Mass Spectrometry Based Molecular 3D-Cartography of Plant Metabolites

Plants play an essential part in global carbon fixing through photosynthesis and are the primary food and energy source for humans. Understanding them thoroughly is therefore of highest interest for humanity. Advances in DNA and RNA sequencing and in protein and metabolite analysis allow the systematic description of plant composition at the molecular level. With imaging mass spectrometry, we can now add a spatial level, typically in the micrometer-to-centimeter range, to their compositions, essential for a detailed molecular understanding. Here we present an LC-MS based approach for 3D plant imaging, which is scalable and allows the analysis of entire plants. We applied this approach in a case study to pepper and tomato plants. Together with MS/MS spectra library matching and spectral networking, this non-targeted workflow provides the highest sensitivity and selectivity for the molecular annotations and imaging of plants, laying the foundation for studies of plant metabolism and plant-environment interactions

Contamination of Proteus mirabilis harbouring various clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes in retail meat and aquatic products from food markets in China

Proteus mirabilis is an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with nosocomial infection and food poisoning cases. Contamination of P. mirabilis in retail meat products may be important transmission routes for human infection with P. mirabilis. In this study a total of 89 P. mirabilis strains were isolated from 347 samples in 14 food markets in China and subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all 89 strains were divided into 81 different clones (SNPs >5), indicating high genetic diversity of P. mirabilis in food markets. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that 81 (91.01%) strains displayed multidrug resistance profiles. Seventy-three different resistance genes (or variants) were found, including various clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes aac(6′)-Ib-cr (77.53%), blaCTX-M (39.33%), fosA3 (30.34%), as well as multiresistance gene cfr (4.50%), tigecycline resistance gene cluster tmexCD3-toprJ1 (4.50%) and carbapenemase gene blaNDM-1 (1.12%). Diverse genetic elements including Tn7 transposon, plasmid, SXT/R391 integrative conjugative element were associated with the horizontal transfer of cfr. tmexCD3-toprJ1 and blaNDM-1 were located on ICEPmiChnJZ26 and Salmonella genomic island 1, respectively. Our study emphasized high contamination of P. mirabilis harbouring various clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes in retail meat and aquatic products, which might be an important issue in terms of food safety and human health

Comparison of Double Kissing Crush Versus Culotte Stenting for Unprotected Distal Left Main Bifurcation Lesions Results From a Multicenter, Randomized, Prospective DKCRUSH-III Study

ObjectivesThe study aimed to investigate the difference in major adverse cardiac event (MACE) at 1-year after double kissing (DK) crush versus Culotte stenting for unprotected left main coronary artery (UPLMCA) distal bifurcation lesions.BackgroundDK crush and Culotte stenting were reported to be effective for treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions. However, their comparative performance in UPLMCA bifurcation lesions is not known.MethodsA total of 419 patients with UPLMCA bifurcation lesions were randomly assigned to DK (n = 210) or Culotte (n = 209) treatment. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of a MACE at 1 year, including cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization (TVR). In-stent restenosis (ISR) at 8 months was secondary endpoint, and stent thrombosis (ST) served as a safety endpoint. Patients were stratified by SYNTAX (Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) and NERS (New Risk Stratification) scores.ResultsPatients in the Culotte group had significant higher 1-year MACE rate (16.3%), mainly driven by increased TVR (11.0%), compared with the DK group (6.2% and 4.3%, respectively; all p < 0.05). ISR rate in side branch was 12.6% in the Culotte group and 6.8% in the DK group (p = 0.037). Definite ST rate was 1.0% in the Culotte group and 0% in the DK group (p = 0.248). Among patients with bifurcation angle ≥70°, NERS score ≥20, and SYNTAX score ≥23, the 1-year MACE rate in the DK group (3.8%, 9.2%, and 7.1%, respectively) was significantly different to those in the Culotte group(16.5%, 20.4%, and 18.9%, respectively; all p < 0.05).ConclusionsCulotte stenting for UPLMCA bifurcation lesions was associated with significantly increased MACEs, mainly due to the increased TVR. (Double Kissing [DK] Crush Versus Culotte Stenting for the Treatment of Unprotected Distal Left Main Bifurcation Lesions: DKCRUSH-III, a Multicenter Randomized Study Comparing Double-Stent Techniques; ChiCTR-TRC-00000151

A simulation study on the measurement of D0-D0bar mixing parameter y at BES-III

We established a method on measuring the \dzdzb mixing parameter $y$ for BESIII experiment at the BEPCII $e^+e^-$ collider. In this method, the doubly tagged $\psi(3770) \to D^0 \overline{D^0}$ events, with one $D$ decays to CP-eigenstates and the other $D$ decays semileptonically, are used to reconstruct the signals. Since this analysis requires good $e/\pi$ separation, a likelihood approach, which combines the $dE/dx$, time of flight and the electromagnetic shower detectors information, is used for particle identification. We estimate the sensitivity of the measurement of $y$ to be 0.007 based on a $20fb^{-1}$ fully simulated MC sample.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

Econometric Study of Relationship between Change of Farmland Quantity and Policy of Farmland Protection in China

According to the data from Investigation Report of Land Use Change in China, The Land Resources Communique of China and Chronicle of Statistical Data for Five Decades of New China issued from Ministry of Land Resources, we select two indices: change of farmland quantity and policy of farmland protection. According to econometric theory, by using Eviewes 5.1 software, co-integration analysis, Granger causality test, impulse response and other analysis methods, we analyze the relationship between change of farmland quantity and policy of farmland protection in China since the reform and opening-up. The results show that there is long-term balanced relationship between change of farmland quantity and policy of farmland protection, and there is a certain mechanism restricting motion of variables between the two so as to make the two deviate from each other little and step towards balance in the long run; there is unilateral causality relationship between farmland change and policy of farmland protection, namely that the farmland change is the Granger cause of policy of farmland protection, while policy of farmland protection is not the Granger cause of farmland change; impulse response and variance decomposition indicate that farmland change plays the role of promoting policy of farmland protection continuously, and the role is strengthened along with prolonged lag period; the policy of farmland protection has strong inertia, because it is impacted by the former level of itself, and the policy of farmland protection plays insignificant role in promoting farmland quantity. Consequently, the important approach of solving problem of rapid decrease of farmland is to formulate long-term strategy, strengthen theoretical research of farmland protection and reinforce degree of formulation, implementation and surveillance of farmland protection policy

Econometric Study of Relationship between Change of Farmland Quantity and Policy of Farmland Protection in China

According to the data from Investigation Report of Land Use Change in China, The Land Resources Communique of China and Chronicle of Statistical Data for Five Decades of New China issued from Ministry of Land Resources, we select two indices: change of farmland quantity and policy of farmland protection. According to econometric theory, by using Eviewes 5.1 software, co-integration analysis, Granger causality test, impulse response and other analysis methods, we analyze the relationship between change of farmland quantity and policy of farmland protection in China since the reform and opening-up. The results show that there is long-term balanced relationship between change of farmland quantity and policy of farmland protection, and there is a certain mechanism restricting motion of variables between the two so as to make the two deviate from each other little and step towards balance in the long run; there is unilateral causality relationship between farmland change and policy of farmland protection, namely that the farmland change is the Granger cause of policy of farmland protection, while policy of farmland protection is not the Granger cause of farmland change; impulse response and variance decomposition indicate that farmland change plays the role of promoting policy of farmland protection continuously, and the role is strengthened along with prolonged lag period; the policy of farmland protection has strong inertia, because it is impacted by the former level of itself, and the policy of farmland protection plays insignificant role in promoting farmland quantity. Consequently, the important approach of solving problem of rapid decrease of farmland is to formulate long-term strategy, strengthen theoretical research of farmland protection and reinforce degree of formulation, implementation and surveillance of farmland protection policy.Change of farmland quantity, Policy of farmland protection, Econometric analysis, Co-integration, Error correction model, Impulse response function, Variance decomposition, China, Agribusiness,