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Purpose: To compare the outcome of indirect inguinal hernias repaired by using single-port laparoscopic percutaneous internal ring suture (SPIRS) between the pediatric and adult females. Methods: The medical records of females who were clinically assessed to have inguinal hernia from Oct. 2016 to May 2022 were reviewed. Patients who received laparoscopy for the diagnosis of the hernia type and customized treatment according to their hernia type were included, while those who chose other operation methods initially were excluded. The patients were divided into the adult and pediatric groups based on their age. The demographic characteristics, hernia types, operation durations, and outcomes were analyzed between these two groups. Results: A total of 65 adults and 60 children were included in this study. The median age was 38 years. (range: 23–88) for group A and 3 years (range: 0.1–16) for group P. Indirect hernias were present in 85% of adults and 100% of children. All the indirect hernias were repaired by SPIRS uneventfully. Incidence of contralateral patent processus vaginalis was 24% in adults and 50% in children (p = 0.016). The average operation time was 22/46 min (one/two sides) for the adults and 9/15 min (one/two sides) for the pediatrics (p < 0.010 for both). The overall complication rates were 5.4% and 3.3% for the adult and pediatric group respectively (p = 0.106). No recurrence was observed in the pediatric group, but two adults experienced recurrence and another had chronic postoperative inguinal pain, necessitating reoperation. The mean follow-up period was 38.6 ± 15.4 months for adults and 42.8 ± 18.9 months for children (p = 0.198). Conclusion: Our results support that the pathogenesis of indirect inguinal hernia for the female adults is due to the non-obliteration of a congenital processus vaginalis. Tailored treatment of the female IIH by using single-port laparoscopic percutaneous internal ring suture may be an alternative for the management of female IHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information about seasonal variation in the fatty acid (FA) composition of bulk tak milk and its relationship with dietary factors in Taiwan remains to be completed. This study aimed to determine the average FA composition of milk in different seasons and collect dietary information to investigate the relationship between dietary characteristics and lactation performance, including FA concentration in bulk tank milk. Methods: Bulk tank milk samples were collected monthly from 90 dairy farms across Taiwan for two years to capture seasonal variations. Additionally, 36 bulk tank milk samples from three farms were collected monthly from August 2022 to July 2023. Result: Milk production (kg/day), fat (%), crude protein (%), true protein (%), lactose (%) and solids-not-fat (%) were significantly higher in the cold season than in the hot and warm seasons (P<0.05) over the studied period. In contrast, somatic cell counts were significantly lower in the cold season than in the hot and warm seasons (P<0.05). Total saturated FA and C14:0 concentrations were significantly higher in the cold season than in the hot and warm seasons (P<0.05). In contrast, the C18:1 concentration was significantly higher in the hot and warm seasons than in the cold season (P<0.05). However, the C18:0 concentration did not differ significantly by season. Fat and FA concentrations varied significantly among three selected dairy farms (P<0.05). Milk fat only differed significantly between the three farms in the hot season, with Farm B having the lowest milk fat concentration (P<0.05). FA concentrations showed significant seasonal effects at all three farms. These results provide an overview of milk FA variation and identify the critical factors influencing variation in bulk tank milk fat and individual farm FA concentrations: dietary ether extract content and forage choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase - field method offers the prospect of carrying out realistic numerical calculation on dendrite growth in metallic systems. The dendritic growth process of Al - 0,02mole % Si binary alloy was simulated by the coupling method of phase field and solute field. The effects of anisotropic parameters on the growth morphology of dendrite were studied. The results show that with the increase of the anisotropy magnitude, the secondary dendrite arms are more developed, and the dendrite tip is obvious oriented. For the multiple dendrite growth, the dendrites present the morphology from the tip splitting to the dendrite tip oriented. The multi dendritic branching and remelting states of Al - Si alloy were obtained and the directional solidification remelting and solute segregation were obtained under different anisotropic index conditions. And numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the growth of single and multiple dendrites under coupled conditions of phase field, solute field, and flow field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterointerfaces between two insulators play a central role in the study of oxide electronics owing to a spectrum of emergent properties. Manipulating transport of the interface by light can result in significant modulation of the ground state and excite localized states. However, their dynamics and mechanisms of photogenerated carries remain unclear. Here, this study presents the dynamics of carrier density and mobility under and after light illumination by Hall effect over time. It is discovered that the density and mobility after light illumination obey a stretched exponential expression, further indicating that the variation of mobility caused by the electron-electron scattering plays an important role in the recovery process in addition to the reduction of carrier density. Meanwhile, a non-linear Hall resistance at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface under the illumination of a 360 nm laser at low temperature is observed. Furthermore, the gating effect can tune the recovery process after light illumination and induce a disappearance of non-linear Hall resistance. The results provide the experimental support for detailed mechanisms of the nonequilibrium process and developing of all-oxide electronic devices based on heterointerfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coke reduction gasification dephosphorization experiments were conducted on converter slag with FeO contents of 15 %, 20 %, 30 % and 35 %, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations, Scanning Electron Eicroscope(SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) showed that the actual reduction Gibbs free energy of P2O5 was less than that of FeO for the coke reduction converter slag product of P2, and the reactive driving force of P2O5 was greater under high FeO conditions. With the increase of FeO content, the gasification dephosphorization rate showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. After gasification dephosphorization, the presence of the Fe phase will adsorb more P elements, so the high FeO content is beneficial to increase the P2O5 activity, which is conducive to the gasification dephosphorization reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high P content in steel slag limits its recycling during the smelting process, and the P can be effectively removed from the steel slag by gasification dephosphorization. In this experiments, the effects of temperature, basicity, and FeO for gasification dephosphorization rate are studied through thermodynamic calculations. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) analysis that microscopic morphology of slag before and after reduction. In addition, a model is established to describe the phosphorus migration behavior of gasification dephosphorization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Au/Ni/p-GaN ohmic contacts annealed in air have been studied extensively because they provide low specific contact resistances and high transparency. In this article we focus on the environmental and thermal degradation that we have observed in these contacts. When the contacts were not protected from the environment, degradation of the contacts always occurred over a period of days, and after sitting 30 days in the laboratory at room temperature, the current–voltage characteristics of the originally ohmic contacts were nonlinear and the contacts were significantly more resistive. To pinpoint the degradation mechanism, samples were stored at room temperature in dry nitrogen, dry oxygen, dry air, air saturated with water vapor, nitrogen gas saturated with water vapor, or vacuum. These experiments revealed that water vapor was the cause of the room temperature degradation. Since no change in the sheet resistance of the p-type GaN was observed upon aging, four point probe measurements and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth profiles were carried out to determine the interaction between water vapor and the p-type NiO present in the annealed contact metallization. The measurements indicated that hydroxyl groups were incorporated in the NiO, leading to a reduction in its conductivity and presumably a decrease in its hole concentration. Aging studies at 200 °C further revealed poor thermal stability of the contacts not only in water vapor but also in nitrogen gas and vacuum, and this degradation was again linked to a degradation in the conductivity of the NiO component of the contact metallization. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quadrupolar and chemical shift tensors, as well as the relative orientation of the two principle axis systems, are accurately determined using a two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance technique. Good agreement between experimental and simulated two-dimensional spectra is obtained for a series of rubidium and sodium compounds at multiple magnetic field strengths. Extension of this technique to correlate the quadrupolar and dipolar interactions, as well as the incorporation of a purely isotropic dimension resulting in a three-dimensional experiment is also discussed. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass-forming ability (GFA) is crucial for designing bulk metallic glasses. In this work, it was found that when the content of the solvent element with an atomic radius larger than 1.58 Å in one ternary alloy system is fixed, their entropy of mixing (ΔSmix) vs. the enthalpy of mixing (ΔHmix) curve display a slant arc shape. The compositions locating around the inflection point of each ΔHmixvs. ΔSmix curve usually show an optimal GFA. Its feasibility was verified in Zr-, La-, and Ca-based ternary systems. By considering both calculated inflection points and experimental results, the optimizing glass-forming compositions can be roughly estimated by a proposed formula under limited conditions. Our studies could provide a simple method for preliminarily selecting good glass-formers when the content of the solvent element in one ternary alloy system is fixed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both neurocognitive deficits and schizophrenia are highly heritable. Genetic overlap between neurocognitive deficits and schizophrenia has been observed in both the general population and in the clinical samples. This study aimed to examine if the polygenic architecture of susceptibility to schizophrenia modified neurocognitive performance in schizophrenia patients. Schizophrenia polygenic risk scores (PRSs) were first derived from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) on schizophrenia, and then the scores were calculated in our independent sample of 1130 schizophrenia trios, who had PsychChip data and were part of the Schizophrenia Families from Taiwan project. Pseudocontrols generated from the nontransmitted parental alleles of the parents in these trios were compared with alleles in schizophrenia patients in assessing the replicability of PGC‐derived susceptibility variants. Schizophrenia PRS at the P‐value threshold (PT) of 0.1 explained 0.2% in the variance of disease status in this Han‐Taiwanese samples, and the score itself had a P‐value 0.05 for the association test with the disorder. Each patient underwent neurocognitive evaluation on sustained attention using the continuous performance test and executive function using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. We applied a structural equation model to construct the neurocognitive latent variable estimated from multiple measured indices in these 2 tests, and then tested the association between the PRS and the neurocognitive latent variable. Higher schizophrenia PRS generated at the PT of 0.1 was significantly associated with poorer neurocognitive performance with explained variance 0.5%. Our findings indicated that schizophrenia susceptibility variants modify the neurocognitive performance in schizophrenia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that the oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor 1 ( OLR1) gene plays an important role in the degradation of oxidized low density lipoprotein. Previous studies found a SNP in the 3′-untranslated region (3′- UTR) of the OLR1 gene associated with milk production traits in different dairy cattle populations and with loin eye area and marbling depth in beef cattle. Micro RNAs can regulate gene expression by binding the 3′- UTR of target genes to degrade or to repress the translation of target genes. Bioinformatics have shown that there is a binding site of bta-miR-370 in the 3′- UTR of the OLR1 gene, and a previous luciferase reporter assay system showed that the A/C mutation occurring in the 3′- UTR of this gene caused the binding sites of bta-miR-370 to disappear in HEK293 cells. To further validate whether OLR1 was the target gene of bta-miR-370, the over-expression and interference expression of bta-miR-370 were determined by transfecting bta-miR-370 mimics and inhibitor supplementations into bovine adipocyte. The qRT- PCR result showed that the relative expression of OLR1 gene significantly decreased in the mimics group compared to the control, whereas the expression level in inhibitor group was higher than its control group. The above results were further verified by a Western blot at the protein level. In addition, lipid formation analysis of bovine adipocytes was performed via oil red O staining, and we found that cytoplasm lipid droplets in the inhibitor group showed a tendency to increase compared to the control group, whereas in the mimics group, we observed an obvious decrease of cytoplasm lipid droplets compared to the control and inhibitor groups. Taken together, our data here suggest that bta-miR-370 has a negative regulation role for OLR1 both at the gene expression and protein levels and bovine adipocytes cytoplasm lipid droplets formation, which provides a reference for illustrating how the OLR1 gene affects milk production and beef quality traits in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converter blown limestone powder steelmaking process has the advantages of energy saving and high efficiency to meet the needs of low carbon metallurgy. Based on a thermogravimetric-differential thermal analyzer, the effect of high CO2 partial pressure on the pyrolysis behavior of limestone at steelmaking temperatures was investigated at 20 °C/min, 30 °C/min, and 40 °C/min, the kinetic parameters of limestone pyrolysis were calculated by the improved double extrapolation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin Hall angle, which denotes the conversion efficiency between spin and charge current, is a key parameter in the pure spin current phenomenon. The search for materials with large spin Hall angle is indeed important for scientific interest and potential application in spintronics. Here the large enhanced spin Hall effect (SHE) of Au-Cu alloy is reported by investigating the spin Seebeck effect, spin Hall anomalous Hall effect, and spin Hall magnetoresistance of the Y3Fe5O12 (YIG)/AuxCu1-x hybrid structure over the full composition. At the near equiatomic Au-Cu composition with maximum atomic disorder scattering, the spin Hall angle of the Au-Cu alloy increases by two to three times together with a moderate spin diffusion length in comparison with Au. The longitudinal spin Seebeck voltage and the spin Hall magnetoresistance ratio also increase by two to three times. More importantly, no evidence of anomalous Hall effect is observed in all YIG/Au-Cu samples, in contrast to the cases of other giant SHE materials Pt(Pd), Ta, andW. This behavior makes Au-Cu free from any suspicion of the magnetic proximity effect involved in the hybrid structure, and thus the Au-Cu alloy can be an ideal material for pure spin current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we give some new coupled common fixed point theorems for probabilistic φ-contractions in Menger probabilistic metric spaces. As applications of the main results, we obtain some coupled common fixed point theorems in usual metric spaces and fuzzy metric spaces. The main results of this paper improve the corresponding results given by some authors. Finally, we give one example to illustrate the main results of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algebraic quantum groupoids have been developed by two of the authors of this note (AVD and SHW) in a series of papers [A. Van Daele and S. Wang, Weak multiplier Hopf algebras. Preliminaries, motivation and basic examples, Banach Center Publ. 98 (2012) 367–415; A. Van Daele and S. Wang, Weak multiplier Hopf algebras I. The main theory, J. Reine Angew. Math. 705 (2015) 155–209; A. Van Daele and S. Wang, Weak multiplier Hopf algebras II. The source and target algebras, preprint (2014), arXiv: 1403.7906v2 [math.RA]; A. Van Daele and S. Wang, Weak multiplier Hopf algebras III. Integrals and duality, preprint (2017), arXiv: 1701.04951 [math.RA]], see also [A. Van Daele, Algebraic quantum groupoids. An example, preprint (2017), arXiv: 1702.04903 [math.RA]]. By an algebraic quantum groupoid, we understand a regular weak multiplier Hopf algebra with enough integrals. Regular multiplier Hopf algebroids are obtained also by two authors of this note (TT and AVD) in [T. Timmermann and A. Van Daele, Regular multiplier Hopf algebroids. Basic theory and examples, Commun. Algebra 46 (2017) 1926–1958]. Integral theory and duality for those have been studied by one author here (TT) in [T. Timmermann, Integration on algebraic quantum groupoids, Int. J. Math. 27 (2016) 1650014, arXiv: 1507.00660 [QA]; T. Timmermann, On duality of algebraic quantum groupoids, Adv. Math. 309 (2017) 692–746, arXiv: 1605.06384 [math.QA]]. In these papers, the term algebraic quantum groupoid is used for a regular multiplier Hopf algebroid with a single faithful integral. Finally, again two authors of us (TT and AVD) have investigated the relation between weak multiplier Hopf algebras and multiplier Hopf algebroids in [T. Timmermann and A. Van Daele, Multiplier Hopf algebroids arising from weak multiplier Hopf algebras, Banach Center Publ. 106 (2015) 73–110]. In the paper, Weak multiplier Hopf algebras III. Integrals and duality [A. Van Daele and S. Wang, Weak multiplier Hopf algebras III. Integrals and duality, preprint (2017), arXiv: 1701.04951 [math.RA]], one of the main results is that the dual of an algebraic quantum groupoid, admits a dual of the same type. In the paper, On duality of algebraic quantum groupoids [T. Timmermann, On duality of algebraic quantum groupoids, Adv. Math. 309 (2017) 692–746, arXiv: 1605.06384 [math.QA]], a result of the same nature is obtained for regular multiplier Hopf algebroids with a single faithful integral. The duality of regular weak multiplier Hopf algebras with a single integral can be obtained from the duality of regular multiplier Hopf algebroids (see [T. Timmermann, On duality of algebraic quantum groupoids, Adv. Math. 309 (2017) 692–746, arXiv: 1605.06384 [math.QA]]). That is however not the obvious way to obtain this result. It is more difficult and less natural than the direct way followed in [A. Van Daele and S. Wang, Weak multiplier Hopf algebras III. Integrals and duality, preprint (2017), arXiv: 1701.04951 [math.RA]]. We will discuss this statement further in the paper. Nevertheless, it is interesting to investigate the relation between the two approaches to duality in greater detail. This is what we do in this paper. We build further on the intimate relation between weak multiplier Hopf algebras and multiplier Hopf algebroids as studied in [T. Timmermann and A. Van Daele, Multiplier Hopf algebroids arising from weak multiplier Hopf algebras, Banach Center Publ. 106 (2015) 73–110]. We now add the presence of integrals. That seems to be done best in a framework of dual pairs. It is in fact more general than the duality of these objects coming with integrals. We are convinced that the material we present in this paper will provide a deeper understanding of the duality of algebraic quantum groupoids, both within the framework of weak multiplier Hopf algebras, as well as more generally for multiplier Hopf algebroids. Finally, we feel it is also appropriate to include some historical comments on the development of these duality theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Biliary leakage after T-tube removal is a frequent cause of morbidity in liver transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that predict the development of biliary leakage after T-tube removal in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) recipients. Methods Of the 144 patients who underwent LDLT with right-lobe liver grafts during the period January 2007 to May 2013 at a single medical center, 40 received biliary anastomosis with T-tube placement. Subjects were grouped into either a biliary leakage or non-biliary leakage group on the basis of the presence or absence of abdominal symptoms associated with signs of peritoneal irritation after T-tube removal. Recipient, graft, operative, and postoperative factors were included in a forward, stepwise multiple logistic regression model to identify the most important risk factors for biliary leakage after T-tube removal. Results Biliary leakage developed in 9 (22.5%) patients after T-tube removal. Risk factors associated with biliary leakage included the number of abdominal surgeries performed [odds ratio (OR) = 12.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.1–20.4] and duration of T-tube placement (OR = 6.9, 95% CI: 1.2–10.7). Conclusions Biliary leakage after T-tube removal is associated with significant morbidity in LDLT recipients. We suggest that T-tube placement be used sparingly in LDLT biliary reconstruction. When used, a T-tube should not be removed earlier than 8 months after placement, especially in recipients who have received primary abdominal surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAdvanced paternal age is associated with increased risk of schizophrenia. This study aimed to explore whether older paternal age is associated with earlier onset among co-affected schizophrenia sib-pairs with the same familial predisposition.MethodA total of 1297 patients with schizophrenia from 630 families, which were ascertained to have at least two siblings affected, throughout Taiwan were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies. Both inter-family comparisons, a hierarchical regression model allowing for familial dependence and adjusting for confounders, and within-family comparisons, examining the consistency between onset order and birth order, were performed.ResultsAn inverted U shape was observed between paternal age and onset of schizophrenia. Affected offspring with paternal age of 20–24 years had the oldest onset. As paternal age increased over 25 years, older paternal age exhibited a linear decrease in the onset of schizophrenia. On average, the onset was lowered by 1.5 years for paternal age of 25–29 years and by 5.5 years for paternal age ⩾50 years (p = 0.04; trend test). The proportion of younger siblings with earlier onset (58%) was larger than that of older siblings with earlier onset (42%) (p = 0.0002).ConclusionsThese findings indicate that paternal age older than 25 years and younger than 20 years were both associated with earlier onset among familial schizophrenia cases. The associations of advanced paternal age with both increased susceptibility to schizophrenia and earlier onset of schizophrenia are consistent with the rate of increases in spontaneous mutations in sperm as men age. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Spin Seebeck effect (SSE) and spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) are observed simultaneously in the Pt/Y3Fe5O12 hybrid structure when thermal gradient is produced by Joule heating. According to their dependences on applied current, these two effects can be separated. Their dependence on heating power and magnetic field is systematically studied. With the increase of heating power, the SSE enhances linearly, whereas the SMR decreases slowly. The origin of the spin currents is further analyzed. The heating power dependences of the spin currents associated with the SSE and the SMR are found to be different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase change energy storage materials based on paraffin/nano-aluminum nitride were prepared in this study. The thermal stability of the composite materials was determined by differential scanning calorimeter, simultaneous thermogravimetry analysis-differential thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The results of differential scanning calorimeter and X-ray diffraction showed that the thermal performance and structure of the composite materials are stable. The change of latent heat is accredited for thermal energy storage. The thermogravimetry analysis-differential thermal analysis revealed that 3 wt% nano-aluminum nitride added into paraffin increases the flash point by at least 10°C. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article examines the incidence rates and risk factors of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients using the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. The retrospective cohort study identified SLE patients and age-, sex- and comorbidity-matched control patients without SLE.

A comprehensive study on thermoelectric effects is performed for the transverse Pt strips attached to a longitudinal permalloy (Py) layer or sandwiched between two longitudinal Py layers. Thermal voltages jointly determined by planar Nernst effect (PNE), anomalous Nernst effect (ANE), and spin Seebeck effect (SSE) are detected across the Pt strip when a thermal gradient exists. By comparing the data of two differently structured samples, the respective contributions of the PNE, ANE, and SSE to thermal voltage are determined, and they have the ratio of 64:26:10, without considering the shunting effect of conductive Py, or 35:15:50, after the shunting-effect correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of various copper (Cu) concentrations on the antioxidative system in the roots of Medicago sativa were explored. The results indicated that the Cu content of the roots reached a value of 854 μg g−1 DW at 10 μ m Cu and a value of 4415 μg g−1 DW at 100 μ m Cu, suggesting that M. sativa has better ability to tolerate and accumulate Cu than other Cu-bioaccumulators, and is a potential plant for phytoremediation. Treatment with Cu resulted in a significant increment in the levels of H2O2, O2˙− and OH˙. The reduced form of ascorbate and glutathione reached a peak at 30 μ m Cu, and was followed by a sharp depletion to a lower level than that of the control. In contrast, the levels of the oxidised forms of ascorbate and glutathione showed a progressive increment with increasing Cu concentrations, suggesting that the antioxidant system was unable to cope with Cu stress at higher Cu levels. Under the Cu concentrations tested, the activity of catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) increased at lower Cu concentrations, and then decreased, reaching a maximum at 30 μ m of Cu for APX and GR, at 10 μ m for CAT, whereas the activities of guaiacol peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) were gradually increased with increasing Cu concentrations. PAGE analysis of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.1.5.1.1) revealed that one band is a Mn-SOD and five bands are identified as Cu, Zn-SOD, whereas Fe-SOD isoforms were not found in the roots of alfalfa. Cu at 10-100 μ m increased the intensity of constitutive isozymes of CAT, APX and POD, whereas it decreased the intensity of isozymes of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH, EC 1.1.1.49) significantly. The activities of lipoxygenases (LOX, EC 1.13.11.12) were gradually augmented with increasing Cu concentrations, demonstrating that LOXs are probably involved in production of lipid hydroperoxides and superoxide anion. There was a continuous and pronounced enhancement in the activity of esterase (EST, EC 3.1.1.1) in roots treated with 10-30 Cu μ m, whereas EST activity in roots exposed to above 30 μ m Cu declined, suggesting that EST plays a protective role under lower Cu concentrations stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibitory effect of nickel on the growth of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings and the alleviation of nickel toxicity by nitric oxide (NO) were investigated. Nickel (Ni) at 100 μM caused striking reduction in seedling growth and significant overproduction of MDA and HO in the roots. Supplementation with NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) could significantly reverse the inhibitory effect of nickel in a dose-dependent manner. KFe(CN), a SNP analogue, which does not release NO, had no ameliorative effect on Ni toxicity in wheat.. In addition, application of 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (cPTIO), a NO scavenger, could dramatically counteract the stimulatory effects of SNP on the growth of wheat seedling roots under Ni stress, confirming that NO rather than other compounds derived from SNP was responsible for the alleviating effect of Ni toxicity. Further results showed that SNP enhanced the activities of guaiacol peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1..1..5.1..1), glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), and glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) in wheat seedling roots under nickel stress, while no significant difference in the activity of catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) in wheat roots supplemented with SNP or without it was observed. These results clearly indicate that NO has a protective role in Ni-induced oxidative damage through modulation of antioxidant enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The association of lichen sclerosus (LS) with genital squamous cell carcinoma is well recognized. However, the relationship between LS and verrucous carcinoma remains unclear. Objective To evaluate the associations of genital and perianal verrucous carcinomas with LS. Methods We conducted a retrospective study on patients with a genital or perianal verrucous carcinoma and reviewed their histopathology specimens and clinical notes. We also conducted a literature review. Results We identified a total of 13 patients (including 6 women and 7 men) with a genital or perianal verrucous carcinoma. All 5 women with vulval verrucous carcinoma had coexisting LS (5/5), and 1 man with penile verrucous carcinoma had coexisting LS (1/3). In contrast, no coexisting LS was found in all 5 cases of perianal verrucous carcinoma (0/5). Half of the cases of verrucous carcinoma with coexisting LS had recurrences (3/6), while no recurrences were found in those without coexisting LS (0/7). Conclusions Our study and review of the literature demonstrate that vulval verrucous carcinoma is strongly associated with LS. In contrast, perianal verrucous carcinoma is not associated with LS. When genital verrucous carcinoma is diagnosed, it is important to consider LS as a potential concomitant diagnosis and offer appropriate treatments and close follow-up to detect recurrence of verrucous carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Immunomodulation of atherosclerosis emerges as a promising approach to prevention and treatment of this widely prevalent disease. The function of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to promote reverse cholesterol transport may explain the ability of its protection against atherosclerosis. Findings that HDL and apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) inhibited the ability of antigen presenting cells (APCs) to stimulate T cells might be attributed to lipid raft, a cholesterol-rich microdomain exhibiting functional properties depending largely upon its lipid composition. Thus, modulating cholesterol in lipid raft may provide a promising anti-atherogenic strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the precipitation (P) variability in the Antarctic continent. Topics mentioned include the snowfall measurement in the continent, the weather forecasting management, and the El Niño, warm ocean current of the eastern Pacific region. Also mentioned are the monitoring of atmospheric circulation in the Pacific region and the tropical climate.

Background: The effect of plasmapheresis on cytokine levels in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) has not been well established. Methods: Cytokine levels were measured in 19 patients with MG before and after treatment with one course of double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFP). The control group comprised 6 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Results: At baseline, patients with MG had higher levels of IL-10 than normal controls. The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and tumor necrosis factor-α were almost undetectable in MG patients. After a single session of DFP treatment, IL-10 levels were significantly increased. After three sessions, IL-10 levels were still higher than those at baseline. Elevated IL-10 level was significantly associated with use of immunosuppressant drugs, thymectomy, and good response to DFP treatment. Conclusions: Interleukin-10 might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and perpetuation of MG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is unclear whether clinical features of pemphigoid gestationis (PG), such as timing of onset and severity, may affect pregnancy outcomes or whether the adverse outcomes in pregnancies complicated by PG are related to or worsened by systemic corticosteroid treatment. Objectives To evaluate the associations of adverse pregnancy outcomes with clinical features, autoantibody titre of PG, and systemic corticosteroid treatment. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study recruiting 61 pregnancies complicated by PG from the St John’s Institute of Dermatology database which enrolled cases from dermatologists across the U.K., and two tertiary hospitals in the U.K. and Taiwan. Outcome measures included gestational age at delivery, preterm birth, birthweight, low birthweight (LBW, i.e. birthweight < 2500 g), small-for-gestational-age (i.e. birthweight below the 10th percentile for gestational age), fetal loss, congenital malformation, and mode of delivery. Results After controlling for maternal age and comorbidity, decreased gestational age at delivery was significantly associated with presence of blisters ( P = 0·017) and disease onset in the second trimester ( P = 0·001). Reduced birthweight was significantly associated with disease onset in the first and second trimesters ( P = 0·030 and 0·018, respectively) as was also LBW [adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 13·71 (1·22–154·59) and 10·76 (1·05–110·65), respectively]. No significant associations of adverse pregnancy outcomes with autoantibody titre or systemic corticosteroid treatment were found. Conclusions Onset of PG in the first or second trimester and presence of blisters may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes including decreased gestational age at delivery, preterm birth, and LBW children. Such pregnancies should be considered high risk and appropriate obstetric care should be provided. Systemic corticosteroid treatment, in contrast, does not substantially affect pregnancy outcomes, and its use for PG in pregnant women is justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal models may allow investigation into the aetiology and treatment of various human disorders. In the present study, a rat model for poststroke depression (PSD) has been developed using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by an 18-day chronic mild stress (CMS) paradigm in conjuncture with isolation rearing. The open-field test (OFT) and the sucrose consumption test were used to assess depression-like behaviour and the effects of the antidepressant citalopram. CMS induced behavioural changes in the ischemic animals, including decreased locomotor and rearing activity and reduced sucrose preference (compared with baseline, control and stroke groups respectively), all these behaviours were reversed by chronic administration of citalopram. During the recovery period for the PSD models, the open-field activity and preference for sweet sucrose solution decreased continually, opposed to rats subjected to stress only. Decreased locomotor and rearing represents activity deficits, whereas reduced sucrose preference may indicate desensitisation of the brain reward mechanism (anhedonia). Our findings suggest that anhedonia, one of the core symptoms in patients with PSD, and activity deficits can be found in the MCAO+CMS group of animals. Furthermore, citalopram can ameliorate the behavioural abnormalities observed in these animals. With high validity, good operability and repeatability, our findings suggest that the ischemic rat CMS model is an appropriate model for further PSD research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of natural killer (NK) cells in controlling hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and replication has not been fully delineated. We examined NK cell-mediated noncytolytic effect on full cycle HCV infection of human hepatocytes. Human hepatocytes (Huh7.5.1 cells) co-cultured with NK cells or treated with supernatants (SN) from NK cells cultures had significantly lower levels of HCV RNA and protein than control cells. This NK cell-mediated anti-HCV activity could be largely abolished by antibody to interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). The investigation of the mechanisms for NK cell-mediated anti-HCV activity showed that NK SN-treated hepatocytes expressed higher levels of IFN-α/β than the control cells. NK SN also enhanced IFN regulatory factor-3 and 7 expression in the hepatocytes. In addition, NK SN enhanced the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 and 2, the nuclear factors that are essential for the activation of IFN-mediated antiviral pathways. These data provide direct evidence at cellular and molecular levels that NK cells have a key role in suppressing HCV infection of and replication in human hepatocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytotoxicity of cadmium (Cd) induced autophagy and apoptosis in MES-13 cells was determined by flow cytometry. Autophagy was also assessed by formation of autophagosomes and processing of LC3. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy resulted in increased of cell viability, suggesting autophagy plays a role in cell death in Cd-treated mesangial cells. Cd also induced a rapid elevation in cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]i ), and modulation of [Ca2+]i via treatment with IP 3R inhibitor or knockdown of calcineurin resulted in a change in the proportion of cell death, suggesting that the release of calcium from the ER plays a crucial role in Cd-induced cell death. Inhibition of Cd-induced ERK activation by PD 98059 suppressed Cd-induced autophagy, and BAPTA-AM eliminated activation of ERK. BAPTA-AM also inhibited Cd-induced mitochondrial depolarization and activation of caspases. These findings demonstrated that Cd induces both autophagy and apoptosis through elevation of [Ca2+]i, followed by Ca2+-ERK and Ca2+-mitochondria-caspase signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of welding residual stresses in titanium alloy plates composed of Ti–6Al–4V (Ti-64) and Ti–45Al–3V–2Mo–2Fe (SP700) alloys was measured and calculated under the same heat input. Ti-64 alloy exhibited a higher residual tensile stress than the SP700 alloy due to the low thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of the former alloy, in addition to its high thermal expansion coefficient. Diamond like carbon (DLC) thin film deposited on the as welded titanium alloy plates reduced the magnitude of the welding residual stress caused by the cathodic arc physical vapour deposition (PVD) process. The distribution of the measured welding residual stresses agreed with the finite element method (FEM) simulated results very well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a new type of vector quasiequilibrium problem with set-valued mappings and moving cones. By using the scalarization method and fixed-point theorem, we obtain its existence theorem. As applications, we derive some existence theorems for vector variational inequalities and vector complementarity problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A comparative study of the abrasive wear behaviour has been conducted on several tool steel coatings that were deposited by laser cladding process using a CW CO2 laser in combination with a blown powder feed technique. The laser-clad CPM 15V and CPM 10V coatings exhibit superior abrasive wear resistance as compared with the reference material, AISI D2 tool steel. In contrast, the wear resistance of the CPM 9V and M4 coatings is inferior to that of the D2 steel. As multiple overlapping clad-tracks are used to produce a coating covering relatively large area, a thin layer of a pre-deposited clad-track will be “over-heated” while depositing the next adjacent one. Depending on the coating material, this re-heated zone (RHZ) can exhibit different wear rate compared with the other area of the track in the as-clad condition, which is especially significant for the CPM 10V coating. For coatings with a large proportion of retained austenite, post heat-treatment promotes the transformation of the retained austenite to martensite, improving the wear resistance. The wear resistance of tool steel coatings is dependent upon the matrix microstructure and the features of dispersed carbides, such as their type, proportion, shape, size and distribution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The influence of microstructure and strain rate on the mechanical behaviour of three titanium alloys having applications in aerospace, namely, commercially pure titanium (α phase), Ti–6Al–4V (α + β phases) and Ti– 15V–3Cr–3Sn–3Al (β phase) is investigated for both the parent metals and their gas tungsten arc weldments. The results indicate that the tensile strengths of the three as received titanium alloys and their weldments increase with increasing strain rate. However, their elongations decrease with increasing strain rate. The as received Ti–6Al–4V alloy and its weldment, with a mixed α and β phase microstructure, have the maximum strength and microhardness. Commercial purity titanium metal and its weldment exhibit the minimum strength and microhardness. The tough Ti–15V–3Cr–3Sn–3Al alloy and its weldment, having a fully β phase microstructure, appear to have optimum strength and microhardness. The tensile properties of all three titanium alloy weldments are inferior to those of the as received metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation is performed to investigate the behaviors of the molecular scale rotating fluids confined in an enclosed cylindrical container with a rotating lid disk. The major concerns of the study are the fundamental characteristics including bulk flow pattern, velocity slip, and the validity of the conventional principle of dynamic similarity. Two potentials for taking into account the fluid–fluid and fluid–wall intermolecular interactions, i.e., truncated and shifted Lennard-Jones potential and Weeks–Chandler–Andersen (WCA) potential, are considered for comparison. In addition, simulations based on the boundary conditions with and without wall barrier layers are compared. For this rotation-driven fluid flow, the present results demonstrate the bidirectional density layering phenomenon, the nonlinear fluid motion, and the shear length correlations under various conditions. The simulation with the potential of pure repulsion (WCA) generates a stronger vortical motion. It is also found that the similarity nature in conventional macroflow does not exist in this molecular scale rotating flow and the similarity breakdown is more pronounced in the simulations with WCA potential. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The optical counterparts of 23 extragalactic radio sources, of which 13 are in the southern hemisphere, have been observed by three telescopes equipped with CCDs. By reference to the Astrographic/Tycho (ACT) Reference, Carlsberg Meridian (CMC), Positions and Proper Motions (PPM), Hipparcos (HIP) and Lick Northern Proper Motion (NPM) catalogues, the positions of the 23 objects have been obtained. The mean standard errors in right ascension and declination are better than 0.2 arcsec. The differences from the radio positions are given, and a comparison between our results and those of other studies is also made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a field experiment with topless faba beans, parental inbred lines and F[SUB1] hybrids of a 7 × 7-diallel were evaluated for traits related to the P, N and K efficiency. In addition, the parental inbreds were cultivated in a pot experiment at two P levels (100 vs. 700mg p per pot). Significant heterosis for grain yield, uptake and utilization efficiency of nutrients in the field experiment highlighted the enhancement of nutrient efficiency in the hybrids. Amongst both parental inbreds and hybrids, significant genotypic variation was found for nearly all recorded traits. In the diallel analysis, the GCA effects generally proved to be highly significant and in most cases considerably higher than the SCA effects. In the pot experiment, grain yield ranking of the parental lines at the high P level (= P700) was very similar to that in the field experiment, whereas at the low P level (= P100, = P deficiency) the ranking of the lines changed considerably. Correspondingly, the P level-line interaction was highly significant. High tolerance towards P deficiency was found for those two parental inbreds derived from cultivars bred under Syrian conditions. At the high P supply, P efficiency was more favoured by a high P uptake, but at P deficiency by a high internal P utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grave's disease (GD) is characterized by pathogenic autoantibodies to the human thyrotropin receptor (hTSH-R), and is frequently associated with a lymphocytic infiltrate of the thyroid gland. In attempts to establish a murine model of GD, we and others have previously shown that immunization of mice with recombinant preparations of the hTSH-R ectodomain induces high titres of specific antibodies, which, however, are not pathogenic, nor is the response accompanied by the development of thyroiditis. Since earlier reports identified the serological immunodominant determinants within the N- and C-terminal regions of hTSH-R ectodomain, we reasoned that immunization of mice with truncated fragments of ectodomain lacking these dominant regions might result in skewing of the response to other determinants of the molecule, with consequent induction of immunopathological features present in GD. We show here that multiple challenge of BALB/c mice with an amino acid fragment of residues 43–282 generates antibodies directed at hTSH-R peptides 37–56, 157–176, 217–236 and 232–251. This reactivity pattern is distinct from that induced previously with the whole ectodomain of hTSH-R in BALB/c animals. Thyroid function remained unaffected in these mice, suggesting that pathogenic antibodies were not being induced. Interestingly, some animals developed lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland, clearly indicating the presence of pathogenic T cell determinants within the 43–282 fragment. Challenge with the related fragment 43–316 produced the same pattern of serological response to the synthetic peptides as fragment 43–282, but was not accompanied by thyroiditis. The results demonstrate: (i) the presence of thyroiditogenic determinants within hTSH-R, and (ii) that these pathogenic determinants are likely to be cryptic, as their effect is exhibited only when the hierarchy of immunodominance within hTSH-R is drastically altered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the net precipitation changes in Antarctica in 2013. Topics discussed include the surface mass balance over the continent, the precipitation and evaporation/sublimation fields from the Japanese Reanalysis, and the annual anomalies in net precipitation. The average atmospheric circulation implied by the mean sea level pressure (MSLP) anomalies is mentioned.

We investigate the solid phase epitaxial regrowth (SPER) dynamics of phosphorus doped Si:C by time resolved reflectivity and high resolution x-ray diffraction. The effect of SPER kinetics on strain profile and dopant activation is analyzed. The accumulated tensile strain induced by both C and P during SPER synergistically determines the onset of SPER rate retardation and leads to lower strain and electrical conductance near surface. Physical origin for the observed SPER rate evolution is discussed and explained with a strain included solute trapping model. Possibility of tailoring strain and doping profiles is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses the case of a 30-year-old woman diagnosed with congenital polypoid pigmented eccrine poroma.

The feasibility of using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) as a technique to form nanosized zirconia dental restoration frameworks was evaluated and optimised. By using constant low temperature ultrasonic agitation and magnetic stirring, a 3Y-TZP nanopowder suspension with 75 wt-% solid content was obtained as the EPD starting suspension. High density [80% theoretical density (TD)] nanosized 3Y-TZP green bodies were fabricated by aqueous EPD with an input voltage of 30–40 V. High density (999%TD) pure nanosized 3Y-TZP ceramic dental restoration frameworks were successfully achieved after 3 h of sintering at 1280°C. The crystalline structure of the framework was pure tetragonal phase zirconia, and the microstructure was very homogeneous with an average grain size of 230 nm. These results suggest that pure nanozirconia dental restoration frameworks could be near shape manufactured by aqueous EPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Head and neck cancers occur mostly in middle-aged men. If treatments are interrupted, the mortality rate will be increased. So we analyzed the data about survival and recurrence rate and identified high-risk patients of interrupted treatment to help people to complete their fully treatment and achieve optimal care outcomes. Objectives: The objective of the study is to determine the risk factors of interrupted treatment, recurrence and survival on patients with head and neck cancer. Methods: This is a retrospective secondary data analysis study. The subjects of this study were patients with head and neck cancer registered in the cancer registration database of a medical center in southern Taiwan during January 2013 to December 2016. We collected and analyzed information from two delinking databases. Results: The study included a total of 544 patients with head and neck cancer. The rate of treatment interruption was 12.5%. The risk factors of interrupted treatment were stage 4 (OR: 1.9, p<0.05), age greater than 65 years (OR: 2.9, p<0.05), and no radiation therapy (OR:8.9, p<0.05). The major reasons of interrupted treatment were side effects (39.7%), and comorbidities (23.5%). The recurrence and survival rates of treatment interruption were 20.6% and 29.4%, respectively. The recurrence and survival rates of without interruption treatment were 14.1% and 64.7%, respectively. Conclusions: In future, for the high-risk group of patients with interrupted treatment, medical staff should treat side effects or complications actively to reduce interrupted treatment, cancer recurrence, and increase the survival of patients with head and neck cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor on clear cell acanthoma occurring on the hallux is presented.

Abstract: Liver transplantation, a definitive treatment for end-stage liver disease, has achieved excellent results. However, potential recipients on the waiting list outnumber donors. To expand the donor pool, marginal grafts from older donors, steatotic livers, and non–heart-beating liver donors (NHBD) have been used for transplantation. Reducing the warm ischemia time of NHBD is the critical factor in organs preservation. Liver transplantation using grafts from NHBD have been reported to display a high incidence of primary graft nonfunction and biliary complications. The authors report a liver graft donor who was maintained on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Core body temperature was 5°C. Procurement of the liver using a rapid flush technique was performed 4 hours after instituting ECMO. Graft function recovered fully after transplantation. In conclusion, ECMO may be used to reduce warm ischemia time in liver grafts obtained from uncontrolled NHBD, thereby increasing graft salvage rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Palladium, Pt, and Cr/Pt contacts to the wide band gap icosahedral boride semiconductor B12As2 have been studied. All Pd and Pt contacts exhibited nonlinear I-V characteristics, while Cr/Pt contacts were Ohmic. The specific contact resistance was reduced from 6 Ω cm2 as-deposited to 3×10-4 Ω cm2 after the Cr/Pt contacts were annealed at 750 °C for 30 s in Ar. Annealing at 600 °C or higher drastically reduced the semiconductor sheet resistance, whether annealing was performed before or after metallization. This apparent activation of the semiconductor is a likely cause for the improvement in the Ohmic contacts with annealing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sodium benzoate, a D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) inhibitor, improved cognitive function of early-phase Alzheimer's disease (AD) after 24-week treatment. This study examined benzoate treatment for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).Methods: In a double-blind, 6-week trial, 97 patients with BPSD were randomized to receive placebo or benzoate (mean dose: 622.0 mg/day). The primary outcomes were ADAS-cog and BEHAVE-AD.Results: Two treatments showed similar safety and primary and secondary outcomes.Conclusions: Compared to antecedent 24-week, higher-dose treatment for early-phase AD, benzoate appeared ineffective in this 6-week trial. Longer-duration, higher-dose trials are warranted to clarify its efficacy for BPSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of tofacitinib in treating moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis were unclear. We aimed to assess the effects of tofacitinib in treating moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and EMBASE for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis. Four RCTs with 2724 participants were included. Compared to placebo, tofacitinib significantly improved psoriasis {≥75% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score: 5 mg BID: risk difference (RD) 0.32 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28–0.35], 10 mg BID: RD 0.51 (95% CI 0.43–0.58); ≥90% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score: 5 mg BID: RD 0.19 (95% CI 0.17–0.22), 10 mg BID: RD 0.36 (95% CI 0.31–0.42); Physician's Global Assessment 0/1: 5 mg BID: RD 0.31 (95% CI 0.27–0.35), 10 mg BID: RD 0.48 (95% CI 0.44–0.53)} and participants’ life quality [Dermatology Life Quality Index 0/1: 5 mg BID: RD 0.24 (95% CI 0.20–0.2), 10 mg BID: RD 0.36 (95% CI 0.33–0.40)]. Tofacitinib was associated with an increase in minor adverse events [upper respiratory tract infection: 5 mg BID: RD 0.02 (95% CI 0.00–0.03), 10 mg BID: RD 0.02 (95% CI 0.00–0.04); hypercholesterolaemia: 5 mg BID: RD 0.02 (95% CI 0.01–0.04), 10 mg BID: RD 0.02 (95% CI 0.01–0.04)]. In conclusion, tofacitinib may be a treatment option for moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis that is unresponsive to other therapies and patients who are intolerable to other therapies or prefer oral medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]