Urban and periurban agriculture (UPA) is the important part of modern agriculture. It can resolve the food supply to city residents, increase employments and improve the urban ecosystem. But without proper management and reasonable programming, UPA also can carry heavy burden to urban environment and impact people's health. This paper specifically analyzed the potential risks of urban agriculture and suggested preventive and control measures.

Mental task classification is one of the most important problems in Brain-computer interface. This paper studies the classification of five-class mental tasks. The nonlinear parameter of mean period obtained from frequency domain information was used as features for classification implemented by using the method of SVM (support vector machines). The averaged classification accuracy of 85.6% over 7 subjects was achieved for 2-second EEG segments. And the results for EEG segments of 0.5s and 5.0s compared favorably to those of Garrett's. The results indicate that the parameter of mean period represents mental tasks well for classification. Furthermore, the method of mean period is less computationally demanding, which indicates its potential use for online BCI systems.

BACKGROUNDCorrect diagnosis is very important to patients with suspected lung cancer. According to the higher ¹⁸F-FDG intake of tumor tissues much more than normal tissues, this study evaluates the clinical value of ¹⁸F-FDG dual-head coincidence SPECT/CT in diagnosis of lung cancer.

METHODSSixty-one patients with lung mass underwent ¹⁸F-FDG dual-head coincidence SPECT/CT imaging and thoracic CT imaging before operation. These imageological results were compared with histological examination of lung mass.

RESULTSThe sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ¹⁸F-FDG-SPECT/CT in differentiating malignant and benign lesions were 82%, 87%, 84%, respectively. Compared with thoracic CT imaging, diagnostic rate of mediastinal lymphatic metastasis was significantly higher by ¹⁸F-FDG-SPECT/CT (52% vs 81%, P < 0.05) .

CONCLUSIONSCombined functional-anatomical image of ¹⁸F-FDG-SPECT/CT has potential to improve staging and localizing procedures of lung cancer. It is an excellent modality in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of lung cancer.

Objective To investigate the changes of fractalkine (FKN) in rat model of acute liver failure (ALF) and the role of FKN in liver inflammatory injury.Methods SD rats were divided into tWO groups:6 in normal group and 36 in model group.D-galactosamine(D-Gal) was used to induce ALF in model group.The sera and hepatic tissue samples were collected at 12,24,48,72,120 andl68 h.After D-Gal injection.FKN mRNA and nuclear factor(NF)-kB mRNA in hepatic tissue samples were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) at 12 h were(208.3±43.5)U/L and (375.2±117.3)lJ/L,respectively,which were both significantly higher than those in normal group[(31.8±2.9)U/L and (90.8±3.1)U/L](t=-9.912 and-5.935,respectively,both P<0.01);the levels of ALT and AST peaked at 72 h after D-Gal injection.The levels of FKN mRNA(O.086±0.009)in model group at 12 h were significantly higher than those (O.044±0.009) in normal group(t=-7.999.P<0.01),and peaked at 72 h (O.333±0.033),then decreased obviously at 120 h. The levels of NF-KB mRNA in the liver of normal rats were very little;and the levels in model group were increased gradually over time,then peaked at 72 h (O.583±0.i01,t=-12.607,P<0.01).FKN mRNA and NF0kB mRNA were positively correlated (r=0.760,P<0.01).Conclusion The FKN expression may play all important role in liver inflammatory injury in rat model of acute liver failure, which could provide a new approach for ALF therapy.

Objective To evaluate the treatment effect of acute liver failure(ALF) by xeno-transplantation of co-microencapsulated Sertoli cells and hepatocytes and the intraperitoneal immune privilege effects of Sertoli cells on hepatocytes. Methods ALF rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine and, thereafter, were treated with physical saline, free hepatocytes, microencapsulated hepatocytes, or co-microencapsulated Sertoli cells and hepatocytes (CMSH), respectively. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBil) were detected in rats' blood samples from various groups. Expression of Smac/Diablo and caspase-3 were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Fifteen rats in each group were used for survival rate analysis. The intraperitoneal microencapsules were observed and lymphocytes in ascites were counted. The data were analyzed by multi-factor or single factor analysis of variance and the comparison between groups was done by t test. Results In CMSH treatment group, ALT level decreased to (533.7 ± 76.5) U/L, AST level decreased to (381.2 5± 46.7) U/L after 48 h. TBil level reduced to (7.36 ± 2.18) μmol/L after 72 h. Albumin level increased to (28.4±2.5) g/L after 48 h. All these values were significantly different from those in other groups (F=10.7,6.5,12.2,8.4;P＜0.05). The expression levels of Smae/Diablo and caspase-3 mRNA at 48 h and 72 h were lower in CMSH group than in other groups (F=3.7,4.8,3.6,4.2; P＜0.05). Survival rates in microencapsulated hepatocytes group and CMSH group were similar while both of them were higher than other groups. Microencapsules neither in microencapsulated hepatocytes group nor in CMSH group were adhered to intraperitoneal mucosa. Lymphocyte counts in ascites of CMSH group were lower than those in microencapsulated hepatocytes group (t= 4.21, P＜0. 05). Conclusions Intraperitoneal transplantation with CMSH is a promising approach for ALF treatment. Furthermore, Sertoli cells can help reduce lymphocytes' aggregation caused by encapsulated hepatocytes in ascites.

Objective To investigate the effects of exercise on learning and memory after cerebral ischemia. Methods Ninety Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated group, a model group and a treadmill training group ( n=30 for each) , which were further subdivided into groups to receive 7 days, 14 days or 28 days of training with 10 rats in each. The training was treadmill running at 10 m/min for 30 min a day. Cerebral ische-mia was induced in the model and training groups using permanent, bilateral common carotid artery occlusion. The training began three days after the operation. Morris water maze tests were used to measure the rats′ learning and memory ability, and Nissl staining was employed to detect the survival rates of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus. Results The average escape latency in the treadmill trained group had shortened significantly by day 7, then further by days 14 and 28. It was significantly shorter than the model group′s average at each time point. The average platform crossing time increased significantly compared with the model group′s average. Few dead neu-rons were observed in the sham-operated group. On days 14 and 28 the average survival rate of pyramidal neurons in the model group was significantly lower than in the treadmill training group or the sham-operated group, though there was no significant difference on day 7. Conclusion Treadmill training can improve learning and memory after cere-bral ischemia, at least in rats. Better effects can be observed after longer training.

Objective To study the effect of chitosan-pCrmA nanoparticles on the apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β).Methods Chitosan-pDNA nanoparticles were prepared and characterized.The transfection efficiency of chitosan-mediated pIRES2-EGFP was evaluated using fluorescence microscope.The cytotoxicity of chitosan-pIRES2-EGFP nanoparticles in primary rabbit chondrocytes was analyzed by MTT assay.The expression of chitosan-mediated pCrmA in primary rabbit chondrocytes was verified by Western blotting.The effect of chitosan-mediated CrmA on chondrocytes apoptosis induced by IL-1β were analyzed by TUNEL assay.One-way ANOVA was used to analysis.Results The size of chitosan-pDNA nanoparticles was 50 nm.The pDNA release of chitosan-pDNA nanoparticles appeared as biphasic release at pH 2.0 and pH 7.4 buffer.The expression of CrmA in rabbit primary chondrocytes mediated by chitosan could be detected.The chitosan-pIRES2-EGFP nanoparticles had no cytotoxicity.The apoptosis rate of chondrocytes in the chitosan-pCrmA nanoparticles treated group was significantly lower than that of the chitosan treated group (P＜0.05) and PBS group (P＜0.01).Conclsion Chitosan is an effective non-viral gene transfer vector.The CrmA mediated by chitosan can significantly inhibit chondrocytes apoptosis induced by IL-1β,suggesting that chitosan-pCrmA nanoparticles may be the treatment of osteoarthrifis.

Objective To discuss the mode of onset,clinical characteristics,treatment and prognosis of children with granulocyte sarcoma (GS),in order to provide guidance for early diagnosis and effective treatment of GS.Methods Six cases of children with GS diagnosed at the Department of Hematology,Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University between June 2009 and June 2014 were analyzed,the data including the mode of onset,clinical manifestation,diagnosis,treatment and outcome.Results There were 2 cases with a painless mass onset (1 case was 2 years old,characterized by right waist mass,about 10 cm × 5 cm;the other case was 6 years old,characterized by axillary lump,about 2 cm × 3 cm),and both of them received surgical removal of the tumor,then the postoperative tumor was examined by pathologic and immunohistochemical method,and at last the primary granulocyte sarcoma was diagnosed.The third case was a 7 years old girl,she was onset characterized by scalp lump,about 2 cm × 3 cm,and was diagnosed by the pathologic and immunohistochemical method,and changes in hematological system appeared a month later and acute myeloid leukemia(AML) was confirmed by bone marrow examination.The onset ages of other 3 cases were in 10 months,1 year and 7 months,13 years and 3 months old respectively,characterized by scalp lump (about 2 cm × 3 cm),spinal canal tumor (about 1.0 cm × 1.5 cm),intracranial tumors (6.0 cm × 4.9 cm),with AML occurring at the same time,which was confirmed by surgical pathology,immunohistochemistry and bone marrow cell morphology,immune classification,chromosome,and fusion gene diagnosis.Four cases were hematopoietic malignancies by pathology,2 cases of then belonging to small round cell tumor.The immune pathology showed 5 cases of myeloperoxidase positive,CD68-positive,3 cases of CD43-positive,CD123-positive.All children CD3,CD20 levels in all children were negative.Four cases underwent surgery combined with chemotherapy,other 2 cases received surgery and then gave up treatment,1 case discontinued follow-up 3 months later,and the other case died of intracranial hemorrhage after 3 months,which induced by thrombocytopenia.The treated 4 cases were followed up 3 to 58 months,and all had disease-free survival.Conclusions Children with GS have low incidence and non-specific diagnostic criteria,its diagnosis depends on immune pathology,and the treatment is mainly in accordance with AML program for high-dose chemotherapy.The systematic chemotherapy helps to prolong overall survival;at the same time,the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with bone marrow may help to improve the prognosis.

Objective To study the clinical,laboratory,imaging characteristics and surgical outcomes of Brucellar spondylitis.Methods The clinical,laboratory,imaging characteristics and surgical outcomes of 27 patients with Brucella spondylitis were analyzed in our department from September 2000 to December 2010.There were 18 males and 9 females,aged from 23 to 57 years(average,32.8 years ).There were 3 cases in cervical vertebra,8 cases in thoracolumbar vertebra,16 cases in lumbosacral vertebra respectively.Before admission,17 patients were misdiagnosed as tuberculosis,2 ones were as postoperative change of lumbar disc herniation.Eight patients underwent posterior debridement,autologous bone grafting and instrumentation,19 cases were treated with anterior debridement,autologous bone grafting and instrumentation.Streptomycin was placed in localized lesions for 24 patients,except for 3 cases whose streptomycin skin test positive.External fixation brace were used for 4 to 6 weeks,oral medication was used for a half month to 3 months.Clinical evaluation included clinical cure rate,pain visual analog scale (VAS) and the fusion rate.Results All of 27 patients were followed up for an average of 19.7 months (range,6 to 48 months).According to evaluation standard for Brucella spondylitis,24 patients were cured,3 patients got improvement.Three patients underwent the second operation owing to wound infection and sinus formation.Conclusion The pain of spine with intermittent fever,the imaging features as well as positive serum agglutination test can confirm the diagnosis of Brucellar spondylitis.Operation should be considered in patients with persistent pain and neurologic disorders as well as systemic symptoms.Instrumentation is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with spinal brucellosis following debridement,autogenous bone grafting,combined with antibiotic therapy.