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This paper studies the impact of the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on Chinese textile and garment enterprises. This paper mainly uses Jensen model, Treynor & Mazuy evaluation method and Henriksson & Merton evaluation method to judge the Stock selection and timing capabilities of investment target, supplemented by Sharpe ratio, Treynor index and other indicators. The stock price data is collected from Investing.com and calculated into the indicators above by the author. The performance of the stocks during the period is evaluated through the indicators and the evaluation methods. The conclusion includes the result of the evaluation and the discussion about reliability of the methods in different factors. It shows that most companies in this industry were negatively affected by the conflict, while a small number of companies that were not negatively affected showed positive development. And found the advantages of Treynor & Mazuy evaluation method and Henriksson & Merton evaluation method in stock selection and timing judgment respectively. The conclusion improves the recognition of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in another aspect and explain the advantages of the two methods in specific conditions.

Background: The clinical value of antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) as a tumor marker for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is still controversial. Materials & methods: We studied 110 TgAb positive DTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and 131I therapies. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to analyze the association between prognostic factors and disease outcomes. Results & conclusion: Pre-ablation TgAb levels and the changes of TgAb in 6–12 months after the first 131I therapy were risk factors for disease outcome in patients younger than 55, while extrathyroid extension was a risk factor in patients older than 55. The median TgAb half-life was 7.7 months and the median time for TgAb positivity to become negative was 15.8 months. The dynamics of TgAb within the first year after remnant ablation could predict disease outcome for DTC patients.

Purpose Lugol’s solution could control thyroid function and suppress 131I uptake in hyperthyroidism. This study aimed to investigate the appropriate time to withdraw Lugol’s solution before 131I therapy (RIT) in Graves’ disease (GD) patients, and how this should influence thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb), 131I uptake and RIT outcome.Methods Two groups (125 cases and 1805 cases) of GD patients reveived RIT, who were pre-treated with and without Lugol’s solution (RI-CI group and RI group). The RI-CI group was further divided into the following sub-groups depending on the duration span between Lugol’s solution withdrawal and RIT: sub-roup A, 4-7 d (n = 49); sub-group B, 8-14 d (n = 41); and sub-group C, 15-30 d (n = 35). The highest radioactive iodine uptake rate (RAIUmax), effective half-life (Teff), TRAb, and free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels were compared, and therapeutic outcome was evaluated. Results There were no significant differences in RAIUmax, TRAb, and Teff among the four sub-groups (P > 0.05). Both FT3 and FT4 levels in sub-groups A and B were lower than those in group RI and sub-group C (P < 0.05). The outcome of non-hyperthyroidism (euthyroidism + hypothyroidism) in groups RI-CI and RI were significantly different at post-RIT month 1 and 3 (P < 0.05). However, intergroup differences at 6 and 12 months were not significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions Withdrawal of Lugol’s solution 4-7 or 8-14 d before RIT does not influence 131I uptake and RIT efficacy in GD. Moreover, in order to avoid a rapid increase in thyroid hormone levels at the same time, Lugol’s solution should be withdrawn 4-7 d before RIT.

The Chinese Gaofen-1(GF-1) high resolution satellite loaded with four Wide Field of View (WFV) cameras provides observations with high temporal and spatial resolutions. However, the radiometric calibration accuracy of the GF1/WFV should be given when being used to monitoring the earth. In this study, radiometric calibration of the GF1/WFV was carried out first with automatic instrumented Baotou site. Then, the determined radiometric calibration coefficients were cross validated with the MultiSpectral Imager (MSI) onboard the Sentinel-2 satellite. The preliminary results show that the radiometric performances of the four WFV cameras are relatively stable with averaged relative difference less than -1.85%. The standard deviation of the radiometric calibration coefficients during the period from April 2019 to June 2020 is 0.0056, 0.0081, 0.0072, and 0.0076 with respect to the blue, green, red, and near infrared channel. The results of cross validation with Sentinel-2/MSI suggest that the averaged relative difference is -3.16%, -4.28%, -1.15%, and -3.22% with respect to the blue, green, red, and near infrared channel. The results of cross-validation demonstrate that radiometric calibration of the GF-1/WFV cameras using automatic instrumented Baotou site is feasible and operational. And, it is also essential and necessary to update the on-orbit radiometric calibration coefficients of GF-1/WFV cameras during its' entire lifetime for further quantitative application.

Phonon polaritons hold potential prospects of nanophotonic applications at the mid- and far-infrared wavelengths. However, their experimental investigation in the far-infrared range has long been a technical challenge due to the lack of suitable light sources and detectors. To obviate these difficulties, here we use an electron probe with sub-10 meV energy resolution and subnanometer spatial resolution to study far-infrared surface phonon polaritons (∼50-70 meV) in ZnO nanostructures. We observe ultraslow propagation and interference fringes of propagating surface phonon polaritons and obtain their dispersion relation through measurements in the coordinate space. By mapping localized modes in nanowires and flakes, we reveal their localized nature and investigate geometry and size effects. Associated with simulation, we show that surface phonon polariton behaviors can be well described by the local continuum dielectric model. Our work paves the way for spatial-resolved investigation of surface phonon polaritons by electron probes and forwards polaritonics in the far-infrared range.

Objective The present work aims to evaluate the significance of sleep disturbance and electroencephalogram (EEG) alteration in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Background and Rationale Sleep disturbance is common in patients with AD. It is not known if it can occur at the early stage of AD and if EEG recording may help identify the early sign of the disease. Historical Evolution Sleep disturbance in AD has generally been considered as late consequence of the neurodegenerative process. A growing body of evidence has suggested that the sleep disturbance may occur at the early stage of AD. Updated Hypothesis Based on the previous epidemiologic studies and our recent findings, we propose that sleep disturbance may play an important role in the development of AD. Sleep EEG changes may serve as a valuable early sign for AD in the prepathological stage. Early Experimental Data Our data suggested that AβPPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic AD mice at preplaque stage (3 and 4 months of age) exhibited different profile of sleep architecture and sleep EEG, which preceded the cognitive deficit and AD neuropathology. Future Experiments and Validation Studies Future experiments should focus on sleep EEG changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment and early stage of AD. Follow-up studies in high-risk population of the elderly are equally important. In addition, the exact molecular mechanism underlying the sleep disturbance should be thoroughly investigated. Major Challenges for the Hypothesis Studies on human participants with early stage of AD, especially the follow-up studies on the presymptomatic elderly in a large population, are difficult and time-consuming. Linkage to Other Major Theories Our hypothesis may link previous theories to establish a bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and AD, which may finally form a new schematic mechanism to understand the disease pathogenesis and disease progression.

BackgroundSerum thyroglobulin (Tg) serves as a sensitive and easily available tumor marker for patients with metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma (m-DTC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the predictive value of suppressed Tg changes (Δsup-Tg) and/or stimulated Tg changes (Δsti-Tg) to evaluate the efficacy of radioiodine therapy (RT).MethodsWe studied 117 patients with m-DTC who received RT. Δsup-Tg and Δsti-Tg were compared after the first RT in different therapeutic response groups and a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off values to predict non-remission. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the effects of 17 observed factors on the efficacy of RT.ResultsA total of 218 RT events in 117 patients with m-DTC were analyzed. After the last RT, the remission rate was 70.94% (83/117), and the proportion of remission events accounted for 74.77% (163/218). ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off values for Δsup-Tg and Δsti-Tg after the first RT to predict the non-remission of RT were 21.54% and 27.63%, respectively. Age, the size of the metastasis, the maximum count of target metastatic lesions and the average count of contralateral non-target tissue on tomographic imaging (Tmax/NTmean) of the first RT, and Δsup-Tg after the first RT were identified as independent factors associated with RT efficacy.ConclusionsTg response was valuable to predict RT efficacy for patients with m-DTC. Age, the size of the metastasis, Tmax/NTmean, and Δsup-Tg after the first RT were verified as independent predictive factors of RT efficacy.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a highly aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis and a low median survival rate because of insufficient effective therapeutic modalities. Recently, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) as a green non-toxic and safe nanomaterial have shown advantages to be a drug carrier and to modify the targeting group to the targeted therapy. To aim of the study was to explore the effects of MSNs co-loading with 17-allylamino-17-demethoxy-geldanamycin (17-AAG; HSP90 inhibitor) and 9-(6-aminopyridin-3-yl)-1-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)benzo[h][1,6]naphthyridin-2(1H)-one (Torin2; mTOR inhibitor) by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) on the viability of human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma FRO cells. The cytotoxicity of 17-AAG and Torin2 were analyzed by MTT assay. The possible synergistic antitumor effects between 17-AAG and Torin2 were evaluated by CompuSyn software. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the VEGFR2 targeting of (17-AAG+Torin2)@MSNs-anti-VEGFR2 ab and uptake by FRO cells. An ATC xenograft mouse model was established to assess the antitumor effect of (17-AAG+Torin2)@MSNs-anti-VEGFR2 ab in vivo. The results revealed that the combination of 17-AAG and Torin2 inhibited the growth of FRO cells more effectively compared with single use of these agents. Additionally, the synergistic antitumor effect appeared when concentration ratio of the two drugs was 1:1 along with total drug concentration greater than 0.52 µM. Furthermore, in an ATC animal model, it was revealed that the (17-AAG+Torin2)@MSNs-anti-VEGFR2 ab therapy modality could most effectively prolong the median survival time [39.5 days vs. 33.0 days (non-targeted) or 27.5 days (control)]. Compared to (17-AAG+Torin2)@MSNs, the (17-AAG+Torin2)@MSNs-anti-VEGFR2 ab could not only inhibit ATC cell growth but also prolong the median survival time of tumor-bearing mice in vivo and vitro more effectively, which may provide a new promising therapy for ATC.

// Ruiguo Zhang 1 , Guizhi Zhang 1 , Renfei Wang 1 , Jian Tan 1 , Yajing He 1 and Zhaowei Meng 1 1 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China Correspondence to: Jian Tan, email: tanpost@163.com Keywords: Graves’ disease, effective half-life, radioiodine therapy, iodine uptake, predictive model Received: June 27, 2017 Accepted: August 07, 2017 Published: September 12, 2017 ABSTRACT Purpose: Calculation of effective thyroidal half-life (Teff) of iodine-131( 131 I) is cumbersome and tedious. The aim of this study was to investigate factors that could be used to predict Teff and to develop a Teff prediction model in Graves’ disease patients. Methods: A total of 256 patients with GD were involved in this study. We investigated the influences of age, gender, disease duration, thyroid weight, antithyroid drugs, antithyroid drugs discontinuation period (ADP), thyroid function indexes, thyroid autoantibodies, thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb) level and radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) values before 131 I therapy on Teff, applying univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Teff correlated negatively with thyroid peroxidase antibody, TRAb and thyroid weight, as well as positively with 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour RAIU. Additionally, a longer ADP (especially≥ 14d) or without antithyroid drugs before 131 I therapy led to a longer Teff. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that 24-hour and 72-hour RAIU were statistically significant predictors of Teff ( P

Rapid iodine-131(131I) turnover in the thyroid gland is an important feature of Graves’ disease (GD) and also a strong predictor of radioiodine therapy failure. The aim of this study was to explore the predictors of rapid 131I turnover. The clinical data on 2543 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on present or absent with rapid 131I turnover defined as a 4-hour to 24-hour 131I uptake ratio of ≥1. Overall, 590 cases (23.2%) had a rapid 131I turnover. In the univariate analysis, gender, age, FT3/FT4 concentration, disease duration, with or without antithyroid drugs (ATD), time of ATD, thyroid weight and thyroid textures displayed significant differences. Cutoff values of age, FT3 and thyroid weight to predict rapid 131I turnover were 38 years, 35 pmol/l and 56 g by receiver operating characteristic curves. Binary logistic regression analysis further revealed higher probability of rapid 131I turnover in patients with thyroid weight ≥56 g (odds ratio [OR]:3.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.032–4.559), age 3 concentration ≥35 pmol/l (OR:7.6, 95%CI: 5.857–8.563) and females (OR:2.2, 95%CI: 1.757–2.791). In conclusion, larger goiters, younger age, higher FT3 concentration and females are independently associated with rapid 131I turnover in GD patients.

The aim of this study was to identify clinical features and therapeutic outcomes of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) according to tumor diameter and evaluate the correlation of neck lymph node (LN) involvement of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) according to patients' age.We divided 467 patients into two groups according to tumor diameter: PTMC group (≤1 cm) and non-PTMC group (1 cm). The clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. Thereafter, we divided the PTMC patients into three subgroups according to age: young subgroup (45 years), middle subgroup (45-54 years), and old subgroup (≥55 years). A further study about clinical features, especially the neck LN involvement in three subgroups, was analyzed.All patients received radioiodine ablation at least once. There were more patients with a single cancer lesion and cancer in the unilateral lobe, less number of neck LN involvement, fewer patients with neck lymph node metastasis (LNM), and more patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in PTMC group than in non-PTMC group. At the further evaluation, 58.03% patients maintained clinical remission, which was more in the PTMC group than in non-PTMC group. There was no significant difference in recurrence, but the disease-free survival rate of patients in the PTMC group was higher than in the non-PTMC group. In the PTMC group, the radioactive iodine curative ratio in younger patients is lower than that in the other two subgroups. Both the LNM and central LNM (CLNM) rates were significantly higher in young patients compared with older patients. In addition, the LNM-positive group had more male patients, larger tumor size, and higher thyroglobulin antibody level. Both LNM and the CLNM rates were significantly higher in the young subgroup than in the older subgroup. Young and middle age and extrathyroid extension were independent risk factors for neck LNM. Unlike LNM, young age, extrathyroid extension, and male sex were independent risk factors for CLNM.Some PTMCs were less aggressive and the therapeutic outcomes of them were better than non-PTMC. Moreover, PTMCs in young patients were more aggressive, especially in LNM. Hence, clinicians should consider an individualized treatment according to tumor characteristics and age to achieve better therapeutic efficacy.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) comprises approximately 2% of all thyroid cancers, and its median survival rate remains poor because of its resistance to conventional therapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-targeted therapeutics-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles represent a major advance for angiogenesis imaging and inhibition in lethal cancers. In the present study, we aimed to assess whether 131I-labeled anti-VEGFR2 targeted mesoporous silica nanoparticles would have antitumor efficacy in an ATC tumor-bearing nude mouse model. Using in vitro and in vivo studies, we investigated the increased targeting ability and retention time in the anti-VEGFR2 targeted group using confocal microscopy and a γ counter. The tumor tissue radioactivity of the anti-VEGFR2 targeted group at 24 and 72 h after intratumoral injection was significantly higher than that of the non-targeted groups (all P

The purpose of this study was to introduce the method and first results of a modified tooth sectioning technique for the extraction of horizontally impacted mandibular third molars (M3Ms) with large root bifurcation.A total of 300 horizontally impacted M3Ms with large root bifurcation in medically healthy patients were included in this prospective study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: the modified method group (test group), in which the M3M was sectioned between the distal root and the remainder of the tooth at the point of root bifurcation; and the conventional method group (control group), in which the M3M was sectioned between the crown and the root at the cementoenamel junction. Operation duration, postoperative reactions, complications, and patient satisfaction were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups.Each group included 150 M3Ms which were all successfully extracted. Operation durations in the test and control group were 10.48 ± 3.78 and 15.09 ± 4.24 minutes, respectively (P .05). The test group had significantly better results than the control group with regard to postoperative reactions and complications (P .05). Patients in the test group had higher satisfaction ratings regarding operation duration and the healing process than those in the control group (P .05).The modified method of tooth sectioning between the distal root and the remainder of the tooth can efficiently eliminate resistance from the bone and adjacent mandibular second molar and allow for just 1 sectioning of the M3M in most cases, which could make the operation straightforward and safe.

BACKGROUND Although radioiodine therapy (RIT) efficacy is thoroughly validated for Graves disease (GD), there is a lack of research on the predictive factors of RIT, especially the optimal thyroid-absorbed dose (TD) with a shorter effective half-life (Teff ≤5 days). The goal of this study was to explore the predictive value of TD in GD patients receiving RIT with a shorter Teff. MATERIAL AND METHODS We studied 208 GD patients receiving RIT with a shorter Teff. Plotting the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve verified the accuracy of TD for predicting RIT efficacy in GD patients. In addition, we conducted univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate the influence of 14 factors, including thyroid weight, TD, 24-h radioiodine uptake rate (RAIU), the highest RAIU, thyrotrophin receptor antibody level, thyroglobulin antibody level, thyroid peroxidase antibody level, and others, on curative effects of RIT. RESULTS Of the 208 study participants, complete remission and the total effectiveness rates were 68.3% and 92.3%, respectively. The threshold value of TD to predict RIT efficacy was 70.2 Gy, based on ROC analysis. Univariate analysis showed that 24-h RAIU, Teff, total iodine dose, iodine dose per gram of thyroid tissue, TD, and thyrotropin receptor antibody level were significantly associated with RIT efficacy. Multivariate analysis indicated that 24-h RAIU, total iodine dose, iodine dose per gram of thyroid tissue, and TD were significant independent predictors of RIT efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Predicting RIT efficacy from TD with a shorter Teff was feasible in GD patients, and TD above 70.2 Gy had an especially high predictive accuracy.

Current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided pH-switching therapeutic platforms have encountered problems such as low relaxation rates, poor pH-switching efficiencies, and a lag in the drug release behind the MRI. Herein, we designed a nanoplatform with tunable pore size, which could match the size of drug molecules for pH-switching MRI and chemotherapy via ultrasmall manganese oxide-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (USMO@MSNs). USMO@MSN could quickly dissolve under weakly acidic conditions and leach abundant Mn2+ ions (leaching ratio: 76%), enhancing the MR contrast. The longitudinal relaxation rate (r1) of USMO@MSNs significantly increased from 0.65 to 5.61 mM–1 s–1 as the pH decreased from 7.4 to 4.5, showing an ultrahigh-efficiency pH-switching T1-weighted MR contrast ability for in vivo tumor. Meanwhile, the matching pore structure allowed effective loading of doxorubicin (DOX) on USMO@MSNs to form smart therapeutic system (USMO@MSNs-DOX). The DOX release rate was strongly proportional to th...

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) usually has a lower malignancy rate and better prognosis than other types of thyroid cancer. It tends to spread through the lymphatic system, and the percentage of lymph node metastasis to the neck is 50–70% in patients at the time of diagnosis. Iodine-131 (131I) whole-body scanning is very valuable in the diagnosis and positioning of functional metastatic lesions. However, a variety of comprehensive test results are frequently required to make an appropriate judgment. The present case report describes the case of a patient with PTC where a benign lesion of the pharynx was misdiagnosed as functional metastasis. Some remnant thyroid tissue and an abnormal accumulation of 131I in the oropharynx and at the right side of the neck were observed by 131I whole-body scanning one week after the first therapeutic dose. Following the second therapeutic dose, quasi-circular trapping of 131I by the pharynx persisted. Magnetic resonance imaging enhanced scanning of the oropharynx showed markedly uneven enhancement inside the lesion, and it was considered as a metastatic lesion. However, the serological test results of the patient revealed that there was no increase in the thyroglobulin level and did not support the diagnosis of progressive disease. Therefore, a biopsy on the lesion was conducted under local anesthesia. The histopathological examination exhibited salivary gland tissue and chronic inflammation. Thus, it was necessary to analyze the imaging results, as well as serologic testing outcomes and pathological findings comprehensively, in order to make the correct diagnosis.

A unique structure of graphene-wrapped mesoporous single crystals (MSCs) of MnCO3 has been successfully synthesized and used as the anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In a departure from previous high-temperature (>500 °C) synthesis approaches to MSCs, we have developed a simple, low-temperature (70 °C) and template-free method, referred to as dynamic floating electrodeposition (DFE), to fabricate graphene-wrapped MnCO3 MSCs. In the DFE method, we achieved the reduction of GOs to RGOs, the deposition of MnCO3 MSCs on graphene, and a graphene-wrapped morphology, all three goals in one electrochemical process. The resulting submicron, graphene-wrapped MnCO3 MSCs reached a high reversible capacity of 900 mA h g−1 after the initial cycle and delivered over 1000 mA h g−1 after 130 cycles. The reversible capacity also remained at this high level for more than 400 cycles, and maintained 422 mA h g−1 at a high rate of 5000 mA g−1. It is the first time that this high performance has been achieved using MnCO3 for lithium-ion storage. Furthermore, this superior electrochemical performance was found to be highly related to the designed structure, graphene-wrapped MSCs, of MnCO3.

Entrepreneurship has been gotten fruitful attentions all around the world, it also has become one of the most significant engines for both national economic and social growth. The internal factors, which are able to affect entrepreneur’s behaviors during the whole entrepreneurship life cycle, are gradually becoming a hot topic in both practical and academic research fields. Especially for some of the famous researchers, such as Melissa Cardon and Mitchell, J.R. are leading the academic research of the relation between entrepreneurial emotions (e.g., passion and fear) and behaviors. In this study, our objective is to understand how passion and fear effect student entrepreneur’s behaviors when they are running their businesses at the early stage of entrepreneurship. Moreover, semi structured interview has been chosen to collect qualitative materials for this Master thesis paper. In this case, eight student entrepreneurs from Linnaeus University in Vaxjo, Sweden who are studying and running their business at the same time, or have finished their study already but started their business while they were students are selected by us for doing the interview. Furthermore, we broadly discussed about different stages of entrepreneurship, also entrepreneurial passion and fear along with entrepreneurial internal emotions such as cognition, self-regulation, self-efficacy, persistence, which could influence student entrepreneurs’ behaviors to start up their business and afterwards. Finally, after empirical analyzing we found that the bright side of passion and fear have positive effects on student entrepreneurs’ behaviors, whilst the negative effects of passion and fear can hinder their behaviors during the early entrepreneurial process.

Various amounts of MgO, CeO2 and SiO2 additives were added into Cr2O3 ceramics for the purpose of investigating their effects on the stability of Cr2O3 in high-temperature supercritical water (SCW), which is being considered as the coolant used for the next generation Supercritical Water-cooled Reactor (SCWR). These ceramics were exposed to a Chalk River Laboratories SCW environment at 650 °C and 25 MPa for up to 600 h. Gravimetric measurement, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and mass spectrum analysis were conducted to characterize the corrosion behavior of these Cr2O3-based ceramics in high-temperature SCW.