Interactions of Mutiple Biological Fields in Stored Grain Ecosystems

Biological entities such as fungi in stored grain evolve and interact with the environment in similar fashions as physical fields. An experiment was conducted to study the behavior of the biological field of fungi in stored grain, as well as the interactions between the biological field of fungi and the physical fields of temperature and moisture. A framework of the biological field is presented to describe biological systems in which multiple biological entities co-exist and interact among themselves and with the surrounding environment. The proposed biological field describes the spatio-temporal distribution of a biological entity and its ability of influencing (or being influenced by) the surrounding biotic and abiotic entities through exchange of energy, matter, and/or information. The strength of a biological field of fungi was quantified as the rate of energy conversion by fungi from grain starch to heat. The experimental data showed that the strength of biological field of fungi in stored grain varied in both space and time, with the maximum field strength of 120-133 W m-3 occurred at the location where the biological field of fungi interacted strongly with the temperature and moisture fields.

[Fitting and forecasting the trend of COVID-19 by SEIR(+CAQ) dynamic model]

Objectives: Fitting and forecasting the trend of COVID-19 epidemics. Methods: Based on SEIR dynamic model, considering the COVID-19 transmission mechanism, infection spectrum and prevention and control procedures, we developed SEIR(+CAQ) dynamic model to fit the frequencies of laboratory confirmed cases obtained from the government official websites. The data from January 20, 2020 to February 7, 2020 were used to fit the model, while the left data between February 8-12 were used to evaluate the quality of forecasting. Results: According to the cumulative number of confirmed cases between January 29 to February 7, the fitting bias of SEIR(+CAQ) model for overall China (except for cases of Hubei province), Hubei province (except for cases of Wuhan city) and Wuhan city was less than 5%. For the data of subsequent 5 days between February 8 to 12, which were not included in the model fitting, the prediction biases were less than 10%. Regardless of the cases diagnosed by clinical examines, the numbers of daily emerging cases of China (Hubei province not included), Hubei Province (Wuhan city not included) and Wuhan city reached the peak in the early February. Under the current strength of prevention and control, the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases in overall China will reach 80 417 till February 29, 2020, respectively. Conclusions: The proposed SEIR(+CAQ) dynamic model fits and forecasts the trend of novel coronavirus pneumonia well and provides evidence for decision making.

First Measurement of Λ_{c} Baryon Production in Au+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

We report on the first measurement of the charmed baryon Λ_{c}^{±} production at midrapidity (|y|<1) in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV collected by the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The Λ_{c}/D^{0} [denoting (Λ_{c}^{+}+Λ_{c}^{-})/(D^{0}+D[over ¯]^{0})] yield ratio is measured to be 1.08±0.16  (stat)±0.26  (sys) in the 0%-20% most central Au+Au collisions for the transverse momentum (p_{T}) range 3<p_{T}<6  GeV/c. This is significantly larger than the pythia model calculations for p+p collisions. The measured Λ_{c}/D^{0} ratio, as a function of p_{T} and collision centrality, is comparable to the baryon-to-meson ratios for light and strange hadrons in Au+Au collisions. Model calculations including coalescence hadronization for charmed baryon and meson formation reproduce the features of our measured Λ_{c}/D^{0} ratio.

Extraction of the ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu Antineutrino Spectra at Daya Bay

This Letter reports the first extraction of individual antineutrino spectra from ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu fission and an improved measurement of the prompt energy spectrum of reactor antineutrinos at Daya Bay. The analysis uses 3.5×10^{6} inverse beta-decay candidates in four near antineutrino detectors in 1958 days. The individual antineutrino spectra of the two dominant isotopes, ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu, are extracted using the evolution of the prompt spectrum as a function of the isotope fission fractions. In the energy window of 4-6 MeV, a 7% (9%) excess of events is observed for the ^{235}U (^{239}Pu) spectrum compared with the normalized Huber-Mueller model prediction. The significance of discrepancy is 4.0σ for ^{235}U spectral shape compared with the Huber-Mueller model prediction. The shape of the measured inverse beta-decay prompt energy spectrum disagrees with the prediction of the Huber-Mueller model at 5.3σ. In the energy range of 4-6 MeV, a maximal local discrepancy of 6.3σ is observed.

[Prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children in China: a systematic review and Meta-analysis]

Objective: To understand the prevalence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children in China and provide scientific basis for early prevention and treatment of ADHD in children. Methods: A systematic literature retrieval was conducted by using CNKI, Wanfang data, CBM and VIP databases for the information about the prevalence of ADHD in children in China published from 1979 to 2017. Pubmed database was used to retrieve the literatures about ADHD prevalence in children in China published from 1946 to 2017. The quality of literature was evaluated based on the cross-sectional study criteria according to STROBE statement. Stata 12.0 was used for combined prevalence and subgroup analyses, including gender, regions, publication year, diagnostic criteria, sampling methods, and so on. Egger testing and the evaluation of funnel graph were used to evaluate the publication bias of these literatures, and sensitivity analysis was done by using different models and eliminating the influence of any one of these articles on combined effect value. Results: Twenty articles were included. The total sample size was 88 755, including 46 216 boys and 42 539 girls. The prevalence of ADHD in children in China was 5.6% (95%CI: 5.0%-6.3%). The prevalence was 7.7% (95%CI: 6.7%-8.8%) in boys and 3.4% (95%CI: 3.0%-3.8%) in girls, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). No statistically significance difference in the ADHD prevalence was observed between different regions publication years, diagnostic criteria and sampling methods. Conclusions: The prevalence of ADHD in children in China was high, and boys tended to have a higher prevalence compared with girls. Appropriate screening methods for early detection and intervention conduction of ADHD should be taken among children in China.

Measurement of the Electron Antineutrino Oscillation with 1958 Days of Operation at Daya Bay

We report a measurement of electron antineutrino oscillation from the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment with nearly 4 million reactor ν[over ¯]_{e} inverse β decay candidates observed over 1958 days of data collection. The installation of a flash analog-to-digital converter readout system and a special calibration campaign using different source enclosures reduce uncertainties in the absolute energy calibration to less than 0.5% for visible energies larger than 2 MeV. The uncertainty in the cosmogenic ^{9}Li and ^{8}He background is reduced from 45% to 30% in the near detectors. A detailed investigation of the spent nuclear fuel history improves its uncertainty from 100% to 30%. Analysis of the relative ν[over ¯]_{e} rates and energy spectra among detectors yields sin^{2}2θ_{13}=0.0856±0.0029 and Δm_{32}^{2}=(2.471_{-0.070}^{+0.068})×10^{-3}  eV^{2} assuming the normal hierarchy, and Δm_{32}^{2}=-(2.575_{-0.070}^{+0.068})×10^{-3}  eV^{2} assuming the inverted hierarchy.

[Changes of helper T lymphocytes 17 and regulatory T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with extensive burn at early stage in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident and the significance]

Objective: To explore the changes of helper T lymphocytes 17 (Th17) and regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) in peripheral blood of patients with extensive burn at early stage in August 2nd aluminum dust explosion accident in Kunshan factory (hereinafter referred to as Kunshan explosion accident) and the significance. Methods: Twenty patients with extensive burn in Kunshan explosion accident admitted to our department of burns and plastic surgery were enrolled in burn group, and 10 healthy adult volunteers with no history of smoking were enrolled in healthy control group. Five mL of peripheral venous blood samples were collected from patients in burn group at admission (≤post injury hour 6, PIH 6) and PIH 24, and on post injury day (PID) 7, and from volunteers in healthy control group respectively. The percentages of CD64(+) T lymphocytes, human leukocyte antigen-DR positive (HLA-DR(+) ) T lymphocytes, CD3(+) CD8(-) Th17, and CD4(+) CD25(+) Tregs in peripheral blood T lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometer. Results: (1) The percentages of CD64(+) T lymphocytes in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients in burn group at admission and PIH 24 [(2.35±0.32)% and (4.02±0.15)%] were higher than (0.67±0.11)% of healthy volunteers in healthy control group. The percentage of CD64(+) T lymphocytes in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients in burn group on PID 7 [(0.39±0.25)% ] was lower than that of healthy volunteers in healthy control group. The percentages of HLA-DR(+) T lymphocytes in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients in burn group at admission and PIH 24 [(54±18)% and (72±17)%] were higher than (38±14)% of healthy volunteers in healthy control group. The percentage of HLA-DR(+) T lymphocytes in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients in burn group on PID 7 [(28±15)% ] was lower than that of healthy volunteers in healthy control group. (2) The percentages of CD3(+) CD8(-)Th17 in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients in burn group at admission and PIH 24 [(4.21±0.46)% and (7.38±0.39)%] were higher than (0.98±0.09)% of healthy volunteers in healthy control group. The percentage of CD3(+) CD8(-)Th17 in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients in burn group on PID 7 [(0.81±0.05)% ] was lower than that of healthy volunteers in healthy control group. (3) The percentages of CD4(+) CD25(+) Tregs in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients in burn group at admission and PIH 24, and on PID 7 [(1.78±0.26)%, (1.26±0.37)%, and (0.38±0.03)%] were lower than (3.24±0.52)% of healthy volunteers in healthy control group. Conclusions: The percentage of Th17 in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of patients with extensive burn at early stage in Kunshan explosion accident increased at first and then decreased compared with that of healthy volunteers, indicating that the patients' immune function increased first and then weakened. The percentages of Tregs in peripheral blood T lymphocytes at each time point were lower than the percentage of healthy volunteers, indicating that the patients' immunomodulation gradually weakened after extensive burns.

Functional connection between the stereotyped behavior and the motor front area in children with autism

OBJECT

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is characterized by stereotyped behavior, attention deficit and/or impaired sensory perception to external stimuli. Its neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. In this study we examined the resting-state functional connectivity of the premotor area and investigated its correlation with behavioral variables to determine whether connectivity alterations can distinguish ASD from healthy controls.

METHODS

39 children with ASD and 42 healthy children with matched age, sex and intelligence were recruited. All the 81 subjects had behavioral index evaluation and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. After MRI data preprocessing, the left and right premotor areas were selected as region of interest (ROI) seeds to perform functional connectivity. Groups were compared, and the correlation between functional connectivity and behavioral indicators was analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy controls, ASD children showed significantly increased functional connectivity between the left premotor area and the posterior cingulate gyrus or anterior lobe of wedge, but functional connectivity between the left premotor area and the left insular lobe was decreased (p < 0.05, FDR correction). In addition, the connectivity between the left premotor area and the left insular lobe was negatively correlated with the behavioral scores (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Imbalanced premotor functional connectivity may be one possible mechanism of stereotyped behavior in ASD.

[One patient with chronic refractory wound caused by bamboo sticks in lower leg]

One patient with chronic refractory wound in right lower leg was admitted to our department in June 2017, which experienced repeated ulceration for 4 years. On 4 days post admission, two bamboo sticks were taken out from the deep muscle of the right lower leg. The wound was repaired by perforator flap of posterior tibial artery in the right lower leg. The donor site was covered with split-thickness skin in the upper leg of the same side. On 7 days post operation, the flap and skin graft survived. During follow-up of 12 months, the flap had good appearance. This case suggests that the first thing for the treatment of chronic refractory wound is to find out the cause of wound.

Comparison of Arndt-endobronchial blocker plus laryngeal mask airway with left-sided double-lumen endobronchial tube in one-lung ventilation in thoracic surgery in the morbidly obese

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and performance of Arndt-endobronchial blocker (Arndt) combined with laryngeal mask airway (LMA) compared with left-sided double-lumen endobronchial tube (L-DLT) in morbidly obese patients in one-lung ventilation (OLV). In a prospective, randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial, 80 morbidly obese patients (ASA I-III, aged 20-70) undergoing general anesthesia for elective thoracic surgeries were randomly allocated into groups Arndt (n=40) and L-DLT (n=40). In group Arndt, a LMA™ Proseal was placed followed by an Arndt-endobronchial blocker. In group L-DLT, patients were intubated with a left-sided double-lumen endotracheal tube. Primary endpoints were the airway establishment, ease of insertion, oxygenation, lung collapse and surgical field exposure. Results showed similar ease of airway establishment and tube/device insertion between the two groups. Oxygen arterial pressure (PaO2) of patients in the Arndt group was significantly higher than L-DLT (154±46 vs 105±52 mmHg; P<0.05). Quality of lung collapse and surgical field exposure in the Arndt group was significantly better than L-DLT (effective rate 100 vs 90%; P<0.05). Duration of surgery and anesthesia were significantly shorter in the Arndt group (2.4±1.7 vs 3.1±1.8 and 2.8±1.9 vs 3.8±1.8 h, respectively; P<0.05). Incidence of hoarseness of voice and incidence and severity of throat pain at the post-anesthesia care unit and 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery were significantly lower in the Arndt group (P<0.05). Findings suggested that Arndt-endobronchial blocker combined with LMA can serve as a promising alternative for morbidly obese patients in OLV in thoracic surgery.

A QTL with Major Effect on Reducing Stripe Rust Severity Detected From a Chinese Wheat Landrace

Stripe rust, a devastating disease of wheat worldwide, can be controlled by use of diverse wheat resistance resources. To find new quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to stripe rust, Qing Shumai (a Chinese winter wheat landrace possessing slow rusting resistance) was crossed with the susceptible line Mingxian 169. The parents and 276 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross were evaluated in five environments involving two locations (Gansu and Shandong provinces, China) and four autumn-sown wheat seasons (2008 to 2012). Disease severities on Qing Shumai were lower than 25%, contrasting with approximately 90% on Mingxian 169. The RILs varied in rust intensity in a continuous and monomodal distribution. A bulked segregant analysis approach using 2,344 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers mapped a major QTL to the long arm of chromosome 6D (hereby designated as QYr.cau-6DL). An SSR marker (gpw5179, https://wheat.pw.usda.gov/GG2/index.shtml ) was identified as being tightly linked with QYr.cau-6DL. Combination between QYr.cau-6DL and the stripe rust-resistance gene Yr18 was examined using 160 F_2:3 families of Qing Shumai × RL6058 (a near-isogenic line for Yr18 in the genetic background of the spring wheat Thatcher). The combination elevated the resistance consistently across both winter and spring wheat backgrounds, acting synergistically without undesired epistasis.

Evolution of the Reactor Antineutrino Flux and Spectrum at Daya Bay

The Daya Bay experiment has observed correlations between reactor core fuel evolution and changes in the reactor antineutrino flux and energy spectrum. Four antineutrino detectors in two experimental halls were used to identify 2.2 million inverse beta decays (IBDs) over 1230 days spanning multiple fuel cycles for each of six 2.9 GW_{th} reactor cores at the Daya Bay and Ling Ao nuclear power plants. Using detector data spanning effective ^{239}Pu fission fractions F_{239} from 0.25 to 0.35, Daya Bay measures an average IBD yield σ[over ¯]_{f} of (5.90±0.13)×10^{-43}  cm^{2}/fission and a fuel-dependent variation in the IBD yield, dσ_{f}/dF_{239}, of (-1.86±0.18)×10^{-43}  cm^{2}/fission. This observation rejects the hypothesis of a constant antineutrino flux as a function of the ^{239}Pu fission fraction at 10 standard deviations. The variation in IBD yield is found to be energy dependent, rejecting the hypothesis of a constant antineutrino energy spectrum at 5.1 standard deviations. While measurements of the evolution in the IBD spectrum show general agreement with predictions from recent reactor models, the measured evolution in total IBD yield disagrees with recent predictions at 3.1σ. This discrepancy indicates that an overall deficit in the measured flux with respect to predictions does not result from equal fractional deficits from the primary fission isotopes ^{235}U, ^{239}Pu, ^{238}U, and ^{241}Pu. Based on measured IBD yield variations, yields of (6.17±0.17) and (4.27±0.26)×10^{-43}  cm^{2}/fission have been determined for the two dominant fission parent isotopes ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu. A 7.8% discrepancy between the observed and predicted ^{235}U yields suggests that this isotope may be the primary contributor to the reactor antineutrino anomaly.

Alterations in mechanical properties of the patellar tendon is associated with pain in athletes with patellar tendinopathy

PURPOSE

To compare tendon strain and stiffness between athletes with patellar tendinopathy and healthy controls, and explore whether the intensity of pain and dysfunction were related to the mechanical properties of the tendon.

METHODS

Thirty-four male athletes with patellar tendinopathy and 13 healthy controls matched by age and activity levels were recruited. The in vivo mechanical properties of the patellar tendon were examined by ultrasonography and dynamometry. In subjects with patellar tendinopathy, the intensities of self-perceived pain (maximal pain in the past 7 days and pain during a single-legged declined-squat test) using the visual analogue scale and the assessment of functional disability using the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-patellar questionnaire, were collected.

RESULTS

In subjects with patellar tendinopathy, tendon strain was significantly reduced by 22% (8.9 ± 3.7 vs. 14.3 ± 4.7%, P = 0.005) when compared with healthy controls. There was no significant group difference in tendon stiffness (P = 0.27). Significant negative correlations between tendon strain and the maximal self-perceived pain over 7 days (r = -0.37, P = 0.03), and pain during a single-legged declined-squat test (r = -0.37, P = 0.03) were detected. A trend of significant positive correlation was found between tendon stiffness and pain during a single-legged declined-squat test (r = 0.30, P = 0.09).

CONCLUSION

Our findings show that tendon strain is reduced in athletes with patellar tendinopathy, and a lower tendon strain is associated with a greater magnitude of pain perceived.

Comparison of chemical profiles and effectiveness between Erxian decoction and mixtures of decoctions of its individual herbs: a novel approach for identification of the standard chemicals

Background

Identification of bioactive standard chemicals is a major challenge in the study of the Chinese medicinal formula. In particular, the chemical components may interact differently depending on the preparative methods, therefore affecting the amounts of bioactive components and their pharmacological properties in the medicinal formula. With the use of Erxian decoction (EXD) as a study model—a  well-known Chinese medicinal formula for treating menopausal symptoms, a novel and rapid approach in seeking standard chemicals has been established by differentially comparing the HPLC profiles and the menopause-related biochemical parameters of combined decoction of EXD (EXD-C) and mixtures of the decoctions of its individual herbs (EXD-S).

Methods

The levels of six chemicals, which exerted actions on the HPO axis, have been measured in EXD-C and EXD-S by HPLC. Twelve-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were employed and treated with EXD-C and EXD-S. Their endocrine functions after treatment were evaluated by determining the ovarian mRNA levels of aromatase, a key enzyme for estradiol biosynthesis. The effect of the antioxidant regimen was determined by the hepatic superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx-1) mRNA levels.

Results

The amounts of mangiferine, ferulic acid, jatrorrhizine and palmatine in EXD-S were twofold higher than those in EXD-C. EXD-S was more effective in stimulating ovarian aromatase and the expression of the antioxidant enzymes compared with EXD-C.

Conclusion

Mangiferine, ferulic acid, jatrorrhizine and palmatine are suitable for use as standard chemicals for quality evaluation of EXD according to our approach. EXD-S could be more effective than EXD-C.

Limits on Active to Sterile Neutrino Oscillations from Disappearance Searches in the MINOS, Daya Bay, and Bugey-3 Experiments

Searches for a light sterile neutrino have been performed independently by the MINOS and the Daya Bay experiments using the muon (anti)neutrino and electron antineutrino disappearance channels, respectively. In this Letter, results from both experiments are combined with those from the Bugey-3 reactor neutrino experiment to constrain oscillations into light sterile neutrinos. The three experiments are sensitive to complementary regions of parameter space, enabling the combined analysis to probe regions allowed by the Liquid Scintillator Neutrino Detector (LSND) and MiniBooNE experiments in a minimally extended four-neutrino flavor framework. Stringent limits on sin^{2}2θ_{μe} are set over 6 orders of magnitude in the sterile mass-squared splitting Δm_{41}^{2}. The sterile-neutrino mixing phase space allowed by the LSND and MiniBooNE experiments is excluded for Δm_{41}^{2}<0.8  eV^{2} at 95%  CL_{s}.

Improved Search for a Light Sterile Neutrino with the Full Configuration of the Daya Bay Experiment

This Letter reports an improved search for light sterile neutrino mixing in the electron antineutrino disappearance channel with the full configuration of the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment. With an additional 404 days of data collected in eight antineutrino detectors, this search benefits from 3.6 times the statistics available to the previous publication, as well as from improvements in energy calibration and background reduction. A relative comparison of the rate and energy spectrum of reactor antineutrinos in the three experimental halls yields no evidence of sterile neutrino mixing in the 2×10^{-4}≲|Δm_{41}^{2}|≲0.3  eV^{2} mass range. The resulting limits on sin^{2}2θ_{14} are improved by approx imately a factor of 2 over previous results and constitute the most stringent constraints to date in the |Δm_{41}^{2}|≲0.2  eV^{2} region.

Aggregation of model asphaltenes: a molecular dynamics study

Natural asphaltenes are defined as polyaromatic compounds whose chemical composition and structure are dependent on their geological origin and production history, hence are regarded as complex molecules with aromatic cores and aliphatic tails that occur in the heaviest fraction of crude oil. The aggregation of asphaltenes presents a range of technical challenges to the production and processing of oil. In this work we study the behaviour of the model asphaltene-like molecule hexa-tert-butylhexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HTBHBC) using molecular dynamics simulation. It was found that the regular arrangement of the tert-butyl side chains prevents the formation of strongly-bound dimers by severely restricting the configurational space of the aggregation pathway. In contrast, a modified molecule with only 3 side chains is readily able to form dimers. This work therefore confirms the influence of the molecular structure of polyaromatic compounds on their aggregation mechanism, and reveals the unexpected design rules required for model systems that can mimic the behavior of asphaltenes.

High-Brightness High-Energy Electron Beams from a Laser Wakefield Accelerator via Energy Chirp Control

By designing a structured gas density profile between the dual-stage gas jets to manipulate electron seeding and energy chirp reversal for compressing the energy spread, we have experimentally produced high-brightness high-energy electron beams from a cascaded laser wakefield accelerator with peak energies in the range of 200-600 MeV, 0.4%-1.2% rms energy spread, 10-80 pC charge, and ∼0.2  mrad rms divergence. The maximum six-dimensional brightness B_{6D,n} is estimated as ∼6.5×10^{15}  A/m^{2}/0.1%, which is very close to the typical brightness of e beams from state-of-the-art linac drivers. These high-brightness high-energy e beams may lead to the realization of compact monoenergetic gamma-ray and intense coherent x-ray radiation sources.

Association between TNF-α rs1800629 polymorphism and the risk of myocardial infarction: A meta-analysis

The tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) G-308A polymorphism has been suggested to be a susceptibility factor for myocardial infarction (MI). However, differing results from various studies have led to controversial conclusions. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between TNF-α G-308A polymorphism and MI. Reported studies published before March 30, 2015 were included and analyzed from the PubMed and Embase databases. Study selection and data extraction were carried out independently by two authors. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the association between the selected variables using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v2.2 software. In total, 12 publications with 13 case-control studies consisting of 6037 cases and 7262 controls were included in our meta-analysis. The overall results showed that there was no significant association between TNF-α G-308A polymorphism and MI risk [A vs G: OR = 1.18, 95%CI = 0.94-1.48; AA vs GG: OR = 1.23, 95%CI = 0.74-2.05; GA vs GG: OR = 1.22, 95%CI = 0.98-1.51; (GA+AA) vs G: OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 0.96-1.54; AA vs (GG+GA): OR = 1.16, 95%CI = 0.72-1.88]. However, when subgroup analysis was performed according to the stages of MI, results indicated that there was a significant association between TNF-α G-308A polymorphism and the risk of acute MI. Other subgroup analyses revealed no significant associations. Current evidence suggests that TNF-α G-308A polymorphism may be associated with increased risk for acute MI.

Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure in a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) germplasm collection based on single nucleotide polymorphism markers

Knowledge of genetic diversity is important to assist breeders in the selection of parental materials and in the design of breeding programs. In this study, we genotyped 348 inbred tomato lines, representing vintage and contemporary fresh-market varieties, by using 52 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs); 45 of these were found to be polymorphic. The average minor allele frequency and unbiased expected heterozygosity were 0.315 and 0.356, respectively. Population structure analysis revealed that contemporary germplasm could be distinctly divided into six subpopulations representing three market classes and breeding programs (pink, green, and red). Vintage germplasm could be separated into at least two subpopulations, and more admixtures were found in vintage lines than in contemporary lines. These findings indicate that contemporary inbred lines are more diversified than vintage inbred lines. AMOVA of vintage and contemporary lines was performed. A significant difference was found (P < 0.01), which explained 17.4% of the total genetic variance. Subsequently, we constructed a core collection using 45 polymorphic SNP markers. The data showed that all alleles were captured by only 2% of lines, indicating that more alleles, as well as rare alleles, could enable more variation to be captured in the core collection. These data allow us to discard redundant inbred tomato lines and to select elite inbred lines, which will accelerate the breeding process.

[Safety and efficacy of preoperative induction therapy using a single high dose ATG-F in renal transplantation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials]

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preoperative induction therapy using a single high dose (9 mg/kg) of antithymocyte globulin-Fresenius S (ATG-F) for patients undergoing renal transplantation.

METHODS

Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) on the safety and efficacy of preoperative induction therapy using a single high dose of ATG-F for patients undergoing renal transplantation were searched in Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE covering a period from the beginning of databases to July 2015. The meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.2.

RESULTS

Five RCTs with 346 patients were included in this study. The meta-analysis showed that the incidences of acute rejection for the patients with renal transplantation were 20.6% (37/180) in the induction therapy group using a single high dose of ATG and 42.8% (71/166) in the control group, with a combined relative risk (RR) of 0.49 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of[0.36, 0.69](P<0.000 1). The patient survival rate (1 year: RR=1.02, 95% CI[0.98, 1.06], P=0.43; 5 years: RR=1.01, 95% CI[0.94, 1.08], P=0.83) and the graft survival rate (RR=1.04, 95% CI[0.97, 1.12], P=0.24) of the two groups were similar. The incidences of CMV infection, urinary tract infection, and malignant tumor were also similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The induction therapy using a single high dose of ATG-F significantly reduced the incidence of acute rejection after transplantation and showed no increased incidence of urinary tract infection, CMV infection, or malignant tumor. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that the application of a high dose of ATG-F may be a safe and effective induction therapy.