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The aim of the study was to compare the dose distributions of combined intracavitary and interstitial (IC/IS) brachytherapy with 3-catheter IC brachytherapy in treating locally advanced (stage IIB) cervical cancer.In total, 46 patients were included, each with stage IIB cervical cancer, local lesion sizes ≥5 cm, and tumors that had not regressed after 45 Gy/25 F external intensity-modulated radiotherapy. To identify the dosimetric advantage of delivering a local boost to high-risk (HR)-cervix in IC/IS, patients were divided into two groups: IC/IS and IC/IS + HR-cervix. The differences in dosimetric parameters were compared between the two groups. Comparisons were then made between the parameters of the four planning methods: IC (Point A), IC (three dimensional [3D]), IC/IS, and IC/IS + HR-cervix.In patients with IC/IS implants, the relative uterine tandem dwell time was significantly extended in the IC/IS + HR-cervix group, and the V150 and V200 volumes of HR-cervix were increased (all p 0.001), whereas the D90 and D100 values of the IC/IS + HR-cervix group were lower than those in the IC/IS group. In pairwise comparisons, HR-cervix V150 and V200 values were lowest in the IC/IS group, followed by the IC (3D), IC/IS + HR-cervix, and IC (Point A) groups. All differences were statistically significant (p 0.05), with the exception of IC/IS vs. IC (3D).When treating locally advanced cervical cancer (stage IIB, local residual volume ≥5 cm after external radiotherapy), the IC/IS + HR-cervix optimization method can meet the HR clinical target volume D90 dose requirement, normal tissue dose limits, and can escalate doses to local areas of the cervix.

Acidity is an important influence factor for juice stability. In this study, the effects of acidityon stability of cloudy apple juice were investigated. The stability indexes, such as, turbidity, cloudvalue, cloud stability, and particle size distribution (PSD) were measured at pH 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5,along with the untreated juice (pH 3.8) as control group. The results showed that, pH has significanteffects on turbidity, chrome (C*), cloud value, and D50, D90 in PSD of cloudy apple juice. The juicehad a better stabilization at pH 2.5. At this pH condition, the turbidity, cloud value, cloud stability ofjuice was the best. In addition, at pH 2.5, the color of the juice was better, the particles were smaller,and the particle sizes were more uniform. By this study, a theoretical reference could be provided forimproving stability of cloudy apple juice and extending juice shelf life.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene premutation in Han Chinese women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) using a rapid and cost-effective method.; Methods: A total of 153 Han Chinese women with sporadic POI were systematically analyzed for trinucleotide repeats within the FMR1 gene. We employed an improved strategy to screen for cytosine-guanine-guanine repeats in the 5’ untranslated region of the FMR1 gene. Before using the previously reported FragilEase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for premutation identification, we developed a new cost-effective PCR-based method to exclude most of the normal allele carriers during the initial screening stage.; Results: In our initial screening, 62.1% of women with POI were found to carry heterozygous normal alleles of FMR1, which were recognized by our sensitive and cost-effective method. The remaining women were further screened for the presence of the FMR1 premutation. We identified a Han Chinese woman with a premutation allele of FMR1 out of 153 sporadic POI women (0.7%).; Conclusions: The frequent FMR1 premutation in Caucasian individuals with POI may not be a common genetic cause of sporadic POI in the Han Chinese population. Key words: Cytosine-guanine-guanine Repeats; Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 Premutation; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency

As an electromechanical product, the performance of a magnetic bearing (MB) is determined not only by the original design, but also by the process and the assembly process. The location hole is a necessary part of the machining and assembly. In this paper, the influence of the location hole on the performance of the magnetic bearing is analyzed by the combination of equivalent magnetic circuit method and finite element method. The main performance with and without location hole are compared in detail, including magnetic field distribution, bearing capacity, current stiffness and displacement stiffness. Through the analysis, the sufficient margin for installation process should be fully guaranteed at design stage.

For magnetic bearings (MBs), traditional measurement method of rotor displacement is to use a displacement sensor. However, equipment of displacement sensors will increase the cost and volume of MBs. Furthermore, many factors can affect the accuracy of displacement sensor, such as installation error, magnetic flux leakage, temperature drift and so on. This paper proposed a rotor displacement measurement method for magnetic bearing based on coil inductance. With this method, no displacement sensor was needed. The magnetic bearing structure to be tested was introduced briefly. The measurement principle and method were analyzed in detail. The validity of the measurement method is verified by simulation.

Isothermal crystallization behavior of PET/PTT-CNTs composites was investigated by DSC. The Avrami equation was employed to describe the isothermal crystallization process. The change of the half-time of crystallization t1/2 suggested that the addition of CNTs in the composites can accelerate the overall crystallization process.

A europium (III) chelating polymer film has been investigated by fluorescence spectrum, lifetime measurement, near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) and m-line method. The obtained film thickness is 1.748μm and refractive index is 1.571. Near-field scanning optical microscopy shows the good surface quality of the Europium (III) chelating polymer film.

This paper proposes a multi-channel video signal switch system. The authors introduce a key technology which uses AD8108/AD8109 as switching devices, micro-controller LPC2214ARM as the control unit to form a multi-channel video switch. Firstly, this paper analyzes the working principle of AD8108/AD8109 and LPC2214. Then the authors give the hardware structure of the multi-channel video switch system, and the software design of the system. Finally, this paper puts forward the key issues to the switch of the multi-channel video signal after experiments. Facts have shown that these factors must be taken into account in the design of successful video signal switch systems.

Aim: To further reveal the effects of leflunomide on renal protection and on inflammatory response using streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC), diabetic group (DM) and leflunomide treatment group (LEF). LEF group rats were given leflunomide (5 mg/kg) once daily. At the end of the 12th week, general biochemical parameters in three groups were determined. The renal histopathology was observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Further biochemical analysis of the gene and protein expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and ED-1 positive cells in renal tissue were provided using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared with NC group rats, systolic blood pressure, blood glucose (BG), glycohemoglobin (HbAlc), renal hypertrophy index, urine albumin excretion rate (AER) and serum creatinine were increased in DM group rats (P

We have investigated the structures, stabilities and magnetism of zinc-doped Aln (n=1–9) clusters in detail by using first-principles density functional theory. Our calculated results indicate that the ground state structures of the mixed AlnZn (n=1–9) clusters doped with one zinc atom can be obtained from the most stable structures of the pure Aln (n=2–10) clusters by substitutional type. The impurity atom causes local structural distortion due to different atomic radii and different bonding characteristics. It is found that the clusters with total atom numbers of 3 and 7 exhibit high stability. In addition, the energy gaps Egs between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) show obvious even/odd alternation with cluster size. Furthermore, we investigate the magnetism of the mixed clusters. The Al4Zn, Al6Zn and Al8Zn clusters with even number of electrons do not have any magnetism. All Al1Zn, Al5Zn, Al7Zn and Al9Zn clusters have the total magnetic moment of 1.0 μB due to one unpaired electron. Unexpectedly, the Al2Zn and Al3Zn clusters show total magnetic moments of 2.0 and 3.0 μB, respectively. The magnetism arises from the sp–d hybridization due to charge transfer and the influence of the impurity zinc atom.

The mixed Sin−1N (n=2–19) clusters have been investigated systematically using full-potential linear-muffin-tin-orbital molecular-dynamics (FP-LMTO-MD) method and Amsterdam Density Functional (ADF) program with TZ2P basis set in conjunction with self-consistent field (SCF). Their ionization potentials (IPs), electron affinities (EAs), dipole moments μ, constant volume heat capacity per atom Cv are computed. Based on the Mulliken population analyses, it is found that some of charge is transferred from the Si atoms into the nitrogen atom. Compared with other structures, most of the substitutional structures with three Si–N bonds are more stable. Our calculated results suggest that the N impurity atom improves the stability of the mixed clusters.

SUMMARY Aim: The effect of activin A on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy (DN) using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and high glucose-cultured HK-2 cells was investigated. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomized into a normal control group (NC) and diabetes mellitus group (DM). Diabetes was induced by i.p. injection of STZ. Six rats were respectively killed 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after model establishment in each group. The changes of kidney weight/bodyweight (KW/BW), urine albumin excretion rate (AER) and creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) were determined. The morphology of tubulointerstitium was observed by light microscopy. Further biochemical analysis was provided using immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The different parameters in high glucose-cultured HK-2 cells were monitored by western blotting or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the intervention of rh-follistatin on them was investigated. Results: Compared with the NC group, there was marked enlargement in the levels of KW/BW, AER, Ccr and interstitial fibrosis index, and the production of P-Smad2/3 and fibronectin in the DM group from 8 to 16 weeks. Activin βA, mainly located in tubular epithelial cells, was significantly higher in the DM group than that in the NC group throughout the study periods. Follistatin was abundant in the NC group, but was diminished gradually in the DM group. High glucose may facilitate the synthesis of activin βA, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, P-Smad2/3 and fibronectin in HK-2 cells while rh-follistatin inhibited them except TGF-β. Conclusion: Activin A is involved in tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DN by inducing the production of fibronectin through Smad signal pathway.

Both NMR T2 distribution of core and capillary pressure can be used to characterize pore throat structures of rock to a certain degree. Theoretical analysis gives the correlation between these two sets of data. In order to utilize NMR spectra to study rock pore throat structure, the key step is to determine the transferring coefficient between T2 and pc since they are correlated. In the previous methods, the capillary pressure curve obtained by using T2 distribution has a poor match relationship with the real capillary pressure curves. In fact, due to the existence of membrane bound-water, the core space determined by T2 distribution is different from that determined by capillary pressure curves. This work proposes an improved method which uses free-water T2 distribution to construct capillary pressure curves after eliminating membrane bound-water's contribution to T2 distribution. Applying this method to some core data we make some analyses and comparisons. The result shows an improved precision and indicates that this method can provide reliable principle and methodological support to evaluation of pore structure by using T2 distribution.

To explore the protective effects of leflunomide (A771726) on the expression of podocalyxin, NF-κB and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in podocytes exposed to high glucose environment and elucidate its mechanism.Podocytes were cultured in high glucose. And the altered expressions of podocyte protein podocalyxin were detected by Western blotting at different timepoints. Then podocytes were divided into 4 groups of normal glucose control, leflunomide, high glucose and hypertonic control. The expression level of podocalyxin protein in each group was detected by Western blotting. And NF-κB p65 and phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 (P-NF-κBp65) in podocytes cultured in high glucose were detected at different timepoints. And then the podocytes were divided into 5 groups of normal glucose, mannitol, hypertonic control, high glucose, leflunomide and PDTC (NF-κB blocker). And the expressions of MMP-9 protein in these groups were also detected by Western blotting.In the high glucose environment, the expression of podocalyxin declined instantly. Compared with the high-glucose group, the podocalyxin expression of the leflunomide group was significantly higher than the high glucose group (0.46 ± 0.04 vs 0.13 ± 0.03, P0.05). After 30-minute stimulation by high glucose, the activation of NF-κB started and the expression of P-NF-κBp65 protein increased. Such activities peaked at 60 minutes and reverted to a basic level after 6 hours. Compared with the high glucose group, the expressions of MMP-9 in PDTC and leflunomide groups were significantly lower than the high glucose group. And the differences were statistically significant (0.71 ± 0.01, 0.64 ± 0.03 vs 1.64 ± 0.03, both P0.05).Leflunomide has protective effects on podocytes in high glucose. And its mechanism is possibly due to a lowered expression of MMP-9 through an inhibition of NF-κB activation.

To further reveal the effects of leflunomide on renal protection and on inflammatory response using streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC), diabetic group (DM) and leflunomide treatment group (LEF). LEF group rats were given leflunomide (5 mg/kg) once daily. At the end of the 12th week, general biochemical parameters in three groups were determined. The renal histopathology was observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Further biochemical analysis of the gene and protein expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and ED-1 positive cells in renal tissue were provided using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry.Compared with NC group rats, systolic blood pressure, blood glucose (BG), glycohemoglobin (HbAlc), renal hypertrophy index, urine albumin excretion rate (AER) and serum creatinine were increased in DM group rats (P0.05). Treatment with leflunomide can improve these parameters except systolic blood pressure, BG and HbAlc. Creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) in the DM group was significantly lower than that of the NC group, and leflunomide can increase its level. Compared with DM group rats, the pathological damages were significantly relieved in LEF group rats. Compared with NC group rats, the gene and protein expressions of NF-κB, TNF-α, MCP-1 and ED-1 positive cells in renal tissue of DM group rats were highly upregulated (P0.01). Leflunomide suppressed their high expressions in renal tissue of diabetic rats.Leflunomide can ameliorate the kidney structure and function injury of diabetic rats through suppressing the expression of NF-κB, TNF-α, MCP-1 and macrophage infiltration in renal tissue.

Using Full-Potential Linear-Muffin-Tin-Orbital Molecular-Dynamics (FP-LMTO MD) method, we have performed Molecular-Dynamics simulations for oxygen-carrying small molecules, H2O and N2O, adsorbed on Sin(n = 1-7) clusters. It is found that H2O molecule can be adsorbed on Sin(n = 1-7) clusters, but the adsorption energies are only a few tenths of eV. The adsorption does not cause noticeable structural changes of H2O and Si clusters. However, N2O molecule can easily react with Si1 and Si2, forming a N2 substructure, while the reaction of N2O with Sin(n = 3-7) cannot fragment N2O molecule, in good agreement with experiment results.