Psychophysical studies suggest that lateral extrastriate visual cortical areas in cats may mediate the sparing of vision largely by network reorganization following lesions of early visual cortical areas. To date, how...Psychophysical studies suggest that lateral extrastriate visual cortical areas in cats may mediate the sparing of vision largely by network reorganization following lesions of early visual cortical areas. To date, however, there is little direct physiological evidence to support this hypothesis. Using in vivo single-anit recording techniques, we examined the response of neurons in areas 19, 21, and 20 to different types of visual stimulation in cats with or without acute bilateral lesions in areas 17 and 18. Our results showed that, relative to the controls, acute lesions inactivated the response of 99.3% of neurons to moving gratings and 93% of neurons to flickering square stimuli'in areas 19, 21, and 20. These results indicated that acute lesions of primary visual areas in adult eats may impair most visual abilities. Sparing of vision in cats with neonatal lesions in early visual cortical areas may result largely from a postoperative reorganization of visual pathways from subcortical nucleus to extrastriate visual cortical areas.展开更多
Antibiotics are usually prescribed to cure infections but they also have significant modulatory effects on the gut microbiota. Several alterations of the intestinal bacterial community have been reported during antibi...Antibiotics are usually prescribed to cure infections but they also have significant modulatory effects on the gut microbiota. Several alterations of the intestinal bacterial community have been reported during antibiotic treatment, including the reduction of beneficial bacteria as well as of microbial alpha-diversity. Although after the discontinuation of antibiotic therapies it has been observed a trend towards the restoration of the original condition, the new steady state is different from the previous one, as if antibiotics induced some kind of irreversible perturbation of the gut microbial community. The poorly absorbed antibiotic rifaximin seem to be different from the other antibiotics, because it exerts non-traditional effects additional to the bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity on the gut microbiota. Rifaximin is able to reduce bacterial virulence and translocation, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been demonstrated to positively modulate the gut microbial composition. Animal models, culture studies and metagenomic analyses have demonstrated an increase in Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Lactobacillus abundance after rifaximin treatment, probably consequent to the induction of bacterial resistance, with no major change in the overall gut microbiota composition. Antibiotics are therefore modulators of the symbiotic relationship between the host and the gut microbiota. Specific antibiotics, such as rifaximin, can also induce eubiotic changes in the intestinal ecosystem; this additional property may represent a therapeutic advantage in specific clinical settings.展开更多
Background:The effect of hamstring flexibility on the peak hamstring muscle strains in sprinting,until now,remained unknown,which limited our understanding of risk factors of hamstring muscle strain injury(hamstring i...Background:The effect of hamstring flexibility on the peak hamstring muscle strains in sprinting,until now,remained unknown,which limited our understanding of risk factors of hamstring muscle strain injury(hamstring injury).As a continuation of our previous study,this study was aimed to examine the relationship between hamstring flexibility and peak hamstring muscle strains in sprinting.Methods:Ten male and 10 female college students participated in this study.Hamstring flexibility,isokinetic strength data,three-dimensional(3D)kinematic data in a hamstring isokinetic test,and kinematic data in a sprinting test were collected for each participant.The optimal hamstring muscle lengths and peak hamstring muscle strains in sprinting were determined for each participant.Results:The muscle strain of each of the 3 biarticulated hamstring muscles reached a peak during the late swing phase.Peak hamstring muscle strains were negatively correlated to hamstring flexibility(0.1179 ≤ R2≤ 0.4519,p = 0.001) but not to hip and knee joint positions at the time of peak hamstring muscle strains.Peak hamstring muscle strains were not different for different genders.Peak muscle strains of biceps long head(0.071 ± 0.059) and semitendinosus(0.070 ± 0.055) were significantly greater than that of semimembranosus(0.064 ± 0.054).Conclusion:A potential for hamstring injury exists during the late swing phase of sprinting.Peak hamstring muscle strains in sprinting are negatively correlated to hamstring flexibility across individuals.The magnitude of peak muscle strains is different among hamstring muscles in sprinting,which may explain the different injury rate among hamstring muscles.展开更多
To explore the structural characteristics and vulnerability of multimodal transport networks,this study identifies the structural characteristics of a multimodal transport network on the basis of the complex network t...To explore the structural characteristics and vulnerability of multimodal transport networks,this study identifies the structural characteristics of a multimodal transport network on the basis of the complex network theory.Key nodes are clarified from the analysis of the structural characteristics.The characteristic path length and percentage of the largest subgraph are applied to analyze the vulnerability of the multimodal transport network after random and intentional attacks on the nodes.The network of a multimodal transport company is taken as an example in the empirical analysis.Results show that with more than ten nodes under a random attack,the percentage of the largest subgraph is less than 20%,and the characteristic path length is less than 2.The same performance is observed for more than seven nodes under an intentional attack.The multimodal transport network is more vulnerable under an international attack against key nodes.The results of the topology and node failure under random or intentional attacks would support the management of the multimodal transport network.Suggestions for the emergency transportation organization of enterprises under attacks are proposed accordingly.These suggestions should help improve network invulnerability and recovery from node failure.展开更多
AIM To investigate gut microbial diversity and the interventional effect of Xiaoyaosan(XYS) in a rat model of functional dyspepsia(FD) with liver depression-spleen deficiency syndrome. METHODS The FD with liver depres...AIM To investigate gut microbial diversity and the interventional effect of Xiaoyaosan(XYS) in a rat model of functional dyspepsia(FD) with liver depression-spleen deficiency syndrome. METHODS The FD with liver depression-spleen deficiency syndrome rat model was established through classic chronic mild unpredictable stimulation every day. XYS group rats received XYS 1 h before the stimulation. The models were assessed by parameters including state ofthe rat, weight, sucrose test result and open-field test result. After 3 wk, the stools of rats were collected and genomic DNA was extracted. PCR products of the V4 region of 16 S rD NA were sequenced using a barcoded Illumina paired-end sequencing technique. The primary composition of the microbiome in the stool samples was determined and analyzed by cluster analysis.RESULTS Rat models were successfully established, per data from rat state, weight and open-field test. The microbiomes contained 20 phyla from all samples. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Tenericutes were the most abundant taxonomic groups. The relative abundance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria in the model group was higher than that in the normal group. On the contrary, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes in the model group was lower than that in the normal group. Upon XYS treatment, the relative abundance of all dysregulated phyla was restored to levels similar to those observed in the normal group. Abundance clustering heat map of phyla corroborated the taxonomic distribution. CONCLUSION The microbiome relative abundance of FD rats with liver depression-spleen deficiency syndrome was significantly different from the normal cohort. XYS intervention may effectively adjust the gut dysbacteriosis in FD.展开更多
To ensure flight safety,the complex network method is used to study the influence and invulnerability of air traffic cyber physical system(CPS)nodes.According to the rules of air traffic management,the logical couplin...To ensure flight safety,the complex network method is used to study the influence and invulnerability of air traffic cyber physical system(CPS)nodes.According to the rules of air traffic management,the logical coupling relationship between routes and sectors is analyzed,an air traffic CPS network model is constructed,and the indicators of node influence and invulnerability are established.The K-shell algorithm is improved to identify node influence,and the invulnerability is analyzed under random and selective attacks.Taking Airspace in Eastern China as an example,its influential nodes are sorted by degree,namely,K-shell,the improved K-shell(IKS)and betweenness centrality.The invulnerability of air traffic CPS under different attacks is analyzed.Results show that IKS can effectively identify the influential nodes in the air traffic CPS network,and IKS and betweenness centrality are the two key indicators that affect the invulnerability of air traffic CPS.展开更多
To assess the prevalence of a panel of serologic markers that reflect gut barrier dysfunction in a mixed cohort of pediatric and adult primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patients. METHODSSera of 67 PSC patients [med...To assess the prevalence of a panel of serologic markers that reflect gut barrier dysfunction in a mixed cohort of pediatric and adult primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patients. METHODSSera of 67 PSC patients [median age (range): 32 (5-79) years, concomitant IBD: 67% and cirrhosis: 20%] were assayed for the presence of antibodies against to F-actin (AAA IgA/IgG) and gliadin (AGA IgA/IgG)] and for serum level of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) by ELISA. Markers of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure [LPS binding protein (LBP)] and various anti-microbial antibodies [anti-OMP Plus IgA and endotoxin core IgA antibody (EndoCAb)] were also determined. Poor disease outcome was defined as orthotopic liver transplantation and/or liver-related death during the follow-up [median: 99 (14-106) mo]. One hundred and fifty-three healthy subjects (HCONT) and 172 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were the controls. RESULTSA total of 28.4%, 28.0%, 9% and 20.9% of PSC patients were positive for AAA IgA, AAA IgG, AGA IgA and AGA IgG, respectively. Frequencies of AAA IgA and AAA IgG (P < 0.001, for both) and AGA IgG (P = 0.01, for both) but not AGA IgA were significantly higher compared to both of the HCONT and the UC groups. In survival analysis, AAA IgA-positivity was revealed as an independent predictor of poor disease outcome after adjusting either for the presence of cirrhosis [HR = 5.15 (1.27-20.86), P = 0.022 or for the Mayo risk score (HR = 4.24 (0.99-18.21), P = 0.052]. AAA IgA-positivity was significantly associated with higher frequency of anti-microbial antibodies (P < 0.001 for EndoCab IgA and P = 0.012 for anti-OMP Plus IgA) and higher level of the enterocyte damage marker (median I-FABP<sub>AAA IgA pos</sub><sub>vs</sub><sub>neg</sub>: 365 vs 166 pg/mL, P = 0.011), but not with serum LBP level. CONCLUSIONPresence of IgA type AAA identified PSC patients with progressive disease. Moreover, it is associated with enhanced mucosal immune response to various microbial antigens and enterocyte damage further highlighting the importance of the gut-liver interaction in PSC.展开更多
The purpose of this paper is to apply "Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)" model to assess the impacts of climate change and deforestation on stream discharge and sediment yield from Phu Luong watershed in Nort...The purpose of this paper is to apply "Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)" model to assess the impacts of climate change and deforestation on stream discharge and sediment yield from Phu Luong watershed in Northern Viet Nam. Among the three climate change scenarios B 1, B2, and A2, representing low, medium, and high levels of greenhouse gas emission, respectively were set up for Viet Nam, the B2 scenario was selected for this study. Two land use scenarios (S1-2030 and $2-2050) were formulated combination with climate change in WSAT simulation. In B2 climate change scenario, mean temperature increases 0.7℃(2030) and 1.3 ℃ (2050); annual rainfall increases 2.1% (2030) and 3.80% (2050) respect to baseline scenario. The results show that the stream discharge is likely to increase in the future during the wet season with increasing threats of sedimentation.展开更多
Carbon emissions from forest fires are considered an important factor of ecosystem carbon balance and global climate change. Carbon emissions from Japanese red pine stands (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) burned by crown...Carbon emissions from forest fires are considered an important factor of ecosystem carbon balance and global climate change. Carbon emissions from Japanese red pine stands (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) burned by crown fire were estimated at Mt. Palgong in Daegu Metropolitan City, and crown fuel characteristics, including crown bulk density, crown base height, and fuel moisture content of Japanese red pine, were analyzed. Total biomass combusted was calculated by subtracting the biomass of burned stands from that of unburned stands exhibiting similar stand structures and site environments. Ten trees in the unburned area and five trees in the burned area were cut by using direct harvesting techniques to estimate crown layer biomass. All biomass sampled was oven-dried and weighed. The dry weight ratios of stems, branches, and needles were 7o%, 21%, and 9%, respectively. The available fuel load susceptible to combustion during the crown fire spread was equivalent to 55% of the crown layer biomass. The crown bulk density was 0.24 kg/m3 on average. The estimated amount of CO2 was 23,454 kg CO2/ha for the crown layer. These results will be useful for calculating the amount of CO2 emitted from forest fires and for developing a forest carbon model in P. densiflora forests.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (31171082)Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (070413138)Key Research Foundation of Anhui Province Education Department (KJ2009A167)
文摘Psychophysical studies suggest that lateral extrastriate visual cortical areas in cats may mediate the sparing of vision largely by network reorganization following lesions of early visual cortical areas. To date, however, there is little direct physiological evidence to support this hypothesis. Using in vivo single-anit recording techniques, we examined the response of neurons in areas 19, 21, and 20 to different types of visual stimulation in cats with or without acute bilateral lesions in areas 17 and 18. Our results showed that, relative to the controls, acute lesions inactivated the response of 99.3% of neurons to moving gratings and 93% of neurons to flickering square stimuli'in areas 19, 21, and 20. These results indicated that acute lesions of primary visual areas in adult eats may impair most visual abilities. Sparing of vision in cats with neonatal lesions in early visual cortical areas may result largely from a postoperative reorganization of visual pathways from subcortical nucleus to extrastriate visual cortical areas.
文摘Antibiotics are usually prescribed to cure infections but they also have significant modulatory effects on the gut microbiota. Several alterations of the intestinal bacterial community have been reported during antibiotic treatment, including the reduction of beneficial bacteria as well as of microbial alpha-diversity. Although after the discontinuation of antibiotic therapies it has been observed a trend towards the restoration of the original condition, the new steady state is different from the previous one, as if antibiotics induced some kind of irreversible perturbation of the gut microbial community. The poorly absorbed antibiotic rifaximin seem to be different from the other antibiotics, because it exerts non-traditional effects additional to the bactericidal/bacteriostatic activity on the gut microbiota. Rifaximin is able to reduce bacterial virulence and translocation, has anti-inflammatory properties and has been demonstrated to positively modulate the gut microbial composition. Animal models, culture studies and metagenomic analyses have demonstrated an increase in Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Lactobacillus abundance after rifaximin treatment, probably consequent to the induction of bacterial resistance, with no major change in the overall gut microbiota composition. Antibiotics are therefore modulators of the symbiotic relationship between the host and the gut microbiota. Specific antibiotics, such as rifaximin, can also induce eubiotic changes in the intestinal ecosystem; this additional property may represent a therapeutic advantage in specific clinical settings.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81572212)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China(No.2016BS013)
文摘Background:The effect of hamstring flexibility on the peak hamstring muscle strains in sprinting,until now,remained unknown,which limited our understanding of risk factors of hamstring muscle strain injury(hamstring injury).As a continuation of our previous study,this study was aimed to examine the relationship between hamstring flexibility and peak hamstring muscle strains in sprinting.Methods:Ten male and 10 female college students participated in this study.Hamstring flexibility,isokinetic strength data,three-dimensional(3D)kinematic data in a hamstring isokinetic test,and kinematic data in a sprinting test were collected for each participant.The optimal hamstring muscle lengths and peak hamstring muscle strains in sprinting were determined for each participant.Results:The muscle strain of each of the 3 biarticulated hamstring muscles reached a peak during the late swing phase.Peak hamstring muscle strains were negatively correlated to hamstring flexibility(0.1179 ≤ R2≤ 0.4519,p = 0.001) but not to hip and knee joint positions at the time of peak hamstring muscle strains.Peak hamstring muscle strains were not different for different genders.Peak muscle strains of biceps long head(0.071 ± 0.059) and semitendinosus(0.070 ± 0.055) were significantly greater than that of semimembranosus(0.064 ± 0.054).Conclusion:A potential for hamstring injury exists during the late swing phase of sprinting.Peak hamstring muscle strains in sprinting are negatively correlated to hamstring flexibility across individuals.The magnitude of peak muscle strains is different among hamstring muscles in sprinting,which may explain the different injury rate among hamstring muscles.
基金The Science and Technology Demonstration Project of Multimodal Freight Transport in Jiangsu Province(No.2018Y02).
文摘To explore the structural characteristics and vulnerability of multimodal transport networks,this study identifies the structural characteristics of a multimodal transport network on the basis of the complex network theory.Key nodes are clarified from the analysis of the structural characteristics.The characteristic path length and percentage of the largest subgraph are applied to analyze the vulnerability of the multimodal transport network after random and intentional attacks on the nodes.The network of a multimodal transport company is taken as an example in the empirical analysis.Results show that with more than ten nodes under a random attack,the percentage of the largest subgraph is less than 20%,and the characteristic path length is less than 2.The same performance is observed for more than seven nodes under an intentional attack.The multimodal transport network is more vulnerable under an international attack against key nodes.The results of the topology and node failure under random or intentional attacks would support the management of the multimodal transport network.Suggestions for the emergency transportation organization of enterprises under attacks are proposed accordingly.These suggestions should help improve network invulnerability and recovery from node failure.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81273919 and No.81673727National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program)No.2013CB531703
文摘AIM To investigate gut microbial diversity and the interventional effect of Xiaoyaosan(XYS) in a rat model of functional dyspepsia(FD) with liver depression-spleen deficiency syndrome. METHODS The FD with liver depression-spleen deficiency syndrome rat model was established through classic chronic mild unpredictable stimulation every day. XYS group rats received XYS 1 h before the stimulation. The models were assessed by parameters including state ofthe rat, weight, sucrose test result and open-field test result. After 3 wk, the stools of rats were collected and genomic DNA was extracted. PCR products of the V4 region of 16 S rD NA were sequenced using a barcoded Illumina paired-end sequencing technique. The primary composition of the microbiome in the stool samples was determined and analyzed by cluster analysis.RESULTS Rat models were successfully established, per data from rat state, weight and open-field test. The microbiomes contained 20 phyla from all samples. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Tenericutes were the most abundant taxonomic groups. The relative abundance of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria in the model group was higher than that in the normal group. On the contrary, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes in the model group was lower than that in the normal group. Upon XYS treatment, the relative abundance of all dysregulated phyla was restored to levels similar to those observed in the normal group. Abundance clustering heat map of phyla corroborated the taxonomic distribution. CONCLUSION The microbiome relative abundance of FD rats with liver depression-spleen deficiency syndrome was significantly different from the normal cohort. XYS intervention may effectively adjust the gut dysbacteriosis in FD.
基金This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.3122019191).
文摘To ensure flight safety,the complex network method is used to study the influence and invulnerability of air traffic cyber physical system(CPS)nodes.According to the rules of air traffic management,the logical coupling relationship between routes and sectors is analyzed,an air traffic CPS network model is constructed,and the indicators of node influence and invulnerability are established.The K-shell algorithm is improved to identify node influence,and the invulnerability is analyzed under random and selective attacks.Taking Airspace in Eastern China as an example,its influential nodes are sorted by degree,namely,K-shell,the improved K-shell(IKS)and betweenness centrality.The invulnerability of air traffic CPS under different attacks is analyzed.Results show that IKS can effectively identify the influential nodes in the air traffic CPS network,and IKS and betweenness centrality are the two key indicators that affect the invulnerability of air traffic CPS.
基金Supported by Research Grant of National Research Development and Innovation Office,No.K115818/2015/1János Bólyai Research Scholarship of Hungarian Academy of Sciences to Papp Mthe New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities,No.úNKP-16-3 to Tornai T
文摘To assess the prevalence of a panel of serologic markers that reflect gut barrier dysfunction in a mixed cohort of pediatric and adult primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patients. METHODSSera of 67 PSC patients [median age (range): 32 (5-79) years, concomitant IBD: 67% and cirrhosis: 20%] were assayed for the presence of antibodies against to F-actin (AAA IgA/IgG) and gliadin (AGA IgA/IgG)] and for serum level of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) by ELISA. Markers of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure [LPS binding protein (LBP)] and various anti-microbial antibodies [anti-OMP Plus IgA and endotoxin core IgA antibody (EndoCAb)] were also determined. Poor disease outcome was defined as orthotopic liver transplantation and/or liver-related death during the follow-up [median: 99 (14-106) mo]. One hundred and fifty-three healthy subjects (HCONT) and 172 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were the controls. RESULTSA total of 28.4%, 28.0%, 9% and 20.9% of PSC patients were positive for AAA IgA, AAA IgG, AGA IgA and AGA IgG, respectively. Frequencies of AAA IgA and AAA IgG (P < 0.001, for both) and AGA IgG (P = 0.01, for both) but not AGA IgA were significantly higher compared to both of the HCONT and the UC groups. In survival analysis, AAA IgA-positivity was revealed as an independent predictor of poor disease outcome after adjusting either for the presence of cirrhosis [HR = 5.15 (1.27-20.86), P = 0.022 or for the Mayo risk score (HR = 4.24 (0.99-18.21), P = 0.052]. AAA IgA-positivity was significantly associated with higher frequency of anti-microbial antibodies (P < 0.001 for EndoCab IgA and P = 0.012 for anti-OMP Plus IgA) and higher level of the enterocyte damage marker (median I-FABP<sub>AAA IgA pos</sub><sub>vs</sub><sub>neg</sub>: 365 vs 166 pg/mL, P = 0.011), but not with serum LBP level. CONCLUSIONPresence of IgA type AAA identified PSC patients with progressive disease. Moreover, it is associated with enhanced mucosal immune response to various microbial antigens and enterocyte damage further highlighting the importance of the gut-liver interaction in PSC.
文摘The purpose of this paper is to apply "Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT)" model to assess the impacts of climate change and deforestation on stream discharge and sediment yield from Phu Luong watershed in Northern Viet Nam. Among the three climate change scenarios B 1, B2, and A2, representing low, medium, and high levels of greenhouse gas emission, respectively were set up for Viet Nam, the B2 scenario was selected for this study. Two land use scenarios (S1-2030 and $2-2050) were formulated combination with climate change in WSAT simulation. In B2 climate change scenario, mean temperature increases 0.7℃(2030) and 1.3 ℃ (2050); annual rainfall increases 2.1% (2030) and 3.80% (2050) respect to baseline scenario. The results show that the stream discharge is likely to increase in the future during the wet season with increasing threats of sedimentation.
文摘Carbon emissions from forest fires are considered an important factor of ecosystem carbon balance and global climate change. Carbon emissions from Japanese red pine stands (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) burned by crown fire were estimated at Mt. Palgong in Daegu Metropolitan City, and crown fuel characteristics, including crown bulk density, crown base height, and fuel moisture content of Japanese red pine, were analyzed. Total biomass combusted was calculated by subtracting the biomass of burned stands from that of unburned stands exhibiting similar stand structures and site environments. Ten trees in the unburned area and five trees in the burned area were cut by using direct harvesting techniques to estimate crown layer biomass. All biomass sampled was oven-dried and weighed. The dry weight ratios of stems, branches, and needles were 7o%, 21%, and 9%, respectively. The available fuel load susceptible to combustion during the crown fire spread was equivalent to 55% of the crown layer biomass. The crown bulk density was 0.24 kg/m3 on average. The estimated amount of CO2 was 23,454 kg CO2/ha for the crown layer. These results will be useful for calculating the amount of CO2 emitted from forest fires and for developing a forest carbon model in P. densiflora forests.