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A new kind of high-performance asymmetric supercapacitor is designed with pyrolyzed bacterial cellulose (p-BC)-coated MnO₂ as a positive electrode material and nitrogen-doped p-BC as a negative electrode material via an easy, efficient, large-scale, and green fabrication approach. The optimal asymmetric device possesses an excellent supercapacitive behavior with quite high energy and power density., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Objective: To investigate the effects of rehabilitation intervention provided within the first 3 months after admission for stroke on the incidence of poststroke depression (diagnosed according to ICD-9-CM code 296, 309, or 311, or A-code A212 or A219)., Method: This population-based cohort study examined medical claim data of a random sample of 1 million insured people registered in 2000 in Taiwan. Between 2000 and 2005, there were 7,677 patients admitted as first-time stroke patients. Of these, 1,285 (16.7%) received a rehabilitation regimen within the first 3 months of admission for stroke. The other 83.3% of patients (n = 6,482) belonged to the control group. All study subjects were followed to the end of 2009 to identify any ambulatory treatment for depression as the end point. The incidence density of poststroke depression was calculated assuming a Poisson process. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the relative risk of poststroke depression in relation to receipt of rehabilitation., Results: Over a 10-year follow-up, 75 patients (5.8%) with rehabilitation and 566 controls (8.7%) developed poststroke depression, representing incidence densities of 11.3 and 18.5 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. After analyses were controlled for potential confounders, rehabilitation was found to significantly reduce the risk of poststroke depression, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.57 (95% CI, 0.45-0.73). The effect was greater for men (HR = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.37-0.71), especially for elderly men (HR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.28-0.71), than for women (HR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.47-1.02)., Conclusions: Stroke rehabilitation intervention in the first 3 months after admission for stroke may significantly reduce the risk of poststroke depression. Although this beneficial effect appears to be greater for men than for women, clinicians should also be alert for poststroke depression occurring in women., (© Copyright 2013 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.)

The Botia superciliaris is endemic to China and distributed mainly in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The complete mitochondrial genome was 16,597 bp in length, which contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 displacement loop (D-loop) locus. Except for the ND6 gene and eight tRNA genes, all other mitochondrial genes were encoded on the heavy strand. The overall nucleotide composition was 31.6% A, 25.5% T, 27.2% C and 15.7% G, with an AT content of 57.1%. The gene composition and the structural arrangement of the B. superciliaris complete mtDNA were identical to most of the other vertebrates. The molecular data here we presented could play a useful role to study the evolutionary relationships and population genetics of Cobitidae fish.

Since their detection 20 years ago, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have captured the interest of scientists, because one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures (nanowires, nanotubes, and nanoribbons) have fascinating physical properties and many potential technological applications. These are materials with structural features limited to the range of 1-100 nm in one dimension, and unlimited in the others. When their size goes down to certain characteristic lengths, such as the Bohr radius, the wavelength of incandescent light, and the phonon mean-free path, quantum mechanical effects can occur. This results in novel optical, magnetic, and electronic characteristics. These physical properties, along with unique transport features in the longitudinal direction and large surface-to-volume ratio, make 1D nanostructures attract extensive attention in both fundamental research and engineering applications. From a synthetic point of view, it is highly desirable to develop a simple route for fabricating 1D nanostructures in large scale at low cost. On the other hand, in order to transfer the intrinsic features of individual 1D nanostructures into macroscopic scale and realize practical applications, we need to explore highly efficient and scalable assembly methods to integrate 1D nanostructures into functional macroscopic architectures. In 2006, our group developed a simple hydrothermal method for synthesizing ultrathin Te nanowires (TeNWs) using conventional chemicals. As we found through systematic study over the past several years, we can use the ultrathin TeNWs as a versatile templating material to fabricate a series of high-quality 1D nanostructures by taking the unique advantages of TeNWs, such as large-scale synthesis, high processability, and high reactivity. The obtained 1D products inherit the dimensional (high aspect ratio) and mechanical (high flexibility) features of the original TeNW templates, thus allowing us to construct macroscopic architectures by using them as nanoscale building blocks. In this Account, we describe on our recent developments in the multiplex templating synthesis of 1D nanostructures, their macroscopic assemblies, and applications. We first introduce ultrathin TeNWs and their advantages as a templating material. Through the multiplex templating process, we can prepare a family of 1D nanostructures that covers a wide range of materials, including noble metals, metal oxides, semiconductors, carbon, polymers, and their binary and multiple hybrids. We emphasize the reactivity of templating materials and the versatility of templating processes in this Account. On the basis of the templated 1D products, we then describe a series of macroscopic assemblies of 1D nanostructures, including free-standing membranes, films, hydrogels, and aerogels. These exhibit enormous potential for attractive applications, such as liquid filtration and separation, continuous-flow catalysis, electrocatalysis, polymer-based nanocomposites, and superadsorbents, and elastomeric conductors. We believe that the great versatility of templating synthesis, a scalable assembling process, and large-scale synthesis can significantly enhance the application reliability of the 1D nanostructures.

Ultrathin and ultralong: Highly uniform, ultrathin (diameter 5-7 nm), and ultralong (aspect ratio >10(4)) PtPdTe nanowires (NWs) were synthesized by using a facile method employing Te NWs as both sacrificial templates and reducing agents. Fine-tuning of the molar ratios of Pt and Pd precursors afforded PtPdTe NWs with different compositions and enhanced electroactivity in the methanol oxidation reaction in comparison with a commercial Pt/C catalyst., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The polymerase chain reaction method was employed to obtain the complete mitochondrial genome of Leiocassis crassilabris from the Yangtze River, China. The mitogenome of L. crassilabris is 16,534 bp in length, consisting of 37 genes coding for 13 proteins, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and 1 control region. Its gene arrangement pattern was identical with that of most vertebrates. Overall base composition of mitogenome is estimated to be 31.8% A, 26.9% T, 26.4% C, and 14.9% G, with a high A+T content (58.7%). This is the first report on the complete mitogenome sequence of L. crassilabris, which can provide a basic data for the studies on phylogenetic analysis and conservation genetics.

Although subclinical median neuropathy is not uncommon, its correlation with sonographic changes to the median nerve at the wrist has not been studied. We included 62 subjects (with 107 wrists) who reported experiencing no hand numbness. All subjects underwent nerve conduction studies (NCS) and sonography for median nerve at the pisiform level. The cross-sectional area (CSA), perimeter, long axis and short axis of median nerve were obtained off-line by manual tracing with a mouse and computed by one algorithm written in MatLab. Eighteen wrists met the inclusion criteria of subclinical median neuropathy. The CSA, perimeter and long axis of the median nerve were significantly different between normal and abnormal NCS wrists. Mixed model analysis showed that subclinical neuropathy was associated with enlarged CSA, but the other demographic variables (gender, age and body mass index and occupational categories) were not. Our findings support the use of both patient symptoms and NCS to define normal subjects during further studies. In addition, enlarged CSA within asymptomatic individuals should raise concern for subclinical median neuropathy., (Copyright © 2013 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To assess diastolic function and coronary artery reserve in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using single-photon emission computer tomography (SPECT)., Methods: Patients with OSA who had normal echocardiograph/electrocardiogram findings were divided into three groups based on OSA severity: mild (n = 15), moderate (n = 13), or severe (n = 18). A control group of participants without OSA (n = 17) was included. SPECT (with technetium-99 m-labeled red blood cells) was performed after the induction of cardiac stress by injection of dobutamine. The following ventricular parameters were determined: left ventricular ejection fraction, peak filling rate (PFR), peak ejection rate, 1/3 filling fraction (1/3FF), and regional ejection fractions (rEF)., Results: The median ages of OSA and control participants were 45.0 and 51.0 years, respectively. Median apnea-hypopnea index scores were 3.3, 9.1, 38.5, and 65.2 for the control, mild OSA, moderate OSA, and severe OSA groups, respectively. Post-stress, 1/3FF was significantly lower in the overall OSA group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). PFR was significantly lower in the overall OSA group compared with the control group (P < 0.05) and was significantly lower in the severe OSA group compared with the mild OSA group. Regional ejection fractions rEF3 (cardiac apex and a small part of the inferior wall) and rEF4 (anteroseptal wall) were significantly lower in the overall OSA group compared with the control group, suggesting decreased coronary artery reserve., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that SPECT can be used to detect abnormalities in diastolic function and coronary reserve in patients with OSA who have normal electrocardiogram or echocardiograph findings. SPECT may be useful for the early detection of cardiovascular disease in patients with OSA.

Objectives: To assess the impact of return-to-work (RTW) status on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over a 2-year period in workers with traumatic limb injuries and to elucidate factors that may contribute to the association of RTW with HRQOL., Design: A 2-year repeated-measurements follow-up study using the generalized estimating equations approach for model fitting to account for within-subject correlations of HRQOL., Setting: One teaching hospital., Participants: Injured patients (N=966, 61% men) with a mean age of 44.7 years., Interventions: Not applicable., Main Outcome Measures: The RTW status, HRQOL (assessed by the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire), and activity/participation were repeatedly surveyed at 2 weeks and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after injury. A series of regression models was used to examine the associations between HRQOL and RTW, with sequential adjustment for explanatory variables such as personal and environmental factors, body structure and function, activity/participation, and postinjury period., Results: Over a 2-year study period, 81.2% of the study participants had 1 or more RTW episodes; 38.2% of them successfully maintained their RTW status until the end. A significant positive association was found between RTW status and HRQOL. The association could largely be explained by the domains of activity/participation. A higher HRQOL was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay, better coping ability, frequent participation in activities of daily living, and a longer postinjury period. A reduced HRQOL, however, was observed for participants with more depressive symptoms., Conclusions: RTW showed a positive and independent influence on HRQOL in workers with limb injury. In addition, the activity/participation domains and the elapsed time since injury largely explained the association between RTW and HRQOL., (Copyright © 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hierarchical FeOOH nanostructure array films constructed by different nanosized building blocks can be synthesized at the air-water interface via a bio-inspired gas-liquid diffusion method. In this approach, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as a crystal growth modifier plays a crucial role in mediating the morphology and polymorph of FeOOH crystals. With the increase of PAA concentration, the shape of the building blocks assembling into FeOOH films can be tailored from nanosheets, to rice spikes, then to branched fibers, and finally to nanowires. What is more, a low concentration of PAA will induce the formation of α-FeOOH, while a high one could stabilize FeOOH in the form of the γ-FeOOH phase. After being modified with a thin layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), the as-prepared FeOOH films exhibited strong hydrophobicity with water contact angles (CA) from 134° to 148° or even superhydrophobicity with a CA of 164° in the sample constructed by nanosheets. When the FeOOH nanostructures were dispersed in water by ultrasound, they displayed quite promising adsorption performance of heavy metal ions for water treatment, where the highest adsorption capacity can reach 77.2 mg·g⁻¹ in the sample constructed by nanowires. This bio-inspired approach may open up the possibilities for the fabrication of other functional nanostructure thin films with unique properties.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Shorthead catfish (Pelteobagrus eupogon) was obtained by DNA sequencing based on the PCR fragments. The entire genome was 16,562 bp in length, with a gene content of 13 protein-coding, 2 ribosomal RNA, and 22 transfer RNA genes, and order identical to that observed in most other vertebrates. Those genes are arranged compactly with no introns and few intergenic nucleotides. Molecular data here presented provide a useful toll for evolutionary as well as population genetic studied.

After limb amputation, neuromas may be asymptomatic when not compressed, but can cause unexplained discomfort when a prosthesis is worn. The sonographic presentation of multiple postamputation neuromas has rarely been reported. A 40-year-old female with a left, below-elbow amputation suffered from late-onset stump pain and prosthesis intolerance. Physical examination revealed a painful nodule, whereas sonographic findings disclosed three hypoechoic masses derived from the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. Marked pain reduction was reported 2 weeks after sonography-guided steroid injection. Investigation of all damaged nerves in the residual limbs is important., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: This study aims to explore the trajectories of return to work (RTW) and examine the predictors of different trajectories among workers following traumatic limb injury., Methods: A total of 804 participants were recruited during hospital admission for a 2-year prospective study. The RTW outcome was repeatedly assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after the injury. A group-based trajectory model (GBTM) was employed to identify trajectories of RTW among the participants. Comparisons of group characteristics of different trajectories were performed based on a multinomial logistic regression., Results: GBTM identified three distinct trajectories of RTW: (i) fast RTW consisted of workers with early and stable RTW status from the first month after the injury; (ii) average RTW consisted of workers who achieved and remained at a stable RTW status within 6 months; and (iii) slow RTW consisted of workers who had slow and unsustainable RTW status within the 2-year follow-up period. The estimated proportions were 21.5%, 50.7%, and 27.8%, respectively. Workers with slow and unsustainable RTW after injury were found to be older, married, less educated, employed as repair personnel/operators/laborers, seriously injured, and depressed; they were also found to feel more disturbance in daily life, have lower self-efficacy, and believe they experience a poorer quality of life., Conclusion: Following traumatic limb injury, individual workers showed three distinct RTW trajectories, each of which was associated with different categories of biopsychosocial factors. An understanding of how different factors contribute to increasing the likelihood of RTW for injured workers in each trajectory group should aid policy-making in worker-oriented vocational rehabilitation programs.

Supercapacitors (also known as ultracapacitors) are considered to be the most promising approach to meet the pressing requirements of energy storage. Supercapacitive electrode materials, which are closely related to the high-efficiency storage of energy, have provoked more interest. Herein, we present a high-capacity supercapacitor material based on the nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers synthesized by carbonization of macroscopic-scale carbonaceous nanofibers (CNFs) coated with polypyrrole (CNFs@polypyrrole) at an appropriate temperature. The composite nanofibers exhibit a reversible specific capacitance of 202.0 F g(-1) at the current density of 1.0 A g(-1) in 6.0 mol L(-1) aqueous KOH electrolyte, meanwhile maintaining a high-class capacitance retention capability and a maximum power density of 89.57 kW kg(-1). This kind of nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber represents an alternative promising candidate for an efficient electrode material for supercapacitors.

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of Pelteobagrus nitidus was determined using a PCR-based method. The total length of mitochondrial DNA is 16,532 bp. The contents of the P. nitidus mitochondrial genome are 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA and 22 transfer RNA genes, and a non-coding control region. Base composition of the entire genome is A 31.72%, T 26.92%, C 26.45%, and G 14.91%, with an A+T (58.64%) rich feature as that of other vertebrate mitochondrial genome.

Yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) belongs to the family Bagridae, which is one of the most important economic freshwater aquaculture species in China. In this study, we reported the complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome of P. fulvidraco. The complete mitochondrial genome is 16,527 bp in length, including the typical structure of 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and the non-coding control region. Both the termination-associated sequence and critical central conserved sequences (CSB-D, CSB-E, and CSB-F) was also detected.

Even colloidal polytypic nanostructures show promising future in band-gap tuning and alignment, researches on them have been much less reported than the standard nano-heterostructures because of the difficulties involved in synthesis. Up to now, controlled synthesis of colloidal polytypic nanocrsytals has been only realized in II-VI tetrapod and octopod nanocrystals with branched configurations. Herein, we report a colloidal approach for synthesizing non-branched but linearly arranged polytypic I(2)-II-IV-VI(4) nanocrystals, with a focus on polytypic non-stoichiometric Cu(2)ZnSnS(x)Se(4-x) nanocrystals. Each synthesized polytypic non-stoichiometric Cu(2)ZnSnS(x)Se(4-x) nanocrystal is consisted of two zinc blende-derived ends and one wurtzite-derived center part. The formation mechanism has been studied and the phase composition can be tuned through adjusting the reaction temperature, which brings a new band-gap tuning approach to Cu(2)ZnSnS(x)Se(4-x) nanocrystals.

Myostatin (MSTN) gene has negative influence on the growth of muscle, which belongs to transforming growth factor-β family. Using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MSTN gene were detected in yellow catfish. Correlation analysis between MSTN polymorphisms and growth traits was also carried out. Results indicated that five genotypes (AA, BB, CC, CD and DD) were found in the first intron with one deletion site and two mutant sites (T1003del, G1022A and T1063G), two genotypes (EE and EF) were found in the third exon with one mutant site (T132C). The individuals with genotypes AA had a lager value than the individuals with the genotype CD and DD in total length, body length, body height, body width, head length and body weight (Plt;0.05). The female individuals with genotypes AA also had a lager value than the female individuals with genotypes DD in total length, body length, body height, body width, caudal peduncle height, caudal peduncle width and body weight (Plt;0.05). This implies that genotype AA has a positive influence on the growth traits of female yellow catfish, and genotype DD is opposite. Genotypes AA and DD can be used in marker assisted selection of female yellow catfish breeding in the future.

Translating the unique characteristics of individual nanoscale components into macroscopic materials such as membranes or sheets still remains a challenge, as the engineering of these structures often compromises their intrinsic properties. Here, we demonstrate that the highly active carbonaceous nanofibers (CNFs), which are prepared through a template-directed hydrothermal carbonization process, can be used as a versatile nanoscale scaffold for constructing macroscopic multifunctional membranes. In order to demonstrate the broad applicability of the CNF scaffold, we fabricate a variety of CNF-based composite nanofibers, including CNFs-Fe(3)O(4), CNFs-TiO(2), CNFs-Ag, and CNFs-Au through various chemical routes. Importantly, all of them inherit unique dimensionality (high aspect ratio) and mechanical properties (flexibility) of the original CNF scaffolds and thus can be assembled into macroscopic free-standing membranes through a simple casting process. We also demonstrate the wide application potentials of these multifunctional composite membranes in magnetic actuation, antibiofouling filtration, and continuous-flow catalysis.

Multispecies probiotics have been reported to be more effective than monostrain probiotics in health promoting for the host. In this study, 12 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were selected based on the level of induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Their adherence to Caco-2 cells and inhibitory effects on Salmonella invasion of Caco-2 cells were compared. Strains with different probiotic properties were then combined and BALB/c mice were fed with LAB strains for 63 days; then the mice were challenged with Salmonella on day 64. For Salmonella-unchallenged mice that received a multistrain combination of LAB strains that have greater TNF-α production in macrophages, greater adherence and inhibit Salmonella invasion of Caco-2 cells to a greater extent, their peritoneal macrophages had greater phagocytic activity. For Salmonella-challenged mice, a significant reduction of Salmonella cells in the livers and spleens of the mice was observed 8 days post challenge. The addition of 12% skim milk powder together with LAB strain combinations significantly enhanced the reduction of Salmonella cells in the mice livers and spleens. In conclusion, we have shown that LAB strain combinations with particular probiotic properties when fed to mice can inhibit Salmonella invasion of the liver and spleen., (© 2011 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Study Design: Case report., Objective: Vertebral osteomyelitis, usually presented with back pain and local tenderness, can pose a great challenge of early diagnosis among spinal cord injury (SCI) patients who lost sensation below the injured level. We reported a paraplegic patient who had recurrent febrile episodes after being treated as urinary tract infection initially and was discovered later to have vertebral osteomyelitis., Case Report: A 41-year-old man, completely paralyzed at the T11 level and with Foley catheterization for 9 years, was re-admitted within 2 weeks for recurrent fever, turbid urine, bacteriuria and bacteremia with Escherichia coli. Spine X-ray and renal, cardiac and abdominal ultrasonography showed no definite lesions related to infection in a previous admission. Intermittently febrile episodes continued despite treatment with antibiotics for 1 week. He had no pressure sores or other wounds. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed lumbosacral osteomyelitis and bilateral paravertebral abscess. The patient underwent debridement of paravertebral tissue. Fever subsided soon after surgery and the patient continued antibiotics and remained free of fever at a 1-year follow-up., Conclusion: It can be challenging to diagnose vertebral osteomyelitis below injury levels in SCI patients. Vertebral osteomyelitis should be considered in febrile SCI patients even with known infectious foci, as classic symptoms of osteomyelitis are lacking in this population.

In this paper, we report the fabrication of carbonaceous nanofiber (CNF) membranes functionalized by beta-cyclodextrins (CNF-β-CD membrane) and their application for molecular filtration. The chemically synthesized carbonaceous nanofibers were first functionalized by β-CD, and the free-standing CNF membrane can be prepared by a simple filtration process. The membrane shows a remarkable capability to function as an ideal molecular filter through complexation of phenolphthalein molecules with the cyclodextrin molecules grafted on the CNFs. As a typical dye pollutant, fuchsin acid can also be effectively removed from the solution through such a membrane. Engineering the surface of this carbonaceous nanofiber membrane may allow it to be used for other applications such as chiral separation and drug delivery.

A new kind of attapulgite clay@carbon (ATP@C) nanocomposite adsorbent has been synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal carbonization process under mild conditions using two cheap, ecofriendly materials (i.e., attapulgite clay (ATP), which is a magnesium aluminum silicate that is abundant in nature, and glucose, which is a green chemical obtained from biomass). Compared to carbon-based materials, this new ATP@C nanocomposite exhibits a high adsorption ability for Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions with maximum adsorption capacities of 177.74 and 263.83 mg·g(-1), respectively. The results demonstrate that this nanocomposite is an exceptionally promising candidate as a low-cost, sustainable, and effective adsorbent for the removal of toxic ions from water.

Morphological classification of Bagridae fishes is relatively difficult due to various kinds and similar shape, and the phyletic evolution is not very clear in some species. To provide basic data to the classification of Bagridae and Siluriformes fishes, the complete mitochondrial genome of Pelteobagrus vachelli was obtained by PCR based on 16 primers, which were designed on the basis of related species mtDNA sequences. The complete mitochondrial genome is 16 527 bp in length, including 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and a non-coding control region. The organization and location of genes in the mitochondrial genome of Pelteobagrus vachelli were consistent with Siluriformes fishes published in GenBank. It has high homology with other families, such as Pseudobagrus Bleeker (91%) within Siluriformes. The phylogenetic analysis of Bagridae fishes was made from the level of mitochondria genome based on 9 species of 6 genera, which belong to 4 families of the Siluriformes, combining with 3 outgroups' complete mitochondrial genomes sequences. The result indicated that Pelteobagrus vachelli, Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, Pelteobagrus nitidus and Pseudobagrus tokiensis of the Bagridae formed a monophyletic group; the Pseudobagrus Bleeker and Pelteobagrus Bleeker formed a sister group. Moreover, Pelteobagrus vachelli was more relative to Pelteobagrus nitidus than Pelteobagrus fulvidraco in Pelteobagrus Bleeker.

The interface, which formed in a bimetallic system, is a critical issue to investigate the fundamental mechanism of enhanced catalytic activity. Here, we designed unsupported Pd-Au bimetallic nanoparticle tubes with a tunable interface, which was qualitatively controlled by the proportion of Pd and Au nanoparticles (NPs), to demonstrate the remarkably enhanced effect of Pd and Au NPs in electro-oxidation of ethanol. The results demonstrated that the electrocatalytic activity is highly relative to the interface and has no direct relation with individual metal component in the Pd-Au system. This effect helps us in achieving a fundamental understanding of the relationship between their activity and the interface structure and chemical properties and, consequently, is helpful in designing new catalysts with high performances.

Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) cDNA and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) cDNA were first cloned from silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The open reading frame (ORF) of Cu,Zn-SOD is 465 bp and encodes a 154 amino acids (aa) protein, whereas the ORF of Mn-SOD is 675 bp and encodes a 224 aa protein. Multiple polypeptide sequence alignment showed high identity both of Cu,Zn-SOD (70-87%) and Mn-SOD (80-96%) with the species compared. Both Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were detected in heart, brain, liver, kidney, spleen, muscle, gill and blood. Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were expressed throughout the embryogenesis, indicating their important roles during embryonic development specially at the cleavage stage. Acute hypoxia suppressed expression of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in liver significantly, up-regulated them in gill relatively, indicating that tissue-specific expression of Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD is an important stress response adapted to hypoxia., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy and the third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In the last several years, recombinant DNA technology has made cancer gene therapy feasible in the clinic. In our studies, we used both exogenous and endogenous canstatin, a type IV collagen genetically distinct product. We detected the effects of canstatin on colorectal cancer cells HCT-15 and HCT-116. DAPI staining, FCM and migration analyse were used to detect the apoptotic cells, cell cycle and mobility. As shown in the results, the apoptotic cell numbers (p<0.05) and G1 arrest cell numbers (p<0.05) were higher than in the non- treatment case. The mobility of the cells was also decreased obviously (p<0.05). Simultaneously, combination effects of exogenous and endogenous canstatin were identified.

This study aimed to examine the effects of passive and non-computer work time on the estimation of computer use times by electronic activity monitoring. A total of 20 subjects with computers were monitored for 3 h. Average relative error for total computer use time estimation was about 4%, given that non-computer work time was 20% of the 3-h monitored period. No significant impact of passive computer use time was found in this study. Non-computer work time of 40% or less is suggested as criteria for the application of electronic activity monitoring to ensure reliability in the physical work loading assessment. Statement of Relevance: This research studied the criteria of non-computer work time for the appropriate use of electronic activity monitoring to ensure reliability in the assessment of physical work loading. It is suggested that it should be set to 40% or less of the 3-h monitoring period.

Template-directed strategy has become one of the most popular methods for the fabrication of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures with uniform size and controllable physical dimensions in recent years. This Review article describes the recent progress in the synthesis of 1D inorganic nanostructures by using suitable templates. A brief survey on the templating method based on the organic templates and porous membrane is firstly given. Then, the article is focused on recent emerging synthetic strategies by templating against the pre-existing 1D nanostructures using different physical and chemical transformation techniques, including epitaxial growth, nonepitaxial growth, direct chemical transformation, solid-state interfacial diffusion reaction, and so on. The important reactivity role of the 1D nanostructures will be emphasized in such transformation process. Finally, we conclude this paper with some perspectives and outlook on this research topic.

Objective: To study the effect of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) gene transfected rat tendon cells on the healing and adhesion of rat tendon., Methods: A model of heel tendon injury was reproduced in 90 rats. They were randomly divided into three groups: experiment group [with injection of 20 µL rat tendon cells (1 × 10(8) cell/mL) transfected with PDGF-BB gene into the injured tendon ends], control group [with injection of 20 µL non-transfected rat tendon cells (1 × 10(8) cell/mL) into the injured tendon ends], and blank control group (without treatment), with 30 rats in each group. Heel tendon ends were sutured with 6-0 thread by modified Kessler method and immobilized with tube-type plaster of Paris cast for one week. Rat tendon cells transfected with PDGF-BB gene were identified with gene sequencing and RT-PCR. Tendon tissue sample was harvested 3 days or 1, 2, 4, 8 week(s) after operation (POD or POW) for morphology and histology observation, and bio-mechanical test. The degree of tendon adhesion, the number of Fb and collagen fiber content in tissue, maximum tensile strength and sliding distance of tendon, and concentration of PDGF-BB in tendon tissue among groups were compared. Data were processed with t test., Results: (1) PDGF-BB mRNA expressed stably in PDGF-BB gene transfected tendon cells as testified by RT-PCR and gene sequencing. (2) Obvious edema and inflammatory cells infiltration were observed in each group on POD 3, but they were less pronounced in experiment group. And the changes in all groups were ameliorated gradually. The difference in grading of tendon adhesion was not obvious among groups in POW 4 and 8. (3) Fb number in experiment group in POW 2, 4, 8 was respectively fewer than that of control group and blank control group (with t value respectively 2.94, 4.26, 5.76 and 4.00, 3.83, 6.12, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (4) Collagen fiber content in rat tendon of experimental group in POW 4 was (43 ± 6)%, which was significantly lower as compared with that of control group [(55 ± 8)%] and blank control group [(61 ± 8)%] (with t value respectively 2.94 and 4.41, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (5) The largest sliding distance of tendon in experiment group in POW 4 and 8 were (3.25 ± 0.33) and (3.65 ± 0.21) mm, which were significantly longer than those in control group [(2.29 ± 0.40), (2.21 ± 0.37) mm] and blank control group [(2.01 ± 0.23), (1.89 ± 0.24) mm] (with t value respectively 4.53, 8.29 and 7.55, 13.52, P values all below 0.01). There was no statistical significant difference among the three groups in the maximum tensile strength of tendon (with t value respectively 0.41, 0.41, 0.77, 0.72, P values all above 0.05). (6) Content of PDGF-BB in tendon tissue of experimental group on POD 3 and in POW 2, 4 were (12.95 ± 1.36), (8.32 ± 0.94), (9.10 ± 1.06) ng/mL, all significantly higher than those in control group [(1.13 ± 0.21), (2.07 ± 0.48), (3.85 ± 0.39) ng/mL] (with t value respectively 21.04, 14.50, 11.39, P values all below 0.01)., Conclusions: PDGF-BB gene transfected rat tendon cells can promote endogenous healing of tendon and prevent tendon adhesion.

Well-defined periodic mesostructures of hydrophilic ultrathin Te nanowires with aspect ratios of at least 10(4) can be produced by the Langmuir-Blodgett technique without any extra hydrophobic pretreatment or functionalization. Packing the arrayed nanowire monolayers will allow construction of nanomesh-like mesostructures or more complex multilayered structures composed of ultrathin nanowires on a planar substrate. The well-organized monolayer of Te nanowires with periodic mesostructures can be readily used as a stamp to transfer such mesostructured nanopatterns to other substrates or can be embedded within a polymer matrix. The mesostructures of ultrathin Te nanowire films show reversibly switched photoelectric properties between the lower- and higher-conductivity states when the light is off and on, and the photocurrent is influenced by the light intensity and the number of mesostructured nanowire monolayer films. This method can be extended for fabrication of other mesostructured assemblies of ultrathin nanowires or nanotubes.

The present study evaluated the potential neuroprotective effect and underlying mechanism of the total flavones extracted from Chrysanthemum morifolium (TFCM) against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. An animal model of cerebral ischemia was established by occluding the right middle cerebral artery for 90 minutes followed by reperfusion for 22 hours. The neurobehavioral scores, infarct area, and hemispheric edema were evaluated. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in brain were also measured. The results showed that pretreatment with TFCM significantly decreased the neurological deficit scores, percentage of infarction, and brain edema and attenuated the decrease in SOD activity, the elevation of MDA content, and the generation of ROS. In isolated brain mitochondria, Ca(2+)-induced swelling was attenuated by pretreatment with TFCM, and this effect was antagonized by atractyloside. These results showed that pretreatment with TFCM provides significant protection against cerebral I/R injury in rats by, at least in part, its antioxidant action and consequent inhibition of mitochondrial swelling.

Two popular input methods for Chinese typing, Microsoft New Phonetic and Boshiamy, were compared in terms of hand and finger loading, key-pressing speed and typing efficiency. Sixteen subjects typed an English and a Chinese text for 30 min each during two test sessions and all keystrokes and their inter-key press intervals were recorded by electronic activity monitoring software. Typing with Microsoft New Phonetic and with Boshiamy was found to have equal hand loadings, but typing with Microsoft New Phonetic was associated with a higher proportion of keystrokes at the number row. The subjects who used Boshiamy typed significantly more words per min than those who used Microsoft New Phonetic, though both groups had similar English typing speeds. The features of requiring fewer keystrokes to build a character and no need to choose matched words among homophones made Boshiamy a more efficient tool, but the risk of musculoskeletal disorders should be studied further. This study examined two input methods for typing Chinese and showed that typing with Boshiamy had a higher efficiency, including a higher proportion of key presses on the home row, required fewer key presses to build characters and resulted in a faster speed than with Microsoft New Phonetic. However, the potential risk of development of upper limb symptoms warrants further study.

To assess its potential neuroprotective effect against ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury in mice, bicyclol was administered intragastrically once a day for 3 days. After 6h of bicyclol pretreatment on the third day, forebrain ischemia was induced for 1h by bilateral occlusion of the carotid arteries. After different times of reperfusion, the histopathological changes and the levels of mitochondria-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the cortex and hippocampus were measured. We found that extensive neuronal death occurred in the cortex and the CA1 area of the hippocampus at day 7 after IR and that bicyclol significantly attenuated IR-induced neuronal death in a dose-dependent manner. We also found that pretreatment with bicyclol dose dependently decreased the generation of ROS and the MDA content and reduced the compensatory increase in SOD activity in the cortex and hippocampus at 4h of reperfusion. These results suggest that bicyclol protects the mouse brain against cerebral IR injury by attenuating oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation.

Objective: To study the effect of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in different concentrations on proliferation of tendon cells cultured in vitro., Methods: Rat tendon cells were cultured and identified in vitro. The rat tendon cells were cultured in PDGF-BB nutrient solution in different concentrations. They were then divided into 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 ng/mL PDGF-BB groups (cultured with 0.1 mL 0.5% PBS with addition of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 ng/mL PDGF-BB respectively). Tendon cells in control group were cultured with 0.1 mL 0.5% FBS. Proliferation of tendon cells was detected by MTT test. The absorbance values of tendon cells in control group and 20 ng/mL PDGF-BB group before culture and after cultured for 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 hs were determined., Results: The isolated cells were identified to be rat tendon cells as they were Type I collagen staining positive and TypeIII collagen staining negative. Compared with that of control group, the absorbance values of other groups were all increased, except for that of 250 ng/mL PDGF-BB group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Besides, the absorbance value rose gradually with the increase of the concentration of PDGF-BB on, and then diminished gradually with the increase of the concentration of PDGF-BB from 20 ng/mL on. Tendon cells in 20 ng/ml PDGF-BB group began to increase in number when cultured for 12 hs, and it reached the highest level (0.53 +/- 0.04) at 48 h, which were obviously higher than those of control group at 24 - 72 h (P < 0.01). The absorbance value of tendon cells in 20 ng/mL PDGF-BB group was significantly higher than that of control group at 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 h after culture (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: PDGF-BB can promote the proliferation of tendon cells in a definite range of concentration and time.

This study examined the effect of idle time setting on the estimation of computer use times by electronic activity monitoring and validated its use by comparing it with video record observations. Twenty-four study subjects were recruited and their work with computers was monitored for 1 h. With the estimates by video record observation as references, the best idle time settings for electronic activity monitoring with the least relative errors were 25, 2.5 and 2.5 s, respectively, for total computer, keyboard and mouse use time estimations. These estimates were highly correlated with the corresponding references (r = 0.918-0.964, p < 0.0001), accompanied by limited mean estimate differences ranging from -3.0 +/- 2.8% to 1.3 +/- 1.6%. The estimates by self-report were moderately correlated with the corresponding references (r = 0.387-0.678), with greater mean estimate differences. This study concluded that, for electronic activity monitoring methods, the most appropriate thresholds for idle time setting are 25 s, 2.5 s and 2.5 s for total computer, keyboard and mouse use time estimates, respectively. This method may help evaluate physical work-loading with computer works through a large-scale epidemiological study.

We inquire whether assessment of an individual's upper limb function may be improved by using specific regional norms rather than consolidated global norms. Grip strengths were measured in a sample of 482 adults across Taiwan, and compared with consolidated norms. To ensure comparable conditions, our procedures were those recommended by the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT). Overall the mean grip strength of our sample was significantly (male 25%, female 27%) lower than consolidated norms derived from largely Caucasian populations. We investigated variables that might relate to this divergence. Results of ANOVA and stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that gender, age and palm length were effective predictors in grip strength. A regression equation was derived. When other variables were matched, palm length appeared an important discriminating factor. Further anthropometric and socio-economic factors also need investigation. Specific regional norms should provide more accuracy for ergonomists and health workers assessing an individual's upper limb function, and may avoid errors in appraisal. This paper suggests grip strength values for Taiwan.

Highly uniform CdTe nanowires with a very high aspect ratio of approximately 1000 and an average diameter of 12 nm can be conveniently synthesized using ultrathin Te nanowires as templates via a low-temperature hydrothermal process. Several other interesting CdTe nanostructures, including tadpolelike, chainlike, and branched nanostructures, can also be fabricated by adjusting precursor concentrations and reaction temperature. The formation mechanism of uniform CdTe nanowires using highly reactive ultrathin Te nanowires as template has been discussed. The synthesized uniform CdTe nanowires can be well-dispersed in water or ethanol, and they may find potential applications in the fields of photovoltaics, biological sensors, and nanoscale electronics. The present templating method can also be extended to synthesize other one-dimensional telluride nanostructures such as PbTe nanowires with uniform diameter and high aspect ratios.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the use of physical therapy (PT) services by subjects with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and to identify factors associated with long-term use of PT in Taiwan., Methods: Data including demographic characteristics, work history, pain and disability ratings, and psychosocial status were collected by questionnaire. Subjects who were referred to PT were interviewed weekly by telephone to obtain information about use of PT., Results: A total of 160 subjects participated in this study. Of these, 85 subjects (53.1%) did not receive PT. Of the 75 subjects who received PT, 53 (70.7%) received short-term treatment (<30 days) and 22 (29.3%) received long-term treatment (> or =30 days). The number of treatment sessions for the treatment groups was 7.8 sessions +/- 9.0. Logistic regression analysis identified age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.074, P = 0.007) and the subject's confidence that the disorder would be diagnosed as an occupational injury ("yes" and "not sure" vs. "no"; OR = 4.288, P = 0.012) as significant factors affecting the duration of treatment., Conclusions: Almost 30% of the subjects referred to PT received long-term treatment (> or =30 days), the significant factors affecting this classification were subject's age and confidence in a diagnosis of WMSD.

Background/purpose: Delayed diagnosis and isolation increases the risk of nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis (TB). To assess the risk of delayed management of TB, we analyzed the risk factors of prolonged delay in isolation of smear-positive TB patients in pulmonology/infectious diseases and other wards in a tertiary teaching hospital., Methods: We enrolled smear-positive TB patients aged > 16 years with delayed respiratory isolation following hospitalization. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Time intervals between admission, order of sputum acid-fast staining, initiation of anti-tuberculous treatment and isolation were compared between pulmonology/infectious diseases wards (PIWs) and other wards. Risk factors were analyzed in patients with prolonged isolation delay of > 7 days in individual groups., Results: Isolation was delayed in 191 (73.7%) of 259 hospitalized smear-positive TB patients. Median suspicion, treatment and isolation delays were 0, 3 and 4 days in PIWs and 1, 5 and 7 days in other wards. For patients admitted to non-PIWs, atypical chest radiographs, symptoms without dyspnea or not being admitted from the emergency department (ED) were risk factors for prolonged isolation delay exceeding 7 days. The only risk factor for delayed isolation in patients admitted to PIWs was age >or= 70 years., Conclusion: Delays in suspicion, treatment and isolation of TB patients were longer in non-PIWs. Clinicians should be alert to those admitted to non-PIWs with atypical chest radiographs, atypical symptoms, or not admitted from the ED.

Introduction: To investigate the effect of an individualised functional training programme for patients with low back pain (LBP)., Methods: A randomised, controlled trial with single-blind design was conducted. Patients with non-specific LBP for at least 3 months were recruited and randomised into training and control groups. Both groups maintained their current treatment, and the training group participated in an additional programme for 100 h. Measures were performed initially and after completing the programme, and included rating determining impairment associated with pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) and functional capacity evaluation (FCE)., Results: Thirteen in the training group completed the training and measurements, and 12 in the control group completed their measurements. Twelve items in FCE had significant improvement in training group, but only one in control group. Severity of pain (11.8 +/- 3.6-5.6 +/- 3.6), activity limitation from pain (3.2 +/- 1.5-1.5 +/- 1.1) and emotional disturbance by pain (4.3 +/- 1.7-2.2 +/- 1.4) significantly decreased in the training group, no significant change in the control group. The ODI demonstrated a significant reduction (p = 0.044) in the training group (22 +/- 9-16 +/- 9), but not in the control group., Conclusion: An individualised functional training programme benefits chronic LBP patients.

Introduction: Continuous typing is likely to induce mental and/or muscular fatigue, which contributes to musculoskeletal discomfort. Our goals were to describe the temporal changes in symptoms and interkeypress intervals (IKIs) of each hand during continuous typing. The effects of demographic characteristics and time on the IKI were examined., Methods: Twenty-four healthy and skilled typists volunteered to participate in this repeated-measurement study. All the subjects typed an English text for 90 min in the laboratory. The outcomes included self-reported pain and fatigue, average typing speed, accuracy rate, finger tapping speed, and IKIs as recorded by electronic activity monitoring software (VDTlog). The changes in self-reported symptoms, average typing speed and accuracy rate after 90 min of typing were compared with baseline data by paired testing. The effects of demographic characteristics and time on IKIs of both hands were explored by generalized estimate equation (GEE) analysis., Results: The pain and fatigue ratings of the study subjects were significantly higher after 60 and 90 min of typing, but the average typing speed of every 30 min remained similar. The most common complaints were associated with the eyes, upper back and wrists. The IKIs as recorded by VDTlog was associated with typing speed. Furthermore, GEE analysis showed that the IKI of the right hand was the shortest in the last 10 min throughout the experiment, while left-hand typing exhibited the longest IKI during the last 10 min of each 30-min typing session., Conclusion: Time has different effect on the temporal changes of IKI during continuous typing for the left and right hands. Right-hand IKI tends to be shorter by time, especially at the last 10 min of typing, while left-hand IKI prolongs as typing continues for 30 min. Perceived pain and fatigue is apparent after continuous typing, though no change in average typing speed is observed.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been applied in lithotripsy and treatments of musculoskeletal disorders over the past decade, but its effects on peripheral nerves remain unclear. This study investigated the short-term effects of shockwaves on the sciatic nerve of rats. The nerves were surgically exposed and then stimulated with shockwaves at three intensities. We evaluated the motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of treated sciatic nerves before, immediately after (day 0) and at 1, 4, 7 and 14 d after shockwave treatment. Two functional tests-the sciatic functional index and the withdrawal reflex latency-were evaluated before and at 1, 4, 7 and 14 d after shockwave application. The rats were sacrificed on days 0, 1, 4, 7 and 14 for morphologic observation. The degassed treatment group received high-intensity shockwave treatment using degassed normal saline as the contact medium, and MNCV was measured before and on days 0, 1, 4, 7 and 14. The sham group received the same procedure as the treatment groups (i.e., the surgical operation to expose the sciatic nerve) but with no shockwave treatment. The control group received no surgical operation or shockwave treatment. The results showed moderate decrease in the MNCV after shockwave treatment and damage to the myelin sheath of large-diameter myelinated fibers. The effect was largest (reduction to 60.9% of baseline MNCV) and of longest duration (7 to 14 d) in the high-intensity group. There were no significant changes in functional tests. These results indicated that direct application of shockwaves can induce reversible segmental demyelination in large-diameter fibers, with the electrophysiological changes being positively correlated with the intensity of the shockwaves.

Thirty nine microsatellite markers were applied to analyze the genetic diversity of two silver carp populations in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The following parameters were calculated: average observed number of alleles, average effective number of alleles, genetic heterozygosity, polymorphism information content (PIC), genetic similarity coefficient, genetic distance, Hardy-Weinberg balance deflection index. These results indicated that the average observed number of alleles in each microsatellite locus of the Wanzhou population and Jianli populations is 6.128 and 4.974, respectively; the average effective number of alleles is 4.107 and 3.395, respectively; and the number of total alleles of these 39 microsatellite loci is 259. The PIC of polymorphic loci varies between 0.077-0.865, and the average PIC is 0.617. The average observed heterozygosity (Ho) of two populations is 0.834 and 0.775, respectively, and the average expective heterzygosity (He) is 0.713 and 0.623, respectively. The genetic similarity coefficient of two populations is 0.618 and the genetic distance of these populations is 0.482. These results indicated that the two populations belong to different popula-tions for the obvious genetic differentiation.