Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and system inflammation response index (SIRI) have been recently investigated as novel inflammatory and prognostic markers. Our study aimed to investigate the ...relationship between SII and SIRI index and severity of stroke, and to analyze the prognostic value in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.
The SII is defined as platelet×(neutrophil count/lymphocyte count), SIRI is defined as neutrophil count×(monocyte count/lymphocyte count). We plotted receiver operating characteristic curves of SII and SIRI for poor outcomes and calculated area under the curve (AUC) values and cutoff values. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between SII/SIRI index and poor functional outcome.
We included 234 AIS patients mean age 69 (57-78) years; 50.4% male. Both SII and SIRI were higher in the moderate-to-severe stroke group than in the mild stroke group 932.73 (569.84-1610.90) vs. 581.21 (386.98-1015.59), P <0.001 and 2.00 (1.24-3.13) vs. 1.35 (0.83-1.92), P <0.001. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (area under the curve) value of SII (0.678, 0.608-0.748, P <0.001) tested a similar discriminatory ability compared with SIRI (0.682, 95% CI (0.612-0.751), P <0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that SII was significantly associated with poor prognosis at discharge of AIS patients adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.350 (1.149-4.803), P =0.019), conversely, SIRI had no prognostic value.
Higher SII and SIRI indexes were correlated with greater risk of stroke severity, meanwhile SII could be useful for predicting adverse clinical outcomes after AIS.
•We employed metafrontier analysis to account for technology heterogeneities.•The potential CO2 emission reduction is estimated to be 1687million tons per year.•Over half of the potential CO2 ...emission reduction is attributed to technology gap.
Taking the underlying technology heterogeneity into account, this paper uses a nonparametric metafrontier approach to estimate the CO2 emission efficiency and the potential emission reduction of China’s 30 provinces for the period 2006–2010. The sources of the potential emission reduction are identified as managerial failure and technology gap. The proposed models are estimated using linear programming method. The main findings are as follows. Firstly, the potential CO2 emission reduction is averagely 56.2million tons for each province, and 1687million tons for the whole country. Secondly, over half of the potential emission reduction is caused by technology gap. Thirdly, the major contributor to the potential emission reduction varies across different regions, as management inefficiency for the east area and technology gap for the central and west areas.
In Vehicular Ad hoc NETworks (VANETs), authentication is a crucial security service for both inter-vehicle and vehicle-roadside communications. On the other hand, vehicles have to be protected from ...the misuse of their private data and the attacks on their privacy, as well as to be capable of being investigated for accidents or liabilities from non-repudiation. In this paper, we investigate the authentication issues with privacy preservation and non-repudiation in VANETs. We propose a novel framework with preservation and repudiation (ACPN) for VANETs. In ACPN, we introduce the public-key cryptography (PKC) to the pseudonym generation, which ensures legitimate third parties to achieve the non-repudiation of vehicles by obtaining vehicles' real IDs. The self-generated PKCbased pseudonyms are also used as identifiers instead of vehicle IDs for the privacy-preserving authentication, while the update of the pseudonyms depends on vehicular demands. The existing ID-based signature (IBS) scheme and the ID-based online/offline signature (IBOOS) scheme are used, for the authentication between the road side units (RSUs) and vehicles, and the authentication among vehicles, respectively. Authentication, privacy preservation, non-repudiation and other objectives of ACPN have been analyzed for VANETs. Typical performance evaluation has been conducted using efficient IBS and IBOOS schemes. We show that the proposed ACPN is feasible and adequate to be used efficiently in the VANET environment.
Three-dimensional graphene-based materials (3D GBMs) not only possess the intrinsic properties of individual 2D graphene sheet but also provide some new collective physicochemical properties such as ...high porosity, low density, large specific surface area, excellent mechanical properties, unique electrochemical performance and so on. Benefiting from those properties and the unique structure, 3D GBMs are attractive for a broad range of applications. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in the synthesis of 3D GBMs and their applications in energy conversion/storage and environment fields. The challenges and future outlook are also discussed.
Benefiting from those properties and the unique structure, three-dimensional graphene-based materials are attractive for a broad range of applications, especially in energy conversion/storage and environment fields. Display omitted
Sarvāstivāda Abhidharma treatises started to be carefully studied and commented on by monks in early medieval China with the translation of hṛdaya treatises, the *Aṣṭagrantha, and the *Vibhāṣas. ...However, with the “new” translations undertaken by Xuanzang and his clique, these were regarded as “old” translations and the thoughts of these scholars were gradually marginalized. Examining a doctrinal debate in Puguang’s Jushe lun ji, this article delves into the construction of authority by Xuanzang and his disciples in the field of Abhidharma. In this debate, Puguang criticizes Zhinian’s viewpoint solely based on its similarity with the view of “westerners” (xifang shi). The evidence Puguang presents is a quote from the newly translated *Mahavibhāṣa, which he uses to extol the value of Xuanzang’s “new” translation. It shows how Xuanzang and his team use the orthodoxy constructed by Kashmiri Vaibhāsikas to justify their own authority. Their success comes at a sacrifice of diversity of Abhidharma studies in China.
Abstract
Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel β-coronavirus, causes severe pneumonia and has spread throughout the globe rapidly. The disease associated ...with SARS-CoV-2 infection is named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To date, real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the only test able to confirm this infection. However, the accuracy of RT-PCR depends on several factors; variations in these factors might significantly lower the sensitivity of detection.
Methods
In this study, we developed a peptide-based luminescent immunoassay that detected immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM. The assay cutoff value was determined by evaluating the sera from healthy and infected patients for pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2.
Results
To evaluate assay performance, we detected IgG and IgM in the sera from confirmed patients. The positive rate of IgG and IgM was 71.4% and 57.2%, respectively.
Conclusions
Therefore, combining our immunoassay with real-time RT-PCR might enhance the diagnostic accuracy of COVID-19.
A peptide-based magnetic chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was developed; 71.4% (197 of 276) and 57.2% (158 of 276) of the COVID-19 inpatients were positive for IgG and IgM against SARS-CoV-2.
The purpose of this study was to investigate early clinical and CT manifestations of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia.
Patients with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by severe acute respiratory ...syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleic acid test (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) were enrolled in this retrospective study. The clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and CT findings were evaluated.
One hundred eight patients (38 men, 70 women; age range, 21-90 years) were included in the study. The clinical manifestations were fever in 94 of 108 (87%) patients, dry cough in 65 (60%), and fatigue in 42 (39%). The laboratory results were normal WBC count in 97 (90%) patients and normal or reduced lymphocyte count in 65 (60%). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was elevated in 107 (99%) patients. The distribution of involved lobes was one lobe in 38 (35%) patients, two or three lobes in 24 (22%), and four or five lobes in 46 (43%). The major involvement was peripheral (97 patients 90%), and the common lesion shape was patchy (93 patients 86%). Sixty-five (60%) patients had ground-glass opacity (GGO), and 44 (41%) had GGO with consolidation. The size of lesions varied from smaller than 1 cm (10 patients 9%) to larger than 3 cm (56 patients 52%). Vascular thickening (86 patients 80%), crazy paving pattern (43 patients 40%), air bronchogram sign (52 patients 48%), and halo sign (69 64%) were also observed in this study.
The early clinical and laboratory findings of COVID-19 pneumonia are low to midgrade fever, dry cough, and fatigue with normal WBC count, reduced lymphocyte count, and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level. The early CT findings are patchy GGO with or without consolidation involving multiple lobes, mainly in the peripheral zone, accompanied by halo sign, vascular thickening, crazy paving pattern, or air bronchogram sign.
This paper presents a wavelet fuzzy neural network (WFNN) structure for identifying and controlling nonlinear dynamic systems. The proposed WFNN is constructed on the base of a set of fuzzy rules. ...Each rule includes a wavelet function in the consequent part of the rules. A training algorithm adopting a gradient descent method is employed to identify the unknown parameters in the WFNN. For the control problem, a WFNN-based predictive control (WFNNPC) law is derived via a generalized predictive performance criterion, and the control algorithm is proven to guarantee the convergence of the WFNNPC controller. The conditions of the stability analysis of the resulting control system are presented based on the Lyapunov stability theorem. Finally, the WFNN is applied in numerical simulations and experiments (identification and control of nonlinear dynamic systems and a physical positioning mechanism). The results confirm the effectiveness of the WFNN.
Plant exosome-like nanovesicles, being innately replete with bioactive lipids, proteins, RNA, and other pharmacologically active molecules, offer unique morphological and compositional ...characteristics as natural nanocarriers. Furthermore, their compelling physicochemical traits underpin their modulative role in physiological processes, all of which have fostered the concept that these nanovesicles may be highly proficient in the development of next-generation biotherapeutic and drug delivery nanoplatforms to meet the ever-stringent demands of current clinical challenges. This review systemically deals with various facets of plant exosome-like nanovesicles ranging from their origin and isolation to identification of morphological composition, biological functions, and cargo-loading mechanisms. Efforts are made to encompass their biotherapeutic roles by elucidating their immunological modulating, anti-tumor, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory roles. We also shed light on re-engineering these nanovesicles into robust, innocuous, and non-immunogenic nanovectors for drug delivery through multiple stringent biological hindrances to various targeted organs such as intestine and brain. Finally, recent advances centered around plant exosome-like nanovesicles along with new insights into transdermal, transmembrane and targeting mechanisms of these vesicles are also elucidated. We expect that the continuing development of plant exosome-like nanovesicle-based therapeutic and delivery nanoplatforms will promote their clinical applications.
Display omitted
Herein, the origin, fabrication, and characterization of plant exosome-like nanovesicles (PELNVs) are reviewed. The unique features, therapeutic effects, and re-engineering of PELNVs into nanoplatforms for delivering functional biomacromolecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins for the treatment of immunological disease, inflammation, and cancer, among others, are also summarized and prospected.
In order to improve the evaluation effect of the balance of land use space, this paper uses computer intelligence technology to assist land space observation and provide basic data for land space ...planning. Moreover, this paper analyzes the existing land space assessment algorithms, identifies the shortcomings of the traditional algorithms, and improves the traditional methods by combining random forest classification and image texture features. In addition, this paper builds a regional collaborative remote sensing observation model based on the improved algorithm. Furthermore, after the system structure is constructed, the system performance is tested by the simulation method, and the system performance is verified by the experimental analysis method. Finally, the validity of the improved algorithm in this paper is also verified by simulation experiments, and the validity of the model in this paper is verified. The research shows that the method proposed in this paper has certain reliability.
PDF
