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Ni-based superalloy is one of the commonly used materials in the aerospace manufacturing field. Tool wear is inevitable and severe in machining Ni-based superalloy. The participation of worn tools in the machining process will lower the surface quality and increase production costs. These unacceptable results can be avoided if the worn tool gets a timely replacement with help of predicting the tool wear. Ball-end cutters are often used in semi-finishing or finishing freeform surface parts. However, the wear distribution along the cutting edge is uneven due to the hemisphere structure of the ball-end cutter and time-varying cutter-workpiece engagement. This phenomenon is hardly considered in existing prediction methods which predict a single value as the overall tool wear. Actually, a failure at any point on the cutting edge will reduce the overall cutting performance of the tool and degrade the surface integrity. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the wear distribution in the ball part. To fill the research gap, this study presents a tool wear prediction method, considering the variety of wear rates and cutting lengths along the cutting edge. First, an improved tool wear rate model considering the effect of the cutting edge location is established. Secondly, the cutting length distribution along the cutting edge is calculated by simulating the machining process. Finally, the wear of the cutting edge at each height is predicted by combining the corresponding wear rate and cutting length. The maximum wear on the tool flank is selected to represent the final tool wear state. The freeform surface milling experiment is carried out to validate this method. Results show that this method can predict the value and the position of the maximum wear on the tool flank under fixed cutting parameters. The prediction error of the maximum wear value is 12.5% when the tool approaches the wear criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeromonas hydrophila can threaten the survival of freshwater fish. In this study, A. hydrophila challenge could induce tissue damage, promote antioxidant imbalance as well as alter the transcript levels of oxidative stress indicators, apoptotic genes and metabolic enzyme genes in kidney of red crucian carp (RCC). Metabolomics analysis revealed that A. hydrophila challenge had a profound effect on amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. In addition, we further identified dipeptides, fatty acid derivatives, cortisol, choline and tetrahydrocortisone as crucial biomarkers in kidney of RCC subjected to A. hydrophila infection. These results highlighted the importance of metabolic strategy against bacterial infection. [Display omitted] • Acute A. hydrophila infection could induce tissue damage in kidney of RCC. • Decreased level of antioxidant status was observed in kidney of RCC following A. hydrophila challenge. • hydrophila infection could decrease levels of dipeptides and fatty acid derivatives in kidney of RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the efficacy and side effects of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) + intraluminal brachytherapy (IBT) with EBRT alone in patients with primary thoracic esophageal cancer. Between 2013 and 2020, 64 patients with primary thoracic esophageal cancer without surgery received radiotherapy. Thirty-two patients received EBRT + IBT. EBRT dose was 50 Gy, 2 Gy/f, 5 times a week, and IBT dose was 10 Gy, 5 Gy/f, once a week. Thirty-two patients received EBRT alone, and the total dose was 60 Gy. The median followup was 19 months. The local control rates (LCR) of EBRT + IBT and EBRT alone group at 1, 2, and 3 years after treatment were 88% and 72%, 53% and 22%, 25%, and 9%, respectively. The overall survival (OS) of the EBRT + IBT and EBRT alone group at 3 years after treatment were 38% and 9%. The 3-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rates of EBRT + IBT and EBRT alone group were 25% and 9%. Univariate analysis showed that EBRT + IBT could be the prognostic factor improving OS (p = 0.04), and tumor located in the mid-thoracic region exhibited a poorer prognosis on LRFS (p = 0.03). Grade 3 or higher acute side effects included two cases of dysphagia and three cases of bone marrow suppression. Severe late side effects included three cases of fistula, three cases of radiation pneumonia, and five cases of stenosis requiring treatment. Compared with EBRT alone, EBRT + IBT is an effective treatment modality for T1∼3NanyM0 primary thoracic esophageal cancer with good local control. It can prolong the survival time of patients and has acceptable toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferritin H can participate in the regulation of teleostean immunity. ORF sequences of RCC/WCC/WR-ferritin H were 609 bp, while WR-ferritin H gene possessed chimeric fragments or offspring-specific mutations. In order to elucidate regulation of immune-related signal transduction, three fibroblast-like cell lines derived from caudal fin of red crucian carp (RCC), white crucian carp (WCC) and their hybrid offspring (WR) were characterized and designated as RCCFCs, WCCFCs and WRFCs. A sharp increase of ferritin H mRNA was observed in RCCFCs, WCCFCs and WRFCs following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Overexpression of RCC/WCC/WR-ferritin H can decrease MyD88-IRAK4 signal and antagonize NF-κB, TNFα promoter activity in RCCFCs, WCCFCs and WRFCs, respectively. These results indicated that ferritin H in hybrid offspring harbors highly-conserved domains with a close sequence similarity to those of its parents, playing a regulatory role in inflammatory signals. Unlabelled Image • We characterized fin cell lines derived from hybrid crucian carp and its parents. • Structure of chimeric ferritin H in hybrid offspring was compared with those of its parents. • Up-regulated expressions of RCC/WCC/WR-ferritin H were observed following LPS stimulation. • Overexpression of RCC/WCC/WR-ferritin in fish cells can abrogate NF-κB promoter activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carrier concentration of ZnO film is determined by resonant Raman spectroscopy. • Raman method gives a relatively accurate result for high concentration. • Our work paves a way for non-destructive carrier concentration determination for ZnO. • This method can be further applied in samples of other wurtzite semiconductors. For Raman-based carrier concentration determination in thin film semiconductors, above-band-gap excitation is necessary, as the interference from underlying substrate is eliminated by limited photon penetration depth. With resonant Raman spectroscopy, this study investigates the plasmon-phonon coupled modes in n-type ZnO films to non-destructively probe the carrier concentration. The observed coupled mode slightly redshifts from A 1 (LO) frequency and fails to show monotonic carrier concentration dependency, which differs from the behavior under non-resonant conditions. The correlation between point defects and abnormal behaviors is studied both experimentally and theoretically. The second order LO phonons (2LO) instead of 1LO ones are applied in carrier concentration determination process, in order to avoid the influence from point defects. Reasonable results, especially in high carrier concentration range, are extracted from Raman spectra with the help of Lindhard-Mermin framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study retrospectively compared the clinical and toxicity outcomes for the cervical cancer of the MRI-guided two adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) fractions versus one IGABT fraction in one application. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients with cervical cancer received external beam radiotherapy combined with or without concurrent chemotherapy, which was followed by the IGABT. The IGABT in 63 patients had one IGABT in each application (Arm 1), while in the other 57 patients, at least one treatment was two continuous IGABT every other day in one application (Arm 2). Clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), cancer specific survival (CSS), progression free survival (PFS), local control (LC) were analyzed. Brachytherapy-related toxicities were evaluated, which included pain, dizziness, nausea/vomiting, fever/infection, blood loss during the removal of applicator and needles, the deep venous thrombosis, and other acute toxicities. The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTC-AE 5.0) was used to evaluate the incidence and severity of toxicities of the urinary system, lower digestive system, and reproduction system. Kaplan–Meier and the Log-rank test were used to analyze the clinical outcomes. Results: The median follow-up time of the patients in Arm 1 and Arm 2 was 23.5 and 12.0 months, respectively. The overall treatment time was significantly shorter in Arm 2 than Arm 1 (60 vs. 64 d; P = 0.017). The OS, CSS, PFS, and LC in Arm1 and Arm 2 was 77.8% vs. 86.0% (P = 0.632), 77.8% vs. 87.7% (P = 0.821), 68.3% vs. 70.2% (P = 0.207), and 92.1% vs. 94.7% (P = 0.583), respectively. The highest NRS of the pain during brachytherapy waiting period (2.22 ± 1.84 vs. 3.02 ± 1.65; P < 0.001) and at the time of the removal of the applicator (4.69 ± 1.49 vs. 5.30 ± 1.18; P < 0.001) in the patients who received one hybrid intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy (IC/ISBT) in one application and two continuous IC/ISBT every other day in one application were significantly different. So far four patients with grade 3 late toxicities have been reported. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrated that the two continuous IGABT every other day in one application is a logistically applicable, safe, and effective treatment strategy that could shorten the overall treatment time and reduce the medical cost, comparing with the one IGABT in one application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferritin H can participate in the regulation of fish immunity. Tissue-specific analysis revealed that the highest expressions of Ferritin H in parental species were observed in spleen, while peaked level of Ferritin H mRNA in hybrid fish was observed in liver. In addition, A. hydrophila challenge could sharply enhance their Ferritin H mRNA expression in liver, kidney and spleen. To further investigate their roles in immune regulation, their Ferritin H fusion proteins were produced in vitro. Ferritin H fusion proteins could exhibit a direct binding activity to A. hydrophila and endotoxin in a dose-dependent manner, restrict dissemination of A. hydrophila to tissues and abrogate inflammatory cascades. Moreover, treatment with Ferritin H fusion proteins could reduce A. hydrophila -induced lipid peroxidation. These results indicated that Ferritin H in hybrid fish elicited a similar immune regulation of A. hydrophila -induced inflammatory signals in comparison with those of its parents. [Display omitted] • Up-regulation of RCC/WCC/WR-ferritin H was observed following A. hydrophila challenge. • RCC/WCC/WR-ferritin H could directly bind to A. hydrophila and LPS. • RCC/WCC/WR-ferritin H could diminish A. hydrophila -induced inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeromonas hydrophila can pose a great threat to survival of freshwater fish. In this study, A. hydrophila infection could decrease blood cell numbers, promote blood cell damage as well as alter the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lysozyme (LZM), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in immune-related tissues of red crucian carp (RCC, 2 N = 100) and triploid cyprinid fish (3 N fish, 3 N = 150). In addition, the significant alternation of antioxidant status was observed in PBMCs isolated from RCC and 3 N following LPS stimulation. The core differential expression genes (DEGs) involved in apoptosis, immunity, inflammation and cellular signals were co-expressed differentially in RCC and 3 N following A. hydrophila challenge. NOD-like receptor (NLR) signals appeared to play a critical role in A. hydrophila- infected fish. DEGs of NLR signals in RCCah vs RCCctl were enriched in caspase-1-dependent Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion, interferon (IFN) signals as well as cytokine activation, while DEGs of NLR signals in 3Nah vs 3Nctl were enriched in caspase-1-dependent IL-1β secretion and antibacterial autophagy. These results highlighted the differential signal regulation of different ploidy cyprinid fish to cope with bacterial infection. • Blood cells of triploid cyprinid fish exhibited a higher resistance against A. hydrophila -induced cell damage. • Acute A. hydrophila infection could dramatically alter non-specific immunity in different ploidy cyprinid fish. • Acute A. hydrophila infection could trigger the difference in signal regulation in different ploidy cyprinid fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeromonas hydrophila can pose a great threat to survival of freshwater fish. In this study, A. hydrophila challenge could promote the erythrocyte hemolysis, increase free hemoglobin (FHB) level and generate malondialdehyde (MDA) production in plasma but decrease the levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lysozyme (LZM) of red crucian carp (RCC, 2 N = 100) and triploid hybrid fish (3 N fish, 3 N = 150) following A. hydrophila challenge. Elevated expression levels of heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP90α), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), free fatty acid receptor 3 (FFAR3), paraoxonase 2 (PON2) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) were observed in A. hydrophila- infected fish. In addition, A. hydrophila challenge could significantly increase expressions of cortisol, leucine, isoleucine, glutamate and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in RCC and 3 N, while glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle appeared to be inactive. We identified differential fatty acid derivatives and their metabolic networks as crucial biomarkers from metabolic profiles of different ploidy cyprinid fish subjected to A. hydrophila infection. These results highlighted the comparative metabolic strategy of different ploidy cyprinid fish against bacterial infection. • Erythrocytes of triploid cyprinid fish exhibited a higher resistance against A. hydrophila -induced hemolysis. • Acute A. hydrophila infection could dramatically decrease antioxidant status in different ploidy cyprinid fish. • Acute A. hydrophila infection could trigger the difference in fatty acid derivatives in different ploidy cyprinid fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the clinical value of transrectal ultrasound in judging the Gross Target Volume (GTV) of cervical cancer (CC). A total of 196 CC patients admitted to the Department of Radiotherapy, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, from January 2016 to June 2019 were selected as the study subjects. The GTVs before and after applicator insertion were determined by transrectal ultrasound and compared with those judged by MRI. All 196 patients were successfully undergoing applicator insertion according to the pretreatment plan. The GTV doses reached the clinical requirements during treatment. There was no significant difference between the GTVs judged by MRI and ultrasound before insertion in terms of upper/lower diameter (MRI Before 1 vs. Ultrasound Before 1) (MB1 vs. UB1), left/right diameter (MB2 vs. UB2), or ventral/dorsal diameter (MB3 vs. UB3), and the intragroup correlation coefficients (ICC) were 0.59, 0.77, and 0.66, respectively; moreover, there was no significant difference between the GTVs judged by MRI and ultrasound after insertion in terms of MRI After one vs. Ultrasound After one (MA1 vs. UA1), MA2 vs. UA2, and MA3 vs. UA3, and the ICC values were 0.62, 0.79, and 0.76, respectively. Transrectal ultrasound can satisfactorily determine the GTV of CC and has certain value in brachytherapy for CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NK-lysin, an effector of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), not only exhibits cytotoxic effect in fish cells, but also participates in the immune defense against pathogenic infection. In this study, ORF sequences of RCC-NK-lysin, WCC-NK-lysin and WR-NK-lysin were 369 bp. Tissue-specific analysis revealed that the highest expressions of RCC-NK-lysin and WCC-NK-lysin were observed in gill, while the peaked level of WR-NK-lysin mRNA was observed in spleen. A. hydrophila infection sharply increased RCC-NK-lysin, WCC-NK-lysin and WR-NK-lysin mRNA expression in liver, trunk kidney and spleen. In addition, elevated levels of NK-lysin mRNA were observed in cultured fin cell lines of red crucian carp (RCC), white crucian carp (WCC) and their hybrid offspring (WR) after Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. RCC-NK-lysin, WCC-NK-lysin and WR-NK-lysin exerted regulatory roles in inducing ROS generation, modulating mitochondrial membrane potential, decreasing fish cell viability and antagonizing survival signalings, respectively. RCC/WCC/WR-NK-lysin-overexpressing fish could up-regulate expressions of inflammatory cytokines and decrease bacterial loads in spleen. These results indicated that NK-lysin in hybrid fish contained close sequence similarity to those of its parents, possessing the capacities of cytotoxicity and immune defense against bacterial infection. • Structure of NK-lysin in hybrid offspring was compared with those of its parents. • Up-regulated expressions of RCC/WCC/WR-NK-lysin were observed following A. hydrophila challenge and LPS stimulation. • RCC/WCC/WR-NK-lysin could cause the loss of MMP activity and decrease cell viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the local control and toxicities of three-dimensional image-guided combined intracavitary and interstitial (IC/IS) high-dose-rate brachytherapy (BT) in cervical cancer through a systematic review. A systematic review of relevant studies was performed through the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases through May 10, 2020. Articles reporting on IC/IS technology, volumetric doses to high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) and organs at risk (OARs), tumor control and/or treatment-related side effects were identified. The key information, including the type of applicator, implantation technology, characteristics of implantation, volumetric doses, tumor control, and/or treatment-related side effects, was extracted. A probit model analysis between HR-CTV D90 and tumor local control was performed. Twelve studies encompassing 520 patients were included in the probit model between HR-CTV D90 and the local control rate. The probit model showed a significant relationship between the HR-CTV D90 value and the local control probability, p = 0.003. The prescribed dose of 85 Gy EQD2,10 would in theory warrant an 87.4% (95% confidence interval 82.5%–90.5%) local control rate. IC/IS BT is an appropriate method to achieve a high therapeutic ratio for tumors with large volumes or poor responses after external irradiation in cervical cancer. The probit model showed that the dose escalation of HR-CTV D90 was helpful to improve the local tumor control rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to integrate and update the dose–effect relationship between volumetric dose and local control for cervical cancer brachytherapy. We identified studies that reported high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) D 90 and local control probability by searching PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases through Oct 27, 2019. The regression analyses were performed using a probit model between HR-CTV D 90 , D 100 , intermediate-risk clinical target volume (IR-CTV) D 90 , and dose to Point A vs. local control probability. Subgroup analyses were performed according to stratification: time of local control, income level of the country or region, stage of cancer, pathology, mean volume of HR-CTV, dose rate, image modality, concurrent chemoradiotherapy proportion, interstitial proportion, and mean overall treatment time. Thirty-three studies encompassing 2893 patients were included. The probit model showed a significant relationship between the HR-CTV D 90 value and the local control probability, p < 0.0001. The D 90 corresponding to a probability of 90% local control was 83.7 Gy EQD2,10 (80.6–87.8 Gy EQD2,10). Of the 33 studies included in our analysis, eight studies, including 1172 patients, reported the IR-CTV D 90 value, ranging from 59.1 Gy EQD2,10 to 72.3 Gy EQD2,10. The probit model also showed a significant relationship between the IR-CTV D 90 value and the local control probability, p = 0.0464. The 60 Gy EQD2,10 for IR-CTV D 90 corresponded to an 86.1% local control probability (82.0%–89.8%). A significant dependence of local control on HR-CTV D 90 and IR-CTV D 90 was found. A tumor control probability of >90% can be expected at doses >84 Gy EQD2,10 and 69 Gy EQD2,10 , respectively, based on an updated meta-regression analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the 100 most cited research articles on cervical cancer brachytherapy. The Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science was used to identify the 100 most cited articles in cervical cancer brachytherapy as of July 5, 2019. The following important information was extracted: journal, year and month, country of region, author, type of article, type of dose rate, type of radionuclide, and image modality for brachytherapy planning. The 100 most cited articles in cervical cancer brachytherapy were published between 1981 and 2016, and the citations ranged from 858 to 49, which collectively had been cited 11,372 times at the time of searching. The index of citations per year ranged from 63.56 to 1.43. These articles were from 16 countries or regions, with most publications being from the United States (n = 27), followed by Austria (n = 26), Japan (n = 10), France (n = 7), and the Netherlands (n = 7). The International Journal of Radiation Oncology , Biology , Physics produced the most articles (n = 46), followed by Radiotherapy and Oncology (n = 39) and Gynecologic Oncology (n = 5). These articles were categorized as original studies (n = 75), reviews (n = 2), editorials (n = 2), surveys (n = 2), guidelines (n = 3), and recommendations (n = 6). A high dose rate (n = 69) was the most widely used, dose rate followed by a low dose rate (n = 20) and pulsed dose rate (n = 16). The bibliometric analysis presents a detailed list of the 100 most cited articles in cervical cancer brachytherapy. This analysis provides an insight into historical developments and enables the important advances in this field to be recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to explore the dose-effect relationship between dose-volume histogram parameters and clinical prognosis of definitive radio(chemo)therapy followed by intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer. A retrospective analysis was performed on 110 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who underwent external beam radiotherapy combined with intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy with or without chemotherapy from July 2010 to September 2018. We reported D 100 , D 98 , and D 90 for high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) and intermediate-risk clinical target volume, D 2cm³ for organs at risk. Multivariate Cox regression was used to screen independent factors. Dose-volume parameters screened by the Cox regression were incorporated into the probit model for investigating its relationship with survival. The median followup time was 72.33 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that HR-CTV D 100 , HR-CTV D 98 , and HR-CTV D 90 were independent factors, affecting the 5-year overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and local control (LC) rates. The probit model showed that HR-CTV D 98 had predictive values for the 5-year OS, CSS, and LC, and HR-CTV D 100 had predictive values for the 5-year OS, CSS, whereas HR-CTV D 90 had a predictive value only for the 5-year OS. The HR-CTV D 98 corresponding to OS ED90 , CSS ED90 , and LC ED90 was 86.8, 85.6, and 78.6 Gy, respectively. A significant dependence of OS, CSS, and LC on D 98 for HR-CTV was found. When the long-term OS, CSS, and LC rate of the patient was >90%, HR-CTV D 98 > 86.8 Gy EQD2 , 85.6 Gy EQD2 , and 78.6 Gy EQD2 were required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]