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Objective To compare the safety and effectiveness of robot‐assisted minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (Mis‐TLIF) and oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) for the treatment of single‐level lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS). Methods This is a retrospective study. Between April 2018 and April 2020, a total of 61 patients with single‐level lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and treated with robot‐assisted OLIF (28 cases, 16 females, 12 males, mean age 50.4 years) or robot‐assisted Mis‐TLIF (33 cases, 18 females, 15 males, mean age 53.6 years) were enrolled and evaluated. All the pedicle screws were implanted percutaneously assisted by the TiRobot system. Surgical data included the operation time, blood loss, and length of postoperative hospital stay. The clinical and functional outcomes included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analog scores (VAS) for back and leg pain, complication, and patient's satisfaction. Radiographic outcomes include pedicle screw accuracy, fusion status, and disc height. These data were collected before surgery, at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. Results There were no significantly different results in preoperative measurement between the two groups. There was significantly less blood loss (142.4 ± 89.4 vs 291.5 ± 72.3 mL, P, Robot‐assisted OLIF and Mis‐TLIF both have similar good clinical outcomes, but OLIF has the additional benefits of less blood loss, less hospital stays, higher disc height, and higher fusion rates. Robots can improve the safety of the minimally invasive spine surgery.

Background Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare nonhereditary disease characterized by chronic diarrhoea, diffuse gastrointestinal polyposis and ectodermal manifestations. The lethality of CCS can be up to 50% if it is untreated or if treatment is delayed or inadequate. More than 35% of the patients do not achieve long-term clinical remission after corticosteroid administration, with relapse occurring during or after the cessation of glucocorticoid use. The optimal strategy of maintenance therapy of this disease is controversial. Case summary A 47-year-old man presented to the hospital with a 3-mo history of frequent watery diarrhoea, accompanied by macular skin pigmentation that included the palms and soles, and onychodystrophy of the fingernails and toenails. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy revealed numerous polyps in the stomach and colon. After other possibilities were ruled out by a series of examinations, CCS was diagnosed and treated with prednisone. The patient took prednisone for more than 1 year before achieving complete resolution of his symptoms and endoscopic findings. The patient was then given prednisone 5 mg/d for 6 mo of maintenance therapy. With clinical improvement and polyp regression, prednisone was discontinued. Eight mo after the discontinuation of prednisone, the diarrhoea and gastrointestinal polyps relapsed. Therefore, the patient was given the same dose of prednisone, and complete remission was achieved again. Conclusion It is necessary to extend the duration of prednisone maintenance therapy for CCS. Prednisone is still effective when readministered after relapse. Surveillance endoscopy at intervals of 1 year or less is recommended to assess mucosal disease activity.

The operation and power generation of utility-scale solar energy infrastructure in desert areas are affected by changes in surface erosion processes resulting from the construction of solar photovoltaic (PV) power stations. However, few studies have addressed the interactions between solar PV arrays and aeolian erosion processes. In this study, wind flow field characteristics and the vertical distribution of sediments were investigated in the near-surface transport layer at three different locations with respect to the solar PV arrays in a 200 WM-p PV power station in the central Hobq Desert, northwestern China. The results indicate that the sediment transport varied around the panels, with the greatest transport occurring between the panels, followed by behind and in front of the panels. The sediment fluxes of all of the observation sites obey an exponential function. The secondary flow field zones formed around the PV panels: the conflux accelerating zone between the panels, the resistance decelerating zone of the under panels, and the transition zone of the rapid velocity increase in front of and behind the panels. This resulted in a greater shear force in front of the panels under the downward flow diversion effect of PV panels, and the wind erosion depressions were finally formed here. The results of this study provide information for planning better technical schemes for wind-sand hazards at solar PV power stations, which would ensure operational stability and safety in desert areas.

Deserts are ideal places to develop ground-mounted large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power station. Unfortunately, solar energy production, operation, and maintenance are affected by geomorphological changes caused by surface erosion that may occur after the construction of the solar PV power station. In order to avoid damage to a solar PV power station in sandy areas, it is necessary to investigate the characteristics of wind-sand movement under the interference of solar PV array. The study was undertaken by measuring sediment transport of different wind directions above shifting dunes and three observation sites around the PV panels in the Hobq Desert, China. The results showed that the two-parameter exponential function provides better fit for the measured flux density profiles to the near-surface of solar PV array. However, the saltation height of sand particles changes with the intersection angle between the solar PV array and wind direction exceed 45°. The sediment transport rate above shifting dunes was always the greatest, while that around the test PV panels varied accordingly to the wind direction. Moreover, the aeolian sediment transport on the solar PV array was significantly affected by wind direction. The value of sand inhibition rate ranged from 35.46% to 88.51% at different wind directions. When the intersection angle exceeds 45°, the mean value of sediment transport rate above the solar PV array reduces to 82.58% compared with the shifting dunes. The results of our study expand our understanding of the formation and evolution of aeolian geomorphology at the solar PV footprint. This will facilitate the design and control engineering plans for solar PV array in sandy areas that operate according to the wind regime.

Preoperative differentiation between benign lymphoepithelial lesion (BLEL) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALToma) in the parotid gland is important for treatment decisions. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a CT-based radiomics nomogram combining radiomics signature and clinical factors for the preoperative differentiation of BLEL from MALToma in the parotid gland. A total of 101 patients with BLEL (n = 46) or MALToma (n = 55) were divided into a training set (n = 70) and validation set (n = 31). Radiomics features were extracted from non-contrast CT images, a radiomics signature was constructed, and a radiomics score (Rad-score) was calculated. Demographics and CT findings were assessed to build a clinical factor model. A radiomics nomogram combining the Rad-score and independent clinical factors was constructed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The performance levels of the nomogram, radiomics signature, and clinical model were evaluated and validated on the training and validation datasets, and then compared among the three models. Seven features were used to build the radiomics signature. The radiomics nomogram incorporating the clinical factors and radiomics signature showed favorable predictive value for differentiating parotid BLEL from MALToma, with AUCs of 0.983 and 0.950 for the training set and validation set, respectively. Decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram outperformed the clinical factor model in terms of clinical usefulness. The CT-based radiomics nomogram incorporating the Rad-score and clinical factors showed favorable predictive efficacy for differentiating BLEL from MALToma in the parotid gland, and may help in the clinical decision-making process. • Differential diagnosis between BLEL and MALToma in parotid gland is rather difficult by conventional imaging modalities. • A radiomics nomogram integrated with the radiomics signature, demographics, and CT findings facilitates differentiation of BLEL from MALToma with improved diagnostic efficacy.

BACKGROUND Many natural products confer health benefits against diverse diseases through their antioxidant activities. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is often used in animal experiments to study the effects of substances on liver injury and the related mechanisms of action, among which oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor. AIM To compare antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ten herbs and identify and quantify phytochemicals for the one with strongest hepatoprotection. METHODS The antioxidant activity of ten medicinal herbs was determined by both ferric-reducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetry, respectively. Their effects on CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury were evaluated and compared in a mouse model by administrating each water extract (0.15 g/mL, 10 mL/kg) once per day for seven consecutive days and a dose of CCl4 solution in olive oil (8%, v/v, 10 mL/kg). The herb with the strongest hepatoprotective performance was analyzed for the detailed bioactive components by using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization source-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS The results revealed that all tested herbs attenuated CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury; each resulted in significant decreases in levels of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and triacylglycerols. In addition, most herbs restored hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, glutathione levels, and reduced malondialdehyde levels. Sanguisorba officinalis (S. officinalis) L., Coptis chinensis Franch., and Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi root were the three most effective herbs, and S. officinalis L. exhibited the strongest hepatoprotective effect. Nine active components were identified in S. officinalis L. Gallic acid and (+)-catechin were quantified (7.86 ± 0.45 mg/g and 8.19 ± 0.57 mg/g dried weight, respectively). Furthermore, the tested herbs displayed a range of in vitro antioxidant activities proportional to their phenolic content; the strongest activities were also found for S. officinalis L. CONCLUSION This study is of value to assist the selection of more effective natural products for direct consumption and the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics to manage oxidative stress-related diseases.

Background. Many epidemiological studies have investigated the risk factors for clonorchiasis, but endoscopic findings of this disease in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) have not been well characterized. In this study, we evaluated clonorchiasis in ERCP in patients with biliary and pancreatic diseases. Methods. This was a retrospective two-center study in hospitalized patients who received ERCP between January 2012 and October 2018. All patients were divided into clonorchiasis and nonclonorchiasis groups. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate analyses. Results. A total of 1119 patients were included, and clonorchiasis was diagnosed in 19.2% patients. Detection of Clonorchis sinensis eggs in bile samples was higher than that in fecal samples (85.9% vs. 58.7%; P=0.001). In multivariate analysis, male patients (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.945–4.249, P=0.0001), age≤60 years old (95% CI: 1.212–2.474, P=0.003), patients with papilla fistula (95% CI: 0.081–0.900, P=0.033), and patients with a common bile duct (CBD) diameter<12 mm (95% CI: 1.093–2.130, P=0.013) were associated with clonorchiasis incidence. Nonclonorchiasis endoscopic diagnosis did not significantly correlate with clonorchiasis incidence (P>0.05). Conclusions. The detection of C. sinensis eggs was significantly higher in bile than in fecal samples; thus, bile samples represent a preferable sample for the diagnosis of clonorchiasis in patients with biliary obstruction. We found that male, age≤60 years old, and CBD diameter<12 mm were independent risk factors for clonorchiasis, while papilla fistula was a protective factor.

Background. The bile infection may already exist before the administration of an interventional procedure, despite no clinical manifestations of cholangitis detected. Blood cultures remained negative even in more than half of the febrile cases with cholangitis. Risk factors associated with bacterial growth in bile before the intervention are not well defined. To establish the bacterial profiles isolated from the bile samples and to identify risk factors for bacterial colonization in the bile system. Methods. Individuals who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) interventions were enrolled. Bile samples were aspirated and were immediately transferred into a sterile tube for storage. Results. Positive bile cultures were detected in 363 (38.0%) of 956 patients, including 322 benign diseases and 41 malignances. Of 363 positive cases, 351 (96.7%) were monoinfection and 12 (3.3%) multi-infection. Escherichia coli were the most common Gram-negative bacteria (210, 56.0%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (45, 12.0%). Enterococcus faecalis represented the most common Gram-positive microorganism (19, 5.07%), while Candida albicans (11, 2.93%) were the dominant fungi. Klebsiella pneumoniae were more frequently detected in malignant diseases (P=0.046). Age, previous ERCP history or OLT history, and CBD diameter were independent risk factors for positive cultures (P<0.05) while preoperative jaundice drug therapy was the protective factor for bile infection (P<0.05). Conclusion. Monomicrobial infection was dominant among all infections, and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were more frequently isolated from patients with malignant diseases. To effectively manage patients who are at a high risk for bile infection, a detailed diagnosis and treatment plan for each case should be prepared.

Objectives To evaluate the safety and efficacy of excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) in patients with in-stent restenosis chronic total occlusions (ISR CTOs). Background ISR CTOs are a challenge in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Although they can be treated by ELCA, limited data are available on the effects of ELCA treatment in these patients. Methods Fifty-nine consecutive patients underwent PCI for ISR CTOs at Beijing Hospital between December 2017 and September 2020. According to whether or not ELCA was performed, they were divided into two groups. Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) analyses were performed routinely, including measurement of the minimal lumen diameter and calculation of the percentage diameter stenosis. The procedural success rate, the frequency of peri-procedural complications, and the incidence rates of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) over nine months were assessed. The primary endpoint in the study was the percentage diameter stenosis. Results Procedure success was achieved in most patients in both groups (75.9%). Patients in the ELCA group exhibited a lower percentage diameter stenosis (24.5 ± 9.09 vs. 35.1 ± 18.6, p = 0.048) and a larger minimal lumen diameter (2.36 ± 0.29 mm vs. 1.78 ± 0.64 mm, p Conclusions This study demonstrated that ELCA may be a safe and effective technique in the treatment of ISR CTOs, and the use of ELCA can achieve good immediate angiographic results, as measured by QCA, without increasing peri-procedural complications or the incidence rates of 9-month MACEs.

IntroductionGastric cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive tract. However, there are no adequate prognostic markers available for this disease. The present study used bioinformatics to identify prognostic markers for gastric cancer that would guide the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease.Materials and MethodsGene expression data and clinical information of gastric cancer patients along with the gene expression data of 30 healthy samples were downloaded from the TCGA database. The initial screening was performed using the WGCNA method combined with the analysis of differentially expressed genes, which was followed by univariate analysis, multivariate COX regression analysis, and Lasso regression analysis for screening the candidate genes and constructing a prognostic model for gastric cancer. Subsequently, immune cell typing was performed using CIBERSORT to analyze the expression of immune cells in each sample. Finally, we performed laboratory validation of the results of our analyses using immunohistochemical analysis.ResultsAfter five screenings, it was revealed that only three genes fulfilled all the screening requirements. The survival curves generated by the prognostic model revealed that the survival rate of the patients in the high-risk group was significantly lower compared to the patients in the low-risk group (P-value < 0.001). The immune cell component analysis revealed that the three genes were differentially associated with the corresponding immune cells (P-value < 0.05). The results of immunohistochemistry also support our analysis.ConclusionCGB5, MKNK2, and PAPPA2 may be used as novel prognostic biomarkers for gastric cancer.

Background Recently, several novel scoring systems have been developed to evaluate the severity and outcomes of acute pancreatitis. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of novel and conventional scoring systems in predicting the severity and outcomes of acute pancreatitis. Methods Patients treated between January 2003 and August 2020 were reviewed. The Ranson score (RS), Glasgow score (GS), bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP), pancreatic activity scoring system (PASS), and Chinese simple scoring system (CSSS) were determined within 48 h after admission. Multivariate logistic regression was used for severity, mortality, and organ failure prediction. Optimum cutoffs were identified using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results A total of 1848 patients were included. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of RS, GS, BISAP, PASS, and CSSS for severity prediction were 0.861, 0.865, 0.829, 0.778, and 0.816, respectively. The corresponding AUCs for mortality prediction were 0.693, 0.736, 0.789, 0.858, and 0.759. The corresponding AUCs for acute respiratory distress syndrome prediction were 0.745, 0.784, 0.834, 0.936, and 0.820. Finally, the corresponding AUCs for acute renal failure prediction were 0.707, 0.734, 0.781, 0.868, and 0.816. Conclusions RS and GS predicted severity better than they predicted mortality and organ failure, while PASS predicted mortality and organ failure better. BISAP and CSSS performed equally well in severity and outcome predictions.

Background: The outbreak of the pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now become a global pandemic spreading throughout the world. Unfortunately, due to the high infectiousness of the novel β-coronavirus, it is very likely to become an ordinary epidemic. The development of dietary supplements and functional foods might provide a strategy for the prevention and management of COVID-19.Scope and Approach: A great diversity of potential edible and medicinal plants and/or natural compounds showed potential benefits in managing SARS, which may also combat COVID-19. Moreover, many plants and compounds have currently been proposed to be protective against COVID-19. This information is based on data-driven approaches and computational chemical biology techniques. In this study, we review promising candidates of edible and medicinal plants for the prevention and management of COVID-19. We primarily focus on analyzing their underlying mechanisms. We aim to identify dietary supplements and functional foods that assist in managing this epidemic.Key findings and Conclusion: We infer that acetoside, glyasperin, isorhamnetin, and several flavonoid compounds may prevent and/or be effective in managing COVID-19 by targeting the viral infection, reducing the host cytokine storm, regulating the immune response, and providing organ protection. These bioactive dietary components (used either alone or in combination) might assist in the development of dietary supplements or functional foods for managing COVID-19.

Topological photonics is an emerging field that attracts enormous interest for its novel ways to engineer the flow of light. With the help of topological protection, the surface modes of topological photonic systems have intriguing properties, such as the unidirectional propagation, robust transmission against defects and disorders, which meet the rapidly growing demands for information processing. Valley photonic crystals, as one kind of topological photonic systems, not only support protected surface modes, but also are friendly to micro-nano fabrication. These advantages show that it has broad prospects in constructing high-performance photonic devices or even photonic integrated circuits. Here, we review the properties and development of valley photonic crystals. Firstly, the theory and structure are briefly introduced and then the discussion of robust transmission will be followed. Furthermore, prototypes of on-chip devices based on valley photonic crystals are reviewed. As a perspective in photonics, valley photonic crystal is expected to become a good platform to study nanophotonics and realize advancing integrated photonics devices.

Here, the frequency degree of freedom is introduced into valley photonic crystals with dual band gaps. Based on the high-order plane wave expansion model, we derive an effective Hamiltonian which characterizes dual band gaps. Metallic valley photonic crystals are demonstrated as examples in which all four topological phases are found. At the domain walls between topologically distinct valley photonic crystals, frequency-dependent edge states are demonstrated and a broadband photonic detouring is proposed. Our findings provide the guidance for designing the frequency-dependent property of topological structures and show its potential applications in wavelength division multiplexers., Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures

Background Assessment of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is a non-invasive measure of intracranial pressure (ICP). However, it is not clear whether healthy individuals exhibit ONSD variation or whether factors other than ICP affect the ONSD. Purpose To investigate whether ONSD was correlated with age, sex, height, weight, eyeball transverse diameter (ETD), or body mass index (BMI), and to develop a new diagnostic model to increase the diagnostic accuracy of intracranial hypertension (IH). Material and Methods A total of 145 relatively healthy adults and 40 patients with acute IH who underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were enrolled in this study. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between ONSD and these variables. If correlations were identified, an index ONSDΔ removing variables effects was calculated. ROC analysis was used to assess the IH predictive value of ONSDΔ in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Results In relatively healthy adults, there was a correlation between ONSD and BMI ( P = 0.002), which can be presented as an index ONSDΔ. The ONSDΔ model better predicted IH than the ONSD model ( P = 0.035), with a sensitivity of 70.00%, a specificity of 71.72%, and an AUC of 0.755. Conclusion A correlation between ONSD and body mass index (BMI) was found using high-resolution MRI. This result indicates that the effects of BMI should be considered along with the ONSD during ICP monitoring. Meanwhile, the index ONSDΔ was better than the ONSD in predicting IH and could be used to obtain a more precise estimation of ICP.

Objective We evaluated the safety and efficacy of rotational atherectomy (RA) in patients with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods In total, 140 consecutive patients with severe coronary artery calcification (CAC) who underwent RA were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were grouped based on LVEF: ≤35% (n = 10), 36% to 50% (n = 11), and >50% (n = 119). We assessed procedural success and periprocedural complication rates as well as the incidences of in-hospital and 2-year major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), defined as hospitalization for myocardial infarction and worsening heart failure, target vessel revascularization, and cardiac death. Results Procedural success was achieved in nearly all patients in each group. Most periprocedural complications were minor, and major complications were uncommon. The 2-year MACE rate was significantly higher in the LVEF ≤35% than LVEF >50% group (40.0% vs. 6.7%, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis revealed that the LVEF was the only independent predictor of 2-year MACEs in patients who underwent RA. Conclusions Patients with a reduced LVEF who underwent RA had procedural success rates similar to those of patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function. The LVEF might be an independent predictor of 2-year MACEs in patients with severe CAC after percutaneous coronary intervention following RA.

To further improve awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, the May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign continued in 2018 in China. Study subjects were adults aged 18 years or more, ideally those who had not their blood pressure (BP) measured for at least a year. Blood pressure was measured three times consecutively with a 1-min interval in the sitting position, using automated BP monitors in 288 342 participants and transmitted to a central database by a smartphone app. Questionnaire data were collected with the same app. After imputation, the overall proportion of hypertension was 29.8%. Of those with hypertension, the rates of awareness, treatment, and control were 62.3%, 57.3%, and 35.9%, respectively. In analysis based on linear regression models, both systolic and diastolic BP were higher with cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, and overweight and obesity. Our study results suggest that hypertension management is improving in comparison with the data in MMM 2017 and the nationwide survey in 2012–15, and several known lifestyle factors are key to hypertension management.

Purpose: During surgical procedure on lumbar spondylolisthesis, the role of reducing slip remains controversial. The purpose of the present study was to compare fusion in situ with reduction in clinical and radiographic outcomes. Methods: A literature research was performed at PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. After screening by two authors, ten articles were brought into this meta-analysis finally, and the quality was evaluated by the modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Isthmic, moderate, and serious spondylolisthesis were all analyzed separately. Sensitivity analyses were performed for high-quality studies, and the publication bias was evaluated by the funnel plot. Results: Most criteria did not have statistical differences between reduction and fusion in situ groups. However, in reduction group, the union rate was significantly higher (P=0.008), the slippage was much improved (P Conclusions: Both reduction and fusion in situ for lumbar spondylolisthesis were related with good clinical results. Reduction led to higher rate of fusion, better radiographic slippage, and shorter hospital stay. After sufficient decompression, reduction did not incur additional risk of neurologic impairment compared with fusion in situ.

The goal of this study was to clarify the protective role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway agonist SKL2001 in a rat model of Caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. AR42J cells and rats were divided into 4 groups: control, Caerulein, SKL2001 + Caerulein, and SKL2001 + control. Cell apoptosis was examined using flow cytometry. Hematoxylin–eosin staining was performed to observe pathological changes in pancreatic and small intestinal tissues. Inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while genes related to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR. In vitro results showed that Caerulein promoted cell necrosis, inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and increased the level of inflammatory cytokines. However, SKL2001 reduced cell necrosis and inflammatory cytokines and activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Additionally, in vivo results demonstrated the accumulation of fluid (i.e., edema), hemorrhage, inflammation and necrosis of the pancreatic acini occurred 6 h after the final Caerulein induction, with the damage reaching a maximal level 12 h after the final Caerulein induction; meanwhile, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was evidently inhibited with an enhanced level of inflammatory cytokines. The aforementioned damage was further aggravated 12 h later. Nevertheless, the pancreatic and small intestinal tissue damages were alleviated in Caerulein-induced rats treated with SKL2001. In conclusion, activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway could inhibit Caerulein-induced cell apoptosis and inflammatory cytokine release, thus improving pancreatic and intestinal damage in rats with acute pancreatitis.

We investigated the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in a large opportunistic screening study in China. Our study participants had to be ≥18 years of age and had ideally not taken blood pressure (BP) for ≥1 year. BP was measured three times consecutively in the sitting position with a 1-minute interval, using a validated electronic BP monitor or mercury sphygmomanometer. Trained volunteer investigators administered a questionnaire to collect information on medical history, lifestyle, and use of medications. The 364 000 participants (52.6% women, and mean age 53.4 years) had a mean systolic/diastolic BP of 124.2/76.4 mm Hg. The proportion of hypertension was 24.7%. In all hypertensive subjects (n = 89 925), the awareness, treatment, and control rates of hypertension were 60.1%, 42.5%, and 25.4%, respectively. In multiple stepwise logistic regression analyses, the odds for unawareness vs awareness of hypertension was higher in men and lower with age advancing, current smoking, and the presence of diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and stroke or transient ischemic attack (P < .0001). The odds for uncontrolled vs controlled hypertension was higher with age advancing and current smoking, and lower with the presence of diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease (P ≤ .03) in 38 207 treated hypertensive patients, and it was also higher with the use of antihypertensive monotherapy (odds ratio 1.13, P = .0003) in 19 523 treated hypertensive patients with specific antihypertensive drugs. Our study identified several factors as barriers to BP control in China, such as male gender, younger age, current smoking, and the under-use of combination therapy.

Purpose The rest-to-rest movements for the spacecraft, such as attitude adjustment and orbital maneuver, are likely to excite residual vibration of the flexible appendages, which may affect the attitude accuracy and even result in severe structural damage. This paper presents an approach to attenuating the vibration of flexible solar array by using reaction flywheel. Design/methodology/approach The reaction flywheel installed on solar array is served as an actuator to provide reaction torque to the structure according to the designed feedback control law. This torque can be considered as an artificial damping. Experiment on a scale model of the solar array is firstly performed to verify the effectiveness of this method. Numerical simulation on finite element model of a full-scale solar array is subsequently carried out to confirm the validity of this method for practical engineering application. Findings The vibration suppression effect on the structure by using reaction flywheel is deduced by theoretical analysis. Results from both experiment and numerical simulation reveal that the efficiency of vibration attenuation is promoted. Research limitations/implications Improvements on control law are left for further study. Additionally, only the first-order bending vibration of the flexible solar array is attenuated, and further study is required for other types of vibration suppression. Practical implications An effective method is proposed for spacecraft designers to actively suppress the vibration of the flexible solar array. Originality/value A novel active vibration reduction scheme is proposed by using reaction flywheel to suppress vibration of the flexible solar array. This paper fulfills a source of theoretical analysis and experimental studies for vibration reduction measure design and provides practical help for the spacecraft designers.

The consumption of vitamins C and D for prevention and treatment of cancer is still an uncertain recommendation due to their controversial roles in cancer. The epidemiological studies document that vitamins C and D possess potential antineoplastic property. In addition, accumulating experimental studies strongly support their anticancer efficacy both in vitro and in vivo, although the mechanisms of action are not completely clear. Vitamin C at pharmacological concentration has cancer-selective cytotoxicity in several cancer cell lines. Moreover, the cognition of vitamin D has become "hormone D", which modulates a variety of molecular targets and signaling pathways, contributing to the inhibition of cancer. Furthermore, limited small-scale clinical trials favor their roles as the adjuncts of standard cancer therapies. On the other hand, opposite opinions also exist, and high-quality evidence are still lacking to ascertain the roles of vitamins C and D in cancer. In general, in light of the potential and promising anticancer values of vitamins C and D, it is essential to gain insight into their roles in cancer based on current epidemiological, experimental and clinical studies.

Helicobacter pylori is the main pathogen that induces chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, atrophic gastritis, and other gastric disorders, and it is classified as a group I carcinogen. To eradicate H. pylori infection, triple therapy consisting of two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor is the most widely recommended first-line therapeutic strategy. Antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics contained in triple therapy could lead to therapeutic regimen failures. Recent studies showed that many natural products, including fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants, possess inhibitory effects on H. pylori, indicating their potential to be alternatives to prevent and manage H. pylori infection. This review summarizes the effects of natural products on H. pylori infection and highlights the mechanisms of action.

Background Increasing evidence has demonstrated that microRNAs regulate the development of cartilage and osteogenesis. Whether miR-206 participates in the development of human articular cartilage remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-206 in human chondrocytes. Methods Expression of miR-206 was initially assessed in human osteoarthritis (OA) tissues and articular chondrocytes through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effects of miR-206 on proliferation and apoptosis of human chondrocytes were assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) double staining assay. Then, the effects of miR-206 on type II collagen alpha 1 (Col2a1), aggrecan, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and matrix metalloproteinase13 (MMP13) were examined with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Results MiR-206 was significantly increased in human OA tissues and chondrocytes. MiR-206 significantly inhibited the proliferation of chondrocytes, but promoted apoptosis. Expression of Col2a1 and aggrecan were dramatically decreased, and the expression of RUNX2 and MMP13 were significantly increased when miR-206 was overexpressed. Conclusions MiR-206 may participate in cartilage degradation in OA. Manipulation of the expression of miR-206 in human chondrocytes may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of OA.

There are little published data reporting the effect of coronary artery chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the prognosis of elderly patients with identified CTOs. We sought to evaluate the clinical effect of CTO PCI on the prognosis of elderly patients with CTOs.A total of 445 consecutive patients diagnosed with a CTO by angiography from January 2011 to December 2013 were enrolled. We compared long-term clinical outcomes between the elderly group (≥75 years; n = 120, 27.0%), and the nonelderly group (75 years; n = 325, 73.0%) as well as between patients with unopened CTOs and patients with CTOs who were recanalized by PCI either during the index hospitalization or at a staged procedure within 30 days after discharge from the index hospitalization. The primary endpoint was defined as the composite of hospitalization from angina, reinfarction, heart failure or repeat revascularization and cardiac death at the 3-year follow-up.More elderly CTO patients had left main (LM) disease (25.0 versus 15.1%, P = 0.015), 3-vessel disease (96.4% versus 73.8%, P0.001) and a Japan-CTO score ≥2 (36.7% versus 23.7%, P = 0.006) than nonelderly CTO patients. Furthermore, elderly patients had a higher syntax score than nonelderly patients (27.0 [25.0, 30.0] versus 26.0 [23.0, 30.0], P = 0.006). PCI was attempted for 33 out of 135 CTO lesions (24.4%) in the elderly group, and 127 out of 378 lesions (33.6%) in the nonelderly group (P = 0.049); however, there were no statistically significant differences in the CTO PCI success rates between the 2 groups (69.7% versus 82.7%, P = 0.097). The 3-year cardiac mortality rate was 15.0% and 4.6% (P0.011) for the elderly and nonelderly groups, respectively. Elderly patients with CTOs who were recanalized by PCI and those with unopened CTOs exhibited comparable 3-year cardiac mortality rates (15.0% versus 16.0%, P = 1.000). There was no significant difference in primary endpoint incidence (25.0% versus 33.0%, P = 0.486). Multivariate analysis revealed that after corrections for baseline and procedural differences, right coronary artery CTO (odds ratio = 4.600, 95% CI: 1.320-16.031; P = 0.017) and LM disease combined with 3-vessel disease (odds ratio = 4.296, 95% CI: 1.166-15.831; P = 0.028) were independent predictors of 3-year cardiac mortality among elderly patients with CTOs.Elderly patients with CTOs presented with seriously diseased coronary arteries and poor prognoses. CTO PCI did not seem to significantly improve long-term clinical outcomes among elderly patients with CTOs. Right coronary artery CTO and LM disease combined with 3-vessel disease might be independent predictors of 3-year cardiac mortality in elderly CTO patients.

The traditional method used for handling qualities assessment of manned space vehicles is too time-consuming to meet the requirements of an increasingly fast design process. In this study, a rendezvous and docking inverse simulation system to assess the handling qualities of spacecraft is proposed using a previously developed model-predictive-control architecture. By considering the fixed discrete force of the thrusters of the system, the inverse model is constructed using the least squares estimation method with a hyper-ellipsoidal restriction, the continuous control outputs of which are subsequently dispersed by pulse width modulation with sensitivity factors introduced. The inputs in every step are deemed constant parameters, and the method could be considered as a general method for solving nominal, redundant, and insufficient inverse problems. The rendezvous and docking inverse simulation is applied to a nine-degrees-of-freedom platform, and a novel handling qualities evaluation scheme is established according to the operation precision and astronauts' workload. Finally, different nominal trajectories are scored by the inverse simulation and an established evaluation scheme. The scores can offer theoretical guidance for astronaut training and more complex operation missions.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and is well known for its strong invasiveness, rapid recurrence, and poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be involved in the development of various types of cancers, including colorectal cancer. Here, through transcriptomic analysis and functional screening, we reported that lncRNA LUCRC (LncRNA Upregulated in Colorectal Cancer) is highly expressed in colorectal tumor samples and is required for colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in cultured cells and tumorigenesis in xenografts. LUCRC was found to regulate target gene expression of unfolded protein response (UPR) in endoplasmic reticulum (ER), such as BIP. The clinical significance of LUCRC is underscored by the specific presence of LUCRC in blood plasma of patients with colorectal cancers. These findings revealed a critical regulator of colorectal cancer development, which might serve as a therapeutic target in colorectal cancer.

Background In this study, we analyzed whether the neuroprotection of Circ 0000962 promoted neural inflammation in spinal cord injury (SCI) and its possible mechanism. Methods Inflammation factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-18) were measured using ELIS kit, and NF-κB, PI3K and phosphorylation-(p)-Akt protein expression were analyzed by Western blot analysis. Results Circ 0000962 expression was decreased in SCI model rat and vitro model. Over-expression of Circ 0000962 decreased inflammation in vitro model of SCI via activation of PI3K/Akt and suppression of NF-κB by down-regulation of miR-302b-3p. Down-regulation of Circ 0000962 promotion inflammation, suppressed NF-κB protein expression, and induced PI3K and p-Akt protein expression in vitro model of SCI by up-regulation of miR-302b-3p. MiR-302b-3p reduced the effect of Circ 0000962 on inflammation in vitro model. Conclusions This study showed that Circ 0000962 promoted nerve cell inflammation through Akt/ NF-κB signaling by PI3K in SCI.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a distinct subtype of breast cancer characterized by high recurrence rates and poor prognosis compared to other breast cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of various post-transcriptional gene and silence a broad set of target genes. Many recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs play an important role in the initiation, promotion, malignant conversion, progression, and metastasis of TNBC. Therefore, the aim of this review is to focus on recent advancements of microRNAs-based potential applications in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer.

Background Previous studies have provided conflicting results regarding whether the serum ghrelin concentration can reflect the severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). The present study examined the correlation between the serum ghrelin concentration and AP severity in animal models and investigated whether altered ghrelin expression in pancreatic acinar cells influences IKKβ/NF-κB signaling and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Methods Mild or severe AP was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of cerulein or retrograde cholangiopancreatic duct injection of sodium taurocholate, respectively. After successful model induction, serum ghrelin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and IKKβ/NF-κB activation was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Subsequently, stable overexpression or knockdown of ghrelin in AR42J cells was achieved by lentiviral transfection. After transfected cells and control cells were treated with cerulein for 24 h, the TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression levels of p-p65, IKKβ, and p-IKKβ were detected by Western blotting. Results In rat AP models, AP severity was correlated with increased IKKβ/NF-κB activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and ghrelin secretion. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β as well as IKKβ/NF-κB signaling activity were increased upon knockdown of ghrelin in the AP acinar cell model and decreased with ghrelin overexpression. Conclusions Serum ghrelin is related to the severity of AP. Ghrelin may play a protective role in the pathogenesis of AP by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activation of the IKKβ/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Tea is a traditional and popular beverage worldwide, and the consumption of tea has been demonstrated to possess many health benefits, such as cardiovascular protection, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, and anticancer. Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of tea is inversely associated with the risk of several cancers. In addition, experimental studies have revealed that the anticancer actions of tea are mainly attributed to tea polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate and theaflavins. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that the possible anticancer mechanisms are the inhibition on proliferation, anti-angiogenesis, induction of apoptosis, suppression on metastasis, inhibition on cancer stem cells, and modulation on gut microbiota. Its synergetic anticancer effects with drugs or other compounds could promote anticancer therapies. Furthermore, clinical trials have elucidated that intervention of tea phytochemicals is effective in the prevention of several cancers. This paper is an updated review for the prevention and management of cancers by tea based on the findings from epidemiological, experimental and clinical studies, and special attention is paid on the mechanisms of action.

The phasing segment of the rendezvous mission between a cargo spacecraft and a space station usually lasts for several weeks, and actually presents an orbital long-duration problem. In this study, this orbital long-duration problem is formulated as a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem in which the maneuver revolution numbers (integers), maneuver arguments of latitude and impulse magnitude are used as design variables at the same time. A hybrid approach is then proposed to solve this MINLP problem. First, a linear dynamics model considering the J 2 term of the Earth non-spherical gravity is employed to formulate an approximate phasing problem, which is optimized using a genetic algorithm. Second, a shooting iteration process considering the coupling effect between the in-plane and out-of-plane maneuvers is proposed to improve the approximate solution to satisfy the terminal conditions of the high-precision problem. The proposed approach is demonstrated for a typical two-week rendezvous phasing mission. The results show that the proposed approach can stably obtain the near optimal high-precision solution by integrating the perturbed trajectory only a few times. Furthermore, a long-duration rendezvous phasing plan is compatible with any initial phase angles that the in-plane velocity increment remains almost unchanged when the initial phase angle changes. However, under the same conditions, the out-of-plane velocity increment has considerable variations. Compared with a two-day rendezvous phasing plan, a two-week plan could have several successive coplanar launch opportunities for the chaser by aiming different terminal revolution numbers.

Silk fibroin exhibits excellent mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, and biodegradability combined with benign processing conditions, attracting considerable research interest for the application as biomedical materials. Among the diverse forms of sponges, hydrogels, films, and mats manufactured from silk fibroin, films are especially appealing due to the high water and oxygen permeability, good cell attachment, and low immunogenicity. Fabrication of silk fibroin films with novel properties has been successfully developed simply by incorporating various functional components into it. In the present study, the properties of thermal insulation and temperature monitoring for the silk fibroin film are demonstrated for the first time through the incorporation of thermochromic microcapsules within it. Moreover, the silk fibroin film is also endowed with improved mechanical properties in terms of tension strength and elongation at break because of the reinforcing effect of thermochromic microcapsules. The silk fibroin film fabricated with novel features in this study can be a good candidate for the application of wound dressings, tissue engineering scaffolds, and bio-related devices in the future. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1846–1852

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. In China, several hypertension screening programmes are undertaken in the elderly in the community and in youths at university entrance and graduation. However, most people, especially the middle-aged working population, do not often have their BP measured. The current awareness (46.9%), treatment (40.7%), and control rates (15.3%) of hypertension remain low, while the proportion of screenees with hypertension is high in adult Chinese (23.2%). An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 years was carried out in May 2017. Blood pressure measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. About 125 236 individuals were screened. After multiple imputation, with 124 623 as denominator, 32 089 (25.7%) had hypertension. Of the 103 981 individuals not on antihypertensive medication, 11 447 (11.0%) were hypertensive. Of the 20 547 individuals on antihypertensive medication, 7392 (36.0%) had uncontrolled BP (≥140/90 mmHg). An opportunistic screening may effectively identify those with high BP regardless of the use of antihypertensive medication and shows similar information on BP as a survey in a randomly selected population sample.

The success of a pregnancy relies on moderate trophoblast apoptosis. If the ‘inhibition-induction’ balance of apoptosis is broken, a pathological pregnancy may occur. Galectin-3 has an important role in numerous biological processes, including tumor cell apoptosis. However, the association between galectin-3 and missed abortion (MA) has remained elusive. In the present study, the mRNA and protein expression levels of galectin-3 in placental villi, and the apoptotic index of placental cells from patients with MA were assessed and compared with those in a normal spontaneous abortion group. The present study investigated the function of galectin-3 in the process of MA and the possible association between placental apoptosis and galectin-3 expression in MA patients. Furthermore, the role of galetin-3 in patients with MA at different times (4 weeks) was explored. The present study provided a potential mechanism of MA from a perspective of apoptosis and also provided potential therapeutic approaches to prevent MA.

Fracture of a pre-stressed thin elastic layer is studied and modelled as bending of double clamped beams with axial force. Using the beam theory, the strain energy in bending state of the beam with an axial force is derived. Explicit expressions for energy release rate and stress intensity factor (SIF) for a crack with initial transverse stress (T-stress) are obtained. Results show that tensile (compressive) initial T-stress decreases (increases) the SIF and impedes (promotes) crack growth. The influence of compressive initial stress is greater than that of tensile initial stress in the same magnitude.

This paper studies an axisymmetric problem of a penny-shaped interface crack of a bi-material subjected to compression and radial shear at the crack surfaces in cylindrical coordinate system. The Hankel transform technique is applied to convert the problem to dual integral equations. Closed-form solutions for mode-I and II stress intensity factors are obtained for arbitrary radial shear loading at the crack surfaces. Obtained results indicate that no oscillation singularity occurs. Explicit expressions for the stresses and displacements in the whole bi-material elastic space are derived for constant and linear radial shear stress acting on the crack surfaces, respectively. Under uniform radial shear stress, normal and shear stresses have a usual square-root singularity behind and ahead of the crack front, respectively, and the induced normal stress exhibits a logarithmic singularity at the crack center. Under linearly-distributed radial shear stress, the logarithmic singularity at the crack center disappears, and the square-root singularity is still present for the normal and shear stresses near the crack front. The induced mode-I stress intensity factors depend on Dundurs’ parameter and on applied shear loading. Numerical results for a penny-shaped interface crack in Al2O3/PMMA bi-material are presented to show the influence of the bi-material properties on the stress distribution.

This paper studies an external circular crack at the interface of a bi-material subjected to shear–compressive loading at the crack surfaces. An axisymmetric problem is solved for an external circular crack where radial shear loadings are applied at the smooth crack surfaces. Across the crack surfaces in contact, there are tangential displacement shift and no normal displacement gap. A mixed boundary value problem is reduced to dual integral equations, and a closed-form solution of the interface stresses is given via the Hankel transform technique. Our results indicate that there is no oscillatory singularity near the interface crack front in shear–compression. Both the radial shear stress and the normal stress exhibit a usual square-root singularity ahead of and behind the crack front, respectively. Explicit expressions for the mode-I and II stress intensity factors (SIFs) are obtained for compressive forces applied at the central axis of the bonding part towards to the bonding center. The mode-I SIFs are proportional to mode-II SIFs, and depend on a Dundurs’ parameter. Numerical results of a bi-material Al 2 O 3 /PMMA with an external circular crack subjected to compressive forces are presented to show the influence of the bi-material properties on the stress distribution and the SIFs.

A detailed FE model for analysis of overturning of concrete box-girder bridge with single-column piers was developed and the failure process was discussed in the presented paper. The result shows that the reason for overturning failure is the non-uniform compression deformation of the loading-side bearing caused by the eccentric external load, which then leads to a large rotating angel of supper structure. Once the friction force between Teflon plate and steel plate in the bearing cannot carry the diagonal component caused by the gravity load and external load, the sliding failure occurs. Based on the simplified mechanical analysis, the condition that bridge overturning occurs is that the tangent value of the rotating angle of box girder is greater than the friction coefficient between Teflon plate and steel plate in rubber bearing.

Longitudinal crack in bottom flange is one of the most common defects in concrete box girder bridges. This paper focuses on the influence of the longitudinal cracks on the mechanical properties of box girder using numerical method. Smear crack model and strain softening model was employed to simulate cracking process. Parameter analysis was also carried out to study the effect of length, crack depth and amounts of cracks in bottom flange. The results indicate longitudinal cracks in one span have a significant effect on the transverse stress and deflection, but have little effect on the other spans. The negative effects of longitudinal cracks increase with the crack length and depth. When the crack length is up to 10% of the girder span, the deflection of the span amplifies to 13%. Compared with the length and depth, the amounts of cracks don’t have much influence on the deformation of girder but affect stress.

Purpose Explore the different vestibular physiologic response retention patterns after Coriolis acceleration training in student pilots and extend the results for use with Chinese astronauts in the future. Methods Twelve healthy control male subjects were screened from males familiar with vestibular training and who physically resembled the astronauts. Fourteen student pilots were selected from 23 participants by rotational vestibular function tests. All subjects were exposed to five-day continuous or intermittent Coriolis acceleration training. Subjective motion sickness (MS) symptom scores, electrocardiography, electrogastrography (EGG), post-rotatory nystagmus and renin-angiotensin system responses were measured before, during and after rotational vestibular function tests at different times after vestibular training. Results Subjects could tolerate 10 min or 15 min of vestibular with mild MS symptoms. Retention of vestibular autonomic responses (retention of MS symptom scores, heart rate variability, power density of EGG, variations in levels of arginine vasopressin) were approximately 1 week for control subjects and approximately 5 weeks for student pilots. Decreases in slow-phase velocity of post-rotatory nystagmus were maintained for 14 weeks for control subjects and 9 weeks for student pilots. Conclusions Retention of the vestibulo-autonomic reaction after vestibular training was different for control subjects and student pilots. All parameters related to autonomic responses could be maintained at low levels after vestibular training for approximately 1 week for control subjects and approximately 5 weeks for student pilots. Uncoupling patterns between post-rotatory nystagmus and the vestibulo-autonomic reaction may be helpful in the design of clinical rehabilitation plans for balance-disorder patients and for exploration of artificial gravity in future space missions.

The roles of ghrelin and obestatin in AP remain controversial. This study investigates the effects and the predictive value of serum ghrelin and obestatin levels in the early stage of AP. A total of 193 consecutive patients with AP and 24 healthy controls were included. Patients were divided into mild acute pancreatitis (MAP), moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP), and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) groups. Serum levels of ghrelin and obestatin were measured on the first, third, and fifth days of hospitalization. The predictive value of serum ghrelin and obestatin levels on the first day in AP was examined using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves. On the first day of hospitalization, the mean serum ghrelin level was significantly lower in patients with AP than in controls (P

Epidemiological studies have shown that vegetable consumption is inversely related to the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, research has indicated that many vegetables like potatoes, soybeans, sesame, tomatoes, dioscorea, onions, celery, broccoli, lettuce and asparagus showed great potential in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases, and vitamins, essential elements, dietary fibers, botanic proteins and phytochemicals were bioactive components. The cardioprotective effects of vegetables might involve antioxidation; anti-inflammation; anti-platelet; regulating blood pressure, blood glucose, and lipid profile; attenuating myocardial damage; and modulating relevant enzyme activities, gene expression, and signaling pathways as well as some other biomarkers associated to cardiovascular diseases. In addition, several vegetables and their bioactive components have been proven to protect against cardiovascular diseases in clinical trials. In this review, we analyze and summarize the effects of vegetables on cardiovascular diseases based on epidemiological studies, experimental research, and clinical trials, which are significant to the application of vegetables in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are leading global health problems. Accumulating epidemiological studies have indicated that consuming fruits was inversely related to the risk of CVDs. Moreover, substantial experimental studies have supported the protective role of fruits against CVDs, and several fruits (grape, blueberry, pomegranate, apple, hawthorn, and avocado) have been widely studied and have shown potent cardiovascular protective action. Fruits can prevent CVDs or facilitate the restoration of morphology and functions of heart and vessels after injury. The involved mechanisms included protecting vascular endothelial function, regulating lipids metabolism, modulating blood pressure, inhibiting platelets function, alleviating ischemia/reperfusion injury, suppressing thrombosis, reducing oxidative stress, and attenuating inflammation. The present review summarizes recent discoveries about the effects of fruits on CVDs and discusses potential mechanisms of actions based on evidence from epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies.

A novel reachable set (RS) model is developed within a framework of exoatmospheric interceptor engagement analysis. The boost phase steering scheme and trajectory distortion mechanism of the interceptor are firstly explored. A mathematical model of the distorted RS is then formulated through a dimension–reduction analysis. By treating the outer boundary of the RS on sphere surface as a spherical convex hull, two relevant theorems are proposed and the RS envelope is depicted by the computational geometry theory. Based on RS model, the algorithms of intercept window analysis and launch parameters determination are proposed, and numerical simulations are carried out for interceptors with different energy or launch points. Results show that the proposed method can avoid intensive on-line computation and provide an accurate and effective approach for interceptor engagement analysis. The suggested RS model also serves as a ready reference to other related problems such as interceptor effectiveness evaluation and platform disposition.

As far as the large-scale video surveillance sensor network in urban road and highway, the relay-surveillance on abnormal behavior or particular targets is one of the hot focuses of in recent researches, while the establishment of adjacency relationship of the neighbor sensor nodes is the basis of the sensor scheduling for the relay-surveillance. The topology of a road network is generated according to the road information, which has already existed in the geographic information systems (GIS) regarding the road intersections as nodes and the section between the two intersections as the edge. The initial topology of relay-adjacency relationship between sensors is built by that each video sensor is deployed at the each intersection and the section of the each two intersections is regarded as the basis of adjacency between the each two sensors. When a new video sensor is to be deployed in a section of a road, the related deployed sensors in same section are searched by using the spatial index of GIS based on its GPS information, and then the adjacency relationship between the new sensor and the related ones is generated by using the sorting algorithm according to their GPS information. By using the road network information that has already existed in the GIS system, the algorithm on establishing the relay-adjacency relationship of video sensors is simple and simpler to implement, and it can be used in the construction of sensor relay-surveillance topology such as automatic real-time tracking on abnormal behavior or the analysis of the escape routes and so on in city roads, highway, smarter cities and smarter planet.

This study extends a previously proposed single-objective optimization formulation of space station logistics strategies to multi-objective optimization. The four-objective model seeks to maximize the mean utilization capacity index, total utilization capacity index, logistics robustness index and flight independency index, aiming to improve both the utilization benefit and the operational robustness of a space station operational scenario. Physical programming is employed to convert the four-objective optimization problem into a single-objective problem. A genetic algorithm is proposed to solve the resulting physical programming-based optimization problem. Moreover, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II is tested to obtain the Pareto-optimal solution set and verify the Pareto optimality of the physical programming-based solution. The proposed approach is demonstrated with a notional one-year scenario of China's future space station. It is shown that the designer-preferred compromise solution imp...

A numerical method is proposed to study load and the environment couple effect during the service of a concrete bridge. By studying the corrosion process of reinforcement bars, the strain of the bars is decomposed into two parts, elastic strain and corrosion strain, and their ratio is defined as the corrosion factor. The time-dependent constitution of corrosion of the steel bar is obtained by introducing a nominal elastic module. According to the virtual work principle, the finite element formulation of the reinforcement concrete element is derived, and the computation sequence determined using the time history method is illustrated. The nonlinear finite element program is realized by the Fortran program to numerically solve the problem, which is verified by testing a model of three reinforced concrete beams. The results show that both stiffness matrix and the additional nodal load of the reinforcement concrete element should be considered in the couple effect analysis. The proposed method can be used to predict long-term mechanical properties of concrete bridges.

In this study, the optimization of logistics strategies for long-duration space-station operations is investigated; both the visit times and payload manifests of a series of coordinated flights of cargo vehicles are considered at the same time. An optimization model is established that employs both the launch time and manifesting mix of payload classes as design variables and considers the rendezvous launch window, onboard consumption demand, and vehicles’ carrying capabilities as constraints. Four metrics are defined to quantify the utilization benefit and operational robustness of a space-station operational scenario. Each metric is used as the optimization objective function, and a genetic algorithm is employed to obtain the optimal solutions. The approach is demonstrated with a notional one-year operational scenario of China’s future space station. The results indicate that the visit times of cargo vehicles have a considerable influence on logistics strategies, and each objective function of different...