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Objective: This case report aims to present a rare occurrence of fallopian tube prolapse into the vaginal vault following hysterectomy, underscoring the importance of recognizing this uncommon complication. Case Report: A 45-year-old woman, with a history of hysterectomy for adenomyosis, presented with symptoms mimicking a vaginal tumor, including persistent discharge, abdominal pain, postcoital bleeding, and weight loss. Imaging raised concerns of malignancy, but surgery revealed a prolapsed fallopian tube with chronic inflammation. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges, with less than 100 reported instances. Differential diagnoses encompassed diverse pelvic pathologies, necessitating histological confirmation. Factors contributing to prolapse include poor vault closure and early sexual activity. Awareness of this complication is pivotal when evaluating post-hysterectomy symptoms, ensuring precise diagnosis and appropriate management. Conclusion: Fallopian tube prolapse into the vaginal vault is a rare post-hysterectomy complication. Early recognition and accurate diagnosis are essential for effective management of patients presenting with post-hysterectomy symptoms, such as vaginal bleeding and discharge.

The emergence of hypervirulence (hv) and carbapenem resistance (CR) as distinct evolutionary directions for Klebsiella pneumoniae presents a significant threat in clinical settings. However, in recent years, there has been a growing identification of K. pneumoniae strains that integrate both phenotypes, resulting in severe clinical outcomes. Carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (CRhvKP) typically emerges through the acquisition of plasmids carrying either virulence or CR-encoded genes by carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae or hypervirulent K. pneumoniae. Furthermore, the acquisition of a hybrid plasmid can confer a combination of CR and hv. CRhvKP can cause a variety of infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, liver abscesses, and other related conditions. While the sequence type 11 (ST11) dominates the majority of CRhvKP strains in China, the molecular factors responsible for the success of ST11 CRhvKP largely remain unknown. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the variation and distribution of crucial virulence determinants, the mechanisms driving the merging of hv and CR, and the potential molecular factors influencing the epidemiological success of ST11 CRhvKP. This research aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding CRhvKP. It is imperative to underscore the development of combination therapies, precision medicine, and vaccine strategies as pivotal approaches in effectively combating CRhvKP. Considering the widespread prevalence of CRhvKP, a prioritized, multifaceted approach encompassing infection control, active surveillance, and the development of innovative therapeutics is essential.

Background & Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a high mortality rate. The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) results in a considerable number of indeterminate observations, rendering an accurate diagnosis difficult. Methods: We developed four deep learning models for diagnosing HCC on computed tomography (CT) via a training–validation–testing approach. Thin-slice triphasic CT liver images and relevant clinical information were collected and processed for deep learning. HCC was diagnosed and verified via a 12-month clinical composite reference standard. CT observations among at-risk patients were annotated using LI-RADS. Diagnostic performance was assessed by internal validation and independent external testing. We conducted sensitivity analyses of different subgroups, deep learning explainability evaluation, and misclassification analysis. Results: From 2,832 patients and 4,305 CT observations, the best-performing model was Spatio-Temporal 3D Convolution Network (ST3DCN), achieving area under receiver-operating-characteristic curves (AUCs) of 0.919 (95% CI, 0.903–0.935) and 0.901 (95% CI, 0.879–0.924) at the observation (n = 1,077) and patient (n = 685) levels, respectively during internal validation, compared with 0.839 (95% CI, 0.814–0.864) and 0.822 (95% CI, 0.790–0.853), respectively for standard of care radiological interpretation. The negative predictive values of ST3DCN were 0.966 (95% CI, 0.954–0.979) and 0.951 (95% CI, 0.931–0.971), respectively. The observation-level AUCs among at-risk patients, 2–5-cm observations, and singular portovenous phase analysis of ST3DCN were 0.899 (95% CI, 0.874–0.924), 0.872 (95% CI, 0.838–0.909) and 0.912 (95% CI, 0.895–0.929), respectively. In external testing (551/717 patients/observations), the AUC of ST3DCN was 0.901 (95% CI, 0.877–0.924), which was non-inferior to radiological interpretation (AUC 0.900; 95% CI, 0.877–-923). Conclusions: ST3DCN achieved strong, robust performance for accurate HCC diagnosis on CT. Thus, deep learning can expedite and improve the process of diagnosing HCC. Impact and implications:: The clinical applicability of deep learning in HCC diagnosis is potentially huge, especially considering the expected increase in the incidence and mortality of HCC worldwide. Early diagnosis through deep learning can lead to earlier definitive management, particularly for at-risk patients. The model can be broadly deployed for patients undergoing a triphasic contrast CT scan of the liver to reduce the currently high mortality rate of HCC.

The increasing demand for lightweight, damage-resistant, wear-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials in implant applications has driven the development of novel bone-inspired composites. This study introduces AZ31 (Mg–3Al–1Zn)/hydroxyapatite (HA) composites fabricated using centrifugal freeze casting and pressureless infiltration. The unique formation mechanism and structure-property relationship of these composites were investigated. The gradient distribution of HA particles and the nucleation and growth behavior of ice crystals, influenced by varying solid content in the centrifugal field, resulted in a radially increasing ceramic-layer-to-metal-layer thickness ratio. Consequently, the composites exhibited a gradient distribution of compression strength, hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. Moreover, the composites showed no cytotoxicity and promoted osteoblast proliferation, making them suitable for bone tissue engineering applications. These findings provide valuable insights for developing new materials in bone tissue engineering and pave the way for future research in this field.

This work investigated the functional changes in whey proteins obtained from goat milk subject to various temperature treatments. Ultra-high temperature instantaneous sterilization (UHTIS) caused less damage than the common low-temperature, whereas spray-drying treatment had the opposite effect. A total of 426 proteins were identified in UHTIS and control treatment groups, including 386 common proteins and 16 and 14 unique proteins. The UHTIS treatment upregulated 55 whey proteins while down-regulated 98. The UHTIS-treated whey proteins may upregulate three metabolic pathways but downregulate one. Overall, UHTIS only slightly impacted the composition and functions of whey proteins from goat milk compared to the common low-temperature treatments.

Objectives: Postoperative central nervous system infections (PCNSIs) caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) frequently result in unfavourable outcomes. However, CRE PCNSIs have not been well described from a clinical and microbiological perspective. Methods: A total of 254 PCNSIs cases were included (January 2017 through June 2020), and clinical features were compared based on pathogenic classification. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors for mortality. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing were conducted on CRE isolates preserved. MLST, cgMLST, resistance genes and virulence genes were further analysed. Results: Among 254 PCNSI cases, 15.4% were caused by Enterobacteriaceae including 28 cases by CRE. The 28-day mortality rates for CRE, CSE and non-Enterobacteriaceae PCNSIs were 50.0%, 27.3%, and 7.4%, respectively. 42.9% (12/28) of the CRE PCNSIs patients achieved clinical cure, with 25.0% achieved microbiological clearance. ST11-KL64 carrying blaKPC-2 was dominant in CRE (17/23, 73.9%), and the 28-day mortality rate of its infection was 58.5%. Most CRKP carried rampA/rampA2 genes (17/23, 73.9%). Conclusion: ST11-KL64 CRKP carrying blaKPC-2 dominated among CRE PCNSIs. Targeted anti-infective combination therapy based on ceftazidime/avibactam or amikacin, combined with intrathecal administration of amikacin, was found to be effective. These findings render a new insight into the clinical and microbiological landscape of CRE PCNSIs.

The wettability and reactivity of Al alloys and B4C are of vital importance in the production of B4C-reinforced Al-matrix composites. However, previous research has primarily focused on pure Al/B4C systems, with little focus on alloying elements. In this paper, we investigated the influence of Si, Ti and Cu as alloying elements on the wettability and interfacial reactivity of an Al/B4C system using improved sessile drop methods. The B4C substrate was not wetted by molten Al at 700−1000 °C, with initial contact angles higher than 100°. However, rapid spreading was observed in the initial stages due to the formation of Al3BC and Al4C3. Si had a noticeable effect on the interfacial wettability only at levels of 15 wt% or above, with the interfacial products changing from Al3BC and AlB2 to SiC-dominated phases. The addition of Ti to Al led to the formation of TiB2-dominated interfacial products, which replaced the Al3BC and AlB2 phases, with the spreading kinetics mainly controlled by interfacial reactions in the early stages and the diffusion of Ti from the bulk of the drop to the triple line in the later stages. The addition of Cu had a negligible effect on the wettability but slightly weakened the formation of AlB2 by promoting substrate dissolution.

Long-term exposure to sunlight, especially ultraviolet (UV), induces eye injury in people. We investigated the protective potential of Polyphenolic extract from Ascophyllum nodosum (PEAn) against UV-B-induced oxidative damage in retinal Müller cells (RMCs). In the UV-B-induced damage model of RMCs, PEAn demonstrated a potent photoprotective effect that reduced oxidative damage and apoptosis. PEAn significantly regulated the concentrations of ROS, Caspase-3, and Calcium ions (Ca2+) in RMCs generated by UV-B. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and activities of various antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px) were significantly increased, whereas the MDA was reduced. Lipidomic research in RMCs also revealed that UV-B irradiation significantly altered the lipid compounds in the cells, while PEAn therapy gradually restored normal cells. Both the accumulation of triacylglycerides and the toxicity of the lipids in RMCs were simultaneously reduced by PEAn. The findings indicated that PEAn could be a potential natural photochemical protectant against UV-B-induced oxidative damage.

Tellurium is used for optimizing sulfide inclusion morphology in the iron and steel industry. In this study, the effects of tellurium on sulfide inclusion, microstructure, mechanical properties, fatigue performance, machinability, and corrosion resistance of industrial 38MnVS bars were investigated. The results show that the weight ratio of Te/S of the tellurium-treated steel was 0.043. Further, tellurium was mainly in the form of an MnS substitutional atom. The MnS inclusions were refined and strengthened via tellurium modification, promoting ferrite transformation and refinement. Additionally, the yield strength increased, and the elongation anisotropy decreased slightly after tellurium modification. However, the tellurium modification had an insignificant effect on the ultimate tensile strength. The ferrite refinement also promoted fatigue performance. Moreover, tellurium modification is beneficial for machinability. The cutting force was reduced, and the surface quality was improved after tellurium modification. Under the tellurium content conditions described herein, tellurium modification has an insignificant effect on corrosion resistance. The suggested tellurium content is below 0.075 times sulfur content for medium carbon microalloyed steels.

Achieving lightweight, robust, and resilient materials is a sought-after goal, yet concurrently achieving these attributes presents a substantial challenge. A biomimetic design approach opens doors to innovative possibilities in this domain. In this paper, we use the ice-shaping properties of zirconium acetate (ZRA) to obtain Al/Al2O3 composites with tunable architectures through freeze casting and pressure infiltration. The concentration of ZRA in the initial slurry is critical in controlling the final structure of the composites. The composites’ bending strength, compressive strength, and crack-initiation fracture toughness KIc improve with increasing ZRA concentration in the initial slurry. Interestingly, the crack-extension fracture toughness KJc demonstrates an initial decrease followed by subsequent improvement. In addition, the relationship between cracking mode and structural features in the composites is elucidated to explain the underlying strengthening and toughening mechanisms. This tunable and scale-able ice-templating and manufacturing approach opens new doors for developing high-performance metal-ceramic composites.

Non-judicious and indiscriminate use of veterinary drugs in animal husbandry may result in accumulation of residues in animal tissues, and consequently in food for human consumption. The abuse of veterinary drugs presents a potential risk to consumer health, especially if the residue level is higher than the health-based guidance value (HBGV) such as the acceptable daily intake (ADI). Contamination of drug residues in food also promotes the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which poses a serious threat to public health globally. There has been limited information on the occurrence and dietary exposure to veterinary drug residues in Singapore to date. In this study, the occurrence of four classes of veterinary drugs, namely beta-agonists, coccidiostats, fluoroquinolones and macrolides, were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in food widely consumed by Singapore residents. The magnitude of dietary exposure was assessed based on the consumption profile of Singapore population. Out of 216 food samples, 9.72 % were detected positive with veterinary drug residues, where majority of the positive samples were poultry and its derived products, followed by eggs and egg products. 7 veterinary drugs, specifically ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, clopidol, diclazuril, lasalocid, nicarbazin and tilmicosin, were detected in the samples, with clopidol and enrofloxacin being the most frequently detected drugs. Dietary exposure was evaluated using the estimated daily intake (EDI) of the detected drugs and benchmarked against the corresponding acceptable daily intake (ADI). All the %ADI values were far less than 100 in both the average and high consumer scenarios, indicating that the health risk associated with dietary exposure to these drugs in Singapore is low.

Introduction: Bufei Huayu Decoction (BFHY) is a clinical prescription with reported efficacy in enhancing the therapeutic outcomes of chemotherapeutic agents for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the underlying metabolic mechanism of BFHY's action remains unexplored. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the global metabolic effects of cisplatin and cisplatin plus BFHY on NSCLC. Methods: Three groups (NSCLC, cisplatin, and cisplatin + BFHY) underwent a serum metabolomics procedure based on UHPLC-QE-MS. Then, a pathway analysis was carried out using MetaboAnalyst 3.0 to elucidate the therapeutic action routes of cisplatin and cisplatin plus BFHY in NSCLC. Results: In the subcutaneous NSCLC model, both cisplatin and cisplatin + BFHY reduced the tumor volume and caused cell death. In comparison to cisplatin alone, cisplatin + BFHY showed a stronger tumor-suppressing impact. Furthermore, the same 16 metabolic signaling pathways were shared by the cisplatin and cisplatin + BFHY treatments. These typical metabolites are mainly involved in amino acid metabolism, lipid mobilization, nucleic acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolites. Conclusions: Potential biomarkers and metabolic networks of cisplatin and cisplatin + BFHY's anti-tumor actions are revealed in our investigation.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are susceptible to Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), resulting in poor outcomes and recurrence; therefore, the molecular characterization of C. difficile in IBD patients in China needs further investigation. Methods: C. difficile strains were isolated and identified from faecal samples of adult and paediatric IBD patients. Toxigenic strains were typed using multilocus sequence typing and whole genomic sequencing (WGS) to construct the phylogenetic tree. Susceptibility to 10 antimicrobials was evaluated using the Etest. Results: Among the 838 IBD patients, 82 toxigenic C. difficile were identified, which comprised 46 from adults and 36 children. A total of 90.2% (74/82) of the isolates were positive for both toxin A and toxin B genes (A+B+), whereas the remaining 9.8% were negative for toxin A gene but positive for toxin B gene (A–B+). These toxigenic strains were susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin, but highly resistant to clindamycin, erythromycin, and fluoroquinolones. All moxifloxacin-resistant isolates had mutations resulting in an amino acid substitution in gryA (T82I). The dominant types were ST-35 (20.7%), ST-2 (17.1%), ST-54 (13.4%), and ST-3 (13.4%) in all patients. Conclusion: The incidence and molecular epidemiology of C. difficile infection in adult IBD patients resembled CDI in the general inpatient population. A higher antibiotic resistance rate was identified among the C. difficile isolates obtained from paediatric IBD patients than from adult patients, and a few STs accounted for most multidrug-resistant strains. However, the molecular genetic features of the same ST type between these two groups remains highly correlated.

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) isolates are recognized as one of the most severe threats to public health. However, the population structure and genetic characteristics of CPE isolates among bloodstream infections (BSIs) are largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, in this study, we included patients with clinically significant BSIs due to Enterobacterales isolates, recruited from 26 sentinel hospitals in China (2014–2015). CPE isolates were microbiologically and genomically characterized, including their susceptibility profiles, molecular typing, phylogenetic features, and genetic context analysis of carbapenemase-encoding genes. Of the 2569 BSI Enterobacterales isolates enrolled, 42 (1.6%) were carbapenemase-positive. Moreover, among the 2242 investigated isolates, 1111 (49.6%) extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates were identified in Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), and Klebsiella oxytoca. Whole genome sequencing analysis showed the clonal spread of K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-2-producing K. pneumoniae sequence type (ST) 11 and New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-5-producing E. coli ST167 in our collection. Plasmid analysis revealed that carbapenemase-encoding genes were located on multiple plasmids. A high prevalence of biofilm-encoding type 3 fimbriae clusters and yesiniabactin-associated genes was observed in K. pneumoniae isolates. This work demonstrates the high prevalence of ESBLs and the wide dissemination of CPE among BSI isolates in China, which represent real clinical threats. Moreover, our findings first illustrate a more comprehensive genome scenario of CPE isolates among BSIs. The clonal spread of KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae ST11 and NDM-5-producing E. coli ST167 needs to be closely monitored.

Purpose: To explore the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic external carotid branch pseudoaneurysms. Methods: Eleven cases of traumatic external carotid artery branch pseudoaneurysms were admitted in our hospital. Digital subtraction angiography was performed in all patients. It revealed that the pseudoaneurysms originated from the internal maxillary artery in 5 cases, superficial temporal artery in 5 cases and occipital artery in 1 case. Five cases of internal maxillary artery pseudoaneurysms and 2 cases of superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysms were treated by embolization; the other 3 cases were surgically resected. Results: Complete cessation of nasal bleeding was achieved in all the 5 pseudoaneurysms of internal maxillary artery after the endovascular therapies. Scalp bleeding stopped and scalp defect healed up in 2 patients with superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysms treated by interventional therapy. All patients were followed up for 0.5–2.0 years without recurrence of nosebleed and scalp lump. Conclusion: For patients with repeated severe epistaxis after craniocerebral injury, digital subtraction angiography should be performed as soon as possible to confirm traumatic pseudoaneurysm. Endovascular therapy is an effective method for traumatic internal maxillary artery pseudoaneurysms. For patients with scalp injuries and pulsatile lumps, further examinations including digital subtraction angiography should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Surgical treatment or endovascular therapy for scalp traumatic pseudoaneurysm is effective.

Hot-spot creation during flash sintering is considered a key limitation for its industrialization. Establishing a method to predict this phenomenon can address this limitation. Here, a three-phase Gd2O3-m-ZrO2-8YSZ composite was designed to introduce a percolative current, and the induced hot-spot issue was systematically investigated. We show that the percolative current can be induced when the 8YSZ fraction reaches a certain value, but it will be suppressed as Gd2Zr2O7 generated at flash onset. On these bases, the effect of percolative current on sintering behavior was investigated by performing isothermal flash experiments. We demonstrated that hot spots tend to form in the presence of percolative current, and their size increases with increasing voltage. This was further distinguished with respect to onset power density, from which an abnormal rise was observed in the hot-spot samples. This finding was explained in terms of thermal runaway and could be considered an indicator of local heating.

In the framework of a non-relativistic quark model, the mass spectra of the ground and excited states of doubly heavy Ξ and Ω baryons are calculated. We estimate the mass difference between the Ω and corresponding Ξ baryons as MΩ−MΞ≃178 MeV for all the states containing cc,bc, or bb quarks. A simple form of the universal Isgur-Wise function, as the transition form factor between the doubly heavy baryons, is introduced. Working in the close-to-zero recoil limit, we investigate the b→c semileptonic decay widths and branching fractions of the doubly heavy baryons. The obtained results are compared with other theoretical predictions.

It is extremely dangerous to treat the posterior third of the superior sagittal sinus (PTSSS) surgically, since it is usually not completely ligated. In this report, the authors described the case of a 27-year-old man with a ruptured and defective PTSSS caused by an open depressed skull fracture, which was treated by ligation of the PTSSS and the patient achieved a positive recovery. The patient's occiput was hit by a height-limiting rod and was in a mild coma. A CT scan showed an open depressed skull fracture overlying the PTSSS and a diffuse brain swelling. He underwent emergency surgery. When the skull fragments were removed, a 4 cm segment of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and the adjacent dura mater were removed together with bone fragments. Haemorrhage occurred and blood pressure dropped. We completed the operation by ligating the severed ends of the fractured sagittal sinus. One month after the operation, apart from visual field defects, he recovered well. In our opinion, in primary hospitals, when patients with severely injured PTSSS cannot sustain a long-time and complicated operation, e.g., the bypass using venous graft, and face life-threatening conditions, ligation of the PTSSS is another option, which may unexpectedly achieve good results.

The defect of mixed-grain structure with millimeter-grade coarse grains (MCGs) is frequently found in heavy forgings, such as nuclear main pipes manufactured from 316LN steel. Renovation of such kind forgings can only be conducted through recrystallization. However, the allowed deformation is limited because the geometric size of forgings should be maintained during the renovation. For this purpose, the deformation heterogeneity of 316LN steel with mixed-grain structures were studied experimentally, which demonstrated that the MCGs were more inclined to deform than fine grains even if MCGs are with hard orientations. Therefore, a two-stage method was studied to refine MCGs, which takes the advantage of this deformation heterogeneity. The first stage was to impose a limited deformation to the steel at room temperature, suppressing the dynamic recovery and leading the preferentially deformed MCGs to accumulate enough deformation energy storage. The second stage was rapidly heating the deformed materials to realize static recrystallization (SRX). The results showed that the MCGs were completely refined by SRX even if the reduction rate is only 8%. The SRX mechanisms and refining assessments of MCGs under different deformation conditions were discussed. This work, thus, provides an effective method to salvage the heavy structures in engineering.

The aim of this study is to discuss the non-catechin flavonoids (NCF) from Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze seed improving TNF-α impaired insulin stimulated glucose uptake and insulin signaling. Flavonoids had anti-metabolic syndrome and anti-inflammatory properties. It had widely been known for biological activity of catechins in tea, but very few research reports discussed the biological activity of non-catechin flavonoids in tea seed. We used HepG2 cell to treat with 5 μM insulin or with 5 μM insulin + 30 ng/ml TNF-α. Detecting the glucose concentration of medium, insulin decreased the glucose levels of medium meant that insulin promoted glucose uptake into cells, but TNF-α inhibited the glucose uptake effect of insulin. Furthermore, insulin increased the protein expressions of IR, IRS-1, IRS-2, PI3K-α, Akt/PKB, GLUT-2, AMPK, GCK, pyruvate kinase, and PPAR-γ. TNF-α activated p65 and MAPKs (p38, JNK1/2 and ERK1/2), iNOS and COX-2 which worsened the insulin signaling expressions of IR, IRS-1, IRS-2, PI3K-α, Akt/PKB, GLUT-2, AMPK, GCK, pyruvate kinase, and PPAR-γ. We added NCF (500, 1000, 2000 ppm) to cell with insulin and TNF-α. Not only glucose levels of medium were lowered, and the protein expressions of insulin signaling were increased, but p38, JNK1/2, iNOS and COX-2 were also reduced. NCF could ameliorate TNF-α induced insulin resistance through inhibiting p38, JNK1/2, iNOS and COX-2, and suggested that it might be used in the future to help control insulin resistance. This finding is the first report to present the discovery. Keywords: Flavonoids, Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze seed, TNF-α, Insulin resistance

Adult Chrysoperla sinica Tjeder is a common pollen feeder in maize fields. They are thus directly exposed to insecticidal proteins by consumption of genetically engineered maize pollen containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins. Here we assessed the potential effects of Cry1Ab/2Aj- or Cry1Ac-containing Bt maize pollen on the fitness of adult C. sinica via a dietary-exposure assay under laboratory conditions. Survival, pre-oviposition, fecundity and adult dry weight did not differ between adult C. sinica consuming Bt or the corresponding non-Bt maize pollen. The stability of the Cry protein in the food sources and uptake of the Cry protein by adult C. sinica during the feeding experiment were confirmed by ELISA. These results demonstrate that adult C. sinica are not affected by the consumption of Cry1Ab/2Aj- or Cry1Ac-containing maize pollen, suggesting that production of Bt maize expressing cry1Ab/2Aj or cry1Ac genes will pose a negligible risk to adult C. sinica.

The construction of a hierarchically ordered “brick-and-mortar” structure with a high content of “brick” phase is a key challenge in the preparation of nacre-mimetic composites. Herein, inspired by the transverse cracks in the ceramic lamellae after freeze-drying caused by the secondary nucleation of ice crystals during directional freezing of water-based ceramic slurry, we propose a new idea to use these structural defects and an in-situ reaction to construct composites with a nacre-like “brick-and-mortar” structure and high hard-phase content. This uses ice-templating to first prepare lamellar TiO2 scaffolds with transverse cracks that separated the ceramic lamellae into “brick” whose size was controlled by adjusting the initial ceramic particle size (50, 300, and 700 nm). After the reactive infiltration, these cracks were filled with molten Al, leading to the formation of a “brick-and-mortar” structure with a high hard-phase content (86 vol%). The increasing ceramic particle size reduced the hard-phase content but significantly increased the aspect ratio (height/width) of the ceramic “brick” and the fracture toughness. The excellent damage tolerance was attributed to multiple toughening mechanisms, i.e., multiple cracking, crack deflection, and uncracked-ligament bridging of the metal layers. The existence of “mortar” increased the probability of the formation of multiple cracking.

The Hongguleleng Cu deposit is a Manto-type deposit in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, located in the east section of West Junggar, Xinjiang, China. It is hosted by Middle Ordovician volcano-sedimentary sequence, especially for porous units. Specifically, the orebodies of this Manto-type deposit are hosted in basalt, andesite, and andesitic breccia host rocks (the particular volcano-sedimentary sequence). The occurrence of these orebodies is controlled by normal faults. Chalcopyrite, pyrite, calcite, chlorite, and epidote are most common minerals of the Hongguleleng deposit. Three alternation belts and six ore related stages have been recognised. The epidote-chalcopyrite stage, quartz-calcite-chalcopyrite stage, and chlorite stage are ore forming stage. The δ34S of chalcopyrite in ore depositing stages varies from 0.94‰ to 2.59‰, indicating that the origin of sulfur is either magma or host volcanic rock. Further, the 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, and 208Pb/204Pb values of the chlorite-chalcopyrite and quartz-calcite-chalcopyrite stages exist in the range of 17.443–17.847 and 17.855–17.973; 15.472–15.495 and 15.493–15.620; and 37.616–37.666 and 37.689–38.114, respectively, indicating that the metal originates from the Middle Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB). The δ13CPDB value of calcite for the epidote-chalcopyrite stage ores, quartz-calcite-chalcopyrite ores with veinlet characteristics, quartz-calcite-chalcopyrite ores with brecciated characteristics, and chlorite-chalcopyrite ores range from −1.40 to −1.50‰, −2.01 to 0.41‰, −1.15 to 0.75‰, and −0.80 to 1.58‰, respectively, while the 18OSMOW ranges from 8.94–10.42‰, 11.83–13.17‰, 13.59–14.04‰, and 12.34–14.18‰, respectively. The CO isotope of calcite of the Hongguleleng deposit indicates that seawater is an essential fluid for ore formation and that modified seawater interacts with the host rock extensively. The hydrothermal magnetite in the quartz-magnetite stage and chlorite in the ore forming stages indicate that temperature decreases from its early to late stages. High Zn and Pb concentrations over four stages of pyrite, with a relatively stable contents, indicate that the content of Zn and Pb in fluid is also high. The concentration of Cu in these four stages of pyrite of the Hongguleleng deposit follow a decreasing trend, indicating that the concentration of Cu in the ore forming fluid decreases from the early to late stage. Based on information mentioned above, we argue that this deposit is a Manto-type deposit with modified seawater driving forces.

Background: Limited studies have examined the impact of airborne particulate matter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) on renal function. No study has examined the effect of PM1, which is small enough to reach the blood circulation. We examined whether exposure to PM1 or PM2.5 affected renal function of young Han Chinese. Method: We included 2,546,047 young adults who were aged 18 to 45 years, being Han ethnicity and had no chronic disease from a Chinese national birth cohort. Serum creatinine (Scr) of each participant was measured during the baseline examination. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were calculated for each participant using the latest Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. One-year average exposure to PM1 and PM2.5 prior to the health examination for each participant were estimated using machine learning models with satellite remote sensing information. Generalized additive mixed models were used to estimate associations between PM1 or PM2.5 and renal function after adjusting for detailed individual variables. Results: A 10 μg/m3 increment in PM1 exposure was associated with −0.95% (95%CI: −1.04%, −0.87%) difference of eGFR in females and −0.37% (95%CI: −0.44%, −0.31%) in males. For PM2.5, the corresponding difference of eGFR was −0.99% (95%CI: −1.05%, −0.93%) in females and −0.48% (95%CI: −0.53%, −0.43%) in males, respectively. Associations between eGFR and PM were higher in females compared to males (p

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of extract of pre-germinated brown rice (EP) on metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction in a rat model of T2DM. Hypertensive rats were divided into: (1) normal diet (ND group), (2) induced T2DM (DM group), and T2DM rats that were treated with (3) EP30 mg/kg (EP30 group) or (4) EP300 mg/kg (EP300 group) per day for 4 weeks. T2DM symptoms included: weight loss, hyperglycaemia, hypoinsulinemia, hyperlipidaemia, higher HbA1c, glucose in urine, and lower GLP-1. EP treatment improved metabolic parameters, activated insulin signalling, and increased lipid metabolism, and also ameliorated T2DM-associated increases in levels of inflammation, free radicals, cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. EP reduced T2DM and related cardiovascular complications by increasing insulin signalling and lipid metabolism, and reducing levels of inflammation and free radicals. Thus, EP may be a potential candidate for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and related cardiovascular complications.

Background: Little is known about the effect of ambient temperature on preterm birth, especially for the trimester-specific effects. Objective: To evaluate whether exposure to relatively low or high temperature during pregnancy is associated with increasing risk of preterm birth or not. Method: We analysed the data of a birth cohort with 1,281,859 singleton pregnancies during 2013–2014 and matched the home address of each pregnant women to the model based daily meteorological and air pollution data. Then we used the Cox proportional hazard regression models with random effect to estimate the non-linear associations between exposure to relatively low or high temperature at each trimester of pregnancy and the risk of preterm birth, after controlling for air pollution and individual-level covariates. Finding: The overall preterm birth rate was 8.1% (104,493 preterm births). Exposure to relatively low or high temperatures during the entire pregnancy significantly increase the risk of preterm birth, with hazard ratios (HRs) [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] of 1.03 (95%CI: 1.02, 1.04) for relatively low (9.1 ℃, the 5th percentile) temperature and 1.55 (95%CI: 1.48, 1.61) for relatively high (23.0 ℃, the 95th percentile) temperature in comparison with the thresholds (12.0 ℃). Pregnant women at the early pregnancy (the 1st and 2nd trimester) are more susceptible to high temperatures while pregnant women at the late pregnancy (the 3rd trimester) are more susceptible to low temperatures. Conclusion: These findings provide new evidence that exposure to relatively low or high temperatures during pregnancy increases the risk of preterm birth, which can serve as scientific evidence for prevention of preterm birth.

An optical waveguide was fabricated by H+ ion implantation with an energy of 400 keV and a dose of 8 × 1016 ions/cm2 in the oxyfluoride glass for the first time to the best of our knowledge. The dark mode spectra of the waveguide were measured by a prism coupling method before and after the thermal treatment. The number of modes was reduced after annealing. The implantation process of 400 keV H+ ions into the oxyfluoride glass was simulated by using the SRIM 2013 program. The refractive index distribution of the ion-implanted waveguide was reconstructed by the reflection calculation method. The refractive index was decreased in the waveguide region and there was an optical barrier with a reduced refractive index at the end of the ion range. The proton-implanted oxyfluoride glass waveguide is a desirable alternative for the fabrication of a compact optical integrated device. Keywords: Waveguide, Ion implantation, Oxyfluoride glasses

Objective: Big submucosal myoma often causes heavy menstrual bleeding and are complicated in hysterscopic surgery. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), is a method for myoma ablation therapy, which may benefit on size reduction, and assist following hysterscopic myomectomy. Case report: Two cases, case one,. 44-year-old female with 3.8 cm submucosal myoma, STEPW (Size, Topography, Extension, Penetration and Wall) score 6 and case 2. 48-year-old female, with 6.0 cm submucosal myoma, STEPW score 8, both received HIFU treatment before hysterscopic myomectomy was done. The myomas reduced after 5 months with improvement of anemia. The following hysterscopic myomectomy shows less operative time and fewer blood loss. Conclusion: HIFU reduce size of submucosal myoma and may improve anemia after months. Less operating time and blood loss were demonstrated in the following hysterscopic myomectomy. For well selected patients, combined treatment with HIFU and hysteroscopic resection may decrease complication rate. Keywords: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), Hysteroscopic myomectomy, Submucosal myoma

Objectives: Infections with Vibrio vulnificus are commonly fatal, and the speed and accuracy of diagnosis and treatment is directly linked to mortality. The main aims of this study were to investigate the clinical characteristics of six patients with V. vulnificus infections retrospectively and to determine the effect of treatment with tigecycline (TGC) alone compared with doxycycline plus ceftazidime (DOX/CAZ). Methods: The medical records of patients were reviewed. The species-specific and pathogenic gene markers were detected by PCR, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed. Furthermore, the effects of TGC and of DOX/CAZ were determined using time–kill assays. Results: MLST revealed six different sequence types and five of them were novel. The complete clinical pattern (vcg type C, CPS operon allele 1, 16S-rRNA type B) was found in one strain and the others had a mixed pattern. The lesion was mainly located at the distal end of the extremities and the most common clinical symptoms were fever, pain, erythema, and local swelling. The in vitro time–kill assay indicated that TGC monotherapy at a concentration of 0.1 mg/l had a rapid bactericidal effect against the six tested V. vulnificus strains at 24 h. Conclusions: TGC alone might be a better potential therapeutic option than the traditional combination of DOX/CAZ against V. vulnificus.

In this work, the 400-keV proton implantation with a fluence of 8 × 1016 ions/cm2 was employed to form a planar waveguide in the Nd: CLNGG crystal. The distributions of the energy loss and the refractive index profile were simulated by the SRIM 2013 and the RCM, respectively. The m-line curve and the near-filed intensity distribution were measured by the prism coupling technique and the end face coupling method, respectively. The proton-implanted Nd: CLNGG crystal waveguide with well-confined propagation can serve as an active integrated element. Keywords: Nd: CLNGG crystal, Waveguide, Ion implantation

Objective: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) are two types of pulmonary fungal infection that are not easy to differentiate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of inflammatory cytokines in the differential diagnosis of IPA and PCP. Methods: A total of 227 pediatric oncology patients diagnosed with acute pneumonia were enrolled. They were divided into three groups: IPA, PCP, and ‘others’. The cytokine levels in these groups were compared, including interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2. Results: Of the six cytokines, only IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were elevated in patients with acute pneumonia. IL-6 was comparable between patients with IPA and PCP (52.0 pg/ml vs. 25.8 pg/ml, p = 0.092), while IFN-γ was much higher in patients with PCP (19.9 pg/ml vs. 8.9 pg/ml, p = 0.001). The accuracy of IL-6 and the ratio of IL-6/IFN-γ in predicting IPA were 69.0% and 72.0%, respectively, while the accuracy of IFN-γ to predict PCP was 67.2%. IL-6 >140 pg/ml and IL-6/IFN-γ >9.0 presented specificities of 90% in predicting IPA, while IFN-γ >40 pg/ml presented specificity of 90% in predicting PCP. Conclusions: IL-6 is predominantly elevated in IPA, while IFN-γ is significantly increased in PCP. These are helpful tools for the differential diagnosis of IPA and PCP.

A Ti5Si3 coating layer was plated on the surface of SiCP by salt-bath plating. The coating layer greatly promoted the wettability of SiC by the molten Al with the final contact angle decreasing from 94° of uncoated one to 4° at 973 K. The 2 vol.% Ti-coated SiCP/2014Al composites were fabricated by stir casting with the addition of 20 vol.% Ti-coated SiCP/2014Al master alloy. Due to the significant improvement of the wetting between the Ti-coated SiC and Al melt, the interfacial energy between Ti-coated SiCP and Al melt is significantly higher than that between α-Al and Ti-coated SiCP. Therefore, Ti-coated SiCP was more easily engulfed into α-Al grains during solidification, leading to a more homogeneous distribution of SiCP and obvious improvement of tensile property for the composites. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and fracture strain of the 2 vol.% Ti-coated SiCP/2014Al composites increased from 389 MPa, 525 MPa and 4.8% of the 2 vol.% uncoated SiCp/2014Al composites to 420 MPa, 576 MPa and 6.8%, respectively. The present work offers a new method to improve the dispersal uniformity of SiCP in the composites. Keywords: SiCP/2014Al composites, Ti-coating layer, Wetting, SiCp engulfment, Tensile properties

Heavy quark spin symmetry is useful to make predictions on ratios of decay or production rates of systems involving heavy quarks. The breaking of spin symmetry is generally of the order of O(ΛQCD/mQ), with ΛQCD the scale of QCD and mQ the heavy quark mass. In this paper, we will show that a small S- and D-wave mixing in the wave function of the heavy quarkonium could induce a large breaking in the ratios of partial decay widths. As an example, we consider the decays of the ϒ(10860) into the χbJω (J=0,1,2), which were recently measured by the Belle Collaboration. These decays exhibit a huge breaking of the spin symmetry relation were the ϒ(10860) a pure 5S bottomonium state. We propose that this could be a consequence of a mixing of the S-wave and D-wave components in the ϒ(10860). Prediction on the ratio Γ(ϒ(10860)→χb0ω)/Γ(ϒ(10860)→χb2ω) is presented assuming that the decay of the D-wave component is dominated by the coupled-channel effects.

Purpose: To investigate health behaviours and family function in stroke survivors, and evaluate the relationships among them. Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with stroke before and went back to neurology clinic between August 2011 and February 2012 in a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou, China were recruited for this study. Patients that were discharged and living at home for at least two months were asked to complete Family Assessment Device (FAD) and Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, version II (HPLP-II) questionnaires. Individual items were scored between 1 and 4 points, and survey scores were compared and analysed using Pearson's correlations. Results: The mean overall FAD family function score was 2.18 ± 0.25 points, with lower scores observed for problem solving and role function factors, and higher scores for communication, affection involvement, and behaviour control. The mean overall HPLP-II health behaviour score was 2.27 ± 0.36 points, with the highest score for the nutrition factor, and the lowest score for the exercise factor. The total score of family function negatively correlated with health behaviours (r = −0.535, p

Understanding how smell or taste translates into behavior remains challenging. We have developed a behavioral paradigm in Drosophila larvae to investigate reception and processing of appetitive olfactory inputs in higher-order olfactory centers. We found that the brief presentation of appetitive odors caused fed larvae to display impulsive feeding of sugar-rich food. Deficiencies in the signaling of neuropeptide F (NPF), the fly counterpart of neuropeptide Y (NPY), blocked appetitive odor-induced feeding by disrupting dopamine (DA)-mediated higher-order olfactory processing. We have identified a small number of appetitive odor-responsive dopaminergic neurons (DL2) whose activation mimics the behavioral effect of appetitive odor stimulation. Both NPF and DL2 neurons project to the secondary olfactory processing center; NPF and its receptor NPFR1 mediate a gating mechanism for reception of olfactory inputs in DL2 neurons. Our findings suggest that eating for reward value is an ancient behavior and that fly larvae are useful for studying neurobiology and the evolution of olfactory reward-driven behavior.

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola (Xoc) causes a destructive bacterial leaf streak disease in rice. Some of the gene products annotated as hypothetical proteins in the genome of Xoc may contribute to its virulence in rice. A mutant, Mxoc1679, screened from our previous Tn5-tagged mutant library for Xoc strain RS105, showed reduced virulence in rice. In this mutant, a gene named as Xoryp_08180 was disrupted by Tn5 insertion. Xoryp_08180 encodes a 1 306-aa hypothetical protein which is highly conserved in Xanthomonas spp. Non-polar mutation of Xoryp_08180 in RS105 strain led to a significant reduction in bacterial virulence and growth in rice, a delayed hypersensitive response (HR) in non-host tobacco, and a decrease in extracellular protease activity. The deficiencies above were restored to wild-type level in the complementary strain by expressing Xoryp_08180 in trans. In addition, the expression of Xoryp_08180 was repressed in hrpG and hrpX mutants in planta but not in a nutrient-rich condition. These results suggested that Xoryp_08180 is a virulence factor required for extracellular protease production, HR induction and full virulence of Xoc.