Reading Promotion: Conceptual Models and Category Frameworks Analysis

The paper summarizes the practical and theoretical development of reading promotion in various countries in the world and reveals the status of the magnificent practices and active research of reading promotion in China. According to the conceptual object, the existing definitions of reading promotion are divided into the goal-oriented conceptual model and the content-oriented conceptual model . The defining principles and conceptual scopes of these two models are analyzed. Starting with confirming the defining principle and analyzing the scopes of conceptual elements, the definitions of reading promotion and library reading promotion are given. The research is beneficial for librarians to better cognize the conceptual scope of reading promotion and to plan the work

Evaluation of the estimate bias magnitude of the Rao’s quadratic diversity index

Rao’s quadratic diversity index is one of the most widely applied diversity indices in functional and phylogenetic ecology. The standard way of computing Rao’s quadratic diversity index for an ecological assemblage with a group of species with varying abundances is to sum the functional or phylogenetic distances between a pair of species in the assemblage, weighted by their relative abundances. Here, using both theoretically derived and observed empirical datasets, we show that this standard calculation routine in practical applications will statistically underestimate the true value, and the bias magnitude is derived accordingly. The underestimation will become worse when the studied ecological community contains more species or the pairwise species distance is large. For species abundance data measured using the number of individuals, we suggest calculating the unbiased Rao’s quadratic diversity index

Fuzzy Multi-Objectives Topology Optimization of Slider Pallet in the Picking Machine of Camellia Fruit

In order to improve the dynamic characteristics of the slider pallet in the camellia fruit picking machine under the traditional empirical design and to lighten the weight, a fuzzy multi-objective topology optimization design method was proposed. In this paper, a static and dynamic topology optimization mathematical model was constructed by the compromise programming method, and the weight coefficients of each sub-objective were dynamically assigned by the fuzzy satisfaction variable weight coefficient method, and then the fuzzy multi-objective topology optimization design of the slider pallet for bending condition, bending-torsional complex condition, inertia condition and the first three orders of dynamic frequency was performed. The optimization results showed that the weight of the optimized slider pallet was reduced by 19.4%, and the first-order modal frequency was increased by 5.0%, second order modal frequency increased by 6.6%, third order modal frequency increased by 8.2%; the maximum deformation and maximum stress were increased, but still met the design requirements

Simulation of CSSTs astrometric capability

The China Space Station Telescope (CSST) will enter a low Earth orbit around 2024 and operate for 10 years, with seven of those years devoted to surveying the area of the median-to-high Galactic latitude and median-to-high Ecliptic latitude of the sky. To maximize the scientific output of CSST, it is important to optimize the survey schedule. We aim to evaluate the astrometric capability of CSST for a given survey schedule and to provide independent suggestions for the optimization of the survey strategy. For this purpose, we first construct the astrometric model and then conduct simulated observations based on the given survey schedule. The astrometric solution is obtained by analyzing the simulated observation data. And then we evaluate the astrometric capability of CSST by analyzing the properties of the astrometric solution. We find that the accuracy of parallax and proper motion of CSST is better than 1 mas( yr1) for the sources of 18-22 mag in g band, and about 1-10 mas( yr1) for the sources of 22-26 mag in g band, respectively. The results from real survey could be worse since the assumptions are optimistic and simple. We find that optimizing the survey schedule can improve the astrometric accuracy of CSST. In the future, we will improve the astrometric capability of CSST by continuously iterating and optimizing the survey schedule.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figure

Current climate overrides past climate change in explaining multi-site beta diversity of Lauraceae species in China

Background: We aimed to characterise the geographical distribution of Sorensen-based multi-site dissimilarity (beta(sor)) and its underlying true turnover (beta(sim)) and nestedness (beta(sne)) components for Chinese Lauraceae and to analyse their relationships to current climate and past climate change. Methods: We used ensembles of small models (ESMs) to map the current distributions of 353 Lauraceae species in China and calculated beta(sor) and its beta(sim) and beta(sne) components. We tested the relationship between beta(sor), beta s(ne) and beta(sim) with current climate and past climate change related predictors using a series of simultaneous autoregressive (SAR(err)) models. Results: Spatial distribution of beta(sor) of Lauraceae is positively correlated with latitude, showing an inverse relationship to the latitudinal alpha-diversity (species richness) gradient. High beta(sor) occurs at the boundaries of the warm temperate and subtropical zones and at the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau due to high beta(sne). The optimized SAR(err) model explains beta(sor) and beta(sne) well, but not beta(sim). Current mean annual temperature determines beta(sor) and beta(sne) of Lauraceae more than anomalies and velocities of temperature or precipitation since the Last Glacial Maximum. Conclusions: Current low temperatures and high climatic heterogeneity are the main factors explaining the high multi-site beta-diversity of Lauraceae. In contrast to analyses of the beta-diversity of entire species assemblages, studies of single plant families can provide complementary insights into the drivers of beta-diversity of evolutionarily more narrowly defined entities.Peer reviewe

Corrigendum: A Novel Phage PD-6A3, and Its Endolysin Ply6A3, With Extended Lytic Activity Against Acinetobacter baumannii

With widespread abuse of antibiotics, bacterial resistance has increasingly become a serious threat. Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as one of the most important hospital-acquired pathogens worldwide. Bacteriophages (also called “phages”) could be used as a potential alternative therapy to meet the challenges posed by such pathogens. Endolysins from phages have also been attracting increasing interest as potential antimicrobial agents. Here, we isolated 14 phages against A. baumannii, determined the lytic spectrum of each phage, and selected one with a relatively broad host range, named vB_AbaP_PD-6A3 (PD-6A3 for short), for its biological characteristics. We over-expressed and purified the endolysin (Ply6A3) from this phage and tested its biological characteristics. The PD-6A3 is a novel phage, which can kill 32.4% (179/552) of clinical multidrug resistant A. baumannii (MDRAB) isolates. Interestingly, in vitro, this endolysin could not only inhibit A. baumannii, but also that of other strains, such as Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We found that lethal A. baumannii sepsis mice could be effectively rescued in vivo by phage PD-6A3 and endolysin Ply6A3 intraperitoneal injection. These characteristics reveal the promising potential of phage PD-6A3 and endolysin Ply6A3 as attractive candidates for the control of A. baumannii-associated nosocomial infections.</p

To compare the efficacy of two kinds of Zhizhu pills in the treatment of functional dyspepsia of spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome:a randomized group sequential comparative trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, functional dyspepsia (FD) can be divided into different syndromes according to different clinical symptoms and signs, and the most common one is spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome that can be treated by Chinese traditional patent medicine ---- two kinds of Zhizhu pills, between which the primary difference in ingredients is that one contains immature orange fruit of Citrus aurantium L.(IFCA) and the other contains that of Citrus sinensis Osbeck (IFCS). The trial's objective was to compare the efficacy of two kinds of Zhizhu pills on symptom changes in patients with FD of spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A randomized, group sequential, double-blinded, multicenter trial was conducted in patients with FD of spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome at 3 hospitals in Beijing between June 2003 and May 2005. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups (IFCA group and IFCS group) in a 1:1 ratio, and respectively took one of the two kinds of Zhizhu pills orally, 6 g each time, 3 times a day, for 4 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed with use of a group sequential method, the triangular test (TT).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 163 patients were randomized, and 3 patients were excluded from analysis because of early dropouts, leaving 160 patients (IFCA group: n = 82; IFCS group: n = 78) for statistical analysis. Three interim analyses were done after 62, 116, and 160 patients had completed their 4-week treatment, respectively. At the third interim analysis, the sample path crossed the upper boundary and the trial was stopped, the cure-markedly effective rates were 45% for IFCS group and 67% for IFCA group, respectively, the one-sided <it>p</it>-value was 0.0036, the median unbiased estimate of the odds ratio (OR) for the benefit of IFCA relative to IFCS was 2.91 with 95%CI: 1.40 to 6.06.</p> <p>No adverse events were observed in the two groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Zhizhu pills containing IFCA was superior to Zhizhu pills containing IFCS in the treatment of FD of spleen-deficiency and qi-stagnation syndrome. The application of group sequential analysis in clinical trials of TCM may offer some financial and ethical benefits.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR): ChiCTR-TRC-00000485</p

PINCH1 Is Transcriptional Regulator in Podocytes That Interacts with WT1 and Represses Podocalyxin Expression

Background: PINCH1, an adaptor protein containing five LIM domains, plays an important role in regulating the integrin-mediated cell adhesion, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. PINCH1 is induced in the fibrotic kidney after injury, and it primarily localizes at the sites of focal adhesion. Whether it can translocate to the nucleus and directly participate in gene regulation is completely unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using cultured glomerular podocytes as a model system, we show that PINCH1 expression was induced by TGF-β1, a fibrogenic cytokine that promotes podocyte dysfunction. Interestingly, increased PINCH1 not only localized at the sites of focal adhesions, but also underwent nuclear translocation after TGF-β1 stimulation. This nuclear translocation of PINCH1 was apparently dependent on the putative nuclear export/localization signals (NES/NLS) at its C-terminus, as deletion or site-directed mutations abolished its nuclear shuttling. Co-immunoprecipitation and pull-down experiments revealed that PINCH1 interacted with Wilms tumor 1 protein (WT1), a nuclear transcription factor that is essential for regulating podocyte-specific gene expression in adult kidney. Interaction of PINCH1 and WT1 was mediated by the LIM1 domain of PINCH1 and C-terminal zinc-finger domain of WT1, which led to the suppression of the WT1-mediated podocalyxin expression in podocytes. PINCH1 also repressed podocalyxin gene transcription in a promoter-luciferase reporter assay. Conclusion/Significance: These results indicate that PINCH1 can shuttle into the nucleus from cytoplasm in podocytes, wherein it interacts with WT1 and suppresses podocyte-specific gene expression. Our studies reveal a previously unrecognized, novel function of PINCH1, in which it acts as a transcriptional regulator through controlling specific gene expression. © 2011 Wang et al

Single-step replacement of an unreactive C-H bond by a C-S bond using polysulfide as the direct sulfur source in anaerobic ergothioneine biosynthesis

Ergothioneine, a natural longevity vitamin and antioxidant, is a thiol-histidine derivative. Recently, two types of biosynthetic pathways were reported. In the aerobic ergothioneine biosynthesis, a non-heme iron enzyme incorporates a sulfoxide to an sp2 C-H bond in trimethyl-histidine (hercynine) through oxidation reactions. In contrast, in the anaerobic ergothioneine biosynthetic pathway in a green sulfur bacterium, Chlorobium limicola, a rhodanese domain containing protein (EanB) directly replaces this unreactive hercynine C-H bond with a C-S bond. Herein, we demonstrate that polysulfide (HSSnSR) is the direct sulfur-source in EanB-catalysis. After identifying EanB's substrates, X-ray crystallography of several intermediate states along with mass spectrometry results provide additional mechanistic details for this reaction. Further, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations reveal that protonation of Nπ of hercynine by Tyr353 with the assistance of Thr414 is a key activation step for the hercynine sp2 C-H bond in this trans-sulfuration reaction.R01 GM106443 - NIGMS NIH HHS; R41 AT010878 - NCCIH NIH HHSAccepted manuscrip