Experiment and Simulation Investigation on the Tensile Behavior of Composite Laminate with Stitching Reinforcement

The experiments and finite element simulations of composite laminate with stitching are carried out. Firstly, the monotonous tensile experiments with and without stitching are conducted to investigate the influence of stitch reinforcement on the composite laminate. Secondly, the finite element method (FEM) is employed to simulate the tensile process of specimens, and the link element is introduced to simulate the stitching. The experiment results shows that the stitching has little influence on the damage load under monotonous tensile load, while there is a significant influence on the changing of strain. The FEM results are consistent with the experiment results, which means that the link element can be used to study the stitching of the composite laminate. The simulation results also show that the distributions of strain are changed obviously due to the existence of the stitching. Research results have a significant role on the design of the composite structures with and without stitching

Potential sites of CFTR activation by tyrosine kinases

The CFTR chloride channel is tightly regulated by phosphorylation at multiple serine residues. Recently it has been proposed that its activity is also regulated by tyrosine kinases, however the tyrosine phosphorylation sites remain to be identified. In this study we examined 2 candidate tyrosine residues near the boundary between the first nucleotide binding domain and the R domain, a region which is important for channel function but devoid of PKA consensus sequences. Mutating tyrosines at positions 625 and 627 dramatically reduced responses to Src or Pyk2 without altering the activation by PKA, suggesting they may contribute to CFTR regulation

Identification of quantitative trait loci for resistance to Curvularia leaf spot of maize

Resistance of maize to Curvularia leaf spot (CLS), a severe foliar disease in hot and humid maize growing areas, is quantitative in nature. The F2:3 families derived from the cross between the resistant Shen137 and susceptible Huangzao4 inbred lines, were used to detect QTL conferring resistance to CLS. Four QTL were detected on chromosomes 1, 3, 8, and 10, and could totally explain 38.8% of the total phenotypic variation. Another F2 population consisting of 63 highly resistant and 59 highly susceptible plants, selected from 822 F2 plants, was also subjected to QTL analysis for CLS resistance. Four QTL were found on four chromosomes 1, 4, 9, and 10, which accounted for 45.7% of the total phenotypic variation. Interestingly, a major resistance QTL, qCLS10.4, on chromosomal bin10.04 was consistently detected in both populations. Apart from additive effect, dominant effect also exerted significant influence on resistance to CLS. Therefore, breeders should avoid an early generation selection of resistant individuals in breeding program

The modulation effects of repeated transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on the functional connectivity of key brainstem regions along the vagus nerve pathway in migraine patients

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown a significant response to acute transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in regions of the vagus nerve pathway, including the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), raphe nucleus (RN) and locus coeruleus (LC) in both healthy human participants and migraine patients. This study aims to investigate the modulation effect of repeated taVNS on these brainstem regions by applying seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analysis.Methods70 patients with migraine were recruited and randomized to receive real or sham taVNS treatments for 4 weeks. fMRI data were collected from each participant before and after 4 weeks of treatment. The rsFC analyses were performed using NTS, RN and LC as the seeds.Results59 patients (real group: n = 33; sham group: n = 29) completed two fMRI scan sessions. Compared to sham taVNS, real taVNS was associated with a significant reduction in the number of migraine attack days (p = 0.024) and headache pain intensity (p = 0.008). The rsFC analysis showed repeated taVNS modulated the functional connectivity between the brain stem regions of the vagus nerve pathway and brain regions associated with the limbic system (bilateral hippocampus), pain processing and modulation (bilateral postcentral gyrus, thalamus, and mPFC), and basal ganglia (putamen/caudate). In addition, the rsFC change between the RN and putamen was significantly associated with the reduction in the number of migraine days.ConclusionOur findings suggest that taVNS can significantly modulate the vagus nerve central pathway, which may contribute to the potential treatment effects of taVNS for migraine.Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/hvshowproject.aspx?id=11101, identifier ChiCTR-INR-17010559

Atypical radio pulsations from magnetar SGR 1935+2154

Magnetars are neutron stars with extremely strong magnetic fields, frequently powering high-energy activity in X-rays. Pulsed radio emission following some X-ray outbursts have been detected, albeit its physical origin is unclear. It has long been speculated that the origin of magnetars' radio signals is different from those from canonical pulsars, although convincing evidence is still lacking. Five months after magnetar SGR 1935+2154's X-ray outburst and its associated Fast Radio Burst (FRB) 20200428, a radio pulsar phase was discovered. Here we report the discovery of X-ray spectral hardening associated with the emergence of periodic radio pulsations from SGR 1935+2154 and a detailed analysis of the properties of the radio pulses. The complex radio pulse morphology, which contains both narrow-band emission and frequency drifts, has not been seen before in other magnetars, but is similar to those of repeating FRBs - even though the luminosities are many orders of magnitude different. The observations suggest that radio emission originates from the outer magnetosphere of the magnetar, and the surface heating due to the bombardment of inward-going particles from the radio emission region is responsible for the observed X-ray spectral hardening.Comment: 47 pages, 11 figure

Genomewide association study of leprosy.

BACKGROUND: The narrow host range of Mycobacterium leprae and the fact that it is refractory to growth in culture has limited research on and the biologic understanding of leprosy. Host genetic factors are thought to influence susceptibility to infection as well as disease progression. METHODS: We performed a two-stage genomewide association study by genotyping 706 patients and 1225 controls using the Human610-Quad BeadChip (Illumina). We then tested three independent replication sets for an association between the presence of leprosy and 93 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were most strongly associated with the disease in the genomewide association study. Together, these replication sets comprised 3254 patients and 5955 controls. We also carried out tests of heterogeneity of the associations (or lack thereof) between these 93 SNPs and disease, stratified according to clinical subtype (multibacillary vs. paucibacillary). RESULTS: We observed a significant association (P<1.00x10(-10)) between SNPs in the genes CCDC122, C13orf31, NOD2, TNFSF15, HLA-DR, and RIPK2 and a trend toward an association (P=5.10x10(-5)) with a SNP in LRRK2. The associations between the SNPs in C13orf31, LRRK2, NOD2, and RIPK2 and multibacillary leprosy were stronger than the associations between these SNPs and paucibacillary leprosy. CONCLUSIONS: Variants of genes in the NOD2-mediated signaling pathway (which regulates the innate immune response) are associated with susceptibility to infection with M. leprae

Hepatitis B virus genotypes and evolutionary profiles from blood donors from the northwest region of China

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is prevalent in China and screening of blood donors is mandatory. Up to now, ELISA has been universally used by the China blood bank. However, this strategy has sometimes failed due to the high frequency of nucleoside acid mutations. Understanding HBV evolution and strain diversity could help devise a better screening system for blood donors. However, this kind of information in China, especially in the northwest region, is lacking. In the present study, serological markers and the HBV DNA load of 11 samples from blood donor candidates from northwest China were determined. The HBV strains were most clustered into B and C genotypes and could not be clustered into similar types from reference sequences. Subsequent testing showed liver function impairment and increasing virus load in the positive donors. This HBV evolutionary data for China will allow for better ELISA and NAT screening efficiency in the blood bank of China, especially in the northwest region

Management of granulomatous lobular mastitis: an international multidisciplinary consensus (2021 edition)

Granulomatous lobular mastitis (GLM) is a rare and chronic benign inflammatory disease of the breast. Difficulties exist in the management of GLM for many front-line surgeons and medical specialists who care for patients with inflammatory disorders of the breast. This consensus is summarized to establish evidence-based recommendations for the management of GLM. Literature was reviewed using PubMed from January 1, 1971 to July 31, 2020. Sixty-six international experienced multidisciplinary experts from 11 countries or regions were invited to review the evidence. Levels of evidence were determined using the American College of Physicians grading system, and recommendations were discussed until consensus. Experts discussed and concluded 30 recommendations on historical definitions, etiology and predisposing factors, diagnosis criteria, treatment, clinical stages, relapse and recurrence of GLM. GLM was recommended as a widely accepted definition. In addition, this consensus introduced a new clinical stages and management algorithm for GLM to provide individual treatment strategies. In conclusion, diagnosis of GLM depends on a combination of history, clinical manifestations, imaging examinations, laboratory examinations and pathology. The approach to treatment of GLM should be applied according to the different clinical stage of GLM. This evidence-based consensus would be valuable to assist front-line surgeons and medical specialists in the optimal management of GLM.Improving the Ability of Diagnosis and Treatment of Difficult Disease