Clinical features and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of culture-proven neonatal sepsis in a tertiary children's hospital, 2013 to 2017.

Neonatal sepsis (NS) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates, but data on the etiology and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of pathogens are limited. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of pathogenic microbes associated with NS at a tertiary children's hospital in Shanghai, China.Episodes of blood culture-proven sepsis in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Children's Hospital of Fudan University from January 2013 to August 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.

Application of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-ferrosoferric oxide nanoparticles in targeted imaging of breast tumors.

Background: Ferrosoferric oxide (FeO) nanoparticles are a commonly used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reagent. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) is highly expressed on the surfaces of tumors, but its expression is low or absent in the corresponding normal tissues, allowing it to be used for targeted imaging and treatment.

Methods: We prepared FeO nanoparticles using a chemical co-precipitation method, performed coupling with chitosan to prepare LHRH-FeO nanoparticles, and explored the application value of LHRH-FeO nanoparticles in targeted imaging and treatment of breast tumors through in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Circular RNA Ttc3 regulates cardiac function after myocardial infarction by sponging miR-15b.

The apoptotic death of cardiomyocytes critically contributes to cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are important regulators for a variety of biological functions. Circ-Ttc3 represents one of the top highest expressed circRNAs in the heart; however, its role in MI remains unknown.

Adaptive Neural Command Filtering Control for Nonlinear MIMO Systems With Saturation Input and Unknown Control Direction.

In this paper, the tracking control problem is considered for a class of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) nonlinear systems with input saturation and unknown direction control gains. A command filtered adaptive neural networks (NNs) control method is presented with regard to the MIMO systems by designing the virtual controllers and error compensation signals. First, the command filtering is used to solve the "explosion of complexity" problem in the conventional backstepping design and the nonlinearities are approximated by NNs.

Identifying Lineage-Specific Targets of Natural Selection by a Bayesian Analysis of Genomic Polymorphisms and Divergence from Multiple Species.

We present a method that jointly analyzes the polymorphism and divergence sites in genomic sequences of multiple species to identify the genes under natural selection and pinpoint the occurrence time of selection to a specific lineage of the species phylogeny. This method integrates population genetics models using a Bayesian Poisson random field framework and combines information over all gene loci to boost the power for detecting selection. The method provides posterior distributions of the fitness effects of each gene along with parameters associated with the evolutionary history, including the species divergence time and effective population size of external species.

Identification of a point mutation PML-RARα that alters PML body organization, dynamics and SUMOylation.

Genetic mutations on PML-RARα in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) are reported to associate with arsenic trioxide (ATO) or all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) resistance. Here we performed a retrospective analysis of APL patients and identified that the patient with S214L mutation on the PML moiety of PML-RARα showed resistance to both ATO and ATRA. Super-resolution microcopy was used to examine the structural response of PML bodies in wild-type or the S214L mutant cells upon drug treatment.

Cluster Synchronization for Neutral Stochastic Delay Networks via Intermittent Adaptive Control.

This paper studies the problem of cluster synchronization at exponential rates in both the mean square and almost sure senses for neutral stochastic coupled neural networks with time-varying delay via a periodically intermittent pinning adaptive control strategy. The network topology can be symmetric or asymmetric, with each network node being described by neutral stochastic delayed neural networks. When considering the exponential stabilization in the mean square sense for neutral stochastic delay system, the delay integral inequality approach is used to circumvent the obstacle arising from the coexistence of random disturbance, neutral item, and time-varying delay.

Arp2/3-branched actin regulates microtubule acetylation levels and affects mitochondrial distribution.

Actin and microtubule cytoskeletons regulate cell morphology, participate in organelle trafficking and function in response to diverse environmental cues. Precise spatial-temporal coordination between these two cytoskeletons is essential for cells to live and move. Here, we report a novel crosstalk between actin and microtubules, in which the branched actin maintains microtubule organization, dynamics and stability by affecting tubulin acetylation levels.

Land-use changes and check dams reducing runoff and sediment yield on the Loess Plateau of China.

Revegetation and check dam construction are two widely applied soil erosion control measures on the Loess Plateau of China. They play important roles in sediment yield reduction. However, it remains unclear how these large-scale land-use changes and in-channel structures affect water yield and sediment load on the watershed scale.

Runoff change and sediment source during rainstorms in an ecologically constructed watershed on the Loess Plateau, China.

The sediment-reducing effect of check dams and the safety issues following dam breaks are long-standing concerns. This study analyzed the runoff change and sediment source during rainstorms in a small watershed using a multivariate mixed model and a comparative analysis of watersheds. The problem of sediment loss from dammed farmland following check dam break during rainstorms was evaluated.

Serum indoxyl sulfate is associated with mortality in hospital-acquired acute kidney injury: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Protein-bound uremic toxins are associated with poor outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between indoxyl sulfate (IS), a protein-bound solute, and 90-day mortality in patients with acute kidney injury.

Methods: Adults with hospital-acquired AKI (HA-AKI) were enrolled in this prospective cohort study between 2014 and 2015, according to the KDIGO creatinine criteria.

Robust Adaptive Control Scheme for Teleoperation Systems With Delay and Uncertainties.

This paper proposes a robust adaptive algorithm that effectively copes with time-varying delay and uncertainties in Internet-based teleoperation systems. Time-delay induced by the communication network, as a major problem in teleoperation systems, along with uncertainties in modeling of robotic manipulators and remote environment warn the stability and performance of the system. A robust adaptive control algorithm is developed to deal with the system uncertainties and to provide a smooth estimation of delayed reference signals.

Molecular dynamics simulation of four typical surfactants in aqueous solution.

The thermodynamic values of the four surfactants, anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, zwitterion surfactants and gemini surfactants, were calculated by molecular dynamics simulation. The calculated results of thermodynamic parameters showed that the four surfactant can form micelles spontaneously. The mainly force for micellization process is entropy-driven, and as the temperature increases, the entropy-driven contribution is gradually reduced.

Antibiotic Resistome Alteration by Different Disinfection Strategies in a Full-Scale Drinking Water Treatment Plant Deciphered by Metagenomic Assembly.

Disinfection regimes are considered the most solid strategy to reduce microbial risks in drinking water, but their roles in shaping the antibiotic resistome are poorly understood. This study revealed the alteration of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) profiles, their co-occurrence with mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and potential hosts during drinking water disinfection based on metagenomic assembly. We found the ozone/chlorine (O/Cl) coupled disinfection significantly increased the relative abundance of ARGs and MGE-carrying antibiotic resistance contigs (ARCs) through the enrichment of ARGs within the resistance-nodulation-cell division and ATP-binding cassette antibiotic efflux families that are primarily carried by Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Mycobacterium, and Methylocystis, whereas the antimicrobial resin/chlorine coupled disinfection posed unremarkable changes to the ARG and MGE abundances.

Antimicrobial resins with quaternary ammonium salts as a supplement to combat the antibiotic resistome in drinking water treatment plants.

The increasing finding of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in drinking water has become one of the most challenging global health threats worldwide. However, conventional disinfection strategies in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) require further optimization in combating the antibiotic resistome. Here, we show that antimicrobial resins with quaternary ammonium salts (AMRs-QAS) exhibit great potentials in diminishing specific potential pathogens that relatively resist chlorine or UV disinfection in DWTPs, and comprehensive analyses using microscopy and fluorescence techniques revealed that the antimicrobial capacity of AMRs-QAS mainly proceed via the bacterial adsorption and cell membrane dissociation.

Dissipativity-Based Control for Fuzzy Systems With Asynchronous Modes and Intermittent Measurements.

In this paper, the problem of asynchronous output feedback control is investigated for a class of Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy switched systems subject to intermittent measurements. The Bernoulli process is employed to model the phenomenon of stochastic intermittent measurements. Based on the hidden Markov model and output measurements, an asynchronous controller is designed.

Lithiophilic LiC Layers on Carbon Hosts Enabling Stable Li Metal Anode in Working Batteries.

Lithium (Li) metal-based battery is among the most promising candidates for next-generation rechargeable high-energy-density batteries. Carbon materials are strongly considered as the host of Li metal to relieve the powdery/dendritic Li formation and large volume change during repeated cycles. Herein, we describe the formation of a thin lithiophilic LiC layer between carbon fibers (CFs) and metallic Li in Li/CF composite anode obtained through a one-step rolling method.

Reliable Filter Design of Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Switched Systems With Imprecise Modes.

This paper is concerned with the problem of asynchronous and reliable filter design with performance constraint for nonlinear Markovian jump systems which are modeled as a kind of Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy switched systems. The nonstationary Markov chain is adopted to represent the asynchronous situation between the designed filter and the considered system. By using the mode-dependent Lyapunov function approach and the relaxation matrix technique, a sufficient condition is proposed to ensure the filtering error system, which is a dual randomly switched system, is stochastically stable and satisfies a given l-l performance index simultaneously.

The Transcriptomic Landscape of Yaks Reveals Molecular Pathways for High Altitude Adaptation.

Yak is one of the largest native mammalian species at the Himalayas, the highest plateau area in the world with an average elevation of >4,000 m above the sea level. Yak is well adapted to high altitude environment with a set of physiological features for a more efficient blood flow for oxygen delivery under hypobaric hypoxia. Yet, the genetic mechanism underlying its adaptation remains elusive.

High-throughput brain activity mapping and machine learning as a foundation for systems neuropharmacology.

Technologies for mapping the spatial and temporal patterns of neural activity have advanced our understanding of brain function in both health and disease. An important application of these technologies is the discovery of next-generation neurotherapeutics for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Here, we describe an in vivo drug screening strategy that combines high-throughput technology to generate large-scale brain activity maps (BAMs) with machine learning for predictive analysis.

A Novel Fault-Tolerant Navigation and Positioning Method with Stereo-Camera/Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Inertial Measurement Unit (MEMS-IMU) in Hostile Environment.

Visual odometry (VO) is a new navigation and positioning method that estimates the ego-motion of vehicles from images. However, VO with unsatisfactory performance can fail severely in hostile environment because of the less feature, fast angular motions, or illumination change. Thus, enhancing the robustness of VO in hostile environment has become a popular research topic.

Ordinary Optical Fiber Sensor for Ultra-High Temperature Measurement Based on Infrared Radiation.

An ordinary optical fiber ultra-high temperature sensor based on infrared radiation with the advantages of simple structure and compact is presented. The sensing system consists of a detection fiber and a common transmission fiber. The detector fiber is formed by annealing a piece of ordinary fiber at high temperature twice, which changes the properties of the fiber and breaks the temperature limit of ordinary fiber.

Clinical effect of Caulis decoction on iron deficiency anemia and the hepcidin iron metabolism.

Studies have shown that Chinese herb caulis extract can effectively inhibit the expression of the core regulatory hormone hepcidin in iron metabolism and significantly increase the iron level in the body. On this basis, this paper analyzed clinical efficacy and safety of oral niferex (polysaccharide iron complex) combined with caulis Decoction in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. The results showed that the recovery rate of the Caulis group, Niferex group and the combined treatment group were 41.

High-throughput three-dimensional chemotactic assays reveal steepness-dependent complexity in neuronal sensation to molecular gradients.

Many cellular programs of neural development are under combinatorial regulation by different chemoattractive or chemorepulsive factors. Here, we describe a microfluidic platform that utilizes well-controlled three-dimensional (3D) diffusion to generate molecular gradients of varied steepness in a large array of hydrogel cylinders, allowing high-throughput 3D chemotactic assays for mechanistic dissection of steepness-dependent neuronal chemotaxis. Using this platform, we examine neuronal sensitivity to the steepness of gradient composed of netrin-1, nerve growth factor, or semaphorin3A (Sema3A) proteins, and reveal dramatic diversity and complexity in the associated chemotactic regulation of neuronal development.

Distribution of soil organic carbon impacted by land-use changes in a hilly watershed of the Loess Plateau, China.

Vegetation restoration, terrace and check dam construction are the major measures for soil and water conservation on the Loess Plateau. These effective measures of stabilizing soils have significant impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution. However, following ecological construction, whether the hilly watershed acts as a source or a sink of soil carbon is still unknown.