Identification and evaluation of deep foundation pit construction risks based on Grey-DEMATEL-Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method.

In recent years, foundation pit construction has been rapidly developing in the direction of deep and large-scale, leading to the frequent occurrence of construction accidents. The pit construction process is characterised by a complex environment, high construction risk, and numerous coupling effects between the construction risk factors. In this paper, 23 main accident-causing factors in foundation pit construction are determined based on the six major risk accident types.

Comparative sensitivity of A-type and B-type starch crystals to ultrahigh magnetic fields.

In this study, maize starch (A-type) and potato starch (B-type) were treated with ultrahigh magnetic fields (UMF) of different intensities (5 T and 15 T) to investigate their sensitivity to UMF by measuring changes in their structure and rheological properties. The results indicate that the crystallinity of A-type starch significantly decreases, reaching a minimum of 20.01 % at 5 T.

Profiles of cytokines in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Objective: This study aimed to identify plasma biomarkers that are significantly altered in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) and are closely associated with AAV disease activity, as well as to explore their role in the pathogenesis of AAV.

Methods: Cytokines were measured using Human Immune Response Panel 80-Plex in plasma from 59 patients with AAV and 20 healthy controls (HCs). The differentially expressed cytokines between the two groups and the possible signaling pathway involved in the pathogenesis of AAV were analyzed by bioinformatics.

Case report: Rare pulmonary fungal infection caused by : the first clinical report in China.

is a common plant pathogen that causes citrus rot, which is extremely rare in humans. We report a case of a 66-year-old man with a history of consuming large amounts of citrus fruits, smoking for 30 years, and a history of emphysema. He had experienced intermittent coughing with sputum for more than 10 years and was admitted to the hospital due to worsening of symptoms over the past month.

Discovery and Identification of a Novel Tag of HlyA60 for Protein Active Aggregate Formation in .

The strategy of active aggregation tag fusion expression with target proteins can solve the problems of restricted expression, inefficient purification, and laborious immobilization faced in the production of recombinant proteins in . We localized a novel active aggregation peptide HlyA60 from the hemolysin A secretion system, which can effectively induce aggregate formation with satisfactory protein activities in after fusion expression with the protein of interest. Based on structural prediction and surface properties, the process of active aggregation of HlyA60 through electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interactions was analyzed.

Green Production of a High-value Mosquito Insecticide of Nootkatone from Seaweed Hydrolysates.

Nootkatone is a type of valuable sesquiterpene that is widely used in food, cosmetics, fragrance, and other fields. The industry is faced with a major challenge due to the high expenses associated with plant-extracted nootkatone. We have developed a fermentation process for valencene production using seaweed hydrolysate as a carbon source via engineered .

Integrative analysis of genes reveals endoplasmic reticulum stress-related immune responses involved in dilated cardiomyopathy with fibrosis.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the mechanisms underlying the fibrotic process in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and results in disease exacerbation; however, the molecular details of this mechanism remain unclear. Through microarray and bioinformatic analyses, we explored genetic alterations in myocardial fibrosis (MF) and identified potential biomarkers related to ER stress. We integrated two public microarray datasets, including 19 DCM and 16 control samples, and comprehensively analyzed differential expression, biological functions, molecular interactions, and immune infiltration levels.

Development of a Diagnostic Model Focusing on Esophageal Dysmotility in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.

Objective: Esophageal dysmotility is a common and neglected complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc) associated with poor prognosis, while the assessment remains a challenge. We aimed to develop a diagnostic model for esophageal dysmotility in SSc patients that provides individualized risk estimates.

Methods: Seventy-five SSc patients who underwent high-resolution manometry (HRM) were included in the study.

Oxidation and ordering of fine structure of corn starch under an ultrahigh magnetic field.

In this study, corn starch (40 % moisture content) was placed in an ultra-high magnetic field(UMF)(5-20 T) to investigate the ordering and stabilization process under the magnetic field. With the increase of the intensity of UMF, C-OH and O-C-O were oxidized to O = C-OH and cross-linked to form ester bonds. When the UMF intensity was 15 T, the effect was the most significant with the ordered short-range structures formed; since the O = C-OR enhanced carbon skeleton structure, the crystallinity increased comparatively and amylose content reached the minimum value (15.

Codelivery of HBx-siRNA and Plasmid Encoding IL-12 for Inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus and Reactivation of Antiviral Immunity.

Chronic hepatitis B is a critical cause of many serious liver diseases such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The main challenges in hepatitis B treatment include the rebound of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related antigen levels after drug withdrawal and the immunosuppression caused by the virus. Herein, we demonstrate that the HBV-related antigen can be effectively inhibited and antiviral immunity can be successfully reactivated through codelivery of the small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting HBV X protein (HBx) and the plasmid encoding interleukin 12 (pIL-12) to hepatocytes and immune cells.

Changes in Soil Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Properties During Natural Succession: A Case Study in Lower Subtropical China.

Vegetation succession can change the function and quality of the soil. Exploring the changes in soil properties during secondary forest restoration is of great significance to promote forest restoration and improve the ecological service function of subtropical ecosystems in South China. In this study, we chose three typical forests in subtropical China as restoration sequences, broadleaf-conifer mixed forest (EF), broad-leaved forest (MF), and old-growth forest (LF), to study the changes in soil physico-chemical and biological properties and the changes of soil comprehensive quality during the secondary succession of subtropical forest.

Transcription response of Tetranychus cinnabarinus to plant-mediated short-term and long -term selenium treatment.

Selenium is a trace element necessary for living organisms. It exists mainly in the form of selenite in nature. In plants, selenium can enhance defenses against pests.

P8 nuclear receptor responds to acaricides exposure and regulates transcription of P450 enzyme in the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae.

Spider mites are destructive arthropod pests on many crops and they have developed resistance to nearly all acaricides. In recent years, along with the application of high throughput sequencing, the molecular mechanisms of mite resistance had made a series of progress. But, the response in molecular level of mite exposure to acaricides, as well as the original mechanism of resistance development was still unclear.

An integrative characterization of recurrent molecular aberrations in glioblastoma genomes.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Decades of investigations and the recent effort of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project have mapped many molecular alterations in GBM cells. Alterations on DNAs may dysregulate gene expressions and drive malignancy of tumors.

[X-ray diffraction study of high hydrostatic pressure on crystalline structure of different type starches].

Crystalline changes of different type starches after high hydrostatic pressure treated under 300, 450, 600 MPa were studied by X-ray diffraction. Waxy maize (A type, 100% amylopectin), hylon VII (B type, 30% amylopectin) and tapioca starch (C type, 83% amylopectin) were chosen. The results indicated that for waxy maize starch, annealing effect was observed at 300 MPa, disappearance of crystalline structure happened at 450 MPa and retrogradation at 600 MPa.

The development and evaluation of the Citizen Telehealth Care service System: case study in Taipei.

Because of the rapid aging population in Taiwan and the trend of fewer children, people are looking into technical solutions for continuous/intermittent monitoring of vital signs in the home setting environment and the interactions between family members. In this study we developed a smart medical services system for managing chronic disease, called Citizen Telemedical Care service System (CTCS). The system integrates biosignal measurement, hypertension risk estimation expert system, clinic appointment service, video communication service, medical assistance referral, health frequency program record, and health/hygiene education.

Analysis and design of focused interdigital transducers.

Focused interdigital transducers (FIDTs) can generate surface acoustic wave (SAW) with high intensity and high beamwidth compression ratio. Owing to these features, they are very suitable to be used as the sources of microacoustic channels or waveguides in the near future. The focusing properties of FIDTs are dominated solely by their geometric shapes.

Determination of median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials in 27 patients with hemiplegia.

Twenty-seven in-patients with hemiplegia following brain injury were studied by using upper extremity median nerve somatosensory evoked patentials (SVEP), Brunnstrom assessment in hemiplegic hand and assessment of the patients' activities of daily lioing (ADL) (Barthel index). The upper extremity median nerve SEP on the affected and normal sides was determined. By using Kovindha standard, upper extremity median nerve SEP was graded in accordance with N20.