Presentation and Translation of the Linguistic Landscape in the Sichuan Museum and the Spread of the Ba-Shu Culture from the Perspective of Cultural Communication

Linguistic landscape is a new perspective to study the spread of regional culture. The Sichuan museum is an important platform to spread the Ba-Shu culture, and the presentation and translation of the linguistic landscape in it carries a wealth of historical and cultural information, which is of great significance in promoting the inheritance and communication of the Ba-Shu culture. Based on the theoretical framework of place semiotics, this study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the linguistic landscape in the Sichuan museum. Meanwhile, aimed at promote the high-quality dissemination of Ba-Shu culture, this research also points out the problems in the construction and translation of linguistic landscapes in the Sichuan museum and put forward corresponding suggestions and strategies for improvement in the future

Contextual Mobile Learning for professionals working in the “Smart City”

In this study, we propose an innovative approach using the “Contextual Mobile Learning System” based on the “Electronic Performance Support System” (EPSS) to support efficient just-in-time learning for professionals working in the “Smart city”. In this paper, we present the principle and the structure of our contextual mobile learning system, which uses a search engine to find appropriate learning units in relation with working activities and conditions and the user’s / worker’s profile. We further discuss the proposed system structure, supportive process and context-driven engine. Finally, we describe a scenario using our contextual mobile learning system

A novel esterase gene cloned from a metagenomic library from neritic sediments of the South China Sea

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Marine microbes are a large and diverse group, which are exposed to a wide variety of pressure, temperature, salinity, nutrient availability and other environmental conditions. They provide a huge potential source of novel enzymes with unique properties that may be useful in industry and biotechnology. To explore the lipolytic genetic resources in the South China Sea, 23 sediment samples were collected in the depth < 100 m marine areas.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A metagenomic library of South China Sea sediments assemblage in plasmid vector containing about 194 Mb of community DNA was prepared. Screening of a part of the unamplified library resulted in isolation of 15 unique lipolytic clones with the ability to hydrolyze tributyrin. A positive recombinant clone (pNLE1), containing a novel esterase (Est_p1), was successfully expressed in <it>E. coli </it>and purified. In a series of assays, Est_p1 displayed maximal activity at pH 8.57, 40°C, with ρ-Nitrophenyl butyrate (C₄) as substrate. Compared to other metagenomic esterases, Est_p1 played a notable role in specificity for substrate C₄(<it>k</it>_cat/<it>K</it>_mvalue 11,500 S^-1m M^-1) and showed no inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, suggested that the substrate binding pocket was suitable for substrate C₄and the serine active-site residue was buried at the bottom of substrate binding pocket which sheltered by a lid structure.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Esterase, which specificity towards short chain fatty acids, especially butanoic acid, is commercially available as potent flavoring tools. According the outstanding activity and specificity for substrate C₄, Est_p1 has potential application in flavor industries requiring hydrolysis of short chain esters.</p

Association of miRNA-145 with the occurrence and prognosis of hydrosalpinx-induced defective endometrial receptivity

MiR-145 is reported to facilitate inflammation and is also associated with unsuccessful embryonic implantation. Whether miR-145 mediates inflammatory response underlying hydrosalpinx-induced defective endometrial receptivity (ER) remains unclear, and this study attempted to clarify this point. Endometrium samples were collected from hydrosalpinx patients (case, n = 243) and patients with tubal patency/obstruction (control, n = 187). The peripheral blood samples of cases and controls were collected to determine the genotypes of miR-145 SNPs. The value of miR-145 expression in the diagnosis and prognostic estimation of hydrosalpinx was assessed using ROC curve and regression analysis, respectively. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) cell model was established with endometrial cells, and cells were transfected with miR-145 mimic, inhibitor, or negative control. MiR-145 and cytokine levels were quantified by quantitative reverse transcription PCR or western blot. MiR-145 expression was significantly higher in hydrosalpinx compared to control group, and high miR-145 expression was significantly associated with moderate/severe tube lesion, high pulsatility index (>1.06), and high resistance index (>0.61) in hydrosalpinx patients. ROC curve analysis indicated that monitoring miR-145 expression may be useful for the diagnosis of hydrosalpinx (AUC = 0.704). A alleles of rs41291957 (G>A) and rs353292 (G>A) were significantly associated with an increased risk of hydrosalpinx compared to G allele (p G) and rs4705343 (T>C) significantly reduced susceptibility to hydrosalpinx compared to the wild type allele. Treatments with miR-145 mimic and LPS in endometrial cells significantly increased the levels of transforming growth factor-β1, tumor necrosis factor -α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 compared to negative control, while treatment with miR-145 inhibitor decreased the cytokine levels. In conclusion, abnormally expressed miR-145 may be involved in hydrosalpinx-induced ER defects by regulating the inflammatory response

Cyclic negative pressure promotes chondrocyte growth: Association of IGF-II with EGR-1

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases in the elderly worldwide. The primary lesion in patients with KOA is the degeneration of articular cartilage. This study aimed to observe the biological effects of cyclic negative pressure on C28/I2 chondrocytes and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We designed a bi-directional intelligent micro-pressure control device for cyclic negative pressure intervention on C28/I2 chondrocytes. Chondrocyte vitality and proliferation were assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. The extracellular matrix was analyzed using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot, while the molecular mechanism of the chondrocyte response to cyclic negative pressure was explored through mRNA sequencing. Experimental data demonstrated that cyclic negative pressure promoted chondrocyte proliferation and upregulated the expression of chondrocyte-specific protein, namely the collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1) protein, and the transcription factor SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9). Additionally, RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the gene levels of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-II) and early growth response 1 (EGR-1) were significantly elevated in the cyclic negative pressure group. This study demonstrates that cyclic negative pressure stimulates the proliferation of C28/I2 chondrocytes by promoting the expression of EGR-1 and IGF-II. This new discovery may provide novel insights into cartilage health and KOA prevention.

Diagnostic performance and clinical impact of blood metagenomic next-generation sequencing in ICU patients suspected monomicrobial and polymicrobial bloodstream infections

IntroductionEarly and effective application of antimicrobial medication has been evidenced to improve outcomes of patients with bloodstream infection (BSI). However, conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) have a number of limitations that hamper a rapid diagnosis.MethodsWe retrospectively collected 162 cases suspected BSI from intensive care unit with blood metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) results, to comparatively evaluate the diagnostic performance and the clinical impact on antibiotics usage of mNGS.Results and discussionResults showed that compared with blood culture, mNGS detected a greater number of pathogens, especially for Aspergillus spp, and yielded a significantly higher positive rate. With the final clinical diagnosis as the standard, the sensitivity of mNGS (excluding viruses) was 58.06%, significantly higher than that of blood culture (34.68%, P&lt;0.001). Combing blood mNGS and culture results, the sensitivity improved to 72.58%. Forty-six patients had infected by mixed pathogens, among which Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii contributed most. Compared to monomicrobial, cases with polymicrobial BSI exhibited dramatically higher level of SOFA, AST, hospitalized mortality and 90-day mortality (P&lt;0.05). A total of 101 patients underwent antibiotics adjustment, among which 85 were adjusted according to microbiological results, including 45 cases based on the mNGS results (40 cases escalation and 5 cases de-escalation) and 32 cases on blood culture. Collectively, for patients suspected BSI in critical condition, mNGS results can provide valuable diagnostic information and contribute to the optimizing of antibiotic treatment. Combining conventional tests with mNGS may significantly improve the detection rate for pathogens and optimize antibiotic treatment in critically ill patients with BSI

The Classification of the Persistent Infection Risk for Human Papillomavirus among HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex with Men: Trajectory Model Analysis

Objective. To classify the infection risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) among human immunodeficiency virus- (HIV-) negative men who have sex with men (MSM) using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM). Methods. This study collected data on demographic and sexual behavior characteristics by questionnaires at semiannual visits from March 1st, 2016 to December 31th, 2017. Researchers collected anal exfoliated cells to finish HPV testing and blood samples to finish HIV testing at baseline and follow-up visits. Accumulative infection numbers of different types of HPV as the primary outcome and the follow-up visits as the independent predicator to build a GBTM model. Results. There were 500 potentially eligible HIV-negative participants at baseline, 361 (72.2%) of whom were included in this study after screening. Three trajectory groups were identified as the best-fitted GBTM model. Trajectory 1, defined as decreased group (DG) accounted for 44.6% (161/361) of the sample, showed a declining pattern with visits. Trajectory 2, defined as flat group (FG) accounted for 49.6% (179/361) of the sample, showed a flat pattern with visits. Trajectory 3, regarded as the increased group (IG) accounted for 5.8% (21/361) of the sample, showed an uptrend. Compared to the DG, risk factors for the FG included receptive anal intercourse (AOR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.36-3.71), occasional condom use in anal sex during the past six months (AOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.16-3.14), experience of transactional sex with males in the past year (AOR, 3.60; 95% CI, 1.12-11.54), and substance use (AOR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.08-3.04). Risk factors for the IG included receptive anal intercourse (AOR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.04-7.70), occasional condom use in anal sex during the past six months (AOR, 3.93; 95% CI, 1.40-11.01), and history of other STIs (AOR, 5.72; 95% CI, 1.40-23.46). Conclusion. The MSM data in this study showed three distinct developmental trajectories (DG, FG, and IG) of HPV infection among HIV-negative MSM, with receptive anal intercourse and occasional condom use in anal sex during the past six months being the risk factors associated with FG and IG

Proteomics and network pharmacology of Ganshu Nuodan capsules in the prevention of alcoholic liver disease

IntroductionGanshu Nuodan is a liver-protecting dietary supplement composed of Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) spore powder, Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. (P. montana), Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza) and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge. (A. membranaceus). However, its pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of action remain unknown.MethodsA mouse model of acute alcohol liver disease (ALD) induced by intragastric administration of 50% alcohol was used to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Ganshu Nuodan. The chemical constituents of Ganshu Nuodan were comprehensively identified by UPLC-QTOF/MS, and then its pharmacodynamic material basis and potential mechanism of action were explored by proteomics and network pharmacology.ResultsGanshu Nuodan could ameliorate acute ALD, which is mainly manifested in the significant reduction of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver and the remarkably increase of glutathione (GSH) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in liver. Totally 76 chemical constituents were identified from Ganshu Nuodan by UPLC-QTOF/MS, including 21 quinones, 18 flavonoids, 11 organic acids, 7 terpenoids, 5 ketones, 4 sterols, 3 coumarins and 7 others. Three key signaling pathways were identified via proteomics studies, namely Arachidonic acid metabolism, Retinol metabolism, and HIF-1 signaling pathway respectively. Combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking, six key targets were subsequently obtained, including Ephx2, Lta4h, Map2k1, Stat3, Mtor and Dgat1. Finally, these six key targets and their related components were verified by molecular docking, which could explain the material basis of the hepatoprotective effect of Ganshu Nuodan.ConclusionGanshu Nuodan can protect acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice by inhibiting oxidative stress, lipid accumulation and apoptosis. Our study provides a scientific basis for the hepatoprotective effect of Ganshu Nuodan in acute ALD mice and supports its traditional application

Proteomic Analysis of Rhesus Macaque Brain Explants Treated With Borrelia burgdorferi Identifies Host GAP-43 as a Potential Factor Associated With Lyme Neuroborreliosis

BackgroundLyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is one of the most dangerous manifestations of Lyme disease, but the pathogenesis and inflammatory mechanisms are not fully understood.MethodsCultured explants from the frontal cortex of rhesus monkey brain (n=3) were treated with live Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 6, 12, and 24 h. Total protein was collected for sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. In addition, changes in protein expression in the explants over time following Bb treatment were screened.ResultsWe identified 1237 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs; fold change ≥1.5 or ≤0.67, P-value ≤0.05). One of these, growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), was highly expressed at all time points in the explants. The results of the protein-protein interaction network analysis of DEPs suggested that GAP-43 plays a role in the neuroinflammation associated with LNB. In HMC3 cells incubated with live Bb or PBS for 6, 12, and 24 h, real-time PCR and western blot analyses confirmed the increase of GAP-43 mRNA and protein, respectively.ConclusionsElevated GAP-43 expression is a potential marker for LNB that may be useful for diagnosis or treatment

Conception et mise en œuvre du système d’apprentissage mobile contextualisé support du travail professionnel

Increased interest has been shown in context-aware mobile learning systems. These systems aim to provide learning supports via mobile devices and adapt them to specific educational needs, personal characteristics and particular circumstances of an individual learner or a group of interconnected learners. Work-based learning is a crucial approach to promote professionals’ working and learning efficiency, which is need-targeted, personalized, just-in-time and location-based. These characteristics predict that context-aware mobile learning systems can play a role in promoting the effect of work-based learning. However, relatively few context-aware mobile learning systems are proposed for learning and competence development in work contexts. This dissertation proposes the design, implementation and evaluation of a context-aware mobile system for work-based learning, named WoBaLearn. More specifically, in the dissertation, we worked on: (1) the learning theories related to work-based context-aware mobile learning; (2) the approaches for designing a work-based context-aware mobile learning system; and (3) the technologies and methodologies for implementing and testing the designed system. The main contributions of this thesis are: 1) Proposal of an ontology-based hierarchical context model for work-based learning We defined an initial context model for describing contextual information in work-based mobile learning, named WbML. This model adopts a hierarchical designing approach which classifies con-text into a common layer and a domain layer. This approach improves the reusability of this context model. Also, the WbML context model is built based on ontology for describing context semantically. 2) Design of a set of adaptation strategies for work-based learning and an adaptation engine to execute these strategies We proposed a set of adaptation strategies concerning learning units selection, learning units sequence, learning units navigation, learning partners communication, and learning activities generation. These strategies adapt learning supports depending on professionals’ just-in-time learning con-text. We proposed also an adaptation engine which executes these proposed strategies to implement learning adaptations. 3) Construction of the WoBaLearn architecture Combined with the conceptual design bases about the context model, learning contents, adaptation strategies and adaptation engine, we proposed the system architecture of WoBaLearn which enables the WoBaLearn system to achieve the adaptive learning services. 4) Implementation of WoBaLearn We implemented the proposed system with modern technologies, and set a user study to evaluate it. Evaluation results provided us with the evidence that this system can offer professionals a satisfactory learning experience and facilitate their work activities.Un intérêt accru a été élevé sur les systèmes d'apprentissage mobiles contextualisé. Ces systèmes visent à fournir les supports d'apprentissage via des appareils mobiles et de les adapter aux besoins spécifiques de l'éducation, les caractéristiques personnelles et les circonstances particulières d'un apprenant ou un groupe d'apprenants interconnectés. L'apprentissage en milieu de travail est une approche essentielle pour promouvoir l'efficacité de travail et d'apprentissage des professionnels. Il est besoin ciblé, personnalisé, juste-à-temps et basé sur la localisation. Ces caractéristiques prédisent que le système d'apprentissage mobile contextualisé peut jouer un rôle dans la promotion de l'efficacité de l'apprentissage en milieu de travail. Cependant, il y a relativement peu de systèmes d'apprentissage mobiles contextualisé proposées pour le développement de l'apprentissage et de la compétence en situation de travail. Cet article propose la conception, la mise en œuvre et l'évaluation d’un système d'apprentissage mobile contextualisé pour le milieu professionnel, nommé WoBaLearn. Plus précisément, dans la thèse, nous avons travailler sur: (1) les théories de l'apprentissage mobile contextualisé et l'apprentissage en milieu de travail; (2) les approches pour la conception d'un système d'apprentissage mobile contextualisé pour le milieu professionnel; et (3) les technologies et les méthodologies de mettre en œuvre et de tester le système d'apprentissage conçu. Les principales contributions de cette thèse sont: 1) Construction d’un modèle de contexte hiérarchique et basé sur une ontologie pour l'apprentissage en milieu de travail Nous avons défini un modèle de contexte initial pour décrire l'information contextuelle de l'apprentissage mobile en milieu de travail, nommé WbML. Ce modèle adopte l'approche hiérarchique, et est construit par l'ontologie. 2) Proposition d’un ensemble de stratégies d'adaptation pour l'apprentissage en milieu de travail et un moteur d'apprentissage pour exécuter ces stratégies Nous avons proposé un ensemble de stratégies d'adaptation. Ces stratégies adapter les supports d'apprentissage en fonction du contexte d’apprentissage actuel. Nous avons proposé également un moteur d'adaptation qui exécute ces stratégies pour mettre en œuvre les adaptations d'apprentissage. 3) Conception de l’architecture d’un système d'apprentissage mobile contextualisé pour le milieu professionnel Combinant avec les bases conceptuelles sur le modèle de contexte, des contenus d'apprentissage, les stratégies d'adaptation et le moteur d'adaptation, nous avons proposé l'architecture de WoBaLearn système qui permet à WoBaLearn de réaliser des services d'apprentissage adaptatif. 4) Mise en œuvre du système et son évaluation avec une étude de cas Nous avons implémenté le système avec les technologies modernes, et mis une étude de cas pour évaluer ce système. Les résultats d'évaluation nous ont fourni la preuve que ce système peut offrir aux professionnels une expérience d'apprentissage satisfaisant et faciliter leurs activités de travail