Vortex-induced Shear Polaritons

Hyperbolic shear polaritons (HShPs) emerge with widespread attention as a new class of polariton modes with broken symmetry due to shear lattices. In this letter, we find a new mechanism of generating HShPs. When utilizing vortex waves as excitation sources of hyperbolic materials without off-diagonal elements, HShPs will appear. In addition, this asymmetric HShPs can be recovered as symmetric modes away from the source, with a critical transition mode between the left-skewed and right-skewed HShPs, via tuning the magnitude of the off-diagonal imaginary component and controlling the topological charge of vortex source. It is worth mentioning that we explore the influence of parity of topological charges on the field distribution and demonstrate these exotic phenomena from numerical and analytical perspectives. Our results will promote new opportunities for both HShPs and vortex waves, widening the horizon for various hyperbolic materials based on vortex sources and offering a new degree of freedom to control various kinds of polaritons

Sterological analysis of podocyte mitochondria in adriamycin nephropathy rats

Objective: To disclose the relationship between mitochondrial morphology, density and pro-teinuria in adriamycin nephropathy rats. Method: Thirty Sprague Dawley rats of clean grade were divided into adriamycin group and control group. In adriamycin nephropathy group, rats were given adriamycin at dosage of 0.7 mg /100 g body weight by tail vein injection. The control rats received equal volume of sa-line. At 2 weeks (control group = 3, adriamycin group = 3) , 4 weeks (control = 3, adriamycin group =6) and 6 weeks (control = 8, adriamycin group = 7) after adriamycin injection, the rats were sacrificed and kidneys were harvested for preparation of ultra-thin sections. Electron microscopy was performed, and podocyte mitochondrial morphology was observed. Sterological analysis was performed on morphology and density of mitochondria in podocytes. Results: 4 weeks after adriamycin injection, the rats developed proteinuria until 6 weeks. Mitochondria in the podocytes from control rats showed ellipsoid shape. Differ-ent shaped and sized mitochondria were observed in podocytes of the adriamycin nephropathy rats. No sig-nificant statistical difference was revealed in the mitochondrial area, circumference, form factor and aspect ratio between adriamycin and control groups. Before development of proteinuria, the mitochondrial density increased significantly at 2 weeks after adriamycin injection compared with that in control rats (0.17±0.00 vs. 0.14±0.01, t = 6.173, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the surface density of mitochondria showed an increasing trend (0.78±0.03 vs. 0.71±0.04, t =-2.526, P = 0.065). 6 weeks after adriamycin injection, the surface density of mitochondria decreased significantly compared with that in the control rats (0.71±0.11 vs. 0.87±0.12, P = 0.02) , the density of mitochondria did not change significantly. Conclusions Dysmorphic mitochondria are involved in the development of proteinuria in adriamycin ne-phropathy. The increase of mitochondrial density is an early event in the development of proteinuria. De-crease of mitochondria surface density is involved in podocyte injury and development of adriamycin ne-phropathy rats

Adaptive Fault-Tolerant Control of A Two-car High-speed Train Model with Inter-car Flexible Link and Traction Actuator Failures

This paper studies the adaptive fault-tolerant tracking control problem for the high-speed trains with intercar flexible link and traction actuator failures. This study is focused on a benchmark model which, as a main dynamic unit of the CRH (China Railway High-speed) train, is a two-car dynamic system with a flexible link between two cars, for which the input acts on the second car and the output is the speed of the first car. This model is under parameter uncertainties and subject to uncertain actuator failures. For such an underactuated system, to ensure the first car tracking a desired speed trajectory, a coordinate transformation method is employed to decompose the system model into a control dynamics subsystem and a zero dynamics subsystem. Stability analysis is conducted to show that such a zero dynamic system is Lyapunov stable and is partially input-to-state stable. An adaptive fault-tolerant control scheme is developed which is able to ensure the closedloop system signal boundedness and desired speed tracking, in the presence of the unknown system parameters and actuator failures. Simulation results from a realistic train dynamic model are presented to verify the desired adaptive control system performance

Experimental research on kinematics of breaking waves

One important kinematic properties of breaking waves is the wave celerity. Constant wave celerity has been used for the wave breaking criterion by many researchers. However, this approach does not consider the variation of wave celerity at different phases before breaking. Hence, this article examines the aspects of the wave breaking criterion and dynamics of wave celerity before wave breaking. Breaking waves were generated using the JONSWAP focused spectrum and a semi-empirical formula for the wave celerity estimation was established

Comprehensive comparison of three commercial human whole-exome capture platforms

BackgroundExome sequencing, which allows the global analysis of protein coding sequences in the human genome, has become an effective and affordable approach to detecting causative genetic mutations in diseases. Currently, there are several commercial human exome capture platforms; however, the relative performances of these have not been characterized sufficiently to know which is best for a particular study.ResultsWe comprehensively compared three platforms: NimbleGen's Sequence Capture Array and SeqCap EZ, and Agilent's SureSelect. We assessed their performance in a variety of ways, including number of genes covered and capture efficacy. Differences that may impact on the choice of platform were that Agilent SureSelect covered approximately 1,100 more genes, while NimbleGen provided better flanking sequence capture. Although all three platforms achieved similar capture specificity of targeted regions, the NimbleGen platforms showed better uniformity of coverage and greater genotype sensitivity at 30- to 100-fold sequencing depth. All three platforms showed similar power in exome SNP calling, including medically relevant SNPs. Compared with genotyping and whole-genome sequencing data, the three platforms achieved a similar accuracy of genotype assignment and SNP detection. Importantly, all three platforms showed similar levels of reproducibility, GC bias and reference allele bias.ConclusionsWe demonstrate key differences between the three platforms, particularly advantages of solutions over array capture and the importance of a large gene target set

An animal model of SARS produced by infection of Macaca mulatta with SARS coronavirus.

A new SARS animal model was established by inoculating SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) into rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) through the nasal cavity. Pathological pulmonary changes were successively detected on days 5-60 after virus inoculation. All eight animals showed a transient fever 2-3 days after inoculation. Immunological, molecular biological, and pathological studies support the establishment of this SARS animal model. Firstly, SARS-CoV-specific IgGs were detected in the sera of macaques from 11 to 60 days after inoculation. Secondly, SARS-CoV RNA could be detected in pharyngeal swab samples using nested RT-PCR in all infected animals from 5 days after virus inoculation. Finally, histopathological changes of interstitial pneumonia were found in the lungs during the 60 days after viral inoculation: these changes were less marked at later time points, indicating that an active healing process together with resolution of an acute inflammatory response was taking place in these animals. This animal model should provide insight into the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-related pulmonary disease and greatly facilitate the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS

The effect of balance and gait training on specific balance abilities of survivors with stroke: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BackgroundStroke, which is a common clinical cerebrovascular disease, causes approximately 83% of survivors to suffer from balance impairments. Balance and gait training (BGT) is widely used to restore balance in patients with stroke. However, its wide variety presents clinicians with a dilemma when selecting interventions. This study aimed to compare and rank BGT interventions by quantifying information based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs).MethodsWe conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) of non-gait-trained controls and head-to-head RCTs and compared the effects of 12 BGT interventions. A total of nine literature databases, including Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, ClinicalTrials.gov, CNKI, and Chinese biomedical literature databases, were searched from their database inception to August 2023. Two authors independently selected studies and extracted data. The difference in outcomes, which were expressed as standardized mean differences and confidence intervals (CIs) of 95%, were explored in this meta-analysis.ResultsA total of 66 studies with 1,933 participants were included. Effect size estimates showed that not all BGT interventions were more effective than controls, with treadmill training as the least effective for balance test batteries (SMD = −0.41, 95% CI [−1.09, 0.27]) and proactive balance (SMD = −0.50, 95% CI [−1.14, 0.14]). Body-weight-supported treadmill training with external stimulation was most effective for proactive balance and dynamic steady-state balance (SMD = 1.57, 95% CI [−0.03, 3.16]); SMD = 1.18, 95% CI [0.67, 1.68]. Virtual reality gait training (SMD = 1.37, 95% CI [0.62, 2.11]) had the best effect on improving balance test batteries, while dual-task BGT (SMD = 1.64, 95% CI [0.50, 2.78]) had the best effect on static steady-state balance. After analyses for possible impact covariates, the findings through the outcomes did not change substantially. Confidence in the evidence was generally low or very low.ConclusionThis NMA suggested that virtual reality gait training was the most effective BGT modality for improving balance test batteries. Body-weight support treadmill training with external stimulation was the most effective for improving active and dynamic balance. In addition, dual-task BGT was the best choice for improving static balance. However, balance is a multidimensional concept, and patients’ different needs should be considered when selecting BGT.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022316057, ID: CRD42022316057

On correlation between canopy vegetation and growth indexes of maize varieties with different nitrogen efficiencies

Studying the canopy spectral reflection characteristics of different N-efficient maize varieties and analyzing the relationship between their growth indicators and spectral vegetation indices can help the breeding and application of N-efficient maize varieties. To achieve the optimal management of N fertilizer resources, developing N-efficient maize varieties is necessary. In this research, maize varieties, i.e., the low-N-efficient (Zhengdan 958, ZD958), the high-N efficient (Xianyu 335, XY335), the double-high varieties (Qiule 368, QL368), and the double inefficient-type varieties (Yudan 606 YD606), were used as materials. Results indicate that nitrogen fertilization significantly increased the vegetation indices NDVI, GNDVI, GOSAVI, and RVI of maize varieties with different nitrogen efficiencies. These findings were consistent with the performance of yield, dry matter mass, and leaf nitrogen content and were also found highest under both medium and high nitrogen conditions in the double-high variety QL368. The correlations of dry matter quality, leaf nitrogen content, yield, and vegetation indices (NDVI, GNDVI, RVI, and GOSAVI) at the filling stage of different N-efficient maize varieties were all highly significant and positive. In this relationship, the best effect was found at the filling stages, with correlation coefficients reaching 0.772–0.942, 0.774–0.970, 0754–0.960, and 0.800–0.960. The results showed that the yield, dry matter weight, and leaf nitrogen content of maize varieties with different nitrogen efficiencies increased first and then stabilized with the increase in the nitrogen application level in different periods, and the highest nitrogen application level of maize yield should be between 270 and 360 kg/hm2. At the filling stage, canopy vegetation index of maize varieties with different nitrogen efficiencies was positively correlated with yield, dry matter weight, and leaf nitrogen content, especially GNDVI and GOSAVI on the leaf nitrogen content. It can be used as a means to predict its growth index

Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation as an alternative approach to inhibit the growth of Cronobacter sakazakii by fine-tuning the activity of CpxRA two-component system

Cronobacter sakazakii is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen primarily found in powdered infant formula (PIF). To date, it remains challenging to control the growth of this ubiquitous bacterium. Herein, antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) was first employed to inactivate C. sakazakii. Through 460 nm light irradiation coupled with hypocrellin B, the survival rate of C. sakazakii was diminished by 3~4 log. The photokilling effect was mediated by the attenuated membrane integrity, as evidenced by PI staining. Besides, scanning electron microscopy showed the deformed and aggregated cell cluster, and intracellular ROS was augmented by 2~3 folds when light doses increase. In addition to planktonic cells, the biofilm formation of C. sakazakii was also affected, showing an OD590nm decline from 0.85 to 0.25. In terms of molecular aspects, a two-component system called CpxRA, along with their target genes, was deregulated during illumination. Using the knock-out strain of ΔCpxA, the bacterial viability was reduced by 2 log under aPDI, a wider gap than the wildtype strain. Based on the promoted expression of CpxR and OmpC, aPDI is likely to play its part through attenuating the function of CpxRA-OmpC pathway. Finally, the aPDI system was applied to PIF, and C. sakazakii was inactivated under various desiccated or heated storage conditions. Collectively, aPDI serves as an alternative approach to decontaminate C. sakazakii, providing a new strategy to reduce the health risks caused by this prevalent foodborne pathogen