Autonomous wind turbine inspection using a quadrotor

There has been explosive growth of wind farm installations in recent years due to the fact that wind energy is gaining worldwide popularity. However, the maintenance of these offshore or onshore wind turbines, especially in remote areas, remains a challenging task. In this work, vision-based autonomous wind turbine inspection using a quadrotor is designed based on realistic assumptions. Both simulation and Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) testing results have shown the effectiveness of the proposed approach

Effects of Crofton weed Ageratina adenophora on assemblages of Carabidae (Coleoptera) in the Yunnan Province, South China

Abstract Crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora) is a highly invasive weed that has spread into several provinces of southern China. This study compares carabid assemblages originating from native pastures with assemblages in Crofton weed dominated communities in the Lancang County, Yunnan Province, to assess how the invasion of this neophyte impacts the community structure of ground-dwelling arthropods. Over a period of 16 months, a total of 1574 carabid beetles representing 28 species were collected at two types of pasture, and 679 carabid beetles representing 34 species at stands of Crofton weed. The most common carabid species, Tetragonoderus arcuatus and Harpalus indicus, were mostly found in the pastures, while four of the five rarest species were present exclusively under Crofton weed. Alpha-diversity and evenness of carabid assemblages were greater under Crofton weed. Three distinct groups of carabid species were separated according to indicator values and a characterization of habitats: habitat generalists, Crofton weed specialists and native pasture specialists. The distribution of carabid species was related to environmental parameters such as depth of litter layer, total phosphorus, height of vegetation, amount of fresh biomass and pH of the soil. According to this study, the invasion of Crofton weed will alter the structure of carabid communities, but will not necessarily reduce the alpha-diversity of carabid assemblages.

The symbiotic bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis of the entomopathogenic nematodes Oscheius spp. exhibit potential biocontrol of plant- and entomopathogenic fungi

Soil-dwelling entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) kill arthropod hosts by injecting their symbiotic bacteria into the host hemolymph and feed on the bacteria and the tissue of the dying host for several generations cycles until the arthropod cadaver is completely depleted. The EPN-bacteria-arthropod cadaver complex represents a rich energy source for the surrounding opportunistic soil fungal biota and other competitors. We hypothesized that EPNs need to protect their food source until depletion and that the EPN symbiotic bacteria produce volatile and non-volatile exudations that deter different soil fungal groups in the soil. We isolated the symbiotic bacteria species (Alcaligenes faecalis) from the EPN Oscheius spp. and ran infectivity bioassays against entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) as well as against plant pathogenic fungi (PPF). We found that both volatile and non-volatile symbiotic bacterial exudations had negative effects on both EPF and PPF. Such deterrent function on functionally different fungal strains suggests a common mode of action of A.faecalis bacterial exudates, which has the potential to influence the structure of soil microbial communities, and could be integrated into pest management programs for increasing crop protection against fungal pathogens

Original Article Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce the risk of lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract: Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are the most commonly used blood pressure-lowering drugs in the world. However, the preventive value of ARBs on lung cancer is still controversial. Therefore, it was necessary for us to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the value of ARBs on lung cancer risk. We searched the PubMed database as well as the Web of Science database. The overall effect was measured by odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). The significance of the pooled ORs was determined by the Z test with a P value less than 0.05 considering statistically significant. In this meta-analysis, we found ARBs could decrease the lung cancer risk (OR=0.81, 95% CI 0.69-0.54). The stability of the results was tested by sensitivity analysis. The result was not a significant change, suggesting that the result of our meta-analysis was stable. In conclusion, our meta-analysis demonstrated that ARBs was significantly associated with lower lung cancer

Providing HIV-related services in China for men who have sex with men.

PROBLEM: In China, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care provided by community-based organizations and the public sector are not well integrated. APPROACH: A community-based organization and experts from the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention developed internet-based services for men who have sex with men, in Guangzhou, China. The internet services were linked to clinical services offering HIV testing and care. LOCAL SETTING: The expanding HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men is a public health problem in China. HIV control and prevention measures are implemented primarily through the public system. Only a limited number of community organizations are involved in providing HIV services. RELEVANT CHANGES: The programme integrated community and public sector HIV services including health education, online HIV risk assessment, on-site HIV counselling and testing, partner notification, psychosocial care and support, counting of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and treatment guidance. LESSONS LEARNT: The internet can facilitate HIV prevention among a subset of men who have sex with men by enhancing awareness, service uptake, retention in care and adherence to treatment. Collaboration between the public sector and the community group promoted acceptance by the target population. Task sharing by community groups can increase access of this high-risk group to available HIV-related services

Association Between Cerebral Hypoperfusion and Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Chronic Vertebra-Basilar Stenosis

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between cognitive impairment and cerebral haemodynamic changes in patients with chronic vertebra-basilar (VB) stenosis.Methods: Patients with severe posterior circulation VB stenosis and infarction or a history of infarction for more than 2 weeks from January 2014 to January 2015 were enrolled (n = 96). They were divided into three groups, namely, the computed tomography perfusion (CTP) normal group, the CTP compensated group, and the CTP decompensated group. Cognitive function was assessed using a validated Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Regression models were used to identify independent risk factors for cognitive impairment.Results: The MMSE and FAB scores of patients in the CTP decompensated group were significantly lower than those of patients in the CTP normal and CTP compensated groups (all p < 0.05). The RBANS total and its domain scores, including immediate memory, visual acuity, and delayed memory, in the CTP compensated and CTP decompensated groups were significantly lower than those in the CTP normal group (all p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses showed that CTP compensation, CTP decompensation, severe VB tandem stenosis, and multiple infarctions were independent risk factors for cognitive impairment.Conclusions: Low perfusion caused by severe VB stenosis can lead to extensive cognitive impairments in areas such as immediate memory, visual span, and delayed memory

The effect of mechanical loading on osteogenesis of human dental pulp stromal cells in a novel in vitro model

Tooth loss often results in alveolar bone resorption because of lack of mechanical stimulation. Thus, the mechanism of mechanical loading on stem cell osteogenesis is crucial for alveolar bone regeneration. We have investigated the effect of mechanical loading on osteogenesis in human dental pulp stromal cells (hDPSCs) in a novel in vitro model. Briefly, 1 × 107 hDPSCs were seeded into 1 ml 3 % agarose gel in a 48-well-plate. A loading tube was then placed in the middle of the gel to mimic tooth-chewing movement (1 Hz, 3 × 30 min per day, n = 3). A non-loading group was used as a control. At various time points, the distribution of live/dead cells within the gel was confirmed by fluorescence markers and confocal microscopy. The correlation and interaction between the factors (e.g. force, time, depth and distance) were statistically analysed. The samples were processed for histology and immunohistochemistry. After 1-3 weeks of culture in the in-house-designed in vitro bioreactor, fluorescence imaging confirmed that additional mechanical loading increased the viable cell numbers over time as compared with the control. Cells of various phenotypes formed different patterns away from the reaction tube. The cells in the middle part of the gel showed enhanced alkaline phosphatase staining at week 1 but reduced staining at weeks 2 and 3. Additional loading enhanced Sirius Red and type I collagen staining compared with the control. We have thus successfully developed a novel in-house-designed in vitro bioreactor mimicking the biting force to enhance hDPSC osteogenesis in an agarose scaffold and to promote bone formation and/or prevent bone resorption

Trihydrophobin 1 Phosphorylation by c-Src Regulates MAPK/ERK Signaling and Cell Migration

c-Src activates Ras-MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and regulates cell migration, while trihydrophobin 1 (TH1) inhibits MAPK/ERK activation and cell migration through interaction with A-Raf and PAK1 and inhibiting their kinase activities. Here we show that c-Src interacts with TH1 by GST-pull down assay, coimmunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy assay. The interaction leads to phosphorylation of TH1 at Tyr-6 in vivo and in vitro. Phosphorylation of TH1 decreases its association with A-Raf and PAK1. Further study reveals that Tyr-6 phosphorylation of TH1 reduces its inhibition on MAPK/ERK signaling, enhances c-Src mediated cell migration. Moreover, induced tyrosine phosphorylation of TH1 has been found by EGF and estrogen treatments. Taken together, our findings demonstrate a novel mechanism for the comprehensive regulation of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling and cell migration involving tyrosine phosphorylation of TH1 by c-Src