Associations between apolipoprotein E genotype and circulating F<Subscript>2</Subscript>-isoprostane levels in humans

Apolipoprotein E (apoE), an important determinant of plasma lipoprotein metabolism, has three common alleles (ε2, ε3, and ε4). Population studies have shown that the risk of diseases characterized by oxidative damage, such as coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease, is significantly higher in ɛ4 carriers. We evaluated the association between apoE genotypes and plasma F₂-isoprostane levels, an index of lipid peroxidation, in humans. Two hundred seventy-four healthy subjects (104 males, 170 females; 46.9±13.0 yr; 200 whites, 74 blacks; 81 nonsmokers, 64 passive smokers, and 129 active smokers) recruited for a randomized clinical antioxidant intervention trial were included in this analysis. ApoE genotype was determined by PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. Free plasma F₂-isoprostane was measured by GC-MS. Genotype groups were compared using multiple regression analysis with adjustment for sex, age, race, smoking status, body mass index, plasma ascorbic acid, and β-carotene. Subjects with ε3/ε4 and ε4/ε4 genotype (ε4-carriers) and with ε2/ε3 and ε3/ε3 (non-ε4-carriers) were pooled for analysis. In subjects with high cholesterol levels (total cholesterol above 200 mg/dl), plasma F₂-isoprostane levels were 29% higher in ε4 carriers than in non-ε4-carriers (P=0.0056). High-cholesterol subjects that are ε4 carriers have significantly higher levels of lipid peroxidation as assessed by circulating F₂-isoprostane levels.     

气候变化背景下流域生态需水预估−以好溪流域为例

为探究未来气候变化对流域生态需水量的影响,保障河流生态需水量,针对好溪流域进行生态需水量计算 及预测。基于好溪流域气象数据及下垫面条件建立流域生态需水模型,并根据 GF1-WFV 遥感影像数据订正后的 地表反射率和作物种植结构提升模型模拟精度。选择 CanESM2气候模式下的 RCP2.6、RCP4.5 和 RCP8.5 这 3 种 排放情景,建立气候变化背景下流域生态需水预测方法,计算现状年并预测未来年份的生态需水量及生态需水保 障程度。结果表明,基于光学遥感影像进行数据订正后,模型模拟精度有所提升,率定期的模型精度 R2从 0.80 提 升为 0.85,验证期的 R2从 0.75 提升至 0.78。应用提升精度后的模型进行生态需水预测,在 RCP2.6、RCP4.5 和 RCP8.5 情景下,2025—2100 年的年均生态需水分别增加了 0.27 亿、0.21 亿和 0.29 亿 m3,其中 RCP8.5 情景下生态 需水保障程度最高,RCP4.5 情景下生态需水保障程度最低。     

基于云模型的山东省干旱时空分布特征

基于山东省 29 个气象站 1951—2017 年的实测气象数据,主要采用降水量距平百分率作为气象干旱等级评 价指标,通过云模型分析山东省干旱时空分布的均匀性和稳定性特征,并采用 ArcGIS 的反距离权重法分析不同 时间尺度下的干旱频次空间分布特征。结果表明：山东省降水量距平百分率呈逐年波动式下降趋势,但下降趋势 不明显,干旱发生具有明显的季节性,呈现出季节性连旱现象;从时间尺度来看,年尺度上干旱分布的模糊性和随 机性较小,干旱的确定性更容易度量,干旱分布不均匀性的稳定程度较低;对季节间云数字特征的对比显示,多年 来冬、秋季干旱分布的模糊性和随机性较大,冬季干旱分布的确定性最难以度量;在稳定性方面秋季最稳定,春季 次之,夏季最不稳定;在空间尺度上,鲁西北地区发生干旱、严重干旱和特大干旱的频次最高;发生轻度干旱的频 次最高区位于胶东半岛,鲁南地区次之;发生中度干旱的频次最高区位于鲁中地区,鲁南地区次之;由超熵值大小 判定干旱分布不均匀性的稳定程度,表现为鲁西北地区最稳定,鲁中地区次之,胶东半岛最不稳定;从干旱分布的 均匀性分析得出鲁西南地区干旱分布最不均匀,鲁西北地区干旱分布最均衡;山东省干旱频次在空间上的分布表 现为春旱和冬旱呈从西北向东南递减的趋势,秋旱比较严重。云模型针对半湿润地区的干旱分布具有较好的应 用前景。     

冲积河流推移质输沙最优河道形态影响因素理论分析

为从理论上确定水沙动力、阻力和边界条件对冲积河流推移质输沙最优河道形态和最小比降的影响,基于 水力半径分割方法将河床整体糙率划分为河岸糙率和河底糙率;采用河道形态自动调整变分方法,以等腰梯形为 河道过水断面,推导推移质输沙率与河道形态的关系,分析河岸与河底相对糙率、河岸坡角、流量、输沙率、中值 粒径和河底糙率对最优河道形态和最小比降的影响。结果表明：最优河道形态和最小比降随河岸与河底相对糙 率的增大而减小,随河岸坡角的增大而增大。流量或者河底糙率的增加将使最小比降减小,同时造成最优河道形 态趋向窄深。输沙率或者中值粒径的增加将使最小比降增大,但两者对最优河道形态演变的影响不同,输沙率增 大将使最优河道形态向宽浅发展,而中值粒径增加将使最优河道形态向窄深发展。     

中国经济社会消费水量、效率及其未来极值

为客观评估消费环节的真实水量消费和用水效率,在虚拟水分析的基础上研究经济社会消费水量。基于国 家和各省水资源投入产出表,构建虚拟水通量以及综合用水效率评价模型,评估 2007、2012、2017 年我国 31 个省 （自治区、直辖市）虚拟水通量、经济社会消费水量及其综合效率,并对未来经济社会消费水量极值进行预测。结 果表明：国内虚拟水输入区向高收入区域聚集,虚拟水输出区向水资源密集型产品生产地聚集,考虑虚拟水流通 后,各省（自治区、直辖市）综合用水效率具有趋同性特征,人均综合消费水量与经济发展水平呈较好的对数关系, 经济越发达、居民生活水平越高,人均综合消费水量越高;由于国际贸易商品结构变化,2012 年之前我国经济社 会用水量高于经济社会水消费量,之后后者超过前者,预期在 2035—2040 年我国经济社会消费水量将达到 6?907 亿 m 3极值,比经济社会用水量高 427 亿 m 3。经济社会用水量和经济社会消费水量分别反映生产端和消费端用水 规模,随着经济社会生活水平提升以及生产结构和贸易结构的转变,经济社会消费水量超过经济社会用水量规模 将日趋扩大,二者差额主要通过虚拟水解决,需要合理优化商品进出口结构,避免大宗进口引发经济和社会风险。     

水-能源-碳排放复杂关系研究进展及展望

系统梳理水-能-碳复杂关系的概念内涵,认为其本质是水资源、能源以及碳排放在整个产品生命周期过程 中的相互关系。回顾了复杂关系的近今进展,可将评估方法归纳为基于耦合关联视角的评估、基于整体协同视角 的评估、基于风险与韧性视角的评估以及基于土地利用视角的综合评估。在此基础上,建议未来应重点关注 4 个 前沿议题,即基于水-能-碳承载力的国土空间优化研究、水-能-碳视角下资源消耗与经济增长脱钩分析、水-能-碳 复杂关系确定性与不确定性量化分析以及水-能-碳工程措施助力“负排放”,旨在通过水-能-碳系统协同管理推动 绿色高质量发展。     

Bit-level systolic arrays for modular multiplication

This paper presents bit-level cellular arrays implementing Blakley's algorithm for multiplication of twon-bit integers modulo anothern-bit integer. The semi-systolic version uses 3n(n+3) single-bit carry save adders and 2n copies of 3-bit carry look-ahead logic, and computes a pair of binary numbers (C, S) in 3n clock cycles such thatC+S[0, 2N). The carry look-ahead logic is used to estimate the sign of the partial product, which is needed during the reduction process. The final result in the correct range [0,N) can easily be obtained by computingC+S andC+S–N, and selecting the latter if it is positive; otherwise, the former is selected. We construct a localized process dependence graph of this algorithm, and introduce a systolic array containing 3nw simple adder cells. The latency of the systolic array is 6n+w–2, wherew=n/2. The systolic version does not require broadcast and can be used to efficiently compute several modular multiplications in a pipelined fashion, producing a result in every clock cycle.     

Consensus control of multi‑manipulator systems based on disturbance observer under Markov switching topologies

In this paper, to solve the consensus control problem of multi-manipulator systems under Markov switching topologies, we propose a distributed consensus control strategy based on disturbance observer. In multi-manipulator systems, external disturbance described by heterogeneous exogenous systems is considered, and all communication topologies are directed. First, a disturbance observer is presented to suppress the influence of unknown external disturbance, and the equivalent compensation is introduced into the control protocol in multi-manipulator systems. Then, a novel control protocol based on neighbor information is designed, which guarantees that multi-manipulator systems reach consensus under Markov switching topologies. Finally, two simulation examples verify the validity of the theoretical result.     

Der Umgang mit „second victims“ als organisationsethische Aufgabe

Background and purpose

Adverse events and medical errors can have severe consequences for patients (“first victims”), but also for the involved health care professionals (“second victims”). Don Berwick, former director of the Boston Institute for Healthcare Improvement (USA), highlighted the support for “second victims” as an “ethical issue”. But there is no clarity about what “ethical issue” implies. This article aims to clarify this question from the perspective of organizational ethics.

Method

Starting with data from the literature, challenges are described and evaluated from the perspective of organizational ethics.

Results

Evidence suggests that current approaches for supporting “second victims” are not sufficiently effective to help professionals to cope with the psychological consequences of adverse patient events and medical errors. This not only has negative consequences for the involved professionals, but can also put patient safety again at risk. In the light of these data, an organizational ethics approach is needed to comply with Don Berwick’s claim to consider the support of “second victims” as an “ethical issue”. This approach fosters the congruence of the organization’s values that are declared and those that are practiced. Its normative foundation is rooted in the organization’s duty of care both for the patients and for the employees.

Conclusions

Using organizational ethics it is possible to conceptualize and visualize the support for “second victims” as a binding component of the safety culture of the organization. It is translated into the organization’s obligation to raise the awareness for the phenomenon and to provide the resources necessary to deal effectively with it, e.?g., evidence-based ethical guidelines, standardized procedures, staff training, and low-threshold coaching programs.

     

PID auf Aneuploidie des Embryos?

Definition of problem

At least in some cases, testing for aneuploidy as part of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can be medically useful for pregnancy care. The current legal situation in Germany seems to not generally exclude PGD to detect a maldistribution of chromosomes in an embryo, but testing would require approval by a PGD ethics committee on a case-by-case basis and a well-reasoned application by the concerned woman. This article examines ethically and legally whether fundamental reasons prevent PGD commissions from admitting requests to perform aneuploidy tests as part of PGD.

Arguments

Three constellations – each with differing ethical implications – can be distinguished in which testing for aneuploidy could be considered or could occur: Testing for aneuploidy can (i) be the main reason for in vitro fertilization (IVF), which in itself is not medically indicated; (ii) IVF is done as infertility treatment in which case PGD and aneuploidy testing could be done additionally; or (iii) PGD with IVF is indicated in order to prevent a congenital disease or chromosomal aberration leading to a diagnosis of aneuploidy as an incidental or additional finding. Ethical arguments which could lead to a general rejection of aneuploidy testing are the prevention of discrimination against people with aneuploidy, as well as the protection of embryos. These concerns oppose constellation (i), but do not apply to (ii) and (iii). Yet there are at least three ethical arguments in favour of an admissibility of a request for aneuploidy testing: the “good practice” of IVF, the duty to the emerging child and the parent’s right to have a voice in the discussion.

Conclusion

Aneuploidy testing as part of PGD is not ruled out by legal or ethical reasons and should be openly discussed by the relevant German ethics commissions.