The causal effects of gut microbiota on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and T2* imaging-derived phenotypes: insights from a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Gut microbiota are associated with brain imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs); however, the specific causal relationship between the gut microbiota and brain iron-related IDPs remains unclear. Thus, we sought to analyze the potential causal effects of gut microbiota on brain iron-related IDPs using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods: We obtained the data of 196 gut microbiota from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) from the MiBioGen database, as well as the data of 18 quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) IDPs and 10 T2* IDPs from the United Kingdom Biobank (UKB).

MESBC: A novel mutually exclusive spectral biclustering method for cancer subtyping.

Many soft biclustering algorithms have been developed and applied to various biological and biomedical data analyses. However, few mutually exclusive (hard) biclustering algorithms have been proposed, which could better identify disease or molecular subtypes with survival significance based on genomic or transcriptomic data. In this study, we developed a novel mutually exclusive spectral biclustering (MESBC) algorithm based on spectral method to detect mutually exclusive biclusters.

Online-Network-Group Use and Political-Participation Intention in China: The Analysis Based on CSS 2019 Survey Data.

Although there are many studies discussing the effect of Internet use on political participation, the literature has rarely focused on the relationship between the use of online-network groups and the political-participation intention in contemporary China. The discussion of this relationship is significant, as it offers a new perspective on reviewing the mobilization theory of media, especially in the context of online-network groups, and potentially provides a new channel for mobilizing a wider range of people for politics once the relationship is significant. This study aims to answer the following question: Can we predict the political-participation intention of Chinese citizens through the use of online-network groups? Based on the data of the China Social Survey 2019, this study uses the hierarchical logistic-regression method.

Cost Sharing and Cost Shifting Mechanisms under a per Diem Payment System in a County of China.

Cost sharing and cost shifting mechanisms are of vital importance in a prospective payment system. This paper employed the difference-in-differences method to estimate the impacts of a per diem system with inverted-U-shape rates on medical costs and the length of stay based on data from a health insurance institution. The supply side cost sharing mechanism worked so that the new payment system significantly reduced medical costs by 17.

Measurement of Cable Force through a Fiber Bragg Grating-Type Thin Rod Vibration Sensor and Its Application.

The key to evaluating the health status of cable-stayed bridges lies in the accuracy of cable force measurement. When measuring the cable force using the conventional frequency method, the clearance between the bracing cable and the protective tube is typically disregarded. Moreover, due to their large size, existing vibration sensors are difficult to install into protective tubes for steel strand-type bracing cables to measure the cable force.

Method of Designing a Friction-Based Wedge Anchorage System for High-Strength CFRP Plates.

The cables of high-strength carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates are starting to be applied to large spatial structures. However, their main anchorage systems rely on the adhesive force, which entails risks to their integrity resulting from aging of the binding agent. In this study, a friction-based wedge anchorage system was designed for CFRP plates.

AGNEP: An Agglomerative Nesting Clustering Algorithm for Phenotypic Dimension Reduction in Joint Analysis of Multiple Phenotypes.

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified thousands of genetic variants associated with complex traits and diseases. Compared with analyzing a single phenotype at a time, the joint analysis of multiple phenotypes can improve statistical power by taking into account the information from phenotypes. However, most established joint algorithms ignore the different level of correlations between multiple phenotypes; instead of that, they simultaneously analyze all phenotypes in a genetic model.

23-Hydroxytormentic acid reduces cerebral ischemia/reperfusion damage in rats through anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

23-Hydroxytormentic acid (23-HTA) is an important herbal medicine purified from immature fruits of African Rubus aceae (Rosaceae). This study was carried out to examine the protection properties and potential mechanisms of 23-HTA against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) damage. Rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) 2/24 h.

Behavior of RC Beams Strengthened Using Steel-Wire-Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Plates.

The steel-wire-carbon-fiber-reinforced plate (SCFR plate) is a relatively new strengthening technology for concrete structures. In this paper, a series of lateral impact tests on SCFR plates and conventional carbon-fiber-reinforced plates (CFR plates) were first performed, followed by tensile tests of both the SCFR plates and the CFR plates. It is found that the SCFR plates can provide the same level of tensile strength as CFR plates, whilst having evident advantages in terms of better ductility and lateral resistance.

TSLRF: Two-Stage Algorithm Based on Least Angle Regression and Random Forest in genome-wide association studies.

One of the most important tasks in genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) is the detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which are related to target traits. With the development of sequencing technology, traditional statistical methods are difficult to analyze the corresponding high-dimensional massive data or SNPs. Recently, machine learning methods have become more popular in high-dimensional genetic data analysis for their fast computation speed.

High doses of baicalin induces kidney injury and fibrosis through regulating TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

Baicalin is a major flavonoid compound purified from Scutellariae radix, which has been described as an herb in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Previous studies have suggested baicalin possessed extensive anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral properties. However, up to known, there have been no reports of safety and toxicity in the rats following oral administration of baicalin.

[The effect of desloratadine on quality of life of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis].

Objective: To assess the effect of desloratadine on quality of life (QOL) in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Method: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed on fifty patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. The patients were randomly divided into three groups: A group: taking desloratadine by mouth and taking spraying of normal sodium; B group: placebo group, taking placebo by mouth and taking spraying of normal sodium; C group: taking desloratadine by mouth and taking spraying of Nasonex.

[Changes in solute content of different tomato genotypes under salt stress].

Two wild tomato species Lycopersicon peruvianum LA111, Lycopersicon pennellii LA716 and two cultivars "Xianfeng 98-7", "Jiaonong No.1" with different salt tolerance were treated with NaCl 150 mmol/L, and to measure the inorganic ions Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) contents and the organic compounds free proline, soluble sugar contents. The results indicated that under salt stress, the wild species accumulated much Na(+) in young leaves, while cultivated species produced and accumulated much free proline and soluble sugar in young leaves, and Na(+) was mostly distributed to old leaves.