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Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) are two major contributors to death among preterm infants. Oropharyngeal administration of colostrum (OAC) has been proved as an easy, safe, and economically viable technique to help preterm neonates to build up their immunity. In this review, we assessed the effects of OAC on preterm infants. Several mainstream databases were searched including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and a website of clinical trials. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing OAC vs. placebo or no intervention in preterm infants (gestation age, Author(s): Jiaxin Tao [sup.1], Jing Mao [sup.1], Jixin Yang [sup.2], Yanwei Su [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) School of Nursing, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China [...]

The straight mortise and tenon joints (SMTJs) of Tusi Manor, situated in the Yunnan–Tibet region of China, tend to undergo decay. This study aims to investigate the mechanism performance degradation of SMTJs due to decay. Five full-scale SMTJs were constructed and incubated with wood-rot fungi for 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks. Cyclic loading tests were conducted to assess the damage mechanisms and extent of mechanical property degradation at these different stages of decay, supported by ABAQUS finite element simulation software. The results revealed a progressive increase in damage with prolonged decay time. Comparison between decayed and undecayed specimens showed a maximum load-bearing performance degradation rate of 5.17%, 11.83%, 17.34%, and 23.54% after 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks of fungal incubation, respectively. The cumulative energy efficiency degradation rates were 8.38%, 9.51%, 23.13%, and 33.31%, respectively. SMTJs mechanical performance degradation is correlated with wood mechanical property degradation as a function of the S-family. Finite element simulations further indicated a reduction in tenon strength from the outer parts towards the inner parts of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) The Hoop Head Tenon-mortise Joint (HHTMJ) in the Tusi Manor in Tibetan areas in Yunnan, China, has a serious decay phenomenon. To understand the effect of decay on the seismic performance of HHTMJ, (2) the five groups of HHTMJ and small-size Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis wood mechanical property testing specimens were placed in an artificially set decay environment and cultivated together with wood decay fungi for 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks, respectively. Low-cycle repeated loading tests were conducted to compare the failure mode, hysteresis curve, skeleton curve, and cumulative energy consumption of the HHTMJ under different decay cycles. (3) The results indicate that the failure mode of the HHTMJ is fractured at the tenon shoulder, and the deformation and failure of the tenon increase with the increase in decay. Compared with the non-decayed specimens, the ultimate bearing performance of the specimens after 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks of decay decreased by 8.83%, 16.97%, 19.69%, and 30.22%, respectively. The cumulative energy consumption decreased by 21.6%, 27.4%, 33.2%, and 41.3%, respectively. (4) Decay primarily occurs on the exterior of the tenon, with minimal decay on the interior. The degradation of seismic performance in HHTMJ is relatively close to the degradation observed in small-size wood specimens during mechanical property testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early enteral feeding is vital for the physical health of preterm infants. However, there is uncertainty regarding the effects of early enteral feeding on health outcomes in preterm infants. Hence, we aimed to synthesise evidence from systematic reviews (SRs) to evaluate the effects of early enteral feeding on health outcomes in preterm infants. We conducted a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. SRs selection followed clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers reached a consensus for the inclusion of SRs. The certainty of evidence and the quality of reviews using the GRADE and AMSTAR tools, respectively. We included nine SRs in this review. The effectiveness of early enteral feeding on health outcomes in preterm infants is mainly divided into six primary outcomes: increase the weight gain, reduce the incidence of feed intolerance, shorten the duration of full enteral feeding, reduce the length of hospital stay, reduce the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, and decrease the mortality risk. The overall quality of the included SRs was high, whereas most of the evidence was of low or very low certainty. Our results show the impact of early enteral feeding on health outcomes in preterm infants. Although the currently available data indicate that early enteral feeding may improve the health outcomes of preterm infants, additional clinical observation and investigation are required to evaluate the long-term health outcomes of preterm infants who receive early enteral feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The stepwise and concerted reaction mechanisms of NO with CO on Pd1 atom and Pd4 cluster adsorbed on the MgO surface have been studied by using the DFT/B3LYP method with the embedded cluster model. The reaction barriers have been calculated by using the IMOMO method at the CCSD level. The results suggest that the rate-controlling step barrier of the NO dissociation on the supported Pd4 cluster for the stepwise reaction mechanism is about 57kcal/mol and lower by about 33kcal/mol than that on the single supported Pd atom. However, the concerted reaction pathways on the single supported Pd atom and four supported Pd atoms are energetically unfavorable with the barriers of about 98kcal/mol and 71kcal/mol, respectively. Compared to the concerted reaction mechanism, the stepwise reaction mechanism of NO+CO is a possible pathway of CO2 molecule formation on the supported Pd catalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency of newborns, especially those born prematurely. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has shown efficacy in protection against various forms of tissue injury, and we have demonstrated efficacy in experimental NEC. However, few studies have been performed to establish a safe and effective method of intravenous MSC infusion for newborns. Here we described a safe, non-traumatic, and effective technique for systemic MSC transplantation in newborn rats.