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Chu-Yu Huang,1– 3 Zih-Yin Lai,1– 3 Tzu-Jung Hsu,1– 3 Fong-In Chou,3 Hong-Ming Liu,3 Yung-Jen Chuang1– 3 1School of Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; 2Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; 3Nuclear Science and Technology Development Center, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, TaiwanCorrespondence: Yung-Jen Chuang, School of Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan, Tel +886-3-5742764, Fax +886-3-5715934, Email yjchuang@life.nthu.edu.twIntroduction: For advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), resistance to conservative treatments remains a challenge. In previous studies, the therapeutic effectiveness and DNA damage responses of boric acid-mediated boron neutron capture therapy (BA-BNCT) in HCC have been demonstrated in animal models and HCC cell line. On the other hand, numerous studies have shown that high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation can overcome tumor resistance. Since BNCT yields a mixture of high and low LET radiation, we aimed to explore whether and how BA-BNCT could eliminate radioresistant HCC cells.Methods: Radioresistant human HCC (HepG2-R) cells were established from HepG2 cells via intermittent irradiation. HepG2 and HepG2-R cells were then irradiated with either γ-ray or neutron radiation of BA-BNCT. Colony formation assays were used to assess cell survival and the relative biological effectiveness (RBE). The expression of phosphorylated H2AX (γH2AX) was also examined by immunocytochemistry and Western blot assays to evaluate the extent of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Finally, the expression levels of DNA damage response-associated proteins were determined, followed by cell cycle analysis and caspase-3 activity analysis.Results: Our data demonstrated that under the same dose by γ-ray, BNCT effectively eliminated radioresistant HCC by increasing the number of DNA DSBs (p < 0.05) and impeding their repair (p < 0.05), which verified the high RBE of BNCT. We also found that BNCT resulted in delayed homologous recombination (HR) and inhibited the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway during DNA repair. Markedly, BNCT increased cell arrest (p < 0.05) in the G2/M phase by altering G2 checkpoint signaling and increased PUMA-mediated apoptosis (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Our data suggest that DNA damage and repair responses could affect the anticancer efficiency of BNCT in radioresistant HepG2-R cells, which highlights the potential of BNCT as a viable treatment option for recurrent HCC.Keywords: boron neutron capture therapy, BNCT, hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC, radioresistance, DNA damage, DNA repair responses

To explore the spatial and temporal variations in salinity and suspended-sediment concentration in the Danshuei River estuary of northern Taiwan, two intensive field surveys were conducted in July 2016 and 2019 to assign high- and low-flow conditions, respectively. According to the analysis of tidal characteristics, the duration during ebb tide was longer than that during flood tide, while the maximum ebb discharge was higher than the maximum flood discharge, causing the occurrence of tidal asymmetry during ebb and flood tides. The barotropic forcing dominated during high flow, resulting in lower salinity and a shorter distance of saltwater intrusion. Based on the analyzed results using stratification indices, most of the time was spent in the state of partial mixing at the Guandu Bridge and good mixing at the Taipei Bridge during high flow, while most of the time was spent in the states of partial mixing and good mixing at both Guandu Bridge and Taipei Bridge during low flow. More stratification occurred during high flow at high slack tide compared to that during low flow. The freshwater discharges from upriver reaches controlled the suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) in tidal estuaries. The higher SSC appeared downstream of the tidal estuary at ebb tide during high flow. Observations also revealed that there was an estuarine turbidity maximum at the bottom layer of Guandu Bridge.

Background The correlation between modified bladder outlet obstruction index (MBOOI) and surgical efficacy still remains unknown. The purpose of the study was to investigate the clinical value of the MBOOI and its use in predicting surgical efficacy in men receiving transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Methods A total of 403 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) were included in this study. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) index, transrectal ultrasonography, and pressure flow study were conducted for all patients. The bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) (PdetQmax–2Qmax) and MBOOI (Pves–2Qmax) were calculated. All patients underwent TURP, and surgical efficacy was accessed by the improvements in IPSS, QoL, and Qmax 6 months after surgery. The association between surgical efficacy and baseline factors was statistically analyzed. Results A comparison of effective and ineffective groups based on the overall efficacy showed that significant differences were observed in PSA, Pves, PdetQmax, Pabd, BOOI, MBOOI, TZV, TZI, IPSS-t, IPSS-v, IPSS-s, Qmax, and PVR at baseline (p max, and the overall efficacy. Additionally, the ROC analysis further verified that MBOOI was more optimal than BOOI, TZV and TZI in predicting the surgical efficacy. Conclusion Although both MBOOI and BOOI can predict the clinical symptoms and surgical efficacy of BPH patients to a certain extent, however, compared to BOOI, MBOOI may be a more useful factor that can be used to predict the surgical efficacy of TURP. Trial registration retrospectively registered.

BACKGROUND Drainage tube removal is difficult when the greater omentum becomes incarcerated in the drainage tube through the side holes. Currently, known removal methods are either ineffective or will cause additional damage to the patient in a secondary operation. Ureteroscopy and the holmium laser have been used in various surgical techniques in urology, and in theory, they are expected to be a good strategy for solving the problem of tissue incarceration. CASE SUMMARY Four patients diagnosed with difficult removal of an abdominal drainage tube following abdominal surgery are reported. All patients underwent surgery to remove the incarcerated greater omentum in the drainage tube using a holmium laser and a ureteroscope, and a new 16-F drain was then placed in the abdominal or pelvic cavity. The efficacy of this technique was evaluated by intraoperative conditions, success rate, and operating time; safety was evaluated by perioperative conditions and the probability of postoperative complications. All four operations went smoothly, and the drains were successfully removed in all patients. The average operating time was 24.5 min. Intraoperatively, the average irrigation volume was 892.0 mL, the average drainage volume was 638.5 mL, and no bleeding or damage to surrounding tissues was observed. Postoperatively, the average drainage volume was 32.8 mL and the new drains were removed within 36 h. All patients were able to get out of bed and move around within 12 h. Their visual analogue pain scores were all below 3. The average follow-up duration was 12.5 mo and no complications such as fever or bleeding were noted. CONCLUSION Ureteroscopic holmium laser surgery is an effective, safe and minimally invasive technique for removing drains where the greater omentum is incarcerated in the abdominal drain.

The effects of environmental factors on suspended sediment plumes in the continental shelf out of the Danshuei River estuary were numerically investigated using an unstructured-grid three-dimensional hydrodynamic model (SCHISM) together with a suspended sediment (SS) module. The coupled model (SCHISM-SS) was calibrated and validated against the in situ measurement data in 2016. Consistent with the observation results, the model simulations satisfactorily reproduced the water levels, velocities, salinities, and suspended sediment concentrations. The model was then applied to explore the role of various environmental factors in the dynamics of suspended sediment plumes from the estuary to the adjacent coastal seas. These factors include tidal forcing, salinity, river discharge, and wind stress. Analysis and comparisons of different scenario results indicated that the suspended sediment plume was greatly affected by tides, e.g., a longer plume distance resulted from a larger flux under tidal motions. A higher sediment concentration in the plume in the offshore area was also found during the neap tide, relative to that observed during the spring tide. In addition, salinity affects the movement of density currents and the spread of the sediment plume, i.e., the plume distance is longer due to the residual circulation when a salinity difference is present. Further, an extreme river flow could occur during typhoon periods and would discharge a greater water volume into the coastal region, causing the suspended sediment plume to expand from the near shore. Finally, the directions of prevailing winds can slightly influence the sediment plumes.

A microscopic nuclear equation of state compatible with all current astrophysical constraints constructed within the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock formalism is presented and extended in a consistent way to finite temperature. The effects of finite temperature on the properties of neutron stars are studied in detail and a universal relation regarding stellar stability is proposed., 9 pages, 7 figures

Background: This trial investigated the efficacy and safety of salvage boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) combined with image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT) for recurrent head and neck cancer after prior radiotherapy (RT). Methods: BNCT was administered using an intravenous boronophenylalanine–fructose complex (500 mg/kg) in a single fraction; multifractionated IG-IMRT was administered 28 days after BNCT. For BNCT, the mucosa served as the dose-limiting organ. For IG-IMRT, the clinical target volume (CTV) and the planning target volume (PTV) were generated according to the post-BNCT gross tumor volume (GTV) with chosen margins. Results: This trial enrolled 14 patients, and 12 patients received combined treatment. The median BNCT average dose for the GTV was 21.6 Gy-Eq, and the median IG-IMRT dose for the PTV was 46.8 Gy/26 fractions. After a median (range) follow-up period of 11.8 (3.6 to 53.2) months, five patients had a complete response and four had a partial response. One patient had grade 4 laryngeal edema; another patient had a grade 4 hemorrhage. Most tumor progression occurred within or adjacent to the CTV. The 1-year overall survival and local progression-free survival rates were 56% and 21%, respectively. Conclusion: Despite the high response rate (64%) of this trial, there was a high incidence of in-field and marginal failure with this approach. Future studies combining BNCT with modalities other than radiation may be tried.

Tidal estuaries provide crucial pathways for contaminant transport. The salinity levels in estuaries and coasts are conserved substances that function as natural tracers to easily understand the offshore transport of substances that are subject to environmental factors. A three-dimensional (3D) circulation and mass transport model were utilized to delineate the salinity plume in a tidal estuary and continental shelf. The numerical modeling results were compared with the tidal amplitudes and phases, velocities, and salinities at different gauging stations in 2017. Quantitatively, the simulation and measurement results are in reasonably good agreement. Furthermore, the validated model was adopted to estimate the recovery times in tidal estuaries that are subjected to extreme freshwater discharges that come from the upstream reaches during typhoon events and to analyze the influences of freshwater discharge and wind stress on the river plume around the continental shelf. The simulated results revealed that the salinity recovery time at the river mouth due to Typhoon Saola in 2012 was less than 8 days. Increased inputs from freshwater discharge resulted in changes in the distances and areas of the river plumes. Linear regression relationships between the plume distance/plume area and the total freshwater discharge inputs were established. Neap and high slack tides were associated with the maximum plume distances and areas. Excluding tidal forcing resulted in larger plume distances and areas compared to the case in which tidal forcing was considered. The southward-favorable and northward-favorable plumes were controlled by northeasterly winds and southwesterly winds, respectively. The relative importance of freshwater discharges and wind forcing was explored. The results indicate that freshwater discharges frequently dominated the river plume, except when strong southwesterly or northeasterly winds prevailed.

Considering the preformation probability of the two emitted protons in the parent nucleus, we extend the Coulomb and proximity potential model (CPPM) to systematically study two-proton (2p) radioactivity half-lives of the nuclei close to proton drip line. The proximity potential chosen is Prox. 81 proposed by Blocki et al. in 1981. Furthermore, we apply this model to predict the half-lives of possible 2p radioactive candidates whose 2p radioactivity is energetically allowed or observed but not yet quantified in the evaluated nuclear properties table NUBASE2016. The predicted results are in good agreement with those from other theoretical models and empirical formulas, namely the effective liquid drop model (ELDM), generalized liquid drop model (GLDM), Gamow-like model, Sreeja formula and Liu formula.

Meningiomas are the most frequently diagnosed primary intracranial tumors in adults. Surgical resection is preferred if the meningioma is accessible; for those that are not suitable for surgical resection, radiotherapy should be considered to improve local tumor control. However, recurrent meningiomas are challenging to treat, as the recurrent tumor might be located in the previously irradiated area. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a highly selective radiotherapy modality in which the cytotoxic effect focuses mainly on cells with increased uptake of boron-containing drugs. In this article, we describe four patients with recurrent meningiomas treated with BNCT in Taiwan. The mean boron-containing drug tumor-to-normal tissue uptake ratio was 4.125, and the tumor mean dose was 29.414 GyE, received via BNCT. The treatment response showed two stable diseases, one partial response, and one complete response. We also introduce and support the effectiveness and safety of BNCT as an alternative salvage treatment for recurrent meningiomas.

The ripe dried fruit of citron(Citrus medica) is one of the important sources of Chinese herb Citri Fructus. At the same time, it is also grown for edible and ornamental uses. There are many species and abundant genetic variation. To clarify the intraspecific variation and resource distribution of citron, this study investigated the variation in 11 citron fruits, basically covering the main species in China, including Xiaoguo citron(C. medica var. ethrog), Goucheng(C. medica var. yunnanensis), Muli citron(C.medica var. muliensis), Dehong citron(C.medica×Citrus spp.), Fuzhou citron(C.medica×C.grandis?), Mawu(C.medica×C.grandis?), Cangyuan citron, Binchuan citron, Sweet citron, Big citron, and Small citron. The natural communities of citron were proved to be mainly distributed in the southwestern and western Yunnan and southeastern Tibet of China, with Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi, Chongqing, Hubei, and Zhejiang identified as the main production areas. Citron has also been widely grown in India, the Mediterranean region, and the Caribbean coast countries. The field investigation revealed the large-scale intraspecific variation of citron fruits. Most of the fruits are oval-like or sphere-like in shape. The fruits are green when raw and yellow when ripe, with oil cell dots on the skin, stripe-likes running from top to bottom, and bulge at the top. Usually, in the smaller citron fruits, the pulp and juice vesicles are better developed and the central columella is tighter. By contrast, the juice vesicles and central columella in larger fruits became more vacant, with carpels visible, and the apex segregation and development of the carpels is one of the reasons for variation. These variations should be given top priority in the future variety selection and breeding, and the quality differences of different citron species and their mechanisms should be further studied. In particular, variety selection and classification management according to their medicinal or edible purposes will provide scientific and technological supports for the orderly, safe, and effective production of citron products consumed as food and medicine.

In this study, a coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamic-ecological model was developed to comprehensively understand the interaction between the hydrodynamics and ecological status of a lake. The coupled model was utilized to explore the hydrodynamics, water quality, and ecological status in an ecologically rich subalpine lake (i.e., Tsuei-Feng Lake (TFL), located in north-central Taiwan). The measured data of water depth, water temperature, water quality, and planktonic biomass were gathered to validate the coupled model. The simulated results with a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality-ecological model reasonably reproduced the variations in observed water depth, water temperature, water quality, and phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass. Sensitivity analysis was implemented to determine the most influential parameter affecting the planktonic biomass. The results of sensitivity analysis indicated that the predation rate on phytoplankton (PRP) significantly affects the phytoplankton biomass, while the basal metabolism rate of zooplankton (BMZ) importantly affects the zooplankton biomass. Furthermore, inflow discharge was the most important environmental factor dominating the phytoplankton and zooplankton biomass of TFL. This implies that the runoff in the catchment area caused by rainfall and the heavy rainfall induced by climate change may affect the planktonic biomass of the lake.

Background Tumor cells tend to utilize glycolysis rather than aerobic respiration even under aerobic conditions. OVOL2, an inhibitory C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor, is a potential tumor suppressor in cancers. However, the association between OVOL2 and tumor energy metabolism is unknown. Methods Western blotting was used to determine the expression of OVOL2 in different non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and mouse models. The metabolic parameters in NSCLC cells following overexpression or knockdown OVOL2 were examined. To define the mechanism by which OVOL2 regulates aerobic glycolysis, interacting protein of OVOl2 and downstream molecular events were identified by luciferase assay and co-immunoprecipitation. We documented the regulatory mechanism in mouse xenograft models. Finally, clinical relevance of OVOL2, NF-κB signaling and GLUT1 was measured by immunostaining. Results OVOL2 is downregulated in NSCLC and overexpression of OVOL2 inhibits the survival of cancer cells. Moreover, OVOL2 directly binds to P65 and inhibits the recruitment of P300 but facilitates the binding of HDAC1 to P65, which in turn negatively regulates NF-κB signaling to suppress GLUT1 translocation and glucose import. In contrast, OVOL2 expression is negatively regulated by NF-κB signaling in NSCLC cells via the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Re-expression of OVOL2 significantly compromise NF-κB signaling-induced GLUT1 translocation, aerobic glycolysis in NSCLC cells and mouse models. Immunostaining revealed inverse correlations between the OVOL2 and phosphorylated P65 levels and between the OVOL2 and membrane GLUT1 levels, and a strong correlation between the phosphorylated P65 and membrane GLUT1 levels. Conclusions These results suggest a regulatory circuit linking NF-κB and OVOL2, which highlights the role of NF-κB signaling and OVOL2 in the modulation of glucose metabolism in NSCLC.

The critical parameters of the liquid-gas phase transition of symmetric nuclear matter are computed using the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock method at finite temperature by employing different realistic nucleon-nucleon potentials. Temperature effects on single-particle potentials, defect functions, and three-body forces are discussed in detail. Results obtained from the full procedure and frozen-correlations approximation are compared. We find critical temperatures of approximately 14 to 19 MeV and critical densities in the range of to , depending on the interactions employed.

A 60‐day feeding trial was conducted to estimate the effects of dietary iron (Fe) levels on growth, Fe concentration in the liver, spleen, and blood, and transferrin and hepcidin concentrations in the blood of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis). The six experimental diets were formulated to contain different Fe levels (0, 43.1, 84.2, 123.3, 162.2 and 203.1 mg/kg of dry diet) using ferrous sulphate (FeSO₄) as the source. The weight gain (WG) and the specific growth ratio (SGR) of A. nobilis fed with a dietary Fe level of 123.3 mg/kg were significantly higher than that of the 0 mg/kg Fe group (p liver > whole body. When the Fe dietary content increases to 162.2 mg/kg, the blood concentrations of Fe significantly decreased and thereafter increased, hepcidin significantly decreased and thereafter decreased, and transferrin significantly increased and thereafter decreased. The results indicate that the transferrin blood content significantly increased with decreasing hepcidin of up to 264.63 μg/ml content and thereafter decreased. It could be concluded that after transferrin saturation, hepcidin functions to maintain iron balance in the blood of A. nobilis by decreasing transferrin content.

Based on the observed heavy metals in the Danshui River estuarine system, the concentration of manganese (Mn) exceeds the water quality standards. High concentrations of manganese in aquatic environment can cause disturbances in the sodium balance, disturb the metabolism of carbohydrates, and impair the immunological functions of fish. Therefore, a three-dimensional heavy metal transport model was developed and incorporated into the hydrodynamics, salinity, and suspended sediment transport model to evaluate the concentration distribution of the heavy metal manganese (Mn) in the Danshui River estuarine system of northern Taiwan. The model was validated with observational data for water level, tidal current, salinity, suspended sediment concentration, and heavy metal (Mn) concentration that was measured in 2015. The indicators of statistical error, including mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and skill score (SS), were adopted to evaluate the model performance. There was good quantitative agreement between the simulation results and measurements. Sensitivity analysis of suspended sediment and heavy metal transport model was carried out to understand which parameters were important to be cautiously determined. Furthermore, the validated model was used to investigate the influence of suspended sediment on the concentration distribution of heavy metals (Mn) in tidal estuaries. If the suspended sediment transport module was excluded in model simulations, the predicted results for the heavy metal (Mn) concentration underestimated the measured data. The modeling results showed that the inclusion of the suspended sediment transport module in the model simulations was critically important to the results of the heavy metal (Mn) concentration in the tidal estuarine system in Taiwan.

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic, suspended sediment, and fecal coliform transport model was developed and applied to characterize the fecal coliform plume in the Danshuei River estuarine system and its adjacent coastal sea. The numerical model was calibrated and validated with time-series water levels and spatial distributions of suspended sediment and fecal coliform concentrations in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Three indices (i.e., mean absolute error, root-mean-square error, and skill score) were used to compare the predicted results and measured data for assessing the performance of the model. Quantitatively, there was good agreement between the simulation and the measurement results. The validated model was later applied to explore the influence of river discharge and wind stress on the fecal coliform plume in the Danshuei River coastal area. In the absence of wind stress, no cyclonic circulation occurs as a result of river discharge under flood conditions. However, anticyclone circulation occurs on the east coast of the Danshuei River mouth at low river discharge. The plume distances of fecal coliform from the Danshuei River mouth reach 17 km and 5 km under flood flow and Q50 flow conditions, respectively. In the absence of river discharge, the plume distance of fecal coliform is confined to the Danshuei River mouth. Consequently, the wind directions control the upwelling and downwelling plumes. If the river discharge and wind stress are included in the model simulations, the surface fecal coliform concentrations are flushed out of the Danshuei River mouth and move to the southwestern coast as a result of the wind’s favoring downwelling. Conversely, the fecal coliform concentrations are flushed out of the Danshuei River mouth and flow to the northeastern coast, with the wind favoring upwelling. Comparing simulated results with and without wind stresses, the plume distance/area of fecal coliform decreases with the inclusion of wind stress.

Although boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a promising treatment option for malignant brain tumors, the optimal BNCT parameters for patients with immediately life-threatening, end-stage brain tumors remain unclear. We performed BNCT on 34 patients with life-threatening, end-stage brain tumors and analyzed the relationship between survival outcomes and BNCT parameters. Before BNCT, MRI and 18F-BPA-PET analyses were conducted to identify the tumor location/distribution and the tumor-to-normal tissue uptake ratio (T/N ratio) of 18F-BPA. No severe adverse events were observed (grade ≥ 3). The objective response rate and disease control rate were 50.0% and 85.3%, respectively. The mean overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) times were 7.25, 7.80, and 4.18 months, respectively. Remarkably, the mean OS, CSS, and RFS of patients who achieved a complete response were 17.66, 22.5, and 7.50 months, respectively. Kaplan–Meier analysis identified the optimal BNCT parameters and tumor characteristics of these patients, including a T/N ratio ≥ 4, tumor volume &lt, 20 mL, mean tumor dose ≥ 25 Gy-E, MIB-1 ≤ 40, and a lower recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) class. In conclusion, for malignant brain tumor patients who have exhausted all available treatment options and who are in an immediately life-threatening condition, BNCT may be considered as a therapeutic approach to prolong survival.

A flood risk assessment of urban areas in Kaohsiung city along the Dianbao River was performed based on flood hazards and social vulnerability. In terms of hazard analysis, a rainfall-runoff model (HEC-HMS) was adopted to simulate discharges in the watershed, and the simulated discharges were utilized as inputs for the inundation model (FLO-2D). Comparisons between the observed and simulated discharges at the Wulilin Bridge flow station during Typhoon Kongrey (2013) and Typhoon Megi (2016) were used for the HEC-HMS model calibration and validation, respectively. The observed water levels at the Changrun Bridge station during Typhoon Kongrey and Typhoon Megi were utilized for the FLO-2D model calibration and validation, respectively. The results indicated that the simulated discharges and water levels reasonably reproduced the observations. The validated model was then applied to predict the inundation depths and extents under 50-, 100-, and 200-year rainfall return periods to form hazard maps. For social vulnerability, the fuzzy Delphi method and the analytic hierarchy process were employed to select the main factors affecting social vulnerability and to yield the weight of each social vulnerability factor. Subsequently, a social vulnerability map was built. A risk map was developed that compiled both flood hazards and social vulnerability levels. Based on the risk map, flood mitigation strategies with structural and nonstructural measures were proposed for consideration by decision-makers.

In the present work, we systematically study the two-proton (2p) radioactivity half-lives of nuclei close to the proton drip line within a modified Gamow-like model. Using this model, the calculated 2p radioactivity half-lives can well reproduce the experimental data. Moreover, we use this model to predict the 2p radioactivity half-lives of 22 candidates whose 2p radioactivity is energetically allowed or observed but not yet quantied in evaluated nuclear properties table NUBASE2016. The predicted results are in good agreement with the ones obtained by using Gamow-like model, effective liquid drop model (ELDM), generalized liquid drop model (GLDM) as well as a four-parameter formula., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures

In this work, we systematically study the α decay half-lives of 196 even–even nuclei using a two-potential approach improved by considering nuclear deformation. The results show that the accuracy of this model has been improved after considering nuclear deformation. In addition, we extend this model to predict the α decay half-lives of Z = 118 and 120 isotopes by inputting the α decay energies extracted from the Weizsacker–Skyrme-type (WS-type) mass model, a simple nuclear mass formula, relativistic continuum Hartree–Bogoliubov theory and Duflo-Zuker-19 (DZ19) mass model. It is useful for identifying the new superheavy elements or isotopes for future experiments. Finally, the predicted α decay energies and half-lives of Z = 118 and 120 isotopes are analyzed, and the shell structure of superheavy nuclei is discussed. It shows that the shell effect is obvious at N = 184, while the shell effect at N = 178 depends on the nuclear mass model.

To evaluate the clinical application value of the bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) in the diagnosis of BPH.We retrospectively analyzed the urodynamic parameters and BOOI of 199 cases of BPH diagnosed from July 2016 to September 2018, which were divided into a BOO (n = 119), a suspected BOO (n = 39) and a non-BOO group (n = 41) based on the BOOI. We obtained the prostate volume (PV), IPSS, IPSS-voiding symptom score (IPSS-VS), quality of life score (QOL), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) from the patients, compared them among the three groups and analyzed their correlation to BOOI using Pearson's linear correlation analysis.No statistically significant differences were observed in age (P = 0.195), PSA (P = 0.380), IPSS (P = 0.380), IPSS-VS (P = 0.380), QOL (P = 0.380), Qmax (P = 0.380) and PVR (P = 0.912) among the three groups of patients, but PV was remarkably larger in the BOO than in the suspected BOO and non-BOO groups (［58.8 ± 30.0］ vs ［49.8 ± 33.9］ and ［45.5 ± 26.0］ ml, P = 0.031). Pearson's linear correlation analysis showed that BOOI was not correlated significantly to IPSS (r = －0.020, P = 0.778), IPSS-VS (r= －0.013, P = 0.853), QOL (r = －0.107, P = 0.132), Qmax (r = －0.130, P = 0.066) or PVR (r = －0.056, P = 0.433), nor obviously to PV (|r| = 0.1780.4) though with P = 0.012.BOOI is not significantly correlated to PV, IPSS, IPSS-VS, QOL, Qmax or PVR, and therefore BOO cannot be diagnosed exclusively with BOOI.

Anthropogenic changes in tidal estuaries have significantly altered bathymetry and topography over the past half century. The geomorphic-driven changes in estuarine hydrodynamics and salt transport remain unclear. To explore this issue, a SELFE (Semi-implicit Eulaerian-Lagrangian Finite Element) -based model was developed and utilized in a case study in the Danshui River, Taiwan. The model was calibrated and validated using observed water level, current, and salinity data from 2015, 2016, and 2017. The performance of the SELFE model corresponded well to the measured data. Furthermore, the validated model was utilized to analyze the hydrodynamics, residual current, limit of salt intrusion, and residence time under the predevelopment (1981) and present (2015) conditions. The predicted results revealed that the time lag of water surface elevation at both high tide and low tide under the present condition was approximately 0.5&ndash, 2 h shorter under the predevelopment condition. The residual circulation under the predevelopment condition was stronger than under the present condition for low flow, causing the limit of salt intrusion to extend further upstream under the predevelopment condition compared to the limit of salt intrusion under the present condition. The calculated residence time under the predevelopment condition was longer than the residence time under the present condition. The freshwater discharge input is a dominating factor affecting the salt intrusion and residence time in a tidal estuary. A regression correlation between the maximum distance of salt intrusion and freshwater discharge and a correlation between residence time and freshwater discharge were established to predict the limit of salt intrusion and residence time under the predevelopment and present conditions with different scenarios of freshwater discharge input.

Silane coupling agent is applied to modify polypropylene fiber. The modification effectively transfers the hydrophobic surface of polypropylene fiber to hydrophilic surface. Results from FT-IR, SEM and contact angle meter suggest that that the surface functional groups, the morphology and hydrophilia of polypropylene fiber is changed during the hydrolysis reactions of silane coupling agent. The modification process not only improve the surface hydrophilia of polypropylene fiber, but also convert the smooth surface of unmodified fibers to rough surface of modified fibers which gives stronger interface bonding force between fiber and substrate in the field of composite applications.

In this work, we systematically study the two-proton ( ) radioactivity half-lives using the two-potential approach, and the nuclear potential is obtained using the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock approach and the Skyrme effective interaction of SLy8. For true radioactivity ( 0 and 0, where and are the released energies of the one-proton and two-proton radioactivity, respectively), the standard deviation between the experimental half-lives and our theoretical calculations is 0.701. In addition, we extend this model to predict the half-lives of 15 possible radioactivity candidates with 0 obtained from the evaluated atomic mass table AME2016. The calculated results indicate a clear linear relationship between the logarithmic radioactivity half-lives ( ) and coulomb parameters [( + ) ] considering the effect of orbital angular momentum proposed by Liu [Chin. Phys. C 45, 024108 (2021)]. For comparison, the generalized liquid drop model (GLDM), effective liquid drop model (ELDM), and Gamow-like model are also used. Our predicted results are consistent with those obtained using other relevant models.

In this study, a phenomenological model is proposed based on Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) theory and applied to investigate the two-proton ($2p$) radioactive half-lives of nuclei near or beyond the proton drip line. The total diproton-daughter nucleus interaction potential is composed of the Hulthen-type electrostatic term and the centrifugal term. The calculated $2p$ radioactive half-lives can accurately reproduce the existing 10 experimental datasets of five true $2p$ radioactive nuclei with $\sigma$ = 0.736. In addition, we extend this model to predict the half-lives of possible $2p$ radioactive nuclei whose $2p$ radioactivity is energetically allowed or observed but not yet quantified in NUBASE2016. The predicted results are in agreement with those obtained using the Gamow-like model, generalized liquid drop model, Sreeja formula, and Liu formula., Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures

Pd-based nanocatalysts (NCs) are the potential substitutes for the Pt-based NCs used in the direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) because of their lower cost and comparable catalytic performance. The catalytic performance of Pd-based NCs is highly connected with the morphology, composition and surface structure of the catalysts. Here, solid bimetallic PdAu and hollow PdAu NCs were synthesized by a successive reduction and co-reduction method, respectively, using P123 both as reducing reagent and protectant. Compared with the solid PdAu NCs and commercial Pd black catalyst, the hollow PdAu NCs exhibited enlarged electrochemical surface areas (ECSA), and showed an enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in alkaline solution. The excellent electrocatalytic performance is contributed to the unique hollow structure and alloy effects of the PdAu NCs.

Heart failure (HF) is the end-stage syndrome for most cardiac diseases, and the 5-year morbidity and mortality of HF remain high. Malignant arrhythmia is the main cause of sudden death in the progression of HF. Recently, bridging integrator 1 (BIN1) was discovered as a regulator of transverse tubule function and calcium signalling in cardiomyocytes. BIN1 downregulation is linked to abnormal cardiac contraction, and it increases the possibility of malignant arrhythmias preceding HF. Because of the detectability of cardiac BIN1 in peripheral blood, BIN1 may serve as a predictor of HF and may be useful in therapy development. However, the mechanism of BIN1 downregulation in HF and how BIN1 regulates normal cardiac function under physiological conditions remain unclear. In this review, recent progress in the biological studies of BIN1-related cardiomyocytes and the effect of cardiac dysfunction and malignant arrhythmia will be discussed.

The bactrial strain Cupriavidus sp. DT-1 can degrade 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) and transform it into 2-hydroxypyridine (2-HP). This is a unique degradation pathway of TCP but incomplete. In the present study, strain DT-1 could degrade 2-HP at a high concentration 500 mg/L and use it as sole carbon source for growth. Three metabolites (nicotine blue, maleamic acid and fumaric acid) were detected in the medium and the complete degradation pathway of TCP was derived. Inoculation of TCP-contaminated soils with strain DT-1 resulted in a degradation rate 94.4% and 86.7% as compared to 20.4% and 28.4% in uninoculated soils, respectively. Fluorescent marker gene gfp was introduced into strain DT-1 and a new strain DT-1- gfp was created, viability test showed the strain could survive well in soils for more than 35 d. This finding suggests that strain DT-1 has potential for use in bioremediation of TCP-contaminated environments.

A three-dimensional contaminant transport model of heavy metal (copper) was coupled with the hydrodynamics and suspended sediment transport module to simulate the transport and distribution of heavy metal (copper) of the Danshui River estuarine system in northern Taiwan. The coupled model was validated with observational data including the water level, tidal current, salinity, suspended sediment concentration, and copper concentration. The model simulation results quantitatively reproduce the measurements. Furthermore, the validated model was employed to explore the influences of the freshwater discharge and suspended sediment on the distribution of copper concentrations in the tidal estuarine system. The results demonstrate that a high freshwater discharge results in a decreasing copper concentration, while a low freshwater discharge raises the copper concentration along the estuarine system. If the suspended sediment transport module was excluded in the model simulations, the predicted copper concentration underestimated the measured data. The distribution of copper concentrations without the suspended sediment transport module was lower than that with the suspended sediment transport module. The simulated results indicate that the freshwater discharge and suspended sediment play crucial roles in affecting the distribution of copper concentrations in the tidal estuarine system.

Dicofol is an organochlorine insecticide widely used to prevent pests worldwide. Consequently, serious environmental problems have arisen from the application of dicofol. Bioremediation is an effective solution for dicofol persistence in the environment. In this study, a bacterial strain D-2, identified to genus Microbacterium, capable of degrading dicofol was isolated from dicofol-contaminated agricultural soil. This represents the first dicofol degrading bacterium isolated from this genus. Microbacterium sp. D-2 degraded 50 mg/L dicofol within 24 h at a rate of 85.1%. Dicofol was dechlorinated by D-2 and the further degradation metabolite was indentified as p,p′-dichlorobenzophenone(DCBP). Soils inoculated with Microbacterium sp. D-2 degraded 81.9% of the dicofol, while soils without D-2 only degraded 20.5% of the dicofol present. This finding suggests that strain D-2 has great potential in bioremediation of dicofol-contaminated soils.