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Traditional neurosurgical craniotomy primarily uses two‐dimensional cranial medical images to estimate the location of a patient’s intracranial lesions. Such work relies on the experience and skills of the doctor and may result in accidental injury to important intracranial physiological tissues. To help doctors more intuitively determine patient lesion information and improve the accuracy of surgical route formulation and craniotomy safety, an augmented reality method for displaying neurosurgery craniotomy lesions based on feature contour matching is proposed. This method uses threshold segmentation and region growing algorithms to reconstruct a 3‐D Computed tomography image of the patient’s head. The augmented reality engine is used to adjust the reconstruction model’s relevant parameters to meet the doctor’s requirements and determine the augmented reality matching method for feature contour matching. By using the mobile terminal to align the real skull model, the virtual lesion model is displayed. Using the designed user interface, doctors can view the patient’s personal information and can zoom in, zoom out, and rotate the virtual model. Therefore, the patient’s lesions information can be visualized accurately, which provides a visual basis for preoperative preparation.

Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the midbrain. The regulatory role of a variety of microRNAs in PD has been confirmed, and our study is the first to demonstrate that miR-3473b is involved in the regulation of PD. In vitro, an miR-3473b inhibitor can inhibit the secretion of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-1β) in moues microglia cell line (BV2) cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and promote autophagy in BV2 cells. In vivo, miR-3473b antagomir can inhibit the activation of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) microglia of C57BL/6 mice induced by 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and promote autophagy. Deletion of TREM2, one of the most highly expressed receptors in microglia, leads to the occurrence and development of PD. ULK1 is a component of the Atg1 complex. Deletion of ULK1 aggravates the pathological reaction of PD. TREM2 and ULK1 are predicted potential targets of miR-3473b by Targetscan. Then, the results of our experiments indicate that transfection with a miR-3473b mimic can inhibit the expression of TREM2 and ULK1. Data from a double luciferase experiment indicate that the 3'-UTR of TREM2, but not ULK1, is the direct target of miR-3473b. Then we aim to investigate the regulation of TREM2 and ULK1 in PD. We found that the expression of p-ULK1 was significantly increased via up-regulation of TREM2. The increased expression of p-ULK1 can promote autophagy and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors. The regulation of ULK1 by miR-3473b may be accomplished indirectly through TREM2. Thus, miR-3473b may regulate the secretion of proinflammatory mediators by targeting TREM2/ULK1 expression to regulate the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of inflammation in Parkinson's disease, suggesting that mir-3473b may be a potential therapeutic target to regulate the inflammatory response in PD.

Tea white scab disease commonly occurs in high‐altitude tea‐growing areas worldwide. Both Elsinoe leucospila and Phyllosticta theaefolia have been reported as the pathogen responsible for this disease. To conclusively identify the causative agent, samples were collected from plants infected with tea white scab disease in high‐altitude tea gardens in southern China. Fungal isolates obtained from the infected material were identified based on morphological characteristics, comparisons of ITS, 18S rDNA, RPB2 and LSU sequences, and pathogenicity tests. Both Elsinoe sp. and Phyllosticta sp. were isolated from the collected samples with rates of 6% and 35%, respectively. On potato dextrose agar medium, Phyllosticta sp. grew faster and sporulated more than E. leucospila. However, only E. leucospila caused symptoms similar to those of tea white scab disease. In contrast, Phyllosticta sp. infections resulted in large necrotic spots. Therefore, E. leucospila appears to be the pathogen responsible for tea white scab disease, whereas Phyllosticta sp. is a hyperparasitic fungus that infects the diseased plant tissue. The high isolation rate of Phyllosticta sp. due to its rapid growth and considerable sporulation may have led to the erroneous identification of this fungus as the cause of tea white scab disease. Our findings may be useful for future investigations of this disease, particularly regarding the development of improved prevention and/or control measures.

Jin-hong tablets (JHT), a well-known Traditional Chinese Patent Medicine (TCPM), has been effectively used for the treatment of chronic superficial gastritis (CSG) in clinic. The metabolic profile of TCPMs is the key part of discovering their bioactive components. In this study, a five-step strategy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) and metabolynxTM software combined with mass defect filter (MDF) technique was developed to delineate the metabolic profile of JHT in vivo. As a result, a total of 163 JHT-related xenobiotics (38 prototypes and 125 metabolites) were identified or tentatively characterized in rat biological samples, and the phase I and II metabolism process mainly included demethylation, hydroxylation, sulfation and glucuronidation. In addition, after oral administration of JHT, a large amount of alkaloids-related ingredients were detected in rat plasma samples, indicating that alkaloids may play an important role in the treatment of CSG with JHT. This study is beneficial for understanding of JHT's in vivo metabolic profiles and characteristics, which helps to reveal its in vivo effective components and provides a solid basis for further studies on its functional mechanism.

In this research, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was used for detection and identification of the absorptive constituents and their metabolites in rat plasma, urine and feces following oral administration of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen alcohol extract. After structure elucidation, a total of 12 compounds in rat plasma, comprising seven prototypes and five metabolites, 28 compounds in urine, comprising 17 prototypes and 11 metabolites, and 23 compounds in feces, comrpising 17 prototypes and six metabolites, have been tentatively identified by comparison with standard compounds and reference literature information. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive and systematical metabolic study on the seed. Mostly importantly, we propose that gastric acid could convert jujubosides into an absorbable form of ebelin lactone oligosaccharides, which may be responsible for the low bioavailability and specific bioactivities of these compounds. Additionally, we deduced that the absorption site of ebelin lactone oligosaccharides is located in the stomach, and that the ebelin lactone form of jujubosides may be more suitable for absorption than its hydrolysis product. Our investigation will be helpful to narrow the scope for potentially active ingredients of the seed, and pave the way for determination of the pharmacological mechanism of the seed.

Aims The long-term impact of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on renal functions remains undefined. This study was undertaken to investigate the renal outcomes associated with SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the long term. Methods A systematic literature search of PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted. Randomized controlled trials which reported renal outcomes at the study endpoint in patients with T2DM receiving treatments of SGLT2 inhibitors were included. Renal adverse events were determined using prespecified lists from the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities or laboratory values. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used for assessment of dichotomous data. The mean difference or standardized mean difference with 95% CI was used for assessment of continuous data. Random effects models were adopted to measure the pooled outcomes. Results Thirty-nine studies involving 35 trials were identified. Compared with placebo or other anti-diabetic medications, SGLT2 inhibitors were associated with significant lower incidence of composite renal outcome and acute renal failure or injury in patients with T2DM. The risk of progression of albuminuria also appeared to be decreased. No significant changes of estimated glomerular filtration rate levels or urine albumin-creatinine ratios were found in patients receiving SGLT2 inhibitors. Conclusions Overall renal safety and beneficial effects are indicated for SGLT2 inhibitors. Further confirmative data from large trials and real-world studies are needed.

Red/near‐infrared (NIR) emissive carbon nanodots (CNDs) with photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) of 57% are prepared via an in situ solvent‐free carbonization strategy for the first time. 1‐Photon and 2‐photon cellular imaging is demonstrated by using the CNDs as red/NIR fluorescence agent due to the high PL QY and low biotoxicity. Further study shows that the red/NIR CNDs exhibit multiphoton excited (MPE) upconversion fluorescence under excitation of 800–2000 nm, which involves three NIR windows (NIR‐I, 650–950 nm; NIR‐II, 1100–1350; NIR‐III, 1600–1870 nm). 2‐Photon, 3‐photon, and 4‐photon excited fluorescence of the CNDs under excitation of different wavelengths is achieved. This study develops an in situ solvent‐free carbonization method for efficient red/NIR emissive CNDs with MPE upconversion fluorescence, which may push forward the application of the CNDs in bioimaging.

Methacrylated hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG-MA) is successfully synthesized through transesterification by controlling the ratio of HPG to glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The concentration of the dye or phase transporter, temperature, contact time, and molecular weight of phase transporter were taken into consideration to evaluate the removal ratio and transfer capability. With malachite green optimized as a model dye, HPG-MA could reach a maximum adsorption of 990 mg/g at the feed concentration of 1 g/L, and the removal ratio is 99% compared with ~20 h for other reported phase transporters, which indicates that HPG-MA is a novel phase transporter. HPG-MA can absorb dyes in aqueous solutions, which can be ascribed to the existence of a cavity structure and abundant ether groups. We believe that HPG-MA can have potential applications in the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions due to its high adsorption capacity and eco-friendly nature.

A cross-sectional study design was applied amongst a random sample (n = 10158) of Chinese adolescents. Self-completed questionnaires, including demographic characteristics, Internet use situation, Youth Internet Addiction Test, Youth Social Support Rating Scale and Zung Self-rating Depression Scale were utilized to examine the study objectives. Among the study population, the prevalence rate of Internet addiction was 10.4%, with 1038 (10.2%) moderately and 21 (0.2%) severely addicted to the Internet. Results from the multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that a variety of related factors have significant effects on Internet addiction (parental control, per capita annual household income, academic performance, the access to Internet, online activities). The correlation coefficients showed that Internet addiction was negatively correlated with social support and positively associated with depression. Social support had a significant negative predictive effect on Internet addiction. The mediating effect of depression between social support and Internet addiction was remarkable.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the concordance between falls recorded using an investigational fall detection device and falls reported by nursing staff in a nursing home. DESIGN: Six-month prospective study. SETTING: Hebrew SeniorLife nursing home units in Boston, Massachusetts. PARTICIPANTS: Nursing home residents with a documented history of at least one fall within 12 months before consent (N = 62, mean age 86.2 ± 8.1, 66% female). INTERVENTION: Subjects continuously wore an automated falls detection device on a pendant around their neck. The device contained triaxial accelerometers set to detect a rapid change in position that was interpreted as a fall. MEASUREMENTS: Healthcare staff reported daily falls, defined as unexpected events in which residents were found on the floor, and the number of these falls was compared with the number of falls recorded according to the device. RESULTS: Seven of 37 residents whom nursing staff found on the floor had a fall recorded according to the device (19%). The device did not identify any of the clinical fall events in 23 of the 37 fallers (62%). The device detected 17 of 89 total falls that nursing staff recorded (sensitivity 19%) within an 8-hour time window. Of 128 fall events that the device recorded, 17 were concordant with nursing reports (13%) within an 8-hour time window, and 111 (87%) were false positives. CONCLUSION: There is poor concordance between falls recorded using the investigational fall detection device and falls to the floor that nursing home staff report. Language: en

A high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/Q-TOF MS) was developed for the analysis of chemical composition change in the production process of Re Du Ning injection, a Chinese medicine preparation with a combination of Lonicera japonica Thunb., Gardenia jasminoides Ellis and Artemisia annua L. A total of 90 compounds from raw materials-intermediates-Re Du Ning injection were detected; among them, 55 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized, and the characteristic ions of different types of compounds were described. Based on these studies, the different types of compounds in the various process routes were analyzed. A total of 28 compounds, including seven iridoid glycosides and six monoterpenes from G. jasminoides Ellis, five iridoid glycosides, nine phenolic acids and one unknown compound from L. japonica Thunb., were transferred to Re Du Ning injection, and two unknown compounds were generated in the production process of Re Du Ning injection. The results indicated that the Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical process control is very important. This method could provide some reference for other Chinese medicine preparations.

There have been numerous studies concerning the associations of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D), angiotensin II receptor 1 (AT1R) gene A1166C, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene 4b/a polymorphisms with risk of pregnancy hypertensive disorders (PHDs). However, the results are inconsistent. A total of 83 eligible studies (10,354/18,446 cases/controls) were included in this meta‐analysis. Pooled odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to calculate these associations. The effects of ethnicity and types of PHDs were also considered. Results showed significant associations between the ACE gene polymorphism and PHDs in all of the populations except that in Africa. The associations also existed in AT1R, eNOS gene polymorphism and PHDs in part of the gene models in the overall population. These results indicated the ACE gene polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of PHDs, whereas the eNOS and AT1R gene polymorphism only have increased susceptibility to PHDs in part of the gene models.

As the information from diverse disciplines continues to integrate during the whole life cycle of an Architecture, Engineering, and Construction AEC project, the BIM Building Information Model/Modeling becomes increasingly large. This condition will cause users difficulty in acquiring the information they truly desire on a mobile device with limited space for interaction. The situation will be even worse for personnel without extensive knowledge of Industry Foundation Classes IFC or for nonexperts of the BIM software. To improve the value of the big data of BIM, an approach to intelligent data retrieval and representation for cloud BIM applications based on natural language processing was proposed. First, strategies for data storage and query acceleration based on the popular cloud-based database were explored to handle the large amount of BIM data. Then, the concepts "keyword" and "constraint" were proposed to capture the key objects and their specifications in a natural-language-based sentence that expresses the requirements of the user. Keywords and constraints can be mapped to IFC entities or properties through the International Framework for Dictionaries IFD. The relationship between the user's requirement and the IFC-based data model was established by path finding in a graph generated from the IFC schema, enabling data retrieval and analysis. Finally, the analyzed and summarized results of BIM data were represented based on the structure of the retrieved data. A prototype application was developed to validate the proposed approach on the data collected during the construction of the terminal of Kunming Airport, the largest single building in China. The case study illustrated the following: 1 relationships between the user requirements and the data users concerned are established, 2 user-concerned data can be automatically retrieved and aggregated based on the cloud for BIM, and 3 the data are represented in a proper form for a visual view and a comprehensive report. With this approach, users can significantly benefit from requesting for information and the value of BIM will be enhanced.

Prevalence of neuropathic pain is high after major surgery. However, effective treatment for preventing neuropathic pain is lacking. Here we report that perisurgical treatment of neuroprotectin D1/protectin D1 (NPD1/PD1), derived from docosahexaenoic acid, prevents nerve injury-induced mechanical allodynia and ongoing pain in mice. Intrathecal post-treatment of NPD1/PD1 also effectively reduces established neuropathic pain and produces no apparent signs of analgesic tolerance. Mechanistically, NPD1/PD1 treatment blocks nerve injury-induced long-term potentiation, glial reaction, and inflammatory responses, and reverses synaptic plasticity in the spinal cord. Thus, NPD1/PD1 and related mimetics might serve as a new class of analgesics for preventing and treating neuropathic pain.

By employing lithium and nitrogen codoping method, p-type zinc oxide (ZnO) films have been prepared, and the p-type conduction can maintain for 207 days. ZnO p-n junctions have been constructed based on the p-type ZnO. Under the drive of continuous current, obvious emission has been observed from the p-n junctions, and the ZnO p-n junction light-emitting devices (LEDs) can still work after placing in air ambient for 180 days. Room temperature electroluminescence spectra of the p-ZnO:(Li, N)/n-ZnO structured LEDs under continuous current recorded intermittently for 180 days. (C) 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Objective To study the methods for constructing a digitized three-dimensional (3D) model of a virtual lumbar region and its adjacent structures in order to assist anatomical study and virtual surgery. Methods Images of DSCF5375-p1 to DSCF5745-p1 were taken from the database of the digitized Virtual Chinese human of Southern Medical University in Guangzhou. This region encompasses the superior facet joint of L4 to the inferior edge of the intervertebral body of L5. The regions of interest were interactively segmented from the images utilizing Adobe Photoshop software. The images were further processed using format conversion and segmentation. Finally, a 3D model of the L4–5 region and its neighboring structures was reconstructed with the assistance of Mimics 10.01 software. Results A digitized 3D model of this part of the virtual lumbar spine and its adjacent structures was reconstructed. This model allows all constructed structures to be displayed individually or jointly, moved or rotated arbitrarily, setting of different transparencies and convenient measurement of the diameters and angles of the reconstructed structures. The 3D model precisely displays the anatomical relationships between all structures and provides a reliable 3D model for a spinal endoscopic surgery simulation system. Conclusion Visualization of the digitized 3D reconstruction of the virtual lower lumbar region displays this region and its adjacent structures stereoscopically and in actuality, thus providing morphological data concerning anatomy, image diagnosis and virtual operations in this region.

Virtual Construction (VC) applications encounter difficulty in sharing and exchanging information with one another due to the long periods of interoperability limitation. To address these issues, an Industrial Foundation Classes-based graphic information model (IFC-GIM) is developed according to the exchange requirement of VC, and using the representations of three models in the IFC schema and its extension by defining the dynamic property set and properties for animation. The three models include the physical object model, the construction information model, and the realistic model. An OpenGL-based VC platform is developed and applied to a 440-m-high building to implement the IFC-GIM. The results demonstrate that the proposed IFC-GIM lays the foundation for data sharing and exchange among VC systems and other IFC-compliant applications, which, in turn, significantly reduces the modeling effort for VC and increases the value of VC results. Furthermore, animation is applied to simulate construction activities by the VC platform in addition to color and transparency, enhancing realistic feelings in 4D applications.

In this paper, we study the security assurance in application layer in wireless acoustic sensors via event forecasting and detection. In order to perform event forecasting and detection, we try to answer several challenging questions in acoustic signal research based on wireless acoustic sensors: i Are acoustic signals predictable? ii How are acoustic signals predicted? iii Are there any event-forecasting applications for the security in wireless acoustic sensors? We study these questions based on Xbow acoustic sensors and demonstrate that real-world acoustic signals are self-similar, which means that they are predictable. We propose an acoustic signal prediction scheme using interval type-2 fuzzy logic system FLS. We show that a type-2 fuzzy membership function MF; that is, a Gaussian MF with uncertain mean is appropriate to model the acoustic signal strength. Two FLSs, a type-1 FLS, and an interval type-2 FLS are designed for signal strength forecasting. Furthermore, we propose a double sliding window scheme for event detection based on the forecasted signals. Simulation results show that the interval type-2 FLS outperforms the type-1 FLS in signal strength forecasting and the performance of event detection based on the forecasted signal from type-2 FLS is much better than that based on type-1 FLS. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

RATIONALE The Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) ionization source coupled with a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS/MS) system has the capability to desorb analytes directly from samples from complex Chinese herbal preparations without sample cleanup or chromatographic separation. METHODS In this work, a method based on DART/Q-TOF MS/MS has been developed for rapid determination of geniposide present in 'Re Du Ning Injections', a Chinese herbal preparation. The method has been evaluated for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of geniposide in Re Du Ning Injections. RESULTS Variables including polarity for ion detection, DART gas heater temperature, matrix effect and sample presentation speed were investigated. The quantitative method was validated with respect to linearity, sensitivity, repeatability, precision and accuracy by using both internal and external standards. A comparison of the results obtained using the DART-based method was made with those obtained using a conventional High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Diode-Array Detector (HPLC/DAD) by analyzing geniposide in four batches of Re Du Ning Injections. CONCLUSIONS The DART/Q-TOF MS/MS-based method provides a rapid, efficient and powerful method to analyze compounds from complex Traditional Chinese Medicines with limited sample preparation thus reducing time and complexity of quality control for those materials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Self-resolving inflammatory exudates and lipid mediator metabolomics recently uncovered a new family of potent anti-inflammatory and proresolving mediators biosynthesized by macrophages (MΦs), denoted maresins. Here we determined that maresin 1 (MaR1) produced by human MΦs from endogenous docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) matched synthetic 7R,14S-dihydroxydocosa-4Z,8E,10E,12Z,16Z,19Z-hexaenoic acid. The MaR1 alcohol groups and Z/E geometry of conjugated double bonds were matched using isomers prepared by total organic synthesis. MaR1's potent defining actions were confirmed with synthetic MaR1, i.e., limiting polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) infiltration in murine peritonitis (ng/mouse range) as well as enhancing human macrophage uptake of apoptotic PMNs. At 1 nM, MaR1 was slightly more potent than resolvin D1 in stimulating human MΦ efferocytosis, an action not shared by leukotriene B4. MaR1 also accelerated surgical regeneration in planaria, increasing the rate of head reappearance. On injury of planaria, MaR1 was biosynthesized from deuterium-labeled (d5)-DHA that was blocked with lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor. MaR1 dose-dependently inhibited TRPV1 currents in neurons, blocked capsaicin (100 nM)-induced inward currents (IC50 0.49±0.02 nM), and reduced both inflammation- and chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain in mice. These results demonstrate the potent actions of MaR1 in regulating inflammation resolution, tissue regeneration, and pain resolution. These findings suggest that chemical signals are shared in resolution cellular trafficking, a key process in tissue regeneration. Moreover, immunoresolvents of the innate immune response, such as MaR1, offer new opportunities for assessing MΦs and their local DHA metabolome in the return to tissue homeostasis.—Serhan, C. N., Dalli, J., Karamnov, S., Choi, A., Park, C.-K., Xu, Z.-Z., Ji, R.-R., Zhu, M., Petasis, N. A. Macrophage proresolving mediator maresin 1 stimulates tissue regeneration and controls pain.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To investigate whether the pepsin immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of the laryngeal mucosa epithelia is an available test for diagnosing laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in clinic. Study Design: Prospective case series. Methods: Biopsy specimens from interarytenoid mucosa of LPR patients (seven acid LPR and eight nonacid LPR) and 21 sex- and age-matched normal controls were obtained for pepsin IHC staining. The diagnosis of LPR was based on 24-hour combined multichannel intraluminal esophageal impedance pH monitoring. The results of IHC staining were semiquantitatively analyzed and scored as negative (� ), weakly positive (þ), moderately positive (þþ), and strongly positive (þþþ). Results: Six of seven acid LPR (85.7%) and six of eight nonacid LPR (75%) mucosa samples were moderate to strongly positive for intracellular pepsin. By contrast, only three of 21 normal controls (14.3%) were moderately positive. The difference in intracellular pepsin between LPR and the normal laryngeal mucosa was statistically significant (P < .01). No significant difference in intracellular pepsin was observed between the acid and nonacid LPR mucosal samples (P ¼ .453). Using weak positivity (þ) as a cutpoint, the presence of intracellular pepsin in the laryngeal mucosa had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 47.6% in detecting LPR (P < .05). However, using the moderate positivity (þþ) as the cutpoint, the pepsin had a slightly decreased sensitivity of 80% but a sharply increased specificity of 85.7% (P < .05) in the detection of LPR. Conclusions: Pepsin IHC staining of the laryngeal mucosa appears to be a sensitive and specific test for diagnosing LPR

In 2009, the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) recommended the combination of rbcL and matK as the plant barcode based on assessments of recoverability, sequencing quality, and levels of species discrimination. Subsequently, based on a study of more than 6600 samples belonging to 193 families from seven phyla, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 2 locus was proposed as a universal barcode sequence for all major plant taxa used in traditional herbal medicine. Neither of these two studies was based on a detailed analysis of a particular family. Here, Zingiberaceae plants, including many closely related species, were used to compare the genetic divergence and species identification efficiency of ITS2, rbcL, matK, psbK–psbI, trnH–psbA, and rpoB. The results indicate that ITS2 has the highest interspecific divergence and significant differences between inter- and intraspecific divergence, whereas matK and rbcL have much lower divergence values. Among 260 species belonging to 30 genera in Zingiberaceae, the discrimination ability of the ITS2 locus was 99.5% at the genus level and 73.1% at the species level. Thus, we propose that ITS2 is the preferred DNA barcode sequence for identifying Zingiberaceae plants.

A series of novel fluorinated aromatic polyesters containing trifluoromethylphenoxy pendant groups was synthesized by interfacial polycondensation of 2-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)terephthalyl chloride with various bisphenols in dichloromethane. The polyesters obtained in good yields had weight-average molecular weights of 70,600–29,800 g/mol, polydispersities of 1.81–2.08, and were all amorphous. All polyesters were easily soluble in organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran, o-chlorophenol, pyridine, and dichloromethane. These fluorinated polyesters showed glass transition temperature of 133–210°C, and good thermal stability with almost no weight loss up to 378°C, the 10% weight loss temperature of 472–523°C as well as char yield of 32–63% at 600°C in nitrogen. These polyester films cast from chloroform solutions exhibited tensile strengths ranging from 102 to 126 MPa, elongation at break from 6.3% to 11.7%, and tensile moduli from 2.1 to 3.3 GPa. The resulting polyester films also displayed low dielectric constants between 2.18 and 2.49 (1 MHz), high transparency with an ultraviolet-visible absorption cut-off wavelengths in the 332–355 nm range, and excellent electric strengths (50.4–65.6 kV/mm) and volume resistivity (2.51–6.03 × 1016 Ω cm). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

Objective: To investigate the stability and three-dimensional movements of the atlantoaxial joint after artificial atlanto-odontoid joint (AAOJ) arthroplasty. Method: Ten sets of AAOJ implanted in bony specimens from 10 adults were used to test the pull-out strength of the atlas-axis components with a MTS858 Mini Bionix machine. Another twelve human cadaveric specimens including C0-C4 were used to evaluate the three-dimensional movements of C1-C2 under five different conditions in sequence, that is, the complete specimen, anterior decompression, posterior transarticular screws fixation, AAOJ arthroplasty and fatigue test. Result: There were significant differences between atlas and axis components in the maximum pull-out strength and trajectory length, however the yield length was not significantly different. The maximum pull-out strength of the atlas and axis was positively correlated with trajectory length (r1= 0.880, P 0.05), but the ROM in flexion-extension and lateral bending was significantly smaller compared with the specimens which underwent anterior decompression (P < 0.05). No abrasion and abnormal mobilization were observed after 2000 cycles of flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation in the fatigue test. Conclusions: The self-designed AAOJ has excellent biomechanical performance, and AAOJ arthroplasty can restore excellent instant stability and preserve the movement of the atlantoaxial joint.

9,9-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)xanthene (BHPX) was synthesized in 82% yield from xanthenone in a one-pot, two-step synthetic procedure. A new diacyl chloride monomer, 9,9-bis[4-(chloroformylphenoxy)phenyl]xanthene (BCPX), was synthesized in three steps from the nucleophilic fluorodisplacement of 4-fluorobenzonitrile with the dipotassium bisphenolate of BHPX, followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the intermediate bis(ether nitrile), and then chlorination with thionyl chloride. Several novel aromatic polyamides containing ether and bulky xanthene groups with the inherent viscosities (0.72–0.98 dL/g) were prepared by the low temperature polycondensation of BCPX with various aromatic diamines in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solution containing pyridine (Py). All new polyamides were amorphous and readily soluble in various polar solvents such as DMAc, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and Py. These polymers showed relatively high glass transition temperatures between 236 and 298°C, decomposition temperatures at 10% weight loss ranging from 490 to 535°C and 483 to 515°C in nitrogen and air, respectively, and char yields at 700°C in nitrogen higher than 50%. Transparent, flexible, and tough films of these polymers cast from DMAc solutions exhibited tensile strengths ranging from 82 to 106 MPa, elongations at break from 10% to 25%, and initial moduli from 2.0 to 2.8 GPa.