Can the activities of the large scale cortical network be expressed by neural energy? A brief review

This paper mainly discusses and summarize that the changes of biological energy in the brain can be expressed by the biophysical energy we constructed. Different from the electrochemical energy, the biophysical energy proposed in the paper not only can be used to simulate the activity of neurons but also be used to simulate the neural activity of large scale cortical networks, so that the scientific nature of the neural energy coding was discussed.     

中亚热带东部三种主要木本群落土壤呼吸的研究

研究中亚热带东部青冈（Ｑｕｅｒｃｕｓｇｌａｕｃａ）常绿阔叶林、毛竹（Ｐｈｙｌｏｓｔａｃｈｙｓｐｕｂｅｓｃｅｎｓ）林和茶（Ｃａｍｅｌｉａｓｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ）园土壤呼吸与土壤温度、土壤含水率的关系,建立了土壤呼吸速率与地表温度的模型,根据气象资料估算得到青冈常绿阔叶林、毛竹林、茶园的年均土壤ＣＯ２呼吸量,３种群落依次为２４．１２、３０．７７、２８．５５ｔ／ｈｍ２·ａ,进一步估算出浙江省常绿阔叶林、毛竹林和茶园每年土壤ＣＯ２排放量,分别为９．２７×１０６、１．３６×１０７、７．１６×１０６ｔ／ａ     

外周血NETs、TP53、STAT3表达与弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤临床病理及预后的关系分析

摘要 目的：探究外周血中性粒细胞胞外诱捕网（NETs）、TP53、信号转导与转录因子3（STAT3）表达与弥漫性大B细胞淋巴瘤（DLBCL）临床病理及预后的关系。方法：选取2020年3月-2021年12月收治的71例DLBCL患者作为研究对象,抽取患者外周静脉血,采用R-CHOP方案进行治疗,记录患者外周血NETs、TP53、STAT3表达情况并分析DLBCL患者外周血NETs、TP53、STAT3表达与其临床病理及预后的关系。结果：髓细胞组织增生蛋白（MYC）阳性在TP53阳性中的占比显著高于TP53阴性,差异有统计学意义（x²=28.844,P＜0.001）;Hans分型生发中心B细胞（GCB）在STAT3阳性中的占比显著高于STAT3阴性（x²=4.331,P=0.037）,其余差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;随访截止至2022年6月,随访时长8~28个月,71例患者中共53例缓解DLBCL患者,其余18例为R/R DLBCL患者;NETs阳性、TP53阳性、STAT3阳性患者无进展生存期（PFS）显著低于NETs阴性、TP53阴性、STAT3阴性患者,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）且NETs阳性、TP53阳性、STAT3阳性患者存活率均低于NETs阴性、TP53阴性、STAT3阴性患者（P<0.05）;单因素分析结果显示Ann Arbor分期、NETs、TP53、STAT3为DLBCL患者的影响因素（P<0.05）;以患者预后情况（R/R DLBCL=1,缓解DLBCL=0）为因变量,将Ann Arbor分期、NETs、TP53、STAT3单因素分析有统计学意义的因素纳入COX回归模型中,结果显示：NETs、TP53、STAT3为DLBCL患者预后的危险因素（P<0.05）。结论：TP53、STAT3表达与DLBCL临床病理存在一定相关性,临床应对DLBCL患者TP53、STAT3表达情况引起重视;NETs、TP53、STAT3表达为DLBCL预后的危险因素,可作为DLBCL患者不良预后的预测指标。     

Water chemistry of Lake Ladoga and Russian-Finnish intercalibration of analyses

As part of the Russian-Finnish research studies on Lake Ladoga, joint expeditions were organized in 1992 and 1993. Water samples were collected for intercalibration of chemical analysis methods and to monitor the chemical quality of the lake water.In August of 1992 water samples were taken from northern Lake Ladoga for intercalibration of Russian and Finnish analysis methods. In August 1993 water samples were collected from 23 sampling stations in all parts of the lake; some of these were also used for intercalibration purposes.The oxygen, colour and COD_Mn results were at the same level in the intercalibration. In 1993, the P_tot results obtained were acceptable. In N_tot, Fe and Mn analysis there seemed to be systematic and random errors between some results.The Secchi depth ranged from 1.5 m to 3.3 m. The average concentrations for the total phosphorus ranged from 15 µg 1^–1 to 29 µg 1^–1. The total nitrogen values were from 620 µg 1^–1 to 690 µg 1^–1. The N:P ratio varied from 24 to 40. The concentration of phosphorus indicated mesotrophic or even eutrophic conditions in the lake. Phosphorus seemed to be the limiting nutrient to bacteria and algae.     

A simulation approach for power calculation in large cohort studies based on multistate models

Realistic power calculations for large cohort studies and nested case control studies are essential for successfully answering important and complex research questions in epidemiology and clinical medicine. For this, we provide a methodical framework for general realistic power calculations via simulations that we put into practice by means of an R‐based template. We consider staggered recruitment and individual hazard rates, competing risks, interaction effects, and the misclassification of covariates. The study cohort is assembled with respect to given age‐, gender‐, and community distributions. Nested case‐control analyses with a varying number of controls enable comparisons of power with a full cohort analysis. Time‐to‐event generation under competing risks, including delayed study‐entry times, is realized on the basis of a six‐state Markov model. Incidence rates, prevalence of risk factors and prefixed hazard ratios allow for the assignment of age‐dependent transition rates given in the form of Cox models. These provide the basis for a central simulation‐algorithm, which is used for the generation of sample paths of the underlying time‐inhomogeneous Markov processes. With the inclusion of frailty terms into the Cox models the Markov property is specifically biased. An “individual Markov process given frailty” creates some unobserved heterogeneity between individuals. Different left‐truncation‐ and right‐censoring patterns call for the use of Cox models for data analysis. p‐values are recorded over repeated simulation runs to allow for the desired power calculations. For illustration, we consider scenarios with a “testing” character as well as realistic scenarios. This enables the validation of a correct implementation of theoretical concepts and concrete sample size recommendations against an actual epidemiological background, here given with possible substudy designs within the German National Cohort.     

The ecological impact of bush encroachment on the yield of grasses in Borana rangeland ecosystem

The ecological impact of woody encroachment and the responses of herbage yield to encroachment were assessed at three locations in Borana rangeland at the end of the growing season. The study was carried out in two communal grazing areas (Medhecho and Dubluk) and one Government ranch (Dida‐Tuyura) in bush and/or shrub encroached and non‐encroached sites. In each area, three altitude ranges were distinguished and in each altitude range one transect, covering both encroached and non‐encroached rangeland, was selected. The assessment was based on the yield and botanical composition of the herbaceous layer. The grasses Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon aucheri and Panicum coloratum were common or dominant in both encroached and non‐encroached sites. Pennisetum mezianum and Pennise‐tum stramineum were typically found in encroached vegetation. The relative yield increased with non‐encroached sites and varied at different altitude ranges from about 106% to about 150%, thus increases ranged from 75% in Medhecho to 350% in Dubluk as determined from the lower values of the ranges. The encroached vegetation had a significantly lower score for herbage yield than the non‐encroached vegetation for most of the sites, although the differences were small. Differences based on altitude range were also significant for Eragrostis papposa and Pennisetum stramineum, while the three areas showed a significant difference for the mean yield of Aristida adscensionis, Cenchrus ciliaris and Eragrostis papposa.     

Changes in bird communities in Swaziland savannas between 1998 and 2008 owing to shrub encroachment

Aim This study investigates changes in bird communities between 1998 and 2008 in four savanna sites in Swaziland and the extent to which shrub encroachment is responsible for these changes. Location Swaziland, southern Africa. Methods Generalized estimated equations were used to estimate changes in bird species occurrence between 1998 and 2008. Remote sensing of aerial photographs/satellite images was used to assess vegetation changes during the same period. We assessed the role of shrub encroachment for bird communities by testing the relationship between change in species occurrence and species habitat using a general linear model. We also estimated species richness, colonization and extinction and used general linear models to test the effects of vegetation changes on these parameters. Results More than half of the bird species showed a significant change in occurrence between 1998 and 2008: 32 species increased and 29 decreased. Change in species occurrence was significantly explained by species habitat. Species significantly increasing were mainly associated with wooded savanna, whereas species significantly decreasing were mainly associated with open savanna. Species richness decreased significantly, and this decrease was significantly explained by shrub cover increase at the plot scale (from 24% to 44% on average). Extinction at the plot scale was significantly influenced by the loss of grass cover, while colonization at the plot scale was influenced by tree cover increase. Main conclusions This study represents the first evidence of temporal changes in bird communities owing to shrub encroachment in southern Africa. Despite its short time frame (10 years), this study shows dramatic changes in both vegetation structure and bird community composition. This confirms the general concern for southern African bird species associated with open savanna if current trends continue.     

Reduction of SOST gene promotes bone formation through the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway and compensates particle-induced osteolysis

The increase in bone resorption and/or the inhibition of bone regeneration caused by wear particles are the main causes of periprosthetic osteolysis. The SOST gene and Sclerostin, a protein synthesized by the SOST gene, are the characteristic marker of osteocytes and regulate bone formation and resorption. We aimed to verify whether the SOST gene was involved in osteolysis induced by titanium (Ti) particles and to investigate the effects of SOST reduction on osteolysis. The results showed osteolysis on the skull surface with an increase of sclerostin levels after treated with Ti particles. Similarly, sclerostin expression in MLO-Y4 osteocytes increased when treated with Ti particles in vitro. After reduction of SOST, local bone mineral density and bone volume increased, while number of lytic pores on the skull surface decreased and the erodibility of the skull surface was compensated. Histological analyses revealed that SOST reduction increased significantly alkaline phosphatase- (ALP) and osterix-positive expression on the skull surface which promoted bone formation. ALP activity and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells also increased in vitro when SOST was silenced, even if treated with Ti particles. In addition, Ti particles decreased β-catenin expression with an increase in sclerostin levels, in vivo and in vitro. Inversely, reduction of SOST expression increased β-catenin expression. In summary, our results suggested that reduction of SOST gene can activate the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, promoting bone formation and compensated for bone loss induced by Ti particles. Thus, this study provided new perspectives in understanding the mechanisms of periprosthetic osteolysis.