An Intelligent Weighing System based on Editable Formula and Alterable Resolution

This paper is to design an intelligent weighing system to solve the problems in enterprises, such as incompatibility with hardware and software environment in different enterprise scenarios, the fixed interface layout and the dilemma that a single-way computational formulas can not fit the workflow of complementation of weighing system flexibly . A self-defining formula method is proposed to meet different demands from variable enterprises, which is solved by infix expression algorithm. The interface layout is screen self-adaptation by using an alterable resolution algorithm. The result of the experimental study reveals that the intelligent weighing system is more flexible in self-adaptation of environment than the traditional weighing system

Draft Whole-Genome Sequences of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa Strains TPD3 and TPD4, Isolated from Grapevines in Hou-li, Taiwan.

We report the draft assemblies of TPD3 and TPD4, two Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa isolates infecting grapevines in Hou-li, Taiwan. TPD3 and TPD4 showed similar characteristics regarding genome size (2,483,503 bp and 2,491,539 bp, respectively), GC content (51.49% and 51.47%, respectively), and number of protein-coding sequences (2,394 and 2,413, respectively)

Effects of Yoga on Psychological Health, Quality of Life, and Physical Health of Patients with Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Yoga is one of the most widely used complementary and alternative medicine therapies to manage illness. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of yoga on psychological health, quality of life, and physical health of patients with cancer. Studies were identified through a systematic search of seven electronic databases and were selected if they used a randomized controlled trial design to examine the effects of yoga in patients with cancer. The quality of each article was rated by two of the authors using the PEDro Scale. Ten articles were selected; their PEDro scores ranged from 4 to 7. The yoga groups compared to waitlist control groups or supportive therapy groups showed significantly greater improvements in psychological health: anxiety (P = .009), depression (P = .002), distress (P = .003), and stress (P = .006). However, due to the mixed and low to fair quality and small number of studies conducted, the findings are preliminary and limited and should be confirmed through higher-quality, randomized controlled trials

Shrub type dominates the vertical distribution of leaf C : N : P stoichiometry across an extensive altitudinal gradient

Understanding leaf stoichiometric patterns is crucial for improving predictions of plant responses to environmental changes. Leaf stoichiometry of terrestrial ecosystems has been widely investigated along latitudinal and longitudinal gradients. However, very little is known about the vertical distribution of leaf C :N: P and the relative effects of environmental parameters, especially for shrubs. Here, we analyzed the shrub leaf C, N and P patterns in 125 mountainous sites over an extensive altitudinal gradient (523-4685 m) on the Tibetan Plateau. Results showed that the shrub leaf C and C :N were 7.3-47.5% higher than those of other regional and global flora, whereas the leaf N and N: P were 10.2-75.8% lower. Leaf C increased with rising altitude and decreasing temperature, supporting the physiological acclimation mechanism that high leaf C (e.g., alpine or evergreen shrub) could balance the cell osmotic pressure and resist freezing. The largest leaf N and high leaf P occurred in valley region (altitude 1500 m), likely due to the large nutrient leaching from higher elevations, faster litter decomposition and nutrient resorption ability of deciduous broadleaf shrub. Leaf N: P ratio further indicated increasing N limitation at higher altitudes. Interestingly, drought severity was the only climatic factor positively correlated with leaf N and P, which was more appropriate for evaluating the impact of water status than precipitation. Among the shrub ecosystem and functional types (alpine, subalpine, montane, valley, evergreen, deciduous, broadleaf, and conifer), their leaf element contents and responses to environments were remarkably different. Shrub type was the largest contributor to the total variations in leaf stoichiometry, while climate indirectly affected the leaf C :N: P via its interactive effects on shrub type or soil. Collectively, the large heterogeneity in shrub type was the most important factor explaining the overall leaf C :N: P variations, despite the broad climate gradient on the plateau. Temperature and drought induced shifts in shrub type distribution will influence the nutrient accumulation in mountainous shrubs. © Author(s) 2018

Critical Roles of microRNA-141-3p and CHD8 in Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are currently the leading cause of death in humans. The high mortality of cardiac diseases is associated with myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Recent studies have reported that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in cell apoptosis. However, it is not known yet whether miR-141-3p contributes to the regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. It has been well established that in vitro hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model can follow in vivo myocardial I/R injury. This study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-141-3p and CHD8 on cardiomyocyte apoptosis following H/R. Results: We found that H/R remarkably reduces the expression of miR-141-3p but enhances CHD8 expression both in mRNA and protein in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. We also found either overexpression of miR-141-3p by transfection of miR-141-3p mimics or inhibition of CHD8 by transfection of small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly decrease cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by H/R. Moreover, miR-141-3p interacts with CHD8. Furthermore, miR-141-3p and CHD8 reduce the expression of p21. Conclusion: MiR-141-3p and CHD8 play critical roles in cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by H/R. These studies suggest that miR-141-3p and CHD8 mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis may offer a novel therapeutic strategy against myocardial I/R injury-induced cardiovascular diseases

First-line single agent treatment with gefitinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lung cancer is a malignant carcinoma which has the highest morbidity and mortality in Chinese population. Gefitinib, a tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), displays anti-tumor activity. The present data regarding first-line treatment with single agent gefitinib against non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Chinese population are not sufficient.</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>To assess the efficacy and toxicity of gefitinib in Chinese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a study of single agent treatment with gefitinib in Chinese patients was conducted.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>45 patients with advanced NSCLC were treated with gefitinib (250 mg daily) until the disease progression or intolerable toxicity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the 45 patients, 15 patients achieved partial response (PR), 17 patients experienced stable disease (SD), and 13 patients developed progression disease (PD). None of the patients achieved complete response (CR). The tumor response rate and disease control rate was 33% and 71.1%, respectively. Symptom remission rate was 72.5%, and median remission time was 8 days. Median overall survival and median progression-free survival was 15.3 months and 6.0 months, respectively. The main induced toxicities by gefitinib were skin rash and diarrhea (53.3% and 33.3%, respectively). The minor induced toxicities included dehydration and pruritus of skin (26.7% and 22.2%, respectively). In addition, hepatic toxicity and oral ulceration occurred in few patients (6.7% and 4.4%2, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Single agent treatment with gefitinib is effective and well tolerated in Chinese patients with advanced NSCLC.</p

Polymorphism of rs1044925 in the acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 gene and serum lipid levels in the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao and Han populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The association of rs1044925 polymorphism in the acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 (ACAT-1) gene and serum lipid profiles is not well known in different ethnic groups. Bai Ku Yao is a special subgroup of the Yao minority in China. The present study was carried out to clarify the association of rs1044925 polymorphism in the ACAT-1 gene and several environmental factors with serum lipid levels in the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao and Han populations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 626 subjects of Bai Ku Yao and 624 participants of Han Chinese were randomly selected from our previous stratified randomized cluster samples. Genotyping of rs1044925 polymorphism in the ACAT-1 gene was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism combined with gel electrophoresis, and then confirmed by direct sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein (Apo) AI and ApoB were lower in Bai Ku Yao than in Han (<it>P </it>< 0.01 for all). The frequency of A and C alleles was 79.0% and 21.0% in Bai Ku Yao, and 87.3% and 12.7% in Han (<it>P </it>< 0.001); respectively. The frequency of AA, AC and CC genotypes was 63.2%, 31.4% and 5.2% in Bai Ku Yao, and 75.6%, 23.2% and 1.1% in Han (<it>P </it>< 0.001); respectively. The levels of TC, LDL-C and ApoB in Bai Ku Yao but not in Han were different between the AA and AC/CC genotypes in females but not in males (<it>P </it>< 0.05 for all). The C allele carriers had lower serum TC, LDL-C and ApoB levels as compared with the C allele noncarriers. The levels of TC, LDL-C and ApoB in Bai Ku Yao but not in Han were correlated with genotypes in females but not in males (<it>P </it>< 0.05 for all). Serum lipid parameters were also correlated with sex, age, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and blood pressure in both ethnic groups (<it>P </it>< 0.05-0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that the polymorphism of rs1044925 in the ACAT-1 gene is mainly associated with female serum TC, LDL-C and ApoB levels in the Bai Ku Yao population. The C allele carriers had lower serum TC, LDL-C and ApoB levels than the C allele noncarriers.</p