Integrated Analysis and Identification of Novel Biomarkers in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a quite common neurodegenerative disorder with a prevalence of approximately 1:800–1,000 in subjects over 60 years old. The aim of our study was to determine the candidate target genes in PD through meta-analysis of multiple gene expression arrays datasets and to further combine mRNA and miRNA expression analyses to identify more convincing biological targets and their regulatory factors. Six included datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database by systematical search, including five mRNA datasets (150 substantia nigra samples in total) and one miRNA dataset containing 32 peripheral blood samples. A chip meta-analysis of five microarray data was conducted by using the metaDE package and 94 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs were comprehensively obtained. And 19 deregulated DE miRNAs were obtained through the analysis of one miRNAs dataset by Qlucore Omics Explorer software. An interaction network formed by DE mRNAs, DE miRNAs, and important pathways was discovered after we analyzed the functional enrichment, protein–protein interactions, and miRNA targetome prediction analysis. In conclusion, this study suggested that five significantly downregulated mRNAs (MAPK8, CDC42, NDUFS1, COX4I1, and SDHC) and three significantly downregulated miRNAs (miR-126-5p, miR-19-3p, and miR-29a-3p) were potentially useful diagnostic markers in clinic, and lipid metabolism (especially non-alcoholic fatty liver disease pathway) and mitochondrial dysregulation may be the keys to biochemically detectable molecular defects. However, the role of these new biomarkers and molecular mechanisms in PD requires further experiments in vivo and in vitro and further clinical evidence

Charge redistribution, charge order and plasmon in La2−x_{2-x}Srx_{x}CuO4_{4}/La2_{2}CuO4_{4} superlattices

Interfacial superconductors have the potential to revolutionize electronics, quantum computing, and fundamental physics due to their enhanced superconducting properties and ability to create new types of superconductors. The emergence of superconductivity at the interface of La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$/La$_{2}$CuO$_{4}$ (LSCO/LCO), with a T$_c$ enhancement of $\sim$ 10 K compared to the La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ bulk single crystals, provides an exciting opportunity to study quantum phenomena in reduced dimensions. To investigate the carrier distribution and excitations in interfacial superconductors, we combine O K-edge resonant inelastic X-ray scattering and atomic-resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy measurements to study La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$/La$_{2}$CuO$_{4}$ superlattices (x=0.15, 0.45) and bulk La$_{1.55}$Sr$_{0.45}$CuO$_{4}$ films. We find direct evidence of charge redistribution, charge order and plasmon in LSCO/LCO superlattices. Notably, the observed behaviors of charge order and plasmon deviate from the anticipated properties of individual constituents or the average doping level of the superlattice. Instead, they conform harmoniously to the effective doping, a critical parameter governed by the T$_c$ of interfacial superconductors.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Analysis of influencing factors for conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open surgery

ObjectiveTo analyze the influencing factors for conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open surgery, and to provide a clinical reference for developing surgical procedures. MethodsA total of 278 patients receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our hospital from January 2009 to December 2013 were analyzed. Among them, 31 patients were converted to open surgery during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, while the remaining 274 patients were not. The influencing factors for conversion to open surgery were investigated. The t test was applied in the comparison of continuous data, whereas the χ2 test was used for categorical data. The univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate significant influencing factors, and the independent influencing factors were determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis. ResultsThe univariate analysis showed that sex (P=0.022), arteriosclerosis (P＜0.001), diabetes (P＜0.001), heart failure (P=0.002), previous upper abdominal surgery (P＜0.001), age (P＜0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P=0.003), gallbladder wall thickness (P＜0.001), the count of white blood cells (P＜0.001), and serum total bilirubin level (P=0.046) were significantly different between groups. The multivariate logistic regression analysis further showed that previous upper abdominal surgery (P＜0.001), sex (P=0.001), BMI (P=0.002), and the count of white blood cells (P=0.019) were independent influencing factors, among which previous upper abdominal surgery was the most significant one (OR=4.646， 95%CI: 2.012-10.729). ConclusionPrevious upper abdominal surgery, sex, BMI, and the count of white blood cells were independent influencing factors for conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open surgery. Careful evaluation of these factors before surgery would help to increase the operation efficacy, possessing an important clinical value

Design of an In-Pipe Robot Coupled With Multiple Cams

The inchworm in-pipe robot has the advantages of stable support, low walking resistance, and high flexibility. However, the gait motion of in-pipe robots relies on the precise coordination of three motors, which greatly increases the complexity of control. To solve this problem, an inchworm in-pipe robot based on a multi-cam combination is proposed. The robot needs only one motor to achieve active support and bidirectional crawling for the pipe wall, mainly used for detecting straight pipelines, such as the main drainage pipeline. In order to obtain the periodic motion law and characteristics of the inchworm in-pipe robot, structure design, constraint analysis, and dynamic simulation were carried out on the robot. Finally, the principle prototype was tested in the transparent pipe, the test results indicate that the robot can achieve bidirectional creep under a single motor drive, which can simplify the control of gait motion for inchworm in-pipe robots. The average displacement errors for horizontal walking and vertical walking are 2.0% and 11.3%, respectively, due to factors such as gravity. Therefore, the robot can achieve a more accurate step distance in the horizontal pipe

Stability Prediction of Milling Process with Variable Pitch Cutter

The use of variable pitch cutter is a known means to increase the stable limit depth of cut by disrupting the regenerative effect. In this paper, an improved semidiscretization algorithm is presented to predict the stability lobes for variable pitch cutters. Modeling efforts develop a straightforward analytical integral force model that can cover any case of piecewise continuous cutting regions regarding the helix angle. The proposed approach has been verified with the comparisons with prior works, time domain simulations, and cutting tests. In addition, the method is also applied to examine the effect of the tool geometries on the stability trends for variable pitch milling. Some new phenomena for certain combinations of parameters are shown and explained

Coupled modeling of hydromechanical behavior of quasi-brittle porous rocks

Cette étude porte sur une modélisation micromécanique du comportement poromécanique des roches poreuses quasi-fragiles endommagées par une distribution de microfissures. Le cadre général retenu est celui de l'approche par changement d'échelles dans le cadre de la thermodynamique des processus irréversibles. Les propriétés mécaniques effectives sont déterminées par une technique d'homogénéisation linéaire en se basant sur la solution du problème d inclusion d'Eshelby. Le glissement frottant le long des surfaces de microfissures fermées est considéré comme un processus de dissipation irréversible et responsable de l'évolution de l'endommagement. Un critère de frottement de type Coulomb est utilisé et un critère d'endommagement basé sur le taux de restauration d'énergie est proposé. La deuxième partie du mémoire vise à étendre la modélisation micromécanique à la description du couplage poromécanique des roches saturées. L'influence de la pression du fluide sur le glissement est prise en compte en introduisant une notion de contrainte effective au niveau microscopique. Nous démontrons que le glissement frottant peut engendrer une dilatance volumique conduisant à une réduction de la pression du fluide. Les résultats numériques sont comparés aux données expérimentales dans les essais drainés et non drainés en compression triaxiale. La dernière partie de cette thèse porte sur la modélisation hydromécanique des fractures rocheuses sous contrainte normale. Des études expérimentales et des modélisations numériques sont effectuées. Un coefficient de Biot généralisé, fonction de l'ouverture de fractures, est introduit pour décrire le comportement poromécanique couplé.This study concerns a micromechanics-based modeling of poromechanical behaviors of quasi-brittle porous rocks. The general framework adopted is that of up-scaling technique combined with irreversible thermodynamics. We first determine the effective property of quasi brittle rocks weakened by microcracks via the rigorous Eshelby-based homogenization method. The frictional sliding along surfaces of closed microcracks is interpreted as an irreversible dissipation process and responsible for the induced damage. An elastoplastic damage model is formulated with the inelastic strain inherently coupled with damage evolution. A Coulomb-type friction criterion serving as plastic yielding function and a strain energy release rate based damage criterion are proposed. The second part aims at extending the micromechanical modeling to poromechanical behavior of saturated porous rocks. The influence of fluid pressure is taken into account in the friction criterion through the concept of local effective stress. It is also manifested that the frictional sliding between crack surfaces generates volumetric dilatancy and causes reduction in fluid pressure. Applications of the proposed model to typical brittle rocks are presented and compared with experimental data in both drained and undrained triaxial tests. The last part of this dissertation deals with the hydromechanical modeling of single fracture subject to normal stress. Both experimental studies and theoretical modeling are carried out. The generalized Biot coefficient, in the form of a function of the fracture displacement, is introduced to describe the coupled behavior between fracture deformation and pore fluid pressure.LILLE1-Bib. Electronique (590099901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Rare Double Heterozygosity for Poly A(A>G) and CD17(A>T) of Beta Thalassemia Intermedia in a Chinese Family

Beta thalassemia is a hereditary disorder resulted from mutations in the β globin gene leading to alpha/beta imbalance, ineffective erythropoiesis, and chronic anemia. Three types have been defined, based on the degree of reduced beta-globin chain synthesis and clinical phenotype: major, intermedia and minor (heterozygote carrier state). Beta thalassemia intermedia is characterized by heterogeneity for the wide clinical spectrum of various genotypes and a wide range of presentations. The genotypes of beta thalassemia intermedia are much complicated referring to β+/β+,β+/β0, Hb E/β0, β0/β0 compounding alpha thalassemia and so on. In this present case, we reported a rare beta thalassemia intermedia genotype of double heterozygosity for poly A (A>G) and CD17(A>T) indicated of β+/β0 in a Chinese family

Power Level Control of Nuclear Power Plant Based on Asymptotical State Observer under Neutron Sensor Fault

Power level control is one of the critical functions in the instrument and control system of nuclear power plants (NPPs). In most power level control systems of NPPs, the power level or average neutron flux in reactor cores provided by out-of-core neutron sensors are usually measured as feedback of power control systems, while, as critical measuring devices, there is a risk of damage to out-of-core neutron sensors. For improving the operation reliability of NPPs under the neutron sensors’ failure, a power control system based on power observer is developed in this work. The simulation based on NPP simulator shows the power control system based on the observer is effective when neutron sensors fail