The Effect of Consistency on Short-Term Memory for Scenes

Which is more detectable, the change of a consistent or an inconsistent object in a scene? This question has been debated for decades. We noted that the change of objects in scenes might simultaneously be accompanied with gist changes. In the present study we aimed to examine how the alteration of gist, as well as the consistency of the changed objects, modulated change detection. In Experiment 1, we manipulated the semantic content by either keeping or changing the consistency of the scene. Results showed that the changes of consistent and inconsistent scenes were equally detected. More importantly, the changes were more accurately detected when scene consistency changed than when the consistency remained unchanged, regardless of the consistency of the memory scenes. A phase-scrambled version of stimuli was adopted in Experiment 2 to decouple the possible confounding effect of low-level factors. The results of Experiment 2 demonstrated that the effect found in Experiment 1 was indeed due to the change of high-level semantic consistency rather than the change of low-level physical features. Together, the study suggests that the change of consistency plays an important role in scene short-term memory, which might be attributed to the sensitivity to the change of semantic content

High sensitivity flexible Lamb-wave humidity sensors with a graphene oxide sensing layer

This paper reports high performance flexible Lamb wave humidity sensors with a graphene oxide sensing layer. The devices were fabricated on piezoelectric ZnO thin films deposited on flexible polyimide substrates. Two resonant peaks, namely the zero order antisymmetric (A0) and symmetric (S0) mode Lamb waves, were observed and fitted well with the theoretical analysis and modelling. With graphene oxide microflakes as the sensing layer, the sensing performance of both wave modes was investigated. The humidity sensitivity of the A0 mode is 145.83 ppm per %RH (at humidity 85%RH), higher than that of S0 mode of 89.35 ppm per %RH. For the first time, we have demonstrated that the flexible humidity sensors work as usual without noticeable deterioration in performance even under severe bending conditions up to 1500 με. Also the sensors showed an excellent stability upon repeated bending for thousand times. All the results demonstrated that the Lamb wave flexible humidity sensors have a great potential for application in flexible electronics

Trigger efficiencies at BES III

Trigger efficiencies at BES III were determined for both the J/psi and psi' data taking of 2009. Both dedicated runs and physics datasets are used; efficiencies are presented for Bhabha-scattering events, generic hadronic decay events involving charged tracks, dimuon events and psi' -> pi+pi-J/psi, J/psi -> l+l- events (l an electron or muon). The efficiencies are found to lie well above 99% for all relevant physics cases, thus fulfilling the BES III design specifications.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

A tandem array of ent-kaurene synthases in maize with roles in gibberellin and more specialized metabolism

While most commonly associated with its role in gibberellin (GA) phytohormone biosynthesis, ent-kaurene also serves as an intermediate in more specialized diterpenoid metabolism, as exemplified by the more than 800 known derived natural products. Among these are the maize kauralexins. However, no ent-kaurene synthases (KSs) have been identified from maize. The maize GA-deficient dwarf-5 (d5) mutant has been associated with a loss of KS activity. The relevant genetic lesion has been previously mapped, and was found here to correlate with the location of the KS-like gene ZmKSL3. Intriguingly, this forms part of a tandem array with two other terpene synthases (TPSs). Although one of these, ZmTPS1, has been previously reported to encode a sesquiterpene synthase, and both ZmTPS1 and that encoded by the third gene, ZmKSL5, have lost the N-terminal γ-domain prototypically associated with KS(L)s, all three genes fall within the KS(L) or TPS-e sub-family. Here it is reported that all three genes encode enzymes that are targeted to the plastid in planta, where diterpenoid biosynthesis is initiated, and which all readily catalyze the production of ent-kaurene. Consistent with the closer phylogenetic relationship of ZmKSL3 with previously identified KSs from cereals, only transcription of this gene is affected in d5 plants. On the other hand, the expression of all three of these genes is inducible, suggesting a role in more specialized metabolism, such as that of the kauralexins. Thus, these results clarify not only gibberellin phytohormone, but also diterpenoid phytoalexin biosynthesis in this important cereal crop plant

Modified Sequential Therapy Regimen versus Conventional Triple Therapy for Helicobacter Pylori Eradication in Duodenal Ulcer Patients in China: A Multicenter Clinical Comparative Study

Objective. Antimicrobial resistance has decreased eradication rates for Helicobacter pylori infection worldwide. To observe the effect of eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and the treatment of duodenal ulcer by 2 kinds of modified sequential therapy through comparing with that of 10-day standard triple therapy. Methods. A total of 210 patients who were confirmed in duodenal ulcer active or heal period by gastroscopy and H. pylori positive confirmed by rapid urease test, serum anti-H. pylori antibody (ELASE), or histological examination enrolled in the study. All the patients were randomly divided into three groups: group A (70 cases) and group B (70 cases) were provided 10-day modified sequential therapy; group C (70 cases) was provided 10-day standard triple therapy. Patients of group A received 20 mg of Esomeprazole, 500 mg of Clarithromycin for the first 5 days, followed by 20 mg of Esomeprazole, 500 mg of Clarithromycin, and 1000 mg of Amoxicillin for the remaining 5 days. Group B received 20 mg of Esomeprazole, 1000 mg of Amoxicillin for the first 5 days, followed by 20 mg of Esomeprazole, 500 mg of Clarithromycin, and 1000 mg of Amoxicillin for the remaining 5 days. Group C received 20 mg of Esomeprazole, 500 mg of Clarithromycin, and 1000 mg of Amoxicillin for standard 10-day therapy. All drugs were given twice daily. H. pylori eradication rate was checked four to eight weeks after taking the medicine by using a 13C urea breath test. In the first, second, third, seventh, twenty-first, thirty-fifth days respectively, the symptoms of patients such as epigastric gnawing, burning pain, and acidity were evaluated simultaneously. Results. Overall, 210 patients accomplished all therapy schemes, 9 case patients were excluded. The examination result indicated that the H. pylori eradication rate of each group was as follows: group A 92.5% (62/67), group B 86.8% (59/68), and group C 78.8% (52/66). The H. pylori eradication rate of group A was slightly higher than group B (P < 0.05) and both of them were obviously higher than group C (P < 0.05). Modified sequential therapy was significantly more effective in patients with clarithromycin-resistant strains (80%/67% versus 31%; P = 0.02). Symptoms improvement: all the three groups could improve the symptoms such as epigastric gnawing, burning pain, and acidity since the first day. There was no significant difference in total score descending of symptoms between each group (P > 0.05). Conclusions. All the three therapy schemes could alleviate symptoms of duodenal ulcer patients in China efficiently. But as far as eradicating H. pylori is concerned, the modified sequential therapy was better than standard triple therapy, especially the therapy scheme used in group A

Cockayne Syndrome Linked to Elevated R-Loops Induced by Stalled RNA Polymerase II during Transcription Elongation

Mutations in the Cockayne Syndrome group B (CSB) gene cause cancer in mice, but premature aging and severe neurodevelopmental defects in humans. CSB, a member of the SWI/SNF family of chromatin remodelers, plays diverse roles in regulating gene expression and transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER); however, these functions do not explain the distinct phenotypic differences observed between CSB-deficient mice and humans. During investigating Cockayne Syndrome-associated genome instability, we uncover an intrinsic mechanism that involves elongating RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) undergoing transient pauses at internal T-runs where CSB is required to propel RNAPII forward. Consequently, CSB deficiency retards RNAPII elongation in these regions, and when coupled with G-rich sequences upstream, exacerbates genome instability by promoting R-loop formation. These R-loop prone motifs are notably abundant in relatively long genes related to neuronal functions in the human genome, but less prevalent in the mouse genome. These findings provide mechanistic insights into differential impacts of CSB deficiency on mice versus humans and suggest that the manifestation of the Cockayne Syndrome phenotype in humans results from the progressive evolution of mammalian genomes

Percutaneous closure of postinfarct muscular ventricular septal defects: A multicenter study in China

AbstractBackgroundSurgical repair is an effective method to treat ventricular septal defect (VSD) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the mortality rate remains high. This study was designed to assess the immediate and mid-term results of transcatheter closure of postinfarct muscular VSDs.MethodsData were retrospectively collected from 42 AMI patients who underwent attempted transcatheter VSD closure between 2008 and 2012 in seven heart centers of China.ResultsNine patients underwent emergent VSD closure in the acute phase (within two weeks from VSD) while the others underwent elective closure. The time between VSD occurrence and closure in emergency group and elective group was 7.7±2.3 days and 35±14.5 days, respectively (p<0.01). The percentage of procedure success in the emergency group and elective group was 77.8% (7/9) and 97% (32/33), respectively (p=0.048). The hospital mortality was higher for emergent closure in comparison to elective closure (66.7% vs. 6.1%, p<0.01). During a median follow-up of 25 months (0–58 months), two patients died at 8 and 29 months, respectively, and no serious complications occurred in other patients.ConclusionInterventional postinfarct VSD closure is a safe and effective approach that can be performed with a high procedural success rate, with favorable outcomes if it can be undertaken >14 days postinfarct

Associations between computed tomography markers of cerebral small vessel disease and hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke patients

BackgroundHemorrhagic transformation (HT) is common among acute ischemic stroke patients after treatment with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). We analyzed potential relationships between markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and HT in patients after IVT.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed computed tomography (CT) data for acute ischemic stroke patients before and after treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator at a large Chinese hospital between July 2014 and June 2021. Total CSVD score were summed by individual CSVD markers including leukoaraiosis, brain atrophy and lacune. Binary regression analysis was used to explore whether CSVD markers were related to HT as the primary outcome or to symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) as a secondary outcome.ResultsA total of 397 AIS patients treated with IVT were screened for inclusion in this study. Patients with missing laboratory data (n = 37) and patients treated with endovascular therapy (n = 42) were excluded. Of the 318 patients included, 54 (17.0%) developed HT within 24–36 h of IVT, and 14 (4.3%) developed sICH. HT risk was independently associated with severe brain atrophy (OR 3.14, 95%CI 1.43–6.92, P = 0.004) and severe leukoaraiosis (OR 2.41, 95%CI 1.05–5.50, P = 0.036), but not to severe lacune level (OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.23–1.45, P = 0.250). Patients with a total CSVD burden ≥1 were at higher risk of HT (OR 2.87, 95%CI 1.38–5.94, P = 0.005). However, occurrence of sICH was not predicted by CSVD markers or total CSVD burden.ConclusionIn patients with acute ischemic stroke, severe leukoaraiosis, brain atrophy and total CSVD burden may be risk factors for HT after IVT. These findings may help improve efforts to mitigate or even prevent HT in vulnerable patients