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Background: Patients infected with hepatitis C (HCV) genotype (GT) 3, especially GT3b, are still difficult to cure. GT3b is more common than GT3a in southwestern China. Here we aimed to investigate the prevalence of naturally occurring RASs in HCV GT3 in southwestern China and performed phylogenetic analysis. Methods: Serum samples were collected from patients with HCV GT3 infection. Sanger sequencing was used to validate resistance-associated substitutions (RASs). Phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA X and the observed-minus-expected-squared algorithm was used to analyze amino acid covariance. Results: A total of 136 patients were enrolled, including 41 HCV GT3a and 95 GT3b infected patients. In the NS5A region, the proportion of RASs found in GT3b (99%) was notably higher than in GT3a (9%). In the NS3 region, RASs prevalence in GT3b (5%) was lower than in GT3a (24%). NS5B-specific RASs were rare. Both the NS5A30k and L31 M substitutions occurred in 96% of GT3b sequences. The A30K + L31M combination was found in 94% of GT3b isolates, however, there were no A30K or L31M mutations observed in the GT3a sequence. Conclusions: Significant differences were observed between HCV GT3a and GT3b in terms of RAS prevalence. The origin of GT3a appears to be more diverse compared with GT3b in southern China. Studies specifically aimed at HCV GT3b infection should be initiated to gain more insight into this subtype.

Development of inexpensive and robust electrocatalysts towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for the cost-affordable manufacturing of metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Here we show that cross-linked CoMoO4 nanosheets and reduced graphene oxide (CoMoO4/rGO) can be integrated in a hybrid material under one-pot hydrothermal conditions, yielding a composite material with promising catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) were used to investigate the efficiency of the fabricated CoMoO4/rGO catalyst towards ORR in alkaline conditions. The CoMoO4/rGO composite revealed the main reduction peak and onset potential centered at 0.78 and 0.89 V (vs. RHE), respectively. This study shows that the CoMoO4/rGO composite is a highly promising catalyst for the ORR under alkaline conditions, and potential noble metal replacement cathode in fuel cells and metal-air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Intracranial blood blister-like aneurysm (BBA) is a rare type of aneurysm that lacks all layers of the arterial wall. These fragile aneurysms have the propensity to rupture with minimal manipulation, which makes them hazardous and difficult to treat. The present study evaluated the safety and feasibility of endovascular treatment of BBAs with the Willis covered stent. Materials Thirteen patients (7 men and 6 women, age range 28-68 years) who presented with ruptured BBAs and were treated with the Willis covered stent were retrospectively reviewed. Results of the procedures and treatment-related complications were recorded. Angiographic and clinical follow-ups were performed 4-6 months after the procedure. Results Placement of the covered stent was successful in all patients. Immediate angiography showed complete aneurysm occlusion in 12 patients while one patient showed a mild endoleak. This high rate of aneurysm exclusion ensured the security of postoperative antiplatelet treatment. Occlusion of the ophthalmic artery occurred in two patients and occlusion of the anterior choroidal artery occurred in one patient; however, none of them showed acute or delayed clinical symptoms. Thrombosis, aneurysm rupture, and other complications did not develop in any case. Angiographic follow-up showed complete aneurysm exclusion without aneurysm recurrence in any patients. Only two patients showed asymptomatic mild to moderate in-stent stenosis. All patients had satisfactory clinical outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score ≤1). Conclusions Willis covered stent implementation may be safe and feasible for BBAs. This strategy might be a promising option for this high-risk type of aneurysm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HIV/AIDS prevalence in female sex workers (FSWs) and elderly male clients is increasing in Guangxi, China, but the transmission relationship between them remains unclear. This study aims to illuminate the transmission network between FSWs and elderly male clients using molecular epidemiological analyses. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CRF01_AE was the dominant strain, followed by CRF07_BC and CRF08_BC in both groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that viral loads of 50 to 1000 copies/mL, immunological treatment failure and CRF07_BC were risk factors for entering the transmission network. Transmission network analysis showed that CRF07_BC tended to form large clusters, whereas CRF01_AE tended to form multiple but small clusters. Two groups of 11 FSWs and 169 clients were intricately intertwined. Spatial analysis demonstrated the formation of hotspots and clusters of transmission sharing regional differences. In conclusion, our study provides direct genetic evidence of transmission linkages between FSWs and elderly male clients. Although the CRF01_AE subtype was still the predominant subtype in the region, the higher degree and larger clusters found in CRF07_BC illustrate a rapid and intensive uptrend, which is expected to increase its prevalence in the region in the future.

BackgroundStrict quarantines can prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also increase the risk of mental illness. This study examined whether the people who have experienced repeated home quarantine performance more negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a Chinese population.MethodsWe collected data from 2,514 participants in Pi County, Chengdu City, and stratified them into two groups. Group 1 comprised 1,214 individuals who were quarantined only once in early 2020, while Group 2 comprised 1,300 individuals who were quarantined in early 2020 and again in late 2020. Both groups were from the same community. The GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PCL-C scales were used to assess symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD between the two groups.ResultsAnalyses showed that total PHQ-9 scores were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p < 0.001) and the quarantine times and age are independent predictors of symptoms of depression (p < 0.001). The two groups did not differ significantly in total GAD-7 or PCL-C scores.ConclusionIncreasing quarantine times was associated with moderate to severe depression symptoms, but not with an increase in symptoms of anxiety or PTSD.

Introduction The cognitive dysfunction associated with nitrous oxide abuse is gradually becoming a major global public health concern. Despite the increasing prevalence of nitrous oxide abuse, there are currently no authorised/approved treatment options. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been proven to be an efficient method to improve cognitive function. The current randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial will explore the effect of HBOT on cognitive dysfunction induced by nitrous oxide abuse.Methods and analysis Eighty participants who abuse nitrous oxide and have cognitive dysfunction, including memory decline, disorientation, attention deficits, slower reactions and learning disabilities, will be included in the trial. They will be randomly assigned to receive either HBOT or sham-HBOT 90–120 min once daily for 5 days per week for 2 weeks. The primary outcome will be the improvement in the total score of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, which will measure comprehensive cognitive function between the two groups. Additionally, attention will be measured by integrated visual and auditory continuous performance tests, executive function will be measured by the Wisconsin card sorting test, intelligence will be measured by Raven’s standard progressive matrices and cognitive control will be measured by the Stroop colour word interference test.Ethics and dissemination This protocol was approved by the West China Hospital of Sichuan University Biomedical Research Ethics Committee. The report of the study will be disseminated via scientific forums including peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences.Trial registration number Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100047111).

BackgroundBladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most common urinary malignancies with poor prognosis. There is an unmet need to develop novel robust tools to predict prognosis and treatment efficacy for BLCA.MethodsThe hypoxia-related genes were collected from the Molecular Signatures Database. The TCGA-BLCA cohort was downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas and then was randomly divided into training and internal validation sets. Two external validation cohorts were gathered from Gene Expression Omnibus. Also, another independent validation cohort (Xiangya cohort) was collected from our hospital. The Cox regression model with the LASSO algorithm was applied to develop the hypoxia risk score. Then, we correlated the hypoxia risk score with the clinical outcomes, the tumor microenvironment (TME) immune characteristics, and the efficacy prediction for several treatments, which included cancer immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies.ResultsHypoxia risk score was an independent prognostic factor. A high-risk score indicated an inflamed TME based on the evidence that hypoxia risk score positively correlated with the activities of several cancer immunity cycles and the infiltration levels of many tumor-infiltrating immune cells, such as CD8 + T cells, Dendritic cells, and NK cells. Consistently, the hypoxia risk score was positively related to the expression of several immune checkpoints, such as PD-L1, PD-1, CTLA-4, and LAG-3, as well as the T cell inflamed score. Furthermore, the hypoxia risk score positively correlated with the enrichment scores of most immunotherapy-positive gene signatures. Therefore, patients with higher risk score may be more sensitive to cancer immunotherapy. Meanwhile, the hypoxia risk score was positively related to the sensitivities of several chemotherapeutic drugs, including Cisplatin, Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, Bleomycin, Camptothecin, and Vinblastine. Similarly, the enrichment scores for radiotherapy-predicted pathways and EGFR ligands were higher in the high-risk score group. Conversely, the enrichment scores of several immunosuppressive oncogenic pathways were significantly higher in the low-risk score group, such as the WNT-β-catenin network, PPARG network, and FGFR3 network.ConclusionsWe developed and validated a new hypoxia risk score, which could predict the clinical outcomes and the TME immune characteristics of BLCA. In general, the hypoxia risk score may aid in the precision medicine for BLCA.

Innate immunity is the first line of defense against invading pathogens and may mediate HIV-1 resistance in HIV-1–exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals. This study aims to identify components of innate immunity that confer natural HIV-1 resistance in Chinese HESN individuals. Specifically, we compared the expression levels of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and associated pathway molecules in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), monocytes/macrophages, and plasma obtained from HESN and control individuals. HESN individuals had higher expression of TLR9, IRF7, IFN-α/β, RANTES, and MIP-1α/1β in PBMCs and plasma than control subjects. Upon TLR9 stimulation, significantly higher expression of TLR9 and IRF7, as well as higher production of IFN-α/β, RANTES, and MIP-1α/1β, was observed in PBMCs and monocytes/macrophages from HESN individuals than in the corresponding cells from control individuals. More importantly, both with and without TLR9 stimulation, the levels of HIV-1 replication in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from HESN individuals were significantly lower than those in MDMs from control individuals. These data suggest that increased TLR9 activity and subsequent release of antiviral factors contribute to protection against HIV-1 in HESN individuals.

Background: The relationship between range of motion (ROM) in lower limb joints and Functional movement screen still not clear. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the correlation between Functional Movement Screening (FMS) results and ROM in lower limb joints. Methods: Forty-eight young middle distance runners (26 men and 22 women) performed an FMS test and a ROM test of the lower limb joints. Nonparametric testing was used to compare the ROM of left and right lower extremities, an independent-sample T-test was used to compare FMS test scores between left and right sides, and Spearman correlation was used to analyze relationships between FMS test results and ROM of lower limb joints. Results: A negative correlation was observed between left hurdle step and ROM of right knee flexion (r = –0.435, p < 0.05), while a positive correlation was observed between right hurdle step and ROM of right ankle flexion (r = 0.392, p < 0.05). A negative correlation was observed between left in-line lunge and ROM of left knee flexion (r = –0.508, p < 0.05), while a positive correlation was observed between right in-line lunge and ROM of right hip extension (r = 0.445, p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between left active straight-leg-raise and ROM of left hip flexion (r = 0.464, p < 0.05), and a positive correlation between right rotary stability and ROM of right ankle extension (r = 0.393, p < 0.05). The trunk-stability push-up and ROM of left ankle flexion was negatively correlated (r = –0.446, p < 0.01). Conclusions: FMS test results were significantly correlated with ROM of hip, knee and ankle joints on the sagittal plane, with differences observed between the left and right sides. The ROM of flexion, extension of hip and extension of ankle were positively correlated with the FMS test results, while larger knee flexion and ankle flexion ROM were negatively correlated with FMS test results. We propose that excessive ROM of the knee and ankle could affect the development of stability. The results of this study should help to further our understanding of FMS.

Background: Prospective observation of hemodynamic changes before and after formation of brain aneurysms is often difficult. We used a vessel surface repair method to carry out a retrospective hemodynamic study before and after aneurysm formation in a ruptured aneurysm of the posterior communicating artery (RPcomAA) and an unruptured aneurysm of the posterior communicating artery (URPcomAA). Methods: Arterial geometries obtained from three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography of cerebral angiograms were used for flow simulation by employing finite-volume modeling. Hemodynamic parameters such as wall shear stress (WSS), blood-flow velocity, streamlines, pressure, and wall shear stress gradient (WSSG) in the aneurysm sac and at the site of aneurysm formation were analyzed in each model. Results: At “aneurysm” status, hemodynamic analyses at the neck, body, and dome of the aneurysm revealed the distal aneurysm neck to be subjected to the highest WSS and blood-flow velocity, whereas the aneurysm dome presented the lowest WSS and blood-flow velocity in both model types. More apparent changes in WSSG at the aneurysm dome with an inflow jet and narrowed impaction zone were revealed only in the RPcomAA. At “pre-aneurysm” status, hemodynamic analyses in both models showed that the region of aneurysm formation was subjected to extremely elevated WSS, WSSG, and blood-flow velocity. Conclusions: These data suggest that hemodynamic analyses in patients with ruptured or unruptured aneurysms using the vessel surface repair method are feasible, economical, and simple. Our preliminary results indicated that the arterial wall was subjected to elevated WSS, WSSG and blood-flow velocity before aneurysm generation. However, more complicated flow patterns (often with an inflow jet or narrowed impaction zone) were more likely to be observed in ruptured aneurysm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reported prevalence of unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) varies widely. Objective: To measure the prevalence of UCAs by using 3-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography in adults aged 35 to 75 years. Design: Cross-sectional study done between June 2007 and June 2011. Setting: Two communities chosen at random from 2 districts (1 urban and 1 suburban) in Shanghai, China. Participants: 4813 adults aged 35 to 75 years. Measurements: Three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography, interpreted by 3 observers blinded to the participants' information, was used to identify the location and size of UCAs and to estimate the overall, age-specific, and sex-specific prevalence. Results: 369 UCAs were found in 336 participants (130 men and 206 women); 4477 participants had no evidence of UCAs. The prevalence was 7.0% overall (95% CI, 6.3% to 7.7%), with 5.5% for men (CI, 4.6% to 6.4%) and 8.4% for women (CI, 7.3% to 9.5%). The overall prevalence of UCAs was higher in women than in men (P < 0.001) and peaked at ages 55 to 64 years in men and women. The UCAs were mostly located in the internal carotid artery (81%), and 90.2% had a maximum diameter less than 5 mm. Mean diameter was larger in women than in men (3.7 mm vs. 3.2 mm; P < 0.009). Limitation: Participants were from 2 communities selected from 2 districts in Shanghai, and adults older than 75 years were not studied. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of UCAs was 7.0% in Chinese adults aged 35 to 75 years, and most lesions had a diameter less than 5 mm. Primary Funding Source: National Natural Science Foundation of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The presence of predicting the rupture risk of intracranial aneurysms has recently generated considerable controversy. We retrospectively investigated the risk factors for multiple intracranial aneurysms related to rupture. Methods: Between July 2007 and July 2011, 134 patients with 294 aneurysms were identified after review. Every patient had two or more aneurysms. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk factors for multiple intracranial aneurysms with age, gender, site and size. Results: 134 patients were divided into three groups according to patient age category (<45, 45-65, >65 years of age). The incidence of aneurysms ruptured in the second group was significantly higher. Three groups showed significant difference (P = 0.001 versus >65 years of age). Thirteen of 35 AComA aneurysms were ruptured, accounting for 26% of all ruptured aneurysms, and the rate of rupture at AComA aneurysms in patients was 37.1%. The rate of aneurysm rupture in the AComA was significantly higher than that in other sites (P = 0.001). In all 294 aneurysms, 88.1% of the aneurysms were 5 mm or less, of which 58.2% were less than 3 mm. In the ruptured aneurysms, 68% were 5 mm or less. Conclusions: Our study reveals the pattern of ruptured multiple intracranial aneurysms, in terms of age, size and location of aneurysms. Age, size, and site of aneurysm should be considered in the decision whether to treat an unruptured aneurysm or not. Especially, in cases of multiple aneurysm, the AComA aneurysm is most prone to hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The covered stent is one of the most promising tools for the treatment of intracranial fusiform aneurysms. We developed an in vivo model of fusiform aneurysms and evaluated the effectiveness of double telescoping Willis covered stents for their treatment.Materials and Methods: An external jugular vein graft was anastomosed with the common carotid artery (CCA) to construct the fusiform aneurysm model. After at least 4 weeks, two Willis covered stents were implanted in a telescopic fashion. Angiography follow-up was performed at 2 weeks and 1 and 3 months to examine the grafts. The animals were sacrificed at 1 or 3 months of the follow-up period, and the stents were examined histologically.Results: A total of eight fusiform aneurysms in four canines were created and 16 covered stents were implanted successfully. No technical or device-related difficulties occurred. The angiographic follow-up results showed that six fusiform aneurysms were completely occluded, and a minimal endoleak occurred in two fusiform aneurysms. Histological examination revealed endothelial progress and all aneurysm sacs were filled with thrombi.Conclusion: Vein graft anastomosis with CCA to construct a model of fusiform aneurysm may reproduce the clinical conditions. This study demonstrated that the implantation of two Willis covered stents in a telescoping fashion is an effective way to treat an experimental model of fusiform aneurysm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies investigating the association between X-ray repair cross-complementation group 1(XRCC1) polymorphisms and cervical cancer (CC) risk has provided inconsistent results. The aim of our study was to assess the association between the XRCC1 gene Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp, Arg280His polymorphisms and risk of CC. Methods: Two investigators independently searched the Medline, Embase, CNKI, and Chinese Biomedicine Databases for studies published before March 2011. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for XRCC1 polymorphisms and CC were calculated in a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model when appropriate. Results: Ultimately, 9, 5 and 2 studies were found to be eligible for meta-analyses of Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp and Arg280His, respectively. Our analysis suggested that the variant genotypes of Arg194Trp were associated with a significantly increased CC risk (Trp/Trp vs Arg/Arg, OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.60-3.06; Arg/Trp vs Arg/Arg, OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.02-1.49; dominant model, OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.14-1.63; recessive model, OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.51-2.82). For Arg280His polymorphism, no obvious associations were found for all genetic models. For Arg399Gln polymorphism, also no obvious associations were found for all genetic models. In the subgroup analyses by ethnicity/country, a significantly increased risk was observed among Asian, especially among Chinese. To get more precise evidences, adjusted ORs (95%CI) by potential confounders (such as age, ethnicity or smoking, etc) were also calculated for XRCC1 Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp, however, the estimated pooled adjusted OR still did not change at all. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that Arg194Trp polymorphism may be associated with CC risk, Arg399Gln polymorphism might be a low-penetrent risk factor for CC only in Asians, and there may be no association between Arg280His polymorphism and CC risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of large or giant intracranial aneurysms with the Willis covered stent. Methods: Nineteen patients, each with a large or giant intracranial aneurysm, were treated with the Willis covered stent. Of these 19 aneurysms, 6 were giant and 13 were large; 18 were located in the cranial internal carotid artery and 1 in the vertebral artery. Results of the procedure, technical events and complications were recorded. Clinical and imaging follow-ups were performed at 3 and 6-12 months after the procedure. Results: Placement of Willis covered stent was successful in all patients. Complete aneurysm exclusion was achieved in 13 of the 19 aneurysms immediately after the procedure. No mortality or morbidity developed during the treatment or the follow-up period. During the follow-up period, complete aneurysm exclusion was achieved in 18 of the 19 patients; 11 aneurysms were totally involuted, 3 decreased to 25% of the original diameter, 4 decreased to 50% and 1 remained unchanged. Nine patients experienced full recovery, 9 improved and 1 was unchanged. No obvious in-stent stenosis was noted. Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of large or giant intracranial aneurysm with the Willis covered stent is feasible, safe and efficacious in selected cases. Endoleak is a frequent issue after initial covered stent placement, but can be eliminated or dramatically reduced to minimal endoleak by additional covered stent placement and/or balloon reinflation. Minor endoleak is likely to spontaneously resolve over time. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new molybdophosphate (NH4)8{MoO4[(MoO6)CH3C(O)(PO3)2]2}·14H2O ( 1), has been synthesized by the reaction of {MoO4(H2O)6}2+ fragments with 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate (hedp HOC(CH3)(PO3H2)2), and it is characterized by 31P NMR, IR, UV, element analysis, TG and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The structure analysis reveals that the polyoxoanion can be described as two {(MoO6)(CH3C(O)(PO3)2} units connected by a {MoO4}2+ moiety. In the structure, the six Mo atoms are arranged into a new “W-shaped” structure, which represents a new kind of molybdophosphate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trans-venous embolisation has been accepted as the preferred treatment for dural carotid–cavernous fistulae (DCCF). However, such an approach is not always feasible. In this circumstance, trans-arterial embolisation with low concentration n-butyl-cyanoacrylate glue (NBCA) may be a feasible alternative. We report our results and experience of this method for DCCF. Five patients with DCCF were treated by trans-arterial embolisation using low concentration NBCA by wedging the microcatheter into the main feeding artery. All five lesions were associated with venous drainage into the superior ophthalmic vein. The inferior petrosal sinus was patent in one patient and thrombosed in four. Additional venous drainage into the Sylvian vein and the superior petrosal sinus was observed in two patients. The definitive NBCA injection was performed via the branches of the middle meningeal artery in three patients and accessory meningeal artery as well as ascending pharyngeal artery in two patients. Four patients showed complete obliteration of the DCCF on the post-embolisation angiogram, and follow-up studies showed clinical cure or improvement and successful obliteration of the DCCF. One patient had a residual DCCF after the procedure, but showed complete obliteration and clinical cure at 5-month follow-up. Glue penetrated into the Sylvian vein in one patient during the procedure without sequelae. Two patients had transient worsening of ocular symptoms after the procedure. Trans-arterial embolisation with low concentration NBCA using a wedged microcatheter technique is still a safe and effective treatment for DCCF when the transvenous approach is not feasible. However, care must be taken to prevent inadvertent arterial and venous embolisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of eosinophilic granuloma at the fourth cervical vertebra in a 10-year-old girl presenting with a 1-month history of cervical pain and stiffness. This lesion was histologically diagnosed by needle biopsy and then treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty. After the procedure, the cervical pain and stiffness resolved rapidly. The height of the vertebral body remained stable without further collapse over a 6-month follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In bulk glass optical current sensing systems with polarization-preserving total reflection layers and wide spectral optical sources, the Verdet constant of the material of the sensing head, the linear birefringence inside the sensing element and the reflection-induced-retardance are all a function of the wavelength. Therefore, there will be error accumulation due to spectral width variation shown in the output of the systems, which has scarcely been discussed before. In this paper, the dispersion formulae of the Verdet constant, reflection-induced-retardance and linear birefringence inside a current sensing cell made of ZF-7 glass are given, then their error accumulation due to spectral width variation upon the output of the system is theoretically analysed and digitally simulated. Finally, the effect of the spectral width of the optical source upon the output of the system is simulated and analysed. The result shows that the effect of the spectral width variation of optical sources on the output of the system is less than 0.025%; the effect of the Verdet constant is dominant in the joint effect, and the system output increases with increasing source spectral width, which is confirmed qualitatively by an experiment. Therefore, the treatment using a monochromatic model to describe systems with a broad-band optical source is adequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new diphosphonate-functionalized polyoxomolybdate l,d-(NH4)6{MoV2O4[(MoVI2O6)NH3CH2CH2CH2C(O)(PO3)2]2}·10H2O (1) has been synthesized by the reaction of alendronic acid with {Mo2O4(H2O)6}2+fragments. In the structure, a restriction of “folding” alkyl induced chiral polyoxometalate has been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classical Dawson-type racemic polyoxoanions [P2Mo18O62]6−have been separated in aqueous solution with l,d-histidine, respectively. Two enantiomerically pure compounds: H3(L-HC6H9N3O2)3[P2Mo18O62]·20H2O (1a), H3(D-HC6H9N3O2)3[P2Mo18O62]·20H2O (1b), have been synthesized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection was necessary but not sufficient for KS development without other cofactors. We have previously reported that herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 was an important cofactor that reactivated KSHV from latency by inducing the expression of KSHV replication and transcription activator (RTA), the lytic switch protein. Here, we further investigated the possible cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in regulation of RTA during HSV-1-induced KSHV replication. The differential profiles of miRNAs expression between Mock- and HSV-1-infected body cavity-based lymphoma (BCBL-1) cells were identified by miRNA microarray analysis. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter analyses showed that two of the HSV-1-downregulated cellular miRNAs, miR-498 and miR-320d, directly targeted the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of KSHV RTA. As a result, overexpression of these two miRNAs significantly inhibited HSV-1-induced KSHV replication, whereas repression of these miRNAs with specific suppressors enhanced HSV-1-mediated KSHV replication. In addition, miR-498 or miR-320d alone, without HSV-1 infection, regulated KSHV replication in BCBL-1 cells. Finally, bioinformatics Gene Ontology (GO) analysis indicated that targets of HSV-1-regulated miRNAs were enriched for proteins, whose roles were involved in protein binding, enzyme activity, biological regulation, and several potential signaling pathways including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were likely to participate in HSV-1-induced KSHV replication. Collectively, these novel findings demonstrated that host-encoded miR-498 and miR-320d regulated HSV-1 induction of KSHV lytic replication by targeting RTA, which provided further insights into the molecular mechanisms controlling KSHV lytic replication.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection was necessary but not sufficient for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) development without other cofactors. Previously, we identified that both human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) Tat and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) were important cofactors reactivating KSHV from latency. Here, we further investigated the potential of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) to influence KSHV replication and examined the role of Tat in this procedure. We demonstrated that HSV-2 was a potentially important factor in the pathogenesis of KS, as determined by production of lytic phase mRNA transcripts, viral proteins and infectious viral particles in BCBL-1 cells. These results were further confirmed by an RNA interference experiment using small interfering RNA targeting KSHV Rta and a luciferase reporter assay testing Rta promoter-driven luciferase activity. Mechanistic studies showed that HSV-2 infection activated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Inhibition of NF-κB pathway enhanced HSV-2-mediated KSHV activation, whereas activation of NF-κB pathway suppressed KSHV replication in HSV-2-infected BCBL-1 cells. Additionally, ectopic expression of Tat enhanced HSV-2-induced KSHV replication. These novel findings suggest a role of HSV-2 in the pathogenesis of KS and provide the first laboratory evidence that Tat may participate HSV-2-mediated KSHV activation, implying the complicated pathogenesis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related KS (AIDS-KS) patients.

Abstract Although low‐rank representation (LRR)‐based subspace learning has been widely applied for feature extraction in computer vision, how to enhance the discriminability of the low‐dimensional features extracted by LRR based subspace learning methods is still a problem that needs to be further investigated. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel low‐rank preserving embedding regression (LRPER) method by integrating LRR, linear regression, and projection learning into a unified framework. In LRPER, LRR can reveal the underlying structure information to strengthen the robustness of projection learning. The robust metric L2,1‐norm is employed to measure the low‐rank reconstruction error and regression loss for moulding the noise and occlusions. An embedding regression is proposed to make full use of the prior information for improving the discriminability of the learned projection. In addition, an alternative iteration algorithm is designed to optimise the proposed model, and the computational complexity of the optimisation algorithm is briefly analysed. The convergence of the optimisation algorithm is theoretically and numerically studied. At last, extensive experiments on four types of image datasets are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of LRPER, and the experimental results demonstrate that LRPER performs better than some state‐of‐the‐art feature extraction methods.

Hyperspectral images (HSIs) capture a wide range of spectral features across multiple bands of light, from visible to near-infrared. Hyperspectral image classification technology enables researchers to accurately identify and analyze the composition and distribution of surface materials. Current mainstream deep learning methods typically use block sampling to capture spatial features for the model. However, this approach can affect classification results due to the influence of neighboring features within the sample block. To improve the model’s focus on the center of the sampling block, this study proposes a center highlight with multiscale CNN for hyperspectral image classification (CHMSC). The network utilizes an automatic channel selector (Auto-CHS) to fully consider every channel feature and capture the correlation between the channels. Then, CHMSC enhances the model’s ability to concentrate on the central features of the sampling block utilizing structures such as the center highlight. Finally, before outputting the prediction results, an SENet is employed to further refine the features and learn associate interactions between different scales of spatial features and spectral features. Experimental results from three hyperspectral datasets validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Specifically, when 15 samples from each class are selected for training, CHMSC achieves the highest overall accuracy (OA) of 90.05%, 92.78%, and 90.15% on the three datasets, outperforming other methods with increases of more than 3.11%, 1.8%, and 2.01% in OA, respectively.

A new ultra-low specific on-resistance (Ron,sp) vertical double diffusion metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (VDMOS) with continuous electron accumulation (CEA) layer, denoted as CEA-VDMOS, is proposed and its new current transport mechanism is investigated. It features a trench gate directly extended to the drain, which includes two PN junctions. In on-state, the electron accumulation layers are formed along the sides of the extended gate and introduce two continuous low-resistance current paths from the source to the drain in a cell pitch. This mechanism not only dramatically reduces the Ron,sp but also makes the Ron,sp almost independent of the n-pillar doping concentration (Nn). In off-state, the depletion between the n-pillar and p-pillar within the extended trench gate increases the Nn, and further reduces the Ron,sp. Especially, the two PN junctions within the trench gate support a high gate–drain voltage in the off-state and on-state, respectively. However, the extended gate increases the gate capacitance and thus weakens the dynamic performance to some extent. Therefore, the CEA-VDMOS is more suitable for low and medium frequencies application. Simulation indicates that the CEA-VDMOS reduces the Ron,sp by 80% compared with the conventional super-junction VDMOS (CSJ-VDMOS) at the same high breakdown voltage (BV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Endovascular recanalization in patients with symptomatic nonacute intracranial large artery occlusion (ILAO) has been reported to be feasible, but technically challenging. This study aimed to determine the predictors of successful endovascular recanalization in patients with symptomatic nonacute ILAO. Methods The outcomes of endovascular recanalization attempts performed in 70 consecutive patients showing symptomatic nonacute ILAO with hemodynamic cerebral ischemia between January 2016 to December 2022 were reviewed. Potential variables, including clinical and radiological characteristics related to technical success, were collected. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify predictors of successful recanalization for nonacute ILAO. Results Technically successful recanalization was achieved in 57 patients (81.4%). The periprocedural complication rate was 21.4% (15 of 70), and the overall 30-day morbidity and mortality rates were 7.1% (5 of 70) and 2.9% (2 of 70), respectively. Univariate analysis showed that successful recanalization was associated with occlusion duration, stump morphology, occlusion length, slow distal antegrade flow sign, and the presence of bridging collateral vessels. Multivariate analysis showed that occlusion duration ≤ 3 months (odds ratio [OR]: 22.529; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.636-310.141), tapered stump (OR: 7.498; 95% CI: 1.533–36.671), and occlusion length

A uniform doping ultra-thin silicon-on-insulator (SOI) lateral-double-diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) with low specific on-resistance (Ron,sp) and high breakdown voltage (BV) is proposed and its mechanism is investigated. The proposed LDMOS features an accumulation-mode extended gate (AG) and back-side etching (BE). The extended gate consists of a P– region and two diodes in series. In the on-state with VGD > 0, an electron accumulation layer is formed along the drift region surface under the AG. It provides an ultra-low resistance current path along the whole drift region surface and thus the novel device obtains a low temperature distribution. The Ron,sp is nearly independent of the doping concentration of the drift region. In the off-state, the AG not only modulates the surface electric field distribution and improves the BV, but also brings in a charge compensation effect to further reduce the Ron,sp. Moreover, the BE avoids vertical premature breakdown to obtain high BV and allows a uniform doping in the drift region, which avoids the variable lateral doping (VLD) and the “hot-spot” caused by the VLD. Compared with the VLD SOI LDMOS, the proposed device simultaneously reduces the Ron,sp by 70.2% and increases the BV from 776 V to 818 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low specific on-resistance SOI LDMOS with a novel junction field plate (JFP) is proposed and investigated theoretically. The most significant feature of the JFP LDMOS is a PP—N junction field plate instead of a metal field plate. The unique structure not only yields charge compensation between the JFP and the drift region, but also modulates the surface electric field. In addition, a trench gate extends to the buried oxide layer (BOX) and thus widens the vertical conduction area. As a result, the breakdown voltage (BV) is improved and the specific on-resistance (Ron,sp) is decreased significantly. It is demonstrated that the BV of 306 V and the Ron,sp of 7.43 mΩ·cm2 are obtained for the JFP LDMOS. Compared with those of the conventional LDMOS with the same dimensional parameters, the BV is improved by 34.8%, and the Ron,sp is decreased by 56.6% simultaneously. The proposed JFP LDMOS exhibits significant superiority in terms of the trade-off between BV and Ron,sp. The novel JFP technique offers an alternative technique to achieve high blocking voltage and large current capacity for power devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Trans-arterial embolisation therapy of dural carotid-cavernous fistulae using low concentration n-butyl-cyanoacrylate" that was published in the July 22, 2009 issue of the journal is presented.