MicroRNA-155 Attenuates Late Sepsis-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction Through JNK and β-Arrestin 2

Cardiac dysfunction is correlated with detrimental prognosis of sepsis and contributes to a high risk of mortality. After an initial hyperinflammatory reaction, most patients enter a protracted state of immunosuppression (late sepsis) that alters both innate and adaptive immunity. The changes of cardiac function in late sepsis are not yet known. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is previously found to play important roles in both regulations of immune activation and cardiac function. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were operated to develop into early and late sepsis phases, and miR-155 mimic was injected through the tail vein 48 h after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). The effect of miR-155 on CLP-induced cardiac dysfunction was explored in late sepsis. We found that increased expression of miR-155 in the myocardium protected against cardiac dysfunction in late sepsis evidenced by attenuating sepsis-reduced cardiac output and enhancing left ventricular systolic function. We also observed that miR-155 markedly reduced the infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils into the myocardium and attenuated the inflammatory response via suppression of JNK signaling pathway. Moreover, overexpression of β-arrestin 2 (Arrb2) exacerbated the mice mortality and immunosuppression in late sepsis. Furthermore, transfection of miR-155 mimic reduced Arrb2 expression, and then restored immunocompetence and improved survival in late septic mice. We conclude that increased miR-155 expression through systemic administration of miR-155 mimic attenuates cardiac dysfunction and improves late sepsis survival by targeting JNK associated inflammatory signaling and Arrb2 mediated immunosuppression

The Sensitivity Analysis for Supply and Demand Dynamics System of Aged Services Resource Allocation in China

The rapid increase in the proportion of the elderly population in China has increased the demand for aged services. It is a huge challenge for the Chinese government to establish the aged service system to meet such a large demand in a short time. In its 14th Five-Year Development plan, to promote a more rational allocation of health services, the Chinese government plans to build a health service system for the elderly. Based on the aged service resource allocation model established in the previous research, this paper proposes optimization measures and improves the model. The second-order matrix sensitivity analysis is performed on 30 parameters in the improved model, and the influence law of parameters on the whole system under a different amplitude of variation is explored. The results show that the disability rate of the elderly population, the service capacity of aged service institutions, per capita disposable income, and other factors have a great impact on the balance between the supply and demand of aged service resources. Therefore, when formulating policies related to the allocation of aged service resources, we can focus on improving the health level of the elderly, increasing the investment of social funds in aged service, and improving people’s consumption levels, so as to further improve the aged service system

Developing product recall capability through supply chain quality management

Supply chain quality management (SCQM) has been viewed as a critical method for a manufacturer's management of product recalls. This study aims to empirically investigate the impact of SCQM practices on product recall capability using a sensemaking perspective. We adopt a multi-method approach by combining case study and quantitative survey methods. This study selects three manufacturers from the food, automobile and pharmaceutical industries to conduct an exploratory case study. The findings reveal that product recall capability includes tracking and traceability and formal process, and the manufacturers use quality management teamwork, supplier qualification and supplier involvement as the key SCQM practices. A conceptual framework of the relationships between SCQM practices and product recall capability is developed based on the findings of the case study. The hypotheses are empirically tested using structural equation modelling, bootstrapping method and data collected from 400 manufacturers in China. We find that quality management teamwork and supplier qualification are positively associated with product recall capability. Quality management teamwork is positively associated with supplier qualification and involvement. In addition, supplier qualification partially mediates the effect of quality management teamwork and fully mediates the effect of supplier involvement on product recall capability

Research on Supply and Demand of Aged Services Resource Allocation in China: A System Dynamics Model

With the rapid growth of the elderly population of China in recent years, the service demands of older Chinese people continue to increase. The increasingly severe situation with respect to the elderly population is an important social problem that China will face for a long time into the future. It is urgent to solve the problem of how to scientifically carry out allocation planning of service resources for the aged and guide the effective supply of service resources. This paper analyzes the factors affecting service resources for the aged, divides China’s service resource supply and demand system into a supply subsystem, a demand subsystem, and a population and economy subsystem. Using system dynamics methods to analyze the causal relationship between variables and the state space method to build a mathematical model and perform simulation analysis, we research the the current situation of China’s service resources supply and demand balance for the aged. In addition, we put forward resource configuration optimization measures for the future allocation of service resources for the aged, providing a practical basis for future decision-making

Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of the Supply and Demand Coupling Coordination of Elderly Care Service Resources in China

The current situation and future development of the supply and demand coupling coordination of elderly care service resources reflect the level of elderly care service resource allocation. Whether factors affecting its development can be found is the key to promote the accurate allocation of elderly care service. Based on the coupling coordination model, the supply and demand of elderly care service resources, the development circumstance and the spatio-temporal evolution of supply and demand coupling coordination are analyzed in this paper by using the data of the elderly care service resources in 31 regions and autonomous regions in China from 2010 to 2019. The result shows that there are regional differences in the development of supply and demand coupling coordination of elderly care service resources. The degree of supply and demand coupling coordination of elderly care service resources in the western and northern regions is lower than that in the eastern and southern regions. Although the level in most areas of supply and demand coupling coordination of elderly care service resources will improve in the future, there is still a gap from good coordination. In order to strengthen the supply of elderly care service resources, and promote the upgrade of the supply and demand of elderly care service resources, the government should start from the demand of the elderly to increase investment in infrastructure construction, investment in elderly care services resources, talent training and other aspects

Research on Supply and Demand of Aged Services Resource Allocation in China: A System Dynamics Model

With the rapid growth of the elderly population of China in recent years, the service demands of older Chinese people continue to increase. The increasingly severe situation with respect to the elderly population is an important social problem that China will face for a long time into the future. It is urgent to solve the problem of how to scientifically carry out allocation planning of service resources for the aged and guide the effective supply of service resources. This paper analyzes the factors affecting service resources for the aged, divides China’s service resource supply and demand system into a supply subsystem, a demand subsystem, and a population and economy subsystem. Using system dynamics methods to analyze the causal relationship between variables and the state space method to build a mathematical model and perform simulation analysis, we research the the current situation of China’s service resources supply and demand balance for the aged. In addition, we put forward resource configuration optimization measures for the future allocation of service resources for the aged, providing a practical basis for future decision-making

Inhibition of microRNA-23b Prevents Polymicrobial Sepsis-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction by Modulating TGIF1 and PTEN

Cardiovascular dysfunction is a major complication associated with sepsis induced mortality. Cardiac fibrosis plays a critical role in sepsis induced cardiac dysfunction. The mechanisms of the activation of cardiac fibrosis is unclarified. In this study, we found that microRNA-23b (miR-23b) was up-regulated in heart tissue during cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis and transfection of miR-23b inhibitor improved survival in late sepsis. Inhibition of miR-23b in the myocardium protected against cardiac output and enhanced left ventricular systolic function. miR-23b inhibitor also alleviated cardiac fibrosis in late sepsis. MiR-23b mediates the activation of TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling to promote the differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts through suppression of 5′TG3′-interacting factor 1 (TGIF1). MiR-23b also induces AKT/N-Cadherin signaling to contribute to the deposition of extracellular matrix by inhibiting phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN). TGIF1 and PTEN were confirmed as the targets of miR-23b in vitro by Dual-Glo Luciferase assay. miR-23b inhibitor blocked the activation of adhesive molecules and restored the imbalance of pro-fibrotic and anti-fibrotic factors. These data provide direct evidence that miR-23b is a critical contributor to the activation of cardiac fibrosis to mediate the development of myocardial dysfunction in late sepsis. Blockade of miR-23b expression may be an effective approach for prevention sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction

Cryptanalysis of an Image Encryption Algorithm Based on Random Walk and Hyperchaotic Systems

Recently, an image encryption algorithm based on random walk and hyperchaotic systems has been proposed. The main idea of the original paper is to scramble the plain image by means of random walk matrix and then to append diffusion. In this paper, the encryption method with security holes is analyzed by chosen plaintext attack. In addition, this paper improves the original encryption algorithm. The experimental and simulation results show that the improved algorithm has the advantages of the original and can improve the ability to resist attack

Cryptanalysis of a New Chaotic Image Encryption Technique Based on Multiple Discrete Dynamical Maps

Recently, a new chaotic image encryption technique was proposed based on multiple discrete dynamic maps. The authors claim that the scheme can provide excellent privacy for traditional digital images. However, in order to minimize the computational cost, the encryption scheme adopts one-round encryption and a traditional permutation–diffusion structure. Through cryptanalysis, there is no strong correlation between the key and the plain image, which leads to the collapse of cryptosystem. Based on this, two methods of chosen-plaintext attacks are proposed in this paper. The two methods require 3 pairs and 258 pairs of plain and cipher images, respectively, to break the original encryption system. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the two schemes