Youla-Kucera parameterized adaptive tracking control for optical data storage systems

In the next generation optical data storage systems, the tolerance of the tracking error will become even smaller under various unknown working situations. However, the unknown external disturbances caused by vibrations make it difficult to maintain the desired tracking precision during normal disk operation. It is proposed in this paper to use an adaptive regulation approach to maintain the tracking error below its desired value despite these unknown disturbances. The design of the regulator is formulated by augmenting a base controller into a Youla-Kucera (Q) parameterized set of stabilizing controllers so that both the deterministic and the random disturbances can be deal with properly. The adaptive algorithm is developed to search the desired Q parameter which satisfies the Internal Model Principle and thus the exact regulation against the unknown deterministic disturbance can be achieved. The performance of the proposed control approach is evaluated with experimental results that illustrate the capability of the proposed adaptive regulator to attenuate the unknown disturbances and achieve the desired tracking precision

Myosin 1b Participated in the Modulation of Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Caused H9c2 Cell Apoptosis and Autophagy

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury seriously threats the health and life of patients with ischemia heart disease. Herein, we probed the potential influence of myosin 1b (myo1b) on hypoxia/reoxygenation- (H/R-) stimulated cardiomyocyte H9c2 cell apoptosis and autophagy. After H/R stimulation, the myo1b mRNA level in H9c2 cells was tested via qRT-PCR. Myo1b overexpression plasmid (OE-myo1b) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting myo1b (si-myo1b) were transfected into H9c2 cells to alter myo1b expression in H9c2 cells. Following H/R stimulation and/or OE-myo1b (or si-myo1b) transfection, H9c2 cell apoptosis, proliferation, and autophagy were detected, respectively. We found that H/R stimulation reduced the mRNA level of myo1b in H9c2 cells and resulted in H9c2 cell apoptosis, proliferation inhibition, and autophagy. Overexpression of myo1b reversed the H/R-resulted H9c2 cell apoptosis, proliferation inhibition, and autophagy. Silence of myo1b had opposite effects, which promoted H9c2 cell apoptosis, reduced cell proliferation, and accelerated cell autophagy. Taken together, Myo1b took part in the modulation of H/R-stimulated cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagy, which might be serve as a potential endogenous target for prevention and therapy of I/R injury

Breeding and Cultivation Techniques for New Edible Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Variety Nanshu 012

The carotenoid in sweet potato has a high health value for the human body, and HarvestPlus has also carried out the breeding to improve the nutritional quality of sweet potatoes in order to address the health problems of people nutrient-deficient areas. Nanshu 012 is a new high-quality orange-fleshed sweet potato variety rich in carotenoid, bred by Nanchong Academy of Agricultural Sciences from the "Boga×Sanheshu" hybrid. In the regional test of sweet potato varieties in Sichuan Province during 2009-2010, the average fresh potato yield was 24600 kg/ha, the average dry matter percentage was 29.0% and the average preserved sweet potato yield was 7152.0 kg/ha; in the production test, the average fresh potato yield was 28410.0 kg/ha and the average preserved sweet potato yield was 8734.5 kg/ha. The multi-point sampling analysis showed that the total sugar content of fresh potato was 5.28%, protein content was 1.43%, vitamin C content was 28.9 mg/100g and carotenoid content was 5.21 mg/100g. This variety was identified by Sichuan Crop Variety Approval Committee in March 2012, with high fresh potato yield, sweetness, rich carotenoid and resistance to black spot. It is an orange-fleshed sweet potato variety suitable for eating and food processing, and it should be planted in the plot with moderate fertility or above, and should be planted and harvested as early as possible

Associations between Serum Aflatoxin-B1 and Anemia in Pregnant Women: Evidence from Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort in China

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a common toxic mycotoxin and is detectable in pregnant women. Animal studies have revealed that AFB1 caused the lysis of erythrocytes and a decrease in hemoglobin. We conducted a prospective cohort study in Guangxi, China, in order to evaluate the association between AFB1 exposure and anemia in pregnant women during the entire pregnancy. A total of 616 pregnant women from the Guangxi Zhuang Birth Cohort were included in the study. Serum AFB1-albumin (AFB1-ALB) adduct levels were measured. The effect of AFB1-ALB adducts on hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were analyzed by using multivariable linear regression. The risks of anemia from AFB1-ALB adduct exposure were assessed by multivariable logistic regression. We found that the AFB1-ALB adduct was significantly associated with a decrease in Hb (β = −4.99, 95% CI: −8.42, −1.30), MCV (β = −4.58, 95% CI: −7.23, −1.94), MCH (β = −1.86, 95% CI: −2.87, −0.85), and MCHC (β = −5.23, 95% CI: −8.28, −2.17) in the first trimester with the third tertile of AFB1-ALB adducts when compared with the first tertile. Furthermore, the third tertile of the AFB1-ALB adduct significantly increased the risk of anemia by 2.90 times than compared to the first tertile in the first trimester (OR = 3.90, 95% CI: 1.67, 9.14). A significant positive does–response relationship existed between AFB1-ALB adduct levels and anemia risk (Ptrend = 0.001). When dividing anemia types, we only found that the third tertile of AFB1-ALB adduct increased the risk of microcytic hypochromic anemia (MHA) in the first trimester (OR = 14.37, 95% CI: 3.08, 67.02) and second trimester (OR = 4.75, 95% CI: 1.96, 11.51). These findings demonstrate the correlation between maternal AFB1 exposure during early pregnancy and risk of anemia, especially MHA, and during different trimesters in Southern China. More efforts should be made to diminish AFB1 exposure for pregnant women

Physical activity during pregnancy and adverse birth outcome: a prospective cohort study in China

Objectives The relationship between prenatal physical activity (PA) and adverse birth outcomes is still inconclusive. We aimed to investigate the association between PA during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes by using data from the Guangxi Zhuang birth cohort (GZBC) in China. Study Design A total of 11,292 mother-infant pairs were included from GZBC in China. The information on PA status, intensity, adequacy, and volume and birth outcomes were collected. Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were applied to analyze the effects of PA during pregnancy on birth weight z-scores (BW z-scores) and gestational age and risk of small-for-gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth (PTB), respectively. Cubic spline analysis was conducted to detect a nonlinear dose-response of total weekly activity metabolic equivalents (MET) and birth outcomes. Results Compared to no regular PA during pregnancy, moderate and high-intensity PA (MVPA) was associated with increase BW z-scores (β = 0.08, 95%CI: 0.002, 0.15, p = .044) and associated with a marginal significant decrease in risk of PTB (OR = 0.73, 95%CI: 0.51, 1.05, p = .093). However, PA had no relationship with gestational age and risk of SGA, and Nonlinear relationships were not observed between total weekly activity MET and risk of SGA and PTB. Conclusion These finding shows that PA during pregnancy may increase the BW z-score and reduce risk of PTB, supporting the guidelines that pregnant women should be encouraged to engage in appropriate physical activity during pregnancy in China.</p