A Nested Case-Control Study to Explore the Association between Immunoglobulin G N-glycans and Ischemic Stroke

Objective This study prospectively investigates the association between immunoglobulin G(IgG)N-glycan traits and ischemic stroke(IS) risk.Methods A nested case-control study was conducted in the China suboptimal health cohort study,which recruited 4,313 individuals in 2013–2014. Cases were identified as patients diagnosed with IS, and controls were 1:1 matched by age and sex with cases. Ig G N-glycans in baseline plasma samples were analyzed.Results A total of 99 IS cases and 99 controls were included, and 24 directly measured glycan peaks(GPs) were separated from Ig G N-glycans. In directly measured GPs, GP4, GP9, GP21, GP22, GP23, and GP24 were associated with the risk of IS in men after adjusting for age, waist and hip circumference,obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Derived glycan traits representing decreased galactosylation and sialylation were associated with IS in men(FBG2S2/(FBG2 + FBG2S1 + FBG2S2): odds ratio(OR) = 0.92, 95% confidence interval(CI): 0.87–0.97;G1n: OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.63–0.87;G0n: OR =1.12, 95% CI: 1.03–1.22). However, these associations were not found among women.Conclusion This study validated that altered Ig G N-glycan traits were associated with incident IS in men, suggesting that sex discrepancies might exist in these associations.

Reduced risk of dementia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using Chinese herbal medicine:A nested case-control study

BACKGROUND Dementia is a prevalent condition in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients.While Chinese herbal medicine(CHM)is often employed as complementary therapy for glycemic control,its effect in controlling likelihood of dementia has not yet been fully elucidated.AIM To compare the risk of dementia between T2DM patients with and without CHM treatment.METHODS We undertook a nested case-control study and obtained data on patients 20-70 years of age who received medical care for T2DM between 2001 and 2010 from the National Health Insurance Research database in Taiwan.Cases,defined as those with dementia that occurred at least one year after the diagnosis of T2DM,were randomly matched to controls without dementia from the study cohort at a 1:1 ratio.We applied conditional logistic regression to explore the associations between CHM treatment and dementia.RESULTS A total of 11699 dementia cases were matched to 11699 non-dementia controls.We found that adding CHM to conventional care was related to a lower risk of dementia[adjusted odds ratio(OR)=0.51],and high-intensity CHM treatment was associated with an adjusted OR of 0.22.CONCLUSION This study shows that the cumulative CHM exposure was inversely associated with dementia risk in an exposureresponse manner,implying that CHM treatment may be embraced as a disease management approach for diabetic patients to prevent dementia.

Genome-wide association study reveals novel loci for adult type 1 diabetes in a 5-year nested case-control study

BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes(T1D)is a severe and prevalent metabolic disease.Due to its high heredity,an increasing number of genome-wide association studies have been performed,most of which were from hospital-based case-control studies with a relatively small sample size.The association of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)and T1D has been less studied and is less understood in natural cohorts.AIM To investigate the significant variants of T1D,which could be potential biomarkers for T1D prediction or even therapy.METHODS A genome-wide association study(GWAS)of adult T1D was performed in a nested case-control study(785 cases vs 804 controls)from a larger 5-year cohort study in Suzhou,China.Potential harmful or protective SNPs were evaluated for T1D.Subsequent expression and splicing quantitative trait loci(eQTL and sQTL)analyses were carried out to identify target genes modulated by these SNPs.RESULTS A harmful SNP for T1D,rs3117017[odds ratio(OR)=3.202,95%confidence interval(CI):2.296-4.466,P=9.33×10-4]and three protective SNPs rs55846421(0.113,0.081-0.156,1.76×10-9),rs75836320(0.283,0.205-0.392,1.07×10-4),rs362071(0.568,0.495-0.651,1.66×10-4)were identified.Twenty-two genes were further identified as potential candidates for T1D onset.CONCLUSION We identified a potential genetic basis of T1D,both protective and harmful,using a GWAS in a larger nested case-control study of a Chinese population.

Nested case-control analysis with general additive-multiplicative hazard models

This paper discusses the nested case-control analysis under a class of general additive-multiplicative hazard models which includes the Cox model and the additive hazard model as special cases.A pseudo-score is constructed to estimate the regression parameters.The resulting estimator is shown to be consistent and asymptotically normally distributed.The limiting variance-covariance matrix can be consistently estimated by the nested case-control data.A simulation study is conducted to assess the finite sample performance of the proposed estimator and a real example is provided for illustration.

Nested case-control study on risk factors for opportunistic infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND When opportunistic infections occur, patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) commonly display a significantly increased rate of morbidity and mortality.With increasing use of immunosuppressive agents and biological agents,opportunistic infections are becoming a hot topic in the perspective of drug safety in IBD patients. Despite the well-established role of opportunistic infections in the prognosis of IBD patients, there are few epidemiological data investigating the incidence of opportunis-tic infections in IBD patients in China. Besides, the risk factors for opportunistic infection in Chinese IBD patients remain unclear.AIM To predict the incidence of opportunistic infections related to IBD in China, and explore the risk factors for opportunistic infections.METHODS A single-center, prospective study of IBD patients was conducted. The patients were followed for up to 12 mo to calculate the incidence of infections. For each infected IBD patient, two non-infected IBD patients were selected as controls. A conditional logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between putative risk factors and opportunistic infections, which are represented as odds ratios(OR) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs).RESULTS Seventy(28.11%) out of 249 IBD patients developed opportunistic infections.Clostridium difficile infections and respiratory syncytial virus infections were found in 24 and 16 patients, respectively. In a univariate analysis, factors such as the severity of IBD, use of an immunosuppressant or immunosuppressants, high levels of fecal calprotectin, and C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate were individually related to a significantly increased risk of opportunistic infection. Multivariate analysis indicated that the use of any immunosuppressant yielded an OR of 3.247(95%CI: 1.128-9.341), whereas the use of any two immunosuppressants yielded an OR of 6.457(95%CI: 1.726-24.152) for opportunistic infection. Interestingly, when immunosuppressants were used in combination with infliximab(IFX) or 5-aminosalicylic acid, a significantly increased risk of opportunistic infection was also observed. The relative risk of opportunistic infection was greatest in IBD patients with severe disease activity(OR = 9.090; 95%CI: 1.532-53.941, relative to the remission stage). However, the use of IFX alone did not increase the risk of opportunistic infection.CONCLUSION Factors such as severe IBD, elevated levels of fecal calprotectin, and the use of immunosuppressive medications, especially when used in combination, are major risk factors for opportunistic infections in IBD patients. The use of IFX alone does not increase the risk of opportunistic infection.

Nested case-control study of multiple serological indexes and Brighton pediatric early warming score in predicting death of children with sepsis

BACKGROUND Currently, it is difficult to predict the complications of children at the early stage of sepsis. Brighton pediatric early warning score(PEWS) is a disease risk assessment system that is simple and easy to operate, which has good sensitivity and specificity in disease recognition among children. Because detection indicators vary widely in children, a single indicator is difficult to assess the posttreatment status of children with sepsis.AIM To investigate the relationship between serological markers, Brighton PEWS, and death in children with sepsis after treatment.METHODS A total of 205 children diagnosed with sepsis at our hospital were enrolled. The baseline data, serum scores, and PEWS scores were recorded. In the nested casecontrol study, children who died during the study period were included in an observation group. According to the matching principle, the children who were not dead in the same cohort were included in a control group. The influencing factors of death in children with sepsis after treatment and the value of each evaluation index in predicting the prognosis of children were analyzed.RESULTS A total of 96 children were enrolled in the study, including 48 each in the observation group and the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that antibacterial treatments within 1 h(P = 0.017), shock(P = 0.044),multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)(P = 0.027), serum procalcitonin(PCT)(P = 0.047), serum albumin(ALB)(P = 0.024), and PEWS(P = 0.012) were independent risk factors for the death of children with sepsis. The area under the curve of the combination of ALB, PCT, and PEWS to predict the death in children with sepsis was the highest(0.908).CONCLUSION Antibacterial treatments within 1 h, shock, MODS, PCT, ALB, and PEWS are independent risk factors for the death of children with sepsis. The predictive accuracy of the combination of PCT, ALB, and PEWS for the prognosis of children with sepsis is the best.

Insulin-like growth factor-1, IGF binding protein-3, and the risk of esophageal cancer in a nested case-control study

AIM To assess the relationship between serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF1)/IGF-binding protein-3(IGFBP3)and the risk of esophageal carcinoma.METHODS We assessed the relationship between the serum levels of these molecules and the risk of esophageal cancer in a prospective,nested case-control study of participants from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study.A baseline survey was conducted from 1988 to 1990.Of the 110585 enrolled participants,35%donated blood samples.Those who had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer were considered cases for nested case-control studies.A conditional logistic model was used to estimate odds ratios for the incidence of esophageal cancer associated with serum IGF1 and IGFBP3 levels.RESULTS Thirty-one cases and 86 controls were eligible for the present assessment.The molar ratio of IGF1/IGFBP3,which represents the free and active form of IGF1,was not correlated with the risk of esophageal carcinoma.A higher molar difference between IGFBP3and IGF1,which estimates the free form of IGFBP3,was associated with a decreased risk of esophageal carcinoma(P=0.0146),and people in the highest tertile had the lowest risk(OR=0.107,95%CI:0.017-0.669).After adjustment for body mass index,tobacco use,and alcohol intake,the molar difference of IGFBP3-IGF1 was inversely correlated with the risk of esophageal carcinoma(P=0.0150).CONCLUSION The free form of IGFBP3,which is estimated by this molar difference,may be inversely associated with esophageal cancer incidence.

Design and assembly of a nested imaging X-ray telescope for the Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor mission

The Hot Universe Baryon Surveyor (HUBS) mission will carry a nested X-ray telescope capable of observing an energy range from 0.5 keV to 2 keV to study hot baryon evolution. In this paper, we report the latest progress in the design and construction of nested X-ray telescopes which were designed to use a three-stage conic-approximation type assembly to simplify the manufacturing process. The mirror substrate is made using the thermal glass slumping method, with mirrors characterized by a root-mean-square roughness of 0.3 nm, with expected high reflectivity and good thermal stability. We also discuss methods of telescope construction and conduct a deformation analysis of the manufactured mirror. The in situ measurement system program is developed to guide the telescope assembly process.

Nested Levels of Hybrid Cryptographical Technique for Secure Information Exchange

Data security is a very important part of data transmission over insecure channels connected through high-speed networks. Due to COVID-19, the use of data transmission over insecure channels has increased in an exponential manner. Hybrid cryptography provides a better solution than a single type of cryptographical technique. In this paper, nested levels of hybrid cryptographical techniques are investigated with the help of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Paillier cryptographical techniques. In the first level, information will be encrypted by DNA and at the second level, the ciphertext of DNA will be encrypted by Paillier cryptography. At the decryption time, firstly Paillier cryptography will be processed, and then DAN cryptography will be processed to get the original text. The proposed algorithm follows the concept of Last Encryption First Decryption (LEFD) at the time of decryption. The computed results are depicted in terms of tables and graphs.

Use the Power of a Genetic Algorithm to Maximize and Minimize Cases to Solve Capacity Supplying Optimization and Travelling Salesman in Nested Problems

Using Genetic Algorithms (GAs) is a powerful tool to get solution to large scale design optimization problems. This paper used GA to solve complicated design optimization problems in two different applications. The aims are to implement the genetic algorithm to solve these two different (nested) problems, and to get the best or optimization solutions.

Nest decoration:Black feathers prevent Crested Mynas from nest usurpation

Nests are important structures for birds to raise their offspring and for signaling.Many birds incorporate feathers into the nest,since feathers were traditionally thought to serve the function of insulation.Hypotheses in recent years have considered that some birds place feathers in conspicuous locations in the nest for decoration to trigger a fear response in the competitors.In this study,we investigated whether decorative feathers could deter nest usurpation by Crested Mynas(Acridotheres cristatellus)by manipulating nest box contents.The results revealed that Crested Mynas preferred black feathers to white feathers as decorations and occupied nest boxes decorated with black feathers significantly less than those decorated with white feathers,suggesting that black decorative feathers in the nest could be more effective in preventing nest usurpation by Crested Mynas and that white decorative feathers may have other functions.The black feathers in the nest are prominently placed at the edge of the nest to convey the message that“this nest is occupied”or“the owner of this nest has been preyed upon”to visitor Crested Mynas,thus effectively preventing them from usurping the nest at a later stage.

Seasonal increase in nest defense,but not egg rejection,in a cuckoo host

The interactions between avian brood parasites and their hosts provide an informative and easy-to-handle system for studying coevolution.Avian brood parasitism reduces the reproductive success of hosts,and thus,hosts have evolved anti-parasitic strategies,such as rejecting parasitic eggs and adopting aggressive nest defense strategies,to avoid the cost brought on by brood parasitism.To test whether host anti-parasitic strategies are adjusted with the risk of being parasitized when the breeding seasons of brood parasites and hosts are not synchronous,we conducted a field experiment assessing nest defense and egg recognition behaviors of the Isabelline Shrike(Lanius isabellinus),a host of the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).In the local area,the host Isabelline Shrike begins to breed in April,whereas the summer migratory Common Cuckoo migrates to the local area in May and begins to lay parasitic eggs.Results showed that nest defense behaviors of the Isabelline Shrike increases significantly after cuckoo arrival,showing higher aggressiveness to cuckoo dummies,with no significant difference in attack rates among cuckoo,sparrowhawk and dove dummies,but their egg rejection did not change significantly.These results imply that Isabelline Shrikes may adjust their nest defense behavior,but not egg rejection behavior,with seasonality.

Habitat preferences and nest site selection by sympatric populations of Middle Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocoptes medius) and Syrian Woodpecker(Dendrocopos syriacus) in natural mountain forests of Southwest Iran

We examined habitat preferences and nesting requirements of sympatric populations of Middle Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocoptes medius) and Syrian Woodpecker(Dendrocopos syriacus).We carried out our study in 2015–2018 in natural mountain forests of Southwest Iran.We compared selected features of nesting,territory,and outside territory tree stands of the studied woodpeckers.The Middle Spotted Woodpecker occupied only oak forests,but the Syrian Woodpecker inhabited heterogenic forests that included the preferred tree of this species,the Mount Atlas Mastic.We recorded that in the breeding territories of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker,a greater area covered by tree crowns,as well as a larger number of trees,and a larger trunk basal area were observed in comparison to the territories occupied by the more plastic Syrian Woodpecker.Different habitat preferences demonstrated by both species could be a result of the selection of tree stands that provide the necessary food resources for each woodpecker species.Adaptation of Syrian Woodpecker to use heterogenic forest stands including tree species that produce fruits and as Mount Atlas Mastic trees,which likely allowed this species to colonise in Asia and Europe non-forest tree stands as orchards or gardens.Our results showed that poor tree condition and large tree trunk dimensions had a positive impact on the selection of nesting sites by both species.The presence of trees with large trunk dimensions was associated with multiple years of use of woodpecker breeding sites in the studied forests.Maintaining habitats in suitable condition for both studied woodpeckers can be achieved by preserving natural forests in the mountain regions of Iran.

Kentish Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Tern(Sternula albifrons) prefer shells for nesting:A field experiment

Shorebird populations are declining worldwide,mainly due to human disturbances and loss of coastal wetlands.However,supratidal habitats as saltpans could play a role in buffering human impact.Saltpans have shown to be important as feeding or breeding sites of some shorebird species.A potential conservation strategy to increase shorebird populations in saltpans is to manipulate the cues that birds use to select optimal breeding habitat.Here it is hypothesized that shorebirds are attracted to bivalve shells due to the advantages they offer.Following this hypothesis,we supplemented a restored saltpan in 2019 and 2021 with bivalve shells,expecting an increase in the number of breeding birds’ nests.More than 75% of Kentish Plover(Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Tern(Sternula albifrons) nests were found in patches with shells in both years.The best model for both species indicates that the presence of shells is the factor that most correlates with the location of nests.The probability of choosing one place over another to settle their nest increases in areas with an abundance of shells,double in the case of the Kentish Plover and triple in the case of the Little Tern.The result of this study may constitute a valuable tool for attracting birds to restored saltpans and could contribute to the success of expensive restoration projects where time is usually a constraint.

应用PCR及Nested-PCR技术检测柑橘黄龙病病原研究

以采自田间和广东省农业科学院果树研究所防虫隔离网室内嫁接并感染黄龙病的5个柑橘品种叶片为材料,以草本指示植物长春花(Catharanthusroseas)和木本指示植物柑(CitrusreticulataBlanco)鉴定为基础,采用改良的CTAB法提取总DNA,在此基础上进行常规PCR与NestedPCR检测,并对特异目的片段进行克隆、测序。试验证明NestedPCR比常规PCR的灵敏度更高。这两种方法均可以检测出未显症的黄龙病材料,但NestedPCR可以在木本指示植物嫁接后40d左右、草本指示植物摩擦接种1个月左右检测到病原;而常规PCR在木本植物嫁接后60d左右、草本植物摩擦接种近2个月左右才能检测到病原。常规PCR所能检测到的最低DNA的量为pg数量级;NestedPCR检测病原DNA灵敏度约为常规PCR的104倍。

广西砂糖橘黄龙病亚洲种的Nested-PCR检测

【目的】利用柑橘黄龙病病原亚洲种16S rDNA序列的特异引物检测疑似黄龙病的砂糖橘叶片样品,为砂糖橘黄龙病的综合防控提供理论依据。【方法】选取采自广西9市17个采样点的214份疑似黄龙病及无症状砂糖橘叶片样品,用试剂盒法提取叶脉基因组DNA,采用柑橘黄龙病亚洲种16S rDNA特异引物进行PCR扩增,扩增结果在1%琼脂糖凝胶电泳上检测,统计待检样品柑橘黄龙病病原菌亚洲种的带菌率。【结果】对214份样品的Nested-PCR扩增结果,部分样品可得到1160 bp左右的特异条带,与预期大小相符但条带明暗不同。来自广西9市17个采样点的砂糖橘叶片样品均检测出黄龙病亚洲种病原,平均检出率均在66.0%以上,其中检出率最高的是来自东兴市的样品,检出率为100.0%,检出率最低的是来自南宁市的样品,检出率为66.9%;斑驳、缺素型黄化、叶脉黄化、小叶和无症状叶片样品中均可检测出黄龙病亚洲种。【结论】Nested-PCR技术具有灵敏度高、特异性强的特点,能够快速、准确检测出各种症状样品的黄龙病病原,可用于柑橘黄龙病的早期诊断。

大豆油中转基因成分的Nested PCR和Semi-nested PCR检测方法研究

对大豆油中DNA提取方法进行了研究,结果表明CTAB、SDS和Wizard试剂盒提取大豆油DNA均具有良好的效果。利用nested PCR和semi-nested PCR检测大豆(Roundup Ready)油中的转基因成分发现,该方法能够检测到大豆原油中的Lectin基因(112bp)、CaMV35S基因(147bP)和CP4-EPSPS基因(205bp),检测灵敏度达到10-6ng/μl;但该方法未能从人豆成品油(一级)中扩增到上述基因,当中的转基因成分DNA含量低于10-12ng/μl。

RP/SP融合数据的Mixed Logit和Nested Logit模型估计对比

分析了RP/SP(revealed preference/stated preference)融合数据对交通行为研究的重要性,通过实际调查的RP/SP融合数据,对比了用Mixed Logit和Nested Logit模型的估计结果.得出了以下结论:RP/SP融合数据中,有时同类型交通方式的关联性要比RP和SP数据之间的关联性强,应用不同的Nested Logit模型分层方法进行估计对比;Mixed Logit考虑了个体的异质性,假定参数为随机分布,同时体现了RP/SP数据的关联性和同类型交通方式的关联性,能够得到更好的参数估计结果;Mixed Logit模型能更现实地反映不同交通方式使用者对时间和费用敏感性的不同(时间价值的不同),体现小汽车使用者比公共交通使用者具有更高时间价值的现实情况.

基于Nested Logit模型的铁路旅客客运产品选择研究

通过成都—武汉既有线出行旅客的问卷调查,以及样本数据的归纳分析,对旅客客运产品选择行为特征进行描述.基于随机效用最大化理论,以乘车方式与客运产品作为选择肢,旅客主体、出行特性及列车服务特性的各项指标作为效用变量,构建了乘车方式位于上层、客运产品位于下层的Nested Logit模型.模型的上下层参数标定结果表明,旅客的收入状况、出行目的、出行距离、列车票价及运行时间对其乘车方案选择具有显著影响,旅客的年龄、出行费用来源、收入状况、出行距离,以及列车票价、运行时间对其客运产品选择具有显著影响.模型能较为准确地反映铁路客运产品的实际需求,从而为其合理设计与调整提供理论依据.

应用nested和touch down PCR技术分离牦牛CAPN1大亚基基因EST

钙激活中性蛋白酶1(CAPN1)基因是影响肉嫩度的侯选基因。根据GeneBank中已公布的CAPN1基因cDNA序列设计同源PCR引物,通过RT,nested和touch-downPCR技术从牦牛肌肉组织总RNA中分离目的序列,与pGEM-T-easy载体连接后转化DH5α感受态菌株,通过PCR扩增、限制性酶切和测序分析鉴定阳性克隆。分离到的基因片段为牦牛CAPN1大亚基的部分编码序列,在GeneBank中的注册号为AY197555,与奶牛、人、食蟹猴、小鼠、绵羊以及大鼠相应序列的同源性分别为98%,89%,89%,83%,96%和81%,在不同物种之间具有较强的保守性。CAPN1基因EST的分离为进一步研究牦牛CAPN1基因奠定了基础。此研究表明,在总RNA质量不理想的情况下,同时采用这2种技术可以较大限度地获取目的序列。