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Our goal was to assess teriparatide's (TP) effectiveness in improving radiographic and functional outcomes after spinal fusion surgery. This meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative cohort studies. The findings provide valuable insights and guidance for surgeons treating osteoporotic patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. We conducted a systematic review to assess TP's efficacy in spinal fusion surgery for osteoporosis. Through thorough selection, data extraction, and quality assessment, we employed network meta-analysis to evaluate radiographic outcomes (fusion rate, screw loosening, vertebral fracture) and changes in bone mineral density measured by Hounsfield units. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index scales. Our study aims to comprehensively understand TP's impact and effectiveness in spinal fusion surgery. A total of 868 patients were included in the analysis. All patients underwent thoracolumbar internal fixation fusion surgery and were divided into following 2 groups: the TP treatment group and the control group. The results revealed significant differences in radiological outcomes. The fusion rate showed a significant difference, as well as screw loosening, and bone mineral density measured in Hounsfield units. However, there was no significant difference in vertebral fracture. The TP group demonstrated favorable effects with statistical significance. In terms of functional outcomes, there was no significant difference in the assessment of Oswestry Disability Index scores between the 2 treatment groups. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the TP group exhibited significantly better outcomes, particularly in radiological measures, when compared to the control group. The use of TP in spinal fusion surgery shows promise in reducing postoperative complications and providing overall benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 2% of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases have early onset (FAD) and are caused by mutations in either Presenilins (PSEN1/2) or amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). PSEN1/2 catalyze production of Aβ peptides of different length from APP. Aβ peptides are the major components of amyloid plaques, a pathological lesion that characterizes AD. Analysis of mechanisms by which PSEN1/2 and APP mutations affect Aβ peptide compositions lead to the implication of the absolute or relative increase in Aβ42 in amyloid-β plaques formation. Here, to elucidate the formation of pathogenic Aβ cocktails leading to amyloid pathology, we utilized FAD rat knock-in models carrying the Swedish APP (Apps allele) and the PSEN1 L435F (Psen1LF allele) mutations. To accommodate the differences in the pathogenicity of rodent and human Aβ, these rat models are genetically engineered to express human Aβ species as both the Swedish mutant allele and the WT rat allele (called Apph) have been humanized in the Aβ-coding region. Analysis of the eight possible FAD mutant permutations indicates that the CNS levels of Aβ43, rather than absolute or relative increases in Aβ42, determine the onset of pathological amyloid deposition in FAD knock-in rats. Notably, Aβ43 was found in amyloid plaques in late onset AD and mild cognitive impairment cases, suggesting that the mechanisms initiating amyloid pathology in FAD knock-in rat reflect disease mechanisms driving amyloid pathology in late onset AD. This study helps clarifying the molecular determinants initiating amyloid pathology and supports therapeutic interventions targeting Aβ43 in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Based on the computed tomography (CT) pulmonary nodules (PNs) screening trial, sub-centimeter PNs (SCPNs) with a diameter ≤ 10 mm are observed in approximately 15% of the screened population, of which 48--56% of the cases occur in patients with lung cancer. Aim: To assess the safety and diagnostic precision of CT-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) for SCPNs. Material and methods: Between January 2016 and December 2018, consecutive patients with PNs underwent a CT-guided CNB procedure. These patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A included patients with SCPNs and group B included patients with PNs of 11--20 mm in diameter. The baseline data, diagnostic performance, and complication rates were compared. Results: The technical success rates of CT-guided CNB in groups A and B were both 100%. No statistically significant differences were observed in diagnostic yield (43.8% vs. 54.7%, p = 0.105), overall accuracy (89.5% vs. 94.0%, p = 0.221), and sensitivity (78.8% vs. 90.1%, p = 0.080) between the 2 groups. The independent risk factor related to diagnostic failure of SCPNs was CNB-related pneumothorax (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in the rates of pneumothorax (13.3% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.664) and pulmonary hemorrhage (10.5% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.624) between the 2 groups. The risk factors related to pneumothorax were decubitus position (p = 0.009) and more needle pathways (p = 0.004). A risk factor associated with pulmonary hemorrhage was greater lesion-pleura distance (p = 0.048). Conclusions: CT-guided CNB is a safe, reliable, and precise method for the diagnosis of SCPNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an important but less recognized public health concern. Research shows that altered subcortical structures mediate cognitive impairment in patients with mTBI. This has been performed mostly using voxel-based morphometry methods and traditional volume measurement methods, which have certain limitations. In this study, we conducted a vertex-wise shape analysis to understand the aberrant patterns of caudate subregions and recovery from mTBI. The study involved 36 patients with mTBI and 34 matched healthy controls (HCs) observed at seven days (acute phase) and followed up for one month (subacute phase) post-injury. Different aberrant shapes of the caudate subregions were observed at the acute phase, which revealed atrophy in the bilateral dorsal medial caudate, and increase in the size of the right ventral anterior caudate in patients with mTBI related to HCs. Moreover, specific and significant shape restoration of right dorsal medial caudate in mTBI was observed at the subacute phase, which significantly associated with the cognitive function improvement of the patients. These findings suggest that the restoration of the aberrant shape atrophy of the right dorsal medial caudate plays a vital role in the improvement of cognitive function of patients with mTBI, providing an alternative clinical target for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familial British dementia and familial Danish dementia are neurodegenerative disorders caused by mutations in the gene integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2b) encoding BRI2, which tunes excitatory synaptic transmission at both presynaptic and postsynaptic termini. In addition, BRI2 interacts with and modulates proteolytic processing of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP), whose mutations cause familial forms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (familial AD). To study the pathogenic mechanisms triggered by the Danish mutation, we generated rats carrying the Danish mutation in the rat Itm2b gene (Itm2bD rats). Given the BRI2/APP interaction and the widely accepted relevance of human amyloid β (Aβ), a proteolytic product of APP, to AD, Itm2bD rats were engineered to express two humanized App alleles and produce human Aβ. Here, we studied young Itm2bD rats to investigate early pathogenic changes in these diseases. We found that periadolescent Itm2bD rats not only present subtle changes in human Aβ levels along with decreased spontaneous glutamate release and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepro pionic acid receptor–mediated responses but also had increased short-term synaptic facilitation in the hippocampal Schaeffer-collateral pathway. These alterations in excitatory interneuronal communication can impair learning and memory processes and were akin to those observed in adult mice producing rodent Aβ and carrying either the Danish or British mutations in the mouse Itm2b gene. Collectively, the data show that the pathogenic Danish mutation alters the physiological function of BRI2 at glutamatergic synapses across species and early in life. Future studies will determine whether this phenomenon represents an early pathogenic event in human dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use chaotic artificial neural network (CANN) technology to predict the price of the most widely traded agricultural futures - soybean futures. The nonlinear existence test results show that the time series of soybean futures have multifractal dynamics, long-range dependence, self similarity, and chaos characteristics. This also provides a basis for the construction of a CANN model. Compared with the artificial neural network (ANN) structure as our benchmark system, the predictability of CANN is much higher. The ANN is based on Gaussian kernel function and is only suitable for local approximation of nonstationary signals, so it cannot approach the global nonlinear chaotical hidden pattern. Improving the prediction accuracy of soybean futures prices is of great significance for investors, soybean producers, and decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in integral membrane protein 2B (ITM2b/BRI2) gene cause familial British and Danish dementia (FBD and FDD), autosomal dominant disorders characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration. Two pathogenic mechanisms, which may not be mutually exclusive, have been proposed for FDD and FBD: 1) loss of BRI2 function; 2) accumulation of amyloidogenic mutant BRI2-derived peptides, but the mechanistic details remain unclear. We have previously reported a physiological role of BRI2 in excitatory synaptic transmission at both presynaptic termini and postsynaptic termini. To test whether pathogenic ITM2b mutations affect these physiological BRI2 functions, we analyzed glutamatergic transmission in FDD and FBD knock-in mice, which carry pathogenic FDD and FBD mutations into the mouse endogenous Itm2b gene. We show that in both mutant lines, spontaneous glutamate release and AMPAR-mediated responses are decreased, while shortterm synaptic facilitation is increased, effects similar to those observed in Itm2bKO mice. In vivo and in vitro studies show that both pathogenic mutations alter maturation of BRI2 resulting in reduced levels of functional mature BRI2 protein at synapses. Collectively, the data show that FDD and FBD mutations cause a reduction of BRI2 levels and function at synapses, which results in reduced glutamatergic transmission. Notably, other genes mutated in Familial dementia, such as APP, PSEN1/PSEN2, are implicated in glutamatergic synaptic transmission, a function that is altered by pathogenic mutations. Thus, defects in excitatory neurotransmitter release may represent a general and convergent mechanism leading to neurodegeneration. Targeting these dysfunction may offer a unique disease modifying method of therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of magnitude and orientation for spatially applied loading is highly desired in the fields of not only the machinery components but also human-machine interaction. Despite the fact that the 3-axis force sensor with different structures has been proposed to measure the spatial force, there are still some common limitations including the multi-step manufacturing-assembly processes and complicated testing of decoupling calibration. Here, we propose a rapid fabrication strategy with low-cost to achieve high-precision 3-axis force sensors. The sensor is designed to compose of structural Maltese cross base and sensing units. It is directly fabricated within one step by a hybrid 3D printing technology combining deposition modeling (FDM) with direct-ink-writing (DIW). In particular, a machine learning (ML) model is used to convert the strain signal to the force components. Instead of a mount of calibration tests, this ML model is trained by sufficient simulation data based on programmed batch finite element modeling. This sensor is capable of continuously identifying a spatial force with varying magnitude and orientation, which successfully quantify the applied force of traditional Chinese medicine physiotherapy including Gua Sha and massage. This work provides insight for design and rapid fabrication of multi-axis force sensors, as well as potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspidistra purpureomaculata, a new species from Pakse, Laos, is described and illustrated. This new species resembles A. xuansonensis in the shape of perianth and stigma, but can be distinguished by its perianth tube colour mainly purple and stamens in the middle of the perianth tube. Aspidistra purpureomaculata is also similar to A. laongamensis in the shape of perianth and the position of stamens but is distinguishable by perianth lobes 6, pale green or white inside, and stigma 6-lobed. Detailed description is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-velocity impact behaviors of carbon/epoxy composite laminates have been widely investigated in recent years by using various numerical modeling approaches in which the specific damage initiation criterion, damage evolution method and interface model were employed. However, the computation accuracies of these approaches have rarely been compared and reported. To explore a high-precision modeling approach for low-velocity impact behaviors of laminated composites, numerical study focusing on a comparison of different failure criteria (Hashin/Puck), evolution methods (sudden/linear/exponential) and interface models (zero-thickness cohesive elements/finite-thickness cohesive elements/cohesive contact) was conducted. The dynamic mechanical responses and damage behaviors predicted by different modeling approaches were compared. A new damage index D ˆ I was proposed to characterize the extent of damage accumulation in each layer of laminates. The results indicate that the impact responses of the material are more influenced by the evolution methods rather than the failure criteria. The numerical results predicted with Puck criterion, linear evolution method, and finite-thickness cohesive elements are in the best agreement with the experimental data. • A new damage index is proposed to characterize the damage degree of laminates. • Comprehensive review of the effects of different damage models on prediction results. • Guidelines for modeling approaches to describe composite delamination are established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concerns the reconstruction of multiple elastic parameters (Laméparameters and density) of an inhomogeneous medium embedded in an infinite homogeneous isotropic background in ℝ2. The direct scattering problem is reduced to an equivalent system on a bounded domain by introducing an exact transparent boundary condition and the well-posedness of the corresponding variational problem is established. The Fréchet differentiability of the near-field scattering map is studied with respect to the elastic parameters. Based on the multifrequency measurement data and its phaseless term, two Landweber iterative algorithms are developed for the reconstruction of the multiple elastic parameters. Numerical examples, indicating that plane pressure incident wave is a better choice, are presented to show the validity and accuracy of our methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thalidomide (THD) exhibits antitumor effects in several types of cancer. However, the failure of THD to inhibit tumor growth has also been observed in a number of murine models in vivo. The mechanism involved in the therapeutic failure of THD remains unclear. The present study demonstrated that, accompanied by growth.arresting and apoptosis.inducing effects (P<0.05), THD upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) expression levels in CT26 murine colorectal carcinoma cell lines. This in vitro phenomenon was also observed in various other cell lines, including human umbilical vein endothelial cells, SW480, SW620 and HCT116. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were increased compared with those in the untreated control when cells were exposed to THD (P<0.05). Furthermore, results suggested that ROS suppression may have provoked the induction of VEGFR1 expression to some extent. In addition, the results revealed that THD failed to inhibit CT26 tumor growth in vivo and the expression of VEGFR1 protein was elevated by THD treatment compared with the control group in the murine colorectal tumor model (P<0.05). The results of further experiments suggested that VEGFR1 was elevated in response to various stress.associated situations, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and thermotherapy, which indicate that it may act as a stress.associated protein. The present findings provide a foundation for the future study of VEGFR1.targeted therapy to enhance the efficacy of current therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with boundary integral equation methods for solving the two-dimensional fluid-solid interaction problem. We reduce the problem to three different systems of boundary integral equations via direct and indirect approach es. Existence and uniqueness results for variational solutions of boundary integral equations are established. Since in all these variational formulations, the hypersingular boundary integral operator assoc iated with the time-harmonic Navier equation is a dominating integral operator, we also include a new regularization formulation for this hypersingular operator, which allows us to treat the hypersingular kernel by a weakly singular kernel. Numerical examples are presented to verify and validate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with boundary integral equation methods for solving the two-dimensional uid-solid interaction problem. We reduce the problem to three different systems of boundary integral equations via direct and indirect approaches. Existence and uniqueness results for variational solutions of boundary integral equations are established. Since in all these variational formulations, the hypersingular boundary integral operator associated with the time-harmonic Navier equation is a dominating integral operator, we also include a new regularization formulation for this hypersingular operator, which allows us to treat the hypersingular kernel by a weakly singular kernel. Numerical examples are presented to verify and validate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunella vulgaris (PV), a traditional Chinese herb, has been shown to be rich in bioactive chemicals and possess anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on tumor cells. The effect of PV on human well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC), which accounts for the majority of common endocrine malignancies, remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the function of PV on WDTC cell lines and apoptosis-associated signaling pathway activity. Additional studies demonstrated that PV may induce apoptosis in WDTC TPC-1 and FTC-133 cell lines, using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Morphological changes of apoptotic cells were observed by Hoechst 33342 and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. In addition, ladder pattern of fragmented DNA was observed by DNA gel electrophoresis. It was also observed that PV significantly increased Bcl-2-associated X protein and caspase-3 expression, and downregulated B-cell lymphoma-2 expression in TPC-1 and FTC-133 by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (P<0.05). Thus, the present results indicated that PV has the potential to be a future WDTC therapeutic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a well-known cytokine with pleiotropic biological functions, has an important role in the regulation of cellular proliferation. Rapamycin has specific antagonistic activity on the function of the mammalian target of the rapamycin signaling pathway. The cooperation of TGF-β and rapamycin on the proliferation of Michigan Cancer Foundation (MCF)-7 human breast cancer cells is unclear. The present study demonstrated that TGF-β had a growth-arresting effect on MCF-7 cancer cells. TGF-β stimulation resulted in the upregulation of several cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, including p14ARF, p15INK4b, p16INK4a and p21WAF1/CIP1. The present study also demonstrated that rapamycin enhances the antiproliferative effect of TGF-β. The combination of rapamycin and TGF-β induced apoptosis of MCF-7 tumor cells. These findings advance the current understanding of the biological effects of TGF-β and rapamycin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant pleural effusion (PE) and ascites, common clinical manifestations in advanced cancer patients, are associated with a poor prognosis. However, the biological characteristics of malignant PE and ascites are not clarified. Here we report that malignant PE and ascites can induce a frequent epithelial-mesenchymal transition program and endow tumor cells with stem cell properties with high efficiency, which promotes tumor growth, chemoresistance, and immune evasion. We determine that this epithelial-mesenchymal transition process is mainly dependent on VEGF, one initiator of the PI3K/Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. From the clinical observation, we define a therapeutic option with VEGF antibody for malignant PE and ascites. Taken together, our findings clarify a novel biological characteristic of malignant PE and ascites in cancer progression and provide a promising and available strategy for cancer patients with recurrent/refractory malignant PE and ascites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A shortage of community health professionals has been a crucial issue hindering the development of CHS. Various methods have been established to calculate health workforce requirements. This study aimed to use an economic-research-based approach to calculate the number of community health professionals required to provide community health services in the Xicheng District of Beijing and then assess current staffing levels against this ideal. Methods: Using questionnaires, we collected relevant data from 14 community health centers in the Xicheng District, including resident population, number of different health services provided, and service volumes. Through 36 interviews with family doctors, nurses, and public health workers, and six focus groups, we were able to calculate the person-time (equivalent value) required for each community health service. Field observations were conducted to verify the duration. Results: In the 14 community health centers in Xicheng District, 1752 health workers were found in our four categories, serving a population of 1.278 million. Total demand for the community health service outstripped supply for doctors, nurses, and public health workers, but not other professionals. The method suggested that to properly serve the study population an additional 64 family doctors, 40 nurses, and 753 public health workers would be required. Conclusions: Our calculations indicate that significant numbers of new health professionals are required to deliver community health services. We established time standards in minutes (equivalent value) for each community health service activity, which could be applied elsewhere in China by government planners and civil society advocates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin C is widely used in clinical settings and is well known for its safety. Previous studies have shown the efficacy of intravenous vitamin C; however, intratumoral delivery of vitamin C has yet to be attempted. In the present study, the biological effects of high-dose vitamin C on tumor cells were investigated in vitro by using the MTT assay and flow cytometry. When administered in vitro, high-dose vitamin C inhibited the proliferation of murine colon and breast cancer cells, and induced tumor cell apoptosis. Cytotoxicity of vitamin C was partially reversed by N-acetyl-cysteine at a relatively low dosage. In addition, synergistic anti-tumor effects of vitamin C and cisplatin were observed. In vivo, intratumoral delivery of vitamin C delayed tumor growth in murine solid tumor models. Considering its low toxicity and availability, the present study indicates that vitamin C may be a novel therapeutic method for patients with advanced tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is focused on the modeling of signal propagations in myelinated axons to characterize the functions of the myelin sheath in the neural structure. Based on reasonable assumptions on the medium properties, we derive a two-dimensional neural-signaling model in cylindrical coordinates from the time-harmonic Maxwell equations. The well-posedness of the model is established upon Dirichlet boundary conditions at the two ends of the neural structure and the radiative condition in the radial direction of the structure. Using the perfectly matched layer (PML) method, we truncate the unbounded background medium and propose an approximate problem on the truncated domain. The well-posedness of the PML problem and the exponential convergence of the approximate solution to the exact solution are established. Numerical experiments based on finite element discretization are presented to demonstrate the theoretical results and the efficiency of our methods of simulating the signal propagation in axons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the perfectly matched layer (PML) technique, this paper develops a highly accurate boundary integral equation (BIE) solver for acoustic scattering problems in locally defected layered media in both two and three dimensions. The original scattering problem is truncated onto a bounded domain by the PML. Assuming the vanishing of the scattered field on the PML boundary, we derive BIEs on local defects only in terms of using PML-transformed free-space Green's function, and the four standard integral operators: single-layer, double-layer, transpose of double-layer, and hyper-singular boundary integral operators. The hyper-singular integral operator is transformed into a combination of weakly-singular integral operators and tangential derivatives. We develop a highorder Chebyshev-based rectangular-polar singular-integration solver to discretize all weakly singular integrals. Numerical experiments for both two- and three-dimensional problems are carried out to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed solver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic diseases represent a challenging worldwide health burden. The current study investigated the therapeutic potential of genetically modified human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPDMSCs) with basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) genes in hindlimb ischemia. Mesenchymal stem cells obtained from human term placenta were transfected ex vivo with adenoviral bicistronic vectors carrying the FGF2 and PDGF-BB genes (Ad-F-P). Unilateral hindlimb ischemia was surgically induced by excision of the right femoral artery in New Zealand White rabbits. Ad-F-P genetically modified hPDMSCs, Ad-null (control vector)-modified hPDMSCs, unmodified hPDMSCs or media were intramuscularly implanted into the ischemic limbs 7 days subsequent to the induction of ischemia. Four weeks after cell therapy, angiographic analysis revealed significantly increased collateral vessel formation in the Ad-F-P-hPDMSC group compared with the control group. Histological examination revealed markedly increased capillary and arteriole density in the Ad-F-P-hPDMSC group. The xenografted hPDMSCs survived in the ischemic tissue for at least 4 weeks subsequent to cell therapy. The current study demonstrated that the combination of hPDMSC therapy with FGF2 and PDGF-BB gene therapy effectively induced collateral vessel formation and angiogenesis, suggesting a novel strategy for therapeutic angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropsychological factors have been shown to influence tumor progression and therapeutic response. The present study investigated the effect of the dopamine receptor antagonist thioridazine on murine breast cancer. The anti-tumor efficacy of thioridazine was assessed using a murine breast cancer model. Cell apoptosis and proliferation were analyzed in vitro using f low cytometry (FCM) and the MTT assay, respectively. Western blot analysis was performed to assess Akt, phosphorylated (p)-Akt, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3, p-STAT3 and p-p65 in tumor cells following treatment with thioridazine. The Ki67 index and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive apoptotic cells were assessed in the tumor sections. Thioridazine was found to reduce tumor growth, inhibit tumor cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner in vitro. Thioridazine was also found to markedly inhibit tumor proliferation and induce tumor cell apoptosis in vivo as shown by the lower Ki67 index and increase in TUNEL-positive cells. In addition, thioridazine was observed to inhibit the activation of the canonical nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells pathway and exert anti-tumor effects by remodeling the tumor stroma, as well as inhibit angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment. In conclusion, thioridazine was found to significantly inhibit breast tumor growth and the potential for thioridazine to be used in cancer therapy may be re-evaluated and investigated in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toll-like receptors have been utilized in cancer therapeutic strategies in recent years. To the best of our knowledge, the systemic use of the toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonist has not been investigated in a breast cancer model. In the current study, tumor growth following drug therapy was examined. Immunofluorescence and TUNEL staining were performed in order to examine the tumor vasculature and apoptosis, respectively. In addition, immunohistochemistry was used to assess HMGB1 in tumor tissues. Activated CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood were examined by flow cytometry. In the present study, it was identified that the TLR7/8 agonist, R848, exhibited a robust antitumoral effect. R848 reduced tumor vasculature and induced tumor cell apoptosis. In addition, R848 increased high mobility group box 1 expression in tumor tissues and activated CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood. A synergistic antitumoral effect of R848 and the anti-angiogenic agent, sunitinib, was observed. The present findings suggest that the TLR7/8 agonist may be a potential adjuvant to potentiate the effect of anti-angiogenic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the evidence on the immunomodulatory effect of acupoint application for childhood asthma. Methods. Five electronic databases through October 2014 were searched. The risk of bias in eligible studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Standardised mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of random-effects model were calculated. And heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran Q statistic and quantified with the I² index. Results. Six studies were included in our review. The aggregated results suggested that acupoint application showed the beneficial effect for childhood asthma in improving IgA (SMD, -0.83; 95% CI -1.14 to -0.52; P < 0.00001), IgE (SMD, -0.52; 95% CI -0.76 to -0.29; P < 0.001), IgG (SMD, -1.17; 95% CI -1.61 to -0.74; P < 0.0001), IL-4 (SMD, -0.57; 95% CI -0.91 to -0.23; P = 0.0009), and IFN-γ (SMD, -0.38; 95% CI -0.71 to -0.04; P = 0.03) but not IgM (SMD, -0.40; 95% CI -0.98 to 0.18; P = 0.18). And the effective dose of acupoint application may be 2-6 hours/time and a total of 3 times within 4 weeks. Conclusions. This review showed the positive evidence that acupoint application had the favorable immunomodulatory effect for childhood asthma. However, more studies with long follow-up are warrant to confirm the current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the evidence on the effect of Tai Chi for Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods. Six electronic databases up to June 2014 were searched. The methodological quality was assessed with PEDro scale. Standardised mean difference and 95% confidence intervals of random-effects model were calculated. Results. Nine studies were included in our review. The aggregated results are in favor of Tai Chi on improving motor function (P = 0.002) and balance (P < 0.00001) in patients with PD. However, there is no sufficient evidence to support or refute the value of Tai Chi on improving gait velocity (P = 0.11), stride length (P = 0.21), or quality of life (P = 0.40). And there is no valid evidence in follow-up effects of Tai Chi for PD. Conclusion. The current results suggest that Tai Chi can significantly improve the motor function and balance in patients with PD, but there is indeed not enough evidence to conclude that Tai Chi is effective for PD because of the small treatment effect, methodological flaws of eligible studies, and insufficient follow-up. Consequently, high-quality studies with long follow-up are warranted to confirm current beneficial findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering and antidepressant effects of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu formulation (ZGJTJY) in a model of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) in rats with diabetes mellitus (DM; the UCMS-DM model). Sixty rats were randomly divided into blank control, vehicle (model plus vehicle), positive control (model plus metformin and fluoxetine), and high, medium and low dose ZGJTJY (model plus high, medium and low doses of ZGJTJY, respectively) groups. Following establishment of DM by a high-fat diet with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (38 mg/kg), the depression model was established by application of UCMS for 28 days. The behavioral scores of the rats were detected in an open field test and Morris water maze test. The levels of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood lipids were assayed. The total scores of the open field test and the space exploration times (SETs) in the Morris water maze test were significantly lower and the escape latency (EL) times in the Morris water maze test were significantly longer in the vehicle group compared with those in the blank control group. In addition, in the vehicle group, the levels of blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly higher and the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were significantly lower compared with those in the blank control group. The high dose of ZGJTJY decreased the locomotor activity levels in the open field test, the EL times of the model on day 4, the SETs in the Morris water maze test and the HDL-C levels, and reduced the blood glucose, HbA1c, TC, TG and LDL-C levels compared with those in the model group. Thus, ZGJTJY is a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of the comorbidity of depression with DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, is reported to exert anti-tumor effects by upregulating the expression of the natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) ligands on tumor cells; however, the mechanisms vary in different tumor types, and the effect and mechanism of action of VPA in pancreatic cancer cells are unknown. Methods The present study evaluated the effect of VPA to susceptibility of pancreatic cancer cells to the NK cell-mediated lysis in vitro and in vivo. Then we investigated the mechanism which the effect of VPA depend on. Results The lactate dehydrogenase assay (LDH) and xenograft experiment demonstrated that VPA significantly sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to NK cell-mediated lysis in vitro and in vivo. Quantitative real time- polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and flow cytometry demonstrated that VPA upregulated the mRNA and cell surface expression of the NKG2D ligands major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A and B (MICA and MICB) in pancreatic cancer cells. Effects of VPA both in vitro and in vivo were significantly attenuated by the PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor LY294002 or a siRNA targeting PI3K catalytic subunit alpha isoform (PI3KCA). Conclusion VPA enhances the susceptibility of pancreatic cancer cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo by upregulating the expression of MICA and MICB via a PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-dependent mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, is reported to exert anti-tumor effects by upregulating the expression of the natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) ligands on tumor cells; however, the mechanisms vary in different tumor types, and the effect and mechanism of action of VPA in pancreatic cancer cells are unknown. Methods: The present study evaluated the effect of VPA to susceptibility of pancreatic cancer cells to the NK cell-mediated lysis in vitro and in vivo. Then we investigated the mechanism which the effect of VPA depend on. Results: The lactate dehydrogenase assay (LDH) and xenograft experiment demonstrated that VPA significantly sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to NK cell-mediated lysis in vitro and in vivo. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and flow cytometry demonstrated that VPA upregulated the mRNA and cell surface expression of the NKG2D ligands major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A and B (MICA and MICB) in pancreatic cancer cells. Effects of VPA both in vitro and in vivo were significantly attenuated by the PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor LY294002 or a siRNA targeting PI3K catalytic subunit alpha isoform (PI3KCA). Conclusion: VPA enhances the susceptibility of pancreatic cancer cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo by upregulating the expression of MICA and MICB via a PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-dependent mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated both numerically and experimentally the dynamics of individual zinc oxide nanowires immersed in an in-plane switching 4-Cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl liquid crystal cell under switching electric fields. Comparing the motion of nanowires captured by a high-speed video camera with the simulated results allows the interaction among nanowires, liquid crystals, and external electric field to be studied. Our results show that in the nematic phase, the relaxation and response of a nanowire are both controlled by the dielectrophoretic torque induced by the external electric field and the elastic torque arising from the liquid crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells can kill tumor cells in a non-MHC-restricted manner. However, cancer cells frequently escape from the attack of NK cells by multiple ways. In this study, we investigated the effect of gefitinib on the interaction between NK cells and lung cancer cells. Methods: 51Cr release assay, CD107a assay, and IFN-γ secretion assay were performed to detect the sensitivity of lung cancer cell lines A549 and H1975 to NK cells cytotoxicity in the presence of gefitinib. Human NK cells were co-cultured with A549 and H1975 cell lines in the presence of gefitinib. NKG2D ligands, ULBP1, ULBP2, MICA, and MHC-I on tumor cells, and NKG2D, NKp44 and NKp46 on NK cells were evaluated with flow cytometry. 51Cr release assay was performed when NKG2D antibody were added into the co-culture system. Expressions of stat3 and LC3 I/II on tumor cells were determined with western blot after co-cultured with NK cells. After treated with gefitinib, mannose-6-phosphate receptor (MPR) on H1975 cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. 51Cr release assay were performed when MPR antagonist were used. Results: Gefitinib increased cytotoxicity of NK cells to human lung cancer H1975 cells with EGFR L858R + T790M mutations, while not in A549 cells with wild type EGFR. Gefitinib could block the immune escape by up-regulating the expression of NKG2D ligands ULBP1, ULBP2 or MICA on tumor cells and NKG2D on NK cells in the co-culture system. Gefitinib and NK cells up-regulated MHC-I expression in A549 while not in H1975 cells. NKG2D antibody blocked the enhanced NK cytotoxicity by gefitinib. The combination of NK cells and gefitinib could significantly down-regulate stat3 expression. Furthermore, NK cells-mediated tumor cell autophagy was observed in A549 cells while not in H1975 cells. Notably, gefitinib increased autophagy and MPR expression in H1975 cells, which improved the sensitivity to NK cell-based immunotherapy. Conclusions: Gefitinib greatly enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity to lung cancer cells with EGFR L858R + T790M resistance mutation. Combination of EGFR tyrokinase inhibitors and NK cells adoptive immunotherapy may represent a potentially effective strategy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of the Dickkopf homolog 3 (DKK3) gene is downregulated in some human cancers, suggesting a possible tumor suppressor role of this gene. The role and regulation of DKK3 in thyroid cancer have not been examined. In this study, we explored the relationship of promoter methylation with the inactivation of DKK3 and tumor behaviors in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We used methylation-specific PCR and RT-PCR to examine the promoter methylation and expression of DKK3 and tumor characteristics. We found mRNA expression of DKK3 in 44.9% of the PTC tissue samples vs 100% of the matched normal thyroid tissue samples (P!0.01). In contrast, an opposite distribution pattern of DKK3 gene methylation was observed; specifically, 38.8% of the PTC tissue samples vs 0% of the matched normal thyroid tissue samples harbored DKK3 methylation. An inverse correlation between the promoter methylation and mRNA expression of DKK3 in PTC tissue samples was also observed. Moreover, we also found an inverse correlation between DKK3 expression and some aggressive pathological characteristics of PTC, including high TNM stages and lymph node metastasis, but a positive correlation between DKK3 promoter hypermethylation and pathological aggressiveness of the tumor. Treatment of the PTC cell line TPC-1 with the demethylating agent 5-azaC reduced DKK3 promoter methylation and enhanced its expression, establishing functionally the impact of DKK3 methylation on its expression. Our data thus for the first time demonstrate that the DKK3 gene is a potential tumor suppressor gene in thyroid cancer and that aberrant promoter methylation is an important mechanism for its downregulation, which may play a role in the tumorigenesis and aggressiveness of PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA damage response (DDR) is an intrinsic barrier of cell to tumorigenesis initiated by genotoxic agents. However, the mechanisms underlying the DDR are not completely understood despite of extensive investigation. Recently, we have reported that ectopic expression of germline stem cell gene PIWIL2 is associated with tumor stem cell development, although the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here we show that PIWIL2 is required for the repair of DNA-damage induced by various types of genotoxic agents. Upon ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, silenced PIWIL2 gene in normal human fibroblasts was transiently activated after treatment with UV light. This activation was associated with DNA repair, because Piwil2-deficienct mouse embryonic fibroblasts (mili-/- MEFs) were defective in cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) repair after UV treatment. As a result, the UV-treated mili-/- MEFs were more susceptible to apoptosis, as characterized by increased levels of DNA damage-associated apoptotic proteins, such as active caspase-3, cleaved Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and Bik. The impaired DNA repair in the mili-/- MEFs was associated with the reductions of histone H3 acetylation and chromatin relaxation, although the DDR pathway downstream chromatin relaxation appeared not to be directly affected by Piwil2. Moreover, guanine-guanine (Pt-[GG]) and double strand break (DSB) repair were also defective in the mili-/- MEFs treated by genotoxic chemicals Cisplatin and ionizing radiation (IR), respectively. The results indicate that Piwil2 can mediate DNA repair through an axis of Piwil2 → histone acetylation → chromatin relaxation upstream DDR pathways. The findings reveal a new role for Piwil2 in DNA repair and suggest that Piwil2 may act as a gatekeeper against DNA damage-mediated tumorigenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research that studied the molecular mechanisms for ischemic myocardial injury after nonlethal trauma, with focus on the effect of tumor necrosis factor its downstream effector adinopectin. The response of mice that were given nonlethal mechanical trauma using the Noble-Collip drum followed by myocardial injury were examined. It was found that tumor necrosis factor-induced downregulation of adiponectin is connected to exacerbated posttraumatic ischemic myocardial injury.

The Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici ( Pst) fungus is a biotrophic obligate parasite causing stripe rust, a major disease of wheat worldwide. Pst genes that encode secreted proteins serving as effectors and avirulence genes are thought to be expressed in haustoria. Three putative secreted protein genes from Pst haustoria were characterized in this study. Their full-length cDNAs were obtained using the 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Their transcripts were ranged from 769 to 1,094 base pairs (bp), encoding predicted proteins of 93 to 203 amino acids without significant similarities to any accessions in the GenBank protein database, but with some homologies to predicted proteins in P. graminis, the stem rust pathogen. The predicted products of the genes were characterized as secreted proteins and designated as PstSP2C7, PstSP11L10 and PstSP11P10. PstSP11L10 had a much higher expression level in infected leaves than in urediniospores and germinated urediniospores and therefore should be a good candidate for a gene involved in the wheat- Pst interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies with poor prognosis. Previously, we found that a subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cell line could propagate to form spheres. Here we characterized the malignant phenotypes of the pancreatic cancer stem CD44+/CD24+ cells, which were enriched under sphere forming conditions as analyzed by flow cytometry. These cells demonstrated increased resistance to gemcitabine and increased migration ability. Moreover, these cells exhibited epithelial to mesenchymal transition characterized by a decreased level of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and an increased level of the mesenchymal marker vimentin. Notably, abnormal expression of Bmi-1, ABCG2, Cyclin D1 and p16 were found in Panc-1 CSCs. Our results suggest that targeted inhibition of CSCs represents a novel therapeutic approach to overcome chemoresistance and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PIWIL2, a member of PIWI/AGO gene family, is expressed in the germline stem cells (GSCs) of testis for gametogenesis but not in adult somatic and stem cells. It has been implicated to play an important role in tumor development. We have previously reported that precancerous stem cells (pCSCs) constitutively express Piwil2 transcripts to promote their proliferation. Here we show that these transcripts de facto represent Piwil2-like (PL2L) proteins. We have identified several PL2L proteins including PL2L80, PL2L60, PL2L50 and PL2L40, using combined methods of Gene-Exon-Mapping Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (GEM RT-PCR), bioinformatics and a group of novel monoclonal antibodies. Among them, PL2L60 rather than Piwil2 and other PL2L proteins is predominantly expressed in various types of human and mouse tumor cells. It promotes tumor cell survival and proliferation in vitro through up-regulation of Stat3 and Bcl2 gene expressions, the cell cycle entry from G0/1 into S-phase, and the nuclear expression of NF-κB, which contribute to the tumorigenicity of tumor cells in vivo. Consistently, PL2L proteins rather than Piwil2 are predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm or cytoplasm and nucleus of euchromatin-enriched tumor cells in human primary and metastatic cancers, such as breast and cervical cancers. Moreover, nuclear PL2L proteins are always co-expressed with nuclear NF-κB. These results reveal that PL2L60 can coordinate with NF-κB to promote tumorigenesis and might mediate a common pathway for tumor development without tissue restriction. The identification of PL2L proteins provides a novel insight into the mechanisms of cancer development as well as a novel bridge linking cancer diagnostics and anticancer drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the possibility of using a Bayesian probabilistic approach for the detection of cracks in thin plate structures, utilizing measured dynamic responses at only a few points on the plate. Existing laser scanning or shearography based crack detection methods are applicable only when measurement at the region near the defect is possible. These types of techniques are important in providing information, in addition to that obtained through visual inspection, for the purpose of structural health monitoring. Because of the global nature of the vibration characteristics of structural systems, this article puts forward a crack detection approach that can be applicable with only a few sensors and when the sensor locations are not close to the crack. This kind of method is particularly valuable as it can be applied when visual inspection is not possible (e.g., part of the plate is obstructed and is not assessable by inspectors). Owing to the problems of measurement noise and incomplete measurement (i.e., only a limited number of measurement points are employed and high-mode information is lost because of the digitization of the signal and measurement noise), the results of crack detection as an inverse problem contain uncertainties. To explicitly handle such uncertainty, the proposed crack detection method follows the Bayesian statistical system identification framework. Rather than pinpointing the crack parameters (i.e., the crack location, length, and depth), the posterior probability density function (PDF) of the crack parameters is calculated to quantify the confidence level of the identified results, which is extremely important for engineers when they make judgments about remedial works. This article reports the theoretical development of the modeling of a cracked plate and a crack detection method together with numerical verification of the proposed method. The case study results are very encouraging, and indicate that the proposed method is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the success of docetaxel as an antitumour agent, the inter-individual variability in drug response still poses a major impediment to further use of this agent in the treatment of cancer. Current knowledge about predictive biomarkers of docetaxel sensitivity in malignant effusions is poor. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between β-tubulin III mRNA expression and chemosensitivity to docetaxel in metastatic malignant effusions. Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR was used for analysis of β-tubulin III mRNA expression in 37 malignant effusions collected prospectively. Viable tumour cells obtained from malignant effusions were tested for sensitivity to docetaxel using ATP-TCA assay. Results: β-tubulin III expression was inversely correlated with sensitivity to docetaxel in pleural effusions of NSCLC patients (P =0.022). The lower level of β-tubulin III mRNA expression in malignant effusions was associated with higher chemosensitivity to docetaxel in NSCLC patients in vitro. No correlation was found between β-tubulin III mRNA expression and docetaxel sensitivity in malignant effusions of gastric cancer patient. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that β-tubulin III mRNA expression level in malignant effusions, in which all cancer cells were metastatic, was correlated with docetaxel sensitivity in NSCLC. This highlights the potential role of biomarkers in malignant effusions in further customized chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a statistical method for damage detection based on the finite element (FE) model reduction technique that utilizes measured modal data with a limited number of sensors. A deterministic damage detection process is formulated based on the model reduction technique. The probabilistic process is integrated into the deterministic damage detection process using a perturbation technique, resulting in a statistical structural damage detection method. This is achieved by deriving the first- and second-order partial derivatives of uncertain parameters, such as elasticity of the damaged member, with respect to the measurement noise, which allows expectation and covariance matrix of the uncertain parameters to be calculated. Besides the theoretical development, this paper reports numerical verification of the proposed method using a portal frame example and Monte Carlo simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 1.8 kb 5′-flanking region of the large subunit of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, isolated from watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris S.), has fruit-specific promoter activity in transgenic tomato plants. Two negative regulatory regions, from –986 to –959 and from –472 to –424, were identified in this promoter region by fine deletion analyses. Removal of both regions led to constitutive expression in epidermal cells. Gain-of-function experiments showed that these two regions were sufficient to inhibit RFP (red fluorescent protein) expression in transformed epidermal cells when fused to the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S minimal promoter. Gel mobility shift experiments demonstrated the presence of leaf nuclear factors that interact with these two elements. A TCCAAAA motif was identified in these two regions, as well as one in the reverse orientation, which was confirmed to be a novel specific cis-element. A quantitative β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity assay of stable transgenic tomato plants showed that the activities of chimeric promoters harbouring only one of the two cis-elements, or both, were ∼10-fold higher in fruits than in leaves. These data confirm that the TCCAAAA motif functions as a fruit-specific element by inhibiting gene expression in leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The application of ultraviolet (UV)-curing coatings in precision devices is restricted because of their high shrinkage performance. In this study, hollow polyurethane acrylate (PUA) microspheres are filled into a mixed tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA) coating with different volume fractions to regulate shrinkage ratios of the coating, where hollow PUA microspheres with different diameters and thicknesses are synthesized using the microfluidics technology. The thickness-dependent mechanical properties of PUA thin films (the same thickness with the shell of each microsphere) are obtained by combining in-situ tensile and nanoindentation experiments with finite element (FE) method. The empirical formula between geometrical parameters (diameter, shell thickness, volume fraction) of hollow PUA microspheres and shrinkage ratios of the TPGDA coating filled with these PUA microspheres are derived using the present representative volume element (RVE) method. Checking against the results of UV-curing shrinkage experiments shows the current empirical formula has high accuracy. This study provides a physical insight into modulating their shrinkage ratios of different UV-curing materials. • An anti-shrinkage model of an UV-curing coating filled with hollow PUA microspheres is presented. • The thickness-dependent mechanical properties of PUA thin films are obtained by experiments and a FE method. • The empirical formulae of the shrinkage ratios of the coating are derived using RVE method. • This study provides a physical insight into modulating their shrinkage ratios of different UV-curing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As vibration-based structural damage detection methods are easily affected by environmental noise, a new statistic-based noise analysis method is proposed together with the Monte Carlo technique to investigate the influence of experimental noise of modal data on sensitivity-based damage detection methods. Different from the commonly used random perturbation technique, the proposed technique is deduced directly by Moore-Penrose generalized inverse of the sensitivity matrix, which does not only make the analysis process more efficient but also can analyze the influence of noise on both frequencies and mode shapes for three commonly used sensitivity-based damage detection methods in a similar way. A one-story portal frame is adopted to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed noise analysis technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Colocasiomyia de Meijere (Diptera: Drosophilidae) was discovered from inflorescences of Steudnera colocasiifolia K. Koch (Araceae) in Yunnan, China. The new species is described as Colocasiomyia steudnerae Takenaka and Toda, sp. nov., and we investigated the reproductive ecology of both the fly and the plant species. This fly species reproduces in the inflorescences/infructescences of the plant, and depends almost throughout its entire life cycle on the host plant. The fly species is the most abundant flower visitor for S. colocasiifolia and behaves intimately with the flowering events, suggesting that it is the unique and most efficient pollinator for the host plant. Bagging (insect-exclusion) treatment of inflorescences resulted in no fruits. These findings strongly suggest that intimate pollination mutualism has evolved between the fly and the host plant, as are known in other Colocasiomyia flies and Araceae plants. One notable feature of this system is that the new species almost monopolizes the host-plant inflorescence as a visitor, without any cohabiting Colocasiomyia species. In comparison to other cases where two Colocasiomyia species share the same inflorescence and infructescence of Araceae host plants for reproduction by separating their breeding niches microallopatrically between the staminate (upper male-flower) and the pistillate (lower female-flower) regions on the spadix, C. steudnerae exhibits a mixture of stamenicolous and pistillicolous breeding habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and dimethyldimethoxysilane (DiMe–DiMOS) were used as co-precursor to immobilize poly(p-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), then tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)3 2+) was successfully immobilized on a glass carbon electrode via ion-association. The immobilized Ru(bpy)3 2+ shows good electrochemical and photochemical activities. Electrochemical and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) characterizations of the organically modified silicates (ORMOSILs) modified film electrodes were made by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry. The ORMOSIL films were investigated by atomic force microscopy, scanning electrochemical microscope, tunnelling electrochemical microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. XPS in-depth profiles revealed a homogeneous distribution of Ru(bpy)3 2+ inside the silica thin layers. The modified electrode was used for the ECL determination of methamphetamine (METH) and showed high sensitivity. Detection limit was 2.0 × 10−7 moll−1 for METH (S/N = 3) with a linear range from 5.0 × 10−7 to 1.0 × 10−3 moll−1 (R = 0.986). The relative standard deviation (n = 6) was 1.1% for the determination of 1.0 × 10−5 moll−1 METH. Furthermore, the Ru(bpy)3 2+ immobilized modified electrode was applied in the ECL determination of methamphetamine (METH) in scout cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents a case example which helps nurses assess and intervene the numerous problems commonly experienced by patients with necrotic fasciitis. Epidemiology of the diseases; Disease management; Plan of care for situations where the priority is wound management.

Presents a model nursing care plan for the management of necrotizing fasciitis (NF). Epidemiology of NF; Disease management; Importance of early identification, diagnosis and aggressive treatment of the disease; Patterns for addressing NF.

• Direct-ink-writing printed high-sensitive strain sensor array. • Large-area strain monitoring based on the printed sensor array. • Wireless data acquisition instrument with array decoupling function. • Real-time visualization of large-area strain field. • Dynamic motion recognition based on cascaded SVM model. Large-area strain-monitoring is highly desired in various engineering applications. Despite the fact that the commercial strain gauges have been successfully used for strain measurement, there is still big challenge for this manually-pasting based solution especially for large-area monitoring. First, the wires of multiple commercial strain gauges for large-area monitoring will exhibit remarkably abundant and complex, and eventually reduce the reliability and convenience of the measurement system. Second, the commercial terminal instrument is usually function-redundant with complicated electronic configuration to match the low-sensitive metal-foil strain gauge. Meanwhile, the wire-based signal acquisition and processing system substantially limit the compatibility for moving objects. Here we take the advantages of direct-ink-writing (DIW) 3D printed sensor array, thereby propose a wireless-based solution for large-area strain field measurement, data transmission and processing. The sensitivity of the printed sensing unit is one order of magnitude higher than that of traditional strain gauges, while the sensor array layout is optimized for compatibility to the strain orientation and detecting domain. A high-frequency signal acquisitor is designed and assembled with a wireless transmitter for rapid multi-point strain detection and real-time data transmission. A remote data receiver and processing terminal are developed and integrated for twin-visualization of the detected strain field. In particular, the detected strain data are processed to construct a cascaded support-vector-machine (SVM) classifier, that successfully identify motion states of moving vehicles in high precision. This study provides insight into exploring the advantages of DIW printed sensor arrays combined with specifically-designed wireless system and strain-based dynamic recognition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]