mmeta: An R Package for Multivariate Meta-Analysis

This paper describes the core features of the R package mmeta, which implements the exact posterior inference of odds ratio, relative risk, and risk difference given either a single 2 x 2 table or multiple 2 x 2 tables when the risks within the same study are independent or correlated

Lugrandoside attenuates spinal cord injury by targeting peli1 and TLR4/NF-κB pathway to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects

Purpose: To investigate the curative effect and mechanism of lugrandoside (LG) on spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods: We probed the expression of Pellino1 (peli1) in microglia and spinal cord tissues withdifferent treatments of LG. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to activate the microglia. Furthermore, rats were used to establish SCI model, and LG, at low and high concentrations, was administered to injured animals to ascertain whether LG exerted a therapeutic effect on SCI.Results: LG inhibited the activation and recruitment of glial cells by acting as a negative regulator of glial inflammation, and this reverse the targeting of peli1 and TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, the in vivo data showed that LG exerted a neuroprotective effect, following SCI, via anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects. Furthermore, Peli1 and TLR4/NF-κB were suppressed by LG stimuli.Conclusion: These results suggest that LG protects neural tissue against neuroinflammation and apoptosis by suppressing TLR4/NF-κB pathway and negatively targeting peli1. The findings may provide new insights into the treatment of spinal cord injury

The effect of the interlayer ordering on the Fermi surface of Kagome superconductor CsV3_3Sb5_5 revealed by quantum oscillations

The connection between unconventional superconductivity and charge density waves (CDW) has intrigued the condensed matter community and found much interest in the recently discovered superconducting Kagome family of AV$_3$Sb$_5$ (A = K, Cs, Rb). Xray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy measurements established that the CDW order in CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ comprises of a 2x2x4 structure with stacking of layers of star-of-David (SD) and inverse-star-of-David (ISD) pattern along the $c$-axis direction. Such interlayer ordering will induce a vast normalization of the electronic ground state; however, it has not been observed in Fermi surface measurements. Here we report quantum oscillations of CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ using tunnel diode oscillator frequency measurements. We observed a large number of frequencies, many of which were not reported. The number of frequencies can not be explained by DFT calculations when only SD or ISD distortion is considered. Instead, our results are consistent with calculations when interlayer ordering is taken into account, providing strong evidence that CDW phase of CsV$_3$Sb$_5$ has complicated structure distortion which in turn has dramatic effects on the Fermi surface properties.Comment: Accepted by Physical Review Letter

Green cell planning and deployment for small cell networks in smart cities

In smart cities, cellular network plays a crucial role to support wireless access for numerous devices anywhere and anytime. The future 5G network aims to build the infrastructure from mobile internet to connected world. Small Cell is one of the most promising technologies of 5G to provide more connections and high data rate. In order to make the best use of small cell technology, smart cell planning should be implemented to guarantee connectivity and performance for all end nodes. It is particularly a challenging task to deploy dense small cells in the presence of dynamic traffic demands and severe co-channel interference. In this paper, we model various traffic patterns using stochastic geometry approach and propose an energy-efficient scheme to deploy and plan small cells according to the prevailing traffic pattern. The simulation results indicate that our scheme can meet dynamic traffic demands with optimized deployment of small cells and enhance the energy efficiency of the system without compromising on quality-of-service (QoS) requirements. In addition, our scheme can achieve very close performance compared with the leading optimization solver CPLEX and find solutions in much less computational times than CPLEX

Complete genome analysis of a novel E3-partial-deleted human adenovirus type 7 strain isolated in Southern China

Human adenovirus (HAdV) is a causative agent of acute respiratory disease, which is prevalent throughout the world. Recently there are some reports which found that the HAdV-3 and HAdV-5 genomes were very stable across 50 years of time and space. But more and more recombinant genomes have been identified in emergent HAdV pathogens and it is a pathway for the molecular evolution of types. In our paper, we found a HAdV-7 GZ07 strain isolated from a child with acute respiratory disease, whose genome was E3-partial deleted. The whole genome was 32442 bp with 2864 bp deleted in E3 region and was annotated in detail (GenBank: HQ659699). The growth character was the same as that of another HAdV-7 wild strain which had no gene deletion. By comparison with E3 regions of the other HAdV-B, we found that only left-end two proteins were remained: 12.1 kDa glycoprotein and 16.1 kDa protein. E3 MHC class I antigen-binding glycoprotein, hypothetical 20.6 kDa protein, 20.6 kDa protein, 7.7 kDa protein., 10.3 kDa protein, 14.9 kDa protein and E3 14.7 kDa protein were all missing. It is the first report about E3 deletion in human adenovirus, which suggests that E3 region is also a possible recombination region in adenovirus molecular evolution

Efficient Genome Editing of Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 by CRISPR-Cas9 System for Analyzing Magnetotactic Behavior

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are a diverse group of microorganisms capable of using geomagnetic fields for navigation. This magnetotactic behavior can help microorganisms move toward favorable habitats for optimal growth and reproduction. A comprehensive understanding of the magnetotactic mechanism at molecular levels requires highly efficient genomic editing tools, which remain underdeveloped in MTB. Here, we adapted an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for efficient inactivation of genes in a widely used MTB model strain, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1. By combining a nuclease-deficient Cas9 (dCas9) and single-guide RNA (sgRNA), a CRISPR interference system was successfully developed to repress amb0994 expression. Furthermore, we constructed an in-frame deletion mutant of amb0994 by developing a CRISPR-Cas9 system. This mutant produces normal magnetosomes; however, its response to abrupt magnetic field reversals is faster than wild-type strain. This behavioral difference is probably a consequence of altered flagella function, as suggested with our dynamics simulation study by modeling M. magneticum AMB-1 cell as an ellipsoid. These data indicate that, Amb0994 is involved in the cellular response to magnetic torque changes via controlling flagella. In summary, this study, besides contributing to a better understanding of magnetotaxis mechanism, demonstrated the CRISPR-(d)Cas9 system as a useful genetic tool for efficient genome editing in MTB

DNA Checkpoint and Repair Factors Are Nuclear Sensors for Intracellular Organelle Stresses-Inflammations and Cancers Can Have High Genomic Risks.

Under inflammatory conditions, inflammatory cells release reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) which cause DNA damage. If not appropriately repaired, DNA damage leads to gene mutations and genomic instability. DNA damage checkpoint factors (DDCF) and DNA damage repair factors (DDRF) play a vital role in maintaining genomic integrity. However, how DDCFs and DDRFs are modulated under physiological and pathological conditions are not fully known. We took an experimental database analysis to determine the expression of 26 DNA D

High-mobility graphene on liquid p-block elements by ultra-low-loss CVD growth

The high-quality and low-cost of the graphene preparation method decide whether graphene is put into the applications finally. Enormous efforts have been devoted to understand and optimize the CVD process of graphene over various d-block transition metals (e.g. Cu, Ni and Pt). Here we report the growth of uniform high-quality single-layer, single-crystalline graphene flakes and their continuous films over p-block elements (e.g. Ga) liquid films using ambient-pressure chemical vapor deposition. The graphene shows high crystalline quality with electron mobility reaching levels as high as 7400 cm2 V−1s−1 under ambient conditions. Our employed growth strategy is ultra-low-loss. Only trace amounts of Ga are consumed in the production and transfer of the graphene and expensive film deposition or vacuum systems are not needed. We believe that our research will open up new territory in the field of graphene growth and thus promote its practical application

The Effect of Scalp Point Cluster-Needling on Learning and Memory Function and Neurotransmitter Levels in Rats with Vascular Dementia

We observed the effect of scalp point cluster-needling treatment on learning and memory function and neurotransmitter levels in rats with vascular dementia (VD). Permanent ligation of the bilateral carotid arteries was used to create the VD rat model. A Morris water maze was used to measure the rats’ learning and memory function, and the changes in neurotransmitter levels in the rats’ hippocampus were analyzed. The results show that scalp point cluster-needling can increase the VD rat model’s learning and memory score. The VD rat model’s learning and memory score was significantly different when compared with that of the sham operation group P<0.05. Hippocampal acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine (DA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentrations significantly decreased in the rat model. Compared with the model group, the scalp point cluster-needling group’s ACh concentration markedly increased and DA and 5-HT levels increased as well. In conclusion, scalp point cluster-needling can improve learning and memory function in VD rats, and its function may be related to an increase in neurotransmitter release

Functional Properties of Protein Hydrolysates on Growth, Digestive Enzyme Activities, Protein Metabolism, and Intestinal Health of Larval Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary inclusion of protein hydrolysates on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, protein metabolism, and intestinal health in larval largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The experimental feeding trial presented in this study was based on five isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets formulated with graded inclusion levels of protein hydrolysates, and it showed that protein hydrolysates improved growth performance, reduced larval deformity rate, and increased the activity of digestive enzymes, including pepsin and trypsin. Gene expression results revealed that the supplementation of protein hydrolysates upregulated the expression of intestinal amino acid transporters LAT2 and peptide transporter 2 (PepT2), as well as the amino acid transporters LAT1 in muscle. Dietary provision of protein hydrolysates activated the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway including the up-regulation of TOR and AKT1, and down-regulation of 4EBP1. Additionally, the expression of genes involved in the amino acids response (AAR) pathway, ATF4 and REDD1, were inhibited. Protein hydrolysates inhibited the transcription of some pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-8 and 5-LOX, but promoted the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines TGF-β and IL-10. The 16S rRNA analysis, using V3-V4 region, indicated that dietary protein hydrolysates supplementation reduced the diversity of the intestine microbial community, increased the enrichment of Plesiomonas and reduced the enrichment of Staphylococcus at the genus level. In summary, protein hydrolysates have been shown to be an active and useful supplement to positively complement other protein sources in the diets for largemouth bass larvae, and this study provided novel insights on the beneficial roles and possible mechanisms of action of dietary protein hydrolysates in improving the overall performance of fish larvae