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α-Ga2O3 microrods was deposited on carbon cloth (CC) using a hydrothermal process followed by a high-temperature annealing in air. The microstructure of the obtained Ga2O3/CC composite electrodes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Their electrochemical performances were tested with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Mott-Schottky (MS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge/discharge techniques (GCD). By comparing the electron densities and mobilities of the Ga2O3/CC electrodes prepared with different hydrothermal durations, the doping mechanisms of point defects in α-Ga2O3 were revealed. The point defects in α-Ga2O3 including Ga-oxygen vacancies (Ga-VO), gallium vacancies (VGa), and VGa-VO complexes were all identified as the scattering centers. By extending the hydrothermal duration to more than 6 h, the electronic conductivity of the Ga2O3/CC electrode was enhanced by reducing the number of point defects in α-Ga2O3. The Ga2O3/CC-6h aqueous symmetrical supercapacitor (SC) showed a remarkable increase in the electrochemical performance by exhibiting a specific areal capacitance of 1394 mF cm−2 at 0.5 mA cm−2, with 67% of the capacitance retained when the current density was increased to 20 mA cm−2, and 76.5% of capacitance retention after 20,000 cycles under a current density of 10 mA cm−2. The point defect mechanism identified in the article would pave the way to develop novel energy storage devices based on α-Ga2O3 in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the synergy of the Burkholderia signaling molecule cis -2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF) and fluconazole (FLU) or itraconazole (ITRA) against two azole-resistant C. albicans clinical isolates in vitro and in vivo. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antibiotics against two azole-resistant C. albicans were measured by the checkerboard technique, E-test, and time-kill assay. In vivo antifungal synergy testing was performed on mice. Analysis of the relative gene expression levels of the strains was conducted by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). BDSF showed highly synergistic effects in combination with FLU or ITRA with a fractional inhibitory concentration index of ≤ 0.08. BDSF was not cytotoxic to normal human foreskin fibroblast cells at concentrations of up to 300 µg/mL. The qRT-PCR results showed that the combination of BDSF and FLU/ITRA significantly inhibits the expression of the efflux pump genes CDR1 and MDR1 via suppression of the transcription factors TAC1 and MRR1 , respectively, when compared with FLU or ITRA alone. No dramatic difference in the mRNA expression levels of ERG1 , ERG11 , and UPC2 was found, which indicates that the drug combinations do not significantly interfere with UPC2 -mediated ergosterol levels. In vivo experiments revealed that combination therapy can be an effective therapeutic approach to treat candidiasis. The synergistic effects of BDSF and azoles may be useful as an alternative approach to control azole-resistant Candida infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective To evaluate the efficacy of cis -2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF) in the treatment and prevention of vaginal candidiasis in vivo. Methods The activities of different concentrations of BDSF against the virulence factors of Candida albicans (C. albicans) were determined in vitro. An experimental mouse model of Candida vaginitis was treated with 250 μmol/L BDSF. Treatment efficiency was evaluated in accordance with vaginal fungal burden and inflammation symptoms. Results In vitro experiments indicated that BDSF attenuated the adhesion and damage of C. albicans to epithelial cells by decreasing phospholipase secretion and blocking filament formation. Treatment with 30 μmol/L BDSF reduced the adhesion and damage of C. albicans to epithelial cells by 36.9% and 42.3%, respectively. Treatment with 200 μmol/L BDSF completely inhibited phospholipase activity. In vivo mouse experiments demonstrated that BDSF could effectively eliminate vaginal infection and relieve inflammatory symptoms. Four days of treatment with 250 μmol/L BDSF reduced vaginal fungal loads by 6-fold and depressed inflammation. Moreover, BDSF treatment decreased the expression levels of the inflammatory chemokine-associated genes MCP-1 and IGFBP3 by 2.5- and 2-fold, respectively. Conclusion BDSF is a novel alternative drug that can efficiently control vaginal candidiasis by inhibiting the virulence factors of C. albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have identified multiple viruses in dead or severely diseased pangolins, but descriptions of the virome in healthy pangolins are lacking. This poses a greater risk of cross-species transmission due to poor preventive awareness and frequent interactions with breeders. In this study, we investigated the viral composition of 34 pangolins with no signs of disease at the time of sampling and characterized a large number of arthropod-associated viruses belonging to 11 families and vertebrate viruses belonging to eight families, including those with pathogenic potential in humans and animals. Several important vertebrate viruses were identified in the pangolins, including parvovirus, pestivirus, and picobirnavirus. The picobirnavirus was clustered with human and grey teal picobirnaviruses. Viruses with cross-species transmission ability were also identified, including circovirus, rotavirus, and astrovirus. Our study revealed that pangolins are frequently exposed to arthropod-associated viruses in the wild and can carry many vertebrate viruses under natural conditions. This study provides important insights into the virome of pangolins, underscoring the importance of monitoring potential pathogens in healthy pangolins to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases in domesticated animals and humans.

In x Ga 1-x N nanowires (NWs) have drawn great attentions for their applications in optoelectronic and energy conversion devices. Compared to conventional substrates, metal substrates can offer In x Ga 1-x N NW devices with better thermal conductivity, electric conductivity, and mechanic flexibility. In this article, In x Ga 1-x N NWs were successfully grown on the surface of a tantalum (Ta) substrate via vapor-liquid-solid chemical vapor deposition (VLS-CVD), as characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), scanning and transmission electron microscope (STEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). It was found that the surface pretreatment of Ta and the composition of metallic catalysts played important roles in the formation of NWs. A dimpled nitrided Ta surface combined with a catalyst of nickle is suitable for VLS-CVD growth of the NWs. The obtained In x Ga 1-x N NWs grew along the [1100] direction with the presence of basal stacking faults and an enriched indium composition of ~3 at.%. The successful VLS-CVD preparation of In x Ga 1-x N nanowires on Ta substrates could pave the way for the large-scale manufacture of optoelectronic devices in a more cost-effective way.

Objective: To study the effect of golden-hour body temperature bundle management strategy on admission temperature and clinical outcome in preterm infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks after birth., Methods: The preterm infants who were born in the delivery room of the West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University and admitted to the department of neonatology of this hospital within 1 hour after birth from December 2015 to June 2016 and from January to May, 2017 were enrolled. The 173 preterm infants who were admitted from January to May, 2017 were enrolled as the intervention group and were given golden-hour body temperature bundle management. The 164 preterm infants who were admitted from December 2015 to June 2016 were enrolled as the control group and were given conventional body temperature management., Results: The intervention group had a significantly higher mean admission temperature than the control group (36.4±0.4°C vs 35.3±0.6°C; P<0.001). The incidence rate of hypothermia on admission in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (56.6% vs 97.6%; P<0.001). The intervention group had a significantly lower incidence rate of intracranial hemorrhage within one week after admission than the control group (15.0% vs 31.7%; P<0.05)., Conclusions: Golden-hour body temperature bundle management for preterm infants within one hour after birth can reduce the incidence of hypothermia on admission and improve clinical outcome.

Catalpol, an iridoid glucoside extracted from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Rehmannia glutinosa, is reported to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-apoptotic effects. The main aim of the present study was to investigate whether catalpol ameliorates experimental acute pancreatitis (AP) induced by sodium taurocholate (STC). AP was induced in rats via retrograde injection of 4% STC (0.1 mL/100 g) into the biliopancreatic duct. Rats were pre-treated with saline or catalpol (50 mg/kg) 2 h before STC injection. At 12, 24 and 48 h after injection, the severity of AP was evaluated using biochemical and morphological analyses. Pretreatment with catalpol led to a significant reduction in serum amylase and lipase activities, pancreatic histological damage, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Moreover, administration of catalpol increased the viability of pancreatic acinar cells and inhibited NF-κB expression in vitro. Our results collectively support the potential of catalpol as a highly effective therapeutic agent for treatment of AP.

Objective: To compare the clinical effect of poly-DL-lactic acid (PDLLA) absorbable screws and titanium metallic screws in the treatment of syndesmotic disruptions in ankle fractures., Methods: In this prospective, randomized clinical trial, 58 patients with or suspected of syndesmotic disruption associated with ankle fractures were randomly allocated to receive either bioabsorbable PDLLA or metallic titanium screwing fixation. Using preoperative radiography and intraoperative hook test, syndesmotic disruption was confirmed in 47 cases (25 with metallic screwing and 22 with PLLA screwing). Statistical analyses were performed at 6 months postoperatively to compare the AOFAS score, range of motion of the joint, TFCS width and TFO width on anteroposterior view radiographs, and inflammatory reactions between the two groups., Results: The PDLLA screws showed good therapeutic effect similar to that of titanium metallic screws in syndesmosis fixation in these patients. No significant differences were found in the AOFAS score, range of motion of the joint, or TFCS width or TFO width between two groups (P>0.05). One patient in PDLLA screw group showed inflammatory reactions to the implants., Conclusion: PDLLA screws allow effective and reliable stabilization of syndesmotic disruptions without a second operation for screw removal.

Objective: This paper describes automatic registration of the serial cross-sectional images of Chinese digital human by projective registration method based on the landmarks using the commercially available software Photoshop and Matlab. During cadaver embedment for acquisition of the Chinese digital human images, 4 rods were placed parallel to the vertical axis of the frozen cadaver to allow orientation. Projective distortion of the rod positions on the cross-sectional images was inevitable due to even slight changes of the relative position of the camera. The original cross-sectional images were first processed using Photoshop software firstly to obtain the images of the orientation rods, and the centroid coordinate of every rod image was acquired with Matlab software. With the average coordinate value of the rods as the fiducial point, two-dimensional projective transformation coefficient of each image was determined. Projective transformation was then carried out and projective distortion from each original serial image was eliminated. The rectified cross-sectional images were again processed using Photoshop to obtain the image of the first orientation rod, the coordinate value of first rod image was calculated using Matlab software, and the cross-sectional images were cut into images of the same size according to the first rod spatial coordinate, to achieve automatic registration of the serial cross-sectional images. sing Photoshop and Matlab softwares, projective transformation can accurately accomplish the image registration for the serial images with simpler calculation processes and easier computer processing.