Research on dedicated rail power supply system for electric cars

in order to improve the endurance capacity and driving safety of electric vehicles, a special track power supply system for electric cars on expressways is studied. The working principle of the main components of the system, such as sliding contact charging track and mechanical charging arm, is simulated and analyzed by using SolidWorks software. The results show that the charging function of the contact track can provide unlimited endurance for electric vehicles, and the guidance function of the track can also ensure the safety of highspeed driving

The association between FGF21 and diabetic erectile dysfunction: Evidence from clinical and animal studies

Erectile dysfunction (ED), a complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), affects 50–75% of men with diabetes. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a liver-derived metabolic regulator which plays a role in insulin-independent glucose uptake in adipocytes. We designed a clinical study and an animal experiment to investigate the relationship between FGF21 and DM-induced ED. The clinical study enrolled 93 participants aged \u3e 18 years (61 patients with type 2 DM and 32 healthy controls) from Taian City Central Hospital (TCCH) in Shandong Province, China, amongst whom the association between serum FGF21 and diabetic ED was analyzed. To further validate this association, we developed animal model of diabetic ED using Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Serum FGF21 concentration and FGF21 mRNA expression in penile samples of the rats were determined with Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR. Among the 93 participants, the level of serum FGF21 was negatively correlated with the IIEF-5 score (r = -0.74, P \u3c 0.001). The analysis on the performance of FGF21 for ED diagnosis showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.875 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.803 to 0.946). In the animal experiment, the levels of serum FGF21, 2-Δ Δ Ct values of FGF21 mRNA expression, and relative levels of FGF21 in penile samples were higher in the ED group compared to the DM and control groups. Our findings demonstrated an association between the FGF21 level and diabetic ED, indicating the potential of this cytokine in predicting diabetic ED

MAPK1 promotes the metastasis and invasion of gastric cancer as a bidirectional transcription factor

Background: The Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) has both independent functions of phosphorylating histones as a kinase and directly binding the promoter regions of genes to regulate gene expression as a transcription factor. Previous studies have identified elevated expression of MAPK1 in human gastric cancer, which is associated with its role as a kinase, facilitating the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. However, how MAPK1 binds to its target genes as a transcription factor and whether it modulates related gene expressions in gastric cancer remains unclear. Results: Here, we integrated biochemical assays (protein interactions and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)), cellular analysis assays (cell proliferation and migration), RNA sequencing, ChIP sequencing, and clinical analysis to investigate the potential genomic recognition patterns of MAPK1 in a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell-line (AGS) and to uncover its regulatory effect on gastric cancer progression. We confirmed that MAPK1 promotes AGS cells invasion and migration by regulating the target genes in different directions, up-regulating seven target genes (KRT13, KRT6A, KRT81, MYH15, STARD4, SYTL4, and TMEM267) and down-regulating one gene (FGG). Among them, five genes (FGG, MYH15, STARD4, SYTL4, and TMEM267) were first associated with cancer procession, while the other three (KRT81, KRT6A, and KRT13) have previously been confirmed to be related to cancer metastasis and migration. Conclusion: Our data showed that MAPK1 can bind to the promoter regions of these target genes to control their transcription as a bidirectional transcription factor, promoting AGS cell motility and invasion. Our research has expanded the understanding of the regulatory roles of MAPK1, enriched our knowledge of transcription factors, and provided novel candidates for cancer therapeutics

Population-based case-control study revealed metabolomic biomarkers of suboptimal health status in Chinese population—potential utility for innovative approach by predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine

Background: Suboptimal health status (SHS) is a subclinical stage of chronic diseases, and the identification of SHS provides an opportunity for the predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM) of chronic diseases. Previous studies have reported the associations between metabolic signatures and early signs of chronic diseases. Methods: This study aimed to detect the metabolic biomarkers for the identification of SHS in a case-control study. SHS questionnaire-25 (SHSQ-25) was used in a population-based health survey to measure the SHS levels of participants. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics analysis was conducted on plasma samples collected from 50 SHS participants and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results: After adjusting for the confounders, 24 significantly differential metabolites, such as sphingomyelin, sphingosine, sphinganine, progesterone, pregnanolone, and bilirubin, were identified as the candidate biomarkers for SHS. Pathway analysis revealed that sphingolipid metabolism, taurine metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis are the disturbed metabolic pathways related to SHS. A combination of four metabolic biomarkers (sphingosine, pregnanolone, taurolithocholate sulfate, cervonyl carnitine) can distinguish SHS individuals from the controls with a sensitivity of 94.0%, a specificity of 90.0%, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.977. Conclusion: Plasma metabolites are valuable biomarkers for SHS identification, and meanwhile, SHSQ-25 can be used as an alternative health screening tool in the population-based health survey. SHS-related metabolic disturbances could be detected at the early onset of SHS, and SHS-related metabolites could create a window opportunity for PPPM of chronic diseases

Translation and cross-cultural validation of a precision health tool, the Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire-25, in Korean

Background Suboptimal health status (SHS) is a reversible stage between health and illness that is characterized by health complaints, low energy, general weakness, and chronic fatigue. The Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire-25 (SHSQ-25) has been validated in three major populations (African, Asian, and Caucasian) and is internationally recognized as a reliable and robust tool for health estimation in general populations. This study focused on the development of K-SHSQ-25, a Korean version of the SHSQ-25, from its English version. Methods The SHSQ-25 was translated from English to Korean according to international guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO) for health instrument translation between different languages. A subsequent cross-sectional survey involved 460 healthy South Korean participants (aged 18-83 years; 65.4 % females) to answer the 25 questions focusing on the health perspectives of 5 domains, 1) fatigue, 2) cardiovascular health, 3) digestive tract, 4) immune system and 5) mental health. The K-SHSQ-25 was further validated using tests for reliability, internal consistency, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results The version of K-SHSQ-25 achieved linguistic, cultural, and conceptual equivalence to the English version. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of test-retest reliability for individual items ranged from 0.88 to 0.99. Reliability estimates based on internal consistency reached a Cronbach’s α of 0.953; the Cronbach’s α for each domain ranged from 0.76 to 0.94. Regarding construct validity, the EFA of the K-SHSQ-25 generally replicated the multidimensional structure (fatigue, cardiovascular, digestive, immune system, and mental health) and 25 questions. The CFA revealed that the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), goodness-of-fit index (GFI) and adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) were excellent (RMSEA = 0.069 \u3c 0.08, GFI = 0.929 \u3e 0.90, AGFI = 0.907 \u3e 0.90). The five domains of the K-SHSQ-25 showed significant correlations with each other (r = 0.59-0.81, P \u3c 0.001). The cut-off point of K-SHSQ-25 for SHS was determined as an SHS score of 25. The prevalence of SHS in this study was 60.0 % (276/460), with 47.8 % (76/159) for males and 58.5 % for females (176/301). Conclusions Our results indicate that the Korean version of SHSQ-25, K-SHSQ-25, is a transcultural equivalent, robust, valid, and reliable assessment tool for evaluating SHS in the Korean-speaking population

Frequency drift in MR spectroscopy at 3T

Purpose: Heating of gradient coils and passive shim components is a common cause of instability in the B-0 field, especially when gradient intensive sequences are used. The aim of the study was to set a benchmark for typical drift encountered during MR spectroscopy (MRS) to assess the need for real-time field-frequency locking on MRI scanners by comparing field drift data from a large number of sites.Method: A standardized protocol was developed for 80 participating sites using 99 3T MR scanners from 3 major vendors. Phantom water signals were acquired before and after an EPI sequence. The protocol consisted of: minimal preparatory imaging; a short pre-fMRI PRESS; a ten-minute fMRI acquisition; and a long post-fMRI PRESS acquisition. Both pre- and post-fMRI PRESS were non-water suppressed. Real-time frequency stabilization/adjustment was switched off when appropriate. Sixty scanners repeated the protocol for a second dataset. In addition, a three-hour post-fMRI MRS acquisition was performed at one site to observe change of gradient temperature and drift rate. Spectral analysis was performed using MATLAB. Frequency drift in pre-fMRI PRESS data were compared with the first 5:20 minutes and the full 30:00 minutes of data after fMRI. Median (interquartile range) drifts were measured and showed in violin plot. Paired t-tests were performed to compare frequency drift pre- and post-fMRI. A simulated in vivo spectrum was generated using FID-A to visualize the effect of the observed frequency drifts. The simulated spectrum was convolved with the frequency trace for the most extreme cases. Impacts of frequency drifts on NAA and GABA were also simulated as a function of linear drift. Data from the repeated protocol were compared with the corresponding first dataset using Pearson's and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).Results: Of the data collected from 99 scanners, 4 were excluded due to various reasons. Thus, data from 95 scanners were ultimately analyzed. For the first 5:20 min (64 transients), median (interquartile range) drift was 0.44 (1.29) Hz before fMRI and 0.83 (1.29) Hz after. This increased to 3.15 (4.02) Hz for the full 30 min (360 transients) run. Average drift rates were 0.29 Hz/min before fMRI and 0.43 Hz/min after. Paired t-tests indicated that drift increased after fMRI, as expected (p &lt; 0.05). Simulated spectra convolved with the frequency drift showed that the intensity of the NAA singlet was reduced by up to 26%, 44 % and 18% for GE, Philips and Siemens scanners after fMRI, respectively. ICCs indicated good agreement between datasets acquired on separate days. The single site long acquisition showed drift rate was reduced to 0.03 Hz/min approximately three hours after fMRI.Discussion: This study analyzed frequency drift data from 95 3T MRI scanners. Median levels of drift were relatively low (5-min average under 1 Hz), but the most extreme cases suffered from higher levels of drift. The extent of drift varied across scanners which both linear and nonlinear drifts were observed.</p

neonatal_review

review of neonatal edited MR

Re-discovery and taxonomic clarification of Oreocharis leveilleana (Gesneriaceae) in Guizhou, China, over 100 years

Oreocharis leveilleana Fedde was collected in Ta-pin in 1910 and published in 1911. The collected location was verified within western Luodian County, Guizhou Province, China. However, there have been no records of the species’ collection for more than 100 years since then. After extensive investigations by our research team on the type locality and its surrounding areas, we found that it is widely distributed in western Luodian County and eastern Wangmo County, Guizhou Province, China. During further research on the original literature, type specimens and type locality of O. leveilleana, the taxonomic position of O. leveilleana, which was once treated as a synonym of O. auricula (S.Moore) C.B.Clarke, was found to have a taxonomic problem. Through morphological research combined with geographical distribution analysis, it has been determined that it should belong to the genus Petrocodon Hance and it is the same species as P. coccineus (C.Y.Wu ex H.W.Li) Yin Z.Wang. According to the regulations and suggestions of the 2018 "International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code)", we propose and confirm a new combination – Petrocodon leveilleanus (Fedde) X.X.Bai & F.Wen and treat P. coccineus as a synonym of the new combination. Due to its unique bright red flowers within Petrocodon, its original Chinese name has been retained

Re-discovery and taxonomic clarification of Oreocharis leveilleana (Gesneriaceae) in Guizhou, China, over 100 years

Oreocharis leveilleana Fedde was collected in Ta-pin in 1910 and published in 1911. The collected location was verified within western Luodian County, Guizhou Province, China. However, there have been no records of the species’ collection for more than 100 years since then. After extensive investigations by our research team on the type locality and its surrounding areas, we found that it is widely distributed in western Luodian County and eastern Wangmo County, Guizhou Province, China. During further research on the original literature, type specimens and type locality of O. leveilleana, the taxonomic position of O. leveilleana, which was once treated as a synonym of O. auricula (S.Moore) C.B.Clarke, was found to have a taxonomic problem. Through morphological research combined with geographical distribution analysis, it has been determined that it should belong to the genus Petrocodon Hance and it is the same species as P. coccineus (C.Y.Wu ex H.W.Li) Yin Z.Wang. According to the regulations and suggestions of the 2018 "International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (Shenzhen Code)", we propose and confirm a new combination – Petrocodon leveilleanus (Fedde) X.X.Bai & F.Wen and treat P. coccineus as a synonym of the new combination. Due to its unique bright red flowers within Petrocodon, its original Chinese name has been retained