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The nitrogen (N) uptake and utilization in maize (Zea mays L.) plants are accomplished through a series of biochemical reactions and transformations involving the N assimilation enzymes. Nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) exert important functions in the N assimilation and remobilization processes. The mechanisms underlying plant N partitioning and the associated expression patterns of NR and GS genes in maize hybrids with different N utilization efficiencies were still not clear. In this study, the expression of ZmNR and ZmGS genes that are related to N partitioning were analyzed in two maize hybrids (XY335 and HN138). Results showed that XY335 displayed higher grain yield, kernel numbers, shoot N uptake, and physiological N utilization efficiency (NUtE) than those shown in HN138 under low-N conditions. The higher post-silking N uptake and N remobilization in vegetative organs in XY335 were associated with the enhanced net photosynthetic rate (Pn), the NR and GS activities in ear-leaf. Additionally, the expression levels of ZmGS1.3 and ZmGS1.4 were up-regulated when exposed to low-N stress, showing higher values in XY335 than those in HN138. Correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of ZmNR, ZmGS1.3, and ZmGS1.4 are correlated with leaf NR and GS activities, N remobilization, and grain yield. Our investigation suggested the critical roles of the N metabolism-associated genes in the modulation of internal N translocation and plant productivity in maize. Future transgene analysis on ZmNR and ZmGS can [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore and study the significant value of “Tiānou ( TE 16) five acupoints” in treatment of clinical diseases based on analysis of three cases. Case 1: thyroid enlargement. Acupuncture was conducted at Rényíng ( ST 9), Fútū ( LI 18), Shuľtū ( ST 10) and Qìshè ( ST 11), and combined with Nèiguān ( PC 6). After ten courses of treatment, nodules and calcified lesions shrank. Case 2: hyperplasia of mammary glands. Acupuncture was conducted at bilateral ST 9 and TE 16, and combined with Tàichōng ( LR 3) and Dànzhōng ( CV 17). After eight courses of treatment, the breast lumps disappeared. Case 3: hyperprolactinemia, and amenorrhea for two years. Acupuncture was conducted at bilateral ST 9, TE 16 and Tiānfŭ ( LU 3), and combined with LR 3 and Xiáxī ( GB 43). After eleven courses of treatment, the content of prolactin was normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the pharmacokinetic and bioavailability of polydatin (PD) in rats after oral and intravenous administration, a simple, rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of polydation. After precipitating the plasma proteins with methanol, the analytes were separated on a Qg column (3.5µm, 2.1x100 mm) with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of methanol-acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid (18: 15: 67, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3mL/min. The Agilent G6410A triple quadrupole LC/MS system was operated under the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode and the electrospray ionization technique was in negative mode. Linear responses were obtained for PD ranging from 1.0-5000.0 ng/mL (r= 0.9984) and the LLOQ was l.0ng/ml and was sufficient for the pharmacokinetic studies. The intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision of the assay were less than 8.0%. The method is capable of quantifying PD. The pharmacokinetic parameters of polydatin after intragastric administration of PD with different doses (50, 100 and 300 mg/kg) and intravenous administration at the dose of 20 mg/kg, were obtained, with t1/2 of 200.30 min, 210.30 min, 272.26 min, and 112.5 min, and AUC0-∞ of 125626.41 µg/L⋅min, 250433.47 µg/L⋅min, 693722.60 µg/L⋅min and 1723509.57µg/L⋅min, respectively. The absolute bioavailability of PD was somewhat low to 2.9%. The results were firsly reported, as far as we know, about bioavailability of PD and seem important for linking PD and other phenolic glycosides-related drugs administration to their medicinal effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the postoperative radiographic and functional outcomes of reduction and fixation of a posterior plafond fracture using a posterolateral approach. We included 38 patients with a tibial plafond fracture. Fixation was most commonly performed using screws, T plates, or meta plates. The average follow-up period was 38 (range 25 to 72) months. The clinical outcomes of these patients were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot Ankle Society score. The radiographs of the included patients were evaluated twice within 2 months by 3 experienced orthopedic trauma surgeons, who performed the retrospective radiographic review. Articular step off measures included the radiographic appearance of the reduction using picture archiving and communication system measurement tools. All 32 patients showed radiologic evidence of bony union at the follow-up visit; 6 patients were lost to follow-up. The American Orthopaedic Foot Ankle Society average score was 92 points; 21 patients (93.7%) had excellent scores (90 to 100 points), 9 patients (28.1%) had good scores (80 to 89 points), and 2 patients (6.2%) had fair scores (<80 points). Excellent to good outcomes were noted in 93.7% of the patients. One patient developed a superficial infection. Another patient experienced a sural cutaneous nerve injury. The radiographic articular step off was measured as 1 mm or less in 29 patients (90.6%) and 1 to 2 mm in 3 patients (9.4%). One patient (3.1%) developed symptomatic post-traumatic arthritis. The posterolateral approach allowed for good exposure and buttress fixation of the posterior plafond fractures with few local complications. The anatomic repositioning and stable fixation resulted in good functional and subjective outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1980s, the rapid development of tissue engineering and stem cell research has pushed regenerative medicine to a new fastigium, and regenerative medicine has become a noticeable research field in the international biology and medicine. In China, about 100 million patients need repair and regeneration treatment every year, while the number is much larger in the world. Regenerative medicine could provide effective salvation for these patients. Both Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering have made roadmaps of 2010-2050 and 2011-2030 for regenerative medicine. The final goal of the two roadmaps is to make China go up to leading position in most research aspects of regenerative medicine. In accord with this strategy, the government and some enterprises have invested 3-5 billion RMB (0.5-0.8 billion USD) for the research on regenerative medicine. In order to push the translation of regenerative medicine forward — from bench to bedside, a strategic alliance has been established, and it includes 27 top-level research institutes, medical institutes, colleges, universities and enterprises in the field of stem cell and regeneration medicine. Recently the journal, Science, has published a special issue— Regenerative Medicine in China, consisting of 35 papers dealing with stem cell and regeneration, tissue engineering and regeneration, trauma and regeneration and bases for tissue repair and regenerative medicine. It is predicated that a greater breakthrough in theory and practice of regenerative medicine will be achieved in the near future (20 to 30 years). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to solve the problem of plot association for multi-sensor in sea clutter environment, a method is presented based on Hungary algorithm, which is translated into an assignment problem. Plots from the same target are associated by constituting association matrix which describes global nearest neighbor similarity among plots, and the optimum association sequence is calculated by Hungary algorithm. Simulations show that the algorithm can efficiently identify and associate targets in complex state with sea clutter, such as targets with parallel movement, targets with intersecting movement, and target with turning movement. Its facile realization could offer some references to study on plot fusion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To introduce the posterolateral surgical approach to the posterior malleolar fracture and report its clinical outcomes in 32 cases. Methods This study consisted of 32 cases, 22 males and 10 females with the mean age of 48 years (range, 21-63 years), suffering from posterior malleolar fracture. All cases were treated with the posterolateral surgical approach to the ankle. The average follow-up period was 28 months (range, 24-35 months). The clinical outcomes of these cases were evaluated on the basis of the Olerud-Molander Ankle (OMA) score and plain radiographs. Results All cases showed radiological evidence of bony union at follow-up. The average OMA score was 82 points; 21 cases had excellent scores (90-100 points), 9 good (61-90 points), and 2 fair (31-60 points). The excellent-togood rate was 93.8%. Although most cases did not show any wound dehiscence or necrosis, one patient had a superficial infection which healed after using antibiotic dressing and one had sural cutaneous nerve injury that underwent spontaneous remission without any treatment after three months. In addition, one presented with mild symptoms of peroneal tendonitis that disappeared after plate removal. Conclusion The posterolateral approach offers an effective technique for fracture reduction and fixation of large posterior malleolar fragments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium fertilization is uncommon in the North China Plain (NCP), especially in maize (Zea mays L.) production. Our specific objectives in this study were to determine yield response to K fertilization as affected by conventional as well as high-yielding production practices. Seven field experiments were conducted in the NCP. The factorial study compared three levels of K fertilization (K0 = no K; K1 = medium K rate; K2 = high K rate) and two levels of production practices: conventional (CP) and high yielding (HP). At all sites, HP outperformed CP in terms of maize grain yield except at ZD in 2006. On average, maize grain yields were enhanced by 9.9 and 14.9% under CP and 15.7 and 21.0% under HP at the K1 and K2 levels, respectively. Maize yield response, as well as economic profit from applied K, were greater under HP than CP, on average, across seven site-years. Medium K inputs improved partial factor productivity (PFP) of applied N and P, while higher rates had inconsistent results. Overall, PFP and agronomic efficiency of applied K were improved under HP, as was the apparent recovery efficiency of applied K, which suggests positive interactions among K and other high-yielding production practices. Negative K balances were observed in all of the K0 and K1 treatments in both years and under both production practices, especially under HP. In intensive agricultural soils of the NCP with higher K content relative to South China, optimal K fertilization will improve soil fertility and support high grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain tumor detection is still a challenge in the field of brain compute-aided diagnosis. In the brain Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI), the correlation between lateral ventricles deformations and tumor existence has been found useful in brain tumor detection and prediction. To retrieve the lateral ventricles deformation data for further statistical analysis and processing, a new method has been proposed in this paper to analyze the deformation of ventricles. Firstly, in this method, the boundaries of the lateral ventricles are segmented, pixels on the boundary are sampled, and a nonlinear interpolation method based on Thin Plate Spline (TPS) is conducted to create a more accurate template image for each specific case, followed by the application and performance comparison between TPS with Radial Basis Function Neural Networks (RBF-NN) and Radon Transform (RT) on the extracted Skeleton of the boundary of the ventricles for locating the optimal orientation of the image through iterative image rotation. The reorienting facilitates the final step of deformation analysis whereby the reoriented ventricles are analyzed based on the displacement values obtained from the TPS of the sampled template and the diagnostic lateral ventricle. By comparing with several real cases, our experimental results suggest that this method is effective and relevant in ventricles deformation analysis and prediction of tumor location. The performance comparison results also suggest that using RT on Skeleton is an efficient method in locating the optimal orientation where the results show that the computing speed is at least more than 100 times faster than using TPS and RBF-NN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]