16S Next-generation sequencing and quantitative PCR reveal the distribution of potential pathogens in the Liaohe Estuary

The existence of potentially pathogenic bacteria seriously threatens aquatic animals and human health. Estuaries are closely related to human activities, and the detection of pathogens is important for aquaculture and public health. However, monitoring only indicator microorganisms and pathogens is not enough to accurately and comprehensively estimate water pollution. Here, the diversity of potentially pathogenic bacteria in water samples from the Liaohe estuary was profiled using 16S next-generation sequencing (16S NGS) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. The results showed that the dominant genera of environmental pathogens were Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Mycobacterium, Acinetobacter, Exiguobacterium, Sphingomonas, and Legionella, and the abundance of enteric pathogens was significantly less than the environmental pathogens, mainly, Citrobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, Enterobacter, Bacteroides. The qPCR results showed that the 16S rRNA genes of Vibrio were the most abundant, with concentrations between 7.06 and 9.48 lg copies/L, followed by oaa gene, fliC gene, trh gene, and uidA gene, and the temperature and salinity were the main factors affecting its abundance. Variance partitioning analysis (VPA) analysis of spatial factors on the potential pathogen’s distribution (19.6% vs 5.3%) was greater than environmental factors. In addition, the co-occurrence analysis of potential pathogens in the estuary revealed significant co-occurrence among the opportunistic pathogens Testosteronemonas, Brevimonas vesicularis, and Pseudomonas putida. Our findings provide an essential reference for monitoring and occurrence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in estuaries

Dynamical Precipitation Downscaling for Hydrologic Applications Using WRF 4D-Var Data Assimilation: Implications for GPM Era

The objective of this study is to develop a framework for dynamically downscaling spaceborne precipitation products using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model with four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4D-Var). Numerical experiments have been conducted to 1) understand the sensitivity of precipitation downscaling through point-scale precipitation data assimilation and 2) investigate the impact of seasonality and associated changes in precipitation-generating mechanisms on the quality of spatiotemporal downscaling of precipitation. The point-scale experiment suggests that assimilating precipitation can significantly affect the precipitation analysis, forecast, and downscaling. Because of occasional overestimation or underestimation of small-scale summertime precipitation extremes, the numerical experiments presented here demonstrate that the wintertime assimilation produces downscaled precipitation estimates that are in closer agreement with the reference National Centers for Environmental Prediction stage IV dataset than similar summertime experiments. This study concludes that the WRF 4D-Var system is able to effectively downscale a 6-h precipitation product with a spatial resolution of 20 km to hourly precipitation with a spatial resolution of less than 10 km in grid spacing—relevant to finescale hydrologic applications for the era of the Global Precipitation Measurement mission

Nitrous oxide abuse in a 21-year-old female: a case report and review of literature

The abuse of nitrous oxide (N2O) poses a substantial public health challenge. In many countries, including China, regulations governing the utilization and accessibility to N2O remain ambiguous, particularly within the food industry. Here, we report a case of a 21-year-old female who presented with symptoms of subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord due to N2O abuse. The patient exhibited bilateral lower limb numbness and weakness, low serum vitamin B12 levels with elevated homocysteine levels, and lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed abnormal signals of the spinal cord. Following cessation of N2O and comprehensive therapy including methylcobalamin and nerve growth factor, the symptoms significantly improved. A follow-up examination 3 months later showed good progress in gait stability. At a 5-year follow-up, the patient’s previous clinical symptoms had completely disappeared, and her quality of life had returned to normal. This case underscores the urgency of raising awareness and prevention of N2O abuse, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment for patient recovery. Clear formulation and enforcement of relevant regulatory measures are equally crucial in reducing instances of abuse

Attenuated Glial Reactivity on Topographically Functionalized Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene):P-Toluene Sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) Neuroelectrodes Fabricated by Microimprint Lithography

Following implantation, neuroelectrode functionality is susceptible to deterioration via reactive host cell response and glial scar-induced encapsulation. Within the neuroengineering community, there is a consensus that the induction of selective adhesion and regulated cellular interaction at the tissue–electrode interface can significantly enhance device interfacing and functionality in vivo. In particular, topographical modification holds promise for the development of functionalized neural interfaces to mediate initial cell adhesion and the subsequent evolution of gliosis, minimizing the onset of a proinflammatory glial phenotype, to provide long-term stability. Herein, a low-temperature microimprint-lithography technique for the development of micro-topographically functionalized neuroelectrode interfaces in electrodeposited poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):p-toluene sulfonate (PEDOT:PTS) is described and assessed in vitro. Platinum (Pt) microelectrodes are subjected to electrodeposition of a PEDOT:PTS microcoating, which is subsequently topographically functionalized with an ordered array of micropits, inducing a significant reduction in electrode electrical impedance and an increase in charge storage capacity. Furthermore, topographically functionalized electrodes reduce the adhesion of reactive astrocytes in vitro, evident from morphological changes in cell area, focal adhesion formation, and the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokine factors. This study contributes to the understanding of gliosis in complex primary mixed cell cultures, and describes the role of micro-topographically modified neural interfaces in the development of stable microelectrode interfaces

Study on the Influence Mechanism and Adjustment Path of Climate Risk on China’s High-Quality Economic Development

The quantitative analysis of the economic impact of climate risk is an effective means of understanding and taking reasonable preventative steps in relation to the climate-related economic crisis. This paper takes panel data from China’s 31 provinces for 2009 to 2021, combined with a regulating intermediary effect model, to determine the climate risk faced in China and its influence mechanism on high-quality economic development, in an attempt to determine how to adjust the path. The results show that, first, when using a different regression model, we see that climate risks pose a significantly inhibiting effect on high-quality economic development in China. Secondly, when the climate risk increases by 1%, high-quality economic development drops by 0.0115%. When the climate risk increases by 1%, this leads to a 14.9672% increase in the likelihood of natural disasters, causing high-quality economic development to be indirectly reduced by 0.1300%. Thirdly, green innovation has a multidimensional effect; it can both directly and indirectly impact the negative effects of inhibition, and indirect adjustment has a greater effect than direct adjustment. Such regulation has a greater effect on the input than on the output. Therefore, we should seek to more accurately understand the dangers of climate risk, effectively improve the five aspects of development, and strengthen the input of green innovation and thus the output of high-quality economic development in China

Machine Vision-Based Method for Measuring and Controlling the Angle of Conductive Slip Ring Brushes

The conductive slip ring is used for power or signal transmission between two objects rotating relative to each other. It has become an essential part of modern industrial development. In traditional automated production measurements, the typical method is to use calipers, goniometers, or angle gauges to measure a parameter of the workpiece several times and then average it. These inspection means have low measurement accuracy and slow measurement speed, and measurement data cannot be processed in a timely manner. A machine vision-based method for measuring and controlling the angle of the brushes is proposed for this problem. First, the brush angle forming device was built for the conductive slip ring brush wire, forming the principle and rebound characteristics. Then, machine vision and image processing algorithms were applied to measure the key parts of the conductive slip ring brushes. The data of the forming angle value and rebound angle value were obtained during the forming process of the brush wire angle. Finally, a pre-compensation model for the brush filament rebound was developed and validated based on the curve fitting method. The test results show that the error of the angle measurement is within 0.05°. The average error of the measured rebound angle and the calculated rebound angle of the brush filament pre-compensation model was 0.112°, which verifies the correctness of the pre-compensation model. The forming angle can be controlled more precisely, and the contact performance between the brush wire and the ring body can be improved effectively. This method has the potential to be extended to engineering applications

A Distributed Fault Diagnosis and Cooperative Fault-Tolerant Control Design Framework for Distributed Interconnected Systems

This paper investigates a design framework for a class of distributed interconnected systems, where a fault diagnosis scheme and a cooperative fault-tolerant control scheme are included. First of all, fault detection observers are designed for the interconnected subsystems, and the detection results will be spread to all subsystems in the form of a broadcast. Then, to locate the faulty subsystem accurately, fault isolation observers are further designed for the alarming subsystems in turn with the aid of an adaptive fault estimation technique. Based on this, the fault estimation information is used to compensate for the residuals, and then isolation decision logic is conducted. Moreover, the cooperative fault-tolerant control unit, where state feedback and cooperative compensation are both utilized, is introduced to ensure the stability of the whole system. Finally, the simulation of intelligent unmanned vehicle platooning is adopted to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed design framework

Temperature dependence of speed of actin filaments (Vf) propelled by different skeletal myosin isoforms

Red body disease occurred on a large scale in the shrimp farm in Liaoning Province in July, 2001. The characteristics of red body disease were observed by the authors. Infected animals displayed red bodies, sluggish swimming, disgusted feeding, hard shell and high mortality. Three bacterial strains were isolated from the muscles of the diseased Litopenaeus vannamei. In artificial infection test, one of them was proved to be the pathogen, numbered 0107. According to the traditional biochemical identification and 16S rRNA gene homology analysis, the pathogenic bacteria were Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Drug sensitivity test showed that the pathogenic bacteria are highly sensitive to cefoperazone, ceftriaxone, etc., while not sensitive to ampicillin and benzylpenicillin