Jiu-conditionals in Mandarin Chinese: thoughts on a uniform pragmatic analysis of Mandarin conditional constructions

Conditionals in Mandarin can be expressed by conjunctive sentences with no overt conditional connective (Type 1: P, Q) or with a conditional connective (CC) in the antecedent (Type 2: CC P, Q) and/or a conditional particle (CP) in the consequent (Type 3: (CC) P, CP Q). In this paper, we focus on jiu-conditionals (Type 3) without CCs. We assume that jiu in Mandarin is ambiguous between jiu 1 (unstressed, nonexclusive, left associating) and jiu 2 (stressed, exclusive, right associating), and that jiu-conditionals involve jiu 1 without exclusive force. We argue against a conditional conjunction analysis of jiu-conditionals and for a scalar analysis of jiu in conditionals as well as in temporal or spatial use. Furthermore, we present what we believe is the first uniform pragmatic account of Mandarin conditional constructions across Types 1–3: it is the subjective (non)veridicality property of the first clause P that determines the reading of the sentence P, Q. If P is entailed or presupposed, we get a conjunctive reading; if P is not entailed or presupposed, that is, if it is nonveridical, we get a conditional reading. Devices triggering the conditional reading include CCs or negative polarity items in the antecedent, as well as the broader discourse context or world knowledge.Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftPeer Reviewe

An Improved Discrete PSO for Tugboat Assignment Problem under a Hybrid Scheduling Rule in Container Terminal

In container terminal, tugboat plays vital role in safety of ship docking. Tugboat assignment problem under a hybrid scheduling rule (TAP-HSR) is to determine the assignment between multiple tugboats and ships and the scheduling sequence of ships to minimize the turnaround time of ships. A mixed-integer programming model and the scheduling method are described for TAP-HSR problem. Then an improved discrete PSO (IDPSO) algorithm for TAP-HSR problem is proposed to minimize the turnaround time of ships. In particular, some new redefined PSO operators and the discrete updating rules of position and velocity are developed. The experimental results show that the proposed IDPSO can get better solutions than GA and basic discrete PSO

A Diol-Based-Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion Method for the Simultaneous Extraction and Determination of 13 Compounds From Angelicae Pubescentis Radix by Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A simple and eco-friendly Diol-based-matrix solid-phase dispersion method (MSPD) was optimized and established to simultaneously extract 13 bioactive compounds (7 coumarins and 6 phenolic acids) in Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (APR) by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detector (UHPLC-PDA). Diol was chosen as the dispersing sorbent and methanol solution was used as the elution solvent. The preparation procedures for the MSPD including the types of sorbents, mass ratio of matrix to sorbent, grinding time, type, concentration and volume of elution solvent were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, good recoveries of the 13 target compounds were obtained in the range of 94.8–107% (RSD < 3.22%). The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantitation (LOQs) were in the ranges of 0.08–0.12 μg mL-1 and 0.16–0.24 μg mL-1, respectively. Compared with the traditional method, it was a green and environmentally friendly technique. The results proved that the established method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of 13 target bioactive compounds for quality control in APR

Efficacy and pharmacoeconomic advantages of Fufang Huangbai Fluid hydropathic compress in diabetic foot infections: a comparative clinical study with antimicrobial calcium alginate wound dressing

Objective: To compare the intervention effects and pharmacoeconomic advantages of Fufang Huangbai Fluid (FFHB) hydropathic compress versus Antimicrobial Calcium Alginate Wound Dressing (ACAWD) in the treatment of diabetic foot infections (DFI).Methods: Patients with DF who were hospitalized in the peripheral vascular Department of Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from December 2020 to February 2022 and met the inclusion and excluding criteria were allocated into the experimental group and control group through minimization randomization. The experimental group was treated with FFHB hydropathic compress for 2 weeks, while the control group was treated with ACAWD for the same duration. The wound healing of both groups was monitored for 1 month post-discharge. Clinical data from all eligible patients were collected, and differences in various indices between cohorts were analyzed.Results: 22 in the experimental group (including two fell off) and 20 in the control group. After the treatment, the negative rate of wound culture in the experimental group was 30% and that in the control group was 10%, There was no significant difference in the negative rate of wound culture and change trend of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of drug sensitivity (p > 0.05). The infection control rate of the experimental group was 60%, and that of the control group was 25%. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2 = 5.013, p = 0.025). The median wound healing rate of the experimental group was 34.4% and that of the control group was 33.3%. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05). During the follow-up 1 month later, the wound healing rate in the experimental group was higher, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.047). Pharmacoeconomic evaluations indicated that the experimental group had greater cost-effectiveness compared to the control group.Conclusion: In the preliminary study, FFHB demonstrated comparable pathogenic and clinical efficacy to ACAWD in the treatment of mild DF infection, and exhibited superior pharmacoeconomic advantages. With the aid of infection control, the wound healing rate in the FFHB group showed notable improvement. Nevertheless, due to the limited sample size, larger-scale studies are warranted to further validate these findings.Clinical Trial Registration: (https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=66175), identifier (ChiCTR2000041443)

Which factor is the most effective one in metabolic Sydrome on the outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery? A cohort study of 5 Years

Abstract Background Metabolic Syndrome and diabetes mellitus are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the effects of Metabolic Syndrome with or without diabetes on perioperative and long-term morbidity and mortality after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft remain unclear. Methods An retrospective study was performed on 1166 patients who received isolated primary Coronary Artery Bypass Graft in Fuwai hospital. They were divided into three groups: control, Metabolic Syndrome of three factors together with diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome of three factors without diabetes (n = 868, 76 and 222 respectively). Analysis of variance, Chi-rank test, Fisher’s exact test, Log-rank test, Cox and Logistic regression models were used for data processing. Outcomes were postoperative and 5-year survival and morbidities. Results There were no significant differences between groups in in-hospital postoperative complications, epinephrine use, stroke, atrial fibrillation, renal failure, coma, myocardial infarction and repeated revascularization. Patients in the Metabolic Syndrome with diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome without diabetes and control groups, respectively, showed significant difference in perioperative Major Adverse Cerebral Cardiovascular Events (30.3% vs. 21.2%, 16.7%, P = 0.0071) and mortality (11.8% vs. 2.7%, 3.11%, P = 0.0003). The Metabolic Syndrome with diabetes group had higher rates of perioperative mortality than Metabolic Syndrome without diabetes (P = 0.0017, P of Fisher Test = 0.0039). Compared with non-diabetic patients with Metabolic Syndrome, those with Metabolic Syndrome and diabetes had increased long-term mortality (Adjusted HR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.4–13.3; P = 0.0113) and Major Adverse Cerebral Cardiovascular Events (Adjusted OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0–2.8; P = 0.048). Control and non-diabetic Metabolic Syndrome groups did not differ in long-term mortality but controls had lower rates of Major Adverse Cerebral Cardiovascular Events (Adjusted OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64–0.98; P = 0.0329). Conclusions There were significance differences between the three groups in perioperative Major Adverse Cerebral Cardiovascular Events and mortality after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. Compared with non-diabetic Metabolic Syndrome patients, patients with Metabolic Syndrome and diabetes had higher long-term Major Adverse Cerebral Cardiovascular Events and mortality. While patients free of MetS and diabetes were associated with lower incidence of long-term Major Adverse Cerebral Cardiovascular Events after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Physiological and proteomic analyses for seed dormancy and release in the perennial grass of Leymus chinensis

Seed dormancy is an important trait determining seed germination and seedling establishment of plants. Despite extensive studies on seed dormancy, relatively few studies have specifically focused on mechanisms underlying seed dormancy in wild perennial species. Leymus chinensis is a perennial grass forage with excellent nutritional value and one of the dominant species in the Eurasian steppe. In this study, the proteomic features for seed dormancy and release in the wild germplasm after ripening were analyzed by iTRAQ technology. Based on the wheat (Triticwn aestivum) protein database, a total of 281 differently expressed proteins were identified in L. chinensis non-dormant seeds versus dormant seeds, with 188 differentially decreased (fold change 1.2, P < 0.05). Based on the COG annotation, the proteins involved in chromatin structure and dynamics, intracellular trafficking, section, and vesicular transport, cytoskeleton were all increased differentially. In contrast, the proteins involved in RNA processing and modification, cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis, and signal transduction mechanisms were all decreased differentially. Based on the Mapman annotation and function enrichment, the decreased proteins mainly participated in photosynthesis and TCA cycle, while the increased proteins were involved in protein targeting, degradation, and synthesis, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, redox, cell cycle, and DNA synthesis/ chromatin structure. After-ripening of L. chinensis dormant seeds was the transition from maturation to storage. Our proteomic analyses revealed that the dormancy release of L. chinensis seeds was related to the increases in tubulin, histone, and thioredoxins, and the decrease in L- ascorbate peroxidase. Based on these results, we proposed that an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) during after-ripening is an important driver to regulate dormancy release in L. chinensis seeds by modulating cytoskeleton and chromatin. These findings provide new insight for our mechanistic understanding of dormancy control in perennial grass forage

Staphylococcus aureus Phenol-Soluble Modulins α1–α3 Act as Novel Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 4 Antagonists to Inhibit HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) have recently emerged as key virulence determinants, particularly in highly aggressive Staphylococcus aureus isolates. These peptides contribute to the pathogenesis of S. aureus infections, participating in multiple inflammatory responses. Here, we report a new role for S. aureus PSMs in high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) induced inflammation by modulating toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 pathway. Direct ligation of TLR4 with S. aureus PSMα1–α3 and PSMβ1–β2 was identified by surface plasmon resonance. Remarkably, the binding affinity of TLR4 with HMGB1 was attenuated by PSMα1–α3. Further study revealed that PSMα1–α3 directly inhibited HMGB1-induced NF-κB activation and proinflammatory cytokines production in vitro using HEK-Blue hTLR4 cells and THP-1 cells. To analyze the molecular interactions between PSMs and TLR4, blast similarity search was performed and identified that PSMα1 and PSMβ2 were ideal templates for homology modeling. The three-dimensional structures of PSMα2, PSMα4, PSMβ1, and δ-toxin were successfully generated with MODELLER, and further refined using CHARMm. PSMs docking into TLR4 were done using ZDOCK, indicating that PSMα1–α3 compete with HMGB1 for interacting with the surrounding residues (336–477) of TLR4 domain. Our study reveals that S. aureus PSMα1–α3 can act as novel TLR4 antagonists, which account at least in part for the staphylococcal immune evasion. Modulation of this process will lead to new therapeutic strategies against S. aureus infections

THE PROBABILISTIC STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ASSESSMENT OF REACTOR PRESSURE VESSELS UNDER PRESSURIZED THERMAL SHOCK LOADING

The pressurized thermal shock（ PTS） event poses a potentially significant challenge to the structural integrity of the reactor pressure vessel（ RPV） during the long time operation. In most countries（ with exception of the USA）,proving RPV integrity under the PTS load is based on the deterministic fracture mechanics（ DFM）. In the USA,the "screening criteria"for maximum allowable embrittlement of RPV material,which form part of the USA regulations,are based on the probabilistic fracture mechanics（ PFM）. In this paper,the FAVOR software of Oka Ridge National Laboratory is used to compare the difference between PFM and DFM analysis of the PTS even. The analysis method of FAVOR is shown through case study of the benchmark transient in the IAEA-TECDOC-1627 report. Finally,the limit of the current FAVOR（ Version6. 1） is shown

A Preliminary Investigation on Bacterial Diversity and Fermentation Quality of High-Moisture Alfalfa Silage Prepared with Biochar

The fermentation quality of alfalfa silage is poor but can be improved with additives. This study investigates the effects of biochar on the fermentation quality and bacterial diversity of high-moisture alfalfa silage. Alfalfa was treated with: (i) control without additive (CK); (ii) 1% biochar (1% carbon C); (iii) 2% biochar (2% C), and fermented for 15 or 30 d. Mixing alfalfa with biochar significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.05) pH, the number of coliform bacteria, nonprotein nitrogen content, and ammonia–nitrogen content, and significantly increased the contents of dry matter, lactic acid, and true protein. The addition of biochar also influenced bacterial community distribution. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Enterococcus increased while the abundance of Pantoea decreased with biochar treatment. In conclusion, alfalfa silage’s fermentation quality and microbial community structure are improved by adding biochar from the pyrolysis of waste furniture