Some studies have suggested that the Toll-like receptor 9 polymorphism (TLR9 rs352140) is closely related to the risk of bacterial meningitis (BM), but this is subject to controversy. This study set out to estimate whether the TLR9 rs352140 polymorphism confers an increased risk of BM. Relevant literature databases were searched including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) up to August 2020. Seven case-control studies from four publications were enrolled in the present meta-analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to estimate associations between BM risk and the target polymorphism. Significant associations identified were allele contrast (A vs. G: OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.59–0.75, P = 0.000), homozygote comparison (AA vs. AG/GG: OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.49–0.78, P = 0.000), heterozygote comparison (A vs. G: OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61–0.91, P = 0.005), recessive genetic model (AA vs. AG/GG: OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.65–0.93, P = 0.006) and dominant genetic model (AA vs. AG/GG: OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.57–0.85, P = 0.000). The findings indicate that, in contrast to some studies, the TLR9 rs352140 polymorphism is associated with a decreased risk for BM.

We aimed to evaluate the relationship of plasma Mg with the risk of new-onset hyperuricaemia and examine any possible effect modifiers in hypertensive patients. This is a post hoc analysis of the Uric acid (UA) Sub-study of the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT). A total of 1685 participants were included in the present study. The main outcome was new-onset hyperuricaemia defined as a UA concentration ≥417 μmol/l in men or ≥357 μmol/l in women. The secondary outcome was a change in UA concentration defined as UA at the exit visit minus that at baseline. During a median follow-up duration of 4·3 years, new-onset hyperuricaemia occurred in 290 (17·2 %) participants. There was a significantly inverse relation of plasma Mg with the risk of new-onset hyperuricaemia (per sd increment; OR 0·85; 95 % CI 0·74, 0·99) and change in UA levels (per sd increment; β −3·96 μmol/l; 95 % CI −7·14, −0·79). Consistently, when plasma Mg was analysed as tertiles, a significantly lower risk of new-onset hyperuricaemia (OR 0·67; 95 % CI 0·48, 0·95) and less increase in UA levels (β −8·35 μmol/l; 95 % CI −16·12, −0·58) were found among participants in tertile 3 (≥885·5 μmol/l) compared with those in tertile 1 (<818·9 μmol/l). Similar trends were found in males and females. Higher plasma Mg levels were associated with a decreased risk of new-onset hyperuricaemia in hypertensive adults.

Graphene oxide (GO) is a promising material in improving the corrosion resistance properties of metals. This improvement significantly relies on the microstructure and electrical properties of GO, which nevertheless is rarely studied. Here, multiscale GOs with different flake sizes and oxidation degrees were fabricated and incorporated into waterborne alkyd resin (AR). The physical and chemical structures of GO and AR/GO composites were characterized in detail. Multiscale GOs are successfully prepared, and the corrosion resistance of AR/GO coatings is measured by electrochemical workstation. Electrochemical experiments indicate that GOs with larger flake sizes have excellent barrier properties due to the shielding effect; GOs with appropriate oxidation degrees could effectively improve the dispersion of GO and avoid the conductive path of GO in the matrix, because oxidation degree of GO could influence the dispersion and electrical properties. The corrosion protection efficiency of AR/GO(GO: 120 μm, 1.5 wt%, sp2/sp3 = 2.61) is 98.14%, which is 2.26 times higher than AR. The multiscale effects of GO on the corrosion resistance property of AR coatings are quite general, thus providing guidelines for developing highly efficient corrosion resistant coatings for practical usage.

Using phytolith analysis from a well-dated and high-resolution sediment sequence in the apex of northern Yangtze Delta, we investigate environmental changes, the rise and decline of rice exploitation and possible impacts of environment on rice exploitation during the early mid-Holocene. The phytolith sequence documents a relatively warm and dry interval during ca.9000 to 8200 cal yr BP, followed by climatic amelioration before 7200 cal yr BP. Phytolith evidence indicates that rice exploitation at the apex of northern Yangtze Delta began at 8200 cal yr BP, flourished by 7700 cal yr BP and ceased after 7400 cal yr BP. The first emergence of marine diatom species approximately 7300 cal yr BP likely indicates an accelerated sea-level rise. The apparent correlation of the initiation of rice exploitation with climatic amelioration during the early mid-Holocene suggests that climatic changes may have played an important role in facilitating rice exploitation. Both the ideal climatic conditions and stable sea level enabled flourishing rice exploitation during 8200 to 7400 cal yr BP. Although the climate remained warm and wet after 7400 cal yr BP, local sea-level rise possibly led to the termination of earlier rice exploitation at this site of the northern Yangtze Delta.

This research reviews the constructs and measurements of guanxi and concludes that colleague guanxi is appropriately conceptualized as a multidimensional construct that describes Chinese colleague relationships. The development of a colleague guanxi scale with four dimensions is described. Two studies test the convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity of the guanxi scale. In validation tests guanxi intensity increases with cognition features (subjective fit and cognitive trust) and results in a positive affect (affective trust). Contributions of the colleague guanxi scale are offered.

A parent strain of Aspergillus niger LW-1 producing β-mannanase, preserved in our laboratory, was isolated. A strain, N-9, was screened out and further treated with vacuum microwave irradiation and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS). A mutant strain, E-30, producing a high and stable yield of β-mannanase was obtained through screening by solid-state cultivation on the basic fermentation medium and several generations of bevel subculture. Its enzyme activity (36 675 U/g) was increased by 2.15 times compared to that of A. niger LW-1 (17 048 U/g). The production of high-yield β-mannanase by E-30 remained stable when maintained at 4°C for 2 months.

We consider the stationary non-linear Schrödinger equation\begin{equation*}\Delta u + \{1 + \lambda g(x)\} u = f(u)\mbox{with}u \in H^{1} (\mathbb{R}^{N}), u \not\equiv 0,\end{equation*} where $\lambda >0$ and the functions $f$ and $g$ are such that\begin{equation*} \lim_{s \rightarrow 0}\frac{f(s)}{s} = 0 \mbox{and} 1 < \alpha + 1 = \lim _{|s| \rightarrow \infty}\frac{f(s)}{s} < \infty\end{equation*} and \begin{equation*} g(x)\equiv 0 \mbox{on} \bar{\Omega}, g(x)\in (0, 1] \mbox{on} {\mathbb{R}^{N}} \setminus {\overline{\Omega}} \mbox{and} \lim_{|x| \rightarrow + \infty} g(x) = 1 \end{equation*} for some bounded open set $\Omega \in \mathbb{R}^{N}$. We use topological methods to establish the existence of two connected sets $\mathcal{D}^{\pm}$ of positive/negative solutions in $\mathbb{R} \times W^{2, p} (\mathbb{R}^{N})$ where $p \in [2, \infty) \cap (\frac{N}{2},\infty)$ that cover the interval $(\alpha,\Lambda(\alpha))$ in the sense that \begin{align*} P \mathcal{D}^{\pm} & = (\alpha, \Lambda(\alpha)) \text{where}P(\lambda, u) = \lambda \text{and furthermore,} \\ \lim_{\lambda \rightarrow \Lambda(\alpha)-}\left\Vert u_{\lambda} \right\Vert _{L^{\infty} (\mathbb{R}^{N})} & = \lim_{\lambda \rightarrow \Lambda (\alpha )-} \left\Vert u_{\lambda} \right\Vert _{W^{2, p}(\mathbb{R}^{N})} = \infty \text{ for }(\lambda, u_{\lambda}) \in \mathcal{D}^{\pm}. \end{align*} The number $\Lambda(\alpha)$ is characterized as the unique value of $\lambda$ in the interval $(\alpha, \infty)$ for which the asymptotic linearization has a positive eigenfunction. Our work uses a degree for Fredholm maps of index zero.

the paper considers the eigenvalue problem \[ -\delta u-\alpha u+\lambda g(x)u=0\quad \mbox{with}u\in h^{1}(\mathbb{r}^{n}),\;u\neq0, \] where $\alpha,\lambda\in\mathbb{r}$ and \[g(x)\equiv0\mbox{on}\overline{\omega},\quad\ g(x)\in(0,1]\mbox{on}{\mathbb{r}^{n}}\setminus{\overline{\omega}}\quad\mbox{and}\quad\lim_{|x|\rightarrow+\infty}g(x)=1 \] for some bounded open set $\omega\in\mathbb{r}^{n}$.

given $\alpha>0$, does there exist a value of $\lambda>0$ for which the problem has a positive solution? it is shown that this occurs if and only if $\alpha$ lies in a certain interval $(\gamma,\xi_{1})$ and that in this case the value of $\lambda$ is unique, $\lambda=\lambda(\alpha)$. the properties of the function $\lambda(\alpha)$ are also discussed.

The effects of some factors on the isolation of protoplasts from Penicillium digitatum were studied, including the appropriate material (young mycelia and generating spores), the concentrations of enzyme and osmotic pressure stabilizers, reaction time and reaction temperature. Results demonstrated that germinating spores were an ideal material resource for the isolation of P. digitatum protoplasts. Highest yield and quality of P. digitatum protoplasts were obtained by shaking germinating spores suspended in a solution of 10 mg/ml Lywallzyme™ dissolved in 0.7 M NaCl as osmotic pressure stabilizer at 80 rev/min and 30°C for 3.0–3.5 h. The regeneration rate of the isolated protoplasts was as high as 24.9% on double-layer Czapek medium containing 0.7 M NaCl. Additionally, observation of the protoplast release pattern showed that the protoplasts of P. digitatum were released primarily from the hyphal apex and occasionally from the subapical or original sites of germinating tubes. The protoplasts of P. digitatum were regenerated in a direct manner of either yeast-like cell development or mycelium formation.

The Chinese giant salamander Andrias davidianus is the largest living amphibian. Most wild populations are threatened and some are already extinct. The Chinese government has declared the species a Class II Protected Species, and it is listed as Critically Endangered in the Chinese Red Book of Amphibians and Reptiles and as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List. Populations of the species have declined sharply in both range and number since the 1950s because of habitat loss and fragmentation, and hunting for the commercial luxury food trade. Remaining populations appear to be distributed in 12 areas across 17 provinces in the mountainous areas of the middle Yangtze, Yellow and Pearl Rivers. Since the 1980s, 14 nature reserves, with a total area of more than 355,000 ha, have been established for the conservation of the Chinese giant salamander. We carried out habitat and questionnaire surveys for the species in 13 locations, and based on the results and on the little amount of published information, most of it in Chinese, we assess the current status of the species and make recommendations for its conservation management. Conservation of the Chinese giant salamander should be given a high priority and considered an important part of wetland management.

In this paper, we consider the problem of the steady-state fully developed magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a conducting fluid through a channel with arbitrary wall conductivity in the presence of a transverse external magnetic field with various inclined angles. The coupled governing equations for both axial velocity and induced magnetic field are firstly transformed into decoupled Poisson-type equations with coupled boundary conditions. Then the dual reciprocity boundary element method (DRBEM) [20] is used to solve the Poisson-type equations. As testing examples, flows in channels of three different crosssections, rectangular, circular and triangular, are calculated. It is shown that solutions obtained by the DRBEM with constant elements are accurate for Hartmann number up to 8 and for large conductivity parameters comparing to exact solutions and solutions by the finite element method (FEM).

The paper studies the existence of multiple solutions to the following p-Laplacian type elliptic problem (p > 1):

where Ω is a bounded domain in ℝN(N [ges ] 1) with smooth boundary ∂Ω, and f(x, u) goes asymptotically in u to [mid ]u[mid ]p−2u at infinity. It is well known that this kind of nonlinear term creates some difficulties in the application of the mountain pass theorem because of the lack of an Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz type superlinear condition on f(x, u). An improved mountain pass theorem is used to prove that the above problem possesses multiple solutions under some natural conditions on f(x, u), and some known results are generalized.

We consider the following problem

where for all ≦f(x,u)≦c1up-1 + c2u for all x ∈ℝN,u≧0 with c1>0,c2∈(0, 1), 2<p<(2N/(N – 2)) if N ≧ 3, 2 ≧ + ∝ if N = 2. We prove that (*) has at least two positive solutions if

and h≩0 in ℝN, where S is the best Sobolev constant and