Emulating power spectra for pre- and post-reconstructed galaxy samples

The small-scale linear information in galaxy samples typically lost during non-linear growth can be restored to a certain level by the density field reconstruction, which has been demonstrated for improving the precision of the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) measurements. As proposed in the literature, a joint analysis of the power spectrum before and after the reconstruction enables an efficient extraction of information carried by high-order statistics. However, the statistics of the post-reconstruction density field are difficult to model. In this work, we circumvent this issue by developing an accurate emulator for the pre-reconstructed, post-reconstructed, and cross power spectra ($P_{\rm pre}$, $P_{\rm post}$, $P_{\rm cross}$) up to $k=0.5~h~{\rm Mpc^{-1}}$ based on the \textsc{Dark Quest} N-body simulations. The accuracy of the emulator is at percent level, namely, the error of the emulated monopole and quadrupole of the power spectra is less than $1\%$ and $5\%$ of the ground truth, respectively. A fit to an example power spectra using the emulator shows that the constraints on cosmological parameters get largely improved using $P_{\rm pre}$+$P_{\rm post}$+$P_{\rm cross}$ with $k_{\rm max}=0.25~h~{\rm Mpc^{-1}}$, compared to that derived from $P_{\rm pre}$ alone, namely, the constraints on ($\Omega_m$, $H_0$, $\sigma_8$) are tightened by $\sim41 \%-55\%$, and the uncertainties of the derived BAO and RSD parameters ($\alpha_{\perp}$, $\alpha_{||}$, $f\sigma_8$) shrink by $\sim 28\%-54\%$, respectively. This highlights the complementarity among $P_{\rm pre}$, $P_{\rm post}$ and $P_{\rm cross}$, which demonstrates the efficiency and practicability of a joint $P_{\rm pre}$, $P_{\rm post}$ and $P_{\rm cross}$ analysis for cosmological implications.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figures, 2 table

Targeting suicidal ideation in major depressive disorder with MRI-navigated Stanford accelerated intelligent neuromodulation therapy

High suicide risk represents a serious problem in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), yet treatment options that could safely and rapidly ameliorate suicidal ideation remain elusive. Here, we tested the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy (SAINT) in reducing suicidal ideation in patients with MDD. Thirty-two MDD patients with moderate to severe suicidal ideation participated in the current study. Suicidal ideation and depression symptoms were assessed before and after 5 days of open-label SAINT. The neural pathways supporting rapid-acting antidepressant and suicide prevention effects were identified with dynamic causal modelling based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We found that 5 days of SAINT effectively alleviated suicidal ideation in patients with MDD with a high response rate of 65.63%. Moreover, the response rates achieved 78.13% and 90.63% with 2 weeks and 4 weeks after SAINT, respectively. In addition, we found that the suicide prevention effects of SAINT were associated with the effective connectivity involving the insula and hippocampus, while the antidepressant effects were related to connections of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC). These results show that SAINT is a rapid-acting and effective way to reduce suicidal ideation. Our findings further suggest that distinct neural mechanisms may contribute to the rapid-acting effects on the relief of suicidal ideation and depression, respectively

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the PedsQL™ stem cell transplant module in China: A methodological and cross-sectional study

BackgroundHematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), as a mature technology, has significantly improved the survival rate of children. However, there lack efficient scales to assess the quality of life (QoL) of children with HSCT in China, which has important implications in the care of this population. This study aimed to translate the original English Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) Stem Cell Transplant Module into a Chinese mandarin version, and evaluate its reliability.MethodsChildren of ages 2–18 years who had received HSCT at Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Children's Hospital of Fudan University were recruited. Children or their parents were asked to fill the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales, PedsQL™ Stem Cell Transplant Module, and PedsQL™ Family Information Form. Feasibility was evaluated by completion rate and the percentage of missing items, reliability by the internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and validity by factor analysis and correlation analysis between the scores of total scale and each dimension.ResultsA total of 120 children (mean age 6.37, SD = 3.674) and some parents were included. A low percentage of items were missed in returned reports. Cronbach's alpha coefficient reached 0.70 in the majority of dimensions of both child self-report and parent proxy-report. Test-retest reliability was 0.685 in parents' forms and 0.765 in child's forms. Eight factors were extracted, with a cumulative contribution rate of 74.54%. The correlation between PedsQL™ 4.0 and Transplant Module was 0.748 for children self-report and 0.808 for parent proxy-report.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that the Chinese mandarin version of the PedsQL™ Stem Cell Transplant is feasible, reliable and valid in evaluating the QoL of Chinese children after HSCT

Uncovering the effects and molecular mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge and its bioactive ingredients formononetin and calycosin against colon cancer: An integrated approach based on network pharmacology analysis coupled with experimental validation and molecular docking

Colon cancer is a highly malignant cancer with poor prognosis. Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge (Huang Qi in Chinese, HQ), a well-known Chinese herbal medicine and a popular food additive, possesses various biological functions and has been frequently used for clinical treatment of colon cancer. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Isoflavonoids, including formononetin (FMNT) and calycosin (CS), are the main bioactive ingredients isolated from HQ. Thus, this study aimed to explore the inhibitory effects and mechanism of HQ, FMNT and CS against colon cancer by using network pharmacology coupled with experimental validation and molecular docking. The network pharmacology analysis revealed that FMNT and CS exerted their anticarcinogenic actions against colon cancer by regulating multiple signaling molecules and pathways, including MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. The experimental validation data showed that HQ, FMNT and CS significantly suppressed the viability and proliferation, and promoted the apoptosis in colon cancer Caco2 and HT-29 cells. HQ, FMNT and CS also markedly inhibited the migration of Caco2 and HT-29 cells, accompanied by a marked increase in E-cadherin expression, and a notable decrease in N-cadherin and Vimentin expression. In addition, HQ, FMNT and CS strikingly decreased the expression of ERK1/2 phosphorylation (p-ERK1/2) without marked change in total ERK1/2 expression. They also slightly downregulated the p-Akt expression without significant alteration in total Akt expression. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the inactivation of ERK1/2 signaling pathway and the HQ, FMNT and CS-induced suppression of colon cancer. The molecular docking results indicated that FMNT and CS had a strong binding affinity for the key molecules of ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Conclusively, HQ, FMNT and CS exerted good therapeutic effects against colon cancer by mainly inhibiting the ERK1/2 signaling pathway, suggesting that HQ, FMNT and CS could be useful supplements that may enhance chemotherapeutic outcomes and benefit colon cancer patients

The clustering of galaxies in the completed SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: cosmological analysis of the DR12 galaxy sample

We present cosmological results from the final galaxy clustering data set of the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III. Our combined galaxy sample comprises 1.2 million massive galaxies over an effective area of 9329 $deg^2$ and volume of 18.7 $Gpc^3$, divided into three partially overlapping redshift slices centred at effective redshifts 0.38, 0.51, and 0.61. We measure the angular diameter distance DM and Hubble parameter H from the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) method after applying reconstruction to reduce non-linear effects on the BAO feature. Using the anisotropic clustering of the pre-reconstruction density field, we measure the product DM*H from the Alcock-Paczynski (AP) effect and the growth of structure, quantified by $f{\sigma}8(z)$, from redshift-space distortions (RSD). We combine measurements presented in seven companion papers into a set of consensus values and likelihoods, obtaining constraints that are tighter and more robust than those from any one method. Combined with Planck 2015 cosmic microwave background measurements, our distance scale measurements simultaneously imply curvature ${\Omega}_K =0.0003+/-0.0026$ and a dark energy equation of state parameter w = -1.01+/-0.06, in strong affirmation of the spatially flat cold dark matter model with a cosmological constant (${\Lambda}$CDM). Our RSD measurements of $f{\sigma}_8$, at 6 per cent precision, are similarly consistent with this model. When combined with supernova Ia data, we find H0 = 67.3+/-1.0 km/s/Mpc even for our most general dark energy model, in tension with some direct measurements. Adding extra relativistic species as a degree of freedom loosens the constraint only slightly, to H0 = 67.8+/-1.2 km/s/Mpc. Assuming flat ${\Lambda}$CDM we find ${\Omega}_m = 0.310+/-0.005$ and H0 = 67.6+/-0.5 km/s/Mpc, and we find a 95% upper limit of $0.16 eV/c^2$ on the neutrino mass sum

The function and significance of SERA2a in congestive heart failure: an analysis of gene therapy trials

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a widespread disease that has a negative impact on health, worldwide. Despite advances in therapies, morbidity, mortality and hospital discharges due to CHF remain high. Advances in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of CHF and the development of gene transfer technology have made gene therapy a realistic potential therapeutic method for CHF. Among the various potential targets, sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase 2a (SERCA2a), which is an important protein in the regulation of Ca2+ cycling, has piqued the interest of many researchers. Restoring decreased SERCA2a activity in CHF could improve cardiac contractions and energetics, as well as reducing myocardial fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmias, and these benefits have been confirmed by studies using both in vivo and in vitro models. Following these promising preclinical results, SERCA2a gene therapy advanced to clinical trials. However, results of the clinical trials were controversial, leading some to question whether SERCA2a is the right target for CHF treatment. In this review, we illustrate the function and significance of SERCA2a in CHF, and more importantly, analyze possible causes of the controversial clinical trials results, with the aim of stimulating future research on the relationship between SERCA2a and CHF

Grape seed proanthocyanidins alleviate the negative effects of dietary cadmium on pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus female x Epinephelus lanceolatus male)

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) could alleviate the negative effects of dietary cadmium on growth performance, body composition, activities of digestive enzymes, and antioxidant potential in the intestine of pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus female x Epinephelus lanceolatus male). Two hundred and forty pearl gentian groupers with the initial average body weight of 31.30±0.05 g/fish were randomly divided into four treatment groups with three replicates in each group and 20 fish in each replicate. The four treatment groups were identified as control group (the basal diet), Cd group (the basal diet+300 mg/kg Cd), Cd+GSPs group I (the basal diet+300 mg/kg Cd+400 mg/kg GSPs), and Cd+GSPs group II (the basal diet+300 mg/kg Cd+800 mg/kg GSPs group), respectively. The trial lasted for 42 days. Fish exposed to 300 mg/kg dietary cadmium had lower growth performance, mineral metabolism disorders with lower calcium and phosphorus levels, higher ash level, decreased lipase and protease activities, and antioxidant potential in the intestine. Dietary GSPs supplementation could counteract those negative effects to a certain extent. The alleviation effects of Cd+GSPs group II were better than those of Cd+GSPs group I. Except for calcium and phosphorus levels in whole fish composition, 800 mg/kg dietary GSPs supplementation could not recover the adverse effects caused by Cd stress. These results suggested that GSPs might potentially mediate dietary cadmium toxicity and alleviate the negative effects on pearl gentian grouper

A Novel Prognostic Model of the Degradation Malfunction Combining a Dynamic Updated-ARIMA and Multivariate Isolation Forest: Application to Radar Transmitter

In the prognosis of radar transmitter degradation malfunction, there are some restrictions, such as the fact that it is difficult to obtain fault samples and the monitoring data cannot reach the fault threshold. For these restrictions, a novel data-driven prognostic method is proposed to predict the radar transmitter degradation malfunction, in which the dynamic updated-auto-regressive integrated moving average is proposed to be used to predict the subsequent time-step of the microwave measurement historical data, and the multivariate isolation forest established without fault samples is used to detect the degradation malfunction. The validity and portability of the model are verified using two-type of degradation malfunction prognostic experiments. The experimental results show that the degradation malfunction can be predicted at least 10 time-steps (100 min) before the occurrence of a degradation malfunction. Compared with the existing radar degradation malfunction prediction methods, the proposed method needs less historical data, no fault samples, no artificial thresholds, and no extracting features. This method can complete a degradation malfunction prognosis when there are relevant restrictions

Quantitative Amplitude- and Phase- Contrast Plasmonic Microscopy with High Spatial Resolution

Plasmonic microscopy is a powerful tool for nanoscopic bio and chemical sample analysis due to its high sensitivity. Here, we demonstrated the quantitative amplitude- and phase- contrast imaging capabilities of plasmonic microscopy through holographical reconstructions of the interferometric plasmonic patterns. Operating interferometric plasmonic microscopy over the surface plasmon resonance angle separates twin images, and allows for accurately mapping the amplitude and phase of surface plasmon fields. The unique capabilities enable direct visualization of complex surface plasmon fields without the need for nanoscopic probes, and high-spatial-resolution imaging of nanoparticles. The proposed technology is a promising platform for nanoplasmonic study and for various sensing purposes