What drives people to use automated vehicles? A meta-analytic review.

Lack of consumer acceptance is a prominent barrier to the large-scale adoption of automated vehicles (AVs). This study investigated the underlying mechanisms for AV acceptance and how the mechanisms differed across subgroups by reviewing and synthesizing existing literature. We proposed AV acceptance models by extending the basic Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with trust and perceived risk factors. Data from 36 studies were extracted to fit the models using meta-analytic structural equation modeling technique. The results suggested that trust contributed most in determining AV acceptance, followed by perceived usefulness and perceived risk, and perceived ease of use makes the least contribution. The subgroup analyses showed that the model parameters differed across the levels of three variables, i.e., sample origin (Europe/Asia/America), automation level (full/partial), and age (young/middle-aged). Specifically, trust was unanimously identified as the most important determinant of AV acceptance across all subgroups. Perceived risk only remained significant in America, fully AVs, and middle-aged subgroups. Perceived ease of use was insignificant in the above-mentioned three subgroups while remained significant in the rest subgroups. Building trust could be the most useful and universal way to improve AV acceptance, and policy makers should consider the characteristics of consumers when making AV promotion strategies.

Genomic insights into mite phylogeny, fitness, development, and reproduction.

BACKGROUND: Predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) are the most important beneficial arthropods used in augmentative biological pest control of protected crops around the world. However, the genomes of mites are far less well understood than those of insects and the evolutionary relationships among mite and other chelicerate orders are contested, with the enigmatic origin of mites at one of the centres in discussion of the evolution of Arachnida. RESULTS: We here report the 173 Mb nuclear genome (from 51.75 Gb pairs of Illumina reads) of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus cucumeris, a biocontrol agent against pests such as mites and thrips worldwide. We identified nearly 20.6 Mb (~ 11.93% of this genome) of repetitive sequences and annotated 18,735 protein-coding genes (a typical gene 2888 bp in size); the total length of protein-coding genes was about 50.55 Mb (29.2% of this assembly). About 37% (6981) of the genes are unique to N. cucumeris based on comparison with other arachnid genomes. Our phylogenomic analysis supported the monophyly of Acari, therefore rejecting the biphyletic origin of mites advocated by other studies based on limited gene fragments or few taxa in recent years. Our transcriptomic analyses of different life stages of N. cucumeris provide new insights into genes involved in its development. Putative genes involved in vitellogenesis, regulation of oviposition, sex determination, development of legs, signal perception, detoxification and stress-resistance, and innate immune systems are identified. CONCLUSIONS: Our genomics and developmental transcriptomics analyses of N. cucumeris provide invaluable resources for further research on the development, reproduction, and fitness of this economically important mite in particular and Arachnida in general.

Phylogeography of lethal male fighting in a social spider mite.

When males fight for access to females, such conflict rarely escalates into lethal fight because the risks and costs involved, that is, severe injury or death, are too high. The social spider mite, Stigmaeopsis miscanthi, does exhibit lethal male fights, and this male-male aggressiveness varies among populations. To understand the evolution of lethal fighting, we investigated aggressiveness in 42 populations and phylogenetic relationships in 47 populations along the Japanese archipelago. By analysis of the male weapon morph, a proxy for aggressiveness, we confirmed the existence of a mildly aggressive (ML) form, besides the low aggression (LW) and high aggression (HG) forms reported earlier. To evaluate demographic history of these three forms, we employed the approximate Bayesian computation approach using mtCOI sequences and taking into consideration the postlast glacial expansion history of the host plant, Miscanthus sinensis. As results, hierarchical split models are more likely to explain the observed genetic pattern than admixture models, and the ML form in the subtropical region was considered the ancestral group. The inferred demographic history was consistent with the one reconstructed for the host plant in a previous study. The LW form was split from the ML form during the last glacial period (20,000-40,000 years BP), and subsequently, the HG form was split from the ML form at the end of or after the last glacial period (5,494-10,988 years BP). The results also suggest that the mite invaded Japan more than once, resulting in the present parapatric distribution of LW and HG forms in eastern Japan.

Discussion on the risk factors of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD) after the kidney transplantation.

To discuss the risk factors of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) after the kidney transplantation. Retrospective analysis on the data of 1106 patients who had been underwent kidney allotransplantation in People's Hospital of Zhengzhou from July, 2010 to Dec, 2014 and conformed to the inclusion criteria was taken. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the risk factors of developing CVD after the kidney transplantation. 7 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months before and after the operation, the data collection and following-up visits were respectively arranged. 12 months after the operation, the following-up visits were arranged once a half year until the end of March, 2014. 216 (19.5%) patients developed CVD after the kidney transplantation. Among them, 47 (4.2%) patients developed CVD within the first three months after the operation, which accounted for 26.8% in the CVD patients; 125 (11.3%) patients developed CVD within the first one year after the operation, which accounted for 47.9% in the CVD patients. 51 (4.6%) patients died after the operation. Among them, 19 (2.7%) patients died of CVD, which accounted for 37.3% in the whole died patients. Multiple factors analysis revealed that the following were the risk factors to develop CVD after the kidney transplantation: The age of receptors was greater than 50 (OR=2.39, 95%CI 1.15-3.60); The receptors had diabetes before the surgery (OR=3.18, 95%CI 1.56-6.42); The receptors had CVD medical history before the surgery (OR=3.85, 95%CI 2.15-7.54); The primary diseases of receptors were diabetic nephropathy (DN) (OR=2.12, 95%CI 1.14-3.98); The preoperative dialysis time was greater than 12 months(OR=1.27, 95%CI 0.98-1.38); The postoperative serum creatinine of the receptors was greater than 200 µmol/L (OR=2.78, 95%CI 1.35~4.53); The delayed graft failure (DGF) occurred (OR=1.24, 95%CI 1.02~1.42); Acute rejection appeared(AR)(OR=2.98, 95%CI 1.56~5.72); Renal allograft dysfunction appeared (OR=4.86, 95%CI 3.15~7.78). The morbidity of CVD is high after the kidney transplantation and the risk factors are diversified. That revising or excluding relevant risk factors may lower the morbidity of developing CVD and is in favor of the long-term survival for the transplanted kidney.

Variation in nesting behavior of eight species of spider mites, Stigmaeopsis having sociality.

Nesting behavior is considered to be an important element of social living in animals. The spider mites belonging to the genus Stigmaeopsis spend their lives within nests produced from silk threads. Several of these species show cooperative sociality, while the others are subsocial. In order to identify the origins of this social behavior, comparisons of nest sizes, nesting behaviors (making nests continuously or separately), and their associated traits (fecal deposition patterns) were made for eight cogeneric Stigmaeopsis species showing various levels of social development. All of these species inhabit bamboo plants (Poaceae). We initially addressed the proximate factor of nest size variation. The variation in nest size of the eight species corresponded well with the variation in dorsal seta sc1 length, suggesting that nest size variation among species may have a genetic basis. The time spent within a nest (nest duration) increased with nest size on the respective host plants. Nest arrangement patterns varied among species showing different sized nests: Large nest builders continuously extended their nests, while middle and small nest-building species built new separate nests, which resulted in different social interaction times among species, and is thought to be closely related to social development. Fecal deposition behaviors also varied among Stigmaeopsis species, suggesting diversity in anti-predatory adaptations. Finally, we discuss how the variation in sociality observed within this genus is likely the result of nest size variation that initially evolved as anti-predator strategies.

Clinical effect of treating renal transplant recipients with percutaneous coronary intervention and its safety.

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effect of treating acute coronary syndrome (ACS) of renal transplant recipients with percutaneous coronary intervention and its safety. METHODS: Forty two renal transplant recipients who were diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in our hospital were selected. Serum creatinine (Cr) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were compared before surgery, 48 ~ 72 hour after surgery and one year after surgery. All patients were followed up. RESULTS: All patients successfully completed PCI. Contrast-induced nephropathy was not found after surgery. Cr and GFR 48 ~ 72 hour after surgery and one year after surgery had no significant differences with that before surgery (P>0.05). The follow up lasted for (61.2±32.2) months averagely. Of 42 cases, 4 cases died, 6 cases were found with nonfatal myocardial infarction, 4 cases were observed with repeat revascularization and 12 cases had accumulative major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). CONCLUSION: PCI is proved to be effective in treating renal transplant recipients; no severe complications are found and renal function recovers well after treatment.

Significantly increased visceral adiposity index in prehypertension.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of prehypertension has increased in China, and prehypertension frequently progress to hypertension over a short time period; both have become public health problems. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) and blood pressure (BP) in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted in China using a stratified random cluster sampling method. Sex-specific VAI quartile cut-off points were used as follows: 0.88, 1.41, 2.45 in males and 0.85, 1.33, 2.22 in females. Prehypertension and hypertension were each defined according to The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) guidelines. A multivariate logistic analysis was conducted to analyze the relationship among VAI, prehypertension and hypertension. RESULTS: The ORs for prehypertension and hypertension in the upper quartiles of the VAI were 1.514 (1.074-2.133), P=0.018 and 1.660 (1.084-2.542), P=0.020, in males, after adjusting for age, education, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity, serum creatinine, fasting glucose, and plasma insulin. Following further adjustments for the above confounders, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes, the ORs for prehypertension and hypertension in the upper quartile of the VAI were 1.660 1.533 (1.086-2.165), P=0.015, and 1.743 (1.133-2.680), P=0.011, in males. The ORs for prehypertension and hypertension in the upper quartile of the VAI were 1.691 (1.223-2.338), P=0.001, and 1.682 (1.162-2.435), P=0.006, in females, after adjusting for age, education, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity, serum creatinine, fasting glucose, and plasma insulin. Following further adjustments for the above confounders, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes, the ORs for prehypertension and hypertension in the upper quartile of the VAI were 1.688 (1.220-2.334), P=0.002, and 1.657 (1.141-2.406), P=0.008, in females. CONCLUSIONS: A higher VAI was positively associated with both prehypertension and hypertension in both males and females. It is both essential and urgent that clinicians take steps to control and prevent visceral adiposity.

Female performance towards offspring under starved conditions in four phytoseiid species (Acari, Phytoseiidae).

There is an important difference between cannibalism between unrelated individuals and between a mother and its offspring, because the former can be defined as a form of intraspecific competition, but the latter affects the inclusive fitness of individuals. Many examples of cannibalism have been reported in predacious phytoseiid mites. Furthermore, sib cannibalism avoidance is known in several species. However, whether females' actually prey upon their offspring under starved conditions has yet to be established. Here, female performance towards their offspring under no-prey-other-than-offspring, water-available and humidity-selectable conditions, was observed in four phytoseiid species, Amblyseius eharai, Amblyseius swirskii, Neoseiulus cucumeris and Typhlodromus bambusae. Typhlodromus bambusae females only survived for 4.14 ± 0.42 days and there was a significant difference in survival duration between T. bambusae and the other three species (all survived more than 8 days). Neoseiulus cucumeris females survived longer than A. eharai and A. swirskii females, whereas there was no difference between A. eharai and A. swirskii females. On the other hand, the offspring (immature stages from egg to larva or protonymph) of A. eharai, A. swirskii and N. cucumeris died earlier in mother-presence than in mother-absence (egg alone) experiments, suggesting that cannibalistic interactions occur between mother and offspring. The survivorship of T. bambusae offspring in the mother-presence condition did not differ from the mother-absence condition, indicating that kin cannibalism is rare in this species. This must be related to the phenomenon that mothers tend to die before their offspring. The short longevity of T. bambusae mothers is one of the reasons why there is no significant difference in immature survival between the mother-presence and mother-absence experiments. Lastly, the reason(s) behind such variation in female phytoseiid performance towards their offspring is addressed in relation to the diet-specialization hypothesis.

Reproductive isolation between Stigmaeopsis celarius and its sibling species sympatrically inhabiting bamboo (Pleioblastus spp.) plants.

Stigmaeopsis celarius Banks (hereafter Sc) is a spider mite living and feeding on the leaves of various bamboo species such as Moso bamboo [Phyllostachys edulis (=P. pubescens)] and Pleioblastus spp. (Poaceae). A previous phylogenetic study revealed a cryptic, phylogenetic sister species to Sc (hereafter Ss). Although its life type appears to be similar to that of Sc, individuals of Ss make much smaller nests compared with Sc, and the nests have been found mostly on Nezasa bamboo (Pleioblastus argenteostriatus). To investigate whether Sc and Ss are reproductively isolated, we explored their populations in southwestern Japan, and crossed them to examine mating behaviors and fertilization success. Field surveys revealed that the nests of these two species occur on the same leaves and, thus, the individuals of these species may make frequent contact. Reciprocal crosses suggested that the two species are reproductively isolated. Though Sc males have tried to mate with Ss females, copulation seldom occurred because of their long opisthosoma (hind body), which prevented the insertion of the aedeagus into the genitalia of Ss females. In contrast, most Ss males ignored Sc females, and eggs were not fertilized even in the few cases where copulation appeared to occur. These results suggest that strong selection pressure is imposed on body length to prevent interspecific hybridization in the contact area of these species.

[Clinical study of pulmonary infection in kidney transplantation recipients taking new immunosuppressant].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the etiopathogenesis, therapy and incidence of pulmonary infection in kidney transplantation recipients taking new immunosuppressant. METHODS: The clinical data from 752 kidney transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed, who were divided into 3 groups according to the immunosuppressants administered, namely group A (CsA+MMF+Pred, n=226), group B (FK506+MMF+Pred, n=386) and group C (FK506+Rap+Pred, n=140). The incidence and mortality of pulmonary infection were recorded and the analysis of etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy of pulmonary infection were carried out in the 3 groups. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients acquired post-transplant pulmonary infection. The incidence of pulmonary infection was 7.08% (16/226) in group A, 7.25% (28/386) in group B and 6.43% (9/140) in group C. One patient died in group A and 2 in group B. Among the 53 patients, 24 had simple bacterial infection, 9 had cytomegalovirus infection, 1 had mycotic infection, 17 had combined infection, and 2 had unidentified pathogen infection. Of the pathogenic bacteria detected, 68.35% were Gram-negative. CONCLUSION: Gram-negative bacteria are most likely responsible for pulmonary infection after kidney transplantation, which most possibly occurs within 6 months after kidney transplantation. Early diagnosis and early treatment are critical for decreasing the mortality of severe pneumonia and for improving the survival rate of the patients and grafts.

Effects of mating rates on oviposition, sex ratio and longevity in a predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

Two aspects of mating effects on the fecundity, sex ratio and longevity of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were examined in laboratory experiments: (1) females mated by one, two or three different males (unmated and 3 days old) at 5-day intervals, and (2) females mated by males with different age/mating status (number of females mated previously by the male). Females allowed to mate with a second or third male at 5-day intervals produced 39 eggs on average, but those mated with a single male produced 28 eggs on average. Matings with additional males 5 or 10 days after the first male increased the duration of the oviposition period of these females by 5-7 days and at the same time reduced the post-oviposition period by about 10 days. Overall, females with additional matings by one or two different males at 5-day intervals survived a few days shorter than females without additional males. Mating with a different female each day, a male of N. cucumeris could mate with 5-8 females, which produced a total of 85-116 eggs: females mated with a male during days 1 and 2 in its adulthood and with a male of the last 2 days of life (days 7 and 8) produced about half as many eggs as females mated with a male during 3-6 days of its adulthood. Females mated with males that are too young or too old had a shorter oviposition period and a longer post-oviposition period and longevity than females mated with middle-aged males. In both experiments, rates of oviposition remained similar in females with high or low fecundity. This indicates that in both cases, the increased fecundity is due to the extension of the oviposition period through additional sperm supplied by the second male and or third male (in experiment 1) or more sperm by males not too young nor too old (experiment 2).

[Application of tacrolimus and cyclosporine A in HBV-carrying renal transplant recipients].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term effect and safety of tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporine (CsA) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients carrying hepatitis B Virus(HBV). METHODS: A total of 109 patients with HBV were randomized into FK506 group (52 cases) and CsA group (57 cases) after KT, and a 2-year-long follow-up of the patients was conducted to record the patient and graft survival, incidence of acute graft rejection and postoperative liver function. RESULTS: The 2-year patient/graft survival was 86.0%/73.7% and 94.2%/90.3% in CsA and FK506 groups, respectively (P<0.05), with incidence of acute rejection of 10.5% and 9.6% (P>0.05), and rate of abnormal liver function of 26.3% and 15.4% (P<0.05), respectively. Eight patients (14.4%) in CsA group required a drug conversion but none in FK506 group. The drug conversion resulted in significant reduction of ALT/AST level from 255.13+/-31.38/201.88+/-21.25 U/L to 31.25+/-11.50/25.13+/-9.68 U/L (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: For HBV-carrying renal transplant recipients, FK506 as the primary choice of immunosuppressant can be more effective and safer than CsA.

[On the causes of mite pest outbreaks in mono- and poly-cultured moso bamboo forests].

In this paper, the damage of phytophagous mites Schizotetranychus nanjingensis Ma & Yuan, Aponychus corpuzae Rimando and Aculus bambusae Kuang to moso bamboo (Phyllostaychs pubescens) was examined for ten pairs of mono- and poly-cultured forests at six locations in Fujian, China. The results showed that the mite damage in mono-cultured forests (35%) was twice as high as that in poly-cultured forests (17.5% < the injury level of 20%), and the difference was significant by t-test. The total pest mites in the mono-cultured forests at six locations in Fujian were 289.29% as high as those in the poly-cultured stands. Typhlodromus bambusae, a nature enemy in the poly-cultured forests at five locations in Fujian, was 262.5% as high as that in the mono-cultured forests. The proportion of pest mite and nature enemy in the mono-cultured forests was 1:118, but was 1:13 in the poly-cultured forests. The change of bamboo cultivation (mono-culture, crowding of bamboo plants, and removal of underfloor plants) might be the major cause of mite pest outbreaks in moso bamboo forests.

Ambulatory migration in mites (Acari: Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae) to new leaves of moso bamboo shoots.

The migratory behaviour of two tetranychid pest species, Aponychus corpuzae and Schizotetranychus nanjingensis, and one phytoseiid, Typhlodromus bambusae, was studied in several monocultural bamboo forests in Fujian Province, China. The aim of the study was to assess how the ambulatory immigration of tetranychid and phytoseiid mites from the ground to new leaves is affected by a sticky barrier around the stem, by the age of bamboo shoots or by shoot density. The results show that while the sticky barrier is particularly effective at disrupting the ambulatory immigration from the ground to new leaves of S. nanjinigensis to 1-year-old shoots and of A. corpuzae to 3-year-old shoots, it has no significant effect on the immigration of the phytoseiid mite.