaction pathway synergically catalyzed by Cu@Ag@ZIF-8, which offers insights for designing multiphase catalysts towards both organic synthesis and CO2 fixation through tandem processes in one pot.