Development Model of Higher Education Cluster in Chengdu and Chongqing

This study endeavors to investigate the influencing factors behind the development of higher education clusters in the Chengdu-Chongqing region and establish a model aimed at enhancing their effectiveness. To achieve this objective, a Likert Scale was employed, comprising four primary dimensions, 14 secondary dimensions, and 39 items, initially validated through a pre-survey and SPSS software analysis. Subsequently, 405 valid questionnaires were collected from government officials, university administrators, and business leaders in the Chengdu-Chongqing region through an online platform and email. SmartPLS software was then used for analysis, confirming strong reliability and discriminant validity of the survey data. Further structural analysis revealed no issues of collinearity and identified government, universities, and enterprises as positively influencing factors on the Chengdu-Chongqing higher education cluster’s effectiveness. Eight secondary dimensions and 17 items were identified as positively impacting cluster effectiveness, leading to the formulation of a government-university-enterprise model for higher education cluster development in the Chengdu-Chongqing region

Estimation of subsurface porosities and thermal conductivities of polygonal tundra by coupled inversion of electrical resistivity, temperature, and moisture content data

Studies indicate greenhouse gas emissions following permafrost thaw will amplify current rates of atmospheric warming, a process referred to as the permafrost carbon feedback. However, large uncertainties exist regarding the timing and magnitude of the permafrost carbon feedback, in part due to uncertainties associated with subsurface permafrost parameterization and structure. Development of robust parameter estimation methods for permafrost-rich soils is becoming urgent under accelerated warming of the Arctic. Improved parameterization of the subsurface properties in land system models would lead to improved predictions and a reduction of modeling uncertainty. In this work we set the groundwork for future parameter estimation (PE) studies by developing and evaluating a joint PE algorithm that estimates soil porosities and thermal conductivities from time series of soil temperature and moisture measurements and discrete in-time electrical resistivity measurements. The algorithm utilizes the Model-Independent Parameter Estimation and Uncertainty Analysis toolbox and coupled hydrological-thermal-geophysical modeling. We test the PE algorithm against synthetic data, providing a proof of concept for the approach. We use specified subsurface porosities and thermal conductivities and coupled models to set up a synthetic state, perturb the parameters, and then verify that our PE method is able to recover the parameters and synthetic state. To evaluate the accuracy and robustness of the approach we perform multiple tests for a perturbed set of initial starting parameter combinations. In addition, we varied types and quantities of data to better understand the optimal dataset needed to improve the PE method. The results of the PE tests suggest that using multiple types of data improve the overall robustness of the method. Our numerical experiments indicate that special care needs to be taken during the field experiment setup so that (1) the vertical distance between adjacent measurement sensors allows the signal variability in space to be resolved and (2) the longer time interval between resistivity snapshots allows signal variability in time to be resolved

S-Lemma with Equality and Its Applications

Let $f(x)=x^TAx+2a^Tx+c$ and $h(x)=x^TBx+2b^Tx+d$ be two quadratic functions having symmetric matrices $A$ and $B$. The S-lemma with equality asks when the unsolvability of the system $f(x)<0, h(x)=0$ implies the existence of a real number $\mu$ such that $f(x) + \mu h(x)\ge0, ~\forall x\in \mathbb{R}^n$. The problem is much harder than the inequality version which asserts that, under Slater condition, $f(x)<0, h(x)\le0$ is unsolvable if and only if $f(x) + \mu h(x)\ge0, ~\forall x\in \mathbb{R}^n$ for some $\mu\ge0$. In this paper, we show that the S-lemma with equality does not hold only when the matrix $A$ has exactly one negative eigenvalue and $h(x)$ is a non-constant linear function ($B=0, b\not=0$). As an application, we can globally solve $\inf\{f(x)\vert h(x)=0\}$ as well as the two-sided generalized trust region subproblem $\inf\{f(x)\vert l\le h(x)\le u\}$ without any condition. Moreover, the convexity of the joint numerical range $\{(f(x), h_1(x),\ldots, h_p(x)):~x\in\Bbb R^n\}$ where $f$ is a (possibly non-convex) quadratic function and $h_1(x),\ldots,h_p(x)$ are affine functions can be characterized using the newly developed S-lemma with equality.Comment: 34 page

Lung allograft standardized histological analysis (LASHA) template: A research consensus proposal

BACKGROUND: Routine monitoring of lung-transplanted patients is crucial for the identification of immunological and non-immunological complications. Determining the etiology of acute allograft dysfunction, particularly in alloimmune-mediated disorders, relies heavily on the lung biopsy with histopathologic analysis. Standardization of the pathologic diagnosis of rejection (e.g., cellular and antibody-mediated) is based on consensus statements and guidelines, indicating the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to achieve a definitive etiological diagnosis. In addition to these statements and guidelines, refinements and standardizations are feasible through systematic analysis morphological, immunophenotypic and molecular alterations observed in transbronchial biopsies. This study is to identify key morphologic features to be assessed, select consistent and reproducible terminology for each histological feature, and provide standardized definitions for pathological assessment and grading. METHODS: A template was created by experts in lung transplantation including pathologists, pulmonologists, immunologists. An initial draft was circulated, followed by discussions and multiple revisions by email and conference calls. RESULTS: The lung allograft standardized histological analysis - LASHA template was created and structured as multiple-choice questions with number of fields to be filled in to allow for standardization of results and easy transfer into a future electronic spreadsheet. CONCLUSION: This template will help facilitate multicenter studies through a uniform protocol and correlations with new diagnostic modalities. After validation in large-scale studies, an optimized template could be included in routine clinical practice to enhance graft assessment and medical decision-making

Organization of the human intestine at single-cell resolution

The intestine is a complex organ that promotes digestion, extracts nutrients, participates in immune surveillance, maintains critical symbiotic relationships with microbiota and affects overall healt

CCDC61/VFL3 is a paralog of SAS6 and promotes ciliary functions

Centrioles are cylindrical assemblies whose peripheral microtubule array displays a 9-fold rotational symmetry that is established by the scaffolding protein SAS6. Centriole symmetry can be broken by centriole-associated structures, such as the striated fibers in Chlamydomonas that are important for ciliary function. The conserved protein CCDC61/VFL3 is involved in this process, but its exact role is unclear. Here, we show that CCDC61 is a paralog of SAS6. Crystal structures of CCDC61 demonstrate that it contains two homodimerization interfaces that are similar to those found in SAS6, but result in the formation of linear filaments rather than rings. Furthermore, we show that CCDC61 binds microtubules and that residues involved in CCDC61 microtubule binding are important for ciliary function in Chlamydomonas. Together, our findings suggest that CCDC61 and SAS6 functionally diverged from a common ancestor while retaining the ability to scaffold the assembly of basal body-associated structures or centrioles, respectively

Membrane inlet mass spectrometry method (REOX/MIMS) to measure 15N-nitrate in isotope-enrichment experiments

Using 15N stable isotope as a tracer to quantify N transformation rates in isotope-enrichment experiments improves understanding of the N cycle in various ecosystems. However, measuring 15N-nitrate (15NO3−) in small volumes of water for these experiments is a major challenge due to the inconvenience of preparing samples by traditional techniques. We developed a “REOX/MIMS” method by applying membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) to determining 15NO3− concentrations in a small volumes of water from isotope-enrichment experiments after converting the dissolved inorganic N to N2. The nitrates (NO3− + NO2−) were reduced to NH4+ with zinc powder, and the ammonium (NH4+) was then oxidized to N2 by hypobromite iodine solution. The resulting 29N2 and 30N2 were measured via MIMS. This optimized protocol provides a sensitive (~0.1 μM) and precise (relative standard deviation = 0.1–4.37%) approach to quantify 15NO3− concentrations (0.1–500 µM) in water samples over a wide range of salinities (0–35‰) and in 2 M KCl solution with excellent calibration curves (R2 ≥ 0.9996, p \u3c 0.0001). The method was combined with 15NO3− isotope-enrichment incubation experiments to measure gross nitrification and gross NO3− immobilization rates in various ecosystems. It was rapid, accurate, and cost-effective. Future applications of this efficient approach will inform scientists, modelers and decision makers about mechanisms, sources, fates, and effects of NO3− delivered to or produced in numerous aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

Machine learning derivation of four computable 24-h pediatric sepsis phenotypes to facilitate enrollment in early personalized anti-inflammatory clinical trials

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic microangiopathy-induced thrombocytopenia-associated multiple organ failure and hyperinflammatory macrophage activation syndrome are important causes of late pediatric sepsis mortality that are often missed or have delayed diagnosis. The National Institutes of General Medical Science sepsis research working group recommendations call for application of new research approaches in extant clinical data sets to improve efficiency of early trials of new sepsis therapies. Our objective is to apply machine learning approaches to derive computable 24-h sepsis phenotypes to facilitate personalized enrollment in early anti-inflammatory trials targeting these conditions. METHODS: We applied consensus, k-means clustering analysis to our extant PHENOtyping sepsis-induced Multiple organ failure Study (PHENOMS) dataset of 404 children. 24-hour computable phenotypes are derived using 25 available bedside variables including C-reactive protein and ferritin. RESULTS: Four computable phenotypes (PedSep-A, B, C, and D) are derived. Compared to all other phenotypes, PedSep-A patients (n = 135; 2% mortality) were younger and previously healthy, with the lowest C-reactive protein and ferritin levels, the highest lymphocyte and platelet counts, highest heart rate, and lowest creatinine (p \u3c 0.05); PedSep-B patients (n = 102; 12% mortality) were most likely to be intubated and had the lowest Glasgow Coma Scale Score (p \u3c 0.05); PedSep-C patients (n = 110; mortality 10%) had the highest temperature and Glasgow Coma Scale Score, least pulmonary failure, and lowest lymphocyte counts (p \u3c 0.05); and PedSep-D patients (n = 56, 34% mortality) had the highest creatinine and number of organ failures, including renal, hepatic, and hematologic organ failure, with the lowest platelet counts (p \u3c 0.05). PedSep-D had the highest likelihood of developing thrombocytopenia-associated multiple organ failure (Adj OR 47.51 95% CI [18.83-136.83], p \u3c 0.0001) and macrophage activation syndrome (Adj OR 38.63 95% CI [13.26-137.75], p \u3c 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Four computable phenotypes are derived, with PedSep-D being optimal for enrollment in early personalized anti-inflammatory trials targeting thrombocytopenia-associated multiple organ failure and macrophage activation syndrome in pediatric sepsis. A computer tool for identification of individual patient membership ( www.pedsepsis.pitt.edu ) is provided. Reproducibility will be assessed at completion of two ongoing pediatric sepsis studies