Shanghai Jiao Tong University

About: Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a education organization based out in Shanghai, Shanghai, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 157524 authors who have published 184620 publications receiving 3451038 citations. The organization is also known as: Shanghai Communications University & Shanghai Jiaotong University.

Rapid blood-pressure lowering in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage

Abstract: Background Whether rapid lowering of elevated blood pressure would improve the outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage is not known. Methods We randomly assigned 2839 patients who had had a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage within the previous 6 hours and who had elevated systolic blood pressure to receive intensive treatment to lower their blood pressure (with a target systolic level of <140 mm Hg within 1 hour) or guideline-recommended treatment (with a target systolic level of <180 mm Hg) with the use of agents of the physician’s choosing. The primary outcome was death or major disability, which was defined as a score of 3 to 6 on the modified Rankin scale (in which a score of 0 indicates no symptoms, a score of 5 indicates severe disability, and a score of 6 indicates death) at 90 days. A prespecified ordinal analysis of the modified Rankin score was also performed. The rate of serious adverse events was compared between the two groups. Results Among the 2794 participants for whom the primary outcome could be determined, 719 of 1382 participants (52.0%) receiving intensive treatment, as compared with 785 of 1412 (55.6%) receiving guideline-recommended treatment, had a primary outcome event (odds ratio with intensive treatment, 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 1.01; P = 0.06). The ordinal analysis showed significantly lower modi fied Rankin scores with intensive treatment (odds ratio for greater disability, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.00; P = 0.04). Mortality was 11.9% in the group receiving intensive treatment and 12.0% in the group receiving guideline-recommended treatment. Nonfatal serious adverse events occurred in 23.3% and 23.6% of the patients in the two groups, respectively. Conclusions In patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, intensive lowering of blood pressure did not result in a significant reduction in the rate of the primary outcome of death or severe disability. An ordinal analysis of modified Rankin scores indi cated improved functional outcomes with intensive lowering of blood pressure. (Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia; INTERACT2 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00716079.)

First result from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station: precision measurement of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays of 0.5-350 GeV.

Abstract: A precision measurement by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays in the energy range from 0.5 to 350 GeV based on 6.8 × 10(6) positron and electron events is presented. The very accurate data show that the positron fraction is steadily increasing from 10 to ∼ 250 GeV, but, from 20 to 250 GeV, the slope decreases by an order of magnitude. The positron fraction spectrum shows no fine structure, and the positron to electron ratio shows no observable anisotropy. Together, these features show the existence of new physical phenomena.

Synchronization in scale-free dynamical networks: robustness and fragility

Abstract: Recently, it has been demonstrated that many large complex networks display a scale-free feature, that is, their connectivity distributions are in the power-law form. In this paper, we investigate the synchronization phenomenon in scale-free dynamical networks. We show that if the coupling strength of a scale-free dynamical network is greater than a positive threshold, then the network will synchronize no matter how large it is. We show that the synchronizability of a scale-free dynamical network is robust against random removal of nodes, but is fragile to specific removal of the most highly connected nodes.

Circulating microRNA: a novel potential biomarker for early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in humans

Abstract: Aims MicroRNA (miRNA) is reported to be present in the blood of humans and has been increasingly suggested as a biomarker for diseases. We aim to determine the potential of cardiac-specific miRNAs in circulation to serve as biomarkers for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods and results By verifying their tissue expression patterns with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, muscle-enriched miRNAs (miR-1, miR-133a, and miR-499) and cardiac-specific miR-208a were selected as candidates for this study. With miRNA microarray and real-time PCR analyses, miR-1, miR-133a, and miR-499 were present with very low abundance, and miR-208a was absent in the plasma from healthy people. In the AMI rats, the plasma levels of these miRNAs were significantly increased. Especially, miR-208a in plasma was undetected at 0 h, but was significantly increased to a detectable level as early as 1 h after coronary artery occlusion. Further evaluation of the miRNA levels in plasma from AMI patients ( n = 33) demonstrated that all four miRNA levels were substantially higher than those from healthy people ( n = 30, P < 0.01), patients with non-AMI coronary heart disease ( n = 16, P < 0.01), or patients with other cardiovascular diseases ( n = 17, P < 0.01). Notably, miR-208a remained undetectable in non-AMI patients, but was easily detected in 90.9% AMI patients and in 100% AMI patients within 4 h of the onset of symptoms. By receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, among the four miRNAs investigated, miR-208a revealed the higher sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing AMI. Conclusion Elevated cardiac-specific miR-208a in plasma may be a novel biomarker for early detection of myocardial injury in humans.

Dairy-manure derived biochar effectively sorbs lead and atrazine.

Abstract: Biochar (BC) produced from agricultural crop residues has proven effective in sorbing organic contaminants. This study evaluated the ability of dairy-manure derived biochar to sorb heavy metal Pb and organic contaminant atrazine. Two biochar samples were prepared by heating dairy manure at low temperature of 200 degrees C (BC200) and 350 degrees C (BC350). The untreated manure (BC25) and a commercial activated C (AC) were included as controls. Sorption of Pb by biochar followed a dual Langmuir-Langmuir model, attributing to Pb precipitation (84-87%) and surface sorption (13-16%). Chemical speciation, X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy indicated that Pb was precipitated as beta-Pb9(PO4)6 in BC25 and BC200 treatment, and as Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2 in BC350. Lead sorption by AC obeyed a single Langmuir model, attributing mainly to surface sorption probably via coordination of Pb d-electron to C==C (pi-electron) and --0--Pb bonds. The biochar was 6 times more effective in Pb sorption than AC, with BC200 being the most effective (up to 680 mmol Pb kg(-1)). The biochar also effectively sorbed atrazine where atrazine was partitioned into its organic phase, whereas atrazine uptake by AC occurred via surface sorption. When Pb and atrazine coexisted, little competition occurred between the two for sorption on biochar, while strong competition was observed on AC. Results from this study indicated that dairy manure can be converted into value-added biochar as effective sorbent for metal and/or organic contaminants.