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For the application of nanoindentation on the nanoscale, the dislocation behavior affected by solid solution strengthening can be described microscopically, which contributes to comprehend the peculiarity of high-entropy alloys (HEAs). This study is to provide deeper insights into the dislocation motion within the plastic zone and reveal the material dependence of the plastic zone variation in multi-principal alloys through designed nanoindentation linear tests performed on face-centered cubic Ni, CoNi, CoCrNi, and FeCoCrNi metals and alloys. Indentation tests at various depths further confirmed that the scale factor, f , which was proposed to modify the Nix-Gao model, is governed by the material category. From this, a connection is established between f and pertinent parameters of dislocation activation process and distribution characteristics. As for the dislocation activation, the activation volume and theoretical strength are considered, and then the lattice distortion and strain gradient determine the dislocation distribution feature. Regarding the critical strengthening of adjacent indentations, a critical scale factor f eff of the strengthening boundary is defined, which is proportional to the indentation depth, and a large f eff is preferred for high-strength multi-principal HEAs and /or medium-entropy alloys (MEAs). Combining the f and the f eff of the four metals and alloys, a model describing the evolution of the indentation plastic zone is established, in which the plastic zone include three parts. For the inconsonant trends of f and f eff , a dislocation saturation zone is suggested to existing in the plastic zone. The Gradient plastic zone model proposed here graphically depicts the dislocations motion, as well as its reinforcement effect. Futhermore, this model lends credence to modify the framework which describes the mechanical response of materials under nanoindentation.

This study presents the results of a driving experiment study on spatiotemporal characteristics of drivers’ fixation when entering a tunnel portal with different driving speeds. The study was performed during the daytime in a relatively long tunnel. Six experienced drivers were recruited to participate in the driving experiment. Experimental data of pupil area and fixation point position (from 200 m before the tunnel to the tunnel portal) were collected by non-intrusive eye-tracking equipment for three predetermined vehicle speeds (40 km/h, 60 km/h and 80 km/h). Fixation maps (color-coded maps showing distributed data) were created from fixation point position data to quantify visual behaviour changes. The results demonstrated that vehicle speed has a significant impact on pupil area and fixation zones. Fixation area and average pupil area had a significant negative correlation with vehicle speed during the daytime. Moreover, drivers concentrated more on the tunnel entrance portal, front road pavement and car control wheeling. The results revealed that the relationship between pupil area and vehicle speed fitted an exponential function. Limitations and future directions of the study are also discussed.

Topological insulator Sb2Te3 has the advantage of broadband saturable absorption from the visible to the infrared bands. Herein, the two-dimensional material Sb2Te3 saturable absorber (SA) of the topological insulator family was first applied experimentally in a wideband tunable passively Q-switched Yb-doped fiber laser. High-quality Sb2Te3 crystals were synthesized by the flux zone method. The Sb2Te3 SA with fewer layers was further prepared via a modified mechanical exfoliation procedure. Meanwhile, stable wavelength-tunable passive Q-switching pulse operation was obtained in a Yb-doped fiber ring cavity based on the Sb2Te3 SA, where the central wavelength can be continuously tuned from 1040.89 to 1092.85 nm. Results suggest that Sb2Te3 has wideband saturable absorption properties, and that the tunable pulse laser can provide a convenient and simple source for practical applications.

Tantalum disulfide (TaS2), an emerging group VB transition metal dichalcogenide, with unique layered structure, rich phase diagrams, metallic behavior, higher carrier concentration and mobility is emerging as a prototype for revealing basic physical phenomena and developing practical applications. However, its photonics properties and even engineering-related processes are still rare. Here, the top-down experiment demonstration, including synthesis, thickness optimization and nonlinear optical application, has been reported. In addition, the ultrafast (∼373 fs) erbium-doped fiber pulse with a small time-bandwidth product (∼0.34) and long-term stability (∼25 days) was realized using the nonlinear absorption properties of the high-quality 2H-TaS2 nanosheet. These results suggest an experimental route for further ultrafast photonics exploration based on metallic transition metal dichalcogenides.

Micro-supercapacitors (micro-SCs) are significant micro-scale power sources and energy storage components for miniaturized electronic and flexible devices, where electrodes play a key role in determining their electrochemical performances. The efficient intercalation of ions between the stacking layers of two-dimensional layered materials (2DLM) makes them great candidates as thin-film electrodes in micro-SCs, where one can achieve much enhanced volumetric capacitance. However, a great challenge is to develop a high-yield production method for high-quality 2DLM thin-film electrodes. In this work, we have successfully reported a scalable fabrication process for free-standing black phosphorous (BP) thin films, derived from high-quality few-layer BP nanoflakes via a modified electrochemical exfoliation route, for flexible quasi-solid-state micro-SCs (QMSCs). The as-fabricated QMSCs exhibit an excellent stable electrochemical performance at a high scan rate of up to 100 V s

Black phosphorus (BP), a novel two-dimensional (2D) layered semiconductor material, has attracted tremendous attention since 2014 due to its prominent carrier mobility, thickness-dependent direct bandgap and in-plane anisotropic physical properties. BP has been considered as a promising material for many applications, such as in transistors, photonics, optoelectronics, sensors, batteries and catalysis. However, the development of BP was hampered by its instability under ambient conditions, as well as by the lack of methods to synthesize large-area and high quality 2D nanofilms. Recently, some BP-analogue materials such as binary phosphides (MPx), transition metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (MPX3), and 2D group V (pnictogens) and 2D group VI materials have attracted increasing interest for their unique and stable structures, and excellent physical and chemical properties. This article, which focuses on BP and BP-analogue materials, will present their crystal structure, properties, synthesis methods and applications. Also the similarity and difference between BP and BP-analogue materials will be discussed, and the presentation of the future opportunities and challenges of the materials are included at the end.

A Ti-based metallic glass matrix composite (MGMC), which contains abundant primary α′ and ω phases in dendrites, has a strong work-hardening ability. A significant martensitic transformation occurred during plastic deformation at 298 K, and deformation twins were produced at 77 K. Transformation-induced plasticity and twinning-induced plasticity enable MGMC to achieve prominent strength–plasticity synergy. At 298 K, the alloy exhibits a yield strength (YS) of 1140 MPa and a uniform elongation (UE) of 8.1%, while at 77 K, the YS increases to 1520 MPa, still maintaining a UE of 4.6%. The prediction models of the temperature dependent YS and martensite trigger stress [Formula: see text] in MGMC were established. The strengthening and toughening mechanisms provide a great theoretical guidance for the development of low-temperature high-performance MGMCs.

Vanadium diselenide (VSe2), a typical metallic behaviour material among transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) family, exhibits excellent photoelectric characteristics with a zero band gap, missing applicaiotn in pulse generation. In this work, a high-quality VSe2 saturable absorber (SA) was synthesized through a liquid-phase exfoliation method. The saturable absorption of obtained VSe2-SA was characterized systematically. The measured modulation depth was 9.9%, and the saturated intensity was 533.8 µJ/cm2. By incorporating this optical modulator into a ytterbium-doped fiber laser cavity, a stable passively Q-switched laser could be achieved. The pulse had the central wavelength of 1064.03 nm. As the pump power was increased, the repetition rate increased from 24.3 kHz to 35.6 kHz, and the pulse duration decreased from 7.21 µs to 5.27 µs. The output power had the maximum value of 28.55 mW. These results indicated that VSe2 is an effective candidate to generate pulse laser due to its excellent nonlinear optical properties and universal photoelectric response, which may advance the applications of VSe2-based nonlinear optics and photoelectric devices.

Pathological myopia refers to high myopia with fundus pathological changes. Choroidal neovascularization is one of its serious complications, and also the main cause of visual loss. Currently, the first-line treatment is anti-VEGF treatment, with good efficacy, high safety, good prognosis, and other advantages of vision. Commonly used anti-VEGF drugs include bevacizumab, ranibizumab, aflibercept, and conbercept. The main treatment strategies include 1+pro re nata and 3+pro re nata, and the standard of REPAIR test is often used to evaluate the re-injection. This article reviews the advantages of anti-VEGF therapy, drug selection, treatment strategy, and re-injection criteria.病理性近视眼指高度近视眼伴眼底病理性改变，继发脉络膜新生血管是其严重并发症之一，也是导致视力下降的主要因素。目前一线治疗方法是抗血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）治疗，具有疗效确定、安全性高、视力预后较好等优势。常用抗VEGF药物包括贝伐单克隆抗体、雷珠单克隆抗体、阿柏西普、康柏西普。主要治疗方案包括1+ pro re nata（PRN）和3+PRN，临床多以雷珠单克隆抗体治疗病理性近视眼继发脉络膜新生血管的Ⅱ期临床试验提出的标准对再注射进行评估。本文针对抗VEGF治疗的优势、药物选择、治疗方案及再注射标准，对相关研究进展进行综述，以期为临床治疗提供参考。（中华眼科杂志，

Since early 2014, black phosphorus (BP), a rising star among post-graphene, has been exploited to generate ultrashort pulses in fiber lasers. BP has a large direct bandgap range from 0.3 eV (bulk, corresponding to 4.13 μm) to 2 eV (monolayer, corresponding to 620 nm), which enables ultrashort pulse generation from near-infrared to visible waveband. In our progresses, an ultra-stable (more than 100 days) pulse fiber laser based on real BP-SA was demonstrated, which exhibited various interesting ultrafast phenomenon in 1 μm region. Our results extended the application of BP in the spatial and temporal domains.

Nodal is a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family, which induces the activation of the cytoplasmic Smad2 and Smad3, both of which play a neuroprotective role against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the role of Nodal in cerebral I/R is unclear. Thus, the aim of the present study was to shed light on the function of Nodal in cerebral I/R injury.Cerebral I/R injury was induced in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion and in murine hippocampal neuronal cells (HT22) by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) stimulation. The lentivirus vectors (Nodal overexpressing lentivirus vector [OE-Nodal] and the short hair RNA of Nodal [sh-Nodal]) were used to upregulate and downregulate Nodal in SD rats or cells.Nodal expression increased in the cerebral I/R models and reached a peak after 12 h of reperfusion. OE-Nodal administration to the cerebral I/R rats significantly reduced the cerebral infarction volume and inhibited the brain cell apoptosis. It also increased the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant enzyme, and decreased the levels of the lipid peroxides (malondialdehyde [MDA] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]), in addition to those of the proinflammatory factors. Consistently, the upregulation of Nodal in HT22 by OGD/R significantly increased the SOD level and decreased the levels of MDA, LDH, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).This study revealed that Nodal exerted a protective role during cerebral I/R by inhibiting excessive oxidative stress and inflammation.

As an essential member of group-V layered materials, gray arsenic (g-As) has recently begun to draw researchers’ attention due to fantastic physical properties predicted by theoretical calculation. However, g-As presents semimetal behavior as the thickness exceeds bilayers, which hinders its further device applications, such as in logic electronics. Herein, we report the growth of high quality gray arsenic–phosphorus–tin (g-AsPSn) alloys via a simple one-step chemical vapor transport process. The as-grown g-AsPSn alloy remains the same layered rhombohedral structure as g-As, while the g-AsPSn alloy shows an opened bandgap compared with g-As. Infrared absorption and photoluminescence spectra reveal a narrow optical bandgap of 0.2 eV. A field effect transistor based on few-layer g-AsPSn alloy flakes shows a typical p-type semiconductor behavior and a relatively high mobility of ∼66 cm2 V−1 S−1 under ambient conditions. It can be envisioned that the synthesized two-dimensional layered narrow-gap g-AsPSn alloy presents considerable potential applications in electronics and infrared optoelectronics.

In article number https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.201902699, Lin Wang, Kai Zhang, Xiaoshuang Chen, and co‐workers boost the photothermoelectric effect (PTE) through ultrashort channel design via a titled‐angle evaporation technique. Such a detector exhibits tremendous field‐enhancement as well as high efficiency terahertz photon absorption across a broadband frequency range beyond the skin depth limit, introducing an avenue for deeply understanding the role of the PTE effect and its targeted applications for fast imaging.

To study on the effect of conical cap on the piercing performance of projectile( Φ 150mm) when penetrating three-interval-layer steel target ( target thickness: 20mm+20mm+20mm, the center of distance between adjacent targets is 1.5m ), the FEA model of penetrating performance of the projectile with conical cap was built by using Ls-dyna, and the attitude change law, velocity change law and impacting acceleration change law of projectile in the process of piercing the targets were analyzed under the different impact velocity(500m/s, 600m/s, 700m/s, 800m/s) and impact angle(0°, 25°, 50°) condition. The simulation results show that: with the increase of impact velocity and impact angle, the time of the conical cap separating from the head of projectile and breaking is earlier, and the breakage of the cap is also more severity. Under the same impact angle and different impact velocity condition, the maximum axial acceleration variation of projectile penetrating into each target is inconsistent, which is closely related to the separation of the cap from the projectile and the breaking of the cap. After the cap separating from the head of projectile, the cap will impact on the target firstly, which can reduce the axial acceleration when the projectile penetrates the target. Under the same impact velocity condition, the residual velocity of the projectile decreased with the increase of impact angle; and under the same impact angle condition, the velocity change after the projectile penetrates the target gradually decreases with the increase of the impact velocity of projectile. The amount of kinetic energy change of projectile increases with the increase of impact velocity of the projectile, that is to say, the higher of the impact velocity, the more of the kinetic energy loss in process of projectile penetrating target.

SummaryBackground The KIT gene plays an important role in the pathogenesis of malignant melanoma (MM). In recent years, activating mutations in KIT have been recognized as oncogenic. A number of therapies have been established, which provide significant clinical benefits for patients with MM with KIT mutations. Thus, detection of KIT mutations can have profound therapeutic implications. Aim To investigate KIT gene expression in MMs in Chinese Uyghur and Han patients with mutations in KIT, and to identify the clinical features associated with KIT mutations and c-KIT expression. Methods In total, 105 MMs (56 from Uyghur and 49 from Han patients) were selected from patients in the Uyghur Autonomous region. Formalin-fixed, paraffin wax-embedded tumour sections were analysed for c-KIT expression using immunohistochemistry. Exons 11 and 13 of KIT were analysed for the presence of mutations using PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. Results Of the 105 MMs, 13 (10 Han and 3 Uyghur) were found to have mutations in KIT. Thus, the frequency of KIT mutations in Han patients was significantly higher than that in Uyghur patients (P = 0.02). We detected c-KIT expression in 71.4% and 42.9% of the tumour tissue samples collected from the Uyghur and Han patients, respectively. Conclusion In the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China, chronic sun-induced damage MM is the most prevalent MM among Chinese Uyghur patients, whereas acral and mucosal MMs are the most prevalent in Uyghur patients. Mutations in the KIT gene do not correlate with c-KIT expression.

Petroleum is potentially toxic to living organisms, and there are worldwide efforts to develop methods for bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soils. Phytoremediation is an effective method to reduce the concentration of petroleum in soils, and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play an important role in the phytoremediation. Two PGPR, Pseudomonas aeruginosa SLC-2 and Serratia marcescens BC-3, were isolated from the rhizophere of Echinochloa grown in petroleum-contaminated soil. These isolates showed capacities for 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity, indole acetic acid production, siderophore synthesis, and the degradation of petroleum. The ACC deaminase activity of SLC-2 and BC-3 was 2.52 ± 0.03 μmol α-KA (mg Pr·h)−1 and 38.52 ± 0.37 μmol α-KA (mg Pr·h)−1, respectively. On the other hand, when the concentration of l-Trp increased, the IAA synthesis of BC-3 also increased, while the synthesis of SLC-2 did not change significantly. The ability of synthesized siderophore of SLC-2 was much higher than that of BC-3. The petroleum degradations of SLC-2 and BC-3 increased 4.78 and 7.36 %, respectively. The pot experiment of oat was performed to evaluate the plant growth-promoting abilities of SLC-2 and BC-3. Compared with non-inoculated controls, the height and fresh weight of stems increased (23.64 and 42.57) % and (16.98 and 28.3) %, respectively, whereas the length and fresh weight of roots also increased (10.34 and 20.84) and (24.13 and 43.11) %, respectively, when inoculated with SLC-2 and BC-3. The results indicated that P. aeruginosa SLC-2 and S. marcescens BC-3 can serve as promising microbes for increasing plant growth in petroleum-contaminated soil to improve the phytoremediation efficiency.

A mixture of several typical model compounds was chosen as the bio-oil model. Hydrogen production via catalytic steam reforming of model bio-oil in a two-stage reaction system was studied in this article. Quartz sand was used in the first-stage fluidized bed reactor for primary steam reforming, and Ni/modified dolomite was chosen as the catalyst in the second-stage fixed bed reactor for deep steam reforming. The main influential parameters, such as temperature, steam to carbon ratio, and weight hourly space velocity, were tested in this work. The optimum conditions on hydrogen production were obtained at 800°C; steam and carbon mole ratio, 12; and weight hourly space velocity, 1 h−1. In addition, there was a comparison between a two-stage reaction system and one-stage fixed bed reactor on the optimum condition. It was concluded that H2 yield decreased 5.6% in the two-stage reaction system and 9.9% in the one-stage fixed bed reactor after 3 h reaction time; the maximum carbon deposition ratio was 1 and 0.4...

As a preferable material in the field of photo-detection and catalysis, the characteristics of FePS3 in broad wavelength range have been proven by many experimental studies. However, FePS3 has not been used as a saturable absorber (SA) in fiber lasers yet. We propose and demonstrate the generation of a single wavelength and dual-wavelength based on an Er-doped fiber laser (EDFL) at 1.5 μ m by using an innovative FePS3 saturable absorber for the first time. The result shows that a stable passively Q-switched pulse can be generated, which demonstrates that the new two-dimensional (2D) material FePS3 served as SA provides a valid method to realize passively Q-switched laser. In addition, we achieve the output of the dual-wavelength pulse by properly rotating the polarization controller. To the best of our knowledge, the dual-wavelength pulse EDFL could be applied in biomedicine, spectroscopy, and sensing research.

A prospective study was conducted to explore the influence of neonatal modes of HBV marker (HBVM) on non-/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccine in infants.From July 2011 to July 2013, a total of 386 pregnant women who showed serum HBsAg positive with their neonates at birth and another 227 infants at 12 months admitted in the Third People' s Hospital of Taiyuan in Shanxi province, China. All infants received hepatitis B vaccine with the 0-1-6 month schedule. Maternal, neonatal and infantile HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc were measured by chemiluminescence-immunoassay. The neonatal/infantile PBMC TLR3 expression level and the quantities of T cell subsets, B cells, DCs were measured by Flow Cytometry. The neonatal/infantile Th1/Th2 cytokines were measured by ELISA.Four types of common neonatal modes of HBVM appeared as " HBeAg(+) anti-HBe(+) " , "HBsAg(+)HBeAg (+) anti-HBe(+) " , "HBsAg(+) " and "HBVM(-)" , respectively. The overall rate of non-/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccine in neonatal mode of " HBeAg(+) anti-HBe(+) " was 5.2%, lower than that seen in the other three types of mode (20.0%, 40.0% and 22.5%, respectively). The frequencies of circulating CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells were significantly different among four common modes of HBVM in infants. Meanwhile, the level of IL-6 in mode of " HBeAg(+) anti-HBe(+) " was higher than that in the mode of " HBVM(-)" at two points. There was a positive correlation appeared between the level of IL-6 and the level of anti-HBs. It was quite unlikely to show non-/hypo-response to hepatitis B vaccine, when neonates were at the level as IL-61 112.0 pg/ml (OR=0.386, 95% CI: 0.266-0.561, P0.001).Neonates who were with the mode of " HBeAg (+) anti-HBe (+) " and high level of IL-6 showed a lower non-/hyporesponse rate on hepatitis B vaccine. It is necessary to further study the relationship between neonatal mode of HBVM and the immune status.

Alteration of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, which reflects oxidant-induced cell damage, has been observed in a wide range of human diseases. However, whether it correlates with hypertension has not been elucidated. We aimed to explore the association between mtDNA copy number and the risk of hypertension in Chinese coal miners. A case–control study was performed with 378 hypertension patients and 325 healthy controls in a large coal mining group located in North China. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained staffs with necessary medical knowledge. The mtDNA copy number was measured by a quantitative real-time PCR assay using DNA extracted from peripheral blood. No significant differences in mtDNA copy number were observed between hypertension patients and healthy controls. However, in both case and control groups, the mtDNA copy number was statistically significantly lower in the elder population (≥45 years old) compared with the younger subjects (

G protein-coupled receptor, family C, group 6, member A, (GPRC6A) is a prostate cancer (PCa) susceptibility gene and has been shown to regulate PCa progression. However, its role in PCa metastasis is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to confirm the association between GPRC6A and aggressive PCa in a case-control analysis, and to explore the function of GPRC6A in PCa metastasis in vitro.The association of 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GPRC6A and linked to GPRC6A were evaluated with PCa risk and aggressive PCa in 916 subjects. Metastasis behavior was determined in GPRC6A knockdown PC3 cells, and the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 were detected. Bone transcription factor runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker genes were examined in the GPRC6A overexpression PC3 cells.Among the 14 SNPs tested in PCa patients and controls, 4 were associated with aggressive PCa (p = 0.032-0.037, odds ratio = 1.38-1.41). Both the migration and invasion abilities were reduced in PC3 cells that were transiently transfected with GPRC6A short interfering RNA (siRNA). The GPRC6A knockdown cells showed reduced activity levels of MMP2 and MMP9. Furthermore, RUNX2, EMT and ERK signaling were shown to be up-regulated in GPRC6A overexpression cells.These findings suggest that GPRC6A is associated with aggressive PCa. GPRC6A knockdown inhibits the PCa cells migration and invasion, and GPRC6A overexpression promotes the EMT. It is suggested that GPRC6A may serve as a potential therapeutic target for metastatic PCa.

We conducted a case-control study to investigate the role of one single nucleotide polymorphism of MMP-9 rs3918242 in the development of coronary artery disease. The rs3918242 was amplified with 435-bp DNA fragments using polymerase chain reaction coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism. When compared with control subjects, patients with coronary artery disease had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as higher triglycerides (P < 0.05), were more likely to suffer from diabetes mellitus, and had lower total cholesterol and high-density lipopolysaccharides. Using unconditional logistic analysis, we found that individuals with CT and TT genotypes were associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease in a co-dominant model, and the ORs (95%CI) were 1.50 (1.02-2.20) and 6.89 (2.51-23.41) for CT and TT, respectively. We observed that the T allele of rs3918242 was correlated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (OR = 1.88, 95%CI = 1.39-2.55). In conclusion, we suggest that the TT and CT genotypes and T allele of MMP-9 rs3918242 polymorphism is correlated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease in a Chinese population.

Medulloblastoma is a heterogeneous diffuse neoplasm that can be highly disseminated, and is the most common malignant childhood brain tumor. Although multimodal treatments have improved survival rates for patients with medulloblastoma, these tumors are associated with high morbidity and mortality. New treatment strategies are urgently needed to improve cure rates and, importantly, to spare normal brain tissue from neurotoxicity and patients from life-long cognitive and functional deficits associated with current therapies. In numerous preclinical brain tumor models, neural stem cells (NSCs) have shown great promise as delivery vehicles for therapeutic genes. Here, we have used an established, genetically modified human NSC line (HB1.F3.CD) to deliver carboxylesterase (CE) to cerebellar tumor foci and locally activate the prodrug camptothecin-11 (CPT-11) (Irinotecan) to the potent topoisomerase I inhibitor SN-38. HB1.F3.CD NSC tumor tropism, intratumoral distribution and therapeutic efficacy were investigated in clinically relevant experimental models. Magnetic resonance imaging was used for in vivo tracking of iron nanoparticle-labeled NSCs, and to assess the therapeutic efficacy of CE-expressing HB1.F3.CD cells. As compared with controls, a significant decrease in tumor growth rate was seen in mice that received both NSCs and CPT-11 as their treatment regimen. Thus, this study provides proof-of-concept for NSC-mediated CE/CPT-11 treatment of medulloblastoma, and serves as a foundation for further studies toward potential clinical application.

A new MoSi2–Si–B ceramic coating was prepared on the surface of SiC coated carbon/carbon (C/C) composites by a simple and low-cost slurry method. The microstructures of the double-layer coatings were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analyses. It could effectively protect C/C composites from oxidation for 100 h with a weight loss of 0·2% in air at 1773 K and for 40 h with a weight loss of 4·2% at 1073 K. The oxidation protective coating was principally due to the production of eutectic glass film for decreasing oxygen diffusing through the coating.

Following the analysis of the reactive routine of methanol oxidation, a new reduced chemical kinetic mechanism has been developed for investigation of methanol oxidation. The reduced model involves 17 species undergoing 40 reactions and has been validated against a series of experimental measurements. Experimental data from shock tubes, flow reactors, and static reactors showed that, when the temperature is between 823 and 2180 K, the pressure is between 0.005 and 2.0 MPa, and the equivalence ratio is between 0.2 and 2.6, the proposed mechanism can predict the methanol oxidation process quite well. The premixed laminar flame speeds and ignition delay times computed by this mechanism have demonstrated good agreement with the experimental data as well. Moreover, the reactive intermediates and radicals in static reactors, flow reactors, and premixed laminar flames can also been predicted very well, using this reduced mechanism. Compared with other comprehensive mechanisms, the reduced model is validated by m...

We study the beam-energy and system-size dependence of phi meson production (using the hadronic decay mode phi -> K(+) K(-)) by comparing the new results from Cu + Cu collisions and previously reported Au + Au collisions at root s(NN) = 62.4 and 200 GeV measured in the STAR experiment at RHIC. Data presented in this Letter are from mid-rapidity (vertical bar y vertical bar ) and net strangeness = 2 (Xi). The enhancement for phi mesons is observed to be higher at root s(NN) = 200 GeV compared to 62.4 GeV. These observations for the produced phi(s (s) over bar) mesons clearly suggest that, at these collision energies, the source of enhancement of strange hadrons is related to the formation of a dense partonic medium in high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions and cannot be alone due to canonical suppression of their production in smaller systems. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In this study, the moisture source/sink and long-distance moisture transport associated with the summer precipitation in the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River Valley (YRV) over China have been investigated based on both data analysis and numerical simulations using the regional climate model RegCM3. The study focused on both a case of the 1998 summer flood events and the interannual variation of summer precipitation during 1961–2005 in the YRV. The results show that (1) the low latitudinal band from the Bay of Bengal, Indochina Peninsula, South China Sea to the Philippine Island is the major moisture source region for the summer precipitation in the YRV; (2) an eastward moisture transport from the Bay of Bengal and a westward moisture transport from the Philippines Sea meet at the South China Sea, where a main water vapor channel forms and advances north-northwestward and turns northeastward in the vicinity of the eastern Tibetan Plateau and South China to the YRV; and (3) the long-distance moisture transport from the eastern Indian Ocean-South China Sea to the YRV contributes to more than half of the summer precipitation in the YRV. Furthermore, it is shown that RegCM3 driven by the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis is able to reproduce the overall climatological water vapor transport in East Asia and the features of the water vapor flux for flooding and drought years in the YRV as well as simulate the YRV flood events in the summer of 1998 reasonably well.

This paper presents a marker-less two-hand gesture recognition system based on Kinect. Using the depth and skeleton from Kinect, mark-less hand extraction is achieved. Finger Earth Mover's Distance (FEMD) is then applied as the measurement to recognize the gestures, with the help of a new morphological finger extraction method. A two-hand based user interface is designed and implemented to provide intuitive and robust human-computer interaction. The effectiveness of the proposed gesture recognition algorithm and UI system is illustrated by experimental results.

To investigate the strength of association between anaemia and overall survival, locoregional control, and late radiation complications in patients with locally advanced oesophageal carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy and hyperthermia.Between March 1996 and December 2002, 303 patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of oesophagus enrolled in three consecutive prospective phase III trials conducted in our department were included in this study. These patients received one of the following four irradiation schedules: late course accelerated hyperfractionated (LCAF) radiotherapy alone, LCAF combined with concurrent chemotherapy, LCAF combined with hyperthermia, and continuous accelerated hyperfractionated (CAHF) radiotherapy according to each protocol. According to the haemoglobin levels measured before radiotherapy, patients were stratified to normal haemoglobin group (or = 12.0 g/dl for men, oror = 11.0 g/dl for women) or anaemic group (12.0 g/dl for men, or11.0 g/dl for women). Overall survival, locoregional control rate and late irradiation toxicity were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method.Of 303 eligible patients, 243 patients (80.2%) had normal haemoglobin level and 60 patients (19.8%) were anaemic. The 5-year overall survival was 39% in patients with normal haemoglobin level, whereas, 22%, with anaemia patients (P = 0.001). The 5-year locoregional control rate at 5 years was 68% in patients with normal haemoglobin, versus 62%, with anaemia patients (P = 0.050). The 5-year rate of radiation toxicity of grade 3 or greater was 29% in patients with normal haemoglobin level, but it was 8%, with anaemic patients (P = 0.033). From multivariate analyses, T stage, location of tumour and haemoglobin level were found to be independent predictors for survival. T stage, gender and haemoglobin level were independent predictors for locoregional control. It was also detected that age and haemoglobin level played as independent predictors for development of radiation toxicity.For patients with locally advanced oesophageal carcinoma undergone irradiation, anaemia associated a statistically significant reduction in survival and locoregional control rates, but also decreased radiation toxicity rates. Therefore, haemoglobin level should be considered as a stratification variable in prospective clinical trials.