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Using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements and first principle calculations, we report that the possible unconventional 2q antiferromagnetic (AFM) order in NdSb can induce unusual modulation on its electronic structure. The obvious extra bands observed in the AFM phase of NdSb are well reproduced by theoretical calculations, in which the Fermi-arc-like structures and sharp extra bands are originated from the in-gap surface states. However, they are demonstrated to be topological trivial. By tuning the chemical potential, the AFM phase of NdSb would go through a topological phase transition, realizing a magnetic topological insulator phase. Hence, our study sheds new light on the rare earth monopnictides for searching unusual AFM structure and the potential of intrinsic magnetic topological materials., 13 pages, 4 figures

The persistence of tumor load in multiple myeloma (MM) lead to relapse in patients achieving complete remission (CR). Appropriate and effective methods of myeloma tumor load monitoring are important for guiding clinical management. This study aimed to clarify the value of microvesicles in monitoring MM tumor load. Microvesicles in bone marrow and peripheral blood were isolated by differential ultracentrifugation and detected by flow cytometry. Western blotting was applied to assess myosin light chain phosphorylation levels. Flow cytometry to detect Ps+CD41a−, Ps+CD41a−CD138+, Ps+CD41a−BCMA+ microvesicles from bone marrow can be used to predict myeloma burden, furthermore, Ps+CD41a− microvesicles may as a potential index to MRD test. Mechanistically, the releasing of microvesicles from MM cell was regulated by Pim-2 Kinase via Phosphorylation of MLC-2 protein.

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of radical surgery and to investigate prognostic factors influencing in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients over the age of 80. Methods Between January 2010 and December 2020, 372 elderly CRC patients who underwent curative resection at the National Cancer Center were enrolled in the study. Preoperative clinical characteristics, perioperative outcomes, and postoperative pathological features were all collected. Results A total of 372 elderly patients with colorectal cancer were included in the study, including 226 (60.8%) men and 146 (39.2%) women. A total of 219 (58.9%) patients had a BMI 2, and 153 (41.1%) patients had a BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2. The mean operation time and intraoperative blood loss were 152.3 ± 58.1 min and 67.6 ± 35.4 ml, respectively. The incidence of overall postoperative complications was 28.2% (105/372), and the incidence of grade 3–4 complications was 14.7% (55/372). In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 (HR, 2.30, 95% CI, 1.27–4.17; P = 0.006) and N1-N2 stage (HR: 2.97; 95% CI, 1.48–5.97; P = 0.002) correlated with worse CSS. Conclusion The findings of this study showed that radical resection for CRC is safe and feasible for patients over the age of 80. After radical resection, BMI and N stage were independent prognostic factors for elderly CRC patients.

Background The aim of this study was to understand the longitudinal trajectory of suicidal ideation (SI) among Chinese medical students and the role of childhood trauma (CT). Methods Using a whole-group sampling method, we assessed SI in 2192 (male = 834, female = 1358) medical students on three occasions over a period of one year. The Suicidal Ideation Self-Assessment Scale (SISAS) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) were used to assess SI and CT. The growth mixture modeling (GMM) was used to classify the developmental trajectory of SI. Results A greater number of medical students were experiencing suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The trajectory of SI among medical students was divided into two groups: a low risk, slowly rising group and a high risk, continuous group. The low risk, slowly rising group had a significant time effect (B = 1.57, p P Conclusion The trajectory of SI among medical students can be divided into a low risk, slowly rising group and a high risk, continuous group; the more EN, PN, EA and PA experienced during childhood, the more likely medical students are to develop a high risk, continuous state of SI.

Nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication (NMQL) is a green processing technology. Cottonseed oil is suitable as base oil because of excellent lubrication performance, low freezing temperature, and high yield. Al2O3 nanoparticles improve not only the heat transfer capacity but also the lubrication performance. The physical and chemical properties of nanofluid change when Al2O3 nanoparticles are added. However, the effects of the concentration of nanofluid on lubrication performance remain unknown. Furthermore, the mechanisms of interaction between Al2O3 nanoparticles and cottonseed oil are unclear. In this research, nanofluid is prepared by adding different mass concentrations of Al2O3 nanoparticles (0, 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% wt) to cottonseed oil during minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) milling 45 steel. The tribological properties of nanofluid with different concentrations at the tool/workpiece interface are studied through macro-evaluation parameters (milling force, specific energy) and micro-evaluation parameters (surface roughness, micro morphology, contact angle). The result show that the specific energy is at the minimum (114 J/mm3), and the roughness value is the lowest (1.63 μm) when the concentration is 0.5 wt%. The surfaces of the chip and workpiece are the smoothest, and the contact angle is the lowest, indicating that the tribological properties are the best under 0.5 wt%. This research investigates the intercoupling mechanisms of Al2O3 nanoparticles and cottonseed base oil, and acquires the optimal Al2O3 nanofluid concentration to receive satisfactory tribological properties.

BACKGROUND The advantages and disadvantages of robotic technology compared with conventional surgery for low rectal cancer have been discussed extensively. However, a few studies on the efficacy of total mesorectal excision (TME) with different robotic technologies have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two types of robot-assisted TME (R-TME) compared with laparoscopic TME (L-TME). METHODS A prospective comparative study was conducted comparing da Vinci R-TME, Micro Hand S R-TME, and L-TME for rectal cancer. This study was registered with "Clinicaltrials.gov" (ID: NCT02752698) and approved by the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Program (AAHRPP) (Project number: T16007). Between January 2017 and May 2019, patients with rectal cancer (cT1-3NxM0) were prospectively registered in the Third Xiangya Hospital. The integrity of the TME sample served as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included the involvement of the circumferential and distal resection margins (CRM and DRM), number of lymph nodes retrieved, blood loss, operative time, conversion rate, comprehensive complication index score, the International Prostate Symptom score, the International Index of Erectile Function, and the Female Sexual Function Index. RESULTS Of 134 patients with rectal cancer (74 males, mean age [SD] 59.1 ± 8.27 years), 46 patients underwent laparoscopic TME, 45 patients underwent da Vinci R-TME, and 43 patients underwent Micro Hand S R-TME. There were no differences in results between the two types of R-TME. Compared with laparoscopic TME, significant reductions in blood loss (median 65.50 ml da Vinci; median 66.54 ml Micro Hand S vs median 95.04 ml L-TME p = 0.037 and p = 0.041, respectively) and conversion rate (2.2% da Vinci; 2.3% Micro Hand S vs 6.8% L-TME p = 0,040 for the comparison daVinci L-TME and p = 0.038 for the comparison Micro Hand S vs. L-TME) with da Vinci Si and Micro Hand S R-TME were noted, and significant increases in operation time (230.05 min da Vinci; 235.03 min Micro Hand S vs. 205.53 min L-TME p = 0.045 and p = 0.043, respectively) was observed. Additionally, more patients underwent TME with sphincter-preserving methods in the two R-TME groups based on the type of operation (da Vinci 97.7%; Micro Hand S 97.9% vs. L-TME 82% resulting in p = 0.033 for the comparison daVinci L-TME and p = 0.035 for the comparison Micro Hand S vs. L-TME). In comparison with L-TME, there was a larger number of lymph nodes retrieved (da Vinci mean 17.54; Micro Hand S mean 17.32 vs. L-TME mean 14.96 p = 0.031 for the comparison daVinci L-TME and p = 0.033 for the comparison Micro Hand S vs L-TME) and less blood loss (da Vinci mean 65.50 ml; Micro Hand S mean 66.54 ml vs. L-TME mean 95.04 ml, p = 0.037 for the comparison daVinci L-TME and p = 0.041 for the comparison Micro Hand S vs. L-TME), and incidence of severe postoperative complications was similar among three TME groups except for the earlier recovery of urogenital function (mean IPSS score da Vinci 7.73±1.35; Micro Hand S7.75±1.47 vs L-TME 14.26±1.41 p

In this work, Li2Mg2[WxMo(1−x)O4]3 (i.e., 0 ≤ x ≤ 1) ceramics with high Q×f values were successfully fabricated at low temperatures (i.e., ≤ 950°C). The sintered specimens were found to exhibit of a single orthorhombic phase when x ≤ 0.6, whereas a secondary phase of MgWO4 was detected in the specimens when x ≥ 0.8. The ceramic samples exhibited homogenous microstructures and relatively high densities (i.e., > 90%) . In the sample with x = 0.2, outstanding microwave dielectric properties of er = 8.05, Q×f = 50,780 GHz, and τf = −73.6 ppm/°C were achieved at the sintering temperature of 825°C. Furthermore, no apparent reaction between a Ag electrode and the ceramic matrix was observed during the sintering process. As a result, Li2Mg2[WxMo(1−x)O4]3 ceramics proved to be promising candidate materials for low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology.

Background More information about the impacts of comprehensive pharmaceutical care program (CPCP) on the identification and resolution of drug-related problems (DRPs) is needed. This study aimed at researching the characteristics of DRPs in osteoporosis patients and evaluating the effect of CPCP in identifying and addressing DRPs. Methods We performed a prospective interventional study in a teaching hospital. CPCP was established and conducted to identify and resolve DRPs by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) based on the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) classification V9.0. Six pharmacists and one doctor worked directly in the study. All data was obtained from electronic medical records, direct observation and visits. The statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS Statistics software version 26.0. Results Two hundred nineteen patients with osteoporosis were included in the final analysis. A total of 343 DRPs were identified, with an average of 1.57 DRPs per patient. The most common DRPs identified were “treatment safety P2” (66.8%; 229/343), followed by “other P3” (21.0%; 72/343) and “treatment effectiveness, P1” (12.2%; 42/343). The primary causes of DRPs were “dose selection C3” (35.9%; 211/588), followed by “drug use process C6” (28.9%; 170/588) and “drug selection C1” (12.6%; 74/588). Seven hundred eleven interventions were proposed to address the 343 DRPs, with an average of 2.1 interventions per DRP. The acceptance rate reached 95.9, and 91.0% of these accepted interventions were fully implemented. As a result, only 30 DRPs were unsolved before discharge. Additionally, the number of drugs was found to be associated with the number of DRPs significantly (p = 0.023). Conclusion DRPs frequently occurred in hospitalized osteoporosis patients. CPCP could be an effect option to solve and reduce DRPs for osteoporosis patients and should be implemented widely to increase patient safety.

Ethyl ferulate (EF) is abundant in Rhizoma Chuanxiong and grains (e.g., rice and maize) and possesses antioxidative, antiapoptotic, antirheumatic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is still unknown. In the present study, we found that EF significantly alleviated LPS-induced pathological damage and neutrophil infiltration and inhibited the gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in murine lung tissues. Moreover, EF reduced the gene expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS and decreased the production of NO in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and BMDMs. Mechanistic experiments revealed that EF prominently activated the AMPK/Nrf2 pathway and promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation. AMPK inhibition (Compound C) and Nrf2 inhibition (ML385) abolished the beneficial effect of EF on the inflammatory response. Furthermore, the protective effect of EF on LPS-induced ALI was not observed in Nrf2 knockout mice. Taken together, the results of our study suggest that EF ameliorates LPS-induced ALI in an AMPK/Nrf2-dependent manner. These findings provide a foundation for developing EF as a new anti-inflammatory agent for LPS-induced ALI/ARDS therapy. [Image: see text]

Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the utility of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in non-human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective study. A total of 60 non-human immunodeficiency virus-infected PJP patients and 134 patients diagnosed with non-PJP pneumonia were included. P. jirovecii and other co-pathogens identified by mNGS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and/or blood samples were analyzed. Using clinical composite diagnosis as the reference standard, we compared the diagnostic performance of mNGS in PJP with conventional methods, including Gomori methenamine silver staining and serum (1,3)-β-d-glucan. Modifications of antimicrobial treatment for PJP patients after the report of mNGS results were also reviewed. Results mNGS reached a sensitivity of 100% in diagnosing PJP, which was remarkably higher than Gomori methenamine silver staining (25.0%) and serum (1,3)-β-d-glucan (67.4%). The specificity of mNGS (96.3%) significantly surpassed serum (1,3)-β-d-glucan (81.4%). Simultaneous mNGS of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and blood samples was performed in 21 out of 60 PJP patients, and it showed a concordance rate of 100% in detecting P. jirovecii. Besides, mNGS showed good performance in identifying co-pathogens of PJP patients, among which cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus were most commonly seen. Initial antimicrobial treatment was modified in 71.7% of PJP patients after the report of mNGS results. Conclusion mNGS is a useful diagnostic tool with good performance for the diagnosis of PJP and the detection of co-pathogens. mNGS of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and/or blood samples is suggested in patients with presumptive diagnosis of PJP. Blood samples may be a good alternative to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for mNGS when bronchoscopic examination is not feasible.

In this work, CaWO4 ceramics with high Q×f levels were successfully sintered at temperatures lower than 950 °C with the additions of very small amounts of Li2CeO3 (i.e., 0.1–2.0 wt.%). CaWO4 + x wt.% Li2CeO3 ceramic samples were found to be consisted of a single sheelite phase with relatively high density levels and homogenous microstructures. The ceramic samples exhibited excellent microwave dielectric properties, for instance, the specimen with 0.5 wt.% Li2CeO3 sintered at 725 °C for 4 h showed the properties of er = 9.9, Q×f = 69000 GHz, and τf = −63 ppm/°C. Moreover, it was found that there was no apparent reaction between the ceramic sample and Ag electrode during the sintering process. Therefore, Li2CeO3 has been proofed to be a highly effective sintering additive of CaWO4 ceramics, which is a promising candidate material for low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) technology.

Abstract Microwave (MW) dielectric ceramics are used in numerous electronic components for modern wireless communication systems, including antennas, resonators, capacitors and filters. However, to date, MW ceramics are manufactured by an energy-intensive, conventional high-temperature (> 1000 °C) sintering technology and thus cannot be co-sintered with low melting point and base electrodes (Ag, Al, etc., Q × f values and poor mechanical properties, are discussed. Graphic abstract

Type-II iron-based superconductors (Fe-SCs), the alkali-metal-intercalated iron selenide AxFe2−ySe2 (A = K, Tl, Rb, etc.) with a superconducting transition temperature of 32 K, exhibit unique properties such as high Néel temperature, Fe-vacancies ordering, antiferromagnetically ordered insulating state in the phase diagram, and mesoscopic phase separation in the superconducting materials. In particular, the electronic and structural phase separation in these systems has attracted intensive attention since it provides a platform to unveil the insulating parent phase of type-II Fe-SCs that mimics the Mott parent phase in cuprates. In this work, we use spatial- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to study the electronic structure of superconducting KxFe2−ySe2. We observe clear electronic phase separation of KxFe2−ySe2 into metallic islands and insulating matrix, showing different K and Fe concentrations. While the metallic islands show strongly dispersive bands near the Fermi level, the insulating phase shows an energy gap up to 700 meV and a nearly flat band around 700 meV below the Fermi energy, consistent with previous experimental and theoretical results on the superconducting K1−xFe2Se2 (122 phase) and Fe-vacancy ordered K0.8Fe1.6Se2 (245 phase), respectively. Our results not only provide important insights into the mysterious composition of phase-separated superconducting and insulating phases of KxFe2−ySe2, but also present their intrinsic electronic structures, which will shed light on the comprehension of the unique physics in type-II Fe-SCs.

0.67CaTiO3–0.33LaAlO3 (CTLA) microwave dielectric ceramic materials with the additives of H3BO3, Li2CO3 or H3BO3–Li2CO3 were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method. The effects of the sintering additives on the densification behavior, phase compositions, microstructures, and microwave dielectric properties of the CTLA ceramic samples were investigated. It was found that the binary additive of H3BO3–Li2CO3 effectively promoted the densification and lowered the sintering temperature of the CTLA ceramic samples without a significant decrease in their Q × f values. For example, with an addition of 0.2 wt% H3BO3–0.1 wt% Li2CO3, the optimal microwave dielectric properties of er = 45.5, Q × f = 31,771 GHz and a near-zero τf of 2.43 ppm/℃ were obtained in the CTLA ceramic sample sintered at only 1175 ℃, which is significantly lower (~ 225 ℃) compared to the sintering temperatures of conventionally sintered CTLA ceramics.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether TXA can effectively reduce blood loss after HTO and related complications and to evaluate its safety.From March 2016 to March 2018, 100 patients who underwent medial opening wedge HTO in the Department of Orthopedics, the second affiliated hospital of xi'an jiaotong university, with an average age of 52.8 ± 3.2 years, were randomly divided into the TXA group (using intravenous TXA) and the control group (using the same amount of normal saline), with 50 patients in each group. The postoperative wound drainage volume, decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit value, total blood loss, wound healing, blood transfusion, deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) were compared between the two groups.The drainage volume on the first postoperative day and the total drainage volume of the TXA group were significantly lower compared with those of the control group (145.7 vs 264.5 ml, 282.3 vs 413.2 ml, P 0.05). The decreases in the hemoglobin and hematocrit values on the postoperative first, second and fifth days were lower in the TXA group than those in the control group (1.4 VS 3.5, 2.6 vs 3.3, 1.9 vs 2.9 g, P 0.05; 3.3 vs 5.5, 5.0 vs 9.1, 3.8 vs 7.2%, P 0.05), and the mean total blood loss was also lower in the TXA group than that in the control group (477.9 vs 834.6 ml, P 0.05). In the control group, 1 patient had wound hematoma requiring additional paracentesis and pressure dressing, 1 patient had superficial wound infection requiring additional debridement, and 1 patient had postoperative blood transfusion compared to none in the TXA group (P 0.05). There was no symptomatic DVT or PE in either of the groups.Intravenous TXA can effectively and safely reduce blood loss and bleeding-related complications after HTO and was beneficial for the blood management of HTO.

In this work, a novel additive-free microwave dielectric ceramic (MWDC) system of (1 − x)CaWO4−x(Li0.5Sm0.5)WO4 (CW-LSW, 0.12 ≤ x ≤ 0.20) for low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) applications was successfully fabricated by a solid-state reaction route. The sintering temperature and composition effects on the microwave dielectric (MWD) properties, microstructures, and crystalline phases were investigated. The optimal sintering temperatures of the CW-LSW ceramics are ranging from 875 to 950 °C. When sintered at 900 °C for 3 h, the sample of 0.86CW-0.14LSW exhibited excellent MWD properties: er = 10.76, Q × f = 28,754 GHz, and τf = − 0.54 ppm/°C. Furthermore, it is found that the CW-LSW ceramics are well compatible with Ag electrode during the sintering process. Therefore, the findings suggest that CW-LSW ceramic materials are promising for LTCC applications.

We perform a study of the $$D_s^+ \rightarrow a_0(980)(f_0(980)) e^+ \nu _e$$ D s + → a 0 ( 980 ) ( f 0 ( 980 ) ) e + ν e reactions investigating the different sources of isospin violation which make the production of the $$a_0(980)$$ a 0 ( 980 ) possible. We find that loops involving kaons in the production mechanism provide a source of isospin violation since they do not cancel due to the different mass of charged and neutral kaons, but we also find that the main source comes from the breaking of isospin in the meson-meson transition T matrices, which contain information on the nature of the low lying scalar mesons. The reaction is thus very sensitive to the nature of the $$a_0(980)$$ a 0 ( 980 ) and $$f_0(980)$$ f 0 ( 980 ) resonances. Our results are consistent with the present upper bound for $$a_0(980)$$ a 0 ( 980 ) production and only a factor three smaller, indicating that future runs with more statistics should find actual numbers for this reaction from where we can learn more about the origin of the scalar resonances and their nature.

The mechanism of the enhanced superconductivity in monolayer FeSe/SrTiO3 has been enthusiastically studied and debated over the past decade. One specific observation has been taken to be of central importance: the replica bands in the photoemission spectrum. Although suggestive of electron-phonon interaction in the material, the essence of these spectroscopic features remains highly controversial. In this work, we conduct angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements on monolayer FeSe/SrTiO3 using linearly polarized photons. This configuration enables unambiguous characterization of the valence electronic structure with a suppression of the spectral background. We consistently observe high-order replica bands derived from various Fe 3d bands, similar to those observed on bare SrTiO3. The intensity of the replica bands is unexpectedly high and different between dxy and dyz bands. Our results provide new insights on the electronic structure of this high-temperature superconductor and the physical origin of the photoemission replica bands., The origin of the photoemission replica bands in monolayer FeSe/SrTiO3 remains controversial. Here, the authors perform angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with polarized photon on FeSe/SrTiO3 and observe high-order replica bands with high intensity from various Fe 3d bands, suggesting a mixed mechanism.

Increasing evidence suggests that cancer progression is strongly influenced by the host immune response, which is represented by immune cell infiltrates. The T-lymphocyte-based Immunoscore is reported to be a reliable prognostic factor in colon cancer, but its significance in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) is at an early stage of exploration. This study aimed to determine whether the tumor immune infiltrate, as evaluated by the Immunoscore, could act as a useful prognostic marker for UCB patients who have undergone radical cystectomy (RC). In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to examine the Immunoscore of 221 UCB patients who underwent RC. The Immunoscore of the patients was determined by the densities of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells at the tumor center and the invasive margin. A highly significant association between a low Immunoscore and a shortened patient survival (P

(1 − x)Li0.5Sm0.5TiO3–xNa0.5Sm0.5TiO3 (LST-NST, x = 0.35 to 0.45) microwave dielectric ceramics with orthorhombic perovskite structure have been fabricated by a conventional solid-state reaction method. The densification behavior of the LST-NST ceramic samples was investigated by dilatometry analyses. The effects of the sintering temperature and composition on the microstructure and microwave dielectric properties of the ceramic samples were investigated in detail. Generally, 1180°C was found to be the optimal sintering temperature for the LST-NST ceramics. The optimal microwave dielectric properties of the LST-NST ceramics were achieved for the 0.63LST-0.37NST (x = 0.37) composition with er = 96.8, Q × f = 5102 GHz, and near-zero τf of − 4.35 ppm/°C.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a chronic microvascular complication of diabetes. The purpose of this study is to find the underlying mechanism for the effects of acupuncture in DPN rats. Rats were rendered diabetic with a single injection of 35 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). These STZ-diabetic rats were treated with acupuncture for 20 min once daily. The therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture was assessed using mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) evaluations. After 14 days treatment, acupuncture markedly reduced the pathological injury in STZ-diabetic rats. Moreover, it significantly down-regulated P2X4 and OX42 expression along with the reduced levels of inflammatory factors (CXCR3, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), GSP and lipid metabolisms in the spinal cord of the DPN rats. Acupuncture could relieve DPN in rats by regulating P2X4 expression and inflammation in spinal microglia.

Microwave dielectric ceramics of (1 − x)(Mg0.97Zn0.03)(Ti0.97Sn0.03)O3–x(Ca0.8Na0.1Sm0.1)TiO3 (MZTS–CNST, 0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.08) were fabricated by a conventional solid-state reaction method. The effects of the sintering temperature and composition on the phases, microstructures, and microwave dielectric properties were studied. A relatively low sintering temperature of 1325 °C is needed for the MZTS–CNST ceramic samples. The optional microwave dielectric properties were achieved at x = 0.08 with er = 21.5, Q × f = 60,110 GHz, and a near-zero τf of 1.69 ppm/ °C.

The x(Ca0.8Na0.1Sm0.1)TiO3–(1 − x)(Sm0.5Nd0.5)AlO3 (CNST–SNA, 0.60 ≤ x ≤ 0.75) ceramic materials were prepared by a conventional two-step solid-state reaction route. The effects of the sintering temperature and composition on the phases, microstructures, and microwave dielectric properties were investigated. The optimal sintering temperature of the CNST–SNA ceramics was found at 1475 °C. The optimal microwave dielectric properties were achieved at x = 0.69 with er = 43.8, Q × f = 34303 GHz (at 5.968 GHz), and τf = − 1.64 ppm/°C.

Vibroseis is an important deep seismic exploration method, and the vibrator is a unique tool used to transmit scanning signals underground. However, seismic waves recorded by receivers often contain many kinds of noises, such as vibration noise, which are detrimental to the perception of the source signal. This work attempts to eliminate vibration noise by improving the vibrator structure, while retaining the signals’ energy. Hydraulic oil ducts in traditional piston vibrators are set on one side of the hammer. When oil is delivered at high pressure into the oil duct, a horizontal torque is exerted on the hammer, causing it to shake and produce noise. The vibrator’s force analysis shows that the torque on the hammer generates a horizontal force on the four upright columns causing them to bend, as is evident from the deformation results. The vibrator structure can be improved by setting the hydraulic oil ducts in the piston rod in such a way that the hammer is structurally symmetrical on both sides, and the high oil pressure does not produce horizontal interference force. Finite element analysis shows that the columns do not deform in such a design. The vibration simulation experiment proves that deviation between actual output force and theoretical output force is reduced.

A combination of photoemission and scanning tunnelling spectroscopy measurements provide compelling evidence that single layers of 1T'-WTe2 are a class of quantum spin Hall insulator. A quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulator is a novel two-dimensional quantum state of matter that features quantized Hall conductance in the absence of a magnetic field, resulting from topologically protected dissipationless edge states that bridge the energy gap opened by band inversion and strong spin–orbit coupling1,2. By investigating the electronic structure of epitaxially grown monolayer 1T'-WTe2 using angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) and first-principles calculations, we observe clear signatures of topological band inversion and bandgap opening, which are the hallmarks of a QSH state. Scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements further confirm the correct crystal structure and the existence of a bulk bandgap, and provide evidence for a modified electronic structure near the edge that is consistent with the expectations for a QSH insulator. Our results establish monolayer 1T'-WTe2 as a new class of QSH insulator with large bandgap in a robust two-dimensional materials family of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs).

Owning to advantages over traditional species identification methods, DNA barcoding is suggested to be a promising tool in conservation research. However, the use of DNA barcoding to accurately identify unknown samples in conservation practices has not been well documented in the literature. To illustrate this issue, we implemented a survey of endangered birds and mammals in China based on mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. We included mostly confiscated specimens and non-invasive samples while concealing species information to simulate real-world scenarios of identification. In total, 47 avian and 39 mammalian specimen were re-identified by sequential analyses of online species assignment, genetic distances, phylogenetic reconstruction, and diagnostic nucleotide method. With this multiple analyses approach, 82 individuals were accurately assigned to the species level and four individuals to the genus level. 78.72% of the avian specimen and 87.18% of mammalian specimen identifications were consistent with morphological classification. Among those inconsistent with morphological classification, we identified several potential errors including misidentification based on morphology and mislabelling that may have occurred while combining results from different analytical methods. Our case study not only enriches the barcode database, but also reports a successful application of DNA barcoding identification to conservation practices, which could effectively facilitate species identification of unknown samples in conservation practices in the future.

Karst caves, considering to be the "arks" of biodiversity, often contain high levels of endemism. In the present study, the actinobacterial community in Shuanghe Cave, the longest cave in Asia, was analyzed for the first-time using culture-dependent and -independent (16S rRNA amplicon sequencing) approaches. The amplicon sequencing analysis revealed a broad taxonomic diversity in Shuanghe Cave, including 19 phyla (predominantly Actinobacteria) and 264 different genera. While the culture-dependent method got the unrepresentative but supplemental result, a total of 239 actinomycetes were isolated and were identified to seven genera based on culture features and 16S rRNA tests. Among the three habitats (soil, rock soil, and bat guano), the dominant phyla did not differ significantly, while the dominant genus community varied among different habitats, and the richness in soil and rock soil samples was higher than that in bat guano. Furthermore, 16 isolate strains showed antimicrobial activity, especially, the strain S142 (Streptomyces badius) and S761 (Actinoplanes friuliensis) exhibited the most promising activity against various pathogens. Overall, this work showed the abundant bacterial diversity and the antimicrobial potential of the isolates from the Shuanghe Cave.

In this study, we compared the efficacies and adverse effects of quinine plus antibiotics and other anti-malaria drugs on treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria. By systematically searching the major databases PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 1996 cases were identified. Then, we performed a systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis on these data. The primary outcome of these treatments was parasite failure at day 28. There was no significant difference between quinine plus antibiotic therapy (QACT) and artemisinin-based therapies (odds ratio (OR) 0.69, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.28 to 1.71) or non-artemisinin-based therapies except quinine monotherapy and chloroquine monotherapy (OR 0.56, 95 % CI 0.18 to 1.74). The secondary outcome was the adverse effects within 28 days, including nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, and tinnitus. QACT significantly increased the risk of tinnitus compared with artemisinin-based therapies (OR 111.65, 95 % CI 12.63 to 986.87) and non-artemisinin-based therapies (OR 48.16, 95 % CI 16.23 to 142.92). Vomiting was more frequently reported in QACT compared with non-artemisinin-based therapies (OR 2.02, 95 % CI 1.14 to 3.56). This meta-analysis suggests that almost all regimens have equivalent treatment effect at the 28th day. However, the patients with QACT had a higher chance to suffer from vomiting and tinnitus. Therefore, QACT does not have significant advantage on treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the improvements of patients’ pulmonary ventilation function and 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) distance.

In recent years, many previous studies have well documented that wild and cultivated edible mushrooms have the ability to bioaccumulate metal ions, but the process of mycoremediation and the detoxification strategy of mushrooms in co-contaminants (heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)) are rarely reported. The study was to investigate the mycoremediation potential and tolerance responses of Oudemansiella radicata in cadmium and pyrene co-contaminated soil. Soil samples collected and sieved from Sichuan province, China, which was spiked with cadmium (0, 5, 15, and 30 mg/kg) and pyrene (0, 200, and 400 mg/kg). After harvest, biomass, bioaccumulation of cadmium, residual pyrene, and antioxidant enzymes activities were measured. Results showed that dry biomass was not apparently influenced by the co-contamination, even in highly polluted soils. In cadmium of 5 and 15 mg/kg, the bioaccumulation of cadmium enhanced when pyrene was added, the bioconcentration factor value even reached 1.09. The removal of pyrene (added at concentrations of 200 and 400 mg/kg) was significantly higher in O. radicata-planted soils than those in the unplanted soils and was inhibited in lower level of cadmium whereas promoted in higher level of cadmium, indicating that the highly adapted cadmium-resistant microbes could promote the dissipation of pyrene. Besides, antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) represented significantly changes in co-contamination as compared with control. Using O. radicata for remediation of cadmium-pyrene-contaminated soils could be an interesting alternative, considering its short life time, metal tolerance, and bioaccumulation capacity.

Young Alu elements that have been inserted recently in macaque genomes are still polymorphic for insertion presence/absence at the individual and population levels. They have been considered as a powerful tool in population genetics of primates. Combining a computational approach and a PCR display method based on primers of OWM-specific Alu subfamilies, in the present study, we identified and characterized 26 novel Alu insertions that are polymorphic in the Tibetan macaque (Macaca thibetana). Along with 20 previously reported loci, a total of 96 Alu insertions were found to be present in the Tibetan macaque but absent in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) as validated by computational methods. After PCR verification, 27.1 % (26/96) of the analyzed insertions were confirmed to be heterozygous among Tibetan macaque individuals. These 26 newly identified loci were further genotyped in 41 individuals from two Tibetan macaque populations. The average allele frequencies across the 26 loci varied from 2.4 to 48.8 % in the two populations. The average expected heterozygosity per locus ranged from 25.3 to 50.6 %. The results indicate that the combination of a computational approach and a PCR display method is an efficient way to identify young polymorphic Alu insertions in macaques, and the newly identified polymorphic loci represent valuable genetic markers for the study of Tibetan macaque population genetics in the future.

Unsaturated magnetoresistance (MR) has been reported in WTe2, and remains irrepressible up to very high field. Intense optimization of the crystalline quality causes a squarely-increasing MR, as interpreted by perfect compensation of opposite carriers. Herein we report our observation of linear MR (LMR) in WTe2 crystals, the onset of which is first identified by constructing the mobility spectra of the MR at low fields. The LMR further intensifies and predominates at fields higher than 20 Tesla while the parabolic MR gradually decays. The LMR remains unsaturated up to a high field of 60 Tesla and persists, even at a high pressure of 6.2 GPa. Assisted by density functional theory calculations and detailed mobility spectra, we find the LMR to be robust against the applications of high field, broken carrier balance, and mobility suppression. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy reveals a unique quasilinear energy dispersion near the Fermi level. Our results suggest that the robust LMR is the low bound of the unsaturated MR in WTe2.

Background Selenium is an essential trace and there is a high selenium concentration in the thyroid gland. Selenium deficiency may impair the thyroid function. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between three selenoprotein genes polymorphisms and autoimmune thyroid diseases. Methods We genotyped six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs6865453 in selenoprotein P gene (SELENOP), rs713041 rs2074451 rs3746165 in glutathione peroxidase 4 gene (GPX4) and rs28665122 and rs7178239 in selenoprotein S gene (SELENOS) by MassARRAY system using the chip-based matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology in 1060 patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases and 938 healthy controls. Results Major alleles in rs6865453 of SELENOP, rs713041, rs2074451, rs3746165 of GPX4 decreased while the major allele C in rs28665122 of SELENOS increased in AITD patients than in the control. The allele C and genotype CC in rs7178239 of SELENOS showed different trend in GD and HT patients when compared with the control. All the distribution difference showed nonsignificant. Analysis according to clinical features including ophthalmopathy, hypothyroidism and family history came out to be negative either. Conclusions Our findings suggest non-association between three selenoprotein genes and AITD, conflicting to the positive result in another population. Different selenium nutrition status in different populations may contribute to conflicting results, the contribution of genetic variants in AITD mechanism may be another reason.

The purpose of this study was to compare CT with negative-contrast CT cholangiopancreatography (nCTCP) using subvolume minimum intensity projection (MinIP) versus MRI with MRCP in differentiating noncalculous periampullary obstruction. Sixty-four patients with clinically proven noncalculous periampullary obstructions who had undergone both MDCT and MR examinations before operation were reviewed retrospectively. Two reviewers independently interpreted the two image sets (the CT with nCTCP set [CT set] vs. the MRI with MRCP set [MRI set]) in differentiating both benign from malignant obstruction and pancreatic head carcinoma (PHC) from non-PHC, and the results were compared to the final clinical records. In this study, no statistically significant differences were observed in the accuracy of differentiating benign from malignant periampullary obstruction (p = 0.754 for reviewer 1 and p = 0.508 for reviewer 2) on the two image sets. The accuracy of differentiating PHC from non-PHC was also statistically insignificant (p = 0.125 for reviewer 1 and p = 1.000 for reviewer 2) on the two image sets. The CT set provides a comparable performance to that of the MRI set in differentiating noncalculous periampullary obstruction. • nCTCP with subvolume MinIP is a practical tool in evaluating biliary obstruction • Two image sets have a comparable performance in differentiating noncalculous periampullary obstruction • MDCT could serve as an alternative in patients not eligible for MRI

To improve the photo-oxidation degradation resistance and antimicrobial ability of ZnO-filled polypropylene random copolymer (PPR), 13X zeolite particles supported with nano-ZnO with different morphologies were prepared and used to manufacture filled PPR composites. The formation of ZnO with different morphologies on the surface of 13X zeolite was proved by atomic absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, UV–vis spectra, and fluorescence spectra. The results indicated that the photo-oxidation degradation resistance of nano-ZnO-supported 13X zeolite-filled PPR composites is higher than that of PPR composites filled by the same content of pure nano-ZnO. Antimicrobial experiment results show that nano-ZnO-supported 13X zeolite-filled PPR composites exhibit higher antimicrobial properties than ZnO-filled PPR composites prepared by directly adding nano-ZnO into PPR matrix for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The addition of nano-ZnO-supported 13X zeolite particles increases the crystallization temperature, but has no influence on the melting behavior of PPR composites.

Purpose To identify bioactive equivalent combinatorial components (BECCs) in herbal medicines. The exact composition of effective components in herbal medicines is often elusive due to the lack of adequate screening methodology. Herein, we propose a hypothesis that BECCs accounting for the whole efficacy of original herbal medicines could be discovered from a complex mixture of constituents. Methods We developed a bioactive equivalence oriented feedback screening method and applied it to discover the BECCs from an herbal preparation Cardiotonic Pill (CP). The operations include chemical profiling of CP, followed by an iterative loop of determining, collecting and evaluating candidate BECCs. Results A combination of 18 compounds was identified as BECCs from CP, which accounts for 15.0% (w/w) of original CP. We have demonstrated that the BECCs were as effective as CP in cell models and in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Conclusions This work answers the key question of which are real bioactive components for CP that have been used in clinic for many years, and provides a promising approach for discovering BECCs from herbal medicines. More importantly, the BECCs could be extended to improve quality control of herbal products and inspire an herbal medicines based discovery of combinatorial therapeutics. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11095-013-1283-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The precision of skilled forelimb movement has long been presumed to rely on rapid feedback corrections triggered by internally-directed copies of outgoing motor commands – but the functional relevance of inferred internal copy circuits has remained unclear. One class of spinal interneurons implicated in the control of mammalian forelimb movement, cervical propriospinal neurons (PNs), has the potential to convey an internal copy of pre-motor signals through dual innervation of forelimb-innervating motor neurons and pre-cerebellar neurons of the lateral reticular nucleus. We have examined whether the PN internal copy pathway functions in the control of goal-directed reaching. In mice, PNs include a genetically-accessible subpopulation of cervical V2a interneurons, and their targeted ablation perturbs reaching while leaving intact other elements of forelimb movement. Moreover, optogenetic activation of the PN internal copy branch recruits a rapid cerebellar feedback loop that modulates forelimb motor neuron activity and severely disrupts reaching kinematics. Our findings implicate V2a PNs as the focus of an internal copy pathway assigned to the rapid updating of motor output during reaching behavior.

Li4Ti5O12/Ag composites were synthesized by a solid-state method. The effect of Ag modification on the physical and electrochemical properties is discussed by the characterizations of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cycling and rate tests. The lattice parameter of Li4Ti5O12 with a low Ag content is almost not changed, but the lattice parameter becomes larger due to the high content of Ag. Li4Ti5O12/Ag material has a uniform particle size which is about 1 $\upmu$ m. Modification of appropriate Ag is beneficial to the reversible intercalation and deintercalation of Li + . Modification of Ag not only decreases the charge transfer resistance of Li4Ti5O12 material, but also improves the diffusion coefficient of lithium ion. Li4Ti5O12/Ag (3 mass%) material has the lowest charge transfer resistance, the highest diffusion coefficient of lithium ion and the best rate cycling performance.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) polymorphisms and autoimmune thyroid diseases and clinical features. We genotyped six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs1053005, rs2293152, rs744166, rs17593222, rs2291281, and rs2291282 of STAT3 gene in 667 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (417 Graves' disease (GD) and 250 Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT)) and 301 healthy controls. The allele A from rs1053005 was significantly less frequent in both GD and HT patients (P = 0.0024, OR = 0.6958, 95%CI = 0.5508-0.8788; P = 0.0091, OR = 0.7013, 95%CI = 0.5397-0.9112, respectively). The AA genotype of rs1053005 was less in GD and HT patients too (P = 0.0025,OR = 0.6278, 95%CI = 0.466-0.847) and (P = 0.0036,OR = 0.601, 95%CI = 0.428-0.843). The allele G from rs17593222 increased the susceptibility to the ophthalmopathy development both in autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) and GD patients (P = 0.0007, OR = 3.980, 95%CI = 1.871-8.464; P = 0.0081, OR = 3.378, 95%CI = 1.441-7.919, respectively). The allele A and AA genotype of SNP rs1053005 may protect individuals from the susceptibility to AITD and their frequency decreased in AITD patients. In addition, the allele G of rs17593222 may increase the ophthalmopathy risk in AITD patients. Our findings suggest the existence of association between STAT3 gene and AITD, thus adding STAT3 gene to the list of the predisposing genes to AITD.

To obtain wollastonite-filled β-iPP composites, the wollastonite with β-nucleating surface (β-wollastonite) was prepared through chemical reaction between wollastonite with α-nucleating surface (α-wollastonite) and pimelic acid. The formation of calcium pimelate on the surface of wollastonite was proved using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. The crystallization behavior, melting characteristics, non-isothermal crystallization kinetics, and crystalline morphologies of α- and β-wollastonite-filled iPP composites were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. It is found that the crystallization peak temperatures of β-wollastonite-filled iPP composites were higher than that of α-wollastonite-filled iPP composites, which indicated that wollastonite with β-nucleating surface has stronger heterogeneous nucleation than that of wollastonite with α-nucleating surface. Although the crystallization temperatures of iPP and iPP composites decreased with increasing cooling rates, α-wollastonite-filled iPP composites mainly crystallized in α-spherulite and β-wollastonite-filled iPP composites formed β-spherulite. In addition, the spherulite size of β-wollastonite-filled iPP composites was smaller than that of α-wollastonite-filled iPP composites. Jeziorny and Mo methods were applicable to study the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of wollastonite-filled iPP composites. The activation energy (∆E) and the nucleation efficiency (EN) of non-isothermal crystallization were calculated by Kissinger method and the equation proposed by Fillon, respectively. The β-wollastonite-filled iPP composites exhibited higher crystallization rate, activation energy, and EN than that of α-wollastonite-filled iPP composites.

To transform α-nucleation into β-nucleation of wollastonite surface for isotactic polypropylene (iPP), the wollastonite with a β-nucleating surface was prepared through the chemical reaction between wollastonite and pimelic acid in both liquid mixing (method A) and powder mixing (method B). The wollastonite with a β-nucleating surface was confirmed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, wide-angle X-ray diffraction under different temperatures, thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The crystallization and melting behavior and the crystalline morphology of iPP composites filled by wollastonite with a β-nucleating surface were investigated by DSC and optical microscopy. The results indicated that wollastonite filled iPP composites predominantly crystallize in the α-phase iPP and iPP composites filled by wollastonite with a β-nucleating surface mainly form β-phase iPP. It is proved that heterogeneous nucleating mechanism has been changed from α-nucleation into β-nucleation of wollastonite surface for iPP crystallization. What deserves to be mentioned is that the nucleation density of flat surface in the end of needle-like wollastonite is higher than that of curved surface of wollastonite.

Wollastonite (W) with β-nucleating effect (β-W100) for iPP crystallization was obtained through reaction between Ca2+ in wollastonite and pimelic acid (PA) and the β-iPP composites filled by different content of β-W100 were prepared. The effect of PA and wollastonite contents on β-nucleation, crystallization and melting behavior, and crystalline morphology of W and β-W100-filled iPP composites was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and polarizing optical microscopy. The results indicated that incorporation of W and β-W100 increase the crystallization peak temperature of iPP due to its heterogeneous nucleating ability. And iPP/W composites predominantly crystallize in the α-phase iPP and iPP/β-W100 composites in the β-phase iPP. The results of DSC multi-scanning in same and different melting temperatures showed that β-W100 not only has strong heterogeneous β-nucleating effect but also DSC multi-scanning in same and different melting temperatures has no influence on the heterogeneous β-nucleating effect of β-W100. The β-iPP containing high wollastonite content with high β-phase content can be easily prepared.

The total proteins from the fresh-cut Zizania latifolia during refrigerated storage were extracted and separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). A total of 657 protein spots were detected on the gels, among which 33 spots showed a significant change in protein abundance based on twofold difference. Using MALDI-TOF/TOF, 25 spots were identified, which were classified into five functional categories that included cell structure (32 %), stress response and defense (28 %), ripening and senescence (8 %), signal transduction (8 %), and unclear functional proteins (24 %). Of the 25 differentially expressed proteins, 10 were up-regulated and 15 were down-regulated. Among 10 up-regulated spots, 5 were related to cell structure, 2 to oxidative stress, 1 to ripening and senescence, 1 to signal transduction, and 1 to unclear functional proteins. For the 15 down-regulated spots, 5 were related to stress response, 3 to cell structure, 1 to ripening and senescence, 1 to signal transduction, and 5 to unclear functional proteins. These results indicate that specific proteins expressed in fresh-cut Z. latifolia during storage at 1 °C show a coordinated response to cope with wounding stress caused by fresh-cut processing.

In this work, the optimal clathration condition was investigated for the preparation of aspirin-β-cyclodextrin (Asp-β-CD) inclusion complex using design of experiment (DOE) methodology. A 3-level, 3-factor Box-Behnken design with a total of 17 experimental runs was used. The Asp-β-CD inclusion complex was prepared by saturated solution method. The influence on the embedding rate was investigated, including molar ratio of β-CD to Asp, clathration temperature and clathration time, and the optimum values of such three test variables were found to be 0.82, 49°C and 2.0 h, respectively. The embedding rate could be up to 61.19%. The formation of the bonding between -COOH group of Asp and O-H group of β-CD might play an important role in the process of clathration according to FT-IR spectra. Release kinetics of Asp from inclusion complex was studied for the evaluation of drug release mechanism and diffusion coefficients. The results showed that the drug release from matrix occurred through Fickian diffusion mechanism. The cumulative release of Asp reached only 40% over 24 h, so the inclusion complex could potentially be applied as a long-acting delivery system.

At present, equivalent water depth truncated mooring system optimization design is regarded as the priority of hybrid model testing for deep sea platforms, and will replace the full depth system test in the future. Compared with the full depth system, the working depth and span are smaller in the truncated one, and the other characteristics maintain more consistency as well. In this paper, an inner turret moored floating production storage & offloading system (FPSO) which works at a water depth of 320m, was selected to be a research example while the truncated water depth was 80m. Furthermore, an improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (INSGA-II) was selected to optimally calculate the equivalent water depth truncated system, considering the stress condition of the total mooring system in both the horizontal and vertical directions, as well as the static characteristic similarity of the representative single mooring line. The results of numerical calculations indicate that the mathematical model is feasible, and the optimization method is fast and effective.