Comparative study of gait parameters of patients undergoing distal femoral resections with non-operated and healthy limbs: a meta-analysis study

IntroductionGait analysis is one of the most important components of functional outcome evaluation in patients with lower-extremity tumors. Disparities between operated limbs when compared with non-operated limbs and healthy populations based on gait parameters have rarely been studied. In the present study, we attempted to analyze the gait difference and its impacts on daily life.MethodsThe gait parameters of distal femoral tumor-resected patients were collected from PubMed, CNKI, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar till September 30, 2022, by strictly following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Differences between gait parameters in the operated and non-operated limbs or healthy limbs of distal femoral tumor patients were analyzed based on stance phase, swing phase, cadence, and velocity. The fixed-effects and random-effects models were used to conduct a meta-analysis.ResultsSix studies were included according to the selection criteria. There were 224 patients in total in these studies. Standard mean differences were calculated for all of our outcomes. Our results showed that there was a minimal difference in the standard mean difference of gait parameters between operated and non-operated limbs and healthy limbs.ConclusionDistal femoral tumor resections have been associated with deficient muscle function and strength and impaired gait parameters. Minimal differences in the gait parameters highlighted the advantage of distal femoral resection when replaced with a prosthesis

Genome-wide characterization of L-aspartate oxidase genes in wheat and their potential roles in the responses to wheat disease and abiotic stresses

L-aspartate oxidase (AO) is the first enzyme in NAD+ biosynthesis and is widely distributed in plants, animals, and microorganisms. Recently, AO family members have been reported in several plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays. Research on AO in these plants has revealed that AO plays important roles in plant growth, development, and biotic stresses; however, the nature and functions of AO proteins in wheat are still unclear. In this study, nine AO genes were identified in the wheat genome via sequence alignment and conserved protein domain analysis. These nine wheat AO genes (TaAOs) were distributed on chromosomes 2, 5, and 6 of sub-genomes A, B, and D. Analysis of the phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs, and gene structure showed that the nine TaAOs were clustered into three groups, and the TaAOs in each group had similar conserved motifs and gene structure. Meanwhile, the subcellular localization analysis of transient expression mediated by Agrobacterium tumetioniens indicated that TaAO3-6D was localized to chloroplasts. Prediction of cis-elements indicated that a large number of cis-elements involved in responses to ABA, SA, and antioxidants/electrophiles, as well as photoregulatory responses, were found in TaAO promoters, which suggests that the expression of TaAOs may be regulated by these factors. Finally, transcriptome and real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of TaAOs belonging to Group III was strongly induced in wheat infected by F. graminearum during anthesis, while the expression of TaAOs belonging to Group I was heavily suppressed. Additionally, the inducible expression of TaAOs belonging to Group III during anthesis in wheat spikelets infected by F. graminearum was repressed by ABA. Finally, expression of almost all TaAOs was induced by exposure to cold treatment. These results indicate that TaAOs may participate in the response of wheat to F. graminearum infection and cold stress, and ABA may play a negative role in this process. This study lays a foundation for further investigation of TaAO genes and provides novel insights into their biological functions

Modular Functional-Metabolic Coupling Alterations of Frontoparietal Network in Schizophrenia Patients

Background: Brain functional dysconnectivity, as well as altered network organization, have been demonstrated to occur in schizophrenia. Brain networks are increasingly understood to exhibit modular community structures, which provides advantages in robustness and functional adaptivity. The frontoparietal network (FPN) serves as an important functional module, and metabolic and functional alterations in the FPN are associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, how intra-modular biochemical disruptions lead to inter-modular dysfunction of the FPN, remains unclear. In this study, we aim to investigate alterations in the modular functional-metabolic coupling of the FPN, in patients with schizophrenia.Methods: We combined resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) technology and acquired multimodal neuroimaging data in 20 patients with schizophrenia and 26 healthy controls. For the MRS, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) region within the FPN was explored. Metabolites including gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), N-aspart-acetyl (NAA) and glutamate + glutamine (Glx) were quantified, using LCModel software. A graph theoretical approach was applied for functional modular parcellation. The relationship between inter/intra-modular connectivity and metabolic concentration was examined using the Pearson correlation analysis. Moreover, correlations with schizophrenia symptomatology were investigated by the Spearman correlation analysis.Results: The functional topological network consisted of six modules in both subject groups, namely, the default mode, frontoparietal, central, hippocampus, occipital, and subcortical modules. Inter-modular connectivity between the frontoparietal and central modules, and the frontoparietal and the hippocampus modules was decreased in the patient group compared to the healthy controls, while the connectivity within the frontoparietal modular increased in the patient group. Moreover, a positive correlation between the frontoparietal and central module functional connectivity and the NAA in the DLPFC was found in the healthy control group (r = 0.614, p = 0.001), but not in the patient group. Significant functional dysconnectivity between the frontoparietal and limbic modules was correlated with the clinical symptoms of patients.Conclusions: This study examined the links between functional connectivity and the neuronal metabolic level in the DLPFC of SCZ. Impaired functional connectivity of the frontoparietal areas in SCZ, may be partially explained by a neurochemical-functional connectivity decoupling effect. This disconnection pattern can further provide useful insights in the cognitive and perceptual impairments of schizophrenia in future studies

An efficient disposable and flexible electrochemical sensor based on a novel and stable metal carbon composite derived from cocoon silk

Abstract(#br)The present work reports cocoon silk fibroin (SF)as a unique precursor for the in-situ fabrication of well-engineered, stable and leach free gold nanoparticle doped carbonaceous materials (AuNPs@NSC). In principle, at the molecular level, SF has a singular structure that can be converted to a N-doped aromatic carbon structure by heat treatment. The electrochemical properties of the prepared nanocomposite were examined by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. A flexible three electrode sensor system with AuNPs@NSC-modified working electrodes has been developed, to achieve easy operation and quick and accurate responses. The electrochemical results showed that the sensor made by the AuNPs@NSC-modified working electrode demonstrated high sensitivity for the detection of rutin, which is attributed to the good distribution of the AuNPs on the carbon matrix. Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the AuNPs@NSC electrode was found to have a linear response in the range of 0.11–250 μM and a comparably low limit of detection of 0.02 μM (S/N = 3). To ensure the accuracy and applicability of the sensors, the concentration of rutin in the commodity (rutin capsule, 10 mg/capsule) was examined, and the sensor provided high precision with a minimum relative error (RE) of 3.3%. These findings suggest that AuNPs@NSC can be considered to be a potential electrode material for the development of electrochemical devices and has great potential in extending their application to the flexible sensor field

Sequencing papaya X and Yh chromosomes reveals molecular basis of incipient sex chromosome evolution

Sex determination in papaya is controlled by a recently evolved XY chromosome pair, with two slightly different Y chromosomes controlling the development of males (Y) and hermaphrodites (Y(h)). To study the events of early sex chromosome evolution, we sequenced the hermaphrodite-specific region of the Y(h) chromosome (HSY) and its X counterpart, yielding an 8.1-megabase (Mb) HSY pseudomolecule, and a 3.5-Mb sequence for the corresponding X region. The HSY is larger than the X region, mostly due to retrotransposon insertions. The papaya HSY differs from the X region by two large-scale inversions, the first of which likely caused the recombination suppression between the X and Y(h) chromosomes, followed by numerous additional chromosomal rearrangements. Altogether, including the X and/or HSY regions, 124 transcription units were annotated, including 50 functional pairs present in both the X and HSY. Ten HSY genes had functional homologs elsewhere in the papaya autosomal regions, suggesting movement of genes onto the HSY, whereas the X region had none. Sequence divergence between 70 transcripts shared by the X and HSY revealed two evolutionary strata in the X chromosome, corresponding to the two inversions on the HSY, the older of which evolved about 7.0 million years ago. Gene content differences between the HSY and X are greatest in the older stratum, whereas the gene content and order of the collinear regions are identical. Our findings support theoretical models of early sex chromosome evolution

Changes in Light Pollution and the Causing Factors in China’s Protected Areas, 1992–2012

The natural nighttime light environment of the earth has been significantly transformed by human activities. Such “light pollution” has a profound influence on ecosystems. Protected areas (PAs) play key ecological functions and are only effective at low light pollution levels or without any light pollution. In China, with rapid population growth and high urbanization rates, light pollution in PAs continues to aggravate and threaten a number of ecosystems. We used calibrated nighttime light images to study spatial-temporal changes in light pollution in China’s PAs from 1992 to 2012 by classifying light pollution into three levels (moderate, medium, and strong). The results showed that in China’s PAs, the area subject to light pollution increased by about 1.79 times, with a significant increase in the intensity of artificial light. The changes in light pollution exhibited significant regional differences. In the eastern developed regions, light pollution was more significant than that in other regions and the situation in East China was the most severe. In the Qinghai-Tibet, although light pollution was less significant, the area subject to light pollution increased significantly over the evaluated period. Factors influencing light pollution were also analyzed. Light pollution in a PA is influenced by both human activities and its own characteristics

Pro-urokinase promotes angiogenesis but does not reduce neuronal apoptosis in infarcted cerebral tissue

ABSTRAKH. Arifin, Pengaruh kepemimpinan, budaya organisasi, dan kompetensi terhadap kepuasan kerja dan kinerja karyawan PT Slipform Indonesia di Kera, Kab. Wajo (Proyek Konstruksi) dengan promoter H. Mahfudnurnajamuddin, co-promotor H. Ahmad Gani, dan H. Muhtar Lamo.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa pengaruh kepemimpinan, budaya organisasi dan kompetensi terhadap kepuasan kerja dan kinerja karyawan PT Slipform Indonesia di Kera, Kab. Wajo.Metode analisa data dalam penelitian ini memakai teknik analisa SEM dengan program AMOS. Jumlah sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah menghitung hasil dan juga menyebutkan kata minimal yang dicapai. Hal ini berarti bahwa AMOS telah berhasil mengestimasi dari varian kepada kovarian existing. Oleh karana itu, dapat disimpulkan bahwa jumlah sampel yang dipakai dalam penelitian ini telah memenuhi syarat-syarat pada anallisa SEM.Hasil penelitian mengindikasikan bahwa kepemimpinan, budaya organissasi dan kompetensi mempunyai efek signifikan terhadap kepuasan kerja karyawan pada perusahaan PT Slipform Indonesia di Kera, Kab. Wajo, Sulawesi selatan. Kepuasan mempunyai efek yang signifikan terhadap kinerja karyawan sementara kepemimpinan tidak mempunyai efek yang tidak signifikan terhadap budaya organisasi pada karyawan PT Slipform Indonesia di Kera, Kab. Wajo.Kata Kunci : kepemimpinan, budaya organisasi dan kompetensi, kinerja dan kepuasan

Asymmetric Adaptive Fusion in a Two-Stream Network for RGB-D Human Detection

In recent years, human detection in indoor scenes has been widely applied in smart buildings and smart security, but many related challenges can still be difficult to address, such as frequent occlusion, low illumination and multiple poses. This paper proposes an asymmetric adaptive fusion two-stream network (AAFTS-net) for RGB-D human detection. This network can fully extract person-specific depth features and RGB features while reducing the typical complexity of a two-stream network. A depth feature pyramid is constructed by combining contextual information, with the motivation of combining multiscale depth features to improve the adaptability for targets of different sizes. An adaptive channel weighting (ACW) module weights the RGB-D feature channels to achieve efficient feature selection and information complementation. This paper also introduces a novel RGB-D dataset for human detection called RGBD-human, on which we verify the performance of the proposed algorithm. The experimental results show that AAFTS-net outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods and can maintain stable performance under conditions of frequent occlusion, low illumination and multiple poses