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Under the background of global warming, sea ice changes rapidly. Sea ice drift is an important indicator for sea ice flux, atmospheric and ocean circulation, and ship navigation. Currently, the large-scale observed sea ice drift datasets are mainly obtained based on single-sensor remotely sensed data, which suffer low spatial resolution or poor spatial continuity. Considering that passive microwave radiometer and medium-resolution optical sensor complement each other in terms of spatial resolution and continuity, this study proposed a novel sea ice drift retrieval method based on Fengyun-3D (FY-3D) multi-sensor data. The proposed method is summarized as follows. First, low resolution sea ice drift fields were obtained from FY-3D Microwave Radiation Imager (MWRI) data based on the normalized cross-correlation pattern-matching method. Then, fine resolution vectors were extracted from FY-3D Medium-Resolution Spectral Imager (MERSI) data based on A-KAZE feature-tracking method. Finally, the low resolution pattern-matching vectors and fine resolution feature-tracking vectors were merged together based on Co-Kriging algorithm to obtain the final sea ice drift result. The proposed method was evaluated by comparing the buoy displacements obtained from the International Arctic Buoy Program (IABP) with the retrieved merged vectors from FY-3D remotely sensed images collected in the Beaufort Sea, the East Siberian Sea, and the Fram Strait on 2020. The results showed that the proposed method can retrieve accurate, fine resolution and spatial continuous sea ice motion fields., The 28th IUGG General Assembly (IUGG2023) (Berlin 2023)

Exercise affects various organs. However, its effects on nutrient digestion and absorption in the intestinal tract are not well understood. A few studies have reported that exercise training in-creases the expression of carbohydrate digestion and absorption molecules. Exercise was also shown to increase the concentration of blood glucagon like peptide-2(GLP-2), which regulates carbohydrate digestion and absorption in small intestinal epithelium. Therefore, we investigated the effects of exercise on intestinal digestion and absorption molecules and the levels of GLP-2. 6-wk-old of male mice were divided into 2 groups; sedentary (SED) and low-intensity exercise (LEx). LEx mice were required to run on a treadmill (12.5 m/min, 60 min), whereas SED mice rested. All mice were euthanized 1 h after exercise or rest and plasma, jejunum, ileum, and colon were sampled. Samples were analyzed using EIA and immunoblotting. The levels of plasma GLP-2 and the expression of the GLP-2 receptor, sucrase-isomaltase (SI), and glucose transporter (GLUT2) in the jejunum were increased in LEx group. We showed that acute low-intensity exer-cise affects the intestinal carbohydrate digestion and absorption molecules via GLP-2. Our results suggest that exercise might provide new benefits to the small intestine for people with intestinal frailty.

Air-stable semiconducting inks suitable for complementary logic are key to create low-power printed integrated circuits (ICs). High-performance printable electronic inks with two-dimensional materials have the potential to enable the next generation of high performance, low-cost printed digital electronics. Here we demonstrate air-stable, low voltage (< 5 V) operation of inkjet-printed n-type molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and p-type indacenodithiophene-co-benzothiadiazole (IDT-BT) field-effect transistors (FETs), estimating a switching time of {\tau} ~ 3.3 {\mu}s for the MoS2 FETs. We achieve this by engineering high-quality MoS2 and air-stable IDT-BT inks suitable for inkjet-printing complementary pairs of n-type MoS2 and p-type IDT-BT FETs. We then integrate MoS2 and IDT-BT FETs to realise inkjet-printed complementary logic inverters with a voltage gain |Av| ~ 4 when in resistive load configuration and |Av| ~ 1.36 in complementary configuration. These results represent a key enabling step towards ubiquitous long-term stable, low-cost printed digital ICs.

Background Atherosclerosis is a chronical inflammatory disease in arterial walls, which is involved in oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Aromatherapy is one of the complementary therapies that use essential oils as the major therapeutic agents to treat several diseases. Citronellal (CT) is a monoterpene predominantly formed by the secondary metabolism of plants, producing antithrombotic, antiplatelet, and antihypertensive activities. Aim The aim of the present study is to explore whether aromatherapy with CT improves endothelial function to prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in vivo. Methods An AS model in carotid artery was induced by balloon injury and vitamin D3 injection in rats fed with a high-fat diet. The size of the carotid atherosclerotic plaque was determined by ultrasound, oil red, and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Endothelial function was assessed by measuring acetylcholine-induced vessel relaxation in an organ chamber. Results Administrations of CT (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) as well as lovastatin dramatically reduced the size of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in rats in a dose-dependent manner, compared with atherosclerotic rats fed with a high-fat diet plus balloon injury and vitamin D3. Mechanically, CT improved endothelial dysfunction, increased cell migration, and suppressed oxidative stress and inflammation in vascular endothelium in rats feeding on the high-fat diet plus balloon injury. Further, CT downregulated the protein levels of sodium-hydrogen exchanger 1 in rats with atherosclerosis. Conclusion CT improves endothelial dysfunction and prevents the growth of atherosclerosis in rats by reducing oxidative stress. Clinically, CT is potentially considered as a medicine to treat patients with atherosclerosis.

Disability is strongly linked to poorer life satisfaction among older persons. Such close correlations warrant better understanding of the underlying moderator in which negative effects of the former on the latter can be reduced. More specifically, it is the aim of this study to examine the moderating effect of emotional support on the relationship between disability and life satisfaction.The study included 2322 nationally represented community-dwelling older persons in Malaysia who participated in the baseline study of Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Longevity. In order to test the moderating effect of emotional support on the association between disability and life satisfaction, a series of hierarchical multiple linear regression models were utilized, after controlling for potential covariates associated with life satisfaction.Bivariate analyses showed that disability negatively predicted life satisfaction, whereas emotional support positively predicted life satisfaction. Furthermore, the moderated hierarchical regression analysis showed that emotional support moderated the association between disability and life satisfaction, after controlling for potential covariates, such that the negative relationship between disability and life satisfaction was stronger for individuals with lower levels of emotional support.The presence of emotional support might reduce the negative effects of disability on life satisfaction. These findings have important clinical implications, especially in developing better strategies to help disabled older persons to cope with their disabilities; with the hope that in the long term, a society with healthy longevity can be established. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1361-1365.

BACKGROUND: Among patients with acute ischemic stroke due to occlusions in the proximal anterior intracranial circulation, less than 40% regain functional independence when treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) alone. Thrombectomy with the use of a stent retriever, in addition to intravenous t-PA, increases reperfusion rates and may improve long-term functional outcome.METHODS: We randomly assigned eligible patients with stroke who were receiving or had received intravenous t-PA to continue with t-PA alone (control group) or to undergo endovascular thrombectomy with the use of a stent retriever within 6 hours after symptom onset (intervention group). Patients had confirmed occlusions in the proximal anterior intracranial circulation and an absence of large ischemic-core lesions. The primary outcome was the severity of global disability at 90 days, as assessed by means of the modified Rankin scale (with scores ranging from 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]).RESULTS: The study was stopped early because of efficacy. At 39 centers, 196 patients underwent randomization (98 patients in each group). In the intervention group, the median time from qualifying imaging to groin puncture was 57 minutes, and the rate of substantial reperfusion at the end of the procedure was 88%. Thrombectomy with the stent retriever plus intravenous t-PA reduced disability at 90 days over the entire range of scores on the modified Rankin scale (PCONCLUSIONS: In patients receiving intravenous t-PA for acute ischemic stroke due to occlusions in the proximal anterior intracranial circulation, thrombectomy with a stent retriever within 6 hours after onset improved functional outcomes at 90 days. (Funded by Covidien; SWIFT PRIME ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01657461.).

Background: Scavenger Receptor Class B Type I (SRBI) is the key player mediating HDL-dependent reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in hepatocyte, and SRBI mutation causes coronary heart disease (CHD) in humans. Mice lacking SRBI and apolipoprotein E (apoE), fed on chow diet, develop cardinal features of CHD and succumb to premature death. However, the application of this model is limited due to the short lifespan, early onset of CHD symptom, the difficulty to maintain genetic mutations at two different loci, and infertility. The latter may be related to adrenal SRBI deficiency. Methods and Results: A genetic mouse model, named as SRBI KD ApoE -/- was produced by using CRISPR/Cas9 technique, in which an SRBI knock-down cassette (at both mRNA and proteins levels) is inserted downstream of the indogenous apoE promoter, thus abolishing apoE expression. Real-time PCR and Western blot characterization showed that SRBI expression in liver was significantly reduced (33% vs. 100% by RT-PCR, 0.5% vs. 100% by WB, PKD ApoE -/- mice are fertile and do not exhibit pre-mature cardiovascular death on chow diet up to 10 months. Compared to ApoE -/- mice, SRBI KD ApoE -/- mice showed significant increase in serum HDL-C (3.11 vs 1.70 mmol/L, PKD ApoE -/- mice gained significantly more weight than ApoE -/- mice(P-/- mice (females: 6.51% vs. 5.16%, P=0.051; males: 6.54% vs. 4.64%, P-/- mice (females: 17.7% vs. 5.99%, P

Intracranial vessel wall MR imaging is an adjunct to conventional angiographic imaging with CTA, MRA, or DSA. The technique has multiple potential uses in the context of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage. There remain gaps in our understanding of intracranial vessel wall MR imaging findings and research is ongoing, but the technique is already used on a clinical basis at many centers. This article, on behalf of the Vessel Wall Imaging Study Group of the American Society of Neuroradiology, provides expert consensus recommendations for current clinical practice.

INTRODUCTIONː The prognostic value of c-Met in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) remains inconsistent and controversial. Our study aims to clarify the correlation between c-Met overexpression and clinical outcome in EC patients. EVIDENCE ACQUISITIONː We performed a comprehensive search of EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) (from inception to May 1, 2016) for published literature regarding the potential association between c-Met overexpression and clinical outcome in EC patients. A fixed-effects or random-effects model according to heterogeneity was applied to calculate the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). EVIDENCE SYNTHESISː Nine eligible studies totaling 1062 patients were identified in this meta-analysis. C-Met overexpression was significantly associated with shorter OS (HR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.66-2.52, P

BACKGROUND: \ud \ud Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways affecting an estimated 334 million people worldwide. During severe exacerbations, patients may need to attend a medical centre or hospital emergency department for treatment with systemic corticosteroids, which can be administered intravenously or orally. Some people with asthma are prescribed oral corticosteroids (OCS) for self-administration (i.e. patient-initiated) or to administer to their child with asthma (i.e. parent-initiated), in the event of an exacerbation. This approach to treatment is becoming increasingly common.\ud \ud OBJECTIVES: \ud \ud To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of patient- or parent-initiated oral steroids for adults and children with asthma exacerbations.\ud \ud SEARCH METHODS: \ud \ud We identified trials from Cochrane Airways' Specialised Register (CASR) and also conducted a search of the US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov) and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (apps.who.int/trialsearch). We searched CASR from its inception to 18 May 2016 and trial registries from their inception to 24 August 2016; we imposed no restriction on language of publication.\ud \ud SELECTION CRITERIA: \ud \ud We looked for randomised controlled trials (RCTs), reported as full-text, those published as abstract only, and unpublished data; we excluded cross-over trials.We looked for studies where adults (aged 18 years or older) or children of school age (aged 5 years or older) with asthma were randomised to receive: (a) any patient-/parent-initiated OCS or (b) placebo, normal care, alternative active treatment, or an identical personalised asthma action plan without the patient- or parent-initiated OCS component.\ud \ud DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: \ud \ud Two review authors independently screened the search results to identify any studies that met the prespecified inclusion criteria.The prespecified primary outcomes were hospital admissions for asthma, asthma symptoms at follow-up and serious adverse events.\ud \ud MAIN RESULTS: \ud \ud Despite comprehensive searches of electronic databases and clinical trial registries, we did not identify any studies meeting the inclusion criteria for this review. Five potentially relevant studies were excluded for two reasons: the intervention did not meet the inclusion criteria for this review (three studies) and studies had a cross-over design (two studies). Two of the excluded studies asked the relevant clinical question. However, these studies were excluded due to their cross-over design, as per the protocol. We contacted the authors of the cross-over trials who were unable to provide data for the first treatment period (i.e. prior to cross-over).\ud \ud AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: \ud \ud There is currently no evidence from randomised trials (non-cross-over design) to inform the use of patient- or parent-initiated oral corticosteroids in people with asthma.

As plant diseases could cause agricultural production and economic loses, there is a need of fast and effective plant disease detection and assessment methods. Non-destructive methods have gained popularity among these methods as they do not affect plant growth while examining plant health conditions. Not only plant diseases can be detected but also production can be improved with proper quality controls. Hyperspectral imaging is one of the non-destructive examination techniques which have been widely applied in agriculture. Hyperspectral image analysis has been applied to different problems including plant disease detection and assessments. It provides not only spatial image but also spectral information of the observed object. This research has aimed to compare two hyperspectral image analysis methods: stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA) and spectral angle mapper (SAM) and the proposed Simple Slope Measure (SSM) method in strawberry foliage Anthracnose assessment. Anthracnose is one of the most devastating diseases for strawberries. Anthracnose disease can affect the whole plant and may result in 100 percent fruit loss from crown and fruit rot. Hence, an early detection of the Anthracnose disease will be beneficial to ensure production and quality of strawberries. This research has shown that the three different Anthracnose infection status (healthy, incubation and symptomatic) could be separated by the methods examined. The performance of these disease assessment models were evaluated and compared. The examination outcomes prove the feasibility to assess strawberry foliage Anthracnose nondestructively and as early as the symptoms not visible to naked eyes. As soon as early detections of the Anthracnose disease are achievable in the strawberry field, the damage to strawberry production due to the spread of Anthracnose disease could be reduced.

In plant factories, plants are usually cultivated in nutrient solution under a controllable environment. Plant quality and growth are closely monitored and precisely controlled. For plant growth evaluation, plant weight is an important and commonly used indicator. Traditional plant weight measurements are destructive and laborious. In order to measure and record the plant weight during plant growth, an automated measurement system was designed and developed herein. The weight measurement system comprises a weight measurement device and an imaging system. The weight measurement device consists of a top disk, a bottom disk, a plant holder and a load cell. The load cell with a resolution of 0.1 g converts the plant weight on the plant holder disk to an analogue electrical signal for a precise measurement. The top disk and bottom disk are designed to be durable for different plant sizes, so plant weight can be measured continuously throughout the whole growth period, without hindering plant growth. The results show that plant weights measured by the weight measurement device are highly correlated with the weights estimated by the stereo-vision imaging system; hence, plant weight can be measured by either method. The weight growth of selected vegetables growing in the National Taiwan University plant factory were monitored and measured using our automated plant growth weight measurement system. The experimental results demonstrate the functionality, stability and durability of this system. The information gathered by this weight system can be valuable and beneficial for hydroponic plants monitoring research and agricultural research applications.

Hundreds of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are currently in development, and many companies have multiple antibodies in their pipelines. Current methodology used in recovery processes for these molecules are reviewed here. Basic unit operations such as harvest, Protein A affinity chromatography, and additional polishing steps are surveyed. Alternative processes such as flocculation, precipitation, and membrane chromatography are discussed. We also cover platform approaches to purification methods development, use of high throughput screening methods, and offer a view on future developments in purification methodology as applied to mAbs.

Between July 2004 and January 2005, high mortalities (up to 80–100%) were frequently encountered in postlarvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in southern Taiwan. Pathologically, eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies (INIs) were found only in the hepatopancreatic tubular epithelial cells of the infected postlarvae from hatchery farms. No lesions could be detected in tissue of ectodermal or mesodermal origin. Interestingly, different lesions were found in sub-adults collected from a grow-out farm. Atrophic changes in abdominal muscles from the fourth to sixth segment and tail fan, associated with a reddish discoloration, were prominent features in these shrimp, but there was no unusual mortality or INI formation. In PCR assays for the detection of infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV), white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), Taura syndrome virus (TSV), yellowhead virus (YHV), M. rosenbergii nodavirus (MrNV) and extra small virus (XSV), only an expected 389-bp product, specific for the IHHNV nonstructural protein gene, was obtained from all postlarvae and sub-adults examined. Positive reactions to in situ hybridization, using a DIG-labelled DNA probe, further confirmed IHHNV as the causative agent. In a comparison of our strains with Taiwanese (GenBank accession no. AY 355306 and AY 355308 ) and American strains (GenBank accession no. AF218266 and AF273215 ), nucleotide sequence identities were up to 99.7%. This is the first report concerning natural infection of IHHNV in postlarvae and sub-adults of M. rosenbergii .

Cation exchange chromatography using conventional resins, having either diffusive or perfusive flow paths, operated in bind-elute mode has been commonly employed in monoclonal antibody (MAb) purification processes. In this study, the performance of diffusive and perfusive cation exchange resins (SP-Sepharose FF (SPSFF) and Poros 50HS) and a convective cation exchange membrane (Mustang S) and monolith (SO(3) Monolith) were compared. All matrices were utilized in an isocratic state under typical binding conditions with an antibody load of up to 1000 g/L of chromatographic matrix. The dynamic binding capacity of the cation exchange resins is typically below 100 g/L resin, so they were loaded beyond the point of anticipated MAb break through. All of the matrices performed similarly in that they effectively retained host cell protein and DNA during the loading and wash steps, while antibody flowed through each matrix after its dynamic binding capacity was reached. The matrices differed, though, in that conventional diffusive and perfusive chromatographic resins (SPSFF and Poros 50HS) demonstrated a higher binding capacity for high molecular weight species (HMW) than convective flow matrices (membrane and monolith); Poros 50HS displayed the highest HMW binding capacity. Further exploration of the conventional chromatographic resins in an isocratic overloaded mode demonstrated that the impurity binding capacity was well maintained on Poros 50HS, but not on SPSFF, when the operating flow rate was as high as 36 column volumes per hour. Host cell protein and HMW removal by Poros 50HS was affected by altering the loading conductivity. A higher percentage of host cell protein removal was achieved at a low conductivity of 3 mS/cm. HMW binding capacity was optimized at 5 mS/cm. Our data from runs on Poros 50HS resin also showed that leached protein A and cell culture additive such as gentamicin were able to be removed under the isocratic overloaded condition. Lastly, a MAb purification process employing protein A affinity chromatography, isocratic overloaded cation exchange chromatography using Poros 50HS and anion exchange chromatography using QSFF in flow through mode was compared with the MAb's commercial manufacturing process, which consisted of protein A affinity chromatography, cation exchange chromatography using SPSFF in bind-elute mode and anion exchange chromatography using QSFF in flow through mode. Comparable step yield and impurity clearance were obtained by the two processes.

Recombinant human zona pellucida (rhZP) proteins (minus the N-terminal leader and the C-terminal transmembrane-like domain) were expressed in four different expression systems: bacteria, yeast, insect cells, and Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. The recombinant proteins in each system were engineered with a C-terminal six histidine (His6) segment that was used to purify the proteins by metal affinity [either nickel (Ni) or cobalt (Co)] column chromatography. Each of the rhZP proteins was a candidate antigen as an immunocontraceptive vaccine. However, the rhZP proteins produced in bacteria, yeast and insect cell culture could only be purified after being solubilized by strong denaturants. After purification the final products of each of these expression systems required 6 M urea to maintain solubility. However, the rhZP proteins expressed by CHO cells were secreted into the media, and the soluble proteins could be purified to near homogeneity. In this report the expression and purification procedures used to produce and isolate these secreted proteins are described.

MR imaging sections of the hippocampus in different orthogonal planes are illustrated. Matching coronal slices in T2-weighted and gradient echo sequences allow a comparative evaluation of the intricate structure of the hippocampus and its relationship with adjacent structures. Techniques in volumetric assessment of the hippocampus are discussed in light of recent advancement in MR imaging.

SUMMARY: We applied regional perfusion imaging (RPI), a new arterial spin-labeling MR imaging method that selectively studies regions of the brain perfused by individual carotid and basilar arteries. In a patient with cerebrovascular disease, RPI showed cerebral tissue perfused by pial collateral vessels, thereby demonstrating the relationship between anatomic and functional information, which was lacking in conventional x-ray angiography. RPI may be useful to study functional collateral circulation and hence guide therapy in ischemic disease.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that women with traumatic brain injury have more favorable outcomes than do men because of higher levels of circulating estrogen and progesterone that may reduce brain edema. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there is any association between sex and mortality in TBI patients and whether there is any association between sex and brain edema. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using data from 2001 to 2007 collected from a trauma registry in Hong Kong and the Victorian State Trauma Registry. SETTING: Two regional trauma centers in Hong Kong and 2 adult major trauma centers and 1 pediatric trauma center in Victoria, Australia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality and brain edema. PATIENTS: Trauma patients with an Abbreviated Injury Scale score (head) of at least 3 who were aged 12 to 45 years were included. Patients with minor head injury and undisplaced closed skull fracture were excluded. RESULTS: Both the Hong Kong and Victorian data showed no significant difference in sex-related mortality. Increased mortality was associated with decreased systolic blood pressure and Glasgow Coma Scale score and with increased New Injury Severity Score or Injury Severity Score. In Hong Kong, brain edema was associated with female sex (P = .02), and the odds of brain edema in females were greater than for males. However, this association was not found in Victorian patients. CONCLUSION: This study found no significant association between sex and mortality in either Victoria or Hong Kong and does not support the concept that females have better outcomes after traumatic brain injury.