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To explore the effects of mobile health (mHealth) intervention on pregnancy weight management, blood glucose control and pregnancy outcomes. A total of 124 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were selected. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The 60 patients in the control group received standard outpatient treatment, while the remaining 64 patients received a nurse’s online guidance both through a mobile medical App installed on their phone and through regular offline clinical treatment in the mHealth group. Patients were treated for an average of 13 weeks and general conditions, compliance, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, weight gain, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes were monitored in both groups longitudinally. The mHealth group demonstrated higher levels of compliance (83.3 ± 12.5% vs. 70.4 ± 10.1%, t= − 6.293, df= 122, p < 0.001), lower frequency of outpatient service (8.1 ± 1.3 vs. 11.2 ± 1.1, t= 14.285, df= 122, p < 0.001), lower hemoglobin A1C before delivery (4.7 ± 0.2 vs. 5.3 ± 0.3, t= 13.216, df= 122, p < 0.001) as well as the rates of off-target measurements both fasting (4.6 ± 0.4% vs. 8.3 ± 0.6%, t= 40.659, df= 122, p < 0.001) and 2 h post-prandial (7.9 ± 0.7% vs. 14.7 ± 0.8%, t= 50.746, df= 122, p < 0.001). Weight gain in the mHealth group was less than control group (3.2 ± 0.8 vs. 4.8 ± 0.7, t= 11.851, df= 122 p < 0.001). Mobile health intervention management of gestational diabetes mellitus improves patients’ compliance and blood glucose control, and reduces weight gain, thereby reducing the rates of complications in both pregnant women and fetuses during delivery during pregnancy.

One order of magnitude energy enhancement of the target surface electron beams with central energy at 11.5 MeV is achieved by using a 200 TW, 500 fs laser at an incident angle of 72° with a prepulse intensity ratio of 5×10^−6. The experimental results demonstrate the scalability of the acceleration process to high electron energy with a longer (sub-picosecond) laser pulse duration and a higher laser energy (120 J). The total charge of the beam is 400±20  pC(E>2.7  MeV). Such a high orientation and mono-energetic electron jet would be a good method to solve the problem of the large beam divergence in fast ignition schemes and to increase the laser energy deposition on the target core.

Rucaparib, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, has anticancer activity in recurrent ovarian carcinoma harbouring a BRCAmutation or high percentage of genome-wide loss of heterozygosity. In this trial we assessed rucaparib versus placebo after response to second-line or later platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with high-grade, recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian carcinoma.

L'interaction d'une impulsion laser femtoseconde avec une cible solide peut induire une émission intense de rayonnement X dans la gamme de quelques dizaines de keV. Ce type de source présente potentiellement plusieurs avantages sur les installations X conventionnelles en termes de performances (taille de la source, ganinie de longueur d'onde accessible) et de coût. Ce papier réunit les différents résultats obtenus dans le cadre du projet d'imagerie médicale de I'INRS à Varennes, Québec, Canada. Ces travaux concernent d'une part l'étude quantitative de la source de rayons X-durs: intensité, spectre et taille de la source. D'autre part. des expériences de faisabilité ont montré la pertinence de leur application à l'imagerie médicale. notamment dans le domaine de l'imagerie à grande résolution spatiale (mammographie) et dans celui de l'imagerie par soustraction d'images A deux longueurs d'onde (angiographie cardiaque). La principale limitation de ces expériences était la puissance moyenne de la source bridée par la faible cadence de l'installation laser. Les lois d'échelle déduites des expériences présentées laissent présager la poursuite de ces travaux dans des conditions cliniques réalistes avec le développement actuel de chaîne laser de hautes cadences (100 Hz–1 kHz).

Studies on the fast electrons escaped into vacuum are reported from solid targets illuminated by 150-fs laser pulses with p-polarised oblique incidence at a modest irradiance of [MATH]. The escaping electrons were found to form a jet in the normal direction to the target surface. The fast varying charge separation current can be measured by an LCR circuit, which converts the instantaneous charging current into a slow discharge process during the interaction. The total number of the escaping electrons is, for the first time, accurately determined to be 7x109by direct measurement of the charge separation potential generated during the interaction. The average energy of the escaping electrons was also accurately measured to be around 60 keV. The energy conversion from laser to these escaping fast electrons was found to be as high as 1.3% at such a modest irradiance.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with iodized oil and anticancer agents is widely used for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. To assess C-arm angiographic computed tomography (CCT) for detecting iodized oil retention during TACE, CCT images were obtained of 40 tumours (24 HCC patients). The primary CCT images showed complete iodized oil retention patterns (type I) in 29/40 (73%) tumours, at which point embolization was terminated; incomplete iodized oil retention requiring further iodized oil embolization occurred in 11/40 (28%) tumours and, of these, complete iodized oil retention patterns were achieved in eight tumours. Conventional CT scanning employed 1 week later showed the same iodized oil retention patterns as demonstrated in the latest CCT images (37/40 [93%] tumours). In 24 additional HCC patients who underwent TACE but not CCT (control group), conventional CT scans obtained 1 week after TACE showed complete iodized oil retention in 32/42 (76%) tumours. The rate of complete iodized oil retention pattern was significantly higher in patients undergoing CCT. It is concluded that the distribution of iodized oil within HCC lesions can be demonstrated on CCT images during TACE, helping to achieve complete iodized oil filling of tumours and, thereby, improving therapeutic effects.

Vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays coated with gold nanoparticles have been used in Schottky barrier solar cells. The nanoparticles enhance the optical absorption in the range of visible light due to the surface plasmon resonance. In charge separations, photoexcited electrons are transferred from gold nanoparticles to the ZnO conduction band while electrons from donor (I−) in the electrolyte compensate the holes left on the gold nanoparticles. The fill factors of the dye-free Schottky barrier cell reach a value of ∼0.50. However, after incorporation of N719 sensitizing dye, the open circuit voltage increases to 0.63 V from 0.5 V being measured for dye-sensitized solar cells based on the bare ZnO nanorods. The Schottky barrier at the ZnO/Au interface blocks the electron transfer back from ZnO to the dye and electrolyte, and thus increases the electron density at the ZnO conduction band. The efficiency of the gold-coated ZnO nanorod dye-sensitized solar cells is thus increased from 0.7% to 1.2%.

Fat content in rice is one of the most important nutritional quality properties. But the chemical analysis of fat content is time-consuming and costly and could result in poor reproduction between replicates. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can solve those problems by providing a rapid, nondestructive, and quantitative analysis. Based on the NIRS technique and partial least squares (PLS) algorithm, four calibration models were established to quantitatively analyze fat content in brown rice grain and flour and milled rice grain and flour with 248 representative samples. The determination coefficients (R2) of these calibration models were 0.79, 0.84, 0.89, and 0.91, respectively, with the corresponding root mean square errors 0.16, 0.14, 0.09, and 0.08%. The R2were 0.73, 0.81, 0.81, and 0.89 with the corresponding root mean square errors 0.17, 0.15, 0.12, and 0.09%, respectively, in cross validation. The R2were 0.62, 0.80, 0.81, and 0.87, respectively, with the root mean square errors 0.25, 0.31, 0.28, and 0.30% in external validation. These results indicate that the method of NIRS has relatively high accuracy in the prediction of rice fat content. The four calibration models established in the present study should be useful for nutrient quality improvement in rice breeding.

Yrast superdeformed bands of A ≈ 190 nuclei are systematically described by the projected shell model. The calculated γ-ray energies are compared with experimental data for which spins are unambiguously assigned. The excellent agreement between the calculation results and available data provides a microscopic description of the different behaviours of the moment of inertia between even–even and odd–even nuclei in this mass region.

The relationship of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), type I human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I), and parvovirus B19 to histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis was studied prospectively in 10 Taiwanese patients using materials obtained by fine-needle aspiration and lymph node biopsy. The presence of EBV was detected by in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded RNA expression. Immunocytochemistry was used to detect virus-encoded protein for EBV and parvovirus B19. DNA in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction were performed to determine the existence of HTLV-I provirus. Expressions of EBV-encoded RNA and Fas ligand were detected in all cases. Expression of EBV-encoded protein was identified in only 1 case. Neither HTLV-I nor parvovirus B19 was detected in any case.

The effects of copper on the activity of ascorbic acid oxidasc (AAO) in detached rice leaves under both light and dark conditions and in etiolated rice seedlings were investigated. CuSO4increased AAO activity in detached rice leaves in both light and darkness, however, the induction in darkness was higher than in the light. In the absence of CuSO4, irradiance (40 μmol m-2s-1) resulted in a higher activity of AAO in detached rice leaves than dark treatment. Both CuSO4and CuCl2increased AAO activity in detached rice leaves, indicating that AAO is activated by Cu. Sulfate salts of Mg, Mn, Zn and Fe were ineffective in activating AAO in detached leaves. CuSO4was also observed to increase AAO activity in the roots but not in shoots of etiolated rice seedlings.

Abstract: A total of 18 families with multiple cases of breast cancer were identified from southern Taiwan, and 5 of these families were found to carry cancer-associated germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. One novel cryptic splicing mutation of the BRCA1 gene, found in two unrelated families, was shown to be a deletion of 10 bp near the branch site in intron 7. This mutation causes an insertion of 59 nucleotides derived from intron 7 and results in a frameshift, leading to premature translational termination of BRCA1 mRNA in exon 8. Deletions of 2670delC, 3073delT and 6696-7delTC in the BRCA2 gene were found in three other breast cancer families. All three deletions are predicted to generate frameshifts and to result in the premature termination of BRCA2 protein translation. Several genetic polymorphisms in both BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes were also detected in this investigation.

As far as products of open or closed hollow cones or cylinders are concerned, the moulded parts grip the mould cores after mould opening because of differential thermal contraction. To strip the parts from the mould core, most injection and compression moulds have systems to eject the moulded parts automatically. The ejection force is defined as the force needed to strip the moulded parts from the mould cores. An injection mould with changeable cavities and cores has been designed. Using different configurations of the mould cavities and cores, open (or closed), hollow, thin walled cones in various thicknesses, diameters, lengths, and cone angles were injected. The ejection force was measured using a tensile machine and a specially designed tool. The dependence of the ejection force on the size, wall thickness, cone angle, elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio of the moulded parts, and the friction coefficient between steel and plastics are considered and a new method for calculating the ejection force in an acceptably accurate way is presented. The relationship between the ejection force and plastics properties as well as mould configuration is discussed. The calculation formula of the ejection force indicates that: the ejection force is directly proportional to the thickness and length of the part and has little relationship with the radius of the part; the thermal contraction strain and Young's modulus of the plastics impose considerable influence on the ejection force; a high friction coefficient fleads to a high ejection force; and for a cone angle of 2α, moulded parts can drop down from the core automatically without ejection when tan α ≥ f.

Enantioselective synthesis of simple epoxides can be achieved by Sharpless epoxidation of alkenylsilanols followed by protodesilylation of the chiral epoxysilanols. The approach has been applied to the synthesis of frontalin.

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This study evaluated the effect of nicardipine, calcium channel blocker, monotherapy on blood pressure and metabolic changes. Various aspect of carbohydrate and lipoprotein metabolism were studied before and after 12 weeks of nicardipine treatment in 23 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Nicardipine was well tolerated and induced a significant decrease (p<0.001) in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure without any changes in heart rate. Plasma levels of fasting glucose, insulin, C-peptide and hemoglobin A 1 c, hepatic extraction of insulin were similar following nicardipine treatment. Plasma glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose challenge did not change in association with nicardipine therapy. Although high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration increased slightly, it did not reach statistical significance. Total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels also increased insignificantly. LDL triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride concentrations were higher marginally, which resulted in slightly but insignificantly increase in total triglyceride concentration in association with nicardipine monotherapy for 12 weeks. In conclusion, treatment of patients with mild to moderate hypertension with nicardipine led to lower blood pressure effectively while had no significant influence on carbohydrate and lipoprotein metabolism.

The kallikrein-kinin system participates in blood pressure regulation. One of the kallikrein-kinin system components, kallikrein-binding protein, binds to tissue kallikrein and inhibits its activity in vitro. To investigate potential roles of rat kallikrein-binding protein (RKBP) in vivo, we have developed transgenic mice that express an RKBP gene under the control of the mouse metallothionein metal-responsive promoter. Expression of the transgene, RKBP, was detected in the liver, kidney, lung, heart, pancreas, salivary glands, spleen, brain, testis, and adrenal gland at the mRNA and protein levels. Systolic blood pressures of homozygous transgenic mice were 88.5 +/- 0.8 mm Hg (mean +/- S.E., n = 19, P < 0.001) for one line and 88.8 +/- 1.6 mm Hg (mean +/- S.E., n = 19, P < 0.001) for another, as compared with 100.5 +/- 0.8 mm Hg (mean +/- S.E., n = 18) for control mice. Direct blood pressure measurements of these transgenic mice through an arterial cannula showed similar reductions of blood pressure. Intravenous injection of purified RKBP into mice via a catheter produced a dose-dependent reduction of the mean arterial blood pressure. Our findings suggest that RKBP may function as a vasodilator in vivo, independent of regulating the activity of tissue kallikrein.

Study objectiveThe accuracy of the official statistic on infant deaths in Taiwan has been questioned. This study aimed to survey infant deaths nationwide, to measure associated vital statistics, and compare them with the official statistics to assess accuracy.Design and participantsA nationwide survey of all gestational outcomes occurring at ≥ 20 weeks' gestation over a three day study period (15-17 May 1989) was conducted to collect data from 23 counties and cities nationwide using a two stage data collection procedure.Main resultsThe survey derived infant death rate was 9.72 per 1000 live births, which was higher than the reported official statistic of 5.71 per 1000 live births. A more detailed examination of data on infant deaths showed that the estimated neonatal death rate of 6.68 per 1000 live births (95% confidence intervals: 3.33, 11.96 per 1000 live births) was significantly higher than the published official statistic of 1.94 per 1000 live births, while the postneonatal mortality of 3.04 per 1000 live births was comparable to the reported statistic of 3.37 per 1000 live births.ConclusionsThis study empirically documented the underregistration of infant deaths in Taiwan, particularly those occurring during the first 27 days of life.

We have cloned and characterized a full-length cDNA encoding tissue kallikrein from a human colon carcinoma cell line (T84). The nucleic acid sequence of the colon kallikrein cDNA is identical to that of renal/pancreatic or tissue kallikrein cDNA. Reverse-transcription PCR followed by Southern-blot analysis using specific oligonucleotide probes showed expression of tissue kallikrein in human colon, pancreas and kidney. Tissue kallikrein mRNA was localized in glandular epithelial cells (goblet cells) in colon by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Human colon kallikrein was purified to apparent homogeneity by DEAE-Sepharose Cl-6B, aprotinin-affinity, and HQ/M perfusion chromatography. The purified colon kallikrein migrated as a broad, 40-45 kDa band in SDS/PAGE and was recognized by antibodies to human tissue kallikrein. The linear displacement curves for the colon kallikrein in an RIA were parallel with the human tissue kallikrein standard curve, indicating their immunological identity. The N-terminal sequence of the purified colon kallikrein matches completely with that of purified urinary or tissue kallikrein. These results indicate that human colon kallikrein is transcribed from the tissue kallikrein gene.

A tissue kallikrein has been isolated from rat heart extracts by DEAE-Sepharose and aprotinin-affinity column chromatography. The purified cardiac enzyme has both N-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester esterolytic and kinin-releasing activities, and displays parallelism with standard curves in a kallikrein radioimmunoassay, indicating it to have immunological identity with tissue kallikrein. The enzyme is inhibited by aprotinin, antipain, leupeptin and by high concentrations of soybean trypsin inhibitor, but stimulated by lima-bean or ovomucoid trypsin inhibitor and low concentrations of soybean trypsin inhibitor. By using a specific monoclonal antibody to tissue kallikrein in Western blot as well as active-site labelling with [14C]di-isopropyl fluorophosphate, the cardiac enzyme was identified as a protein of 38 kDa, a molecular mass identical with that of tissue kallikrein. Immunocytochemistry at the electron-microscopic level localized this enzyme to the sarcoplasmic reticulum and granules of rat atrial myocytes. Two cardiac kallikrein precursors, (38 and 40 kDa) were identified from the translation in vitro of heart mRNA by immunoprecipitation and electrophoresis of [35S]methionine-labelled cell-free translation products. Kallikrein mRNA in the rat heart was also demonstrated by dot-blot analysis using a tissue kallikrein cDNA probe. These results indicate that the tissue kallikrein gene is expressed in the rat heart and that the purified enzyme is indistinguishable from tissue kallikrein with respect to enzymic and immunological characteristics.

The characteristics of a new kallikrein-binding protein in human serum and its activities were studied. Both the kallikrein-binding protein and alpha 1-antitrypsin form 92 kDa SDS-stable and heat-stable complexes with human tissue kallikrein. In non-SDS/PAGE, the mobility of these complexes differ. Complex-formation between kallikrein and the binding protein is inhibited by heparin, whereas that between kallikrein and alpha 1-antitrypsin is heparin-resistant. In normal or alpha 1-antitrypsin-deficient-serum, the amount of 92 kDa SDS-stable complex formed upon addition of kallikrein is not related to serum alpha 1-antitrypsin levels. The rate of complex-formation between kallikrein and the binding protein is 12 times higher than that between kallikrein and alpha 1-antitrypsin. Purified alpha 1-antitrypsin, which exhibits normal elastase binding, has a kallikrein-binding activity less than 5% of that of serum. Binding of tissue kallikrein in serum is not inhibited by increasing elastase concentrations, and elastase binding in serum is not inhibited by excess tissue kallikrein. A specific monoclonal antibody to human alpha 1-antitrypsin does not bind to either 92 kDa endogenous or exogenous kallikrein complexes isolated from human serum. The studies demonstrate a new tissue kallikrein-binding protein, distinct from alpha 1-antitrypsin, is present in human serum.

Objective: To determine whether there is variability in the structure and process of ventilatory care in intensive care units (ICUs) of the hospitals of Southwestern Ontario. Design: Self-administered questionnaire-based survey. Setting: ICUs of selected community and teaching hospitals of Southwestern Ontario. Participants: Head of respiratory therapy service of respective hospitals; in those hospitals without respiratory therapists, the ICU nurse manager. Intervention: Self-administered questionnaire. Outcome measure(s): The availability of different models of ventilators and respiratory therapist and physician coverage were assessed. In addition, the use of clinical practice guidelines, respiratory therapists, and the nursing role in ventilatory care were determined. Results: In general, the structure of ventilatory care, including availability of different modes of ventilation, and coverage by respiratory therapists and physicians was more comprehensive in larger hospitals. However, the availability of some modes of ventilation varied more than expected among hospitals of comparable size. Similarly, variability in the process of ventilatory care, defined by the availability of clinical practice guidelines and the roles of respiratory therapists varied both within and among hospitals of different size. Conclusions: The structure and process of ventilatory care in this sample of Southwestern Ontario ICUs was found to be variable. Not all this variability could be accounted for by hospital size, suggesting a potential for improvement in overall ventilatory care. Further study is required before any specific recommendations can be considered.

Kallikrein-binding protein was purified to apparent homogeneity from rat serum by Affi-Gel Blue, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, Sephacryl S-200 chromatography, and preparative gel electrophoresis or high performance liquid chromatography. The purified protein migrates as a single band of 60 kDa in a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel under reducing conditions. It is an acidic protein with isoelectric points ranging from 4.2 to 4.6. The amino terminus of the binding protein is an Asp residue as determined by sequence analysis. It forms a 92-kDa sodium dodecyl sulfatestable complex with kallikrein with a t1/2 of 18 min. Western blot and radioimmunoassay showed a distribution of the kallikrein-binding protein in serum, urine, and various tissues with a 5-10-fold lower amount in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). A full length cDNA clone encoding the kallikrein-binding protein was isolated from a rat liver cDNA library by immunoscreening and the translated amino acid sequence matches the amino-terminal 29-amino acid sequence of the binding protein. The cDNA sequence shares 68.8% identity with human alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and is identical to that of a rat hepatic protein. Dot blot analysis shows that kallikrein-binding protein is expressed at high levels in the liver and at low levels in the lung, salivary gland, and kidney. Its mRNA level in the liver decreases by 2-fold after acute phase inflammation and is higher in male than in female rats. Genomic Southern blot analyses reveal restriction fragment length polymorphisms between SHR and WKY rats in the binding protein locus. The results indicate that rat kallikrein-binding protein belongs to the serpin superfamily and its level is significantly reduced in the spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The flavodoxins constitute a highly conserved family of small, acidic electron transfer proteins with flavin mononucleotide prosthetic groups. They are found in prokaryotes and in red and green algae, where they provide electrons at low potentials for the reduction of nitrogen by nitrogenase, for the light-dependent reduction of NADP+ in photosynthesis, and for the reduction of sulfite. Proteins with the physical characteristics of flavodoxins have been implicated in the reductive activation of pyruvate formate-lyase and cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase in Escherichia coli. We have purified flavodoxin to homogeneity from E. coli, determined its N-terminal amino acid sequence, and used this sequence to construct a 64-fold degenerate oligonucleotide probe for the flavodoxin gene. Because the phenotype of a flavodoxin mutant is not known, we used this degenerate probe to screen the phages of the Kohara library and identified two phages, with inserts mapping at approximately 16 min, that hybridized to the probe. The flavodoxin gene, designated fldA, was subcloned from the DNA in the overlap region of these two clones. The deduced amino acid sequence, determined by nucleotide sequencing of the flavodoxin gene, shows strong homology with flavodoxins from nitrogen-fixing bacteria and cyanobacteria. The fldA gene maps at 15.9 min on the E. coli chromosome and is transcribed in a counterclockwise direction.

Enteric bacteria can grow on proline as the sole nitrogen and carbon source. Expression of the proline utilization (put) operon in Klebsiella strains and Escherichia coli is responsive to nitrogen regulation. In contrast, Salmonella typhimurium cannot activate put operon expression when growing in medium with glucose as a carbon source and proline as the sole nitrogen source. To compare nitrogen regulatory sites in the control regions of the put operons in these three closely related genera, we cloned the Klebsiella put operon onto a plasmid. The putA and putP genes were localized on the plasmid by transposon mutagenesis. The DNA sequence of the put control region was determined and compared with those of the put control regions from S. typhimurium and E. coli. The overall size and organization of the put control region were very similar in all three bacteria. However, no obvious ntr regulatory sites were found in this region, and transcription of the put genes started at the same sites during growth with limiting or excess nitrogen. These results strongly suggested that the Klebsiella put operon may not be directly regulated by the ntr system.

Autopsy and pathology studies have shown that the caudal portion of the prostate gland harbors tumour in 64–75% of specimens examined. Accurate localization of the prostatic apex may be important in improving local control with external beam radiation therapy. We compared the location of the apex obtained with CT based treatment planning versuslocalization using retrograde urethrography in 32 consecutive patients. The prostatic apex, localized by CT and retrograde urethrography, was compared relative to the ischial tuberosities and the symphysis pubis. Discordance between the location of the prostatic apex as defined on CT scan and retrograde urethrography was found in 50% of patients evaluated. There was 31% discordance between the location of the prostatic apex as defined on CT and retrograde urethrography when data were analysed with the location of the prostatic apex 1 cm above the narrowing on urethrography, a definition others have suggested. The urethrogram defined prostatic apex, as compared with the CT definition, necessitated the treatment of more of the surrounding normal tissues in 31% of our cases, with four-field techniques. Comparison of dose–volume histograms of the bladder, rectum and penis irradiated for target volumes defined by CT versusretrograde urethrography showed that more penis was irradiated in some patients with the urethrogram defined prostatic apex; irradiation of the base of the penis could be relatively avoided by using a six-field treatment plan instead of the standard four-field box. There is discordance between the CT and urethrogram defined prostatic apex. Dose-volume histogram information suggests that differences in apex localization can significantly affect doses to normal adjacent prostatic tissues. Combining CT localization with the urethrogram localization of the prostatic apex optimizes radiotherapy planning and dose delivery.

A power grid reactive power optimization algorithm was proposed in this paper to ensure that distribution network systems run efficiently, which is called the opposition-based chaos shuffled frog leaping algorithm (OCSFLA). A mathematical model of reactive power optimization was established based on the consideration of the constraint conditions. The initial swarm of the model was optimized based on the opposition strategy. The leading role changed gradually from the shuffled frog leaping algorithm to chaotic search in the iterative process by setting the appropriate chaotic variables. Thus, the global optimal solution was searched more quickly. In the simulation tests of the IEEE30 system, the results show that a better compensation effect was obtained when the reactive power compensation was performed in nodes 12 and 24. After completing the reactive power optimization based on the improved leapfrog algorithm, the active network loss value of the system was reduced by 13.85%. The algorithm was more efficient compared with other traditional optimization algorithms because OCSFLA can avoid falling into local optimization.

The allyl aryl thioethers (I) react after metallation with trimethylsilyl chloride (II) to give the silyl thioethers (IIIa) ‐ (IIIf).

Treatment of the epoxydiphenylsilanol (IV), prepared from trans‐β‐lithiostyrene (I), with fluoride anion gives only little enantiomeric excess of (S)‐styrene oxide (V).