Search

This study aimed to identify and evaluate the short-term and lag effects of environmental factors on asthma hospitalizations in different regions. The ecological study on asthma is performed in three regions of Guangxi, China, that are distinctly different in geography and climate. We used distributed lag non-linear models to investigate the exposure-response-lag relationship between meteorological factors, air pollutants, and asthma hospital admissions across the three regions during 2015 (January 1 to December 31). Cold was an important meteorological factor affecting asthma. At lag 0, the relative risk (RR; 23°C as reference) of cold in the Northwest, Northeast, and South was 1.10 (10°C), 1.14 (8°C), and 1.30 (11°C), respectively. NO 2 was identified as the most important air pollutant affecting asthma. The RR of asthma hospitalization increased by 10.9% (at lag 4), 8.1% (at lag 0), and 4.2% (at lag 2) for every 10 μg/m3 increase in NO 2 concentration in the Northwest, Northeast, and South, respectively. In the three regions of Guangxi, there were differences in the dominant factors affecting asthma hospitalizations. Differences in geography can inform governments as to how to prepare the healthcare system to meet the expected peaks. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we consider the global behavior of components of positive nonconstant radial solutions for the Neumann problem with indefinite weight − Δ u = λ h (x) f (u) , i n B , ∂ ν u = 0 , o n ∂ B , where λ > 0 is a parameter, B ⊆ R N (N ≥ 1) is the unit open ball, f ∈ C ([ 0 , ∞) , [ 0 , ∞)) and h ∈ C (B ¯) satisfying ∫ B h (x) d x < 0 is the sign-changing function. We determine the intervals of λ in which the above problem has one, two or three positive nonconstant radial solutions by using the directions of a bifurcation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the transient Galactic black hole candidate MAXI J0637−430 with data from Insight-HXMT, Swift , and XMM–Newton. The broad-band X-ray observations from Insight-HXMT help us constrain the power-law component. MAXI J0637–430 is located at unusually high Galactic latitude; if it belongs to the Galactic thick disc, we suggest a most likely distance ≲7 kpc. Compared with other black hole transients, MAXI J0637–430 is also unusual for other reasons: a fast transition to the thermal dominant state at the start of the outburst; a low peak temperature and luminosity (we estimate them at ≈0.7 keV and ≲0.1 times Eddington, respectively); a short decline time-scale; a low soft-to-hard transition luminosity (≲0.01 times Eddington). We argue that such properties are consistent with a small binary separation, short binary period (P ∼ 2 h), and low-mass donor star (M 2 ∼ 0.2 M⊙). Moreover, spectral modelling shows that a single disc blackbody component is not a good fit to the thermal emission. Soft spectral residuals, and deviations from the standard |$L_{\rm disc} \propto T_{\rm in}^4$| relation, suggest the need for a second thermal component. We propose and discuss various scenarios for such component, in addition to those presented in previous studies of this source. For example, a gap in the accretion disc between a hotter inner ring near the innermost stable orbit, and a cooler outer disc. Another possibility is that the second thermal component is the thermal plasma emission from an ionized outflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a comprehensive timing analysis on the Be/X-ray binary pulsar RX J0440.9+4431 using observations from NICER and Insight - HXMT during the 2022–2023 outburst. The power density spectrum (PDS) of RX J0440.9+4431 exhibits typical aperiodic variability in X-ray flux across a wide frequency range. During a supercritical accretion state, we detect quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) at 0.2–0.5 Hz in the light curves of five pulses for RX J0440.9+4431. The observed QPOs manifest during flares, while the flares appear at the peaks of the pulse profiles on a time-scale of seconds and are primarily caused by an increase in hard photons. These flares can be explained by increased material ingestion in the accretion column at a fixed phase, primarily generating hard photons. Alternatively, an increase in accretion rate, independent of phase, may result in highly beamed hard photons within the accretion column, causing the flares. We argue the origin of QPOs to instabilities within the accretion flow. Additionally, we find that the break frequencies in the noise power spectra align well with |$\propto L_{\mathrm{x}}^{3 / 7}$| across three orders of magnitude in the luminosity, which points to a relatively strong magnetic field in RX J0440.9+4431, estimated to be ~1013 G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the performance of doxorubicin nanomedicine on gastric cancer cells, the prepared mesoporous silica nanoparticle samples and the doxorubicin hydrochloride solution samples of different concentrations were synthesized and prepared to concentrations of 0.01 mg/ml and 0.03 mg/ml, 0.05 mg/ml, 0.07 mg/ml and 0.09 mg/ml respectively. Doxorubicin hydrochloride-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles samples were applied to the cultured gastric cancer cells. Through transmission electron microscope, specific surface area and pore size distribution analyzer, ultraviolet spectrophotometer and other instruments, test the morphology, surface area, pore volume and average pore size, drug release performance and adsorption of mesoporous silica nanoparticles samples loaded with doxorubicin hydrochloride- desorption performance, drug loading, drug loading and encapsulation rate, and gastric cancer cell survival rate, etc., so as to conduct in vitro research and analysis of doxorubicin drugs for gastric cancer cells. The test results show that mesoporous silica nanoparticles samples are suitable for drug delivery, with high drug loading and encapsulation rate and drug controlled release effect as the acidity of the buffer increases, it is beneficial to the release of drugs in the slightly acidic environment of the tumor site; mesoporous silica nanoparticles, the drug loading of the sample after three times of ultrafiltration is about 55 % and the encapsulation efficiency is above 90 %; as the sample concentration increases, the survival rate of gastric cancer cells gradually decreases. This shows that doxorubicin nanomedicine can be used to inhibit gastric cancer cells and can assist in the treatment of gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese Mollisol region has the highest fertility and productivity in the country but also suffers from soil erosion. However, the characteristics of soil erosion and sediment size distributions in different seasons based on natural croplands with or without corn straw coverage at different slope gradients remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of corn straw coverage (0, 50, and 100%) and slope gradients (5° and 10°) on the soil water content, bulk density, runoff, soil loss, and eroded sediment size in autumn and the following spring in the Mollisol region of NE China. Natural runoff plots, which were 20 m long and 5 m wide, were used to conduct inflow scour (l L min–1 m–2) experiments. The results showed that the soil water contents generally increased and that the bulk densities decreased in spring compared with those in autumn. For treatments without corn straw coverage, the runoff values and soil losses in spring were 1.2–6.7 and 3.4–25.0 times greater than those in autumn, respectively. For treatments with corn straw coverage, the runoff was effectively decreased under 50% corn straw coverage for the 5° croplands but under 100% corn straw coverage for the 10° croplands; the soil losses were 0 for the 5° croplands and increased 2.3–2.6 times for the 10° croplands in spring compared with those in autumn. As the slope gradient varied from 5° to 10°, the runoff and soil losses significantly increased, but the loss of <0.25 mm soil materials in proportion to the soil erosion generally decreased. The seasonal changes affected the soil material size distributions of the eroded sediment, especially for finer sediments. In conclusion, soil conservation measures used to decrease the slope gradient and seasonality impacts on soil erosion and sediment size distributions in the Mollisol croplands are noteworthy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We numerically study the thermoelectric transport properties in bilayer phosphorene in the presence of bias voltage under a strong magnetic field. When a bias voltage is applied and the bulk energy gap is closed, it is found that thermoelectric coefficients has similar properties to those of a semimetal. Around the central Landau Level (LL), the transverse thermoelectric conductivity displays a series of peaks, but the longitudinal thermoelectric conductivity oscillates and changes sign. The Nernst signal has a peak at central LL and changes sign near other LLs, while the thermopower has an opposite behavior. Both the thermoelectric conductivities and Nernst signal exhibit remarkable anisotropy, but thermopower exhibits isotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium tantalates, K2Ta2O6 and KTaO3, were synthesized by hydrothermal route. The crystal structural, optical, and adsorption properties of tantalates were investigated in the manuscript. The results indicate that the initial concentration of KOH is the determinate factor of crystal structure of tantalates. When the concentration of KOH is lower than 6M, the product is K2Ta2O6. While when the concentration is higher than 7M, the main product is KTaO3. Optical properties of tantalates analysis shows that the band gap of K2Ta2O6 is larger than that of KTaO3, which may be due to the different electronic band structure originating from the different overlapping way of the atomic orbital of tantalum and oxygen. The adsorption performance study shows that the adsorption property of K2Ta2O6 is higher than that of KTaO3, which would be assigned to its larger surface area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shelter efficiency of windbreaks constructed with deciduous plants changes with their phenological stage. We used Elaeagnus angustifolia L. (Russian olive) as an example and investigated the airflow field and shelter efficiency of deciduous windbreaks with summer facies (with leaves) and winter facies (without leaves) by means of scaled wind tunnel simulation experiments. Our study revealed that different canopy seasonal porosities exert different wind speed reductions inside the windbreaks, which also determine the upwind and downwind wind speed variation. The variation in wind speed was greater in summer than in winter. For the windbreak with summer facies, a large wind acceleration region above and before the windbreak and a strong wind deceleration region inside and after the windbreak were observed. The wind deceleration region around the windbreak with winter facies was larger than that in summer, but the intensity of the wind speed reduction was relatively low. The results of our study further show that although E. angustifolia windbreaks are highly porous in winter, the shelter efficiency was not less than 80% of that in summer. Like any wind tunnel study on windbreaks, producing an artificial plant model that is highly similar to the real field plant is difficult. Nevertheless, our results clearly revealed the wind reduction patterns of deciduous windbreaks due to seasonal porosity caused by leaf shedding, which may provide valuable data for assessing the shelter efficiency of deciduous windbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioresistance remains the major obstacle to the failure of radiotherapy for ESCC. SOCS6 was first reported in our previous study to enhance the radiosensitivity of ESCC. Recent studies have shown that various materials were applied as radiosensitizer. Nevertheless, these radiosensitizer still suffer from inadequate tumor uptake of radiosensitizers and radiation sickness. The aim of our study was to generate a tumor targeted virus-inspired hollow mesoporous manganese-bismuth (vHMMn-Bi-PEG) loaded with SOCS6 plasmid and to explore the effect for radiosensitization and safety in vitro and in vivo. We hypothesize that SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG could enhance ESCC radiosensitivity The vHMMn-Bi-PEG were obtained by the traditional hard template synthesis. SEM and TEM were analyzed for the characterization of vHMMn-Bi-PEG. The expression of SOCS6 were detected by RT-PCR and western blot. MTT was detected cell cytotoxicity. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cellular uptake of SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG. Colony formation and γ-H2AX foci were assessed the radiosensitization effect of the SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG. The effect of SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG on radiosensitization and biosafety were analyzed by subcutaneous xenograft models in vivo. By using SEM observation, the vHMMn-Bi-PEG exhibited the rough surface morphology, which was similar to the spike on the surface of natural virus. Subsequently, TEM results exhibited that the building blocks of the interpenetrated ultrasmall MnO 2 /Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles were constructed to form the bimetallic oxide shells. RT-PCR and western blot results revealed that pCDNA3.1-SOCS6 were successfully loaded into the vHMMn-Bi-PEG. After incubation with vHMMn-Bi-PEG or SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG, the cell survival rates of TE-10 were greater than 90%, indicating their excellent biocompatibility. Besides, flow cytometry results confirmed that SOCS6@ vHMMn-Bi-PEG could be easily taken up by TE-10 cells. Colony formation results revealed that SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG (8.90%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (21.90%) and pCDNA3.1-SOCS6 group (18.32%). Moreover, a significantly stronger fluorescence density of γ-H 2 AX foci was found in the SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG + X-ray than that in the control and pCDNA3.1-SOCS6 + X-ray, indicating the effective DNA breakage induced by the vHMMn -Bi-PEG nano-system. Finally, in vivo results found that SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG with X-ray exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on tumor growth compared with the pCDNA3.1-SOCS6 + X-ray and vHMMn-Bi-PEG + X-ray group, indicating that SOCS6@ vHMMn-Bi-PEG has the potential to significantly enhance radiosensitivity. We successfully constructed a novel biomimetic-gene-loaded nano-system SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG as a radio-sensitizer. Moreover, SOCS6@vHMMn-Bi-PEG exhibited superior antitumor performance of ESCC without systemic toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We hypothesize RBM3 could lead to immune resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In the present study, we aim to explore the role and mechanisms of RBM3 inducing immune resistance by modulating tumor microenvironment (TME) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Bioinformatic prediction and analysis were used to explore the correlation between RBM3 expression and NPC patients' survival, TME cell characters and related cytokines level. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to examine RBM3 and PD-L1 expression, as well as to quantify Treg and M2 macrophages at the tissue level. Flow cytometry (FCM) were used to quantify immune cells in different treatment settings. Multiple cytokines were detected by ELISA Assays. Gene overexpression and knockdown were used to regulate RBM3 expression. Western-blot was used to detect related proteins. TCGA data analysis showed NPC patients with higher RBM3 expression and more Tegs had worse prognosis than those with lower RBM3 expression and fewer Tegs. IHC assays revealed that RBM3 expression was higher in immune resistant patients than in immune sensitive patients, with more Treg and M2 macrophages in TME. However, there was no significant difference in PD-L1 expression between the two groups. CNE1/IR cell line with high RBM3 expression and the parental CNE1 cell line with low RBM3 expression were cultured and cytokines in supernatant were detected. IL-2 and IL-10 levels were significantly higher in CNE1/IR cells and IL-4 and TGF-β were slightly higher. CNE1/IR and CNE1 cell lines were co-cultured with Treg and RAW264.7 cells. Flow cytometry showed there were more Treg cells and higher M2/M1 ratio in RBM3 highly expressed CNE1/IR group than the RBM3 low expression group. Decrease RBM3 expression in CNE1/IR cell could reduce IL-2/IL-10 level in supernatant and attenuate cytokines induced Treg recruit and macrophages transformation. Increase RBM3 expression in CNE1 cell could increase IL-2/IL-10 level and boost Treg recruit and macrophages transformation. Higher p-AKT level was detected in CNE1/IR cells and was correlated with IL-10 mRNA level. P-AKT and MEK1 inhibitor suppressed IL-10 mRNA and protein in RBM3 high expressing CNE1/IR cells. These results suggested RBM3 could induce immune resistant TME through regulating cytokines secretion. We further co-cultured RBM3 low expressing CNE1 cells with Treg, M2 and Treg+M2 cells. CNE1 cells co-cultured with Treg+M2 cells had higher RBM3 level than other groups, suggesting the immune resistant TME could inversely affect tumor cells and preserve immune resistant state. RBM3 could increase NPC cells IL-10 secretion, recruiting more Tregs and increasing M1/M2 transformation in TME, thus induce immune resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-induced single-event transients (SETs) are observed in black phosphorus (BP) MOSFETs. The SETs are relatively small, which is consistent with expectations for thin-film fully depleted transistors. The position dependence and the bias-dependence of the measured SETs in BP transistors are investigated to study the charge collection mechanisms. The peak drain current is maximized when the pulsed-laser strikes at the center of the channel region. The amplitudes of the SETs are also relatively independent of the overdrive voltage. The drain-to-source SET current increases when $\vert \text {V}_{\mathrm {DS}}\vert $ increases, due to a shunt effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When animals move or forage in groups, collective behaviors arise from independent decisions that individuals make based on limited information about the environment. In decentralized systems in which individuals use local cues to decide how to allocate their time amongst multiple tasks, a “global” signal detectable over large distances by all members of the group could have a profound effect on task allocation and coordination. Honeybees provide a unique opportunity to study how information transfer modulates behavior because they produce pheromones that can regulate the actions of thousands of individuals in a colony. We used electrophysiological and behavioral assays to compare the transmission modes of 2 larval pheromones to test the hypothesis that larval pheromones can act as “global” signals by rapidly regulating behavior throughout a colony without direct physical interactions between individuals. By studying mechanisms of pheromone transmission at the individual and colony level, we provide evidence that larval pheromones act as direct rapid and powerful regulators of behavior, even among individuals too far away from each other to use visual or tactile cues. Therefore, our results suggest that in some cases, global signals can be important regulators of collective behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dynamic light scattering study of 1,3,5-tri-α-naphthyl benzene in the supercooled state using Fabry–Perot interferometry is carried out. The frequency, linewidth, and Landau–Placzek ratio of the spectrum associated with the longitudinal hypersonic wave, the frequency of the transverse hypersonic wave, and the orientational relaxation time are determined as functions of temperature. The linewidth maximum of the longitudinal hypersonic wave is observed at 420 K, at which the transverse frequency becomes vanishingly small; the longitudinal frequency also changes the temperature dependence behavior at this temperature. Combination of the interferometric data with the data obtained using photon correlation shows that over 13 orders of magnitude, the temperature dependence of the orientational relaxation time follows the Debye–Stokes–Einstein equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on COVID-19 and diabetes. Topic discusses include Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), is present in cardiac, kidney, lung and intestinal tissue, and by converting angiotensin II to angiotensin 1–7, it counteracts the effects of angiotensin II and promotes vasodilation.

Summary: A stem canker disease of apple that differs from previously reported canker diseases has been recorded in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China. Eight Cytospora strains obtained from diseased apple trees and inoculated onto healthy apple tree branches resulted in the development of the same disease symptoms. This pathogen formed conceptacles, which were multilocular pycnidia with common walls and a single ostiole. Comprehensive analysis of three DNA sequence regions (internal transcribed spacer, large ribosomal subunit and transcription elongation factor) and morphological and cultural characteristics revealed that these strains were most similar to the fungus Cytospora parasitica. This is the first report of C. parasitica causing canker disease of apple in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have evaluated radiation-induced charge trapping and low-frequency noise in passivated black phosphorus (BP) MOSFETs with HfO2 gate dielectrics. Thinning the gate dielectric reduces total ionizing dose-induced threshold voltage shifts. The defect-energy distribution estimated from low-frequency noise measurements performed as a function of temperature decreases with increasing energy in as-processed devices. Local maxima in noise magnitude are observed in irradiated devices at activation energies of ~0.2 and ~0.5 eV. Larger defect-related peaks in noise magnitude in the range of 0.35–0.5 eV are observed after biased post-irradiation annealing, and/or vacuum storage of the devices after irradiation and annealing. Density functional theory calculations strongly support significant roles for O vacancies in HfO2 and H+ transport and reactions near the BP/HfO2 interface in the observed radiation response and low-frequency noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains unresolved how insect embryos acquire sufficient oxygen to sustain high rates of respiratory metabolism during embryogenesis in the absence of a fully developed tracheal system. Our previous work showed that the two distinct subunits (Hc1 and Hc2) of haemocyanin (Hc), a copper-containing protein, display embryo-specific high expression that is essential for embryonic development and survival in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria. Here we investigated the role of haemocyanins in oxygen sensing and supply in the embryo of this locust. Putative binding sites for hypoxia-regulated transcription factors were identified in the promoter region of all of the Hc1 and Hc2 genes. Embryonic expression of haemocyanins was highly upregulated by ambient O2 deprivation, up to 10-fold at 13% O2 content. The degree of upregulation of haemocyanins increased with increasing levels of hypoxia. Compared with low-altitude locusts, embryonic expression of haemocyanins in high-altitude locusts from Tibetan plateau was constitutively higher and more robust to oxygen deprivation. These findings strongly suggest an active involvement of haemocyanins in oxygen exchange in embryos. We thus propose a mechanistic model for embryo respiration in which haemocyanin plays a key role by complementing the tracheal system for oxygen transport during embryogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black hole X-ray binary source 4U 1543–47 experienced a super-Eddington outburst in 2021, reaching a peak flux of up to ∼1.96 × 10−7 erg cm−2 s−1 (∼8.2 Crab) in the 2−10 keV band. Soon after the outburst began, it rapidly transitioned into the soft state. Our goal is to understand how the accretion disk structure deviates from a standard thin disk when the accretion rate is near Eddington. To do so, we analyzed spectra obtained from quasi-simultaneous observations conducted by the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (Insight-HXMT), the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (Swift). These spectra are well fitted by a model comprising a disk, a weak corona, and a reflection component. We suggest that the reflection component is caused by disk self-irradiation, that is by photons emitted from the inner disk that return to the accretion disk surface as their trajectories are bent by the strong gravity field. In this scenario, the best-fitting parameters imply that the reflected flux represents more than half of the total flux. Using general relativistic ray-tracing simulations, we show that this scenario is viable when the disk becomes geometrically thick, with a funnel-like shape, as the accretion rate is near or above the Eddington limit. In the specific case of 4U 1543–47, an angle ≳45 deg between the disk surface and the equatorial plane can explain the required amount of self-irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects and safety of nucleotides in low fish meal diets on the growth performance, antioxidative capacity and intestinal morphology of turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus). High fish meal control diet was formulated with 500 g kg−1 fish meal. Seven levels (0.075, 0.15, 0.225, 0.300, 1.5 and 3.0 g kg−1, respectively) of nucleotides were added to a low fish meal basal diet, which was formulated with 400 g kg−1 fish meal. The eight experimental diets were fed to groups of juvenile turbot (initial weight: 6.0 ± 0.03 g) for 60 days. Results showed that compared with high fish meal control diet, low fish meal basal diet treatment had lower total antioxidative capacity (T- AOC), glutathione peroxidase activity, fold height of proximal and distal intestine, enterocyte height of all evaluated enteric section and microvillus height of mid-intestine and distal intestine ( P < 0.05). However, supplemented nucleotides in diets could significantly improve growth (specific growth rate, SGR), feed utilization, antioxidative capacity and intestinal morphology of turbot ( P < 0.05). Broken-line regression analysis of SGR and T- AOC showed that the optimal supplemental levels of dietary nucleotide for juvenile turbot were 0.366 and 0.188 g kg−1, respectively. In summary, 0.300 g kg−1 of dietary nucleotides was helpful in improving growth, feed utilization, antioxidative capacity and intestinal morphology of turbot fed with low fish meal diet. Excessive dietary nucleotides (3.0 g kg−1) might cause oxidative stress and morphological damage in intestine and then reduce the growth of turbot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteinuria is the hallmark of clinical manifestation of disease activity in lupus nephritis (LN) patients, which arises from direct or indirect podocyte injury. This study is to explore the relationship between intrarenal T cell infiltration and podocyte injury in lupus nephritis (LN), and to understand the potential mechanisms of podocyte injury induced by intrarenal T cells. Sixty renal biopsies from patients diagnosed with LN were included in the present study. Histological changes in LN patients were detected by light and electron microscopy. Podocyte-specific nephrin expression in renal tissues was detected by immunofluorescence. Infiltration of T cells (CD3+ cells), infiltration of macrophages (CD68+ cells) and the expression of osteopontin (OPN) in renal tissues were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Pearson or Spearman’s tests were used to perform correlation analysis. Morphologic lesions of podocytes were more severe in LN patients than in normal control subjects. Compared with normal control subjects, nephrin expression was significantly decreased in LN patients. The expression level of nephrin was significantly lower in active LN patients than in the inactive group of patients (P < 0.05). Compared with normal control subjects, the number of infiltrated intrarenal T cells and macrophages was significantly increased in LN patients. T cells were mainly distributed in renal interstitium, with very few being in glomeruli, while macrophages were mainly located in glomeruli. The number of intrarenal infiltrated T cells and macrophages in active LN patients was more than that in the inactive group (P < 0.05). Compared with normal control subjects, OPN expression in LN patients was increased significantly. The expression level of OPN in active LN patients was significantly higher than that in the inactive group (P < 0.05). Podocyte-specific nephrin was negatively correlated with 24-hour proteinuria, intrarenal T cells infiltration and intrarenal OPN expression in LN patients (P < 0.001). Intrarenal macrophages had significantly positive correlation with intrarenal OPN expression (P < 0.001). The present study provides possible links between intrarenal T cells, OPN, macrophages with reduced podocyte-nephrin and podocytopathy in systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition, infiltration of macrophages in glomeruli induced by OPN that is induced by T cells may be a crucial mechanism for podocyte injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Muon Telescope Detector (MTD) is a newly installed detector in the STAR experiment. It provides an excellent opportunity to study heavy quarkonium physics using the dimuon channel in heavy ion collisions. In this paper, we report the muon identification performance for the MTD using proton-proton collisions at s =500 GeV with various methods. The result using the Likelihood Ratio method shows that the muon identification efficiency can reach up to ∼90% for muons with transverse momenta greater than 3 GeV/c and the significance of the J / ψ signal is improved by a factor of 2 compared to using the basic selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new canker disease of Salix alba and Populus alba has been observed in Xinjiang, China. Black circular spots on dead branches and stems are the symptoms of the disease. Sixty-seven isolates recovered from Salix matsudana, S. alba and Populus alba were identified as Cryptosphaeria pullmanensis based on morphological features and multigene phylogeny. Pathogenicity tests were performed on S. alba and P. alba stems using the C. pullmanensis isolates. Cankers on and Cryptosphaeria pullmanensis of C. pullmanensis from the stems fulfilled Koch's postulates and confirmed C. pullmanensis as the causal agent of the canker disease. C. pullmanensis is characterized by its yellow stromatic tissue surrounded by a black conceptacle with regularly arranged multiple locules sharing common walls and hyaline, allantoid, aseptate conidia (mean size 7.42 × 1.72 μm). This is the first report of C. pullmanensis causing Cryptosphaeria canker in China, and S. alba and P. alba are new host records for C. pullmanensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this review was to evaluate whether CBCT is reliable for the detection of root fractures in teeth without root fillings, and whether the voxel size has an impact on diagnostic accuracy. The studies published in PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, CNKI and Wanfang up to May 2014 were the data source. Studies on nonroot filled teeth with the i- CAT ( n = 8) and 3D Accuitomo CBCT ( n = 5) units were eventually selected. In the studies on i- CAT, the pooled sensitivity was 0.83 and the pooled specificity was 0.91; in the 3D Accuitomo studies, the pooled sensitivity was 0.95 and pooled specificity was 0.96. The i- CAT group comprised 5 voxel size subgroups and the 3D Accuitomo group contained 2 subgroups. For the i- CAT group, there was a significant difference amongst the five subgroups (0.125, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3 and 0.4 mm; P = 0.000). Pairwise comparison revealed that 0.125 mm voxel subgroup was significantly different from those of 0.2, 0.25 and 0.3 mm voxel subgroups, but not from the 0.4 mm voxel subgroup. There were no significant differences amongst any other two subgroups (by α′ = 0.005). No significant difference was found between 0.08 mm and 0.125 mm voxel subgroups ( P = 0.320) for the 3D Accuitomo group. The present review confirms the detection accuracy of root fractures in CBCT images, but does not support the concept that voxel size may play a role in improving the detection accuracy of root fractures in nonroot filled teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: China is in the midst of the nutrition transition with increasing rates of obesity and dietary changes. One contributor is the increase in fast food chains within the country. The purpose of this study was to develop a theory-based instrument that explores influencing factors of fast food consumption in adolescents residing in Beijing, China. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Value expectancy and theory of planned behaviour were utilised to explore influencing factors of fast food consumption in the target population. There were 201 Chinese adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18. Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficients were used to examine internal reliability of the theory-based questionnaire. Bivariate correlations and a MANOVA were utilised to determine the relationship between theory-based constructs, body mass index (BMI)-for-age and fast food intake frequency as well as to determine differences in theory-based scores among fast food consumption frequency groupings. Results: The theory-based questionnaire showed good reliability. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the theory-based subcategory scores between fast food frequency groups. A significant positive correlation was observed between times per week fast food was consumed and each theory-based subscale score. Using BMI-for-age of 176 participants, 81% were normal weight and 19% were considered overweight or obese. Results showed consumption of fast food to be on average 1.50 ± 1.33 per week. The relationship between BMI-for-age and times per week fast food was consumed was not significant. Conclusions: As the nutrition transition continues and fast food chains expand, it is important to explore factors effecting fast food consumption in China. Interventions targeting influencing factors can be developed to encourage healthy dietary choice in the midst of this transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of chelated (Mintrex™ Mn, Mn-M) or inorganic (MnSO4·H2O, Mn-S) manganese (Mn) on growth, feed utilization, tissue Mn deposition and liver superoxide dismutase ( SOD) activity in turbot Scophthalmus maximus. A semi-purified basal diet was formulated to be deficient in Mn (3.7 mg kg−1) and contained tricalcium phosphate and sodium phytate at levels of 20 and 5 g kg−1, respectively. Ten other diets were made by adding five levels (5, 10, 20, 35 and 55 mg Mn kg−1 diet) of either the Mn-M or Mn-S to the basal diet, respectively. The 11 experimental diets were fed to groups of turbot (mean initial weight: 4.6 g) for 8 weeks. Results showed that the specific growth rate ( SGR), feed intake, whole body Mn/vertebra Mn concentration and Mn- SOD activity in liver were significantly improved by Mn supplementation ( P < 0.05). On the basis of SGR, vertebra Mn concentration or liver Mn- SOD activity data, dietary Mn requirement was estimated to be 10.5, 46.3 or 12.9 mg kg−1 for turbot fed Mn-S, and the same was estimated to be 7.6, 43.0 or 22.5 mg kg−1 for turbot fed Mn-M, respectively. There was no significant difference in growth, feed intake, whole body Mn concentration or vertebra Mn concentration between the two dietary Mn sources ( P > 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between upper distribution levels of glucose values in the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and recommended diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Subjects/methods: The distribution of the OGTT 2-h values of 13,501 pregnant women, which were below the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold for overt diabetes mellitus (DM), and managed in one teaching hospital in China, was reviewed and related to maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes.Results: For the entire group, the 90th and 95th percentile values of the OGTT 2-h glucose level, respectively, were close to the diagnostic cutoff values of the WHO and International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria. For adverse maternal outcomes, glucose level above the 90th percentile value was associated with increased hypertensive disorders, whereas no difference was seen with cutoff using the 95th percentile value. For perinatal outcomes, the 90th percentile was associated with increased neonatal intensive care unit admission and hypoglycemia, whereas the 95th percentile showed in addition association with phototherapy for jaundice and 5th-minute Apgar score <7. Although no differences in the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes were found using the different cutoffs, the >95th percentile cutoff value would have missed out 33.3-56.7% of the cases of adverse outcomes that would otherwise have been attributed to GDM.Conclusions: Further studies are warranted to clarify which diagnostic criterion is most appropriate universally to identify adverse pregnancy outcomes attributed to GDM, and which could be mitigated with treatment specific for GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemocyanins are commonly known as copper-containing oxygen carriers within the haemolymph of arthropods, and have been found in many orders of insects. However, it remains unresolved why haemocyanins persist in insects that possess elaborate tracheal systems for oxygen diffusion to cells. Here we identified haemocyanins in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria that consists of two distinct subunits, Hc1 and Hc2. Genomic sequence analysis indicated that Hc1 and Hc2 have four and three gene copies, respectively, which may have evolved via gene duplication followed by divergent evolution of introns. The two subunits exhibit abundant and embryonic-specific expression at the mRNA and protein level ; their expression peaks in the mid-term embryo and is not detectable in the late nymphal and adult stages. A larger proportion of the haemocyanins is present in the yolk compared with that in the embryo. Immunostaining shows that haemocyanins in the embryo are mainly expressed in the epidermis. Knockdown of Hc1 and Hc2 results in significant embryonic developmental delay and abnormality as well as reduced egg hatchability, ie the proportion of hatched eggs . These results reveal a previously unappreciated and fundamental role for haemocyanins in embryonic development and survival in insects, probably involving the exchange of molecules (eg O2) between the embryo and its environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymmetric reduction rolling (ARR) with a support plate at the entrance was proposed and carried out on the AZ31 magnesium alloy. The deformation mechanism of the ARR process was analyzed and demonstrated by finite element method (FEM). The microstructures, micro-textures and tensile properties of the ARRed sheet were examined by optical microscopy (OM), electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and tensile tests. The results show that a large shear stress throughout the thickness of sheet can be introduced and promote the occurrence of dynamic recrystallization during ARR process, resulting in the homogeneous microstructure with much finer grains and weakened basal texture, which significantly improve the mechanical properties of AZ31 Mg alloys sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the density functional theory (DFT), the plane-wave pseudopotential method was used to investigate the electronic structures and mechanical properties of DO3–Fe75-xSi25Nix(x = 0, 3.125, 6.25 and 9.375) intermetallic compounds. The elastic parameters were calculated, and then the bulk modulus, shear modulus and elastic modulus were derived. The paper then focuses on the discussion of ductility and plasticity. The results show that by adding appropriate Ni to Fe3Si intermetallic compound can improve the ductility. But the hardness will increase when the Ni content exceeds 6.25%. Analysis of density of states (DOS) and overlap populations indicates that with the difference of the strength of bonding and activity, there were some differences of ductility among different Ni contents. The Fe71.875Ni3.125Si25 has the lowest hardness because the covalent bonding (Fe–Si bond and Si–Ni bond) has the minimum covalent electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spinel Co0·8−xCuxZn0·2Fe2O4 ( x = 0, 0·1, 0·2, 0·3, 0·4) ferrites and polypyrrol(PPy)-Co0·7Cu0·1Zn0·2Fe2O4 nanocomposites were prepared by self-propagating combustion method and an in situ polymerisation method respectively. The structure, morphology, dielectric, magnetic and microwave absorbing capability of samples were characterised. The results show the average diameter of the Co0·7Cu0·1Zn0·2Fe2O4 ferrites and PPy-Co0·7Cu0·1Zn0·2Fe2O4 nanocomposites is about 15 and 50 nm respectively. In the frequency range of 5·0-20·0 GHz, the reflection loss of the PPy-Co0·7Cu0·1Zn0·2Fe2O4 is between −16·25 and −20·27 dB, and the maximum value is about −20·27 dB at 18·0 GHz with a bandwidth of 2·0 GHz, which is obviously higher than that of the ferrites. The saturation magnetisation ( Ms) and residual magnetisation ( Mr) of the PPy-Co0·7Cu0·1Zn0·2Fe2O4 are 1·29 and 0·43 emu g−1, which are smaller than those of the ferrites. However, the coercive force ( Hc) of the PPy-Co0·7Cu0·1Zn0·2Fe2O4 nanocomposites is 38·96 KA m−1, which is greater than that of the ferrites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Programmed death-1/PD-1 ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) costimulatory signals may play an important role in T-cell–induced immune response. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of the PD-1/PD-L1 costimulatory pathway on immunotolerance induction in mouse pancreatic islet transplantation. Methods Full-length mouse PD-L1 cDNA was subcloned into pShuttle-GFP-CMV(−) shuttle plasmid. The product was cut by certain restriction endonuclease and ligated with pAdxsi vector. The adenovirus bone plasmid was transformed into DH5α-competent bacteria. After linearization, the recombined adenovirus DNA was transfected into 293 cells for package and amplification. Streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally into C57BL/6 (H-2 b ) mouse to induce diabetic model recipient. Recipients were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A was the control. Group B and group C were injected with Ad-EGFP and Ad-PD-L1 through the tail vein, respectively, 1 day before islet transplantation. The 300 to 400 islets of DBA/2 (H-2 d ) were transplanted into the renal subcapsular space of the diabetic model recipient. We monitored and analyzed the blood glucose levels and the survival time of grafts after transplantation. Results Recombinant adenovirus Ad-PD-L1 had high efficiency expression of PD-L1 in recipient mouse. The blood glucose concentration of mice in the Ad-PD-L1 gene treatment group was obviously lower than that of the control and Ad-EGFP treatment groups and was stable and kept within the normal range at post-transplant 21 days. The survival time of grafts in the Ad-PD-L1 group (27.6 ± 3.5 days) was significantly longer than in the control (7.8 ± 0.33 days) and Ad-EGFP groups (7.6 ± 0.59 days), P < .01. Mixed lymphocyte response showed a specific decrease reaction of recipient lymphocyte vs donor lymphocyte. Flow cytometry detection showed that unsplit cells occupied 90% of recipient mouse lymphocytes, but unsplit cells among normal C57BL/6 mouse lymphocytes without Ad-PD-L1 gene treatment were 51 in the control group. The differences between them were significant ( P < .01). Conclusion Recombinant adenovirus Ad-PD-L1 has been successfully constructed. In mouse pancreatic islet transplantation, it can suppress the activation of recipient T lymphocyte through the PD-1/PD-L1 costimulatory pathway, and significantly prolong the survival time of grafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit peach originated in China and has a history of domestication of more than 4000 years. Numerous local cultivars were selected during the long course of cultivation, and a great morphological diversity exists. To study the diversity and genetic background of local peach cultivars in China, a set of 158 accessions from different ecological regions, together with 27 modern varieties and 10 wild accessions, were evaluated using 49 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) covering the peach genome. Broad diversity was also observed in local cultivars at the SSR level. A total of 648 alleles were amplified with an average of 13.22 observed alleles per locus. The number of genotypes detected ranged from 9 (UDP96015) to 58 (BPPCT008) with an average of 27.00 genotypes per marker. Eight subpopulations divided by STRUCTURE basically coincided with the dendrogram of genetic relationships and could be explained by the traditional groups. The 8 subpopulations were juicy honey peach, southwestern peach I, wild peach, Buddha peach + southwestern peach II, northern peach, southern crisp peach, ornamental peach, and Prunus davidiana + P. kansuensis. Most modern varieties carried the genetic backgrounds of juicy honey peach and southwestern peach I, while others carried diverse genetic backgrounds, indicating that local cultivars were partly used in modern breeding programs. Based on the traditional evolution pathway, a modified pathway for the development of local peach cultivars in China was proposed using the genetic background of subpopulations that were identified by SSRs. Current status and prospects of utilization of Chinese local peach cultivars were also discussed according to the SSR information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion behaviour of stoichiometric Fe3Si alloy in a liquid zinc bath for 3 and 62 h at 500°C was examined. The corrosion products at the Fe3Si/liquid zinc interface were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The corrosion process was controlled by the diffusion of iron and zinc atoms. There were scarcely any silicon atoms diffusing at Fe3Si/liquid zinc interface from the matrix to liquid zinc. The phase transition process of the stoichiometric Fe3Si alloy in liquid zinc was Fe3Si, α, α+ FeSi+δ, FeSi+δ, and the main corrosion products were periodic array of FeSi and δ phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Propose a technique to refine the HAZ grain size in multi-pass welding. [•] Theoretical analysis of this technique is carried out. [•] The experimental result is consistent with the theoretical analysis. [•] The HAZ grain size is close to the base material in this technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on the density functional theory (DFT), the plane-wave pseudopotential method was used to calculate structural stabilities, electronic structures, and ferromagnetism of Fe3Si, Fe11NiSi4, Fe11CoSi4 and Fe11CrSi4 intermetallic compound. This study showed that the Fe11NiSi4 and Fe11CrSi4 phase are more stable than Fe3Si phase, especially Fe11NiSi4, but decreased with Fe11CoSi4 phase. Calculating the density of states and the Mulliken electronic populations showed that Fe11NiSi4 had the highest structural stability because of its Fermi level, which was close to the bottom of the pseudo-gap. Fe11NiSi4 also had the largest Mulliken population, which increased the metallic bonding of the alloying system. The total magnetic moments of Fe11NiSi4, Fe11CoSi4 and Fe11CrSi4 were 20.04μ B, 19.98μ B, and 18.81μ B, respectively. These magnetic moments mainly originated from the 3d spin polarization of Fe and those of additional atoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose/objective(s): Distant metastasis remained the major cause of mortality in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) receiving radiotherapy despite favorable locoregional control in the past decades. Tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in tumor progression by secreting factors that regulate cancer cell metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role and mechanism of necrotic or apoptotic NPC cells killed by radiotherapy in distant metastasis. We hypothesize that necrotic or apoptotic NPC cells killed by radiotherapy could release metastasis-stimulating signals to the microenvironment and promote the metastatic ability of the surviving cancer cells.Materials/methods: Based on the co-culture system, cell migration assay and cell invasion assay were used to analyze the effect of lethally irradiated NPC CNE1 cell line on migration and invasion abilities of radioresistant NPC cell line CNE1-IR. Subsequently, ITRAQ was used to screen the key factors in this process, and ELISA, qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of slit2 in lethally irradiated CNE1 cells. CNE1-IR cells were infected with Slit2 shRNA lentivirus (LV3-shSlit2) or LV3-NC. Cell migration and invasion assay as well as tumor metastasis experiment in vivo were used to examine the role of Slit2 in promoting metastasis of NPC cell lines. Lastly, Cell migration, invasion assay and Co-IP assay were used to explore which Robo receptors was involved in Slit2 mediated metastasis of NPC cell lines.Results: The migration and invasion abilities of CNE1-IR cells were significantly promoted (P < 0.01) when CNE1-IR was co-cultured with lethally irradiated CNE1 cells. ITRAQ found that the expression of Slit2 was upregulated in the supernatant of lethally irradiated CNE1 cells. ELISA assay confirmed that Slit2 in the supernatant of lethally irradiated CNE1 cells was significantly higher than control cells. qRT-PCR analysis and Western blot analysis also showed that the expressions of Slit2 was significantly overexpressed in irradiated NPC cells compared with unirradiated control CNE1 cells. Knockdown of Slit2 significantly suppressed lung and liver metastasis in vivo. The expressions of both Robo1 and Robo2 could be detected in CNE1 and CNE1-IR. Subsequently, addition of rSlit2 could enhance cell migration ability. In contrast, Robo1-depleted cells showed decreased migration ability and did not respond to rSlit2. When rSlit2 was added to CNE1-IR/shRobo2 cells, the number of trans-membrance CNE-IR cells was increased by about 26% compared with CNE1-IR/NC cells. Co-IP assay with anti-Robo1 antibody indicated that Robo1 was immunoprecipitated with Slit2, indicating the interaction of Robo1 and Slit2.Conclusion: Lethally irradiated NPC cells could promote migration and invasion of radioresistant NPC cell lines. Slit2, a secreted factor released from irradiated dying NPC cells could promote metastasis of living/resistant NPC cells via Robo1 receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gliomas are the most common primary central nervous system tumour seen in adults. There have been many advances over the last two decades as we widen our search for a molecular basis of gliomagenesis. Many biomarkers have been discovered to be important in the management of gliomas, including 1p19q co-deletion, MGMT promoter methylation, BRAF and IDH1 mutations. In this review, we attempt to summarise the available literature on these biomarkers and their use in the diagnosis and management of gliomas. We pay special attention to the recently discovered IDH1 mutation, which is already proving to be a valuable new marker for favourable prognosis and may also indicate a greater response to therapy. 1p19q co-deletions have been shown to delineate a clinically distinct tumour type and are now routinely tested for in certain situations and can help direct treatment. MGMT promoter methylation is one of the most commonly studied biomarkers in gliomas. It has been shown to be a strong positive prognostic marker in gliomas, with positive tumours being more sensitive to chemotherapy. However, a lack of alternatives means that it is not yet a routine mutation tested for clinically. BRAF mutations are new markers found in pilocytic astrocytomas. Although the prognostic value of such mutations is not yet known, they may play a significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of such tumours. IDH1 mutations are 'the new kid on the block' and seem to play a central role in the pathogenesis of gliomas. They represent an independent and favourable prognostic marker and are a new molecular marker for disease diagnosis. Its role in determining response to chemotherapy is still controversial but with further study, IDH1 mutations may prove to be an invaluable marker in the management of gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We numerically study the thermoelectric transport properties based on the Haldane model of the three-dimensional topological insulator (3DTI) thin film in the presence of an exchange field g and a hybridization gap Δ. The thermoelectric coefficients exhibit rich behaviors as a consequence of the interplay between g and Δ in the 3DTI thin film. For Δ=0 but g≠0, the transverse thermoelectric conductivity αxy saturates to a universal value 1.38kBe/h at the center of each Landau level (LL) in the high-temperature regime, and displays a linear temperature dependence at low temperatures. The semiclassical Mott relation is found to remain valid at low temperatures. If g=0 but Δ≠0, the thermoelectric coefficients are consistent with those of a band insulator. For both g≠0 and Δ≠0, αxy saturates to a universal value 0.69kBe/h at the center of each LL in the high-temperature regime. We attribute this behavior to the split of all the LLs, caused by the simultaneous presence of nonzero g and Δ, which lifts the degeneracies between Dirac surface states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The electronic structures and magnetism of Fe3Si intermetallic compounds have been investigated by using first principle methods based on plane-wave pseudo-potential theory. The calculated cohesive energy and heat of formation indicated that Fe3Si intermetallic compounds have the strong alloying ability and high structural stability. The calculation of band structure shows that the Fe3Si has characteristics of metal, whose bonding modes are covalence bond and metallic bond. Ferromagnetic properties of it are attributed to the 3d states of the Fe atoms. The difference in local moments of Fe[A,C] and Fe[B] is due to the exchange interaction between Fe[A,C] and Fe[B] and the electrons transfer from Fe[B] atoms to Fe[A,C] atoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the value of ox-LDL and oxidation ratio of LDL (ox-LDL/TC, ox-LDL/HDL-C and ox-LDL/LDL-C) in diagnosis and prognosis evaluation in CAD patients. Also, we aimed to observe the effect of statins on reducing level of ox-LDL and oxidation ratio of LDL, and explore whether statins still have similar effect on ox-LDL in a short period of therapy (within 2 weeks). Methods: Blood ox-LDL, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TG were measured in cases with acute myocardial infarction (AMI, n=177), unstable angina pectoris (UAP, n=195), stable angina pectoris (SAP, n=228), normal control (n=120), and high risk control (n=140). Results: Mean value of ox-LDL and oxidation ratio of LDL was significantly higher in the CAD group than in the two control groups. The AUC of ROC curve of ox-LDL, ox-LDL/TC, ox-LDL/HDL-C, ox-LDL/LDL-C and apoA1/apoB were more than 0.50 (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age and ox-LDL/LDL-C related with short-term, while ox-LDL/LDL-C and ox-LDL/TC related with long-term prognosis (p < 0.05). Furthermore, after treatment with statins for 2 weeks, TC, LDL-C, ox-LDL, ox-LDL/TC, ox-LDL/HDL-C and ox-LDL/LDL-C decreased by 22%, 28%, 38%, 29%, 23% and 25% respectively. And the reduction of ox-LDL by statins is independent of lowering of LDL-C and TC. Conclusions: Ox-LDL and oxidation ratio of LDL are closely related with AS, and they are better biomarkers for discriminating between patients with coronary artery disease and healthy subjects. In addition, statins can decrease level of ox-LDL significantly, which is independent of lowering of LDL-C and TC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Magnetic photocatalysts composed of titania catalyst and magnetic support are of great interest due to their easy recovery and recyclability by magnetic separation. By using layer-by-layer chemical technique, a core–shell structure of Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2 composite was prepared by coating magnetite core particles with silica and photoactive titania. An amorphous silica shell was coated on magnetite nanoparticles firstly to form SiO2/TiO2 composite. In the next step of synthesis, we found that the polyacrylic acid treatment on silica surface played an important role in the coating of the anatase nanoparticles: no any anatase nanoparticles could be attached to the silica surface without the polyacrylic acid treatment. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopic analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Experimental results proved that the treatment of silica surface with polyacrylic acid contributed to the formation of covalent bond between titania nanocrystals and silica. The as-prepared photocatalyst presented good photocatalytic activities in the degradation of rhodamine B under UV illusion, while it could be easily separated by external magnetic field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We numerically study the thermoelectric and thermal transport in trilayer graphene with different stacking orders in the presence of interlayer bias under a strong perpendicular magnetic field. In the biased ABA-stacked case, we find that the thermoelectric conductivity displays different asymptotic behaviors with the varying of the temperature, similar to that of monolayer graphene. In the high-temperature regime, the transverse thermoelectric conductivity αxy saturates to a universal value 2.11kBe/ h at the center of each Landau level, while it displays a linear temperature dependence at the low-temperature limit. The calculated transverse thermal conductivity Kxy exhibits two plateaus away from the band center. The transition between the two plateaus is continuous, which is accompanied by a pronounced peak in the longitudinal thermal conductivity κxx. In the biased ABC-stacked case, it is found that both the thermoelectric conductivity and thermal conductivity have similar properties to the biased bilayer graphene, which is consistent with the behavior of a band insulator. The obtained results demonstrate the sensitivity of the thermoelectric conductivity to the band gap near the Dirac point. We also verify the validity of the Mott relation and the generalized Wiedemann-Franz law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most major U.S. professional sports and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) have adopted concussion policies. Current National Football League and NCAA guidelines do not permit an athlete with a concussion to return to play on the same day as the injury. No adolescent or high-school athletes with a concussion should be allowed to return to play on the same day regardless of severity.Loss of consciousness is uncommon with concussion.Acute concussion symptoms are generally self-limited, and most symptoms typically resolve within two weeks. Concussion risk and severity may be affected by age, sex, and genetic predisposition.Athletes with a concussion should rest physically and cognitively until symptoms have resolved at rest and with exertion. Rehabilitation following concussion progresses through a stepwise graded fashion.Neuropsychological testing can provide objective data on an athlete after a concussion. However, it alone cannot be used to diagnose a concussion or determine when an athlete is allowed to return to play.Retirement from contact or collision sports may be necessary for an athlete who has sustained multiple concussions or has a history of prolonged symptoms after concussions.Long-term effects of concussions are still relatively unknown, and further research is required to offer guidance for athletes of all levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils treated with two concentrations of copper (Cu; 200 and 400 mg kg−1) were amended with three amendments (coal fly ash, apatite, and bentonite) at the rates of 1.5% and 2.5%, respectively. The effects of amendment application on the bioavailability and leachability of Cu in the soil were evaluated using the wheat uptake, single extraction, and sequential extraction tests. The addition of coal fly ash, apatite, and bentonite at the rate of 2.5% increased wheat biomass by 50.5%, 41.1%, and 61.7%, respectively. The application of amendments significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the Cu contents extract that will buy DW (deionized water), TCLP (toxicity characteristics leaching procedure), and DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) in the soil. The amendments also reduced the water-soluble/exchangeable, carbonate, iron (Fe)–manganese (Mn) oxide, and organically bound fraction contents of Cu but increased the amounts of residual Cu in soil. Our results demonstrated that these amendments were effective in reducing the bioavailability and leachability of Cu in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by recent reports on associations between diabetes and cancer, many researchers have used administrative databases to examine risk association of cancer with drug use in patients with diabetes. Many of these studies suffered from major biases in study design and data analysis, which can lead to erroneous conclusions if these biases are not adjusted. This article discusses the sources and impacts of these biases and methods for correction of these biases. To avoid erroneous results, this article suggests performing sensitivity and specificity analysis as well as using a drug with a known effect on an outcome to ascertain the validity of the proposed methods. Using the Hong Kong Diabetes Registry, we illustrated the impacts of biases of drug use indication and prevalent user by examining the effects of statins on cardiovascular disease. We further showed that 'immortal time bias' may have a neutral impact on the estimated drug effect if the hazard is assumed to be constant over time. On the contrary, adjustment for 'immortal time bias' using time-dependent models may lead to misleading results biased towards against the treatment. However, artificial inclusion of immortal time in non-drug users to correct for immortal time bias may bias the result in favour of the therapy. In conclusion, drug use indication bias and prevalent user bias but not immortal time bias are major biases in the design and analysis of drug use effects among patients with diabetes in non-clinical trial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RX J0440.9+4431, a Be/X-ray binary, had its brightest outburst in 2022 since its discovery, with a peak X-ray flux of 2.25 Crab (as recorded by Swift /BAT, 15–50 keV). We analyze the timing properties of this giant outburst using data from Insight -Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope and Neutron Star Interior Composition Exlporer , focusing on the evolution of the pulse profile and pulse fraction. We observe that when the luminosity reached around ~ |$3\times 10^{37}\ {\rm erg\ \rm s^{-1}}$|⁠ , a transition from double-peaked to single-peaked pulse profiles occurred across the energy range, with the peak of the low-energy profile aligning gradually with the peak of the high-energy profile. This change indicates a transition from subcritical to supercritical accretion. Additionally, we found a concave in the pulse fraction as a function of energy around 20–30 keV throughout the entire outburst period. Compared to the low luminosity, the concave becomes weaker in high luminosities, and overall, the pulse fraction is higher. We propose that this concave could be caused by the scattering of high-energy photons by the atmosphere of a neutron star, leading to a dilution of the pulse fraction. As the accretion reaches the supercritical state, the accretion column height increases, resulting in a larger direct component of strongly beamed X-ray flux, and an elevated pulse fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]