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Aims: The multilineage differentiation potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) holds therapeutic promise for non-healing ulcers and tissue regeneration. The present study evaluated the effects of HUCMSC transplantation after angioplasty for treatment of diabetic foot. Methods: Included in the study were 53 patients (72 limbs) with severe symptoms of Fontaine II-IV diabetic foot accompanied by varying degrees of lower extremity arterial disease. The patients were randomly apportioned to a control group (25 patients; 38 limbs) or an experimental group (28 patients; 34 limbs). Patients of both groups received interventional treatment with angioplasty; those in the experimental group also received HUCMSCs by endovascular infusion and injection around the foot ulcer. Results: Within the 3-month follow-up, relative to patients in the control group, those in the experimental group experienced significantly greater and more stable improvements in skin temperature, ankle-brachial pressure index, transcutaneous oxygen tension, and claudication distance. Notably, 3 months after treatment a significant increase in neovessels, accompanied by complete or gradual ulcer healing, was shown in the experimental group. In addition, no serious complications or adverse reactions were associated with the treatment. Conclusion: Therefore, our results indicate that HUCMSC transplantation after angioplasty is a safe and effective clinical therapy for severe diabetic foot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though widely used in modelling nano- and micro- structures, Eringen's differential model shows some inconsistencies and recent study has demonstrated its differences between the integral model, which then implies the necessity of using the latter model. In this paper, an analytical study is taken to analyze static bending of nonlocal Euler-Bernoulli beams using Eringen's two-phase local/nonlocal model. Firstly, a reduction method is proved rigorously, with which the integral equation in consideration can be reduced to a differential equation with mixed boundary value conditions. Then, the static bending problem is formulated and four types of boundary conditions with various loadings are considered. By solving the corresponding differential equations, exact solutions are obtained explicitly in all of the cases, especially for the paradoxical cantilever beam problem. Finally, asymptotic analysis of the exact solutions reveals clearly that, unlike the differential model, the integral model adopted herein has a consistent softening effect. Comparisons are also made with existing analytical and numerical results, which further shows the advantages of the analytical results obtained. Additionally, it seems that the once controversial nonlocal bar problem in the literature is well resolved by the reduction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify the efficacy of definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) for patients with synchronous oligometastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SOEC), and to construct the decision tree models for predicting the risk of progression and death. A total of 532 patients with SOEC from two centers between January 2012 and December 2018 were enrolled in this study, including 292 patients who received chemotherapy alone (CT alone) and 240 patients who underwent dCRT, and each patient had ≤5 metastatic lesions and metastatic organs ≤3. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to control potential confounding factors. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints were locoregional control and treatment-related toxicities. Cox regression was used to screen important explanatory variables. The decision trees that optimally partitioned patients with different PFS and OS rates were then built by recursive partitioning analysis (RPA). The median age of the entire cohort was 63 years (range, 32–82). With a median follow-up time of 37 months (IQR: 21.6-55.8), ORR was 42.1% for the CT alone group and 57.9% for the dCRT group (P =0.000). Median PFS of the CT alone group and dCRT group was 7.6 and 9.7 months, respectively (P =0.000), and median OS was 15.2 and 18.5 months, respectively (P =0.000). PSM analysis verified the same trend (all P <0.05). Cox multivariate analysis indicated that treatment modality was an independent prognostic factor associated with PFS (P =0.000) and OS (P =0.008). The minimum complexity parameters (CP) corresponding to a standard deviation range of the minimum cross-validation error were 0.014 and 0.011 for PFS and OS, respectively. The final decision trees after pruning divided patients with SOEC into low, intermediate and high-risk groups by RPA, and the corresponding cumulative risk function curves were drawn by fitting the survival function of patients with different risk levels (all P <0.01). Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and maximum area under the curves (AUC) of decision trees for progression and death risk were 0.807(95% CI: 0.719-0.894) and 0.911(95% CI: 0.850-0.973), respectively. Calibration curve also demonstrated that the decision trees have favorable hierarchical value. Other major treatment-related toxicities of grade III or higher included radiation pneumonitis (6.7%) and radiation esophagitis (7.1%) for the dCRT group. No treatment-related deaths were observed throughout the study period. Compared with CT alone, dCRT as a first-line treatment for patients with SOEC has superior survival and amenable toxicity. With the continuous consolidation chemotherapy, OS also achieved significant improvement. The predictive information of our decision tree should be integrated into future clinical trials to provide effective and accurate decision-making for the management of patients with OEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is devoted to a deep analysis of the hydrated surface properties of Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate (CSH) by means of molecular dynamics simulations and reactive force fields (REAXFF). The radial distribution function shows that the relative coordinates among atoms inside films structure is the same as the bulk one. Moreover, the (001) surface free energy of CSH is found in the range of 698 erg/cm2to 740 erg/cm2. The smallest and biggest averaged contact angle between equilibrated water nanodroplet and CSH surface is 23.62° and 29.29°, respectively, which reveals the hydrophilic behavior of the (001) surface. The work of adhesion between water-nanodroplet and CSH surface is 136.47 × 10−3 J/m2. The spreading area of nanodroplet onto CSH surface is a defect circle and the distance between most of relaxed water molecules and CSH surface is within 3.2 Å. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, recursive random forests were used to build classification models for mouse liver toxicity. The mouse liver toxicity endpoint (67 toxic and 166 non-toxic) was a composition of fourin vivochronic systemic and carcinogenic toxicity endpoints (non-proliferative, neoplastic, proliferative and gross pathology). A multiple under-sampling approach and a shifted classification threshold of 0.288 (non-toxic < 0.288 and toxic ≥ 0.288) were used to cope with the unbalanced data. Our study showed that recursive random forests are very efficient in variable selection and for the development of predictivein silicomodels. Generally, over 95% redundant descriptors could be reduced from modelling for all the chemical, biological and hybrid models in this study. The predictive performance of chemical models (CCR of 0.73) is comparable with hybrid model performance (CCR of 0.74). Descriptors related to the octanol–water partition coefficient are vital for model performance. Thein vitroendpoint of CYP2A2 played a key role in the development and interpretation of hybrid models. Identifying high-throughput screening assays relevant to liver toxicity would be key for improvingin silicomodels of liver toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The generation of biofuels from biomass such as corn ( Zea mays L.) stalks may be improved by increasing the concentration of available sugar. Understanding the inheritance of high stalk sugar traits is important for the development of new hybrids adapted for this purpose. The genetics associated with high stalk sugar (measured as sucrose equivalents) concentration was investigated by conducting a diallel analysis of six adapted inbred lines varying in stalk sucrose concentration, and a generation mean analysis using high and low sucrose inbred lines as parents tested in multiple years. Changes in stalk sucrose concentrations for six families with repeated cycles of selfing and selection over seven generations was also investigated. Results of the diallel and the generation means analysis of stalk sugar traits revealed that both additive [general combining ability (GCA)] and non-additive gene effects [specific combining ability (SCA)] were important for the inheritance of these traits and their expression was influenced by environment. Additive gene actions were more important than non-additive gene actions for controlling these traits. The study also demonstrated that the hybrid combinations of C103 with 73353 for stalk sucrose and with CO384 for stalk juice may be the best candidates for increasing stalk sugar as these inbreds had high means for these traits with favourable SCA estimates and at least one inbred had high GCA. Substantial increase in stalk sucrose in six different families over seven generations using a pedigree breeding method showed that selection gains could be made following this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of human parathyroid hormone replacement therapy on specific disease-related outcomes in patients with hypoparathyroidism. Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched until January 13, 2015 for randomized trials using the following search terms: hypoparathyroidism, parathyroid hormone/PTH, and hormone replacement therapy. Five randomized controlled trials (n = 245) that investigated effect of either PTH (1-34) (3 trials) or PTH (1-84) (2 trials) on serum calcium, phosphate, 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels, and urine level of calcium were included in the meta-analysis. Both PTH (1-34) and PTH (1-84) therapies were not associated with change in serum calcium level compared with calcitriol/placebo. The level of 24-h urine calcium excretion had a significant decrease in PTH (1-34)-treated group compared placebo/ calcitriol (control) group (p≤0.012). PTH (1-34) did not change serum phosphate (p = 0.053). PTH ( 1 -84) did not change level of 24-h urine calcium excretion compared with control (p≥0.214) but it did decrease the levels of serum phosphorous (p = 0.000). Both PTH-replacement therapies were not associated with change in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D level compared with control (p≥0.606), but were associated with a significant decrease in serum 25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels (p≤0.04). In conclusion, although the number of randomized trial is limited, our meta-analysis suggests that PTH (1-34) replacement therapy may maintain the serum calcium levels in the normal range by reducing the levels of urine calcium excretion, and both replacement therapies may maintain 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D serum levels by reducing serum level of 25-dihydroxyvitamin D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New polyurethanes based on bile acids were synthesized from alcohol derivatives of cholic and lithocholic acids and hexamethylene diisocyanate, in an effort to improve the biocompatibility and biodegradability of polyurethanes through the use of natural compounds. The hydrogen bonding in the polymers is confirmed by IR spectral analysis. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers are in the range of 82-138 °C and degradation temperatures in the range of 267-298 °C as studied by thermal analyses. Thermogravimetric studies indicate that the comonomers are of equimolar amounts in the polyurethanes derived from both bile acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance manufacturing is difficult to perform using conventional materials removal processes since a surface integrity demand for high-performance components is strongly restricted by intrinsic interactions between the geometrical feature of components and the physical and chemical characteristics of the base material. Surface modification techniques based on known processing loads, including mechanical, thermomechani-cal, and thermochemical loads, are utilized for manufacturing the Fe-Cr-Ni austenitic stainless steel components. The geometrical feature and the physical and chemical characteristics as well as the controllable interactions between them are identified in the surface integrity of the surface-modified components by creating new surface layers coupled with base material. The effective surface stares control, including surface morphology, microhardness, and residua! stress, leads to surface integrity improvement by reducing geometrical, physical, and chemical constraints from base materials, otherwise unobtainable merely using conventional materials removal manufacturing. The fatigue life of the surface-modified components is significantly increased due to the improved surface integrity. It is proposed that high surface integrity possesses a pivotal role between the functional properties of components and their geometrical feature and materials characteristics for the high-performance manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible graphene sensor array has been fabricated by in situ reduction of a graphene oxide (GO) array patterned on a paper chip. To achieve cross-reactive sensing and gas discrimination ability, the surface of each reduced GO (rGO) spot was modified with different types of ionic liquids (ILs), which could significantly alter the semiconductor properties and consequently the gas sensing behaviour of the paper-supported rGO sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proved that surface integrity involving numerous surface integrity parameters has a profound influence on component performance. However, it is still difficult to achieve a high performance of combined functional properties since the surface integrity of the high-performance component is frequently limited by merely using material removal manufacturing. In this work, surface modification is alternatively employed to explore influence of various surface integrity parameters in a controllable way on achieving the high-performance manufacturing of components with combined properties including anti-fatigue performance and corrosion resistance, thermal insulating and oxidation resistance, temperature sensing and wear resistance, otherwise unattainable in conventional material removal manufacturing. Three typical surface modification techniques principally based on a series of processing loads, such as thermochemical load from plasma-based low-energy ion implantation, thermomechanical load from ion beam shock processing by high-intensity pulsed ion beam irradiation, and chemical load from non-aqueous sol-gel thin film deposition respectively, were selected for generating a new surface layer on base materials of components toward an improved surface integrity with desired multiple surface integrity parameters. In all cases, two categories of surface integrity parameters are identified in relation to the functional properties of components, i.e., surface features and surface characteristics, where the former include the features of topography and chemical composition, grain morphology, and phase structure, etc. on surface and subsurface directly created by the surface modification, and the latter include all the physical and chemical properties associated with the new surface layer, such as microhardness, residual stress, electrical potential, optical properties, etc. The surface features and surface characteristics in surface integrity present a synergetic effect on the high performance with combined properties as a result of coupled interactions between the surface integrity parameters. Therefore, the multiple surface integrity parameters controllable with active interactions achieved by surface modification processes effectively improve the surface integrity according to the desired high-performance component of combined properties, enabling a high-performance manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By regularly monitoring the most stable millisecond pulsars over many years, pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) are positioned to detect and study correlations in the timing behaviour of those pulsars. Gravitational waves (GWs) from supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) are an exciting potentially detectable source of such correlations. We describe a straightforward technique by which a PTAcan be 'phased-up' to form time series of the two polarization modes of GWs coming from a particular direction of the sky. Our technique requires no assumptions regarding the time-domain behaviour of a GW signal. This method has already been used to place stringent bounds on GWs from individual SMBHBs in circular orbits. Here, we describe the methodology and demonstrate the versatility of the technique in searches for a wide variety of GW signals including bursts with unmodelled waveforms. Using the first six years of data from the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array, we conduct an all-sky search for a detectable excess of GW power from any direction. For the lines of sight to several nearby massive galaxy clusters, we carry out a more detailed search for GW bursts with memory, which are distinct signatures of SMBHB mergers. In all cases, we find that the data are consistent with noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four 70-day growth trials were performed to investigate the effects of substitution of dietary fishmeal ( FM) by soya bean meal ( SBM) in different sizes of gibel carp CASIII ( Carassius auratus gibelio). The initial weights of fry, juvenile, 1-year fish and broodstock of gibel carp were 0.8, 5.0, 62.7 and 135.6 g, respectively. In each trial, eight diets were formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic, and different levels of soy bean meal protein were used to replace fishmeal protein at 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%. Another diet containing all SBM protein and supplemented with crystalline amino acids was also tested. The results showed that apparent digestibility coefficients ( ADCs) of dry matter and energy decreased with SBM substitution while the ADCs of phosphorus increased. The ADCs of protein of high SBM substitution were higher than those of FM groups. Juveniles show lower ADCs than grown-up fish. Dietary SBM substitution showed negative effects on survival, growth and feed utilization in gibel carp. One-year fish and broodstock gibel carp have relatively higher tolerance to dietary SBM than fry and juveniles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper revisits a complicated analytical solution of the stress intensity factor K adopted in a newly published British standard BS 8571:2014 for clamped single edge notched tension (SENT) specimens. Comparison with existing numerical results of K shows that the analytical K solution in BS 8571 is correct only for the crack length to specimen width ratio a/ W ≤ 0.6, but incorrect for a/ W > 0.6. A reinvestigation is thus performed using the crack compliance method, and a corrected K solution is obtained for the BS 8571 clamped SENT specimens over the full range of a/ W. On this basis, a simple closed-form solution of K is obtained using the best curve fitting with an accuracy within 1% for crack sizes up to a/ W = 0.98. Results show that the proposed closed-form solution of K agrees well with the numerical results of K for the clamped SENT specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) is a serious global health problem. We sought to investigate SMA behaviors and risk factors among Chinese university students, and further explore the association between SMA practices and adverse drug events (ADEs). Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: An online survey was conducted at Jiangsu University (JSU) in eastern China in July 2011 using a pretested questionnaire. Results: Out of 2608 website visitors, 1086 participated in the survey (response rate: 41.6%), 426 respondents were excluded for not being a JSU student or repeat participation, 660 (2.2% of JSU students) were included in analysis, and 316 students (47.9%) had a lifetime history of SMA. Among self-treated students, 43.5% believed that antibiotic was suitable for viral infections, 65.9% had more than one SMA episode in the previous year, 73.5% selfmedicated with at least two different antibiotics, 57.1% and 64.4% changed antibiotic dosage and antibiotics during the course, respectively. Female gender, older age, and prior knowledge of antibiotics (PKA) were identified as independent risk factors of SMA. There was no difference between students with and without PKA regarding SMA frequency, use of polyantibiotics, and switching antibiotic dosage or antibiotics. ADEs happened to 13.3% of self-medicated students. Frequent change of dosage and simultaneous use of the same antibiotic with different names were independent risk practices associated with an ADE. Conclusions: Our findings substantiate high SMA prevalence among Chinese university students. Older age and PKA are independent SMA risk factors common to Chinese university students and female gender is exclusive SMA risk factor for JSU students. Poor SMA practices are associated with ADEs. Strict regulations on antibiotic sales and public education reinforced by further health care reform are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low-dose adenosine on hepatic artery flow (HAF) when administered intraoperatively by continuous infusion. Materials and Methods Between January 2009 and August 2009, 74 patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Ten patients were enrolled for adenosine treatment, and 64 non-study patients served as controls. After arterial reperfusion, a 16-G central venous catheter was placed in the gastroduodenal artery, and adenosine was continuously infused at doses ranging from 0.7 to 2.8 μg/kg/min for 30 min. HAF and portal vein flow were measured using a transit time flow meter before adenosine infusion, during infusion, and 10 min after infusion. Liver function tests were monitored routinely, duplex ultrasonography was performed on postoperative day 1, and the hepatic artery resistive index measured. The patients were followed for 1 year. Results Adenosine significantly increased HAF at doses from 0.7 to 2.8 μg/kg/min. The smallest increase in HAF was 24% above the baseline; in 80% of patients, the increase in HAF was >50% of the baseline values. In 2 patients, HAF was increased by >300%. The dosing started at 0.7 μg/kg/min, and 6 of 10 patients responded. Three patients required an increase to 1.4 μg/kg/min. Doses >2.8 μg/kg/min did not further increase HAF. One patient showed a minimal response regardless of the dose. There were no differences between the adenosine group and control group with respect to liver function (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and International Normalized Ratio), platelet count on POD2, hepatic artery resistive index, and post-transplant length of stay, intensive care days, or 1-year patient survival rates. Conclusions This pilot study established that adenosine administered directly into the hepatic artery produces a similar effect on HAF in cadaveric liver transplant recipients to that found in the laboratory without producing systemic side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-intensity pulsed ion beam (HIPIB) with ion current density above Child-Langmuir limit is achieved by extracting ion beam from anode plasma of ion diodes with suppressing electron flow under magnetic field insulation. It was theoretically estimated that with increasing the magnetic field, a maximal value of ion current density may reach nearly 3 times that of Child-Langmuir limit in a non-relativistic mode and close to 6 times in a highly relativistic mode. In this study, the behavior of ion beam enhancement by magnetic insulation is systematically investigated in three types of magnetically insulated ion diodes (MIDs) with passive anode, taking into account the anode plasma generation process on the anode surface. A maximal enhancement factor higher than 6 over the Child-Langmuir limit can be obtained in the non-relativistic mode with accelerating voltage of 200-300 kV. The MIDs differ in two anode plasma formation mechanisms, i.e., surface flashover of a dielectric coating on the anode and explosive emission of electrons from the anode, as well as in two insulation modes of external-magnetic field and self-magnetic field with either non-closed or closed drift of electrons in the anode-cathode (A-K) gap, respectively. Combined with ion current density measurement, energy density characterization is employed to resolve the spatial distribution of energy density before focusing for exploring the ion beam generation process. Consistent results are obtained on three types of MIDs concerning control of neutralizing electron flows for the space charge of ions where the high ion beam enhancement is determined by effective electron neutralization in the A-K gap, while the HIPIB composition of different ion species downstream from the diode may be considerably affected by the ion beam neutralization during propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the particular mechanical interaction relationships between a seafloor tracked miner and the sediment are obtained through laboratory-simulated experiments. Underwater sediments exhibit entirely different shear properties compared to land surface soils. An innovative user-written subroutine for characterizing the mechanical models of various soil types is compiled and linked to the RecurDyn simulation environment and then validated against an available commercial program and with laboratory tests. A new three-dimensional multi-body dynamic simulation model of the miner is developed in RecurDyn by integrating the developed mechanical model of the seafloor sediment. Simulations are conducted to measure the miner's geometric trafficability and locomotion performance. Additionally, a mathematical model to evaluate the miner's tractive trafficability in relation to its slip ratio and its primary design parameters is established, and the results demonstrate that there is an optimum slip ratio that produces a maximum traction force for the miner. This research provides a valuable and effective simulation modelling method for trafficability, locomotion predictions, design optimization and motion control of tracked-operated vehicles under various terrain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ufm1 conjugation system is a novel ubiquitin-like modification system, consisting of Ufm1, Uba5 (E1), Ufc1 (E2) and poorly characterized E3 ligase(s). RCAD/Ufl1 (also known as KIAA0776, NLBP and Maxer) was reported to function as a Ufm1 E3 ligase in ufmylation (Ufm1-mediated conjugation) of DDRGK1 and ASC1 proteins. It has also been implicated in estrogen receptor signaling, unfolded protein response (UPR) and neurodegeneration, yet its physiological function remains completely unknown. In this study, we report that RCAD/Ufl1 is essential for embryonic development, hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) survival and erythroid differentiation. Both germ-line and somatic deletion of RCAD/Ufl1 impaired hematopoietic development, resulting in severe anemia, cytopenia and ultimately animal death. Depletion of RCAD/Ufl1 caused elevated endoplasmic reticulum stress and evoked UPR in bone marrow cells. In addition, loss of RCAD/Ufl1 blocked autophagic degradation, increased mitochondrial mass and reactive oxygen species, and led to DNA damage response, p53 activation and enhanced cell death of HSCs. Collectively, our study provides the first genetic evidence for the indispensable role of RCAD/Ufl1 in murine hematopoiesis and development. The finding of RCAD/Ufl1 as a key regulator of cellular stress response sheds a light into the role of a novel protein network including RCAD/Ufl1 and its associated proteins in regulating cellular homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the vehicle-bridge interaction (VBI) data for structural health monitoring has received considerable interest in the last decade. Compared with the traditional bridge health monitoring, the VBI based approach allows the target bridges to be monitored or assessed under operating conditions. The VBI system has timevariant features and the vehicle can serve as a moving exciter and a mobile sensor in the system. Many bridge damage identification techniques based on VBI have been developed, and they could be divided into three categories, namely, technique based on the bridge responses, technique based on the vehicle responses and technique based on both the vehicle and bridge responses. This paper presents a review on the structural health monitoring based on VBI and the challenges for its general implementation in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit rot caused by Alternaria spp. is one of the most important factors affecting the postharvest quality and shelf life of blueberry fruit. The aims of this study were to characterize Alternaria isolates using morphological and molecular approaches and test their pathogenicity to blueberry fruit. Alternaria spp. isolates were collected from decayed blueberry fruit in the Central Valley of California during 2012 and 2013. In total, 283 isolates were obtained and five species of Alternaria, including Alternaria alternata, A. tenuissima, A. arborescens, A. infectoria, and A. rosae, were identified based on DNA sequences of the plasma membrane ATPase, Alt al and Calmodulin gene regions in combination with morphological characters of the culture and sporulation. Of the 283 isolates, 61.5% were identified as A. alternata, 32.9% were A. arborescens, 5.0% were A. tenuissima, and only one isolate of A. infectoria and one isolate of A. rosae were found. These fungi were able to grow at temperatures from 0 to 35°C, and mycelial growth was arrested at 40°C. Optimal radial growth occurred between 20 to 30°C. Pathogenicity tests showed that all five Alternaria spp. were pathogenic on blueberry fruit at 0, 4, and 20°C, with A. alternata, A. arborescens, and A. tenuissima being the most virulent species, followed by A. infectoria and A. rosae. Previously A. tenuissima has been reported to be the primary cause of Alternaria fruit rot of blueberry worldwide. Our results indicated that the species composition of Alternaria responsible for Alternaria fruit rot in blueberry can be dependent on geographical region. A. alternata, A. arborescens, A. infectoria, and A. rosae are reported for the first time on blueberry in California. This is also the first report of A. infectoria and A. rosae infecting blueberry fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of our study was to examine how serial urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and interleukin (IL)-18 concentrations change over time after kidney transplantation and whether we can use them to predict delayed graft function (DGF). Methods Spot urine samples for the NGAL and IL-18 tests were taken at 4, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after transplantation from every patient at hospital presentation. Urine samples were tested for NGAL by a chemiluminescence assay kit on the ARCHITECT I2000 immunology analyzer. IL-18 were measured by a quantitative immunoenzymatic assay kit. Serum samples for the creatinine measurement were taken at 24, 48, and 72 hours after kidney transplantation. Serum samples were tested for creatinine on the Olympus analyzer 5821 by alkaline picric acid method. The patients were divided into 2 groups: DGF group and non-DGF group. Results The urine NGAL levels were increased in DGF group at all points over the follow-up period. There are differences ( P < .05) in NGAL concentrations between DGF (n = 21) and non-DGF groups (n = 102). However, urine samples from the DGF group (n = 21) had increased IL-18 concentrations at 4, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively compared with non-DGF group samples (n = 102) ( P < .05). There were obvious distinctions ( P < .05) of serum creatinine (SCr) levels in 24 hours between the DGF (n = 21) and non-DGF groups (n = 102). The specificity and positive predictive value of NGAL in the DGF diagnosis increased with time, but the sensitivity and negative predictive value do not change. The specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive, value and negative predictive value of IL-18 in the DGF diagnosis changed irregularly at multiple time points after transplant. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 24-hour SCr were 47.4% and 95.7%, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of combination of NGAL, IL-18, and SCr (area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve = 0.984; 95% CI, 0.887–0.994) were 90.9% and 100%, respectively. Overall, the combination of NGAL, IL-18, and SCr was found to have a significantly better positive predictive value than all the other combination assays ( P < .05). In addition, there were obvious distinction of the negative predictive value of NGAL and IL-18 combination compared with those of other combinations ( P < .05). Conclusions The combination of NGAL, IL-18, and SCr measurements after initiation of treatment may be highly effective for risk stratification in patients with DGF. The combination may be useful to cover the complete diagnostic window of patients presenting with DGF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacokinetics of cefquinome was studied in plasma after a single dose (10 mg/kg) of intramuscular (i.m.) or intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration to tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus) in freshwater at 30 °C. Ten fish per sampling point were examined after treatment. The data were fitted to two-compartment open models following both routes of administration. The estimates of total body clearance (CL/F), volume of distribution (Vd/F), and absorption half-life (T1/2ka) were 0.049 and 0.037 L/h/kg, 0.41 and 0.33 L/kg, and 0.028 and 0.035 h following i.m. and i.p. administration, respectively. After i.m. injection, the elimination half-life (T1⁄2β) was calculated to be 5.81 h, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) to be 49.40 μg/mL, the time to peak plasma cefquinome concentration (Tmax) to be 0.14 h, and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) to be 204.6 μg h/mL. Following i.p. administration, the corresponding estimates were 6.05 h, 44.39 μg/mL, 0.17 h and 267.8 μg h/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of cefquinome, determined for 30 strains of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from diseased tilapia, ranged from 0.015 to 0.12 μg/mL. Results from these studies support that 10 mg cefquinome/kg body weight daily could be expected to control tilapia bacterial pathogens inhibited in vitro by a minimal inhibitory concentration value of ≤2 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a great uncertainty about the effect of land use change on grassland ecosystem in the Tibetan Plateau. Net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE) was measured for native alpine meadow with winter grazing (NAM), abandoned cropland/pasture (APL), perennial Elymus nutans (PEN), and annual oat pasture (AO) on the Tibetan plateau, during the growing seasons in 2009 and 2010 using a transparent chamber technique ( Licor-6400). AO significantly decreased annual average NEE by 21.6, 23.7, and 15.7% compared to PEN, NAM, and APL during the growing season in 2010. Compared to PEN, NAM, and APL, AO significantly decreased average ecosystem respiration (R) by 21.1, 52.3, and 39.3%, respectively, during the growing season in 2009. Soil moisture and total aboveground and belowground biomass together explained 39.6% of NEE variation and 71% in gross primary productivity variation. Soil moisture and belowground biomass explained about 83.1% of the R variation. Our results indicated that it is possible to convert APL to PEN in the region because it could result in a higher NEE together with higher forage production compared to AO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the use of a printing technique, called electrohydrodynamic jet printing, for producing PZT thick film micro-scale structures without additional material removing processes. The PZT powder was ball-milled and the effect of milling time on the particle size was examined. This ball-milling process can significantly reduce the PZT particle size and help to prepare stable composite slurry suitable for the E-Jet printing. The PZT micro-scale structures with different features were produced. The PZT lines with different widths and separations were fabricated through the control of the E-Jet printing parameters. The widths of the PZT lines were varied from 80 μm to 200 μm and the separations were changed from 5 μm to 200 μm. In addition, PZT walled structures were obtained by multi-layer E-Jet printing. The E-Jet printed PZT thick films exhibited a relative permittivity ( ɛ r ) of ∼233 and a piezoelectric constant (d 33, f ) of ∼66 pC N −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with creatine monohydrate (CMH) during the finishing period on the muscle lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity of broilers that experienced transport stress in summer. A total of 320 male Arbor Acres broilers (28 d in age) were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments including a basal control diet without additional CMH (160 birds), or with 600 (80 birds) or 1,200 mg/kg (80 birds) CMH for 14 d. On the morning of d 42, after an 8-h fast, the birds fed the basal diets were divided into 2 equal groups, and all birds in the 4 groups of 80 birds were transported according to the following protocols: 1) a 0.75-h transport of birds on basal diets (as a lower-stress control group), 2) a 3-h transport of birds on basal diets, 3) a 3-h transport of birds on 600 or 4) 1,200 mg/kg CMH supplementation diets. The results showed that the 3-h transport decreased the concentration of creatine (Cr) in both the pectoralis major (PM) and the tibialis anterior (TA) muscles, increased the concentration of phosphocreatine (PCr) and PCr/Cr ratio in PM muscle, and elevated the concentrations of thiobarbituric acidreactive substances and the activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in both the PM and TA muscles of birds (P < 0.05). In addition, transport also upregulated mRNA expression of avian uncoupling protein and heat shock protein 70 in both the PM and TA muscles, as well as avian peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α in the TA muscle (P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 1,200 mg/kg CMH increased the concentrations of Cr and PCr in PM muscle, and Cr in TA muscle than those in the 3-h transport group (P < 0.05). However, contrary to our hypothesis, dietary CMH did not alter the measured parameters in relation to muscle lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity affected by 3-h transport (P > 0.05). These results indicate that dietary CMH supplementation does not provide any significant protection via directly scavenging free radicals or increased antioxidant capacity of transported broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop and validate a novel delivery strategy for reducing the respiratory motion-induced dose uncertainty of spot-scanning proton therapy.Methods and Materials: The spot delivery sequence was optimized to reduce dose uncertainty. The effectiveness of the delivery sequence optimization was evaluated using measurements and patient simulation. One hundred ninety-one 2-dimensional measurements using different delivery sequences of a single-layer uniform pattern were obtained with a detector array on a 1-dimensional moving platform. Intensity modulated proton therapy plans were generated for 10 lung cancer patients, and dose uncertainties for different delivery sequences were evaluated by simulation.Results: Without delivery sequence optimization, the maximum absolute dose error can be up to 97.2% in a single measurement, whereas the optimized delivery sequence results in a maximum absolute dose error of ≤11.8%. In patient simulation, the optimized delivery sequence reduces the mean of fractional maximum absolute dose error compared with the regular delivery sequence by 3.3% to 10.6% (32.5-68.0% relative reduction) for different patients.Conclusions: Optimizing the delivery sequence can reduce dose uncertainty due to respiratory motion in spot-scanning proton therapy, assuming the 4-dimensional CT is a true representation of the patients' breathing patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An exciton is an atomic hydrogen-like quasi-particle, consisting of a Coulombically bound pair of an electron and a hole in conduction and valence bands, respectively. While excitons are traditionally investigated by optical spectroscopies, photoelectron spectroscopy can be a powerful tool in providing a unique view on the energetics and dynamics of excitons in semiconductor materials. The experiment typically relies on time-resolved two-photon photoemission (TR-2PPE) spectroscopy in which the first laser pulse creates excitons in a material and the second laser pulse ionizes the excitons for detection. In this short note, I discuss unique insights provided by TR-2PPE on exciton dynamics in organic semiconductors and challenges in the application of this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 60-day trial was conducted in a recirculation system to determine the responses of herbivorous grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idellus) (0.43 g), omnivorous gibel carp ( Carassius auratus gibelio CAS III) (0.46 g) and carnivorous black carp ( Mylopharyngodon piceus) (0.46 g) when fed with fishmeal ( FM)- or soybean meal ( SBM)-based diets. Two isonitrogenous (380 g kg−1 DM), isolipid (80 g kg−1 DM), isocaloric (17.75 kJ g−1) diets were formulated using FM and SBM as main protein sources. The results showed that weight gain ( WG), feed efficiency ( FE) and protein retention efficiency ( PRE) in FM group were significantly higher than those in SBM group. Grass carp showed better utilization on SBM than other two species and presented higher WG, FE and PRE. When fed with SBM diet, intestinal chymotrypsin ( CHY), lipase and trypsin ( TRY) activities of gibel carp and black carp decreased while higher α-amylase (α- AMY) activity of grass carp increased. An enteritis-like effect was observed in black carp and grass carp fed SBM diet. Intestine bacteria mainly belonged to Firmicutes in gibel carp and Proteobacteria in black carp. The dominant genera identified in three species were Cellulomonas, belonging to Actinobacteria. In conclusion, SBM decreased the growth of three carps. Grass carp was more adapted to plant protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regioselective pyrolysis of sec-butyl methyl (trithio)carbonate was calculated at the MP2/6-31G(d) level in the Gaussian program. Twelve possible pathways were calculated. Nine of them gave the desired alkene products, 1-butene, E-butene, and Z-butene, and the other three, the rearrangement products, sec-butyl methyl ether and butanone for sec-butyl methyl carbonate and sec-butyl methyl thioether and butane-2-thione for sec-butyl methyl trithiocarbonate. It was shown that the two-step mechanism, including the carbonyl oxygen- or thion sulfur atom-involved six-membered ring transition state, as rate-determining step, is a preferred mechanism of the pyrolysis. The calculated product distribution is consistent with the experimental data on the pyrolysis of sec-butyl methyl carbonate. The product distribution for sec-butyl methyl trithiocarbonate was also predicted by the MP2/6-31G(d) method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a multi-depots capacitated vehicle routing problem where client demand is composed of two-dimensional weighted items (2L-MDCVRP) is addressed. The problem calls for the minimization of the cost of transportation needed for the delivery of the goods demanded by the clients, and carried out by a fleet of vehicles based at several depots. The overall problem, denoted as 2L-MDCVRP, is NP-hard and it is very difficult to get a good performance solution in practice. We propose a quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization (QPSO) and exploration heuristic local search algorithm (EHLSA). It has been proved that particle swarm optimization is a very efficient approach for the CVRP, and the quantum-behaved can help particle swarm optimization to escape effectively from local optimum. Furthermore, we propose an exploration heuristic local search to solve the loading constraints in 2L-MDCVRP. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through computational experiments on benchmark instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opal films made of 205, 230, 270, 290 nm monodisperse polystyrene (PS) microsphere were prepared with vertical self-assembly method. The opal films show different colours in natural light and the light of halogen tungsten lamp. The PS microsphere in opal films arranged as well-ordered hexagonal close-packed structure on top view, and face-centred cubic structure on cross-section. The testing values of band gap positions of the opal films are consistent with calculating values, and can be described with Bragg's law. The band gap positions of the opal films can be modulated by changing the distance of the neighbouring (111) planes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucormycosis is an uncommon infectious complication after renal transplantation and is associated with fatal outcomes. We report 2 cases of transplant renal artery thrombosis and spontaneous rupture caused by mucormycosis. As stenosis, thrombosis, and spontaneous rupture of the transplant renal artery began to occur in both cases after renal transplantation, nephrectomy of the transplanted kidney was performed. Postoperative pathological findings in the transplanted kidney revealed an invasive mucormycosis infection in the renal artery. One patient survived, but the other patient died. This report also presents the diagnosis and treatment processes used for this transplant complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Singlet fission, the splitting of a singlet exciton into two triplet excitons in molecular materials, is interesting not only as a model many-electron problem, but also as a process with potential applications in solar energy conversion. Here we discuss limitations of the conventional four-electron and molecular dimer model in describing singlet fission in crystalline organic semiconductors, such as pentacene and tetracene. We emphasize the need to consider electronic delocalization, which is responsible for the decisive role played by the Mott-Wannier exciton, also called the charge transfer (CT) exciton, in mediating singlet fission. At the strong electronic coupling limit, the initial excitation creates a quantum superposition of singlet, CT, and triplet-pair states, and we present experimental evidence for this interpretation. We also discuss the most recent attempts at translating this mechanistic understanding into design principles for CT state-mediated intramolecular singlet fission in oligomers and polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast tumours positive for HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) represent approximately 20% of all breast cancer cases and are associated with an aggressive natural history. The advent of targeted anti-HER.2 therapies has dramatically improved disease control and survival in patients with metastatic HER.2-positive breast cancer. Targeted agents are now considered the standard of care in the first-line setting and beyond. The present review summarizes the currently available data on targeted anti-HER2 therapies from completed randomized phase III clinical trials and briefly discusses emerging advances that will address unmet needs in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:MiR-125b has critical role in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell migration, and its target genes have not been elucidated. Kinesin-1 light chain (KLC)-2 was predicted as one of miR-125b's targets by bioinformatics analysis. This study is to identify the function of KLC2 and its interaction with miR-125b in NSCLC.Methods:Kinesin-1 light chain-2 protein expression and its clinical relevance were analysed in 140 matched NSCLC and adjacent non-neoplastic lung tissues. Both KLC2 gain- and loss-of-function analyses were performed in NSCLC cell lines by transient transfection. The direct interaction between KLC2 and miR-125b was confirmed by a luciferase reporter assay and a transient co-transfection assay as well as an analysis of eight matched clinical samples.Results:KLC2 protein was upregulated in NSCLC cell lines and tissues, and was an independent predictor of poor prognosis for elderly NSCLC patients. Kinesin-1 light chain-2 remarkably enhanced the invasive and migratory ability of NSCLC cells. MiR-125b inhibited KLC2 3′-untranslated region luciferase activity and protein expression, and inversely correlated with KLC2 expression in clinical samples. Kinesin-1 light chain-2 almost completely reversed miR-125b-induced inhibition on migration and invasion.Conclusions:Kinesin-1 light chain-2 protein overexpression predicts poor survival in elderly NSCLC patients. Kinesin-1 light chain-2 acts as a proto-oncogene and a functional target of miR-125b in NSCLC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One key advantage of label-free biosensors involves the monitoring of binding between biomolecules. However, a number of experimental artifacts may lead to complicated real-time curves that do not fit well to a simple Langmuir model. As a result, the quality of the kinetic data must be improved to obtain accurate reaction rates. By carefully designing experiments, collecting the data, and processing the data, issues arising from signal drift, nonspecific binding, mass-transport effect in solution, mass-transport effect on surface, and curve fitting may be avoided or resolved. Using a label-free oblique-incidence reflectivity difference biosensor, key processes required to obtain reliable kinetic data and accurate reaction rates are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies in China. B-cell translocation gene 3 (BTG3) has been identified as a tumor suppressor in several tumors, but its role in GC remains unknown. This study aimed to detect the expression of BTG3 and its prognostic value in GC tissues and determine its function in the progression of GC. Methodology: The expression of BTG3 was detected in GC cell lines and tissues by real-time RT-PCR, Western blot or immunohistochemistry. A series of in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to evaluate the effect of BTG3 on proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells. Results: B-cell translocation gene 3 was obviously down-regulated in GC tissues. Its expression was positively correlated with distant metastasis ( P < 0.05). Patients with lower BTG3 expression had shorter overall survival time ( P = 0.015). BTG3 suppressed the proliferation of GC cells in vitro and in vivo. It also inhibited migration and invasion of GC cells in vitro. Conclusion: Down-regulation of BTG3 is closely associated with proliferation, migration and invasion in GC. It may be a novel prognostic biomarker for GC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As corrosion seriously reduces the service life of casing, considering no given formulas for remaining life calculation and the limitations of the laboratory tests and field data in investigating the lifetime of corrosion casing. To research the service ability of casing under uniform corrosion in steam injection wells, in this paper a new method is put forward, namely based on birth and death element technique (BDET), by building the thermo-structural coupling model of casing-cement-formation to simulate the process of uniform corrosion. Three kinds of 5½, 7, and 9⅝ in. casing are studied to get the residual strength and remaining life under internal pressure, steam temperature and uniform corrosion rate to make comprehensive evaluation on the casing performance. The relation equations of the dimensionless residual strength with the dimensionless pressure and steam temperature are received based on the regression analysis. By comparison the prediction results with the field lifetime data, this method is proven to be reliable and applicative in predicting the lifetime of corrosive casing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary graft failure (pGF) is a frequent complication following cord blood transplantation (CBT). For those patients who will not experience autologous recovery, salvage transplantation should be performed as early as possible. However, standardized treatment protocols for pGF, such as the optimal stem cell source, preparative regimen and the ideal time for salvage transplantation, have yet to be determined. Therefore, we analyzed 17 hematologic malignancy patients who received unmanipulated haploidentical peripheral blood (PB) and BM transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) as a salvage therapy for pGF after CBT. The median interval between the two transplantations was 38 days. The RIC regimen for salvage transplantation consisted of fludarabine, antithymocyte globulin, CY and low-dose TBI. The neutrophil and plt engraftments were achieved in 14 (82.4%) and 13 (76.4%) patients, respectively. The cumulative incidences of grades II-IV and grades III-IV aGVHD were 35.3% and 17.6%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 29.4%. After a median follow-up of 43 months, 10 of 17 patients remained alive in CR. The cumulative incidence of TRM at 180 days was 29.4%. The probability of 3-year OS and leukemia-free survival was 57.5%. Our results show that unmanipulated haploidentical PB and BM transplantation under a RIC regimen is an effective treatment for pGF after CBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural compounds cholic acid andβ-cyclodextrin are attachedseparately as pendant groups in a copolymer with N,N′-dimethylacrylamides. The formation ofsupramolecular hydrogels is induced by inclusion complex formationbetween cholic acid and β-cyclodextrin moieties as evidencedby rheological analysis and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Storagemodulus of the hydrogel shows a maximum value when the molar ratioof cholic acid to β-cyclodextrin units is adjusted to 1:1. Theconcentration of the hydrogel can be as low as 5.5 wt %. Both shear-thickeningand shear-thinning have been observed when the shear rate graduallyincreases from 0.01 to 100 s–1. The inclusion complexationrenders the gel–sol process reversible under heating and coolingcycles. The self-healing of such hydrogels is observed and confirmedby step-strain rheological measurements. The dynamically reversiblehost–guest complexation provides reasonably good mechanicalproperties of the cross-linked polymer network. The natural originof the constituents may make the hydrogels suitable candidates forbiomedical applications pending further tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo evaluate the effect of pupil size on higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in high-myopic pseudophakic eyes with posterior staphyloma using KR-1W aberrometer.MethodsForty eyes of 40 high-myopic cataract patients with posterior staphyloma and 20 eyes of 20 age-related cataract patients with normal axial length were recruited. At 1 month after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation, ocular and internal HOAs as well as the visual quality data in the two groups were evaluated with KR-1W analyzer before and after mydriasis.ResultsCompared with normal axial length eyes, high-myopic pseudophakic eyes with posterior staphyloma had significantly lower values of internal coma both under 4-mm and 6-mm pupil sizes (P<0.001 and 0.020), as well as internal total HOAs (P<0.001) and third-order aberrations at 6-mm pupil size (P=0.018). Statistically significant differences were also found in the variation from 4- to 6-mm pupil sizes for internal coma (P=0.001), internal third-order aberrations (P=0.009), internal total HOAs (P=0.007), and ocular coma aberrations (P=0.006) between two groups. After mydriasis, Strehl ratio increased significantly in high-myopic eyes, whereas decreased slightly in normal axial length eyes (P=0.032 when compared with the variation between the two groups). Statistically significant differences were also found for the variation of modulation transfer functions (MTFs) at frequencies of 15, 30, 45, and 60 cycles/degree between the two groups (P=0.002, 0.002, 0.004, and 0.010, respectively).ConclusionsHigh-myopic pseudophakic eyes with posterior staphyloma had significantly lower internal coma and less coma variations during mydriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fluid inclusions characteristics and pore fluid salinity of 56 samples from clastic reservoir of the Lower Cretaceous were analyzed in the Tanzhuang Sag. The authors also discuss the hydrocarbon charge history and the genesis of secondary pores in the Lower Cretaceous. The multipeak distribution of homogenous temperature of the brine inclusions showed that the inclusions captured should be multiperiod fluids at various depths. Comparison of the homogeneous temperature of brine inclusions with the temperature on the burial history curve suggested that the source rocks had entered the stage of large-scale hydrocarbon generation. However, only individual brine inclusions containing methane were found, and no oil-bearing inclusions were seen. The absence of oil-bearing inclusions indicated that no large-scale oil charges and limited favorable mature source rocks were present in the study area. The paleosalinity varied with depth and was divided into three zones, namely two low-value zones in the shallow and deep burial and one high-value zone in the medium burial. The secondary pores were relatively developed in the high-salinity fluid zone. Secondary pores are chiefly related to the inorganic acid associated with dehydration and mutual transformation of clay materials, and to the organic acid released from limited mature organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results of an all-sky search in the Parkes Pulsar Timing Array (PPTA) Data Release 1 data set for continuous gravitational waves (GWs) in the frequency range from 5 × 10−9 to 2 × 10−7 Hz. Such signals could be produced by individual supermassive binary black hole systems in the early stage of coalescence. We phase up the pulsar timing array data set to form, for each position on the sky, two data streams that correspond to the two GW polarizations and then carry out an optimal search for GW signals on these data streams. Since no statistically significant GWs were detected, we place upper limits on the intrinsic GW strain amplitude h0 for a range of GW frequencies. For example, at 10−8 Hz our analysis has excluded with 95 per cent confidence the presence of signals with h0 ≥ 1.7 × 10−14. Our new limits are about a factor of 4 more stringent than those of Yardley et al. based on an earlier PPTA data set and a factor of 2 better than those reported in the recent Arzoumanian et al. paper. We also present PPTA directional sensitivity curves and find that for the most sensitive region on the sky, the current data set is sensitive to GWs from circular supermassive binary black holes with chirp masses of 109 M⊙ out to a luminosity distance of about 100 Mpc. Finally, we set an upper limit of 4 × 10−3 Mpc−3 Gyr−1 at 95 per cent confidence on the coalescence rate of nearby (z ≲ 0.1) supermassive binary black holes in circular orbits with chirp masses of 1010 M⊙. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption and dissociation of O2 molecule on the MoSe2 and MoTe2 monolayers are studied by using density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and a supercell approach. The physisorbed O2 molecule on MoSe2 and MoTe2 with a magnetic moment (MM) close to that for an isolated O2 molecule has small adsorption energy and long distance from the surface. The dissociative adsorption of configuration R5(R6) is the most stable adsorption site, whereas the chemisorption of O2 is unfavorable at all adsorption sites. The dissociative adsorption of configuration R4 induces dramatic changes of electronic structures and localized spin polarization both for monolayer MoSe2 and MoTe2. The analysis of electronic density of states (DOSs) shows that the contribution of spin polarization is mainly from the hybridization between O–p, Se(Te)–p and Mo–d orbitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the fast-growing species, bamboo plays an important role in ecological stability and wood processing industry. However, low temperature limitation is the basic problem for the cultivation and introduction of bamboo. In this study, the symptoms of cold stress influence on the native bamboo ( Neosinocalamus affinis (Rendle) Keng f.) and hybrid bamboo ( Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamopsis grandis) were observed under transmission electron microscope, and the dynamic responses of FAD7, Cu/Zn-SOD, and Mn-SOD genes to cold stress were identified in bamboo by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Observation by electron microscopy indicated that bamboo is one of the most chilling-sensitive species with severe ultrastructural injury induced by chilling, but the native bamboo ( N. affinis) is more cold-tolerant compared with the hybrid bamboo. Results obtained by real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that FAD7, Cu/Zn-SOD, and Mn-SOD were all cold-inducible genes in N. affinis. In addition, dynamic response patterns of N. affinis Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD under cold stress were similar. This work is a fundamental research of hardiness physiology of bamboo and may contribute to the breeding program on obtaining transgenic bamboo species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the mechanism of flow-accelerated corrosion (FAC) and FAC rate prediction model are investigated. A modified MIT model is obtained by illustrating the relationship between CPF thickness and porosity with CPF stress based on fluid structure interaction (FSI) numerical simulation. The results reveal that the effect of fluid on CPF strength gradually increased with increasing of velocity, thereby increasing Tresca stress and deformation. CPF thickness gradually decreased with increasing stress and decreasing pH. CPF porosity gradually increased with increasing Tresca stress; however, porosity change became smaller when stress reached a certain value. CPF porosity is gradually reduced with increasing temperature. Finally, FAC rate is proportional to Tresca stress and temperature and is inversely proportional to pH. The calculation results of the modified MIT model agree with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]