Traffic Signal Timing Optimization for Isolated Intersections Based on Differential Evolution Bacteria Foraging Algorithm

AbstractAiming at that the traffic congestion in urban often appears, the signal timing optimization model and method are researched. The signal control model is proposed considering the max throughput of intersection. The objective function of this model is to minimize the delay vehicles of a cycle time. The model has all kinds of constraint. A differential evolution bacteria foraging optimization algorithm is presented. The velocity of the traditional bacteria foraging optimization algorithm is slow. The bacterium position is revised by differential evolution in chemotaxis process to improve the convergence precision. Based on an intersection in Guangzhou City, the model is calculated and simulated through programming. As it shows, it can improve traffic capacity of intersections and especially works well in high demand

Intelligent high-altitude power inspection vision module based on KendryteK210 microcontroller

Now our country has a huge electric power system, it needs a complex electric power transmission network to support its normal operation. With the development of unmanned aerial vehicle platform and microprocessor technology in recent years, the unmanned aerial vehicle inspection platform based on microprocessor is an important development direction of power transmission network maintenance. Based on this background, this paper designs an intelligent high-altitude line inspection vision module based on KendryteK210 microcontroller. The module can be used as a UAV load to carry out efficient power line patrol work, and wireless communication is carried out by ESP8285Wi-Fi. First of all, the inspection vision module uses OV2640 visible light camera to complete the target image data acquisition. Then, in the process of data processing, the least square method and Theil-Sen regression algorithm are combined to get the target line object, so as to get the slope and length of the line object and other parameters. Finally, the target in the image was identifi ed based on the yolov2 neural network model, and then the fl ight path instruction was provided for the UAV platform

Weak Magnetic Field Accelerates Chromate Removal by Zero-Valent Iron

Weak magnetic field (WMF) was employed to improve the removal of Cr(VI) by zero-valent iron (ZVI) for the first time. The removal rate of Cr(VI) was elevated by a factor of 1.12-5.89 due to the application of a WMF, and the WMF-induced improvement was more remarkable at higher Cr(VI) concentration and higher pH. Fe2+ was not detected until Cr(VI) was exhausted, and there was a positive correlation between the WMF-induced promotion factor of Cr(VI) removal rate and that of Fe2+ release rate in the absence of Cr(VI) at pH 4.0-5.5. These phenomena imply that ZVI corrosion with Fe2+ release was the limiting step in the process of Cr(VI) removal. The superimposed WMF had negligible influence on the apparent activation energy of Cr(VI) removal by ZVI, indicating that WMF accelerated Cr(VI) removal by ZVI but did not change the mechanism. The passive layer formed with WMF was much more porous than without WMF, thereby facilitating mass transport. Therefore, WMF could accelerate ZVI corrosion and alleviate the detrimental effects of the passive layer, resulting in more rapid removal of Cr(VI) by ZVI. Exploiting the magnetic memory of ZVI, a two-stage process consisting of a small reactor with WMF for ZVI magnetization and a large reactor for removing contaminants by magnetized ZVI can be employed as a new method of ZVI-mediated remediation

The comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI LI-RADS for nodules ≤2 cm in patients at high risk for HCC: a prospective study

ObjectivesTo investigate the consistency of LI-RADS of CEUS and EOB-MRI in the categorization of liver nodules ≤2cm in patients at high risk for HCC.MethodsPatients at high risk for HCC with nodules ≤2cm who underwent CEUS and EOB-MRI in our hospital were prospectively enrolled. The CEUS images and EOB-MRI imaging of each liver nodule were observed to evaluate inter-observer consistency and category according to CEUS LI-RADS V2017 and CT/MRI LI-RADS V2017 criteria double blinded. Pathology and/or follow-up were used as reference standard.ResultsA total of 127 nodules in 119 patients met the inclusion criteria. The inter-observer agreement was good on CEUS and EOB-MRI LI-RADS (kappa = 0.76, 0.76 p < 0.001). The inter-modality agreement was fair (kappa=0.21, p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference in PPV and specificity between CEUS and EOB-MRI LR-5 for HCC, while the difference in AUC was statistically significant. We used new criteria (CEUS LR-5 and EOB-MRI LR-4/5 or CEUS LR-4/5 and EOB-MRI LR-5) to diagnose HCC. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of this criteria was 63.4%, 95.6%, and 0.80.ConclusionsCEUS and EOB-MRI showed fair inter-modality agreement in LI-RADS categorization of nodules ≤2 cm. The inter-observer agreement of CEUS and EOB-MRI LI-RADS were substantial. CEUS and EOB-MRI LR-5 have equally good positive predictive value and specificity for HCC ≤ 2cm, and combining these two modalities may better diagnose HCC ≤ 2 cm.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT04212286

An animal model of SARS produced by infection of Macaca mulatta with SARS coronavirus.

A new SARS animal model was established by inoculating SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) into rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) through the nasal cavity. Pathological pulmonary changes were successively detected on days 5-60 after virus inoculation. All eight animals showed a transient fever 2-3 days after inoculation. Immunological, molecular biological, and pathological studies support the establishment of this SARS animal model. Firstly, SARS-CoV-specific IgGs were detected in the sera of macaques from 11 to 60 days after inoculation. Secondly, SARS-CoV RNA could be detected in pharyngeal swab samples using nested RT-PCR in all infected animals from 5 days after virus inoculation. Finally, histopathological changes of interstitial pneumonia were found in the lungs during the 60 days after viral inoculation: these changes were less marked at later time points, indicating that an active healing process together with resolution of an acute inflammatory response was taking place in these animals. This animal model should provide insight into the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-related pulmonary disease and greatly facilitate the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS

Study of efficacy and antibody duration to fourth-dose booster of Ad5-nCoV or inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in Chinese adults: a prospective cohort study

IntroductionChina experienced a record surge of coronavirus disease 2019 cases in December 2022, during the pandemic.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, parallel-controlled prospective cohort study to evaluate efficacy and antibody duration after a fourth-dose booster with Ad5-nCoV or inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine.ResultsA total of 191 participants aged ≥18 years who had completed a three-dose regimen of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine 6 months earlier were recruited to receive the intramuscular Ad5-nCoV booster or the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The Ad5-nCoV group had significantly higher antibody levels compared with the inactivated vaccine group at 6 months after the fourth vaccination dose. After the pandemic, the breakthrough infection rate for the Ad5-nCoV and the inactivated vaccine groups was 77.89% and 78.13%, respectively. Survival curve analysis (p = 0.872) and multivariable logistic regression analysis (p = 0.956) showed no statistically significant differences in breakthrough infection between the two groups.DiscussionCompared with a homologous fourth dose, a heterologous fourth dose of Ad5-nCoV elicited a higher immunogenic response in healthy adults who had been immunized with three doses of inactivated vaccine. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the two vaccine types was equivalent after the pandemic

Case Report: Unedited allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor T cell bridging to conditioning-free hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for a child with refractory Burkitt lymphoma

PurposeBurkitt lymphoma (BL) is the most common tumor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in children, accounting for about 40% of cases. Although different combined short-course chemotherapies have achieved a good effect, refractory/relapsed BL has a poor prognosis with cure rates less than 30%. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy has developed rapidly in recent years and achieved excellent results in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, in some cases, there is a failure to produce autologous CAR-T cells because of T-cell dysfunction. In such cases, allogeneic CAR-T therapy has to be considered.MethodsA 17-year-old boy with stage II BL did not respond to extensive chemotherapy and sequential autologous CAR-T therapy. Lentiviral vectors containing anti-CD20-BB-ζ (20CAR) and anti-CD22-BB-ζ (22CAR) transgenes were used to modify the T cells from an HLA-identical matched unrelated donor. Flow cytometry was used to assess the cytokine analyses and CAR-T cell persistence in peripheral blood, enumerated by qPCR as copies per ug DNA. Informed consent for autologous/allogeneic CAR-T therapy was obtained from the patient and his legal guardian.ResultsUnedited HLA-matched allogeneic CD20 and CD22 CAR-T cells were infused after lymphodepletion chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. The patient experienced Grade IV cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and went into complete remission (CR) after anti-inflammatory treatment including tocilizumab. Because of persistent pancytopenia and full donor chimerism, the same donor’s conditioning-free peripheral blood stem cells were successfully transplanted 55 days post CAR-T. Neutrophils were engrafted at day +11 and platelets were rebuilt at day +47 without obvious acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but there was mild chronic GVHD in the skin and eyes. Currently, active anti-rejection therapy is still underway.ConclusionUnedited HLA-matched allogeneic CAR-T cell therapy could be an innovative, effective, and safe treatment for children with refractory/relapse BL without obvious acute GVHD. Conditioning-free allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from the same donor is feasible for a patient with full donor T-cell chimerism after allogeneic CAR-T. It cannot be ignored that close GVHD monitoring is needed post HSCT

Polyethyleneimine-coated MXene quantum dots improve cotton tolerance to Verticillium dahliae by maintaining ROS homeostasis

Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen that threatens cotton production worldwide. In this study, we assemble the genomes of two V. dahliae isolates: the more virulence and defoliating isolate V991 and nondefoliating isolate 1cd3-2. Transcriptome and comparative genomics analyses show that genes associated with pathogen virulence are mostly induced at the late stage of infection (Stage II), accompanied by a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), with upregulation of more genes involved in defense response in cotton. We identify the V991-specific virulence gene SP3 that is highly expressed during the infection Stage II. V. dahliae SP3 knock-out strain shows attenuated virulence and triggers less ROS production in cotton plants. To control the disease, we employ polyethyleneimine-coated MXene quantum dots (PEI-MQDs) that possess the ability to remove ROS. Cotton seedlings treated with PEI-MQDs are capable of maintaining ROS homeostasis with enhanced peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and exhibit improved tolerance to V. dahliae. These results suggest that V. dahliae trigger ROS production to promote infection and scavenging ROS is an effective way to manage this disease. This study reveals a virulence mechanism of V. dahliae and provides a means for V. dahliae resistance that benefits cotton production