Systematic elucidation of independently modulated genes in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum reveals a trade-off between secondary and primary metabolism

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a probiotic bacterium widely used in food and health industries, but its gene regulatory information is limited in existing databases, which impedes the research of its physiology and its applications. To obtain a better understanding of the transcriptional regulatory network of L. plantarum, independent component analysis of its transcriptomes was used to derive 45 sets of independently modulated genes (iModulons). Those iModulons were annotated for associated transcription factors and functional pathways, and active iModulons in response to different growth conditions were identified and characterized in detail. Eventually, the analysis of iModulon activities reveals a trade-off between regulatory activities of secondary and primary metabolism in L. plantarum

Synchronized Dual-arm Rearrangement via Cooperative mTSP

Synchronized dual-arm rearrangement is widely studied as a common scenario in industrial applications. It often faces scalability challenges due to the computational complexity of robotic arm rearrangement and the high-dimensional nature of dual-arm planning. To address these challenges, we formulated the problem as cooperative mTSP, a variant of mTSP where agents share cooperative costs, and utilized reinforcement learning for its solution. Our approach involved representing rearrangement tasks using a task state graph that captured spatial relationships and a cooperative cost matrix that provided details about action costs. Taking these representations as observations, we designed an attention-based network to effectively combine them and provide rational task scheduling. Furthermore, a cost predictor is also introduced to directly evaluate actions during both training and planning, significantly expediting the planning process. Our experimental results demonstrate that our approach outperforms existing methods in terms of both performance and planning efficiency

Altered Local and Large-Scale Dynamic Functional Connectivity Variability in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Resting-State fMRI Study

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that can emerge after exposure to an exceedingly traumatic event. Previous neuroimaging studies have indicated that PTSD is characterized by aberrant resting-state functional connectivity (FC). However, few existing studies on PTSD have examined dynamic changes in resting-state FC related to network formation, interaction, and dissolution over time. In this study, we compared the dynamic resting-state local and large-scale FC between PTSD patients (n = 22) and healthy controls (HC; n = 22; conducted as standard deviation in resting-state local and large-scale FC over a series of sliding windows). Local dynamic FC was examined by calculating the dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHo), and large-scale dynamic FC (dFC) was investigated between regions with significant dReHo group differences. For the PTSD patients, we also investigated the relationship between symptom severity and dFC/dReHo. Our results showed that PTSD patients were characterized by I) increased dynamic (more variable) dReHo in left precuneus (PCu); II) increased dynamic (more variable) dFC between the left PCu and left insula; and III) decreased dFC between left PCu and left inferior parietal lobe (IPL), and decreased dFC between left PCu and right PCu. However, there is no significant correlation between the clinical indicators and dReHo/dFC after the family-wise-error (FWE) correction. These findings provided the initial evidence that PTSD is characterized by aberrant patterns of fluctuating communication within brain system such as the default mode network (DMN) and among different brain systems such as the salience network and the DMN

Dynamic immune status analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection sepsis using single-cell RNA sequencing

BackgroundKlebsiella pneumoniae is a common Gram-negative bacterium. Blood infection caused by K. pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of human sepsis, which seriously threatens the life of patients. The immune status of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) based on single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in acute stage and recovery stage of sepsis caused by K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection has not been studied.MethodsA total of 13 subjects were included in this study, 3 healthy controls, 7 patients with K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection in the acute stage (4 patients died), and 3 patients in the recovery stage. Peripheral blood of all patients was collected and PBMCs were isolated for scRNA-seq analysis. We studied the changes of PBMCs components, signaling pathways, differential genes, and cytokines in acute and recovery stages.ResultsDuring K. pneumoniae acute infection we observed a decrease in the proportion of T cells, most probably due to apoptosis and the function of T cell subtypes was disorder. The proportion of monocytes increased in acute stage. Although genes related to their phagocytosis function were upregulated, their antigen presentation capacity-associated genes were downregulated. The expression of IL-1β, IL-18, IFNGR1 and IFNGR2 genes was also increased in monocytes. The proportion of DCs was depleted during the acute stage and did not recover during sepsis recovery. DCs antigen presentation was weakened during the acute stage but recovered fast during the recovery stage. pDCs response to MCP-1 chemokine was weakened, they recovered it quickly during the recovery stage. B cells showed apoptosis both in the acute stage and recovery stage. Their response to complement was weakened, but their antigen presentation function was enhanced. The proportion of NK cells stable during all disease’s stages, and the expression of IFN-γ gene was upregulated.ConclusionThe proportion of PBMCs and their immune functions undergo variations throughout the course of the disease, spanning from the acute stage to recovery. These findings provide new insights into the mechanism of PBMCs immune function during K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection sepsis and recovery and sets the basis for further understanding and treatment

SBZ-Monteur : SHK-Magazin für Auszubildende und Gesellen

Two simplified methods are introduced in the paper, in which periods and mode shapes are obtained through solving the story lateral stiffness of frame- shear wall structures, the method of solving the differential equation and the method of substructure. On the basis of assumption for structure, the assembling strategy of mass matrix and stiffness matrix are discussed specially. The periods and mode shapes can be acquired through both methods and the results are compared and analyzed with PKPM and ANSYS. The computation programs are very convenient and can gain the periods and mode shapes quickly. The methods will create some degree of errors, but it is in the scope of acceptance. They are of great reference to structural designers and scientific researchers

Systematic elucidation of independently modulated genes in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum reveals a trade‐off between secondary and primary metabolism

Abstract Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a probiotic bacterium widely used in food and health industries, but its gene regulatory information is limited in existing databases, which impedes the research of its physiology and its applications. To obtain a better understanding of the transcriptional regulatory network of L. plantarum, independent component analysis of its transcriptomes was used to derive 45 sets of independently modulated genes (iModulons). Those iModulons were annotated for associated transcription factors and functional pathways, and active iModulons in response to different growth conditions were identified and characterized in detail. Eventually, the analysis of iModulon activities reveals a trade‐off between regulatory activities of secondary and primary metabolism in L. plantarum

Study on shape-stabilised paraffin-ceramsite composites with stable strength as phase change material (PCM) for energy storage

The massive energy consumption in construction has been a critical challenge for sustainable development. Incorporating phase change material (PCM) into construction materials is an effective way to improve energy management. In this work, the paraffin with a melting point of ∼ 28 °C and latent heat of ∼ 193 J/g was absorbed into fly ash ceramsites (artificial porous aggregate) under vacuum pressure. The ceramsite had sizes ranging from 7 to 13 mm, within the size range of coarse aggregates in concrete. The main properties of the raw ceramsite, paraffin, and paraffin/ceramsite composite were tested using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), microscope, leakage testing, mechanical testing, etc. The PCM incorporation ratio was 45.33 wt%. This incorporation value is adequate for PCM composite in concrete to show the significant performance of thermal regulation. The leakage test result shows excellent stability of the PCM carrying in the ceramsites. The PCM-ceramsite composites present intact structures under heating and cooling cycles because of the low-volume expansion of paraffin. Solidified PCM inside the ceramsite particles improve the strength of the composites. Microcharacterization indicates that the connected pores/cracks inside the ceramsite particles are the primary path, while unconnected pores have little benefit for PCM incorporation. Small pores have better PCM retaining efficiency, especially if they are located at the sub-deep layer. Large pores provide ample space for PCM but have adverse effects on to the strength of the PCM-ceramsite composites. Finally, an optimal structure of ceramsites was proposed for PCM.This is a manuscript of an article published as Wang, Xiaonan, Wengui Li, Yuhan Huang, Shishun Zhang, and Kejin Wang. "Study on shape-stabilised paraffin-ceramsite composites with stable strength as phase change material (PCM) for energy storage." Construction and Building Materials 388 (2023): 131678. DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131678. Copyright 2023 Elsevier Ltd. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Posted with permission

Compressive behavior of frp tubular columns with recycled concrete lumps and flowable grout

This paper presents a study on the compressive behavior of a novel type of highly deformable hybrid FRP tubular columns. The columns consist of an FRP tube filled with large-size recycled concrete lumps (RCLs) as aggregates and flowable grout as the binding material, and are thus termed FRP-RCL-Grout (F-R-G) columns. The use of large-size RCLs (e.g., up to 63 mm RCLs for 200 mm circular columns) leads to a relatively high recycling ratio and facilitates the manufacturing process. The flowable grout can be easily poured/pumped into the FRP tube, leading to ease of construction, while the FRP tube acts as an effective lateral confining device. The experimental part of the study involved compression tests on F-R-G columns and similar columns for comparison, with the main test variables being the FRP tube thickness, the size of the RCLs, the compressive strength of the concrete for producing RCLs and the WP ratio of the grout. The test results showed that F-R-G columns possess excellent structural behavior including ample ductility, and clarified the effects of the key parameters. In addition, based on the test results, a simple yet accurate model is proposed to predict the strength of F-R-G columns

Minimum distribution support vector clustering

Support vector clustering (SVC) is a boundary-based algorithm, which has several advantages over other clustering methods, including identifying clusters of arbitrary shapes and numbers. Leveraged by the high generalization ability of the large margin distribution machine (LDM) and the optimal margin distribution clustering (ODMC), we propose a new clustering method: minimum distribution for support vector clustering (MDSVC), for improving the robustness of boundary point recognition, which characterizes the optimal hypersphere by the first-order and second-order statistics and tries to minimize the mean and variance simultaneously. In addition, we further prove, theoretically, that our algorithm can obtain better generalization performance. Some instructive insights for adjusting the number of support vector points are gained. For the optimization problem of MDSVC, we propose a double coordinate descent algorithm for small and medium samples. The experimental results on both artificial and real datasets indicate that our MDSVC has a significant improvement in generalization performance compared to SVC

PDE4DIP contributes to colorectal cancer growth and chemoresistance through modulation of the NF1/RAS signaling axis

Abstract Phosphodiesterase 4D interacting protein (PDE4DIP) is a centrosome/Golgi protein associated with cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases. PDE4DIP is commonly mutated in human cancers, and its alteration in mice leads to a predisposition to intestinal cancer. However, the biological function of PDE4DIP in human cancer remains obscure. Here, we report for the first time the oncogenic role of PDE4DIP in colorectal cancer (CRC) growth and adaptive MEK inhibitor (MEKi) resistance. We show that the expression of PDE4DIP is upregulated in CRC tissues and associated with the clinical characteristics and poor prognosis of CRC patients. Knockdown of PDE4DIP impairs the growth of KRAS-mutant CRC cells by inhibiting the core RAS signaling pathway. PDE4DIP plays an essential role in the full activation of oncogenic RAS/ERK signaling by suppressing the expression of the RAS GTPase-activating protein (RasGAP) neurofibromin (NF1). Mechanistically, PDE4DIP promotes the recruitment of PLCγ/PKCε to the Golgi apparatus, leading to constitutive activation of PKCε, which triggers the degradation of NF1. Upregulation of PDE4DIP results in adaptive MEKi resistance in KRAS-mutant CRC by reactivating the RAS/ERK pathway. Our work reveals a novel functional link between PDE4DIP and NF1/RAS signal transduction and suggests that targeting PDE4DIP is a promising therapeutic strategy for KRAS-mutant CRC