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The cortical collecting duct (CCD) of the mammalian kidney plays a major role in the maintenance of total body electrolyte, acid/base, and fluid homeostasis by tubular reabsorption and excretion. The mammalian CCD is heterogeneous, composed of Na+-absorbing principal cells (PCs) and acid-base-transporting intercalated cells (ICs). Perturbations in luminal flow rate alter hydrodynamic forces to which these cells in the cylindrical tubules are exposed. However, most studies of tubular ion transport have been performed in cell monolayers grown on or epithelial sheets affixed to a flat support, since analysis of transepithelial transport in native tubules by in vitro microperfusion requires considerable expertise. Here, we report on the generation and characterization of an in vitro, perfusable three-dimensional kidney CCD model (3D CCD), in which immortalized mouse PC-like mpkCCD cells are seeded within a cylindrical channel embedded within an engineered extracellular matrix and subjected to luminal fluid flow. We find that a tight epithelial barrier composed of differentiated and polarized PCs forms within 1 wk. Immunofluorescence microscopy reveals the apical epithelial Na+channel ENaC and basolateral Na+/K+-ATPase. On cessation of luminal flow, benzamil-inhibitable cell doming is observed within these 3D CCDs consistent with the presence of ENaC-mediated Na+absorption. Our 3D CCD provides a geometrically and microphysiologically relevant platform for studying the development and physiology of renal tubule segments.

Background & Aims Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is the preferred treatment to prevent maternal transmission of HBV, owing to its efficacy and safety. However, data are lacking on the long-term safety outcomes in children following fetal exposure to TDF. Methods Children participating in a prospective, multisite trial of maternal TDF treatment during late pregnancy were recruited for follow-up visits once a year. Growth parameters, serum biochemistry, HBV serology, and bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometery scan were measured. Results One hundred and twenty-eight children, 71 in the TDF and 57 in the control group, completed 255 follow-up visits at the age of 2 to 7 (median, 4.08) years. No differences in z-scores for weight-for-age (0.26 ± 0.90 vs. 0.22 ± 0.99, p = 0.481), z-scores for height-for-age (0.20 ± 1.02 vs. 0.25 ± 0.98, p = 0.812), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (169.12 ± 50.48 vs. 169.06 ± 34.46 ml/min/1.73m2, p = 0.479) were detected. After adjustment for age, sex and HBV status by multiple linear regression, children in the TDF and control group had comparable levels of serum calcium, phosphorus, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, calcidiol and BMD of lumbar spines (0.55 ± 0.01 vs. 0.57 ± 0.01 g/cm2, p = 0.159) and left hip (0.56 ± 0.01 vs. 0.56 ± 0.01 g/cm2, p = 0.926). Conclusions Children of HBV-infected mothers who did or did not receive tenofovir disoproxil fumarate treatment during late pregnancy had comparable long-term growth, renal function, and bone development up to 6–7 years after delivery. Clinical trial number NCT01312012 ( ClinicalTrials.gov ) Lay summary Currently there are insufficient long-term safety data in children born to mothers who took antiviral agents during pregnancy to prevent mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV). In this study, we found that children of HBV-infected mothers who did or did not receive tenofovir disoproxil fumarate treatment during late pregnancy had comparable long-term growth, renal function, and bone development up to 6-7 years after delivery.

Assessing trends of sea surface wave, wind, and coastal wave setup is of considerable scientific and practical importance in view of recent and projected long-term sea level rise due to global warming. Here we analyze global significant wave height (SWH) and wind data from 1993 to 2015 and a wave model to (i) calculate wave age and explain the causal, or the lack thereof, relationship between wave and wind trends; and (ii) estimate trends of coastal wave setup and its contributions to secular trends of relative sea level at coastal locations around the world. We show in-phase, increasing SWH and wind trends in regions dominated by younger waves, and decreasing SWH trends where older waves dominate and are unrelated to the local wind trends. In the central North Pacific where wave age is transitional, in-phase decreasing wave and wind trends are found over the west-northwestern region, but wave and wind trends are insignificantly correlated in the south-southeastern region; here, a reversed, upward momentum flux from wave to wind is postulated. We show that coastal wave setup depends primarily on open-ocean SWH but only weakly on wind, varying approximately like SWH/(wind speed)1/5. The wave-setup trends are shown to be increasing along many coastlines where the local relative sea level trends are also increasing: the North and Irish Seas, Mediterranean Sea, East and South Asian seas, and eastern United States, exacerbating the potential for increased floods along these populated coastlines.

The TCR is consisted of four chains: α (TCRα), β (TCRβ), γ (TCRγ), and δ (TCRδ) that are present in all jawed vertebrates. Birds are very important in terms of evolutionary aspects of the adaptive immune system, in which it bridges the evolutionary gap between mammals and other vertebrates. To gain better understanding into the genomic organization and complexity of birds’ TCR loci, we applied cross-reference error-correction sequencing approach by using Illumina and single-molecule real-time sequencing technology to resequence genomic regions of chicken TCR loci based on 10 mapped bacterial artificial chromosome clones. We did de novo classification of V and J genes for all four chains of the TCR loci according to our sequencing results using the Immunogenetics nomenclature. In sum, we identified 85, 8, and 37 TCR V gene segments in the chicken TCRα/TCRδ, TCRβ, and TCRγ loci, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis showed the Vα 7 and Vα family 4 gene sequences shared greater sequence similarity with mammalian species, whereas the other Vα segment sequences are evolutionary closer with sequences from bony fishes. The organization of chicken TCRβ locus is more similar to fish TCRβ locus over mammalian species, as chicken TCRβ locus has a single translocon of its V–D–J–C and exhibits significantly fewer Vβ gene segments. In this study, we present a highly precise genomic map for chicken TCR loci and phylogenetic relationships of TCR variable gene segments against other animal species and verified the relative stability of the receptor structure during evolutional process.

A coating/contact dual-layer structure is fabricated via co-sintering in simulated interconnect/coating/contact/cathode test cells. Two different precursors are utilized to form Mn1.25Co1.75O4 and Ce-doped Mn1.25Co1.75O4 spinel coatings, while a mixture of Mn oxide and Co metal powders is employed as the contact material. After thermal conversion into a dense coating and a porous contact layer at 900 °C in air simultaneously, both test cells exhibit excellent electrical performance during the 1500-h area-specific resistance (ASR) measurement at 800 °C, due to the unique dual-layer structure via co-sintering. The cell with Ce-containing coating precursor shows better cell ASR behavior and lower degradation rate. Cross-sectional observation of the tested cells is conducted to assess the compatibility of the dual-layer structure with adjacent components as well as its effectiveness in inhibiting chromia scale growth and blocking Cr migration from the interconnect to the cathode.

The plastic forming of titanium alloy tubes at room temperature exhibits strong anisotropy, low elongation, and large deformation resistance. Numerical control warm bending assisted forming technology can improve the stability of the titanium alloy tube bending process, increase the bending limit and reduce the springback angle. This technology promotes the wide application of high-precision titanium alloy bent tubes in many high-end fields such as aerospace, shipbuilding, chemical industry, and military industry. However, the titanium alloy tube bending at high temperatures involves complex material rheological behavior and microstructure characteristics. The coupling relationship between the stress-strain properties of the material and the temperature field makes it difficult to predict the springback behavior of titanium alloy tubes after warm bending. In this paper, based on the mechanical behavior of titanium alloy tubes at high temperatures, a constitutive model of titanium alloy suitable for local heating is improved. The theoretical model of springback for warm rotary draw bending of titanium alloy tube is established. The influence of warm bending strategies on the springback of bending is studied. The theoretical model is verified by establishing a thermal-mechanical coupling finite element model for the whole process of warm bending under the state of heat balance. The results show that the bending springback theory based on the modified John-Cook model can accurately simulate the temperature change of titanium alloy tube section, adapt to local heating strategies and provide high prediction accuracy of bending springback.

Our calculation shows that negative refractive index (NRI), which was known to exist only in metamaterials in the past, can be found in Dirac semimetals (DSM). Electrons in DSM have zero effective mass and hence the system carries no nominal energy scale. Therefore, unlike those of ordinary materials, the electromagnetic responses of the electrons in DSM will not be overwhelmed by the physical effects related to electron mass. NRI is induced by the combination of the quantum effect of vacuum polarization and its finite temperature correction which is proportional to $T^4$ at low temperature. It is a phenomenon of resonance between the incident light and the unique structure of Dirac cones, which allows numerous states to participate in electron-hole pair production excited by the incident light with similar dispersion relation to that of Dirac cones. NRI phenomenon of DSM manifests in an extensive range of photon frequency and wave number and can be observed around giga Hertz range at temperature slightly higher than room temperature., Accepted by Physical Review Letters ( https://journals.aps.org/prl/accepted/47073Yc9P1b18c84c34f8d016596af92c6645e364 )

The response of the wave climate to tropical cyclones (TCs) is investigated using the significant wave height (SWH) observed from satellites and the WAVEWATCH III (WW3) model. Tropical cyclone wind generates local waves (wind seas) under the TC and longer-period waves (swells) that propagate long distances. The genesis location, intensity, and frequency of tropical cyclones over the global ocean are strongly affected by the phases of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It is shown that the interannual variation of global ocean surface waves in the subtropics during summer is dominated by ENSO-related TC activity. In particular, in the subtropical western North Pacific, the wind power is stronger in the TC season before an El Niño and weaker before a La Niña. These ENSO-related TC variations are shown, through composite and empirical orthogonal function analyses, as well as modeling, to dominate the spatial distribution and temporal variation of the SWH over the western North Pacific. The model confirms that longer-period waves (swells) are driven into northern South China Sea, toward Japan in mid latitudes and toward the central Pacific along the equator due to ENSO-related TC activities. The wind power and SWH over the subtropical western North Pacific lead and regress well with the ENSO index, suggesting that they may potentially serve as useful ENSO predictors., Authors were supported by Taiwan Ministry of Science & Technology Grant#107-2611-M-008-003, awarded to the National Central University.

A transmission-target X-ray tube is different from a reflection-target X-ray tube based on how the radiation is generated; thus, the radiation output characteristics of these two tubes are different. This study explored the differences in radiation output of a transmission-target X-ray tube and a reflection-target X-ray tube when both tubes were in the same radiation beams. A Shimadzu transmission-target X-ray tube and a NanoRay Biotech reflection-target X-ray tube were used in the study. The measurement values from the ionization chamber were compared with Monte Carlo EGSnrc simulation results. At a depth of 5 cm within water, the percentage depth doses (PDDs) of the transmission-target X-ray tube and the reflection-target X-ray tube with the same beam qualities appeared to have the maximum differences of 3.0% and 5.0% for ionization chamber measurement values and Monte Carlo simulation values, respectively. For every PDD beyond a depth of 5 mm, the difference was within 2.0%, and both tubes agreed well with each other with respect to the PDD measurement results. When compared with the Monte Carlo simulation values, the dose profile measurement values of the ionization chamber for the transmission-target X-ray tube and the reflection-target X-ray tube appeared to have differences smaller than 2.0% within 90.0% dose ranges at every depth on the X-axis and Y-axis. The heel effect was observed on the Y-axis dose profile of the reflection-target X-ray tube. The PDD of the transmission-target X-ray tube reached the greatest level on the water surface and decreased with increasing within water depth. When applied in radiological therapy, the treatment dose could be effectively given to a superficial tumor; a lower dose would be received by peripheral normal tissues.

In this work, we proposed a novel CuGa-NaF (CuGa:Na) target route to improve Ga distribution and device efficiency of flexible Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) (CIGSSe) solar cells. Analysis involved characterizing the basic material properties of two absorber layers fabricated using sputtering targets of CuGa:Na or Mo: Na. We assessed the uniformity of Ga and Na distribution in the absorber layers. We also examined the effects of various sputtering parameters and sought to optimize the Na content. Finally, we compared the conversion efficiency of the solar cells fabricated using the two Na addition routes (targets of CuGa:Na or Mo:Na target) with the following structure: metal foil/Cr/Mo/CIGSSe/CdS/i-ZnO/ITO/Al. Experimental results show that the CuGa:Na target improved the Ga distribution on the surface of the CIGSSe absorber compared to the Mo:Na target. When applied at a CuGa:Na/In thickness ratio of 300 nm/300 nm, the conversion efficiency of the two devices was as follows: CIGSSe solar cell with Mo: Na-derived absorber layer (7.5%) and CIGSSe solar cell with CuGa: Na-derived absorber layer (9.81%).

Numerous biomarkers of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are associated with renal prognosis but head-to-head comparisons are lacking. This study aimed to examine the association of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (sTNFR1), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), endocan, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), and renal outcomes of patients with or without clinical signs of DKD.A total of 312 patients were enrolled in a prospective observational study that excluded individuals with estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) 30 mL/min/1.73 mHigher sTNFR1 and FGF-21, rather than endocan and NT-pro-BNP, levels were associated with renal outcomes but the significance was lost after adjusting for confounders. However, sTNFR1 levels ≥ 9.79 pg/dL or FGF-21 levels ≥ 1.40 pg/dL were associated with renal outcomes after adjusting for the confounders (hazard ration [HR] 2.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-5.60, p = 0.005 for sTNFR1 level; HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.03-3.69, p = 0.03 for FGF-21 level). The combination of both levels exhibited even better association with renal outcomes than did either one alone (adjusted HR 4.45, 95% CI 1.86-10.65, p = 0.001). The results were consistent among patients with preserved renal function and normoalbuminuria.Both sTNFR1 and FGF-21 levels were associated with renal outcomes of in patients with type 2 diabetes, and the combination of the abovementioned markers exhibits better predictability.

We consider a family of explicit Runge–Kutta pairs of orders six and five without any additional property (reduced truncation errors, Hamiltonian preservation, symplecticness, etc.). This family offers five parameters that someone chooses freely. Then, we train them in order for the presented method to furnish the best results on a couple of Kepler orbits, a certain interval and tolerance. Consequently, we observe an efficient performance on a wide range of orbital problems (i.e., Kepler for a variety of eccentricities, perturbed Kepler with various disturbances, Arenstorf and Pleiades). About 1.8 digits of accuracy is gained on average over conventional pairs, which is truly remarkable for methods coming from the same family and order. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) is a well-known consequence of low back pain, as characterized by aberrant cell proliferation and apoptosis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 6 (SNHG6) on deregulated functions of degenerative NP cells.After the establishment of rat IDD models, the mRNA and protein levels of collagen-I (Col-I) and collagen II (Col-II), and mRNA level of SNHG6 were detected by using reverse transcription quantitative Real Time-PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. We further investigated the role and molecular mechanisms of SNHG6 by overexpressing or silencing it in degenerative NP cells. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and EdU staning, and apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The target of SNHG6 was identified by starBase and Dual-Luciferase reporter assay.Upregulation of SNHG6 was found in IDD NP cells than in normal cells, associated with higher level of Col-I and lower level of Col-II. Overexpression of SNHG6 inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis, accompanied by increased expression of Bax, caspase-3, and p21, as well as decreased expression of Bcl-2, which was in reverse to the treatment of SNHG6 silencing. Moreover, miR-101-3p was indicated as a target of SNHG6, and inhibition of miR-101-3p reversed the effects on proliferation and apoptosis induced by SNHG6.SNHG6 suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis by increasing expression of Bax, caspase-3, p21 and decreasing Bcl-2 through targeting miR-101-3p, which suggested that SNHG6 could be a potential target in the treatment of IDD.

Acute phase response (APR), including myalgia, influenza-like symptoms, headache, arthralgia, and pyrexia, is the most common adverse reaction to initial zoledronic acid infusion. Dexamethasone plus acetaminophen is effective in significantly reducing the incidence and severity of APR.Acute phase response (APR), including myalgia, influenza-like symptoms, headache, arthralgia, and pyrexia, is due to immunomodulatory actions and is the most common adverse reaction to zoledronic acid (ZOL). The aims of our study were to compare the differences between acetaminophen and dexamethasone plus acetaminophen on the incidence and severity of APRs and to clarify the clinical factors related to APR with initial ZOL infusion.Patients with osteoporosis receiving their first ZOL infusion (N = 96) were assigned into two groups and given either acetaminophen (58 patients, control group) or acetaminophen plus dexamethasone (38 patients, study group). APRs were assessed through telephone interviews 2 weeks later post-infusion. Clinical, demographic, and serologic data were recorded.There was a significant increase in the incidence and severity of any APR in the control group than the study group (67% vs. 34%, p = 0.003; 0.69 ± 0.50 vs. 0.34 ± 0.48, p = 0.001). Among the APRs, only myalgia incidence and score were significantly higher in the control group than in the study group. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that previous use of osteoporosis medication and participation in the study group was negatively related to the occurrence of any APR or myalgia. Advanced age was shown to significantly increase myalgia. Study group participants had significantly reduced severity of myalgia. The adherence for redosing ZOL was significantly higher in the study group.Dexamethasone plus acetaminophen is effective in significantly reducing the incidence and severity of APR, especially myalgia, and increasing adherence following initial ZOL infusion.

NTD (Negative Tone Developer) technology with application of developer to ArF immersion is one of the technologies that is well known and widely used for enabling better optical image contrast. For critical layer processes, CD (Critical Dimension) control is more difficult with narrow trench and contact hole pattern. Since it is difficult to obtain better CDU (Critical Dimension Uniformity) once mask and resist set have been fixed, new NTD processes are required to improve it. CXMT (Chang Xin Memory Technologies) has been continuously developing manufacturing processes based on new NTD method for narrow pattern DRAM process with TEL™ (Tokyo Electron Limited). In this paper, we discuss our work for CDU improvement with new process on Global, Inter, and Intra shot CDU as well as the optimization results of chemical consumption.

Copper-metallized gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) using a Ti/Pt/Ti diffusion barrier layer are fabricated and characterized for Ka-band applications. With a thick copper metallization layer of 6.8 &mu, m adopted, the device exhibited a high output power density of 8.2 W/mm and a power-added efficiency (PAE) of 26% at 38 GHz. Such superior performance is mainly attributed to the substantial reduction of the source and drain resistance of the device. In addition to improvement in the Radio Frequency (RF) performance, the successful integration of the thick copper metallization in the device technology further reduces the manufacturing cost, making it extremely promising for future fifth-generation mobile communication system applications at millimeter-wave frequencies.

Combined with hot tensile tests and finite element simulation, a fracture model of an Al alloy used in aerospace industry is established. A GTN fracture model is used to describe the damage process. The proposed model is implemented as a user routine in finite element software, DEFORM 2D. The parameters of the proposed model are calibrated by application of response surface methodology (RSM) and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). The simulation results show that the established model can describe the fracture behavior of the studied Al alloy accurately.

The physical and chemical properties of cold and dense molecular clouds are key to understanding how stars form. Using the IRAM 30 m and NRO 45 m telescopes, we carried out a Multiwavelength line-Imaging survey of the 70 $��$m dark and bright clOuds (MIAO). At a linear resolution of 0.1--0.5 pc, this work presents a detailed study of parsec-scale CO depletion and $\rm HCO^+$ deuterium (D-) fractionation toward four sources (G11.38+0.81, G15.22-0.43, G14.49-0.13, and G34.74-0.12) included in our full sample. In each source with $\rm T, accepted by ApJ

Summary Hepatitis B virus disease progression in East Asia is most frequently associated with genotype C (HBV/C). The increasing availability of HBV/C genetic sequences and detailed annotations provides an opportunity to investigate the epidemiological factors underlying its evolutionary history. In this study, the Bayesian phylogeography framework was used to investigate the origins and patterns in spatial dissemination of HBV/C by analyzing East Asian sequences obtained from 1992 to 2010. The most recent common ancestor of HBV/C was traced back to the early 1900s in China, where it eventually diverged into two major lineages during the 1930s‐1960s that gave rise to distinct epidemic waves spreading exponentially to other East Asian countries and the USA. Demographic inference of viral effective population size over time indicated similar dynamics for both lineages, characterized by exponential growth since the early 1980s, followed by a significant bottleneck in 2003 and another increase after 2004. Although additional factors cannot be ruled out, we provide evidence to suggest this bottleneck was the result of limited human movement from/to China during the SARS outbreak in 2003. This is the first extensive evolutionary study of HBV/C in East Asia as well as the first to assess more realistic spatial ecological influences between co‐circulating infectious diseases.

The TCR is consisted of four chains: α (TCRα), β (TCRβ), γ (TCRγ), and δ (TCRδ) that are present in all jawed vertebrates. Birds are very important in terms of evolutionary aspects of the adaptive immune system, in which it bridges the evolutionary gap between mammals and other vertebrates. To gain better understanding into the genomic organization and complexity of birds' TCR loci, we applied cross-reference error-correction sequencing approach by using Illumina and single-molecule real-time sequencing technology to resequence genomic regions of chicken TCR loci based on 10 mapped bacterial artificial chromosome clones. We did de novo classification of V and J genes for all four chains of the TCR loci according to our sequencing results using the Immunogenetics nomenclature. In sum, we identified 85, 8, and 37 TCR V gene segments in the chicken

Since the days of Perrin (1908) [ 1 ], microscopy methods have played an important role in the study of colloidal suspensions. Along with the continued development of new imaging techniques, colloid scientists have also implemented a sophisticated range of computational analyses. These analysis techniques are often the unsung heroes that hold the promise of unlocking scientific mysteries at the next decimal place of colloid science. They now enable precision measurements of particle location and size (Bierbaum et al., 2017; Kurita et al., 2012) as well as measurements of local stresses and forces (Lin et al., 2016). Here, we spotlight these exciting advances focusing on the analysis of simple brightfield and confocal microscope images of dense colloidal suspensions as well as the scientific mysteries they may unravel.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to create a novel ex vivo organ culture model for evaluating the effects of static and dynamic load on cartilage. Methods The metatarsophalangeal joints of 12 fresh cadaveric bovine feet were skinned and dissected aseptically, and cultured for up to four weeks. Dynamic movement was applied using a custom-made machine on six joints, with the others cultured under static conditions. Chondrocyte viability and matrix glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content were evaluated by the cell viability probes, 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate (CMFDA) and propidium iodide (PI), and dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay, respectively. Results Chondrocyte viability in the static model decreased significantly from 89.9% (sd 2.5%) (Day 0) to 66.5% (sd 13.1%) (Day 28), 94.7% (sd 1.1%) to 80. 9% (sd 5.8%) and 80.1% (sd 3.0%) to 46.9% (sd 8.5%) in the superficial quarter, central half and deep quarter of cartilage, respectively (p < 0.001 in each zone; one-way analysis of variance). The GAG content decreased significantly from 6.01 μg/mg (sd 0.06) (Day 0) to 4.71 μg/mg (sd 0.06) (Day 28) (p < 0.001; one-way analysis of variance). However, with dynamic movement, chondrocyte viability and GAG content were maintained at the Day 0 level over the four-week period without a significant change (chondrocyte viability: 92.0% (sd 4.0%) (Day 0) to 89.9% (sd 0.2%) (Day 28), 93.1% (sd 1.5%) to 93.8% (sd 0.9%) and 85.6% (sd 0.8%) to 84.0% (sd 2.9%) in the three corresponding zones; GAG content: 6.18 μg/mg (sd 0.15) (Day 0) to 6.06 μg/mg (sd 0.09) (Day 28)). Conclusion Dynamic joint movement maintained chondrocyte viability and cartilage GAG content. This long-term whole joint culture model could be of value in providing a more natural and controlled platform for investigating the influence of joint movement on articular cartilage, and for evaluating novel therapies for cartilage repair. Cite this article: Y-C. Lin, A. C. Hall, A. H. R. W. Simpson. A novel organ culture model of a joint for the evaluation of static and dynamic load on articular cartilage. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:205–212. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.73.BJR-2017-0320.

Main text The APMP/TCRI Dosimetry Working Group performed the APMP.RI(I)-K5 key comparison of the air kerma for 137Cs in 2014. Five national metrology institutes (NMIs) took part in the comparison. Two commercial ionization chambers were used as transfer instruments and circulated among the participants. The results showed that the maximum difference between the participants and the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, evaluated using the comparison data of the linking laboratories of the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science and the National Metrology Institute of Japan, was less than 0.5% within the expanded uncertainty. This comparison supports the equivalence of the calibration capabilities of the participating laboratories. The results predate the publication of ICRU report 90, therefore, the revision of the data reflecting the effects of the ICRU report 90 on the degrees of equivalences of the participant laboratories is presented in Appendix C. To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/. The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCRI, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).

We present an indentation-scope that interfaces with confocal microscopy, enabling direct observation of the three-dimensional (3D) microstructural response of coatings on substrates. Using this method, we compared microns-thick polymer coatings on glass with and without silica nanoparticle filler. Bulk force data confirmed the >30% modulus difference, while microstructural data further revealed slip at the glass-coating interface. Filled coatings slipped more and about two times faster, as reflected in 3D displacement and von Mises strain fields. Overall, these data indicate that silica-doping of coatings can dramatically alter adhesion. Moreover, this method compliments existing theoretical and modeling approaches for studying indentation in layered systems.

OBJECTIVES Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is an endemic disease in Taiwan. Prognostic factors the anatomical TNM stage are important for its prognostic stratification. An elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in various solid tumours. In this study, we analysed the prognostic impact of the NLR in NPC in Taiwan. DESIGN Single-institution retrospective study. SETTING Medical centre. PARTICIPANTS One hundred and eighty patients with NPC treated at the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from January 2007 to December 2013. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The association between the clinical or haematological presentations and the prognosis. RESULTS The majority of the 180 patients included in this study were men (80%) and were

The objective of this study was to examine the application of hybrid Ag nanowire/Au nanoparticle (HAA) films in the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin film solar cells. The results show that 100 °C is an adequate drying temperature for the HAA film. Using an HAA film results in a higher Jsc than that obtained using an indium tin oxide (ITO) film, but also results in a lower Voc value. The higher Jsc of the HAA film is likely due to the fact that its higher surface roughness facilitates photon absorption. SEM images revealed that the Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) become embedded in the CdS or i-ZnO layer, which can cause a short circuit in the i-ZnO interface and thereby result in a lower Voc. The use of the HAA film and ITO film as the window layer resulted in a device efficiency of 10.29% and 10.18%, respectively.

Each year, a number of typhoons in the western North Pacific pass through the Luzon Strait into South China Sea (SCS). Although the storms remain above a warm open sea, the majority of them weaken due to atmospheric and oceanic environments unfavorable for typhoon intensification in SCS, which therefore serves as a natural buffer that shields the surrounding coasts from potentially more powerful storms. This study examines how this buffer has changed over inter-decadal and longer time scales. We show that the buffer weakens (i.e. greater potential for more powerful typhoons) in negative Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) years, as well as with sea-level-rise and surface warming, caused primarily by the deepening of the ocean’s 26 °C isotherm Z 26 . A new Intensity Change Index is proposed to describe the typhoon intensity change as a function of Z 26 and other environmental variables. In SCS, the new index accounts for as high as 75% of the total variance of typhoon intensity change.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on productive performance and antioxidant status in laying ducks. Five-hundred-four laying ducks were divided into 7 treatments, each containing 6 replicates of 12 ducks. The ducks were caged individually and fed a corn-soybean meal and wheat bran basal diet (37 mg Zn/kg) or the basal diet supplemented with 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, or 90 mg Zn/kg (as zinc sulfate). During the early laying period of 10 d (daily egg production80%), egg production, daily egg mass, and FCR increased quadratically with increasing dietary Zn levels (P 0.05). The highest egg production and daily egg weight were obtained when 30 or 45 mg Zn/kg diet was supplemented, with lowest FCR. Similarly, the highest egg production and daily egg mass were observed in the group supplemented with 30 or 45 mg Zn/kg during the peak laying period of the subsequent 120 d (daily egg production80%). Average egg weight and feed intake did not differ among the groups of graded Zn supplementation.The egg quality was not affected by dietary Zn, including the egg shape index, Haugh unit, yolk color score, egg composition, and shell thickness. The activities of plasma activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) increased in a quadratic manner (P 0.001) with increasing supplemental Zn. Plasma concentration of Zn increased quadratically (P 0.05) as dietary Zn increased. The hepatic activity of Cu/Zn-SOD and GSH-PX increased quadratically (P 0.05) with increasing dietary Zn. Plasma Zn concentrations were positively correlated with activities of T-SOD (P 0.05), and positively with plasma Cu. Plasma concentration of reduced glutathione was correlated with plasma Cu. In conclusion, supplementation of Zn at 30 or 45 mg/kg to a corn-wheat bran and soybean basal diet may improve the productive performance and enhance the antioxidant capacity.

A 42-day experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of four different lipid containing diets (lipid 74.0, 105.3, 135.0, 168.1 g/kg diet) on growth, digestive enzymes activities, immunology and expression of canthaxanthin-based coloration in parrot cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus × Paraneetroplus synspilus). Each diet contained canthaxanthin 0.05 g/kg diet. Two hundred and eighty-eight fish were randomly stocked into 12 glass aquaria to form four triplicate groups. Fish were fed one of four diets daily at 20 g/kg of their total body weight. Growth, digestive enzymes activities,immunology and body colour parameters were measured at the end of experiment.Based on the polynomial regression of dietary lipid level and specific growth rate, the dietary lipid level inclusion was calculated as 117.2 g/kg for the highest specific growth rate of these animals. The polynomial regression of skin colour parameters and dietary lipid levels indicated the critical threshold lipid inclusions in diet: 113.7 g/kg for the best expression of lightness, 112.1 g/kg for redness, 127.5 g/kg for yellowness and 125.3 g/kg for chroma of fish’s skin. Considering redness, lightness and specific growth rate are most important variables, a diet containing lipid 115.0 g/kg can be recommended for blood parrot cichlid.

We develop a time dependent theoretical numerical model to simulate the density profiles of the ions (i.e., O+(2P), O+(2D), N2+, O+(4S), N+, O2+, and NO+) and free electrons in E and F regions. In this model, the ion photoionization production rates, the photoelectron ionization production effect, and the chemical reactions between the ionized species and the neutral compositions are considered and the plasma transport processes are not included. The simulation results show that the mean electron density ratios of the model simulations to the AE-C satellite measurements for the SDO-EVE, EUVAC and HFG solar irradiance models are, respectively, 0.97, 0.79, and 0.71 in a height range 140-400 km, and 0.79, 0.75, and 0.64 in a height range 90-150 km. A comparison shows that the electron densities simulated by the model developed in this study are much more consistent with the in-situ measurements made by the AE-C satellite than those predicted by the IRI model and simulated by the TIEGCM. The model simulations with SDO-EVE solar irradiance input indicate that the photoelectron impact production process contributes about 20% - 30% of the total atomic ion densities throughout the height range 130-400 km around noon. However, the photoelectron production effect on the molecular ion densities is very minor (less than about 7%) above 275 km. Below 250 km, its effect increases with the decrease of height for O2+ and N2+, from about 4% and 10% at 250 km to 13% and 27% at 150 km, respectively.

A compact hybrid rocket motor design that incorporates a dual-vortical-flow (DVF) concept is proposed. The oxidizer (nitrous oxide, N2O) is injected circumferentially into various sections of the rocket motor, which are sectored by several solid fuel “rings” (made of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene, HTPB) that are installed along the central axis of the motor. The proposed configuration not only increases the residence time of the oxidizer flow, it also implies an inherent “roll control” capability of the motor. Based on a DVF motor geometry with a designed thrust level of 11.6 kN, the characteristics of the turbulent reacting flow within the motor and its rocket performance were analyzed with a comprehensive numerical model that implements both real-fluid properties and finite-rate chemistry. Data indicate that the vacuum specific impulse (Isp) of the DVF motor could reach 278 s. The result from a preliminary ground test of a lab-scale DVF hybrid rocket motor (with a designed thrust level of 3,000 N) also shows promising performance. The proposed DVF concept is expected to partly resolve the issue of scalability, which remains challenging for hybrid rocket motors development.

This study investigated the influence of Cu/(In+Ga) ratios on the formation of secondary phases, leakage current, and their effects on the performance in Cu 2 InGa(S,Se) 4 (CIGSSe) thin film solar cells. An increase in Cu content in the CIGSSe absorber layer was shown to contribute to the growth of grains in that layer as well as the migration of Ga to the surface of the absorber, which increased the energy gap. Excess Cu content resulted in the formation of Cu 2−x Se hexagonal nanoplates on the surface of the absorber layer. Conductive atomic force microscopy identified grain boundaries in the CIGSSe absorber layer as the main path involved in the transfer of current through the device. The formation of Cu 2−X Se or InSe phases on the surface of the absorber layer expanded the region acting as a current pathway, leading to a breakdown in the P-N junction following the application of negative bias. Measurements of external quantum efficiency under negative bias revealed that secondary phases in the absorber layer act as a recombination center, resulting in a reduction in the V oc and J sc of the device. CIGSSe thin film solar cells fabricated by sputtering in this study achieved a maximum conversion efficiency of 13.06%.