The Generation, Analysis, and Circuit Implementation of a New Memristor Based Chaotic System

We present a new memristor based chaotic circuit, which is generated by replacing the nonlinear resistor in Chua’s circuit with a flux-controlled memristor and a negative conductance. The dynamical behaviors are verified not only by computer simulations but also by Lyapunov exponents, bifurcation analysis, Poincaré mapping, power spectrum analysis, and laboratory experiments

Reduction of Cu and nitrate leaching risk associated with EDDS-enhanced phytoextraction process by exogenous inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

Biodegradable chelant (S,S)-N,N '-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) has the more advantages of enhanced metal mobility, rapid degradation, environmental friendliness, and ammonium release. However, the risk of metal and/or nitrate residues and leaching within EDDS biodegradation remains as the bottleneck for the widespread application of EDDS-induced phytoremediation. This study aims to explore if the inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) can eliminate the risk associated with the short-term application of EDDS by investigating Cu phytoextraction and soil nitrate content. Results showed that EDDS application significantly increased the copper (Cu) concentration in shoots, soil total Cu, NH4+-N and NO3--N content, but decreased plant biomass. The inoculation of PGPRs in the soil showed a strong ability to increase plant biomass, Cu phytoextraction and soil NH4+-N content, and decrease soil Cu and NO3--N content. Moreover, bacterial dominant taxa were found to be the largest contributors to soil NH4+-N and NO3--N variation, and the abundance of denitrifying bacteria (Bacteroidetes and Stenotrophomonas) decreased in the treatment with PGPRs. The risk of residual Cu and nitrate leaching was reduced by the inoculation of PGPRs without significantly changing the stability of the bacterial community. These new findings indicate that the exogenous application of beneficial rhizobacteria can provide an effective strategy to reduce the risk in metal-contaminated soils of chelant-assisted phytoextraction.</p

Sequencing and Analysis of MicroRNAs in Bovine Milk Exosomes

In this study, density-gradient centrifugation was used to extract bovine milk exosomes, and the small non-coding RNA (sRNA) in the exosomes were sequenced by Illumina sequencing technology to explore the expression profile of bovine milk microRNAs (miRNAs). Through quality control of the original sequence, a total of 3 899 629 pure sRNA sequences were obtained, and their length was concentrated at 28 nt. By comparison with the database, 61 known miRNAs and 346 novel miRNAs were identified. The results of gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that miRNAs from bovine milk exosomes played a critical role in various biological processes such as cell process, single organism process and metabolic process. It mainly consisted of cells and organelles and was mainly involved in molecular functions such as binding, catalytic activity and transporter activity. The results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that the known miRNAs and the new miRNA target genes were significantly enriched in pertussis (ko05133), chemokine signal pathway (ko04062), endocytosis (ko04144), lysosome (ko04142) and other pathways, and bovine milk exosome miRNAs played an important role in specific signaling pathways

Atomic-layer molybdenum sulfide optical modulator for visible coherent light

Coherent light sources in the visible range are playing important roles in our daily life and modern technology, since about 50% of the capability of the our human brains is devoted to processing visual information. Visible lasers can be achieved by nonlinear optical process of infrared lasers and direct lasing of gain materials, and the latter has advantages in the aspects of compactness, efficiency, simplicity, etc. However, due to lack of visible optical modulators, the directly generated visible lasers with only a gain material are constrained in continuous-wave operation. Here, we demonstrated the fabrication of a visible optical modulator and pulsed visible lasers based on atomic-layer molybdenum sulfide (MoS 2), a ultrathin two-dimensional material with about 9-10 layers. By employing the nonlinear absorption of the modulator, the pulsed orange, red and deep red lasers were directly generated. Besides, the present atomic-layer MoS 2 optical modulator has broadband modulating properties and advantages in the simple preparation process. The present results experimentally verify the theoretical prediction for the low-dimensional optoelectronic modulating devices in the visible wavelength region and may open an attractive avenue for removing a stumbling block for the further development of pulsed visible lasers

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)/Cas12a assay for detection of Ralstonia solanacearum in tomato

Introduction: Bacterial wilt (BW) caused by the aerobic, Gram-negative pathogenic species Ralstonia solanacearum (RS) is a major disease impacting commercial agriculture worldwide. Asian phylotype I of RS is the cause of tomato bacterial wilt, which has caused severe economic losses in southern China for many years. An urgent priority in control of bacterial wilt is development of rapid, sensitive, effective methods for detection of RS.Methods: We describe here a novel RS detection assay based on combination of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and CRISPR/Cas12a. crRNA1, with high trans-cleavage activity targeting hrpB gene, was selected out of four candidate crRNAs. Two visual detection techniques, involving naked-eye observation of fluorescence and lateral flow strips, were tested and displayed high sensitivity and strong specificity.Results and Discussion: The LAMP/Cas12a assay accurately detected RS phylotype Ⅰ in 14 test strains, and showed low detection limit (2.0 × 100 copies). RS in tomato stem tissue and soil samples from two field sites with suspected BW infection was identified accurately, suggesting potential application of LAMP/Cas12a assay as point-of-care test (POCT). The overall detection process took less than 2 h and did not require professional lab equipment. Our findings, taken together, indicate that LAMP/Cas12a assay can be developed as an effective, inexpensive technique for field detection and monitoring of RS

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat