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Forest bathing trip is a short, leisurely visit to forest. In this study we determined the health effects of forest bathing trip on elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group was sent to forest, and the other was sent to an urban area as control. Flow cytometry, ELISA, and profile of mood states (POMS) evaluation were performed. In the forest group, we found a significant decrease of perforin and granzyme B expressions, accompanied by decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stress hormones. Meanwhile, the scores in the negative subscales of POMS decreased after forest bathing trip. These results indicate that forest bathing trip has health effect on elderly COPD patients by reducing inflammation and stress level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water flow window is a multi-glazing system with a flowing water layer in the cavity. The water flows in a closed loop which is connected to a double-pipe heat exchanger. Two headers with evenly distributed openings are located at the top and bottom ends of the window cavity. Water flow and temperature distribution in the cavity are studied with different header designs in this numerical study. It is found that the change in opening size or interval will affect the local distribution of temperature and flow velocity around the headers. But their effect on the overall system performance is insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melittin is a naturally occurringantimicrobial peptide that hasthe ability to kill bacterial cells through cell membrane penetration,leading to pore formation. In this investigation, an all-atom moleculardynamics (MD) simulation has been carried out to describe the interactionof two, four, or six peptides placed on the surface of a 3:1 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)/1,2-di(9Z-octadecenoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-rac-glycerol) (DOPG) lipid bilayer (a mimic of the bacterialcell membrane) corresponding to protein/lipid (P/L) ratios of 2:96,4:162, or 6:166, respectively. MD simulation was also carried outfor (i) one to eight transmembrane peptides (corresponding P/L ratiosof 1:128 to 8:128) in a 3:1 DOPC/DOPG mixed membrane for symmetricas well as asymmetric placement of peptides and (ii) four to eighttransmembrane peptides (corresponding to P/L ratios of 4:128 to 8:128)for a pure DOPC lipid bilayer (a mimic of the mammalian cell membrane)for the asymmetric placement of peptides. The broadening of phospholipidhead regions in the bottom leaflet as well as thinning of the membranewere found to occur for melittin placed on the top leaflet only fora mixed membrane. A critical P/L ratio of 6:166 was observed for thepenetration of melittin from the surface, with this critical valuebeing 6:128 for water channel formation in the case of transmembranepeptides. The phospholipid density profile across the bilayer indicateda toroidal pore structure. Asymmetric transmembrane pores were largerfor the top leaflet and grew in size with time, whereas symmetricpores were stable. The behavior for mixed and pure membranes was foundto be similar for transmembrane peptides, thus implying high toxicityof melittin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For most manufacturers of piston compressors, all of the compressors should be tested and some key parameters are measured for the procedure of quality inspection. Traditionally, quality inspection of compressors is based on the thresholds of the key parameters (i.e., based on rules). However, due to the operation conditions of the production line varying slightly and uncertainty of measurement, the strictly fixed thresholds can often lead to misjudgment of quality inspection. To improve the correctness of quality inspection, this paper proposed a quality inspection method assisted with the Extreme Gradient Boosting Outlier Detection (XGBOD) model. XGBOD model is set up by learning anomalous patterns from historical test data, and it is used to identify finally whether it is qualified for the compressor that has been judged as unqualified by rules. The verification results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed quality inspection method. The XGBOD algorithm has a lower misjudgment rate than other anomaly detection algorithms. Assisted with the XGBOD model, the misjudgment rates of the proposed quality inspection method for Type-A and B compressors are reduced significantly from 15.75 % and 18.57 % to 1.18 % and 0.72 % respectively. Therefore, the quality inspection method assisted with the XGBOD model can effectively improve the correctness of the quality inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expressions of galectin-1 (Gal-1) in deciduas, placenta and trophoblast cells show a temporal and spatial pattern during pregnancy, which differ between normal and abnormal pregnancy. The expression level of Gal-1 gene is regulated by DNA methylation in its promoter region, and regulated by steroid hormones. Gal-1 takes parts in cell-adhesion, trophoblast differentiation, invasion, formation of syncytium and spiral artery remodeling. Gal-1 is also involved in the immune tolerance by promoting the immune inhibition transformed from the tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs), cytokines and immunoprotrins. Meanwhile, the oxidative stress of placenta and maternal may change Gal-1 structure, and its biological activity and function. Gal-1 is a potential diagnosis marker or treatment target for the pathological pregnancy and pregnancy-related diseases, since it plays an important role in the initiation, development and maintenance of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the value of tumor marker immunostaining-FISH (TM-iFISH) technology on concentrating and enumeration of tumor cells in CSF of lung cancer patients with leptomeningeal metastasis(LM). Methods Six cases of non-small cell lung cancer with leptomeningeal metastasis, which were diagnosed by CSF cytology or enhanced MRI scan, were selected. A total of 20 mL of CSF was collected in each case. TM-iFISH technology was employed to concentrate and quantify circulating tumor cells in 7.5 mL CSF samples in each case while CSF cytology used 10 mL CSF samples in each case; Finally, the rest 2.5 mL CSF in each case was used for biochemistry assay. Results Ten CSF samples from 6 patients with non-small lung cancer with LM were assayed and tumor cells numbers ranging between 3 and 1 823 every 7.5 mL were found in 7 samples. On the other hand, CSF cytology examination only revealed tumor cells in 3 cases. Using CSF biochemical assay, higher than normal of protein level was found in 9 cases. TM-iFISH technology was employed again in 3 cases of patients who received treatment. Tumor cell count in CSF reduced in 2 out of the 3 cases. Conclusion TM-iFISH technology is a new method for detection and enumeration of tumor cells in the CSF in non-small cell lung cancer patients with leptomeningeal metastasis. This technology present diagnosis and curative values in lung cancer patients with leptomeningeal metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study is performed to identify the roles of acoustic-actuator integration on improving convective heat transfer from a row of continuous air jets onto a flat target surface, by using a representative element that involves three continuous-jet pipes with a fixed jet-to-jet pitch (X / d = 5) and two acoustic actuators positioned at the intermediate centers of adjacent continuous jets. The tests are performed under Re = 3000–7000 (continuous jet), f = 150Hz–250Hz (acoustic actuator) and H / d = 2–10 (jet-to-target distance). In addition, several numerical simulations regarding the flow fields are also made to illustrate the mutual interaction mechanism between neighboring synthetic jet and continuous jet. The results clearly demonstrate that three featured local- Nu distribution patterns would happen, dependent on the reference velocity ratio (UR) and the jet-to-target distance. Within the limit of this study, the most possibilities in accordance with different featured local- Nu distribution patterns are put forward. As far as spatially-averaged Nusselt number (Nu s-av) and heat transfer uniformity indicator (HTU) for a specified zone, the roles of acoustic-actuator integration on heat transfer performance are thoroughly evaluated. Its positive role on heat transfer enhancement is identified to behave significantly in the situations of UR > 1 and H / d ≥ 6, wherein Nu s-av could be raised by 20 % at least in terms of the baseline continuous-jet configurations. However, when UR is far less than 1.0, a little negative influence on Nu s-av would happen at larger jet-to-target distances. Meanwhile it is confirmed that the acoustic-actuator integration could always improve the heat transfer uniformity, especially at larger jet-to-target distances wherein HTU could be mostly reduced beyond 30 % with respect to the baseline continuous-jet situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies. Recurrence and metastasis often occur after treatment, and it has the highest mortality rate of all gynecological tumors. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of cells with the ability of self-renewal, multidirectional differentiation, and infinite proliferation. They have been shown to play an important role in tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and angiogenesis. Ovarian cancer side population (SP) cells, a type of CSC, have been shown to play roles in tumor formation, colony formation, xenograft tumor formation, ascites formation, and tumor metastasis. The rapid progression of tumor angiogenesis is necessary for tumor growth; however, many of the mechanisms driving this process are unclear as is the contribution of CSCs. The aim of this review was to document the current state of knowledge of the molecular mechanism of ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) in regulating tumor angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pd/Cu tetrapods with 2 ¯ 24 facets were successfully prepared using the seed-mediated growth method, where Pd and Cu were co-deposited on small cubic Pd seeds (10 nm) in the aging growth solution with a molar ratio for Pd to Cu precursor of 1:1 at 45 °C. The deposition of more Cu atoms caused crystal growth toward 1 1 ¯ 1 owing to the stacking fault and interruption of crystal growth with sequential stacking of Pd atoms. When Pd seeds were grown in the same growth solution using accelerated Pd deposition at a high growth temperature (95 °C), Pd/Cu concave nanocubes (CNCs) were obtained. A Pd/Cu web-like nanostructure formed when the same growth solution was stirred at 45 °C. Additionally, the Tafel results confirmed that the specific activity of Pd/Cu tetrapods was 1.56 and 1.65 times higher than those of the CNCs and webs, respectively. Unlabelled Image • Pd/Cu tetrapods, webs, and concave nanocubes are systematically prepared. • High Cu at.% causes more stacking faults and the growth of seeds toward [11 ̅1]. • Pd/Cu tetrapods has 2 ¯ 24 facet. • ORR specific activity of Pd/Cu tetrapods is superior to Pt/C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on potential fluid theory and soil model theory, this paper derived a simplified mechanical model for horizontal storage tanks considering soil-tank-liquid interaction (STLI), which can be used for seismic design of horizontal storage tanks. Then the paper studied the ground motion response of STLI and Non-STLI under different shear wave velocity. We find the seismic response of the horizontal storage tank is more severe after considering the STLI, and the main control targets such as the base shear force, overturning bending moment and sloshing wave height increase by 25%~58%. Moreover, the effects of soft and medium soft fields are more significant. (1) There are few papers or research reports on the effects of soil-storage-liquid interactions on the ground motion response of horizontal storage tanks in the published literature. In view of the seismic design of horizontal storage tanks, we propose that the influence of soil factors should be considered, and a simplified mechanical model considering soil-storage-liquid interactions can be deduced, which can be used for seismic design of horizontal storage tanks. (2) Then the paper studied the ground motion response of STLI and Non-STLI under different shear wave velocity. Research shows that the seismic response of the horizontal storage tank is more severe after considering the STLI, and the main control targets such as the base shear force, overturning bending moment and sloshing wave height increase by 25%~58%. (3) We verified the simplified mechanical model from two aspects: first, through comparative analysis with published papers, and second, through comparative with finite element numerical simulation models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]