Analysis and evaluation of the entropy indices of a static network structure

Although degree distribution entropy (DDE), SD structure entropy (SDSE), Wu structure entropy (WSE) and FB structure entropy (FBSE) are four static network structure entropy indices widely used to quantify the heterogeneity of a complex network, previous studies have paid little attention to their differing abilities to describe network structure. We calculate these four structure entropies for four benchmark networks and compare the results by measuring the ability of each index to characterize network heterogeneity. We find that SDSE and FBSE more accurately characterize network heterogeneity than WSE and DDE. We also find that existing benchmark networks fail to distinguish SDSE and FBSE because they cannot discriminate local and global network heterogeneity. We solve this problem by proposing an evolving caveman network that reveals the differences between structure entropy indices by comparing the sensitivities during the network evolutionary process. Mathematical analysis and computational simulation both indicate that FBSE describes the global topology variation in the evolutionary process of a caveman network, and that the other three structure entropy indices reflect only local network heterogeneity. Our study offers an expansive view of the structural complexity of networks and expands our understanding of complex network behavior.The authors would like to thank the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (71501153), Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province of China (2016JQ6072), and the Foundation of China Scholarship Council (201506965039, 201606965057). (71501153 - National Natural Science Foundation of China; 2016JQ6072 - Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province of China; 201506965039 - Foundation of China Scholarship Council; 201606965057 - Foundation of China Scholarship Council)Published versio

Deep tissue imaging by time-reversal optical phase conjugation techniques

We recently demonstrated that it is possible to use optical phase conjugation as a means to time reverse the scattering of light through biological tissue 1. This newly observed phenomenon, termed turbidity suppression by optical phase conjugation (TSOPC), can potentially be adapted for numerous biophotonics applications, such as coherent deep optical imaging of tissue, enhanced light delivery for photodynamic therapy and high sensitivity absorption spectrum measurements. In this talk, we shall report on our recent findings and discuss the potential applications

Exercise Intervention Associated with Cognitive Improvement in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with the syndrome of cognitive and functional decline. Pharmacotherapy has always been in a dominant position for the treatment of AD. However, in most cases, drug therapy is accompanied with clinical delays when older adults have suffered from cognitive decline in episodic memory, working memory, and executive function. On the other hand, accumulating evidence suggests that exercise intervention may ameliorate the progression of cognitive impairment in aging ones while the standard strategy is lacking based on different levels of cognitive decline especially in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD. MCI is the preclinical stage of AD in which neurodegeneration may be reversed via neuroplasticity. Therefore, taking exercise intervention in the early stage of MCI and healthy aging at the risk of AD could slow down the process of cognitive impairment and provide a promising cost-effective nonpharmacological therapy to dementia

GLUT3 as an Intersection of Glycerophospholipid Metabolism and the Innate Immune Response to Candida albicans

Immune cells can optimize the management of metabolic resources to balance their energy requirements in order to regulate immune responses. The interconnection between immunometabolism and fungal infections is becoming increasingly apparent. Using proteome and metabolome assays, we found that stimulation of primary human monocytes by Candida albicans was accompanied by upregulation of glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) and activation of the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. Upregulated GLUT3 expression has been preliminarily confirmed in monocytes from patients with C. albicans bloodstream infection. Our findings support the importance of GLUT3 in the complex network of glycerophospholipid metabolism and the innate immune responses against C. albicans. In summary, this study might contribute to decipher the regulatory mechanism between the monocyte metabolic reprogramming and innate immune response and reveal potential targets for the antifungal treatments

Clincal Observation of Grouping Responsibility Model of Immersion foot nursing In Maternity Ward

目的：责任制护理是一种以病人为中心，在护理过程中运用医学、护理、心理、生理、社会等学科的知识，观察分析病人的全面健康情况，进行有计划和系统的护理，从而提高护理质量和护理人员的素质。引入浸足1号进行整体护理，观察其临床效果。方法：在产科实施分组责任制护理，可以使护士为病人提供连续、全程、无缝隙的护理服务。引入浸足1号护理分为试验组和对照组，使试验组患者增加了家的感觉，并促进了产妇体质的尽快恢复。结果：在实施过程中，我们改变了原来的排班模式，使病人在住院期间有固定的责任护士，增强了护士的责任心，调动了护士的积极性，加强了护患沟通，减少了护理差错和纠纷，提高了护理质量，同时把护士的被动服务变为了主动服务，大大提高了护理质量，促进了产妇康复进程，试验组与对照组比较，护理质量明显提高，统计学比较有显著差异，P<0.05。结论：引入浸足1号护理提高了病人、医生的满意度，提高了护士的自身价值。Objective: Nursing responsibility system is patient centered system, using medicine, nursing, psychology, social and other disciplines of knowledge in the process of nursing, observing and comprehensively analyzing the health condition of patient, proceeding with a systematic nursing plan, so as to improve the quality of nursing and nursing staff quality. Introduction of immersion foot 1 of holistic nursing care, to observe its clinical effect. Methods:The implementation of the system of grouping responsibility nursing in obstetrics, can enable nurses to provide continuous, full, and non-breaking nursing service for patients . Introduction of immersion foot 1 nurses were divided into experimental group and control group, the experimental group increases the feeling of home, which promote maternal physical recovery. Results:In the process of implementation, we changed the original scheduling model, so as to make the patient had the fixed nurses during hospitalization, to strengthen the responsibility of nurses, to arouse the enthusiasm of nurses, to strengthen communication between nurses and patients, to reduce nursing errors and disputes, to improve the quality of care. Meanwhile the nurses change passive service in order to active service, which greatly improved the quality of nursing and promoted maternal rehabilitation process. Compare the experimental group with control group, and significantly improved the quality of nursing, there was statistical significant difference between the groups P<0.05. Conclusion: Introduction of immersion foot 1 care improves patient, physician satisfaction, and the nurses' value

[μ-1,4-Bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmeth­yl)benzene]­bis­[aqua­(pyridine-2,6-dicarboxyl­ato)copper(II)] monohydrate

The title compound, [Cu2(C7H3NO4)2(C12H12N6)(H2O)2]·H2O, displays a discrete dinuclear structure, in which the central CuII atom is five-coordinated in a distorted square-based pyramidal coordination geometry and the flexible ligand 1,4-bis­(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmeth­yl)benzene adopts a bis-monodentate bridging mode linking the CuII atoms. It is further assembled by O—H⋯O hydrogen-bond inter­actions involving both the coordinated and uncoordinated water molecules. The latter exhibits half-occupancy

Integrative Analysis of Genome and Expression Profile Data Reveals the Genetic Mechanism of the Diabetic Pathogenesis in Goto Kakizaki (GK) Rats

The Goto Kakizaki (GK) rats which can spontaneously develop type 2 diabetes (T2D), are generated by repeated inbreeding of Wistar rats with glucose intolerance. The glucose intolerance in GK rat is mainly attributed to the impairment in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). In addition, GK rat display a decrease in beta cell mass, and a change in insulin action. However, the genetic mechanism of these features remain unclear. In the present study, we analyzed the population variants of GK rats and control Wistar rats by whole genome sequencing and identified 1,839 and 1,333 specific amino acid changed (SAAC) genes in GK and Wistar rats, respectively. We also detected the putative artificial selective sweeps (PASS) regions in GK rat which were enriched with GK fixed variants and were under selected in the initial diabetic-driven derivation by homogeneity test with the fixed and polymorphic sites between GK and Wistar populations. Finally, we integrated the SAAC genes, PASS region genes and differentially expressed genes in GK pancreatic beta cells to reveal the genetic mechanism of the impairment in GSIS, a decrease in beta cell mass, and a change in insulin action in GK rat. The results showed that Slc2a2 gene was related to impaired glucose transport and Adcy3, Cacna1f, Bmp4, Fam3b, and Ptprn2 genes were related to Ca2+ channel dysfunction which may responsible for the impaired GSIS. The genes Hnf4g, Bmp4, and Bad were associated with beta cell development and may be responsible for a decrease in beta cell mass while genes Ide, Ppp1r3c, Hdac9, Ghsr, and Gckr may be responsible for the change in insulin action in GK rats. The overexpression or inhibition of Bmp4, Fam3b, Ptprn2, Ide, Hnf4g, and Bad has been reported to change the glucose tolerance in rodents. However, the genes Bmp4, Fam3b, and Ptprn2 were found to be associated with diabetes in GK rats for the first time in the present study. Our findings provide a comprehensive genetic map of the abnormalities in GK genome which will be helpful in understand the underlying genetic mechanism of pathogenesis of diabetes in GK rats

Corticosterone Administration up-Regulated Expression of Norepinephrine Transporter and Dopamine Β-Hydroxylase in Rat Locus Coeruleus and Its Terminal Regions

Stress has been reported to activate the locus coeruleus (LC)-noradrenergic system. In this study, corticosterone (CORT) was orally administrated to rats for 21 days to mimic stress status. In situ hybridization measurements showed that CORT ingestion significantly increased mRNA levels of norepinephrine transporter (NET) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) in the LC region. Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting revealed that CORT treatment also increased protein levels of NET and DBH in the LC, as well as NET protein levels in the hippocampus, the frontal cortex and the amygdala. However, CORT-induced increase in DBH protein levels only appeared in the hippocampus and the amygdala. Elevated NET and DBH expression in most of these areas (except for NET protein levels in the LC) was abolished by simultaneous treatment with combination of corticosteroid receptor antagonist mifepristone and spironolactone (s.c. for 21 days). Also, treatment with mifepristone alone prevented CORT-induced increases of NET expression and DBH protein levels in the LC. In addition, behavioral tasks showed that CORT ingestion facilitated escape in avoidance trials using an elevated T-maze, but interestingly, there was no significant effect on the escape trial. Corticosteroid receptor antagonists failed to counteract this response in CORT-treated rats. In the open-field task, CORT treatment resulted in less activity in a defined central zone compared to controls and corticosteroid receptor antagonist treatment alleviated this increase. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that chronic exposure to CORT results in a phenotype that mimics stress-induced alteration of noradrenergic phenotypes, but the effects on behavior are task dependent. As the sucrose consumption test strongly suggests CORT ingestion-induced depression-like behavior, further elucidation of underlying mechanisms may improve our understanding of the correlation between stress and the development of depression

Efficacy of combined traditional Chinese medicine spray with premature ejaculation desensitization therapy for the treatment of primary premature ejaculation

Objectives: We recommend a new kind of spray made from eight kinds of traditional Chinese medicine, we aimed to investigate the safety and clinical efficacy of combined traditional Chinese medicine spray (TCMS) with premature ejaculation desensitization therapy (PEDT) for the treatment of primary premature ejaculation (PPE).Methods: A total of 90 patients with PPE were randomly assigned to receive TCMS, PEDT monotherapy or TCMS plus PEDT combination therapy for 6 weeks. Intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) and Chinese index of sexual function for premature ejaculation (CIPE-5) were measured to evaluate the effect of each treatment.Results: Eighty six (86) participants completed the study voluntarily. Both IELT and CIPE-5 in these three groups increased after treatment when compared with baseline levels (p< 0.01). IELT and CIPE-5 after treatment in TCMS plus PEDT group were significantly higher than those in the other two groups (both p <0.05). Additionally, clinical efficacy in TCMS plus PEDT group (89.7%) was significantly higher than in TCMS (65.5%) and PEDT group (67.9%) (p< 0.01).Conclusion: The self-made TCMS was safe and effective for the treatment of PPE, a combination of TCMS and PEDT therapy was more effective than the TCMS or PEDT monotherapy.Keywords: Primary premature ejaculation (PPE); traditional Chinese mdicine spray (TCMS); premature ejaculation desensitization training therapy (PEDT); Intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT); Chinese index of sexual function for premature ejaculation (CIPE-5

Effect of different interventions on the treatment of high-risk human papillomavirus infection: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BackgroundPersistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) can lead to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer. At present, there is no medication that specifically targets HR-HPV infection.ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions in promoting HR-HPV regression using a MeSH meta-analysis method.MethodsA search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting different interventions for the treatment of HR-HPV infection included PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library from the inception of the databases to March 8, 2023. Two researchers independently screened the articles, extracted data, and evaluated the quality. The literature that met the inclusion criteria was selected, the quality and risk of bias of the included studies were assessed according to the Cochrane 5.1 manual, and NMA was performed using Stata 16.0. The area under the cumulative ranking probability graph (SUCRA) represented the probability that each treatment would be the best intervention.ResultsNine studies involving 961 patients and 7 treatment options were included in the analysis. The results of the network meta-analysis indicated the following rank order in terms of promoting HR-HPV conversion: Anti-HPV biological dressing > vaginal gel > imiquimod > REBACIN® > interferon > probiotics > observation/placebo > Polyphenon E.ConclusionAnti-HPV biological dressing treatment was found to be significantly effective in promoting HR-HPV conversion. However, further validation of the findings is necessary due to the limited number and quality of studies included in the analysis.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023413917