Dynamical roles of mixed layer in regulating the meridional mass/heat fluxes

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2007. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research 112 (2007): C05036, doi:10.1029/2006JC004046.The mixed layer is an important component of the oceanic circulation system. Recent progress in energetics of the oceanic circulation suggests that the amount of external mechanical energy available for mixing is directly linked to the strength of the meridional overturning circulation. Using an analytical two-dimensional model and a three-dimensional numerical model, it is shown that the meridional distribution of mixed layer depth plays an important role in regulating the meridional overturning circulation and poleward heat flux. In fact, if the mixed layer at low and middle latitudes is deeper because of increase in mechanical energy input to the turbulence in the upper ocean, the meridional overturning circulation and poleward heat flux are enhanced in a steady circulation system, and at the same time, it may take less mechanical energy to support the subsurface diapycnal mixing.RXH was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through CICOR Cooperative Agreement NA17RJ1223, CJH was supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China through grant 2006CB403605, andWWwas supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China through grant 40476010. This study is also supported through the Chinese 111 Project under Contract B07036

Negative symptom dimensions and social functioning in Chinese patients with schizophrenia

ObjectiveNegative symptoms can seriously affect social functioning in patients with schizophrenia. However, the role of various components of negative symptoms in social functioning remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the associations among three different dimensions of negative symptoms (i.e., communication, emotion, and motivation) and social functioning to identify potential therapeutic targets.MethodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled 202 Chinese participants with schizophrenia. Negative symptoms were evaluated using the Negative Symptom Assessment (NSA). Social functioning was represented by the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) total score and employment status. Correlation analysis was conducted to clarify the relationship between negative symptoms and the PSP total score. Regression analysis was performed to explore the determinants of the PSP total score and employment status, considering negative symptoms and possible confounders, such as demographic features, positive symptoms, cognitive symptoms, depressive symptoms, and extrapyramidal side effects.ResultsThe PSP total score was correlated with all three dimensions of negative symptoms (i.e., emotion, motivation, and communication; rs = –0.509, –0.662, and –0.657, respectively). Motivation, instead of emotion or communication, predicted both low PSP total scores and unemployment.ConclusionSocial functioning in patients with schizophrenia was significantly related to motivation. Further studies should focus on motivation and consider it as a therapeutic target to improve patients’ social functioning

Genetic testing of sperm donors in China: a survey of current practices

BackgroundThe National Health and Family Planning Commission of China (NHFPCC) issued the “Measures for the Management of Human Sperm Banks,” which was revised in 2003 and is still in effect today. One of the standard guidelines is that potential donors undergo laboratory testing to exclude infectious and genetic diseases and karyotype analysis. However, patient demands for donor genetic testing have also increased, and only karyotype analysis to exclude genetic diseases is not sufficient to meet these demands.ObjectiveTo examine donor genetic screening practices at sperm banks in China and to evaluate the qualifications and skills of genetic counselors at the banks.Materials and methodsAn electronic survey was distributed to twenty-seven sperm banks to examine donor genetic screening practices at sperm banks in China and to evaluate the qualifications and skills of genetic counselors at the banks. Twenty-six human sperm banks responded to a 32-question survey about their current practices related to genetic testing of sperm donors.ResultsThe 26 sperm banks reported that all qualified sperm donors undergo karyotype analysis; 22 banks (84.6%) collected three generations of family history from each qualified sperm donor; 10 (38.5%) reported that they attempted to accommodate special requests from donor semen recipients for particular genetic tests. Only 2 of the 26 (7.7%) sperm banks reported that they performed whole-exome sequencing. At all the sperm banks, consent for genetic testing was obtained as part of the overall contract for sperm donors. Nineteen (73.1%) sperm banks had genetic counselors on their staff, while six (23.1%) had no genetic counselors on their staff but had access to genetic counselors at the hospital. Only one (3.8%) sperm bank had no genetic counselors on their staff or at the hospital.ConclusionsThe need for larger scale genetic testing of donors and recipients and an extensive panel of genetic tests specific to the Chinese population. Additionally, professionally trained geneticists must be employed as genetic counsellors so that the results of genetic tests and their implications can be explained to donors

A Systematic Survey of Control Techniques and Applications: From Autonomous Vehicles to Connected and Automated Vehicles

Vehicle control is one of the most critical challenges in autonomous vehicles (AVs) and connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), and it is paramount in vehicle safety, passenger comfort, transportation efficiency, and energy saving. This survey attempts to provide a comprehensive and thorough overview of the current state of vehicle control technology, focusing on the evolution from vehicle state estimation and trajectory tracking control in AVs at the microscopic level to collaborative control in CAVs at the macroscopic level. First, this review starts with vehicle key state estimation, specifically vehicle sideslip angle, which is the most pivotal state for vehicle trajectory control, to discuss representative approaches. Then, we present symbolic vehicle trajectory tracking control approaches for AVs. On top of that, we further review the collaborative control frameworks for CAVs and corresponding applications. Finally, this survey concludes with a discussion of future research directions and the challenges. This survey aims to provide a contextualized and in-depth look at state of the art in vehicle control for AVs and CAVs, identifying critical areas of focus and pointing out the potential areas for further exploration

Spatiotemporal clustering of the epigenome reveals rules of dynamic gene regulation

Spatial organization of different epigenomic marks was used to infer functions of the epigenome. It remains unclear what can be learned from the temporal changes of the epigenome. Here, we developed a probabilistic model to cluster genomic sequences based on the similarity of temporal changes of multiple epigenomic marks during a cellular differentiation process. We differentiated mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells into mesendoderm cells. At three time points during this differentiation process, we used high-throughput sequencing to measure seven histone modifications and variants—H3K4me1/2/3, H3K27ac, H3K27me3, H3K36me3, and H2A.Z; two DNA modifications—5-mC and 5-hmC; and transcribed mRNAs and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). Genomic sequences were clustered based on the spatiotemporal epigenomic information. These clusters not only clearly distinguished gene bodies, promoters, and enhancers, but also were predictive of bidirectional promoters, miRNA promoters, and piRNAs. This suggests specific epigenomic patterns exist on piRNA genes much earlier than germ cell development. Temporal changes of H3K4me2, unmethylated CpG, and H2A.Z were predictive of 5-hmC changes, suggesting unmethylated CpG and H3K4me2 as potential upstream signals guiding TETs to specific sequences. Several rules on combinatorial epigenomic changes and their effects on mRNA expression and ncRNA expression were derived, including a simple rule governing the relationship between 5-hmC and gene expression levels. A Sox17 enhancer containing a FOXA2 binding site and a Foxa2 enhancer containing a SOX17 binding site were identified, suggesting a positive feedback loop between the two mesendoderm transcription factors. These data illustrate the power of using epigenome dynamics to investigate regulatory functions

Circulating tissue factor-positive procoagulant microparticles in patients with type 1 diabetes

Aim: To investigate the count of circulating tissue factor-positive (TF+) procoagulant microparticles (MPs) in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Methods: This case-control study included patients with T1DM and age and sex-matched healthy volunteers. The counts of phosphatidylserine-positive (PS+) MPs and TF(+)PS(+)MPs and the subgroups derived from different cell types were measured in the peripheral blood sample of the two groups using multicolor flow cytometric assay. We compared the counts of each MP between groups as well as the ratio of the TF(+)PS(+)MPs and PS(+)MPs (TF(+)PS(+)MPs/PS(+)MPs). Results: We recruited 36 patients with T1DM and 36 matched healthy controls. Compared with healthy volunteers, PS(+)MPs, TF(+)PS(+)MPs and TF(+)PS(+)MPs/PS(+)MPs were elevated in patients with T1DM (PS(+)MPs: 1078.5 +/- 158.08 vs 686.84 +/- 122.04/mu L, P &lt;0.001; TF(+)PS(+)MPs: 202.10 +/- 47.47 vs 108.33 +/- 29.42/mu L, P &lt;0.001; and TF(+)PS(+)MPs/PS(+)MPs: 0.16 +/- 0.04 vs 0.19 +/- 0.05, P = 0.004), mostly derived from platelet, lymphocytes and endothelial cells. In the subgroup analysis, the counts of total and platelet TF(+)PS(+)MPs were increased in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and with higher HbA1c, respectively. Conclusion: Circulating TF(+)PS(+)MPs and those derived from platelet, lymphocytes and endothelial cells were elevated in patients with T1DM.De tre första författarna delar förstaförfattarskapet.</p

Detection of the circulating antigen 14-3-3 protein of Schistosoma japonicum by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay in rabbits

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schistosomiasis remains a major public health concern that afflicts millions of people worldwide. Low levels of <it>Schistosoma </it>infection require more sensitive diagnostic methods. In this study, a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) was developed for detecting the signal transduction protein 14-3-3, a circulating antigen of <it>Schistosoma japonicum</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The detection limit of 14-3-3-TRFIA was 0.78 ng/ml, with a linear measurement range from 0.78 to 800 ng/ml. The average intra-assay and inter-assay variability of this TRFIA was 8.9% and 12.2% respectively, and the mean recovery rate ranged from 92.1% to 115.5%. Within the first 21 days post-infection in rabbits, the positive rates of the 14-3-3-TRFIA were distinctly higher compared to ELISA. All these findings illustrate that 14-3-3-TRFIA has a higher detection efficacy and is a good early diagnostic method for active <it>Schistosoma </it>infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A sandwich TRFIA for detecting the circulating antigen 14-3-3 of <it>S. japonicum </it>has been developed, and has demonstrated to be a good potential diagnostic method for schistosomiasis.</p